U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today after it was announced that planes being relocated from Offutt Air Force Base will begin to land in Lincoln on Monday as part of the base’s runway reconstruction project:
“55th Wing planes will soon be landing in Lincoln — a sign that the reconstruction of Offutt’s runway is well underway. I worked very hard with the Air Force to help realize this critical reconstruction project. After years of effort and cooperation, it’s wonderful to see this milestone bring us closer to completing a project that helps our military, Nebraska, and the nation. Thank you to the community in Lincoln for being such gracious hosts to our airmen during construction.”
Since her first day in the U.S. Senate, Senator Fischer has worked to ensure that the Offutt runway reconstruction project could take place. In her position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, she worked diligently for eight years with the Air Force, military leaders, and Nebraskans to secure a commitment to this project and keep it on track. She made sure funding used by the Air Force to study and prepare for the project was authorized. Senator Fischer also helped include provisions in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that encouraged the Air Force to swiftly complete the project and authorized the secretaries of all military departments to develop new technologies to extend the service lives of runways.
The 55th Wing's fleet is expected to be fully relocated by March and will remain in Lincoln until September 2022.
(Image from USSTRATCOM)