Mr. President, integrity--integrity inspires confidence. We have a problem here in the Senate and in the House: 80 percent of Americans believe we do a poor job of keeping our financial interests separate from the insider information that we have. People don't have the confidence in us, and that leads to an approval rating of 15 percent for Congress. But we can help restore integrity, and therefore confidence-- confidence in the Senate, confidence in the House, confidence in our institutions. We can do that with a bill that I have introduced called the Stop Insider Trading Act.
2026 MidtermsSolid SeatR+27$3.6M raised
Pete Ricketts
Senator · Nebraska · Republican
Pete Ricketts
Senate Floor
Recent comments in the Senate
Mr. President, we have a drug problem in this country today, and right now, there is an industry that is targeting our children with look-alike products with intoxicating levels of THC. THC is tetrahydrocannabinol. Now, this is the psychoactive ingredient that you find in marijuana. How could we possibly let this happen? Well, let's take a step back. In 2018, we passed a farm bill, and at the time, there were those who wanted to separate hemp--a plant that has some THC in it--from cannabis, which is a marijuana plant. Hemp used to be grown in this country, made into rope back in the 1940s.
Mr. President, people generally in this country--and Nebraskans in particular--expect when they send their elected officials to Washington, DC, that they are going to serve the communities. Sadly, that belief that we are coming here is undermined by some of our policies that we have. For example, 80 percent of Americans believe that Congress does not do a good job of keeping the inside information that we have separate from our finances. Consequently, the approval rating of Congress is about 17 percent. And it is not just the polling that shows that we have got a problem; so does history.
Biography
Pete Ricketts built his career as a business executive before entering public service in Nebraska. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2023, he represents Nebraska with a focus on agricultural strength, fiscal responsibility, and border security. Ricketts has advocated for farmers by supporting expanded trade opportunities and serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, influencing infrastructure policy. Known for his pragmatic style, he works to advance Nebraska’s economic interests while maintaining a strong connection to constituents’ concerns.
Education
- M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL1991
- B.A. in Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL1986
Professional History
U.S. Senator
2023–PresentSenator from Nebraska. 2 terms.
Co-Owner, Chicago Cubs Baseball Team
2009–presentGovernor of Nebraska
2015–23Co-Founder, Director and president, Platte Institute for Economic Research
2007–13President and Chief Operating Officer, Ameritrade
1993–2006Salesman
Chicago Environmental Consultant
Policy Focus
International Affairs12%
Agriculture and Food10%
Taxation8%
Energy6%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Pete Ricketts's record in Congress.
COVID-19 Response
Oversaw Nebraska's public health and economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic as governor, including vaccine distribution and business support.
Property Tax Reform
Signed legislation to increase state funding for property tax relief for Nebraska homeowners and farmers.
Flood Recovery Funding
Secured federal and state resources for Nebraska communities recovering from the historic 2019 floods.
Veterans' Services Expansion
Expanded support and services for veterans, including opening new veterans' homes and improving access to benefits.
Committee Assignments
View details →- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Senate Committee on the Budget
Sen. Pete Ricketts FAQ
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