Connecting with Kansans
Russell Rotary Club
On Tuesday, I spoke at the Russell Rotary Club about my congressional priorities for 2024. We discussed the importance of border security, the upcoming Farm Bill and navigating funding for Israel and Ukraine. Thank you to the Rotary Club, its members and Meridy’s Restaurant for hosting me and giving me the time to speak with all of you.



VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit the brand-new VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Hays. I recently attended the grand opening of the new facility and wanted to check-in and visit with staff and veterans to hear how things have been going since the opening. The facility focuses mainly on primary care visits but also accepts walk-ins. The Hays clinic allows more veterans to receive care with various health care professionals in a much timelier fashion than before.

I want to thank the staff of the clinic for giving me a personal tour and continuing to provide the best care to our nation’s veterans.



Smoky Hill ANG Range
This week I enjoyed getting to visit the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron at the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range. Smoky Hill is a 34,000-acre target range assigned to the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Wing based at McConnel Air Force Base – the largest and most active range in the Air National Guard Enterprise. Here, the Air Force is changing the way it prepares to fight as we transition from counter-insurgency to large scale combat operations.

After Smoky Hill I also visited with members of the 108th Army Aviation Regiment at their Aviation Support Facility in Salina. I am grateful for the time of these soldiers and their continued service to protect our freedoms.

I want to thank the airmen and soldiers who supported my visit to Salina, particularly Col. Craig Cooper and Col. Joe Dessenberger of the 184th Air Wing. I will continue to use my position as a senior defense appropriator and the Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee to advocate for our servicemembers in Kansas and beyond.



1 Vision Aviation
On Wednesday afternoon, I toured 1 Vision Aviation, a maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) facility located at the Salina Airport. I appreciated the opportunity to revisit the 130,000 sq. ft. facility after the city welcomed 1 Vision Aviation to the community in the fall of 2019. One Vision Aviation is an FAA-certified repair station that provides services on commercial, general aviation and corporate aircraft, as well as provides specialty services for small and large-scale projects including sheet metal repair and fabrication, composites and avionics. This location can house up to six Boeing 737s for repairs and other simultaneous services, a testament to the impressive capability and workforce.

Thank you to CEO Jim Sponder and Tim Rogers, Executive Director of the Salina Airport Authority, for their work to bolster Kansas’ aviation capabilities and for the tour this week.



Topeka Advanced Learning and Careers
Visiting with students across Kansas always reminds me that the decisions we make today are going to shape the future of the next generation. I enjoyed hearing from students and faculty at the Topeka Advanced Learning and Careers center which is part of the Topeka Public Schools. Thank you to Principal Dustin Dick and students Tamir Anderson, Kim Rodriguez and Naiomi Nobas-Santos for showing me around and sharing their thoughts with me.

You can learn more about my visit here. 



Crisis at the Border
This week, it was reported that migrant encounters on our southern border topped 300,000 - the highest single-month total in recorded history. It continues to be abundantly clear that the southern border policies enacted by the Biden administration are failing, and the time to take action is now. This year, I will continue to call on the White House, as well as my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to get back to work and negotiate a supplemental funding package that will address the national security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border.

The United States cannot continue to support this crushing influx of migrants, and the lack of operational control that has resulted from this chaos has exacerbated the drug crisis that affects communities across Kansas.

Remembering Ken Brock
This weekend, I was in Pittsburg to attend the funeral of a friend and southeast Kansas businessman. Ken Brock owned and operated Names and Numbers telephone directories for nearly 50 years with his wife Debbie. He was a transportation advocate for notable projects such as the expansion of U.S. Highway 69 into a four-lane roadway from Kansas City to Interstate 44. He was also a pilot and enjoyed all aspects of aviation from exploring the skies with friends to working with local and state officials to improve our Kansas airports.

Ken will be remembered for being gracious to others and living a life rooted in Christian values. Robba and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Debbie, Bob and Ron Brock on the passing of their husband and father.

Remembering Judge Thomas Tuggle
I also attended the funeral for Tom Tuggle in Concordia this weekend. Judge Tuggle served the people of Kansas and his community as a judge for 17 years. He always conducted himself with dignity and was dedicated to upholding the law and making Kansas a better place. Tom was a loving father, husband and a respected leader who will be remembered for his dedication to justice.

Robba and I are praying for his wife Suzy and their daughters as they mourn their beloved husband and father.

Joining WIBW for an Interview on the Red Couch
I appreciated the opportunity join Melissa Brunner at WIBW to discuss Congress’ priorities for the first few months on the new year. One of the first priorities of the year is to address the crisis at the southern border and provide resources for Israel and Ukraine to protect the United States’ interest of defeating our adversaries.

If there is going to be aid to other countries, we need to take care of our border and resolve that national security crisis. We can’t just spend more money on the border even for important things like border patrol agents or additional miles for a wall. The Biden administration has to change its policies that encourage people to illegally enter the U.S., and the policies that allow migrants to claim amnesty then simply be released into the U.S. with a court date months down the road, never to be seen again.

You can watch my full interview with WIBW here.