Nebraskans Focus on Solutions
It is a profound privilege to represent the people of the Third District. I never take for granted the opportunity to take your ideas to Washington and work together to create solutions. It can be easy to merely talk about the many challenges we face, but taking the time to formulate and focus on solutions is what yields results, though it requires more effort.
On Wednesday I was fortunate to host U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg in Nebraska. Our tour included stops at Preferred Popcorn in Chapman and the Mars Petcare facility in Aurora. Nebraska leads in popcorn production and excels in manufacturing thanks to outstanding businesses like these, maximizing the value of what we grow through high-quality value-added services.
Under Secretary Lindberg and I also sat down with agriculture producers and manufacturers to discuss the 2026 Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). I was pleased Governor Jim Pillen joined us and am grateful to the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Central Valley Ag Cooperative in York hosted us for the listening session. As Mexico and Canada are Nebraska’s most significant agriculture export markets, USMCA plays a vital role in ensuring our farmers and ranchers have a level playing field.
We discussed the importance of enforcing science-driven, risk-based standards for our agricultural products, providing certainty both for producers and international customers, and limiting government interference in the day-to-day decisions of Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. Feedback from our producers is critical to ensuring a successful USMCA review which provides needed updates while maintaining beneficial existing portions of the agreement which are working well for Nebraska producers. I am grateful Under Secretary Lindberg, who has been a fierce advocate for American agriculture both at home and abroad, took the time to hear from Nebraskans.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is accepting public comments on USMCA through November 3, 2025, and I encourage Nebraskans to share their perspectives on the agreement’s successes and potential improvements. Visit comments.ustr.gov/s to do so.
I strive to be accessible to constituents across all 80 counties in Nebraska’s Third District. In addition to traveling across the district during work periods and meeting with Nebraskans in my Washington and Nebraska offices, technology allows me to speak with large groups of Nebraskans more efficiently than ever.
This week, nearly 2,500 Nebraskans joined me on a telephone town hall to discuss a variety of issues. I appreciate those who took the time to listen and engage on the issues they care about. These calls are a unique opportunity to meet with constituents wherever they are, provide an update on my work, and answer their questions. If you would like to participate in future telephone town halls, contact my office.
Every day, Nebraskans roll up their sleeves and get to work building a stronger future. Whether on a telephone town hall, during my travels around the state, or during your visits to Washington, I appreciate the opportunity to have productive conversations about how commonsense solutions can make life better for hardworking Nebraska families.
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