OMAHA, Nebraska, June 10 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the Abraham Lincoln Leadership Award, for demonstrating leadership critical to advancing policies supportive of America's free enterprise system. The award is presented to the top 20 members of Congress who have demonstrated through their actions, the leadership critical to advancing policies that support America's free ente  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Pastor Myron Pierce, wearing a shirt with the words "I Can't Breathe" on it, joined other North Omaha pastors Wednesday who called for unity, hope and criminal justice reform. "We want to let you know, there's a new message in our city, that we are for North Omaha," Pierce said. "We're gonna make a change. We're gonna make a difference." https://www.omaha.com/news/local/black-community-leaders-pastors-gather-  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, June 9 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: This past week, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Great American Outdoors Act. "Preservation of our precious natural resources is in Nebraska's DNA. Innovative thinking and proactive policy are required to restore wildlife, combat natural challenges, and reform our approach to environmental security. It is why I am so pleased to be lea  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: Across our nation, 2020 has been a year of upheaval. Since March, our lives have been drastically different as we have stayed home, worked remotely, and avoided gathering in large groups to help protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable populations. We have taken extraordinary steps in our personal, professional, and social lives in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Just as states have begun implem  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: One of the best parts of my job is visiting communities across the vast Third District. While traveling the district, I enjoy touring businesses, farms, ranches, and schools, meeting with local officials, and most of all meeting with Nebraskans. Because of COVID-19, I have been practicing social distancing and have not been able to get around the state as I like. However, like all Americans, my office and I are a  more

WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: House Armed Services Vice Chair and 30-year Army veteran, Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) and 29-year Air Force veteran, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a firm process to rename military installations honoring leaders of the Confederacy within a year. Military leaders, active-duty troops, veterans, civil rights organizations and every day Americans have long c  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza urging the administration to ease paperwork requirements for small businesses seeking loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The letter, signed by 44 senators, specifically requests that the loan forgiveness application f  more

WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, voted Wednesday in favor of advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The bill passed out of committee by a bipartisan vote of 25 to 2. This annual legislation, which contains a number of amendments and provisions authored by Fischer, authorizes defense spending and  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: Since 1949, the month of May has marked Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. This campaign aims to draw public attention to the sobering fact that in any given year, one in five Americans will suffer from mental illness. Perhaps even more strikingly, more than 50 percent of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in our lives. Each year's campaign features a different theme, ranging  more

WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after Boko Haram attacked a Nigerian village killing over 80 people: "The world's fight against violent jihad must continue. The savage massacre of over 80 innocent Nigerians -- including children and women -- by Boko Haram is pure evil. "The United States and our allies should destroy these bloodthirsty killers."  more

WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee issued the following testimony by Matthew L. Blomstedt, commissioner of education in Nebraska, at a hearing entitled "COVID-19: Going Back to School Safely" on June 10: I am Matt Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education in Nebraska and incoming President of the Council of Chief State School Officers. I am honored to participate in this critical discussion to reflect and begin to address our next steps as a nation and   more

WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced bipartisan legislation to mandate strong economic penalties on firms and individuals involved in stealing American intellectual property. The Senators' legislation, the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, would require sanctions on individuals and firms found to engage in, benefit from, or enable the significant and serial thef  more