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Moran Introduces Legislation to Restrict Use of Post Office “Emergency Closures”
Bill Would Prohibit U.S. Postal Service From Permanently Closing Post Offices Without Community Notice or Appeal Process
Oct 12 2016
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Post offices in Kansas and across the country would be protected from indefinite “emergency closure” under new bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The bill (S. 3452) would prevent the U.S. Postal Service from using its emergency suspension process – meant to be temporary – to indefinitely close post offices without notice to the community, opportunity to appeal, or a timeframe for either reopening or permanently closing the facility.
“The U.S. Postal Service plays an important role in the American economy, and the opening or closing of a post office can make a big difference to small towns and rural communities,” Sen. Moran said. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will help to make certain the postal service remains transparent and accountable, and maintains a dependable presence in communities across our country.”
Since 2011, 650 postal facilities across the country were “temporarily” closed under emergency suspension. Of those closures, 511 remain closed today, and the Postal Service has not told those communities if – or when – those post offices might reopen. Since 2011, there have been 14 such suspensions in Kansas – 10 due to staffing issues, three for expired or canceled leases and one due to safety and health concerns.
“This bipartisan legislation improves the transparency and accountability of the postal services provided throughout the country, but particularly to rural America,” said National Association of Postmasters President Anthony D. Leonardi. “Many times, Postmasters, workers and communities have been surprised by abrupt and unexpected post office suspensions with little notice and no timetable for their reopening, if they reopen at all. That’s why Senators McCaskill and Moran’s Postal Closure Accountability Act is critical—it would help end these unexpected closures, and ensure that communities are informed about the status of their community post offices.”
Click here to read the bill text.
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Sens. Moran & Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Honor Gold Star Families
Legislation would expand participation in Veterans History Project
Sep 30 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week introduced the Gold Star Families Voices Act to allow families of servicemembers killed in action or missing in action to contribute to the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress.
“The Veterans History Project is an important way to recognize the sacrifice of so many American heroes,” said Sen. Moran. “Preserving the stories of those who served our country not only honors the legacy of our nation’s veterans, but also reminds all Americans of their service for generations to come. I’m proud to support this legislation to honor Gold Star Families.”
“The Veterans History Project is an incredible national resource that allows our men and women in uniform to share their stories with generations of future Americans,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “But that narrative – which is so critical to understanding and preserving our history – is incomplete without the voices of servicemembers missing or killed in action. I am proud to join Senator Moran in supporting our colleagues in the House of Representatives introducing legislation to help ensure that those who made the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten.”
Congress created the VHP in 2000 to collect and catalog the stories of American war veterans. The purpose of the VHP is “to preserve the memories of this Nation’s war veterans so that Americans of all current and future generations may hear directly from veterans and better appreciate the realities of war and the sacrifices made by those who served in uniform during wartime.” To date, the VHP has collected the oral history records of more than 100,000 veterans who have served in military engagements since World War I.
This legislation would allow the parents, spouses, siblings and children of servicemembers who are missing or killed in action to participate in the VHP by telling the stories of their loved ones. Companion legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month.
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ABILENE, Kan. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week hosted his annual Service Academy Day to review applications and interview candidates applying for admission to United States Service Academies. The event took place at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene. Sen. Moran’s Service Academy selection board met with more than 40 young Kansans interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
“This event has always been a favorite of mine because I get to meet some of the best and brightest young people in our state,” said Sen. Moran. “It also reminds me that Kansas produces smart, hard-working, civic-minded individuals who want to give back to Kansas and our country. I appreciate the help and hard work of my selection board, which is composed of leaders from across our state who take a great interest in seeing students succeed.”
Academy nominees submit an application that includes a personal statement, resume, letters of reference, academic transcripts and standardized test scores. Following the interviews, the board will make recommendations to Sen. Moran for his decision. If nominated by Sen. Moran, applicants must then meet the individual admission requirements of each academy. The academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission in early 2017. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2017.
Students interviewed include Jacob Bohnemann of Fort Leavenworth; Harrison Boldt of Merriam; Dawson Bromlow of Eastborough; Logan Camilletti, Ryan Devers, Hunter Holloman, Lucas Jackson, William Wagemaker and Mason Witzke of Topeka; Adam Campbell and Sarah Turner of Fort Riley; Ivan Chavez of Dodge City; Chad Coates, Noah Didier, Jack Russell, Cole Smith, Wesley Weissend and Karen Yan of Overland Park; Cole Dahlquist, Jacob Taylor and Madison Wheat of Shawnee; Eldon Davis-Picou of Manhattan; Conner Ekerberg, Landon Moore and Logan Treaster of Newton; Joseph Harms, Luke Longren and Camryn Mathis of Lawrence; Annelise Holland of Olathe; Michael Howard of Peru; Luke Kuklenski of Prairie Village; Trent Madden of Andover; Cooper May of Leawood; William McConwell of Fairway; Chase Penka of Derby; Patrick Porch of Halstead; Kitt Regier of Hesston; Brandon Stegman of Holcomb; Ethan Strong of Auburn; Owen Swanberg of Leawood; Victoria Wall of Mission; Aubrey Willis of Hoyt; Eric Wilson of Girard; Samuel Wittman of Herington; Eric Wright of Coffeyville; and Max Yates of Bonner Springs.
Members of the 2016 service academy selection board include Dennis Butler of Ottawa; Ardith Dunn of Satanta; Sue Givens of El Dorado; Robin Jackson of Hutchinson; Ryan Kriegshauser and Andy Tompkins of Topeka; Cheryl Kerns and Brian Kessens of Overland Park; Sam Turner of Leawood; Katrina Lewison of Manhattan; Marche Fleming-Randle, Sean Ritchie and John O’Leary of Wichita; Jayne Pearce of Wallace; Paula Ripple of Dodge City; Delbert Stanton of Hays and Ron Whitney of Emporia.
Click here for more information about Sen. Moran’s 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – hosted a call this week with TriWest Healthcare Alliance CEO Dave McIntyre, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Under Secretary Dr. Baligh Yehia, Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) Senior Vice President Chad Austin and a group of Kansas hospital executives. The discussion focused on implementation of the Veterans Choice Program and optimizing care coordination between VHA, TriWest and health care providers who serve veterans in Kansas communities.
“Providing veterans access to health care in our local communities enables them to receive services that they would otherwise not receive in a timely manner because of the burden associated with living in rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “There have been numerous challenges with the implementation of Choice, but we are fortunate to have Kansas hospitals and clinics that are committed to doing what is in the best interest of veterans.”
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Senators Moran, Baldwin and Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for Investigation into Chinese Railcar Deal
Deal Threatens U.S. Economy and National Security
Sep 29 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and a bipartisan group of 40 senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew this week to request an investigation into the pending transfer of American railcar manufacturer Vertex Railcar Corporation (Vertex) to the China Railroad Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). The letter calls for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is chaired by the Treasury Secretary, to review the Vertex ownership transfer on the grounds that it is a potential threat to the U.S. economy and national security.
“The Obama administration has a responsibility to review foreign investment transactions that could have national security repercussions – especially when related to critical infrastructure like railroads, public health systems and water systems,” Sen. Moran said. “This bipartisan effort pushes the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to go through the appropriate review and determination processes already codified in law. In this instance, given the Chinese government’s role and relationship with involved parties, it would be careless to allow the transaction to be completed without investigating the potential security implications.”
“We know that Chinese corporations use their vast state-sponsored resources to force out homegrown competition and this buyout will mean that fewer American railcars will be built with made in America iron and steel and assembled by American workers who are paid decent wage,” said Sen. Baldwin. “As a matter of both national and economic security, we must ensure that our American manufacturers and workers have a level playing field on which they can fairly compete and succeed.”
CFIUS may review transactions that would result in the control of critical U.S. infrastructure by any foreign person that raises national security concerns. Freight rail is designated as “critical infrastructure” by the Department of Homeland Security, one of the sixteen agencies that make up CFIUS.
The Chinese government uses CRRC, a state-owned enterprise (SOE), as a tool to promote its international trade agenda and enter foreign markets to the detriment of domestic manufactures. CRRC has already successfully underbid competitors for critical railcar manufacturing contracts in Boston and Chicago.
With CRRC’s entrance into the American railcar industry, domestic railcar manufacturers and associated industries such as iron and steel will be forced to compete with all the resources of the Chinese government. CRRC's attempt to secure majority ownership of Vertex is the company's next and most dangerous foray into the American railcar manufacturing industry. Furthermore, Chinese control of a key element of the freight rail supply chain would provide more access to trade secrets and intellectual property—which China has previously pursed through brazen hacking of American companies.
The senators wrote, “The state-owned CRRC is the largest railcar manufacturer in the world—four times larger than the entire U.S. rail manufacturing sector. The Chinese government has used CRRC as a tool in its international trade agenda to enter foreign markets to the detriment of domestic manufacturers in Australia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and other countries. CRRC has already begun to underbid domestic competitors for railcar contracts in Boston and Chicago. In effect, American railcar manufacturers and their associated industries, such as steel, must now compete against all the resources of the Chinese government.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today in introducing the Protect Family Farms and Businesses Act (S. 3436). The legislation would prohibit the Obama administration from implementing its proposed regulations to unilaterally expand and raise the estate tax on family-owned small businesses.
“The Treasury Department should pursue policies that encourage the creation and growth of family-owned farms or businesses – not those that will increase the tax burden on families and make it more difficult to transfer ownership to the next generation,” said Sen. Moran. “I have long sought a permanent repeal of the estate tax, and I will continue to work to protect American farmers and small businesses from burdensome tax policies.”
Sen. Moran also joined 40 of his colleagues in urging U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to withdraw the proposed regulations, writing that “they directly contradict long-standing legal precedent, create new uncertainty for taxpayers, and put family-owned businesses at a disadvantage relative to other types of businesses.”
S. 3436 is supported by the Family Business Coalition and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA).
“This bill prevents implementation of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s proposed regulations which greatly restrict estate and gift tax valuation discounts. If implemented in their current form, these regulations will greatly damage the ability of franchisees to pass their businesses down to their children and grandchildren,” said CFA Chairman Keith Miller and Executive Director Misty Chally. “CFA supports the Protect Family Farms and Businesses Act as it recognizes the limitations that are placed upon today’s franchisees and prohibits the U.S. Treasury from restricting the transfer of a franchise to family members.”
Companion legislation was introduced by Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 6100) last week.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement today following his affirmative vote for the Fiscal Year 2017 continuing resolution, which includes critical funding for the Zika virus response, veterans’ programs and key infrastructure improvements for American military forces:
“No woman’s reaction to learning she is pregnant should be fear because of Zika, and no newborn child’s well-being should be endangered because their nation’s leaders lack the will to get the job done. My conversations with CDC Director Tom Frieden and visit to the K-State Biosecurity Research Institute both underscored this point: we must provide emergency resources to protect our citizens from the threat of Zika.
“I have never believed in band-aid extensions and while there’s no substitute for regular budget order, passage of this interim bill is the responsible way to address the Zika virus and provide certainty to Kansans and Americans. It also keeps essential functions of our government running, includes vital protections for veterans, and prioritizes critical military construction projects.”
Background
Sen. Moran has been an advocate to finding a solution to fund research for the Zika virus including:
- Visiting Kansas State University on Aug. 24, 2016, to learn more about Zika in Kansas;
- Penning an op-ed on Aug. 25, 2016, encouraging Congress to come together to find a solution on Zika; and
- Discussing the Zika virus with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Tom Frieden on Sept. 8, 2016.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee – today voted for the Fiscal Year 2017 continuing resolution which funds a number of construction projects at McConnell Air Force Base and key infrastructure improvements for American military forces.
“The work of the men and women at McConnell Air Force Base benefits not only our military on a global scale but also the entire Wichita community,” said Sen. Moran. “These new projects will strengthen McConnell’s capabilities, especially as they prepare for the arrival of the KC-46A tankers.”
Sen. Moran has worked to secure funding for important military construction projects in fiscal year 2017 to prepare McConnell Air Force Base for the arrival of KC-46A tankers including:
- A new Air Traffic Control Tower: $11.2 million for construction;
- KC-46A Alter Flight Simulator Buildings: $3 million for flight simulator buildings in preparation for the KC-46A tankers; and
- A new KC-46A ADAL Taxiway Delta: $5.6 million for construction.
Since 1941, McConnell Air Force Base has been an instrumental part of the Wichita community. The base employs more than 17,000 people, military and civilian, and last year it had an overall impact of more than $520 million on our local economy. McConnell supports all branches of the military and allied partners, refueling off of either coast and around the world every day.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week sponsored the Volunteer Organization Protection Act (S. 1684) to provide additional liability protections to volunteer groups and organizations like Lions Clubs International, Rotary International, Kiwanis International, the YMCA and more. This bill would expand good Samaritan protections to diminish a person’s risk of liability when participating in acts of service as a volunteer.
“The efforts of volunteer organizations like Lions Clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis and the YMCA are essential to communities across Kansas, and I’m proud to support legislation that will help to make certain nonprofit volunteer groups are able to continue to serve others,” Sen. Moran said. “These clubs and their members make a positive and meaningful contribution to the quality of life in their communities.”
Specifically, the legislation amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to:
- Prevent the application of vicarious liability rules to non-profit organizations who conduct their activities using primarily volunteers and who did not expressly authorize an alleged harm-producing activity in anticipation of raising charitable funds; and
- Extend governmental immunities to non-profit organizations for actions taken at the request of, or on the authority of, a government entity that would be immune if it undertook the actions itself.
S. 1684 was introduced by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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