* 77%
CONSERVATIVE AVERAGE
13%
LIBERAL AVERAGE
12%
LIBERAL
88%
CONSERVATIVE
One of the Republicans who voted for the 2018 Omnibus Spending package on March 22, 2018. The vehicle for the roll call vote was H.R. 1625. The package included continued funding for Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities, no funding for new border wall construction, and no funding for Veterans Affairs reforms.
Key votes from Vote Smart
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life begins at conception, and all life is precious. Abortion should be allowed in those rare cases where it is necessary to save the life of the mother. We must take every step to ensure that the most innocent among us are protected. The core of my beliefs here starts with the premise that "we are created in God's image."
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Right now, the math behind Social Security just doesn't work. There are several options on the table that I have been considering, but this will take a combination of a lot of good ideas to fix. There is no magic pill to instantly solve the Social Security shortfall for future generations. One idea I'm strongly considering is raising the income cap for Social Security deductions. Another idea may be to raise the retirement age for those who are currently under 40. Ultimately, people have paid into the system and it is the job of Congress to ensure they have access to those funds at retirement. We will need a bipartisan approach to preserve Social Security.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Balancing the budget will be difficult but we must strive to do so by reducing spending and economic growth. About 70% of our outlays are non-discretionary, such as interest on our debt and Medicare, two extremely important items to pay for. We should keep spending increases within inflation rates, cut unnecessary programs, and continue boosting the economy to create more revenue for the government. That is our best hope of balancing the budget and reducing our debt.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
A student takes out a loan knowing it will need to be repaid. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for student loan costs. However, student loan debt is far too high and we must find ways to reduce the skyrocketing cost of education. I do support allowing individuals to refinance loans if better rates found. We also could help pay for college debt if a person serves our country in various ways. National service is a potential solution.
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of our First Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Separation of church and state is often misinterpreted, but the original intent of our founders was to prohibit government from involving itself in the activities of a religion. It secured religious freedom for the American people. Citizens must always have right to exercise their faith freely inside and outside of their homes and churches.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Our healthcare system is top notch. Our doctors, nurses, and technicians are well-trained and care about their patients. This is often not the case in other countries with socialized healthcare. We must keep our private insurance plans in place without restricting freedom of choice for the consumer. However, we can still do things to strengthen the system. I support certain aspects about the Affordable Care Act, such as guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions. Our focus now must be on reducing costs, increasing transparency, and preventing a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare that would allow government bureaucrats to make decisions about your family's treatment options. I support association pools (like the Farm Bureau) and introducing generic drugs on market faster. We need more competition. I support direct taxpayer support to offset high risk premiums, which will also reduce cost for low risk premiums. This lowered cost of healthcare in states that used this approach.
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
As a 30 year Air Force veteran and retired brigadier general, I know a problem when I see one. When I was first elected in 2016, our military was drastically depleted. Only three of the 58 Army combat brigades were able to deploy, our Air Force equipment is older and more outdated than it has ever been, and we had reduced training requirements. I had a major role in fixing these problems and we are now on the path to restoring our national defense to a strong position. This will have a big impact on eradicating the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. We cannot allow ISIS or AQ gain a foothold in any territory where it can export terror. I deployed four times to Middle East and understand this threat better than far most in Congress.
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The United States is a melting pot of people from all over the world and their descendants, and this is part of what makes our nation great. We should welcome immigrants who follow the law and come into our country the right way. Our border must be controlled to prevent illegal crossings and trafficking activities, but legal immigration is a good thing for the United States. I do like a merit system that brings immigrants into our country that have skill sets we need.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. I begin each day with a chapter from both the Old and New Testaments, actively volunteer with my church, and participate in weekly Bible studies.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
The list of bills I sponsored and co-sponsored is public at Congress.gov. I scored 100% from pro-life groups and Family Research Council. I support a permanent pathway for DACA and TPS, but I also support building the border wall to increase our national security and reduce trafficking and illegal crossings. I support policies that would strengthen our economy and create jobs, like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I support President Trump's economic policy and his efforts to rebuild our manufacturing economy and protect our cyber infrastructure from foreign threats. The Omaha World-Herald called me a "pragmatic conservative" and that title fits.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
It is an honor and a privilege to represent the people of Nebraska's Second District in Congress. I am working as hard as I can to keep the promises I made to you and to be your voice in Washington. Together, we can continue to find conservative and pragmatic solutions to the problems facing our district and nation. My priorities have always been to defend our freedoms, ensure we have a strong national security strategy, and strengthen the land of opportunity where anyone can achieve their dreams through hard work and character. I commit to serving this district with the civility and integrity Nebraskans expect.
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We absolutely do not need more restrictions than are already in place. Instead, we must enforce existing laws. I passed a bill that makes it easier for law enforcement agencies to communicate with one another - something that was sorely needed and highly requested by our law enforcement community. We cannot punish the 99% of people who are law-abiding or erode our Constitutional rights. We need to enforce Straw Purchase laws that have largely been ignored by prosecutors.
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
I've had six bills passed out of the House in just over three years, and I've co-sponsored 327 more as of March 23, 2020. This does not include the work our team has done for national defense, which has included dozens of my priority items being passed into law. Some areas where I plan to continue to focus are: 1. Helping families and small businesses recover from coronavirus 2. Strengthening the foster care system for youth 3. Aiding law enforcement and our first responders
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism and anti-Semitism are definitely a problem and they manifest themselves in many different ways. Militant white nationalist groups still exist, and they should be shunned by everyone. We've seen some terrorism acts by groups or individuals professing racist beliefs. There is absolutely no place in the United States for racism or anti-Semitism.
