Senator Deb Fischer recently visited the Alliance Times-Herald on a stop, providing an update on her travels throughout the state and what lies ahead in the coming session.
Fischer explained that during the August recess, she has taken the opportunity to travel throughout Nebraska to listen to concerns and updates that citizens wish to share.
“I like to get in the car and head out to visit in different communities,” said Fischer. “This is a time when we can get out and take some time. We were in Hemingford, and went to a couple businesses, and then were able to go to a couple other ones. We had a smoothie and a nice conversation with people. We went to a local gift shop. That’s a fun way to be able to be out and about. I had a lady come up to me and talk to me about an issue. I want Nebraskans to be comfortable with me and to be able to come up and visit with me. That’s why I continue to do this.”
Throughout her travels, Fischer has noticed that people are mostly positive at this time, citing good agricultural markets and decent weather conditions throughout most of the state.
“In communities, there’s the same thing I hear, and have for the last couple years, just concerns with inflation, the cost of everything; concerns about housing, it doesn’t matter the size of community, small or large, there’s a need for more affordable housing in a lot of communities. To be able to find workers, that I hear all over the state, as well. It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, or if you’re a medical professional, or if you’re in education, or you have a business, or a manufacturing company, everybody’s looking for employees and child care. That’s something I’m hearing more and more about in different communities.”
Fischer said that in Senate, the Ag Committee is working on the Farm Bill. She expects to see an extension on the Farm Bill due to some hurdles that have arisen.
“We’ve kind of hit some bumps in the road, but we will get it done, though,” Fischer said. “It will be a good, strong, bipartisan bill that comes out of the Senate. We’re really focused on making sure we keep the safety nets in place for ag producers. Crop insurance is the number one priority I hear about from producers across the state. So, that’s obviously my priority as well. I want to make sure that conservation programs remain voluntary, not mandatory, not tied to any kind of payments. We’ve got a lot with precision ag, we’ve got a couple bills there that we’ve been working on for a few years. We hope to get those put in the Farm Bill.”
Another aspect of the Farm Bill, Fischer noted, concerns disaster payments and ensuring that the payments go out in a timely fashion. Fischer explained that she sits of the Armed Services Committee, which was able to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.
“There were only 11 nos in the Senate,” said Fischer. “That’s a message I like to tell Nebraskans, we do bipartisan work in the Senate. It doesn’t always get covered by the national media, but it’s important for Nebraskans to know that we get that done. The NDAA gives our military men and women a salary increase. It strengthens our nuclear deterrent by being able to continue on schedule with modernization of weapons and platforms; provide for missile defense.”
Fischer explained that she also sits on the Appropriations Committee, which has not had hearings for the past five years. She said that having hearings is beneficial for government transparency.
“I got on the committee so we can go back to what’s called ‘regular order,’” said Fischer. “So, you’re able to have regular committee hearings, so, you’re able to mark up bills and take action on those bills. We have all 12 of our appropriation bills are out of committee now on the floor, waiting on Senator (Chuck) Schumer, who’s the Majority Leader. He’ll set the agenda on when we take those up. This hasn’t happened for five years, so American people will be able to listen to debate; they’ll be able to see what’s in the bills. They’ll see how we all vote on them, if we vote yes or no. I’ve always said I have to be able to come back and justify my votes to people. I think that’s important for transparency, and I’m glad that the Appropriations Committee’s doing that again.”