Today, Rep. Don Bacon announced that the House of Representatives has passed a Defense Appropriations bill, which includes over $2.3 billion for Nebraska’s defense research and Air Force investments. The bill was approved with bipartisan support.
Rep. Bacon emphasized Nebraska’s growing role in national security: “Nebraska has long been recognized as an engine of innovation in the agriculture, medical, financial services, construction, transportation, and technology sectors. Additionally, over the last several years, Nebraska has earned a reputation as one of America’s leading centers of defense and national security research,” said Rep. Bacon. “With today’s House vote we’re a step further in cementing Nebraska’s growing leadership in national security.”
The priorities for Nebraska included in the bill are significant. They encompass $1.8 billion for developing the new E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft to be based at Offutt AFB and $474 million for two additional EA-37B Compass Call aircraft for the 55th Wing.
Further allocations include $26 million to equip the new Nuclear Command, Control and Communications REACH facility in Bellevue; $5 million for the Air Force Infectious Disease Aerial Transport training program at UNMC Omaha; $4.5 million for the University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute in Omaha; $5 million to upgrade RC-135 aircraft based at Offutt AFB; and $4.8 million for commercial weather data to improve forecasting for the 557th Weather Wing.
