Nebraska Legislature adopts resolutions urging Congress to expand veterans treatments, childcare reimbursements and IDEA funding
April 09, 2026 | 2026 Legislature NE, Nebraska
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The Nebraska Legislature adopted three separate legislative resolutions urging federal action on health and education matters.
LR 293, introduced by the clerk as sponsored by Senator Kalf and opened on the floor by Senator Kautz (S5), urges Congress to enact legislation such as the Veterans National Traumatic Injury Treatment Act to increase veterans’ access to treatments for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Kautz said the resolution was brought by a veterans’ group seeking a pilot program because VA coverage is constrained where treatments lack FDA approval.
LR 296, opened by Senator Hallstrom (S6), urges the president and Congress to make permanent pandemic-era changes that reimburse participating family day care homes at tier-1 rates and to provide additional meal reimbursements. Hallstrom noted the resolution advanced out of the Health and Human Services Committee 7–0 and referenced pending federal bills (the transcript cites HR 2,859 and a Senate measure numbered 1420) that pursue similar changes.
LR 422, opened by Senator Rountree (S7), urges Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Rountree gave historical context on IDEA and said federal funding has fallen well short of the committed 40% of the national average per-pupil cost, with speakers on the floor citing federal contributions in the roughly 10–14% range. Senator Clements (S8) asked about the specific federal percentage; Rountree and Senator Merman (floor exchange recorded) supplied the lower-range figures cited.
Each resolution was placed to a vote and adopted (reported tallies: LR 293 — 43 ayes, 0 nays; LR 296 — committee noted 7–0, adoption recorded; LR 422 — 47 ayes, 0 nays). The measures are formal legislative requests and do not carry the force of law but send the Legislature’s positions to Nebraska’s congressional delegation and the president.
LR 293, introduced by the clerk as sponsored by Senator Kalf and opened on the floor by Senator Kautz (S5), urges Congress to enact legislation such as the Veterans National Traumatic Injury Treatment Act to increase veterans’ access to treatments for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Kautz said the resolution was brought by a veterans’ group seeking a pilot program because VA coverage is constrained where treatments lack FDA approval.
LR 296, opened by Senator Hallstrom (S6), urges the president and Congress to make permanent pandemic-era changes that reimburse participating family day care homes at tier-1 rates and to provide additional meal reimbursements. Hallstrom noted the resolution advanced out of the Health and Human Services Committee 7–0 and referenced pending federal bills (the transcript cites HR 2,859 and a Senate measure numbered 1420) that pursue similar changes.
LR 422, opened by Senator Rountree (S7), urges Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Rountree gave historical context on IDEA and said federal funding has fallen well short of the committed 40% of the national average per-pupil cost, with speakers on the floor citing federal contributions in the roughly 10–14% range. Senator Clements (S8) asked about the specific federal percentage; Rountree and Senator Merman (floor exchange recorded) supplied the lower-range figures cited.
Each resolution was placed to a vote and adopted (reported tallies: LR 293 — 43 ayes, 0 nays; LR 296 — committee noted 7–0, adoption recorded; LR 422 — 47 ayes, 0 nays). The measures are formal legislative requests and do not carry the force of law but send the Legislature’s positions to Nebraska’s congressional delegation and the president.
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