December 15-21, 2025
Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. The Senate remained full speed ahead this past week to finish up a few items before the end of the year. To cap off a historic year in the Senate, we confirmed 97 of President Trump’s nominees to positions within the executive branch. This brings our total for nominees confirmed in 2025 to 417, outpacing confirmations during President Biden’s term and even President Trump’s first term. We also passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, and on Thursday I had the opportunity to go to the White House and watch President Trump sign this legislation into law. I’m now back home in South Dakota to celebrate Christmas with my family. More on the rest of my week in my Weekly Round[s] Up:
South Dakota groups I visited with: Brad Wiemann, Interim CEO and Matt Kurtenbach, VP of Manufacturing at Daktronics, both of Brookings.
Other meetings: General Ingo Gerhartz, Allied Joint Forces Command Brunssum Commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council; the Board of Directors of the Bank Policy Institute; James Braid, Director, White House Office of Legislative Affairs; Mike Tuffin, CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans; phone call with Rob Nichols, CEO of American Bankers Association; and Dario Gill, Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy.
In addition, on Thursday night, I was invited to the White House for the official NDAA signing after it passed the Senate on Wednesday.
Briefings: I attended five briefings this past week: one classified briefing from Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth, one Central Intelligence Agency briefing, two Senate Select Committee on Intelligence closed briefings and one Senate Armed Services Committee briefing.
Hearing: This past week I attended a hearing with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Senate Bible Study and Prayer Breakfast: On Tuesday, I hosted our weekly Senate Bible Study and on Wednesday I attended our Senate Prayer Breakfast where we sang Christmas carols with former Senator Debbie Stabenow accompanying on piano.
President Trump officially signed the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act into law this past week. The land at this symbolic and sacred site will now be held in possession of both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes to be preserved for future generations. Read more about it here.
Votes taken: 25 – This past week I voted on multiple nominees including a batch of 97 of President Trump’s nominees. As I mentioned, we also passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. This year’s NDAA authorizes funding for construction projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base and funding for a facility for the Watertown Army National Guard. It also authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for troops and has a total topline of $900.6 billion in defense spending. This keeps our military ahead of the curve, making certain they never enter a fair fight and always have the advantage over our adversaries. Read more about South Dakota NDAA wins here.
Steps taken: 61,332 steps or 28.72 miles.
Photo of the Week: I was pleased to be invited in the Oval Office with President Trump as he signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law.
