I don’t often write about using my role in the U.S. Senate to advocate for Nebraska. It’s why I joined the Senate Appropriations Committee – the panel that manages the federal government’s spending. Here, I help craft the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund projects and programs across the nation.
In addition to federal appropriations bills, another important piece of legislation I help write is the National Defense Authorization Act, also known as the NDAA. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I believe we must provide our military members with the resources they need to carry out their missions.
Of course, my primary focus on the Appropriations Committee is directing the federal tax dollars Nebraskans already send to Washington back home to boost quality of life in our state. Earlier this month, I celebrated the groundbreaking of one of the many projects I secured federal funding for: the Infectious Disease Air Transport training facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha.
This facility will house specialized equipment and an aircraft body where medical and emergency personnel can train to safely transport and care for patients with highly infectious diseases. It will enable quality training for healthcare professionals and service members who will serve patients in Nebraska and across our country.
This is a $17.4 million project, and I’m proud to say I secured $12 million through the federal appropriations process to help cover the construction costs and build the facility.
And in the Senate version of this year’s NDAA, I inserted language establishing a program for the safe, long-range transport of service members with highly infectious diseases. As part of that effort, I collaborated closely with the medical center’s leadership.
Ultimately, by supporting a training facility like this one, we will help ensure that patients fighting an infectious disease can be safely transported to receive the care they need. It will soon become a reality, and it is exactly the type of modern, efficient health care facility and emergency care system that Nebraskans deserve.
Though this is just one project, I never want to lose sight of its mission and impact. This is part of a greater effort to care for our troops and sick patients. We are protecting the public health of our community, our state, and our nation. Serving you in the U.S. Senate is my greatest honor. Please know that I will continue pushing for advanced solutions to be at the cutting edge of healthcare and military modernization. Making Nebraska and the world a safer and healthier place is a privilege I do not take for granted.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
