Dear Friend,

My husband Bruce and I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to our family ranch south of Valentine. The secretary joined me in hosting a roundtable discussion with more than 60 of our friends and neighbors. We had a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing ranchers in Nebraska and across our country.

During our discussion, Secretary Perdue highlighted recent news regarding new beef export opportunities to China. He believes the agreement will better enable American ranchers to sell our world-class beef to a growing market. Like me, he's convinced that when they get a taste of American beef they're going to want more of it.

Secretary Perdue also made clear that he understands the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and how his department should function. As the secretary said, Nebraskans' job is to produce the food, and his goal is to sell it to the world.

I'm pleased that Secretary Perdue is committed to listening, acting, and standing up for rural America. After our candid discussion this month, I know working with him to create more opportunities for Nebraska families is a good thing to do.

Click here or on the image above for more photos of Secretary Perdue's visit.

Keep reading for more updates from my office.

Lifting Burdens for Nebraska Ag Producers

I reintroduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act to provide Nebraska farmers and ranchers with relief from a burdensome federal rule affecting on-farm fuel storage. This legislation builds on my previous efforts to modify costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect ag producers with on-farm fuel storage. In the past, we have been successful in providing limited exemptions to this rule, but there's more work to do. Through the FUELS Act, Congress can cut red tape for our ag producers so they can continue to do their jobs and support their families. I was pleased to welcome support for this legislation from the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Cattlemen.

Treating the Invisible Wounds of War

Earlier this month, I joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to reintroduce the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act in May. This bicameral, bipartisan bill would help veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by providing them with access to service dogs. Through this bill, these veterans would have more support, peace, and joy as they confront the invisible scars of war. In some cases, the PAWS Act would even save lives. It's a solution that will bring our veterans relief and offer them hope.

The Economic Benefits of NAFTA

Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and I led other 16 senators in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stressing the positive economic impact of NAFTA as the administration considers taking a fresh look at the agreement. In our letter, we noted that since the agreement is more than two decades old, there are areas in which NAFTA will benefit from strengthening and modernization. You can read the letter in its entirety here.

Photos of the Month

A fun part of my job is meeting with talented, enthusiastic, and smart Nebraska students. Thanks to students from Crofton Community School, York High School, and Fremont High School for showing me their selfie skills!

The Nebraska Breakfast gives us a taste of The Good Life on Wednesday mornings. Thank you to all the Nebraskans who have stopped by to visit so far this year. Click here for more information about how you can participate in this longstanding Nebraska tradition.

I was happy to visit with Kaylee Snowardt & Erin Weidenhamer from Andersen Middle School. These students were recently named National Oratory Fellows. Congratulations to these bright young women!

I had a great exchange of ideas during my small business roundtable hosted by Nebraska Enterprise Fund in North Omaha. It's always a pleasure to sit down and hear directly from our state's entrepreneurs.

While on the road in Nebraska, I stopped by the Blair Rotary Club to give an update on my work in the Senate and hear what's on their minds.

I was honored to join Nebraskans in Columbus at this year's Memorial Day ceremony organized by the American Legion.