Op-Eds

President Abraham Lincoln understood that a dynamic and efficient transportation system is critical to the well-being of America. As a former railroad attorney, Lincoln knew a transcontinental railroad would open trade with the Far East and support communities throughout the region.

Federal regulations affecting agriculture often boil down to a complicated alphabet soup of programs and rules. As your U.S. senator, I’m working in a bipartisan fashion to restore common sense to the onerous regulations that make life harder for families. I’m also focused on providing more certainty for Nebraska’s agriculture producers who grow our state’s […]

Last Friday, the Department of Defense released its Nuclear Posture Review, the first of its kind since the 2010 study conducted by the Obama administration. This review is the culmination of a comprehensive, interagency effort assessing the requirements, force structure, policies, and infrastructure associated with our nuclear deterrent. It’s also forward-looking and describes the administration’s […]

Congress has a chance to make history by enacting the first nationwide paid family leave policy as part of the Senate tax reform bill. While many working adults have been busy raising children, our nation’s aging population has created a dual strain as those adults’ caregiving duties have expanded to looking after elderly relatives. Life is […]

It doesn’t matter if you are in the heart of Lincoln or a small town in Cherry County, families are the building blocks of Nebraska. At the core of every community are parents, grandparents, and caregivers working hard to provide for their loved ones and raise the next generation. Policies that will lead Nebraska families to success and prosperity are a top priority for me in the U.S. Senate. As Congress moves closer to passing comprehensive tax reform, I’m optimistic about several opportunities to provide relief for middle-class families.

America’s attention is focused intently on North Korea’s nuclear program, and each day seems to bring more information on the Kim regime’s continued pursuit of nuclear warheads and new missiles to carry them to our shores. The threat of nuclear attack – something long pushed to the margins of our national security conversation – is once again front page news.

Nebraska has an impressive legal community. With more than 5,700 lawyers, our state touts a lengthy and impressive list of those who have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the rule of law. During our search for a candidate to fill the seat of Chief Judge William Jay Riley on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, however, one name stood out.

Infrastructure is America’s backbone. It is what keeps the nation moving every day while supporting our economy and national security. Unfortunately, our infrastructure is aging rapidly, and we must get to work on rebuilding and revitalizing it for the future. The maintenance and expansion of our infrastructure are key factors in enhancing our country’s competitiveness and creating jobs and opportunities for others.

Last Friday, North Korea tested another intercontinental ballistic missile. Numerous reports indicated this missile flew significantly farther than the one the regime launched July 3 and could reach major U.S. cities. This threat is a concern I hear about often when I visit with Nebraskans. Wednesday’s successful test-launch of an ICBM of our own should be reassuring. This was a pre-scheduled, highly technical launch and one of many tests our military conducts every year to ensure that our defenses are safe and reliable.

Twenty-first century women are managers, entrepreneurs, public servants and CEOs. Our country is stronger for it. Despite these great strides, there’s more work to do to encourage prosperity for America’s families.