By Ian Mason, WOWT 6.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Sen. Pete Ricketts hosted his second Federal Issues Forum at the Nebraska State Fair Friday morning. 

The event included a legislative update from Ricketts and two panel discussions on federal issues facing Nebraskans. 

It comes after Ricketts hosted his first-ever federal issues forum last year on challenges facing Nebraska agriculture.

“This federal issues forum is an opportunity to discuss the progress we’ve made in delivering results for Nebraskans,” Ricketts said. “We’re protecting families, securing the border and fostering a stronger economy. I encourage Nebraskans to attend.”

Guests to the panel included Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, as well as the Republican Senate Majority Whip, John Barrasso from Wyoming. 

Ricketts started off the forum by talking about the passage of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ President Donald Trumps controversial signature legislation 

Ricketts said he thinks that the law will be bringing in money to states to go to rural hospitals, curb migration and help Nebraska families.

“This idea that we’re not going to tax overtime, I’m getting people signing up to like getting on a waiting list to be able to work overtime,” Ricketts said. “Before they had to actually kind of beg people to do the overtime.”

Ricketts comments about rural healthcare, as well as migration, set off some members in the crowd.

Viewers who did not remain silent were forced to leave the assembly, to cheers of those remaining. 

Zeldin took a different tone when speaking, telling reporters that he wants to work with both sides of the aisle.

“The most conservative, to the most liberal,” Zeldin said. “Republican governors, and Democratic governors. And you don’t understand that sometimes there will be, you know, total overlap on a particular policy, other times, there will be less.”

Sen. John Barrasso spent his time talking with Ricketts mainly about the budget package. 

“There is so much good in it,” Sen. Barrasso said. “As you talk about the different good parts, different good parts make different people happy.”

Read more: https://www.wowt.com/2025/08/29/live-10-am-ricketts-host-federal-issues-forum-nebraska-state-fair/