Assembly with Kansans in Washington, D.C.

Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
I joined enterprise leaders from the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce throughout their time in Washington, D.C. I spoke with them about vital points dealing with our state and enterprise group, together with the significance of investing in a robust workforce and facilitating efforts to coach and retain future generations of gifted professionals. I stay dedicated to prioritizing efforts to assist our enterprise group in Kansas.

I respect the work these organizations do to make sure that Kansas stays an excellent place to dwell, increase a household and do enterprise. Thanks to Kansas Chamber President & CEO Alan Cobb, Wichita Chamber President & CEO John Rolfe, their respective Boards of Administrators, chamber members and employees for his or her efforts to spend money on our state and our folks. It was notably particular to provide this group an evening tour of the U.S. Capitol throughout their go to. It’s a particular expertise to see our nation’s Capitol at night time and share the fantastic thing about this unbelievable constructing and all that it represents.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
This week, I visited with leaders of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce to debate federal alternatives for infrastructure enhancements and assist for vital metropolis providers that may additional enhance the Manhattan group. We additionally mentioned urgent points the local people is dealing with, together with an absence of childcare providers, the significance of the Manhattan Regional Airport and the current federal grant we helped safe for the airport.

Moreover, we mentioned the essential position Fort Riley performs as a necessary a part of our U.S. Military, and the significance of constructing sure it receives the assets wanted to finish its mission. I stay dedicated to advocating for extra drive energy at Fort Riley and offering assist for investments into infrastructure like a brand new unaccompanied barracks on Custer Hill or modifications to the Bob Dole Intermodal Railyard on publish. I stay up for persevering with to advocate for Fort Riley and serving to to establish federal funding alternatives for Manhattan and all of the native communities throughout Kansas. Thanks to Chamber President Summer time Ott-Dierks, Mark Knackendoffel, Jake Wassenberg, Mark Bachamp, Mike Matson, Sue Peterson and Dick Carter for spending time with me.

Michelle Hills & Dr. Roy Jensen, College of Kansas Most cancers Heart
On Wednesday, I additionally met with Michelle Hills, a Group Advisory Board Member on the College of Kansas Most cancers Heart, Dr. Roy Jensen, the Director of the College of Kansas Most cancers Heart and Jennifer Pegher with the Affiliation of American Most cancers Institutes to debate funding for the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) analysis. 

I’m grateful to Michelle for sharing her private experiences with most cancers and the way the outcomes spurred by federal funding into most cancers analysis provides hope to most cancers sufferers. Because the Senate works to finalize the federal finances, the NIH and Nationwide Most cancers Institute (NCI) will proceed to be a precedence so we will defend and proceed the lifesaving advances in most cancers analysis.

American Most cancers Society
On Tuesday, I additionally met with Kansans from the American Most cancers Society in my Washington, D.C. workplace. We mentioned the necessity for extra most cancers analysis and different prevention packages by further assets for the NIH and NCI. 

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senator from a state that’s house to many universities and organizations conducting main most cancers analysis, I’m dedicated to supporting efforts to bolster these packages and to advance this vital analysis.

I need to thank Patrick Doran of Topeka, Brandi Gutzmer of Wichita, Dr. Roy Jensen of Gardner and Michele Voelker of Greenleaf for assembly with me to advocate for this essential situation.

Wounded Warrior Mission
On Wednesday, members from the Wounded Warrior Mission visited my Washington, D.C. workplace to debate their efforts to assist our nation’s veterans transition from energetic obligation to civilian life. This non-profit group provides many packages and providers to make sure America’s veterans have entry to the care and advantages they’ve earned throughout their time in service. These assets supplied by the Wounded Warrior Mission embrace psychological well being care, profession counseling and long-term rehabilitative look after tens of millions of veterans and their households.

I need to supply a particular due to Brent Whitten of Topeka for his service to our nation and for his advocacy on behalf of veterans as part of the Wounded Warrior Mission. Thanks as properly to all those that have answered the decision to serve our nation and have sacrificed a lot. We owe every of them a debt of gratitude.

Bruce Fischbach, Veterans of Overseas Wars
I met with Bruce Fischbach of Overland Park, the Kansas Nationwide Legislative Consultant from the Veterans of Overseas Battle, throughout his go to to my Washington, D.C. workplace on Tuesday. Bruce served our nation within the U.S. Military and continues to be a tireless advocate for our nation’s veterans. I respect his devoted advocacy for the vital points impacting our veteran group.

Kansas Farm Bureau Management Class
It was nice to go to with members of the Kansas Farm Bureau Management Class this week throughout their go to to our nation’s capital. These younger women and men are devoted to preserving our rural lifestyle, and so they play a vital position in the way forward for household farms and ranches throughout our state. I get pleasure from talking with Kansas leaders, particularly those that are devoted to persevering with our state’s wealthy historical past of agriculture. I used to be honored to simply accept the Good friend of Farm Bureau award from them throughout our assembly.

Thanks to Jake Bevan of Harvey County; Brad Duncan of Pottawatomie County; Alissa Kirchhoff of Phillips County; Shanda Mattix of Thomas County; Dyann Parks of Jackson County; Dani Riggs of Chautauqua County; Lance Tilton of Dickinson County; Evan Woodbury of Osage County and Beth Zillinger of Franklin County.

Kansas Farmers Union
I additionally spoke with members of the Kansas Farmers Union this week in my Washington, D.C. workplace. Throughout our assembly, we mentioned the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Invoice, which is presently scheduled to run out in 2023. We spoke in regards to the significance of crop insurance coverage as a danger administration software for producers and the necessity to assist household farms right here in Kansas.

We additionally mentioned their efforts to scale back meals deserts right here in Kansas and to make sure that everybody has entry to wholesome meals by native initiatives to offer recent produce to the meals insecure in our state. I appreciated listening to from Donna Pearson-McClish about her work with Frequent Floor, an area meals program she based and presently operates in Wichita to offer farm-fresh produce on to senior facilities and low-income areas by collaboration with native farmers – together with her personal farm. As co-chair of the Senate Starvation Caucus, I’m dedicated to facilitating partnerships that may lead to wholesome Kansas communities and can cut back starvation throughout our state and all through the world. Our farmers right here in Kansas play a significant position in producing meals for a hungry world, and I’ll proceed to work to make sure that our state stays a associate in these essential efforts.

Thanks to Donn Teske of Wheaton, Nick Levendofsky of Courtland, Jeff Kindel of Concordia, Donna Pearson-McClish of Wichita, Donna’s daughter Keisha Couts of Wichita, Randy Couts of Wichita and Lavern Potuzak of Agenda for taking the time to talk with me about this vital subject for our state.

Nationwide Affiliation of Wheat Growers
On Tuesday, I met with Kansans from the Nationwide Affiliation of Wheat Growers to debate present points dealing with this essential business together with the upcoming Farm Invoice which should be reauthorized by 2023. It is very important me that I hear instantly from our farmers and ranchers in Kansas, and I respect the dear enter these people supply as I work to make sure rural America is represented and advocated for in Washington, D.C. We additionally mentioned the significance of investing further assets in Title I farm packages and the necessity for higher assist for working land conservation packages to encourage higher stewardship of our land and soil. Thanks to Kyler Millershaski of Lakin, Chris Tanner of the Norton County, Clay Schemm of Wallace County and Shayna DeGroot of Manhattan for taking the time to talk with me about farm priorities for Kansas.

Religion Baptist Church
This week, I visited with Pastors Dr. David Byford and Nathan Herbster of Religion Baptist Church in Manhattan. Throughout our dialog, they up to date me on their church’s work in the local people and all through the state. Church buildings, spiritual teams and their congregations play an essential position in serving our native communities and caring for our most weak. We additionally spoke about conservative values in life and spiritual freedom.

Capitol Excursions
It’s all the time nice to fulfill with Kansans whereas they’re in Washington, D.C. for a tour of our nation’s Capitol. This week, I met with a number of of us who organized a tour by my workplace. In case you are curious about touring the U.S. Capitol or different federal buildings in Washington, D.C., please contact my workplace right here.

Brian & Jodi Carey of Basehor, Steven & Sharon Lucas of Basehor and Gary & Susan Henry of Seneca

Roy & Jayne Inlow of Hays

Celebrating the Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act

This week, a whole lot of veterans and advocates from many Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) gathered within the Capitol to have a good time the passage and enactment of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act – laws I launched together with my colleague Senator Jon Tester. Not too long ago handed by Congress and signed into legislation, this historic, bipartisan laws supplies complete reduction for all generations of veterans, from Agent Orange to the three.5 million post-9/11 veterans uncovered to burn pits throughout their deployments.

Now that the PACT Act is legislation, I’m dedicated to working with the Division of Veterans Affairs, VSOs and my colleagues to make sure that this laws is applied successfully and effectively.

Talking on the Senate Flooring on Rail Dispute
I spoke on the Senate flooring this week to encourage a decision to the railway labor-management dispute. In Kansas, harvest is properly underway and farmers want to have the ability to ship their crops by prepare across the nation and to our ports the place the grain will likely be despatched to feed a hungry world. In accordance with the Affiliation of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown may idle greater than 7,000 trains and lose greater than $2 billion a day in missed financial output.

I am hopeful that the tentative settlement will likely be finalized to keep away from a rail shutdown, however within the occasion that it isn’t, I’ll make the most of my alternatives as a member of the Senate for congressional intervention and work to defend the influence of a rail shutdown throughout the nation. Our constituents deserve the understanding that may come from reaching a decision.

Click on right here to observe my full remarks.

Assembly with Honeywell CEO Darius Adamczyk
This week, I met with Darius Adamczyk, chairman and CEO of Honeywell for an replace on the work Honeywell is doing to increase and advance our nation’s aerospace and aviation capabilities. We additionally mentioned the significance of the Honeywell location in Olathe which employs a whole lot of Kansans and acts as a significant a part of the local people’s financial system. We additionally spoke about quite a lot of points presently dealing with our aerospace and aviation manufacturing sector, together with provide chain points and the influence of inflation.

Touring STARBASE Youth Program in Salina

I joined Kansas Adjutant Common Maj. Gen. David Weishaar to tour the Division of Protection youth program STARBASE in Salina. STARBASE provides college students from Windom and Wilson to take part in interactive, arms on STEM teaching programs.

Equipping college students to excel in STEM fields is certainly one of my prime priorities, and I’m assured these younger college students have brilliant futures forward. I need to thank Salina Director Dixie Tipling and everybody at STARBASE throughout Kansas and nationally for investing in our younger folks and serving to educate STEM schooling.

Learn extra right here within the Salina Publish.

Saying New Federal Sources for Hiawatha Police Division
It was nice to be in Hiawatha to announce new federal assets for the Hiawatha Police Division. Because the lead Republican on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Division of Justice, I helped safe federal assets for the police division to interchange outdated know-how. Our native legislation enforcement members hold our households and communities protected, and I stay dedicated to creating sure they’ve the assets they should perform this mission. Thanks to Metropolis Administrator Larry Paine, Mayor Invoice Collins, Police Chief Mickey Gruber and all different area people members who joined for this announcement.

Learn extra right here within the Hiawatha World.

Journey Reimbursement Charges for Veterans

This week, I launched laws that may improve reimbursement charges for veterans who should journey to obtain medical care supplied by the Division of Veterans Affairs. This laws is endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Overseas Wars of the U.S., Disabled American Veterans and Wounded Warrior Mission.

Inflation and rising prices have resulted in an increasing number of veterans shouldering further prices when touring to obtain well being care supplied by the VA. Elevating reimbursement charges will assist hold the Beneficiary Journey Program related and make sure travel-related prices aren’t inhibiting our veterans from receiving the care they deserve.

Supporting Surviving Spouses of Fallen Servicemembers

I joined my colleagues within the Senate to introduce bipartisan laws to permit spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain their survivor advantages upon remarriage. Presently, a surviving partner may lose survivor advantages if they’re beneath the age of 55. This invoice will make sure surviving spouses retain many advantages from each the Division of Veterans Affairs and Division of Protection upon remarriage at any age and consists of surviving spouses from active-duty, veteran and retired servicemembers.

Navy service is household service, and our nation owes an excellent debt to the surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers. As Gold Star spouses heal from their loss and select to remarry, they need to not have to fret about dropping their earned survivors’ advantages supplied by the VA.

Nationwide Scholar Mum or dad Month

I led a bipartisan Senate decision recognizing September because the Nationwide Scholar Mum or dad Month. Presently, roughly 70% of scholar mother and father are ladies and 43% of these ladies are single mother and father who additionally juggle faculty and work. Moreover, there are virtually 3,000 surviving army spouses, a majority of whom are additionally a dad or mum, presently attending faculty to offer for his or her households following the lack of their partner in service to our nation.

Being a dad or mum whereas juggling homework and lessons requires tenacity and endurance. That is very true for a lot of of our military-connected college students who’re mother and father and are in search of a level or skilled certification whereas on energetic obligation, transitioning again to civilian life, or whereas a partner is deployed.
Affirming Federally Acknowledged Tribal Land
I joined my colleague from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Montana Senator Jon Tester in introducing laws to reaffirm that any land taken into belief by america for Indian tribes is federally acknowledged from the day it was first taken into belief. Beneath the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) handed in 1934, the Secretary of the Inside was given authority and tips for taking land into belief for Indian tribes. The Supreme Court docket’s 2009 choice in Carcieri v. Salazar denied the secretary’s authority for tribes who obtained federal recognition after IRA’s enactment. This laws would make sure any land taken into belief after the IRA remains to be acknowledged and guarded and shall stay in Indian nation.

Because the Carcieri choice, tribes all through the nation acknowledged after 1934 have confronted uncertainty concerning their lands taken into belief. Wanting a full legislative repair, which I assist, this invoice will guarantee tribes of the standing of their lands already in belief and allow steady financial growth going ahead.

Structure Day
Every Structure Day, we mirror on the essential beliefs and ideas preserved by our Founding Fathers on this doc, and we reaffirm our dedication as Individuals to cherish and defend these rights and freedoms for future generations.

Celebrating 75 Years of the U.S. Air Pressure
Pleased seventy fifth birthday to america Air Pressure! Thanks to McConnell Air Pressure Base in Kansas, and the entire women and men in our army who bravely defend and defend our nation from the sky.