Central South Dakota News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has successfully secured $149.5 million in funding for various projects in South Dakota as part of the first of two appropriations bills passed by the United States Senate. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, which funds six areas of government through the end of the fiscal year, received a 75-22 vote in the Senate and is now awaiting the President's signature to become law.

Rounds expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "From housing to transportation to water services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes several big wins for South Dakota. I am pleased to have been able to secure $149.5 million for these projects that will benefit South Dakotans for years to come."

The areas funded in the bill include Military Construction-Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Commerce; Energy-Water Development; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; and Interior. Notably, the Military Construction-VA section also allocated $395 million in military construction funding for South Dakota, which were authorized as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Among the victories secured by Rounds for South Dakota are funding allocations for various projects, including $10 million for the reconstruction of SD Highway 13, $26.7 million for improvements on US Route 385, and $35 million for the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

The Senator emphasized the importance of local input in determining where federal funding should be allocated, ensuring that projects have the support of local stakeholders. The successful funding allocations reflect the collaborative efforts between Rounds and his constituents to address the needs of South Dakota communities.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act is a significant step towards meeting the infrastructure and development needs of South Dakota, with Rounds playing a pivotal role in securing funding for crucial projects that will have a lasting impact on the state.