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Sens. Moran, Cassidy, Jones, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Allow Increased Utilization of HSAs
Dec 11 2019
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies – joined U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to introduce the Primary Care Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of healthcare and expand patients’ access to their primary care providers.
“The Primary Care Enhancement Act will improve choice for patients and will give individuals and families the option to choose how to spend their healthcare savings,” said Sen. Moran. “Health savings accounts can be utilized on a wider scale, and this bill is a step in the right direction towards putting patients in charge of their own healthcare. As direct primary care options continue to grow, it is important to ensure these services are an allowable expense for HSAs.”
“Health savings accounts and direct primary care are some of the best ways to give patients the power and let them take back control of their family’s health care decisions,” said Sen. Cassidy. “This law builds on the administration’s action and allows a patient to use their money for the doctor they want.”
“We need to do everything we can to improve access to quality, affordable health care,” said Sen. Jones. “Direct Primary Care models are growing in Alabama and across the country as a way to improve health outcomes and lower health care costs for families. This bill will help families save money on health care by clarifying that patients can use their Health Savings Accounts to pay for direct primary care fees.”
“Congress needs to work across the aisle to expand access to affordable, quality health care. This bill is a reflection of that effort and demonstrates the common ground we share and the progress we can make by working together,” said Sen. Shaheen. “The Primary Care Enhancement Act expands access to high quality primary care by allowing individuals to enroll in Direct Primary Care Arrangements in addition to comprehensive health plans, without having to forfeit eligibility for making Health Savings Account contributions. This is common sense, bipartisan legislation to improve health care and I urge Leader McConnell to hold a vote on this bill as soon as possible.”
The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model encourages patients to develop personal relationships with their primary care physician, including extending access to care beyond office visits and business hours and through telemedicine. It focuses on prevention and primary care, relying less on specialist and hospital referrals. It is a growing model used by more than 1,000 practices across 48 states and the District of Columbia.
DPC models replace copays and deductibles with flat, affordable monthly fees. Current law makes DPC incompatible with health savings accounts (HSAs) paired with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).
The bill clarifies federal law to state DPC is eligible for HSA contributions and that pre-tax HSA funds may be used to pay DPC fees.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – today applauded the Senate Commerce Committee’s vote to advance the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act of 2019.
“The CONTRACT Act removes an unnecessary barrier in the hiring pipeline for contract towers, including the eight located in Kansas, and allows highly-skilled, experienced controllers to continue their careers in the aviation industry,” said Sen. Moran. “I am pleased the Commerce Committee voted to advance the CONTRACT Act, and I urge the full Senate to quickly pass this sensible legislation.”
The bipartisan CONTRACT Act would remove the disincentive for retired FAA air traffic controllers to work at federal contract towers. Under current law, FAA air traffic controllers must retire by age 56. Because this is earlier than the normal retirement age, controllers are included as a "special group" under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) and contribute an additional 0.5 percent of their annual salary into a special retirement annuity account. In return, they receive a FERS annuity payment during the mandatory retirement period between 56 and the social security minimum age of 62. The retired controller's special annuity payment is incrementally reduced if they earn more than the social security earnings limit of $17,640 (2019 tax year) annually. This annuity offset penalty results in many retired FAA controllers making the decision not to work as federal contract tower air traffic controllers.
Items to note:
- Sens. Moran, Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the CONTRACT Act on November 20, 2019.
- There are 256 air traffic control facilities participating in the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program, including Garden City, Hutchinson, Manhattan, Salina and two locations in Olathe and Topeka.
- The U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) sent a letter of support for this legislation.
- In October 2018, a number of Sen. Moran-led provisions relating to contract towers were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.
- Full text of the CONTRACT Act can be found here.
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Sen. Moran Applauds Agreement Reached on USMCA
Dec 10 2019
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies and member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies – released the following statement on the agreement reached between the White House and Congress regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):
“I have long advocated for movement on USMCA, and I applaud the White House and Congress for reaching an agreement today and advancing this deal. Canada and Mexico are Kansas’ top two export markets, and over the last two years, I have heard directly from Kansans how vital a modern trade deal like USMCA would be for our farmers, ranchers and manufacturers to compete and succeed in the 21st Century economy. Now is the time to get USMCA across the finish line, and I urge the House to quickly bring USMCA up for a vote.”
Last week, Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor regarding the importance of passing UMSCA. Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks.
Timeline of Sen. Moran’s engagement regarding a modernized trade agreement:
- November 15, 2017: Sen. Moran sends open letter to U.S. agricultural organizations regarding the threat of NAFTA withdrawal and urged them to advocate for sound trade policy.
- December 6, 2017: Sen. Moran met with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross regarding NAFTA negotiations.
- January 7, 2018 and January 13, 2019: Sen. Moran spoke at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention about the importance of trade and modernizing NAFTA.
- January 30, 2018: Sen. Moran sent a letter to President Trump highlighting how NAFTA benefits the United States and outlining how the agreement can be improved.
- February 1, 2018: Spoke at annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association conference about importance of trade and modernizing NAFTA.
- April 12, 2018: Sen. Moran discussed the importance of trade and NAFTA during an Agriculture and Trade Roundtable at the White House with President Trump.
- May 23, 2018: Sen. Moran sent a letter urging the administration to work closely with members of Congress to make certain a renegotiated NAFTA has the congressional support necessary to be enacted into law.
- July 26, 2018: Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor regarding the importance of trade to Kansas, including with Canada and Mexico
- August 28, 2018: Sen. Moran sent a letter urging President Trump to ensure Canada was part of trilateral deal following the U.S. and Mexico reaching a preliminary agreement on a revamped NAFTA.
- October 1, 2018: Sen. Moran released a statement after the United States, Canada and Mexico announced they have reached a trilateral deal regarding the future of NAFTA.
- January 18, 2019: Sen. Moran authored an op-ed in The Garden City Telegram regarding the importance of trade agreements and passing the USMCA.
- April 18, 2019: Sen. Moran released a statement on the report accessing the likely impact of USMCA by the International Trade Commission.
Sen. Moran Visits U.S.-Mexico Border
Dec 09 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies – visited the U.S.-Mexico Border in Rio Rico, Ariz. for a tour and briefing by U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“How successful we are in securing our borders has significant consequences in the lives of Americans and Kansans,” said Sen. Moran. “I witnessed first-hand the efforts of our law enforcement to interdict drugs and stop crime at our southern border, and the need for more resources to keep our nation safe. I have long recognized our immigration system is broken, and I look forward to returning to work in Washington with first-hand knowledge of our border crisis. Thank you to all the law enforcement officers who work tirelessly to protect our borders. A special thanks to U.S. Border Patrol Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Agent Kevin Hecht and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Apolonio “Polo” Ruiz for hosting me at the Arizona-Mexico border.”
Items to Note:
- In Arizona, Sen. Moran toured the U.S.-Mexico border with the U.S. Border Patrol and received an Operations and Drug Threat Briefing from DEA.
- In January, Sens. Moran and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced legislation that would establish a $25 billion trust fund to enhance U.S. border security. The legislation would also codify protections for those individuals who, through no fault of their own, entered the United States illegally as children and are currently covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
- In June, Sen. Moran voted to advance the Senate Appropriations Committee’s $4.6 billion border supplemental package to provide much-needed resources to our southern border.
Sen. Moran Hosts VA Secretary Wilkie in Kansas
Dec 05 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – hosted Robert Wilkie, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Topeka and Kansas City to highlight the innovative work taking place at Kansas VA Medical Centers and speak directly with Kansas veterans, caregivers and advocates.
“Showing Secretary Wilkie around Kansas allowed him to learn about the unique challenges facing rural veterans,” said Sen. Moran. Throughout the visit, topics from the implementation of the VA MISSION Act to legislation I introduced to improve mental health care and increase suicide prevention programs within communities were discussed.”
Secretary Wilkie and Sen. Moran started their visit in Topeka at the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center.
“Thank you to the Kansas VA leaders Dr. William Patterson, Director Rudy Klopfer, Director Rick Ament, Director David Isaacks, and Director Donna Meyer-Hickel for joining us from across the state, and for all the work you do on behalf of veterans,” continued Sen. Moran. “During our time at the facility, we had important conversations about how we can support our nation’s heroes by constantly improving the VA healthcare system. The Topeka VAMC’s satisfaction rates are among the highest in the country, and it was a pleasure to highlight the hardworking Kansans that make this possible for our nation’s heroes.”
Sen. Moran and Secretary Wilkie also traveled to Kansas City and met with veterans and advocates, answering questions about our work to improve the VA and provide veterans with the care and support they deserve.
“Together, we’re working hard to create a 21st century VA that is worthy of the service and sacrifice of our heroes,” continued Sen. Moran.
To hear more about the visit from Sen. Moran, watch the video regarding the visit here.
Sen. Moran Cosponsors Legislation to Support Air Traffic Controllers
Bill would eliminate hiring barrier for eight contract towers in Kansas
Nov 20 2019
- In October 2018, a number of Sen. Moran-led provisions relating to contract towers were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.
- Full text of the CONTRACT Act can be found here.
Currently, women make up 47 percent of the United States’ labor force, yet represent 24 percent of America’s trucking workforce and only about 7 percent of drivers.