Hosting New Boeing CEO in Wichita
Spirit AeroSystems
On Monday, I hosted the new Boeing CEO, Kelly Ortberg, and Boeing’s Chairman of the Board, Steven Mollenkopf, in Wichita. We visited Spirit AeroSystems to tour current operations, including important defense programs which Boeing contracts out to Spirit, as well as the final integration process of the 737 MAX, which Wichita has built for more than 50 years. We visited with dozens of Spirit AeroSystems employees and discussed what Boeing’s agreement to acquire Spirit means for the Wichita workforce and new opportunities for the company.

For the last several years, I have worked alongside Spirit AeroSystems and other aviation companies across Wichita to diversify the manufacturing industry. This has led to new defense contracts on some of the military’s most elite and innovative programs and new partnerships and jobs for our nation’s growing aerospace industry. It is my priority that Spirit’s defense work remains in Wichita, and Kansas, whether under Boeing and or other companies.

Read more on Boeing’s defense work here in the Wichita Business Journal.

WSU-Tech
After visiting Spirit, we visited WSU-Tech’s National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) facility to learn about their research and development capabilities and see the work being done to educate the next generation of aviation and aerospace workers in Wichita. NCAT is a world-class facility that provides an opportunity for collaboration with Boeing to build their talent pipeline and meet the diverse demands of the aviation and aerospace ecosystem.  

Monday’s visit was an important step in restoring Wichita’s trust in Boeing – a company that has been a part of our aviation heritage for decades, and it was important for Mr. Ortberg and Mr. Mollenkopf to see firsthand the value of the workforce and the aerospace supply chain in Kansas and Wichita.

Thank you to Spirit AeroSystems’ CEO, Pat Shanahan; Wichita State University President, Rick Muma; WSU-NIAR’s Dr. John Tomblin; WSU-Tech’s Dr. Sheree Utash; as well as local government officials who joined us for the visit, including Governor Laura Kelly; Wichita Mayor, Lily Wu; Sedgwick County Commissioner, Ryan Baty, and representatives from companies currently part of Boeing’s supply chain in Wichita. Lastly, thank you to Mr. Ortberg – who joined me in Wichita on just his third day on the job – and Mr. Mollenkopf for agreeing to visit Kansas. I look forward to our continued discussions in the coming weeks and months and the continued partnership in advancing our nation’s aviation and aerospace capabilities.

Watch a recap of the visit here. 

Visits Across Kansas
Trego County Listening Tour
From Wichita, I headed west to hold a listening tour stop in Trego County and visited the Western Cooperative Electric Association in WaKeeney. We discussed the Department of Energy’s concerning proposed transmission line which could potentially impede the rights of landowners across Kansas. I share their concerns and am working to introduce legislation to protect landowners from federal overreach. We also talked about the importance of America being energy independent and my support for using our own energy resources in a responsible way. Thank you to General Manager Tom Ruth for hosting me.

Gove County Medical Center
My next stop was the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter. I was able to see some of the renovations they have made, and we toured the independent living facility. The hospital is still delivering babies and has a flourishing OB program. They serve nine counties and recently started participating in 340B. The medical center continues to face staffing challenges and reimbursement issues. A big thanks to hospital CEO Conner Fiscarelli for hosting me. It was great to be joined by Gove County Economic Development Director Jason Moses, Quinter Mayor Jeremy Blackwill, and State Representative Jim Minnix.

Northwest Kansas Educational Services
Continuing west, I visited The Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center in Oakley. I met with school administrators from western Kansas to discuss the challenges they are facing. We discussed special education funding, teacher shortages, training teaches and mental health challenges. Teachers change one life at a time, and I am grateful for our quality educators. Thank you to former State Representative and the new Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center Executive Director David Younger for hosting me.

Goodland Kiwanis Club
It was great to join the Goodland Kiwanis Club to give a legislative update and announce federal resources for the Goodland Police Department. Police Chief Jason Erhart shared his plan to upgrade their radio communications to be fully compliant with new federal regulations.

Thank you to Chief Erhart and his officers for all they do to keep Kansans safe. At Kiwanis I also discussed the border crisis, the need for a farm bill, the importance of taking care of our veterans and unrest overseas. Congratulations to the Goodland Kiwanis Club on celebrating 75 years. Thank you to Gennifer House and Kevin Rasure for hosting me, and thank you to Kansas State Senators Rick Billinger and Ron Ryckman Sr. for attending as well.

Citizens Medical Center in Colby
While in western Kansas, I also made a stop in Colby to visit Citizens Medical Center and announce federal funding for the Colby Police Department. These federal resources will allow the police department to purchase equipment upgrades. I also announced federal funding for the hospital to purchase equipment for the new maternal health wing. Thank you to Police Chief Jacob Hess and to hospital CEO David McCorkle for hosting me. David showed me and State Senator Rick Billinger the progress on the new hospital currently under construction.

While in Colby, I was able to meet with Mike Woofter and Jim Millensifer to receive an update on their plans to construct an ag arena that will serve many functions and greatly benefit the region.  

Wallace County Townhall
I held a town hall at the Wallace County Senior Center in Sharon Springs, and discussed the importance of a new farm bill, a secure border, challenges overseas, taking care of our veterans, the NIETC proposal, inflation, properly funding law enforcement and the importance of a good education for our students. I enjoy having conversations with Kansans to learn about what is expected of me in Washington D.C. Thank you to State Representative Adam Smith for attending and Larry and Kathy McDaniel for hosting me.

I also stopped by the town of Wallace and visited with folks on Main Street. I appreciated the conversations and the warm welcome.

Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology
Following my town hall, I had the opportunity to participate in the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology, which was the first public event for the newly named Fort Hays Tech Northwest in Goodland. This project is a newly-completed, 5,000-square-foot expansion of the diesel technology building, which will provide students with comprehensive training in agricultural and over-the-road dynamometers. I was able to assist the school in securing a federal grant to make this project possible. Thank you to Fort Hays Tech Northwest President Ben Schears for the invite.

Protecting Kansans from Federal Overreach
A common concern I heard from Kansans this week was the Department of Energy’s proposal to build a transmission line across Kansas. The proposal is problematic for a number of reasons and Kansans could be forced to relinquish their land through eminent domain. This is unacceptable. When I return to Washington, D.C., I plan to introduce legislation to make certain federal taxpayer dollars are not used for eminent domain and that decisions about electric transmission siting be left in Kansas, not Washington, DC.

Read more about this issue in my special edition of Kansas Common Sense here.

Touring Space Foundation Discovery Center
After being closed for six months, the Space Foundation Discovery Center reopened on June 1, following a major expansion and renovation. It was great visiting the new facility which included two upgraded lab spaces, including the Mars Robotics Laboratory and the Science on the Sphere facilities, a new “Drone Zone,” and a 3D printing center.

The Space Foundation is a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983, offering a gateway to education, information and collaboration for space exploration and space-inspired industries that drive the global space ecosystem. I want to thank Space Foundation CEO, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Heather Pringle; Discovery Center Director, Dr. Terry Bramschreiber; and SVP for Washington Operations, Meghan Allen, for organizing and hosting me at the Discovery Center.