Nebraska Panhandle News

Senator Pete Ricketts, U.S. Senator from Nebraska, addressed several issues in a series of posts on July 30, 2025, ranging from international trade to local tragedies and agricultural policy.

In a post published at 15:27 UTC, Ricketts highlighted recent changes in beef trade between the United States and Australia. He stated, "For the last 20 years, the U.S. has bought over $28 billion of Australian beef. Meanwhile, Australia has purchased ZERO dollars of American beef. Now, thanks to @POTUS, Australia has relaxed their trade barriers. This is a major milestone for opening up the global market to https://t.co/LljDEv39Hq". Over the past two decades, the United States has been a significant importer of Australian beef while facing barriers to exporting its own product to Australia.

Later that day at 17:49 UTC, Ricketts responded to a local tragedy with condolences for those affected by an explosion in Fremont, Nebraska. He wrote, "Please join me in prayer for the three Nebraskans who passed in yesterday's explosion in Fremont, NE. My thoughts go out to the Fremont community and all those impacted by this horrific event." The senator expressed his sympathy for both the victims and the broader community impacted by the incident.

At 19:59 UTC on July 30, Ricketts turned his attention to agricultural policy with comments on family farms and student financial aid reform. He said, "Family farms are the backbone of communities across Nebraska and America. The OBBB helps producers today and lays the foundation for strong agriculture growth tomorrow by excluding agricultural assets from student financial aid calculations.

The OBBB makes sure we aren't". The senator referenced legislative efforts aimed at supporting farm families by ensuring that ownership of agricultural assets does not negatively impact students' eligibility for financial aid.

Senator Pete Ricketts has served as Nebraska’s junior senator since January 2023 after previously holding office as governor of Nebraska.