Weekly Column

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These past few weeks in Washington have been very productive, but I always look forward to spending time on the road in Nebraska. Recently, I began a weeklong state work period traveling our state with stops in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Stanton, Bellevue, and Hebron. I cherish the opportunity to visit local communities around our state and listen to Nebraskans. Being able to identify the needs of families and communities is an essential part of my job as your Senator.

One highlight of my week in The Good Life was welcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr to Northeast Nebraska. We visited Northeast Community College where we learned about their fascinating precision agriculture curriculum, which focuses on familiarizing students with new farming technologies. Advanced information technology and the data these systems gather help our amazing agriculture producers make effective decisions as they feed the world.

Later in the day, Commissioner Carr and I toured Stanton Telecom, a small communications service provider, and led a roundtable discussion with Nebraska telecom stakeholders. The future of Nebraska is bright, and by expanding broadband access across rural America, our state can continue to grow and prosper.

Broadband deployment and internet connectivity is important to all Nebraskans from Omaha to Scottsbluff and everywhere in between. I am committed to working with Commissioner Carr to bring next generation internet connectivity to families and businesses in Nebraska and throughout rural America.

It’s always great to bring Washington leaders to Nebraska. The state by state statistics that help shape policy at the FCC are more than just numbers on paper. They represent our families, small businesses, and our way of life. That’s why I believe it is important that our government officials see exactly how Nebraska’s businesses operate firsthand. Commissioner Carr is the third FCC Commissioner I’ve welcomed to visit our local communities in Nebraska, and I look forward to using these discussions to find common sense solutions in Washington.

In addition to Commissioner Carr’s visit, I had many other productive visits throughout the week. During a stop in Lincoln, I toured the General Dynamics facility. The facility produces aircraft, missile and space structures, including rocket motor cases, external fuel tanks, and launch tubes. General Dynamics is a world-class developer, designer, and manufacturer of advanced defense and aerospace equipment. The facility in Lincoln employs about 160 Nebraskans and has produced over 1.3 million launch tubes for our U.S. military. 

I also enjoyed meeting with a group of Nebraska women to discuss economic security. Our discussions focused on how women can better prepare themselves and their families for retirement.

Bruce and I were also excited to catch up with thousands of friends and neighbors at the Cattlemen’s Ball in Hebron. This annual event has raised over $13 million dollars for cancer research. The Cattlemen’s Ball is held at a different location every year, and it gives host communities a chance to highlight what is unique to their area of Nebraska. We have attended many throughout the years and this year’s ball was another success.

I was honored to give the commencement address to the graduating class of 2018 at Bellevue University. I encouraged the graduates to crave meaning in whatever they do and to always stay humble as they chase their dreams. With the right mix of determination, hard work, and faith in themselves, they will succeed on whatever path they choose. 

It was a wonderful and productive week in Nebraska. Thank you to all those who shared their feedback with me. I look forward to taking your comments and suggestions back to Washington where I will continue to be a strong voice for you.

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

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