Dear Friend,

As we've concluded the month of May and springtime nears its end, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made in Congress over the past month (and I’m looking forward to summer!). From leading the charge on my now Senate-passed legislation to overturn California’s EV mandate to advancing legislation to protect our communications networks from foreign adversaries, I’m keeping Nebraska’s interests front and center in Washington.

Continue reading below about my work for Nebraska over the past month:


To the President’s Desk: My Resolution Overturning California’s EV Mandate will Protect Truckers and Consumers

As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will overload companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements, which will force consumers to bear the brunt of increased prices. I introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in April to repeal this regulation.

This month, my resolution passed the Senate and is now headed to the president’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law.

Cracking Down on Freight Fraud

Freight fraud is a growing problem in America. We cannot allow bad actors in the shipping and moving industry to violate consumer trust and harm our nation’s supply chain. My Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Actgives the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) the tools it needs to protect consumers from freight fraud. It passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee and now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.

Promoting Mental Health in the Ag Industry and Workforce

Daily uncertainties and extreme stress lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression among Nebraska’s agricultural producers and workforce. I was proud to announce the Senate unanimously passed my bipartisan resolution designating May 29th as ‘Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.’

Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Included in House Bill

In 2017, Senator King (I-Maine) and I established the first-ever nationwide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Tax Credit, which was included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation is set to expire this year, which is why we introduced legislation to expand and extend it. I am proud that it was included in the tax bill that recently passed the House of Representatives.

This month, I also questioned Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler on her commitment to implement this PFML tax credit.


Reintroducing My Precision Ag Package

Precision agriculture equipment enables America’s farmers and ranchers to be stronger stewards of the land; however, high upfront costs and lack of rural broadband connectivity create frustrating barriers to entry.

This month, I reintroduced my bipartisan Precision Ag Package—three pieces of legislation that will improve producers’ access to innovative tools, making their operations more productive, efficient, and less resource-intensive.

My ag package carries strong support from various organizations and industry groups, including the American Equipment Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Ethos Connected, Irrigation Association, John Deere, National Corn Growers Association, and Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation.

Helping Introduce the FARMER Act

For decades, Nebraska’s ag producers have helped feed our nation and the world, which is why I reintroduced the Federal Agricultural Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act to strengthen crop insurance and make higher levels of coverage more affordable for producers. As Congress works to pass a Farm Bill, protecting and improving crop insurance for our farmers is one of my top priorities.

Nebraska Right Fit to Relocate Parts of USDA

At a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, I questioned Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on her plans torelocate parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). I recommended Nebraska as an ideal location, given its proximity to land grant institutions, lower cost of living, and a strong existing relationship with the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) facilities in the state.

Continuing to Push for Year-round E15

This month, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin reaffirmed to me during an Appropriations Committee hearing that congressional action on year-round E15 is the “most durable and easiest solution” to ensure that we have permanent access to this fuel. My legislation – the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act – is the only permanent, nationwide solution that unleashes the power of year-round E15.

FACT Act Passes Commerce Committee

The threat our foreign adversaries pose is not a distant concern. It is real, it is relentless, and it is constantly evolving. For too long now, we have allowed foreign adversarial governments to secure a silent foothold in our telecommunications infrastructure.

That’s why, earlier this year, I introduced my Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act, which passed unanimously out of the Commerce Committee.

This legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publicly identify entities that hold FCC licenses, authorizations, or other grants of authority that are owned, wholly or partially, by foreign adversarial governments.

Click here to watch my speech in support of the FACT Act on the Senate Floor.

Joining POLITICO’s Security Summit


Our national security remains my top priority. This month, I joined POLITICO’s Security Summit to discuss defense spending, retaining the Department of Defense’s (DOD) access to certain bands of electromagnetic spectrum, and how the Trump administration could not complete its Golden Dome missile defense shield should the DOD be forced to vacate spectrum frequencies.

Applauding the Golden Dome Missile Defense System Announcement

The Golden Dome will be crucial in protecting our people and homeland from incoming missile attacks by foreign adversaries. Following President Trump’s announcement of our investment in the Golden Dome missile defense shield project, I expressed my support for his plan while emphasizing that its success hinges on the DOD’s access to key bands of spectrum.


Reintroducing the CHIP IN for Veterans Act

During Military Appreciation Month this May, we recognized America’s active-duty service members and veterans who have gone above and beyond to defend our freedom and keep us safe. After serving our country, they deserve access to high-quality and modern health care facilities and services.

This month, Senator Ricketts and I introduced legislation to reauthorize the CHIP IN for Veterans Act which allows local communities across the country to assist with the planning and construction of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. The program originates from the original CHIP IN for Veterans Act I championed in 2016, which laid the groundwork for the successful construction of the Omaha VA facility.

Honoring Nebraska’s Law Enforcement

Also during May, we celebrated National Police Week. Nebraska’s police officers risk their lives every day to make the ‘Good Life’ we all cherish a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. This past month, the Senate passed a resolution, which I cosponsored, honoring fallen officers, including fallen Ceresco Police Officer Ross Bartlett.

Reintroducing the ATTAIN Mental Health Act

Every person deserves equal access to mental health care services, but many rural communities in Nebraska are still being left behind. I reintroduced the Achieving Thorough Transparency & Accessibility for Information Navigation (ATTAIN) on Mental Health Act which would create a user-friendly online dashboard to assist applicants in identifying federal grants that support mental health and address substance use.

U.S. Attorney for Nebraska Nominee

I was happy to recommend President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, Lesley Woods Murphy. Woods Murphy has spent her career working to bring criminals to justice and firmly enforce the law. Her experience in complex legal matters, remarkable success in court, and efforts to improve public safety through strong law enforcement partnerships will no doubt make her an excellent U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska.

Fischer’s Agri-Pulse Op-Ed: Precision Ag Technology is a Piece of the Puzzle New Facilities for a Deserving Nebraska National Guard

Championing Small Businesses Honoring our Nebraska Police Officers

Honoring our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day Supporting the Health and Well-being of our Farmers, Ranchers, and Ag Workforce

Fischer's FACT Act now eligible for Senate floor vote EPA Announces Nationwide E15 Waiver

Fischer-supported resolution to repeal Calif. clean trucks reg set to become law Letting China Dictate US Spectrum Strategy Won’t Make America More Secure

Sen. Deb Fischer: Chinese and Russian advances underscore need for next-generation missile shield Fischer, Ricketts are on board with idea of moving USDA offices to Nebraska, other ag states

To the President’s Desk: Fischer’s Resolution to Overturn California’s EV Mandate, Protect Truckers and Consumers Fischer Discusses Her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit with Small Business Administrator

Fischer Joins POLITICO’s Security Summit to Discuss Defense Budget, DOD Spectrum Airwaves, Golden Dome Passed by Senate Commerce Committee: Fischer's Bill to Fight Freight Fraud

Defense Officials to Fischer: If DOD is Forced to Vacate Spectrum Frequencies, U.S. Would Assume High Level of Risk for Homeland Defense Fischer to Agriculture Secretary: Nebraska Right Fit to Relocate Parts of U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

	Every rural community deserves the same internet connectivity as our urban areas, which is why I was happy to meet with the Nebraska Telecommunications Association to discuss how we can ensure that our networks reach communities throughout Nebraska.
I appreciated meeting with the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce in Washington. As Nebraska’s U.S. Senator, it’s always good to hear first-hand what’s impacting our shared communities.
	One of my top priorities is extending the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act to help our small businesses thrive. I had a productive meeting with the Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska to discuss how we can preserve and strengthen key policies to keep taxes low.
I met with Bryan Health President and CEO Russ Gronewold to discuss the work they are doing to improve health outcomes in Nebraska.
	I met with Robert Kadlec, President Trump’s nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, & Biological Defense Policy & Programs – a position I created in last year’s NDAA – to discuss better coordination of nuclear policy and resourcing decisions.
I met with the Nebraska Hospital Association to discuss how we can support the mission of Nebraska’s hospitals to provide better care and health outcomes for Nebraskans.
	Nebraska’s farmers are essential to our thriving ag economy. That’s why I was happy to meet with the National Farmers Union and hear directly from our family farmers about the challenges they face.
China and Russia are rapidly modernizing and diversifying their nuclear forces. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am dedicated to keeping our nation safe and that means maintaining an effective nuclear deterrent. This month, I spoke at the Strategic Deterrent Coalition Symposium to remind defense leadership that this threat is real, it’s growing, and we cannot delay modernizing our own forces.
	Our firefighters are on the front lines, risking their lives to battle blazes that endanger our Nebraska communities. We are thankful for their hard work. I was pleased to meet with the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter Association to receive updates on their units and hear how we can better support them in Washington.
I joined the Washington Times to discuss my work to support America's Golden Dome program – a missile defense system capable of defending our homeland. As Chair of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I’ll continue working with DOD and the Trump administration to ensure that we have the technology to sense and defeat missile threats to keep our country safe.
	U.S. Bank's Business Banking Market Leader for Nebraska and Omaha local, Joe Sullivan, dropped by to discuss the U.S. Bank’s engagement in Nebraska.
I met with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry to discuss issues impacting our local businesses and how we can better support them in Washington.
	Small businesses are at the heart of Nebraska’s communities. I met with the National Retail Federation to discuss the challenges businesses face in Nebraska and the policies we can champion to help them succeed.
I met with the National Association for Insurance & Financial Advisors to discuss how we can ensure that American families have the financial security they need to thrive.
	We must never forget—America is the land of the free because of the brave. I joined my fellow Nebraskans at a Memorial Day Event in Omaha to pay our respects to the many service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Proteus is a nonprofit organization that empowers ag workers and their families through job training, economic support, and emergency assistance. It was great to meet with their regional director, Jody Stutzman, to hear updates about their ongoing work across the state.
	I enjoyed meeting with the Nebraska State Bar to discuss how we can ensure that Nebraskans have the best access to quality legal services.
I was honored to attend the ribbon cutting at Norfolk Crush, which marks an exciting new chapter for Norfolk and our state’s biofuels industry. Beyond expanding markets for Nebraska's farmers, this facility will drive long-term growth not just for Norfolk, but for all of Northeast Nebraska.
	I toured Midtown Health Center in Norfolk to learn more about their work to provide Nebraskans with the care they need and deserve.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. Deb Fischer U.S. Senator for Nebraska