Kansas Common Sense
Remembering Those Who Served this Memorial Day
May 28 2024
Remembering Those Who Served this Memorial Day
On the last Monday in May, our nation sets aside the day to remember, honor and pay respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s military. Flags are flown at cemeteries, and families visit graves and war memorials to share and relive memories of loved ones.
How we memorialize and how we honor our veterans, when they have passed, sends a message to their families and our current and future servicemembers that we value the past, present and future sacrifices made by those in military service.
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to recognize a Kansas soldier, Sergeant Herrick, who died during the battle of D-Day. You can watch my remarks here.
Read my Memorial Day column honoring Sergeant Herrick’s service and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Emporia Gazette, here.
Visiting with Employees at Spirit
On Monday, I was in Wichita to personally convey a message of encouragement to employees at Spirit AeroSystems. I appreciated hearing feedback about the possibility of Boeing acquiring Spirit as well as receiving an update on changes that have been implemented following the January 5th midair failure of a 737 Max9 fuselage panel.
Wichita would not be the Air Capital of the World without the extraordinary engineers, designers and manufacturers who have invested in our aviation industry and made Kansas their home. Thank you to the many Spirit employees, including Vice President of Boeing 737 Programs Kristin Roberts for welcoming me.
You can read more about my visit in the Wichita Business Journal here.
Greeting Veterans from Southeast Kansas Honor Flight
This week, I welcomed a Kansas Honor Flight with veterans from Parsons and other parts of Kansas to Washington, D.C. This program provides veterans with the opportunity to visit the nation's capital and pays tribute to their service by visiting memorials dedicated to their sacrifices, including the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
I’m grateful to recognize these Honor Flights and witness the impacts these trips have on the men and women who have served our country – especially at the memorials built in their honor. These meetings with veterans, who have given so much to our nation, remind me of the importance of showing gratitude and appreciation to those who have served our country.
Celebrating Major Joey Zarella’s Promotion
This week, I hosted a ceremony honoring the promotion of Joey Zarella to the rank of Major. Major Zarella currently works in my office as a Department of Defense Legislative Fellow on behalf of the U.S. Army. This valuable program allows servicemembers across each branch of the military to gain experience interacting with the government’s legislative branch while providing my team with important insight into our troops. I was honored to administer the oath of office for Major Zarella’s promotion.
Thank you Major Zarella for your service to our country and the state of Kansas.
Discussing the Army's Budget Request and Future Objectives
This week, I attended the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing to discuss the President’s Budget request for the Army. I asked Secretary Wormuth about concerns related to a permanent Armored Brigade Combat Team in Poland. Currently, the Army maintains a large presence of rotational deployments, which the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley supports.
I also asked General Randy George about the importance of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft. Bell-Textron was recently awarded a contract for the V-280 Valor to support the Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program, and Wichita continues to play a critical role in developing this program.
I look forward to continue working with the United States Army to improve the equipment and capabilities of our men and women in uniform and combat the rising threats to our security. I appreciate Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff General Randy George for testifying before the committee.
You can watch my questions here.
Questioning Secretary Blinken
On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing with the Secretary of State to review the State Department’s proposed budget for FY2025. I questioned Secretary Blinken on the department’s efforts to protect soldiers stationed in Niger, prevent illicit drug trades and bring attention to the exceedingly long wait times to receive a student or work visa.
Ongoing delays in visa processing are negatively impacting businesses, universities and families across Kansas and our country. In 2026, the U.S. will host the FIFA World Cup in 11 cities, including Kansas City which is expected to attract more than 8 million international visitors to the U.S. Currently, the average wait time to receive an interview for a visitor Visa is more than 400 days, meaning that travelers may need to begin applying for a visitor visa today, before they even know if their team qualifies, where they’ll play or if they can purchase a ticket. To address these concerns, Secretary Blinken must continue working with the State Department to improve the ongoing delays in processing visas for pre-vetted, low risk international visitors and temporary workers.
You can watch my questions here.
Reviewing NASA and NSF Priorities
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies held a hearing to review the President’s FY2025 budget request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). As the Vice Chair on this subcommittee, I highlighted the importance of the Artemis program. Artemis is not only important to our aerospace manufacturing workforce, it is an inspiring opportunity for the next generation and is important for our national economy and security. I questioned NASA administrator Bill Nelson about the threat China poses to territorial land grabs and advancements on their own space programs.
It is vital that advanced manufacturing continues to create economic growth and high-paying jobs while also helping us out-compete China in terms of efficiency and productivity. I am grateful that institutions like Wichita State University and Pittsburg State University are at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and material science, driving innovation and competitiveness throughout Kansas and the country.
Thank you to NASA Administrator Nelson and NSF Director Panchanathan for all the work you do to make certain the United States remains the leader in space exploration, discovery and innovation.
You can watch my opening remarks here.
Discussing Cancer Research with NIH Director
This week, the Labor-Health and Human Services Education Appropriations Subcommittee held its FY2025 budget hearing with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and several of its agency directors. With new leadership at NIH and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), I reiterated the importance of NCI sending robust funding to competitive cancer grants. These grants offer NCI cancer center partners, like the University of Kansas Medical Center, the funding to pursue research of treatments and cures for cancer.
I also asked National Institute of Aging Director Hodes about research findings focused on the intersection of Alzheimer’s and individuals with Down’s syndrome. We talked about ways the NIA and NIH can more effectively and accurately harness real world data to bolster Alzheimer’s research to continue reaching research benchmarks.
You can watch my questions here.
Meetings with Kansans
Inclusion Connections
It was great to see Debbie Horn and Lisa Pelofsky of Olathe in my office on Tuesday. Lisa and Debbie shared updates on Inclusions Connections, a nonprofit in Olathe that provides employment training and placement to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Thank you to Lisa and Debbie for taking the time to speak with me and for their dedication to improving the lives of Kansans with intellectual disabilities.
Pratt and Antora Energy
On Tuesday, I met with Travis Lane, CEO of Pratt Energy and Jordan Kearns, Vice President of Project Development at Antora Energy. Pratt Energy operates a fuel ethanol facility sourcing their feedstock from local farmers. Antora Energy converts low-cost renewable electricity into reliable industrial energy. We discussed their partnership to develop a new thermal battery technology to enhance ethanol production. We also discussed advanced technology’s contribution to grid resiliency, job creation and ways to create markets for existing commodities in the state.
Thank you to Travis and Jordan for the conversation.
Announcing Resources for Newman University and the City of Wichita
On Monday, I was joined by many community leaders at Newman University to announce federal resources to expand access to higher education in southwest Kansas, with a focus on creating a four-year degree program in agribusiness. These resources will be used for equipment purchases and technology upgrades at Newman’s satellite location at Garden City Community College. My hope is that Kansas becomes a place where our youth are raised here, remain here to receive a college degree and then easily find a job in their communities or across the state. This funding gets us one step closer to making that a reality.
Additionally, I helped the City of Wichita secure federal resources to conduct a comprehensive study of the US 54/400-Kellogg Avenue and Eisenhower Airport Parkway interchange, which is a significant gateway to the airport and city. This project will help support a community-wide effort to improve connectivity, promote safety and enhance economic development to the transportation network that serves the airport, businesses and surrounding neighborhoods. This project will promote quality transportation and allow Wichita to attract more companies to south central Kansas.
Special thanks to Newman University President Kathleen Jagger and Wichita Mayor Lily Wu for their leadership and for participating in the announcement.
You can read more about my visit here.
Visits Across Kansas
Wichita
On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit with Kansans in Wichita and throughout Sedgwick County. Thanks to County Manager Tom Stolz for his time and to the other county officials I had the chance to visit with during my time in Wichita, including Clerk Kelly Arnold, Register of Deeds Tonya Buckingham, Treasurer Brandi Baily, and Chief of HR Sheena Schmutz. I also stopped by the offices of the Kansas Leadership Center, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Greater Wichita Partnership, and Downtown Wichita. Organizations like these are vital to sustaining and enriching the City of Wichita, and I appreciate the excellent work being undertaken by these development partners.
Remembering Partick Gottsch
On Tuesday, I joined RFD-TV to honor the life and legacy of RFD-TV founder Patrick Gottsch. Patrick dedicated his life to serving and advocating for the lives of rural Americans, and I am deeply saddened by his passing. I first met Patrick at a Farm Bureau conference years ago and always loved hearing from him whenever he came to Washington to advocate for rural America. My thoughts and prayers go out to Patrick’s family, his friends and his colleagues.
Capitol Tour
Levi Bowles of Lenexa
Paige Bowles of Lenexa
Stella Bowles of Lenexa
Ben Burton of Manhattan
Maren Burton of Manhattan
Tamara Burton of Manhattan
Wrenn Burton of Manhattan
Chad Eickholt of Overland Park
Emerson Eickholt of Overland Park
Kerry Erington of Lenexa
Patricia Erington of Lenexa
Bruce Flanders of Lawrence
Karen Flanders of Lawrence
Michael Gast of Olathe
Michelle Gast of Olathe
Luke Gast of Olathe
Blake Hanika of Topeka
Kate Hardy-Kinman of Wichita
Rita Hardy of Wichita
Roosevelt Hardy of Wichita
Violet Hardy of Wichita
Kristopher Heiss of Olathe
Karyn Heiss of Olathe
Amber Howells of Manhattan
Bowan Howells of Manhattan
Brian Howells of Manhattan
Elena Howells of Manhattan
Gavin Howells of Manhattan
Jared Howells of Manhattan
Riana Howells of Manhattan
Nora Kinman of Wichita
Eli Kinman of Wichita
Carissa Land of Shawnee
Charles Land of Shawnee
Marlene Land of Shawnee
Charles Magnuson of Olathe
Virginia Magnuson of Olathe
Aiden Marceau of Wichita
Jenna Marceau of Wichita
Gracen Mealman of Spring Hill
Greg Mealman of Spring Hill
Krista Mealman of Spring Hill
Samantha Negaard of Great Bend
Anita Orrick of Prairie Village
Brian Orrick of Prairie Village
Gregory Orrick of Prairie Village
Kylie Orrick of Prairie Village
Natalie Orrick of Prairie Village
Matthew Orrick of Prairie Village
Michael Orrick of Prairie Village
Sean Orrick of Mission
James Purcell of Leawood
Maureen Purcell of Leawood
Claire Peters of Shawnee
Henry Peters of Shawnee
Kristin Peters of Shawnee
Shawn Peters of Shawnee
Mark Peterson of Oskaloosa
Leo Randall of Hill City
Phillip C. Randall of Hill City
Phillip M. Randall of Hill City
Kathryn Rumsey of Lenexa
Michael Rumsey of Lenexa
Michael Saville of Wichita
Denise Saville of Wichita
Cole Schrag of Moundridge
Erica Schrag of Moundridge
Justin Schrag of Moundridge
Shawn Siegfreid of Spring Hill
Sherri Siegfreid of Spring Hill
Marcia Stines of Gardner
Phil Stines of Gardner
Megan Thome of Overland Park
Jessie Thompson of Hill City
Kristin Whitehair of Lenexa
Andrew Winkler of Overland Park
Academy of General Dentistry
Cynthia Sherwood, DDS of Independence
Alden
Paul DeBruce of Kansas City
Leo Morton of Kansas City
Tammy Hass of Kansas City
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
Breanna Crawford of Kansas City
Luisa Olarte of Kansas City
Ann Swellentrop of Kansas City
American Academy of Family Physicians
Jared Johnson, MD of Wichita
Karen Mitchell of Leawood
Beth Oller, MD of Stockton
Tarah Remington Brown of Overland Park
Angie Smith of Leawood
American Heart Association
Kevin Harker of Lenexa
Kari Rinker of Wichita
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Melisa Boersma of Prairie Village
Rahul Mali of Overland Park
Xinglei Shen of Leawood
Antora Energy & Pratt Energy
Dane Bahnsen of Pratt
Travis Lane of Pratt
Jordan Kearns of Pratt
Mary Margaret Allen of Pratt
Child Care Aware of America
Robyn Brooks of Salina
Crystal Henry of Salina
Rebekah Meyer of Salina
Paula Neth of Salina
Amanda Poyser of Salina
Cormen Sanchez of Salina
Nicole Thayer of Salina
Jennifer Traffis of Salina
Meagan Vincent of Salina
Evergy
Jason Klindt of Kansas City
Federation of Employers and Workers of American and AmericanHort
Paula Wolff of Overland Park
Finseca
Matthew McAvoy of Leawood
Mark McCullough of Overland Park
Inclusion Connections
Debbie Horn of Olathe
Lisa Pelofsky of Olathe
Kansas State Insurance Commissioner
Vicki Schmidt of Wichita
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission
Carolyn McGinn of Sedgwick
Martin Alvarez of Topeka
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
James Iverson of Lyons
Ady Pound of Sterling
Tony Radsbadi of Sterling
Tony Rawls-Riley of Olathe
Ronald Vawter of Salina
Tammy Ward of Sterling
Joe Williams of Topeka
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
Peter Bellucci of Topeka
Steve Elliott of Wichita
Shane Grau of Topeka
Brad Noller of Topeka
Kevin Payne of Lyndon
National Association of Landscape Professionals
Frank Male of Lawrence
National Association of Professional Employer Orgatizations
Erica Brune of Overland Park
Greg Gragg of Kansas City
National Utility Contractor Association Greater Kansas City Chapter
Danny Anderson of Kansas City
William Jackson of Kansas City
Lee Mudd of Olathe
Tony Privitera of Overland Park
Bob Snyder of Louisberg
Kevin Waddell of Olathe
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers
John Kerr of Fort Scott
National Association of Truck Stop Owners
Ted Augustine of Salina
Matt Mildenburger of Oakley
Misty Mildenburger of Oakley
Organization for Competitive Markets
Tatum Lee of Ness City
United Egg Producers
Katie Heads of Chase
Sherman Miller of Chase
Greg Nelson of Manhattan
United Steelworkers
Jeremy Brown of Topeka
Curtis Campbell of Topeka
Alex Jones of Topeka
Joseph Mahoney of Topeka
Misty Samples of Hesston
YWCA Northeast Kansas
Kathleen Marker of Topeka
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