Hello,

  

Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.

  

On Wednesday, I introduced the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act of 2019, along with my colleagues Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Contract towers are an important part of our national air traffic control system—serving communities through a proven public-private partnership that increases safety and improves air traffic control services while lowering the cost to the federal government and the American taxpayer. Today, there are 256 air traffic control facilities participating in the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program, including Garden City, Hutchinson, Manhattan, Salina and two locations in Olathe and Topeka.

  

Federal contract towers face a unique hurdle to hiring trained and well-qualified retired FAA controllers. Because FAA air traffic controllers are one of several federal employee groups whose retirement is mandated at 56 years of age, retired FAA controllers are penalized for continuing to work as controllers at federal contract towers. This legislation would eliminate that penalty and allow experienced retired FAA employees the opportunity to use their skills at a federal contract tower without facing a financial penalty. The CONTRACT Act has received strong support from stakeholders, including the U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). Click here to read more on this bill.

On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which supports those protesting for their basic rights. For years, and particularly in the past six months, Chinese leaders have been undermining the autonomy and freedoms granted to Hong Kong under an international agreement. This legislation, which was later passed by the House, sends a clear message that the United States will not ignore Beijing’s ongoing efforts to deprive liberty for its people. 

On Wednesday, Attorney General William Barr joined me for breakfast to discuss his recent trip with me to Kansas, hear updates on work to bolster the nation’s law enforcement and ongoing work at the Department of Justice to better equip communities across Kansas and the nation to combat the opioid epidemic, violent crime and more. As the chief appropriator for the Department of Justice, my close partnership with AG Barr is valuable as we work to make certain our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep our country safe. Thanks, AG Barr, for your commitment to these officers and for your work to advance Kansas public safety.

  

On Wednesday, I introduced bipartisan legislation to fund research into ways of detecting “deepfakes,” which are online videos that are manipulated to realistically mimic a person’s identity, and this legislation would help raise awareness of deepfakes and determine ways to combat the rising threat of this technology. The Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act (IOGAN Act) directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research to accelerate the development of technologies that could help improve the detection of deepfakes. Deepfakes can be means for a variety of ill-intentioned uses, but the technology poses a specific threat to U.S. voters and consumers by way of misinformation that is increasingly difficult to identify. This bill will assist the federal government to effectively coordinate its efforts to address this threat by accelerating research and development of deepfake technology detection.

 

On Thursday, I joined a group of Blue Valley Northwest students in the Capitol for a National Honors Society Induction Ceremony. The students were in town for the National High School Journalism Convention, co-hosted by the Journalism Education Association headquartered at K-State. I was happy I could assist in creating a special moment for them in our nation’s Capitol building, and honored to swear them in with the same pledge I took some years ago as a student at Plainville High School.

  

Afterward, we discussed the future and importance of journalism to our communities. I look forward to seeing the good work each of them do in the future. Thank you to the advisors and teachers who provided them the opportunity to visit and learn in Washington, D.C.

 

 

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of students that are a part of the Bakery Science Department at K-State, the only place in the United States to get a four-year degree in bakery science and management. During the meeting, we discussed facilities at K-State, policy issues of the day, and my path to becoming a United States senator. I appreciate the conversation with the students and wish the students continued success in their college careers. Thanks to Dr. Gordon Smith for leading the group out to DC.

 

 

On Wednesday, USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD) announced grants to 133 distance learning and telemedicine projects across the country, including four grants for projects in our state. These projects will improve healthcare and education for Kansans by investing in interactive video equipment installation that will improve opioid addiction and mental health treatment, develop distance learning courses in STEM fields, and other activities. The grants, which were awarded to Farm & Home Cooperative, Pawnee Mental Health Services, Dodge City, and K-State, are estimated to benefit over 20,000 Kansans and 4,500 students in rural areas of our state.

 

USDA-RD also announced a series of loans and grants to rural communities for water infrastructure projects. The loans and grants will fund upgrades to the City of Minneola’s water infrastructure, a new municipal water treatment facility for the City of Horton, and improvements to the City of Fredonia’s wastewater collection system. As a member of the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee that funds USDA-RD, I will continue working with my colleagues on programs that sustain and improve rural communities in Kansas.

  

On Friday, I was in Salina to tour the Schwan's Pizza Plant, where 'Tony's Pizza' is made. As part of their operation in Salina, the men and women of this facility produce 336 million pounds of pizza per year, using milk from 41,000 cows a day. The company is an important factor of the Salina economy, and I was pleased to visit with employees and leadership during my tour.

 

I spent Friday morning visiting Salina’s Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, part of the Robert Dole VA Center system based out of Wichita. I was honored to spend time visiting with our nation’s veterans and their healthcare providers. During the visit, we discussed the recently-implemented VA MISSION Act and how we can better partner with VA providers to improve healthcare for our veterans. Hearing their personal experiences within the VA healthcare system informs the work I do in Washington, D.C. on behalf of our current and former service members.

 

 

To commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of Union Pacific Railroad, the historic Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014 made its way across Kansas last week, with stops including Kansas City, Topeka, Salina and Abilene. Robba had the opportunity to attend Big Boy’s stop in Manhattan and shared with me the photo below. It was great to know that Kansans of all ages were taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to witness the world’s only operating Big Boy locomotive in action, following over two years of restoration. Thank you to Union Pacific for showing off such an important symbol of rail transportation to Kansas and the country.

 

Listening Tour Stop
On Saturday morning, I was in Lincoln to visit with local residents, business leaders and community officials. During these conversations, we discussed a number of issues including trade and the need to pass USMCA, the importance of a vibrant farm economy, rural broadband and access to healthcare. Thanks to all those who took time to visit with me on Saturday. 

Following my townhall meeting, I toured Lincoln County Hospital with CEO Steve Granzow. During the tour, I enjoyed visiting with hospital staff, their Board and community leaders. Amid constant challenges for community hospitals, their employees find ways to go above and beyond to give back to their communities. I saw this first-hand through a room full of needed food pantry items – the result of an employee Thanksgiving food drive. Thank you to Steven Granzow, CEO of Lincoln County Hospital, for hosting and everyone who took time to speak with me during my visit.

 

Sarah Weekley of Leavenworth

Jeffrey Zindel of Mission

 

Diane DeNoon of Overland Park

Mike Flenthrope of Olathe

Dustin McMurry of Franklin

Alyssa Rumple of Valley Center

 

Isabella Alvarenga of Manhattan

Kacee Campbell of Arkansas City

Andrew Dorsch of Manhattan

Hulya Dogan of Manhattan

Sarah Maddock of Topeka

Jackson Phillips of Manhattan

Gordon Smith of Manhattan

Emily Stangel of Manhattan

Georgeanna Stockemer of Garden Plain

 

Aaron Avery of Overland Park

Imran Bangash of Overland Park

Olivia Baxter of Overland Park

Janet Bohren of Hutchinson 

Emily Burgan of Overland Park

Addie Cowell of Overland Park

Grace Davis of Overland Park

Allison Dragoo of Overland Park

Erin Fitzgerald of Overland Park

Gina Foster of Overland Park

Katelyn Foster of Overland Park

Emma Gau of Overland Park

Charles Hovey of Lenexa

Ella Hutnick of Overland Park

Marissa Jacobs of Overland Park

Emma Johnson of Overland Park

Izze Lentfer of Overland Park

Jacquie Luhar of Overland Park

Jim McCrossen of Overland Park

Jay Oakes of Overland Park

Lindsey Owens of Overland Park

Kathryn Rich of Sterling

Scott Rich of Sterling

Kate Rizza of Atchison

Pamela Rizza of Atchison

Robert Rizza of Atchison

Rachel Sarff of Overland Park

Marie Schulte of Overland Park

Lola Shipman of Overland Park

Mack Smith of Overland Park 

Sydney Stremming of Overland Park

Lily Torres of Overland Park

Deb Wood of WaKeeney

Mark Wood of WaKeeney

Kim White of Overland Park

Melanie Wilkins of Overland Park

 

Emily Bomblies of Easton

Jana Fetzer of Fredonia

Julia Haegele of Wichita

Tomke Juilfs of Wichita

Valerie Line of Hutchinson

Janet Bailey of Manhattan

 

Grace Snider of Overland Park

 

Dr. Amy Bragg Carey of Wichita

Matt Lindsey of Lawrence

Dr. Scott Rich of Sterling

Dr. Reggies Wenyika of Ottawa

 

Mallorey Beckloff of Prairie Village

Skylar Bellinger of Shawnee

Amy Newport of Lawrence

Kiki Oyetunji of Prairie Village

Jessica Schuttler of Shawnee

Alica Zhang of Lawrence

 

Dennis Gruenbacher of Andale

Bob Haselwood of Topeka

Dennis Hupe of Topeka

Gary Louis of Shawnee Mission

 

Kari Wagner of Tonganoxie

 

Steve Sloan of Pittsburg

 

Violet Apodaca of Kansas City

 

Brett Wilson of Colby

 

Brandon Whipple of Wichita

Honored to Serve You in Washington
It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.

Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,
Jerry