2020
YEAR-END REPORT CONGRESSMAN
JEFF FORTENBERRY PROUDLY SERVING THE FIRST DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
WELCOME Every year, I write what I call The Year-End Report. This annual overview highlights what my team and I have done to keep you safe, keep you well, and expand good opportunity. From agriculture to conservation, from health care to national security, this work is the daily, hourly blocking and tackling of my office—moving the legislative ball up the field in service to you. This year, we advanced several groundbreaking initiatives. The Great American Outdoors Act is the single most important conservation measure in my lifetime. ACT for ALS provides, for the first time, real hope to those suffering from this cruel, aggressive disease. Matt’s Act changes the game on prescription drug pricing. Through it all, there was one constant—COVID-19. My staff and I transformed our offices in Lincoln and Washington into full-time citizen service centers, ensuring Nebraskans had access to Paycheck Protection Program loans, IRS assistance, Social Security and other help as we navigated the early part of the pandemic together. We also deployed Zoom calls and telephone town halls to connect you to national and local leaders for critical information on pandemic response, banking, and small business support. Once again, thank you for allowing me to serve you, your family, and this incredible state we call home. It is my privilege. Please know that my staff and I are always here for you. Sincerely,
TABLE OF CONTENTS IN CONGRESS..................................................................................... 4 COVID-19............................................................................................ 5 GETTING IT DONE . . ............................................................................ 11 APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2021.............................................................. 14 FARM OF THE FUTURE........................................................................ 17 HEALTH CARE.................................................................................... 20 PROTECTING AMERICA..................................................................... 24 HUMAN DIGNITY............................................................................... 28 NEBRASKA’S FIRST PEOPLES . . ............................................................ 31 CONSERVATION ............................................................................... 33 SERVING OUR VETERANS.................................................................. 36 OUT IN THE DISTRICT.. ........................................................................ 39 HOW CAN WE HELP? ....................................................................... 42 STAY IN TOUCH.................................................................................. 44
IN CONGRESS As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have frontline responsibility for expenditures of the U.S. government. This responsibility continues to be extremely challenging, as we seek to modernize government while funding the necessary public policies for America’s well-being and safety, all the while contending with a global pandemic.
to foreign agriculture assistance programs, to rural housing program loan guarantees, to rural development. I also serve on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, which handles issues related to diplomacy and sustainable economic development—areas that are increasingly critical to achieving strategic national security, foreign policy objectives, and international stability.
This legislative work is structured around committee and subcommittee assignments. A great deal of time in Congress is spent in the subcommittees that each member is assigned.
There are other organized Member initiatives in Congress. I am co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus (ICC), the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, the Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group, the European Study Group, the House Trails Caucus, and the Soils Caucus, among others.
I am the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We oversee a diverse portfolio of issues from food safety programs,
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COVID-19 Protecting Small Business, Individuals, and Families
When the pandemic swept over the world, Congress came together with a three-fold response: protecting health care, protecting individuals and families, and protecting small business.
continue to employ as many people as possible. We supported individuals with a payment of $1200 to protect against economic anxiety. We also extended federal unemployment compensation as part of state unemployment benefits.
As traumatic as coronavirus has been for our nation, I am extraordinarily proud of Nebraskans. We have led the nation in sustaining important food production, caring for patients with COVID-19, and meeting the needs of small business.
One of the bills, the CARES Act, included important protection for businesses, particularly small businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a bipartisan airlift, saved over 300,000 jobs in the Cornhusker State. Nebraska ranked number one in the nation in the number of PPP loans approved, per capita. A national reporter called to ask me why. “Nebraskans know how to plow,” I replied. Our financial institutions are community-oriented: The banker knows the farmer, the banker knows the barber, the banker knows the café owner. In coordination with small business associations, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and community bankers, we got the word out quickly. The entrepreneurial spirit of Nebraska kicked into high gear as a lot of people got busy.
CORONAVIRUS RE PONSE Congress responded early in the pandemic with a series of bills. We invested in vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure that our medical system and professionals could care for patients with COVID-19. We transferred resources to states so they could provide a public health response for citizens. We provided funds to ensure that businesses could
Due to COVID-19, telehealth, tele-education, and telework are here to stay. They are revolutionizing how we interact as a community. Poor Internet in places holds us back. I am working to ensure that all Americans have access to this vital service. Watch my speech on rural broadband from the U.S. House of Representatives: https://bit.ly/3jKMKNQ
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NEBRASK A’S PPP SUCCESS STORIES
It was great to be with the people at Vireo Resources, a nutraceutical pioneer in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. They received a PPP loan and kept going strong, as their cleaning supplies and immune support products helped out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The message from our visit with General Excavating & H.R. Bookstrom Construction was, “Business is good.” The PPP loan program gave needed assurance when the uncertainty of COVID-19 came upon us. Thank you to both companies for fighting through and building Nebraska.
The Paycheck Protection Program has been crucial for protecting small businesses. I had an inspirational visit with Michael Behrens, owner of Black Cow Fat Pig Pub & Steak in Norfolk. No doubt it’s tough. But when I asked Mike if he’d survive, he said, “absolutely.”
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NEBRASK A’S PPP SUCCESS STORIES
“The Fort is still standing.” It was great to visit with Steve Wohlfarth and the team at The Fort, the iconic shops for all things western based in Lincoln. The PPP loan provided critical relief when the pandemic hit and helped keep everyone working.
This fall, I stopped in at Craft Axe Throwing, a business with a unique combination of services— beer and axe-throwing. PPP helped keep staff on during the downtime, and business continues to show growth. I invite you to review my visit at: https://bit.ly/2HGDQD2
It was so good to see Amy, former teacher, and owner of Apples & More in Bellevue. The educational supply store was able to stay open with assistance from the COVID-19 relief package. Glad we were able to help.
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NEBRASK A’S PPP SUCCESS STORIES
It was a busy day when I visited Erica Estrada’s La Guerita, a small grocery store in Madison, Nebraska. We arrived just as the bread was coming in. Erica took a moment to talk to me about the Paycheck Protection Program. She said, “Thanks, it worked!”
Gross Catholic High School of Bellevue are champions in robotics. I got a great demonstration and test drive! Gross received a PPP loan, enabling them to keep the doors open, assuring families and the community.
This was different! Katheryn is a Nebraska state archery champion at Cornerstone Christian School in Bellevue. We got the chance to shoot a few flights during my visit this fall. The school received a PPP loan that helped them continue their rich educational tradition. I invite you to watch the video here: https://bit.ly/39hJO8f
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GET TING NE BRASK ANS HOME
kids, were doing mission work with a church in Lincoln and were caught in Central America. After working with private transportation companies, we thought we had a solution. Then the government stopped all flights. During the night, I quickly called the Assistant Secretary of State. He got our ambassador on the line, and we worked on a plan. That morning, the government allowed the plane to leave.
When the pandemic hit, some Nebraskans were out of the country. Borders were shutting down. We aggressively worked to help people in their particular circumstance get home. In one case, I received an urgent message from a citizen of Lincoln. His child, along with dozens of other
NE BRASK A’S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC Leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the University of Nebraska Medical Center was like a modern day Statue of Liberty, raising its hand as the first medical institution willing to receive infected American COVID-19 patients from abroad. In those early days of fear and anxiety, it was an exceptionally noble act.
Students on a mission trip in Central America.
A COVID -19 SUCCESS STORY: T YSON BEEF PL ANT, MADISON, NE We had a big problem with coronavirus hitting us hard at the local Tyson’s plant in Madison, Nebraska. Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning and the Director of Elkhorn Logan Valley Health Department, Gina Uhing, immediately saw the threat and worked aggressively to solve it. Thank you for your leadership!
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USDA FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRA M The supply chain disruptions of the pandemic put farmers in a tight spot. Fresh produce and dairy products meant for restaurants and schools were being wasted during the shutdown. At the same time, food banks were in high demand. In my role as the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, we kept in close dialogue with Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, as the USDA created care packages of dairy, meat, and poultry for delivery to food banks to help those facing dire food insecurity. On a visit to a Lincoln Food Bank site, I was told that those who used to help run the food bank were now the ones in line. As the early pandemic took its toll, we worked in Congress with USDA to quickly direct dairy, meat, and produce to persons in need. Thankful to Scott Young at Food Bank of Lincoln, who told me, the care boxes are “the coolest product. Easy to distribute, and our clients love them.”
Visiting the Lincoln Food Bank, where they have worked hard to help those facing food insecurity.
Checking out the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program at the Food Bank of Lincoln.
The Catholic Social Services and so many agencies continue to work hard through the pandemic.
Thank you to the People’s City Mission Help Center for all your hard work.
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GETTING IT DONE Legislation I helped lead in 2020
From COVID-19 relief to protecting our environmental security, we work on a range of legislation and funding issues in Congress to ensure the safety and well-being of Nebraska and America. The following is a list of some specific items on our legislative agenda. H.R. 225 — Recognizes the 150th anniversary of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and commends the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for its status as a leading public university that excels in academics, athletics, and quality of life for students.
H.R. 726 — The National Discovery Trails Act creates a new category of long-distance trails and designates the 6800-mile American Discovery Trail (ADT)—the nation’s first coast-to-coast, multi-use trail—as the first trail under the category. The ADT connects wilderness areas and national parks and forests with rural towns and big cities.
H.R. 259 — Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives to support the repatriation of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq to their ancestral homeland.
H.R. 1166 — The USE IT Act addresses the capture, utilization, and sequestration of carbon dioxide.
H.R. 456 — The Care for All Act permits insurers to offer catastrophic coverage plans to anyone, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1225 — The Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act provides significant funding for our national parks and federal lands.
H.R. 457 — The Health Savings Account Act increases the maximum contribution limit for health savings accounts, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1651 — The RE-VAC Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide certain loans and grants for the establishment or expansion of animal care facilities or veterinary practices in rural areas.
H.R. 458 — The Affordable Limited Health Coverage Act prohibits implementation of the revised definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance in order to permit such insurance to provide up to twelve months of coverage.
H.R. 2490 — Directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study regarding the designation of the Chief Standing Bear Trail as a National Historic Trail. This trail extends 550 miles from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, following the route taken by Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people during federal Indian removal.
H.R. 660 — The CHILD Act would improve the health outcomes in communities through community-relevant health information and new health-supporting incentives and programs funded without further appropriations.
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GETTING IT DONE
H.R. 2986 — The BEST Act addresses gridscale energy storage systems.
bipartisan measure provides smart upstream policy to avoid triggering the “emergency room procedures” of the Endangered Species Act.
H.R. 3100 — The Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act creates prize competitions relating to climate and energy.
H.R. 4091 — The ARPA-E Reauthorization Act revises and reauthorizes through FY2024 the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
H.R. 3195 — The Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act provides permanent funding for the LWCF.
H.R. 5479 — Ensures that no American shall be denied health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.
H.R. 3220 — The Kids Eat Local Act supports farm-to-school efforts by making it easier for schools to purchase locally grown and raised food.
H.R. 5615 — The TREES Act provides incentives for retail power providers or cities to plant trees to reduce energy costs.
H.R. 3560 — Provides assistance for the operation of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
H.R. 5859 — The Trillion Trees Act promotes the planting of one trillion trees by 2050. H.R. 5831 – Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act. This measure blocks federal funds to organizations associated with the abortion industry.
H.R. 3597 — The Solar Energy Research and Development Act creates a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate solar energy technologies and systems.
H.R. 5868 — The RELIEF Act helps natural resources districts swiftly make disasterrelated infrastructure repairs. The goal is to reduce the time between disaster and recovery in a more efficient, cost-effective manner.
H.R. 3609 — The Wind Energy Research and Development Act establishes a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate wind energy technologies and systems.
H.R. 6742 – Protecting Life in Crisis Act. This bill would not allow federal funds related to the coronavirus pandemic to be used for any abortions.
H.R. 3651 — Authorizes the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation to use, or enter into, a lease or agreement to use for public outdoor recreation, up to 40 acres of the land in Nebraska City that was conveyed for use as an historic site and an interpretive center for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
H.R. 7071 — Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (or ACT for ALS) expands access to promising treatments in development for patients with ALS and streamlines FDA processes for drug approval.
H.R. 3742 — The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) is a creative initiative that is designed to protect ecosystems across through constructive partnerships with states. The
H.R. 7092 — The Great American Outdoors Act provides permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provides
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critically needed money for our national parks and other public lands. The LWCF has enjoyed more than a half-century of bipartisan support and has been used in every state and county to create outdoor recreational opportunity.
individual health insurance coverage and group health plans and for uninsured individuals who have diabetes, and for other purposes. H.R. 8431 — The Strengthening Local Processing Act, supports small and very small meat and poultry processing facilities.
H.R. 7393 — The Growing Climate Solutions Act makes it easier for the ag community to participate in voluntary carbon credits markets. H.R. 7490 — The Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP-UP) Act, provides help for existing meat processors to become federally inspected and allow them to ship ag products interstate.
H.R. 8489 — The bipartisan Price Reform in Cattle Economics (PRICE) Act improves price reporting and transparency, creates small processor and cooperative opportunities, provides more comprehensive risk-management solutions, and updates the Packers and Stockyards Act.
H.R. 7722 — Matt’s Act would limit the price of insulin drugs accessible for participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees enrolled in group or
H.R. 8671 — The CREATE Act establishes the Committee on Large-Scale Carbon Management and a Federal Carbon Removal Initiative.
Throughout the pandemic, I conducted virtual town hall meetings and Zoom calls with national leaders, including Dr. Jeffrey Gold of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Leon Milobar of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I invite you to listen to the telephone townhalls.
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APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2021 Where your tax money goes
FARMING AND RURAL LIFE
“Farmer-Owned Data” – the Creation of a New Data Hub — $1,000,000 for USDA to work with land grant universities in developing a policy roadmap that enables the large-scale aggregation of agricultural production data while preserving a competitive advantage for individual farmers, ranchers, producers, and processors.
Agricultural Research Service Facility at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln — $11,200,000 for the planning and design of a USDA Agricultural Research Service facility, expanding its strategic research investments in areas such as agricultural innovation and precision agriculture. This effort aligns the needs of our country with the university’s agricultural research mission.
Expanding the Farm Family — $6,000,000 for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to provide loan capital and grants to non-profit organizations, community-based financial institutions, and local economic development councils to help small holder farms enter and sustain small-scale farming.
Farm of the Future — $4,000,000 to fund an initiative to establish a testbed and demonstration site for the Farm of the Future to enhance diversification, sustainability, and net revenue. The Ecosystem of Rural Livability: Distance Learning and Telemedicine — $4,000,000 for the USDA to expand tele-technology in rural communities to enhance telework, tele-education, and telemedicine. $2,000,000 will go to empower the Cooperative Extension System to make broadband more useful for rural communities.
Farm-to-School Program — $12,000,000 for the Farm-to-School Program to incentivize schools to buy locally produced food and build sustainable relations for local foods. Protecting Plains Cattle — $3,000,000 for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for Antimicrobial Resistance Research for Livestock. Establishes a public-private partnership focused on combating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance across humans, animals, and the environment and to explore the development of an antimicrobial resistance dashboard tool for livestock management, research, risk, and stewardship.
Supporting Livable Rural Communities through Targeted Investment — $2,000,000 to create a “place-based negotiated investment strategy demonstration program” to help revitalize and shape future town centers, grow community and county well-being and economic vitality, and enhance full community participation.
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Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Land-Grant Institutions — $300,000 for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Blue-Ribbon Panel to convene agriculture universities to re-envision the future of farming and ag education.
$3,800,000 for the purpose of building resilience to drought through monitoring and planning at the National Drought Mitigation Center. Wind for Schools: Supporting Alternative Energy Sources for Schools — $1,000,000 to raise awareness in rural communities about the benefits of wind energy. Provides handson educational experiences by installing small wind turbines at various rural schools across the country. This allows teachers and students to physically engage with energyrelated curricula.
HEALTH CARE Expanding Access to Promising ALS Treatments — Directed the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to ALS Treatments in the National Institutes of Health. Preventing the Next Ebola Outbreak — $11,000,000 for the National Ebola Training and Education Center and the Regional Ebola and Other Special Pathogen Treatment Centers at the Department of Health and Human Services.
COMMUNIT Y AND HEALTH SECURIT Y Making Sure our Drugs Made Abroad Are Safe — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will add China to a pilot program for unannounced foreign inspections of drug manufacturing facilities, which previously only focused on India. This helps improve the agency’s inspections of Chinese-made pharmaceutical products. The FDA will also compile a plan for ways to refuse drugs at the border when it is not granted sufficient access to information regarding overseas manufacturing facilities.
Modernizing Public Health Data and IT Systems — $50,000,000 for Public Health Data/IT Systems Modernization at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Keeping the 12 Clans Hospital Open as Nebraska Tribes Take Over Operation — $58,000,000 across all tribal hospitals with accreditation emergencies. The Committee continues to ask for new strategies from the Indian Health Service to improve how Indian Health Service programs, including those operated by tribes under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, can be supported.
Supporting Suicide Prevention efforts in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs — $5,000,000 to expand public-private partnerships for suicide prevention.
CONSERVATION Safely Disposing of Plutonium: Creating Alternative Solutions to Protect Americans from Spent Fuels — $148,590,000 for the National Nuclear Security Administration to implement a safe, secure, and cost-effective
E NVIRONME NTAL SECURIT Y Weather and Farming: Monitoring and Addressing Drought for America —
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Preventing Nuclear Proliferation — $2,260,000 for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation efforts around the world to prevent malign actors from acquiring nuclear weapons or material.
approach to disposing of U.S. surplus pit and non-pit plutonium. Renewable and Efficient Energy — $2,860,000,000 for renewable energy projects across the nation. Monitoring and Addressing Drought for America — The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska is recognized across Congress as an important asset to guide farmers grappling with weather-related challenges. The Center is provided $3,000,000 above baseline to expand its work, which includes meteorology, economics, and technologies for drought mitigation.
Preventing Nuclear Terrorism — Accelerating the National Nuclear Security Administration’s efforts to secure and replace dangerous radiological materials in the United States.
SERVING OUR VETERANS Innovation in Reducing Suicide Among Veterans — Calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate using social media platforms to identify and engage veterans at risk of suicide and work with academic partners to develop and test tools for identifying and engaging these veterans.
NATIONAL SECURIT Y Enabling Faster Local Levee Repair — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will expand collaboration with state and local partners that make repairs to federally constructed, locally maintained systems.
Digital Health Platform for Veterans — Accelerate a pilot program that integrates commercially available, proven automated technology into the VA electronic health records systems.
Joint Civilian-Military Medical Surge Facility — $15,000,000 to accelerate a pilot program to create a joint civilian-military medical surge facility to provide for high-casualty events, from a foreign conflict to a global pandemic.
Reducing Opioid Overdoses in Veterans: A Naloxone Pilot Program for Veterans — Innovation for new ways to prevent overdoses. Women Veterans Support Network: Creation of a National Women Veterans Support Network — $1,000,000 to support women-building programs for women veterans who have suffered injury or sexual abuse while enlisted.
Modernizing the Nuclear Arsenal — $7,555,000,000 to ensure our adversaries remain deterred well into the 21st century by modernizing the bomber, submarine, and missile legs of our nuclear triad with the new B-21 Raider, Long-range stand-off missile, Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, and the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Technological Solutions for Injured Veterans — Start a pilot program for injured soldiers to be part of the health and biomedical design team that helps design solutions that best suit them.
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FARM OF THE FUTURE I serve as the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, which has two primary responsibilities— providing stability for America’s ag producers, and assistance to those facing food insecurity. Thanks to our nation’s productive farmers and ranchers, Americans enjoy the lowest grocery prices in the world.
we pioneer new forms of small-scale niche agriculture—marrying high-tech with hightouch, connecting the farmer to the family, the rural to the urban, the farm to the table— Nebraska’s ag producers will continue to forge the Farm of the Future. These considerations were highlighted in my discussion with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue when he visited Nebraska. After signing a forest management agreement and reviewing the latest innovation at the University of Nebraska, we gathered ag leaders from across the state—large row crop producers, livestock producers, urban
FARM OF THE FUTURE Large-scale production agriculture remains the mainstay of the Cornhusker State. It allows us to feed America and feed the world. As
Farm of the Future round table discussion with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.
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FARM TO SCHOOL
gardeners, and specialty and niche farmers— to have a range of discussions in relation to growing the agriculture family. We are integrating big data, precision farming, and value-adds to demonstrate how to maximize incomes of farms of different sizes.
The Farm to School program is an exciting way to connect students to agriculture. It not only feeds school kids but also teaches and inspires healthy food choices while helping children understand the source of their food. A nutritional and locally sourced school lunch menu can also keep our students alert and inquisitive throughout the day. A hungry child cannot learn well. The program’s growth over the years is impressive, with more than 40 percent of schools in the U.S. now participating in farm to school activities. Recognizing the need to provide adequate funds to meet this growing demand, I included $12 million for this year’s Farm to School program. This represents a doubling of program support over the past two years.
With USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.
RURAL CONNEC TIVIT Y When the pandemic swept over America, our lives were dramatically changed in how we work, interact, and learn. This ongoing challenge has driven home the importance of strong, reliable Internet service. About 30% of America remains underserved. Rural connectivity is about more than bringing wire into homes, schools, and medical facilities. It’s about the quality of social, cultural, and economic life in rural areas—what I call an ecosystem of livability. The committee heard me. We passed legislation for new Internet infrastructure and the metrics to ensure work opportunity, precision agriculture, e-commerce, and better education. Tele-work, tele-education, and telehealth are here to stay.
Lowell Mueller’s fifth-generation, family-run dairy operation near Hooper is a great example of traditional farming and innovative leadership. During our visit, we discussed the importance of the National Dairy Check-Off Program.
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FOOD SECURIT Y AND HEALTH SECURIT Y
sold to foreign operations. This increases the risks for the availability and safety of our food.
I asked a critical question at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic: Is our food supply safe? In Nebraska, we faced meatpacking production back-ups due to the spread of COVID-19. In Madison County, we worked with local leadership, state leadership, public health officials, and the University of Nebraska, motivating the national corporate interest to stop the spread and implement the best practices. We were in constant dialogue with USDA to ensure that any supply shortage or logistical problem was fixed at the national level. Though some problems remained, you never saw a shortage of food. It represents the strength of our system.
The Agricultural Security Review Act elevates the Secretary of Agriculture to Member status in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This high-level interagency panel assists the President in overseeing national security consequences on foreign direct investment in the American economy.
SM ALL MEAT PROCESSING There is a growing concern about corporate concentration in the meatpacking industry. In a previous time, we had more local meat processing. I am actively supporting several bills, such as H.R. 8489, the Price Reform in Cattle Economics (PRICE) Act that help stimulate a return to that model in order to create localized solutions for a public good.
I have long noted how our food security is inextricably tied to our national security. Much of our American food production system has been
Lincoln Premium Poultry produces two million chickens a week out of Nebraska. I appreciate the deliberate and quick action by the plant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, enhance workplace safety, and protect jobs for the community.
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HEALTH CARE Health care is personal. The right type of health care system improves outcomes, provides better value, and protects vulnerable persons. Congress tends to approach health care through expensive phone-book-sized pieces of legislation that go nowhere. There is a better way. I’ve introduced several initiatives to tackle manageable, highly specific, significant aspects of health care needs that have a real chance of passage and meaningful impact.
drugs when there is active competition among generic drug manufacturers. New generic drugs translate into real savings for families. In addition, I support allowing pharmacists to inform patients about less costly drugs.
CHINESE-M ADE DRUGS Are our drugs safe? Through perverse policy incentives that encourage outsourcing, we have become dependent on China and other foreign countries for the production of many of our active pharmaceutical ingredients and final drug products. This is not just an economic problem but also a national security risk, as the global pandemic has shown.
LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS In my work overseeing FDA funding, I have challenged and increased funding to the agency to accelerate generic drug approvals.
We are giving the FDA the power to refuse drugs at the border when the agency is not granted sufficient access to information about how they are produced in foreign-based facilities. I am working to increase the FDA’s unannounced inspections of China-based drug manufacturing facilities to ensure they meet the highest American production standards.
Over the past decade, the net cost of brandname drugs rose more than three times faster than the rate of inflation. This means that families with children with chronic illnesses, seniors on Medicare, and those on lifesaving drugs face tremendously high costs, even with insurance. For the uninsured, the patchwork system that exists to help them can be unfair and demoralizing. They deserve better.
We need more of our drugs to be “Made in America.”
According to the FDA, the cost of generic drugs could be 80-95 percent less than brand-name
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Speaking with FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn about accelerating generic drug approvals, with a big focus on insulin, as well as helping ALS patients access treatments quicker.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: THE CHILD ACT
insulin directly to patients. By cutting out the middleman, I hope to reduce the price of insulin by two-thirds for both the insured and uninsured—transforming the lives of the 30 million Americans who struggle with the outrageous cost of this life-saving medicine.
My goal: to make Nebraska and America healthier. The CHILD Act, or the Community Health Improvement Leadership and Development Act, is a way to empower communities to improve their own health. If a community is innovative and shows health care improvements, it gets to keep savings from the government. We are pleased to have cosponsors who are among the most progressive and conservative members in the House.
I named the bill in honor of Matt, who lives in a rural community in the first district of Nebraska. In September 2019, at the age of 13, Matt was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In October 2019, he contacted me, frustrated that the price of his insulin had jumped almost 1000% to just under $600. Matt wanted us to do something for him and everybody else who relies on insulin to manage the disease. We introduced the bipartisan Matt’s Act. It requires manufacturers to sell insulin to pharmacies directly, at net price. This is a fair deal for drug makers, insurance companies, pharmacies and, most of all, patients.
M AKING INSULIN PRICES FAIRER FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES MAT T’S ACT A major cause of anxiety for those suffering from diabetes is the high price of insulin. This year, I introduced a common-sense bill that allows prescription drug manufacturers to sell
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ACT FOR AL S
ACT for ALS has received bipartisan support in the House and Senate, with nearly 250 members of the House backing the bill. One Congressional office told us they have not seen so much advocacy for any bill in many years. COVID-19 has shown us we can move quickly, if we want to. It’s time to apply those lessons to diseases that have silently killed so many for far too long.
ALS takes about two to five years to destroy a body and exhaust a family. It is 100 percent fatal. Its victims lose the ability to write, walk, talk, eat, move, and breathe. Drug trials can drag on for a decade or longer, yet most ALS victims do not live that long. This overly deliberate regulatory process does not match the urgency of the disease. At the time of this writing, over 250 members of Congress have agreed with me.
In December, I spoke before the House on behalf of ACT for ALS and all the courageous men and women — like Mayuri Saxena— who, despite the cruel suffering inflicted on them by this unforgiving disease, have worked so selflessly for the community. I invite you to view this speech at: https://bit.ly/3pG7bxA
This bill allows patients to access promising treatment development, giving them hope for relief from this merciless disease. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will guide a new public-private partnership for better research and regulation.
Self-portrait by ALS advocate Mayuri Saxena, created using only her eyes.
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H E A LT H C A R E
ALS COMMUNIT Y VISIT In January, I met with heroic members of the ALS community, as ABC Nightline looked on. Fortunately, we had a number of good national stories that helped create the motivation for the right type of action. I invite you to view this discussion at https:// bit.ly/2WSlKld
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PROTECTING AMERICA The most important duty of your government is to keep you safe. The focus of 2020 has been on health and economic well-being. Geopolitics, however, does not stop for a pandemic. Thankfully, the men and women of United States
Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue have not skipped a beat in fulfilling their vital deterrence mission amidst the disruption of COVID-19.
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P RO T E C T I N G A M E R I C A
CONGRESSIONAL DE LEGATION VISITS STRATCOM
OFFUT T RUNWAY UPDATE Even with a 500-year flood event and the global pandemic, Offutt Air Force Base remains a world-class global military command and control hub for the 21st century. I am pleased that the Offutt runway repair officially started in July. The 55th Wing will relocate to Lincoln Airport starting in March of next year during the construction.
In February, I led a bipartisan Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group delegation visit to Strategic Command. We met with Admiral Richard, STRATCOM Commander, as he demonstrated his command’s global deterrence mission. The meeting included a comprehensive threat briefing as well as a tabletop exercise modeling STRATCOM capabilities as they work tirelessly to prevent the unthinkable. We also discussed the future of airborne command and control, while inspecting an E-4B National Airborne Command Post stationed at Offutt.
NUCLEAR SECURIT Y AND ARMS CONTROL The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is the most important active arms control agreement between the United States and Russia. The agreement places a cap on strategic nuclear warheads and provides access for each nation to verify the other nation’s nuclear stockpile.
DEFE NSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGE NCY The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), a quiet part of Offutt Air Force Base, fulfills a solemn commitment we’ve made to all service members—that we will honor and remember them. The DPAA works across the globe identifying remains. Earlier, I worked to secure this agency’s home at Offutt Air Force Base. We are working on an expansion in the near future to augment the mission of bringing closure to families who have lost loved ones.
With New START set to expire in February 2021, the Trump Administration has been actively engaged in renegotiations with the Russian Federation. Through the Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group which I co-chair, I have remained in dialogue with the State Department and Arms Control envoy to establish a voice in Congress on these essential issues.
WELCOME HOME On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Nearly 80 years later this December, the remains of Louis Tushla and Charles Alan Jones—who died aboard the USS Oklahoma—were finally returned home to Nebraska due to the diligent work of the DPAA.
Louis Tushla
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Charles Alan Jones
P RO T E C T I N G A M E R I C A
In a solemn dignified ceremony in September, I was privileged to stand with Col. Marks, commander of Offutt Air Force Base, as we honorably received 25 U.S. soldiers who died in the Second World War. Their remains will be identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
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P RO T E C T I N G A M E R I C A
OFFUT T SE LEC TED AS FINALIST FOR U.S. SPACE COMM AND
Outside the gates of Offutt there is an expert civilian workforce at the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) located at the University of Nebraska. NSRI is the only Department of Defense (DoD) affiliated research center in the country that is sponsored by a unified combatant command, USSTRATCOM. NSRI’s consortium of expert talent highlights the commitment of Nebraska’s public-private partnerships working together to tackle and solve our nation’s greatest security challenges.
In November, the United States Air Force announced that Offutt Air Force Base is a final candidate to become the permanent home of U.S. Space Command. USSPACECOM would be a natural complement to Offutt’s existing mission—to protect U.S. military assets, dominate the battlespace, and support our heroic warfighters. Offutt is a tremendous asset to our national security. Our delegation is working as a team to make our best case to the Pentagon. The U.S. Air Force intends to make a final decision on Space Command early next year.
Exciting news to end the year! Offutt Air Force Base is one of six finalists to host U.S. Space Command—a natural complement to Offutt’s essential security mission.
Midlands Voices: Nebraska’s strengths make it a strong host for Space Command December 6, 2020
CAMP ASHL AND FLOOD RECOVERY Last year’s epic floods were devastating to the Nebraska National Guard Camp in Ashland. In typical Guard fashion—they went right back to work. We worked in Congress to get them the necessary funding to rebuild. A great team effort!
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HUMAN DIGNITY A cornerstone principle of civilization is the protection of human dignity. None of the other values we hold dear as civilized people make any sense unless we fix our gaze on that ultimate value.
societies. Empathy creates the space for understanding and solidarity creates the condition for proper redress. Congress has a role to play in this discussion, but the ultimate solution lies in fostering communities that value, nurture, and empower every person, creating a continuum of human dignity in which every person matters.
Earlier this year, the cruel, senseless death of George Floyd required an important national conversation on the issues of race and violence. Let’s be clear about these truths: racism is wrong; police brutality is wrong; violence in the name of protests is also wrong. “I can’t breathe” is a cry for help.
In Congress, I proposed that we direct funding for law enforcement towards communitybased policing which worked well in Lincoln, where I live. I was surprised to learn that many places, including Minneapolis, did not include such models.
The violence and destruction that sadly commingled this past summer with peaceful protests about the excessive use of police force, unfortunately, only compounded the suffering we all felt. As our country continues to have necessary conversations about safety and compassion in community, we need to remember that empathy and solidarity are reinforcing principles for just and orderly
STATUES AND MONUME NTS As part of this year’s reexamination of racial issues in America, citizens have rightfully asked us to revisit our shared heritage. I discussed the issue with Dr. Lonnie Bunch,
My discussion with Dr. Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture: Does a statue create history, correct history, or corrupt history?
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HUMAN DIGNITY
RACHE L WILKE
Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and now Secretary of the Smithsonian. We unpacked a key question: Does a statue or monument create history, correct history, or corrupt history?
Earlier this year, I met with Rachel Wilke at the first Nebraska Breakfast of 2020. Her husband, James Wilke, a farmer from near Columbus, gave his life during the rushing flood waters of March 2019 to help a stranded motorist. I subsequently wrote a letter to President Trump asking that he kindly consider Mr. James Wilke for the Presidential Citizens Medal. In an extraordinary act of solidarity, thousands of Nebraskans previously signed an online petition asking for this same consideration.
We discussed his views on contextualizing history, allowing people to understand what statues truly represent, when orderly replacement is appropriate, or how monuments from the past can be augmented to better reflect modern sensibilities. Dr. Bunch emphasized the importance of statues as providers of context. Conversations like this can ultimately allow us to address the deep fissures in our country. I invite you to view this discussion at https:// bit.ly/2WSlKld.
PROTEC TING THE CHILDRE N A few years ago, I brought forward a legislative concept. It was an attempt to create the conditions in which a person who is concerned about their health and economic well-being would be guaranteed the support mechanisms to bring their unborn child into the world. It saddened me that no one was very interested. This was a very hard legislative lesson. Meeting with Rachel Wilke at the Nebraska Breakfast.
I am pro-life. In regard to protecting unborn life, we couldn’t even reach an agreement in Congress on whether a child born alive after an abortion attempt should be given care. Our work to protect all persons must include the unborn and their mothers. If we can embrace the continuity of human dignity, no matter how hard the circumstances, we can move our country toward a more holistic and compassionate response. This is what I call Care for Her.
Visiting the James Wilke Memorial Bridge.
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HUMAN DIGNITY
RE LIGIOUS MINORITIES
The Christian, Yazidi, and minority Muslim communities of Iraq suffered grievously from the genocidal violence done to them. Many remain in Iraq, picking up the pieces, including my friend Archbishop Warda (pictured below). I proposed integrating Iraqi religious minorities into the Iraqi national security force. A form of this security measure was signed into law by President Trump earlier this year, and the Iraqi government is now moving forward on the question.
Six years ago, ISIS launched its sick genocidal campaign against the Yazidis, Christians, and Muslim minorities of Northern Iraq. Today, ISIS is territorially defeated. Its founder, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been killed. In Nebraska, Lincoln is home to the largest Yazidi community in America. They are a wonderfully proud community that is rebuilding—and embracing—all that America has to offer.
Meeting with my friend Archbishop Warda, Leader of the Ancient Chaldean Christian Community.
Thank you to Nadine Muyej for updating me on how my congressional resolution has inspired mining reform in Africa, and to Kaleba Ngoie for helping previously indentured womenminers obtain new job skills.
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NEBRASKA’S FIRST PEOPLES Three Native American tribes—the Omaha, Ponca, and Winnebago—have a long, storied presence in Nebraska’s First District. They offer profound, enduring richness to our state. Last year, in a deeply moving ceremony, we honored early civil rights pioneer, Ponca Chief Standing Bear, by unveiling a magnificent statue of him in the U.S. Capitol. That evocative sculpture now holds pride of place in Statuary Hall. I urge you to come see it.
God made us both.” As we continue to honor his legacy, the Girls and Boys Scouts of America have designated an award earned by learning his history. In the House, we also continued to honor his legacy by passing H.R. 2490, which takes an important first step towards creating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail—to honor the Ponca Chief’s stand for civil liberty for all Americans. The Ponca people have a long, deep connection to Nebraska. “Ponca” literally translates as “Those Who Lead.” Earlier this year, we asked the Navy to name a ship in their honor. It’s not yet accomplished, but the U.S. Navy Secretary confirmed that the name Ponca will be given every consideration for future ships.
Chief Standing Bear changed history in that transcendent moment when he raised his hand in an Omaha courtroom and said: “I am a man.
I was honored this Fall to travel to the St. Augustine Indian Mission School groundbreaking in Winnebago. The powerful rhythm of the honor drum marked the groundbreaking for the new school dedicated to the educational development, cultural heritage, and spiritual well-being of Native children. While in Winnebago, I visited the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital, which serves all Nebraska tribes. We’ve worked hard for the transition to tribal leadership of the hospital. Our work in the Appropriations Committee has been important to ensuring that the hospital retains adequate resources as it makes this transition.
An interview about Chief Standing Bear in Statuary Hall.
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N E B R A S K A’ S F I R S T P E O P L E S
Meeting with Winnebago Tribal Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan at the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital.
Twelves Clans Unity Hospital benefited from the $2.3 million Paycheck Protection Program loan as part of the CARES Act. In my visit with tribal leaders, they shared how helpful the PPP has been to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through my work as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee of Agriculture, I was able to direct new resources to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. This commits the Department of Agriculture to work more closely with tribes on growing and accessing nutritious foods that are produced locally by the tribes themselves. Part of this work is restoring foods integral to the traditional Native American diet.
We have also been active in working to help prevent and treat diabetes through our support of the Special Diabetes Program for Native Americans at the Indian Health Service.
Congratulations to St. Augustine School in Winnebago. The powerful rhythm of the honor drum marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the new school dedicated to the educational development, cultural heritage, and spiritual wellbeing of Native children.
Meeting with John Snowball, Vice Chairman of the Winnebago Tribal Council, in Statuary Hall.
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CONSERVATION Nebraska’s fertile soil and vast farmlands feed the world. Our state’s uniquely diverse ecosystem, on the edge of the Great Plains, includes the Rainwater Basin, the Sandhills, and rich, planted forests. Countless migratory birds depend on our water and land for sustenance along their intercontinental journeys. We are the home of Arbor Day. Nebraskans intuitively understand the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation. Innovative thinking and proactive policy sustain diversity
of habitat, increase recreation and hunting, and enhance a deeper value of environmental security. Nebraska is a leader in this field.
GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT This year we witnessed the passing of what might be the most important conservation legislation in the past century. On Tuesday, August 4, President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act, an initiative I helped
Signing of the Great American Outdoors Act – the most important conservation legislation in the past century.
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C O N S E RVA T I O N
lead with other members. The core of this legislation is our national park system and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Our national parks, precious ecosystems, public lands and monuments represent the majestic serenity, vastness, and openness of America. They reflect who we are as a people and our longing to protect what is beautiful and memorable. The upkeep of these special sites and facilities, however, has not kept pace with their popularity. The Great American Outdoors Act enhances our inspiring national parks and other public lands, allowing us to preserve this natural heritage for generations to come.
century of bipartisan support and has been used in every state and county to create outdoor recreational opportunities. As a perennial reminder of the bill’s significance, the Interior Secretary has designated August 4 as Great American Outdoors Day. On this day, every year, entrance fees for all national parks and public lands will be waived, which is a beautiful reminder to reconnect with America’s beautiful outdoors. Hanging in the East Room of the White House is a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th President, who once said: “There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm. The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value.”
The Great American Outdoors Act also makes permanent the funding of the LWCF, which plays a critical role in maintaining city parks, baseball fields, wetlands, and hundreds of other projects. It also helps protect national wildlife refuges, national forests, wild and scenic river corridors, scenic and historic trails, Civil War battlefields, and other federal and local areas. The LWCF has enjoyed more than a half-
RECOVERING A MERICA’S WILDLIFE AC T The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) is a creative initiative that is designed to protect ecosystems across our nation through constructive partnerships with states. The bipartisan measure provides smart upstream policy to avoid triggering the “emergency room procedures” of the Endangered Species Act. By ensuring that states effectively engage in proactive habitat restoration projects, we can prevent wildlife from declining or becoming endangered in the first place. This also avoids the need for burdensome regulations or, worse, litigation. Such an approach will benefit farmers, hunters, anglers, boaters, birders, hikers and other wildlife enthusiasts. I’ve championed this major piece of environmental legislation for a number of years.
At the Great American Outdoors Act signing with Ivanka Trump.
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C O N S E RVA T I O N
WIND FOR SCHOOL S: SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVE E NERGY SOURCES FOR SCHOOL S
carbon emissions, trees are nature’s best way of cleaning out excess carbon pollution from the atmosphere. Trees can capture a metric ton of carbon at $20 or less a ton. Existing carbon capture technology captures at best $250 a ton. Trees create jobs, water quality, and improved soil.
I secured $1,000,000 for the Wind for Schools energy program. These funds provide hands-on educational experiences by installing small wind turbines at various rural schools across the country. This allows teachers and students to physically engage with energy-related curricula.
Imagine this: A trillion-tree initiative led by Congress. Through reduced emissions and tree-planting, we can help solve the problem of excess atmospheric carbon without throwing the world into another Great Depression or massively expanding state power.
SUPPORT OF THE TRILLION TREES INITIATIVE We have had a decades-old stalemate here in America over environmental security. Differences in rhetoric, framing, and tone engendered explosive disagreements between friends, families, and policymakers. Whether we call the problem “climate change,” “global warming,” or my preference of “climate volatility,” the bottom line is that Congress has finally stopped talking about how to define the problem and more about how to solve it.
TOWARD A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Nebraska is well-positioned to lead a renewable energy future. Our natural resource base, the advanced research capabilities of our university system, and the drive and ingenuity of our renewable energy entrepreneurs are already transitioning our state to a more sustainable future. I continue to work toward protecting the important use of ethanol and biodiesel throughout the U.S. I am cosponsoring and actively supporting several measures in the House designed to promote sustainable energy.
One area of potential consensus—trees. While expanded carbon capture technology, conservation, mass transit, bikes, scooters, electric cars, wind, solar, biofuels, and even nuclear energy will play significant roles in reducing
Global reforestation is the fastest, cheapest, most scalable way to lower atmospheric carbon. Great to be in Nebraska City at the home of Arbor Day, whose foundation aids communities in planting trees.
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SERVING OUR VETERANS I find that when I spend meaningful time around those who have served in our military, the noise fades, and a right perspective returns to my spirit. I am reminded of the greater ideal of self-sacrifice, and I am drawn into unity with other Americans by connecting with those who selflessly and dutifully served simply because it was noble and good.
non-profit donor group, the VA, and our bipartisan effort in Congress, we achieved a notable rarity for government projects by completing it on time and on budget. In Lincoln, we are looking forward to the opening of the new VA clinic scheduled for this coming spring. The new facility is primarily devoted to clinical care and is designed to serve 10,000 veterans annually. From the beginning, this clinic has been designed with the necessary space and capabilities to meet the specialized high-demand care needs of veterans, including mental health, podiatry, prosthetics, audiology, and physical therapy.
OM AHA/LINCOLN VETERANS HOSPITAL S Our duty to veterans starts with their health care. In the House Appropriations Committee where I serve, we have substantially increased the amount of resources available to veterans.
TE LEMEDICINE Through my position on the House Appropriations Committee, I have pushed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to explore and develop new and effective models for effective veteran care. One promising development to arise from the pandemic has been the dramatic expansion in telehealth. This will benefit thousands of veterans living in rural communities far from any VA clinic or hospital.
As of August, Nebraska veterans have the option of obtaining medical care at the stateof-the-art Ambulatory Care Center at the expanded Omaha Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center campus. This facility includes seven primary care units, an outpatient surgery suite, and a specialty medicine unit allowing additional outpatient care. It is the first VA facility to have a dedicated women’s health clinic area. The facility is the first demonstration of a new VA public-private partnership concept. Thanks to the hard work of the Nebraska veteran community, civic leaders, a local
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S E RV I N G O U R V E T E R A N S
PREVE NTING VETERAN SUICIDE
A NEW PROGRA M FOR WOME N VETERANS, DESIGNED BY WOME N FOR WOME N
We must continue to address the national tragedy of veteran suicide. I have directed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate using social media platforms to identify and engage veterans at risk of suicide, and to work with academic partners to develop and test tools for identifying and engaging these veterans.
My work in Congress helped create an important new path to support women veterans who experience a unique sense of isolation compared to their male counterparts. Current programs have been developed by men for men. To support the transition to civilian life, I requested that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs create a network for women veterans that is organized by women to provide peer support, resource-sharing, online training tools, and direct access to VA and other certified professionals. I am pleased that the Committee has agreed to fund these efforts at $1 million for the first year.
PAWS FOR VETS AC T This year, the House passed the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act—a bill I proudly helped lead to connect service dogs with vets. The PAWS Act fully integrates service dogs into treatment options for our courageous veterans. On behalf of all veterans, I am so honored to support this important legislation.
Our unprecedented standard of living and world-leading entrepreneurship exist because at critical hinge moments when everything was on the line brave men and women stepped up to defend our nation. I was honored to meet Veterans of Foreign Wars of Nebraska in early 2020 at the Nebraska Breakfast.
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S E RV I N G O U R V E T E R A N S
VETERANS MEMORIAL IN HUMPHREY, NE BRASK A This past Memorial Day, I had the extraordinary privilege to visit the new Veterans Memorial in Humphrey, Nebraska. That small farm community so beautifully represents the heart of America and the desire to commemorate and keep alive in time the importance of our veterans and those who have fallen.
This May, we lost Henry Doncheski of Tekamah—who served his country at the Battle of the Bulge and D-Day. I had the privilege of recording Henry’s story for our nation’s archives.
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OUT IN THE DISTRICT
I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the senior class at Milford Jr./Sr. High School as they engaged with colleges from around the Midwest on College Day. I wish them all the best as they take these next steps. I invite you to review my visit at: https://youtu.be/M0P646zCyGU
It was so great to see my friend Susie at the Master’s Hand, a chocolate factory, gift shop, and restaurant in Tekamah. I told Susie: “You’re in the happiness business!”
Here’s something new! And old! It’s great to see a return to custom wool milling in Nebraska at the Fiber Mill in Stromsburg—another value-added niche in our Nebraska Ag family. Listen the the conversation: https://youtu.be/CyMJmi4IDsU
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OUT IN THE DISTRICT
Congratulations Petsource on your opening. Thanks for adding value to Nebraska agriculture utilizing advanced freeze-drying technology and adding 100 new jobs in Seward.
I got under the hood with students from Bellevue East and West in the automotive repair class at the Career Launch Center. Federal funding from the Perkins Act helps Bellevue schools provide programs like this. Career and technical programs are essential to the future of education.
There’s a reason why Nebraska helps feed the world. Thanks Stan and the team at AKRS Equipment for all you do for Southeast Nebraska.
Jennifer manages Platte Valley Equipment in Fremont. She was busy helping bring in the harvest and getting ready to move to their new location.
The community of Blair is rightfully proud of the new Washington County Justice Center. The modern jail and courthouse represent a huge improvement and will result in cost savings over time.
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OUT IN THE DISTRICT
It was a great visit with University of Nebraska regent, farmer, and veterinarian Jim Pillen about the fight for farmers and ranchers during this coronavirus pandemic.
An informative visit with Bob Dudley at APPEARA in Norfolk!
Such a gem! Nestled along the Missouri River in Bellevue, Fontenelle Forest has an education center, nature trails, and an amazing raptor recovery program helping magnificent birds like Orion, a great horned owl, recover from injury. I invite you to review my visit at: https://youtu.be/jc16ikBgLuw
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HOW CAN WE HELP? My duty as your Congressman is twofold: to develop public policy and to help you as you interact with your government. My office works diligently to help Nebraskans every day. In order for us to do this effectively, I have offices in Lincoln and Fremont, and persons based in Bellevue, Columbus, and Norfolk. You are always welcome to contact me with ideas, comments, or questions through phone, mail, and e-mail.
In my office, we adjusted to the array of challenges presented by COVID-19. A foreign policy analyst became a PPP loan expert. A national security expert now regularly interfaces with the IRS on your behalf. A medical doctor on staff is now closely involved with the FDA, University of Nebraska Medicine, and food supply issues. All my staff are on standby responding to your requests as soon as they come in.
CONSTITUE NT SERVICES Whether it’s a farm issue, Social Security issue, or health care issue, we’re here to help. Here’s a look at the numbers of Nebraskans served:
2000
600
130
Health Care Issues
Stimulus Checks
Tax Refunds
140
210
700
Small Business PPP Loans
Unemployment Compensation
Non-COVID-19 Related Issues
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NE BRASK A BREAKFAST
have another dedicated group of young people apply to serve our country. If you, or someone you know, is interested in applying to a service academy, please contact my Lincoln office.
Every Wednesday morning, when both houses of Congress are in session, your entire federal delegation hosts a breakfast for our visitors to Washington. The oldest such gathering on Capitol Hill, the Nebraska Breakfast lets you meet the delegation, ask questions, and receive important legislative updates. If you are in Washington, please join us.
INTERNSHIPS From high school to college students, we employ a number of bright and capable interns in both my DC and Lincoln offices. Our interns have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the inner workings of Congress. Now, thanks to legislation I helped advance, they get paid!
YOUR WASHINGTON ADVE NTURE Our nation’s capital offers a wide variety of historic landmarks, parks, and museums, making it an excellent place for Nebraskans to visit. If you are coming to Washington, we are happy to give you information to make your trip more enjoyable. We can also help you navigate the House and Senate chambers and their beautiful and historic surroundings.
After serving in our office, many of our interns have gone on to achieve enormous success in many fields. Should you know of a young person who would like to intern in my office, please encourage them to apply.
ACADEMY NOMINATIONS Our nation’s service academies are elite institutions that build character and grit, while training students to excel in academics and military affairs. This year, we were fortunate to
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STAY IN TOUCH If you would like to get in touch with me, please visit my website: fortenberry.house.gov. You can also call one of my offices and speak to a staff member there. I invite you to sign up for the weekly Fort Report newsletter on my website to learn of legislative and other updates that affect you and your family. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for real-time updates.
WASHINGTON, DC 1514 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4806
LINCOLN 301 South 13th Street, Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 438-1598
FREMONT 641 N. Broad Street Fremont, NE 68025 Meeting with students in Nebraska.
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“
2020 was like a bull ride— it only takes eight seconds, but it feels like forever.
”
— Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
