With Government Funded, Important Work Remains
There is no denying our country has a spending problem, and we must get our fiscal house in order. The best way to accomplish this is through regular order and passing 12 appropriations bills. The continuing resolution provides Congress more time to pass our appropriations bills to fund the government in-line with the budget deal that was agreed to earlier this year. Shutting the government down does not put us closer to passing these bills, does not balance the budget and is harmful to those who protect and serve our country including our military servicemembers, law enforcement and border agents. The budget deal requires Congress to reduce non-defense and non-veterans spending to below FY2022 spending levels. Proceeding with regular order by passing 12 appropriations bills that adhere to the spending limits in the budget deal would save billions in taxpayer dollars.

We also must prioritize the national security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border. This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to urge the Biden administration to take action to secure the southern border and stop potential terrorism and deadly drugs like fentanyl from illegally entering the country. This is a full-blown national security crisis, and it’s time the Biden administration starts treating it like what it is – a national security crisis.

To watch my floor remarks, click here.

Celebrating 50 Years of the DEA  
On Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA Special Agents, investigators, intelligence analysts, forensic chemists, attorneys and support staff have provided an invaluable service to the American people since 1973, and I was honored to attend this celebration. Also in attendance were Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, FBI Director Christopher Wray, ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, United States Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis, United States Postal Service Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale, and former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson.

Since 1973, DEA has faced increasingly well-equipped, well-financed and well-resourced international drug trafficking organizations pushing more complex-drugs, none of them deadlier than the current threat of synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl. In 2023 alone, the DEA has seized more and 62,400,000 fentanyl pills, of which 70% contain a potentially lethal dose. This is a full-blown national security crisis, and it’s one time that the Biden administration starts treating it like one.

Service Academy Interview Day
This weekend, my Service Academy Selection Board interviewed candidates who are applying to attend our United States Service Academies. This year the Selection Board interviewed 65 outstanding young Kansans. The opportunity to nominate talented Kansas students to attend our service academies is one of my greatest honors as a U.S. Senator.

Although I was not there in person to speak with nominees, I was able to speak with them online from my office in Washington, D.C.

These young men and women are committed, hardworking and humble, representing the very best of Kansas. Thank you to this year’s Selection Board for their service and dedication to investing in the next generation of young leaders who will protect and serve our country. I look forward to receiving the board’s recommendations.

You can watch a video of my Service Academy Day here.

Introducing Legislation to Help Ranchers
This week, I introduced the Butcher Block Act, which is a bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation that seeks to provide resources for small and medium-sized meat processors and rendering facilities to upgrade and expand their operations and ultimately make it easier for ranchers to bring their livestock to market. In addition, this legislation will help eliminate waste, support small businesses, and provide consumers with more affordable options at the grocery store. My legislation has the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, National Bison Association, Northern American Renderers Association, and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation included in the Farm Bill.

You can read about the Butcher Block Act here.

Honoring Surviving Military Families
On Wednesday, I had the honor and privilege to meet with several surviving military spouses and families to discuss their experiences and the ultimate sacrifices that their loved ones have given in service to our nation. I met with Marcie and her fiancé, Nelson out of Manhattan; Kellie from Overland Park; Courtney and her fiancé, Eric, from Kansas City; Kaanan and Hana from Baton Rouge, LA; and Gina and her fiancé, Cally, from Edmond, OK. During our meeting, one of the things we discussed was my bill, the Love Lives on Act.

Under current law, if a surviving spouse remarries before the age of 55, they lose many of their survivor benefits from both the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. My bill would correct that. In particular, it would allow surviving spouses who lost a loved one during, or as a result of, military service to remarry before the age of 55 without losing their survivor benefits. We should not penalize surviving spouses if they choose to bring a mother or father figure back into their children’s lives after the untimely death of their spouse as a result of their service to our country. About 30,000 surviving spouses are younger than 55, and I have heard time and time again from survivors who choose to delay or avoid remarriage altogether to avoid losing benefits because of how it would impact themselves and, more importantly, their children. That is simply wrong. I will continue working with groups like TAPS and my colleagues to ensure we get my bill to the President’s desk and fulfill our pledge that military service is family service.

Voting to Override President Biden’s Veto
On Thursday, I voted to override President Biden’s veto of the bipartisan Senate Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken. Kansas farmers, ranchers and landowners are exceptional stewards of their land because they understand that healthy land is the lifeblood of their communities. For years, landowners in Kansas have and continue to work with partners at every level of government to improve wildlife habitat throughout the Plains. With the stroke of his pen, President Biden sided against the will of Congress and the interest of Kansans who understand and work their lands. The continued listing of the lesser prairie-chicken will not benefit the species and is counterproductive to conservation efforts throughout the bird’s range.

Introducing Bill to Help Servicemembers
This week, I introduced the bipartisan Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act with Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) to remove barriers in order for current and former military servicemembers to access the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The program was created to forgive certain amounts of student debt for qualified public servants, like military servicemembers and firefighters. In 2021, the Department of Education (ED) announced it would automatically count military members’ service toward the PSLF program instead of requiring them to go through a complication, lengthy certification process. However, the change was never implemented because ED and the Department of Defense (DoD) have yet to finalize a critical data-sharing agreement

To make certain our servicemembers are best-served, the legislation would require ED to complete the data-matching agreement with the DoD, streamlining the process for servicemembers to access loan forgiveness to ensure they receive their earned educational benefits. The men and women in our military selflessly serve their nation, which entitles them to these benefits. Streamlining the process to access PSLF will help our military members receive their earned benefits and help them achieve financial freedom.

Statement on Report Regarding Opioid Prescribing for Veterans
I was alarmed this week to read a VA Inspector General report exposing repeated failures on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and community care network providers in Eastern Kansas to query state prescription drug monitoring programs and adhere to safe prescribing practices for patients prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines. These drugs can be deadly when taken in combination. These failures are contrary to commonsense, quality health care, and two important pieces of veterans’ legislation that I helped lead in Congress - the MISSION Act and the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act. VA must follow the law and do a better job managing and overseeing the delivery of care to veterans, in VA medical facilities and in the community. I have already met with the VA Inspector General to get to the bottom of these issues and will be doing everything I can to get VA back on track for veterans in Kansas and across the country. I am also working to enact my bipartisan Veterans’ HEALTH Act, which would improve the care VA provides and strengthen coordination of care and information sharing between VA and the community so that failures like this never happen again. The men and women who serve our nation in the military deserve the very best health care services, and I am committed to making sure that is exactly what they receive.

Meeting with Kansans
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
This week, I met with the executive team of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. This meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss the city's priorities and learn about some of the things that the Chamber of Commerce is working on. These priorities include the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation's initiative to build an entrepreneurial childcare workforce training center in Manhattan. This proposal addresses challenges communicated to the chamber by local businesses and families. The shortage of childcare is not an issue unique to Manhattan – studies indicate that more than half of the nation's providers are operating below maximum capacity due to staff availability. At a community level, childcare shortages mean that parents who may otherwise seek employment must forgo their careers to ensure children receive the care they deserve. I applaud the chamber's efforts to address this issue and will work to support their initiatives.

Manhattan also serves as one of the country's premier military communities – providing services and quality livelihood to its residents and the soldiers and families stationed at Fort Riley. I appreciate the chamber's efforts to advocate and deliver for the Manhattan community and their continued attention to issues important to Kansans and the families serving our nation in uniform, which call the area home. Thank you to outgoing chairman Mark Knackendoffel, incoming chairman Jake Wassenberg, Stacey Kohlmeier, Nancy Burton, Summer Ott-Dierks, and Mike Matson for taking the time to visit with me.



American Trucking Association Moving and Storage Conference
This week, I met with the American Trucking Association’s Moving and Storage Conference, the leading national organization representing household goods moving companies and industry suppliers, as well as various state moving and storage associations. The conference also serves as the leading educator and partner to moving and storage consumers worldwide. During the meeting, we discussed various issues including moving fraud, the importance of the independent contractor model, as well as standardization of access to military bases.

I want to thank those who attended the meeting, including Larry Fry of Fry-Wagner Moving and Storage in Lenexa.

Integra Technologies
On Wednesday, I met with Integra Technologies to discuss their proposed expansion project and application to the federal government’s CHIPS program, which was enacted to increase U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Part of the reason I supported the creation and funding of this program was to provide Kansas companies the opportunity to compete for these funds, which could create thousands of well-paying jobs in the state. The program will also increase the country’s ability to manufacture our own microchips, which is critical for our national and economic security. I will continue to work with my colleagues to secure U.S. critical industries in ways that create economic opportunities for Kansas. Thank you to Brett Robinson, Integra’s CEO, for stopping by during his time in Washington.

National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
I met with the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) during their fly-in visit to Washington, D.C. NSSGA represents the aggregates and industrial sand industry of our country, with over 9,000 facilities and more than 100,000 employees in high-paying jobs. This industry procures 2.5 billion tons of aggregates annually, which are crucial in sustaining our lifestyle and constructing our nation's infrastructure and communities. The products sourced by this industry are fundamental components required for building roads, airports, transit, rail, ports, clean water and energy networks. Their priorities for this Congress include passing key pieces of legislation related to transportation, including FAA Reauthorization, supporting infrastructure funding, as well as legislation that promotes the future generation of construction and mining professionals. I want to thank everyone who participated in the meeting, including Kansans Steve Sloan and his wife Becky Sloan, Brendan Devereaux, Andy Jones, and Rich Evangelista.

American Occupational Therapy Association
On Friday, I also met with Kansans from the American Occupational Therapy Association in my Washington, D.C. office. We discussed the role of occupational therapy in providing patients with at-home health care, and the benefits of telehealth services in ensuring all Kansans have access to an occupational therapist. I will remain committed to making telehealth flexibilities permanent and expanding avenues for Kansans to receive quality access to care. 

Recognizing National Student Parent Month
This week, my resolution to recognize September as National Student Parent Month passed the Senate. This is the third consecutive year that I’ve worked with my colleagues to introduce a resolution to highlight the contributions and achievements of the nearly 4 million Americans with children, including our military-connected student parents, who attend postsecondary educational institutions while caring for their families. I meet with Kansans often who continue to care for their families while managing school work and obtaining a degree. Balancing classes with parenting requires patience and perseverance. This is especially true for many of our military-connected students as they work to earn a degree or professional certification while on active duty, transitioning back to civilian life, or while a spouse is deployed. This resolution recognizes the hard work and commitment of student parents across the country, both military and civilian.

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The University of Kansas Health Systems
This weekend was the 25th Anniversary celebration for The University of Kansas Health System. This world-class institution has consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the U.S. and the world. I was sorry to miss the celebration, but I would like to thank their leadership and medical care team for all the important work they do for their fellow Kansans. The University of Kansas has become one of the premier academic health systems in the nation and its location in Kansas City offers Kansans access to the best doctors and nurses, quality care, and innovative treatments other patients are not able to receive. Each time I host directors from the National Institutes of Health and other leaders in the medical field at the University of Kansas Health System, I am reminded by their comments how impressive UKHS’ buildings and patient care are, but also how impressive their team is. After 25 years, the University of Kansas Health System holds an important role in the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and is home to a team of talented, dedicated individuals who are instrumental in setting the institution apart from other academic medical centers.