Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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529 rows where state = "NE" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=e85606ed-01c8-466b-b481-6bc016e831d0 | Fischer Mourns the Loss of Technical Sergeant Joseph Lemm | 2015-12-22 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Valentine, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement today regarding the death of Technical Sergeant Joseph Lemm, a Nebraska native who was killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan:Technical Sergeant Joseph Lemm served many years as a member of the New York Police Department and the Air National Guard. His death is a major loss for Nebraska and our nation. My deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time. This tragic loss is a reminder of the grave dangers our service members face around the world, and we keep them in our prayers this holiday season. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=4a4e3cfe-9e86-441f-be8e-6deb7bb06dac | Fischer Unveils 2015 Edition of Working for You | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON This afternoon, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released this years edition ofWorking for You a digital magazine highlighting her legislative work and accomplishments on behalf of all Nebraskans.Click here, on the cover photo above, or on the excerpt images below to view this years edition. To view as a pdf,click here. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/hope-christmas-uncertain-world | The Hope of Christmas in an Uncertain World | 2015-12-18 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Amidst the festivities of the Christmas season, our hearts remain heavy for the innocent lives recently lost to terrorism in our country and abroad. In his radio address to the nation on Christmas Eve 1983, President Ronald Reagan recounted the challenges of our countrys first Christmas, encouraging Americans to approach current global conflicts with the same faith and resolve. He also highlighted the sacrifices made by our soldiers to defend our freedoms, which our brave military men and women continue to make today. As growing threats from terrorism and persecution plague our world, President Reagans words are a welcome reminder of the strength of Americans and the true hope of Christmas. Merry Christmas, and I hope all Nebraskans enjoy a safe and happy holiday season. President Ronald Reagan Radio Address to the Nation December 24, 1983 My fellow Americans: Like so many of your homes, the White House is brimming with greens, colorful decorations, and a tree trimmed and ready for Christmas day. And when Nancy and I look out from our upstairs windows, we can see the National Christmas Tree standing in majestic beauty. Its lights fill the air with a spirit of love, hope, and joy from the heart of America. ...Christmas is also a time to remember the treasures of our own history. We remember one Christmas in particular, 1776, our first year as a nation. The Revolutionary War had been going badly. But George Washingtons faith, courage, and leadership would turn the tide of history our way. On Christmas night he led a band of ragged soldiers across the Delaware River through driving snow to a victory that saved the cause of independence. Its said that their route of march was stained by bloody footprints, but their spirit never faltered and their will could not be crushed. The image of George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow is one of the most famous in American history. He personified a people who knew it was not enough to depend on their own courage and goodness; they must also seek help from God,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-offutt | Fort Report: Offutt | 2015-12-18 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | A seasoned member of an Air Force crew once approached me. He said, Congressman, I understand youre from Nebraska. I spent some time in my earlier years at Offutt Air Force Base. Im getting ready to retire, and Im going to make Nebraska my home. We love the community. I hear this story over and over again. The quality of life in Nebraska, including the stability and vibrancy of community and family life, attract many people who were stationed here during their military careers back to our state. Nebraskans deeply appreciate our militarys sacrifice. We recognize the role that Offutt Air Force Base and Strategic Command play in our national security. Just south of Omaha in Bellevue, these important components of our national security infrastructure are a commanding presence in Nebraskas economic and cultural tradition. Offutt Air Force Base has more than 10,000 military and civilian employees and houses several Air Force commands including the 55th Wing, the largest part of the Air Forces Air Combat Command. Offutt-based personnel support worldwide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, operating out of many different locations to aid in our national security. Other missions range from identifying remains of those who have been lost in battle to observing weather conditions for battle readiness. Personnel stationed at Offutt even monitored and detected nuclear radiation after a devastating earthquake damaged Japans Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011. One of my priorities in Congress is working with both Offutt and Strategic Command to ensure military readiness. One emerging challenge is the bases aging infrastructure. The base has a lone runway which needs to be replaced. Service members have to literally walk the expanse to ensure there is no concrete debris that could damage a plane during takeoff and landing. Planning has begun for a new runway, with design scheduled to begin next year. Essential communication with the Pentagon about the importance of this initiative continues on all fronts. This week, I a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=0c4942a5-dea0-428c-8f12-d03c6c1e9279 | Senate Passes GONE Act to Cut Government Waste | 2015-12-18 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 1115 The Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act. U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) reintroduced this bipartisan legislation in April to save taxpayer dollars by providing additional oversight over the financial accountability of federal grant programs. The bill would require agencies to close out expired grant accounts with zero dollar balances and undisbursed funding remaining. These expired accounts cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is also a cosponsor of the bill. Senator Fischer released the following statement: While tales of government waste are all too familiar, government spending on literally nothing appears to be a new low. The GONE Act takes significant steps to close out these long expired grants and identify why they were never closed in the first place. The American people deserve more accountability from the federal government, and I hope we can soon send this bill to be signed into law. Senator Manchin released the following statement: One of my top priorities has always been getting our financial house in order and fixing Americas finances, especially when we can cut waste, fraud and abuse. Our taxpayer dollars should be spent on programs and grant opportunities that actually support those who need it most like our children, veterans and seniors, instead of administering empty grant accounts that help nobody. Its remarkable how much this country can save when the federal government cuts wasteful spending that no longer serves the American people efficiently. I am pleased to have worked with Senator Fischer to get this bipartisan legislation passed that addresses our governments wasteful spending head-on. Senator Ron Johnson released the following statement: One of our goals for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this year has been to pass legislation that identi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5D9D0933-A1B0-4FE7-8F60-7F5721BC22E0 | Sasse Statement on Omnibus Spending Vote | 2015-12-18 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "Heres what this spending bill is: hundreds of policy decisions, thousands of pages, and more than a trillion dollars passed right before Congress skips town for Christmas." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement after voting against the omnibus spending bill: "Heres what this spending bill is: hundreds of policy decisions, thousands of pages, and more than a trillion dollars passed right before Congress skips town for Christmas. Its time for Congress to end this nonsense by doing fewer thingsbut with greater transparency, deliberation, and urgency. Nebraskans see through Washington's familiar, false choice between 'fund it all' or 'shut the government down." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/video-smith-supports-tax-extenders-package-provide-certainty-american-families-and | VIDEO: Smith Supports Tax Extenders Package to Provide Certainty to American Families and Businesses | 2015-12-17 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the House floor today in support of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act. The bill brings certainty to American families and businesses by making more than 20 tax relief provisions permanent and extending other provisions which expired at the end of calendar year 2014. This legislation prevents large tax increases on the American people while creating much needed certainty in our tax code, Smith said. It allows producers, small businesses, and families to plan for the future by permanently extending important provisions like enhanced Section 179 small business expensing. The bill also enacts important reforms to ensure taxpayers get the responsiveness they deserve from the IRS and are not harassed by the agency for their political views. I hear from Nebraskans daily about the difficulty of making financial decisions when they do not know what their tax obligations will be until the end of the year. This bill makes great progress toward ending the cycle of uncertainty. Today the House laid the groundwork for the comprehensive reforms our tax code desperately needs. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act passed the House this afternoon with Smiths support. Remarks on House floor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your efforts on tax policy better tax policy. The U.S. Congress owes the American people better tax policy than we currently have. We currently have so many temporary provisions that so many Americans are wondering and trying to predict what the tax policy will be by the end of the year. Thats not what we should be about. We should be about establishing permanent tax policy whenever we can. I appreciate the bipartisan interest in todays bill because I know a lot of work has gone into this, and I know constituents in Nebraskas Third District can appreciate what permanent tax policy can deliver, especially as it sets us on a trajectory to comprehensive tax reform. We hear from both sides that we need co… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-assembles-offutt-air-force-base-task-force | Fortenberry Assembles Offutt Air Force Base Task Force | 2015-12-17 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Click below to listen to an audio version of this press release. Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) today announced the formation of an Offutt Air Force Base Task Force to provide additional oversight of the Defense Departments effort to design and replace the existing runway. As Nebraskans we deeply appreciate our militarys sacrifice and the role that Offutt Air Force Base plays in our national security, Fortenberry said. The Offutt Air Force Base Task Force will conduct careful oversight of the ongoing runway replacement process, a critical component of Offutts infrastructure needs. We will monitor the Pentagons stated commitment to the obligated planning and design money, including a constant review of runway replacement costs. I have high confidence that the project is on track, and essential communication with the Pentagon about the importance of this initiative is continuing on all fronts. Joining me on the Task Force will be representatives from the offices of Governor Ricketts, Congressman Smith, and Congressman Ashford. I want to commend the many citizen groups in Nebraska that are taking a great interest in ensuring that Offutt remains a viable part of our national security infrastructure and local community life. Fortenberry is the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/library-files?ContentRecord_id=806EA11E-E234-48BA-85AA-EB843F94ED4C | Full Text: Senator Sasse Discusses Executive Unilateralism on the Senate Floor | 2015-12-17 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Today I would like to propose a thought experiment. Imagine President Trump has been propelled into the White House with 300 electoral votes, having won mainly by the force of his personality, by calling BS on this town, and by his promise to get things done by acting unilaterally. The first 100 days are huge. He signs an order to turn the Peace Corps into stone masons to build a southern wall. He shutters the Department of Education, and by Executive order, he turns the Department of Interior into the classiest oil company the world has ever known. What happens next? Would those who have stayed silent about Executive overreach over the last 7 years suddenly find religion? After years of legislative atrophy, would Congress spring into action and remember its supposed power of the purse? And what about the Republicans? After having raged against a supposedly lawless President, would many suddenly find that they are OK with a strongman President, so long as he is wearing the same color jersey they are? He may be a lawless son of a gun, some would say, but he is our lawless son of a gun. Would the end justify the means? The way that Congress thinks and talks about Executive power over the last few years has almost been this sophomoric. It has been based overwhelmingly on the party tag of whoever happens to sit in the Oval Office at any given moment. Republicans, Democrats, us versus themthese are the political trenches, and the no mans land lies somewhere between this Chamber and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. When your highest objective is advancing partisan lines on a map, it is easy to forgive a President who oversteps his authority, so long as he is your guy and the one with authority is in your party. I would suggest that this is the entirely wrong way to think about this issue. The problem of a weak Congresswhich we areand the growth of the unchecked Executive should be bad news to all of us. But more importantly than us, this should be bad news for every constituent who casts their votes for us under th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=28A23663-1C2B-4AF0-81F5-20B99A3BE6AE | Sasse Lifts Hold on HHS Nominees | 2015-12-17 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) which has been investigating the CO-OP program for several months under Chairman Rob Portman, issued the following statement regarding his efforts to bring transparency and accountability to HHS handling of the systemic failures of the Affordable Care Acts CO-OP program. After much delay and obfuscation, HHS has finally come to the table and provided my office access to new documents, financial reports, and additional information. This is simple: HHS gave $1.2 billion to 12 failed CO-OPs that forced families to find new health plans. From the beginning, weve asked how and why HHS made their decision to send that money out the door. Given HHS recent production of documents and their ensuing commitment to cooperate, I am lifting my hold on pending nominees. As a member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will continue working to ensure that taxpayers and victims receive the answers they deserve. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F92AC9BC-330D-44E9-9731-9B4283D20CF9 | Sasse Begins Series of Addresses on Executive Unilateralism | 2015-12-17 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Today, as promised in his Maiden Speech last month, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse began a series of addresses on the growth of the administrative state, executive unilateralism, and legislative apathy. Excerpts of the Senators remarks, as prepared for delivery, are found below: "Imagine President Trump has been propelled into the White House... He signs an executive order to turn the Peace Corps into stone masons and build a wall. He shutters the Department of Education and, by executive order, turns the Department of the Interior into the classiest oil company the world has ever known." "So what happens next?... After having raged against a supposedly lawless President [would Republicans] suddenly find that they are actually okay with a strongman President, so long as hes wearing the same color jersey that they are? He may be a lawless sonuvagun but, some would say, hes our lawless sonuvagun. Would the ends justify the means?" "... the problem of a weak Congress and executive growth should be bad news to all of us but, more importantly, to every constituent who cast their votes for us under the impression that Congress makes decisions not just suggestions." "I think the weakness of the Congress is not just undesirable, but is actually a dangerous thing for America... I dont think this because I am a Republican and the current occupant of the White House is a Democrat. In fact, I think we need to have this debate now precisely because we dont know who is going to control the White House next." "I think it, rather, because I have taken an oath of office to the Constitution; and Ill still hold this same view when a Republican president next tries to reach beyond his or her constitutional powers." "In this series of addresses on the growth of the administrative state and on the unbalanced nature of executive branch and legislative branch relations, my goal is not primarily to advocate. My first goal is just to do some history together..." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smiths-office-hold-mobile-office-grant | Rep. Smith's Office to Hold Mobile Office in Grant | 2015-12-15 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will be able to meet with a representative of Congressman Smiths office for a mobile office on Monday, December 21, in Grant. A mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with one of Smiths staff members 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 provide his mobile office and a staff member on Monday, December 21, at the following time and location: Perkins County Courthouse 200 Lincoln Avenue, Grant, NE 69140 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (MST) For additional information, contact Congressman Smiths Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CD447961-25ED-404D-A7F9-7C5D522479F3 | Sasse on EPA Propaganda Campaign: "This Is Washington Lawlessness" | 2015-12-14 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office determined that the EPA broke federal law by engaging in "covert propaganda" to support the Obama Administrations controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. "Lets not mince words: This is Washington lawlessness. Nebraskans know that WOTUS is terrible policy and everyone should agree that its wrong for government bureaucracies to run illegal PR campaigns. This puddle-propaganda was meant to rally support around the Administrations unilateral re-write of the law. That kind of spin might be commonplace in other parts of the world but thats not how America works. Nebraskans deserve better and taxpayers everywhere deserve better." Background: Today, a report from the Government Accountability Office determined that the EPA broke federal law by engaging in "covert propaganda" to support the Obama Administrations controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. That report is available here. This spring, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers released the final Waters of the United States rule under the Clean Water Act. The rule would dramatically expand federal authority and with it EPAs power to levy fines and require additional permits and reporting. In October, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a nationwide stay on the implementation of WOTUS, noting that the rule has created a "whirlwind of confusion." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/video-smith-supports-customs-bill-boost-us-trade | VIDEO: Smith Supports Customs Bill to Boost U.S. Trade | 2015-12-11 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 644, the Conference Report to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, to modernize and streamline the U.S. customs system to improve exporting. The bill passed the House this afternoon with Smiths support. Remarks: Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. This legislation will update and streamline our countrys customs and border policies to facilitate trade and enhance U.S. competitiveness. Included in the bill are a number of additional commonsense provisions. For example, the bill fixes a technical error which inadvertently increased the tariff rates on outerwear. Not only is this fix important to producers, retailers, and consumers, but it also brings the U.S. back into compliance with our commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. While I am disappointed we couldnt find a path forward on the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill process, I am pleased the bill contains language in support of continued work on this issue. The conference report also takes important steps to strengthen Trade Promotion Authority. TPA is necessary to ensure the U.S. gets the best possible deal in trade negotiations as we move forward, and these agreements should leverage our countrys comparative advantages in all industries, including energy. For this reason, I was happy to see the inclusion of language to prevent the administration from using trade agreements to negotiate costly greenhouse gas emission rules in the United States. I want to make sure Nebraska producers can make the most of the opportunities provided by a level playing field to increase exports. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I yield back. Smith is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/year-regulation-rewind | This Year in the Regulation Rewind | 2015-12-11 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The end of the year is a time of reflection and anticipation evaluating what we have accomplished and which goals are still to be achieved. Though the fight against government overreach is ongoing, we have made significant progress this year in our efforts to stand against the Obama administrations regulatory agenda and cut through red tape for Nebraskans. In 2014, I launched an initiative called Regulation Rewind to identify federal rules which hurt economic growth, limit opportunities for rural Americans, are inconsistent with the law, or are unfair. With your input, I have continued to take action against many onerous regulations this year and provided regular updates on my website at AdrianSmith.house.gov/RegulationRewind. After hearing concerns from hundreds of Nebraskans regarding the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS, I introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act in July to block this harmful overreach. The companion resolution recently passed the Senate, and the next step is consideration in the House. Over the summer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a memo increasing regulatory costs on thousands of anhydrous ammonia retailers by forcing them to comply with the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (PSM) standard from which they were previously exempt. Anhydrous ammonia is the most common source of nitrogen for farmers, and a number of Nebraskans have contacted me about the threat this arbitrary rule change poses to their farms and businesses. In late October, I joined 38 colleagues in sending a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez to ask the agency to rescind the memo and utilize a formal rulemaking process to allow those impacted by any potential changes to be heard. To decrease regulatory barriers for American businesses in the global marketplace, today I voted in favor of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. This legislation modernizes and streamlines our U.S. c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-kitchen-drawer | Fort Report: The Kitchen Drawer | 2015-12-11 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | In my house, there is a drawer in the kitchen full of disorganized stuff. Im sure you have one too. Most of us have experienced the frustration of rummaging around for rubber bands, paperclips, a nail to hang a picture, or batteries for the flashlight. Finding anything requires digging through the mess. However, something else of value usually turns up unexpectedly. In the midst of all the policy discussions, inertia, and errors, the messy kitchen drawer of Congress recently yielded some important outcomes. First, the House and Senate passedand the President signedlegislation called the Every Student Succeeds Act. From my perspective the federal government should substantively remove itself from the education business altogether, which is properly the domain of parents and local communities. A homogenized and centralized approach can create one-size-fits all educational policy that does not adequately accommodate the needs of individual students with different gifts and interests. This new measure addresses concerns voiced by educators about excessive federally-mandated testing in public schools, ushering in a new era of flexibility, creative education, and local control. Educational successes occur when families, school districts, and states are allowed flexibility to implement policies that are appropriate for their children. This bill effectively ends the ill-suited No Child Left Behind bureaucratic approach. Second, Congress has approved a surface transportation bill, better known as the highway bill, providing necessary support for our nations highways and bridges. This long-term surface transportation bill is needed to address important safety, economic development, and traffic congestion problems throughout the country, establishing funding certainty for the next five years. While there are concerns, particularly regarding the revenue sources, it was a necessary compromise to keep this part of America moving. In the past, when gas was around $4 a gallon, I proposed dedicating a percentage of any future pri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=047B13E7-D5BD-4E87-958A-0ACA3D9A6585 | Ben Sasse continues criticism of White House over terrorist phrasing | 2015-12-11 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Joseph Morton,Omaha World-Herald Sen. Ben Sasse was back on the Senate floor Thursday to renew his criticism of the Obama administrations aversion to identifying Americas enemy as militant Islam. The Nebraska Republican read portions of a World-Herald story quoting Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes laying out the argument for avoiding such terms in describing the terrorist group commonly referred to as ISIL or ISIS. For one thing, Rhodes said, using such terms gives terrorists the recognition as religious leaders that they crave. And he said it feeds the terrorists narrative of a United States at war with Islam. But Sasse said its foolish to ignore the religious aspect of terrorism. He displayed a poster that spelled out words behind the acronym ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Except Sasses poster had question marks after the first I in Islamic. Every fourth-grader in America can deduce without any assistance from Vanna White what the rest of the word that begins with an I is, and yet the White House insists that no one should use the word, Sasse said. They are dealing with a world that they wish were so, as opposed to the world with which were called to struggle. Sasse said identifying the enemy is necessary to crafting a successful policy for the Middle East. Intelligence and national security professionals, he said, are hampered by the administrations approach. Read the full article at theOmaha World-Herald. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-welcomes-little-sisters-poor-washington | Fortenberry Welcomes Little Sisters of the Poor to Washington | 2015-12-10 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today welcomed to Washington Mother Provincial Loraine of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic religious order serving the elderly and the poor throughout the world. The Little Sisters of the Poor are appealing to the United States Supreme Court in their quest for equal treatment under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A mandate in the ACA uses the strong arm of government to force the sisters to pay for drugs and procedures, including abortion-inducing drugs, which many Americans find to be ethically divisive. The government seeks to impose crushing fines on the Little Sisters if they uphold their deeply held and reasoned beliefs. I am moved by Mother Loraines leadership, Fortenberry said. I really feel badly for the Little Sisters. The government exists to protect their rights, not to take them away. Mother Loraine has continued to stand up for the fundamental American principle of the rights of conscience and religious liberty. In the face of an unrelenting administration and cultural misunderstandings, Fortenberry continued, the Little Sisters of the Poor have inadvertently found themselves in the vanguard of a fight. For many years we have pushed legislation to try to protect conscience rights, the sacred space of the person. However, the example of a nun and a religious order dedicated to charity for the poor is much more powerful than any legislative initiative. We want to simply take care of the elderly and the poor as we always have for 175 years, Mother Provincial Loraine said. I want to thank Congressman Fortenberry for all he is doing and continues to do for religious liberty, for the right to follow our conscience and serve others. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Little Sisters case next year. They are represented by the Beckett Fund, which also successfully represented Hobby Lobby in a similar case. The Little Sisters was founded by Saint Jeanne Jugan, who was recently canonized after the Vatican attributed the miraculous case of a Ne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=4ef0602a-5196-49d0-9851-81c319f152d5 | Fischer Applauds National Guard Cyber Team for Nebraska | 2015-12-10 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. This morning, 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, applauded the selection of Nebraska for a new Army National Guard cyber protection team. Fischer released the following statement regarding the announcement: This is good news for Nebraska. Over the last two years, Ive called for our state to receive a cyber unit. I have worked closely with General Bohac, and previously with former Senator Johanns, in support of this effort. Im happy to see Nebraskas Guard will be able to apply the talents of our state to this new and innovative mission. I will continue to work with the Army National Guard as it moves closer to implementing its plan. Last night, the Nebraska National Guard announced that it was selected as one of seven new Army National Guard cyber protection teams. These units are designed to address the cyber threats facing the United States. Nebraska will partner with Arkansas and Missouri to host 39 soldiers for this unit between the three states. The Guard is expected to release information regarding how many soldiers from this unit it will receive, as well as the location, at a later date. According to the National Guard, the new cyber protection team is expected to begin in Nebraska and partnering states in fiscal year (FY) 2018. They expect it to become mission capable by FY 2019. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-announces-congressional-app-challenge-judges | Smith Announces Congressional App Challenge Judges | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced today Andrew Bartow, Nick Colton, and Angela Hollman will serve as Third District judges for the 2015 Congressional App Challenge. Bartow, a Scottsbluff High School graduate, is currently pursuing a degree in computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to his studies at MIT, Bartow worked this year as a mobile developer for the popular messaging app Snapchat. While in high school, Bartow developed an app which aided in locating lost or stolen smartphones, receiving thousands of downloads. Colton is a 15-year veteran of the communications and technology industry, and serves as the director of network operations for ALLO Communications in Imperial. In this role, Colton directs ALLOs network operations and engineering, including network infrastructure and project management functions. Hollman is an assistant professor in industrial technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), where her courses include telecommunications literacy, network architecture and telecommunications, internetworking design, and global internetworking. The Congressional App Challenge is open to all high school students who live in or are eligible to attend public schools located in Nebraskas Third Congressional District. The winning app in each participating congressional district will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit. More details and official guidelines can be found at https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/congressional-app-challenge-ne-03-rep-smith or by contacting Rick Willis in Smiths Scottsbluff office at 308-633-6333. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2016. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=8fb29c35-77e4-4224-8a5a-ce87981dfd07 | Fischer Supports Major Education Reform | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON This morning, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed The Every Student Succeeds Act the conference report accompanying the Senates education bill by a vote of 85-12. U.S. Senator Deb Fischers (R-Neb.) bipartisan local governance amendment was included in the conference agreement. Senator Fischer released the following statement after final passage: Once again, the Senate has passed significant, bipartisan legislation showing we can come together and get major things done for the American people. Through this bill, control over education decisions will return to parents, teachers, and local school districts who are best equipped to ensure future generations will have the skills they need to succeed. Importantly, the final bill also eliminates the flawed common core mandate. I was also proud to see my local governance amendment incorporated into the final agreement, which will empower local communities, not bureaucrats in Washington, to make the education decisions they see fit for their students. Matthew Blomstedt, Nebraska Commissioner of Education, released the following statement praising passage of the conference committee report on the Every Student Succeeds Act: I am pleased to see that the United States Senate has taken action to approve the Every Student Succeeds Act. I am appreciative of the work by Senator Fischer in making this happen so that Nebraska can continue our work on Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow (AQuESTT) and tailor interventions to address unique local needs of our Nebraska schools so that we can serve every student, every day. The Every Student Succeeds Act will now head to the presidents desk for his signature. The bill ends waivers, the common core mandate, and the federal test-based accountability system. It repeals the adequate yearly progress (AYP) federal accountability system and replaces it with a state-designed accountability system. For years, policies resulting from the No Child Left Behind law have caused over-testing and forc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=c9beb7c9-6f13-41b2-9297-08205ee1cead | Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill Passes Committee | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. This afternoon, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) applauded the Commerce Committees passage of bipartisan legislation to help ensure the safety of Americas pipeline network. The bill, known as the Securing Americas Future Energy: Protecting Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (SAFE PIPES) Act, would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through fiscal year (FY) 2019. Senator Fischer, chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, released the following statement: Todays passage of the SAFE PIPES Act out of the Commerce committee is a positive step on the way to ensuring the safety of our national pipeline infrastructure network. Americas pipelines transport liquid fuel and gas to homes, communities, critical energy and transportation infrastructure, and our military bases. Congress must provide aggressive oversight of pipeline safety, and I look forward to supporting this bipartisan, pro-safety legislation to reauthorize PHMSA on the Senate floor. Senator Booker, ranking member on the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, released the following statement: Today marks a promising step forward in our efforts to prioritize pipeline safety. Americas existing pipeline infrastructure is an important part of our national energy transportation network. In New Jersey, close to thirty-five thousand miles of gas pipelines connect residents and their energy needs. The SAFE PIPES Act will implement important oversight and accountability measures, encourage the use of new technology, and help ensure safer communities in New Jersey and around the country. Im pleased to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure its passage out of Committee today. Senator Daines released the following statement: The SAFE PIPES Act is an important step forward to improve the protection of pipeline river crossings, fill vacant inspector positions and faci… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=06683457-801C-4970-AAEC-F75A0EB58C8B | Sasse: Washington Ignores 'We Are at War' | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Daniel Halper,The Weekly Standard Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, went to the Senate floor yesterday evening to explain that the U.S. is engaged in a war with radical Islam. "We are at war," Sasse said. "Washington ignores what it cannot escape." The fact that Washington ignores the war means a presidential candidate who focuses on it can do well, Sasse suggested. "[B]efore another person in this body or in the national media stands up to scold the American people about how they could possibly entertain voting for candidate x or y, perhaps we should look in the mirror at why so many of our people are running to demagoguing leaders. Read the full article atThe Weekly Standardhere. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=615D5801-E2DD-422E-A520-A38DD313E914 | 'We are at war with militant Islam!' A rookie senator notes what many fear to say | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Andrew Malcolm, Investors' Business Daily There is hope. There is Ben Sasse. We didn't know much about him either. He's a 43-year-old freshman GOP senator from Nebraska, an historian and father of three home-schooled children. Sasse's full bio is here. But let's get to the scary stuff asap. Have you been feeling the country is adrift right now, under serious threat from many directions at home and abroad, but rudderless? Have you felt frustrated, angered, maybe even frightened for yourself and family by the lack of credible leadership -- real stand-up, follow-me leadership -- from the so-called leaders of both political parties? Has the thought crossed your mind that the two parties' leading candidates for president are not really up to the deadly serious task of commander-in-chief, of keeping our country safe. Watch Ben Sasse in the video below here. He's not running for anything. He voices precisely what so many of us have been thinking and fearing and, occasionally, hoping. Many in Washington will not like what he says. Good! Read the full article at Investors' Business Daily. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5F9354C0-31FD-4087-B1B3-985DB64E9905 | Sasse Statement on CO-OP Announcement | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "If Maine's CO-OP is as good as it gets, things seem pretty bleak." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who has been seeking a full and transparent accounting of the systemic failures of the Affordable Care Acts CO-OPs, issued the following statement after Community Health Options in Maine today announced that it will suspend offering new individual coverage for the 2016 plan year. Community Health Options was loaned $132 million in taxpayer money and, as of the end of 2014, was the only profitable CO-OP, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General published this past summer. CoOportunity, which operated in Nebraska and Iowa, and 11 other CO-OPs have failed entirely. "If Maine's CO-OP is as good as it gets, things seem pretty bleak. The only CO-OP operating in the black after the first year just announced it will stop accepting new exchange customers after Christmas. It certainly seems like there is something seriously wrong with this program. At least half a million Americans have been forced out of their health plans when 12 CO-OPs failed, but were still waiting on HHS to provide a full accounting of what has happened." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-votes-strengthen-national-security-through-visa-waiver-program-reform | Smith Votes to Strengthen National Security Through Visa Waiver Program Reform | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | 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. 158, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Improvement Act. Recent terror attacks around the world, including one within our own borders, have demonstrated the need for leadership and new strategies to ensure the safety of Americans, Smith said. Many of the thousands who have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS hold passports from VWP countries, giving them the opportunity to enter the United States under far less rigorous security procedures. We must close this loophole and reform the program so our country can continue welcoming visitors while preventing further threats to our national security. H.R. 158 requires nationals of or recent visitors to Syria, Iraq, and other countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism to obtain a visa to enter the United States. The legislation also enhances screening for all people traveling to the U.S. from VWP countries and puts additional measures in place to ensure the accuracy of travel documents. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=422265c0-7603-4441-9025-5fabec4fd1fa | Fischer and King Introduce Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced this morning they have reintroduced legislation that would offer employers incentives to voluntarily provide paid family or medical leave to their employees. The bill, known as S. 2354 The Strong Families Act, offers new options for working families. Senator Fischer released the following statement: Im proud to join my friend Senator Angus King to reintroduce a bill to provide needed flexibility for working families. Employees face the increasingly complicated demands of caring for aging parents and young children while balancing careers and workplace schedules. Our bipartisan legislation is an important step forward to offer more workers, particularly low-wage, hourly workers, peace of mind and the opportunity to earn pay while meeting needs at home. Senator King released the following statement: Because of our countrys outdated family leave policies, working parents too often have to struggle to balance the needs of their families and the needs of their job. Thats not how it should be in America today and thats why this legislation aims to provide them with the flexibility they need to succeed in both. By bringing family leave policies into the 21st century, we can make it easier for working Americans to make a living and take care of their families at the same time all of which will only help strengthen our workforce and allow us to better compete in todays global economy. Im pleased to join with Senator Deb Fischer to reintroduce this common sense and much-needed bill. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 requires employers of 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. This time can be used for events like the birth or adoption of children, serious medical issues, or providing care to close family members. The challenge for many working families, particularly hourly workers living paycheck-to-paycheck, is that current law does not address paid time off. The Strong Families Act would … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2BE1ECAF-9046-4A0B-A0F5-15CFE6CFFB1E | Sasse: "We Are At War With Militant Islam" | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Tonight, Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) spoke on the Senate floor, criticizing Washington's lack of urgency and seriousness in confronting the growing threat of militant Islam. I rise today to speak about San Bernardino; about the decades-long fight that our free society now faces; and about our dangerous unwillingness to tell the truth about the nature of this battle about who our enemy is. We are at war.The American people already know this. Our enemies obviously know this. It is only this town where our so-called leaders dawdle and bicker, pander and misprioritize it is only this town that seems confused. Washington ignores what it cannot escape. And that is both a tragedy and a crisis. Because no war is winnable when you pretend that you are not even in one. Lets start by admitting that this war is different from most wars of the past. This is not about borders or territory. This is not about gold or other material goods. We typically think about state actors, about traditional governments going to war with traditional governments. In this war, however, the enemy includes many non-state actors many armed groups who are developing global reach in this flatter, technologically-linked modern world. Our enemy is merciless and barbaric. They are willing to kill people who are not on traditional battlefields. They will kill non-combatants. They will kill women and children. They will kill at holiday parties and restaurants, at Jewish delis and at sports stadiums. Just as sadly as the evolution of enemies, though, this war is hard for the American people to get our heads around because right now we have so much confusion so much drift, so much orphanhood in understanding exactly who we are and what precisely we are defending. This body, the Congress, tries to do far too many things, and we do few of them well. But when there are really important things we should be doing, well then folks seem unable to muster the time or energy or will to focus diligently on the big task. Today, we have such a big task sitting ri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-collects-more-13000-holiday-cards-troops | Smith Collects More than 13,000 Holiday Cards for Troops | 2015-12-07 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Nebraskans submitted more than 13,000 cards to Congressman Adrian Smiths (R-NE) offices for the 2015 Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which gives Americans the opportunity to send their gratitude and holiday greetings to service members, veterans, and their families around the world. Smiths offices in Scottsbluff and Grand Island served as collection points for Third District residents to drop off cards. As in years past, Terri Hongsermeier of Grand Island worked tirelessly throughout the year to collect thousands of cards and coordinate their delivery to Smiths office. Kerri Wetovick and Wood River High School, the Bayard VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and Chadron First Baptist Church also each contributed hundreds of cards to this effort. Thank you to everyone in the Third District who joined in this project to show our military men and women how deeply grateful we are for their service, said Congressman Smith. We hope these thousands of cards will bring cheer to those who sacrifice holidays with their families to allow us to enjoy ours in freedom. Last year, Nebraskans submitted more than 12,000 cards to Smiths offices. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-cool-tariff-ruling-wto | Smith Statement on COOL Tariff Ruling by WTO | 2015-12-07 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled Canada and Mexico may impose retaliatory tariffs of up to $1.01 billion on imported U.S. products due to the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law. Stakeholders should continue working together to empower consumers with the information they want about the meat they buy, Smith said. However, continued inaction on COOL will only ensure $1 billion in new annual retaliatory tariffs. These penalties will damage the ability of U.S. producers and manufacturers to sell goods to 157 million of our best customers in Canada and Mexico while increasing costs for U.S. consumers on a variety of products. While some still suggest keeping COOL in its current form while negotiations continue, we must address the urgency of this issue by acting now and then proceeding with talks otherwise, we risk the imposition of retaliatory tariffs and further damage from the possible prolonged loss of market share. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-supports-visa-waiver-program-reform | Fortenberry Supports Visa Waiver Program Reform | 2015-12-07 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Click here to listen to an audio version of this press release. Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today announced his support of reforms to the U.S. visa waiver program, joining a bipartisan group of his colleagues in cosponsoring the Visa Waiver Program Improvement & Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (H.R. 158). The visa waiver program is an important tool to invite visitors from trusted countries to America. However, it also has loopholes that could pose national security threats. The recent Paris attackers had passports that could have allowed them into the United States without the necessary vetting. Congress must determine the extent to which the program makes us vulnerable to terrorist threats and take action to reform it. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement & Terrorist Travel Prevention Act is the first step in the right direction to fix loopholes and strengthen our national security. This legislation is one of a host of immigration reforms that should be undertaken. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement & Terrorist Travel Prevention Act enhances national security by limiting Visa Waiver Program access for travelers who are nationals of or have recently visited countries with significant terrorist activity, including Iraq and Syria. The legislation increases security screening procedures for persons traveling to the U.S. and takes additional steps to ensure provided background information and travel documents are accurate. Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=e507c9a7-3001-4c4a-9b04-da0b6ece1b6b | Fischer Previews President's Address, Touts Highway Bill Passage | 2015-12-06 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | In Case You Missed It Fischer Previews Presidents Address, Touts Highway Bill PassageAmericas News HQ Fox News ChannelSunday, December 6, 2015 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, joined Americas News HQ host Shannon Bream onFox News Channelthis afternoon. She discussed the threat of radical Islamic terrorism and last weeks passage of the long-term highway bill. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/protecting-american-energy-against-president%E2%80%99s-distorted-priorities | Protecting American energy against the Presidents distorted priorities | 2015-12-04 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | While President Obama touted his cap-and-trade policies in Paris this week, the House was working to stop bureaucratic overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Obama administration's costly regulatory agenda is a leading threat to our economy and domestic energy production, but the President continues to prioritize red tape and executive orders. At the COP21 conference on Tuesday, President Obama stated about climate change, "In some ways, it's akin to the problem of terrorism and ISIL." Following the horrific terror attacks which took hundreds of lives in Paris, Beirut, Egypt, and Mali and now an attack within our own borders by a California couple who pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS the President's statement is disturbing at best. Rather than focusing on a plan to destroy ISIS, President Obama continues to make his regulatory agenda the top priority for his administration. In Congress, we remain committed to standing against his executive overreach. This week, the House passed two joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act disapproving of the President's harmful regulations on domestic power. These regulations go above and beyond existing efforts by the power industry, and in many cases set unrealistic goals. As we enter the winter months, the last thing Nebraskans need is more red tape driving up their energy bills. These resolutions of disapproval already passed the Senate and will now go to the President's desk. To meet America's energy needs and protect our economy, we need an all-of-the-above energy policy. The House passed the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act on Thursday to boost domestic energy production. This legislation would reduce regulations currently blocking energy projects and innovation, strengthen the security of our electric grid, and cut down on government waste in existing programs. Renewable fuels play an important role in diversifying our energy supply and giving consumers more choices, but the EPA continues to stand in t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-recovering-america | Fort Report: Recovering America | 2015-12-04 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | As I walked through the airport recently, I saw a young teenager who proudly displayed a button on her clothing. It said: What you do matters. I liked it! Im not sure what motivated her, but she wanted to communicate an important value, to elevate an ideal. I admired her enthusiasm for taking a stand. A recent survey highlights a troubling statistic: a majority of Americans dont identify with what America has become. Many people feel our country is slipping away, but most want to reclaim the promise of our nation. Contrary to the barrage of negativity, most people hope for justifiable goals: to regain power over their lives, their government, and their economic prospects. Ultimately, however, both the government and the market are downstream from cultureand Americas social fabric is fraying. Many people are experiencing deepening anxiety about the direction of our country. The recent attack in the San Bernardino Valley has only intensified the feeling. A crazed couple driven by their twisted religious ideology murdered indiscriminately at a social service center. A horrific tragedy and a grotesque irony. A genuine multiculturalism, long a vibrant hallmark of the American experience, will continue to decay into discord unless two mutually supporting conditions are sustained: a genuine appreciation of organic difference and a binding substructure of universal ideals and shared values. One such value is that we do no harm to others. A religion that teaches killing is no religion at all. Other important values include trustworthiness, thrift, citizenship, courteousness, and so on (a helpful list is found in the Boy Scout Law). The values crisis is compounding a three-part problem: government overreach, economic exclusion, and cultural dislocation. First, a centralizing government seems decreasingly able to understand, much less address, the needs of the citizens it should serve. In the midst of a divisive political season, partisan dysfunction and bureaucratic inertia are hindering proper progress toward addressing … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B3D38DE6-7239-48CA-819E-CC4120778EC0 | Sasse: "The Crowd-Sourcing Of Domestic Terror Is A Reality" | 2015-12-04 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement today on the San Bernardino attack and the evolving nature of the war against militant Islam."Washington must wake up to this fact: the crowd-sourcing of domestic terror is a reality. While slow-moving, federal bureaucracies look for card-carrying terrorists, the Islamic State and al-Qaida are crowd-sourcing their jihad. We must adapt and develop a long-term strategy to name and defeat our enemy. That enemy is not the empty label extremism but the ideology of militant Islam." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-thanks-good-life-showcase-participants | Smith Thanks Good Life Showcase Participants | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today to thank the 18 photographers who submitted their photos of Nebraskas Third District to The Good Life Showcase this year. The photos are on display, each labeled with the photographers name and city, in the main lobby of Smiths Washington, D.C. office. Thank you to everyone who shared their photography talents and highlighted the best of their Third District communities through this Showcase, Smith said. The variety, creativity, and number of photos we received exceeded my expectations. All submissions are proudly displayed in my Washington office so visitors and colleagues can experience The Good Life during their time in the nations capital. Featured photographers include: April Christman, Grand Island Ashley Haack, Scottsbluff Bill Coe, Max Colyn Suda, McCook Grant Lebsack, Kearney Irene Rutten, Cedar Rapids Jason Kepler, Chappell Jayson Alder, Omaha Jerry Ingram, Kearney Jill Weiser, Shelton Kevin McNichols, Atkinson Kyle Mock, Albion Laura Vroman, Valentine Lonnie Burns, Ogallala Peggy Johnston, Kearney Polly Olson, Chappell Sabine Kantenseter, North Platte Tanya Lewis, Sidney Smith will continue accepting submissions for The Good Life Showcase on a rolling basis. Third District photographers are invited to send their photos for consideration to TheGoodLifeShowcase@mail.house.gov. For more information and guidelines, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=030fc664-5fbd-493f-bbfe-58fb8065bd3c | Fischer Votes to Repeal ObamaCare | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON This evening, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) voted to repeal Obamacare. She released the following statement regarding her vote: For many years now, ObamaCare has caused financial hardship and uncertainty for families across Nebraska. Millions of Americans are forced to have plans that are more expensive with higher premiums and ever-increasing deductibles. Today, the Senate took action and I was proud to vote for ObamaCares repeal something I have advocated for since running for this office. I remain committed to promoting policies that will reduce costs and improve care. We must continue to help Nebraska families, and the millions of Americans who are still struggling to find affordable access to quality health care. The ObamaCare repeal bill eliminates more than $1 trillion in tax increases and would save more than $500 billion in federal spending. For years, Nebraskans have witnessed the devastating effects of this unworkable law and nearly 20,000 Nebraskans have contacted Senator Fischers office to express their concerns with higher costs and fewer choices. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), ObamaCare will cost Nebraska taxpayers more than $582 million over the next ten years. This translates to an average increase of $843 per Nebraska household each year. Well before the passage of ObamaCare, Americas health-care system faced serious challenges. Senator Fischer believes solving these problems requires common-sense reforms. Thats why she support policies to strengthen and improve our nations health-care system, including: Repealing the individual and employer mandate Returning the definition of full-time employment to 40 hours Returning regulatory control over health insurance to the states Allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines Enacting medical malpractice reform Maintaining protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions Click here to view Senator Fischers remarks on this bill from Wednesday. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=e57e9ef9-749f-46bd-bd91-e45317bd667f | Fischer Praises Final Passage of Highway Bill | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. This evening, the U.S. Senate passed the final version of a five year highway bill 83-16. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, and an active member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was appointed to the highway bill conference committee. As a member of both committees, Fischer played a key role in drafting the bill and advocating for its passage in the Senate this summer. Fischer released the following statement this evening following final passage: For the first time in over a decade, Congress has come together and provided long-term solutions for Americas transportation challenges. Through bipartisan cooperation, this bill will provide certainty and authorize funding for our nations infrastructure over the next five years. The Senate led the way, and Im proud to have been engaged in this historic bill from the Commerce and EPW committee markups earlier this year to the final passage today. This final agreement includes many victories for Nebraska and will offer new resources for updating and maintaining our roads, highways and bridges for years to come. The bill now heads to the presidents desk to be signed into law. It will authorize surface transportation projects over the next five years. Since her time in the Nebraska Legislature, Senator Fischer has been a strong proponent of long-term transportation solutions. Fischer joined her colleagues to craft the Senate version of the highway bill, which passed in July. Fischer Provisions in Final Highway Agreement Senator Fischer announced the successful adoption of several key provisions she fought to include in the legislation. These provisions, which are listed below, were drafted in consultation with key transportation stakeholders in Nebraska, including officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads, local officials and community leaders, and both the public and private sector. Increased Nebraska Transit Funding (Section 3015 and 3017): Nebraska… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8DA65B0C-4FE9-4D0F-B328-9EC665702C5D | Sasse Statement on ObamaCare Repeal and Pro-Life Legislation | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Sasse presides over Senate as bill passes 52-47 U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement after voting for legislation that repeals the core of ObamaCare and redirects taxpayer dollars from the nations largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, to community healthcare centers. Sasse was presiding over the Senate tonight when the legislation passed 52-47."Congress is finally putting legislation to repeal ObamaCare on the Presidents desk but our work is far from done. Republicans cant beat bad ideas with no ideas its time to put a serious replacement on the table and give the American people a clear choice between ObamaCare and a patient-centered solution. "Im also grateful that my colleagues have voted to direct taxpayer funds away from the nations largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and toward community health centers that provide comprehensive care for women and their families. Our pro-life positions are motivated by compassion and respect for the vulnerable that's exactly what this legislation is all about." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smiths-office-hold-mobile-offices-tryon-and-mullen | Rep. Smith's Office to Hold Mobile Offices in Tryon and Mullen | 2015-12-02 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will be able to meet with a representative of Congressman Smiths office for mobile offices on Tuesday, December 8, in Tryon and Mullen. A mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with one of Smiths staff members 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 provide his mobile office and a staff member on Tuesday, December 8, at the following times and locations: McPherson County Courthouse 500 Anderson Street, Tryon, NE 69167 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (CST) Hooker County Library 102 N. Cleveland Avenue, Mullen, NE 69152 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. (MST) For additional information, contact Congressman Smiths Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/public-comment-period-extended-va%E2%80%99s-proposed-reconfiguration-black-hills-health-care | Public Comment Period Extended on VAs Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System | 2015-11-30 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Public Comment Period Extended Until February 5, 2016 Members of the South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska congressional delegations today made the following statement in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision to extend the public comment period on the environmental impact statement regarding proposals for reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) until February 5, 2016. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald earlier this month requesting the extension. We are pleased that Secretary McDonald listened to our concerns and extended the public comment period for the VAs proposed changes to the BHHCS, said the Members. Any reconfiguration will impact veterans in the tri-state area who rely on the system for their health care needs. For this reason, it is critical that area veterans and stakeholders have adequate opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the future of its facilities. On October 28, 2015, the VA released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) with respect to the BHHCS. The delegations letter to Secretary McDonald requesting an extension of the comment period can be found here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-epa%E2%80%99s-final-renewable-fuel-standard-rule | Smith Statement on EPA's Final Renewable Fuel Standard Rule | 2015-11-30 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) numbers for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014, 2015, and 2016. The final RVO numbers released by the EPA are disappointing and do not reflect the standards for biofuels set by Congress, Smith said. Despite record corn harvests showing the supply exists, the EPA continues to undermine consumer choice at the fuel pump through arbitrary regulations. I hope the EPA will reconsider these RVO levels and recognize the necessity of an all-of-the-above approach to meet our countrys energy needs. Smith introduced H.R. 1736 in April to extend to E15 the same waiver from EPA volatility standards already granted to E10, allowing it to be sold year-round. To read more about H.R. 1736, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9BAC9EE9-3832-455D-B72C-DB6D72657D30 | Sasse Hits EPA's Unilateral RFS Rewrite | 2015-11-30 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "Nebraskans cant ignore the law, and neither should Washington." U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) unilateral rewrite of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements. "Nebraskans cant ignore the law, and neither should Washington. Reasonable people can argue about the RFS and the appropriate place to do that is Congress. Our states farmers never had an opportunity to vote for or against any of these bureaucrats but thats not stopping the EPA from acting like a super-legislature. I am incredibly disappointed that, over and against concerns my letter voiced this spring, one of Washingtons most powerful agencies is again unilaterally re-writing the law." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/surrounded-reasons-be-grateful | Surrounded by Reasons to Be Grateful | 2015-11-27 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | The holiday season gives us an opportunity each year to dedicate quality time to our families and friends, reflecting on all we have for which to be grateful. It is understandably more difficult to engage in joyous celebration with the growing turmoil in our world. However, it is important for us to focus on and give thanks for all the goodness in our lives and communities. In his address to the nation on Thanksgiving Day 1985, President Ronald Reagan observed, We are grateful for our abundant harvests and the productivity of our industries; for the discoveries of our laboratories; for the researches of our scientists and scholars; for the achievements of our artists, musicians, writers, clergy, teachers, physicians, businessmen, engineers, public servants, farmers, mechanics, artisans, and workers of every sort whose honest toil of mind and body in a free land rewards them and their families and enriches our entire Nation. President Reagans words help us reflect on the countless blessings to be thankful for in the greatest country on Earth. The American dream still inspires people to achieve, create, and innovate in ways which benefit all of humanity. Our country continues to be one of the most generous in the world, giving and volunteering to serve those in need. Nebraska agriculture produces far more than we consume, providing us the opportunity to help feed the world. Despite the challenges we face, we are surrounded by so many reasons to be grateful. With recent attacks and heightened security worldwide, we owe our deep gratitude to the first responders who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. In the wake of tragedy, police in Paris and around Europe have spent countless hours capturing terrorists and preventing additional attacks. Throughout our country, we have seen increased patrols and more officers devoted to protecting our homeland. Amidst grave challenges, these heroes put others before themselves to ensure our security. We also remember our military men and women around the world who are… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=6b813a89-f2bb-4c17-8521-8502c91e60e3 | Fischer Statement on the Passing of Senator Howard Lamb | 2015-11-27 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 regarding the passing of former Nebraska State Senator Howard Lamb: State Senator Howard Lamb was a tireless advocate for rural Nebraska. Our paths crossed often in Lincoln and across the state and I always looked forward to our thoughtful conversations about the important issues facing Nebraska and our nation. I knew I could always count on him for his honest opinion, and appreciated his support and counsel. Howard was a good man and a good friend. He will long be remembered for his integrity and his dedicated service to his constituents. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-thanksgiving-1 | Fort Report: Thanksgiving | 2015-11-25 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | As you join your family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to wish you a happy and blessed holiday! America remains a country of wonderful opportunitya source of hope constantly renewed and replenished with our great ideals and values. The cynicism of the moment gives way to this special time to pause and reflect on the graces in our lives. Thanksgiving itself a gift. Thanksgiving is a relatively new holiday. While the origins are found in the celebration of the pilgrims, President Abraham Lincoln first proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863. In 1941, Congress established Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. Of course our tradition has evolved and it also brings the chance to watch a little football and begin our preparations for Christmas! As a side note, Small Business Saturday is one way to support our local businesses and by extension our neighborhood economic ecosystem. Small businesses are essential for economic diversity and dynamism as most new jobs are created in the small business sector. One way we can all help our community is to remember the people who make things in America, providing us services and strengthening our country. This year, Small Business Saturday is November 28. I wish you all a Happy ThanksgivingGo Big Red! | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=6AA29B06-8816-4695-9745-42A84CBA25C2 | World-Herald editorial: HHS needs to answer Sasse's questions | 2015-11-24 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse has some questions — but the administration doesn’t seem to want to answer them. Twelve of the 23 nonprofit health insurance co-ops set up under ObamaCare, including CoOportunity that insured thousands of Iowans and Nebraskans, have failed due to financial problems. Sasse since May has been asking questions about exactly when federal officials knew what about CoOportunity’s financial woes, why they made the decisions they did and what will happen to both the taxpayer money involved and to the individuals who lost coverage. Add to those another: Why won’t the Department of Health and Human Services provide the senator with complete answers? Read the full article at the Omaha World-Herald. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=63d550c1-5bdb-4485-b593-519190b3d721 | Fischer Releases Thanksgiving Video Message | 2015-11-23 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following video, wishing all Nebraskans a happy Thanksgiving: Click here or on the image above to view the video. Below is the full transcript of Senator Fischers remarks: Hi, this is Senator Deb Fischer, and this is my Thanksgiving message to you. My husband, Bruce, and I get to be home this Thanksgiving to celebrate this wonderful family holiday with our sons. I hope many of you are able to be with your families this Thanksgiving as well. This is a time for us to be with family, to be with loved ones, to be with our friends, and to really be grateful for all the blessings that we have in life. Id especially like to thank the members of our Armed Services and their families because your loved ones are helping to keep all of us safe. Theyre far from home, and theyre serving this country. So, thank you for the sacrifices that you make and that your loved ones make. So, I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Have some good turkey and pumpkin pie, and lets celebrate. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/protect-americans-stop-underestimating-isis | To Protect Americans, Stop Underestimating ISIS | 2015-11-20 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | A series of terrorist attacks by ISIS militants have taken hundreds of innocent lives in the past few weeks alone. The Nov. 13 attack in Paris, which killed at least 129 people, came one day after more than 40 people were murdered in a double suicide bombing in Beirut. On Oct. 31, a bomb on a Russian jet killed all 224 people on board. As I prepare to send this, a hotel in Mali is under siege by gunmen, though the terrorist group responsible has not yet been confirmed. My prayers and deepest condolences continue to be with the grieving families of the victims in each of these attacks. The callous taking of innocent lives by terrorists is a heartbreaking reality our world must face head-on. Not only has ISIS attacked one of our closest allies in its horrifying assault on Paris, but these terrorists now threaten to attack the United States. The federal government has no greater responsibility than keeping Americans safe. However, President Obama and his administration continue to underestimate ISIS and downplay the threat posed by this brutal terrorist group, even as their attacks increase and become more sophisticated. On the morning of Nov. 13, mere hours before the Paris attack, ABCs Good Morning America aired an interview with President Obama in which he said about ISIS: I dont think theyre gaining strength and we have contained them. Even after the attack, the President referred to the atrocities as a setback. In reality, it was an act of war by radical Islamic terrorists. The attacks in France, Egypt, and Lebanon have brought renewed focus to the reach of ISIS beyond their original areas in Syria and Iraq. As the New York Times reported this week, ISIS is likely responsible for nearly 1,000 civilian deaths outside Iraq and Syria this year. The article also noted, The Islamic State has declared official provinces or wilayat in areas of Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen that had networks loyal to ISIS, many of which have adopted the organizations signature br… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-paris | Fort Report: Paris | 2015-11-20 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | As we think about the history of America, one of our finest hours came on the shores of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. We are familiar with the general details of the battle, the missed zone drops of the paratroopers the night before, the slaughter that met the first assault wave on Omaha Beach, and the heroics of our Rangers on Pointe du Hoc. Among the lesser known facts, the troops that hit Utah Beach under the command of General Theodore Roosevelt landed in the wrong place. Landing with his men in the first wave and realizing the error, General Roosevelt responded: The war starts here. Another lesser known fact is that the French resistance commander General Leclerc also came ashore at Utah Beach. The French people are rightfully proud of their own efforts to defeat the Nazis and have erected markers tracing the advance of Leclerc toward Germany. The first marker sat in the breach where our troops first stormed through. I took it as a sign of ongoing respect for Americas sacrifice when the French moved their first monument to Leclerc to accommodate a new World War II memorial, a replica of a Higgins Boat Troop Carrier that was built by Nebraskans just this year. In the wake of last weeks horrifying attacks in Paris, Americas longstanding ties to France have gained renewed significance. ISIS targeted a stadium, cafes, and a theatrean act of nihilistic destruction against innocent civilians who were just beginning to enjoy their weekend. Beyond destroying large swaths of the Middle East and many of its inhabitants, precipitating the greatest refugee crisis since World War II, the so-called Islamic State has now killed French secularists and Catholics on their streets, Russian Orthodox civilians on an airliner, and Shiite Muslims in Beirut. Foreign policy is complicated, especially in the Middle East, but this new level of terrorism has brought three critical issues into focus. First, the international community has a responsibility to fight ISIL. The world constantly pushes America to the forefront of needed … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-eshoo-urge-state-department-consider-all-ethno-religious | Fortenberry, Eshoo Urge State Department to Consider All Ethno-Religious Minorities in Genocide Designation | 2015-11-20 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. The bipartisan Co-Chairs of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East CaucusReps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)are strongly urging the State Department to include all ethno-religious minority populations as it considers designating ISIS attacks on minority populations in Iraq and Syria as genocide. In a letter dated November 19th to Secretary of State John Kerry, Fortenberry and Eshoo wrote: We're witnessing the systematic extermination of Iraq and Syrias entire ethno-religious minority populations and the atrocities perpetrated against each of these vulnerable groups shock the conscience of civilized humanity. Press reports have indicated, however, that the State Department is considering a less-inclusive designation of the genocide taking place. As Co-Chairs of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, we request that as you consider the designation of genocide, you include in your designation every ethno-religious minority group being systematically targeted by ISIS. The United States must condemn the act of genocide as the most barbaric and criminal act of humankind and must do so for all those who are suffering. Fortenberry and Eshoo are authors of H. Con. Res. 75, a resolution declaring the atrocities being committed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities including Yezidis, Turkmen, Sabea-Mandeans, Kaka'e, and Kurds as genocide and crimes against humanity. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/congressional-caseworker-visit-burwell-and-loup-city | Congressional Caseworker to Visit Burwell and Loup City | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 Tuesday, November 24, in Burwell and Loup City. Caseworker in Your Community is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smiths 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 24, at the following times and locations: Garfield County Courthouse Commissioners Room 250 S. 8th Avenue, Burwell, NE 68823 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST) Sherman County Courthouse 2nd Floor Commissioners Board Room 630 O Street, Loup City, NE 68853 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (CST) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smiths Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/video-smith-recognizes-national-rural-health-day | VIDEO: Smith Recognizes National Rural Health Day | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | In recognition of National Rural Health Day, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives this afternoon to bring attention to the challenges rural Americans face in maintaining access to quality health care. Remarks: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the fifth annual National Rural Health Day. The third Thursday in November is set aside each year by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health to recognize the unique health care needs of and challenges facing rural Americans and their communities. These challenges include fewer health care providers and longer travel distances. The hospitals serving rural communities continue to be burdened by arbitrary regulations such as physician supervision and 96-hour certification rules which we need to address. This year, rural consumers in twelve states also face the challenge of finding a new insurance plan because the Consumer Oriented and Operated Plan, or co-op, created by Obamacare from which they purchased coverage has failed. This includes 120,000 Nebraskans and Iowans who bought coverage through CoOportunity Health. Consumers and taxpayers deserve to know what went wrong with the co-ops and whether the $2.4 billion in federal loans to this failing program will be repaid. I will continue to fight for these answers, and I yield back. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=501d4291-1361-4f12-a63e-eaf397b59c09 | Fischer Applauds Committee Approval of Sportsmens Act | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) hailed todays passage of the Bipartisan Sportsmens Act of 2015 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This is an important step toward reaching a final vote in the Senate. Senator Fischer released the following statement: Outdoor recreation is part of the Nebraska way of life. Today was an important step forward for bipartisan legislation that will promote our country's hunting, fishing, and conservation heritage. I hope the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will swiftly consider this bill so that a final proposal can advance to the Senate floor. Access to public lands is the number one issue for America's sportsmen and sportswomen. The Sportsmen's Act includes a broad array of bipartisan measures to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The bill would also reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access to public lands, and help boost the outdoor recreation economy. In February, Senator Fischer joined Congressional Sportsmens Caucus (CSC) leadership in introducing the legislation. Fischer has been a member of the CSC since 2013, and she currently serves as the caucus vice-chair. This is the first of three committees of jurisdiction that must approve the bill before it can receive a final vote on the Senate floor. Click here to view the text of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=e6d89d7e-7534-4964-85c3-559f8de4f660 | Fischer Joins Bill to Support Apprentice Programs | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to cosponsor their bill, which encourages apprenticeships and the training of workers with relevant skills. S. 574 the Leveraging and Energizing Americas Apprenticeship Programs (LEAP) Act would offer businesses a tax credit for each new apprentice they hire. Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding the bill this afternoon: The American labor force has a skills gap problem: nearly eight million workers are unemployed while more than five million jobs are waiting for workers with relevant skills. This bill would help match individuals with job opportunities by offering tax credits to businesses who hire and train apprentices. With this common-sense proposal, we can strengthen our workforce and provide businesses with more incentives to succeed and grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately eight million Americans are unemployed, and 5.5 million positions remain unfilled. Many employers have indicated the number one reason they cannot fill open positions is a lack of candidates with relevant skills. Meanwhile, apprenticeships are a proven way to help people develop in-demand skills in a cost-effective manner. The LEAP Act would offer businesses a tax credit of $1,000 in wages per taxable year for each new apprentice hired. It would also offer a $1,500 tax credit for apprentices under the age of 25. In either case, the credit can be claimed for a maximum of two years. A study by Mathematica Policy Research estimated that individuals who have completed a registered apprenticeship program earn, on average, an additional $240,000 more over their careers. That comes to a taxable return of $27 on every federal dollar invested in registered apprentice programs. The Nebraska Department of Labor reports that there are currently 364 registered occupation sponsors in the state, with new apprenticeship opportunities added regularly. At a time when student loan debt is at… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AD1702A5-87F1-47DD-B3A2-C9849495E20A | Sasse Continues to Press HHS for CO-OP Answers | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "These questions are not going away and we will ask them for another six months if that is what it takes." Tonight, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) announced his intent to continue blocking fast-tracked consideration and confirmation of HHS nominees until the Administration gives a complete and transparent accounting of the systemic failures of the Affordable Care Acts CO-OP program. Last night, after months of silence, HHS sent a letter which was non-responsive to the Senator's request. Sasse issued the following statement: "HHS sending a letter is not the same as providing real answers. These questions are not going away and we will ask them for another six months if that is what it takes. After 12 failed CO-OPs, six months, and numerous letters and press inquiries to HHS, families who lost their insurance plans still do not know what went wrong. HHS has not yet answered the most important question: why did it give $1.2 billion to 12 failed CO-OPs? We know that HHS relied upon so-called milestone or performance reviews to give out loans, but that information has not seen the light of day. Until HHS produces a full accounting, which must include these milestone reviews, they remain non-responsive to the core of our request. Families who lost their plans and taxpayers who paid the bill still deserve answers." Sasse's response to HHS tonight is available here. HHS November 18 letter to Senator Sasse is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=3d301b93-a65b-40b6-a4b5-f41c74e6151c | Fischers Office Teams-Up with American Red Cross for 2015 Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign | 2015-11-18 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischers office is teaming up with the American Red Cross to help Nebraskans send holiday wishes and appreciation to members of the military, their families, and our veterans. This is the third year Senator Fischers office has coordinated the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign with the Red Cross. Senator Fischer released the following statement encouraging Nebraskans to participate: The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a simple way for Nebraskans to share their holiday cheer, along with their gratitude, to the men and women of our military. I hope the people of Nebraska will join me in sending greetings to the dedicated members of our armed services around the world, their families, and our veterans. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program collects cards and messages to send to our military men and women serving both abroad and in our local communities. Nebraskans who wish to participate can make or purchase a card to sign, and mail them to Senator Fischers Omaha office. In order to guarantee delivery, cards must be received by December 6, 2015. They can be dropped off at, or mailed to, the following address: Office of Senator Deb Fischer 11819 Miracle Hills Drive Suite 205 Omaha, NE 68145 In addition to your homemade cards, Senator Fischer and the Red Cross have created a card specifically for Nebraskans that can be printed and signed at home. You can download cards through Senator Fischers website by clicking here. To ensure holiday cards can be quickly screened and mailed, the Red Cross asks participants to follow the guidelines listed below: Ensure that all cards are signed. Use generic salutations, such as Dear Service Member. Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program. Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters. Do not include email or home addresses on the cards. The program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships. Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos. These … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-comments-resettlement-syrian-refugees | Fortenberry Comments on Resettlement of Syrian Refugees | 2015-11-17 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today made the following statement regarding resettling Syrian refugees in the United States: My first responsibility is to keep America safe. A rapidly expanding Syrian refugee policy could create conditions for domestic tragedy. In the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris, America needs a well ordered asylum process, not one that is rushed and could compromise our nation's safety. ISIL has now put Washington in its crosshairs. We must not allow Paris to be repeated on our shores. Syrian refugees are fleeing a maelstrom of violence, much of it perpetrated by ISIL. Humanitarian concerns can be met without jeopardizing our security. Any proper asylum process must strengthen robust security screening measures. To this end, I have cosponsored the Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act. This legislation halts the administration's Syrian refugee policy to ensure the rigorous implementation and proper prioritization of immigration oversight measures. The Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act (H.R. 3573) gives Congress necessary oversight for the U.S. refugee program. It would codify vigorous additional security measures for refugees, and require approval by both the House and Senate of any refugee resettlement program. The measure would give Congress the authority to block any insufficient proposals put forward by the Administration, and seeks to prioritize the resettlement of persecuted religious minorities. Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-announces-congressional-app-challenge-high-school-students | Smith Announces Congressional App Challenge for High School Students | 2015-11-16 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has announced the second annual Congressional App Challenge for Nebraskas Third District. This nationwide competition is designed to promote innovation and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among high school students who will compete by creating and exhibiting a software application, or app, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. The Congressional App Challenge celebrates innovation and encourages our students to pursue the boundless opportunities in STEM fields, Smith said. I look forward to seeing the apps Third District students create for this years competition. The Congressional App Challenge is open to all high school students who live in or are eligible to attend public schools located in Nebraskas Third Congressional District. Students may participate individually or in teams of up to four. Students entering the competition must provide a YouTube or Vimeo video explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process. The winning app in each participating congressional district will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit. More details on submitting a contest entry, the rules of the competition, and helpful programming resources can be found at https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/congressional-app-challenge-ne-03-rep-smith or by contacting Congressman Smiths Washington, D.C. office. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2016. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=f39c7af3-8e3d-4b01-b5b2-9c6c432c9e2a | Fischer Statement on Paris Attacks | 2015-11-14 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 and chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, released the following statement regarding last nights terrorist attacks in Paris, France: Last night, the world witnessed unimaginable terror and the very real threat Islamic terrorism poses to free and open societies. I join all Nebraskans in our deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of France as they grieve and persevere through this tragedy. As these events in Paris have united the world in grief, so too must the world unite with resolve. Those responsible for planning and coordinating this horrific assault on innocent civilians must be held to account. The messages of hate and radicalism that underpin these attacks demands a global response. In the days and weeks ahead, I hope the people of France will take comfort in the prayers and aid of the American people. We are in this together. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/new-chapter-us-house | A New Chapter for the U.S. House | 2015-11-13 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | It has been a historic season in the U.S. House of Representatives. Last month, we elected a new Speaker of the House. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin had the role thrust upon him when Speaker John Boehner unexpectedly retired from his post mid-term. To answer the call, our new Speaker chose to give up what he has often referred to as his dream job as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. While serving with him on the Committee, I saw firsthand Mr. Ryans ability to lead, listen, and thoughtfully craft solutions on pressing issues such as trade, tax reform, and entitlement reform. As Speaker, he is already demonstrating his commitment to creating a more open process in the House to ensure everyone participates and works together. He correctly recognizes we are in a generational defining moment, as he says, to get our country moving in the right direction. Republicans in Congress have lacked unity. Independent thinking is a hallmark of conservatism, but it can be difficult to corral. Speaker Ryan is the right conservative leader to move the House forward and help us start thinking bigger as we tackle the issues facing our country. I am encouraged by the potential for substantial reforms under his leadership. With Speaker Ryans departure from the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Kevin Brady of Texas has been selected as the new chairman. I have enjoyed serving with Chairman Brady on the Health Subcommittee, which he most recently chaired, and look forward to working with him in his new capacity. As chairman of the Health Subcommittee, Chairman Brady has partnered with me in seeking answers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Obamacares failed consumer operated and oriented plans, known as co-ops. Since the failure of CoOportunity Health in Nebraska and Iowa nearly one year ago, I have made numerous requests to HHS and CMS for information on why there was not more oversight of these co-ops and what these agen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/congressional-caseworkers-visit-york-clay-center-hebron-and-superior | Congressional Caseworkers to Visit York, Clay Center, Hebron, and Superior | 2015-11-13 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 18, in York and Clay Center, and on Thursday, November 19, in Hebron and Superior. Caseworker in Your Community is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smiths 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. Wednesday, November 18 York County Courthouse Commissioners Room 510 North Lincoln Avenue, York, NE 68467 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST) Clay County Courthouse 1st Floor DMV Office 111 West Fairfield Street, Clay Center, NE 68933 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CST) Thursday, November 19 Hebron Secrest Library Meeting Room 146 N. 4th Street, Hebron, NE 68370 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST) Superior Public Library Meeting Room 449 N. Kansas Street, Superior, NE 68978 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (CST) For additional information, please contact Congressman Smiths Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-medicare-open-enrollment | Fort Report: Medicare Open Enrollment | 2015-11-13 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | America is confronting deep philosophical divides over the proper size and role of government. The vast majority of people agree, however, that government has at least one basic function: the protection of its citizens. Protection can come in the form of supporting a strong military, setting the guardrails for the proper functioning of the free market, or helping those who are in the need of retirement security. As we debate how to best repurpose the functional parts of our government, it is important to continue to take care of the business before us. The Medicare system is one important part of health care retirement security for many Americans. For those who are currently in the Medicare program, it is now Open Enrollment Season. Each year during Open Enrollment (which this year runs until December 7), Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to review and make changes to their prescription drug coverage (Part D) for the upcoming year. There is also the opportunity to enroll or disenroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). If you or a family member participate in a prescription drug plan, its important to take advantage of the market options available to you at this time to save money, or better conform your plan to your individual need. The Medicare prescription drug program (Part D) was founded in 2003. The program was complicated at first, but now the regional cost estimates have fallen dramatically and the satisfaction rate is around 90%. The program empowers seniors to have choices for plans that best meet their needs. It is my hope that this can serve as a model for health care services in the near future. Medicare Part D plan providers are required to notify beneficiaries of any changes made to their plans for the upcoming year. If you received a notice from your Part D drug plan, be sure to review the changes so that you can assess your options for 2016. You can choose from 23 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans offered this year in Nebraska. Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for extra help wi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=491207F0-670E-4398-AEF6-37677F35033D | Sasse Statement on Terror Attacks in Paris | 2015-11-13 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "This is a stark reminder that the United States and free people across the globe must develop a serious strategy to defeat those who turn stadiums and concert halls into killing fields." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the terror attacks in Paris, France. "This is a stark reminder that the United States and free people across the globe must develop a serious strategy to defeat those who turn stadiums and concert halls into killing fields. These murderers must be hunted, killed, and destroyed. Confronting the growing threat of violent jihadism is a defining foreign policy challenge of our time. Americans will mourn and stand alongside our French allies in this long and difficult task." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/tri-state-delegation-requests-extended-public-comment-period-reconfiguration-black | Tri-State Delegation Requests Extended Public Comment Period of Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System | 2015-11-12 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined colleagues from South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to request an extension of the public comment period in the wake of the VAs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS). The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Thune (R-SD), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Smith. The time constraints imposed by the current 60-day comment period may present a significant challenge for veteran stakeholders given that many may be traveling or spending time with family throughout the holiday season, wrote the Members. The VAs public comment meetings also overlap the holiday season, which may further limit stakeholder involvement. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the VA extend the comment period to February 5, 2016. As you know, we continue to have concerns about the impact the VAs proposal to reconfigure the BHHCS will have on access to care for our regions rural veterans, veteran mental health services, the assumptions made about a future partnership with the Fall River Hospital, and data used to support this proposal, wrote the Members. Unfortunately, there also remains an underlying distrust among veterans and Hot Springs stakeholders that the VA has proceeded with a predetermined decision to vacate the Hot Springs VA hospital and domiciliary. Full text of the letter can be found here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=3f11ceb4-5469-48f3-a1cb-3c025ab1a174 | Tri-State Delegation Requests Extended Public Comment Period of Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, led his colleagues from South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska in a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to request an extension of the public comment period in the wake of the VAs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS). The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.). The time constraints imposed by the current 60-day comment period may present a significant challenge for veteran stakeholders given that many may be traveling or spending time with family throughout the holiday season, wrote the Members. The VAs public comment meetings also overlap the holiday season, which may further limit stakeholder involvement. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the VA extend the comment period to February 5, 2016. As you know, we continue to have concerns about the impact the VAs proposal to reconfigure the BHHCS will have on access to care for our regions rural veterans, veteran mental health services, the assumptions made about a future partnership with the Fall River Hospital, and data used to support this proposal, wrote the Members. Unfortunately, there also remains an underlying distrust among veterans and Hot Springs stakeholders that the VA has proceeded with a predetermined decision to vacate the Hot Springs VA hospital and domiciliary. Full text of the letter can be found here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=4c82ff56-18a2-40c5-b270-8090d1e5ab76 | Fischer Statement on Veterans Day | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 in honor of Veterans Day: Our country is safe thanks to the generations of exceptional citizens who have answered the call of duty. Their sacrifices have been borne to ensure our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can grow and thrive in the land of the free. I hope all Nebraskans will continue our states proud commitment of honoring our veterans on Veterans Day, and every day. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=70a49f6b-d63f-4744-8e4d-eb3349674434 | Fischer Named to Conference Committee for Highway Bill | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. This afternoon, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, was appointed to the highway bill conference committee. The committee will focus on rectifying the differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation. Fischer released the following statement this afternoon: Im honored to join my colleagues on the highway bills conference committee. Nebraskans and all Americans want a long-term transportation bill that provides certainty, advances highway project construction, and enhances road safety. After years of delay, we are now very close to a solution that would update and maintain Americas infrastructure for years to come. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a long-term highway funding bill, which set the stage for a conference committee to work out the differences between the Senate and House versions. Since her time in the Nebraska Legislature, Senator Fischer has been a strong proponent for long-term transportation solutions. Fischer joined her colleagues to craft the Senate version that passed in July. A long-term highway bill has broad support from across Nebraska. The following Nebraska stakeholders released statements praising Senator Fischers work on the transportation bill this afternoon: Barry Kennedy, President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement: No one knows Nebraskas infrastructure and roads funding needs better than Senator Fischer, who led the fight to pass LB84 in the Legislature. It is indeed good news for Nebraska to learn that Senator Fischer will be a member of the Senate-House conference talks to ensure that a highway funding measure gets to the presidents desk soon. Kyle Schneweis, Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads, released the following statement: The momentum is there for Congress to soon complete the first long-term authorization in a decade. Long-term stability of federal program funding is crucial to Nebraska and all State DOTs to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=9e4c38e5-f90c-4d2b-877a-ef51751981c7 | Senators Introduce Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. This afternoon, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure the safety of Americas pipeline network. The legislation, known as the Securing Americas Future Energy: Protecting Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (SAFE PIPES) Act, would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through 2019. Senator Fischer, chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, released the following statement: Americas pipelines move critical energy resources to our homes and businesses. Congress must conduct robust oversight to ensure the safety of this important network. That is why Im proud to join my colleagues today to introduce bipartisan pro-safety legislation to reauthorize PHMSA.Our bill would require the agency to prioritize significant safety objectives, facilitate the hiring of new pipeline inspectors, and bolster communication between PHMSA and the states, industry, and safety stakeholders. Senator Booker, ranking member on the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, released the following statement: Americas existing pipeline infrastructure serves an important role as a part of our national energy transportation network. In New Jersey, close to thirty-five thousand miles of gas pipelines connect residents and their energy needs.With new technologies at our fingertips, we should be pursuing more effective and efficient ways to safeguard against potential pipeline accidents that threaten public safety and our environment. By implementing important oversight and accountability measures, providing more flexibility to PHMSA, and deploying innovative technology, the SAFE PIPES Act will help ensure safer communities in New Jersey and around the country. Im pleased to have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve these ends and look forward to working to pass this bill. Senator Daines released the following statemen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-agoa-status-south-africa | Smith Statement on AGOA Status of South Africa | 2015-11-09 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement on the potential revocation of duty-free status of South African agriculture exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). On November 5, President Obama notified Congress South Africa had not made sufficient progress in lifting unscientific sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions on U.S. beef, pork, and chicken, leading the administration to end duty-free treatment of AGOA-eligible agriculture goods in 60 days. While trade agreements provide important tariff and non-tariff trade benefits for producers and consumers, they also prove their importance by ensuring we have a codified means to address concerns when our trade partners dont follow the rules, Smith said. I appreciate the ongoing work of the U.S. Trade Representative to address these issues and support the decision to pursue this remedy permitted under AGOA. Smith is a member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. In September he joined with colleagues from the Ways and Means Committee writing to Ambassador Michael Froman in support of reviewing AGOA eligibility. To view the full letter, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FA086132-887D-4198-9ED9-A47F66CD4C97 | LJS Editorial: Sasse breaks new ground | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Nebraskans should take the time to read or listen to Sen. Ben Sasses first speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. It can be found on his website (www.sasse.senate.gov) and in other places on the Internet. Wed be flabbergasted if almost everyone -- even those who did not vote for him and could never imagine themselves voting for him -- did not find themselves nodding in agreement at some point. Heres the money graph, as old editors would say, in a mother lode of contenders for the label. And if I can be brutally honest for a moment: Im home basically every weekend, and what I hear -- and what Im sure most of you hear -- is some version of this: A pox on both parties and all your houses. We dont believe politicians are even trying to fix this mess. To the Republicans, to those who claim this new majority is leading the way: Few believe that. To the grandstanders who use this institution as a platform for outside pursuits: Few believe the countrys needs are as important to you as your ambitions. To the Democrats, who did this body harm through nuclear tactics: Few believe bare-knuckled politics are a substitute for principled governing. And does anyone doubt that many on both the right and the left now salivate for more of these radical tactics? The people despise us all. If Sasses speech can be faulted, it would be that its better at defining the problem than in prescribing solutions. But as the 12-step programs say, the first step is admitting you have a problem. And it seems safe to say, the better the analysis of the problem, the closer one is to fixing it. Read the full editorial online at theLincoln Journal Star. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D308E6B4-F9B4-4F8E-8043-231E11D3171B | World-Herald editorial: For Sasse, now the hard part | 2015-11-07 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | It was quite the anniversary present. Marking one year since his election to the U.S. Senate, Ben Sasse delivered his maiden floor speech this week. It got more attention than most. The people despise us all, the Nebraskan told fellow lawmakers. And why is this? Because were not doing our job. Were not doing the primary things that the people sent us here to do. Noting his past experience as a crisis turnaround specialist, the Republican did a thorough job spelling out problems that beleaguer the upper chamber of our governments legislative branch. As The World-Heralds Washington correspondent, Joseph Morton, reported, Sasse pointed to a Capitol dominated by sound bites, partisan talking points, pandering to the political bases and myopic fights over small-bore policy questions. I ran because I think the public is right that we as a people are not tackling the generational crises that we face, Sasse said. Among the critical issues not being addressed in a serious way: A long-term foreign policy in an age of jihad and cyberwarfare. Budgets for entitlement programs that are completely fake. No serious plan for an economic future in which work and jobs will be more fundamentally disrupted than at any point since hunter-gatherers first settled in agrarian villages. No one in this body thinks the Senate is laser-focused on the most pressing issues facing the nation. No one, Sasse said. Neither party escapes blame, Sasse contended, adding that on his trips back to Nebraska he hears a pox on both parties and all your houses. Sasse talked about some baby steps that could be taken and pointed to three former senators whose careers could offer guideposts: Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and the need for debates to be based on sound data; Margaret Chase Smith, R-Maine, and a willingness to challenge ones own party; and the Senates unique role as reflected by West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrds devotion to the chamber, its history and powers. The Nebraskans speech got several … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/keeping-our-commitment-nebraska-veterans | Keeping Our Commitment to Nebraska Veterans | 2015-11-06 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Nebraska is home to more than 140,000 veterans who have demonstrated their selfless commitment to the cause of freedom. As we honor their service on Veterans Day, we must also recognize the challenges they face and renew our own commitment to caring for these heroes. The Veterans Administration (VA) recently released a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System. Since the VA first proposed closing its Hot Springs facility years ago, I have been working to ensure Nebraska veterans maintain access to the care they need. I am troubled by the VAs insistence on pressing forward with a plan veterans have clearly shown they do not want. Travel time and access to care continue to be foremost concerns for veterans in rural areas. Reducing services at Hot Springs would require many Nebraska veterans to drive upwards of six hours roundtrip for care, forcing many to delay seeking services or to not seek care at all. Failing our veterans in this way is unacceptable. Sandra Horsman, director of the VA Black Hills Health Care System, said the Hot Springs decision does not come down to costs but quality of care, adding our number one concern is our veterans. If this is true, I hope the VA will listen to the thousands of Nebraska veterans opposing further restrictions on their already limited access to care. The VA is hosting a series of public meetings on the future of Hot Springs, including three in the Third District: Wednesday, December 2, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Chadron State College (Ballroom in Student Center) in Chadron Thursday, December 3, 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Newberrys in Alliance Thursday, December 3, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Gering Civic Center (Oregon Trail Room) in Gering In addition to attending these meetings, I encourage Nebraska veterans to make their voices heard by submitting comments to the VA before January 5, 2016, online at www.blackhillseis.com, by email at vablackhillsfuture@va.gov, or by mail at the following address: Staff Assistan… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-presidents-keystone-xl-pipeline-disapproval | Smith Statement on President's Keystone XL Pipeline Disapproval | 2015-11-06 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after President Obama announced his decision not to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Extended reviews of the law and the science by the Obama administration have demonstrated Keystone XL would provide needed infrastructure with little or no environmental impact. Plain and simple, the Presidents decision today is a purely political move which will hurt the middle class. Not everyone can afford to buy a hybrid car as a means to deal with an uncertain national energy policy. Unfortunately, the Presidents narrow agenda continues to hurt the very people he says he wants to help. The Keystone XL Pipeline would have run through Nebraskas Third District, which Smith represents. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-veterans-day-0 | Fort Report: Veterans Day | 2015-11-06 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Nothing in Johnny Bravos training had prepared him for what he saw that night. The American fighter pilot was on a mission high above the mountains and the clouds in Afghanistan. The moon was so bright, the blanket of clouds so thick, that he could not see the mountains below. He was struck by the serenity of the moonlight gleaming on the clouds. All of a sudden sounds broke the quiet. His radio crackled, and he heard the word contact. Johnny Bravo knew what that meant. Special operations forces below him were in trouble. Although his aircraft was not equipped to navigate the mountainous terrain below, he decided to act. He pulled out an old Soviet air map to determine his exact location. Using his mathematical training, squaring the variables of speed, distance, and the time available for a strike, he made a decision. He plunged his aircraft straight down through the thick clouds. The aircraft lurched back and forth, shaking violently. Finally, breaking through the clouds, Johnny Bravo found himself in a valley only hundreds of feet from the ground. It was a startling scene. Fire from both sides of steep cliffs poured down on one spot where his fellow troops were trapped. Instantly, Johnny Bravo trained his weapons on the sources of fire, counting out loud, One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, pulling up before slamming into the side of a mountain. He circled upward and then punched down through the clouds into the valley again. With fire still raining down onto his troops, he continued to unload his weapons on the enemy positions. He did it again, counting all the while, One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand. After emptying his ammunition, he said to his wingman, Now you go. His wingman said, I dont think I can do it. Johnny Bravo replied, Then follow me. Their planes, literally feet apart, both dove through the clouds. His wingman began firing as Johnny Bravo once more counted out, repeating the maneuver time and again until his wingman ran out of ammunition. That night ever… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1F9811BF-6BD5-4471-97B8-926F00623001 | Senator Sasse Testifies on CO-OP Failures Before House Committee | 2015-11-05 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "Our constituents deserve nothing less than a full accounting." Today, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), who last month announced his intent to block consideration and confirmation of every HHS nominee and oppose the fast-tracking of those nominees until the Administration provides a complete and transparent accounting of the systemic failures of the Affordable Care Act's CO-OP program, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.The Senator's statement, as prepared for delivery is found below. Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, "Examining the Costly Failures of Obamacares CO-OP Insurance Loans" November 5, 2015 Statement from Senator Ben Sasse As prepared for delivery:Chairman Murphy, Ranking Member DeGette, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to speak today. I appreciate the opportunity to think along with you about how we respond to the failure of CO-OPs in 13 states. It is an urgent problem that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans scrambling to find new health plans this fall. Before we dive into the details about CO-OPs, I want to take a moment to suggest we take off our partisan hats. Yes, I fiercely oppose the Affordable Care Act. And yes, there are members of this committee who might love it. Thats not what this is about. Its about getting to the bottom of whats going on and why so many of our neighbors are losing their health coverage. The tumultuous failure of the Affordable Care Acts Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program began in my own backyard with the collapse of CoOportunity Health in Nebraska and Iowa. The goal of todays hearing will be to get to the bottom of what is happening with CO-OPs. I plan to make two points today. First, while there is much more that we must understand, what we know so far suggests that the CO-OP program may be systemically flawed and serves as an example of greater bureaucratic incompetence generally. Second, that t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-applauds-senate-passage-resolution-disapproval-block-wotus | Smith Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution of Disapproval to Block WOTUS | 2015-11-04 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Resolution mirrors House legislation introduced by Smith in July Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate passed S.J. Res. 22 to block implementation of the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS) by congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act. This legislation, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), is a companion bill to Smiths H.J. Res. 59 introduced in the U.S. House in July. WOTUS is one of the largest abuses of executive power in modern history, posing a significant threat to Nebraskas agriculture economy, Smith said. While the Obama administration defiantly pushed forward with this damaging rule, I introduced the resolution of disapproval in the House to ensure Congress did not miss an opportunity to block this regulatory overreach. With todays passage of the resolution in the Senate, I am optimistic the House will soon consider this legislation and send it to President Obamas desk. I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for standing up for rural Americans and following through on our commitment to using every available tool to prevent this devastating rule from ever being implemented. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=1AACD0CB-6226-4190-B300-13E4F5BC894C | Ben Sasse in Senate floor debut offers stinging criticism of state of debate in Congress | 2015-11-04 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | By Joseph Morton, Omaha World-Herald One year after Nebraskans sent him to Washington, Republican Sen. Ben Sasse on Tuesday delivered a scathing assessment of the Senate as a forum dominated by sound bites, partisan talking points, pandering to the political base and myopic fights over small-bore policy issues. The people despise us all, Sasse told his colleagues. And why is this? Because were not doing our job. Were not doing the primary things that the people sent us here to do. Sasse has generally kept his head down this year. Tuesday was his first address on the Senate floor, and it came many months after all of his fellow freshmen senators had delivered their own maiden speeches. Sasse said he waited so long partly out of deference to past Senate tradition that new senators wait a year before they spoke on the floor, and partly because he wanted to spend time interviewing his new colleagues about what they believe ails the institution. Senators often find themselves addressing a near-empty chamber, but more than one-third of the senators, including ten Democrats, were in their seats to listen to Sasse. That included fellow rookies and longtime veterans. Sasse criticized Republicans who would use the floor as a platform to grandstand for outside pursuits a line that was widely interpreted as a shot against senators running for president. He hit Democrats for harming the institution in the past with bare-knuckled tactics. In theory, Sasse said, the Senates unique characteristics such as six-year terms and individual senators rights should insulate it from the bickering of 24-hour news cycles. But he said that has broken down over time in the face of incessant fundraising demands, the increasing ubiquity of cameras and constant travel requirements. We in recent decades have allowed short-termism and the sound-bite culture to invade this chamber, and to reduce so many of our debates to fact-free zones, he said. He paused at one point to note that he was nervous his speech would make him sound like a naive … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3AC89607-878D-43D7-A42D-AB7E224DE66F | Nebraska's rookie senator: 'A six-year term is a terrible thing to waste' | 2015-11-04 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Francine Kiefer, Christian Science Monitor Like the historian and turnaround specialist that he is, rookie Sen. Ben Sasse (R) Nebraska spent his first year in the US Senate privately interviewing his colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, trying to find out why the Senate is broken and how to fix it. On Tuesday, in an unusual maiden speech, the newbie shared his findings, basically holding up the mirror to his colleagues. Even more unusual, a good number of them stayed to listen, from the Senate majority leader, to GOP presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, to a dozen-or-so Democrats. The freshman from Nebraska a former college president, not a politician, he emphasized spoke with a winsome earnestness, revealing what so many in this body already know: In private, hardly any of them considers members of the other party to be evil or stupid or bribed. And that, shamefully, they have allowed short-termism and the sound-bite culture to invade the chamber. What the Senate should be doing is debating the big issues of the day that need solving from the challenges of violent jihad to the need for entitlement reform. He rejected the view that the Senate simply reflects the polarization of the country, calling polarization beyond Washington overstated. The hundred of us should mitigating, not exacerbating, the polarization, he said. In a good-natured, yet serious way, he admonished senators for not doing the job that the chamber was designed to do essentially throwing away the opportunity and breathing room that a six-year term provides for fulldebate and resolution of major issues. Bluntly talking about the Senate's brokenness is not "naive idealism," said the boyish-looking senator, who is occasionally mistaken for a page. It's a necessary discussion, he said, because "a cultural recovery" in the Senate is needed for "a national recovery." Senator Sasse expressed particular concern with executive overreach but said part of the reason for this was because of legislative und… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3B916528-DF0C-4E70-AE18-42071CEFAB8E | Sasse challenges Senate to do its job | 2015-11-04 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Don Walton,Lincoln Journal Star Sen. Ben Sasse challenged the Senate on Tuesday to heal itself, stepping back from partisan wrangling and reluctance to tackle the nation's deepest problems because of fear of losing re-election. "The people despise us all," Sasse said in his first Senate floor speech, delivered one year after he was elected as Nebraska's freshman senator. "And why is this? Because we're not doing the job we were sent here to do. "I'm home basically every weekend," Sasse said, "and what I hear, and what I'm sure most of you hear, is some version of this: A pox on both parties and all your houses. We don't believe politicians are even trying to fix this mess." Sasse said he ran for a Senate seat last year "because I think that the public is right that we as a people are not tackling the generational crises that we face." "We don't have a long-term foreign policy for the age of jihad and cyberwar; our entitlement budgets are completely fake. "We are entering an age where work and jobs will be more fundamentally disrupted than at any point since hunter-gatherers first settled in agrarian villages. "And yet we don't really have any plans," he said. "No one in this body thinks the Senate is laser-focused on the most pressing issues facing the nation. No one." Sasse said meaningful debate on those issues could be a beginning. "The Senate was built to focus on the big stuff," he said. "The Senate is to be the antidote to sound-bites." But the sound-bite culture has invaded the Senate chamber, Sasse said, and "radically reduce(d) so many debates to fact-free zones." "We don't have many actual debates," he said. "We regularly devolve into bizarre partisan-politician speech. We hear robotic recitations of talking points." Sasse said he recognizes that a call for more honest Socratic debate "runs the risk (of) being written off as overly romantic, as nave idealism," especially when you rank 99th in Senate seniority. But, he said, "I believe that a cultural recovery inside the Senate is a partial prerequis… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=6c070cfb-90bf-424a-906e-a7edd5dbaf70 | Fischer Votes for Bill to Stop WOTUS | 2015-11-03 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement this afternoon after voting for S. 1140 The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which she cosponsored: Today, I voted to stop the federal governments attack on Nebraska families, taxpayers, job creators, ag producers, and communities. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act would require the government to do its homework and work with states and local stakeholders before imposing such a rule something that should have happened in the first place. I will continue to hold the administration accountable and ensure the citizens of Nebraska, not bureaucrats in Washington, remain in control of our water resources. This afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted on The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would direct the administration to withdraw the rule and issue a revised proposal. The bill would set clear limits on federal regulation of water, require consultation with states and impacted stakeholders, and ensure that a thorough economic analysis is conducted. It failed to pass the necessary 60-vote threshold to advance by a margin of 57-41. Fischer is also an original cosponsor of S. 1178 The Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies Act. This bill targets the flawed science used by the EPA to expand the definition of water. The WOTUS rule has been marked with strong, bipartisan opposition since it was first announced last year. On August 27, 2015, hours before the rule went live, a temporary injunction was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson of North Dakota. Nebraska was one of 13 states exempted from the rule. Last month, on October 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled against WOTUS. This ruling immediately blocked the implementation of WOTUS nationwide. Since the proposed rule was announced in 2014, Senator Fischer has been a vocal opponent. In March, she chaired a field hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Wo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=0D8215B9-C55B-46EA-9B08-1F1C6B20627F | The Weekly Standard: Ben Sasse Is Now Ready to Shake Up Washington | 2015-11-03 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Fred Barnes A tradition in the Senate required a newly elected member to wait a year or more before addressing his colleagues on the Senate floor. But that practice has been absent from the Senate for decadesuntil today. Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb), elected a year ago today, decided he would first consult his colleagues and former senators extensively about the way the Senate works. Today, having talked at length to more than half of them, including the leaders of both parties, he is set to deliver his initial speech. Sasses theme is that the Senate has strayed from concentrating on big issues. Its been distracted by the sound-bite culture of todays news cycle. Before todays speech, Sasse told me he had been thinking about this topic since last spring. He characterized his speech as a plea for substance, not a plea for civility. He said senators might think the speech is too idealistic or too scolding. No one in this body thinks that the Senate is laser-focused on the most pressing issues facing the nation, he says in his prepared remarks today. No oneNo one disputes it. No one is on the verge of coming to the floor to announcethat the Senate is diligently working last year, or this year, or next year, on detailed plans for confronting the greatest challenges facing the nation. The Senate, Sasse says, is built to insulate us from opinion fads and the short-term bickering of the 24-hour-news-cycles. Stated differently: the Senate was built to focus on the big stuff, the really hard, long-term problems. The Senate was built to be the antidote to sound bites. What major problems are insufficiently addressed? Id put national security at the top of the list, he said in the interview. Three others: the rising cost of entitlements, the jobs market in the fast-churning economy, and the crisis in civil engagement. Civic disengagement, he says in his speech, is arguably a larger problem today than is polarization. It isnt so much that regular folks are locked into predictably Republican or Democratic positions on e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=98E5B4F4-0BFB-4FA0-81B4-1182B637ED33 | The Atlantic: Can Washington's Most Interesting Egghead Save the Senate? | 2015-11-03 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Almost exactly a year ago, just after the 2014 elections,TheWashington Postsized upthe motley crew of newly elected senators10 Republicans and one Democratand tried to figure out what roles they would play once they arrived in the Capitol. Ben Sasse, a 43-year-old conservative from Nebraska with no prior political experience, was voted most likely to give the first speech and most likely to make trouble for the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. D.C. seemed to have Sasse (pronounced sass) pegged as a rabble-rousing smarty-pants eager to turn the place upside down. But Sasse proceeded to defy expectations: He decided to spend the first 10 months of his term listeningwithout giving any speeches at all on the floor of the Senate. (This approach did not please everyone: Aletterpublished in theLincoln Journal Starlast month accused him of simply collecting his paycheck and having an occasional meeting with other senators.) On Tuesday, a year after he was elected, Sasse will speak on the Senate floor for the first time. Instead of being the first freshman to speak, he will be the last. Im a historian by training, Sasse explained, perched on a chair in his Senate office, which is nearly bare save for a few generic pictures of Nebraska. Until a few decades ago, he said, it was traditional for new senators to wait a year to speak. That thats no longer the case, he suspects, speaks to the pathology of the modern Senate, where lawmakers deliver stale talking points for the benefit of the C-SPAN2 cameras, often with nobody else in attendance. Sasse says he has approached the Senate like a company in need of a culture change. Ive done 26 crisis and turnaround projects in the last 21 years, so Im used to going into places that are really broken, he says. You always have to walk this fine line between learning a placeby being humble and asking questions and having empathy for real humans laboring in broken institutionsand resolve, that youre going to still steel yourself to not let human empathy cloud the fact that a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=AFB1072B-9C49-4EEB-B49D-A379B670BB7F | OWH: Ben Sasse making debut on Senate floor today offers stinging criticism of state of debate in Congress | 2015-11-03 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | by Joseph Morton, Omaha World-Herald Sen. Ben Sasse has a stinging critique of the state of debate in the U.S. Senate and plenty of suggestions for how to do it better. The Nebraska Republican makes his debut on the Senate floor this afternoon, a year after Nebraskans elected him and many months after all of his fellow freshmen senators delivered their maiden speeches. Sasse waited this long for his first speech partly out of deference to Senate tradition and partly because he wanted to spend time interviewing his new colleagues about what they believe ails the institution. The Senate floor, he said, has become a sound bite hunting ground, where members trot out dueling sets of partisan talking points for short-term policy advocacy. In private, he said, senators concede that no one ever persuades anyone in floor debate, and that the Senate isnt dealing with the nations long-term problems. "And yet publicly, people seem really content to just drift along acting like: Well, this will probably work itself out," Sasse told The World-Herald. "Nobody believes that." Sasse says he will push the Senate to take a bigger-picture view and will lean on his own background as a historian and a turnaround expert. His speech will highlight three former senators as guideposts for the future: Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, a Democrat who delivered the oft-cited exhortation that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. Before lawmakers can debate the best solutions to the nations problems, Sasse says, they need to agree on the problem itself and the relevant data surrounding it. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, a Republican who showed her willingness to take on her own party when she called out fellow GOP senator Joe McCarthy for his tactics. Sasse wants less tolerance in Senate debate for straw man arguments, even if that means members calling out others from their party. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a Democrat who was devoted to the Senate, its history and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3DFDEA50-BA5A-48CB-B5DD-67C5C4C33834 | Senator Ben Sasse's Maiden Speech | 2015-11-03 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | Remarks as prepared for delivery. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to speak from the Floor for the first time today. I have never been in politics before, and I intentionally waited a year to speak here. I want to talk today about the purpose of the Senate, about some of the historical uses of the Floor of this special body, and about what baby-steps toward institutional recovery might look like. Before doing so, let me explain briefly why I chose to wait a year since Election Day before beginning to fully engage in Floor debate. Ive done two things in my adult worklife: Im a historian by training and a strategy guy by vocation. Before becoming a college president, I helped over a dozen organizations find strategies to get through some very ugly crises. One important lesson I learned over and over is that, when you walk into any troubled organization, there is a delicate balance between expressing human empathy and yet not passively sweeping hard truths under the rug. On the one hand, it is absolutely essential to listen first, to ask questions first to learn how a broken institution got to where it is because there are reasons. Things drift and fray for reasons; people rarely set out to break special institutions they inherit. Still, empathy cannot change the reality that a bankrupt company is spending more to build its products than customers are willing to pay for them; a college with too few students is not only out of money but out of spirit; a charity that cannot persuade enough donors to invest in its cause might not have the right cause. This is the two-part posture I have adopted in my rookie year. Because of this goal of empathetic listening first, of coming to sit and privately interview many of you and also because of a pledge I made to Nebraskans in deference to an old Senate tradition I have waited. But please do not misunderstand: Do not confuse a deliberate approach with passivity. I ran because I think that the public is right that we as a people are not tackling the generational cri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smiths-office-hold-mobile-offices-oshkosh-and-arthur | Rep. Smith's Office to Hold Mobile Offices in Oshkosh and Arthur | 2015-11-02 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Constituents of Third District Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will be able to meet with a representative of Congressman Smiths office for mobile offices on Thursday, November 5, in Oshkosh and Arthur. A mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with one of Smiths staff members 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 provide his mobile office and a staff member on Thursday, November 5, at the following times and locations: Garden County Courthouse 611 Main Street, Oshkosh, NE 69154 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (MST) Arthur County Courthouse 205 Fir Street, Arthur, NE 69121 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (MST) For additional information, contact Congressman Smiths Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-receives-fueling-growth-award-support-ethanol | Smith Receives Fueling Growth Award for Support of Ethanol | 2015-11-02 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has received the 2015 Fueling Growth Award for his leadership in supporting domestic energy production and the ethanol industry. The award was presented by Growth Energy. Ethanol provides consumers in Nebraska and across America with a competitive alternative, Smith said. In April, I introduced H.R. 1736 to expand consumer choice at the fuel pump by extending to E15 the same waiver from EPA volatility standards already granted to E10, allowing both blends of ethanol to be sold year-round. I am honored to be recognized by Growth Energy as a leading advocate for biofuels and will continue working to advance domestic energy production in Nebraska and nationwide. In presenting the award, Tom Buis, co-chairman of Growth Energy, said, Representative Smith has been a long-time champion for the ethanol industry. He has always worked to ensure sound federal policies are in place to ensure the growth of the industry. He understands the importance renewable fuels add to our energy security. Furthermore, Representative Smith understands the importance of consumer choice and savings at the pump. His tenure in Congress has been one that has helped the industry grow and thrive, and we are grateful for his continued and unwavering support. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=7CE62C70-CD43-49A2-ACFE-F638A82C031B | Lincoln Journal Star: HHS owes Nebraskans simple answers | 2015-10-31 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | When CoOportunity Heath failed, 120,000 individuals the majority of whom are Nebraskans lost their health plans. They deserve to know what went wrong. The several hundred thousand Americans who lost coverage when nine additional CO-OPs failed across the country deserve honesty, and taxpayers deserve transparency regarding the billions of dollars they loaned to these failed projects. Until we get those answers, the Senate should refuse to fast-track nominees to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the agency responsible for overseeing this mess. HHS owes Nebraskans clear answers. Here are the kinds of questions HHS needs to address. Its pretty simple: Did the people who ran these CO-OPs know how to make the numbers work? Why were these 23 CO-OPs given $2.4 billion, and where did the money go? How and when exactly were these decisions made? Was Washington throwing good money after bad by giving CoOportunity an additional $32 million just three months before it was forced to shut down? Can taxpayers expect to see the billions they loaned to these CO-OPs? Does HHS have any plan to make that happen? Did HHS know these failures were coming, and could consumers have been better protected? Was there a way to prevent the suffering that these families endured? Did HHS tell anyone that these problems might be coming? We dont have those answers yet. In fact, some in Washington are claiming that these CO-OPs would have succeeded if only they had received more taxpayer money through a bailout known as the ACAs risk corridor program. If Congress allowed insurer bailout money, they argue, we wouldnt be in this mess. But here are the inescapable facts: First, CoOportunity was in serious financial trouble long before Congress clarified that there would be no bailouts. Second, as the Obama administration has said, this program was never designed to be an unlimited taxpayer-funded bailout. Just how big is this problem? The Affordable Care Acts CO-OP program created 23 nonprofit health insurers across t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/attacks-animal-agriculture | Attacks on Animal Agriculture | 2015-10-30 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | In August, C-SPANs Washington Journal featured Jeff Kerr, general counsel for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation. During the interview, he stated, There are many things human beings used to do for thousands of years that weve evolved beyond, and our interaction with animals is the next version of the civil rights movement in this country. This statement illustrates the political extremism of organizations such as PETA and the Humane Society of the United States which regularly attack animal agriculture. Nebraskas farmers and ranchers provide for the needs and welfare of livestock and poultry every day, as they know producing high quality products depends on raising healthy animals. Because their livelihood depends on cultivating crops and livestock to develop our nation and feed the world, the success of any operation is tied directly to land quality and livestock well-being. Despite statements such as Mr. Kerrs, the true evolution over thousands of years has been the improvements made to animal care and food safety. Unfortunately, many recent developments have shown how these attacks on animal agriculture are pervading scientific and government organizations. This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning linking red meat to increased cancer risk, despite admitting numerous studies showed no correlation between red and processed meats and cancer. The WHOs biased claim comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue their work on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which has elicited its own controversy. The administrations Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released recommendations earlier this year for Americans to decrease red meat consumption based on non-nutritional factors. I joined many of my colleagues in sending letters to USDA and HHS, expressing my concerns about inconsistencies within the report and the DGACs lack of focus on sound science. Federal regulations on sch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/fort-reports/fort-report-federal-budget | Fort Report: The Federal Budget | 2015-10-30 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | If you have ever attended the Nebraska Breakfast in Washington, you might remember the charts. While they are not the most riveting conversation piece, the charts are my attempt to display graphs and statistics that communicate the massive and complex federal budget in a digestible way. As surprising as it seems, a number of people tell me they look forward to the budget presentation. The charts do not paint a pretty picture. Spending has burdened our nation for far too long, resulting in a growing and unsustainable debt. If we had to pay off the national debt today, every man, woman, and child would owe about $57,000. Although the deficit is now falling thanks to improvements in responsible budgeting, some tax reforms, and slight economic improvement, more progress must be made to restore fiscal discipline. Three years ago the deficit was $1.4 trillion. That number is now projected to be $426 billionbelow the 50-year average as a percentage of economic output. Good progress, but still not enough. A properly functioning government is important for the protection of our country, orderly commerce, and maintaining the guardrails of a flourishing civil society. These objectives require a rightly ordered budgetary process. In the early part of each year, the President proposes a budget. Congress can either accept or reject that proposal. Most of the time, the Presidents budget is rejected. The House and the Senate craft their own versions and attempt to harmonize differences. While theres a lot of talk about various policy initiatives, the Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, makes strategic decisions with the budget number to determine which programs are unnecessary and outmoded, and which programs need to be enhanced. Heres the problem: this entire process has been disrupted, with many stops and starts. Regular order has become regular disorder. Budgetary delays and confusion create another problem. Increased volatility translates to higher price tags. People in business know that a cycle of disruption dama… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/klin-radio-fortenberry-speaker-paul-ryan-federal-budget | KLIN Radio: Fortenberry on Speaker Paul Ryan, Federal Budget | 2015-10-30 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Fortenberry discusses newly elected Speaker Paul Ryan and the need to pass a federal budget with Kevin Thomas on DriveTime Lincoln. Click on each part of the interview below to listen. Part One Part Two | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=41e8d302-71a7-465f-8175-290e3d34b12b | Fischer Votes Against Budget Agreement | 2015-10-30 | 2015 | 2015-10 | 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 after voting against the budget proposal this morning: I understand the importance of long-term certainty and appreciate the hard work of our congressional leadership to find a compromise. At the same time, I have strong concerns regarding the substance of this agreement. I am particularly concerned with the potential harm this legislation will inflict on Nebraskas economy and our agriculture community. Under the current terms of the legislation, ag producers would be negatively impacted by changes to the crop insurance program. They should not be targeted to bear the brunt of this agreement its a question of basic fairness. Finally, Nebraskans sent me to Washington to stop wasteful spending. The reforms within this agreement are a good step forward, but much more needs to be done to address our $18 trillion in debt. This morning, Senator Fischer voted against the two-year budget agreement that will suspend the debt ceiling until March 16, 2017 and lift the statutory spending caps by $80 billion over the next two years. The agreement would also amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish an 8.9 percent cap on the overall rate of return for insurance providers. Currently, the overall rate of return is approximately 14.5 percent. Due to this change, producers and crop insurance providers will face a more challenging financial environment which will negatively impact the delivery and coverage of the most important risk management program tool available to farmers. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B560785E-783C-477B-B799-3E32ECB60C60 | Sasse Statement on Budget Deal | 2015-10-30 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | "This backroom deal grows government." U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement after voting against a budget deal negotiated between the White House and GOP Congressional leadership. "This backroom deal grows government. Congress has missed another opportunity for major reforms to our broken entitlement programs. Im disappointed that again and again Washington does nothing to prevent the pain that will come when Nebraskans are forced to pay for this city's debts and phony math." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-hot-springs-va-report | Smith Statement on Hot Springs VA Report | 2015-10-29 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System. Travel time and access to care continue to be foremost concerns for western Nebraska veterans. I am troubled by the VAs insistence on pressing forward with a plan veterans do not want, which would require those who need care most to drive an additional hour each way to receive it. I will be reviewing this study in detail and remain committed to ensuring our heroes have access to the care they deserve. Smith serves as chairman of the Rural Veterans Caucus. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-speaker-ryan%E2%80%99s-election | Smith Statement on Speaker Ryans Election | 2015-10-29 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Adrian Smith | S001172 | adriansmith.house.gov | legacy | Smith Statement on Speaker Ryans Election Oct 29, 2015 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after voting for Congressman Paul D. Ryan for Speaker of the House. Paul is the right conservative leader to move our Republican conference forward and help us start thinking bigger as we tackle the issues facing our country. In his role as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Paul demonstrated his ability to lead, listen, and thoughtfully craft solutions on pressing issues such as trade, tax reform, and entitlement reform. I am grateful to Paul for his willingness to sacrifice what he has often referred to as his dream job at the Ways and Means Committee to take on the challenge of uniting House Republicans and our country as Speaker, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Smith is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-speaker-ryan | Fortenberry Statement on Speaker Ryan | 2015-10-29 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) made the following statement after todays vote to confirm Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House: Paul Ryan did not seek to be Speaker, the office sought him. He is a well-respected and highly capable leader. I think he will run the House with fairness and respect, while seeking a smarter and more effective government. I know Paul Ryan. I think America will find in him an empathetic leader that speaks to the heart of people who experience difficult and broken situations. Our nation doesnt need any more disruption from Washington. Speaker Ryan will govern dynamically. We have begun the process of reversing the concentration of power in the House. I believe Speaker Ryan will bring more unity to Congress as we confront the many problems facing our country. Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=59539d20-5be7-4d12-89aa-cad6254c647b | Rossiter Nomination Approved by Judiciary Committee | 2015-10-29 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after this mornings Senate Judiciary Committee vote in favor of advancing Robert Rossiter Jr.s nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska: Im happy to see Mr. Rossiter advance to the next stage of the confirmation process, and I look forward to voting for him once his nomination reaches the Senate floor. I would also like to thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for making this nomination a priority. Following todays vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Rossiters nomination will head to the Senate floor for a final vote, which is expected by the end of this year. Last month, Senator Fischer delivered testimony in support of Rossiter at his nomination hearing before the Judiciary Committee. During her testimony, Fischer highlighted Rossiters integrity, legal skill, and dedication to the rule of law. Senator Fischer and former Senator Mike Johanns first recommended Mr. Rossiter for this position in August of 2014. After the announcement that Judge Joseph Bataillon planned to retire from regular active service, Fischer and Johanns began a statewide search. They accepted applications for more than four months before announcing their selection of Mr. Rossiter to fill the vacancy. Traditionally, when submitting judicial nominations, the president gives deference to home-state senators during the selection process. Rossiter is currently a partner at Fraser Stryker.He graduated cum laude from Creighton University School of Law in 1981, where he served as the editor of the Creighton Law Review. After receiving his law degree, Rossiter clerked for U.S. District Court Judge C. Arlen Beam. Click here for high-definition photos of last months nomination hearing. Click on the image above to view Senator Fischers testimony on behalf of Bob Rossiter during hisnomination hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://fortenberry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fortenberry-statement-bipartisan-budget-agreement | Fortenberry Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement | 2015-10-28 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Jeff Fortenberry | F000449 | fortenberry.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) made the following statement after todays vote to pass the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015: America cannot sustain more disruption from Washington. This new budget agreement, while imperfect, nonetheless adequately funds our military, prevents Medicare problems, and stabilizes the budget. It holds the line on discretionary spending to 2011 levels. America has enough to worry about without Washington causing even more instability. It is important to get this behind us to reset the way Washington works. Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=d0ac04f8-d973-49e5-af47-7881715bde53 | Fischer Statement on Extension of Highway Authority | 2015-10-28 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Deb Fischer | F000463 | www.fischer.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, released the following statement after the passage of a temporary extension of spending authority for programs funded through the Highway Trust Fund (HTF): I am disappointed yet another short-term extension was needed today. However, I am encouraged by the progress that has been made in the House on a long-term funding highway measure. Importantly, the short-term extension approved today also provides needed time to implement new rail safety technology known as Positive Train Control. Nebraskans want a long-term transportation bill that provides certainty, advances highway project construction, and enhances road safety. Once the House passes their bill, I am confident we can come together and craft a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill. The safety and reliability of our nations transportation system depends on it. This afternoon, the U.S. Senate passed a temporary extension of spending authority for programs funded through the HTF. This extension will last until November 20, and is merely an authorizing patch to allow programs to continue receiving funding. No new funding is attached to this extension. Senator Fischer has been a proponent for increasing infrastructure investment and facilitating the initiation of highway projects since her time in the Nebraska Unicameral. As an active proponent of a long-term highway funding bill, Fischer joined her colleagues to craft the Senate version that passed in July. In her capacity as chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, and as an active member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Fischer worked to include many key provisions in the Senate bill. Specifically, this legislation reforms the regulatory process, enhances project flexibility for states, and streamlines the environmental review process. The highway bills provisions were drafted in consultation with transportation stakeholders in Nebraska, includi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.sasse.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=896E1D75-719F-4546-9A42-5EF368154BD6 | Sasse Statement on CISA | 2015-10-27 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Republican | House | NE | Ben Sasse | S001197 | www.sasse.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and an outspoken advocate of a systematic review of U.S. cyber doctrine, issued the following statement regarding todays vote on The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. "A single piece of legislation will not solve the United States strategic cybersecurity challenges but I am pleased that this bill elevates our national conversation, makes incremental improvements, and sunsets in a responsible way. After today's votes, we will still face the long-term challenges and uncertainty of this new era of cybersecurity. We must completely re-evaluate our entire cyber doctrine. Theres more work ahead." Additional background: Section 208 of The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act is identical to legislation offered by Senator Sasse in the Homeland Security Committee earlier this year. This section will require the government to review unclassified databases similar to those hacked at OPM an adversary could use to build a picture, or classified mosaic, that would be damaging to national security. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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