U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) spoke with Nebraska media this week to highlight recent successes in assisting constituents with federal casework. During his regular press call, Ricketts described the efforts of his office to help Nebraskans navigate federal bureaucracy and recover funds.
“I’m proud of our work to cut red tape and deliver wins for Nebraskans,” said Ricketts. “In 2024, we helped nearly 800 Nebraskans access federal services. We also helped constituents save or recover nearly $5 million from the federal government. We continue that work this year and have already returned $1.3 million in constituent savings for Nebraskans.”
Ricketts explained that his team operates offices in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, and Washington, D.C., providing assistance on matters involving agencies such as Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and the Internal Revenue Service.
He shared specific examples from recent months. One involved a disabled veteran named Richard from the Panhandle who was notified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that he owed nearly $20,000 due to an outdated dependent status. After contacting Ricketts’ office for help submitting paperwork—a process complicated by Richard’s disability—the senator’s staff intervened with the VA to update his records and eliminate the debt.
Another case involved a healthcare provider in Eastern Nebraska not being listed as an in-network option on TRICARE’s website despite serving military members and their families. The omission led to confusion among patients and significant lost revenue for the provider. Ricketts’ team contacted TriWest, which manages TRICARE’s regional network, resulting in an update to both TRICARE’s contractor site and the VA website so that beneficiaries could see the provider listed correctly.
“These are just two of many examples of how my team and I work every day to help Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy,” said Ricketts during his call with reporters. “We’re continuing the fight to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure federal agencies serve the people.”
Ricketts emphasized ongoing priorities such as streamlining government operations and reducing taxes on Social Security benefits, tips, and military retirement income.
“We’re going to continue delivering excellent customer service for our constituents,” he said. “Nebraskans deserve nothing less.”
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