WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following column on March 13: The President declared a national emergency on coronavirus. Last night, I hosted a telephone town hall for Nebraskans on the coronavirus situation with University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold. I invite you to listen to the many questions and answers in our thoughtful discussion. See video here (https://youtu.be/nKuFOav6jZA)  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement concerning President Trump's national emergency declaration for the coronavirus situation: "We must reassure the American people that we are able to handle a national threat such as this, and the President's declaration will make that possible. The steps listed as part of this declaration will enable us to beat this. The President is not only working with Congress to make sure we are pulling out all the stops to  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Defense will not fund a replacement for the OC-135 Open Skies aircraft until it is decided if the country will remain in the arms control treaty, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/03/04/dod-wont-offer-contract-for-new-open-skies-plane-until-treaty-future-clear/  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) offered the following statement after today's bipartisan press conference on The Trillion Trees Act. "This is a great initiative," Fortenberry said. "By enhancing biodiversity, habitat, and natural security, we can fight carbon pollution and build a bridge to a sustainable future," Fortenberry added. "The world has experienced a massive amount of deforestation and   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) and U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced companion versions of the Reducing Unnecessary Senior Hospitalizations (RUSH) Act of 2020, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to facilitate greater use of telehealth in skilled nursing facilities. "The RUSH Act brings needed innovation to Medicare, lifts burdensome regulations, and   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after President Trump declared a national emergency to respond to the coronavirus outbreak: "President Trump made the correct move in declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency. Even more resources will now be available to supplement states and localities to combat this growing outbreak. "Nebraskans should continue social distancing, thorough hand washing, and staying home when sick during this pand  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: You have probably seen the headlines about the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. In Nebraska, one woman is in critical condition, two of her family members have tested positive, and schools have now closed in districts including Hooper, Fremont, and Plattsmouth. While the news can certainly be scary and everyone should take necessary precautions to stay safe, it is important to know that our fellow Nebras  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, wrote to U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, calling for a federal investigation into Pornhub and its owner MindGeek for their involvement in streaming videos of raped and exploited women and children. "In several notable incidents over the past year, Pornhub made content available worldwide showing women and girls that were  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement regarding the need for the Senate to stay in session: "Nursing home operators in Nebraska are telling me they're worried because they have patients who might have coronavirus, but they don't have enough testing kits to find out. "Instead of going into recess next week, the Senate ought to keep working on the people's business -- both addressing the obvious deficiencies in our diagnostic testing pipeline, and de  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced that health insurance companies would be waiving copays for coronavirus testing and expanding telehealth: "We need to be dramatically ramping up our diagnostic testing. Vice President Pence and the task force are doing important work to make sure the response is coordinated and comprehensive. "It's good that insurers are waiving copays for testing and expanding coverage   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement regarding news reports that President Trump will declare a national emergency on coronavirus: "Big national threats -- in this case, a virus that crosses international borders and state lines -- are why we have a federal government in the first place. Declaring a national emergency is the right move for President Trump. The federal government needs to dramatically increase the availability of diagnostic testing  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an emergency declaration for coronavirus: "Governor Ricketts made the right call to protect our state. Nebraskans are tough as nails, and we'll grit our way through this. "Proactive steps like the Governor's declaration will help get resources where they're needed most."  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Administration to continue its "Remain in Mexico" policy for asylum seekers while the case makes its way through the courts. The Supreme Court's decision today overturns a lower court injunction. "The Supreme Court got this right. Too many lower-court judges with  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ben Sasse (R-NE), Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), the creator and co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), announced the release of the CSC's report on protecting the nation's critical infrastructure from a cyberattack. "Warning lights have been blinking for a long time," said Senator Sasse. "China and Russia have attacked the United States in cyberspace,   more