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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies, met with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to discuss his ongoing concerns with the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program.

“I have heard from so many Kansas hospitals and health care providers who are frustrated with the flawed RAC program,” Sen. Moran said. “They have been forced to divert significant resources away from caring for patients to appeal incorrect audit decisions that are ultimately overturned. I’ve raised several concerns about this program in letters to HHS, at Appropriations Committee hearings and through language included in the FY2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill, so I was pleased to visit with Administrator Tavenner today. We need to achieve a balance of safeguarding Medicare finances while avoiding costly burdens on hospitals and health care providers that are affecting their ability to care for patients.”

CMS is the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid. The RAC program focuses on post-payment reviews of Medicare claims from health care providers to prevent improper payments, but unfortunately flaws in the program are yielding incorrect audit results. This broken program is unreasonably burdening providers, and has created a two-year appeals backlog at HHS’ Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA). According to the HHS Inspector General, 56 percent of RAC appeals are reversed at OMHA, while several Kansas hospitals have appeal-win rates around 95 percent.

During the meeting, Administrator Tavenner and Sen. Moran discussed actions CMS is taking to improve the RAC program and the related backlog issues at OMHA. In particular, Administrator Tavenner said CMS will:

  • Continue the current RAC moratorium on new reviews for 3-6 months to alleviate the current backlog;
  • Withhold contingency fees from RACs until the second level of appeals levels are exhausted. This will allow health care providers continued use of the disputed funds to support ongoing business operations instead of having them frozen until cases are fully resolved;
  • Establish a quality standard (90 percent accuracy rate) on appeals for RACs. If RACs do not meet this threshold, they will be subject to financial penalty;
  • Require auditors to adjust their document requests based on the size of the provider and a provider’s denial of claims rate. Currently, RACs request documents from health care providers regardless of the resources available to the responding office or its track record of successful compliance with Medicare payment rules. This requirement will force RACs to limit their document requests based on the claim type and focus their efforts on bad actors;
  • Allow a 30-day discussion period before claims are sent to Medicare Administrative Contractors for adjustment requiring auditors to acknowledge receipt within three days of such a request. Currently, RACs are required to stop further discussions upon notification of an appeal by the health care provider. This will allow providers an opportunity to fully discuss their claims with auditors before filing an appeal.

These initiatives are important initial steps toward improving the RAC program and alleviating the burden on health care providers. Additionally, HHS has established a working group to review the appeals process and offer recommendations to resolve the RAC and OMHA appeals backlog issues. Sen. Moran will follow-up on this issue at the FY2015 HHS hearing scheduled for May 7, 2014 with HHS Secretary Sebelius.

Sen. Moran and Administrator Tavenner also discussed Sen. Moran’s opposition to Obama Administration proposals that would cut reimbursements to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and eliminate hospitals from the CAH program. Additionally, they visited about CMS’ cuts to Medicare reimbursement for home health care services, which are threatening many Kansas seniors’ access home health care. Home health care is a cost-effective alternative to other forms of care – especially in rural areas where patients tend to be more geographically dispersed.  Sen. Moran also expressed his objection to CMS’ unreasonable and inflexible physician supervision rules relating to the provision of outpatient therapeutic services. These regulations are making it difficult for many hospitals in Kansas and other rural states to provide these services to patients.  In February, the Senate passed S. 1954, legislation Sen. Moran introduced to prevent the federal government from enforcing these burdensome supervision regulations for CAHs and other small, rural hospitals in 2014. 

During his time in Congress, Sen. Moran has visited every community hospital in Kansas. The visits are extremely useful because they give him the opportunity to talk with Kansas health care providers and learn more about how they care for the residents of their communities.

Click here to read Sen. Moran’s Jan. 29, 2014 letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius stressing the importance of addressing the RAC program’s flaws.

Click here to read Sen. Moran’s Aug. 1, 2013, letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius asking for an update on HHS’ efforts to improve the RAC program.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement on the April 2, 2014, Ft. Hood shooting:

“Today’s shooting at Ft. Hood is a tragedy for the Killeen community, state of Texas, United States Armed Forces and the nation. I humbly ask all Kansans to join Robba and me in keeping victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. As we wait for additional information on this terrible tragedy, we must reaffirm our commitment to protecting this country and its ideals from those who wish to do us harm.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) reacted to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announcement that they will commence a rulemaking process that could expand the number of pilots allowed to fly without obtaining a third-class medical certificate.

“Today’s announcement that the FAA is considering a commonsense rule change is good news for general aviation pilots in Kansas and across the country,” Sen. Moran said. “I encourage pilots to review this proposal and share feedback. I am hopeful an improved FAA rule will remove unnecessary hurdles for pilots trying to get off the ground, while preserving important safety standards in our nation’s skies.”

“I am pleased FAA has taken steps to review medical certification rules,” Sen. Roberts said. “I hope today’s action leads to a solution that will allow more pilots to fly recreationally and in a safe manner without having the burden of obtaining an unnecessary third-class medical requirement.”

Last month, Sens. Roberts and Moran, along with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), introduced the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act, S. 2103. The legislation would expand on the success of FAA’s 2004 Sport Pilot rule, which allows pilots to fly small, light aircraft without a third-class medical certificate, but requires them to undergo a biennial flight review by a certified flight instructor. During these flight reviews, instructors evaluate each pilot’s physical and cognitive condition, as well as his or her ability to safely operate an aircraft.

“For a decade, sport pilots have flown safely without third-class medical certificates, and we’re confident private pilots can do the same,” AOPA President Mark Baker said. “This issue is a top priority for AOPA members and we appreciate the FAA’s decision to move forward with rulemaking. We’re especially grateful to Reps. Rokita and Graves and Sens. Boozman, Roberts, and Moran for their leadership on medical certification reform. They understand the value of general aviation to the economy, the national transportation system, and the American way of life. And they recognize that expanding the third-class medical exemption will make it easier to get new pilots flying and keep experienced pilots safely in the air.”

S. 2103 is supported by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the first anniversary of the majority-rule adoption by the U.N. General Assembly of the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) again expressed frustration with the administration’s decision to sign U.N. ATT, their failure to respond to the bipartisan letter he led last fall, and their new efforts to implement the treaty without first obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate.

Sen. Moran leads the bipartisan opposition of at least 50 U.S. Senators to the U.N. ATT in the Senate. On numerous occasions, the group has expressed to President Obama that the Senate opposes ratification and will not be bound by its obligations including:

  • In May 2012, Sen. Moran spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor about S. 2205, the Second Amendment Sovereignty Act, which he introduced to prohibit funding to negotiate a U.N. ATT that restricts the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens;
  • In July 2012, Sen. Moran drafted a letter signed by 50 of his Senate colleagues and wrote an op-ed notifying the Administration that there was strong enough opposition to block the ATT from Senate passage;
  • In March 2013, Sen. Moran introduced S. Con. Res. 7, a concurrent resolution sponsored by 35 of his Senate colleagues, which outlines specific criteria that must be met for U.N. ATT to be ratified by the U.S. Senate and recognized as customary international law. S. Con. Res. 7 has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Heritage Action, and the Endowment for Middle East Truth; and
  • In October 2013, Sen. Moran led a bipartisan group of 50 U.S. Senators, including Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), in reiterating to President Obama that the Senate overwhelmingly opposes ratification and will not be bound by its obligations.

Click here to view the letter to the president, or find the full text below:

April 2, 2014

President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

On the first anniversary of the majority-rule adoption by the U.N. General Assembly of the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty, I write to express my continued concern and regret at your decision to sign the treaty, at your failure to respond to the bipartisan letter which I led last fall, and at your efforts to implement the treaty without first obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate.

On October 15, 2013, 50 members of the Senate delivered a letter to you pledging to oppose ratification of the treaty, and giving notice that we do not regard the U.S. as bound to uphold its object as purpose. In that letter, we set out six substantive concerns for this position, and invited your response.

Though Assistant Secretary of State Tom Countryman stated in November that the administration is “ready to discuss [the treaty] with people who don’t agree with us...and have offered to do so...repeatedly with very little response,” we have not received even the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

I must conclude from this fact that your administration is not interested in responding substantively to the concerns we have raised. Particularly in view of our constitutional responsibility for providing advice and consent on treaties, and of your proclaimed intention to rely on executive actions to achieve your policy objectives, I find this troubling.

Since October, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have made it clear that they oppose the implementation of the treaty until it passes through the full ratification process, including the passage of implementing legislation. The House sent a parallel letter in October, and, in December, you signed into law the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains a provision prohibiting the Department of Defense from expending any funding to implement the treaty prior to its full ratification.

The views of the Senate having been made clear, I was concerned when your administration announced a new conventional arms export control policy on January 15. While Assistant Secretary Countryman stated in November that “becoming a party to the treaty would not require any additional export or import controls for the United States, full stop,” the new policy, announced only two months later, bears a strong similarity to the criteria and standards in the treaty.

I therefore regard this new policy as an effort on the part of your administration to implement the treaty without obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate. I do not regard this policy as required by the treaty’s object and purpose: I view it as a voluntary effort to implement the treaty. I am disturbed both by the secrecy of the process that produced this new policy and the disregard it shows for the role of the Senate, in particular. I therefore call upon you to withdraw this policy and to consult fully with relevant committees and concerned offices as you revise it.

Finally, I note with regret the recent passing of Ambassador (retired) Donald A. Mahley, Special Negotiator on Nonproliferation, who served on the U.S. delegation to the U.N. that negotiated the Arms Trade Treaty. While we differ on the merits of the treaty, I am sure that you join us in expressing our condolences to his widow, Julianna Mahley, at the death of this tough-minded and plain-speaking servant of the nation in war and peace.

As in October, I urge you to notify the treaty depository that the U.S. does not intend to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, and is therefore not bound by its obligations. I pledge to continue leading my colleagues in opposing the ratification of this treaty, and wish to repeat our previous notice that we do not regard the U.S. as bound to uphold its object and purpose. Lastly, I now urge you to end any and all efforts to implement the treaty before it passes completely through the entire U.S. ratification process, and thereby to show the respect for the constitutional processes that you are sworn to uphold.

I appreciate your consideration on this issue and look forward to your response.
 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        Jerry Moran
U.S. Senator

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which came before the full Senate for debate this week 50 years ago:

“Fifty years ago, the Senate began consideration of what became the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The path to enactment proved difficult, overcoming nearly two months of deliberation before final passage. Yet with excellent leadership and bipartisan cooperation, this chamber achieved one of the most significant legislative accomplishments in our nation’s history.

“The quest for racial equality did not end with the Civil War, the Civil Rights Act or the election of our first African-American president. It is an ongoing project, in which we strive to fulfill the ideals that ‘all men are created equal’ in order to create a just society. We are a better nation because of the Civil Rights Act, and I am hopeful the days of passing historic legislation that improves the lives of all Americans are not in the Senate’s past.”

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Moran Introduces Bill Supporting Restoration of Tribal Homelands

Legislation Reaffirms Secretary of the Interior's Authority to Take Land into Trust for Tribes

Apr 01 2014

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) today introduced bipartisan legislation (S. 2188) to end the uncertainty and unnecessary litigation triggered by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Carcieri v. Salazar decision. 

The Carcieri decision stems from a challenge by the Governor of Rhode Island to the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to take land into trust status for the Narragansett Indian Tribe under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA).  In 2009, the Supreme Court held that the Secretary of the Interior did not have the authority to take land into trust for the tribe.  This decision is creating delays in the processing of land-in-trust applications and in infrastructure and economic development projects across Indian Country, as well as numerous lawsuits.

“It is unjust for there to be two classes of Indians created by the Carcieri v. Salazar decision—those tribes federally recognized in 1934 and those recognized after,” said Senator Moran.  “Tribes should no longer shoulder the burden of lawsuits and uncertainty that hinder their prosperity. The Secretary of Interior’s authority to take land into trust for all tribes is essential for economic development.”

“The Carcieri decision is crippling a key component of tribal sovereignty and economic viability while setting the stage for harmful court cases where only lawyers win,” Chairman Tester said.  “We need to come together, work across party lines, and solve this problem.  This is a difficult issue, but we cannot hold these sovereign nations hostage to a decision that creates two classes of tribes and stalls economic development across Indian Country.”

The legislation reaffirms the Secretary's authority to take land into trust for tribes, regardless of when they were recognized by the Federal government.  The Carcieri decision said that the rights of tribes created before 1934 were secure, while those of tribes who were recognized after 1934 can be perpetually challenged.

President Brian Cladoosby, of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) said, “NCAI is pleased that Senators Tester and Moran have introduced a bill to address the myriad problems created by the Supreme Court’s 2009 decision in Carcieri. The decision has caused significant uncertainty and confusion over legal jurisdiction, creating public safety problems and barriers to desperately needed economic development and job creation. The decision is a direct attack on tribal sovereignty and creates inequality among tribes. Because of the Carcieri decision tribes are also experiencing processing delays in trust land applications and seeing additional bureaucratic red tape for potential economic investors. NCAI looks forward to working with the Committee on correcting these wrongs and ensuring full protection of sovereignty for all tribes.”

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Madam President, it is April Fools’ Day, but it sure feels more like “Groundhog Day” because we are once again here considering an extension of unemployment benefits for the millions of Americans who have been out of work for months, and some of them even for years.

While assistance to those without work serves an important purpose in helping Americans transition, we are failing to address the underlying and more important issue: How do we grow the economy and create jobs for all of our citizens?

A growing economy creates new opportunities for Americans to find meaningful work, and with meaningful work comes an opportunity for Americans to improve their economic security and advance up that economic ladder.

It is one of the reasons Senator Wyden and I started the Economic Mobility Caucus. We wanted to study the facts and explore policy improvements that can make a difference to increase the likelihood that all Americans can do just that — improve their standard of living and move up that economic ladder to a better life.

According to the monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics, their monthly report indicates that 10.5 million Americans are unemployed; 7.2 million Americans are working part time because they cannot find full-time work; 2.4 million Americans want to work but have stopped searching. What a sad circumstance that is for those folks.

Our labor participation rate is hovering around its 35-year low at 63 percent. While those statistics and the lives these numbers represent are pretty discouraging, I want to talk about a piece of good news. We know we can create jobs and we can create a growing economy, and we know from the facts, from the studies, that entrepreneurship, starting a business, giving Americans a chance to pursue the American dream, is the key.

The Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City has studied entrepreneurship. They make clear that most new jobs come from young companies created by entrepreneurs. In fact, since 1980, nearly all of the net new jobs that have been created in our country have been created by companies less than five years old. It kind of makes sense. Big businesses often are looking for ways to cut costs, reduce their workforce. New businesses wanting to succeed increase their workforce. In fact, these new businesses create, on average, three million jobs each year.

Unfortunately, the number of new business startups, those business formed each year, are around their lowest total since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track over 40 years ago. So while we know that startup companies have a great opportunity to create jobs, we are creating the fewest number of startup businesses in nearly 40 years.

A couple of authors, John Dearie and Courtney Geduldig — they are authors of a book called  “Where the Jobs Are” — point out in that book that  “the vital signs of America's job-creating entrepreneurial economy are flashing red alert.” John and Courtney spent an entire summer traveling the United States. They met with more than 200 entrepreneurs in dozens of cities to learn about the challenges those entrepreneurs are facing.

What they found is no surprise to anybody in this Chamber. They are the same issues I hear when I am back in Kansas. Those who start a business struggle with access to money, to capital to start that business; a lack of skilled talent; a complex Tax Code; a regulatory burden; and, boy, a lot of uncertainty, most of it, much of it, resulting from the action or lack of action here in Washington, D.C.

A few years back I set out with a bipartisan group of Senators to address the challenges entrepreneurs face. Together we developed legislation that is now called Startup Act 3.0 to help create a better environment for those whose dream it is to start a new business. The Senate majority leader is frequently talking about allowing votes on legislation that has bipartisan support. This bill, Startup 3.0, is such a bill.

I spent time working with Senator Warner and Senator Coons, Senator King and Senator Klobuchar, as well as Senator Blunt and Senator Rubio. We introduced what I would say is a very commonsense approach to addressing factors that influence an entrepreneur's chance of success: taxes, regulations, access to capital, access to talent.

This legislation has been introduced as an amendment to the unemployment insurance extension bill the Senate is now considering. Unfortunately, at least so far, we have been denied having a vote on what is clearly a job-creating measure. I have offered this as an amendment to other bills on the Senate floor, but if the past is any example of what will happen on this bill, the chances of us being able to offer the amendment, have it considered and voted on, do not look very probable.

Startup 3.0 makes changes to the Tax Code to encourage investment in startups and provides more capital for those who are ready to grow and hire. To address burdensome government regulations, this legislation, now this amendment, requires Federal agencies to determine whether the cost of new regulations outweighs the benefits, and it encourages Federal agencies to give special consideration of the impact proposed regulations would have on a startup business.

As any entrepreneur knows, a good idea is essential to starting a successful business. So Startup 3.0, an amendment now to this bill, improves the process by which information that is funded by Federal research, information that is garnered by Federal research, is more readily available to those who want to start a business, so that tax-funded innovations can be turned into companies that spur economic growth.

Finally, Startup 3.0 provides new opportunities for highly educated and entrepreneurial immigrants to stay in the United States where their talent and new ideas can fuel economic growth and create jobs in America.

For more than two years, Startup Act 3.0 has earned praise from business owners, from chambers of commerce, from economic development officials, from entrepreneurs, from economists, and elected officials. Recently, the California state Senate passed a resolution calling on Congress to pass Startup Act 3.0. The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, when it was in existence, had voiced strong support for several of the bill's provisions.

Unfortunately, none of that support from across the country has progressed in the halls of Congress to see this legislation seriously considered. I can tell you that the reason Congress has not been able to address our economic challenges is not for lack of good ideas. In my view, it is a lack of leadership in the Senate and within the administration, within Washington, D.C., to address the challenges Americans face.

There are plenty of good ideas that can provide immediate relief to Americans, many ideas in addition to Startup 3.0. Some of those examples are a 40-hour workweek. The House is poised to pass legislation. Some of my colleagues are proposing amendments here in the Senate to change full-time employment from 30 hours, as outlined in the Affordable Care Act, back to 40 hours.

Small businesses, restaurants, school districts, and community colleges across Kansas and around the country are already cutting hours to comply with the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act. By fixing this provision, we can make certain that hard-working Americans have the opportunity to work more hours, earn a bigger paycheck, or find full-time employment.

Many of us believe — in fact, a large majority of the United States Senate in a bipartisan way believes — that approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline will help us in two ways: reduce energy costs in the United States, a very important factor in new jobs and expanding the economy, as well as increasing employment during the construction of that pipeline.

A recent poll by Washington Post and ABC News shows that Americans support this three to one. Again 80-some Senators voted in moving forward with the Keystone Pipeline. Yet it has not happened. The President has not made a decision in regard to Keystone Pipeline, has stalled this issue. Nothing in the Senate would suggest the leadership of the Senate is ready to move this ball forward.

The President talks about Trade Promotion Authority, spoke about it in one of his State of the Union Addresses. Yet that is another issue that has not been considered by the Senate. The President apparently has backed off of this issue out of deference to politics. Yet we know — we certainly know this in Kansas — that the airplanes we make in south central Kansas, the wheat we grow in western Kansas, the cattle we grow in our State, that we raise in our State, clearly much of the economic activity that comes from those activities occurs because we are able to sell those agricultural commodities, those manufactured goods around the globe.

Millions of Americans can be better off if there is greater opportunity for what we manufacture, the agricultural products we grow, if they have a wider market. The President and this Congress, particularly the Senate — not this Congress, the Democratic majority here — have focused much of their attention on, for example, the bill we are on, extending the unemployment insurance timeframe, apparently in the near future increasing minimum wage.

Consider these facts. There are 3.6 million Americans at or below the minimum wage level. Minimum wage workers make up 2.5 percent of all workers, and 55 percent are 25 years old or younger. So it is a relatively small portion of the workforce and a young portion of the workforce. I am certainly willing, happy to have a debate about the need to increase the minimum wage, to extend unemployment benefits, in part because I want the Senate to operate.

One of my greatest complaints since my arrival in the Senate is the Senate no longer functions as it has historically, in which issues of importance to the country, whether they are Republican issues, Democratic issues, American issues, middle of the road — this place takes up those issues very rarely. I am willing to have a debate about what is proposed here.

But what I am thinking we are doing is we are missing the real issue if we only deal with those. The minimum wage and extension of unemployment benefits is a symptom of a larger problem. It is that Americans want and need jobs. In my view, this Senate and this President have done nothing to increase the chances that Americans have a better shot at finding a better job.

We have got to grow the economy. By growing the economy — I think that sounds like something that is far removed from the everyday lives of Americans. But growing the economy simply means we are creating greater opportunities for American men and women, for husbands and wives, for sons and daughters, for families to have the opportunity to pursue a career they feel comfortable in, that is satisfactory to their economic needs, and gives them the hope they can improve their lives financially.

So growing the economy is about creating a greater opportunity for every American to pursue what we all have grown up calling the American dream. Unfortunately, the facts, if you believe the Congressional Budget Office, indicate that raising the minimum wage will increase unemployment. In fact, the numbers I saw — this was not the CBO score, but a Texas university study indicated that raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour or more would reduce jobs in my home State by 27,300 jobs.

I doubt that voters care much about CBO reports or about a Texas university study, but they are keenly aware — they see it every day in their own lives — of the lack of opportunity, the dearth of jobs, the reduction in hours, the reduction in opportunity. These reports make clear they are happening because of failed policies and the refusal of the Senate and the President to address the broader issue of what we can do to create jobs for Americans.

I thought the message of the 2010 election, the election where I was brought to the Senate on behalf of Kansans — I thought the message that we all would have, should have received, the message of the election, was the desire for every American to have the chance to improve their lives through a job, through a better job, and through a secure job. In my view, it is time for us to focus on growing the opportunities for all workers everywhere.

With a willing Congress, including leaders who understand these challenges and are willing to address them, I am certain we can create greater opportunities for millions of Americans, including those who no longer or who currently have no meaningful work. The lack of a job is a terrible thing. I think there is a certain moral component, a sense of well-being, a sense of who we are as human beings when we have a job that not only fulfills us financially but gives us a sense of purpose in our daily lives.

As the Senate considers a short-term extension of unemployment insurance, we must not lose sight of that longer term goal of creating an environment for job creation. Again, I would offer Startup Act 3.0, a bipartisan amendment, a bipartisan piece of legislation offered as an amendment, as an opportunity to do that, as part of the consideration of the extension of unemployment benefits. There is no better way to create jobs than to support entrepreneurs and to foster the development of new businesses.

Small business is, as we always say, the backbone of American jobs. So let's stop having this  “groundhog day” moment every few months and let's start tackling the challenges that entrepreneurs across the country are telling us about, that Americans are telling us about, that we learned in the 2010 election mean so much to every American.

Unfortunately, this President and this Senate have done nothing to improve the chances that every American has a better job and a brighter future. Please, Madam President, this is so important. There is so much we can do. Too many times we focus on what we are unable to agree upon. But there is so much we can agree upon, so many things we can do. The American dream depends upon us doing so and doing so now.

The story of Kansas is one that involves many people, many jobs, much ado about caring for others. Our state is a state of manufacturing workers, factory workers, teachers, people who work hard — farmers — every day to make a difference in their community and to make a difference in our state and nation. Today, I want to pay tribute to one of those unsung heroes. In this case, it’s a businessman, a volunteer, a husband, a father, who lived a full life before passing away in December of last year.

Alvin Brensing was born and raised on a farm outside of Hudson, a rural central Kansas town with a population of 125. And after high school, Brensing graduated with honors from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson and in May 1937, at the age of 21, started working as a bookkeeper at the Stafford County Flour Mills.

As German immigrants, the Krug family realized that their American Dream was going to be accomplished by establishing the flour mill more than a century before. Alvin worked under William Krug and then Leonard Brim to help grow the company before being named its president in 1986. Under his leadership, Stafford County Flour Mills doubled its capacity and grew two and a half times its size. It is one of the last independent flour mills remaining in the United States, and the mill produces Hudson Cream Flour. Many of my colleagues and Americans will have seen the bag of flour with the great symbol and emblem — Hudson Cream Flour. And that Hudson Cream Flour has a reputation around the nation as a top-notch baking flour for its consistency and texture. It also serves as a tradition for this West Virginia family who wrote the company saying this:

After using Hudson Cream Flour for all the years I have cooked . . . I can remember even my grandmother and mother using nothing else . . . I read for the first time the “absolute satisfaction guarantee” and really had a good laugh! I thought, if those people in Kansas only knew the absolute satisfaction my family has enjoyed from their product. The things we pass down in our family are good morals, good cooking, and Hudson Cream flour!

After his wife died in 1993, he came to miss the smell of fresh bread and soon began experimenting with the ingredients himself. Alvin came up with three recipes, including “Al's Cinnamon Raisin Bread,” which is included on the back of every Hudson Cream Flour bag.

Alvin always put farmers and customers first. The current Stafford County Flour Mills president Reuel Foote reflected that Alvin often said, “Our word is our bond — if you agree to do something, you do it.”

While Alvin dedicated most of his life to ensuring the success and future of the mill, he was also a tireless volunteer in the Hudson community. Brensing took upon himself to maintain the Hudson Trinity Cemetery, where his parents and wife, Zelda, are buried. In fact, he upgraded a shed on the property into a building where loved ones can now comfortably look up the location of their loved ones’ graves.

Alvin was also known as the local weatherman, collecting data for the National Weather Service from a local grain elevator. And his daughters remember their dad turning the furnace on each Sunday morning to heat up the Trinity Community Church.

His legacy of leadership and volunteerism is what will live on as the Stafford County Flour Mills continue to support the community and educate youth, whether it’s through the county 4-H Program or through the dozens of mill tours given each year. The mill also continues Alvin’s tradition of giving each school kid a five-pound bag of flour after each tour to encourage them to experiment with recipes and baking.

Alvin taught through his actions that satisfaction in life comes from what you do for others rather than what you do for yourself. This is the legacy that I want to pay tribute to today, and this is the legacy that he lived and leaves behind for the future generation.

We want those who follow him and us to know that they have their chance to return home, put down their roots, and raise their own families in places like Hudson, Kansas. Our Nation faces so many challenges today, but we must remain committed to doing what it takes so that tomorrow and every day thereafter our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to enjoy that special way of life in places like Kansas and to pursue their own American Dream.

Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute and remembering the life of a great Kansan, Alvin Brensing.

Sen. Moran Sponsors Hire More Heroes Act

"The Affordable Care Act’s onerous employer mandate should not keep national heroes from being able to find good-paying jobs."

Apr 01 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today joined U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in introducing the Hire More Heroes Act (S. 2190) – legislation to encourage companies to hire more American veterans while providing relief from the burdensome Obamacare employer mandate.

"Veterans who have served our nation with duty and honor deserve job opportunities when they return to civilian life," Sen. Moran said. "The Affordable Care Act’s onerous employer mandate should not keep our national heroes from being able to find good-paying jobs. The Hiring Our Heroes Act makes it easier for businesses to consider hiring veterans amidst the continued delays and confusion of Obamacare, while also helping to make certain veterans can support their families."

The Hire Our Heroes Act would allow employers to exempt veterans or reservists with health care coverage through TRICARE or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from the employer mandate requirements because they already have health care coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, small businesses with 50 or more employees will be required to offer coverage or pay a $2,000 fine per employee, not counting the first 30 employees. A companion bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2014 by a vote of 406 to 1.

This bill is supported by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), the only military service association representing the interests of every enlisted soldier and airmen in the Army and Air National Guard, and the Retired Enlisted Association, a Congressionally-charted veterans’ service organization and the largest association in the nation of enlisted retirees and veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) honored Glenn and Elaine Mull, their daughter Amy Harter and granddaughter Samantha Harter on the U.S. Senate Floor. The Mull family was traveling to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn., last month when their Gulfstream 690C crashed during a landing attempt.

Highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks can be found below, along with links to view and download.

(0:10) “I often describe to my friends and colleagues in Washington, D.C., how special Kansas is…and how we live our lives there. Families are important. The values of family run deep in our communities. We have neighbors who care for each other and we all know each other one on one, name by name, family by family…When tragedy strikes, the entire community is shaken.

(0:43) “I pay tribute today to a family from north central Kansas, the Mulls…were traveling to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association trade show in Nashville…when the plane they were in crashed during its second landing attempt. The jet went down about 10 miles from the airport in Bellevue, Tennessee.

(1:15) “I saw on the Internet a Bellevue resident, who I don’t know, but she wrote this tribute to Glenn Mull, the pilot. She said:

(1:25) ‘Glenn had reached the most bustling section of our community at the busiest time of the day… He would have seen hundreds of homes with cars in the driveway…And an enormous YMCA, where hundreds of families were streaming in and out to swim in the indoor pool, exercise and take classes…

(1:58) ‘Experts are saying now that the last-second sharp turn Glenn made in the seconds before the plane crashed indicated that he made a heroic decision to hit the one spot in the vicinity where no one on the ground would be hurt. And Glenn managed to spare all of their lives.’

(3:23) “Glenn and Elaine were well respected not only in the cattle industry but also in their community for their generous commitment to improving the lives of their neighbors.

(5:08) “Glenn and Elaine’s legacies of selflessness, philanthropy and leadership undoubtedly live on. I have met lots of people in my life, and I don’t know that I have ever met a couple with more optimism, with more care and concern for other people, with a sense that things will be better tomorrow, and the idea that hard work and living your life with integrity and as a companion to your Creator, would mean that good things would happen for you and your family.

(6:50) “Amidst the loss of Glenn and Elaine, their daughter and granddaughter, and this Kansas community’s suffering, what stands out is the outpouring in Larned and Great Bend — at home in central Kansas — the care and compassion shown by their friends and neighbors but also by the residents of Bellevue who were united in care and concern for this family they never knew.”

FTP LINK:  Click here to download his floor speech. (Save to your desktop.)

YOUTUBE:  Click here to watch his remarks on YouTube.

 

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