Rural Development
This week our nation marked 163 years since the signing of the Homestead Act, legislation enacted by President Lincoln which played a key role in the development of farmland across Nebraska and rural America. Through perseverance, resourcefulness, and sacrifice, the Third District became a global breadbasket, and today, agriculture remains the economic driver of our state. For the future of agriculture, advancing sound domestic and international trade policy is critical to keep pace with innovation and secure prosperity for our communities.
Washington, DC — Today Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on a visit to Nebraska. The officials toured the Cargill Bioscience Complex in Blair, NE, the Wholestone Farms pork facility in Fremont, and Ohnoutka family farm in Valparaiso where they held a roundtable with local agriculture producers. Secretary Rollins announced the administration's new Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda to support family agriculture operations for a prosperous future.
Washington, DC — Today Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), John Larson (D-CT), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, legislation to help address the shortages in essential veterinary services facing rural communities.
Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The members released the following statements:
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a bevy of actions to roll back red tape and unleash American industry, effectively reversing the Biden-Harris war on affordable energy. These directives include initiating reconsideration of the unprecedented tailpipe emissions rule, a de facto mandate for consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and the so-called "Clean Power Plan 2.0," which promised to place a stranglehold on efficient power plant production.
Washington, DC — Today Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) introduced the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, legislation extending a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) to American hydroelectric investments to improve power production, provide environmental benefits, or remove outdated dam infrastructure through 2031.
The members released the following statements:
Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Vice Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, released the following statement on the joint memorandum issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (USACE) on implementation of the Waters of the United States rule, known as WOTUS.
Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statements after United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced local processing operations will remain at the North Platte, NE, Mail Processing and Distribution Center and U.S. Postal Service plans to invest up to $4.4 million in modernization efforts at the North Platte facility.
Our nation’s founders understood the importance of establishing a universal postal system from the very beginning. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin postmaster general for the American colonies, nearly a full year prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today the United States Postal Service (USPS) makes up our largest non-military governmental infrastructure, obligated to guarantee service to all 167 million addresses across the country.
Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) led Nebraska congressional delegation colleagues Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Mike Flood (R-NE) in sending a letter to President Donald Trump expressing concern over United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery to rural Americans and encouraging the president to fill current vacancies on the USPS Board of Governors with individuals ready to advance solutions to fulfill USPS's duty to serve every American.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives supporting passage of his bill (H.R. 8413) to transfer certain land at Swanson Reservoir and Red Willow Reservoir from the Bureau of Reclamation to Hitchcock and Frontier Counties, respectively. The bill passed with unanimous consent.