Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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375 rows where chamber = "House", state = "NE" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3455E9F9-92A5-4587-A341-CFACCDBB7031 | Sasse Statement on Administration's Response to Russian Hacks | 2016-12-29 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | US Senator Ben Sasse, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and proponent for strong American cybersecurity, issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's response to Russian hacks."Too little, too late: these meager steps will not decisively change Putin's calculation that his aggressions are worth the risk. A year ago, the Administration should have led a comprehensive review of our offensive and defensive cyber doctrines, instead of offering media-driven spin. We cannot afford to be in the same place a year from now -- our adversaries must be deterred by knowing that cyber attacks will be met with swift and decisive responses." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D5C0AF62-2F30-4CCF-BDBD-A6025F69A12E | Sasse Statement on Trump's Cybersecurity Adviser | 2016-12-27 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump's naming of Thomas Bossert as his chief adviser on homeland security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity."As hacks from Russia and China make clear, cybersecurity is national security. Washington isn't prepared for these new challenges and we need a complete review of both our offensive and defensive cyber-doctrines. There's tough work ahead and Mr. Bossert has an important role in protecting Americans from new threats." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=76D25130-8911-4F26-B967-C3D595E669B6 | Sasse Statement on US Abstaining from Israel Vote | 2016-12-24 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's decision to abstain from a UN Security Council vote on Israeli settlements. "This administration is determined to lead from behind until the very end. The decision to oppose our ally Israel is a sad but unsurprising end to eight years of flawed foreign policy." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/icymi-ustr-news-obama-administration-takes-action-address-european-union%E2%80%99s-unfair | ICYMI: USTR NEWS: Obama Administration Takes Action to Address European Unions Unfair Trade Practices against U.S. Beef Industry | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The Obama Administration announced today that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is taking action against the European Union’s (EU) unfair trade practices that discriminate against U.S. beef imports. Acting on the request of the U.S. beef industry, USTR has scheduled a public hearing and is seeking public comments in connection with the EU’s ban on most U.S. beef products. The EU’s ban on U.S. beef is not based on sound science and discriminates against American beef farmers, ranchers, and producers. If the trade action resumes, the United States would reinstate industry-supported tariffs on a list of EU products imported into the United States. USTR is particularly interested in comments addressed to the possible effects of reinstatement on U.S. consumers and small- or medium-sized businesses. "The WTO determined that the European Union's ban on U.S. beef imports violates its international trade obligations," said Ambassador Froman. "The EU has failed to live up to assurances to address this issue, and it's now time to take action. Today's action holds the EU accountable and is an important step in encouraging the Commission to come back to the table to ensure that American ranchers have access to Europe's market and that European consumers have better access to high-quality U.S. beef." In 1998, the EU lost a case at the WTO for banning American beef. In 2009, the U.S. negotiated an agreement to allow a modest degree of market access for specially-produced beef that meets the EU's standards, but that agreement has not worked as intended. The European Commission had argued that this issue should be resolved through T-TIP. However, given that the EU stated in September that they did not view the completion of T-TIP this year to be possible, it is now time to take action. The U.S. beef industry exports an average $6 billion per year. These exports produce an estimated $7.6 billion in economic activity and support 50,000 jobs nationwide. The American beef industry… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/members-tri-state-delegation-asks-va-answers-about-reduction-hot-springs-services | Members of Tri-State Delegation Ask VA for Answers About Reduction of Hot Springs Services Despite Superior Rating | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) joined U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today in writing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to ask about the VA’s preferred alternative to drastically cut services at the Hot Springs VA facility despite it being rated by the VA as one of only 14 “five star” facilities across the country. “As you continue to overhaul the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through the MyVA plan, we believe that it is essential to use VA’s top performing facilities as models for others to follow as opposed to targeting them for closure,” wrote the delegation. “Now more than ever, the VA needs to leverage its top medical centers for best practices and lessons learned to replicate their performance throughout VHA. This is critical as the VA continues to rebuild trust with veterans following the high profile scandals of recent years. As one of only 14 rated five-star facilities, we feel that significantly reducing services at Hot Springs would be a grave mistake and a disservice to the veterans it serves.” Full text of the letter is below: Dear Secretary McDonald: We write to you regarding the recent press publication of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) internal quality “star ranking” metrics for its medical facilities. It is with great pride that we note the Hot Springs campus of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) is one of only 14 “five-star” facilities out of a total of 146 medical centers. As you are aware, the Hot Springs campus takes great pride in the care and services it provides to veterans, a mission that it has admirably accomplished since the U.S. Civil War. It is therefore no surprise for us to learn that Hot Springs is one of the VA’s top performing facilities. This revelation makes the VA’s proposed BHHCS realignment and corresponding reduction in services at Hot Springs all the more concerning. Since the start of the realignment process over five years ago, we h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/RegulationRewindReport | Smith Issues Regulation Rewind Report | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released his 2016 Regulation Rewind Report, a digital booklet highlighting his efforts to reduce the burden of overregulation on Nebraskans. Since 2014, Smith has led his Regulation Rewind initiative to fight back against government overreach. With the help of Nebraskans sharing their stories about how regulations have impacted them, their families, their businesses, and their communities, Smith has taken action on many legislative solutions to cut through unnecessary and harmful red tape. Click here to view the full report as a digital booklet. Click here to view as a PDF. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-thanks-2016-interns | Smith Thanks 2016 Interns | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Top: Congressman Smith with interns Colton Schaardt and Isaac Liberman in his Washington, D.C. office. Bottom left to right: Congressman Smith with interns Jayme Krejci and Marilyn Synek in his Grand Island office. Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today to recognize the interns who have served the Third District throughout 2016: Jayme Krejci of St. Paul, Isaac Liberman of Kearney, Marilyn Synek of Kearney, and Colton Schaardt of Steinauer. During their internships, the students assisted in a variety of tasks in Smith’s Washington, D.C., and Grand Island offices including research, taking calls, guiding Nebraskans on Capitol tours, processing flag requests, assisting with constituent correspondence, and attending meetings and briefings. “Jayme, Isaac, Marilyn, and Colton dedicated significant time this year to serving the people of the Third District, and my staff and I are grateful for their efforts,” Smith said. “These talented young Nebraskans will have a great impact on our state and country as they continue to grow in their leadership and professional abilities.” Krejci is a junior at Wayne State College majoring in political science and minoring in public administration, pre-law, and public health. Liberman is a junior at George Washington University in D.C., where he studies business and finance. Synek is in her junior year at the University of Nebraska-Kearney majoring in political science and multimedia. Schaardt spent two years at Southeast Community College in the agriculture business and management technology program and plans to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study agriculture economics and public policy. Smith is currently accepting applications for internships in his Washington, D.C., and district offices. To learn more about the internship program, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/unifying-hope-christmas | The Unifying Hope of Christmas | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Many Americans have entered this Christmas season weary from a divisive election. Thankfully, the beauty of Christmas comes in its unifying hope for all people. President Ronald Reagan recounted this truth in his radio address to the nation on Christmas Eve 1988, and his words are still reassuring today. We must come together as a country. It is a tall order, and I am hopeful President-elect Donald Trump will focus on its importance as he takes office. In the meantime, we must each take to heart the spirit of Christmas and do all we can to ensure our words and actions reflect what unites us rather than what may divide us. To all Nebraskans, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! President Ronald Reagan Radio Address to the Nation (excerpt) December 24, 1988 My fellow Americans: Tomorrow is a day for celebration: celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Joy envelops us, as it must have enveloped our ancestors 1,988 years ago when unto us a Child was born. Our joy comes this happy season—featuring Hanukkah as well—not merely from the family dinner at which we come together nor just in the delight that a small child takes in all the sounds and smells and sights and a gift. It’s not simply the crackle of a fire, the tinsel on the tree, and the annual viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Yes, all these things are joyous, indeed, but this is also a time for prayer, a time for us to count our myriad blessings and reflect upon the joy that is ours every day of every year. Because of the common stresses and strains of everyday life, we may be forgiven for forgetting from time to time all that God has given us. One child has a fever; another is grumpy; a third is asking why is the sky blue, and all the while there are bills to pay and a roof that leaks. Sometimes it all seems a little too much, and at these moments we look back with longing to a time when our responsibilities did not seem so large. But this season those responsibilities are revealed for what they truly are: the God-given blessings that give our… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-reportthe-electoral-college | Fort Report:The Electoral College | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | The Electoral College is not a place to study politics. There are no grades, no classes, and no professors. It is not a mystical place of academic tradition. While we tend to think of the presidential election as a matter of vote totals, by our law it is the men and women of the Electoral College who place the final mark and create the final tally. It is worth tracing the history of this system. Although we speak of our country as a “democracy,” we actually live in a republic. In the Federalist Papers - the documents that publicly argued for the ratification of our Constitution – the now suddenly popular Alexander Hamilton (writing under the nom de plume Publius) was concerned that big cities and states would dominate the election process. He and other first leaders opposed selecting Presidents and Vice-Presidents by means of “direct,” or popular, vote because it would give inordinate influence to large-population states like New York at the expense of smaller, but no less important, states like New Hampshire. The electoral system ensures that candidates campaign in many more states than they would in a direct election system. The total number of electors, not the total number of popular votes, defines the outcome. With the complexity of our system, it is understandable that there is confusion on this point. Since we are now in the heart of bowl season (with Nebraska taking on Tennessee in next Friday’s Music City Bowl), prioritizing popular vote totals is like prioritizing yardage as the defining metric in a football game. As we Cornhusker faithful well know, a team can win a football game even if the opponent has five times more passing, rushing and return yards. If the Presidential election were only about getting the most popular votes, a candidate’s strategy would be to run up the popular vote score in large media markets, while punting low-population states like Nebraska. Along with Maine, Nebraska is unique in its method of selecting the President and Vice-President. Our electors are not apportioned in a w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0433AEA4-E20D-4E73-8E59-72C84A28F9EE | Sasse Reaction to Presidents Press Conference | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | “Blaming journalists for coverage and mere scolding of dictators for cyberattacks isn’t a winning strategy.” U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s comments on cybersecurity in his final 2016 press conference today. “Blaming journalists for coverage and mere scolding of dictators for cyberattacks isn’t a winning strategy. Instead of President Obama’s vague ‘we can do stuff,’ Congress should debate upending Putin’s calculus with a full menu of diplomatic, economic, military, and cyber responses. This isn’t new: China’s OPM hack and Russia’s aggressions make it clear our adversaries think these attacks are low-cost, high-reward gambles.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/icymi-ustr-news-united-states-challenges-chinese-grain-tariff-rate-quotas-rice-wheat | ICYMI: USTR News: United States Challenges Chinese Grain Tariff Rate Quotas for Rice, Wheat, and Corn | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Today, the Obama Administration launched a new trade enforcement action against the People’s Republic of China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning China’s administration of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for rice, wheat, and corn. The complaint filed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) charges that China’s administration of its TRQs for these commodities breaches China’s WTO commitments and undermines American farm exports. The United States is launching this trade enforcement challenge to hold China to its trade commitments and help level the playing field for American rice, wheat, and corn farmers. Today’s announcement marks the 15th trade enforcement challenge the Obama Administration has launched against China at the WTO. “Today’s new challenge – as well as the steps we are taking to advance our case against China’s excessive government support for rice, wheat, and corn – demonstrates again the Obama Administration’s strong and continued commitment to enforcing the rules of global trade, and protecting the interests and livelihoods of American farmers,” said United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. “China’s TRQ policies breach their WTO commitments and limit opportunities for U.S. farmers to export competitively priced, high-quality grains to customers in China. The United States will aggressively pursue this challenge on behalf of American rice, wheat, and corn farmers.” The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that China’s TRQs for these commodities were worth over $7 billion in 2015. If the TRQs had been fully used, China would have imported as much as $3.5 billion worth of additional crops last year alone. “Real access under tariff-rate quotas is vital to global trade and to providing our farmers and ranchers the opportunity to export high-quality, American-grown products to the world,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Although China has become a significant market for our grain exports, we could be doing much better than we ar… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/omaha-world-hearld-editorial-bringing-little-omaha-dc-way-va-clinic | Omaha World Herald: Editorial: Bringing a little Omaha to DC, by way of a VA clinic | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Congress has coalesced around Omaha’s sound idea to let local donors help the Veterans Administration serve the medical needs of local veterans better, faster and cheaper than the federal bureaucracy can on its own. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., would change federal law to allow public-private partnerships with the VA, the kind Omaha used to build CenturyLink Center Omaha. The measure would let the VA to replace Omaha’s aging VA hospital more quickly than by federal funding alone. The local plan is to replace the hospital with a new, $136 million ambulatory clinic. This would serve most Omaha-area veterans’ medical needs more safely and efficiently than the hospital. Private donations would help build the clinic faster than the VA could afford to because of cost overruns with other VA construction projects. Ashford’s bill passed the House Wednesday. The Senate passed it overnight Friday, surviving an effort by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to hold up consent votes on widely supported bills, including Fischer’s, while he sought an amendment to help coal miners. “This bill is a good bill and it is needed,” Fischer told The World-Herald. “With it, our nation can better deliver on its promises to our veterans.” Nebraska 1st District Rep. Jeff Fortenberry called the VA clinic partnership bill “transformative.” Iowa 3rd District Rep. David Young described it as “a new way of doing things.” Both helped Ashford get it passed. Ashford’s replacement, Rep.-elect Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general, has applauded the public-private effort. All of this effort restores a little confidence in Congress’ ability to act in a bipartisan fashion to address important national needs. Gridlock doesn’t have to be a default position. Ashford, who helped rally local donors to the cause, told The World-Herald that Omahans are ready to act as soon as the law lets them. Secretary Bob McDonald said in an August visit to Omaha that he’d like this clinic to pilot a new wa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C18266BC-243B-43CC-86C7-45834DDE0B72 | Senate Passes Sasse-Schatz Transparency Legislation | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Open, Public, Electronic and Necessary (OPEN) Government Data Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i). The bipartisan bill will require public data to be accessible at Data.gov so individuals, organizations, and other government offices can utilize it.“I'm proud to work across the aisle with Senator Schatz to bring a 21st century solution to this city's antiquated, 20th century approach to data,” said Senator Sasse. “Because transparency keeps Washington accountable to the people, government data should be made public unless an administration makes a compelling reason not to. After passing the Senate with bipartisan support, we have momentum to carry this important work into the new year.” “Public information belongs to the public, and it’s the government’s job to make sure that data is available and easily accessible in today’s ever-changing digital world,” said Senator Schatz. “I thank Senator Sasse for working with me to get this through the Senate, and I look forward to continuing our work in the next Congress.” The OPEN Government Data Act would require, by default, the data included at Data.gov to be machine-readable format to make it accessible to anyone and easily searchable. It also protects privacy and national security information when making federal government data available to the public while requiring federal agencies use it to improve decision-making.“The passage of the OPEN Government Data Act marks another milestone in the open data movement,” said Hudson Hollister, Executive Director of the Data Coalition. “This bill builds on open data reforms such as the DATA Act. Our Coalition and the emerging open data industry thank Senators Sasse and Schatz for their leadership.”Supporters of the legislation include: the Sunlight Foundation, the Data Coalition, Center for Data Innovation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and BSA/The Software Alliance. Proud to work with @SenBrianSchatz to b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=408FD867-214C-4062-8473-C062E63EC8C9 | Fischer Applauds Passage of Final Water Infrastructure Bill | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has passed final legislation that will help ensure safe and reliable water infrastructure for communities in Nebraska and across the country. The bill is known as the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. It includes a bipartisan provision, negotiated by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), which would modify exemptions for costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect agriculture producers with on-farm fuel storage. The bill now heads to the president’s desk. Senator Fischer, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement: “The Senate closed an incredibly productive 114th Congress by successfully passing a bipartisan water infrastructure bill. The bill includes language I promoted that would alleviate regulatory burdens for Nebraska producers who have on-farm fuel storage. These important exemptions provide relief for Nebraskans as they continue their tireless efforts to feed a hungry world.” The WIIN Act included language Senator Fischer crafted with her colleagues on the EPW committee that provides agriculture producers with a limited exemption from the EPA’s Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. These EPA regulations, which were originally designed for major oil refineries, would have required farmers and ranchers who have on-farm fuel storage to make costly structural upgrades to their fuel tanks. The WIIN Act rolls back these regulations by: Fully exempting animal feed storage tanks from the SPCC rule, both in terms of aggregate storage and single-tank storage. Providing greater flexibility by exempting up to 2,500 gallons of capacity on remote or separate parcels of land (as long as these tanks are not larger than 1,000 gallons each). Other important provisions for Nebraska in the legislation include: Providing greater flexibility for local, non-federal stakeholders. For example, Natural Resource Districts will be allowed to receive reimbursement during proje… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=64D11DAF-5CE5-414D-9DB8-EC270F3E9447 | CHIP IN for Vets Act Passes Congress | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has passed legislation championed by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), known as the CHIP IN for Vets Act. The bill would allow local communities across the country to assist with the planning and construction of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Senator Fischer released the following statement after the bill passed the Senate: “CHIP IN for Vets will help ensure our veterans can access the quality health care they deserve. I collaborated with the Omaha VA, members of the Omaha community, and my House colleague, Brad Ashford, on this important bill. For months, I worked in Washington with VA Secretary Bob McDonald, the committee chairmen, Congressional leadership, and their dedicated staff to advance it. This bill is needed. With it, our nation can better deliver on its promises to our veterans.” With VA facilities across the country aging and in need of updating, Senator Fischer drafted the CHIP IN for Vets Act and introduced the Senate version earlier this year. The bill, which has the support of VA Secretary Bob McDonald, would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to let local communities manage construction of VA projects. Specifically, it would set up a pilot program to test this new model of construction with five initial projects. The VA has already identified communities that are ready, willing, and able to partner with them on this initiative. Under this legislation, the city of Omaha and the Omaha VA would be eligible to participate. The VA has already appropriated millions of dollars to construction projects that remain unfinished or have not yet begun. The CHIP IN for Vets Act would also allow communities to take the lead, contribute the remaining finances, and ensure these projects are completed on-time and on-budget. The VA’s financial obligation would be limited to the previous appropriation and not one dollar more. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/fighting-fraud | Fighting Fraud | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The holidays are a time of joy and celebration. Unfortunately, many scammers capitalize on this season to take advantage of unsuspecting victims, especially senior citizens. We can all agree these criminals deserve nothing but coal in their Christmas stockings. Unfortunately, the threats of identity theft and scams continue to rise. To fight fraud, each of us must be vigilant to protect ourselves and our families. Scammers often target people around the holidays with stories which tug on heartstrings, trying to exploit the season of giving. Requests from people you have never met in person which ask you to wire or send money should always be met with extreme caution. If you are not sure how to handle a request, please contact your local police department. My office will also do our best to assist you or direct you to the right place. If you choose to donate to a charity, it is important to make sure the charity is properly registered and has implemented security measures to safeguard your donation. When donating online, double check the spelling of the web address before entering your financial information. Many Nebraskans have contacted my caseworkers after receiving fraudulent calls or emails claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), requesting sensitive information or making threats. National Tax Security Awareness Week is held in December, and the IRS offers resources to help taxpayers avoid falling victim to tax scams. The IRS specifically states it will never request any financial information or threaten lawsuits or imprisonment over the phone or through email. If you have any questions about the validity of a request, please do not give out any personal information. Instead, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 or forward questionable emails to phishing@irs.gov. If it is a legitimate request, your due diligence will be understood and appreciated. My office also regularly hears from Nebraskans who ha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-media-truama | Fort Report: Media Trauma | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | An interesting thing happened in the wake of the recent election. A member of the elite press corps admitted to being a member of the elite. It's a stunning and refreshingly honest admission. The national media misread the election. Some are now beginning to recognize that they have been detached from the deep anxiety and vulnerability that many Americans feel. Perhaps this comes from the self-affirming circle of narratives they have created, which can easily pass for truth. Even the recent ongoing self-evaluation still reflects an air of self-righteousness. Just like the distrust directed at politicians, citizens have become deeply suspicious of the motives of journalists.It's worth tracing how we arrived at this moment. Historically, American media played a pivotal role as watchdogs, as disseminators of carefully researched facts, and as creators of the conditions for personal and governmental accountability. Of course, things haven't always been well: the media have served as a tool for propaganda, political ambitions, and moneyed interests. However, when you think of Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley, you do not think of a political agenda, only good journalism. When you see the old newsreels from WWII, the media told the hard story, cutting the rougher details, but with an eye toward lifting the mood of the country. When you see the ugly aspects of racism directed at the early Civil Rights Movement, the media clearly participated as an objective force for social good.The media’s turn towards bitter elitism likely started with Watergate. Before then, the media participated in a society of commonly shared values that Americans everywhere celebrated. Although the Watergate investigation was groundbreaking, the paradigm in the press shifted to one of rank distrust of civic institutions and the persons who lead them. Journalism schools reinforced that worldview. The media began suggesting, presumptively and too frequently, that those institutions and their leadership should be regarded as inherently corrupt. Trad… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=39A1BAC1-9AAF-4CA7-B987-74C06CFBA6F0 | Sasse Applauds NDAA Passage | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | “Congress set aside unnecessary culture wars and focused on equipping our servicemen and women with the tools they need to win the wars we’re in.” U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who successfully led the effort to stop Congress from needlessly mingling culture wars and national security by requiring women to register for the draft, applauded passage of the final 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. “I’m encouraged that Congress set aside unnecessary culture wars and focused on equipping our servicemen and women with the tools they need to win the wars we’re in," said Sasse. “The debate about drafting our mothers, sisters, and daughters was completely unnecessary and antiquated - unnecessary because none of our top military leaders say we need to abandon our all-volunteer force and antiquated because we don’t fight wars of attrition that require the draft. This was a victory for common sense.”In September, Sasse led a group of 17 Senators in demanding that negotiators keep this unnecessary culture war out of the defense bill. Text of that letter is available here.Today, Congress passed legislation that does not require women to register for the draft and, instead, requires a study on the draft, similar to an amendment Sasse offered in June. The "Draft Our Daughters" debate was completely unnecessary. #NDAA is a victory for common sense. https://t.co/p3AFDsCaqO pic.twitter.com/qQW42Wi5oe — Senator Ben Sasse (@SenSasse) December 8, 2016 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=38AD3667-CFC9-4E84-9244-271432A49696 | Fischer Statement on Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released the following statement on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “I am eager to meet with Mr. Pruitt to discuss his plans for rolling back the harmful rules and regulations put forth by the EPA over the past eight years. Undoing this extreme overreach that has hurt Nebraska families and stunted economic growth is long overdue. If confirmed as EPA administrator, Mr. Pruitt will be charged with returning the EPA to its intended mission: implementing the nation’s laws, not creating new ones.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=4410FCE1-4911-4927-A51F-D5A62E17FAE8 | Medical Innovation Bill Passes Senate | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation that will boost medical innovation in order to accelerate research for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) voted for the bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by the House last week and now heads to the president’s desk. Fischer released the following statement after the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 94 to 5: “I am pleased to see this meaningful medical innovation bill pass the Senate today and head to the president’s desk. Many Nebraskans have shared with me their strong support for Cures and the important steps it takes to enhance research and better treatment for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and drug addiction. Through this bill, we can begin to ease the heartbreak of the families facing these devastating diseases.” The following Nebraska organizations also shared their support for The 21st Century Cures Act: Sharon Jensen, Executive Director the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter, released the following statement: "The passage of the 21st Century Cures Act is a tremendous step forward in accelerating research aimed at developing a cure for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias,” said Sharon Jensen, Executive Director the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter. “The Alzheimer's Association stands in solidarity with Senator Fischer and other legislators who envision streamlined treatment options and the integration of the patient's voice and experience in the development of quality medications. Urgent action is needed as this disease grows rapidly, and this act will enable us to respond with greater attention and resources." Hank Bounds, President of the University of Nebraska, released the following statement: “The 21st Century Cures Act makes a vital investment in biomedical research that will help maintain the United States’ global competitiveness and advance the life-saving work done by our scientists. In particular, the legislation funds cancer and brain… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=8DB5D36F-797E-46E7-84CA-3F895D34AFBA | Fischer Convenes Surface Transportation Security Hearing | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Click here to view Senator Fischer’s opening statement at today’s hearing. Click here to view video of the full hearing. WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, today convened a hearing entitled: “Assessing the Security of Our Critical Transportation Infrastructure.” The hearing examined security vulnerabilities in the U.S. transportation system and efforts to address terrorism threats to surface transportation infrastructure. Senator Fischer released the following statement after today’s hearing concluded: “Over the past year we have seen an increasing threat of terrorism to surface transportation networks both here at home and abroad. From the bomb in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood to the horrific attacks in Nice, France, and Brussels, Belgium, it’s been confirmed that our infrastructure and mass transit systems are at risk of attack. I appreciated the feedback from federal and local officials and leading experts today about the best ways to strengthen the nation’s transportation security.” The witnesses at today’s hearing included: -The Honorable John Roth, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security -Chief Neil Trugman, Interim Chief of Police, Amtrak -Mr. Chris Spear, President and CEO, American Trucking Association -Mr. Tony Straquadine, Manager of Commercial and Government Affairs, Alliance Pipeline; Representative, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America -Mr. Tom Belfiore, Chief Security Officer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Earlier this year, Senator Fischer joined Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-Fla), and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to introduce the Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act (S. 3379). The bill would address security vulnerabilities at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) by requiring the TSA to re-evaluate its mission and determine how it budgets for and assesses risks to surfa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/jewish-news-labour-mp-washington-promoting-peace-initiatives | Jewish News: Labour MP in Washington promoting peace initiatives | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Labour MP Joan Ryan was in Washington, D.C. this week arguing for American money towards peace-building initiatives in Israel and the Palestinian territories, which aims to spend £160 million ($200 million) per year. Ryan, chair of Labour Friends of Israel, met U.S. politicians and advisers to press the case for the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, which is modelled on the fund created in Northern Ireland to help the transition into power-sharing. The British delegation met Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, who is co-sponsoring a bill to authorise U.S. cash for the fund, which would support “joint economic and civil society projects” and “promote coexistence”. Ryan said the fund was “an idea whose time has come,” adding that the International Fund for Ireland “did so much to underpin the Good Friday Agreement by building strong popular constituencies for peace”. She added: “U.S leadership plays an essential role, and I was delighted that, at the outset of our campaign, I was able to visit Washington to help drive home this message.” LFI said Britain’s international development spending on coexistence was “pitiful,” so the parliamentary lobby group is campaigning to increase it to £1.35m. This would be part of a wider £40m ($50m) contribution from Europe, with the rest coming from the U.S, the rest of the international community – including the Arab world – and private foundations and individuals. Click here to read the entire article. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=1728C6CA-F70E-4915-AD30-0E1B40CD1765 | Fischer Meets with Transportation Secretary Nominee Elaine Chao | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the photo above to view and download photos from today’s meeting. WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, today met with Elaine Chao, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation. Senator Fischer released the following statement after the meeting: “It was a pleasure to visit with my friend Secretary Chao today. We had an exchange of ideas for addressing our country’s transportation and infrastructure challenges. I look forward to working closely with Secretary Chao during the confirmation process.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=A0C75E68-B1EF-4212-8090-20C97BC066C7 | Fischer Meets Commerce Secretary Nominee Wilbur Ross | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the photo above to view and download photos from today’s meeting. WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement today after meeting with Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross: “Today, I had the opportunity to meet Wilbur Ross for the first time. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I appreciated our wide-ranging conversation about his priorities and goals for the Department of Commerce.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=D7DCD163-E37A-4E01-A80A-E40BE8CDC63B | Fischer Honors Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, honored the life of Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha, Nebraska on the floor of the U.S. Senate. While stationed in Iraq in 2006, Sergeant Debro was driving a Humvee providing advanced security for a convoy. He was killed when the vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Today’s speech marks Senator Fischer’s eighth tribute this year to Nebraska service members who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The full text of Fischer’s tribute to Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha, Nebraska, as prepared for delivery, is below. M. President, I rise today to continue my tribute to this generation of Nebraska heroes. They are the men and women who have given their lives defending our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each one has a different story; each Gold Star Family has the same request: That we remember the sacrifice of their loved one. By telling the stories of these service members, here on the Senate floor, we can honor that request. Today, I honor the life and service of Germaine Debro, a man who seemed destined for military service. Germaine’s father, Alvin Debro, was a career Air Force Technical Sergeant. At a young age, Germaine even picked up a nick name: “G.I. Joe Maine.” Even then, family and friends saw qualities that would make him a great soldier. Because of his military service, Alvin and his wife, Priscilla, and their three boys moved often. Germaine attended Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska, for a year before his family moved to Arkansas. There, Germaine graduated high school in 1991. Later, he and his family returned to Nebraska. For a time, Germaine worked as a manager at a local Burger King. But, in 1994, “G.I. Joe Maine” followed his calling and enlisted in the Army. In 1997, he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. During these years, Germaine became known for his genuine … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/omaha-world-herald-editorial-lessons-nebraskas-new-senators | Omaha World Herald: Editorial: Lessons for Nebraska's new senators | 2016-12-04 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | The Nebraska Legislature will see considerable turnover when it convenes in January. Seventeen of the 49 lawmakers will be freshmen. That’s a third of the membership. The Legislature also will be electing a new speaker and nine new committee leaders. Churn in the legislative membership has become commonplace at the State Capitol during the term-limits era. As these newly elected legislators prepare to take office, here are some principles of proven value for consideration: Not too fast, not too slow. The Legislature needs to strike a practical middle ground in how quickly it moves major legislation. Because it’s a single-chamber body, the Legislature should avoid moving important proposals forward hurriedly. Deliberation and negotiation are vital in resolving complex state issues. Consider state aid to public schools. The school aid formula is notoriously complex. The interests of Nebraska public school districts — small, midsized and large, rural and metro — vary widely. There’s no way to adjust the aid formula in a responsible way unless lawmakers take time to hear from an array of Nebraska stakeholders and then negotiate carefully in an effort to balance the interests of the different school groups. The advice that U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has given Don Bacon, the incoming congressman for Nebraska’s 2nd District, also has value for incoming members of the State Legislature. Fortenberry recommended not rushing into making commitments to support other members’ initiatives. Bacon said he appreciated that guidance: “I think it’s good to hold your powder dry a little bit and make sure you get both sides.” Even as the new state senators try to avoid rushing things, they also need to be careful how often they resort to bringing movement to a halt through filibusters. It’s generally going to be difficult to get the 33 votes (out of 49) needed to end a filibuster, since the incoming Legislature will be divided rather evenly among conservatives, liberals and swing votes. By party label, the officially nonpartisan Legi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/recent-victories-greater-growth | Recent Victories for Greater Growth | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | We can look forward to many opportunities to boost our economy through pro-growth policies and regulatory relief under a unified Republican government. Still, as this year draws to a close, a number of important victories are helping to set the stage for greater growth. On the day before Thanksgiving, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its finalized requirements for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which meet the levels set by Congress. Over the past few years, the EPA has proposed lower volume requirements for biofuels despite record harvests showing supply is not a problem. To achieve American energy independence, we must utilize every available energy source. Ethanol and other biofuels provide more options for consumers and help lower prices at the fuel pump. It is encouraging to see the EPA following Congress’s lead and opening the doors to higher biofuel production. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his support for the RFS, so more opportunities to grow our domestic energy production are likely to come. Under the Trump administration, I am hopeful we will also see movement on my bill to expand the existing waiver of EPA regulations related to the Reid vapor pressure of motor vehicle fuel to include E15. Though E10 received this waiver decades ago, the same relief has not yet been extended to E15. These regulations prevent many retailers from selling E15 during the summer months when fuel demand is highest. Considering E15 is cheaper and less volatile than E10, there is no reason not to make it available to more retailers and consumers. Arbitrary regulations have also caused hardships for rural health providers. At the end of November, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which included my provision requiring the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to report on the economic and staffing impacts of physician supervision requirements on Critical Access Hospitals. Rural providers know best which procedures can be safely performed in their facilities, bu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-next-hundred-days | Fort Report: The Next Hundred Days | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | In a recent meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, he concluded his remarks to us by saying, “Buckle up.” Beginning in January, we will have a new President and Congress. The next hundred days will be intense. The next hundred days will create possibilities. The next hundred days will set the stage for a new architecture of government and a repurposed relationship between the people and the state. For far too long, partisan paralysis has plagued Congress, leading to stagnation in Washington. With this historic and transformative election, the playbooks both political parties used for decades were rightfully shredded. The transition of presidential administrations has unleashed the potential for a genuine re-imagining of policy, with four relevant areas leading the way. First, right out of the gate, Congress will launch a significant healthcare reform initiative. Current skyrocketing healthcare premiums are unsustainable. At the same time, we cannot default back to the previous arrangement, which left too many persons behind. While there might be a fierce fight on the specifics of reform proposals, broad agreement will likely coalesce around protecting persons from inhuman market forces while at the same time incentivizing the best of market innovation to spur change. Nebraskans with spiraling healthcare costs know that a new healthcare construct is needed. To address these concerns, the next approach must reinvigorate health insurance with the goals of lowering prices, protecting the sick, and improving options. The next generation health savings account will be the cornerstone of this effort, restoring relationship, responsibility, and respect as the drivers of healthcare policy. Second, broad bipartisan agreement exists around rebuilding our nation’s aging infrastructure. From airports to roads to bridges to information technology, new projects are on the horizon. I add sustainable energy to that list. As a public good, properly selected infrastructure improvements are a benefit to society at large. Inf… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lincoln-journal-star-fortenberry-election-unleashes-new-possibilities | Lincoln Journal Star: Fortenberry: Election unleashes new possibilities | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said Thursday he sees "possibilities of real policy reform" emerging from the November election in terms of health care, modernization of the nation's infrastructure and fundamental changes in budgeting and taxation. Fortenberry said three words -- curiosity, possibility and urgency -- describe the mood in Washington as the lame-duck session of Congress meets to wrap up this year's legislative work while a new president-elect and a new Congress wait in the wings. "There is a real unleashing of possibilities," the 1st District Republican congressman said during a telephone interview. "Partisan paralysis needs to be finished," Fortenberry said. "We've got to get things done." First out of the gate may be "a new type of health care reform" that replaces the Affordable Care Act while preserving some of its features, the congressman said, transforming health care coverage into a new model that places more reliance on the concept of health savings accounts. The current system is "unsustainable," Fortenberry said. "But we are not going back to a system that excludes (coverage for) pre-existing conditions," he said. "We cannot leave certain groups of people behind." Fortenberry said he also wants to preserve Obamacare's provision allowing children as old as 26 to be included in their parents' health insurance plan and retain the current ban on insurance coverage caps. President-elect Donald Trump's proposal for a massive program to modernize America's infrastructure represents a broad recognition that the country needs to improve its airports, roads and bridges, Fortenberry said. And the Lincoln congressman would add railroads to that list. Modernizing the nation's railroad system "should have a place in any infrastructure bill," Fortenberry said. Rail traffic along the East Coast corridor is significant, he said, but a modern transcontinental route also is a worthy public investment even if it isn't profitable. Infrastructure improvement would be a wise economic investment, Fortenberry said, but i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0B9330D3-A32A-4649-BD8B-9CE8363A6B36 | Sasse to White House: Don't Let Your Culture Wars Interfere with Upcoming Defense Bill | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | “Instead of developing a strategy to win the wars we’re in, the outgoing Administration is focused on scoring points in their culture wars.” Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Sasse responded to the White House’s announced support for requiring women to register for the draft, urging President Obama not to complicate the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act over unnecessary culture wars. “This would be a sadly fitting end to eight years of foreign policy failures: Instead of developing a strategy to win the wars we’re in, the outgoing Administration is focused on scoring points in their culture wars. It would be wrong and so completely unnecessary to let this new position interfere with the defense bill Congress is about to pass.”Background:In September, Sasse led a group of 17 Senators in demanding that negotiators keep this unnecessary culture war out of the defense bill. Text of that letter is available here. The final 2017 National Defense Authorization Act does not require women to register for the draft and instead calls for studying the necessity of the draft itself, a provision similar to an amendment offered by Sasse in June. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-21st-century-cures-act | Fortenberry Statement on 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today issued the following statement on the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act: In our Lincoln office, Monday, it was truly inspiring to meet so many young people working to raise awareness and find a cure for juvenile type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease that affects 1.25 Americans. To take just one story, 24-year-old Meg Cooper—currently a student at Creighton University Law School—has lived with T1D for 5,526 days; lost 3,207 hours of sleep; received 33,756 finger pricks and had 19,786 needle injections. Growing up, her parents had to monitor her around-the-clock, making sure she ate when she didn't want to eat, holding her down to give her shots, testing her blood sugar levels throughout the day and night. Their enormous burden is nothing compared to the burden Meg must carry for the rest of her life. Hopefully, we can find a better way. Yesterday in the House, we passed the 21st Century Cures Act. Besides restructuring and streamlining the FDA drug approval process, the Cures Act will provide funds to the National Institute of Health (NIH) to research life-saving treatments for diseases like T1D. As I heard Monday, parents of children with type 1 juvenile diabetes must spend upwards of $50,000 to care for their children with this chronic condition. If we spend a little more now on research and technology, perhaps we can dramatically simplify care for patients and family, while lowering the burdensom costs and complications of diabetes. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0BE9B8CB-FA19-4313-A503-A07B24B34DD9 | Sasse Statement on Iran Sanctions Extension Act | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Optional “Iran is still the largest state-sponsor of terror, still bent on the destruction of Israel, and still working to undermine America’s interests in a peaceful Middle East.” U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, an outspoken critic of the Iran nuclear deal, issued the following statement regarding the Iran Sanctions Extension Act which passed the Senate and now heads to the President for his signature.“The Obama Administration’s nuclear deal hasn’t changed who we’re dealing with – Iran is still the largest state-sponsor of terror, still bent on the destruction of Israel, and still working to undermine America’s interests in a peaceful Middle East. Extending these sanctions is an important requirement to holding Iran accountable.” The Obama Administration’s nuclear deal hasn’t changed who we’re dealing with. #Iran https://t.co/M3CZOnMheD pic.twitter.com/d5ikHgx61R — Senator Ben Sasse (@SenSasse) December 1, 2016 Background:The Iran Sanctions Extension Act, which now heads to the President for his signature, renews existing sanctions that were set to expire at the end of 2016. These sanctions, separate from the Administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran, are aimed at preventing Iran from supporting terrorism. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smiths-rural-hospital-relief-provision-passes-house | Smith's Rural Hospital Relief Provision Passes House | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill, which passed the House today, contains Smith’s provision requiring the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to report on the economic and staffing impacts of physician supervision requirements on Critical Access Hospitals. Physician supervision rules require a physician’s presence and supervision over nearly all routine procedures administered in hospitals, which can be especially burdensome for rural hospitals with fewer doctors and resources. “Today’s passage of 21st Century Cures opens the door to more personalized treatments and brings regulatory relief to rural hospitals to help make quality care accessible to more patients,” Smith said. “Though rural providers know best which procedures can be safely performed in their facilities, the heavy hand of the federal government makes it more difficult for these professionals to serve their patients. Based on discussions I have had with hospitals across Nebraska’s Third District, I expect MedPAC’s findings will make a strong case for repealing these arbitrary rules outright. “Mindful of our country’s $19 trillion debt, I am pleased these advancements will be made without increasing mandatory spending. This bill is an important step toward better care and greater choice for all patients.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=AD5E7F7C-5580-48BE-B4E7-1ACC8AFD4C3C | Fischer Delivers Senate Floor Tribute to Admiral Haney | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke today on the Senate floor to honor the exemplary service of Admiral Cecil D. Haney. The former head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, plans to retire from the U.S. Navy in the next few weeks. The full text of Senator Fischer’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, is below. M. President, I rise today to recognize Admiral Cecil D. Haney at the conclusion of his tenure as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and his upcoming retirement from the United States Navy. Admiral Haney has been an exemplary officer and an outstanding leader. Over the course of his 38 year career in the Navy, he has made countless sacrifices for our country. I commend his service; the sacrifices of his family, including his wife, Bonny, daughter Elizabeth, and two sons, Thomas and Joey, and I express our great appreciation for his leadership and devotion to our nation’s security. I first met Admiral Haney in 2013 when he was nominated to succeed General Kehler as the Commander of STRATCOM. Over the past three years, it has been my great pleasure to work with him, and I am grateful for his wise counsel and firm resolve to always do what is best for the nation and for the men and women he leads. Secretary Carter has pointed out on many occasions that our nuclear forces remain the “bedrock” of our nation’s security, and as the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Admiral Haney spent the last three years ensuring this bedrock remains strong. Every day our nation relies on its nuclear forces to deter strategic attack on the United States and our allies. Admiral Haney has ably led the forces that comprise our nuclear deterrent as they perform this highest-priority mission. He has also been a strong advocate for the modernization of our aging nuclear infrastructure, no small task in a time of capped budgets. His ability to work closely with Members of Congress and his clear-eyed … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/video-smith-supports-bill-give-veterans-more-health-care-choices | VIDEO: Smith Supports Bill to Give Veterans More Health Care Choices | 2016-11-29 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) led floor debate in the House of Representatives today and spoke in support of H.R. 5458, the Veterans TRICARE Choice Act of 2016. The House passed the bill this afternoon to give veterans more choices in their health care coverage. Smith’s remarks: I rise today in support of H.R. 5458, the Veterans TRICARE Choice Act of 2016. This legislation, introduced by my colleague Chris Stewart of Utah, addresses a gap in current law which prevents veterans and their families with TRICARE coverage who also choose to participate in a high deductible health plan from utilizing a health savings account, or HSA. While veterans or their family members who participate in TRICARE may also have private health insurance coverage, including high deductible plans, they are prohibited from contributing to an HSA affiliated with the high deductible plan. In order to contribute to an HSA under current law, an individual must permanently renounce their TRICARE eligibility because no mechanism to allow re-enrollment currently exists. H.R. 5458 addresses this issue by allowing certain TRICARE-eligible individuals to voluntarily pause their TRICARE coverage for a period of time in which they choose to contribute to an HSA. The bill also creates special enrollment periods should these individuals choose to re-enroll in TRICARE at a later date. Our veterans devoted their lives to defending our freedoms. We should not allow arbitrary bureaucratic obstacles to stop them from making the best health care coverage choices for themselves and their families. This bill creates a mechanism to improve veterans’ health coverage options and provides them greater opportunities to save toward their own health care needs. It also ensures patients can be more engaged in their own care while eliminating the inconsistency in our tax code. I applaud the gentleman from Utah, Mr. Stewart, for bringing us this good idea today. I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-fidel-castro | Fortenberry Statement on Fidel Castro | 2016-11-29 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today issued the following statement on the death Fidel Castro: “I have known a number of people who had to flee Castro's Cuba. Welcomed generously to America, they had to start over and rebuild their lives. Some came to recognize Castro as a revolutionary for the poor, yet in his wake he left poverty, despair, and death. Idealistic propaganda can't wish away that grim reality. While I don't celebrate the death of any person, perhaps Castro's passing will create the space between our two countries to build a neighborly, sustainable, and respectful relationship. I pray that the indomitable, creative spirit of the Cuban people will point us to a new type of economic, political, and cultural engagement that rejects oppression and elevates a mutual embrace of higher ideals." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=74F21E06-D381-43F6-AF7E-0418698E2D16 | Fischer Statement on Transportation Secretary Nominee Elaine Chao | 2016-11-29 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation: “Elaine Chao has a long record of success and accomplishment. As Secretary of Labor, and in a variety of leadership roles across government, non-profit, and the private sector, she has achieved results that have greatly improved the lives of families across this country. Her life story is the embodiment of the American dream, and I am grateful my friend Elaine is willing to continue her career of service to make the dreams of our fellow Americans a reality. As chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I am excited to work with Secretary Chao to strengthen our nation’s infrastructure for many years to come.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EDD5190F-661D-4542-919D-AC4D7DC6E6CC | Sasse Applauds NDAA Conference Decision on Women in Draft | 2016-11-29 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who led the effort to stop Congress from needlessly mingling culture wars and national security, applauded House and Senate negotiators for excluding a provision requiring women to register for the draft in the final 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. In September, Sasse led a group of 17 Senators in demanding that negotiators keep this unnecessary culture war out of the defense bill. Text of that letter is available here. Keeping our defenses strong is more important than needlessly scoring points on divisive issues. #NDAA https://t.co/rTJ5xNkkZ7 pic.twitter.com/azQybdsZoY — Senator Ben Sasse (@SenSasse) November 30, 2016 "Defense bills are common in Washington but, this year, the big story is that both sides will put national security ahead of unnecessary culture-warring," said Sasse. "This is a victory for common sense. It’s encouraging to see Congress do its work instead of jumping into a fight about drafting our mothers, sisters, and daughters when the military isn’t demanding an end to our all-volunteer fighting-force. Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree that keeping our defenses strong is more important than needlessly scoring points on divisive issues." Today, negotiators unveiled legislation that does not require women to register for the draft and, instead, requires the Pentagon to undertake a study on whether a draft is even still needed. This is similar to an amendment Sasse offered in June. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-offers-tickets-presidential-inauguration | Smith Offers Tickets for Presidential Inauguration | 2016-11-28 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Smith Offers Tickets for Presidential Inauguration Nov 28, 2016 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) encourages residents of Nebraska’s Third District interested in attending the 58th Presidential Inauguration on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C., to contact his office for information on obtaining tickets. Each congressional office receives a limited number of tickets, which Smith will distribute to interested residents of Nebraska’s Third District on a first-come, first-serve basis. To submit a ticket request, please visit AdrianSmith.house.gov/Inauguration2017 or contact Smith’s Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-6435. Note: Tickets can only be provided to residents of Nebraska’s Third District. Due to limited supply, submitting a request does not guarantee receiving tickets. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/much-be-thankful-americans | Much to be Thankful for as Americans | 2016-11-25 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Americans recently gathered together to enjoy their Thanksgiving meals and express gratitude for their many blessings. Many families have a tradition of discussing all they have to be thankful for, which is a mindset we should adopt not just at this time of year but every day. We are blessed to live in this great country which serves as a beacon of freedom and democracy for the world. The Constitution safeguards our liberties and sets out a system of representative government which empowers people to pursue greater opportunity. This year’s presidential election demonstrated the power Americans have to directly impact their government. Americans said they wanted a different direction. Donald Trump became the president-elect, despite nearly every poll and national media outlet counting him out. The American people determined the outcome of the election. This is a much too rare right and privilege in our world. Following the election, we watched Hillary Clinton concede to Donald Trump. Right now, the Obama and Trump administrations are in the midst of a peaceful transition of power. We take this phenomenon for granted in America, but other nations are amazed by it. In December 2000, I participated in an exchange to India. Everyone was riveted by the nonstop coverage of the contested election results between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Several local individuals commented to me how remarkable it was to see so much controversy but no violence. It was yet another example of the greatness of America. In this country, we are also blessed to have the freedom to openly practice our faith and live in safety. Stories continue to flow out of the Middle East about the persecution of Christians and other faiths by ISIS. Human rights abuses are rampant in countries from Syria to North Korea to Cuba. We live in a dangerous world and face many global threats we must take seriously, but our day-to-day lives in America are marked by peace and stability. We enjoy this safety and freedom because of the men and women serv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=463443AC-CC18-459E-8352-AF2D3FB25C5A | Fischer Spends Thanksgiving With Troops From NE Stationed Overseas | 2016-11-24 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) spent Thanksgiving visiting with service members from Nebraska at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The visit was part of a Senate Armed Services Committee congressional delegation trip focused on the continued mission in Afghanistan. Senator Fischer released the following statement: “I was humbled and honored to spend this Thanksgiving with service members from Nebraska currently stationed in Qatar and Afghanistan. These brave service members are far away from their homes and loved ones this holiday season. I cherished the time I spent with each and every one of them. I know I join all Nebraskans when I say how thankful we are for the sacrifices they and their families make to keep us safe.” At Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Senator Fischer met with the following service members from Nebraska: Master Sergeant Daniel Westman is an aircraft mechanic crew chief in the Nebraska Air National Guard. Master Sergeant Westman has served our country for 18 years. He is from Bellevue, Nebraska. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Shannon is a pilot in the Nebraska Air National Guard. Lieutenant Colonel Shannon has served our country for 17 years. His hometown is Omaha, Nebraska. Staff Sergeant Jennifer Jensen is a knowledge operations manager in the Wyoming Air National Guard. She has served our country for 9 years and is originally from Alliance, Nebraska. Additionally, Senator Fischer had Thanksgiving lunch with the following Nebraska service members at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan: Lieutenant Colonel James Rye of McCook, Nebraska. Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Carpenter of Omaha, Nebraska. Sergeant Jared Cornell of Omaha, Nebraska. Sergeant Erik Servellon of Omaha Nebraska. Lieutenant Colonel Danny Robinson of North Platte, Nebraska. Chief Warrant Officer Nicole Patterson of Beatrice, Nebraska. From left to right: Master Sergeant Daniel Westman (Bellevue), Lieutenant Colonel Chris Shannon (Omaha), Senator Deb Fischer, Staff … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-thanksgiving-2 | Fort Report: Thanksgiving | 2016-11-23 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Last night, far away from the ornate halls of Congress, and a healthy distance from all of the nation’s post-election debate, I attended the dance and cheer performance at Northeast High School in Lincoln. A number of local schools participated. The Northeast Star Strutters were the first team to go. They were impressive! The young women clearly took great pride in their disciplined line dance, their precisely timed moves, and their team spirit. Inside the gym were hundreds of friends, parents, and grandparents cheering for everyone. How nice to see joyous young people, performing their best, with a happy community in support. When I wrote to you last week about the prevailing post-election mood in Washington, I mentioned the curiosity and sense of possibility with which many people regard the coming Donald Trump administration. I praised the spirit of unity that President-Elect Trump, Secretary of State Clinton, and President Obama all elevated, despite sharp disagreements. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone is experiencing optimism. Deep philosophical differences, coupled with a highly charged political atmosphere, have given rise to protests across the country, attempts to re-litigate the election, and even a push to eliminate the Electoral College, which, by the way, protects small states like Nebraska. There’s an old saying: “Don’t discuss politics and religion at the dinner table.” But, in reality, when better to have lively conversations on these topics if it can be done with good intention, constructive understanding, and a little humor. Thanksgiving is a time to go deeper in the spirit of gratitude. Cynicism can give way at this special moment to mindfully pause, gratefully reflect on the grace we bring to each other, and contemplate the values that give us hope and solidarity as a people. This is not to dismiss differences, but to elevate that which binds us as an American family—and creates possibilities like the one in the high school gym last night. The origin of Tha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/nebraska-radio-network-clues-were-there-still-elections-surprised | Nebraska Radio Network: Clues were there, still the elections surprised Congressman Fortenberry (AUDIO) | 2016-11-23 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | A Nebraska Congressman acknowledges the election results surprised him, but adds the signs were there all along. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry readily says the honest answer to the question of whether the election results surprised him is “Yes.” Yet, Fortenberry says there were clues to the upset win of Republican Donald Trump, primarily in the fact that the economy is not working for everyone, leading to unrest among the American electorate. “When a local community loses a manufacturing facility, it hurts real people in real places,” Fortenberry tells Nebraska Radio Network. “Combined with that a regulatory environment in Washington, along with escalating health care costs, have created the conditions in which small businesses (are) really under threat and pressure.” Fortenberry, a Republican, says the national news media missed it, because it already had its narrative that Democrat Hillary Clinton was going to win, a candidate Fortenberry contends never resonated with the American people. National news outlets and political pundits failed both to predict Trump would win or that Republicans would retain control of both houses of Congress. Fortenberry suggests it was that misreading of the economy that led to the incorrect assessment. Not only did few in Washington understand the angst among those who saw hometown factories shuttered, but few have been quick to notice what the Congressman calls “entrepreneurial winter.” Fortenberry says the country has never before seen more small businesses close than open. Other trouble spots led to a surprising election outcome, according to Fortenberry, including what he calls a foreign policy drift. He adds government needs to decentralize, instead of concentrating power in Washington. One last aspect led to the startling outcomes throughout the country, according to Fortenberry. He also sees Americans screaming for meaning. “When you lose the formative institutions of community – whether that’s faith life or family life, fortunately in Nebraska we’ve been somewhat immune fro… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=28F04752-9E33-4CB3-80F3-7A4FD84140FF | Senator Fischer Teams with American Red Cross on Holiday Mail For Heroes Campaign | 2016-11-22 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | OMAHA, Neb. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) office is once again teaming up with the American Red Cross to help Nebraskans send holiday wishes to veterans, members of the military, and their families. This year, cards collected through the program will be delivered to current and former service members in local Nebraska communities. Senator Fischer released the following statement encouraging Nebraskans to participate: “The Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign is a special way to share our holiday cheer and deep appreciation with our veterans and service members. This year, these well-wishes will go to men and women right here in Nebraska: from those serving at Offutt Air Force Base to Nebraska veterans at VFW posts across the state. I hope you will join me this holiday season in expressing gratitude for all these Nebraskans have done to make our country and our communities stronger.” Nebraskans wanting to participate can make or purchase a card to sign and either mail or deliver these cards to Senator Fischer’s Omaha office. Cards must be received by December 6, 2016. They may be dropped off or mailed to the following address: Office of Senator Deb Fischer 11819 Miracle Hills Drive Suite 205 Omaha, NE 68145 To ensure holiday cards can be quickly screened and mailed, the Red Cross asks participants to follow the guidelines listed below: Address the card “Dear Service Member, Veteran or Military Member”. Limit the use of any specific branch of service. Cards should not contain glitter. Submit cards that are printed without the year 2016; generic cards are best. Limit any items in the card such as photos or gifts. If these items are included in the card, they will be removed. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-america-reconsidered | Fort Report: America Reconsidered | 2016-11-21 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | If I had to choose two words to describe the prevailing mood in Washington, they would be curiosity and urgency. Curiosity as to how this moment translates—and urgency, not to waste it. Even though the election was a proxy for many open and deep philosophical divides in the country, now, following a period of economic stagnation and social fragmentation, our nation is entering a time of profound reconsideration.With the transition of presidential administrations underway, many are wondering what might be the final form of a new governing structure, bringing with it the possibility of great change. The transformation is in the earliest stage of determination. Although the campaign cycle in many ways exhausted America, I believe last week set the right tone. Donald Trump said we must come together as a nation and that he hopes to be President for all Americans. President Obama highlighted how after his first election President George W. Bush was extraordinarily helpful to him, and he promised to be helpful in similar fashion to President-Elect Trump. Hillary Clinton, in a magnanimous concession speech, detailed the pain of her loss, but she also said Americans owe Trump an open mind and that we must unify.We may take it for granted, but last week demonstrated the brilliance of how our democracy provides for a peaceful transition of power. In spite of some isolated protests, we witnessed the ongoing resiliency of America’s governing traditions. In Congress, a great deal of ideological rigidity has been vaporized. Conversations among fellow Republicans and Democrats are yielding a sense of new horizons, which, if properly considered, will shape a meaningful approach to the next White House.First, Washington is readying to correct regulatory overreach that has constrained the ability of small businesses to flourish. For far too long, Washington has distorted markets and, most importantly, the imagination of people to find better solutions for their neighbors. Government must play its role, but with constraints on its … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=243B3358-F0F6-4EF8-B622-642CD6D7FDB0 | ICYMI: Sasse Gives Federalist Society Keynote | 2016-11-21 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | On Friday, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse delivered the Federalist Society's 2016 Barbara K. Olson Memorial Lecture. Discussing the American idea of limited government, Sasse reminded conservatives that "when people stand up against power and they disagreed with that power, no one’s surprised. They all expected that. What’s glorious is when people believe in limited government and restraint, when we are the ones in power. And we now have the opportunity to model that restraint." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/repealing-obamacare | Repealing Obamacare | 2016-11-18 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Obamacare’s open enrollment season has begun, and the news for consumers is not good. Premiums for 2017 are an average of 25 percent higher, insurers in many states have left the exchanges, and the six Obamacare co-ops still in existence continue to lose money. President-elect Donald Trump named health care one of his top three priorities and has repeatedly called for repealing and replacing Obamacare. This will not be an easy task, and it must be undertaken carefully to allow for a smooth transition for consumers. One of the tools available to us to repeal Obamacare is called reconciliation. Created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the reconciliation process requires designated congressional committees to find a certain amount of savings within their jurisdictions by a specified date if mandated by the annual budget resolution. Once the committees submit their recommended spending cuts, the Budget Committee produces one reconciliation bill for a vote. Only provisions which impact spending or revenue can be included in a reconciliation bill. Because many parts of Obamacare may not have a budgetary effect to qualify them for reconciliation, there are likely to be numerous provisions left intact which would have to be amended or repealed in a piecemeal manner outside this process. In order to begin the reconciliation process, Congress must first pass a budget. We will have opportunities to pass budgets for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 in the new year, which also provide two avenues to pursue reconciliation. A reconciliation bill has important advantages. It cannot be filibustered in the Senate and only needs 51 votes to pass rather than the usual 60. When Democrats forced Obamacare through Congress on a purely party-line vote, they did so by utilizing the reconciliation process. Considering Republicans may only have a 51-vote majority in the Senate next year, reconciliation presents one of the most effective avenues for repealing the law. Earlier this year, Congress passed an Obamacare repeal bill… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ADF79055-5EE7-42FD-9514-C48BA2082A37 | Sasse, Rubio, Barrasso, Lee Introduce Bill to Prevent Illegal Obamacare Bailouts | 2016-11-18 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | In an effort to prevent illegal bailouts for health insurers under the Affordable Care Act’s risk programs, Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Mike Lee (R-UT), introduced the “HHS Slush Fund Elimination Act.”"We are going to repeal and replace Obamacare but, in the meantime, the last thing Americans need is for the Obama Administration to sneak in one last bailout on its way out the door," Sasse said. "This is simple: the law is the law and no administration can make up new rules when they don’t like the laws.""Repealing and replacing ObamaCare is a top priority in the coming months, but one of the biggest battles we face right now is stopping the Obama Administration from ignoring and using billions in taxpayer dollars to bail out health insurance companies," Rubio said. "The American people are paying too much for health insurance already, and they shouldn’t be forced to fork over even more of their paychecks to corporations that embraced a flawed health care law. This legislation would stop the administration from squandering taxpayer dollars and help clear the way for real reform that makes health care more affordable for workers and families.""Families have paid too high a price for the failures of Obamacare," Barrasso said. "Skyrocketing premiums and fewer choices are among the reasons why the nation will have new leadership in January. With the end of the law in sight, Congress must do everything possible to prevent additional taxpayer dollars from being illegally spent behind the backs of the American people." "The Obama administration has unilaterally re-written the Affordable Care Act numerous times in an attempt to save it from collapsing on itself," Lee said. "Recently, the administration also tried to circumvent the will of Congress by engaging in fiscal hijinks in an attempt to bail out insurers who have lost money thanks to Obamacare. This bill prohibits the Administration from doing so, and it is a good start towards keeping our promise to the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/congressional-caseworkers-visit-lexington-trenton-pawnee-city-geneva-stapleton-and | Congressional Caseworkers to Visit Lexington, Trenton, Pawnee City, Geneva, Stapleton, and Broken Bow | 2016-11-17 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) who need assistance dealing with a federal agency are invited to attend Caseworker in Your Community events on Wednesday, November 30, in Lexington and Trenton; Thursday, December 1, in Pawnee City and Geneva; and Friday, December 2, in Stapleton and Broken Bow. Caseworker in Your Community is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith’s congressional caseworkers. Caseworkers may be able to assist constituents who are having problems dealing with a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, passports and visas through the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the Internal Revenue Service. Caseworker in Your Community will be held at the following times and locations: Wednesday, November 30 Lexington Public Library Board Room 907 N. Washington, Lexington 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST) Trenton Public Library 406 Main Street, Trenton 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday, December 1 Pawnee City Public Library Meeting Room 735 8th Street, Pawnee City 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (CST) Geneva Public Library Small Meeting Room 1043 G Street, Geneva 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CST) Friday, December 2 Logan County Courthouse Meeting Room 317 Main Street, Stapleton 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST) Custer County Courthouse Commissioner’s Room 431 South 10th Street, Broken Bow 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CST) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-praises-passage-midnight-rules-relief-act | Smith Praises Passage of Midnight Rules Relief Act | 2016-11-17 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after voting in favor of H.R. 5982, the Midnight Rules Relief Act. This legislation amends the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to allow Congress to pass CRA resolutions to roll back multiple “midnight rules” issued at the end of a presidential term. “Too often, outgoing presidential administrations will hastily finalize costly, agenda-driven regulations during their final weeks in office,” Smith said. “These rules have no time to be analyzed and can be very difficult to get rid of, even under a new administration. Today’s bill not only discourages midnight rulemaking but also provides Congress an important tool to quickly overturn these regulations and return the power to create laws to the legislative branch.” Since 2014, Smith has led his Regulation Rewind initiative to fight back against government overreach and red tape. Earlier this year, Smith led efforts in the House to use a CRA resolution to block implementation of the Obama administration’s Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS). More information is available at AdrianSmith.house.gov/RegulationRewind. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-speaks-briefing-agriculture-research | Smith Speaks at Briefing on Agriculture Research | 2016-11-15 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) presented at a briefing today featuring Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), to discuss the research being conducted by the agency and how it impacts the future of agriculture. After the briefing, Smith released the following statement. “By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach ten billion people,” Smith said. “ARS’s research is crucial to finding ways to feed the world with finite resources. “The Third District is home to ARS’ Meat Animal Research Center (MARC), a world-renowned research leader in animal science having a meaningful and practical impact on the industry. For example, research conducted at MARC has improved food safety by strengthening our understanding of E. coli, enhanced animal health and welfare through research on respiratory diseases in cattle and sheep, and boosted production efficiency through efforts to increase the survival rate of newborn piglets. “On more than one occasion, I have had the opportunity to tour MARC and always come away inspired by the dedication of the ARS scientists and employees. In Congress, I will continue to promote the work conducted by MARC and ARS as vital to agriculture’s success.” Smith is the founder and co-chairman of the Modern Agriculture Caucus. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-our-veterans | Fort Report: Our Veterans | 2016-11-15 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | I often pass through Chicago’s airport on my way from Nebraska to Washington. Along one of the terminals hangs a picture of a striking young man in an aviator jacket. The crowds rush by without much notice. A little while back I paused to read about the man’s life. I realized that he was Edward “Butch” O’Hare, a World War II flying ace—the person after which Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is named.Butch O’Hare’s story improbably begins with Al Capone, the famous gangster from Chicago. Butch O’Hare’s father, E.J., was a sleazy and conniving lawyer for Al Capone. He made a name for himself by negotiating a widow out of a patent on the mechanical rabbit machine that was once used at dog tracks. This caught Al Capone’s attention, and the gangster recruited Butch’s father to become a “counselor and business manager” for the criminal enterprise.But something changed. E.J. realized he was not providing a worthy example for his children, particularly his son Butch. For the sake of his son, he made a decision to turn Al Capone in to the authorities. The mob does not easily forget, and later E.J. was gunned down.Even though he had aided a murderous and corrupt organization, he stopped, made a pivotal choice, and embraced that which is good. This decision helped create the conditions for his son to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Butch O’Hare graduated and went on to fly combat missions in World War II. During one pitched battle at sea, O’Hare and his wingman were protecting the USS Lexington in Wildcat fighters. On the horizon, appearing in V formation, were eight Japanese Betty bombers with tail guns that could prove deadly in aerial fights.Despite the lopsided numbers and the grim reality that he and his wingman were the only American planes in the proper position, O’Hare made the decision to engage the bombers. He opened fire with his wingman, but his wingman’s gun jammed.In a moment of pure heroic will, O’Hare pressed forward alone and unaided toward the enemy Bettys. He executed a daring maneuver, allowing the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/congressional-caseworker-visit-kimball | Congressional Caseworker to Visit Kimball | 2016-11-14 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) who need assistance dealing with a federal agency are invited to attend Caseworker in Your Community on Monday, November 21, in Kimball. Caseworker in Your Community is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith’s congressional caseworkers. Caseworkers may be able to assist constituents who are having problems dealing with a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, passports and visas through the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the Internal Revenue Service. Caseworker in Your Community will be held on Monday, November 21, at the following time and location: Kimball Public Library Cultural Room 208 South Walnut, Kimball, NE 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (MST) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-veterans-day-0 | Fortenberry Statement on Veterans Day | 2016-11-11 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today issued the following statement on Veteran’s Day: “To our veterans, to those who have selflessly sacrificed, thank you. Veteran’s Day is a time to gather in gratitude, and by doing so, we reflect our common bond, our narrative as a people, and our notion of our nation. Some veterens saw battle. Some never came home. Others served in support. They cooked, cleaned, and computed. They repaired, drove, and maintained the effort. Many returned to civilian life and perhaps never mentioned the details of their military service, except to say: “I did what was expected. I did my duty.” Thank you veterans. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/new-washington | A new Washington | 2016-11-10 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The American people have spoken, and the power structure in Washington, D.C., has been turned on its head. I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory and look forward to working with him. With Republicans holding the House, the Senate, and now the presidency, we will have a unified government which can work to reverse many of President Obama’s overreaches and pursue greater freedom and opportunity for all Americans. Though we do not have the supermajority President Obama enjoyed when he first took office, and we admittedly hold only a narrow majority in the Senate, I am optimistic we can overcome many of the hurdles we are bound to face and begin to restore the separation of powers. We now also have the chance to fill late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat with a conservative jurist committed to upholding the Constitution. Mr. Trump supports many policy changes which I have also championed as vital to Nebraska agriculture. He has discussed rolling back the Environmental Protection Agency’s dangerous Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS) and supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard. He has also called for bringing an end to the Death Tax which threatens so many family-owned farms and businesses. The Obama administration’s endless roll of red tape has choked our job creators, and Mr. Trump has extensively discussed the need to reverse it. For the past three years, I have been working on my Regulation Rewind initiative to fight back against government overreach. It will be refreshing to work with the Trump administration on regulatory reforms and policies to encourage economic growth and opportunity. Additionally, I am optimistic about pursuing comprehensive tax reform. Our current system makes it easier to cheat than to comply, and it is past time to fix our broken tax code and make it simpler and fairer for all. On the Ways and Means Committee, we have already drawn up a tax reform blueprint and hope to move forward in 2017. We also finally have the opportunity to relieve Americans of the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-release-va-black-hills-health-care-system%E2%80%99s-environmental-impact | Smith Statement on Release of VA Black Hills Health Care Systems Environmental Impact Statement | 2016-11-10 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Black Hills Health Care System released its final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed reconfiguration of the system. The EIS includes a proposal for a community-based outpatient clinic at Hot Springs as part of the VA’s preferred alternatives. “While the VA’s amended proposal is a step in the right direction, I still have serious concerns the proposed changes will create new access-to-care challenges for veterans in western Nebraska,” Smith said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues from Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming to ensure our veterans have access to the care they need and deserve.” Smith has long advocated for keeping the Hot Springs VA facility open. In late 2015 and again earlier this year, he joined members of the Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming congressional delegations in sending letters to VA Secretary Robert McDonald to request extensions of the public comment period on the EIS to ensure impacted veterans had a chance to make their voices heard on the proposed changes. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smiths-office-host-two-senior-services-fairs | Smith's Office to Host Two Senior Services Fairs | 2016-11-10 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The office of Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will host Senior Services Fairs in Scottsbluff on Monday, November 21, and Grand Island on Tuesday, November 22. Officials from the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will be available for private consultations with seniors about Medicare Part D plan options. Seniors seeking plan assistance should bring a complete list of their prescriptions, including dosage information. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about Social Security and veterans benefits. Licensed pharmacists will provide prescription drug information, and nursing students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) will also provide complimentary blood pressure screenings. The Senior Services Fairs will be held at the following times and locations: Scottsbluff Monday, November 21 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (MT) Harms Advanced Technology Center 2620 College Park, Scottsbluff Grand Island Tuesday, November 22 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CT) Grand Generation Center 304 East 3rd Street, Grand Island *It is strongly recommended Grand Island attendees schedule appointments directly with SHIIP in advance of the fair by calling 1-800-234-7119. For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=E8ADA522-9DAE-4697-94B3-DB236C80DA33 | Limited Tickets Available for 58th Presidential Inauguration | 2016-11-10 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released information regarding the 58th Presidential Inauguration. On Friday, January 20, 2017, President-Elect Donald J. Trump will take the Oath of Office and deliver the Inaugural Address at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Senator Fischer’s office will receive a limited number of free tickets for Nebraskans to view this historic event on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The tickets are standing-room only and will be outdoors. Nebraskans interested in tickets should submit a formal request via Senator Fischer’s website. The deadline to submit ticket requests is January 1, 2017. Click here to submit a request. Please Note: Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because of the limited number of tickets available, Senator Fischer’s office cannot guarantee that all requests will be fulfilled. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CF5A4357-8832-4D6E-A2CD-B332CA09F750 | Sasse Statement on Election | 2016-11-09 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement: "On Tuesday, America demanded disruption. My family and I congratulate President-Elect Trump on his decisive victory, and we pray that he will lead wisely and faithfully keep his oath to a Constitution of limited government. Starting today, I will do everything in my power to hold the President to his promises: to fight for an ethics reform package that upends cronyism and enacts term limits; to lead on repealing and replacing ObamaCare; and to nominate judges who reject law-making by unelected courts. Melissa and I wish the new First Family the best in the coming transition." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-immigration-insanity | Fort Report: Immigration Insanity | 2016-11-07 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Blair is a small Nebraska town right north of Omaha, nestled among beautiful and wooded rolling hills along the Missouri River. It is a traditional hub of agricultural activity, several large manufacturing plants, and a very stable community of strong values. So much so that a Sunday school class of little children wrote to me about the need to help other impoverished children in countries across the world. Their letters were heartwarming, and they demonstrated the enduring, universal ideals that animate the moral imagination of Nebraska youth.Fast forward to a jarring criminal incident that took place last month when three men were arrested in Blair driving nearly 90 miles per hour with a loaded gun stolen in Iowa. Two of them were Somali immigrants from Lincoln and Minneapolis here on visas. Both were wanted by the United States Department of Homeland Security, and between the two, had 34 previous arrests. The third man lived in Omaha. He had 50 previous arrests. Even though the three have been in America long enough to have been arrested 94 times, they still requested a court interpreter. They have abused their privilege. They do not belong in America.Events of this nature do not usually disrupt our communities. But we live in a world, even here in Nebraska, intertwined with many challenges abroad. Although this event is somewhat unusual in the First District, it’s another failure of our current immigration system. Thankfully the police apprehended the men without any violence. Neither the officers nor anyone from Blair were harmed. At the same time, one has to consider whether this benign outcome was also partially a function of luck.Contrast this with a gentleman who recently called my office to personally express his heartfelt gratitude for helping relocate his family here from another war torn country. Although I do not know the fullness of his story, I imagine they faced dire circumstances. Here is a man who arrives and straightaway signals respect for the system that helped get him here.America has a gre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/thanking-our-veterans | Thanking Our Veterans | 2016-11-04 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | An American flag now proudly flies over the Northfield Villa & Vista facility in Gering. On November 1, I had the opportunity to attend the dedication ceremony and learn more about how the community came together to honor our country and those who defend our freedom. Our flag is a powerful symbol of the dedication shown by all the men and women in our Armed Forces, as well as the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who risk their lives to keep us safe. Words cannot describe the debt we owe them. Flying the flag is a lasting way to honor all those who have answered the call to serve our country. On Veterans Day, we set aside time to recognize and thank these brave heroes who have fought to defend our nation and preserve our liberty. Throughout the year, I have had the privilege of attending send-off ceremonies for Nebraska service members and welcoming Honor and Hero Flights to Washington, D.C. Both are truly humbling experiences – watching our military men and women say goodbye to their loved ones with confidence in their mission and purpose, and seeing veterans visit the memorials honoring their service and sacrifices. While pessimistic news about the divisions and challenges in our country can consume the spotlight, these heroes quietly reflect the greatness of America. As chairman of the Rural Veterans Caucus, I remain committed to ensuring our veterans receive the care and resources they deserve. This requires finding legislative solutions to improve management of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The House passed legislation this summer, which I cosponsored, to provide the VA Secretary increased flexibility to remove VA employees for poor performance or misconduct, while also strengthening whistleblower protections. We face many challenges regarding the budget, but Congress was able to come together and pass the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which has been signed into law by the President. This legislation funds vet… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/omaha-world-hearld-owh-world-still-very-dangerous-place-gen-hyten-takes | Omaha World Herald: OWH: 'The world is still a very dangerous place': Gen. Hyten takes helm of StratCom at a time of increasing global tensions | 2016-11-04 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Twenty years ago, Lt. Col. John Hyten moved from Colorado Springs to Offutt Air Force Base to become the last commander of the 6th Space Operations Squadron, which operated weather satellites. Hyten, now a four-star general, is back for his second and last tour at Offutt, this time at U.S. Strategic Command in charge of America’s nuclear, space and cyber defenses. “I can’t help but notice how life sometimes comes full circle,” Hyten said Thursday, during a change of command ceremony. “It’s great to be back here at Offutt. Now, the circle is complete.” Hyten, 57, took over the StratCom mantle from Adm. Cecil Haney, who had held the post for the past three years. A veteran of the Navy’s submarine force, Haney, 60, is retiring after a 38-year career. Hyten is the 11th senior officer to command StratCom, which was created in 1992 to replace the Cold War-era Strategic Air Command. Nearly 1,000 people, most of them military and civilian employees of StratCom, attended the ceremony, held in a giant aviation hangar that houses the E-4B Nightwatch, the National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both attended, as did Nebraska Reps. Brad Ashford and Jeff Fortenberry. Accompanied by drumrolls, Haney’s four-star command flag was furled. He handed it to Carter, who presided over the ceremony. Then the StratCom banner was unfurled, and Carter handed it to Hyten. “I’m really proud to turn over to someone I can call a friend,” Haney said. Hyten takes over StratCom with international tensions at a post-Cold War peak, including nuclear saber-rattling by the leaders of Russia and North Korea. He nodded to those threats in his first speech to StratCom. “The world is still a very dangerous place, and those dangers seem to be building daily,” he said. “We never want to go to war with nuclear weapons. We never want to go to war in space, or in cyberspace.” Hyten said he admired the motto of the Strategic Air Command, which also was bas… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-signs-letter-secretary-lew-opposing-new-death-tax-regulations | Smith Signs Letter to Secretary Lew Opposing New Death Tax Regulations | 2016-11-03 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined 23 fellow House Ways and Means Committee members in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew today to urge the Treasury Department to withdraw newly proposed regulations which would increase the Death Tax burden on family-owned businesses. “The Death Tax poses a significant threat to Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and small business owners,” Smith said. “They take pride in their hard work, and many want their children and grandchildren to continue it. Unfortunately, new regulations proposed by the Obama administration would make it even more difficult for these family-owned businesses to survive through the generations. If we want to grow opportunity in America, the endless roll of red tape must be stopped.” Click here to read the full text of the letter. Smith is also a cosponsor of H.R. 1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act. The House passed H.R. 1105 last year. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=433B7272-1711-4789-B2AD-43EA99E303D3 | Fischer Celebrates First Shipment of NE Beef to Israel | 2016-11-03 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement celebrating the first shipment of U.S. beef to Israel in 13 years. The shipment came from WR Reserve, a beef processing plant located in Hastings, Nebraska. “Nebraska’s world-class beef is officially on its way to Israel for the first time in 13 years. I was proud to work closely with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, USDA, and our ambassador in Israel to broker this historic agreement. It’s a big win for the Beef State and the people of Israel. Nebraskans feed the world and re-opening this market increases opportunities for our state’s ag producers, communities, and economy.” In December 2003, Israel banned beef imports from the United States due to a confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington state. Senator Fischer played an instrumental role in lifting this ban. During a visit by Senator Fischer to Israel last fall, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro asked her to work with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring Nebraska beef to Israel. Senator Fischer worked collaboratively with USDA and officials from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lincoln-journal-star-health-insurance-costs-rising-dramatically-aca-plans | Lincoln Journal Star: Health insurance costs rising dramatically for ACA plans | 2016-11-02 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Nebraskans looking at individual health insurance plans under the federal Affordable Care Act likely will be shocked at the price increases for next year -- an average 50 percent premium hike. The actual increase depends on where you live, whether you are a smoker and other factors. But the premiums have gone up significantly, said Martin Swanson, with the Nebraska Department of Insurance. The premiums for small-group insurance are rising much less, an average 16 percent average, he said during a public forum sponsored by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry on Wednesday. For example, a silver plan under ACA will cost a 28-year-old about $337 a month in the group market next year, but about $425 in the individual market, said Chris McPike, a vice president of ComPro, a health insurance brokerage company. A family with two adults and three children will pay about $1,900 a month for an individual plan and less than $1,500 a month under a group plan, she said. A couple, both 63, who retired early, will pay around $1,000 a month for an individual plan next year, unless they qualify by income for some tax credit subsidy, she said. “That is the reality of what we are looking at in the individual market,” she said. The higher costs are being driven by several factors. Younger people are not purchasing health insurance, and the people who are are using services at a higher rate than predicted, thus driving up the costs on individual plans, said Swanson. Insurance companies have found "they are spending about $1.04 for every dollar they take in, and they can’t make money on that,” he said. The problem is not going to go away. And the people feeling the pain the most are folks who don’t receive a subsidy. They are paying the full freight, Swanson said. About 89 percent of Nebraskans purchasing insurance on the individual market do receive at least some subsidy. Fortenberry said he believes health care cost containment will be achieved by consumers with high-deductible plans who look at prices of health c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-future-democracy | Fort Report: The Future of Democracy | 2016-10-31 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | This week I visited a 125-year-old bank in North Bend, Nebraska. Now in its fourth generation, the family owned bank recently discovered an architectural gem above the ceiling. Some diligent excavation work on the older, original side revealed hidden stained glass ceiling panels and gorgeous ornamentation on various beams. The bank is rightfully proud to showcase its history.The story began when all of the banks in the area went under during the Great Depression. One of the banks reorganized itself and came forward with a proposal to the community: If you stay with us, we will give you 50 cents on the dollar now and pay you back the rest over time. It took the family bank 20 years, but every dime was paid back.As a longstanding community institution, this local bank did not bring our nation down during the financial crisis of 2008. It did not benefit from insider class privilege that enabled liar loans and high-risk collateralized debt obligations. It did not help multinational banking conglomerates grow so large in hubris and reach that they nearly tanked our entire economy. All the same, the small Nebraska bank is besieged by regulations designed to solve a crisis it did not create. It’s not fair.So why do we have a Nebraska institution of long history, community service, and economic success under assault from forces beyond its control? For years, a centralized government spinning webs of regulation across the nation combined with a market system trending toward transnational monopolization has created a collusion that benefits the big at the expense of the small. Unfortunately, a gulf has widened today between a neo-aristocracy of the powerful–and millions of people who feel increasingly disenfranchised and alone.On a deeper level, the malaise so many feel about this system stems from a widespread apprehension that individual lives–that our nation itself–are losing identity and narrative. Social fragmentation coupled with economic disadvantage drives much of the contemporary distress. Instead of rising with… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/cost-overregulation | The Cost of Overregulation | 2016-10-28 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Reporters often ask me which concerns I hear most frequently from the people of the Third District. My answer is almost always the same – Nebraskans are tired of overreach by the federal government. One area where the government’s hand is heaviest is in the issuing of regulations. In 2015, federal regulations cost our economy $1.885 trillion. To put this figure in perspective, it is higher than the gross domestic product of Russia, Canada, or Australia. These costs are harmful to individuals and families. An analysis by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) found regulations cost each U.S. household nearly $15,000 annually. Overregulation not only hurts hardworking Americans already feeling the impacts of a sluggish economy, but it also undermines the separation of powers set up by our Founders. According to CEI, for every one law enacted by Congress last year, 30 rules were issued by agencies. The executive branch is tasked with enforcing laws, not creating them. Unfortunately, President Obama and his administration have followed through on the promise to use a pen and phone to go around Congress, and a continuous roll of red tape has been one of the many consequences. Over the past few months, House Republicans have been introducing our Better Way plan. An important aspect of this agenda is reducing the regulatory burden on Americans. Under our Better Way, major regulations could not take effect without a vote in Congress. This would hold agencies accountable and block the constant stream of costly new, unbudgeted rules. We are also proposing Congress set a cap on federal regulatory costs, which agencies would not be able to exceed in a given year. The Better Way plan is the big picture for how we want to get our country back on track, but we also continue to pursue legislative solutions for individual regulations plaguing families and businesses. In September, the House passed the Overtime Rule and Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act to delay implementation of the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=18331849-AE30-442C-B888-95F1AB2B20DA | Fischer Pens Letter to HHS Secretary Burwell on ObamaCare Automatic Enrollment | 2016-10-27 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | HASTINGS, Neb. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell expressing strong concern that the agency has enrolled Americans in health care plans they did not choose. In the letter to Secretary Burwell, Fischer points out that automatic enrollment could put incredible financial strain on Nebraska families. If Nebraskans visit their previous doctor under the new plan, they could face unaffordable out-of-network charges. “I write to express strong concern that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has automatically enrolled Americans into health insurance plans they did not choose,” Fischer writes. “This not only restricts thousands of families in making personal health care decisions, it also threatens to overload insurers, straining a system not designed for this added capacity. I seek a thorough explanation of this decision, including what analysis, if any, was made of its impact on America’s health insurance landscape.” The full text of the letter is below. Click here to view it as a PDF. October 27, 2016Sylvia Mathews BurwellSecretaryU.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Burwell: I write to express strong concern that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has automatically enrolled Americans into health insurance plans they did not choose. This not only restricts thousands of families in making personal health care decisions, it also threatens to overload insurers, straining a system not designed for this added capacity. I seek a thorough explanation of this decision, including what analysis, if any, was made of its impact on America’s health insurance landscape. By automatically enrolling consumers in health plans they did not choose, HHS took personal health care decisions out of the hands of the American people. In doing so, the federal government disclosed personal financial and health information of Americans… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/columbus-telegram-officials-break-ground-highway-30-expansion | The Columbus Telegram: Officials break ground on Highway 30 expansion | 2016-10-25 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | SCHUYLER — People from across the area gathered Tuesday morning along U.S. Highway 30 east of Schuyler to witness a moment 30 years in the making. Nebraska Department of Roads Director Kyle Schneweis gladly snapped in half the metal sign reading “COMING SOON” as community and state leaders broke ground on the four-lane highway expansion. The blue-and-white sign stood on the side of the road for more than a year, marking the project that will complete the four-lane expressway from Columbus to Fremont — two economic hubs in the area. Construction on the 26 miles of four-lane expressway began just east of Schuyler in early October. The project will be completed in three phases: Schuyler to Rogers, Rogers to North Bend and North Bend to Fremont. All three phases are expected to be completed by 2019 at a cost of around $25.5 million, with a portion of the funding coming from the Build Nebraska Act that dedicated state sales tax revenue to highway improvements. In a time when infrastructure improvements are critical, Schneweis said it's nice to be in a state focusing on that issue. “We are building projects, we’re putting Nebraskans to work and we’re going to grow our state’s economy because of it,” he said. U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry acknowledged the state leaders who worked to make this project happen. “That’s the meaning of the values of Nebraska,” Fortenberry said. “And I can even see in the sign behind us we’ve got Jesus involved,” he added, pointing to a roadside billboard that read, “Jesus, I trust You!” Creating a continuous four-lane highway from Columbus to the interstate system in Omaha could provide a boost to area economies by drawing in new businesses. K.C. Belitz, president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview earlier this month that one of the most frequently asked questions by companies looking to move to the Columbus area is whether there is four-lane access to the interstate system. On Tuesday, Belitz praised U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer for her … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/fremont-tribune-fortenberry-speaks-fremont-high-school | Fremont Tribune: Fortenberry Speaks at Fremont High School | 2016-10-25 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | It was quite the busy Monday for United States Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Fortenberry, representative of Nebraska’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has been spending some time away from Washington, D.C., prior to the Nov. 8 election – which he is up for re-election in – to spend some time with his district’s constituency. Monday morning, Fortenberry spent time near Schuyler celebrating the groundbreaking ceremony of the project that will turn U.S. Highway 30 into a four-lane from Columbus to Fremont. “This is a project that has been in the works for 20 years,” Fortenberry said during a Tuesday interview. “So you had former state senators there, you had myself, Senator (Deb) Fischer, Lt. Governor (Mike) Foley, chambers of commerce and local leaders. And what I told them is that they are looking at is a real team. It’s a team of people who have continuity, working together at all levels of government to get something done. And frankly, I think that is something this country is crying for.” Following his stop in Columbus, Fortenberry spoke with a group of students at Smeal Manufacturing Co. in Snyder in commemoration of National Manufacturing Day. Then he made time for a pit-stop in Fremont, where he addressed several classes of juniors and seniors inside of the Nell McPherson Theater about the role of government, its overall importance and how elected officials attempt to do what is best for their constituency. Fortenberry is well-versed in the ways of the local, state and federal government. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for the expenditures of the U.S. Government. Click here to read the enitre article. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/congressional-caseworker-visit-imperial-hayes-center-mccook-and-ogallala | Congressional Caseworker to Visit Imperial, Hayes Center, McCook, and Ogallala | 2016-10-24 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) who need assistance dealing with a federal agency are invited to attend Caseworker in Your Community events on Tuesday, November 1, in Imperial, Hayes Center, McCook, and Ogallala. Caseworker in Your Community is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith’s congressional caseworkers. Caseworkers may be able to assist constituents who are having problems dealing with a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, passports and visas through the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the Internal Revenue Service. Caseworker in Your Community will be held on Tuesday, November 1, at the following times and locations: Chase County Courthouse Commissioners Room 921 Broadway Street, Imperial, NE 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (MDT) Hayes County Courthouse Commissioners Room 505 Troth Street, Hayes Center, NE 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CDT) McCook City Administration Building 2nd Floor Training Room 505 West C Street, McCook, NE 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CDT) Ogallala City Administration Building City Council Chamber 411 East Second Street, Ogallala, NE 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MDT) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DCEB0B91-DC92-4B4C-9362-E25316730B8A | Sasse on Administration's Obamacare Announcement | 2016-10-24 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "We’ve reached this point because Obamacare is built on the lie that Washington’s bureaucrats are smart enough to plan health care for millions of Americans." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who earlier this year authored a report on the lack of competition on Obamacare’s exchanges, issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s confirmation today that Obamacare premiums will increase by an average of 25 percent next year. "We’ve reached this point because Obamacare is built on the lie that Washington’s bureaucrats are smart enough to plan health care for millions of Americans. At every turn—whether it’s CO-OPs collapsing, premiums skyrocketing, or big insurers bailing—the American people have paid the price. More spin won’t solve this—it’s time for the White House to admit that this law isn’t working." More spin won’t solve this: https://t.co/9tzkaBg2IG It’s time for the White House to admit that #Obamacare isn’t working. pic.twitter.com/zh0MZg0iSg — Senator Ben Sasse (@SenSasse) October 24, 2016 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/strengthening-social-security | Strengthening Social Security | 2016-10-21 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a 0.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2017. The increase is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W for short. Whether this formula is the best way to determine COLA increases for Social Security beneficiaries is an open question – one of many questions facing the program. In late 2015, I joined the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. This role allows me to work directly on solutions to shore up the program so many Nebraskans have paid into throughout their lives, expecting it would be there for them in retirement. The Social Security Trustees released their 2016 report in June, which showed Social Security remains on a track toward insolvency by 2034 and reinforced the need to act now to strengthen it. President Obama announced his Social Security plan around the same time, which called for giving out more money while increasing payroll taxes. Shortly after, the Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing with SSA Chief Actuary Stephen Goss. When asked whether Social Security would be solvent if every dollar of earnings was subject to the payroll tax, Mr. Goss replied it would not. This does not even take into account the expanded benefits President Obama suggested. The President’s plan would lead to higher taxes while likely pushing Social Security further into insolvency. At a second hearing with Mr. Goss in September, I asked him about the memos his office produces on various plans to reform Social Security. These memos are vital to determining which suggested solutions could ensure the program’s solvency, but they currently do not analyze the impacts of additional taxes proposed by some plans. Mr. Goss responded with assurances they are working toward providing this necessary information in future reports. In addition to financial challenges, other threats such as identity theft are deeply concerning. The House passed a bill, which originated in the Social Security Subcommi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-mosul | Fort Report: Mosul | 2016-10-21 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | In the summer of 2014, the church bells of Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq, fell silent for the first time in nearly two millennia. Long a heartland of Christianity in the region, Mosul had been conquered by ISIS in a brutal assault. The Christians of the city were given a choice: leave, convert, or die by the sword. Most fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs.The assault marked a major moment in ISIS’ horrific campaign of regional conquest. After capturing Mosul with the Iraqi army all but disintegrating, the so-called “caliphate” continued to metastasize across large swaths of Syria and Iraq. Marching under its black banner of death, ISIS subsequently spread into North Africa and established a wider network, beginning a global campaign of terror that has contributed to one of the greatest migrant crises in modern times. ISIS and its sympathizers have hit America and claimed lives here at home.Fortunately, this dark tide has begun to turn. On Monday, Iraqi forces, aided significantly by our weapons, air cover, and 5,000 Americans in support, initiated the largest combat operation in Iraq since 2003. Nearly 100,000 troops launched a multipronged offensive against ISIS positions around the city. Swift gains are being secured right now by the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga troops, and integrated security forces also containing the region’s beleaguered minority communities. But ISIS resistance, especially to the north and east of Mosul, seems to be fiercer and more chaotic. This region is known as the Nineveh Plain—once a thriving, pluralistic area of Iraq with a rich tapestry of religious and ethnic diversity. Battles rage around a number of towns near Mosul, including some of the oldest Christian towns in the Middle East.The stakes of the present conflict could not be higher, especially for the minority communities to which ISIS has posed an existential threat. In March, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution I introduced that named ISIS atrocities against Christian… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BC18027B-18E8-4861-BF99-5F3E172D8EFD | Sasse Responds to Presidents Obamacare Fuss | 2016-10-21 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse responded to President Obama who claimed yesterday that the "fuss" over Obamacare is because "a Democratic president named Barack Obama passed the law. That's just the truth." "That’s just nonsense. There’s a ‘fuss’ about Obamacare because it’s a disastrous failure. There’s a ‘fuss’ because millions of families have already lost their plans and millions more will this year. There’s a ‘fuss’ because premiums have gone through the roof. There’s a ‘fuss’ because more than half of the CO-OPs failed and now big insurance companies are scrambling for the exit. There’s a ‘fuss’ because even Democrats know it’s ‘crazy.’ Obamacare’s problem isn’t the politics, Mr. President—it’s the facts." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-hold-mobile-office-lexington-0 | Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Lexington | 2016-10-20 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet constituents of the Third District during a mobile office on Wednesday, October 26, in Lexington. A 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. Smith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office in Lexington on Wednesday, October 26, at the following time and location: Dawson County Historical Society Museum 805 N. Taft Street, Lexington, NE 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CDT) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=10C71B94-D940-42D9-9C2B-138BF52EB332 | Sasse to Pelosi: "Checks and Balances Arent Code" | 2016-10-19 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "Respectfully, Minority Leader Pelosi, those checks and balances are what separate our job as lawmakers from punditry or blind political cheerleading." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement, rejecting House Minority Leader’s assertion at a press conference today that “checks and balances” is merely Republican "code" for “obstruction.”"Respectfully, Minority Leader Pelosi, those checks and balances are what separate our job as lawmakers from punditry or blind political cheerleading. Checks and balances aren’t code, they’re what give our constituents—the American people—a voice in a city full of unelected bureaucrats. They are profoundly important for Americans of every walk of life." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-american-comfort-food | Fort Report: American Comfort Food | 2016-10-17 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | After watching the second presidential debate, I flipped the channel. There it was, Green Bay playing the New York Giants. I breathed a sigh of relief. That’s the America I know. Good solid competition, an orderly event, just a bit of comfort food, something normal in the midst of all this drama.Our presidential election has exposed a great chasm in America. We all wonder what the future holds no matter which candidate takes the oath of office in January. So what do we do? If you think about it, our country is comprised of three interconnected spaces: the government, the economy, and society. All three are critical to providing better outcomes for us as a people. Let’s unpack a few propositions that might be able to help.Regarding government, one thing is certain. Too much is being asked. A properly ordered government should set the conditions in which all of society can flourish: fairness, the rule of law, and the enforcement of accepted norms based upon reason and tradition. Unfortunately, our government seems misdirected, not attuned to its basic purpose or the complexities of our day. The policy making process suffers from a near total lack of creativity and imagination.Our economy, also facing serious problems, is not working for many. Downward mobility, stagnating wages, and a rising cost of living, including increasing healthcare costs, are stressing millions of hard-working families. A Washington-Wall Street axis is contributing to the decline of small business, the source of most American jobs and the private sector ecosystem that best sustains a dynamic marketplace. The market now favors centers of power.Most alarming of all, many places in America are suffering from woundedness and fragmentation. More and more people are feeling directionless and alone. The presidential process is a reminder of the growing rifts between disparate groups of people across our country. The relational space in which persons can flourish together is found most fully in family life, community life, and faith life. A healthy… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4ADE88AF-BF3F-4607-BC8C-0E2C1DE22A20 | Sasse Statement on FBIs New Clinton Investigation Documents | 2016-10-17 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who on September 14 asked the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper for a formal damage assessment, issued the following statement today after the release of new documents regarding the FBI’s investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server. According to those documents, the State Department “pressured” the FBI to downgrade the classification of one email as part of a “quid pro quo.” “From start to finish, Secretary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information and the State Department’s pressuring of the FBI to hide that mishandling does nothing but reinforce the perception of a double standard and a broken investigation,” said Senator Sasse. “As I wrote to the Director of National Intelligence last month, Washington’s malpractice risks tarring the IC with accusations of partisanship or incompetence. I want to believe both critiques are wrong but today’s news is deeply troubling.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/navigating-medicare-open-enrollment | Navigating Medicare Open Enrollment | 2016-10-14 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Through the Medicare Part D program, seniors can purchase private prescription drug plans at affordable prices. The annual open enrollment period encourages competition among Part D insurers, helping to keep costs lower and giving beneficiaries more choices. During open enrollment, which runs from October 15 through December 7, seniors have the opportunity to make changes to their Part D plans. Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their current coverage do not need to take any action during open enrollment, as long as their plans are continuing in 2017. However, it is strongly recommended all Medicare enrollees review their options to ensure their current plan is still the best one to meet their needs. Not only has Part D become an asset to Medicare beneficiaries, but it is also a success for taxpayers. In 2004, projections showed Part D would cost $122 billion in 2012. The actual 2012 cost for the program was $55 billion, or 55 percent less than estimated. Given the $19 trillion debt facing our country, any federal program which costs less than half its estimated budget should serve as an example for further reforms. Nearly 41 million Americans are enrolled in Part D, but maneuvering through the process can still be confusing and frustrating. Many seniors find it difficult to determine which plan is best for them. To ensure Third District seniors have access to the latest Medicare information, I will host my annual Senior Services Fairs on November 21-22 in Scottsbluff and Grand Island. Seniors and caregivers can meet directly with Medicare experts and get their questions answered. Attendees should bring a complete list of their prescriptions, including dosing information, in order to find the plan which best fits their needs. Officials from the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will be on hand to consult individually with seniors on available plans. Experts will also be available to answer questions about Social Security and veterans… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9F78AD4B-8C99-4046-86F1-9F79729867E1 | Sasse Condemns UNESCOs Anti-Israel Resolution | 2016-10-13 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement, condemning the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for passing an anti-Israel resolution denying Judaism’s connection to the Temple Mount."This insanity shows that Israel’s adversaries are willing to go to any lengths to denigrate our ally. Is it any wonder that the United Nations cannot broker a real solution? Not only does the UN pretend that there is moral equivalency between Israeli citizens and Palestinian terrorists,UNESCO goes out of its way to insult Israel." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-health-care-forum-invitation | Fort Report: Health Care Forum Invitation | 2016-10-11 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | So many of us feel trapped by the ever escalating costs and fewer choices in health care these days. Health care premiums are substantially stretching family budgets and are hitting small businesses particularly hard. The unpredictability of premium increases also hinders reasonable financial planning.Given continuing shifts in health care market dynamics, premium prices, and insurance company participation, I am convening a Health Care Affordability Forum of experts who can offer informed perspectives on how to navigate the current dynamics of a troubling health care environment. The event is designed to illuminate the current insurance landscape and identify the best options available to individuals within a less than ideal system. The key questions are: What kind of health insurance policies should individuals consider for 2017? Are there savings opportunities? Will cost increases slow? What does our health care future look like? Experts from the Nebraska Department of Insurance, the insurance industry, and a health insurance brokerage firm will articulate what individuals and businesses need to know about health care insurance before November 1st, the start of open enrollment. We hope this conversation will empower Nebraskans to mitigate some of the rising costs.I want to personally invite you to attend the Health Care Affordability Forum: Wednesday, October 19, from 10:00 - 11:00 am Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital (The Sheridan Room), 5401 South Street, Lincoln I hope to see you there. Please contact us at (402) 438-1598 if you have any questions. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=174DCB36-537B-4E38-A62E-7E78379BD589 | Fischer Statement on Court Decision Regarding the CFPB | 2016-10-11 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement today regarding this morning’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The court ruled the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is unconstitutional: “Today’s decision is a step in the right direction and validates that the CFPB’s current structure is unconstitutional and unaccountable to the public. For years, the CFPB has threatened private businesses while enacting harmful and ill-advised regulations with little transparency or accountability. “The court’s ruling only reinforces the need for my legislation, the Consumer Financial Protection Board Act, which would transition the agency from a single director to a bipartisan five-member board of directors. This bill would increase transparency and deliver the accountability that the court determined is currently missing at the agency.” This morning’s 2-1 decision by the Court of Appeals ruled that the structure of the CFPB is unconstitutional, citing in part how the bureau functions under a single director instead of a multi-member board. Senator Fischer introduced the Consumer Financial Protection Board Act in July 2016. The bill would replace the Director of the CFPB with a bipartisan board of five individuals. Each board member would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Fischer’s bill is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.). ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/harvesting-greater-opportunity | Harvesting Greater Opportunity | 2016-10-07 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | It is harvest, and Nebraska farmers are logging long hours. As I travel the Third District and meet with producers, I often hear concerns about low commodity prices and what this means for their livelihoods. The 2014 farm bill had bipartisan agreement on strengthening crop insurance, encouraging producers to invest in efficiency enhancements while reducing the likelihood emergency disaster spending will be needed. Despite the success of this public-private partnership, there are efforts to reopen and weaken the farm safety net. For example, last year’s budget agreement included a $3 billion cut to crop insurance. Thankfully, we were able to later repeal this cut through many efforts, including the letter I wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. The next farm bill is scheduled for 2019, and although it may seem far off, I look forward to more conversations with Third District producers on ways to further improve agriculture policy. To help ease the financial strains facing producers, we must continue working to roll back burdensome regulations. Earlier this year, I introduced the Fertilizer Access and Responsible Management (FARM) Act to help producers maintain access to anhydrous ammonia after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new requirements for its storage. OSHA’s rule change would have impacted approximately 3,800 agriculture retailers and cost the industry more than $100 million to comply. Many small retailers would have been forced to stop selling anhydrous ammonia altogether, limiting the supply of the most common source of nitrogen fertilizer and driving up costs for producers. At the end of September, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled OSHA acted illegally by not giving retailers and producers a chance to submit comments, requiring the agency to forego its interpretive memorandum. I have also introduced legislation to roll back Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations which currently inhibit E15 fuel sales during t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3735DBA-CF85-4748-BEC5-786D4B53995B | Sasse Statement on Russia Hacks | 2016-10-07 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "Today was just the first step—Russia must face serious consequences." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee who has been outspoken on Russia's recent aggression, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration publicly accused Russia of hacking the Democratic National Committee and others. "Today was just the first step—Russia must face serious consequences. Moscow orchestrated these hacks because Putin believes Soviet-style aggression is worth it. The United States must upend Putin's calculus with a strong diplomatic, political, cyber, and economic response." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-postal-service-report | Fortenberry Statement on Postal Service Report | 2016-10-06 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement on a report issued by the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General:“Earlier this year I asked the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate numerous constituent reports of problems with the mail system in Nebraska. The report was posted on September 28 on the OIG website, and I am reviewing its conclusions. It remains unclear as to whether all mail problems have been resolved. I will continue to engage with Postal officials to address concerns in the report.”Congressman Fortenberry wrote to Inspector General David C. Williams on March 3, 2016. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office of the Postal Service under the general supervision of nine presidentially appointed governors. It is also required to provide semiannual reports to Congress. The most recent report can be viewed here. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lincoln-journal-star-fortenberry-continues-pursue-mail-delivery-issues | Lincoln Journal Star: Fortenberry continues to pursue mail delivery issues | 2016-10-05 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said Wednesday a U.S. Postal Service inspector general's report makes it unclear to him whether mail processing and delivery problems in his congressional district have been resolved, and he will continue to pursue the issue. Fortenberry represents eastern Nebraska's 1st District, which includes Lincoln and spreads north to Madison County and Norfolk. Earlier this year, the congressman asked the inspector general to investigate "numerous constituent reports of problems with the mail system in Nebraska." Fortenberry said he is reviewing the conclusions reached after that investigation and will "continue to engage with postal officials to address concerns in the (resulting) report." "I suspect the root cause of the problem has been the consolidation of mail processing in Omaha," the congressman stated earlier this year in announcing his decision to request an inspector general's review. "Even a letter going across Lincoln now has to go through Omaha first," Fortenberry said. During an onsite visit, the inspector general's report noted, "we observed mail arriving in Omaha from other originating processing facilities too late to be processed for its intended delivery day. "From January through April 2016, the Omaha (center) recorded an average of 3,604 trays of mail per month as late arriving. "The Omaha (center) does not have a system in place to notify origin facilities of late-arriving mail so they can correct the causes of delays." The result is that the Omaha center was "not meeting the established processing times to meet service commitments," the report stated. "Delayed mail increases the risk customers will lose confidence in the Postal Service's ability to provide trusted and reliable service," the inspector general concluded, and that could lead customers to seek alternative delivery options and ultimately reduce postal revenue. Click here to see the entire article. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-russia-suspension-nuclear-treaty-united-states | Fortenberry Statement on Russia Suspension of Nuclear Treaty with United States | 2016-10-04 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement after Russia suspended a long-standing treaty with the United States to better manage weapons-grade plutonium: “Russia cites new discomfort in its relationship with our country following ongoing conflicts related to Ukraine and Syria. Yet the suspension of a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States should concern not only the Russian people, but also the international community of responsible nations. “In the past, our two countries have strived to strengthen our relationship while working toward mutual nuclear security goals. Although our engagement with Moscow faces new challenges, both nations must reinvigorate those values that bind us toward making nuclear security a first order priority. The risk of more aggressive diplomatic posturing between our nations, especially when related to nuclear issues, is a threat to civilization itself.”Fortenberry is co-chair of the Nuclear Security Working Group and serves on the House Appropriations Committee. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-cabela%E2%80%99s-purchase | Smith Statement on Cabelas Purchase | 2016-10-03 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today following the announcement Cabela’s will be acquired by Bass Pro Shops. “Cabela’s has long served as a cornerstone of western Nebraska’s economy, and I hope Bass Pro Shops will see the value in maintaining operations in Sidney. Thousands of Nebraskans have worked tirelessly to build the Cabela’s brand, which is respected nationwide and around the world. Our state has a pro-growth economy and an unmatched work ethic, which I urge Bass Pro Shops to consider when determining a path forward.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=65B5279C-0A13-4899-8DA4-16B9EEE8235D | Fischer Statement On Cabelas | 2016-10-03 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement today regarding this morning’s announcement that Bass Pro Shops will acquire Cabela’s: “Cabela’s is a world-renowned retailer due to the hard work of many Nebraskans who have contributed to its great success over the years. I understand this decision will cause uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead, especially for the citizens of Sidney. I also believe that the strength of Nebraska is rooted in our communities and our way of life. I am hopeful Bass Pro Shops will recognize this as they make plans for the future of this operation.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=82DFDC1C-F6A2-410C-9C51-D954D5724DE5 | Sasse on Suspension of U.S.-Russia Syria Talks: Is Anyone Surprised by This News? | 2016-10-03 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement today regarding the news that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suspended talks with Russia over the situation in Syria. In July, Sasse warned that “Russia is not a credible partner.” “Experience is an expensive teacher and this Administration is paying a high cost for learning what many already knew: Russia is not a credible partner in Syria. Is anyone surprised by this news? Moscow's primary goal in Syria — preserving the Assad regime — is fundamentally opposed to our objectives." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-wahoo | Fort Report: Wahoo | 2016-10-01 | 2016 | 2016-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | For years the community of Wahoo and the surrounding towns in Saunders County have been working steadily and sacrificially to build a new veterans memorial. The people of this area live far away from the nation's power centers, thriving in the heart of the Great Plains. But when they are called to serve, they answer. Like so many other Nebraskans, they are willing to leave their farms, their small businesses, and their families in service to America. From World War I to the present day, 101 military service members from the community have given their lives for our country.Wahoo is somewhat known throughout America as the onetime mythical home office of a late night comedy show. What happened last Sunday, however, was much greater than the smile generated by the town's peculiar name. About 500 people gathered at the courthouse to dedicate the new memorial. Veterans organizations, community leadership, and citizens came together to remember those 101 persons who had given their all. Each name was read in an honor roll, many of them of Czech, German, and Swedish origin–a connection to the countries of old which shaped the local culture.I had the privilege of briefly addressing that extraordinary gathering. When I approached the microphone to say a few words, I recalled the classic movie To Kill a Mockingbird, based upon the famous novel by Harper Lee. In the movie, the lawyer Atticus Finch defends a man unjustly accused of a crime while his family and community are forced to sit in the upper balcony of the courtroom because of the prejudice at that time. As Atticus Finch is preparing to leave the courtroom, the minister of the community says to the lawyer’s young child: "Stand up, your father’s passing.”At that beautiful event in Wahoo, the ceremony began with the public high school and Catholic high school choirs together singing our national anthem. During the anthem, no one sat on a bench, no one took a knee, everyone stood. To stand is a sign of respect. We stand, not for us, but for them: the men and women be… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-hold-mobile-office-brewster | Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Brewster | 2016-09-30 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet constituents of the Third District during a mobile office on Wednesday, October 5, in Brewster. A 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. Smith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office in Franklin on Wednesday, October 5, at the following time and location: Blaine County Courthouse 145 Lincoln Ave, Brewster, NE 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (CDT) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/simple-bill-rooted-fairness | A Simple Bill Rooted in Fairness | 2016-09-30 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Nebraskans are facing more bad news as Obamacare continues to unravel. On September 23, Blue Cross Blue Shield announced its departure from Nebraska’s exchange due to losses totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This change from the state’s largest insurer will leave 20,000 Nebraskans looking for new coverage as they enter 2017. Fortunately, the announcement came prior to the open enrollment period in the Obamacare exchanges, giving consumers time to find a new plan. Dwindling options under Obamacare are nothing new. CoOportunity Health, a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (co-op) created under President Obama’s health care law, sold plans covering 120,000 Nebraskans and Iowans in 2014. It soon became the first co-op to close, leaving consumers without coverage after the open enrollment period had already ended. Since then, 17 of the 23 co-ops, which received more than $1.7 billion in federal loans, have closed or are in the process of closing. All six of the remaining co-ops are struggling to remain solvent. In February 2015, as reports removed any last doubts about CoOportunity Health’s impending liquidation, I introduced a bill to prevent taxpayers from having to pay Obamacare’s individual mandate penalties if they lost their insurance in the wake of a co-op closure. Originally, I designed the legislation to assist Nebraskans and Iowans impacted by CoOportunity Health’s collapse. As the number of failed co-ops across the country began to rise, more Members of Congress took an interest in moving the bill forward. The Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, passed the bill in early September 2016. On September 27, the U.S. House passed my bill in a bipartisan vote. The final legislation, known as the CO-OP Consumer Protection Act, exempts taxpayers from the individual mandate for the remaining months within the calendar year in which their co-op insurance plan was cancelled. It applies retroactively to individuals who lost coverage after December 31, 2013, including those in Nebraska and I… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=F36447D5-AA3E-44B8-9677-1246BE1AA18A | Fischer: Taxpayer-Funded ObamaCare Bailouts Unacceptable | 2016-09-30 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday afternoon, The Washington Post reported the Obama administration plans to use taxpayer dollars to bail out ObamaCare insurers through the Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement regarding this news: “Last week, we learned that 20,000 Nebraskans will lose their health insurance policies because of ObamaCare’s failures. Now, the Obama administration plans to use taxpayer dollars to secretly settle claims with health insurers through the Judgment Fund. My Judgment Fund Transparency Act, which passed the Senate in April, would provide Congress with increased oversight over these backroom deals. These backroom deals should not be happening. My bill would allow the American people to see how their tax dollars are being spent.” As The Washington Post reported: “In the waning months of the Obama White House, administration officials are continuing their upbeat portrayal of all aspects of the health-care law, one of President Obama’s main domestic achievements. Behind the scenes, they think that settling these claims — $2.5 billion for 2014 and an as-yet-undisclosed sum for 2015 — is crucial to the exchanges’ well-being at a time when the high cost of covering ACA customers has driven some small insurers out of business and prompted several large ones to defect from marketplaces for the coming year.” Last week, the Omaha World-Herald reported that Blue Cross Blue Shield will drop out of the ObamaCare marketplace in Nebraska. Senator Fischer joined Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in February 2015 to introduce S. 350, The Judgment Fund Transparency Act. The bill would make transactions like these open to public scrutiny. It would also require the Treasury Department to post on a publicly-accessible website the claimant, counsel, agency, fact summary, and payment amount for each claim from the Judgment Fund (unless a law or court order otherwise prohibits the disclosure of such information). The bill was included as a provision i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=B06622DA-136A-4B8F-A09B-4E98B655F436 | Senator Fischer and Congressman Smith Greet Dawson County Hero Flight at U.S. Capitol | 2016-09-29 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to view and download photos ofFischer and Smith welcoming Nebraska veterans to Washington. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Congressman Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) welcomed 25 veterans from Dawson County, Nebraska to Washington, D.C. The veterans are participating in a Hero Flight to our nation’s capital. Click here to view more photos from today’s hero flight. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=543B3159-3AE1-417F-9944-9DD0F273E8CE | Sasse on GAO's Obamacare Opinion: "The Law Is the Law and HHS Broke It" | 2016-09-29 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, the author of the “Taxpayers Before Insurers Act,”issued the following statement after the Government Accounting Office (GAO) issued a new legal opinion siding against The Department of Health and Human Services’ implementation of Obamacare’s reinsurance program. "GAO's new legal opinion is simple: the law is the law and HHS broke it,” said Sasse. “Washington has been running a textbook, crony scheme: cutting checks to big insurance companies that can afford lobbyists instead of giving taxpayers the $5 billion they’re owed. Congress must put taxpayers ahead of insurance companies.” Background: Today, the GAO issued a new legal opinion, concluding “that HHS lacks authority to ignore the statute’s directive to deposit amounts from collections under the transitional reinsurance program in the Treasury and instead make deposits to the Treasury only if its collections reach the amounts for reinsurance payments specified in section 1341. This prioritization of collections for payments to issuers over payments to the Treasury is not authorized.” (Emphasis added.)Like the Affordable Care Act’s risk corridor program, the reinsurance program is designed to protect big insurance companies. The law requires the Secretary of HHS to deposit $5 billion total from 2014-2016 to Treasury through the reinsurance program. Rather than make those deposits to the Treasury, HHS has decided to prioritize payments to insurance companies.Ignoring the clear text of the law, HHS has prioritized payments to insurance companies rather than payments to the Treasury: In 2014, the Treasury should have received $2 billion in general fund payments but received nothing even though HHS sent insurance companies the full $8 billion in reinsurance payments they requested. HHS also carried over another $1.7 billion to give insurance companies later. For 2015, HHS said they would give Treasury only $500 million of the $2 billion it should receive but insurers will receive a $7.7 billion payout ($6 billion for 2015 plus the $1.7 bil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B69D770C-CCED-4DC3-B7F7-AF9377B9B7CF | Sasse VA Oversight Legislation Becomes Law | 2016-09-29 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "This is a victory for public trust, congressional oversight, and most importantly the veterans who served our country." Today U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement after President Barack Obama signed his Veterans Affairs oversight and accountability legislation into law. "Silencing whistleblowers is unacceptable. Starting now, the VA—a department that has an appalling history of scandals and cover-ups—cannot hide its failures behind gag orders disguised as separation agreements. This is a victory for public trust, congressional oversight, and most importantly the veterans who served our country." This is a victory for public trust, congressional oversight & most importantly the #veterans who served our country: https://t.co/1rpvNYaC1I pic.twitter.com/28yCH13xDs — Senator Ben Sasse (@SenSasse) September 29, 2016 Background:On May 19, Sasse’s legislation was first passed by the Senate. Today, it was included in the short-term continuing resolution that President Obama signed into law this afternoon. The text of the legislation is simple: “SEC. 256. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this title may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would restrict in any way the individual from speaking to members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law or required by Executive Order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.”In May, Sasse demanded answers from VA Secretary Robert McDonald about why his department attempted to strip a former employee of her constitutional right to speak with Congress, and whether this kind of action was routine business at the VA. Sasse’s letter is found below: May 11, 2016Dear Secretary McDonald: I would like your help understanding why the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) entered into a settlement agreement with a former e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/video-smith-bill-help-americans-hurt-obamacare-co-op-failures-passes-house | Smith Bill to Help Americans Hurt by Obamacare Co-Op Failures Passes House | 2016-09-27 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Adrian Smith’s (R-NE) bill, the Co-Op Consumer Protection Act, to provide relief from Obamacare penalties to taxpayers who lost their insurance coverage due to the failures of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (co-ops) created under the President’s health care law. Congressman Smith’s opening statement on the House floor on his bill, the Co-Op Consumer Protection Act. Congressman Smith’s closing comments on his bill. “This is a simple bill rooted in fairness,” Smith said. “Americans who lost their health insurance through no fault of their own deserve certainty rather than having to take their chances within the federal bureaucracy to avoid paying a tax penalty. These consumers deserve time and flexibility to find a plan which works for their unique circumstances, especially when they face even fewer coverage options and possibly having to start over on their deductibles. “It is absurd for the government to penalize consumers who tried to comply with the law but could not do so due to the law’s own failures. Though the President continues to advocate for the individual mandate at all costs, no matter how much it hurts law-abiding citizens seeking to do the right thing, Americans should not be forced to continue to shoulder these unnecessary hardships.” Background: More than $2 billion, largely in the form of low-interest startup and solvency loans, was distributed to approved co-ops under the Affordable Care Act. CoOportunity Health, which sold plans covering 120,000 Nebraskans and Iowans in 2014, was the first co-op to close. Now, 17 of the 23 original co-ops, which received more than $1.7 billion, have closed or are in the process of closing, with the remaining six also struggling to remain solvent. H.R. 954 exempts taxpayers from the individual mandate for the remaining months within the calendar year in which their co-op insurance plan was cancelled. The bill applies retroactively to individuals who lost coverage after Dece… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/husker-solar-power | Fort Report: Husker Solar Power | 2016-09-26 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | On the west side of Lincoln, I stood on a country road looking out over the vast stretches of rolling farmland, surveying the beautiful green, yellow, and brown hues of the corn at near harvest. In the distance stood an old silo, like a sentry at its post, watching over the morning calm of the fields. The clouds in the overcast sky were giving way to blue above.Such scenes are so familiar to us in Nebraska that we sometimes take their power for granted. But something was different about this particular view. As the land is about to bring forth its yield of corn, another type of harvest is now taking place each day through the power of the sun. Nestled within the farm setting is 35 acres of solar energy panels. Built for the Lincoln Electric System (LES), the SunShare community solar facility is a first of its kind and size in our region. The solar panels will create enough power for about 900 homes. We are not talking about Florida, Arizona, or Californiawe are talking about large scale solar on the Great Plains.We tend to think only of energy policy when gas prices spike. However, our current energy settlement remains in need of a significant upgrade. America’s environmental, economic, and national security are inextricably intertwined. Meeting this challenge requires energy and environmental diplomacy where we build bridges with innovation, technology, and willful choice to a rebalanced portfolio with renewable sources.As I prepared to speak at the solar facility dedication ceremony, my thoughts turned to the great Nebraskan George Norris, a former Senator and Representative who served in Congress for 40 years. He died in 1944 after a storied career of policy innovation in agriculture and energy. In his autobiography, he describes electricity in a way somewhat strange to modern ears. He is quoted as talking about the importance of our country moving toward an electrified future. He alludes to electricity as a labor saving tool, a mechanism for creating the conditions in which humanity can flourish. Norris beli… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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