“I saw Nebraskans in their local communities dedicating their lives and careers to investing in the people around them.”
During a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb) recapped her travels across Nebraska during the August work period.
In her remarks, Fischer celebrated the work Nebraskans are doing in their local communities. She discussed her visits to schools where educators are training our next generation, hospitals and healthcare facilities where medical teams are fighting to save lives, and law enforcement departments where officers and sheriffs are keeping Nebraskans safe.
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Following is a transcript of Senator Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
M. President,
My home of Nebraska is home to an array of people, places, and pursuits. It’s home to Husker football and the College World Series, our beautiful State Capitol building in Lincoln and our world-famous zoo in Omaha.
Nebraska is home to plains and prairies and cities and small towns and to the breathtaking natural beauty of the Sandhills.
That unique beauty of the Nebraska Sandhills, where we raised our sons, is where I began my travels last month during the August state work period.
In total, I visited over 35 communities with over 100 stops—from Kimball to Blair and Red Cloud to Norfolk.
One visit especially near and dear to me was to Valentine Community Schools.
Years ago, I served on the Valentine school board, where I saw these schools up close and advocated for improvements. The Valentine Community Schools are still doing great work, educating bright kids who will go on to lead Nebraska.
Further west, I toured the Scottsbluff and Bridgeport Schools. The Scottsbluff school system follows a career academy focused curriculum, and I was impressed to see the creativity and innovation educators are applying to their work. It’s a testament to Nebraskans’ dedication to progress in our local communities.
Along with schools and educators across the state, I visited health care facilities and the doctors and nurses who keep them going. When I toured CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, I heard about their incredible life flight capabilities.
Rural Americans often live hours away from the nearest hospital. In emergencies, this can be deadly. Good Samaritan is responding to these risks by life flighting patients all across Nebraska, even into South Dakota at times.
While in central Nebraska, I visited the Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department. These two departments share a unique setup in the same building, where they can collaborate and use a larger range of resources.
By linking together, Kearney and Buffalo County law enforcement are more efficient, and they do an excellent job protecting their communities.
The August work period, every year, brings me fresh motivation and gratitude. I saw the ways federal legislation is creating real change at home. I saw progress all across Nebraska, in education, health care, law enforcement, manufacturing, agriculture, economic development, and countless other sectors.
Most of all, I saw Nebraskans in their local communities dedicating their lives and careers to investing in the people around them.
Those are the people I represent here in the Senate. And just as they are dedicated to investing in Nebraska, I am dedicated to advocating for Nebraskans.
Thank you, M. President, I yield the floor.