Kansas Common Sense

Mourning the Victims on Flight 5342
On Wednesday night, American Airlines Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, collided with a military helicopter while attempting to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. We are still learning the names of the 67 victims, but we know there were Kansans among them. It was a sad day for Kansas and our nation, and I know this is a loss we will be grieving for a long time. I know this flight well and have taken it many times. Wichita is a tight-knit community, and many Kansans are personally impacted by this tragedy. My prayers are with the families and friends who lost a loved one in this plane crash.

If you lost a loved one on Flight 5342 and have not yet made contact with American Airlines, please call 800-679-8215 or contact my office for assistance. Immediately following the crash, I joined the press conference at the airport to help provide answers.

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While at the airport, I spoke with rescue workers, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. I also spoke with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the White House by phone. I am grateful for the first responders who worked through the night and the teams still working today to recover the victims.

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Finding Answers on this Tragedy
On Thursday, I received a briefing from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). It is too early to draw conclusions on the cause of this accident, but we will continue to actively gather information and will allow the NTSB to conduct a thorough investigation and determine the probable cause in a timely manner. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, I will be joining Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in holding a member-level briefing for all Senate Commerce Committee members to hear from key federal officials about their preliminary findings. The NTSB’s investigation will aid my subcommittee’s efforts in determining policy changes which may be necessary to prevent this from happening again.

While the NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, the FAA has shut down all non-essential, low-altitude helicopter flights near DCA. The FAA was right to take this action, and I expect these restrictions to be in effect until all investigations are complete. You can read more about plans for upcoming congressional investigations into the crash here.

Questioning & Meeting President Trump’s Cabinet Nominees
Governor Doug Burgum
On Wednesday, I met with former Governor Doug Burgum, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior. During our meeting, we discussed the pressing need to reform tribal schools across the country and provide much-needed relief and support to Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. I also raised concerns regarding the water rights dispute surrounding the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, explaining the need for farmers and ranchers to have access to groundwater in the basin and the importance of agriculture to the regional economy. I am grateful that Governor Burgum took the time to listen to my concerns and for his interest in working with my office in the future to help find solutions. The Senate voted this week to overwhelmingly confirm Governor Burgum’s nomination.

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Howard Lutnick
This week, I questioned Howard Lutnick, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Commerce, during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing. I asked about his plans for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant program to help increase access to affordable broadband, particularly in rural areas, and the impact of tariffs on the farm equipment manufacturing industry. There are significant challenges that face our farmers and ranchers, including manufacturing costs and some tariffs. I also highlighted the upcoming large-scale sporting events in the United States, including Kansas City’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 2031 Rugby World Cup. In August, I led my colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events, and in October, the Department of Commerce announced that the Tourism Policy Council would establish a Subcommittee on Large-Scale Sporting Events.

You can watch my questions here.

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Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard
On Thursday morning, Tulsi Gabbard, nominee to be Director of National Intelligence, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Ms. Gabbard is a patriot who continues to serve our nation honorably in uniform. I questioned her on how she views the threat posed by Russia, the importance of aligning intelligence priorities with President Trump’s national security goals, and the necessity of making certain intelligence provided to policymakers is free of bias. The Intelligence Community requires strong, capable leadership to meet the significant challenges America must face in the coming years.

You can watch my questions here.

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New Work Ahead: Senate Subcommittee Assignments
Senate Committee on Appropriations
After serving for the last few years as the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, I will be taking over the gavel as chairman of the subcommittee. This committee oversees crucial funding decisions for departments like NASA, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce. I will additionally serve on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on:

-Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies,
-Defense
-Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies,
-State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
-Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

I look forward to using my position on these committees to continue serving Kansans and the nation.

Discussing Ways to Improve Community Care
This week, I led a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing on persistent barriers to care for veterans seeking help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While these issues impact veterans in need of all kinds of health care services from VA, they are particularly burdensome for those in need of support for mental health conditions and addiction. During the hearing, I heard from veterans, family members, and advocates who shared first-hand accounts of months-long delays in care and an inability to seek care in the community. One witness, Paige Marg, testified about how her husband Charlie, an Air Force veteran, was repeatedly denied residential or inpatient mental health care by VA after Charlie attempted suicide in the parking lot of a VA clinic. It is unacceptable that veterans and families should have to fight for the health care that they earned through their military service.

Following the hearing, I called on the Acting VA Secretary urging the department to take these issues seriously and act quickly to address the gaps in care the witnesses identified. I am committed to improving the timeliness and accessibility of VA care and making certain that veterans are at the center of the health care decision-making process.

You can watch my questions here.

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VA Benefits and Health Care Uninterrupted by Funding Pause
This week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued an executive memorandum temporarily pausing the disbursement of certain federal funding to ensure that this funding is aligned with the law and the current administration’s policy goals. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I requested an inquiry into how this would affect the processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs. After my inquiry, the VA confirmed that no direct benefits or assistance provided through grant partners would be impacted by OMB’s pause on federal funding. Veterans and their families, as well as the organizations that serve them, will continue to have access to the benefits, services, and resources provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I appreciate the VA quickly providing answers to my questions and continuing the important programs that serve our veterans and their families.

Expanding Access to Veteran Care
Following this week’s Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, I introduced the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. This bill will increase access to care for veterans in Kansas and across the country by establishing existing community care access standards as the baseline of care for veterans, increasing access to life-saving treatment programs for veterans with mental health conditions or addiction, and expanding the list of criteria VA is required to consider when determining a referral for care outside the community. I am grateful for their support and for the support of my colleague, Congressman Mike Bost, the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who introduced identical legislation. Seeing this bill being signed into law will be one of my highest priorities this Congress.

You can read more about this legislation in Military.com here.

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Receiving the Army Distinguished Public Service Medal Award
On Wednesday, I received the Army Distinguished Public Service Medal Award from the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy George. It was an honor to receive this recognition from the Army. We discussed the recent deployment of the 977th Military Police Company and the 41st Engineer Company to the southern border. I also highlighted Ft. Riley and Wichita’s strong connection to defense innovation. Across current and future conflicts, advanced defense capabilities will keep the United States a step ahead of our adversaries, advancing and protecting America’s strategic interests. I look forward to hosting General George for a visit to Kansas to highlight the important role our state plays in our national defense.

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Meeting with Secretary Dan Glickman
On Thursday, I met with former Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, to discuss the pressing issue of global hunger and the critical role that food aid plays in addressing these challenges. I am grateful for Secretary Glickman’s leadership in these issues, and as a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, both which support global hunger initiatives, I remain committed to advocating for robust food assistance programs. Thank you, Secretary Glickman, for meeting with me.

Meeting with Dave McIntyre, CEO of TriWest
This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Dave McIntyre, the CEO of TriWest. At the beginning of the year, TriWest moved to a new, expansive contract under TRICARE. Many Kansans have reached out to my office regarding their concerns about contract changes and how soon a solution will be provided. I appreciate the dedication of Mr. McIntyre and his team as they have been working with Kansas beneficiaries and providers to ensure servicemembers, veterans and their families can rely on this service to receive the care they need. I look forward to working with TriWest to ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries are receiving the quality and timely care they deserve under this network.

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Incentivizing Charitable Giving
On Wednesday, I joined 12 of my colleagues in introducing the Charitable Act to expand and extend the expired non-itemized deduction for charitable giving. The bill would ensure Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations and other nonprofits of their choice are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the current deduction. The deduction became law as part of the CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2020 by President Trump. The policy resulted in 90 million tax returns utilizing the deduction, and households making between $30,000 and $100,000 saw the largest increase in charitable giving. Charitable organizations received $30 billion in increased donations as a result. Americans continuously demonstrate their generosity and their desire to help those in need through their charitable giving. Updating our tax laws will help reward and incentivize more charitable donations to provide resources for individuals who need help.

You can read more about this legislation here.

Meetings with Kansans
Kansas Head Start
This week, I visited with a group of Head Start leaders from Wyandotte County. Head Start is a federal program which funds services centered around early learning and development. The Wyandotte County Head Start program goes above and beyond to serve early learners in their community, providing transportation to and from the Head Start sites each day for their students. I look forward to visiting this group in Wyandotte soon to see the good work they’re doing firsthand and will continue supporting their efforts to better the community around them.

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K-State
I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with leadership from Kansas State University on Monday to discuss K-State’s vision for growth and expansion over the next ten years. As a land-grant institution, K-State provides valuable educational opportunities by partnering with industry leaders to create networks in fields like agriculture, aerospace, biosecurity and nuclear energy. I appreciated the opportunity to hear more about K-State’s plans and goals for all three of its campuses and look forward to finding ways to support the university in its endeavors.

A special thank you to President Linton, Vice President Stewart, Dr. Hans Coetzee, Jaylen Lane and Adam Walker for taking the time to meet with me this week.

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Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
On Wednesday, I met with leadership and students at Friends University to learn about the latest developments in Wichita. During our meeting, we discussed the importance of mission-based education, the wide-variety of academic and spiritual programs available at Friends and the steps Christian colleges and universities are taking to best prepare individuals for a life of learning.

Thank you to Dr. Amy Bragg Carey, Jeff Clawson, Ken Stoltsfus, Jacob Gnagy and Josiah Watney for visiting with me.

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Remembering the Holocaust
Monday was Holocaust Remembrance Day – a time to remember the millions of Jewish men, women and children who were killed during the Holocaust and honor those who survived to tell their stories. Our humanity requires their stories can never be forgotten nor denied.

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Visits Across Kansas
Commodity Classics
This weekend, I spoke at the Kansas Commodity Classics to discuss my role on the Senate Committee on Agriculture. I also discussed my priorities to provide disaster aid for our farmers and ranchers, the need for a new Farm Bill, sustainable aviation fuel and its benefits and the impact tariffs and trade play in agriculture. Supporting Kansas agriculture businesses remains a top priority of mine, and I look forward to having a stronger voice in supporting our farmers and ranchers.

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Russell High School
On Friday, I visited Russell High School for a tour. I met with faculty, staff and students who told me about the programs their school offers to prepare them for college or joining the workforce after graduation.

Thanks to students Madison Sohm, Mason Rohr, Hailey Gier and Macy Patterson and faculty Kevin Flegler and Riana Tomlinson for the tour.

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Happy Kansas Day
On January 29, 1861, Kansas became the 34th state. Each year, Kansans celebrate the people, beautiful landscapes and history that make our state unique. Happy Kansas Day!

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Capitol Tour
Angela Miller of Prairie Village

John Friend of Kansas City

American Physical Society
Alessandro Di Gregorio of Topeka

Catholic Social Ministry Gathering for the US Catholic Conference of Bishops
Allison Newark of Overland Park

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Amy Carey of Wichita 

Jacob Gnagy of Wichita 

Josiah Watney of Wichita 

Ken Stoltzfus of Wichita 

Flint Hills Solutions LLC
Roger Powers of Kansas City

Kansas Chapter of Postpartum Support International
James Brown of Olathe

Janey Garcia of Olathe

Teresa Keller of Olathe

Kansas Head Start
Kwamea Smith of Kansas City

Michelle Taylor of Kansas City

Nefi Chavet of Kansas City

Stacey Foskett of Kansas City

Kansas State University
Chris DePerao of Manhattan

Hans Coetzee of Manhattan

Marshall Stewart of Manhattan

Richard Linton of Manhattan

Krucial Rapid Response
Jeff Huff of Lenexa

Justin Soltau of Lenexa

Mentor Kansas
Colette Osio of Wichita

Jessica Dorsey of Topeka

Nan Putnam of Wichita

Sarah Nelson of Topeka

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