url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/administration-to-release-more-gtmo-detainees-in-january/,Administration To Release More GTMO Detainees In January,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to the Associated Press, the Administration will begin releasing the first of seventeen Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) detainees next week. Additionally, the article states that “the administration is continuing to pursue plans to find an alternate U.S.-based facility.” Upon hearing the news, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement: “Once again, the Administration refuses to listen to Kansans and the American people. At my recent town hall in Leavenworth, Leavenworth County residents voiced their unanimous concerns and frustrations with the President’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and transfer terrorists to the United States – possibly to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. It’s time for the President to drop this reckless campaign promise and instead focus on strengthening our national security.” Items To Note: Pentagon assessing Fort Leavenworth as possible site for Guantanamo transfers. (Lubold, Gordon, The Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Assessing Fort Leavenworth as Possible Site for Guantanamo Transfers, 08/14/15) Congresswoman Jenkins holds special town hall in Leavenworth on GTMO prisoner. http://jenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-pompeo-host-special-town-hall-on-gtmo-prisoner-transfer/ Congresswoman Jenkins and Leavenworth May write editorial explaining their bipartisan opposition to the President’s plan to close GTMO. http://journal.ijreview.com/2015/12/250687-why-we-dont-want-guantanamo-in-our-backyard/ President Obama signs NDAA barring transfer of GTMO detainees. http://jenkins.house.gov/press-releases/president-obama-signs-ndaa-barring-transfer-of-gtmo-detainees1/ President Obama’s plan to close GTMO would cost as much as $600 million. http://jenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-statement-on-pentagons-plan-to-close-guantanamo-bay-detention-center/",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=71aa088b-e534-4a9c-8baf-1519ba7ab6bc,Kansas Common Sense: Kansas Listening Tour Continues,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. I hope you and your family are enjoying this holiday season. Robba and I enjoyed a peaceful Christmas with our family and we wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. In January, my colleagues and I return to Capitol Hill and I am hopeful 2016 will be a year where Congress can work together for the well-being of our nation. I look forward to advocating for pro-growth policies that create jobs and more economic opportunity for every American, while protecting the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Thank you 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. Kansas Listening Tour ContinuesThis week, I continued my Kansas Listening Tour and kicked off the last of several stops around Kansas Ill be making in 2015 with a visit to Barnes. It was good to be in Washington County rather than Washington, D.C. The issues I focus on and work I do in Washington are significantly based on the conversations I have with Kansans. I have several more visits scheduled after Christmas including stops in Udall, Wellington, Clearwater, Haven, Hillsboro and Hill City. You can visit my website to learn more about these and other upcoming Kansas Listening Tour stops in your community. I hope youll come out and visit with me. On Monday, I headed Barnes, where around 30 town hall attendees came to Our Daily Bread Bake Shoppe to share concerns on a number of topics including the veterans health care, the farm economy, gun control, and the recent omnibus spending legislation. Thanks again to all the folks who came out and shared a dose of Kansas common sense, and to the folks at Our Daily Bread Bake Shoppe for coordinating and hosting my visit. Celebrating the Life of Bob KrauseLast Monday, Robba and I attended funeral services for Bob Krause who will be remembered for his more than 20 years of leadership at KansState University. Bobs efforts to attract new development projects like the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to K-State will have a lasting impact on not only the university, but also the Manhattan community and state of Kansas for years to come. Especially during this holiday season, we're keeping his wife Marty and their daughters in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks to Fall/Winter 2015 InternsMy own interest in public service was sparked by an internship for Kansas First District Congressman Keith Sebelius in 1974. As an intern, I had the chance to learn firsthand how a Congressional office operates and how the legislative process works. I am proud to be able to offer this same opportunity in my Senate office today where I have interns year-round who have a unique opportunity to work closely with my staff on behalf of Kansas. Thanks to the fall/winter 2015 interns Drake Williams of Overland Park; University of Kansas, and Rachel Gordon of Phillipsburg; Pepperdine University for all of your hard work. I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your dreams and begin your careers. Applications are already being accepted for internships in my Washington, D.C., office for the summer 2016 term. Congressional internships are open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in public service and have achieved academic excellence. Senate Incoming Email DisruptionOn Tuesday, December 22, several incoming emails failed to reach my office due to a Senate power outage. Your thoughts and concerns are very important to me. If you tried to email my office, subscribe to this newsletter, or have yourself removed from our outreach list on the morning of Dec. 22, please resubmit your request. Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-sends-letter-to-secretary-of-state-john-kerry/,Congresswoman Jenkins Sends Letter to Secretary of State John Kerry,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– On Tuesday, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) joined her colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State, John Kerry, expressing her opposition to his commitment, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, to waive a newly-enacted reform to the Visa Waiver Program that was clearly intended to cover individuals who have traveled to Iran in the past five years. After the letter was sent, Congresswoman Jenkins released the following statement: “Protecting Kansans from evil acts of terror is my top priority. That’s why I supported the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support, to help ensure our entry programs are properly secured and cannot be exploited by terrorists. We cannot allow exemptions for countries like Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism, to bypass our laws. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act is the law of the land – it must be fully enforced.” The following is the full text of the letter: December 22, 2015 The Honorable John Kerry Secretary of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary Kerry: We write to express our strong opposition to your commitment to waive a newly-enacted reform to the Visa Waiver Program that was clearly intended to cover individuals who have traveled to Iran in the past five years.  Congress recently passed this bipartisan reform to the Visa Waiver Program to preserve the program’s legitimate travel uses, while ensuring that individuals who pose a heightened terror and security risk to the United States receive appropriately-tailored security screening.  While we understand that Iranian officials have expressed their anxieties to you that this new provision could undermine business opportunities in Iran by international investors, it is beyond belief that those concerns would supersede a newly-enacted U.S. law designed to protect the American people from terrorism.  The Visa Waiver reform law, which passed the House of Representatives with near-unanimous support and was subsequently included in legislation signed by the President, clearly denies eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program to individuals who have traveled to a country that is “designated by the Secretary of State under section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, or any other provisions of law, as a country, the government of which has repeatedly provided support of acts of international terrorism.”  Surely, this provision applies to Iran, which has been designated by the U.S. Department of State as a State Sponsor of Terror for over twenty years. The facts here are simple: Iran remains one of the world’s leading State Sponsors of Terror, and a new U.S. law – which passed Congress in a bipartisan fashion and was signed by President Obama on December 18, 2015 – states that individuals who have traveled to such a country are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.  Instead, if nationals of the 38 Visa Waiver Program participating countries have recently visited Iran and wish to travel to the United States, they must follow the procedures that apply to travelers in the rest of the world.  This simply means that these individuals undergo the screening traditionally required to receive a visa, and must obtain a visa from a U.S. consulate abroad before entering the United States.   There is no legitimate justification to create a special exemption for Iran from an anti-terrorism and security law that was specifically designed to include Iran.  Iran does not get to veto U.S. security measures.  Therefore, it is imperative that the Obama Administration enforce the law with respect to the new, bipartisan anti-terror reforms in the Visa Waiver Program and not create a special carve-out for Iran.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=585c2688-8a61-46d7-ba6d-dc45b7eff6ef,Kansas Common Sense - Demanding Action at the Dole VA in Wichita,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. I wish you and your families safe travels during this holiday season.The Senate is out of session and Im back in Kansas. Here's a look out of my office window at the Christmas lights decorating Union Station here in Washington. Voting Against Omnibus Spending BillI voted against the $1.1 trillion federal spending bill known as the omnibus on Friday because it allows the Obama Administrations pattern of sidestepping Congress to enact flawed policy to continue on, unchecked. A successful negotiation is about give and take and should result in a balanced compromise. This deal fails to include important restrictions like allowing funds to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species and upholding the flawed Waters of the United States rule that increase the cost of doing business and result in higher electricity costs for Kansans. Instead, it gives the president and Congressional Democrats exactly what they wanted increased spending without accountability. Congress must uphold its responsibility to protect American families by reining in the executive branch.Click hereto hear me discuss this with WIBW 580 AM's Greg Akagi. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill Puts Food Safety, Common Sense FirstAs part of the omnibus, the agriculture appropriations bill prioritizes funding and directs policy within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food & Drug Administration. This year, as Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, Ive worked to make certain our bill is helpful to Kansas farmers and ranchers, funds new and ongoing research at our universities, supports rural development initiatives that benefit our communities, and rolls back laws and regulations that hinder our economy. I believe the agriculture appropriations bill produced by my subcommittee readily meets these goals. The bill increases funding for food and agriculture research. The research taking place at USDA and our universities is important to make certain our farmers and ranchers remain on the cutting edge of agriculture production. It also increased funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) development program.In the bill, farm policy and crop insurance are protected, despite major pressure from critics in Washington who seek to gut the programs. Additionally, voluntary conservation programs that are supported by landowners are funded through the agriculture bill. My bill also directs the USDA and HHS to stick solely to sound nutritional science when developing the new 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and to reject the ill-advised recommendations from the advisory committee based on factors outside of the committees expertise, such as environmental sustainability. The bill also repeals the beef and pork portions of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law that would have resulted in more than a billion dollars of retaliatory tariffs being applied to our exports to Canada and Mexico before the end of the year. Resolving this issue was critical not only to our agricultural producers, but also to the entire U.S. economy, which would have suffered had the retaliatory tariffs been put into place. Unlike a Farm Bill or many other pieces of legislation, an agriculture appropriations bill is written and passed each year. This gives me the ability to oversee and directly influence USDA and FDA on an annual basis. As we begin writing a new bill next year, Ill be continually working with the departments and agencies involved to be sure Kansas priorities are addressed. Demanding Action at the Robert J. Dole VA in WichitaI was troubled to learn about recent allegations of harassment and misconduct against personnel at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center by the KU School of Medicine-Wichita surgical trainees. My attempts to learn what actions the VA has taken in response to these allegations have resulted in mixed messages and inconsistencies, both from the Wichita VA and the VA Central Office. I sent a letter on Wednesday to VA Secretary McDonald, calling for detailed and specific answers regarding the timeline of events and the actions taken by the VA in response to the allegations. In addition to a letter, I will be meeting with officials at the Wichita VA later this month to discuss the allegations and the subsequent investigation. We must make certain those who came forward to shed light on their experiences are protected and that care for veterans has not been impacted by these potential wrongdoings. A thorough investigation for individuals who have misbehaved should be the expectation, not the exception. Veterans deserve a VA worthy of their service, and that includes a safe working environment for those who serve them. Click here to read my letter to VA Secretary McDonald. Calling on President Obama to Reconsider GITMO ProposalI joined a bipartisan coalition of city, county, state and federal elected office holders that represent Leavenworth County in calling on President Obama to bear in mind the concerns and thoughts of the citizens of Kansas before he considers transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. I am committed to supporting our military personnel in Kansas and across the country, particularly against this administrations unlawful pursuit. The closing of GITMO shouldnt happen without Congressional approval and certainly shouldnt be done through an executive order. Click here to view the letter. GAO Report Finds EPA Illegally Promoted Flawed WOTUS RuleA Government Accountability Office report that came out this week confirms what many of us have been saying for some time the EPA is clearly willing to do whatever is necessary to implement the Waters of the United States rule despite the overwhelming objections voiced by stakeholders. Click here to hear me discuss this with Kansas Ag Networks Greg Akagi. Click here to read the New York Times reporting on this topic. Visiting Kansas Health Care Facilities I had the opportunity to visit several health care facilities that provide quality care to Kansans this week. Kansans access to quality health care services determines whether they can remain in the communities they call home and whether their children can return to raise families of their own. First Care Clinic in Hays I visited First Care Clinic (FCC) in Hays and met with CEO Bryan Brady. We discussed the importance of health care providers receiving appropriate reimbursements for the care they provide in order to preserve medical access in rural areas. FCC is unique from other medical providers in its area because it provides general medical, dentistry, and mental health services to patients all in the same facility. FCC provides these services to patients of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay. This innovative clinic improves health outcomes for medically underserved patients and saves the health care system money by preventing illness and reducing costly emergency room visits. Lindsborg Community Hospital I visited Lindsborg Community Hospital (LCH) to visit with Administrator Larry Van Der Wege and his team. LCH is a general medical and surgical hospital affiliated with Salina Regional Health Center. Their mission is . . . caring for the health of the Smoky Valley communities. I was able to see LCHs upgraded medical equipment and visit with staff about how the hospital is enhancing the mental health services it provides for the community. We discussed the need for reasonable flexibility from the federal government for so that rural hospitals can provide a full range of services to their communities. The conversation also emphasized demonstrating meaningful use of electronic medical records under CMS regulations. Cloud County Health Center I visited Cloud County Health Center (CCHC), a Critical Access Hospital, in Concordia this week. I met with members of the hospitals Board of Trustees, CEO Cherri Waites, and hospital staff to discuss CCHCs efforts to address the health care needs of the Concordia community and future plans for the hospital. We toured the hospital where significant improvements are being made including the purchase and installation of new radiology equipment. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittee, it is useful for me to visit these and other Kansas health facilities to learn more about how providers utilize resources to care for patients, many of whom are spread across large areas of our state. Visiting the Kansas School for the DeafOn my way to Washington, D.C. on Monday, I stopped in Olathe to tour the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD). KSD students receive comprehensive, bilingual educational programing in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. The school provides a least restrictive, center-based educational environment for deaf and hard of hearing students from pre-school through high school. This visit was a valuable opportunity for me to learn about the unique challenges many deaf and hard of hearing children face in developing language skills and engaging in learning from an early age. In spite of these challenges, KSD students take full advantage of the learning opportunities before them and the dedicated faculty at KSD work each day to prepare them for a bright future. Thanks to Superintendent Madeleine Burkindine, Assistant Superintendent Luanne Barron, Interpreter Lori Colwell, Information Officer Sue Gamble and Outreach Coordinator Joan Macy for hosting me and leading my tour. Senate Passes the Pilots Bill of Rights 2I was pleased the Senate put aside partisan politics and unanimously passed common-sense legislation. The Pilots' Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), S. 571, is among the most widely supported bills in Congress and represents a strong step toward protecting pilots and our general aviation industry. As a co-sponsor of PBOR2, I have long recognized the vital role pilots play in our Kansas communities and have witnessed the increasing regulatory burden placed on them. Over the past 10 years, 60,000 pilots have left the general aviation industry, all the while, the cost of aircraft has risen dramatically and shipments are near an all-time low. General aviation is vital not only to Kansas, but to the national economy, and we must ensure our policies create an environment that encourages growth and success, and doesnt hamper it. PBOR2 would provide relief by expanding the Third Class Medical exemption for recreational pilots while also improving safety and health awareness for pilots beyond current FAA requirements. In addition, S. 571 represents a significant improvement in the due process rights and liability protections for volunteer pilots by ensuring certificate holders have the right to appeal FAA decisions through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court. This important legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for their consideration. Click here to learn more. Kansas Listening Tour Stop in Franklin CountyI hosted a Kansas Listening Tour stop in Wellsville this week with more than 30 area residents. We discussed the VA and access to health care for veterans, taxes, education, the Second Amendment and immigration. Thanks to Thanks to Mayor Bill Lytle and the City of Wellsville for hosting. Thanks also to Rep. Kevin Jones, USD 289 Superintendent Jerry Henn, Ottawa City Commissioner Shawn Dickinson and his wife Megan, Ottawa City Commissioner Sara Caylor, and Ottawa City Manager Richard Nienstedt for stopping by. Kansans in the OfficeCustom HarvestersAllie Devine of Topeka Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/year-in-review-strengthening-our-national-security/,Year In Review: Strengthening Our National Security,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– This year, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) has worked diligently and consistently to strengthen America’s national security and enhance the protection on our borders. While there is much more work to be done, this year has represented a strong start as the House continues to push for a safer and more secure America. “While the President continues to reiterate his failed tactics to combat radical Islamic terrorists, admitting the criticism against his strategy is legitimate, the House is working to put real plans into action,” said Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02). “I am proud of the several bills I supported that will help ensure the safety and security of Kansans and folks across the country. In 2016, I will continue to build upon the great steps the House has done to protect Kansans while also looking at other areas to bolster our defenses.”  Working to Stop the Transfer of Dangerous Detainees from GTMO to Fort Leavenworth: Despite the clear wishes of the American people, President Obama has continued his efforts to transfer the dangerous terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the United States, and potentially to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. This year, Congresswoman Jenkins supported legislation prohibiting any transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. This is something the President’s own Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, says makes it illegal for President Obama to move the detainees. Congresswoman Jenkins has led the charge to remind the President that folks in Kansas don’t want to close Guantanamo, and that any executive action to do so would be unconstitutional. Strengthening the Visa Waiver Program and Securing our Borders: In the wake of increasing terrorism around the world, Congress must do everything possible to keep Americans safe. That’s why Congresswoman Jenkins voted in support of legislation to pause the influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees until the FBI and other agencies can assure us that each refugee does not possess any threat to the American people. That is also why Congresswoman Jenkins voted to tighten the restrictions on the Visa Waiver program, so that no one is able to abuse the system for malicious reasons. When it comes to protecting Americans lives, we cannot afford to take risks and the only option must be stringent procedures designed to ensure every American can live safely. Increasing Defense Spending: A strong America is a safe America. This year, Congresswoman Jenkins voted to increase military spending, providing important resources for our national defense and improving pay for the brave men and women fighting to keep this country safe. America must be able to aggressively combat terrorism around the world, and this increase of funding means our military has the capability and financing to effectively pursue that goal. Enhancing America’s Cybersecurity: National security is entering a new age where what happens online is just as important as what happens offline. Cybersecurity is crucial to protecting American lives. That’s why Congresswoman Jenkins supported legislation to help enhance America’s cybersecurity and protect our private information.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=65e0ab14-6184-4376-91cf-771a4c172de2,Sen. Moran Statement on FY2016 Omnibus Vote,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement following the Senate vote on the omnibus federal spending bill: I voted against the $1.1 trillion federal spending bill known as the omnibus today because it allows the Obama Administrations pattern of sidestepping Congress to enact flawed policy to continue on, unchecked. A successful negotiation is about give and take and should result in a balanced compromise. This deal falls far short and fails to include important restrictions that would protect the middle class and small businesses from unlawful executive overreach. Instead, it gives the president and Congressional Democrats exactly what they wanted increased spending without accountability. Congress must uphold its responsibility to protect American families by reining in the executive branch. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=b2146365-6ebd-4c5d-bf4e-b17fcd309e54,Congress Approves Roberts Efforts to Rein in IRS,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced that the year-end spending bill includes two provisions he authored to rein in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The bill passed the House and Senate today and is expected to be signed into law. The IRS has proven time and time again that it cannot be trusted, said Roberts. Im pleased Congress has finally acted to stop the IRS from making any new rules regarding the treatment of tax exempt organizations, as well as prohibits the IRS from giving out bonuses to employees without considering employee conduct or federal tax compliance. Kansans have been fed up with these scandals and what they view as a clear abuse of power by the Obama Administration. The spending bill includes two pieces of legislation introduced earlier this year by Senator Roberts, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee. The first, Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act, is a bicameral bill with Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Ill.). This legislation stops further attempts by IRS to exploit bureaucratic loopholes to restrict the free speech rights of the same types of tax-exempt social welfare organizations victimized in the IRS political targeting scandal. The second piece of legislation included in the bill, is the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act to require federal employees to be current on their federal income taxes, and would prevent federal personnel who are delinquent in paying a federal tax liability from receiving a bonus or cash award. Exceptions are made for tax debt being paid pursuant to an agreement with the IRS and for certain hardships. According to the Inspector General, close to $3 million was awarded to IRS staff with violations on their records, with about half of that amount going to people with tax violations on their record. Roberts has always been an outspoken critic of the IRS. In August, the Senate Finance Committee released a bipartisan report showing that the Obama Administration used the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to intimidate Americans who disagreed with the administrations policies. In addition, Roberts recently introduced legislation to stop the IRS recently proposed voluntary rule that calls on charities to ask for additional personal donor information including Social Security numbers for any donation more than $250.00. Roberts says, The IRS has already threatened donors in groups that it doesnt like. I dont think we can trust them with a new source of data on donors. There also is no assurance that the agency will stop at this voluntary rule and move to make such reporting mandatory for all contributions and all charities. If implemented, this rule would have a chilling effect on charitable giving. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ca454be3-f927-45ad-ac1a-fc9162c7f1a7,Senate Passes Legislation to Protect Pilots and Promote General Aviation,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON On Tuesday evening, the U.S. Senate passed S. 571, the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), common-sense legislation that will provide important protections to pilots and aircraft operators. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) is a cosponsor of the bill, which includes provisions to help make certain aviators facing enforcement action have an opportunity to prepare a proper defense, as well as important Third Class Medical reforms. Sen. Moran released the following statement today regarding the Senate passage of PBOR2, which must now be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives: Over the past 10 years, 60,000 pilots have left the general aviation industry. Meanwhile, the cost of aircraft has risen dramatically and shipments are near an all-time low. General Aviation is vital to our national economy and the future of rural communities. In order for it to grow and prosper, we must reverse this troubling trend. Pilots across Kansas tell me the current process of obtaining a Third Class Medical certificate has become burdensome and expensive, while providing very little benefit to the industry. No other form of recreational transportation requires a medical certificate in addition to a license. The Pilots Bill of Rights 2 would provide relief by expanding the Third Class Medical exemption for recreational pilots while also improving safety and health awareness for pilots beyond current FAA requirements. S. 571 also represents a significant improvement in the due process rights and liability protections for volunteer pilots by ensuring certificate holders have the right to appeal FAA decisions through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court. With a veto-proof total of 69 Senate cosponsors, this bipartisan legislation is one of the most widely supported bills in Congress. The Senates passage of S. 571 is an important step toward a brighter future for general aviation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/a-tax-package-that-puts-the-priorities-of-the-american-people-first/,A Tax Package That Puts The Priorities Of The American People First,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the House of Representatives passed a tax extenders package, by a bipartisan vote of 318 – 109. This tax package includes legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) to modernize, improve and strengthen 529 college savings plans. Earlier today, Congresswoman Jenkins spoke on the House floor in support of the tax package. Below are her remarks as delivered: CLICK HERE to watch Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks on the House floor. Congresswoman Jenkins Remarks On The House Floor “As I visit with folks at home in Kansas they often express their frustration with Washington. Uncertainty is the enemy. Whether in tax policy, regulatory policy or health policy, folks simply need to know what the rules will be so they can plan accordingly. “As a former CPA, who worked in the tax area, and a former State Treasurer, I’ve seen, first-hand, how uncertain tax policies that expire every year negatively impacts our hard-working businesses and families. “So I am pleased we secured a tax package that will bring much more certainty to families and businesses across the country fighting to create jobs in our still struggling economy. This legislation will help bring us closer to the stable tax policies our economy desperately needs. “This bill is another step in the right direction towards a confident America built on our principles and values that hard-work should equal success. This legislation will grow our economy, put money in the folk’s pockets and rein in the IRS. With these foundations we can continue to make strides towards a pro-growth agenda that helps businesses succeed, creates more jobs and stimulates the economy.”   For the full text of the tax extenders package, please CLICK HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/audio?ContentRecord_id=bc6d3cb1-2738-4bd5-99a4-f392ac8dc7b6,Sen. Moran: Permanent Section 179 Expensing Allowance Included in Tax Extenders,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, recorded a radio actuality to express his support for a permanent Section 179 expensing allowance included in the tax extenders package that may be voted on as part of the omnibus legislation to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2016. n recent years, taxpayers have been able to immediately deduct up to $500,000 of the cost of certain acquisitions, including farm and ranch equipment. The deduction amount dropped all the way to $25,000 as of January 1 of this year. The omnibus released Tuesday evening makes permanent Section 179 at the higher limits, providing certainty for Kansas farmers, ranchers, equipment dealers and other small businesses in future years. Sen. Morans remarks may be found below, along with links to the audio download: Weve heard from lots of Kansans over the past year about a provision the tax code called Section 179. Its a provision that expired on January 1 of this year, so its not in effect now, and what is does is allow for a small business person a farmer, a rancher who buys equipment to expense the purchase, reducing their tax burden One piece of good news from the legislation expected to be voted on in the next few days in Congress is that Section 179 is extended and, in fact, made permanent. So the uncertainty that farmers and ranchers in Kansas and business men and women across the country have faced will finally come to an end This is good news for Kansas agriculture in particular, and also for small businesses and equipment suppliers across our state. It means more economic activity, more job creation, and a greater level of certainty so folks can make decisions about how to spend their money.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-applauds-nih-funding-in-omnibus,Rep. Yoder Applauds NIH Funding in Omnibus,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Late yesterday evening, the House Appropriations Committee released the text of the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the legislation that funds the federal government through September 30, 2016. Included in the bill is a $2 billion increase in annual funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agency tasked with allocating federal resources for biomedical research. In November, Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) circulated a letter to his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives calling for the largest increase in NIH funding since 2003. More than 100 Republican Members of Congress joined the letter as cosigners. Following the release of the Omnibus text, Representative Yoder issued the following statement: Diseases like cancer, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons know no political parties, regional differences, or effects of sequestration. They will kill more Americans this year than any war, and yet we spend a fraction of the money at NIH that we spend at the Department of Defense. Im working to change that, and this $2 billion increase is an important first step towards my goal of reemphasizing NIH as a top priority by doubling its annual funding over the next decade. We are in a war against these diseases, and I am bound and determine to win it. With more than 100 of my Republican colleagues joining my call for this new funding, its clear that conservatives are fighting on the front lines. I look forward to supporting this increase, and working in my role as an appropriator to ensure that this effort continues. For full text of the letter, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/helping-families-send-their-children-to-college/,Helping Families Send Their Children To College,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"On Tuesday, the House and Senate announced that the tax extenders package, to be voted on later this week, includes Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins’ (KS-02) bipartisan legislation, H.R. 529, to modernize, improve and strengthen 529 college savings plans. Congresswoman Jenkins released the following statement praising the bill’s inclusion: “529 college savings plans are the perfect tool to help hard-working families save so that they can send their children to the higher education institution of their choice. I am proud to champion these plans in Congress, which enable folks across the country to better prepare and craft a brighter future for their children.” H.R. 529 Timeline -          Reps. Lynn Jenkins, Ron Kind (D-WI) introduce H.R. 529 to modernize, improve and strengthen 529 college savings plans. -          President Obama announces plans to tax 529 college savings plans, hurting hard-working families. The President is forced to drop his proposal after universal bipartisan opposition. -          H.R. 529 passes in the House of Representatives with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 401-20. -          The Senate Finance Committee unanimously passes the Senate companion legislation to H.R. 529 out of committee.   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=b14a0b06-b465-460f-acd9-80ada34b8671,Roberts Authored Tax Relief Saves Billions in Taxes for Kansans & Small Businesses,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today praised bipartisan, bicameral tax extenders legislation to provide tax relief for small businesses, farmers and ranchers, and families. This legislation provides the much-needed tax relief and certainty for American families, farmers and ranchers, and businesses, said Roberts. Im pleased this bill includes many provisions I have long fought for that will help grow the economy and create jobs. This bill will give more permanence and predictability in our overly-complex tax code, and I look forward to supporting this measure. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 makes responsible tax relief permanent and lays the path for comprehensive tax reform. This bill includes many provisions that Roberts has long championed including: Five-year extension of fifty percent bonus depreciation on new equipment and property purchases Permanent extension of the research and development (R&D) tax credit Permanent extension of Section 179 Property expensing Permanent extension of relief for S Corporations from the so-called built-in gains tax Permanently allows eligible members of the military to qualify for Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Roberts said, Bonus depreciation has been extended and expired many times, and while I believe we should make this extension permanent, Im pleased this five-year extension will give businesses, farmers and ranchers the predictability they need to invest in new, more modern equipment so they can create more jobs and growth in our communities. Roberts introduced stand-alone legislation earlier this year that would permanently extend this measure. He continued, Research and development in new technologies and new products is an important source of economic growth. Im pleased this bill includes my Innovators Job Creation Act to increase cash flow for small businesses and start-ups involved in R&D intensive activities. This legislation will lead to permanent tax savings, reducing a companys effective tax rate, increasing cash flow and improving earnings, which results in them becoming a more attractive investment."" Three additional provisions that Roberts has championed will benefit Kansas military installations and helps soldiers in need find affordable housing, provides permanent relief for S Corporations from the so-called built-in gains tax, and ensures small businesses are able to access the capital they need to grow and hire new employees. The legislation was introduced in the House last night and is expected to be taken up by the House and Senate this week.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=d7f4e7da-2166-4b7f-a929-43b8c112447c,"Roberts Secures COOL Repeal in Funding Bill, U.S. Exports to Escape Retaliation",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today is pleased to announce the inclusion of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) repeal in the year-end funding bill, currently awaiting a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. COOL, first authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and amended in the 2008 Farm Bill, was found by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to violate trade agreements made between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.The WTO announced last week that Canada and Mexico can soon as early as this Friday, Dec. 18 legally retaliate against American-made exported goods in the form of over $1 billion in tariffs. For several years now, the writing has been on the wall that U.S. COOL requirements for meat were doomed at the WTO. Since its inception, I have warned that retaliation was coming, and Im pleased American agriculture and businesses will escape these tariffs, said Chairman Roberts. I have actively opposed COOL from the beginning, in large part due to these very trade ramifications, offering legislation to repeal the damaging law. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Conaway swiftly led the House to approve repeal, and now I hope the Senate can pass this legislation in time to avoid devastating tariffs. With passage, American farmers, ranchers and small businesses will finally get the certainty they deserve from unnecessary trade retaliation. During the 2014 Farm Bill negotiations, Senator Roberts pushed for COOL repeal. In June 2015, the Senate Agriculture Committee held ahearingon COOL and trade retaliation. Chairman Roberts has alsospokenon the Senate floor regarding COOL retaliation and introducedlegislationto repeal COOL and prevent retaliation. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4a86d401-3902-4f13-9851-5f7a1ea0db06,Kansas Elected Officials Send Letter to President on GITMO,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, Kan. Today, a bipartisan coalition of city, county, state and federal elected office holders that represent Leavenworth County sent President Obama a letter urging him to bear in mind the concerns and thoughts of the citizens of Kansas before he considers transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. In the letter, Kansas officials and residents wrote, In 2008, the City of Leavenworth initially became aware of the possibility of a transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Since that time, private citizens, state and local officials along with federal legislators, have worked steadfastly to voice our concerns to your Administration as to why Leavenworth is not a suitable location. Mr. President, the people of Leavenworth, Kansas, regardless of political parties are strongly against the plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and transfer detainees to American soil. We urge you to consider their thoughts and concerns before taking any executive actions to follow through on your plans. Items To Note: Below is the list of elected officials including the entire federal delegation and virtually every state official that represents Leavenworth County who signed on to the letter: Governor Sam Brownback State Treasurer Ron Estes Leavenworth County Commissioner Dennis Bixby Senator Pat Roberts Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer Leavenworth County Commissioner Clyde Graeber Senator Jerry Moran State Senator Steve Fitzgerald Leavenworth County Commissioner Robert Holland Congressman Tim Huelskamp State Rep. Connie OBrien Leavenworth Mayor Pro Tem Larry Dedeke Congressman Kevin Yoder State Rep. Tony Barton Leavenworth City Commissioner Nancy Bauder Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer State Rep. John Bradford Leavenworth City Commissioner Charles Raney Secretary of State Kris Kobach State Rep. Willie Dove Lansing Mayor Louis Kirby Leavenworth County Sheriff Andy Dedeke # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ad794a7b-20cc-47b5-ae56-b00534601d6a,Sen. Moran Visits Herington Municipal Hospital,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"HERINGTON, KAN. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittee, visited Herington Municipal Hospital on Friday, Dec. 11. He met with Administrator/CFO Alan Meisinger as well as hospital staff. Serving North Central Kansas, HMH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAHs) that serves the needs of southern Dickinson County. Our discussion focused on implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare cuts, and sequestrations negative impact on CAHs, Sen. Moran said. The special way of life we live in rural towns would not be possible without access to quality health care, and federal policies must give Herington Municipal Hospital and other rural health facilities reasonable flexibility to sufficiently serve their unique communities. The issues Sen. Moran focuses on and the work he does in Washington, D.C., are largely based on the conversations he has with Kansans during these visits. Throughout his time in Congress, Sen. Moran has made it a priority to stay connected to the people he represents despite a distance of more than 1,000 miles between Capitol Hill and Kansas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=21b2d1c9-d861-4ea2-b6f3-9a8a82f11a44,Kansas Common Sense - Congress Continues Work on Omnibus,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Congress Continues Work on OmnibusBefore leaving town for the holiday state work period, Congress must complete work on an omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through Fiscal Year 2016. Late this week, Congress passed a short-term extension providing an additional five days before funding expires Wednesday night. While senior negotiators and Congressional leadership continued work through the weekend and negotiations remain ongoing, Congress must act before Wednesday to avoid a government shutdown. By law, the federal budget process relies on Congress passing 12 separate appropriations bills each year to fund government agencies. However, Congress has not successfully completed this process since 1994, and last months passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill was the first of any spending bills to pass the Senate since 2011. Reauthorization of No Child Left BehindOn Wednesday, the Senate passed S. 1177, legislation known as the Every Student Succeeds Act to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Initially enacted in 1965, ESEA is the primary source of federal aid for K-12 education and was most recently amended and reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The House passed S. 1177 last week and President Obama signed it into law on Thursday. I opposed passage of NCLB in 2001 because I believe excessive federal intervention in education is not in the best interest of Kansas students and schools. The Every Student Succeeds Act does not go far enough in reducing the counterproductive federal mandates currently dictating K-12 education, including NCLBs torrent of annual testing mandates. Federally mandated testing requirements have a significant impact on local school decision making. While the legislation passed this week is an improvement from NCLB, it still gives Washington bureaucrats too much say in curriculum development, school testing and assessment decisions functions best handled by states and local school districts. Congress Passes Moran-Jenkins Rural Health LegislationOn Tuesday evening the House passed S. 1461, legislation Congresswoman Jenkins and I led to extend through calendar year 2015 a prohibition preventing the federal government from enforcing an unreasonable direct supervision policy for outpatient therapeutic services. The Senate passed S. 1461 in September and, with House passage, the bill now heads to the president for his signature. My thanks to Congresswoman Jenkins who worked to successfully shepherd this bill through the House. Last year, we passed similar legislation into law to provide regulatory relief for 2014. Making certain Kansans have access to quality health care remains one of my top priorities in Congress. Rural hospitals find the federal governments direct supervision requirements impossible to meet, so I am pleased this legislation will soon become law to help preserve patients access to important therapy services in Kansas and across the country. This measure will also enable us to continue to advocate for passage of S. 257, the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act the PARTS Act bipartisan legislation I introduced to permanently address this outpatient therapy supervision issue. In response to concerns raised by hospitals, myself, and other lawmakers representing rural areas, the federal government delayed enforcement of its direct supervision policy for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals through 2013. Congress suspended enforcement of the regulation through 2014. The regulation is scheduled to go into effect in 2015, but if S. 1461 is signed into law, it will extend the temporary relief to allow additional time to advance the PARTS Act, which clarifies that general supervision of most outpatient therapeutic services by a physician or non-physician practitioner is sufficient for Medicare reimbursement for therapeutic hospital outpatient services. Click here to read more about this issue. Commerce Committee Passes SAFE PIPES ActI was pleased to see the Commerce Committee pass the SAFE PIPES Act (S. 2276) this week, which included a provision that instructs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to develop standards to keep Kansans and Americans safe. Development of standards for natural gas storage facilities is long overdue. This provision is a positive step toward ensuring the integrity of our energy infrastructure system and is a common-sense way to add additional safety measures for Kansans and all Americans. I am thankful my colleagues on the Commerce Committee shared my concerns, and I look forward to advancing this bill in the full Senate. This is a major step toward achieving the stated goal of the legislation I introduced to ensure the safety of Kansans. When the new safety standards are drafted and ultimately adopted, I will work to make certain that qualified, experienced state regulators like the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) are able to inspect these interstate facilities that are currently under the sole jurisdiction of federal regulators.The safety of Kansans is critical, and creating a path for the KCC to lend their expertise in that cause is an important step. Click here to watch my remarks on this issue in the Commerce Committee. McConnell 931st Air Refueling Wing DesignationI was pleased to learn this week that the 931st Air Refueling Group the Air Force Reserve unit stationed at McConnell Air Force Base will officially be designated as the 931st Air Refueling Wing as early as January 2016. Along with the active-duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing, the 931st plays a critical role in our nations air mobility with thousands of hours deployed around the world. This well-deserved Wing designation will make certain the 931st receives the resources and manpower necessary to meet the air refueling demands of our Armed Forces for years to come, and is especially important with the upcoming arrival of the KC-46A refueling tankers at McConnell. I have long advocated for the transition of the 931st to Wing status, and this is a testament to the excellence of the airmen of the 931st that this designation has come ahead of schedule. In April, I had the opportunity to ask Air Force Reserve Chief Lieutenant General James Jackson about the Wing designation during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, and at that time, he projected the Wing classification for the 931st would take place in 2017 or 2018. I am pleased that the growing responsibilities of the 931st are being recognized, and I will continue to work to make certain they have the resources necessary to carry out their important missions at home and abroad. Increasing Accountability at the Department of Veterans AffairsThe Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously passed the Increasing VA Accountability to Veterans Act of 2015 (S. 290) this week, legislation I introduced to make certain the VA holds corrupt VA executives accountable for their actions. The legislation would reduce the pensions of executives convicted of a felony, limit the amount of paid administrative leave for VA senior executive service (SES) employees to only 14 days, and reform the departments management training program and performance appraisal system for senior executives. In the wake of wrongdoing from VA facilities maintaining secret waitlists to VA executives abusing relocation programs to create positions for themselves where they did less work but kept their previous salaries the VA has failed to demonstrate a willingness to eliminate corruption by holding individuals responsible for fraudulent behavior. While the television cameras may have turned their focus elsewhere, I have not, and I remain committed to trying to change the culture that allows incompetence to run rampant. There are many good, hardworking employees at the VA, and the departments refusal to hold the bad actors within their ranks accountable is an insult to those who work hard to serve our nations heroes. This critical legislation will help make certain VA senior executives who violate the sacred trust of our nations veterans will not be rewarded with unjustly guaranteed benefits or linger on administrative leave at taxpayer expense. Our veterans deserve the best our nation has to offer, not a system that rewards mediocrity and failure. I am pleased to see legislation pass the committee and head to the U.S. Senate floor. Click here to read more. Legislation to Protect Pilots and Promote General AviationOn Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee passed S. 571, the Pilots Bill of Rights 2, common-sense legislation that will provide important protections to pilots and aircraft operators. Over the past 10 years, 60,000 pilots have left the general aviation industry. Meanwhile, the cost of aircraft has risen dramatically and shipments are near an all-time low. General Aviation is vital to our national economy and the future of rural communities. In order for it to grow and prosper, we must reverse this troubling trend. Pilots across Kansas tell me the current process of obtaining a Third Class Medical Certificate has become burdensome and expensive, while providing very little benefit to the industry. No other form of recreational transportation requires a medical certificate in addition to a license. The Pilots Bill of Rights 2 would provide relief by expanding the Third Class Medical exemption for recreational pilots while also improving safety and health awareness for pilots beyond current FAA requirements. In addition, S. 571 represents a significant improvement in the due process rights and liability protections for volunteer pilots by ensuring certificate holders have the right to appeal FAA decisions through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court. With a current veto-proof total of 69 Senate cosponsors, this bipartisan legislation is one of the most widely supported bills in Congress. Wednesdays passage out of committee is an important step toward a brighter future for general aviation. Senate Passes Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health ActOn Thursday, my Senate colleagues and I unanimously passed legislation to improve our criminal justice system. The Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act (S. 993) will enable law enforcement to better respond to people with mental health conditions, reduce costly inefficiencies in the criminal justice system, and ultimately help vulnerable members of our communities. The legislation supports training programs for federal law enforcement officers to appropriately respond to situations involving someone with a mental health condition. Also supported are state and local efforts to identify individuals with mental health conditions throughout the criminal justice process to appropriately direct them to mental health services, providing assistance before criminal behavior might occur or recur. The legislation also authorizes investments in veterans treatment courts, which serve arrested veterans who suffer from mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance addiction. Support for the legislation ranges from law enforcement, civil rights groups, mental health advocates and veterans services organizations (VSOs) such as the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Legion, and AMVETS. Visiting Olathe Family YMCAI had the opportunity to visit theOlathe Family YMCAthis week and learn about the many health, wellness, and social support programs it offers in support of youth and families in Olathe and the region. One in five Kansans including one in four Kansas children benefit from programs and services offered by their community YMCA. Some of these include chronic disease prevention programs, academic support programs, and child care services. Thanks to Scott Clark of the Olathe Family YMCA for hosting me, and to John Mikos and Jennifer Bruning of theKansas State Alliance of YMCAsfor coordinating my visit. Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Annual Chairmans ReceptionI attended the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Annual Chairmans Reception at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) this week. During the gathering, outgoing Chamber Board Chairman Marga Spangler was recognized for the chambers accomplishments in 2015. Brad Stratton will chair the chamber board in 2016. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with chamber members about how we can work together to foster job creation and improve the quality of life enjoyed in Overland Park and Kansas. Congratulations to the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce on its achievements throughout the year, and best wishes for a successful 2016. Thanks to Chairman Marga Spangler for hosting me, and thanks to JCCC President Joe Sopcich (pictured below) for welcoming me on campus. Here, I'm pictured with Overland Park Chamber of Commerce President Tracey Osborne. Visiting Hope High SchoolI enjoyed meeting with students and educators at Hope High School on Friday. I visited with students, teachers and administrators about the work taking place to prepare Kansans children for their future. Tours like these help me understand the challenges facing schools across Kansas. Thanks to School Board President Jim Barten for the invitation to visit and to Principal Mike Teeter for hosting my visit. Here, Im pictured with juniors Jaryth Barten and Trace Hostetter. Visiting Herington Municipal HospitalOn Friday afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit Herington Municipal Hospital (HMH) and meet with its new Administrator/CFO Alan Meisinger as well as hospital staff. Serving North Central Kansas, HMH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAHs) that serves the needs of southern Dickinson County. Our discussion focused on implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare cuts, sequestration and its negative impact on CAHs. The special way of life we live in rural towns would not be possible without access to quality health care, and federal policies must enable Herington Municipal Hospital and other rural health facilities reasonable flexibility to sufficiently serve their unique communities. I also appreciated the opportunity to visit withHMH Chief of StaffDr. John Mosier. A native of Herington, Dr. Mosier chose to return to his home town after getting his medical degree. Practicing rural medicine in a small community gives him the opportunity to develop strong personal relationships with his patients. Thanks again to CEO Meisinger for hosting me. Kansans in the Office LearjetTonya Sudduth of Wichita Kansas Governors Military CouncilMike Denning of Lawrence Mike Shilling of Manhattan Rufus Forrest of Wichita John Armbrust of Manhattan Intellectual VenturesMike Dennina of Lawrence Mike Shilling of Manhattan Rufus Forrot of Wichita John Armbrusy of Manhattan American Trucking AssociationsMike Kelley of Overland Park Community Bankers Association of KansasShawn Mitchell of Topeka Kansas Bankers AssociationGary Yager of Topeka Bob Leftwich of Wellington Kelly Mason of Pratt National Conference of State LegislaturesSen. Forrest Knox of Altoona Rep. Keith Esau of Olathe Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansasSunee Mickle of Lawrence Fairpoint CommunicationsPat Morse of Dodge City Capitol TourWilliam Witbrod of Overland Park Shirley Storck of Derby Leland Cox of Basehor Tamara Cox of Basehor Michael Snidger of Kansas City Keith Esan of Olathe Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kansas-elected-officials-send-letter-to-president-on-gtmo,Kansas Elected Officials Send Letter to President on GTMO,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, KS Today, a bipartisan coalition of city, county, state and federal elected office holders that represent Leavenworth County, led by Representatives Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), Mike Pompeo (KS-04) and Leavenworth Mayor Lisa Weakley, sent President Obama a letter urging him to bear in mind the concerns and thoughts of the citizens of Kansas before he considers transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. In the letter, Kansas officials and residents wrote, In 2008, the City of Leavenworth initially became aware of the possibility of a transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Since that time, private citizens, state and local officials along with federal legislators, have worked steadfastly to voice our concerns to your Administration as to why Leavenworth is not a suitable location. Mr. President, the people of Leavenworth, Kansas, regardless of political parties are strongly against the plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and transfer detainees to American soil. We urge you to consider their thoughts and concerns before taking any executive actions to follow through on your plans. For the full text of the letter, click here. Items To Note: The list of elected officials including the entire federal delegation and virtually every state official that represents Leavenworth County who signed on to Reps. Jenkins, Pompeo and Mayor Weakleys letter include: Governor Sam Brownback State Treasurer Ron Estes Leavenworth County Commissioner Dennis Bixby Senator Pat Roberts Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer Leavenworth County Commissioner Clyde Graeber Senator Jerry Moran State Senator Steve Fitzgerald Leavenworth County Commissioner Robert Holland Congressman Tim Huelskamp State Rep. Connie OBrien Leavenworth Mayor Pro Tem Larry Dedeke Congressman Kevin Yoder State Rep. Tony Barton Leavenworth City Commissioner Nancy Bauder Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer State Rep. John Bradford Leavenworth City Commissioner Charles Raney Secretary of State Kris Kobach State Rep. Willie Dove Lansing Mayor Louis Kirby Leavenworth County Sheriff Andy Dedeke # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/kansas-elected-officials-send-letter-to-president-on-gtmo/,Kansas Elected Officials Send Letter to President on GTMO,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, KS – Today, a bipartisan coalition of city, county, state and federal elected office holders that represent Leavenworth County, led by Representatives Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), Mike Pompeo (KS-04) and Leavenworth Mayor Lisa Weakley, sent President Obama a letter urging him to bear in mind the concerns and thoughts of the citizens of Kansas before he considers transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. In the letter, Kansas officials and residents wrote, “In 2008, the City of Leavenworth initially became aware of the possibility of a transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Since that time, private citizens, state and local officials along with federal legislators, have worked steadfastly to voice our concerns to your Administration as to why Leavenworth is not a suitable location. “Mr. President, the people of Leavenworth, Kansas, – regardless of political parties – are strongly against the plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and transfer detainees to American soil. We urge you to consider their thoughts and concerns before taking any executive actions to follow through on your plans.” The full text of the letter is attached. Items To Note: The list of elected officials including the entire federal delegation and virtually every state official that represents Leavenworth County who signed on to Reps. Jenkins, Pompeo and Mayor Weakley’s letter include: Governor Sam Brownback Senator Pat Roberts Senator Jerry Moran Congressman Tim Huelskamp Congressman Kevin Yoder Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer Secretary of State Kris Kobach State Treasurer Ron Estes Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer State Senator Steve Fitzgerald State Rep. Connie O’Brien State Rep. Tony Barton State Rep. John Bradford State Rep. Willie Dove Leavenworth County Commissioner Dennis Bixby Leavenworth County Commissioner Clyde Graeber Leavenworth County Commissioner Robert Holland Leavenworth Mayor Pro Tem Larry Dedeke Leavenworth City Commissioner Nancy Bauder Leavenworth City Commissioner Charles Raney Lansing Mayor Louis Kirby Leavenworth County Sheriff Andy Dedeke",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-pompeo-host-special-town-hall-on-gtmo-prisoner-transfer/,"Jenkins, Pompeo Host Special Town Hall On GTMO Prisoner Transfer",2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, KS– Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Congressman Mike Pompeo (KS-04) hosted a special town hall on the President’s plan to transfer prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention center to the United States – potentially to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After the event, Representatives Jenkins and Pompeo released the following statements: “It was great to see and listen to so many folks in attendance today who shared their opposition to the President’s plan,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “This town hall really showcased the strength and depth of the emotion from Kansans standing against the transferring of dangerous detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Ft. Leavenworth. I urge President Obama to put aside his thoughts of a legacy and instead listen to the priorities of the American people, who firmly reject any attempts to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay. After today, there should only be one path forward for the President: the immediate cessation of any and all attempts to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center.” “I always appreciate hearing from Kansans, and today, many of us stood together against President Obama’s plan to move the world’s most dangerous terrorists from GTMO to Fort Leavenworth,” said Congressman Pompeo. “This town hall showed the powerful consensus among Kansans statewide: we don’t want terrorists in our backyard. Unfortunately, we have a president who acts like a king and ignores both the law and will of the American people in an effort to fulfill a campaign promise to radical leftists. President Obama needs to stop playing politics and focus on doing what is best for our national security, and that is keeping Guantanamo Bay open and these terrorists out of America."" # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=68851713-c1db-45fb-84f6-dda961d79530,Senator Roberts Bill Blocks Proposed IRS Rule Threatening Privacy & Security of Charitable Donors,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced that he has introduced a bill to block a proposed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulation that could have a chilling effect on charitable giving and would add a costly burden to charitable organizations. The IRS is proposing a new voluntary rule that calls on charities to ask for additional personal donor information including Social Security numbers for any donation more than $250.00. The rule would provide the IRS detailed information on who is making donations to particular charities, Roberts said. The IRS has already threatened donors in groups that it doesnt like. I dont think we can trust them with a new source of data on donors. There also is no assurance that the agency will stop at this voluntary rule and move to make such reporting mandatory for all contributions and all charities. Senator Roberts spoke on the Senate floor about the bill. For audio and video to download go here. Under current law, the responsibility to substantiate the contribution is on the donor. Most non-profits provide that information to the donors for their record-keeping. Instead, the proposed IRS regulation would allow a charity to substantiate charitable contributions by filing a return with the IRS that includes detailed donor information. If the charity elects to file the return, it must provide: the donors name and address, the donors Social Security number, the amount of cash and a description of any property other than cash contributed, whether the charity provided any goods or services in consideration for the contribution, and a description and good faith estimate of the value of any goods or services provided by the charity. Given that the agency has not yet adequately addressed the issues surrounding breaches of existing taxpayer information, a point the IRS readily acknowledges, and states that the existing system of substantiating charitable contributions works well, there is no compelling tax administration or enforcement reason to move forward with this proposal. Senator Roberts bill simply blocks the proposed rule from taking effect and maintains current law. Charitable organizations are speaking out against the IRS proposal. Tim Delaney, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, recently wrote: the IRS proposal would open the door for scam artistsNonprofits have neither the financial resources nor sufficient staffing to combat hackers who will see an easy source for Social Security information. This also creates a liability nightmare for innocent nonprofitsTo be asked to share their address, their credit card number and their Social Security number all in the same place would be enough to scare even the most committed donor to decline to give. This rule is ridiculous. If the intent is to crack down on fraud, the IRS should not create rules that will add to the problem, Roberts said. They have already proven that the IRS itself cant safeguard personal and private information from abuse. Why would they burden non-profits with this collecting information that will be expensive to keep, could discourage donations and would encourage hacking? Senator Roberts went on to say, This rule could dramatically reduce peoples willingness to make donations, and burden charities, many of which are small, volunteer operated organizations with new costly administrative costs. The collection and safekeeping issues surrounding thisproposal could very significantly stress the good works done by our charitable sector. Delaney made a similar point, stressing Every donation not given means another senior who wont receive a meal, a child who wont receive life-saving medical care, another animal without a home, and much more. Those wishing to share their concerns with this proposed rule can issue comments here. Senator Roberts has been an outspoken critic of the IRS. Earlier this year, Roberts took aim at the scandal-ridden IRS by introducing a bicameral bill with Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Ill.). The Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act would stop cold further attempts by IRS to exploit bureaucratic loopholes to restrict the free speech rights of the same types of tax-exempt social welfare organizations victimized in the IRS political targeting scandal. Senator Roberts also introduced the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act to require federal employees to be current on their federal income taxes, and would prevent federal personnel who are delinquent in paying a federal tax liability from receiving a bonus or cash award. Exceptions are made for tax debt being paid pursuant to an agreement with the IRS and for certain hardships. According to the Inspector General, close to $3 million was awarded to IRS staff with violations on their records, with about half of that amount going to people with tax violations on their record. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=9db09374-5c08-429f-b4d7-14c54655d107,Senator Roberts Bill Blocks Proposed IRS Rule Threatening Privacy & Security of Charitable Donors,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced that he has introduced a bill to block a proposed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulation that could have a chilling effect on charitable giving and would add a costly burden to charitable organizations. The rule would provide the IRS detailed information on who is making donations to particular charities, Roberts said. The IRS has already threatened donors in groups that it doesnt like. I dont think we can trust them with a new source of data on donors. There also is no assurance that the agency will stop at this voluntary rule and move to make such reporting mandatory for all contributions and all charities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/reps-jenkins-pompeo-to-hold-special-town-hall-on-guantanamo-bay-tomorrow/,"Reps. Jenkins, Pompeo To Hold Special Town Hall On Guantanamo Bay Tomorrow",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representatives Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Mike Pompeo (KS-04) will be holding a special town hall meeting tomorrow at the Leavenworth Heritage Center on Friday, December 11th, at 9am CT to discuss the President’s plan to potentially transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to a mainland United States site which could include Fort Leavenworth. This town hall comes after recent news that a former Guantanamo Bay detainee has now emerged as a leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. After learning of the story, Congresswoman Jenkins reacted to the news: “This is just one more reason why it is necessary to hold a town hall for folks at Fort Leavenworth and the Leavenworth community to share their thoughts and concerns. It is deeply troubling to me that President Obama would seek to relocate dangerous Guantanamo Bay detainees, like this Al-Qaeda leader, next door to families simply trying to live their lives.” Guantanamo Bay Town Hall WHO: Representatives Lynn Jenkins and Mike Pompeo. WHAT: Special Town Hall Meeting On President Obama’s Plan To Possibly Transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. WHEN: Friday, December 11th at 9am CT. WHERE: Leavenworth Heritage Center - 109 Delaware St. Leavenworth, KS 66048   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=d0580263-88ff-4aa1-99a8-54f5b048793a,Senators Emphasize Dangers of Closing Guantanamo with News of Former Detainee Becoming al-Qaeda Leader,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the following statements regarding reports that a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Ibrahim al-Qosi, has become a senior leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Al-Qosi, transferred from Guantanamo to his native Sudan in 2012, appears in a video released this week by AQAP that encourages small cell terror attacks in the West. Just seven days after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino and at a time when our nation is vulnerable to both home grown threats and those from abroad, I see no reason to add to these security concerns by placing terrorists currently held at Guantanamo in American communities, Roberts said. As we were reminded with these attacks, we are still very much at war with terrorism. Guantanamo should remain open and we should not underestimate the zeal of these terrorists to return to the battlefield. Look no further than former Guantanamo detainee, Ibrahim al-Qosi. As the President rushes to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay, we have been given a clear picture of exactly the type of terrorist he is talking about releasing, Scott said. These terrorists want another San Bernardino, another Paris, and by basing his national security policies on a political promise to close Guantanamo, I fear the President is only increasing the danger to our nation and our people. Guantanamo is the perfect place to hold some of the worlds most dangerous terrorists, and any effort to close the facility and move the remaining detainees to domestic soil will be met with fierce opposition in Congress and among the American people. The Presidents rush to empty the cells at Guantanamo recklessly endangers our national interests abroad and our safety here at home, Gardner said. This news confirms what weve known all along: Guantanamo Bay houses some of the worlds deadliest terrorists, and the secure facility at Guantanamo is exactly where they belong. They do not belong back on the battlefield fighting against us, nor do they belong on U.S. soil. Its time for the President to recognize that simple fact, which is already enshrined in U.S. law."" In November, 86 percent of the House and Senate voted for legislation that bars the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to domestic soil. The White House has repeatedly stated their desire for Congress to get out of the way and let them close Guantanamo, regardless of the 30 percent recidivism rate among released detainees, the hundreds of millions of dollars it will cost to construct a new facility, and the fact that opening domestic facility would place a bright red bulls eye on an American community. The Administration has already surveyed sites in South Carolina, Kansas, and Colorado as potential replacements for Guantanamo. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=2861a705-c028-41a8-be15-cffe37e4f3ae,"Moran, Jenkins Send Legislation to Protect Rural Health Care Services to President's Desk",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Last night, the House of Representatives passed S. 1461, authored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), by unanimous consent and it will now be sent to the presidents desk. This legislation would prohibit the federal government from enforcing its unreasonable supervision regulations for outpatient therapeutic services on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals in 2015, continuing the prohibition signed into law last year covering 2014. Making certain Kansans have access to quality health care remains one of my top priorities in Congress, Sen. Moran said. Rural hospitals find the federal governments direct supervision requirements impossible to meet, so Im pleased this legislation will soon become law to help preserve patients access to important therapy services in Kansas and across the country. This measure will also enable us to continue to advocate for passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act the PARTS Act bipartisan legislation I introduced to permanently address this outpatient therapy supervision issue. Thanks to Congresswoman Jenkins for her efforts on this legislation in the House of Representatives. Medicares unfair and inflexible direct supervision requirement would impact Critical Access Hospitals and other rural healthcare providers, ultimately hurting rural communities. Whats more, this rule would provide no benefit, merely creating excessive regulation that gets in the way of quality healthcare for folks in Kansas and across America, said Congresswoman Jenkins. I am proud to see this legislation that I authored pass by unanimous consent today in the House, and I urge the President to act quickly and prevent any damage being done to rural communities through this unnecessary regulation. Examples of direct supervision rules for outpatient therapy services: Application of cast to a finger Blood transfusions Application of a splint to a finger Demonstration and/or evaluation of a patient utilizing a nebulizer or metered dose inhaler Alcohol and/or substance abuse (other than tobacco) structured assessment and brief intervention (such as advising of health risks and counseling for 15-30 minutes) Pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise of one hour per session up to two sessions per day ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7a7de8a4-b2e9-4ab1-bc20-28119c7abf96,Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Unanimously Passes Moran Bill to Reform VA Accountability,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs today unanimously passed the Increasing VA Accountability to Veterans Act of 2015 (S.290) legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to make certain the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) holds corrupt VA executives accountable for their actions. The legislation would reduce the pensions of executives convicted of a felony, limit the amount of paid administrative leave for VA senior executive service (SES) employees to only 14 days, and reform the departments management training program and performance appraisal system for senior executives. The bill represents a bipartisan agreement with Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on VA accountability measures and is also cosponsored by Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The House companion to S. 290 was introduced by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller. In the wake of unthinkable wrongdoing, in which 110 VA medical facilities across the country maintained secret lists to cover up the long waits times of veterans needing care, the VA has failed to demonstrate a willingness to eliminate corruption by holding individuals responsible for their fraudulent behavior, Sen. Moran, member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said. The television cameras may have turned their focus elsewhere, but we will not. Our legislation will help make certain VA senior executives who violate the sacred trust of our nations veterans will not be rewarded with unjustly guaranteed benefits or linger on administrative leave at taxpayer expense. Our veterans deserve the best our nation has to offer. We cannot allow a system that rewards mediocrity and failure to remain intact. Although the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (Choice Act), contained civil service reforms that gave the VA Secretary the authority to fire senior executives based on misconduct or incompetence, it remains unclear how many if any VA senior executives have been removed for wait-time manipulation. At the Choice Acts signing in August 2014, President Obama said, If you engaged in an unethical practice, if you cover up a problem, you should be fired. Instead, a number of corrupt VA employees have retired with full benefits, while others have been placed on paid administrative leave for months on end. Twice this year, the Washington Post has awarded VA Secretary Robert McDonald Four Pinocchios for stretching the truth when it comes to accountability within the VA by wildly inflating the number of firings and disciplinary actions taken by the agency for wait-time manipulation during his tenure. As a mandate of the Choice Act, the recently released Independent Assessment of the Health Care Delivery Systems and Management Processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs, states that the VHA is in the midst of a leadership crisis, and points to the corrupt culture within the VA as a significant factor. Click below to read a summary of the provisions of S.290. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ee6b7fee-3366-4796-b00b-dd1baa7a7a14,Sen. Moran Statement on the Every Student Succeeds Act,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement regarding his vote against the conference report accompanying S. 1177: I opposed passage of No Child Left Behind because I believe excessive federal intervention in education is not in the best interest of Kansas students and schools. The Every Student Succeeds Actdoes not go far enough in reducing the counterproductive federal mandates currently dictating K-12 education, including NCLBs torrent of annual testing mandates. Federally mandated testing requirements have a significant impact on local school decision making. While S. 1177 is an improvement from NCLB, it still gives Washington bureaucrats too much say in curriculum development, school testing and assessment decisions functions best handled by states and local school districts. On July 16, 2015, Sen. Moran voted against S. 1177. On May 23, 2001, then-Rep. Moran opposed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-moran-send-legislation-to-protect-rural-health-care-services-to-presidents-desk/,"Jenkins, Moran Send Legislation To Protect Rural Health Care Services To President's Desk",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.–Last night, the House of Representatives passed S. 1461, authored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), by unanimous consent and it will now be sent to the President’s desk. This legislation would continue prohibiting federal government from enforcing its unreasonable supervision regulations for outpatient therapeutic services on Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals in 2015.  This bill would continue the prohibition signed into law last year covering 2014.  After the vote, Congresswoman Jenkins and Sen. Moran released the following statements: “Medicare’s unfair and inflexible direct supervision requirement would impact Critical Access Hospitals and other rural healthcare providers, ultimately hurting rural communities. What’s more, this rule would provide no benefit, merely creating excessive regulation that gets in the way of quality healthcare for folks in Kansas and across America,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “I am proud to see this legislation that I authored pass by unanimous consent today in the House, and I urge the President to act quickly and prevent any damage being done to rural communities through this unnecessary regulation.” “Making certain Kansans have access to quality health care remains one of my top priorities in Congress,” Sen. Moran said. “Rural hospitals find the federal government’s direct supervision requirements impossible to meet, so I’m pleased this legislation will soon become law to help preserve patients’ access to important therapy services in Kansas and across the country.  This measure will also enable us to continue to advocate for passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act – the PARTS Act – bipartisan legislation I introduced to permanently address this outpatient therapy supervision issue. Thanks to Congresswoman Jenkins for her efforts on this legislation in the House of Representatives.” Examples of direct supervision rules for outpatient therapy services: Application of cast to a finger  Blood transfusions  Application of a splint to a finger  Demonstration and/or evaluation of a patient utilizing a nebulizer or metered dose inhaler Alcohol and/or substance abuse (other than tobacco) structured assessment and brief intervention (such as advising of health risks and counseling for 15-30 mins) Pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise of one hour per session – up to two sessions per day # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=fa3b3ef9-1d7d-4ec1-a678-b59554176aa0,Roberts Efforts to End Federal Common Core Mandate on Way to Becoming Law,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced the Senate approved the Every Student Succeeds Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that contains his language to permanently end the federal governments ability to use any incentive or tool of coercion to force states to adopt Common Core or any future set of standards. Im pleased Congress has finally passed legislation to permanently end Washingtons Common Core mandate and give decisions about education back to those closest to the children, said Roberts. When we began our efforts to fix the broken No Child Left Behind Law, I made it clear that I believed our children receive the best possible education when decisions are made at the local and state level. Washington has no business dictating to states and school districts what is best for the students they serve. This bill will restore that responsibility back to states, local school districts, superintendents, principals, teachers, local school boards, parents and students. Roberts recorded a brief statement on the bill, which can be viewed or downloaded here. The Every Student Succeeds Act passed the Senate by a vote of 85-12, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives last week by a vote of 359-64. This is the first reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act since 2001 and will fix the broken No Child Left Behind. The House and the Senate each passed their own versions of the bills earlier this year. The Every Student Succeeds Act is the conference agreement between both chambers. The president is expected to sign the legislation this week. Roberts spoke on the original Senate legislation when it was debated earlier this year and commended education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) for his work on the bill and for including my language because it will prohibit the administration from finding additional ways to promote a states adoption of Common Core. To view that video, click here. Roberts legislation, the Learning Opportunities Created At the Local (LOCAL) Level Act was introduced in January and was included in the final Senate-passed bill. His legislation will preserve state education autonomy by explicitly prohibiting the federal government from coercing or incentivizing states to adopt education standards like Common Core. Text of that bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-supports-bill-to-update-and-strengthen-the-visa-waiver-program/,Jenkins Supports Bill To Update And Strengthen The Visa Waiver Program,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the House of Representatives passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015 in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 407-19. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), a cosponsor of the bill, released the following statement after the vote: “The safety and security of Kansans is my top priority. It is essential that America’s entry programs cannot be exploited by those, such as ISIS, who wish to destroy our special way of life. I’m proud to support this bipartisan bill as it is another important step in increasing protection for our borders, securing our nation and ensuring the safety of Kansans and folks across the country.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-we-should-be-focusing-on-stopping-terrorists-from-entering-the-country/,"Jenkins: ""We should be focusing on stopping terrorists from entering the country.""",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– At the weekly Republican Leadership Press Conference, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) urged the President to drop his plans to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States and applauded the bipartisan work to strengthen our visa waiver program.  CLICK HERE To Watch the Congresswoman’s Remarks The following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks: “The safety and security of Americans must be our top concern, it must be a foremost priority. That’s why Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, requiring the President to create a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS. “Additionally, this important defense bill – which is now signed in to law – stops the President’s plan to transfer terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to possible locations such as the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth – which I proudly represent in Congress. I urge the President to listen to the American people, especially the folks in Leavenworth, and drop this reckless and expensive plan all together. “We should be focusing on stopping terrorists from entering the country. That is why the House is already working to protect American lives, in a bipartisan fashion, by updating and strengthening our visa waiver program. “This is another step to ensuring the safety and security of Americans from those who seek to destroy us.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=648596a1-026b-4a92-af27-39c3960649e3,"Roberts, GOP Senators Urge President to Pursue Additional Military Options in ISIS Fight",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Senate Republicans urged President Barack Obama to pursue additional military options to degrade and destroy ISIS abroad and protect the nation from further attacks against American citizens: The American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil, the Senators wrote. We believe we are at a strategic inflection point in the fight against ISIS and that, without a well-informed strategy change to arrest this groups momentum, the task of defeating it will multiply in its difficulty and complexity. We listened carefully to your Oval Office address on Sunday but were disappointed to learn that the same ineffective approach will continue to be implemented. In addition to Sen. Roberts, the letter was signed by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and David Vitter (R-La.). Full text of the letter is below, and a copy is attached. The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Obama: In the wake of the recent wave of devastating terrorist attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Paris, Beirut, and the Russian airliner flying over Egypt, as well as last weeks attack in San Bernardino that appears to have been inspired by ISIS, we write today to both express support for your stated objective to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS and to urge you to employ more effective means to accomplish that worthy goal. ISIS poses a direct threat to our country, and the magnitude of that threat is growing as a result of this terrorist armys expanded operational reach. The recent attacks prove that ISIS now has the ability to carry out mass-casualty terrorist attacks well beyond its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency recently warned that ISIS likely has additional attacks planned, and the group has publicly declared its intention to strike the mainland United States. We also know that ISIS is aggressively pursuing a more robust chemical weapons capability and, to that end, has recruited scientists and other technical experts. The American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil. Over the past couple of years, as ISIS has murdered and raped its way across the Syrian and Iraqi countryside, it has also succeeded in reenergizing the global jihadi movement, driven by its evil ideology and fueled by its hateful propaganda. The King of Jordan has described the struggle against ISIS in stark terms, calling it a third world war against humanity. Likewise, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter testified recently that Were at war against ISIS. The groups ranks in Syria and Iraq have swelled to as many as 30,000 jihadists, due in part to its leveraging of social media platforms and dark corners of the Internet to recruit from all over the world. Even more alarming is the threat that ISIS and its adherents now pose to us here at home, in the form of a jihadist already living on U.S. soil and planning the next deadly attack. As a nation, we have a clear and vital interest at stake in Syria and Iraq preventing terrorist attacks against America and our allies and that obligates us to intensify the effort to destroy ISIS. That vital interest can only be safeguarded through the elimination of the sanctuary that ISIS has carved out for itself in Iraq and Syria. We believe we are at a strategic inflection point in the fight against ISIS and that, without a well-informed strategy change to arrest this groups momentum, the task of defeating it will multiply in its difficulty and complexity. We listened carefully to your Oval Office address on Sunday but were disappointed to learn that the same ineffective approach will continue to be implemented. In September, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, characterized the fight against ISIS as tactically stalemated, an assessment that we believe still holds true. To break this stalemate, we ask you to formulate a comprehensive military strategy against ISIS and bring to bear additional military means. In the near term, our principal strategic goal must be to shatter the ISIS narrative of invincibility, in order to stem this groups ability to recruit or inspire additional jihadists, both those who would physically travel to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS and those who would remain outside its sanctuary and conduct attacks on their home nations or neighboring ones, including the United States. In order to effectively undermine the ISIS narrative, the coalition must inflict upon it highly visible territorial losses, starting with Iraq, including the recapture of Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul. To that end, we recommend that you pursue, at a minimum, several additional military options: U.S. military advisors. To bolster the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, and Sunni tribal forces, we should embed U.S. military advisors to serve alongside them in combat units down to the battalion level, including those on the front lines.We must work more closely with our local ground partners. Without effective ground forces, ISIS cannot be dislodged from the territory it now holds in Syria and Iraq. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs). We should deploy and embed additional U.S. troops to serve as JTACs, embedded with our local ground partners, in order to make our airstrikes against ISIS more precise and more lethal. Close air support. We should deploy and utilize additional close air support platforms, including Apache attack helicopters, to provide more effective support to our ground partners who are in close contact with ISIS, in coordination with the embedded JTACs. Airstrike approval process. We should review the current approval process for coalition airstrikes, which we understand is unwieldy, and consider removing barriers that inhibit our pilots from attacking ISIS targets that are both timely and strategically significant. In addition, we ask you to consider two more far-reaching courses of action: Safe zones. We should establish one or more safe zones inside Syria, primarily for the protection of Syrian refugees. Creating and maintaining these so-called no-fly and no-drive zones would be a substantial military and humanitarian undertaking, but in so doing we would help safeguard innocent men, women, and children not just from Bashar al-Assads aircraft and barrel bombs, but also from ground attacks by Assads forces and ISIS. We would also help avert the mass exodus of Syrian refugees fleeing their own homeland for other countries in the region and in Europe. NATO role. In light of the continuing threat posed to multiple member-nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), we should consider pursuing a robust and central NATO role in combating ISIS, as recently proposed by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis. Leading the planning, implementation, and command-and-control of a mission to establish safe zones in Syria may be an appropriate mission for NATO. This list of potential courses of action is not an exhaustive one, but we believe that pursuing even some of these would represent a needed boost in the fight against ISIS. Further, a number of these options or related ones have been proposed by two of your former Secretaries of Defense, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, and we agree that they are worthy of serious consideration. A more robust U.S. military effort is also likely to attract greater contributions from both NATO allies and, more importantly, regional partners. We recognize that credible military action is necessarily only one element of any sound strategy to defeat ISIS. In addition, we know that the effort to dislodge ISIS from the territory it currently holds must be undergirded by a political framework that will sustain a lasting rejection of ISISs bankrupt ideology, which will itself require significant Sunni participation in Iraqi national governance. We also recognize that the threat of ISIS cannot be divorced from the overall conflict in Syria, which continues to rage, fueled further by Russian and Iranian interference. To safeguard our own national security, we must step up the military fight against ISIS as soon as possible, but it will require sustained, long-term American engagement to resolve the deeper problems that have allowed ISIS to incubate and gather strength in Syria and Iraq. Success will not come easily or cheaply, but we urge you as our commander-in-chief to do whatever it takes to defeat ISIS and keep the American citizenry safe from harm. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ff1406ce-f681-422a-b5cd-7feaf19ca9d3,Sen. Moran Praises Announcement of McConnell 931st Air Refueling Group's Designation as Air Refueling Wing,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today announced that the 931st Air Refueling Group the Air Force Reserve associate unit with the active-duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing (ARW) at McConnell Air Force Base (AFB) will officially be designated as the 931st Air Refueling Wing as early as January 2016. The designation is a result of the expanding responsibilities of the 931st Air Refueling Group, particularly as a result of McConnell AFBs selection as the United States Air Forces first home of the new KC-46A tanker. ""I am pleased that the 931st Air Refueling Group at McConnell Air Force Base will receive the well-deserved recognition of an Air Refueling Wing next year, Sen. Moran said. Along with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell, the 931st plays a critical role in our nations air mobility with thousands of hours deployed around the world. With military construction well underway, the 931st is also preparing for the upcoming arrival of the KC-46A refueling tankers. The Wing designation will make certain the 931st receives the resources and manpower necessary to meet the air refueling demands of our Armed Forces for years to come. I have long advocated for the transition of the 931st to Wing status, and I am proud the Air Force recognizes the hard work and value of the men and women at McConnell."" In order to accommodate the anticipated fiscal year 2016 arrival of the first KC-46A tankers, the 931st is slated to increase their manpower by more than 400 positions. This anticipated increase in personnel and new classification as a Wing will give the 931st the resources and personnel necessary to carry out their air mobility missions with the new KC-46A tankers. In 2013, Sen. Moran joined members of the Kansas Delegation insending a letter to Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welshregarding the potential designation of the 931stAir Refueling Group. In April 2015, the senator asked Air Force Reserve Chief Lieutenant General James Jackson about the Wing designation during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing. At that time, Lt. Gen. Jackson spoke about the excellence of the 931stAir Refueling Group and projected the Wing classification for the 931st would be in place by 2017 or 2018. In June 2015, Sen. Moran also met with Colonel Mark Larson, who commands the 931st at McConnell AFB, to discuss this matter. The Colonel was pleased to report that the 931st met the threshold to transition into a Refueling Wing. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=bb855c5c-7d54-422e-b45f-d495d2a43b7c,Kansas Common Sense - Senate Passes Legislation to Repeal Obamacare,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Senate Passes Legislation to Repeal ObamacareOn Thursday evening, the Senate listened to Americans and passed legislation repealing major portions of the Affordable Care Act. The Restoring Americans Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (H.R. 3762) dismantles much of the flawed 2010 law and suspends funding to Planned Parenthood. I supported this measure, which now goes to the House. The House will soon pass the legislation and send it to the presidents desk. President Obama is expected to veto this bill. It has been more than five years since Obamacare was rammed through Congress on a purely partisan basis in the face of significant public opposition. After all this time, most Americans still oppose this unprecedented expansion of federal government intrusion into health care decisions for families and job creators. This 2,700 page law has burdened millions of Americans with a litany of broken promises, higher taxes and costs, reduced health care choices, and new regulations that have stifled the economy. Individuals, families and employers continue to face increasing health insurance costs, new taxes overseen by a politically-biased IRS, burdensome mandates, and great uncertainty because of this flawed law. By repealing Obamacare, we can replace it with step-by-step improvements to enable individuals to purchase affordable health coverage that meets their unique needs and lower overall costs. Click here for more information on the passage of legislation to repeal Obamacare. Passage of Five-Year Surface Transportation BillIn 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally established our nations interstate highway system which has since become the backbone of our economy. Today, hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on our nations transportation system. For Kansas farmers, manufacturers and small businesses, our nations highways are vital to move and distribute goods to market, and almost every American depends on stable roads and bridges to get where they need to go each day. Unfortunately, over the past decade, Congress has passed 36 short-term extensions to highway funding authority, and has repeatedly resorted to transfers from the U.S. Treasurys General Fund to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat. This has resulted in frequent threats of shutdown for transportation programs and damaged the abilities of state and local governments to plan ahead and invest in long-term infrastructure projects. On Thursday night, the Senate passed H.R. 22, the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the first long term highway reauthorization since 2005. The FAST Act authorizes federal highway, transit, rail and motor carrier safety programs through fiscal year 2020 without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. Having passed the House of Representatives Thursday afternoon, this legislation was signed into law by the President on Friday. Included in H.R. 22 are several important provisions I championed, including the restoration of a competitive bus and bus facilities grant program that will more equitably distribute federal bus funding to rural states. Bus transit systems are critical to Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita as well as smaller communities. This grant program will help ensure that buses can continue to be a reliable mode of transportation for Kansans to reach their jobs, schools, health care providers and other important destinations each day throughout our local communities. In addition, the FAST Act includes legislation from two separate bills I sponsored S. 654 and S. 1692 which will provide relief to the agriculture industry from a burdensome regulation requiring farmers and ranchers to obtain hazardous material endorsements before transporting small amounts of diesel fuel critical to many agricultural operations, and allow for the delivery of tandem trailers by manufacturers, lowering costs for consumers and reducing highway congestion. The state of Kansas has the third greatest number highway miles in the nation, and yet one-third of our major roads and one in every six bridges are in poor condition. Ending the cycle of short-term stop gaps to federal highway funding will provide the state and local governments in Kansas with badly needed certainty in planning infrastructure projects to address our deteriorating roads and bridges. In particular, the FAST Act renews an important 15 percent set-aside for off-system bridges, funds which can help repair and preserve bridges not included in the National Highway System that are vital to regional economic growth, such as Shawnee Countys Willard Bridge. The FAST Act represents a significant bipartisan compromise and will provide the stability needed for the nations highway system to spur investments in crucial infrastructure projects and generate economic growth. Click here to watch my floor speech on the five-year surface transportation bill. Senate Votes to Restore Funding for Crop InsuranceI'm pleased the ill-advised cuts to crop insurance that were in the recent budget deal I opposed were corrected in the highway bill passed by the Senate Thursday night. In Kansas and across the country, crop insurance is the most important risk management tool for farmers. The budget deal took direct aim at the private sector delivery of crop insurance one of the key aspects that makes it successful. As Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have the opportunity to oversee the budget and operations within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the crop insurance. I will continue to use my role to protect crop insurance for Kansas family farmers. Click here to view my remarks on the Senate floor calling for funding for crop insurance to be restored. Pressing the VA to Fix Choice Act ImplementationOn Wednesday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss the proposed VA Choice Program Consolidation Plan. This plan addresses how the Choice program will function in the future, but Kansas veterans continue to struggle right now with access to care in their communities through Choice. This is because of the flawed implementation of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act). Many of our VA medical facilities in Kansas are only open part-time, or do not have a full-time Medical Doctor (MD) on staff, causing those who have sacrificed for our nation to struggle to receive needed medical services. During the hearing, I had the opportunity to press Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson on the eligibility requirements for the Choice program, and whether they are being interpreted and implemented correctly. Common sense tells us that if you live within 40 miles of a VA facility, but that clinic cannot provide you with the services you require, or does not have a MD on staff, you should be able to receive care closer to home. I am pleased that Deputy Secretary Gibson agreed that those veterans living within 40 miles of a clinic open only part-time are eligible for Choice. Additionally, Sec. Gibson committed to providing more information on those eligible veterans so we can make certain they are aware of the resources available to them. Veterans deserve a VA worthy of their service and sacrifice, and I will continue to push the senior administrators at the Department of Veterans Affairs to fix the problems within the Choice Act today so we can make certain Kansas Veterans have access to timely, quality care. Click here to watch my questioning of Sec. Gibson. Fort Riley Hospital UpdateI am frustrated to learn about the continued delays impacting the opening of the new Irwin Army Community Hospital on Fort Riley. In March, I had the opportunity to tour the hospital, and was encouraged by the progress. With much of the construction completed, I fully anticipated the hospital would be able to open its doors by the end of the year. However, I recently learned that the construction has been halted indefinitely due to legal disputes, preventing the new Irwin hospital from serving the thousands who call the Big Red One home. This week, I requested answers from the Army regarding the litigation and whether construction can continue on the state-of-the-art facility so it can open its doors in the near future. We have a duty to provide quality care to those who serve our nation, and the men and women on Fort Riley and their families deserve access to this new hospital. I will continue to work to make certain the new Irwin Army Community Hospital can start serving these soldiers and their family as soon as possible.Click here to read more. Speaking on Appropriations Process and Blocking Funds for Lesser Prairie Chicken ListingI spoke on the Senate floor this week about my amendment included in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill to block funds from being spent to enforce the threatened species listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The bird's population declined in 2012 and 2013 amidst the worse drought Kansas has experienced in decades. To counter the declining population during the drought, the five states with habitat area began developing and implementing locally-driven voluntary conservation plans to preserve the bird. Rather than give the conservation plans time to prove their effectiveness, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service decided to list the bird as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. As rainfall has returned to the habitat area, it came as no surprise to people familiar with the area that the Lesser Prairie Chicken population surged by nearly 50 percent in the last two years. The provision is a perfect example of the importance of the appropriations process and Congress reclaiming the power of the purse strings. Despite the rapidly increasing bird population, a letter I wrote requesting the USFWS to reconsider the necessity of the listing, and majorities in both the House and Senate seeking to block the listing, the USFWS has declined to reconsider the listing. Instead, the agency seeks to impose burdensome rules and regulations on landowners in the habitat area that will harm farmers, ranchers, oil and gas developers, electric cooperatives, and many other stakeholders. As I've made clear to my colleagues on many occasions, including on the floor this week, it's critical that Congress intervene to block the Lesser Prairie Chicken listing to protect Kansas rural economy. Click here to watch my remarks on the Senate floor. Sponsoring Legislation to Improve Financial Condition of U.S. Postal ServiceThis week I sponsored legislation to reform the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency Act (S. 2051), which aims to address the serious financial challenges facing USPS. The U.S. Postal Service has long been an important part of American communication and commerce, but its deteriorating financial condition threatens its future. As the USPS debts and future liabilities rise, weve seen postal service quality decline in Kansas and across rural America. Failure to make real reforms now will allow the Postal Services financial crisis to worsen and increase the cost of any future fix. For years, the Government Accountability Office has determined the USPS financial condition to be high-risk and in need of Congressional intervention. To protect taxpayers from the costs of a truly bankrupt Postal Service, Congress must act to put the agency on a path toward solvency. The reforms in this legislation offer a serious policy framework to return USPS to economic stability and preserve postal services in Kansas and across the country. Click here to learn more about S. 2051. Visiting Heart to Heart InternationalOn my way back to Washington on Monday, I made a stop atHeart to Heart International(HHI). HHI is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides pharmaceutical products and medical supplies to health care providers serving populations impacted by disasters, such as the Nepal earthquake and the refugee crisis in Haiti. Most of HHIs aid is administered by their volunteers, who in 2014 gave more than 33,000 hours of their time and talents to the organizations cause. Thanks to HHI's Lyn Lakin, Dan Neal and Monica Enloe for hosting me. Touring Brightergy in Kansas CityOn Monday morning, I also stopped atBrightergy. Brightergy provides innovative energy solutions to businesses, schools, cities, and nonprofits to help them control their energy usage and costs. During my visit, we discussed the value of entrepreneurs and the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in our country. One of my top priorities is to identify opportunities to reduce federal barriers for entrepreneurs so we can foster an environment where innovation can flourish, consumers are empowered, and more Americans can find meaningful employment. Thanks to Brightergy's CEO Adam Blake, Paul Snider and the entire Brightergy leadership team for hosting me. Cheering on K-State FootballRobba and I joined tens of thousands of Kansas State football fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan on Saturday to cheer on the Wildcats as they took on the West Virginia Mountaineers. In what was an action-packed game, K-State defeated the Mountaineers 24-23. Congrats to Coach Bill Snyder and especially the Wildcat seniors I look forward to watching this seasons bowl game finale. Here, we're pictured with Kansas City Chiefs Owners and Wildcat fans Lamar Hunt, Jr. and his wife Rita. Happy HanukkahLast night, Jewish families in Kansas and around the world gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. I wish my Jewish friends and neighbors a joyous remainder of the eight-night holiday. Kansans in the Office KVC Health SystemsAnne Roberts of Olathe Wayne Simms of Olathe Kansas State UniversityKent Glasscock of Manhattan Susan Peterson of Manhattan Ron Trewyn of Manhattan President Kirk Schulz of Manhattan Wheat State TelephoneArchie Macias of Manhattan Navy League of the United StatesWard Cook of Prairie Village Salina Surgical HospitalLuAnn Puvogel of Salina National Association of Area Agencies on AgingJulie Govert Walter of Manhattan Pheasants Forever and Quail ForeverMarc Glades of Burlington Jeff Jauernig of Coffey County Weed Society of AmericaDallas Peterson of Manhattan National Association of Insurance and Financial AdvisorsRhonda Knudson of Great Bend Jim Moore of Lawrence AT&TKent Wells of Garden City Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-announces-us-service-academy-nominees3/,Congresswoman Jenkins Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominees,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, KS–Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) announced the names of the students from 2nd Congressional District in Kansas who received her nomination for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies. “I am proud and honored to nominate these outstanding Kansans,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “These young men and women represent some of the best students in Kansas and America. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.” Congresswoman Jenkins’ nominees are determined by her non-partisan U.S. Military Academy Nominations Board which this year was made up of five Kansans who have graduated from the U.S. Service Academies or who have years of military experience and leadership. Congresswoman Jenkins’ nomination does not guarantee admission to a service academy. The nominees will now compete for selection to the class of 2020. United States Air Force Academy Evan Brunner, Topeka Brett Carey II, Lawrence Caroline Craig, Auburn Scott Hattok, Lansing Valerie Jardon, Baldwin City Bailey Moore, Columbus Andrew Reineke, Lansing   United States Military Academy Evan Brunner, Topeka Brett Carey II, Lawrence Caroline Craig, Auburn Jacob Dancer, Fort Scott John Flott, Topeka Bailey Kelly, Topeka Bailey Moore, Columbus Gabriel Orndorff, Meriden Andrew Reineke, Lansing Carolyn Weiler, Lawrence   United States Naval Academy Brett Carey II, Lawrence Thomas Carr, Lansing Caroline Craig, Auburn Jacob Dancer, Fort Scott Shawn Hoffman, Fort Leavenworth Valerie Jardon, Baldwin City Bailey Kelly, Topeka Bailey Moore, Columbus Fritz Porter, Neodesha Andrew Reineke, Lansing   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-statement-on-president-obamas-address1/,Congresswoman Jenkins' Statement On President Obama's Address,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement after President Obama’s address to the nation on Sunday, December 6th: ""The President can talk about creating a plan to get tough on terror, but empty words are not the answer. President Obama continues to avoid confronting radical Islamic terrorism head-on, failing to provide a strategy long after it was due. The safety and security of Americans must be more than a concern, it must be a foremost priority. President Obama must act now to swiftly reverse the tide of terrorism swelling around the world, and ensure America leads the charge forward to bring an end to ISIS, once and for all.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=071ead4b-eacc-4d5a-bd6b-a37ead212247,Sen. Moran Votes to Repeal Obamacare,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Restoring Americans Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (H.R.3762) to repeal Obamacare: It has been more than five years since Obamacare was rammed through Congress on a purely partisan basis in the face of significant public opposition. After all this time, most Americans still oppose this unprecedented expansion of federal government intrusion into health care decisions for families and job creators. This 2,700 page law has burdened millions of Americans with a litany of broken promises, higher taxes and costs, reduced health care choices, and new regulations that have stifled the economy. Individuals, families and employers continue to face increasing health insurance costs, new taxes overseen by a politically-biased IRS, burdensome mandates, and great uncertainty because of this flawed law. By repealing Obamacare, we can replace it with step-by-step improvements to enable individuals to purchase affordable health coverage that meets their unique needs and lower overall costs. Background Sen. Moran was the first Member of Congress to call to repeal Obamacare in January 2011. Obamacare will raise taxes by more than $1 trillion over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. For Kansans, additional taxes from Obamacare will be more than $949 million over the next 10 years. Health insurance premiums under Obamacare have increased between 2015 and 2016. President Obama promised that Obamacare would bring down premiums by $2,500 per year for the typical family. However, a November 2015 Gallup poll shows that nearly 1 in 3 Americans delay receiving health care for themselves and their families because of cost. For 2016, the premium increase for benchmark silver plans on the Obamacare federal exchange is 7.5 percent more than triple last years increase. By comparison, this cost increase is far more than the pay raises most Americans received as average hourly earnings have risen by just over 2 percent over the past year. In Kansas, premiums for benchmark silver plans on HealthCare.gov rose by more than 16 percent compared to the previous year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=d2e69f36-273d-4f1c-b589-48b794a260d0,Sen. Moran Statement on Passage of Five-Year Surface Transportation Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the following statement in response to the Senates passage of H.R. 22, the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). The bill authorizes federal highway, transit and rail programs through fiscal year 2020 without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. The importance of passing a long-term highway reauthorization and delivering certainty and flexibility to state and local governments in planning infrastructure projects cannot be overstated, Sen. Moran said. This bill finally ends the cycle of short-term extensions and threats of devastating shutdowns to transportation programs that have hurt the nations ability to complete highway projects for the past 10 years. By cutting red tape and accelerating project delivery, the FAST Act will help address deteriorating infrastructure like Topekas Willard Bridge and Kansas other failing roads and bridges. Since 2005, Congress has passed 36 short-term extensions to highway funding authority, and has repeatedly resorted to transfers from the U.S. Treasury to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent. Kansas has more miles of highway than 48 of the 50 states, yet data from the American Society of Civil Engineers and other national transportation research groups indicate that 34 percent of major roads in Kansas are in poor condition and 17 percent of the states bridges are structurally deficient. The FAST Act enhances Kansas ability to manage and allocate federal dollars efficiently, while expanding funding opportunities for bridges in rural communities outside the National Highway System. The FAST Act includes two additional provisions sponsored by Sen. Moran to reduce regulatory overreach and increase efficiency. The first would provide the agriculture industry relief from a burdensome regulation requiring farmers and ranchers to obtain a hazardous material endorsement before transporting small amounts of diesel fuel critical for a number of agricultural operations. The second, mirroring the Safe and Efficient Trailer Delivery Act introduced by Sen. Moran in June, allows for the delivery of tandem trailers under certain safety conditions, lowering costs for manufacturers and ultimately reducing highway congestion. The House of Representatives passed the legislation earlier Thursday afternoon, and the FAST Act is soon expected to be signed into law by President Obama. Absent Congressional action, surface transportation authorization was set to expire on Dec. 4, 2015. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-applauds-passage-of-longterm-highway-bill/,Congresswoman Jenkins Applauds Passage Of Long-Term Highway Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the House of Representatives passed the long-term Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 359-65. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement after the vote: “At a time when our economy continues to struggle, this legislation is the first step in providing the necessary certainty folks need to plan for the future. This long-term transportation bill, the first since 2005, includes increased funds for infrastructure construction, including local highways and bridges. Now, states will have the flexibility they need to address improvements to roads, highways and bridges to ensure the safety of all drivers and strengthen our local economy. Additionally, this bill reverses recent cuts to crop insurance which is a vital tool for our Kansas farmers. While there is much more work to be done, this is a strong start to putting control of our highways and bridges back in the hands of the States.” Items To Note: This legislation also sets aside funds specifically targeted to help improve local and rural infrastructure. These funds potentially could aid the construction efforts across Kansas, like the Willard Bridge. http://transportation.house.gov/fast-act/   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=fffc1e0c-9278-4534-8975-5b11ab1c83c6,"Senate Passes Legislation to Repeal Obamacare, with Senator Roberts Support",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) voted in favor of the legislation. I have long said that my priority in the Republican Senate is to repeal and replace Obamacare, and today the Senate has taken a huge step in doing just that, Roberts said. Obamacare is crushing our employers and driving up costs for patients. We continue to see higher costs, less choice for individuals, and higher taxes. We need to repeal Obamacare, and work to fix health care. The Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, H.R. 3762, repeals the Affordable Care Act through budget reconciliation. As Roberts said yesterday, This reconciliation bill eliminates many of the core provisions, the foundation so to speak, of Obamacare. Without a strong foundation of mandates and taxes to finance this massive overhaul the law will likely crumble under its own weight. The bill now goes back to the House where it must approve Senate changes to the legislation. It then goes to the President to be signed into law or vetoed. Roberts filed two amendments to the bill. The first would repeal the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a rationing body under Obamacare that has the ability to limit treatment options for patients. The second, which was included, would repeal the part of the law that prohibits people from using their medical savings account funds to buy over-the-counter medications without a prescription. Yesterday, Roberts spoke on the Senate floor on the damage Obamacare has caused Kansans and why this law needs to be repealed. To watch that video, click here. Since the health care reform debate in 2009, Senator Roberts has been an outspoken opponent of Obamacare. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Roberts fought against the flawed plan in both committees, and voted against the legislation on the Senate Floor. Senator Roberts, the co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, has supported several measures to repeal Obamacare in the five years since its enactment. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=f82ec627-73d3-4028-b9e9-5ec4722dd6d5,Sen. Moran Sponsors Bipartisan U.S. Postal Service Reform Bill,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today sponsored S. 2051 the Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency Act of 2015 (iPOST) to fix the serious financial challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). As the lead Republican sponsor, Sen. Moran joins U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) who introduced the bill in September. It has been six years since the Government Accountability Office first classified the USPSs financial condition as high-risk, and Kansans and individuals across rural America continue to face declining postal service quality. The U.S. Postal Service has long been an important part of American communication and commerce, but its deteriorating financial condition threatens its future, Sen. Moran said. Weve also seen postal service quality across rural America decline as the USPS debts and future liabilities rise. Failure to make reforms now will cause the Postal Services financial crisis to worsen and increase the cost of any future fix. To protect taxpayers from the costs of a truly bankrupt Postal Service, Congress must act to put the agency on a path toward solvency. These reforms offer a serious policy framework to return the Postal Service to economic stability and preserve postal services across the country. S. 2051 reflects the views of a broad range of postal stakeholders and offers a solution to the difficult issues that Congress and the Postal Service have struggled with for years. The bill includes an extensive package of reforms that would steady the Postal Services financial footing, stabilize and improve service performance, allow for the development of new products and services, and enhance transparency. The financial condition of the Postal Service has been in consistent decline for nearly a decade, but the 2008 economic downturn and the continuing transition to digital communications and commerce accelerated its downward spiral. The Postal Service currently owes $15 billion and faces tens of billions of dollars more in unfunded pension and health care obligations in the years to come. It ended fiscal year 2015 with a net loss of $5.1 billion and now has a net deficit totaling more than $50 billion. Cost cutting efforts have disproportionally affected rural operations, resulting in postal facility closures and reduced service quality. Without serious, long-term reform, this iconic American institution will take on more and more debt and risk federal intervention. U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) also cosponsor S. 2051. Sen. Moran met with U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan on May 5, 2015, to discuss Kansans stories of slow or unreliable postal service and the critical importance this service has to rural communities. He also expressed concerns about degraded customer experience to PG Brennan as a result of changed collection times in an Oct. 22, 2015, letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-statement-on-pentagons-plan-to-close-guantanamo-bay-detention-center/,Jenkins Statement on Pentagon's Plan to Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Center,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon’s latest proposal to close the Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) detention center “would require as much as $600 million.” It has been reported that President Obama rejected this plan and sent it back for revisions to make it more cost effective. After learning of the report, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement: “This report is yet another reason why it would be a mistake to close Guantanamo Bay. It’s time for President Obama to listen to the American people and drop his reckless, expensive plans to close the detention center. Folks in Kansas agree – we don’t want Guantanamo Bay terrorists living next door.” Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported that in order to help cut costs, “one idea is to eliminate the requirement that detainees be tried by military commissions, and instead to try them in the federal court system, according to one senior defense official.” Said Congresswoman Jenkins: “These are enemy combatants; they should be tried as such instead of through the federal court system as if they were a common criminal. The idea that the President would even consider this reckless scheme to cut costs and establish a false rationale to close GTMO shows that he is willing to try anything to keep his campaign promise – even potentially jeopardizing our national security. “ Items To Note: Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and Leavenworth Mayor Lisa Weakley published a joint editorial in the Independent Journal Review explaining their bipartisan opposition to President Obama’s attempts to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (Jenkins, Weakley, IJReview: Why We Don’t Want Guantanamo In Our Backyard, 12/1/15)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=48c794e6-2701-4829-84c7-a093c965a799,"Senator Roberts: We need to fix health care, not Obamacare",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor on legislation the Senate is expected to pass that would repeal the foundation of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. We need to repeal this law, a law that includes more than $1 trillion in new taxes for Americans over the next 10 years, Roberts said. For Kansas households, the economic impact is an average tax increase of $876 per year. We need to eliminate the individual and employer mandates. The employer mandate is stifling job creation; it is reducing workers hours and it is a disincentive for businesses to grow and expand. He continued, We need to fix health care, not Obamacare. We need to give peace of mind to the families hurt by Obamacare. The relief provided by this package just does that. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can provide freedom to all Americans from the mandates of this law and give us an opportunity to pursue more patient-centered reforms that will improve access and actually lower costs for patients. The Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, H.R. 3762, dismantles many of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The bill passed the House last month and with Senator Roberts support is expected to pass the Senate this week. The bill then goes to the presidents desk for signature. Full text of Senator Roberts prepared remarks is below: Thank you, Mr. President. Last month, Congress enacted its first full budget that balances in the last 5 years. Under our previous Democrat leadership, we only passed one budget. We have to look all the way back to 2001 to find the last time Congress passed a balanced 10 year budget. It is vitally important we go through the regular budgeting process to ensure we are being efficient and effective when spending hardworking taxpayers dollars. Now that we have a final budget framework, we have the opportunity to adjust spending and make policy changes to rein in the excesses of this administration. The first step in this is the consideration of the budget reconciliation bill. We have before us a budget reconciliation bill that not only reduces the federal deficit, but it does so by dismantling many of the key provisions of the presidents health care law, known as Obamacare. We are more than five years into its implementation. However, many of the same problems that those of us who were here during the original debate warned of, are still causing harm to consumers, and new issues continue to arise. We continue to see higher costs, less choice for individuals, and higher taxes. Prior to open enrollment starting, CMS released the 2016 Marketplace Affordability Snapshot. This shows that across the 37 states that use the federal marketplace, Kansas included, the cost of the second lowest cost silver plan, or the benchmark plan, will increase on average 7.5 percent next year. That number is more than doubled for Kansans. They are facing an average 16 percent increase in the benchmark plan. This is not the promised reduction in premiums the president promised. This is not affordable. Madison from Overland Park, Kansas, recently wrote to me about her familys struggle. She says, Yet again our rates are going up to the point where we cannot afford our health insurance that I have had since before 2008. Out of network hospital and doctors limit my ability to provide for my children the health care they need. Madison, you hit the nail on the head. Even if you can afford the increased premiums to maintain coverage, the high deductibles may make it nearly impossible for you to utilize health services under your plan. Or, your doctors are no longer in your network, limiting your ability to keep your doctor that you liked another broken promise from the president. Another local problem of concern for me was the announcement that one of the insurance companies that provided coverage on the exchange to Kansans will no longer be offering plans next year. This impacts nearly half of all Kansans that enrolled through the marketplace who will again have to find a new plan, and possibly new providers. We need to repeal this law, a law that includes more than $1 trillion in new taxes over the next 10 years. For Kansas households, the economic impact is an average tax increase of $876 - per - year. We need to eliminate the individual and employer mandates. The employer mandate is stifling job creation; it is reducing workers hours and it is a disincentive for businesses to grow and expand. Jeff from Kansas City contacted me about this one and the effect the laws having on his manufacturing business. He says, Without an exemption [from the employer mandate] I will be forced to cut my staff below 50 or let Obamacare put me out of business in 2016. He continues, Taking the penalty by not offering [health care] to my staff is the least expensive option in 2016 and will still put me in the red. These are not the options our job creators should be stuck contemplating reducing staff or facing closure. The individual mandate tax is set to increase January 1st. Individuals opting not to purchase, or those not able to afford to purchase insurance next year, will now face a penalty of $695 or 2.5 percent of household income, whichever is higher. Removing this penalty will not only provide financial relief for these individuals, but it will restore the individual freedom of all Americans to choose whether or not to purchase government approved insurance. We need to repeal the so-called Cadillac tax which if left in effect, will lead to reduced benefits and increased costs for employees. We also need to remove the medicine cabinet tax, a new requirement that you must obtain a prescription to purchase over-the-counter medication, you know the things you shouldnt need prescriptions for with funds from your flexible spending accounts. This reconciliation bill eliminates many of the core provisions, the foundation so to speak, of Obamacare. And without a strong foundation of mandates and taxes to finance this massive overhaul the law will likely crumble under its own weight. We need to fix health care, not Obamacare. We need to give peace of mind to the families hurt by Obamacare. The relief provided by this package just does that. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can provide freedom to all Americans from the mandates of this law and give us an opportunity to pursue more patient-centered reforms that will improve access and actually lower costs for patients. Senator Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He is also co-chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=49e31ee2-cfce-45c1-898d-5186e15f832d,"Senator Roberts: We need to fix health care, not Obamacare",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor on legislation the Senate is expected to pass that would repeal the foundation of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. We need to repeal this law, a law that includes more than $1 trillion in new taxes for Americans over the next 10 years, Roberts said. For Kansas households, the economic impact is an average tax increase of $876 per year. We need to eliminate the individual and employer mandates. The employer mandate is stifling job creation; it is reducing workers hours and it is a disincentive for businesses to grow and expand.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-announces-military-academy-nominations,Rep. Yoder Announces Military Academy Nominations,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Overland Park, KS Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) announced today that he has nominated 29 area students to four of the five U.S. Service Academies for the class entering 2016. The Third Districts Academy Nomination Board, appointed by Representative Yoder, conducted interviews with the applicants following review of their applications. After receiving their nominations, the applicants must now meet the requirements of each Service Academy to be considered for appointment. Ultimately, the Academies make the final decision on who receives an appointment of admission. Im honored to announce the nominations of the following outstanding Kansans from the 3rd Congressional District to a United States Service Academy, Rep. Yoder said. The caliber of these nominees is very impressive; our district will be very well represented. These young men and women are our future and I wish them well as they seek an appointment to a U.S. Service Academy. United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, CO Derek Ficken Olathe Tyler Huschka Overland Park Seth Jarvis Olathe Kaitlyn Moore Shawnee Kaylee Stillie Olathe Braydon Huschka Overland Park Jessica Broll Shawnee Robert Grant Parks Overland Park William Billy Harmes Overland Park United States Military Academy West Point, NY Bryce Johnston Leawood Brenden Shutt Shawnee Taylor Krakar Olathe Ryan Anderson Shawnee Allison Strong Overland Park Travis Hodge De Soto Kaleb Brooks Olathe Alden Vogel Overland Park United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY Austin Flores Overland Park Stephen Tujague Shawnee United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD Emerson Womble Overland Park Rex Templin De Soto Ryan Klepper OverlandPark Mike Bamford Overland Park Allison Meegan Overland Park Patrick Doyle Prairie Village Colin Strickland Bucyrus Madison Wheat Shawnee Nicholas Askew Olathe Noah Pollock Overland Park Rep. Yoder will begin accepting applications for the 2017 Academy class on May 1, 2016. The application deadline is October 1, 2016. For more information on the application process or to receive an Academy Nomination Application packet please contact Susan Metsker in Rep. Yoders Overland Park Office at 913-621-0832 or visit www.yoder.house.gov ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/icymi-why-we-dont-want-guantanamo-in-our-backyard/,ICYMI: Why We Don't Want Guantanamo In Our Backyard,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and LeavenworthMayor Lisa Weakley published a joint editorial in the Independent Journal Review explaining their bipartisan opposition to President Obama’s attempts to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This comes after President Obama continues efforts to close Guantanamo, despite Congress having passed laws making any prisoner transfer illegal, and his signature on the FY216 National Defense Authorization Act. The text of the editorial is as follows:   Why We Don’t Want Guantanamo In Our Backyard Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins & Mayor Lisa Weakley IJ Review December 1, 2015 There is a reason that people across the country stand firmly in opposition to the President Barack Obama’s proposal to shut down the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay and transfer dangerous detainees to American soil. It isn’t safe. The 107 detainees at Guantanamo Bay are there because their own countries refuse to take them back, believing the detainees are too dangerous. We understand the President has campaign promises he’d like to keep. However, as he considers issuing an executive order closing the facility and transferring the terrorists to places in the United States, we ask that he hear us out. As elected officials representing Leavenworth, Kansas — one potential destination for the detainees — he needs to understand the devastating impact his actions could have on communities like ours. In 2008, the City of Leavenworth initially became aware of the possibility of a transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. That’s when a grassroots, bipartisan effort began against such an idea. Since that time, the City Commission, along with federal and state representatives, have worked steadfastly to educate why Leavenworth is not a suitable location. Most people can’t even believe this is being considered, to put detainees in a small, rural setting. Before he possibly chooses the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, the President needs to understand that moving these terrorists to our community will jeopardize our families, schools and downtown businesses. Several folks have already said that they will leave our community should the President choose Fort Leavenworth. These are the world’s most dangerous terrorists. Fort Leavenworth is known as the home of the U.S. military’s only maximum-security facility. What a lot of people don’t realize is that Fort Leavenworth is a campus-like setting with a mission to serve as the Intellectual Center of the Army. Here, we host the best and brightest international military leaders to train and exchange ideas with the U.S. military’s rising leaders. The Combined Arms Center also uses lessons learned from the collective military community to write doctrine – a tool that ensures our military can adapt to modern warfare. But should this transfer move forward, many of our Middle Eastern allies who send officers to train at Fort Leavenworth would likely stop the practice. Ask anyone in the U.S. military leadership and they will tell you Fort Leavenworth is an invaluable resource, allowing us to gain knowledge from outside sources and build strategic partnerships with our allies, which is integral in keeping us safe. Is the President willing to endanger crucial military training practices and strategic partnerships with our allies to make good on a misguided campaign promise? The President worries that GITMO is a motivation for further terrorism, but wouldn’t simply shifting the detainees to the mainland make their next location the same thing? It could cause folks to leave Leavenworth, weaken our community, and devastate on our local economy. We ask that the President begin listening to the American people and drop his misguided plans of possibly transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to Fort Leavenworth or any other American facility. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-well-continue-to-stand-with-the-american-people-against-the-unforgiving-regulations-of-this-administration/,"Jenkins: ""We'll continue to stand with the American people against the unforgiving regulations of this administration""",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"At the weekly Republican Leadership Press Conference, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) criticized the excessive regulation flowing from the President’s administration as it threatens our economy and stifles job creation.  CLICK HERE To Watch the Congresswoman’s Remarks The following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks: “Time and time again, the President continues to govern through regulation, believing the power of his pen is more important than the will of the American people and their duly elected Representatives in Congress. The latest executive overreach from the President’s administration has been more overbearing and unfair regulations from the EPA. Their new, harsh rule stifles job creation and threatens our economy.  For example, under the EPA’s regulations, electrical utility companies in my district will have to spend large amounts of money to meet the new bureaucratic requirements. Unfortunately, much of this cost would be passed on to their consumers, harming working families and seniors in Kansas.  That’s why we are voting to strengthen our energy security, infrastructure and promote job growth by stopping harmful regulations. We'll continue to stand with the American people against the unforgiving regulations of this administration.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=85fb6f15-5e77-4d11-a17e-6b27adb6727a,Kansas Common Sense - Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving From my family to yours, we hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Despite the challenges we face here at home and across the globe, we still have many reasons to be grateful. Thank you to the servicemen and women who werent able to be with their families over the weekend because they are protecting us and preserving our nation. Robba and I had the honor to share a meal at Fort Riley with Major General Wayne Grigsby, Jr., his family, and the Big Red One community. As we express our gratitude this Thanksgiving to our soldiers and their families, we also ask Gods continued blessings for our country. VA Fails to Hold Bad Actors AccountableThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is once again failing to hold bad actors accountable. The Inspector General identified two VA employees who had manipulated the VA hiring system for their own gain. They created new positions for themselves with fewer responsibilities, but maintained their previous salaries. Common sense says that if you do less work, you should be paid less. It is a disgrace that instead of firing and removal from the VA altogether, they have simply been demoted. Our veterans deserve a VA worthy of their service and sacrifice. Click here to learn more. Town Hall Meetings in Marshall, Brown and Pawnee CountiesBeattie and SummerfieldI continued my Kansas Listening Tour this week with a stop in Marshall County. I was in Beattie on Monday where around 30 town hall attendees stopped by the Beattie Community Center. We discussed the threat from the Islamic State, the burden of federal regulations on small town banks, and health care for veterans. Thanks to Bill Phillipi and Kevin ONeil for coordinating my visit. After the town hall, I drove to Summerfield and visited the Holy Family Parish Hall, which was built in 1921 and is one of many beautiful, old churches throughout our state. Hiawatha I enjoyed good company and conversations at my town hall meeting at the Fisher Community Center in Hiawatha. Our discussion included the continued instability in the Middle East as a result of the Islamic State, care for our veterans, the importance of quality health care to rural communities, and banking system reform. I was glad to visit with the more than 40 people in attendance who came to make their opinions and suggestions heard. Thanks to Hiawatha City Administrator Mike Nichols for coordinating my visit. LarnedIt was great to see familiar faces at my Pawnee County Kansas Listening Tour Stop in Larned on Wednesday. More than 30 area residents stopped by to discuss issues facing our state and nation including the threat of the Islamic State, immigration, executive overreach, and the budget. Thanks to Janet Olson at theLarned Area Chamber of Commercefor hosting the event. Kansans in the OfficeCapitol TourKrissie Johnson of Prairie Village Payton Johnson of Prairie Village Jacob Johnson of Prairie Village Kyle Fleming of Pittsburg Lori Fleming of Pittsburg Aidan Fleming of Pittsburg Keagan Fleming of Pittsburg Miriam Fleming of Pittsburg Kenneth Keasler of Lenexa Christina Keasler of Lenexa Kennedy Keasler of Lenexa Harrison Keasler of Lenexa Golden Prairie Honey Farms Gary LaGrange of Manhattan Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-pompeo-to-hold-special-town-hall-meeting-on-potential-gtmo-detainee-transfer/,"Jenkins, Pompeo To Hold Special Town Hall Meeting On Potential GTMO Detainee Transfer",2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representatives Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Mike Pompeo (KS-04) will be holding a special town hall meeting at the Leavenworth Heritage Center on Friday, December 11th, at 9am CT to discuss the President’s plan to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to a mainland United States site which could include Leavenworth, Kansas. “The President’s proposed plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and possibly move extremely dangerous terrorists to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth is a major concern for Kansans,” said Representatives Jenkins and Pompeo. “This town hall will give Kansans the opportunity to gather under one roof and voice their opinions regarding the President’s plan. It is important that we come together and give everyone who has a stake in the situation a chance to share their concerns.” WHO: Representatives Lynn Jenkins and Mike Pompeo. WHAT: Special Town Hall Meeting On President Obama’s Plan To Possibly Transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. WHEN: Friday, December 11th at 9am CT. WHERE: Leavenworth Heritage Center - 109 Delaware St. Leavenworth, KS 66048   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-celebrates-small-business-saturday/,Congresswoman Jenkins Celebrates Small Business Saturday,2015-11-27,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"TOPEKA, KS – Ahead of Small Business Saturday, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement recognizing the importance of small businesses and the positive impact they have on our local communities: “Over the past few years, I have visited hundreds of small businesses throughout Eastern Kansas. I understand, first-hand, that our small businesses are part of the lifeblood of Kansas and the American economy. I am proud to help recognize the invaluable contributions of the thousands of small businesses in Kansas this Small Business Saturday. In Congress, I have supported several bills, such as the REINS Act, that will help eliminate Washington’s red tape and allow our businesses to grow – creating more jobs. This Holiday season, I will be sure to encourage my family and friends to do their shopping at a Kansas small business!” CLICK HERE for more information on small businesses in Kansas and some of the several bills Congresswoman Jenkins has supported to help our small businesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/president-obama-signs-ndaa-barring-transfer-of-gtmo-detainees1/,President Obama Signs NDAA Barring Transfer of GTMO Detainees,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama signed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which prohibits the President from transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States. After the President signed the defense bill, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement: “I applaud the President for dropping his partisan stance and signing this critical bipartisan defense bill into law. The National Defense Authorization Act will increase troop pay and benefits, strengthen our national defenses and require the President to create a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS. Additionally, the NDAA prohibits the President from transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the detention facilities in the United States, such as the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. The NDAA is now the law of the land and his Attorney General has confirmed it would be a violation of the law for the President to move forward with transferring GTMO detainees to the United States.” Items To Note  Attorney General Loretta Lynch the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the law does not allow the transfer of individuals from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. (Julian Hattem, The Hill: Attorney general: Law 'does not allow' Gitmo detainees in the US, 11/17/15) National Defense Authorization Act passes the House of Representatives, with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 370-58. (Roll Call Vote #618, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll618.xml, 11/05/15)  National Defense Authorization Act passes the United States Senate, with overwhelming bipartisan support, by a vote of 91-3. (Roll Call Vote #301, http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00301, 11/10/15)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=bb5643d2-7010-4c4b-8c99-afc63689fdaf,Kansas Common Sense - Senate Opposes EPA Proposal,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Senate Floor this WeekThe Senate this week cleared a short-term extension of highway and transit authority, providing two more weeks for House and Senate conferees to complete a long-term deal before funding expires December 4. The Conference Committee, comprised of relevant committee chairs and select members from each chamber, is tasked with ironing out the discrepancies between the House and Senate-passed highway bills. On July 30, 2015, the Senate passed H.R. 22, legislation reauthorizing transportation programs for six years and providing three years of fully guaranteed funding, without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. Also debated on the Senate floor this week was the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, one of 12 federal spending bills Congress is tasked with passing each year. In an effort to return the Senate to its traditional budget process, whats known as regular order, the new Senate Majority has passed all 12 bills out of the Appropriations Committee and attempted to move them toward a vote on the Senate floor. Unfortunately, the Senate Minority blocked floor consideration of any and all appropriations bills this year until passage of H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, on November 10 the first appropriations bill to pass the Senate since 2011. Because an agreement on amendments could not be reached on the THUD legislation last week, further consideration has been delayed until after Thanksgiving recess. As such, it is likely that the 11 outstanding appropriations bills will be merged into a larger omnibus package, which Congress must negotiate and pass by December 11, when funding for the federal government will otherwise expire. Senate Opposes EPA ProposalI voted in favor of both S.J. Res. 24 and S.J. Res. 23 this week, which both passed the Senate, to express disapproval with the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Clean Power Plan rule. The latest proposal threatens to increase energy costs for Americans with minimal environmental benefits. Washington should focus on commonsense policies to make energy cleaner and more affordable rather than adding more cost, red tape and regulations. This administration continues to ignore the impact a rule like this has on Americans, and I believe we should work to put in place environmental policies that can both protect our natural resources and safeguard our economy. Kansans would be disproportionately affected because nearly two-thirds of our electricity production comes from coal. Our states power providers have made great progress in reducing emissions over the years, but the additional regulations mandated in this rule will result in higher costs without demonstrating much environmental benefit. Click here to learn more. Attorney General: Transferring Prisoners Against the LawDuring a House Judiciary Committee last week, Attorney General Loretta Lynch testified that current law prohibits the transfer of detainees from GITMO to the United States. The presidents pursuit of transferring prisoners to U.S.-based prison facilities such as Fort Leavenworth is not only illegal, but also jeopardizes our national security and the important mission of educating our future military leaders at the Intellectual Center of the Army. Fort Leavenworth is home to the Command and General Staff College, where many foreign officers are sent for professional military education alongside American soldiers. Congress has passed multiple laws through defense authorizations and appropriations bills to prevent the transfer of detainees to the United States, and it is important those laws are upheld. I remain committed to making certain this unlawful transfer does not occur, and I am pleased the Attorney General also recognizes the strong prohibition within the law. Protections for Veterans Who Fall Victim to Fiduciary FraudI introduced the Fiduciary Responsibility and Accountability for Unpaid Debts (FRAUD) Act this week along with Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut and Senator Brown of Ohio. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Fiduciary Program is designed so veterans who are no longer able to manage their benefits are able to use a fiduciary to manage their benefits for them. In recent years the VBA has discovered an increasing number of cases where fiduciaries are taking advantage of these veterans and misusing their benefits. Though the VBA has taken steps to improve their oversight to spot fiduciary abuse of benefits, they lack the ability to reissue benefits to the veterans in these cases. The FRAUD Act would give the VBA the authority to reissue a veterans benefits when a new fiduciary has been named making certain no veteran loses their benefits due to the manipulation of bad actors. NIH and Life-Saving ResearchI addressed the Senate on Wednesday to promote an opportunity Congress has to deliver on a promise to provide strong support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and for life-saving biomedical research in this country. The recent two-year budget deal that became law presents a path to deliver a much-needed support to NIH and prioritize the important research that saves and improves lives, reduces health care costs, and fuels economic growth. I believe we can position our country to provide steady, predictable growth to NIH, the largest supporter of medical research in the world. This sustained commitment will benefit our nation many times over, and bring hope to current and future generations. NIH-supported research has raised life expectancy, improved quality of life, lowered overall health care costs, and is an economic engine that strengthens American global competitiveness. Today, we are living longer and healthier lives thanks to NIH research. Deaths from heart disease and stroke have dropped 70 percent in the last half-century. U.S. cancer death rates are falling about one percent each year. But much work remains. Diseases like cancer, Alzheimers disease, stroke, and mental illness touch all of us and our loved ones. Half of all men and a third of all women in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetimes. One in three Medicare dollars is spent caring for individuals with diabetes. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. In 2050, it will be one in every three dollars. New scientific findings are what yield breakthroughs that enable us to confront the staggering challenges of disease and illness. To advance life-saving medical research for patients around the world, balance our federal budget, and control Medicare and Medicaid spending, we must prioritize biomedical research to further our leadership in science and discovery. Click here to view this speech. Visiting the Kansas Intelligence Fusion CenterI appreciate the hard work of talented analysts at the Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center (KIFC) who coordinate with state, local, private sector and federal partners to protect Kansans and all Americans from emerging threats. I visited the KIFC over the weekend to learn more about the attacks in Paris, the current terror threat from the Islamic State, and efforts to keep us safe in the homeland. U.S. Air Force Academy SuperintendentIt is always a pleasure to catch up with Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson, a former Commander at McConnell Air Force Base. She is a strong, committed leader to the young men and women who will lead our United States Air Forceas Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. I appreciate Lt. Gen. Johnsons hard work to make the academy cadets the best individuals and airmen they can be. Federal Courts in Kansas This week I introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the federal judicial system, the Temporary Judgeship Conversion Act (S. 2314). The United States District Court for the District of Kansas currently has five permanent judgeships and one temporary judgeship. This temporary seat was added in 1990 with the help of Senator Bob Dole to increase the districts capacity and has since been reauthorized on an annual basis. Recognizing that the continued existence of this temporary judgeship has been necessary to keep the caseload in Kansas at an appropriate level, my legislation seeks to make permanent our temporary judgeship as well as eight others in districts facing similar circumstances. National Rural Health Day This past Wednesday was National Rural Health Day, which honors the community-minded spirit and dedication that prevails in Kansas and other parts of rural America. It also gave us a chance to recognize the unique health care challenges facing rural Americans, and to celebrate the individuals who rise to meet these challenges every day. Last year, I introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution (S. Res. 588) recognizing the importance of access to health care in rural areas in Kansas and throughout our nation, which passed the Senate unanimously on National Rural Health Day. This year, I introduced the Rural Veterans Improvement Act (S. 2265), which would give veterans in rural areas increased access to care and expanded opportunities to receive the care they have earned. I commend the men and women working in these health care facilities for their tireless dedication to the people they serve. We are grateful to you and your fellow health professionals who care for the 62 million individuals who call rural America home. Meeting to Discuss Adopted Children Stranded in DRCI joined a group of Senate Colleagues this week to discuss with the Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) ambassador the hundreds of adopted children waiting to be released to their American parents. More than two years ago, the DRC halted issuing exit visas for adopted children stranding them in the country and depriving them of loving homes. Having signed letters to DRCs president, parliamentary leaders, and the ambassador to no effect, it was important to press upon the ambassador this is an issue Congress takes seriously. Too many parents in Kansas and across the country have waited far too long to welcome their children into their homes. National Entrepreneurs DayEntrepreneurs have long been vital to the economic health and growth of America. Research from the Kauffman Foundation shows that new businesses accounted for nearly all net new jobs between 1980 and 2005. In fact, entrepreneurs created 400,000 new businesses in 2013, and were responsible for creating 2.3 million jobs that same year. This week I introduced a resolution to celebrate the contributions of American entrepreneurs and officially establish National Entrepreneurs Day as a federally recognized observance day. The Senate resolution, which I offered with Senator Booker of New Jersey, aims to have Congress recognize the third Tuesday of every November as National Entrepreneurs Day. I am proud to say that this resolution passed the Senate by unanimous consent two days after it was introduced. Farmers Rice Cooperative Annual MeetingI spoke at the Farmers Rice Cooperative annual meeting this week before heading home to Kansas. Ive found over the years that rice farmers share many of the same priorities, issues and concerns as farmers I talk to in Kansas. Among many other issues, agricultural producers are concerned about overregulation by the federal government, having certainty in the tax code, and increasing export markets by reducing foreign trade barriers. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the budget and activities within the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration, I hope I can serve to facilitate a relationship between rice growers and farmers in Kansas for the betterment of all of us who benefit from a strong U.S. agriculture sector. Kansans in the Office Dr. Kelly Lechtenberg of Manhattan Capitol Tour Greg McHenry of Manhattan Tawny McHenry of Manhattan David Kurt of Hugoton Shelley Kurt of Topeka Nex-TechJimmy Todd of Lenora Kansas Independent College Association and Fund Matt Lindsey of Topeka Kansas Soybeans Dennis Gruenbacher of Andale Suzanne Gruenbacher of Andale Craig Gigstad of Winchester Lance Rezac of Onaga Gene Binder of Shawnee Wilson Communications Brian Boisvert of Wilson Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Tracey Osborne of Overland Park Tom Robinett of Overland Park Marga Spangler of Overland Park Brad Stratton of Overland Park Michael Tracy of Overland Park Jim Holland of Leawood Mike Hess of Overland Park Tony Rupp of Overland Park Mashaun Butler of Overland Park Rick Worrel of Overland Park Larry Winn of Overland Park Society for Human Resource Management Lisa Carlton of Topeka Unique Hiram of Fort Riley Courtney Cates of Emporia Sherry Dryden of Hays Shelbye Smith of Wichita Kansas for Change Sharon Gordon Mike Morton Society for Human Resource Management Lisa Carlton of Topeka Sherry Dryden of Hays Unique Hiram of Fort Riley Shelbye Smith of Wichita Tammy Galvan of Manhattan Courtney Cates of Emporia Drug Policy Alliance Sharon Gordon of Udall Mike Morton of Udall Eagle Communications Gary Shorman of Hays University of Kansas Elizabeth Kozelski of Lawrence Kathleen Lane of Lawrence Tim Lewis of Kansas City Margher Senguinette of Kansas City Jack Cline of Lawrence Honored 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 form of 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 by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-announces-third-district-job-fair,Rep. Yoder Announces Third District Job Fair,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Overland Park, KS Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) announced today that he will be holding his fifth Third District Job Fair and Resource Expo on Friday, December 11th at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). As in past years, the Job Fair will help facilitate face-to-face meetings between those seeking employment and local business owners who are currently hiring. The job fair will include a special morning hour exclusively for veterans. The Job Fair will last from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with the 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM hour exclusively open to veterans. Job-seekers should dress for success and bring several copies of their resume. There is no registration or fee required to attend this event. WHEN: Friday, December 11, 2015 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM: Exclusive to Veterans 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Open to All Job Seekers WHERE: Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center 6565 State Ave. Kansas City, KS 66102 Only exhibitors need to register by clicking here and completing the form. For more information, visit www.Yoder.house.gov, or please contact Susan Metsker in Representative Yoders District Office at (913) 621-0832. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-votes-to-pause-syrian-refugee-program,Rep. Yoder Votes to Pause Syrian Refugee Program,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC This afternoon, Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives passing the American SAFE Act to pause the resettlement program for refugees from Iraq and Syria until various intelligence and national security agencies certify to Congress that each refugee is not a threat. The bill passed the House by a 289-137 margin. After voting in favor, Representative Yoder issued the following statement: Despite his own Administration officials repeatedly warning that they do not have the resources or information needed to fully vet these refugees, President Obama is stubbornly moving forward with his plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees into our country. His proposal is dangerously misguided. The primary duty of the federal government is to protect the American people. In light of the attacks in Paris, now is not the time to open our borders to refugees from countries who want to do us harm. Congress stands ready to use the power of the purse to halt this program should the President defy the will of the American people and veto this bill. Earlier this week, Representative Yoder wrote a letter to President Obama demanding that he halt the flow of refugees from Syria or any other nation with ties to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from entering the United States. For the full text of the letter, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-applauds-passage-of-house-bill-to-keep-americans-safe/,Congresswoman Jenkins Applauds Passage of House Bill To Keep Americans Safe,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4038, the American SAFE Act of 2015, in a strong bipartisan vote of 289-137. This legislation will pause the influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees until the Administration implements important vetting and security procedures to ensure ISIL, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups do not exploit our refugee program and enter the United States. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement applauding the bill’s passage: “My top priority will always be the safety and security of Kansans and the American people. In these difficult times, our American values teach us compassion, but also common-sense. It is important to do everything we can to protect Americans across our nation. A pause in admitting Syrian and Iraqi refugees until the Administration can ensure the implementation of stringent safeguards is a logical and practical step to maintain the wellbeing of folks in Kansas and across the country.” Items to Note The legislation would require background checks for any Syrian or Iraqi refugee and certification from the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence that the individual did not represent a security threat.   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-introduces-bill-to-stop-presidents-plan-to-close-gtmo/,Congresswoman Jenkins Introduces Bill To Stop President's Plan To Close GTMO,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– This Thursday, November 19th, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) introduced a House Resolution making clear that any unilateral action by the President to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center (GTMO) would be illegal and unconstitutional. After introducing the resolution, Congresswoman Jenkins released the following statement: “In light of recent news that President Obama may use an executive order to unilaterally close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, I introduced a bill making it clear that this action would be illegal and unconstitutional – as stated by his own Attorney General, Loretta Lynch. “To close GTMO would not only be illegal and unconstitutional, but it would also be in direct opposition to our national security needs. I call on the President to drop his reckless plans of closing GTMO and focus his attention on better securing our nation.” Items To Note: Attorney General Loretta Lynch told the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the law does not allow the transfer of individuals from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. (Julian Hattem, The Hill: Attorney general: Law 'does not allow' Gitmo detainees in the US, 11/17/15) National Defense Authorization Act passes the House of Representatives, with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 370-58. (Roll Call Vote #618, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll618.xml, 11/05/15) National Defense Authorization Act passes the United States Senate, with overwhelming bipartisan support, by a vote of 91-3. (Roll Call Vote #301, http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00301, 11/10/15) Fort Leavenworth a possible location for Guantanamo detainee transfers. (Gordon Lubold, Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Assessing Fort Leavenworth as Possible Site for Guantanamo Transfers, 08/14/15)   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=198addc2-32d1-4a00-9d39-74eb8d9adef6,Roberts: President Obama Must Stop Putting Politics Above National Security,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor emphasizing that in the wake of the recent terror attacks, now is the absolute wrong time for the administration to be putting forth a plan to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States mainland, particularly when there has been no intelligence assessment on the danger of such a move. The question is, how can the Administration ask Kansans, or any Americans, to paint a bullseye on their community without providing assurances that moving detainees to the U.S. will not pose a threat to them or our national security?"" Roberts said. It seems unfathomable, and yet, this president is proposing to do just that. As our nation memorializes those who perished in France, it is the absolute wrong time for President Obama and this Administration to be putting forth a plan to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States mainland. He continued, We must put national security back as our top priority. It must be our first duty in the Congress, and by the Commander-in-Chief. Americas national security is my top priority and bringing Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States is not putting our nations security above politics, campaign promises, or anything else. Roberts yesterday wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter demanding answers about the intelligence on the consequences to national security of this move, saying How can the Administration decide that moving these terrorists is in our best interests if we do not have an analysis of the threats? With both the American people and the Congress opposed to this executive action, how is the President reaching this decision? Roberts also noted that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch agrees that if the president acts by Executive Order, he is acting unconstitutionally. To download or view Senator Roberts remarks on the Senate floor, click the image below. The following is text of Senator Roberts remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the French government for taking aggressive and appropriate action to arrest and kill the terrorists responsible for last Fridays vicious attack in Paris that resulted in 129 killed and over 300 wounded. We pray for the full recovery of those wounded and note that everywhere within our country we see the American flag at half-staff along with many displaying the flag of our ally France. So, the good news today is that the mastermind of several terrorist plots and the plot killing so many last Friday is dead. The wishes of his family an incredible situation, reality check, message and challenge have been achieved and Abdelhamid Abaaoud died in the same fashion as his victims. So be it. Vive la France! Continuer le combat! Keep up the fight. This tragic event has been a terrible reminder that true evil persists in this world as individuals continue to plot, plan, and execute terrorist attacks on the West. Mr. President, as our nation memorializes those who perished in France, it is the absolute wrong time for President Obama and this Administration to be putting forth a plan to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States mainland. The absolute wrong time. Now, we learn that the Administration has delayed the much publicized but secret plan to close Guantanamo and bring terrorists to the United States. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, I dont have any additional guidance for you but the plan will come relatively soon. Others state the plan could even be released while the president is gone for the G-20 meeting in Turkey. As an aside I suggest he might try to move the terrorists there. Mr. President, the reason President Obama delayed the plan is that we have had a terrorist attack in France, France has gone to war and the United States is on high alert. Apparently he has tossed this decision and public announcement regarding the plan to the Department of Defense who has stated there is nothing imminent. Thank goodness for that. Now, beyond the security threat this poses to our communities in Kansas, South Carolina, or Colorado the sites which this Administration has surveyed for potential relocation there has been no intelligence assessment regarding the danger of moving enemy combatants from Guantanamo to the U.S. The question is, how can the Administration ask Kansans, or any Americans, to paint a bullseye on their community without providing assurances that moving detainees to the U.S. will not pose a threat to them or our national security? It seems unfathomable, and yet, this president is proposing to do just that. This presidents unending affinity for executive orders risks overriding his Attorney Generals view of the law, the advice of those at the Department especially those close to Ft. Leavenworth and military law enforcement, against the will of Congress which voted 91-3 to maintain a prohibition on moving detainees to the mainland, and absolutely no intelligence to support the move. None. In short, the Senate, Congress, the Department of Defense, the Attorney General, and the American people have spoken. Yesterday, I wrote Department of Defense Secretary Carter to ask whether an intelligence report has been done to support the Administrations claims that Guantanamo Bay is a recruiting tool for ISIS and other terrorist organizations. As a matter of fact, common sense tells you moving detainees to the mainland would be a GREATER recruiting tool for ISIS and other terrorist organizations. I asked if an assessment showed detainment in the U.S. would decrease recruitment. Or, did an intelligence product show national security threats would decrease if enemy combatants are held in the U.S. From my discussions with members of this body on the Intelligence Committee, the answer is they have no comprehensive intelligence assessment. Simply put, an assessment regarding the transfer of detainees to the mainland has not been done. So, I have asked Secretary Carter and the Department of Defense to ensure an assessment is completed. To do otherwise, would be irresponsible and reckless. How can the President of the United States allow ISIS to paint a target on those who would live near what would become GITMO North. And no community in the United States wants that label. Ft. Leavenworth, in particular, is not a suitable replacement for GITMO. It is the intellectual center of the Army. It hosts our nations best and brightest warfighters at the Command and General Staff College which also hosts a hundred international officers every year. I want to remind my colleagues, just how important Ft. Leavenworths mission is to the Army and to our national security, and the risk that this entire mission would be endangered by making it a terrorist prison. Ft. Leavenworth is home to the United States Armys Training and Doctrine Commands Combined Armed Center. The Combined Arms Center oversees 13 schools, including the Command and General Staff College. And most recently, Ft. Leavenworth was named The Army University, giving our Intellectual Center of the Army an official title. Since 1881, the Command and General Staff College and the Combined Arms Center have been engaged in the primary mission of preparing the Army and its leaders for war. In order to accomplish critical missions, Ft. Leavenworth develops and integrates Army leader development, doctrine, education, lessons learned, functional training, training support, training development, and proponent responsibilities in order to support mission command and prepare the Army to successfully conduct unified land operations in a joint, inter-agency, inter-governmental, multinational environment. To degrade Ft. Leavenworth to a terrorist prison would have ominous repercussions our professional military and the value it serves every American and our national security. In addition, we must consider how our allies will respond to having enemy combatants so close to their top military leaders training at Ft. Leavenworth. In my effort to reach out to embassies tied to the school, all have expressed their deep support for the International Military Officers Division, its value to their military and security, the importance of maintaining the program at Ft. Leavenworth. There is every possibility that given the countries who participate in the Command and General Staff College would reconsider their participation given the relocation of terrorists. This would bring negative consequences and represent a terrible detriment to the partnership building that takes place during their coursework. It would mean a loss for international cooperation, for American military education, and our national security. There are so many imperative factors that must be examines at Ft. Leavenworth in Colorado and in South Carolina. Factors that we cannot ignore. The fact that the FBI has nearly 1,000 investigations into ISIS activity within the U.S., that ISIS released a video right after the attacks in Paris stating the U.S. was next, and most importantly, the fact that we are not dealing with every day criminals. The detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay are enemy combatants terrorists individuals with no remorse and, with a recidivism rate at 30 percent, a strong desire to return to the battlefield. The reality is, these individuals and the organizations they support pose the greatest risk to national security we face today. This Administration should not obstruct the will of Congress, reflecting the voice of the American people, which has prohibited this White House from transferring detainees from GITMO to the U.S. every year since 2009. Won the battle back then, why do we have to repeat it now. If the President believes he can act without consequences, he is wrong. 91 Senators voted in favor of this prohibition just last week when we passed the National Defense Authorization Act. Thats not just a majority. Thats a veto-proof majority. Article II of the Constitution does not provide this president any president with the power to ignore the law. In a tele town hall meeting just the other night, caller after caller asked the presidents actions are constitutional. How can the president do this when Congress has prohibited funding? In my view, and that of the Presidents own Attorney General, if the president acts by Executive Order, he is acting unconstitutionally. I agree with our founding fathers, like George Mason who said, When the same man, or set of men, holds the sword and the purse, there is an end to liberty. And James Madison who said it is, particularly dangerous to give the keys of the treasury and the command of the army, into the same hands. I have mentioned the Congress, the merits of Ft. Leavenworth, the Constitution, but what I have not mentioned is our servicemembers. We have asked so much of our men and women in uniform over the past fourteen years. We have asked for them to go into harms way before every bit of equipment was ready, we have asked them to deploy and redeploy with almost no dwell time, weve asked them to extend their stays, and weve put them in more places across the globe than at any other period in history. They have done it all without hesitation or complaint because we have the best fighting force in the world. But I am unwilling to ask them to take on the challenge of guarding enemy combatants in the United States and put their families at risk for harassment, kidnapping, or other tactics homegrown terrorists and foreign fighters have use or will used. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines do not live anonymously when their families are stationed with them, as is the case at Ft. Leavenworth. I believe, along with many that have worn the uniform, the attacks in Benghazi broke the nations promise to never leave a man in harms way. On a personal note, when I signed up to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, I was told that I was harms way, I would never been left behind. The Corps would have my back. Either by squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division, or the whole Marine Corps they would have my back. It has been the same for generations before me and hopefully, generations after. That is, until now. If we are going to ask our men and women to fight ISIS or to put their families at risk, they have to know that we have their back. Until that bond is restored and we have a president that is willing to lead, instead of following, our nation remains vulnerable to every terrorist organization and cell in the world. We must put national security back as our top priority. It must be our first duty in the Congress, and by the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. President, I stand here because Americas national security is my top priority and bringing Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States is not putting our nations security above politics, campaign promises, or anything else. Roberts has actively fought the Obama Administrations efforts to transfer Guantanamo detainees to the mainland, particularly to Ft. Leavenworth. Roberts placed a hold on the administrations nominee for Secretary of the Army in August. He said, During my conversation, I was reminded that the administration that it could not implement any parts of a study without explicit authorization from Congress. So, if and when a study was produced and the desire to act on it arose, the Administration would come before Congress to ask for that authority. The Administrations threat to act by Executive Order yesterday speaks to the exact opposite of that understanding. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=c1568005-a174-4d59-8ac1-9d3a814db8c8,Roberts: President Obama Must Stop Putting Politics Above National Security,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor emphasizing that in the wake of the recent terror attacks, now is the absolute wrong time for the administration to be putting forth a plan to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States mainland, particularly when there has been no intelligence assessment on the danger of such a move. The question is, how can the Administration ask Kansans, or any Americans, to paint a bullseye on their community without providing assurances that moving detainees to the U.S. will not pose a threat to them or our national security? Roberts said. It seems unfathomable, and yet, this president is proposing to do just that.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-leads-member-letter-calling-for-boost-to-nih-funding,Rep. Yoder Leads Member Letter Calling for Boost to NIH Funding,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Yesterday evening, Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) began circulating a letter to his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives calling for a minimum of $3 billion in new spending at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The allocation would bring the total funding at NIH to $33.084 billion, marking the largest percent increase for NIH since 2003. Representative Yoder said in the letter: Funding for federal research is critical to save American lives and to bend the cost curve of our federal health care expenditures. While our conference was and is torn over the breaking of the sequester budget caps, if we are going to increase domestic spending, we believe funding research to cure and prevent the diseases Americans face is a critical priority that should be at or near the top of our list. Full text of the letter is reproduced below. ### November 17, 2015 Paul Ryan Speaker of the House H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 Hal Rogers Chairman House Appropriations Committee H-305 The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Kevin McCarthy Majority Leader H-107, The Captiol Washington, D.C. 20515 Tom Cole Chairman Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee 2358-B Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 201515 Speaker Ryan, Leader McCarthy, Chairman Rogers and Chairman Cole: As we work towards an Omnibus Appropriations Act (""Omnibus"") to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2016, we write to stress the critical importance of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Earlier this year the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act (""Cures Act"") by a margin of 344 to 77. This vote was truly bipartisan, with 170 Republicans and 174 Democrats supporting it, one of the strongest votes for any spending measure in Congress. The Cures Act, through a combination of mandatory and authorized discretionary funding, increased spending for NIH by $3.25 Billion in FY 2016. House Republicans supported such an increase because we see the funding of federal research an important facet of our positive agenda of addressing the needs of the American people. Cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Heart Disease and many other diseases affect our constituents, our neighbors, even some of our close friends and family. Cancer alone will kill 600,000 Americans next year. In spite of our budget debates, these diseases march on, costing us millions of lives and trillions of dollars. Estimates peg the annual American cost of Alzheimer's in 2050 at over $1 trillion. Funding for federal research is critical to save American lives and to bend the cost curve of our federal health care expenditures. While our conference was and is torn over the breaking of the sequester budget caps, if we are going to increase domestic spending, we believe funding research to cure and prevent the diseases Americans face is a critical priority that should be at or near the top of our list. With passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act, Congress has been authorized to increase non-defense discretionary spending by $40 billion. Of those increases, we respectfully urge you to support the House's position and fund a minimum of $3 billion in new NIH spending in FY 2016, bringing total NIH spending to $33.084 billion. This is consistent with the vote of a large majority of our Conference on the Cures Act earlier this year, and consistent with our Republican values. This is a wonderful opportunity for House Republicans to provide bold leadership by giving hope to Americans struggling with diseases. All of us have met with constituents who are waiting for NIH breakthroughs to save lives or cure the suffering of their loved ones. Let's take this opportunity to do something we can all be proud of, to make a bold stroke, and to make a true difference in the lives of our constituents for generations to come. Sincerely, Kevin Yoder, Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=03a1cb2f-c6f4-49a6-b596-014187744325,"Sens. Moran, Booker Introduce Resolution to Recognize American Entrepreneurs",2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced a Senate resolution today to recognize the contributions of American entrepreneurs and officially establish National Entrepreneurs Day as a federally recognized observance day. The Moran-Booker Senate resolution aims to have Congress identify the third Tuesday of every November as National Entrepreneurs Day. National Entrepreneurs Day celebrates the individuals who are the foundation of our country and strength of our economy, Sen. Moran said. We recognize that innovative new businesses are critical components of economic growth, and devoting one day a year to celebrating startups is a small step toward securing future economic success and a better tomorrow. Today and every day of the year, entrepreneurs deserve to be honored and celebrated for their contributions, Sen. Booker said. National Entrepreneurs Day recognizes the role these innovative individuals play in fueling our economy and expanding opportunity in New Jersey and communities across the country. Now more than ever, we need their entrepreneurial energy to inspire the next generation of business leaders. This year, National Entrepreneurs Day is celebrated today, Nov. 17, 2015. National Entrepreneurs Day was established in 2010 by David Hauser and Siamak Taghaddos, co-founders of Grasshopper, an organization that helps entrepreneurs to establish a phone system for their businesses, and Amir Tehrani, entrepreneur and co-founder of The Legacy Foundation, a nonpartisan educational organization that promotes free enterprise. The group successfully petitioned President Obama toproclaim National Entrepreneurs Day as a holidayin 2010. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4e8c7ffb-8455-4972-ba9b-a908db1ae50a,Senate Expresses Opposition to EPA Proposal to Raise Kansans' Electric Bills,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today voted in favor of S.J. Res. 24 and S.J. Res. 23, which both passed the Senate, to express disapproval with the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Clean Power Plan rule. The latest proposal threatens to increase energy costs for Americans with minimal environmental benefits. Washington should focus on commonsense policies to make energy cleaner and more affordable rather than adding more cost, red tape and regulations, Sen. Moran said. This administration continues to ignore the impact a rule like this has on Americans, and I believe we should work to put in place environmental policies that can both protect our natural resources and safeguard our economy. Sen. Moran continued, Kansans would be disproportionately affected because nearly two-thirds of our electricity production comes from coal. Our states power providers have made great progress in reducing emissions over the years, but the additional regulations mandated in this rule will result in higher costs without demonstrating much environmental benefit. According to a recent National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) study that measures the impact of a 10 and 25 percent electricity price increase on jobs and gross domestic product (GDP) from 2020 to 2040, there is a devastating relationship between higher electricity prices and job losses. Even a 10 percent increase results in 1.2 million jobs lost in 2021 across the country with nearly 500,000 of those lost jobs in rural communities. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=eb04f67e-0f49-410d-978d-9d4d0b3848cf,"Sen. Moran Praises House Passage of Bill to Restore Sovereignty of Tribal Governments, Urges Swift Passage in Senate",2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement today after the House passed the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 511). The legislation would restore the sovereignty of governments under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA): I congratulate Congressman Rokita and the House of Representatives in passing the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act with bipartisan support. As the sponsor of this legislation in the Senate, I anticipate a vote in the near future that will defend tribal government parity with all other governments. Because tribes are sovereign, our bills remove conditions on tribal labor that are not equally applicable to state and local governments. With this victory in the House, I encourage my colleagues to swiftly consider and pass this legislation in the Senate. Sen. Moran sponsors companion legislation in the Senate the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (S. 248). S. 248 passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on June 10, 2015. This legislation is supported by the National Congress of American Indians and other tribal organizations, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber said in a statement the bill would prevent an unnecessary and unproductive overreach by the National Labor Relations Board into the sovereign jurisdiction of tribal governments. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-rep-yoder-calls-on-president-to-halt-flow-of-syrian-refugees-into,VIDEO: Rep. Yoder Calls on President to Halt Flow of Syrian Refugees into America,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"For video of the speech,click here. Washington, DC On Friday evening, attackers linked to ISIS conducted coordinated attacks in six locations across Paris, France. More than 130 people were killed, and another 352 are hospitalized with injuries. French officials have indicated at least one of the Paris attackers was admitted into Europe as a refugee from Syria. Nevertheless, the Obama Administration has made it clear it will continue to seek to bring up to 10,000 Syrian refugees to America in the coming year. In response, Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) wrote a letter to President Obama yesterday and gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives this morning demanding he reject refugees from Syria or any other nation with ties to ISIS from entering the United States. Citing the safety concerns, Representative Yoder said in the letter and speech: This proposal places the interest of other nations ahead of the safety and security of the American people. In light of these attacks now is not the time to open our borders to refugees from countries who wish to do our citizens harm. For the full text of the letter, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-there-is-no-more-important-duty-than-to-protect-american-lives-at-home-and-abroad/,"Jenkins: ""There is no more important duty than to protect American lives, at home and abroad.""",2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"At the weekly Republican Leadership Press Conference, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) condemned the recent terror attacks in Paris, France, andhighlighted the need for American leadership.  CLICK HERE To Watch the Congresswoman’s Remarks The following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks: “My thoughts and prayers are also with the people of Paris, and the families worldwide affected by this horrific tragedy. The United States must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with France and our allies in the face of this radical Islamic terrorism. “There is no more important duty than to protect American lives, at home and abroad. In these difficult times, nations have always looked to America for leadership. America must lead. “That is why Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. This defense bill will give our military the tools they need to combat the spread of terrorism. “We must act swiftly and effectively to help ensure the continued safety of Americans everywhere. It is to us in America to show a path forward as we fight for a safer world for our kids to grow up in.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/president-obamas-attorney-general-admits-bipartisan-bill-makes-it-illegal-to-transfer-gtmo-prisoners-to-us/,President Obama's Attorney General Admits Bipartisan Bill Makes It Illegal To Transfer GTMO Prisoners To US,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch, admitted that it is currently, and would remain, illegal for the Administration to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States under the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – which was sent to the President’s desk for signature on Tuesday. This comes after increased efforts by President Obama’s Administration to permanently close down the facility. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement reacting to the admission by the Attorney General: “Despite repeated efforts from President Obama, Congress has consistently followed the will of the American people, on a strong bipartisan basis, and passed laws banning the transfer of any prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to places in the United States, such as Leavenworth. Now the President’s own Attorney General has admitted that any prisoner transfer would be illegal, yet they appear to continue to lay the groundwork for such a transfer. At a moment when the very safety and security of our nation is threatened, the President should drop his plans and turn his focus to much needed ideas to better protect Americans, at home and abroad.” Items To Note Attorney General Loretta Lynch the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the law does not allow the transfer of individuals from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. (Julian Hattem, The Hill: Attorney general: Law 'does not allow' Gitmo detainees in the US, 11/17/15) National Defense Authorization Act passed the House of Representatives, with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 370-58. (Roll Call Vote #618, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll618.xml, 11/05/15) National Defense Authorization Act passed the United States Senate, with overwhelming bipartisan support, by a vote of 91-3. (Roll Call Vote #301, http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00301, 11/10/15)   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=a3a917a8-5e2f-4293-ad58-04af8436b134,Kansas Common Sense - Thanking Those Who Answered the Call,2015-11-16,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Robba and I join all Kansans in expressing our condolences to those families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attack in Paris. We are saddened that terrorists have the capability to cause such death and destruction.We are reminded of the necessity for Americans to increase our efforts to protect against attacks here and increase our vigilance around the globe. In the aftermath of the attacks, we must be sure that those leaving Syria for safety arent doing so with the intent of harming America. I am opposed to resettlement that puts our nations security at risk, and common sense tells us we should not recklessly open our borders. Thanking Those Who Answered the CallEach year on November 11, Americans celebrate and honor generations of men and women who answered the call to serve our country with valor. I hope this Veterans Day you took a moment to honor and celebrate the veterans in your life. Whether its your sister, father, grandfather or neighbor, its important to thank them for their courage and sacrifice, which has preserved the freedoms we all enjoy today. I spent my day in Lawrence and Topeka to express my familys gratitude for all they have done for our nation. My first visit was to Lawrence American Legion Post 14 where Chaplain Eric Walther was asked what he did when he came under enemy fire. His response: We completed our mission. People are depending on us. Talk about a role model. Later that afternoon, it was an honor to take part in recognizing one of Topekas own unsung heroes Brigadier General Norman Ramsey. Thank you to the Kansas VFW for the invitation to speak and to the thousands of Kansans like Norman who served our country with humility and courage. Defense Authorization Bill Passes SenateThe Senate passed a new compromise for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following the Presidents veto of the first compromise between the House and the Senate. This bill authorizes programs and funding to support our nations Armed Forces for the upcoming fiscal year. Included in the compromise are provisions that prohibit the use of funds for the transfer of detainees to the United States and the closure of Guantanamo Bay. This is important given the administrations latest unauthorized pursuit to use executive authority to close Guantanamo Bay. It is vital that we preserve the mission of Fort Leavenworth as the Intellectual Center of the Army, and that we promote the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) that has its home at Fort Leavenworth. The CGSC attracts a number of foreign officers, and the possibility of Fort Leavenworth housing terrorists would impact many nations sending their officers to pursue further education at CGSC. We must not allow an unlawful undertaking driven by the president to disrupt or detract from the immeasurable value this Kansas institution provides, and I am pleased that provisions to make certain no funds are used for that pursuit were included in the authorization bill. Senate Passes Bill to Fund Military Construction and VAAhead of Veterans Day, the Senate passed the appropriations bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I am pleased to see this bipartisan bill that supports our military construction projects and funds the Department of Veterans Affairs pass the Senate. This bill reaffirms our commitment to support our Armed Forces and take care of nations veterans. A strong national defense is critical to our security and is the federal governments primary constitutional responsibility. I am committed to supporting our military personnel in Kansas and across the country, and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate share that commitment. This bill is the first stand-alone appropriations measure amended and passed in the Senate since 2011. It provides nearly $8 billion above last years funding level and is $1 billion above the presidents budget request. Since 2009, funding for the VA has grown by nearly 73 percent. Congress remains committed to our nations military personnel and veterans, but systemic failures at the VA continue to disrupt service to veterans and access to care they deserve. Included in this bill is an amendment I offered that prohibits the use of funds to relocate senior VA executives. Recently the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report finding that senior VA executive were using the relocation program to provide more than $400,000 in questionable moving expenses. The report stated that employees inappropriately used their positions of authority for personal and financial benefit when they forced the transfers of lower-ranking officials and then filled the vacancies themselves. My amendment prohibits the use of funds for the Home Marketing Incentive Program (HMIP) and the Appraisal Value Offer (AVO) program that allowed these senior VA executives to abuse their positions. VA executives should not be taking advantage of benefits intended to help recruit and retain much-needed medical providers and other key personnel serving at VA facilities across the country. We need leaders in the VA who are willing to take a stand, identify the problems, and get on the right path the resolve these systemic issues so that veterans have a Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of their service. Visiting the University of Kansas Hospital Burn CenterBefore flying back to Washington on Monday, I toured and visited with health care providers at the University of Kansas Hospitals Burnett Burn Center. The Burnett Burn Center is the only adult and pediatric burn center in the region accredited by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons. This visit was a good opportunity for me to learn more about how KU Hospital physicians, nurses, and support staff provide comprehensive patient care from complex inpatient services such as plastic surgery and reconstruction services, to important outpatient services such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, rehab therapy, and other social and emotional patient support services. I appreciate the care team taking time to share their expertise and insight on how we can advance the quality of burn and wound care available to Kansans. Thanks to Dr. Richard Korentager, Dr. Dhaval Bhavsar, and nurses Jennifer Parks and Tracy McDonald of the Burnett Burn Center for hosting my visit. Touring the USDA Cropping Systems Research LaboratoryIn my role as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I toured the Cropping Systems Research Laboratory this week. The lab is part of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The agriculture subcommittee plays a key role in overseeing the work being done within USDA and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), both in Washington and in field offices. The research at the Cropping Systems Research Laboratory on sorghum, corn and cotton, wind erosion, temperature stress on plants, water conservation and irrigation systems will directly benefit Kansas farmers. Our farmers constantly need the latest in research and technology to compete in the world market and continue to become more productive, efficient producers of food, fuel and fiber. I look forward to continuing to examine USDA-ARS efforts on behalf of Kansas agriculture. Discussing Health Care Innovation with Blue KCWhile I was in Kansas City on Monday, I visited the office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) to discuss how the organization serves individuals in 32 counties of greater Kansas City and northwestern Missouri, including Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas. Blue KC has provided health insurance coverage to Kansans for three quarters of a century and we discussedBlue KCs efforts to provide Kansas consumers with a range of various health insurance products.Thanks to President and CEO Danette Wilson, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer Rick Kastner, Director of Government Affairs Melissa Panettiere and Vice President of Government Relations Coni Fries for hosting the visit. Osborne County Town HallLast Thursday, I hosted a Kansas Listening Tour stop in Natoma. With more than 40 area residents in attendance, the conversation focused on veterans access to health care, postal service issues in rural areas, the Affordable Care Act, the Iranian nuclear deal, and the impact Wilson Lakes low-water level has on the local economy. Thanks to Larry Boyd and the staff of Larrys Caf for hosting my visit. Plainville Lions ClubI was a guest on Friday at the Plainville Lions Club. They discussed the long-time annual banquet that the club hosts for 4th graders, which they hosted even when I was a 4th grader. Like many rural Kansas communities, the club could use more members as they fulfill the Lion's motto of ""We Serve."" Thanks to Sonja Ruder for inviting me. Kansans in the Office Capitol Tour Anita Nelson Wiley of Manhattan Trisha Gott of Manhattan Tamara Bauer of Manhattan Enterprise Holdings Michael Snodgras of Kansas City DRC Adoption Advocate Thalia Jeffres of Wichita Thrive Allen County Lisse Regehr of Iola David Toland of Iola Steven French of Iola Jerry Dreher of Iola Academy of Doctors of Audiology Stacey Baldwin of Overland Park Lisa Battani of Overland Park Timothy Steele of Shawnee Mission OxFam America Jim French of Partridge Physician Assistant Education Association Sue Nyberg of Wichita Kim Darden of Wichita Emily Mirakian of Wichita Honored 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 form of 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 by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7c47add8-2263-4df5-890f-0474ca9139f6,Moran-Toomey-Blumenthal Amendment to Prohibit Funds to Relocate Senior VA Execs Passes Senate,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), along with Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.) offered an amendment to the fiscal year 2016 military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spending bill, which was included in final passage (93-0). The amendment prohibits the use of funds for the Home Marketing Incentive Program (HMIP) or the Appraisal Value Offer (AVO) program for the relocation of senior VA executives. Unfortunately, systemic dysfunction and lack of leadership at the VA continues, Sen. Moran said. We do not need more damage control we need to hold VA personnel accountable for their actions. This amendment will ensure senior executives at the VA are not taking advantage of benefits intended to help recruit and retain much-needed medical providers and other key personnel serving at VA facilities across the country. We need leaders in the VA who are willing to take a stand, identify the problems, and get on the right path to resolve these problems so that veterans have a Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of their service. According to the VAs own Inspector General report, a perverse culture of gaming the system was rampant at the Veterans Administration for many years, Sen. Toomey said. While the VA was embroiled in major scandals that resulted in veterans stuck in long lines for care, some senior VA executives used their position of authority for their own personal financial benefit. The Moran-Toomey-Blumenthal-Casey amendment is a bipartisan effort to help stop some of the abuses that these senior federal workers used to line their own pockets. Pennsylvanians care deeply for our veterans and we are all outraged that taxpayer dollars to the VA have been inexcusably pocketed by bureaucrats. This bipartisan step prevents VA abuses that game the system and sabotage accountability-- misusing taxpayer money and taking away resources needed to continue supporting our veterans, said Ranking Member Blumenthal. These reforms follow recent revelations that show the clear need to require stronger accountability, but this step cannot be the end of such efforts. We must continue to make sure that supporting the men and women who have dedicated their lives to our nation remains the top priority. A September 2015 VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report found that senior VA executives were using the relocation program to provide more than $400,000 in questionable moving expenses. The Acting Inspector General reported that employees inappropriately used their positions of authority for personal and financial benefit when they forced transfers of lower-ranking officials and then filled the vacancies themselves. Following the IG report, the VA suspended the AVO program, the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) Under Secretary Allison Hickey resigned, and the House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller held a hearing on Nov. 2, 2015, where Principal VBA Deputy Under Secretary Danny Pummill admitted that the VA has an accountability problem and if the VA does not hold people accountable, we cant make a culture change. The witnesses who were senior executives in question were subpoenaed for the hearing, but refused to answer questions under their Fifth Amendment rights. Although the VA suspended the AVO program, there is nothing preventing the VA from reinstating it. The amendment focuses on senior executive service positions to avoid a direct impact on the recruitment and retention of medical professionals who often transfer and relocate within the VA system. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=a237118d-137c-46a7-8a65-ec364c8b20a8,"Ahead of Veterans Day, Senate Passes Bill to Fund Military Construction and VA",2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today voted in favor of the bipartisan bill (H.R. 2029) funding military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill, which passed the Senate 93-0, includes funding for a number of Kansas military construction projects, prevents the transfer of terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the United States, and through an amendment offered by Sen. Moran prohibits the use of funds to relocate senior VA executives. This bill reaffirms our commitment to support our Armed Forces and take care of nations veterans, Sen. Moran said. A strong national defense is critical to our security and is the federal governments primary constitutional responsibility. I am committed to supporting our military personnel in Kansas and across the country, particularly against this administrations unlawful pursuit of transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. The closing of Gitmo shouldnt happen without Congressional approval and certainly shouldnt be done through an executive order. A critical national security decision deserves critical thought. Regarding his amendment to prohibit funds to relocate senior VA executives, Sen. Moran added, VA executives should not be taking advantage of benefits intended to help recruit and retain much-needed medical providers and other key personnel serving at VA facilities across the country. We need leaders in the VA who are willing to take a stand, identify the problems, and get on the right path to resolve these systemic issues so that veterans have a Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of their service. This bill is the first stand-alone appropriations measure amended and passed in the Senate since 2011. It provides nearly $8 billion above last years funding level and is $1 billion above the presidents budget request. Since 2009, funding for the VA has grown by nearly 73 percent. Congress remains committed to our nations military personnel and veterans, but systemic failures continue to disrupt service to veterans and access to care they deserve. Background on Kansas Military Construction Projects: $2.4 million Army National Guards Automated Combat Pistol/MP Firearms Qualification Course $4.3 million Army National Guard Modified Record Fire Range $2.9 million Air National Guard Smokey Hill Range $4.3 million KC-46A at McConnell Air Force Base Background on Amendment to Prohibit Funds to Relocate Senior VA Execs: The amendment prohibits the use of funds for the Home Marketing Incentive Program (HMIP) or the Appraisal Value Offer (AVO) program for the relocation of senior VA executives. A September 2015 VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report found that senior VA executives were using the relocation program to provide more than $400,000 in questionable moving expenses. The Acting Inspector General reported that employees inappropriately used their positions of authority for personal and financial benefit when they forced transfers of lower-ranking officials and then filled the vacancies themselves. To learn more, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-applauds-court-ruling-to-block-administration-s-executive,Rep. Yoder Applauds Court Ruling to Block Administrations Executive Amnesty,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Overland Park, KS Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling denying the Obama Administrations appeal in a suit against its controversial executive action on immigration. The lawsuit, brought by 26 states including Kansas, aims to block the controversial executive action halting deportation of and granting work permits to about five million illegal immigrants. Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) issued the following statement in response to the ruling: The Fifth Circuit affirmed today what almost every serious constitutional scholar agrees, that the Administrations unilateral action granting amnesty to more than five million illegal immigrants goes beyond the scope of presidential powers. With this court ruling, its time for the Administration to drop its attempts to circumvent the Constitution, enforce all of our immigration laws, and ensure our borders are completely secure. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-to-attend-johnson-county-veterans-day-event-in-lenexa,Rep. Yoder to Attend Johnson County Veterans Day Event in Lenexa,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Overland Park, KS Representative Kevin Yoder will attend the Johnson County 2015 Veterans Day Observance in Lenexa tomorrow as America recognizes those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country in the defense of our freedoms. The event is open to the public and members of the media are invited to attend. WHO: Representative Kevin Yoder WHAT: Johnson County 2015 Veterans Day Observance WHEN: November 11, 2015 at 11:00 AM WHERE: Lenexa National Guard Armory 18200 West 87th Street Parkway Lenexa, Kansas ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/federal-appeals-court-stops-president-obamas-unilateral-immigration-plan/,Federal Appeals Court Stops President Obama's Unilateral Immigration Plan,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) responded to a 5th Circuit Federal Appeals Court ruling, 2-1, against President Obama’s executive overreach on immigration, a move that would have provided millions of illegal immigrants with work permits: “I am pleased the Court upheld the United States’ Constitution in ruling against President Obama’s executive overreach on immigration. There is no doubt our immigration system is broken, but unilateral and unconstitutional action by the President cannot be the way forward. We are a nation of laws, but President Obama’s plan would reward people who came here illegally. I will keep fighting to curb President Obama’s continued executive power grabs and remind him that he cannot govern through executive actions with his pen and phone.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=c34440e1-2ed1-4732-996e-965a699574be,Senator Roberts Launches Nationwide Petition to Oppose Presidents Dangerous Plan to Close GITMO,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today launched an online petition to give the American people an opportunity to express their opposition to President Obamas intention to use executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer terrorists detained there to the United States. Roberts has said the President is ignoring the security concerns of the American people and laws passed by Congress. Roberts will share the online petition with the White House. He wants to ensure the frustrations of those who believe relocating terrorists to the mainland is a threat to national security are heard. Relocating terrorists to the mainland will paint a target on the American communities forced to house these detainees, Roberts said. Homegrown terrorists, associates of the detainees and those wishing to attack a high-value and symbolic target will now have an opportunity right in our backyard. The White House has said closing Guantanamo will remove a major recruitment tool for our adversaries. I couldnt disagree more. Moving them to the mainland simply provides them with a more valuable and significant target on American soil. The president has proven he will act in the absence of congressional action to fulfill his campaign promises, but the Congress has decisively acted again and again to explicitly block the transfer of terrorists to the mainland. ""Earlier today, the Senate approved the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Bill which explicitly prohibits President Obama from transferring detainees to the mainland. The legislation now goes to the President where he is expected to sign it into law, yet he still will not rule out ignoring this law and using an executive order to close GITMO. I have started an online petition to show the president that he cannot ignore the Congress, and he cannot ignore the American people, especially Kansans, who have very real fears about this security risk being forced into their communities. Those interested in stopping President Obama from closing Guantanamo Bay by Executive Order and bringing terrorists to Kansas or anywhere else in the United States may sign the petition at: https://www.roberts.senate.gov/take-action-gitmo/ Americans can also call the White House at (202) 456-1111 today to oppose relocating terrorists to the mainland. Senator Roberts has also recorded a PSA encouraging Kansans to sign the petition. To download the 60 second PSA click here. For longer audio click here. Roberts has been an outspoken opponent against closing the United States current detainment facilities due to the high security risks and economic costs. Roberts has actively fought the Obama Administrations efforts to transfer Guantanamo detainees to the mainland, particularly to Ft. Leavenworth. Roberts placed a hold on the administrations nominee for Secretary of the Army in September. In 2009, he fought the administration, including placing legislative holds on nominees, which successfully prevented its plan to consider housing detainees at Ft. Leavenworth. Roberts also hosted a press conference Thursday with Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) on this issue. To view footage of that press conference, click here. Senator Roberts also took his concerns to the Senate Floor on Thursday. For those remarks, click here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=0e8209d8-4352-48f3-b022-e687d4d910b4,Senator Roberts Veterans Day Message,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), the most senior Marine in the Congress, today released the following video in honor of Veterans Day, November 11, 2015. Roberts discusses his inspiration to join the Marine Corps and gives thanks to all veterans. To all our retired veterans: well done, Roberts said. Thank you so much. Thank you for your commitment, your service, and thank you for what you do for our country. To watch the video, click here. To download the video, click here. In addition to Roberts video, the Senate Republican Conference released a video featuring Republican senators who served in the armed forces thanking veterans across the country. To view that video, click here. Roberts, whose father was also a Marine, joined the Marine Corps as an officer in 1958, where he achieved the rank of Captain. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/editorials?ContentRecord_id=6bc039c1-9ca0-4eed-a0de-14fc4180a1b4,"This Veterans Day, Helping Our Heroes Achieve the American Dream",2015-11-09,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As veterans in Kansas and across the country separate from the military and transition into civilian life, they have the opportunity to forge a new path. After serving our nation, many veterans dream of continuing their service by giving back to their communities as small business owners and entrepreneurs. According to Kansas Citys Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, nearly one in 10 small businesses in the United States are owned by veterans, and nearly 25 percent of all post-9/11 veterans aspire to be small business owners. We owe it to these American heroes to help them pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. American veterans are eligible for a range of educational benefits to pursue higher education or specialized training under the G.I. Bill. The original G.I. Bill, drafted in 1944 as The Servicemembers Readjustment Act, was intended to give returning veterans the opportunity to seek training, education and home or business loans to become gainfully employed or to employ themselves. Nearly 49 percent of veterans from The Greatest Generation owned their own business and their success was due in part to their benefit. Today, only half of eligible veterans are currently using their G.I. Bill benefit, and according to the VAs 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report only 48 percent are completing degree programs. While higher education is essential for many, some have a different calling and entrepreneurship may be their path to a successful transition back to civilian life. Because many veterans dream of owning a business rather than returning to the classroom, its common sense to give them a choice with how they can use their earned G.I. Bill benefit. That is why Senator Jon Tester of Montana andIintroduced theVeterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act of 2015 (VET Act), S. 1870. This bipartisan legislation would empower veterans to access resources through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and their G.I. Bill benefit in order to become entrepreneurs, create jobs for Americans, and grow our economy. TheVET Act proposes an innovative three-year pilot program overseen by SBA that would enable veterans to utilize their G.I. Bill benefit to start a new business or purchase an existing business or franchise. To make certain veterans have the highest chance of success, they must complete an SBA-approved entrepreneurial training program and develop an SBA-approved business plan among other milestones established by a personal advisor and in coordination with the SBA. According to a recent survey conducted by Bunker Labs a national veteran startup incubator an overwhelming 90 percent of the veterans surveyed would like to use their G.I. Bill benefit to start a small business. And, nearly 95 percent would complete an entrepreneurial training program in order to do so. The VET Act is gaining momentum in Congress. Just one day after introduction, it was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Its also no surprise the legislation is supported by a wide-array of entrepreneur, startup and veterans groups. As 1 Vet at a Time Founder C. Lynn Lowder put it, [it] represents a real opportunity for our veteransthe VET Act will providetodays veterans the same opportunities that the original 1944 Act provided their grandfathers. Engine Executive Director Julie Samuels added, As a nonprofit advocacy and research organization that works with a network of startups, pioneers, innovators, investors and technologists, Engine applaudsintroduction of S.1870 [the] bill will provide veterans with much needed flexibility when it comes to using their GI benefits, and will make it significantly easier for veterans to participate in the startup economy. New businesses succeed when those with good ideas are willing to work hard to reach their goals, and no group has a stronger work ethic than our nations veterans. As we honor our nations heroes this Veterans Day, lets make certain whether they wish to start their own business, commence a job search, or go back to school, veterans are able to achieve the same American Dream they sacrificed so much to protect. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=db72ef67-7e2b-4dc4-93b0-ce8d4cfa9ad8,Kansas Common Sense - Honoring All Who Served,2015-11-09,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them. Honoring All Those Who ServedI hope this Wednesday, Veterans Day, you take the time to honor and celebrate the veterans in your life. Whether its your sister, dad, grandpa or neighbor, take a moment to thank them for their courage and sacrifice, which has preserved the freedoms we all enjoy today. Over the weekend, I took the opportunity to say thank you to veterans and their families as part of the Ottawa Veterans Day ceremony. This is just one of the many events and parades across Kansas that will bring families and communities together to honor all those who served. It was an honor to lay a wreath with Ottawa Mayor Mike Skidmore at the Veterans Memorial. Below, I'm pictured with Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 912 Members Ron Bishop, Kenny Nichols, Mel Lucas and Kathy Lee. I also had a great conversation with two Shriners who are helping the VA help veterans Greg Seymour and Bob McDaniel. Whatever the mission, the men and women we honor on Veterans Day were ready to answer the call. They deserve a VA that is ready to serve them. Our nation would not be what it is today without your strength, sacrifice and bravery. We are forever grateful for your service. Engaging Women Veterans in Entrepreneurship RoundtableOn Friday afternoon, I led a roundtable discussion at the Enterprise Center in Johnson County on engaging female veterans in entrepreneurship. This roundtable was convened in connection with the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) Kansas City conference held over the weekend. The purpose of the discussion was to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with fostering entrepreneurship among women veterans specifically; and generally the needs of veterans transitioning into civilian life who deserve resources, training, and support to pursue the American dream in starting a business. Representatives from the Enterprise Center in Johnson County, the Kauffman Foundation, OneKC for Women, KC Sourcelink, Vets2Ventures, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) contributed to the roundtable discussion. Several female veteran entrepreneurs and V-WISE participants also contributed to the discussion. In addition to learning more about the needs of transitioning military and their families, the roundtable was also an opportunity for me to gather important feedback on legislation I introduced called the Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act of 2015 (VET Act), S. 1870. The bipartisan legislation would empower veterans to access resources through the SBA and their G.I. Bill benefit in order to become entrepreneurs, create jobs for Americans, and generate growth in our economy. The VET Act is gaining momentum in Congress, and was recently passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. I appreciate all the roundtable participants taking time to join the discussion and share their valuable insight with me and other participants. Thanks to Enterprise Center in Johnson County President and CEO George Hansen for hosting the roundtable, and to Melissa Roberts of the Enterprise Center in Johnson County for coordinating my visit. Voicing Concern with EPAs Waters of the United States RegulationThis week I supported efforts to reverse the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Waters of the United States rule, which greatly expands the scope of federal authority over waterways in the United States under the Clean Water Act. All Kansans, including agriculture producers who strongly oppose the regulation, care about having clean water. However, the federal government should not dictate to citizens how they manage their private lands. I believe there are better ways to promote water quality than with threats of severe fines, penalties or even jail time. One of the ways in which we see this effort take place is through the Department of Agricultures Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS promotes water and soil health not by mandates and threats from Washington but through collaborative, voluntary approaches that encourages conservation through incentives and technical assistance for landowners. Unfortunately, the EPA ignored the overwhelming feedback they received from farmers, ranchers and other concerned stakeholders when they drafted the regulation. They even ignored the concerns of the technical experts at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who were supposed to be working together with EPA on the regulation. Its obvious the regulation exceeds the EPAs legal authority under the Clean Water Act. Its equally obvious the EPA intended to run roughshod over anyone who disagreed. At the end of the day, if the goal is to promote clean water, there are much more effective methods to do so as evidenced by voluntary efforts within USDA that respect private landowner rights, incentivize conservation rather than criminalize landowners, and dont cost us jobs and threaten to do irreparable harm to our economy. Commerce Hearing on the Consumer Review Freedom ActOn Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a full Committee hearing to examine the impact of non-disparagement, or gag clauses in form contacts that prevent consumers from providing honest but critical reviews of companies or individuals. In particular, the hearing was an opportunity to receive feedback from the expert witness panel on S. 2044, bipartisan legislation I recently introduced with Committee Chairman John Thune of South Dakota and Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii. Witnesses included representatives from TripAdvisor, the worlds largest online travel site, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates, as well as Jennifer Palmer, plaintiff in the landmark case Palmer v. KlearGear where by invoking a non-disparagement clause the online retailer caused Ms. Palmer and her family significant long-term financial damage following a negative but truthful online review. This legislation, the Consumer Review Freedom Act, would make certain consumers in Kansas and across the country are able to make their voices heard without having to fear lawsuits or financial repercussions for honest feedback. Just as word of mouth is used by family and friends to share experiences with particular brands or businesses, online reviews have significant benefits to consumers in their purchasing decisions. This bill protects consumers from unfair non-disparagement clauses that can appear in a number of non-negotiable form contracts and stifle consumer speech by silencing fair criticism in public forums, while preserving the right of businesses to take action in response to false and defamatory misrepresentations. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, I am proud to sponsor this legislation to protect the ability of consumers to share honest information freely. In bringing this issue to light, Wednesdays hearing was a valuable step in advancing the conversation toward a bipartisan solution, and I am eager for S. 2044 to receive an up or down vote in the Committee in the coming weeks. Expressing Frustration with Ambiguity in VA Report on Continuity of CareThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week released their plan to consolidate all non-VA healthcare programs into one, new Veterans Choice Program (VCP). Prior to the release of this report, I urged the VA, along with my colleagues Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Angus King of Maine, to sustain the unique network of providers that the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program provides for rural veterans. The ARCH program is a pilot program operating in five test sites including one in Pratt that allows rural veterans to receive healthcare within their communities instead of traveling long distances to reach a VA hospital.. Unfortunately, the VAs current consolidation plan does not address the sustainment the ARCH program and the network of providers the program has fostered. More than 90 percent of veterans participating in ARCH are overwhelmingly satisfied with the care they receive, and it is unacceptable that these veterans may face gaps in care as a result of this consolidation. I will continue to press the VA until they commit to providing the uninterrupted access to quality health care our veterans deserve. Meeting the Nominee for Secretary of the ArmyOn Wednesday I had the opportunity to meet the presidents nominee for Secretary of the Army, Mr. Eric Fanning. Mr. Fanning and I discussed the critical missions and soldiers deployed overseas from the Big Red One at Fort Riley, the importance of the Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and preserving Fort Leavenworth as the Intellectual Center of the Army. Our conversation was timely with the administrations latest unauthorized pursuit to use executive authority to close Guantanamo Bay. The Command and General Staff College attracts a number of foreign officers, and the possibility of Fort Leavenworth housing terrorists would impact many nations sending their officers to pursue further education at CGSC. It is important that we preserve Fort Leavenworths primary mission, and not allow an unlawful undertaking driven by the president to disrupt or detract from the immeasurable value this Kansas institution provides. The fiscal year 2015 defense authorization bill which is law includes language to prohibit use of funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and prohibit the use of funds for the transfer or release of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill that will be signed by the president and become law also upholds these prohibitions. Guantanamo Bay should not be closed without Congressional approval, and certainly shouldnt be done through an executive order. Congress has repeatedly passed laws to prevent the closure of Guantanamo and transfer of detainees, and those laws should be upheld. Speaking at the Kansas Radiological Society MeetingOn Saturday, I was in Topeka speaking at a meeting of the Kansas Radiological Society. This professional medical society is dedicated to serving patients by advancing the practice and science of radiological care. Radiologists diagnose and treat diseases and injuries by administering radiological procedures and interpreting medical images including X-Rays, MRI, CT and ultrasound. We visited about the importance of medical imaging technology, how Medicare reimburses for professional interpretation of diagnostic imaging services, and the value of mammogram screening for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Thanks to Dr. John Lohnes of Wichita and his society member colleagues for inviting me to speak at this meeting. Condemning Palestinian Violence and Calling for Peace Negotiations IsraelRecent violence in Israel has taken dozens of lives, including those of two Americans. In response, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators to sponsor a resolution (S. Res. 302) to condemn Palestinian attacks and express support for Israel. Unfounded rumors of restricted access to holy sites in Israel were used as justification for disgusting maimings and murders. Palestinian leaders have repeatedly mishandled these seething moments, allowing more violence to bubble over. This resolution calls on Palestinian leaders to demand an end to the violence and continue strengthening security cooperation with Israel. Both are necessary to stabilize security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Congratulating the Kansas City RoyalsIn the aftermath of their World Series championship, I had the pleasure of speaking on the Senate floor to congratulate the Kansas City Royals and their fans. Having waited 30 years between titles and enduring more than a few difficult seasons, the euphoria of the teams success swept the city and the state. The Royals brought people together, including the estimated 800,000 that turned out for the parade on Tuesday, and served as a topic of conversation at the grocery store, office and restaurant. The strong character of the players, their work ethic, and perseverance to become champions resonates with Kansans. This is a special moment for Royals fans, and heres to hoping for a repeat next year. Click here to view my remarks on the Senate Floor. Business Aviation Roundtable in Kansas CityOn my way back to Washington last Monday, I hosted a business aviation roundtable at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC). As a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security, the conversation was an opportunity for me to hear firsthand about issues facing general aviation particularly in the context of Congressional consideration of a long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. With funding for the FAA set to expire March 31, 2016, Congress must act in the coming months to pass a long-term reauthorization that will provide certainty and stability to our nations aviation system. For business aviation, the biggest obstacle to reaching consensus on a long-term bill is the potential Congressional effort to overhaul the nations air traffic control system. The creation of an independent air traffic control agency, outside the authority of the FAA and insulated from the federal budget process, could entail a cost-based user fee structure to cover its operating costs. As a result, business aviation aircraft which often utilize the same airspace as commercial airliners could ultimately pay above their share for use of the aviation system. Thanks to National Business Aviation Association President Ed Bolen for assembling such a distinguished group of aviation and business leaders. Congrats to Cessna Aircraft Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer who is beginning his 42nd year of service. Special thanks to Wheeler Downtown Airport Manager Michael Roper for hosting the event. Special thanks to Michael Roper, manager of Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, for hosting the event. Crawford County Town HallLast Monday, I hosted a Kansas Listening Tour stop in Girard. Thanks to all the Crawford County residents who came out to share their thoughts on issues facing Kansas and the nation including the EPAs Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, crop insurance and veterans access to health care, and the Girard Fire Department. Thanks to Craig Wilbert for hosting my visit at the new Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc. facility and to Girard Mayor Kurt Ziegler, city council members Kelly Peak and Sheldon DeLange, and Crawford County Treasurer Joe Grisolano for coming to join the conversation. Kansans in the Office Capitol TourGary Stratton of Great Bend Janet Stratton of Great Bend National Trust for Historic Preservation Vance Kelley of Topeka Flint Hills Job Corps Center Mario Morales of Manhattan North America Meat Institute Bob Ogren of Olathe Jon Hixson of WaKeeney Southwestern Kansas Coalition Janet Doll of Garden City Ashley Freburg of Garden City Cherise Tieben of Dodge City Tony Martinez of Liberal Risk IQ Jason Zann of Olathe Honored 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 form of 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 by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/jenkins-pompeo-call-on-defense-secretary-carter-to-facilitate-visit-to-guantanamo-bay-for-leavenworth-officials/,"Jenkins, Pompeo Call on Defense Secretary Carter to Facilitate Visit to Guantanamo Bay for Leavenworth Officials",2015-11-09,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Kansas Representatives Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Mike Pompeo (KS-04) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter regarding the Obama administration’s misguided effort to move the world’s most dangerous terrorists at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) to sites around the United States, potentially including Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In the letter, Jenkins and Pompeo call on Carter to arrange a group of federal, state, and local officials from Leavenworth to visit GTMO.  The lawmakers call for the group to receive unclassified briefings on known threats and be granted as much access to information about the detainees as possible, in order to adequately understand the increased threats that would come with moving these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth. The full text of the letter is below or may be found here. November 9, 2015 The Honorable Ashton B. Carter Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 23301-1000 Dear Secretary Carter: President Obama and his Administration appear to be intent on pursuing a deeply misguided policy of emptying the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) and transferring the detainees to prisons in the United States.  We view this as a grave strategic error, and strongly oppose these terrorists being relocated to anywhere in the United States.  GTMO is unique in its capability to hold the world’s most dangerous terrorists in an environment that is humane and safe for both detainees and guards.  As you know, GTMO has also been a huge success for our intelligence community. One potential destination for the terrorists currently held at GTMO is the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  If the detainees are transferred there, the dire consequences of this move will be felt by Leavenworth and the surrounding communities long after the end of the current administration.  It will be the state and local officials who will be left to deal the predictable aftermath that comes with bringing these detainees to the Leavenworth community, such as an increased risk of terror attacks and a severe strain on our relationships with allied military commanders.  It is critical that officials and residents have a complete understanding of what may be foisted upon them before a final decision is reached. To that end, we strongly request your assistance in arranging a delegation of federal, state, and local officials from the Leavenworth area to travel to GTMO to observe the camp and its detainees and its safety measures.  We believe that state legislators, county commissioners, mayors, and other local officials have the right to completely understand what their communities will face.  These officials need to visit the GTMO facility, receive unclassified briefings of known threats, and be given as much access to information regarding the detainees as is feasible. As it appears that a plan for closing GTMO may be released in the coming days, it is critical that this visit take place as soon as possible.  We look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-responds-to-administration-s-rejection-of-keystone-xl-pipeline,Rep. Yoder Responds to Administrations Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline,2015-11-06,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Overland Park, KS Today, the Obama Administration announced its formal rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which Congress voted to authorize in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion in February. Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) issued the following statement in response to the announcement: Im disappointed the Obama Administration has yet again placed partisan political ideology over thousands of new American jobs and another step towards American energy independence. Congress has spoken clearly in a united fashion on this issue and even President Obamas own State Department concluded almost two years ago the pipeline wouldnt alter global greenhouse gas emissions. Theres no viable reason for todays decision. Its time to build. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-criticizes-presidents-rejection-of-keystone-xl-pipeline/,Congresswoman Jenkins Criticizes President's Rejection Of Keystone XL Pipeline,2015-11-06,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama today announced the rejection of the application to build the Keystone XL pipeline, after seven years of review. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) condemned that decision, releasing the following statement: “Today, President Obama showed he is more interested in style than substance, choosing to capitulate to fringe environmental groups despite no evidence that the Keystone XL pipeline would have any environmental impact. The President’s decision shows his willingness to cost the American economy tens of thousands of jobs  and billions of dollars in revenue, rather than stand up to the extremes of his own party. At a time when our nation’s economy continues to struggle, President Obama chose the politically expedient road in his search for a legacy, endangering America’s prosperity in the process.”  Items to Note -          In January, the State Department’s own review concluded that the pipeline would not increase carbon emissions and confirmed the project would be better for safety and the environment. -          The State Department’s report also showed that the pipeline’s construction would support over 42,000 jobs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=9d32a687-f4c8-422b-bd23-749299bae624,"Sens. Moran, Collins and King Express Frustration with Ambiguity in VA Report on Continuity of Care",2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) today expressed frustration with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plan for the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program in a report delivered to Congress to consolidate all non-VA provider programs. Rural veterans in Kansas and across the country face significant challenges when accessing health care through the VA system, Sen. Moran said. The ARCH program has served as a bridge to access care for veterans in rural America. With more than 90 percent of veterans participating in ARCH overwhelmingly satisfied with the program, the VA should build on the programs proven success. We will continue to press the VA until they commit to providing the uninterrupted access to quality health care our veterans deserve. The ARCH program has made a real difference for our veterans in Maine and across our country. I remember one of our veterans telling me about breaking his hip last winter at the height of a terrible winter storm. Instead of enduring a painful and bumpy ride for more than four hours to get to the VA hospital in Augusta, he was able through the ARCH program to receive care at his local hospital, Cary Memorial in Caribou, Maine. He also had the benefit of being able to receive care closer to where his family and friends live, said Sen. Collins. We will continue to urge the VA to articulate a clear vision for the future of this critically important program and work to ensure that all veterans receive the health care they need close to home. In a rural state like Maine, veterans can sometimes be forced to travel several hours just to get care at the closest VA facility, turning something like a simple check-up into a serious challenge, especially for older or disabled veterans. Thats not right, and its unfair to the men and women who bravely served our nation, Senator King said. The ARCH Program brought that care closer to home, and as veterans can attest, its been immensely effective in helping them access more timely and convenient health care services. Rather than sunset an enormously successful program, the VA should be looking for ways to expand ARCH or, at the very least, use it as a model for how the Department can better deliver health care to veterans across rural America. On Oct. 23, 2015, Sens. Moran, Collins and King urged VA Secretary Robert McDonald to commit to maintaining medical services veterans receive through ARCH and to build on the demonstrated success of the program as the VA developed the consolidation plan mandated by Congress. If the VA sunsets the program as proposed in the report, the consolidation plan leaves many questions and details that must be explained to ensure there is continuity in care for veterans who currently utilize the program. Since 2011, the ARCH pilot program has been operating in five rural sites across the country. ARCH serves rural veterans by giving them access to health care from a community provider close to home instead of traveling several hours to seek care at a VA facility. The inclusion of a two-year extension of the ARCH program in the Choice Act helped to make certain rural veterans were able to continue accessing timely, high-quality care closer to home. Sens. Moran, King and Collins have been advocates for improved accessibility to health care for rural veterans through the ARCH program. In 2014, they sponsored the Choice Act, which implemented significant reforms at the VA and created the Choice Program a pilot initiative based in part on the success of ARCH. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/yoder-family-welcomes-new-daughter,Yoder Family Welcomes New Daughter,2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Merriam, KS Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) and his wife Brooke are proud to announce that Monday morning they welcomed to the world their newest addition, Eloise Jane, whose name is inspired by two of her great-grandmothers. Baby Eloise arrived at 11:00 am on Monday, November 2nd at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. She measured 21 and 1/4 inches long and weighed in at 7 pounds and 13 ounces. Both mom and baby are healthy and resting at home in Overland Park. On Wednesday, Representative Yoder issued the following statement: ""Brooke and I could not be happier to announce the addition of Eloise Jane to our family and Caroline is thrilled to be a big sister. We want to thank all of the great health care providers at Shawnee Mission Medical Center who helped deliver her in good health. Our own little slugger is truly a blessing and we were thrilled she was brought into a world where the Royals are World Champions. Congressman Yoder and Brooke now have two daughters, Caroline Lucille and Eloise Jane. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/kansas-congressional-delegation-condemns-white-house-refusal-to-rule-out-executive-action-on-gitmo/,Kansas Congressional Delegation Condemns White House Refusal To Rule Out Executive Action On GITMO,2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Kansas Congressional delegation condemned today’s White House refusal to rule out executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer prisoners to the United States. Members of the delegation released the following responses reacting to the White House’s statement: “President Obama’s apparent contempt for the will of the American people is simply beyond belief,” said Congresswoman Jenkins (R-KS). “Any unilateral executive action would be a clear violation of existing law that prohibits transferring prisoners from Guantanamo to America.  Earlier this year, President Obama indicated he was considering Fort Leavenworth as a location for these prisoners, showing his willingness to totally disregard the impact on military training such a move would have. The President’s attempts for a legacy should not endanger America lives, and I will continue fighting to protect Americans from this disastrous idea.” “The president’s threat of using an executive order to free jihadists from Guantanamo Bay shows blatant disregard for the safety of our country and the expressed will of the American people.  It is unconscionable,” Congressman Pompeo said.  “Not only would any executive action to bring the world’s most lethal terrorists at Guantanamo Bay to the United States be a direct violation of federal law, but relocating these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth or anywhere else in America poses tremendous threat to our military.  Keeping these terrorists at GITMO is crucial to the safety and security of Kansans and all Americans.  I will continue fighting to do all in my power to see that GITMO detainees stay right where they belong in the U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay.” “Any executive action attempting to close the facility at Guantanamo Bay is expressly prohibited by federal law in both the 2015 NDAA and funding bill,” said Congressman Yoder (R-KS). “Unfortunately, this Administration does not seem to feel the same constraints of the law as the rest of us do. I will strongly oppose this effort in every way possible.” Said Congressman Huelskamp (R-KS): “If President Obama follows through on his threat of using an executive order to close Guantanamo, it would be another outrageous example of how he continues to trample the Constitution and rule of law.”  “A critical national security decision deserves critical thought,” Sen. Moran (R-KS) said. “The closing of Gitmo shouldn’t happen without Congressional approval and certainly shouldn’t be done through an executive order. The current law should be upheld, which prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of detainees.” “Threatening to shut down Guantanamo Bay by executive action shows President Obama’s blatant disregard for the law,” said Sen. Roberts (R-KS). “Congress has consistently stopped Obama by law from moving a single detainee to the U.S., and this would be an egregious overstep by the administration ignoring the will of the American people to accomplish the president’s legacy goals. An act of Congress would be required to move detainees to the mainland, and I currently have a hold on the president’s nominee for the Secretary of the Army – and I will place holds on any nominee necessary to prevent this unilateral action. I'm confident our current facility at Guantanamo Bay remains the best, and only, answer to house these terrorists. As I have said before – not on my watch will any terrorist be placed in Kansas or anywhere in the homeland.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=3e3543dd-2d57-4946-89ec-8603f6ea546d,Senator Roberts Condemns White House Threat to Use Executive Action to Close Guantanamo Bay,2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor condemning the White Houses threat to use executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer prisoners to the United States. I will not stand for this president or any future president to threaten our security that way, Roberts said. The only conscientious way forward on this issue is to maintain detention at Guantanamo Bay. To do otherwise would be a violation of U.S. law and a violation of the will of the American people. Roberts continued, I have gone head to head with this Administration on many issues but none, are as close to my core as my strong belief and commitment to protecting the United States, the people of Kansas, and all Americans. Roberts speech follows comments from the Obama administration that the president would not rule out the option to use executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer the remaining detainees to facilities in the United States. Officials from the Department of Defense visited Fort Leavenworth in Kansas in August 2015 as a potential site for these terrorists. Roberts has actively fought the Obama Administrations efforts to transfer Guantanamo detainees to the mainland, particularly to Ft. Leavenworth. Roberts placed a hold on the administrations nominee for Secretary of the Army in September. He said, During my conversation, I was reminded that the administration could not implement any parts of a study without explicit authorization from Congress. So, if and when a study was produced and the desire to act on it arose, the Administration would come before Congress to ask for that authority. The Administrations threat to act by Executive Order yesterday speaks to the exact opposite of that understanding. Roberts has been an outspoken opponent against closing the United States current detainment facilities due to the high security risks and economic costs.In 2009, he fought the administration, including placing legislative holds on nominees, which successfully prevented its plan to consider housing detainees at Ft. Leavenworth. Roberts also hosted a press conference today with Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) on this issue. To view footage of that press conference, click here. To view the senator's remarks on the Senate floorclick the image below. The following is text of Senator Roberts remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, I rise today regarding President Obamas most recent, egregious actions regarding the closure of Guantanamo Bay Naval Bases detention facilities. The presidents determined effort began his first days in office, when we signed Executive Order 13492 requiring the close of GITMO within one year. Fortunately for the security of the United States, Congress stopped this Executive Order. The Presidents attempts to close GITMO were met by strong objections across the country. Even his home state of Illinois turned its back on a plan to transfer detainees to a state-run prison, Thompson Correctional Facility. More importantly, the United States Congress laid down its first marker on prohibiting President Obama from transferring or releasing detainees to the United States through the Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in June 2009. Every year since then, Congress has maintained its prohibition. This years National Defense Authorization Act continues to enforce the will of the American people and the Congress. Yet, the presidents press secretary announced yesterday that the president is not bound by Congress or the American people. And what the president wants to do is preserve his alleged legacy, fulfill a campaign promise, and close GITMO. Not taking a hard look at what may take place. The administration has put a bullseye on Ft. Leavenworth the intellectual center of the Army, home to the Command and General Staff College, training international officers among our Armed Forces best and brightest. I have gone head to head with this Administration on many issues but none are as close to my core as my strong belief and commitment to protecting the United States, the people of Kansas, and all Americans. I have often said, the first obligation of any Member of Congress is to protect our national security. Allowing GITMO terrorists to step foot in the U.S. is in direct violation of that duty and commitment to the American people. We should not stand for this president or any future president to threaten our national security by executive order. Mr. President, it is regrettable that I have to be here making this speech at all today. In September, I placed a hold on the Administrations nominee to serve as Secretary of the Army. I did so with purpose and respect. I articulated this to the Army and the Department of Defense. During my conversation, I was reminded that the Administration could not implement any parts of a study without explicit authorization from Congress. So, if and when a study was produced and the desire to act on it arose, the Administration would come before Congress to ask for that authority. The Administrations threat to act by Executive Order yesterday speaks to the exact opposite of that understanding. Congress has listened to Americans and done what is necessary to uphold national security and prohibit this Administration from behaving in an unleashed fashion. But we have a president that is resolute. Hes reminded us of that fact by signing 223 Executive Orders. President Obama should take heed. As the threat of ISIS grows, stability in Syria continues to erode, Russia advances its incongruent agenda in the Middle East, and Iran continues to churn its nuclear reactors, we cannot, must not act politically. We must act conscientiously. The only conscientious way forward on this issue is to maintain detention at Guantanamo Bay. To do otherwise would be a violation of U.S. law and a violation of the will of the American people. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=fd1fb953-2e63-420d-9de6-41df4830759a,"Roberts, Scott, Gardner Hosts Press Conference on Gitmo",2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) today hosted a press conference responding to the White Houses refusal to rule out executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer prisoners to the United States. The White House announced in August that it would survey facilities at Fort Leavenworth, KS, the Naval Brig in Charleston, SC, and two prisons in Colorado as potential sites to transfer the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Click here to download video or click the image below to watch the full press conference.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=00073166-5c22-4612-9c93-96cda3993efd,"Kansas, Missouri Senators Congratulate 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals",2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Pat Roberts (Kan.), and Jerry Moran (Kan.) introduced a resolution congratulating the Kansas City Royals on their 2015 World Series championship title. The Senate immediately passed the resolution by unanimous consent. With an incredible four comeback wins in the World Series, the Royals reminded all of us that champions never give up, Blunt said. It is a remarkable achievement, and I commend all of the coaches, staff, players, and fans, who had a part in bringing this victory home. Very rarely is greatness achieved without one or two individuals standing outexcept now, McCaskill said. The Royals turned every sports clich about team effort into a reality. Keep the line moving, depend on each other, never say die, never give up. The 2015 World Series Champions taught this country a lesson in selflessness. As the resolution notes, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series after 95 regular season wins, clinching the 2015 American League Central Division for the first time in team history, and winning the American League title in back to back years. The Kansas City Royals have certainly earned this championship, often in extra innings and just when some counted us out, Roberts said. But our team, our fans and our faith have proven we are the best in baseball. Congratulations to Kansas City and to our Kansas City Royals, the 2015 World Series Champions. Moran added, This is a special time for Kansas City and Royals Nation. Owner David Glass and General Manager Dayton Moore put together a team that embodies what Kansas Citians and Royals fans everywhere value: strong character, hard work and perseverance in pursuit of a championship. This franchise and its fans have endured hard times, but now celebrate together in the glory of being World Champions. Congratulations, and lets repeat next year! Following is the full text of the resolution: 114TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. ________ Commending and congratulating the Kansas City Royals on their 2015 World Series victory. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. ROBERTS, and Mr. MORAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Kansas City Royals on their 2015 World Series victory. Whereas, on November 1, 2015, the Kansas City Royals won the 2015 World Series with a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets; Whereas the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in Game 5 at Citi Field in New York City, New York; Whereas the Royals scored 5 runs in the 12thinning of Game 5 of the World Series to take the lead and seal a dramatic win; Whereas all 25 players on the playoff roster of the Royals should be congratulated, including Johnny Cueto, Wade Davis, Danny Duffy, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar, Ryan Madson, Kris Medlen, Franklin Morales, Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez, Chris Young, Drew Butera, Salvador Perez, Christian Colon, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Raul Mondesi, Kendrys Morales, Mike Moustakas, Ben Zobrist, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, Alex Gordon, Paulo Orlando, and Alex Rios; Whereas the front office, the clubhouse, and all supporting staff and team members of the Kansas City Royals should be congratulated; Whereas the Royals won a remarkable 95 games during the regular season, which earned the team the best record in the American League; Whereas the American League won the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which ensured the Royals home field advantage for the World Series; Whereas the Royals had 7 players selected to the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, who should be congratulated, including Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Salvador Perez, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Mike Moustakas; Whereas the Royals earned a postseason berth by clinching the American League Central Division for the first time in team history; Whereas the Royals earned a second American League Championship pennant in 2 years; Whereas Royals catcher Salvador Perez received unanimous support for and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, after (1) hitting .364 in the World Series; (2) driving in the tying run in the Royals comeback in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series; and (3) sparking the Royals again in the 12thinning of Game 5 to seal the eventual win; Whereas 8 of the Royals 11 playoff wins came after trailing in the sixth inning or later; Whereas 6 of the Royals playoff comeback wins erased deficits of 2 runs or more, a playoff feat which had never been achieved before; Whereas the Royals narrowly lost the 2014 World Series in Game 7, fueling a determination (4) to return to the World Series in 2015; and (5) to accomplish what the team came so close to accomplishing 1 year earlier; Whereas the Royals won their second World Series championship title in the 46-year history of the team and their first World Series championship title in 30 years, filling individuals in Kansas City and Royals fans everywhere with pride; Whereas the Royals showed extraordinary steadiness, teamwork, focus, and love of the game in proving again to be an organization of great character, determination, and heart, a reflection of the city of Kansas City and the State of Missouri; and Whereas the Kansas City Royals are the 2015 World Series champions: Now, therefore, be it Resolved,That the Senate (1) commends the Kansas City Royals on their (A) 2015 World Series championship title; and (B) outstanding performance during the 2015 Major League Baseball season; (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, management, and support staff of the Kansas City Royals, whose dedication and persistence made victory possible; (3) congratulates (A) the city of Kansas City; (B) the entire bi-state Kansas City metropolitan area; (C) Kansas City Royals fans everywhere; and (4) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to (A) the Honorable Sylvester Sly James, Mayor of the city of Kansas City, Missouri; (B) Mr. Dan Glass, President, Kansas City Royals; and (C) Mr. Ned Yost, Manager, Kansas City Royals. Please Click Here To View This Press Release Online",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=826fbefe-c231-49c6-a4da-72d93d254d7f,Kansas Congressional Delegation Condemns White House Refusal To Rule Out Executive Action On GITMO,2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. The Kansas Congressional delegation condemned todays White House refusal to rule out executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer prisoners to the United States. Members of the delegation released the following responses reacting to the White Houses statement: ""Threatening to shut down Guantanamo Bay by executive action shows President Obamas blatant disregard for the law,said Sen. Roberts (R-KS).Congress has consistently stopped Obama by law from moving a single detainee to the U.S., and this would be an egregious overstep by the administration ignoring the will of the American people to accomplish the presidents legacy goals. An act of Congress would be required to move detainees to the mainland, and I currently have a hold on the presidents nominee for the Secretary of the Army and I will place holds on any nominee necessary to prevent this unilateral action. I'm confident our current facility at Guantanamo Bay remains the best, and only, answer to house these terrorists. As I have said before not on my watch will any terrorist be placed in Kansas or anywhere in the homeland. A critical national security decision deserves critical thought,Sen. Moran (R-KS) said.The closing of Gitmo shouldnt happen without Congressional approval and certainly shouldnt be done through an executive order. The current law should be upheld, which prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of detainees. President Obamas apparent contempt for the will of the American people is simply beyond belief,said Congresswoman Jenkins (R-KS).Any unilateral executive action would be a clear violation of existing law that prohibits transferring prisoners from Guantanamo to America. Earlier this year, President Obama indicated he was considering Fort Leavenworth as a location for these prisoners, showing his willingness to totally disregard the impact on military training such a move would have. The Presidents attempts for a legacy should not endanger America lives, and I will continue fighting to protect Americans from this disastrous idea. The presidents threat of using an executive order to free jihadists from Guantanamo Bay shows blatant disregard for the safety of our country and the expressed will of the American people. It is unconscionable,Congressman Pompeo (R-KS) said.Not only would any executive action to bring the worlds most lethal terrorists at Guantanamo Bay to the United States be a direct violation of federal law, but relocating these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth or anywhere else in America poses tremendous threat to our military. Keeping these terrorists at GITMO is crucial to the safety and security of Kansans and all Americans. I will continue fighting to do all in my power to see that GITMO detainees stay right where they belong in the U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay. Any executive action attempting to close the facility at Guantanamo Bay is expressly prohibited by federal law in both the 2015 NDAA and funding bill,said Congressman Yoder (R-KS).Unfortunately, this Administration does not seem to feel the same constraints of the law as the rest of us do. I will strongly oppose this effort in every way possible. Said Congressman Huelskamp (R-KS):If President Obama follows through on his threat of using an executive order to close Guantanamo, it would be another outrageous example of how he continues to trample the Constitution and rule of law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=e1b406c2-201b-420b-89d8-08b3bf4ee9eb,Senator Roberts Celebrates the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals on Senate Floor,2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) joined U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in a colloquy on the Senate floor in tribute to the Kansas City Royals for their 2015 World Series victory over the New York Mets. The Senators introduced a resolution congratulating the Kansas City Royals on their 2015 World Series championship title. To download Senator Roberts remarks click here. The following is text of Senator Roberts remarks as prepared for delivery: We are proud of our Kansas City Royals. This hard fought World Series victory is still being celebrated in Kansas from Goodland to Liberal, from Parsons to Troy and everywhere in between. Yesterday we saw the Kansas fans marching in a sea of blue into downtown Kansas City. There were more than half a million people -- young and old, people from all walks of life, all races, all nationalities and all Royal. The schools were closed, workers took a break, the streets filled, the windows opened and it was a gorgeous Royal blue day. Some are celebrating this kind of victory for the first time. Others are remembering 1985 and seeing that same excitement again, this time in their childrens eyes. You see, some counted us out. We are a small market team, a team with young but talented guys. They said we didnt have what it takes to be World Series Champions. We didnt have the big name homerun hitters, the big name flamethrower pitchers or a big park made smaller for homerun hitters. But, what we did have was a team. Players who kept the line moving. The stats that made the difference: In this postseason, the Royals' strikeout rate was 16 percent, just 81 strikeouts in 505 plate appearances. The Royals regular season average was better, just 15 percent --The best in baseball. The league average in the regular season was more than 20 percent. They kept the line moving. These Royals had a manger that let them play as they were: young, fast and aggressive. Ned Yost let them choose whether or not to steal. He let them swing at the first pitch. Alcides Escobar hit that inside the park homerun on the first pitch, in the bottom of the first inning, of the first game of the World Series at Kauffman. A ball park for playing baseball: hitting, running fielding and a few homeruns. He let them play the game. They were relentless. They kept the lines moving, went against conventional baseball wisdom and Oh! Was it fun to watch. Mr. President, we won. Kansas City won. Baseball won. Our celebration here today is about the Royals, the joy of the game of baseball, but it is also about our identity as a city, a region. We were told that a small market team from flyover country would not be able to beat the New York Mets. We won. Because we kept the line moving. Just like the Royals fans do in Kansas and in Missouri every day and through a couple of decades of post season drought, proving that our team, our fans and our kind of game is the best in baseball. I know I speak for fans all over our state, the hundreds of thousands of fans that gathered in peace and joy to celebrate a victory for our team and yes, for our region too: Thank you Royals, thank you for showing the world what fun baseball can be if you play the game, if you keep the lines moving. Congrats to the Kansas City Royals, the 2015 World Series Champions. How about them apples? Senator Roberts attended Game 2 of the American League Division Series against Houston. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=6f4d3c60-2e15-434b-aaf0-c4b03bdf405b,Roberts Congratulates 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals,2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) joined U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in a colloquy on the Senate floor in tribute to the Kansas City Royals for their 2015 World Series victory over the New York Mets. The Senators introduced a resolution congratulating the Kansas City Royals on their 2015 World Series championship title. Moran added, This is a special time for Kansas City and Royals Nation. Owner David Glass and General Manager Dayton Moore put together a team that embodies what Kansas Citians and Royals fans everywhere value: strong character, hard work and perseverance in pursuit of a championship. This franchise and its fans have endured hard times, but now celebrate together in the glory of being World Champions. Congratulations, and lets repeat next year!",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-testifies-on-medicare-direct-supervision-requirement-before-house-energy-commerce-subcommittee/,Congresswoman Jenkins Testifies On Medicare Direct Supervision Requirement Before House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee,2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) testified before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee about her legislation to delay Medicare’s physician “direct supervision” requirement until 2016. This legislation would protect rural healthcare providers, and help rural communities maintain the access to healthcare that they need. Click Here To Watch Congresswoman Jenkins’ Testimony. Congresswoman Jenkins’ Remarks As Prepared For Delivery “Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Green, “Thank you for holding this hearing and inviting me to speak on H.R. 2878, a critical piece of legislation that I have sponsored.  The bill would delay Medicare’s physician “direct supervision” requirement, for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals, until 2016. “In January of 2014, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services began enforcing a requirement that physicians must supervise outpatient therapy at Critical Access Hospitals and other small, rural hospitals.  CMS’s decision meant that routine outpatient procedures, such as drawing blood or undergoing active therapy, would have to be directly supervised by a physician.  This decision by CMS would have put a severe strain on providers, particularly those in rural areas, while providing no quality improvements for the patients they serve. “Most of these outpatient procedures are relatively simple, are very safe, and would not benefit from a federal mandate that a physician always be in the room.  And, as a practical matter, in rural hospitals across America, such a requirement is simply not feasible. “I was proud to introduce legislation last Congress that delayed this Medicare “direct supervision” requirement through 2014, and it was signed into law with bipartisan support.  It has been widely recognized as an effective tool to improve care in rural hospitals, and keep the regulatory burden in check. “Unfortunately, rural hospitals are once again staring down the threat of this federal mandate from CMS.  The existing law delaying enforcement action from CMS has expired.   Accordingly, I have now re-introduced similar legislation this Congress, further delaying enforcement until 2016.  It is about this legislation, H.R. 2878, which this committee has graciously invited me to speak about today. “When I think about the healthcare needs facing my district, there is nothing more challenging than ensuring access to quality and accessible rural healthcare.  Rural America is struggling and the 84 Critical Access Hospitals in Kansas are the lifeblood of our rural communities.  The presence of a facility such as a Critical Access Hospital in a community could be the deciding factor in whether or not the next generations of children decide to raise their family in their hometown, or perhaps whether or not a business decides to locate there.  Easy access to emergency care can be a life and death situation and we cannot threaten the existence of these facilities by piling on the regulatory burden from Washington. “Earlier this year, I invited Carrie Saia, CEO of Holton Community Hospital, to testify about this issue before the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.  Holton Community Hospital happens to be responsible for serving my hometown, Holton, a community of just over 3,000 Kansans.  She explained in great detail that direct supervision would be extremely burdensome, costly, and is simply unrealistic at a hospital serving rural America.  The result of enforcing this mandate would be to severely limit the type of services rural hospitals could offer, and it would threaten their financial stability at a complicated and uncertain time in our nation’s healthcare system. “H.R. 2878 will correct this problem.  It will do so by reinstating the moratorium on enforcement of this unnecessary regulation.  It has broad bipartisan support in Congress, and the support of key stakeholders, including the American Hospital Association, the National Rural Health Association, and the Kansas Hospital Association. “As a small town girl, I feel strongly that folks in rural communities deserve access to quality health care.  I cannot emphasize enough that rural communities in Kansas, and across the country, depend on Critical Access Hospitals, which are directly threatened by CMS’s actions.  I hope that Members from both parties can once again come together to ensure that high-quality, timely care is available no matter where you live in America. “Companion legislation introduced by Senators John Thune, Jerry Moran, and Jon Tester was passed by the Senate this September.  I also want to thank the democratic lead cosponsor on this legislation, Congressman Dave Loebsack, for all of his hard work and advocacy on this issue as well.  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and move it forward in a timely fashion.  Thank you very much for the invitation to speak. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2d8218ac-63f3-4d3e-8efa-342bcffaf35a,Chairman Roberts Continues Fight Against WOTUS on Senate Floor,2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today on the Senate floor spoke in favor of advancing The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would block the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) regulatory overreach on Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140) was approved by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee in June and requires EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the finalized WOTUS rule and restart the full rulemaking process to develop a new rule in consultation with stakeholders, state partners and regulated entities. Chairman Roberts is an original cosponsor of S. 1140. For audio, and to view a short video on the bill, clickhere. Chairman Roberts in March held a hearing on the WOTUS rule, which featured testimony from state and local officials responsible for the administration and enforcement of the WOTUS rule, along with agricultural industry representatives impacted by the burdensome regulation. For witness info, testimony, and to watch the hearing, click here. The final WOTUS rule continues to be fraught with controversy from its detrimental impacts on farm country to the questionable legality of the rulemaking process. Ongoing lawsuits involving over 30 states and industries impacted by the final rule only add further confusion about implementation and applicability of the final rule across the rest of the country. Click here for audio and video of Roberts remarks. The following are Senator Roberts remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, I rise today as the Senate considers an issue that is critically important to agriculture and rural America. It is my hope the Senate will advance landmark legislation that I, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, have introduced in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) final rule that redefines Waters of the United States commonly referred to as WOTUS under the Clean Water Act. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of S. 1140 and represent agriculture and rural Americas charge in pushing back against EPAs egregious federal overreach. EPAs final WOTUS rule would adversely impact a vast cross-section of industries including agriculture. As I have said before, I fear that the sheer number of regulations imposed by this Administration is causing the public to lose faith in our government. Too often I hear from my constituents that they feel ruled not governed. Mr. President, S. 1140 is in response to exactly that sentiment. As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, I have heard directly from farmers, ranchers, state agency officials and various industries in Kansas and throughout the country that ultimately would be subject to these new burdensome and costly federal requirements. Mr. President, the message is unanimous and clear this is the wrong approach and the wrong rule for agriculture, rural America, and small communities. According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, EPAs final rule would expand the number of water bodies in Kansas classified as Waters of the United States subject to all Clean Water Act programs and requirements by 460 percent, totaling 170,000 stream miles. This expanded scope will further exacerbate the burden of duplicative pesticide permitting requirements and other over-regulation by this Administration. This simply will not work and makes zero sense, especially in places like arid Western Kansas. Furthermore, the final rule undercuts a states sovereign ability as the primary regulator of water resources who administers and carries out Clean Water Act programs. Even more troubling, in recent months it has become apparent through the release of internal government documents between EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that there are serious concerns and questions with regard to the legality of EPAs role and actions during the public comment period to garner support for the final rule. The tactics employed by EPA throughout this rulemaking process completely undermine the integrity of the interagency review process and the publics trust. EPA claims that they have listened to farmers and ranchers about the concerns they have raised. EPA not only stacked the deck against farmers and ranchers, EPA deliberately ignored them. This bill requires EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the final rule and craft a new rule in meaningful consultation with stakeholders, state partners, and regulated entities who are ready and waiting to work with EPA. Mr. President, all of us want to protect clean water. No one here especially agriculture wants to threaten such a valuable and integral natural resource that sustains our livelihood. It is time that the Administration listen AND develop a rule that is effective for farmers, ranchers and rural America. This WOTUS regulation is the number one concern I hear about in farm country and over 90 agricultural groups have signed a letter in support of this legislation. Additionally, ongoing litigation involving 31 states challenging the final rule only adds further confusion about implementation and applicability of the final rule across the rest of the country. It is time for Congress to intervene. I thank my colleagues who have joined me in this effort and I look forward to advancing this issue. I urge all my colleagues to support S. 1140 and vote yes. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=VideoClips&ContentRecord_id=96f7678d-7999-49eb-b158-ec313d5bd245,Chairman Roberts Continues Fight Against WOTUS on Senate Floor,2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today on the Senate floor spoke in favor of advancing The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would block the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) regulatory overreach on Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140) was approved by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee in June and requires EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the finalized WOTUS rule and restart the full rulemaking process to develop a new rule in consultation with stakeholders, state partners and regulated entities. Chairman Roberts is an original cosponsor of S. 1140. For audio, and to view a short video on the bill, clickhere. Chairman Roberts in March held a hearing on the WOTUS rule, which featured testimony from state and local officials responsible for the administration and enforcement of the WOTUS rule, along with agricultural industry representatives impacted by the burdensome regulation. For witness info, testimony, and to watch the hearing, click here. The final WOTUS rule continues to be fraught with controversy from its detrimental impacts on farm country to the questionable legality of the rulemaking process. Ongoing lawsuits involving over 30 states and industries impacted by the final rule only add further confusion about implementation and applicability of the final rule across the rest of the country. Click here for audio and video of Roberts remarks.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsletter?ContentRecord_id=dcd997c6-74f3-4a4c-95e1-b3364749c350,Kansas Common Sense - Wounded Warriors Act Heads to White House,2015-11-02,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Hello, Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thank you 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. Two-Year Budget Agreement Passes SenateEarly Friday morning, the Senate passed a two-year budget deal (H.R. 1314) to the raise the federal spending caps and suspend the national debt ceiling until March 15, 2017. This legislation, passed by House of Representatives on Wednesday and now signed into law by President Obama, will increase spending by $80 billion over the next two years, with offsets to cover the costs stretched out over the next decade. Thursday afternoon I went to the Senate floor to speak out in opposition to this bill. While Congress can suspend the debt ceiling it cant suspend reality. Our national debt now stands at more than $19 trillion, and this budget deal does far too little to put our country on a path toward fiscal solvency. Every time Congress raises the debt ceiling without genuine and substantial reductions in spending, it undermines our nations long-term economic health. Kansans expect their elected officials in Washington to confront our nations fiscal challenges, not continue to push them off on future generations who will have to pay for our irresponsibility. For far too long, members of both political parties have ignored our growing debt and allowed our country to live well beyond its means. The time to correct our failures is now, because the consequences of failing to tackle our debt crisis are far greater than failing to raise the debt ceiling yet again. The prosperity of future generations and abilities of our children and grandchildren to pursue the American Dream depend on it. Meeting with House Agriculture Appropriations Chair AderholtThis week, as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I met with my counterpart on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Robert Aderholt. The agriculture appropriations bill directs and prioritizes funding within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA). A primary topic of discussion is ways to replace the cuts to crop insurance included in the budget deal I opposed with savings elsewhere. Crop insurance is the most important risk management tool for farmers not just in Kansas, but across the country. The budget took direct aim at the private sector deliver of crop insurance, one of the key aspects that makes it successful. The provision was clearly drafted by Washington bureaucrats who dont understand agriculture or the risk farmers face each year to produce a crop, nor the importance of the private sector involvement in crop insurance. I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Aderholt on the agriculture appropriations bill and in overseeing USDA and FDA. Wounded Warriors Act Heads to White HouseCongress sent the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act (H.R. 313) to the presidents desk this week. I sponsored the companion Senate version of this legislation, which makes certain disabled veterans receive the health care they need by providing first-year federal workers who have service-related disabilities with additional leave time for medical care. Service-disabled veterans have demonstrated tremendous bravery, and we have a duty to make their transition to civilian life as seamless as possible. This legislation will help our nations heroes pursue careers in federal service and support their families, while also addressing their medical treatment needs. Click here to learn more. Systemic Failure, Lack of Support for Community Mental Health CentersOn Wednesday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ability to ensure access to mental health for veterans across the country. I questioned Government Accountability Office (GAO) Health Team Director Dr. Debra Draper and VA Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services Dr. Harold Kudler. The GAO recently put the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) on their high-risk list, and has issued investigative reports for years addressing the chronic problems within the VHA. Unfortunately for our veterans, Dr. Draper indicated the VHA has not made much progress in fixing the systemic VA failures, despite the findings and recommendations issued by the GAO. Many veterans, especially those in rural areas, struggle to receive the mental health care they need through the VA due to a shortage of mental healthcare professionals at VA facilities and long wait times. To help combat these problems, I have long advocated for VA to partner with Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Kansas and hiring Family and Marriage Therapists (FMTs) and Licensed Mental Healthcare Providers (LMHCPs) within the VA. During the hearing I questioned Dr. Kudler on the use of the Choice Act to partner with CMHCs to make certain veterans receive timely access to quality mental healthcare. Without access to local CMHCs, the quality of care is irrelevant when it is delayed or not accessible, and we should be using every resource available to make certain those with mental health needs are able to receive high quality care when they are in need. Dr. Kudler expressed his commitment to increasing these partnerships, and after years of pushing the VA to work with CMHCs, I look forward to working with him and others at the VHA to contract with CMHCs. Click here to learn more. Calling on VA Secretary to Support ARCH ProgramU.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined me this week in calling on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to commit to the sustainment of medical services veterans receive through the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program. Since 2011 the ARCH pilot program has been operating in five rural sites across the country including a site in Pratt to serve rural veterans by giving them access to health care from a community provider close to home instead of traveling several hours to seek care at a VA facility. I am committed to ensuring no veterans experience a lapse in care as consolidation of community care comes together. The VA has an opportunity to capitalize on the demonstrated success of the ARCH program in this consolidation plan, and I will continue to pressure the VA to improve access to health care for rural veterans should they fail to take advantage of this opportunity. Click here to learn more. Pursuing Comprehensive Cancer Center Designation for KU Cancer CenterOn Tuesday, I met with University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) Director Dr. Roy Jensen to discuss KUs continuing pursuit of scientific and research excellence in our state. More than three years ago, KUCC earned National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. This exclusive designation enabled KUCC patients to have access to the latest clinical trials and the most advanced cancer treatments close to home. Because NCI designation is the highest recognition for an academic cancer center, KUCC is better positioned to recruit the brightest researchers and scientists to develop cutting-edge treatments and cures here in Kansas. Achieving NCI designation, however, is only an initial step in KUCCs goal of becoming one of the countrys premier cancer centers. In less than a year, KUCC will apply for Comprehensive Cancer Center designation. While NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific leadership, resources, and research in basic, clinical, and population science, Comprehensive Cancer Centers demonstrate an added depth and breadth of research, as well as substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. I look forward to continuing to partner with KUCC in pursuit of this enhanced designation. This effort has a transformative effect on our states economy, enabling Kansas to continue developing into a research powerhouse for medical, pharmaceutical, and technological advancement. Neewollah and ArkalalahParadeRobba and I were in southeast Kansas on Saturday to participate in the annual Neewollah celebration in Independence. Neewollah Halloween spelled backwards started in 1919 and has grown into one of Kansas largest annual celebrations. The festival includes parades, a queens pageant, an arts and crafts show, a concert, a marching band competition and more. This years parade began with a flyover by the Kansas Air National Guards 190th Air Refueling Wing. I enjoyed speaking with residents and visitors, as well as the opportunity to participate in the Grand Parade. Congratulations to 2015 Queen Neelah LXXIV Anna Miller and to all the queen candidates. Thanks to Independence High School Junior Corbin Hugo for driving me. From Independence, we headed west to spend the afternoon with Arkansas City residents to participate in their 84th annual Arkalalah Fall Festival. Ark City has been celebrating Arkalalah since 1928 and we were pleased to be there this year for the parade through downtown. The four-day festival brings the whole town together around carnival attractions, good food and a chance to relax and catch up with folks in the community. Special thanks to Sid Regnier for driving me in the parade and 2015 Arkalalah Chairman Lance Niles who did a great job organizing this first-rate event. Kansans in the Office Capitol Tour John Kern of Plainville Patricia Kern of Plainville Mary Rose of Overland Park Fred Rose of Overland Park Kansas Schools of Nursing Christine Hober of Hays Victoria Mosack of Wichita Cynthia Teel of Kansas City Marge Bott of Olathe Nelda Godfrey of Kansas City National Flood Services Stephanie Wright-Wilson of Overland Park University of Kansas Cancer Center Roy Jensen of Gardner American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Christian Sinclair of Shawnee Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Barbara Bollier of Mission Hills America Walks Richelle Shipley of Colby National Mining Association Matthew Palmer of Olathe Honored 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. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4499acbb-8c7b-4d9a-9a75-9a4abaa7e5f9,"Sen. Moran Expresses Frustration with Systemic Failure, Lack of Support for Community Mental Health Centers",2015-10-30,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), questioned Government Accountability Office (GAO) Health Team Director Dr. Debra Draper and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services Dr. Harold Kudler this week during a committee hearing on VA Mental Health: Ensuring Access to Care. Five years of GOA investigations on the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) have resulted in similar findings and recommendations outlining systemic VA failures. Sen. Moran questioned Dr. Draper on whether the VA has accepted GAO recommendations and taken action to remedy failures and deficiencies. Unfortunately for our veterans, Dr. Draper indicated the VHA has not made much progress, which is why the VHA was placed on GAOs high-risk list this year. Despite GAO recommendations to remove VHA from the high-risk list, little has changed within the VHA to correct the wrongs that have harmed veterans across the country in preventing access to care, even though the Veterans Choice Program was created to support veterans by offering the choice to receive care in the community. Highlights from the first round of questioning may be found here: Sen. Moran (1:28-2:12) As someone who has examined the Department of Veterans Affairs for the last five yearsWhat is it that we can do to get out of the cycle of inviting you to come and report on your GAO studies?...How do we get out of the cycle of were just hearing the same its a different topic each time but its the same set of circumstances that veterans find themselves in? Dr. Draper (2:12-2:25) I would love to report something differently. I know that we sound like a broken record sometimes, but these are the common themesgoing back to the reasons weve put VHA on a high-risk list this past year. Sen. Moran (4:39-4:45) Is there evidence that its being pursued, the path to get off the high-risk category? Dr. Draper (4:45-4:47) We havent seen a lot of progress yet. Highlights from the second round of questioning may be found here: Sen. Moran (2:39-4:25) I certainly wouldn't disagree with the need for quality care but I also know that no care or care that's delayed, the quality of that care is zeroThe VA ought to be utilizing Choice to meet the needs as best we can on veterans who are either because of time or distance in capable of being currently for within the VAFor years, before the passage of the Choice Act, I've been trying to convince that the V.A. that they have an opportunity in my state of Kansas to contract with community mental health centersAnd across our very rural state, it's the only place in many instances that there is any access to health care. And our effort pre-Choice and post-Choice have been pretty fruitless in accomplishing thatIs there someone that you could direct to meet with me and with representatives of Kansas mental health centers to have a direct conversation after all these years and in light of the passage of the Choice Act to do that?...It seems to me that were missing an opportunityI just need you to help me put the puzzle together Dr. Kudler (4:40-4:48) Theres a special team thats been developing the business rulesand I will make that happen. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=564d0723-c57c-4123-addf-b26192426852,Sen. Moran Delivers Floor Speech and Issues Statement on Budget Agreement,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor and issued the following statement to express his opposition to the two-year budget agreement. Sen. Moran has repeatedly voted against lifting the debt ceiling and believes it is irresponsible to increase spending without serious cuts to entitlements: Congress borrowing power is firmly rooted in our constitutional tradition, and the debt limit is an important tool to force us to maintain, or in recent years, regain a grip on fiscal responsibility. Congress may be able to suspend the debt ceiling, but it cant suspend reality. Expenditures on entitlements Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid continue to rise as more Americans retire and fewer workers replace them. As a result, over the next few decades, our debt will grow to more than three times the size of our entire economy. During my time in Congress, I have voted against lifting the debt ceiling because it is irresponsible to lift it without serious changes to the way we spend money. This budget deal does far too little to put us on the path toward fiscal solvency. The debate on government spending is often seen as a philosophical or academic, or an opportunity for more partisan point scoring here in Washington. The reality is our out-of-control government borrowing and spending is a moral issue, and it has very real consequences on the lives of Americans. Each time Congress lifts the debt ceiling without genuine and substantial reductions in spending, it undermines our nations long-term economic health and reduces the ability of our children and grandchildren to pursue the American Dream. The time to correct our failures is now. We know what is going to happen if we dont act, and it is immoral for us to look the other way. The consequences of failing to tackle our debt crisis are far greater than failing to lift the debt ceiling yet again. Click here to view Sen. Morans speech on the U.S. Senate Floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=e490a58f-ecb5-4f01-b36c-1398a13f4d6e,Sen. Moran Calls on VA Secretary to Support ARCH Program,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) called on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to commit to maintaining medical services veterans receive through the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program as the VA prepares to deliver a consolidation plan for non-VA community care to Congress next week. In a letter, the senators stated, ARCH provides medical care for veterans living in rural areas or for those who are burdened with long wait times for servicesAccording to Congressionally mandated reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, more than 90 percent of veterans participating in ARCH are overwhelmingly satisfied with their access to care and the medical services they receive from the participating community providers. Since 2011, the ARCH pilot program has been operating in five rural sites across the country including Pratt, Kan. ARCH serves rural veterans by giving them access to health care from a community provider close to home instead of traveling several hours to seek care at a VA facility. The inclusion of a two-year extension of the ARCH program in the Choice Act helped to make certain rural veterans were able to continue accessing timely, high-quality care closer to home. Sen. Moran urges Secretary McDonald to capitalize on the demonstrated success of the ARCH program in the VAs consolidated plan for non-VA, community care. Sen. Moran has been an advocate for improved accessibility to health care for rural veterans through the ARCH program. In 2014, Sen. Moran sponsored the Choice Act, which implemented significant reforms at the VA and created the Choice Program a pilot initiative based in part on the success of ARCH. The full text of the senators letter is available here. Sen. Moran encourages veterans in rural areas to enroll in VA health care and receive the care they have earned through the Choice Act. Click here to see if you qualify for the ARCH program. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ecac7213-ec85-44d2-b389-936c44a4cf89,Sen. Moran Calls on Senate Leadership to Reauthorize Student Loan Program,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined 53 of his Senate colleagues today in urging Senate leadership to take up and pass legislation to reauthorize the Perkins Loan Program.This important financial aid option for many low-income students expired on Sept. 30, 2015, despite receiving a unanimous one-year, no-cost extension from the House of Representatives on Sept. 28, 2015. More than 7,000 Kansas students received Perkins Loans in 2013-14. The senators wrote, Many senators have proposals aimed at making our various federal student aid programs work better for students, parents, and institutions. We look forward to discussing and debating ways to improve these important federal supports for higher education during this congress. In the meantime, we should immediately take up and pass the House-passed extension to provide certainty to students and ensure that this important source of student financial assistance is not interrupted. The senators continued, Immediately taking up the House-passed extension bill is a simple solution that can provide clarity in the near term to students and the colleges and universities that serve them without any cost to the federal government. The Congressional Budget Office concluded that this one-year extension would incur no new costs to the federal government because it includes limitations on the length of student participation in the program. The House has already acted unanimouslyWe urge you to take up and pass the Higher Education Extension Act without delay. The Perkins Loan Program, the nations oldest federal student loan program, has existed with broad bipartisan support since 1958 and has provided more than $28 billion in loans through almost 26 million awards to students in all 50 states. In the last academic year alone, the program lent $1.1 billion to more than half a million students with financial need across more than 1,500 institutions of higher education. The full text of the senators letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2fcc657b-f5c1-4877-bec5-2bd13cac3515,Chairman Roberts: Senate Leadership Commits to Bipartisan Fix to Restore Crop Insurance in Omnibus,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Having secured a commitment from House and Senate leadership to restore the federal crop insurance program in a year-end spending bill, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., today announced his support for the Bipartisan Budget Act to ensure crop insurance remains the most important risk management tool for American producers. I am pleased House and Senate leadership have listened to our concerns and have agreed to restore funds to crop insurance, Roberts said. I have worked my entire career to build crop insurance as a public/private partnership that best protects producers and taxpayers. With this agreement today, the Bipartisan Budget Act has my support, and I look forward to working with Ranking Member Stabenow to ensure crop insurance, the number one priority of farmers across the nation, remains their best protection. Chairman Roberts today participated in a colloquy on the Senate floor with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., regarding the Bipartisan Budget Act. At issue is section 201 of the Bipartisan Budget Act that made damaging cuts to the federal crop insurance program. In the colloquy, Chairman Roberts, Leader Mitch McConnell and others affirmed their commitment to find bipartisan alternative deficit reduction savings during consideration of an omnibus appropriations bill later this year. Watch the colloquy here. The following is text of the colloquy as prepared for delivery between Leader McConnell, Chairman Roberts, Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Thune: Senator Roberts: Mr. President, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished Republican Leader, Majority Whip, and the Senior Senator from South Dakota with regard to a commitment made between all of us here. This commitment is in reference to the obvious need to remedy the language adversely affecting our nations farmers and ranchers now included in the Bipartisan Budget Act. This provision, Section 201, included in the underlying bill, should it go into effect, would greatly damage the crop insurance program as we know it. The commitment we have reached is to reverse these damaging cuts and policy changes to the crop insurance program in order to protect our producers primary risk management tool and their number one priority. The legislative action, or fix, will take place in consideration of the year end spending bill. I have been working with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway who has reached a similar agreement with the House Leadership. We have all agreed here to restore these funds to the program, and reverse this policy, and do so with support from the House and the Senate. Leader McConnell: Mr. President, I want to thank the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee for his diligent work on behalf of Americas farmers and rural communities. I have discussed with the Chairman his concerns about the fiscal agreements crop insurance provisions and their impact on farmers concerns which are shared by our counterparts in the House of Representatives. I also have concerns about what the changes to the crop insurance program will mean for the farmers of Kentucky, several of whom Ive heard from over the past two days.Farming has been a long tradition in my state. Kentucky is made up largely of smaller family farms farms that have been passed down for generations. These folks rely heavily on the notion that a bad crop yield year will not stop their ability to continue farming because of the certainty provided through this program. It is our joint understanding that House Leaders will work to reverse these crop insurance changes and find bipartisan alternative deficit reduction savings when they consider an omnibus appropriations bill later this year. I want to assure my friend from Kansas that I will work closely with him to support the House in these efforts. Senator Cornyn: Mr. President, I want to thank Leader McConnell, Chairman Roberts, and Senator Thune for their cooperation and commitment to address this concern. I also want to thank Chairman Conaway for his steadfast support of Americas farmers and ranchers in the House of Representatives.Texas farmers and ranchers are no stranger to the perils caused by drought and other weather related events beyond their control, and with the current regulatory environment and unforeseen perils they face, I understand the necessity and viability of the crop insurance program to their livelihoods.I too stand in support of working with my colleagues to find a solution to this problem. Senator Thune: Mr. President, I rise as well in support of restoring the devastating cuts to crop insurance imposed by the Bipartisan Budget Act. Crop insurance plays a critical role in supporting South Dakota agriculture its number one industry. Crop losses due to drought, wind, hail, and excessive moisture provide the greatest challenges to economic survival and sustainability in production agriculture and crop insurance provides the only viable risk management tool to meet these challenges. It is imperative that we preserve crop insurance and maintain its viability. I support the agreement discussed on the floor today, and I will work with the Leader, Chairman, and my Senate colleagues to find a reasonable alternative to unworkable cuts to crop insurance found in Section 201 of the Bipartisan Budget Act. I thank the Majority Leader, the Majority Whip and our Chairman of the Agriculture committee for their commitment to our farming families and rural economies. I ask Chairman Roberts through the President, if the House has reached a similar agreement. Senator Roberts: Mr. President, I respond to my friend that yes, Chairman Conaway has reached a bipartisan agreement with the House Leadership. It is time for the Senate to respond. I appreciate the work of my colleagues and the work of our Ranking Member Senator Stabenow for raising the issue and for helping to find an agreement. I have worked my entire career to build crop insurance as a public/private partnership that best protects producers and taxpayers.This agreement reached today continues in that effort to fulfill that mission. I thank the Majority Leader, the Majority Whip and Senator Thune for their commitment. I also thank many of our colleagues who helped us reach this solution today. Mr. President, I yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=3b608f5c-424d-4226-88dc-4fe220325e75,"Walberg, Roberts Fight for Affordable Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities",2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Pat Roberts,R000307,www.roberts.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today introduced legislation in the House and Senate to ensure seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to affordable in-home companion care. H.R. 3860, the Ensuring Access to Affordable and Quality Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act, would reverse harmful Department of Labor rules that place costly regulations on families and caregivers. Millions of families depend on companionship services to meet their health care needs, said Walberg, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Far reaching and costly regulations should not stand in the way of seniors and individuals with disabilities who are unable to care for themselves from receiving quality, affordable care in the comfort of their own homes. Our bill allows those in need of companion care in the home to continue to arrange and pay for individualized care without getting tangled in burdensome and costly labor rules that were meant for other industries, Roberts said. We preserve the independence of the elderly and individuals with disabilities in need of affordable care and protect caregivers who want predictable employment arrangements. At issue is the Department of Labors rule narrowing the long-standing definition of companionship services under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule would void the companionship exemption and overturn a four decade old policy that has assisted elderly and disabled care recipients who need affordable care and caregivers who need stable work arrangements. The bill has the support of key industry groups and home care organizations including: the International Franchise Association, the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, the Home Care Association of America, and Home Instead, Inc. House Cosponsors of the bill include: Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.). Senate Cosponsors include the Chairman of the committee of jurisdiction, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), James Risch (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), John McCain (Ariz.), David Vitter (R-La.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). The PDF of the Senate bill is below. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-yoder-votes-against-white-house-budget-deal,Rep. Yoder Votes Against White House Budget Deal,2015-10-28,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Kevin Yoder,Y000063,yoder.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) voted against the two-year budget agreement negotiated by Congressional leadership and the White House, which passed 266-167. The agreement increases federal spending by $112 billion over the next two years and raises the debt limit through March of 2017. After voting against the deal, Representative Yoder issued the following statement: This deal is a nonstarter. Ive consistently maintained that any proposal to raise the debt ceiling must be coupled with matching spending cuts or with critical reforms that put us on a path to pay down our debt. Instead, the agreement we considered today not only raises the debt limit to almost $20 trillion dollars, but it actually increases federal spending over the next two years. To pay for this increase in spending, the deal cuts $3 billion from the crop insurance program that provides a critical protection for Kansas farmers and ranchers already engaged in a high-risk industry. The crop insurance program as we know it will be significantly undermined, dealing another blow to the already struggling agriculture industry. As a member of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, I will strongly oppose its implementation. This provision and the agreement as a whole perfectly illustrates why we have to stop governing based on backroom deals negotiated in the eleventh hour. This is not how Congress is supposed to operate. We must write these important bills in the light of day through the committee process, and I look forward to the House returning to a process where all voices can be heard. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lynnjenkins.house.gov/press-releases/congresswoman-jenkins-invited-to-testify-on-medicare-direct-supervision-requirement-before-house-committee/,Congresswoman Jenkins Invited To Testify On Medicare Direct Supervision Requirement Before House Committee,2015-10-28,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Lynn Jenkins,J000290,lynnjenkins.house.gov,,,legacy,"Next Tuesday, November 3rd, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) will testify before the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee about her legislation to delay Medicare’s physician “direct supervision” requirement until 2016. After being invited to testify, Congresswoman Jenkins released the following statement: “I am proud to stand up for rural healthcare against Medicare’s unreasonable and inflexible direct supervision requirement that will hurt Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals. The job of the government is to increase folks’ access to healthcare, not add more hoops for providers to jump through, straining the resources of CAHs. I look forward to testifying before the committee to help shine a light on the problems that would face rural healthcare providers if this rule was enforced. There can be no place in government for Medicare regulations that prevent rural communities from having access to the healthcare they need.” Items To Note -          This Congress, Congresswoman Jenkins introduced H.R. 2878, which would prevent enforcement of the Medicare direct supervision rule. -          The Kansas Hospital Association, National Rural Health Association and American Hospital Association all support this bill. -          Similar legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Jenkins in the 113th Congress and signed into law by the President on December 4, 2014. However, the law has expired and was introduced again by Congresswoman Jenkins and Congressman Loebsack (D-IA).   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=5f728589-7dc0-4fc3-bb13-0ddab830f2dd,Congress Sends Legislation Supporting Wounded Warriors to White House,2015-10-27,2015,2015-10,Republican,House,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON The United States Senate last night delivered a victory for our nations veterans by unanimously passing the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act (H.R. 313). Companion Senate legislation (S. 242) was introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), which passed the Senate in July before advancing to the House. The legislation (H.R. 313) now heads to the presidents desk for his signature. The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act will make certain disabled veterans receive the health care they need by providing first-year federal workers who have service-related disabilities with additional leave time for medical care. I am pleased this critical legislation to improve the lives of our nations veterans is on its way to the presidents desk, Sen. Moran said. Service-disabled veterans have demonstrated tremendous bravery in their selfless service, and we have a duty to make their transition to civilian life as seamless as possible. This legislation will help make certain our nations heroes may pursue careers in federal service and support their families, while also addressing their medical treatment needs. First-year government workers currently accrue four hours of sick leave each pay period. This forces many veterans with disabilities to take unpaid leave for medical appointments because they have not built up the necessary leave time. The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act gives these veteran employees additional leave up front, freeing them from having to make the hard decision between receiving care and taking unpaid leave after they start their new job. Click here to read Sens. Moran and Testers bipartisan Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z