Senator Deb Fischer

I was proud to advocate for the Plattsmouth community and help secure nearly $53 million in federal funding to build a new wastewater treatment facility. It’s hard to believe it was 7 years ago when catastrophic flooding devastated communities across Nebraska and damaged critical infrastructure in Plattsmouth. With this new modern facility, Plattsmouth is fully equipped to treat wastewater for the entire community. It will also stabilize water rates and better protect the city against the impacts of future flooding. Congrats to all!

My staff will be hosting local office hours tomorrow, June 2nd, for Nebraskans in Custer and Loup Counties. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please stop by to see how my office can help!

https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/state-office-hours

In the wake of the disastrous wildfires across Nebraska, FCC Commissioner Trusty heard from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency about their response. This was a thorough briefing on what our state is capable of and a how Nebraska’s first responders are among the best in the nation.

One of the most important parts of my job is ensuring that federal regulators in Washington understand Nebraska’s unique needs. This past week, I made sure a key federal decision-maker got to hear these needs firsthand.

I was proud to welcome Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Olivia Trusty to the Good Life for a tour that took us from Offutt Air Force Base to Boys Town to Lincoln. We even hosted a roundtable with some of our state's most integral telecommunications leaders.

The FCC is the federal agency that regulates how Americans communicate, including by radio, television, telephone, satellite, and cable. In sum, the FCC’s decisions have real consequences for Nebraskans in every corner of our state.

Our first stop was Offutt Air Force Base, home to U.S. Strategic Command, where I introduced Commissioner Trusty to Admiral Richard Correll, STRATCOM's commander, and Major General AnnMarie Anthony, director of STRATCOM’s Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center. We discussed how critical the electromagnetic spectrum is for our service members to carry out their duties and defend our nation. The intersection of communications infrastructure and national security is playing out right here in our backyard, and it was important for Commissioner Trusty to see that up close.

From there, we headed to Boys Town, joined by representatives from Cox Communications. The conversation there centered on how we can meet youth where they are, including through texting and connecting through new technologies. We also discussed the national 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline, which Boys Town is connected to and contributes to. Back in 2020, I cosponsored the National Su***de Hotline Designation Act, which designated 988 as the universal telephone number for the national su***de prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. I was proud to see this important legislation become law. I am constantly impressed by how Boys Town partners with all levels of government to get vulnerable individuals the help they need so quickly.

Next, we traveled to Lincoln for a roundtable with leaders from the Public Service Commission and the Nebraska Telecommunications Association, which represents our state's top telecom companies. The discussion was candid and wide-ranging — touching on reforming the Universal Service Fund, which helps keep rural phone and internet service affordable; broadband mapping accuracy; and the challenges facing smaller rural carriers trying to serve communities that larger providers often overlook. These are daily issues for many Nebraska families, and I was glad that Commissioner Trusty could hear directly from the people living and working with these realities.

We wrapped up at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on the Lincoln Air National Guard Base, where Lt. Governor Joe Kelley joined us alongside representatives from the Nebraska State Patrol, the Nebraska Department of Transportation, and other important stakeholders. Our conversation was especially timely, given that Nebraska had just been hit hard by devastating wildfires this spring.

As chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, overseeing the FCC is part of my job. A large part of conducting oversight involves making sure the people writing the rules in Washington understand what life looks like outside of the capital. For Nebraska, this means understanding that our military installations depend on secure communications, our rural communities need reliable broadband, and our families in remote areas need to be able to pick up the phone and reach someone in case of an emergency.

I'll keep making that case and continue bringing the right people to Nebraska to see it for themselves.

Farmers, ranchers, and ag workers have some of the toughest jobs in the country. Right now, a struggling farm economy is making life even harder – and it weighs heavily on the minds of those who feed and fuel our nation. That’s why I introduced a resolution that designates today—May 29th—as Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day and sheds light on resources available for those in need.

Fischer, Bennet Introduce Resolution Supporting Mental Health in Ag “Farmers, ranchers, and ag workers have some of the toughest jobs in the country,” Fischer said. “Right now, a struggling farm economy is making life even harder – and it weighs heavily on the minds of those who feed and fuel our nation. This resolution designates May 29th as Mental Health A...

This afternoon, Commissioner Trusty heard from providers and local leaders at a roundtable on rural broadband. The commissioner is taking what she learned back to D.C. as we work together to get all of Nebraska connected.

Today FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty joins me in Nebraska for visits in Omaha and Lincoln. At Boys Town this morning, the commissioner saw the incredible work they are doing for our state and learned about their century old mission. We also got a first hand look at their hotline center, where those in need can call and reach a counselor for help.

My staff will be hosting local office hours tomorrow, May 27th, for Nebraskans in Morrill and Garden Counties. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please stop by to see how my office can help!

https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/state-office-hours

Honored to speak at the American Legion Post 1 Memorial Day service at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

We live in the land of the free because of the brave. May we never forget it. 🇺🇸

On Memorial Day, we take a moment to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. We will forever remember their courage and unwavering commitment to our nation. We owe both them and their families a debt of gratitude.