Weekly Column

The Vietnam Memorial holds the names of 395 Nebraskans. While this war remains a deeply controversial period in our history, each of these heroes deployed for the purposes of fighting communism and defending freedom.

Take a drive across Nebraska and you will see farm equipment almost everywhere: tractors, combines, center pivots, and more. You name it; chances are Nebraska producers use it. Year round, our farmers and ranchers rely on a wide variety of agricultural machinery to do their job of feeding the world.

Nebraskans work hard, each and every day, to provide for their families. Many live paycheck to paycheck and make sacrifices to own their own home, make car payments, or pay for extracurricular activities for their kids. Whether it’s taxes, investing, or any number of financial responsibilities, managing it all can be complicated and overwhelming. Because of this, many families turn to financial advisors for help with staying on track and managing their hard-earned money.

This Memorial Day, citizens across Nebraska will gather to pay tribute to the brave men and women who died fighting for our country. Solemn ceremonies and prayer services, parades down Main Streets, and backyard barbecues are a few of the many ways Nebraskans mark this special occasion. No matter where you spend Memorial Day this year, it is important to pause and reflect on the courage and valor of our fallen service members.

This May marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco. A proud police officer, beloved wife, and caring mother, Officer Orozco was killed in the line of duty on May 20, 2015, while serving an arrest warrant. She died one day before her 3-month-old daughter Olivia was set to arrive home from the hospital and Kerrie was to begin her postponed maternity leave. Officer Orozco’s death was an enormous loss for the Omaha community and a sobering reminder of the sacrifices our first responders make to keep us safe.

I always look forward to traveling across Nebraska. Recently, I began the weeklong state work period in the panhandle visiting in many communities before making my way to Omaha. From Scottsbluff and North Platte to Kearney, Hastings, Geneva, and Crete, these local discussions are important for my work in the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Senate recently passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As the agency that manages the safety and security of our nation’s airspace, the FAA provides Americans with peace of mind as they travel for work, visit family, or take off for getaways all over the world. The legislation we passed in April provides new updates and improvements to our federal aviation laws that will help ensure more families can fly safely for years to come.

Congress holds the power of the purse. As one of three separate but equal branches of the federal government, legislators are ultimately responsible for administering the financial resources that allow our government to operate. Because of this, we hold a sacred trust with the American people as guardians of taxpayer dollars. As your senator, I have a fundamental duty to stop waste, fraud and abuse.

Nebraska is proud to be the home of Offutt Air Force Base. As the headquarters of STRATCOM, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55th Wing, the base plays a critical role in defending our nation from threats across the globe. For almost a century, Offutt has helped to protect our nation, and it has served as an important component of our state’s economy and also the local economies of the communities near it.

Millions of Americans are filing their taxes this month. Each year, people procrastinate as they dread the April 15th deadline. Due to the observance of Emancipation Day this year, Americans will have an extra three days to file their 2015 tax returns. Having three extra days is convenient, but the filing process remains tedious, complicated, and unnecessary in many respects.