SE Nebraska News

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced $54.3 million in funding for military construction projects at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. This funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.

“As the proud home of the Air Force’s ‘doomsday’ planes—used by the president and top military leaders to command our forces during extreme crisis—Offutt Air Force Base is essential to our nation’s survival. I was proud to advocate for this funding to ensure that Offutt and the brave men and women who serve there are equipped with the resources they need to continue to defend America against the threats we face,” Fischer said.

The funding includes $19 million for planning and designing a 1-Bay Hangar for the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), $16 million for a 2-Bay Hangar, $7.3 million for a Supply Storage Facility, $6 million for a Consolidated Training Complex/Professional Development Center, and another $6 million for a new dormitory.

In addition to supporting Offutt Air Force Base, Fischer advanced provisions aimed at supporting veterans. These include directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to purchase essential medical devices from U.S. manufacturers or allied trading partners and requiring reports on reducing dependency on Chinese medical devices while preventing shortages.

Fischer also directed the VA to report on the success of the External Provider Scheduling program, identifying barriers to its implementation and creating recommendations for increasing community provider participation.