Columns

Nebraska is home to more than 140,000 veterans who have demonstrated their selfless commitment to the cause of freedom. As we honor their service on Veterans Day, we must also recognize the challenges they face and renew our own commitment to caring for these heroes.

When it passed Congress in 2010, the Affordable Care Act offered substantial financial support to create nonprofit health-insurance plans. Today 11 of the 23 such regional Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans have failed—seven since the beginning of October.

In August, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal featured Jeff Kerr, general counsel for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation. During the interview, he stated, “...our interaction with animals is the next version of the civil rights movement in this country.”

Congress faces a familiar deadline on November 3 to raise the debt ceiling. We have reached this cliff far too many times in recent years, when the federal government hits its limit on the total amount of money it can legally borrow.

For more than 60 years, the agriculture community in the United States has led global efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to enhance food security through international food aid.

This week marked the conclusion of negotiations on a historic trade agreement. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has the potential to open many leading global markets to Nebraska agriculture, but it is important we review all the details before determining whether this agreement should become law.

October marks the two year anniversary of Obamacare’s implementation, and most Americans suffering the damaging consequences of this deeply flawed law know it has been two years too long.

With more than 96 percent of the world’s customers living outside our borders, trade provides tremendous opportunities to grow our rural economy. As our work on trade negotiations moves forward, I am committed to expanding access to thriving and growing international markets for Nebraska producers, manufacturers, and consumers.