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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday in opposition to H.R. 5, the Equality Act.  

“It is not an exaggeration to say the five lines related to Religious Freedom Restoration Act in this bill represent one of the most dramatic assaults against religious faith and conscience that I have seen in my time in Congress,” said Sen. Moran. “The effects will be devastating to communities in Kansas and across the country, and I will oppose the use of such government power to infringe on matters of religious beliefs and conscious.”

This legislation was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 25, 2021 and then referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Sen. Moran’s remarks were delivered following a U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing related to the Equality Act.

Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s full speech

 

Remarks as prepared:

“Mr. President, today the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a grave threat to rights of conscience. The House recently passed the Equality Act, which would demolish religious liberty protections, ironically making Americans of certain beliefs decidedly unequal under the law.

“This is not an accident of careless bill drafting that will permit this outcome. The language is so expansive and explicit that it must be intentionally hostile to people of belief.

“The language expands the definition of public accommodation to include prohibiting discrimination by “any establishment that provides a good, service, or program, including a…food bank, service or care center, [or] shelter…” and any organization receiving federal funding. Religiously-affiliated entities, seeking to put their beliefs into action outside their church, or mosque, or synagogue walls, must comply.

“The authors know such an expansive definition infringes on the constitutional right of religious liberty. That’s because this legislation would explicitly deny recourse to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, a bill passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress before being signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

“This denial cuts off two legal paths for people of conscience: one, an individual or institution cannot sue the federal government to prevent enforcement of this act without the statutory authority of RFRA; and two, an individual or institution that is sued for discrimination under this bill cannot rely on RFRA as a defense.

“It is not an exaggeration to say the five lines related to RFRA in this bill represent one of the most dramatic assaults against religious faith and conscience that I have seen in my time in Congress. The effects will be devastating to communities in Kansas and across the country.

“If passed, people of faith must decide whether to adhere to their deeply held beliefs or to the law. This law effectively says that it is better to have fewer doctors in rural America that desperately needs them than to have doctors of moral conviction; that it is better to shutter social services administered by faith-based groups that fill gaps in the safety net than to allow them to remain true to their mission; or that it is better to force the closure of religious schools in urban areas that so often provide a path out of poverty than to allow them to remain open and teach the principles of faith.

“In response to the Obama contraception mandate a decade ago, I warned, ‘If the government can compel an individual or group to violate one’s conscience, then there is no limit to government power.’ That remains true nearly ten years later. It will remain into the future.

“I will oppose the use of such government power to infringe on matters of religious beliefs and conscious. I stand in opposition to the Equality Act.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“In recovering from a once-in-a-century public health emergency, Americans need to have confidence our HHS Secretary understands the intricacies of health care policy and has an eye to the future as we improve on our pre-pandemic vulnerabilities, protecting future generations from experiencing similar difficult situations,” said Sen. Moran. “While Attorney General Becerra served on a health care-focused subcommittee as a United States Representative, he has no further experience in public health or medicine. He also lacks the executive experience that would be useful in running a complex executive branch department like HHS, which is involved in the nationwide vaccine rollout and now the regulatory implementation of the recent $1.9 trillion package.”

“Americans deserve to know their voices will be heard when it comes to conversations surrounding health care policy,” Sen. Moran continued. “Ideological or moral disagreements should not be met with legal challenges. Americans need to know their government is working together to find common-ground that will protect all strongly held personal and religious beliefs, including the belief in the sanctity of life.”

Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s full speech

 

Remarks as prepared:

“Mr. President: I oppose the confirmation of California Attorney General Becerra to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Our future HHS Secretary will be at the helm of rebuilding our country towards normalcy and preparing to address the weaknesses in our healthcare infrastructure brought to light by the pandemic. It will be no small task and its handling will have an impact for years to come. It will require a leader at HHS who has the trust of the public and the requisite healthcare experience.

“Unfortunately, those two factors are missing from the nomination of Attorney General Becerra.

“In recovering from a once-in-a-century public health emergency, Americans need to have confidence our HHS Secretary understands the intricacies of healthcare policy and has an eye to the future as we improve on our pre-pandemic vulnerabilities, protecting future generations from experiencing similar difficult situations.

“While Attorney General Becerra served on a healthcare-focused subcommittee as a United States Representative, he has no further experience in public health or medicine. He also lacks the executive experience that would be useful in running a complex executive branch department like HHS, which is involved in the nationwide vaccine rollout and now the regulatory implementation of the recent $1.9 trillion package.

“The American people need to trust that their HHS Secretary has their best interests at heart and will work for them, regardless of disagreements over ideology. Like a president, cabinet officials work for the entire country and broad public trust is essential.

“As Attorney General Becerra was serving his current role in California, the Trump Administration was making significant regulatory improvements to protect the sanctity of life. Attorney General Becerra then spent much of his time attempting to overturn or ignore the changes. Most recently, Attorney General Becerra actively defended a California law requiring abortion coverage in insurance plans offered by churches. The Office of Civil Rights at HHS ruled on January 24, 2020 the state’s abortion mandate violated a federal law, but Attorney General Becerra refused to comply.

“Americans deserve to know their voices will be heard when it comes to conversations surrounding health care policy. Ideological or moral disagreements should not be met with legal challenges. Americans need to know their government is working together to find common-ground that will protect all strongly held personal and religious beliefs, including the belief in the sanctity of life.

“Thoughtful, bipartisan health care policy matters to Kansans and Americans more than ever. We need a leader at HHS who is eager to serve all of the country even in the face of disagreements; one who has the necessary health care expertise to be successful in this position, and will be an asset to our country in this time of rebuilding.

“I am willing to work in good faith with Attorney General Becerra if he is confirmed, but I intend to oppose his confirmation and urge my colleagues to do the same.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Roger Marshall’s (R-Kan.) resolution honoring the late Father Emil Kapaun unanimously passed the Senate.

“Father Kapaun is an American hero whose selfless actions inspired his fellow soldiers and continues to inspire generations of Kansans today,” said Sen. Moran. “In 2011, I introduced legislation to bestow Father Kapaun with the Medal of Honor, and I am pleased to sponsor this resolution today to further recognize him for his tremendous service to our country.”

“As a Kansan and fellow veteran I know well the honorable work Father Kapaun did for our troops and our great nation. I am honored that my first resolution as a U.S. Senator honors Father Kapaun and I thank my colleagues for their full support,” said Sen. Marshall. “Father Kapaun truly is a national hero and I am relieved to hear that his remains were finally returned home.”

View the resolution text here.

Items to Note:

  • On March 5, Sen. Moran announced the remains of Father Kapuan had been identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
  • In 2011, Sen. Moran introduced legislation to honor to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Father Kapaun as one of the first pieces of legislation he introduced as a U.S. Senator. In December 2011, it was passed by the Senate and shortly after Sen. Moran paid tribute to Father Kapaun on the Senate floor.
  • On April 11, 2013, the Medal of Honor was presented to Father Kapaun’s nephew and attending family at a White House Ceremony. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) today urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to prioritize reducing U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) overtime fees for very small and small meatpackers based off the provisions included in their legislation, Small Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief for COVID-19 Act.

“Our legislation directs USDA-FSIS to reduce the fees charged to very small establishments by at least 75 percent and to small establishments by at least 30 percent,” wrote the senators and representatives. “These changes will help build greater resilience in the nation’s food supply chain by addressing the economic disincentive currently in place for small meatpackers to work longer hours. Further, it will help level the playing field between very small and small establishments versus large establishments capable of operating two full operating shifts and therefore able to avoid these inspection fees. Consumers will also benefit from greater access and more options for locally sourced meat products provided by small meatpackers.”

The senators and representatives introduced the Small Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief for COVID-19 Act last year to support small meatpacking plants that are operating longer hours during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our nation’s food supply chain moving. This legislation led to funds to reduce overtime fees for very small and small meatpackers being included in the FY2021 Budget Reconciliation Package that was recently signed into law.

The full letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

Small meatpackers play a critical role in maintaining the U.S. food supply, as well as provide important markets for livestock producers and increase consumer access and options for locally sourced food. However, even as the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to disrupt the nation’s meat supply by causing large meatpacking facilities to pause or slow operations, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) overtime inspection fees discouraged small meatpackers from processing livestock more than 40 hours per week.

In the 116th Congress, we introduced legislation to address this challenge by reducing USDA-FSIS overtime and holiday inspection fees for the more 5,200 very small and small federally-inspected establishments across the country. We also successfully worked to secure funding for this purpose in COVID-19 relief legislation. As you implement the recently passed American Rescue Plan, we write to urge you to prioritize reducing USDA-FSIS overtime fees based off the provisions included in our legislation, the Small Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief for COVID-19 Act of 2020.

Our legislation directs USDA-FSIS to reduce the fees charged to very small establishments by at least 75 percent and to small establishments by at least 30 percent. These changes will help build greater resilience in the nation’s food supply chain by addressing the economic disincentive currently in place for small meatpackers to work longer hours. Further, it will help level the playing field between very small and small establishments versus large establishments capable of operating two full operating shifts and therefore able to avoid these inspection fees. Consumers will also benefit from greater access and more options for locally sourced meat products provided by small meatpackers. Finally, the increased slaughter and meat processing capacity resulting from implementing the provisions of our legislation will give livestock producers more options to market their animals.

We look forward to working with you to support small meatpackers. By quickly implementing the provisions in our legislation, you can provide immediate relief to these facilities working to keep food on American’s tables. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) called on President Biden to renew the federal government’s commitment to supporting Kansas and American manufacturers in response to the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to draw down purchases of viral transport media being produced by American manufacturers.

“As the nation was in the midst of an unprecedented public health emergency last spring, Kansans scaled up manufacturing of viral collection products necessary for widespread COVID-19 testing,” Sen. Moran wrote. “However, despite the broad and bipartisan acknowledgment the United States must focus on building up our domestic supply chain, I understand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is cutting back on purchasing viral transport media after moving last year to ensure its availability. The United States must learn from our past mistakes and make sure we have domestic suppliers of products critical to Americans’ health.”

“When it comes to investing in domestic sources of critical products, the benefits far outweigh the costs, as you recognized when signing your Made in America executive order in January,” Sen. Moran continued. “Should we forget the lesson learned from just a year ago, Americans will pay the price for years to come as our supply chain returns to its pre-pandemic orientation. We ought to support American manufacturing capabilities in order to end our tenuous reliance on foreign suppliers. In doing so, we will also protect American livelihoods.”

The full letter can be found here or below.

Dear Mr. President,

As the nation was in the midst of an unprecedented public health emergency last spring, Kansans scaled up manufacturing of viral collection products necessary for widespread COVID-19 testing. Viral transport media manufacturing in Kansas is the perfect example of our nation taking action to invest in the United States’ supply chain resiliency, which the pandemic demonstrated required improvements. However, despite the broad and bipartisan acknowledgement the United States must focus on building up our domestic supply chain, I understand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is cutting back on purchasing viral transport media after moving last year to ensure its availability. The United States must learn from our past mistakes and make sure we have domestic suppliers of products critical to Americans’ health.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in the United States’ healthcare supply infrastructure – as Americans struggled to get PPE, viral collection and other products as global demand surged. Through emergency measures such as the Defense Production Act, which you have invoked, and private industry stepping in with large investments of their own, our reliable American workforce rose to the challenge to produce the critical products for pandemic response. By ensuring the investment in our domestic supply chain was organized at the beginning of the pandemic, we saved lives and demonstrated the government’s commitment to domestic manufacturing. This decision to draw down viral transport media purchases loses focus on one of the biggest lessons of the pandemic: the need for domestic supply chain resiliency. We cannot lose sight of this goal and let our domestic capabilities slip away simply because the urgent need has lessened slightly.

When it comes to investing in domestic sources of critical products, the benefits far outweigh the costs, as you recognized when signing your Made in America executive order in January. Should we forget the lesson learned from just a year ago, Americans will pay the price for years to come as our supply chain returns to its pre-pandemic orientation. We ought to support American manufacturing capabilities in order to end our tenuous reliance on foreign suppliers. In doing so, we will also protect American livelihoods.

In the United States of America, including in Kansas, we have the innovation, investment, and manpower necessary to meet immense manufacturing challenges. The skill of the American workforce to produce our own medical products has been proved over the past year. We cannot move backwards, which is where this decision would lead us. I strongly encourage you to renew the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting American manufacturers, as the livelihoods of American workers and the health of the American economy now and in the future depends on strong investment in our domestic supply chain. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced that Millennium Corporation, a defense contractor and cybersecurity company, will establish a regional Wichita office. Millennium currently supports the cybersecurity needs of the Department of Defense, McConnell Air Force Base’s 177th Squadron “Red Team” and other federal agencies.

"As a thought leader in the cyberspace and security industry, Millennium is a welcome addition to Wichita’s growing cybersecurity community,” said Sen. Moran. “Regional businesses continue to be reliable and growing partners for our military through Department of Defense contracts, and with Millennium’s expertise and credentials, it will be a great asset in providing cybersecurity services for our nation.”

“Through this new office, we are extending the high-end, high-caliber cybersecurity personnel and support we provide our military clients to new corporate partners,” said Millennium Director of Cybersecurity and Solutions Matthew Hulse. “We have been honored to work with the 177th Red Team of the 184th Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base for years. We look forward to helping the broader Wichita community navigate the increasingly complex world of cybersecurity, in both compliance and technical security.”

“This new company choosing Wichita as a regional office is an important win and supports our continued diversification for two reasons,” said Greater Wichita Partnership Director of Economic Development Adrienne Korson. “First, every time we can organically grow this critical sector, especially with a regional office, it supports additional growth. Second is that in addition to diversifying the economy with high-tech jobs, this also provides support for our aerospace companies to continue to grow their defense business and diversify.”

Companies with Department of Defense contracts, such as many of the regional aerospace companies, must meet  Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements to create a unified standard for implementing cybersecurity across all defense subcontractors.

Millennium’s new office will also provide further opportunities to retain and grow cybersecurity talent, including for 177th Red Team and Kansas Air National Guard members as they complete their service. Millennium Corporation has been involved in developing a talent pipeline for information technology professionals, including support to Wichita State University’s National Cyber League team, sponsoring the local OzSec security conference, and participating in Pathfinder internships, for which Senator Moran also was instrumental in securing funding.

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WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act to address the driver shortage in the trucking and logistics industry and enhance safety training and job opportunities for young truckers.

Though 49 states and the District of Columbia allow individuals to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) at the age 18, federal law currently prohibits those operators from moving goods from state to state until they are 21. The DRIVE-Safe Act establishes an apprenticeship program that would allow for the legal operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce by CDL holders under the age of 21.

“Kansas is the birthplace of the U.S. Interstate System and continues to provide a network of safe and reliable routes for interstate commerce and travel,” said Sen. Moran. “As we saw during this pandemic, a shortage of truck drivers impacts our ability to move goods across roads and highways to support our economy, including transporting Kansas products. The DRIVE-Safe Act allows young CDL holders that meet rigorous safety standards and performance benchmarks to move goods from state to state, addressing the driver shortage while continuing to deliver commodities across Kansas and the country.”

“Today, 18-year-olds can drive more than 200 miles from New Albany to Gary and back, but they aren’t allowed to drive two miles from New Albany to Louisville,” said Sen. Young. “The DRIVE-Safe Act will eliminate this ridiculous regulation and in doing so address the driver shortage while providing new career opportunities for young Hoosiers.”

“Now more than ever, young Montanans need more opportunities to get comprehensive job training, access higher paying work, and grow their careers early on,” said Sen. Tester. “This bipartisan bill will do just that, allowing younger truck drivers to get top-of-the-line apprenticeships that kick their careers into gear, all while providing a big boost to the thousands of communities across the Big Sky who rely almost exclusively on trucks to move goods in and out of the state.”

The apprenticeship training program would help ensure these drivers are trained beyond current standards while instituting rigorous safety standards and performance benchmarks. The apprenticeship program established by the DRIVE-Safe Act would require young drivers to complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time with an experienced driver in the cab with them.

All trucks used for training in the program must be equipped with safety technology including active braking collision mitigation systems, a video event capture system and a speed governor set at 65 miles per hour or below.

U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) joined as original cosponsors of the bill. U.S. Representative Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-09) introduced a companion bill in the House.

Click here to view the bill text.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced $8,992,455 in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for 23 Kansas airports to help with expenses related to COVID-19. The grants were made available by the Federal Aviation Administration as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act.

“Local airports, whether in small towns or big cities, help bring economic opportunities and critical resources to communities across Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “Since the onset of this pandemic, our airports have worked hard to create safe flying opportunities for passengers and crew, and these grants will help Kansas airports with associated costs related to the pandemic, including sanitization services, to continue to ensure a safe experience as folks are passing through.”

  • $13,000 Abilene Municipal Airport
  • $13,000 Augusta Municipal Airport
  • $13,000 Chanute Martin Johnson Airport
  • $9,000 Cheyenne County Municipal Airport
  • $9,000 Clay Center Municipal Airport
  • $57,000 Colonel James Jabara Airport, Wichita
  • $23,000 Dodge City Regional Airport
  • $13,000 Emporia Municipal Airport
  • $23,000 Great Bend Municipal Airport
  • $1,005,013 Hays Regional Airport
  • $57,162 Hutchinson Regional Airport
  • $9,000 Independence Municipal Airport
  • $13,000 Kingman/Clyde Cessna Field Airport
  • $23,000 Lawrence Municipal Airport
  • $1,005,950 Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport
  • $9,000 Lt. William M, Milliken Airport, Eureka
  • $9,000 Lyons-Rice County Municipal Airport
  • $1,150,629 Manhattan Regional Airport
  • $9,000 Marysville Municipal Airport
  • $57,162 New Century Aircenter Airport
  • $9,000 Rooks County Regional Airport, Stockton
  • $1,008,876 Salina Regional Airport
  • $13,000 Shalz Field, Colby
  • $13,000 Strother Field Airport, Winfield/Arkansas City
  • $13,000 Ulysses Airport
  • $4,401,663 Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport
  • $13,000 Wellington Municipal Airport

 

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