LINCOLN — Nebraska’s representatives stayed with their fellow Republicans and voted against two gun control bills that passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Both Reps. Don Bacon and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., voted against H.R. 7910, which would raise the age limit for purchasing a semiautomatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more… Read more »

Bipartisan groups of US lawmakers in both the House and the Senate introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at creating an integrated air defense system to boost cooperation between Israel and neighboring Arab states against Iran. The Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND) Act is the latest effort in the US to bolster the Abraham Accords normalization agreements… Read more »

In its first legislative initiative since its founding earlier this year, the Abraham Accords Caucus, comprised of members of both the House and Senate, introduced legislation on Thursday to encourage the U.S. to pursue a joint missile-defense architecture with Israel and the U.S.’s Arab allies and partners in the Middle East — including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The… Read more »

Washington, DC – In recognition of his strong support for AmeriCorps, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) received the Congressional Service Award from Voices for National Service, a diverse coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages can serve and volunteer in their community. Bacon was recognized for… Read more »

Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) voted no on H.R.7910, although supporting one section, because overall it punishes law-abiding citizens and does little to nothing to stop gun violence. He supported the one provision that requires the Attorney General to submit a written report one year after the bill is enacted. The report would be on the demographic data of… Read more »

Washington, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and members of the Abraham Accords Caucus in the House and Senate today introduced legislation to unite Middle East partners as global threats from Iran and Iranian backed-extremists continue to rise. The bipartisan, bicameral Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND)… Read more »

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced the bipartisan Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2022, which would provide skills training to family caregivers of children with autism. Sen. Collins on May 12 signed on as the lead original cosponsor with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) of S. 4198, which is companion legislation to the same-named H.R. 6783, sponsored in… Read more »

Members of the House Ag Committee say protecting nutrition assistance programs in the next farm bill could help strengthen America’s food system. During a subcommittee hearing Wednesday, Don Bacon of Nebraska said he would like to change parts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “We have a real opportunity to promote the consumption of healthy foods.  What we’re doing… Read more »

As the 117th Congress moves into summer, typically the time for legislative doldrums, it's helpful to look back at recently enacted cybersecurity-related legislation and peer ahead to see what bills could become law before the end of the year. Since the beginning of the current Congress on January 3, 2021, at least 498 pieces of legislation have been introduced that deal in… Read more »

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on May 25 advanced a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) that would provide federal workers’ compensation to firefighters who contract certain illnesses as a result of their service. The full chamber will now consider the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, S. 1116, which Sen. Collins… Read more »