Weekly Column - A Roadmap for August

Statement

This week in the Senate marks the conclusion of the last session in Washington before Congress goes into the state work period known as the August recess.

While most people associate "recess" with the playtime children look forward to all day in school, Congress' month away from Washington is not meant to be a vacation for Members. Instead, it is designed for elected representatives to return to the states and districts they represent and spend time listening to what is on the minds of their constituents. Not only is it important to stay connected with those we represent, but it's also important for us to stay accountable.

I appreciate all the communication I receive from Nebraskans in Washington and my state offices through phone calls, letters, emails and social media; this input is vital to our legislative process.

What I hear from the majority of Nebraskans who contact my office is that the implementation of ObamaCare has caused a mountain of uncertainty in their health care; their farms and businesses continue to be over-regulated by Washington's increasingly burdensome stream of federal rules and mandates; middle class families continue to look for ways to make ends meet despite rising gas prices and increased taxes.

This August recess offers an important opportunity for me to hear your concerns in person and engage in an open and substantive discussion about these important topics affecting your daily lives. I will also be meeting with a number of Nebraskans as I hold roundtables with various groups and tour businesses and health care facilities across the state.

My office recently released a schedule of public events I will be attending or holding in order to visit with Nebraskans in several different towns and communities. I hope many of you will be able to attend and take part in the "Constituent Listening Sessions" or "Coffee Hours" I am hosting throughout Nebraska.

I will start off the month in the Omaha area for a luncheon sponsored by the Millard Business Association. I will also hold the first "Constituent Listening Session" of the month nearby in Elkhorn.

On August 8, I look forward to visiting Ashland to attend the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Fly-back. The fly-back is an annual event that allows Nebraska's Congressional delegation in Washington to sit down with our state's many business people. As Nebraskans know, we must focus on growing our nation's businesses if we hope to finally turn the economy around and create good-paying jobs for the millions of Americans who are unemployed, underemployed, or have given up looking for work.

I'll then stop in Broken Bow for a local Chamber of Commerce event before heading west to hold listening sessions or coffee's in the Thedford, Chadron, Alliance, and Gering communities. The third week of August, I'll visit McCook, Holdrege, Lexington, Ainsworth, and Bassett for local listening sessions as well.

On August 25, I will spend most of the day taking part in a highlight of the month and a great tradition in Nebraska, the State Fair in Grand Island.

A full schedule and details for public events throughout the month can be found on my website http://fischer.senate.gov.

As I return home to the Good Life to spend this time working in Nebraska, I thank you for taking part in our democratic process, and I look forward to visiting with many of you throughout the month ahead.

Deb Fischer
United States Senator

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