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We Must Work Together to Secure the Border, Confront a Dangerous World
This week I spoke on the Senate Floor regarding the urgent need to work together to address the challenges facing our country at home and abroad including securing our southern border and providing resources to assist Ukraine in their fight against Russia.
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a fellow Kansan, recently warned of our government dysfunction at a moment in history in which our nation confronts graver threats to its security than it has in decades, perhaps ever. Our adversaries pay attention to what we do or don’t do. Our action or inaction can increase the trust placed in us by our allies or it can embolden our adversaries. We need to demonstrate resolve; resolve in the support of allies and resolve in the resistance to enemies.
During my time in the U.S. Senate, I have never been angrier or more sullen than those few days in which our country left Afghanistan. Our unprepared actions and void of leadership resulted in the deaths of U.S. servicemembers, and it stranded thousands of Afghan allies behind enemy lines. Those few days may have been among the most costly in emboldening those who seek our country’s demise. I fear today we are about to again demonstrate to the world our feckless ambivalence to lead.
There is no question that the spending path we have been on is not sustainable. We are on a better, but not sufficient path with the appropriations bills that have passed in committee that stop spending increases. These are important decisions, but we don’t need to manufacture a crisis to make a point. The crisis doesn’t solve the spending problem.
We know the dangerous nature of our world when we see what China is doing and what its intentions seem to be; when we know what’s taking place in Iran and their efforts around the globe; when Russia invades a neighboring country’s borders; and when North Korea fires missiles. We have united as a nation numerous times in our history, and we need to return to those circumstances. And that can happen if there is leadership here in Congress to do so. Now is the time to lower the temperature and find common ground that puts us in a position that we can be optimistic about our nation’s future. Our future is bright, but it is only bright when we work together.
We must send the message that we are a reliable partner to Ukraine and encourage allies around the world to be helpful to Ukraine. As we work to enhance Ukraine’s chance for success in defeating Putin, we should also resolutely move forward in ending the failure to protect our own country and own border. Our borders need desperate attention, and it’s another national security issue.
We have work to do. We can look the other way or we can decide that we’re going to do what is right. We can decide that it would be nice to be popular at the moment, but it would be better to be right in the long term. I’m an optimist. This week and the next several weeks can be times of good work for the American people and a safer and more secure United States and world.
You can watch my floor speech here.
Securing the Southern Border
After record levels of illegal migration, a fentanyl crisis and migrants with ties to ISIS and the CCP slipping across our border, the Biden administration has finally indicated that it will follow Congressional intent to resume construction of a wall on the southern border. I hope this is a signal that the administration is ready to take serious action to secure our southern border, and I will continue to pressure the administration to prioritize the national security crisis at the southern border.
Helping Veterans Receive Timely Benefits
This week I introduced bipartisan legislation with Sen. Tester (D-Mont.) to make it easier for veterans, particularly rural veterans, to receive timely reimbursements through the Department of Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Travel Program. I have heard from veterans who are facing difficulties filing their beneficiary travel claims and receiving their travel payments from the VA. Many of them rely on these benefits to offset the costs of driving long distances to get ongoing care from VA. This legislation will make certain veterans – particularly those in rural areas – are able to continue filing traditional paper claims and are provided more time to file their claims.
The Road to Access Act would mandate VA to accept beneficiary travel claims up to 180 days after the date of eligible travel, improve outreach to veterans about the beneficiary travel process and make certain that veterans are able to continue filing beneficiary travel paper claims even as VA expands opportunities for electronic filing. Additionally, this legislation would require VA to process any beneficiary travel claims for veterans meeting certain criteria, including those who have a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating.
Supporting Mike Whitaker as the FAA Nominee
The FAA is long overdue for a permanent, qualified administrator. This vacancy has had a ripple effect not just in aviation but across multiple sectors and industries.
As Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee on Commerce, I had the opportunity to question Mike Whitaker, the nominee to be Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Whitaker has extensive experience working as the Deputy Administrator of the FAA, chief operating officer of an advanced air mobility company and as an employee for a major commercial airline. I look forward to voting to support Mr. Whitaker’s nomination and working together in ensuring Kansas’ legacy in the aviation realm continues long into the future.
You can watch a video of my questions here.
Preventing an Overreaching Regulation
This week, I introduced the FTC REDO Act with Sen. Manchin (D-W V.). The FTC REDO Act would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reinstate the process that allows the public the opportunity to provide feedback, comment, and analysis before the commission finalizes a regulation change specific to automotive retailing. Last summer, the FTC noticed a 126-page proposed rule, known as the “Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule,” which, if approved, would significantly change the process for consumers to purchase, trade-in and finance new and used cars and trucks. The proposed rule would re-regulate all aspects of automotive retailing and was noticed without an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) – the process for the public to provide comment – and instead included 49 open-ended questions. The FTC’s rule would create more paperwork when buying a car at the dealership and lead to more bureaucracy and red tape for small businesses. If the FTC plans to overhaul the way Americans purchase vehicles, they should be required to ask for and receive input from the public at the very least. This legislation will make certain FTC regulators can’t finalize the rule without first receiving feedback from industry leaders and the general public.
You can read more about the legislation here.
Conducting Oversight on Implementation of the CHIPS Act
On Wednesday, I participated in a Commerce Committee hearing that examined the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill to secure domestic semiconductor supply chains and to marshal all of our nation’s research and development resources to out-compete our adversaries in the 21st century. I supported this bill during its enactment last Congress to give Kansas companies and institutions the opportunity to help strengthen our nation’s economic and national security. During the hearing, I questioned the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, and the Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, about the implementation of the Tech Hubs program and the department’s work to prevent U.S. semiconductor technology from ending up in China. It is critical that we protect our public and private investments in microchip research and development, and as the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee and a Member of the Commerce Committee, I will make certain the department is doing what is necessary to secure our key technologies.
You can watch a video of my questions here.
Meeting with Kansans
Linear Therapies
On Wednesday, I met with Linear Therapies, an innovative treatment and prevention health company to discuss their policy priorities. Linear Therapies is working to mitigate the risk that many viruses pose on our human and animal health ecosystem by using advanced technologies. Special thanks to Linear Therapies President, Eric Katz; former Congressman Gil Gutknecht; former CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield; Jeff Harrison and Piper Merritt for the conversation.
Kansas School Superintendents’ Association
This week, I met with the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association and had the chance to speak with Kansas Elementary Principal of the Year, Angie Krause. Angie, who has more than two decades of experience in education, has been serving as Principal of Community Elementary in Coffeyville since 2020. Angie was selected for this award by her peers, who vote annually to honor one outstanding principal for their exemplary leadership. I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Angie and discuss how we can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for Kansas students and educators.
Thank you to Angie Krause and Dr. Craig Correll of Coffeyville for meeting with me and for their dedication in helping Kansas students reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond.
Visits Across Kansas
Bethany College
On Monday, I stopped in Lindsborg to visit Bethany College and meet with university and city leaders. During the visit, I sat down with President Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Councilwoman Rebecca Van Der Wege, City Administrator Kristin Northcutt and Lori Shultz to have a conversation about the programs that Bethany offers and how the college can adapt their educational offerings to meet the employment needs of area industries. The manufacturing industry is thriving in Central Kansas and McPherson county, and Bethany has begun to offer computer-aided design (CAD) programs to train students for careers in the manufacturing industry as well as partnering with area technical schools to provide general education courses to students at Bethany while they obtain welding training at a local technical school. Kansas is poised for economic growth, and educational institutions like Bethany are vital to attracting new businesses to Kansas.
Mercy Hospital
While in Moundridge I had the opportunity to stop at Mercy Hospital for a tour of the facility and visit with hospital leadership and staff. Hospital Administrator Aaron Herbel and Hospital Board Member Steven Johnson showed me recent renovations to their facility and new equipment. These renovations and equipment have allowed Mercy to provide higher quality of care to their patients and access to care within their facility. During our tour we also had the opportunity the visit with nursing and radiology technical staff and thank them for the service they provide to the community and their dedication to the health care industry through trying times. Access to health care is vital for the citizens of rural communities, and the services Mercy Hospital provides to communities like Moundridge and the surrounding area in McPherson County helps to keep these communities thriving. Thank you to Aaron and Steven for the tour and for taking time out of their day to visit with me.
Yingling Aviation
Before returning to D.C., I had the opportunity to tour Yingling Aviation in Wichita. Originally founded in 1946, Yingling has been owned and operated by the Nichols family for decades and has become a staple business in the Air Capital of the World. While claiming the title of “Premier Cessna Affiliate,” its specialty aircraft services attract business from all over the country and beyond. In recent years, the Nichols family has led major expansions to its business—including an announcement last week of its 14th building that will create an additional 80 new jobs. The new facility will be used for sheet metal repair for flight control surfaces, major structural components, precision cutting, modification and other services.
Thank you to Andrew Nichols, President, and Chris Short, Vice President of Operations, for leading the tour of Yingling’s facilities. I also want to thank Sedgwick County Commissioners Sarah Lopez and David Dennis, Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, and Councilmember Jeff Blubaugh for joining me Tuesday morning, as well was Evan Rosell and Victoria Carro of the Greater Wichita Partnership.
Southeast High School
This week, I visited Southeast High School in Cherokee to meet with students and answer their questions. While touring Southeast’s vocational and technical education programs, I was able to meet with faculty and staff and learn more about the programs offered by the school. Thank you to Seniors Kinzey Cassidy, Kassidy Fox, and Tanner Wiles for giving me a tour and to Dr. Miner and Principal Malle for joining us.
Labette County High School
I also visited Labette County High School in Alamont. It was great to see how small schools in Kansas are thriving and contributing to their communities. Thank you to superintendent Dr. John Wyrick, principal Stacy Smith and the several students who gave me a tour.
Labette Community College
While in southeast Kansas, I toured the campus of Labette Community College. As president of college, Dr. Mark Watkins shared with me the history of the institution’s founding and the story of when classes first started there on September 12, 1923. The college began with just 70 students and now serves approximately 1,500. During the college’s 100th anniversary a few weeks ago, they celebrated the expansion of their athletic complex which includes training and practice venues for their student-athletes as well as a new fitness and weight training room. Besides the athletic complex, we also toured the nursing school where they offer an associate’s degree and are working to train paramedics with simulation technology so students are better prepared for real-life scenarios as they enter our health care facilities. Nurses are a vital component of our health care system, and it is imperative that we ensure they receive top-notch training and a quality education.
We also discussed challenges the institution faces being so close to the borders of neighboring states as well as the volume of instructors necessary to train an educated health care workforce for our communities. Thank you to Dr. Watkins, Janice Reese and Lori Weaver for the tour. Parsons City Manager Debbie Lamb and Economic Development Director Jim Zaleski joined us for our visit to campus and provided insight on local issues such as housing opportunities, workforce needs and ways to ensure rural America continues to thrive.
Touring FHSU Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator
On Friday, I was on the campus of Fort Hays State University (FHSU) to learn more about the Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator (CITI). FHSU’s Department of Informatics launched this program in 2022 with the hopes of helping to alleviate the damaging nature of online attacks and take advantage of the market opportunity in the growing cybersecurity industry. The program is a two tier concept with one focusing on assessing and addressing underserved small business security vulnerabilities through student micro-internships, capstone projects and faculty consulting within the Cybersecurity Institute. The second tier focuses on the technology incubator with the goal of developing security and technology ventures that can turn into viable businesses with support and expertise. With FHSU’s help, small businesses across Kansas that lack the resources of major companies will have the ability to put in place protections to prevent cybersecurity attacks. As cybersecurity threats continue to grow, our national security is at great risk and cybersecurity programs like FHSU’s program are important now more than ever. I am pleased to see the investment FHSU is making with regard to cybersecurity awareness and advancing the cybersecurity industry.
Thanks to Dr. Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn, Interim Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Mr. Jason Zeller, Assistant Professor of Cyber Security for the insightful conversation and to Allan Reiter, Friday Otuya of Nex-Tech andTravis Kohlrus of Vyve Broadband for joining me on the tour. Lastly, thank you to FHSU Foundation President and CEO Jason Williby and his team for helping to coordinate my visit to campus.
Community Prayer Breakfast
Robba and I attended the community prayer breakfast in Alma this weekend as part of the National Faith & Blue weekend. This initiative works to demonstrate how law enforcement and faith institutions are key pillars in communities that contribute to mutual respect and understanding. Thank you to the St. John Lutheran Church for hosting this breakfast.
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