Fischer Advances Over $200 Million for National and Nebraska-Based Defense Programs

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced over $200 million for key national and Nebraska-based defense programs, including U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), 55th Wing, 557th Weather Wing – located at Offutt Air Force Base – in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Defense Appropriations Bill. The bill now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.“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.Key provisions secured by Fischer include:STRATCOM:

1. $15 million for STRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) Enterprise Center’s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) program

1. $11 million to expand and improve STRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center’s network sensor demonstration
2. $9 million to test and evaluate advanced electromagnetic warfare technologies

55th Wing:

1. $20 million to improve alternate position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems onto the RC-135 fleet

557th Weather Wing:

1. $1 million to mitigate security risks as the 557th Weather Wing transfers its data processing operations to cloud-based services
2. $1 million to improve 557th Weather Wing’s sensing and modeling capabilities to support emerging missions in the stratosphere

University of Nebraska:

1. $3 million to enable the University of Nebraska Medical Center to work with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to build contingency plans for extreme health events

1. $3 million for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to develop an Automated Resuscitation Catheter (ARCA)

Other Provisions:

1. $60 million above the President’s budget request to procure additional MH-139 helicopters to monitor and defend Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile fields
2. $50 million above the President’s budget request to stabilize the industrial base for missile components
3. $47.5 million above the President’s budget request to support U.S.-Israel Emerging Technology Cooperation to meet the challenges of the future battlefield
4. $30 million above the President’s budget request for APEX accelerator programs