Cornhusker State News

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has announced that she has advanced more than $200 million in funding for national and Nebraska-based defense programs. The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill, which is now pending consideration on the Senate floor.

The funds are directed to several key military units based at Offutt Air Force Base, including U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing.

“The first duty of Congress is to defend the nation, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee and Armed Services Committee, I’m working to ensure our nation is equipped to fulfill that mission. That’s why I advanced critical funding for projects that will boost U.S. Strategic Command, the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, including critical defense programs our nation relies upon to keep our people safe,” Fischer said.

For STRATCOM, Fischer secured $15 million for its NC3 Enterprise Center’s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) program. An additional $11 million will be used to expand and improve STRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center’s network sensor demonstration. Another $9 million is allocated for testing and evaluating advanced electromagnetic warfare technologies.

The 55th Wing will receive $20 million to enhance alternate position, navigation, and timing systems on its RC-135 fleet.

The 557th Weather Wing will get $1 million to address security risks as it transitions data processing operations to cloud-based services. Another $1 million will go toward improving sensing and modeling capabilities for missions in the stratosphere.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center will receive $3 million to collaborate with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services on contingency plans for extreme health events. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will also receive $3 million to develop an Automated Resuscitation Catheter (ARCA).

Other provisions include $30 million above the President’s budget request for APEX accelerator programs; $60 million above the President’s request for additional MH-139 helicopters used in monitoring Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fields; $50 million above the President’s request aimed at stabilizing missile component manufacturing; and $47.5 million above the President’s request supporting U.S.-Israel Emerging Technology Cooperation related to future battlefield challenges.