In the News

With farm bill debate nearing in Congress, UNL advocating for more research dollars

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Inside the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Cornhusker State’s federal delegation on Monday got a look at how agriculture will continue to evolve in the digital age. UNL researchers and students showed off a robotic planter that doesn’t need a human operator, how satellite images can be converted into useful data to determine nitrogen…

House Lawmakers Propose NDAA Measure to Boost Nuclear Weapon Cybersecurity

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Reps. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; and Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. have proposed including a bipartisan measure in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act that aims to safeguard nuclear weapons systems from cyberattacks. The proposed language would establish a new working group within the Department of Defense to inventory nuclear weapon systems that are potentially…

Lawmakers eyeing even more boosts to junior enlisted pay

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In the last two weeks, House lawmakers have proposed huge increases to junior enlisted pay, monthly bonuses for those servicemembers to help deal with inflation, and new reforms to boost housing and assistance stipends to ensure their families don’t face financial struggles. But even more proposals for those troops may be on the way in months to come. Read more here.

U.S. House launches new panel to examine military quality of life, with Don Bacon as chair

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Issues like housing costs, child care, pay and medical care are making it harder for the U.S. military to find and keep people who want to serve in the armed forces, said Rep. Don Bacon, who is a military veteran. Now the Nebraska Republican is the chair of a new House Armed Services Committee panel charged with finding ways of improving the quality of life for military service…

New House Armed Services Panel Will Focus on Quality of Life

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Two Air Force veterans from opposite sides of the political aisle will chair a new House Armed Services Committee panel on quality of life issues affecting military families and service members.  Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired USAF brigadier general and RC-135 pilot, chairs the panel, while Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) a former engineer and program manager in the missile…

Statue of legendary Nebraska author Willa Cather unveiled in Washington

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Nebraska, and the nation, had their eyes on a Nebraska legend Wednesday morning.   A bronze statue of author and Nebraska native Willa Cather was unveiled at the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.   Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, Represenatives Adrian Smith, Don Bacon and Mike Flood, and U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts were among…

Nebraska representatives part of bipartisan bill to hold cruise ship companies accountable for wrongful deaths

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A bipartisan bill in Congress aims to amend the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA). DOHSA was enacted in 1920 and allowed for wrongful death action suits for workers that died in international waters. The law was amended in 2000 to allow the same for family members of airline passengers who died in international waters. Supporters of this new bill to amend DOHSA again say the 2000…

Farm group, congressional delegation cheer challenge of Mexican ban on GMO corn

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The state’s largest farm organization, as well as members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation, are cheering actions taken by the Biden administration to challenge Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn. On Friday, U.S. trade representatives announced that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico over that country’s proposed ban on GMO…

U.S. submits formal dispute for Mexico ban of GMO corn; Nebraska delegation lauds decision

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The United States has requested formal dispute settlement consultations with Mexico regarding GMO corn.   U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai made the announcement Friday, seeking assistance under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.   “The United States has repeatedly conveyed its concerns that Mexico’s biotechnology policies are not…