Medical Research News
There are no records to display that match the provided criteria.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today in response to an announcement from the Supreme Court of the United States that the Court will hear cases concerning the constitutionality of the health care reform law.
“I am pleased the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to consider the constitutionality of the health care reform law. This law has generated significant uncertainty for American families and businesses – compounding the steep economic challenges already facing our nation. This uncertainty imposes an enormous drag on our economy at the worst possible time.
“On January, 1, 2014, the new law’s individual mandate will force most Americans to purchase a certain level of health insurance as defined by the federal government. This new federal requirement is unprecedented and it is critically important that the Court determine as soon as possible whether it is constitutional.”
# # #
Sen. Moran Veterans Day Statement
Nov 11 2011
Sen. Moran visited with AgriTalk's host Mike Adams on November 10, 2011 about his efforts to preserve rural post offices.
Sen. Moran visited with Steve on KNSS' morning show on November 9, 2011 to discuss his opposition to the Obama Administration's efforts to impose a user fee on general aviation aircraft. More than 20 of Sen. Moran's colleauges joined him in expressing their bipartisan opposition to user fees in a letter to the President on November 2, 2011. Click here to read the letter.
Click here to listen to the interview.
Sen. Moran Amendment to Protect Rural Post Offices Approved by Committee
Will stop closure of post offices while Postal Service determines standards of service
Nov 09 2011
Sen. Moran: Time to Enforce Sanctions on Iran
Nov 08 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement in response to a new report released today by the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report presents evidence that Iran’s nuclear work is military in nature and that Iran has mastered steps necessary to design and build a nuclear weapon.
“No doubt should remain about the intent of Iran’s nuclear program. Today’s report from the IAEA makes clear the true purpose and danger of Iran’s nuclear work. Congress has provided the Administration with a toolbox full of sanctions to persuade Iran to change course and it is time to robustly enforce those sanctions.”
Click here to access the IAEA’s report.
# # #
Sen. Moran Statement on Pai Nomination to FCC
Nov 02 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today in response to President Obama’s nomination of Ajit Pai as a Commissioner to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):
“I fully support the nomination of Ajit Pai to be FCC Commissioner. As the first Kansan to be nominated in 40 years, Ajit will bring an understanding of the challenges facing rural America at a time when many important decisions about the future of telecommunications are being discussed at the Commission. His background both at the FCC and in the private sector will also be an asset as he seeks to balance the regulatory role of the FCC with the need to encourage competition and free market principles.”
Mr. Pai is currently a partner at Jenner & Block law firm, and previously worked in the Office of the General Counsel of the FCC, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel.
Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Pai served as Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, when then-Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) served as Chairman. Mr. Pai also served as Senior Counsel in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice and began his public sector career with the Telecommunications Task Force of the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. In addition, Mr. Pai has served as Associate General Counsel at Verizon. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago, and is a native of Parsons, Kansas.
The FCC is directed by five Commissioners, which are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms.
###
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today responded to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) inadequate 30-day extension of the public comment period for proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Farmers and ranchers were given inadequate notice of, and insufficient time to comment on, the proposed rule which could fundamentally disrupt agriculture practices across the country. The proposed changes include a ban on many common farm activities of youth on farms or ranches not directly owned by their parents.
“The Department of Labor’s proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act did not come by recommendation of Congress; they came out of the blue, lack common sense and a basic understanding of how agricultural operations work, and pose a real threat to the future of family farms and rural communities in Kansas and across the country,” Sen. Moran said. “It is DOL’s responsibility to make certain there is sufficient time for thorough vetting of a proposal with such far-reaching consequences. Given the timing of the original comment period, it appears the Department is trying to impose this regulation without vital input from farmers and ranchers."
Last week, Sen. Moran led 31 of his Senate colleagues in asking U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to extend the comment period by a minimum of 60 days because DOL set the original 60-day comment period during the fall harvest season. This is the busiest time of year for agricultural producers – the group that would be most impacted by the proposed rule changes.
In addition to Sen. Moran, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ben Nelson, Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Dick Lugar (R-Ind.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).
# # #
Mr. President, yesterday we concluded our work in the Senate on our version of the agricultural appropriations bill. I am a member of the Appropriations Committee; I am a member of the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee, and I supported the legislation that we passed, but there is an outstanding issue at the Department of Agriculture that I was only recently made aware of. It, to me, is a very serious issue, which, given more time, I would have taken action here on the Senate floor, as an issue that I’ll continue to pursue as a member of the Conference Committee as we work toward our final FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill.
The issue involves a memo issued by the Department of Agriculture last month, on October the 6th, authorizing the Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to conduct an animal welfare scientific forum. This forum approved by Undersecretary Edward Avalos on October the 12th. I’d ask unanimous consent to submit the USDA’s memo for the record.
Mr. President, thank you. The ironic thing about this forum is that there’s little science involved. It is nothing more than, in my view, the Department of Agriculture spending taxpayer dollars on a forum to provide the Human Society of the United States [HSUS] a public forum to espouse its anti-agricultural views. The document speaks for itself in this regard, and on page two the document states that APHIS, the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Representatives believe that the Humane Society’s intent is to promote and position the organization to be recognized nationally as influencing APHIS policy on critical and sensitive welfare issues.
After reading that statement, it becomes clear that the Department of Agriculture is catering to an outside organization instead of relying upon the advice of animal scientists at our land grant universities or even within the Department of Agriculture. If the Department of Agriculture was interested in science, why would it allow an animal rights organization to steer its agenda? Why wouldn’t APHIS simply request the latest animal research from scientists across the country to make sure that its guidance is up to date? In addition to catering to HSUS in planning this forum, the Department of Agriculture is precluding input from members of the agriculture industry it is supposed to promote. The memo states HSUS and other welfare advocacy groups would be invited to participate in a pre-planning meeting for the forum with senior leaders from wildlife services, animal care, and veterinary services. These groups would have input into the topics to be discussed, potential speakers for the topics, dates and times for the forum, how the forum should run, et cetera. That’s quoting from the memo.
No mention is made in the memo of asking any agricultural organization or animal scientist for pre-planning assistance. According to the memo, HSUS is going to set the agenda for this forum. Even if the agriculture industry is later invited to the event, agriculture would already have the cards already stacked against them. I think it’s important for most Americans to understand that HSUS is not your local animal shelter; HSUS is a national lobbying organization that spends most of its budget to lobby against farmers and ranchers that provide us with the food and clothing that we enjoy in this country. In fact, tax documents show that HSUS spends less than 1% of its budget on grants to animal shelters. Given these facts, you would have to wonder why the Department of Agriculture is giving this organization this platform and shunning producer organizations.
This is one more demonstration that this administration is no real friend of rural America or the American farmer and rancher. My purpose this morning is to inform my fellow Senators on what I consider this troubling development at the Department of Agriculture and to put the Secretary on notice that this type of conduct from the Department is unacceptable. The Department’s mission statement reads like this: we provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues based upon sound public policy, the best possible science, and efficient management. USDA should live up to its mission statement and work to promote agriculture, not to work against farmers and ranchers best interest—and I would say, not to work against the best interests of the consumer of food in this country. Going forward, I will do my best to ensure that the Department of Agriculture adheres to its mission statement.
Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity to speak.
