A Nebraskan's View by Senator Ben Nelson

Monday, November 2, 2009 NEBRASKA HAS KEY ROLE IN NATIONAL DEFENSE One of the most important components of America’s security is deterring attacks on our vital interests at home and abroad. Nebraska plays a key role in this through the U.S. Strategic Command, better known as STRATCOM, head of the nation’s nuclear and strategic forces, which is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. I am honored that I recently was appointed as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which provides oversight of STRATCOM, but also has much broader responsibilities. They include U.S. nuclear and strategic forces, ballistic missile defense; intelligence programs, space programs, information warfare in cyberspace; Department of Energy defense-related nuclear and environmental programs; and a number of related budgets. Subcommittee on Strategic Forces In addition to STRATCOM, the subcommittee also has oversight of: military space commands; the Missile Defense Agency; the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. America faces new national security opportunities and challenges in the 21st Century, and our plate will be full on the strategic forces subcommittee. Among issues I expect we’ll address are a new nuclear treaty with Russia, missile defense issues and ensuring America is ready for threats to our national security on land and in space. A New Headquarters Beyond national defense, my new role will be helpful to Nebraska. It compliments efforts I’ve been pursing in the Senate Appropriations Committee for a new STRATCOM headquarters. Replacing its aging headquarters is one of my top priorities. In the Fiscal Year 2009 budget we were able to obtain $10 million to begin planning and design for a new facility. This year it looks like the Administration has built into its budget another $13 million to keep that work going. I am hopeful that we will see significant progress in the next couple of years toward replacing a mid-20th Century headquarters building that is home to 21st Century technology. It is long overdue, as STRATCOM’s headquarters was built in 1957 and has weathered the five decades since with little renovation. Working with Local Communities As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and now Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I will continue to work closely with the Omaha and Bellevue chambers of commerce, in addition to business leaders and others in Nebraska to assure that STRATCOM and Offutt remain modern and relevant. The contributions of STRATCOM and Offutt are considerable and we must continue working together to support their mission and operations, for the good of Nebraska and America.