Compassion and Prosperity

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

 

“I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of dreams.”

These words were spoken by Pope Francis during his recent address to a joint meeting of Congress. I was humbled and honored to join the American people in welcoming Pope Francis to our country. The touching events of his visit have been truly remarkable.

I was pleased to have Dr. Maryanne Stevens, president of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, as my guest for the pope’s historic address. In the spirit of Pope Francis, Dr. Stevens is passionate about educating others to serve those in need. She possesses an unwavering commitment to service. Also, nearly 100 Nebraskans received tickets through my office to view a telecast of the pope’s address on the West Lawn of the Capitol. There, they received a blessing and prayer as Pope Francis addressed the crowd from the speaker’s balcony. Many of them traveled well over a thousand miles to Washington for this special moment. I am so glad they were able to share this profound experience.

The message Pope Francis delivered was moving, and I believe it connects with all Americans. We all understand the need to care for one another. We are all entrusted with the responsibility to care for the least among us. We need to care for our world. We must respect life, religious freedom, and liberty. This universal message of compassion is powerful and should be taken to heart.

I am inspired as I reflect on our many blessings, both as Nebraskans and as Americans. In Nebraska, we are blessed with wonderful people, spacious skies, and productive land. This is especially evident during this time of year – the harvest. Across our state, Nebraskans are reaping the bounty of their work.

September 20 through September 26 marked National Farm Safety and Health Week. Nebraska feeds the world, and agriculture is central to the viability of our state. As our farmers and ranchers dutifully tend land and livestock each and every day, they also face many dangers when carrying out their responsibilities. To secure the prosperity of their land, our producers must have the right knowledge, tools, and resources to remain safe and successful.

At the federal level, we need responsible policies that will allow our producers to do their job, which is to feed the world. This is critical, not only for our state’s economy, but also for a hungry and growing global population. This means putting a halt to burdensome regulations that are harming our farmers, ranchers, and their families.

Please know that I will continue working to address these challenges. By working together, we can help ensure that Nebraska will continue to provide America and the world with the safest and most affordable food supply.

As I reflect on the compassion and prosperity that fills our nation, I am reminded how blessed we are to live in, as Pope Francis so aptly pointed out, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.