It was another busy and productive week, despite the fact that it was the first week since hearings started that we didn’t have a bill go through committee. We’ll change that this week, with my Meat Labeling bill, LB 594 in front of the Agriculture Committee Tuesday afternoon.

This is a bill that aims to bring truth in food advertising and set up a complaint-driven system for people who see something like a package of “BBQ shreds” that don’t have any meat in them who feel as though the labeling is misleading or confusing.

Under LB594, someone who feels as though a company is intentionally misleading people into thinking vegetarian offerings are in fact meat could contact authorities who would investigate the issue using the Deceptive Trade Practices Act as well as the Pure Food Act and decide whether prosecution or civil action can be taken.

I feel in the long run, this will lead to more honest advertising and marketing by companies that are jumping into the meat-replacement market. This will also protect ag producers in our state who already follow specific guidelines when it comes to labeling and marketing. Many of our livestock producers may be losing out because of these misleading products being sold to those who are looking to buy beef, chicken or pork products. While it has gone through some changes since it was first introduced, including an amendment I am presenting at the hearing, we believe it will do what we’ve always wanted it to do in regards to protecting the industries that are the lifeblood of this state.

A bill that is a repeat from last year, LB9 will go in front of the Government committee this Thursday, February 21. This will prohibit cities, counties, and villages from taxing or regulating distributed ledger technology . This is a technology that is usually associated with Bitcoin but is used in a variety of transactions including banking and real estate. In many ways, these kinds of transactions and the contract that can be created using digital ledger technology are more secure than offline contracts and certainly more efficient.

My bill avoids potential piecemeal ordinances on the technology. It also sends a clear message that Nebraska is a place where companies that use DLT can feel comfortable doing business without unnecessary hurdles.

LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY
In honor of the 210th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, on February 12, 1809, the 106th Legislature began today’s session with a Presentation of Colors ceremony after the Morning Prayer. The colors were posted by the Nebraska Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was formed as the first-ever fraternal organization for veterans. In 1881 the Grand Army of the Republic created the Sons of Union Veterans to carry on the memory and traditions of the G.A.R. after the last G.A.R. members were gone. Today, the Sons of Union Veterans are recognized by Congress as a Veteran’s organization, charged with keeping alive the memory of those who served our country during the Civil War, 1861 to 1865.

In addition to their Presentation of Colors, the Sons of Union Veterans had an honor guard posted at the Lincoln Statue at the west entrance. As you can see, freezing cold temperatures and icy walkways wouldn’t stop these men from doing their duty on this important day.

PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION
I was visited by the Papillion La Vista High Ability Learners program last week as well. We discussed how the Legislature works, how legislation is crafted, things they can do now to prepare themselves to be great leaders in the future and chatted on a long list of legislation.

I was impressed by the questions they asked and how they think about the issues the state and the country are facing.

CELEBRATING ANOTHER IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY
While Abraham Lincoln might have turned over 200 last week, we are also celebrating the 150th birthday of the University of Nebraska. As part of our ongoing efforts to recognize how important the University is to the state,  I chatted with representatives of the Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Program about the many programs they offer for both rural and urban residents.

YOU ARE OUR SECOND HOUSE
Our office LOVES to see our District 3 residents come and testify on the bills they feel passionate about. We also understand that with work, weather and other responsibilities that testifying in person may not work out for everyone. We offer the following information to guide you, if you are new to the process. We cannot stress how important it is for you to use your voice, because you ARE Nebraska’s second house.

If you would like to send your information via email, be sure to send it to the senator who chairs the committee, include your name and address and ask within the body of the email that it be included in the official record. Feel free to copy our office on any emails.

If you are unable to attend, you may send a letter or email expressing support, opposition or neutral testimony to a committee during a bill’s public hearing. If you wish to send a written letter, address correspondence to the office of the senator who chairs the committee and allow enough time for the letter to arrive the day prior to the hearing. Be sure to include your name and address in the letter.

Remember to turn off your cell phones when you enter the hearing room to avoid any disruptions.

Be prepared to answer questions on your testimony. Committee members often request additional information or have questions on the testimony you have offered. Testifiers are not allowed to ask questions of committee members.

Most committees limit testimony to three to five minutes, and we encourage you to not repeat testimony that has already been offered by previous testifiers. If you are providing a written testimony, try to summarize your main points instead of reading your testimony verbatim. The Senators would like to hear what you have to say. However, in most cases, there are numerous people who will also testify.

Before testifying at a committee hearing, you must fill out the green sheet provided in the hearing room. Once you are seated at the testifier’s table, please identify yourself, spell your first and last name and say what organization you represent, if any. Always speak directly into the microphone to help out the committee transcribers who will type the transcripts of the hearing for public record.

If you are providing printed copies of your testimony to share with the committee, please bring enough copies for each committee member, plus three more for support staff. We encourage you to call ahead to see if the committee prefers electronic submissions.

If you follow my page “Senator Carol Blood” on Facebook, I do try to provide links to the hearings so you can watch them live on your computer or smart phone. If you have questions or concerns, please be sure to reach out to any of our District 3 Team Members.

MEET OUR TEAM
Dee Austin-Administrative Aide