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Our military is the finest fighting force for freedom and security the world has ever known and every last one of them is a volunteer. When the call to arms was sounded, it was they who stepped forward and said, “Send me.” Nebraska is home to more than 150,000 veterans. These heroes have put everything at risk to defend our freedoms. Our troops risk life and limb and spend great lengths of time away from their families so the rest of us do not have to. In return for their service and sacrifice, we made a promise to take care of them and their families when they come home.

As we close the book on 2011, there is no question political brinksmanship prevented opportunities for America to move forward. There were, however, consequential, bipartisan accomplishments which will benefit the country. One area where Republicans and Democrats, Congress and the White House were all able to come together was advancing an aggressive trade agenda.

With the holidays upon us, the season brings with it an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on the past year. Looking back over the course of the last twelve months, the pursuit of change has shaped events both here at home and across the globe. For the first time, the debate in Washington has shifted from “how much do we spend” to “how much do we cut.” We have ended our combat mission in Iraq and we have watched important world events unfold such as the Arab Spring. All of these changes have significance for our country as we head into the new year.