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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced a $14 million Department of Transportation grant for Wichita Transit to help fund transit operations and the purchase of protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Provided by the CARES Act, this grant will help keep Wichita’s public transportation operating and supply protective equipment to Wichita transit employees,” said Sen. Moran. “As Kansas moves towards safely reopening, this funding will help to ensure the protection of the employees and support public transit in the Wichita area after considerable financial losses.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced a $51.27 million Department of Transportation (DOT) grant for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to help fund transit operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant is funded through the CARES Act and will support public transit in Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Kansas City, and Independence, Missouri.

“In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable, KCATA saw a decline in revenue as Kansas City area residents started working from home when possible and limiting their outings,” said Sen. Moran. “As the state begins to safely reopen and our lives return to normal, this grant helps ensure KCATA can continue providing critical public transit services to the area.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released a statement after today’s U.S. jobs report indicated the unemployment rate dropped to 13.3 percent and 2.5 million jobs were added in May. This week, the Senate also passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which is now headed to the president’s desk for signature.

“Many Kansans and Americans remain out of work, but today’s jobs report is a positive step forward in our economic recovery,” said Sen. Moran. “The COVID-19 pandemic caused businesses to make difficult decisions to protect those who are most vulnerable to this virus, and unfortunately thousands of Kansas businesses closed their doors with little certainty on when they could reopen. Through the Paycheck Protection Program, 50,000 businesses in Kansas were able to receive loans to endure this pandemic and save thousands of jobs.”

“This week, I’m pleased the Senate voted to update the Paycheck Protection Program to allow businesses more flexibility on how and when they can use their loans,” continued Sen. Moran. “I will work with my colleagues and the administration to continue to make certain the Paycheck Protection Program is benefiting small businesses and helping keep more employees on the payroll as we safely reopen our economy.”

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, among other things, will extend the current eight-week period during which businesses must use funds to have loans forgiven to 24 weeks or Dec. 31, whichever comes sooner. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate both passed H.R. 7010, and the bill will proceed to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science –  today announced that Kansas will receive $4 million in grants from the Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for 15 law enforcement departments across Kansas.

“These grants will help Kansas communities hire additional officers to make certain the departments are properly staffed to meet the needs of their communities,” said Sen. Moran. “Every community in Kansas is unique, and I am pleased to see these grants provide law enforcement departments the flexibility to identify focus areas that will benefit their towns.”

Grant Recipients in Kansas:

Arkansas City Police Department

$125,000

Atchison County Sheriff's Department

$125,000

Bonner Springs Police Department

$125,000

Bourbon County Sheriff's Department

$118,792

Cheney Police Department

$250,000

Cherryvale Police Department

$125,000

Gardner Police Department

$125,000

Goodland Police Department

$125,000

Hesston Police Department

$125,000

Hiawatha Police Department

$125,000

Kansas City Police Department

$1,322,150

Pratt Police Department

$125,000

Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Department

$224,965

Wellsville Police Department

$123,624

Wichita Police Department

$875,000


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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be distributing $63.4 million to Kansas skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to help combat the effects of COVID-19. This funding was provided through the CARES Act.

“Caring for our seniors is particularly challenging during this pandemic, and to help protect our loved ones, we rely heavily on the services of nursing homes across the state,” said Sen. Moran. “This funding will help provide the tools and resources needed to prevent the virus from spreading into nursing homes that haven’t been infected and help provide life-saving resources to the facilities where they continue to battle the spread of the virus.”

Distribution Methodology Provided by HHS:

- HHS will make relief fund distributions to SNFs based on both a fixed basis and variable basis. Each SNF will receive a fixed distribution of $50,000, plus a distribution of $2,500 per bed. All certified SNFs with six or more certified beds are eligible for this targeted distribution.

- Nursing home recipients must attest that they will only use Provider Relief Fund payments for permissible purposes, as set forth in the Terms and Conditions, and agree to comply with future government audit and reporting requirements.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously confirmed Major General John Kolasheski to the rank of Lieutenant General:

“I was pleased to join my Senate colleagues in unanimously confirming the appointment of the Big Red One’s own John Kolasheski to the rank of Lieutenant General in the US Army. Robba and I have enjoyed getting acquainted with General Kolasheski and Buffy and hold them both in highest regard for their character and service to country. I congratulate General Kolasheski on this momentous occasion, and I wish him and his family the best of luck as they transition later this summer to Fort Knox, Kentucky to command Fifth Corps, the Army’s newest Corps Headquarters.”

Lieutenant General John Kolasheski assumed duty as the Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kansas on June 8, 2018. Prior to his arrival at Fort Riley, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, United States Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection – and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced legislation this week to protect seniors from scams during the coronavirus pandemic. The Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to Congress on scams targeting seniors during this pandemic and make recommendations on how to prevent future scams during emergencies.

The bill also directs the FTC to update its website with information that will help seniors and their caregivers access contacts for law enforcement and adult protective agencies, and directs the FTC to coordinate with the media to distribute this information to ensure seniors and their caregivers are informed. 

“Every year scam artists target senior citizens resulting in billions of dollars of financial losses, and now during the COVID-19 pandemic, these scammers are using fear and uncertainty to take advantage of our vulnerable populations,” said Sen. Moran. “We must ensure our seniors are protected, and this bipartisan legislation will help seniors and their caregivers become more informed about financial scams.”

“We must ensure that seniors are not being taken advantage of during the coronavirus pandemic. All Americans deserve safety and dignity in their senior years, yet new fraudulent schemes designed to target seniors appear almost daily,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will help protect seniors from fraud during this public health crisis and help prevent emergency-related scams in the future.”

The Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act is endorsed by AARP, the Elder Justice Coalition, American Society on Aging and the National Adult Protective Services Association.

“We strongly support the introduction of the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act,” said Bob Blancato, National Coordinator, Elder Justice Coalition. “It is a tragedy that this legislation is even needed but in communities across our nation we find vulnerable older adults being victimized by heartless scam artists operating during a pandemic. Sens. Klobuchar and Moran are to be commended for introducing this legislation which needs to be approved as quickly as possible so more older adults are not defrauded and left in a perilous financial state.”

“Our members in states and cities across this country are doing everything they can to prevent the growing barrage of scams and targeted financial exploitation of older adults,” said Peter Kaldes, CEO of the American Society on Aging. “We applaud federal action that supports families, caregivers and law enforcement in shielding vulnerable elders while also empowering elders to better safeguard themselves.”

“Scams and other forms of financial exploitation are devastating for older adult victims, both financially and emotionally,” said Lori Delagrammatikas, Executive Director of the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). “Those preying on the vulnerable aren’t shutting down during this pandemic, instead seeing it as a prime opportunity to exploit seniors. Greater awareness of scams and places to turn for help, such as law enforcement and adult protective services, can help protect seniors and rebuild their lives. On behalf of all states’ APS programs, we thank Senators Klobuchar and Moran for addressing this critical issue and look forward to working together to combat scams targeting seniors, both during this crisis and beyond.”

In March, Sen. Moran led a bipartisan letter with 32 colleagues urging FTC Chairman Joseph Simons to protect seniors from coronavirus-related scams, better inform consumers about scams, and assist victims in understanding their recourse options to ensure that seniors are protected from those attempting to financially exploit them during the pandemic.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) today introduced the Small Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief COVID-19 Act to support small meatpacking plants that are operating longer hours during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our supply chain moving. U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Meatpackers in Kansas and across the country are doing everything they can to stay open and work longer hours to keep our meat supply in stock during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sen. Moran. “Unfortunately, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service charges meatpacking plants a fee for overtime hours for food inspectors, and this legislation would reduce these fees that discourage smaller packing plants from extending operating hours. During this pandemic, it is necessary we remove cost-prohibitive barriers so our packers can keep working, ranchers can harvest their livestock and Americans can have access to quality food.” 

“The COVID-19 crisis has hit the food supply chain – from producers to our essential workforce – particularly hard,” said Senator Bennet. “In addition to prioritizing the health of workers, we should look to reduce barriers for small meatpackers who are stepping up and running overtime to keep the supply chain moving. This bill would do just that by reducing fees for small meatpacking plants, expanding options for ranchers to harvest their livestock while maintaining strong safety standards.”

“We need all hands on deck to work through this processing bottleneck,” said Rep. Johnson. “Small processors need flexibility and that’s what this bill would provide. The cattle industry is struggling, and during this pandemic, it’s crucial we keep overtime costs low for our small processors and producers who rely on this capacity.”                                                                                              

“Our small meat processers have stepped up during COVID-19 to keep our local food systems alive and food on our tables,” said Rep. Craig. “As a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve heard from family farmers who aren’t sure how they are going to make it past this global pandemic. Local meat processors have addressed the increased demand for processing amidst this pandemic. I’m proud work with Rep. Johnson to lessen the federal burdens as they are rising to meet the current demands of our communities.”

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), cattle slaughter in May has decreased by approximately 31 percent compared to last year. This decrease is largely due to meatpacking plants being temporarily closed due to outbreaks of COVID-19 or plants slowing processing operations to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

The USDA FSIS charges meatpacking plants a fee for overtime and holiday hours paid to food inspectors. This legislation would provide funding to FSIS to reduce fees charged to small meatpacking plants when they request overtime and holiday inspection services.

Meatpacking plants with fewer than 10 employees would be required to pay 25 percent of overtime and holiday fees and FSIS would pay the remaining 75 percent. Plants with 10-500 employees would be required to pay 70 percent of overtime fees with FSIS paying the remaining 30 percent.

This legislation was cosponsored by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) expressed his support for three Amtrak nominees during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Sen. Moran had previously placed holds on the nominations of Joseph Ryan Gruters, Leon Westmoreland and Rick Dearborn to be members of the Amtrak Board of Directors. These holds were placed until Amtrak honored an agreement to provide $3 million in matching funds to a TIGER grant for the long-distance Southwest Chief line, which runs through Kansas.

Click Here to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks 

“Long-distance passenger service routes like the Southwest Chief are essential for connecting rural Kansas communities to major cities and economic opportunities,” said Sen. Moran. “My intent on placing original holds on the three nominees that we marked up today stemmed from a broken commitment that Amtrak made to Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. I was pleased Amtrak ultimately decided to uphold their funding commitment in February 2019. That decision was the first indication Amtrak was going to work toward preserving long-distance routes. Following that announcement, I worked with each nominee, and Amtrak’s former CEO, to make certain of their commitment for not only the Southwest Chief, but long-distance passenger service.” 

In February 2019, Amtrak finally released the $3 million in matching funds to complete the federal TIGER IX grant awarded in January of 2018 for safety upgrades and maintenance on the train’s route in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. In the months that followed the announcement, Sen. Moran, along with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), worked with each Amtrak nominee to gain assurance of their commitment to long-distance passenger routes and the steps they would take, if confirmed, to ensure the routes’ preservation. The three nominees provided written responses detailing their commitment to and unwavering support and advocacy for long-distance passenger routes. 

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