Republicans are demanding answers from the Department of Defense after learning about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization that was kept hidden for days.  GOP lawmakers are calling on Austin to testify or even be ousted from his position over reports that the Pentagon waited several days to inform top officials that the Biden staffer was in the hospital.  Late… Read more »

Congress directed the Air Force and Space Force in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act to define their future force. The call to action aims to force the services to fully articulate their long-term vision and needs—perhaps justifying increased funding.   Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force brigadier general and ISR pilot, introduced that 2050… Read more »

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed both chambers of Congress and is headed to President Biden’s desk for his signature. The $886 billion spending bill is a three percent increase over last year’s spending level. It authorizes $842 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD), $32 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE), with the rest scattered for national… Read more »

Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee’s special military quality of life panel hope to have a slate of recommendations on new housing, daycare and support programs by the start of February. After that, it’ll be up to the rest of the committee to turn them into law. The quality of life panel — led by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan,… Read more »

OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha is home to a nine-person U.S. Air Force and civilian team that spends most of its time planning for the enemies you can't see. They operate under C-STARS Omaha, which stands for Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills. "We are Air Force training platforms partnering with civilian medical centers to advance medical readiness training for medical… Read more »

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) responds to the Colorado state Supreme Court’s move to disqualify former President Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot. Asked about House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Bacon says Biden “forced our hand” in authorizing the inquiry. Read more here. Read more »

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska State Dairy Association (NSDA) extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Nebraska delegation for their steadfast support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at promoting the nutritional well-being of our nation’s youth. The NSDA applauds the tireless efforts of Representative GT Thompson and… Read more »

Nebraska researchers are launching a two-year study of Congress’s involvement in nuclear weapons policy. The study is believed to be the first comprehensive look at the topic in more than 30 years. Carnegie Corporation of New York recently awarded a $428,000 grant to University of Nebraska–Lincoln political scientists Rupal Mehta, Geoff Lorenz and Ingrid Haas for a multi-method study of… Read more »

Legislation introduced by Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) proposes new procedures for handling mail in order to disrupt the flow of drugs into BOP facilities. It requires the agency to adopt a program to electronically scan all incoming inmate mail, give inmates an electronic copy of their mail within 24 hours of its reception, and deliver the original mail within 30 days if it’s… Read more »

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) spoke about the infighting in the Republican party over funding for Ukraine saying some are so “anti-Biden” and programmed to oppose the administration. Rep. Bacon and Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA) both discussed the importance of aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, arguing it is also in U.S. national security interest. The two lawmakers, both of whom… Read more »