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Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.

Maintaining Critical Safety Standards for Our Airspace 
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to call for changes to the current draft of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which fails to uphold minimum safety standards necessary for military helicopters operating in mixed airspace. The deadly collision that occurred in our nation’s capital between American Airlines Flight 5342, from Wichita, and a U.S. Army Blackhawk on January 29th, 2025, forever changed how we think about air travel. While Congress has passed significant legislation over the last year to invest in the future safety of our airspace and introduced legislation to make our airspace safer, now is not the time to take a step back from these efforts.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to amend the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or to pass legislation to make certain that NDAA language is at least, at a minimum, abiding by the safety standards that were set in place after the crash on January 29th.

You can watch my full speech on the Senate floor here .

Questioning U.S. Trade Representative Greer on Agricultural & Aviation Trade in Kansas
On Tuesday, I led a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science hearing to review the activities and funding priorities of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), led by Ambassador Jamieson Greer. Trade plays an important role in the Kansas economy by opening new markets for agriculture, manufacturing and aviation products.

During the hearing, I showed Ambassador Greer a photo I took several years ago at the Kensington grain elevator of grain sorghum, piled up because there was no place to sell it. I reiterated to the ambassador that agricultural trade must not return to those times again. I also discussed the 1979 Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, which established zero-for-zero tariffs on aviation products to certain countries. As the Air Capital of the World, Wichita and Kansas benefit when aircraft manufacturing companies can more easily sell their products around the world.

I appreciate Ambassador Greer testifying before the committee, and I look forward to continue working with him, the Trump administration and my colleagues in the Senate to support international markets for American goods.

You can watch my questioning of Ambassador Greer here .

Discussing USDA Economic Assistance Package for Farmers on RFD-TV
On Tuesday, as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I joined RFD-TV to discuss the recent announcement of a $12 billion economic assistance package in bridge payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help offset disruptions in the market and increasing input costs. To overcome challenges in the farming economy, our ability to trade commodities on a global scale is vital. This package is a necessity that will help farmers weather the current uncertainty while the administration works to increase markets for farmers to sell their crops. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee and with the administration to make certain we are providing farmers and ranchers with the resources they need to continue feeding, fueling and clothing the world, and maintaining their businesses and livelihoods.

You can watch my full interview on RFD-TV here .

Hosting Marine Corps Reserves’ Annual Toys for Tots
This week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a special event to collect gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. Last year, Toys for Tots distributed more than 30 million toys, books and games to 13 million children across the country with the help of 50,000 volunteers. Lieutenant General Leonard Anderson, Commander of the Marine Corps Reserve, joined me and other members of the committee and shared that the Veterans’ Affairs committee is the single largest donor of toys on Capitol Hill.

I want to thank the servicemembers, veterans and volunteers who work year-round to make certain that children in need have something under the tree on Christmas morning and to all of those who joined us for this event or donated toys.

You can learn more about the event by watching the video here .

Leading Hearing to Discuss Legislation with Veteran Advocates
On Wednesday, I led a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing to discuss 24 pieces of legislation aimed at improving the delivery of health care, benefits and services to veterans, survivors, caregivers and dependents through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Testifying at this hearing were representatives from the VA, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the National Veterans Legal Services Program. I introduced two of the bills we discussed – the Sharing Essential Resources for Veterans Everywhere (SERVE) Act and the Fisher House Availability Act .

The bills in this hearing represent bipartisan priorities that would help expand access to care and benefits for veterans, their families and survivors in Kansas and across the country. I am grateful to all the sponsors of these bills for their work on behalf of our veterans and to the veteran service organization partners for working with us to improve and advance them.

You can watch my questioning to VA and the veteran service organizations here and here .

Voting to Lower Health Care Costs & Increase Patient Choice
This week, I voted in favor of the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, legislation introduced by Senators Crapo and Cassidy that focused on lowering premiums, deductibles and co-pays while providing direct payments to patients through Health Savings Accounts to give families greater control over their care. The bill also proposed new health savings accounts to provide direct relief rather than delaying action for another three years at a cost of billions to taxpayers. Unfortunately, the measure failed to pass the Senate.

Health insurance premiums and drug prices continue to increase at alarming rates while patients, physicians and hospitals suffer under the financial burdens of our current health system. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) attempted to address many of our healthcare problems, it fell short of its goals, and many Kansas families still struggle to pay sky-high premiums and deductibles. The Government Accountability Office reports persistent and large-scale vulnerabilities that allow fraud to occur in the ACA marketplace at the expense of the taxpayer.

The Health Care Freedom for Patients Act was offered as an alternative to the Democrats’ Lower Health Care Costs Act, which would have extended enhanced ACA subsidies for three additional years at an estimated cost of $83 billion, without addressing the underlying drivers of rising premiums. This bill also failed to advance.

Every Kansan, and every American, needs access to quality, affordable care. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to finding solutions that deliver lasting results, transparency and better affordability for Kansas families.

Meeting with New Commanding General of Ft. Leavenworth’s Combined Arms Center 
This week, I met with the new Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center (CAC) at Fort Leavenworth, Lieutenant General (LTG) James Isenhower III. We discussed his past leadership experience in the Army and his vision for the CAC to strengthen soldiers to be the at forefront of modern warfare and military preparedness. I look forward to working with LTG Isenhower to support the CAC’s important mission to the Army enterprise and making certain that Fort Leavenworth has the resources necessary to support the soldiers and families which call it home. Thank you, LTG Isenhower, for your dedicated leadership and service to our country, Fort Leavenworth and to Kansas.

Meeting with NCTA President & CEO Cory Gardner
On Monday, I met with Cory Gardner, President and CEO of NCTA – The Internet and Television Association, to discuss issues facing the cable and television industries and ongoing proceedings at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that impact NCTA’s member companies. During our meeting, Senator Gardner and I discussed spectrum policy and ongoing federal broadband deployment efforts.

Discussing Broadband with FCC Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty
This week, I met with Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty to discuss the state of telecommunications policy and industry in the U.S. in advance of Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty’s appearance before the Senate Commerce Committee next Wednesday.

During our meeting, we discussed the critical importance of local broadcasters, particularly in rural communities in Kansas, the FCC’s ongoing work on implementing provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the importance of the Universal Service Fund to delivering the goals of reliable and fast internet connections for every American. We also discussed the FCC’s efforts to improve telecommunications in the U.S., including Commissioner Trusty’s work to advance universal connectivity, network resiliency and U.S. leadership in telecommunications policy and infrastructure.

I am grateful to Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty for their time and insights, and I look forward to hearing from them at the oversight hearing next week.

Receiving Update from President of Tyson Beef Chad Martin
This week, I met with Chad Martin, President of Tyson Beef, and he provided updates on their operations in Kansas and the surrounding states. We discussed the current state of the domestic cattle inventory and its effects on the market. We also discussed how international trade can increase the value of American beef, making certain ranchers in Kansas and across the country remain profitable. Thank you to Tyson for their continued investment in Kansas.

Meeting with Kansans
KBI Director Tony Mattivi
This week, I met with Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Director Tony Mattivi to discuss efforts to bolster public safety in Kansas and how federal and state partners can continue working together to keep our communities safe. Director Mattivi shared an update on KBI’s current priorities, including expanding the bureau’s technological capacity and the agency’s role in supporting local law enforcement across the state.

I emphasized my continued support for making certain law enforcement officers have the tools, training and resources they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. I appreciate Director Mattivi’s leadership and his commitment to strengthening the KBI’s authority to meet current threats and maintaining the agency’s high standards of professionalism.

AIPAC
On Wednesday, I met with Bonnie Siegel of AIPAC to discuss the U.S.-Israel relationship and AIPAC’s perspective on the recently agreed upon peace plan. During our meeting, we spoke about our shared concern about the rise of antisemitism across the country and the importance of making certain that the Trump administration’s peace framework is implemented as intended. I’m grateful for the work Bonnie does to support the Jewish community and appreciated our conversation on how the U.S. can continue to engage in pursuing diplomatic solutions around the world.

Kansas Judicial Branch
On Thursday, I met with members of the Kansas Judicial Branch, Deputy Judicial Administrator Shawn Jurgensen and Judicial Administrator of the Kansas Court System Stephanie Smith, to discuss recent updates on Veterans Treatment Courts in Kansas. These courts continue to demonstrate their value in helping veterans receive the support they’ve earned and get back on a stable path. I appreciate the judges and court staff who are working to expand these efforts in more communities across our state.

During our conversation, we also talked about the growing need for attorneys and judges in rural Kansas. Many small towns are struggling to recruit and retain legal professionals, which puts an additional strain on local courts and makes it harder for Kansans to access legal help when they need it.

Cosmosphere
It was great meeting with Jim Remar, President and CEO of Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, while he was in D.C. Mr. Remar has been with Cosmosphere for more than 20 years and has helped shape it into a renowned museum and learning center. I appreciated learning more about the important work Mr. Remar and his team are doing to inspire future generations and to celebrate America’s leadership in space.

During our meeting, he also presented me with a Kansas flag that was flown aboard the first Apollo 16 mission to the lunar highlands, highlighting our state’s long history with space exploration.

Former Kansas City Fire Chief John Paul Jones
On Wednesday, I met with John Paul Jones, former Fire Chief of the Kansas City Fire Department who was in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association to discuss first responders’ priorities for FirstNet, which is due for reauthorization by February 2027. FirstNet, also known as the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), was created to provide fast, reliable and secure communications for first responders.

I am grateful to Chief Jones, Division Chief for Command and Emergency Planning of the Orange County Fire Authority Mike Sheehan and New York Fire Chief John Esposito for their time and insights and for their decades of service protecting their communities.

Visits Across Kansas
Topeka Police Department
On Friday, I spoke at the unveiling of a new emergency vehicle for the Topeka Police Department. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which funds the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement, I helped secure a $385,000 federal investment for the purchase of the new vehicle. I am committed to making certain that law enforcement officials in Kansas and across the country have access to the resources necessary to respond and assist neighboring communities in order to keep their communities safe.

I want to thank Topeka Chief of Police Chris Vallejo for the invitation and all members of the Topeka Police Department for their continued dedication to serving the Topeka community. I was also joined by Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla, Topeka Mayor-elect Spencer Duncan, Shawnee County Commissioner Aaron Mays, Kansas State Senators Rick Kloos and Brenda Diedrich and the Greater Topeka Partnership’s CEO Molly Howey and President Bob Ross.

Reception for Outgoing Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla
Following the Topeka Police Department ceremony on Friday, I attended the going-away reception for outgoing Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla. Mayor Padilla has served as Topeka’s mayor since 2022, and prior to that, he served on the Topeka City Council and as a member of the Topeka Police Department for 33 years. I want to thank Mayor Padilla for his career in public service to the people of Topeka and wish him, his wife, Ronnie, and their two children well as he starts this new chapter.

Maple Hill Community
This week, I stopped by Maple Hill to visit with folks from the community. During my visit, I met with folks at Stockgrowers State Bank, Main Street Studio and the 24/7 Travel Center. I also stopped by Flaming Grill Restaurant, City Hall, the local U.S. Post Office and Heir Insurance Services where I visited with insurance agent Wille Glotzbach. Thank you to the Maple Hill community for the warm welcome and conversations.

Celebrating 389th Anniversary of the National Guard
Saturday, December 13th was the United States National Guard’s 389th birthday. The national guard was our country’s first militia, with the first regiments predating the unification of our country.

In Kansas, there are over 6,600 National Guard members, with over 5,200 of them serving in the Army National Guard and 2,300 in the Air National Guard. I thank each one of them – and their families – for their service and sacrifice. The deep roots and impact the National Guard has had on our state and country is something we should always be reminded of and grateful for. Members of the National Guard, alongside their active-duty counterparts, are the backbone of our country, and I appreciate them for answering the call to serve.

Celebrating Wreaths Across America Day
Saturday, December 13th was also National Wreaths Across America Day, where wreaths were placed on servicemembers’ graves in cemeteries around the country in memory and honor of their service. Wreaths Across America aims to make certain that no servicemember is forgotten, and I thank them for working to make certain that the stories and sacrifices of our nation’s heroes live on.

Happy Hanukkah
Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends in Kansas and around the world! May the Festival of Lights bring you and your loved ones joy, peace and love.

Honored to Serve You in Washington
It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.

Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here . You can also click here  to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry