In the News

I hosted telephone town hall about economic relief for families, workers, and small businesses affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. I was joined by Mike Marsh, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); Ron Eidshaug, VP of Congressional & Public Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; John H. Albin, Nebraska Commissioner of Labor; Jim Sousley, Member of the American Institute of... Read more »

Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation was part of 143 members of Congress calling for assistance to cattle producers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse along with Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that he provide immediate assistance to cattle producers by using ... Read more »

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to improve transparency of the budget of the U.S. Air Force. “This legislation is critical in order to invest in our Armed Forces to ensure our service members are equipped and capable of protecting our country,” Rep. Bacon said on March 20. https://riponadvance.com/stories/bacon-sponsors-bill-to-improve-u-s-air-force-budget-transpar... Read more »

On March 19, 2020, my staff and I hosted a tele-town hall with local health professionals: Dr. Gary J Anthone, MD, DHHS Division of Public Health, Dr. Adi M Pour, Ph.D., Health Director of the Douglas County Community Health Department, Sarah Schram, Sarpy County Health Department Health Director, Leon Milobar, State Director for the Small Business Association, and Shelly Schwedhelm from Nebraska ... Read more »

Thanks to people following recommendations to stay home, avoid gatherings and give one another space, the Omaha area’s hospitals are not yet operating near capacity. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, provided the update during a video press conference Wednesday that also included U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. Read the full story here. Read more »

On Wednesday, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., hosted leaders from the University of Nebraska Medical Center after they briefed a top official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the state's COVID-19 coronavirus response. Read the full story here on KETV. Read more »

U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) sent House leadership a letter yesterday urging consideration of “the needs of current and former foster youth as youth continue to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.” https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/child-welfare-2/legislators-request-protections-for-foster-youth-during-outbreak/41545 Read more »

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense will not fund a replacement for the OC-135 Open Skies aircraft until it is decided if the country will remain in the arms control treaty, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/03/04/dod-wont-offer-contract-for-new-open-skies-plane-until-treaty-future-clear/ Read more »

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has selected Council Bluffs as one of 10 cities to receive funding for a new program focused on helping young people aging out of foster care avoid homelessness. HUD Secretary Ben Carson announced Thursday that nearly $1.2 million in funds for the Foster Youth to Independence initiative will be distributed across 1... Read more »

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed historic legislation that would classify lynching as a federal hate crime. The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which passed on a 410-4 vote, was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). It is named after Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched in 1955 in Mississippi. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/484742-house-passes-historic-le... Read more »