Medical Research News
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after Judge Amy Coney Barrett received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee to serve as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court:
“Throughout the Senate Judiciary hearings, Judge Amy Coney Barrett demonstrated an exemplary personal character, a deep and principled understanding of the Constitution and the law, and a strong commitment to being a judge and not a lawmaker. During my meeting with her earlier this month, we spoke about her time as a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and her experience as a professor at Notre Dame Law School. Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the most impressive nominee I have interviewed and considered during my time in the Senate, and I look forward to voting to support her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court.”
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WASHINGTON – This weekend, President Donald Trump signed S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.). This bipartisan legislation designates 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
“I commend President Trump for signing our legislation into law, designating this three-digit number, 9-8-8, as the new national suicide and mental health crisis hotline number,” said Sen. Moran. “This pandemic has highlighted the need for modernized mental health and suicide prevention resources, and this easy-to-remember number will help connect callers in need of help with experts who can offer resources and hope to make it through a mental health crisis.”
“I applaud the President for signing my common-sense, bipartisan legislation to shorten the national suicide hotline from ten digits to three easy-to-remember numbers: 9-8-8,” said Sen. Gardner. “Colorado tragically has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, which is why I’ve made it a priority to work with my colleagues across the aisle for years to make mental health support more available. The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased our state’s mental health needs, and during this unprecedented challenge suicide prevention is now more important than ever. This change to 9-8-8 will make it easier for Americans dealing with a crisis to access mental health support that could save their lives.”
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, S. 2661, designates 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which would include the Veterans Crisis Line for veteran-specific mental health support. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line is 10-digits long, which is a barrier to Americans in crisis seeking support.
During the transition to 9-8-8, Americans who need help should continue to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK). Veterans and servicemembers may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, chatting online at www.veteranscrisisline.net, or texting 838255.
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Sen. Moran Announces over $700,000 in STOP School Violence Program Grants to Central Kansas
Oct 19 2020
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) – today announced two Department of Justice (DOJ) STOP School Violence Program grants to Kansas, totaling over $700,000. The Educational Services Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK) will receive a $447,002 grant and Wichita Public Schools Unified School District #259 will receive a $327,403 grant.
“These resources will support ongoing efforts to further protect Kansas students from violence,” said Sen. Moran. “By using evidence-based strategies and programs, the funds provided to Wichita Public Schools and ESSDACK will help train students and teachers how to recognize and respond appropriately to difficult situations.”
This grant program was created by the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018, legislation Sen. Moran sponsored in 2018, which authorized investments in school security improvements, and early intervention and prevention programs to deter school violence before it happens. Funding for the STOP School Violence Program is appropriated by Sen. Moran’s CJS subcommittee.
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President Trump Signs Sen. Moran’s Groundbreaking Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill into Law
“This is a significant day for veterans”
Oct 18 2020
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.)—Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee—today applauded President Donald Trump’s historic signing of their landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law.
In an effort to curb veteran suicide nationwide, Sens. Moran and Tester introduced their bill last Congress to bolster the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) mental health workforce and increase rural veterans' access to care, while expanding veterans’ access to alternative and local treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities.
“Many of our veterans are suffering from daunting, sometimes overwhelming mental health challenges, that have only been made worse by this pandemic, and lack access to modern, effective and compassionate mental health care and suicide prevention services,” said Chairman Moran. “Today, President Trump signed into law the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act that will reform mental health care at the VA by hiring and training more professionals in this field, developing innovative methods to reach veterans with care, and establishing a grant program to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This is a significant day for veterans, and I am grateful to Ranking Member Jon Tester, President Trump and many of my colleagues for working tirelessly this Congress to get this landmark bill signed into law and improve suicide prevention research, services and programs for our nation’s veterans.”
“This is a historic day for veterans across the country who will now have better access to live-saving mental health services,” said Ranking Member Tester. “This new law combines the best ideas from veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, the VA, and mental health care advocates to deliver innovative solutions that’ll help heal invisible wounds of war through increased access to care, alternate therapies and local treatment options. I couldn’t be prouder to have worked alongside the Hannon family and Chairman Moran to successfully push for this monumental bill to become law. Together, we are following through on our commitment to supporting our nation’s heroes, making sure that no veteran falls through the cracks.”
This law honors the legacy of Commander John Scott Hannon, a member of the Navy SEALs who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years. Scott Hannon retired to Montana where he received treatment for his invisible wounds of war while helping other veterans find their own paths to recovery. Scott died by suicide on February 25, 2018.
“This is a very proud moment for my brother and our entire family, as we celebrate the landmark signing of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law,” said Kim Parrott, John Scott’s sister, on behalf of the Hannon family. “This law will provide veterans greater and earlier access to the mental health care they need by requiring the DOD and VA to work together to bridge the transition between military service and civilian life and conduct research in evidence-based treatments. This has been a long journey shepherded by the shared vision and leadership of both Senators Tester and Moran, and my family thanks them and the many others who worked tirelessly to make this law a reality. Not only will veterans benefit from this work, so will their families and communities.”
It is estimated that more than 20 veterans die by suicide every day. Of those, 14 have received no treatment or care from VA. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act will improve outreach to veterans and their mental health care options in six major ways:
- Bolstering VA’s mental health workforce to serve more veterans by offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers and placing at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital.
- Improving rural veterans’ access to mental health care by increasing the number of locations at which veterans can access VA telehealth services.
- Implementing a pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy, agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy and post-traumatic growth.
- Establishing a grant program that requires VA to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This collaboration will result in earlier identification of veterans who are at risk of suicide and will provide the ability to intervene with preventative services.
- Studying the impact of living at high altitude on veterans’ suicide risk and diagnostic biomarker research to identify depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and other conditions.
- Holding the VA accountable for its mental health care and suicide prevention efforts by examining how the Department manages its suicide prevention resources.
"We started working on this legislation with Senator Tester and Senator Moran's staff two years ago,” said Matt Kuntz, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana. “It's been a remarkable journey to get to this point, and I look forward to seeing the critical efforts laid out in this legislation to help our nation's heroes get the right care at the right time for their mental health conditions. NAMI is deeply grateful to Congress and the President for putting this bill into law and in naming it after Commander Hannon, a dear friend and ally."
"On behalf of IAVA, I offer our strongest congratulations to Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Tester on the occasion of President Trump signing into law the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Jeremy Butler. "Battling veteran and military suicide has been, and remains, a very personal priority for our organization, and we greatly appreciate the incredibly bipartisan response to this national crisis. Time and again, we are proud of the work that you do to rise above partisanship on behalf of our community."
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) today recognized World Food Day and recommitted to fighting hunger in the face of unprecedented levels of food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators sponsored Senate Resolution 365, which designated October 16, 2020 as World Food Day and passed the Senate unanimously last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the global hunger crisis, with the United Nations estimating that rising food costs and widespread unemployment could push an additional 130 million people into chronic hunger by 2020. Even before the pandemic, nearly 700 million people suffered from hunger.
“The call to feed the world has been answered by so many Kansans, who are taught at a young age that it is our duty to help those in need,” said Sen. Moran. “Today on World Food Day 2020, we are reminded of our responsibility to help those in need in our own communities and in towns, cities and villages all around the world. As the co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I believe that fighting hunger is not only the morally right thing to do; it is also the smart thing to do both for Kansas producers and for global security.”
“At home and abroad, we’ve seen a sharp rise in food insecurity during the pandemic,” said Sen. Coons. “I’m grateful for the work of so many in Delaware – from our farmers, to school lunch workers, to folks working in food pantries and nonprofits – who are helping provide food to families who need it most. I will continue fighting for resources for the programs that are providing emergency assistance to our world’s most vulnerable populations, and that support resiliency in our food and agricultural systems.”
“As co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I am proud to have joined my colleagues in support of this resolution,” said Sen. Boozman. “Observing this day raises awareness of America’s important efforts to stamp out world hunger. Eliminating hunger at home and abroad takes U.S. leadership. That is why the Senate Hunger Caucus not only seeks to find vehicles to bring focus to the plight of those suffering from food insecurity, but solutions that bring upon meaningful change as well. There is a great deal of work to be done, but the theme of this year’s World Food Day serves as a guide as we work to achieve that goal.”
Each year, the United States joins 150 other countries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in celebrating World Food Day to promote global awareness and action for all who suffer from malnutrition. This year also commemorates the 75th anniversary of the FAO, established in Hot Springs, Virginia on October 16, 1945.
The full text of the resolution 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 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today announced an $832,505 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program for Pawnee Mental Health Services, Inc.
“Through partnerships with the local health departments, these resources will help expand rural health services across north-central Kansas, providing critical care to rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “Now, more than ever, people will benefit from greater access to mental health services, and I am pleased this grant will help Kansans.”
“These generous grants from USDA will give Pawnee Mental Health the capacity to provide robust telehealth services throughout our 10-county service area,” said Pawnee Mental Health Services Executive Director Robbin Cole. “The 2019 grant gave Pawnee the ability to build the majority of the infrastructure and equip three of our highest-need counties. With the majority of that infrastructure built, the 2020 grant allows us to complete the interconnectivity circle with all of our locations. We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to provide improved access to vital mental health services throughout our ten-county area of North Central Kansas.”
“Telemedicine provides more medical resources to difficult to reach populations,” said USDA Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen. “The USDA is proud to partner with Pawnee Mental health Services and Senator Moran to make this project possible.”
This grant will be used to enhance the existing infrastructure and create partnerships with the Clay and Republic County Health Departments to provide expanded services and enhanced hours of operation.
Items to Note:
- In 2019, Pawnee Mental Health Services received an over $400,000 grant to expand video conferencing services to Jewell, Mitchell and Washington counties in north-central Kansas.
- USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ks or call (785) 271-2700.
- Today’s announcement is in conjunction with a larger announcement made by USDA, where it is investing $72 million in 40 states through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. These investments will benefit more than 12 million rural residents.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today announced a $791,638 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program for Paradise Unified School District #399.
“These resources will provide virtual learning technology for the Paradise School District to help rural students receive a quality education while staying safe during this pandemic,” said Sen. Moran.
This grant will fund the purchase of monitors, video and audio conferencing equipment, wiring and software licenses for distance learning upgrades for Paradise Unified School District #399.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today announced a $501,956 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program for Labette county.
“These resources will purchase video conferencing equipment to ensure the students in Labette county can continue to receive a quality education during this pandemic,” said Sen. Moran.
This grant will provide interactive video conferencing equipment to the Labette County Unified School District 506 to enable the distribution of high-quality curricular instruction allowing access for students in rural Kansas.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today announced a $943,163 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program to provide educational opportunities for students in Woodson, Franklin, Neosho and Allen counties and Platte County, Missouri.
“These federal resources will help create new learning opportunities for students in rural Kansas to pursue careers in STEM fields and then invest those skills and talents back into their communities, helping meet the workforce demand in southeast Kansas,” said Sen. Moran.
This grant will extend science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes to underserved areas in rural Southeast Kansas and will enable Neosho County Community College to create new STEM distance learning capabilities to serve surrounding rural areas.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today announced a $658,894 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program for southcentral Kansas.
“These resources will provide virtual learning technology for schools in southcentral Kansas to help rural students receive a quality education while staying safe during this pandemic,” said Sen. Moran.
This grant will help fund the Redesign of Virtual Learning project, which is designed to provide high quality virtual learning to students, educators, and community members served by the collaborating 11 school districts within a 10-county area.
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