JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES IN NEBRASKA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I'M JACKIE ARRIETA, MANAGING EDITOR OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS, AND I WILL BE SERVING AS CO-MODERATOR WITH AARON SANDIFORD, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD.

[MUSIC] >> THIS DEBATE IS BETWEEN REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MIKE FLOOD AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHRIS BACHMEIER.

FOR THE NEXT HOUR, THE CANDIDATES WILL TAKE TURNS ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ALLOWED 60S TO ANSWER.

AND AS THE DISCUSSION CONTINUES, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL IF NECESSARY.

>> AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE DEBATE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME GIVEN TO RESPOND TO THE FINAL QUESTION MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED FOR TIME.

IN THAT CASE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO ANSWER.

THE CANDIDATES WILL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENTS.

>> A COIN TOSS HAS DETERMINED WHO WILL GO FIRST.

AND WE BEGIN WITH MR.

BACHMEIER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR HOST TODAY FOR ORGANIZING THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WATCHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW YOU COULD BE WATCHING THE NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL GAME RIGHT NOW.

MY NAME IS CHRIS BECKEMEYER.

I'M A HUSBAND, DAD OF THREE GREAT KIDS, KIDS THAT GO TO LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS JUST LIKE I DID.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN LINCOLN, AND MY FAMILY ACTUALLY HOMESTEADED IN THIS VERY DISTRICT SHORTLY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, RIGHT HERE IN CASS COUNTY.

I AM NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN.

IN FACT, I'VE NEVER RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE BEFORE.

I HAVE NOT EVEN RUN FOR STUDENT COUNCIL.

THE REALITY IS I DEDICATED MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER NINE OVER 11, WHEN I WANTED TO DO MY BEST TO TRY TO PREVENT OUR COUNTRY FROM BEING ATTACKED AGAIN.

I WORKED ON BREAKING UP FUNDING GROUPS FOR TERRORISTS OR BREAKING UP FUNDING NETWORKS FOR TERRORIST GROUPS.

I WORKED ON CONFRONTING OUR ADVERSARIES LIKE RUSSIA, IRAN AND CHINA.

I HELPED NEGOTIATE THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, WHICH HAD STRINGENT PROTOCOLS THAT PREVENTED IRAN FROM EVER GETTING A NUCLEAR WEAPON AND WOULD HAVE ALSO PREVENTED THE WAR THAT WE'RE IN TODAY HAD IT NOT BEEN TORN UP FOR PARTIZAN POLITICAL PURPOSES.

BUT AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS LOOKING AT THREATS OVERSEAS, I REALIZED THAT WE HAD SO MANY CHALLENGES RIGHT HERE AT HOME BECAUSE WE'RE IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND WE'RE NOT IN A CRISIS BECAUSE NEBRASKANS AREN'T WORKING HARD ENOUGH OR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DREAMING BIG ENOUGH.

IT'S BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSING ECONOMIC CHAOS.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS.

LIKE JUST THIS YEAR WHEN CONGRESSMAN FLOOD VOTED SIX TIMES TO INCREASE TAXES THROUGH TARIFFS THAT TAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS AND DESTROY OUR EXPORT MARKETS, LIKE HOW HE VOTED TO INCREASE OUR HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS, REDUCE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, CUT REVENUES FOR OUR RURAL HOSPITALS, ALL WHILE HE ENJOYS FULL FEDERAL HEALTH BENEFITS AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, AND HOW HE VOTED WITHOUT QUESTION, WITHOUT BLINKING.

TO RAISE YOUR GAS PRICES, RAISE YOUR GROCERY PRICES, PUT OUR COUNTRY AT RISK WITHOUT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE VOTING SIX TIMES FOR THIS WAR IN IRAN.

NOW, IF I'M ELECTED, IT'LL BE DIFFERENT.

I WILL STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS WELL AS DEMOCRATIC LEADERS THAT HAVE PROPOSALS THAT WILL NOT ALIGN WITH NEBRASKA VALUES.

I WILL PUSH BACK.

I WILL TRY TO BRING AN END TO THE TAX AND TARIFF REGIME.

I WILL WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO FIX OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF GUTTING IT.

AND I WILL FIGHT TO BRING AN END TO THE WAR IN IRAN.

SO WE CAN USE THAT BILLION DOLLARS A DAY TO INVEST HERE AT HOME AND PUT TOWARDS OUR NATIONAL DEBT.

IN SHORT, I AM TAKING TO WASHINGTON THE VALUES THAT I LEARNED FROM THE FOUR GENERATIONS OF NEBRASKANS THAT CAME BEFORE ME FAITH IN GOD, LOVE OF FAMILY, DECENCY, HARD WORK, AND RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE THE VALUES THAT SHOULDN'T BE PARTIZAN.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR.

BACHMEIER.

REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, AARON, AND THANK YOU, JACKIE, FOR HOSTING ME TONIGHT.

AND TO EVERYBODY WATCHING ACROSS NEBRASKA.

I WANT TO START WITH A SMILE.

I WANT TO WELCOME MY OPPONENT BACK TO NEBRASKA.

YOU SEE, THE LAST TIME CHRIS BECCA AMIR LIVED IN NEBRASKA, IT WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF HUSKER FOOTBALL.

WE HAD JUST COME OFF OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND WE WELCOME HIM BACK TONIGHT.

I'M HOPING THAT HE'S THE GOOD LUCK CHARM.

WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AFTER 28 VERY LONG YEARS.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS MIKE FLOOD, BORN AND RAISED IN NORFOLK.

I LIVE THERE TODAY WITH BOTH MY KIDS, BLAKE AND BRANDON AND MY WIFE MANDY.

I WORKED MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL AND AFTER GRADUATING FROM UNL, I MOVED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN AND I STARTED A RADIO STATION.

MY ROOTS, MY VALUES, MY EXPERIENCES WERE SHAPED IN TOWNS LIKE NORFOLK, COLUMBUS, SKYLER, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION, AND RIGHT HERE IN LINCOLN.

BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS.

I WORK FOR YOU.

I WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE.

WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT, PRICES WERE TOO HIGH.

THEY'RE STILL TOO HIGH TODAY.

THAT'S WHY I VOTED TO INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT TO $2,200 PER CHILD.

I VOTED TO ELIMINATE TAXES ON TIPS AND OVERTIME AND ELIMINATE TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

FOR MOST OF OUR SENIORS.

FOR MOST NEBRASKANS, HOUSING IS THEIR NUMBER ONE EXPENSE.

THAT'S WHY I WORKED WITH MY DEMOCRATIC COUNTERPART, EMANUEL CLEAVER, TO PASS LANDMARK BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT INCREASES SUPPLY AND LOWERS TAXES.

AND WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION CUT JOBS AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IN NEBRASKA, THAT WORRIED ME BECAUSE OUR FAMILIES RELY ON THAT INFORMATION.

I FOUGHT THOSE CUTS AND GOT THOSE JOBS RESTORED.

I'M NOW WORKING ON PASSING A FARM BILL THAT GETS THE JOB DONE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

I'VE BUILT MY LIFE HERE.

I'VE CREATED JOBS, I'VE ADVOCATED FOR OUR VALUES, AND I'VE WORKED TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR FAMILIES.

MY OPPONENT, WELL, HE'S TAKEN A DIFFERENT PATH WITH DIFFERENT VALUES, AND I THINK IT SHOWS.

HE MOVED BACK TO NEBRASKA JUST TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

HE SPENT DECADES WORKING FOR FAILED POLITICIANS ON THE VERY POLICIES WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT NOW.

HE WAS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO KAMALA HARRIS.

SHE DOES NOT SHARE OUR VALUES.

HE WORKED WITH BARACK OBAMA ON THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL THAT FAILED DEAL FROM IRAN FOR IRAN, BY THE WAY, A COUNTRY THAT CHANTS DEATH TO AMERICA ALLOWED THEM TO KEEP THEIR NUCLEAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESS TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SPEND ON TERRORISM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

HE WORKED IN THE BIDEN HARRIS WHITE HOUSE SUPPORTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND THE SPENDING THAT'S LED TO INFLATION.

THERE'S A THERE'S A CLEAR DIFFERENCE TONIGHT BETWEEN MR.

BAKKER, MEYER AND ME.

THERE'S A CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN OUR VALUES AND IN OUR EXPERIENCE AND IN OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SOLUTIONS.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH QUESTIONS.

REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD, FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU.

THE WAR IN IRAN HAS DRIVEN UP COSTS FOR FERTILIZER AND DIESEL FUEL, WHICH LAST WEEK TOPPED $6 A GALLON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN NEBRASKA.

A NEBRASKA FARM BUREAU ECONOMIST ESTIMATED CROP FARMERS WERE ALREADY FACING A COMBINED $1 BILLION IN LOSSES FOR CORN AND SOYBEANS THIS YEAR.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD CONGRESS DO TO HELP AG PRODUCERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SHARPLY HIGHER EXPENSES?

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SOYBEAN PRICES ARE UP 24% SINCE JANUARY 1ST.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, PRICES ARE TOO HIGH.

DIESEL IS TOO HIGH, JUST AS OUR HARVEST IS ABOUT TO START.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE, FROM EXPORT BANS TO LOOKING AT OUR GAS TAX AND OUR DIESEL TAX, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO BRING PRICES DOWN.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS, AS IT RELATES TO IRAN, I WAS THERE WHEN THOSE CASKETS CAME OFF THOSE AIRPLANES, AND I WATCHED A NINE YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL BURY HER HEAD IN HER DAD'S ARMS AS HER MOTHER'S CASKET CAME OFF.

I DON'T WANT TO WALK UP TO THAT FAMILY AND SAY, YOUR MOM DIED IN VAIN.

WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A COUNTRY THAT VOWS DEATH TO AMERICA.

IT IS PAINFUL.

WE NEED TO BRING PRICES DOWN, BUT WE CAN'T DO WHAT JOE BIDEN DID.

AND THAT IS CUT AND RUN LIKE HE DID IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE HAVE TO BRING THE PRICES DOWN.

THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO TO BRING THOSE PRICES DOWN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE AND PAID THE PRICE SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN AMERICA WITHOUT THE THREAT OF A NUCLEAR IRAN.

>> THANK YOU.

AND, MR.

BECCA, MEYER, YOUR TURN.

>> WELL, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IRAN, I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE REPORT CARD AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION STRIKES AND THE BEGINNING OF THIS WAR, IRAN STILL IS CONTROLLED BY AN EVIL DICTATOR.

IRAN STILL HAS ENOUGH URANIUM FOR TEN NUCLEAR WARHEADS.

THE IRANIAN PEOPLE ARE NO BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISED TO HELP THEM, AND NOW THEY CONTROL THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND ARE ABLE TO PUSH UP GAS PRICES AT WILL TO PUT PRESSURE ON US IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, I'M NO PACIFIST, AND I BELIEVE IN USING MILITARY FORCE WHEN NECESSARY.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE PREPARED TO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE.

BUT OUR REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD BE ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR STRATEGY.

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?

WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE THOSE?

AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT?

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE OBJECTIVES HAVE JUST NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

AND WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS WAR IN IRAN.

AND REGRETTABLY, THE SIX VOTES FROM CONGRESSMAN FLOOD ARE GOING TO HAVE PERMANENT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON OUR FARMERS AND ON OUR PEOPLE.

>> I'D LIKE THE CHANCE TO MAKE A REBUTTAL.

>> CONGRESSMAN, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> MY OPPONENT WAS IN THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE AND WAS PART OF NEGOTIATING THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL.

WHEN HE WAS DONE, WE SENT HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER TO IRAN SO THAT THEY COULD USE IT TO FUND TERRORISM.

GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE HOUTHIS, GROUPS THAT ARE NOW ATTACKING YEMEN AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

HE ALSO MADE SURE THAT AFTER HE WAS DONE, THEY STILL HAD THEY PROMISED TO NOT BE A NUCLEAR NATION ANYMORE.

THEY STILL HAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEM LISTEN.

HIS APPROACH DIDN'T WORK.

WE'RE IN A SITUATION NOW WHERE WE DON'T WANT THIS COUNTRY TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE A DIRTY BOMB, AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE A CHEMICAL WEAPON.

I WANT IT OVER AS FAST AS EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO CUT AND RUN UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE.

AT LEAST THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ATTACK US WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

>> MR.

AMIR, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS TO REBUT.

>> LET ME BE REALLY CLEAR.

I'VE WORKED FOR FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS, FOUR PRESIDENTS, TWO DEMOCRAT AND TWO REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN SOLVING PROBLEMS NO MATTER WHO'S IN CHARGE.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN POLITICAL SLOGANS.

THE REALITY IS, THE DEAL THAT I HELPED NEGOTIATE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED IRAN FROM GETTING A NUCLEAR WEAPON AND PREVENTED THIS WAR, AND IT WAS FAR LESS GENEROUS THAN THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFERED IN HIS MOST RECENT DEAL THAT EVEN THAT HE COULDN'T USE TO GET OUT OF THIS WAR.

THE REALITY IS WE CAN USE SLOGANS LIKE GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT THE REALITY IS MY OPPONENT, PEOPLE LIKE HIM AND PETE SETH ARE OVER THEIR HEAD WHEN IT COMES TO FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY, AND SLOGANS DON'T KEEP US SAFE.

IT TAKES PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SITUATION ROOM, READING THE INTELLIGENCE, WORKING HARD TO FIND REAL SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS AND ADDRESS THE THREATS TO OUR COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU.

CONTINUING WITH THE SUBJECT OF AGRICULTURE, MEXICO AND CANADA ARE TWO OF NEBRASKA'S TOP AG EXPORT PARTNERS.

FARMERS SAY THEY HAVE SENT MUCH OF THEIR CROP INTO STORAGE BECAUSE OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE REPLACED AMERICAN SUPPLIERS DURING TRADE DISPUTES WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT IMPROVING NEBRASKA'S ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS?

DESPITE PRESSURE FROM THE PRESIDENT?

MR.

BECKMEYER, WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU FIRST.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

OUR FARMERS HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MISUSE TARIFFS AND TRADE POLICY.

NOW, TARIFFS CAN BE USED WHEN YOU HAVE TRADE VIOLATIONS IN VERY SPECIFIC INSTANCES.

BUT THE REALITY IS 100 200% TARIFF TARIFFS ON SOME OF OUR LARGEST PURCHASERS HAS RUINED OUR EXPORT MARKETS.

IT HAS MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR FARMERS TO SELL THEIR CROP, WHICH THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO PRODUCE.

THANKS AGAIN TO THE HIGH FUEL PRICES AND THE HIGH FERTILIZER PRICES THAT CONGRESSMAN FLOOD SUPPORTS.

THE REALITY IS, IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL BRING AN END TO THIS TAX AND TARIFF REGIME BECAUSE IT'S CONGRESS'S ROLE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE SHOULD IMPOSE TARIFFS.

AND I WILL USE MY EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO LEAD TRADE DELEGATIONS AND TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN REOPEN THOSE EXPORT MARKETS.

BUT AGAIN, THESE DECISIONS COULD HAVE PERMANENT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S HOW SERIOUS IT IS FOR OUR REPRESENTATIVE.

>> CONGRESSMAN FLOOD, YOUR RESPONSE, PLEASE.

>> AS WE SAW IN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, GREAT PROGRESS WAS MADE UNDER JOE BIDEN.

NO PROGRESS WAS MADE.

MEXICO SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT NEBRASKA'S WHITE CORN.

NOBODY DID A THING ABOUT IT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS REWRITING OUR TRADE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A COUNTRY, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS PARLIAMENT VOTED EARLIER THIS SUMMER TO PLACE A 15% TARIFF ON THEIR PRODUCTS AND A 0% TARIFF ON OURS.

THEY AGREED TO BUY MORE CORN, MORE SOYBEANS, MORE BEEF.

SAME WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.

CHINA JUST ANNOUNCED TWO WEEKS AGO 1 MILLION MORE CUBIC BUSHELS OF OF SOYBEANS.

SOYBEAN PRICES ARE UP 24%.

LISTEN, IT TAKES TIME TO DIG OUT OF THE HOLE THAT WE WERE IN FROM A TRADE PERSPECTIVE, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AS FAST AS WE WANT.

NO, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

MEXICO HAS PROVEN TO BE A GREAT TRADING PARTNER.

THEY'RE COMING TO THE TABLE.

CANADA ACCEPTED THE DEAL ON THE PHONE AND THEN TOOK IT AWAY WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT'S THE SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

THINGS WILL GET RESOLVED WITH CANADA.

WE NEED BOTH CANADA AND MEXICO, BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

THE LEADERS OF THE THREE LARGEST ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANIES RECENTLY SAID PUBLICLY THAT THEY WANT GREATER GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

HOWEVER, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE OPPOSES MORE REGULATION ON AI COMPANIES.

WHAT ROLE, IF ANY, SHOULD CONGRESS PLAY TODAY IN REGULATING THIS RAPIDLY EMERGING TECHNOLOGY?

THIS QUESTION GOES FIRST TO REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

>> I DO BELIEVE CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE HOLDING HEARINGS AND GETTING EVERYTHING OUT ON THE TABLE SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, NOT IN A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING, BUT TO EVERYDAY AMERICANS.

IF THESE AI SERVICES, IF THESE AI EFFORTS CAN LEAD TO MASS DESTRUCTION OR THE CREATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO EMBRACE INNOVATION.

WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN BE CREATED WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

SO WHERE IT WORKS FOR AMERICA, IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

WHERE IT IS A DANGER TO AMERICA.

IT SHOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO MAKE ANYTHING WITH AI THAT DOES THAT.

LISTEN, THIS IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS.

IT'S TRYING TO PREDICT THE THE FACEBOOK PHENOMENON IN 1985.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE INTO THE FUTURE LIKE THAT.

BUT I DO THINK WE ALL KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE, AND ITS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN BOTH CHAMBERS SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN MAKING SURE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED.

>> THANK YOU.

AND, MR.

BECKMEYER, YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WELL, THE ADVENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CLEARLY HAS ENORMOUS POTENTIAL, BUT IT ALSO HAS EXTREME DANGERS, DANGERS TO OUR CULTURE, OUR ECONOMY, AND THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

CONGRESS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE AT THE TABLE WRITING LAWS, CREATING REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT AI IS KEPT WITHIN ITS BANDWIDTH OR KEPT WITHIN ITS IS CONTAINED.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THIS CONGRESS, INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO THE WORK AND WRITE THE LAWS AND ACTUALLY CREATE THAT CONTAINMENT, TOOK OFF EARLY THIS YEAR AND FINISHED THE END OF ITS SESSION.

THIS CONGRESS HAS ONLY WORKED FOR 104 DAYS THIS YEAR, WHEN THEY SHOULD BE CREATING REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP US SAFE FROM AI, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF AI.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WHEN THIS SURFACED, THIS CONGRESS AND CONGRESSMAN FLOOD DECIDED TO GO HOME AND GO ON VACATION.

>> I'D LIKE A REBUTTAL.

>> FOR 45 SECONDS, CONGRESSMAN, FOR REBUTTAL.

>> AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, I SIT ON THE AI TASK FORCE.

I'VE SPENT HOURS GOING OVER WITH OUR REGULATORS, THE FDIC, THE SEC, ALL THE DIFFERENT BANKING REGULATORS, THE IMPACTS OF AI.

I'VE MET WITH SOME OF THE LARGEST AND SMALLEST BANKS IN THE COUNTRY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DEEP FAKES.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

SO HAS THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS.

IN THE HOUSE, WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS.

WE ALSO HAVE PASSED A FARM BILL.

WE HAVE PASSED A SERIES OF BILLS LIKE THE CLARITY ACT FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES.

ALL OF THESE BILLS ARE BACKING UP IN A SENATE THAT'S NOT MOVING.

I'D LOVE TO BE THERE PASSING BILLS AND GETTING MAKING PROGRESS ON AI, BUT THE SENATE IS NOT OPERATING.

IT IS BASICALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM.

>> CAN I GET A REBUTTAL?

>> THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON ON THIS ONE.

HE DID NOT ATTACK YOU.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

ON A RELATED TOPIC, PEOPLE HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT DATA CENTERS.

THE NEBRASKA CHAMBER CEO HAS DATA CENTERS CAN PROVIDE JOBS AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES.

BUT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WATER AND ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO OPERATE THEM AND OTHER EFFECTS LIKE NOISE.

HOW SHOULD CONGRESS ADDRESS THE GROWING SEPARATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ON THESE DEVELOPMENTS?

MR.

BECKMEYER, WE GO TO YOU FIRST.

>> SO I RECENTLY HOSTED A ROUNDTABLE ON DATA CENTERS IN NEBRASKA, POPULATION 207, WHERE WE BROUGHT TOGETHER RESIDENTS, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER FARMERS, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ORGANIZED LABOR, AND WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS TO TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES OF DATA CENTERS.

AND WHAT WAS CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING IS THAT THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM OF TRANSPARENCY, THAT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR FARMERS NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THESE DATA CENTERS WILL BE BUILT, HOW THEIR RESOURCES WILL BE UTILIZED, WHAT THEIR BACKYARD IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AFTERWARDS.

AND THEY HAVE FELT LIKE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THAT.

NOW, THE REALITY IS MY OPPONENT, CONGRESSMAN FLOOD, VOTED FOR THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT GAVE BIG TAX BREAKS TO THESE TECH COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP DATA CENTERS IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

NOW, I BELIEVE IF OUR COMMUNITIES WANT THESE DATA CENTERS, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEM, BUT THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES MAKING THAT DECISION.

THEY SHOULD BE DECIDING IF THEY WANT TO GIVE TAX BREAKS.

I THINK INSTEAD THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THE BENEFITS FROM THE TAX COMPANY OR FROM THE TECH COMPANIES, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> THANKS TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

>> WELL, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE PASSED THE RATEPAYER PROTECTION ACT, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT ANY NEW POWER GENERATION REQUIRED TO GET ONE OF THESE AI INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES GOING CANNOT BE PLACED ON THE RATEPAYERS.

I ALSO SPECIFICALLY AM AGAINST ANY FEDERAL PREEMPTION, TELLING A LOCAL ZONING BOARD IN CASS COUNTY OR IN THE PLATTSMOUTH AREA OR ANYWHERE IN THIS DISTRICT, THAT THEY HAVE TO SITE ONE OF THESE THINGS.

LISTEN, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

OUR OGALLALA AQUIFER HAS TO BE PROTECTED.

BUT IF THE PEOPLE IN KEARNEY, NEBRASKA, DECIDE THEY WANT THIS, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

THAT'S NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHOICE.

AND I AGREE WITH CHRIS.

WE SHOULD BE GETTING PUBLIC BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.

IF THE PEOPLE IN KEARNEY WANT TO DO THAT, THEN MAKE THESE PEOPLE PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES FOR THEM, MAKE THESE AI INDUSTRIES, GIVE EVERY TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT $50,000.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID DOWN IN LOUISIANA.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF PEOPLE WANT IT, BUT ONLY IF PEOPLE WANT THIS AI INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF THEY DON'T, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THEIR BACKYARD.

THAT'S LEFT UP TO A ZONING BOARD THAT'S ELECTED LOCALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE FLOOD AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHRIS BECKEMEYER.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND VIEWERS THAT THIS DEBATE IS BEING BROADCAST STATEWIDE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S RADIO STATIONS AND ON ITS DIGITAL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING YOUTUBE.

NOW ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> CONGRESS HAS ALREADY TAKEN A STAB AT REDUCING REGULATION AND RED TAPE IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN A BILL COSPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN FLOOD.

WHAT ARE THE LOGICAL NEXT STEPS TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO MORE AMERICANS?

FROM ADDRESSING INTEREST RATES TO MATERIALS COSTS TO IMPROVED ACCESS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.

REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD, WE GO TO YOU FIRST.

>> WELL, THIS IS AN AREA THAT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND THIS HAS BEEN MY PASSION PROJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE CREDITWORTHY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING THE FICO SCORES.

WE CAN BE USING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO SAY, HEY, DO YOU PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME?

DO YOU PAY YOUR CELL PHONE ON TIME?

DO YOU PAY YOUR OTHER BILLS LIKE THE GARBAGE?

IF SO, WE SHOULD GET YOU QUALIFIED FOR CREDIT.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, AND THIS IS REALLY A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE PAYING MORE FOR THEIR PROPERTY INSURANCE OR THEIR HOME PREMIUM INSURANCE THAN THEY DO EVEN THEIR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST HOME INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE SKYROCKETING ACROSS NEBRASKA 60% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH WEATHER PERIL.

IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

AND THESE THIRD PARTY LITIGANT FUNDING EFFORTS, WE HAVE TRIAL LAWYERS THAT ARE OUT GETTING $60 MILLION VERDICTS, NUCLEAR VERDICTS THAT ARE PUSHING EVERYBODY'S HOME INSURANCE PREMIUMS UP.

SO HOME INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND GET MORE PEOPLE QUALIFIED FOR LOANS QUICKER.

>> MR.

BECCA MEYER, NOW FOR YOU.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF LONG TERM THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO STABILIZE OUR HOUSING MARKET AND MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IMMEDIATELY.

LET'S FACE FACTS.

THE REASON THAT HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE IS THE SAME REASON THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TRADE WAR THAT WAS STARTED WITH CHINA, THAT IS DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF MATERIALS ACROSS THE BOARD.

I MET WITH A HOME DEVELOPER NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO, WHO TOLD ME THAT THEIR BUILD COSTS WERE UP 11% JUST FROM THE TARIFFS ALONE.

THERE'S NO WAY TO BRING DOWN HOUSING PRICES WHEN MATERIAL PRICES KEEP GOING UP.

NOW YOU LOOK AT THE SAME THING WITH IRAN WAR, GASOLINE PRICES, DIESEL PRICES, ALL THESE THINGS GO INTO BUILDING A HOME AND INTO BUILDING NEW PROPERTIES AND EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

SO THERE'S SOME VERY EASY SOLUTIONS.

WE NEED TO START BY BRINGING AN END TO THE TRADE WAR.

WE NEED TO THEN BRING AN END TO THE IRAN WAR, AND THEN WE NEED TO WORK ON BUILDING MORE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS FOR OUR HOUSING MARKET.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

NEBRASKANS PAIGE SOME OF THE HIGHEST HOME AND CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE INCREASE IN INSURANCE COSTS HAS ALSO IMPACTED BUSINESS OWNERS JUGGLING HIGHER EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PRICES.

WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO, IF ANYTHING, TO ADDRESS THESE SHARP INCREASES?

MR.

BECKEMEYER, WE WILL GO TO YOU FIRST.

>> WELL, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, PRICES ARE TOO HIGH AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR CONSUMERS AND OUR BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S INSURANCE, WHETHER IT'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT GOES INTO BUILDING A BUSINESS.

CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN CREATE WHERE WE CAN STABILIZE PRICES.

THAT MEANS BRINGING AN END TO OUR TRADE WAR.

THAT MEANS BRINGING AN END TO THE INFLATION THAT HAS BEEN GOING UP AND UP AND UP.

AND IT MEANS RELYING ON OUR WORKFORCE AND BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN NEBRASKA.

>> WE'LL GO TO YOU NOW, REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

>> MY OPPONENT IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT TALKING ABOUT PROBLEMS, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS.

THE BILL THAT IS NOW LAW THAT I CHAMPIONED DOES INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY.

IT MAKES MANUFACTURED HOUSING AN OPTION BY NOT REQUIRING A CHASSIS.

AND IT ALSO BRINGS DOWN COSTS.

YES, COSTS UNDER JOE BIDEN SKYROCKETED OVER 100%.

I GET IT, IT'S A PROBLEM.

BUT ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, WE HAVE TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE REGULATIONS LIKE WE DID IN THAT BILL, LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS THAT ARE KILLING US.

THERE'S ONE ISSUE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WON'T MOVE ON, AND THAT'S BUILD AMERICA BY AMERICA.

THEY WANT TO FORCE YOU TO GO OUT AND GET A COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST TO PROVE THAT THERE'S NOT A LITTLE MINI PIECE IN THAT FRONT DOOR LOCK THAT CAME FROM CHINA.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

WE HAVE TO BUILD HOMES FOR PEOPLE, BRING THE COSTS DOWN.

WHEN WE HAVE MORE SUPPLY, THE COST OF HOUSING WILL COME DOWN.

THEIR PROPERTY TAX VALUATIONS WILL COME DOWN, THEIR INSURANCE PREMIUMS SHOULD COME DOWN, BUT IT'S ALREADY IN PROCESS.

THIS IS A BILL THAT IS NOW LAW BECAME LAW OVER THE SUMMER.

THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO, LIKE CREDIT WORTHINESS AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE INSURANCE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM HERE IN NEBRASKA.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONS IN CONGRESS HAVE STUDIED SOCIAL SECURITY FOR DECADES, AND MOST OF THEM COME BACK TO THE SAME THREE SOLUTIONS RAISING THE AMOUNT OF INCOME SUBJECT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE, OR REDUCING THE AMOUNT AND PACE OF BENEFITS PAID.

WHAT, IF ANY, MEASURES WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO PREVENT A BENEFIT CUT THAT COULD BE FORCED BY INACTION AS EARLY AS 2032?

THIS QUESTION GOES FIRST TO REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SOCIAL.

>> SECURITY IS AN ABSOLUTE IRONCLAD PROMISE THAT WE MAKE TO EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE SYSTEM.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT REMAINS.

AND IF ANYBODY OUT THERE WATCHING TONIGHT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NOT BEING THERE FOR THEM, IT WILL BE THERE FOR THEM.

HERE'S THE SITUATION.

I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE AGAINST MYSELF.

I THINK WE NEED TO SIT IN A ROOM WITH THE DEMOCRATS, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN UNWILLING TO DO, AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE CAN WALK OUT OF THE ROOM IN UNISON, DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I WANT THAT TO BE NEXT CONGRESS.

I WANT THAT TO BE IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OR JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IN WASHINGTON, AND THIS IS BOTH PARTIES.

THEY DON'T LIKE TO FIX A PROBLEM UNTIL THE DEADLINE IS RIGHT ON THE DOORSTEP.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED ANSWERS MUCH SOONER.

BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AS AMERICANS, NOT DIVIDED INTO PARTIES, BUT IN ONE PARTY, WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> MR.

BECKMEYER, YOUR TURN ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY QUESTION.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS A PROMISE TO OUR SENIORS, TO OUR WORKERS, AND IT'S A PROMISE THAT NEEDS TO BE DELIVERED.

THE REALITY IS, THE SOLUTION IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

WE NEED TO RAISE THE EARNINGS CAP.

THE EARNINGS CAP ONLY TAXES, OR ONLY HAS SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES ON INCOME UNDER $184,000.

AND EVERY PENNY YOU MAKE OVER THAT IS NOT TAXED.

THE REALITY IS, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT MAKE LESS THAN THAT, AND THEY PAY 100% SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE SO THAT WE CAN STABILIZE SOCIAL SECURITY.

NOW, THE REALITY IS, IF WE TAKE THIS ONE STEP, WE COULD PUT OFF INSOLVENCY OF SOCIAL SECURITY UNTIL 2090, A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO QUICKLY.

NOW, MY OPPONENT HAS SAID THAT WE NEED TO GET IN A ROOM AND WE NEED TO WORK ON IT.

BUT THE REALITY IS HE'S BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR FOUR YEARS.

SO WHERE IS THE ROOM?

WHERE IS THE WORK AND WHY HAS NONE OF THAT BEEN DONE?

>> I'D LIKE A REBUTTAL.

>> YES.

CONGRESSMAN FLOOD, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> WHERE IS THE WORK?

>> IT'S IN THE $2 TRILLION IN FEDERAL SPENDING THAT WE CUT IN THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT.

THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN JULY OF 2025.

IT'S IN THE ELIMINATION OF TAXES ON OVERTIME AND TIPS.

IT'S IN THE ELIMINATION OF TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

FOR MOST SENIORS, IT'S THE ABILITY OF A FARMER OR RANCHER IN NEBRASKA TO PASS THE FARM ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE FEDERAL ESTATE TAX.

IT'S IN THE EFFORT THAT WE MADE TO INCREASE THE LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING THAT PASSED IN THE THE THE SAME ACT THAT WAS SIGNED IN JULY OF 2025.

LISTEN, YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES IN CONGRESS, AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF VERY GOOD CHOICES.

WE CUT TAXES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MODERN HISTORY, THE BIGGEST WAY POSSIBLE, AND WE CUT SPENDING AS WELL.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT AMERICANS WANT.

>> CAN I GET A REBUTTAL?

>> YES.

45 SECONDS TO YOU, MISTER.

>> I DON'T THINK I ATTACKED HIM THERE.

WELL.

>> WE'VE ALREADY GONE, SO JUST GO AHEAD THIS TIME.

45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT CONGRESSMAN FLOOD HAS CUT TAXES FOR FAMILIES, FOR THE MUSK FAMILY, THE BEZOS FAMILY AND THE TRUMP FAMILY.

AND I'M SURE THEY'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

BUT I HAVE BEEN AROUND THIS DISTRICT, AND I HAVE NOT MET A SINGLE OTHER FAMILY THAT FEELS LIKE THEY'VE HAD THEIR TAXES CUT.

BUT I HAVE HAD MANY SENIORS, MANY WORKERS WHO WORRY ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE THERE IN THE FUTURE.

SO ALL OF THIS WORK THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY BEING DONE IS NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AT HAND.

IT IS NOT HELPING TO FULFILL THE PROMISE THAT WE HAVE TO OUR SENIORS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS CONGRESS'S ROLE IN MODERNIZING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ENSURING FINANCIAL AID REMAINS AVAILABLE TO HELP STUDENTS MEET THE NEEDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY?

MR.

BECKMEYER, YOU'RE UP FIRST FOR THIS QUESTION.

>> OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PROSPERITY OF OUR COUNTRY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS TO ENSURE THAT BOTH ITS SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY LEVELS, WE'RE PROVIDING ADEQUATE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR UNIVERSITIES CAN THRIVE.

INSTEAD OF CUTTING RESEARCH BENEFITS AND AND FURTHER FUNDING, WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERING OUR UNIVERSITIES.

WE NEED TO BE GIVING THEM MORE FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS OF THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FEDERAL STUDENT AID IS AVAILABLE, AND THAT THERE ARE CAPS ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE WITH TOO MUCH DEBT AND TOO LITTLE OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL PUSH TO RESTORE FUNDING TO UNIVERSITIES THAT'S BEEN CUT, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> ON TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

>> I'M A HUGE BELIEVER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN.

I BELIEVE IN ITS MISSION, ITS LAND GRANT MISSION.

AND THAT'S WHY MYSELF AND SENATOR FISHER HAVE GOTTEN OVER $100 MILLION FOR THE NEW AG RESEARCH AT THE INNOVATION CAMPUS.

I HELP GET THE INNOVATION CAMPUS STARTED.

WHEN I WAS SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATURE, AS WE MOVED THE STATE FAIR TO GRAND ISLAND.

I'VE HELPED OVER THE YEARS GET MORE MONEY INTO OUR UNIVERSITY, AND LAST SUMMER I SPENT 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT VISITS ON CAMPUS TALKING TO RESEARCHERS, ASSURING THEM THAT OUR BUDGET THAT WAS ULTIMATELY PASSED IN JANUARY AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT WOULD PROTECT NIH FUNDING AG RESEARCH FUNDING, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND WHERE MY PARTY HAS WANTED TO CUT IT, I DISAGREE, AND I FOUGHT TO KEEP IT.

ALSO, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN NORFOLK WORKING IN THE LEGISLATURE, I BUILT A PROGRAM CALLED THE CAREER SCHOLARS, WHERE STUDENTS GET A FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIP, AND IN THEIR FOURTH YEAR, THEY LIVE AND WORK IN DOWNTOWN NORFOLK IN HOPES OF REBUILDING RURAL COMMUNITIES.

I HAVE A GREAT RECORD ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE IN IT.

I THINK IT'S OUR FUTURE.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THIS STATE, AND WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HELP US GROW AS A STATE.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION GOES TO REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD, THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT CUT ABOUT $1 TRILLION FROM MEDICAID OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO OFFSET THOSE CUTS.

THE LAW CREATED THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION FUND.

NEBRASKA WILL RECEIVE $218 MILLION A YEAR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM, HOSPITAL LEADERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THAT MONEY WILL ACTUALLY REACH RURAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

IS THIS FUND ENOUGH TO HELP RURAL HEALTH CARE OVERCOME THE MEDICAID CUTS?

>> WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE RURAL HEALTH CARE TRANSFORMATION FUND, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND I HELP FACILITATE THIS, OVER $1 BILLION IN OUR STATE DIRECTED PAYMENTS PROGRAM IS GOING TO HOSPITALS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

THAT'S ABOUT 28 MILLION FOR SAINT ELIZABETH'S HERE IN LINCOLN.

IT'S ABOUT 84 MILLION FOR BRIAN.

IT'S 10 MILLION FOR FAITH HEALTH.

IN NORFOLK, IT'S 3 MILLION FOR THE HOSPITAL IN DAVID CITY.

THESE ARE STATE DIRECTED PAYMENTS THAT ARE NOT TIED TO FEES FOR SERVICE.

AND YES, THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PLAN, ULTIMATELY THAT'S PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR, BUT IT HELPS RURAL EMS SQUADS WHERE WE NEED MORE TRAINING.

IT CAN BE USED, I THINK, TO HELP WORKFORCE ISSUES IN MCCOOK.

LISTEN, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIALYSIS UNIT IN COLUMBUS AND CHADRON.

THOSE WERE RECENTLY CLOSED AND I RECENTLY VISITED A DIALYSIS CENTER.

THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE THERE.

I'VE SIGNED ON TO A BILL THAT I THINK WILL HELP, BUT THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND I THINK THOSE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION FUNDS CAN BE USED OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

LISTEN, I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA.

I RELY ON RURAL HEALTH CARE, AND I WANT IT TO BE THE BEST IT CAN BE.

>> MR.

AMIR, YOUR RESPONSE?

>> SO I ACTUALLY RECENTLY SPOKE TO A WOMAN WHO'S A DENTIST AT A RURAL CLINIC, ACTUALLY NEAR CONGRESSMAN FLOOD'S HOME IN NORFOLK, AND SHE WAS TELLING ME HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GET PAID FOR THE VERY BASIC SERVICES THAT SHE WOULD PROVIDE AND HOW DESPERATELY THE PEOPLE NEEDED THESE DENTAL SERVICES IN HER PRACTICE.

AND WHEN I ASKED WHETHER SHE HAD SEEN ANY MONEY FROM THIS TRANSFORMATION FUND, SHE SIMPLY SAID NO.

NOW, IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT THERE ARE FIGURES OUT THERE AND AND AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING TO THESE DIFFERENT CLINICS, BUT PEOPLE JUST AREN'T SEEING IT.

WE HAD A HEALTH CARE ROUNDTABLE RECENTLY WHERE WE I MET A WOMAN WHOSE SON IS DISABLED AND WHO NEEDS 24 HOUR CARE, AND SHE NEEDS COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICAID SO THAT SHE CAN GO WORK A 40 HOUR A WEEK JOB.

AND WHAT THEY TOLD HER WAS THAT SHE NEEDED TO PUT HER SON IN A SKILLED FACILITY INSTEAD OF BEING AT HOME, BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T COVER THAT SORT OF THING UNDER MEDICAID.

NOW, THESE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO STOP.

AND THE REALITY IS, IT SEEMS CALLOUS TO JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THESE HUGE CUTS IN MEDICAID IN A BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

AND IT IS CALLOUS.

IT'S HEARTLESS.

>> I'D LIKE A REBUTTAL.

>> 45 SECONDS, CONGRESSMAN.

>> $1 BILLION IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT IN A STATE WITH 2 MILLION PEOPLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDING $1 BILLION IS, IN FACT, SIGNIFICANT.

MY OPPONENT IS OBJECTING TO THE REASONABLE CHANGES WE MADE IN THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT BILL.

I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY THAT IF YOU'RE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, YOU DO NOT GET FREE HEALTH CARE.

I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY TO A 28 YEAR OLD, ABLE BODIED MAN THAT CAN WORK BUT CHOOSES NOT TO WORK.

YOU DON'T GET FREE HEALTH CARE.

WHAT WE DID IN THAT BILL WAS PROTECT MEDICAID, PROTECT MEDICAID FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

AND I HOPE THAT MOTHER OF THAT CHILD CAN KEEP THAT CHILD IN THE HOME FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, IT'S BETTER FOR THE CHILD.

AND NUMBER TWO, IT'S LESS COSTLY THAN A 24 HOUR SKILLED CARE FACILITY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE.

>> MR.

AMIR, 45 SECONDS FOR YOU AS WELL.

>> WELL, I AGREE WITH CONGRESSMAN FLOOD THAT THIS 28 YEAR OLD WHO CAN WORK SHOULDN'T GET FREE HEALTH CARE, BUT I THINK IT SHOWS JUST HOW OUT OF TOUCH HE IS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING MEDICAID, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALL SITTING ON THEIR PARENTS BASEMENT PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.

INSTEAD, THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT I JUST MENTIONED THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET AHEAD, THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET JOBS IN THIS ECONOMY, OR TO MAKE ENOUGH OF A LIVING FOR THE WORK REQUIREMENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO WORK MORE HOURS THAN CONGRESS DID THIS VERY SESSION IN THE 104 DAYS THAT THEY WERE IN.

NOW, LIKE I SAID, THE 28 YEAR OLD SHOULDN'T GET MEDICARE OR SHOULDN'T GET MEDICAID.

BUT I'M FAR MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 50 YEAR OLD WHO GETS $175,000 A YEAR TO REPRESENT NEBRASKANS AND THEN DOESN'T EVEN READ THE BILL BEFORE HE CUTS THE SAME BENEFITS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.

>> FOR THE RECORD.

>> I AM 51.

>> ONCE AGAIN, A REMINDER THAT IF YOU HAVE JOINED US LATE, THAT THIS IS A DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE FLOOD AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHRIS BECKEMEYER.

THE DEBATE IS ALSO BEING BROADCAST STATEWIDE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S RADIO STATIONS AND ON ITS DIGITAL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING YOUTUBE.

>> NOW FOR THE NEXT QUESTION, WE GO FIRST TO MR.

BECKEMEYER.

LOST IN SOME OF THE RHETORIC AROUND IMMIGRATION IS THAT PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDE HAVE CALLED FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION.

WHAT CHANGES TO THE LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MADE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SKILLED WORKERS AND ADDRESS NEBRASKA'S PERSISTENT LABOR SHORTAGE?

>> WELL, LET ME JUST START BY BEING PERFECTLY CLEAR.

I SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER WORKING IN NATIONAL SECURITY, AND LIKE I SAID, I WORKED FOR BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS.

AND I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A STRONG SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN BORDER, AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S COMING ACROSS OUR BORDER, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND WHY.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LAWLESSNESS BY ICE, WHERE WE'VE HAD WOMEN AND CHILDREN, CHILDREN DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE SHOT AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOT IN THE STREET, AND PEOPLE DEPORTED WITHOUT CAUSE.

NOW, THE REALITY IS THAT WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WE NEED TO GET TO WORK.

WE NEED TO SECURE OUR BORDERS WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS.

BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED TO FIND A LEGAL PATHWAY TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT COMPORTS WITH OUR VALUES AND LIVES UP TO THE VALUES THAT WE HOLD SO DEARLY.

>> AND REPRESENTATIVE.

FLOOD YOUR TURN.

>> WELL, TO SPECIFICALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK WITH H2-A VISAS, WHICH ARE USED IN THE AG SECTOR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE THEY'RE SEASONAL.

AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING A DAIRY, THERE'S NOTHING SEASONAL ABOUT A DAIRY.

IT IS 24 OVER SEVEN, 365.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF AG OPERATIONS WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIST.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE MOST SECURE BORDER THAT WE'VE HAD IN 50 YEARS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME.

WE'VE SEEN THE SAFETY OF OUR COUNTRY GO UP.

OUR NATION'S CAPITAL IS LIVABLE AGAIN.

AND I, I HEAR FROM DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS THAT SAY THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING DOWN THE STREETS.

WE CANNOT LOSE WHAT WE'VE DONE AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT AMNESTY.

I DO NOT SUPPORT LETTING PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE ILLEGALLY GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND I DO NOT SUPPORT PEOPLE HERE LEGALLY GETTING STATE SPONSORED BENEFITS.

I THINK THAT IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT LETS PEOPLE COME IN THE RIGHT WAY BY FOLLOWING THE PROCESS, MAKING THE PROCESS OPERATIONAL, AND THEN WELCOMING THEM INTO OUR COUNTRY TO BE HERE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.

>> THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE AND THE PENTAGON RECENTLY PROVIDED NEW COST ESTIMATES FOR THE IRAN WAR OF MORE THAN $30 BILLION.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THE CBO PREDICTS THAT INFLATION WILL BE ABOUT A HALF PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER NEXT YEAR.

HOW WOULD YOU WEIGH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THIS WAR?

FROM LIVES AND EQUIPMENT LOST TO IMPACTS ON FAMILY BUDGETS?

REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

THIS QUESTION GOES TO YOU FIRST.

>> I THINK WE FIRST HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT IS IRAN DONE IN THE WORLD WITH ITS FUNDING OF TERRORISM?

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF ISRAEL IN OCTOBER OF 2023.

IT WAS BRUTAL.

IT WAS BARBARIC.

IT WAS MURDER AND RAPE.

AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED AT THE NORTHERN BORDER.

HEZBOLLAH FIRING ROCKETS IN TO KILL ISRAELIS, AMERICANS BEING KILLED THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THIS NIGHTMARE THAT STARTED IN 1979, A COUNTRY THAT WAKES UP EVERY DAY AND VOWS DEATH TO AMERICA.

LISTEN, I DON'T LIKE SPENDING THE MONEY EITHER.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP ON AMERICAN SOIL SOMEDAY.

WHEN A REGIME THAT HATES AMERICA DEPLOYS A CHEMICAL WEAPON THAT TAKES OUT A STADIUM FULL OF PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE INTERESTS.

MY OPPONENT HAD HIS CHANCE.

HE WAS ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE FAILED IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

IT, WHEN THE DUST SETTLED, ALLOWED IRAN TO KEEP ITS NUCLEAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAVE ACCESS TO TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FUND ITS TERRORISM EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THAT'S NOT IN THE AMERICAN INTEREST THAT I SEE.

>> MR.

AMIR NEXT TO YOU.

BUT YOU WILL HAVE 60S TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

AND THEN A 45 SECOND REBUTTAL.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, IT'S EASY TO USE SLOGANS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPLICATED NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.

THE REALITY IS, THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL THAT I HELPED NEGOTIATE HAD SUCH STRICT OVERSIGHT THAT IT WOULDN'T ALLOW IRAN TO HAVE EVEN ONE WEAPON'S WORTH OF ENRICHED NUCLEAR URANIUM.

NOW, IRAN HAS TEN WEAPONS WORTH OF ENRICHED URANIUM.

THAT'S NOT PROGRESS.

THAT'S NOT SUCCESS IN THIS PARTICULAR CONFLICT.

IRAN IS STILL CONTROLLED BY AN EVIL DICTATOR.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE EITHER.

THE IRANIAN PEOPLE ARE STILL NO BETTER OFF THAN WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP FIRST OFFERED TO HELP.

AND WE ARE NOW BEING HELD OVER THE BARREL IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, WITH HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES, HIGHER FERTILIZER PRICES AND HIGHER GROCERY PRICES, NOT TO MENTION THE INCREASED RISK OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS COME FROM THIS RECKLESS WAR.

NOW, THE REALITY IS I HAVE SAT IN THE SITUATION ROOM, I HAVE READ THE INTELLIGENCE.

I KNOW HOW BIG OF A THREAT IRAN IS.

I DON'T I DON'T UNDERAPPRECIATE THAT ONE BIT, BUT THE REALITY IS YOU NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK, THAT'S GOING TO GET THE URANIUM OUT OF IRAN, THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR HAS NOT DONE THAT.

>> AND THAT'S YOUR TIME.

ON THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

AND NOW YOUR REBUTTAL.

>> IS THIS MY REBUTTAL OR HIS REBUTTAL?

>> HIS SORRY TO MR.

BECKMEYER.

>> HOW DOES HE GET A REBUTTAL AS WELL?

>> IT WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS ANSWER.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL I WOULD SAY IS THAT I HAVE SERVED BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS, AND I HAVE WORKED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING TO COMBAT THE THREAT OF TERRORISM THAT HIT US ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, AND TO COMBAT THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT.

AND I HAVE WORKED FAITHFULLY COMING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

IT TAKES MORE THAN SLOGANS.

IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST SAYING WE NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE.

IT TAKES SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP TO WORK AND DO THEIR JOB.

AND ALL I CAN SAY IS 104 DAYS OF THIS, CONGRESS IS JUST NOT DOING ITS JOB.

>> CONGRESSMAN FLOOD, 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> YOU KNOW, THE JOB OF BEING A CONGRESSMAN IS VERY LOCAL.

AND I'LL CONCEDE, I THINK MY OPPONENT KNOWS MORE ABOUT IRAN THAN HE DOES NEBRASKA.

WHEN YOU GO TO WEST POINT, THEY'RE NOT ASKING ME ABOUT THE MUNITIONS IN IRAN.

THEY'RE ASKING ME HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET A NEW HOME FOR THE TEACHER THAT JUST GOT A JOB AT GUARDIAN ANGELS.

YOU GO OVER TO MILFORD AND YOU WATCH THE HOPPY ORGANIZATION TURN A NURSING HOME INTO 35 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU GO OVER TO SKYLER AND THEY'RE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FIX THEIR FLOODPLAIN, OR HOW STANTON GOING TO FIX THE HUMBUG BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 275.

THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I KNOW HE'S GOT A FOREIGN POLICY BACKGROUND, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THIS DISTRICT, IT WANTS SHOE LEATHER ON THE GROUND IN SEWARD, IN TOWNS THAT HE'S NEVER HEARD OF.

>> THANK YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE.

MOVING ON.

WHAT ARE THE TOP CONCERNS YOU'RE HEARING FROM NEBRASKANS AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THEM?

MR.

BACHMEIER, WE WILL GO TO YOU FIRST.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ACROSS THIS DISTRICT TALKING TO PEOPLE, THEY DO CARE ABOUT THIS WAR IN IRAN.

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE THEY CAN FEEL THE PRICES THAT THEY ARE PAYING AT THE GASOLINE PUMP.

THEY KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THEY'RE PAYING FOR FERTILIZER.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO A FARMER THE OTHER DAY WHO WAS CALCULATING HOW MUCH HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND FOR HIS COMBINE WHEN HE STARTS HARVESTING THIS YEAR, AND HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND $500 A DAY, THANKS TO THESE $6 DIESEL PRICES THAT WE'RE ENJOYING ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS WAR IN IRAN.

NOW WE I HAVE BEEN AROUND THIS DISTRICT.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE SUPPOSED WORKING FAMILY TAX CUTS.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THESE MEDICAID CUTS.

NOBODY BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE GETTING A THAT THEY ARE IN A BETTER POSITION NOW THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD RECKLESS TRADE POLICY, WE'VE HAD RECKLESS FOREIGN POLICY.

BUT THE REALITY IS WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT CONGRESS HAS JUST RUBBER STAMPED IT ALL ALONG THE WAY.

CONGRESSMAN FLOOD HAS VOTED 100% OF THE TIME WITH WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS ASKED HIM TO DO.

AND NOW WE CAN SEE HOW THAT HAS TURNED OUT.

>> THANK YOU, MR.

BACHMEIER.

REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD, THIS IS YOUR TURN TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> CHRIS.

>> HAD 60S AND YOU TALKED ABOUT PROBLEMS.

WHAT'S HIS PLAN?

IS HE GOING TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE MILITARY, UNDERNEATH THE PRESIDENT, AND SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN DID IN AFGHANISTAN?

LISTEN, AFFORDABILITY IS THE ISSUE.

AFFORDABILITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE.

DIESEL PRICES ARE THE ISSUE.

EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE TO FIX THAT, JUST LIKE HOME AFFORDABILITY IS THE ISSUE.

AND I WROTE THE BILL THAT IS NOW LAW TO ADDRESS THAT.

LISTEN, IN DECEMBER, I WENT TO THE PEOPLE'S CITY MISSION IN LINCOLN.

IT WAS A COLD DAY OUT, AND I WAS THERE WITH PASTOR TOM, AND I LOOKED IN THAT ROOM AND I SAW THE BETTER PART OF 40 WOMEN, SOME WITH CHILDREN, ON MATTRESSES NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THIS DISTRICT, THAT HOMELESSNESS, THAT DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHOUSED AND MAKING SURE THEY GET HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LINCOLN, WITH THE HOP DEVELOPMENT FOLKS, TO GET A COMMUNITY MEDICAL CLINIC IN A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ACROSS FROM THE CASEYS ON 13TH STREET.

I'M ON THE GROUND FINDING SOLUTIONS.

I'M WORKING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER BY ACTUALLY COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE, FEEL, AND BENEFIT FROM.

>> THANK YOU.

MOVING ON.

NEBRASKA SAW A 329% INCREASE IN ICE ARRESTS DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST TERM.

REPORTING ALSO SHOWED THAT 16% OF NEBRASKANS DETAINED IN 2024 HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD.

WHAT'S THE BEST PATH FORWARD TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT SPURRING FEAR AND VIOLATING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS?

WE'LL GO TO REPRESENTATIVE FLOYD FIRST FOR THIS QUESTION.

>> I SUPPORT ICE AND CBP DOING THEIR JOB.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DEMOCRATS, REFUSED TO FUND OUR BORDER PATROL OR IMMIGRATIONS CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THIS WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN UP IN MINNESOTA WAS TOO MUCH.

IT WAS NOT RIGHT.

AND I SPOKE OUT ON THE SECOND TIME THERE WAS A FATALITY AT THE HANDS OF AN ICE AGENT.

I FELT, AND I THINK THE REST OF AMERICA FELT A HUGE LUMP IN HER THROAT, THAT THAT WAS NOT RIGHT.

AND I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP QUICKLY PIVOTED FROM SECRETARY NOEM AND BROUGHT TOM HOMAN BACK INTO THE MIX.

I WAS MEETING WITH TOM HOMAN THE DAY THAT SHE WAS LET GO AS DHS SECRETARY.

HE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO THE FUNDAMENTALS, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EXPERIENCE OFFICERS AND FOLLOWING THE THE USE OF FORCE PROTOCOLS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE TRAINED ON.

WE'VE SEEN A CHANGE SINCE MINNESOTA, AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO SUGARCOAT IT.

WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA WAS NOT RIGHT.

IT MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.

AND I'M GLAD WE'RE ON A MUCH A BETTER PATH TODAY.

>> MR.

BECKMEYER, YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WELL, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE HEARD CONDEMNATION LIKE THAT WHEN THESE.

ACTS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS, BECAUSE LET'S REMEMBER, WE HAD TWO AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOT DEAD IN THE STREET BY ICE.

WE'VE HAD FAMILIES DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE DEPORTED WITHOUT THE BASIC DUE PROCESS THAT OUR SYSTEM GUARANTEES.

NOW, I, AS I MENTIONED, BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONG SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN BORDER.

BUT I CANNOT STAND BY WHEN WE SEE THIS SORT OF VIOLATION OF OUR BASIC RULE OF LAW.

ICE CURRENTLY HAS A BIGGER BUDGET THAN THE US MARINE CORPS.

NOW THINK ABOUT THAT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

ICE HAS A BIGGER BUDGET THAN ALL OF OUR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES COMBINED.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO ABOLISH ICE, BUT WE NEED TO REIN IT IN, AND WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS MISSION POST NINE OVER 11, WHERE IT WAS CHARGED WITH COUNTERTERRORISM AND CROSS-BORDER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT IT CAN AND SHOULD DO.

BUT THIS SORT OF DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

>> I'D LIKE A REBUTTAL.

>> MR.

CONGRESSMAN FLOOD 45 SECONDS.

>> SO, MR.

BECKER BECCA MEYER WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN CONGRESS TO VOTE TO FUND THE BORDER PATROL.

HE JUST STATED THAT HE'S FOR A STRONG SOUTHERN BORDER.

NOT ONE DEMOCRAT VOTED TO FUND THE BORDER PATROL.

NOT ONE DEMOCRAT VOTED TO FUND ICE.

WE HAD TO USE A 1974 PROVISION IN FEDERAL LAW TO GO AROUND THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO DO IT, WHICH WAS A SORRY MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY.

LISTEN, IF HE GETS TO CONGRESS, HE'LL BE VOTING FOR HAKEEM JEFFRIES.

HE'LL BE DOING WHAT HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAYS.

HE'LL BE IN THE BOAT WITH THE REST OF THEM.

THEY DON'T WANT TO FUND ICE.

THEY DON'T WANT THE BORDER PATROL.

THEY WANT TO DRAW A HARD LINE.

AND THEY FORCED TO FORCED US TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE LONG TERM INSTITUTION OF CONGRESS.

>> MR.

AMIR 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE OF US ON THIS STAGE WHO HAS FAILED TO STAND UP TO ANYTHING OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THAT'S CONGRESSMAN FLOOD.

HE HAS DONE WHATEVER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ASKED HIM TO DO, AND HE'S DONE WHATEVER SEEMS TO BE THE MOST POLITICALLY FEASIBLE.

>> NOT TRUE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> NOW, THE REALITY IS, IF I AM ELECTED TO CONGRESS, I WILL STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT I WILL ALSO STAND UP TO HAKEEM JEFFRIES IF HE HAS PROPOSALS THAT ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF NEBRASKA AND THE FIRST DISTRICT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVERY CONGRESS MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD DO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PARTY WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CONGRESS ARE OF THE SAME PARTY.

WE NEED TO BE WORKING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND STAND UP WHEN THERE ARE REAL ISSUES.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT CONGRESSMAN FLOOD JUST HASN'T DONE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

NEBRASKA'S FIRST DISTRICT IS HOME TO OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE AND STRATCOM.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO KEEP OR EXPAND THAT INVESTMENT IN NATIONAL SECURITY?

AND WE'LL START WITH YOU, MR.

BECKMEYER.

>> WELL, I BELIEVE IN A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK AT OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE AND U.S.

STRATEGIC COMMAND.

THEY'RE A VITAL COMPONENT OF OUR ARMED FORCES AND OF OUR ABILITY TO PROJECT POWER OVERSEAS.

AND THEY'RE BRAVE AND WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

AND I THINK WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM TO DO IS TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY'RE ASKED TO PUT THEIR THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

ASK ABOUT YOUR STRATEGY FOR WHY YOU'RE GETTING INTO WAR.

WHAT ARE YOUR OBJECTIVES?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT?

NOW, YOU MIGHT STILL SUPPORT IT, AND WE MIGHT STILL NEED TO USE MILITARY FORCE.

AS I SAID, I'M NO PACIFIST, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE OWE THESE MEN AND WOMEN OUR REPRESENTATION.

HARD QUESTIONS, NOT JUST RUBBER STAMPS.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT CONGRESSMAN FLOOD RUBBER STAMPED THIS WAR SIX TIMES THIS YEAR WITHOUT ASKING QUESTIONS, WITHOUT EXPRESSING DOUBT, WITHOUT EVEN BLINKING.

>> CONGRESSMAN, YOU HAVE 60S TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT OFFUTT AND STRATCOM.

AND THEN 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> YOU ASKED MY OPPONENT ABOUT OFTEN STRATCOM.

HE TALKED ABOUT HARD DECISIONS.

LISTEN, HERE'S WHAT THEY'VE TOLD ME THEY NEED.

THEY NEED THE MARTIN BOMBER BUILDING REPLACED.

IT IS A MONSTROSITY AND IT WILL HELP THEM BUILD THEIR FURTHER CAMPUS OUT.

ADMIRAL CARROLL TALKS ABOUT THE NEED TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE ISSUES.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THE BELLEVUE AND OMAHA AREA AS ATTRACTIVE TO NEW AIRMEN AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN THOSE IT PROFESSIONALS.

SO WORKFORCE RETENTION IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT MATTERS QUITE A BIT.

THERE.

LISTEN, I BRING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE EVERY YEAR FOR THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.

I BRING BETWEEN 3 AND 5 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

I SHOW THEM OFF AT AIR FORCE BASE SO THAT WHEN THEY GET BACK, THEY CAN FUND THE PRIORITIES THAT THE ADMIRAL AND THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE AT STRATCOM AND OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE.

I SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT KNOWING THOSE AIRMEN ARE ON THE JOB, WATCHING THE SKIES TOGETHER WITH THEIR NAVY AND THEIR ARMY AND THEIR MARINE COUNTERPARTS.

WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THIS BASE IN NEBRASKA, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL THAT LOVE AND THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROTECT AND KEEP AMERICA SAFE.

>> AND NOW YOUR 30S FOR A REBUTTAL.

EXCUSE ME, 45 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> WELL, I AGREE WITH CONGRESSMAN FLOOD.

OUR SOLDIERS, OUR AIR FORCE.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.

BUT THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING SERIOUSLY THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CRITIQUING PLANS TO PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY.

NOW, I WAS PARTICULARLY ASTONISHED AS WE WATCHED THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN LIMP BACK INTO REPORT AFTER IT HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE PERSIAN GULF FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

WE CAN DO BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE CAN DO BETTER TO SUPPORT OUR ARMED FORCES THAN TO CUT THEIR VA SERVICES THROUGH THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

WE OWE A DEBT OF OBLIGATION TO THESE TO THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS IN TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT OF UP TO TWO MINUTES.

SINCE MR.

BACHMEIER GAVE THE FIRST OPENING STATEMENT, REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD WILL START THE CLOSING STATEMENTS.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WATCHING TONIGHT AT HOME.

IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE VOLLEYBALL GAME, WE HOPE THIS WAS AS IMPORTANT AS THAT.

BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA FOR HOSTING US.

LISTEN, IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM TONIGHT'S DEBATE, I HOPE IT'S THIS.

I'VE BUILT MY LIFE HERE.

I LISTEN AND I GET RESULTS.

I KNOW WHAT VALUES THE COMMUNITY HAS.

WORK HARD, LOOK AFTER YOUR NEIGHBORS AND DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

I LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITIES IN THIS DISTRICT AND THEN I ACT ON IT.

I KNOW THAT AG PRODUCERS WANT A TWO YEAR OR FIVE YEAR FARM BILL, BECAUSE I HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT IT AT COFFEE.

I KNOW THAT THE LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS FUNDING FOR ITS POLICE RADIOS, BECAUSE I'M IN TOUCH WITH LINCOLN CITY OFFICIALS.

I TAKE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO WASHINGTON.

I FIND SOLUTIONS, AND THEN I GET THOSE SOLUTIONS OVER THE FINISH LINE.

MY OPPONENT AND I ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.

CHRIS HAS A LOT OF WASHINGTON IN HIM.

HE'S REALLY GOOD AT TELLING YOU ALL THE PROBLEMS.

BUT I HAVE A RECORD AS A PUBLIC SERVICE, SOMEBODY WHO'S GIVEN A LOT OF TIME TO PUBLIC SERVICE OF GETTING THINGS DONE AND FINDING SOLUTIONS.

I LIVE HERE, I LISTEN, AND I DELIVER.

THAT'S WHY I REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE TO PASS LANDMARK HOUSING LEGISLATION THAT INCREASES SUPPLY AND LOWERS COSTS.

THAT'S WHY I VOTED TO INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT TO 2200 PER CHILD.

AND THAT'S WHY, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, OUT OF 435 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I AM THE NINTH MOST SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING FEDERAL DOLLARS BACK TO THIS DISTRICT.

AND I'M NOT EVEN ON THE POWERFUL APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

LISTEN, ONE OF US ON THIS STAGE TONIGHT HAS ACTUALLY REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE AND SOLVED PROBLEMS.

I'VE BUILT MY LIFE HERE.

I LISTEN AND I GET RESULTS.

I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR VOTE THIS FALL IN THIS ELECTION.

IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD.

MR.

BACHMEIER.

YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES.

>> WELL, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY LISTENING TONIGHT AND WATCHING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

CONGRESSMAN FLOOD HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO TRY TO PAINT ME AS VERY EXTREME TONIGHT.

SO I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST TAKE A CHANCE TO TRY TO TELL THE TRUTH.

I'M A FIFTH GENERATION NEBRASKAN.

I'M A DAD OF THREE KIDS.

I AM NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN BECAUSE I DEVOTED MY CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER NINE OVER 11, BECAUSE I WANTED TO STOP OUR COUNTRY FROM BEING ATTACKED AGAIN.

I WENT TO WORK UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS, TWO DEMOCRATS AND TWO REPUBLICANS, AND I SHOWED UP TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO I AM THE ONE ON THIS STAGE WHO HAS WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE.

I AM THE ONE WHO HAS WORKED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

BECAUSE NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEMS OR ANY PROBLEMS, DOMESTIC ECONOMY, WHATEVER IT IS THEY REQUIRE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SHOW UP, DO THE WORK AND FIND A SOLUTION NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE.

AND SO THAT'S THE SORT OF PUBLIC SERVICE SPIRIT SPIRIT THAT I WILL BRING TO WASHINGTON.

I WILL FIGHT TO BRING DOWN COSTS AND PUT MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKET.

I WILL FIGHT AND WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, IF POSSIBLE, TO FIX OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

AND I WILL FIGHT TO BRING AN END TO THIS WAR IN IRAN SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT $1 BILLION A DAY THAT IT IS COSTING US AND REINVEST IT IN OUR FUTURE AND BRING DOWN OUR NATIONAL DEBT.

BUT I WOULD ASK A QUESTION TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

ASK YOURSELVES, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY AND OF OUR STATE?

DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING?

IF SO, CONGRESSMAN FLOOD IS YOUR GUY BECAUSE A VOTE FOR HIM IS A VOTE FOR TWO MORE YEARS OF THE SAME.

TWO MORE YEARS OF TARIFFS AND HIGH PRICES.

TWO MORE YEARS OF HEALTH CARE CUTS AND BILLIONAIRE TAX CUTS.

TWO MORE YEARS OF WAR AND TWO MORE YEARS OF A WEAK AND OBEDIENT CONGRESS THAT WILL RUBBERSTAMP ANYTHING IT IS ASKED TO DO.

INSTEAD, I INTEND TO TAKE MY VALUES THAT I LEARNED HERE IN NEBRASKA, WHERE I WILL REPRESENT YOU.

THANK YOU.

I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

>> THANK YOU.

MR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF IT, IT WILL BE REBROADCAST AT 11 P.M.

CENTRAL TONIGHT, AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN FULL ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.ORG AND OMAHA.COM.

AND DON'T FORGET, WE WILL ALSO BE HOSTING A DEBATE FOR CANDIDATES IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AT 7 P.M.

CENTRAL ON OCTOBER 14TH.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN TO REPRESENTATIVE FLOOD AND MR.

BACHMEIER FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEBATE AND TO OUR CREW.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO JOINED US THIS EVENING.

I'M JACKI URATA, ALONG WITH ERIN SANDERFORD.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> GOOD NIGHT.