Opinions

I love birthdays. In fact, I love them so much that I really see no reason why the celebration should only be contained to one day each year.

From our founding pioneers to today, Nebraskans have always been known for our grit, determination, and resilience. Unfortunately, this year those characteristics have been tested like never before as communities across our state faced the worst wildfires in Nebraska’s history.

I have a small list of items that I hope that I am lucky enough in life to get to experience; however, for many of those items on the list, luck is the only way that I will be able to check them off. A prime example is jury duty.

There is nothing quite like summer in Nebraska. Long days in the hayfields give way to evenings at the ballpark with family and friends. Weekends offer opportunities to float our winding rivers, spend hours outside fishing, or simply gather with neighbors to celebrate the season.

“Play’s at first!” Whether you are on the first baseline watching a little league baseball game in a Nebraska burg or sitting in Kauffman Stadium, there is not likely a more familiar an‑nouncement amid the celebra‑tion of America’s pastime. It’s simple, it’s direct, and, in specific situations, it is a gentle hint.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our great nation, I often find myself re‑flecting on the miracle of the American expe‑rience. As a sixth‑gen‑eration Nebraskan, I am proud to call it home. It is where I grew up, where I chose to raise my family, and for whom I have the privilege of serving in Congress.

The perfect picture. That is always the goal.

Every day, I go to work in Congress with a simple goal: to help make life a little better for Nebraska’s families by working to solve problems, strengthen our communities, and create opportunities for the next generation.

Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, Cobblestone were all represented. Piled amid the discarded receipts for stamps, groceries, and nights on the town, plus loose change and an assortment of pens whose ink had long ago run dry, was the pile of hotel key cards.

Six years ago, Washington managed to do something many people thought was impossible. Amidst President Trump’s first term and Democrat leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats came together to enact the United States-Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA).