Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Protecting the Good Life: Securing the Border and Strengthening Defense
Lasting prosperity depends on lasting security. No nation can thrive without secure borders and a strong military. The One Big Beautiful Bill is the strongest national security and border security package in American history. This bill protects the good life in Nebraska.
Under the Biden Administration, every state was a border state. Illegal immigration has real consequences for every state, including Nebraska. We have seen the flow of fentanyl, the rise of human trafficking, and its terrible consequences on Nebraskans. We have lost young lives like Taryn Lee Griffith. This bill gives law enforcement the tools to fight back and protect our communities while restoring the rule of law.
Nebraska families deserve a federal government that secures our border and enforces the law. President Biden oversaw 10.5 million illegal border encounters. We are still seeing the effects of the Biden Border Crisis in Nebraska. Just last week, authorities arrested two members of the violent MS-13 gang in Omaha. The One Big Beautiful Bill responds with a historic investment in border security. It includes $46.5 billion to complete the border wall system, including roads, fiber, sensors, and cameras. It provides $10 billion in grants to reimburse states for the costs of Biden’s federal failure. Another $6.1 billion goes to cutting-edge surveillance tools that will give Border Patrol agents better eyes on the ground. The bill also creates jobs by providing funding for the hiring of 16,000 new immigration and customs agents. In addition, it expands detention capacity to end catch-and-release.
The security threats we face do not stop at our borders. We must also deter foreign adversaries and threats. Nebraska’s airmen, missile programs, and military bases help defend our country every day. We are proud to host key parts of America’s defense infrastructure. Nebraskans understand the importance of peace through strength.
The One Big Beautiful Bill includes over a $150 billion dollar investment in American defense. This bill makes it clear to Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea that we will meet any threats with force and resolve. It strengthens the Defense Production Act, so our military supply chains remain resilient and ready for any challenge. The bill includes $25 billion for the Golden Dome, a layered missile defense shield that will protect Americans from evolving threats. The bill provides $29 billion for shipbuilding and expanding the maritime industrial base. That includes funds for a Virginia-class submarine, two destroyers, new oilers, and unmanned surface vehicles. There’s funding for the advanced X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. The bill’s funding goes to developing the B-21 bomber fleet, ramping up munitions production, and applying artificial intelligence to the battlefield. Through these investments, we are demonstrating peace through strength.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also helps reverse dangerous recruitment trends in our military. Under President Trump, we are already seeing record-breaking recruitment numbers. We are renewing the warrior spirit. That is good news for America’s readiness. It’s bad news for America’s adversaries.
For Nebraska, the bill brings real investment. It includes $2.5 billion for risk reduction activities tied to the Sentinel ICBM program. This system will be partly based in Western Nebraska. It also directs $168 million to accelerate production of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, also known as SAOC, at Offutt Air Force Base. These investments will mean more jobs, more innovation, and a stronger defense posture right here in Nebraska.
The One Big Beautiful Bill keeps America secure and protects Nebraskans. It honors the brave women and men who serve in uniform, defend our borders, and operate across our state. As President Trump responds to rising global threats and reverses Biden’s open borders, this bill gives our nation the resources to act. The One Big Beautiful Bill protects Nebraska and protects America.