[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2554-H2555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                        NEBRASKA WILDFIRE CRISIS

  (Mr. Smith of Nebraska was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues 
to join me in keeping the people of Nebraska in their thoughts and 
prayers as our State confronts the worst wildfire crisis in our 
history.
  Nebraska has always been defined by resilience. From the pioneers who 
endured brutal blizzards, devastating droughts, and an uncertain future 
to build a life on the Great Plains, to the families who call it home 
today, that spirit has never left us. It is who we are.
  Today, that spirit is being tested once again. On March 12, four 
fires ignited across central and western Nebraska. In less than a week, 
they have burned over 826,000 acres, and there is still no clear end in 
sight.
  This past weekend, I joined Governor Pillen and Senator Ricketts to 
tour the affected areas and meet with local officials to learn about 
the latest containment efforts. What I saw and heard was certainly 
sobering. The scale of this devastation is staggering.
  Across 10 counties, no less than 46 structures have been destroyed 
and 470 more are threatened. At least 600 Nebraskans have had to 
evacuate their homes, and 1 Nebraskan, Rose White of Arthur, Nebraska, 
has lost her life. I certainly take a moment to offer my heartfelt 
condolences to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and 
all who knew and loved her.
  Right now, these fires continue to burn, and Mother Nature is not 
predicted to be of any assistance any time soon. The Morrill fire, now 
the largest wildfire in Nebraska's history, has already burned more 
than 643,000 acres

[[Page H2555]]

and is only 16 percent contained. The Cottonwood fire has taken over 
131,000 acres and is just 40 percent contained. Road 203 fire has 
burned more than 35,000 acres and is only 36 percent contained, and the 
Anderson Bridge fire has burned up to 17,000 acres and is 60 percent 
contained.
  Yet, even in the face of this disaster, Nebraskans are doing what we 
have always done, and that is coming together. Neighbors are helping 
neighbors. Unaffected communities across our State are sending their 
support, and a countless number of brave volunteer firefighters and 
first responders continue to work around the clock, putting everything 
on the line to protect lives, land, and livelihoods.
  Governor Pillen has deployed the Nebraska National Guard, and Iowa 
Governor Kim Reynolds has sent Iowa National Guard helicopters with 
Bambi Buckets and crews trained for firefighting operations to assist 
in these efforts. This is what it means to look out for one another.
  While this fight is far from over, we must remember what is at stake. 
Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy and a way of life for 
countless families. These fires are not just burning land. They are 
threatening livelihoods.
  Heading into the summer, it is expected that more than 35,000 head of 
cattle will be without grass this grazing season. Tens of millions of 
dollars' worth of fencing, fence lines, and other crucial 
infrastructure have been lost. This means for many producers that the 
hardship will continue long after the fires are contained.
  I ask those producers to please document their losses when it is safe 
to do so. Federal disaster assistance programs are available, and I 
want to ensure that support is received for those who are eligible.
  I also will take a moment to be honest about what is happening here 
in Washington. While Nebraska is battling the worst wildfire in our 
State's history, Senate Democrats are continuing to hold funding for 
the Department of Homeland Security hostage, putting future FEMA 
disaster relief funding at risk. Enough is enough. Disaster relief and 
other vital programs, including TSA and others, should never be used as 
a political pawn.
  All Nebraskans should know that they have the full support of the 
entire Nebraska Federal delegation, and we stand ready to help in any 
way that we can. We have faced tough times before, and we have always 
come through them stronger together. We will do that again now because 
that is who we are as Nebraskans.

                          ____________________