WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) delivered testimony in support of the President's supplemental funding request of $87.6 billion for national defense and agricultural aid. Rounds spoke as part of a member panel at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

"In South Dakota, farming and ranching is more than a job, it's a way of life built on hard work, stewardship and the hope of leaving the land better for the next generation," said Rounds. "Feeding and fueling the world has never been easy. Producers continue showing up year after year despite drought, floods, disease, pests, volatile markets and other challenges beyond their control."

"Protecting America's food supply, energy supply and national defense are not separate priorities: they reinforce one another," continued Rounds. "This supplemental provides needed assistance to help farm and ranch families endure today's economic challenges while Congress and the administration continue advancing long-term policies that strengthen American agriculture."

Click HERE to watch Rounds' full testimony. Read Rounds' remarks as prepared for delivery below.

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Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to highlight why food security and national security go hand in hand.

I'd also like to thank the Trump administration for recognizing that input pressures have made it more difficult for American farmers to support their own operations.

In South Dakota, farming and ranching is more than a job, it's a way of life built on hard work, stewardship and the hope of leaving the land better for the next generation. Feeding and fueling the world has never been easy. Producers continue showing up year after year despite drought, floods, disease, pests, volatile markets and other challenges beyond their control.

This supplemental funding request comes at a critical time. Farmers and ranchers are facing production costs that exceed market returns. Higher fertilizer, diesel fuel, seed, equipment and crop protection costs, coupled with retaliatory trade practices and continued market uncertainty, have put enormous financial pressure on producers. Specifically, the projected loss per acre across the country in 2026 for corn is $131; for cotton, $342; for wheat, $114; and for soybeans, $80.

While we work to strengthen America's ability to produce more of what we need here at home and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, Congress should provide stability so producers can remain in business and continue producing the best food and fuel in the world.

Today's threats extend well beyond weather and markets. Foreign adversaries, cyber threats, industry consolidation, arbitrary standards and unfair trade practices impact farmers' ability to produce food, fiber and fuel. Food security, energy security and national security are connected.

We also have an opportunity to strengthen both agriculture and energy security by permanently authorizing voluntary access to nationwide, year-round sales of E15. Giving consumers the option to choose a higher ethanol blend would increase domestic fuel production, expand markets for corn growers, reduce reliance on foreign energy sources and provide families with a lower-cost option at the pump.

Given the significant defense investments included in this supplemental, I also want to emphasize the importance of fully funding our national defense. We are living in one of the most complex and lethal threat environments since the Second World War, and the brave men and women who volunteer to defend this country deserve the leadership, training, equipment and resources necessary to maintain America's military advantage.

Protecting America's food supply, energy supply and national defense are not separate priorities: they reinforce one another.

This supplemental provides needed assistance to help farm and ranch families endure today's economic challenges while Congress and the administration continue advancing long-term policies that strengthen American agriculture.

I urge my colleagues to support this supplemental request to provide stability to our ag producers at this time.

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