PHOTOS: Ricketts Hosts Secretary Mullin in Nebraska

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) welcomed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to Nebraska.  Ricketts and Mullin hosted a roundtable with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other members of the community who aided inrecovery efforts following this year’s wildfires, tornadoes, and severe storms.  This included the Omaha Fire Department and Omaha Public Power District. “We were glad to have my friend and DHS Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, in Nebraska today.  This year has been a hard year for our state.  Historic wildfires, tornadoes, and severe storms have damaged many communities.  Nebraskans are resilient and have worked together to recover and rebuild.  Support from FEMA has helped in this process,” said Ricketts. Senator Ricketts and Secretary Mullin hosted FEMA roundtable. Ricketts and Mullin also met with the family of Sarah Root.  In 2016, Sarah was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant from Honduras who was driving drunk.  Sarah had just graduated from Bellevue University.  In March 2025, her killer was found, extradited to the U.S., and held accountable for taking her life.  Following the meeting, Sarah’s family joined Ricketts and Mullin for a press conference in honor of their daughter. “It’s been over ten years since Sarah Root’s life was tragically taken.  For nine years, her killer evaded law enforcement.  This year, her family finally got the justice they deserved,” said Ricketts. “We should be very proud of our law enforcement for all the work they did to bring her killer back to the U.S. to face American justice.” Senator Ricketts and Secretary Mullin joined a press conference in honor of Sarah Root.