Jun 12 2019
Honoring the Heroes of D-Day
Dear Friend,
It was a privilege to travel to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day where we "gathered at freedom's altar" to honor our courageous World War II service members. What a beautiful day to pay tribute to the members of the Greatest Generation from Nebraska and all across America who fought for freedom and liberated a continent. As President Trump said in his speech, "they took their duty as their fate." Click here for more photos from the D-Day 75th Anniversary.
I also wanted to share another important update for our state. President Trump recently signed a disaster relief bill that includes Nebraska. This legislation is a critical first step that will provide much-needed assistance to rebuild our state and help Nebraskans get back on their feet. Click here for more information.
Continue reading for more.
Commemorating Women's Right to Vote
Recently, the Senate celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passing and ratification of the 19th Amendment. This historic milestone paved the way for women to have the constitutional right to vote in this country.
We will never forget the stories of the suffrage movement and all of the women throughout our nation's history whose courage and brilliance changed the world.
Watch my floor speech highlighting the suffrage movement and influential women from Nebraska.
E-15 Sales Year-Round
I was pleased the EPA announce the finalized year-round sale of E-15. For years, I've fought for a solution like this for our farmers and ethanol producers. It was great to be able to join President Trump on his visit today to Nebraska and Iowa where he made this news official. I want to thank the president for following through with his commitment on this issue, and I look forward to seeing the positive results this will bring for Nebraska and rural America.
Regulatory Relief for Our Ag Producers
Due to unnecessary federal regulations, our ag producers in Nebraska were facing worry and frustration about calculating emissions from animal waste. I was proud to lead the bipartisan legislation that delivered a permanent fix on this issue. The EPA administrator has now officially implemented this rule, so our farmers and ranchers will have more regulatory certainty. Click here to read more in the Scottsbluff Star-Herald.
The National Defense Authorization Act
Once again, the Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. As a member of the committee, I'm proud to continue the tradition of passing bipartisan legislation in order to provide for our national defense and equip our armed forces with the resources they need.
In this bill, I championed provisions to address the damage from the recent natural disasters to Nebraska's military facilities: Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Ashland.
Read more on what is in the Senate FY 2020 NDAA here.
Investing in Our Airports
Eppley Airfield in Omaha and six other Nebraska airports are receiving supplemental discretionary grants from the Department of Transportation. Our airports keep Nebraska families, communities, and business connected. I'm happy to see the Department of Transportation invest in our state's infrastructure. These grants will provide major improvements and will make a big difference in our state's future.
Grant Awards Listed Below:
Eppley Airfield (Omaha) - $2.8 Million
McCook Regional (McCook) - $562,158
Central Nebraska Regional (Grand Island) - $2.17 Million
Norfolk Regional/Karl Stefan Memorial Field (Norfolk) - $738,861
Gordon Municipal Airport (Gordon) - $1.5 million
Red Cloud Municipal Airport (Red Cloud) - $3.21 million
Thomas County Airport (Thedford) - $4.365 million
Photos of the Month
I loved meeting Alex and his family from North Platte during a recent Nebraska Breakfast. They were in D.C. during Police Week to honor their grandfather, Trooper Mark Wagner who was tragically killed during a training exercise.
During the D-Day 75th anniversary commemoration, it was an amazing and humbling experience to witness the re-enactment at the drop zone in Cherbourg-Octeville, France, and visit with veterans from the Greatest Generation.
Our state is fortunate to have facilities, like Charles Drew Health Center, that provide quality and compassionate care to Nebraskans. It was exciting to participate in the opening of their newest facility in Omaha.
This year, I participated in Memorial Day Ceremonies in Hastings and Grand Island where we honored our service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
It was a pleasure to Skype with Stuart Public School's government class and discuss what we do here in the U.S. Senate. Congratulations to the senior class. I wish them all the best in their next chapter.
Nebraska's 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards went to Pranav of Lincoln and Jorja of Beatrice. It is encouraging to see these young Nebraskans become leaders and make a positive impact in their community. Learn more here.
I want to thank the wonderful staff of Hospice House in Omaha for giving me a tour of their facility. The Nebraska organization has provided quality care to over 6,500 residents.
It was an honor to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lincoln VA hospital. Nebraska's veterans are going to have access to a 21st-century facility in Lincoln dedicated to providing exceptional care. I'm grateful for everyone's hard work to turn this dream into a reality!