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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and chairman of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee – released the following statement after voting to confirm Dr. David Shulkin as the country’s ninth Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
“Dr. Shulkin’s stated desire to restore veterans’ faith in the agency and transform its stubborn, bureaucratic culture is a good foundation, but the ultimate measure of his success will be determined by veterans’ access to quality care worthy of their sacrifice and the benefits they earned. I look forward to seeing what kind of impact Dr. Shulkin can have at the VA. I hope he seizes this opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of American veterans. If, however, the pattern of unresponsiveness, deflection and mismanagement remains at the VA, I will be a persistent voice for change on behalf of those they are failing.”
On Jan. 20, Sen. Moran sent a letter to the president encouraging the new administration to consider his priorities for veterans. Sen. Moran followed up on these priorities during a Jan. 24 meeting with Dr. Shulkin and at the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Feb. 1. In each of these interactions, Sen. Moran has called for the inclusion of and close coordination with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) under Dr. Shulkin’s leadership at the VA.
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Sen. Moran Leads Senate Colleagues in Encouraging the President to Strengthen Mission at GITMO, Safeguard Americans
Letter Requests Immediate Hold on Transferring Detainees, Evaluation of Review Board
Feb 13 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week encouraged the president to assess the future operations and detention of detainees held at the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GITMO) in a letter also signed by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
“Congress has continuously opposed and prohibited the closure of GTMO as well as the transfer of GTMO detainees to U.S. soil since 2010 in response to the previous administration’s attempt to fulfill a campaign promise,” the senators wrote. “Despite the growing number of threats to our nation from terrorists around the globe, the Obama administration demonstrated a serious disregard for the safety of the American people and the will of Congress by dramatically reducing the number of detainees housed at GTMO to justify those remaining to be transferred to the U.S.”
Sen. Moran added, “I am encouraged by the president’s acknowledgement that terrorists captured on the battlefield who threaten Americans and the United States should be housed at GITMO, and I look forward to working with him to reinforce the critical mission the detention facility serves in putting the safety of Americans first. My Senate colleagues and I have requested an immediate hold on detainee transfers and suspension of the Periodic Review Board, which has been allowed to make determinations about detainee releases with no congressional oversight or sharing of their analysis with Congress. In the face of the growing number of threats against our nation and the troubling recidivism rate of detainee terrorists, the previous administration’s reckless practice of releasing detainees must end.”
In the letter, Sen. Moran and his colleagues shared with President Trump a number of recommendations for the future of the detention facility as the president and Congress work to ensure the safety of the American people. They requested an immediate hold on transferring detainees approved for release by the Periodic Review Board (PRB) and the suspension of the PRB itself – which was established in 2011 to assess and determine the transfer of detainees – along with a full and judicious review of the PRB’s role and responsibilities. They also requested the consideration of military value analysis and recommendations of the nation’s most senior military leaders.
Click here to read the full letter.
Background
- According to the Director of National Intelligence, the recidivism rate of those who have reengaged in terrorist or insurgent activities is more than 30 percent.
- In February 2016, Sen. Moran led a congressional visit to GITMO with Sens. Gardner and Daines and spoke with military leaders including Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GITMO) Commander Rear Admiral Peter J. Clarke.
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Sen. Moran Demands Accountability at VA with Secretary Nominee David Shulkin
“You know the problems and there ought not be a significant learning curve.”
Feb 02 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week questioned the President’s nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin, about the VA’s pattern of unresponsiveness to members of Congress attempting to help constituents with VA healthcare and benefits and the Department’s history of thwarting congressional intent in application of the laws Congress has passed. Sen. Moran also reminded Dr. Shulkin to work more closely with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) in the future on VA reform and of his efforts to get answers from the VA as to how a physician assistant the Leavenworth VA Hospital could have been allowed to commit crimes against veterans and then retire instead of being fired.
Sen. Moran’s questions were related to answers he expected to receive as follow up from his meeting with Dr. Shulkin on Jan. 24 in his Washington, D.C., office.
Dr. Shulkin committed to Sen. Moran that he will work to expand the VA Choice Program and fix the issues with its implementation to solve the problems so many veterans and health care providers are facing.
Highlights of the exchanges may be found below, along with links to the videos:
During Sen. Moran’s first round of questioning:
Sen. Moran (:16): “I am looking for assurance that the VA is going to be different than it has been… A couple of things that have troubled me about the VA. One is that the outreach to members of Congress, responsiveness, our ability to get VA attention on casework and individual veterans’ problems… has been miserable… the VA is failing not just Congress but veterans that we are elected to serve and try very hard to care for. Another example of the VA’s lack of concern for Congress is it seems to be in way too many instances, perhaps all, in legislation that we pass, the VA then narrows the scope of that legislation, thwarting congressional intent. I just sat here listening to you testify and was thinking about three instances just in the Choice Act. Remember the early days of 40 miles in which it was ‘as the crow flies’? That is a way to deny veterans benefits that Congress intended for them to have. Ultimately corrected, that’s a good thing, but interesting to me that’s where the VA started. The full time physician – what is the definition of a facility… we tried to redefine what a CBOC is based upon a full-time physician. The VA then narrows it, not 40 hours as most of us would expect a full-time physician to be, but something less than that. Again thwarting the efforts of Congress, the intent of Congress to serve our veterans. The one that you and I talked most about in my office, and I’m hoping that you have some good news, is the opportunity for us to correct this issue of unusual and excessive burden, in which we indicated that you can have choice… but you the VA narrowed it by limiting the procedures that then qualified, again narrowing the opportunity for veterans to be served by Choice.“
Dr. Shulkin (2:32): “I can give you good news on that… those were meant to be examples, I think the field took them literally that these were the only five conditions, so we have gone out now nationally and clarified that to give the flexibility that you need…. This is complex business when we’re making laws and implementing them. These examples are going to continue to come up. My commitment to you, if I’m confirmed as secretary, is we have to have these types of conversations and this type of communication, because you’re hearing from constituents and you have information. We need to get back to you in a timely fashion, that’s why I’m committed to that. We’re gonna continue to have these differences in interpretations but in the end, we both want what’s best for veterans, and I believe we’ll come up with the right solutions like in this example where I just gave you good news.”
Sen. Moran (5:47): “How would you grade yourself? If you come to this committee six months from now, what would be the scorecard by which we could determine, I could determine, whether you’ve met the goals of your service as the Secretary of the Department?”
Dr. Shulkin (6:08): “There’s only one goal that’s important to me. Ask the veterans what they think of the services that they’re getting, what their trust level is, of us, in terms of being able to deliver that. That’s the most important outcome. We can define metrics on how to do that, but this is an organization, I think this is really what you’ve been saying all along, that has to be veteran-centric. That’s the only reason we exist. That’s the only reason why you have a secretary, to make sure that they’ve advocating on behalf of them. So let’s ask them and let’s see if we’re doing a better job.”
Sen. Moran (6:42): “Dr. Shulkin, you have the advantage of having served in the VA for 18-20 months. It’s also a disadvantage because I put you on a higher platform as somebody who can’t use the excuses, ‘I’m gonna go out and ask veterans what they need.’ You know. You know the problems, and there ought not be a significant learning curve. Yours is not about conducting a townhall meeting and learning from veterans what the problems are… You have the ability, the background, to actually solve the problems.”
During Sen. Moran’s second round of questioning:
Sen. Moran (1:09): “You have responded to a letter of mine… What specific authority do you need to discharge the kind of people that Jon Tester just said we need to get rid of? The example that we used with you in the letter you responded to me is the physician assistant who committed sexual acts against PTSD patients at Fort Leavenworth, the hospital, and he was allowed to retire. That has those victims of those crimes wondering, how did the VA let this happen in the first place but secondly, why wouldn’t this person be fired instead of retired?”
Dr. Shulkin (1:59): “I look forward to working with you on that because I don’t want to be overseeing an agency that allows that to continue to happen.”
Sen. Moran (2:06): [to Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.] “Mr. Chairman, I am anxious to help you in any way I can as we try to make certain that the VA does it job well, to support the secretary and the employees at the VA. I look forward to working with you as the Chairman of the MilCon/VA Appropriations Subcommittee to see that good things happen. You can convince me that money is the issue, but first of all convince me that we’re using the money that we get today in the very best way.”
Click here or here to watch the exchanges on YouTube.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), co-founder of the Senate Competitiveness Caucus, joined U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) in sending a letter this week to the President urging him to support recommendations of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council to assist with his Manufacturing Jobs Initiative.
“Kansas manufacturers play a crucial role in our state’s success,” said Sen. Moran. “I would encourage the President to consider the recommendations of the Manufacturing Council as he works to implement his Manufacturing Jobs Initiative, particularly as the Council promotes the Manufacturing USA Institutes. The Institutes, which partner with a variety of industry and academic entities such as Wichita State University and the University of Kansas, work to ensure that the U.S. leads the world in research and development while implementing cutting-edge technologies.”
“Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the American economy, driving innovation, delivering high-wage jobs, and engaging new technologies to create high-value products that are in demand around the world,” the members wrote. “Since its creation in 2004, the Manufacturing Council has provided a forum to bring together private and public sector leaders to inform strategy and policy that supports this critical sector in the United States. We believe the expertise, insights, and policy recommendations that the Council provided will be an important resource for the new administration.”
Please find below the full letter:
January 31, 2017
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to express our support for the recent announcement of your Manufacturing Jobs Initiative and your intent to seek counsel from CEOs and business leaders who can provide valuable insights and recommendations for creating manufacturing jobs and promoting economic growth. As you move forward with this Initiative, we want to bring your attention to prior work of the Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council that may accelerate your efforts.
Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the American economy, driving innovation, delivering high-wage jobs, and engaging new technologies to create high-value products that are in demand around the world. Since its creation in 2004, the Manufacturing Council has provided a forum to bring together private and public sector leaders to inform strategy and policy that supports this critical sector in the United States. We believe the expertise, insights, and policy recommendations that the Council provided will be an important resource for the new administration.
Over the past few years, the Manufacturing Council has offered a number of strong policy recommendations that deserve consideration. We particularly support recommendations to promote successful approaches for the Manufacturing USA Institutes (the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation). Public investment in the Manufacturing USA Institutes is more than matched by private sector investment, demonstrating that the effort is market-driven. The work of these Institutes will help ensure that the United States leads the world in R&D and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies.
In the Manufacturing Council’s final report issued on August 3, 2016, the Council also recommended that public and private leaders focus on strengthening manufacturing and defense supply chains as well as cybersecurity. These are two critical policy areas because manufacturing increasingly employs digital communication methods from design to production to delivery. These are just a few of the recommendations that should be a core part of an agenda to create manufacturing jobs.
Support for manufacturing is bipartisan and bicameral, as evidenced by the signatories to this letter representing the Co-Chairs of the Senate Competitiveness Caucus and the House Manufacturing Caucus. Manufacturing is a policy area where Congress and the administration can find common ground. In recent years, bipartisan cooperation on manufacturing has led to the enactment of legislation to strengthen enforcement of trade secrets, encourage public-private partnerships aimed to revitalize manufacturing innovation, and permanently extend the R&D tax credit. These important actions in support of manufacturers will have a direct impact on job creation and economic growth in the United States.
Finally, we support Andrew Liveris’ leadership role on the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative. As a former Chairman and CEO of Dow Chemical, Mr. Liveris is a well-respected business leader with experience working with government, industry, and academia. As Co-Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee, he set the stage for important public and private investments in research and development, including the 14 Manufacturing USA Institutes.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working together to ensure that the United States continues to produce the highest quality, most sought-after products in the world.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) met with former Governor Sonny Perdue, nominee for Secretary of Agriculture, in his Washington, D.C. office today.
“I enjoyed meeting with Governor Perdue and hearing more about the way he would approach leading the Department of Agriculture,” said Sen. Moran. “There are very few positions on the federal level with greater impact on the daily lives of millions of Americans than that of the Ag Secretary, and I made that clear to Governor Perdue today. I believe his extensive background as an advocate for Georgia’s agricultural producers, a veterinarian and an agribusiness owner gives him a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing farmers and ranchers in Kansas and across the country.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) met with Betsy DeVos, nominee for Secretary of Education, in his Washington, D.C. office today and issued the following statement indicating his intention to support her confirmation:
“I have had a number of serious concerns about Betsy DeVos’ nomination to be our next Secretary of Education. Those concerns have been echoed by Kansas educators and parents I have met with and heard from over the last several weeks. During our meeting today, I laid out several of my top concerns – namely, the threat of a federally-mandated voucher program in our state, potentially insufficient enforcement and funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and more broadly, my desire to make certain that she shares my view about the limited role the federal government should play in education. Helping one group of students to find more opportunity should not come at the price of reducing the benefits of other students. High-performing schools – be they rural, urban or suburban – should determine how to best address their community’s unique educational needs rather than conform to broad, one-size-fits-all standards issued at the federal level, and I made that clear to her.
“Ms. DeVos confirmed to me that there will be no federally-mandated voucher program in the state of Kansas. She reassured me that the state, local districts and school boards will retain their important role in administering our schools and determining our students’ curriculum. She shares my interest in pursuing full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to ensure that our students with disabilities have the opportunity to receive a quality education and pursue their goals. And lastly, she agrees that we must return control over our students’ education to the state and local levels by implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act as Congress intended.
“Though I began our meeting unconvinced, I now expect to support her nomination knowing that, as Secretary of Education, Ms. DeVos will be working to make certain that all Kansas students are better off and that educational decisions are made by those who understand the unique needs of Kansas kids: educators, administrators and parents at the local level.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement regarding the president’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court:
“With the nomination of Judge Gorsuch, the president has put forth an impressive and well-qualified Supreme Court nominee who has already received broad, bipartisan support in the United States Senate. As the confirmation process continues, I look forward to examining Judge Gorsuch’s body of legal writing and meeting with him to personally discuss his record and views of the judicial branch and the Constitution.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement regarding the president’s executive order on homeland security:
"Keeping Americans safe should be our federal government's top priority. Strengthening our immigration system is critical to that end, and it’s common sense to have appropriate vetting procedures in place for individuals wishing to travel to our country. While I support thorough vetting, I do not support restricting the rights of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Furthermore, far-reaching national security policy should always be devised in consultation with Congress and relevant government agencies."
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The legislation is supported by American Farm Bureau Federation, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business, Americans for Tax Reform, Club for Growth, National Black Chamber of Commerce, International Franchise Association, National Taxpayers Union, Family Business Coalition, the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, and many others.
S. 205 awaits consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) this week.
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Sen. Moran Appoints New State Director
Jan 25 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently appointed a new state director, Alex Richard, to oversee state office operations and represent him in the state when he’s working on behalf of Kansans in Washington, D.C. Richard is taking over for Brennen Britton who has moved to the nation’s capital to serve as chief of staff.
“Alex has been a significant part of my legislative efforts in Washington, D.C., and I’m thrilled he has an opportunity to return home to Kansas,” Sen. Moran said. “He will oversee our state offices and personnel, serve as a liaison between local and state leaders, and ensure Kansans requesting assistance with federal agencies are helped in a timely fashion.”
“I look forward to returning home to serve Kansans in this new capacity,” Richard said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to travel across the state and hear directly from Kansans the issues facing our communities. Their voices will continue to shape Senator Moran’s work in Washington.”
Richard grew up in Prairie Village, Kan. He was previously Sen. Moran’s legislative director and deputy chief of staff based in Washington, D.C. Richard received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas.
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