Nebraska

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 »

Kansas City, Kan., October 30, 2009 - Proposals for Environmental Education grants to develop new programs or to improve the quality of existing programs will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2009 from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska communities by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

EPA regional offices may award grants up to $50,000. Grants over $50,000 and up to $200,000 are awarded by EPA headquarters in Washington.    » 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 7, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) - Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today sent a memo to all state agencies, state boards, state commissions, and state senators expressing his concern about the 11.2 percent downturn in September tax receipts and the preparation for a possible special session to revise the state budget.

The text of the Governor’s memo follows.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Nebraska’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 22, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced more than $191 million is now available for Nebraska under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Nebraska will be eligible to apply for another $94 million this fall.

Today’s funding is being made available per Nebraska’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

June 20, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Today Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman offered thanks to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for assistance given to Nebraska dry bean producers. The Governor applauded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for completing a purchase this week of great northern beans.

Gov. Heineman contacted Vilsack in March requesting assistance for Nebraska’s dry bean industry. The state’s dry bean processors were having difficulty finding domestic or foreign markets for the contracted supply of 2008 great northern beans due to the global economic downturn and other factors. The Governor requested USDA consider using funding known as Section 32 funds to purchase the beans and help align supply and demand in the marketplace.    » 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 8, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) Nebraska officials today submitted the certification paperwork needed to receive fiscal stabilization funding under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Education Commissioner Roger Breed today signed an application for Nebraska’s share of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund which has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- (Kearney, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today announced that the state has submitted an application for nearly $5.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for transit projects in rural areas of the state. The request will be reviewed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The ARRA package allocated more than $9.8 million for public transit projects in Nebraska’s rural areas, as part of $23 million in funding for projects that help local transit authorities acquire, construct and improve mass transportation options. The remaining $13 million in ARRA funding for mass transit projects will be distributed among Lincoln, Omaha and South Sioux City.    » 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 29, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today announced the distribution of more than $22 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for upgrades to state highways.

The six projects make up the third group of state projects to be awarded ARRA funding in Nebraska.

This phase of improvements includes:    » 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 28, 2009 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today signed a bill that makes lethal injection the method of execution in the state. The bill, LB 36, was sponsored by Speaker Mike Flood of Norfolk.

“Nebraska needed a legal means of execution,” Gov. Heineman said. “There is broad support for the death penalty in our state and this issue needed to be resolved during this legislative session. I want to thank Speaker Flood for his work on this bill.”    » 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 »