url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://adriansmith.house.gov/year-review,Year in Review,2014-12-29,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"As 2014 winds to a close it is a good time to review and reflect on what we have accomplished this year, and what remains to be done.  While much of the work done in the House to advance positive solutions to put America on a better path was blocked by the Democrat controlled Senate, we did make progress on priorities for Nebraskans and in pushing back against overreaching and harmful red tape. This year I launched the Regulation Rewind project to make it easier for Third District constituents to identify, and weigh in on the federal rules which hurt economic growth, limit opportunities for rural Americas, are inconsistent with the law, or are unfair.  Based on your feedback we have selected a number of regulations and proposed rules, and posted what I am doing to fight back on my website at: https://adriansmith.house.gov/regulationrewind. Together, we have made progress on several issues.  After voicing your concerns, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration dropped plans to regulate small farms.  The Internal Revenue Service decided to rethink rules which would limit First Amendment rights of political groups.  And the economically disastrous Waters of the United States rule, which would allow the federal government to regulate small ponds and streams, was blocked for ag producers through September. After hearing your concerns about the many flight cancelations at Nebraska airports, I worked to give small airports more flexibility in implementing new pilot regulations.  I also introduced legislation to ensure small airports get the appropriate level of funding and are not double penalized by these new rules. Access to health care remains a challenge for rural Americans.  In February, I introduced the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act to repeal the burdensome 96-hour precertification requirement.  This arbitrary regulation requires physicians at small remote hospitals to certify Medicare and Medicaid patients will not be there more than 96 hours.  This legislation along with two other bills I sponsored was included in a draft legislative package to improve the Medicare.  I am hopeful this proposal will be considered during the next Congress.  My staff and I have also helped a number of Nebraskans address individual problems and cut through the red tape of dealing with the federal government.  We successfully closed hundreds of federal casework issues.  I started the Caseworker in Your Community program to better serve constituents unable to make it to one of my offices, and we expanded our annual Senior Services Fair to Scottsbluff and Grand Island. Clearly, there is much more to be done during the upcoming Congress.  Even with Republican control of both the House and Senate, we will need to work to get bills to the President’s desk and signed into law.  I am optimistic we can make progress by using the system designed by our founders.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=6C8A1306-6E3B-442C-B4A0-CB836BD18904,Fischer Applauds Grant Release for Nebraska Veterans Home,2014-12-24,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after the announcement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of $5 Million in Grants for the new Central Nebraska Veterans Home: Last night I was pleased to learn that Nebraska has been allocated $5 million in federal grants to begin construction of the new VA facility in central Nebraska. This is an important first step in a process that has been years in the making. Our veterans deserve the finest care and treatment after sacrificing so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. That's why I'm grateful to DHHS Director of Veterans Homes John Hilgert for his leadership in this effort. Ensuring that our veterans receive the quality benefits they earned will always be a top priority and I look forward to seeing this effort through to its completion. Last night, the Department of Veterans Affairs informed the Nebraska DHHS Division of Veterans Homes that they have been awarded the first of a series of grants for the new Central Nebraska Veterans Home. Nebraska will receive partial funding for this project this year and see additional funds allotted over the coming years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/spirit-hope-holidays,A Spirit of Hope for the Holidays,2014-12-18,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"From health care, to immigration, and foreign policy – our government faces many challenges as we reflect on 2014 and prepare for 2015.  As we look ahead, President Reagan’s 1981 Christmas Address to the nation inspires a spirit of hope by reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas, and of the greater challenges we have overcome in the past.  I wish all Nebraskans a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah, and a very Happy New Year!   President Ronald Reagan Radio Address to the Nation  December 23, 1981 Tonight, in millions of American homes, the glow of the Christmas tree is a reflection of the love Jesus taught us.  Like the shepherds and wise men of that first Christmas, we Americans have always tried to follow a higher light, a star, if you will.  At lonely campfire vigils along the frontier, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, through war and peace, the twin beacons of faith and freedom have brightened the American sky.  At times our footsteps may have faltered, but trusting in God's help, we've never lost our way. ... Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil.  Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower.  So, let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication.  Even as we rejoice, however, let us remember that for some Americans, this will not be as happy a Christmas as it should be.  I know a little of what they feel.  I remember one Christmas Eve during the Great Depression, my father opening what he thought was a Christmas greeting.  It was a notice that he no longer had a job.  Over the past year, we've begun the long, hard work of economic recovery.  Our goal is an America in which every citizen who needs and wants a job can get a job. ... A few months before he took up residence in this house, one of my predecessors, John Kennedy, tried to sum up the temper of the times with a quote from an author closely tied to Christmas, Charles Dickens.  We were living, he said, in the best of times and the worst of times.  Well, in some ways that's even more true today.  The world is full of peril, as well as promise.  Too many of its people, even now, live in the shadow of want and tyranny. … Once, earlier in this century, an evil influence threatened that the lights were going out all over the world.  Let the light of millions of candles in American homes give notice that the light of freedom is not going to be extinguished.  We are blessed with a freedom and abundance denied to so many.  Let those candles remind us that these blessings bring with them a solid obligation, an obligation to the God who guides us, an obligation to the heritage of liberty and dignity handed down to us by our forefathers and an obligation to the children of the world, whose future will be shaped by the way we live our lives today. Christmas means so much because of one special child.  But Christmas also reminds us that all children are special, that they are gifts from God, gifts beyond price that mean more than any presents money can buy.  In their love and laughter, in our hopes for their future lies the true meaning of Christmas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=D81AB3FD-B7FB-4890-A3E9-9467AA2FB75C,Fischer Announces 114th Congress Committee Assignments,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) is expected to retain the following Senate committees in the 114th Congress: Senate Committee on Armed Service Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee assignments are subject to approval of the Senate Republican Conference and the full Senate, which is expected to take place in early January. These committee assignments will help me to continue working to advance Nebraska's priorities in the U.S. Senate, Fischer said. National defense is the federal government's primary responsibility, and I will continue my work on the Armed Services Committee to ensure that our military men and women have the tools they need to successfully complete their mission and safely return home. I will continue my efforts on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to fight for improved access to telecommunications services in all areas of America, and work modernize outdated laws and regulations that impede the progress of an ever-growing tech sector. As federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency continue to roll out costly regulations that jeopardize the economic security of America's middleclass families, I will keep pushing for regulatory relief as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Finally, small businesses are integral to the health of our economy. As a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will continue pushing for policies that empower job creators and promote the growth and wellbeing of America's small businesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/addressing-illegal-immigration,Addressing Illegal Immigration,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Illegal immigration is one of the many issues Congress needs to address.  Not only are millions of people in our country without legal status, but there has been a surge of unaccompanied, undocumented children crossing our border this year.  We are a nation of immigrants.  Nearly every aspect of our nation, our culture, and our economy has been shaped by those who immigrated here and their descendants.  However, illegal immigration poses a risk to our national security, burdens our communities, and threatens children who are often forced to cross an increasingly dangerous border alone. The President’s recent executive orders are not a solution to the problem of illegal immigration; in fact, they will likely make the problem worse.  History has shown granting amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants only encourages others to break our immigration laws.  Several states including Nebraska are fighting back by suing the President for overreaching his authority.  I signed an amicus brief this week in support of the case.  I also voted in favor of legislation in the House which would prohibit the President from deferring deportation of undocumented immigrants.  The House also passed a government funding bill this week which limits funding to the Department of Homeland Security to early next year.  This legislation removes the threat of a government shutdown and will allow Congress to debate the President’s amnesty plan next year when Republicans control both the House and Senate. The executive orders make it more difficult for Congress to address this problem in a bipartisan way.  The President has made no effort to work with Congress to address this problem.  Instead he has acted unilaterally while insisting the House forgo its role in the legislative process and rubber stamp a Senate-passed bill. The President’s failure to perform his Constitutional duty to enforce laws undermines our system of government and reinforces the gridlock plaguing Washington.  Solutions will require both sides to work through regular order to come to an agreement. Until we are able to come to an agreement, there are steps we should take to improve national security and protect the children coming to our country.  For example, providing notification to states when unaccompanied minors are placed there.  There was no notification to the State of Nebraska when more than 200 minors were moved to the state this year – even though the state is responsible for the well-being and education of these children. This week, I testified on H.R. 5129, legislation I introduced which would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to give states advanced notice when unaccompanied minors are to be placed in the state.  This legislation would be a small but important step to addressing the problem of illegal immigration, but much more will need to be done to protect children, secure our border, and restore the balance of power in Washington.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=d1969916-f7dc-4fe4-a511-c73ac8d39b93,Fischer Supports Defense Bill,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, today voted in favor of an annual Department of Defense funding bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 89-11.  The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains a number of provisions championed by Fischer in committee, authorizes defense spending for the fiscal year and sets the policy and priorities for our military. It provides for our national defense, from authorizing combat bonuses for soldiers fighting overseas, to supporting the maintenance and modernization of our nuclear weapons. Fischer released the following statement: “I am pleased that the final National Defense Authorization Act contains a number of important provisions – including many I fought for in committee,” Fischer said. “The compromise agreement bolsters STRATCOM’s missions, helps modernize our nuclear deterrent, strengthens missile defense, and continues to addresses sexual assault in the military. It enables the United States to counter a growing array of global threats and equips our service members with the tools they need to accomplish their missions.” FY15’s NDAA includes the following provisions supported by Fischer:Supports STRATCOM’s vital missions and approves the fourth and final portion of funding for construction of its new facility. Preserves and strengthens our nation’s nuclear deterrent Contains important increases in funding for missile defense programs Renews current prohibition on transferring detainees housed at Guantanamo Bay to the United States. Authorizes additional funding to address gaps in training and operations for Special Operations Forces. Contains over 20 provisions addressing sexual assault in the military. Contains much of S. 1917, a bill Fischer wrote with Senators Claire McCaskill (R-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) Key accomplishments include: Extending new protections instituted by the Department of Defense to the military service academies Eliminating the so-called “good soldier” defense preventing the consideration of general military character for the purpose of showing the probability of innocence.  Strengthening the role of prosecutors by allowing them to seek additional review in cases where commanders decide not to proceed to trial. Requiring the performance appraisals of commanding officers evaluate their handling of sexual assault allegations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=1228FECA-7CE7-46F2-9AC7-E7A17E44D6C5,Fischer Leads 22 Senators in Highlighting Key Concerns with EPA's Power Plan,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and 22 Republican colleagues today expressed deep concern about the impact the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed power plan would have on electricity prices and power grid reliability. In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the senators called for the rule's withdrawal, citing unrealistic interim targets, a severely constrained timeline for implementation, and complications related to multi-state resources among the many concerns raised by stakeholders. Our nation's families and businesses depend upon affordable, reliable electricity. Unfortunately, EPA's ESPS proposal will constrain Americans' energy choices and inflict significant economic harm without producing any tangible environmental benefits, the Senators write in the letter. Joining Fischer's letter are: Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.); John Boozman (R-Ark.); Richard Burr (R-N.C.); Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.); Dan Coats (R-Ind.); Thad Cochran (R-Miss.); John Cornyn (R-Texas); Mike Crapo (R-Idaho); Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.); Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa); John Hoeven (R-N.D.); Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.); Mike Johanns (R-Neb.); John McCain (R-Ariz.); Jerry Moran (R-Kan.); Rob Portman (R-Ohio); Jim Risch (R-Idaho); Pat Roberts (R-Kan.); Richard Shelby (R-Ala.); John Thune (R-S.D.); and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). Full text of the letter is available below: December 10, 2014 The Honorable Gina McCarthy Administrator Environmental Protection Agency U.S. EPA Headquarters William J. Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator McCarthy, We write to express serious concern regarding EPA's proposed existing source performance standards (ESPS) under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act and to identify some key issues that must be addressed in any final rule. As proposed, the rule would have sweeping impacts that would not only raise Americans' electricity prices, but also jeopardize the reliability of our nation's power grid. Among the biggest problems with the rule are the unrealistic interim targets, severely constrained timeline for implementation, and the complications related to multi-state resources. First, as both state environmental agencies and industry stakeholders have pointed out, the emission rate targets are front-loaded, requiring a disproportionate percentage of emission rate reductions in the early years of the program. These unrealistic reduction rates do not account for the time needed to accommodate the infrastructure changes needed to achieve them. Development of new generation and transmission resources takes time. Planning, design, siting, permitting, and construction can easily take as long as a decade. Comparing the interim emission rate reduction in 2020 (from the 2012 baseline) to the final emission rate reduction required by 2030, total emission rate reductions that must occur between the 2012 baseline and the 2020 emission rate target reach as high as 90%. The median reduction level is 66% for all states during that timeframe. Under EPA's second building block prematurely shutting down coal-fired generation in favor of natural gas combined cycle generation, EPA's emission rate formula results in a 100% decrease in coal generation by 2020 in some states. Furthermore, this premature shutdown of coal fired generation will pose serious reliability risks to the electric grid and result in billions of dollars in stranded investment in expensive pollution control equipment that has been installed in order to comply with recent EPA regulations. For these reasons, we urge the elimination of the 2020 targets. Second, states have very little time to prepare and submit implementation plans13 months from the time EPA issues a final rule with a possibility of a one-year extension for individual state plans or two-year extension for multi-state plans. This is simply not enough time for states to plan and prepare for such significant changes to their electricity generating portfolio, let alone address beyond-the-fence energy efficiency programs. Moreover, regional transmission operators must have time to evaluate and provide feedback on the state plans to address impacts on regional markets and ensure power reliability. As outlined in its 2014 Initial Reliability Review of EPA's Proposed Clean Power Plan, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation also needs time to assess resource adequacy and long-term reliability of the North American bulk power system. A third fundamental issue to be resolved is how EPA will account for electricity resources generated in one state but used in another. While EPA has promulgated state-based reduction targets, our electricity system is interconnected with many cross-state purchase agreements. EPA's current proposal fails to establish a workable regulatory framework for addressing these complicated, but critically important multi state issues. Our nation's families and businesses depend upon affordable, reliable electricity. Unfortunately, EPA's ESPS proposal will constrain Americans' energy choices and inflict significant economic harm without producing any tangible environmental benefits. We urge you to address the wide range of issues raised by stakeholders regarding this proposal, including the three key concerns we have identified above, should you choose to proceed with issuing any final rule. However, we strongly believe the best way to address the aforementioned concerns is by withdrawing this ill-conceived and overreaching rule in its entirety. Click HERE for a PDF.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=c463bffa-a6ed-4ec6-88d7-8f7e9ee2f6cc,Video: Fischer Recognizes Sen. Johanns for Decades of Service,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – In an address on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today thanked Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) for his service to Nebraska and the nation throughout more than 30 years of public service.  Johanns is retiring from the Senate at the end of the 113th Congress in early January. “Senator Johanns has tirelessly worked for our state and our nation. He brought to the Senate a unique perspective, having served in virtually every level of government. His well-rounded approach to his work here reflects that rare wisdom,” Fischer said in remarks on the Senate Floor. Remarks as prepared for delivery: M. President: I rise today to celebrate the legacy of my dear friend, colleague, and fellow Nebraskan, Senator Mike Johanns. Senator Johanns has dedicated more than three decades of his life to serving the people of Nebraska and this nation. His career in public service began at the local level, where he was elected to the Lancaster County board of commissioners. He later joined Lincoln’s city council and eventually became mayor of Nebraska’s capital city where he served for two terms. Perhaps the most infamous decision Senator Johanns ever made throughout his career in public service was in his days as mayor of Lincoln. After an early-season winter storm dropped more than a foot of heavy, wet snow on Lincoln in late October, Mayor Johanns decided to cancel Halloween, citing power outages and hazardous downed power lines. As you can imagine, this news was not received well among some Lincolnites. To this day, constituents haven’t forgotten, and still occasionally remind him about how he deprived an entire city of tricks-or-treats that fateful October evening. Fortunately, this incident did not deal a deathblow to Senator Johanns’ political career. He went on to serve as governor of Nebraska, and was re-elected to a second term. As governor, he focused on fiscal discipline and the responsible use of limited state tax dollars—principles he upheld here in the Senate as well. At one point as governor, he even vetoed an entire two-year budget proposal because it raised taxes to expand government power. He also championed ambitious mental health reforms that allowed patients to receive care in the stability and security of their own communities where they could be near loved ones. A decade later, these reforms in Nebraska are still regarded as a major milestone in improving mental health care. Before he was a Senator, or governor, or mayor, or city councilman, he worked on his family’s dairy farm. This is not easy work, and as the Senator put it, it’s a job that builds character and humility. Growing up on a dairy, he would milk cows every day before school—sometimes even taking the tractor half way to town in the winter months, when the roads were so bad that the school bus couldn’t get out to the farm. This upbringing gave Senator Johanns a great appreciation and a deep understanding for the needs of our nation’s ag producers. So it was no surprise when President George W. Bush selected him to lead the Department of Agriculture. The Senator dutifully served in this role, overseeing a new reform-oriented farm bill and opening doors to new global markets for our nation’s ag producers. As secretary of agriculture, he saw firsthand the challenges facing hungry nations. It was in this role that he fell in love with the people of Africa, and has worked here in the Senate to develop food aid programs that not only feed, but also empower hungry populations around the world. M. President, Senator Johanns has tirelessly worked for our state and our nation. He brought to the Senate a unique perspective, having served in virtually every level of government. And his well-rounded approach to his work here reflects that rare wisdom. Many of us here have had the pleasure of working closely with him because he always makes a point to work with his colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, whether it be on complex legislation or the annual Senate Secret Santa festivities. We are all familiar with the confident, peaceful demeanor that he brings to the Senate, and his plain-spoken clarity will truly be missed once he leaves Congress. This is who Mike Johanns is. It’s who he has always been: A quiet workhorse with a soft spot for the world’s most disadvantaged, and a burning desire to help wherever he can. Friends back home who have known him since before he began his career in public service will tell you that he is the same man today as he was back then—never losing sight of his goal of helping people, never getting a big head, and always putting Nebraska first. The Senator’s wife, Stephanie has been by his side throughout every step of this tremendous journey, always supportive and steadfast. Anyone who knows Mike also knows he and Stephanie are inseparable. I’m sure they are both looking forward to having more time to spend with family next year. Mike, you are a statesmen and a model citizen. I am thankful for all the work you have done for Nebraska and the entire nation. You have set such a great example for your fellow Senators and we all appreciate your dedication over these thirty-two years. You have served Nebraska with dignity and integrity. Good luck and I wish you and Stephanie all the best in your future endeavors. God bless you both. M. President, I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=8668F6B4-F6FD-40AF-8DBF-FBAE7D8A91CD,Working For You,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"I am pleased to report that over the past two years I have been able to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get important things done for Nebraskans and all Americans. Working For You' is a look back at my work and all we were able to accomplish despite persistent gridlock. As we enter the 114th Congress, I remain committed to working with members from both parties to achieve meaningful and enduring solutions to the nation's toughest problems. Flip through the book below by clicking on the arrows at the edge of each page. You can also read this e-book in full screen by clicking on any page. Having trouble viewing this document? Click HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-collects-more-12000-holiday-cards-troops,"Smith Collects More than 12,000 Holiday Cards for Troops",2014-12-05,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Nebraskans submitted more than 12,000 cards to Congressman Adrian Smith’s (R-NE) offices for the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which gives Americans the opportunity to send holiday greetings and thanks to servicemembers, veterans and their families around the world.  Smith’s offices in Scottsbluff and Grand Island served as collection points for constituents to drop off postage free cards. Many of the cards were collected by Terri Hongsermeier of Grand Island.  Hongsermeier worked throughout the year to provide supplies to help Nebraskans make their own cards and then coordinated their delivery to Smith’s office. “Third District residents have once again stepped up to show overwhelming support for our troops, veterans, and military families during the holiday season,” said Congressman Smith.  “I am grateful to Terri Hongsermeier and all of the volunteers who collected and wrote cards, and made this achievement possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/seizing-american-energy-revolution,Seizing the American Energy Revolution,2014-12-05,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The average price of gasoline has fallen to well below $3.00 per gallon in Nebraska, and for the nation as a whole.  The dramatic drop in price is due to an American energy revolution which is thriving despite federal policy, not because of it. New drilling techniques and technology have made it possible and economically viable to extract oil from previously unavailable reserves. Because of these advances, oil production in the United States has surged even though the Obama Administration has pursued an agenda to reduce the use of traditional fuels.  The United States is now among the world’s largest producers of petroleum, and our dependence on foreign oil is dropping dramatically. The massive increase in American oil production has increased global supply, helping to keep up with demand, resulting in price drops which benefit consumers at the pump.  The drop in fuel prices also has profound implications for manufacturing, agriculture, and in reducing the transportation costs built into almost everything we buy. While these changes are very positive, there is great potential to do more.  The federal government should open more federal lands and waters to drilling.  We also need to expand our energy infrastructure including the approval of more pipelines.  A recent report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates U.S. oil production could be 1.5 million barrels per day higher if America had greater oil-by-rail and pipeline capacity.   The most high profile pipeline project waiting approval is the proposed Keystone XL pipeline to connect oil production in Canada and North Dakota to refineries on the Gulf Coast.   The President has not made a decision regarding this project for more than six years even though it would encourage American energy, create thousands of jobs, and according to the State Department would not have a significant environmental impact. Last month, the House of Representative approved, with my support, H.R. 5682 to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline.  Despite bipartisan support, Senate Democrats failed to pass the companion bill, once again delaying this project.  As we enter the 114th Congress, action should support energy policies which most benefit Americans.  Finding solutions to keep the cost of energy and our nation's dependence on foreign oil low must be a priority.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=0a9cc356-c71b-4562-a4d1-3210349323a4,Fischer Statement on Defense Secretary Nomination,2014-12-05,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement upon the president’s nomination of Ash Carter to be the next Secretary of Defense:  “I look forward to visiting with Dr. Carter in the coming weeks to discuss his views on national security. He brings to the position impressive experience, including many years at the Pentagon. I am also pleased that he has previously indicated support for nuclear modernization and I look forward to discussing future commitments with him.  “I remain concerned, however, that the administration continues to lack a coherent strategy to counter an array of global crises, from addressing ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine to destroying ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that this administration relies more heavily on the input of an insular group of White House advisors instead of our military commanders and cabinet secretaries. The president – and the entire nation – would benefit from a robust, open debate of our national security policy moving forward.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=3A0ADCE0-ADF5-4FC3-988F-9DF8A9CA1B3D,Study: Troops Now More Willing to Report Sexual Assaults,2014-12-03,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement regarding media reports that members of the military are more willing to report sexual assaults then they were a year ago, following reforms Fischer championed last year. This report indicates that more people are coming forward and the number of assaults is coming down. That is welcome news for our service members and our nation, Fischer Said. We are headed in the right direction. However, our work is not yet done. We must continue our efforts to curb sexual assault in the ranks. I am encouraged that the Victims Protection Act, a bill to further empower victims and hold perpetrators responsible, was included in the upcoming national defense reauthorization bill. Fischer and senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) introduced the Victims Protection Act to boost victims' rights and provide greater accoutability for offenders. This legislative effort is included in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and builds on the historic reforms the trio championed in last year's NDAA.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/thank-you-senator-johanns,"Thank You, Senator Johanns",2014-11-26,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"As a Governor, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and U.S. Senator, Mike Johanns has been one of the greatest public servants in the history of the State of Nebraska.  While his career in politics will conclude at the end of this year, his legacy, example, and impact will continue. Mike Johanns’ public service began in 1983 when he was elected to the Lancaster County Board.  In 1988, he was elected to the first of two terms on the Lincoln City Council, before being elected Mayor of Lincoln in 1991. In 1998, he began as an underdog running for the Republican nomination for governor.  However, his well-organized campaign, focus on solutions, and pragmatic approach to the issues led him to a landslide victory in both the primary and general elections.  These qualities continue to serve him and the people of Nebraska well. I first met Mike Johanns when he was Mayor and I was a member of the Gering City Council.  Soon after, he was elected Governor and I was elected to the Legislature.  As a member of the Legislature, I saw his strong leadership first-hand.  He always focused on doing what he believed was right for the state in the long run, over what was politically expedient.  He balanced the budget, provided tax relief, and set a record for the number of bills vetoed. It was no surprise when President George W. Bush nominated Governor Johanns to serve as his Secretary of Agriculture in 2004.  As President Bush stated when making his announcement, “Governor Johanns is a man of action and of complete integrity.  He knows how to bring people together to achieve results.  He has been a superb leader for the people of Nebraska.” While we were sorry to see then-Governor Johanns leave, it was significant to have a Nebraskan in such an important post for our state’s ag economy.  He also left the state government in good hands:  Governor Dave Heinemann is now completing 10 years in this role. Secretary Johanns left the Department of Agriculture in 2007 to return to Nebraska and run for the United States Senate.  He easily won in 2008.  By then, I was serving in the House of Representatives and it was a pleasure to work with Senator Johanns, this time in Washington. Senator Johanns has been a model of leadership, integrity, and statesmanship in the Senate.  He sought solutions, not the spotlight.  He has remained true to his conservative convictions, but always tried to find agreement and common ground with the other side.  I am deeply thankful for Senator Johanns and his wife Stephanie for their service to our state and our nation.  I join all Nebraskans in wishing them Godspeed as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=18A4C40C-8CF3-4680-8ED6-6663B21C72A7,Fischer Statement on EPA's Proposed Ozone Regulation,2014-11-26,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"VALENTINE Neb. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's sweeping proposal to further tighten ground-level ozone standards: ""Today's announced plans by the Obama Administration to dramatically increase ozone regulations means more federal burdens passed on to hardworking American families, as utilities and businesses struggle with new compliance costs,"" Fischer said. ""This proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the potential of being the most expensive regulation in our nation's history at a time when American families are already struggling to pay the bills. Utilities can't control energy costs and businesses can't grow and hire more employees when they are faced with crushing federal regulations. Stricter standards could also expose urban areas like Omaha that currently comply with federal clean air standards to harsh regulations on a wide range of activities, including new and existing industry growth, as well as transportation improvements. ""The president has already admitted that similar proposals led to regulatory burdens and uncertainty. As the EPA plans to impose harsh limits on many of the nation's power plants and attempts to stretch its authority to over virtually all water in the United States, a damaging new ozone regulation is the last thing we need."" The proposal, issued today by the EPA, would reduce the allowable concentration of ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion, set in 2008, to between 65 and 70 parts per billion. The Administration is also seeking comments on a plan that would lower the standard to 60 parts per billion. Such a rule would likely require industrial facilities across the country, including many in Nebraska, to install expensive ozone control equipment, limit production, or buy ""offsets,"" which would stifle economic growth. In 2011, the EPA issued a similar proposal, which it estimated could cost businesses and utilities upwards of $90 billion each year. President Obama withdrew the 2011 proposal, citing the need to ""underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty."" Fischer is a cosponsor of Senator John Thune's (R-S.D.) CASE Act (S. 2833) requiring 85 percent of current non-attainment counties to achieve compliance with existing air quality requirements before EPA can lower ozone standards across the country. It would also require the EPA to consider the costs and feasibility of the lower standard, which the EPA currently does not do.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141206164928/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1096,Fortenberry Statement on Secretary Hagel's Resignation,2014-11-24,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement on Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s resignation:   “I thank Secretary Chuck Hagel for his dedicated public service. I regret that he will soon be leaving the Pentagon. He was a soldier first and foremost, and was guided by that experience as Secretary of Defense. He was not afraid to address the hard question of 21st century military structure and strategy for the benefit of our nation.” 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=197D1A7C-EA7B-45EA-B4CB-AB0611BCB1D9,Fischer Statement on Secretary Hagels Resignation,2014-11-24,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, today released the following statement regarding the resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Secretary Hagel has dedicated much of his life to public service in a numberof capacities: in uniform in Vietnam, as senator from my home state of Nebraska, and as the Secretary of Defense, Fischer said. I thank him for his service. Our world is only growing increasingly dangerous. As Russia maneuvers to gain regional strength, Iran flouts international nuclear obligations, and extremist groups like ISIL continue their violent campaign of terror, it's clear that we need decisive, strong leadership at the Pentagon. As I've said so many times before, we must adopt a strong strategy to combat threats to our national security and the secretary of defense is responsible for leading in this important endeavor. I look forward to a complete and thorough vetting of the President's nominee for the next Secretary of Defense.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=43A6509E-FF32-4E56-AB68-E847CE31BCDD,Fischer Statement on Failed Iran Nuclear Negotiations,2014-11-24,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member ofthe Senate Armed Services Committee,today released the following statement regarding another delay in diplomatic negotiations to force Iran to comply with international limits on its nuclear program in exchange for reduced sanctions: This is further evidence that Iran is not under enough pressure to reach a deal, Fischer said. Additional measures are necessary to penalize the regime for violating its international obligations in relentlessly pursuing its nuclear ambitions. While we all wish to see a negotiated deal, it is clear that this is unlikely, under the current circumstances. I hope the senate will strengthen the hands of our negotiators with additional sanctions next year."" Members of the United Nations Security Council, Germany and Iran were unable to reach an agreement by today's deadline to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and have extended negotiations to July 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/addressing-challenges-rural-health,Addressing Challenges to Rural Health,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Nearly one in five Americans, or 62 million people, live in rural and frontier communities.  As the representative of one of the most rural Congressional districts in the country and as Chairman of the Congressional Rural Caucus, I am focused on addressing the unique challenges facing rural Americans. This week I joined health advocates throughout Nebraska and across the country in recognizing National Rural Health Day.  Rural hospitals are vital to rural areas.  Nebraska’s Third District is home to more than 50 Critical Access Hospitals.  These facilities provide critical care to some of the most vulnerable and elderly populations in the country. This year, rural health care delivery is facing its greatest challenge.  Forty-three rural hospitals have closed since 2010; 283 more are on the brink of closure.  Because of Obamacare, we are seeing deep cuts to Medicare beneficiaries, a major patient population for these rural facilities. In addition to cuts to Medicare, rural Nebraskans are facing steep hikes in their insurance premiums due to Obamacare.  New data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirms insurance premiums for the lowest-priced plans on Nebraska’s federally operated Obamacare exchange will increase in every county in Nebraska’s Third Congressional District.  This new data confirms what Nebraskans have told me all along.  Obamacare is making health insurance more, not less, expensive and out of reach for hardworking families.  The President promised health care premiums would go down under his plan, but history continues to show more government control of the health care system results in higher costs. To address these problems we need market- and patient-centered solutions to actually reduce costs and expand access to care.  This will first require the President and his allies in Congress to acknowledge their law isn’t working as they intended. Rural hospitals also have to face arbitrary regulations such as physician supervision requirements, and a 96-hour precertification rule. Physician supervision rules require a physician’s presence and supervision over nearly all routine procedures administered in hospitals. The 96-hour rule requires physicians at rural hospitals to certify Medicare and Medicaid patients will not be at the hospital for more than 96 hours.  These facilities frequently do not have the resources to abide by these unnecessary regulations while continuing to provide affordable and efficient health care. I have introduced legislation to address both of these arbitrary regulations.  This week, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health announced it has included the legislative text of both of my bills as part of a larger package of health care reforms.  I am hopeful this plan will be considered early next year to provide relief to rural health providers. I will continue to fight to make sure our rural communities maintain access to quality care, and we address the government imposed burdens to rural health.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=1c913f06-1c59-4362-be3a-1374afd9d65d,Fischer Applauds Passage of Satellite Reauthorization,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today applauded passage of a satellite telecommunications bill, which included language she championed to address gaps in local news access for rural communities. “Access to local news programing is essential to helping Americans stay informed and engaged, especially in rural communities. However, nearly one-third of counties in Nebraska currently face challenges receiving existing local broadcast programming,” Fischer said. “I’m pleased Congress included language taken from my LOCAL TV Act to explore ways to improve consumer choice and access to television programing that is important and relevant in their communities. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve local television programming that fits the needs and interests of communities across the country.” Fischer introduced the Let Our Communities Access Local TV (LOCAL TV) Act with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), which called for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study on how Designated Market Areas (DMAs) affect consumers’ access to local broadcast and news programming. Similar language to the LOCAL TV Act was included in the STELA Reauthorization Act, which ensures satellite service to nearly 1.5 million customers, many in rural parts of the country. This legislation was passed in the House of Representatives Wednesday by voice vote, and was agreed to in the Senate by Unanimous Consent. Click HERE to learn more about the LOCAL TV Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=ffe7facb-9328-4bec-b4f8-35d6fe4f8255,Fischer Names Joe Hack as Chief of Staff,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced she has named Joe Hack as her next Chief of Staff beginning in January. Fischer released the following statement: “Joe Hack has worked closely by my side since my first day in the United States Senate. He has ably served as a trusted advisor on strategic communications and policy matters. I have tremendous confidence in Joe’s ability to lead my staff in advancing the priorities of all Nebraskans here in Washington and I thank him for his service to the people of Nebraska.” Hack currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications. Previously, he served as Director of Communications for Senator Jon Kyl, Senate Minority Whip, and as an aide in the offices of Congressman J. Randy Forbes and Senator George Voinovich. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and the George Washington University School of Law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/obamacare-premiums-rise-every-third-district-county,Obamacare Premiums Rise in Every Third District County,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"New data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirms insurance premiums for the lowest-priced plans on Nebraska’s federally operated Obamacare exchange will increase in every county in Nebraska’s Third Congressional District.    “This new data confirms what Nebraskans have told me all along.  Obamacare is making health insurance more, not less, expensive and out of reach for hardworking families,” said Congressman Smith.  “The President promised health care premiums would go down under his plan, but history continues to show more government control of the health care system results in higher costs. “Obamacare is not working.  We need market- and patient-centered solutions to actually reduce costs and expand access to care.” Insurance premiums for the lowest cost plan available on the Obamacare exchange will increase in Third District counties by the following: Adams , +11.9% Antelope, +11.9% Arthur, +17.1% Banner, +17.1% Blaine, +11.9% Boone, +11.9% Box Butte, +17.1% Boyd, +11.9% Brown, +17.1% Buffalo, +11.9% Cedar, +11.9% Chase, +17.1% Cherry, +17.1% Cheyenne, +17.1% Clay, +11.9% Custer, +11.9% Dakota, +11.9% Dawes, +17.1% Dawson, +11.9% Deuel, +17.1% Dixon, +11.9% Dundy, +17.1% Fillmore, +7.5% Franklin, +11.9% Frontier, +17.1% Furnas, +11.9% Gage, +7.5% Garden, +17.1% Garfield, +11.9% Gosper, +11.9% Grant, +17.1% Greeley, +11.9% Hall, +11.9% Hamilton, +11.9% Harlan, +11.9% Hayes, +17.1% Hitchcock, +17.1% Holt, +11.9% Hooker, +17.1% Howard, +11.9% Jefferson, +7.5% Johnson, +7.5% Kearney, +11.9% Keith, +17.1% Keya Paha, +11.9% Kimball, +17.1% Knox, +11.9% Lincoln, +17.1% Logan, +17.1% Loup, +11.9% McPherson, +17.1% Merrick, +11.9% Morrill, +17.1% Nance, +11.9% Nemaha, +7.5% Nuckolls, +11.9% Pawnee, +7.5% Perkins, +17.1% Phelps, +11.9% Pierce, +11.9% Red Willow, +17.1% Richardson, +7.5% Rock, +11.9% Saline, +7.5% Scotts Bluff, +17.1% Sheridan, +17.1% Sherman, +11.9% Sioux, +17.1% Thayer, +7.5% Thomas, +17.1% Valley, +11.9% Wayne, +11.9% Webster, +11.9% Wheeler, +11.9% York, +7.5%",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-responds-president%E2%80%99s-amnesty-plan,Smith Responds to Presidents Amnesty Plan,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today released the following statement regarding President Obama’s planned executive orders to provide amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants without the consent of Congress: “We have already seen how the President’s youth amnesty encouraged tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors to pour across the border.  Providing amnesty to millions of additional undocumented immigrants will only encourage others to break our laws and make it more difficult to fix our broken immigration system.  “Worse than the specific policy is the precedent President Obama continues to set by ignoring Congress and the will of the American people.  Failing to perform his Constitutional duty to enforce laws undermines our system of government and reinforces the gridlock plaguing Washington.  Solutions will require both sides to work through regular order to come to an agreement.” Background: President Obama has regularly admitted he does not have the authority to bypass the legislative process and change laws on his own.  The Speaker’s office has compiled a list of 22 times the President specifically said he could not ignore or create his own immigration law.    During a 2010 speech to students at American University, the President explained why giving amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants would be “unwise and unfair.”  In the President’s own words: “For example, there are those in the immigrants’ rights community who have argued passionately that we should simply provide those who are [here] illegally with legal status, or at least ignore the laws on the books and put an end to deportation until we have better laws.  And often this argument is framed in moral terms:  Why should we punish people who are just trying to earn a living?  “I recognize the sense of compassion that drives this argument, but I believe such an indiscriminate approach would be both unwise and unfair.  It would suggest to those thinking about coming here illegally that there will be no repercussions for such a decision.  And this could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration.  And it would also ignore the millions of people around the world who are waiting in line to come here legally.  “Ultimately, our nation, like all nations, has the right and obligation to control its borders and set laws for residency and citizenship.  And no matter how decent they are, no matter their reasons, the 11 million who broke these laws should be held accountable.” Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-comprehensive-immigration-reform.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141206165131/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1095,Fortenberry Statement on President's Anticipated Executive Order on Immigration,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today issued the following statement on President Obama’s expected executive order on immigration:   “President Obama’s plan for executive amnesty is divisive and abusive of his power. It is unacceptable, unreasonable, and unnecessary. The President’s Constitutional duty is to ‘faithfully’ execute the law, not recklessly abrogate the law.   “The President has said multiple times that he has no authority to take this action. When asked about executive action earlier, he said: ‘I am president, I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.’   “The House must now work to keep the government running while shutting down this action of the President. Sadly, the question is now no longer about proper immigration policy and reasoned debate — it’s about the President abusing his authority. This action is grossly unfair to persons seeking to legally enter our country, and it may also create another wave of persons coming over the border.   “If this last election was about any one thing, it was about the American people saying we should work together toward constructive solutions. No more divisiveness.”       Fortenberry also released a short video with comments on the expected executive order:   Audio of Fortenberry's remarks can be found here.    Fortenberry serves on 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=78A98208-8A68-4810-958B-E199F1CF3AFF,Fischer Statement on the Presidents Immigration Executive Action,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement this evening in response to President Obama's unilateral plan to shield up to 5 million illegal immigrants from enforcement of federal immigration laws. For over six years, the president has repeatedly stated that he would not and could not address immigration except through cooperation with Congress. The president's politically-timed announcement tonight shows a complete flip-flop on that longstanding belief, Fischer said. Sweeping executive actions that fail to enact meaningful reforms, such as enhancing border security and implementing a biometric entry/exit system, do little to curb illegal immigration; in fact they encourage it. The president has previously said that such executive action would be both unwise and unfair,' and could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration'. I believe the president should work with rather than around Congress in areas where we can find common ground to improve our immigration laws, instead of ignoring them. Unfortunately, this action by the president sends the message that he has little interest in working with Congress, despite the good will expressed by lawmakers following the recent election. On March 28, 2011, President Obama stated, With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that's just not the case, because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed . [W]e've got three branches of government. Congress passes the law. The executive branch's job is to enforce and implement those laws. During the Senate's 2013 debate on a proposal to reform U.S. immigration laws, Fischer introduced an amendmentto strengthen border security and discourage more illegal immigration. In August, Fischer traveled to Texas with a bipartisan group of senators to assess firsthand the crisis along the southern border and discuss border security issues with Customs and Border Patrol personnel.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141206165333/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1094,Fortenberry Legislation to Designate Standing Bear Trail Passes Committee,2014-11-19,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry announced that the House Natural Resources Committee today passed his legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail (H.R. 5806). Fortenberry previously testified before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation in support of the trail designation. “The story of the great Ponca Chief Standing Bear is one of strength, grace, and dignity in the most basic protection of human rights, and needs to be cherished by Americans of future generations, ” Fortenberry said. “I have long been supportive of establishing the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail that would honor his courage and great contribution to the freedom and civil liberties of this nation. I believe this legislation is an important first step toward establishing the trail, and I look forward to consideration before the House.”  The legislation now awaits action by the House of Representatives. Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/house-passes-bill-rename-post-office-sgt-cory-mracek-chadron,House Passes Bill to Rename Post Office for Sgt. Cory Mracek of Chadron,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives passed S. 1499 to designate the U.S. Post Office in Chadron as the “Sergeant Cory Mracek Memorial Post Office.”   The legislation was originally introduced by Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE).  The bill now must be signed by the President before becoming law. The Son of Jim and Pat Mracek, Cory Mracek originally served with the Nebraska National Guard, and transferred to active duty where he served with distinction. Mracek re-enlisted after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, where he served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne. Sgt. Mracek was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom on January 27, 2004. Video of the Congressman Smith’s remarks is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyTuROCbSi0&feature=youtu.be.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smith-hold-mobile-office-arthur,Rep. Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Arthur,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Arthur Nov 18, 2014 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet constituents of the Third District during a ""mobile office"" on Friday, November 21, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. MST in Arthur. A ""mobile office"" allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking tours in Washington, D.C. Smith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office on Friday, November 21 at the following location: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. MST; Arthur County Courthouse, 205 Fir Street, Arthur, Nebraska. For additional information, contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smith-hold-mobile-office-tryon,Rep. Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Tryon,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Smith to Hold Mobile Office in Tryon Nov 18, 2014 Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will meet constituents of the Third District during a ""mobile office"" on Friday, November 21, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. CST in Tryon. A ""mobile office"" allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the constituent services available through his office, such as assisting individuals with challenges they face while working with a federal agency, ordering flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, and booking tours in Washington, D.C. Smith, who has offices in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, will hold the mobile office on Friday, November 21 at the following location: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. CST; McPherson County Courthouse, 5th and Anderson Streets, Tryon, Nebraska. For additional information, contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=b895189e-5419-4bf5-8538-9922433aee2b,Fischer Statement on Keystone XL Pipeline Vote,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement after the Senate failed to pass legislation requiring the president to act on the Keystone XL pipeline: “I’m disappointed that the Senate failed to advance this bipartisan bill requiring the president to act on the Keystone XL pipeline project,” Fischer said. “This debate is not over and I look forward to a robust discussion on this project early next year—free from the political sideshow we’ve seen the past few days.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=1C03AFC5-87C2-4D3D-9D3C-67CB2565983E,Fischer Supports Bill to Improve Child Care Opportunities for Low-Income Families,2014-11-17,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement after the Senate passed legislation reauthorizing child care programs for low-income families: Hard-working mothers and fathers depend on safe, reliable, affordable child care while they work to earn a living, but unfortunately for low-income families, this is not always easy to come by, Fischer said. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to providing access to quality child care programs for parents while they earn a steady paycheck or go back to school. I am pleased the Senate broadly passed this commonsense bill to ensure America's working families have the flexibility and opportunity to earn a living, knowing their children are in good hands. This bipartisan legislation, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013, reauthorizes existing low-income child care programs through 2020, and improves requirements related to health and safety standards for licensed child care providers. The bill, which was approved in the House of Representatives in September, passed in the Senate today by a vote of 88-1, and must now be signed by the president to become law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/honoring-those-who-served,Honoring Those Who Served,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Every year we celebrate Veterans Day by taking the time to thank those who have served our nation in uniform.  There can be no greater service than to risk your own life for the benefit of others.  We also express our gratitude to their families for the sacrifices they have made supporting those defending our freedom and way of life. In addition to speaking at two Veterans Day events this year, I recently welcomed several large groups of veterans to Washington as part of Hero Flights and Honor Flights.  These privately sponsored trips fly veterans to our nation’s capital to view the many monuments and memorials. For many of the participants, these trips are their first opportunity to view the memorials built in honor of them and their brothers who never returned. It is incredibly inspiring to spend time with veterans and learn about their service.  These experiences are an important reminder of the debt we owe our servicemen and women, and to ensure they are receiving the benefits they were promised and deserve. Rural veterans specifically are often pillars of our communities, but face unique challenges in getting services and treatments.  For example, Third District veterans face barriers to care such as the distance between Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.  These barriers lead to many rural veterans delaying or simply not seeking the care services they need.  As your representative, and as Co-Chair and founder of the Rural Veterans Caucus, maintaining access to care for rural veterans is among my top priorities.  I am grateful the House Committee on Veterans Affairs recently held a field hearing in Hot Springs, South Dakota to discuss the potential reduction of services at this VA facility.  I also appreciated the opportunity to discuss the need to address the outdated VA hospital in Omaha with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald.  Both of these facilities are critical to many Nebraska veterans and their families. Veterans Day 2014 is now behind us, but there are many ways to show your appreciation and support year-round.  I am once again participating in the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program.  Each year, the Red Cross collects and distributes holiday cards to service members, their families, and veterans at home and abroad.  Third District residents may drop off cards without postage at either of my district offices located in Grand Island and Scottsbluff by Monday, December 1, 2014.  A complete list of guidelines for cards is available on my website at: https://adriansmith.house.gov/holiday-mail-heroes-program.  Last year, Third District residents helped me collect more than 10,000 holiday cards for this program.  I hope this year we can top this record.  Afterall, our service members, our veterans, and their families deserve nothing less.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-votes-keystone-xl-approval,Smith Votes for Keystone XL Approval,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted in favor of H.R. 5682 to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline. “Approval of the Keystone XL pipeline has been languishing on the President’s desk for more than six years,” said Congressman Smith.  “Nebraskans overwhelmingly support this project which would encourage American energy, create thousands of jobs, and according to the President’s own State Department would not have a significant environmental impact.  “It is past time to get this done.  I hope the Democratic leadership in the Senate will finally stop blocking this legislation and force the President to make a decision on this needed project.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=d60329b6-5bd8-467f-85ee-0e9e74892442,Fischer: We Must Invest in our Greatest Deterrent,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, today released the following statement regarding Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s plan to make significant investments in the nation’s nuclear weapons programs.  Hagel’s announcement followed a recent Department of Defense report highlighting the need to make significant improvements to our nuclear weapons program. “Secretary Hagel’s announcement today confirms the need to modernize and invest in our entire nuclear enterprise – something I have often discussed,” Fischer said. “Our nuclear deterrent is the ultimate safeguard for our national security; Secretary Hagel described it as the highest priority mission in the Department of Defense.  However, as the Department’s reviews indicate, it has not received appropriate attention or resources, and the decades of neglect are beginning to catch up with us. It’s clear we need to make the necessary investments in personnel, facilities and equipment to ensure our nuclear deterrent is up-to-date and viable into the future.  I look forward to working with the Secretary on this issue and appreciate his attention to this critically important topic."" In October, Fischer and Sen. King (I-Maine) toured several nuclear weapons laboratories to meet with scientists tasked with maintaining our nuclear weapons programs with limited resources.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=c47eb66a-8b5a-474b-819a-b3bad4ab4f82,Fischer E-Label Act Passes Congress,2014-11-13,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) proposal to modernize outdated federal labeling requirements for electronics manufacturers. The bipartisan Enhance Labeling, Accessing, and Branding of Electronic Licenses (E-Label) Act, which unanimously passed the Senate on September 18, 2014, is now awaiting President Obama’s signature before becoming law. “I’m pleased that both the Senate and the House has passed this commonsense legislation to provide relief for job creators, increase options for consumers and bring outdated regulations into the 21st century,” Fischer said. “This bill increases options and lowers costs for manufacturers while also making required regulatory information more easily accessible to consumers. “I look forward to the President signing the E-LABEL Act into law and I am confident the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology will do a great job updating our labeling rules. I also thank Chairman Rockefeller for his help and leadership in advancing this bill.” The E-LABEL Act would ease certain regulatory requirements on manufacturers of products such as phones, computers, and other electronics, by giving them the option to meet the physical label requirement digitally. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently requires most device manufacturers to etch or otherwise permanently place regulatory information and symbols on the exterior of approved products.  As electronic devices in the marketplace become smaller, physical label requirements may become increasingly difficult to meet and more costly for manufacturers. The e-label option promises to lower costs for both producers and consumers. Full text of the bill is available HERE. The E-Label Act is supported by FCC Commissioners Michael O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and was cosponsored by Sen.  Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), chair of the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, of which Fischer is also a member. This bill is a part of Fischer’s recently-unveiled technology agenda, outlining opportunities to update the federal government’s policies and regulations impacting innovation and economic growth.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141112062234/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1092,Fortenberry Statement on Veterans Day,2014-11-11,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement on Veterans Day: “Today, we pause to honor our veterans who have so selflessly served our country. Our veterans answered the call to protect America, and through that commitment, they reflect the higher values of honor and justice. I thank all veterans who have served in war and peace, who have fought valiantly, who have served willingly. America is rightly proud of your lasting contribution for the good of our country.” Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=2A68CD41-BEE0-410E-8F91-FBB267E890FB,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours in Red Cloud,2014-11-10,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced that her staff will be holding local office hours in Red Cloud on Monday, November 24, 2014. These office hours serve as a convenient opportunity for constituents to meet with staff regarding federal casework assistance or other issues at the federal level. Julie Brooker, Central Nebraska Constituent Services Director, will be holding local office hours at the time and location below: Red Cloud Webster County Courthouse County Board Room 621 North Cedar Red Cloud, NE 68970 10:00 am 11:00 am CT",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=2B80A342-7252-40F5-B84A-B7940E44FE22,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours in Banner and Sioux Counties,2014-11-10,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced that her staff will be holding local office hours in Banner and Sioux counties on Monday, November 24, 2014. These office hours serve as a convenient opportunity for constituents to meet with staff regarding federal casework assistance or other issues at the federal level. Brandi McCaslin, Greater Nebraska Constituent Services Director, will be holding local office hours at the times and locations below: Banner County Banner County Courthouse 204 State Street Harrisburg, NE 69345 11:00 am - 12:00 pm MT Sioux County Sioux County Courthouse 325 Main Street Harrison, NE 69346 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MT ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/new-reality-washington,The New Reality in Washington,2014-11-07,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives has passed hundreds of bills to reduce the role of government in our lives and economy, encourage economic growth, and put America on a more prosperous path since Republicans were elected to a majority of seats in 2010.  However, few of these bills have even been considered in the United States Senate. This gridlock is incredibly frustrating to not only those of us on both sides of the aisle working to tackle the serious challenges facing our country, but to the American people.  And now voters across the country have sent a clear message by changing the leadership of the Senate, and electing the largest Republican majority in the House of Representatives in decades. The incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has promised to make the upper chamber work again by considering the many bills passed by the House, voting on amendments offered by members of both parties, and getting legislation to the President’s desk.  He also has offered to work with the President to reach agreement on solutions. In contrast, the President is doubling down on the policies which are failing America and have been rejected by voters.  Rather than offering to work with Congress, he is once again threatening to bypass the legislative branch and enact his agenda via executive orders and regulations. This approach only ensures further gridlock and dysfunction.  I hope the President will change course and respect the system of government as designed by our founders.  History has shown divided government can work well to produce meaningful results for the American people. President Reagan worked with a Democratic Congress to pass a major overhaul of our tax code in 1986.  In the late 1990’s, President Clinton worked with a Republican Congress to enact welfare reforms, and to balance the budget.  Even under President Obama, we have worked together to pass major spending reductions, new trade agreements, and a reformed Farm Bill. In the next Congress, I am hopeful we can once again seize the moment.  There is broad bipartisan support to fix elements of Obamacare such as eliminating the medical device tax, updating trade authority, and approving the Keystone XL pipeline.  Perhaps getting these items done could pave the way and build the trust necessary to do big things such as tax reform and entitlement reform.  While difficult, we must tackle these issues to grow our economy and save our nation from bankruptcy. The new reality in Washington, while an improvement, will still require consensus building and deny both parties the ability to get everything they want.  The President still has the power to veto our bills, and we will still need 60 votes to pass legislation out of the Senate.  However, I am optimistic we now have an opportunity to move forward on the priorities of the American people and improve the political process.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/rep-smith%E2%80%99s-office-host-two-senior-services-fairs,Rep. Smiths Office to Host Two Senior Services Fairs,2014-11-07,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Office of Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will host Senior Services Fairs in Grand Island and Scottsbluff. Officials from the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will be on hand to provide private consultations with seniors about Medicare Part D plan options.  Seniors seeking plan assistance should bring a complete list of their prescriptions taken, including dosage information. Experts also will be available to answer questions about Social Security.  The Senior Services Fairs will be held at the following dates and locations: Thursday, November 13, 2014, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (C.S.T.); Grand Generation Center, 304 East 3rd Street, Grand Island, Nebraska. Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (M.S.T.); Aging Office of Western Nebraska – Bluffs Business Center, 1517 Broadway, Suite 122, Scottsbluff, Nebraska. For additional information, contact Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141102184153/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398545,Terry Statement on the Decision of a Mexican Judge to Release of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi,2014-10-31,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"""Over the course of the last eight months as I've gotten to know his mom Jill, she's continued to express gratitude to the people of the metro area for their out pouring of support. “I'm grateful our Marine is coming home.  ""Over the course of the last eight months as I've gotten to know his mom Jill, she's continued to express gratitude to the people of the metro area for their out pouring of support. “While the judge in Mexico recognized Andrew’s current state, he never should have been in jail in Mexico for inadvertently carrying legally-owned firearms over the border. The 911 tape of Andrew at the scene is proof that Andrew made an honest mistake. I’m disappointed that this administration left this Marine to fend for himself and refused to negotiate his release with a friendly neighbor and ally while at the same time, negotiated with terrorists for the release of another soldier. “I’m pleased that Andrew will soon be on his way home to be reunited with his mom and will finally receive the treatment he needs as he battles PTSD. I look forward to welcoming him to Omaha upon his recovery.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/appropriate-role-government,The Appropriate Role of Government,2014-10-30,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The request I hear most often from Third District constituents is to be left alone by the federal government.  We understand there is a place for the federal government, but lately its priorities do not match the needs or wants of the American people.  To instill trust we must recalculate the appropriate role for government, and focus on the national priorities where government can actually be effective. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) recently released his annual Wastebook, a compilation of questionable, inappropriate, and sometimes absurd examples of federal spending.  Some of the most outrageous examples of government spending have earned national headlines including massages for rabbits, synchronized swimming for sea monkeys, and mountain lions on treadmills. While each of these programs represents only a small fraction of the U.S. budget, they highlight the enormous size of the federal government and raise serious questions about the appropriate role of government in our lives and economy.  The power of the executive branch has been expanding for some time; however, under the Obama Administration the size and scope of the federal government has reached new heights.  The federal bureaucracy is churning out new rules and regulations, many times without the consent of Congress, to govern nearly every aspect of our lives and economy.  One recent report estimated the annual cost of compliance with federal regulations at more than $2 trillion per year. The tax code which has not been reformed since 1986 is so complicated and outdated it costs hardworking taxpayers $168 billion annually just to figure out how much they owe.  This figure is in addition to the more than $3 trillion Americans paid in federal taxes last year. The sprawling and expanding size and role of the federal government is not only costing taxpayers, it enables mismanagement and abuse.  From the botched implementation of Obamacare, to agents at the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservative political groups because of their beliefs, secret waitlists at the Department of Veterans affairs; and an unauthorized gun running operation into Mexico – federal agencies are out of control.  These and other failures have left the American people distrustful of their government.  It seems like our government cannot do anything right, and perhaps it is because it is attempting to do too much.  The government-prescribed solutions to our national challenges often make problems worse not better.  A more limited federal role would be easier to manage and to hold accountable for abuse.  A balanced budget amendment would force prioritized spending and stop adding to the debt we will leave to future generations.  Commonsense regulatory reforms would ease the burden placed on businesses and families, and prevent future overreach by the executive branch.  Tax reform would simplify the code, make compliance easier, and encourage economic growth. These are just a few of the ideas proposed by House Republicans to restore a more appropriate role for the federal government.  However, dozens of House-passed reform bills have been blocked in the Democratic-controlled Senate – many without even a vote.  To make government more manageable, to grow our econoy, and ensure freedom we must do better.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=3F828AD1-781C-4662-A572-AF422E5F530E,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours in ONeill,2014-10-29,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced that her staff will be holding local office hours in O'Neill on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. These office hours serve as a convenient opportunity for constituents to meet with staff regarding federal casework assistance or other issues at the federal level. Tiffany Settles, Constituent Services Representative for Fischer, will be holding local office hours at the time and location below: O'Neill Public Library 601 E. Douglas St. O'Neill, NE 68763 November 12, 2014 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141029185148/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398544,TERRY REACTION TO PRESIDENTS STATEMENT ON EBOLA,2014-10-28,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement after the President addressed the nation on the progress being made treating Ebola:  “The doctors, nurses and other medical professionals on the front lines, including those at UNMC should be commended for their efforts to fight this disease. I also want to thank our military for rising to the challenge to help stop the spread of this disease at its source. “But the President’s victory lap today does nothing to inspire confidence in his leadership to protect public health. The President’s leadership on this issue is missing and so is his so-called Ebola Czar Ron Klain. Also missing is a clear strategy that tackles this public health threat that Americans can fully comprehend.  “I continue to believe the best way to protect American citizens from this disease is to institute a travel ban to and from those countries that have experienced Ebola outbreaks. I would also like to see continued scrutinization and better management of the CDC. Hospitals around this country need CDC's leadership to establish proper protocols and procedures to treat a patient diagnosed with Ebola and under this CDC’s leadership, I don’t have the confidence that this has taken place.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141027224416/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398543,Terry Statement on White House Report on Manufacturing,2014-10-27,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s, Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee today made the following statement on the President’s final report on an advanced manufacturing partnership:  “I’m pleased to see that the President has recognized the need for a more skilled workforce in the manufacturing industry. Throughout this session of Congress, my subcommittee has held a series of hearings focused on manufacturing. We’ve learned there are good paying jobs that can’t be filled because of a skills gap across the country including in my Congressional district where manufacturers can’t find welders to hire starting at $17 per hour.  “While I’m pleased to see the President’s commitment to invest in STEM-related education and research, it should be noted that executive orders are not a way to grow our economy. We need policies in place that allow our nation of builders to be more competitive. These policies would include tax reform that brings certainty and fairness to job creators; an energy policy that uses our reliable and affordable supply of American energy to power our factories; and, eliminating Obamacare’s 30-hour work week that keeps workers out of factories and ultimately makes our manufacturers less productive.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/stopping-spread-ebola,Stopping the Spread of Ebola,2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Ebola epidemic is an ongoing tragedy with serious worldwide consequences.  With the virus now in the United States, Americans naturally are concerned about what steps are being taken to prevent the further spread of this disease and to prepare for more cases.  Unfortunately, our government’s response has not always inspired confidence this threat is being handled appropriately. The rate at which the Ebola virus has spread throughout West Africa is alarming. So far the administration's response has been to deploy troops to the region, but leave our borders unprotected from the disease except for minimal airport screening.  For this reason I joined 25 of my colleagues on October 8th in sending a bipartisan letter to President Obama urging him to institute travel restrictions, enhance airport screening, and to consider quarantining individuals who have recently traveled to or from the West African countries most affected by this epidemic.  Many Nebraskans have reached out to me to express their support for a travel ban.  I agree for the time being it is not appropriate for our government to issue tourist visas to individuals from nations being ravaged by Ebola.  Even several African countries have successfully implemented travel bans.  This is a commonsense measure to reduce the risk of more individuals bringing the virus into our country. However, the Obama Administration continues to issue approximately 100 tourist visas per day to individuals from affected nations to visit the United States, saying to do otherwise would hurt efforts to fight the virus at the source.  However, I have yet to hear a compelling argument as to why allowing foreign nationals from these nations to visit the United States would have any effect on our ability to fight Ebola in Africa.  American hospitals, doctors, and medical personnel have proven highly effective in treating the disease at specialized containment facilities including at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  The Centers for Disease Control assured a Congressional panel earlier this year all American hospitals were equipped and ready to handle Ebola cases.  However, the contraction of Ebola by two nurses treating a patient in Dallas raises serious questions about the preparedness of other hospitals to contain and treat the disease.  These questions become even more concerning since the Administration announced it would be sending American troops over to the effected region to combat the disease’s spread.  It is critical all hospitals, treatment facilities, and our armed forces have access to the protocols and practices being used effectively at the containment sites so other medical workers, patients, and the general public, are not further exposed.  Ebola is a public health crisis, not a political crisis.  While there have only been a handful of cases in the United States and there is no reason for panic, it is critical our government get this right and we stop the spread of this devastating disease.  Greater safeguards on our immigration system, and better preparedness at our hospitals will help keep us safe.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=054BDC7B-1964-4678-BC82-D2261BC93C2E,Fischer Joins Letter Urging Administration to Withdraw Overreaching Clean Water Act Proposal,2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined a group of 24 senators in expressing concern to the Administration regarding its attempt to significantly expand federal control over water through its proposed definition of waters of the United States (WOTUS). In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the senators outlined how the proposed rule displaces state and local officials in their primary role in environmental protection and imposes restrictions and uncertainty on private property owners. These points were recently underscored by analysis conducted by Mike Linder, who served as the director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) from 1999-2013. Water is a treasured resource in Nebraska, one that we take great care to protect, said Senator Fischer. This Administration's WOTUS proposal would jeopardize the operation of our state's current water protection programs and the stewardship efforts of private landowners. It is unfortunate that EPA and the Corps intend to pursue this unprecedented overreach regardless of the consequences to states and Americans' property rights. Former NDEQ Director Mike Linder wrote, This rule would impose a blanket jurisdictional determination over thousands of acres of private property. The effect would be to impose unnecessary property restrictions and uncertainty In addition, the federal encroachment of what is now a state delegated program runs counter to the concept of cooperative federalism' which is a tenant of federal environmental programs. Click HERE to view the Senate letter. Other senators on the letter include John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); Ted Cruz (R-Texas); Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); Pat Roberts (R-Kan.); David Vitter (R-La.); Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.); John Cornyn (R-Texas); Jim Risch (R-Idaho); Marco Rubio; (R-Fla.); Mike Crapo (R-Idaho); Roger Wicker (R-Miss.); Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.); Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.); Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa); Roy Blunt (R-Mo.); John Boozman (R-Ark.); Mike Johanns (R-Neb.); Tim Scott (R-S.C.); Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); Jerry Moran (R-Kan.); Rand Paul (R-Ky.); Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-receives-manufacturers%E2%80%99-award,Smith Receives Manufacturers Award,2014-10-21,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has been named a recipient of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence.  The award is based on his votes in the 113th Congress on issues critical to manufacturing in the United States.  Congressman Smith said, “I appreciate this recognition by the National Association of Manufacturers because of the important role manufacturing plays in economic growth and job creation in the Third District.  I will continue working with our manufacturers to ensure federal policy does not undermine rural America’s success in serving the needs of domestic and foreign consumers.” “Manufacturers in Nebraska and throughout the United States are making a comeback, creating jobs, making more products and making them better than ever before,” said NAM Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse.  “However, manufacturers are often disproportionately impacted by decisions made by policymakers in Washington.  The NAM is proud to stand with lawmakers like Rep. Smith who understand what is at stake and seek to implement policies that will foster innovation, growth and competitiveness.” The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states.  Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, and contributes $2.08 trillion to the U.S. economy every year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=3FAC6DC3-5887-4896-A833-16CD0950947B,"Fischer, Booker, Ayotte, Schatz Request Commerce Committee Hearing on Internet of Things",2014-10-20,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) all members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation have written committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-S.D.) requesting an oversight hearing on the future of the Internet of Things and consumer wearable technologies.The rapidly developing market of health wearables, connected homes, and other novel solutions represents an expanding industry of consumer products. The proliferation of these products gives rise to a number of policy questions, including security, privacy, manufacturing, regulatory certainty, and public-sector application. The senators write,Now is the time to start building a robust public record through testimony and questions.The Senate Commerce Committee has the most relevant jurisdiction over these matters because of its authority over the broadband economy and consumer protection issues.Smart policy can best result from an open, collaborative process and dialogue generated by our committee. Full text of the letter is available below and the signed letter is available onlineHERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/stopping-latest-federal-power-grab,Stopping the Latest Federal Power Grab,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"While Congress has been out of session, I have spent the last few weeks traveling Nebraska’s Third District meeting with constituents and listening to your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. One of the issues I have heard most about is the Waters of the United States (WOTUS).  This proposal would allow the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to expand federal regulatory powers over waters of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act. The word “navigable” was included in the Clean Water Act more than 80 times in order to limit the jurisdiction of the federal government on farms, ranches, man-made conveyances, and other local water jurisdictions. Attempts to alter this interpretation without Congressional approval are a clear overreach of statutory authority and clearly defy the intent of the law.  Further, this change could severely harm Nebraska’s agriculture economy. Common Sense Nebraska, a coalition of Nebraska organizations which have come together in response to the WOTUS proposal released a report this week detailing the many problems this rule would cause for our state.  The report was compiled by former director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) Mike Linder and indicates the rule would increase costs and uncertainty for agriculture producers. Linder’s analysis confirms the proposal would “impose a blanket jurisdictional determination over thousands of acres of private property” causing “unnecessary property restrictions and uncertainty as to what that actually means to a farmer or rancher.”  This finding refutes the EPA’s claims the rule would not have much effect on farmers and ranchers. As beneficiaries of clean water, Nebraska producers take numerous steps to protect the natural resources of our state.  We all agree safeguards are necessary, but this proposed rule ignores safeguards already in place, and steps NDEQ has taken to work with producers to protect our water. I have written the EPA and Army Corps to express my objections to this plan, and many Nebraskans are speaking out as well.  The EPA recently announced it would extend the comment period until November 14, 2014.  While this delay is a positive development, I question their motive of moving the deadline for comments on this economically disastrous rule until after the midterm elections. I encourage all interested Nebraskans to continue making their voices heard on this rule at: https://www.regulations.gov.  We have fought this overreach before, and we must continue to let the EPA and other agencies know where we stand.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141018220755/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1084,Fortenberry Calls for Stringent Travel Restrictions for Countries Affected by Ebola,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement about the Ebola crisis: “It’s time for the President and Congress to implement stringent travel restrictions to and from countries stricken by Ebola. This is an unprecedented epidemic and the first response needs to build confidence. This is not a political issue, it’s a public safety issue. This policy should allow for the necessary medical equipment and personnel to be moved into place to fight the virus and respond to any other significant humanitarian concerns.” “On another note, I just finished a conversation with Raj Shah, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, who just returned from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. They are on the ground primarily in Liberia fighting Ebola. In a bit of good news, Dr. Shah informs me that the exponential rate of growth of the disease is slowing through isolation and infection control at its source. Basic interventions such as rapid burial of the dead are beginning to contain the growth of the disease.” Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133927/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1083,Fortenberry Calls for Stringent Travel Restrictions for Countries Affected by Ebola,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement about the Ebola crisis: “It’s time for the President and Congress to implement stringent travel restrictions to and from countries stricken by Ebola. This is an unprecedented epidemic and the first response needs to build confidence. This is not a political issue, it’s a public safety issue. This policy should allow for the necessary medical equipment and personnel to be moved into place to fight the virus and respond to any other significant humanitarian concerns.” “On another note, I just finished a conversation with Raj Shah, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, who just returned from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. They are on the ground primarily in Liberia fighting Ebola. In a bit of good news, Dr. Shah informs me that the exponential rate of growth of the disease is slowing through isolation and infection control at its source. Basic interventions such as rapid burial of the dead are beginning to contain the growth of the disease.” Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141017000942/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398125,Terry Calls for Commercial Flight Ban from Africa Prior to House Energy and Commerce Oversight Hearing on Ebola,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Calls for Commercial Flight Ban from Africa Prior to House Energy and Commerce Oversight Hearing on Ebola f t # e OMAHA, NE, Oct 16 U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement calling for a ban on commercial flights from African countries that have seen an outbreak of the Ebola virus ahead of today’s House Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee hearing on Ebola:  “I believe that it is essential for public safety that we immediately ban commercial flights from those countries that have seen an outbreak of the Ebola virus. We must take the appropriate steps to safeguard our communities from this deadly disease. During today’s Ebola hearing in Washington, this option will no doubt be discussed and I hope that President makes an expeditious decision to protect our communities and the American people.” f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141017133125/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1082,Fortenberry Announces Brigadier General Donald Bacon Joins Staff,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry announced that Brigadier General Donald Bacon has joined his staff upon retirement from the United States Air Force. Bacon will be based in the Bellevue area as an advisor on military issues and constituent outreach. “I am pleased to welcome Brigadier General Bacon to my staff,” Fortenberry said. “Don has an extensive knowledge of military issues and will be an asset to my staff. I know Don and his family are glad to be home in Nebraska.” Bacon served 29 years in the Air Force. He had four assignments in the 55th Wing, headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, and one assignment to Strategic Air Command, now known as United States Strategic Command. Bacon served as the 55th Wing Commander at Offutt Air Force Base and was most recently assigned to the Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon in the Intelligence Directorate. Congressman Fortenberry has offices in Lincoln, Norfolk, and Fremont. More information on these offices can be found at http://fortenberry.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=5965106D-6017-4595-BC5D-2B8059812EB9,Fischer Sends Letter to CDC Questioning Strategy on Ebola,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) sent a letter today to Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expressing her concern that the CDC's efforts so far have not been sufficiently proactive in addressing instances of Ebola in the United States. Despite the excellent care provided to patients at medical facilities like the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the CDC and federal partners have failed to adequately anticipate next steps and confusion persists regarding proper protocols, screening, and the treatment of Ebola patients. Fischer wrote,The federal government must be vigilant in evaluating all options to help identify, better manage, and actively fight the spread of Ebola.We need to be better prepared.We need better coordination and leadership that ends the current pattern of being one step behind this public health crisis. Fischer specifically requested that Frieden further explain the administration's rationale against imposing a travel ban on infected regions in West Africa, asking,Is it possible to impose a ban on unnecessary travel while at the same time enacting processes that permit the flow of aid and healthcare workers to the region? Fischer also asked for more details about the protocols for tracing and notifying citizens who may come into contact with confirmed Ebola patients. Full text of the letter is available below. A signed copy is available onlineHERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=784D6273-F405-4F27-9550-A97729028197,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours In York and Seward Counties,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington U.S.Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced today that her staff will be holding local office hours inSeward and York Counties on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. These office hours serve as a convenient opportunity for constituents to meet with staff regarding federal casework assistance or other issues at the federal level. Sarah Skinner, Constituent Services Representative for Fischer, will be holding local office hours at the times and locations below: Seward County Local Office Hours 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. CST Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Seward Civic Center Room 2 616 Bradford Street Seward, NE York County Local Office Hours 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. CST Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Kilgore Memorial Library Meeting Room 520 Nebraska Avenue York, NE",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/addressing-regulatory-barriers-success,Addressing the Regulatory Barriers to Success,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"There are many barriers to our increased financial and economic success including time, capital, and taxes.  One of the hidden obstacles to economic growth is the built-in cost of federal regulations on the products we buy and costs of living.  However, a new study by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is shedding light on the costs of regulation to our economy. The NAM study found federal regulations cost our economy more than $2 trillion per year.  While many regulations serve as important safeguards to ensure opportunity, safety, and health, I hear from many Nebraskans about the negative impacts of unnecessary regulations on their lives and livelihoods. I launched my Regulation Rewind project earlier this year to track how I am working to address the government-imposed rules directly affecting Nebraskans. For example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has held up approval of a renewal license for the Crow Butte Mine in Dawes County for more than seven years, and continues to delay decisions on critical expansion sites nearby.  The mine has operated safely for more than two decades, producing uranium for our nation’s nuclear fleet and contributing tens of millions of dollars to Nebraska’s economy. In July, I wrote to the NRC along with Senator Johanns and Senator Fischer to request an update on the applications and reasons for the delay.  In August, the NRC responded, but only said it hoped to make a decision on the requests next year.  Continuing to stall hurts not only the company, but also the community, especially as it relates to education funding. Other examples of regulatory overreach include new rules by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which forced the Department of Defense to end the transfer of excess vehicles to state and local firefighting agencies.  Through these programs, the Nebraska Forest Service has 570 refurbished vehicles on loan to 250 volunteer fire districts.  These vehicles play a critical role in the defense against wildfires for volunteer fire departments which protect 99 percent of Nebraska’s land against wildfires. In response, I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Defense, which was able to work out an agreement with the EPA to keep this program going.  I also cosponsored the Firefighter Equipment Protection Act which would ensure this does not happen again. To learn more about my efforts to overcome the regulatory barriers to Nebraska’s success, please visit my website at: https://adriansmith.house.gov/regulationrewind.  And please continue to let me know how government overreach unnecessarily complicates your business or life.  Together we can fight back and make a real difference.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=c453f6a1-3f0b-48d7-9ea4-476d0bb91266,Fischer Accepting Applications for Spring Internship Program,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington – U. S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) is now accepting applications for her spring internship program. Applications are due by November 15. Internships are available in Fischer’s Washington D.C. office, as well as her offices in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney. This paid program runs from January through April of 2015. While all students are encouraged to apply, priority is given to Nebraskans and students attending a Nebraska university or college. To apply for an internship or to learn more about the program, visit https://www.fischer.senate.gov/internships.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=8CA37574-017A-49DE-99D7-0BBBC961EFD0,Fischer Joins Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Consider Rural Impact Before Finalizing Health Care Policies,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined a bipartisan group of 34 senators in expressing their concern to the Administration that federal rules for health care facilities do not adequately consider the impact these decisions have on rural communities. In a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner, the senators pressed for details about how the agency is incorporating rural health care experts earlier in rule-drafting, and called for comprehensive information on the rulemaking process. Noting that recent policy decisions have not adequately reflected the reality of health care delivery in rural areas, the senators called on CMS to work toward practices and standards that take rural health facilities into account during its initial rulemaking process. Such efforts would help make sure seniors, families, veterans, and others can access the services they need in their communities, rather than forcing them to travel long distances for care. We remain concerned these policy decisions do not reflect the reality of providing care in rural communities, and we request additional details on these consultation efforts in advance of future rulemaking, said the senators. The proportion of elderly rural Americans continues to grow, and even small policy changes or incremental payment adjustments have a significant impact on access to care in rural areas. Medicare beneficiaries should be able to obtain care within their own communities when possible, and we are committed to ensuring federal policies recognize and incorporate the unique challenges rural providers face. ClickHEREto view the letter, which is supported by the National Rural Health Association and the American Hospital Association. Other senators on the letter include Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Tester (D-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), David Vitter (R-La.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141017011804/http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=81b73794-c3cf-4935-84cf-16bbc4bf015f,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours In Grand Island,2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), announced Local Office Hours on October 21, 2014, in Grand Island. Staff will be on hand to meet with residents in the area to take their concerns and assist them with problems with federal agencies.  Time: 11:00 a.m. – Noon CSTDate: Tuesday, October 21, 2014Location: Grand Island Chamber Office Board Room 309 West Second Street Grand Island, Neb. 68802 For questions, contact Julie Brooker at Julie_Brooker@fischer.senate.gov or 308.234.2361.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141020101504/http://www.fischer.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/news?ID=6879f991-feef-4254-975e-cc78d50e94e2,Fischer Announces Local Office Hours In Grand Island,2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced Local Office Hours on October 21, 2014, in Grand Island. Julie Brooker, Central Nebraska Director of Constituent Services, will be on hand to meet with residents in the area to hear their concerns and assist them with problems regarding federal agencies. Time:               11:00 a.m. – Noon CST                                                 Date:                Tuesday, October 21, 2014                                                 Location:         Grand Island Chamber Office Board Room                                                                         309 West Second Street                                                                         Grand Island, NE 68802   For questions, contact Julie Brooker at Julie_Brooker@fischer.senate.gov or 308-234-2361.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=d823db56-a73a-4ac9-b012-554a0a47af5f,"Fischer, King Survey U.S. Nuclear Weapons Facilities in New Mexico",2014-10-06,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine), members of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which has oversight of the country’s nuclear weapons enterprise, toured the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico. The national laboratories are responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent for the United States and for other science-related functions in support of U.S. national security interests. “This week I had the opportunity to visit our nation’s nuclear weapons laboratories,” Fischer said. “These unique facilities and the exceptional employees that work there maintain the nuclear weapons that STRATCOM relies on to defend our nation.  Nuclear deterrence remains the ultimate safeguard for American security and it would not be possible without the hard working men and women who make up our nuclear enterprise.” During their visit, the senators toured the nuclear weapons complex, met with leaders and scientists, expressed their gratitude to the workforce for their important contributions, and gained a better understanding of the issues and challenges associated with the senators’ responsibilities on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. The Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is responsible for oversight of United States nuclear and strategic forces; intelligence programs; space programs; cyber space programs; Department of Energy defense nuclear and environmental programs; and ballistic missile defense. Fischer will also visit Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California this week Photo 1, from left to right: Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, Lieutenant General (Retired) Frank Klotz; U.S. Senator Angus King; U.S. Senator Deb Fischer; Laboratory Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Charlie McMillan at Los Alamos National Laboratory",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/largest-agriculture-district-america,The Largest Agriculture District in America,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"The economy, culture, and values of rural America are largely shaped by agriculture.  This is especially true of Nebraska’s Third Congressional District.  We are incredibly grateful for the contributions and innovations of our ag producers which not only fuel our economy, but feed the world.  A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) now confirms the Third District is the largest agriculture district in America based on total value of products sold.  We are the second largest district in value of livestock and poultry, and the third in value of crops. Because of the incredible success of our agriculture producers, it is more important now than ever for federal policy to support their efforts rather than undermine them.  Implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill is an important step in this process, which will provide farmers with a choice of a price or revenue-based assistance if there is a loss.  The new Farm Bill eliminates direct payments, counter-cyclical payments and the ACRE program.  In their place, three programs were created for covered commodities or program crops: Agriculture Risk Coverage, County Option (ARC-CO), Agriculture Risk Coverage, Individual Farm Coverage (ARC-IC), and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) with the option to buy the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) on insurance.  Farmers will be able to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to learn more about these tools and make the best decision for their operation.  Producers will have through early spring of 2015 to select a program. The new Farm Bill increased funding for outreach to the next generation of producers, including beginning farmers and veterans.  This concept is not new in the State of Nebraska, which has been recognized nationally for its success in recruiting beginning farmers and ranchers.  Recently I had the opportunity to visit a veteran participating in the “Homegrown by Heroes” marketing program which has helped start and grow a business in the heart of the Third District.  Additionally, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture offers initiatives like the “100-cow” program for beginning farmers and the “Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots” program for veterans.  These are great examples of innovative ways to get young people involved in farming and support those who have served our country in uniform.     As we continue to look for ways to expand production at home it is also important to open new markets for our products abroad.  We are producing an abundance of affordable, nutritious food which could help feed people around the world while befitting our consumers at home.  The Third District is currently the fifth largest exporter of agricultural goods. With the continued success of agriculture, we must remain vigilant and responsive to the needs of producers to foster their continued growth.  Smart policy and continued innovation will help feed the world, and producers and rural America to thrive.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20141003131223/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1078,Fortenberry Calls for Congress to Return to Washington,2014-09-30,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Lincoln, NE – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today called for Congress to return to Washington to debate the circumstances and authority for military action in the Middle East.   “The dynamics of the situation in the Middle East continue to shift rapidly,” Fortenberry said. “While I am supportive of the President’s use of airstrikes within the framework of an international coalition, the complexities and possible duration of the effort demand Congressional oversight and possible authorization. Congress needs to be intimately involved on questions of duration and the extent of the action.”       “The President is relying on legal justifications for the military action from post-9/11 authority granted by Congress at that time,” Fortenberry continued. “The time elapsed and current circumstances are different enough to warrant a review. Considering the scope of the military action and the serious nature of the ISIL threat, we should not wait until November for a constructive debate on the legal authority and the President’s plan.”    “Ultimately, this is about following the constitutionally mandated relationship between the Administration and Congress on serious issues of national security,” Fortenberry said. “Many Nebraskans are understandably concerned.”   Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.     ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=b198253d-7879-4389-84f4-a2f36aa660d2,"Fischer, Johanns Press for Answers on Federal Land Acquisitions and Habitat Construction",2014-09-29,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Mike Johann (R-Neb.) today wrote to the Army Corps of Engineers and Fish and Wildlife Service pressing for answers about private land acquisitions and habitat construction along the Missouri River in Northeast Nebraska. The letter questions the federal government’s strategy to preserve fish and wildlife along the river in light of a scientific report suggesting that the habitat construction projects are not effective and concerns raised by citizens about the projects’ impacts to private property. Taxpayers have already spent millions of dollars on these projects, and the Army Corps is planning to spend millions more, with little or no evidence of effectiveness. “We do not believe that the costs and scale of federal acquisitions along the Missouri River can be justified when the scientific evidence of their efficacy in preserving these species seems to be hypothetical,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to cease burning through taxpayer dollars acquiring land and constructing habitat until evidence demonstrates that these projects are actually effective in species restoration"". Click HERE to view the letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=52C89448-AE48-4BD4-9EDD-918D54F31B66,Fischer Announces Northeast Nebraska Staff,2014-09-29,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced that a member of her staff, Tiffany Settles, will be based in Norfolk to serve as a Constituent Services Representative responsible for northeast Nebraska. Fischer released the following statement: I'm fortunate to have a hardworking staff member based in Norfolk to help me serve northeast Nebraska. As your U.S. senator, I'm dedicated to ensuring that all Nebraskans have access to me and my staff so that we can receive your feedback and offer our assistance with problems related to the federal government. Contact information for Tiffany Settles is below: Post Office Box 1021 Norfolk, Nebraska 68702 Phone: (402) 200-8816 Senator Fischer also has state offices in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney, and Scottsbluff with staff available to assist Nebraskans with federal casework and other issues at the federal level. More information on these offices can be found online HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=9E0C3478-8434-44D2-BC3C-335A180E5C01,Fischer Calls on FCC to Follow Through with Process to Improve Rural Telephone Service,2014-09-29,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Committee, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to follow through with plans to improve telephone service in rural areas. Nebraskans depend on consistent, reliable telephone service to not only stay connected with friends and family, but also to conduct business and ensure public safety, Fischer said. Whether you live in rural areas or urban centers with outdated infrastructure, dependable modern communications is a necessity. Unfortunately, call completion issues persist, impacting Nebraskans across the state. The FCC needs to follow through on its order to address the concerns raised by rural Americans and improve telephone service quality and reliability for all Americans. In May of 2013, Fischer led a bipartisan Senate resolution urging telephone companies to provide the same access to reliable service to all areas of the United States. It also urged the FCC to aggressively pursue companies that violated call completion rules. In October of 2013, the FCC unanimously approved an order to address call completion problems. However, since the comment period closed in February 2014, the FCC has failed to take action needed to collect data on call completion issues. Call completion issues range from calls that are extremely poor in quality, to frequently dropped calls, to calls that simply do not complete. Nine other senators cosigned the letter with Fischer: Mike Enzi, (R-Wyo.); John Barrasso, (R-Wyo); John Thune, (R-S.D.); Pat Roberts, (R-Kan.); James Inhofe, (R-Okla.); Jerry Moran, (R-Kan.); John Boozman, (R-Ark.); John Hoeven, (R-N.D.); and Orrin Hatch, (R-Utah).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/call-support-ukraine,A Call to Support Ukraine,2014-09-26,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"On September 18th I had the honor of attending a historic address to a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine.  It was a remarkable speech in which President Poroshenko discussed our shared values, the challenges facing his country, and the need for more American support for the democratically-elected government of Ukraine against Russian-backed separatists. The opportunity for a foreign leader to address both chambers of Congress is a rare gesture of unity and solidarity between our two countries.  Unfortunately, our support of Ukraine has also been largely symbolic.  President Poroshenko’s speech was a call to action and now is the time to do more to support Ukraine. In February of this year, Russian and Russian-backed forces invaded the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, and set up an illegal referendum for the region to succeed from Ukraine.  Because the region was occupied by a foreign force, this referendum has no legitimacy.  Shortly after the referendum passed, Russia “annexed” the territory in blatant violation of accepted international law and specifically in violation of a treaty signed by the United States, Britain, Russia, and Ukraine guaranteeing their sovereign territory. Since then, the world has watched as Russia continues to arm and support separatists fighting the Ukrainian government.  The separatists likely used Russian military equipment to shoot down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 killing nearly 300 innocent people, including an American citizen.  There still has been no one held accountable for this unprecedented and horrific act. The United States and European nations have placed sanctions on Russia, but it is debatable what effect if any these efforts have had.  Out of fear of upsetting Russia we have limited our assistance to Ukraine to non-lethal aid.  During his speech, President Poroshenko expressed his gratitude for what we have done so far but added, “one cannot win a war with blankets!” President Poroshenko then urged the United States to give the Ukrainian democracy the resources and tools it needs to stand against a much more powerful aggressor.  He did not ask for direct American military involvement, and repeatedly stressed his desire for a peaceful solution to this conflict.  I agree and believe we must do more while we have the opportunity to help this nation defend their sovereign territory.  We must also show our friends in the region we will not allow this Russian aggression and expansion to continue. The United States has historically been the greatest source of good, and the greatest champion for democracy in the world.  As we have seen too often in the last year, when America backs down our enemies are emboldened and seize the opportunity in their own interests.  We must not forget the challenges facing Ukraine, and we must support democracy and the rule of law over invasion and oppression.  We need to reassert our leadership in the world, not to produce confrontation – but to ensure peace.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=f222968f-e7ba-462b-832c-95f52eb26c3c,Fischer Deadline for Service Academy Applications is October 15,2014-09-26,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, is accepting applications for military service academy nominations for the class of 2019 through October 15, 2014. Fischer encourages all eligible students interested in attending the United States Air Force Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy, United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy to apply. “Military service academies are a great opportunity for young and talented Nebraskans to receive a top-tier education and begin a rewarding career in military service,” Fischer said. “Selecting the next generation of military leaders is among my most rewarding responsibilities as a U.S. Senator. I am grateful to all our nominees and their families for their interest in serving our nation.” For more information on applying to a military service academy, click HERE or contact Chase Kratochvil at (402) 391-3411.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140627031455/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=386106,Terry Statement on Border Crisis,2014-09-26,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Statement on Border Crisis f t # e Washington, Sep 26 Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement on the crisis at the nation’s southern border: “The President’s silence has been deafening. He has yet to address the American public about this issue and I believe the American people have a right to know the extent of engagement our government has had with other countries involved.  This humanitarian crisis on our southern border is heart breaking and it pains me to see so many children suffering.  “I’m extremely concerned that there is human trafficking inside our borders and hundreds of underage children are being forced into the sex trade industry. To solve this crisis it’s going to take a lot more than wasting American taxpayer dollars to fund COPS grants and anti-gang prevention programs in foreign countries. What is the President doing about this? Without leveling with the American people, he’s leaving the impression that he’s aiding and abetting potential criminal alien acts.  “Both Speaker Boehner and Texas Governor Rick Perry have written to the President suggesting that the National Guard be called upon to provide humanitarian assistance and allow the border patrol to focus on its core mission. At a minimum, the President should execute these requests to restore law and order and expedite relief to these thousands of children. “I’m prepared to take appropriate steps and in the next few days and will ask Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson about a request for information issued in January of this year seeking bids on escort services for unaccompanied alien children.  By soliciting information so far in advance, it begs the question: did the administration know and fail to inform Congress?” # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=ca91c505-4ceb-4c35-a1e4-8bba1017e60e,Delegation Statement Following Meeting With VA Secretary,2014-09-23,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Nebraska’s Congressional delegation today issued the following statement after meeting with Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert McDonald to discuss options for modernizing care received by our veterans: “This meeting was productive and allowed us to discuss with Secretary McDonald the growing need to replace the Omaha Veterans Hospital,” said Sens. Deb Fischer and Mike Johanns and Reps. Lee Terry, Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith. “Nebraskans are committed to caring for our veterans. We are glad the Secretary shares that view and sees the value in working with Nebraska’s delegation to reach the mutual goal of providing effective care for our veterans.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140925235740/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394358,Terry Statement on Airstrikes in Syria,2014-09-23,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Statement on Airstrikes in Syria f t # e Washington, Sep 23 Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, today made the following statement in response to President Obama’s ordered airstrikes over Syria:  “We must be vigilant in rooting out terrorism wherever it exists and I support the President’s order for airstrikes against ISIL. My thoughts are with the men and women serving our country at home and abroad and I pray for their safe return.”  # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=012D85C0-13A4-4009-8867-80D8C1F4CF85,Fischer Announces New Office in Kearney,2014-09-22,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer announced today the opening of her new state office in Kearney, Nebraska. Julie Booker, Central Nebraska Director of Constituent Services, is the main office contact for the Kearney location. Fischer released the following statement: As a U.S. senator, remaining in close contact with Nebraskans is one of my top priorities. An office location in Kearney will help me directly reach more Nebraskans to listen to their input and provide them with assistance with problems related to the federal government. I urge all Nebraskans to contact any of my offices to share their thoughts or concerns, or to receive assistance we're here to help. Contact information for Fischer's Kearney office is below: Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer 20 West 23rdStreet Kearney, NE 68847 Phone: 308-234-2361 Fax: 308-234-3684 Senator Fischer also has state offices in Lincoln, Omaha and Scottsbluff with staff available to assist Nebraskans with federal casework and other issues at the federal level. More information on these offices can be found onlineHERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/obamacare-update-one-year-later,Obamacare Update - One Year Later,2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"As we approach the one year anniversary of the launch of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, it is appropriate to review how continued implementation of the law is affecting the American people and our health care system.  Many problems persist a year after the law debuted with disastrous technical glitches, dropped coverage for millions of Americans, loss of doctors, hundreds of new regulations, increased premiums, and other broken promises. Many Nebraskans have told me their health care costs increased dramatically after implementation of the law last year.  Forced minimum coverage requirements mean Americans have fewer options to find plans which meet their unique health needs and budgets.  These mandates were so restrictive, nine insurance companies decided to not offer health insurance on the individual market in our state at all. Last year, a Manhattan Institute study found Nebraskans would pay up to 74 percent more on the individual market for health insurance after the implementation of Obamacare.  Last week, we found out rates would increase again.  The Nebraska Department of Insurance announced some individual plans would increase by as much as 19 percent due to the Obamacare mandates. While many of the technical problems which plagued the infamous Obamacare online exchange last year have been ironed out, many risks remain.  Security experts have repeatedly warned Americans’ personal information is vulnerable to hacking and theft on the online system which is not adequately safeguarded. This month, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the Obamacare website was hacked, although they maintain no personal information was accessed.  Even so, the incident is deeply troubling as Americans prepare for another round of Obamacare open enrollment during which millions of Americans will share their information and shop for insurance through the online exchange. Millions of tax dollars are at risk during the open enrollment period as well.  As I learned during a Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing last week, eligibility for tax credits is automatically extended unless Americans log back on to the online exchanges and update their information.  Because the Obama Administration continues to delay reporting requirements for the employer-mandate, it will be very difficult for the Internal Revenue Service to confirm those receiving tax credits are in fact eligible. House Republicans have offered hundreds of potential solutions to these and other problems with the health care law.  I am hopeful a new Congress and continued opposition to the disastrous consequences of Obamacare will encourage all sides to work together to reduce complexity, decrease costs, and increase access to care for all Americans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=912B00A6-0DBD-426A-A69D-723E216AC609,Fischer Supports Continuing Resolution,2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted against advancing the continuing resolution which includes $500 million to train and arm Syrian rebels but voted in favor of the overall measure: At a recent Armed Services Committee hearing, I explained my firm belief that Congress owes the American people a full, honest debate on the president's plan to destroy ISIL. Make no mistake, ISIL is a threat to our allies and a threat to our homeland. The president's request for funding to arm and train Syrian rebels is simply step one' in what will likely be, at a minimum, a 3-5 year effort. General Martin Dempsey testified to me that it will take 8-12 months to train the rebels before they are fit for combat. In other words, there is a long road ahead. I strongly object to Congress heading home to campaign rather than staying and debating the president's full strategy. We were elected to do a job. That's why I voted against ending debate. At the same time, doing nothing in the face of a growing threat is simply not an option. It's important for Congress and the president to show the world that the United States will stand up and lead. Accordingly, I supported the final measure. The president's plan is not a silver bullet. He has promised the American people both swift action and the ultimate destruction of ISIL.It's clear that aggressive American airstrikes will be necessary. I believe the president should seek congressional authorization for a sustained air campaign to weaken ISIL forces, restrict their freedom of movement, and strike their economic lifelines wherever they exist.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-receives-guardian-small-business-award,Smith Receives Guardian of Small Business Award,2014-09-18,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has been named a Guardian of Small Business for his record of voting for policies which support America’s small-businesses during the 113th Congress.  The award is given by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business association.  “Federal policy should support America’s small businesses, not undermine their hard work with burdensome regulations, a complicated and uncompetitive tax code, and new health care mandates,” said Congressman Smith.  “I appreciate this recognition by the NFIB and their members, and I will continue to support pro-growth policies.” NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner said, “The record shows that Rep. Smith is a true champion of small business, supporting the votes that matter in the 113th Congress.  This award reflects our members’ appreciation for supporting the NFIB pro-growth agenda for small business.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=5E6971F1-8ADF-4E93-9FD5-0164A205A674,Fischer Congratulates Circle C Market for its National Recognition,2014-09-18,2014,2014-09,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 congratulating Stacey Adamson, Tracee Ford, students at the Cody-Kilgore High School, and the entire Cody community for Circle C Market's national recognition as an American Graduate Champion: The tireless efforts of Stacey Adamson and Tracee Ford to lead their neighbors and build a student-run grocery store have revitalized their entire community. Their dedication to Cody and the students of Cody-Kilgore High School has transformed a clever idea into a valuable educational tool and an economically important reality. I congratulate Stacey and Tracee for their national recognition as American Graduate Champions' and thank them for their work to empower students and enrich their community. American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen is a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting dedicated to recognizing and promoting efforts to keep youth on track to graduation. A NET video recognizing the Circle C Market is available online here:http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/learning-services/american-graduate-champions-stacy-adamson-tracee-ford. More information on Circle C Market is available on their website:http://www.circlecmarket.com/",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-supports-action-against-isis,Smith Supports Action Against ISIS,2014-09-17,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted to authorize the Department of Defense to arm and train Syrian opposition forces fighting  both the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as well as the regime of Bashar al-Assad. “ISIS clearly poses a threat to American interests and allies, and they must be stopped,” said Congressman Smith.  “While I continue to have concerns about certain aspects of the President’s plan, I believe the Commander in Chief needs flexibility to address threats to our nation which includes eliminating any safe havens for our enemies.  The Administration must ensure the groups we support are carefully screened and trained, and American weapons and resources do not end up in the wrong hands.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140918192844/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393917,Terry Statement on ISIL,2014-09-17,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Statement on ISIL f t # e Washington, Sep 17 U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement on the President’s plan to train and equip vetted groups in Syria to fight ISIL: “Today, I voted against the President’s request to equip and train so-called moderate opposition groups from Syria to fight ISIL.  I did so because I don’t believe the President’s plan is a solid, coherent strategy.  I have a hard time committing American resources to a group of people I’m not sure we can trust. “Regardless of the merits of his plan, the President already has the authority under current law to confront ISIL within the borders of Iraq.  He doesn’t need our vote today. The fact of the matter is that the President has simply chosen not to lead.  We’re in this position today because the President refused to take the advice of his generals to leave residual forces in Iraq.  ISIL filled the vacuum he created.” “ISIL is clearly a threat. When the President finally decides to lead with a coherent strategy, that is when he should come to Congress.” # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140919125619/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1075,Fortenberry Statement on Syrian Opposition to ISIL,2014-09-17,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) issued the following statement after voting for an amendment to arm and train some moderate Syrians in their war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The amendment passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 273-156. “Several months ago, I offered an amendment to stop potential American arms from flowing to the Syrian opposition in their war against Assad. Today, with certain reservations, I supported an amendment to arm and train certain vetted Syrians in their war against ISIL. Frankly, this was one of the most difficult judgment calls I’ve made in Congress. ""My earlier amendment was introduced at a time when there was no broad strategy for success, only the possibility of ad hoc action that might have made an already terrible situation worse. Today, however, there is a comprehensive strategy developing against ISIL—a grave threat not only to the Middle East, but to American national security. “ISIL is better financed, better armed, commands more territory, and boasts a larger army than al-Qaeda ever has in its dark history. Its twisted religious ideology is eighth century barbarism wielding 21st century weaponry. They behead, they crucify, and they rape. They march under a black banner of death. “This new amendment is narrowly tailored with appropriate benchmarks and aggressive oversight. However, bipartisan concerns about weaponizing supposedly moderate Syrians in a battleground of shifting loyalties are still justified. We are now managing low expectations in Syria when we should be focused on a complete discussion of the overall strategy against ISIL. One thing has to be clear and must continually be made clear: this is the world’s problem, not America’s problem alone. “In the end, faced with ISIL’s ongoing savagery, we must remember that action has risks, but that the consequences of inaction are too grave to ignore. ISIL is a threat to all innocent persons and a threat to civilization itself.” Fortenberry gave a speech before the House of Representatives yesterday on the danger of ISIL, which can be viewed here. Fortenberry serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the House Caucus on Religious Minorities in the Middle East. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-welcomes-%E2%80%98angel-adoption%E2%80%99-us-capitol,Smith Welcomes Angel in Adoption to U.S. Capitol,2014-09-16,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Smith Welcomes ‘Angel in Adoption’ to U.S. Capitol Sep 16, 2014 Today, Congressman Adrian Smith welcomed Gloria Becker of Minden to the U.S. Capitol.  Becker is the 2014 Angels in Adoption honoree for Nebraska’s Third District for helping families work through the challenges of adopting foster children as a Parent2Parent advocate for Right Turn.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=abbb060a-5bd5-4766-904a-0af584784b8f,"Fischer, Heitkamp Statements on EPA Extending Public Comment Period on New Rule",2014-09-16,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Fischer and Heitkamp Led a Majority of the Senate in Calling on the EPA to Provide Time to Review Broad Proposal  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today issued the following statements after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) heeded their request to extend the public comment period on the agency’s proposed rule to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The extension period comes on the heels of Fischer and Heitkamp’s effort to lead 53 Senators last week in a bipartisan call for the EPA to provide additional time to allow all stakeholders to fully review and offer comments on its new proposal. Noting the incredibly broad and complex nature of the agency’s new rule, Fischer, Heitkamp, and the other Senators argued that more time was necessary to fully assess issues and coordinate meaningful responses. The Senators released the following statements: “Nebraska’s public power utilities are very grateful for the extra time to consider and comment on EPA’s proposal,” said Fischer. “Nebraskans would be disproportionately impacted by the rule, and it is extremely important that these effects are well analyzed and that the concerns of stakeholders can be communicated and considered.” “It's good for all sides that the EPA listened to the bipartisan group of Senators that Senator Fischer and I led by providing more time to review these complex new rules so states, utilities and others potentially impacted by them can comment on them,"" said Heitkamp. ""We need real, workable solutions for implementing rules that reduce emissions, but do not hinder job growth or the reliability of our electrical system and that recognize the important role of coal-fired power in our generating mix for the foreseeable future. To accomplish that, everyone impacted by the rules should be able to have a say, and this extension helps allow that to happen."" In May, Fischer and Heitkamp led 47 Senators in in requesting that the agency grant at least 120 days for public comment on its new proposal on existing power plants. When the 120-day public comment period was granted, the Senators heard immediately from a variety of entities in their states, including utilities, state regulators, regional generation and transmission organizations, and many more.  These entities made it known that the rule is more difficult to analyze and assess than they had initially expected. In addition, some of the issues posed by the new rule require discussions and collaboration with a variety of state, regional, and national officials provide accurate and complete comments on the feasibility of the rule and options. Click here to read a full copy of the letter Fischer and Heitkamp sent to McCarthy in May, which was signed by 47 Senators. Click here to read a full copy of the letter Fischer and Heitkamp sent to McCarthy last week, which was signed by 53 Senators.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=f8330a71-9fca-40ac-b905-025266665b18,Fischer Cosponsors Legislation to Stop EPA from Bypassing Courts to Garnish Americans Wages,2014-09-15,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, member of the Environmental and Public Works committee, announced today that she is cosponsoring legislation offered by U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns (R- Neb) and John Thune (R-S.D.) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from garnishing Americans’ wages without a court order.  The legislation specifically states EPA must receive a court order before taking any wage garnishment actions established by the 1996 Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA). The 1996 law gave federal agencies the authority to garnish up to 15 percent of a worker’s wages to pay debts owed to the federal government. Given the aggressive regulatory regime of this Administration’s EPA, particularly as it applies to rural America and agriculture, a court order is necessary to prevent overreach Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) are also original cosponsors of the Johanns-Thune bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140918192902/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393590,Terry Statement on the Death of Mike Simmonds,2014-09-13,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Statement on the Death of Mike Simmonds f t # e Washington, Sep 13 United States Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement on the death of longtime friend and metro area leader Mike Simmonds: “Mike was a self-made man who cared deeply about our community. He quietly invested in numerous local charities because he believed he had been blessed with the opportunity to give back and that’s exactly what he did. Because of Mike’s selflessness, children at Sacred Heart Elementary School and the families served by the Salvation Army have more opportunities. I will miss his friendship and counsel and the metro area will miss his leadership. “Both Robyn and I are keeping Mike’s wife Lin and their children in our prayers.” # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/eliminating-isis-threat,Eliminating the ISIS Threat,2014-09-12,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week our nation marked the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks.  We remember not only the horror of these attacks, but also the heroism, patriotism, and unity of purpose we found as a nation in their aftermath. This dark date also launched the War on Terror.  We learned the painful consequences of allowing enemies of the United States to have safe havens to organize, train, and plot against us.  We vowed to never forget this lesson, and to take action against terrorist organizations before they strike again. These lessons are still relevant and applicable today as the War on Terror continues, and we prepare to address the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  Much like al-Qaeda, and the Taliban who provided them safe haven before 9/11, these terrorists are dedicated to establishing their barbaric and savage views as widely as possible.  They use shocking brutality in an attempt to intimidate and suppress opposition. Aided by the chaos of the Syrian civil war and America’s untimely withdrawal from Iraq, ISIS has been able to seize control of a broad stretch of land in both countries.  Alarmingly, they appear to be better organized and financed, and more vicious than al-Qaeda ever was.  ISIS also poses a unique threat to the United States because possibly hundreds of their fighters carry European or American passports. After months of delay and an outpouring of concern by the American people, President Obama has announced his strategy for combatting ISIS.  I appreciate the President’s building of a broad international coalition for this effort, and his willingness to use airstrikes to attack ISIS in both Iraq and Syria.  Increased efforts to stop the financing of this group and to unravel their network of support are also appropriate. While I agree with these specific efforts and the goal of eliminating this threat, I do have some concerns about some parts of the strategy.  For one, I worry about the President’s request for additional funds from Congress to arm the so-called “moderate” forces in the Syrian opposition to fight both ISIS and the regime of Bashar al-Assad.  This may have been appropriate two or three years ago.  Now, I fear this action is unlikely to succeed and could have unintended consequences. The Syrian opposition is a fractured and decentralized group.  It would be difficult to know exactly who we are supporting, and we risk these arms ending up in the hands of other extremists – or even ISIS itself.  The Syrian civil war is a complicated and brutal conflict in which we should more carefully consider our involvement.  I am encouraged the President now understands the threat posed by ISIS, and I share his commitment to “degrade and destroy” these terrorists.  I look forward to learning more specifics about this plan, as well as listening to feedback from Nebraskans before Congress considers authorizing additional funds for expanded military operations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-reacts-president%E2%80%99s-address,Smith Reacts to Presidents Address,2014-09-11,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today responded to President Obama’s address to the nation regarding his plans to counter the threat posed by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS): “I appreciate the President addressing the American people regarding the ISIS terrorists,” said Congressman Smith.  “While America is understandably weary of foreign conflicts, ISIS clearly presents a threat to American interests and allies.  ISIS also poses a unique threat to the United States because many of their fighters carry American or European passports. “As we mark the anniversary of the attacks on September 11th 2001 and the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, we are reminded of the consequences of allowing terrorists to control territory, organize, and train unfettered.   “I am encouraged the President understands the threat posed by ISIS.  I look forward to learning more specifics about this plan, as well as listening to feedback from Nebraskans before Congress considers authorizing additional funds for expanded military operations.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-statement-911-anniversary-0,Smith Statement on 9/11 Anniversary,2014-09-11,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today released the following statement: “Today we remember not only the horror of the September 11th terrorist attacks, but also the heroism, patriotism, and unity of purpose we found as a nation in their aftermath.  On this date we also remember the second anniversary of the attacks on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya which killed four Americans including our Ambassador. “The lessons of September 11th are still applicable 13 years later.  We must continue to fight terrorism around the world because we know the threat posed by enemies of freedom when they are allowed land and resources to plot against us.  We must never forget, and we must do everything in our power to prevent such horrific attacks in the future.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140911235020/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393143,Terry Remembers 9/11,2014-09-11,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Remembers 9/11 f t # e Washington, Sep 11 U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) made the following statement on the 13th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th “Thirteen years ago today I was proud to stand with my colleagues as we vowed that we would do all we can to protect our homeland. On this Patriot Day, let us remember those innocent victims and courageous heroes who lost their lives on 9/11. Let us also remember and give thanks to those patriots who inspired us in the following days and months by offering their service in our armed forces, communities and to our nation. “May God bless the memories of the victims, their families and may He continue to bless our great nation.” # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140911235056/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393198,House Passes Common Sense Legislation Allowing Companies to Offer Same Health Care Plan,2014-09-11,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"House Passes “Common Sense” Legislation Allowing Companies to Offer Same Health Care Plan f t # e Washington, Sep 11 U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) made the following statement after the House passed the Employee Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 3522) which allows businesses to offer the plans to employees that were previously available before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act: “Just last week I was contacted by the Cornerstone Staffing Inc. based in Omaha who is currently facing hard decisions in order to be in compliance with this disastrous law. “Cornerstone Staffing is a woman-owned nine-year-old local business with a range of 150-450 temporary employees at any given time. They will now suffer due to a law that no one read. Previously they didn’t provide insurance to all temporary workers but had the flexibility to secure coverage for those workers who needed it.  “Now, Cornerstone Staffing Inc. is forced to provide coverage to all of their employees—whether they need it or not—which means they can’t afford to place as many individuals in needed jobs.   “This legislation passed today by the House will bring relief to companies like Cornerstone and their employees struggling with Obamacare and while according to the CBO, increasing government revenue by $400 million. This is common sense.” H.R. 3522 passed the House by a vote of 247-167 with Rep. Terry voting yes.  # # # f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=04E65864-C87A-4BDD-8AF5-1E32B8C378DB,"Fischer, Heitkamp Lead Majority of Senate in Bipartisan Letter Calling for More Public Comment Time",2014-09-11,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today led a bipartisan group of 53 senators in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to provide a 60-day extension for the public comment period on EPA's proposed rule to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The 53 senators expressed that because the proposal is incredibly complex and broad in scope and would impact electric generation, use, and costs throughout the country, an additional 60 days is needed to provide more time for all stakeholders to fully review it and offer comments. In May, Fischer and Heitkamp led 47 Senators in sending aletterto EPA to request the agency grant at least 120 days for public comment on its new proposal on existing power plants. While the 120-day public comment period was granted, the senators heard immediately from a variety of parties in their states, including utilities, state regulators, regional generation and transmission organizations, and many more. These parties made it known that the rule is more difficult to analyze and assess than they had initially expected. Additionally, some of the issues posed by the new rule require discussions and collaboration with a variety of state, regional, and national officials to provide accurate and complete comments on the feasibility of the rule and options. The senators state that the level of complexity of the proposal, volume of technical documents released, amount of coordination required, and magnitude of energy impacts of the rule warrant a 60-day extension of the public comment period. The senators write,This extension is critical to ensure that state regulatory agencies and other stakeholders have adequate time to fully analyze and comment on the proposal. It is also important to note that the challenge is not only one of commenting on the complexity and sweeping scope of the rule, but also providing an opportunity to digest more than 600 supporting documents released by EPA in support of this proposal. Fischer and Heitkamp were joined in their letter by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mark Begich (D-AK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Dan Coats (R-IN), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Bob Corker (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dean Heller (R-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), John McCain (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Richard Shelby (R-AL), John Thune (R-SD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), David Vitter (R-LA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). Full text of the senators' letter is below. A PDF copy is also available onlineHERE. _____________________________________ The Honorable Gina McCarthy Administrator Environmental Protection Agency U.S. EPA Headquarters William J. Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator McCarthy, We are writing to request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide a 60 day extension of the comment period for the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Generating Units. While we appreciate EPA granting an initial 120 day comment period, the complexity and magnitude of the proposed rule necessitates an extension. This extension is critical to ensure that state regulatory agencies and other stakeholders have adequate time to fully analyze and comment on the proposal. It is also important to note that the challenge is not only one of commenting on the complexity and sweeping scope of the rule, but also providing an opportunity to digest more than 600 supporting documents released by EPA in support of this proposal. The proposed rule regulates or affects the generation, transmission, and use of electricity in every corner of this country. States and stakeholders must have time to fully analyze and assess the sweeping impacts that the proposal will have on our nation's energy system, including dispatch of generation and end-use energy efficiency. In light of the broad energy impacts of the proposed rule, state environmental agencies must coordinate their comments across multiple state agencies and stakeholders, including public utility commissions, regional transmission organizations, and transmission and reliability experts, just to name a few. The proposed rule requires a thorough evaluation of intra- and inter-state, regional, and in some cases international energy generation and transmission so that states and utilities can provide the most detailed assessments on how to meet the targets while maintaining reliability in the grid. This level of coordination to comment on an EPA rule is unprecedented, extraordinary, and extremely time consuming. It is also important to note that the proposed rule imposes a heavy burden on the states during the rulemaking process. If the states want to adjust their statewide emission rate target assigned to them by EPA, they must provide their supporting documentation for the adjustment during the comment period. The EPA proposal provides no mechanism for adjusting the state emission rate targets once they are adopted based on the four building blocks. So the states need enough time to digest the rule, fully understand it, and then collect the data and justification on why their specific target may need to be adjusted, and why the assumptions of the building blocks may not apply to their states. This cannot be adequately accomplished in only 120 days. Thank you for your consideration of this request.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=d2b3db68-46f1-42db-b353-424f9c67e4fb,"Fischer, King Urge Senate Committee to Provide Regulatory Relief for Community Banks",2014-09-10,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing next week on the state of small banks in the United States, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) today urged Committee Chairman, Senator Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Ranking Member, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), to provide relief to America’s community banks struggling under the weight of shortsighted regulations. King and Fischer are authors of the RELIEVE Act, legislation to provide immediate regulatory relief to America’s small financial institutions, like community banks and credit unions, that will help them to better serve their communities.  “We wish to express our support for the need to provide regulatory relief to America’s community banks. …As you know, these financial institutions are vital to our communities: they provide access to credit for small businesses, work with borrowers who have special housing needs with properties that don’t fit conventional financing, and bolster local economies,” Senators King and Fischer wrote. “As a result of increasing regulatory burdens, mergers and consolidations have increased, new charter activity has come to a virtual standstill; and community banks’ share of total industry assets have declined. We believe this heightened regulatory environment impedes banks’ ability to be strong sources of credit for their customers, especially in rural and undeserved areas. …Without immediate relief for community banks to reduce the current regulatory burden, unhealthy consolidation of the banking industry may occur at a rapid rate.” Next Tuesday, September 16th, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing entitled, “Examining the State of Small Depository Institutions.” In July, Senators King and Fischer, along with Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), introduced the RELIEVE Act to aid smaller financial institutions struggling with onerous regulations. The bill would help lift the regulatory burden by modernizing outdated regulations, making technical corrections to the Dodd-Frank Act, and providing parity for credit unions with regard to insurance coverage of lawyer trust accounts and other escrow accounts. It’s supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Bankers Association, and the Credit Union National Association. The complete text of Senator King’s and Senator Fischer’s letter is below:   +++ September 10, 2014 The Honorable Tim Johnson                                             The Honorable Mike Crapo Chairman                                                                       Ranking Member Committee on Banking, Housing,                            Committee on Banking, Housing, and and Urban Affairs                                                                     Urban Affairs United States Senate                                                          United States Senate 534 Dirksen Senate Office Building                         534 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510                                                   Washington, D.C. 20510     Dear Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Crapo,  As the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Development Committee prepares to hold a hearing in September, we wish to express our support for the need to provide significant regulatory relief to America’s community banks.  In the aftermath of the financial crisis, we agree it is very important to determine the state of community banking in the United States. As you know, these financial institutions are vital to our communities: they provide access to credit for small businesses, work with borrowers who have special housing needs with properties that don’t fit conventional financing, and bolster local economies. As a result of increasing regulatory burdens, mergers and consolidations have increased; new charter activity has come to a virtual standstill; and community banks’ share of total industry assets has declined. We believe this heightened regulatory environment impedes banks’ ability to be strong sources of credit to their customers, especially in rural and underserved areas.  Stories of frustration from our local bankers – countless examples of burgeoning compliance staffs, onerous examinations, and the loss of valuable resources as the burden of managing regulatory responsibilities continues to increase – must be taken seriously. Without immediate relief for community banks to reduce the current regulatory burden, unhealthy consolidation of the banking industry in the United States may occur at a rapid rate.   We thank you for holding this hearing and urge you to markup legislation to identify and reduce the regulatory policies that restrain community bank lending and local economic growth.  Sincerely, Angus S. King, Jr.           Deb Fischer                 United States Senator                                                         United States Senator",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140911235058/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393126,Terry Statement on Presidents Address,2014-09-10,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Terry Statement on President’s Address f t # e Washington, Sep 10 U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) made the following statement this evening after the President addressed the nation on the ongoing threats posed by ISIS: “As we sit here on the eve of the 13th Anniversary of September 11th, the President’s address couldn’t have come at a more appropriate moment. Tomorrow’s remembrance of that fateful day should serve as a reminder that the United States must lead with steel and resolve to rid the world of radical terrorists.” # # #   f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140912130926/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1071,Fortenberry Statement on President's Address to Nation,2014-09-10,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jeff Fortenberry made the following statement after the President's address to the nation tonight:   “ISIS is a threat to all persons in the world and a threat to civilization itself. The current situation in the Middle East demands international intervention. I thought the call for a broad international coalition was the right decision. The United States cannot commit to combat troop operations but we can work with other nations to contain and degrade ISIS."" Fortenberry is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.    ###   Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jeff Fortenberry made the following statement after the President's address to the nation tonight:   “ISIS is a threat to all persons in the world and a threat to civilization itself. The current situation in the Middle East demands international intervention. I thought the call for an international coalition was the right decision. The United States cannot commit to combat troop operations but we can work with other nations to contain and degrade ISIS.""   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=2066817A-E5D2-4A64-BF85-13175BDD0733,Fischer Statement on 9/11 and Benghazi Anniversaries,2014-09-10,2014,2014-09,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 ahead of tomorrow's 9/11 and Benghazi anniversaries: Once again we honor the memory of the victims of terrorism on 9/11. The passage of 13 years has not lessened our pain or diminished our resolve. Images of destruction in our cities and a quiet Pennsylvania field are seared into our national memory. As the United States now faces a resurgent global terror threat, we must recommit ourselves to eliminating those who wish to destroy our way of life and the freedoms we hold so dear. We also mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack on our consulate in Benghazi, where four Americans, including our U.S. ambassador, were tragically killed. We have not forgotten. As we reflect on the memory of those lost, let us also honor those who have served in defense of freedom in the years since the 2001 attacks. We salute their service and we pray for the fallen and their families.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-votes-prevent-epa%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98waters-us%E2%80%99-rule,Smith Votes to Prevent EPAs Waters of the US Rule,2014-09-09,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted in favor of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act.  This legislation would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing a rule which would expand federal authority to include virtually all water flows, including on private land.  The agencies are once again attempting to broaden their regulatory authority without Congressional consent. “This attempt to regulate all waters in the U.S. is not only a clear overreach of authority, but also an additional burden to Nebraska landowners, local officials, and water managers,” said Congressman Smith.  “The legislation passed today by the House is an important step to prevent the Waters of the US rule from moving forward, require federal entities to consult state and local authorities, and rein in yet another abuse by the federal government.” The bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.  Smith previously joined with 230 of his colleagues in writing to the EPA opposed to the rule as part of his Regulation Rewind program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=273b5e30-ee41-458a-833a-90357707d35b,Fischer Statement on Public Service of Lavon Heidemann,2014-09-09,2014,2014-09,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 thanking Lavon Heidemann for his service to the state of Nebraska: “Lavon Heidemann has been a dedicated public servant and I have been blessed to count him as a dear friend. I served alongside Lavon in the Legislature, where he earned the respect of his colleagues through hard work and consensus building. I thank him for his many years of public service to the state of Nebraska and Bruce and I offer our prayers and support as he, Robin, and the rest of their family work through this difficult matter.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140911235136/http://leeterry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392926,Lee Terry Continues Fight to Halt EPAs Overreach over Nebraska,2014-09-09,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Lee Terry,T000459,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) made the following statement on the House floor today during debate on the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Act (H.R. 5078) which passed by a vote of 262-152:   Click Here To Watch Video  “If this rule were to go forward two things would assuredly occur; one, less clarity of what waters are jurisdictionally under the Clean Water Act for our farmers and ranchers and more overreach of jurisdiction by the EPA. This rule joins a long list of initiatives undertaken by the Agency which would increase the regulatory burden on Nebraska farmers, ranchers, businesses and every day citizens. “In my state multiple organizations banded together to fight this rule. The group calls itself Common Sense Nebraska Coalition. It includes folks that you would expect—farmers, ranchers—but what is interesting is many others have heard about this and joined the fight including Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Bankers Association, county officials, resource districts, the Water Resources Association, homebuilders, general contractors, and the Rural Electric Association have all joined this cause because of its uncertainty and massive jurisdiction under the EPA.  “Now my state supports this bill and I stand proudly with them.” Legislative Background: H.R. 5078 preserves existing rights and responsibilities under the Clean Water Act and prevents the EPA from finalizing and implementing a rule published in the Federal Register on April 21 that would expand the federal jurisdiction of waters protected under that legislation.  # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20140912131127/http://fortenberry.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1070,Fortenberry Statement on Lieutenant Governor,2014-09-09,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Jeff Fortenberry,F000449,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today made the following statement about Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann: ""I first met Lavon Heidemann at a parade in Auburn many years ago. I have always been impressed by his commitment to hard work and steadfast leadership first as a state Senator and most recently as Lieutenant Governor. I thank Lavon for his many years of public service and wish him well in the future.""  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://adriansmith.house.gov/solutions-social-security-and-medicare,Solutions for Social Security and Medicare,2014-09-05,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Adrian Smith,S001172,adriansmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Many Nebraskans depend on the Social Security and Medicare benefits they have earned by paying into these programs throughout their careers.  Many more are planning on these benefits being in place as part of their retirement savings.  However, both of these programs are unsustainable on their current path. This concerning conclusion was made by the annual report of the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, a board made up mostly of Democrats appointed by President Obama.  The report which was released in August does not offer specific fixes, but should serve as a call to action to find solutions for the shortfall in both programs. There is a popular misconception the solvency issues of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds have occurred because money was taken from the funds and spent on other programs.  This is not true.  While reserved trust funds are lent through a mechanism similar to Treasury bonds, these funds have been and will continue to be paid on schedule and the interest paid accrues to the trust funds.  These long term solvency problems of these programs have occurred because they are paying out more in benefits than they are taking in from workers.  An aging population and higher medical costs have contributed to the problem.  Without addressing these changes the deficit for Social Security and Medicare will continue to grow larger. Social Security operates by having today’s workers pay for today’s retirees.  In 1945, the ratio of workers paying into the system per beneficiary was about 42 to 1.  Today, the ratio is about 3 to 1.  By 2033 the ratio is expected to fall to about 2 to 1. The trustees report also found the combined Medicare Trust fund continues to face a “substantial financial shortfall.”  It is worth noting the trustees report found Medicare Part D, which is very popular among seniors and includes many of the market-based principles Republicans have suggested applying to other parts of Medicare, will remain adequately financed for the “indefinite future.” The President and some in Washington have preferred raising taxes and even cutting Medicare funding and diverting it to Obamacare to address these challenges.  These actions are not solutions to the structural problems faced by these programs.  Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed relatively modest reforms which would keep Medicare solvent without changes for current beneficiaries.  My colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee have held a number of hearings on Social Security reforms and are committed to finding solutions.  Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled Senate has blocked our reform efforts without offering constructive alternatives. The trustees report concludes solutions are needed “sooner rather than later to minimize the impact on beneficiaries, providers, and taxpayers.”  I could not agree more.  This report makes clear the consequences if we are unable to come to the table to find solutions for Social Security and Medicare.  I hope all sides will find the courage to act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=e6f9dcaf-a986-4e34-97a7-d5796b1eac00,"Fischer, Johanns Urge Nebraska Students to Apply for Community Service Award",2014-09-05,2014,2014-09,Republican,House,NE,Deb Fischer,F000463,www.fischer.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Mike Johanns are encouraging Nebraska students with strong records of community service to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award 2015 program. Applications are being accepted now through November 4th for eligible students in grades 5-12. Two Nebraska students will be selected to represent the state; they will be awarded a $1,000 award, a silver engraved medallion, and an all-expense paid trip in May to Washington, D.C. From the 102 honorees, 10 will be selected to receive an additional award for their service and volunteer spirit. These 10 will receive an additional $5,000 award and a $5,000 grant to be given to the non-profit charitable organization of the recipients’ choice. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program is the largest youth program of its kind in the nation. Focused on youth recognition, the program has honored more than 100,000 youth volunteers over the past 19 years. To learn more information and to apply, visit: http://spirit.prudential.com and orhttp://www.nassp.org/tabid/2539/default.aspx.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z