WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: This week, Congress passed Phase 3.5 of coronavirus relief. It includes $310 billion to replenish the important Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small business, $75 billion for hospitals, especially those in rural areas, and $25 billion for testing. The centerpiece of this effort, the PPP, moves more money into small banks, credit unions, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Bigge  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: Nebraska's spring game was scheduled for tomorrow. The forecast is supposed to be 66 and sunny. As Tom Osborne would say, "Darn." As we continue to fight against coronavirus, with canceled sports schedules and numerous other closures, it's important to recognize a few bright spots amidst the suffering. A friend of mine named Lisa just texted a thank you for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan she jus  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and his House colleagues passed a fourth round of pandemic response legislation, that builds on the CARES Act. This legislation delivers major wins for Nebraska and accomplishes three of his top priorities. Not only does this legislation infuse $310 billion into the Payment Protection Program (PPP), it has additional funding for Community and Rural Health Centers as well as testi  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 22 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) offered the following statement after the delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Egypt to the United States. "Thank you, President Sisi, for the generous donation of personal protective equipment to our country. That this shipment arrived a day after Sham al Nassim, the ancient Egyptian holiday celebrating the start of Spring, is a testament to the  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release on April 23: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) offered the following statement after voting to replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), help rural hospitals, and expand coronavirus testing. "The Paycheck Protection Program has been a bipartisan airlift, a lifesaver for people who make things with their own two hands and take care of others under their employ," Fortenberry said. "A  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 22 -- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) offered the following statement following his discussion yesterday with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. "Protecting our food is another critical front in the battle against coronavirus. America consumes half its food outside the home at institutions and restaurants. With coronavirus-related closures, the key is to adjust logistics so there is no wast  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement on April 23: Congressman Adrian Smith released the following statement after voting to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266). H.R. 266 replenishes funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provides additional monetary assistance for health care providers and hospitals, and expands testing for COVID-19. PPP was created by the CARES Act to keep workers on payrol  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Adrian Smith and Senator Deb Fischer released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) released a document making hospitals receiving less than 50 percent of their funding from state and local governments eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This new rule effectively allows all small hospitals in Nebraska's Third Distric  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Congressman Adrian Smith and Senator Deb Fischer released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) released a document making hospitals receiving less than 50 percent of their funding from state and local governments eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This new rule effectively allows all small hospitals in Nebraska's Third Distri  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: There is no doubt America relies on our farmers and ranchers to provide a strong, safe, and stable food supply. In times such as the current COVID-19 situation, their importance is even more obvious. Even as COVID-19 has closed much of America, our farmers and ranchers continue to produce. However, because of a multitude of challenges, such as the precautionary shutdown of production facilities and a dramatic s  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: While the COVID-19 pandemic continues its destructive pace, the devastating effects on the economy have come into clearer view. No business, small or large, is immune from the effects of the virus and the measures we are taking to counter it. Fortunately, Congress and President Trump have been hard at work to come up with solutions for keeping businesses and their employees afloat during this pandemic. One of t  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) have introduced H.R. 6569, the Rural Health Relief Act, to allow rural county and municipal hospitals to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PPP was created in the CARES Act to keep workers on payroll at businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees. Because local governments such as cities and  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: By now, COVID-19 is affecting all Nebraskans in one way or another. Many people in our state know someone who has contracted the virus, and many more know someone who lost their job or a small business owner who has had to close down because of this pandemic. In a recent column, I outlined federal efforts to provide relief for those small businesses and their employees. This week, I would like to discuss other w  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 17 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after the Small Business Administration reported that small businesses have received $3 billion in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program: "This is encouraging news for our businesses and their employees. "Many Nebraskans have strong relationships with their local community banks, and my staff has worked hard to spread the word about this program. "Thes  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation further funding the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Grants to assist small businesses during the outbreak of COVID-19: The legislation also includes increased funding for hospitals and more testing capacity. "Today, the Senate agreed to further invest in successful relief programs during this uncertain time.  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: "Last month, Congress didn't fix a crummy formula for emergency benefits, and now bad policy is hurting America's workers. "It's hard for small businesses to serve their communities when Washington pits them against a system that pays more for unemployment than work. Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, and I warned about this in March, but Speaker Pelosi and Senator Sanders decided to ignore reality. "  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office forecasted a nearly $4 trillion budget deficit: "It's one thing to run a deficit during a pandemic, but Washington's long-term debt habit is suicidal. For decades, Republicans and Democrats spent money we don't have at a rate our kids can't afford. Republicans and Democrats maxed out the credit cards during good times and now, when we're in the middle of the coronavirus' heal  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement on April 22: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement regarding today's Social Security and Medicare Trustees report forecasting that Medicare will deplete its reserves in 2026 and Social Security will deplete its reserves in 2035. "Conventional wisdom says that bipartisanship is dead, but actually both Washington Republicans and Washington Democrats pretend that math is make-believe. "Politicians  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sent a letter to President Trump urging him to eliminate payment limits for livestock, dairy and specialty crop producers in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The COVID-19 crisis has caused significant damage to agriculture operations across the country. The CARES Act provided $23.5 billion to support farmers and ranchers, inc  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement regarding the Bureau of Reclamation's new designation of funds requested for the Gering-Ft. Laramie irrigation canal as emergency funds after Senators Sasse and Fischer and Representative Adrian Smith urged the Bureau to make this designation. "This is great news for the water users in the Gering-Ft. Laramie Ir  more