[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2314-S2315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognizing Offutt Air Force Base

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise to commend the incredible work 
done by the men and women of Offutt Air Force Base during the historic 
flooding that has affected the State of Nebraska.
  Offutt Air Force Base is home to some of our Nation's most essential 
missions. The men and women of STRATCOM stand constant vigil. They 
provide command and control for the U.S. nuclear deterrent and maintain 
watch over space operations, missile defense, and global strike.
  Airmen of the 55th Wing execute some of the most sensitive and 
complex missions, ensuring that battlefield commanders and the Nation's 
decision makers have the most up-to-date intelligence, surveillance, 
and reconnaissance information available.
  The Air Force's only weather wing, the 557th Weather Wing, provides 
timely, accurate, and relevant weather information at any time and for 
any place around the globe.
  Throughout Offutt, many other tenant units work in tandem with base 
leadership to fulfill vital missions that support our national 
security. These men and women pride themselves on being ready for every 
threat, but the arrival of a once-in-50-year weather event provided a 
test unlike any other they have previously faced.
  In 2019, Nebraska has seen severe flooding--the worst and most 
widespread natural disaster in the history of our State. When the 
waters began to rise, the lives of those at Offutt and the base's 
critical equipment were put at risk, and the response was immediate. 
With less than 48 hours to prepare, highly essential aircraft such as 
the RC-135 were quickly routed to safe locations. The planes that could 
not be relocated were moved to higher ground. Contingency plans were 
put in place to ensure continuity of operations.
  Across the installation, scores of airmen turned out to answer the 
call and move sensitive electronics and valuable equipment away from 
the reach of damage, fighting as a team against the oncoming flood.
  Personnel worked around the clock to fortify facilities with more 
than 235,000 sandbags and 460 flood barriers to minimize damage as much 
as possible. These men and women mounted a Herculean effort to defend 
their base and do everything possible to protect their fellow airmen.
  Across Offutt, we have seen a remarkable demonstration of what makes 
this base so very special: everyday airmen offering to do all they 
could to protect the base, personnel working tirelessly to ensure the 
highly critical operations of STRATCOM and

[[Page S2315]]

the 55th Wing were not negatively impacted, and, above all, a unifying 
spirit of dedication and purpose that showed the world that, when 
disaster strikes, there is nothing that can keep the men and women of 
Offutt Air Force Base from answering the call of duty.
  I am extremely proud to have the privilege of representing everyone 
who makes this base such a key part of our national security. There is 
no finer representation of what it means to serve than the selfless 
work of the personnel at Offutt who responded to this emergency.
  Despite the outstanding efforts made in preparation for this natural 
disaster, Mother Nature took a toll on the base. At the flood's peak, 
one-third of Offutt Air Force Base was underwater. Eighty facilities at 
the base have been impacted, and waters crested at a depth of 16 feet. 
More than 3,000 personnel were displaced from their work centers, and 
1.2 million square feet of office space was underwater.
  The damage across the installation is extensive, and it will take a 
concerted effort to ensure that the impacts from the flooding are 
resolved and that the base is fully restored.
  I urge my colleagues to work together with the Nebraska delegation to 
ensure that when the full accounting of the impacts from the flood are 
assessed, we provide the Air Force with the full resourcing it needs to 
repair that damage.
  The good news is, our service men and women at Offutt are already 
hard at work on the process of putting Offutt back on its feet.
  As the water recedes, personnel have been working hard to account for 
the damage and take action to resume the operations that were suspended 
as a result of this disaster.
  One of the signature sounds of the Bellevue, NE, community is the 
distant rumble of the engines of the aircraft that depart from and land 
at Offutt every day. During the flooding, that unmistakable sound was 
absent. Now that sound is back at Offutt.
  Last week, the runway was certified for operation, and the first of 
our relocated planes came home.
  We should not operate under any misperceived notions that repairing 
Offutt will happen overnight. This is going to be a step-by-step 
process. But with the hard work of the Air Force, Congress, and the 
local community, we can rebuild Offutt Air Force Base even better than 
it was before.
  I wish to offer my thanks to everyone at Offutt Air Force Base who 
dedicated their time and energy to responding to this disaster. I also 
want to thank the heroic men and women of the Nebraska National Guard 
who provided aerial damage assessment during the flooding. Thank you to 
the countless members of the Bellevue and Omaha communities who donated 
food, equipment, and offered to volunteer during the flooding.
  As we look to the days ahead, I am confident that both Offutt and 
Nebraska will emerge from this disaster stronger.
  Now is a time when we must focus on the future. We will rebuild and 
ensure that Offutt remains Nebraska Strong.
  Thank you.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.