Cornhusker State News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $74.3 million to support military construction projects at Offutt Air Force Base in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act. Senator Fischer also secured funding to continue to honor Nebraska’s fallen veterans through the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program.

The bill, which must still be voted upon by the Senate and House, was advanced today by the Senate Appropriations Committee by a bipartisan vote of 28-0 as a first key step.

“The number one job of the federal government is to provide for the national defense. I worked to ensure this year’s MilCon-VA bill meets that mark by investing in critical projects throughout Nebraska, including at Offutt Air Force Base. This bill also includes my provisions to improve veterans’ access to care and ensure our fallen veterans are properly honored. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’m committed to making sure Nebraska’s military assets have the resources they need to keep our nation safe,” said Sen. Fischer.

Additional details on the Nebraska projects Senator Fischer secured are below:

Nebraska Bill Highlights

Offutt 

Recipient Name: Offutt Air Force BaseMember Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: DPAA Laboratory

Project Description: Plan and design a new laboratory for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) at Offutt Air Force Base

Project Location: Sarpy County, NE.

Amount Secured: $5,000,000

Recipient Name: Offutt Air Force BaseMember Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: Replace Vehicle Search Area, STRATCOM Gate, B511

Project Description: To construct and replace vehicle search facilities, vehicle control, and pavement at Offutt Air Force Base.

Project Location: Sarpy County, NE.

Amount Secured: $7,000,000

Recipient Name: Offutt Air Force BaseMember Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: Base Operations/Mobility Center

Project Description: To plan and design a Base Operations/Mobility Center at Offutt Air Force Base.

Project Location: Sarpy County, NE.

Amount Secured: $3,000,000Recipient Name: Offutt Air Force Base

Member Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: Logistics Readiness Squadron Transportation Facility

Project Description: To plan and design a Logistics Readiness Squadron Transportation Facility at Offutt Air Force Base.

Project Location: Sarpy County, NE.

Amount Secured: $2,700,000Recipient Name: Offutt Air Force BaseMember Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: 55 CES Maintenance/Warehouse

Project Description: To plan and design a maintenance facility and warehouse at Offutt Air Force Base.

Project Location: Sarpy County, NE.

Amount Secured: $3,500,000Recipient Name: Mead Training SiteMember Name: Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska

Project Name: Unaccompanied Housing Project

Project Description: To plan and design an unaccompanied housing project for the Nebraska Army National Guard.

Project Location: Saunders County, NE.

Amount Secured: $1,440,000Within the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP), Sen. Fischer successfully advocated for $41,000,000 to support a new microgrid and backup power infrastructure at Offutt Air Force Base.

Nebraska National Guard

Within the Army National Guard projects, Sen. Fischer successfully advocated for:

• $9,009,000 for the National Guard Readiness Center in Bellevue
• $1,200,00 for Collective Training Unaccompanied Housing Open Bay at Greenlief Training Site
• $400,000 for the National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop in North Platte

Additional

In addition to these Nebraska-specific provisions, Sen. Fischer also pushed for $140 million to support the Sentinel program, which is the most significant and complex weapon system in recent U.S. history. The project involves the U.S. Air Force replacing the LGM–30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system with the LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system as part of an effort to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear triad.

Veterans

Project Name: Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries

Project Description: The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program provides funding to establish, expand, and improve veteran cemeteries to ensure veterans in Nebraska and across the U.S. are buried with the honors they earned.

Amount Secured:  Additional $10,000,000, to total $60,000,000

Sen. Fischer also secured report language directing the Department of Veteran Affairs to brief Congress on the implementation of better scheduling solutions for medical appointments. Veterans often face challenges when seeking to schedule appointments through the VA for community care. A scheduling solution to enhance this process and ensure that veterans are receiving care in a timely manner is critical.

Original source can be found here