WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor after the confirmation of Mr. John W. Broomes of Wichita to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

“John Broomes is a highly-qualified and well-respected attorney who has the mentality, intellect and legal mind required for those who receive a lifetime appointment to the federal bench,” said Sen. Moran. “Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Broomes has served our nation as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Submarine Force, where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals – further exemplifying his dedication to his fellow Kansans and Americans. Judges with lifetime appointments must exhibit sound principles in order to best serve Kansas and the country, and John Broomes certainly meets these requirements.”

Mr. Broomes will serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. He earned his J.D. at Washburn University School of Law, where he graduated first in his class.

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s full floor remarks.

Items to Note:

• Sen. Moran introduced Mr. Broomes last November at his Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after discussing the United States’ strategy during an Agriculture and Trade Roundtable at the White House with President Trump:

“Today I stressed to the president the importance of trade to our agricultural communities in rural America, and I shared input I’ve received from Kansas farmers and ranchers about how access to global markets is tied to their livelihood. I reiterated we ought to strengthen and expand our trade markets rather than retreat from international trade agreements – we need more trade, not less, to keep Kansas farms alive.

“I also shared with the president a photo I took in Kensington of a pile of grain that has grown so tall you can barely see the elevator behind it. With more than 20 million people facing famine worldwide, it is disturbing to me that these piles of grain remain idle on the ground in Kansas, when they could be exported around the world to feed those in need – benefitting the hungry and Kansas’ economy. Our trade relationships are, now more than ever, vital to the future of our nation’s farmers and ranchers and I will continue advocating for sound policies to help them get the food they grow to tables around the world.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was today selected to serve as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. This selection adds to Sen. Moran’s commitment to economic competitiveness and job growth in Kansas as the senator also serves as the chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security.

“I take seriously my role of being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and this chairmanship provides an opportunity to prioritize funding for key investments in our nation’s infrastructure, public safety, aerospace initiatives, the National Science Foundation, NASA and a number of additional programs important to Kansans,” said Sen. Moran. “I look forward to conducting oversight over programs that impact our economic development efforts nationwide and advocating for policies that strengthen Kansas’ economy by providing a level playing field in the global market for Kansas agriculture producers.”

“I will continue to serve as a member of the Subcommittee for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies and am proud of the work the committee has achieved for our servicemembers and our veterans in the 115th Congress,” continued Sen. Moran. “Providing for members of our armed forces and making certain our veterans have access to the quality, timely care they have earned have long been top priorities for me. I will continue my work to invest in the quality of life for our military families, advocate for improvements at the VA and address Department of Defense investments in infrastructure in order to keep Kansans and Americans safe.”

“Senator Moran has always been a strong advocate for America’s aerospace and defense industry,” said Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Eric Fanning. “His leadership as Co-Chair of the Senate Aerospace Caucus has focused on prioritizing innovation and growth, and I’m confident he’ll continue that mission as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies.”

“Senator Moran has been a consistent champion of entrepreneurship and innovation—we know that small and startup businesses will be well-represented as he assumes this new role,” said President and CEO of the Enterprise Center in Johnson County George Hansen. “The Senator’s advocacy for the expansion of programs that serve growing businesses and create jobs in Kansas, like the EDA’s Regional Innovation Strategies Program, has proven invaluable. We look forward to continuing our efforts to advance American entrepreneurship together.”

“We are pleased with the announcement that Sen. Moran will chair the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee,” said Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts. “We value his strong voice for agriculture regarding the importance of trade to Kansas farmers and ranchers and know he will continue to fight for rural Kansas.”                                                                                         

In his previous role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Sen. Moran prioritized investments in programs and policies vital to the United States Armed Forces and veterans across the nation and specifically in Kansas, including $17.5 million for a Combat Arms Facility on McConnell AFB and $19 million for Enlisted Barracks on Ft. Leavenworth. Other priorities focused on the livelihood and well-being of our military members, their families and our nation’s veterans include:

• Improving access to care, opioid addiction treatments, veterans’ caregiver services and homeless veterans’ assistance;
• Expansion of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention pilot program and additional funds for the Veterans Crisis Line;
• Vital construction projects under the European Reassurance Initiative to thwart Russian aggression;
• Hiring critical healthcare positions, such as Chiropractors and Marriage and Family Therapists; and
• Additional resources for states operating veterans homes.

Sen. Moran will continue to serve as a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; for Defense; for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; for Financial Services and General Government; and for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) today introduced The Postal Service Reform Act of 2018: Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency to stabilize, preserve and improve the Postal Service – an essential part of our nation’s infrastructure and economy.

The financial condition of the Postal Service, which operates at the center of a $1.4 trillion industry and employs more than seven million people, has been deteriorating for years. Despite the Postal Service setting a record on Dec. 18, 2017, when it delivered more than 37 million packages – the most packages delivered in a single day in their over 200-year history – the Postal Service saw a net loss for the first quarter totaling $540 million. In addition to reporting net losses for the 11th year in a row and defaulting on its legally mandated multi-billion-dollar retiree health prefunding payments yet again, the Postal Service also, for the first time, missed payments it owes to the federal retirement system in 2017 – for a combined total of $6.9 billion. For years, the onerous pre-funding schedule for future retiree healthcare obligations has put the Postal Service in a place where it must cut costs – often at the price of service – and ultimately prevents the Postal Service from investing in the infrastructure it so desperately needs.

The Postal Service Reform Act of 2018 includes comprehensive reforms that would put the Postal Service on firm financial footing, stabilize and improve service performance, allow for the development of new products and services, and enhance transparency. 

“The U.S. Postal Service has a significant history in Kansas – dating back to the Pony Express – and it continues to play a vital role in the American economy, especially in Kansas’ rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “Rural America depends on a reliable Postal Service. USPS’s deteriorating financial condition threatens its future and the well-being of the communities it serves. In order to provide certainty for rural America and protect taxpayers, Congress must act to put the Postal Service on a more sustainable path. This bipartisan legislation would provide some much needed stability, preserving and improving mail services across Kansas and the country.” 

“Post office access and efficient service are issues that families and businesses in rural Missouri care about, and we’ve got to do what it takes to ensure the service they’ve relied on for generations stays intact,” said Sen. McCaskill. “This is an issue where we can and should continue to work together across the aisle and I’m committed to doing exactly that.”

“Nearly two and a half centuries after its founding, the Postal Service remains an important part of our everyday lives and plays a vital role in our economy,” said Sen. Carper. “But it continues to lose money at a record pace. Our economy still depends on a healthy and robust Postal Service. It’s our duty in Congress to pave a fiscally sustainable path that will enable this American institution to thrive.”

“There is no substitute for the Postal Service in rural America,” said Sen. Heitkamp. “From receiving daily newspapers and prescriptions, to shipping products around the nation, families and businesses across the country rely on getting their mail on time in an accessible, affordable manner. Congress needs to act now to stabilize the Postal Service and give it the tools it needs to thrive – otherwise it will go insolvent, taking this critical service away from rural communities that need it. Across North Dakota, I’ve heard about problems with mail delivery and service and I’ve pushed for changes from the Postal Service through my Fix My Mail initiative. Now, our bipartisan, comprehensive bill would reform the Postal Service, put it on firmer financial footing, and help improve mail delivery and service in rural communities. Far too often, rural America gets the short end of the stick, and Congress needs to step up and pass our bill so the Postal Service can fully function and remain the great equalizer that enables Americans no matter where they live to get reliable, affordable mail delivery.”

Stakeholders in the industry also support the bill:
“It is vital that Congress act promptly to pass legislation that will ensure affordable, reliable mail service six days a week,” said Don Hall, CEO of Hallmark Cards, Inc. “I applaud the leadership of Senators Carper, Moran, Heitkamp and McCaskill in crafting legislation to achieve that goal and respond to the concerns of leaders in the House of Representatives.”  

“The Association of Magazine Media commends Senators Carper, Moran, Heitkamp, and McCaskill for their leadership,” said Linda Thomas Brooks, president and CEO. “The introduction of this bill is an important first step toward securing the future of the American postal system and the many industries that rely on it to do business – including our own.”

“The very broad business mailing community represented by the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service endorses the Postal Reform Act of 2018 and appreciates the hard work by the bipartisan sponsors to get to this point. The extreme financial challenges overhanging the Postal Service have been evident and building for a number of years, with a day of real reckoning coming later this year. The industry and other stakeholders have sought help only Congress can give throughout this time to no avail. Now is the time for Congress to act before it must bail out the system with taxpayer dollars or radically shrink it.”

“The United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA) applauds the efforts of Senators Carper, Moran, Heitkamp and McCaskill in introducing bipartisan legislation to further the goal of providing financial relief to the U.S Postal Service, helping safeguard a universal postal system, and encouraging innovation,” said UPMA co-presidents Tony Leonardi and Sean Acord. “UPMA looks forward to continue working with these Senators and other members of Congress to sustain the U.S. Postal Service, a proven national treasure.”

“NNA supports the hard work these bill sponsors have done to ensure a reliable and affordable mail service,” said Susan Rowell, publisher of the Lancaster (SC) News, and president of the National Newspaper Association. “Congress has lingered far too long over the needed corrections in postal policy, and as a result the continuation of this service is ever more seriously at risk. Our elected officials know the Postal Service must have a better set of laws for its operation, and they ignore this need at the peril of all of us who rely upon the mail. We strongly urge the Senate to take up this bill and give this proposal, which has bipartisan support, an opportunity to pass this year.” 

Over the last several Congresses, Sens. Moran, Carper, Heitkamp and McCaskill have held numerous briefings, roundtables and meetings with members on both sides of the aisle and postal stakeholders to assess the hurdles facing the Postal Service, identify the tools the Postal Service needs to innovate and thrive in the 21st century, and find a way forward on postal reform.

Specifically, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2018:
Increases Sustainability: The Postal Service Reform Act eliminates the existing statutory payment schedule, cancels any outstanding payments, and amortizes payments over 40 years.  The bill would also create a new Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) within FEHBP, implemented and administered by OPM, for all postal employees and annuitants and require all Medicare-eligible postal annuitants and employees enrolled in the PSHBP to also enroll in Medicare, including parts A, B and D. This is essential for protecting the American taxpayer from a future bailout and for protecting the employees’ benefits in retirement. 

Improves and Stabilizes Postal Service and Operations: The price of postage is decreased pursuant to federal court orders last Congress, eliminating the positive revenue stream from the exigent rate case in 2014.  As the result of a compromise among the postal community, the bill restores the half of the temporary rate increase while freezing any further rate increases until a new rate system can be finalized by the Postal Regulatory Commission. 

Prioritizes the Postal Customer with Service Improvements & Protections: The bill includes strong service reforms that put the postal customer first by improving mail service performance across the country—especially in rural America—while also requiring transparency and enforcement to ensure the Postal Service’s accountability.  Service performance would also be stabilized by preserving current service standards for at least 2-years.

Innovates and Modernizes Existing Postal Business Model and Increases Transparency: The bill also allows the Postal Service to introduce new non-postal products and services, ship beer, wine and distilled spirits, and partner with state and local governments in offering government services.

The Postal Service Reform Act also increases transparency of Postal Service delivery results and would require that all delivery and retail performance results are posted in a transparent and user-friendly way. 

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