Visiting All 105 Kansas Counties
I made my final 105-county stop in Wabaunsee with a visit to Maple Hill. Visiting each of the 105 counties in Kansas and having conversations with Kansans during these stops helps guide my efforts to represent our state in D.C. This year, I particularly focused on visiting rural hospitals. I met with hospital staff and practitioners at 49 Kansas hospitals and heard directly from them about the unique challenges of delivering essential care in rural communities. Whether touring a hospital, speaking with veterans, stopping at a local business or family farms, meeting students, or participating in civic groups, I appreciate Kansans sharing with me the challenges they are facing and their ideas to improve life in our state. I’m grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown to me during all my visits, and I look forward to future opportunities to meet with and learn from communities in every corner of Kansas.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Joins Me in Kansas
On Monday, I hosted the 20th Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, in Wichita to show him firsthand the talented workforce, world-class aerospace manufacturers and cutting-edge research in the Air Capital of the World.

Boeing
Our first stop was Boeing, which recently acquired Spirit AeroSystems, to view the production of the 737 MAX fuselages and hear from the workforce on the recent acquisition. Boeing Wichita produces fuselages for Boeing’s 737, 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 767, and the Secretary was able to witness the critical core manufacturing capabilities that Wichita provides for a critical component of our nation’s economic security. I want to thank Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO, and Boeing COO and EVP, Stephanie Pope, for welcoming us and leading the tour; as well as VP of Government Operations & Global Public Policy, Jeff Shockey; and GM of Boeing Wichita, Sean Black.

NIAR ATLAS
Following Boeing, we visited WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) ATLAS facility. The Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) is a unique capability for NIAR and provides a platform for advanced manufacturing research and development with state-of-the-art machines, software and processing options. NIAR ATLAS is a critical partner for FAA and NASA, and this facility is a reason NIAR ranks #1 for aerospace research and development expenditures by the National Science Foundation. We also celebrated NIAR’s 40th anniversary and cut the ribbon on NIAR’s new Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research (HAMR) building. Thank you to Dr. John Tomblin and WSU President Rick Muma for hosting us and for so many members of the Wichita community for coming out to welcome Secretary Duffy to Wichita. Congratulations on 40 years of success with NIAR, and we look forward to many more.

Textron Career Learning Center
Our final stop was Textron Aviation’s newly established Career Learning Center, which was created to meet the aviation workforce needs of today and tomorrow. The Career Learning Center helps train and educate current and prospective Textron employees, and since opening in August 2024, has trained 1,340+ new and 2,700+ current employees. Textron is a household name for Wichita’s aviation industry, and I applaud them for opening this facility to bolster their employees’ capabilities and assist in the development of potential employees. Industry investment in workforce development is critical for the continued success of the aviation ecosystem. Thank you to Ron Draper, President and CEO of Textron Aviation, and Shannon Hines, SVP of Washington Operations, for hosting us in Wichita.

PASSED: Legislation to Improve Aviation Safety Following DCA Tragedy

This week, the Senate unanimously passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act. I introduced this legislation with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in response to the tragedy that occurred on January 29th, when American Airlines Flight 5342, originating in Wichita, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan National Airport, claiming 67 lives.

I introduced this legislation with Sen. Ted Cruz and worked with him and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to secure a commitment from Senate leadership that the ROTOR Act would be brought to the floor following passage of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in order to address the concerns we had with provisions in the NDAA that impacted critical aviation safety standards.

The Senate’s passage of the ROTOR Act is a significant step to bolster critical safety standards for both commercial and military aviation. The ROTOR Act closes loopholes permitting most military aircraft to operate without Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transmitting, which is a critical technology that broadcasts an aircraft’s precise location with greater precision than traditional radar. The UH-60 Black Hawk involved in the crash was equipped with ADS-B Out, however, it was not transmitting at the time of the crash.

Additionally, the ROTOR Act requires all aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B In, allowing pilots to better visualize and prevent incidents, strengthens oversight of mixed air traffic and flight routes near commercial airports, establishes a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of DOD Coordination to streamline interagency communications, and several other provisions. The ROTOR Act now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Click here to watch my remarks in support of the ROTOR Act on the Senate floor.

Chairing Hearing with FAA Administrator on ATC Modernization Plan
On Wednesday, in my role as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, I held a hearing to discuss the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) plan for modernizing America’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. The tragic midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29th reminded Americans how fragile our aviation system is, and Congress has been forced to reckon with the need for long overdue modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS).

In July, Congress invested $12.5 billion for ATC modernization in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the Department of Transportation and the FAA recently announced the selection of Peraton as the Prime Integrator to manage integrating certain elements of the new ATC system. During the hearing, I asked Mr. Bedford about how the FAA has used the funds Congress provided in July, how Peraton will fit within the FAA’s plan for ATC modernization, other goals of modernization and what additional resources the FAA needs from Congress to carry out those goals.

I am grateful to Mr. Bedford for his testimony, and I look forward to continued progress in modernization as Congress exercises oversight of the FAA’s management of ATC modernization. You can watch my opening remarks here and my questioning of Administrator Bedford here.

Securing Kansas Priorities in Annual Defense Legislation
On Wednesday, the Senate passed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and it has been signed into law by the President. This annual bipartisan legislation makes certain our servicemembers have the resources they need to defend our nation.
While this legislation is critical to bolstering our defense capabilities, I had concerns with portions of the bill that would impact safety regulations for military helicopters put in place after the January 29th mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Through numerous discussions, my colleagues and I secured an agreement from Senate leadership that led to the swift passage of the ROTOR Act to uphold critical safety standards for commercial and military aviation.

The FY2026 NDAA includes several of my provisions including: 

• expanding access to medical care for veterans through increased utilization of military hospitals like Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley; 
• investing in Fort Riley to build a new Air Traffic Control tower, an Infantry Platoon Battle Course and designing a new unaccompanied barracks; 
• directing the Secretary of the Navy to evaluate flameless alternative technologies for ship maintenance to combat Navy ship fires;
• and providing a 3.8 percent pay rase for our servicemembers.

Learn more about the Kansas priorities secured in the FY26 NDAA here.

Questioning FCC Officials During Oversight Hearing
On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee convened a hearing to conduct oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez. This was the first FCC oversight hearing with the chairman and all commissioners present since 2020.

During the hearing, I asked members of the commission about their work to modernize outdated broadcast ownership rules; progress on updating coverage maps and the often challenging process to revise those maps; the importance of the Universal Service Fund, particularly to rural Kansas; implementation of spectrum provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; and the commission’s coordination with other agencies that manage broadband deployment programs.

Thank you to Chairman Carr, Commissioner Trusty and Commissioner Gomez for their testimony. Click here to watch my discussion with the witnesses.

Remembering the Life of Kansan Charley Shoemaker
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to honor the life of Kansan, and my friend, Charley Shoemaker. Born and raised in Leavenworth, Charlie took the Kansas values of hard work and dedicated service to heart throughout his life. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and following his time in the military, he continued to serve his country and fellow servicemembers through his involvement with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in Leavenworth. His knowledge, expertise and passion for improving the lives of our nation’s veterans were a great resource to me and he advised me many times on veterans’ affairs. Charley will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. My prayers are with his sons, Michael, Patrick, Christopher and Charles, his grandchildren and all his loved ones during his difficult time.

You can watch my full remarks here.

Congratulating Ryan Kriegshauser on Confirmation as U.S. Attorney for Kansas
Congratulations to Ryan Kriegshauser on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to serve as United States Attorney for Kansas. Throughout his career, Ryan has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. He cares deeply about the safety and well-being of Kansans. As a former intern for me, I know him to be someone with the character and integrity needed to carry out the duties of this role. I look forward to working with him to support law enforcement and keep our communities safe. I am grateful for Ryan’s willingness to serve our state and country and wish him every success in this role.

Discussing SAF with Azure President Stu Roberts
This week, I met with Stu Roberts, the President of Azure. Azure has been working with Bartlett Grain and Montgomery County to develop a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility. We discussed the benefits of SAF production for commodities like corn, soybeans and sorghum, as well as the updated 45Z fuel production tax credit passed earlier this year. I have urged the administration to work expeditiously on releasing guidance on the tax credit to allow farmers and fuel producers to make informed business decisions and bolster domestic biofuels production. As the Chair of the Sustainable Aviation Caucus, I will continue to champion the growth of the SAF industry.

Meeting with Kansas Chris McGowne and Travis Couture-Lovelady
This week, I met with Chris McGowne and Travis Couture-Lovelady, both from Hays, to discuss the challenges facing rural health care providers and the pressures hospitals are experiencing across Kansas. We also discussed the importance of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation as a pathway to keep essential services available in our rural communities when hospitals are facing closure. Strengthening rural health infrastructure remains critical to saving lives, supporting local economies and keeping our communities strong. Thank you to Chris and Travis for their insight and continued advocacy on behalf of Kansas hospitals and patients.

Confirmed: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
On Wednesday, I spoke on the Senate floor before to urge my colleagues to confirm Jared Isaacman to serve as the Administrator of NASA. Administrator Isaacman and I have discussed, at length, his qualifications for this role, his assessment of NASA’s current circumstances and his vision to lead the agency and beat our adversaries back to the Moon. Congratulations to Administrator Isaacman on his confirmation. I look forward to working with him to sustain and advance American leadership in space.

Click here to watch my remarks in support of Administrator Isaacman’s confirmation on the Senate floor.

Celebrating 389th Anniversary of the U.S. National Guard
On Tuesday, I attended a celebration of the National Guard’s 389th birthday. During this event, I spoke with the Director of the Army National Guard, LTG Jonathon Stubbs, and the Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Bryony A. Terrell. I also connected with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Steven Nordhaus, to advocate that Kansas be selected as Greece’s partner in the upcoming State Partnership Program (SPP) selection. Greece is a critical ally, given its geostrategic relevance and its strong support for the United States. For several years, I have engaged with Greek senior leaders, including Prime Minister Mitsotakis, to encourage their participation in the SPP, one of the United States’ most effective diplomatic tools for building relationships and interoperability with foreign partners. I am grateful for the service of Gen. Nordhaus, LTG Stubbs, Maj. Gen. Terrell, and the millions of men and women who have served in the National Guard in uniform and within their communities.

Celebrating 6 years of the U.S. Space Force
On December 20, 2019, the U.S. Space Force was established. As Co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus, I’m committed to supporting the men and women of the Space Force who answered the call to protect and defend American interests in space and beyond. Thank you for standing ready every day, “Always Above”.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas
Robba and I are wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We hope this holiday season is filled with joy and gratitude for the many blessings we have received, and most importantly, for the celebration of the greatest gift of all: our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Kansans in the Office 

Capitol Tour

Devin Reese of Kansas City

Paige Reese of Westwood

Mid-Kansas Co-op

David Spears of Valley Center

Department of State Congress-Bunestag High School Youth Exchange

Paul Valentin of Hays

Marc Buerger of Manhattan

Fleix Moissl of Prairie Village

Kristin van Essen of Riley

Mialou Holler of El Dorado