Columns

Border security has long been a serious challenge facing our nation. Between the 1,933 miles of the US-Mexico border and the 5,525 miles comprising our borders with Canada, there is no shortage of vulnerabilities which can be exploited by America’s enemies. Ignoring this fact creates a crisis of national security, humanitarian concern, economic strain, and public safety. Sadly, under the open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration, the crisis has gotten worse.

As Third District farmers round out the fall harvest season, it is an appropriate time to note how hard agriculture producers work to feed and fuel the world and how this drives our state’s economy.

My service in Congress is fundamentally about hearing and addressing the concerns of Third District Nebraskans. In addition to representing your interests as Congress considers legislation, I devote significant effort to ensuring the federal government functions appropriately and fulfills its obligations to you as a taxpayer. While I hear from as many Nebraskans as I can when I am home, my offices in Washington, D.C., Grand Island, Nebraska City, and Scottsbluff provide additional opportunities for you to connect with me and let me know how I can be of assistance.

One year has passed since the tragic massacre of Israelis by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The brutal terror attack took the lives of more than 1,100 civilians and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages, taken by Hamas into Gaza. The most recent reports indicate seven American citizens are among those taken hostage who remain unrecovered.

This week, prior to the September 30 deadline to authorize funding for federal government operations for the next fiscal year, Congress passed legislation to temporarily extend current federal funding to December 20, 2024. While measures in the bill to address the effectiveness of the Secret Service were clearly needed, this result was far from ideal.

In 2024, American households are spending more on all categories of energy compared to prices at the start of 2021. As virtually every industry requires energy, this affects nearly every aspect of our lives and businesses. In places like Nebraska’s Third District, the agriculture industry depends on energy sources to power machinery, facilitate irrigation, manufacture and transport inputs, and deliver products to market. Other energy intensive industries have been severely impacted by rising energy costs. Transportation services costs are up 38.5 percent.

A good education is foundational for a child’s future. By setting the stage for success, quality K-12 education can be a difference maker in strengthening communities and safeguarding the future of our nation. Unfortunately, many parents across America have little say over their children’s education due to socioeconomic status or a lack of options where they live. To make matters worse, challenges stemming from lack of access to quality education have been exacerbated by learning loss from COVID-era school closures.

In August 2022, when President Biden signed into law the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, it included an $80 billion increase in IRS funding. According to a 2021 Treasury Department report, this funding was intended to increase the IRS workforce by 87,000 employees, primarily dedicated to increasing IRS’s capacity to audit taxpayers.