Kansas Common Sense
Promoting the Air Capital of the World
Jul 22 2024
Promoting the Air Capital of the World
Kansas is home to more than 100,000 people who work to support the aerospace and general aviation world. This year, I led the largest delegation of Kansans alongside the Greater Wichita Partnership and Wichita State University to the Farnborough Airshow. Our work here showcases the strengths and talents of the Kansas aviation sector and our workforce on the world stage.
On Sunday, I was honorary host of the ‘Air Capital of the World’ event that brought together 450 leaders across industry, government, academia and the state of Kansas. This annual event has grown each year, providing business opportunities to our state and bolstering our state partnerships.
Thank you to Governor Laura Kelly, Jeff Fluhr of the Greater Wichita Partnership, Wichita State University, WSU Tech, NIAR and Wichita Mayor Lily Wu for amplifying our state’s message that we are open for business. The next step will be bringing these companies and federal officials to Kansas – whether that’s to Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, Parsons and everywhere in between – to witness our talented workforce and educational institutions firsthand.
The title of “Air Capital of the World” is well-deserved; let’s make sure we keep it.
Promoting U.S. Capabilities in Aerospace & Defense
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (N.H) and I joined Bloomberg Markets live from the airshow discuss the necessity of a strong U.S. aviation and defense industry as things continue to change around the world. You can watch the full interview here.
Addressing VA Budget Shortfalls
On Monday, VA announced that there is a nearly $15 billion shortfall in the department’s budget, including an approximately $3 billion shortfall in the Veterans Benefits Administration budget this fiscal year and an approximately $12 billion shortfall in the Veterans Health Administration budget next fiscal year.
Congress has consistently met, or exceeded, VA’s budget requests. However, the Biden administration clearly failed to account for this shortfall when preparing and presenting the President’s most recent budget submission. Instead, the White House and VA withheld this information for months.
This administration must answer to Congress, veterans and the American people for this failure and for putting the health care and benefits for veterans and survivors at risk. As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will work with my colleagues in Congress to get to the bottom of this for the benefit of our nation’s veterans and their families.
Announcing Resources for Smoky Hill River Project
On Monday, I was able to participate in signing a joint agreement between the City of Salina and the Corps of Engineers transitioning the Smoky Hill River Project to a new program. I helped secure resources for this project. It was great to see community leaders come together to celebrate a project that has been pursued for years.
Travis Rayfield, commander of the Kansas City District of Army Corps, has been an advocate for this project and for projects in the KC area. While I congratulate him on his retirement, I will miss his leadership of the Army Corps. Thank you to Mayor Bill Longbine and the City of Salina for hosting the event.
You can read more about the signing here.
Questioning the Impact of Energy Standards on VA Home Loans
On Tuesday, I led several of my colleagues in questioning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough on how recently adopted Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) energy conservation policies could impact the cost of VA home loans for veterans. On April 26, HUD and USDA announced they would be implementing the 2021 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the minimum energy efficiency standards for the financing of new single and multifamily homes.
If these policies are adopted by VA, they will negatively affect the availability, affordability and competitiveness of VA home loans for veterans. With the cost of rent and housing growing under the Biden administration, any proposals or policies that may make it harder and more expensive for veterans to receive housing must be taken into account. I want to thank my colleagues for joining me on this letter and for their support of our nation’s veterans.
You can read more here.
Celebrating New Partnerships at the Salina Airport
It was great to speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Garmin International Avionics Installation and Service Center at Hangar 626 at the Salina Regional Airport on Monday. Garmin is partnering with 1 Vision Aviation to continue innovative research and design. I appreciated hearing from the Assistant Secretary of Workforce Development from the Kansas Department of Commerce Mike Beene, Garmin Senior Director of Aviation Sales and Marketing Dan Lind and Salina Airport Authority Board Chair Stephanie Carlin.
Thanks to retired Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers for all he did for this project and to 1 Vision Aviation President/CEO Jim Sponder for making this event possible. It was great to see so many community leaders attend on what was the hottest day of the year so far.
Helping Law Enforcement in Rooks County
On Tuesday, I joined Rooks County Sheriff Gary Knight for an announcement at the Rooks County Sheriff’s office in Stockton. The office acquired a training simulator to allow Sheriff Knight’s deputies to be able to stay in Rooks County to train on different scenarios that they might encounter while on the job. Before acquiring this piece of equipment, deputies had to travel out of town to receive training, but with this new technology, they can now offer training to their own deputies and to neighboring counties.
I was also able to meet with members of the community to discuss current events in Washington, D.C. We talked about OSHA department regulations, cost of fire prevention for state and federal parks and ways to better help local police departments. We discussed the state of the southern border, ways to to reduce illicit drug trafficking, and we discussed ways western Kansas can work together to better the state. Thanks to County Commissioners Jack Prockish, Tim Berland and John Ruder for attending, and Economic Development Director Roger Hrabe, Grassroots Strategy Developer Kelli Hansen, Register of Deeds April Brown, Gary Hicks and those in the community for joining us. It was good to catch up with folks from the county that I grew up in.
Visits Across Kansas
Salina Regional Health Center
On Monday, I toured Salina Regional Health Center and met with CEO Joel Phelps and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Freelove to see the emergency room and discuss staffing issues that face rural communities. We talked about the 340B program, Medicare Advantage programs and how to improve health insurance reimbursement rates.
Thanks to the hospital staff and leadership for the tour and Salina Mayor Bill Longbine, City Manager Mike Schrage, Salina Chamber CEO Renee Duxler and Salina Regional Director of Governmental Relations Ashley Hutchinson for joining us on the tour.
Osborne
On Monday, I visited Osborne and met with County Emergency Manager Chris Rhodes, Deputy County Treasurer Angela Befort, County Clerk Heather Betzold and Register of Deeds Megan Kulhmann at the courthouse. I later met with County Sheriff Curtis Miner and stopped by the Hideout Coffee Shop. I also visited Bridget Lyon Agency, Gregory & Gregory Law, the Senior Center and concluded my time at City Hall.
Thanks to the people of Osborne for meeting with me and hosting me in your town.
Congratulations! Plainville Softball Team
As a graduate from Plainville High School, I am proud of the Plainville Softball team for winning the K-18 State Fastpitch Softball Championship. Congrats to the Cardinal Ladies for securing a victory over Osborne with a 13-7 win and for being back-to-back state champions!
Capitol Tours
Paul Adams of Hays
Emma Barns of Coffeyville
Amos Bazil of Topeka
Chris Beckley of Shawnee
Edward Byrne of Meade
Heather Carr of Topeka
Jameson Carr of Topeka
Paul Carr of Topeka
Matthew Clay of Dighton
Caitlyn Clowdis of Minneola
Rachel Clowdis of Minneola
Robert Dinsdale of Lawrence
Katherine Dinsdale of Lawrence
Bill Fraley of Manhattan
Kristen Fraley of Wichita
Addi Fulps of Shawnee
Allyse Fulps of Shawnee
Aubree Fulps of Shawnee
Chad Fulps of Shawnee
Bill Gunter of Lawrence
Hayden Gunter of Lawrence
Kristin Fulps of Shawnee
Jena Gunter of Lawrence
Storey Gunter of Lawrence
Tommy Gunter of Lawrence
Haylee Hafenstein of Wamego
Hunter Johns of Junction City
Jodi Johnson of Topeka
Dustin Kuhn of Admire
Maddie Kuhn of Admire
Nichole Kuhn of Admire
Erika Litson of Hays
Earl Legleiter of Hays
Grace Moran of Topeka
Brett Neibling of Highland
Christopher Parson of Overland Park
Aiden Pattison of McPherson
John Pattison of McPherson
Kari Pattison of McPherson
Liam Pattison of McPherson
Owen Pattison of McPherson
Emma Jane Rinearson of Lenexa
Dean & Janet Stramel of Hays
Jeffrey Sekavec of Oakley
Sara Shelden of Overland Park
Lucas Shelden of Overland Park
Olivia Shelden of Overland Park
Sara Shelden of Overland Park
Lane Shockey of Manhattan
Richard Tuskiewicz of Salina
Sandra Wilkinson of Meade
Boys and Girls Club of America
Kristin Allen of Lawrence
Majesty Collins of Lawrence
Ohene Danso of Lawrence
Chris Jones of Lawrence
Arabella Gipp of Lawrence
La’Ron Williams of Lawrence
Kansas Soybean Commission
Charles Atkinson of Great Bend
Scott Gigstad of Everest
Dennis Hupe of Topeka
Brett Neibling of Highland
Adam Phelon of Lyndon
Andy Winsor of Topeka
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