SINCE LAST WEEK… 
It was a good week for two of my bills that will help Nebraska’s Military Families. LB6 allows for dependents of active duty military members who are accepted into a Nebraska college but then assigned to another state, to continue to receive in-state tuition and has made it through the first round of voting. This bill is one of ten priorities shared by the Department of Defense Military Community & Family Policy Office. Meeting these particular priorities will go a long way to helping Nebraska gain a “Military Friendly” designation. Our office will continue to work on this cause as Offutt Air Force Base is Nebraska’s #1 employer, not to mention that we want all Military Families to feel welcome in our great state.. We do not expect the bill to have any issues as we get closer to a final reading.LB15, my hearing aid bill has moved onto the next phase, as it was advanced through select file this week. We also started the debate on LB138 on Thursday and will pick it up again on Monday. While the bill will create a couple of new license plates, including one that will honor Vietnam veterans, and a Support Our Troops plate, the real benefit is the fund that will be started from the proceeds of these plates that will be used to recruit veterans to stay in Nebraska and come to Nebraska when their tours are over. We have to stop the brain drain going on right now and this bill will help do that.

MEET OUR INTERNS!

Moriah Locklear
Our office has had the good fortune of having two very talented interns working with us this session. Moriah Locklear is a Ph.D. candidate at UNL and will be graduating in May of 2020, having already gotten her undergraduate degree from Ohio State. Moriah would like to pursue a career working in policy at the federal level after graduating from Nebraska. Since coming to my office, she’s been an invaluable asset when it comes to researching topics we brought this year and will be bringing next session.

    Ryan O’Grady
Another recent addition to our office is intern, Ryan O’Grady. Ryan is a lifelong resident of Bellevue and a 2015 graduate of Bellevue East High School. He attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln from 2015-2018, where he studied Secondary Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences. During the summers from 2014 to 2016, Ryan worked with ISEC Summer School students for the Bellevue Public School System. Family and pets aside, Ryan is most passionate about education and politics. We are grateful to have both Moriah and Ryan as part of Team Blood!

Lady’s Day Out at Silver Ridge Assisted Living 
Silver Ridge Assisted Living in Gretna was the setting for friends from Bellevue, Gretna, Millard, Omaha, and Papillion, to gather and give the women of Silver Ridge the gift of a manicure and conversation. There were smiles all around as these volunteers took time out of their busy Sundays to share with new friends. This is an ongoing project I began last year, and if you would like to join us in volunteering, please call our office at 402-471-2627. Volunteers only need bring their smiles and a willing heart to serve others.April is National Save Digging Month! 
NEBRASKA 811 Safe Digging Poster Contest
On Monday April 8th I was excited to help welcome Safe Digging Poster Contest winners to the Capitol. One of the 12 winners from schools across Nebraska was Myla Aiello-Valenzuela, a fourth-grade student from Peter Sarpy Elementary in Bellevue. Myla and her father didn’t come to the Capitol alone, they brought along Myla’s teacher, Ms. Jennifer Huff, and her entire class. Following a short ceremony, the happy fourth graders received a world-class tour of the state capitol.  The winning posters from all 12 schools were on display in the main floor rotunda. Each school with a winning poster will receive an educational presentation by staff of Nebraska 811, a plaque, a bench for the school yard, and a new tree planted on school grounds. The day scheduled for the Peter Sarpy Elementary presentation and planting, is April 24th.

Congratulations to Myla, Ms. Huff, and the students of Peter Sarpy Elementary!

The Winning Poster by Myla Aiello-Valenzuela

“Know what’s below, Call before you dig”
To find more information about service provided by Nebraska 811 please call 800-331-5666 or 811.

Ms. Jennifer Huff’s fourth grade Peter Sarpy Elementary class. (Front row center is artist Myla Aiello-Valenzuela) 

LINEWORKER APPRECIATION DAY! 

Did you know that April 8th was also Lineworker Appreciation Day at the State Capitol? A Lineworker is a tradesperson who constructs and maintains electric power transmission lines, telecommunications lines and distribution lines. Their work is generally done outside and up high. On-the-job training to become a lineworker is available through IBEW-NECA Electrical Training Alliance or from employers. Besides working in a variety of weather conditions, electrical line workers have a physically demanding job that requires lifting, climbing poles and the trenching of underground cables. Lineworkers from across the state of Nebraska traveled to the Capitol to be honored by Governor Ricketts and with a display in the main floor rotunda by the welcome kiosk.

We have proudly checked #10 of the 10 Key Personnel and Readiness Issues Supporting Service Members and Families List as we moved LB6 (In-State Tuition Continuity) through General File on Wednesday. I am grateful to my peers in the Legislature for supporting this cause and to the the Military Community and  Family Policy Office at the Department of Defense (DOD) for their guidance. Onward and Upward!!! #TeamBlood

One phone call can connect Nebraska families to the help they need when dealing with a child’s behavioral health problem. 1-888-866-8660 is staffed with trained counselors who are able to handle any problem, any time. Learn more here.
NOTE: Hearing & Speech-impaired callers may utilize telecommunications relay services by calling 7-1-1 or through your own personal relay service. #TeamBlood #HelpisHereNebraska Medicine and the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Presents The Bellevue Offutt Runway Run 2019
Nebraska Medicine, The Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce and Offutt Air Force Base are proud to present the annual Runway Run which includes a 5K (3.1 mile) run including the runway.

Please join in celebrating our Air Force while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019
Check-in Time: Begins 6:00 am
5 K Race Begins: 7:00 am – Route Sweep 9:00 am
Starting Point: Run begins & ends at the Bellevue Public Schools Lied Activity Center – 2600 Arboretum Dr. (Intersection of Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370)
Registration Fees:

On/before April 18 – $25.00 (free shirt)

After April 18 – $30.00 (no shirt)
On-site Registrations: $40 – 5:45 am to 6:30 am (no shirt)
Contact: Lisa Wilson 402-452-3901
Email: lisa@bellevuenebraska.com

RESERVE YOUR SEAT SOON FOR YOUTH UNICAMERAL!  
The Unicameral Youth Legislature convenes June 9-12, 2019, and is open to all high school students. Registration includes lodging, meals (including lunch at the Governor’s Residence) and transportation from UNL’s East Campus to the State Capitol. The deadline to enter is May 15. The Greg Adams Civic Scholarship covers the full cost of admission. Applicants must submit a short essay. Other scholarships are also available – for more information, visit here.

APPLY FOR A BOARD OR COMMISSION
It’s that time of year again when there are all kinds of boards and commissions in the state that are looking for dedicated citizens to serve. These positions are appointed by the governor and range in topics from Juvenile Justice to Geology. 

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, please visit to the Governor’s website here. You will be able to find a listing of every board that has an opening, as well as a brief synopsis of what is involved. You can also find an application here. Our state is a better place to live and raise our families when our citizens step up and get involved.

MEET OUR TEAM
Dee Austin-Administrative Aide

Senator Carol Blood, District 3
Oliver VanDervoort-Legislative Aide

We are here to serve the residents of District 3 and we are happy to respond to any questions or concerns you may have.

Did you know that there is a long list of items available for free to the public relating to the Nebraska Legislature? Here is a list of only a few that you might find interesting. If you are receiving this email digitally, you should be able to link to the information from your newsletter.

1. Unicameral Update
2. About the Legislature
3. Unicam Kids
4. Inside Our Nation’s Only Unicameral
5. Poster of Nebraska Senators
6. Membership & Committees Card
7. Lines of GovernmentFor hard copies of these documents, please call my office at 402-471-2627 and we will be happy to place one in the mail to your home address.