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Chairman Moran Applauds Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Priorities in Omnibus Bill
Mar 22 2018
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – today applauded the inclusion of his priorities to help veterans in Kansas and nationwide in the FY2018 omnibus appropriations bill.
“Appropriations for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the FY18 omnibus provides significant investments in the livelihood and well-being of our U.S. military members, their families and our nation’s veterans – this bill prioritizes funding at the VA to make certain our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve,” said Chairman Moran. “I am pleased we were able to come to a compromise on behalf of our servicemembers, veterans and their families, and I hope to see this quickly passed and signed into law.”
The FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill:
- Includes funding not only for the Service Chiefs Unfunded Priorities lists, but also for increasing accountability for the Army Corps of Engineers by requiring the Corps to report on the cost it incurs from legal settlements related to delays on several projects;
- Prioritizes funding at the VA for Opioid Treatment and Prevention as well as Mental Health Programs. This includes:
- $10 million to expand programs under the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act;
- An additional $10 million above the president’s request for the Veterans Crisis Line; and
- Language and funding for hiring critical healthcare positions, such as Chiropractors and Marriage and Family Therapists, to increase access to care for our veterans.
- Allocates $685 million to fund state veterans’ homes, which is estimated to fund nearly all of the backlogged projects on VA’s State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program Priority List.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today applauded the inclusion of a section 199A tax fix in the FY2018 omnibus package.
“This legislation restores the competitive balance in the agricultural marketplace by leveling the tax burden on independent and cooperative farming businesses,” said Sen. Moran. “In Kansas, where grain continues to pile up on the ground, the success of our economy can be directly impacted by how our farmers sell and trade grain. The change will provide tax benefits to farmers as intended under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”
Text of the FY2018 omnibus can be found here, and the section 199A fix can be found on page 2033.
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which exercises jurisdiction in the Senate over Federal telecommunications policy, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) – today applauded the inclusion of the RAY BAUM’S Act, a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation reauthorizing the FCC and spurring the deployment of next-generation wireless services, in the omnibus appropriations bill. Additionally, Sen. Moran applauded the inclusion of federal resources necessary to keep broadcasters on the air in this omnibus legislation.
“This FCC reform package – the most sweeping reauthorization in 28 years – reaffirms Congress’ commitment to telecommunications infrastructure, broadband expansion and 5G deployment,” said Sen. Moran. “This omnibus provides certainty to broadcasters impacted by the incentive auction ‘repack,’ streamlines broadband expansion and economic competitiveness in rural America, equips the FCC and law enforcement to better protect consumers from fraud and makes certain the FCC continues to modernize its systems and improve its efficiency and transparency. I am pleased that several important provisions I introduced were included in this package and am encouraged by the bipartisan, bicameral effort that yielded this commonsense result.”
The Omnibus Appropriations Bill:
- Authorizes and appropriates federal support that mimics Sen. Moran and Sen. Brian Schatz’s (D-Hawaii) bipartisan Viewer and Listener Protection Act, S. 1632, which would make available additional funds to TV and radio stations who are moving channels as a result of the so-called “repack” necessitated by the incentive auction. The omnibus would also dedicate federal support to alleviate costs borne by translators and low-power television stations. Specifically, a TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund would authorize and appropriate $1 billion over the next two fiscal years to provide financial certainty to the parties impacted by the spectrum “repack.”
The bipartisan FCC Reauthorization package, the RAY BAUM’s Act, includes several Moran provisions:
- Sen. Moran and Sen. Mark Udall’s (D-N.M.) bipartisan FCC Chief Information Officer Parity Act, S. 2210, would authorize the FCC’s Chief Information Officer to participate in decisions regarding the Commissioner’s planning on information technology.
- Sen. Moran and Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) bipartisan Wireless Telecommunications Tax and Free Collections Fairness Act, S. 1261 – introduced in the 114th Congress – would harmonize state laws regarding which entity is responsible for collecting and remitting certain types of taxes and fees assessed on wireless services.
- Additionally, incorporated into Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson’s (D-Fla.) bipartisan MOBILE NOW Act are two Moran amendments to create a national policy and plan regarding unlicensed spectrum and to promote the availability of unlicensed spectrum to meet consumer demands for telecommunications services.
Other notable provisions of RAY BAUM’S Act:
- Reauthorizes the FCC and includes reforms to ensure the commission continues to improve its efficiency and transparency;
- Enacts key provisions from the Senate-approved MOBILE NOW Act (S. 19) to boost the development of next-generation 5G wireless broadband by identifying more spectrum – both licensed and unlicensed – for private sector use while reducing the red tape associated with building wireless networks;
- Includes a spectrum auction deposit “fix” which allows the FCC to deposit upfront payments from spectrum bidders directly with the U.S. Treasury;
- Directs the FCC to craft a national policy for unlicensed spectrum that includes certain specific considerations and recommendations; and
- Advances proposals that would help the FCC and law enforcement protect consumers from fraudulent telephone calls, and educate Americans about their options to stop these illegal calls.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommitte on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security, wrote Dr. Aleksandr Kogan today seeking additional information about how the personal data of 50 million Facebook users was transmitted to Cambridge Analytica.
Dr. Kogan developed a Facebook application, “thisisyourdigitallife,” that reportedly gathered information on tens of millions of users – including at least 30 million Americans – that was later shared with the political analytics company Cambridge Analytica. Kogan has said that he acted in accordance with Facebook’s policy regarding data sharing and that he is willing to provide information to Congress. Today’s letter calls on Dr. Kogan to provide an explanation about how the personal data of 50 million Facebook users was obtained and used.
The full text of today’s letter is available here and copied below.
March 22, 2018
Dr. Aleksandr Kogan
University of Cambridge
Department of Psychology
Downing Street
Cambridge, UK CB2 3EB
Dear Dr. Kogan,
We write regarding your involvement in the reported collection of personal data from tens of millions of Americans on behalf of the political analytics company Cambridge Analytica. As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation responsible for consumer protection and data security, we seek information regarding the allegations that this data may have been improperly obtained.
According to media reports and public records, in May 2014, you cofounded the company Global Science Research (GSR) to contract with Strategic Communication Laboratories and its subsidiary Cambridge Analytica (“SCL Group”) to collect personal data for psychological profiling.[1] This data was gathered through at least one Facebook application, named your ‘thisisyourdigitallife,’ which was designed to collect user data for those consumers who installed the application and their Facebook friends. Over the course of the life of the application, it reportedly obtained information from 50 million Facebook users based on only 270,000 users installing the application.
There have been conflicting accounts from involved parties that aim to assign accountability based on the level of understanding regarding the application that was allegedly used for this deceptive data collection. The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security is responsible for oversight on consumer protection and data privacy issues affecting American consumers, and clarity on the relevant details is critical.
To assist the Subcommittee in oversight of this matter, please provide responses to the following requests:
- Describe the types of data you or SCL Group gained access to through the users of the “thisisyourdigitallife” application and their Facebook “friends.” Would any of this data not have been visible on users’ profiles?
- Did you or SCL Group share the Facebook user data it obtained through the “thisisyourdigitallife” application with any other entities?
- To the best of your knowledge, are you or SCL Group affiliated with any other applications that collect Facebook user information?
- Please provide a copy of the terms and conditions of the “thisisyourdigitallife” application along with any technical information related to its data retention policies.
Please provide your written responses and any other relevant information by no later than March 30, 2018. Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.
[1] Thomas, Josh, “University says it has ‘no connection’ with Cambridge Analytica as lecturer caught up in data scandal,” The Cambridge News, March 18, 2018, https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-university-analytica-facebook-data-14427387 (accessed March 21, 2018).
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies – today released the following statement regarding the addition of National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) funding priorities in the FY2018 omnibus package:
“I am pleased the FY2018 omnibus bill supports the future operations and success of NBAF. As the Department of Homeland Security works toward the completion of constructing NBAF in 2020, critical funding included in this bill will make certain that DHS maintains its investments in agro-defense research and works in close coordination with the Department of Agriculture as the potential transfer of the facility begins in FY2019. Congress has appropriated funds that ensure both federal agencies continue to value NBAF as a national asset and that the facility can continue down the path toward becoming a world-class, state-of-the-art facility.”
The FY2018 omnibus package:
- Directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to retain responsibility for the construction of NBAF;
- Fully funds NBAF operations in accordance with DHS’s life cycle cost estimate;
- Provides additional funding for NBAF in the execution of the Management, Operations, and Research Support contract;
- Includes an additional $126 million for the Science and Technology Directorate Research and Development Program and an additional $76 million in S&T Operations and Support.
Text of the FY2018 omnibus can be found here, and NBAF language can be found on pages 76 and 78.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) today applauded the inclusion of funding for their bipartisan legislation, the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, in the FY2018 omnibus.
“As we continue our work to eliminate waste in our federal government, the MGT Act will bring welcome change to our information technology systems, eliminating unnecessary spending in addition to strengthening our nation’s cybersecurity practices,” said Sen. Moran. “A startling 75 percent of the $80 billion our federal government spends annually on IT is used to fix and maintain archaic systems. The MGT Act will incentivize federal agencies to upgrade their systems through the establishment of IT working capital funds that reward agencies for making security improvements and transitioning to cloud computing, rather than spending money maintaining outdated legacy systems. The inclusion of the funding for MGT Act in the omnibus will further implement this legislation and help bring our federal agencies into the 21st century.”
“After the last two years of falling victim to multiple cyberattacks, it’s time for the United States Government to secure its digital information and infrastructure, and move government into the 21st century,” said Rep. Hurd. “Securing funding for the MGT Act in the FY18 Omnibus is reflective of the overwhelming bipartisan support the bill received in both Chambers of Congress throughout the multi-year initiative to make this a reality. I am grateful for my colleagues who recognized not only extensive security risks, but also the tremendous opportunity we have to make government more efficient and reliable to taxpayers. I will continue to fight to make government more innovative, secure, and cost-effective for Americans. ”
The bipartisan MGT Act, which was led in the Senate by Sen. Moran and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and in the House by Rep. Hurd and Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), was signed into law in December 2017. The bill establishes IT working capital funds at 24 federal government agencies and allows them to use savings obtained through streamlining IT systems, replacing legacy products and transitioning to cloud computing for up to three years for further modernization efforts. The bill also sets up a separate centralized modernization fund within the Department of the Treasury for the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) to administer across the federal government in consultation with a federal IT expert board. Language in the FY2018 omnibus authorizing $100 million for the centralized fund for federal agencies can be found on page 558.
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Senate Passes Sen. Moran’s Bill To Provide Disabled Veteran Employees at VA Additional Paid Leave
Mar 21 2018
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 899, a bill authored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30 percent or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during their first year on the job for the purposes of receiving medical care related to their service-connected condition.
“The Senate took important steps today to help service-disabled veterans better transition into the federal workforce and civilian life,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation builds on the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act to make certain veterans who sustained wounds or injuries while defending our nation can take time off to seek medical treatment without impacting their livelihood or paycheck. Veterans in Kansas and across the country with service-related disabilities have earned greater flexibility in the workplace to receive the care they need, and I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly pass this sensible legislation.”
“This is common-sense legislation that will ensure the VA’s disabled veteran employees receive the same additional paid sick leave that is available to other federal agency employees,” said Sen. Hirono. “The Senate today affirmed how important it is to eliminate barriers our disabled veterans face to continue serving our country at the VA as this critical agency works to fill tens of thousands of vacancies at its medical facilities in Hawaii and across the country.”
“Veterans looking to serve their fellow veterans by working at the VA should not have to choose between a paycheck or a doctor’s appointment,” said Sen. Tester. “This bipartisan bill strengthens workforce protections for our veterans and establishes better working conditions for those who fought for our freedoms.”
Since the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act – led by Sen. Moran – became law in November 2016, 104 hours of additional paid sick leave has been available to newly hired service-disabled veterans for positions in the federal government. The law currently applies to most federal agencies, but personnel occupying certain VA medical positions are not currently eligible.
S. 899 will ensure all newly hired VA physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, dentists and expanded-function dental auxiliaries who are service-disabled veterans will not have to face the added financial hardship of taking unpaid leave to receive necessary medical treatment. With this benefit expanded to these VA medical positions, disabled veterans may be more incentivized to apply and fill the more than 18,000 vacancies for medical personnel across the VA health system, including 118 vacancies in Kansas.
The VA Veteran Transition Improvement Act is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists (NAVAPD), Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Disabled American Veterans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Service Employees International Union – National Association of Government Employees (SEIU-NAGE), and the Federal Managers Association (FMA). ?
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced the Reducing Antiquated Permitting for Infrastructure Deployments (RAPID) Act, instructing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review outdated, overly-cumbersome regulations that inhibit timely approval for broadband deployment projects. This legislation directs the FCC, under its preexisting authority, to reexamine and revise deployments that are subject to review by the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act within a 180 day period with the goal of speeding up broadband project approval.
“The most responsible and effective way to close the growing digital gap is to grant broadband providers the opportunity to advance deployment projects without having to deal with unnecessarily complicated and duplicative federal mandates,” said Sen. Moran. “The RAPID Act would direct the FCC to swiftly review and modernize these burdensome regulations to promote innovation and encourage broadband deployment. By cutting excessive red tape, providers can more quickly get Kansans and Americans the access they need while improving American competitiveness in this innovative sector.”
“The United States is the global leader in wireless technology, and maintaining that position is more important than ever as new technologies promise to deliver innovative new services for families across America," said Whip Scalise. "Federal regulations that deal with broadband deployment need to be streamlined to reflect modern technology while also protecting consumers, and doing so will ensure that America will remain the world's leader in technology innovation and job creation.”
“The introduction of legislation by Senator Moran and Congressman Scalise has the potential to bring immediate regulatory relief to telecommunications providers, like Sprint, as we make significant investments in our wireless infrastructure and prepare for the deployment of next-generation 5G networks,” said Sprint Corporation Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Vonya B. McCann. “These balanced approach will pave the way towards reducing federal regulations that impose excessive costs and unnecessary delays to small cell deployment. We applaud these efforts and are committed to working with others in Congress to ensure this legislation's success.”
“Senator Moran and Representative Scalise recognize that the United States is locked in a global race to deploy next generation 5G wireless networks and that modernizing outdated federal rules will spur new investment, innovation and job creation,” said CTIA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kelly Cole. “The RAPID Act is a common sense measure directing the FCC to update its rules to keep pace with new technology and we look forward to its swift approval by both chambers.”
“I applaud Senator Moran and Representative Scalise for their leadership on wireless broadband deployment and for their introduction of the RAPID Act,” said Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr. “Senator Moran and Representative Scalise recognize that we need to incentivize even greater broadband deployment, including in rural communities. Their RAPID Act would help do exactly that by ensuring that we modernize outdated regulatory approaches. This effort can help unleash next-generation innovation and increase broadband deployment for all Americans.”
View the bill text here.
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Sen. Moran Advocates for Kansas Priorities with Air Mobility Command Commander Gen. Everhart
Discusses KC-46A delivery at McConnell AFB, KC-135 simulator at Forbes Field
Mar 21 2018
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – met with General Carlton Everhart, commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC) to discuss two Kansas priorities in the U.S. Air Force: the delivery of KC-46A tankers to McConnell Air Force Base, and the potential selection of Forbes Field in Topeka to receive a KC-135 simulator.
“Gen. Everhart assured me that he remains committed to addressing the developmental delays that are plaguing the KC-46A’s, the next generation of the Air Force’s aerial refueling tankers,” said Sen. Moran. “I expressed my concern regarding the continued delays impacting the delivery of KC-46As to airmen in Wichita and that the growing demand for aerial refueling missions is taking a toll on readiness of other tanker fleets. The Air Force must remain focused on getting the KC-46As delivered safely to provide our airmen with the capabilities they need to conduct missions around the globe.”
“As I conveyed to the previous AMC Commander in 2013, I wanted to make certain that Gen. Everhart understood that the Kansas Air National Guard’s Forbes Field in Topeka is the best place to relocate a KC-135 simulator,” said Sen. Moran. “The central location is a less costly solution to making certain that the necessary training capabilities remain easily accessible to the 190th Air Refueling Wing and other refueling units across the region in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and other locations. I requested more information from the Air Force and Air Mobility Command on the selection process of the KC-135 simulators, and I expressed my desire to Gen. Everhart that Forbes Field should remain at the top of his list for potential relocation.”
Item to Note
- Sen. Moran and other members of the Kansas delegation sent a letter to the previous AMC Commander, General Paul Selva, advocating for the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field as the future location of a KC-135 flight simulator.
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Sen. Moran Recognized for Alzheimer’s Advocacy
Mar 20 2018
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) last week was awarded the inaugural Dennis Moore Alzheimer Champion Award, named in honor of former Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore, by the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas. Sen. Moran was presented this award at the first-ever Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas Memory Gala in Wichita, which raised more than $384,000 for Alzheimer’s research.
"Senator Jerry Moran is a tireless advocate for those living with Alzheimer's disease and for their caregivers,” said Dennis and Stephene Moore. “We appreciate that he recognizes that as Democrats and Republicans we must put our partisan views aside and move forward together to further research and find a cure for this disease."
“Senator Moran was nominated and recognized by the CWKS board of directors as someone who has been a true advocate for the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas Board of Directors Secretary Dr. Stephen Benson. “He has shown that Alzheimer’s affects many and does not discriminate based on political party. His work has been instrumental in our efforts for an effective treatment or cure.”
“The KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center congratulates Senator Jerry Moran on his receipt of the inaugural Dennis Moore Alzheimer Champion Award,” said the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center Director Dr. Russell Swerdlow. “We appreciate Sen. Moran’s efforts to increase research funding for Alzheimer’s, a disease that is accompanied by tremendous health care costs. Only through research can we discover the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s and work to prevent and cure it.”
“Dennis and I served together in Congress for 12 years and I have the greatest respect for and Stephene, which is why I’m so honored to receive this award in his name,” said Sen. Moran. “I am grateful to the Moore family and the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas for recognizing my work – I will continue advocating for Alzheimer’s funding and research.”
As a member of Senate Appropriations Committee, the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and co-chair of the Senate NIH Caucus, Sen. Moran has worked to increase Alzheimer’s research funding by more than $400 million in FY16 and FY17 and continues advocating for another $400 million increase for FY18.
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