The Easter holiday is a special time of year to celebrate and spend precious time with family. As the spring brings signs of new growth to trees and fields, we are reminded of the gift of life, the resurrection of Christ, and the blessing of creating memories with loved ones. My work on behalf Third District Nebraskans in Congress is especially meaningful when it serves to strengthen families and the relationships most fundamental for our communities.
Family-focused policy allows households to thrive and reflects the values we have as Americans. In the causes I champion and the policies I promote, I recognize a sense of family provides young people with hope for the future.
The blessing of adoption is a wonderful way to welcome a child into a loving home. Each year I participate in a program sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute known as Angels in Adoption. This program recognizes great Americans across our country who sacrifice to support the healthy development of children through foster care and adoption. My office participates by collecting nominees from whom I then select an annual honoree.
In 2024, I recognized Neil and Whitney Wolford of Hastings as Angels in Adoption. The Wolfords have been consistent advocates for Nebraska youth, served as foster parents starting in early 2019, and have pursued adoption for a child they welcomed into their home. Their steadfast commitment to have a positive impact on all parties involved in the foster care system while supporting family reunification whenever appropriate is exemplary. To find out more about the nomination process and past honorees from the Third District visit my website.
As we marked the end of tax season this week, it is important to note the impact of pro-family policies in our tax code. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted several policies which provided tax relief. Provisions to double the child tax credit, expand the employer-provided child care credit for small businesses, and expand and extend the employer credit for paid family leave have benefitted countless households across the nation.
Making our tax code more family friendly was the right thing to do. If provisions such as these were allowed to expire at the end of this year, the average family of four would face a $1,514 tax hike. In the Ways and Means Committee, we have sought to gather and implement feedback to extend successful policies like this, and Congress has taken positive steps toward getting these them across the finish line by establishing a framework to expeditiously reauthorize these tax policies while also implementing President Trump’s priorities such as border security and deficit reduction.
I continue to be committed to working with my colleagues to renew pro-growth policies from TCJA and deliver on President Trump’s agenda to unleash American prosperity. Families are the building blocks for healthy communities and all those who faithfully nurture and provide for the next generation make profound investments in the future. I will continue to advance commonsense, family friendly policies in our tax code and promoting the flourishing of our homes in Nebraska and across the country.