Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I rise to reflect on the importance of the disaster supplemental bill we are considering today.

In Nebraska, we continue our work to recover from the storm which hit our State at the end of February. The storm brought with it blizzard conditions and large amounts of rain, followed rapidly by destructive flooding.

The impact of this storm continues to be felt across our State, particularly by our ag producers. In the west, the extreme blizzard conditions compounded an already hard winter, leading to severe cattle losses. In the east, stored grain was actually washed away or damaged by the floods, and extensive silting of fields has impeded planting as the season is now underway.

I particularly appreciate both this bill and the most recent Senate package including language to ensure our disaster programs can address losses of stored grain. While crop insurance covers producers from planting, including coverage for prevented planting, up through harvest, it does not provide coverage for harvest grain which is stored and has not yet been sold. Our producers need this relief.

I realize this bill is not perfect, and there are a number of issues I hope we can address moving forward. I would prefer to be considering legislation which addresses the concerns of some Senators and the President and would be signed into law. This bill does not, and I hope negotiations will get us there soon.

I have long advocated for disaster packages to be paid for; this package is not, and my amendment to cover the cost was, unfortunately, not made in order.

We have traditionally extended a number of tax relief provisions to families and businesses in disaster areas. I have introduced legislation to do this, and I hope we can act on this relief soon as well.

Madam Chair, Nebraskans need relief. Considering this bill moves us closer to providing them relief and, for that reason, I do support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the outstanding community service demonstrated by the student athletes from North Central Sports Club in Nebraska.

Harsh weather and devastating flooding has hit much of Nebraska this spring, causing destruction to many homes and communities and agriculture-producing facilities throughout our State. The recovery has not been easy, but the hard work, dedication, and generosity of Nebraskans has been on full display since the disaster struck. I want to highlight one group, the North Central Sports Club, which is made up of student athletes from Rock County and Keya Paha County, Nebraska.

These student athletes were excited for their upcoming trip, an annual tradition, after completing the hard work of not only their competitive sports seasons and academic requirements, but also the fundraising which keeps the program running. However, instead of taking their annual trip, the students decided to donate the funds to help with the recovery of their neighboring community, which suffered much more of the storm's damage.

Mr. Speaker, Nebraskans don't scare from a challenge, nor do they stand by as their friends and neighbors suffer. I am honored to recognize these student athletes from Rock County and Keya Paha County, Nebraska, for their generosity and community service.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Dunn for yielding. I appreciate his taking the initiative to bring folks together to discuss, unfortunately, the need to address the disasters across America.

Madam Speaker, representing one of the most rural districts in America, we have a lot of natural resources, among them, a lot of rivers, a lot of miles of river in Nebraska.

Not so long ago, conditions were such that the rivers flooded in the central and eastern part of Nebraska. In the west, a blizzard hit with the bomb cyclone, and it created massive damage. The chunks of ice flowing down rivers took out a dam, probably the first dam to break due to ice floes and the chunks of ice.

It has been tragic. There has been loss of human life, certainly the loss of livestock.

The initial estimates are about $400 million in infrastructure damage and another roughly $1 billion in damage to crops and livestock.

I appreciate the fact that President Trump moved quickly on Governor Ricketts' request for the disaster declaration.

We are working together among the Nebraska delegation, both Senators and all three House Members, to make sure that we articulate the needs of not only Nebraskans, but when you remove agriculture products, as is the case, ultimately, consumers will likely be impacted.

This is something we should always keep in mind because everyone needs to eat. When we lose the channels of supply for agriculture products, that is bound to increase the cost of food.

When you look at the storm, the bomb cyclone that hit, it probably couldn't have happened at a worse time of year, right in the middle of calving season.

It is a devastating condition here.

I do appreciate the fact that so many producers--I talked to one today. Instead of a 30-minute commute for a drive to work, they have to go 95 miles one way to work, because the bridge is out. When one bridge is out in rural Nebraska, that takes a few miles to make up for that.

I think we are resilient. Ag operators are resilient, so they are looking up. But we are concerned that, here in the next few weeks, in fact, there is another storm forecasted for later this week where folks are bracing for perhaps even more damage. Hopefully, we can get through this.

Again, I appreciate this opportunity to share what the needs are in Nebraska. I will be introducing legislation to extend a number of tax provisions often provided to disaster areas to cover this year's disasters. I hope we can offer that support to disasters from last year as well, since we are discussing this evening multiple disasters from last year and this year.

Madam Speaker, again, I appreciate this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight the efforts of Casey Dittrich, road superintendent of Antelope County, Nebraska, to repair the many roads damaged by the storms and flooding that battered our State and much of the Midwest last month.

Even before the floodwaters had crested, Casey was actively formulating plans to repair the roads, having contracted outside employees and a large fleet of equipment to commence repairs as soon as possible.

Through his efforts, Antelope County has made steps toward reopening its more than 1,000 miles of gravel roads and 180 miles of paved roads for students to attend schools and livestock producers to continue their daily business, as well as many others.

In his 3 years working for Antelope County, Casey's efforts have garnered respect from his coworkers, and his work throughout this flood has greatly

helped the county along its long way to recovery.

Please join me in thanking Casey Dittrich for his proactive and diligent service to Antelope County, Nebraska.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the harsh weather and flooding experienced throughout the State of Nebraska over the past few weeks.

On Wednesday, March 13, a large storm, known as a bomb cyclone, hit our State of Nebraska and much of the Midwest. It brought with it blizzard conditions, high wind, and large amounts of rain, followed by highly destructive flooding, which continues in some areas today.

As I spent the past week touring damage and recovery efforts, one theme was clear: Nebraskans don't scare from a challenge, nor do they stand by as their friends and neighbors suffer. Entire communities have come together to fill sand bags, open shelters, and rescue neighbors in need. Ranchers across the State have battled to clear pastures, reunify herds, and reach newborn calves.

I appreciate President Trump moving quickly to approve a Federal disaster declaration requested by Governor Ricketts and supported by the entire Nebraska congressional delegation. Governor Ricketts has estimated the cost of rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by the storm at more than $400 million, and the Nebraska Farm Bureau estimates the toll from lost crop and livestock production could top even $1 billion.

The recovery will not be easy, but the hard work and dedication of Nebraskans across the State will be on full display as we recover, rebuild, and renew what was lost in these tragic events.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight several efforts in my Nebraska congressional district which prepare Nebraskans to join the workforce and encourage entrepreneurship.

I visited the New Heavy Equipment Operator Training program at the Hastings Campus of Central Community College. It provides both training and hands-on experience with heavy construction equipment.

Grand Island Public Schools actually has partnered with the Career Pathways Institute to offer courses on subjects ranging from business and marketing to human services and health science.

Arnold High School's only School House Graphic Products teaches students about technology, design, and business, with the opportunity to earn college credit through Mid-Plains Community College.

And Scottsbluff High School recently launched its career academies, including agriculture, business, and technical sciences.

These are just a few of the homegrown initiatives from across the State of Nebraska which are making a difference in the lives of Nebraskans, strengthening our workforce, and growing the economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 157th anniversary of the Homestead Act passing the House of Representatives.

The Homestead Act was instrumental in bringing settlers to the Midwest and forming the State of Nebraska, as it allowed any qualified person to claim up to 160 acres of Federally owned land in exchange for 5 years of living on and improving the property.

Homestead National Monument, which is located in Nebraska's Third Congressional District, commemorates this law.

Unfortunately, the name of this facility does not represent its cultural and historical value, as many tourists show up looking for a physical monument rather than a park, which would more accurately describe it.

For this reason, and at the request of the local community, I introduced a bill on Thursday, February 28, the law's anniversary, to reclassify Homestead National Monument as a national historical park.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill in order to maximize its value in terms of education, tourism, and economic development for the surrounding community as it commemorates an important event in our Nation's history.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Nebraskans.

In Nebraska, the need for firearms is the same today as it was even when the Second Amendment was enacted before we were even a territory of the United States.

Rural Nebraskans depend on their firearms for self-defense and for protecting their livestock. They also know how to handle firearms, to store them securely, to handle them appropriately, and perhaps to even let neighbors who are able to use them safely borrow them to meet their needs.

I have serious concerns. The bills we are considering today and tomorrow are going to criminalize this behavior for Nebraskans who have done this for generations and won't even know that they are breaking the law.

Should a rancher who lends a rifle to a neighbor to address threats from predatory animals face a year in prison and a $100,000 fine? No.

Should a legally carrying farmer who is injured at work be subject to arrest for handing his firearm off before being taken to the hospital? No.

These are exactly the situations this bill would create, while doing little to address the real problems underlying crime in our society.

Mr. Chair, this is a bad bill, and I urge its swift rejection.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Beatrice Municipal Airport manager, Diana Smith, on her induction into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame.

Diana has worked at the airport, located in southeastern Nebraska, for 47 years, with the past 18 years as its manager. During her tenure, Diana has presided over a number of improvements to the Beatrice Municipal Airport, including a new administration building and the repaving of both its runways.

She went on to chair the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission in 2015, where she worked to support Nebraska's airports statewide.

Please join me in thanking and congratulating Diana for her service to her local community and to the entire State of Nebraska.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 105th birthday of western Nebraska native Margaret Masek.

A graduate of Gering High School, Margaret has 7 children, 21 grandchildren, and 46 great-grandchildren.

In her 105 years, she has experienced the Great Depression, both World Wars, and the landing on the Moon.

After more than a century of life, Margaret says her greatest accomplishment is her children's education and

enabling them to live their lives to the fullest.

She spent her birthday this year opening birthday greetings from her family living all over the world, including Hong Kong, Fiji, London, Paris, Costa Rica, South Korea, and, of course, Nebraska.

Born on June 11, 1914, she begins each day by thanking God for giving her another day, as we all should.

Please join me in congratulating Margaret on her 105th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate we are here today, actually, but I do intend to support this short-term TANF extension.

I think it is useful to understand how we got here, because it certainly informs where we should be going. While the economy is expanding at greater than 3 percent, and the unemployment rate is now below 4 percent, we know not everyone is benefiting.

There are an estimated 67 million working-age American men missing from the labor force and 5\1/2\ million youth not in school or not working. This, combined with a generation of retiring workers, has left employers desperate to fill open jobs.

Our committee held a series of hearings last spring to learn how Congress can help close the jobs gap, the difference between what employers need to keep the economy growing and the number of workers in the labor force.

We heard from employers across the country and across industries-- technology in Colorado, manufacturing in Indiana and Ohio, auto plants in Michigan, homebuilders in Arizona, and the aerospace industry in Kansas. They all expressed the same message: We are hiring, and if you are not already proficient, we will pay you while you learn to do the work.

In my own district, the need for workers is a common theme among employers. One employer I spoke with recently, whose facility is largely automated, told me his biggest impediment to growth is a lack of people to run and operate the machinery.

In addition to the needs of employers and our economy, we also heard about the dignity of work from the individuals reconnected to the workforce, whether recently out of poverty or even prison. We heard how these men and women were better able to provide for their families and engage with their communities because of the social and monetary support their efforts to advance in the workforce provided. We want everyone to have that opportunity.

TANF has an important role to play in addressing the labor shortage, and changes are needed to fit the program to today's economy. More than 20 years after TANF was created, the program is not living up to expectations, and many States have lost sight of what it was intended to do: provide short-term support while people get back into the workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work we did in the House last year. We held seven hearings, including a legislative hearing, and we marked up legislation aimed at improving the program. Many of the proposals in our bill, the JOBS for Success Act, were supported by both parties' witnesses as well: one-on-one casework; measuring outcomes; refocusing the program on those most in need of assistance; and ensuring States could use their resources to both help people get to work, and, just as importantly, stay in the workforce and succeed.

Unfortunately, no one in the Senate took action on TANF until late last year. When they finally did deliver a proposal, it merely doubled down on, or attempted to paper over, the ongoing problems of TANF, which discourage States from helping their beneficiaries, rather than making a serious effort to help reconnect the population most in need.

Important progress has been made, both since 1996 and in the past year, but we are not done. I encourage my colleagues to support this extension and to continue working to refocus TANF to improve the lives of millions of American families.

More importantly, once this bill is signed, I encourage everyone, House and Senate, to come together and work with us to achieve solutions that help to connect Americans on the sidelines of the economy with the employers who desperately need them and to stay in the workforce long term.

We all know a check from the government is not the way out of poverty. Getting into and advancing in the workforce is.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for this farm bill conference report. Given the ongoing challenges in the agriculture economy, it is very important our producers have policy certainty as they make their spring planting decisions.

I held a series of listening sessions around Nebraska's Third District, our Nation's number one producing district for agriculture, last year to hear producers' thoughts about the farm bill. The number one item on producers' minds was the continuation of strong crop insurance. This bill accomplishes this objective.

The bill also recognizes the challenges and threats facing our livestock producers by creating a disease prevention program and vaccine bank to help contain the potential future outbreak of disease within the livestock industry across our country.

This bill, and continued positive progress on trade, will go a long way toward increasing producers' peace of mind. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I appreciate the support of the administration in bringing this legislation to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Ken Gnadt of Grand Island, Nebraska, who passed away in September after many years of faithful service to his community.

Along with his extensive and lifelong volunteer involvement, Ken served as mayor of Grand Island from 1994 to 2002, a member of Rotary International for over five decades, and a Charter Board Member of Grand Island's internationally-attended annual farm show, Husker Harvest Days.

Born in Alma, Kansas, Ken's work in agribusiness included stints in Texas, Iowa, and nearly seven years in Taiwan where he worked to strengthen Nebraska's valuable economic partnership with Taiwan. He obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in Animal Science from Kansas State University and a graduate degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin.

I offer my condolences to Ken's five children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren who survive him. He was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and left a legacy that touched and improved many facets of life in Grand Island and greater Hall County from tourism to education and healthcare.

Ken was named a Distinguished NEBRASKAlander by the NEBRASKAland Foundation in 2012 for his lifetime contributions to agribusiness and neighborly service to the state of Nebraska and the Grand Island community. Ken joined the Grand Island Community Foundation Board of Trustees in 2014.

On behalf of Nebraska's Third District, I thank Ken Gnadt for his remarkable leadership and commitment to community service. He will

be remembered with the gratitude and admiration of many.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Vera Dulaney, who, after 36 years of official service to her community, will retire from her position as Scotts Bluff County clerk and election commissioner.

Vera is a faithful public servant who works to protect the integrity of our elections and sets an example for many others in her family and community to follow. In fact, her daughter, Kathy, is the city clerk of our city of Gering.

For over 30 years, Vera has served as a member of the board of directors for Oregon Trail Days, which is held each year to showcase the history and culture of western Nebraska. In cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America, Vera continues to provide leadership for the Ed Dulaney Canoe Derby, which is named after her late husband, who started it over 45 years ago.

When she was recently presented the Community Volunteer Award for public service, Vera said she could think of many others who she thought were actually more deserving of the award.

Please join me in honoring an incredibly humble, hardworking, and selfless advocate of western Nebraska, Mrs. Vera Dulaney.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Kevin Mooney to the communities of Scottsbluff, Gering, and western Nebraska.

This week, after 34 years as a trusted journalist in Nebraska's panhandle, Kevin will retire from his position as news director at KNEB radio.

Throughout his career, Kevin has received six Mark Twain Awards from the Nebraska Associated Press and the Trailblazer Award from the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce.

Kevin names the local sugar factory explosion in 1996 as the largest story he reported. He stayed on the air all night providing updates to our community.

Kevin is most thankful for his wife, Tracy. He says she has supported him a great deal throughout their 35 years of marriage, given he is on call 24 hours every day.

Even with his busy schedule, Kevin has dedicated himself to community and charity events such as the Thanksgiving in the Valley event. It is a collaboration of KNEB radio and local nonprofits Scottsbluff-Gering Soup Kitchen and Scottsbluff Kiwanis Club. They serve around 400 meals every year on Thanksgiving Day.

Please join me in honoring and thanking Kevin Mooney for his service to Nebraska journalism.