Ben Nelson

November 5, 2009 -- Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson today voted to provide additional benefits to thousands of unemployed Nebraskans, and to extend the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit that already has helped more than 10,000 Nebraskans buy homes and created hundreds of jobs in new home construction in Nebraska.

“Although Nebraska’s unemployment rate is lower than many states, more than 13,000 Nebraskans are receiving emergency unemployment benefits now, and many could be helped by the temporary extension we approved today,” said Nelson. “These benefits are a critical lifeline for those pushed out of work by the recession.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that a Lincoln company will receive $5 million to install a ground source geothermal heat pump demonstration project in Lancaster county. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Today’s announcement by the Department of Energy represents a dramatic expansion of US geothermal capacity,” said Nelson. “The Lincoln demonstration project will help jump-start this new industry while increasing our use of renewable sources of energy.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that Nebraska will receive more than $2.2 million to modernize the electric grid in the state. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“I fought hard to include this energy funding in the stimulus bill because it will help modernize Nebraska’s distribution system and will bring jobs to the state,” said Nelson. “This investment represents the future of energy distribution in the U.S., and this funding ensures Nebraska will be a part of that future.”    » read more »

October 6, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that Nebraska will receive $15 million for the State Energy Program to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and create jobs in the state. Nebraska has now received the full $30 million in funding for the program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“These stimulus funds will help create and sustain jobs in this difficult economic climate,” said Senator Nelson. “By working to make Nebraska more energy efficient, we move closer to the goal of energy independence. Today’s funding announcement is good news for our environment and for our state’s economy.”    » read more »

Nelson Statement On Meeting With Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Nominee To The U.S. Supreme Court

June 9, 2009 – Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson released the following statement after meeting today with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to replace Associate Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court:

“I was pleased to meet with Judge Sotomayor today and I am impressed with what I have learned so far about her life, career and views. We had a very good discussion about the role of the different branches of government, her history on the bench and previous cases, and her judicial philosophy.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 – Working to support rural Nebraska airports, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson today introduced the Small Airport Relief Act of 2009 which would ensure current federal funding levels for rural airports remain stable during the economic downturn. Without legislation, multiple Nebraska airports stand to lose a significant amount of funding if they fall below the threshold required to qualify for $1 million in federal assistance through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) in 2009.

The Senator wrote the Federal Aviation Administration about the same funding issue last week.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 – In support of military families nationwide, the Senate Tuesday night passed a resolution sponsored by Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson and Senators Carl Levin of Michigan, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina designating the year 2009 as the Year of the Military Family. In addition, Senator Nelson yesterday led a hearing of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee on federal support efforts for military families.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 – Today, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson welcomed plans announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to send more than $2.5 million to Nebraska as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds will go to water projects in the Gering Valley and Knox County.

“These funds will help safeguard flood-prone areas of Nebraska while creating jobs,” said Senator Nelson. “In addition, funds for restoring land to its natural state will help our environment and provide economic stimulus to rural Nebraska communities.”    » read more »

May 28, 2009 – Today, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson welcomed plans announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to send nearly $1.2 million to the town of Wynot as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Funding for Wynot is a combination of loans and grants to be used for improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure.

“These funds will help Wynot continue to provide safe drinking water for its residents,” said Senator Nelson. “Improving rural infrastructure provides economic stimulus to rural communities and at the same time creates a foundation for future prosperity and growth.”    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson announced today that the National Institutes of Health will be sending more than $1.5 million in funding to Nebraska as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds will be used for biomedical research and training.

“These funds will help some of Nebraska’s leading research institutions to stay on the forefront of biomedical research,” said Senator Ben Nelson. “In addition, these grants will provide research opportunities for students who would otherwise not have been able to secure funding.”    » read more »

May 26, 2009 – Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement today concerning President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the United States Supreme Court.

“President Obama is to be commended for selecting a nominee with a significant breadth and depth of legal experience to replace retiring Justice David Souter. I look forward to learning more about Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s background, record and qualifications -- and to meeting with her to discuss her judicial philosophy -- as this important United States Supreme Court nomination moves forward.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 – Today, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson joined a majority of Senators voting to keep additional funding in the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill for the International Monetary Fund, which supports global financial stability, trade and growth. An amendment to strip the funding was defeated 64-30.

“We Nebraskans know well that trade and exports provide good jobs and a healthy state economy, and that we live in a global economy,” Senator Nelson said. “With a global recession underway, I can’t imagine why we would back away from the IMF, which exists to promote economic stability around the world.”    » read more »

May 19, 2009 – Last week, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement in response to the U.S. Air Force selecting Lackland Air Force Base in Texas as the new headquarters for the 24th Air Force cyber unit, over Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha and four other finalists.

“We knew the decision was made that it wasn’t coming to Offutt and I assumed they would make sure this time that the criteria matched the decision. After the Global Strike Command fiasco, the processes used for these decisions have little credibility.    » read more »