Kansas Common Sense
Hosting Northrop Grumman CEO in Wichita
Mar 10 2025
Hosting Northrop Grumman CEO in Wichita
On Monday, I hosted Kathy Warden, the CEO of Northrop Grumman, in Wichita to showcase our world-class aerospace manufacturing industry. We visited Spirit AeroSystems to see first-hand the ongoing work on Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider for the U.S. Air Force. Spirit is one of the few tier-one suppliers for this program which is critical to our nation’s nuclear modernization and strategic deterrence. I am working with my Senate colleagues to make certain this program is funded and modernized to counter the threats we face today, keep Americans safe and deter future aggression from our adversaries. We also visited the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) to showcase their ongoing work to solve real-world problems for government and commercial customers. The visit ended with an opportunity for Ms. Warden to meet with leaders in the community, highlighting the broad support and engagement from local leadership and businesses across various sectors of the aerospace supply chain.
I am thankful for Kathy Warden’s time spent in Wichita, Northrop Grumman’s continued support of some of our nation’s most critical programs and their partnerships in Kansas.
You can read more about the visit in the Wichita Business Journal here.
President Trump’s Address to Congress
This week, President Trump delivered his Joint Address to Congress and outlined his plans to bolster the economy, strengthen national security and protect our southern border. The President has already reinstated commonsense border policies to make certain our border patrol agents have the tools and authority they need to apprehend illegal migrants, arrest drug traffickers and stop fentanyl from entering our country. Congress must work to pass legislation that provides the resources needed to sustain a secure border through permanent infrastructure, increased manpower and cutting-edge technology. Kansans and Americans are facing many challenges, and addressing these challenges will require us to work together to find solutions and make certain all Americans can achieve the American Dream.
Meeting with President Trump’s Nominees
Dr. Mehmet Oz
I spoke with Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Administrator of the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). If Dr. Oz is confirmed, he will be tasked with overseeing the agency which provides health coverage to more than 100 million Americans. We spoke about the challenges facing rural hospitals, seniors and vulnerable populations in Kansas. I look forward to hearing Dr. Oz’s testimony before the Senate Committee on Finance. 
Luke Lindberg
On Tuesday, I met with Luke Lindberg, President Trump’s nominee to be Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at USDA. We spoke about fair and open trade opportunities for farmers and ranchers, including my bill the UNITED Act that would direct the administration to pursue a trade deal with the United Kingdom. We also spoke about my efforts to move the Food for Peace program to USDA. I look forward to his testimony before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
Addressing Potential VA Workforce Reductions
This week a leaked memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) stated the department would potentially be reducing the VA workforce by 80,000 employees in August. The VA must provide veterans, their family members and survivors with the health care and benefits that they have earned. The VA needs reform, but current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner. I expect the VA to work with Congress to right-size the VA workforce and allow us to legislate necessary changes.
You can read more about this in KSN here.
Chairing Joint Veterans’ Affairs Hearing
This week, I led the final of three hearings with my colleague, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, to hear from veteran service organizations (VSOs). These hearings are held jointly by the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees every year so that we can hear from VSOs about the needs and priorities of the veteran community across the country and use that to inform our work in Washington. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I appreciate hearing directly from veterans and their advocates about the challenges they face and how Congress can best support veteran and military families. I am grateful for all the VSOs who testified this week, especially those who came to D.C. from Kansas, and from across the country to share their stories.
You can watch my opening remarks from the hearing here.
Supporting Veteran Family Caregivers
This week, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and I introduced legislation to help support the former family caregivers of veterans as they transition back to work or into retirement once their time as a caregiver has come to an end. The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act would require VA to provide practical tools - including employment assistance, retirement planning and bereavement counseling - to caregivers when their veteran loved one no longer needs caregiving services because they have sufficiently recovered, transitioned to a higher level of care or passed away.
Family caregivers play a vital role in supporting veterans, often at the expense of their own careers and future goals, and this bill would help them regain their footing in the workforce or in retirement after their caregiving days are over. I am grateful for the support of this legislation from the Quality of Life Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
You can learn more about the legislation here.
Visiting with David Campbell, Evergy CEO
On Wednesday, I met with Evergy’s President and CEO David Campbell. During our meeting, we discussed the importance of keeping utility rates affordable for Evergy’s 1.7 million Kansas City area customers. With winter storms and natural disasters threatening our grid, Kansans need reliable electric infrastructure now more than ever. By investing in a wide variety of energy production like nuclear and natural gas, Evergy has been a meaningful partner in the energy space. I look forward to working with David to advance our shared priority of making certain families and businesses across Kansas and Missouri have access to affordable, reliable energy.
Introducing Legislation to Preserve Rural Housing
I worked with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) to introduce the Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act, legislation that would make certain thousands of low-income tenants in rural areas are able to maintain access to safe and affordable housing through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS). Specifically, the bill would provide the RHS with the authority to maintain rental assistance for residents in properties with prepaid or maturing mortgages. Affordable housing provides stability for rural communities in Kansas and across the nation, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities. This bipartisan bill would let them continue to have access to rental assistance through the USDA, while modernizing and extending the Rural Housing Service programs that have already proven successful.
Expanding Credit for Rural Communities
This week, I reintroduced the bipartisan Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act alongside my colleagues Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). This legislation will benefit American families, farmers and rural communities nationwide by providing greater flexibility to more financial institutions to offer affordable lines of credit to rural and agricultural borrowers. Additionally, the bill would allow farm real estate borrowers and rural homeowners access to lower interest rates by expanding the same tax-exempt status on certain earned interest that applies to other lenders. According to estimates this legislation would expand access to affordable agricultural and home loans to more than 4,000 rural communities nationwide and save family farmers and producers well over $400 million in annual interest expenses. Agriculture is the lifeline of our state and making certain our rural communities have the resources they need to support our farmers and ranchers is paramount to supporting the Kansas economy.
You can read more about this legislation in Kansas Ag Connection here.
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Supporting Transparency in Broadband Deployment
I joined my colleagues in introducing the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, which would increase accountability and transparency for taxpayer-funded broadband deployment programs. Congress has provided funding and authorities for various federal agencies to support nationwide broadband expansion. It is critical that Americans have access to information about how the funds directed to these programs are being spent to make certain that consumers can benefit from these programs. I was also joined by Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) in introducing this legislation.
Meeting with Kansans
Kansas State Council of Firefighters
On Tuesday, I met with the Kansas State Council of Firefighters. I was pleased to hear an update from them that the Social Security Administration has been in touch with their members regarding implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, a bill which I supported to restore benefits to public service retirees like firefighters. The Kansas State Council of Firefighters shared with me that restoration of benefits has already begun. I continue to advocate on behalf of Kansas’ firefighters, working to make certain that legislation and regulations are consistent with the needs of the brave men and women serving Kansas communities.
Johnson County Mental Health Center
This week, I was able to meet with Johnson County Mental Health Center and the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas. We spoke about the mental health needs facing Kansans, and the work Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are doing for our communities. Making certain Kansans, veterans and the entire country have access to quality mental health services is one of my top priorities, and I continue to support funding for these critical services through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Johnson County Officials
On Tuesday, I met with Johnson County Board Chairman Mike Kelly to discuss the county’s priorities in this new congressional session and efforts to prepare in advance of the 2026 World Cup, during which Kansas City will serve as a host city. I have supported Johnson County and other municipalities’ efforts to prepare for major global sporting events like the World Cup, including by introducing legislation to provide transportation assistance to states and localities planning for these events and by encouraging the White House to establish a task force to plan for global sporting events coming to the U.S. During the meeting, we also discussed federal support for local initiatives in Johnson County, especially infrastructure needs within Johnson County.
I appreciate Chairman Kelly meeting with me while he was in Washington and look forward to working with him to ensure the needs of Kansans in Johnson County are met.
Boys and Girls Club
On Thursday, I met with Junnae Campbell, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of South-Central Kansas, Joyce Glasscock, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan and Lance Peterson, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson. We spoke about the workforce readiness programs and academic support that our local clubs in Kansas help make possible. Through experiences in organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America, our state and country’s next generation of leaders are being equipped with the skills and values necessary to reach their full potential and find success. Thanks to Junnae, Joyce and Lance for their dedication to this cause and for taking the time to visit with me in Washington.
Youth Program Reception
This week I met with two Kansas students participating in the United States Senate Youth Program. Sophia Hsu of Mill Valley and Erin Tims of Larned were nominated for the program by their teachers and principals and had the opportunity to spend the week in Washington attending meetings and briefings with Senators, leaders of federal agencies and top members of the national media. Sophia is the President of the National Art Honor Society, varsity debate captain and Model UN Vice President. She received Mill Valley’s first perfect score in the state clarinet solo band competition and has raised more than $30,000 for cancer research. Erin Serves as President of the Student Council and National Honor Society. She has represented Larned at state tournaments for golf, debate and forensics, earning a state medal in gold. As a means of community service, Erin organizes collections for her local food pantry and serves as a volunteer at the Lions Club Christmas Baskets project. Thanks to these young Kansans for their hard work and representing our state well in the nation’s capital.
Aubrey Abbott Patterson
On Thursday, I met with Hutchinson Community Foundation President and CEO Aubrey Abbott Patterson. Community foundations provide a critical lifeline of support to communities in need of financial support, and we discussed ways to incentivize charitable giving across the country. Charitable giving is crucial, and community foundations allow for target giving so that donors can give back to the communities that gave them so much. I want to thank Aubrey for visiting me in Washington, and for her dedication to the improvement of Hutchinson and Reno County.
Kansas Credit Union Association
This week, I met with members of the Kansas Credit Union Association to discuss the challenges credit unions face in supporting our Kansas economy. The association represents the 77 credit unions in Kansas and the Kansans who utilize their services, and we discussed a range of topics including ongoing reforms to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and how that could affect lending in Kansas. I want to thank all the members who took the time to visit me in Washington and look forward to working with them to grow our economy in Kansas.
Kansas Association of Broadcasters
On Wednesday, I met with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) Board of Directors to discuss issues of importance to local radio and television broadcasters in Kansas, particularly federal regulations that hinder their ability to compete with other forms of entertainment services. Local radio and TV are essential providers of public safety information, news, sports and entertainment, and I appreciated hearing from Kansas broadcasters about the issues affecting their ability to reach their audiences. As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation which oversees the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), respectively, I will work to make certain Kansas broadcasters have input in updating outdated FCC guidance.
Thank you to KAB President Allison Mazzei, Mike Rajewski, Phil McComb, Brook Arnold and Roger Brokke for their time.
Wounded Warrior Project
This week, I met with a group from the Wounded Warrior Project. We discussed how our veterans are impacted by legislation such as the Major Richard Star Act that expands the opportunity for veterans to receive combat-related disability from VA. We also discussed the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2024 that Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and I recently introduced that would require VA to create a ten-year research plan to establish the effects of repetitive low-level blast injuries, where benchmarks must be reported to Congress in order to develop further legislation and action for veterans who suffer from the effects of repetitive blast exposures.
I appreciate the work that groups like Wounded Warrior Project do in their support for our veterans across the country, and I look forward to continuing working with them.
Honoring Kansas Astronaut & Veteran Joe Engle
U.S. Air Force Major General Joe Henry Engle from Chapman, Kansas, was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery where all Americans can forever remember and honor his legacy. Joe was an astronaut, test pilot, aeronautical engineer and the first pilot to fly two different winged vehicles into space. He also served in the Air Force and was later chosen to be a project pilot for the revolutionary X-15 hypersonic aircraft program.
You can read more about Joe here.
Remembering Dale Davis
Dale Davis was a community leader and businessman who made a major impact on Emporia. Dale became chairman and director of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce in 1980 and served on boards for Emporia Enterprises, the Emporia Area Chamber and Visitors Bureau and was chairman on the board of directors for the Regional Development Association. He was a wonderful person with integrity and loved those around him.
Robba and I are saddened by his passing and are praying for the Davis family. You can read more about Dale's life here.
Capitol Tours
Abbriel Hadley of Valley Center
Benjamin Moore of Burden
Dan Ramsey of Topeka
Janney Duncan of Topeka
Nick Kaberline of Topeka
Robert Jewett of Wichita
Steve Duncan of Topeka
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Ashley Beying of Melvern
Ashley Hinkson of Lost Springs
ASF and FAST Angelman Syndrome
Colin Sargent of Mission Hills
Hetal Shah of Shawnee
Laura Sargent of Mission Hills
Patrick Sargent of Mission Hills
Boys and Girls Club of Kansas
Hannah Coash of Manhattan
Joyce Glasscock of Manhattan
Junnae Campbell of Wichita
Lance Patterson of Hutchinson
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Dallas Polen of Kansas City
Lisa Horn of Kansas City
City of Hays
Toby Dougherty of Hays
John Braun of Hays
Hutchinson Community Foundation
Aubrey Patterson of Hutchison
Johnson County Commission
Mike Kelly of Johnson County
Joint National Committee for Language
Elke Lorenz of Manhattan
Amanda Mendoza of Emporia
Kansas Hospital Association
Chad Austin of Topeka
George Stover of La Crosse
Molly Haase of Shawnee Mission
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions
Tiffany Stovall of Overland Park
Danica Rome of Lenexa
Kansas State Council of Firefighters
Matt Jackson of Junction City
Robert Wigg of Kansas City
Kansas State Historical Society
Patrick Zollner of Lawrence
Katrina Ringler of Topeka
Elizabeth Rosin of Kansas City
Kansas State Student Veterans Association
Michael Kerr of Salina
Tyler Hohner of Salina
Midwest Housing Equity Group
Joshua Yurek of Lenexa
Mid-State Aerospace
Rob Rogers of Olathe
National Bleeding Disorders Foundation
Kelly Wornall of Lenexa
National Brain Injury Association
Calley Malloy of Overland Park
Heather Matty of Overland Park
Heather Pillinton of Lawrence
James McGinnis of Overland Park
Patrick McGinnis of Overland Park
Susan McGinnis of Overland Park
Riley County Commission
John Ford of Riley
VFW of Kansas
Charlie Cravens of Ark City
Lee Hursey of Wichita
Marsha LaRosh of Osborne
Pat Briggs of Lyons
Terry Fletcher of Derby
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