Senator Rounds comments on national politics
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
HURON – Commissioning of the USS South Dakota on Saturday will go a long way in equalling the technological playing field with Russia and China, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Thursday.
Rounds will be the main speaker, Rep. Dusty Johnson will speak as well, and Gov. Kristi Noem will lead a state delegation at the ceremony in Groton, Conn.
“This is a really special deal for South Dakota,” Rounds said in a conference call with reporters.
A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he said the United States faces severe challenges because while fighting terrorism in the Middle East has been a priority, Russia and China have been making significant technological advances in rebuilding their strategic forces.
The United States no longer has an advantage over them, Rounds said.
“Its become a very serious issue that we’ve got to take the next technological steps,” he said. “The (USS South Dakota) submarine is part of that response.”
SSN 790, the USS South Dakota, is the Navy’s next generation submarine that will fulfill missions around the world for the next 25 to 30 years, Rounds said.