WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) secured unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate yesterday to pass the resolution he introduced with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) honoring U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who passed away on August 21st. She was the first woman to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate, and she served from 1978 to 1997.

“During her three terms serving in this chamber, Senator Kassebaum was a trailblazer who perfectly embodied the pioneering spirit of our state and the people who call it home,” said Sen. Moran. “She earned the admiration of Kansans not just because of her accomplishments – although they were many, and they were impressive – but because Kansans knew that they could trust her to represent them with integrity and mutual respect. The Senate, our nation and the state of Kansas have been changed for the better because of her service.”

“Reflecting on the life and legacy of Senator Kassebaum, I am reminded of what a true Kansan she was. She dedicated years of her life to serving our state and made history as the first woman to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate,” said Sen. Marshall. “Her commitment to Kansas and her legacy of service will be remembered for generations to come. Laina and I continue to keep her family, friends, and loved ones in our prayers.”

Full text of the Senate resolution can be found here.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks

Sen. Moran’s full remarks as delivered:

“Mr. President, I rise to request passage of my resolution honoring the life and legacy of United States Senator from Kansas, Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum.

“During her three terms serving in this chamber, Senator Kassebaum was a trailblazer who perfectly embodied the pioneering spirit of our state and the people who call it home. She made history as the first woman to represent Kansas in the United States Senate, and she served from 1978 to 1997.

“During that time, she earned the admiration of Kansans not just because of her accomplishments – although they were many, and they were impressive – but because Kansans knew that they could trust her to represent them with integrity and mutual respect.

“She was native of Topeka and graduate of the University of Kansas. Senator Kassebaum cared deeply about our state. She understood our state, she understood its people and she knew that our people make this called home special.

“She and her husband raised their four children in Maize, a little town outside of Wichita. There, she also served on the Maize Board of Education – the only elected office she would hold before Kansans chose her to represent them in the United States Senate in 1978.

“I was fortunate enough to know Senator Kassebaum well over the years, and I campaigned for her before she was a United States Senator in my part of the state of Kansas, western Kansas, during her first election and the campaigns that followed. In each of those interactions, I appreciated her friendship, and throughout our time of knowing each other, I appreciated her counsel.

“She was deeply respected across our state, and Kansans remain grateful for the way in which she represented us with such intelligence and dedication.

“Her colleague for most of the time she was in the United States Senate was Bob Dole, and perhaps Bob Dole received more national attention – in fact, I know he did; he ran for president three times – but they were friends and colleagues. They worked well together, though they brought different perspectives to the United States Senate and to the people of our state.

“Senator Bob Dole described that legacy of Nancy Kassebaum. He said in these remarks as they prepared to leave the Senate after serving together for nearly two decades.

“Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Bob Dole said of Senator Kassebaum, this was June 10, 1996, he said: ‘Nancy Kassebaum does not speak in a loud voice. She does not clamor for media attention. But as all senators know, while her voice may be quiet, her will is strong.’

“Senator Dole continued: ‘For 18 years, she has simply represented the people of Kansas to the best of her abilities, and she has made a positive difference for Kansans and America in the process.’

“That was the Senator Kassebaum who was so deeply respected by the citizens of our state. She was committed to making certain that her service in the Senate reflected the trust Kansans placed in her – and as we reflect on her legacy today, it is evident that she succeeded.

“Upon her death, Kansans mourned greatly. In much of my time in the United States Senate, I’ve listened to Kansans who say they wish that Senator Dole and Senator Kassebaum were their senators. And if you’re over the age of 50 in our state, those are the people you think of as the senators from our state.

“And in both instances, Senator Dole and Senator Kassebaum, it’s our opportunity to try to replicate some of the things that they represented and some of the accomplishments they had here on the United States Senate floor.

“Senator Kassebaum’s time in public service embodied the institution of the Senate when it was at its best. This body, our nation and the state of Kansas have been changed for the better because of her service.

“Following her retirement from the Senate, she married another senator, Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee. She continued to invest in the state she loved, and she and Senator Baker continued to represent the United States of America in an ambassadorial position in Japan.

“She remained a familiar face across our state after that retirement and could be seen at the State Fair, speaking with Kansans and hearing about issues that they were facing in those days. That, too, that listening to Kansans, that of being among Kansans, that was Senator Nancy Kassebaum.

“She is deeply missed, but her legacy will never be forgotten. As we pay tribute to her life, we join the entire Kassebaum family in mourning a loss that will be felt deeply. I extend my condolences to her children, Bill and John, her stepchildren, Cissy and Darek, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“I ask the Senate to join me in honoring her life and legacy that she leaves behind from that service, from that commitment and from the respect that she gave and that she earned.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – and U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) – a member of the House Armed Services Committee – today led more than 80 of their Senate and House colleagues in urging U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought to maintain support for the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Cheyenne program.

Specifically, the members called on the administration to continue prioritizing and advancing the MV-75 Cheyenne program, which is currently manufactured at Bell Textron’s plant in Wichita. The MV-75 is a critical part of the Army’s aviation modernization efforts and will bolster military preparedness to help meet the challenges of the future.

“We write to express our support for the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne program and underscore its importance as a critical element of the Department of War's efforts to modernize the Joint Force,” wrote the members. “As the Department's sole active vertical lift development program and a top modernization priority, the MV-75 is essential to ensuring our warfighters maintain decisive overmatch in contested environments.”

Sen. Moran and Rep. Jackson were joined by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), as well as more than 80 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS-04), Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) and Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02).

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Director Vought,

We write to express our support for the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne program and underscore its importance as a critical element of the Department of War's efforts to modernize the Joint Force. As the Department's sole active vertical lift development program and a top modernization priority, the MV-75 is essential to ensuring our warfighters maintain decisive overmatch in contested environments.

While the Department has made significant progress advancing sixth-generation fighters and bombers, current rotary-wing fleets are based on designs from the 1970's and 1980's. These aircraft simply do not have the range or speed required to dominate and survive at the forward edge of an increasingly lethal and expanded battlefield.

The modern threat landscape demands a transformative leap-ahead in vertical lift capability. The MV-75 Cheyenne delivers this advantage through advanced tiltrotor technology, providing the speed, range, and cross-continental reach required for global force projection coupled with runway independence.

Operationally, the MV-75 fundamentally transforms Joint Force capabilities for force projection, maneuver, and logistics. The program's unmatched speed and range also significantly compresses medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) timelines, dramatically extending life-saving efforts in the "Golden Hour." By operating faster and farther, with a reduced logistical footprint, the MV-75 allows for unprecedented operational agility across multiple missions while drastically increasing survivability by reducing exposure in high-lethality zones.

Furthermore, we strongly support the program's direct advancement of key Department and Congressional acquisition reform priorities, including:

• Open Systems Approach: The MV-75's Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and established "right to repair" protocols enable a plug-and-play environment. This breaks "vendor lock," enables rapid capability upgrades, and lowers lifecycle sustainment costs.
  
  
• Joint-Service Synergies: The technological foundations of the MV-75 will directly inform future requirements for the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, and Special Operations Command (SOCOM). These cross-service commonalities will guarantee substantial developmental cost-avoidance for the American taxpayer.
  
  
• Advanced Digital Manufacturing: The program's transition away from legacy, analog factory processes to state-of-the-art digital manufacturing centers sets a new benchmark for defense production efficiency and long-term cost containment.
  
  
• Industrial Base Resilience: With a $3.5 billion economic footprint across 39 states, the MV-75 program sustains more than 15,000 domestic engineering and advanced manufacturing jobs that are vital to our defense industrial base.
  
  
• Industry Investment: The MV-75 is transforming rotorcraft manufacturing, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in industry investment in digital engineering and modeling, critical flight technologies, advanced manufacturing, and production facilitization.
  
  
• The MV-75 Cheyenne is a foundational capability for both current and future generations of American warfighters. We respectfully urge the Administration to continue to prioritize and advance this critical leap-ahead in vertical lift for the Joint Force. Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to strengthening our national defense.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation – today announced a $1 million grant for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP).

In April, Sen. Moran advocated in support of ICT’s application for this grant to help expand its airport services by establishing a new direct route to the East Coast.

“This investment will expand access to reliable, efficient air service to a new major hub, strengthening Wichita’s connections to key economic centers,” said Sen. Moran. “This service will benefit travelers and create new opportunities for Kansas businesses, educational institutions and communities. I was pleased to advocate for Wichita to receive this award, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Wichita Airport Authority and local leaders to strengthen access to key transportation for Kansans.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry – today applauded the Senate Agriculture Committee’s passage of the Farm Bill, which includes a number of key priorities to support Kansas agriculture. The legislation now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

“This is a critical step to advance a Farm Bill that provides certainty for farmers and ranchers in Kansas and across the nation,” said Sen. Moran. “The legislation secures several important priorities to benefit the agriculture community, including year-round E-15, modernized farm loan limits, strengthened conservation programs, expanded trade promotion and the permanent transfer of Food for Peace to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When farmers and ranchers are successful, rural America is successful. I will continue working with my colleagues to get this Farm Bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

Kansas priorities secured in the Senate Farm Bill:

• Year-round E-15 sales – Sen. Moran has long supported the year-round sale of E-15, which will help grow markets for producers and lower prices at the pump for Kansans and Americans.
  
  
• Bolstering the Conservation Reserve Program – Sen. Moran introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act to increase flexibility for livestock grazing on conservation land.
  
  
• Increasing Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits – Better reflects lending conditions in farm country and modernizes loan limits to support the needs of farmers and ranchers.
  
  
• Doubling funding for USDA trade promotion programs – Strengthens the ability of U.S. producers to market their products globally.
  
  
• Food for Peace permanently transferred to USDA – Sen. Moran led an amendment that was approved during the markup, securing the inclusion of his legislation in the Farm Bill to permanently transfer administration of the Food for Peace program to USDA.
  
  
• Rural Hospital Revitalization Act – Sen. Moran introduced this legislation to provide temporary zero percent interest loans for the construction or renovation of qualifying rural healthcare facilities.
  
  
• Farm to Fly Act – Sen. Moran introduced this legislation to accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through existing USDA programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.
  
  
• Expanding career opportunities in agriculture for veterans – Sen. Moran’s Colonel Gary LaGrange AgVets Act establishes a USDA program to provide veterans with resources and opportunities to pursue careers in the agricultural industry.

In August, during initial committee consideration of the Farm Bill, Sen. Moran spoke about the importance of bipartisanship by members of the Senate Agriculture Committee to advance a Farm Bill that supports American farmers and ranchers.

“My favorite people in the world are my farmers and ranchers and people who live in rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “My favorite people in Congress are those who represent those kinds of people because we almost exclusively represent their values and their character and what they do for a living.”

“In the Senate and in Congress, there’s been these special places and the Committee on Agriculture has been one of them,” continued Sen. Moran. “And we ought to recommit ourselves. I think we need to reestablish the trust that this committee is about this committee’s work – and it’s not about the broader political implications that occur in all of our lives about who gets the majority next year after the election.”

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks

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