Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor outlining the federal funding she secured for Nebraska in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills. The bills have passed Congress and have been signed into law by the president.

 

Click the image above to watch a video of Fischer’s remarks.
Click here to download audio. 
Click here to download video.

Fischer secured the following funding in the FY26 appropriations bills:

 

Defense: $566 million

• $26 million for STRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) Enterprise Center’s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) program
• $11 million to expand and improve STRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center’s network sensor demonstration
• $9 million for the Joint Electronic Spectrum Operations Center (JEMSO) to test and evaluate advanced electromagnetic warfare technologies
• $11 million for upgrades to the National Airborne Operations Center at Offutt Air Force Base
• $24 million to improve the RC-135 fleet, including new alternate position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems
• $1 million to upgrade 557th Weather Wing’s data processing operations
• $1 million to improve 557th Weather Wing’s sensing and modeling capabilities to support emerging missions in the stratosphere
• $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
• $3 million for the University of Nebraska to develop an Automated Resuscitation Catheter (ARCA)
• $20 million for the Joint Civilian-Medical Surge Pilot Program 
• $38 million above the President’s budget request for APEX accelerator programs
• $60 million above the President’s budget request to procure additional MH-139 helicopters to monitor and defend Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile fields
• $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 million above the President’s budget request to support the development and deployment of visualization tools for comprehensive, actionable threat assessment of adversarial activities
• $8 million above the President’s budget request to develop high frequency communications relay stations across the globe
• $4 million above the President’s budget request to advance research and development of technologies to seek hard and deeply buried targets
• Additional funding for the Colombia-class submarine, including $285 million in shipbuilding, advanced procurement, and $11 million in shipbuilding

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development: $61 million

• $6 million to the Alliance Airport for electrical improvements
• $5 million to extend the runway and parallel taxiway at the Blair Airport
• $4 million to improve the lighting system at the Hastings Airport
• $3.4 million to complete the parallel taxiway and improve the lighting system at the Nebraska City Airport 
• $600,000 to relocate the Midfield Connector Taxiway at Brenner Field Airport in Falls City
• $2.5 million to replace South Sioux City’s aerial ladder fire truck
• $1.8 million to replace Plattsmouth’s aerial ladder fire truck
• $1.3 million to upgrade Friend’s fire hall facilities
• $1.3 million to upgrade Clatonia’s fire hall facilities
• $6 million to add safety enhancements to the Heartland Expressway
• $5.2 million to replace the Lisco Bridge in Garden County
• $4.7 million to pave a 4-mile stretch of Hickory Road in Gage County
• $4 million to road improvements for Fairbury Highway 136
• $3.5 million to improve walkability and safety of downtown Omaha
• $3.4 million to make improvements to roads in Sheridan and Garden County
• $3.2 million to make roadway improvements on Cedar River Road in Garfield County
• $2.2 million to reconstruct the 9th street roadway in Stromsburg
• $897,000 to replace or repair multiple bridges in Brown County
• $880,000 to pave the Adams Bypass
• $700,000 to pave the roadway and improve access to the local grain elevator in Exeter

 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs: $54 million

• $42.3 million to plan and design the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) at Offutt
• $6 million to plan and design a Consolidated Training Complex/Professional Development Center at Offutt
• $6 million to plan and design a new dormitory at Offutt

 

Commerce, Justice, Science: $14 million

• $2.7 million for Otoe County to upgrade its emergency communications
• $782,000 to the Southeast Communications 911 Center for emergency communications equipment upgrades
• $415,000 to Region 26 Communications Center (Thomas, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Greeley, Valley, and Sherman Counties) to upgrade equipment to support fire, rescue, and law enforcement emergency communications
• $327,000 to Thayer County for equipment upgrades for emergency radio communications

• $2 million for the University of Nebraska–Omaha to implement and assess the Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Services Program to protect children from exploitation
• $176,000 for Nebraska State Patrol task force technology upgrades to support investigations for the arrest of child predators

• $1 million to the Omaha Police Department for public safety equipment upgrades
• $1.2 million to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for critical equipment, including body-worn cameras
• $639,000 to Douglas County for equipment and technology upgrades for law enforcement information systems

• $1 million for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to purchase equipment and develop space to design, build, test, model, and validate products that grow Nebraska’s bioeconomy
• $3 million for the University of Nebraska–Kearney to modernize and expand comparative biomedical research training
• $1 million for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for equipment upgrades to support water quality research

 

Interior, Environment: $18 million

• $3.2 million to repair and upgrade the water treatment plant in McCook
• $2.37 million to construct a retention lagoon, lift station, and sanitary sewer extensions in Greeley
• $696,000 to replace an aging well and renovate the sanitary water storage tank in Farwell

• $8.25 million to improve the Santee Sioux Tribe’s water source
• $1.42 million for watershed and stream improvements in the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District
• $776,000 for reconstruction of water and storm sewer facilities in Gothenburg
• $620,000 to construct a new well and transmission line in Genoa
• $600,000 to construct an additional lagoon cell in Shelby
• $468,000 to line the sewer mains in Valparaiso
• $100,000 to renovate an existing lagoon cell and install a depth mark in Ong

 

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration: $17.5 million

• $16 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Innovation Campus; and
• $1.5 million for the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL.

 

Energy and Water: $16 million

• $14.6 million to assist in the restoration of two irrigation tunnels on the Gering-Fort Laramie Canal

• $1.2 million to construct priority flood control projects in the Papillion Creek Basin in Sarpy County
• $350,000 to continue construction of a stormwater pump station to protect Offutt Air Force Base
• $50,000 for investigation funds for restoration of Big Elk Park in Thurston County

 

Labor, Health, and Human Services: $18 million

• $12 million for the University of Nebraska Medical Center to construct a training facility for air transport of infectious disease patients
• $3.5 million to the City of O’Neill to replace the boiler and water heating systems at Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital
• $2.5 million to revitalize the operating room at the Community Healthcare System in Friend

 

 

Transcript of Fischer’s Senate floor speech as prepared for delivery:

M. President,

I stand here on the Senate floor proud of the recent progress made by the Senate. We have officially passed 11 of the 12 government funding bills.

I am hopeful my Democrat colleagues will come to a reasonable agreement to get the Homeland Security funding bill over the finish line soon. This is essential for FEMA funding, our TSA agents, our brave Coast Guard officers, and for our nation’s cyber security.

But first and foremost, funding the federal government is Congress’ most basic responsibility. It is also one of its most important.

When Congress fails to do that job, the consequences reach beyond Washington. The harmful impacts include delayed services, uncertainty for families and businesses, and eroded trust in government.

Our recent progress stands in sharp contrast to where we were just a few years ago. This body had not passed a single government funding bill in this chamber before August since 2018. That failure was not accidental.

Under previous Democrat Majority Leader Schumer, the Senate was repeatedly blocked from holding full votes on appropriations bills. That approach was unacceptable.

It was not until just over a year ago, when we elected Senator John Thune as Majority Leader, that this body recommitted itself to doing its work.

Under Leader Thune’s leadership, the Senate is once again advancing funding bills through regular order. We are restoring transparency. We are restoring accountability. And we are restoring deliberation to the appropriations process.

I am grateful to Leader Thune for bringing these bills to the floor, and I look forward to continuing our work to pass the remaining measure and responsibly fund the government.

In addition to keeping the government open, passing funding bills is an opportunity to bring back Nebraska tax dollars we send to Washington every year.

To do this, my team works closely with localities back home. We make sure to get their input on how their federal tax money is spent.

M. President, in the funding bills we have passed thus far, I am proud to have secured millions of dollars in critical investments for the state of Nebraska.

One of my top priorities was securing critical funds for Offutt Air Force Base in the Defense Appropriations Bill. In total, we obtained $83 million for U.S. Strategic Command, the 55^th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing – all based at Offutt. These funds will strengthen our national security and enhance Nebraska’s role in it.

In the Agriculture and Rural Development funding bill, I secured $16 million for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service facility at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This investment will support research that benefits Nebraska producers and strengthens American agriculture.

In the Commerce, Justice, and Science funding bill, I secured over $7 million for radio communications and equipment upgrades for Nebraska law enforcement. Nearly a dozen counties reached out to my team asking for help replacing outdated systems and gear. With these upgrades, officers will be able to communicate and respond faster. This will improve safety for both first responders and the communities they serve.

I also worked to secure $8.8 million in the Interior and Environment funding bill. These funds will be used to upgrade aging water treatment plants and sewer systems in McCook, Greeley, Farwell, Gothenburg, Genoa, Shelby, Valparaiso, and Ong that were beginning to require costly repairs. These projects will help ensure safe drinking water and sustainable infrastructure for residents across these counties.

And after the EPA deemed the Santee Sioux Nation’s water source “not consumable,” I secured $8.25 million to deliver safe drinking water to the tribe. This is a necessity no community should be without.

Finally, in the Energy and Water Development bill, I secured $14.6 million to restore irrigation tunnels on the Gering–Fort Laramie Canal. This need was identified after a catastrophic tunnel collapse left 55,000 acres of farmland without reliable irrigation. Now, this investment will protect regional economic stability and reduce financial pressure on local farmers.

These projects reflect what I believe federal funding should do: listen and work with our localities to invest in practical needs that improve daily life.

It’s imperative that elected representatives continue to have influence over this process. We cannot leave these decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington.

Just as important, bringing federal tax dollars back home provides tax relief to Nebraska taxpayers.

Many of these projects would otherwise fall on local property taxes, which are already high in our state. And it would shift the burden onto families, farmers, and small businesses.

When we can fund these priorities with the federal dollars Nebraskans already send to Washington, it provides a major boost for our communities. It is also a shining example of responsible government.

M. President, I am proud of the significant progress this body has made under Senator Thune’s leadership. We are finally restoring regular order, transparency, and accountability to the government funding progress.

This is a win for Nebraskans and a win for all Americans.

Thank you, M. President.