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Sen. Moran Questions Army Chief of Staff General Milley on U.S. Army’s FY2018 Budget Request
Jun 14 2017
WASHINGTON – During a recent Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) questioned the Chief of Staff of the Army General Mark Milley regarding the U.S. Army’s FY2018 budget request. In particular, Sen. Moran asked the General about the proposed increase to troop end strength and the need to rebalance Brigade Combat Teams across the force, highlighting the need for additional Armored Brigade Combat Teams. The 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley currently has two Armored Brigade Combat Teams.
Click here to watch the hearing.
Sen. Moran (0:01): “Mr. Secretary and General Milley, thank you for your presence today. I understand that the army’s unfunded requirements list includes a $3.1 billion increase… to end strength beyond the FY2017 NDAA mandate. New threat of environments in my view need for potentially rebalancing the brigade combat team structure. Army planning to address Russian aggression includes back-to-back armored brigade combat team deployments to Europe. In fact, we are sending 4,000 Big Red One soldiers with the 2nd Armored BCT to Europe this fall. I want to hear a discussion about what you believe is the right mix between light attack armored and advise and assist brigade combat teams (BCTs).”
Gen. Milley (1:03): “The mix of the force has long been debated and depends on what you are doing at the moment in time. We shredded artillery, long range fires, air defense artillery, lot of armor units, in order to fight the current fight we have been engaged for the last 16 years. As the emerging environment becomes ever more clear, we now know that probably we need to re-balance the force with additional armor capability. We are going to go ahead and add a 15th armor brigade and convert another infantry brigade to an armor brigade for a total of 16 across the board. The Security Force Assistance Brigades, we are going to introduce those. Our end state is five or six and we will see how the pilot program goes. Those brigades will increase the readiness of the force by not ripping apart existing brigades, provide a valuable service as advisors, and then if in the worst case we had to rapidly expand the army, those brigades would have coherent chains of command from staff sergeant on up that we could rapidly expand the army by at least four or five brigades relatively quickly by adding soldiers to existing chains of commands.”
Sen. Moran (3:16): “General, thank you for that information. I want to make certain that I bring up the topic of advise and assist BCTs and their training, and particularly as it relates to Fort Riley. The availability of year-round space and useable acres ought to be a significant component of any decision process that is going on, and I just want your assurance that you will allow us to have a conversation with you in regard to Fort Riley and its capabilities in that regard.”
Gen. Milley (3:50): “Absolutely. We have settled on the 1st Brigade to go to Benning and it is also where we’re setting up the security force’s schoolhouse. There will be a training capacity there and we are going to set up the 1st Brigade at Fort Benning, GA. The follow on brigades have not yet been decided and we have not done the analysis and we will consider all the factors of all the various stations and installations around the country to include Fort Riley as part of that calculation. For sure you and your office will be included in that discussion.”
Sen. Moran (4:18): “Appreciate that very much. Air space is another component of that. I wanted to talk to you about cyber as well. I know that the senator from Alabama has done so, but I would like to see some coordination between reserve, guard, and active as well as the various branches of the service. I will submit a question in writing. I wanted to take the opportunity first of all to say I am pleased the administration nominated Ryan McCarthy. My understanding is you have a history with him and I am looking forward to that being a team that accomplishes a lot on behalf of our nation. I also wanted to remind you General Milley that during the budget hearings you and I agreed to go to Fort Riley together and I would love that still to happen. I would take this opportunity to say that tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the 1st Infantry Division – long time history of defending our nation. The Big Red One, we were at the monument yesterday by the White House. D-Day yesterday and Big Red One tomorrow. It is a historic time for the army. But it is also a time for us to recollect, respect and express our gratitude to those who give us the opportunity to have the opportunity to have this conversation today.”
Gen. Milley (5:34): “Thanks, Senator. Couldn’t agree more. Big Red One is a great division. Fort Riley is a great post and I will do better at coordinating my schedule with yours and get that trip planned."
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Sen. Moran Questions Secretary Perdue on USDA Programs Impacting Kansas Wildfire Recovery Efforts
Jun 13 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today questioned Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the USDA’s efforts to aid Kansans working to recover from the devastating wildfires in the southwestern part of the state earlier this year during a Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee hearing.
Click here to watch the hearing. Highlights can be found below.
Sen. Moran (0:52): “First of all I want to thank Mr. Young. In your absence, before you were confirmed, he was the acting secretary. He responded forthwith to concerns that I had about fires in Kansas. We had a number of counties significantly devastated by wildfires. Clark County in particular, nearly all of the county was burned. I think the number is 700,000 acres in Kansas were burned by wildfires. Ironically, sadly, two weeks later the rains come.”
Sec. Perdue (1:28): “Snow.”
Sen. Moran (1:29): “Snow came. The good news is that you saw green begin to appear in places that were black just a few days before. It will take a long time, decades, perhaps generations, for a recovery to occur. There are three areas that I wanted to highlight for you in regard to the federal government’s response to those fires. First of all, we’ve had some staffing issues in FSA offices where the workload increased dramatically. And recently there has been approval for two additional positions at the FSA county office in Clark County. We are pleased with that and anxious for those positions to be filled, and appreciate the restructuring in order to meet the current demands for FSA services.”
Sen. Moran (2:15): “Three areas of concern. The emergency conservation program. This generally is a way in which ranchers can be compensated for loss of fencing. We had fire previously in the adjoining county, Barber County, the so-called Anderson Creek fire. It took a year for ranchers to actually be compensated for the loss of their fence. It was a year before the payments began. Here’s the problem with the program, I would welcome your help: there is no advance payment for that disaster. You get your fence rebuilt and then you submit the bill. Here’s something that strikes me as nearly impossible to handle – when you lose your cattle, you’ve lost your collateral. How do you go to the bank and borrow money to build fence when you have little or no collateral to back up that loan? This program in my view needs to be changed - with your help - in which it is like other disaster payments. It is a payment that occurs at the time of the disaster, the money then used to rebuild, in this case the fence. We were able with the help of Mr. Young to get the commitment of USDA that the payments could occur over a period of time in stages, so you could fix part of your fence and submit the bill, and that’s a step in the right direction. It’s an improvement and we appreciate the flexibility that was demonstrated in that response. But the program doesn’t work… the way it should for a disaster. So I would encourage you to work with me and others to see if we can’t alter the way that program works.”
Sen. Moran (3:51): “The second part, and I think we’ve been assured at least there’s flexibility in regard to the specifications of the kind of fence. Kansas is also an oil and gas producing state and so we have oilfield pipe. It’s a way you can build fences and it’s much cheaper than buying new fencing. Many ranchers would take that option. We believe we have the approval of USDA to allow that to happen, we’ve received those assurances. But what I need from you is if there are issues that come up, we need your common sense, your Georgia background, to say we’re not – this isn’t about the actual specifications, this is about whether you’re building a good fence. I don’t know a single rancher in Kansas who wants to build a fence that won’t last generations. That’s the kind of fence that was destroyed in the fire, was fence that had been there for 70, 80, a hundred years. So I need your cooperation as those issues arise to step in and help us make certain that common sense prevails.”
Sen. Moran (4:47): “And then finally, payment limitations under the livestock indemnity program. This is where you might actually get compensated for your loss of cattle… The Kansas Livestock Association estimates that there’s been 4,000 and 8,000 head of cattle that died in this fire. The payment limitation is such that it is per… business organization, farm organization, and I think farmers over time have figured out how to organize their farming operation as a result of the laws related to payment limitations. Ranchers have never thought about this and so almost without exception every one of our livestock producers is limited by the payment limitation. And we need to make certain that there is a way in which brothers and fathers, and sons and daughters who have not organized their ranching operation in a way to satisfy payment limitations issues are not harmed. A $125,000 payment limitation does not go very far with the loss of up to 8,000 cattle.”
Sen. Moran (5:53): “So those are three areas I wanted to highlight for you. Some of what I’m saying is complimentary, the other is a forewarning that we’ll be knocking at your door asking for your assistance, guidance, direction and leadership in making certain that a terrible situation is handled as best we can with common sense and compassion.”
Sec. Perdue (6:16): “Well I hope that I would demonstrate to you and to the producers that are affected not only in Kansas but across the country, common sense and compassion. Those are two virtues that I value very much… The fencing was a silly kind of thing and I think that can be easily determined. The payment limitations on the livestock indemnity program, I’m not sure if those are statutory in the farm bill, or if there’s any flexibility there. I’ll get the answer to that question… I do understand certainly the business organization structure that you’ve talked about, and many of the production agricultures have taken that step. And your producers could do that easily. I think it would be a matter of how we determine what those limitations are in light of the fact that those are not legal separations. I’ll be happy to talk with you about what a real solution is on that. Certainly the reimbursement on the fencing on the ECP on those kinds of things from a reimbursement standpoint, we know that fencing is very expensive and you’re right, sometimes when you’re wiped out you don’t really have cash or collateral to go borrow to create that. So I’ll explore that as well. I appreciate Acting Secretary Young in giving the flexibility. What I will commit to you: this USDA will implement all the flexibility, these kind of programs and these sort of disaster places that we have under the statute, and if we don’t feel like they are optimal from a statutory perspective, we’ll inform you of that and ask you to correct that in the next farm bill.”
Sen. Moran (8:06): “I thank you for your flexibility and I commit to you that I’ll work with you to accomplish those goals.”
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Sen. Moran Questions Secretary Perdue on USDA Programs Impacting Kansas Wildfire Recovery Efforts
Jun 13 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today questioned Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the USDA’s efforts to aid Kansans working to recover from the devastating wildfires in the southwestern part of the state earlier this year during a Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee hearing.
Click here to watch the hearing. Highlights can be found below.
Sen. Moran (0:52): “First of all I want to thank Mr. Young. In your absence, before you were confirmed, he was the acting secretary. He responded forthwith to concerns that I had about fires in Kansas. We had a number of counties significantly devastated by wildfires. Clark County in particular, nearly all of the county was burned. I think the number is 700,000 acres in Kansas were burned by wildfires. Ironically, sadly, two weeks later the rains come.”
Sec. Perdue (1:28): “Snow.”
Sen. Moran (1:29): “Snow came. The good news is that you saw green begin to appear in places that were black just a few days before. It will take a long time, decades, perhaps generations, for a recovery to occur. There are three areas that I wanted to highlight for you in regard to the federal government’s response to those fires. First of all, we’ve had some staffing issues in FSA offices where the workload increased dramatically. And recently there has been approval for two additional positions at the FSA county office in Clark County. We are pleased with that and anxious for those positions to be filled, and appreciate the restructuring in order to meet the current demands for FSA services.”
Sen. Moran (2:15): “Three areas of concern. The emergency conservation program. This generally is a way in which ranchers can be compensated for loss of fencing. We had fire previously in the adjoining county, Barber County, the so-called Anderson Creek fire. It took a year for ranchers to actually be compensated for the loss of their fence. It was a year before the payments began. Here’s the problem with the program, I would welcome your help: there is no advance payment for that disaster. You get your fence rebuilt and then you submit the bill. Here’s something that strikes me as nearly impossible to handle – when you lose your cattle, you’ve lost your collateral. How do you go to the bank and borrow money to build fence when you have little or no collateral to back up that loan? This program in my view needs to be changed - with your help - in which it is like other disaster payments. It is a payment that occurs at the time of the disaster, the money then used to rebuild, in this case the fence. We were able with the help of Mr. Young to get the commitment of USDA that the payments could occur over a period of time in stages, so you could fix part of your fence and submit the bill, and that’s a step in the right direction. It’s an improvement and we appreciate the flexibility that was demonstrated in that response. But the program doesn’t work… the way it should for a disaster. So I would encourage you to work with me and others to see if we can’t alter the way that program works.”
Sen. Moran (3:51): “The second part, and I think we’ve been assured at least there’s flexibility in regard to the specifications of the kind of fence. Kansas is also an oil and gas producing state and so we have oilfield pipe. It’s a way you can build fences and it’s much cheaper than buying new fencing. Many ranchers would take that option. We believe we have the approval of USDA to allow that to happen, we’ve received those assurances. But what I need from you is if there are issues that come up, we need your common sense, your Georgia background, to say we’re not – this isn’t about the actual specifications, this is about whether you’re building a good fence. I don’t know a single rancher in Kansas who wants to build a fence that won’t last generations. That’s the kind of fence that was destroyed in the fire, was fence that had been there for 70, 80, a hundred years. So I need your cooperation as those issues arise to step in and help us make certain that common sense prevails.”
Sen. Moran (4:47): “And then finally, payment limitations under the livestock indemnity program. This is where you might actually get compensated for your loss of cattle… The Kansas Livestock Association estimates that there’s been 4,000 and 8,000 head of cattle that died in this fire. The payment limitation is such that it is per… business organization, farm organization, and I think farmers over time have figured out how to organize their farming operation as a result of the laws related to payment limitations. Ranchers have never thought about this and so almost without exception every one of our livestock producers is limited by the payment limitation. And we need to make certain that there is a way in which brothers and fathers, and sons and daughters who have not organized their ranching operation in a way to satisfy payment limitations issues are not harmed. A $125,000 payment limitation does not go very far with the loss of up to 8,000 cattle.”
Sen. Moran (5:53): “So those are three areas I wanted to highlight for you. Some of what I’m saying is complimentary, the other is a forewarning that we’ll be knocking at your door asking for your assistance, guidance, direction and leadership in making certain that a terrible situation is handled as best we can with common sense and compassion.”
Sec. Perdue (6:16): “Well I hope that I would demonstrate to you and to the producers that are affected not only in Kansas but across the country, common sense and compassion. Those are two virtues that I value very much… The fencing was a silly kind of thing and I think that can be easily determined. The payment limitations on the livestock indemnity program, I’m not sure if those are statutory in the farm bill, or if there’s any flexibility there. I’ll get the answer to that question… I do understand certainly the business organization structure that you’ve talked about, and many of the production agricultures have taken that step. And your producers could do that easily. I think it would be a matter of how we determine what those limitations are in light of the fact that those are not legal separations. I’ll be happy to talk with you about what a real solution is on that. Certainly the reimbursement on the fencing on the ECP on those kinds of things from a reimbursement standpoint, we know that fencing is very expensive and you’re right, sometimes when you’re wiped out you don’t really have cash or collateral to go borrow to create that. So I’ll explore that as well. I appreciate Acting Secretary Young in giving the flexibility. What I will commit to you: this USDA will implement all the flexibility, these kind of programs and these sort of disaster places that we have under the statute, and if we don’t feel like they are optimal from a statutory perspective, we’ll inform you of that and ask you to correct that in the next farm bill.”
Sen. Moran (8:06): “I thank you for your flexibility and I commit to you that I’ll work with you to accomplish those goals.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement regarding news from the USDA that they have finalized details of an agreement to allow the United States to resume exports of beef to China:
“Given the current low prices Kansas farmers and ranchers are facing, we need every available export market. A finalized agreement so that the United States will be able to export beef to China is welcome news for producers across the country. China offers great potential for beef sales, and the new opportunity in this market will boost not only our ag community but also our national economy.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today applauded Senate passage of their resolution, S. Res. 115, to formally recognize the 100th anniversary of the First Infantry Division – officially nicknamed “The Big Red One” – based at Fort Riley, Kan. The division was organized on June 8, 1917. U.S. Representative Roger Marshall (R-KS-01) has introduced a companion resolution, H. Res. 267, in the U.S. House.
“Since 1917, Big Red One soldiers have fought bravely and sacrificed to protect our nation from global threats,” said Sen. Moran. “On the 100th anniversary of the First Infantry Division, we honor the efforts of all who have served and continue to serve in the Big Red One to defend so many lives, protect our American ideals and preserve freedom for all.”
“Known around the world for their heroism and their distinctive ‘Big Red One’ shoulder patch, the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division has led our fighting forces and protected our nation from threats around the world for 100 years,” said Sen. Roberts. “I am proud to introduce this resolution to recognize the valiant efforts of these men and women in uniform and to honor those of the First Infantry Division who have made the ultimate sacrifice during their service to our nation. As their motto states: ‘No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great, Duty First!’ It is an honor to represent Ft. Riley and the First Infantry Division.”
As members of the first permanent combined arms division of the U.S. Army, soldiers of the Big Red One have been among our nation’s greatest fighting forces in conflicts around the globe since World War I. Big Red One fighting forces are memorialized at monuments throughout the United States and Europe, including Normandy, France, overlooking Omaha Beach and sites in Belgium and the Czech Republic as well as our nation’s capital on the White House grounds.
On Tuesday, June 6, the anniversary of D-Day, Sen. Moran visited the Big Red One Memorial in Washington, D.C. and paid tribute to Big Red One soldiers alongside retired former Commanding Generals of the 1st Infantry Division, including General Carter Ham, LTG Bob Durbin and LTG Kenneth Hunzeker.
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Chairman Moran Convenes Hearing to Examine Military Construction and Family Housing Budget
Addresses Irwin Army Hospital Delays and Army Corps of Engineers Inconsistencies; Questions Progress at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Johnson County
Jun 08 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and Related Agencies – convened a hearing this week to receive testimony from senior leaders from each of the armed services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense regarding the president’s FY2018 budget request for military construction at home and abroad.
“After years of our armed services taking on increasing levels of risk in maintaining critical infrastructure, the FY2018 increase to Military Construction is an effort to refocus readiness on facilities that support our military,” said Sen. Moran. “This subcommittee is committed to making certain we fund projects that will directly improve the quality of life for those who serve and their families.”
During the hearing, Sen. Moran questioned the panel about the ways in which mismanagement of construction projects through the Army Corps of Engineers may be a systemic problem. He highlighted the example of Irwin Army Hospital at Fort Riley and the impact Army Corps delays had on the Fort Riley community. He also inquired about the progress to remediate the hazardous environmental conditions that remain at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Johnson County, Kan.
Click here to watch excerpts from Sen. Moran’s questions. Video of the full hearing can be found here. Highlights can be found below.
Sen. Moran (0:02): “Let me begin by expressing my concern about the Army Corps of Engineers and its capabilities as providing engineering services, planning and design for military installations. I know this as a Kansan in regard to challenges as I’ve seen as a senator representing my state, but now in this capacity as chairman of this subcommittee I have the opportunity to approve or disapprove re-programming dollars… This year’s request includes $251 million for a replacement hospital at Fort Bliss, a project that will end up costing well over a billion dollars before it’s complete. Earlier this year the department sought a re-programming of $74 million to cover cost overruns resulting from ‘design errors, design omissions, and settlement of contractor requests for equitable adjustments.’ What I’ve seen in Kansas related to similar mismanagement of a hospital project at Fort Riley, in this case, the Corps and the contractor reached a settlement of $22 million, again the contractor being paid $22 million, to settle ‘design deficiencies and associated impacts and delays.’ These cases raise questions to me about the ability of the Army Corps to effectively manage major construction projects… how common is this? Do you share any of my concerns in regard to the Corps? Could you or perhaps the Army provide me with a complete list of projects that resulted in a settlement including the costs of those settlements related to those kinds of issues?”
Sec. Potochney (2:01): “Thank you for that question, sir. I can provide a list and I will do that for the record. I think any cost overrun is of concern. The construction world, as you know I’m sure better than me, is complex. Hospital construction in particular is complex… in this case, there was some difficulty… I know though that the Corps has put a fair amount of attention on this and should be up here and we’d like to get them on your calendar to brief you in particular.”
Sen. Moran (2:42): “I would expect this subcommittee pursuing this topic further and I’d be delighted to have the Corps have a conversation… is there a recognition that there is a problem in this regard?”
Sec. Potochney (3:05): “I forget what the statistics are, but the cost overruns are not as prevalent as… it’s a bad headline, and it receives attention, and it should receive attention, but I wouldn’t let it characterize the Corps’ overall capabilities or ability. So I am certainly concerned and others are as well but I think they deserve… the time to explain what happened in this instance in particular.”
Sen. Moran (3:37): “Again let me say that my impression is it’s more than once instance. I’m most familiar with what happened in Kansas… I would say that it’s a bad headline, that part is true, and it’s certainly expensive from a taxpayer point of view. What we saw in the case of Irwin Army Hospital is a delay of years before soldiers and their families and military retirees, were able to access the latest in newest technologies in a modern hospital. So it’s more than just a bad headline, it’s more than even cost to taxpayers, it has a consequence upon the health and well-being of those who serve our country and their family members. Let me ask you, General Bingham, your thoughts on my concern about this topic.”
Gen. Bingham (4:48): “Thank you Chairman Moran. I will just tell you that the Corps of Engineers Commander Lieutenant General Semonite is taking this issue very seriously. We have processes in place where we go about looking at these cost overruns as you described them and certainly we are concerned... I can say that on average we have more situations where we come in underfunded than we do over as it relates to cost. Currently about 65 percent of those projects are coming in under cost and about 32 percent are coming in over cost. So what we sincerely appreciate is your support for allowing us to be able to retain the bid savings so that we are able to accommodate the cost overruns.”
Sen. Moran (5:59): “I appreciate that… I want to make clear that I understand there can be cost overruns, and it’s pleasing, I suppose that our ability to estimate is more often on one side of the equation than the other, although the hope is that you can estimate… costs accurately. I understand that’s not always possible and circumstances change. But my greater concern is the explanation. I don’t want the Army to change their explanations when they ask me to approve a reprogramming, but the explanation is design errors, design omissions. So it’s not necessarily the cost overrun, it’s the reason in which the money is needed to be adjusted… Apparently the Army Corps of Engineers, in their design work, failed to do their job appropriately. Let me ask… General Green, you are a customer of the Army Corps of Engineers service and I wouldn’t want to let you off the hook without asking you the experience that the Air Force has had in regard to design work by the Corps.”
Gen. Green (7:38): “We have found great success with the Corps in working across the nation. But I would agree that it is inconsistent at times, just like any large bureaucracy, the Corps is a very large organization so there have been pockets of challenges for the Air Force but there have been pockets of great success. In fact, Kansas City District, that’s run the construction for the KC-46 beddown at McConnell, has proven to be very successful. Through innovation and thinking ahead and looking ahead they’ve saved over $40 million in that program. So I do recognize and acknowledge the problems that you’re referring to. We have experienced some of our share. But I do not think it’s a brush in which we would paint the entire Corps. I think it’s uneven across such a large bureaucracy which is something that we all experience in large organizations.”
Sen. Moran (14:24): “I want to direct a question to General Bingham and that’s about Sunflower… former Army Ammunition Plant in Kansas. In 2016 I hosted the Army Assistant Secretary for Installations, Secretary Hammack, to that facility. It seemed to me that for a brief period of time that we were moving forward in trying to resolve the environmental and remediation problems associated with the abandonment of this ammunition plant, but it also now seems to me that progress has slowed to a crawl. General, if you could tell me what you know about this project and how we’re going to get it back on track – if my evaluation is correct. I then seek your commitment to resolve this to a full cleanup.”
Gen. Bingham (15:22): “Thank you Chairman Moran, I appreciate the question. We feel that we are on track with the Sunflower former ammo plant… we have committed contract dollars to help with the cleanup efforts there. Both on the soil remediation as well as the explosive hazard. To that end, we have taken on a more comprehensive health risk assessment... So as we look to get back those results we believe it will help inform our way ahead such that we can go about the cleanup efforts associated at Sunflower.”
Sen. Moran (16:03): “I am not an expert at this and don’t know how desirable this is but a thing to think about I think is are there sections… within this wide expanse of land that could be remediated and cleaned up and property moved on to be sold and developed, in a sense, in an incremental fashion? Are there things we can do that are less problematic and get them done? On the other hand I don’t want to let anybody off the hook to get the whole thing cleaned up… I would love for that dialogue to continue to see if we can’t find solutions that speed up the process.”
Gen. Bingham (16:45): “I understand, Chairman, where you’re going with that. We’ll look to where we can mitigate that incrementally to help expedite that action.”
Sen. Moran (17:01): “I think I got your commitment to see that we get to a full cleanup?”
Gen. Bingham (17:05): “We are committed to that end.”
Witnesses included Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment Peter J. Potochney; Assistant Chief of Staff of the Army for Installation Management Lieutenant General Gwendolyn Bingham; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics Vice Admiral Dixon R. Smith; Commander of Marine Corps Installations Command and Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations, and Logistics (Facilities) Major General John J. Broadmeadow; and Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection and Director of Civil Engineers Major General Timothy S. Green.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) yesterday led a bipartisan group of senators in passing a resolution to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs were founded 100 years ago yesterday, on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois.
“Lions are committed to caring for those less fortunate, from young to old, and they do so in a way that shows care and compassion,” said Sen. Moran. “I have been a member of Lions Clubs since I graduated from college, went to work and got involved with the community. I have seen firsthand how Lions Clubs make a difference in their local communities as well as their reaching around the globe in addressing humanitarian needs. This resolution recognizes all the good that Lions Clubs members have done across the world over the last 100 years. As we mark this occasion, may our commitment to our neighbors, community, and fellow man and woman be strengthened and renewed.”
Sen. Moran’s resolution is also supported by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
“We are extremely grateful to Senator Moran and his Senate colleagues for introducing S. Res. 174, a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International and celebrating a long history of humanitarian service,” said International President of Lions Clubs Bob Corlew. “This is not only a fitting tribute to 100 years of service but it also highlights the scope of the world’s largest service organization’s charitable activities and our longstanding commitment to preserving sight and eliminating blindness, serving youth, providing humanitarian and disaster relief, combatting disabilities, and so much more. Thank you, Senator Moran, for your service in the United States Senate and for your commitment as a Lion and the service ideals we embody.”
Over the last hundred years, Lions Clubs International has grown into the world’s largest service club, with more than 1.4 million members who participate in more than 46,000 clubs across the globe. Kansas has more than 270 Lions Clubs.
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
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Sen. Moran Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Increase VA Accountability
Jun 07 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) praised unanimous U.S. Senate passage of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, legislation to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by allowing the VA secretary to remove bad actors with appropriate due process and protections for whistleblowers. Sen. Moran joined U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) in introducing this legislation last month.
“Despite great efforts to craft laws that ensure the VA is held accountable, too many veterans continue to experience mistreatment at the hands of bad actors among VA’s employees,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation gives the VA secretary the tools he needs to remove those who fail to perform their duties to provide our veterans with the care they deserve while ensuring that whistleblowers are appropriately protected. This is one of many changes the VA must make if they are going to earn the trust of veterans who rely on them.”
The bill is widely supported by key veterans stakeholders including the VA and U.S. House VA committee leadership. It has also won the support of numerous advocacy groups that represent millions of veterans in the United States and key government accountability groups. Read more about the legislation’s support here.
Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act increases the VA’s authority to remove employees at all levels of the department, shortens the removal process and ensures an individual removed from the VA is not kept on the VA’s payroll while appealing that decision. It will also make it easier for the VA to remove poorly performing senior executives and replace them with qualified candidates. Additionally, any appeals by senior VA executives would no longer be brought before the Merit Systems Protection Board, but instead would be handled directly by the VA secretary under an expedited timeline.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act will establish in law the newly created Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection within the VA.
The legislation also includes a number of other provisions to hold employees accountable, including:
- Requiring the VA to evaluate supervisors based on the protection of whistleblowers;
- Incentivizing managers to address poor performance and misconduct among employees by requiring the VA secretary to include this as part of the annual performance plan;
- Prohibiting bonuses for employees who have been found guilty of wrongdoing; and
- Prohibiting relocation expenses to employees who abuse the system.
A one-page summary of the legislation can be found here.
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Sen. Moran Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve Rural Post Offices
Bill Would Require Community Notice and Appeal Process for Proposed “Emergency Closures”
Jun 07 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to protect postal customers across the country from indefinite “emergency closure” of post offices. Their bill, S. 1204, would end the U.S. Postal Service’s practice of using its emergency suspension process, which was designed for temporary closures, to indefinitely close post offices without notice to the community, opportunity to appeal, or a timeframe for either reopening or permanently closing the facility.
“Kansans in rural communities know and often depend on the U.S. Postal Service as a mechanism for commerce, communicating with friends and family, and receiving critical deliveries such as medications through the mail,” said Sen. Moran. “When a post office closes in a small town, the resulting problems and harm to the local economy can be significant. By requiring advance notice ahead of any closures for the community and providing local residents the opportunity to appeal, this bipartisan legislation will give Kansans more influence over the presence of a post office in their communities.”
Since 2011, 650 postal facilities across the country have been “temporarily” closed under emergency suspension. Hundreds of these remain closed today in communities where the Postal Service has not told residents if – or when – those post offices might reopen. Since 2011, there have been over a dozen such suspensions in Kansas – due to staffing issues, expired or canceled leases or safety and health concerns.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
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Sen. Moran Questions Transportation Secretary Chao on Proposed Air Traffic Control Privatization
Jun 07 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today questioned Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao about the administration’s plan to privatize our nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system and the impact that would have on rural America.
“Rural America is not just small towns, it’s everywhere that isn’t a large city, and all but our nation’s largest airports stand to be hurt by this proposal,” said Sen. Moran. “I continue to trust Congress to represent the oversight interests of the American people more than 13 members of a corporate board.”
Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s questions for Sec. Chao.
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