On January 6th, 2015, Senator Marion Michael “Mike” Rounds was sworn into the United States Senate. Senator Rounds serves on five committees: Senate Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Foreign Relations; Indian Affairs; and Veterans’ Affairs.
Rounds previously served as the 31st governor of South Dakota from 2003 – 2011, easily winning reelection in 2006. From 1991 to 2000, he was elected five times to the South Dakota State Senate. In 1995, his colleagues selected him to serve as Senate Majority Leader, a position that he held for six years. During his time in state government, Rounds was committed to growing the economy, keeping taxes low and strengthening South Dakota families.
Protecting our nation through a strong defense system is a fundamental role of the federal government. We must remain steadfast in our ability to protect ourselves from enemies at home and abroad. On the Senate Armed Services Committee, my priority is to make sure our military remains the best in the world. To achieve this, our military must be adequately funded, trained and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. I will also work to protect the longevity of Ellsworth Air Force Base, which plays an important role in protecting our nation.