North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Bri Shuler of Prairie Village
Superior Essex
Kate Lummus of Hoisington
U.S. Army
Jaime Linder of Ellis
October 6
Hello,
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.
Honoring Fallen Hays Police Officer Sergeant Scott Heimann Last weekend, Hays Police Sergeant Scott Heiman was tragically killed in the line of duty while defending his community and our hometown from harm. I introduced a Senate resolution with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to honor his service and sacrifice and spoke on the Senate floor to pay tribute to Sgt. Heimann’s life and to honor the legacy he leaves behind. He was laid to rest on Friday, and I joined members of the Hays community and Sgt. Heimann’s family in attending his funeral service, where friends, neighbors and loved ones came together to honor his life and say thank you for his service.
Sgt. Heimann embodied the very best of Hays, a tight-knit place where people look out for their neighbors, care for those in need and protect the vulnerable. In Hays and across Kansas, we will not forget the sacrifice Sgt. Heimann made, and we will honor his service. Robba and I are praying for his wife, Beth, his children, Victoria and Patrick, and the entire law enforcement and Hays community during this difficult time.
You can find our Senate Resolution here. You can read more about Sgt. Heimann’s life and funeral service in KSN here. You can watch my full speech on the Senate floor here.
Working to Reopen the Government On Tuesday evening, hours before government funding ran out, I spoke on the Senate floor after the Senate failed to pass the non-partisan, short-term funding package intended to avoid a government shutdown and allow Congressional appropriators more time to negotiate and pass all 12 full appropriations bills. Appropriating is one of the primary responsibilities and necessities of the United States Senate, and every city council or commission, every school board, every local government office in our state passes a budget and then lives within that budget every year.
Instead of passing the continuing resolution, Senate Democrats chose to close the government down over unrelated issues, hindering our ability to do the job that the American people sent us here to do.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed 11 of the 12 appropriations bills and, for the first time since 2018, three of the 12 appropriations bills were passed in the Senate before the August state work period. I am committed to working toward ending this shutdown and finishing the appropriations process the American people have tasked us to do.
The full text of my floor speech can be read here.
USDA Releases Funds for Dole-McGovern Food Program RFD-TV
This week, I joined RFD-TV to discuss U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent decision to release funds for the Dole-McGovern Food Program, which is significant for Kansas farmers and global food security. Kansas farmers have long answered a noble calling to feed hungry people around the world through the Dole-McGovern Food Program, originally named after Kansas Senator Bob Dole. I also talked about the ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to work with our colleagues across the aisle on a path forward to fund the government and allow the appropriations process to continue.
AgriTalk
I also joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk to speak about USDA’s decision to purchase $480 million of agriculture commodities from farmers across the state for the Dole-McGovern Food Program. This is a welcome announcement that contributes to feeding hungry children around the globe and provides significant value to producers in Kansas and across the country who are facing low commodity prices and high input costs. Thank you to Chip Flory for having me on to discuss these important issues.
You can listen to my full AgriTalk interview here.
Leading Kansas Delegation’s Request for Disaster Declaration I led my Kansas delegation colleagues, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Ron Estes (KS-04), in urging President Trump to make a major disaster declaration for the State of Kansas from July 17 through July 22, 2025. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly formally submitted the request for federal support on September 17, 2025. I appreciate my colleagues’ support for this request, and I am committed to working to make certain Kansans affected by natural disasters have the resources necessary to recover and rebuild.
Meeting with Kansas Eye Care Professionals On Tuesday, I met with Kansans who are part of the American Optometric Association (AOA) to discuss access to vision services, advances in optometric care and the importance of making certain Kansans can receive timely, affordable eye care. I appreciated hearing directly from Kansas eye care professionals about the challenges they face and the innovative ways they are serving their communities.
During the meeting, AOA presented me with an award in recognition of the bipartisan Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which I introduced. Among other things, this legislation provides physician-level recognition for Department of Veterans Affairs optometrists, helping strengthen recruitment and retention efforts and making certain veterans have timely access to the vision care they need. I appreciated the conversation about how we can continue improving access to services that make a difference for Kansans and veterans alike.
Visiting with Kansans in Washington, D.C. I enjoyed visiting with Kansans Kim and Deana Rupp, from my hometown of Hays, in my Washington, D.C., office before they received a tour of the U.S. Capitol. Thank you to Kim and Deana for taking the time to meet with me. If you are planning a visit to Washington, D.C., and would like a tour of the Capitol, please visit my website here for more information.
Visits Across Kansas Wichita County High School
This week, I visited Wichita County High School to meet with students and staff and learn more about the district’s academic programs and student activities. I was grateful to hear from Principal Brant Douglas and faculty about the ways the school is preparing students for successful futures, both in higher education and the workforce. Visits like this give me valuable insight into the needs and accomplishments of schools across Kansas, and I appreciate the time students and staff took to share their perspectives with me.
Black & Veatch
I met with company leaders at Black & Veatch early this week to discuss the need for permitting reform to help eliminate barriers to construction and energy development. I will continue to advocate for Congress to take up permitting legislation that prioritizes low energy costs for families and businesses while promoting economic growth. I am grateful for the company’s expansion in Kansas and am encouraged to see progress on its new Overland Park headquarters.
Healy Community
On Thursday, I traveled to Healy and met with members of the community. I appreciated chatting with folks at First State Bank and Healy Oil Company. I also visited Healy Agency and Sharp Brothers Seed. Thank you to all those who took the time to visit with me.
Hays Community
On Friday, after attending the funeral for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, I visited with folks around my hometown of Hays. While there, I visited Augustine’s Bakery, Downtown Hays, Inc., Astra Bank and the Bank of Hays. I also made stops at the Center for Health Improvement, Master Cleaners, Auto World, Jeter Law Firm and grabbed a bite to eat at Taco Shop. Thank you to the Hays community for welcoming me and for the conversations.
Yom Kippur
This week, Jewish communities in Kansas and around the world celebrated Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. To those who celebrated, I hope this Yom Kippur was a meaningful and blessed day for all.
Now Accepting Spring 2026 Internship Applications
My own interest in public service was sparked by an internship for Kansas First District Congressman Keith Sebelius in 1974. As an intern, I had the chance to learn firsthand how a Congressional office operates and how the legislative process works. I am glad to be able to offer this same opportunity in my Senate office today, where I have interns year-round working closely with my staff to serve Kansans.
Applications for internships in my Washington, D.C. and Kansas offices for the spring 2026 session are due Sunday, October 19. Congressional internships are open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in public service and have achieved academic excellence. Click here for more information and to apply.
Now Accepting Spring 2026 Page Applications
Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 Senate Page Program. High school students are afforded a unique opportunity to work in the Senate and learn about Congress and the legislative process. Summer Page eligibility is limited to students who have completed their sophomore year of high school and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. The deadline to apply is Sunday, October 19. You can learn more about the Senate Page Program here.
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
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click here.
Hays
1200 Main St.,
Suite 402
P.O. Box 249
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 628-6401
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly issued the statement below in response to Attorney General Kobach calling on the Kansas Legislature to convene a special legislative session.
“Republican legislative leaders’ efforts to call a special session for mid-decade redistricting have so far proven to be unpopular. And rightfully so, as Kansans know this is neither the right approach nor the right time. Now, Attorney General Kobach is manufacturing false urgency to apply pressure to legislators who have not committed to supporting a special session for redistricting purposes. If need be, this issue could easily be addressed when legislators are routinely scheduled to be in session rather than wasting more than $100,000 in taxpayer dollars. This is simply more political theater.”
A federal government shutdown began at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, after funding authorization for the federal government expired. Two weeks ago, the House passed a bipartisan bill to keep the government funded through November 21, while work continues on the full-year appropriations bills. Regrettably, Senate Democrats are insisting on the inclusion of a $1.5 trillion wish list of additional reckless spending instead of passing the House’s clean continuing resolution. This shutdown is entirely the result of those unreasonable demands.
Read on below for more information on some of the most common topics we are getting questions about related to the shutdown.
My Offices
My team and I will be working throughout this period — and my offices in Washington, Topeka and Pittsburg will remain open! This year, we have responded to tens of thousands of messages, emails, and phone calls, and we will continue to be available to listen to your comments and concerns. We have also helped Kansans reclaim hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to them by federal agencies including the VA, Social Security, and the IRS.
Our ability to help with some of these situations may be affected, as many departments and agencies will not be processing casework during its duration. However, that work will resume once federal funding is resolved. If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency, please call my office at (785) 205-5253 or fill out the form on our website, and we will work with you on the paperwork that must be completed so we can file your case as soon as we are able.
My team and I will not be able to process flag orders at this time, and tours of the United States Capitol will be limited. If you are traveling to D.C., my office will be open to visitors, so please stop by and say hello!
Social Security
If you are a Social Security recipient, you will receive your Social Security payment. However, if you are waiting for benefit verifications or disability claims, you may experience a delay in having those processed.
Medicare and Medicaid
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services programs will continue to operate as normal during the shutdown.
Veterans Affairs
All VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open. VA benefits, including compensation, pension education, and housing benefits will continue to be processed. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will also continue to operate normally. The VA Contact Center will remain open and can be reached at 1-800-MyVA411. The Veterans Crisis Center is also available 24/7 to help veterans who call 988.
Unfortunately, some VA services will be impacted by the shutdown. Regional benefits offices will be closed, along with the GI Bill hotline, and career counseling.
The Transportation Security Administration will continue to operate. However, there may be longer wait times than usual. If you have a flight planned, consider arriving at the airport earlier to ensure you get through security in a timely manner.
Passports
Current processing time for routine passport applications is 4-6 weeks. The shutdown may lead to longer delays. If you plan to travel internationally and you need to renew your passport or get a new passport, it is recommend that you begin the process as soon as possible.
Last week, prior to the shutdown, I was honored to participate in a roundtable with State Farm agents in Topeka. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from them about federal issues affecting the insurance industry and policyholders and to learn what they’re hearing in their communities.
I had the pleasure of giving constituents from Coffey County a Capitol tour on Thursday. The Capitol Visitors Center may be closed, but I am always happy to show Kansans around the nation’s Capitol!
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!
Senator Marshall: The Number One Motivation to Shut the Gov’t Down is Trump Derangement Syndrome
Yesterday, I delivered lengthy remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate, where I directly called out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for bending the knee to the radical left-wing elements of the Democrat Party, and for the Democrat Party’s insistence on playing hypocritical games with America’s healthcare system.
In my remarks, I said, “It is just beyond me for the leader of the Democrat party to set up here and cry about hospitals closing in rural America today and blaming Republicans. If there’s any hospital closing today, tomorrow, or next year, the Democrats own it. They own the failed policy, and America gets that. My gosh, I never heard something so ridiculous in my life.
“But again, Republicans have solutions, and we want to fix it. One of the ways to fix… why these hospitals are failing is the economy. Rural hospitals are a reflection of the local economy. As agriculture goes, so goes rural America, so go these hospitals.
“And by the way, 97% of these rural counties voted for President Trump. He’s never going to turn his back on them. We, as Republicans, are not going to turn our backs on them. I wake up every morning trying to figure out how do we save rural hospitals and rural America? How do we recruit doctors to rural America? How do we recruit nurses to rural America?
“And all of a sudden, the Democrats have got salvation here, and they care about it. No, they’re hiding behind that issue. They are hiding behind it because they don’t have any substance to stand on.” Click HERE or on the image below to watch my speech or read my remarks in full.
Senator Marshall: Chuck Schumer is Afraid That AOC Will Primary Him
As you can no doubt guess, the biggest story this week is the government shutdown, and I had a very busy week speaking to CNN, Newsmax, NewsNation, Bloomberg, and Fox News about the ongoing budget battle with Senate Democrats, why Chuck Schumer is choosing to shut down the government, and what the off-ramp from the shutdown might be. Additional topics of discussion included the announcement from the White House to lower drug prices and how to improve rural healthcare in America.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with Bloomberg.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with CNN.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with CNN.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with Fox News.
Click HERE or on the image above to listen to my full interview on Fox Radio.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with Newsmax.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with Newsmax.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with Newsmax.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview with NewsNation.
Senators Marshall & Reed Introduce Legislation to Increase Cancer Screening Options for Rural Communities
As a doctor of over 25 years in rural America, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that those who live far from major medical centers or regional hospitals face. It’s my deeply held belief that the geography of where a patient is shouldn’t determine whether they can get screened for deadly cancers, nor should it harm their life expectancy or health outcomes.
Those living in rural communities – like so many folks in Kansas do – deserve the same access to life-saving preventative care as any other American.
That’s why I am proud to introduce the Mobile Cancer Screening Act. This legislation will establish a federal grant program for hospitals and healthcare centers to increase the availability of detection services in rural and underserved communities.
With these funds, providers can purchase mobile screening units, bringing potentially life-saving screening to the doorsteps of patients who are affected by a lack of transportation or long travel distances to clinics.
Senator Marshall Announces Grant for Revitalization of Junction City Main Street
Junction City – home to Fort Riley and the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, also known as The Big Red One – has reason to celebrate. I am pleased to announce technical assistance and agency resources for Junction City Main Street and its community partners to begin the process of revitalizing its downtown and connecting the community with its neighboring reservoir, rivers, and prairie.
As an avid outdoorsman, I applaud these efforts. Junction City has an incredible opportunity to capitalize on its proximity to the many nearby natural resources, which will provide greater opportunities for residents, tourists, and Fort Riley soldiers and their families to experience our state’s diverse outdoor recreation opportunities.
Senator Marshall Introduces Legislation to Restore Sanity to our Passport System
Passports play a critical role in safeguarding our national security by confirming the true identity of individuals leaving and returning to the U.S., which is why they must reflect factual, biological reality.
That’s why this week I introduced the Passport Sanity Act, a bill to support President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s efforts to ground passports and other State Department documents in biological reality.
Congress should act quickly to enshrine this critical legislation into law, reinforcing the common-sense approach championed by President Trump and Secretary Rubio.
Senator Marshall Delivers Remarks During Gold Star Family Weekend at Fort Riley
Lastly, as I mentioned during last week’s newsletter, I addressed a gathering of Gold Star Families at Fort Riley for the dedication of the base’s new Gold Star Family Memorial. The video from that speech is now available to view below.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full remarks.
Governor Kelly Calls for Public Meetings Prior to Circulation of Redistricting Special Session Petition
TOPEKA – In light of rumors circulating that Republican legislative leadership may call a special session of the legislature to do the bidding of D.C. politicians and enact mid-decade redistricting, Governor Laura Kelly issued the following statement:
“I do not agree with mid-decade redistricting based on old data and a clearly partisan agenda. According to public reporting, Republican legislative leadership is seriously considering calling a special session of the legislature to enact new congressional district maps.
“A special session may be called by the governor or by the signing of a petition supporting the call by a two-thirds majority in each chamber. As I will not call a special session for mid-decade redistricting, Republican leadership would have to rely on a petition.
“A special session to draw new maps without new data would be an unprecedented departure from the normal post-Census process. For Kansans to have any faith in these new maps, they must be afforded opportunities to speak directly, in person, with their legislators.
“As imperfect as the last redistricting process was, legislative leadership held 18 public meetings. Then House Speaker Ron Ryckman said at the time, ‘It’s important to remember that redistricting is a multi-year process that starts with these town halls to get a gauge on what Kansans want.’ Senate President Ty Masterson said in January 2022, that Johnson County is the ‘core’ of the 3rd Congressional District.
“Any efforts to institute an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting must offer a robust public comment period with both online and in-person options, especially in Johnson County.
“That is why I am calling on legislative leadership to host town halls prior to circulating a petition for a special session. Kansans must be offered the opportunity to express their opinions directly to their representatives, as they have during previous redistricting processes.
“Discussions about a special session and redistricting must be brought out from behind closed doors and into the public domain.”
It has been a sad week in America. A young father and husband’s life was taken by an assassin’s bullet while he was engaging in a dialogue with those he disagreed with — exercising the God-given rights enshrined by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. Charlie Kirk’s voice will live on in the organization he founded and the many young people who have been inspired by his example to participate in the political process.
This week also marked the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the days ahead, I hope we can recapture some of the spirit of unity that pervaded our country in the days and weeks following 9/11. The rise in political violence in recent years is antithetical to the principles of self-government on which the United States of America was founded.
Let us resolve to honor Charlie’s memory by recommitting to those principles that he held and practiced — having thoughtful conversations with those with different beliefs and resolving our disagreements not with violence, but by informed participation in the democratic process.
Ensuring Peace Through Strength
This week, the House passed the annual legislative package to authorize funding for every aspect of our military for the upcoming year. This year’s bill focuses on overhauling the Department of Defense’s (DoD) acquisition process, allowing our Armed Forces to quickly and effectively adapt to a constantly shifting global battlefield.
As part of that acquisition reform, I was able to secure a provision in the bill that makes it easier for small companies to become suppliers for the Pentagon. My amendment requires the Pentagon to establish a single application process that minimizes paperwork and bureaucracy for small businesses interested in competing for Pentagon contracts.
In addition, the bill contains huge wins for our servicemembers and their families, including a 3.8% pay increase for military personnel, extension of in-home child care programs for military families, and expansion of TRICARE dental insurance to reservists.
The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 231-196. It now must be reconciled with a different version under consideration by the Senate. Watch my speech on the House floor in support of the bill below.
Making Border Security Permanent
There can be no doubt by now that President Trump’s efforts to secure the border have been successful, with illegal crossings now at historic lows. But, only Congress can enact new border laws that will ensure a future administration cannot turn back the clock and force Americans to relive the disastrous policies of the last four years.
To that end, this week the House passed legislation that will stiffen penalties for those who enter the country illegally — and in particular those who have committed a crime, been deported once (or even multiple times) and then illegally reentered the country. I was proud to cosponsor this bill, H.R.3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025.
In my floor remarks in support of the bill, I spoke about a tragic 2016 case in Wyandotte County where an illegal immigrant, who had been previously deported and encountered law enforcement multiple times after reentering the country, killed four individuals in Kansas and one in Missouri. The perpetrator was not deterred by the current, weak penalties for illegal reentry, and federal officials in the Obama administration failed to enforce them. We must continue our work to codify strong border security measures to protect our communities.
Working Families Tax Cuts — Cutting Taxes for Seniors
As we continue to highlight the big wins for Kansas in the Working Families Tax Cut bill signed into law earlier this summer, I was pleased that the bill contained a new “bonus deduction” for our senior citizens. I have cosponsored a standalone bill that would fully eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits — but due to procedural rules in Congress, a full repeal was not possible though the budget reconciliation process. Instead, the provision that was included will allow seniors to deduct up to an additional $6,000 (or $12,000 for married couples), which willfully offset the tax on Social Security benefits for the vast majority of the nearly 140,000 seniors in our Second District.
Thanks to the many Kansans who visited Washington this week, including the Kansas Auto Dealers Association, Kansas Pork Association and Kansas Chamber!
Emergency Declaration Approved
Last night, President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Kansas, in response to the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred June 3-7, 2025. My fellow members of the Kansas delegation joined last month in a letter to the President supporting the declaration. The disaster declaration will result in $5.7 million in federal funds to help communities recovering from these storms.
The 15 Kansas counties included in the disaster declaration include five counties in the Second District: Chase, Coffey, Lyon, Morris and Osage.
After a productive August meetings with constituents throughout our Second District, Congress reconvened this week to continue our work on behalf of the American people.
Unleashing American Energy Production
This week, the focus on the House floor was continuing to reduce regulatory burdens on our energy producers, as well as passing the Energy & Water appropriations bill that continues to invest in American natural resource production while cutting the bloated federal bureaucracy.
The House this week passed resolutions overturning three additional Biden-era regulations that hampered energy producers in Montana, North Dakota and Alaska. We have now passed 20 resolutions overturning burdensome regulations from the Biden Administration using the authority of the Congressional Review Act. I hope that we continue to use this tool to undo more regulations that stifle our economy and place incredible compliance costs on our small businesses.
In addition, the House passed the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides funding for our national security, energy research, and other key infrastructure programs. The bill reduces spending by more than $766 million from the prior year, as we continue the critical work of reducing the federal deficit.
Working Families Tax Cuts — No Tax on Tips
This week, as we marked Labor Day, the Treasury Department rolled out its list of nearly 70 different occupations that will be eligible for the “No Tax on Tips” deduction that was enacted as part of the Working Families Tax Cut package passed earlier this summer.
Before returning to Washington, I wrapped up the August District Work Period with a few remaining stops in Kansas, including joining my colleagues Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Rep. Ron Estes (KS-04) speaking to the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association about the pro-energy policies we have enacted in the first half of the year. In addition, I toured the Mars production facility in Topeka, which employs more than 400 people.
Next week, the House is scheduled to consider the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill which authorizes funding for our entire military. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’m proud to have been a part of the work of putting this bill together — which contains numerous wins for Kansas, including protecting medical facilities in Kansas from downsizing, including Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley; and preserving the National Simulation Center at Fort Leavenworth. I’m looking forward to the bill receiving strong, bipartisan support on the House floor.
The Bourbon County Republican meeting is Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6 pm at the Uniontown Community Building, 206 Sherman on the east side of the town square in Uniontown, KS.
After a busy first half of the legislative year, Congress recently began our annual extended district work period. It has been a productive few months. While we certainly have much more work to do, I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish to date. We’ve had a great first quarter of the 119th Congress, and we’re just getting started.
Lowering Drug Prices
An overwhelming majority of Kansans agree drug prices are too high. For years, foreign countries have benefitted from American ingenuity, capitalizing on our domestic innovation without paying the cost of research & development (R&D). The statistics are staggering: though American patients account for less than 5% of the global population, we fund nearly 75% of global pharmaceutical profits around the world. In 2023 alone, manufacturers invested over $96 billion in R&D, with more than $71 billion coming from the United States.
President Trump and Ambassador Greer have done an excellent job securing trade deals that protect our domestic industries from foreign competitors while leveling the playing field for American producers and manufacturers in global markets. Foreign countries’ price controls have negatively affected American patients for far too long; I’m optimistic we can finally address this glaring problem and lower prices for patients in Kansas and across the country.
Assisting Kansas Veterans
Last week, President Trump signed the VA Home Loan Program Reform Actinto law. I proudly supported this legislation in the House.
Originally introduced by my colleague Rep. Derrick Van Orden from Wisconsin, the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act will provide a critical lifeline to help many veterans facing financial difficulties avoid losing their homes.
This legislation provides a safety net to our veterans by creating a partial claim program that is in-line with current Federal Housing Administration loan relief programs, with the goal of assisting veterans in avoiding foreclosure on their homes. 3.7 million veterans currently using the VA Home Loan program could benefit from having the safety net created by this bill, should they need it.
This legislation is an important step toward achieving President Trump’s goal of ending veteran homelessness. In June, the House took another step toward achieving this goal when we advanced the annual appropriations bill that provides funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects. Our legislation makes historic investments in veterans’ care by increasing funding levels from fiscal year 2025, ensuring those who have served have access to the full scope of benefits they’ve earned.
Providing adequate benefits for current and former servicemembers in Kansas and across the country will always be one of my top priorities in Congress. I’m proud my colleagues and I were able to pass this legislation, and I look forward to supporting similar legislation in the future.
A Kansas Visitor and Another Telephone Town Hall
Thank you to State Senator Rick and Pennie Kloos for visiting me in Washington recently! Staying connected with our local and state officials is critical to ensuring the federal government remains a good partner to Kansas.
Thank you also to all the Kansans who joined our recent telephone town hall! Speaking directly with Second District residents is critical to ensuring I’m representing you to the best of my ability. If you weren’t able to join us, be sure to keep an eye out for our next one.
Though Congress won’t be in session in August, I’ll still be working every day for the people of our Second District. I look forward to being back home with the people I’m blessed to represent!
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!
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.
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.
Providing Financial Relief to Family Caregivers
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.
Improving Global Markets for American Producers
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.
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!
One must spend very little time with Kaety Bowers to discern the drive, the leadership skills, and the passion that motivates her every day. Behind those desirable qualities is a person who earned her stripes through hard knocks, failure, and the faith to get back up again and keep trying. How did this capable party chairperson transition from a small Western Kansas town in a home led by a single mother to leadership in Bourbon County?
Anyone with a pulse and a social media account in Bourbon County knows how difficult the political arena has been inside the county and some its incorporated towns. Disagreements on weighty issues facing us, along with questionable choices and methods displayed by some of our elected officials have left a significant number of local voters jaded and cynical. Into that maelstrom stepped Kaety Bowers to preside over a party that was struggling to recruit good candidates and support those in office.
Perhaps it was her challenging early years that gave her the courage and confidence to step into the role. Ms. Bowers excelled in school, so much so that she earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Kansas. Fate had another destiny for her, as marriage at a young age, motherhood and a desire to serve others in the beauty industry changed her course. During her career in the industry, she noticed that unlicensed operators were victimizing those in unfortunate circumstances, such as cancer patients, over-charging them and giving them poor results. Ms. Bowers took her concerns to the state capital and fought for regulation and licensing for these unscrupulous vendors. She learned to navigate the halls of the capital, and a political career was born.
Political success requires a drive that is committed to principles that form the core of a person, and Bowers is an excellent example of this truism. To a mother who is raising a family, education is a critical element of the development of her young charges. When the large school district in which her family lived began to make questionable choices, Bowers became an organizer of parents who wanted to make a difference. The process helped her hone her leadership skills, and her passion for the issues led her to a successful run for school board of this giant district, eventually ascending to the role of vice president of the board. She soon began consulting with Republican Party leaders and helping political candidates with their campaigns.
It was natural for Bowers to get involved in party politics when her family recently moved to Bourbon County. Republican Party members soon recognized the drive, leadership and passion possessed by Ms. Bowers and selected her for Chairperson of the party in 2024. Soon after taking office, she was faced with redistricting to add two county commissioners, the resignation of two existing commissioners and the inevitable strife that results from leadership voids. Bowers has met the challenges by consulting with past leaders, seeking the advice of those who are currently active and calling upon her years of experience.
Bowers has a vision for the future of Bourbon County, which centers around our youth. Her desire is to engage youth leaders in schools and other organizations to educate and inspire our young people to engage pollical activities and get personally involved. Bowers notes that she was blessed to have faith-based mentors as a youth and into her young adult years to guide her into productive, caring choices that have motivated her involvement over the years. She would like to see concerned citizens of Bourbon County fill that role for our young people. Her plan is to create active roles for youth in our political structures, provide scholarships for deserving achievers, and get them involved and voting.
As for the future of struggling rural communities, Bowers points to technology and leveraging the resources we have. We must ask the question, “Why do people move here and why do people stay?” We must understand why people choose a Bourbon County lifestyle and invest in making it better. We must create structures that encourage ideas, creativity and dreams. If we do not, we will be passed by and devolve into more complaining and backbiting. We must work together on these issues.
In the end, it is all about the faith which informs us, the family which motivates and supports us, and the love of freedom which keeps us working together. With these core values, Bowers has used her drive, leadership skills and passion to cast a bigger, better vision for Bourbon County.
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.png "Rep. Schmidt speaks to the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association.")
.png "Rep. Schmidt at the Topeka Mars facility")
.png "Rep. Schmidt speaks to the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association.")
.png "Rep. Schmidt at the Topeka Mars facility")
