{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"NE\" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=836", "BACON STATEMENT AFTER FY22 NDAA SIGNED INTO LAW", "2021-12-28", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASINGTON, DC \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law:\n\n\u201cIt was good for America\u2019s national security that the President signed the FY22 NDAA into law, a major milestone that restores our military readiness, strengthens relations with our allies, and provides the necessary assistance and support to our military and their family members. While we have made tremendous strides, this is just the beginning. Our allies and enemies are watching our every move, and our national security strategy is being tested. As we look to 2022, we need to remain vigilant. I will continue to work diligently on both sides of the aisle and with both Chambers to keep crafting defense legislation that ensures our Armed Forces can deter aggression and dominate in every domain.\u201d\n\nA summary of the FY22 NDAA can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-announces-upcoming-staff-mobile-offices", "Smith Announces Upcoming Staff Mobile Offices", "2021-12-27", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) are invited to meet with a representative of his office at an upcoming Mobile Offices in Harrison, Alliance, Rushville, and Chadron.\n\nAt mobile offices, Third District residents can meet directly with one of Smith's staff members about federal issues and take advantage of the services available through his office.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will provide his mobile office and a staff member at the following times and locations:\n\nMonday, January 3rd\n\nSioux County Courthouse\n\n325 Main Street, Harrison\n\n2:00pm to 3:00pm MT\n\nWednesday, January 5th\n\nBox Butte County Courthouse\n\n515 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance\n\n11:00am to 12:00pm MT\n\nTuesday, January 18th\n\nSheridan County Courthouse\n\n303 East 2nd Street, Rushville\n\n11:30am to 12:30pm MT\n\nTuesday, January 25th\n\nDawes County Courthouse\n\n451 Main Street, Chadron\n\n10:00am to 11:00am MT", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=835", "Bacon Votes No to Increasing Debt Limit", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after voting no to increase the debt ceiling:\n\n\u201cOur country is already nearly $29 trillion in debt, and we cannot continue to increase it without a long-term plan to address our country\u2019s out of control spending. Additionally, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer clearly want to use this to ram through President Biden\u2019s \u2018Build Back Broke\u2019 act that, according to the CBO, costs closer to $5 trillion when the budget gimmicks are removed. Using the CBO scores, the Democrat leadership is trying to push a total of $7 trillion in spending without a single GOP vote. Our country is facing a debt crisis and it is triggering out-of-control inflation that is hurting American families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=834", "Bacon Introduces Bill to Ease Backlog in SNAP", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bacon today introduced H.R. 6203, the Emergency Snap Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021 to allow contractors to determine the eligibility of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients:\n\n\u201cStates need more flexibility in the process for determining eligibility for SNAP programs, which provide food to those who are in need. There is an extended backlog in the review of SNAP applications and this legislation will allow States to work with contractors to process the applications in a quicker and more efficient manner.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-sponsored-bills-pass-house", "Smith Sponsored Bills Pass House", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 4996) and Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 (H.R. 5609) today. Smith championed both pieces of legislation.\n\n\"The Ocean Shipping Reform Act and Cattle Contract Library Act are crucial to farmers, ranchers, and consumers all across Nebraska,\" said Smith. \"I applaud the passage of both bills today as they will benefit not only the Third District, but the agriculture industry, and its exports, nationwide. I encourage swift passage as the bills move to the Senate.\"\n\nThe Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 offers more transparency to the complex beef market by establishing a library for cattle contracts within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service. Similar to the existing Swine Contract Library, this library would provide cattle producers with useful information from meat packers.\n\nFollowing the letter Congressman Smith led to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in March that raised the alarm about foreign ocean carriers leaving U.S. ports with empty containers, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 would update regulations enforced by the FMC and prohibit ocean carriers from \"unreasonably\" refusing U.S. exports.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=832", "BACON APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF 2022 NDAA", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) joined his House colleagues in voting for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The bill passed by an overwhelming majority of 363 to 70.\n\n\u201cPolitical gridlock should never stand between the American people and the security of the United States,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cFor the 61st consecutive year, Congress has prioritized our national security interests by modernizing our conventional and nuclear deterrence capabilities, supporting Gold Star families, and bolstering our national strategy to combat any aggression or threats from foreign adversaries. I applaud my colleagues in the House and Senate for their bipartisanship commitment to get this bill across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cRep. Bacon has been an effective leader on the House Armed Services Committee. As a veteran, he has been laser focused on ensuring that our servicemembers have the funding and tools they need to be prepared for conflict. The NDAA is critical for our national security \u2013 which is why it has always enjoyed bipartisan and bicameral support. I thank Rep. Bacon for his work on this incredibly important piece of legislation,\u201d said Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL).\n\nThe 2022 NDAA:\n\nAuthorizes $768 billion for national defense including significant investments in the defense workforce and critical technologies including artificial intelligence, space, autonomous systems, and hypersonic weapons.\n\nThis funding level includes an increase of $25 billion above the original amount requested by President Biden which members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees believed was insufficient.\n\nFully funds modernization of the nuclear weapons enterprise to replace aging systems and reverse the dangerous decline in the effectiveness and reliability of America\u2019s nuclear deterrent.\n\nAuthorizes a 2.7% pay increase, establishes a basic needs allowance for servicemembers, and requires actions to improve childcare and support for military families with special needs.\n\nEstablishes an independent commission to review the war in Afghanistan, including the disastrous withdrawal, and present its findings and recommendations to Congress.\n\nThe 2022 NDAA also includes the following legislative provisions championed by Rep. Bacon:\n\n\u00b7 Authorizes $150 million for Baltic security.\n\n\u00b7 Authorizes an increase of $100 million in military construction funding for flood reconstruction at Offutt Air Force Base.\n\n\u00b7 Authorizes $50 million to recapitalize privatized military housing at Offutt AFB.\n\n\u00b7 Authorizes an increase of $10 million for USSTRATCOM\u2019s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) rapid engineering architecture collaboration hub (REACH) initiative at Offutt AFB.\n\n\u00b7 Accelerates advanced mission system development and engine procurement for the EC-37B \u201cCompass Call\u201d electronic warfare replacement aircraft operated by the 55th Wing.\n\n\u00b7 Directs the Secretary of Defense to reform military casualty assistance programs.\n\n\u00b7 Directs the Secretary of Defense to review the current categorization system for unmanned aerial systems.\n\n\u00b7 Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish an executive agent for foreign language continuing education.\n\nAdditionally, during negotiations with the Senate, agreement was reached to remove the following provisions from the final version of the 2022 NDAA:\n\n\u00b7 Language authorizing so-called \u201cRed Flag\u201d extra-judicial personal firearm confiscation\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring women to register for the Selective Service System\n\n\u00b7 Language placing the District of Columbia National Guard under the command authority of the Mayor of Washington D.C.\n\n\u201cThis comprehensive defense policy bill strengthens the security of the United States and safeguards the freedoms, opportunities, and prosperity of all Americans,\u201d added Bacon. \u201cOnce again, this year\u2019s NDAA is a win for the country, the state of Nebraska, and our local economy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-opposes-partisan-short-term-spending-bill", "Smith Opposes Partisan Short-Term Spending Bill", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after opposing Democrats' short-term federal spending bill, which passed the House on a 221-212 vote:\n\n\"This resolution is a symptom of two major problems: Democrats' singular focus on their social spending package and Democrats' unwillingness to stand down from extreme policy proposals like unlimited taxpayer funding of abortion.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-announces-upcoming-staff-mobile-office", "Smith Announces Upcoming Staff Mobile Office", "2021-11-29", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) are invited to meet with a representative of his office at an upcoming Mobile Office in Beatrice.\n\nAt mobile offices, Third District residents can meet directly with one of Smith's staff members about federal issues and take advantage of the services available through his office.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will provide his mobile office and a staff member at the following time and location:\n\nWednesday, December 8\n\nBeatrice Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism\n\nBoard Room\n\n218 North 5th Street, Beatrice\n\n11:00am to 12:00pm CT", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=830", "BACON 2021 THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION", "2021-11-25", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb.\u2014 Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement in observance of Thanksgiving Day, which will be celebrated on November 25, 2021:\n\n\u201cOn this Thanksgiving Day, I reflect on our many blessings and freedoms. I\u2019m thankful to our Heavenly Father for the love and mercy He gives us. I am thankful to Him that we live in the greatest country in the world where we are free, have equality under the law and the opportunity to achieve our dreams. No matter where you reside or who you are with this holiday season, our family, faith, and freedoms remain intact, thanks to the thousands of U.S. service members here at home and abroad. It is because of them that we are able to sleep at night, knowing our rights and liberties are protected from those who don\u2019t agree with us.\n\n\u201cLet us also remember the thousands of servicemembers who paid the ultimate price, including Corporal Daegen Page from Omaha, who was one of the 13 service men and women we lost during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Freedom is not free, and each generation has had heroes who defend our great land. I salute and thank the thousands of service members who are currently deployed, and who faithfully served our country as well as the many first responders who protect us all this Thanksgiving.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-costa-lead-over-70-lawmakers-urging-biden-administration-hold-mexico", "Smith, Costa Lead Over 70 Lawmakers in Urging Biden Administration to hold Mexico Accountable on Biotech Policies", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Jim Costa (D-CA) led a bipartisan group of more than 70 members in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to seek assurances from Mexican President L\u00f3pez Obrador that Mexico will abide by the biotech provisions established in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Since 2018, biotech application approvals by Mexico have come to a standstill, impacting corn, apples, canola, cotton, soybeans, and potatoes. President L\u00f3pez Obrador also announced the intent to phase out certain agricultural technologies, including biotech corn for human consumption, by 2024.\n\nIn addition to the uncertainty caused by these policies for American farmers and the agriculture sector, these actions violate the biotechnology provisions in the USMCA. The letter stresses the importance of the Biden Administration holding Mexico accountable using enforcement tools established by the USMCA.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n\"Mexico is a critical market for Nebraska and American agriculture products alike,\" said Smith. \"Our farmers rely on biotech traits to increase yields, improve soil health, and improve input efficiency. We must reaffirm Mexico's commitment to the biotech provisions in the USMCA and ensure President L\u00f3pez Obrador's policies to ban certain biotechnology does not come to fruition. The Biden Administration cannot allow for such requirements to be ignored by such an important trading partner. Nebraska corn and soybean farmers depend on it.\"\n\n\"Biotechnology has a significant role in food security,\" said Costa. \"Changing climate conditions, the economic impacts of the pandemic and growing populations are straining our food system. Integrating new technologies into agriculture is one way that we can prepare for change. We must do all we can to remove trade barriers and advocate for innovation toward more sustainable agriculture.\"\n\n\"Nebraska's corn farmers are thankful for Reps. Adrian Smith and Jim Costa, along with many congressional leaders, in organizing a letter to the Biden Administration outlining our concerns,\" said Andy Jobman, Nebraska Corn Growers Association President. \"Mexico's lack of approval of science-based biotechnology innovations and following provisions within the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is detrimental to our farmers who rely on this key market.\"\n\n\"America's corn farmers are appreciative of Congressional leaders weighing in on this important issue and raising their concerns that Mexico is backsliding on its USMCA commitments,\" said Chris Edgington, National Corn Growers Association President. \"If Mexico's actions go unchecked U.S. corn farmers run the risk of having to choose between losing what is typically our largest and most reliable export market or losing access to important production tools and innovation that are critical for deploying sustainable production practices.\"\n\n\"BIO appreciates Representatives Smith and Costa's leadership on this issue because science is critical if we are to truly address climate change through agriculture,\" said Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, BIO's President and CEO. \"As I expressed when testifying on Capitol Hill this past summer, Mexico's unscientific approach to products of agricultural biotechnology is only going to set us further back in tackling the climate crisis\u2014and will only hurt every day Mexicans struggling to put food on the table. Because Mexico is such an important trading partner, their rejection hampers our innovators ability to develop new, greener technologies like drought tolerant crops and plants that can capture and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The administration needs to urge Mexico to return to a science-based review process for imports of agricultural biotechnology so we can encourage sustainable agriculture and slow the impacts of climate change.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-opposes-partisan-social-spending-package", "Smith Opposes Partisan Social Spending Package", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives opposing Democrats' $1.7 trillion partisan social spending package, the Build Back Better Act. The bill passed the House 220-213 on a party line vote.\n\n\"Our nation is in the midst of a workforce crisis, an inflation crisis, a supply chain crisis, and a border crisis,\" said Smith. \"Rather than govern and confront these challenges head on with policies that get Americans back to work, Democrats have pushed through new spending that makes these problems worse, especially for the individuals who can afford it the least.\"\n\nNote: Watch Congressman Smith's floor speech here.\n\nImage\n\nRemarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nMr. Speaker, I rise in opposition.\n\nIt seems the majority has seen everything Americans are angry about, and they are doubling down instead of addressing those problems.\n\nAmericans are angry about proposed million-dollar payments to illegal immigrants. This bill would give them amnesty and pay them even more money.\n\nAmericans are angry they can't get the IRS to answer the telephone. This bill spends 45 billion dollars to further weaponize the IRS.\n\nAmericans are angry store shelves are empty and prices are rising because of worker shortages. This bill pays people to stay home.\n\nAmericans can't get necessities like cars. In my district farm equipment sits unfinished because of chip shortages. 163N and the corporate minimum tax will make it harder for companies to reinvest in needed domestic supply chains.\n\nOur economy is burning. We need to get Americans back to work.\n\nThis bill is only going to make life harder and more expensive for the people you claim you are trying to help.\n\nI urge a no vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=818", "BACON RECEIVES ISEA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today was recognized by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) as one of the recipients of the 2021 Robert B. Hurley Distinguished Service Award. This award was established by the association to recognize those whose efforts have had a positive impact on workplace safety. Other recipients of the award are Representative Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Representative Jim Langevin (RI-02).\n\nISEA is the national trade association for personal protective equipment. It\u2019s members, including Valley, NE based 3M, design, manufacture, and supply equipment that saves lives, prevents injuries, and preserves health for workers around the world.\n\n\"I am extremely grateful to accept this year's Distinguished Service Award from ISEA,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cReps. Tonko, Langevin, and I worked together on the Health Care Workforce Protection Act of 2019 which proved to be vital during COVID-19, granting quicker manufacturing of respiratory protective devices for healthcare workers and first responders. Whether in a pandemic or not, it is important we always advocate for our manufacture workers and remove production obstacles to safeguard the health of those serving in the medical field.\"\n\nISEA\u2019s news release can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=819", "BACON OPPOSES BUILD BACK BETTER ACT, URGES COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced on the House floor that he will be voting against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act.\n\nA full clip of the video can be found here and some key quotes are below:\n\nPresident Biden, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Sanders have made it clear they want to transform America using Reconciliation and the so-called Build Back Better Act.\n\nThey\u2019re trying to do this with a 50-50 Senate, a 3-seat majority in the House out of 435 members, and a President that won by just two states.\n\nOur nation does not desire to be a giant welfare state with \u2018cradle to grave\u2019 government oversight controlling our lives.\n\nThe authors of this legislation have either misjudged or ignored where the country is at on these issues.\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nBacon Votes to Reopen the Government and End the Democrat Leadership Shutdown\n\nNovember 12, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nBusting the Myths About Taxes in the OBBB\n\nAugust 8, 2025 | Posted in eNewsletter\n\nLPS interim superintendent updates Rotary on federal funding, leadership search\n\nAugust 5, 2025 | Posted in In the News\n\nBacon Votes Yes on One Big Beautiful Bill\n\nJuly 3, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nHow they voted: Nebraska, Iowa representatives send Trump his \u2018Big Beautiful Bill\u2019\n\nJuly 3, 2025 | Posted in Articles", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=822", "BACON VOTES AGAINST CENSURE, WARNS FUTURE POLITICAL GRIDLOCK", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after voting against H. Res. 789, Censuring and Committee Removal of Representative Paul Gosar:\n\n\u201cGoing back to 1789, the majority in the House has never kicked members of the minority off of committees\u2014and Speaker Pelosi has made history by doing it four times this year. I denounce all forms of threats, violence, or perceived violence against Members, no matter the party. I could\u2019ve voted to censure but kicking people off their committee sets a terrible precedent that will come back to haunt the Democrats in 2023. This new precedence will become the normal, will damage the institution, and will exacerbate the hyper-partisan dysfunction in Washington. There is already a process in place for these instances and that is to refer it to the House Ethics Committee. They should review the case and determine the proper consequences.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=806", "BACON VOTES FOR BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan, hard infrastructure bill:\n\n\u201cFor months, I have expressed my support for the hard infrastructure bill that is supported by 70 percent of our district. Senators Fischer and Grassley also voted for this bipartisan bill which will fix our highways, seaports, and locks, and will provide more access to rural broadband. Further, most of the hard infrastructure bill is paid for by unspent COVID money that was already appropriated by Congress. This bill makes our nation stronger and more competitive for years to come.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake. This is not the Bernie Sanders\u2019 Socialist Budget Busting Bill, which would\u2019ve cost American taxpayers their hard-earned money. When that bill does come to the floor for a vote, I will be a hard \u2018NO.\u2019 Congress holds the purse, and we owe it to our constituents to remain fiscally conservative with our federal spending. They are the ones who will pick up the tab, and I believe they deserve better.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=805", "BACON URGES DEMOCRATS TO PROTECT AMERICANS\u2019 POCKETS", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today attended a press conference asking his Democratic colleagues in both the House and Senate to urge Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer to postpone any vote on the reconciliation bill until CBO has scored and released a full analysis of the final text.\n\nA letter was signed by almost every Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise, Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, and House Budget Committee Ranking Member Jason Smith.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden promised he would work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done in D.C., but he has broken that promise. We are more divided than ever as we blindly vote on bills without knowing the cost,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cI thank the few Democrat colleagues of mine who have asked for the dollar amount, and I urge them to stay strong and stand up against Speaker Pelosi\u2019s effort to break the rules, costing American taxpayers their hard-earned money. Congress holds the purse, and we owe it to our constituents to remain fiscally conservative with our federal spending.\u201d\n\nPhotos from today\u2019s press conference can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-seeks-answers-about-plan-pay-illegal-immigrants", "Smith Seeks Answers About Plan to Pay Illegal Immigrants", "2021-11-03", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined over 70 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra amid reports the Biden Administration is considering paying $450,000 per person to families who illegally crossed the southern border in 2018.\n\n\"There is a serious crisis at our southern border,\" said Smith. \"We cannot be encouraging more illegal immigrants to come into our country unlawfully by providing payouts to those who came in 2018. I am deeply concerned by these reports.\"\n\nThese reports come from a Wall Street Journal exclusive article titled, \"U.S. in Talks to Pay Hundreds of Millions to Families Separated at Border.\"\n\nRead the full letter here or below:\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas, Attorney General Garland, and Secretary Becerra:\n\nAccording to an October 28th Wall Street Journal article, the Biden administration is considering offering almost $1 million per family to those who were taken into custody and separated after illegally crossing our southern border. If finalized, the total settlement could reach $1 billion or more. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a litany of issues created by extreme policy changes that have led to the ongoing, persistent, and preventable historic humanitarian crisis at our border. These changes have signaled to human traffickers and drug cartels that the United States southern border is open for business, so long as you are not entering legally.\n\nWhile immigration has been a bedrock of the United States since its founding, we should not be creating policy that encourages individuals to illegally enter our country by traveling thousands of miles through some of the most dangerous parts of the world organized by international criminal syndicates responsible for thousands of murders throughout Mexico and the U.S. \u2013 all during a global pandemic. Furthermore, it is ironic that this administration would focus on the well-being of illegal immigrants when, in July 2021, several whistleblowers came forward to shed light on the deplorable conditions at a Ft. Bliss detention center responsible for overseeing the care of more than 5,000 children. The reports claimed that COVID spread among the kids, contractors hired by the Department of Health and Human Services lacked childcare experience, and it took months to receive supplies to quell a lice outbreak among the young people. Unconscionably, bureaucrats in Washington advised those on the ground to paint a rosy picture and to not allow the public to find out how decrepit the conditions were.\n\nThe family separation policy was ended in June 2018, and, in some cases, already resolved for far less than the reported figures this administration is discussing. To better understand this negotiation, we request you answer the below questions expeditiously.\n\nIs the reporting correct and could families who illegally crossed the southern border and were separated receive larger settlements than the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack?\n\nWhat is the total amount of American taxpayer dollars that the administration plans to authorize to settle these cases?\n\nWill those families who illegally crossed the southern border and were separated be given preferential treatment to remain in the United States over those attempting to legally immigrate?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=794", "BACON CONGRATULATES YOUNGKIN, SEARS, MIYARES ON DECISIVE WINS", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "\u201cCongratulations to Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears and Jason Miyares on their respective elections in Virginia, a state that went for Joe Biden by 10% just 12 months ago. Glenn ran a positive campaign focused on improving state services, getting businesses fully opened again, and improving the local schools. More importantly, this election largely reflects what the nation is seeing and what they are concerned about: a growing \u2018Bernie Sanders styled\u2019 welfare state that has huge taxes, rising inflation, and control of our everyday lives. It is clear tonight that Virginians feel the same way and tonight they shot across the bow of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to start governing from the center and to stop trying to transform our country with a 50/50 Senate and 3-seat majority in the House.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=790", "BACON INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN CYBER SECURITY LEGISLATION", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced H.R. 5658, the DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act, which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess its cyber incident response plans and procedures.\n\n\u201cAmericans are alarmed at the dramatic increase in cyber-attacks on private companies, including the recent ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline and the JBS meatpacking facility in Nebraska,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThe federal response to these cyber incidents was inadequate and exposed gaps and confusion in how we defend our critical infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe May 2021 attack on Colonial Pipeline was the largest cyberattack on energy infrastructure in American history causing significant disruptions to gasoline and aviation fuel delivery throughout the Southeast. Days later JBS, the world\u2019s largest meat supplier, was forced to suspend operations at nine processing facilities in the United States following a similar ransomware attack.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear that our cyber incident response framework must evolve to match the threat,\u201d added Bacon. \u201cThis bill will set the conditions for improvements in our national cyber defenses by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a thorough review of its cyber incident response plans, including how it works with private sector entities, and provide recommendations for improvement.\u201d\n\nOriginal co-sponsors of H.R. 5658 include three members of the House Committee on Homeland Security: Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY); Ranking Committee Republican Rep. John Katko (R-NY); and Ranking Republican of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). Bacon previously served on the Committee from 2017-2019.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-introduces-bill-establish-cattle-contract-library", "Smith Introduces Bill to Establish Cattle Contract Library", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation aims to provide more transparency in the market by creating a library for cattle contracts within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agriculture Marketing Service Department.\n\nLearn more about the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 (H.R. 5609) here.\n\n\"I am glad to introduce the bipartisan Cattle Contract Library Act today to provide support for Nebraska's cattle industry,\" said Smith. \"Establishing a library for cattle contracts, similar to the pork contract library already in effect, will enhance transparency and leverage opportunities for the small producers who are critical to feeding the nation.\"\n\nIndustry leaders representing cattle country issued statements in support of the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021:\n\n\"Cattle markets are complex. There is no single silver bullet solution to address the many challenges present within the fed cattle marketing arena at this point,\" said William H. Rhea, III \u2013 President, Nebraska Cattlemen. \"We appreciate the support of Representative Smith and others towards additional transparency in the fed cattle market, but we cannot stop here.\"\n\n\"For far too long, farmers and ranchers have operated under uncertainty in the beef markets, forced to accept rock bottom payments while the cost of beef goes up at the grocery store,\" said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. \"The Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 would provide critical information regarding how cattle are contracted and sold. We appreciate Congressman Dusty Johnson for working to provide tools to America's farmers and ranchers as they ensure healthy, affordable beef is on dinner tables across the country.\"\n\n\"Greater competition, price discovery, and transparency are desperately needed in cattle markets,\" said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union (NFU). \"NFU thanks Representative Johnson for introducing a bill that will direct USDA to establish a contract library for the cattle industry. This is an important tool that will help producers negotiate more favorable terms for their cattle. Instituting this new policy will be a helpful step in bringing greater fairness and competition to cattle markets.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=788", "Bacon Statement on Bannon Vote", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after voting against holding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress:\n\n\u201cI supported a bipartisan commission to investigate what January 6 and warned that the alternative was a partisan select committee where Speaker Pelosi would veto Republican members from being on the committee. And it happened. For the first time in the history of Congress, the Speaker vetoed minority members who were nominated by their party. By doing so, she delegitimized this select committee by her partisanship and I won\u2019t facilitate her behavior.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smiths-office-announces-upcoming-staff-mobile-office-hours", "Smith\u2019s Office Announces Upcoming Staff Mobile Office Hours", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) are invited to meet with a representative of his office at mobile offices throughout the month of October and November in Rushville, Kearney, Wayne, South Sioux City, Sidney, York, and Hastings.\n\nAt mobile offices, Third District residents can meet directly with one of Smith's staff members about federal issues and take advantage of the services available through his office.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will provide his mobile office and a staff member at the following times and locations:\n\nTuesday, October 26\n\nSheridan County Courthouse\n\n303 East 2nd Street, Rushville\n\n11:00am to 12:00pm MT\n\nKearney Chamber of Commerce\n\n1007 2nd Avenue, Kearney\n\n4:00pm \u2013 5:00pm CT\n\nThursday, October 28\n\nWayne Area Economic Development \u2013 The Max\n\n109 Main Street, Wayne\n\n11:30am \u2013 12:45pm CT\n\nSouth Sioux City, City Hall\n\n1615 1st Avenue, South Sioux City\n\n1:30pm \u2013 2:30pm CT\n\nMonday, November 1\n\nCheyenne County Courthouse\n\n1000 10th Avenue, Sidney\n\n9:00am to 10:00am MT\n\nYork Chamber of Commerce\n\n603 North Lincoln Avenue, York\n\n10:00am to 12:00pm CT\n\nHastings Area Chamber of Commerce\n\n301 S. Burlington Avenue, Hastings\n\n1:30pm \u2013 2:30pm CT", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=787", "Bacon Re-introduces Orozco Legislation", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today re-introduced H.R. 5636, the Kerrie Orozco First Responders Act, which allows the immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner despite the death of their loved one. Under current law, the surviving family members of first responders who have pending immigration applications face delays in the naturalization process.\n\nThe legislation, named after Omaha Police Officer and mother Kerrie Orozco who was slain by a gang member in the line of duty on May 20, 2015 passed the House on September 25, 2018, with a voice vote. However, it was not introduced in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI am not going to lose sight of the loss suffered by Officer Orozco\u2019s husband Hector and their daughter, and the fact that as a single parent he has an enormous responsibility,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cEvery day, our first responders put their personal lives and safety at risk while protecting our communities. This legislation honors those first responders.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank Orozco family attorney Kristin Fearnow for her diligent work, as well as former Congressman Brad Ashford who introduced similar legislation in 2016 named after Officer Orozco,\u201dadded Bacon. \u201cI introduced this in 2018 and 2019 and believe we can hit a home run with it this session.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-hosts-consul-mexico-nebraska-agriculture-tour", "Smith Hosts the Consul of Mexico in Nebraska for Agriculture Tour", "2021-10-15", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, welcomed the Consul of Mexico of Omaha, Guadalupe Sanchez, to Nebraska's Third District on Wednesday, October 6th for an agriculture tour of York County\n\nPhoto available for download here", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-introduces-bill-protect-telehealth-flexibility-after-covid-19", "Smith Introduces Bill to Protect Telehealth Flexibility After COVID-19", "2021-10-01", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), David B. McKinley (R-WV), and Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the Protecting Telehealth Access Act this week. The bipartisan legislation ensures rural health providers will be able to continue operating and treating patients by making telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent.\n\nRoughly 60 million people\u2014nearly one in five Americans\u2014live in rural areas and depend on these rural health providers for care. Across the U.S., 136 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, with 20 closing in 2020 alone, a record year for closures. Rural Americans on average are older and have high rates of chronic health conditions.\n\n\"Rural health providers have effectively demonstrated how successful the current temporary telehealth authorizations can be in improving rural access to care,\" said Smith. \"By making these rules permanent we can build on that success to further enhance health access in rural communities.\"\n\n\"Arizona's First Congressional District is rich in history, diversity of cultures, and stunning, sweeping landscapes, and is one of the most rural districts in the country,\" said O'Halleran. \"Regulatory burdens loosened to accommodate COVID changes should be made permanent so rural residents can more easily and affordably access quality health care options including telehealth and audio-only telehealth. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan bill.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=774", "Bacon Issues Statement on Biden\u2019s Blank Check", "2021-09-29", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after voting no to raise the debt ceiling:\n\n\u201cI share the concern of most Nebraskans that our country\u2019s debt continues to grow, and that Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats just signed a blank check for President Biden. Today\u2019s vote gives President Biden the green light to spend without restriction through December 16, 2022. It is irresponsible to not place a specific amount and allow this Administration to go on a shopping spree. Further, the Dems are trying to spend $6.2 trillion without a single GOP vote but don\u2019t want to be candid on how high they want to raise the debt limit.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=772", "BACON READY TO LISTEN TO TESTIMONY, HEAR FROM DOD LEADERSHIP AT HASC HEARING", "2021-09-28", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement ahead of the House Armed Services Committee hearing on \u201cEnding the U.S. Military Mission in Afghanistan.\u201d The committee will receive testimony from Department of Defense leadership on the issues surrounding the decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan and the consequences of the President\u2019s actions.\n\n\u201cI look forward to Secretary Austin, General Milley, and General McKenzie\u2019s testimony at tomorrow\u2019s HASC hearing. We need answers on how the President\u2019s decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan has become the worst national security debacle in a generation and why we left behind fellow Americans and Afghan allies. I served in the Air Force for nearly 30 years and unquestionably know that we should never leave Americans and allies behind. Now, our enemies are emboldened, and our nation is vulnerable to future attacks.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=770", "BACON APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF 2022 NDAA, READY TO CONFRONT EMERGING THREATS", "2021-09-24", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 4350, the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House:\n\n\u201cOnce again, the House of Representatives has fulfilled its Constitutional responsibility by passing a defense authorization for the 61st consecutive year. Working closely with my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee, we have crafted a comprehensive defense bill that advances national security and supports our service members and military families. I am especially pleased that this legislation includes a bi-partisan agreement to reverse the Administration\u2019s proposed funding reductions and keeps our defense budget level with inflation.\n\n\u201cThe recent debacle in Afghanistan has emboldened our adversaries, weakened our alliances, and left us vulnerable to future attacks. With our allies and enemies now questioning America\u2019s resolve, I am determined that we remain ready to confront threats with strength. This bill delivers on this promise. I look forward to the Senate completing work on its defense bill and sending legislation to the President\u2019s desk later this year.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Rep. Bacon\u2019s 21 amendments adopted by the Committee, H.R. 4350 also includes dozens of his proposals and priorities including:\n\nAuthorizes $778 billion for national defense programs, an amount that keeps defense spending level with inflation\n\nProvides our troops a 2.7 percent pay raise and supports their families with the pay and benefits they deserve\n\nEnsures robust funding to modernize America\u2019s nuclear deterrent forces including the B-21 bomber, Columbia-Class submarine, and the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent ballistic missile replacement programs\n\nAuthorizes an increase of $20 million for USSTRATCOM\u2019s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) nuclear command, control & communications (NC3) modernization initiative\n\nProvides $15 million to continue a pilot program advancing civilian-military partnerships to enhance national medical surge capacity affiliated with UNMC\u2019s NExT Project\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to assess and recommend reforms to Gold Star and casualty assistance policies and programs\n\nFully funds requested mission upgrades to RC-135, WC-135 and E-4B aircraft based at Offutt Air Force Base\n\nDeters Russian aggression by directing increased funding for the Baltic Security Initiative\n\nMakes improvements to Department of Defense assessment procedures for wind energy projects\n\nEstablishes a national commission on the War in Afghanistan\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=771", "Bacon Statement on Support for Life and Vote Against Taxpayer Funded Abortions and Late-Term Abortions", "2021-09-24", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after voting to defend life:\n\n\u201cI stand with life and voted against the extreme federal pro-abortion bill today. It would have led to taxpayer funding of abortions and would remove late term abortion bans among other adopted pro-life laws in place by various states, including overturning Nebraska\u2019s ban on dismemberment abortions which has wide support in our state. I\u2019m grateful for the pro-life women in Nebraska like Deb Fischer and Jean Stothert, as well as those in Congress who spoke out for life today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-and-biofuels-caucus-co-chairs-call-out-president-biden-failed-rfs", "Smith and Biofuels Caucus Co-Chairs Call Out President Biden on Failed RFS Promises", "2021-09-22", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013Today, Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), and Rodney Davis (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the House Biofuels Caucus, sent a letter urging President Biden to uphold campaign promises he made regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).\n\nRecent reports indicate the Biden Administration is taking steps to weaken Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) which would reduce the demand for biofuels, an action President Biden strongly condemned under the Trump Administration.\n\n\"If your Administration makes the unprecedented move to reopen the finalized 2020 RVO, and strip the demand for billions of gallons, the industry will certainly be devastated,\" said the members. \"As you stated, \"Lip service won't make up for nearly four years of retroactive damage that's decimated our trade economy and forced ethanol plants to shutter.\" If these rumors are correct, demand for over 5 billion gallons of renewable, clean fuels will be lost.\"\n\nIn June, members of the Biofuels Caucus raised concerns about rumored plans to circumvent RFS in favor of the oil industry.\n\nRead the full letter here or below:\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe are deeply disappointed by the rumors that indicate your Administration is reversing course on its promises as it relates to upholding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During your campaign, just over a year ago, you said that former President Donald J. Trump \"could have made explicit his imperative to stand with American farmers by reversing harmful waivers and setting strong levels for 2021i,\" and yet, we understand that the forthcoming Renewable Volumes Obligation (RVO) will cut the demand for more combined gallons of ethanol than all gallons cut due to Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) issued by the prior Administration.\n\nIf your Administration makes the unprecedented move to reopen the finalized 2020 RVO, and strip the demand for billions of gallons, the industry will certainly be devastated. As you stated, \"Lip service won't make up for nearly four years of retroactive damage that's decimated our trade economy and forced ethanol plants to shutter.\" If these rumors are correct, demand for over 5 billion gallons of renewable, clean fuels will be lost.\n\nBiofuels production is a major piece of the rural economy in our districts, therefore, we strongly urge you to direct your EPA to reconsider the rule to ensure that your Administration makes good on these promises to \"fight for family farmers and revitalize rural economies\u2026 by ushering in a new era of biofuels.\"\n\nBoth oil refiners and ethanol refiners were hurt by decreased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while we hope that markets will continue to rebound, it is now more important than ever to uphold the law and ensure our domestic biofuels producers have certainty through fulfilling the statutory obligation of 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol, annually, along with a strong overall RVO.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=765", "BACON RECEIVES AEM\u2019S FIRST-EVER \u201cCHAMPION OF THE INDUSTRY AWARD\u201d", "2021-09-22", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) presented their first-ever AEM Champion of the Industry Award this week to U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.), alongside Representative Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). The AEM Champion of the Industry Award recognizes members of Congress from both sides of the aisle for their outstanding support for the equipment manufacturing industry and their efforts to advance bipartisan, commonsense solutions to the country\u2019s toughest challenges.\n\nThe AEM Champion of the Industry, AEM\u2019s most prestigious recognition, is reserved for one Democrat and one Republican from each chamber who have championed legislation important to equipment manufacturers and have demonstrated a commitment to work across the aisle in support of common objectives. Candidates are considered and approved by the AEM Government and Public Affairs Committee.\n\n\u201cI am humbled to be one of the first ever recipients of the AEM Champion of the Industry award and thank them for the recognition,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cAmerica\u2019s equipment manufacturers provide good stable jobs for nearly three million Americans and legislative policies that support the growth of the industry are paramount to its success.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are proud to recognize Senators Joni Ernst and Amy Klobuchar and Representatives Don Bacon and Cheri Bustos who earned this distinction for being steadfast champions of our industry and tireless advocates for the issues that are critical to the long-term success of equipment manufacturing in America,\u201d said Kip Eideberg, AEM senior vice president of government and industry relations. \u201cThroughout their time in Congress, these lawmakers have consistently recognized the important contributions of equipment manufacturers and worked to encourage a strong and vibrant industry.\u201d\n\nAEM is the North American-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry supports 2.8 million jobs in the U.S. Equipment manufacturers also contribute $288 billion a year to the U.S. economy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=762", "Bacon Announces First Win in Passing CHIP IN Reauthorization", "2021-09-21", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebr.) today celebrated the news that his legislation H.R. 3888, which reauthorizes the CHIP IN for Vets Act for an additional five years was included as part of an annual extenders bill that was passed in the House. The legislation allows local communities across the country to assist with the planning and construction of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, had introduced the bipartisan bicameral legislation in the House with Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn), while U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.\n\n\u201cNebraska\u2019s 2nd district benefitted from the original CHIP IN Act championed by my friend, former Congressman Brad Ashford, that resulted in the building of Omaha\u2019s new VA Ambulatory Care Clinic. Our veterans deserve high quality and modern health services and this extension of the CHIP IN Act will allow communities to invest in and help create these facilities. This is a win for our veterans across the country who will benefit from these public-private partnerships. The next step is the Senate where I know Sen. Fischer will lead the charge to see this to its full completion,\u201d said Bacon.\n\n\u201cIt is very difficult to pass meaningful legislation in this Congress. The CHIP IN for Veterans Act that passed in 2016 has resulted in our new medical facility in Omaha and a new Project in Tulsa. Congressman Bacon forged a bipartisan coalition to pass the legislation that gives it new life so our Veterans can continue to benefit from public private partnerships authorized under the Act,\u201d said Brad Ashford, former Congressman of Nebraska\u2019s 2nd District.\n\nMore information:\n\nThe original CHIP IN for Vets Act passed Congress in 2016 and authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow local communities to manage construction of VA projects. The VA has already appropriated millions of dollars to construction projects that remain unfinished or have not yet begun, and this program allows communities to take the lead, contributing the remaining finances to ensure these projects are completed on-time and on-budget. Today\u2019s new legislation reauthorizes the program for another five years.\n\nThe CHIP IN program enabled the construction of Omaha\u2019s $86 million VA ambulatory care clinic, helping to raise an additional $30 million after Congress appropriated $56 million for the project.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=763", "Bacon Votes to Protect Americans\u2019 Wallets", "2021-09-21", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today protected the pockets of hard-working Americans and stood with our ally Israel by voting against H.R. 5305, a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that totally removes the debt ceiling allowing for unlimited spending over the next 15 months.\n\n\u201cBy voting to remove the debt ceiling until December 2022, Speaker Pelosi and the progressive Democrats just gave the green light to pass the President\u2019s $5 trillion goody bag full of socialist giveaways and any additional spending they pass over next 15 months. These cradle-to-grave programs create dependence on Washington DC and will become permanent.\n\n\u201cFurther, this CR strips $1 billion in funding for Israel to replenish Iron Dome rocket interceptors. Iron Dome fills an urgent need to protect Israeli citizens from regular rocket fire perpetrated by radical terrorists, like Hamas and Hezbollah. We need to stand with our close ally and friend to ensure their safety.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=759", "Bacon Issues Statement Recognizing One Year Anniversary of Abraham Accords", "2021-09-16", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords:\n\n\u201cOn this one-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, I am pleased the current Administration has embraced the full measure of its impact in forging the most significant advancement in Middle East peace in decades. The bold diplomacy shown last year by the US, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain provides a vision for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.\u201d\n\nFor reference: https://www.timesofisrael.com/blinken-to-honor-abraham-accords-with-israel-uae-bahrain-and-morocco-ministers/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=753", "Bacon Slams Incomplete, Partisan, and Unvetted Budget Reconciliation Package Pushed Through by House Dems", "2021-09-14", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee pushed through a $66 billion incomplete, partisan, and unvetted budget reconciliation package.\n\n\u201cIt is disappointing that House Democrats passed this bill which includes pet projects and doesn\u2019t dedicate a dime to programs such as the commodity safety net, crop insurance, rural broadband, or disaster assistance. The AG Dems didn\u2019t accept a single GOP amendment in over 10.5 hours of deliberations. They didn\u2019t seek our input nor want our support. It is clear they are in full support of Speaker Pelosi\u2019s $3.5T spending spree and $3T tax increases, which leave America\u2019s farmers and ranchers in the dust and will cripple our economy.\n\n\u201cThe HAC has a long history of bipartisanship, but there was no evidence of it this past week. Democrats should\u2019ve looked to how the Republican Committee Leadership reached both sides of the aisle for the 2018 Farm Bill by hosting more than 100 public events to better understand the needs of our farmers and ranchers.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=755", "BACON FIGHTS FOR FAMILY FARMS IN NEBRASKA", "2021-09-14", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after attending a press conference with the Nebraska Farm Bureau at Husker Harvest Days.\n\n\u201cDuring my time in Congress, I have met countless farmers, ranchers, and producers in Nebraska that have helped our state thrive and strengthened our local economy. However, many family farms that have been operating for generations will suffer under the proposed tax hikes and federal overreach proposed by House Democrats.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are willing to let Nebraska family farms wilt, to pay for their $3.5 trillion partisan wish list. Further, trying to reinstate Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) will add onerous red tape and restrictions on farmers and ranchers. Since his inauguration, the President has made zero effort to expand trade opportunities for our agriculture.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Ag Committee, I am defending these hard-working Americans from the Administration that treats Nebraska agriculture as simply \u2018fly-over country.\u2019 I will always advocate for legislation that protects stepped up basis; makes crop insurance more affordable; keeps WOTUS off the backs of farmers and ranchers; and expands trade.\u201d\n\nRep. Don Bacon (NE-02) speaks at Husker Harvest Days.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=750", "Bacon\u2019s Statement on Biden\u2019s Proposed Mandates", "2021-09-10", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "OMAHA, NEB. - Rep. Don Bacon (NE \u2013 02) issued the following statement in regard to the President\u2019s announced plan to enact vaccine mandates:\n\n\u201cEarlier this year I received the vaccine because I believed that it was the right choice and I encouraged others to do the same. While we should encourage vaccine use through transparency and communication of scientific data, we should not force vaccines on citizens without considering their individual medical and personal circumstances. We can prevail through decency and trust. In contrast, President Biden used shaming and demonization, which further divides our country and is counterproductive to our recovery.\n\n\u201cFinally, nothing in the Constitution gives the President the legal authority to put mandates concerning personal health decisions on the private sector.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=747", "Major Disaster Declaration Approved for Nebraska", "2021-09-07", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "LINCOLN, NEB. \u2013 Following requests by Governor Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska congressional delegation, President Joe Biden yesterday issued a major disaster declaration for the state of Nebraska. The declaration will allow for federal funds to begin flowing to portions of the state impacted by severe thunderstorms between July 9 and July 10.\n\n\u201cNebraska communities devasted by July\u2019s heavy thunderstorms and hail will soon begin receiving critical federal relief. We supported Governor Ricketts in his request for this aid and were glad to see the administration act quickly in response. This disaster declaration will provide Nebraskans with the resources to rebuild and recover,\u201d said the delegation.\n\nThe counties included in the declaration are Box Butte, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Fillmore, Grant, Hall, Hamilton, Madison, Sarpy, Saunders, Sheridan, Washington, and York.\n\nLast month, Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01), and Adrian Smith (NE-03), and U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) wrote a letter to President Biden echoing their support of Governor Ricketts\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Nebraska.\n\nA copy of the Nebraska congressional delegation\u2019s August letter to President Biden is available here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=741", "HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE COMPLETES CONSIDERATION OF 2022 DEFENSE BILL", "2021-09-03", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Defense Committee Unanimously Adopts 21 of Bacon\u2019s Amendments\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), voted Thursday morning in favor of advancing H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 57 to 2. This annual legislation, which contains multiple amendments and provisions authored by Bacon, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for our military. Overall, the bill authorizes a total of $778 billion for national defense.\n\n\u201cI am proud of the bi-partisan work of the House Armed Services Committee in crafting comprehensive legislation to advance our national security and support our servicemembers and military families,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cI was especially pleased with the bi-partisan decision to reverse the White House cuts and to restore funding to keep our defense budget level with inflation. The recent debacle in Afghanistan has emboldened our adversaries, weakened our alliances, and left us vulnerable to future attacks. It is critical that we remain vigilant and ready to confront these threats.\u201d\n\nHighlights from Committee\u2019s FY 2022 NDAA include:\n\nEstablishes a national commission on Afghanistan\n\nAuthorizes 2.7 percent pay increase for all members of the armed forces\n\nFully funds the modernization of America\u2019s aging nuclear deterrent forces including the B-21 long range bomber, the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine, and the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent intercontinental ballistic missile replacement program\n\nAuthorizes mission upgrades to RC-135, WC-135 and E-4B aircraft based at Offutt Air Force Base\n\nIn addition, the committee\u2019s bill contains numerous legislative proposals sponsored by Bacon, including:\n\nAuthorizes an increase of $20 million for USSTRATCOM\u2019s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) nuclear command, control & communications (NC3) modernization imitative\n\nAuthorizes $15 million to continue a pilot program advancing civilian-military partnerships for national medical surge capacity\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to update the committee on its plan to construct a new forensic laboratory adjacent to Offutt Air Force base for the Defense Prisoner of War / Missing in Action Accounting Agency\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to report on equipment and sensitive materials captured by the Taliban\n\nDirects procurement of additional engines for EC-37B electronic warfare aircraft\n\nAuthorizes increased funding for the Baltic Security Initiative\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to assess and recommend reforms to casualty assistance policies and programs\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to establish policies that allow military commanders to contact Gold Star families with consent\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to provide additional details to accompany its budget requests for operations and maintenance\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to revise its categorization framework for unmanned aerial systems\n\nDirects the Department of Defense to establish an executive agent for continuing foreign language education\n\nMakes improvements to Department of Defense assessment procedures for wind energy projects\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=738", "House Baltic Caucus Co-Chairs Bacon and Gallego Announce First-Ever Authorization for Baltic Security Initiative in FY2022 NDAA", "2021-09-01", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Co-Chairmen of the House Baltic Caucus, announced the first-ever authorization of the Baltic Security Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The $175 million authorization will go toward ensuring the security of the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which are critical to the security of the NATO alliance.\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chairs of the House Baltic Caucus, Rep. Gallego and I support our NATO allies and are always working to strengthen and advance the security and prosperity of all NATO member countries,\u201d said Rep. Don Bacon, House Baltic Caucus Co-Chairman. \u201cOur security initiative needs to be included in this year\u2019s NDAA so that we can continue deterring Russian aggression, bolster air and naval defense capabilities, and expand special forces operations in the Baltic region. The partnership and friendship between the U.S. and Baltic states must be maintained for years, and our provision achieves that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the growing threat of Russia and the need to ensure the United States\u2019 national security interests, it is critical we stand strong and support our Baltic allies of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia,\u201d said Rep. Ruben Gallego, House Baltic Caucus Co-Chairman. \u201cThe Baltic Security Initiative is a crucial part of keeping Putin in check, and NDAA authorization of this program sends a message to the Kremlin that we are standing strong with our Baltic and NATO allies. I\u2019m proud to have led the charge for the inclusion of this Initiative with my House Baltic Caucus co-chair, Congressman Bacon, and will continue working through my roles in the caucus and on the Armed Services Committee to stand up for our NATO allies.\u201d\n\nReps. Bacon and Gallego have long advocated for robust assistance and cooperation with the Baltic states, to deter Russian aggression and protect U.S. and allied national security interests. The Baltic Security Initiative would provide funds for assistance with respect to air defense; maritime situational awareness; ammunition; Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) (C4ISR); anti-tank capabilities; special forces; and other defense capabilities.\n\nRep. Don Bacon is an Air Force veteran and retired Brigadier General who served 16 assignments, including four to the Middle East to include Iraq in 2007 to 2008 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee.\n\nRep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee, and the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=737", "Bacon Cosponsors McClain\u2019s Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medals to Fallen Servicemembers", "2021-08-31", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) and 157 other cosponsors have joined Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) to introduce legislation posthumously awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. military servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan last week.\n\nThe legislation will award the Congressional Gold Medal to Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Hospitalman Maxton Soviak and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.\n\n\u201cThese 13 heroes gave the ultimate measure of sacrifice for our country and no words can fill the heartbreak felt by their families,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cThe least we can do is honor them with the highest award Congress can give.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese heroic men and women are gone far too soon, and we must honor them for their bravery in helping U.S. citizens and Afghan allies safely evacuate Afghanistan,\u201d said Rep. McClain. \u201cMy heart aches for the families and loved ones of our servicemembers. We will always remember their service and pay tribute to their sacrifice.\u201d\n\nReps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Banks (R-IN), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Larry Buschon (R-IN), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Russ Fulcher (R-IN), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Jody Hice (R-GA), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Bob Latta (R-OH), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Tom McClintock (R-CA), David McKinley (R-WV), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Carol Miller (R-WV), Blake Moore (R-UT), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Burgess Owens (R-UT), August Pfluger (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Greg Steube (R-FL), Mike Turner (R-OH), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) Joe Wilson (R-SC), Randy Weber (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Benny Thompson (D-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Al Lawson (D-FL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) John Moolenaar (R-MI), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Bruce Westermann (R-AR), Don Young (R-AK), Rick Allen (R-GA), Mark Amodei (R-NV), Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jerry Carl (R-AL), Tom Cole (R-OK), John Curtis (R-UT), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Michael Guest (R-MS), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Dusty Johnson (R- SD), Bill Keating (D-MA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), David Kustoff (R-TN), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Brian Mast (R-FL), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Gary Palmer (R-AL), David Rouzer (R-NC), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Darren Soto (D-FL), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), David Valadao (R-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Andy Harris (R-MD), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), Ruben Gallego (D-NV), Jason Smith (R-MO), Ralph Norman (R-SC), G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Garrett Graves (R-LA), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Elise Slotkin (D-MI), Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Greg Pence (R-IN), Barry Moore (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined as original cosponsors of the legislation.\n\nFor the bill text, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-buchanan-and-wenstrup-introduce-bill-protect-medicare-patients-and", "Smith, Buchanan, and Wenstrup Introduce Bill to Protect Medicare Patients and Providers", "2021-08-30", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) recently introduced H.R. 5125, the Strengthening Innovation in Medicare and Medicaid Act. This legislation aims to restore accountability for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) through commonsense guardrails.\n\n\"The current framework of CMMI is poorly defined, and because of this it frequently fails to provide necessary transparency,\" said Smith. \"This is why I have reintroduced my legislation to minimize uncertainty throughout the health care marketplace. We must provide appropriate oversight of CMMI so that innovation and improvements in health care can continue to develop without unintentionally harming patients and providers.\"\n\n\"As Congressman for one of the largest senior populations in America, I believe it is essential that Congress oversee any changes to how Medicare pays health care providers for their services,\" said Buchanan. \"Unfortunately, Obamacare created a little-known agency called the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) that is not subject to Congressional oversight. As a result, our nation's seniors could face unbridled government overreach with no means of transparency. This legislation puts Congress back in the driver's seat instead of unaccountable bureaucrats.\"\n\n\"As a physician, I believe that encouraging innovation is key to moving our health care system from one that rewards volume of care to one that rewards value of care,\" said Wenstrup. \"Innovative payment models will help us get there, but to make them work, we need increased transparency, guardrails, and efficiency. This legislation would enact key protections for patients and health care providers while empowering Congress with much needed oversight over CMMI.\"\n\nCMMI was created to rapidly test new methods of payment or patient care intending to lower costs and improve patient outcomes. However, CMMI was given overly broad exemptions from existing regulations and judicial review, allowing these models to make sweeping changes without any Congressional oversight. Overly large and arbitrary models can cause uncertainty for health care providers and force patients into mandatory demonstration projects which impact the way they receive dialysis, cancer treatment, or prescription drugs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=735", "BACON RESPONDS TO COMPLETION OF AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL", "2021-08-30", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after the Pentagon announced the completion of the Afghanistan withdrawal:\n\n\u201cMy heart is heavy today, knowing the Biden Administration has left behind thousands of Afghan allies and hundreds of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan, including constituents from the 2nd district. This was completely avoidable, and the disgraceful actions by this Administration are on full display and they should be ashamed. This is the worst display of incompetence and weakness I\u2019ve seen from any Administration in my lifetime. Our national honor is tarnished, our credibility with our allies is in tatters, and our country is more vulnerable to potential attacks than at any time since 2001. China, Russia, and Iran are emboldened, and the strategic repercussions will be felt for years to come.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-statement-attacks-kabul", "Smith Statement on Attacks in Kabul", "2021-08-27", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the below statement following the terror attacks in Kabul.\n\n\"President Biden's failure as commander-in-chief is causing chaos on the world stage. We cannot stand by while the lives of American citizens, our Afghan allies, and our military are still at risk. For this reason, I support H.R. 5071 to prohibit President Biden from fully withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan until all Americans have been safely evacuated. If we allow the administration to set an arbitrary deadline, there will be little hope for the Americans left behind. We cannot stand by while the President of the United States creates an American hostage situation in Afghanistan.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=727", "Bacon Offers Condolences to Family of Omaha Native, U.S. Marine Killed in Afghanistan", "2021-08-27", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after learning Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page, one of the U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan this week, was an Omaha native and Millard South graduate:\n\n\u201cI am heartbroken to learn of the death of Corporal Page, one of the U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan. He was from Nebraska\u2019s 2nd district and graduated from Millard South. No words can express the devastation, frustration, and sorrow his family is experiencing right now. I pray for the healing and comfort of his family and friends during this difficult time. Corporal Page is an American hero who gave the last full measure of devotion. He served his country honorably, and his service will never be in vain.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=723", "BACON, PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS URGE BIDEN TO EXTEND EVACUATION DEADLINE", "2021-08-26", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) and his Problem Solvers Caucus colleagues released the following statement, urging President Biden to extend the evacuation deadline in order to rescue as many U.S. citizens and Afghan allies as possible:\n\n\u201cAs Democrats and Republicans, we stand united in our commitment to protecting U.S. citizens, diplomats, intelligence officers, and our foreign partners who are currently attempting to flee Afghanistan. In this time of tremendous danger, politics must be put aside to advance our common goals. From this week\u2019s bipartisan Member briefing, it is apparent that the Administration\u2019s set date for departure from Afghanistan on August 31st does not provide enough time to evacuate all American citizens and our partners. We respectfully call on the Administration to reconsider its timeline and provide a clear plan to Congress that will result in the completion of our shared national objectives.\u201d\n\nRead the full release here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=724", "Bacon Issues Statement on Kabul", "2021-08-26", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 The most recent statement from Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) on the situation in Kabul:\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s prayers go out to those who were injured and to the families of the reported 12 U.S. Servicemen killed in this horrific attack. We also pray for the safety of our troops as we finish carrying out this mission, and for the stranded American citizens and our Afghan allies who are still in the area desperately trying to escape.\n\n\u201cThe flawed retreat and withdrawal from Afghanistan has shown the utter ineptness in the White House. The results have put our troops in a very vulnerable position at the Kabul Airport while we have thousands of American citizens at risk of being stranded and made hostages.\n\n\u201cThis disaster will be remembered as one of the worst foreign policy fiascos in our nation\u2019s history and the repercussions will be felt for a decade.\u201d\n\nOlder statements can be found on social media accounts and at bacon.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=726", "BACON RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, CALLS FOR A COMPLETE EVACUATION", "2021-08-26", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) released the following statement in response to President Biden\u2019s recent address on Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cWhile I appreciate the President finally addressing the nation and his commitment to hunt down ISIS members responsible for killing American service members today, it is imperative that we complete the evacuation mission now. Make no mistake, terrorists will track down, hold captive, and kill American citizens and Afghan allies left behind. We must complete our evacuation of all American citizens.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=722", "Bacon Responds to Final Message from State Dept. to Americans in Afghanistan", "2021-08-25", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement about a State Department \u201clast call\u201d notice for American citizens in Afghanistan, received by a constituent and shared with Bacon\u2019s office:\n\n\u201cOur administration is leaving potentially thousands of citizens to be held hostage, trapped and even murdered in less than six days. Their \u201cFinal Message\u2019 as they call it, for American citizens to be at a certain location by midnight tonight with their spouse and children under 21 is more like a \u2018last call for their lives.\u2019 We have heard from many citizens that they are not able to travel the streets of Kabul to get to the secure location listed in the memo. How are we going to guarantee their safety?\n\n\u201cThis has been a colossal failure of epic proportions brought on by the Administration. The President was warned by Dept. of Defense leaders and others that the Taliban would quickly act. Why did they wait until the last minute to make plans to get our citizens out? He should have ordered the State Department to quickly start processing SIV\u2019s earlier this year. Plans should have been made to get our citizens and those with passports, safely out of the country. The Administration based their strategy on hopes, but hope is not a strategy.\n\n\u201cMy heart aches for those who are wondering if they will get out in time to save the lives of their spouse and children. My heart aches for those who faithfully worked with our troops during the war, with the promise of a better life in America. My heart aches for those in America waiting to hear about the status of their families\u2026wondering if they are able to escape the Taliban.\n\n\u201cThe Administration must be held accountable for this travesty.\u201d\n\n###\n\n**Email, date, time, and location have been redacted for security purposes.\n\nFrom: (Email redacted)\n\nSent: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 11:45 AM\n\nTo: (Email redacted)\n\nSubject: 8/25 Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens from U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan\n\nU.S. Embassy in Afghanistan\n\nAMERICAN CITIZENS ONLY\n\nTHIS IS THE FINAL MESSAGE FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WISH TO DEPART KABUL. American citizens who choose to remain in Afghanistan should be prepared to arrange their own departure without assistance from the U.S. government.\n\nPlease go to the (located redacted) (date redacted) at (time redcated) with your HUSBAND OR WIFE and CHILDREN UNDER 21 only. DO NOT GO TO THE AIRPORT CIRCLE GATE (SOUTH POINT GATE). YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.\n\nPlease provide photo identification for travelers, each family must have one U.S. citizen family member with a U.S. passport in their possession. Please bring small bags only (no large suitcases). You will be transported to the Hamid Karzai International Airport for an evacuation flight.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-statement-democrats-partisan-bills", "Smith Statement on Democrats\u2019 Partisan Bills", "2021-08-24", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the below statement today opposing the Democrats' resolution which enacted a budget authorizing $3.5 trillion government expansion while bypassing all opportunities for debate or amendment.\n\n\"Speaker Pelosi paved the way for Democrats to push through their multi-trillion-dollar social spending package today by using a procedural gimmick to deem their budget resolution passed. This is a clear last-ditch effort to ram it through in the least accountable fashion possible. This tactic shows how unpopular the resolution is with the Speaker's own caucus, let alone the American people.\n\n\"Our ongoing inflation and workforce crises are a direct result of President Biden's failed economic plan, and this budget doubles down on their failing agenda.\n\n\"Now more than ever, our priority in Congress must be empowering small businesses to reopen and hire workers, not penalize job creation, incentivize Americans to stay home, and continue to grow inflation. To say I am incredibly disappointed by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats' continued manipulation of the legislative process to cater to their own agenda is an understatement.\"\n\nSmith, a senior of the Ways and Means Committee and lead Republican on the Select Revenue Subcommittee, has been leading efforts to stop President Biden's proposed tax increases, including provisions that would repeal stepped up basis and raise taxes on America's small businesses as they struggle to reopen.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-smith-welcomed-us-house-agriculture-committee-ranking-republican", "ICYMI: Smith Welcomed U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican Thompson in Nebraska", "2021-08-23", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) recently welcomed House Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican, Congressman G.T Thompson (R-PA) to Nebraska's Third District, the number one Congressional district for agriculture production.\n\nDuring the trip, Smith and Thompson visited the United States Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), near Clay Center, and Nebraska's first dry mill ethanol plant, Chief Ethanol Fuels near Hastings. Former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Greg Ibach, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue and representatives from the USDA and the University of Nebraska participated in the visit.\n\nThe trip provided an opportunity for representatives to visit with Smith and Thompson on the importance of federal agriculture policy to Nebraska's Third District. In particular, the discussion focused on the significance of livestock regulations and the direction of federal policy concerning liquid fuels like ethanol.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=713", "Bacon Awarded AMVETS Silver Helmet Award", "2021-08-20", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) has been awarded the AMVETS Silver Helmet Award for exceptional service as a Member of Congress to the American people, principally veterans. AMVETS is a veteran\u2019s service organization that has been representing veterans for more than 75 years.\n\n\u201cAfter national defense, I believe that Congress has no greater duty than to ensure that U.S. veterans and their families receive the care and benefits they have earned,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cI am humbled to be recognized with this award for my work on defense and veteran related legislation.\u201d\n\nNominations for the Silver Helmet Awards originate with individual AMVETS members and AMVETS posts\u201a and are endorsed by the respective state AMVETS honors and awards committees prior to the AMVETS national convention.\n\nPast notable honorees include Gus Bilirakis in 2014 and Bob Dole in 1982 for their congressional leadership; and Norman Schwartzkopf in 1992 and Colin Powell in 1991 for their leadership in defense.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=712", "Bacon Named Democracy Awards Winner", "2021-08-19", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Congressional Management Foundation Recognizes Bacon for Outstanding Achievement in Constituent Services\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C., The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) announced this week that Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) is a winner of a Democracy Award, CMF\u2019s honor recognizing non-legislative achievement and performance in congressional offices. Rep. Bacon was selected for outstanding achievement for the category of Constituent Service. The Constituent Service category honors offices for their outstanding practices or achievements acting as ombudsmen with the federal government or responding to constituent requests and inquiries.\n\n\u201cAs a Democracy Award winner, Rep. Bacon\u2019s office is clearly one of the best in Congress,\u201d said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. \u201cThis designation demonstrates that Rep. Bacon has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for his constituents in Nebraska. Rep. Bacon and his staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for his colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work.\u201d\n\n\u201cConstituent services are one of the most important things we do, and we approach it with a whole-person overview,\u201d said Rep. Bacon \u201cOur team is humbled to be selected for this award, but we don\u2019t do it for that. We do it because it is the right thing to do.\u201d\n\nEight House and Senate offices were honored as winners in four categories: Constituent Service; Innovation and Modernization; Transparency and Accountability; and \"Life in Congress\"-Workplace Environment. Representative and Senate personal offices nominated themselves using an online questionnaire for the four office categories. CMF followed up with offices as necessary to gather documentation and assess the office's adherence to the established criteria. The winners were selected by a selection committee primarily comprised of former Members of Congress and congressional staff. The winners will be honored at a ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. in the fall.\n\nDetails on the process and the history of the Democracy Awards can be found here: https://www.congressfoundation.org/projects/democracy-awards\n\nCMF included the following reasons for selecting Rep. Bacon for an award:\n\n\u201cThe office of Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) begins each year crafting a strategic plan for exceptional constituent service through a culture of teamwork, compassion, community collaboration, and servant leadership. Training programs for new staff and interns include an extensive review of the strategic plan and all expectations, policies, and procedures. Congressman Bacon\u2019s office uses both traditional media and social media to inform and communicate with constituents. Social media often acts the same as phone calls, emails, or visits to the office, the success of which is seen in the number of constituents who request assistance in comment sections, resulting in many constituent cases.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the eight offices selected for the 2021 awards, CMF this year is giving out a Special Democracy Award to the non-partisan floor staff of the US House and Senate for their courage and service to the Congress and the nation on January 6th. \u201cThese men and women were the stewards of democracy when we needed them most,\u201d Fitch said. \u201cMost Americans never even notice their work. And yet, on January 6, 2021 they played crucial roles well beyond what was expected of them, displaying professionalism, resolution, and patriotism to help maintain our system of government,\u201d he said.\n\nFounded in 1977, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit whose mission is to build trust and effectiveness in Congress. It advances its mission by enhancing the performance of the institution, legislators and their staffs through research-based education and training, and by strengthening the bridge and understanding between Congress and the People it serves.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-announces-2021-2022-youth-advisory-council-members", "Smith Announces 2021-2022 Youth Advisory Council Members", "2021-08-18", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) met last week with the Third District high school students who will serve on his Youth Advisory Council for the 2021-2022 academic school year.\n\n2021-2022 Youth Advisory Council members include:\n\nPiper Fernau, York High School;\n\nBowdie Fox, Grand Island Central Catholic High School;\n\nJames Heirigs, North Platte St. Patrick High School;\n\nJeremy Hunter, Aurora High School;\n\nLawrence Hunter Miller, Bayard High School;\n\nThomas Kaus, Chadron Public School;\n\nFaith King, Summerland Public School;\n\nWilliam Krondak, North Platte St. Patrick High School;\n\nCheve Lutz, Dundy County Stratton Public School;\n\nAbigail Nielsen, McCook High School;\n\nAustin Phinney, York High School;\n\nTurner Plugge, Kearney Catholic High School;\n\nTaya Schmaderer, Stuart Public Schools;\n\nViolet Schwager, West Holt Public Schools;\n\nJenason Spady, Garden County High School;\n\nAnd Tucker Stagemeyer, O'Neill Public Schools.\n\nSmith's Youth Advisory Council is a forum for high school students to discuss opinions, thoughts, and concerns about local and federal issues with Smith throughout the school year. Through in-person meetings and other contacts, the Council provides students an opportunity for involvement and insight into their government and communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=711", "Bacon Has Long Warned of a Flawed Afghanistan Withdrawal", "2021-08-18", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Points to Poor Execution by Biden and Disregard of Bi-Partisan Concerns in Congress\n\nOmaha, Neb. \u2013 Since 2019, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) and other members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) have expressed concerns regarding a quick withdraw from Afghanistan and negotiations with the Taliban, especially since the Afghanistan government was not a party to these negotiations. In 2020, a bipartisan group of HASC Members decided that legislative guardrails had to be put in place to help prevent the disastrous events we are now watching unfold.\n\nDuring last year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) markup, Bacon supported and voted for an amendment offered by Democratic Congressman and fellow veteran Rep. Jason Crow\u2019s (CO-06) placing limits on how far the withdraw could proceed subject to the Administration providing additional certifications and consultations with Congress (See attached roll call vote record). The amendment passed and ultimately was incorporated as Section 1215 of the FY21 NDAA. This provision was later cited by President Trump as a basis of his decision to veto the FY21 defense bill, an action that Congress later overrode by a wide bi-partisan margin.\n\n\u201cWe were so concerned about the path being taken to withdraw our troops that we wrote and passed a law to limit the Executive Branch\u2019s actions,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThis provision received broad bi-partisan support both in committee and in conference. The narrative that members \u2018did nothing\u2019 or were silent about Trump\u2019s policy is complete nonsense. What I actually did was THE MOST any member of Congress can do which is to pass a LAW to limit executive branch actions.\u201d\n\nSection 1215 prohibited the use of funds to withdraw forces below certain levels until the Administration, either Trump or Biden, could certify the following:\n\nAn assessment that the withdrawal will not impede our counterterrorism mission against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and associated forces, or endanger our national security.\n\nAn assessment of the risk the withdrawal poses to United States personnel in Afghanistan.\n\nAn assessment of the risk that Afghanistan will again become a terrorist safe haven following U.S. withdrawal.\n\nAn assessment of the threat posed by the Taliban and other terrorist organizations in\n\nAfghanistan to U.S. national security interests and to those of U.S. partners and allies.\n\nAn assessment of the effects the withdrawal will have on the NATO-led training mission and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces\u2019 ability to effectively defend against terrorist attacks and sustain their operations.\n\nIn June 2021, Bacon, and several members of HASC subsequently sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Austin following-up on each of the elements of Section 1215 and clarifying Congressional intent and expectations (attached). Several weeks later, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy responded with a letter (attached) stating that the Administration had elected to \u201cwaive\u201d the certification and reporting requirements under Section 1215 on \u201cnational security\u201d grounds and was proceeding with the drawdown as announced without providing the required Congressional certifications.\n\n\u201cThe text of the letter is damning in view of all that has transpired over the past month,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cBottom Line \u2013 Congress did everything it could on a bi-partisan basis to prevent this fiasco, but the Biden Administration made the deliberate determination to ignore this consultation because it believed it knew better.\n\n\u201cAside from the multiple layers of the human tragedy we are witnessing, both for our Afghan partners and our own service members and Gold Star families, there is no longer any Government of Afghanistan, our embassy has been evacuated and will soon be ransacked or worse and, most tragic of all, we have lost out counter-terrorism capability in Afghanistan which was the entire reason we fought this war in the first place,\u201d Bacon added.\n\n\u201cThe tragic irony is that days before the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban is once again in complete control of Afghanistan, thousands of Americans are now trapped inside the country, Al Qaida operatives roam free, and both are better armed than before,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThe long-term implications of the staggering incompetence of the Biden Administration\u2019s withdrawal from Afghanistan are difficult to fully comprehend. As the Commander in Chief, President Biden owns this disaster and must be held fully accountable for the catastrophic damage he has inflicted on our national security.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=707", "Bacon Issues Statement on the President\u2019s Address", "2021-08-16", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), a nearly 30-year veteran and retired brigadier general who was deployed four times to the Middle East, issued the following statement on Pres. Biden\u2019s address concerning Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cWe have to address what the president didn\u2019t say.\n\n\u201cNumber one, President Biden didn\u2019t take responsibility for the disaster that is happening before our eyes. He\u2019s been passing the buck, the opposite of President Truman;\n\n\u201cTwo, the President didn\u2019t acknowledge that we only had 2500 troops there in non-combat roles, and we\u2019ve not had a combat fatality in almost a year and a half in Afghanistan;\n\n\u201cThree, the President didn\u2019t recognize that the air power we provided to the Afghanistan Military was greatly diminished when we retreated, the main reason for the collapse of Afghan military;\n\n\u201cFour, the President pulled the contractors that were doing maintenance on the Afghan aircraft, so they are not able to fly them; and\n\n\u201cFive, President Biden conveniently forgets how he intends to conduct US counter terrorism operations with the closure of our embassy and complete withdraw of all US personnel. Now even more critical with the release of 5000 hardened terrorists, Al Qaida operatives among them from the Parwan detention facility.\n\n\u201cIn all, our credibility has been greatly stained in the world due to the ineptness of the White House. The Chinese and Iranians will be emboldened by the Administration\u2019s perceived weakness. This is a failure.\n\n\u201cWe must focus on getting all refugees with US Visa\u2019s to safety, including those who have applications in. Next, we need to focus on legislation in the upcoming NDAA* to address security for our country and support for those who assisted us in Afghanistan. Finally, we have to show support for our Gold Star families who wonder if the lives of their loved ones were lost in vain and working with veterans who are asking the same question.\u201d\n\n*NDAA = National Defense Authorization Act\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=703", "Bacon Furious Over President Biden\u2019s \u201cCut and Run\u201d Retreat and Abandonment of the Afghan Interpreters", "2021-08-13", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb.\u2014 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) has released the following statement, expressing his outrage regarding the Biden Administration\u2019s disastrous retreat and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s reckless decision to continue the withdrawal from Afghanistan has set up the potential takeover of Kabul by the Taliban. Our national security interests are compromised, our credibility in the region is undermined, and our allies in Afghanistan, such as the interpreters, now have their lives in danger. The Taliban now controls over 70% of Afghanistan and conquered the second and third largest cities on Thursday. Afghan friends of Americans are being executed wherever they\u2019re found by the Taliban.\n\n\"This is catastrophic and humiliating to our nation, and it is a result of very flawed planning and execution of the withdrawal of our small force we had remaining. The forces we had in Afghanistan prior to Biden\u2019s \u2018cut and run\u2019 strategy were non-combat forces and largely in garrison. We were suffering the lowest number of casualties seen in two decades. The diminished airpower capability as a result of this withdrawal is the primary reason we\u2019re seeing the Afghan forces fold.\n\n\u201cFurther, the interpreters and translators, including women, children, teachers, doctors, and government employees, have aided and protected our military and government civilians for decades, yet this Administration had no plan when they announced their rapid retreat out of Afghanistan. This is a broken promise to those who sacrificed everything to help us.\n\n\u201cAs a retired Brigadier General and Air Force officer who served in this region numerous times, I am outraged at the incompetence and disastrous policy put in place. There is still time for the President to change his policy and protect our national security interests and friends in Afghanistan.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=696", "Bacon, Fischer Applaud Pentagon\u2019s Increased Focus on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations, STRATCOM", "2021-08-06", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a leader on this area in the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and top Republican on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, today welcomed an announcement that the Pentagon has established an office to oversee electromagnetic spectrum operations at U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in Nebraska.\n\n\"Previously, no one was in charge of U.S. electromagnetic spectrum operations, which resulted in a rudderless operation falling behind China. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Electromagnetic Warfare Working Group and a former EW officer in the Air Force, I have made the restoration of U.S. electronic warfare a top legislative priority. Continuing to ensure the Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs of Staff make this a top priority helps us regain our competitive edge. Today's announcement of these operations being headquartered at U.S. Strategic Command and Offutt Air Force Base is a win for the Omaha community, Nebraska, and even a bigger win for national defense to regain our dominance against peer competitors like China and Russia,\u201d said Rep. Don Bacon.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m happy to see the Department of Defense building on the talented workforce at STRATCOM as well as the greater focus on the broader mission of electromagnetic spectrum operations. The establishment of this new office is welcome news, but its success will require sustained investment and commitment. I look forward to learning more about DoD plans to ensure the necessary personnel and resources are available to support this important work,\u201d said Senator Fischer.\n\n\"USSTRATCOM is proud to be the operational lead for the EMS Enterprise and EMS-dependent capabilities. We are excited to be part of a department-wide implementation plan for the EMS Superiority Strategy and EMS-dependent capabilities. USSTRATCOM personnel have been fully involved in drafting the implementation plan and are looking forward to executing our portion. We will first stand up a Joint EMSO Center at USSTRATCOM reporting directly to CDR USSTRATCOM with expanded authorities across the Department of Defense,\u201dsaid Admiral Richard, Commander of STRATCOM.\n\nHe continued: \"I am also appreciative of the support the Department and USSTRATCOM receives every day from the Nebraska Congressional delegation and their advocacy of our missions. Their support with programs like EMS truly benefits our national security.\u201d\n\nMore information:\n\nThe new Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center is part of the U.S. Department of Defense\u2019s electromagnetic spectrum superiority strategy. The office will be based at STRATCOM which is located at Offutt Air Force Base in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Read more here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-brady-host-ways-and-means-meeting-discuss-impact-democrats-tax-proposals", "Smith, Brady Host Ways and Means Meeting to Discuss Impact of Democrats\u2019 Tax Proposals", "2021-08-05", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "August 5, 2021\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 President Biden's crippling tax hikes on America's middle class and Main Street will reverse the gains from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, according to key witnesses at a Ways and Means Republican Meeting this week. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ranking Republican on the Select Revenue Subcommittee, and Republican Leader of the Ways and Means Committee, Kevin Brady (R-TX) hosted the meeting.\n\nWays and Means Republicans were joined by witnesses former Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Larry Kudlow, former Director of the National Economic Council.\n\nRep. Smith said:\n\n\"(TCJA) led to good, solid economic growth. Not a sugar high for our economy, but steady growth that added to wages, added to economic growth, and added to a prosperous future for so many Americans.\"\n\n\"I am seriously concerned about what Democrats' proposed tax increases would do to state economies across the country, and particularly about the harm faced by our farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.\"\n\nRep. Brady said:\n\n\"The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lifted millions of Americans out of poverty and gave hope to so many the old tax code had left behind.\"\n\n\"Democrats' socialist agenda pushes companies to countries with lower tax rates\u2014including Communist China. President Biden's global minimum tax will make it better to be a foreign company and a foreign worker than an American one.\"\n\n\"Repealing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a tax increase on the middle class. Even liberals agree that under the President's tax plan, working families will see their taxes go up.\"\n\nFormer Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) said:\n\n\"If you want to destroy the American economy, destroy small business, destroy family business. There are very few family businesses that can survive these kinds of taxes [that the Democrats want]\u2026 Up to 80 or 90 percent of all family businesses would be destroyed in one generation under that tax. And under two generations, there'd be none left. What kind of family farm or ranch of any size or magnitude can survive that kind of tax at a generation change?\"\n\n\"When we cut corporate taxes, workers were huge beneficiaries. When we raise [corporate taxes] we're raising [workers'] taxes, and you're paying for it through your 401K.\"\n\nLarry Kudlow, former Director of the National Economic Council, said:\n\n\"Six trillion dollars in additional spending is tightly bound to inflation and the public is opposed to it\u2026 The Tax Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania at Wharton, and the National Association of Manufacturers/Rice University all say about the same thing\u2014over time, we will lose 1 to 1.5 percent of civilian employment\u2026 we will lose 1 to 1.5 percent of GDP, and we will lose 1-1.5 percent of capital stock.\"\n\n\"Seventy percent of the burden of the corporate tax is borne by the blue-collar middle class.\"\n\n\"All these taxes leave no room for wage increases or advanced machinery or equipment, technology that increases productivity and leads to higher real wages.\"\n\nNote: Watch Congressman Smith's remarks here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-host-agriculture-summit", "Smith to Host Agriculture Summit", "2021-08-04", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will host an Agriculture Summit on Wednesday, August 11, in Kearney, Nebraska. The summit will begin at 8:00 a.m. CT.\n\nThe summit provides Third District constituents an opportunity to visit with Smith, ask questions, and share their thoughts on the future of agriculture policy. Joining Congressman Smith to discuss disaster relief and the direction of federal agriculture policy will be Mark Slupek, USDA Foreign Ag Service Deputy Administrator for Global Programs, Jordan Schlake, Nebraska Department of Agriculture Trade Representative, John McCoy, Orthman Manufacturing CEO, and Norm Krug, Preferred Popcorn CEO.\n\n\"Sound agriculture and trade policies are a crucial part of ensuring Nebraska's agricultural industry can compete in a global economy,\" said Smith. \"I look forward to direct engagement from Third District producers on the challenges they face. Getting these policies right will better position our producers to remain amongst the top-producing in the country.\"\n\n2021 Agriculture Summit\n\nWednesday, August 11, 2021\n\nYounes Conference Center South\n\nRuby Room 6\n\n416 West Talmadge Street\n\nKearney, NE 68845\n\n8:00 a.m. \u2013 11:00 a.m. CT\n\nPre-registration for in person attendance is encouraged. Please contact Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900 to pre-register.\n\nIf you cannot attend the summit in person, you are welcome to attend virtually. Please use this registration link to do so: https://bit.ly/3xkAnOc\n\nFor questions about these events, please contact Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-kuster-thune-and-cardin-reintroduce-legislation-increase-telehealth", "Smith, Kuster, Thune, and Cardin Reintroduce Legislation to Increase Telehealth Services in Nursing Facilities", "2021-07-30", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Ann Kuster (D-NH), along with U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), today reintroduced companion versions of the Reducing Unnecessary Senior Hospitalizations (RUSH) Act of 2021, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to facilitate greater use of telehealth in skilled nursing facilities.\n\n\"In the past year, we have been reminded how crucial telehealth services are for rural communities,\" said Smith. \"The RUSH Act will help transform rural health care for seniors by allowing the use of new technologies and improved connectivity in skilled nursing facilities to enable appropriate treatment in place and eliminate unnecessary hospital transfers.\"\n\n\"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have been a lifeline for patients by eliminating the risk of transmission and preventing unnecessary hospital stays which can place a significant financial burden on providers and senior patients alike,\" said Kuster. \"The RUSH Act will reduce this burden, cut down on costs, and expand access to care in our rural communities through telehealth options \u2014 all while reducing the risk of patients contracting an infection in a hospital. I'm pleased to join my colleagues to reintroduce this common-sense, bipartisan legislation and I will continue working to improve health care delivery across the Granite State.\"\n\n\"Following an unprecedented year of telehealth usage, it's clear how essential this service is, especially in nursing facilities,\" said Thune. \"South Dakota has led the way in utilization of telehealth, and the RUSH Act acknowledges the success we have seen from using technology to coordinate care for seniors in nursing facilities.\"\n\n\"The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased and successful use of telehealth in health care settings of all varieties,\" said Cardin. \"Continued use and expansion of telehealth in skilled nursing facilities will benefit patients and doctors, while reducing expensive and unnecessary hospital visits where inappropriate. I'm proud to be a partner on the bipartisan RUSH Act that will continue to increase the availability of safe and effective telehealth through Medicare and help deliver better health outcomes across the country.\"\n\nThe RUSH Act would allow Medicare to enter into voluntary, value-based arrangements with medical groups to provide acute care to patients in skilled nursing facilities using a combination of telehealth and on-site staff. Working together to coordinate care, the providers can avoid a more costly patient transfer to the emergency department. If the program generates savings, they would be shared between the medical group and the skilled nursing facility. While skilled nursing facilities with a star rating of less than three are eligible to participate in the program, they would not be eligible for shared savings until they successfully achieve a three-star rating.\n\nAs further incentive to improve quality of care, facilities in the Medicare Special Focus Facility program would be ineligible to participate in the program. If the program does not save money over time, Medicare would be required to terminate it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=695", "Bacon Joins Senate and House Colleagues to Support National Guard, Capitol Police, and Afghan Partners", "2021-07-29", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today voted for emergency appropriations for the National Guard, U.S. Capitol Security, assistance for Afghan partners, and other funding needs. Not only does this legislation reimburse the agencies who responded to the events on January 6 at the U.S. Capitol, it aids our partners in Afghanistan who worked alongside our military as translators and in other roles.\n\n\u201cOur national defenders and first responders answered the call to protect our Capitol and we must in turn answer the call to make sure they are reimbursed so that critical operations are not canceled,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThis bill is straight-forward and addresses what is needed, without unnecessary additions and items that have zero relation to the matter at hand.\u201d\n\nThe bill fully reimburses the National Guard $521 million for costs incurred during the deployment at the Capitol, $106 million to the U.S. Capitol Police for operations, and $300 million to upgrade some security measures with the Capitol complex. It also provides funding to assist Afghan partners who assisted our military by providing funds for transportation, temporary housing, and transitional services.\n\n\u201cThis nation owes a debt of gratitude to our Afghan partners who worked alongside our military during operations to secure freedom in their home county and this funding will ensure their safety,\u201d said Bacon.\n\nNot only does this bill support our National Guard, Capitol Police and Afghan partners, it is more fiscally responsible.\n\n\u201cThis clean legislation refunds the budgets of those agencies who protected our capitol and supports those who have aided our country, without bankrupting America\u2019s wallets like the bill previously passed by the House,\u201d added Bacon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-host-mobile-office-hooker-county", "Smith to Host Mobile Office in Hooker County", "2021-07-22", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet with Third District constituents during a mobile office on Tuesday, August 3, in Mullen, Nebraska.\n\nA mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking tours in Washington, D.C.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office at the following time and location:\n\nHOOKER COUNTY MOBILE OFFICE\n\nTuesday, August 3, 2021\n\n2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. MT\n\nHooker County Courthouse\n\n303 NW 1st Street, Mullen\n\nFor additional information, please contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900 or Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-smith-craig-lead-biofuels-caucus-co-chairs-introducing-legislation-allow", "Reps. Smith, Craig Lead Biofuels Caucus Co-Chairs in Introducing Legislation to Allow Year-Round E15 Sales", "2021-07-14", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Angie Craig (D-MN) today led their Co-Chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, Representatives Dusty Johnson (R- SD), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Mark Pocan (D-WI), in introducing the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can grant waivers to allow E15 and higher blend fuels to be sold at retailers year-round. Smith and Craig introduced the legislation after a federal appeals court struck down an EPA rule that lifted restrictions on the year-round sale of certain corn ethanol fuel blends. The legislation would provide key stability and predictability for family farmers and biofuels producers across the country.\n\n\"I have long championed the uninterrupted sale of E15 to provide consumers consistency in their fuel tank and farmers consistency in their production,\" said Smith. \"Time after time I've introduced legislation to emphasize and reinforce EPA's authority to allow the year-round sale of E15. With the recent D.C. Circuit Court ruling to roll back RVP waivers, it's imperative we clarify congressional intent once and for all: there is no reason E15 should not have the same regulatory relief as E10.\"\n\n\"E15 and higher blend biofuels expand markets for family farmers, support economic growth in rural America and cut down on dangerous pollutants released into the air we breathe,\" said Rep. Craig. \"It's long past time that the year-round sale of these renewable fuels was made permanent, expanding the market for lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel choices all across America. I'm proud to work with Representative Smith on this critical legislation to support our biofuels producers and family farmers, while expanding options at the pump for consumers across the country.\"\n\nEarlier this month, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an EPA rule that allowed retailers to sell E15 blends of ethanol year-round by granting a waiver from Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements. The court ruled the EPA had exceeded its authority by lifting summertime restrictions on the sale of ethanol blends. While the court's ruling has not yet taken effect, Smith and Craig's legislation would preempt any restrictions by providing a legislative fix to ensure the permanent year-round sale of E15 and higher blend biofuels.\n\nSmith first introduced legislation to clarify EPA's authority to provide a RVP waiver for E15 fuel and require the agency to do so in 2015.\n\nBelow are statements in support of the Members' bipartisan legislation:\n\n\"We salute the leadership of Reps. Craig and Smith for providing a legislative remedy to allow E15 sales to continue unencumbered after the court rejected EPA's regulatory waiver,\" said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. \"The ethanol industry, fuel retailers, and drivers themselves deserve clarity and consistency, and E15 is an American-made low-cost, low-carbon solution our country needs right now. Increasing drivers' access to higher-level blends like E15 remains a top priority for RFA, and we are committed to working with leaders in Congress and the administration to make that a reality.\"\n\n\"Corn growers stand behind the many benefits of higher ethanol blends like E15 and support ensuring its continued access to the marketplace on the same terms as standard ten percent blends. E15 is lower in carbon, tailpipe and evaporative emissions, not to mention lower in price, so it's no surprise oil companies are trying to shut it down,\" said John Linder, National Corn Growers Association President. \"NCGA appreciates the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Craig and Smith toward a durable solution that would allow continued market access and expansion for proven low carbon fuel in E15 and stands ready to work with Congress and the EPA to provide certainty for consumers, retailers, our environment and rural economies.\"\n\n\"We're grateful our congressional champions acted swiftly on behalf of farmers, biofuel producers, and drivers nationwide to introduce the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act,\" said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. \"The Year-Round Fuel Choice Act would make permanent the RVP waiver for summertime use of higher blends of biofuels, ensuring consumers have year-round access to a lower-carbon, lower-emission renewable fuel that saves money at the pump. As this country works to address climate change, we must embrace ready solutions that can be implemented today to immediately reduce our carbon emissions in our current auto fleet. This legislation comes at a critical time on the heels of a court ruling that would allow the oil industry to monopolize the gas tank and push aside low-carbon renewable fuels. We will continue to work with our Congressional champions to see this legislation through, and fight to give Americans an opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment by filling up on earth friendly fuel blends like E15.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=686", "Bacon Introduces Legislation to Encourage the Development of Specialized Foster Care Programs for Siblings", "2021-07-09", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC - On Friday, Rep. Don Bacon (NE - 02) and Reps. Karen Bass (CA-37), Jim Langevin (RI-02) and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) today introduced the Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act, to authorize the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to establish a competitive grant pilot program to encourage the development of specialized foster care programs designed specifically for sibling groups with a large number, a wide age range, and complex needs. The idea is inspired by a 2018 intern from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), Brittney Barros, who seeks to improve sibling relations.\n\nWhile current federal law requires states to make a \u201creasonable effort\u201d to place siblings together in the foster care system, a majority of siblings in the foster system are separated. Some reports identify as many as 75% of foster children are placed apart from one or more of their siblings. This is a serious problem that is preventable.\n\nAccording to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) there are three major barriers that states face in placing siblings together: sibling groups with a large number, a wide age range, and complex needs. The bill authorizes $10 million over a 5-year period for this demonstration program that will be awarded to five applicants.\n\n\u201cKeeping siblings together in the foster care system significantly increases their chance of having positive life outcomes. As a foster to adoptive parent of a sibling group, I believe this bill will go a long way towards helping address the unique challenges faced by sibling groups with large numbers, wide age ranges, and complex needs,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cWe have a responsibility to empower our Nation\u2019s children by guaranteeing them a stable, loving home, surrounded by their siblings, and I appreciate working with Brittney Barros and the Foster Youth Caucus on developing this bill.\"\n\n\u201cWhen a child is placed into the child welfare system, they become the responsibility of the government. It should be our responsibility to work towards the best outcome for those in our care, which absolutely includes specialized care for sibling groups. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation thank Congressman Bacon for leading on this important issue,\u201d said Rep. Bass.\n\n\u201cToo many siblings are separated when they enter the foster care system, undermining their future success, stability, and happiness,\u201d said Rep. Langevin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with the Foster Youth Caucus to introduce this important legislation so that we can keep families together and make sure that our foster care system is equipped to handle large groups of siblings with complex needs.\u201d\n\n\"Separating siblings in the foster care system can have a negative effect on their mental and emotional well-being. In an unfamiliar and ever-changing environment, siblings are a source of familiarity and stability for each other. I'm grateful to work with our Foster Youth Caucus leadership to introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the challenges siblings in foster care face and help keep them together,\"said Rep. Lawrence.\n\n\u201cSibling bonds are truly one of a kind. They entail some of the darkest secrets and impeccable loving memories, share valuable life lessons, and are the longest-lasting relationships of a lifetime,\u201d said Barros. \u201cSiblings bleed the same blood together, cry the same tears together, and fulfill life\u2019s destiny together. They are each other\u2019s best friends, shoulders to cry on, and truly shape life\u2019s adversities and achievements. Foster youth deserve this one-of-a-kind bond which should not be taken by a broken system.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-host-mobile-office-sioux-county", "Smith to Host Mobile Office in Sioux County", "2021-07-07", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet with constituents of the Third District during a mobile office on Thursday, July 15, in Harrison, Nebraska.\n\nA mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking tours in Washington, D.C.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office at the following time and location:\n\nSioux County Mobile Office\n\nThursday, July 15, 2021\n\n10:00 a.m. \u2013 11:00 a.m. MT\n\nSioux County Courthouse\n\n325 Main Street, Harrison\n\nFor additional information, please contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900 or Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-responds-dc-circuit-court-decision-blocking-year-round-e15", "Smith Responds to D.C. Circuit Court Decision Blocking Year-Round E15", "2021-07-02", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the below statement today in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2019 rule waiving Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements to allow the sale of ethanol blends in gasoline of 15%, or E15, year-round.\n\n\"I am deeply disappointed by the D.C. Circuit Court's ruling today to roll back the previous administration's expansion of the RVP waiver for E15,\" said Smith. \"It defies logic that the EPA could not use its statutory authority to provide a waiver for E10, but not provide one for E15, which has a lower PSI than E10.\"\n\nPrior to the 2019 rulemaking by EPA, Smith introduced legislation intended to clarify EPA's authority to provide a RVP waiver for E15 by requiring the agency to do so.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=682", "Bacon, Bass, Langevin and Mullin Introduce Legislation to Offer Stability to Foster Youth", "2021-07-01", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC - Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02) Karen Bass (CA-37), Jim Langevin (RI-2) and Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) today introduced the Foster Care Stabilization Act, which seeks to improve pre-placement services for children placed in foster care, especially those in emergency situations that may lack basic supplies, like clothing or other incidentals. All four representatives are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth.\n\nReports have shown that some social workers are placing children in homes out of desperation so those children will not end up sleeping in the child welfare offices. Unfortunately, some children also end up in shelters for a long period of time. For those children in the foster care system, there is an urgent need for a stronger quality of care. For example, additional quality clothing, food, and the necessary equipment to sleep and live day-to-day are needed in systems. It is important to ensure all children needing placement services have access to these items to reduce trauma in the younger generation.\n\nThe Foster Care Stabilization Act ensures children in the foster care system have their basic needs and supplies. The bill authorizes $3,000,000 total for the HHS to award three demonstration grants for three years to foster care stabilization agencies. Funding would specifically be used to hire more personnel necessary to provide emergency relief to foster care youth. Additionally, it would be used to purchase clothing and other necessities a foster youth would need. It would support and prevent occurrences of child abuse and neglect and promote any other emergency assistance needed for safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth. It is modeled after a successful program in Nebraska between the Foster CARE Closet and NE DHHS, who created the Intake CARE Center.\n\n\u201cChildren who are sent into the foster care system do not get to make their own choice and it\u2019s unfortunate there are so many children who have gone to unstable homes,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cThe Foster Care Stabilization Act will help to reduce trauma that children experience in the foster care system because it would help them receive daily needs such as clothing, food, and safety\u2014things that many of us take for granted but mean so much to a child.\u201d\n\n\u201cChildren most often enter foster care with no warning and only the clothes they are wearing. When a child is placed in the child welfare system, they become our responsibility. We need to act like it,\u201d said Rep. Bass. \u201cThe Foster Care Stabilization Act would ensure that a child removed from their home has essential items of their own and trained staff available to support them. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur foster care system is woefully under resourced, which is causing children to be placed in homes out of desperation, without enough clothes or supplies,\u201d said Rep. Langevin. \u201cEvery single one of the 400,000 kids living in foster care today deserve a loving, permanent home, with plenty of clothing and supplies \u2014 a challenging goal the COVID-19 pandemic has only made more difficult. Our bill seeks to improve pre-placement services for kids in foster care by providing emergency relief to ensure they have the necessary clothes, food, and support.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo often, children who enter the foster care system don\u2019t have access to basic necessities like food and clothing, let alone the support systems they need,\u201d said Rep. Mullin. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that will help make sure these children have the resources they need and set them up for success in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former foster child, adopted youth, foster parent and now adoptive parent I have seen how crucially important the first hours of the foster care experience can affect the well-being and outcomes of traumatized children,\u201d said Leigh Esau with the Foster Care Closet. \u201cI thank Rep. Bacon and the Congressional Foster Care Caucus for introducing this legislation because it is a wise investment that will change outcomes for kids, across the nation. It gives kids hope, dignity and safety.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-hosts-ways-and-means-meeting-opposing-stepped-basis-repeal", "Smith Hosts Ways and Means Meeting Opposing Stepped-up Basis Repeal", "2021-06-29", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ranking Republican on the Select Revenue Subcommittee, and Republican Leader of the Ways and Means Committee, Kevin Brady (R-TX), hosted a meeting today titled \"Democrats' Supercharged Death Tax Targets Family-Owned Businesses and Farms, Costing 1 Million Jobs.\" The meeting provided committee members an opportunity to hear from agriculture producers and small businesses about the real negative impact the Biden Administration's proposal to repeal stepped-up basis would have on the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers.\n\nDon Batie, a Third District farmer from Dawson County, spoke to the toll repealing stepped-up basis would have on passing his farm, which has been in his family since an initial Homestead Act claim was made in the 1870s, to the next generation. To see Batie's testimony, click here.\n\n\"Stepped-up basis ensures family-owned farms, ranches, and small businesses carry on to the next generation, creating jobs and economic opportunity everywhere, particularly in rural America,\" said Smith. \"I appreciate Don taking time today to share his story with our committee, illustrating the importance of this part of the tax code to families across our state who have farmed and ranched for generations.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=678", "Bacon Submits Legislation to Name Benson Post Office After Charles Jackson French", "2021-06-29", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC -On Friday, Rep. Don Bacon (NE - 02) and Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) and Adrian Smith (NE-03) introduced H.R. 4168 to name the U.S. Post Office in Omaha\u2019s Benson area, 6223 Maple St., after Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, a World War II hero with ties to Omaha, who rescued fifteen of his injured shipmates by swimming for hours through shark-infested waters off the coast of the Guadalcanal.\n\nPetty Officer French served as a mess attendant on the USS Gregory, when the military was racially segregated. However, this did not stop him from rescuing fifteen of his injured fellow sailors when their ship was attacked and sunk by Japanese gunfire. French helped his crewmates into a life raft and tied it to himself, swimming for nearly eight hours through nightfall and swarming sharks until they were finally identified and rescued.\n\nDespite his extraordinary display of valor, French and his family received little recognition that his service and sacrifice deserve. Honoring the legacy of an American hero like Charles Jackson French is long overdue.\n\n\u201cFrench\u2019s bravery and sacrifice to save his injured mates off the coast of the Guadalcanal are truly admirable. His story of devotion and service is one that we all should know and learn from. As a three-decade veteran, I am inspired by French\u2019s decision to put his own life on the line for his fellow sailors, especially in the face of such grave danger,\u201dsaid Rep. Bacon. \u201cNaming a U.S. Post Office in the Omaha area after Charles Jackson French, a hero with ties to our community is the first step we can take to honor French and his family with the recognition they deserve.\u201d\n\nPetty Officer French demonstrated unbelievable selflessness in the face of unconscionable danger. I am proud to sponsor this bill that honors his bravery by naming a United States Post Office after him in Omaha,\u201dsaid Smith.\u201cFrench became a true hero during World War II when he put the lives of injured sailors above his own, and it is time we pay tribute to his legacy and cement it in our history.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate what has been done so far for Charles Jackson French,\u201d said Chester French and Roscoe Harris, nephews of Petty Officer French. \"The French family thanks Rep. Bacon for this first step. It is long overdue.\u201d\n\nA recording of the speech can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-announces-2021-congressional-art-competition-winners", "Smith Announces 2021 Congressional Art Competition Winners", "2021-06-28", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today announced the winners of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for the Third District of Nebraska.\n\n\"Congratulations to the winners of this year's Congressional Art Competition and to all of the students who submitted their work,\" said Smith. \"The impressive art submitted this year is a testament to the talent of Third District students and their teachers.\"\n\nArtwork by the first-place winner will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. The runners-up will have their art displayed in Congressman Smith's Washington, D.C., Grand Island, and Scottsbluff offices. Smith worked with the Nebraska Art Teachers Association to coordinate the competition.\n\nFirst Place: \"My Best Friend\" by Libby Macklin of Blue Hill\n\nBlue Hill Public Schools\n\nLibby's work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.\n\nSecond Place: \"A Girl and Her Horse\" by Abigail Boatright of Falls City\n\nFalls City Public Schools\n\nAbigail's work will be displayed in Smith's Washington, D.C. office.\n\nThird Place: \"All Dogs go to Heaven\" by Elizabeth Meyers of Oxford\n\nSouthern Valley Schools\n\nElizabeth's work will be displayed in Smith's Grand Island office.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-biofuels-caucus-statement-supreme-courts-renewable-fuel-standard", "House Biofuels Caucus Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Renewable Fuel Standard Decision and the Future Integrity of the RFS", "2021-06-25", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the co-chairs of the bipartisan House Biofuels Caucus\u2014Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03), Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), and Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02)\u2014released the following statement after the Supreme Court weakened the RFS at the expense of family farmers and biofuels producers in rural America in HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC v. Renewable Fuels Association:\n\n\"We are concerned with the potential consequences of today's Supreme Court's decision, which could have a devastating impact on farmers and producers who are still fighting to recover from the volatile markets, unpredictable weather, and trade instability of the past several years. However, we are encouraged that the Environmental Protection Agency had reversed its position on small refinery exemptions prior to the Supreme Court's final opinion, and we urge the Administration to apply the same logic in deciding not to grant future waivers. Today's decision underscores the importance of the RFS Integrity Act; we will continue to fight for the enactment of this legislation to support family farmers and the clean biofuels industry.\"\n\nThe Renewable Fuel Standard is a federal program that requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels by mandating that oil refiners blend billions of gallons of ethanol and other biofuels into their fuel each year or buy credits from those that do. Under the previous Administration, the EPA greatly expanded the number of small refinery waivers that were issued while undermining transparency and accountability in the SRE process. By issuing dozens of waivers between 2016 and 2020, the EPA saved the oil industry hundreds of millions of dollars while threatening rural economies and harming the biofuels industry at large.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=675", "Bacon Leads House Colleagues on Legislation to Study Antifa Involvement in National Riots", "2021-06-24", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) along with Reps. Rodney Davis (Ill-13), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), David Joyce (OH-14), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Rep. VanTaylor (TX-03) today introduced H.R. 4117 to establish the National Commission on Domestic Terrorist Attacks on the United States; to investigate the involvement of Antifa in the nation-wide riots of 2020.\n\nThe independent bipartisan commission is structured like the 9/11 commission and mirrors the proposed Jan. 6 Commission formed in H.R. 3233, which was passed by the House on May 19, 2021, with a vote of 252-175.\n\n\u201cWhile the majority of participants in demonstrations across the country in 2020 were peaceful, the events themselves became destructive due to organized pushes for violence by Antifa,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cMany cities were burned, and businesses destroyed. Retired police officer David Dorn was shot and killed while protecting a business. People were harassed while simply eating at outside restaurants, and Americans across the nation feared for their lives. We\u2019re still seeing violence in Portland in recent weeks. Just as with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, we must learn the truth about who is behind the violence and who is pushing the narrative to try and weaken our country and scare people into submission.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, I watched in horror as the violence and destruction wrought by Antifa drowned out the voices of Americans who were exercising their Constitutional right to peacefully protest and petition their government for change,\u201d said Rep. Joyce. \u201cDestruction of property is unacceptable no matter if it\u2019s a small business, a place of worship, or the United States Capitol. Violence is unacceptable, no matter the political affiliation of who commits it. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill and urge the Speaker to allow the House to vote on it. By understanding Antifa\u2019s involvement in last year\u2019s nation-wide riots, we can help preserve the First Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and restore our nation\u2019s rule of law.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, organized cells of criminals hijacked overwhelmingly peaceful protests and used the legitimate grievances of others as cover to commit horrific acts of violence. They caused billions of dollars in property damage and attacked law enforcement officers and innocent bystanders in cities across the country. These riots often caused the most harm to the marginalized communities the criminals claimed to represent,\u201d said Rep. Mace. \u201cAntifa bands represent the same threat to our nation posed by other terrorist groups. We must do all we can to understand and neutralize this dangerous movement before more are harmed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe violence and extremism that destroyed cities, businesses, and livelihoods across the United States last summer is unacceptable,\u201dsaid Rep. Salazar. \u201cIn America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box, through dialogue, and peaceful protest. We need greater transparency to help authorities address the direct threats that violent extremist groups like Antifa pose to our democracy.\u201d\n\nRep.Van Taylor stated, \u201cWhen I served overseas in Iraq, I witnessed the frightening dangers and lawlessness anarchy brings. Such turmoil has no place in modern society and certainly not in America. Antifa\u2019s propensity to inflict violence and harm the innocent runs in direct opposition to our strongly held American values. As lawmakers, we have a duty to hold those who commit crimes accountable and I\u2019m proud to support legislation to investigate Antifa\u2019s involvement in riots across the nation.\u201d\n\nThe Co-sponsors joined together to issue a call to their House colleagues:\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve to know the truth about the underlying causes of the violent domestic terrorist sieges in our cities. They also deserve to feel safe no matter where they live, what time of day it is, or what situation it is. We call on all those who voted yes on H.R. 3233 to join us in passing this legislation. Americans are guaranteed the right to protest and should feel comforted knowing they will not be caught up in an attempted domestic hostage situation driven by a left-wing anarchist organization. We must find out what drives Antifa, to prepare in response to their violence.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=672", "BACON RECEIVES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AWARD", "2021-06-18", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) was today recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the Abraham Lincoln Leadership Award for 2021, for demonstrating leadership critical to advancing policies supportive of America\u2019s free enterprise system. The award is presented to the top 20 members of Congress who have demonstrated through their actions, the leadership critical to advancing policies that support America\u2019s free enterprise system. Rep. Bacon was the highest-ranked Republican in the House with a score of 100 percent.\n\n\u201cDuring my time in Congress, I\u2019ve made it a priority of mine to work across party lines and find bipartisan, common-sense solutions to our country\u2019s biggest issues,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cWe need to continue introducing and passing legislation that strengthens our economy, supports small businesses and American innovation, and puts hard-earned money back into the hands of American workers. Thank you to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for recognizing my efforts to help advance the spirit of enterprise and our free-market system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese awards recognize members of Congress based on their co-sponsorship of legislation important to the business community,\u201d said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark. \u201cThe Chamber appreciates Rep. Bacon\u2019s support of policies that create jobs and support economic growth.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress needs leaders who focus on job creation and economic growth and are willing to build strong partnerships. The NE Chamber appreciates Congressman Don Bacon\u2019s steadfast commitment to these principles and his work on behalf of the business community,\u201d said Bryan Slone, president, Nebraska \u00c7hamber.\n\n\"We applaud the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their work in recognizing exemplary leaders who routinely support the remarkable work of our free-enterprise system. Today, we join many in celebrating the 20 recipients of this prestigious award, including Nebraska\u2019s own Don Bacon. We are grateful for your commitment to economic growth, thriving communities and the people who work hard to create jobs and opportunity,\u201d said David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-bill-would-provide-seniors-additional-options-claiming-social-security", "Smith Bill Would Provide Seniors Additional Options for Claiming Social Security Benefits", "2021-06-17", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the Providing Choice for Social Security Retirees Act (H.R. 3899) this week. The bill would provide seniors who choose to delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond their full retirement age the opportunity to receive 25% of their earned credit as an upfront lump sum payment.\n\n\"Nebraska seniors want more options for accessing their Social Security benefits and Nebraska employers need workers, including seniors who want to stay in the workforce,\" said Smith. \"Providing new options for claiming benefits within the existing structure of Social Security is good for workers, good for employers, and good for our economy.\n\nUnder current law, Social Security-eligible workers who delay claiming benefits until after their full retirement age can earn an additional 8% in monthly Social Security benefits for every year they delay claiming, up to age 70. Smith's bill would allow seniors who delay claiming Social Security to receive a 6% monthly increase for every year of delay, plus an upfront bonus based on the other 25% of their monthly increase and average life expectancy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=671", "BACON VOTES TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A FEDERAL HOLIDAY", "2021-06-17", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) yesterday voted in favor of S. 475, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which designates Juneteenth (June 19) a federal holiday. The vote passed 415-14.\n\nJuneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to ensure African American slaves were freed, despite the Emancipation Proclamation being signed two years prior. Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to deliver the address and declare that \u201call persons held as salves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.\"\n\n\u201cI voted to make Juneteenth a holiday because we need to remember the slaves who were not freed until June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed,\u201d said Rep. Bacon.\u201cFor many of our ancestral Americans, this was their Independence Day. The dream of America is that \u2018all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019 Juneteenth is a historic milestone for America in living up to this dream.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Omaha Branch of the NAACP commends Congressman Bacon for his vote and support of the Juneteenth bill. The fight for social justice and civil rights; the freedom for all continues,\u201d said Vickie R. Young, president, Omaha Branch-NAACP.\n\n\u201cThis is just the catalyst towards addressing justice reform, economic equality, and opportunities for all,\u201d added Rep. Bacon.\n\nRep. Bacon has worked on the following legislative items to enhance racial equity:\n\nIntroduced the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act. The bipartisan legislation would eliminate the federal crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity and retroactively apply it to those already convicted or sentenced. 81% of individuals convicted of crack cocaine offenses in 2019 were Black, while historically 66% of crack cocaine users have been white or Hispanic.\n\nCosponsored the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act which, among other things, includes the development of programs to acknowledge the impact of slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States.\n\nIntroduced Anti-lynching legislation which establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching. Specifically, a person who conspires to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) is subject to criminal penalties.\n\nCosponsored the National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act which provides incentives for hate crime reporting, provides grants for State-run hate crime hotlines, and establishes additional penalties for individuals convicted under the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.\n\nCosponsored H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act into law. This is a bipartisan bill that provides our nation\u2019s teachers with additional resources and training to teach our children the important lessons of the Holocaust and the consequences of intolerance and hate.\n\nLed the charge through the National Defense Authorization Act to rename military bases currently names for Confederate leaders.\n\nCosponsored the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act which modifies policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting and investigation of missing, unidentified, and murdered Native Americans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-leads-letter-japan-ambassador-proposed-trips-waiver", "Smith Leads Letter to Japan Ambassador on Proposed TRIPS Waiver", "2021-06-16", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) led a letter today alongside seventeen of his Republican colleagues on the U.S.-Japan Caucus to Ambassador Koji Tomita, the Ambassador of Japan to the United States. The letter expresses concerns regarding a recent proposal to waive intellectual property (IP) protections related to COVID-19 vaccines under the World Trade Organization's Trade Related Aspects of IP Rights (TRIPS) agreement and thanks the Government of Japan for their leadership in defending strong IP protections.\n\nThe recent TRIPS waiver proposal before the World Trade Organization (WTO) does little to address challenges within vaccine production and delivery processes, while offering no solutions to technical and manufacturing obstacles. The letter stresses the importance of supporting efforts to vaccinate the global population without weakening IP rights.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\nFull letter text below\n\nDear Ambassador Tomita:\n\nWe are writing to you regarding a recent proposal before the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property (IP) protections related to COVID-19 technologies under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). We are deeply concerned about the potential negative impacts of this waiver for fighting both this and future health crises and greatly appreciate the Government of Japan's leadership in supporting life sciences innovation by defending strong intellectual property protections at the WTO.\n\nWe are united in committing to fight the coronavirus pandemic by addressing the challenges of increasing global vaccine production and distribution. However, as you know, a TRIPS waiver on COVID-19-related technologies is not the silver bullet that some claim it to be. Vaccine production and delivery is a complex process requiring specialized expertise and equipment and adherence to essential safety and other regulatory measures. Industry already is partnering voluntarily with facilities around the world \u2013 including facilities in countries that are the leading advocates for the waiver \u2013 that are capable of producing quality vaccines to ramp up production safely and effectively. These technical and manufacturing obstacles would remain even with a TRIPS waiver in place, and such a waiver would compound the issue by taking the focus and resources away from an already unprecedented global effort to vaccinate the world's population.\n\nIn addition to doing little to address the above challenges, and potentially increasing them, a TRIPS waiver would result in the transfer of critical technology to major economic competitors who have a history of stealing IP for domestic industrial gain, like China and Russia. The promise of IP protections is what helped justify the massive investment pharmaceutical manufacturers put into research and development that ultimately lead to the COVID-19 vaccines. Weakening IP rights through a TRIPS waiver would have a chilling effect on future investment during health emergencies and would put these technologies in the hands of nations with ulterior motives. This is not a model we should, nor can we afford to, create.\n\nInstead, we should be focusing our efforts on ways to increase global vaccine production and improve distribution. A great example is the model put forth by the Quad agreement on March 12, 2021 between our nations, India, and Australia to boost COVID-19 production and distribution in Asia. This agreement, which acknowledges the complicated nature of the logistical demands for production, procurement, and delivery of safe and effective vaccines as the critical barrier we must address, is what our nations and the WTO should be prioritizing and using as a blueprint for other regions around the world.\n\nThank you for the Government of Japan's continued principled position and constructive leadership regarding the importance of IP protection and the proposed WTO TRIPS waiver. We look forward to working together to effectively increase access and supply of COVID-19 vaccines around the world in a safe manner while protecting the IP rights that helped spur the innovation behind those vaccines.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-smith-and-spartz-introduce-bill-improve-federal-child-care-programs", "Reps. Smith and Spartz Introduce Bill to Improve Federal Child Care Programs", "2021-06-11", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN) introduced the Increasing Access to Safe Child Care Facilities Act of 2021, which will give states greater flexibility to utilize available funds to improve and increase the availability of safe child care facilities, especially in rural areas.\n\nThis bill streamlines the uses of child care stabilization funds, ensuring more children have access to safe child care facilities, more facilities are able to offer services at non-traditional hours, and child care facilities will be equipped with new resources to serve infants and children with disabilities. Parents will also have more options for child care, allowing them to return to work and drive our economy forward.\n\n\"Access to child care in rural areas presents a major impediment to connecting working parents with jobs that need to be filled,\" said Rep. Smith. \"I am glad to introduce this legislation that eliminates barriers and allows for the dedication of federal funds to expand the availability of child care to best meet communities' unique needs, especially across rural Nebraska.\"\n\n\"As a working mom of two young girls, I understand the importance of child care, especially when it comes to engaging more women in the workforce. This is a very important issue for our state given the significant labor shortages that are impacting businesses,\" said Rep. Spartz. \"Many federal government programs come with extensive strings, which make them very expensive and inefficient. This bill allows more flexibility to the states to improve effectiveness and provide a greater benefit to Hoosiers.\"\n\nThe bill is one of several child care proposals introduced as part of a joint collaboration between Ways and Means Committee and Education and Labor Committee Republicans.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-calls-angels-adoption-nominations-3", "Smith Calls for Angels in Adoption Nominations", "2021-06-11", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) opened nominations this week for the 2021 Angels in Adoption Award for Nebraska's Third District.\n\nAngels in Adoption, a project of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, provides Members of Congress the opportunity to honor an individual or entity from their districts for extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of homes.\n\n\"Many organizations, families, and individuals across the Third District deserve recognition for their commitment to providing a safe home to children in need,\" said Rep. Smith. \"The purpose of the Angels in Adoption Award is to highlight those serving our community and the love they provide to youth in need of adoption and foster care. I look forward to reviewing the nominations.\"\n\nTo make a nomination, please visit AdrianSmith.house.gov/AngelsinAdoption. Nominations must be received by Friday, July 9th.\n\nFor more information on Angels in Adoption, please contact Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-hold-virtual-mobile-offices-1", "Smith to Hold Virtual Mobile Offices", "2021-06-04", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will hold virtual mobile offices to meet with constituents of the Third District on Wednesday, June 9. In order to ensure sufficient capacity, Congressman Smith is offering two Virtual Mobile Office sessions. Those interested in attending must pre-register for the session of their choice via the links provided below.\n\nA mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking future tours in Washington, D.C.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold these virtual mobile offices on Wednesday, June 9, at the following times:\n\nVirtual Mobile Office - Session 1\n\nWednesday, June 9\n\n12:00 p.m. MDT / 1:00 p.m. CDT\n\nRegistration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ncoi7uB9Rn2RULzhEqZKQA\n\nVirtual Mobile Office - Session 2\n\nWednesday, June 9\n\n4:00 p.m. MDT / 5:00 p.m. CDT\n\nRegistration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-Nq8Tg-ZTKOJT6J6Qm3L0A\n\nFor additional information, please contact Congressman Smith's Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333 or Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-smith-sewell-lead-bipartisan-push-increase-cmmi-transparency-and-public", "Reps. Smith, Sewell Lead Bipartisan Push to Increase CMMI Transparency and Public Engagement", "2021-06-03", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Terri Sewell (D-AL), led a bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress in a letter urging the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to increase transparency and public engagement, especially in the scope and duration of demonstration projects. The letter's goal is to ensure that CMMI is reaching its full potential in reducing health care costs, addressing health disparities, and improving the quality of care delivered for beneficiaries, while remaining accountable to patients and providers.\n\n\"Innovation is key in health care, and CMMI has an important role in improving health care delivery for the future,\" said Rep. Smith. \"However, for such innovation to take place we also need transparency and accountability from CMMI, which is why this letter urges CMMI to increase public engagement and participation and provide more detailed plans to enhance its models.\"\n\n\"The Innovation Center is a critical tool in improving the quality and efficiency of our health care system, especially for rural and underserved communities where innovation is made more difficult by limited resources,\" said Rep. Sewell. \"I am proud to lead this bipartisan push to increase the Innovation Center's transparency and public engagement and ensure that it is delivering on its promise of value-based health care focused on positive outcomes.\"\n\nCMMI, also known as the \"Innovation Center,\" was created under the Affordable Care Act and is tasked with designing, testing, and implementing new health care delivery systems and payment models that lower costs and improve outcomes in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).\n\nThe CMMI model development process has, at times, been opaque to Congress and stakeholders. Its statutory requirement to gather input from interested parties has not always been observed and CMMI demonstrations are less effective than they could be given the lack of this external expertise. The letter requests that CMMI increase transparency in all its processes and put greater reliance on the use of present data to immediately understand the impact of models on healthcare providers and patients.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=650", "Bacon, Johnson and Stivers Introduce Bill to Protect Federal Judges, Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officers", "2021-05-11", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Bill Johnson (OH-06), and Steve Stivers (OH-15), today introduced the Back the Blue Act, which seeks to ensure that those who risk their lives to protect others are afforded greater protections. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is introducing similar legislation in the Senate.\n\nThis bicameral bill creates new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or attempting, or conspiring to kill federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges, and federally funded public safety officers. This includes firefighters, chaplains, and members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. It carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if a death occurs, and the offender would be subject to the death penalty. Otherwise, the offender would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\nIn addition, the legislation creates a new federal crime with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. An offender who attempted to flee from justice to avoid prosecution would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\nFinally, it creates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions; expands self-defense and Second Amendment rights for law enforcement officers; and opens grant funding to strengthen relationships between police and communities.\n\n\u201cThose who protect our communities \u2013 whether it\u2019s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR \u2013 deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThe anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now. I am looking forward to working with Sen. Cornyn and Reps. Johnson and Stivers to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation creates new - long overdue, and unfortunately necessary - criminal provisions to protect federal law enforcement officers, federal judges, and federally funded public safety officers that are assaulted, targeted for murder, or killed,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to co-sponsor this important legislation that would provide more protection for the men and women who serve all of us. Thank you to Representative Bacon and Senator Cornyn for leading the charge to get this bill signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is our duty to support law enforcement officers, firefighters, judges, rescue squads, and all others in the blue line so that they can give their all to support others,\u201d said Stivers. \u201cThankfully, this bill will give them that protection that they desperately need. I am extremely grateful for those who wake up every day to protect our neighborhoods in Central Ohio and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve families across Texas. Violent criminals who deliberately target those who protect and serve our communities should face swift and tough penalties and the Back the Blue Act sends that clear message. Every day, and particularly during National Police Week, we must give the men and women in blue our unparalleled support,\u201d Sen. Cornyn said.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-encourages-third-district-students-apply-youth-advisory-council-3", "Smith Encourages Third District Students  to Apply for Youth Advisory Council", "2021-05-10", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Third District Youth Advisory Council and encourages high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to submit their applications by July 15th.\n\nThe Third District Youth Advisory Council is a forum for students to share opinions, thoughts, and concerns with Congressman Smith about local and federal issues throughout the school year. This group provides students the opportunity to discuss the concerns of young Nebraskans and give their input on issues facing our country.\n\n\"I always enjoy meeting with the Youth Advisory Council because it is an opportunity to connect with young Nebraskans directly,\" said Rep. Smith. \"Today's students are the leaders of tomorrow's Nebraska, and emphasizing the importance of community awareness and civic engagement is vital.\"\n\nMembers must be able to serve from August 2021 \u2013 May 2022.\n\nFor more information, and to download the application, please visit AdrianSmith.House.Gov/Services/Youth-Advisory-Council\n\nTo learn more about the Youth Advisory Council, interested students and educators can contact Smith's Grand Island office at 308-384-3900 or his Scottsbluff office at 308-633-6333.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=647", "Bacon Ranked 15th in Final Lugar Center Bipartisan Index Scores for 116th Congress", "2021-05-06", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) has been ranked 15th, or top 3.4 percent, in the House of Representatives for the 116th Congress in the Bipartisan Index rankings compiled by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. This non-partisan tool measures the degree to which Senators and Representatives work across party lines on legislation. The Speaker of the House and Minority Leader are excluded from the rankings. Bacon was previously ranked in the top 7 percent.\n\n\u201cIn this time of hyper-partisanship, Congress must come together and work on areas of consensus to pass meaningful legislation instead of pushing through personal interest agendas that typically favor a small group,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cAs a Member of some bipartisan caucuses, I have found many opportunities to sponsor and introduce legislation that has widespread bipartisan support instead of just one party and one or two from the other. Lugar is the best-known index on rating bipartisanship in Congress and I\u2019m thankful they see the value in sharing this information. I\u2019m proud to seek consensus across the aisle, while not compromising on my principles and the promises I have made to the citizens of the second district.\u201d\n\nData from all Congresses since 1993 are incorporated in the Bipartisan Index, and it looks at when a member of Congress introduces bills that succeed in attracting co-sponsors from members of the other party. It also looks at how often they in turn co-sponsor a bill introduced from across the aisle. The Index does exclude non-binding resolutions and ceremonial bills and is based on a formula applied uniformly to all members. It does not make any subjective statements or judgements about individual members or bills.\n\nThe full rankings can be found here.\n\nAbout the Lugar Center:\n\nFounded by former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, the non-profit Lugar Center is a platform for informed debate and analysis of global issues, including nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, global food security, foreign assistance effectiveness and global development, energy security, and enhancing bipartisan governance. http://www.thelugarcenter.org\n\nAbout the McCourt School of Public Policy:\n\nThe McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University is a top-ranked public policy school located in the center of the policy world in Washington, D.C. Their mission is to teach students to design, analyze, and implement smart policies and put them into practice in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, in the U.S. and around the world. https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-fischbach-lead-over-130-house-colleagues-opposing-stepped-basis-repeal", "Smith, Fischbach Lead Over 130 House Colleagues In Opposing Stepped-Up Basis Repeal and Capital Gains Death Tax", "2021-05-05", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) today led more than 130 of their House of Representatives colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy opposing the Biden Administration's proposal to repeal stepped-up basis from the tax code and require payment of capital gains taxes at death.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n\"Small businesses, farms, and ranches are the lifeblood of America, creating jobs and economic opportunity across our country,\" said Rep. Smith. \"Protecting stepped-up basis across generations and ensuring capital gains taxes are only collected upon the sale of an asset are vital to ensuring local, family-owned businesses remain local, family-owned businesses, supporting and creating jobs in their home communities. Our focus should be on tax policies which encourage small businesses to create jobs; not on punitive taxes which could force families out of business.\"\n\n\"President Biden's plan to eliminate stepped-up basis and assess capital gains taxes at death would be devastating for the agricultural economy and would have a disproportionate effect on rural districts like the one I represent,\" said Rep. Fischbach. \"Without a step-up in basis, the next generation of farmers and ranchers will absorb massive tax increases just to continue their family farm. I cannot and will not support a tax plan that pads the federal coffers at the expense of America's farmers, and I urge President Biden and House Democrats to reconsider his proposal.\"\n\n\"America's farmers and ranchers rely on the stepped-up basis tax provision to pass their farms on to their children,\" said Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. \"Eliminating it could force families to take out costly loans or sell their land bit by bit just to pay the taxes. We urge Congress to leave the stepped-up basis tax provision untouched to ensure a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice helps the next generation of farmers to thrive.\"\n\n\"Nebraska's farm and ranch families truly appreciate the efforts of Congressman Smith, Congresswoman Fischbach, and the over 130 members of the House who signed onto this important letter clearly stating their support for continuing stepped-up basis,\" said Mark McHargue, President of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. \"The elimination of this important tax provision is simply another attempt to make death a taxable event. No farmer, rancher, business owner, or family should be forced to sell parts of their business or any asset just to pay the federal government. We believe this sends a powerful message to all of those in Washington who are pushing for tax increases that will harm family farms, ranches, and businesses which provide jobs and support Nebraska communities.\"\n\n\"Minnesota Farm Bureau greatly appreciates Representatives Fischbach and Smith's leadership on raising concerns with any attempt to repeal stepped up basis and taxing capital gains at death,\" said Kevin Paap, President of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. \"Eliminating the stepped-up basis would lead to more consolidation of agriculture and several family-owned farms would be forced out of business because of the increased tax liability. Stepped-up basis helps pass family farms on to the next generation and should be preserved.\"\n\n\"ASA has long advocated for needed improvements to infrastructure vital to agriculture's success in the years ahead,\" said Kevin Scott, President of the American Soybean Association and farmer from South Dakota. \"Yet, progress cannot come at the very expense of those trying to abettor our American economy\u2014the farmers who work every day to assure our crops stay competitive on the global market. We have grave concerns over elimination of stepped up basis or any changes to the basis process that are not thoughtful as to the real repercussions on our U.S. farm families.\"\n\n\"When considering how to offset the cost of a comprehensive infrastructure package, it is essential that Congress preserve sound tax policies for our nation's cattle producers,\" said Danielle Beck, Senior Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. \"We are grateful to Representatives Adrian Smith, Michelle Fischbach and the other Members of Congress who are committed to ensuring that future legislative proposals to generate revenue do not adversely impact the viability of family-owned agricultural operations. We firmly believe this effort is an important first step towards safeguarding critical provisions in the tax code like stepped-up basis and look forward to working with all Members of Congress to enact commonsense policies that ultimately preserve a sustainable and vibrant business climate for generations of farmers and ranchers to come.\"\n\n\"Repealing stepped-up basis is not a free lunch for those looking to generate tax revenue and would have significant consequences in the multifamily marketplace,\" said Doug Bibby, President of the National Multifamily Housing Council. \"Absent stepped-up basis, heirs could inherit an apartment property with a small amount basis and possibly sizeable debt. If they are taxed immediately, the resulting depreciation recapture and capital gains taxes could exceed their ability to pay without selling the asset. Even if funds to pay tax are available, heirs may have little left over to invest in and maintain the property, which could negatively impact the available affordable housing stock.\"\n\nUnder current law, when a home, small business, or farm is passed on to the next generation, our tax code allows for stepped-up basis, ensuring the inheritor is only responsible for the increased value of an asset from the time they acquired it and not for gains which benefited a previous generation. The tax code also recognizes the only appropriate time to tax capital gains is upon the sale of an asset, as any effort to tax unrealized gains would necessitate the sale of assets which would otherwise continue to be utilized to create jobs and economic opportunity.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=646", "UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Selected as A Federal Partner Site for All-Hazard Medical Response Program", "2021-05-05", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2014 The Nebraska congressional delegation today welcomed notice of the selection of Omaha, home to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, as a key pilot site designated to develop a federal program that will improve the nation\u2019s ability to respond to future catastrophic events such as pandemics, natural disasters, or a direct attack on the homeland.\n\nRep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who recently received a letter from the Acting Undersecretary of Defense informing him of the decision, worked closely with Sen. Deb Fischer on authorizing language in the fiscal year 2020 and 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts through the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) took lead in securing initial funding for the pilot project through the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nThe multi-federal department pilot program will be led by the Department of Defense in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) and to improve medical surge capability in the nation. Other partner agencies include the Veterans Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Transportation. The letter states that Omaha was chosen because of the medical center\u2019s leadership in meeting surge capacity, infectious disease control, readiness training and education as a key partner in the nation\u2019s effort to improve overall health security and medical preparedness.\n\n\u201cAs we work to bring an end to the current pandemic, it is absolutely critical that we simultaneously ensure the nation is medically prepared for whatever comes next,\u201d said Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.\u201cI am pleased with the decision and grateful for the teamwork of the Congressional delegation and the University of Nebraska that delivered this result.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Department of Defense made the right move in selecting Omaha, the home of a world-class university and medical facility, as a site for this surge capacity response program,\u201d said Fischer. \u201cAs a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was pleased we were able to create this pilot program in the FY 20 and FY 21 annual defense authorization bills. I will continue working to advance this program further during the legislative process for this year\u2019s defense bill.\u201d\n\n\"When the first Americans abroad were found to be at risk of COVID exposure, UNMC raised its hand to help. I am pleased to play an important role in the House Appropriations Committee ensuring the Department of Defense has the resources needed to support UNMC as one of five bio-containment centers that will lead the nation in dealing with highly infectious diseases,\u201d said Fortenberry, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\n\u201cThe team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is top-notch \u2014 and our state should be proud that institutions like the Department of Defense are turning to Nebraska,\u201d said Sen. Ben Sasse. \u201cOur congressional delegation will continue celebrating UNMC\u2019s good work, as Nebraskans keep serving our communities and nation.\u201d\n\nAs part of this designation, Omaha is part a pilot program that will transform the NDMS as the U.S. prepares for the next pandemic or other catastrophic events. The program is intended to strengthen NDMS capabilities and surge capacity through a collaborative network of federal and civilian partners.\n\nThis designation is part of an extensive program authorized by Congress and being led by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in consultation with the Joints Chiefs of Staff. The DHA oversees the military health system that maintains a medically ready fighting force and a medical system that is prepared to respond quickly and effectively to the full spectrum of military operational requirements.\n\nThe site designation is also an important milestone for the ongoing development of \u201cProject NExT\u201d at UNMC/ Nebraska Medicine. Project NExT is a transformational public-private partnership to create a federal, all-hazard health security disaster response space that is adaptable and leverages UNMC\u2019s and Nebraska Medicine\u2019s experience and global leadership in infectious diseases and bio preparedness. This expertise will be leveraged to meet America\u2019s current and future unmet health care training and medical surge capacity needs.\n\n\u201cUNMC and Nebraska Medicine are humbled to receive this recognition as one of the designated pilot sites,\u201d said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. \u201cThe Med Center is uniquely positioned with the capabilities to continue our journey to effectively partner with the federal government with not only improving the country\u2019s overall readiness in the face of future needs, but also with sharing our knowledge and experience with other hospitals and health professionals nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is a long history of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine demonstrating world-class capabilities in this area through work in past crises and catastrophic global events,\u201d said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine.\u201cOur treatment of Ebola patients in 2014, being named the nation\u2019s quarantine and training center, our cutting-edge research in infectious diseases and bio preparedness, and serving as a trusted resource during the pandemic are just a few ways in which our expertise has impacted global health care. Project NExT will put us in an even better position to continue serving our region, country and the world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=645", "BACON, COLLEAGUES REINTRODUCE BIPARTISAN MILITARY SPOUSE HIRING ACT", "2021-05-03", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), along with Reps. Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Don Beyer (VA-08), Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) reintroduced the Military Spouse Hiring Act, bipartisan legislation that incentivizes employers to hire spouses of members of the United States Armed Forces. Research from the Department of Defense and the Hiring Our Heroes Foundation has found that unemployment rates for military spouses far exceed that of the national average. This bill would help close the gap by expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include the hiring of qualified military spouses, allowing employers to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those spouses.\n\n\u201cFrequent military moves make it very challenging for military spouses to find work and use the licenses they\u2019ve earned in other states,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cAs a nearly 30-year Air Force veteran who has deployed and moved multiple times, I understand the many sacrifices made by military families and spouses and supporting them is a top priority of mine. This legislation addresses the military spouse\u2019s unemployment and underemployment crisis, ensuring spouses can find work and encouraging employers to hire them. This is the right thing to do, and I thank my co-leads for helping carry out this mission.\u201d\n\n\u201cMilitary families make immense sacrifices for our country, yet military spouses experience an unemployment rate of nearly 30%,\u201d said Rep. Delgado. \u201cI\u2019m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to address the military spouse unemployment crisis and empower thousands of families in upstate New York and across the country. As we recover from COVID-19 and rebuild, we must invest in our military families. I thank my co-leads on both sides of the aisle for joining me to reintroduce the Military Spouse Hiring Act today.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are so grateful to Congressman Antonio Delgado and the other congressional members for their continued support of military spouses as well as their work to remove obstacles preventing spouses from finding gainful employment and building meaningful careers while supporting their active-duty partners,\u201d said Sue Hoppin, founder, and president, National Military Spouse Network. \u201cUnemployment in the military spouse community has remained stubbornly high and has been further aggravated by the pandemic, making now the perfect time to reintroduce legislation expanding the much-needed Work Opportunity Tax Credit.\u201d\n\n\u201cMilitary families make enormous sacrifices for their country, yet sadly unemployment is much too high for the spouses of servicemembers,\u201d said Rep. Beyer. \u201cThe bipartisan Military Spouse Hiring Act would help fix this disparity and show military families that their service and sacrifice is valued.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, military spouses have high rates of unemployment due to their spouses\u2019 service to our country,\u201d said Rep. Kelly. \u201cBy making small changes to the tax code, we can make it easier for them to find jobs. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to sponsor the Military Spouse Hiring Act, which would offer incentives to employers to hire these men and women who sacrifice so much for our nation. It\u2019s simple, it makes sense, and it\u2019s the right thing to do for those who serve America and their families, both overseas and here at home.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen someone joins the military, it\u2019s not just a job\u2014it\u2019s a family commitment to our country,\u201d said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. \u201cMilitary families face a unique set of challenges, one of which is spousal employment. As co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, it\u2019s my goal to make sure they have the support they need, and this bipartisan legislation will help bridge the employment gap by expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses.\u201d\n\nExisting law already extends the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit to employers that hire qualified military veterans, among other targeted groups. The Military Spouse Hiring Act would amend existing law to provide this tax incentive to employers that hire the spouses of members of the United States Armed Forces.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-responds-president-bidens-joint-address", "Smith Responds to President Biden\u2019s Joint Address", "2021-04-29", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement in response to President Joe Biden's Joint Address to Congress:\n\n\"While I appreciate President Biden making his first address to Congress, I am disappointed his message was one of larger, more controlling government, and that his vision for bringing America together seems to be imploring Republicans to support his far left agenda.\n\n\"Our focus right now must be on continuing our bipartisan success in defeating the COVID-19 virus so we can reopen the rest of our schools, reopen the rest of our businesses, and get Americans who are still unemployed off the sidelines. Our economy was strong before the pandemic because of tax reform, regulatory relief, and our efforts to connect workers and employers. It is critical we get back to creating that same economic opportunity.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=638", "BACON ISSUES STATEMENT ON BIDEN REMARKS", "2021-04-29", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement after listening to the President\u2019s remarks last night:\n\n\u201cWhen President Biden took office in January, he pledged to work in a bipartisan manner, and he has done just the opposite. Instead, he has largely embraced the progressive democrat agenda to push through massive government spending, with no regard for the impact to our children\u2019s wallets. He has redefined infrastructure to the point that he is now proposing the government takeover of the family. He wants to double federal spending and pass enormous tax hikes that will cost millions of American jobs to overseas competitors.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=642", "Bacon Announces 2021 Congressional Art Competition Winners", "2021-04-29", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Omaha, Neb.\u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced the winning artists from Nebraska\u2019s 2ndCongressional District for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.Bacon served as national co-chair for this year\u2019s competition.\n\nJudging was conducted by the Nebraska Art Teachers Association. The guest speakers for the event were Dr.Deborah BowersKippley, Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder of the Papillion La VistaArts Network, and Jeremy Caniglia, an art teacher at Omaha Creighton Prep High School whose work has been displayed at the JoslynArtMuseum and Iowa State University, as well as in the Washington Post and on CNN.\n\n\u201cOur competition featured a variety of styles and I am thrilled we are able to showcase the work of these students,\" said Rep. Bacon.\u201cCongratulations to this year\u2019s winners. I appreciate their participation and I thank them for sharing their artwork with the community.\u201d\n\nThe top three pieces of artwork will be featured on Lamar billboards at various places in Omaha for the month of May. Locations include I-80 and 84thStreet and the southwest corner of 44thand Dodge; locations will be on a rotating basis.\n\nThe first-place artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the runners-up will be displayed in Rep. Bacon\u2019s Washington,D.C.and Omaha offices. In addition, the first-place winnerwill be invited to attend an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. honoring the winning artists from all over the country.\n\nFirst Place: \u201cSmudge\u201d by Ellie Kripal of Omaha Marian High School.\n\nIt will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol.\n\nSecond Place: \u201cUnder Water\u201d by Ashly Chavez of Omaha South High School\n\nIt will be displayed in Bacon\u2019s Washington, D.C. office.\n\nThird Place: \u201cPeeping\u201d by Trisha Rajaram of Duchesne Academy\n\nIt will be displayed in Bacon\u2019s Omaha office.\n\nHonorable Mentions:\n\n\u201cForever Remembered\u201d byBrocEvitchfromCreighton Prep High School\n\n\u201cWatch the Hands\u2019 byHelbluHtoofromOmaha Northwest High School\n\n\u201cMy GiftToYou\u201d by SulemaNungarayfromMercy High School\n\n\u201cWhy?\u201d by Frank Rosales fromOmaha Benson High School\n\n\u201cDrowning\u201d by Kara Walters fromSkuttCatholic High School\n\n\u201cStuck in Quarantine\u201d by Sneha Sengupta fromOmaha North High School\n\n\u201cBella Donna\u201d by RiyaKannapareddyfromMillard North High School\n\nThe artwork can also be seen at:\n\nVirtual Art Gallery Video (All submissions):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI_80zLn63k\n\nWinners and Honorable Mentions:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRTXbFxpGLI\n\nThe top three finishers are attached.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-announces-transportation-and-appropriations-member-requests", "Smith Announces Transportation and Appropriations Member Requests", "2021-04-27", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today announced he has submitted the following member designated project requests to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Appropriations.\n\nTransporation and Infrastructure\n\nProject Name: Heartland Expressway Phase III\n\nLocation: Minatare to Alliance, Nebraska\n\nProject Sponsor: Nebraska Department of Transportation\n\nRequested Funding: $10 million\n\nCongressman Smith's Ethics Statement can be found here.\n\nAppropriations\n\nProject Name: South Sioux City Water Treatment Plant\n\nLocation: South Sioux City, Nebraska\n\nProject Sponsor: City of South Sioux City\n\nRequested Funding: $7 million\n\nCongressman Smith's Ethics Statement can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-smith-and-chu-introduce-bipartisan-peers-act-bolster-mental-health-care", "Reps. Smith and Chu Introduce Bipartisan PEERS Act to Bolster Mental Health Care", "2021-04-23", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Judy Chu (D-CA) today introduced the PEERS in Medicare Act to expand access to peer support specialists by clarifying that they can participate as part of a team that provides behavioral health integration (BHI) services for Medicare beneficiaries.\n\nA peer support specialist is a person with lived experience who has been trained to support those who struggle with mental health, psychological trauma, or substance use. Their personal experience with these challenges allows peer support specialists the expertise to help patients along their road to recovery as a supplemental partner in a larger care team.\n\n\"Mental health services are critically important in rural America, and COVID-19 has made the need for mental health care even more prevalent,\" said Rep. Smith. \"Peer support therapy provides an opportunity for those with mental illnesses or who are recovering from substance abuse disorders to find support and assistance during their recovery. I am glad to sponsor this legislation once again and continue working on bettering mental health in our country.\"\n\n\"As one of the only psychologists in Congress, I know that mental health and support is essential to our overall health, especially after the last year,\" said Rep. Chu. \"In addition to the ongoing opioid epidemic, the pandemic, recession, and rising hate crimes have all contributed to families, teachers, front line workers, and children reporting increased anxiety, depression, and trauma, all of which can be helped with access to Peer support specialists. Peer support specialists do not take the place of mental health practitioners like a physician, psychologist or social worker. Instead, they supplement these professionals as part of the care team to help someone struggling with substance abuse or mental health disorders on the road to recovery. That is why I am leading this bill once again, because I want to help bolster the recovery care workforce in our country.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=634", "BACON HONORS CONSTITUTION, VOTES AGAINST D.C. STATEHOOD", "2021-04-22", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today released the following statement after voting against H.R. 51, the D.C. Admission Act, which would grant statehood to the District of Columbia:\n\n\u201cH.R. 51 is unconstitutional as it does not rescind the 23rd Amendment, which give the areas known as \u2018The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States\u201d a number of electors of President equal to if it were a state. If this bill becomes law, the new state will have three Presidential electors and the Federal areas that has the White House and the Capitol will have three additional Presidential electors. Further, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 gives Congress the authority over Washington, D.C. and H.R. 51 violates this intent. The reality is this is a liberal political power grab with the goal of adding two more Democrats to the Senate.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=629", "BACON JOINS STEFANIK, COSPONSORS WAGE EQUITY ACT", "2021-04-15", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) became an original cosponsor of Rep. Elise Stefanik\u2019s (NY-21) Wage Equity Act to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. Modeled after bipartisan legislation that has been signed into law in states across the country, the bill encourages employers to proactively evaluate their pay practices and eliminate pay disparities in their workplaces, while empowering employees to negotiate pay based on their qualifications and merit.\n\nThe Wage Equity Act comes ahead of the Democrats\u2019 proposal, which benefits trial lawyers over working women; limits the rights of prospective employees in the hiring process; and impedes American job creators with millions of dollars in compliance costs.\n\n\u201cEqual work deserves equal pay. Addressing pay discrimination in the workplace must be a priority,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cH.R. 7, the so-called \u201cPaycheck Fairness Act\u201d introduced by my Democrat colleagues, offers no new protections, threatens workers\u2019 privacy, and drags hardworking women through never-ending legal proceedings and lawsuits.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wage Equity Act is a practical, 21st century solution to achieve equal pay for equal work once and for all by empowering businesses and employees to work together in pursuit of this common goal,\u201d said Stefanik. \u201cThe Democrats\u2019 alternative legislation would pave the way for frivolous lawsuits and unnecessary burdens on businesses, including those owned and operated by women themselves.\u201d\n\nRep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Committee, added, \u201cRep. Stefanik\u2019s bill helps working women unlike the Democrats\u2019 so-called Paycheck Fairness Act, which will unfairly punish business owners and reward trial lawyers rather than workers. H.R. 7 is a disingenuous effort on behalf of Democrats to signal \u2018progress\u2019 without affecting any change. If Democrats are truly interested in supporting working women, then Rep. Stefanik\u2019s bill\u2014which among other provisions encourages employers to evaluate their pay practices, ensures pay differences among workers of the opposite sex are due to legitimate, business-related reasons, and directs funds and research towards women\u2019s advancement\u2014is a no-brainer.\u201d\n\nThe Wage Equity Act would empower women in the 21st century workplace by:\n\nStrengthening the Equal Pay Act to ensure differences in pay must be based on legitimate business reasons\n\nEncouraging businesses to undergo a voluntary pay analysis to proactively rectify disparities\n\nAuthorizing a grant program to educate women in college, career, and technical programs on negotiating pay\n\nAllowing employees to voluntarily disclose prior salary history\n\nProtecting the ability of employees to discuss compensation with their colleagues, but gives employers the right to set reasonable limitations on time, location, and manner of those discussions\n\nProtecting employers\u2019 ability to have a salary expectation conversation with prospective employees\n\nInstructing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the causes and impacts of the \u201cmanagers gap\u201d (the time when many women leave the workforce for parental/family reasons).\n\nIn contrast, the Democrats\u2019 Paycheck Fairness Act empowers trial lawyers over employees and employers, and intrudes on America\u2019s businesses by:\n\nEstablishing an unworkable standard for employers to defend against lawsuits when a pay disparity is based on legitimate factors other than sex\n\nRequiring the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to collect intrusive data on employees based on compensation rates, sex, race, and national origin\n\nCosting an estimated $600 million for employers each year\n\nExpanding class action lawsuits and requiring parties who do not wish to pursue a claim to affirmatively opt-out of one\n\nOpening claims to unlimited compensatory or punitive damages, even if there is no finding of intentional discrimination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=630", "BACON NAMED TO TOP 20% OF MOST EFFECTIVE LAWMAKERS", "2021-04-15", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) has been ranked in the top 20% of Republicans for legislative effectiveness in the 116th Congress. The Center for Effective Lawmaking bases the scores on 15 metrics regarding the bills that each member of Congress sponsors, how substantial their policy proposals are, and how far they move through the lawmaking process.\n\n\u201cI have found that by working across the aisle and seeking areas of consensus, I can make a positive difference on key issues facing our country and in the everyday lives of hard-working Americans,\u201d said Rep. Bacon.\n\nBacon was also recently named as one of six recipients of Bipartisan Legislative Action Awards in the House of Representatives.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=628", "BACON URGES BIDEN TO MAINTAIN SMALL MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN", "2021-04-14", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced he will be withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021:\n\n\"I deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq after the 9/11 attacks and have seen first-hand the effectiveness of our counter-terrorism operations. After nearly 20 years of combat operations, we now have a very small presence of about 2,500 soldiers that are succeeding in keeping the Taliban out of power, and these troops are not in combat roles.\n\n\u201cThe President\u2019s misguided decision to withdraw troops will result in the Taliban eventually regaining power, end any hope of a peace deal, and impose unacceptable costs to the U.S. when we inevitably must return to eliminate renewed terror threats from Al Qaida, ISIS and other violent extremists who are now allied with the Taliban and who are determined to attack the homeland. This decision epitomizes the \u201cpenny wise, pound foolish\u201d adage.\n\n\u201cPresident Obama made the same disastrous mistake with ISIS in Iraq, and we must learn from this tragic history. A small long-term presence is far cheaper in lives and treasure rather than returning to fight another large-scale war. We want to bring our troops home, but must base these decisions on operational conditions, not the calendar. I urge the President to reconsider his decision.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=622", "Bacon, Spanberger Reintroduce Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act to Recognize Long-Term Risks of Military Firefighting, Strengthen VA Benefits for Veteran Firefighters", "2021-04-06", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) introduced l the Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act, which provides veteran firefighters with the fair compensation, healthcare, and retirement benefits they\u2019ve earned through their service.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation is named after Powhatan County, Virginia resident Michael Lecik, a former U.S. Air Force firefighter who was twice deployed to the Middle East. Following his military service, Lecik became a civilian firefighter and then became chief fire inspector at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee \u2014 and he also volunteered as a firefighter with the Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department.\n\nIn February 2019, Lecik was diagnosed with multiple myeloma \u2014 a condition tied to the high-risk, carcinogenic workplace conditions that come with being a military firefighter. Lecik passed away last month.\n\nThe Veterans Health Administration does not currently cover treatment costs related to diseases like Lecik\u2019s, as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) \u2014 in many cases \u2014 does not recognize the direct service connection between military firefighting and cancer as a service-connected disability beyond one year following active duty. Spanberger\u2019s Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act would create the presumption that veteran firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases \u2014 including heart disease, lung disease, and certain cancers \u2014 contracted the illness due to their service in the military. Additionally, it would extend the window of time for veteran military firefighters with certain diseases to claim presumptive service-connection to 15 years. By creating this presumption, the VA would be able to provide equitable disability benefits and treatment cost coverage to veteran firefighters like Lecik.\n\nBacon, a nearly 30-year U.S. Air Force veteran, and Spanberger first introducedthe legislation in January 2020.\n\n\u201cAfter nearly 30 years in the Air Force, I\u2019ve witnessed hundreds of heroic military firefighters who put their own lives on the line by carrying us out of burning buildings or jets and exposing themselves to toxic substances and deadly fumes,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cCreating the presumption that those who become disabled from serious disease contracted the illness while serving in the military allows the VA to treat thousands of military firefighters that would normally not be covered. This bill changes that. I fully support this mission and I will continue to work with Rep. Spanberger to not only get this over the finish line, but to honor the life of former USAF firefighter, Michael Lecik, to which this bill is named after.\"\n\n\u201cMike Lecik was dedicated to his family, his community, the safety of his neighbors, and his country. I first got to know Mike after the VA refused to recognize that his cancer was connected to his service. Immediately, I grew to know Mike\u2019s character, kindness, and courage as he fought to make sure that thousands of firefighters, just like him, received the care they had earned,\u201d said Rep. Spanberger. \u201cThis legislation would make sure diseases like Mike\u2019s are recognized as service-connected disabilities \u2014 and that veteran firefighters can access the quality of care they deserve. It was my honor to know Mike, and it is my privilege to reintroduce this legislation \u2014 and push it forward with Congressman Bacon \u2014 in his name. My thoughts are also with Mike\u2019s family, whom he loved unconditionally. His three daughters will grow up with an example of what it truly means to demonstrate strength \u2014 and what it means to never give up the fight.\u201d\n\nA 2010 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that U.S. firefighters are more likely to suffer certain diseases and illnesses as a result of their career \u2014 and they experience higher rates of cancer than the general U.S. population. While many states have already recognized this link, the VA has not yet recognized this long-term presumptive disability \u2014 meaning thousands of U.S. veteran firefighters are left uncovered by the VA.\n\nBacon and Spanberger\u2019s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI-03), Connor Lamb (D-PA-17), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Elaine Luria (D-VA-02), John Katko (R-NY-24), Donald S. Beyer (D-VA-08), Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY-03).\n\nClick here to read the full bill text, and click here to read a January 2020 Powhatan Today article focused on the bill\u2019s first introduction, featuring comments from Lecik.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-hold-virtual-mobile-offices-0", "Smith to Hold Virtual Mobile Offices", "2021-04-05", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will hold virtual mobile offices this week to meet with constituents of the Third District. In order to ensure sufficient capacity and provide greater opportunity for constituents to join, Smith will hold both morning and midday events on Wednesday, April 7. Those interested in attending must pre-register at the links provided below.\n\nA mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking future tours in Washington, D.C.\n\nSmith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile offices online on Wednesday, April 7 at the following times and links:\n\nMorning Virtual Mobile Office\n\nWednesday, April 7\n\n9:00 AM CDT/8:00 AM MDT\n\nRegistration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZL8074KWTPSUylGHoMsNbQ\n\nMidday Virtual Mobile Office\n\nWednesday, April 7\n\n12:00 PM CDT/11:00 AM MDT\n\nRegistration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LViVydJhTeWEZH_cxsyNqw\n\nFor additional information, please contact Congressman Smith's Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333 or Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=620", "BACON, PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS URGE LEADERSHIP TO RETURN TO REGULAR ORDER", "2021-03-29", "2021", "2021-03", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", "bacon", "https://bacon.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) joined his Problem Solvers Caucus colleagues by urging Congressional leadership to return to regular order in the House, allowing for open debate on the House floor, committee hearings, and amendments. In a letter officially endorsed by the 58-Member bipartisan Caucus, including 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans, the group called for adhering to a deliberative and open process that will produce legislation through committee hearings, markups, and floor amendments.\n\nGiven the narrowly divided U.S. House and Senate, a more open, deliberative process is key to getting more legislation from Congress to the President\u2019s desk.\n\nIn recent weeks, many bills have been fast-tracked to the House floor, bypassing committees; this, coupled with many closed rules, has constrained Members\u2019 ability to offer amendments and provide valuable input on legislation.\n\nThe Problem Solvers Caucus cited narrow majorities in the House and Senate and the importance for bills to gain bipartisan support to pass both houses and ultimately be signed into law by the President. They indicate how the recent rushed process in the House, with a lack of transparency and Member input, greatly limits the potential for success for House-passed legislation to be passed by the Senate.\n\n\u201cWe believe a return to regular order can help build the necessary support from both parties to enact meaningful, bipartisan legislation that creates new possibilities for Americans and addresses many of the challenges impacting our country,\u201d the Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus wrote in a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy this week. \u201cThe best way to do this is by having a deliberative and open process that promotes transparency and allows members to help shape legislation through committee hearings, markups, and floor amendments. We should not be afraid to deliberate and debate.\u201d\n\nThe Members closed by saying, \u201cThe opportunities are endless if we adhere to a process that reflects the best for all Americans \u2014 promoting Member input, encouraging collaboration, and championing cooperation.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:33:37Z"], ["https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases/smith-fischer-sasse-announce-virtual-third-district-service-academy-open-house", "Smith, Fischer, Sasse Announce Virtual Third District Service Academy Open House", "2021-03-25", "2021", "2021-03", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", "adriansmith", "https://adriansmith.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Adrian Smith, in conjunction with the offices of U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, will host the 2021 Virtual Third District Service Academy Open House on Thursday April 8, 2021.\n\nThis event is an opportunity for young people in Nebraska to learn more about the U.S. service academies and other opportunities for military service. High school and college students interested in military opportunities, as well as their families, are encouraged to attend.\n\nVirtual Third District Service Academy Open House\n\nThursday April 8, 2021\n\n5:00 \u2013 7:00 pm CDT\n\nRegistration link: PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED\n\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rbhHWHVRT8eBv2OmcSQ5kA\n\nRepresentatives of the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army ROTC will provide information and answer questions.\n\nStaff from the offices of Congressman Smith, Senator Fischer, and Senator Sasse will attend the event to answer questions about the service academy nomination process.\n\nFor questions about the 2021 Virtual Third District Service Academy Open House or for assistance registering for the event, please contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at 308-384-3900.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:33:37Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 139, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "NE", "p2": "2021"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 139, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NE&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 139, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "NE", "label": "NE", "count": 139, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 139, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2021-03-25,https~3A~2F~2Fadriansmith~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fsmith-fischer-sasse-announce-virtual-third-district-service-academy-open-house", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NE&year=2021&_next=2021-03-25%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fadriansmith~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fsmith-fischer-sasse-announce-virtual-third-district-service-academy-open-house&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 110.81218998879194, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}