Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Delivering Wins for Nebraskans

I’m proud of the work my team and I have done fighting for Nebraska this year. Whether it’s meeting with Nebraskans or helping you navigate the federal government, my goal remains the same. I’m working to make sure your voices are heard and your concerns are addressed. I always advocate for Nebraska’s priorities in Washington.

One of my greatest priorities is remaining accessible to you. I continue to do what I did as Governor. I travel the state, talk to people, and listen to their concerns. The best part of my job as U.S. Senator is that I get to work for Nebraskans. I get to fight for you in Washington. I get to come back home and share our legislative successes with our fellow Nebraskans.

This summer, I traveled the state for roundtables, parades, and the State Fair. I have been able to share with Nebraskans the wins our Congressional delegation is delivering. Thanks to our votes, we are avoiding a $2,443 tax hike on Nebraskans. We expanded the child tax credit. We provided more options for childcare. We are helping seniors keep more of their Social Security benefits. We’re improving healthcare and veterans’ services. We are strengthening our agribusinesses. Importantly, we passed a law making permanent the Death Tax exemption. This makes it easier for farmers and ranchers to pass on family land to their children.

This year, I hosted three town halls and three tele-town halls. I held over a dozen roundtables to speak with Nebraskans. I have heard from families, businesses, workers, and farmers and ranchers. Today, I hosted the Federal Issues Forum at the Nebraska State Fair. This is an event I started hosting last year.

It included leaders from the federal government and State Fair attendees. This year, Nebraskans are able to hear directly from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming. 

I know it can sometimes be a real challenge to navigate the federal bureaucracy. My team and I are here to help. We have offices in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, and Washington, D.C. We also host Mobile Office Hours across the state. We have already visited all 93 counties this year. We visited them all twice last year. We will do it again this year. Our team is specially trained in assisting constituents with concerns and complaints. We can answer questions about services, eligibility, or benefits. We help with federal agencies like Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, or the Internal Revenue Service. I’m proud of our work to cut red tape and deliver wins for Nebraskans. 

In 2024, we helped nearly 800 Nebraskans access federal services. We also helped constituents save or recover nearly $5 million from the federal government. We continue that work this year and have already returned over $5.5 million in constituent savings to Nebraskans.

These are just some of the major wins Congressional Republicans and my office have delivered for Nebraskans. There are too many to fit in a column. This is why I just published the Ricketts Review. This annual publication shows our work in the Senate. It highlights the fantastic features in the One Big Beautiful Bill. In the Ricketts Review, I lay out my priorities as Senator: serving Nebraska and growing opportunity. A digital copy is available here. We are always available to help with navigating Washington’s bureaucracy. We’re honored to serve you.