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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) commended the Senate Finance Committee’s passage this week of the Miners Protection Act (S. 1714). The bill transitions surplus, unused funds from the Abandoned Mine Land Fund to reinforce miners’ pension and health benefits programs, which are managed by the United Mine Workers of America.
“Retired miners in Kansas face the threat of a reduction or loss of health and retirement benefits,” said Sen. Moran. “This bipartisan legislation would enhance the federal government’s ability to uphold its previous commitments to retired miners and their families in Kansas.”
The coal industry’s free fall and its growing number of beneficiaries have placed the programs at risk of insolvency. The legislation will now await consideration by the full U.S. Senate.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security Subcommittee – today announced that his bipartisan bill, the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (S. 3183), passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Better Online Ticket Sales Act, also known as the BOTS Act, would put an end to “ticket bots” that bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to buy large quantities of tickets for re-sell on secondary markets.
“Whether it’s a Garth Brooks concert in Wichita, or the most hyped and prestigious Broadway show of all time – Hamilton – the digital age has made acquiring tickets easier than ever,” said Sen. Moran. “But an age-old issue, ticket scalping, has been made even more prevalent by advances in technology. Ticket bots cut the line, buy available tickets, and then sell them at a significant markup – making it harder and more expensive for Kansans to attend live performances. This bipartisan bill levels the playing field for consumers across the country, and I’m pleased to see it move forward with bipartisan support.”
Chairman Moran convened a Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing last week that included testimony from Jeffrey Seller, producer of hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, and representatives from StubHub and Ticketfly.
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Sen. Moran Investigates Wells Fargo's Unauthorized Accounts During Senate Banking Hearing
Sep 21 2016
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) participated in an investigative Senate Banking Hearing today with Wells Fargo CEO Mr. John Stumpf. During the hearing, Sen. Moran pressed Mr. Stumpf for answers in light of the recent news that thousands of Wells Fargo employees created millions of unauthorized accounts.
Sen. Moran, Colleagues Push Obama Administration to Strengthen Sanctions Against North Korea
Sep 19 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and a group of senators last week in urging President Obama to impose secondary sanctions on countries that provide assistance to North Korea, especially in light of their latest nuclear weapons test.
In the letter, the senators express their concern that the Obama administration has not imposed secondary sanctions specifically on Chinese-based entities working with North Korea. They also pose a series of questions relating to the implementation of sanctions under the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act, which was passed unanimously by the Senate and signed into law in February 2016. The senators call for a new U.N. Security Council Resolution to close loopholes of previous resolutions, along with expedited deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea and strengthening of the trilateral alliance between the United States, Japan and South Korea.
“North Korea’s nuclear weapons program presents a clear threat to global security,” said Sen. Moran. “This month, the communist regime completed their fifth nuclear test – their fourth during President Obama’s term. Failure by the administration to impose secondary sanctions on those who assist North Korea simply enables the regime to grow in power and strength.”
Background
Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor in February about Congress’ role to curtail nuclear proliferation and testing – particularly in denunciation of North Korea’s immediate nuclear aspirations. This month, he joined a group of senators urging President Obama not to bypass the Senate in order to seek United Nationals Security Council endorsement of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which Congress rejected in 1999 and North Korea has not signed. In a letter to the president, Sen. Moran and colleagues asked the president to clarify if parties to the CTBT would abide by the treaty’s prohibitions.
The full text of the letter may be found here.
Sen. Moran Names 2016 Service Academy Selection Board
Will review applications and interview candidates for admission to U.S. Service Academies
Sep 16 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced the members of his 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board. The 20-member board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. Service Academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2017.
“Our country is fortunate to have so many intelligent, hard-working and patriotic young men and women interested in serving our country through the armed forces,” Sen. Moran said. “I know the selection board will have a difficult time narrowing the field of qualified candidates, but I value their insight and thank them for their help.”
Applications will be reviewed and selected applicants will be interviewed by the selection board on Saturday, September 24 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene.
Members of the 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board include:
- Dennis Butler of Ottawa – Ottawa Chief of Police, law enforcement officer of 37 years;
- Ardith Dunn, Ph.D., of Satanta – Retired high school mathematics/computer instructor, superintendent, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
- Marche Fleming-Randle, Ph.D., of Wichita – Wichita State University College of Liberal Arts and Science Assistant Dean and Assistant to the President for Diversity;
- Sue Givens of El Dorado – USD 490 Superintendent of Schools;
- Robin Jackson, Ph.D., of Hutchinson – Central Christian College Professor of Science and Mathematics;
- Melissa Jarboe of Topeka – Military Veteran Project Founder, widow of U.S. Army service member;
- Cheryl Kerns of Overland Park – Blue Valley West High School teacher, mother of U.S. Military Academy cadet;
- Brian Kessens of Overland Park – Tortoise Capital managing director, U.S. Military Academy graduate;
- Ryan Kriegshauser of Topeka – Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner Director of Policy and Special Counsel, lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves;
- Katrina Lewison of Manhattan – U.S. Military Academy graduate, Purple Heart recipient;
- Wendell Maddox of Kansas City – United Way of Wyandotte County President and CEO, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps veteran;
- Jill McCarthy of Overland Park – Kansas City Area Development Council Vice President of Business Development, mother of U.S. Military Academy graduate;
- John O’Leary of Wichita – Airbus Vice President of Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy graduate;
- Jayne Humphrey Pearce of Wallace –Wallace County Visitors Bureau Marketing and Tourism Director, U.S. Air Force veteran, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
- Paula Ripple of Dodge City – Retired Dodge City High School English instructor, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
- Sean Ritchie of Wichita – Cargill North American Operations Lead, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate;
- Delbert Stanton of Hays – Retired United Methodist Church minister and grandfather of three Air Force Academy graduates;
- Andy Tompkins of Topeka – Retired CEO, Kansas Board of Regents;
- Samuel Turner of Leawood – Retired Shawnee Mission Medical Center CEO, Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Army veteran; and
- Ron Whitney of Emporia – American Legion member, Veterans of Foreign Wars member, U.S. Army veteran.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today in releasing a joint statement urging Democratic senators to oppose the Obama administration’s proposed Internet oversight transition set to take place on Oct. 1, 2016:
“It is profoundly disappointing that the Obama administration has decided to press on with its plan to relinquish United States oversight of crucial Internet functions, even though Congress has not given its approval. For years, there has been a bipartisan understanding that the ICANN transition is premature and that critical questions remain unanswered about the influence of authoritarian regimes in Internet governance, the protection of free speech, the effect on national security, and impacts on consumers, just to name a few.
“Without adequate answers to these questions, it would be irresponsible to allow the transition to occur in 15 days simply because of an artificial deadline set by the Obama administration.
“In fact, Democrats at both the state and national level have echoed many of these concerns. For example, former President Bill Clinton has warned that ‘[a] lot of people who have been trying to take this authority away from the U.S. want to do it for the sole purpose of cracking down on Internet freedom and limiting it and having governments protect their backsides instead of empower[ing] their people.’
“The issue of Internet freedom should unite us Americans – Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike. Partisanship and political gamesmanship have no place when it comes to the Internet, basic principles of freedom, and the right of individuals in our great nation and across the globe to speak online free from censorship.
“We urge our Democratic colleagues to work with us to ensure this transition does not occur on October 1.”
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Sens. Moran, Grassley Press DHS for Answers on Criminal History of Suspect in Johnson County Deputy's Death
Sep 16 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to provide information about a criminal immigrant who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Johnson County, Kan., sheriff’s deputy. In a letter to Sec. Johnson, the senators request Adrian Espinosa-Flores’ full criminal and immigration history and inquire about why he was allowed to remain in the country despite previous criminal convictions and his unlawful status.
“The Kansas City Star reports that Flores has an extensive criminal history,” the senators wrote in the letter. “If true, he should not have been allowed to roam free in the community. Reports from KSHB-41 Action News cite records that show Flores had previously been convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles County, California, in 2001 under the name Arturo Espinoza Mercado and that in 2013, he was pulled over for speeding by Overland Park Police in Overland Park, Kansas, before being arrested and charged with driving without a license.”
The senators continued, “It seems Deputy Collins died at the hands of someone who broke our laws and should not have been allowed to remain in the United States following his multiple interactions with law enforcement.”
Click here to read the full letter. An excerpt of the questions in the letter may be found below.
- The alien registration number for Adrian Espinosa-Flores, his complete alien file (A-file), including any temporary files, working files, or Service Center files, and all documents and items contained in them, all reports or notifications generated by DHS or in its possession about him, whether currently in written or electronic form, including, but not limited to, the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Executive Summary, criminal history or immigration summaries, detainers or requests for notification, I-213(s), and Notice(s) to Appear or other charging documents created to seek his removal from the United States.
- Please identify each and every date on which Adrian Espinosa-Flores was encountered by a law enforcement agency in the United States, to include criminal and civil arrests, the nature of the charge, the jurisdiction where the arrest occurred, the disposition of that charge, the date(s) on which he was released from the custody of that law enforcement agency, and the reason(s) for the release.
Please provide the arrest and disposition documentation for each encounter. - How and when did Adrian Espinosa-Flores enter the United States? Was he ever served with a Notice to Appear? Was it filed with an immigration court? Please explain.
- Did Adrian Espinosa-Flores ever apply for any immigration benefits, including deferred action? If so, was any application approved? Please provide copies of any application that may have been submitted, whether or not adjudicated.
Background
Sen. Moran has long advocated against sanctuary city policies. He sponsors the following legislation:
- The Taking Action Against Drunk Drivers Act (S. 3276), legislation introduced by Sen. Grassley would make habitual drunk drivers ineligible for entry and removable from the United States. It would also require the detention of any immigrant who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a DUI or DWI; and
- Sarah’s Law (S. 3124), which was also introduced by Sen. Grassley, would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take into custody certain illegal immigrants who have been charged in the United States with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, issued the following statement in reaction to the United States Director of National Intelligence’s recent report revealing that two more released Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) detainees have returned to engaging in terrorist activities:
“Since the president announced his plan to close GITMO, we’ve seen a rush to transfer detainee terrorists out of the facility. This administration’s willingness to endanger American lives in order to fulfill a campaign promise is unacceptable, especially given the clear evidence showing that former detainees continue to return to the battlefield. I will continue fighting to keep the remaining detainees at the facility where they cannot engage in terrorist acts against the United States or our allies.”
The confirmed and suspected reengagement rate of GITMO detainees returning to the fight is more than 30 percent and includes those released since 2002.
Background
Sen. Moran has long advocated against relocating Guantanamo Bay detainees. He works to uphold current law by sponsoring multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act and sponsors the following legislation:
- The Protections Against Terrorist Transfer Act of 2016 (S. 2780) to strengthen the certification requirements relating to the transfer or release of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
- The Detainee Transfer Transparency Act (S. 2788) to make available to the public the intended transfer or release of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at least 21 days in advance;
- The Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act (S. 165) to prohibit the transfer to the United States of detainees designated medium- or high-risk for two years and ban transfers to Yemen, where dozens of the remaining Guantanamo detainees are from; and
- S. 2559 to prevent President Obama from transferring GITMO back to Cuba without congressional approval.
Additionally, Sen. Moran introduced a Senate Resolution to call for the detention of captured Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters at GITMO.
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Sen. Moran Introduces Legislation to Hold VA Accountable, Protect Veterans Against Violent Crime
Sep 15 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, this week introduced the Accountability to Safeguard Veterans from Violent Crimes Act of 2016 (S. 3330). The legislation would cut pensions earned by certain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers who are convicted of a crime of violence against a veteran. S. 3330 holds accountable those who exploit their position in patient care to abuse veterans.
“Those who violate the trust of our veterans must be held accountable,” Sen. Moran said. “The notion that taxpayers would fund the benefits of individuals who have threatened or harmed our nation’s heroes is unacceptable. The VA has made excuses time and time again without firing those who have mistreated our veterans, and this legislation would make certain these individuals aren’t able to walk away with the same benefits as those who honorably served our veterans.”
A “crime of violence,” such as sexual assault, under Title 18 covers “an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense,” such as sexual assault.
Background
Following multiple allegations of sexual abuse in the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System against former Physician Assistant Mark Wisner, Sen. Moran has been pressing the VA for answers about their background checks and hiring practices. Mr. Wisner has been charged with aggravated sexual battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and misdemeanor sexual battery and faces numerous federal lawsuits stemming from his actions while as an employee of the VA.
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