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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has sent a letter to Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald calling for immediate action to remove the VA employees who were found to have abused their positions, mistreated their coworkers, and disrespected veterans and their families. With the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act this summer, Congress empowered the VA Secretary with the ability to more readily terminate employees for poor performance and misconduct – yet no action has been taken.

“There has been no shortage on news stories and investigations exposing employees – particularly managers – at the VA who engages in objectionable and outrageous behaviors that must never be tolerated for anyone in public service,” Sen. Moran wrote in a letter to Secretary McDonald along with nine of his Senate colleagues. “…Yet, more than a month since the President signed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act into law on August 7, the Department has yet to use its authority to fire senior officials and administrators for poor performance and unethical conduct… Americans expect and deserve immediate action from the VA to demonstrate the culture and expectations at the Department are changing.”

Click here to read Sen. Moran’s entire latter to VA Sec. McDonald calling for the removal of those who endangered the health and lives of veterans.

A call for accountability at the VA also came this week from the National Commander of the American Legion Michael D. Helm, of Norcatur, Kansas, in a separate letter to President Obama on Sept. 18, 2014, which called for corrupt managers within the agency to be “fired immediately.”

“The only way those culpable will get their just desserts, and credibility will be restored to the thousands of VA employees who really deserve it, is for you to demand that those who caused this scandal, and those who oversaw it and did nothing, be fired and removed from government,” said National Commander Helm said in a letter sent to President Obama. “Let me assure you that if someone on my staff were found to be cooking the books, committing fraud or putting career ambitions ahead of veterans’ lives, they wouldn’t be transferred or suspended with pay. They would be fired immediately. Our VA employees should be held to the same standard.”

Click here to read the full letter from the American Legion National Commander to President Obama.

Sen. Moran has been a member of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees for 18 years, chaired the Health Subcommittee in the House for two years, and has worked with nine VA Secretaries. Sen. Moran was the first Senator to call for Secretary Shinseki to resign amidst ongoing systemic dysfunction within the VA system. 

Newly-elected National Commander Helm is a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran was elected to represent the legion as national commander on August 28, 2014. Commander Helm is touring American Legion posts throughout Kansas and across the nation. He recently completes more than 15 visits in Kansas and visited with veterans about issues ranging from VA health care to national security.

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. response to the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS):

“I believe ISIS is a real threat to the safety and security of Americans, and the U.S. response and policy toward ISIS deserves more than a few sentences in a $1 trillion stopgap spending bill passed moments before adjournment for the mid-term elections. The Administration has portrayed that we are taking action to reduce the viability of ISIS, while it is more likely we are arming and training rebels that will ultimately use the weapons against our allies. There must be a discussion about the safeguards needed to ensure we aren’t arming the next Taliban or Al Qaeda 10 years down the road. These weapons could also quickly fall into the arms of ISIS – one must only look to the terrorists’ success overrunning Iraqi troops to gauge the likelihood of these weapons being used against us.

“While I believe forceful and effective action must be taken to successfully confront ISIS, our course of action deserves a full and open debate by Congress for the benefit of the American people. Too many Presidents have begun a battle trying to convince Americans that not much will be required for victory – in this case, by arming rebels in Syria – and that we can have success without sacrifice. The fight against ISIS must be well planned and thought out in order to earn the support of the American people.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, to end the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) practice of taxing crucial programs and services that aim to support the health and safety of Native families. The Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week and next heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Tribes are sovereign governments that often provide services to their citizens,” Sen. Moran said. “I am pleased Congress has come together to make certain tribal citizens are not unfairly taxed while respecting tribal sovereignty. By clarifying the definition of general welfare programs, this legislation will enhance economic development and the quality of life in Indian Country.”

“As a former attorney general and as a lawyer, I view these Native American treaty rights and trust responsibilities as a contract between the U.S. and our American Indian tribes. Yet for far too long, that contract has been broken. Our legislation takes an important step to repair it,” said Sen. Heitkamp. “This week, the Senate and House took a huge step forward and came together to pass our bipartisan bill which levels the playing field for Native families. It will enable tribal governments to decide which programs best help their communities thrive, just as local and state governments do. For too long, that hasn’t been the case. I’ve heard stories of the IRS questioning a tribal government’s ability to provide school supplies to elementary school children, or levying a tax on a ramp erected for a tribal elder to access her home. This law shows that we respect tribal sovereignty by making sure tribal citizens get the rights they deserve.”

The Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act will fully recognize that Indian tribes – as sovereign nations – are responsible for making certain their government programs and services best fit the needs of their citizens, just as other local governments across the country do. For years, Indian tribes have been taxed for providing health care, education, housing, or legal aid to those in need. Local and state governments throughout the United States frequently offer such services to those who need assistance, but the people receiving help are not taxed by the IRS. 

Once signed into law, the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act will: 

  • Mandate tribal government programs, services and benefits authorized or administered by tribes for tribal citizens, spouses and dependents are excluded from income as a “general welfare exclusion”;
  • Clarify that items of cultural significance (e.g., paying someone to lead sacred Indian ceremonies) or cash honoraria provided by tribal governments shall not represent compensation for services and shall be excluded from taxable income;
  • Direct the Secretary of Treasury to require education and training of IRS field agents on federal Indian law and the unique legal treaty and trust relationship between the government and tribes;
  • Establish a Tribal Advisory Committee within the Treasury to advise the Secretary on matters of Indian tax policy;
  • Temporarily suspend all audits and examinations of tribal governments and members until the education and training measures are completed;
  • Authorize the Secretary to waive any penalties or interest imposed on Indian tribal governments or members; and
  • Direct the Secretary that any ambiguities in applying this Act shall be resolved in favor of tribal governments and deference shall be given to tribal governments for the programs administered and authorized by the tribe to benefit the general welfare.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation by voice vote on Sept. 16, 2014.

The Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act is supported by 20 tribal organizations including: United South and Eastern Tribes; CATG Board of Directors; National Indian Education Association; Native American Finance Officers Association; Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes; Alaska Federation of Natives; Indian Land Tenure Foundation; National Indian Gaming Association; Great Plains Tribal Chairman Association; National Center for American Indian Enterprise; Alaska Inter-Tribal Council; Inter Tribal Council of Arizona; Americans for Indian Opportunity; National Congress of American Indians; Intertribal Agriculture Council; National Indian Health Board; Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians; Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association; Self-Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium; United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Kansas & Texas; Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council; and United Tribes of Michigan. The bill is also supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to read the full text of the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing ongoing problems with the security of the Obamacare website – HealthCare.gov. More than a year since its launch, GAO raises concerns that HealthCare.gov users continue to face a serious risk of having their personal information – including Social Security numbers, income and employment records, and tax returns stored by the system – stolen by fraudsters and identity thieves. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittee, shares GAO’s concerns and believes the Administration has consistently kept Congress and the public in the dark about the serious security concerns with the Obamacare website. 

“This GAO report makes it clear that, more than a year later, the Administration refuses to provide a true account of how the website is performing and whether it is safe for Americans to use,” Sen. Moran said. “Given the Administration’s history of misrepresentations regarding the readiness of the Obamacare exchanges, I am extremely concerned about the security of Americans’ personal information. I am a sponsor of two commonsense bills to increase transparency surrounding Obamacare’s implementation and help address the serious privacy and data security concerns associated with the law. This is not about politics, this is about personal security and privacy.” 

The GAO report finds that the federal enrollment website still has not undergone rigorous end-to-end testing to check for vulnerabilities. Additionally, it accuses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) of accepting significant security risks when it allowed the website to launch on Oct. 1, 2013. This report came on the heels of a hack of HealthCare.gov in July 2014 in which malicious software was installed within the website’s network and went undetected for more than a month.

According to GAO’s review:

“CMS has not fully addressed security and privacy management weaknesses, including having incomplete security plans and privacy documentation, conducting incomplete security tests, and not establishing an alternate processing site to avoid major service disruptions. In addition, we identified weaknesses in the technical controls protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data maintained in the [federally facilitated marketplace]. … Until these weaknesses are addressed, increased and unnecessary risks remain of unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of the information collected and maintained by HealthCare.gov and related systems or the disruption of service provided by the systems.”

In January 2014, Sen. Moran sponsored two bills to protect American individuals and families from the consequences of Obamacare’s implementation. The Exchange Information Disclosure Act (S. 1590) requires the Obama Administration to disclose detailed information about the performance of the Obamacare health insurance Exchange website, HealthCare.gov. The other bill, the Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act (S. 1902), would increase the Administration’s responsibility for safeguarding personal information of Exchange users in response to growing security concerns about the website. The House of Representatives passed its own version of both bills with broad, bipartisan support, yet the Senate Majority Leader has yet to bring the bills up for a vote in the Senate.

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Mr. President, October--next month--is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is not expected that the Senate will be in session next month and I would like to use this opportunity to visit just a moment about domestic violence in an effort to create a greater awareness and to work to eliminate this plight among many families and many individuals across the country.

Domestic violence is an issue that impacts way too many Americans. In fact, it affects so many homes, and yet it is something that is rarely spoken about publicly. Right now, because of actions of professional athletes, domestic violence is in the news and it is on our minds. But this attention needs to continue when the sports writers quit writing and when the news reporters and camera crews quit covering and they move on to the next story.

Many Americans assume domestic violence doesn't occur in their neighborhood, it doesn't occur among their friends, but unfortunately that is not the case. Domestic violence does not discriminate by race, gender, age group, education or social status. We can't stereotype, the way we often do, about domestic violence. In fact, it is not just a problem for women; it is also a problem for children and men who are often victims.

In large communities, in small communities across the country and across, unfortunately, my state of Kansas, too many Americans, too many Kansans find themselves placed in danger by the very people who are supposed to love and care for and protect them. Each year, more than 2 million women are victims of domestic violence across the country. In Kansas alone, it is estimated that 1 in 10 adult women will suffer from domestic abuse this year. These are damning statistics that make clear, whether we realize it, someone we know is enduring physical and psychological abuse today, tomorrow, this week. We have a responsibility to help the hopeless--those who are often too afraid to speak out for themselves. I rise tonight to try to give voice to those who are victims and to acknowledge professionals and volunteers who provide care and the services those victims need.

On a single day last year, shelters and organizations in Kansas served more than 720 victims, and similar organizations around the country served more than 66,000 victims each day.

I visited one of those organizations last year, the Kansas SAFEHOME. It is a tremendous organization that serves the greater Kansas City area. SAFEHOME provides more than just a shelter for those needing a place to live or to escape from abuse. They provide no-cost advocacy, counseling, an in-house attorney, and assistance in finding employment. The agency also provides education in the community to prevent abuse.

Each year SAFEHOME helps thousands of women and children reestablish their lives without violence. The employees and volunteers there are making huge differences in the lives of many. I have often said on the Senate floor that what happens in Washington, DC, matters, but I know we change the world one person, one soul at a time, and in this setting and in settings similar to it across Kansas and around the country, lives are being changed and improved.

Despite the important and the honorable and noble work that organizations such as SAFEHOME are performing, they are often faced with uncertainty regarding the Federal support they will receive. The good news is that last year Congress was able to move past politics and pass legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

I sponsored and voted for that legislation and in my view it provides crucial, critical resources for victims of domestic violence and empowers our justice system to act on their behalf. Just as crucial, it works to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place.

This legislation is having a real impact on the lives of Kansans because survivors now have access, for example, to legal services, through the Legal Assistance to Victims grant project, established in 2012 by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

One survivor expressed how grateful she was for the program because, as she said, ``I didn't know what I would have done without it.'' Without the assistance of this program, she may have had to go to court without legal representation, knowing that her perpetrator already had an attorney representing him. With that legal representation, her perpetrator was held accountable for his actions.

Throughout our country, more than one in three women still suffer from abuse during their lifetime, and domestic violence brings fear and hopelessness and depression into the lives of every victim. We should work not only to end this violent crime, but we must also care for those who are victims. By volunteering at a local shelter, speaking out when we become aware of domestic violence or making a donation to an organization that helps in those circumstances, every citizen--as I said, we could change the world one person at a time, and every citizen can find a way to get involved and make a difference.

Now and throughout the year--not just now, not just next month, October is Domestic Violence Month--let us be mindful of the victims of domestic violence and each of us do our part to break the cycle and bring hope to those who suffer and are in despair. Let us also use the conversations taking place now in the print in the papers and on the view of the television as an opportunity to speak out against any and all types of domestic abuse. Let's raise the awareness of this silent and devastating crime and bring about an end to all domestic violence.

Sen. Moran Emphasizes Importance of Community Banks, Credit Unions at Senate Banking Hearing

"Relationship banking is a significant component of whether or not many of the communities I represent have a future."

Sep 17 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, emphasized the importance of reducing the regulatory burden facing community banks and credit unions yesterday during a Senate Banking Hearing entitled, “Examining The State Of Small Depository Institutions.”

According to annual report compiled by the Community Bankers Association of Kansas, there were 290 banks in the state of Kansas at the end of 2013, 300 institutions at the end of 2012, and 318 the year before that. Since December of 2007, Kansas has lost 67 banks.

Sen. Moran has a number of bipartisan bills capable of passing this Senate to reduce the regulatory burden facing smaller lenders including the Privacy Notice Modernization Act of 2013, S. 635; the CLEAR Relief Act, S. 1349; and the Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act, S. 727.

Sen. Moran: (0:14) “Our states, Mr. Chairman, are very similar. And community banks and credit unions are very important to the local fabric and the vitality of the towns that comprise our states.

(1:05) “I hope that the result of today's hearing is that you will take back with you a recommitment toward finding a way to relieve the burden of those community financial institutions. And while it is useful, I suppose, for you to express to us your desire, your sympathy, your care, your agreement with our position, I hope that today's hearing results in action taken by the agencies to actually make a difference in how you conduct the exams, reviews, and what rules and regulations you place upon those community institutions.

(1:42) “In my view, the burden also lies with Congress. My colleagues have outlined a series of pieces of legislation that have been introduced. But the reality is none of them have been passed. And so while I may sound critical of the regulators, I'm also critical of the United States Senate where I serve.

(2:23) “A primary motivation for me to serve in Congress has been a belief in the value of rural America. Relationship banking is a significant component of whether or not many of the communities I represent have a future. It is only that community financial institution that's going to make a decision about loaning to a grocery store in town. It's only that entity that's going to decide that that farmer is worthy of one more year of credit.

(2:50) “And so as we develop policies in Washington, D.C., that make everything so uniform a cookie-cutter approach to lending it means that many of my constituents in the communities they live in will have a much less bright future, and a significant reduction in the opportunity to pursue their farming and business careers and occupations.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) met with the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals (KASSP) Principals of the Year: Wichita South High School Principal Cara Ledy and Paola Middle School Principal Mark Bloustine. Each year, KASSP recognizes middle school and secondary school principals for outstanding and exemplary leadership.

“It was a pleasure to visit with Cara and Mark who are helping Kansas students reach their full potentials in the classroom and beyond,” Sen. Moran said. “The future competitiveness of our state and nation is directly linked to the quality of our children’s education, and I’m pleased they are being commended for their contributions to Kansas students.”

Ledy has served as Wichita South High School Principal for eight years. Bloustine previously served as assistant principal at Paola Middle School.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined a bipartisan group of 53 senators, including Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to provide a 60-day extension for the public comment period on EPA’s proposed rule to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.

Because the proposal is incredibly complex and broad in scope and would impact electric generation use and costs throughout the country, the senators believe an additional 60 days is needed to provide more time for all stakeholders to fully review the proposed rule and offer comments. 

In May, Sen. Moran and a bipartisan group of senators requested the EPA grant at least 120 days for public comment on its new proposal on existing power plants. While the 120-day public comment period was granted, the senators heard from utility companies, state regulators, regional generation and transmission organizations. These organizations made it known that the rule is more difficult to analyze and assess than they had initially expected. Additionally, some of the issues posed by the new rule require discussions and collaboration with a variety of state, regional and national officials to provide accurate and complete comments on the feasibility of the rule and options.

The level of complexity of the proposal, volume of technical documents released, amount of coordination required, and magnitude of energy impacts of the rule warrant a 60-day extension of the public comment period.

The senators write, “This extension is critical to ensure that state regulatory agencies and other stakeholders have adequate time to fully analyze and comment on the proposal. It is also important to note that the challenge is not only one of commenting on the complexity and sweeping scope of the rule, but also providing an opportunity to digest more than 600 supporting documents released by EPA in support of this proposal.”

Full text of the senators’ letter is below.

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Headquarters – William J. Clinton Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy,

We are writing to request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide a 60 day extension of the comment period for the “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources:  Electric Generating Units.”  While we appreciate EPA granting an initial 120-day comment period, the complexity and magnitude of the proposed rule necessitates an extension. This extension is critical to ensure that state regulatory agencies and other stakeholders have adequate time to fully analyze and comment on the proposal. It is also important to note that the challenge is not only one of commenting on the complexity and sweeping scope of the rule, but also providing an opportunity to digest more than 600 supporting documents released by EPA in support of this proposal.

The proposed rule regulates or affects the generation, transmission, and use of electricity in every corner of this country.  States and stakeholders must have time to fully analyze and assess the sweeping impacts that the proposal will have on our nation’s energy system, including dispatch of generation and end-use energy efficiency. In light of the broad energy impacts of the proposed rule, state environmental agencies must coordinate their comments across multiple state agencies and stakeholders, including public utility commissions, regional transmission organizations, and transmission and reliability experts, just to name a few.   The proposed rule requires a thorough evaluation of intra- and inter-state, regional, and in some cases international energy generation and transmission so that states and utilities can provide the most detailed assessments on how to meet the targets while maintaining reliability in the grid.   This level of coordination to comment on an EPA rule is unprecedented, extraordinary, and extremely time consuming.

It is also important to note that the proposed rule imposes a heavy burden on the states during the rulemaking process.  If the states want to adjust their statewide emission rate target assigned to them by EPA, they must provide their supporting documentation for the adjustment during the comment period.  The EPA proposal provides no mechanism for adjusting the state emission rate targets once they are adopted based on the four building blocks.  So the states need enough time to digest the rule, fully understand it, and then collect the data and justification on why their specific target may need to be adjusted, and why the assumptions of the building blocks may not apply to their states.  This cannot be adequately accomplished in only 120 days.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Sen. Moran Names 2014 Service Academy Selection Board

Will review applications and interview candidates for admission to U.S. Service Academies

Sep 16 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced the members of his 2014 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board. The 20-member board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. Service Academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2015. 

“Our country is fortunate to have so many intelligent, hard-working and patriotic young men and women interested in serving our country through the Armed Forces,” Sen. Moran said. “I know the Selection Board will have a difficult time narrowing the field of qualified candidates, but I value their insight and thank them for their help in making difficult decisions.”

Sen. Moran accepts applications for nominations to the United States Service Academies each year. This year, more than 60 high school students have applied to be considered for very few nominations. Candidates are then required to interview with Sen. Moran’s Service Academy Selection Board. Following interviews, the Board will make recommendations to Sen. Moran for his decision. If nominated, applicants must then meet the individual admission requirements of each academy. The academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission in early 2015.

Members of the 2014 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board include:

  • Maceo Braxton, III of Salina – 8th Grade Boys Team Leader at The City and son of U.S. Military Academy graduate
  • Karen DeGraaf of Mulvane – U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
  • Anne Emerson of Fort Scott – Southeast Kansas, Inc. Board Member
  • Nicholas Falcetto of Fort Leavenworth – U.S. Army Major and U.S. Military Academy Graduate
  • Ernest Garcia of Overland Park – Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent, retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and former U.S. Selective Service System Chief of Staff
  • Steve Harmon of Emporia – E-Town Solutions Owner/President, Emporia City Commissioner and Kansas National Guard Member
  • Steve Hawley, Ph.D., of Lawrence – University of Kansas Director of Engineering Physics Program and former NASA Astronaut
  • Robin Jackson, Ph.D., of Hutchinson – Central Christian College Professor of Science and Mathematics
  • Ryan Kriegshauser of Topeka – Director of Policy and Special Counsel Kansas Office of the Securities Commissioner and a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves
  • Katrina Lewison of Manhattan – U.S. Military Academy Graduate and Purple Heart Recipient
  • Ron Lucas of Goodland – Vietnam War Veteran and served in the U.S. Army
  • Wendell Maddox of Kansas City – United Way of Wyandotte County President and CEO and served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
  • Jill McCarthy of Overland Park – Kansas City Area Development Council Vice President of Business Development and mother of U.S. Military Academy Graduate
  • Lynne Murray, Ph.D., of Baldwin City – President of Baker University and wife of U.S. Air Force Member
  • Janet Nichols of Manhattan – Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Military Community Liaison
  • Jayne Pearce of Wallace – Marketing and Tourism Director for the Wallace County Visitors Bureau, served in the U.S. Air Force and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
  • Paula Ripple of Dodge City – Retired Dodge City High School English instructor and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate
  • Matt Treaster of Newton – U.S. Naval Academy Graduate and an Assistant United States Attorney
  • Samuel Turner of Leawood – Retired Shawnee Mission Medical Center CEO, Vietnam War Veteran and served in the U.S. Army
  • Ron Whitney of Emporia – American Legion Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars Member and served in U.S. Army

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