Dear Friend,

This August, I'm looking forward to traveling across the beautiful state of Nebraska. Starting next week, I'm hosting many meetings, events, community coffees, and listening sessions across our state. Be sure to follow my website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for the latest updates on these events and details on my visits to your community. I hope to see and hear from you when I'm on the road. Your voice is my most important source of information.

Next week, I will chair a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Lincoln's Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC). We will hear from several Nebraska entrepreneurs and local business leaders about the regulatory challenges that are slowing innovation and growth. Click here for more information on the hearing.

Like many of you, I'm looking forward to watching the 2016 Olympics in Rio. This year, four Nebraskans have earned spots on Team USA: Maggie Malone of Geneva, Jordan Larson of Hooper, Jack Sock of Lincoln, and Frank Thompson of Alliance. Each of these young men and women represents the very best of our state and our nation. I'm excited to cheer them on as they go for the gold!

The PAWS Act

Our wounded warriors have made tremendous sacrifices. Many of them bear invisible wounds from their experiences on the battlefield and struggle each day to make it to the next. A few months ago, I met with a young Marine veteran named Cole Lyle and his service dog Kaya. Their bond and the amazing potential of this form of treatment inspired me to introduce a new bill to help veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I teamed up with Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey to introduce this legislation, known as the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act. It would provide veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with access to innovative treatment methods and offer them the same hope that Cole found in Kaya. After only a few weeks of introducing this legislation, we already have several bipartisan cosponsors. I'm hopeful the number of cosponsors will increase this fall. By bringing the joys and love of man's best friend to our veterans, we can help our heroes cope with the scars of war.

Exposing Tax Dollars Transferred to Iran

I recently joined Senator Lankford of Oklahoma to introduce a new bill that expands on similar legislation I introduced last year, known as The Judgment Fund Transparency Act. The Judgment Fund is administered by the Treasury Department and used to pay certain court judgments and settlements against the federal government. It's essentially an unlimited amount of money used by the federal government to cover its own liability. Hardworking taxpayers and members of Congress have every right to see exactly how tax dollars are being spent and where they are going.

Earlier this year, reports showed that the Judgment Fund was being used to make payments to Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism and hostile enemy of the United States. It's haunting to think that terrorist groups, some of which have taken American lives, could have received money through the U.S. Treasury. Our bill takes action and would prohibit the Judgment Fund from being used to support terrorists. It would also maintain key provisions from my original bill requiring openness and accountability. 

A Bipartisan Biotech Compromise

Earlier this month, I voted in favor of a bipartisan compromise to stop a damaging labeling requirement for biotechnology products. On July 1, 2016, a Vermont state law went into effect, imposing burdens on Nebraska's agriculture community after it became the national standard by default. To stop the harmful effects of this mandate, Congress passed a bipartisan compromise to replace the Vermont law with a new national standard.

It also accomplishes three important goals. First, the bill recognizes scientific consensus that biotechnology is safe. Second, under this agreement, consumers will know what's in the food they are eating. Finally, producers in the United States, and especially in Nebraska, will have the certainty they need to continue to provide safe, high-quality, and affordable food to hungry people around the world.

Helping America's Families Fight Addiction

Too many families across this country have been torn apart by heroin and prescription opioid abuse. In Nebraska, arrests and overdoses associated with these drugs have become a serious problem. Congress recently came together to pass significant, bipartisan legislation to help address this epidemic that is sweeping our nation. The bill, known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), will expand drug abuse education and prevention. It will also empower states and local communities to fight this crisis and save lives. CARA is supported by medical professionals across Nebraska and backed by Nebraska's law enforcement community. It was recently signed into law by President Obama. 

Opening Nebraska's Skies

Nebraska's airports connect our families, businesses, and communities to our country and the world. Many of them have been struggling to maintain operations and have been forced to cut back their services due to misguided national policies that favor major large cities outside of Nebraska. I worked with Congressman Adrian Smith to introduce provisions that will restore funding for Nebraska's rural and community airports. I was proud to see these provisions included in final legislation that passed Congress this month.

The bill authorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 2017 and was recently signed into law by President Obama. With this funding restored, airports like Scottsbluff's Western Nebraska Regional Airport, and those in Kearney and North Platte, can continue their operations. The FAA bill also provides these airports with the certainty needed to make long-term investments in infrastructure, safety, and reliability so they can better serve travelers and businesses for years to come.