Opinion

Two measures from the Health and Human Services Committee to expand benefits to Nebraskans struggling with food insecurity and utility bills were vetoed by the Governor but overridden by lawmakers. Senator John McCollister’s measure LB108, would expand food assistance eligibility to 165 percent of the federal poverty level until September 30, 2023, when it would return to 130 percent.

Over the past year, Nebraska has been enjoying rapid growth, creating lots of great-paying job opportunities here in the Good Life. We have the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.6 percent. That’s the lowest rate our state has seen since 1999. Right now, we have over 40,000 jobs available on the State of Nebraska’s jobs site: NEworks.nebraska.gov. These are some of the reasons why WalletHub recently ranked Nebraska as the #2 state in the U.S. to find a job.

At the end of June, I had the honor of presenting the family of Glen Schreurs with medals from his service in World War II. Glen’s family had requested them from the National Personnel Records Center, which keeps track of medals and other documents from American soldiers’ service, and they asked my office to help them finish the process.

The President of the United States has ordered the U.S. military out of Afghanistan by August 31, of this year. This withdrawal of troops is called a “retrograde” operation. It is the most difficult and risky of all tasks you can ask soldiers to do in combat. Retrograde operations are never pretty. They are prone to turning into another form of operational maneuver called a “pursuit” (the enemy chasing you as you try to leave). No President wants that on the evening news, which is why the press isn’t being allowed anywhere near this one.

Over the past few days, Americans have traveled far and wide to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day on July 4th. As travel picked up for the national holiday, it reminds us of how vital functioning and efficient infrastructure is to our country. Whether you are hitting the highway for a road trip or staying local, infrastructure touches all of our lives.

It’s easy to keep track of the high-profile things the Unicameral wrestles with each year, but on days when things are going smoothly and there’s more action than talk, some important work is accomplished. Let’s look at a brief summary from seven of the Legislature’s committees.

As America emerges from the Fourth of July weekend, there’s another important reminder this month of why we should cherish our freedom and liberty. July marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). CCP officials have already been holding celebrations to paint a positive image of their work on the world stage. While the CCP pushes propaganda on the anniversary of its founding, it’s important that Americans understand how the communist regime operates.

When last year’s challenges arrived, China covered up the severity of the pandemic to buy more time to stockpile medical supplies. Then they banned American companies operating there from sending crucial personal protective equipment, like masks and ventilators, back to the U.S.

As we reflect on our nation’s birthday, I would like to talk about something near and dear to my heart: Offutt Air Force Base. During my military career I was fortunate to have been stationed there for three years assigned to the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). This group carries out an extremely important mission that is essential to our national defense. Offutt is something that we should all be proud of as patriots.

Drought is a relatively common occurrence in Nebraska. The further west we go, the drier it is and the greater likelihood of serious drought setting in. In fact, in central and western parts of the state, significant droughts occur on average every 5-7 years. With Nebraska researchers projecting climatic change to increase the frequency and severity of drought cycles, how do we prepare our landscapes for drought tolerance and sustainment when drought sets in?