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“Agriculture is the economic backbone for rural communities in our states,” the senators wrote. “However, severe, long-term drought is devastating these rural areas. During periods of droughts, our farmers and ranchers face diminishing crop and livestock outputs. These negative effects reverberate through the community, affecting not just individual producers, but the broader local economy and food system.”
The letter was signed by Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacklyn Rosen (D-Nev.), Krysten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The full letter can be read here and below:
Dear Chair Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman:
We write to you regarding the importance of addressing long-term drought in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. Drought remains a severe risk for American farmers and ranchers and threatens farmland and local economies that rely on dwindling water resources. We must ensure that any multi-year Farm Bill adequately addresses the heightened production risks posed by a hotter, drier future, particularly in states West of the 100th meridian.
Agriculture is the economic backbone for rural communities in our states. However, severe, long-term drought is devastating these rural areas. During periods of droughts, our farmers and ranchers face diminishing crop and livestock outputs. These negative effects reverberate through the community, affecting not just individual producers, but the broader local economy and food system.
A changing climate has further altered the natural pattern of droughts, making them more frequent, longer, and more severe. Since 2000, the Western United States has experienced some of the driest conditions on record and the American Southwest, in particular, continues to suffer an unprecedented period of extreme drought. These conditions have altered the landscape and have had a lasting effect on all those who rely on the land. This urgently requires Congress to invest in water and agricultural resilience. While drought conditions eased in many states this year, we cannot become complacent when our farmers and ranchers are in severe need of an appropriate drought safety net that ensures their long-term resiliency.
Sen. Moran Speaks on the Senate Floor Regarding the National Security Crisis at the Southern Border
Jan 10 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate Floor regarding Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden’s inaction to address the humanitarian and national security crisis at the southern border. In FY2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection had approximately 2.5 million encounters along the southern border. The number of encounters in 2020 was 458,000.
“Though Congress has provided our southern border with resources for physical security, walls, fencing and personnel, illegal immigration is at an all-time high,” said Sen. Moran. “While money and programs are important, we need to change the administration’s policies to end encouraging migrants to come to the United States.”
“Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden’s years of inaction have created a national security crisis which allows illegal immigrants, terrorists, foreign nationalists and deadly substances to flood our nation,” continued Sen. Moran. “Instead of changing or enforcing policies, the administration issued rail closures as a poor attempt to slow the flow of migrants that damaged agriculture communities across the nation. Again, Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden are harming Americans instead of protecting them.”
“Ultimately, we must reward those who follow the law and have consequences for those who break them,” said Sen. Moran. “Enforcing immigration laws is an absolute necessity, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to put an end to this crisis for the sake of our communities, states and country.”
Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement on the passing Thomas Tuggle, retired judge for the 12th Judicial District in Kansas:
“Judge Tuggle loved his community and was passionate about helping people. He always conducted himself with dignity and diligently served the people of Kansas as a judge for 17 years, administering justice and making Kansas a better place. I always appreciated Judge Tuggle’s insight into the challenges facing Kansas and will miss our many conversations. Robba and I are praying for his wife Suzy and their daughters as they mourn their beloved husband and father.”
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Sen. Moran Statement on the Passing of Ken Brock
Jan 02 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement on the passing of Ken Brock, a business and community leader in southeast Kansas:
“Ken was a pillar in southeast Kansas and always worked to make his community a better place to live, build a business and raise a family. He was passionate about his faith, family and community. After building his own successful business, Ken worked to bring other economic opportunities to southeast Kansas, which included working to expand Highway 69 as a four-lane route from Kansas City to Pittsburg. I always enjoyed seeing Ken when I was in Pittsburg and will miss his positivity, warmth and hospitality. Robba and I are praying for his family as they mourn the passing of this dear man.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – announced the opening of a new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Hays.
The CBOC has been relocated just north of Interstate 70 to increase access to care for veterans in northwest Kansas. The new facility includes three additional exam rooms, increased square footage, up-to-date telecommunication digital security requirements, and a room dedicated to group therapy and mental health needs.”
“Access to critical and sufficient healthcare should not be difficult, especially for veterans,” said Sen. Moran. “The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center has put a tremendous amount of effort into creating an accessible and newer CBOC so that veterans across the state can receive the care they need.”
“The CBOC in Hays was first opened in September 1999 and has served Veterans continuously since,” said the Dole VA Medical Center. “In the summer of 2022, it was announced the facility would move to its new location to provide more space for additional services as well as easier access to those traveling from outside the area.”
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Sen. Moran Hosts DOD Leaders in Wichita to Announce Partnership with Novacoast
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – hosted leaders from the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Office of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) at Novacoast Headquarters in Wichita to announce a partnership between DOD and Novacoast.
Novacoast will support Browser Security Plugin Research through DOT&E to improve cybersecurity across the DOD. This program was made possible through funding Sen. Moran secured in FY2023 appropriations.
“Novacoast’s expertise will be a tremendous asset to the Pentagon as they work to fortify cybersecurity across the military through this partnership,” said Sen. Moran. “A recent newcomer to Wichita, Novacoast is utilizing the talented workforce in Wichita to support our national security while bringing new cybersecurity jobs to the region.”
“I would like to personally thank Senator Moran for his support in making the new partnership between Novacoast and DOT&E possible,” said Paul Anderson, CEO of Novacoast. “This partnership will enable Novacoast to bring our expertise and knowledge in cybersecurity to bolster our nation's security posture. This is incredibly valuable to help keep our nation secure and it would not be possible without the tireless efforts of Senator Moran.”
Novacoast opened a Security Operations Center in downtown Wichita in 2022 and later moved its headquarters from Santa Barbara, California, to Wichita.
Sen. Moran and Novacoast CEO Paul Anderson host DOT&E Program Manager Steve Gates at
Novacoast Headquarters in Wichita.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) today introduced legislation to help create a fair appeals process for banks and increase transparency for the bank examination process.
A fair and effective supervisory examination process for banks is important for maintaining a healthy and transparent financial system. The Fair Audits and Inspections for Regulators’ (FAIR) Exams Act would bring more accountability to bank examinations by establishing an appeals process to resolve disagreements between banks and regulators by hiring an independent director to review appeals. This legislation would provide small lenders with more clarity and representation – allowing them to continue serving their communities efficiently by receiving results faster and more transparently.
“The bank examination process should be free from bias and fair to bankers,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation will help bring much-needed transparency to the examination process to make certain all banks – particularly rural, community banks – are treated fairly and afforded due process through a rigorous appeals process.”
“An effective and fair examination process for financial institutions is vital to the health of our banking system and beneficial for consumers, especially in rural states like West Virginia,” said Sen. Manchin. “I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan FAIR Exams Act, which would ensure any bank or financial institution that undergoes a supervisory exam has an impartial third party that reviews these exam findings before regulatory agencies can take action against them. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense bill to strengthen transparency in our financial institutions and increase accountability on agencies.”
This legislation was also co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).
The FAIR Exams Act would:
- Require the appropriate regulatory agencies to issue timely responses to bankers during the examinations process;
- Require the Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council (FFIEC) to make available upon request the information relied upon for determinations;
- Create an Independent Examination Review Director within the FFIEC to address examination complaints and procedures;
- Provide financial institutions with the right to seek review of supervisory determinations with the Independent Examination Review Director; and
- Authorize the director to review the examination record and, at the institution’s request, refer the appeal to an administrative law judge.
“ICBA and the nation’s community banks strongly support policy reforms that will ensure due process for banks appealing supervisory decisions to promote trust and accountability in the appeals process,” said Rebeca Romero Rainey, ICBA President and CEO. “Following the FDIC’s disbandment of its independent appeals office less than six months after it became operational, we thank Sen. Moran for introducing the FAIR Exams Act to provide for a fair and effective supervisory bank examination process, which will help maintain a healthy and transparent financial system.”
“ABA applauds Sen. Moran and his cosponsors on their introduction of the FAIR Exams Act, a bipartisan bill that will bring clarity to the examination process and provide due process for community banks,” said Rob Nichols, President and CEO of American Bankers Association. “By ensuring greater transparency for banks and greater accountability for examiners, this bill will make the examination process fairer and our financial system stronger.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today applauded the Senate’s passage of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation will now go to the President to be signed into law:
“Responding to threats from around the world begins with a strong military. This year’s NDAA invests in our nation’s weapons stockpiles and technology, provides support and resources for our military families and makes strategic investments to fortify our defenses against adversaries like China and Russia. It also makes strategic investments at our southern border to enable the Department of Defense to help counter cartels and traffickers. I worked to also include a number of my priorities in NDAA to protect benefits for spouses of fallen servicemembers, invest in Kansas military bases and expand TRICARE services.”
Sen. Moran’s priorities included in the FY2024 NDAA:
- Protecting Benefits for Military Spouses – Allows surviving spouses to retain certain benefits upon remarriage at any age. This provision is part of a more comprehensive bill Sen. Moran introduced – the Love Lives on Act.
- New Investments at Fort Riley – Authorizes $105 million for the construction of an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Fort Riley, $1.6 million for the planning and design of a new Air Traffic Control Tower, and $15.6 million in cost-to-complete funding for a power generation and microgrid.
- TRICARE Pharmacy Benefit Analysis – Analyzes the impact transitioning to TPharm5 is having on stakeholders, including servicemembers, their dependents and veterans.
- TRICARE Hearing Aids for Dependents of Retirees – Allows the dependents of retired servicemembers to maintain hearing aid coverage through TRICARE Prime.
- Resources for Forbes Field – Authorizes $5.9 million for a microgrid and backup power generator at Forbes Field.
- Establishes New Rank of National Guard Vice Chief – Elevates the National Guard Vice Chief to a four-star general.
- Red Hill Long-Term Health Study and Registry – Establishes an exposure registry to address CDC recommendations due to ongoing health impacts and limitations of Department of Defense’s (DoD) tracking system. This provision also requires the DoD to conduct an epidemiological study to assess health outcomes for individuals affected by the Red Hill Incident.
- Military Mental Health Referrals – Currently, servicemembers must obtain a referral through their primary care doctor before seeking care in the community, leading to longer wait times to receive care. This provision requires the DoD to provide a report on how removing the referral requirement impacts servicemembers seeking mental health care.
- Supporting Children with Disabilities Around the World – Bolsters U.S. support for children with disabilities, helping support local disabilities rights organizations and families of children with disabilities around the world.
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