Protecting Kansans’ Private Property
This week, my staff and I heard from hundreds of Kansans, including at meetings in Plainville and Great Bend, along the path of a proposed National Interest Energy Transmission Corridor (NIETC). Kansans have made themselves clear: their land is not for sale to the federal government. When the Senate returns to Washington, I will introduce legislation to help protect Kansans’ private property. This legislation will ban federal funds from being used to condemn private property to be used in a NIETC designation and prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from using its authority to overrule a state’s rejection of an electric transmission project.

In addition to this legislation, I have also been engaged with the Department of Energy, who have assured me they will continue to accept comments and take them into consideration through the next phase of this proposal. I will continue to work to protect multi-generational farms and businesses and the rights of property owners across our State from federal overreach.

If you would like to offer your comments to the Department of Energy for consideration, please do so at NIETC@hq.doe.gov.

Renaming Manufacturing Center at D-J Engineering  
This week, I visited D-J Engineering in Augusta, a premier manufacturer for complex machine parts, composites and sheet metal fabrication for aerospace and defense. D-J Engineering was one of 16 Kansas suppliers connected to the Artemis I Mission and other important programs critical to maintaining the defense of our nation. Our nation’s aerospace industrial base runs through Kansas.



During my visit, D-J Engineering announced the renaming of one of their facilities to the “Senator Moran Manufacturing Center.” In this facility, D-J Engineering will house one of the largest rocket ring milling machines, which will be used to make structural portions of the SLS rocket for the next Artemis missions, as well as components of the boom of a KC-46 and B-1B bomber wing skins. I want to thank Rezaul Chowdhury, CEO of D-J Engineering, and his entire team for their kindness, as well as Augusta Mayor Rawlings, County Commissioner Murphy, Chamber of Commerce Administrator Hummel, and members of the Augusta City Council in attendance for the event.

Discussing Ag Issues 
The Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth is always a great opportunity to catch up with farmers, ranchers and agricultural leaders in Kansas. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from a number of these folks at the summit this year. I was also able to provide Kansans with an update on the Farm bill and other issues that Congress is working to address. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their insights and ideas with me.



Touring the Frank Carlson Federal Building
While in Topeka, I toured the Frank Carlson Federal Building which is operated by the General Services Administration and houses the courthouse and other agencies. Thank you to Facility Manager Jason Parker and Deputy U.S. Marshall Craig Beam for their time and for giving me a tour of the building.

U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center
I also stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center (PPC), also housed in the Frank Carlson Federal Building. The PPC is responsible for managing payroll, personnel and related administrative functions for the entire U.S. Coast Guard. The PPC is critical to the Coast Guard’s operations, ensuring that its servicemembers are properly compensated and that their service records are accurately maintained. I’d like to thank the men and women at the PPC for their service to this nation and for allowing me to stop by. 

District Judge Toby Crouse
It was great to stop by and visit with the newly installed District Judge Toby Crouse and his clerks. Thanks to Toby for giving me an update on the judicial system in Kansas and for his service to the people of Kansas.

You can read more about my visit here in WIBW.

Visits Across Kansas
Herzog Transit Services
On Wednesday morning, I met with Herzog CEO and Chairman Brad Lager. Herzog is a leading rail, highway and transit contractor that does work across the United States. One of their current projects includes the KC Streetcar that is nearing completion in downtown KC. Thank you to Brad for your leadership on this project and for taking the time to meet with me.

Breaking Ground on New Manufacturing Center in Elwood
I joined Elanco Executive Vice President Grace McArdle, Lt. Governor David Toland and additional leadership from Elanco for the groundbreaking of Elanco’s new Manufacturing Facility in Elwood. Elanco is investing $130 million into the facility, making it the largest financial investment by a business in the history of Doniphan County. This investment will add an additional 70 jobs to their existing workforce bringing their total to 156. This expansion and renovation project will allow Elanco to manufacture a canine parvovirus treatment.

As the manufacturer of the first USDA-approved monoclonal antibody, Elanco is poised to make historical strides to advance this treatment in Kansas. This facility will be a vital part of the animal health corridor for years to come. Thank you to Grace McArdle and the entire Elanco Team for the invitation to join you. I look forward to watching the development of this project and seeing how Elanco continues to contribute to the Elwood community.



Douglass High School
School is back in session, and I was able to visit with students at Douglass High School this week. I appreciate Principal Scott Dunham and the student leaders for providing me with a tour of the school. Classes are resuming for the fall, and I wished the students and teachers a productive school year.



Winfield Police Department
After my visit at the high school, I stopped by the Winfield Police Department. The department is under construction and is receiving new features to increase the security of the building. Thank you to Police Chief Robbie DeLong for the tour and for keeping Winfield safe.



South Central Kansas Health
My last stop of the day was in Arkansas City to tour South Central Kansas (SCK) Health. I met with hospital staff and local leaders to discuss the Rural Emergency Hospital designation SCK received to help keep the hospital open. I am thankful for the work being done to continue serving rural communities and would like to thank Mayor Jay Warren, City Commissioner Chad Beeson and everyone else for joining me on the tour.



Touring Harper Industries
I left Kingman, traveling south to visit Harper Industries. Tim Penner, President and CEO of Harper Industries, joined the company in 1991. The business was founded in the 1960’s and specialized in hydraulic equipment, that made hauling hay bales easier for farmers and ranchers. Both the business and DewEze product line have grown substantially since then. I’d like to thank Tim and his team for providing me a tour of the company’s headquarters and facilities. I also want to thank Harper Mayor Eric Latta for joining me.



Fire Prevention Demonstration
Following my visit at Harper Industries, I paid a visit to Blanchat Manufacturing in Harper. Greg Blanchat is a 30-year volunteer firefighter and founder of Blanchat Manufacturing, and he has been working to improve firefighting equipment for decades. During our site visit, Greg provided a live demonstration of his fire suppression system, which uses a new formula that can be used to suppress fires at a distance instead of solely using water. This system does not require a fire truck to hook up to hydrants, which makes it more versatile in the field. I am grateful to Greg and his son, Daniel, for adjusting their schedules to demonstrate their patented systems and equipment for me.



Announcing Resources for County Sheriffs
Barber County Sheriff’s Office
I stopped in Medicine Lodge to announce federal resources I secured for the Barber County Sheriff’s Office. These resources will be used to acquire technology upgrades for the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, including Mobile Data Terminals to assist deputies with their patrols, body-cameras and in-car cameras, and Flock License Plate Readers with LPR capabilities. I want to thank Sheriff Jason LeClair and Undersheriff Garret McLemore for hosting me in Medicine Lodge.



Kingman County Sheriff’s Office
I also traveled to Kingman to announce federal resources for the Kingman County Sheriff’s Office to acquire a Flock Safety Camera with License Plate Recognition (LPR). This technology will help our law enforcement partners better serve the public by expanding the department’s ability to investigate and monitor criminal patterns. A portion of the funds will also go towards equipment for a radio repeater, which will expand communication capabilities in the county. I want to thank Sheriff Brent Wood for hosting me in Kingman.



Meeting with Kansas Cadets
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Kansas cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy and hear about their education. One of my responsibilities in Congress is nominating candidates to our nation’s service academies. The men and women I get to nominate are some of the finest Kansas has to offer. Each of these cadets are a great representative for Kansas and play a role in strengthening our nation’s security.

I want to thank cadets Remington Stiles from Topeka, Aaron Eakins from Wichita, Jack Arnold from Topeka, Omari Elias from Wichita, Avery Fetters from Wichita, Jackson King from Wichita, Robert Rasmussen III from Leavenworth, Hannah Simmelink from Esbon, Caden Soper and Nicholas Westerhaus from Overland Park for joining me.



Working to Preserve Water and Protect Farms
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced it will not request regulation of water rights in the Rattlesnake Creek Basin for 2025 as plans implemented to improve the water needs in the Rattlesnake Creek Basin are progressing. Kansas producers have been implementing voluntary conservation practices which have reduced streamflow depletion along the Rattlesnake Creek Basin. By working together, farmers, ranchers, local stakeholders and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have made progress towards finding mutually beneficial solutions that protect our water resources. The work done today will help ensure farming and ranching operations continue for generations to come.

Read more about the announcement in the Kansas Reflector.

Capitol Tour
Brenden Burke of Rantoul

Nancy Heaton of Dorrance

Steven Heaton of Dorrance

Aaron Wise of Rantoul

Abigail Wise of Rantoul

Becky Wish of Rantoul

Isaac Wise of Rantoul

Ivan Wise of Rantoul

Lana Zayed of Wichita

Isaac Hobbs of Wichita

Titus Hobbs of Kansas City