Fischer Secures $48 Million for Nebraska Law Enforcement, Water Infrastructure, Research Institutions

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured numerous Nebraska priorities in three Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 government funding bills passed by the U.S. Senate today. The bills now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
“As a member of the Appropriations Committee,
I’m pleased to have secured $48 million in this package – now on its way to the president’s desk. I’ve worked with communities across our state to identify and fund projects to make life better for Nebraskans. This includes improvements to our water infrastructure and firefighting capabilities, critical upgrades to emergency communication systems, and investments in our research institutions,”
Fischer said.
Fischer continued,
“Bringing tax dollars back to our communities is a crucial part of my job. I’ll continue working to ensure Nebraskans have a say in how our federal government spends their hard-earned tax dollars.”
Senate passed appropriations bills
:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Energy and Water Development
PROVISIONS SECURED BY FISCHER:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
:
$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, and Related Agencies
:
$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
Energy and Water Development
:
$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