Introducing Legislation to Improve the VA
This week, I introduced the Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act. This legislation would strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) authority to hold bad employees accountable and put the interests of our veterans first. I was joined by my colleagues, Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), in introducing this important bill in the Senate and by Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL), the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, who introduced it in the House of Representatives.
While the vast majority of VA employees work every day to do what’s best for veterans and their families, we have seen time and time again instances of veterans who are harmed by the bad actions of certain poor-performing VA staff. That is why, in 2017, Congress passed a bill I supported, the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, to give the VA the ability to break through the bureaucracy and hold employees accountable. Unfortunately, recent decisions from the Federal Circuit, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Merit Systems Protection Board rendered the 2017 law unusable for most VA staff. The VA must be able to act quickly and fairly to right the wrongs of bad actors in the VA’s workforce so veterans can have confidence in the health care and benefits that the VA provides and VA employees can have a safe, well-functioning workplace. The Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act would reaffirm the intent of the 2017 law, increase accountability for hundreds of thousands of VA staff across the country and – most importantly – put our nation’s veterans first. Like the 2017 law, the Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act is supported by leading veteran and military service organizations. I look forward to working with them and my colleagues to send this bill to the President’s desk as quickly as possible.
You can read more from Military Times here.
Promoting the Air Capital of the World
Kansas has a rich history of aviation and manufacturing with a culture of innovation. Over the past several years, the state has seen a significant amount of new business and expanded opportunities for the companies that currently call Kansas home. As we build on these successes, I was pleased to work alongside the Greater Wichita Partnership and Wichita State University to lead the largest Kansas delegation ever to this year’s Paris Air Show, offering the ideal opportunity to share with the world Kansas’ capabilities in aviation, space and national defense.
This year’s aviation and defense forum offered the opportunity to meet with government and business leaders from around the world and to discuss current and future partnerships to bring new business to Kansas.
Promoting U.S. Capabilities in Aerospace & Defense
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H) and I joined Bloomberg Markets live from the air show to the importance of the U.S. aviation and defense industry. You can watch the full interview here.
Meeting with President Macron
I also took the opportunity to urge our NATO allies, specifically France, to remain united in our shared support for Ukraine. I met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Putin’s unjust invasion of Ukraine and the implications the outcome of this war will have on the security of Europe and the Western Pacific. It is vital NATO allies are united behind Ukraine, and we reaffirmed to President Macron our resolve and long-term commitment to help Ukraine not just survive, but to win. It is an honor to represent Kansas’ aviation and manufacturing capabilities on the international stage, as well as our nation’s resolve in assisting Ukraine.
The U.S. Must Project Strength When Dealing with China
Over the weekend, I joined Neil Cavuto on Fox News to discuss Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to China and need to project strength when dealing with China. You can watch the full interview here.
Writing to WSJ Journalist Evan Gershkovich
This week, I joined 30 of my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who has been wrongfully detained by Russia since March. We expressed our anger over his current circumstances and pledged our support in advocating for his release and the release of Paul Whelan, who has been held unjustly in a Russian jail since 2018. When I met with President Emmanuel Macron of France in Paris, I worked to secure his commitment to work with the United States to bring our fellow citizens home. I hope this letter provides Evan some comfort and demonstrates the importance my colleagues and I place on securing his freedom.
One Year Since Supreme Court Ruling on Roe v. Wade
“It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” – Justice Alito, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Saturday marked one year since the Supreme Court of the United States struck down Roe v. Wade and ended nearly 50 years of widespread legalized abortion. In the year since this ruling, numerous states have passed laws to restrict abortion and save unborn lives. This ruling has paved the way for states to use their authority to pass laws based on the people they represent. The American people now have the opportunity to make their voices heard through their representatives and the legislative process to pass laws that protect the unborn and support their mothers.
Introducing Commissioner Starks to Commerce Committee
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays an important role as the primary regulator of the communications industry, and it is important that the right people are selected for its leadership. On Thursday, I questioned three FCC nominees about the role they believe the FCC should play in regulating broadband, access to broadband and securing Americans’ data. The expansion of broadband to Americans currently without access is vital for the economic success of rural parts of the U.S., which is most often where there is no broadband access. But the growth of internet applications has created new pathways for foreign adversaries to siphon off Americans’ personal and sensitive data, creating a national security risk. Congress and federal agencies, like the FCC, must counter this threat. I have introduced legislation to protect American data online and to provide the government the tools necessary to stop entities controlled by foreign adversaries from collecting such data. If these nominees are confirmed, I look forward to working with them to address this issue.
During the hearing, I was pleased to again introduce Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, a native of Leawood, to the committee. I first introduced Commissioner Starks in 2018, when he was nominated for the FCC by President Trump. One of the most important qualifications for an FCC Commissioner to me is the ability to work in a bipartisan, productive manner. Commissioner Starks has experience working on bipartisan issues like broadband access and network security, and I expect this would continue if he were confirmed. It is also important to me that Kansas is well represented in federal institutions, and I appreciate Commissioner Starks bringing Kansas values to the table at the FCC.
Questioning Amtrak Board Nominees During Commerce Hearing
On Wednesday, the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing to consider nominations to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as well as the Amtrak Board of Directors. When President Biden nominated his slate of directors, he did not comply with a provision in the 2021 Surface Transportation Reauthorization I authored, which requires at least four of the eight Amtrak board members to reside in or near regions of the United States that are geographically distributed outside the Northeast Corridor.
During the hearing, I spoke on the importance of a geographically diverse Board of Directors – not dominated by one particular region of the country – and the correct implementation of the law. I have held a long-time interest in making certain that long-distance Amtrak is a priority of the board, even by amending the law to make clearer Amtrak’s value of the long-distance routes. I questioned the nominees on, if confirmed, what their commitment to long-distance service would entail. I strongly urge the President to rescind one of his nominees who resides in the Northeast Corridor and amend his slate to come into compliance with the law.
You can read more from the Hutch Post here.
You can watch my remarks here.
Meeting with Kansans
Congressional Award Gold Medalists
On Wednesday, I met with Kyanne Carlgren and Amara Patel of Leawood to congratulate them on receiving the Congressional Award Gold Medal for their outstanding achievements. The Congressional Award aims to recognize excellence in young people by examining four areas of achievement: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition.
Over the course of two years, each awardee completed more than 400 hours of community service, dedicated 200 hours to a personal development activity, 200 hours to physical fitness and completed a 5-day, 4-night expedition. I commend Kyanne and Amara for their incredible accomplishments and selfless work on behalf of others. I was pleased to have the opportunity to congratulate them and their families.
Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
On Thursday, I met with Kansas students from the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, an organization which has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., for a week in June every year since the late 1950s. Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this program. Students apply and are selected for this program by their local electric cooperative and more than 2,400 young people and their chaperones from 44 states participate in the Youth Tour each year. I am always impressed by these students from all across Kansas and enjoy the chance to visit with them each year. I am always encouraged by their commitment to learn about public service, government and preserving the Kansas way of life in our state.
National Association of Fixed Annuities Award Presentation
I met with members of the National Association of Fixed Annuities (NAFA) this week and was grateful to be presented with their Legislator of the Year Award. I introduced a Senate Resolution honoring June as National Annuities Awareness Month, recognizing the efforts of groups like NAFA to promote strong financial futures for Kansans. The investments made now in retirement planning stand to benefit generations of hard-working American families, and I will continue to advocate for responsible federal retirement legislation that maintains state-based jurisdiction.
Madison Coyne of Overland Park
On Thursday, I visited with Madison Coyne of Overland Park, a high school student who served as one of my Senate pages over the summer. I received many compliments from my colleagues who noticed her dedication and hard work during her time serving as a Senate page, and I am grateful to Madison for her time spent serving in our nation’s capital.
Visiting with DEA Fellow Brian Hutchison and Family
This week, I visited with the family of my Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Congressional Fellow Brian Hutchison. During our meeting, I expressed my thanks to his wife Amber and their three children, Caden, Conner, and Charlie, for supporting Brian in the work he does to support our law enforcement. His experience with the DEA provides valuable insight into my work to make certain the men and women in law enforcement have the tools they need to perform their duties. I am grateful to Brian and his family for their sacrifices and heart for public service.
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