SE Nebraska News

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) voted in favor of a funding package that aims to reopen the federal government and provide $72 million for community projects in Nebraska. The Senate approved the legislative package with a 60-40 vote.

The legislation includes funding for military construction, veterans affairs, agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and the legislative branch. It also extends current funding levels for other federal agencies through January 30, 2026.

“After voting 16 times to reopen the federal government, I am encouraged that Senate Democrats have finally come to the table. This package delivers results I secured for Nebraska – including crucial funding that will benefit the Omaha VA and over $54 million for mission critical programs at Offutt Air Force Base. It also directs an additional $16 million for UNL’s ARS center, which follows a total investment of over $56 million I’ve helped secure over the last five fiscal years. While this legislation is an important step forward, we still need the House to take up and pass this package swiftly so we can reopen the government and get back to work for the American people,” Fischer said.

The bill provides nearly $1.4 billion for major construction projects by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), supporting future developments at Omaha's VA hospital. It requires the VA to purchase essential medical devices from U.S. or allied manufacturers and report on ways to reduce reliance on Chinese medical products while avoiding shortages. The VA is also directed to assess its External Provider Scheduling program and recommend how to increase participation from community providers.

At Offutt Air Force Base, $42.3 million is allocated for planning and designing a new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC). Additional funds include $6 million each for a consolidated training complex/professional development center and a new dormitory at Offutt.

For agricultural research, $16 million is designated for improvements at the USDA Agricultural Research Service facility on University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus, with another $1.5 million set aside for UNL’s National Drought Mitigation Center.

The legislation emphasizes prioritizing beef industry research at USMARC in Clay Center and instructs USDA to streamline contracting processes for livestock research facilities in order to manage cost overruns related to facility upgrades.