releases: https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/kansas-common-sense-honoring-our-nation-s-veterans
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/kansas-common-sense-honoring-our-nation-s-veterans | Kansas Common Sense - Honoring Our Nation's Veterans | 2018-11-13 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Republican | House | KS | Jerry Moran | M000934 | www.moran.senate.gov | legacy | Recognizing Veterans DayAs we come together as a nation to recognize Veterans Day, we honor the incredible sacrifices men and women in uniform have made on behalf of our nation and for our freedom. America has been made exceptional by the enduring courage and bravery of our troops, who have waged war against our adversaries in far off places so that our country and world could remain more peaceful. We also are called today to rededicate ourselves to make certain that veterans are treated with the care and respect they deserve following their service to our nation, and I hope we all take time to reflect on the profound impact of our servicemembers, past and present. To all those who have served our country: thank you, we respect you and we love you. Speaking at the Johnson County Veterans Day Observance On Saturday, I attended the Johnson County Veterans Day Observance where I had the the honor of thanking those who have so honorably served our nation. We have much to learn from our veterans, who didn't serve because of Republican this or Democrat that, but because of a deeply-rooted belief in protecting the freedoms our nation has to offer. Thanks to all who came out for this special event during the cold weather. Hosting U.S. Air Force Under Secretary Donovan at Wichita State On Friday I hosted U.S. Air Force Under Secretary Matthew Donovan at Wichita State University to tour their Innovation Campus. During the tour, we saw their Experiential Engineering Building, the National Institute for Aviation Research, and visited with various faculty, staff, students and industry professionals. The Innovation Campus is a unique opportunity for our state and features innovative technology and equipment that benefits students and employers across the aerospace industry. Nearly every Air Force platform relies on the expertise or parts supplied by Kansans, and the manufacturers and engineers in Wichita are eager to not only continue their work for the Air Force, but to grow that work. Wichita the Air Capital of the World offers the expertise, capacity and desire to be an epicenter of talent, innovation and efficiency for the Air Force and I am committed to making certain the Pentagon remains acutely aware of the ways the Wichita area can serve the Department of Defense. I will continue to work to bring defense leaders to Wichita to see the abundant opportunities for growth and the value of increased partnerships with academic and industrial leaders here. I'm proud of Wichita State, Spirit Aerosystems, and the various local businesses and manufacturers who play a critical role in the development of the Air Force. I remain committed to helping orchestrate these continued partnerships. Click here to read more on Friday's events. Resignation of Attorney General Jeff SessionsOn Wednesday, the president announced the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Jeff Sessions served our country honorably and fulfilled the duties that were statutorily required of him. As Chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, it was an honor to host Attorney General Sessions recently in Kansas, and I am appreciative of his work to ensure Kansas has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe. I expect that during this transition period, the Department will make certain federal law enforcement agencies continue to protect our country, carry out the rule of law and allow the Special Counsel investigation to continue unimpeded. My Subcommittee's Continued Work to Protect Olympic Athletes from AbuseRecently, the United States Olympic Committee announced it would begin the process to decertify and disassociate with USA Gymnastics. This week, the Washington Post highlighted my subcommittee's work to investigate sexual abuse within the Olympics and amateur sports. As this work continues and as various announcements continue to be made surrounding the USOC and USA Gymnastics, it is important that my subcommittee continues to press those involved for answers and that all bad actors are held accountable. Click here to read more from the Washington Post on our successful investigation and the subcommittee's pragmatic approach to solving this long-overdue problem. Touring Morton County HospitalThis week I was in Elkhart to visit the Morton County Hospital. During my visit I toured their facilities and held a discussion with hospital board members, staff and administrators, including Morton County Hospital CEO Richard Bergling. Morton County Hospital is currently in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program an important Medicare initiative that helps certain rural hospitals in sparsely populated states expand care to patients in their communities. Making certain Kansans have access to quality health care in their own communities is one of my top priorities and an issue I've continued to advocate for. This program allows Kansas hospitals who utilize the program to continue receiving Medicare reimbursements that more accurately reflect the true cost of providing care to their patients. For Elkhart and similar communities, access to robust healthcare services offered by community hospitals are essential because access to quality healthcare services determines whether Kansans can remain in the communities they call home, and whether their children can return to raise families of their own. Visiting with Students at Elkhart High SchoolDuring my visit to Morton County, I stopped by Elkhart High School to visit with students, faculty and staff. While there, I toured their facility and students shared an update on their fall semester and coursework. During my tour we also discussed the school's athletic teams and ways in which their current education is influencing their plans for life after high school Elkhart was recently the recipient of a donation of five computers through my office as part of the United States Senate's Computers for Schools program. This program, administered by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, channels surplus computers into classrooms across the country to help encourage and enable technology use in the classroom in this digital age. I was pleased to hear how the school plans to utilize these computers, and am honored to have a positive impact on these students' education. Thank you to students Shayden Hanes, Torie Cayton, and Ethan Buck for my tour, I appreciate Principal Chris Hattabaugh and Superintendent Rex Richardson for hosting my visit. Speaking to the Dodge City Kiwanis ClubLast week, I joined the members of the Dodge City Kiwanis Club at their regular meeting. During the meeting I heard an update on the club, its activities and their engagement with the Dodge City community. We also discussed the importance of civic engagement in communities across Kansas. Kiwanis clubs all across Kansas and the country play a vital role in communities of all shapes and sizes, and I'm grateful for the positive impact they've had on this state. I appreciated the warm welcome from the members I met, and thank you to Club President Lee Griffith for inviting me to speak. Visiting Fort Hays State UniversityAttending David Basgall's Ag Law and Policy ClassOn Monday, I was on the campus of Fort Hays State University (FHSU) to visit with various administrators, faculty, staff and students. While on campus, I joined David Basgall's agricultural law and policy class. During this class I was able to hear about the course's curriculum and the various topics that students are covering throughout the semester. I also fielded a number of questions from students regarding the farm economy, trade, recent trade announcements and issues facing the Kansas ag economy. Thank you Mr. Basgall for allowing me to join in on Tuesday's class, and thanks to FHSU Department of Agriculture Chair and University Farm Superintendent Dr. Clyde Cranwell for arranging my visit to campus. Touring FHSU's Center for Applied TechnologyI also had the opportunity to tour the FHSU Center for Applied Technology (CAT). The CAT building is the newest building on FHSU's campus, having just recently opened in August 2017. It houses the industrial technology, technology, engineering teacher education, sculpture, blacksmithing and foundry programs. The building is equipped with industrial equipment that gives students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology to better prepare them for their career. Providing opportunities to Kansas students in the STEM fields will remain absolutely essential to developing, attracting, and retaining a modern workforce in our state that can compete in the increasinglyglobalized economy. The future of our country depends on bright students, such as those I met at FHSU. FHSU is striving to provide Kansas students with quality STEM education to ensure their success.Thank you to Chair of the Department of Applied Technology Mr. Kim Stewart, Interim Dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics Dr. Grady Dixon and to various students and faculty for the visit and for arranging my tour of this facility. Visiting with Ellsworth ResidentsOn Wednesday, I stopped in Ellsworth to visit with various community leaders, residents and business owners. Community visits allow me the chance to visit with local residents on the issues most important to them, and allow for me to offer an update on the work I'm doing in Kansas and in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many folks who took time out of their day to visit with, especially those at the county courthouse during a busy time of the year. Touring Wichita Area BusinessesOn Thursday, I was in Wichita where I had the opportunity to tour area businesses and hear from their owners and various employees. My first stop was at Red Guard. RedGuard manufactures secure, blast resistant modules, which are put to use in places like our oil fields, as well as by the U.S. State Department for our diplomatic missions all over the world. Through their subsidiary, SiteBox Storage, they also create mobile offices, mobile refrigerators, storm shelters and portable storage containers. I was able to get a better understanding of how the decisions made in Washington ultimately impact these jobs in Wichita, and RedGuard's customers in Kansas and across the globe. I appreciated Ross Draney, Troy Lorenz, Mike Kastens, Darren Hillman and owner Jeff Lang for the tour of the facility and for our thoughtful discussion. Additionally, I stopped by Alloy Architecture, an architecture firm that serves Wichita, the surrounding region and the state of Kansas. During my visit to Alloy I was able to hear relevant updates on their work in the Wichita community and the innovative and new technologies they're using in their business. Thank you to numerous employees for taking time to visit with me and to long-time friend and President of Alloy Architecture David White for the tour and conversation. 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 letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office. Very truly yours, Jerry | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |