WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today urged President Trump to reengage Canada in trade negotiations and expressed the importance of Canada being part of any final North American trade deal.

“Trade with Canada and Mexico has clearly benefited Kansans, and a modernized NAFTA, or re-named trilateral agreement, can present increased economic opportunity and growth to Kansas and the country,” wrote Sen. Moran. “As I continue to study the emerging details of the preliminary agreement with Mexico, it appears there are improvements included that would update the agreement to reflect the 21st century economy. Further negotiations with Canada are necessary to address difficult issues, such as Canada’s protectionist dairy policies that have harmed Kansas farmers. However, any new agreement that excludes Canada would unfortunately be a significant step in the wrong direction compared to the trilateral agreement in place today.”

The full text of the letter is below and available here.

Dear Mr. President:

I applaud you for reaching a preliminary agreement between the United States and Mexico on a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Any agreement that has been in place for decades should be reviewed and modernized and I support your efforts to get a better deal for the American people. While the preliminary agreement with Mexico represents a significant step forward in your efforts to modernize NAFTA, it is critical to Kansans that Canada be included in any final agreement presented to Congress for approval.

Kansas is an export dependent state – our farmers, ranchers and manufacturers rely on the ability to sell to consumers around the world. North American markets are especially important to my state. In 2017, Canada was the top market for Kansas, accounting for over 22 percent of all exports. Canada and Mexico consistently rank as the number one and two export markets for Kansas and together account for over one-third of overall exports. NAFTA has also resulted in integrated North American supply chains that rely on a free flow of goods and products across the continent. Many jobs in Kansas, including those in the agriculture, aerospace, automobile and other manufacturing industries, would be threatened should these supply chains be disrupted or export markets be diminished.

Trade with Canada and Mexico has clearly benefited Kansans, and a modernized NAFTA, or re-named trilateral agreement, can present increased economic opportunity and growth to Kansas and the country. As I continue to study the emerging details of the preliminary agreement with Mexico, it appears there are improvements included that would update the agreement to reflect the 21st century economy. Further negotiations with Canada are necessary to address difficult issues, such as Canada’s protectionist dairy policies that have harmed Kansas farmers. However, any new agreement that excludes Canada would unfortunately be a significant step in the wrong direction compared to the trilateral agreement in place today.

I understand that you and your administration will engage with Canada in trade discussions following the preliminary agreement reached with Mexico. I fully support continued negotiations and urge you to make certain a final agreement includes Canada to avoid major market disruptions that would harm Kansans. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today delivered remarks on the Senate floor to honor and pay tribute to Senator John McCain.

Click Here to Watch the Full Remarks

Full transcript of Sen. Moran’s remarks:

“Mr. President, I join my colleagues today in tribute to our colleague, Senator John McCain of Arizona. You know, we look for heroes in this world. It seems to me we're always looking in the wrong places and we look at baseball diamonds and basketball courts and amp theaters of stadiums and where performers sing. We fail to look in the right places.

“Sometimes we're with heroes and we don't always recognize it at the moment. But there is no American I know that is more deserving of the title ‘hero’ than John McCain. Those who serve us in the military, they are entitled to that honorific, and those who serve our veterans, they're heroes, too. Senator McCain lived a life in which heroics were part of every day.

“I first met John McCain in 1996 in Hays, Kansas, my hometown. Senator Bob Dole, then a candidate for president of the United States, would fly into the airport in Hays near his hometown of Russell. This time he had a guest with him, John McCain, who was his campaign chairman in his presidential campaign. I watched the two of them interact and it's really the first time I had the opportunity to see a senator, perhaps other than my own two from Kansas. Senator Dole had the greatest regard for Senator McCain. Senator Dole wore the P.O.W. bracelet never having known John McCain when he was a P.O.W. But by happenstance chose to wear a bracelet in honor of and respect for, being concerned about a P.O.W. in Vietnam. And they learned on the Senate floor John McCain – John McCain learned on the Senate floor that Bob Dole wore it his throughout much of his captivity.

“I respect and honor Senator Dole and I saw that day the respect and honor he had for a fellow senator, a fellow serviceman, a fellow veteran, both Senator Dole and Senator McCain whose lives were dramatically affected by their service to our nation. Quite frankly, when I arrived in the United States Senate, I was intimidated by Senator McCain. He was vitriolic. He had the opportunity, he had the habit of exploding at a moment's notice, something could set him off, something he cared passionately about could cause him to react.

“And in my early days as a new United States Senator, I didn't seek the companionship of John McCain. That was a mistake on my part because despite his prickly nature, knowing John McCain became one of the most valuable experiences I've had in the Senate. We began working together on one of those issues that John McCain and no one else in the United States Senate could have the stature to deal with. Certainly our military men and women, the defense of our nation, but we bonded in our efforts to see that the veterans of our nation receive the care that they deserve, that they receive their benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs that they are entitled to, and that they earn through their service to our nation. That work, a McCain-Moran bill, became a significant part of the VA MISSION Act, and I learned in that experience the dedication that Senator McCain has to those who have served. To make sure that mistakes made at the Department of Veterans Affairs – that may have cost veterans their lives – never happen again. Initially that resulted in the VA Choice Act. And just recently passed by the House, passed by the Senate, signed by the president, legislation that we named in honor of John McCain, the VA MISSION Act, which replaces and improves the Choice Act.

“In that experience in working with Senator McCain on behalf of America’s veterans, I also got acquainted with Senator McCain’s staff. And I think it’s probably true that we can learn a lot about our colleagues by the people they surround themselves with and the way that a senator treats his or her staff member – and perhaps, even more importantly, the way that staff, those individuals who work for a United States Senator, treat their boss. And what I saw from those who work for Senator McCain was abiding respect, love and care, and compassion for United States Senator John McCain. Told me a lot about his staff, but told me even more about the person and character of Senator McCain.

“I also discovered in my time working in the Senate with John McCain his abiding love for the people of Arizona. Senator McCain could be a national figure – was a national figure – but could be only a national figure if he desired. He had the stature to be a person that was known not only in the state he represented, but in the nation and around the world. And while Senator McCain represented the United States well, here in the United States Senate and in countries around the globe, you could tell that Senator McCain cared and loved the people he represented at home. He respected them. He recognized that they were the ones that gave him the opportunity to perform on a national stage, and he never forgot Arizonians.

“I appreciate the way that he and Senator Flake, his junior colleague from Arizona, worked together on behalf of the citizens of his state. So while it would’ve been easy for John to play only the national figure, he never forgot from where he came.

“And while much of my comments today have paid my respects to Senator McCain for his service in the United States Senate, it is his service in the military, in the Navy, that is most compelling to me. I’ve known this story throughout my life, and it’s been reported and repeated here on the Senate floor, but I do not know a person who, as a prisoner of war, given the opportunity to be released, and to return home to family and loved ones, I do not know a person who would say no. I do not know a person other than John McCain who would say ‘no, it’s not my turn.’ ‘No, there are others who are prisoners of war who are more deserving and in fact, on the list ahead of me to be released.’

“What an honor to know a person who puts others so much ahead of himself. To know someone who, because of his love of country and love of those who served, and his sense of responsibility and obligation to those he served with, and who were prisoners of war with him, that he had the character, the values, to say ‘no, it’s not my turn.’ I wish I knew people, I wish I was one of those. And so today, I certainly honor Senator McCain for his status and service as a senator, but I admire and respect him for his service to the nation, his service in the Navy and his care and compassion for those he served with.

“John McCain led a full and meaningful life. He instructed us numerous times about our behavior here in the United States Senate. He asked us, as Americans, to behave differently. He asked our country to come together.

“We desperately need the opportunity for Americans to see what they’re seeing on the Unites States Senate floor this week, where both republicans and democrats are honoring the life and service of John McCain. We need to answer his call. We need to honor his request to make certain the work we perform is done for all Americans. John McCain was a republican, but much more so, he was an American. He reminds me of what I see on the monuments and memorials on the Nation’s Mall when I make my trek up to the Lincoln Memorial and past the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and the Korean War Memorial.

“No one memorialized there fought, died, sacrificed or served for republicans or democrats. John McCain and those we memorialize recognize a higher calling.  If we could do something that would alter our behavior in respect to John McCain, what a difference we might make in the country. And if Americans can use this moment to pull together, our country will be better.

“John McCain led a full and meaningful life. I admired him, I respected him, and I loved him. Senator McCain, thank you for your service to our nation – it is a grateful nation.

‘Eternal father strong to save, whose arms hath bound the restless wave’ – the Navy Hymn. May John McCain rest in peace.”
 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies – today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced details of its disaster aid package to offset losses from ongoing global trade disputes:

“Kansas farmers and ranchers continue to struggle with low commodity prices, made worse by retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agricultural exports. Today’s announcement of disaster aid will provide short-term relief to producers harmed most by the tariffs; however, I remain concerned that no disaster package will be enough to cover the long-term costs of lost export markets.

“The aid also does not address the many other Kansas manufacturers and small businesses that have been harmed by the tariffs. Kansas farmers and ranchers, as well as manufacturers, would be best served by resolving trade disputes that have driven down commodity prices, while aggressively pursuing new markets to sell the food and fiber we produce. I appreciate Secretary Perdue’s recognition that farmers are being negatively impacted by the tariffs and will continue encouraging the administration to work to expand export markets to benefit Kansas agricultural producers and manufacturers.” 

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – today announced that the recently enacted FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes language to stabilize the Department of Defense (DoD) 2011 Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List. This language allows DoD to continue replacing schools while completing a follow-up audit previously required by law.

“I am pleased to announce authorization has been secured for USD 475 to plan for and apply for grants to construct a new elementary school at Fort Riley,” said Sen. Moran. “It is has always been my priority in Congress to make certain that we are not only supporting our servicemembers, but that we are also supporting their children and families. A new elementary school at Fort Riley will prevent overcrowding and provide our servicemembers’ children access to modern and high-quality educational resources and facilities they deserve.”

“Throughout my time in Congress, and especially since the 1st Infantry Division’s return to Fort Riley in 2005, I am proud to have worked closely with DoD to invest in resources to grow and support Fort Riley’s critical infrastructure, including new middle and elementary schools and the state-of-the-art Irwin Army Hospital,” Sen. Moran continued. “I remain committed to furthering these existing, proven partnerships so Fort Riley can remain the best place to live, train, deploy from, come home to and retire.”

Items to Note:

• The newly-enacted NDAA language expands the number of infrastructure projects eligible to apply for a DoD Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant by five.

• The expansion includes the replacement of Jefferson Elementary School in USD 475 located on Fort Riley. This project was included in the 2011 Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List issued by the Secretary of Defense. This same priority list allowed for the replacement of Fort Riley Middle School through a grant awarded in 2012 and Fort Riley Elementary School through a grant awarded in 2014.

• The FY2017 NDAA required DoD to conduct an additional audit of public schools on installation requirements. The results of the audit are expected to be released this year and will dictate the order of priority regarding the remaining projects on the Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List.

• The OEA is awaiting confirmation of FY2019 NDAA funding guidance before soliciting a grant application from USD 475. If approved, the OEA will make an 80 percent matching grant available for the purposes of constructing a new grade school on Fort Riley at an estimated cost of $25 million. USD 475 reports it is holding $5 million in matching funds for this purpose. USD 475 also intends to propose closing two Fort Riley schools on the DoD priority list which would be replaced with one school capable of absorbing total enrollment of the two smaller schools.
  
  
• Since 2006, over $1.8 billion dollars in military construction on base has given way to new facilities that are flexible and scalable to meet the needs of our national defense. This includes the new, state-of-the-art $343 million Irwin Army Hospital that provides healthcare and support to active-duty personnel and their families.
  
  

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