WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the committee’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped author as a member of SASC. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
“The NDAA is a critical piece of legislation passed each year which authorizes funding for our national security, as well as our servicemembers and their families,”said Rounds. “We were glad to secure many wins for South Dakota, including $378 million for construction projects at Ellsworth to prepare for the B-21, $28 million for the Watertown Army National Guard vehicle maintenance facility and $3.4 billion for procurement of B-21 aircraft. The NDAA also authorizes funding to support a 3.8 percent raise for military members.
“When I was working as Governor of South Dakota, and subsequently Commander in Chief of our National Guard units, I attended several send-off ceremonies and welcome home celebrations. I also attended 31 funerals for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. As a result, I made a pledge that I would do everything in my power to make certain our men and women in uniform never enter a fair fight, always having the advantage over their adversaries. This year’s NDAA keeps the U.S. ahead of the curve and takes care of our men and women in uniform who fight every day to protect our freedoms. I look forward to working with Leader Thune and my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation passed and signed into law.”
In March, Rounds was named as the 6th most effective member of the United States Senate on defense and national security issues for the 118th Congress. Read a full list of his provisions in this year’s NDAA below.
Rounds’ South Dakota Victories:
- Fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program, including over $2.59 billion for procurement and $862 million in advanced procurement.
- Authorizes $378 million in military construction projects to support the B-21 Raider housed at Ellsworth.
- $63 million for B-21 Flight Simulator 2.
- $71 million for B-21 Alert Facility.
- $75 million for B-21 Environmental Protection Shelters.
- $88 million for B-21 South Environmental Protection Shelters.
- $81 million for B-21 West Alert Apron & Environmental Protection Shelters.
- Authorizes $28 million for Watertown Army National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop.
- Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Defense (DOD) to partner with communities, universities, and industry to establish Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF). This has been a major priority for many South Dakota universities and defense companies seeking to establish or deepen their relationship with the DOD.
- Updates the State Partnership Program so that states with only one partner are given priority when a new foreign partner is being considered for the program. This will directly benefit the South Dakota National Guard.
- Modifies the Defense Community Infrastructure Program in order to make South Dakota schools more competitive in receiving grants.
- Requires the Navy Personnel Command’s Records Analysis Branch to develop a plan to address their delays and backlogs to provide members of Congress and their constituents answers and corrections to casework, record requests, and record adjudication. This will help our South Dakotan veterans dealing with frustrating bureaucracy.
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