DiAnna Schimek

DiAnna Schimek (born 1940) is a Nebraska state senator from Lincoln, Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature.

Nebraska State Senator Jan 1988-Jan 2009 First elected in 1988; re-elected in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Served on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee during 1989-1990. Served as a member of Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, 1991–1994 and 1997–2006, Vice-Chair 1991-1992, and Chair 1993-1994 and 1999-2006. Vice-Chair of Urban Affairs 1995-1998, and served on Committee from 1991 to 2006. Served as member of Business and Labor Committee 1993-2002, and 2005-2006. In 1995-1996, was member of Health and Human Affairs Committee. Most recently, in 2007-2008, was a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. Also, was Chair of select committee, Performance Audit. In the past, served on other select committees, such as the Committee on Committees and the Legislature’s Executive Board, and in 2001, was selected Vice-Chair of the Reapportionment Task Force.

Legislative priorities have been in the areas of election law, children and families, and health care. LB 115, the Electoral College bill, which makes Nebraska one of two states that potentially splits its electoral vote, was passed in 1991. Was instrumental in getting LB 76 passed in 1993 which recodified the election statutes. Priority bill during the 1995 session was LB 68, which mandated insurance coverage of mammography screening for women over the age of 35. One of priorities during the l996 session was to address housing and infrastructure needs for Nebraska communities. LB 1322, which created the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act, was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor on April 17, l996. Priority resolution for the 1997 session was LR 7CA, a constitutional amendment to change the percentage of petition signatures required for initiative and referendum measures. LR 45CA was the priority designation for 1998. It placed four constitutional amendments on the ballot relating to motor vehicle taxes, municipal tax rates, governmental property taxation, and townships. Three of those four amendments passed. In 1999, the priority bill was LB 480, which created the Women’s Health Initiative of Nebraska. LB 480 was passed in 2000, after an override of the governor’s veto. The 2001 legislative priority was the private prison bill, LB 751, which was amended into LB 85 and signed by the governor. In 2005 after the governor’s veto was overridden, LB 53 was passed which restored voting rights upon completion of a felony sentence. In 2006, LB 239, the in-state tuition bill, was passed over the governor’s veto. LB 39, a bill which limits petition circulators to those persons qualified to be electors in Nebraska, also was passed overriding a governor’s veto in 2008.

National Work 1988–Present At the national level, was a member of the Advisory Board on Voter Participation for the Center for Policy Alternatives; was a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Reapportionment Task Force 1991-2001; was also a member of the Health and Human Services Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures; and was a board member of the NCSL’s Women’s NETWORK. Past chair and member of the executive board of the Midwestern Legislature Conference of the Council of State Governments (CSG). Also served as Co-Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, and is a current member of the Executive Board of CSG. In 1999, was selected as a Toll Fellow by CSG. In 2003, was appointed Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of the Council of State Governments and serves on the Executive Committee of CSG. Was Co-Chair of the Host Committee for the CSG Annual Meeting in Omaha in 2008. In 2001, was appointed by the Legislature to serve on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. In 2001-2002, chaired the National Conference of State Legislature’s Task Force on Initiative & Referendum.

Boards and Memberships 1976–Present Member of PEO, NAACP, board member of Prairie Gold Homes, the Mayflower Society, Nebraska Appleseed, Heritage Nebraska and Habitat for Humanity, presently serving as Vice – President. Also serves on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Board of Advisors. And was a member of the Mayor's Task Force on Health Care. Also an honorary member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the UNL Mortar Board. In 2000, was appointed by the Governor to the Women’s Health Advisory Council. Past member of the Southwest Business and Civic Association, the Exon Library Foundation Board, the Martin Luther Home Advisory Board, Downtown Rotary #14, and Soroptomists. Was on the Lincoln/Lancaster Senior Center Foundation Board and served as secretary and president. In 1998, served as honorary Chair for the Relay for Life and as honorary Co-Chair for Race for the Cure. Has also served on Board of Directors of First Security National Bank in Lincoln as well as the Board of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre at UNL. Past Chair for the Nebraska Democratic Party from 1980 to 1984, First Associate Chair from 1976 to 1980 Democratic National Committeewoman in 1984-1988, and served on Democratic National Committee from 1976 to 1988. Served on the Democratic National Committee Fairness Commission in 1985, Co-Vice-Chair (acting chair) Site Selection Committee for 1984 Democratic National Convention and Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976, 1980, 1984, and 1988.

Awards 1988–Present In 1989, received the Kearney State College (UNK) Outstanding Alumni Award. Member of 1990 and 1999 YWCA Tribute to Women Committee and was 1992 winner of the Tribute award. In 1999, received the Business and Professional Women’s NOVA chapter’s Woman of the Year Award and the Woman of Distinction Award from the Soroptomist Club of Lincoln. In 2000, received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Guard Association of Nebraska and in 2001 the Legislator of the Year Award from the Nebraska Dental Hygienists Association. Received the Distinguished Service Award 2002 from the League of Municipalities. The Lincoln Interfaith Council presented the Interfaith Leadership Award in 2003. The ARC of Nebraska presented the Harold Sieck Award in 2004. In 2006, the ACLU of Nebraska presented the Civil Libertarian of the Year Award, the Nebraska Army National Guard presented the National Guard Homeland Security Ribbon, the Nebraska Women’s Commission presented the Alice Paul Award, and the Chicano Awareness Center presented the Chicano Education Award. In 2007, the American Cancer Society presented the Patty Steele Memorial Award. Received the American Heart Association’s Award of Excellence as well as the Omaha Dental Hygienist’s Legislator of the Year Award. Received the 2007 Legislator of the Year Award from the Nebraska Nonprofit Summit, and recognition by NSEA as the 2007 Friend of Education. The Nebraska Medical Association acknowledged as a Friend of Medicine in 2007. Was awarded Common Cause’s 2007 Ethics in Government Award and recognized in 2004 by the Nebraska Women’s Health Advisory Council as well as in 2008 for work with Every Woman Matters. During the Hispanic Heritage Month State Commemoration in 2007, received the first annual presentation of the “Embracing Diversity Humanitarian Award,” and, along with the other members of the Judiciary Committee in 2007, received the Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty C.A. Sorenson Award. In addition, received recognition from the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature of 20 years of public service from 1988 to 2008 at the culmination of the Legislature’s 100th Session. In 2009, received Voices for Children's Lifetime Achievement Award and Friendship Home's Community Leader Award.

Education 1958-1963 Attended Colorado Woman’s College 1958-1960 and received an Associate Arts Degree with a major in Business. Attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1960. Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska in Kearney with a major in History and Political Science. Attended both UNL and UNK for graduate coursework.

Prior to legislative career, worked as a realtor and as a teacher.

Preceded by Stephanie Johanns

Nebraska state senator-district 27 1989-2008

Succeeded by Colby Coash

See also

• Nebraska Legislature

References

1. "Nebraska Unicameral Legislature". Sen. DiAnna Schimek. http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/senators/district27.htm. Retrieved March 15, 2006. 

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Name	Schimek, DiAnna
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Date of birth	1940
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