{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"KS\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2790", "Rep. Estes Announces App Challenge Winner", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WICHITA  Today Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced the Kansas 4th District winner of this year's Congressional App Challenge, Abir Haque. This is his second year winning first place in this competition.\"This year has highlighted the advances in technology and how apps have changed the way we work, learn and communicate,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Abir has demonstrated his impressive coding skills for the second year in a row, and I look forward to seeing the work of 4th District students as we continue this competition in years to come.\" This was the second year the Fourth District participated in the national Congressional App Challenge. The competition offers middle school and high school students an opportunity to showcase their creativity and technical skill by submitting the app of their choosing that they have created in the last calendar year, either for a class project, extracurricular or specifically for the App Challenge. Students living in or attending school in Kansas' 4th District were eligible to compete as individuals or teams of up to four. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on House.gov. First place winner Abir Haque's CSVOL is an extensible query language for managing CSV datasets, interacting with online program libraries, and synthesizing speech and music. Haque used Java and other coding languages to develop the app and is a student at Wichita East High School. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2788", "Rep. Estes Votes Against the CASH Act", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Votes Against the CASH Act \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 28, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after voting against the CASH Act.\"Last week's bipartisan COVID-19 relief package provided targeted assistance to hurting families and small businesses through extended unemployment, the Paycheck Protection Program and eliminating surprise medical billing, but it was coupled with Speaker Pelosi's bloated omnibus spending bill,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Now, Speaker Pelosi is ready to send more checks to millions of Americans who have not lost a paycheck while completely ignoring the rightful outrage from Kansans regarding the billions in unnecessary spending. I'm grateful that President Trump is utilizing his authority to delay some of the egregious funds in the omnibus spending bill, allowing Congress to revisit and rescind these misguided allocations.\" Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2789", "Rep. Estes Votes Against NDAA Veto Override", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Votes Against NDAA Veto Override \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 28, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after voting against overriding President Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.\"Our men and women in uniform bravely defend the rights and freedoms of Americans every day. While the NDAA has many positive aspects that support our troops, our freedom of speech is also under attack here at home from big tech companies. This has been especially evident in acknowledging voter fraud on social media that is then flagged or censored. It's time for big tech to do the right thing by living up to and exporting American values, not importing censorship-tactics from China.\" Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2786", "2021 Water Rights Protected at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced they do not intend to submit a request to secure water for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.\"Kansas farmers and ranchers have been conserving our precious natural resources for generations, including water and wildlife,\"said Rep. Estes.\"For the past few years, I've worked with residents around the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge to ensure protection from our federal government that maintains water rights for Kansans and supports local species and habits. This short-term agreement for fiscal year 2021 highlights the progress we've made as we work collaboratively toward long-term solutions.\" The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released more details in a press release this afternoon, saying, \"For more than six decades, the congressionally designated refuge has protected more than 22,000 acres of unique and rare inland salt marsh and sand prairie habitats that are vital to more than 300 species of birds, some threatened and endangered, in the Central Flyway. The Big and Little Salt marshes attract thousands of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and wetland birds, providing them with food, water, shelter and a place to rest. \"In 2016, the Kansas Chief Engineer found the refuge's senior state water rights along Rattlesnake Creek were being significantly infringed upon by junior water right holders. In July 2020, the Service and District entered an MOA establishing a framework to develop short- and long-term water conservation actions. This MOA was instrumental in highlighting the collaborative efforts and partnership support for the U.S Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant to the District. The NRCS grant will allow for the development of an augmentation workplan that supplements water distributed from groundwater wells, conduct water quality and quantity feasibility testing, and complete an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. The activities that will be carried out as a result of this grant will benefit the family farmers, ranchers and agricultural communities that fall within the District area of responsibility.\" Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-votes-pass-covid-relief-package", "Davids Votes to Pass COVID Relief Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids today voted to pass a coronavirus relief package after months of calling on congressional leaders to reach a bipartisan deal that would get aid to Kansas families, workers, small businesses and health care centers. The package passed the House along with an omnibus spending bill that included several other legislative priorities championed by Davids, including addressing surprise medical billing and flood prevention.\nFor months, I have been pushing for congressional leaders to come together and reach a deal on a bipartisan coronavirus relief package  one that meets the scope of the crisis we're facing and has the support needed to actually become law. Today, I was glad to vote for a package that, while far from perfect, will provide much-needed relief to our families, workers, small businesses and health care system in the face of immense hardship and uncertainty, said Davids.\nThe COVID relief legislation includes funding for testing and vaccines, support for small businesses, expanded unemployment benefits, and direct payments to Americans, among other programs.\nAs is the case with any compromise, this package did not include every measure I'd hoped for and championed. Most notably it lacked funding for state and local governments to avoid devastating cuts to our public schools, roads, fire and police departments, public health agencies and other services that we depend on. I'll continue to fight for state and local funding in the upcoming Congress as well as strong oversight and transparency measures for the distribution of relief funds. I'm optimistic that with a new Administration we can finally deliver the assistance our communities need, continued Davids.\nThe House also passed bipartisan legislation to address surprise medical billing, an issue that Davids has championed and even introduced her own bill to help prevent. A version of Davids' bill was included in the final legislation.\nEspecially in the middle of this devastating pandemic, the last thing Kansas families need is a medical bill they never saw coming. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will go a long way to protect patients from surprise medical billing and prevent this harmful practice. I was glad to work with my Republican and Democrat colleagues to get it done, said Davids.\nIn addition to addressing surprise medical bills, the omnibus spending bill also included the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which Davids has long advocated for. The bill aims to strengthen vital water infrastructure and implement a proactive approach to flood management that will help protect Kansas communities from the dangers of flooding.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2779", "Wichita Dole VA Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WICHITA  Today Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) applauded the VA's list of 128 additional sites receiving COVID-19 vaccines, including the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, and Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka.\"As our nation continues battling COVID-19 with the recently authorized Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it is encouraging to know that Wichita's Dole VA Medical Center is now scheduled to receive vaccines,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Thanks to Operation Warp Speed and the incredible science community, health care workers at Dole will soon have greater protection as they care for veterans, with more vaccines coming for an even greater number of Kansans.\" The VA announced 128 sites that will receive COVID-19 vaccines after announcing other VA locations last week. In a press release, the VA said, \"Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, VA will continue to vaccinate health care personnel, as well as community living center and spinal cord unit residents. As vaccine supplies increase, VA's ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.\"  \r\n\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2780", "Rep. Estes Applauds Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation.\"After months of an unnecessary political stalemate, Congress was able to pass much-needed relief for workers, families and small businesses,\" said Rep. Estes. \"The legislation includes critical wins for Kansas, such as providing direct payments to Kansas families, reopening the Paycheck Protection Program, eliminating surprise medical billing, and extending the timeframe for state and local governments to utilize existing COVID-19-related aid. \"The legislation also offers key assistance for rural Kansas, including $300 million to build out rural broadband and a new designation for rural hospitals to maintain their viability. \"Republicans and Democrats have agreed on much of what passed today for months, but relief negations stalled as Speaker Pelosi refused to allow a House floor vote on bipartisan elements without her party's partisan wishlist.\" Today's COVID-19 relief package builds on previous bipartisan legislation and passed 359 to 53. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sharice-davids-congratulates-rep-deb-haaland-historic-nomination-secretary", "Rep. Sharice Davids Congratulates Rep. Deb Haaland on Historic Nomination as Secretary of the Interior", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) issued the following statement on the historic nomination of Representative Deb Haaland (NM-01) as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.\n\nDavids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, were the first two Native American women ever elected to Congress in 2018.\n\nI want to congratulate my friend and sister Deb Haaland on her well-deserved and historic nomination for Secretary of the Interior. For the first time in our nation's history, a Native person will oversee an agency tasked with protecting our federal lands, including the millions of acres of Tribal land, and upholding the federal government's trust responsibilities to Tribes. I can think of no one more uniquely qualified and prepared to lead the Department of Interior and advise the President, particularly during a crisis that has disproportionately impacted and harmed Native communities.\n\nDeb has spent her career fighting for economic, social, and environmental justice. In Congress she has been a champion for our environment and a leader in the fight against climate change, experience that will serve our country well as we work to undo the destructive policies of the Trump Administration. She has been a fierce advocate and organizer in Indian Country for decades, maintaining a deep understanding of both the realities and challenges that Native communities face as well as the hope and potential they contain with improved federal resources, true consultation, and respect for tribal sovereignty.\n\nWith this choice, President-Elect Joe Biden has re-affirmed his commitment to protecting our climate and natural resources, to standing with and listening to Indian Country, and to creating a Cabinet that truly reflects the diversity of our country. While I'll miss serving alongside Deb in the House, I'm very much looking forward to working with her at the Department of the Interior.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2771", "Rep. Estes Flies on Recertified 737 MAX", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) participated in a demonstration flight of the Boeing 737 MAX after it received FAA recertification. The flight followed its grounding, safety upgrades, and a thorough recertification process. Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita manufacturers the 737 MAX fuselage, with numerous suppliers throughout south central Kansas supporting its production.\"The recertified 737 MAX is now one of the safest aircraft in history following rigorous and unprecedented testing,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Kansans should have confidence flying on this aircraft that not only satisfied certification requirements but surpassed those of the FAA, international regulators and other investigative entities. My flying experience on the 737 MAX reinforced that this aircraft exceeds standards for safety, quality and performance. I'm grateful for the skilled workforce in south central Kansas that manufactures these and many other airplanes.\"  \r\n\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2751", "Rep. Estes Joins Ways and Means Colleagues Ending Surprise Medical Billing", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Tonight the House Ways and Means Committee announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement in principle to end surprise medical billing. As a member of this committee and advocate for a surprise medical billing solution, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement:  \r\n  \r\n\"Republicans and Democrats have worked together to end surprise medical billing  an issue that can affect Kansans even when they do their due diligence to find covered providers. Over the past year, my Ways and Means colleagues and I have developed a plan that removes surprise billing burdens from patients, empowers patients with up-front information for scheduled procedures, and protects patients when emergency services are provided,\" said Rep. Estes. \"At a time when Americans are especially concerned with their physical well-being, this framework is something that will make health care not only more accessible, but more transparent.\"  \r\n  \r\nRep. Estes supported similar bipartisan legislation earlier this year andspoke in support of ending surprise medical billing at a Ways and Means Committee markup. This new framework puts an end to surprise medical billing, provides patients with a true estimate three days before any scheduled surgery, and creates a fair arbitration process for billing disputes between providers and insurers. When patients are rushed to an out-of-network hospital or unknowingly treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility, they will no longer be penalized with a surprise medical bill. Additionally, this framework won't increase premiums for patients or interfere with existing state-level solutions, does not include any price setting, and will not create more government overreach.Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2752", "FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccine", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccine \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 11, 2020 | \r\n      Roman Rodriguez\r\n      (316-262-8992) \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use for a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, marking another milestone for Operation Warp Speed.  \r\n  \r\n\"American ingenuity is one step closer to defeating COVID-19 with today's FDA emergency use authorization announcement,\" said Rep. Estes. \"For months, the best and brightest scientists, doctors and manufacturers have developed a safe and effective vaccine that will help restore our nation and save lives. Thanks to bipartisan efforts in Congress and the direction of the Trump administration, Operation Warp Speed is proving to be a successful program that has now safely produced the first of several life-saving vaccines.\"  \r\n  \r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2750", "Rep. Estes Joins Supreme Court Amicus Brief", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Joins Supreme Court Amicus Brief \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 10, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after filing an amicus brief signed by more than 100 Members of Congress, urging U.S. Supreme Court to hear the recent lawsuit filed by the State of Texas regarding the 2020 election.\"Americans deserve to have their vote counted in a free and fair election. The U.S. Supreme Court has a responsibility to review the unconstitutional irregularities revealed in our most recent election so that Americans can have confidence in current and future election results. I'm proud to join an amicus brief with more than 100 of my Republican colleagues to urge the Court to take this critical case that will improve election integrity.\" Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2749", "Rep. Estes Calls on Supreme Court to Hear 2020 Election Case", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Calls on Supreme Court to Hear 2020 Election Case \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 9, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Rep. Estes released the following statement calling on the United States Supreme Court to hear the recent lawsuit filed by the State of Texas regarding the 2020 election.\"Americans deserve free and fair elections that uphold our Constitution, where all legal votes are counted. I am pleased to hear that Kansas will be joining 16 other states in an amicus brief that encourages the Supreme Court to hear a critical case concerning the most recent and future elections. Regardless of party, all citizens should have confidence in the electoral process, and I am working with my House GOP colleagues to file an amicus brief that also encourages the Supreme Court to take up this case. We are blessed to live in this great nation, and a constitutional, fair election ensures that we can continue upholding the principles and values that our Founding Fathers established more than 200 years ago.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-congress-must-stay-session-until-relief-package-passed", "Davids: Congress Must Stay in Session Until Relief Package is Passed", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids continued to urge congressional leaders to reach a deal on a coronavirus bipartisan relief package today, saying that Congress must stay in session until a relief package is passed. In a letter to leaders of both parties, Davids called for an end to partisan bickering and instead for them to work together to get relief into the hands of those who need it most.\n\nCoronavirus cases are skyrocketing, our hospitals are being pushed to the brink, and our workers and small businesses are continuing to suffer. We cannot, in good conscience, go back to our districts for the Holiday recess while millions continue to suffer without help from their government. We need leaders in both parties to stay at the negotiating table until we reach a bipartisan deal that provides for the health, safety, and economic security of the people in this country, said Davids.\n\nWhile coronavirus cases are on the rise in Kansas and across the country, many key relief measures are set to expire at the end of the year  leaving families, workers and small businesses without much-needed support. Davids has expressed support for a new bipartisan aid proposal as the framework for negotiations, which has quickly gained momentum in the House and Senate.\n\nThe basis of any relief package must include providing resources for the expansion of widespread and rapid testing, increased access to personal protective equipment for our frontline workers, funding for our hospitals, help for small businesses, unemployment and housing assistance, accountability and transparency measures in the distribution of relief funds, and importantly, support for state and local governments who are fighting this virus head on, said Davids.\n\nDavids has repeatedly pushed for leaders in both parties to reach a deal on coronavirus relief.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2741", "Rep. Estes Congratulates the Proposed Kansas Health Science Center's Candidate Status", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WICHITA  Today the proposed Kansas Health Science Center-Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM) announced the receipt of candidate status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Following their announcement, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) offered his congratulations to KHSC and President Tiffany Masson, Psy.D.\"South central Kansas is building a reputation for our medical expertise  with exceptional hospitals and first-class institutions of higher education,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Today's announcement is another significant milestone in increasing quality, trained medical professionals right here in Wichita, adding to our already stellar nursing, health care and doctoral programs. Since its inception, I've been pleased to offer letters of support and tour the future facility under construction in 2019. Kansans across the state will benefit from more doctors and medical professionals educated close to home.\" Rep. Estes penned two letters of support for the proposed Kansas Health Science Center-Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine because of the potential to attract and retain students seeking a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas. The proposed KHSC would bring new construction, jobs, and tenants to Wichita, creating a learning hub with housing and education together. The candidate status announced today allows the school to begin hiring faculty, proceed with construction, and prepare to apply for pre-accreditation. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-davids-backed-legislation-improve-aircraft-safety", "House Passes Davids-Backed Legislation to Improve Aircraft Safety", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act, legislation backed by Aviation Subcommittee Vice-Chair Sharice Davids to improve aircraft safety in the wake of two Boeing 737 MAX crashes.\n\nThe Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act is based on recommendations from a Committee report on the Boeing 737 MAX, which lays out serious flaws, missteps, and inconsistencies in the design, development, and certification of the aircraft. The 737 MAX entered into service in 2017 and suffered two deadly crashes within five months of each other that killed 346 people.\n\nThe 346 victims of the Boeing 737 MAX crashes and their families expect and deserve Congress to act to make sure the mistakes that led to those tragedies never happen again, said Davids. This bipartisan bill will strengthen aviation safety and accountability and help pilots and flight crews do their jobs safely and efficiently. I was glad to see my House colleagues come together today to pass this critical legislation, and I urge the Senate to do the same.\n\nDavids questioned former Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg in October 2019, which helped inform the committee report's findings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sharice-davids-issues-support-rep-deb-haaland-secretary-interior", "Rep. Sharice Davids Issues Support for Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids has issued her support for the nomination of Representative Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Department of the Interior. Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, were the first two Native American women ever elected to Congress in 2018.\n\nRepresentative Deb Haaland has been warrior for Native peoples for decades and profoundly understands the consequences of federal administration on tribal communities, said Davids. Her historic nomination and her deep respect and understanding for the fundamental principles that any Department of the Interior secretary must abide by would be an invaluable asset in this position. I have only the highest trust and regard for Rep. Haaland's integrity and her work, and there is no one more highly qualified and prepared to lead the Department of the Interior during a crisis that has disproportionately impacted and harmed Native communities.\n\nDespite the federal government's unique relationship with and trust responsibility to tribal members, there has never been a Native member of the president's cabinet.\n\nIn a letter to the Biden-Harris transition team, Davids wrote:\n\nI greatly appreciate your commitment to ensuring a smooth transition of power to the Biden-Harris administration through your work on the transition team focusing on the Department of the Interior. The Department of the Interior plays a critical role in the administration and management of federal lands and in coordinating government-to-government relationships with and services for federally recognized tribes. It is absolutely vital that the incoming secretary has a firm understanding of the department's responsibilities and duties to tribes and has significant experience working and living in Indian Country. I strongly recommend that you consider nominating Representative Deb Haaland, a congresswoman from New Mexico and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, as Secretary of the Department of the Interior.\n\nIn 2018, Rep. Haaland and I were the first two Native women ever elected to Congress, but she has been a fierce advocate and organizer in Indian Country for decades. She has extensive experience in business development in Indian Country while maintaining her lifelong commitment to environmentally conscious business and policy practices. She has worked in tribal and local administration and social services and organized in Native communities and at the state level. And this is all before her incredible body of work during her time in Congress.\n\nAs Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Haaland has worked across the aisle and with both chambers to achieve real victories for Indian Country today and has demonstrated incredible vision for its future. Her legislative achievements touch on everything from the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women to the conservation and preservation of public lands to addressing the chronic underfunding and mismanagement of federal resources for Indian Country. She maintains a deep understanding of both the realities and challenges that Native communities face across the country as well as the hope and potential they contain with improved federal resources, consultation, and respect for tribal sovereignty.\n\nAs chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, Rep. Haaland has been a champion for our environment and a leader in the fight against climate change. She has fought back against the destructive acts and policies of the Trump Administration and the of Secretary David Bernhardt, passing legislation to protect Chaco Canyon and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling. Rep. Haaland has introduced bills including the 30 by 30 Resolution to Save Nature, the Climate Stewardship Act, and the THRIVE Agenda to deal with the climate and extinction crises and address economic, environmental, and racial injustice that parallel proposals put forward by President-elect Biden. Additionally, she helped craft the boldest climate change platform in history as a member of the DNC Platform Drafting Committee and helped mobilize stakeholders as a co-chair of the Biden Climate Engagement Advisory Council.\n\nAs you know, this would be an historic appointment. There has never been a Native member of the president's cabinet, despite the federal government's unique relationship with and trust responsibility to tribal members. It is always essential that the Department of the Interior is led by an individual with a deep and profound understanding of the federal trust responsibility and of the inviolability of treaty rights and obligations. In the last four years, we have seen the dangers of leadership by those who do not meet these qualifications  those who advocate for the dissolution of a reservation for the first time since the termination era, who side with state governments against the recognition and honoring of treaty rights, and who fail to adequately consult with and meet the needs of tribal governments during the greatest public health crisis in a century. The importance of this cabinet position to Indian Country cannot be overstated.\n\nRep. Haaland has been a warrior for Native peoples for decades and profoundly understands the consequences of federal administration on tribal communities. Her historic nomination and her deep respect and understanding for the fundamental principles that any Department of the Interior secretary must abide by would be an invaluable asset in this position. I have only the highest trust and regard for Rep. Haaland's integrity and her work, and there is no one more highly qualified and prepared to lead the Department of the Interior during a crisis that has disproportionately impacted and harmed Native communities. I strongly recommend her for your consideration for the secretary of the Department of the Interior.\n\nTo view the full letter, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2725", "Rep. Estes and Sen. Moran Introduce Legislation to Designate the Chisholm and Western Trails", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) introduced legislation today in the House of Representatives to amend the National Trails System Act to designate theChisholm National Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.\"When we think about advances that moved our country forward, theChisholm and Western Trails are two of those elements that helped shape the midwestern economy  with millions of cattle traveling through the Great Plains,\"said Rep. Estes.\"Farmers and ranchers from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska have always been a critical part of this country, and the cowboy culture that was evident on theChisholm and Western Trails are at the very heart of who we are as Americans  hard-working, rugged and independent. Designating these trails is more than just noting paths through the Great Plains, but showcasing the historical significance of the people who traveled the more than 1,300 miles through multiple states, and their way of life.\" \"As the country expanded westward, the Chisholm and Western cattle trails helped ranchers move millions of cattle across the plains to train depots, playing an important role in the economy of the country and supplying food for Americans,\"said Sen. Moran. \"Designating these trails as historic trails will help preserve the role they played in our nation's history for the pleasure and education of future generations of Americans and provide economic opportunities for Kansas communities to promote tourism to our state.\" The earliest history of Wichita begins with JesseChisholm and J.R. Mead establishing trading posts at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers where Wichita stands today. TheChisholm and Western Trails played a critical role in trade, commerce, communication and transportation in the United States. Beyond the economic value the trails provided, it also reinforced the cowboy culture of the American West  creating a significant and recognizable way of life that has been depicted in countless books and movies. Earlier this year, Rep. Estes and Sen. Moran were awarded the inaugural Robert L. Klemme MemorialChisholm Trail Champion award by the InternationalChisholm Trail Association for their work on celebrating and promoting the trails' history and for working on the legislation introduced today. Rep. Estes is joined by five of his House colleagues as original cosponsors: Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), Kendra Horn (D-Oklahoma), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Steve Watkins (R-Kansas). Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2717", "Rep. Estes Leads Bicameral Letter in Support of Trump Administration Expansion of the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, Signed by 110 Representatives and Senators", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) led his colleagues in the House and Senate, along with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on a letter to the Department of Defense (DoD), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in support of theSept. 14proposed rule on Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA).\r\nThe proposed rule would close a significant loophole that has allowed American funding to go to foreign abortion service providers. Currently, PLGHA only applies to global health assistance provided through grants and cooperative agreements.Under the proposed rule, PLGHA will be extended to include contracts.\r\nI'm grateful that the Trump Administration is standing up for taxpayers andtherights of the unborn, said Rep. Estes. Every life is valuable, and the proposed reforms to the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy reaffirm American dedication to the protection of our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.\r\nWhile ensuring that all foreign contractors must comply with the PLGHA terms, the proposed rule clarifies that, while U.S. contractors and subcontractors are not subject to PLGHA themselves, they are responsible for ensuring the compliance of any foreign subcontractors.\r\nThe letter states, Abortion is not healthcare, and more than 76%of Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions in other countries.This proposed rule will redirect additional U.S. foreign assistance away from funding abortion and toward legitimate, life-affirming global health initiatives.\r\nThe full text of the letter and a list of signers can be foundhere.\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2705", "Rep. Estes Statement on Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Retirement Security", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a statement following the introduction of the bipartisan Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020 by the Committee on Ways and Means Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Massachusetts). Three priorities championed by Rep. Estes are included in this retirement security package.\r\nSince my time as Kansas State Treasurer and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, increased retirement security for our seniors has been a major policy priority for me, said Rep. Estes. I'm pleased that Ways and Means leadership has worked together to make important reforms to improve retirement for future generations. Included in this package are reforms I've championed like raising the required minimum distribution age, improving programs for public servants and non-profits, and making it easier for individuals to pay student loans rather than contributing to retirement plans.\r\nThe Securing a Strong Retirement Act builds on initial reforms in the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE) passed by Congress in May of 2019. Estes recently introducedlegislationto raise the required minimum distribution age with Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-Florida), which is included in this package.\r\nEstes was also an original cosponsor of two bills included in this package. First, thePublic Service Retirement Fairness Actwill ensure public sector and non-profit retirement programs have the same access to low-cost investments as for-profit retirement plans. Finally, the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act will allow individuals to pay down a student loan instead of contributing to a 401(k) plan and still receive an employer match in their retirement plan.\r\nThis bipartisan legislation has received the endorsement of AARP, with the advocacy group saying the bill will make a number of improvements to our nation's retirement systems. Read the full AARP letterhere.\r\nThe Committee on Ways and Means press release on the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020 can be foundhere.\r\nA summary of the legislation is availablehere.\r\nThe full text of the legislation is availablehere.\r\n\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2695", "Reps. Estes and Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help American Workers Have Financially Secure Retirements", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday, Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-Florida), both members of the House Ways and Means Committee, introducedbipartisan legislationto improve the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules that apply to retired workers. Under current law, a retiree generally must begin making withdrawals from their tax-deferred retirement accounts when they turn age 72, with failure to do so resulting in a financial penalty. The Murphy-Estes bill would increase that age from 72 to 75. In addition, the bill would exempt individuals with account balances below $100,000 from the RMD rules, so they could begin withdrawing funds at any age without incurring a penalty. Under current law, retirement accounts of all sizes are subject to RMD rules.Since my time as Kansas State Treasurer, I've focused on increasing retirement security for Kansans and, now, seniors across the United States,said Estes.This bill builds on bipartisan reforms passed in the SECURE Act, allowing seniors more freedom to choose when they receive their retirement savings. Because Americans are living longer, raising the age at which they must begin withdrawing funds from their retirement account from 72 to 75 will help ensure that retired workers are not forced to pull money from their accounts before they need it,said Murphy. It is also true that most Americans don't have large retirement accounts. Exempting retired workers with smaller accounts from the mandatory withdrawal rules removes an unnecessary obstacle that prevents them from having greater control over their financial planning and allows their accounts to continue to grow during retirement. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan bill that would ensure more Americans can enjoy a financially independent and dignified retirement. RMD rules are designed to ensure that retired workers use their tax-deferred retirement accounts for retirement, and not as tax shelters or as vehicles for transferring wealth to beneficiaries. The Murphy-Estes bill, theRequired Minimum Distribution Modernization Act of 2020, applies to defined contribution accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and governmental 457(b) accounts. It also applies to IRAs and Designated Roth IRAs. The full text of the bill can be foundhere.  \r\n\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2694", "Rep. Estes Statement on Social Security Increase for 2021", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Statement on Social Security Increase for 2021 \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        October 14, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement following the Social Security Administration's (SSA) announcement that SSI benefits will increase by 1.3 percent in 2021.\r\nAs we continue to address the economic challenges resulting from COVID-19, our seniors who rely on Social Security must have the resources they need, said Rep. Ron Estes. This cost-of-living adjustment will help seniors across Kansas as our economy makes a full recovery. I look forward to continuing my work on the Ways and Means Committee to strengthen and reform Social Security for generations to come.\r\nApproximately 70 million Americans will benefit from a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This increase is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from the third quarter of the last year COLA was determined to the third quarter of the current year.\r\nSocial Security and SSI beneficiaries are usually notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. This year, most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice on the SSA'swebsite. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2682", "Rep. Estes Announces USDA Grants for Distance Learning in Rural Kansas", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program for rural communities in central Kansas.\r\nWe must invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow rural students across Kansas to connect to quality education as we continue to address the health and economic challenges of COVID-19, said Rep. Estes. The Trump administration and Congress have made major investments in our state's rural areas, and I will continue to work with them to ensure all of our rural residents have access to distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband services.\r\nThe Educational Services Staff Development Association of Central Kansas will receive $658,894 in grants to fund the redesign of their Virtual Learning project. This project will provide high-quality virtual learning to students and educators across central Kansas.\r\nKansas State University will receive $387,459 in grants to bolster the University's Rural Education Center that provides training, curriculum, instructors, and resources to support science, technology, engineering and math courses in their rural partner schools.\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/ku-med-receives-over-375-million-help-covid-19-testing-rep-davids-support", "KU Med Receives Over $3.75 Million to help with COVID-19 Testing with Rep. Davids\u2019 Support", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The University of Kanas Medical Center has been awarded an over $3.75 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for KU Med's effort to help local organizations address disparities in COVID-19 testing. Rep. Sharice Davids helped advocate for the funding.\nThe initiative awarded the grant money, RADx-UP: Improving the Response of Local Urban and Rural Communities to Disparities in COVID-19 Testing, seeks to help to improve the health of Kansans in rural and urban communities during this unprecedented global pandemic. It uses community-developed and community-informed strategies to increase testing and contract tracing of COVID-19 cases in Kansas' most vulnerable communities.\nMany people in our community face difficulty accessing health care, and these disparities have become even more apparent as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, said Rep. Davids. I'm glad to have played a role in securing this funding and I'm excited to see the community-informed work that has begun in Wyandotte County with the local Health Equity Task Force. I look forward to seeing this work expand to assist other regions in Kansas.\nRADx-UP aims to understand COVID-19 testing patterns better among underserved and populations; strengthen the data on disparities in infection rates, disease progression and outcomes; and develop strategies to reduce these disparities in COVID-19 testing. To accomplish these goals in rapid fashion, the program is supporting projects with established community partnerships that can use their existing research infrastructures to swiftly implement strategies and interventions to increase access and uptake of COVID-19 testing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2681", "Rep. Estes Announces USDA Funding for Rural Small Businesses", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced a U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program funding for the Sedgwick County Electric Coop and the Sumner-Cowley Electric Coop.\r\nThe Sedgwick County Electric Coop will receive a loan of $422,800 to create a revolving loan fund to provide small loans to local rural businesses. The first loan will help SPK Grocery Inc. and SPK Holdings LLC to purchase and make improvements to a grocery store in Cheney, Kansas.\r\nSumner-Cowley Electric Coop will receive a loan of $500,000 to create a revolving loan fund for small businesses and assist the city of Wellington with necessary improvements to the existing emergency department so that the facility can reopen.\r\nSmall, rural businesses across the state have been disproportionately affected by our ongoing public health crisis, said Rep. Estes. I'm grateful that the Trump administration and the USDA are dedicated to ensuring that Kansas small businesses can keep their doors open and workers on the payroll.\r\nThe USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations to be distributed to local businesses that will create and retain employment in rural areas.\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-statement-opposition-revised-heroes-act", "Rep. Davids statement on opposition to revised HEROES Act", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on her opposition to the revised HEROES Act last night:\n\"What we need right now is a bipartisan coronavirus relief deal that delivers the help that Kansans badly need- not another partisan bill that has no chance of becoming law. I have been calling on leaders from both parties for months to reach a deal. People are rightfully frustrated at the partisan back and forth rather than solutions.\n\"This legislation of course included much-needed measures I've fought for, such as state and local funding to pay frontline workers and improved small business relief programs. I'm hopeful these measures will serve as the foundation for a bipartisan piece of legislation that can actually become law and soon. But Kansans need real relief and we need both parties to reach a deal that will get us there.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2675", "Rep. Estes Votes Against Partisan $2.2 Trillion Democrat Messaging Bill", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after the House voted on a partisan coronavirus relief bill.  \r\n  \r\n\"Tonight, the Democratic-led House passed another partisan bill that is more about messaging in an election year than helping hurting families and small businesses,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Congress was able to work in a bipartisan manner earlier this year to pass three major pieces of legislation that funded and established testing, vaccine development, paid leave, unemployment insurance expansions, state and local government assistance, and the Paycheck Protection Program. However, the closer we get to Nov. 3, the more Speaker Pelosi refuses to work with colleagues across the aisle, even as Republicans and Democrats have come together on proposals that would reopen negotiations and deliver real results for Kansans. I'm calling on Speaker Pelosi to abandon her partisan wish list that lets criminals out of jail, gives amnesty and cash payments to illegal immigrants, encourages voter fraud through ballot harvesting, and defunds the police.\"  \r\n  \r\nThe House passed the Democrats' partisan bill 214-207, with 18 Democrats joining every Republican in voting no.Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-applauds-bipartisan-bill-improve-aircraft-safety-after-boeing-737-max", "Davids Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Improve Aircraft Safety After Boeing 737 Max Investigation, Votes to Send to House Floor", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Sharice Davids, vice chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, today applauded a bipartisan bill to improve aircraft safety and voted to pass it out of Committee and send it to the House floor for a vote. The Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act is based on recommendations from a Committee report on the Boeing 737 MAX, which lays out serious flaws, missteps, and inconsistencies in the design, development, and certification of the aircraft. The 737 MAX entered into service in 2017 and suffered two deadly crashes within five months of each other that killed 346 people. The legislation also incorporates recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that address safety issues surrounding the increasing automation of aircraft. The 346 victims of the Boeing 737 MAX crashes and their families expect and deserve Congress to act to make sure the mistakes that led to those tragedies never happen again, said Davids. This bipartisan bill will strengthen aviation safety and accountability and help pilots and flight crews do their jobs safely and efficiently. I commend my Republican and Democrat colleagues on the Committee for coming together to put people's safety first l and I hope the full House votes to pass this legislation very soon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2674", "Rep. Estes Applauds Two 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools in Wichita", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Applauds Two 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools in Wichita \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 28, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a statement following theU.S.Department of Education's2020 National Blue Ribbon School award announcement. This year's recipients include Wichita's Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School andSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.\r\nThe National Blue Ribbon School award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the educators, administrators and parents at these schools, said Rep. Estes. Wichita is fortunate to have two schools named for this award, showcasing the exceptional qualities of our students and community.\r\nThis year, the Department of Education recognized 367 schools, including six schools in Kansas. Both Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School andSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School were in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category, meaning they are among Kansas' highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.\r\nOther schools in Kansas to receive the 2020 National Blue Ribbon designation include: Bradley Elementary School (Fort Leavenworth), Grant F. Timmerman Elementary School (Emporia), Piper Elementary School (Kansas City) and Prairie Creek Elementary School (Olathe).\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2662", "Rep. Estes Announces DOJ Grants for Kansas and Local Governments", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced multiple grants from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for Sedgwick County and the City of Newton, as well as the State of Kansas.\r\nI'm grateful that the Department of Justice is aiding state and local governments to ensure public safety for all Kansans, said Rep. Estes. This funding focuses on improving both our law enforcement and victim services so that our justice system can be more robust in serving our communities.\r\nSedgwick County will receive an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for $370,543 to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime, including local initiatives, training, personnel, and equipment. The City of Newton will also receive a JAG grant for $10,376.\r\nIn addition, $750,000 in funding will be provided to the Wichita Children's Home from the DOJ Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Program. This funding will expand the services provided by the Wichita Children's Home, which is the only remaining residential program for minor human trafficking victims in the State of Kansas.\r\nThe State of Kansas will receive more than $14 million from the Crime Victims Fund to improve access to victim services across the state. This funding is typically distributed to community-based organizations that provide direct services to crime victims.\r\nThe State of Kansas was also awarded $39,839 through the DOJ's Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) program to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse and harassment in confinement facilities.\r\nAdditionally, the State has been awarded $36,125 as part of the DOJ's John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Grant Program to provide education assistance to public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to extended employment.\r\n\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-welcomes-new-federal-aid-wyandotte-county-address-coronavirus", "Rep. Davids welcomes new federal aid for Wyandotte County to address the coronavirus", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, recently announced that the State Office of Recovery has approved its plan for distribution of funds from the CARES Act, a federal relief bill that Representative Sharice Davids supported.\n\t\t\t\t\tMore than $37 million is being allocated throughout the county to combat the impacts of coronavirus  including increased and free testing, contact tracing, and community outreach and education. More than $9 million will also be distributed to local organizations to support nonprofits and small businesses and help residents with rent, utilities, and food assistance.\n\t\t\t\t\tPeople in Kansas and across the county continue to feel the impacts of coronavirus, both on their health and on their economic security. The CARES Act, which I voted for, is one part of helping get them the relief they need, said Rep. Davids. Access to free and easy testing is an important step to containing the virus and opening our economy safely and I'm very glad these funds are helping Wyandotte County residents.\n\t\t\t\t\tCongress has much more work to do to help this country recover, and I'll keep advocating for another bipartisan relief package, said Davids. That has to include widespread and rapid testing, and the production of more personal protective equipment, so we can control this virus to save lives and save our economy. It also has to help people stay afloat as we get the virus under control  including emergency unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and help for state and local governments to avoid severe cuts to our public schools, roads, fire departments, public health agencies, and other essential services Kansans depend on.\n\t\t\t\t\tDavid Alvey, Mayor of the United Government of Wyandotte County, said: The allocation of $37 million in initial CARES Act funding will provide a tremendous benefit to our community as we continue to battle the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, stated Mayor David Alvey. In particular, I'm pleased that more than $9 million in direct aid will be distributed to more than 60 local organizations in Wyandotte County, providing meaningful support to nonprofits and small businesses, as well as rent, utility, and food assistance for our residents.\n\t\t\t\t\tJuliann Van Liew, Wyandotte County Public Health Department Director, said: The CARES funding has been absolutely essential to our COVID-19 response. A significant portion of Wyandotte County's CARES dollars are going directly to fighting this public health pandemic in the form of free testing, contact tracing, and robust communications. Without these funds, the Unified Government Public Health Department would not be able to respond appropriately to this pandemic, and our community would be at even greater risk.\n\t\t\t\t\tMore information from Wyandotte County can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/repdavids-helps-welcome-new-federal-coronavirus-aid-wyandotte-county", "Rep. Davids welcomes new federal aid for Wyandotte County to address the coronavirus", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, recently announced that the State Office of Recovery has approved its plan for distribution of funds from the CARES Act, a federal relief bill that Representative Sharice Davids supported.\nMore than $37 million is being allocated throughout the county to combat the impacts of coronavirus  including increased and free testing, contact tracing, and community outreach and education. More than $9 million will also be distributed to local organizations to support nonprofits and small businesses and help residents with rent, utilities, and food assistance.\nPeople in Kansas and across the county continue to feel the impacts of coronavirus, both on their health and on their economic security. The CARES Act, which I voted for, is one part of helping get them the relief they need, said Rep. Davids. Access to free and easy testing is an important step to containing the virus and opening our economy safely and I'm very glad these funds are helping Wyandotte County residents.\nCongress has much more work to do to help this country recover, and I'll keep advocating for another bipartisan relief package, said Davids. That has to include widespread and rapid testing, and the production of more personal protective equipment, so we can control this virus to save lives and save our economy. It also has to help people stay afloat as we get the virus under control  including emergency unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and help for state and local governments to avoid severe cuts to our public schools, roads, fire departments, public health agencies, and other essential services Kansans depend on.\nDavid Alvey, Mayor of the United Government of Wyandotte County, said: The allocation of $37 million in initial CARES Act funding will provide a tremendous benefit to our community as we continue to battle the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, stated Mayor David Alvey. In particular, I'm pleased that more than $9 million in direct aid will be distributed to more than 60 local organizations in Wyandotte County, providing meaningful support to nonprofits and small businesses, as well as rent, utility, and food assistance for our residents.\nJuliann Van Liew, Wyandotte County Public Health Department Director, said: The CARES funding has been absolutely essential to our COVID-19 response. A significant portion of Wyandotte County's CARES dollars are going directly to fighting this public health pandemic in the form of free testing, contact tracing, and robust communications. Without these funds, the Unified Government Public Health Department would not be able to respond appropriately to this pandemic, and our community would be at even greater risk.\nMore information from Wyandotte County can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-applauds-passage-bill-increase-focus-missing-and-murdered-indigenous", "Rep. Davids Applauds Passage of Bill to Increase Focus on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,D.C. Monday evening, a bill led by Congresswoman Deb Haaland (N.M.-01) to address themissing and murdered indigenous women crisispassedby a voicevote on the House Floor and will be moving to the President's desk. If signed into law, the Not Invisible Act of 2019 will be the first bill in history to be introduced and passed by four members of federally recognized tribes:Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna), Tom Cole (Chickasaw Nation), Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk Nation), and Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee Nation).\nThis historic bill will increase focus on addressing the silent crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. Full text of the bill is availablehere.\nAll women deserve to live without fear of disappearing without a trace, but the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis persists and indigenous people continue to go missing. Today, we moved to say enough is enough' and passed the Not Invisible Act, which includes efforts to get meaningful input from the survivors of these horrific crimes and Tribal leaders to ensure law enforcement has the guidance it needs to address missing persons cases from people who know the issue first hand. A real solution to this crisis will never be found without the explicit inclusion of survivors, which is what is so special about this bill. I'm grateful to my colleagues in the Senate who helped move this bill forward, so that it has a chance of becoming law,said Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.\nIncluding survivors of crimes in Indian Country to help guide the efforts of law enforcement to find others is a great first step in rescuing missing indigenous women and children before it is too late, saidCongressman Tom Cole, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. As homicide leads as the number one cause of death for Native women and children, I am proud to see the federal government work to create solutions to end this horrific epidemic. I applaud the passage of this important legislation.\nI'm extremely proud to have worked with my colleagues to help address the epidemic of missing and murdered Native women and girls, who experience violence at higher rates than any other female population in the country. The Not Invisible Act is an important step to protect women and children and improve law enforcement efforts to combat this crisis. I urge the President to quickly sign the bill into law, saidCongresswoman Sharice Davids.\nThe silent crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women is wreaking havoc on our families and our communities, saidCongressman Markwayne Mullin. Our priority must be to protect native women and children and all parties have to work together to end this epidemic of violence. The Not Invisible Act will give our law enforcement officers the tools they need to address the crisis and will help prevent our sisters from becoming a statistic. I was proud to cosponsor this bill and I look forward to seeing President Trump sign it into law soon.\nCurrently, the leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native Women between ages 10 and 24 is homicide, and American Indian and Alaska Native women experience murder rates 10 times the national average. A 2016 National Institute of Justice report states that more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaskan Native women (84.3 percent) have experienced some form of violence in their lives. The Not Invisible Act of 2019 is a step toward addressing this crisis.\nThe Not Invisible Act of 2019 would establish an advisory committee on violent crime composed of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, and survivors to make recommendations to the Department of Interior and Department of Justice. The bill also seeks to establish best practices for law enforcement on combatting the epidemic of missing persons, murder, and trafficking of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and would create a position for an expert within the Bureau of Indian Affairs charged with improving coordination of violent crime prevention efforts across federal agencies.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2652", "Rep. Estes Applauds New DOJ Grant for Wichita State University", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Applauds New DOJ Grant for Wichita State University \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 18, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a statementfollowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women's announcement of a $300,000 grant to Wichita State Universityto increase safety for students on campus.\r\nIt's important that all students feel safe on campus whilepursuinghigher education, said Rep. Estes. I'm grateful that the Department of Justice is dedicated to combatting domestic violence and sexual assault on college campuses across the United States.\r\nThis grant aims to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking at public universities. The funding will allow Wichita State University to work with the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office and the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center to implement prevention programming for students and teachers,offertrainingtolaw enforcement and campus staff, and provide access to 24-hour victim services.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-applauds-inclusion-all-kansas-wheat-growers-cfap-2-program", "Marshall Applauds Inclusion of All Kansas Wheat Growers in CFAP 2 Program", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced an additional $14 billion in assistance to farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19 through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2). The program will provide payments based on market disruptions and subsequent declines in market costs and distribution challenges to producers in all aspects of the agriculture industry.\n \n\tOur farmers and ranchers never missed a day of work due to COVID but faced serious challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic,said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D.This second round of payments continues this administration's commitment to the agriculture industry and includes all Kansas wheat farmers, many of which were left out of the first round of payments. It is essential we continue to provide our hardworking farmers, ranchers and farm families with the resources and assistance necessary to continue providing Americans and the world the safest, highest quality, and most affordable food supply in the world.\n \nFinancial assistance will be made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation and CARES Act funding to support impacted producers in all sectors of the agriculture industry. Payments will be issued for three categories: price-triggered commodities, flat-rate crops and sales commodities. Producers will receive 100 percent of the payment on the initial allocation. CFAP 2 retains the same eligibility requirements as CFAP 1. The application period will begin Sept. 21 and will remain open until Dec. 11, 2020. More details on each commodity and payment category can be found at:Farmer.gov/CFAP\nBelow are additional details for each payment group:\nPrice-triggered Commodities\nCrops\n These commodities met a minimum 5-percent price decline over a specified period of time\n\tEligible crops include: Barley, corn, sorghum, sunflowers, upland cotton and all classes of wheat (plus others)\n\tPayments will be based on 2020 plated acres of the crop (excluding any prevented planting acres)\n\tPayments will be the greater of (1) eligible acres multiplied by a payment rate of $15/acres or (2) the eligible acres multiplied by a nationwide crop marketing percentage, multiplied by a crop-specific payment rate and then by the producer's weighted 2020 Actual Production History (APH) approved yield using the rates below:\n \n\t\t\t\tCommodity\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tUnit of Measure\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCrop Marketing Percentage (%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPayment Rate ($/Unit)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBarley\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBushel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t63\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.54\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCorn\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBushel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t40\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.58\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCotton, Upland\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPound\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t46\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.08\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSorghum\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBushel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t55\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.56\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSoybeans\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBushel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t54\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.58\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSunflowers\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPound\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t44\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.02\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWheat (All Classes)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBushel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t73\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0.54\n\t\t\t\n\t\tLivestock\n Eligible beef cattle, hogs, pigs, lamb and sheep payments will be based on the maximum owned inventory of eligible livestock,excluding breeding stock, on a date selected by the producer, between April 16 and Aug. 31, 2020\n\tPayment rates are as follows: $55/head for beef cattle; $23/head for hogs and pigs; $27/head for lambs and sheep\n Dairy\n Payment will be based on actual milk production from April  August 2020. FSA will use those figures to estimate production for September  December 2020.\n\tProducers rates at $1.20/cwt\n Flat-rate Crops\n Crops that either do not meet the 5-percent price decline trigger or do not have data available to calculate a price change will have payments calculated based on eligible 2020 acres, multiplied by $15/acre.\n\tEligible crops include: alfalfa, oats, hemp, millet, triticale, rapeseed and others\n Sales Commodities\n Eligible commodities include: specialty crops, aquaculture, nursery crops and floriculture, tobacco, goat milk, and other livestock (excluding breeding stock) not included under the price trigger category.\n\tPayment calculations will use a sales-based approach where producers are paid based on five payment graduations associated with their 2019 sales.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/admiral-giroir-confirms-thermo-fisher-in-kansas-is-major-asset-for-covid-19-testing", "Admiral Giroir Confirms Thermo Fisher in Kansas is Major Asset for COVID-19 Testing", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies  yesterday questioned Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on a recent request for information HHS released that could create new manufacturing opportunities for Thermo Fisher Scientific based out of Lenexa.\r\nWe were alerted, just recently, about an HHS request for information that was posted last week, soliciting interests from laboratories that could scale up with additional equipment from Thermo Fisher Scientific, said Sen. Moran. Thermo Fisher is located in Kansas, and recently expanded to create more test tubes for COVID-19 tests.\r\nClick HERE to watch Sen. Moran's full questioning or find the transcript below.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTranscript of full exchange: \r\nSen. Moran: We were alerted, just recently, about an HHS request for information that was postedI think it was posted last week. It was soliciting interests from laboratories that could scale up with additional equipment from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher is located in Kansas, and we havejust recently they had an expansion to create more test tubes to do the test results. Could you tell me what the ultimate plans are, assuming that you receive interests from these laboratories? And more specifically, what's the budget for this strategy? How many labs do you intend to support and how much more testing will get accomplished?\r\nAdmiral Giroir: So, let me just say first, it was an NIH solicitation, and we received information from about 27 universities that had interest. Let me just say a top-line piece, particularly now, is that they're certain types of assays, like Hologic, like Roche, like Cephied, that are relatively flat, but there's huge supply of other outstanding assays of which Thermo Fisher has. They have a huge industrial capability; they have instruments; they have everything that goes with it: soup to nuts, full Happy Meal, however you want to say it. So, we're trying to encourage laboratories around the country, including universities, to use these because Thermo Fisher could make tens of millions of high-quality laboratory-based assays. We've supplied some of these to private laboratories like Sonic and Aegis, and we're also trying to make sure that the universities use what they have, but also if they need help we're happy to fund this. This is a relatively small amount of money to get them the capability to do assays, and Thermo Fisher has been really good to work with about really knocking down the prices, particularly for surveillance. So, it's really another way to try to get the message out. We talk of thousands of universities, but Thermo is just one of those assets that we have a lot of. It's an excellent test; it's a great company; we want people to use it.\r\nSen. Moran: And, too early to tell whether there's a response? Whether your outreach is having any effect? \r\nAdmiral Giroir: Seriously, probably three times a week we match a major laboratory up with Thermo Fisher, getting their instruments together with their supplies. So, it is absolutely having an effect. Again, we have a lot of capability; we just want to make sure that people understand where the capabilities are, and Thermo's one of them.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/back-the-blue", "Back the Blue", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Our nation's law enforcement professionals deserve our unwavering support.\r\nI have seen firsthand the dedication of our Kansas law enforcement professionals and this year  even while responding to a global pandemic  has been no exception. I want to express my thanks, appreciation and support for our law enforcement officers, especially in Kansas.\r\nI am a strong supporter of our law enforcement professionals. This newsletter is a snapshot of my efforts to #BackTheBlue so far this year.\r\nLeading the Senate Committee That Funds and Provides Oversight of DOJ\r\nProviding Resources to Law Enforcement Amid Calls to Defund the Police'\r\nAs Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS), which funds and provides oversight of the Department of Justice (DOJ), my top priority is to make certain our state, local and tribal enforcement officers have the federal resources they need to keep our communities safe.\r\nLast year, my CJS bill provided a pay raise for law enforcement as well as more robust funding for the important programs that help keep communities in Kansas safe. This includes programs created by the STOP School Violence Act and resources to conduct federal operations with a specific focus, such as combatting violent crime. Several of these federally-supported operations, such as Operation Triple Beam, Operation Save a Casing, and Operations Legend have been conducted in Kansas.\r\n\r\nAdvocating for the Unique Needs of Each Community\r\nThe common goal to keep our communities safe is threaded through every law enforcement department, but I recognize the needs to meet that goal are different in each community. That is why my CJS legislation included fundingfor important state and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant initiatives administered through departments such as the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Office on Violence Against Women. Every community in Kansas is unique, and the grant programs distributed by the DOJ provide law enforcement and other Kansas departments the flexibility to identify specific focus areas that will benefit their towns. Over the last year, Kansas agencies have been awarded over $6.5 million in funding assistance through the DOJ and its offices.\r\n\r\nSupporting the JUSTICE Act\r\nThis June, I joined Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and my colleagues in the Senate tointroduce theJUSTICE Act. This legislation would make significant progress towards improving police and community relations across the country while also providing the accountability we expect from our police departments by increasing the reporting requirement on excessive use of force and requiring the use of body cameras. Kansas law enforcement officers work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, and this legislation would reform police training and create more transparency and trust, which is critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities.\r\nEven though the JUSTICE Act consisted of overwhelmingly bipartisan priorities, its vote failed to advance on the Senate floor due to Democratic opposition. To learn more about how this legislation offers reform, accountability and transparency, clickhere.\r\nSupporting Law Enforcement During COVID-19\r\nWhile the world is in the midst of a global pandemic, our state, local and tribal law enforcement officers are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. At a time when people are being asked to practice social distancing, law enforcement officers continue to provide critical services to ensure the health and wellbeing of our communities.\r\nCosponsoring the Safeguarding America's First Responders Act\r\nI introduced theSafeguarding America's First Responders Act (SAFR)with my colleagues to help the families of first responders lost to COVID-19 access public service benefits. This legislation, which passed the Senate in May and has now been signed into law, makes certain that families of officers and first responders lost to COVID-19 can quickly access survivor benefits under the Public Safety Officer Benefits Program, reducing unnecessary barriers.\r\nOur law enforcement officers and first responders continue to show up for work every day during this pandemic despite the added risk of contracting COVID-19. As a country, we support and care for the families of first responders when they pass away from a work-related event, but this bill recognizes the threat this disease has on law enforcement and first responders and helps provide their families with the benefits they are owed. I'm proud to have supported this legislation, and as chairman of the appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction in this area, I will continue to work to ensure our law enforcement officers, first responders and their families are cared for.\r\n\r\nBringing CARES Act Funds for Law Enforcement to Kansas\r\nIn March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, more commonly referred to as the CARES Act, was passed by the Senate which included Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program (CESF) grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement. The CESF grant provided $850 million in direct assistance to state and local officials which allowed police departments and other first responders to meet the unique challenges facing their area, including the purchase of PPE and medical items and to support overtime for officers working on the front lines. Thus far via the CESF grant, Kansas has been awarded $9.2 million that has helped over 50 state and local agencies.\r\n\r\nSupporting Innovative PPE Shortage Solutions in Johnson County\r\nLast month, I visited with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office while touring their Criminalistics Laboratory (JCSOCL), one of three accredited full-service police crime laboratories in Kansas, to see their innovative approach to address shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE).\r\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic many first responders in the state experienced a shortage of PPE. In order to address this ongoing issue, the JCSOCL launched a program to sanitize facemasks so they could be reused by first responders. Lab technicians converted stainless steel evidence collection units into sanitation chambers by retrofitting them with ultraviolet lighting systems. The Johnson County Lab then partnered with American Dish Service in Edwardsville to manufacture the PPE decontamination unit which I was able to see in use during my tour. These sanitation chambers have been provided to both the Johnson County Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act. Those at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Criminalistics Laboratory are providing an invaluable service for the citizens of Johnson County, and I thank them for their continued commitment to the community.\r\n\r\nKansas Law Enforcement Are Hard at Work in Kansas\r\nSpeaking with Cadets at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center\r\nIn July, I visited the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) in Hutchinson to tour the facility, observe training exercises and meet with instructors and cadets. I was able to see firsthand how police cadets from across the state receive training and support at this premiere facility and how the training curriculum has been adapted to reflect the needs of communities in Kansas. I look forward to following the careers of our police cadets and working to make certain they have the necessary resources to strengthen engagement and trust within the communities they serve.\r\n\r\nShowing Appreciation for Law Enforcement Efforts Combatting Drug Trafficking\r\nI recently had the opportunity to join Executive Director Jeffery Stamm and his staff on a tour of the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The HIDTA Program was established in 1988 to provide assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement entities in areas that are most adversely affected by drug trafficking, and I am a member of Senate subcommittee which continues to fund this important effort. HIDTA provides resources to combat the drug threats of specific regions across the country, targeting regional needs. More specifically, the HIDTA program helps establish and operate drug enforcement task forces designed to dismantle and disrupt drug trafficking organizations as well as improve communication and information sharing between federal and local law enforcement agencies. Because metropolitan, suburban and rural areas each face their own unique threats for home-grown and transnational drug trafficking, the HIDTA program is an important resource that allows federal support to be tailored to the specific needs of each area. As our nation continues to face the constantly evolving threat of drug trafficking and the crime that comes with it, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure law enforcement in Kansas and across the country have the support and resources they need to respond effectively and keep us safe.\r\n\r\nAnnouncing a New DEA Agent Assigned to Kansas in July\r\nI joined Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Bill Callahan in Wichita in July to introduce the new DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rogeana Patterson-King. I was pleased to see this new position exclusively dedicated to DEA efforts in Kansas, rather than agents having to split time and resources between neighboring states. I was also grateful for the opportunity to speak with Wichita Chief of Police Gordon Ramsay and Sedgwick County Sherriff Jeff Easter. Law enforcement agencies in the Wichita area have worked together to combat violent and drug-related crime rates, and I appreciated receiving an update on their most recent efforts. Congratulations again to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Patterson-King.\r\n\r\nHosting U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director in Leavenworth to Announce New Facility\r\nIn August, Ihostedthe U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth to discuss the construction of a new Federal Correctional Institute and a satellite Federal Prison Camp. Over the past few years, I was pleased to work with leaders in Leavenworth to advocate for this new prison and help secure the $350 million needed to fully fund its construction. These funds have now been officially allocated and the final phases of pre-construction planning are underway. This new Leavenworth correctional facility will be the largest federal undertaking in Kansas over the past five years and is a significant investment in the local economy that will add hundreds of jobs and construction contracts in the coming years. The USP Leavenworth has been a landmark federal institution for the past century, and this undertaking marks the beginning of a new era for USP Leavenworth, the Bureau of Prisons and the Leavenworth correctional officers.\r\n\r\nTake the Pledge\r\nIf you would like to sign the pledge to Back the Blue, please visit the Heritage Action for America website here.\r\nAgain, thank you to the men and women in blue who protect and serve our communities each day. I will continue advocating at the federal level for the resources you need to keep our communities safe.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/sen-moran-joins-bipartisan-effort-urging-hhs-to-address-pharmaceutical-companies-undermining-340b-program", "Sen. Moran Joins Bipartisan Effort Urging HHS to Address Pharmaceutical Companies Undermining 340B Program", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling for a prompt response from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address recent actions of pharmaceutical companies that threaten to undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program during the COVID-19 public health emergency.\r\nThe 340B program requires drug companies to sell discounted prescription drugs to safety-net hospitals, rural health facilities and other entities that provide care in underserved communities. Savings from the 340B program ensure that these covered entities are able to continue to serve their patients. However, drug manufacturers have recently announced new requirements and limitations on eligible entities within the 340B program.\r\nIn a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the bipartisan group of Senators urged the administration to take immediate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.\r\nIn the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children's hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care, the Senators wrote. As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most.\r\nThe bipartisan letter was led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and signed by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). \r\nThis bipartisan effort is supported by the American Hospital Association (AHA), America's Essential Hospitals, American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and 340B Health, as well as many health providers across Kansas who rely on this program to provide services to patients.\r\nThe AHA thanks this bipartisan group of senators for their important effort to protect the 340B program, and the vulnerable communities it benefits, from big drug companies' efforts to harm the program, said Tom Nickels, AHA Executive Vice President. The AHA continues to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to take action against drug companies and to protect the patients and communities the 340B program helps serve.\r\nThe AAMC appreciates Senators from both sides of the aisle working together to protect the 340B program and patients, said Karen Fisher, JD, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unwarranted that several major drug companies are attempting to undermine this important program that allows safety net hospitals, including many teaching hospitals, to provide critical health care services to vulnerable patients in communities across the country.\r\n340B has a long history of bipartisan support in Congress. Drug companies must stop denying discounts on expensive outpatient drugs in violation of the 340B statute, said Maureen Testoni, President and CEO of 340B Health. We appreciate the efforts of these Senate leaders in making that message crystal clear. \r\nThe full letter is available here and below. \r\nDear Secretary Azar:\r\nWe write to express our concerns regarding recent actions from pharmaceutical manufacturers that threaten to undermine the role of contract pharmacies in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children's hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care. As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most. While we understand that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is further investigating these actions, we urge HRSA to take immediate and appropriate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.\r\nAs you are aware, on September 1, 2020, Eli Lilly announced that the company would no longer allow 340B covered entities to receive discounts for products that are shipped to a contract pharmacy, with an exception for insulin. This follows similar actions from AstraZeneca, which announced in August that it would refuse 340B pricing to hospitals with on-site pharmacies for any drugs dispensed through contract pharmacies. Similarly, other companies have imposed additional and burdensome reporting requirements on all contract pharmacy claims. For covered entities, and in particular rural hospitals and other rural covered entities that rely disproportionately on contract pharmacies, these changes could have long-lasting repercussions that will challenge a covered entity's ability to support its community now during this pandemic and in the future.\r\nThe Public Health Service Act requires that manufacturers wishing to participate in Medicaid and Medicare Part B enter into agreements with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that require that the manufacturer offer each covered entity covered outpatient drugs for purchase at or below the applicable ceiling price if such drug is made available to any other purchaser at any price. Further, HRSA has recognized the importance of contract pharmacies by acknowledging such arrangements in current guidance. We believe these recent actions by pharmaceutical manufacturers run counter to the statute and create a dangerous and negative precedent for the 340B Program and the providers and patients it serves.\r\nTo ensure pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to comply with the 340B statute and provide discounts to safety-net providers, we call on HRSA to take appropriate, prompt enforcement action to address violations of the Public Health Service Act. We appreciate your attention to this important issue and look forward to partnering with you and stakeholders to ensure the 340B program continues to support access to quality health services with proper oversight and transparency.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/twenty-one-years-in-the-making-senator-pat-roberts-dedicates-the-dwight-d-eisenhower-memorial", "Twenty-One Years in the Making: Senator Pat Roberts Dedicates the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Pat Roberts", "R000307", "www.roberts.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, today participated in the dedication of the national memorial to honor President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Below are Roberts' remarks as prepared for delivery.CLICK HEREto watch and download a video of Roberts' remarks, as well asphotos of the dedication ceremony, courtesy of the U.S. Senate Photo Studio.\r\nThank you, Bret. As an Eisenhower author yourself, I know you share our enthusiasm for his legacy. Thank you so much.\r\n\r\nGreetings to all of our guests here tonight and to those of you watching. Now, we wish we could all be together in person to celebrate the completion of this magnificent memorial.\r\n\r\nHowever, the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower cannot be constrained by the size of the crowd because it is reflected in the freedoms we live every day as Americans.\r\n\r\nThe memorial designer, Frank Gehry, and his partners unfortunately are unable to join us tonight, but, if the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that you don't have to be in the same place to be together.\r\n\r\nSo, Frank, I know you and your team are watching; the brilliance of your design reverberates around the world and lifts the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower to an unending global audience.\r\n\r\nTonight, as we dedicate this memorial, we stand on the shoulders of some giants who made it possible: Senators Ted Stevens, Danny Inouye, Thad Cochran and Lisa Murkoswki. I salute their enormous contribution to completing this memorial. Lisa, we couldn't have done this without you.\r\n\r\nI also want to thank my fellow Commissioners who always allowed us to conduct our business in a supportive, bi-partisan way, truly in the image of the man that we honor tonight.\r\n\r\nAnd I want to thank one commissioner in particular, my fellow Kansan, my friend, my mentor, Senator Bob Dole, a man who fought bravely on the battlefields of Italy under Ike's command. Although gravely wounded, Bob fought his way back to health and strength.\r\n\r\nHe applied that same tenacity of spirit to fundraising on behalf of this memorial. Because of his tireless efforts, the remaining heroes of the Greatest Generation can now salute their commanding officer.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, we would not be here today without the guiding influence of the Eisenhower family. I would like to recognize David Eisenhower and his wife Julie Nixon Eisenhower, who are with us here tonight.\r\n\r\nDavid, Anne, Susan, and Mary Jean - because of your valued input, we have a fitting memorial to your beloved grandfather. We persevered, and we persevered, and we persevered and then we got it right.\r\n\r\nI want to thank our donors, some of whom are here tonight. Because of you, this memorial is complete. Donations come in all sizes, and we are grateful for every one of them.\r\n\r\nI would like to extend special recognition for one donor in particular  a teacher at Navarre Elementary School in East Toledo, Ohio. In 2012, in honor of Veteran's Day, the Navarre Elementary School classes pitched in their quarters, nickels and even pennies, and sent them to Washington, so they could support this memorial to Ike.\r\n\r\nRobyn Hage, will you please stand so we can thank you for teaching young Americans the importance of giving back to their community and their country, as well as their heritage.\r\n\r\nAs a senator, I always say, You are only as good as your staff, and that adage certainly applies to this project. The entire commission staff, spearheaded by General Carl Reddel and Victoria Tigwell, deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for their unwavering focus on building this memorial. Carl, Queen Victoria, Dan, Ed, Shannon, Trace, Joyce and Chris, we thank you.\r\n\r\nFrom my own staff, there are two women in particular that I would like to thank. One of whom worked with me during the long years of preserving the opportunity to have this memorial, and the other shares equally in the success of bringing this memorial to fruition: Amber Kirchhoefer and Jackie Cottrell. Thank you for your creative thinking, your loyalty and your diligence.\r\n\r\nLadies and Gentlemen, I have just been told we have a message coming through cyber space right now-I direct your attention to the monitors\r\n\r\nThank you, Chris Cassidy and the team at NASA for making that possible. Yet another Eisenhower achievement.\r\n\r\nBefore the pandemic, dedication was to be on May 8th, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, certainly an anniversary with world-wide significance.\r\n\r\nBut today, September 17th, is an anniversary of truly American origins. On this day in 1787, after debate and compromise, our Constitution was signed in Philadelphia. Later, it also became known as Citizenship Day. What would Ike's message about citizenship be to us now?\r\n\r\nDuty to country before self was Eisenhower's creed. In his reflections on his first day at West Point, he said, When we raised our right hands and repeated the official Oatha feeling came over me that the expression The United States of America' would now and henceforth mean something different than it ever had before. From here on, it would be the nation I would be serving, not myself.\r\n\r\nEisenhower saw the promise that America holds for everyone and the reciprocal responsibility to serve the country that offers so much. As he said in his first Inaugural address, It is the firm duty of each of our free citizens.to place the cause of his country before the comfort, the convenience of himself.\r\n\r\nPutting his country before himself meant many things in Eisenhower's life. It meant moving from place to place, often to other countries. It frequently meant leaving his family behind. It meant bearing the responsibility to send hundreds of thousands of sailors, soldiers, and airmen into peril. It meant sacrifice as we see reflected in the soldiers of the 101st Airborne as they listen to their commander on the eve of D-Day.\r\n\r\nIn this memorial, we see the coming of age of Eisenhower and America, embodied in the dreams of a young man. Just as Eisenhower left Abilene at twenty to go to West Point and was later selected to be the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II and then President of the United States, America too was transitioning from humble beginnings to global leadership. Ike led the way.\r\n\r\nThe legacy of that emergence of America can be seen in the tapestry of Pointe du Hoc in peacetime - Normandy at Peace, a symbol of the sacrifice that was made there to liberate Europe and secure freedom from Nazi tyranny, saving western democracy.\r\n\r\nMemorials act as historical touchstones  they are the intersection of memory and history. They are meant to inspire contemplation and reflection about events and people, like Eisenhower, who have shaped our history profoundly.\r\n\r\nI hope this memorial not only makes us more aware of Eisenhower's accomplishments and where we would be as a nation or world without one man's vision and leadership, but, even more importantly, I hope it causes us to reflect on where we are today and what we, as individuals and a society, can do to change the course of the nation and the world.\r\n\r\nIt is incumbent upon us to learn from the past and apply those principles to our circumstances today, to build on the foundation Eisenhower desperately fought to protect and restore.\r\n\r\nThis memorial teaches us that through all the darkness, there is light. And this memorial comes at exactly the right time to provide some light in troubling times.\r\n\r\nAs we look to the entrance of the memorial to that teenage boy from small-town Kansas looking back at us, we see the hopes of all young men and women as they imagine their future: a reminder that we still have within us our own dreams, and that liberty and freedom make it possible for us to find our way, to pursue those hopes and dreams, and to seize the opportunities before us.\r\n\r\nEisenhower understood that in a country where destiny is determined not by one's position at birth, but rather strength of character and determination of spirit, dreams do come true. Eisenhower understood one person's ability to chart his or her own course and change the course of the world.\r\n\r\nThat American story, the story of a young boy from Abilene, is celebrated at the entrance of this memorial.\r\n\r\nFor me, as a small-town Kansas boy, I never dreamed I would one day dedicate a memorial to Kansas' favorite son, Dwight David Eisenhower. It is with wonder in my heart that I stand here near the statues of Eisenhower as General and as President, with the towering cliffs of Pointe du Hoc behind us. And I marvel anew at the lessons he left for us.\r\n\r\nLife in a small town is not easy, but the rewards come from a community of people who know your name, your parents' name, and your teachers' name.\r\n\r\nIf you fall down a few rungs on the ladder of success, somebody is there to help you climb back up. We cheered each other's victories and stood beside each other in our moments of defeat.\r\n\r\nNo wonder Dwight D. Eisenhower declared, The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.\r\n\r\nIn closing, I take you back to the moment just before Eisenhower began his First Inaugural Address. He asked the crowd for the privilege of offering a prayer of his own. I share some of that with you now:\r\n\r\nAlmighty God, give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby and by the laws of this land. Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all people regardless of station, race or calling. May cooperation be permitted and be the mutual aim of those who, under the concepts of our Constitution, hold to differing political faiths; so that all may work for the good of our beloved country and Thy glory. Amen.\r\n\r\nMay the United States of America mean something more to each of us because of Eisenhower's legacy and our reflections at this memorial.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sharice-davids-statement-boeing-737-max-final-report", "Rep. Sharice Davids\u2019 statement on Boeing 737 MAX final report", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released its final report on the Boeing 737 MAX. The report lays out the serious flaws and missteps in the design, development, and certification of the aircraft, which entered commercial service in 2017 before suffering two deadly crashes within five months of each other that killed a total of 346 people, including eight Americans. Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rep. Sharice Davids questioned former Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg in October 2019, which helped inform the report's findings.\nDavids released the following statement:\nOur investigation uncovered serious problems in the FAA's safety certification process and revealed that Boeing repeatedly put profit over safety in the development of the 737 MAX. The 346 victims of both tragic crashes and their families now expect and deserve Congress to act. We must strengthen aviation safety and transparency and hold corporations much more accountable so that the tragedy of the Boeing 737 MAX is not repeated.\nRead the full report here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2651", "Rep. Estes Announces School Safety Grant for Harvey County Schools", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Announces School Safety Grant for Harvey County Schools \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 16, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes(R-Kansas)announced a $374,787 grant for the Harvey County School District from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This grantwill helpimprove security at schools and on school grounds. It can be used to train law enforcement, purchase equipment like metaldetectors and technologyfor expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security.\r\nWhen we drop our children off at school, we want to know they're safe, said Rep. Estes. This funding will help Harvey County schools invest in training, equipment and other measures to increase student and teacher safety and security.\r\nThe Department of Justice COPS office works to advance and reform community policing by providing information and funding to state and local law enforcement. Harvey County is one of 160 schools across the country receiving a grantat this time.\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/focusing-on-veterans-on-world-suicide-prevention-day", "Focusing on Veterans on World Suicide Prevention Day", "2020-09-14", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nRemembering 9/11\r\nOn the 19th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we honored those who lost their lives and give thanks for the brave Americans, first responders, emergency personnel and law enforcement officers who answered the call on that day and continue to do so today.\r\nMay we never forget the way we united in the aftermath of the attacks, as one nation under God. And may we renew our commitment, respecting one another in order to work together for the common good and answer the call to serve.\r\n\r\nFocusing on Veterans on World Suicide Prevention Day\r\nOn Thursday  World Suicide Prevention Day  I authored an editorial as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee with Ranking Member Jon Tester regarding the importance of passing comprehensive legislation to address veteran suicide. We know from the VA that 14 out of the 20 veterans who die by suicide each day are not enrolled in the VA system. My bipartisan legislation with Ranking Member Tester, S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, would enable the VA to better work with and amplify the efforts of organizations already serving veterans across the country who are filling gaps, especially in rural and medically underserved areas.\r\nMy legislation was unanimously passed by the Senate on August 5, and this week I held a hearing on the need for S.785 to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law. The committee heard overwhelmingly supportive testimonies from organizations that serve veterans on how vital this legislation is for saving veterans' lives and how it will enact substantive reforms in veteran mental health care and suicide prevention services.\r\nAs we are nearing the end of this Congress, it is imperative that the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act be passed and signed into law, so that veterans, and those who work to serve them, can start seeing tangible actions to help those in need and save lives. America's veterans deserve the best we can offer, and this bill will make an impact on the lives of veterans.\r\nRead my joint editorial on addressing veteran suicide here in The Hill.\r\n\r\nGrant to Improve Wichita Highway Junction\r\nThis week, I announced with Representative Ron Estes and Senator Pat Roberts and the city of Wichita a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to replace and modernize the single lane system connecting I-235 to I-135 and K-96. This grant will invest significant resources into the efficiency and safety of this interchange that joins three major highways in Wichita. Additionally, it will help connect nearby businesses, Wichita State University, rural communities, downtown Wichita and local commuters with the rest of the city and state. Modernizing our highway system not only improves commerce in the area, but will also increase travel throughout south central Kansas.\r\nThis grant will fund construction of a new two-lane system ramp, a flyover ramp, continuous auxiliary lanes and improvements to the bridge. Earlier this year, I joined Senator Roberts and Representative Estes in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to invest in this project, and I look forward to seeing its completion.\r\nCOVID-19 Relief Package\r\nOver the last several weeks, I have traveled across Kansas meeting with local leaders, families, business owners, farmers, aviation workers, educators, doctors and many others to discuss how previous federal relief packages have impacted them and what assistance is still needed to help us combat this pandemic. The most common concerns I hear from Kansans are the need for more personal protection equipment, widespread testing, an effective vaccine that we can administer quickly and broadly and resources to provide our children with a safe, quality education.\r\nThis targeted approach helps meet those needs without spending trillions of dollars that we don't have. While this legislation doesn't include every need, idea or want, I voted to support this legislation on Thursday to help keep Kansans safe while we continue to reopen our economy and get our students back to school. However, the package failed to receive the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate, and it was not advanced.\r\nOur Broken Declassification System\r\nOn Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to advocate for reforming how the federal government classifies and declassifies information. More than $18 billion is spent annually classifying data, and the process to declassify information in a timely manner is lengthy and out of date, impacting taxpayers and government transparency. I introduced the Declassification Reform Act of 2020 with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to name an executive agent to promote programs to modernize declassification programs across all executive agencies. In front of the committee, I advocated for this legislation and pledged to work with my colleagues to secure the resources needed to achieve reform that is long overdue.\r\nRead my joint editorial with Sen. Wyden here in Just Security.\r\n\r\nHearing from Experts on the Main Street Lending Program\r\nOn Wednesday, I participated in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing regarding the status of the Federal Reserve's emergency lending facilities, namely the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). This program was established to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofits that are struggling due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the uncertainty businesses are facing during this nation-wide crisis, there are additional risks for private lenders and their ability to provide loans to smaller businesses. However, those cash-strapped businesses need funds quickly to stay afloat. To respond to this need, the Main Street Lending Program was created to serve mid-size firms that are too large to be eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created by the CARES Act. This hearing provided a critical opportunity to hear from experts regarding how this program is serving American people. As a member of the Banking Committee, I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to ensure that American businesses are supported during this public health emergency.\r\nExpanding the FAA's Aviation Maintenance Workforce\r\nThis week, I was pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented two new aviation workforce grant programs that invest in the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians. I worked to include these programs within the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and urged the administration to move forward with these programs.These grants will support technical education and career development at a local level through grant opportunities provided to academia and the aviation community, and I look forward to continue working with my colleagues and the FAA regarding this important field.\r\nCelebrating Improvements to Concordia's Blosser Municipal Airport \r\nThis week, I gave opening remarks at the Blosser Municipal Airport's ground breaking ceremony. Our local airports are crucial to regional economies across the state, and I am pleased this project will allow for much-needed infrastructure improvements, supporting not only Concordia, but north central Kansas' aviation needs for years to come.\r\nThis project will lengthen and widen the runway, increasing the ability for larger planes to utilize the airport and allow local businesses to expand. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, as well as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I know the importance of initiatives like the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which funded the nearly $7 million award utilized by Blosser Municipal. Through programs like the AIP and successful projects such as the one undertaken by Blosser Municipal, aviation will continue to flourish across Kansas and help connect smaller communities and businesses with the rest of the state.\r\n\r\nAppreciation for Law Enforcement Efforts Combatting Drug Trafficking \r\nThis week, I had the opportunity to join Executive Director Jeffery Stamm and his staff on a tour of the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The HIDTA Program was established in 1988 to provide assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement entities in areas that are most adversely affected by drug trafficking. HIDTA provides resources to combat the drug threats of specific regions across the country, targeting regional needs. More specifically, the HIDTA program helps establish and operate drug enforcement task forces designed to dismantle and disrupt drug trafficking organizations as well as improve communication and information sharing between federal and local law enforcement agencies. Because metropolitan, suburban and rural areas each face their own unique threats for home-grown and transnational drug trafficking, the HIDTA program is an important resource that allows federal support to be tailored to the specific needs of each area. As our nation continues to face the constantly evolving threat of drug trafficking and the crime that comes with it, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure law enforcement in Kansas and across the country have the support and resources they need to respond effectively and keep us safe.\r\n\r\nVisiting AdventHealth in Ottawa\r\nThis week, I visited AdventHealth Ottawa to meet with hospital staff and tour the emergency room. We discussed their operational changes during this pandemic and the importance of telehealth. Thank you to President Dallas Purkeypile, CFO Harmat Beebe, CNO Stacy Steiner, Director of Advocacy Molly Haase, Kansas State Senator Caryn Tyson and John Cohen with the Ottawa Chamber and an AdventHealth Ottawa Board Member for the tour and discussion.\r\n\r\nSupporting Law Enforcement\r\nI am pleased to share that the City of Olathe, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were recently awarded a combined $274,340 in funding as part of the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) grants for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program. This program is intended to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects and implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness, and suicide prevention programs. Our nation's dedicated law enforcement professionals face overwhelming stress on a daily basis and must respond to many tough situations. Ensuring the mental health our officers, sheriffs and deputies should be a priority. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, I will continue to work to make certain our law enforcement officers are equipped with the necessary tools they need to keep themselves and the public safe and healthy.\r\nAdditionally, it was announced that Unified School District No. 373 in Harvey County will receive a School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant award of $374,787. This grant is a part the $50 million in SVPP grants being awarded through the DOJ's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). SVPP provides up to 75% of the funding needed for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds. This grant will provide enhanced coordination with law enforcement, training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence, metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrent measures. It will also provide more recent technology for the expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. I am pleased to learn that this grant and these measures will continue to keep students in Harvey County safe as they continue their education.\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-statement-governor-kelly-s-testimony-calling-covid-relief-kansans", "Rep. Davids Statement on Governor Kelly\u2019s Testimony Calling for COVID Relief for  Kansans", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Governor Laura Kelly testified before the House Financial Services Committee on the need for federal relief for the Kansas state budget. Rep. Davids released the following statement in support of Governor Kelly's testimony: I want to thank Governor Kelly for her leadership and for advocating on behalf of the needs of all Kansans today. It's clear that Kansas needs emergency relief to avoid severe cuts to our public schools, roads, fire departments, public health agencies, and other essential services Kansans depend on. That would hurt our economy even more and make the damage last longer. Kansans have been down this road before. After going through the failed Brownback tax experiment, we know firsthand how harmful severe state budget cuts can be for our families and communities. This is a national emergency and it requires a national solution  states and local governments can't be expected to address these challenges on their own. I will continue to push congressional leaders and the Administration to pass another coronavirus relief bill that includes aid to state and local governments. That legislation also needs to include support for workers and small businesses, widespread and rapid testing, and personal protective equipment so we can control this virus to save lives and save our economy. Other nations around the globe have done a much better job of controlling this virus  and we should expect nothing less from ours.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2645", "Rep. Estes Announces $21 Million BUILD Grant for North Junction", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WICHITA - Today Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced a significant grant award for the City of Wichita and the surrounding area that will improve traffic in a much-needed area of the metro. The Department of Transportation has awarded a BUILD Grant of $21 million to replace outdated single-lane system ramps with new two-lane system ramps as well as a new flyover ramp at the North Junction, where I-235, I-135, K-96 and K-254 connect.\r\n\"Today's award is a great benefit to Kansans, as the North Junction serves as a major crossroads in our state,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Transforming this area has been a top priority for the State of Kansas. This project will have a travel-time savings of $127 million and a safety savings of $4.6 million resulting from reduced crashes. The interchange connects rural and urban parts of our state, but years of vehicle traffic, congestion and crashes have diminished the efficiency of the current interchange and threatens the long-term prosperity of the region. Correcting this decades-old design is great news for south central Kansas.\" The BUILD Grant will assist in completing the North Junction's Gold Project. The partnership of the Kansas Department of Transportation, the City of Wichita, and Sedgwick County doubled the amount of non-federal local funding from 26% in the 2019 INFRA application to 52% in their recent 2020 BUILD application, and they have an additional $5 million in local funds to complete the Gold Project. Completing the North Junction project will provide travel time savings of $127 million, safety savings of $4.6 million resulting from reduced crashes, and the creation of 1,220 jobs.  \r\n  \r\nThe Gold Project will improve safety and reduce congestion. The morning peak hour bottleneck causes major delays and operational failures on northbound I-235 from west of Broadway to southbound I-135 at K-96. This morning bottleneck will be alleviated by providing a two-lane direct connection from northbound I-235 to eastbound K-96 and an extended auxiliary lane along eastbound K-96 to the exit at Hillside. The evening peak hour bottleneck causes major delays and operational failures on northbound I-135 from K-96 through the loop ramp and west of I-135 on southbound I-235. This evening bottleneck will be alleviated by replacing the existing loop ramp with a two-lane flyover direct connection. The Gold Project will also provide connections from northbound I-135 to eastbound K-254 and southbound I-135 to southbound I-235. The Gold Project will replace the existing one-lane loop ramp from westbound K-96 to southbound I-135 with an improved two-lane loop ramp for handling projected traffic far into the future. It will add a continuous auxiliary lane on southbound I-135 from the loop ramp to 21st Street North. The construction estimate is $80 Million in 2018 dollars. This project is under preliminary design. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/sen-moran-announces-21-million-grant-to-improve-major-highway-junction-in-wichita", "Sen. Moran Announces $21 Million Grant to Improve Major Highway Junction in Wichita", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety  today announced a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the City of Wichita to replace and modernize the single-lane system connecting I-235 to I-135 and K-96.\r\nThis is great news for the city of Wichita, said Sen. Moran. This grant will invest significant resources into the efficiency and safety of this interchange that joins three major highways in Wichita and helps connect nearby businesses, Wichita State University, rural communities, downtown Wichita and local commuters with the rest of the city and state. Modernizing our highway system not only improves commerce in the area, but will also increase travel throughout south central Kansas.\r\nThis grant will fund construction of a new two-lane system ramp, a flyover ramp, continuous auxiliary lanes and improvements to the bridge. Sen. Moran joined Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Ron Estes (R-Kan.) earlier this year in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to invest in this project.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-seeks-assistance-kansas-wheat-farmers", "Marshall Seeks Assistance for Kansas Wheat Farmers", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last week, U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., alongside House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and 23 other colleagues, sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting funds included in the CARES Act be provided to wheat growers to address price impacts due to COVID-19.\nAs Members of Congress representing wheat farmers across the country, we write regarding the deteriorating economic conditions being experienced on the ground now with the 2020 wheat harvest almost complete,the Members wrote.Whether it's farmers who wrapped up harvest in May, those in the field harvesting their crops now, or those looking ahead to harvest in the coming weeks and trying to manage risk by forward contracting their crop, COVID-19 and other factors outside their control are depressing local cash prices and futures prices. So far, relief programs have had minimal applicability to wheat farmers. We ask that you use the resources available through the CARES Act to provide support for 2020 crop losses and to include all classes of wheat.\"\nWe have seen harsh impacts on Kansas agriculture producers this year due to COVID-19, especially for wheat farmers, by no fault of their own,said Rep. Marshall. The CARES Act, thanks to the efforts taken by Secretary Perdue and the entire Trump Administration, has been critical to keeping Kansas producers and small businesses viable during this pandemic.\nThe Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is grateful for the leadership from Members of Congress who have sent a letter to Secretary Perdue, requested funding from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for wheat producers,said Justin Knopf, KAWG President. Kansas wheat farmers have been heavily affected this year by economic shutdowns, decreased net farm income and decreases in global trade, but have not had access to assistancespecific to wheat. This letter demonstrates the significant price drops our farmers have experienced this year and the need for 2020 losses to be covered.\nRead the full letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/advocating-for-spirit-aerosystems-ventilator-production-facility", "Advocating for Spirit AeroSystems Ventilator Production Facility", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wishing Kansans a Happy Labor Day\r\nLabor Day is a time to recognize the significant contributions of the American worker and to reflect on the progress our state and country have realized because of the sacrifices of those working to push the economy forward. I have always been proud that Kansans know the value of work and appreciate the prosperity our state gains from that work ethic. I hope you were able to spend time with family and friends, with proper social distancing, over the Labor Day weekend.\r\nI spoke with KNSS on Friday to discuss Labor Day and my first jobs delivering Grit newspapers and mowing lawns in Plainville, Kansas. Click here to listen.\r\n\r\nLabor Day weekend allowed me the chance to get back home. To Plainville. Before I return tomorrow to Washington, DC, I needed to reconnect with the place where I developed a love for our state and where my interest in serving Kansans began.\r\n\r\nIt's there I learned to respect others, the importance of working hard, that money doesn't grow on trees, and that all those in uniform are to be honored.\r\nMy time with the people of my hometown and my visit to the church where I was baptized, where my mother was my Sunday School teacher, where my sister was married, where I earned Scouting's God and Country award, and where we celebrated my parents' 73rd wedding anniversary and just a few months later in that church said goodbye to my mom reminded me that faith, family, school, and community are much more important than many of the things so often thought of as important in today's world.\r\n\r\nI have much to be grateful for: my wife, our daughters and their families, the opportunities Kansans have given me.... But today, I say thanks to my hometown  not only for what it did for me in my growing up years, but for what it still does for me today.\r\n\r\nAdvocating for Spirit AeroSystems' Ventilator Production Facility\r\nThis week, I toured Spirit AeroSystems' Vanguard Facility that was transformed to produce life-saving ventilators for the United States and countries around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spirit and the people of Wichita stepped up to assist the federal government by building this manufacturing and distribution facility in Wichita and were able to employ over 1,000 Kansans to meet the high demand, many of which were trained by the strong programs at WSU Tech. The employees I spoke with today take great pride in their work to assist our country and others during this difficult time, and I want to express my gratitude to them for all they are doing for our country.\r\nIn May 2020, Spirit and Vyaire Medical, the largest company in the healthcare ecosystem dedicated to respiratory care, announced a collaboration to build critical care ventilators.\r\nIn the event of another outbreak we need to be better prepared and not reliant on other countries for critical medical supplies. Most ventilators are manufactured overseas, which makes this facility in Wichita even more important for our national stockpile.\r\nIn May, Spirit and Vyaire Medical, the largest company in the healthcare ecosystem dedicated to respiratory care, announced a collaboration to build critical care ventilators. It was announced this week that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is terminating this contract early, which could impact the work at the facility. The demand for ventilators has not diminished globally, and HHS is still under contract to pay for a majority of what has already been produced in Wichita. However, I have been in contact with the White House and am working with HHS Secretary Azar because I believe there is an good argument for fulfilling the contract and continuing the production of ventilators here in Kansas. I will also work to assist Spirit in international markets so that this facility can continue to meet the demand for ventilators around the globe.\r\nThank you to Tom Gentile, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, Gaurav Agarwal, CEO of Vyaire for the tour of the facility. I also appreciated having Evan Rosell with the Greater Wichita Partnership, Mayor Brandon Whipple, and Sedgwick County Commission Chair Pete Meitzner with us this morning.\r\nRead more about the Vanguard Facility and my visit here in the Wichita Business Journal.\r\n\r\nTouring Yingling Aviation in Wichita \r\nI also had the opportunity to tour Yingling Aviation located at Eisenhower National Airport. This family owned maintenance, repair, overhaul and fixed-based operator has been doing business in the Wichita area for over 75 years. Yingling Aviation recently added a new 23,000-sq-ft maintenance hangar and paint facility which will help the company grow even further over the next five years. It was great to see their latest expansion in person, and am thankful for their time to show me their family business.\r\nThank you to Andrew Nichols and his leadership team for the kind invitation. Special thanks to Mayor Brandon Whipple, Sedgwick County Commission Char Pete Meitzner, Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce President Gary Plummer and the Greater Wichita Partnership's Evan Rosell for joining us.\r\n\r\nAdditional Visits in Wichita\r\nIt was good to be in the Air Capital of the World on Thursday. After I spent time at Spirit AeroSystems and Yingling Aviation (featured above), I spent my afternoon at the Wichita Northwest Lions Club and the First National Bank in Hutchison.\r\nSpeaking with the Wichita Northwest Lions Club\r\nI met local leaders at the Spears Restaurant and Pie Shop to give a federal update on the focused, smaller Phase IV package I am advocating for that supports health-related efforts like testing, vaccines and PPE. I also discussed the importance of veterans having the ability to seek community care under the MISSION Act, the USPS' critical role to rural America and the need for reform, as well as the my advocacy for the local aviation industry, like working to secure defense contracts to diversify aviation portfolios in the area. Thank you to Lions Club President Tom Stewart for the kind invitation to speak and everyone who shared their thoughts with me.\r\n\r\nVisiting First National Bank in Hutchison\r\nLater in the day, I traveled to Reno County where I met with the leadership team of First National Bank of Hutchinson. We discussed several issues, including: agriculture, energy, COVID impact, the Paycheck Protection Program, taxes/debt and the regulatory environment. I was also pleased to hear about First National's support of the Hutchinson community as well as its continued focus on relationship banking. Thank you to Keith Hughes, Chairman of the Board, and his team for an informative conversation.\r\n\r\nDiscussing Skilled Jobs at Great Plains Manufacturing in Abilene\r\nThis week, I toured the Great Plains Manufacturing's Land Pride Division new facility in Abilene which opened earlier this year. On my tour of the 350,000 square-foot facility, I saw the increased amount of technology they use in their manufacturing process, which requires employees to have technical training and advanced manufacturing skills. The jobs this plant provides allows Kansans to develop skills that are beneficial to them in the future, and I was pleased to hear they are in the process of hiring additional workers.\r\nLast month, Great Plains Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Kubota, announced an expansion of their Salina operation. Their continued investment in our state, with facilities in nine different locations, is an indication of the strong workforce we have here in Kansas. Thank you to Great Plains Manufacturing President Linda Salem, Director of Facilities James Hall and Operations Manager Norman Brien for the informative tour and conversation. Thank you as well to Salina Community Economic Development Organization Executive Director Mitch Robinson, County Commissioner Lynn Peterson, Mayor Chris Osterman and Economic Development Executive Director Chuck Scott for joining the tour.\r\nRead more about Great Plains and my tour here in the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.\r\n\r\nProviding an Update on Phase IV to the Kansas Chamber\r\nOn Wednesday, I joined the Kansas congressional delegation in speaking to the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Congressional Conference. I was pleased to offer an update on the ongoing efforts in Washington, D.C. to provide economic relief to American workers and businesses continuing to suffer as a result of COVID-19.\r\nGiven the important role of small businesses in our communities and state's economy, I am pleased that nearly 80 percent in Kansas have received funding through the Small Businesses Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), established by Congress this spring, supporting 75 percent of small business jobs in our state. And while negotiations over additional relief between the White House and Democrats in Congress have slowed in recent weeks, Senate Republicans have continued to work on a new, targeted stimulus package focused on health-related items, like testing and vaccines, as well as relief for working parents to help with childcare, among other relatively urgent needs. I am hopeful the Senate will soon be able to consider these critical matters.\r\nI share the desire of the Kansas Chamber and Wednesday's audience in making certain that Kansans are soon able to return to work and communities allowed to reopen, in a safe manner based on scientific data and not politics. Thank you to the Kansas Chamber for inviting me to speak and for your efforts to help restore a growing economy in Kansas at this critical time.\r\nForbes Field Contract Tower\r\nThis Labor Day weekend I had the opportunity to take a tour of Forbes Field in Topeka, an important regional airport serving our military, commercial and business aviation needs throughout Kansas.\r\nDuring the tour, we had the opportunity to visit about the impact of COVID-19, and was encouraged to hear the increase in air traffic that has occurred in recent weeks. As a strong advocate for our aviation industry, I am committed to helping our local air traffic control towers and airports throughout this crisis.\r\nI also had the opportunity to discuss the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act, legislation I introduced with my colleagues last November. This legislation supports federal contract towers, such as Forbes Field, by removing an unnecessary barrier in the hiring pipeline for contract towers.\r\nThank you to Kansas' Coordinator for National Air Traffic Controllers Association Jami Davis, Midwest Air Traffic Control Air Traffic Services Manager Amy St. Pierre, Flight Operations Engineer (FOE) Air Traffic Manager John Wooten, FOE Controller Pierce Osborne and President of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Curtis Sneden for the informative tour and conversation. I appreciate each of you taking time out of your holiday weekend to speak with me.\r\n\r\nSpending Time in Central Kansas\r\nVisiting the McPherson Center for Health\r\nThis week, I visited with the leadership team at the McPherson Center for Health, the local general hospital. We discussed the importance of telehealth services, health care professional recruitment and how the rate of patient care is nearly back to pre COVID-19 levels. Thank you to President Terri Gehring, COO John Warden, Director of Marketing Cyril Russell, Rural Health Clinic Director Dr. Greg Thomas, Director of Physician Clinics Duane Wedel and Nurse Manager Jacquie Disque for an informative conversation and for working so hard to meet the health needs of the community during the pandemic. Special thanks to Kasi Morales, President of McPherson Industrial Development for joining us on the tour.\r\n\r\nSpeaking with Beloit Rotary and Lions\r\nI also joined civic, government and business leaders in Beloit to give a federal update and speak about the COVID-19 federal assistance that has come to Kansas. Congratulations to Eric Burks and Bob Severance who received national awards at yesterday's meeting. Thank you to Rotary President Clint Shoemaker for the invitation and for Kansas State Senator Elaine Bowers and Kansas State Representative Susan Concannon for joining us. Read more about our discussion here in the Beloit Call.\r\n\r\nTouring MarCon Pies in Lincoln\r\nWhile in the area, I passed through Lincoln to visit MarCon Pies. It was great meeting Craig and Mary Ann Stertz and learning more about the history of their small business. For 30 years MarCon Pies has been baking exceptional pies that are handcrafted and made-to-order for cafes, markets, eateries, country stores, wineries and breweries around Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, and I was pleased to know Craig and Mary Ann recently purchased this small business to keep that tradition alive. Small businesses like MarCon Pies keep our main streets in rural Kansas alive and well, and I appreciate the Kansas hospitality shown by Craig and Mary Ann during my visit today.\r\n\r\nAttending the Fort Riley Annual BBQ\r\nI joined Major General Douglas D.A Sims at Fort Riley for their Annual BBQ this week. MG Sims took command of the 1st Infantry Division just two weeks ago, and I was pleased to welcome him and his wife, Fay, to their first assignment at Fort Riley. I enjoyed getting to know the Sims as we discussed my support for the Big Red One and the families of our soldiers. Our discussion left me optimistic for the future of our Fort Riley community, and I look forward to working with MG Sims.\r\nHonoring the Life of Harold Kraus\r\nThis week I attended a Memorial Service for Harold Kraus  a great Kansan, agriculture advocate and friend  who passed away in May. Harold was a Hays soybean farmer that recognized the potential of biodiesel early and played a significant role in advancing our nation's biodiesel industry into what it is today. He was recognized by the National Biodiesel Board for his efforts and effective advocacy as the primary representative for the Kansas Soybean Commission for many years.\r\nI always enjoyed seeing Harold when he visited my office, but even more so I enjoyed seeing him in our home community of Hays. During my days in the state legislature, I was able to serve Ellis County alongside him during part of his 16 years of service as county commissioner. I have admired his devotion to Hays, Kansas and the ag community and valued his friendship for many years.\r\nThere was no kinder couple than Harold and his wife, Virginia, and Robba and I always enjoyed their company. I'll be thinking of Virginia and the rest of his family, especially during these difficult times when the ag community needs champions like Harold fighting for them.\r\n\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/time-to-fix-a-broken-declassification-system", "Time to Fix a Broken Declassification System", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This editorial ran in Just Secuirty on Septermber 8, 2020.\r\nBy Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) \r\nThe government's classification system is broken and overwhelmed.\r\nThere is an ever-increasing flood of records that are classified digitally, every day, with the click of a button. Yet, our declassification processes are paper-based, disconnected, and cannot keep up. The result is information which should no longer be classified, including historical records subject to mandatory declassification as well as information designated for release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), continues to pile up in obsolete databases. This broken system costs the American taxpayer while undermining the openness and transparency on which our democracy depends.\r\nThe seriousness of this situation has been evident for years. The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), the office in the National Archives that reports on classification, has warned that there is a deluge of classified information that will continue to grow unabated. Similarly, the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), which Congress established to identify barriers to declassification, has reported for years that the classification system can no longer handle the exponential growth of digital information.\r\nUnder the current system, costly resources are used to hold on to records that no longer require classification resulting in an unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars. The cost of the government's classification system now exceeds $18 billion annually. Additionally, when records are kept classified for reasons that have nothing to do with national security, historians, journalists, public watchdogs and all Americans are denied their right to research historical events or examine the actions of their government to hold it accountable. As the line between classification for national security and pointless secrecy is blurred, public trust in government erodes.\r\nFortunately, there is consensus that the declassification system should be modernized with achievable technical solutions. Records can be tagged so that when information is no longer suitable for classification, the records which include that information are easily identified for release. AI and machine learning can be used to find buried records appropriate for declassification. And when it is time to declassify records that include information from multiple government agencies, those agencies can be connected electronically rather than having to rely on couriers physically walking paper copies around Washington.\r\nIn order to reform our classification system, someone needs to be put in charge of overseeing desperately overdue reform. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is already responsible for the management of classified information and the protection of sensitive sources and methods. The DNI's responsibilities include integration and the development of uniform policies, not just within the Intelligence Community, but across the whole of the federal government in the case of security clearances. For these reasons, our legislation, the Declassification Reform Act of 2020, directs the DNI to take charge, a sensible approach that has also been recommended by the PIDB.\r\nThis modest reform does not resolve every problem associated with how the government classifies and declassifies information. Too much information is classified, and administrations from both parties have allowed political considerations to interfere in the declassification process. But when records no longer require classification, neither disagreements about national security nor politics are to blame. It is an out-of-date system in need of leadership to reform it.\r\nA modernized declassification system will help eliminate years of backlog and create a more efficient system. More importantly, it will save taxpayer dollars and Americans will gain access to countless records as long-buried documents will be released, allowing us to better understand our own history.\r\nMoran, R-Kansas, and Wyden, D-Ore., are co-sponsors of the Declassification Reform Act of 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/cms-final-rule-securing-access-new-cancer-treament", "Marshall, DelBene, Bucshon, and OHalleran Applaud CMS for Securing Medicare Payments on Innovative Cancer Therapies", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Representatives Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), and Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ) issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that secures access to groundbreaking cancer treatment.\nCMS' final rule will now fully cover CAR T-cell therapy providing lifesaving access to innovative cancer treatments for America's seniors. New and existing immunotherapies are part of a rapidly advancing field that is delivering hope for patients diagnosed with deadly cancers. In most cases, CAR T-cell recipients have exhausted their other treatment options and receiving this cutting-edge treatment will provide them and their families with renewed hope.\nEarlier this year, the four Representatives urged CMS to establish an appropriate Medicare reimbursement for CAR T-cell therapy. The Representatives had previously met with their local hospitals and patient advocate organizations that underscored how the current reimbursement levels were insufficient to adequately cover the cost of treating these patients and how it was impacting patient access. This rule will provide predictable payment to help broaden seniors' access to CAR T-cell therapy.\nOver the past several years, we have advocated for access to CAR T-cell therapy and its promise of delivering 21st century cures. Establishing a new dedicated payment for CAR T-cell therapy helps hospitals treat their patients and paves the way for future similar treatments. We applaud CMS for delivering these lifesaving treatments to America's seniors.\nTo learn more about CMS' FY 2021 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2637", "Rep. Estes Spends Day in Pratt, Visits Local Businesses", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PRATT, KANSAS  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) visited with local leaders and residents in Pratt, Kansas, on Tuesday, Sept. 1. His day included a discussion at the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce and visits at Next GINeration Cotton Gin, Great Plains Alfalfa, Bucklin Tractor & Implement Co. (BTI), and Pratt Energy. \"Having spent part of my life growing up on a family farm in northeast Kansas, I can appreciate the blessings and challenges of living in rural parts of our state,\" said Rep. Estes. \"As I talked with Pratt residents, I was reminded of the ways that the global pandemic has affected parts our state differently, while all Kansans have certainly felt some of the strains of COVID-19 and forced shutdowns. Incredibly, Pratt small businesses are weathering the storm thanks to their resilience, sense of community and federal assistance, particularly from the CARES Act. Ag producers continue working to feed and provide for our world while related agri-businesses support those efforts and give back to the community. Pratt, and south central Kansas, continues to be a beacon of hope during the current crisis.\" Rep. Estes supported theCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the Paycheck Protection Program and $1.25 billion in direct funding for the State of Kansas, along with other relief. These funding and support mechanisms have benefited Pratt residents and small businesses.  \r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Estes discusses protecting Social Security and COVID-19-related relief efforts at the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce.  \r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Estes tours Next GINeration Cotton Gin and Great Plains Alfalfa to view their operations, discuss trade, and talk about cotton and alfalfa production.  \r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Estes visits Bucklin Tractor & Implement Co. (BTI) and learns about their commitment to giving back to the communities they serve by matching gift card purchases to small, local businesses early in the pandemic.  \r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Estes tours Pratt Energy to talk about their history, processes and the effects of COVID-19 on their production. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2619", "Rep. Estes Announces Funding for Anthony Municipal Airport", "2020-09-02", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced more than $130,000 in funding for the Anthony Municipal Airport in Anthony, Kansas. This grant is provided by the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and supplemented by the CARES Act.\r\nAviation has been a core industry in Kansas' 4th district for more than a century, said Rep. Estes. As our community recovers from our recent health crisis, we must move forward with essential projects to ensure our region can benefit from safe and reliable air travel.\r\nThe Anthony Municipal Airport was awarded $13,079 in CARES Act funding and $117,713 in FAA grants for a total of $130,792 to reimburse the City of Anthony for land purchase that will enable the airport to safely control land use around its runways.\r\nRep. Estes supported theCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, making $10 billion in grants available for airports. He has previously announced grants forWichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport,Colonel James Jabara Airport,Airports in Eureka and Newton, andeleven other airports in rural parts of District 4.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-seeks-answers-uscis-contractor-furloughs-kansas-city", "Rep. Davids Seeks Answers on USCIS Contractor Furloughs in Kansas City", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Sam Graves (R-MO), along with U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Pat Roberts (R-KS), called for an immediate bipartisan briefing from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the reduction of a contract, which has led to the furloughs of roughly 800 contract employees in the agency's Kansas City offices.\nIn a letter to USCIS Deputy Director Joseph Edlow,the lawmakers wrote:\nAs you know, the National Benefit Center (NBC) has approximately 1,300 contract employees between the Missouri and Kansas facilities, and overall USCIS has 3,100 contract and federal employees in the bi-state region. Employees at the NBC conduct pre-processing steps, run background checks, and prepare applications for interviews at field offices around the country. Were it not for the hard work of these dedicated individuals, the Kansas City Metropolitan region would not have grown into the diverse community it is today and the economic impact of such a reduction will be felt for years to come.\nTo get a better understanding of how USCIS reached the decision to furlough hundreds of contract workers at the National Benefit Center (NBC), the lawmakers are requesting a briefing from the agency to detail how the determination was made to descope the contract in the Kansas City region, any changes that will be made to the responsibilities of remaining personnel, the potential impacts this change will have on application case backlogs in various application categories, and the metrics that will be used to restore the full contract level in the future.\nAt a time when millions of Americans are struggling to find work and keep a paycheck coming in every month, it is both extremely disappointing and concerning to see the USCIS make this decision without working with Congress to find a suitable solution,said Congressman Cleaver. As I understand it, there is plenty of work to be done to eliminate the backlogs at field offices and Congress has shown willingness to work with the agency to ensure its fiscal stability, so we want to know exactly how they came to this conclusion, what other options were on the table, and what can be done to immediately remedy the situation.\nThe jobs at the National Benefit Center support the livelihoods of many Kansas families and allow legal immigration applications to be processed without interruption,said Representative Davids. I am very disappointed that the USCIS would end these jobs without working with Congress on possible solutions. I hope this briefing is a step towards finding alternative solutions.\nThe National Benefit Center provides critical support to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and has a significant impact on the local economy,said Senator Blunt. USCIS' decision comes at an already extremely difficult time for these workers and their families. I hope this briefing will help inform our efforts to find a resolution to this issue as soon as possible.\nYou can find the official letter from the lawmakershere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2618", "Reps. Estes, Kildee Introduce Resolution Condemning Foreign Digital Services Taxes (DSTs)", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives with Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Michigan), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, condemning foreign Digital Services Taxes (DSTs). These taxes, including those introduced by France and other countries, unfairly discriminate against U.S. digital firms and hamper American ingenuity. Last year,U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer conducted an investigation and found France's DST unfairly discriminate against U.S. companies and noted their inconsistencies with international tax principles. \"At no time should foreign countries target American companies to fill budget holes and pack their government coffers. Our current global pandemic highlights the urgency to call out these unfair tax practices and put an end to digital services taxes,\" said Rep. Estes. \"France led the charge in implementing DSTs, which only prompted others to seek profit from American ingenuity. Trade Representative Lighthizer has provided clear evidence that France's DSTs are discriminatory and burdensome. After calling on France and others to end these DSTs, I'm asking my colleagues in the House to condemn the onerous DSTs and seek a multilateral solution to the changing global, digital economy.\" \"Digital service taxes that discriminate against American companies must be stopped. Unfairly targeting American companies hurts the free and fair trade principles we all strive to abide by,\" said Rep. Kildee. \"I am proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Estes in support of American businesses who are being discriminated against across the globe and call to an end to these practices.\" Rep. Estes wrote anop-edabout France's DSTs in April of 2019 and responded to French Minister of the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire's Wall Street Journal op-ed with aletter to the editorat the beginning of this year. Rep. Estes hasapplaudedTrade Representative Lighthizer's investigation and continues to push for further action against countries that unfairly tax U.S. companies. View the full text of the resolutionhere. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/facebook-censors-government-data", "Facebook Censors Government Data", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A Facebook post published on Sunday afternoon by U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. discussing updated COVID-19 death datareleasedby the CDC was removed Monday night by Facebook without notice or explanation. The post discussed the new data published by the CDC showing that only 6% of deathsweredue solely to COVID-19, while the remaining 94% of deaths had two or more underlying health conditions.\n \n\tSocial media companies should not be allowed to censor science that they disagree with. This iscorporatecensorship, pure and simple, said Rep. Marshall. As a physician, I believe in discussing all data, options,and research with my patients. This was data published by the CDC,but unfortunately did not fit the narrativethat the leftand the liberal media want us to believe. We cannot allow social media companies to determine what we do and not learn about this virus. Americans deserve to be informed.\n \nBefore being deleted by Facebook, the post had garnered nearly 80,000 views and was shared by thousands offollowers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-supports-cms-proposal-increase-access-breakthrough-cures", "Marshall Supports CMS Proposal to Increase Access to Breakthrough Cures", "2020-08-31", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We are pleased to see CMS's proposal to help increase Medicare beneficiaries' access to cutting-edge, innovative medical breakthroughs. These proposed changes reflect the substance of the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act and will end the hurry-up-and-wait approach to providing access to new cures and therapies. These long-overdue changes will allow Medicare's coverage policy to keep up with the current pace and wide variety of treatments being brought to market by streamlining coverage of FDA-designated breakthrough products. This will also encourage more investments in the cures of tomorrow.\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\tTheEnsuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act(H.R. 5333) was introduced by Reps. DelBene, Walorski, Sewell, Bilirakis, and Marshall and would guarantee Medicare beneficiaries access to cutting-edge medical innovation by streamlining the coverage determination process and improving the availability of breakthrough devices for patients. Specifically, H.R. 5333 would temporarily guarantee Medicare coverage of products approved by the FDA with a breakthrough designation. During that temporary coverage period, CMS would be required to make a permanent coverage decision.\n\t\t\n\t\tMore information about the proposed rule can be foundhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/celebrating-thermo-fisher-s-new-lenexa-manufacturing-site", "Celebrating Thermo Fishers New Lenexa Manufacturing Site", "2020-08-31", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nHonoring the Life of Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland\r\nThis week, I attended the funeral for Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland. As Mayor of Olathe for nearly two decades, Mike's first concern was always for his community  how he could make Olathe a better place for every family living there and every individual passing through.\r\nOlathe has lost a great advocate and Kansas an important leader, but is a better place because of Mike. He always put others first, and I benefited greatly from his friendship. Robba and I will be praying for Mike's wife Maria, their children and the entire Olathe community.\r\nCelebrating Thermo Fisher's New Lenexa Manufacturing Site\r\nI joined Thermo Fisher Scientific, Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Senator Dinah Sykes, Kansas Representative Brandon Woodward and Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm for the opening of the new, 120,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Lenexa where Thermo Fisher will produce viral transport media, specialized COVID-19 test tubes. This will help increase COVID-19 testing capacity nationwide and create new jobs in the Lenexa area. Since the pandemic began, Thermo Fisher has doubled the output of the VTM-filled test tubes, and this facility, built in just six weeks, will allow them to increase production to make millions of these test tubes per week.\r\nWidespread testing is a necessary component to keep the American economy running safely. Thermo Fisher has stepped up to produce additional test tubes to help meet the national demand for COVID-19 testing and has created 300 new jobs by expanding its manufacturing base in Lenexa.\r\nKansans never fail to do their part in our country's time of need and this is no different. Thermo Fisher's ability to manufacture test tubes and significantly increase production is important for making certain Americans are secure in their health and safely return to work.\r\nI would like to thank Gianluca?Pettiti, Senior Vice President & President, Specialty Diagnostics at Thermo Fisher for the invitation to join the ribbon cutting ceremony for this exciting new facility and his team for providing the tour.\r\n\r\nVisiting Southeast Kansas\r\nJoining Parsons Rotary\r\nI had the opportunity to visit with government and business leaders about the COVID-19 federal relief funds the community has received at Parsons Rotary, and I gave an update on the continuing Phase IV negotiations. During my travels across the state, I am seeking feedback on what should be included, what issues still need addressed and Kansans' thoughts on continuing to borrow trillions of taxpayer dollars.\r\nWe also spoke about students going back to school and the important role teachers play in our children's lives, the importance of the USPS and my bill that would expand access to mental health care for veterans, which recently passed the Senate.\r\nWe also discussed the importance of rural broadband and the need for accurate coverage maps, which is especially important to the community because Parsons is FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's hometown.\r\nThank you to all of the Parsons Rotary members for your feedback on Phase IV.\r\n\r\nVisiting Watco Companies\r\nWhile in southeast Kansas, I stopped by Watco Companies and Jake's Fireworks. Both these businesses were started by local families and now operate on international levels. Their dedication to our state's economy is evident through their commitment to keep their headquarters located in Pittsburg.\r\nWatco is the largest privately owned short-line operator in the United States, providing transportation, terminal and port, supply chain and mechanical solutions. It was a pleasure to meet with CEO Dan Smith who is helping the Webb family lead the corporation today.\r\nTouring Jake's Fireworks\r\nAt Jake's Fireworks, I met with the Marietta family to tour their distribution warehouse. We discussed concerns about the regulations and oversight of their industry, and I was pleased to hear that many families celebrated this past Independence Day with a bang and the company is thriving. Thanks to Mayor Dawn McNay and Deputy City Manager Jay Byers for joining me on the tour.\r\n\r\nVisiting Dodge City\r\nI enjoyed visiting Dodge City on Monday to discuss with civic, government and business leaders a possible future stimulus package, the CARES Act, a potential vaccine, the need for more testing in certain areas, economic shutdowns, the VA and the MISSION Act, the U.S. Postal Service delays in rural areas and human trafficking. I appreciate rotary club president Michelle Salinas inviting me to come speak. As a Rotary Club member myself I understand the important role civic clubs play in our communities.\r\nRead more about my visit here in the Dodge City Globe.\r\nLearning about the Dodge City University Center\r\nI toured the new University Center in Dodge City on Monday. The University Center is a great tool for southwest Kansas to encourage college students and adults who want to go back to school in southwest Kansas. The University Center teamed up with community colleges and universities across Kansas to provide the necessary classes to students to earn a degree without having to move to attend college.\r\nRight now, the center is focusing on RN/BSN programs and Bachelors and Masters of Social Work programs. The Rural Education Workforce Alliance has done a good job helping recruit additional programs. I appreciate the time, effort, and collaboration put into making the University Center a reality. Thanks to State Senator Bud Estes, Economic Development Corporation Executive Director JoAnn Knight, and the colleges across Kansas for making this happen.\r\nVisiting Larned\r\nI also visited Larned this week and was able to chat with folks from the USDA Service Center, Farm Service Agency and the NRSC. I visited the Pawnee County Courthouse and met with those who work in the offices there and also stopped in a number of businesses in town. I always appreciate receiving feedback from Kansans on how our office can try to improve the lives of Kansans, and I appreciate everyone who took time to speak with me.\r\nChecking in with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office \r\nWhile in northeast Kansas, I visited with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office while touring their Criminalistics Laboratory (JCSOCL), which is one of three accredited full-service police crime laboratories in Kansas. At the JCSOCL, the lab technician team assists law enforcement with their investigations by analyzing the evidence found by police. The lab and its technicians are quite impressive and have the ability to provide services in nine important disciplines. As chairman of the committee which funds the Department of Justice I appreciate the opportunity to see the capabilities in Kansas firsthand.\r\nThey are also innovative in their approach to address shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks. During the COVID-19 pandemic many first responders in the state experienced a shortage of PPE. In order to address this ongoing issue, the Johnson County Lab launched a program to sanitize facemasks, so they masks be reused by first responders. Lab technicians converted stainless steel evidence collection units into sanitation chambers by retrofitting them with ultraviolet lighting systems. These sanitation chambers have been provided to both the Johnson County Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act. Those at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Criminalistics Laboratory are providing an invaluable service for the citizens of Johnson County, and I thank them for their continued commitment to the community.\r\n\r\nVisiting the Benne's Specially Adapted Home\r\nI was invited on a very special visit to tour the home of Colonel Paul and Christine Benne in Manhattan. Col. Benne was medically retired after serving in the Army for 23 years when he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease. He received a 100 percent disability rating at the time of his separation and was soon reliant on a wheelchair. To make their home more wheelchair accessible, the Benne's tried to qualify for the VA's Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, but like too many veterans, were having trouble navigating the grant process. After working with my office, Paul and Christine were able to qualify for the (SAH) grant to make necessary adaptations to their home. Paul passed away in December, 2019 due to complications from his disability.\r\nChristine showed me how they were able to use the SAH grant to adapt their home to accommodate for Paul's wheelchair. Paul was fitted for a much-needed electric wheelchair in 2016, but at the time, his home was not wheelchair accessible. Without the SAH grant, the Benne family would have faced financial challenges to renovate their home. This grant allowed Paul to live in his family home for the remainder of his life.\r\nWorking with Paul and Christine to help them qualify for the SAH grant led to my bill, The Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019. This bill was signed into law earlier this month and will let more veterans adapt their home to fit their disability. It allows blind veterans to access the SAH grant and expands eligibility requirements so more veterans can use this crucial program. It is named after Paul, a Spring Hill, KS native, and Captain (retired) Ryan Kules, another Fort Riley soldier who used this grant.\r\nTouring Paul and Christine's home showed me how important the SAH grant is to disabled veterans and their families. Installing wheelchair ramps, lower countertops, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, and other renovations have a real impact on the quality of life for our veterans and their families. I want to thank Christine for her hospitality and thank her for her and her husband's years of service. I appreciated meeting their adult children Hagan and Brayson and hearing their loving memories of their father. I also want to thank Director of the Manhattan Military Relations Council Janet Nicholsfor joining us.\r\nRead more about my visit here in the Manhattan Mercury.\r\n\r\nUrging the USPS to Protect the Delivery of Veteran Prescriptions \r\nLast week, I called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to ensure the timely delivery of lifesaving medication to veterans as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) evaluates postal reform. The VA mail-order pharmacies provide approximately 120 million outpatient prescriptions to veterans annually, totaling nearly 89 million packages. On a typical day, more than 330,000 veterans receive a VA prescription in the mail, and USPS is responsible for delivering almost 90 percent of them. Timely and reliable delivery of prescription drugs to veterans remain an important issue. A well-run postal service is critical, and the timely delivery of lifesaving medication to veterans is essential.\r\nMeeting Virtually with the Kansas Bankers Association\r\nOn Wednesday, I spoke with members of the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) regarding rural ag banks, the recently-delayed Adverse Market Refinance Fee, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Kansas banks were able to process about 50,000 PPP loans with a total value of approximately $5 billion, with nearly 80 percent of small businesses in Kansas receiving funding and supporting nearly 75 percent of the jobs they provide. The rapid deployment of these funds saved thousands of jobs and is a major testament to Kansas banks and their staff, that they were able to process so many loans so quickly, often with limited staff.\r\nOn August 12, 2020, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced an Adverse Market Refinance Fee equal to 0.5% of a loan amount that would take effect September 1, 2020. This fee was created to cover projected losses due to COVID-19, but would add expense to Americans who wish to refinance their homes. This is a time of great economic duress, making this fee poorly timed and deeply troubling. On August 20, 2020, I joined my Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mark Calabria and his agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to withdraw this fee to prevent harm to everyday Americans. On August 25th, FHFA announced the fee would be delayed until December 1, 2020, and would be limited to loans above $125,000. I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to ensure that Americans are supported during this pandemic and appreciate the work of KBA and its members to support our state during this period of economic stress.\r\nSpeaking with Kansas Medical Professionals\r\nWhile in Parsons this week, I stopped by Eyecare Associates to visit with optometrist Dr. Wayne Gilmore. He shared with me the safety steps their practice had taken to protect their patients and staff while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. They schedule less appointments per day and alter staff schedules to avoid everyone working together all week in case of exposure.\r\nOn Friday, I also spent time at AdventHealth in Shawnee Mission with Dr. Mark Brady with Midwest Anesthesia Associates who is the incoming President of the Kansas Medical Society. I met with Dr. Brady, CEO of AdventHealth Sam Hunergardt and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Botts regarding the issues facing the health system in the wake of COVID-19 and the steps they have taken to respond to the pandemic. I also learned about the Dr. Brady's work with the VA and the issues he commonly faces, of particular interest to me as chairman of the Senate VA committee.\r\nThank you to all of the medical professionals who took time to speak with me this week. As our communities continue to face challenges, I appreciate your insight into the issues Kansas is experiencing.\r\n\r\nContinuing Negotiations on a Phase IV Relief Package\r\nThe White House and Democrats are currently at loggerheads over a COVID-19 Phase IV relief package, but it is important to remember that every previous federal relief package passed with unanimous support. The first three federal relief packages included many provisions to support hospitals that needed supplies, small businesses that needed loans, and folks who were out of work, through no fault of their own, who needed relief.\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than many predicted, and we cannot continue spending trillions of dollars at our current pace. There are simply not enough government programs or borrowed dollars to keep this economy going. Any additional federal relief needs to be focused on our health, with resources for more testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccine development and distribution.\r\nDuring the last week, I visited several Kansas communities across the state and sought feedback on the past COVID relief packages and how Kansans felt about a fourth relief package. I continue to monitor the negotiations occurring and participate in conference calls with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.\r\nAdvocating for Senior Living Facilities\r\nDue to the threat of COVID-19, America's senior citizens have been forced to sacrifice much and protecting them must remain a priority. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with the leadership team of Ventas to discuss the pressing needs of senior living facilities as they continue to battle COVID-19 and increasing costs of care. During the pandemic, senior living communities have continued providing care for the population that is most susceptible to COVID-19 infection and least likely to recover. As the industry faces considerable financial difficulty, it is essential to ensure the federal government provides the necessary resources needed to care for our senior citizens.\r\nAt the outset of the pandemic, I wrote to HHS Secretary Azar requesting that HHS consider the living and care situations our senior citizens face and allocate funding appropriately from the COVID Provider Relief Fund.\r\nSecuring Valuable Resources for Tribal Governments\r\nLast week, I led a group of my colleagues in urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include priorities for tribal governments in a future COVID relief package, especially providing flexibility for tribal governments to use funds provided in the CARES Act.\r\nIndian Country has suffered particularly high rates of coronavirus with complicating factors such as obesity, diabetes and other preexisting conditions. As a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, tribal governments deserve greater flexibility to spend the funds previously provided to them in a manner that meets the individual needs of each tribe. This local decision-making will allow tribes to utilize their resources in the most efficient manner.\r\nApplauding Wide Spread Support for S.785 \r\nMy legislation S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act has received strong support from a wide array of Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), mental health organizations and organizations across America that serve veterans. I appreciate their support as we work to get this important legislation for veterans passed in the House and signed into law.\r\nThe American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee urging the House of Representatives to pass this critical legislation. Additionally, America's Warrior Partnership spearheaded a letter to House Veterans' Affairs Committee leadership with 30 veteran-serving community organizations, all in strong support of S.785 and calling for immediate passage in the House. Multiple mental health organizations support this legislation and called on the House to pass S.785, including NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.\r\nThis legislation will strengthen community organizations already providing support to veterans, bolster research efforts on brain and mental health conditions, expand upon telehealth partnerships to deliver better care to our veterans in rural areas, allow veterans to take advantage of emerging, complimentary and integrative treatments, and so much more. This bipartisan bill received a unanimous 17-0 vote in the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs earlier this year, and passed unanimously out of the Senate in early August.\r\nAnnouncing Federal Grants for Kansas\r\nKC Streetcar Expansion Grant\r\nLast week, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a $50.8 million grant to the Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension project. This grant will fund a 3.5-mile extension for the streetcar connecting Union Station to the University of Missouri  Kansas City (UMKC). These new resources will help build on the already successful streetcar by continuing to connect neighborhoods, businesses, and students.\r\nEDA Resources for North Central Kansas\r\nAs chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, (CJS) and Related Agencies, I announced the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1.1 million grant to the North Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit, to help support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. I support the ongoing and critical mission of the EDA to assist the economic activity of our communities, especially during this pandemic. This grant is an investment into small businesses in north central Kansas that support local jobs and provide invaluable resources to many communities in the region.\r\nAccepting Service Academy Nominations\r\nI am currently accepting nominations to the United States Service Academies. The academies include the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2021.\r\nSelections are based on SAT or ACT test scores, class rank, grade point average, school records, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, motivation, recommendations and interview evaluations. Applicants must meet the individual admission requirements of each academy in order to receive Sen. Moran's nomination: applicants must be legal residents of the state of Kansas, at least 17 years of age but not past their 23rd birthday on July 1 of the year of admission, citizens of the United States, unmarried, not pregnant and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.\r\nThe application deadline is October 1, 2020. Applicants will be required to interview with Sen. Moran's Service Academy Selection Board on Saturday, November 14, 2020 by Zoom. Academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission in early 2021.\r\nInterested applicants can request application materials on Sen. Moran's website at moran.senate.gov under the Services menu, or by calling Sen. Moran's Olathe office at 913-393-0711.\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-applauds-the-opening-of-thermo-fisher-scientific-s-new-lenexa-manufacturing-site", "Sen. Moran Applauds the Opening of Thermo Fisher Scientifics New Lenexa Manufacturing Site", "2020-08-31", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s new $40 million production site in Lenexa dedicated to manufacturing viral transport media (VTM)-filled tubes for COVID-19 testing. The facility has created more than 300 new full-time jobs and added significant manufacturing capacity.\r\nIn early May, Thermo Fisher received a contract from the U.S. government to provide a significant quantity of highly specialized VTM-filled tubes for COVID-19 sample collection. VTM are available in a plastic tube that is suitable for collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses. This ensures that the sample collected from a COVID-19 nose swab maintains viability while it is transported to a lab for testing. Thermo Fisher has responded quickly to meet increased demand for VTM by ramping up production in Lenexa from 50,000 units per week to now more than 8 million per week.\r\nWidespread testing is a necessary component to keep the American economy running safely, said Sen. Moran. Thermo Fisher has stepped up to produce additional test tubes to help meet the national demand for COVID-19 testing and has created 300 new jobs by expanding its manufacturing base in Lenexa. Kansans never fail to do their part in our country's time of need and this is no different. Thermo Fisher's ability to manufacture test tubes and significantly increase production is important for making certain Americans can feel secure in their health and safely return to work.\r\nThermo Fisher is proud to support virtually every aspect of the global COVID-19 response and our colleagues in Lenexa have a key role in those efforts. Thanks to their hard work, Lenexa increased production of VTM units by more than 15,000%, said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. The team has worked with unrelenting intensity to build out and open a new site in just six weeks. They understood the urgent national need, accepted the challenge and have delivered for Thermo Fisher, for the American people and for Kansas.\r\nTo ensure the accuracy of COVID-19 test results, VTM must be manufactured and dispensed into tubes in an aseptic environment. The new facility is dedicated to accelerating production and ensuring quality control by utilizing the proven blueprint for high-quality VTM production that has been developed in Lenexa. In addition to supporting America's pandemic response, the products will be used for collection and sampling for the flu and other viruses.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sens-moran-klobuchar-urge-ftc-to-address-privacy-issues-surrounding-mobile-app-premom", "Sens. Moran, Klobuchar Urge FTC to Address Privacy Issues Surrounding Mobile App Premom", "2020-08-28", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection  and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)  Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights  sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph Simons urging the FTC to take action to address the troubling data collection and sharing practices of the mobile application (app) Premom.\r\nPremom is a mobile app that helps users track their fertility cycles to determine the best time to get pregnant, relying on personal and private health information. As of November 2019, the app has been downloaded over half a million times, and it is one of the top search results among fertility apps in the Apple App and Google Play stores.\r\nSens. Moran and Klobuchar were joined by Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).\r\nA recent investigation from the International Digital Accountability Council (IDAC) indicated that Premom may have engaged in deceptive consumer data collection and processing, and that there may be material differences between Premom's stated privacy policies and its actual data-sharing practices, the Senators wrote. Most troubling, the investigation found that Premom shared its users' data without their consent.\r\nThe full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:\r\nDear Chairman Simons:\r\n\r\nWe write to express our serious concerns regarding recent reports about the data collection and sharing practices of the mobile application (app) Premom and to request information on the steps that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plans to take to address this issue.\r\n\r\nPremom is a mobile app that helps users track their fertility cycles to determine the best time to get pregnant. As of November 2019, the app has been downloaded over half a million times, and it is one of the top search results among fertility apps in the leading app stores. To use Premom, users provide the app extensive personal and private health information.\r\n\r\nA recent investigation from the International Digital Accountability Council (IDAC) indicated that Premom may have engaged in deceptive consumer data collection and processing, and that there may be material differences between Premom's stated privacy policies and its actual data-sharing practices. Most troubling, the investigation found that Premom shared its users' data without their consent. IDAC sent a letter to the FTC on August 6, 2020, to describe these undisclosed data transmissions along with other concerning allegations including conflicting privacy policies and questionable representations related to their collection of installed apps for functionality purposes.\r\n\r\nWhile Premom claimed to only share nonidentifiable information in its privacy policy, the IDAC report found that Premom collected and sharedwith three third-party advertising companies based in China including Jiguang, UMSNS, and Umengnon-resettable unique user device identifiers that can be used to build profiles of consumer behavior. Additionally, users of the Premom app were not given the option to opt out of sharing their personal data with these advertising companies, and reports also allege that one of the companies that received user data from Premom concealed the data being transferredwhich privacy experts say is an uncommon practice for apps that is used primarily to conceal their data collection practices.\r\n\r\nWhile we understand that Premom has taken steps to update its app to halt the sharing of its users' information with these companies, it is concerning that Premom may have engaged in these deceptive practices and shared users' personal data without their consent. Additionally, there may still be users who have not yet updated the Premom app, which could still be sharing their personal datawithout their knowledge or consent.\r\n\r\nIn light of these concerning reports, and given the critical role that the FTC plays in enforcing federal laws that protect consumer privacy and data under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and other sector specific laws, we respectfully ask that you respond to the following questions:\r\n\r\n1. Does the FTC treat persistent identifiers, such as the non-resettable device hardware identifiers discussed in the IDAC report, as personally identifiable information in relation to its general consumer data security and privacy enforcement authorities under Section 5 of the FTC Act?\r\n\r\n2. Is the FTC currently investigating or does it plan to investigate Premom's consumer data collection, transmission, and processing conduct described in the IDAC report to determine if the company has engaged in deceptive practices?\r\n\r\n3. Does the FTC plan to take any steps to educate users of the Premom app that the app may still be sharing their personal data without their permission if they have not updated the app? If not, does the FTC plan to require Premom to conduct such outreach?\r\n\r\n4. Please describe any unique or practically uncommon uses of encryption by the involved third-party companies receiving information from Premom that could be functionally interpreted to obfuscate oversight of the involved data transmissions.\r\n\r\n5. How can the FTC use its Section 5 authority to ensure that mobile apps are not deceiving consumers about their data collection and sharing practices and to preempt future potentially deceptive practices like those Premom may have engaged in?\r\n\r\nThank you for your time and attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to improve Americans consumers' data privacy protections.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2606", "Rep. Estes Applauds $20 Million Investment in Wichita State Artificial Intelligence Program", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Applauds $20 Million Investment in Wichita State Artificial Intelligence Program \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        August 27, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a statement following the National Science Foundation's (NSF) announcement of $100 million in funding for Artificial Intelligence Institutes over a period offiveyears. $20 million of this funding will establish the AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML) at Wichita State University.\r\nThe National Science Foundation's investment in artificial intelligence programs inuniversitieswill have a profound impact on our nation's workforce and ensure the United States' leadership in this field, said Rep. Estes. Wichita State University has a proven track record of excellence in research and development of new technology. This investment will further expand learning opportunities and career choices for our students and increase and diversify talent in Kansas' workforce.\r\nThis federal investment in artificial intelligence programs is a partnership with the NSF, U.S. Department of Agriculture,U.S. Department of Homeland Security, andU.S. Department of Transportation to ensure this funding impacts multiple sectors of the American economy for years to come.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-leads-letter-modernize-federal-anti-kickback-statue", "Marshall Leads Letter to Modernize Federal Anti-Kickback Statue and Stark Law", "2020-08-26", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- Today, Representatives Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Ron Kind (D-WI), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH), and Tony Crdenas (D-CA) led a bipartisan letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue final rules that would modernize the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Physician Self-Referral (Stark) Law. The letter outlines how necessary these reforms are to make it easier for health care providers to participate in value-based arrangements that deliver to patients high value and coordinated care.\n \n\tI commend the Trump Administration and HHS Secretary Azar in updating antiquated regulations that will expand adoption of value-based care across our health system, saidRep. Marshall. The current regulatory landscape has barriers that don't allow us to maximize medical breakthroughs and have affordable, personalized care. The Stark and Anti-Kick reforms HHS proposed will pave the way forward. My colleagues and I are urging OMB and HHS to release these groundbreaking rules quickly.\n \n \n\t\"I'm pleased that Secretary Azar is working to move our health care system from one based on volumeto one based on value,\" saidRep. Bera. \"As a co-chair of the Health Care Innovation Caucus dedicated to that issue, I believe these proposed rules modernizing outdated laws will allow health care providers to increasingly partner to improve care for their patients and should be finalized. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that our health care system needs as much flexibility, innovation, and modernization as possible, and these rules will do just that while continuing to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse.\"\n \n \n\t\"I commend the Trump Administration's efforts to overhaul policies that limit the ability of providers to make decisions about coordinated care for their patients, saidRep. Kelly.These proposed rules to reform Stark Law and Anti-Kickback statutes will help modernize our health care system in a way that speeds the transition to value-based care.I hope OMB and HHS moves quickly to finalize these rules as these changes will improve quality and reduce prices for patients.\n \n \n\tUpdates to the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute are long overdue and have the potential to create access to better quality, comprehensive, and coordinated health care, saidRep. Kind. I urge the Administration to finalize these rules and I look forward to continuing to work to move our health care system to one that rewards value over volume.\"\n \n \n\tPatients need affordable, high quality health care, saidRep. Mullin. Now more than ever, we should be focused on ways our health systems can work together to improve outcomes. The proposed reforms will help ensure the federal government doesn't stand in the way as medical innovation brings health care into the 21st century. I urge OMB and HHS to finalize the proposed rules which will lead to more innovation in our health care industry.\n \n \n\tShifting our healthcare delivery system to value care over volume will result in better outcomes for patients and doctors alike, saidRep. Wenstrup. I applaud the Trump administration's efforts to modernize the Stark and Anti-Kickback regulations, allowing doctors to better serve their patients and coordinate care. These proposed patient-focused rules move our overall healthcare system in the right direction, and I urge the administration to finalize them as quickly as possible.\n \nThe letter was signed by over 70 members of Congress. To view the letter,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-works-boost-ethanol-exports", "Marshall Works to Boost Ethanol Exports", "2020-08-26", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONKansas is home to 10 biofuel facilities, which provide high quality jobs for plant workers in rural communities across Kansas and utilize more than one quarter of all corn grown in our state, as well as thousands of bushels of soybeans and milo each year. In total, the biofuels industry is responsible for nearly $4 billion in annual economic contribution, making it a vital piece of our state's agriculture industry.\n \n\tAs co-chairman of the House Biofuels Caucus,I understand the huge impact the biofuels industry has on all regions of Kansas,said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D.I have been a strong supporter of the industry and continue to advocate to USTR Lighthizer and Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Gregg Doud on behalf of biofuels and all of our state's agriculture industries.\n \nCongressman Marshall recently joined 19 of his colleagues in writing to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking the Trump Administration to prioritize fair and equitable treatment of the U.S. ethanol industry during the recently announced bilateral trade negotiations with Brazil. Specifically, Congressman Marshall encouraged the Trump Administration to urge Brazil to terminate the ethanol tariff rate quote (TRQ) and prohibitive 20% tariff on out-of-quota imports, in favor of reinstating the zero-duty exemption for U.S. ethanol from Brazil's Common External Tariff that was in effect from 2012 to 2017.\n \n\tEthanol is foundational to the trade relationship with Brazil and accounts for nearly half of all U.S. agricultural exports to the country,wrote Rep. Marshall. This economic activity is injected directly back into the communities we serve in the form of employee wages, feedstock payments to farmers, and continued investments in our ethanol facilitiesBrazil's inequitable treatment of U.S. ethanol creates economic strain throughout the U.S. ethanol industry, especially during a year in which COVID-19 is devastating fuel demand in our country.\n \nRead the full letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-announces-50-million-grant-for-kc-streetcar-extension-project", "Sen. Moran Announces $50 Million Grant for KC Streetcar Extension Project", "2020-08-26", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced a $50.8 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant for the Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension project. The grant will fund a 3.5-mile extension for the streetcar connecting Union Station to the University of Missouri  Kansas City (UMKC).\r\nLast month, Sen. Moran joined Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.) in supporting the Kansas City Streetcar Authority's application for funding.\r\nThese new resources from the federal government will help build on the already successful streetcar extending the line to UMKC, connecting neighborhoods and businesses along the way, said Sen. Moran. I was pleased to join my colleagues in advocating for this grant and look forward to seeing the new opportunities and economic growth this project will bring to the Kansas City area.\r\nThe project must still meet statutory and program requirements before the FTA can approve the grant agreement.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-applauds-snapback-sanctions-iran", "Marshall Applauds Snapback of Sanctions on Iran", "2020-08-25", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONYesterday, U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump supporting the president's recent decision to initiate a snapback of all pre-Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.\n \n\tThe Iranian regime is in clear violation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA, and snapback is necessary to defend the U.S. and our allies from a nuclear armed regime that will no doubt continue to terrorize the region and the world,wrote Rep. Marshall.The maximum pressure campaign implemented by your administration will force Iran to abandon its goal of nuclear armageddon and bring us closer to a lasting peace for Americans, Israelis, and the Iranian people, who continue to suffer each day at the hands of this brutal regime.\n \nCongressman Marshall also praised the Trump Administration's negotiation of a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The deal will bring the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE, making the UAE only the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, and the first of the Gulf states, to sign a peace deal with Israel.\n \n\tThe agreement marks a critical moment in history and opens the door for other nations to advance peace and counter Iran's malign influence,wrote Rep. Marshall.I am certain that under your and Secretary Pompeo's leadership more deals will be made that strengthen America and her allies.\n \nRead the full letterHERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-announces-1-1-million-grant-to-support-kansas-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19", "Sen. Moran Announces $1.1 Million Grant to Support Kansas Businesses Impacted by COVID-19", "2020-08-25", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, (CJS) and Related Agencies  today announced the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1.1 million grant to the North Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit to help support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\nIn my role as chairman of the CJS subcommittee, I support the ongoing and critical mission of the EDA to assist the economic activity of our communities, especially during this pandemic, said Sen. Moran. This grant is an investment into small businesses in north central Kansas that support local jobs and provide invaluable resources to many communities in the region.\r\nPresident Trump is working diligently every day to support our nation's economy following the impacts of COVID-19 through the CARES Act, said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. This investment will provide small businesses in Kansas with the necessary capital to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic and, in turn, create a stronger and more resilient regional economy for the future.\r\nThis investment comes at a crucial time to help Kansas' and our nation's economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities, said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and EDA is pleased to invest these CARES Act funds in the North Central Regional Planning Commission to capitalize and administer an RLF that will serve coronavirus-impacted businesses in Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, Saline, and Washington counties.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-leads-senate-colleagues-in-urging-congressional-leaders-to-expand-covid-19-resources-to-tribal-governments", "Sen. Moran Leads Senate Colleagues in Urging Congressional Leaders to Expand COVID-19 Resources to Tribal Governments", "2020-08-25", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs  led a group of 11 Senators in urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include priorities for tribal governments in a future COVID-19 relief package, especially providingflexibility for tribal governments in how they use funds provided in the CARES Act.\r\nAs you continue negotiations on the next relief package, we want to express our continued support for resources to help Indian Country address the unique challenges they face in this difficult time, the Senators wrote. As you know, Indian Country has suffered particularly high rates of coronavirus with complicating factors such as obesity, diabetes, and other preexisting conditions. Tribal governments deserve greater flexibility to spend these funds in a manner that meets the individual needs of each tribe. Allowing greater flexibility would enable tribal governments to use their resources in the most efficient manner.\r\nThis letter was signed by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.).\r\nThe full letter can be found here or below.\r\nAugust 21, 2020\r\nDear Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy:\r\nWe wish to thank you for all your efforts in addressing the COVID-19 virus that has so deeply impacted our country. As you continue negotiations on the next relief package, we want to express our continued support for resources to help Indian Country address the unique challenges they face in this difficult time. As you know, Indian Country has suffered particularly high rates of coronavirus with complicating factors such as obesity, diabetes, and other preexisting conditions.\r\nIf funding is provided to state and local governments, we strongly encourage the inclusion of funding for tribal governments, as well. There remain tremendous obligations in Indian Country for health care, social programs, housing assistance, and other direct service programs, and additional support is critical to help tribal governments address the needs of their citizens.\r\nAdditionally, tribal governments deserve greater flexibility to spend these funds in a manner that meets the individual needs of each tribe. Allowing greater flexibility would enable tribal governments to use their resources in the most efficient manner. Further, we ask that tribes be given additional time beyond the December 30, 2020, deadline to spend any funds provided by the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by Title V of the CARES Act.\r\nAgain, these issues are critical to Indian Country as tribal governments continue to provide services to their citizens as they struggle to combat this virus. We appreciate you taking the time to consider our views on this important issue.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-supports-federal-funding-kansas-state-fair", "Marshall Supports Federal Funding For Kansas State Fair", "2020-08-24", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "HUTCHINSON - In July, the Kansas State Fair announced it would not be holding a 2020 state fair, leaving a $2.3 million hole in the fair's revenue and risking the possibility of not having a 2021 fair as well. Worse yet,the Kansas State Fair was not the only one cancelled by COVID-19. States across the country are at risk of losing their own versions of this important annual event that brings together rural and urban residents for a celebration of agriculture, agribusiness, and all of the great traditions fairs bring to our communities.\nU.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. has recently signed onto H.R. 7883, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide $500 million in grant funding for agricultural fairs across the U.S. to ensure the continuation of agriculture-related events and competitions.\nThe Kansas State Fair has a substantial economic impact not only on Hutchinson but on the entire State of Kansas,said Rep. Marshall.The fair contributes an estimated $74.6 million to the Kansas economy annually and gives youth and adults across the state an opportunity to showcase their talents, learn more about our state's great agriculture industry and develop the next generation of farmers and ranchers by cultivating a passion for agriculture.\nThe legislation would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Market Services (AMS) to provide grant funding to states to help the most severely impacted fairs continue events that are drivers and promoters of agribusiness. Local, county and state fairs would all be eligible for funding assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/remembering-olathe-mayor-mike-copeland", "Remembering Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland", "2020-08-24", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nRemembering Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland\r\nAs Mayor of Olathe for nearly two decades, Mike's first concern was never for himself but always for his community  how he could make Olathe a better place for every family living there and every individual passing through. I know I speak for many others when I say we came to appreciate, respect and love Mike for the helpful, supportive, and caring friend and leader that he was. He always put others first, and I benefited greatly from his friendship. Mike's the type of person who you'd want to be your best friend, your neighbor and your mayor. I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and Robba and I will be praying for Mike's wife Maria, their children and the entire Olathe community. Read more about Mike's legacy and passion for his community of Olatheherein the Kansas City Star.\r\nInvesting to Protect Reliable Mail Delivery\r\nAs the country continues to battle COVID-19 and prepares for a presidential election, Congress must fulfill its constitutional responsibility to protect and oversee the United States Postal Service. As a cosponsor of thePostal Service Emergency Assistance Act, I urge my colleagues to include funding for the Postal Service in additional COVID-19 relief legislation to assist with lost revenue due to the pandemic. Last week, I also called on newly appointed Postmaster General DeJoy to work with Congress on legislation that would reform the Postal Service, an irreplaceable institution relied on particularly by Kansas' rural communities, senior and disabled citizens. Kansans have expressed grave concern with recent mail delays, especially those waiting for prescription deliveries as timely delivery is often a matter of life and death. The Postal Service will play a fundamental role in the upcoming November elections when it must be prepared to convey the mail-in ballots of Americans practicing their responsibility to vote. At this time more than ever, Kansans need to feel confident in their reliance on the Postal Service. During the past three sessions of Congress, I have worked closely with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to introduce a postal reform bill that would put the Postal Service on a path towards financial solvency, improve service performance, and allow for the developments of new products and enhance transparency. I am eager to work with Postmaster General DeJoy and the White House to craft legislation that will put the Postal Service back on a sustainable path, allowing it to continue serving Kansans for years to come. Read more about my letter to Postmaster General DeJoyherein the Kansas City Star.\r\nHosting U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director at USP Leavenworth to Announce New Federal Facility\r\nIhostedthe U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth to discuss the construction of a new Federal Correctional Institute and a satellite Federal Prison Camp. Over the past few years, I was pleased to work with leaders in Leavenworth to advocate for this new prison and help secure the $350 million needed to fully fund its construction. These funds have now been officially allocated and the final phases of pre-construction planning are underway. This new Leavenworth correctional facility will be the largest federal undertaking in Kansas over the past five years and is a significant investment in the local economy that will add hundreds of jobs and construction contracts in the coming years. The USP Leavenworth has been a landmark federal institution for the past century, and this undertaking marks the beginning of a new era for USP Leavenworth and the Bureau of Prisons.\r\n\r\nDirector Carvajal and Warden Don Hudson emphasized that 95% of inmates will return to society someday, illustrating the importance of the BOP's dual mission  to both protect the public and successfully rehabilitate the incarcerated. Since the original USP Leavenworth facility was built, there have been major advances in the best practices that reduce recidivism and promote successful outcomes. This new facility will incorporate spaces for effective rehabilitation programs, like education and training, counseling and addiction treatment, and meaningful and rewarding work. Thank you to all of the local area leaders who joined us today  from state and city officials to Fort Leavenworth leadership  and your long commitment to making this project a reality and your continued strong relationship with the Bureau of Prisons. I also want to extend a special thanks to all of the Bureau of Prison's Correctional Officers for the work you do each day to serve our country. Learn more about the project surrounding this new facilityherein the Leavenworth Times.\r\n\r\nContinuing Negotiations on a Phase IV Relief Package\r\nI continue to engage in daily conversations with my Senate colleagues and participate in conference calls with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin surrounding the negotiations as I advocate for Kansas priorities. The White House and Congressional Democrats are currently at loggerheads over a COVID-19 Phase IV relief package, but it is important to remember that every previous federal relief package passed with unanimous support. The first three federal relief packages included many provisions I would not support in ordinary circumstances, but hospitals needed supplies, small businesses needed loans, and folks who were out of work, through no fault of their own, needed relief. The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than many predicted, and we cannot continue spending trillions of dollars at our current pace. There are simply not enough government programs or borrowed dollars to keep this economy going. Any additional federal relief needs to be focused on our health, with resources for more testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccine development and distribution.\r\nDiscussing NASA Priorities with Lockheed Martin\r\nAfter spending time in northwest Kansas, I traveled further west to visit Lockheed Martin's space facility outside of Denver, Colorado, to see how their work is leading the charge into deep space. As the Chairman of the Senate's Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, I have oversight jurisdiction of NASA. I toured their Orion Test Lab, which is working on the spacecraft that will carry the next American astronauts to the Moon in 2024. This spacecraft is aptly named Artemis III. We also saw Lockheed Martin's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). This advanced satellite will allow us to detect and observe adverse weather events more closely than ever before. GOES will give the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the tools it needs to protect human lives from natural disasters. Finally, we discussed how Lockheed Martin is investing in STEM education. I met with some of their talented interns to talk about the future of space exploration and the roles that high school and college-aged students will play. I walked away from the discussion extremely impressed with their abilities and know that we are in good hands as this next generation of scientists and engineers enters the workforce.\r\n\r\nDiscussing the Importance of Mental Health Resources, Especially for Veterans\r\nOn Monday, I also visited the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and National Mental Health Innovation Center in Colorado. This institute is a clinical care and research institute for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. With the increasing rate of veteran suicide and the high rate of TBI, the mental health services that the Marcus Institute is providing to veterans is needed now more than ever. The Institute has been a valuable partner to me as they aided in the development of certain sections of my bill, S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, that focus on increasing access to Post Traumatic Growth treatments. This treatment is based on a theory that previous traumas can actually improve an individual's health and personal growth. I am very thankful for the insights they provided as we developed this legislation, and I hope to work with them more in the future to make certain that veterans have the care they deserve. I am also pursuing whether they would be interested in opening a location in Kansas to serve our veterans who can benefit from their innovative and effective treatment. I followed up my visit to the Marcus Institute with a tour of the National Mental Health Innovation Center. The center prides itself on its innovative approaches to diagnose, treat and support individuals who are experiencing mental health challenges. It seeks to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health by valuing it just as much as physical health. By doing this, it is working to increase access to care in every community and make prevention and early care the norm.\r\n\r\nMeeting with Economic Development Administration Officials\r\nWhile in the area, I also visited with officials from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) at the Fitzsimons Innovation Center in Aurora, Colorado. The Fitzsimons Center is the largest medical research campus west of the Mississippi, and during my visit, I toured several of their labs where they offer cutting-edge facilities for clinicians and researchers in transformative fields of education, science, medicine, and health care. I chair the subcommittee that has oversight over the EDA, and this office has been instrumental in many of the recent announcements in Kansas. Special thanks to Dana Gartzke and Angie Martinez, Director of the EDA's Denver Regional Office for the update, and thank you to Fitzsimons Innovation Center CEO Steve VanNurden for the informative tour and discussion.\r\n\r\nMy Legislation to Legally Protect Servicemembers During COVID-19 Signed Into Law\r\nThis week, President Trump signed into law S. 3637, mybipartisan legislation, which I introduced with Senate VA Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT), to amend theServicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)and provide additional legal protections for members of the military impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation expands SCRA protections to servicemembers who were previously issued orders to change duty stations but, due to the pandemic, received a stop movement order from the Department of Defense (DoD) and now may have a housing or car lease in two different locations. As we continue to face this global pandemic, military families are being impacted by orders to stay at their current assignments after they previously received change-in-duty-station orders and made plans to move. By President Trump signing this bill into law, Kansas servicemembers and their families, as well as military members across the nation, will be supported and protected from financial burdened due to DoD's stop movement orders.\r\nRussell Rotary Club\r\nI always enjoy visiting Sen. Dole's hometown, and this week I had the opportunity to speak at the Russell Rotary club. We discussed the current negotiations over a COVID-19 Phase IV relief package and the impact another relief package would have on taxpayers,businesses and individuals in Russell County and across the state. While there are issues I would like to see addressed in Phase IV legislation, there are simply not enough government programs or borrowed dollars to keep this economy going. It was great to have a productive discussion with Russell community members regarding Phase IV and receive feedback for future legislation. We also discussed the importance of the Postal Service in rural areas and how the Mission Act provides rural veterans the opportunity to seek health care in their hometown. I appreciated the warm welcome and hearing a number of thoughts and ideas from the community.\r\n\r\nTouring the Oakley Urgent Care Clinic\r\nThis week, I also visited the new Urgent Care Clinic at Mitten's Travel Plaza in Oakley. The clinic provides medical services that do not require emergency medical attention. Access to health care is often limited but vital in rural Kansas, and I am pleased to see this new clinic serving the community as well as folks passing through. During the tour, we discussed how the CARES Act helped them continue providing services, and I received their input on a Phase IV relief package. Thank you to Mel Snow, Logan County Hospital CEO, and John Morehouse, Logan County Healthcare Foundation Board Chairman for allowing me to visit the new facility.\r\n\r\nLeavenworth Lions Club\r\nThis week, I joined the Leavenworth Lions Club to give a federal update. We discussed the ongoing negotiations for a Phase IV relief package and how we cannot continue to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars as the pandemic has lasted longer than many expected. I also discussed the announcement of a new federal facility to replace USP Leavenworth, which was built in 1903. Over the past few years, I was pleased to work with leaders in Leavenworth to advocate for this new prison and help secure the $350 million needed to fully fund its construction. Thank you to President Taylor Tedder for the invitation, and everyone who gave feedback surrounding a Phase IV relief package.\r\n\r\nTouring Maximum Performance in Manhattan\r\nI visited Maximum Performance in Manhattan on Friday, where we discussed the challenges they have endured throughout COVID-19. Maximum Performance provides physical therapy to assist those recovering from surgery and injuries. We spoke about Medicare reimbursement rates and what the future of physical therapy looks like with COVID-19. Thank you to David Brandenberg, PT and Stephanie Johnson, PT for taking the time to visit.\r\nUpdate from FHSU Foundation\r\nOn Saturday, I attended the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Foundation Board of Trustees annual business meeting virtually. I'm always interested in what is going on at FHSU and how I can help, and this allowed me the opportunity to learn about the foundation's many successes over the past year. Part of the discussion centered on FHSU's Journey Campaign, which kicked off in the fall of 2016 with the goal of raising $100 million in support of scholarships, academics, student life and athletics.It is the largest, most aggressive campaign in FHSU's history with more than 22,900 donors so far. Thanks to Foundation President and CEO Jason Williby and his staff for their work in preparing for the board's annual business meeting.Thanks also to President Tisa Mason for her continued leadership at FHSU.\r\nAccepting Service Academy Nominations\r\nI am currently accepting nominations to the United States Service Academies. The academies include the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2021. Selections are based on SAT or ACT test scores, class rank, grade point average, school records, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, motivation, recommendations and interview evaluations. Applicants must meet the individual admission requirements of each academy in order to receive Sen. Moran's nomination: applicants must be legal residents of the state of Kansas, at least 17 years of age but not past their 23rd birthday on July 1 of the year of admission, citizens of the United States, unmarried, not pregnant and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents. The application deadline is October 1, 2020. Applicants will be required to interview with Sen. Moran's Service Academy Selection Board on Saturday, November 14, 2020 by Zoom. Academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission in early 2021. Interested applicants can request application materials on Sen. Moran's website atmoran.senate.govunder the Services menu, or by calling Sen. Moran's Olathe office at 913-393-0711.\r\nHonored to Serve You in WashingtonIt is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.\r\nPlease let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-votes-save-postal-service-amid-unprecedented-attacks", "Davids Votes to Save Postal Service Amid Unprecedented Attacks", "2020-08-22", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted for the Delivering for America Act to save the United States Postal Service (USPS) from unprecedented attacks on the institution. The bill rolls back disastrous changes made by Postmaster General DeJoy, which have caused long delays impacting Kansas families, seniors and veterans. It also provides the USPS with emergency funding so it can continue to operate without any chance of interruption.\n\nKansans are relying on the United States Postal Service more than ever right now  from seniors and veterans who count on it for lifesaving medications to our small business owners who need to ship their products. It also employs over half a million Americans, many of them Veterans like my mom who has been a postal worker in Kansas City for nearly 20 years. This Administrations' attacks on our Postal Service for their own personal and political gain are beyond unacceptable  and today I joined my House colleagues to ensure that we support the Postal Service and the countless people in this country who depend on it. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this vital piece of legislation right away, said Davids.\n\n\nWhile I was glad to vote on this critical bill to support the Postal Service, I am disappointed that congressional leaders did not use the House coming back into session as an opportunity to vote on new legislation to deal with the ongoing health and economic crisis. Kansans are rightly demanding action on both fronts, and I'll keep pushing for that, said Davids.\n\nThe Delivering for America Act would:\n\n Prohibit the USPS from implementing or approving any changes to the operations or service levels that were in effect on January 1, 2020.  \n\t\n Require the USPS to treat all election mail as first-class mail.  \n\t\n Provide $25 billion in emergency funding so the USPS can continue to operate without any chance of interruption. This level of funding was recommended by the USPS Board of Governors, which are all Trump appointees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2605", "Rep. Estes Votes Against $25 Billion USPS Bailout Bill", "2020-08-22", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Votes Against $25 Billion USPS Bailout Bill \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        August 22, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after voting no on a USPS bailout bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Members back to vote on this legislation after shortening the House schedule and ignoring other, more critical legislation to address unemployment benefits and COVID-19-related needs.\"Americans have relied on the Postal Service since the beginning of our country. This has been true even as usage has declined over the previous 25 to 30 years with the advent of email and other digital communication trends that have only increased operational challenges,\" said Rep. Estes. \"Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi and Democrats have manufactured a crisis for political gain, but now is not the time to play politics with a hastily drafted bill full of wish list items marketed as COVID-19-relief legislation. We need to continue looking at ways to make the Postal Service more efficient and reliable for years to come, but now is not the time to politicize this agency and add to public concerns.\" H.R. 8015 passed the House 257 to 150. The U.S. Postmaster General has already assured voters that he is maintaining consistent services through the election, even as they continue to look for ways to improve operations. The USPS Board of Governors additionally announced the formation of a bipartisan Election Mail Committee. Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/usps-bill-falls-short-necessary-reforms", "USPS Bill Falls Short of Necessary Reforms", "2020-08-22", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday, U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., issued the following statement beforevoting NO on legislation to deal with a so-called crisis at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS):\n \n\tAs a leading Republican supporter of the U.S. Postal Service, I cannot support this bill designed to achieve political objectives rather than save and strengthen this service which is so essential to Kansans,said Rep. Marshall.This bill would double down on the failed status quo by aimlessly throwing $25 billion at a broken system and arbitrarily hamper the USPS's ability to make badly needed operational reforms. According to the USPS' own audit, they are currently funded through August 2021, well after the election will be decided. Instead of playing partisan politics with more regard for winning a presidential election than helping Americans, we should be pursuing meaningful reforms that address the USPS' underlying problems and focusing on COVID-19 relief legislation to help Kansans. I will continue to support and work to improve and sustain the USPS. This bill does neither.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-announces-grant-to-improve-k-state-vehicle-safety-practices", "Sen. Moran Announces Grant to Improve K-State Vehicle Safety Practices", "2020-08-21", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced Kansas State University will receive $383,519 from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to be used for safety programs to reduce the number and severity of commercial vehicle crashes.\r\nI am pleased to announce these federal resources to help K-State further enhance safety programs for their commercial vehicles, said Sen. Moran. Vehicle safety is essential, especially in busy college communities, and this grant will bolster their education and training on best practices. \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-statement-on-the-passing-of-olathe-mayor-michael-copeland", "Sen. Moran Statement on the Passing of Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement after the passing of Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland:\r\nMike came to Kansas as a young man to play football at Mid America Nazarene University and fell in love with the Olathe community. As Mayor of Olathe for nearly two decades, his first concern was never for himself but always for his community  how he could make Olathe a better place for every family living there and every individual passing through. I know I speak for many others when I say we came to appreciate, respect and love Mike for the helpful, supportive, and caring friend and leader that he was. He always put others first, and I benefited greatly from his friendship. I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and Robba and I will be praying for Mike's wife Maria, their children and the entire Olathe community.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/senator-pat-roberts-statement-on-the-passing-of-olathe-mayor-mike-copeland", "Senator Pat Roberts Statement on the Passing of Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Pat Roberts", "R000307", "www.roberts.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) released the following statement after the passing of Olathe, Kansas Mayor Mike Copeland:\r\nFranki and I are deeply saddened by the news of Mayor Mike Copeland's passing this morning, and we send our prayers to his wife Maria and their three children during this difficult time. His decades of service to the people of Olathe, first as a councilmember and then as mayor, is a legacy we will all remember. I valued his partnership on many projects over the years that improved the lives of Olathe's residents. Mike's dedication to bettering not only his own community, but the lives of Kansans all across our state will never be forgotten. He was a strong leader and a kind soul who will be truly missed. I am thankful to be just one of the many lives he touched, and I will forever cherish his friendship.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-statement-us-postal-service", "Marshall Statement on U.S. Postal Service", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALINAToday, U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., issued the following statement before members of the House of Representatives return to Washington, D.C. on Saturday to vote on legislation to deal with a so-called crisis at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS):\n \n\tI have been a leading Republican supporter of the United States Postal Service since my arrival in Congress threeyears ago as it is a critical part of communications, health care, and business in Kansas, especially in rural areas where the Postal Service is often the only means of receiving mail,said Rep. Marshall.Since coming to Congress I have advocated for bills that would push back on privatization, continue 6-day mail delivery services, ensure door delivery for customers, and put the Postal Service on a path to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability. The USPS has been in a dire financial situation for years, losing over $80 billionover the past 14 years, which is why dramatic structural changes are needed to save the USPS. In the meantime, the Postal Service currently has $14 billion cash-on-hand and, under the CARES Act passed earlier this year with my support, has the option of receiving an additional $10 billion loan from the Treasury Department. I will continue to stand with Kansans in support of the USPS.\n \nOn Tuesday, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he is suspending all operational reforms and initiatives until after the November presidential election.\n \n\tI'm glad to see President Trump's Administration put an end to the fearmongering by Democrats and the media by choosing to suspend what have been long-standing operational practices, for the sake of ensuring public trust in our electoral process. Iam committed to a safe election without fraud.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sharice-davids-statement-postmaster-general-suspending-changes-postal", "Rep. Sharice Davids Statement on Postmaster General Suspending Changes to the Postal Service", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In the past week alone, I've heard hundreds of Kansans who are deeply concerned about the United States Postal Service. Seniors and veterans are experiencing delays in getting their prescription drugs, business owners are seeing mail disruptions impact their customers, and people have said they are no longer getting their mail at all on some days. Meanwhile, many are worried about whether their ballot will be counted if they vote by mail.\nThese are the consequences of this Administration's attempts to sabotage the Postal Service for their own political gain. It's why I spoke out against the Postmaster General's reckless policies, and why I believe he needs to be replaced with new, nonpartisan leadership. I'm glad that he has heard these calls and the millions of Americans who are rightfully outraged by his actions and is suspending changes to the Postal Service  but this alone is not enough. And it is not clear whether he will restore any of the mail sorting machines that have already been removed.\nI look forward to the House coming back into session this week to help protect the USPS from these attacks and ensure that it has the resources needed to help people send and receive mail during this pandemic. I'm also advocating for the House to use this time to pass a bipartisan coronavirus relief package that meets the scope of this ongoing health and economic crisis. Kansans are rightly demanding action on both fronts  and that's what I'll continue to push for.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-urges-new-postmaster-general-to-work-with-congress-on-postal-reform", "Sen. Moran Urges New Postmaster General to Work with Congress On Postal Reform", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  As the country continues to battle COVID-19 and prepares for a presidential election, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) called on the newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to work with Congress to reform the United States Postal Service (USPS) in order to put it on firmer financial footing and protect the integrity of the USPS.\r\nServing a rural state like Kansas, I understand well the crippling impact that losing the Postal Service would have on rural communities across the country, wrote Sen. Moran. The Postal Service is navigating unchartered waters but it cannot fail its responsibilities As leaders, we must take a big picture approach to the crisis playing out and discuss comprehensive reforms that will stabilize the institution. Many of the necessary reforms needed to secure the Postal Service require congressional action, rather than unilateral decisions made without the input of stakeholders and Congress.\r\nSen. Moran requested a meeting with Postmaster General DeJoy in June and again this week urged DeJoy and USPS leadership to meet and engage with Congress on postal reform.\r\nThe full letter can be found here or below.\r\nDear Mr. Postmaster General,\r\nTwo months ago I requested a meeting with you and was informed you did not intend to engage with Congress for the time being. As the country continues to battle COVID-19 and prepares for a presidential election, it is imperative that your engagement with Congress begins immediately. I again respectfully request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss postal reform legislation and the recent restructuring of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).\r\nYou are beginning your tenure at a time when the Postal Service faces a critical juncture of financial instability and with more Americans than ever depending on reliable mail delivery. Serving a rural state like Kansas, I understand well the crippling impact that losing the Postal Service would have on rural communities across the country. The Postal Service is navigating uncharted waters but it cannot fail its responsibilities. Kansans have expressed grave concern with recent mail delays, especially those waiting for prescription deliveries as timely delivery is often a matter of life and death.\r\nAs leaders, we must take a big picture approach to the crisis playing out and discuss comprehensive reforms that will stabilize the institution. Many of the necessary reforms needed to secure the Postal Service require congressional action, rather than unilateral decisions made without the input of stakeholders and Congress. The urgent threats facing the institution should be spurring you into discussions with Congress and the White House. Given that President Trump's chief-of-staff, former Congressman Mark Meadows, was a leader in postal reform during his time in the House of Representatives, I believe this moment in time provides a unique opportunity for this administration to work with a willing audience in Congress eager to achieve long-term reforms for the Postal Service.\r\nCongress derives its duty to protect and oversee the Postal Service from the Constitution itself and I do not take this responsibility lightly. During the past three sessions of Congress, I have worked closely with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to introduce a postal reform bill that would put the Postal Service on firmer financial footing, improve service performance, allow for the developments of new products and enhance transparency. I am eager to work with you and the White House to craft bipartisan legislation that will put the Postal Service back on a sustainable path, allowing it to continue serving Americans for years to come.\r\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to working together to protect the future of the United States Postal Service.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/usda-provides-funding-community-water-projects", "USDA Provides Funding for Community Water Projects", "2020-08-17", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last week, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen announced funding awards through the agency's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. More than$15.4 million will be awardedto these communities to modernize critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The funding will allow for the continued delivery of safe drinking water or construction of modern wastewater management facilities, both of which substantially improve public health and wellbeing.\n \n\tUSDA plays a vital role in providing funding opportunities for rural communities to allow them to continue improving infrastructure, facilities and community services, said U.S. Congressman Marshall, M.D. From day one, President Trump his prioritized rural America and this is just another example of his leadership allowing our communities to thrive. As a physician, I understand the need for access to clean water and modern wastewater treatment. I am proud of the work the USDA Rural Development office has done to support our communities and allow them the continued opportunity to improve and modernize their services.\n \nThe following funding announcements were made through the USDA Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The projects will improve rural infrastructure for nearly 7,000 Kansans.\nKansas Projects Receiving Funding:\n Brown County Rural Water District #2 will use a $2.1 million loan and a $562,000 grant to build approximately 52 miles of water distribution infrastructure to 64 additional customers, with the potential for up to 85. Additionally, 64 new meter settings, new valves and hydrants will be installed, as well as 483 radio-read meters. These residents currently obtain water from private wells with most being poor quality, or purchase and haul water from external sources. This project will provide the 64-85 new users with a safe, and reliable drinking water system as well as more efficient and reliable service.\n\tThe City of Caney will use a $693,000 loan to supplement previous funding to complete the construction of the wastewater system improvements and conduct mandatory soil testing.The soil testing is a recent requirement of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and will help ensure the city is following current sanitary health standards for the wellbeing of more than 2,200 residents.\n\tRiley County will use a $181,000 loan and $139,000 grant to install 4,950 feet of water distribution line; new hardware including gate valves, flushing hydrants and meter pits; 2,900 feet of sewer main line and corresponding grinder pumps for the Lakeside Heights housing development northwest of Manhattan. Repairs will address increased concerns of groundwater contamination that could lead to bacteria-borne illnesses. Both systems will be connected to the neighboring University Park Sewer District, which will provide centralized water service and sewage treatment to the 17 residents in Lakeside Heights.\n\tThe City of Hanover will use a $2.8 million loan and a $1,033,000 grant to replace approximately 32,000 feet of water distribution piping and install approximately 400 water meters and 100 gate valves and 75 fire hydrants. The replacements will help significantly reduce operation and maintenance costs due to current water loss of nearly thirty percent from existing system breaks and ensure safe drinking water for the more than 620 residents.\n\tThe City of Fredonia will use a $2.2 million loan to complete phase two of the city's multi-phase wastewater infrastructure project. Phase two will include improvements to the existing wastewater treatment facility, including construction of a flood control berm around the facility perimeter, a 750,000-gallon basin and corresponding lift station, and rehabilitation of the outfall structure and line from the treatment facility. These improvements will help protect critical equipment within the treatment facility from being damaged by flood waters and allow for streamlined peak flow treatment. The system serves nearly 2,500 residents.\n\tIn Turon, the city will use an $85,000 loan and a $56,000 grant to supplement funding for a project originally started in 2018. The city began improvements of the water distribution system, including a new 100,000-gallon elevated water storage tower, a new well house and chlorination building, and 1,860 feet of new water piping. The additional funding will assist with relocation of a new water well and bring safe drinking water to the 387 Turon residents.\n\tThe City of Overbrook will use a $4.2 million loan and a $1.4 million grant to make improvements to existing water infrastructure, including the water supply wells, chlorine treatment facility and their two elevated water storage tanks. The project will resolve bacterial growth in water wells and replace the aging distribution system - restoring safe, quality drinking water for the city's 1,058 residents.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/supporting-the-u-s-postal-service", "President Signs My Veteran Housing Bill", "2020-08-17", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nContinuing Negotiations on a Phase IV Relief Package\r\nThe White House and Democrats are currently at loggerheads over a COVID-19 Phase IV relief package, but it is important to remember that every previous federal relief package passed with unanimous support. The first three federal relief packages included many provisions I would not support in ordinary circumstances, but hospitals needed supplies, small businesses needed loans, and folks who were out of work, through no fault of their own, needed relief.\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than many predicted, and we cannot continue spending trillions of dollars at our current pace. There are simply not enough government programs or borrowed dollars to keep this economy going. Any additional federal relief needs to be focused on our health, with resources for more testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccine development and distribution. I continue to monitor the negotiations occurring and participate in conference calls with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.\r\nThe president's executive orders laid out issues that are important to everyday Kansans, especially for those who are unemployed or can't pay their rent. It is my hope that the president's actions will help get the negotiations back on track.\r\nSupporting the U.S. Postal Service\r\nThe Postal Service has long been an essential piece of American communication and commerce, but its deteriorating financial condition, made worse by the economic impacts of COVID-19, threatens its future. Kansas' rural communities, where broadband access and nearby stores are limited or nonexistent, heavily rely on the services of the Postal Service as the means of staying connected and competitive.\r\nIn Kansas, we know the crippling impact losing the Postal Service can have on rural communities. And with the recent data showing the financial implications the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the Postal Service and its thousands of employees, now is the time to begin serious discussions on best practices that will preserve and protect the Postal Service.\r\nCongress has a Constitutional duty to ensure the U.S. Postal Service is maintained and continues providing its essential public services. During the past three sessions of Congress, I have worked closely with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to introduce postal reform legislation, and earlier this summer, I requested a meeting with the Postmaster General to discuss these legislative reforms as well as the recent restructuring of the USPS.\r\nI also cosponsored S.4174, the Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act. This legislation provides emergency funding to the Postal Service in order to cover losses directly related to COVID-19. Additionally, S.4174 directs the USPS Board of Governors to develop a long-term solvency plan that it must submit to Congress within nine months of the bill's enactment.\r\nAs the nation begins recovering from COVID-19, we cannot risk losing the Postal Service. To learn more about my commitment to the USPS, read my recent editorial here in the Salina Journal.\r\nPresident Signs Veterans' Housing Legislation Into Law \r\nLast week, President Trump signed into law my bill that will allow disabled and blind veterans to adapt their homes to fit their disability. The Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019 is named after Spring Hill native, Army Colonel (Ret.) Paul Benne and Captain (Ret.) Ryan Kules. Both of these veterans previously used the VA's Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program to adapt their home, and both were tireless advocates to expand this benefit so it better serves veterans.\r\nThis legislation  developed to prevent future difficulties similar to those Col. Benne faced while trying to access an SAH grant  will allow blind veterans to access this grant program and double the maximum number of awarded grants from three to six per veteran. It will also increase the number of authorized applications per fiscal year from 30 to 120.\r\nThe Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act would not be a reality without Colonel Benne and his wife, Christine, whose willingness to share their story will help veterans for years to come. I was thankful to work with them and Capt. Kules, another Fort Riley soldier who used the SAH grant program and who continues to be a fierce advocate for disabled veterans.\r\nUnfortunately, Col. Benne passed away in December, 2019 due to complications from his disability. His legacy will live on through Christine's continued service and through the countless veterans that will be positively impacted by his advocacy.\r\nRead more about this legislation here on WIBW.\r\n\r\nApplauding the Israel and UAE Announcement\r\nLast week's announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates will begin normalizing relations is momentous for the region, publicly demonstrating Israel's increased acceptance among Arab states. I received a briefing from Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on the announcement and what we may expect going forward. 19 of 22 Arab states still do not recognize Israel, and it is my hope that more Arab states will follow the UAE's lead. I commend President Trump and his team for their role in making this historic agreement a reality.\r\nAnnouncing Schwann's New Expansion in Salina\r\nI started my week by joining Salina area officials, Schwan's Company leadership and Governor Kelly to announce a major expansion of Schwan's Company and Tony's Pizza. The expansion will include a new 400,000 square foot state-of-the-art pizza making facility and add 225 new full-time jobs in the area, as well as preserve the jobs of the current Schwan's employees in the Salina area.\r\nIn 1960, Tony's Little Italy began serving pizza to Salinians. Ten years later, the Schwan family purchased the pizza shop and began distributing the pizza nationwide as one of the first frozen pizza in the United States. This recent major investment into the company illustrates that Tony's Pizza is still an important part of the Salina community.\r\nThank you to Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock and Schwan's CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios for joining this exciting announcement for the Salina community.\r\nRead more about the announcement here in WIBW.\r\n\r\nKubota Announces Plans to Expand to Salina\r\nThursday was another great day for Salina, as it was announced that Great Plains Manufacturing will be home to the North American production line of the Kubota compact track loader. The company plans to make a $53 million investment, which will include facility acquisition as well as robotics and advanced manufacturing training for approximately 130 new employees. Congratulations to Great Plains President Linda Salem and all company employees who competed against several states, along with locations in Japan and China, for this highly coveted project. The fact that Kubota entrusted Great Plains with such an important product line speaks very highly of the company and its employees, the City of Salina and our great State of Kansas.\r\nRead more about this announcement here on the Salina Post.\r\nVisiting the Olympic Training Center\r\nThis week, I had the opportunity to tour the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's (USOPC) Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Established in 1977, the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) is the central training location for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and America's Olympic athletes. Each year more than 1,500 Olympic hopefuls travel from across the country to train at the center in hopes of being an Olympian.\r\nDuring my visit I spoke with the CEO of USOPC, Sarah Hirshland, about the importance of creating a culture of health and safety for our athletes while at the center and throughout the Olympic movement. The Olympics have long been a point of pride for the United States and Americans so we must do everything we can to ensure the next generations is able to pursue their Olympic dreams and feel safe doing it. After conducting four hearings and an investigation into abuse of Olympic athletes, I introduced the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, August 4. This legislation will give Olympians a bigger voice and provide systemic changes to the culture of the Olympic movement. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, with jurisdiction over amateur sports, I will continue to work with my colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to protect America's young athletes.\r\n\r\nProviding Support for Kansas Small Businesses\r\nLast week, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to five EDA Economic Development District organizations across Kansas to update development plans and fortify programs to assist communities responding to the coronavirus pandemic. These grants are an investment into small businesses that support local jobs and provide invaluable resources to many communities across the region. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, (CJS) and Related Agencies, I support the ongoing and critical mission of the EDA to assist the economic activity of our communities, especially during this pandemic. I will continue to work with the Department of Commerce and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that Kansas makes a lasting economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19.\r\nSeeking Answers from the Army Corps \r\nOn Thursday, I sent a letter with Congressman Roger Marshall to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James requesting clarification on the Army Corps' non-recreational outgrant policy. This policy dictates how the Corps decides to allow entities to use Army Corps-owned land for non-recreational projects, including utilities, pipelines, or roadways. The current policy requires applicants to provide a direct benefit to the [federal] government or that there be no viable alternative to the proposed plan. Applicants are also required to complete an extensive environmental assessment, which causes delays and additional expenses for critical infrastructure projects like broadband connectivity.\r\nRecently, the City of Hillsboro partnered with TCT, a Council Grove-based telecommunications company, on a fiber optic project that would route the cable across Army Corps land at Marion Lake and would require permission from the Corps. However, TCT had to change the route of the cable to avoid Army Corps-owned land due to the strenuous requirements of the non-recreational outgrant policy. I sent this letter to help clarify the Corps' current policy and prevent delays to future projects. I will continue to work with the Army Corps and Kansas stakeholders to make certain that critical broadband projects are not unnecessarily hindered.\r\nVisiting a Rural Health Center in Colby\r\nThis week, I visited the Citizens Medical Center to meet with the leadership team. We discussed the need for increased access to personal protection equipment (PPE) and making certain we are able to manufacture enough PPE here in the U.S. so we are not reliant on other countries to refill our stockpile, and the need for more COVID-19 testing in rural areas. We also discussed how to safely care for elderly residents in long-term care while balancing keeping them healthy and making certain they are able to spend valuable time with their families.\r\nThank you to Greg Unruh, CEO, David McCorkle, Ancillary Services Administrator, Jenny Niblock, Chief Clinical Officer and Ryan Stover, Chief Financial Officer, who shared with me their concerns and ideas to help rural medical centers better serve their communities during this pandemic.\r\n\r\nDiscussing the Future of Kansas Agriculture \r\nWhile in Colby I also stopped by the Farm Credit of Western Kansas in Colby to hear more about the financial impact this pandemic is having on agriculture in our state. Kansas farmers and ranchers earn a living by raising crops and livestock, and they are vital to our nation's food chain. As we continue to discuss additional COVID-19 relief packages, I will work to make certain our producers receive the aid and resources they need to continue providing Americans with quality and affordable food. \r\nThank you to Randy Wilson, President and CEO, for allowing me to visit with him and his team to discuss the state of agriculture in northwest Kansas.\r\n\r\nSupporting Initiatives to Expand Rural Broadband\r\nI met with S&T, a telecom cooperative serving northwest Kansas, to learn more about its current services and initiatives relating to rural broadband. Rural broadband is extremely important for the future of western Kansas, and the need for effective, efficient and reliable broadband has only increased during this pandemic.\r\nIt was great to hear that S&T stepped up to provide over 100 students within the Brewster school district high-speed internet so they could continue learning from home during the spring semester. We also discussed S&T's support of Rural and Remote, an initiative that would allow people living in rural areas to work remotely for companies across the nation, and the company's commitment to providing high-speed internet to people going through the program.\r\nInitiatives to expand broadband in rural America are important for the success of many of our rural communities, and I appreciated talking with CEO Zack O'Dell and his team to learn about the great work they are doing in northwest Kansas.\r\n\r\nSpeaking at Goodland Kiwanis\r\nIt was great to join folks in Goodland to speak at the Kiwanis Club and meet with school leaders.\r\nAt the Kiwanis Club, I provided a Washington update and discussed the current COVID-19 Phase IV negotiations. We are spending too many trillions of dollars, and Phase IV needs to be focused on our health, with resources for more testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccine development and distribution and students returning to school. We also discussed the VA MISSION Act and plans to reopen schools this fall.\r\n\r\nMeeting with USD 325 in Goodland\r\nWhile in Goodland, I also met with USD 325 Superintendent Bill Biermann and his curriculum team to hear about how the end of the spring semester went for them, their plans for the fall and the extensive curriculum overhaul they are doing to accommodate online learning. I was pleased to hear that nearly all of their students have access to internet at home, and that they have many precautions in place to make sure students can learn safely at school. The educators conveyed to me the importance of classroom learning and are working to provide a safe environment for both them and their students.\r\nThank you to everyone who spoke with me in Goodland and for the insightful conversations.\r\n\r\nAdvancing Aviation Opportunities in Kansas\r\nThis week, I had the opportunity to meet with state leaders in the aviation field to discuss the DOD's Agility Prime program, including a briefing with Col. Nathan Diller the AFWERX Director. Agility Prime is an Air Force run program that seeks to accelerate the commercial market for advanced air mobility vehicles. During our meeting we also had the opportunity to discuss Advanced Air Mobility, a focus by NASA to help emerging aviation markets safely develop an air transportation system that moves people and cargo to places not previously served by aviation. With Kansas' long history in aviation, we are in a prime spot to assist these agencies meet their goals, and I look forward to ensuring our state is part of these emerging programs.\r\nSecuring Grant for Topeka Metro Transit Authority Grant \r\nThis week, I had the pleasure of announcing a nearly $5 million Department of Transportation grant for the Topeka Metro Transit Authority (MTA). The MTA works diligently to connect citizens with their community, and these federal resources will further support their mission. This funding will add seven diesel buses to the Topeka MTA's fleet, providing an electric utility redundant connection to safeguard against electrical failure and installing solar-powered signage displays.\r\nAffordable local transit is important to the economies of our metro areas, and I look forward to continuing my work with local leaders to modernize the Topeka transit system.\r\nRead more about the grant herein WIBW.\r\n\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-marshall-sen-moran-seek-answers-army-corps-behalf-city-hillsboro", "Rep. Marshall, Sen. Moran Seek Answers from Army Corps on Behalf of City of Hillsboro", "2020-08-15", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and U.S. Representative Roger Marshall (KS-01) today sought answers from the Assistant Secretary of theArmy for Civil Works regarding a project that would help bring high-speed broadband service to the Hillsboro community which has been negatively impacted by the Army Corps of Engineers' non-recreational outgrant policy.\nThe City of Hillsboro recently collaborated with TCT, a Council Grove-based telecommunications company, on a fiber optic project that would route the cable across Army Corps land at Marion Lake and would require permission from the Corps. However, TCT recently had to change the route of the cable to avoid Army Corps-owned land due to requirements within the outgrant policy that would have caused significant delays and added expenses to the critical broadband project.\n \n\tSocial distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused increased reliance on distance healthcare, learning, and employment, including in rural communities,wrote Sen. Moran and Rep. Marshall.Projects to increase availability and quality of broadband for rural areas across the country are critical to keep these populations connected and economically viable.\n \nTo help clarify the Corps' current policy and prevent delays to future projects, Sen. Moran and Rep. Marshall asked the following questions:\n What specific considerations are undertaken when the Army Corps decides whether there is a viable alternative to a proposed project? Is increased cost to the applicant considered? If not, please explain.\n\tAre there certain categories of projects, including those that have economic development impacts for the surrounding communities, which receive special treatment in these considerations? If not, please explain.\n\tIn determining how a proposed project would provide a direct benefit to the government, how does the Army Corps consider and develop such requests of the applicant?\n\tWhen determining the impact and necessity of an environmental assessment to be conducted by an applicant, is the size and scope of the project considered? Are smaller projects with a less potential environmental impacts required to complete a less intensive environmental assessment?\n\tPlease give a general and complete timeline of the Army Corps' application process for a non-recreational outgrant application, from first contact with an applicant to final approval, with time estimates.\n The full letter can be found below:\n \n\tAssistant Secretary James,\n\tSocial distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused increased reliance on distance healthcare, learning, and employment, including in rural communities. Projects to increase availability and quality of broadband for rural areas across the country are critical to keep these populations connected and economically viable.\n\tThe City of Hillsboro, Kansas, has partnered with TCT, a Council Grove, Kansas-based telecommunications company, to build a new fiber optic project that would provide high-speed fiber connectivity to the City and the surrounding communities. Originally, TCT proposed crossing Army Corps-owned land at Marion Lake with a fiber optic cable, as this route was the most economically and geographically efficient route. For TCT's proposal to move forward, the Army Corps would need to approve the City and TCT's non-recreational outgrant application for this project. However, due to substantial delays that complying with the Army Corps' non-recreational outgrant policy would have caused, TCT has decided to move forward without applying for an easement on Army Corps-owned property, causing this critical broadband infrastructure project to spend vital time, money, and resources to avoid Army Corps-owned land.\n\tThe Army Corps' non-recreational outgrant development policy (ER 1130-2-550) states that for a project to be approved, there must either be no viable alternative to the proposed project, or the project must be a direct benefit to the government. After meeting one of these minimum qualifications, an environmental assessment must be completed, also at the expense of the applicant, to the satisfaction of the Army Corps. Even after a costly and time-consuming environmental assessment has been completed, there is a chance that the project may not be approved, leaving the applicant's project with added costs and significant delays.\n\tPlease respond to the following questions regarding the Army Corps non-recreational outgrant development policy:\n\tWhat specific considerations are undertaken when the Army Corps decides whether there is a viable alternative to a proposed project? Is increased cost to the applicant considered? If not, please explain.\n\t\tAre there certain categories of projects, including those that have economic development impacts for the surrounding communities, which receive special treatment in these considerations? If not, please explain.\n\t\tIn determining how a proposed project would provide a direct benefit to the government, how does the Army Corps consider and develop such requests of the applicant?\n\t\tWhen determining the impact and necessity of an environmental assessment to be conducted by an applicant, is the size and scope of the project considered? Are smaller projects with a less potential environmental impacts required to complete a less intensive environmental assessment?\n\t\tPlease give a general and complete timeline of the Army Corps' application process for a non-recreational outgrant application, from first contact with an applicant to final approval, with time estimates.\n\tThe importance of rural telecommunications infrastructure cannot be overstated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project would provide critical high speed broadband access not just to Hillsboro, but also the other rural communities that would be served by this fiber optic loop, and delays to similar projects should be avoided. Thank you for urgently clarifying the Army Corps' policy regarding non-recreational outgrant applications.\n\tSincerely,\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-rep-marshall-seek-answers-from-army-corps-on-behalf-of-city-of-hillsboro", "Sen. Moran, Rep. Marshall Seek Answers from Army Corps on Behalf of City of Hillsboro", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and U.S. Representative Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS-01) today sought answers from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works regarding a project that would help bring high-speed broadband service to the Hillsboro community which has been negatively impacted by the Army Corps of Engineers' non-recreational outgrant policy.\r\nThe City of Hillsboro recently collaborated with TCT, a Council Grove-based telecommunications company, on a fiber optic project that would route the cable across Army Corps land at Marion Lake and would require permission from the Corps. However, TCT recently had to change the route of the cable to avoid Army Corps-owned land due to requirements within the outgrant policy that would have caused significant delays and added expenses to the critical broadband project.\r\nSocial distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused increased reliance on distance healthcare, learning, and employment, including in rural communities, wrote Sen. Moran and Rep. Marshall. Projects to increase availability and quality of broadband for rural areas across the country are critical to keep these populations connected and economically viable.\r\nTo help clarify the Corps' current policy and prevent delays to future projects, Sen. Moran and Rep. Marshall asked the following questions:\r\n \r\nWhat specific considerations are undertaken when the Army Corps decides whether there is a viable alternative to a proposed project? Is increased cost to the applicant considered? If not, please explain.\r\nAre there certain categories of projects, including those that have economic development impacts for the surrounding communities, which receive special treatment in these considerations? If not, please explain.\r\nIn determining how a proposed project would provide a direct benefit to the government, how does the Army Corps consider and develop such requests of the applicant?\r\nWhen determining the impact and necessity of an environmental assessment to be conducted by an applicant, is the size and scope of the project considered? Are smaller projects with a less potential environmental impacts required to complete a less intensive environmental assessment?\r\nPlease give a general and complete timeline of the Army Corps' application process for a non-recreational outgrant application, from first contact with an applicant to final approval, with time estimates.\r\n \r\nThe full letter can be found here or below.\r\nAssistant Secretary James,\r\nSocial distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused increased reliance on distance healthcare, learning, and employment, including in rural communities. Projects to increase availability and quality of broadband for rural areas across the country are critical to keep these populations connected and economically viable.\r\nThe City of Hillsboro, Kansas, has partnered with TCT, a Council Grove, Kansas-based telecommunications company, to build a new fiber optic project that would provide high-speed fiber connectivity to the City and the surrounding communities. Originally, TCT proposed crossing Army Corps-owned land at Marion Lake with a fiber optic cable, as this route was the most economically and geographically efficient route. For TCT's proposal to move forward, the Army Corps would need to approve the City and TCT's non-recreational outgrant application for this project. However, due to substantial delays that complying with the Army Corps' non-recreational outgrant policy would have caused, TCT has decided to move forward without applying for an easement on Army Corps-owned property, causing this critical broadband infrastructure project to spend vital time, money, and resources to avoid Army Corps-owned land.\r\nThe Army Corps' non-recreational outgrant development policy (ER 1130-2-550) states that for a project to be approved, there must either be no viable alternative to the proposed project, or the project must be a direct benefit to the government. After meeting one of these minimum qualifications, an environmental assessment must be completed, also at the expense of the applicant, to the satisfaction of the Army Corps. Even after a costly and time-consuming environmental assessment has been completed, there is a chance that the project may not be approved, leaving the applicant's project with added costs and significant delays.\r\nPlease respond to the following questions regarding the Army Corps non-recreational outgrant development policy:\r\n \r\nWhat specific considerations are undertaken when the Army Corps decides whether there is a viable alternative to a proposed project? Is increased cost to the applicant considered? If not, please explain.\r\nAre there certain categories of projects, including those that have economic development impacts for the surrounding communities, which receive special treatment in these considerations? If not, please explain.\r\nIn determining how a proposed project would provide a direct benefit to the government, how does the Army Corps consider and develop such requests of the applicant?\r\nWhen determining the impact and necessity of an environmental assessment to be conducted by an applicant, is the size and scope of the project considered? Are smaller projects with a less potential environmental impacts required to complete a less intensive environmental assessment?\r\nPlease give a general and complete timeline of the Army Corps' application process for a non-recreational outgrant application, from first contact with an applicant to final approval, with time estimates.\r\n \r\nThe importance of rural telecommunications infrastructure cannot be overstated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project would provide critical high speed broadband access not just to Hillsboro, but also the other rural communities that would be served by this fiber optic loop, and delays to similar projects should be avoided. Thank you for urgently clarifying the Army Corps' policy regarding non-recreational outgrant applications.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-calls-firing-postmaster-general", "Davids Calls for Firing of Postmaster General", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) today called for the firing of Trump campaign donor and recently appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, followingpolitically-motivated attacks on the institution.Last week, DeJoy made a series of changes to the operation of the United States Postal Service (USPS) that are predicted to cause serious problems and delays ahead of an election when more people are expected to vote by mail than ever before.And earlier today, the President admitted he ispurposely sabotaging the USPSto make it harder for people to vote.\n\nThe Postal Serviceis critical to our economy, our seniors and veterans who count on lifesaving medications, our small businesses that need to ship their products, and even to our democracy,\"said Davids.\"It also employs nearly half a million Americans, many of them veterans like my mom, who have risked their lives during this health crisis to make sure people all over the country have the supplies they need. I will not stand by while this President and his cronies try to tear apart this constitutionally-mandated and extremely popular institution piece by piece in order to serve their political agenda. The American people have lost all faith in DeJoy's ability to lead the Postal Service and he must be removed immediately. We need new, nonpartisan leadership so the Postal Service can continue to deliver for the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it.\n\nDavids, whose mother has worked for the Postal Service for nearly 20 years, has long beena proponent of the USPSand has advocated for funding for the institution in each COVID-relief package.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-department-commerce-announces-2-million-cares-act-funding-boost-programs", "U.S. Department of Commerce Announces $2 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Programs Critical to Helping Kansas Respond to Coronavirus", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced $2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to five regions of Kansas hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the $2.5 million awarded to Kansas' regional planning commissioners in July.\n \n\tLocal Kansas leaders continue to tell me about the need for support for small businesses to ensure they get through the ongoing impacts of the economic shutdown and keep Kansans employed and Main Streets alive, said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. By continuing to administer funds through the CARES Act, the Trump Administration continues to support Kansas business owners, making sure jobs remain in our communities and our economy continues its regrowth.\n \nThe funding will go to organizations across Kansas to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.\nThe EDA grants made to Kansas include:\n North Central Regional Planning Commission, Beloit, Kansas, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by hiring a full-time regional disaster recovery coordinator; working with local partners to provide remote and on-site technical assistance training to local businesses as part of an effort to boost the region's economy.\n\t\t\n\tNorthwest Kansas Planning & Development Commission, Hill City, Kansas, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by fostering a growing, diversified, stable economy and business climate that helps create above-average paying jobs while retaining and expanding existing businesses. Efforts include supporting business entrepreneurship; increased utilization and value of raw products produced in Northwest Kansas through value-added processes and funding for such businesses; and opportunities that expand technology and electronic data transfer.\n\t\t\n\tSouth Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD), Bel Aire, Kansas, will receive a $399,997 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing SCKEDD's capacity to collaborate strategically with community stakeholders and regional peer economic development organizations, as well as state and federal partners.\n\t\t\n\tFlint Hills Regional Council, Fort Riley, Kansas, will receive a $399,886 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic bycoordinating recovery, resilience planning and implementing these efforts throughout the region.\n\t\t\n\tSoutheast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, Chanute, Kansas, will receive a $350,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by working to diversify the region's economy; implementing strategies and educational opportunities to grow the critical manufacturing sector; hiring additional staff; and supporting workforce needs.\n What the Department of Commerce is saying:\n \n\tThe Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19, said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Kansas with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.\n \n \n\tThese investments come at a crucial time to help Kansas' and our nation's economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities, said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. We are pleased to make these investments in Kansas' EDA Economic Development Districts to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-announces-2-million-in-grants-to-assist-five-kansas-communities-responding-to-covid-19", "Sen. Moran Announces $2 Million in Grants to Assist Five Kansas Communities Responding to COVID-19", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) -- chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, (CJS) and Related Agencies  announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to five EDA Economic Development District organizations across Kansas to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.\r\nIn my role as chairman of the CJS committee, I support the ongoing and critical mission of the EDA to assist the economic activity of our communities, especially during this pandemic, said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran. These grants are an investment into small businesses that support local jobs and provide invaluable resources to many communities across the region.\r\nThe Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19, said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Kansas with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.\r\nThe EDA investments are:\r\n \r\nNorth Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit will receive a $400,000 grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by hiring a full-time regional disaster recovery coordinator and working with local partners to provide remote and on-site technical assistance training to local businesses as part of an effort to boost the region's economy.\r\n \r\n \r\nNorthwest Kansas Planning & Development Commission in Hill City will receive a $400,000 grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by fostering a growing, diversified, stable economy and business climate that helps create above-average paying jobs while retaining and expanding existing businesses. Efforts include supporting business entrepreneurship; increased utilization and value of raw products produced in Northwest Kansas through value-added processes and funding for such businesses; and opportunities that expand technology and electronic data transfer.\r\n \r\n \r\nSouth Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD) in Bel Aire will receive a $399,997 grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing SCKEDD's capacity to collaborate strategically with community stakeholders and regional peer economic development organizations, as well as state and federal partners.\r\n \r\n \r\nFlint Hills Regional Council in Fort Riley will receive a $399,886 grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by coordinating recovery, resilience planning and implementing these efforts throughout the region.\r\n \r\n \r\nSoutheast Kansas Regional Planning Commission in Chanute will receive a $350,000 grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by working to diversify the region's economy; implementing strategies and educational opportunities to grow the critical manufacturing sector; hiring additional staff; and supporting workforce needs.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sens-moran-thune-call-on-ftc-to-investigate-tiktok-s-consumer-data-collection-processing-practices", "Sens. Moran, Thune Call on FTC to Investigate TikToks Consumer Data Collection & Processing Practices", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection  and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.)  Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet  called on Chairman Joseph Simons of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate TikTok's consumer data collection and processing practices. In addition, Sens. Moran and Thune are seeking specific answers from the FTC related to allegations from a Wall Street Journal article that described TikTok's undisclosed collection and transmission of unique persistent identifiers from millions of U.S. consumers until November 2019. This report also described questionable activity by the company as it relates to the transparency of these data collection activities, and the letter seeks clarity on these practices.\r\nThere are allegations that TikTok discretely collected media access control (MAC) addresses, commonly used for advertisement targeting purposes, through Google Android's operating system under an unusual layer of encryption through November 2019, the senators wrote. Given these reports and their potential relevancy to the Executive Order on Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, we urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the company's consumer data collection and processing practices as they relate to these accusations and other possible harmful activities posed to consumers.\r\nThe full letter can be found here or below.\r\nAugust 13, 2020\r\nDear Chairman Simons:\r\nWe write to you today regarding concerning reports from the Wall Street Journal indicating that the social media app developed by TikTok collected unique persistent identifiers from millions of devices without notice to consumers or providing a mechanism to opt out of such collection practices. More specifically, there are allegations that TikTok discretely collected media access control (MAC) addresses, commonly used for advertisement targeting purposes, through Google Android's operating system under an unusual layer of encryption through November 2019. Given these reports and their potential relevancy to the Executive Order on Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, we urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the company's consumer data collection and processing practices as they relate to these accusations and other possible harmful activities posed to consumers.\r\nWhile we understand and appreciate the various national security concerns raised against TikTok to date, the purpose of this inquiry is to raise specific attention to the practice highlighted in the mentioned reports, which also ties into the information security of Americans.\r\nConsidered personally identifiable information by the FTC under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) since the 2012 updates to the law, the agency has found that persistent identifiers, including MAC addresses, are reasonably linkable to specific consumers. Even though most of the consumers impacted in this case are not covered by COPPA, this category of information allows for user profiles to be created and maintained based on a consumer's behavior online.\r\nUnderstood to be largely banned by the policies of major app stores, like the Google's Play Store, expert testing referenced in the Wall Street Journal described a workaround that allows apps to get MAC addresses through a more circuitous route that is not limited to TikTok. In this case, the company allegedly collected MAC addresses from unknowing consumers for at least 15 months and shared this information, bundled with other relevant personally identifiable information, with its parent-company ByteDance Ltd. to enable ongoing consumer tracking across accounts and apps. Additionally, the described data transfer traffic between TikTok and its parent-company reportedly used an added layer of encryption beyond standard encryption protocols for web traffic that affects the transparency of the transmitted information.\r\nAs members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, with oversight responsibility for the FTC and consumer data privacy, we respectfully request that the agency investigate these allegations and provide answers to the following questions:\r\n \r\nDoes the FTC treat MAC addresses and other persistent identifiers as personally identifiable information in relation to its general consumer data security and privacy enforcement authorities under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act?\r\nDid TikTok provide any form of notice to consumers that MAC addresses were being collected by the app during the described period when this information was collected?\r\nWere consumers provided mechanisms of consent (in either opt-in or opt-out forms) to demonstrate any form of discretion in the collection of MAC addresses?\r\nWhat assurances can you provide Congress that MAC address collection practices by TikTok ended on November 18, 2019, as described in the article? Does the agency have any plans or processes in place to prevent these practices from being re-implemented?\r\nHas the agency been in contact with third party app store hosts, including Google, related to general MAC address collection practices by third party apps previously? Have complaints of third-party apps collecting MAC addresses, in conflict with app store policies, been brought to the agency before? If so, how has the agency previously addressed such concerns?\r\nPlease describe in as much detail as possible the loophole that TikTok reportedly exploited in Google's Play Store that allowed for its collection of consumers' MAC addresses. Can the agency confirm that this issue was limited to this particular third-party app store? If not, is the agency in contact with other third-party app stores to confirm that these surreptitious collection practices are not occurring through their operating systems?\r\nPlease describe in as much detail as possible the extra layer of encryption described in reports to protect and conceal TikTok's collected and transmitted consumer information. In addition, please provide the specific impacts that this form of encryption has on the transparency of the data in transmission?\r\n \r\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2589", "Rep. Estes Introduces Aviation Manufacturing Legislation", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) introduced bipartisan legislation critical to south central Kansas' aviation manufacturing sector  the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act. He was joined by Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Washington). The bill allows aviation manufacturers to designate 25% of their workforce at risk of furlough due to COVID-19 to be eligible for up to 50% of their total compensation covered by the Department of the Treasury. The employer will cover the remaining 50%.  \r\n  \r\n\"Kansans have built general aviation and commercial airplanes for a century, helping us become the Air Capital of the World. However, recent groundings and the negative effects of COVID-19 have slowed production rates to record lows, putting thousands of Kansans out of work and jeopardizing our local companies' stability,\"said Rep. Estes.\"The Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act will help keep workers on the payroll and connected with their aviation jobs, which solves the short-term unemployment issue and keeps our skilled workforce here in the Sunflower State for the long term. As aviation manufacturing ramps back up, these employees will benefit from maintaining a connection with their employer and be able to rejoin the workforce easily.\"  \r\n  \r\n\"In the Pacific Northwest, the highly skilled aviation manufacturing and maintenance workforce drives the economy and helps the U.S. remain competitive abroad,\"said Rep. Larsen, Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee.\"This bipartisan bill provides critical relief to help sustain the aerospace supply chain until the nation gets to the other side of the pandemic. I am committed to protecting these jobs and supporting the dedicated women and men who keep the supply chain moving during such challenging times.\"  \r\n  \r\n\"The aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry continues to face stiff headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud and are deeply grateful to Representatives Estes and Larsen for their work to support the industry's highly skilled workforce. Given that general and commercial aviation are significant contributors to the U.S. economy, it is essential that both industry and government partner together to protect aviation manufacturing and maintenance jobs in this vital sector,\"said Pete Bunce, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO.\r\n\r\n\"This crisis continues to put our skilled aerospace and defense workforce at risk, forcing significant layoffs and furloughs in companies large and small,\"said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning.\"Representatives Estes' and Larsen's bipartisan bill could help save these jobs by providing temporary and targeted support to keep these employees on the payroll.\"  \r\n  \r\nThe Secretary of the Treasury will oversee the program operations along with oversight by the Department of Transportation. The bill also includes several safeguards, including restrictions on employers circumventing collective bargaining agreements, moving jobs assisted by the program out of the United States, using the program for stock buybacks or paying out dividends, or being covered under the \"at risk\" employee definition. The program goes through April 2022, given the unknown nature of the pandemic's impact on aviation manufacturing companies. Despite loan options within the CARES Act, many aviation companies did not take advantage of them because of certain restrictions.Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/president-trump-signs-sen-moran-s-legislation-to-expand-adaptive-housing-for-veterans-into-law", "President Trump Signs Sen. Morans Legislation to Expand Adaptive Housing for Veterans Into Law", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  This weekend, President Trump signed the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019 into law. The legislation, introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), is named after Spring Hill, Kan. native, Army Colonel (Ret.) Paul Benne and Captain (ret.) Ryan Kules and will expand Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) eligibility for blind and seriously injured veterans.\r\nVeterans have sacrificed much to serve our country, and I am pleased this legislation focused on improving their quality of life has been signed into law by President Trump, said Sen. Moran. This legislation will provide our nation's veterans greater support through a modernized and expanded SAH grant program, allowing the grants to be utilized in a way that best fits the needs of the veteran. This legislation would not be a reality without Colonel Benne and his wife, Christine, whose willingness to share their story and continued advocacy has undoubtedly helped veterans for years to come. I was thankful to work with them and Captain (ret.) Ryan Kules, another Fort Riley soldier who used the SAH grant program and who continues to be a fierce advocate for disabled veterans, to expand this important program for veterans.\r\nI thank Senator Moran for his tireless efforts on behalf of our nation's veterans in passing the Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019,said Ryan Kules,Combat Stress Recovery Director at Wounded Warrior Project.This badly needed reform will give thousands of seriously wounded, injured, and ill veterans the financial support to adapt their homes to better match their changing stages of life. As someone formerly stationed in the Great State of Kansas at Fort Riley, I want to personally express my appreciation for Senator Moran's hard work and leadership to get this bill passed and signed into law.\r\nIn 2013, Col. Benne developed a medical condition that led to his retirement from the U.S. Army after 23 years of service. Col. Benne was rated 100 percent disabled at the time of his retirement. In 2016, Col. Benne was fitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a wheelchair and applied for an SAH grant, as neither the Benne's home nor vehicle could accommodate his new wheelchair. After more than a year of navigating the VA, Col. Benne and his wife, Christine, contacted Sen. Moran's office for assistance. Within three months of Sen. Moran's office working with Col. Benne to engage the VA, Col. Benne was given a favorable decision on his adaptive housing claim and provided SAH grants.\r\nThis legislation  developed to prevent future difficulties similar to those Col. Benne faced while trying to access an SAH grant  will allow blind veterans to access this grant program and double the maximum number of awarded grants from 3 to 6 per veteran. It will also increase the number of authorized applications per fiscal year from 30 to 120.\r\nCol. Benne, a Spring Hill, Kan. native and University of Kansas School of Pharmacy graduate, served at both Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth during his 23 years of service in the United States Army, most recently as chief of the Department of Public Health at Irwin Army Medical Hospital on Fort Riley. Col. Benne passed away on December 7, 2019 due to complications from his disability. His wife, Christine, resides in Manhattan, KS and is an active member of the Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.\r\nItems to Note: \r\n \r\nThe Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019 was introduced in July 2019.\r\nIt was advanced by the Senate on March 26 and passed by the House of Representatives on July 21.\r\nPresident Trump signed the legislation into law on August 8.\r\n \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-announces-5-million-grant-for-topeka-metro-transit-authority", "Sen. Moran Announces $5 Million Grant for Topeka Metro Transit Authority", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)  member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development  today announced a $4,987,500 grant to the Topeka Metro Transit Authority (MTA) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s FY2020 Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program.\r\nThe Topeka Metro Transit Authority works diligently to connect citizens with their community and these federal resources will further support their mission, said Sen. Moran. Affordable local transit is important to the economies of our metro areas, and I look forward to continuing my work with local leaders to modernize the Topeka transit system.\r\nWith the funding we receive from this grant, Topeka Metro will be able to improve our operations by replacing a portion of our aging bus fleet, while also investing in technology to enhance communication with our bus operators, said Topeka Metro General Manager Bob Nugent. In addition, we are pleased to once again partner with Evergy to provide improved service in our community.\r\nThe grant will be used to add seven diesel buses to the Topeka MTA's fleet, provide an electric utility redundant connection to safeguard against electrical failure and install solar-powered signage displays.\r\nItems to Note: \r\n \r\nSen. Moran wrote a letter of support for this grant in March.\r\nLast year, Topeka MTA received $1.7 million for the purchase of low- and zero-emission busses.\r\n \r\n\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-statement-presidents-executive-actions", "Davids Statement on the President's Executive Actions", "2020-08-10", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on the President's recent executive actionsin response to the coronavirus pandemic:\n\nI've continued to push for Congressional leaders and the White House to reach a bipartisan agreement on a relief package that addresses this crisis head on and helps Kansas families, workers, and small businesses weather this pandemic. People's lives and livelihoods are at stake  and they are exhausted by the Washington political games that get us nowhere.\n\nInstead of working with Congress to reach a deal, the President announced executive actions that do not come close to meeting the scale of the crisis we're facing. People are struggling without expanded unemployment insurance or housing support, but it's far from clear that anyone can get more help under the Administration's proposal. Meanwhile, the plan threatens to defund Social Security and Medicare at a time when people need them both more than ever.\n\nIt's Congress' constitutional responsibility to meet this challenge, and only a bipartisan bill can do that.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/two-landmark-bills-passed-new-jobs-in-ks", "Two Landmark Bills Passed & New Jobs in Kansas", "2020-08-10", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nPassing Landmark Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Legislation\r\nOn Wednesday, my landmark veteran mental health and suicide prevention legislation with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act passed the U.S. Senate with overwhelming support. This legislation will strengthen community organizations already providing support to veterans, bolster research efforts on brain and mental health conditions, expand upon telehealth partnerships to deliver better care to our veterans in rural areas, allow veterans to take advantage of emerging, complementary and integrative programs, and so much more.\r\nSadly, our veterans continue to struggle with mental health, and through no fault of their own, this pandemic has led to more veterans being isolated from friends and family and cut off from lifesaving services. Now, more than ever, we need to invest into mental health services for veterans especially for those in hard-to-reach areas in rural America.\r\nCommander Hannon, the bill's namesake, believed in taking tangible actions to tackle big challenges, and that is exactly what this legislation will do for the care, treatment and support of America's veterans. This bill is a comprehensive and aggressive approach to connect more veterans with mental health care, and I call on the House to quickly pass this bill and send it to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\n\r\nMy Sweeping Olympic Reform Legislation Unanimously Passes the Senate\r\nOn Tuesday, my sweeping Olympic reform legislation that I authored with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) unanimously passed the Senate. This legislation will implement reforms to protect and empower Olympic and amateur athletes.\r\nOn January 25, 2018, the day after Larry Nassar was sentenced to life in prison, I opened a Senate investigation as Chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the health and safety of Olympic and amateur athletes into how USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Michigan State University allowed girls and young women to be assaulted and abused for over two decades. The joint investigation included four committee hearings, hundreds of interviews Olympic athletes and survivors and the retrieval over 70,000 pages of documents. This bipartisan effort with Sen. Blumenthal culminated in the production of a comprehensive investigative report and S. 2330, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act.\r\nThis week's Senate passage of our legislation marks a critical step towards providing effective safeguards and protections to Olympic, Paralympic and amateur athletes pursuing the sports they love. We could not have passed this bill in the Senate without the input and guidance of the survivors  athletes who traveled to Washington countless times, shared their stories and demanded change.\r\nWhile powerful institutions failed these survivors in the past, we weren't going to. We will continue working to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law - for the survivors and all of our nation's future athletes.\r\n\r\nUrban Outfitters to Add Up To 2,000 Jobs in Kansas\r\nOn Wednesday, I joined leaders in Kansas to announce that Urban Outfitters will be building a new 888,000-square-foot distribution center located next to the Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County. This partnership will create up to 2,000 new jobs in Kansas.\r\nI was pleased to play a part in recruiting Urban Outfitters to Kansas, which will bring good-paying jobs to our state and be beneficial for both Urban Outfitters and the Kansas economy. I'm confident more businesses will continue to partner with our state as we work to bring more jobs and industries to Kansas.\r\n\r\nCalling for Further Support of COVID-19 Health Priorities\r\nThis weekend, I spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to get an update on the next coronavirus relief bill negotiations. This legislation needs to be focused on our health, with support for more testing, personal protective equipment and a vaccine development, but both parties remain far apart. These things need to be decided now, and I am supportive of relief package this focuses on health-related priorities to help get us healthy and knowing that we are healthy so Kansans and American can safely return to work. The President's recent executive orders provide needed relief on issues that are important to everyday Kansans and are forcing the hand of Congress to get us to do what needs to be done.\r\nCondemning Destruction in Portland & Other Cities\r\nOver the past several months, our nation has witnessed disturbing acts of destruction and lawlessness in cities such as Portland, Oregon that are far-flung from the peaceful protests our Constitution protects. I believe we must listen and learn from the Kansans and Americans who have or are still experiencing injustices to determine the right path forward and create a more perfect union. However, violent and destructive behavior is unacceptable and only undermines the ongoing efforts in this country to engage in important dialogue about social justice and police reform.\r\nIntroducing Comprehensive Veteran Benefits Legislation\r\nOn Thursday, I introduced legislation to improve various veteran benefits in multiple areas. I'm proud to introduce this legislation, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020, which will expand education benefits for servicemembers and their families; improve veterans pension benefits; expand survivors benefits for the families of Medal of Honor recipients, our Guardsmen and Reservists; and enhance burial benefits for our servicemembers and veterans. I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate and House for including their provisions in this legislation that will support our veterans and their families in the years to come.\r\nUrging Against Phosphate Fertilizers Tariffs for Kansas Ag\r\nOn Tuesday I led a group of senators in urging Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission Jason Kearns and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to not impose tariffs on imported phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia. About 85 percent of phosphate fertilizers imported into the United States each year come from Morocco and Russia. The proposed tariffs would limit Kansas farmers' access to affordable fertilizers, and phosphate fertilizers are relied on to produce a variety of crops in Kansas, including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and sorghum. These tariffs would result in higher input costs for farmers already facing a downturn in the agriculture economy. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to protect Kansas farmers from unnecessary financial harm.\r\nQuestioning the FTC Regarding Data Privacy\r\nOn Wednesday, I questioned the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding both domestic and international data privacy law. I asked FTC Chairman Joseph Simons whether businesses affected by a recent European Union (EU) court ruling which struck down the EU  US Privacy Shield can expect a reasonable approach from the FTC in terms of data privacy enforcement.\r\nPrivacy Shield was a framework for regulating exchanges of personal data for commercial purposes between the European bloc and the U.S. Many small or medium-sized businesses in Kansas utilized this framework for transatlantic commerce, and this ruling causes these companies great uncertainty. Commissioner Christine Wilson agreed with me that a preemptive federal privacy framework would assist the US government in reaching consensus with other governments when it comes to future data privacy agreements. The Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act, which I introduced earlier this year would provide such a uniform national standard that governs the collection, processing, and protection of consumers' personal data. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Committee and the Senate to ensure that Americans' data is secure and privacy is protected.\r\nSupporting the Federal Research Pipeline\r\nThis week, I led a letter with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and 21 of our colleagues in support of funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the next coronavirus package. NIH Director Francis Collins estimates that around $15 billion in federal research has been lost due to coronavirus safety precautions, keeping our researchers from their labs and halting important research. It is crucial that this research begin to move forward again in order to find new cures and treatments for diseases, bringing down costs on our health care system overall and improving the daily lives of our citizens who suffer from these diseases.\r\nLeading the Senate VA Committee in Advancing 12 Veteran-Related Bills\r\nThis week, as chairman of the Senate VA Committee I convened a business meeting on legislation our committee has been working on for the last several months. We successfully passed 12 bills out of committee following six months of oversight and a dozen hearings and roundtables where we heard from veterans, veteran organizations and from the VA about how we can better serve our nation's veterans.\r\nWe considered several pieces of legislation that would improve access to VA benefits for those exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances that were informed by a roundtable on toxic exposure I led earlier this year. We also advanced legislation that will help VA to better address the unique needs of women veterans when they access benefits or health care. My recent roundtable on women and minority veterans helped the committee in updating this legislation, as well as a bill aimed at expanding nursing home care for Native American veterans. Another bill our committee advanced expands VA's ability to deliver care to rural veterans via telehealth. Serving rural veterans through innovative approaches like telehealth is one of my top priorities as Chairman, and I was pleased we were able to hold a hearing in July to hear from VA on their efforts to deliver expanded telehealth care.\r\nI am proud of the work our VA Committee has been able to accomplish for veterans despite unprecedented national challenges and adapting to new ways of conducting business amid COVID-19. The bills considered represent a bipartisan list of priorities, and I look forward to our ongoing collaboration with my Senate colleagues to make certain they pass the full Senate.\r\n\r\nSpeaking with Dr. Roper Regarding Air Force Innovation\r\nOn Friday, I visited with Dr. Will Roper, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. We spoke about how Kansas will factor into a number of on-going efforts in the Air Force. We started by discussing the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program, which is seeking to develop the next generation of fighter aircraft. We also discussed the Air Force's Agility Prime program, an innovative initiative that seeks to utilize the commercial unmanned flying vehicle market for military purposes, such as troop transports and logistics. I always enjoy my calls with Dr. Roper. He is a great fan of what Kansas has to offer for the future of aerospace and technology.\r\nVisiting Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Facility\r\nOn Monday, I toured the Saint Luke's Health System South Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park with Saint Luke's South CEO Bobby Olm-Shipman and many of the doctors, nurses and rehabilitation specialists on their staff. As chairman of the Senate VA Committee, it was also good to hear of the rehabilitation options that veterans in the area have access to at Saint Luke's through the MISSION Act's focus on community care. We also discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on their health system. Thank you to Mr. Olm-Shipman and the entire staff at St. Luke's for their commitment to rehabilitation and caring for Kansans.\r\n\r\nConnecting with the PRA Group in Hutchison\r\nOn Friday, I met with PRA Group CEO Kevin Stevenson to discuss the necessary measures they took to ensure employees at their Hutchinson location were able to continue going in to work safely after the onset of COVID-19. Since establishing this call center in Hutchinson about 20 years ago, the Hutchinson location has become one of their highest performing and fastest growing locations globally. This is a major testament to the work ethic of Kansans and I appreciate PRA Group's dedication to its presence in our state.\r\nPaying My Respects to Dick Bond\r\nOn Monday, I attended a funeral for former Kansas State Senator Dick Bond in Overland Park and pay my respects. Dick dedicated his life to service, including more than a decade in the Kansas State Senate. He worked diligently behind the scenes on behalf of Kansans for decades before running for office himself, demonstrating his dedication to Kansas. Our state is a better place because of his public service, and I am a better person because of his friendship. Robba and I were saddened to hear of his passing and have been praying for his wife Sue and his family.\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-davids-statement-medicaid-expansion-missouri", "Rep. Davids statement on Medicaid Expansion in Missouri", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Sharice Davids released the followingstatement on Missouri's vote to expand Medicaid:\nYesterday, Missouri voters chose to join the 37 other states across the country that have expanded Medicaid, weeks after our neighbors in Oklahoma did the same. Yet here in Kansas, expansion remains stalled in the legislature because of partisan politics.\nFrom skyrocketing prescription drug prices to rising premiums, too many Kansans are struggling with the basic costs of healthcare and access to quality coverage,and that was even before we faced this unprecedented pandemic that has caused millions of Americans to lose their health insurance. Kansas deserves better. It's far past time to join the rest of our region and expand Medicaid to extend health care coverage to an estimated 150,000 people.\"\nDavids has been a vocal advocate for Medicaid expansion since first running for Congress and has worked to support it at the federal level. She recently was able to secure provisions in the Affordable Care Enhancement Act, which passed the House in June, that would incentivize states like Kansas to expand Medicaid by resetting the amount that the federal government matches states' investment for Medicaid expansion, starting at 100 percent.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2588", "Rep. Estes Announces More Than $411,000 in Funding for Wichita Housing Choice Vouchers", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Announces More Than $411,000 in Funding for Wichita Housing Choice Vouchers \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        August 5, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON  TodayCongressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced CARES Act funding for the Wichita Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program. Of this funding, $399,808 will go to the traditional Housing Choice Voucher Program, and an additional $11,230 will be awarded for the Mainstream Voucher Program.\r\nThe Wichita Housing Authority's voucher programs allow families, seniors and those with disabilities to afford housing in the private market. The Mainstream Voucher Program specifically serves non-elderly Americans with cognitive and physical disabilities.\r\nKansans continue to face uncertainty and financial hardship due to the economic shutdowns to battle our recent public health crisis, said Rep. Estes. It's critical that vulnerable members of our community have access tosafe, reliable housingin the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Actallowsthe federal government toassistWichita and communities across our state recover.\r\nRep. Estesvoted in supportof the CARES Act, which allocated $472.2 million in flexible funding for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.\r\nRon Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-joins-kansas-leaders-to-announce-urban-outfitters-partnership-to-bring-2-000-new-jobs-to-kansas", "Sen. Moran Joins Kansas Leaders to Announce Urban Outfitters Partnership to Bring 2,000 New Jobs to Kansas", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced that Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) will build a new 880,000-square-foot omni-channel distribution center that will be located on ancillary land at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County. The partnership between the State of Kansas and Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters will create up to 2,000 new jobs and invest approximately $350 million in Kansas over several years.\r\nThis decision to locate Urban Outfitters' new distribution center in Wyandotte County was months in the making, and I'm pleased they selected Kansas to be their new home, said Sen. Moran. This partnership will bring good-paying jobs to our state and be beneficial for both Urban Outfitters and the Kansas economy. I'm confident more businesses will continue to partner with our state as we work to bring more jobs and industries to Kansas.\r\nUrban Outfitters cited Kansas' central location, transportation infrastructure and skilled workforce as key factors in choosing Kansas for its distribution operation, acknowledging the location as critical to its distribution network. The Kansas Department of Commerce worked closely with KC SmartPort, the Kansas City Area Development Council, the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council and Unified Government of Wyandotte County.\r\nURBN is incredibly excited for the opportunity to become a part of the Kansas community, said URBN Chief Development Officer Dave Ziel. Our priorities in identifying the home for our new omni-channel distribution center focused on people, and it was the quality of the local workforce and the commitment of their representatives in the state that convinced us this is the right place to be. This facility will enable us to support continued digital growth at all our brands, and it will allow us to reach our digital customers faster and more efficiently than ever before. As the center of our distribution network this facility makes Kansas a home for us for the long-term, and we look forward to building relationships across the state as we grow together.\r\nStatements from Kansas Leaders:\r\nI'm excited to announce our new partnership with URBN and to welcome them to Kansas, said Governor Laura Kelly. This is a transformational project for our state, bringing a new, high-profile corporate partner and as many as 2,000 good-paying jobs. This was a true collaboration to generate an economic development success story that will deliver benefits in Wyandotte County and beyond in our state. Rebuilding our economic development efforts has been one of my administration's top priorities, and it's good that we did. Our path to economic recovery will be through the investments we make to our economic development, infrastructure, education, and health care. Our new foundation will encourage more companies like URBN to bring their business to Kansas.\r\nThis project not only reflects the type of company our state is poised to recruit, it's also a testament to how we want to work, said Secretary David Toland. Like the creative folks at URBN, our team was constantly thinking outside the box, considering many angles, remaining flexible, collaborating and putting great minds together to make this work.\r\nWe are excited to welcome URBN to Wyandotte County, reaffirming our role in attracting new development and investment to the region, said Wyandotte County Mayor/CEO Dave Alvey. URBN's community-centric mission, with a continued commitment to reducing employment barriers, good wages and benefits, and local and minority hiring preferences sets them apart. While our region continues to feel the economic impact of COVID, it is new investment and economic development efforts like this that will allow our community to rebound quicker by creating new jobs, additional revenue, and future growth.\r\nThis is an exciting opportunity in Hillwood's partnership with NASCAR and with URBN, said Chairman of Perot Companies and Hillwood Ross Perot. Kansas' workforce and infrastructure make it an ideal location for URBN's new fulfillment center, and we look forward to working with them to develop their new state-of-the-art facility.\r\nURBN's selection of Kansas City is significant, and our region's central location, robust infrastructure and access to a skilled workforce position the company for continued growth, said Kansas City Area Development Council President and CEO Tim Cowden. As a company that is socially conscious and has a mission to do better every day,' the presence of URBN will be a strong addition to our business community as we all continue to ensure KC is a welcoming, equitable and collaborative place to live and work.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/moran-blumenthal-olympic-reform-legislation-unanimously-passes-the-senate", "Moran-Blumenthal Olympic Reform Legislation Unanimously Passes the Senate", "2020-08-04", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed sweeping Olympic reform legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)  chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee with jurisdiction and oversight authority over the health and safety of U.S. Olympic and amateur athletes  that will reform the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in the wake of abuse allegations that touched nearly all corners of Olympic sport.\r\nSens. Moran and Blumenthal introduced the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athlete Act in July of 2019 following an eighteen-month investigation into systemic abuse within the U.S. Olympic movement. The joint investigation was launched the day after Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison and included four subcommittee hearings, interviews with Olympic athletes and survivors, and the retrieval of over 70,000 pages of documents.\r\nToday's Senate passage of our Olympic reform legislation marks a critical step towards providing effective safeguards and protections to Olympic, Paralympic and amateur athletes pursuing the sports they love, Moran and Blumenthal said. We could not have passed this bill in the Senate today without the input and guidance of the survivors  athletes who traveled to Washington countless times, shared their stories and demanded change. While powerful institutions failed these survivors in the past, we aren't going to.\r\nWe are grateful to our Senate colleagues who provided support and input leading up to today's passage, and we look forward to working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives and the White House to get these critical reforms across the finish line  for the survivors and all of our nation's future athletes, Moran and Blumenthal continued.\r\nThis bill is cosponsored by Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Companion legislation of the Moran-Blumenthal Olympic reform bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Cal.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Dianna DeGette (D-Colo.) and Susan Brooks (R-Ind.).\r\nStatements from Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and Grace French:\r\nOne person abused is too many. For years, USA Gymnastics and the USOPC tried to avoid responsibility for our abuse and put their own interests before those of athletes. They treated Larry Nassar like a PR problem, not a sexual abuse problem. USA Gymnastics and USOPC were happy to claim us when it benefited their bottom line, taking credit for medal performances and publishing ads with our photos, but not when we came forward to demand accountability for their culture of abuse. That stops now. After every major institution charged with athlete safety failed us, I am grateful to Senators Moran and Blumenthal for keeping their promise to bring real accountability to USOPC, said Aly Raisman, captain of both the 2012 \"Fierce Five\" and 2016 \"Final Five\" U.S. women's Olympic gymnastics teams and a six-time Olympic medalist.\r\nWhen athletes dream of competing for their country, standing on the podium, listening to their national anthem, they don't imagine they'd be forced to suffer years of sexual abuse to get there. Larry Nassar was an abusive monster, who preyed on thousands of young, vulnerable girls. He abused my trust, he abused my body, and he left scars on my psyche that may never go away. Equally disturbing is the fact that he couldn't have gotten away with his crimes for as long as he did, if it were not for powerful institutions looking the other way, and enabling his abuse. For too long, the wrong people held all the power  now, it's back in the hands of the athletes, where it belongs. This bill recognizes that USOC failed us, and put child athletes at risk. I am grateful to the Senate for passing this bill, and look forward to see the House of Representatives take the next step to hold the leadership of USOPC fully accountable for their failures, said McKayla Maroney, a member of the U.S. women's Fierce Five gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she won a gold medal in the team and an individual silver medal in the vault event.\r\nThe organizations whose job it was to protect us failed. They perpetuated a culture of abuse, neglect and a win-at-all-costs mentality, which harmed hundreds of survivors. On behalf of all members of Team USA, I thank Senators Moran and Blumenthal for listening to the voices of survivors and taking bold action to hold USOPC accountable for their failure to protect athletes from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, said Jordyn Wieber, an Olympic gold medalist and member of the U.S. women's Fierce Five Olympic gymnastics team.\r\nThe last few years of scandals in athletics have shown us only the tip of the iceberg of abuse in sport. A massive cultural upending still needs to take place in our Olympic Movement, to put athlete-welfare first, well ahead of medals, money, or clout. Cultural change can come from the governance changes that are embedded in Senate Bill 2330. The three years of work that have gone into this legislation, and the support from those inside the Olympic Movement - over 1,000 Olympians, Paralympians, elite athletes, survivors, coaches, organizations and supporters - show us how desperately reform is needed. Senator Moran and Blumenthal's legislative efforts will be the start to a much-needed cultural upending, that will better protect and serve our nation's athletes, said Grace French, survivor and Founder and President of the Army of Survivors.\r\nPrevious Action on the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act: \r\n \r\nThe legislation was introduced on July 30, 2019. Read Sens. Moran and Blumenthal's editorial announcing their sweeping legislation in USA Today here.\r\nThe legislation was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee on November 13, 2019.\r\n \r\nThe Moran-Blumenthal Investigative Report & Legislation: \r\n \r\nClick here to read the senators' full investigative report, findings and recommendations.\r\nClick here to read revised bill text.\r\nClick here to read a one-page summary of the bill.\r\nClick here to read a section-by-section summary of the bill.\r\n \r\nThe bipartisan Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act:\r\n \r\nEmpowers athletes by giving them a seat at the decision-making table, and significantly increases athlete representation on governing boards, committees and panels within National Governing Bodies (NBGs) and the USOPC to help identify problematic policies and practices faster, while prioritizing athlete-centric solutions;\r\nBolsters resources for the U.S. Center for SafeSport while ensuring its independence from the USOPC and the NGBs;\r\nRequires relevant SafeSport training, so athletes know how to identify abuse, and so adults know how to prevent it;\r\nStrengthens and codifies reporting mandates for adults with knowledge of any allegation of child abuse of an amateur athlete;\r\nProtects individuals who report emotional, physical or sexual abuse of an athlete from retaliation within the Olympic movement;\r\nPromotes safety by requiring NGBs to enforce SafeSport sanctions and directing SafeSport to maintain a public list of all barred coaches and individuals;\r\nBolsters USOC auditing and reporting requirements, so that Congress can better provide regular oversight; and\r\nEstablishes legislative mechanisms by which Congress can dissolve the Board of the U.S. Olympic Committee and decertify NGBs.\r\n \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-leads-senate-colleagues-in-urging-administration-to-not-impose-tariffs-on-phosphate-fertilizers", "Sen. Moran Leads Senate Colleagues in Urging Administration to not Impose Tariffs on Phosphate Fertilizers", "2020-08-04", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today led a group of Senators in urging Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission Jason Kearns and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to not impose tariffs on imported phosphate fertilizer to make certain Kansas farmers have access to affordable fertilizers for their crops.\r\nU.S. farmers depend on affordable phosphate fertilizers to produce a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, sorghum, sugar beets, and fruits and vegetables, the Senators wrote. Phosphorous accounts for approximately 20 percent of fertilizer usage and 15 percent of total cash costs for producers. The imposition of duties between 30.72 and 71.50 percent on phosphate fertilizers, as sought by the petitioner, would result in higher input costs for U.S. farmers.\r\nSenators John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) joined Senator Moran in signing the letter to Chairman Kearns and Secretary Ross. \r\n\r\nThe full letter can be found here or below.\r\nDear Secretary Ross and Chairman Kearns,\r\nWe write in opposition to the countervailing duty (CVD) petition filed on June 26, 2020 against the import of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, and urge the Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission to reject the imposition of duties in its preliminary injury determination (Inv. No. 701-TA-650-651). \r\nU.S. farmers depend on affordable phosphate fertilizers to produce a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, sorghum, sugar beets, and fruits and vegetables. Phosphorous accounts for approximately 20 percent of fertilizer usage and 15 percent of total cash costs for producers. The imposition of duties between 30.72 and 71.50 percent on phosphate fertilizers, as sought by the petitioner, would result in higher input costs for U.S. farmers. \r\nAgricultural producers have faced multiple years of low commodity prices and declining farm income. The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute estimates net cash farm income will decrease from $120.4 billion in 2019 to $102.2 billion in 2020. The analysis forecasts net cash farm income to fall even further, to $95.1 billion, in 2021. It is especially important during this downturn in the agricultural economy to avoid imposing unnecessary duties that will limit fertilizer supply options and raise the cost of production for farmers.\r\nSevere weather events in 2019, including historic floods, reduced planted acres and fertilizer applications compared to previous years. This decrease in demand for phosphate fertilizer, coupled with large inventories carried over from 2018, pushed the price of fertilizer down. The decrease in fertilizer prices, which has been driven by market forces, has been helpful to U.S. farmers and does not warrant intervention into the market by imposing duties that will have long term consequences. \r\nGiven the financial harm duties on phosphate fertilizers will cause U.S. farmers, we urge the Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission to deny this petition. Thank you for your efforts to fairly enforce U.S. trade laws and for your consideration of our views. \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2586", "Rep. Estes Accepts 'Medicare Advantage Champion of the Year' Award", "2020-08-03", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) was honored as a \"Medicare Advantage Champion of the Year\" by the Better Medicare Alliance, the nation's leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage. He accepted the award at a virtual event on July 28. Rep. Estes was among a bipartisan group of only eight honorees in the U.S. Congress.\"It's an honor to receive the Champion of the Year award from Better Medicare Alliance,\"said Rep. Estes. \"Medicare Advantage gives seniors peace of mind and comprehensive coverage at an affordable rate. I'll continue to champion seniors and ensure the programs designed for them are working fairly and efficiently.\" \"Kansas seniors deserve to know who is standing up for their health coverage on Capitol Hill. On behalf of our nearly 500,000 grassroots advocates nationwide, we're proud to honor Representative Estes with our 'Medicare Advantage Champion of the Year' award for doing exactly that,\"said Allyson Y. Schwartz, President and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance. \"Like each of this year's awardees, Representative Estes has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to protect and strengthen the high-quality, affordable and innovative care offered by Medicare Advantage. With Medicare Advantage beneficiaries reporting a 99% satisfaction rating and nearly $1,600 in cost savings per year, we look forward to continuing to work alongside leaders like Representative Estes to champion seniors and improve health care financing and delivery through a strong and sustained Medicare Advantage.\" The \"Medicare Advantage Champion of the Year\" award recognizes lawmakers who have worked in a bipartisan fashion to strengthen and protect Medicare Advantage, the public-private partnership in Medicare relied on today by more than 24 million seniors and Americans with disabilities. There are more than 28,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Kansas' 4th Congressional District alone.\r\n Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2587", "Rep. Estes Tours WAVE, Discusses RESTART Act", "2020-08-03", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Estes Tours WAVE, Discusses RESTART Act \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        August 3, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WICHITA  Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) toured Wichita's WAVE event venue Saturday to see firsthand the negative effects of COVID-19-related closures and to discuss the RESTART Act.  \r\n  \r\n\"COVID-19 has had a disproportionate effect on the independent venue industry. The industry stands to lose $9 billion in ticket sales alone, not counting food and beverage purchases and 90% of these venues say they will have to close in the next few months without federal assistance,\"said Rep. Estes. \"The RESTART Act would provide a lifeline to venues like WAVE, ensuring they can survive this pandemic and return to showcasing music in 2021.\"  \r\n  \r\n\"Without emergency federal assistance, our $10 billion industry's collapse is imminent,\"said Adam Hartke, co-chair of NIVA's Advocacy Committee and president of Hartke Presents. \"We were the first to close, have no revenue, but we still have all the colossal overhead of rent, mortgages, utilities, insurance and taxes. When NIVA members were recently surveyed, 90% said if the shutdown lasts six months or longer and there's no federal help, they'll shutter forever. The RESTART Act provides the assistance we need to get through the shutdown until we can reopen safely and once again become the economic generators for our communities that we've always been.\" A Chicago study last year showed that for every $1 spent on a ticket at a local venue, $12 of economic activity was generated for area businesses such as restaurants, retailers and hotels. \"We need Congress to pass the RESTART Act before the August recess or there won't be any industry left to save in the fall.\"  \r\n  \r\nRep. Estes is a cosponsor of H.R. 7481, the RESTART Act. This legislation would help independent venues and other businesses weather the storm of COVID-19 by providing long term loans of up to $12 million for payroll, rent, utilities, PPE and sanitation equipment to keep their business open and their workers employed and safe. The loans would cover theses costs for up to six months for businesses that employ fewer than 500 employees and have suffered a 25% or greater loss of revenue because of COVID-19. The loans would have a payback term of seven years and will carry no interest for the first two years. The loans are 100% forgivable for the businesses that use them to keep operating.Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/kansas-company-receives-fda-approval-for-rapid-testing", "Kansas Company Receives FDA Approval for Rapid Testing", "2020-08-03", "2020", "2020-08", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "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.\r\nKansas Company Receives FDA Approval for Rapid Testing\r\nOn Friday, a Kansas company received Emergency Use Authorization from the US. Food and Drug Administration for their saliva-based COVID-19 tests that can be completed at home. This just approved COVID-19 test will be utilized by our universities to widely test their student bodies in a manner that will allow them to safely reopen their campuses to students. After touring the Kansas testing facility, I worked with the FDA to quickly get this test approved in time for the scheduled reopening of our schools. This type of accurate, fast and easy-to-use testing is crucial not only for our universities, but also the safe reopening of all public spaces. As their capacity increases, more Kansans will have access to fast and easy results, marking a huge step forward in being able to continue safely reopening our economy and returning to normal. Read moreherefrom KNSS Radio.\r\nIntroducing Toby Crouse to the Senate Judiciary Committee\r\nOn Wednesday, I had the honor ofintroducingToby Crouse of Galva to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Toby was nominated by President Trump to serve as a federal judge for the United States Federal District Court for the District of Kansas. A fellow graduate of the University of Kansas Law School, Toby Crouse is a talented lawyer and a well-qualified nominee for the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Kansas. Toby has gained valuable experience in private practice as a clerk for Tenth Circuit Judge Mary Briscoe and as the State of Kansas Solicitor General where he assisted Attorney General Derek Schmidt in arguing three Supreme Court cases which all occurred in a 30-day time span. I am confident Toby understands and has a commitment to both the law and the people of Kansas, and I urged my colleagues to quickly move his nomination.\r\n\r\nCondemning Destruction in Portland & Other Cities\r\nOver the past several months, our nation has witnessed disturbing acts of destruction and lawlessness in cities such as Portland, Oregon that are far-flung from the peaceful protests our Constitution protects. I believe we must listen and learn from the Kansans and Americans who have or are still experiencing injustices to determine the right path forward and create a more perfect union. However, violent and destructive behavior is unacceptable and only undermines the ongoing efforts in this country to engage in important dialogue about social justice and police reform.\r\nSpeaking with Secretary Chao Regarding Investment in Kansas Infrastructure\r\nOn Thursday, I spoke with the Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on the importance of BUILD grants to the state of Kansas. The BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant program allows for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that have a significant local or regional impact. Particularly as our communities have been hit hard by COVID-19, these BUILD grants are vital to providing the resources needed for updating our local infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Chao throughout this important process.\r\nDiscussing the Challenges and Opportunities of Telehealth\r\nOn Wednesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee conducted a hearing on theopportunities and limitations of VA telehealth, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. As the VA and our health systems have adapted to the needs of the moment and rapidly expanded the use of telemedicine, it is important that we evaluate what we have learned and take steps to map the way forward for the continued utilization of telehealth. While this flexible and time-saving modality can be very practical at times, it cannot entirely replace the need for face-to-face medical appointments, especially in rural areas of the country without sufficient broadband coverage. I was pleased to hear more about VA's innovative partnerships to reach rural veterans, and I will continue to monitor the progress of these initiatives and how the VA integrates a more robust use of telehealth into how we care for our veterans.As Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I look forward to continue working with the VA, industry and advocacy partners, and my colleagues in Congress to make certain that the option of high-quality care via telehealth, when effective and appropriate, is available to veterans in rural America and Indian Country.\r\n\r\nQuestioning Federal Officials Regarding Protecting KansasConsumers\r\nOn Wednesday, I questioned the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Kathleen Kraninger about consumer data protection as it relates to financial technology (fintech) companies. Many of these companies aggregate significant amounts of data from financial service platforms, typically after receiving authorization from the consumer. The number of people using fintech companies has grown significantly over the years, and data privacy and security must be a high priority. In many instances, consumers have access to and the ability to leverage the data in their financial records, subject to CFPB rules and regulation. Last week, the CFPB announced they started the rulemaking process related to third-party access to consumers' financial account data. I asked Director Kraninger about the goals of CFPB in this process to mitigate risks to consumers' data, and what fintech companies are doing to mitigate these risks. I will continue to work with the CFPB and my Senate colleagues to ensure that Americans' data is secure.\r\nAnnouncing Several FAA Grants for Kansas Airports\r\nWhether large or small, Kansas airports play an important role in the commerce and travel of our state. This week, I was pleased to announce that over $4.6 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration were awarded to the Manhattan Regional, Garnett Municipal, Newton City-County Airport and Lt. William M. Milliken Airports (details below). The grants will help upgrade the runways and surrounding areas to increase the airports' efficiency and support Kansas' aviation industry.\r\n \r\nManhattan Regional Airport received $3,190,862 to upgrade the runway.\r\nLt. William M. Milliken Airport in Eureka received $555,555 to upgrade the runway.\r\nNewton-City-County Airport received $569,526 to rebuild the airport taxiway.\r\nGarnett Municipal Airport received $326,000 to rebuild the airport apron.\r\n \r\nTouring Newton City-County Airport\r\nOn Friday, I met with local officials at the Newton City-County Airport and announced an over $500,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help reconstruct the airport taxiway. With over $150 million dollars in annual economic impact, the Newton airport is one of the top producing air facilities in the state. In addition, it was great to see multiple construction projects in the industrial park which will result in nearly 200 new jobs. I appreciated the conversation with Airport Director Brian Palmer and Harvey County Commissioner Chip Westfall about their views of how the FAA could reduce red tape and better promote general aviation in Kansas. Thanks to Newton City Manager Kelly McElroy for coordinating my visit.\r\nRead more about my visitherein the Newton Kansan.\r\n\r\nDiscussing Drug Trafficking in Kansas with the DEA\r\nOn Tuesday, I hosted a meeting with law enforcement officials from the DEA to discuss efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our state. Far too many lives in Kansas have been lost or devastated by addiction and the violence associated with drug trafficking. I am pleased that the DEA has increased assistance to Kansas over the past several months with a particular focus on methamphetamine and investigative support for state and local law enforcement agencies across the state. We discussed their appropriations requests as I chair the committee which provides funding to the Department of Justice, and the meeting highlighted the importance of partnerships as we work together to make our communities safe, healthy and drug-free.\r\nParticipating in the USMA Board of Visitors Meeting\r\nOn Wednesday, I participated in the West Point Board of Visitors Summer session in my role as a member of the West Point Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors consists of select Members of Congress and Presidential appointees who work with the institution to make certain that the cadets at West Point are receiving the education they need to lead our nation's Army. Some of the topics we discussed included what the academy learned from conducting a graduation ceremony and welcoming the freshman class to campus under the pandemic conditions. We encouraged West Point to share these lessons more broadly with school systems around the country. We also discussed the Confederate symbols at West Point and learned how the academy plans to reconcile its history and monuments with its commitment to treating all cadets and soldiers with dignity and respect. I am impressed with the way that the faculty, staff and students at West Point are handling these turbulent times, and I am confident that West Point will lead the way in developing solutions for these difficult problems, as they have with many other issues that impact our society. I look forward to reviewing their progress when we meet again in the fall.\r\nVisiting with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas\r\nOn Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting with both the leadership and board members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas, as well as representatives of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. We discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their organization and how they are responding and adapting to a world with limited in-person contact. For nearly 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has played an important role in our communities by providing mentorship to youth who often face overwhelming adversity. Each year, their one-on-one mentoring program provides thousands of young Kansans with positive role models and friends for them to lean on and learn from. These relationships are even more important during this pandemic. In a time when children are not in school and are staying home, a call from their Big is often the highlight of their day. As the nation continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, I remain committed to assisting Big Brothers Big Sisters and other youth serving organizations in their work to provide so many young Americans with positive influences and better opportunities. Thank you Big Brothers Big Sisters President and CEO Mary Shannon, former CEO Dan Soliday and board members Brandon Russell, Erika Turner, Steve Felimeier, Tom Gentile, James Nastars, Marty Cornejo and Joe Johnson for joining me, and all who are involved for your dedication to making a better life for so many. If you are interested in getting involved in BBBS, please visit their websitehere.\r\n\r\nMeeting with American AgCredit in Wichita\r\nOn Friday afternoon, I was invited to hear from staff at American AgCredit in northwest Wichita. It was emphasized that the agriculture industry has seen great change during the pandemic. They have experienced large hurdles like rural broadband connectivity and low commodity prices, but it was impressed upon me that our agriculture providers have quickly adapted and utilized technology to more effectively produce our food. It was clear to me that it is far too difficult for our farmers and ranchers to get credit, and I believe it is vital that our government not impair investments in our family farms. Thanks to American AgCredit Leadership for hosting me and providing insightful conversation.\r\n\r\nStopping by McCarthy's Auto Group\r\nOn Thursday, I stopped by McCarthy's Auto Group to speak with John McCarthy and his leadership team. I spoke with John several months ago as the COVID-19 pandemic had just started to impact our state. It was good to hear an update of how the federal relief packages have allowed him to keep his employees on the payroll and discuss the importance of safely reopening our economy. Thank you to John and his team for taking the time to speak with me.\r\nLiftoff! NASA's Perseverance Rover Heads to Mars\r\nOn Thursday, I stopped by McCarthy's Auto Group to speak with John McCarthy and his leadership team. I spoke with John several months ago as the COVID-19 pandemic had just started to impact our state. It was good to hear an update of how the federal relief packages have allowed him to keep his employees on the payroll and discuss the importance of safely reopening our economy. Thank you to John and his team for taking the time to speak with me. NASA and SpaceX also had an eventful weekend with the return of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken from the International Space Station. They splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday  the first U.S. splashdown in 45 years. Congratulations to NASA and SpaceX on a successful mission and welcome home to Astronauts Hurley and Behnken!\r\nCelebrating Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole's BirthdayOn Thursday, I joined a virtual event to celebrate the birthdays of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole. They both have contributed greatly to Kansas and exemplify the very best of our nation. Sen. Bob Dole served 27 years as a United States Senator for Kansas, over a decade as the Senate Majority Leader and later was a pivotal force in the creation the National World War II Memorial at which he (prior to coronavirus) regularly welcomes Honor Flights from Kansas. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, also served in the Senate and was a champion for many safety laws. She was the president of the Red Cross until 1999 and started the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help care for military families. They are both great Americans, and I was pleased they could be celebrated for their great work by leaders from across our nation and their friends.\r\nRecognizing my 2020 Summer InternsThis summer, eleven impressive youngstudentsdedicated their summer vacation to working on behalf of Kansans in my office. It was during my internship in Congress that I became interested in public service, and I appreciate these interns choosing to serve their fellow Kansans this summer. Our interns come from all over the Kansas and beyond and are some of the finest young people this country has to offer. I appreciate their hard work and ability to adapt to the unusual circumstances surrounding COVID-19, and I am proud to have them on my team this summer. Thank you Emily of Overland Park, Tatum of Wamego, Bradly of Fort Hays and Osceola, Nebraska, Peter of Overland Park, Matt of Olathe, Trey of Stockton, Nick of Overland Park, Adam of Hutchison, Sarah of Paradise, Tim of Howard and Tel of Holton. I have appreciated the opportunity to get to know each of you this summer. For more information regarding my intern program, please clickhere.\r\n\r\nHonored to Serve You in WashingtonIt is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.\r\nPlease let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://estes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2585", "Rep. Estes and Rep. Sanchez Introduce the HITS Act", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Ron Estes", "E000298", "estes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-California) introduced the Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act  legislation that allows qualified sound recording producers to deduct 100% of production expenses in the year they are incurred. This would provide parity with film, television and live theatrical productions that already benefit from this tax provision.  \r\n  \r\n\"Music is a powerful language that connects people of varying generations, backgrounds and experiences. The men and women who make music  either through writing, singing, playing or producing  deserve to have the same tax benefits as artists in the film, television and live theater industries,\"said Rep. Estes. \"The HITS Act is sound legislation that supports our creative communities throughout the United States and encourages music makers of all sizes and notoriety.\"  \r\n  \r\n\"We are living through tough times and nothing helps you escape like turning on your favorite album,\"said Rep. Sanchez. \"Similar to many families and workers across the country, the coronavirus has also had an enormous impact on music makers. Gigs have been canceled, studios shuttered, and creative writing sessions postponed. I'm proud to introduce the HITS Act with Rep. Estes. Our bill will provide small, independent creators with a bit of help getting back to work, making the music we turn to in good times and bad.\"  \r\n  \r\nThe HITS Act is supported by the Recording Academy, the organization responsible for the GRAMMY Awards and represents more than 21,000 performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and music professionals.  \r\n  \r\n\"The Recording Academy is proud to have worked alongside Reps. Snchez and Estes to develop the key provisions in the HITS Act,\"said Harvey Mason jr, Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy. \"The HITS Act will make a meaningful impact and help ease the financial burden for thousands of independent creators getting back on track, eager to share their creativity with the world. It will inspire new music and create opportunities for many of the vulnerable professionals in our community to persevere during these uncertain times.\"Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marshall.house.gov/media/press-releases/marshall-votes-against-partisan-funding-agenda", "Marshall Votes Against Partisan Funding Agenda", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "marshall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., voted against H.R.7617, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2021. Congressman Marshall issued the following statement after the vote:\n \n\tI cannot support this funding bill which is largely designed to stymie the goals of the Trump Administration and advance radical left-wing agenda items,said Rep. Marshall. This bill restricts President Trump's ability to build the southern border wall, contains a number of pro-abortion and anti-religious liberty provisions, eliminates several long-standing Second Amendment protections, and underfunds critical federal law enforcement to placate the left-wing mob House Democrats refuse to denounce.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/7/sen-moran-recognizes-2020-summer-interns", "Sen. Moran Recognizes 2020 Summer Interns", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today recognized the summer interns serving in his Washington D.C., Wichita and Manhattan offices.\r\nIt was during my internship in Congress that I became interested in public service, and I appreciate these interns choosing to serve their fellow Kansans this summer, said Sen. Moran. Our interns come from all over the Kansas and beyond and are some of the finest young people this country has to offer. I appreciate their hard work and ability to adapt to the unusual circumstances surrounding COVID-19, and I am proud to have them on my team this summer.\r\nEmily Brady, from Overland Park, is a senior at Kansas State University where she is studying strategic communications and public relations.\r\nTatum Brunkow, from Wamego, is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is studying agricultural economics.\r\nBradley DeMers, from Osceola, Nebraska, is a senior at Fort Hays State University where he is studying political science.\r\nPeter Donaldson, from Overland Park, is a junior at Texas Christian University where he is studying political science.\r\nMatt Kuckelman, from Olathe, is a junior at Kansas State University where he is studying political science and international area studies.\r\nTrey Kuhlmann, from Stockton, is a junior at Kansas State University where he is studying political science with a focus on global affairs and national security.\r\nNick Mauer, from Overland Park, is a recent graduate of Washington and Lee University where he studied political science and history.\r\nAdam Moore, from Hutchinson, is a senior at Sterling College where he is studying political science and history education.\r\nSarah Pelton, from Paradise, is a senior at Kansas State University where she is studying business marketing.\r\nTim Whetstone, from Howard, is a Cadet Third Class at the United States Air Force Academy where he is studying political science.\r\nTel Wittmer, from Holton, is a senior at Kansas State University where he is studying history education.\r\nClick here to download the photo.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSen. Moran and the 2020 Washington, D.C. summer interns: Bradley DeMers, Emily Brady, Tel Wittmer,\r\nPeter Donaldson, Trey Kuhlmann, Nick Mauer, Sarah Pelton and Adam Moore.\r\n\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 573, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "KS", "p2": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 503, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 70, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 573, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=KS&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "KS", "label": "KS", "count": 573, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 573, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-07-31,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emoran~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2F2020~2F7~2Fsen-moran-recognizes-2020-summer-interns", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KS&year=2020&_next=2020-07-31%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emoran~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2F2020~2F7~2Fsen-moran-recognizes-2020-summer-interns&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 133.97088600322604, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}