Late last night, the House passed a continuing resolution that will fund the entire Department of Homeland Security for the next 60 days as negotiations continue to secure full-year funding. This 60-day funding resolution marks the fourth time the House has passed funding for the department, which would end the needless shutdown. Earlier this week, the House also passed for the third time a full-year funding bill for the department. Full-year funding received bipartisan approval in the House earlier this year before being blockaded by Senate Democrats. This shutdown has to end so the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Secret Service, TSA and other critical agencies that keep our country safe can resume normal operations at this time of elevated threat.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I continue to receive briefings on Operation Epic Fury. My prayers continue to be with our troops, particularly those Kansans serving in the operation.
Last Sunday, I joined NewsNation to discuss the latest developments.
In committee action Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup which included a bill I introduced to clarify the ability of Executive Branch officials — not unelected judges — to temporarily appoint acting U.S. Attorneys while the individuals appointed by the president to permanently serve in those roles are pending confirmation in the U.S. Senate. Delay tactics by members of the minority party in the Senate should not be used to prevent the administration from having their chosen attorneys represent them in federal courts. My bill will take a step toward addressing that issue.
Also on Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee unanimously passed out the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613), which includes key reforms recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to prevent future tragedies, such as the 2025 midair collision at Reagan National Airport of American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
As families across the Second District wrap up their tax returns over the next few weeks, I’m hearing from many Kansans who are receiving bigger refunds this year thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts that were enacted last summer. Thanks to the larger standard deduction, expanded child tax credits, senior deduction, small business pass-through deduction, no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, the average refund is up more than 10% from last year. That’s real money Kansans are saving by having a more affordable federal government.
There was also good news for Kansas farmers this week with key announcements from the administration on renewable fuels:
First, the EPA announced it is once again issuing a waiver allowing E15 to be sold during the summer. While we continue to work in Congress to make year-round E15 permanent — a bill I have cosponsored — I’m grateful the administration has once again waived the burdensome regulation, giving fuel retailers and consumers the choice to offer and purchase higher ethanol blends, which can result in real savings at the pump.
The EPA also announced the new Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027, which will result in the highest-ever volumes of biofuels in our nation’s history. This is expected to create billions of dollars in value for farmers and continue reducing our reliance on foreign oil.
