The Nebraska Breakfast is a 75-year old tradition, the longest-running state delegation breakfast of its kind.  So far this year, our meeting room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building has been full for every breakfast.  During one week in mid-March, it was standing room only! 

It is a highlight of my week to be able to greet so many Nebraskans and hear more about their priorities for the people representing them in Congress.

Nebraskans’ strong engagement in the workings of our government is a great testament to our shared commitment to preserving freedom and opportunity.  We must do all we can at the federal level to further encourage this involvement by making our work accessible to those we serve.

On Friday afternoon, the list of bills which are scheduled to be considered by the House the following week is posted at Majorityleader.gov/weekly-schedule, and the text of major bills is often first posted on the Committee on Rules’ website at Rules.house.gov.  The latter site is also the best place to see which amendments have been proposed and made in order for debate.

My website at AdrianSmith.house.gov is another resource for Nebraskans to stay up-to-date on my work in Congress.  The Issues & Legislation tab includes a list of several resources for gathering information about legislative proceedings.  One of these tools is Congress.gov, which provides extensive information on each bill introduced, including the author, cosponsors, full text, current status, and the roll call of votes by each member.

Other tools provide links to websites where you can view official transcripts of the proceedings of the House, current floor debates, and daily committee schedules.  If you have questions about the legislative process, you are welcome to contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-6435 or email me through my website. 

If you are interested in learning more about my record or position on a certain issue, my website also provides archives of my press statements and weekly columns.  I invite you to sign up to receive my weekly e-newsletter at AdrianSmith.house.gov/Newsletter or follow me on Twitter (@RepAdrianSmith) and Instagram (@RepAdrianSmith) for more frequent updates. 

Another aspect of making government accessible is reducing bureaucratic hurdles.  Each year, my congressional caseworkers assist thousands of Third District constituents who have questions about federal agencies or need help cutting through red tape.

If you are having an issue with an agency such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, the U.S. Department of State for passports and visas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the Internal Revenue Service, please contact my Grand Island office at 308-394-3900 to reach my congressional caseworkers.  Casework concerns can also be emailed to me through my website.  Giving Nebraskans a helping hand in navigating the federal bureaucracy is one of my top priorities.

Additionally, my caseworkers hold Caseworker in Your Community events around the district throughout the year where you can meet with them one-on-one about your concerns.  Information about these events is posted on my website and included in my e-newsletter.

Our founders intended Congress, particularly the House of Representatives, to be government by the people.  I am proud to represent a district in which so many Nebraskans participate in the political process. 

Please feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, concerns, and opinions.  Hearing directly from you is invaluable to serving as your representative in Congress.