On Wednesday, the Senate passed my amendment to maintain Amtrak train services along the established, long-distance passenger rail route of the Southwest Chief, which makes several stops in Kansas communities, including Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City.

In response to recent indications from Amtrak that it does not intend to fulfill its committed share of project costs to preserve the Southwest Chief, this amendment will compel Amtrak to make good on its promise to the Kansas Department of Transportation and local communities who raised their own matching funds, and will require Amtrak to set aside resources for maintenance and safety improvements along the route. Importantly, the amendment will halt Amtrak’s plans to substitute rail service with bus service over large segments of the route except in cases of emergency. The House must now pass this bill before it can be signed into law.

As the divide between urban and rural communities in America continues to expand, passenger rail services like the Southwest Chief are invaluable in connecting Kansans to the rest of the country while also bringing visitors from out of state to our local communities. I applaud the bipartisan efforts to keep the Southwest Chief operational for our rural communities and will continue working with Amtrak to make certain this route remains available for the Kansans who need it. Read more about my amendment here, or in the Lawrence Journal-World here, The Hutchinson News here and the Newton Kansan here.

Prioritizing Cybersecurity to Protect from Cyber-Attacks
On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor to highlight the critical cybersecurity needs of our nation and the role that the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) plays in propelling our inefficient, outdated federal IT systems into the 21st century to promote productivity and strengthen cybersecurity of our federal agencies. With examples of breaches exposing the personally identifiable information of tens of millions of Americans, like the 2015 breach within the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the ability to compromise data and networks in the federal government cannot be overstated. Private companies must do all they can to prevent hackers from gaining access to their customers’ information – the federal government and state officials must do the same.

Additionally, I promoted the leadership demonstrated by the Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center in analyzing and comparing cyber data and intelligence among public-private partners and federal agencies to identify similarities, anomalies and ways our cyber defenses can improve. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and across federal agencies to provide the necessary resources to the TMF, which, used responsibly, is a vital tool for the federal government’s task of keeping our nation’s critical IT infrastructure efficient and secure. Watch my full remarks here.

Meeting with Olympic National Governing Bodies
This week, I met with the leaders of three Olympic National Governing Bodies (NGB) at the National Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to discuss ways to prevent athlete abuse within the Olympic movement. The CEOs of USA Taekwondo, USA Weightlifting and US Figure Skating shared with me the steps their NGBs have taken to create a safe environment for athletes, but more importantly, offered suggestions of steps that still need to be taken to rid these organizations of abuse.

Our work on this important issue is far from over. I am dedicated to continuing the bipartisan approach this subcommittee has taken in its comprehensive investigation. In consultation with law enforcement, survivors and advocates, we are working closely together to identify meaningful reform in the best interests of athletes and their families.

Hosting a Listening Tour Stop in Bonner Springs
Thank you to Wyandotte County residents who shared their thoughts with me during my townhall meeting at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs. Topics from our discussion included the Farm Bill and the importance of food assistance programs, the Supreme Court vacancy and the president’s nominee, election interference and legislation I’ve cosponsored to protect us from Russia’s efforts, the ongoing Mueller investigation, my support for NATO and my opposition to the ongoing tariff war.

Thanks to the Center for hosting my visit and to University of Kansas Medical Center staff for attending to discuss the importance of NIH funding and efforts to end diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Visiting with Kansas Bankers Association
This weekend, CEOs and senior leadership representing member institutions of the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) held their annual meeting. I was honored to join them and share my perspective on the state of community banking through my work on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. In May, Congress passed a broad piece of legislation that I co-authored to make certain community lenders are better able to best serve their customers by right-sizing federal regulation while layering on additional consumer protections. This weekend's gathering was an opportunity for me to hear directly from many of these Kansas lenders about how lending and borrowing issues can be further improved.

Congratulating Chuck Stones on his Retirement
In addition to the forum, the events included a retirement reception for long-time KBA CEO Chuck Stones. I have worked alongside Chuck for many years in an effort to make certain federal law and regulations are consistent with the needs of the communities served by the banks KBA represents. I wish Chuck and his wife, Sandy, well as they enter retirement and I thank Chuck for his many years of service. Thanks also to incoming KBA CEO Doug Wareham who helped arrange my visit. 

Now Accepting 2018 Service Academy Applications
Appointing Kansans to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. is one of my favorite duties as a U.S. Senator.

To review requirements and move through the application process, please download an application from my website or contact my Olathe office at 913-393-0711. All application materials are due to my Olathe office by September 7, 2018. After applications have been reviewed, applicants will be notified of interviews with my Service Academy Selection Board, which will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene.