MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- Senator Mike Rounds was in Mitchell Thursday to present a Purple Heart to Jerry Joseph Stravia(Straw-via)IV.  Stravia was a member of Alpha Company 3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry.

In 2006, over months and many missions, the armored personnel carrier Stravia was driving was bombarded with Improvised Explosive Devices leaving him with a traumatic brain injury that ended his military service.

At a ceremony on Thursday, Stravia was awarded the Purple Heart for his service.

Senator Rounds has worked for the past six years to get Jerry Stravia a Purple Heart.

Mr. Stravia was asked to make some remarks, here is an excerpt.

Rounds hopes that the military will broaden its Purple Heart policy to include all injuries received in military service as opposed only to those where a soldier bleeds.

Following the ceremony Senator Rounds had an opportunity to speak with KMIT about a variety of issues happening in Washington.

China

One of the foreign policy challenges that will face whoever is elected president in November is China.  Senator Mike Rounds is a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Senator Rounds speculates on what he believes China’s foreign policy goals are.

In addition to his service on the Select Committee on Intelligence, Rounds is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee

Ukraine

The world is a dangerous place and one of those dangerous places is Ukraine.  Senator Mike Rounds gives his views on whether the United States should stay the course on Ukraine.

Rounds views the clash between Russia and Ukraine in moral terms.

Among Senator Mike Rounds’ committee assignments are the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Farm Bill

The US House of Representatives has passed a new Farm Bill out of committee but in government it takes two to tango.  Without Senate action, there will be no new farm bill.  Senator Mike Rounds explains what’s going on behind the scenes.

There are policy differences over where and how much to spend on the farm bill, but politics is also a factor.  Again, Mike Rounds sheds some light on why things are taking longer than they should on this important issue to ag producers.

Speaking of elections, Senator Mike Rounds is up for reelection in 2026 – should he seek another term.