News List

Congress targets TikTok to counter social-media propaganda against Israel

| Posted in In the News

Following the murderous attacks by Hamas on civilians in southern Israel on Oct. 7, members of the U.S. House of Representatives pointed to TikTok as being complicit in pushing propaganda and falsehoods, shaping the perceptions primarily of Americans under the age of 30. “Using social media, including China-owned TikTok, Russia, Iran and China have the ability to control what an entire…

Guard, NGAUS Take Fighter Recap Message to the Hill

| Posted in In the News

The nation needs all 25 of the Air National Guard's fighter squadrons, two of the service's senior officers told congressional staffers at an event NGAUS sponsored last week. The Guard's 25 fighter squadrons must also have modern aircraft to defend the homeland and fight alongside the Air Force overseas, the pair added. "The Air Force’s fighter structure is geriatric and rapidly…

Biofuels caucus pushes for GREET

| Posted in In the News

Leaders of a bipartisan group of House Representatives known as the Biofuels Caucus are looking to change how the EPA calculates the environmental impact of biofuels. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., Adrian Smith, R-Neb., Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., introduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gasses Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation Act on Thursday. Commonly referred…

Food Stamps: New Policies May Be Coming – 3 Proposals To Solve the SNAP Backlog

| Posted in In the News

Thousands of Americans continue to face long waits for the approval of their SNAP benefits. State SNAP agencies are struggling to keep up a backlog of SNAP applications, and some lawmakers are saying enough is enough. Per U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, states have 30 days to process regular SNAP applications and seven days for expedited cases. However, some people…

Coalition applauds reintroduction of Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act

| Posted in In the News

The Healthcare Workforce Coalition, whose founding members include the AHA, Nov. 3 applauded Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., for reintroducing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, legislation that would recapture up to 40,000 unused employment visas — 25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians. It…

House selects new speaker

| Posted in In the News

When U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-LA, was elected Speaker of the House on Oct. 25 a sigh of relief could be heard from veteran lawmakers and agricultural observers. Congress might now be able to move forward on key legislation including the farm bill.  U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-NE, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, praised Johnson’s selection. He called Johnson, who serves the…

Foster care is severely flawed. During National Adoption Month in November, let’s talk about how to fix it

| Posted in Articles

For the fourth time, a 12-year-old boy from Nebraska packs up his belongings and prepares to move in with his new adoptive family with hopes that this time, it will be permanent. In Arizona, a 16-year-old girl in foster care lies in bed at night wondering if she’ll ever find an adoptive family before aging out of the foster care system on her 21st birthday, and what her options will be if…

Collins, Bacon offer bipartisan, bicameral bill to prevent youth trafficking, homelessnes

| Posted in In the News

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) recently introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would reauthorize, modernize, and increase authorization levels for programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. “Having a caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, and study is crucial for any young person’s development,” Sen. Collins said. “Our bipartisan…

How they voted: Nebraska, Iowa representatives vote in favor of $14.5B in funding for Israel

| Posted in In the News

(WOWT) - All five Congressmen from Nebraska and western Iowa voted Thursday to send millions in aid to Israel as the war with Hamas rages on. The final vote on HR-6126 was 226-196, mostly along party lines, to approve a military package worth nearly $14.5 billion in the first House vote under new Speaker Mike Johnson.  Only a dozen Democrats voted…

Lawmakers seek to help military families with housing, childcare, meals

| Posted in In the News

Military members and their families could see improved housing, better child care services and easier access to school meal support under a series of bills making their way through the legislative process. For example, Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced a bill to help military families with housing. The bill is included in the House National Defense…