Columns
In rural America we understand the importance of postal mail to connecting our republic. Sites across Nebraska's Third District on the Pony Express Historic Trail commemorate the value of this service back to our earliest days as a territory and state.
Nebraskans always look at the positive side of life. Our communities grow when individuals step up: helping their neighbors, being involved, and creating opportunities for themselves and others.
This year has been uniquely challenging for rural America and for farmers and ranchers. In the face of new stress and uncertainty, agriculture has continued to feed the world. The men and women in our agriculture sector put in countless hours to provide for the rest of us.
Many of the steps we have taken to physically and economically combat COVID-19 have received widespread coverage, such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and quarantining. The most critical measure, however, has largely been going on behind the scenes and deserves our attention.
While the Third District of Nebraska is still feeling the impact of last year's historic floods, we are fortunately seeing recovery efforts along the Missouri River on all levels – local, state, and federal. On the federal level, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575), commonly known as WRDA, passed the House this week.
In times of uncertainty Americans have pulled together and forged a path forward. Now, during a worldwide health crisis, is our chance to refocus on solving our urgent health care challenges by unleashing American innovation.
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend President Trump's Independence celebration at Mount Rushmore. During this speech, the President stated, "Our Founders launched not only a revolution in government, but a revolution in the pursuit of justice, equality, liberty, and prosperity. No nation has done more to advance the human condition than the United States of America.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – also known as Obamacare – is ten years old. However, with ten years of hindsight, it is clear the ACA has been anything but affordable for Nebraska families. In the Third District, insurance on the ACA exchange often costs upwards of $30,000 for a family when you include annual premiums and deductible.
The COVID-19 pandemic cast the United States into uncharted territory. Americans were asked to take unprecedented steps in order to slow down the spread of the virus. I have supported bipartisan efforts Congress and President Trump have enacted to fight this virus and provide economic relief. However, I continue to have serious concerns about the costs associated with these bills.