WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: On March 19, 2020, my staff and I hosted a tele-town hall with local health professionals: Dr. Gary J Anthone, MD, DHHS Division of Public Health, Dr. Adi M Pour, Ph.D., Health Director of the Douglas County Community Health Department, Sarah Schram, Sarpy County Health Department Health Director, Leon Milobar, State Director for the Small Business Association, and Shelly Schwedhelm from Nebraska Medicine. T  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Bi-partisan Legislation introduced last November by Congressmen Don Bacon (NE-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Jim Langevin (RI-02) has been included in the Senate's third emergency stimulus coronavirus bill introduced last week by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Senator Deb Fischer (NE) introduced similar legislation to Rep. Bacon's bill last month. The entire language from H.R. 4982, the Health Care Workforce   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to improve transparency of the budget of the U.S. Air Force. "This legislation is critical in order to invest in our Armed Forces to ensure our service members are equipped and capable of protecting our country," Rep. Bacon said on March 20. https://riponadvance.com/stories/bacon-sponsors-bill-to-improve-u-s-air-force-budget-transparency/  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., hosted leaders from the University of Nebraska Medical Center after they briefed a top official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the state's COVID-19 coronavirus response. Read the full story here (https://www.ketv.com/article/as-the-us-struggles-through-covid-19-response-nebraska-is-unique-place/31764951#) on KETV.  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Thanks to people following recommendations to stay home, avoid gatherings and give one another space, the Omaha area's hospitals are not yet operating near capacity. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, provided the update during a video press conference Wednesday that also included U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. Read the full story here (https://www.omaha.com/livewellnebraska/h  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 26 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) offered the following statement on the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package coming up for a vote in the Senate. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. People are suffering, and America is uncertain. The bill acts to protect America's health care system, protect individuals and families, and protect small business. We are fighting to turn the   more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 24 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) offered the following statement on the need for swift Senate passage of coronavirus relief. "During this difficult time for our country, the Senate needs to act quickly to protect America's health care, protect American workers, and protect America's small business. There is too much uncertainty. No time for delay," Fortenberry said. "To help Nebraskans unde  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: While the COVID-19 outbreak continues, drastic measures have been put in place to slow the spread. Unprecedented actions such as the closures of shops and restaurants, recommendations against gatherings of more than 10 people, and the canceling of many sporting and entertainment events have altered our very way of life. Due to the seriousness of this issue, President Trump has taken actions to keep us safe. Like  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Senator John Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, led a Senate colloquy to outline the importance of supporting farmers, ranchers and rural America in legislation to provide relief from the impacts of COVID-19. Hoeven worked to include $50 billion in funding authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect seniors from coronavirus-related scams. In response to the recent increase in these scams the letter to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons calls on the FTC to better inform seniors about coronavirus scams and assist victims in un  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: As the Senate considers important coronavirus relief legislation, U.S. Senator Sasse spoke on the Senate floor in favor of his pro-worker, pro-recovery amendment introduced with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Ted Cruz (R-TX). The amendment would fix the bill's perverse incentive to increase unemployment. "Everybody on both sides of the aisle tonight wants to help wor  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, introduced an amendment to coronavirus emergency relief legislation that would temporarily shield licensed health care providers if they practice across state lines during the crisis. "Congress can't let ambulance-chasing trial attorneys turn a public health crisis into a gold mine," said Sasse. "Doctors and nurses are workin  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after Senate Democrats filibustered the coronavirus relief bill: "Some parts of this relief package stink, but other parts do necessary work: It turbo-charges vaccine development, helps small businesses stay alive with well-structured loans, and works to delegate to governors half of the spending decisions in the bill's appropriations section. "I dislike both the firm-specific money in the airlines section, and   more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, has introduced two amendments to relief legislation that would help Nebraska's health care providers combat coronavirus. "Our nurses, doctors, and medical providers are working hard to keep Nebraskans safe, and we can't let Washington leave them behind. These two common-sense amendments would give rural providers a boost and   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: As Senate Democrats continue to filibuster a compromise bill that would provide coronavirus relief, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's shameless attempt to pack an emergency relief bill with partisan demands that have nothing to do with the current crisis. "Instead of taking that legislation -- urgent, necessary legislation -- and passing it quickly, Democrats have now decided to a  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: As Senate Democrats continue to filibuster a compromise bill that would provide coronavirus relief, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's shameless attempt to pack an emergency relief bill with partisan demands that have nothing to do with the current crisis. "Instead of taking that legislation -- urgent, necessary legislation -- and passing it quickly, Democrats have now decided to a  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed an additional relief package to combat the outbreak of novel coronavirus. Senator Fischer has worked with her colleagues in a bipartisan manner to pass this relief for Nebraska families, businesses, and communities affected by COVID-19. "We are in a crisis. We must provide people with relief and get our economy   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement: In an effort to prevent a drafting error in the coronavirus emergency legislation from incentivizing layoffs and risking life-threatening consequences to critical industries, U.S. Senators Tim Scott (SC), Ben Sasse (NE), and Lindsey Graham (SC) issued the following joint statement: "A massive drafting error in the current version of the coronavirus relief legislation could have devastating consequences: Unless   more