Disaster Assistance for Kansas

Disaster Assistance for Kansas
For years, family farms in Kansas have struggled with high input costs due to tariffs on fertilizers, inflation, plummeting commodity prices, rising interest rates and drought, which has resulted in the smallest wheat crop in Kansas since 1961.

The Continuing Resolution that passed the Senate and House included disaster assistance for our farmers and ranchers and a one-year extension to the Farm Bill. While I am pleased that farmers and ranchers will receive assistance, we must move swiftly in the next Congress to address today’s needs for farmers and ranchers and pass a five-year Farm Bill.

Speaking on the Senate Floor Before the Vote
Before the vote on continuing this year’s budget, I spoke on the Senate floor to highlight the importance of providing our farmers and ranchers with emergency assistance. With the lack of a new Farm Bill, the people who feed and fuel the nation need assistance to support their farms, families and communities.

You can watch my floor speech here.

Kansas Farm Bureau
On Wednesday, I met with Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) President Joe Newland, Vice President Glenn Brunkow and Senior Director of Public Policy Ryan Flickner. During our conversation, we discussed KFB’s recent annual convention, new policies for next year, passing a one-year Farm Bill extension in the Continuing Resolution with assistance for farmers, and the need to pass an updated five-year Farm Bill in the upcoming Congress. We also discussed the Department of Energy’s recent decision to forgo the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) in Kansas. Thank you to Joe, Glenn and Ryan for the conversation.

Meeting with President Trump’s Nominees
Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe
President-elect Trump has nominated Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence and John Ratcliffe to head the Central Intelligence Agency. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence responsible for oversight of America’s intelligence community, I met with both this week to discuss their priorities for leading in these critical roles.

Each described their priorities for reform, and both nominees stressed the importance of providing policymakers with timely, unbiased analysis of threats to our country. I appreciate their willingness to serve, and I look forward to hearing their testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Elise Stefanik
I visited with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, President-elect Trump’s nominee to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. As a member of the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding our nation’s diplomatic efforts, I recognize the importance of this position for American leadership on the global stage. We discussed the urgent need to reform the United Nations, including challenging the persistent anti-Israel bias within the organization and checking China’s influence, but we also shared our mutual support for the World Food Programme and other UN agencies that are faithfully executing their responsibilities. I look forward to hearing her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Pam Bondi
On Tuesday, I met with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who President Trump nominated to be the next Attorney General of the United States. We discussed her background as a career prosecutor and how she plans to continue her work fighting violent crime and drug trafficking on the federal level. As the lead Republican on the Appropriations subcommittee which funds the Department of Justice, I look forward to hearing more from Ms. Bondi during her confirmation hearing on how we can work together to bolster partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement to help keep Kansans safe.

Howard Lutnick
On Wednesday, I met with Howard Lutnick, President-elect Trump’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Commerce. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss the key issues the Department of Commerce will be facing, including managing our trade relationships with other countries. As a senior authorizer and the lead appropriator for the Department of Commerce, coordination and collaboration with the secretary is an important function in solidifying our nation’s international competitiveness and entrepreneurship. Thank you to Mr. Lutnick for visiting with me, and I look forward to his testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Joining Good Morning America
On Thursday, I joined Good Morning America with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) to discuss our delegation visit to Belgium and Luxembourg to recognize the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. In Bagstone and Luxembourg, we met with WWII veterans from the Greatest Generation, and it is vital we continue to share their stories with new generations so that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

You can watch my interview here.

Bolstering our Military
Protecting our nation begins with a strong military trained and equipped to meet the new and challenging threats of the 21st century. This year’s NDAA provides a pay increase for junior enlisted soldiers and expands the JROTC program to encourage more young people to pursue a career in the military. It also increases accountability and transparency on how aid to Ukraine is being used and modernizes our weapons and technology to better counter threats in a digital age. Military service is family service, which is why I also worked to include provisions to expand childcare services at Fort Leavenworth.

Recognizing National Aviation History Month
Last month was National Aviation History Month, and this week I spoke on the Senate Floor to recognize Kansas’ contributions to the aviation industry. Kansas is an aviation hub, and it has a rich history in aviation manufacturing. Our state has played a key role in cultivating America’s leadership in aviation and is home to thousands of engineers and manufacturers who have supported America’s aviation heritage for more than a century. We are and will continue to be the ‘Air Capital of the World’ not only because we build airplanes, but because we have leaders and students driving the industry forward with innovation, ingenuity and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

You can watch my floor speech here.

Creating Commonsense Safeguards for AI Innovation
This week, I introduced legislation with my colleagues that deals exclusively with safeguarding U.S. national security against extreme risks—chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and cyber threats—posed by future developments in advanced AI models. The evolution of AI is an opportunity for U.S. innovation, efficiency and strategic advantage. However, we must responsibly harness the power of AI and make certain we are mitigating extreme risks that would threaten our national security. After receiving feedback from across the tech industry, government and other stakeholders, we crafted this legislation to help mitigate national security risks while making certain innovators are able to continue developing AI to secure a competitive edge over our adversaries in this critical technology area.

Meeting with Japanese Ambassador Yamada
On Wednesday, I welcomed Japan’s ambassador to the United States, Shigeo Yamada, to my office to discuss our countries’ bilateral relationship. During the meeting, we discussed my recent visit to Japan, our shared defense priorities, and the significant investment of Japanese companies in Kansas, including Panasonic and Kubota. Thank you to Ambassador Yamada for the conversation and for his work in strengthening ties between Kansas and Japan.

Strengthening Kansas Water Infrastructure
This week, the Senate passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, more commonly known as WRDA. This bill, which deals with our nation’s water resources, includes several Kansas priorities:

Milford and Perry Lake – Amends the water supply storage contracts between the U.S. and the State of Kansas to make the contract more affordable for the State of Kansas.

Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas – Provides resources for water and wastewater infrastructure to prevent contamination of the Kansas River and Jersey Creek caused by discharges from the city’s combined sewer system.

Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) – Increases the ability of the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) to serve projects in Kansas, particularly small towns, by raising the project caps in response to inflation.

Coffeyville Flood Control Study – Authorizes the Army Corps to study a flood control project in Coffeyville.

Manhattan Levee Project – Authorizes additional resources for the Manhattan Levee Project to accommodate a wider stoplog structure at the railroad track intersection with the levee.

Ogallala Aquifer Conservation – Authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to study water supply, drought resilience and depletion.

A robust and healthy water infrastructure is critical to the survival of every community, and I am pleased this legislation helps meet the needs of communities across Kansas. From researching the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer to improving water infrastructure and mitigating flooding, this legislation prioritizes critical Kansas projects and initiatives, and I look forward to the President signing this bill into law.

Joining the Kansas National Guard Breakfast
I had the opportunity to speak at the Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas National Guard Breakfast. During the event, I spoke about the importance of bolstering our National Guard so that it mirrors the readiness of their other active-duty counterparts. The National Guard in Kansas has many potential projects headed its way, including the “Grey Eagle” which will increase the preparedness of our defenses at home.

Thank you to Major General Venedri for hosting this breakfast.

Meeting with U.S. Cellular Chairman
On Thursday, I met with U.S. Cellular Chairman Ted Carlson to discuss his continued efforts to provide rural consumers with reliable telecommunications services. Founded in 1983, U.S. Cellular has been providing coverage to Americans living in hard-to-reach places, including in rural Kansas. Following careful consideration of the best option to continue providing services, they have decided to sell some of their business to another carrier, T-Mobile, who will continue its operations in Kansas and beyond for their millions of subscribers.

I spoke with Ted and other representatives about the implications of the sale and about the company’s desire to remain involved in the telecommunications space, including by maintaining their cell towers and investing in fiber services for their customers. I am grateful to Ted for his decades of dedicated service to US Cellular and its parent company, Telephone and Data Systems. I remain focused on ensuring that Kansans have reliable access to telecommunications services, regardless of their location in the state.

Receiving the Terwiliger Bipartisanship Housing Award
This week, I had the honor of receiving the Terwiliger Bipartisanship Housing Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). The housing crisis in Kansas and across the country is a critical issue that must be addressed, and this Congress I am a cosponsor of the Choice in Affordable Housing Act which would increase the number of credits available to states, expand the number and type of affordable housing projects that can be built, and improve the tax credit to better serve veterans, domestic violence victims, and rural communities. Additionally, my bill to expand access to USDA Section 524 loans to let more nonprofits build affordable housing in rural areas. I look forward to working with the Bipartisan Policy Center and my colleagues in the Senate on legislation that will make housing more affordable for years to come.

Congrats to Hutch Community College on NJCAA Championship
Earlier this week, Hutchinson Community College won the 2024 NJCAA Football National Championship. This is the second national title in five seasons for the Blue Dragons. Congrats to Coach Drew Dallas and the entire Hutch CC organization.

Kansans in the Office

Capitol Tours
Eugene Bradley of Lawrence

Jennifer Brunkow of Wamego

Christian Garagiola of Lawrence

Jackie Garagiola of Lawrence

Dana Newland of Neodesha

Amanda Wilwert-Bradley of Lawrence

Bob Wilwert of Lawrence

Cindy Wilwert of Lawrence

Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka
Ryan Gilliland of Topeka

Sherriene Jones-Sontas of Topeka

John McKechnie of Topeka

Frontier Farm Credit
Kathy Brick of Overland Park

Kansas Farm Bureau
Glenn Brunkow of Wamego

Ryan Flickner of Manhattan

Joe Newland of Neodesha

Netsmart
Krista Logan of Overland Park

Salina Family Healthcare
Robert Kraft of Salina

Derek Pihl of Salina

Kansas Common Sense

Disaster Assistance for Kansas

Dec 23 2024

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