Agriculture

115th Congress

• Led Letter Stressing Economic Benefits of NAFTA: Fischer, along with Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), led a letter from 18 senators to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stressing the positive economic impact of NAFTA as the administration considers taking a fresh look at the agreement. A signed copy of the letter is available here.

• Introduced Senate Resolution Against “WOTUS”: Senator Fischer joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to introduce a Sense of the Senate expressing the need to vacate the Obama administration’s “Waters of the United States” or WOTUS rule. The resolution signified the senator’s intent to continue working to undo the harmful rule. Since introducing this resolution, President Trump signed an executive order to begin the process to withdraw the WOTUS rule altogether.
   
• Expanding the Market for Biofuels: With Senators Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senator Fischer introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. The legislation would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver regarding gasoline blended with ethanol above 10 percent to year-round. Doing so would increase market access opportunities for higher blends of ethanol. It would also allow retailers across the country to sell E15 and other higher-ethanol/gasoline fuel blends year-round, increasing regulatory certainty and eliminating confusion at the pump.

• Welcomed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to Cherry County for Roundtable with Nebraska Ranchers: On May 20, 2017, Senator Fischer welcomed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to Cherry County, Nebraska. At the Fischers’ Sunny Slope Ranch south of Valentine, Senator Fischer and Secretary Perdue led a roundtable discussion with area ranchers where they heard about the challenges these ag producers face as they work to feed the world. Fischer invited Secretary Perdue to visit Nebraska earlier in the year. Click here to view photos from Secretary Perdue’s visit.

• Continued Efforts to Address EPA Rule Affecting Ag Producers with On-Farm Fuel Storage: Senator Fischer reintroduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act to provide regulatory relief for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. A regulation intended for major oil refineries, known as the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, would force agriculture producers to make costly upgrades to fuel storage tanks and impose heavy fines if their tanks go over the on-farm fuel limit exemption mandated by the federal government. The FUELS Act builds on Senator Fischer’s past efforts to modify these costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect families with on-farm fuel storage.

114th Congress

• Nebraska Supplying the First U.S. Beef to Israel in Over a Decade: Senator Fischer worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a historic agreement to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports to Israel. The first shipments to Israel will come from the WR Reserve plant in Hastings, Nebraska.

• Restored Fairness and Reduced Burdens for Ag Producers: The five-year highway bill, which was signed into law in December 2015, included important provisions that benefit Nebraska ag producers. The bill reverses $3 billion in cuts to the crop insurance program that were initially included in the two-year budget agreement. Another provision in the bill reduces the regulatory burdens on producers by allowing them to transport up to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel freely. 
   
• Launched effort to protect Nebraskans from duplicative pesticide rules: Senator Fischer helped introduce a bill known as the Sensible Environmental Protection Act (SEPA). The legislation would clarify the intent of current federal regulations that are causing unnecessary burdens for Nebraska’s food producers, Natural Resource Districts, weed control agencies, and other pest management personnel. 
   
• Objected to Inaccurate Guidelines That Would Harm Nebraska Agriculture: Senator Fischer joined 29 of her colleagues in objecting to a report on food guidelines that advises Americans to decrease consumption of red meat. In a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, the senators condemned the report’s conclusions, which ignore relevant scientific evidence on nutrition.

• Brought the EPW Committee to Lincoln for a Field Hearing on the WOTUS Rule: In March 2015, Senator Fischer chaired a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in Lincoln. The hearing was focused on the impact of the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which would have expanded federal regulation of water across Nebraska. Fischer examined the views of a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the agriculture community, homebuilders, natural resource districts, and state and local governments. 

• Introduced Bill to Provide Producers with Limited Exemption from EPA Rule Affecting On-Farm Fuel Storage: The bill, known as the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act, would modify costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect farmers and ranchers with on-farm fuel storage. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator Fischer as an original cosponsor of the legislation.

• Voted in favor of a bipartisan compromise to stop a biotechnology labeling requirement: On July 1, 2016, a Vermont state law went into effect, imposing burdens on Nebraska's agriculture community after it became the national standard by default. To stop the harmful effects of this mandate, Senator Fischer supported a bipartisan compromise to replace the Vermont law with a new national standard. Congress passed the compromise bill. 

• Introduced Bipartisan Legislation to Roll Back Harmful OSHA Standards Burdening Farmers: Senator Fischer joined Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) to introduce the Fertilizer Access and Responsible Management (FARM) Act. The bill would stop a federal standard from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer and critical input used by farmers across the country.

• Negotiated Bipartisan Compromise For On-Farm Fuel Storage in Water Infrastructure Bill: The U.S. Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016. The bill will help ensure safe and reliable water infrastructure for communities in Nebraska and across the country. It also includes a bipartisan provision, negotiated by Senator Fischer, which would modify costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect agriculture producers with on-farm fuel storage. 

113th Congress

• Supported a Five-Year Farm Bill: Senator Fischer voted in favor of the five-year farm bill, S. 954.  The legislation provides a safety net for America’s farmers through disaster assistance programs. It promotes environmental stewardship and encourages rural development; it bolsters export opportunities and advances cutting-edge research; and it helps new farmers and ranchers trying to start businesses of their own.

• Supported Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Nebraska’s Drinking Water Supplies: Senator Fischer voted in favor of the Environment and Public Works Committee’s bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).  This important legislation establishes priorities for the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain navigable channels, reduce flood and storm damage, and restore aquatic ecosystems. The bill contains provisions to advance stalled flood control projects, including levee improvements essential to protect Nebraska’s metropolitan drinking water supplies.

• Questioned the Furlough of USDA Meat Inspectors: On February 26, 2013, Senator Fischer sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting more information regarding the USDA’s plans to furlough meat and poultry inspectors. The letter, cosigned by eight other Republican senators, called into question comments by Secretary Vilsack suggesting that USDA must furlough inspection employees, regardless of statutory duties to provide health and safety inspections.

• Introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act: Senator Fischer introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) to provide regulatory relief for farmers impacted by EPA’s Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule.  The Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act would exempt farms from SPCC requirements if their aggregate oil storage capacity is 10,000 gallons or less and the farms have no history of spills. In addition, the bill would increase the oil storage threshold to determine whether a professional engineer must certify a facility’s SPCC plan.  A version of Fischer’s bill was adopted in the form of an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act, which was approved by the Senate.

• Held EPA Accountable for Violating the Privacy of Farmers and Ranchers: Senator Fischer cosponsored legislation, the Farmer Identity Protection Act, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from disclosing the private information of farmers and ranchers. In addition, Senator Fischer and several colleagues wrote to EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe questioning the agency’s decision to release personal and confidential business information of Nebraskans. In response to a FOIA request for information related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from environmental groups, EPA released comprehensive data providing the precise locations of CAFOs, the animal type and number of head, as well as the personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of CAFO owners.

• Pushed for Drought Research and Modernization Tools: On April 26, 2013, Senator Fischer sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to urge support for drought mitigation funding. The letter encouraged support for critical applied research focused on drought, drought planning, preparedness, and modernization.

• Cosponsored the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2013: This legislation clarifies that veterinarians may transport, administer, and dispense controlled substances outside of their registered locations.  Mobile veterinary care is essential to meeting the health and welfare needs of many animals, as well as to safeguard public safety and the nation’s food supply.

• Cosponsored the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Settlement Reform Act: This legislation, introduced by Senator Cornyn, will give impacted local parties a say in the settlement of ESA litigation between special interest groups and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Cutting Red Tape

114th Congress

• Chaired EPW Field Hearing in Columbus, NE, on the EPA’s Proposed Ozone Rule: Senator Fischer Brought the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) to Columbus, Nebraska, for a hearing entitled “Impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Ozone Standard on Manufacturing and Utilities.” The hearing explored the impact of the EPA’s proposed rule to lower the ozone standard for manufacturing and public power utilities. Fischer heard testimony from a variety of Nebraska stakeholders, including representatives from the manufacturing industry, public power utilities, and small-business community. 

• Cosponsored legislation to stop the EPA’s takeover of the our electric system: Senator Fischer joined her colleagues in introducing the  Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act - legislation that will halt the damaging effects of the Obama administration’s proposed regulations to control new and existing power plants. It also protects ratepayers from increased electricity rates and reduced reliability. 

• Introduced Bill to Enhance Transparency of Unfunded Mandates: Senator Fischer joined Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) to introduce The Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act. The bill would fix the loopholes in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act through stricter agency requirements, enhanced stakeholder input, and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

• Fought Burdensome Federal Regulations on Colleges and Universities: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of The Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Education from issuing a set of regulations on teacher preparation programs that would be detrimental to colleges and universities in Nebraska and across the country.  

• Promoted Accountability for Taxpayer Funds Distributed in Lawsuits: Senator Fischer introduced The Judgment Fund Transparency Act to require a public accounting of the taxpayer funds distributed to litigants who bring successful claims against the federal government. The Judgment Fund is administered by the Treasury Department and is used to pay certain court judgments and settlements against the federal government. Throughout the past seven years, Treasury has spent nearly $11 billion in Judgment Fund awards with scant oversight.

113th Congress

• Introduced Bill to Enhance Transparency of Unfunded Mandates: Senator Fischer joined Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) to introduce The Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act. The bill would fix the loopholes in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act through stricter agency requirements, enhanced stakeholder input, and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

• Fought Burdensome Federal Regulations on Colleges and Universities: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of The Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Education from issuing a set of regulations on teacher preparation programs that would be detrimental to colleges and universities in Nebraska and across the country.        

• Promoted Accountability for Taxpayer Funds Distributed in Lawsuits: Senator Fischer introduced The Judgment Fund Transparency Act to require a public accounting of the taxpayer funds distributed to litigants who bring successful claims against the federal government. The Judgment Fund is administered by the Treasury Department and is used to pay certain court judgments and settlements against the federal government. Throughout the past seven years, Treasury has spent nearly $11 billion in Judgment Fund awards with scant oversight.

• Protect health innovation from overregulation: Senator Fischer introduced the Preventing Regulatory Overreach to Enhance Care Technology (PROTECT Act of 2014), S. 2007. The bill would protect jobs, reduce regulatory burdens, and provide greater certainty for health information technologies (health IT). The PROTECT Act offers a more specific regulatory framework for health IT that promotes innovation and job creation while protecting patient safety.

• Held Executive Branch accountable: Senator Fischer cosponsored The Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of the Law (ENFORCE the Law) Act. The bill implements a procedure that allows Congress to authorize a lawsuit against the executive branch if the administration fails to “faithfully execute” the laws.

• Sponsored new law to cut red tape: Senator Fischer worked with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to secure Senate passage of H.R. 724, a bill that repeals an unnecessary paperwork burden on small business auto dealerships. The bill was signed into law by the president.

• Helped advance Western Sarpy-Clear Creek levee project: Senator Fischer fought to include language in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to authorize necessary funding for the Western Sarpy-Clear Creek flood control project to proceed. Senator Fischer worked closely with three metropolitan area Natural Resource Districts to address needed changes to the law for this flood control project located along the banks of the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers in eastern Nebraska. The area has a significant, long-term flooding problem and levee improvements are needed to provide flood protection to portions of I-80 and Highway 6, hundreds of homes, Nebraska Army National Guard buildings, and drinking water supply infrastructure that supplies drinking water to 50 percent of Nebraska’s population – including the Lincoln and Omaha area.

• Provided relief from EPA’s costly SPCC rule: Senator Fischer offered a bipartisan amendment to the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to address the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) misguided Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. Her amendment served as the basis for revised text in the final legislation, which was signed into law. EPA’s regulation would affect any facility with a fuel storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons, which includes a majority of Nebraska farms. The Fischer text provides an immediate 6,000-gallon exemption, with a study to review and determine the most appropriate level of exemption for a farm from all requirements of the rule. In addition, the legislation increases the oil storage threshold to determine whether a professional engineer must certify a facility’s SPCC plan from 10,000 gallons to 20,000 gallons.   

• Enhanced construction flexibility for states: Senator Fischer worked to include in the  2014 highway legislation, two key provisions to enhance project flexibility for states and streamline the environmental review process. These provisions were drafted in consultation with key transportation stakeholders in Nebraska, including officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads.

  1. The first provision allows states to provide their own certification regarding the appropriate level of environmental review of certain projects, rather than wasting time waiting for the federal government to provide the assessments.

  2. The second provision establishes procedures – based on a template developed by the Transportation Secretary – allowing states, in addition to the federal government, to determine which state or federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Historical Society, etc.) must be consulted prior to beginning an infrastructure project.

• Fought to Protect Congressional Oversight of the Executive Branch: Senator Fischer is an original cosponsor of the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require Congress to approve every new major rule proposed by the Executive Branch. Major rules are defined as having an annual economic impact of $100 million or more. The bill would allow for Congress to regain its eroded constitutional authority by limiting the size and scope of rule-making powers currently wielded by the Executive Branch.

• Cosponsored the Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act: This legislation strengthens and codifies an Executive Order from January 18, 2011, in an effort to ensure that the President’s commitment to review, modify, streamline, expand, or repeal those significant regulatory actions, that are duplicative, unnecessary overly burdensome, or would have significant economic impacts on Americans.

• Cosponsored S. 175: This legislation would eliminate a burdensome, costly, and redundant EPA permit requirement for applications of pesticides.

• Supported Repealing the Death Tax: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of the Death Tax Repeal Act. Currently, there is an estate tax exemption of $5 million for individuals and $10 million for married couples, indexed for inflation. The taxable portion of an estate in excess of this exemption is then taxed at a rate of 40%. This bill would repeal the estate tax and generation skipping transfer tax. 

Defense

114th Congress

• Strengthened Sanctions on North Korea’s Rogue Regime: Senator Fischer voted in favor of legislation that provides the administration with enhanced tools to weaken North Korea’s regime and its financial resources. The bill, known as the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2016, passed the Senate unanimously. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Senator Fischer is conducting congressional oversight to ensure this legislation, and the new measures within it, are fully implemented.
   
• Voted Against President Obama’s Iran Deal: Over the course of many months, hundreds of Nebraskans contacted Senator Fischer to express opposition to the president’s nuclear deal with Iran. She shared their concerns and voted against the agreement. Senator Fischer believes President Obama’s deal neither advances nor protects America’s interests.

• Included Key Priorities for STRATCOM in Annual Defense Bill: In her capacity as chairman of the Emerging Threats Subcommittee, Senator Fischer worked to include language that supports the needs of our warfighters, addresses cyber vulnerabilities, and promotes the next generation of technology to ensure our military’s continued advantage.

• Advocated Offutt Runway Replacement: Senator Fischer worked with Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh to advance the replacement of the runway at Offutt Air Force Base. The U.S. Air Force has announced a final plan to upgrade the runway. The upgrade will take roughly nine months, extending the life of the runway by about 20 years. According to the Air Force plan, design work is scheduled to begin this fall and construction is expected to begin in 2018 at a cost of approximately $55 million.

113th Congress

• Challenged President Obama’s Plan for Drastic Nuclear Reductions: Senator Fischer expressed serious concerns on the Senate floor in reducing the U.S. nuclear deterrent by more than one third. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-TxVoo23c0&

• Pushed for Full Scale Sanctions on Iran: On March 5, 2013, Senator Fischer cosponsored S.Res.65 – a resolution introduced by Senator Graham supporting Israel and urging the President to implement the full scale of U.S. sanctions on Iran.

• Ensured STRATCOM’s enduring mission: Senator Fischer ensured that the FY15 NDAA fully authorizes the fourth and final increment of funding for the construction of the new Command and Control Facility for U.S. Strategic Command. It also authorizes needed funding to support the building’s operations. 

• Cosponsored the Iran Sanctions Loophole Elimination Act: Senator Fischer cosponsored legislation that would require the president to impose sanctions on any foreign bank that assists Iranian institutions and companies in conducting financial transactions.  

• Introduced legislation to Address Sexual Assault Prevention within the Military: Senator Fischer and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced a bipartisan bill, S.992, which would require the Department of Defense to use a “nominative selection process” for filling positions in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) offices. This legislation was adopted in the form of an amendment to the national defense policy bill for FY 2014.

• Won committee support for robust nuclear deterrence in FY14 NDAA: The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces unanimously accepted three amendments offered by Senator Fischer at its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2014.

• Fischer #035, ICBM Readiness:  Affirms the Secretary of Defense’s authority to retain missile silos in “warm” status and requires a report assessing the feasibility and advisability of doing so.

• Fischer #036, B-52 Common Configuration: Reaffirms the current law requiring the Administration report its plans to reduce nuclear force structure in order to comply with the New START treaty prior to implementing any actual reductions.

• Fischer #037, Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent:  Expresses the Committee’s expectation that the Air Force complete its studies on the follow on ICBM system (known as the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD) by the end of 2014. The amendment also requires the Air Force to provide Congress a briefing on its current progress.

• Fought sexual assault in the military: On March 10, 2014, the Senate unanimously passed the Victims Protection Act (S. 1917), legislation offered by Senators Fischer, Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) to combat military sexual assault, bolster victims’ rights, and boost accountability for offenders. The legislation was incorporated into the Senate’s FY 2015 NDAA. In 2013, Fischer introduced two bipartisan amendments to fight military sexual assault by strengthening the rights of victims impacted by crimes and heightening the caliber of appointed sexual assault prevention officers. Both measures were adopted by the Armed Services Committee and included in the final FY 2014 NDAA signed into law. 

Government Spending and Taxes

115th Congress

• Introduced Bill to Ensure Transparency, Oversight of Taxpayer-Funded Payments: Senator Fischer joined James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) to reintroduce the Judgment Fund Transparency and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act. The bill would ensure much-needed oversight of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund and prohibit taxpayer-funded payments to nations that sponsor terrorism. Currently, the Judgment Fund is allowed to allocate unlimited amounts of taxpayer dollars, with little oversight, to cover government liability. Fischer and Lankford also introduced this legislation last Congress.
   
• Fixing the Flawed Structure of the CFPB to Unlock Opportunities for American Families: Senator Fischer reintroduced the Consumer Financial Protection Board Act. The legislation would make changes to the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It would prevent misconduct at the bureau by divesting the authority from one director to a five-member bipartisan board. This much-needed structural adjustment would bring accountability to the bureau and give more Americans a chance to build their own businesses and provide for their families.
   
• Promoting Responsible and Transparent Government Spending: Senator Fischer joined Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in reintroducing the Judgment Fund Transparency Act. The bill would increase transparency and congressional oversight of the Judgment Fund, a little-known account within the U.S. Treasury Department used to pay certain court judgments and settlements against the federal government. Money from the Judgment Fund is paid out with scant scrutiny, and there’s no limit on how much money can flow from it. The Fischer-Gardner bill would provide Members of Congress and hardworking Americans with the ability to see exactly how taxpayer dollars are being spent out of this fund.
   
• Reintroduced Bipartisan Bill to Stop Bonuses to Irresponsible Federal Employees: Senator Fischer, joined by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.), reintroduced the bipartisan Stop Improper Federal Bonuses Act. This legislation would prohibit bonus pay for federal employees who commit major infractions under their agency’s code of conduct or violate any law that carries a potential jail sentence of more than a year. It would also require employees who engage in egregious misconduct to repay their bonuses.
   
• Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Frivolous Spending on Portraits of Government Officials: Senator Fischer helped reintroduce a bipartisan bill with Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wi.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) known as the Eliminating Government-Funded Oil-Painting (EGO) Act of 2017. The EGO Act bans taxpayer funds from being used for extravagant oil paintings of the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and Members of Congress. These portraits can often cost $20,000-$40,000.  Earlier this year, the EGO Act passed the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by voice vote.

114th Congress

• Fischer-Manchin Legislation to Stop Government Spending on Nothing Signed Into Law: Senator Fischer and Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) have reintroduced the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act. This bipartisan legislation saves taxpayer dollars by providing additional oversight over the financial accountability of federal grant programs. The bill would require agencies to close out expired grant accounts with zero dollar balances and undisbursed funding remaining. These expired accounts cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. The bill was signed into law on January 28, 2016. 
   
• Supported a Two-Year Budget Cycle: Senator Fischer is a cosponsor of The Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act. The bill would convert Congress' annual appropriations process into a two-year budget cycle and allow for increased oversight of wasteful federal programs.

• Prohibited Use of Taxpayer Dollars for Costly Government Portraits: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of The Eliminating Government-Funded Oil-Painting (EGO) Act. The bill would prohibit the use of federal funds for painting portraits of officers and employees of the federal government. Senator Fischer cosponsored similar legislation last Congress. 

• Demanded Honest Accounting of Federal Programs: Senator Fischer introduced The Budget and Accounting Transparency Act. The bill would promote increased oversight of government spending and require fair-value accounting for federal credit programs. It would also require federal agencies to make public any budgetary justification materials prepared in support of their request for use of taxpayer dollars.

• Exposed Taxpayer Funds Transferred to Iran: Senator Fischer and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the Judgment Fund Transparency and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act. The bill would allow for increased congressional oversight of payments out of the Judgment Fund, such as the $400 million ransom payment to Iran. 

113th Congress

• Protected taxpayers from IRS overreach: Senator Fischer introduced the Stop IRS Overreach Act (S.2043) to prohibit the IRS from asking any taxpayer questions regarding their religious, political, or social beliefs.

• Demanded answers from the IRS: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of S. 2011, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs Act of 2014. This bill would suspend for one year any rulemaking by the IRS related to Section 501(c)(4). It would also allow more time for the completion of the investigation into the IRS’ targeting of political conservative organizations.

• Held the IRS accountable: Senator Fischer sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Koskinen requesting that IRS employees who fail to file or pay taxes be immediately dismissed, not rewarded. The letter also demands answers for mismanagement and wrongful bonuses. On April 22, 2014, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released a report showing that a number of IRS employees received bonuses despite being cited for misconduct in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

• Required honest government accounting: Senator Fischer introduced S. 2420, The Budget and Accounting Transparency Act of 2014. The bill would increase honesty in government accounting practices by requiring the full costs of federal credit programs to be included in both annual budgets and cost estimates for future legislation.

• Opposed the death tax: Senator Fischer cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 (S.1183), a bill to abolish the federal estate tax, commonly known as the “death tax". It is wrong to tax hardworking Americans twice – once when they earn their money, and again when they give it away. These families invest time, resources, energy, and faith in growing their businesses, farms, and ranches, which many hope to pass on to the next generation.

• Eliminated government waste: Senator Fischer introduced S. 1792, the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act (1792). This legislation would require federal agencies to close out the expired, empty grant accounts, and to identify why those accounts have not been closed. On April 24, 2013, The Washington Post reported, “This year, the government will spend at least $890,000 on service fees for bank accounts that are empty. At last count, Uncle Sam has 13,712 such accounts with a balance of zero. They are supposed to be closed. But nobody has done the paperwork yet.” 

• Worked to modernize government to save money: Senator Fischer cosponsored the Let Me Google That For You Act (S. 2206). This bill would abolish the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that collects and distributes government information. NTIS charges fees for its products and services. However, according to a Government Accountability Office report published in November 2012, “[t]he agency lost, on average, about $1.3 million over the last 11 years on its products.” Additionally, GAO reported in 2013, “information maintained by NTIS were also becoming increasingly available on agency websites and through other public sources—often at no cost.” 

• Introduced the Judgment Fund Transparency Act: This legislation offered by Senator Fischer would require the Treasury Department to post on a publicly accessible website the claimant, counsel, agency, fact summary, and payment amount for each claim from the Judgment Fund, unless a law or court order otherwise prohibits the disclosure of such information. Throughout the past seven years, Treasury has spent nearly $11 billion in Judgment Fund awards with scant oversight.

• Original Cosponsor of the Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:  Senator Fischer supports a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. If ratified, total spending outlays could not exceed total revenue receipts, and spending would be capped at 18% of gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, the president would be required to submit a balanced federal budget proposal to Congress.  Finally, the amendment would establish supermajority voting thresholds for Congress to raise taxes or to increase the debt ceiling. These provisions could be waived by a majority of each House of Congress during times of war.

• Opposed Massive $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill: Senator Fischer voted against the continuing resolution, H.R. 933, in March 2013. The legislation funds the implementation of ObamaCare, which raises healthcare premiums and has already forced employers to cut back on hiring and reduce hours.

• Opposed the Senate Budget, Trillion Dollar Tax Hike: Senator Fischer voted against the Senate’s FY 2014 budget proposal, which would have increased government spending by 62 percent – or $7.3 trillion – over the next decade and raised taxes on Americans by $1.5 trillion. This was the first budget vote in the past four years under Senate Democrat leadership. 

Immigration

114th Congress

• Voted for the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. Senator Fischer cosponsored common-sense legislation, which says that if a jurisdiction is not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, it should not be receiving federal funds. The bill also includes a provision known as Kate’s Law, named after Kate Steinle. Kate was murdered in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant who had been convicted of several felonies and deported multiple times. This provision would impose a mandatory minimum jail sentence of five years for illegal immigrants who have been convicted three or more times of illegally reentering the Unites States or who have committed a violent felony.

113th Congress

• Opposed the Flawed Comprehensive Immigration Legislation: Senator Fischer opposed the comprehensive immigration reform bill for the following reasons:

• The bill failed to include a biometric check system at all points of entry or exit
• Determination of operational control is left to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
• There is no congressional approval required to determine if the border is fully secure.
• It failed to require full operational control of the southern border before initiating the legalization process.
• It allocated $46.3 billion in federal funding (with taxpayers directly responsible for $38 billion) without first requiring a strategic plan for the implementation of a border security plan.
• It contained a loophole that could allow illegal immigrants who have attained Registered Provisional Immigrant status to be eligible for means-tested taxpayer benefits, such as food stamps and Medicaid. 

• Introduced an Amendment to Actually Strengthen Border Security: Senator Fischer introduced an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill to verifiably secure the border without simply throwing money at a complicated problem. Her plan would:

1. Achieve and maintain operational control of the southern border within 5 years of the date of enactment
2. Achieve and maintain full situational awareness of the southern border within 5 years of the date of enactment
3. Implement a biometric entry and exit system at all land, air, and sea ports of entry
4. Implement a mandatory employment verification system within 5 years of the date of enactment

• Cosponsored the English Language Unity Act of 2013: This bill would declare English as the official language of the United States. Nebraskans understand the importance of communicating in a standard language. Nearly a century ago, the Nebraska constitution adopted English as the state’s official language. Requiring the use of English doesn’t mean new immigrants should abandon their heritage – our diversity is integral to our nation’s strength. But a standard language fosters a sense of community and national pride and cuts costs associated with requiring government services in multiple languages.

• Cosponsored the Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act: This bill would require photo identification in order to receive a child tax credit.  It would prevent illegal aliens from claiming the Child Tax Credit that is intended for American citizens and legal residents by closing a loophole with the Internal Revenue System. This would save $4.2 billion each year.

• Cosponsored S.299: This bill which would prohibit federal funds from being awarded to “sanctuary cities.” Sanctuary cities encourage and provide safe harbor for illegal aliens despite directly violating Federal law.

• Cosponsored the Accountability through Electronic Verification Act of 2013: This bill would permanently authorize and require employers to use the E-Verify program in determining the eligibility of employees to work in the United States.

Judiciary

114th Congress

• A new judge for Nebraska’s federal bench: The Senate vote 90-0 to confirm Bob Rossiter of Omaha as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. Senator Fischer worked for more than two years on Rossiter’s nomination and confirmation. Click here to read more on Bob Rossiter in an editorial from the Omaha World-Herald. 

113th Congress

• Called on President to enforce immigration laws: Senator Fischer signed a letter to President Obama in response to reports of potential changes in immigration enforcement policy, and in light of the Administration’s current practice of disregarding the immigration laws on the books. In 2013, the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released 68,000 undocumented immigrants deemed by ICE to pose a criminal threat. ICE has been directed to refrain from imprisoning aliens who are in the U.S. illegally unless a serious crime is committed. The letter expresses strong opposition to the Administrations “astonishing disregard for the Constitution.”

• Worked to end child abuse: Senator Fischer cosponsored the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act (S. 1799), which provides funding for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) that serve child victims of violent crimes and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable.

• Pushed to ban late-term abortion: Senator Fischer cosponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S.1670), a bill that protects children from late-term abortion. The American people support reasonable limits on late-term abortions and Senator Fischer believes this commonsense measure, which was already approved in Nebraska, should also be adopted at the federal level. 

• Promoted adoption as a loving option: Senator Fischer introduced legislation to ensure family planning service projects and programs effectively promote information about adoption. The Adoption Information Act (S.1539) would require federal grant recipients to provide assurances to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding their plan to issue adoption promotion literature.

Second Amendment Rights

114th Congress

• Introduced Legislation to Improve Access to Sportsmen’s Recreation Facilities: Senator Fischer joined her colleagues in cosponsoring the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act. This legislation updates the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. Specifically, it includes a clarification that extends financial and technical support to states for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting. The bill would provide greater opportunities for America’s sportsmen and sportswomen without raising taxes.

• Cosponsored Bill to Enhance Opportunities for Hunters and Outdoor Enthusiasts: Senator Fischer joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to introduce The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. The legislation would prevent anti-hunting groups from restricting sportsmen’s ammunition choices. Such unnecessary constraints are driving up hunting costs, impeding participation in shooting sports, and decreasing conservation funding. The bill was approved by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee. 
   
• Succeeded in Fighting Ban on Rifle Ammunition: Senator Fischer joined 52 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), calling on the director to reconsider a proposal limiting rifle ammunition that is primarily used for sporting purposes. Upon receiving the senators’ letter condemning its overreach, the ATF announced that it would scrap the ban.

113th Congress

• Opposed the Toomey-Manchin-Schumer Background Check Legislation: Closing the so-called 'gun show loophole' would have little or no effect on violent crime because criminals far more commonly obtain firearms through theft and illegal dealers. Senator Fischer opposed this amendment, which would have laid the groundwork for a national gun registry that has often served as a precursor to bans in other countries.

• Supported the Grassley-Cruz Legislation: This amendment would address gun violence without undermining the Second Amendment. Senator Fischer supported this legislation, which would increase funding for school security measures. It would also fix known problems with NICS background check system (such as a failure of some states to submit mental records) without expanding the program. 
   
• Cosponsored a Concurrent Resolution in response to the United Nations Arms Trade treaty (ATT): The resolution expresses concern over possible restrictions to the rights afforded by the Second Amendment to law-abiding citizens. It outlines specific criteria that must be met to protect that right before the U.S. ratifies it.
   

Telecommunications

115th Congress

• Cosponsored Legislation to Protect Consumers from Online Booking Scams: Senator Fischer joined Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) in introducing the Stop Online Booking Scams Act. This legislation protects consumers from illegitimate third-party websites that trick consumers into thinking they are making reservations directly with hotels.

• Lead Bipartisan Letter to FCC Advocating for Rural Broadband: Senators Deb Fischer and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan group of 56 senators in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about rural broadband. In the letter, the senators urged the agency to take additional steps to continue advancing broadband deployment in our nation’s rural areas. They also expressed concerns about the high cost of these critical services in many rural communities and stressed that more Americans should have the opportunity to purchase affordable broadband to keep them connected. A signed copy of the senators’ letter to the FCC is available online here.

• Reintroduced DIGIT Act To Encourage the Growth of the Internet of Things: As a member of the bipartisan Internet of Things working group, Senator Fischer joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to reintroduce the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act. The bill seeks to encourage the growth of this globally interconnected network and helps identify barriers to its advancement. The DIGIT Act would convene a working group of federal entities that would consult with private sector stakeholders and provide recommendations to Congress. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a proceeding assessing the spectrum needs required to support the Internet of Things.
   
• Reforming the FCC Lifeline Program to Ensure Families Receive Phone and Broadband Service: Senator Fischer and Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced the Preserving State Commission (PSC) Oversight Act. The bill would reinforce existing law and ensure that states have primary authority to determine which carriers participate in the FCC universal service Lifeline program. The Lifeline program provides phone and broadband service to Americans who cannot otherwise afford it. In June 2016, Senator Fischer, along with nine other senators and fifteen U.S. representatives, sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler raising concerns with FCC actions on the Lifeline program. Among these was a concern about a FCC regulation preempting state authority on carrier decisions.
   
• Led Bipartisan Letter to FCC on Rural Broadband: Senators Deb Fischer and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan group of 56 senators in writing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding rural broadband. In the letter, addressed to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, and FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, the senators urged the agency to take additional steps to continue advancing broadband deployment in our nation’s rural areas. They also expressed concerns about the high cost of these critical services in many rural communities and stressed that more Americans should have the opportunity to purchase affordable broadband to keep them connected.

Cosponsored Legislation to Protect Consumers from Online Booking Scams: Senator Fischer joined Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) in introducing the Stop Online Booking Scams Act. This legislation protects consumers from illegitimate third-party websites that trick consumers into thinking they are making reservations directly with hotels.

Lead Bipartisan Letter to FCC Advocating for Rural Broadband: Senators Deb Fischer and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan group of 56 senators in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about rural broadband. In the letter, the senators urged the agency to take additional steps to continue advancing broadband deployment in our nation’s rural areas. They also expressed concerns about the high cost of these critical services in many rural communities and stressed that more Americans should have the opportunity to purchase affordable broadband to keep them connected. A signed copy of the senators’ letter to the FCC is available online here.

114th Congress

• Encouraged the Availability of Wireless Services for Rural Consumers: Senator Fischer joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to introduce the Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act. The bill would make unused spectrum available for use by both rural and small carriers to expand wireless service coverage. The language from the Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee as part of the MOBILE NOW Act.
   
• Led New Bill to Stop Caller-ID Spoofing and Protect Consumers from Fraud and Abuse: Senator Fischer Joined Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to introduce the Spoofing Prevent Act of 2016. The bill would close existing legal loopholes that have allowed fraudulent caller-ID information to be conveyed through texts, certain IP-enabled voice services, and calls originating outside the United States. Caller-ID spoofing refers to the practice of deliberately falsifying telephone numbers and/or names relayed through caller-ID. Major targets of spoofing often include seniors, veterans, and law enforcement. Click here to read the Omaha World-Herald’s coverage of this problem and Senator Fischer’s legislation to address it.  
   
• Worked to Ensure 911 Can Be Accessed in an Emergency: Senator Fischer and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce legislation known as “Kari’s Law.” The bipartisan bill is named in memory of Kari Hunt, is named for Kari Hunt, who was murdered in her hotel room in 2013 after her 9-year-old daughter desperately tried to call 911 for help. The hotel’s service, like many across the country, required dialing “9” before entering 911 in order for the call to go through. Kari’s Law would require multiline telephone systems, which are commonly used in hotels and offices, to be able to directly dial 911 without an access code, such as “9” or “1.”
   
• Advanced the Dialogue on the Internet of Things: Senator Fischer introduced S. 2607, the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, with Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). The DIGIT Act directs the Federal Communications Commission to complete a report assessing spectrum needs required to support wireless technology, often referred to as the Internet of Things. It also convenes a working group of federal and private entity stakeholders. This group would provide recommendations to Congress, focusing on how to plan for, and encourage, the growth of the Internet of Things in the United States.  

• Brought Senate-passed “Internet of Things” Resolution Senator Fischer joined Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce and then pass a bipartisan Internet of Things Resolution, which offers a strategy to expand U.S. global competitiveness in the digital age. The resolution also promotes economic growth and greater consumer empowerment.

• Led legislation to allow manufacturers to post their warranties online: Senator Fischer joined Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to introduce The E-Warranty Act, bipartisan legislation that will modernize warranty requirements and allow manufacturers to save paper and printing costs by posting warranties online. The bill was signed into law on September 24, 2015.

• Welcomed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Ajit Pai to Omaha: Senator Fischer invited Commissioner Pai to Omaha as part of her ongoing efforts to foster policies and encourage innovation. The two officials held roundtable discussions to discuss the need to make Internet access and broadband deployment a national priority, as well as ways in which the federal government can modernize its rules to unleash high-tech innovation across America. They also heard from Nebraska broadcasters who provide important information across our state regarding the challenges they continue to face.

113th Congress

• E-LABEL ACT signed into law: In November 2014, President Obama signed into law Senator Fischer’s  Enhance Labeling, Accessing, and Branding of Electronic Licenses Act of 2014  (E-LABEL).  This law eases certain regulatory requirements on manufacturers of products such as phones, computers, and other electronics, by giving them the option to meet the physical label requirement digitally, rather than physically. The passage of this bill makes Senator Fischer one of only two members of her freshman class of seventeen members, to have authored legislation that is now law. 

• Worked across the aisle to improve access to local television programming: In November 2014, Congress passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) Act, which includes language championed by senators Fischer and Booker (D-N.J.) to address gaps in access to local TV news and other programming. The language calls for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study on how Designated Market Areas (DMAs) affect consumers’ access to local broadcast and news programming.

• Requested congressional action to revamp data security framework: On January 10, 2014, Senator Fischer sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Thune requesting congressional action and attention from the committee in regards to revamping the existing data security framework. In December 2013, the popular retailers Target and Neiman Marcus announced that millions of Americans had their private information compromised.

• Worked to end state and local taxes on Internet access: Senator Fischer cosponsored the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act (S. 431), introduced by Senator Ron Wyden.  The bill ends the ability of state and local governments to impose new taxes on Internet access. It also stops them from imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. A permanent extension of the Internet tax Freedom Forever Act became law in February 2016 as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (H.R. 644).

• Encouraged investment in rural infrastructure projects: Senator Fischer joined with Senator Al Franken (D-MN) to introduce an amendment to the Senate Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution, S.Res.8, to promote investment in rural broadband infrastructure projects. The Fischer-Franken amendment was adopted unanimously by the Senate.

• Worked across the aisle to address insufficient broadband access: Senator Fischer introduced a bill (S.774) with Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) to enhance Congress’ oversight over the Federal Communications Commission as it implements universal service reforms.  These reforms will impact both rural and urban Nebraska communities as the federal government seeks to address insufficient broadband access through a major reform to the universal service fund.

• Led a bipartisan effort to improve call completion problems: On May 23, 2013, Senator Fischer became the lead Republican cosponsor of a resolution underscoring the need to resolve urban and rural call completion problems and crack down on carriers that discriminate against rural customers. 

• Original cosponsor of the Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act: Senator Fischer cosponsored legislation to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to quickly notify individuals who have had their personal information stolen from the federal health insurance exchange.

Health Care

114th Congress

• Voted to Repeal ObamaCare. In December 2015, Senator Fischer voted to eliminate the failed ObamaCare law once and for all. The ObamaCare repeal bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52 to 47. The bill eliminates more than $1 trillion in tax increases and would save more than $500 billion in federal spending.
   
• Demanded Answers for Thousands of Nebraskans Impacted by CoOportunity Health Collapse: Senator Fischer, along with Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requesting that the agency provide suitable answers for how it plans to help individuals with CoOportunity Health plans who have already paid out their deductibles.
   
• Pushed for ObamaCare Tax Repeal: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of The Jobs and Premium Protection Act, which was introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). The bill would repeal the annual tax on health insurance plans that was created under ObamaCare.
   
• Pressed for Repeal of ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of Senator Orrin Hatch’s (R-Utah) American Liberty Restoration Act. The legislation would prohibit ObamaCare’s individual insurance mandate.
   
• Fought to Restore 40-Hour Work Week: Senator Fischer cosponsored The Forty Hours is Full Time Act, which restores the traditional definition of “full-time employee” to a 40-hour work week under ObamaCare. The bill would restore lost hours and wages for workers and their families, and reduce the law’s financial hardships on businesses, which will allow for greater growth and job creation.
   
• Cosponsored Bill to Support Nursing Programs: Senator Fischer cosponsored legislation introduced by Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, known as The Making the Education of Nursing Dependable for Schools (MEND) Act. The bill would address a technical issue regarding the way the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funds hospital-based nursing programs, and ensure that the primary-care workforce is prepared for the growing demand for health services.
   

113th Congress

• Promoted more family control over health care: Senator Fischer introduced The Healthy Families Act (S. 631), legislation that would enhance government accountability in decisions impacting many families’ health care. Under ObamaCare, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is authorized to determine the types of preventive service coverage private insurers must offer without imposing cost-sharing – such as copayments, deductibles, or co-insurance – on patients. These determinations also strongly influence which preventive services Medicare and Medicaid choose to cover. The Healthy Families Act would check the power granted to this federal task force with increased public involvement and a more transparent process.

• Empowered disabled individuals: Senator Fischer became a cosponsor of the ABLE Act (S.313), a bill that would create tax-free saving accounts for individuals with disabilities to cover qualified expenses such as education, housing, and transportation.

•  Protected Americans from fraud: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of the Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act (S.1902). The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disclose to individuals within two business days any breach of a system maintained by an insurance exchange that results in personally identifiable information (PII) being stolen or unlawfully accessed.

• Pressed for a more efficient hospital transfer: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2014 (S. 2037). The bill removes the Medicare condition of payment that requires critical access hospitals (CAHs) to certify that a patient is reasonably expected to be discharged or transferred to another hospital within 96 hours after admission to the CAH.

• Requested an alternative pay system for patients in need: Senator Fischer introduced the Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014 (S. 2082). The bill would further delay enforcement of CMS’ “two midnight rule” until September 30, 2015 and requests that CMS develop an alternative payment system for inpatient stays that are shorter than two midnights. 

• Demanded fair treatment for individuals under Obamacare: Senator Fischer introduced the Freeing Americans from Inequitable Requirements (FAIR) Act (S. 2086). The bill would delay the ObamaCare mandate for individuals whenever the employment mandate is delayed.

• Called for Obamacare State Exchange accountability: Senator Fischer became a cosponsor of the State Exchange Accountability Act (S. 2339). The bill would require states that switch from a state exchange to a federal exchange to pay back any grants they received to create their state exchange. 

• Dedicated to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s: Senator Fischer became a cosponsor of the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (S. 2192).  The bill requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to submit an annual budget to the President estimating the funding necessary for NIH to meet the goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by the year 2025.

• Raised awareness to fight pediatric brain cancer: Senator Fischer offered a resolution, which was adopted unanimously by the United States Senate, designating September 26, 2013, as “National Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day.” The resolution highlights the story of 7-year old Atkinson, Nebraskan, Jack Hoffman, who ran 69 yards to score a touchdown in front of 60,000-plus fans at Memorial Stadium, touching the hearts of millions of Americans and raising awareness of pediatric brain cancer. 

Transportation

115th Congress

• Innovative Solutions to Fund and Strengthen U.S. Infrastructure: Senator Fischer, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, introduced a legislative proposal to fund and build new infrastructure projects across the country. The bill, known as the Build USA Infrastructure Act, would address future infrastructure funding shortfalls and provide states with greater flexibility to navigate regulatory burdens that have long delayed critical projects. This legislation is modeled after Senator Fischer’s legislative success in developing innovative, sustainable transportation funding solutions in the Nebraska Legislature, including the Build Nebraska Act and the Federal Funds Purchase Program.

114th Congress

• Chaired Western Nebraska Transportation Field Hearing in Scottsbluff: In her capacity as the Chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee, Senator Fischer convened a hearing titled: “Keeping Goods Moving in America’s Heartland” in May 2016. The hearing, which took place at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, focused on the transportation needs of our rural communities. Witnesses included Kyle Schneweis, Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads; Don Overman, Chairman of the Western Nebraska Regional Airport Authority Board; Deb Cottier, Executive Director of Northwest Nebraska Development Corporation; David Freeman, Senior Vice President of Transportation for BNSF Railway; Kevin Kelley, President of the Kelley Bean Company; and Brent Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of Nebraska Transport Company.

• Championed a Highway Bill for Nebraska. On December 3, 2015, Congress passed a five-year highway bill. Over the next five years, it will provide Nebraska with 1.5 billion dollars to update and maintain our roads, highways, and bridges for years to come. As chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, and an active member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Fischer was deeply involved with this legislation since her first year in the U.S. Senate. She also served on the conference committee charged with resolving the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. 

  Because of this critical legislation, transportation projects across the state will now be up and running at a faster pace. The influx of resources for Nebraska means existing roads can be made safer. Moreover, new projects are on the horizon to accommodate growing communities. 

  Through a new freight program established in the bill, critical transportation dollars will be funneled to rural Nebraska projects like the Heartland Expressway. Urban areas will benefit too. In Lincoln and Omaha, buses and other transit facilities will receive more dollars for important updates.

• Voted for Long-Term Highway Funding: Senator Fischer cosponsored legislation that would authorize important surface transportation projects over the next six years. This multi-year bill, known as the DRIVE Act, passed the Senate in July 2015. Senator Fischer fought to include several key provisions in this legislation, which would enhance project flexibility for states and streamline the environmental review process. These provisions were drafted in consultation with key transportation stakeholders in Nebraska, including officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads.

• Introduced transportation bill modeled on Nebraska successes: With many of our nation’s core infrastructure projects at a standstill due to excessive regulations and a lack of transportation funding, Senator Fischer proposed an innovative solution to get American moving again. She introduced the Build USA Act, a new bill that would create American Infrastructure Bank, offering states new financing and funding for transportation projects. This is approach has had proven results in Nebraska.

• Fought for Funding for Small Airports: Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of The Small Airport Regulation Relief Act. The legislation, which was introduced by Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), would ensure that small airports can continue to receive Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds.

• Chaired Surface Transportation Hearing Featuring Three Nebraska Companies: Senator Fischer convened the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation for the 114th Congress entitled “Improving the Performance of our Transportation Networks: Stakeholder Perspectives.” The hearing featured testimony from representatives of three Nebraska companies: Werner Enterprises, Union Pacific Railroad, and Cabela’s. 

• Worked to Improve America’s Maritime Transportation System: The Senate passed legislation introduced by Senator Fischer and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J) to reauthorize the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The bill recognizes the important role of America’s maritime transportation system and takes critical steps to improve the management of MARAD. It would also strengthen sexual assault prevention programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

• Enhanced the Safety of Our Nation’s Extensive Pipeline Transportation System: Senator Fischer championed major pipeline safety legislation, which has been signed into law. The bill, known as the PIPES Act, will create a safer liquid and gas pipeline transportation network across our country through strengthening congressional oversight and increasing collaboration between stakeholders and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The legislation provides greater resources for state and local pipeline safety officials, including better mapping and information tools to address incidents like the Omaha Old Market explosion which occurred in January 2016. 

• Restored funding for Nebraska's rural and community airports: Congress passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 2017. The bill, which was signed into law by President Obama, included provisions that restored important funding for airports in Scottsbluff, Kearney, and North Platte.

113th Congress

• Enhanced construction flexibility for states. Senator Fischer worked to include in the  2014 highway legislation, two key provisions to enhance project flexibility for states and streamline the environmental review process. These provisions were drafted in consultation with key transportation stakeholders in Nebraska, including officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads.
  1. The first provision allows states to provide their own certification regarding the appropriate level of environmental review of certain projects, rather than wasting time waiting for the federal government to provide the assessments.
  2. The second provision establishes procedures – based on a template developed by the Transportation Secretary – allowing states, in addition to the federal government, to determine which state or federal agencies  (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Historical Society, etc.) must be consulted prior to beginning an infrastructure project.

• Called on FAA Administrator to address pilot shortages in rural parts of Nebraska: On January 15, 2014 Senator Fischer questioned FAA Administrator Michael Huerta about new requirements for pilots that have resulted in fewer flights available in some communities in Nebraska. Fischer called on the Administrator to work with Congress to provide more regulatory flexibility, especially for rural pilots.

• Fought to keep air safety a priority: On April 24, 2013, Senator Fischer became an original cosponsor of the Dependable Air Service Act of 2013. This bill would give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the flexibility to transfer funds between accounts in order to address air traffic controller furloughs and avert mounting passenger delays and flight cancellations at America’s airports. It also gives the Department of Transportation (DOT), which administers the FAA, the authority to move funds if necessary from other areas of the DOT budget to the FAA to prevent delays. 

Veterans

115th Congress

• Participated in Largest Vietnam Veterans Honor Flight to Nation’s Capital: Senator Fischer joined more than 650 Vietnam veterans from Nebraska for their honor flight to Washington, D.C. Fischer flew with the veterans from Omaha Eppley Airfield to Reagan National Airport. She also delivered remarks at a ceremony the night before the flight celebrating the veterans’ service. Click here to view more photos from the honor flight.
   
• Helping Veterans Cope with Invisible Scars of War Through the Support of Service Dogs: Senators Deb Fischer and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help service members suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The bill, known as the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act, would improve the quality of life for veterans suffering from PTSD by providing them with access to service dogs. The PAWS Act directs the VA to implement a five-year pilot program to provide service dogs to veterans who were diagnosed with, and continue to suffer from, PTSD. Under the pilot program, the VA would connect veterans with eligible organizations that train service dogs and provide a grant to the organizations on behalf of the veteran for a service dog pairing. Veterans would also receive follow-up support from the service dog provider for the rest of the dog’s life.

114th Congress

• Championed the CHIP IN for Vets Act to Allow Communities to Help with Planning and Construction of VA Projects: Senator Fischer sponsored the Senate version of the CHIP IN for Vets Act, which was signed into law in December 2016. The bill allows communities to take the lead and manage the construction of VA projects, contribute the remaining finances, and ensure these projects are completed on time and on budget. It set up a pilot program to test this new model of construction with five initial projects. Omaha, Nebraska is the first community in the country to use this model.

• Urged Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary to Take Action on the Redevelopment of the Lincoln VA Campus: Senator Fischer sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald regarding the development of the Lincoln, Nebraska, VA campus. In the letter, she called on the secretary to work with stakeholders to resolve the problems that are preventing the redevelopment of the Lincoln VA campus. Following Senator Fischer’s request, the VA held a meeting with stakeholders to further discuss the project. 
   
• Launched Initiative to Honor Nebraska’s Fallen Veterans on the U.S. Senate Floor: According to the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 77 Nebraskans who lost their lives in combat-related incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Fischer devotes time on the Senate floor to remember the lives of these Nebraska heroes. Click the links below to watch each of Senator Fischer’s tributes: 
  • Sergeant Josh Ford of Pender, Nebraska
  • Sergeant Jeffery Hansen of Cairo, Nebraska
  • Lieutenant Jacob Fritz of Verdon, Nebraska
  • Army Captain Rob Yllescas of Osceola, Nebraska
  • Master Sergeant Linda Tarango-Griess of Sutton, Nebraska
  • Corporal Adrian Robles of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
  • Sergeant Joshua Robinson of Hastings, Nebraska
  • Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha, Nebraska

• Introduced Legislation to Ensure Veteran Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Employees Have Access to Sick Leave: Senator Fischer joined Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to introduce legislation that will update current law and apply it to disabled veteran employees at the FAA. This law already grants paid leave to veteran federal employees at other government agencies. Through this bipartisan legislation, disabled veteran employees at the FAA would be able to access sick leave while receiving treatment for injuries they sustained serving our country. The legislation was also included as an amendment in the Senate Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act. 

• Created a New Commercial Driver Pilot Program for Young Veterans. The young men and women of our military have acquired important skills and training through their service overseas. Under a new program Senator Fischer championed in the highway bill, returning service members age 18-21 who hold a commercial driver’s license can drive commercial trucks across state lines. Forty-nine states already permit drivers under the age of 21 to operate commercial vehicles within their borders. This is a common-sense approach to allow these commercial drivers to deliver goods, for example, from Omaha to Council Bluffs.  

• Urged Improvements to Veterans Choice Program: Senator Fischer joined a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which called for improvements to the Veterans Choice Program. The senators conveyed their concerns regarding reduced funding for the program, as well as the department’s implementation of the “40-mile rule,” which is inconveniencing veterans across Nebraska.

• Voted for Veterans Suicide Prevention Bill: Senator Fischer voted for The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. The bill, which was signed into law on February 12, 2015, sets up important procedures to protect our veterans and give them the proper care to prevent suicide.  

• Introduced the PAWS Act to Help Veterans with PTSD: Senator Fischer joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J) to introduce the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act. The bill directs the VA, through its Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, to implement a five-year pilot program to provide veterans with service dogs and veterinary health insurance. 

113th Congress

• Committed to finding jobs for veterans: Senator Fischer is an original cosponsor of the Hire More Heroes Act of 2014 (S. 2190). The bill fosters job opportunities for those who have dutifully served our country by removing one of the burdensome requirements of ObamaCare preventing small businesses from hiring. This legislation provides a reprieve for job creators hurting under ObamaCare while also helping to ease the transition of our men and women in uniform back to civilian life.

• Voted for VA reforms: Senator Fischer voted for the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (S.2450) to make needed changes to our veterans’ healthcare system. In response to shocking reports of VA employees failing to do their jobs while our nation’s heroes waited for care, Congress united to pass needed reforms. One critical change in the law allows veterans to receive care from private doctors if they live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility, or if agency doctors cannot see them within 30 days. Importantly, the bill grants the VA Secretary power to fire employees who fail to perform their duties. It also authorizes funding for leases to use medical facilities at 27 existing sites around the country, including an outpatient clinic in Lincoln.

• Worked to hold VA accountable, ban bonuses for poor performance: Senators Fischer and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced legislation to prohibit the payment of bonuses to employees at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through Fiscal Year 2015. The VHA, which manages medical centers across the country, was under investigation for placing veterans on “secret wait lists” to allegedly hide the true number of veterans waiting for care for more than two weeks. Reports suggest dozens of veterans across the nation died while waiting for VHA-provided care.

Strong Families

115th Congress

• Reintroduced Bipartisan Legislation to Make Life Easier for Mothers in Airports: Senator Fischer joined Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to reintroduce the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act. The bill would establish reasonable minimum standards for both medium and large-hub airports to develop private rooms for nursing mothers. 
   
• Reintroduced Equal Pay and Paid Leave Proposals: Senator Fischer reintroduced two bills to make life easier for American families: The Workplace Advancement Act and The Strong Families Act. The Workplace Advancement Act would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who seek and share wage information. It would empower individuals with the knowledge they need to negotiate their salaries more effectively. The bipartisan Strong Families Act, which Senator Fischer reintroduced with Senator Angus King (I-Maine), would encourage employers to voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Senators Fischer and King introduced versions of the Strong Families Act the past two Congresses.
   
• Introduced Bipartisan Water Infrastructure bill to Help Keep Families Healthy and Safe: Senator Fischer joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to introduce the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act. This legislation would provide local communities with increased flexibility when complying with Clean Water Act requirements for updates to water infrastructure projects. The bill would also provide communities more autonomy as they prioritize and plan for wastewater and storm water investments.

114th Congress

• Chaired Small Business Field Hearing with Nebraska Entrepreneurs in Lincoln: In August 2016, Senator Fischer convened a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee field hearing titled “Examining Access to Capital and Other Headwinds to Entrepreneurship” in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fischer heard testimony from individuals representing various parts of Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community about the roadblocks to innovation and ways to increase access to capital for small businesses. The hearing took place at Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC). Witnesses included Eric Dinger, co-founder and CEO of Powderhook; Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska Corporation; Julia Parker, Executive Director of Omaha Small Business Network; T.J. Casady, Vice President of Commercial Loans at Union Bank and Trust; and Jon Anderson, Manager of Advanced R&D at LI-COR.

• Reintroduced Bipartisan Bill, Which Offers Incentives to Employers Who Provide Paid Leave: Senator Fischer joined Senator Angus King (I-Maine) to introduce the Strong Families Act. The bill would enable working families to receive pay while they are meeting necessary family obligations. The Fischer-King plan would create a 25 percent tax credit to encourage employers of any size to voluntarily offer paid leave for their workers. It does not include any new taxes or mandates.
   
• Advocated for Conservative Solutions on Equal Pay and Paid Leave: Senator Fischer delivered an address at the American Enterprise Institute regarding legislation she is working on that would update our federal laws on equal pay and paid leave. Both proposals seek to make life easier and more flexible for working families across the country. Click here to read and view her full speech. 
   
• Voted for Bipartisan Legislation to Combat America’s Opioid and Heroin Abuse Epidemic: To stop the spread of this deadly crisis and save lives, Senator Fischer voted for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). The bill would provide grants to states and communities to bolster drug abuse education and develop prevention strategies at the local level. CARA would also provide law enforcement with better training and resources, such as the overdose reversal drug naloxone. The bill passed the Senate by a vote on 94 to 1 on March 10, 2016.
   
• Introduced an Amendment Requiring Airports to Provide a Private Space for Nursing Mothers: Senator Fischer joined Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to introduce an amendment that would require all medium and hub airports in the United States to provide private accommodations for nursing mothers. The bipartisan provision was unanimously accepted in a markup of the Senate Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act. 
   
• Cosponsored Bill to Address the Skills Gap Problem in America’s Labor Force: Senator Fischer is a cosponsor of legislation that would encourage apprenticeships and the training of workers with relevant skills. The bill, known as the Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs (LEAP) Act, would strengthen our workforce and provide businesses with more incentives to succeed and grow. The LEAP Act would offer businesses a tax credit of $1,000 in wages per taxable year for each new apprentice hired. It would also offer a $1,500 tax credit for apprentices under the age of 25. In either case, the credit can be claimed for a maximum of two years. 

• Championed legislation reinforcing the principle of equal pay for equal work:  Senator Fischer introduced The Workplace Advancement Act, which includes provisions to prevent retaliation against employees who inquire about, or discuss, their salaries. It also reinforcing current law banning gender discrimination under both the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. A similar proposal was adopted to the Fiscal Year 16 budget in the form of an amendment and a motion to instruct conferees.

• Joined bill to protect pregnant women from discrimination: Senator Fischer is an original cosponsor of the Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment Act. This bill makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions - strengthening a law enacted in 1978 by applying protections to all workers. 

• Supported legislation to address America’s opioid crisis: The Senate passed the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) to fight the opioid and heroin abuse epidemic devastating communities across the country. CARA will expand drug abuse education and prevention. It will also empower states and local communities to fight this crisis and save lives. 

113th Congress

• Offered a balanced paid leave proposal: The legislation, offered by Senators Fischer and Angus King (I-Maine), would incentivize employers to voluntarily provide employees with paid parental or medical leave. The challenge for many working families, particularly hourly workers living paycheck-to-paycheck, is that current law does not involve paid time off. The Strong Families Act (S. 2627 ) would enable working families to have continued access to pay while they are meeting necessary family obligations. The Fischer-King plan would create a tax credit to encourage employers of any size to voluntarily offer paid leave for workers; the legislation includes no new mandates.

• Increased access to capital to help families climb out of poverty: Senator Fischer introduced legislation to improve microfinance services aimed at helping entrepreneurs with limited resources to start their own businesses. The Access to Capital, Access to Opportunity Act (Access Act) (S.2487) would strengthen the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) microloan program, which offers affordable loans to aspiring small business owners for working capital, supplies, material, and inventory. Access to capital is a steep, sometimes insurmountable, challenge for startups and small businesses, which are often denied loans by larger investors not interested in expending the necessary time or resources.

• Addressed rising education costs. Senator Fischer introduced The Allocating for Children’s Education (ACE) Act (S.2568), which would increase the annual contribution limit for Coverdell education savings accounts from $2,000 to $5,000 per beneficiary, enabling parents to earn more money for their children’s education. Currently, families can set aside savings in a Coverdell account to pay for expenses like education-related technology, tuition, or tutoring. When funds are withdrawn from the Coverdell account and used for qualified educational expenses, they are entirely tax-free. As a result, families who regularly contribute to Coverdell accounts can save thousands of dollars over the long-term.

• Ensured equal pay for equal work: Senator Fischer offered a proposal to update the 51-year-old Equal Pay Act and help address the pay gap between men and women. Her solution includes a provision to prevent retaliation against employees who inquire about or discuss their salaries. It also reiterates current law banning sex discrimination and requiring employers to post a notice to employees as to their rights under both the 1963 Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The proposal consolidates existing duplicative job training programs and provides federal grants to states for the creation of industry-led partnerships aimed at getting workers underrepresented in particular industries the skills they need to compete.

• Promoted more family control over health care: Senator Fischer introduced The Healthy Families Act (S. 631), legislation that would enhance government accountability in decisions impacting many families’ health care. Under Obamacare, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is authorized to determine the types of preventive service coverage private insurers must offer without imposing cost-sharing – such as copayments, deductibles, or co-insurance – on patients. These determinations also strongly influence which preventive services Medicare and Medicaid choose to cover. The Healthy Families Act would check the power granted to this federal task force with increased public involvement and a more transparent process.
   
• Introduced Bill to Help Families Save for College: Senator Fischer introduced The Allocating for Children’s Education Act. The bill would increase the annual contribution limit for Coverdell education savings accounts from $2,000 to $5,000 per beneficiary, enabling parents to earn more money for their children’s education.