(Lincoln, NE) October 23, 2012 – District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch will host a public meeting regarding current and future roads projects in Cuming County. Officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) will be present to explain maintenance and construction plans in the region and address questions from the public. This is Senator Brasch’s third District 16 meeting with NDOR during the legislative interim to discuss important highway concerns among residents.

“Quality roads impact all citizens, and I believe it is important for the public to be able to ask questions and be informed of Cuming County and District 16 maintenance and construction plans during all stages of work,” said Senator Brasch.

Senator Brasch looks forward to the discussion and encourages all interested citizens to attend the meeting to be held:

Monday, November 5, 2012

5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Nielsen Community Center

200 Anna Stalp Avenue, West Point, NE

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(Lincoln, NE) October 10, 2012 – District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch will host a public meeting regarding the recently announced widening of Nebraska Highway 133 between Blair and Omaha.  Officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads will be present to explain construction plans and address questions from the public.  Construction from a two-lane to four-lane highway was announced by Governor Heineman on September 12, 2012, and is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2013.

“Because this highway project is of greatest importance to citizens of District 16, Blair, and Washington County, I believe it is also important for the public to be able to ask questions and be informed of the construction plans from beginning to completion,” said Senator Brasch.

Senator Brasch looks forward to the discussion and encourages all interested citizens to attend the meeting to be held:

Monday, October 29, 2012

5:30- 7:00 p.m.

Blair City Hall – City Council Chambers

218 South 16^th Street, Blair

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 (Lincoln, NE) October 3, 2012 – State Senator Lydia Brasch is encouraging District 16 juniors and seniors to submit applications for Nebraska Attorney General’s Youth Advisory Council (AGYAC).  Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning selects students to participate in the council and “discuss opinions and ideas on events and matters within the state and their local communities.”

Senator Brasch believes these leadership opportunities and government involvement are important for youth and promote greater awareness of current events and the role of government.  She states, “Opportunities such as this are valuable for shaping our future community leaders and involving students in their government in a meaningful way to serve and be informed of important issues.”

Additional information and applications are available on the Attorney General’s website at http://www.ago.ne.gov/about/agyac. The application deadline is October 26, 2012.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 9, 2012

The Nebraska Clerk of the Legislature is accepting applications for legislative pages for the 2013 legislative session.  The deadline for submitting an application and a letter of recommendation is Friday, September 28^th at 5:00 pm.  Senator Lydia Brasch encourages college students from Legislative District 16 to apply for the position and experience the unique opportunity to work in the Nebraska Legislature and represent his/her hometown and District 16.  Senator Brasch appreciates the opportunity to meet applicants and provide a letter of recommendation for the position.

Please contact Senator Brasch with questions and for a page application for the 2013 legislative session; she can be reached at (402) 471-2728 or lbrasch@leg.ne.gov.  “District 16 and the Nebraska Legislature have been well served and represented by previous legislative pages, and I look forward to meeting and recommending legislative pages for this upcoming session,” said Senator Brasch.

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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 21, 2012 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ami Johnson

Nebraska Legislature

Unicameral Information Office

(402) 471-2420

ajohnson@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Lydia Brasch invites students to participate in youth legislature

High school students are invited to take on the role of state senators at the Unicameral Youth Legislature June 10-13.  At the State Capitol, student senators will sponsor bills,
conduct committee hearings, debate legislation and discover the unique process of the nation’s only unicameral.

The Unicameral Youth Legislature gives behind-the-scenes access to students who have an interest in public office, government, politics, law, public policy, debate or public speaking. Students will learn about the inner workings of the Legislature directly from senators and staff.

Senator Brasch encourages District 16 students to apply, stating, “The Unicameral Youth Legislature is an opportunity to engage and educate our future leaders in their state government and policy process.”

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Extension 4-H Youth Development Office coordinates housing and recreational activities for the youth legislature as part of the Big Red Summer Camps program. To learn more about the program, go to http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/education/unicamyouth.phpeducation/unicamyouth.php or call (402)471-2420.  The deadline for registration is May 15.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lincoln, Nebraska - December 1, 2011 – Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16, signed on to a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor expressing great disappointment with the department’s proposed changes to the Child Labor Regulations that will prohibit the employment of young workers in agriculture.  The letter is signed by other state senators and many Nebraska ag groups.  Posted below, the letter urges the proposed regulations to be withdrawn by the department to allow an opportunity for discussion with agriculture producers who are directly involved and affected by any proposed changes.

Emphasizing the importance of engaging our youth in agriculture, Senator Brasch said, “Safety of our youth assisting in farm and ranch operations is critical; however, the Department of Labor must enact reasonable regulations.  Our youth need opportunities to work in agriculture and continue the legacy of this invaluable profession.”

Secretary Hilda L. Solis
United States Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division

200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20210

RE: RIN 1235-AA06

Dear Secretary Solis,

Early and extensive training of younger generations is vital to the future of the agriculture industry.  On behalf of agriculture producers in the state of Nebraska we write today to inform you of our disappointment in the most recent proposed Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation; Child Labor Violations—Civil Money Penalties as published at 76 F.R. 54836-54885.

The proposed regulations demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of agriculture and the people whose livelihood stems from the industry.  Rather than working together to achieve pragmatic safety solutions, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a set of regulations that will effectively prohibit all young workers from being employed in agriculture.  We would encourage you to withdraw the proposed regulations and bring together a group of interested stakeholders, including agricultural producers, to discuss such an important issue—safety. 

Involving agricultural producers in this dialogue is imperative to shed light on how illogical the proposed regulations are and to coordinate a safety effort that emphasizes the improvements that have already taken place within the agriculture industry.  A few instances showing the necessity of involving agricultural producers are:

·   Farm and ranch operations often organize as business entities to take advantage of tax and liability benefits.  These entities are created by family members or neighbors. The safety precautions justifying a parental exemption still exist when a child is employed by such an entity.  The parental exemption is completely eroded if it does not allow children to still be employed by these types of operations under the exemption.

·  Dramatic improvements in the area of rollover guards and operator presence technology make power driven equipment much safer than in decades past and have been adopted on most new equipment coming off production lines.  Completely banning children from operating all power driven equipment is unreasonable when these types of protections exist.

·  The extensive education and vast adoption of low stress handling techniques for livestock, like those advocated through the Beef Quality Assurance program, Pork Quality Assurance program (PQA+), United Egg Producers Certified Animal Welfare Program or Animal Care – Best Management Practices for Production & Slaughter program have increased the safe handling of livestock.  Prohibiting children from herding livestock, interacting with them in pens and administering care is unfounded when these types of techniques are in place.

These are just a few examples indicating the safety improvements in agriculture that have been entirely disregarded in the proposed regulations and point out why it is essential that they be withdrawn and further discussion opportunities be established where agricultural producers are involved.

Sincerely,

Farm Credit Services of America

Nebraska Agricultural Educators Association

Nebraska Cattlemen, Inc.

Nebraska Corn Growers Association

Nebraska Farm Bureau

Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers

Nebraska Poultry Industries

Nebraska Pork Producers

Nebraska State Dairy Association

Nebraska State Grange

Nebraska Soybean Association

Lydia Brasch, Nebraska State Senator, District 16

Tom Carlson, Nebraska State Senator, District 38

Deb Fischer, Nebraska State Senator, District 43

Norm Wallman, Nebraska State Senator, District 30

Doug Bergman
Arapahoe, Nebraska

John M. Childears, ARA
President, Broker
Agri Affiliates, Inc.
North Platte, Nebraska

Glen Amateis, Clay Leithead & Naomi Loomis
Double A Feed, Inc.
Bridgeport, Nebraska

Jim Fehringer
Fehringer & Mielak, LLP
Columbus, Nebraska

Larry Wilcox
Sr. Vice President
Minden Exchange Bank & Trust Co.
Minden, Nebraska

Ryan Reiber
Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association
Alliance, Nebraska

Janice Harrop & Jeremey Shiers
Security State Bank
Ansley, Nebraska

Russ Ropte
Shonsey & Associates
Grand Island, Nebraska

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