District 17 made history this week!

District 17’s Legislator before me, Senator Dave Bloomfield, sought to uphold the honor of our country by initiating a resolution, for the regular recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance following the opening prayer in the Nebraska Unicameral each day, and ten years later,  as his successor, I have carried on the effort. 

 This year I submitted a permanent rule change to the Rules Committee that the Legislature recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day following the opening prayer. Out of 21 new rules that were proposed to the Rules Committee, it was one of only three that were advanced to the floor for debate. I am happy to announce that it passed with flying colors! 

I want to say a special thank you to Beverly Neel, my Administrative Assistant who travels from Wayne each week to serve District 17 at the Capitol. Beverly  has been coordinating the Pledge for our Legislature for years. 

Thousands Stand for Life

After spending the week in Lincoln, most Friday afternoons you would find me in my car excited to be heading home, to District 17, to spend the weekend with my family. Last weekend was a little different, however, because I had the privilege of speaking at Nebraska Right to Life’s – Walk for Life. 

What an encouraging experience it was to join thousands of other Nebraskans, who, on a brisk January morning, gathered to honor life. A number of Nebraska’s representatives boldy shared their value for every human life. 

Governor Ricketts encouraged us that, though many things are transitioning in our country, to hold tightly to our faith, values and to keep standing for what we believe. 

Representative Don Bacon shared that every human life has been divinely designed. Senator Suzanne Geist reflected on her bill last session, LB814, that banned dismemberment abortion. 

I had the opportunity at the event to announce that I would be introducing LB597 that would issue a tax credit to the mother of a stillborn baby to help cover medical bills and the burial costs. In a season of much political change, it was powerful to stand with my colleagues to declare that some things will never change, every human life is valuable to Nebraska!

My Newly Proposed Legislation

LB523- Bonding Authority– is a bill that will establish a parameter that a bond levy cannot be put in place without going to a vote of the people.

LB595- Ethanol Sales and Uses Tax Exempt– The purpose of this bill is to provide a sales and use tax exemption for certain products used in the process of manufacturing ethanol, to harmonize provisions with other states and industries. As it is, ethanol producers are paying a tax that is not consistent with other industries and state regulations.

LB596- Higher Blend Ethanol Tax Credit– the bill will create an incentive for ethanol retail dealers to sell higher blends of ethanol by receiving a refundable tax credit for the sale of the higher blend option.

LB597- Tax Relief for Stillbirth Parents- This bill is designed to provide parents who have suffered a stillbirth of 20 weeks or more, a refundable tax credit of $2000. Parents of stillborn babies often incur higher medical expenses than a healthy delivery, as well as burial expenses. This credit will help alleviate the financial burden of their loss. 

COVID-19 

Nebraska vaccine campaign moving faster in some rural areas. 

According to the Nebraska Associated Press, Nebraska’s campaign to vaccinate people for the coronavirus is further along in some rural parts of the state. The Health District based in Dakota City has started to vaccinate older residents in the area they serve.

 Overall, the state has administered 109,526 of the 192,078 doses of the vaccines it has received so far. Officials said Tuesday that more than 75,000 of the state’s roughly 90,000 health care workers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and shots have been administered at 428 long-term care facilities. LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)

The number of positive tests reported for the periods January 15, 2021, and January 21, 2021 in District 17 are as follow:

Dakota County +72 (3750)

Thurston County: +26 (1003)

Wayne County: +10 (981) 

As always, it is of great importance that I hear from my constituents to effectively do my job as your voice in the Legislature. I encourage you to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me by phone at 402-471-2716 or by email at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.