Page 11 - Nebraska Report Nov Dec 2020

Keeping Up Political Contacts

with COVID-19 The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comment Line: 202-456-1111
202-456-1414; Fax 202-456-2993
www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Submitted by NFP COVID-19 Commit- The world’s understanding of the
tee (Tom Genung, Kathy Niece & Mark disease was constantly changing but Sen. Deb Fischer
Welsch) our committee was able to monitor and 454 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
respond since we met weekly by Zoom. Washington, D.C. 20510
Colder weather is here now and folks On March 19, 2020, Governor Pete 202-224-6551
throughout Nebraska are looking forward Ricketts directed restaurants and bars in 202-228-1325 (FAX)
to the upcoming holiday season as they Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington 402-391-3411 (Omaha)
enjoy a typical autumn. counties to close their dining/seating areas 402-441-4600 (Lincoln)
Hmm. That is what we would like and move to takeout, carry-out, or delivery www.fischer.senate.gov
to write but this is not a typical autumn only. This action came after the Douglas Sen. Ben Sasse
107 Russell Senate Office Building
When this worldwide problem started hitting Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4224
close to home in early April as outbreaks of the 402-476-1400 (Lincoln)
virus reached meatpacking plants and their www.sasse.senate.gov
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Dist. 1
communities, Nebraskans for Peace formed a 1517 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
small COVID-19 committee to monitor, advocate 202-225-4806
for and act on behalf of those affected most 402-438-1598 (Lincoln)
http://fortenberry.house.gov
adversely by the coronavirus. Rep. Don Bacon
1024 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
because this is not a typical year. School, County Public Health Department re- Phone: (202) 225-4155
Husker football, family visits and travel ported its second case of COVID-19 that https://bacon.house.gov/
have all been disrupted due to a global officials could not trace to its origin (com- Rep. Adrian Smith, District 3
pandemic, COVID-19, that has killed over monly known as a “community spread” 502 Cannon HOB
1.3 million people worldwide, including case). Ricketts has issued changing direc- Washington, DC 20515
250,000 in the United States and nearly tives depending on the severity of spread, Phone: (202) 225-6435
800 in Nebraska as of this writing. and available beds in hospitals, in the state. Fax: (202) 225-0207
When this worldwide problem started He has also steadfastly refused to issue any https://adriansmith.house.gov/
hitting close to home in early April as out- sort of mandate to require residents to wear Capitol Hill 202-224-3121
breaks of the virus reached meatpacking a face mask, even though the Centers for
plants and their communities, Nebraskans Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) State Capitol 402-471-2311
for Peace formed a small COVID-19 com- updated recommendations about their State Senator, District #
mittee to monitor, advocate for and act on importance. State Capitol; PO Box 94604
behalf of those affected most adversely by Lincoln and Lancaster County, de- Lincoln, NE 68509-4604
the coronavirus. Initially we urged and spite threats of a lawsuit by Ricketts, is- Governor Pete Ricketts
successfully got some Nebraska health sued a mask mandate to slow the spread P.O. Box 94848
departments to track and report more of the virus. The Omaha City Council and Lincoln, NE 68509-4848
details about the cases, such as ethnicity. Mayor similarly responded by passing 402-471-2244; Fax 402-471-6031
It soon became clear that People of Color ordinances that require the wearing of https://governor.nebraska.gov/
(POC) were—and still are —being hit the
hardest by COVID-19. conclusion on page 14
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 NE REPORT, P. 11