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One of the most compelling meetings in Israel was with Steven Gillen, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and several of the families of the 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Anyone who uses children, the elderly and ordinary citizens as hostages is an enemy of the United States, and we should support Israel in their efforts to bring these Israelis home and deliver them from the hands of Hamas.
While is Israel, I had the opportunity to present Prime Minister Netanyahu with a copy of the unanimously-passed, Senate resolution reaffirming the United States’ support of Israel and its right to self-defense. It is in the United States’ best interest to stand with our oldest ally in the Middle East, and this means confronting the growing threat of Iran. Iran-backed proxies throughout the region are threatening Israelis and U.S. servicemembers deployed to the Middle East. Iran, the most significant terrorist-supporting organization in the world, enabled the horrendous terrorist attack against Israel by emboldening the will of the terrorists and supporting them with supplies and training. The U.S. must work to deter escalation beyond the Israeli borders and provide the means necessary for Israel to destroy Hamas.
Joining Fox News
After returning to Washington, D.C. on Monday evening, I joined Representative Madeline Dean (D-Pa.) on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier to discuss our meetings in Israel and to highlight the severity of the situation in the Middle East.
As Israel pursues bringing the terrorists responsible for October 7 to justice, it is important that Israeli operations in Gaza avoid to the extent possible any unnecessary loss of innocent life. Reports of a rapidly disintegrating humanitarian situation—ranging from a lack of food and shelter to unusable drinking water and the spread of disease—must be addressed. Doing so meets America’s highest ideals, maintains the Israel’s legitimacy in the eyes of the world, and can protect American security by helping minimize the potential for radicalization.
You can watch my full interview with Fox News here.
I also spoke with Kansas reporters after my trip including Michael Schwanke at KWCH and Jon Holt at Fox 4 Kansas City. You can watch my KWCH interview here.
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Watch my full interview with Fox 4 Kansas City here.
Demanding Action to Enforce Sanctions
After my return from Tel Aviv, I led my colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to enforce congressionally-mandated sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel further highlighted the reach of Iran’s influence and support for terror groups across the Middle East. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has failed to properly enforce sanctions on Iran, resulting in tens of billions of dollars for Tehran and it’s proxies. My letter, signed by 18 of my colleagues in the Senate, urges the administration to fulfill its promise of providing unwavering support to Israel by strictly enforcing sanctions on Iran’s oil exports.
In addition, I called on President Biden to rescind the sanctions waivers and licenses associated with the $6 billion held in Qatar. After the October 7th massacre and repeated attacks on both Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East, the weakening of financial penalties on Iran is wholly unacceptable.
You can read the full letter here. Watch my interview with KSN-TV interview here.
On Tuesday, I joined KSHB to highlight the need for sanctions against Iran to keep U.S. military personnel and our allies in the Middle East safe. You can watch my KSHB interview here.
Kansas Radio Interviews
On Wednesday morning, I joined Kansas news outlets to discuss my trip to Israel with other members of Congress. Thank you Pete Mundo with KCMO and Nick Gosnell with KWBW for taking the time to talk with me.
You can listen to my interview with KCMO here. You can listen to my interview with KWBW here.
Investigating the VA Crisis Line
On November 6, I requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a thorough investigation into the VA’s Veteran Crisis Line (VCL). I made the request after an alarming report from the VA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and disclosures from multiple whistleblowers who came to my staff on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and provided solid evidence of gross mismanagement at the VCL that is creating a danger to the health and safety of veterans nationwide. VCL responders are currently transferring veterans who they determine to present “complex needs” to an indefinite waiting list for an eventual contact from a special unit that is reportedly understaffed and undertrained. Worse yet, a break in record retention is reportedly resulting in a complete loss of communication with veterans who are disconnected while waiting on hold in this queue.
After receiving confirmation from GAO on Tuesday, I sent a letter to VA Sec. Denis McDonough demanding his immediate attention to this issue. This issue is creating a life-threatening danger to veterans who are already in crisis and reaching out for help. Breakdowns in this lifesaving resource for veterans must be corrected immediately and appropriate actions must be taken without waiting for the full conclusion of this investigation.
My full letter to the GAO can be found here.
My full letter to Sec. McDonough can be found here.
Read more about the investigation in Military Times here or in the Kansas Reflector here.
Expanding American Entrepreneurship
On On Wednesday, I was joined by Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), in introducing the Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act. This bill would simply raise the threshold to allow more people in invest in angel funds. By allowing more people to invest while growing the size of the fund, capital can be raised with a significantly lower buy-in. This would allow Main Street to play a bigger role in investing in America’s start-up businesses. Entrepreneurship is a hallmark of the American economy, and this legislation aims to make investing more accessible and impactful for both individuals and emerging companies.
You can read about the bill in WIBW here.
Meeting with Paralyzed Veterans of America President
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet with the National President and Chairman of the Board of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Robert Thomas. President Thomas is an Army veteran from Ohio who was injured during a diving accident while he was on active duty in 1991. He sought help from VA for his injuries and he found community in his fellow veterans at PVA. He was elected President in May 2023 and also serves on PVA’s Education Foundation and on VA’s Family Caregiver and Survivors Advisory Committee.
During my conversation with President Thomas and his leadership team, I congratulated him on his achievements and discussed PVA’s priorities for the coming year, which include ensuring VA medical facilities are accessible and supporting military and veteran caregivers. I am grateful for PVA’s efforts and advocacy and for PVA’s support for my bill, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act. With PVA’s support, I look forward to getting the Dole Act signed into law as soon as possible and to continuing our work on behalf of veterans everywhere.
Aeronautics Innovation Starts in Kansas
On Wednesday evening, I spoke at NASA’s “Aeronautics Day on the Hill” event, where attendees could experience how NASA Aeronautics innovation benefits the public and our nation’s position as a leader in aerospace technologies. The first “A” in NASA stands for Aeronautics and the efforts to safely and sustainably transform aviation for the 21st century guide the agency to focus on four major areas: High-Speed Commercial Flight, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Ultra-Efficient Airliners, and Future Airspace and Safety. Our nation can only continue to advance our aviation ecosystem when the regulatory agencies that oversee it – such as NASA and FAA – are collaborating, and that begins with its leadership. The leadership void at the FAA has been filled by Administrator Whitaker, and I hope that additional cross-agency collaboration can occur so we can drive progress and redefine the aerospace industry.
As the lead Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA, I have worked to steadily increase the aeronautics portfolio and safeguard the first “A” in NASA. I want to thank Administrator Nelson for hosting this event and providing the opportunity to celebrate our aeronautics achievements and embrace discovery.
Holding the VA Accountable
On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) emergency preparedness and response efforts. When disaster strikes, the VA has a critical role to play not only in caring for veterans, but also in supporting response efforts of local, state and federal authorities when called upon. During the pandemic, VA staff stepped up across the country to provide supplies, staff, inpatient beds, and other support to State Veteran Homes, community nursing homes, and non-VA hospitals and clinics. I remain grateful for VA’s efforts during that harrowing time and for the daily efforts of VA staff to keep veterans and others safe from natural disasters and emergencies, extreme weather events, and other crisis situations. However, there are plenty of areas the VA must improve in order to ensure that the department is equipped to respond well in the face of emergency scenarios. The VA has outdated medical facilities and a lack of effective emergency communications systems throughout those facilities, which are two priorities that I am working on as the lead Republican on the Senate VA Committee.
During the hearing, I also asked VA about allegations that my office recently heard from a whistleblower from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who alleges that VA is paying for health care services provided in non-VA medical facilities to non-citizens who are in detention at the northern and southern border. VA’s mission of caring for veterans is sacred, and I will fight to make sure that every taxpayer dollar that VA receives is devoted to that mission. The brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces deserve nothing less.
You can watch my questioning here.
Keeping Consumer Costs Low
On Monday, I published an op-ed in the American Banker drawing attention to the importance of hedging tools for numerous producers across Kansas and the nation. The proposals inadvertently harm both producers and consumers by raising the cost to responsibly hedge against risk. Farmers’ co-ops, oil producers, and grain processors frequently rely on futures and options contracts to hedge against price swings and market volatility. As regulators continue pushing for higher capital requirements for banks, it is crucial for them to realize that these regulations meant for Wall Street have tangible effects in the Heartland. From a Kansas soybean farmer to some of the world’s largest airlines, end users of derivatives will all be impacted by these proposed capital requirements. Ultimately, the use of these critical risk management tools should be made more accessible, not more expensive.
You can read my op-ed in the American Banker here.
Meeting with Kansans
Kansas Farm Credit
This week, members of Kansas Farm Credit travelled to Washington D.C. to visit about issues important to them and their customers. Farm Credit helps provide access to credit to agricultural producers and their rural communities. We discussed the challenges early-career farmers and ranchers face and the important role Farm Credit plays in helping these producers start new and grow existing operations.
We also spoke about the upcoming Farm Bill, crop insurance, risk management and conservation programs. As these important discussions progress, I look forward to continuing to work with Kansas Farm Credit in their efforts to provide resources to Kansas farmers and ranchers.
VA Leaders in Kansas
This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Patricia Hall, the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 15, which encompasses the majority of Kansas as well as parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Arkansas. Dr. Hall was accompanied by the Director of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka and Leavenworth Rudy Klopfer, Director of the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita Michael Payne Jr., and Director of the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, MO Paula Roychaudhuri. I expressed my appreciation to each of these leaders for their efforts to provide timely, quality health care to Kansas veterans. We talked about efforts to expand access to VA care in rural communities through new community-based outpatient clinics in Iola, Junction City, and Paola. We also discussed the status of VA’s partnership with community facilities across Kansas and how those partnerships can be strengthened. I encouraged them to use every tool available to them through the MISSION Act to connect veterans in need of health care services who have unique needs with available community care providers.
Providing world-class benefits and services to servicemembers, veterans and military families will always be one of my top priorities, and I am grateful for the work that VA leaders, health care workers, support staff, and all others do every day for our nation’s heroes. Thank you to Dr. Hall, Mr. Klopfer, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Roychaudhuri for your service to our veterans and for making the time to meet with me.
The Honorable Rebecca Crotty
On Wednesday, former District Judge Rebecca Crotty visited my office in Washington, D.C.. Judge Crotty was appointed in 2010 to Division 1 of the 3rd Judicial District in Shawnee County, served as chief judge of the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals, and was a district magistrate judge in Finney County. She also was vice president and counsel for a bank in Garden City and a research attorney for the Kansas Supreme Court. Thank you to Rebecca Crotty, Rich Bonebrake, Mike Morrison, and Grace Morrison for the conversation.
Visits Across Kansas
McPherson Police Officer Appreciation Banquet
On Friday evening, I was honored to help recognize the extraordinary efforts of our men and women in blue at the McPherson Annual Police Officer Appreciation Banquet. As the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Department of Justice, I am committed to making certain our law enforcement heroes—in McPherson, across Kansas and throughout the nation—have the resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. I join all Kansans in thanking our law enforcement for their daily sacrifice and tireless work to protect McPherson and every other community in our state. Thank you to McPherson Police Chief Mikel Golden for his leadership of the department and to police chaplain Dean Kroeker for arranging my participation. Thank you also to Mayor Tom Brown for his words of thanks and longtime stewardship of the community.
Christina Peña
At the McPherson Police Academy Banquet, I was able to meet Christina Peña – my nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy. Christina is an incredible young woman who attends McPherson High School and I look forward to seeing how she continues to make an impact on Kansas and the world.
Sunflower Showdown Game
On Saturday, I was in Lawrence for the 121st “Sunflower Showdown.” In a back and forth game, the Wildcats came away with a 31-27 win over the Jayhawks. Congratulations to the Wildcats on their win, and to both teams on their historic seasons. I wish them all the best as both teams get ready for bowl season.
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