Kishla Askins

Kishla Askins grew up in Toledo, Ohio. She served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from George Washington University, a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a graduate degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and a graduate degree from Tulane University.[2]

Kishla Askins did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteAskins' campaign website stated the following:Growing Nebraska’s EconomyNebraska’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.In Congress, Kishla will:Build a New Economic Growth SectorLaunch SHIELD — 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.Read the full SHIELD policy framework (PDF)Partner with universities, governments, large corporations, and small businesses to make Nebraska the hub for national security innovation and workforce readiness.Empower Small Business and WorkersInvest in apprenticeships and community colleges to train the next generation of skilled workers with or without a four-year degree.Provide tax incentives for small businesses that hire Nebraskans in high-demand fields.Support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and protect prevailing wage requirements to ensure fair pay and safe workplaces.Strengthen Agriculture and TradeAdvance agricultural diplomacy to expand access to global markets and protect Nebraska farmers from unfair foreign competition.Modernize and stabilize trade and tariff policies so agreements benefit Nebraska producers and manufacturers, not foreign competitors.Promote innovation in sustainable agriculture, biofuels, and precision technology to keep Nebraska farms competitive and profitable.Bring agricultural security to the national security discussion.Lowering Costs for FamiliesGrowing 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.In Congress, Kishla will:Make Housing AttainableLook at innovative ways to increase affordable housing while maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods. Incentivize housing development to increase access to safe, stable neighborhoods.Support Families and Working ParentsExpand affordable childcare and early education, so parents can work and children can thrive.Increase funding for school meal and nutrition programs to ensure no child goes hungry. Support family leave programs that help working parents care for their children and aging relatives.Provide Targeted Tax ReliefExpand cost-of-living-adjusted Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) for working families.Simplify the tax code to reduce the burden on middle-class Nebraskans.Reward small businesses that reinvest in their workers and communities.Ensure everyone pays their fair share of taxes.Affordable, High-Quality HealthcareAs a Physician Associate (PA) and 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 Whole Health approach builds a true system of care 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.In Congress, Kishla will Introduce Whole Health America:A Smarter, More Affordable Way to Make Healthcare WorkAmerica spends more on healthcare than any country in the world, yet too many families still struggle to afford care or access it. The problem is not just who pays for healthcare. It is how care is delivered.Whole Health America fixes that by redesigning the system to work for people.At its core, this plan creates a simpler, more connected model of care where primary care is the front door and essential services are integrated into one coordinated system. Instead of navigating multiple providers and systems, patients have one care team responsible for their health.This means bringing together:Medical careMental healthDental, vision, and hearingPrevention and public healthCare becomes easier to access, more consistent, and focused on keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they are sick.Whole Health America lowers costs by fixing what drives them. Earlier care prevents emergencies. Coordinated services reduce duplication. Simpler systems cut administrative waste. Payment is aligned to reward outcomes, not volume.This plan builds on Medicare, Medicaid, employer coverage, and ACA plans, but makes them work better. It expands access through telehealth, mobile care, and community-based services, especially in rural communities.For those who struggle to use their coverage, it improves access and connects them to care earlier.This is a practical path forward — one that moves us toward a system where every American can access affordable, reliable healthcare when they need it.Build a System of Mental Health ResilienceFurther mature the integration of the 988 crisis response system as part of a coordinated Mental Health Resilience Package, ensuring mental health emergencies receive the same unified, immediate response as fire or medical calls.Establish a Mental Health Innovation Center for Farmers and Ranchers — a Nebraska-based hub for rural access, workforce training, and suicide-prevention outreach.Reproductive Health, Freedom and RightsI am pro-choice because I believe healthcare decisions belong between patients and their healthcare professionals.After 30 years in healthcare, I have seen firsthand that reproductive care is deeply personal, often complex, and sometimes urgent, involving a patient’s health, their future, their family, and in many cases, their life. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, which is exactly why these decisions must remain between patients and the medical professionals they trust.Reproductive freedom is a fundamental right. In the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, we have seen what happens when that right is taken away—creating confusion, fear, and real harm for patients and providers. I support restoring and protecting Roe-level rights nationwide so that no matter where you live, you have the same access to care and the same fundamental freedoms.That means ensuring access to contraception, prenatal care, safe abortion services, fertility care, and maternal healthcare—especially in rural and underserved communities. It also means protecting healthcare professionals' ability to practice evidence-based medicine without political interference.Instead of subtracting care, we need to invest in comprehensive sex education, affordable healthcare, family planning services, and economic stability for working families. As part of Whole Health America, this includes significant investment in public health initiatives that expand access, strengthen prevention, and support healthier communities.This is about freedom, dignity, and trust — trusting individuals, trusting healthcare professionals, and building a system that puts patients first.Supporting Military Families, Veterans, Caregivers, and SurvivorsAs a 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 moral obligation and an investment in America’s future. 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.In Congress, Kishla will:Modernize and Expand CareModernize the Omaha VA Medical Center and expand telehealth for rural veterans.Ensure access to timely, high-quality specialty, women’s, and mental healthcare.Protect VA funding and ensure service members and veterans are receiving culturally competent care in a timely manner.Strengthen Military FamiliesExpand childcare availability and improve spouse employment programs for military families.Simplify caregiver stipends and survivor benefit claims for faster access and fairness.Ensure military housing and family services meet 21st-century standards.Create Pathways from Service to Civilian LifeExpand SkillBridge partnerships linking Offutt, STRATCOM, Nebraska universities, and employers in cybersecurity, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.Build partnerships between the military, academia, and industry through the Midwest National Security Consortium.Keep Veterans’ Voices at the TableHold regular roundtables with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Military Service Organizations (MSOs), caregivers, and survivors.Commit to hiring at least one veteran, spouse, caregiver, or survivor on her congressional staff.Security at Home and AbroadAs a veteran, Kishla knows 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.In Congress, Kishla will:Strengthen Regional and National SecurityEstablish the Midwest National Security Consortium (MNSC) to link defense, healthcare, agriculture, and energy innovation across the Midwest.Expand collaboration between Offutt, STRATCOM, and Nebraska’s research institutions to drive national preparedness and job growth.Protect Our Supply Chains and InfrastructureSecure critical supply chains for medicine, food, and essential materials.Upgrade cybersecurity protections for utilities, transportation, and healthcare systems.Integrate health, cyber, and infrastructure programs to ensure our nation can withstand and recover from disasters.Safeguard Food, Energy, and Global StabilityProtect our farmland and food systems from foreign ownership and exploitation.Address Russia and China as the strategic threats they are while monitoring Arctic interests from natural resources to biosecurity and climate resilience.Strengthen public-private and international partnerships that fuel innovation, readiness, and security jobs.Honoring Nebraska’s Seniors, Disabled, and the Most VulnerableEvery 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.In Congress, Kishla will:Protect Earned BenefitsKeep our promise to seniors by safeguarding Social Security for future generations.Protect and expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing.Support Aging with DignityOppose cuts to nursing homes and home-health programs that help Nebraskans age safely at home.Expand in-home care options and family caregiver support.Defend the Most VulnerableEnsure Nebraskans with disabilities have equal access to healthcare, housing, and transportation.Strengthen oversight to prevent financial exploitation and neglect of seniors and vulnerable populations.Preparing for the FuturePreparing for the future starts with investing in people, students, workers, and teachers alike. 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.In Congress, Kishla will:Invest in Teachers and SchoolsSupport teachers with fair pay, classroom resources, and respect for their profession.Expand STEM, trades, and rural education programs that prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.Champion the arts, humanities, and creative pursuits that foster innovation, critical thinking, and community identity—because both creativity and technology fuel progress. Expand Workforce and Training OpportunitiesIncrease funding for community colleges, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.Build career pathways in technology, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.Drive Innovation and ResilienceInvest in research, infrastructure, and climate resilience to protect Nebraska’s future economy.Support public-private partnerships that expand clean energy, broadband, and agricultural innovation across the state.— Kishla Askins' campaign website (April 28, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.