Dear John,

Here’s a recap of some legislative items of note I felt you may be interested in:

CR Vote (Budget) 

Continuing Resolutions (CR) are not the way to govern and we have had three of them because Speaker Pelosi won’t negotiate on an actual budget. CR’s only extend the current funding levels. This means that the repairs for Offutt Air Force Base will be delayed because they are part of 2020 funding, and this CR continued 2019 funding levels. Read why I voted no here. 

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

I voted yes on S.1838 the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019; the Senate version of H.R. 3289 and titled the same. S. 1838 requires sanctions to be imposed on individuals or entities responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong and directs various departments to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Read my statement here.

To rename the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska, as the Homestead National Historical Park.

The House passed H.R. 1472 last week, renaming the Homestead Monument as the Homestead National Historic Park. My colleague and friend Rep. Adrian Smith introduced the legislation, and I was happy to co-sponsor. This historical site gives Americans the opportunity to learn about the Homestead Act, which led to western expansion.

Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act

I joined Representatives John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), to reintroduce the bipartisan and bicameral Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act.  The legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with grants to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. Read the press release here.

Open Skies Treaty Stability Act

The Open Skies Treaty provides the United States and our allies access to Russian airfields and airspace on short notice. In discussions with the Pentagon I know the Defense Department values our continued participation in this treaty and I have yet to hear a compelling reason to end our participation. That is why I joined Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s (CA-20) Open Skies Treaty Stability Act as a cosponsor, along with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01). Read what I had to say to the Omaha World Herald here.