Celebrating New Kansas National Guard Joint Force Headquarters

On Tuesday, I participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Kansas National Guard Joint Force Headquarters at Forbes Field. Through my role as a Senior Defense Appropriator, I secured federal resources to support the construction of this centralized location to support all units of our Kansas National Guard. This new facility will allow for greater coordination of National Guard assets across Kansas. As our adversaries continue to adapt in technology and equipment, we must make certain our men and women in uniform are equipped with the best resources and technology to defend our nation.

I am committed to the mission of the National Guard and will continue to support projects that further improve the Guard’s mission. Thank you to General Michael Venerdi for having me to celebrate this new facility for the Kansas National Guard.


Lifting Hiring Freeze for National Weather Service
This week, I visited the Goodland National Weather Service (NWS) office to announce a nationwide hiring freeze exemption to allow NWS to hire meteorologists and weather forecasters. As individuals have retired or moved on to other jobs, the Goodland NWS office has vacancies in its workforce and has been unable to fill these positions due to the hiring freeze, resulting in the office being closed overnight. I spoke with NWS Director Ken Graham about the impact of these vacancies, and next month, he plans to implement a temporary, rotating staff to keep the office open 24/7.

While it will take time to re-open these job applications and hire the needed staff, this is a positive step in returning the Goodland NWS office to 24/7 weather forecasting.

Thank you to Grady Bonsall from the Goodland office for helping organize the meeting. It was great to have State Representative Adam Smith and his wife Christine, as well as Sherman County Economic Development Director Bert Mosier join the meeting.


Remembering Sarah Milgrim
On Tuesday, I attended the funeral service of Sarah Milgrim at Congregation Beth Torah Synagogue in Overland Park. Sarah, an Overland Park native and an Israeli Embassy staff member, was tragically murdered along with her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, in an antisemitic attack in Washington, D.C.

Jewish Americans deserve to live without fear of persecution and death. My prayers continue to be with the Milgrim and Lischinsky families, as well as the entire Jewish community during this difficult time.

Visiting Kansas Hospitals
Goodland Regional Medical Center
While in Goodland, I toured the Goodland Regional Medical Center. The medical center staff are working to provide increased services and care to the community, including the addition of visual rehabilitation and oncology services. They are also in talks with other area hospitals to make certain services are not duplicated to maximize the provided services. We discussed the importance of 340B to rural hospitals, which is crucial to the success of rural Kansas. Thank you to the new CEO Lucretia Stargell and all the staff who took the time to meet with me.

Ness County Hospital
I met with Ness County Hospital CEO Richard Bergling and toured their facility to learn more about the issues affecting health care in Ness County. While there, I visited with their radiology department and learned more about the investments they have made in recent years to improve the quality of care for patients and their efforts to improve the workspace for their dedicated staff. I also visited with clinic nurse Kaylene McDonald about challenges that remain in working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve local veterans. I remain committed to making certain our nation’s veterans have access to quality health care close to home. Thank you to Richard, Kaylene and all who shared a few minutes of their time with me in Ness County.


Scott County Hospital
Following my visit in Ness City, I met with the leadership team at Scott County Hospital, including their new CEO Chuck Welch. We discussed how the hospital has been proactive in the region, finding ways to increase accessibility to health care in western Kansas and the importance of federal programs that help keep hospital doors open across Kansas. I appreciated learning their perspectives on the importance of Medicaid and Medicare, the 340B program and their efforts to recruit physicians and specialty clinicians.

I commended them on their recent announcement of re-establishing an OB practice in Scott City, and look forward to their future success. Thank you to Chuck, CFO Butch Forrest, Board Chairman Dwight Koehn, Ryan Kimbrel, Tabetha Ketzner, Isidro Morales and all who shared their insight with me during my visit.


Visiting with the Kanorado Community
On Thursday, I stopped in Kanorado and met with folks to discuss how I can best be of service to them in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the Kanorado community for welcoming me, and thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to meet with me.


Receiving Update from Schriever Space Force Base
I spent time with Air Force Airmen and Space Force Guardians at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. During my visit, I was briefed on the National Space Defense Center’s ongoing efforts to deter space aggression from our adversaries and defend our national space assets. Schriever plays a vital role in defending the U.S. and our allies, securing our national interests through space-based satellite constellations that provide indications and warnings of space-based threats and intelligence support to military leaders and policy makers in Washington, D.C. As a senior member of both the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Intelligence, I am committed to making certain our nation’s military has the resources and funding needed to keep our country safe.

Thank you to U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon and all members of the uniformed services for their selfless service to protect our nation.


USDA Distributes Disaster Supplemental Payments
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins announced the release of payments to cover grazing losses due to drought or wildfires in 2023 and 2024. Producers who already have an approved Livestock Forage Disaster Program application on file for those years will be automatically issued payments. Producers may visit their local FSA office or click HERE to visit the USDA website for further questions.

Last year, Congress passed the American Relief Act, which secured $30 billion for economic and disaster relief for farmers, ranchers and producers. During Secretary Rollins’ confirmation hearing, I urged her to prioritize the distribution of these funds as expeditiously as possible. I appreciate her and her team at USDA taking the first steps in rolling out disaster relief, and I will continue to work with them as these programs move forward.

Introducing Legislation to Support Down Syndrome Research
I joined Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act to strengthen funding for Down syndrome research. The INCLUDE Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports clinical and medical research to investigate conditions that affect individuals with Down syndrome and the general population, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, autoimmune disorders, autism, cataracts, celiac disease, congenital heart disease and diabetes. As co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, I look forward to leading this effort to help members of the Down syndrome community and their families find answers and solutions for the health challenges they face.

Caisson Platoon Resumes Service at Arlington Cemetery
Starting this month, the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) will be resuming its operations for military funerals. The Caisson Platoon at ANC operates as a horse-drawn ceremonial escort for military funerals. The platoon was suspended for two years after the death of two horses, poor living conditions for the animals and lack of training for the soldiers working within the platoon. Last year, I called on the Army’s then-Secretary Christine Wormuth to address these issues so veterans and their families can receive the full military honors they have earned and deserve.

Since then, major reforms have occurred, including mandated standardized training for the soldiers in the platoon, increased stall sizes and ventilation systems for the horses and new equipment and lighter wagons. This historic tradition has been modified and improved to continue to serve veteran families into the 21st century.

You can learn more about the platoon here.

Congratulations to Pitt State University Men’s Track & Field
Congratulations to the Pittsburg State University Men’s Track & Field team on securing their fourth consecutive NCAA-II Outdoor National Championship. The team also won several individual event national titles in addition to their national championship. Great job, Gorillas!

Now Accepting 2025 Service Academy Applications
Applications are now open for students to apply to a United States Service Academy for the Class of 2030. One of my favorite duties as a U.S. Senator is appointing Kansans to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

For the list of requirements and to apply, you can visit my website here. All application materials are due to my Olathe office by Friday, October 4, 2025. After applications have been reviewed, applicants will be notified of interviews with my Service Academy Selection Board.

Kansans in the Office  

Capitol Tour

Kanter Argo of Hays

Kolin Argo of Hays

Whitney Argo of Hays

Jessica Bane of Lenexa

Michael Bane III of Lenexa

Rory Bane of Lenexa

Douglas Brewer of Wichita

Andrew Burdett of Topeka

Christina Burdett of Topeka

John Burdett of Topeka

Michelle Burdett of Topeka

Anna Burns of Leawood

Alexa Carley of Olathe

Andrea Carley of Olathe

John Carley of Olathe

Kalaba Chali of Wichita

Shane Coyne of Hays

Paul Davis Jr. of Wichita

Sheryl Davis of Wichita

Christine Davis-Brewer of Wichita

Esme Dixon of Olathe

Kerry L. Dixon of Tribune

Wade Dixon of Tribune

Eloise Dixon of Olathe

Kyle Dohl of Wichita

Jane Eaton of Wichita

Deanell French of Wamego

Scott French of Wamego

Brendan Goss of Leavenworth

Christina Goss of Leavenworth

Elena Goss of Leavenworth

Kevin Goss of Leavenworth

Jeff Graber of Wichita

 Deontae Hayden of Wichita

Ken Holle of Hays

Trese Holle of Hays

Emily Howard of Wichita

Joan Ideker of Spring Hill

Aaron Johnson of Lenexa

Cohen Johnson of Lenexa

Kaylee Johnson of Lenexa

Joo Won Kaser of Overland Park

Kaylin Kayser of Overland Park

Bruce Keplinger of Leawood

Elizabeth Krehbiel of Pratt

Nathaniel Krehbiel of Pratt

Andrew Le of Wichita

Jaclyn Lykins of Wichita

Erin Martinez of St. George

Stephen Martinez of St. George

Kane Zapata-Martinez of St. George

Emery Zapata-Martinez of St. George

Bentley Yelland-Martinez of St. George

Clara Yelland-Martinez of St. George

Harper Yelland-Martinez of St. George

Bob Monroe of Olathe

Debbie Monroe of Olathe

Samuel O’Banion of Derby

Adaline Osler of Overland Park

Eleanor Osler of Overland Park

Ian Osler of Overland Park

Juliette Osler of Overland Park

Addison Reece of Allen

Aidan Reece of Allen

Erin Reece of Allen

Joshua Reece of Allen

Jackie Seirer of Newton

Mallory Seirer of Newton

Doug Spilker of Overland Park

Isabelle Spilker of Overland Park

Link Spilker of Overland Park

Maria Spilker of Overland Park

Nate Spilker of Overland Park

Tara Spilker of Overland Park

Hannah Strasser of Hays

Davis Steadman of Lawrence

Rebecca Steadman of Lawrence

John Tumberger of Overland Park

Esther Waweru of Wichita

Lacey Wheeler of Rose Hill

Lacy White of Lawrence

Anne Wille of Shawnee

Mark Wille of Shawnee

Seungli You of Mulvane

Costco

Shane Cayne of Hays

Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging

Elizabeth Handley of Hiawatha

Karen Wilson of Hiawatha

Tenants to Homeowners

Rebecca Buford of Lawrence

Ashley Taylor of Lawrence

University of Kansas Medical Students

Anna Burns of Lawrence

John Tumberger of Lawrence