Kansas Common Sense

Hosting ATF Director in Kansas to Announce New Partnerships
On Monday, I hosted the Director of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Steve Dettelbach and the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Karhlton Moore in Kansas to announce new partnerships in Wichita and Hutchinson.

Wichita
At Wichita State University (WSU), we announced a new $75 million ATF forensics laboratory on site at the Innovation Campus. This state-of-the-art lab will bring more than 100 new good-paying, high quality jobs to Kansas, support ATF’s efforts to solve crimes and provide comprehensive and advanced technology support to federal, state and local agencies not only in Kansas but across the nation. 

In addition, the location of the lab on campus at WSU will provide students premier access to ATF employees and a federal law enforcement lab, working to solve crimes around the country. WSU holds a long history of excellence in its criminal justice program – the second-oldest in the nation. The announcement of this partnership showcases how WSU is leading the country in crime intelligence and further highlights the great work already happening on campus.

You can read more from KAKE here.

Image

Hutchinson
Following our time in Wichita, I hosted ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and BJA Director Karhlton Moore at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson to announce the launch of a new training program and center on site.

As someone who was raised in a rural part of Kansas, I know that resources are not always as abundant there as they might be elsewhere. And yet, our rural law enforcement professionals play a vital role in protecting these communities and keeping their citizens safe. As the lead Republican of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, including the ATF, I am committed to supporting programs that provide critical services to the ATF and enable law enforcement to fulfill their mission of protecting and serving our communities.

Image

The public safety leadership program at KLETC has already helped provide the necessary tools, resources and training for rural departments and officers, and the funding we announced this week will help continue this program and the great results we have already seen. This center creates a space, not only in Kansas but, regionally, where we can encourage and support training new generations of leaders in law enforcement.

You can read more from the Hutch Post here.

Image

The Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease Must be a National Priority
One in 3 seniors in the U.S. will develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. This horrific disease is rapidly claiming the minds and lives of millions and requiring thousands of family members to serve as caregivers for their loved ones. The good news is that finding a cure for Alzheimer’s is achievable, and it must be a national priority.

NAPA, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, are two bills that provide the foundation for federal investment and coordination in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Congress must reauthorize both pieces of legislation before 2025 to avoid losing ground and to effectively treat and one day cure Alzheimer’s disease.

You can read my full op-ed in The Kansas City Star here.

Image



Welcoming WSU Tech President to Testify Before Commerce Committee
On Thursday, I welcomed WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash to testify before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in a hearing titled, “Strengthening the Aviation Workforce.” As ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, I led the full committee hearing with Chair Maria Cantwell.

Image

You can watch my full opening remarks during the hearing here.

Image

It was an honor to lead the hearing and gain insight into how Congress can continue to support the growing demands in workforce, particularly in the upcoming FAA Reauthorization legislation. Our nation and state’s success within this vital sector depends on those who train, educate and prepare our students to be ready contributors within the aviation industry. In order for our nation to continue leading in aviation, it will take innovative programs like those Dr. Utash has helped implement.

You can watch my questions during the hearing here.

Image

VA Committee Hearing on Electronic Health Records
As the lead Republican of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I led a committee hearing on the VA’s Electronic Medical Health Records Modernization Program. The VA aims to create a unified health record for servicemembers and veterans, enabling more consistent health care. However, it is frustrating that the opposite has happened. The five medical centers using the Oracle Cerner Electronic Health Records are struggling with delays, disruptions and rising costs. I have concerns about the VA’s ability to manage this program, and these issues have had unintended but unacceptable impacts on the health of the veterans the program was created to serve.

The VA and Oracle Cerner are making improvements, but they are gradual, and many of the most extensive, most significant fixes are many months or even years away. To justify additional spending on this program, we need assurances that every penny spent is focused on creating and implementing a system that serves veterans and provides them with the high-quality care they deserve. We need to know if the VA still wants and believes in this program and what will be different this time under the next group of leaders.

You can watch my opening remarks here.

Image



Meeting with NCAA President Charlie Baker
This week, I met with NCAA President and former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. President Baker shared his vision for the future, including the need for transparency and accountability within the name, image, and likeness (NIL) system, which has allowed collegiate student athletes opportunities to benefit from their identities. In addition to NCAA rules currently allowing student athlete compensation, nearly 30 states have introduced or enacted NIL legislation, which creates a confusing system of inconsistent state laws that would be cumbersome for schools and athletes to navigate.

Last Congress, I introduced the Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act to establish a consistent, federal standard to allow student athletes greater control of their name, image and likeness while maintaining the integrity of college sports that we all know and love. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find a federal solution that provides a level NIL playing field for Kansas schools and student athletes, and I look forward to working along with President Baker in the future to create positive impacts in Kansas through college athletics.

Image

Meeting with Kansans
KARL Program
This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Class XVI of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) Program, a group consisting of 30 of the best and brightest professionals from across our state. During our meeting, we discussed the challenges that rural communities face such as access to health care and broadband service, both of which are vital resources to the success of rural communities and those who live there. We also spoke about the importance of public service and investing in one’s local community. Participants of the KARL Program, both past and present, are the reason rural communities in Kansas continue to thrive, and I look forward to working with the members of this program to preserve the rural way of life in our state.

Image

Emporia State University Honors College
It was great to visit with Emporia State University (ESU) Honors students and faculty before their tour of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. I always appreciate the chance to speak with Kansans during their visits to our nation’s capital, and I enjoyed visiting with this talented and accomplished group of students. Thank you to ESU faculty member Amy Baza and students Hailey Waltner, Alexis Hatvik, Hailey Kisner, Alyssa Behrens and Alejandra Escobar for taking the time to say hello.

Image

The Benson Family
I enjoyed visiting with Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President Blake Benson and his family while they were in Washington, D.C., this week for a tour of the Capitol during spring break. We discussed the growth taking place in the community as Blake also serves as an Economic Development Director for the City of Pittsburg. Spring break brought many Kansans to Washington, D.C., and they ran into Frontenac High School students from back home as well as a group from Wichita State University.

Image

Joining DAV Award Presentation for VA Committee Staff
I was pleased to take part in honoring two of my staff members from the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs as they received awards from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in recognition of their work to improve benefits and services for our nation’s veterans. Samantha Gonzalez has worked on both the House and Senate VA Committees and was recognized for her thoughtful and collaborative work on legislation improving how the VA delivers high-quality health care to veterans. Lindsay Dearing, an Army combat veteran with 12 years of service, was recognized by DAV for her work over several years advancing the Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act, the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, and the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act.

I am grateful to have both these dedicated professionals on my team for their work to make a difference in the lives of veterans. I also want to thank Shane Liermann, Jon Retzer and Naomi Mathis for presenting these awards on behalf of DAV and for being valuable partners in achieving our common goal of best serving veterans and their families.

Image

Meeting with U.S. Canola Association
On Wednesday, I visited with members of the U.S. Canola Association about their priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill that will benefit canola growers in Kansas. Michael Stamm, a canola breeder and researcher at Kansas State University talked about the importance of research, especially research geared towards winter canola. During this meeting, we discussed the growing demand for biofuels and the role canola plays in filling that demand. We also spoke about the recommissioning of the crush plant in Goodland which will create new jobs and provide new opportunities for canola growers in the area.

Image

Scoular Announces Investment in Kansas Oilseed Crush Facility
This week, Scoular announced that it will recommission the former sunflower crush plant near Goodland and make investments to retrofit the facility to crush both soybeans and canola. This project will create up to 40 new jobs and is expected to begin operations in Fall 2024.

In small towns across Kansas, every business counts. Scoular’s decision to invest in the crush facility in Goodland will increase marketing opportunities for farmers and contribute to the economic prosperity of northwest Kansas. The Goodland oilseed processing plant is an important juncture for farming in western Kansas and food and fuel production for the nation.

You can read more in the High Plains Journal here.

Calling on CISA to Undertake Cybersecurity Analysis of Chinese-Made Drones
As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I joined my Senate colleagues in urging the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to reevaluate the risks associated with the use of drones manufactured by Shenzhen DJI Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (DJI), a company with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We also requested that CISA update and make publicly available its analysis of the security risks posed by the company.

DJI is the world’s largest manufacturer of personal and professional drones with significant sales to operators of critical infrastructure and state and local law enforcement in the United States. It was reported in 2021 that almost 90% of the consumer drone market and approximately 70% of the industrial market in North America was monopolized by DJI. CISA previously addressed the DJI threat in 2019 with an “Industry Alert,” stating “strong concerns” and warning against the purchase of its equipment.

The widespread use of DJI drones to inspect critical infrastructure allows the CCP to develop a richly detailed, regularly updated picture of our nation’s pipelines, railways, power generation facilities and waterways. This sensitive information on the layout, operation and maintenance of U.S. critical infrastructure could better enable targeting efforts in the event of conflict.

You can read the full letter to CISA Director Jen Easterly here.

Supporting Children with Disabilities and Their Caretakers
I joined my colleague Senator Robert Menendez to introduce legislation to bolster U.S. support for children with disabilities, helping support local disabilities rights organizations and families of children with disabilities around the world.

The International Children with Disabilities Protection Act would create the “International Children with Disabilities Protection Program,” a grant program within the State Department to empower individuals with disabilities. Additionally, this legislation reinforces U.S. policy to protect against the unnecessary institutionalization of children with disabilities and to help promote the development of laws and policies that support the full inclusion of children with disabilities in families.

Children with disabilities deserve a place in society where they are respected, loved and treated with basic human dignity. This legislation helps protect the most vulnerable children around the globe and gives them opportunities to succeed by helping keep children out of harmful institutions and supporting their families.

Leading Effort to Award Congressional Gold Medal to the “Hello Girls”
This week, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to introduce legislation to honor the landmark service of the brave women who connected American and French military forces on the front lines of World War I. The Hello Girls Congressional Medal Act would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, also known as the “Hello Girls.”

Connecting more than 150,000 calls per day, and doing so six times faster than their male counterparts, female switchboard operators played a crucial role in World War I. Despite their service, it took decades for them to receive veteran status and therefore be recognized as some of our nation’s first women veterans. This Congressional Gold Medal will serve as way to honor the trailblazing Hello Girls and recognize their important contributions to our history.

Meeting with American Royal Association President & CEO Jackie McClaskey
On Friday, I met with Jackie McClaskey, President and CEO of the American Royal Association, to receive an update on the construction and timeline of their future new facility in Kansas City, KS. I am pleased to see the care and attention that the American Royal is taking to make certain that this new center supports the tradition of American agriculture as well as the broader regional economy, and I want to thank Jackie for her leadership in these efforts.

Image

Kansans in the Office

Capitol Tour
Shawn Beach of Topeka

Andrea Beach of Topeka

Ivan Beach of Topeka

Zachary Beach of Topeka

Briana Beach of Topeka

Lindsay Metcalf of Concordia

Quinn Metcalf of Concordia

Bennett Metcalf of Concordia

Noel Hanson of Concordia

Gloria Hanson of Concordia

Dr. Fred Hall of Lenexa

Lillian Hall of Lenexa

Charles Deardorff of Lenexa

Cort Mosiman of Valley Center

Adrian Diaz of Valley Center

Christian Madsen of Wichita

Amy Madsen of Wichita

Mick Madsen of Wichita

Morgan Madsen of Wichita

Joshua Adams of Lawrence

Jessica Willems of Lawrence

Nathaniel Willems of Lawrence

Jonathan Harbeck of Overland Park

Meghan Harbeck of Overland Park

Victoria Harbeck of Overland Park

Ivan Harbeck of Overland Park

Jeffrey Greenstein of Leawood

Melissa Greenstein of Leawood

Lillian Greenstein of Leawood

Ellen Greenstein of Leawood

Josh Conklin of Kansas City

Jake Conklin of Kansas City

Karen Conklin of Shawnee

David Pacheco of Olathe

Preston Pacheco of Olathe

Aundrea Pacheco of Olathe

Collin Pacheco of Olathe

Brady Brown of Tonganoxie

Tracy Brown of Tonganoxie

Tamar Brown of Tonganoxie

Cassius Brown of Tonganoxie

Landen Brown of Tonganoxie

Mike Tuiasosopo of Manhattan

Katherine Tuiasosopo of Manhattan

Titus Tuiasosopo of Manhattan

Luke Tuiasosopo of Manhattan

Kent Ott of Mulvane

Rachel Ott of Overland Park

Ariana Brancato of Leawood

Andrew Brancato of Overland Park

Melissa Brancato of Overland Park

William Brancato of Overland Park

Gianna Brancato of Overland Park

Richie Prendergast of Overland Park

Suzanne Prendergast of Overland Park

Torre Prendergast of Overland Park

Tommy Prendergast of Overland Park

Rebecca Avelar of Johnson City

Blake Benson of Pittsburg

Christel Benson of Pittsburg

Braden Benson of Pittsburg

Mason Benson of Pittsburg

Azra Shah of Lawrence

Marie Shah of Lawrence

Pir Shah of Lawrence

Dr. Noah Mosier of Lawrence

Jennica Mosier of Lawrence

Stella Mosier of Lawrence

Isaac Mosier of Lawrence

Sadie Mosier of Lawrence

Alexis Hatvick of Hutchinson

Hailey Kisner of Hutchinson

Alyssa Behrens of Lincoln

Terry Cole of Wichita

Peeter Cole of Wichita

Eugenie Cole of Wichita

Pippa Cole of Wichita

John Stilwell of Fairway

Katie Stilwell of Fairway

Lucy Stilwell of Fairway

Edward Stilwell of Fairway

Patrick Biggs of Topeka

Shelby Spreier of Newton

Shelby Varner of Towanda

Janae McKinney of Manhattan

Edie Doane of Manhattan

Jason Steger of Lansing

Michelle Steger of Lansing

Jackson Steger of Lansing

Grace Steger of Lansing

Olivia Steger of Lansing

Roger Stumpf of Salina

Kim Stumpf of Salina

Kennedy Stumpf of Salina

Maci Mishler of Wichita

Andrew Elliott of Abilene

Jennifer Elliott of Abilene

Drew Elliott of Abilene

Eli Elliott of Abilene

Rachel Harden of Topeka

Colter Whitten of Topeka

Brian Vulgamore of Scott City

Paula Vulgamore of Scott City

Parker Vulgamore of Scott City

Paige Vulgamore of Scott City

Camden Vulgamore of Scott City

Myles Vulgamore of Scott City

Elizabeth Vulgamore of Scott City

Brevin Vulgamore of Scott City

Gavin Vulgamore of Scott City

Kevin Murdock of Manhattan

Jenny Murdock of Manhattan

Katelynn Murdock of Manhattan

Andrea Vieux of Lenexa

Mark Perrier of Wichita

Kelly Perrier of Wichita

Cindy Green of Lenexa

Dave Oren of Colby

Shari Oren of Colby

Michael Brettmann of Leavenworth

Dr. Sheree Utash of Wichita

Mr. David Utash of Wichita

Cody Young of Cheney

Danielle Young of Cheney

Cash Young of Cheney

Autry Young of Cheney

Heath Stark of Wichita

Armandena Stark of Wichita

Logan Stark of Wichita

Mia Stark of Wichita

Olan Stark of Wichita

Phera Stark of Wichita

Karl Janssen of Olathe

Dorris Janssen of Olathe

Wesley Janssen of Olathe

Marcus Janssen of Olathe

Arnav Gupta of Overland Park

Darsh Gupta of Overland Park

Dr. Woojong Sim of Emporia

Mrs. Jeongjin Kwon of Emporia

SEK-CAP
James Whitney of Manhattan

Scoular
Ed Prosser of Larned

American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Nicole Carr of Shawnee

Jennifer Newton of Chanute

Kansas Farm Bureau
Patrick Biggs of Topeka

Shelby Spreier of Newton

Shelby Varner of Towanda

Janae McKinney of Manhattan

Edie Doane of Manhattan

K-State College of Agriculture
Ernie Minton of Manhattan

Ray Flickner of McPherson

Connie Pelton-Kays of Olathe

Larry Justice of Olathe

Julie Voelker of Sycamore

Caroline Kolins of Manhattan

Susan Metzger of Manhattan

Sue Peterson of Manhattan

Marshall Stewart of Manhattan

Marty Draper of Manhattan

Fight Colorectal Cancer
Bryna Huber of Lawrence

Sandra Huggins of Overland Park

Olivia Petzold of Overland Park

Samantha Petzold of Overland Park

Eric Faimon of Manhattan

Rogers Family Dentistry
Dr. Nick Rogers of Arkansas City

Dr. Brianne Kerns of Kansas City

Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission
Randall Hrabe of Plainville

Newsletter Sign-up Form

Note: Fields marked with an * are required.