{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-showcases-successful-efforts-to-cut-red-tape-get-results-for-nebraskans/", "Ricketts Showcases Successful Efforts to Cut Red Tape, Get Results for Nebraskans", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) highlighted his successes in cutting red tape and helping Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy.\n\n\u201cMy team and I have helped over 2,200 Nebraskans access federal services,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cWe\u2019ve also helped constituents save or recover nearly $12 million from the federal government. We\u2019re continuing the fight to protect taxpayer dollars. We\u2019re ensuring federal agencies serve citizens. From streamlining government to cutting taxes, I\u2019ll keep working to make government work better.\u201d\n\nRicketts shared the story of Dayspring Academy in Manley.\n\n\u201cJen and Shelly worked hard to open a new daycare in Manley. They applied for a grant through the Department of Health and Human Services to open their new facility,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cBut red tape and regulations made it difficult for Dayspring Academy to receive the funding. Jen and Shelly exchanged nearly 90 emails with the Department of Health and Human Services. Not one explained why the grant wasn\u2019t going through. They were approaching a critical deadline. That\u2019s when they reached out to my office. My staff called the agency. We cut through the red tape, identified the issue, and helped them get their grant money. We made sure that Dayspring Academy could open their doors. Now, families in Southeast Nebraska have access to high-quality childcare closer to home. That\u2019s not just a win for Dayspring. It\u2019s a win for every Nebraskan who deserves accessible childcare.\u201d\n\nRicketts also shared the story of Off Broadway Apartments in Broken Bow.\n\n\u201cPaul serves his community as the President of the Board of the Off Broadway Apartments. Off Broadway is a senior living community in Central Nebraska,\u201d concluded Ricketts. \u201cCOVID requirements made it difficult for Paul to pay his staff. The IRS implemented an Employee Retention Credit to help small businesses like Paul\u2019s. However, bureaucratic red tape made it difficult for him to receive the credits. After waiting for a response from the IRS and not hearing from them, Paul reached out to our constituent caseworker in Kearney. My team was able to contact the IRS and ensure that Off Broadway received proper tax credits. Without these credits, Off Broadway would have been forced to close.\u201d\n\nTRANSCRIPT:\n\nSenator Ricketts: \u201cWhen I was Governor, we focused on providing great services to Nebraskans.\n\n\u201cThe federal government should do the same.\n\n\u201cIn the Senate, my team and I are helping Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy.\n\n\u201cMy team is specially trained in assisting constituents with their concerns.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of our work to cut red tape and deliver wins for Nebraskans.\n\n\u201cRural Nebraskans have struggled to find accessible daycare.\n\n\u201cJen and Shelly worked hard to open a new daycare in Manley.\n\n\u201cThey applied for a grant through the Department of Health and Human Services to open their new facility.\n\n\u201cBut red tape and regulations made it difficult for Dayspring Academy to receive the funding.\n\n\u201cJen and Shelly exchanged nearly 90 emails with the Department of Health and Human Services.\n\n\u201cNot one explained why the grant wasn\u2019t going through.\n\n\u201cThey were approaching a critical deadline.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s when they reached out to my office.\n\n\u201cMy staff called the agency.\n\n\u201cWe cut through the red tape, identified the issue, and helped them get their grant money.\n\n\u201cWe made sure that Dayspring Academy could open their doors.\n\n\u201cNow, families in Southeast Nebraska have access to high-quality childcare closer to home.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not just a win for Dayspring. It\u2019s a win for every Nebraskan who deserves accessible childcare.\n\n\u201cMany other Nebraskans reach out to my office for help navigating the federal bureaucracy.\n\n\u201cPaul serves his community as the President of the Board of the Off Broadway Apartments.\n\n\u201cOff Broadway is a senior living community in Central Nebraska.\n\n\u201cTheir services are critical to Kearney and Broken Bow.\n\n\u201cCOVID requirements made it difficult for Paul to pay his staff.\n\n\u201cThe IRS implemented an Employee Retention Credit to help small businesses like Paul\u2019s.\n\n\u201cHowever, bureaucratic red tape made it difficult for him to receive the credits.\n\n\u201cAfter waiting for a response from the IRS and not hearing from them, Paul reached out to our constituent caseworker in Kearney.\n\n\u201cMy team was able to contact the IRS and ensure that Off Broadway received proper tax credits.\n\n\u201cWithout these credits, Off Broadway would have been forced to close.\n\n\u201cNebraskans always advocate for their community.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I always advocate for Nebraskans.\n\n\u201cThese are just two examples of how my team and I help Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy.\n\n\u201cMy team and I have helped over 2,200 Nebraskans access federal services.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve also helped constituents save or recover nearly $12 million from the federal government.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re continuing the fight to protect taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re ensuring federal agencies serve citizens.\n\n\u201cFrom streamlining government to cutting taxes, I\u2019ll keep working to make government work better.\n\n\u201cMy offices are open in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, and Washington, D.C.\n\n\u201cWe can also answer questions about services, eligibility, or benefits.\n\n\u201cThis includes questions about Veterans Affairs, Medicare, or the Internal Revenue Service.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue delivering excellent customer service for our constituents.\n\n\u201cNebraskans deserve nothing less.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-showcases-successful-efforts-to-cut-red-tape-get-results-for-nebraskans/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9458699971437454, "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"}