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<h2>Kishla Askins: U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels must be rooted in law</h2>For almost 250 years, the United States has thrived because it built a system grounded in law, accountability, and disciplined leadership. This is what carried the nation through world wars, economic upheaval, and moments of profound uncertainty. American strength has never come from sudden force or political bravado. It has come from the legitimacy of a constitutional republic that acts with restraint, clarity, and purpose. That commitment is what separates democratic governance from the instability and coercion that define authoritarian regimes. That foundation is now under pressure. Since September, the United States has conducted lethal airstrikes on small vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, described as targeting traffickers linked to Venezuela and neighboring states. As of mid November, at least 83 people have been killed across 21 strikes, with only two known survivors. Reports from families and independent observers indicate that many of those killed were fishers and civilians. United Nations experts and international law scholars warn that these strikes lack a clear self-defense basis and may violate international law. At the same time, the United States has assembled the largest naval presence in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis. On November 29, the president declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety” and signaled willingness to conduct operations on Venezuelan soil. With American personnel positioned near direct action inside a sovereign nation, a critical constitutional question emerges: under what authority? No one person possesses unilateral authority to invade or conduct sustained operations on foreign soil without congressional authorization, a legitimate self-defense justification, or an established international mandate. None of those conditions currently exist. Members of Congress from both parties have introduced a resolution directing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from hostilities involving Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. This moment requires constitutional discipline, not unilateral escalation. America has spent enough blood and treasure in conflicts launched without clear authorization or achievable end states. Families across this nation have carried the burden of repeated deployments and the grief of loved ones lost. Communities have borne the weight of long-term injuries, trauma, and economic loss that endure long after wars fade from the headlines. Decisions of this magnitude carry consequences for generations and must never be made without the informed consent of the American people. And the American people have spoken. They voted to end open-ended conflicts and bring service members home from forever wars. President Trump pledged to bring service members home and end forever wars. Instead, the country is now edging toward an unauthorized conflict in Venezuela while National Guard units are being used for domestic policing, a misuse of force that strains civil-military norms and erodes public trust. This contradiction is not just political. It is constitutional. It shows how quickly executive action can drift from the mandate voters provided and the legal boundaries that hold our republic together. Venezuela is only one part of a broader global pattern. Nicolás Maduro’s government continues to dismantle democratic institutions and deepen ties with China, Russia, and Iran. These authoritarian states view instability as an opportunity to expand influence and weaken democratic alliances. Escalating force without legal clarity risks giving Maduro exactly what he wants: a foreign adversary to rally against and justification to tighten his grip on power. A similar challenge is emerging in Eastern Europe. The proposed Ukraine–Russia “peace deal,” which would force Ukraine to surrender sovereign territory and accept Russian oversight, rewards aggression and legitimizes territorial conquest. It would undermine decades of international law and signal to authoritarians that borders can be changed by invasion. Democratic partners warn that such an approach invites further instability, not peace. Across these crises, the pattern is clear. Authoritarian regimes gain strength when democracies lose discipline. They watch closely when constitutional checks are ignored or when unilateral force replaces collective decision-making. They benefit when democracies abandon the very norms that give them strength. To meet this moment, the United States must take several steps. First, restore constitutional oversight of the use of force. Deploying American personnel into another nation’s territory requires congressional authorization and transparent legal justification. Anything less erodes the guardrails that protect the United States from executive overreach. Second, reinforce alliances. Authoritarian regimes fear a united coalition of democratic nations acting together far more than they fear an isolated America acting alone. Third, reaffirm commitment to international law, including maritime law and the principle that lethal force is a last resort. These rules protect global stability, American service members, and the legitimacy of U.S. actions on the world stage. At the center of all of this is the Constitution. When leaders across our government take an oath, it is sworn to the Constitution alone, not to any individual or ideology. That oath binds military personnel, federal civilians, elected officials, and national security professionals to the same enduring principle: the rule of law must guide the United States, especially in moments of crisis. When that oath is honored, America leads by example. When it is ignored, democracy weakens. We are the United States of America. Our strength has never come from how quickly we can use force, but from how carefully and lawfully we choose to use it. In an era of rising authoritarian influence and mounting global risk, the most powerful signal this nation can send is that it will uphold the principles that have guided it for nearly two and a half centuries. Kishla Askins is a retired U.S. Navy (Mustang) officer, healthcare provider, and national security professional. She is a congressional candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd District.

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Kishla Askins: U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels must be rooted in law

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For almost 250 years, the United States has thrived because it built a system grounded in law, accountability, and disciplined leadership. This is what carried the nation through world wars, economic upheaval, and moments of profound uncertainty. American strength has never come from sudden force or political bravado. It has come from the legitimacy of a constitutional republic that acts with restraint, clarity, and purpose. That commitment is what separates democratic governance from the instability and coercion that define authoritarian regimes. That foundation is now under pressure. Since September, the United States has conducted lethal airstrikes on small vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, described as targeting traffickers linked to Venezuela and neighboring states. As of mid November, at least 83 people have been killed across 21 strikes, with only two known survivors. Reports from families and independent observers indicate that many of those killed were fishers and civilians. United Nations experts and international law scholars warn that these strikes lack a clear self-defense basis and may violate international law. At the same time, the United States has assembled the largest naval presence in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis. On November 29, the president declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety” and signaled willingness to conduct operations on Venezuelan soil. With American personnel positioned near direct action inside a sovereign nation, a critical constitutional question emerges: under what authority? No one person possesses unilateral authority to invade or conduct sustained operations on foreign soil without congressional authorization, a legitimate self-defense justification, or an established international mandate. None of those conditions currently exist. Members of Congress from both parties have introduced a resolution directing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from hostilities involving Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. This moment requires constitutional discipline, not unilateral escalation. America has spent enough blood and treasure in conflicts launched without clear authorization or achievable end states. Families across this nation have carried the burden of repeated deployments and the grief of loved ones lost. Communities have borne the weight of long-term injuries, trauma, and economic loss that endure long after wars fade from the headlines. Decisions of this magnitude carry consequences for generations and must never be made without the informed consent of the American people. And the American people have spoken. They voted to end open-ended conflicts and bring service members home from forever wars. President Trump pledged to bring service members home and end forever wars. Instead, the country is now edging toward an unauthorized conflict in Venezuela while National Guard units are being used for domestic policing, a misuse of force that strains civil-military norms and erodes public trust. This contradiction is not just political. It is constitutional. It shows how quickly executive action can drift from the mandate voters provided and the legal boundaries that hold our republic together. Venezuela is only one part of a broader global pattern. Nicolás Maduro’s government continues to dismantle democratic institutions and deepen ties with China, Russia, and Iran. These authoritarian states view instability as an opportunity to expand influence and weaken democratic alliances. Escalating force without legal clarity risks giving Maduro exactly what he wants: a foreign adversary to rally against and justification to tighten his grip on power. A similar challenge is emerging in Eastern Europe. The proposed Ukraine–Russia “peace deal,” which would force Ukraine to surrender sovereign territory and accept Russian oversight, rewards aggression and legitimizes territorial conquest. It would undermine decades of international law and signal to authoritarians that borders can be changed by invasion. Democratic partners warn that such an approach invites further instability, not peace. Across these crises, the pattern is clear. Authoritarian regimes gain strength when democracies lose discipline. They watch closely when constitutional checks are ignored or when unilateral force replaces collective decision-making. They benefit when democracies abandon the very norms that give them strength. To meet this moment, the United States must take several steps. First, restore constitutional oversight of the use of force. Deploying American personnel into another nation’s territory requires congressional authorization and transparent legal justification. Anything less erodes the guardrails that protect the United States from executive overreach. Second, reinforce alliances. Authoritarian regimes fear a united coalition of democratic nations acting together far more than they fear an isolated America acting alone. Third, reaffirm commitment to international law, including maritime law and the principle that lethal force is a last resort. These rules protect global stability, American service members, and the legitimacy of U.S. actions on the world stage. At the center of all of this is the Constitution. When leaders across our government take an oath, it is sworn to the Constitution alone, not to any individual or ideology. That oath binds military personnel, federal civilians, elected officials, and national security professionals to the same enduring principle: the rule of law must guide the United States, especially in moments of crisis. When that oath is honored, America leads by example. When it is ignored, democracy weakens. We are the United States of America. Our strength has never come from how quickly we can use force, but from how carefully and lawfully we choose to use it. In an era of rising authoritarian influence and mounting global risk, the most powerful signal this nation can send is that it will uphold the principles that have guided it for nearly two and a half centuries. Kishla Askins is a retired U.S. Navy (Mustang) officer, healthcare provider, and national security professional. She is a congressional candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd District.<a href="https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_b9ed8196-e49a-4372-bef1-d43ad333a388.html">https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_b9ed8196-e49a-4372-bef1-d43ad333a388.html</a>

Kishla Askins: U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels must be rooted in law

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Veterans Day reminds us that service takes many forms. A few weeks ago, I rolled up my sleeve to give blood as part of the Big Ten “We Give Blood” Challenge, helping the University of Nebraska compete for a $1 million prize to support student and community health.As I watched the bag slowly fill, I thought about another time and another place, 17 years ago in northern Iraq, serving as Executive Officer and Physician Assistant for a Shock Trauma Platoon and Forward Resuscitative Surgical Suite at a small combat outpost.Every pint of blood we received meant another life could be saved. The stakes were different, but the purpose was the same. Service still mattered.Here at home, the need is just as real. Our trauma centers and hospitals depend on donations to save lives every day.When we give, we carry forward the same spirit that sustains service members on the front lines, the belief that one act can save another’s life. It's a small gesture with profound meaning, and it reflects a tradition that has always defined America at our best.Veterans Day reminds us that service is not an individual act. It is a shared burden carried by families, communities, and a nation that stands behind them.For those who have served, service is the long nights, the uncertain deployments, and the moments of courage that cannot be rehearsed. It is separation from loved ones, the weight of leadership, and the faith that no matter where you are sent, your family and your country stand with you. Because service, like the oath we take, does not end. It simply changes form.That truth, that service never truly ends, is lived every day by those who dedicate their lives to something greater than themselves. It is seen in our military families, our first responders, our diplomats, our intelligence professionals, our teachers, and in every person who chooses a life of service.My wife and I each served our country for three decades. Between us, we moved 25 times because our nation needed us elsewhere. Each move meant saying goodbye, starting over, and trusting that a new community would meet us at the door.Soon after we moved into our new home, a neighbor left a warm rhubarb pie and a handwritten note on our porch to welcome us. No speeches. No spotlight. Just welcome. In that quiet kindness, I saw the same strength that sustains all who serve, the instinct to care for others before self.Our founders understood the power of that bond. George Washington warned against division and partisanship. Abraham Lincoln urged us to act with malice toward none and charity for all. They knew that our strength has never come from uniformity, but from unity, from our ability to stand shoulder to shoulder even when we disagree. Division is not who we are. Service is.Across this country, millions of veterans continue to serve long after they take off the uniform. They mentor young people. They volunteer in schools, clinics, and food banks. They teach, they heal, they build. Their service is not a chapter that ends. It is a way of life that calls all of us to something higher than ourselves.This day is a chance to honor them with more than words. If you can, donate blood. Call a veteran and listen. Offer a ride to an appointment. Support a veteran-owned business. Volunteer with a local group that helps military families when a parent deploys or comes home.And let us not forget those who carried our nation’s burdens but now carry their own on our streets.Too many veterans return home to face homelessness, isolation, or untreated wounds that are not visible. They deserve more than gratitude. They deserve the same commitment they gave to us: a safe place to live, access to care, and a community that will not turn away. None of these acts will make headlines. All of them can change a life.I offer these reflections with humility and gratitude. I have worn the uniform, and I have depended on others. I have seen courage in the field, and I have seen it in hospital corridors and neighborhood sidewalks. I have known the steadiness of a spouse who keeps faith during long nights, and the kindness of neighbors who show up without being asked. Service is the bridge that connects these moments. It binds family, community, and country into something stronger than any one of us alone.In a time when our nation can feel divided, the example of our veterans points us back to who we are. We keep our word. We look out for one another. We choose courage over comfort and service over cynicism. That is the inheritance our veterans and their families have given us, and it is a charge to keep.Let us honor them by living the values they embody, not only today, but every day. Service is not reserved for a few. It belongs to all of us. And when we live it, we remind the world — and ourselves — that we are still one people, still one family, still the United States.Kishla Askins is a retired Naval officer, health care provider, and policymaker. She's seeking the Democratic nomination for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_a696d7f8-9b1a-4d96-88d2-739b75e8a64d.html">https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_a696d7f8-9b1a-4d96-88d2-739b75e8a64d.html</a>

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I’m a proud Midwesterner, daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and union man who worked nights in the auto and glass industry, and a mother who served as a probation officer while raising five children, including one with a significant cognitive disability. My parents instilled in me the values of perseverance, family, and community, values that inspired me to enlist in the Navy to serve my country.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/accfba82-4d87-484c-b5a7-36940ddd1a88/ffc6a949-a2cf-428a-9af7-13486f16cf09/ffc6a949-a2cf-428a-9af7-13486f16cf09.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=190%2C283%2C2660%2C3749&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="35" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">I spent three decades in uniform, serving around the world. I completed college at night, earned my commission as a Naval Officer, and served with the U.S. Marines as a Physician Assistant. I led missions in Iraq and in support of Afghanistan; directed international training exercises in Africa, Oman, and Kuwait; coordinated relief efforts in Haiti; led medical operations for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s burial at sea; and supported the response to the terrorist attack on the USS Cole.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/accfba82-4d87-484c-b5a7-36940ddd1a88/3af07d71-5feb-49b9-95b7-704f8ae1e31f/3af07d71-5feb-49b9-95b7-704f8ae1e31f.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=463%2C424%2C3336%2C2463&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">During Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was the Executive Officer (XO) for a forward-deployed medical detachment near the Iraqi–Syrian border as part of a classified joint operation. We established a mobile Shock Trauma Platoon and Forward Resuscitative Surgical Suite (FRSS) in support of Marine Corps operations, enabling lifesaving care within minutes of injury. As the Executive Officer and Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant, I oversaw emergency resuscitative care, managed medical logistics and blood supply, and provided trauma care and resuscitation to bridge patients to surgical care.When casualties came in from northern Iraq or across the border in Syria, our team of Navy corpsmen, surgeons, nurses, and Marines worked to stabilize patients, stop the bleeding, and give them a fighting chance to make it home. Between medical missions, I conducted combat patrols outside the wire for intelligence-gathering and security operations. Whether resuscitating a critically injured Marine, managing scarce supplies, or riding in a convoy through the desert, every decision was about saving lives and standing beside those who served.That experience, witnessing courage under fire, sacrifice in its purest form, and the resilience of those who put everything on the line, shaped how I lead and how I serve.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/accfba82-4d87-484c-b5a7-36940ddd1a88/39783639-dbed-47a4-a109-af2cf3707f99/39783639-dbed-47a4-a109-af2cf3707f99.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4800%2C3200&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="framed">After Iraq, I identified a critical shortage in emergency medicine providers and led the creation of the Navy’s first graduate medical education program for Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (EMPAs), designing policy, building the training pipeline, and developing a new staffing model to meet the need. I also served as faculty for the Emergency Medicine residency, ensuring the next generation of providers was mission-ready and community-grounded.The Navy next sent me to Washington, D.C., where I served as Senior Defense Advisor to Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly. That experience taught me the power of achieving a common purpose through caring and collaboration. Among the many national security issues I worked on, one of my proudest accomplishments was helping craft mental health legislation included in the National Defense Authorization Act that President Obama signed into law.I later served as congressional liaison to the Surgeon General of the Navy, senior military advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Biden–Harris Administration, helping our nation better care for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.I’m a proud graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and will soon defend my doctorate in public health, earning my third degree from the University of Nebraska system. I married my wife, Alison, a Nebraska native and retired Marine Corps Colonel and helicopter pilot, in 2015. We live in Omaha, Nebraska, with our dog, Bentley.

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Economic development determines whether companies can hire, wages grow, and people can build careers without leaving the communities they call home. In Nebraska, families and employers feel this daily. Young professionals graduate from our universities hoping to stay, only to leave for Denver, Austin, or Minneapolis because career pathways here remain too limited. The cost of inaction is already visible.I have spent more than three decades working at the intersection of national security, healthcare, and government, integrating complex systems across the Pentagon, the U.S. Senate, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. When leaders align resources and act decisively, results follow. When systems remain fragmented, talent leaves. Nebraska is at that crossroads.Brain drain is not unique to our state, but its effects here are accelerating. When high-skill jobs fail to cluster and systems do not connect, people move where opportunity does. A recent Greater Omaha Chamber report citing an Aksarben Foundation study found that if Omaha and Lincoln had kept pace with comparable metropolitan regions, Nebraska would have nearly 70,000 more jobs today and billions more in wages.Successful regions deliberately align education, workforce development, research, infrastructure, and capital around industries with sustained demand. Nebraska has invested in many of the right components, but too often those investments operate in silos rather than as a coordinated system.Consider what Nebraska already has. The state anchors national security missions at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, supported by applied research from the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska.Nebraska brings nationally recognized health security and preparedness capacity through the Global Center for Health Security and UNMC, while Creighton and Bellevue strengthen workforce development and applied research. These assets are reinforced by a globally significant agricultural economy, critical land and water systems, and major logistics and transportation networks. Together, they form the backbone of a security-driven economic ecosystem that lacks alignment.That insight led me to refine an earlier concept into a framework now called SHIELD, built around Security, Health, Infrastructure, Energy, and Land Defense. SHIELD is not a new bureaucracy. It is a disciplined way to align existing strengths so they reinforce one another rather than operate independently.National security extends beyond defense installations to include cybersecurity, supply chains, and data resilience. Health includes preparedness, biosecurity, and healthcare workforce readiness. Infrastructure and energy underpin reliability and growth. Land Defense elevates agriculture to the national security table as a core strategic asset.Nebraska is already seeing what alignment can accomplish. Project NExT, led by UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, strengthens national health security and disaster preparedness while expanding research, clinical capacity, and workforce training. Selected by the federal government as a regional health security hub, the initiative is projected to generate $7.6 billion in total economic impact in Nebraska through 2030.Applying SHIELD more broadly, a focused Nebraska pilot could support 2,000 to 4,000 direct jobs initially, scaling to 6,000 to 10,000 direct jobs statewide across research, healthcare, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture-adjacent industries. This growth translates into billions of dollars in cumulative economic activity while creating career pathways that keep talent here. Importantly, this can be done using existing federal authorities, including the National Defense Authorization Act, to drive applied innovation, industrial-base resilience, and workforce development tied to national security missions.Funding follows the same logic. SHIELD does not create a new entitlement or an open-ended spending program. It aligns existing federal investments and requires state and private-sector participation, ensuring shared risk and a clear return on investment measured in jobs, wages, and economic development before expansion.Throughout my career, I have delivered results at scale, from building medical training pipelines as a Naval Officer to leading systems integration and reform across the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. That experience matters because SHIELD will only succeed through leadership and collaboration. Making it real requires working with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, universities, healthcare systems, and business community. Economic resilience and national security are not partisan projects. I welcome continued discussion with the Aksarben Foundation, Nebraska Forward, and local Chambers of Commerce.Nebraska has always been a builder. We built the transcontinental railroad, we feed the world, and we anchor America’s nuclear deterrent. The question now is whether we will align what we already have and execute at scale to build an economy that keeps talent, strengthens security, and creates opportunity for the next generation.A detailed business plan outlining SHIELD’s implementation in Nebraska is available at <a href="http://kishlaforcongress.com/issues/growing-nebraskas-economy">kishlaforcongress.com/issues/growing-nebraskas-economy</a>.Kishla Askins is a retired U.S. Navy (Mustang) officer, healthcare provider and national security professional. She is a congressional candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd District.<a href="https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_7e7a07bf-6a40-442c-a6d9-ea0ffe90111f.html">https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_7e7a07bf-6a40-442c-a6d9-ea0ffe90111f.html</a>

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After more than 30 years in uniform, on the frontlines of healthcare, national defense, and federal policymaking, I’ve seen how national security is often defined too narrowly.We tend to think of it as something that happens “over there,” in far-off battlefields or classified briefings in Washington. But the truth is, security starts here at home.Too often, the Midwest is treated as an afterthought in that conversation, and that’s a risk we can’t afford. If we’re serious about protecting this country, then we can’t overlook the places that grow our food, move our freight, train our troops, and build our future.Places like Omaha.That’s why I’m advancing the idea of a Midwest National Security Consortium. This isn’t a think tank. It is a working model that connects what Nebraska is already doing to strengthen national defense and helps turn it into a unified, scalable framework — one that deserves coordination, investment, and recognition.With the right support, the Consortium could attract $500 million to $1 billion in federal preparedness and defense funding over the next decade.It would create 2,000 to 4,000 high-wage jobs across cybersecurity, logistics, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing, with average salaries between $70,000 and $110,000. The broader economic impact could exceed $2.5 to $5 billion.These figures reflect what other university-affiliated defense ecosystems are already delivering.And Nebraska already has the foundation in place.The University of Nebraska system is leading the way. <a href="https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/">UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security</a> is a national model in biocontainment and disease response.<a href="https://nsri.nebraska.edu/">The National Strategic Research Institute</a> (NSRI), a Department of Defense-affiliated research center, has brought nearly $300 million in mission-ready work to U.S. Strategic Command. At UNO, the <a href="https://www.unomaha.edu/ncite/index.php">National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center</a> (NCITE) is helping agencies anticipate and prevent future threats.These institutions are getting results.What they need now is sustained investment and a framework to connect their work at scale.Omaha is also making major infrastructure moves.The $1 billion expansion of Eppley Airfield is more than a travel upgrade; it enhances regional mobility and readiness. In any national emergency, from natural disaster to public health threat, airfields like Eppley are lifelines.And we can’t talk about infrastructure without recognizing Union Pacific. Headquartered in Omaha, it keeps agricultural, energy, and commercial supply chains moving across the country every day.Like many transportation networks, it faces rising cybersecurity threats. Supporting companies like Union Pacific through public-private resilience investments isn’t just good policy; it is national defense.Just south of the city, Offutt Air Force Base houses <a href="https://www.stratcom.mil/">U.S. Strategic Command</a>, which oversees the nation’s nuclear deterrent and global strike capability. That mission depends not only on advanced systems but also on resilient infrastructure, healthcare support, and a reliable regional workforce.We also cannot ignore the role of agricultural security in national defense. The Midwest produces nearly 90% of the nation’s corn, 80% of its soybeans, and a significant share of U.S. pork and beef production. That scale makes it not just America’s breadbasket; it makes it a strategic national asset. And like other critical systems, agriculture is vulnerable to extreme weather, drought, biological threats, and cyber disruption.A secure future demands investment in early-warning systems, radar infrastructure, and data tools to protect both crops and the communities that grow them. Food security is national security, and it must be treated that way.We’re already proving that this model works. The Midwest Microelectronics Consortium, a Department of Defense–designated regional hub, includes Nebraska partners and leverages resources at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. It’s already bringing federal funding and innovation jobs into the state. The infrastructure and talent are here. Now we need coordination to take it to the next level.At a time when the Department of Defense is stepping back from traditional think tank partnerships and reassessing where it builds capability, regional investment matters more than ever. We need trusted thought leaders who understand the full spectrum, from local capacity to national policy, and who can bring those strengths together when it matters most. Nebraska has shown it is ready to lead.This is not about starting from scratch. It is about connecting what already exists—public and private institutions, applied research, health security, cyber, logistics, and more—and building a national model rooted in the Midwest.I’ve served in combat and Washington. I’ve sat at decision tables where the stakes were real. The strength of this country depends on our willingness to challenge the status quo with bold, innovative ideas and with partners ready to bring the Midwest National Security Consortium to life in Nebraska.I’m running for Congress to be the leader Nebraskans can count on to deliver real results — by building partnerships, advancing legislation, and securing the funding needed to bring these bold ideas to the center of our national security. Let’s build our nation’s security from the heartland, outward.Kishla Askins is a retired Naval officer, health care provider, and policymaker. She's seeking the Democratic nomination for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.<a href="https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_03db74ed-dc44-465f-a8fb-d355dbc76a55.html">https://omaha.com/opinion/column/article_03db74ed-dc44-465f-a8fb-d355dbc76a55.html</a>

"I’m a proud Midwesterner, daughter of a Vietnam Veteran who worked nights in the auto and glass industry and a mother who served as a probation officer while raising five children, including one with a significant cognitive disability. My parents instilled in me the values of perseverance, family, and community – values that inspired me to enlist in the Navy to serve my country."

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Kishla Askins: U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels must be rooted in law

I served in the military and I'm running for Congress. Here's what service means to me

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<h2 style="text-align: center">Building a Stronger, Safer Nebraska</h2>Nebraska’s strength comes from us. From hardworking community members – the families, small business owners, farmers, teachers, first responders, and everyone who shows up every day, does the job, and looks out for one another. It comes from choosing to see the good in one another and building trust; knowing one’s word is their bond and a handshake is as good as a contract. We, individually and collectively are the backbone of our communities and the foundation of our future.After 30 years in the Navy and decades in emergency medicine, Kishla knows what it means to serve and lead when it matters most. She’s seen what happens when systems fail and when leaders look the other way. She will bring trust, accountability, strength, and common sense back to government.This campaign is about results not rhetoric. Nebraska doesn’t need more politicians trading blame; we need leaders who build, protect, and deliver. Kishla’s plan connects what others treat as separate — the&nbsp;economy, healthcare, and security&nbsp;into one unified mission:&nbsp;building a stronger, safer Nebraska.That mission means:<ul><li>Growing our economy&nbsp;and creating good-paying jobs that keep folks here.</li><li>Lowering costs so every Nebraskan can get ahead.</li><li>Delivering affordable, high-quality healthcare&nbsp;that works as one system of care.</li><li>Supporting our military, veterans, caregivers, and survivors&nbsp;— because service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.</li><li>Strengthening security at home and abroad&nbsp;through preparedness and innovation.</li><li>Honoring our seniors, disabled, and most vulnerable&nbsp;by keeping our promises.</li><li>Preparing for the future&nbsp;with world-class education, workforce training, and resilient communities.</li></ul>When people have opportunity, communities thrive. When families can afford healthcare, housing, and childcare, the economy grows. And when we invest in preparedness from our military to our infrastructure, we protect the people who make Nebraska strong and secure our future.

Medicaid cuts would harm Nebraska veterans

Medicaid is not just a government program — it's a lifeline. For over 71 million Americans, it means access to basic care, stability and dignity. But a proposal in Congress to cut $880 billion from Medicaid over the next decade threatens to unravel that lifeline for families, communities and health care systems—including here in Nebraska.These cuts won't eliminate inefficiencies. They'll fall hardest on disabled children, aging seniors and veterans — people already facing the steepest hurdles to care. In Nebraska, more than 345,000 people rely on Medicaid or CHIP, including over half of all children. For many families raising children with disabilities, losing coverage would mean fewer therapies, longer wait times and greater financial stress.Seniors face a different but no less urgent risk. Medicaid supports nearly two-thirds of all U.S. nursing home residents. In Nebraska, 15 counties already lack any nursing home or assisted living facility. Further cuts could force more closures — leaving families without options for their aging parents.Veterans are also at risk. More than 110,000 Nebraskans have worn the uniform. While some receive VA benefits, over 10,000 depend on Medicaid for services the VA doesn't cover — such as long-term care or mental health treatment. Another 10,000 veterans are uninsured entirely. Reducing Medicaid would leave those who served our country without the care they've earned.The threat isn't just personal — it's structural. Medicaid keeps Nebraska's hospitals, rural clinics and safety-net providers afloat. During the pandemic, MercyOne Oakland Medical Center shut down inpatient care. Clinics in Sidney and Chappell closed.In Omaha, providers like Charles Drew, CHI Health and OneWorld are already stretched thin. When facilities close, care delays rise and outcomes worsen — especially in emergencies or childbirth, where time can mean life or death.More than half of Nebraska's hospitals are designated Critical Access Hospitals, operating on razor-thin margins. At any time, 50%-60% of them report financial losses. Medicaid cuts would deepen that crisis, forcing hospitals to scale back or shut down entirely — costing jobs, reducing access and placing more strain on emergency systems statewide.Supporters of these cuts often cite fiscal responsibility. That's a worthy goal — but we must be smart about how we save. Real savings come from modernizing how we pay for care, not by limiting who receives it. Shifting to value-based care and addressing prescription drug costs would improve outcomes and reduce expenses without sacrificing coverage.Medicaid has long been a quiet pillar of our nation's safety net. When decisions are made far from the bedside or the therapist's waiting room, the consequences are easy to ignore. But they're very real — for the people, providers and places that rely on this program.Now is not a moment for silence. It is a test of our values — and a chance to shape the future we want to live in.We can build a Nebraska where our neighbors don't fall through the cracks, where rural hospitals stay open, and where our children, elders and veterans get the care they deserve. That future isn't guaranteed — it's ours to claim, but only if we speak out and stand together.Kishla Askins, Omaha Former deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<a href="https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/article_52b5b5d6-4c90-500a-84f0-74bbdcaf8b58.html">https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/article_52b5b5d6-4c90-500a-84f0-74bbdcaf8b58.html</a>

Kishla Askins: Nebraska is losing its best and brightest. Here's how we bring them home

Omaha World Herald: "Medicaid cuts would harm Nebraska veterans."

NEWSWEEK: "From Combat to Front Porches — What War Taught Me About Trust and Community"

Omaha World Herald: Op-ed: I'm Running For Congress. Here's how Nebraska can lead the way on national security.

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I'm running for Congress. Here's how Nebraska can lead the way on national security.

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Medicaid Op-ed

Nebraska is losing its best and brightest

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Kishla Askins is running for Congress is Nebraska's 2nd district

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National Security Op-ed

Veterans Day

As a&nbsp;30-year Navy veteran, military spouse, and former senior executive at the VA, Kishla knows service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. Supporting those who serve and those who stand beside them, is both a&nbsp;moral obligation and an investment in America’s future.&nbsp;From the battlefield to the home front, she has seen the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of military families firsthand and she’s committed to ensuring they have the care, opportunity, and respect they’ve earned.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Modernize and Expand Care<ul><li>Modernize the Omaha VA Medical Center&nbsp;and expand telehealth for rural veterans.</li><li>Ensure access to&nbsp;timely, high-quality specialty, women’s, and mental healthcare.</li><li>Protect VA funding and ensure service members and veterans are receiving culturally competent care in a timely manner.</li></ul>Strengthen Military Families<ul><li>Expand&nbsp;childcare availability&nbsp;and improve&nbsp;spouse employment programs&nbsp;for military families.</li><li>Simplify&nbsp;caregiver stipends&nbsp;and&nbsp;survivor benefit claims&nbsp;for faster access and fairness.</li><li>Ensure military housing and family services meet 21st-century standards.</li></ul>Create Pathways from Service to Civilian Life<ul><li>Expand&nbsp;SkillBridge partnerships&nbsp;linking Offutt, STRATCOM, Nebraska universities, and employers in cybersecurity, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.</li><li>Build partnerships between the military, academia, and industry through the&nbsp;Midwest National Security Consortium.</li></ul>Keep Veterans’ Voices at the Table<ul><li>Hold regular&nbsp;roundtables with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Military Service Organizations (MSOs), caregivers, and survivors.</li><li>Commit to hiring at least one&nbsp;veteran, spouse, caregiver, or survivor&nbsp;on her congressional staff.</li></ul>

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Supporting Military Families, Veterans, Caregivers, and Survivors

Preparing for the future starts with&nbsp;investing in people, students, workers, and teachers alike.&nbsp;Kishla believes education and innovation are the engines of a strong economy and a secure nation. Her plan strengthens schools, expands workforce training, and drives research and technology so we continue to lead and innovate. From the classroom to the job site to the lab, Kishla is focused on building opportunity that lasts for generations.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Invest in Teachers and Schools<ul><li>Support&nbsp;teachers&nbsp;with fair pay, classroom resources, and respect for their profession.</li><li>Expand&nbsp;STEM, trades, and rural education programs&nbsp;that prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.</li></ul>Champion the arts, humanities, and creative pursuits that foster innovation, critical thinking, and community identity—because both creativity and technology fuel progress.&nbsp;Expand Workforce and Training Opportunities<ul><li>Increase funding for&nbsp;community colleges, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.</li><li>Build&nbsp;career pathways&nbsp;in technology, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.</li></ul>Drive Innovation and Resilience<ul><li>Invest in&nbsp;research, infrastructure, and climate resilience&nbsp;to protect Nebraska’s future economy.</li><li>Support&nbsp;public-private partnerships&nbsp;that expand clean energy, broadband, and agricultural innovation across the state.</li></ul>

Preparing for the Future

Nebraska’s economy is powered by people from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, farmers to tradespeople, and entrepreneurs to government workers who make our communities strong. Kishla’s plan builds a resilient economy that incentivizes local talent to stay in Nebraska while attracting new industries and investment to our state.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Build a New Economic Growth Sector<ul><li>Launch SHIELD&nbsp;— a Security, Health, Infrastructure, Energy, and Land Defense framework to strengthen Nebraska’s economy and national security. SHIELD connects Nebraska’s defense missions, healthcare systems, and agricultural strength to create thousands of good-paying jobs, retain talent, and build new industries across the state, with the ability to scale regionally. This framework outlines how existing federal authorities, state coordination, universities, businesses, and workforce pipelines can be aligned to make Nebraska a hub for national security innovation and workforce readiness. <a href="/shield-business-plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read the full SHIELD policy framework (PDF)</a> </li><li>Partner with universities, governments, large corporations, and small businesses to make Nebraska the hub for&nbsp;national security innovation&nbsp;and workforce readiness.</li></ul>Empower Small Business and Workers<ul><li>Invest in&nbsp;apprenticeships and community colleges&nbsp;to train the next generation of skilled workers with or without a four-year degree.</li><li>Provide&nbsp;tax incentives&nbsp;for small businesses that hire Nebraskans in high-demand fields.</li><li>Support the&nbsp;Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act&nbsp;and protect&nbsp;prevailing wage requirements&nbsp;to ensure fair pay and safe workplaces.</li></ul>Strengthen Agriculture and Trade<ul><li>Advance&nbsp;agricultural diplomacy&nbsp;to expand access to global markets and protect Nebraska farmers from unfair foreign competition.</li><li>Modernize and stabilize trade and tariff policies so agreements&nbsp;benefit Nebraska producers and manufacturers, not foreign competitors.</li><li>Promote innovation in&nbsp;sustainable agriculture, biofuels, and precision technology&nbsp;to keep Nebraska farms competitive and profitable.</li><li>Bring agricultural security to the national security discussion.</li></ul>

Growing Nebraska’s Economy

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OMAHA — Navy veteran Kishla Askins received an endorsement of her 2026 bid for the Democratic nomination in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District...

Kishla Askins receives endorsement from VoteVets

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OMAPOD: PART II: Kishla Askins on StratCom, Offutt, Maduro, NATO, the VA, & the affordability crisis

Nebraska Public Media: "Democrat Kishla Askins joins crowded field in 2nd Congressional District race"

As a veteran, Kishla knows&nbsp;national security starts here at home. During her 30 years in the U.S. Navy, she served in combat zones, led disaster response operations, and shaped national policy in Washington. Her experience spans from the field to the federal level, strengthening America’s resilience against modern threats. She knows today’s challenges are connected and that protecting our nation’s people, food, energy, and infrastructure strengthens both our economy and our defense. Safeguarding our future means investing in preparedness from our heartland to the Arctic and beyond.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Strengthen Regional and National Security<ul><li>Establish the Midwest National Security Consortium (MNSC)&nbsp;to link defense, healthcare, agriculture, and energy innovation across the Midwest.</li><li>Expand collaboration&nbsp;between Offutt, STRATCOM, and Nebraska’s research institutions to drive national preparedness and job growth.</li></ul>Protect Our Supply Chains and Infrastructure<ul><li>Secure&nbsp;critical supply chains&nbsp;for medicine, food, and essential materials.</li><li>Upgrade&nbsp;cybersecurity protections&nbsp;for utilities, transportation, and healthcare systems.</li><li>Integrate&nbsp;health, cyber, and infrastructure programs&nbsp;to ensure our nation can withstand and recover from disasters.</li></ul>Safeguard Food, Energy, and Global Stability<ul><li>Protect&nbsp;our farmland and food systems&nbsp;from foreign ownership and exploitation.</li><li>Address&nbsp;Russia and China&nbsp;as the strategic threats they are while monitoring&nbsp;Arctic interests&nbsp;from natural resources to biosecurity and climate resilience.</li><li>Strengthen&nbsp;public-private and international partnerships&nbsp;that fuel innovation, readiness, and security jobs.</li></ul>

Security at Home and Abroad

OMAPOD: Kishla Askins on 'sedition,' illegal orders, drug boat strikes, Venezuela, Russia &amp; Ukraine

As a&nbsp;Physician Associate (PA)&nbsp;and&nbsp;public health professional, Kishla has cared for patients and led teams through crisis. She knows Nebraska’s healthcare system should work as one — not as fragmented services that leave people behind.Her&nbsp;Whole Health&nbsp;approach builds a true&nbsp;system of care&nbsp;that connects prevention, primary care, behavioral health, and emergency response into one coordinated network. She will lower prescription costs, expand access to affordable generic drugs, protect Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Make Healthcare More Affordable<ul><li>Expand access to affordable generic drugs&nbsp;to lower prescription costs and break the hold of middlemen.</li><li>Lower drug costs&nbsp;by expanding insulin caps and adding protections for inhalers, EpiPens, and cancer medications.</li><li>Protect and expand Medicare, including vision, dental, and hearing.</li><li>Preserve ACA tax credits&nbsp;so Nebraskans can afford coverage.</li><li>Oppose Medicaid cuts&nbsp;that threaten rural hospitals and clinics.</li></ul>Expand Rural and Preventive Care<ul><li>Expand telehealth and broadband&nbsp;to every ZIP code.</li><li>Fund mobile clinics&nbsp;for maternal care, cancer screenings, and behavioral health.</li></ul>Build a System of Mental Health Resilience<ul><li>Further mature the integration of the 988 crisis response system&nbsp;as part of a coordinated&nbsp;Mental Health Resilience Package, ensuring mental health emergencies receive the same unified, immediate response as fire or medical calls.</li><li>Establish a Mental Health Innovation Center for Farmers and Ranchers&nbsp;— a Nebraska-based hub for rural access, workforce training, and suicide-prevention outreach.</li></ul>

Affordable, High-Quality Healthcare

Every Nebraskan deserves to age and live with dignity. Kishla will fight to protect what people have earned, defend the programs that millions depend on, and make sure no one gets left behind because of age, disability, or circumstance.Our seniors built this country. Our disabled neighbors strengthen it every day. And the most vulnerable among us remind us who we are as a community. Kishla believes a nation that forgets its people is broken. She’s running to keep our promises and protect those who protected us.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Protect Earned Benefits<ul><li>Keep our promise to seniors by safeguarding&nbsp;Social Security&nbsp;for future generations.</li><li>Protect and expand Medicare&nbsp;to include dental, vision, and hearing.</li></ul>Support Aging with Dignity<ul><li>Oppose cuts to&nbsp;nursing homes&nbsp;and&nbsp;home-health programs&nbsp;that help Nebraskans age safely at home.</li><li>Expand&nbsp;in-home care options&nbsp;and family caregiver support.</li></ul>Defend the Most Vulnerable<ul><li>Ensure Nebraskans with&nbsp;disabilities&nbsp;have equal access to healthcare, housing, and transportation.</li><li>Strengthen oversight to prevent&nbsp;financial exploitation and neglect&nbsp;of seniors and vulnerable populations.</li></ul>

Honoring Nebraska’s Seniors, Disabled, and the Most Vulnerable

Growing up in a middle-class family and entering the Navy at 18 years old, Kishla understands the challenges of layoffs, strikes, and living paycheck to paycheck. Every Nebraskan deserves the chance to live, work, and raise a family with dignity. Today, too many families are doing everything right and still falling behind. Costs for housing, childcare, healthcare, and food continue to rise while wages struggle to keep up.<h4>In Congress, Kishla will:</h4>Make Housing Attainable<ul><li>Look at innovative ways to increase affordable housing while maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods.&nbsp;</li><li>Incentivize housing&nbsp;development to increase access to safe, stable neighborhoods.</li></ul>Support Families and Working Parents<ul><li>Expand affordable childcare and early education, so parents can work and children can thrive.</li><li>Increase funding for&nbsp;school meal and nutrition programs&nbsp;to ensure no child goes hungry.&nbsp;</li><li>Support&nbsp;family leave programs&nbsp;that help working parents care for their children and aging relatives.</li></ul>Provide Targeted Tax Relief<ul><li>Expand cost-of-living-adjusted Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC)&nbsp;for working families.</li><li>Simplify the tax code to reduce the burden on middle-class Nebraskans.</li><li>Reward small businesses that reinvest in their workers and communities.</li><li>Ensure everyone pays their fair share of taxes.</li></ul>

Lowering Costs for Families

OMAPOD: Kishla Askins on her Congressional run &amp; a Midwest National Security Consortium

Punchbowl News: Kishla Askins, who is seeking retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-Neb.) seat.

Omaha World Herald: "Veteran, federal policy pro Kishla Askins running for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District"

The Dan Parsons Show: Race for Nebraska’s Blue Dot (NE-02) : Kishla Askins 🔵

Kishla Askins is running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District

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