Friends,

As we continue to celebrate the passage of the “One, Big, Beautiful, Bill,” we turn our attention to enacting the remaining portions of the America First Agenda. This week, our House Armed Services Committee will mark up the fiscal year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill which authorizes funding for our entire military. The FY ’26 NDAA will focus on codifying President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense agenda, which will improve our military’s readiness, increase our warfighters’ lethality, and continue to make generational investments in servicemember quality of life.

After attending the signing of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” I’m feeling positive about the direction our country is headed. Getting our country back on the right track won’t be an easy task, but I feel confident it’s one we’re up for.

The “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” contains huge wins for farmers and ranchers across Kansas. We went to bat for American producers and enacted commonsense policies that:

• improve crop insurance affordability;
• strengthen farm safety net programs;
• protect America’s farmers from foreign competition, and;
• root out waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

After four years of historic inflation, these victories will go a long way in ensuring the long term success and prosperity of one of our state’s biggest and most important industries.

Lucas van Oort/Unsplash

In addition to the agriculture-specific provisions, many of our family farms and ranches will benefit immensely from the pro-small business tax measures this bill extends. Specifically, this legislation permanently extends Death Tax relief, preventing over 2 million family-owned farms from being hit with the expense. It also makes the Section 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction permanent; 98% of farms in United States qualify for this deduction.

Congress still must pass the long-overdue Farm Bill this year to provide further stability to Kansas’s producers, but this bill goes a long way to ensuring our farmers and ranchers can continue to provide for our great nation.

Family caregivers play a vital role in many Kansans’ lives. There are an estimated 48 million caregivers in the United States, including nearly 1 in 5 Kansas adults. Among our state’s caregiver population a whopping 85% are unpaid, meaning they provide for their loved ones primarily out of their own pockets.

The commitments required to care for a family member or friend often place caregivers in a precarious financial position, as it can be a full time job. There are systems and incentives in place to help out these great Americans, but I believe we can do better, which is why I cosponsored the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act. This legislation would ensure family caregivers can financially continue to provide care services for their loved ones by establishing an annual tax credit of up to $5,000.

I’m proud this legislation is supported by a number of care-focused groups, including the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, Home Care Association of America, Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) Action, Family Business Coalition, and American Seniors Housing Association.

Kansans in the Second District and across the state rely on this care. I’m hopeful this legislation will help our caregivers continue to provide these services their loved ones rely on without facing financial ruin.

A key piece of President Trump’s economic agenda involves leveling the playing field for American producers and manufacturers in global markets. Since day one, the President – with the help of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other cabinet members – has worked relentlessly to protect our domestic industries from foreign competitors while securing fair trade deals to improve our worldwide returns.

Earlier this year I joined colleagues in encouraging Ambassador Greer to increase Indian market access for American sorghum, ethanol, distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and soybean meal producers. India’s population growth and the shifting global economy have skyrocketed their demand and desire for American agricultural products. By identifying growing markets – like India – our nation can begin to reduce our trade deficits and improve the overall health of our economy.

The Trump Administration has heard our encouragement and worked to hard to improve global market access on multiple fronts, which is why I recently joined Senator Steve Daines from Montana, Congressman Adrian Smith from Nebraska, and more than 50 of my colleagues to commend their work. By securing long term, America First trade deals, this administration is ensuring the sustained success of America’s producers. That’s something I’ll support any day.

I recently gained two more military seals to display in my Washington office! Thank you to the United States Navy and United States National Guard for dropping these off to me in DC.

I only need the Coast Guard to complete my set.

I’ll be back in Washington this week, where I’ll work with my colleagues to produce an NDAA that puts American servicemembers first while aiming to reestablish peace through strength across the globe.

As always, my office is here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Be sure to also follow me on social media at the links below for timely updates from my office.

It’s an incredible honor to represent our Second Congressional District in Congress!

Sincerely,

Derek Schmidt

Member of Congress

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