Taking Advantage of Technology in 2020

Over the past two weeks, I have met via video conference with winners of the Third District Excellence in Innovation and Adaptation Recognition (EIAR), as well as the Third District's winner in this year's Congressional App Challenge. While I prefer meeting with Nebraskans in person, being able to recognize Nebraskans who innovated in the face of a pandemic while using technology seemed entirely appropriate.

I rarely used video conferencing to host meetings before the pandemic. However, after being invited to participate in an online forum with the Kearney Chamber of Commerce in April, I decided to start hosting my own virtual outreach to provide timely COVID relief information to individuals and businesses in the Third District. Video technology was useful for hospitals and healthcare workers to talk about the CARES Act's provider relief funding, for banks and small businesses to ask questions about programs like the Payroll Protection Program, and for producers to learn about assistance from USDA.

This technology has allowed me to meet with Nebraskans throughout the district in the same way. In a typical year, I meet daily with constituents who are visiting Washington, D.C., whether they are in town with groups such as the Nebraska Farm Bureau or visiting as tourists. This year, I was able to connect with many of these groups via video, and discuss the important issues facing Nebraskans. One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting with students in the classroom. It was interesting to logon with student groups and see how they were utilizing online learning.

I have found video meetings could be helpful in connecting Nebraskans with federal officials who may not typically find the time to get out to rural areas like the Third District on a regular basis. This benefit was on display when we were able to speak with United States Trade Representative Ag Negotiator Gregg Doud and USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce as part my online Agriculture Summit this summer, and when Ted McKinney, the USDA Under Secretary for Trade joined my small business webinar series in November. We were able to discuss many crucial topics, and technology made it possible.

Although 2020 did not go the way many of us were expecting, Nebraskans always make the best of things. Positive developments like the rollout of multiple vaccines, which have been proven safe and effective through rigorous examination by the Food and Drug Administration, have me looking forward to seeing more Nebraskans in person again in 2021. However, I hope to continue taking advantage of online meeting technology, in addition to resuming in person meetings, to be even more accessible to Nebraskans in the future. I will also continue working to ensure better, faster access to broadband across rural Nebraska to ensure even more Nebraskans are able to connect in this way in the future. As we head into the new year, let's take the lessons learned of the past year, and move forward together.