By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

**Due to the August state work period, audio for this week’s column is unavailable**

We often hear that Congress can’t work together, or that Republicans and Democrats are unable to find compromises on behalf of the American people. While there are days when that seems true, I want to highlight a few recent cases where I have joined with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass meaningful legislation to help the lives of Nebraskans. I think they prove that when we work together, Congress can be effective.

Right before I headed to Nebraska for the summer work period, the Senate approved three bipartisan bills I have been working on with my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee. The legislation included Kari’s Law, the Spoofing Prevention Act, and the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act. These bills would help keep Nebraskans safe and make important telecommunications updates. 

In December 2013, Kari Hunt was murdered in a Texas hotel room. As this assault unfolded, Kari’s 9-year-old daughter desperately dialed 911 for help.

The call did not go through.

Like millions of American children, Kari’s daughter knew that 911 was for emergencies, but they were in a hotel room. The phone required her to press 9 to reach an outside line, something a nine-year-old would never think to do.

Everyone should be able to access 911 during an emergency. That’s why I teamed up with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to fix this obvious flaw in our phone systems. We introduced Kari’s Law, legislation that requires multiline telephone systems (MLTS), commonly found in hotels and offices, to enable direct access to 911.

Emergency calls should be standard no matter where you are. By having phone companies change how MLTS work, Kari’s Law ensures families can call for the help they need, especially when traveling and staying in hotels.

The Senate also worked together to pass a law protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society from fraudulent scams. I joined Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to introduce and help pass the Spoofing Prevention Act of 2017.

Spoofing, the deliberate falsification of telephone numbers and/or names through Caller-ID, has become a major problem for Nebraskans and law enforcement. Thieves are often posing as the IRS or FBI to trick people, especially the elderly, into handing over banking information. This practice is so common that over the past few years the FBI has posted warnings about scammers using the Bureau’s identification to target Nebraskans.

Our bipartisan coalition joined together to help stop these scams. The Spoofing Prevention Act cracks down on spoofing by prohibiting the practice on all voice calls, including calls made over the internet. It also bans caller ID spoofing via text messaging. Finally, our bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on how the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission are combatting spoofing.

We’ve been working together to promote prosperity and entrepreneurialism, as well.

Earlier this year, I joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to reintroduce the DIGIT Act, a bill to open up lines of communication between the private and public sector to spur innovation. This legislation will help our state build on the success of the “Silicon Prairie” in Lincoln and Omaha. It promotes the Internet of Things by streamlining regulations and convening a working group to prevent potential problems, such as regulatory silos, a circumstance where poor communication between agencies and innovators creates duplicative or inefficient regulations. Government regulators shouldn’t stand in the way of great American ideas and creativity. The DIGIT Act helps the identify outdated regulations that only act as obstacles to innovation and success. 

Americans are creative and know how to build a safe, successful society. These three bills show how effective senators can be when we work together to serve our constituents. I am hopeful that the Senate can find more common ground to help the American people.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.