Rounds Selected for Key Defense Committee Role

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been appointed as a conferee to the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Committee. The NDAA is the major defense legislation considered by Congress each year. The Conference Committee is tasked with reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Last month the NDAA passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support and included a number of Rounds’ provisions.

 “I’m pleased to be a member of the NDAA Conference Committee,” said Rounds. “Enactment of the NDAA is essential to give our troops the resources they need. As a member of the Conference Committee, I will work with my colleagues to provide our Armed Forces with the tools necessary to accomplish their demanding and dangerous missions at a time of rising threats around the world.”   

Other Senate conferees include Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking Democratic member of the Armed Services Committee, James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).