Bacon Announces Priorities Included in Defense Appropriations Bill

Secures over $2.3B for Nebraska Defense Research and Air Force Investments 

Washington – Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) announced the successful inclusion of over $2.3 billion in critical Nebraska priorities in the Defense Appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives with a bipartisan majority.  

“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.”

Rep. Bacon’s Nebraska priorities incorporated in the Defense Appropriations bill passed today include:

• $1.8 billion for development of the new E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft to be based at Offutt AFB
• $474 million for 2 additional EA-37B Compass Call aircraft for the 55th Wing
• $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
• $4.8 million for commercial weather data to improve forecasting for the 557th Weather Wing

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