By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

**Click here to download the audio recording of this week’s column**

Nebraska is proud to be the home of Offutt Air Force Base. As the headquarters of STRATCOM, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55^th Wing, the base plays a critical role in defending our nation from threats across the globe. For almost a century, Offutt has helped to protect our nation, and it has served as an important component of our state’s economy and also the local economies of the communities near it. 

Over the years, the Department of Defense has made significant investments in Offutt and built the base into the national asset that it is today. Since arriving in the U.S. Senate, I have used my position on the Armed Services Committee to advance the urgent repair and replacement of the base’s runway. Replacing the runway will extend the life of this investment into the future and ensure the nation will continue to reap the benefits Offutt has to offer. 

Throughout the runway replacement process, I have worked closely with Offutt leadership and top Air Force officials at the Pentagon to ensure this project moves forward. In fact, this month, I met with the Air Force Secretary, Deborah Lee James, at the Pentagon. It was a productive meeting, and we had the opportunity to discuss Offutt’s runway and the progress they are making. I am happy to report that during our meeting, Secretary James reinforced that the Air Force remains on track and is fully committed to moving forward. This is great news for Nebraska and the communities of Omaha and Bellevue. 

Currently, the Air Force is evaluating different options for repairing Offutt’s runway. These alternatives represent a balancing act between three variables: the cost of the project; the length of time to complete it; and the number of years the repair will add to the life of the runway. During construction of the runway, the base’s air traffic will operate out of Lincoln. 

In the Senate, I have worked to include provisions for the runway into the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. Through my leadership of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, I helped draft this important legislation, which authorizes funding for our military and sets policy priorities for the Department of Defense. Securing this funding was critical to advancing the runway project, since it requires an in-depth study before taking further action. 

I also had the opportunity to meet this month with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Mark Welsh. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Welsh serves as a military adviser to the president, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. In our meeting at his personal residence in Fort Myer, Virginia, we discussed the runway replacement, as well as other issues related to the 55^th Wing and STRATCOM. 

I am pleased to see the progress we are making to ensure Offutt remains a world-class military installation. We expect a decision in the coming months regarding the full scope and scale of this project. As we await the final plan on Offutt’s runway, I will continue to work directly with the secretary of the Air Force and leaders at Offutt to ensure they receive the appropriate funding and resources for this very important project.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.