Hello,

Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.

Hosting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Milley at Fort Riley
It was a privilege to host the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Mark A. Milley, at Fort Riley during the Big Red One's 100 Year Anniversary.

As chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I invited Gen. Milley to tour the new Irwin Army Community Hospital; the General played an influential role in its completion and I’m glad he was able to see first-hand how patients benefit from the hospital. Throughout the tour, it was evident that Gen. Milley is committed to the well-being and care of our soldiers and their families.

Additionally, I attended a dinner at Fort Riley honoring Gen. Milley and his work on behalf of our country’s military.

Thank you to Major General Joseph Martin, 1st Infantry Division and Senior Mission Commander, Fort Riley, and the hospital leadership and staff for hosting us.

Attending the Junction City and Manhattan-area Chamber of Commerce Victory Week Luncheon
Major General Joe Martin invited me to the 1st Infantry Division Victory Week Luncheon on Wednesday. Each year during Victory Week, the Junction City Military Affairs Council and the Manhattan Military Relations Committee host a combined luncheon. This year, MG Martin was the guest speaker, and he gave a presentation about the Big Red One’s recent deployment to Iraq.

I valued his update about the progress made in combating ISIS and eliminating its reign over the Iraqi people. I will continue to work hard in Washington to make certain that our soldiers are provided with the proper resources needed to defend our freedom. 

Hosting Townhalls Around The State
Throughout my time in Congress, I have been committed to holding townhall meetings to hear from the Kansans I serve. Last week’s stops provided me with valuable feedback from Kansans that I need in order to do my job representing you in Washington.

Last week, I hosted townhall meetings in Lane and Sherman counties.

Healy Listening Tour
It was great to visit the Eagles' Landing in Healy to discuss the VA, healthcare, rising premiums, immigration, the farm bill, crop insurance, NAFTA and education.

Thanks to Jeff Allen for helping to organize the townhall. Also, thanks to state school board member Sally Cauble and Healy Principal Beverly Roemer for attending. 


Goodland Listening Tour
On Friday, I hosted a Listening Tour stop in Sherman County at the Northwest Kansas Technical College following the weekly Goodland Rotary meeting. We discussed a number of topics including healthcare, foreign policy, Medicare and social security, tax reform and my continued opposition to privatizing air traffic control.

Thank you to all who attended. I appreciate the Goodland Rotarians’ hospitality and am proud to be a fellow Rotarian.



Working to Sustain NIH funding
As Congress works to make improvements to our health care system, we should make certain we continue to prioritize medical research and its ability to save lives tomorrow through today’s investments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays a critical role nationwide in directing our medical research community.

I recently visited the NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Md., accompanied by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, several directors of NIH Institutes, University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod and members of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center, to see firsthand the work being done by some of our nation’s leading physicians and scientists. After touring NIH’s facilities and discussing research progress on neurodegenerative diseases — specifically, Alzheimer’s — it is clear, now more than ever, that sustained funding for the NIH is essential for the next generation of Americans and will help lower health care costs in the future.

Read my full op-ed in the Lawrence Journal-World here.



Stopping in Grinnell and Touring McCarty Farms

I stopped in Grinnell to meet with community members on Friday. I discussed the farm economy, the farm bill, trade and trucking issues with folks at Equity Bank, Hometown Grocery and Senior Center. I also toured McCarty Family Farms near Rexford to discuss dairy issues and the growing dairy industry in Kansas.

Grateful for visits like this and the warm welcome Kansans provide to visitors.

Kansans in the Office

Capitol Tours
John Budd of Kansas City
Constance Budd of Kansas City
Megan Adams of Andover
Carolyn Wallace of Wichita
Mark Humphries of Wichita
Keisha Humphries of Wichita
Meera Chakravarthy of Overland Park
Vasu Chakravarthy of Overland Park

Honored to Serve You in Washington
It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.

Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,
Jerry