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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee – questioned National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jim Bridenstine during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the federal government’s strategy for maintaining leadership in space and ensuring space industry competitiveness on March 13, 2019.

Sen. Moran and Administrator Bridenstine discussed the importance of STEM education, as well as Administrator Bridenstine’s recent visit to Kansas. Last December, Sen. Moran hosted NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and NASA Astronaut Don Pettit for STEM events in Wichita and Hutchinson.

Highlights:

Sen. Moran (1:07): “I wanted you to know that, just a few weeks ago . . . a student who participated in our STEM event in Wichita, in which you spoke and an astronaut spoke, and we rekindled his boyhood dream of going to Mars and he now has decided that this is the career that he wants to pursue. And I’d just point out that those efforts at NASA, your efforts in particular in Wichita . . . you and an astronaut have such a capability of changing a person’s life.”

Sen. Moran (1:42): “I’m of the view that we change the world one person at a time, and I want you to know that we want to make certain that NASA remains that agency that inspires another generation, and highlighting just one student who was affected by what you had to say, and I wanted you to be aware of that.”

Administrator Bridenstine (2:22): “This is ultimately how we create that next generation of scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians, and I’m proud to do that. I would also say that that trip to Wichita was transformative for me.”

Administrator Bridenstine (3:05): “I will tell you, I enjoyed the trip very much, I learned a lot, and it has applicability that goes beyond aviation and into space. . . When we think about NASA – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the first ‘A’ in NASA is Aeronautics. It is directly applicable to what we do in space.”

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s full remarks.
 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – today announced he will support H. J. Res. 46, the Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval.

“President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security,” wrote Sen. Moran. “…I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.”

“Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States,” continued Sen. Moran. “I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.”

Sen. Moran’s full written thoughts can be found here and below.

 
1.    President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security.
 
2.    Our borders are a matter of national sovereignty and control over who enters our country is vital in our fight against terrorism and battle against drugs and human trafficking.
 
3.    Many Americans and most Kansans agree with the President that this is an important issue and must be dealt with.
 
4.    The President has not been fairly treated by Democrats in Congress – a wall is not immoral and democrats have previously supported funding border barriers.
 
5.    I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.
 
6.    The President can advance the building of a wall with the funding just approved by Congress and can increase the funds available by reprogramming other accounts.
 
7.    Therefore, the declaration of an emergency is not necessary.
 
8.    The declaration of an emergency under these circumstances is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The laws passed by Congress years ago allowing the president emergency powers is flawed and needs to be repealed or amended.
 
9.    In high school government class we all learned about our Founding Fathers and the three separate, but equal branches of government. This concept is one of the most significant in protecting America as a republic and maintaining citizen freedoms & liberties. Both government structure and the Bill of Rights matter.
 
10.  Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution.
 
11.  Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.
 
12.  Kansans have criticized President Obama for abuse of executive orders, ignoring the laws and avoiding the requirements of negotiating a treaty when dealing with foreign powers. I agree and fought it.
 
13.  I aggressively opposed the overreach of past presidents and believe that I can not pick and choose to now look the other way.
 
14.  If the Constitution means one thing in the Obama administration and another in the Trump administration, the enduring value of the Constitution disappears and another generation of Americans will be less free.
 
15.  The number one responsibility we have as American citizens is to pass to the next generation of Americans our constitutionally guaranteed liberties. There are days where it seems clear we are failing greatly.
 
16.  How we do things – even good things – matters. We were raised that the ends don’t justify the means.
 
17.  To find a loop hole on this issue and to vote another way might be an easier course. But my gut, my intellect, my understanding of history, tells me use of emergency powers is wrong. It can’t be an option to support something I believe wrong.
 
18.  This country is filled with people who care, who are patriots, who served in our military. I try never to let anyone down. On my watch I always want to do right as I see it.

-Jerry

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection – today introduced the FCC Reporting Modernization Act, legislation that would update current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reporting requirements to include all Telephone Consumer Protection Act complaints and enforcement actions regarding robocalls and spoofed phone calls. These updated reports to Congress would provide a clearer analysis of the robocall and spoofing problem and identify patterns of these harmful practices impacting consumers.

“Not only are robocalls annoying and disruptive, but they can be dangerous – too often coercing unsuspecting Americans to provide sensitive personal and financial information with highly-sophisticated deceit tactics,” said Sen. Moran. “Being able to identify the patterns scammers use will help guide Congress’ lawmaking efforts to combat this pervasive issue. Therefore, this legislation requires the FCC to provide Congress with robust reports on robocalls and spoofed phone calls so we can continue to fight this problem.”

The FCC Reporting Modernization Act requires the FCC to report the following information to Congress every year: 

  • Number of complaints received by the FCC alleging that a consumer received a robocall or spoofed call;
  • Number of citations issued by the FCC in enforcing against such complaints;
  • Number of notices of apparent liability issued by the FCC to enforce policies against robocalls or spoofed calls, along with the amount of penalties involved, the recipient of the notice and the status of the proceeding.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) led a group of 11 senators in urging President Trump to take action and resolve a longstanding trade barrier U.S. agricultural producers face when exporting wheat to Brazil. President Trump plans to meet with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro next week at the White House.

“Brazil agreed to establish a 750,000 metric ton (MT) duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) for wheat at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over two decades ago,” wrote the senators. “Unfortunately, Brazil has failed to fulfill that commitment and continues to apply a 10 percent tariff on wheat from countries not included in the South American Mercosur trade bloc. As a result of the tariff, U.S. wheat faces a competitive disadvantage when exporting to Brazil, especially compared to Argentina.”

“We are encouraged by President Bolsonaro’s stated support for building a stronger relationship between the United States and Brazil, and believe eliminating this longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports would be a demonstrable action to strengthen the economic ties between our countries,” continued the senators. “Not only would establishing the TRQ increase export opportunities for American farmers, it would also benefit certain Brazilian flour mills that have petitioned their own government in the past to remove the tariff to increase their access to high-quality U.S. wheat.”

The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-S.D.) Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).

Item to note:

  • On February 27, Sens. Moran and Roberts sent a letter to USTR Robert Lighthizer urging him to take action on the Brazil wheat TRQ.

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

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C.  20500

Dear President Trump:

Thank you for your efforts to address foreign trade practices that harm American farmers and ranchers. We write to encourage you to prioritize the elimination of a longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports to Brazil during President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to the United States.

Brazil agreed to establish a 750,000 metric ton (MT) duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) for wheat at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over two decades ago. Unfortunately, Brazil has failed to fulfill that commitment and continues to apply a 10 percent tariff on wheat from countries not included in the South American Mercosur trade bloc. As a result of the tariff, U.S. wheat faces a competitive disadvantage when exporting to Brazil, especially compared to Argentina.

We are encouraged by President Bolsonaro’s stated support for building a stronger relationship between the United States and Brazil, and believe eliminating this longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports would be a demonstrable action to strengthen the economic ties between our countries. Not only would establishing the TRQ increase export opportunities for American farmers, it would also benefit certain Brazilian flour mills that have petitioned their own government in the past to remove the tariff to increase their access to high-quality U.S. wheat.

It has been conservatively estimated establishing the TRQ would result in $75 to over $120 million in additional annual U.S. wheat sales to Brazil, depending on the portion of the TRQ filled by U.S. exporters. At a time when many farmers are struggling to make ends meet as a result of low prices and declining revenues, it is critical to work to expand market opportunities for U.S. farm commodities. We believe engaging the new Brazilian administration on the wheat TRQ as part of larger discussions to enhance the economic cooperation between our countries can result in eliminating a trade barrier that harms both American and Brazilian stakeholders.

We appreciate your administration’s efforts to hold other countries to trade obligations and look forward to working with you to eliminate trade barriers for U.S. wheat exports to Brazil.
 

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Sen. Moran Introduces Legislation to Update FCC Reporting Requirements to Congress

Requires the FCC to provide more robust reports to Congress on robocalls, spoofing

Mar 14 2019

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection – today introduced the FCC Reporting Modernization Act, legislation that would update current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reporting requirements to include all Telephone Consumer Protection Act complaints and enforcement actions regarding robocalls and spoofed phone calls. These updated reports to Congress would provide a clearer analysis of the robocall and spoofing problem and identify patterns of these harmful practices impacting consumers.
“Not only are robocalls annoying and disruptive, but they can be dangerous – too often coercing unsuspecting Americans to provide sensitive personal and financial information with highly-sophisticated deceit tactics,” said Sen. Moran. “Being able to identify the patterns scammers use will help guide Congress’ lawmaking efforts to combat this pervasive issue. Therefore, this legislation requires the FCC to provide Congress with robust reports on robocalls and spoofed phone calls so we can continue to fight this problem.”
The FCC Reporting Modernization Act requires the FCC to report the following information to Congress every year:
  • Number of complaints received by the FCC alleging that a consumer received a robocall or spoofed call;
  • Number of citations issued by the FCC in enforcing against such complaints;
  • Number of notices of apparent liability issued by the FCC to enforce policies against robocalls or spoofed calls, along with the amount of penalties involved, the recipient of the notice and the status of the proceeding.

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Sen. Moran Cosponsors ARTICLE ONE Act

Legislation would restore Congressional authority over emergency declarations

Mar 13 2019

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – released the following statement after cosponsoring the Assuring that Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act:

“The National Emergencies Act of 1976 cedes too much of Congress’s legislative and appropriations authority to the president. The ARTICLE ONE Act appropriately rebalances the law to restore Congressional authority over taxpayer funds, while still giving the president the ability to act quickly when facing a national emergency.”

The ARTICLE ONE Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

This legislation would restore to Congress significant legislative powers that were improperly given to the executive branch by the National Emergencies Act (NEA) of 1976. Specifically, the ARTICLE ONE Act would automatically end all future emergency declarations made pursuant to the NEA after 30 days unless Congress votes affirmatively to extend the emergency. Currently, Congress can cancel an emergency declaration only by passing a resolution that can withstand a presidential veto.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.
 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Subcommittee on Defense – today released the following statement after voting in favor of the Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J. Res 7:

“The war in Yemen began four years ago this month, furthering tensions in the region and creating the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 14 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine, and Yemen is home to one of the world’s worst cholera outbreaks in history. The United States’ involvement in providing support to Saudi Arabia – which was never properly debated or approved by Congress in 2015 – has prolonged needless suffering, and our engagement in this war must come to an end.

“I voted today to reassert Congress’s constitutional responsibility to authorize involvement in overseas conflicts and to bring an end to America’s participation in the war in Yemen. With this vote, the Senate took an important step to promote peace and security on the Arabian Peninsula.”

Items to Note:  

  • Last December, Sen. Moran voted in favor of the Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J. Res 54, which passed the Senate 56-41.
  • Sen. Moran has joined letters to the Administration expressing concern regarding the humanitarian impact of the siege of Hudaydah, Yemen, as well as questioning the certification of Saudi compliance with American law.

 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. This legislation would protect Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and personnel and would provide stability for the U.S. aviation industry in the event of a government shutdown. The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Aviation is fundamental to the success of the Kansas economy, employing tens of thousands in our state while strengthening the ability of local businesses to compete in a global marketplace,” said Sen. Moran. “Critical functions at the FAA can be suspended during a shutdown, causing significant issues for aircraft manufacturers and regional airports, and – importantly – passengers needing to get to their next destination quickly and safely. Previous shutdowns have affected every function of aviation and air travel and have specifically harmed regional airports and put a strain on air traffic controllers nationwide. While I’ve long said that we must avoid government shutdowns, it is necessary to pass this legislation that would provide much-needed certainty to those who rely on the FAA.”

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 would authorize the FAA to continue to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) during a lapse in government funding, with no general fund contributions. The AATF generates enough revenue independently to sustain all of the agency’s programs without a general fund contribution. In the event of a government shutdown, this legislation would allow the entire agency to operate at current funding levels, with no Congressional action necessary.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 is supported by a number of organizations including Air Line Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Airports, Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Delta Air Lines, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, Regional Airline Association, Transport Workers Union of America, Travelers United, the U.S. Travel Association and numerous other organizations.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – discussed Kansas’ contributions to NASA, ongoing space exploration and STEM education with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine during a Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. In December of 2018, Sen. Moran hosted Administrator Bridenstine in Kansas to see these contributions first-hand.