Welcome to this week’s Bacon Brief, where we highlight important things on Capitol Hill and in Nebraska. I thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter and keeping yourself informed about important events. | National Defense Authorization Act | Since the last Bacon Brief, we advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) from the House Armed Services Committee. This bill authorizes annual defense funding for the military and is critical for our national security. I was pleased that 32 of my amendments were included in the bill. It will be voted on in the House, and then be sent over to the Senate to rectify any differences. Once this process is completed and changes are made, it will be up for a final vote and become law. You can read my full statement here. | The Nebraska Congressional Delegation held a statewide farm tour to ensure we are delivering the best results for this year’s Farm Bill. We began at a cattle feed yard run by Joel Weber, where we were able to speak with Nebraska Cattlemen to get a producer perspective on issues within the industry. From there, we continued on to a Farm Bill Commodity Roundtable coordinated with Nebraska Farm Bureau, NE Corn Growers, NE Wheat Board, NE Pork Producers, NE Soybean growers, NE Cattlemen, NE Dairy Association. It was a great opportunity to hear constituent perspectives from every corner of Nebraskan agriculture. | Next stop was the University of Nebraska- Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Agriculture and research certainly go hand-in-hand with production. Students, faculty, and staff all came together to present their projects. From Animal Science to the Larson Tractor Test Lab and everything in between, IANR really helped make the most of our visit to the University. Finally, we wrapped up the tour by engaging in a roundtable discussion on credit trends, challenges, and opportunities the agricultural finance sector faces today. It was productive getting to meet with such a diverse group of stakeholders from commercial banks, independent community banks, and the Farm Credit System. Overall, the Nebraska Farm Tour was a great success. Moving forward, this experience will undoubtedly drive us as we work on Farm Bill legislation. | Military Quality of Life Panel Announces Members | Recently, the House Armed Services Committee announced the creation of the Quality of Life Panel. I will lead the new panel with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), which will focus on servicemember pay, housing, health care, spouse employment, and childcare. During the next several months, panel members will hold hearings on these topics and submit recommendations to be considered as part of future National Defense Authorization Acts. Read more about the panel here. | Willa Cather Statue Unveiling | Earlier this month, a bronze statue of Willa Cather, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, was unveiled in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. Cather spent much of her life in Nebraska and loved the outdoors, which inspired her writing about pioneer settlers. Her books include One of Ours, which received the Pulitzer Prize, O Pioneers! and My Ántonia, among many others that have stood the test of time. The statue was created by Littleton Alston, a professor of sculpture at Creighton University and the first Black artist to have work displayed in the Statuary Hall. | I participated in the bipartisan Foster Youth Shadow Day on Capitol Hill and attended a town hall with former foster youth. I was joined by Shadow Delegate, Owen and we attended a bipartisan luncheon with other delegates and Members where I discussed the importance of supporting foster youth transitioning out of care. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, I look forward to continuing work with my colleagues to improve our country's foster care system. | Congressional Soccer Game | On June 13th, the Congressional Soccer Caucus teamed up with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to host the annual Congressional Soccer Game at Audi Field. In this exciting bipartisan event, Members of Congress teamed up with professional soccer players in a showdown of Democrats vs. Republicans. As the Co-Chair of the Soccer Caucus, I hit the field and helped lead Republicans to victory in a final score of 4-2! The Congressional Soccer Game raised money with the goal of improving the lives of children in underserved communities, on and off the pitch. If you happen to be in Washington D.C., stop by our office to see the trophy! | Rep. Don Bacon Member of Congress | Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on this issue and others! | Washington, DC Office
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