Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota has announced his membership on five committees for the 119th Congress. These committees include Appropriations, Armed Services, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Intelligence, and Indian Affairs.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on five key committees on behalf of the people of South Dakota and for the national security of our nation,” said Rounds. He emphasized the importance of these committees as they work to confirm President-elect Trump's nominees and begin implementing his agenda in January.

Rounds will take on a new role with the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He noted that it has been nearly three decades since Congress passed all its required appropriations measures on time. "I look forward to working with my colleagues on Appropriations to promote returning to regular order for our budgeting process and return to commonsense fiscal conservatism under a Republican trifecta in the 119th Congress," he stated.

In his continued service with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rounds highlighted efforts to strengthen military capabilities, improve cybersecurity, and modernize the nuclear triad. He mentioned Ellsworth Air Force Base's future role as home to the B-21 Raider, noting its significant economic impact on the Black Hills area.

Rounds will also remain a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. He aims to promote policies that encourage economic growth while providing oversight over bureaucratic practices. “South Dakotans deserve easy access to credit, housing that is affordable and traditional financial services," he said.

Continuing his work with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Rounds emphasized collaboration with intelligence leaders as crucial for national security. "Intelligence gathering is a critical piece of our national security puzzle," he remarked.

Lastly, Rounds expressed his commitment to serving on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He underscored working alongside tribal leaders to uphold tribal sovereignty and address their unique challenges effectively. “The Native American population is an integral part of South Dakota,” he noted.