Hosting the Kansas Chamber of Commerce
This week, the Kansas delegation had the privilege of hosting members of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. It was great to meet with members of the chamber and discuss the state’s economic growth. On Wednesday evening, I helped lead the group on a night tour of the U.S. Capitol. It is a special experience to see our nation’s Capitol at night and share the beauty of this incredible building and all that it represents. Thank you to our chamber members and staff for the discussion this week and for their efforts to invest in our state and people.



Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2023 Global Aerospace Summit
On Wednesday, I spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2023 Global Aerospace Summit to provide a Congressional outlook on aerospace and aviation and highlight the work being done in the “Air Capital of the World.” Specifically, I discussed the FAA Reauthorization process and the likelihood of an extension should Congress fail to pass a bill before current authorization expires. Similarly, I discussed the appropriations process and the danger the possibility of a government shutdown poses on the industry. Last week, the Senate began consideration of a few appropriations bill, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill, which I helped to draft.

This event brought together commercial and defense aerospace companies, including Kansas companies like Orizon Aerostructures and Spirit Aerosystems. Both company CEOs, Charlie Newell and Tom Gentile, participated in a panel about the difficulties of the supply chain. Opportunities like this help to further Kansas as the “Air Capitol of the World.” 



Introducing Bill to Protect Emergency Transportation Services for Veterans
This week, I introduced the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act to protect access to life-saving ground and air ambulance transports for veterans in Kansas and across the country. This bill will stop a damaging regulation that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pursuing to lower reimbursement rates for ambulance services. That would leave veterans, particularly those in rural states like Kansas, vulnerable and disrupt the ambulance industry coast-to-coast, leading to job losses and longer wait times for care in emergency situations when every second counts.

The VA Emergency Transportation Access Act is supported by veterans’ organizations including The American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the VFW as well as by a diverse group of ambulance industry stakeholders like the American Ambulance Association, the Association of Air Medical Services, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Flight Network, AirMethods, PHI Air Medical, and Global Medical Response. It is also supported by Kansas veteran, B.J. Tyner. B.J. who was a Black Hawk pilot in the Army and currently manages Life Save Transports, which has four air ambulance bases across our state. He called the VA Emergency Transportation Act “a crucial step forward in preserving access to lifesaving air medical flights.”

Calling for a Pause on New Banking Regulations
On Wednesday, I spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of the Federal Reserve to withhold enacting new banking regulations until an independent review is conducted on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. The Federal Reserve’s new capital requirement for mid-sized banks comes at the expense of consumers and businesses. This directly contradicts the regulatory tailoring in the bipartisan S.2155, which was signed into law in 2018.

Hiking capital levels will dry up lending but fail to prevent the root cause of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse: poor management and lax supervision. An independent investigation into how the Federal Reserve responded to this bank failure could reveal that these new regulations are unnecessary. I will continue to advocate in the Senate for increasing access to credit for Kansas farmers, families, and businesses. 

You can watch my full remarks here.

Welcoming New Army Leadership
This week, I had the privilege of meeting with the new army leadership. As the Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense, I have the opportunity to advocate to my Senate colleagues on behalf of the Army. I was honored to spend time with several key leaders in the Army, including Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, General Randy George, the nominee to be the Army’s next Chief of Staff, Undersecretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. We discussed some of the most pressing issues facing the Army today, including the planned changes in force structure. I reminded senior leaders of the importance of keeping Congress in the loop on upcoming change which will impact the scope and scale of the Army’s missions globally.

I was particularly interested in discussions around Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth. Kansans take great pride in hosting these critical missions to our nation’s security. I remain grateful to the uniformed and civilian personnel who continue to selflessly serve our country from Kansas and across the United States. I want to extend my deepest thanks to General George for hosting this opportunity. Once confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome General George to Fort Riley.

Meetings with Kansans

Kansas Automobile Dealers Association
This week, I met with the Kansas Automobile Dealers Association to discuss their legislative priorities. We covered topics such as the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) released Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule, which if approved, would drastically complicate the process for consumers to purchase, trade-in, and finance new and used cars. This rule was released quickly and without the opportunity for public comment, and I intend to introduce legislation that would require the FTC to fully consider public feedback before moving forward with a rule. Additionally, we discussed the trends in the automobile and heavy-duty truck market and how dealers will play an essential role in the electric vehicle marketplace. I want to thank Don McNeely of Topeka, Robert Brogden of Olathe, Andy Hoffman of Wichita, Jim Lewis of Dodge City, and State Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia for their time.