Thursday - March 28, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Nebraska Newsletter for Sunday July 28, 2019 ( 19 items )  

9/11 Victims Compensation Bill Passes Senate With Fischer's Support
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) voted in support of the legislation and cosponsored the Senate version of the bill. "Legislation to reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is headed to the president's desk for signature into law. The brave men and women who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the attack will no  more

Bacon Votes Yes on Budget and Debt Limit Package
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) today voted yes on a budget and debt limit package that was backed by the President. "If I could vote 'no' and be assured this would result in less spending and lower deficits, I would absolutely do so," said Rep. Bacon. "The President asked for a yes vote on this because a no vote would have resulted in months of budget instability, higher deficits, a weakened national defense,   more

Fort Report: The Border
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: There's a sign on the eastern border of Texas: El Paso, 857 miles. Makes you want to turn around. I'm going there in a few days for several reasons. My first stop will be New Mexico to visit the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where nuclear weapons are researched, designed, and tested. Nebraska's first district is home to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a cornerstone of our nation's nuclear defense.   more

House Natural Resources Subcommittee Issues Testimony From Nature Conservancy in Nebraska
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The House Natural Resources subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife issued the following testimony by Rich Walters, director of conservation for the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska chapter, at a legislative hearing on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Extension Act (H.R. 3237): "Thank you for the opportunity to submit this written testimony in support of H.R. 3237, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Extension Act. I want to thank Representat  more

Rep. Fortenberry Issues Statement on Supporting Budget Deal
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after agreeing to support the budget deal: "The budget process is always difficult and imperfect. If we didn't act, we risked a future government shutdown, a worse deal in the end, debt and higher expenditures. "It's important to note that this budget represents an increase of discretionary spending of 2%, keeping it below 2011 levels," Fortenberry said. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry is the Ranking Membe  more

Rep. Smith Issues Column: Budget Crisis
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Last year, federal revenue was at a near record high, yet our debt continued to increase. Despite attempts to restore fiscal order, this trend has been ongoing for years. In 2011, Congress and President Obama brokered a bipartisan compromise to stop the bleeding. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) cut spending, capped future spending, and included no tax incre  more

Rep. Smith Issues Column: Improving Health Care
WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: One of my top priorities is improving health care for rural Americans. Access to high quality, affordable, and available heath care is increasingly lacking in many areas. Empowering providers to better meet the needs of patients and reducing costly and burdensome regulations can go a long way to streamline and strengthen our health care system. Recently, the Committee on Ways and Means approved a bipartisan pack  more

Rep. Smith Issues Statement on Budget Deal
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after voting against the Mnuchin-Pelosi budget deal: "I cannot support a budget which raises spending this much without needed budget reforms. "By lifting budget caps and raising the debt ceiling without corresponding spending cuts, we only push the problem to a later date without a solution." * * * This budget agreement raises budget caps by $321 billion and suspends the debt ceiling until July of 2021. It   more

Rep. Smith Issues Statement on Irrigation Tunnel Collapse in Goshen County, Wyoming
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement regarding the collapse of an irrigation tunnel in Goshen County, Wyoming: "Ag producers rely on water from this canal in order to grow their crops. "Senator Fischer, Senator Sasse, and I are coordinating with the state and local officials in Wyoming and Nebraska to bring together the necessary expertise to help resolve this situation as quickly as possible. "Efforts are underway to provide critical water to t  more

Sasse Praises Judge Buescher, Slams Confirmation Process
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who shepherded Brian Buescher's nomination process in the Senate, spoke on the Senate floor shortly before Mr. Buescher was confirmed to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nebraska. Mr. Buescher was confirmed by a 51-40 vote. Sasse's full remarks are found below: https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=SenSasse&crop  more

Sen. Fischer Issues Column: Nebraska Needs Our Veterans' Talent
WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: Oftentimes when the leading technology companies recruit new employees, they take a predictable route. Recruiters approach graduates of the top science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs at the most prestigious universities and colleges in the country. I want to shine a light on a group of candidates with real-world experience and exceptional talent that has been ignored for too long: the Un  more

Sen. Fischer Issues Statement on Esper Confirmation as Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Mark Esper to serve as Defense Secretary by a 90-8 vote: "Secretary Esper's service as the Secretary of the Army for the past two years has demonstrated that he is an effective leader who understands the threats facing our nation. "I appreciated Secretary Esper's honesty and thorough understanding of the importance of a strong n  more

Sen. Fischer Issues Statement on Panhandle Irrigation Tunnel Collapse
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement on the collapse of an irrigation tunnel that delivers water to agricultural producers in western Nebraska: "My team has been working with the offices of Senator Sasse and Congressman Smith to coordinate efforts with local ag producers in the area, our state agencies, USDA, and the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) regarding this emergency. "I stand ready to assist our co  more

Sen. Fischer: Lincoln to Receive $2.6 Million DOT Transit Grant
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, today announced that Lincoln will receive a more than $2.6 million grant from the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration as part of the Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No). "It's my pleasure to announce the good news of this significant grant for the city of Lincoln. With it, the city will be able t  more

Sen. Sasse Issues Statement on Budget Deal
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement regarding the budget deal: "This deal is bad news: Both parties yet again agreed to spend more money that we don't have and the swamp just got swampier. "Like a lot of Republicans, I think we're under-investing in some key national defense priorities, but I'm a conservative so let's be honest: If D.C. keeps ignoring basic math and reality, what's the military going to defend once our kids go bankrupt? "Unless   more

Sen. Sasse Issues Statement on Defense Secretary Esper
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Mark Esper to be the Secretary of Defense: "Secretary Esper is a sharp thinker and proven leader. "Going back to his days as an infantry officer fighting Saddam Hussein's army on the battlefield, Mark has earned a reputation for taking the fight to the enemy. "For this present moment, he understands that China and Russia are waging active cyber campaigns against us, and he knows that  more

Sen. Sasse Issues Statement on Equifax Breach Settlement
WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement on reports that Equifax will pay up to a $700 million settlement over its 2017 data breach: "This settlement is good news, but it's not the end of the story. Millions of families had their data stolen and no settlement can put the genie back in the bottle. "Years from now, there will be families who can't get home loans, families stuck with crummy credit scores, and fami  more

Sen. Sasse Issues Statement on Panhandle Irrigation Tunnel Collapse
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement regarding the collapse of a major irrigation tunnel that transports water to Nebraska's panhandle: Governor Pete Ricketts issued an emergency declaration earlier this morning. "The men and women of Nebraska ag are resourceful, hardworking folks, and we're working to make sure our farmers and ranchers get the water they need. "Governor Ricketts' emergency declaration is an important step, and my office will cont  more

Senate Confirms Brian Buescher of Omaha to Nebraska Federal Bench
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Brian Buescher of Omaha to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recommended President Trump nominate Buescher for this judgeship. "I have no doubt that Brian Buescher will honor his family, our state, and our nation with his exceptional service on the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. He is well-qua  more