Happy Easter!
To God be the glory; great things he has done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Great things he has taught us; great things he has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

He is risen! Robba and I hope you and your loved ones had a happy Easter, celebrating, worshiping and reflecting on the reason we celebrate.

Urging USPS to Address Mail Delivery Issues in Kansas
On the one-year anniversary of my postal reform legislation being signed into law, I urged United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to address poor mail service in Kansas.

In recent months, my office has received a growing number of messages from Kansans concerned about missing mail, delayed postal delivery and extended periods with no delivery service at all. Consistent and reliable mail service helps residents in Kansas access necessary services, pay their bills and collect their paychecks. Seniors and veterans also count on the USPS for lifesaving medications, and small businesses need the USPS to ship their products in a timely manner. In addition, with tax season underway, many Kansans are relying on the Postal Service to receive their tax documents and returns. Timely and reliable mail service is crucial to the health and livelihoods of Kansans, but right now, they are very frustrated.

On April 6, 2022, the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act was signed into law to make certain the Postal Service had the authority necessary to improve its services and financial viability. I introduced this legislation to remove burdensome budget requirements that have contributed to the Postal Service’s deepening financial troubles, improve transparency and mandate six-day mail delivery for mail and packages. It is unacceptable that implementation of certain provisions, including the six-day-a-week delivery service, is not being accomplished by USPS.

You can read my full letter with Representative Sharice Davids to USPS Postmaster DeJoy here.

You can read more from The Kansas City Star here.

Securing Mexican President’s Commitment to Work to Stem Drug Flow

This week, it was reported that Mexico has asked China to help control fentanyl shipments. In Mexico City, I spoke with President Lopez Obrador about how the U.S. and Mexico can work together to stem the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl from crossing our southern border. I appreciated his interest in working together and secured his commitment that he would pressure China to stop fentanyl precursors coming from China to Mexico. I’m pleased President Lopez Obrador has taken proactive steps to deliver on his word and help prevent China from poisoning Americans and Mexicans through the fentanyl drug trade.

Congratulating Newly Announced NASA Artemis II Crew
This week, I called the newly announced crew of NASA Artemis II mission to congratulate them on being selected. The crew – Reid Wiseman, Christiana Hammock Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen – will fly around the Moon and mark the first crewed flight aboard NASA’s human deep space capabilities. The mission will pave the way for future lunar surface missions.

During the call, the crew shared with me: “Kansas has the best space museum on planet Earth.” I couldn’t agree more with this reference to the Cosmosphere and was excited to share the news with the incredible team there. The Cosmosphere has a stellar, world-renowned reputation that inspires young students and even NASA astronauts. This is well-deserved recognition. I appreciated speaking with the Artemis II crew and look forward to the continued progress of NASA’s Artemis program.

Kansas Community Visits
Russell
This week, I was in Russell to join Mayor Jim Cross and Chief of Police Jordan Harrison for the announcement of federal resources for the City of Russell and the Russell Police Department. This investment will be used to update the city public safety communications network and to revitalize the downtown area of Russell. As the lead Republican of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies, I am committed to supporting our law enforcement members and providing necessary resources for our local communities to thrive.

During my time in Russell, I stopped by the Russell County Courthouse to visit with the County Clerk, Treasurer and the County Attorney’s office. I also spoke with members of the District Court staff and the Magistrate Judge.

You can read more from KRSL Radio here.

Colby
It was great to visit Colby Community College this week to announce a federal investment for the school to purchase new equipment for its dental hygiene and agriculture programs. The dental hygiene program on campus trains the majority of the dental hygienists in northwest Kansas. These resources will improve the program and provide free dental care to the community. While on campus, I also had the opportunity to tour the dental hygiene clinic and to speak with students and staff members there. Thank you to Bobette Maier for the tour.

This school has one of the last remaining operations farms among the community college sector in Kansas, and the new equipment will allow Colby Community College to create a realistic learning environment for agricultural students. Under the leadership of President Seth Carter, Colby Community College provides students with a quality education and invests significantly in the nearby community. I want to thank him and his staff for their dedication to preparing students for success.

 

Participating in Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology Expansion Groundbreaking
On Tuesday, I joined Northwest Kansas Technical College’s President Ben Schears at the groundbreaking of the college’s diesel technology expansion project. The diesel technology program, the only such program offered between Denver and Salina, is Northwest Tech’s largest program and has seen an increase in demand in recent years. To meet this demand, the school is using a combination of local funds and a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to expand the program.

This expansion will include improvements to the building where the program is taught, as well as updated equipment purchases to expand the program to allow the graduation of an additional 75 students each year. The expansion is also anticipated to create 300 new jobs, providing more opportunity to foster talent and support a strong economy for Goodland.

 

Giving Keynote Address at Goodland Kiwanis Club
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to give the keynote address for the Goodland Kiwanis Club meeting. During this meeting, we discussed the importance of investing in our local communities and how critical public service is at any level to maintain our way of life in Kansas. It was particularly special to present Aaron Duell with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol for his dedication in chairing the Kiwanis Flag Project for 15 years.

There are many exciting projects in the works for Goodland, including the recent announcement of the Scoular oilseed crush plant and the groundbreaking for the Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology expansion at Northwest Technical Kansas College. I appreciated the chance to catch up with community residents and want to thank these members for their civic involvement.

 

Wishing Kansans a Happy Passover
Chag Pesach Sameach! I wish all Kansans who are observing Passover a time of joy, peace and happiness.

Recognizing Gold Star Spouses Day
This week, we observed Gold Star Spouses Day – a time to honor the spouses of our nation’s fallen heroes and recognize their many sacrifices made out of love for country and others. Military service is family service, and there is no greater example of this than our nation’s Gold Star spouses.