Deb Fischer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deb Fischer
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Alex Padilla |
| United States Senator from Nebraska |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2013 Serving with Pete Ricketts
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| Preceded by | Ben Nelson |
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 43rd district |
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| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Jones |
| Succeeded by | Al Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Debra Lynelle Strobel
March 1, 1951 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Bruce Fischer
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Nebraska, Lincoln (BS) |
Debra Lynelle Fischer (born March 1, 1951) is an American politician. She is one of the two U.S. Senators who represent Nebraska. She has held this important job since 2013. Senator Fischer is a member of the Republican Party. She is the third woman from Nebraska to serve in the U.S. Senate. She is also the first woman from Nebraska to be reelected to this role.
Before becoming a senator, Fischer worked on a school board and in the Nebraska state government. In 2021, she spoke out against the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol. She also voted to approve the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Debra Lynelle Strobel was born on March 1, 1951, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her father, Jerry Strobel, was a state engineer. Her mother, Florence, was an elementary school teacher.
In 1972, she married Bruce Fischer. They met at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. They raised their three sons on the Fischer family cattle ranch near Valentine, Nebraska. In 1987, she went back to the university. She earned her bachelor's degree in education.
Early Career in Public Service
Serving on the School Board (1990–2004)
In 1990, Deb Fischer was elected to the Valentine Rural High School Board of Education. A school board helps make decisions about how local schools are run. She served on this board for 14 years. From 2000 to 2004, she also worked as a Commissioner for the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education. This group helps plan education after high school.
Working in the Nebraska Legislature (2005–2013)
In 2004, Fischer was elected to the Nebraska Legislature. This is the state's law-making body. She represented the 43rd district, which covers a large area of Nebraska's Sandhills.
Elections to the State Legislature
In her first election in 2004, she won by a very close vote. In 2008, she was reelected without anyone running against her. Nebraska has a rule that limits how many terms a person can serve. Because of this rule, she could not run for reelection in 2012.
What She Did in the Legislature
While in the state legislature, Fischer had a weekly radio show. She also wrote a weekly column for several newspapers. This helped her stay in touch with the people in her district.
In 2007, she helped stop a bill that would have created a statewide smoking ban. She also supported a law that gave patients more information before certain medical procedures.
Fischer led the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. She helped pass the BUILD Nebraska Act. This law set aside part of the state sales tax to pay for important road and bridge projects.
Serving in the U.S. Senate (2013–Present)
In 2012, Deb Fischer decided to run for the United States Senate. A U.S. Senator represents their entire state in the national government in Washington, D.C.
Senate Elections
2012 Election
When the sitting Democratic Senator, Ben Nelson, announced he was retiring, Fischer decided to run. Many people thought she had little chance to win the Republican primary election. However, she won against two well-known candidates.
During the campaign, some people criticized her family's ranch. They said it grazed cattle on government land for less money than private land. Fischer argued that government lands are different and have more rules.
Even though she spent less money than her opponents, she won the primary. This was partly because other candidates spent money attacking each other. She also got help from groups that ran TV ads for her. She won with 40% of the vote.
In the main election, Fischer ran against Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. Senator. Fischer won the election with 58% of the vote. She won most of the rural areas in Nebraska.
2018 Election
Fischer was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. She won against her Democratic opponent, Jane Raybould, by a large amount.
2024 Election
Deb Fischer is running for reelection in 2024.
What She Does as a Senator
Deb Fischer was the third woman to become a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. She was the first to be elected for a full term. The other two women, Eva Bowring and Hazel Abel, served for shorter periods.
Committee Work
As a U.S. Senator, Fischer works on several important committees. These committees study different topics and help create new laws.
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: This committee deals with farming, food, and forests.
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee works on issues related to the military and national defense.
- Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation: This committee handles topics like business, technology, and transportation.
- Committee on Rules and Administration: This committee deals with the rules and daily operations of the Senate.
- Select Committee on Ethics: This committee looks into the behavior of senators.
Political Views
Senator Fischer's political views are generally conservative.
Climate Change
Fischer believes the climate is changing due to natural cycles. She does not agree with some scientists who say that human activities are the main cause of global warming.
Gun Access
After a shooting in 2016, Fischer said that new laws to limit gun access would not stop such events. She believes it is more important to prevent people from becoming extremists.
Border Control
Fischer supports sending more troops to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. She does not support college benefits for immigrants who are in the country without permission.
LGBTQ Rights
In 2020, Fischer supported a Supreme Court decision. This decision said that the Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender workers. She stated that all Americans should have equal rights.
2020 Presidential Election
Before January 6, 2021, Fischer announced she would vote to approve the 2020 election results. She was at the Capitol when people stormed the building. She tweeted that the rioters had no right to harm law enforcement or storm the Capitol. She later voted against creating a special group to investigate the attack.
Personal Life
Deb Fischer is married to Bruce Fischer. They own a family ranch called Sunny Slope Ranch in Nebraska. Their children own most of the ranch's business, while Deb and Bruce own a smaller part. In 2020, the Fischers moved to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Images for kids
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Senator Fischer with Judge Brett Kavanaugh in July 2018.
See also
