Medical Research News

There are no records to display that match the provided criteria.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) applauded the Senate’s passage of S. 167 – legislation to designate the Memorial to Fallen Educators at Emporia State University (ESU) as a national memorial. Sen. Moran introduced this legislation in January of this year. 

“Our country’s educators play an integral role in shaping the next generations of Americans, and their hard work and dedication to their students too often goes unrecognized,” said Sen. Moran. “The Memorial to Fallen Educators, which is located on the Emporia State University campus, commemorates the sacrifices made by educators who have lost their lives while performing their jobs. The Senate’s passage of my legislation to give the memorial status as a National Memorial will make certain it continues to recognize fallen educators whose passion and commitment to their students have benefitted us all.”

The ESU Campus is home to the Memorial to Fallen Educators in conjunction with the National Teacher Hall of Fame (NTHF). The memorial lists the names of educators since 1764 who have lost their lives around the nation while working with students. The memorial, which was dedicated in June 2014, is built and paid for.

Sen. Moran’s legislation carries no cost to taxpayers, instead directing that the memorial continue to be owned and cared for by the NTHF and ESU, with private funds used for maintenance, while also having the prestige of a national memorial.

Click here to read the full text of the legislation.

###

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) applauded the confirmation of Stephen McAllister of Lawrence, Kan. as the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.

“I am pleased the Senate unanimously confirmed Professor McAllister’s nomination,” said Sen. Moran. “I have known Mr. McAllister for years, as he grew up in Lucas down the road from my hometown. He is a bright legal mind and his litigation experience will serve him well as U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas. He is a veteran litigator with a distinguished career in private practice and as the Solicitor General of Kansas, in addition to serving as a law professor at the University of Kansas. In addition, Mr. McAllister had the honor of clerking for Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Clarence Thomas.”

McAllister, a University of Kansas School of Law graduate, will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the state of Kansas by representing the federal government in civil and criminal matters before federal courts of his jurisdiction. In addition, the United States Attorney also takes a key leadership role in coordinating law enforcement activities and training. 

# # #

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to suspend plans to conduct chemical and biological tests in Oklahoma:

“I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security listened to the concerns of Kansans and made the decision to suspend its plans to conduct chemical and biological tests near the Kansas border. Prior to any sort of chemical testing – hazardous or not – the federal government must make certain local residents understand its intended objective when it conducts any testing of this nature. While the chemicals DHS planned to use in these tests do not pose any bodily harm, Kansans deserve a thorough explanation when an event of this magnitude is occurring so close to where they live and raise their families.”

Items to Note:

  • In October, the Department of Homeland Security announced its intent to perform a “collaborative scientific study with OSU-University Multispectral Laboratories, LLC (UML) that will include low level outdoor release of inert chemicals and biological simulant materials at the Chilocco (former) Indian School Campus outside of Newkirk, OK, during winter 2018 and again in summer 2018,” according to the Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Outdoor Testing at Chilocco.
  • In November, Sen. Moran called on DHS to halt its plans to conduct these chemical tests until it sent department representatives to Kansas to explain the department’s proposed course of action.
  • The 30-day comment period regarding this proposal opened Nov. 8 and closed Dec. 8.

 

# # #

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Conference Report:

“Today, Congress sent a pro-growth tax reform bill to the president’s desk that works for Kansas families and businesses. By lowering the corporate tax rate, businesses will be encouraged to stay and grow in America, fostering an environment for businesses to create more jobs, better jobs and higher-paying jobs. These jobs and increased paychecks will have a positive impact on middle-class and lower-income families. Additionally, by lowering tax rates across the board, significantly increasing the standard deduction and doubling the child tax credit, Kansas families and individuals will be able to keep more of their earnings and save for the future.”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act*:

  • Provides the typical family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 a tax cut of $2,059
  • Significantly increases the standard deduction to roughly double the amount of what individuals earn each year from taxes – from $6,500 and $13,000 under current law to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples, respectively
  • Doubles the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children
  • Preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents, such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support. In addition, it preserves the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child
  • Expands the medical expense deduction for 2017 and 2018 medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, and rising to 10 percent beginning in 2019
  • Preserves additional important elements of the existing individual tax system, including:
    • Maintaining the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide important tax relief for low-income Americans working to build better lives for themselves
    • Providing support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes
    • Retaining popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future
  • Includes guardrails on pass-through income to ensure certain individuals are not inadvertently or inappropriately made eligible for preferential tax treatment through creative restructuring

*Provided by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security – and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement:

“As senators who have been working to close the digital divide, we believe federal policy must continue to promote the expansion of broadband access across rural America. Consumers and innovators deserve clear rules of the road that will continue to ensure the internet remains an open marketplace, will drive our online economy and will support investment throughout our internet ecosystem.

“To that end, we agree with the calls of Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Thune and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we must find bipartisan consensus that codifies strong net neutrality protections and conclusively resolves this debate. Consumers want an internet that is free of content-based discrimination and supports the deployment of reliable, affordable broadband access throughout the country. Congress enshrining net neutrality protections based on clear and certain rules into law is necessary to guarantee the internet remains free and open.” 

# # #

Mr. President, thank you very much for the recognition and I come to the floor today to speak about business that is important to Kansas and important to the country. But especially important to the providers of healthcare for children and the children and their families who receive that coverage and care.

And that’s the Medicaid CHIP program.

It was established back in 1997 and I want to call to the attention of my colleagues the importance of us acting here in the next several days in regard to reauthorization extension of that CHIP program. It has helped to provide coverage to children of low income families in my state and those are individuals who would otherwise be left without any insurance, and most likely in every case, the funds necessary to cover health care costs for the well-being of those young men and women.

This program is funded through a multi-year authorization that requires Congress to take action each time the program reaches the end of that authorization and that end of that authorization occurred on September 30th, now several months ago.

While I have been assured in my state that there is sufficient funds to get us through the end of the year, I get concerned; in fact, the belief is that we may have enough funds to pay for our insurance program to March. That certainly is probably not the case across the states and we need to respond, we need to act, within a few short days.

Certainly, I hope this is an issue that is addressed as the continuing resolution that funds the federal government expires on December the 22nd. As we respond to that circumstance, we ought to respond to the expiration of the CHIP program that occurred on September the 30th. Waiting to reauthorize that program already has created, but if we waited any longer, it would create even more unnecessary burden for families of more than nine million children that are currently receiving healthcare through that program.

Temporary funding measures have kept the program solvent since the program expired, but again, now is the time to act to provide some certainty and to make sure that the funds continue to be available. In Kansas, in the absence of that, that would be leaving about 79,000 children without coverage or other good options.

Many of our nation's best children's hospitals serve a great deal of patients through that CHIP program. We are fortunate in our area to have Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, and again, those hospitals and other providers rely upon that CHIP program to pay their bills as well. With all the costs associated with healthcare and with the inability of people to pay, the burden then falls upon hospitals and others to figure out how they survive.

I will tell you that in Kansas almost every hospital, 127 of them in our state, continue to hang on by a thread and some may not survive. This is another opportunity for us to strengthen and provide certainty that a mechanism will be in place that when they provide care to children of Medicaid families that they will be reimbursed. That benefits all of us in our healthcare delivery system and provides more stability and more certainty in these challenging times for healthcare providers across Kansas.

The House of Representatives, and I’m happy that this occurred, has passed reauthorization. They did their bill. It is now time for the Senate to act. Our committee, the Finance Committee, has taken its actions but this bill is still pending on the floor of the United States Senate.

This Christmas season, this holiday time, parents should not have to wonder what they will do in the absence of this insurance program that allows their children to receive routine care, but in many instances, life-saving care. Continuing to delay action on this bill is not in the best interest of the American people. It would be nice, it would be appreciated by Americans, to see the United States Senate work on a program that has broad bipartisan support but still, for some reason, can’t get across the finish line. That finish line I suppose was September the 30th but I say that finish line is now, the end of the year, and specifically December the 22nd with the CR expiring, at that point in time, it's time for congress to take action in that regard.

My plea on the Senate floor this morning is for congress—the United States Senate—to take legislative action, reauthorize this program, provide certainty, and care for our country’s children—who are without this program in very significant jeopardy of having absence of healthcare.

Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to address the United States Senate and I yield back after noting the absence of a quorum.

Sen. Moran’s Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act Signed Into Law

Landmark Legislation Will Reduce Wasteful IT Spending, Strengthen Cybersecurity

Dec 12 2017

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran’s (R-Kan.) Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act was signed into law by President Trump as part of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2018. In September, Sen. Moran successfully included the MGT Act as an amendment to the NDAA for FY2018. This bipartisan legislation – introduced along with U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) – will encourage federal agencies to cut wasteful spending and modernize government information technology (IT) and security. Sen. Moran released the following statement after the president signed the legislation into law:

“Today, the president signed into law landmark legislation to reduce wasteful government IT spending and strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity. I applaud the administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their tireless work to get this legislation signed into law and to bring our inefficient, outdated federal IT system into the 21st century. The improved efficiencies from the MGT Act will empower agencies to modernize their legacy IT systems, better protect our data from cyber-attacks and ultimately save billions in taxpayer dollars by reducing long-term spending.”

Items to Note:

  • In September, the MGT Act cleared the Senate after Sen. Moran introduced the legislation as an amendment to the NDAA for FY2018. In November, the MGT Act was included in the final conference report for NDAA and was sent to the president’s desk for signature.
  • In April, Sen. Moran and Sen. Udall – both members of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations Committees – introduced the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act (S. 990/H.R. 2227) with the support of their colleagues Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). U.S. Representatives Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) – chairman and member, respectively, of the House Subcommittee on Information Technology – introduced the House companion legislation.
  • The bill is supported by a number of IT industry stakeholders and trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the IT Alliance for the Public Sector (ITAPS), Professional Services Council (PSC), TechNet, Amazon Web Service, Cisco, Adobe, BMC, Brocade, Intel, Microsoft, Business Roundtable, CA Technologies, Compuware, CSRA, Level 3, Unisys and others (full list attached).

The Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act:

  • The MGT Act will establish IT working capital funds at 24 federal government agencies and allow them to use savings obtained through streamlining IT systems, replacing legacy products and transitioning to cloud computing for up to three years for further modernization efforts.
  • Note: Nearly 75 percent of the $80 billion we are spending annually on federal IT systems is going toward maintaining and operating legacy IT rather than making lasting improvements.
  • The bill also sets up a separate centralized modernization fund within the Department of the Treasury for the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) to administer across the federal government in consultation with an expert federal IT board.
# # #

WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a nationwide review of its providers after a USA Today investigation found multiple providers hired by the Department had at least one state medical license revoked due to malpractice.

In a letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin, the senators presented a series of questions.

“For years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages,” the senators wrote to Shulkin. “As such, we request information about the VA’s oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls.”

In addition to Moran, the letter was signed by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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

December 8, 2017


The Honorable David Shulkin
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, DC 20420-0001

Dear Secretary Shulkin:

We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent media reports suggesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs offers employment to medical practitioners with a known history of licensure revocation by a state medical licensing board. The national reporting also highlighted cases of the VA hiring providers with known conduct and performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions and criminal charges of the individuals.

For years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages. For states, such as Arkansas, in which many veterans eligible for VA care are rural, the provider shortage is even more pronounced. As such, we request information about the VA’s oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls.

We request that the Department of Veterans Affairs conduct a nationwide review to identify all providers by state and specialty, who were known to have had adverse actions taken against their clinical privileges, to include the revocation of state medical licensure, and were subsequently hired by the Department. Of the individuals identified by the aforementioned report, what is the employment status of each individual identified? What additional oversight measures are required for providers identified through this review who remain employed by and practicing within the VA?

In addition to a review to determine the current status of providers within the VA, we would also like information relevant to oversight of VA policies regarding hiring of individuals who have disciplinary or performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions, claims, or charges. At what level is a final personnel decision approved? Does the VA have regular reporting and review of any providers hired under these circumstances? How is the performance and conduct of such individuals tracked, including the healthcare outcomes they deliver for veterans? When the VA intends to hire a provider with known medical malpractice claims, what additional scrutiny or consideration are such applicants subjected to?

Does the VA have authority to hire a provider whose license has been revoked? When the VA considers hiring these providers, at what level does the VA approve a final offer of employment? Are such hiring decisions subject to reporting requirements to the Department? If so, to what level? Following the employment of such a provider, does the VA require any probationary periods of review or mandatory consultation prior to authorizing the direct provision of care to patients? Do these positions include any responsibility for the direct provision of medical care?

Please confirm the status of this request and provide a timeline for completion of the requested review. We ask that you please keep our offices updated on this issue. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

###

WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs marked up and voted out of committee S. 2155, the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.” Co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation right-sizes regulation for smaller financial institutions and includes important consumer protections for veterans, senior citizens and victims of fraud. It will also improve our nation’s financial regulatory framework, encouraging economic growth in communities across Kansas.

“I have been proud to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to strike a sensible agreement on ways to improve local financial services, and to strengthen protections for veterans, senior citizens and victims of fraud,” said Sen. Moran. “By rolling back unnecessary and cumbersome regulations, this bill encourages economic growth in rural and local communities and helps Kansans access and protect their credit.”

Widespread support for S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act:

Bipartisan Policy Center:

“As U.S. politics descends ever further into partisanship, there are still signs that old-fashioned legislating is not dead. This week, the Senate Banking Committee will mark up one of the first significant pieces of financial regulatory legislation in years with real bipartisan support. These are not major changes. Yet taken together, they are constructive and should provide greater incentives to extend credit, particularly to Main Street small businesses, without undermining the progress made since the crisis in making the financial system safer.” – John Soroushian and Justin Schardin, Bipartisan Policy Center

Independent Community Bankers of America:

“The markup of S. 2155 is a rare opening for real, impactful relief that will strengthen economic growth, job creation, and consumer protection. It is the culmination of years of collaborative effort to achieve consensus among members of Congress across the spectrum and community bankers in their home states and districts. Community bankers urge all members of the Senate Banking Committee to vote YES on S. 2155.” – Camden Fine, ICBA President and CEO

Credit Union National Association:

This bill includes credit union-specific provisions that provide meaningful regulatory relief, a sign that policymakers are paying close attention to the needs of credit union members. We thank Sen. Crapo and his colleagues for working across party lines to advance regulatory relief legislation that benefits community financial institutions, and look forward to continuing to work closely with them as the bill moves through the legislative process.” – Jim Nussle, CUNA President and CEO

Consumer Bankers Association:

“We appreciate the Senate’s bipartisan effort to enact regulatory reform which helps banks better serve American consumers and small businesses. The agreement makes some meaningful regulatory changes, including providing the Federal Reserve flexibility to make a more complete assessment when designating certain institutions systematically important. This is a significant first step and we urge Congress to continue working toward policies which consider risk rather than arbitrary asset thresholds.” -Richard Hunt, CBA President and CEO

Insured Retirement Institute:

“This bill containing the Senior$afe Act of 2017 will help our member companies and financial advisers combat financial abuse of older Americans. It would increase protections for older investors, help prevent financial exploitation, and preserve senior’s hard-earned retirement savings. The legislation will foster better communications between advisors and their firms with appropriate governmental and law enforcement agencies when they suspect financial exploitation of a client. It will also encourage more firms to offer important employee training in this area.” – Catherine Weatherford, President and CEO, Insured Retirement Institute

American Bankers Association:

“ABA welcomes today’s announcement of a bipartisan Senate agreement on legislation that would reform our nation’s financial regulatory rules. The deal reached today by Chairman Crapo and Senators Tester, Heitkamp, Donnelly and Warner shows that lawmakers of good faith from both parties can agree on commonsense changes to allow banks to better serve their customers and communities. We thank them for their leadership, and look forward to working with senators to move this legislation forward, and to improve it where possible.”  - Rob Nichols, ABA President and CEO 

National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions:

"NAFCU thanks Chairman Crapo and his Democratic partners in the Senate for including provisions in this package that would lead to regulatory relief for credit unions. We look forward to working with members of the Senate Banking Committee, their staff and other senators as this package moves through the legislative process. This bill is a step in the right direction, and we will continue to push for more relief for the industry and its 110 million member-owners."  - Dan Berger, NAFCU President and CEO

Financial Services Roundtable:

“This bipartisan effort is directionally positive as it seeks to modernize regulations while protecting consumers and driving economic growth. Today’s announcement shows Chairman Crapo and his bipartisan co-sponsors are working hard to improve the financial experience of consumers.” – Tim Pawlenty, FSR CEO

Mortgage Bankers Association:

"I want to commend Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) for reaching a bipartisan compromise on regulatory relief legislation designed to lessen some burdens on lenders, allowing them to better serve their customers and consumers. In particular, MBA is glad to see the inclusion of language amending the SAFE Act to provide increased job mobility for loan originators, as well as language to address concerns with PACE lending, HMDA, and the TILA/RESPA integrated disclosure. We look forward to continuing to work with the committee on other provisions in the bill, such as expanding the language regarding Qualified Mortgages held in portfolio." – David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association

U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports S. 2155, the ‘Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act,’ which would provide long-overdue relief to Main Street businesses and consumers . . . The Chamber strongly supports tailored regulations—sophisticated rules that are properly calibrated to the risk profile of an activity or institution. S. 2155 is a first step in the right direction.” – Neal L. Bradley, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

National Association of Home Builders:

“On behalf of the more than 140,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), I am writing in strong support for your efforts in S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act to address the challenging credit conditions that home builders and home buyers continue to experience as a result of the regulatory response to the recent financial crisis.” – James W. Tobin III, Executive Vice President and Chief Lobbyist, National Association of Home Builders 

# # #

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) met with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross regarding the ongoing negotiations with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and NAFTA’s vital importance to farmers, ranchers and manufacturers in Kansas. Sen. Moran, who requested today’s meeting through the Senate Commerce Committee in a letter to Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), was joined by several of his colleagues from the committee.

“Our economy in Kansas is dependent on the ability of our farmers, ranchers and manufacturers to trade their products,” said Sen. Moran. “In 2016, Kansas exported more than $4.5 billion worth of agricultural products, which supported more than 36,000 jobs and generated more than $5.7 billion in economic activity. I encouraged Secretary Ross to be extremely mindful of the role agricultural trade plays in Kansas’ economy and the consequences of NAFTA withdrawal to our farmers and ranchers. To illustrate this point, I showed Secretary Ross a picture of grain piles waiting on the ground in Kensington, Kansas as a direct example of why NAFTA is needed in our state to sell goods and feed the world. I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to engage in this issue and hear our concerns. Secretary Ross understands I will continue to follow the negotiation process closely and I will not hesitate to bring up further concerns as I hear from farmers and ranchers on this issue.”

Items to Note:

  • Sen. Moran last month sent a letter to Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) to request the committee continue to engage with Secretary Ross on trade and the direction of NAFTA negotiations, prompting today’s meeting.
  • Sen. Moran recently signed a bipartisan letter to Secretary Ross asking the administration to conduct a robust economic analysis to evaluate how any changes to NAFTA would affect changes to the nation’s crop and livestock sectors.
  • Sen. Moran also sent an open letter to farmers and ranchers regarding the threat of NAFTA withdrawal and urged them to advocate for sound trade policy. The letter was first published in Agri-Pulse and encourages the agriculture community to share their concerns with the administration about the importance of trade and their ability to sell what they produce around the world.

# # #