This week, I was honored to join my colleagues in both chambers of Congress to attend President Trump’s State of the Union address and reflect on the accomplishments his administration and the 119th Congress have completed. While we’ve done great work, there is still much to accomplish and issues that we must tackle in order to provide further stability and assurance to the American people.
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on the importance of career and technical education (CTE) for the small business workforce. Mike Gibson from Associated General Contractors–Kansas testified before the committee at my invitation about the Build UP Kansas initiative and prioritizing great CTE jobs for the next generation. Thank you, Mike, for your testimony and expertise.
Rep. Derek Schmidt (KS-2) questions witnesses during House Committee on Small Business hearing.
Also earlier this week, I introduced a bill called the State Partnerships to Enhance Removal of Criminal AliensAct, which focuses on what most Kansans agree should be the top priority for immigration enforcement – swift deportation of illegal aliens who also commit crimes while present in the United States. The bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into voluntary agreements with state and local prosecutors to represent DHS in removal proceedings before immigration courts, streamlining the process to obtain removal orders for aliens convicted in state courts.
We are roughly two weeks into a partial government shutdown due to a lapse of funding for DHS. In my view, and as I often shared previously, government shutdowns are preventable and unnecessary. It is my hope that congressional Democrats come to the table to fully open DHS and work with congressional leadership to ensure every department in the federal government is fully funded.
Around the District
Enjoyed visiting with Kansans this past week! Thank you to the following for the hospitality and productive discussions:
Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth
Western Farm Show in Kansas City
KCK Fire Department in Kansas City
Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka
FritoLay in Topeka
Brown County Conservation District Annual Dinner in Hiawatha
Kansans in Washington
I also enjoyed meeting with many Kansans during their visits to Washington:
Mike Gibson, Associated General Contactors-Kansas
John Ford, Riley County Commission
Kansas State University
Kansas Municipal Utilities
Kansas Medical Society
National Industries for the Blind
Liberty Utilities
Thank you all for stopping by!
Constituent Services
My team stands ready to help Kansans in the Second Congressional District who are dealing with unresolved federal issues. This includes assistance with the VA, Social Security, the IRS, and other federal agencies.
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 a tremendous honor to represent our Second Congressional District in Congress!
