Governor Kelly Announces May Total Tax Receipts Exceed Estimate by Nearly $40 Million TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for May 2023 were $857.3 million. That is $38.8 million, or 4.7%, above the estimate. “Thanks to our work to recruit businesses, create jobs, and grow the economy, Kansas is now in strong position to weather any future storms, to continue to invest in public education, and to fix roads and bridges across the state,” said Governor Kelly. “We’re also in a position to pass responsible, affordable tax cuts, which is what legislators must do when they return next session.” Individual income tax collections were $440.1 million. That is $12.9 million, or 2.9% below the estimate, and down 15.1% from May 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $91.2 million, or 140.0% higher than the estimate and up 77.4% from May 2022. The drastic increase in corporate income tax collections can be partly attributed to the continued impact of the SALT Parity Act. Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $289.6 million which is $9.4 million, or 3.1% below the estimate and down $16.0 million, or 5.2%, from May 2022. Total tax collections are down 5.8% from May 2022. Click here to view the May 2023 revenue numbers. ###

Kansans in the Office Capitol Tour Angela Fullen of Emporia Carson Powers of Emporia Cadence Butler of Emporia Colee Butler of Emporia Jack Taylor of Emporia Michelle Morales of Liberal David Troutman of Wellington Sandy Borne of El Dorado Bill Maness of Wichita Grace Bartel of Newton Harlan Bartel of Newton Debra Messamore of Wichita Weller Messamore of Wichita Alan Slipke of Netawaka Phyllis Slipke of Netawaka Brooke Slipke of Netawaka April Slipke of Netawaka Julio Jimerez of Maize Rachel Jimerez of Maize Natalia Jimerez of Maize Kaylee Jimerez of Maize Hannah Jimerez of Maize Randy Hock of Wichita Melinda Laubach-Hock of Wichita Mason Hock of Wichita Maddox Hock of Wichita Dan Etzel of Topeka Sarah Etzel of Topeka Rachel Etzel of Topeka Matthew Etzel of Topeka Debra Seiler of Garden Plain Gilbert Seiler of Garden Plain Steve Burr of Manhattan Cindy Burr of Manhattan Steve Nelson of Valley Center American Heart Association Traci Poore of Delphos Skyler Mangers of Lawrence Kevin Harker of Leawood Kansas Society of CPAs Chad Allen of Lawrence American Society for Radiation Oncology Melisa Boersma, MD of Prairie Village Saint Francis Ministries Karen Soderstrom of Wichita Dale Soderstrom of Wichita Col. William Clark of Salina Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Joe Franco of Lawrence Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health Nancy Holland of Leawood American Academy of Family Physicians Chris Vering of Kansas City Kathy Shepard of Independence Lori Bishop of Manhattan NAMA Jason Creed of Salina American College of Physicians Benjamin Quick, MD of Leawood Isaac Opole, MD of Leawood Donna Sweet, MD of Wichita Aastha Bharwad, MD of Wichita Jerrica Werner, MD of Overland Park Hassan Farhoud, MD of Wichita Dr. Ky Stoltzfus, MD of Kansas City Rebecca Opole, MD of Kansas City       Kansas Common Sense May 30, 2023 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 Those Who Have Sacrificed This Memorial Day On Memorial Day, we pause as a nation to remember, honor and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. I recently had the honor to present an American flag to World War II Kansas veteran Kenneth Miller and thank him for his service, while surrounded by his family and friends. I want to thank Gary Hicks and Roger Morris for helping to pay tribute to one of our nation’s heroes.

Speaking to World War II veterans, I am reminded of the heroic sacrifices thousands from the Greatest Generation and throughout our nation’s history made to protect the world from tyranny. Decades come and go, but we will always remember the service of the men and women who fought and died in far off places like Germany, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan – to defend our freedoms and our way of life.

We also recognize that military service is family service, and no one knows better the true cost of freedom than those who have lost a loved one as a result of their military service. This Memorial Day, I want to take time to honor our fallen servicemembers. To those brave Americans who gave their lives in defense of this nation, and to their families: we respect you; we thank you for your service; and we love you.

Protecting Survivor Benefits for Gold Star Spouses
As we reflect on the sacrifices of our nation’s fallen servicemembers each Memorial Day, we also remember their families and loved ones. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I recently introduced legislation which would allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain certain survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense, if they remarry before the age of 55.

You can read my op-ed in the Washington Examiner here.

You can read more from Fox News here.

Speaking at Ottawa County Veterans Memorial Dedication
Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the privilege of speaking at the dedication of the Veterans Memorial for Ottawa County in Minneapolis. The creation of the Veterans Memorial for Ottawa County was a grassroots community effort led by Tom Schur and Leland Johnson. This dedication was only possible with buy-in and investment from the Ottawa County community. I am grateful to the community for the opportunity to participate in this meaningful ceremony and to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers who sacrificed to defend our nation. Special thanks to State Senator Elaine Bowers for joining as well.

 

Joining American Legion Riders Memorial Day Service
On Memorial Day, I joined the American Legion for the Legion Riders Memorial Day Service at the cemetery in Abilene. I am always inspired by those who volunteer their time and efforts to honor our nation’s heroes.

Paying Respects to President Eisenhower
While in Abilene for Memorial Day, I visited the Place of Meditation at the Eisenhower Presidential Library to pay my respects to General Eisenhower. May we always remember and honor those who served our country.

Grand Opening of NBAF in Manhattan
This week, I joined USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and several Kansas leaders, including Senator Pat Roberts, Senator Roger Marshall, Governor Laura Kelly, and many local leaders and partners for the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan. This facility has been in the making for more than two decades, and it would not have been possible without a team of leaders who were dedicated to seeing the project come to completion.

After the 9/11 Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Agriculture were directed to develop a plan to provide “safe, secure, and state-of-the-art” agriculture biocontainment capabilities for research and diagnostics. DHS considered nearly 30 sites across the country as potential candidates for NBAF before landing on Manhattan. I have no doubt that Kansas was the right choice for this facility – in the heart of the nation, surrounded by farm country and next to a premiere agriculture university. With NBAF, Americans can have confidence that our nation stands ready to combat outbreaks of dangerous diseases that threaten the nation’s livestock, agriculture and public health.

For Kansas, NBAF also represents more opportunities for students in STEM and agriculture to remain here in Kansas while contributing to our national security and cutting-edge research. The future is brighter because of the research that happening at this facility. It will be the epicenter of the nation’s Animal Health Corridor – the area from Manhattan to Columbia, Mo.

I want to say thank you and congratulations to the federal, state and local leaders whose more than 20 years of collaboration brought this project to fruition. I want to recognize Sen. Pat Roberts and Governors Laura Kelly, Sam Brownback and Kathleen Sebelius. Thanks as well to NBAF Director Dr. Alfonso Clavijo, Program Manager Tim Barr and Director of Operations of the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) Dr. Marty Vanier.

You can hear my interview with AgriTalk here.

You can hear my interview with KMAN here.

NBAF Welcome Reception at K-State
On Tuesday evening, before the grand opening of NBAF, I hosted an event at K-State to recognize the Manhattan community for their years of work to make NBAF a reality. I want to thank K-State President Dr. Richard Linton, K-State Athletic Director Gene Taylor, and Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Jason Smith for hosting and speaking at the event. I am also grateful to the more than 250 people who attended and recognized the importance that NBAF will have on the community and university.

Supreme Court Ruling Protects from Agency Overregulation
The Supreme Court’s ruling to narrowly define Waters of the United States (WOTUS) will help protect farmers and ranchers from overregulation of the rivers and creeks on their land. The previous rule on WOTUS intruded into the lives of everyday Americans by allowing the EPA to regulate even the smallest marshes, ponds and streams – also impacting landowners and businesses. This ruling upholds crucial, private property rights for all Kansas landowners.

Asking Commerce Secretary to Address Broadband Issues in Kansas
A recent broadband quality study found Kansas is the state ranked last in terms of average download speed and ranks only modestly better in other key broadband quality metrics, including latency. Other recent data collected by the University of Kansas found that up to 1 million Kansans, living primarily in rural areas, lack access to high-speed broadband service. Broadband access is correlated with more jobs and greater economic growth, better health care outcomes, and increased educational performance.

On Friday, following her April visit to Kansas at my invitation, I wrote to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about the state of broadband in Kansas and emphasized key characteristics the broadband deployment programs at the Department of Commerce must have to be effective. To work for Kansas, the programs must provide each state its fair share of funding; must not waste taxpayer dollars by competing with other federal programs and building over existing networks; and should minimize regulatory burdens to increase the number of broadband providers who participate in the program. Collectively, these steps will help to make certain the programs are successful in bridging the digital divide. I will continue to work with the secretary to ensure Kansans have every opportunity to realize the full benefits of quality broadband service.

You can read my full letter to Secretary Raimondo here.

You can read more from the Kansas Reflector here.

NOTAM Improvement Act Heads to the President
This week, my legislation designed to help prevent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system outages passed the U.S. House of Representatives and headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The NOTAM Improvement Act would require the FAA to establish a task force to strengthen the resiliency and cybersecurity of the NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of safety and location hazards on flight routes. This bill follows a recent NOTAM system outage in January that grounded flights nationwide and stranded millions of Americans. The FAA has a responsibility to make certain air travel in our country is as safe and efficient as possible. Passing this legislation is an important step to help meet the demands of 21st-century travel and prevent a similar failure in the future.

You can read more from WIBW here.

Recognizing 50th Homecoming of U.S. Prisoners of War from Vietnam
As the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I introduced a resolution to honor the extraordinary sacrifice and service of the approximately 766 members of the Armed Forces held captive during the Vietnam War. In 1973, 591 of those prisoners were released by the North Vietnamese. On May 24, 1973, President and Mrs. Nixon hosted the largest dinner in White House history – then and now – in honor of the released Vietnam POWs. On May 24, 2023, exactly 50 years later, nearly 200 of those POWs dined in the Nixon Library’s White House East Room replica and recreated that dinner, down to the menu items and centerpieces.

Our veterans deserve our gratitude and respect when they return home. As a teenager, I watched how Vietnam veterans were treated, and I committed to do everything I could to make certain our Vietnam Veterans were given the honor they are due. This resolution commemorating the homecoming of American prisoners of war represents our nation’s commitment to honor those who served in Vietnam and to say we are grateful for your service; we love you; and welcome home.

You can read more from Sunflower State Radio here.

Delivering Annual Cost-of-Living Increase for Veterans
Legislation that I introduced with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023, unanimously passed the U. S. House of Representatives and is now headed to the President’s desk for signature. The Senate passed this legislation in March.

As we enter another year of high inflation, passage of this legislation is imperative to make certain that VA compensation benefits, which Kansas veterans and millions of veterans and their survivors rely on nationwide, keep pace with rising costs. These benefits include disability and dependent compensation, clothing allowances and certain benefits for surviving military spouses and children. This adjustment will go into effect on December 1, 2023, after the new rates are released by the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I appreciate the swift and unanimous passage by my colleagues in the House of Representatives, so that the President can sign this bill into law and make certain there is no uncertainty or delays in adjustments to these veterans’ benefits at the end of the year.

You can read more from the Hays Post here.

Introducing Legislation to Address Affordable Housing Shortage
Along with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), I introduced the Housing Supply Expansion Act, legislation that would increase the supply of affordable housing options by making targeted reforms to requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, a 1930s-era labor law. These reforms would reduce labor costs and administrative burdens on residential construction contractors, which would free up capital that could be redirected toward building additional affordable housing.

Purchasing a home is a part of the American dream that is currently out of reach for many families. Reducing the burden of federal regulations will help homebuilders meet the demand for new homes, making homeownership a reality for more Kansans.

You can read more about this legislation here.

Kansas Community Visits
City of Larned
I visited the Larned Fire Department to announce a federal investment for the City of Larned to replace two fire engines and improve emergency communications capabilities. Last year, a wildfire burned thousands of acres and threatened homes, livelihoods and communities in Pawnee County. Members of the Larned Fire Department left their day jobs to extinguish the fire and protect lives and property.

The fire severely damaged two fire engines and forced the evacuation of Pawnee County’s 911 dispatch center. It proved difficult to source parts for these aging fire trucks, and the community identified a need for a mobile communications vehicle to make certain emergency messages would reach first responders and members of the community in future emergencies. This funding from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development will replace the two engines and provide the opportunity for upgrades to the county’s communications equipment.

Thank you to Fire Chief Leonard Herrman, Assistant Fire Chief Kyle Beckwith, 911 Dispatcher Jane Bleakney, Sheriff Scott King, Undersheriff Larry Atteberry, Mayor William Nusser, City Counselor Ken Barnes and all who attended to share in the good news, including USDA Rural Development State Director Christy Davis. Special thank you to all of the men and women in communities across our state who make tremendous sacrifices to protect others.

You can read more from the Great Bend Tribune here and the Great Bend Post here.

Larned High School
While in Larned, I also visited Larned High School to speak with students and faculty there. As the spring semester comes to an end, it was great to hear from these students about all they had learned and their plans for the summer. Thank you to Principal Dustin Wilson for hosting me for this visit.

Ellinwood District Hospital
On Monday, I visited Ellinwood District Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital that provides important health care services to the Ellinwood community and surrounding areas. During the visit, I learned more about the services provided to the community by the hospital and the focus on the health care needs of Ellinwood. The input and experiences from Kansas hospitals, their administrators and their staff are important to me as I work to support the health care industry in Kansas and across the nation.

Thank you to Jill Ritchie, Director of Nursing; Justin Lear, Secretary/Treasurer of Board of Trustees & CEO of Eagle Mutual & Eagle Insurance; Summer Zink, hospital CFO; Joyce Schulte, President of Board of Trustees Kile Magner, hospital CEO and Kristy Rupe, Foundation & Community Education Director.

 

Morning in Kansas
It was a beautiful weekend morning in Kansas on Sunday.

 

Nine Partner Organizations to Provide Assistance with ERP Phase Two Applications

 

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) to July 14, 2023, to give producers more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was June 2.

 

Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with nine organizations to provide educational and technical assistance to agricultural producers and provide assistance in completing an ERP Phase Two application. The extended deadline will give producers more time to work with these partner organizations and apply for assistance.
“Farm Service Agency recognizes that there is a learning curve for producers applying for our new revenue-based programs and we want to make sure producers have the time they need to apply for assistance,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Partnering with these organizations through cooperative agreements provides additional educational and technical assistance to producers who may need help with the Emergency Relief Program Phase Two application process. The deadline extension gives producers more time to locate and work with these organizations to complete their program application.”

 

Cooperative Agreements for ERP Phase Two Application Assistance
 

Through cooperative agreements with FSA, the following organizations are providing free assistance to producers across the United States and territories.

 

• Alabama State Association of Cooperatives
• Farmers Legal Action Group, INC.
• Flower Hill Institute
• Intertribal Agriculture Council, Inc,
• North South Institute
• Renewing the Countryside II
• Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA
• Rural Coalition
• Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers CBO

 

Depending on a producer’s location, these nine partners can provide assistance either by phone or through online meeting software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

 

There is never a charge for technical assistance provided by FSA employees or cooperative agreement recipients. These organizations will assist producers with completing the application and any follow-up future insurance coverage requirements. Producers who receive ERP payments are statutorily required to purchase crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for the next two available crop years. These organizations will not collect producer records, complete or sign the application form, or act on the producer’s behalf in any way throughout this process.

 

Find more information on FSA cooperative agreements and contact information for the nine organizations please visit fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/cooperative-agreements/index.

 

PARP Application Assistance

 

USDA will host a webinar that focus on completing the PARP application form on June 8, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. eastern with members of the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee. Register here.

 

Eligibility 

 

To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event. Assistance will be primarily to producers of crops that were not covered by Federal Crop Insurance or NAP, since crops covered by Federal Crop Insurance and NAP were included in the assistance under ERP Phase One.

 

To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year.

 

FSA offers an online ERP tool and PARP tool that can help producers determine what is considered allowable gross revenue for each respective program.

 

Producers should contact their local FSA office to make an appointment to apply for ERP Phase Two and PARP assistance. Producers should also keep in mind that July 15 is a major deadline to complete acreage reports for most crops. FSA encourages producers to complete the ERP Phase Two application, PARP application and acreage reporting during the same office visit.

 

More Information

 

For more information, view the ERP Phase Two Fact Sheet, PARP Fact Sheet, the ERP Phase Two-PARP Comparison Fact Sheet, ERP Phase Two application video tutorial, PARP application video tutorial, myth-buster blog or contact your local USDA Service Center.

 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Recognizing National Police Week, Honoring Fallen Kansas Law Enforcement
I spoke on the Senate floor this week to recognize National Police Week and to remember Kansas law enforcement who passed away in 2022. National Police Week was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, and this year runs from May 14 – May 20.

We honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s fallen law enforcement officers, remember those who have departed and acknowledge and express our gratitude for the sacrifices all law enforcement officers make every day they wear the badge. During this week, and every other week of the year, we should honor those we have lost and remember the families they left behind. May God bless our police officers.

In my remarks, I recognized the four Kansas police officers who passed away in 2022:

Deputy Sheriff Sidnee Carter with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Robert Craft with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Officer David Ingle with the Iola Police Department

Sergeant Stacy Murrow with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office

You can watch my full speech here.

Our Country Does Not Have Operational Control of the Border
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding the security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border and the consequences of eliminating Title 42. Repealing Title 42 without a robust plan of action has left our law enforcement agents with a disastrous situation at the border. Border Patrol Agents are being asked to be caretakers, law enforcement, medical professionals and so much more. The fact of the matter is that our country does not have operational control of the border, and it will continue to fail to do so if we stay on the current path.

President Biden must act to ensure strict enforcement of our immigration laws, reinstate the construction of a wall or fencing in areas that are largely unprotected, and the administration must send the message that our border is closed to unlawful entrants.

Securing our southern border isn’t a Republican and Democrat issue. It isn’t Texas or Arizona’s issue. Under the current policy, every state is a border state – including Kansas.

If we truly want to help migrants, then we need to create a fair and humane asylum process, and we need to stop the illegal crossings at the southern border that undermine our laws and jeopardize our national security. Americans are tired of paying the cost of the Biden administration’s inaction and failure to make any serious policy changes at the southern border.

You can watch my full speech here.

Welcoming Artemis II Astronauts to Capitol Hill
This week, as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, I welcomed NASA’s Artemis II crew, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell to Capitol Hill. This is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program that will orbit the Moon and pave the way for future lunar surface missions. Artemis II represents the next step in cementing America’s leadership in space exploration, while inspiring the next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists. The Artemis missions will further scientific discovery, create new economic benefits and deepen our alliances across the globe.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), my counterpart on the subcommittee, and I were honored to host the Artemis crew. I know they will represent our country well and inspire future generations.

You can read more from WIBW here.

 

Facilitating Partnerships with Leaders in Space
On Tuesday evening, I hosted an event as co-chair of the Senate Aerospace Caucus to welcome Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) executives and military leaders, as well as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to the Capitol to celebrate the value of these critical partnerships. As space continues to be an emerging frontier, our national security is dependent on strong coordination between these entities. Each year, I prioritize gathering these representatives across various sectors to discuss the ways America can succeed in the space domain.

The next morning, I participated in a roundtable discussion with member-company executives from the AIA for a conversation on the status of the debt limit negotiations, my FAA Reauthorization efforts, research and development, as well as ways to support our aviation and aerospace industry workforce. I appreciated the opportunity to hear and take questions from these leaders.

During this event, I was presented with “The Wright Stuff Award” for contributions to the aerospace industry and national security. Previous recipients of this award have included Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Senator James Inhofe (R-Iowa). For over a century, Kansas has played an outsized role in the aviation industry, and since my time in Congress, I have worked to support policies that will propel the industry further. I am grateful to AIA President Eric Fanning and AIA Chair of the Board Tom Gentile of Wichita for the award.

 

Schwan’s Tony’s Pizza Plant in Salina is Now Open
It was great to join Schwan’s, local leaders and state officials on Friday to celebrate the grand opening of the Tony’s Pizza manufacturing facility expansion in Salina – the world’s largest pizza plant. I have had the opportunity to watch this project progress over the past three years and was pleased to help secure a federal grant through the Economic Development Administration to support this project. This expansion project, which will add hundreds of jobs and stability to the local economy, was successful because of the continued commitment and investment in Salina by Schwan’s and the unified support of the local community.

Thank you to Dimitrios Smyrnios for inviting me to the grand opening event, and to Representative Tracey Mann and Lieutenant Governor David Toland for joining me in celebrating this great day for Salina and Kansas.

You can read more from KSN here and the Salina Post here.

 

 

Appropriations Committee Hearing with Defense, State & Commerce Secretaries
This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing with the Secretaries of Defense, State and Commerce on U.S. investment into security and competitiveness with China. I used my time during the hearing to highlight the importance of aviation and aerospace to U.S. economic and national security.

China is closing the gap to the United States in military, commercial and general aviation categories, so I asked Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about what they are doing to ensure the U.S. maintains leadership in aviation and aerospace manufacturing and innovation. Secretary Raimondo highlighted the potential for aviation and aerospace in her Department’s Tech Hubs program, which was authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act and will boost specific existing areas of excellence around the country to tap into the full extent of U.S. innovation and talent. China is the our nation’s foremost challenge, and we must make certain this administration’s budget invests in a whole-of-nation effort across all facets of the aviation and aerospace environment. As the Vice Chair of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, and a member of the Appropriations subcommittees responsible for the Defense and State Departments, I will continue to work to be certain the strengths and talents of our state continue to play a vital role in our nation’s ongoing strategic competition with China.

You can watch my remarks here.

Leading Bill to Improve the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network
This week, I introduced legislation to help break up the monopoly contract currently held by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to manage the nation’s Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). I was joined in introducing this bill by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

From damaged organs to discriminatory organ donation policies, it is clear UNOS should no longer be the sole contractor for the organ donation system. I have worked for years to shed light on the mismanagement of the organ donation system and have consistently called for the contract to be divided. The Securing U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act removes barriers in OPTN contracting and gives the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) statutory authority to improve management of the organ transplant system, allowing a more transparent and competitive process for an OPTN contract. Every organ counts, and this legislation will help overhaul the system and save lives.

You can read more from the Kansas Reflector here and WIBW here.

Introducing Legislation to Strengthen Childhood Cancer Research
Along with my colleagues Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), I introduced the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 to provide an additional source of funding for pediatric cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The legislation would redirect penalties collected from pharmaceutical, cosmetic, supplement and medical device companies that break the law to NIH pediatric and childhood cancer research. The bill is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, a Leesburg, Virginia, resident who died from a rare form of brain cancer at the age of 10. Gabriella was an activist and worked to raise support for research into childhood diseases like cancer until her death in October of 2013.

While cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children past infancy, childhood cancer and other rare pediatric diseases remain poorly understood. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 9,910 children under the age of 14 will be diagnosed with cancer and about 1,040 will die of the disease in the United States in 2023. By directing additional resources to NIH to research cures and treatments for cancer in children, we can help save lives and honor the memory of Gabriella Miller.

You can read more from WIBW here.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing on VA Budget
As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I held a hearing this week on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget request for Fiscal Year 2024. VA is asking for $325.1 billion to provide health care and benefits to veterans and their caregivers, dependents and survivors. During the hearing, I asked VA Secretary Denis McDonough and members of the veterans service organizations who testified about how VA is supporting veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during military service, how VA is spending supplemental funds provided during the pandemic and how VA is improving health care access and outcomes for veteran patients. I will continue to work to provide VA the funding it needs to deliver timely and high-quality support to the military and veteran community, and I am committed to making certain that every dime of taxpayer resources that VA receives is put to good use for the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation.

You can watch my remarks here.

Meeting with Paralyzed Veterans of America
I met with Carl Blake, Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), to discuss the unique needs of veterans who live with spinal cord injury and disease. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the nation’s most comprehensive system of care for spinal cord injury and disease, and PVA conducts regular site inspections to make certain veterans are getting the best care possible. Despite the robust system of care VA provides, it still faces challenges in fully staffing spinal cord care centers due to shortages in the health care workforce.

During our meeting, Carl described the importance of home and community-based care options for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disease. These veterans overcame the challenges of their injuries, and in many cases, rely on caregivers to maintain a level of independence outside of institutional settings. I introduced the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act to provide veterans with more resources and options to receive the assistance they need in order to live independently in their homes. I appreciate PVA’s support for this bill as we work to make certain veterans receive the right care at the right time in the setting that will allow them to live a fulfilled, meaningful life.

 

Meeting with Kansans
Association of American Cancer Institutes
This week, I met with Dr. Roy Jensen, Director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, Darren McLaughlin, a former KU Cancer Center patient and Chief of Police in Merriam, and his wife Melinda. We discussed Darren and Melinda’s positive experiences seeking treatment at the KU Cancer Center. Because of the investments made at KU Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) into cancer research and treatments, Chief McLaughlin was able to share his impactful story with me.

As a member of the Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and senator from a state that is home to many universities and organizations conducting leading cancer research, I remain committed to supporting efforts bolstering these programs and to advancing this critical, lifesaving research. I want to thank Dr. Jensen, Chief McLaughlin and Melinda for meeting with me to advocate for this important issue.

 

Washburn Library
On Thursday, I was pleased to meet with Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, Washburn University’s newly appointed president. During the meeting, we discussed Washburn’s initiatives to assist low-income students as they work to earn degrees in higher education. We also spoke about the variety of expansions happening at the university to help our state combat the workforce shortage occuring across the nation. Thank you to President Mazachek for taking the time to visit with me and share her vision for training Kansas students.

 

Wichita Area TARC Team – American Rocket Challenge
It was great to meet with the Kansas American Rocket Challenge team from Wichita that qualified as the top 100 out of 900 teams to participate in the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Finals in Virginia this past weekend. TARC is the world’s largest student rocket contest, with nearly 5,000 students from across the nation competing each year. I was pleased to speak with the bright, young Kansan representing the group about his aspirations to pursue a career in STEM. I also enjoyed learning about the history of TARC from Team Wichita’s sponsor, Bill Lindsay.

 

City of Olathe
This week, I was pleased to meet with Olathe Mayor John Bacon, Council Members Kevin Gilmore and Robyn Essex, Chamber CEO Tim McKee and Tim Danneberg with the City of Olathe. During this meeting, we discussed current and future projects in the works for the city of Olathe. It was also great to speak with them about the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in the Kansas City area. I appreciated the chance to hear from this group about everything happening in the community.

 

Improve the Dream
This week, I visited with students from Improve the Dream, a youth-led organization that advocates for comprehensive immigration reform. I appreciated the chance to speak with these students as they shared about their backgrounds and collective experiences of coming to the United States at young ages. Now, they are all pursuing sophisticated degree programs and making plans for how to give back to their communities one day.

 

Receiving ESOP Association Award
On Wednesday, I appreciated receiving the award for ESOP Champion of the Year from the ESOP Association. A special thank you to Gary Shorman, my friend and Hays neighbor, for presenting me with the award. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) have been proven to boost company longevity and resilience, increase growth and create wealth. Giving employees a stake in the company they work for gives them real economic benefit for their hard work. That is why I supported the WORK Act which passed last Congress. Devoting resources and grants from the Department of Labor will help smaller businesses across the country explore employee ownership. Simply put, these firms are more productive, more profitable, but most importantly – they become better work environments when employees are invested in the company they work for.

 

Welcoming Afghan Refugees Resettling in Manhattan
On Saturday, I stopped at a community block party to celebrate and integrate new Afghan refugees now living in Manhattan. The messages I heard during my conversations carried a common theme: gratefulness. It was a reminder that we are fortunate to live in a country with so much opportunity. The way Manhattan residents have embraced these families was extremely moving.

 

During the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, my office received and worked emergency evacuation cases for roughly over 1,000 Afghan nationals who either had a U.S. visa, had applied for a visa but not yet obtained it, or were under severe fatal threat from the Taliban, including Christians and Hazara ethnic minorities. I remain committed to making certain America keeps its promises made during times of war. In addition to helping pass legislation that created the Afghanistan War Commission to investigate the two-decade period and disastrous withdrawal, I am also a supporter of the Afghan Adjustment Act. This bill will provide greater certainty to tens of thousands of Afghans now living in the U.S., whose temporary two-year legal status will expire later this year. This legislation has the support of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Veterans for Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Veterans for American Ideals, With Honor Action and the Association of Wartime Allies.

The block party was organized and hosted in collaboration between the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and the Manhattan Area Resettlement Team (MART). MART is a volunteer organization comprised of mostly veterans who want to do something to help their friends and allies that fought with alongside them on the battlefields in Afghanistan. I thank KLC and MART for their invite and the good work they are doing to make certain Kansas remains a great place to call home.

 

Participating in Groundbreaking of K-State Agronomy Research & Innovation Center
On Monday, I participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Kansas State University’s Agronomy Research and Innovation Center on campus in Manhattan. This project is the first realized step in a multi-year effort by K-State to raise public and private funds to completely remodel their agricultural research infrastructure on campus. Once completed, the Agronomy Research and Innovation Center will conduct cutting-edge research to help farmers feed millions of people facing hunger worldwide and attract the best agronomic students and researchers in the world to K-State. This project would not have been possible without the investment of Kansas commodity groups, farm organizations and private donors. Thank you to President Richard Linton and Dean Ernie Minton for allowing me to join them for this event.

You can read more from the Junction City Post here.

Visiting Geiger Ready Mix
On Monday, before returning to Washington, D.C., I stopped at Geiger Ready Mix in Kansas City to tour this facility. Geiger Ready Mix is the largest ready-mix concrete delivery company in the Kansas City area, with locations in Kansas City, Leavenworth and Olathe, as well as locations in Missouri. This company is more than 130 years old and first opened as a small construction contracting business. I appreciate President Todd Geiger for hosting me for this informative tour.

 

Visiting Great Plains/Kubota in Salina
This week, I stopped by Great Plains Manufacturing in Salina to visit with CEO David Disberger and tour the Kubota Construction Equipment Division Facility. Since becoming a Kubota Company in 2016, Great Plains has expanded its manufacturing operations in Salina and the neighboring communities. Further expansions are planned, but, as David and I discussed during this visit, the most needed resource for these expansions is a permanent workforce supply. To meet this need, Great Plains has worked to help develop housing initiatives within the communities where it has an employment footprint and with K-State Salina and area technical schools to create work-study programs to prepare students for joining the workforce while they are still in school. Communities in Kansas continue to thrive because of investments from companies like Kubota and Great Plains. Thank you to CEO David Disberger for visiting with me and giving me a tour of the plant.