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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (Kan.) released the following statements after the House of Representatives passed their legislation to commemorate the historic sites that contributed to the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate earlier this month, now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This legislation will expand the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Kansas and designate National Park Service (NPS) Affiliated Areas in Delaware, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“Kansan Linda Brown and her parents took their case all the way to the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, leading to the unanimous overturn of the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that discriminated against school children because of their skin color,” said Sen. Moran. “I look forward to the President signing this legislation into law to expand and preserve the historic sites in Kansas and around the country connected to this case. Kansas has played a key role in the civil rights movement, and we must seek to preserve this legacy which calls on all Americans to uphold the self-evident truth that all men and women are created equal.”

“Decades ago, parents in the Topeka area stood up for their children and fought against segregation, ultimately leading to a vital Supreme Court decision that changed our nation for the better,” said Sen. Marshall. “Kansas has a rich history of engagement in the fight for civil rights and these historical sites hold a special place in our hearts. I am proud to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to advance this important legislation so future generations can continue to learn about these pivotal times in American history.”

Items to Note:

  • The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka transformed the United States, striking down the separate-but-equal doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. The Brown decision was a major catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
  • The creation of NPS Affiliated Areas in Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia for sites associated with the Brown v. Board of Education case and an expansion of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to include the related sites in South Carolina provides an opportunity for these sites to tell their own under-recognized histories of the Brown v. Board of Education case.
  • In collaboration with local partners and other stakeholders, the National Trust will continue its work to bring recognition to communities that fought for school integration and make connections between communities engaged in the fight for educational equity, past and present.
  • The bill text is available here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Bob Casey (Pa.) – co-chairs of the Senate Hunger Caucus – today applauded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to utilize the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust to address the global hunger crisis.

“The consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the world as countries that relied on Russia and Ukraine for food are now facing widespread hunger,” said Sen. Moran. “Feeding hungry people is – most importantly – the morally right thing to do and will foster goodwill and political stability in countries facing famine, hunger and starvation.”

“As Putin’s war rages in Ukraine, people around the world are facing food and fertilizer shortages exacerbated by the conflict,” said Sen. Casey. “I applaud the decision to utilize the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust to provide millions of dollars in food assistance to support vulnerable countries feeling this pain. We have to continue to meet the challenge of worldwide hunger head on and work to prevent the devastating impact of hunger and malnutrition around the globe.”

The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was created to purchase U.S. commodities to respond to unanticipated food crises abroad. Secretary Vilsack announced the food assistance will be going to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

On January 24, Sens. Moran and Casey led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the USDA and USAID to release resources within the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The letter was also signed by Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

On March 4, Sen. Moran urged USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to prioritize using U.S. agricultural export assistance and international food aid programs to help supply markets left unfulfilled as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to utilize resources currently available in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust to meet the unanticipated global hunger crisis.

On March 23, Sen. Moran and Sen. Brown co-authored an op-ed calling for the BEHT to be utilized to meet growing hunger needs abroad.  

On March 24, Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor to call attention to the growing world hunger crisis.
  

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Sen. Moran Questions U.S. Attorney General Garland on Rising Violent Crime

Moran: Violent Crime Continues to Lack the Attention it Requires

Apr 26 2022

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies – today questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Biden administration’s response to rising crime in the United States during the committee’s hearing to review the President’s FY2023 Budget request for the Department of Justice.

 “Violent crime continues to lack the attention it requires,” said Sen. Moran. “It is absolutely critical that the Department of Justice supports state and local law enforcement, both through grant programs and through joint law enforcement operations. The budget includes an increase to the FY2022 enacted level for DOJ, however, the rhetoric and behavior from the administration too often sends a different signal.”

 “If law enforcement officers are not respected or shown respect from our leaders, they will not be respected within the community,” continued Sen. Moran. “We have also seen an appalling increase in attacks against police officers. It is no surprise that police departments and sheriff offices are short staffed and having issues recruiting new police officers.” 

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Opening Remarks

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Question on Violent Crime to Attorney General Garland

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) released the following statements regarding Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement to reopen the American embassy in Kyiv. Last week, Sens. Moran and Daines called on Secretary Blinken to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to demonstrate confidence in Ukraine and its people.

“America’s presence and leadership in Ukraine matters,” said Sen. Moran. “Secretary Blinken’s statement to reopen the embassy in Kyiv is a move I called for and support, and I will continue to urge the Biden administration to get this done as quickly as possible. Our European allies have resumed embassy operations in Kyiv, and it is past time for America to do the same and show our full support for a Ukraine whole and free.”

“It’s about time—I’m glad to see the Biden administration listen to my calls to resume diplomatic operations in Ukraine,” said Sen. Daines. “The world needs to know that the U.S. has confidence in President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine to prevail in their fight to end Putin’s war of aggression.”

Sen. Moran and Sen. Daines visited the Ukrainian-Polish border with a bipartisan group of senators in March. Sen. Daines was also one of the first American officials to visit Ukraine earlier this month.

The letter to Secretary Blinken can be found here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to re-open the American embassy in Kyiv to demonstrate confidence in Ukraine and its people.  

“We recognize that the danger to Kyiv has not entirely subsided, and we share concerns for the safety of our embassy personnel,” the senators wrote. “However, the United States historically has maintained embassies in nations at war, including those capitals under direct attack. Resuming normal embassy operations at once will reinforce the importance of diplomacy and America’s full support for a Ukraine whole and free.”

The full letter can be found HERE and below.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

With Ukraine’s successful defense of Kyiv and Russia’s subsequent withdrawal of forces from the areas surrounding the capital, we encourage you to fully open the United States embassy without delay. Ukraine faces enormous military, economic, and humanitarian challenges as a result of this war. America’s restored diplomatic presence in Kyiv will enhance cooperation with a democratic partner as it wages an existential defense and symbolically affirm our nation’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.

We recognize that the danger to Kyiv has not entirely subsided, and we share concerns for the safety of our embassy personnel. However, the United States historically has maintained embassies in nations at war, including those capitals under direct attack. The diplomats and all who serve at our Kyiv embassy will continue a long tradition of advancing America’s relationships even under duress. We note that several European allies recently have relocated their embassies to the capital.

Our continued absence in Kyiv, no matter how prudent up to now, signals a lack of confidence in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and the diplomatic missions under its protection. Yet President Zelenskyy and the nation he leads have removed any doubt about Ukraine’s commitment to winning this war. With critical material support from the United States and our allies, Kyiv still stands. Resuming normal embassy operations at once will reinforce the importance of diplomacy and America’s full support for a Ukraine whole and free. 

We ask that you provide a response detailing plans for staffing our embassy in Kyiv, including the conditions necessary to restore an embassy presence at pre-war levels. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) – today released the following statement regarding his commitment to passing legislation to provide health care to veterans suffering from toxic exposures:

“I spoke with VFW leaders in Kansas and nationwide to express my goal of passing comprehensive toxic exposure legislation. When our men and women are injured or become ill because of their military service, it is our responsibility to see they receive the health care and benefits they deserve. Our servicemembers are willing to sacrifice for our country, and we must match that level of commitment by delivering the best care, treatment and benefits for those who served our country.

"Sen. Tester and I recently passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act and are working together to amend the PACT Act. As stated by VA Secretary Denis McDonough and members of the Senate VA Committee, the PACT Act needs work before being brought to the full Senate for a vote. We are working on this legislation to ensure it provides health care and benefits to toxic-exposed veterans, continues operations of the VA without disruptions and creates a lasting framework for VA to make decisions driven by scientific evidence.”

Timeline of Sen. Moran’s work for toxic-exposed veterans:

March 29, 2022: Senate VA Committee holds a hearing on toxic exposure legislation.

February 17, 2022: Sen. Moran calls on President Biden to unite Congress around the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act to deliver on our nation's promise to veterans.

February 16, 2022: The U.S. Senate unanimously passes the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act.

February 2, 2022: The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act unanimously passes the Senate VA Committee and is sent to the full Senate for consideration.

February 1, 2022: Sens. Moran and Tester introduce the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act — landmark bipartisan legislation that would expand VA health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans.

March 23, 2021: Sen. Moran cosponsored the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act, bipartisan legislation that fundamentally reforms and improves how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

March 2021: Sens. Moran and Tester called on the VA to expedite Vietnam veterans’ Blue Water Navy Claims to provide long-overdue benefits and care to veterans from Agent Orange exposure.

March 10, 2021: Sen. Moran participated in a hearing on military toxic exposures focused on the human costs incurred from hazards such as Agent Orange and burn pits.

February 26, 2021:  Sens. Moran and Tester led a letter to VA calling on them to expedite a decision for Vietnam veterans suffering from Hypertension—a condition scientifically shown to have an association with exposure to Agent Orange.

February 2021: Sen. Moran called on the VA secretary to work with Congress, the CDC, and the DoD to find solutions for Karshi-Khanabad Airbase (K2) in Uzbekistan veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service at Camp Stronghold Freedom.

September 23, 2020: Senator Moran chaired an SVAC business meeting to unanimously pass the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act out of committee.

June 17, 2020: Sens. Moran, Tester and Tillis hosted a roundtable discussion with the VA, Department of Defense, Centers for Disease Control and several veteran service organizations regarding care for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

December 2016: Sen. Moran’s Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2016 was passed and signed into law as part of a bipartisan veterans’ package. The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2016 invested in research on toxic exposure and the potential connection of toxic exposure to heath conditions affecting descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their military service.

April 16, 2016: Sen. Moran attended a town hall meeting in Kansas City on the effect of toxic exposure, Agent Orange and Hepatitis on veterans. 

April 15, 2016:  Sen. Moran introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to require the VA to conduct a study and assessment on the current research available regarding the health conditions related to exposure to toxic substances.

September 29, 2015: Sen. Moran participated in an SVAC hearing on the impact of exposures to toxic chemicals on veterans and the VA’s response.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) today released the following statement on the passing of Jon Wefald, former president of Kansas State University:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Jon Wefald. As president, he shepherded Kansas State University through one of its toughest periods, successfully navigating the university though the uncertain terrain of K-State’s athletic program and enrollment issues. I remember seeing not just K-State’s, but Manhattan’s, progress during his tenure, and the revitalization the community continues to enjoy is due in large part to his 23 years of leadership at the helm.

“President Wefald cared deeply about students and the K-State community. He had a keen ability to identify potential in young people and mentor them to help reach it. He did so for both of my daughters as he recruited them into the K-State family. 

“Robba and I are praying for his wife, Ruth Ann, his sons, Andy and Skipp, and their families and loved ones.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) today released the following statement on the passing of Deborah Bardo, former first lady of Wichita State University:

“My condolences are with the Bardo family and Wichita State community. After receiving her degrees from Wichita State University, Deborah gave back to the school by continuing her career there. She and her husband John, former President of WSU, were a great team as they led the school together for many years, and as WSU’s First Lady, Deborah took interest in fostering the university’s tight-knit community and supporting its students. Robba and I are praying for their son, Christopher, and the Bardos’ loved ones during this difficult time.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) this week led 12 of his colleagues in seeking answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on recent changes to how the department enforces border security and processes migrants at the southern border.

“In Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 1.7 million encounters with individuals attempting to cross the border illegally, the highest single year total ever recorded,” the senators wrote. “Even more troubling is the fact that this year is on pace to far exceed the record-breaking numbers from last year.”

“The Biden administration’s decision to terminate the Title 42 public health order that provided border agents the authority to perform expedited removals is the latest example of troubling policy moves,” the senators continued. “Last year, Title 42 was used more than 1 million times to quickly expel individuals who crossed the border illegally. Such a move will undoubtedly leave CBP and law enforcement along the border vulnerable to being overwhelmed in the face of sustained record levels of illegal crossings.”

The letter was signed by Senators Thom Tillis (N.C.), Jim Inhofe (Okla.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Mike Braun (Ind.), John Boozman (Ark.), Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), Roy Blunt (Mo.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Joni Ernst (Iowa) and James Risch (Idaho). 

The full letter can be found HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Mayorkas:

We write today to express our grave concerns with actions taken by the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the effect they will have on our ability to secure our southern border. These concerns are exacerbated as it becomes more likely every day that this year we will surpass the record-breaking number of encounters at the southern border experienced last year.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 1.7 million encounters with individuals attempting to cross the border illegally, the highest single year total ever recorded. Even more troubling is the fact that this year is on pace to far exceed the record-breaking numbers from last year. In February, CBP recorded nearly 165,000 encounters, setting a record for that particular month and marking the twelfth month in a row in which encounters exceeded 150,000.

Securing the southern border and deterring the sustained, record-breaking flow of illegal and irregular migration should be a top priority for DHS. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has done the opposite by instituting policies that encourage individuals to make the dangerous trek north and entrust their safety to dangerous drug cartels at the risk of being murdered, assaulted or trafficked.

In September of last year, you issued new guidance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its enforcement and removal operations which dramatically limited the scope of individuals ICE prioritizes for enforcement. With the publication of the ICE Annual Report last month, we learned the results of this policy and, as expected, they are extremely disconcerting as both arrests and removals reached the lowest levels ever recorded. Even more troubling is the fact that arrests and removals of those convicted of a crime were down 48% and 63%, respectively.

More recently, your department has moved to dramatically alter America’s system for granting asylum by striping immigration judges of decision-making authority and giving it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asylum officers. Such a move raises serious red flags, given that 85% of determinations of credible fear by a USCIS asylum officers are later overturned by an immigration judge.

Finally, the Biden administration’s decision to terminate the Title 42 public health order that provided border agents the authority to perform expedited removals is the latest example of troubling policy moves. Last year, Title 42 was used more than 1 million times to quickly expel individuals who crossed the border illegally. Such a move will undoubtedly leave CBP and law enforcement along the border vulnerable to being overwhelmed in the face of sustained record levels of illegal crossings. It has been reported that there are some 25,000 individuals already waiting in Mexico for Title 42 to be lifted and US intelligence estimates an influx of more than 170,000 total.

It’s clear that the humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border will not slow in the coming months and is on pace to be even worse. We understand DHS is actively preparing to respond to the increased illegal and irregular migration, but more details of the plans are needed. We ask that you answer the following questions by April 27, 2022.

  1. Currently, how many daily encounters does DHS estimate can be expected in the days following the termination of Title 42? And how many total encounters does DHS estimate for FY 2022?

 

  1. How many additional personnel do you anticipate will need to be surged to the southern border in response to the increased encounters? Please provide a breakdown of the specific personnel (i.e., officers, agents, and DHS Volunteer Force) and the anticipated roles they will be filling.

 

  1. What effect will this repositioning of personnel have on DHS’s mission elsewhere around the country?

 

  1. To what extent does the DHS contingency plan rely on alternatives to detention?

 

  1. To what extent does the DHS contingency plan rely on the use of Notices to Report and Notices to Appear?

 

  1. Has DHS requested support or resources from other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to respond to circumstances that may follow on the end of the Title 42 order?

Addressing the problems facing our broken immigration system in order to provide an effective and efficient legal pathway for those who wish to share in and contribute to the success of our great nation is, as it should be, a priority. However, this cannot be accomplished until we are able to properly secure our borders. Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your reply.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (Kan.) released the following statements after the Senate unanimously passed legislation to commemorate the historic sites that contributed to the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. This legislation will expand the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to include historic sites in South Carolina and designate National Park Service (NPS) Affiliated Areas in other states. It would recognize the importance of the additional sites that catalyzed litigation in Delaware, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia and the District of Columbia by designating them NPS Affiliated Areas, and expand the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas.

“Kansan Linda Brown and her parents took their case all the way to the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, leading to the unanimous overturn of the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that discriminated against school children because of their skin color,” said Senator Moran. “I look forward to the President signing this legislation into law to expand and preserve the historic sites in Kansas and around the country connected to this case. Kansas has played a key role in the civil rights movement, and we must seek to preserve this legacy which calls on all Americans to uphold the self-evident truth that all men and women are created equal.”

“Decades ago, parents in the Topeka area stood up for their children and fought against segregation, ultimately leading to a vital Supreme Court decision that changed our nation for the better,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansas has a rich history of engagement in the fight for civil rights and these historical sites hold a special place in our hearts. I am proud to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to advance this important legislation so future generations can continue to learn about these pivotal times in American history.”

Items to Note:

The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was described by constitutional scholar Louis H. Pollak as “probably the most important American government act of any kind since the Emancipation Proclamation.” The Brown decision transformed the United States, striking down the separate-but-equal doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. The Plessy decision was the linchpin that condoned and entrenched legalized segregation across the South, despite protections clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution and underscored by the 14th and 15th Amendments.

These laws stayed in placed for nearly 100 years after Reconstruction, but pioneering civil rights lawyers like Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, William Hastie, Constance Baker Motley, Louis Lorenzo Redding and others challenged the constitutionality of segregation and won. The Brown decision ended the practice of legalized segregation in educational facilities and was a major catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

The history of Brown v. Board of Education is represented in our national consciousness by a single building, Monroe School, which is a National Historic Site located in Topeka, Kansas. This limited geographic scope condenses public memory of these events and inadvertently fails to recognize the contributions of the other communities in Claymont, Delaware; Hockessin, Delaware; Wilmington, Delaware; Summerton, South Carolina; Farmville, Virginia; and the District of Columbia that were also important to the fight for equality and that saw their cases consolidated with the Brown case. The geographic dispersion of these locations demonstrates that Brown v. Board of Education is truly a story of a national struggle with national significance.

The creation of NPS Affiliated Areas in Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for sites associated with the Brown v. Board of Education case and an expansion of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to include the related sites in South Carolina provides an opportunity for these sites to tell their own uplifting, under-recognized stories of students, parents, and their allies who helped shape American society.

Enactment of this legislation has the potential to appropriately recognize the sites associated with the other four court cases and help them to combine current uses with preservation and public education.  In collaboration with local partners and other stakeholders, the National Trust will continue their collective work to bring recognition to communities that fought for school integration, helping these sites to tell their own history of the Brown v. Board of Education case and make connections to other communities engaged in the fight for educational equity, past and present.

The bill text is available here.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is a multi-year initiative led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with the Ford Foundation, the JPB Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and other partners, working to make an important and lasting contribution to our cultural landscape by elevating the stories and places of African American achievement and activism.

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