Fort Reports
Rugby is a pretty rough sport. I’ve never played, but a casual observation shows that it takes true grit. An interesting part of the game is the scrum. The opposing teams lock arms, form an oval, and battle for the ball inside.
Communities across Nebraska often welcome people with signs. From 4-H clubs to church groups, from elected officials to Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, nice messages of greetings mark the starting point of many of our towns. There is a particularly memorable sign as you approach the city of West Point.
One of the more memorable occasions I’ve had in Washington was time spent with one of the American diplomats taken hostage by the Iranians in 1979. Now in his nineties, Bruce Laingen was the Chargé d’Affaires for our embassy in Iran. He, along with 51 others, was held for 444 days in a maddening and humiliating spectacle.
At six years old, Rachel had a seemingly normal childhood in Nebraska. She had a stable family environment with lots of brothers and sisters. Rachel was a bit introverted and perhaps this created some vulnerability for her. She was lured in by a neighbor, who in his perversion, set out to sell her for sex to the highest bidder.
This month, a young Nebraska woman named Autumn was awarded a "Women in Manufacturing STEP award" for her excellence in science, technology, engineering, and production. I had the pleasure of congratulating her for her hard work and ingenuity when she visited Washington.
Last year, I nominated a young man from Nebraska to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. An Army representative attended his graduation awards night and presented his appointment. The young man shook his hand and began to walk off the stage. The Army officer commandingly said, “Cadet, you have not been dismissed!” The young man froze in his tracks.
In the midst of America’s many challenges—deep political divides, halting economic progress, ongoing conflict in the Middle East—our government is gearing up for the critical but difficult work of the budgetary cycle. I share the concerns of many people who worry about spending and growing debt, not to mention the frustration at our inability to reach a consensus on budgetary sanity.
When you are visiting Washington, you are welcome to attend the Nebraska Breakfast! Each week when the House and Senate are in session, the Nebraska delegation gathers on Wednesday mornings in an unbroken tradition that extends 72 years.
When I was a young person buying health insurance on my own, the price was very expensive, as it is for many people. Given the cost, I chose a plan with a very high deductible. On one occasion, a very bad and lingering headache compelled me to seek medical treatment. To save money, I assumed it would be best to go straight to a specialist due to the intensity of the pain.
When I was a young college student, I spent several months in the country of Egypt. I lived for a time with farmers on a large oasis in the midst of the desert. English was limited so you did the best you could.