Legislature votes to fund College of Nursing facility

There will be a new facility for the Lincoln division of the College of Nursing, after all.

The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee met Tuesday and recommended an override of Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto of funding for the new facility.

On Tuesday evening, the Legislature voted 34-5 to override the veto.

In all, the Legislature appropriated $12 million toward construction of the Lincoln facility. An additional $5.5 million in private support and other funding will be necessary to build the facility.

“We could not be more grateful to the senators who supported this initiative,” said Bob Bartee, UNMC vice chancellor for external affairs.
“This project will help to alleviate future shortages of nurses, particularly in southeastern Nebraska, improving the collective health of citizens throughout this region and beyond.”

The new facility has been UNMC’s highest capital priority for the past six years, and it was widely supported in the Legislature this year prior to the veto.