Recognizing Two Years of the PACT Act
Two years ago, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law. As a nation, we have a responsibility to care for our veterans and offer the help they need to heal or bear the wounds of war.

During these past two years, more than 1 million veterans and survivors have received compensation benefits from the VA, and more than 300,000 veterans have enrolled in the VA health care system. In Kansas, more than 15,000 veterans have been granted compensation benefits and almost 4,000 have enrolled in the VA health care system under the PACT Act.

Implementing legislation as expansive as the PACT Act is not an easy task, and turning the text of the law into meaningful programs for veterans has been fraught with challenges. The VA is responsible for implementing the law, as Congress intended, and being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars Congress has provided.

You can read my op-ed about the PACT Act in Military.com here.

Visiting Hospitals in Rural Kansans
Graham County Health
I visited Graham County Hospital in Hill City, and CEO Melissa Atkins provided me a tour of the hospital and the location for the new clinic. She shared that the hospital is doing well with staffing, and we also discussed the challenges of Medicare Advantage plans in rural areas. As enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans over traditional Medicare is at an all-time high, it is essential for Medicare Advantage plans to be reimbursing hospitals well. These reimbursements are a significant portion of hospital revenue.

Thank you to CFO Stephanie Kirk, Mayor Jean Bell, Community Development Coordinator Dan Steffen and hospital board member Billie Franks for joining us on the tour.



Decatur Health
I also visited Decatur County Hospital, and CEO Julie Smith gave me an update on the hospital and her concerns with ambulance services, health insurance reimbursements, VA reimbursements and Medicare Advantage challenges. We also discussed my support of the 340B program to help rural hospitals remain open. My efforts within the bipartisan Senate 340B Working Group are ongoing as we work to develop consensus legislation that ensures the 340B program is sustained long into the future.

Thank you to Julie as well as CFO Chad Meyer for the tour and to Dr. Craig Bartruff for meeting me and for your service to rural Kansas.



Rawlins County Health Center
In addition, I stopped by Rawlins County Health Center, and we discussed expansion possibilities through USDA grants, reimbursement rate issues and the hospital mill levy election. The hospital is looking for a full-time physician and other staffers to make certain they can continue to support rural communities. Rural hospitals in Kansas and across the country continue to face significant workforce shortages and tight operating margins. Some of my legislative priorities focus on providing additional revenue for rural hospitals, including the Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act and negotiations to strengthen the 340B program.

Thank you to Marketing Director Suzanne Koel for hosting and Rawlins County Economic Development Director Deb Minkler for joining.



Cheyenne County Hospital
Finally, I visited Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, and Hospital CEO Jeremy Clingenpeel shared the importance of the 340B program and offered his thoughts on the legislation. Conversations like these are invaluable and allow me to bring concerns from Kansans back to Washington, D.C. We also discussed their desire to continue offering OB and level four trauma services.

Thank you to Jeremy, St. Francis Mayor Amanda Milne, Bird City Clerk Seante Gyukeri and several other community leaders for joining.



Speaking at the Kansas Bankers Association Annual Conference
On Thursday, I spoke at the Kansas Bankers Association’s (KBA) annual conference. This weekend's gathering was an opportunity for me to hear directly from Kansas lenders about the issues they are experiencing. Throughout the conference, we discussed tailoring regulation for smaller banks to best serve their customers and limiting federal efforts to increase the cost of credit. Overreaching federal rules, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Section 1071 rule, would harm banks’ ability to service the needs of their communities. We also discussed the importance of passing the Access to Credit for Rural Economies (ACRE) Act, a bill I introduced with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), that would help community banks lower interest rates for ag real estate and mortgages in rural towns. I appreciated the opportunity to speak at the event and look forward to continuing the dialogue with Kansas lenders.



Meeting with Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid
At the KBA conference, I also had the opportunity to meet with Jeff Schmid, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. We reflected on broader economic trends and discussed how to best support the district the bank serves. Jeff brings immense experience to the job along with a deep understanding of the Midwestern economy. I look forward to working together to expand economic opportunities to Kansas families and businesses.



Advocating for Volunteer Firefighters
On Friday, I urged the Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, to consider exemptions for volunteer fire departments and their firefighters from parts of a proposed rule that could impose prohibitive equipment and training requirements on these departments. In February, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) – part of the Department of Labor (DOL) – proposed the “Emergency Response” standard to overhaul its workplace health and safety regulations for fire departments across the country. Since OSHA published the proposed rule, volunteer fire departments and firefighters in Kansas and throughout the country have expressed their concern that, as written, the rule could jeopardize their ability to provide fire services to their communities. Many of these departments lack the financial resources and personnel necessary to comply with the standard. Approximately 90% of Kansas fire departments are volunteer or mostly volunteer, and over 85% of departments nationwide are volunteer or mostly volunteer.

I led my colleagues, alongside Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), in encouraging Acting Secretary Su to consider these concerns and to add exemptions for volunteers that would enable these departments to continue providing their services without interruption. As OSHA finalizes this rule, I will continue advocating for the volunteer departments and firefighters that are critical to protecting Kansas communities, especially in rural areas, where no alternatives are available.

You can read the letter here.

Touring Lockheed Martin
On Friday, I toured one of Lockheed Martin’s facilities that makes small satellites for the Space Development Agency that allow existing platforms, such as fighter aircraft, air and missile defense and maritime platforms, to communicate globally. Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defense manufacturer, is a partner with many suppliers on programs across Kansas. Some of these programs supported by our talented Kansas workforce include the CH-53K King Stallion, Blackhawk, and F-35. I want to thank Lockheed Martin for hosting me and for their continued investment in Kansas.

Preparing for the World Cup in Kansas City
This week, I called on President Biden to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events to oversee preparation and security of major sporting events in the United States. Over the next decade, the U.S. will host several international sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2031 Rugby World Cup. While these events have the potential to deliver tremendous economic and diplomatic benefits for our nation, it is critical the Biden administration take the necessary steps to ensure the security and planning of the games, specifically through international visa processing, security scenario training, incident response, transportation, diplomatic security, intelligence gathering and dissemination and securing critical protective assets.

Speaking at the Norton Lions Club
It was great to speak to the Norton Lions Club. As a fellow Lion, I always enjoy having a chance to spend time with different Lions clubs across Kansas. We discussed the importance of a new farm bill, the border crisis and national security issues, including my time on the intelligence committee. I talked about the importance of standing up for our allies overseas and the need to take better care of our veterans.

Thank you to Sue Urban for hosting me and for everyone else who attended the meeting.

Capitol Tours
Del Adcock of Overland Park

Taylor Adcock of Overland Park

Jad Alabed of Manhattan

Mohammad Alabed of Manhattan

Sally Alabed of Manhattan

Taim Alabed of Manhattan

Annabel Burkhardt of Prairie Village

Crystal Burkhardt of Prairie Village

Isaac Burkhardt of Prairie Village

Ron Burkhardt II of Prairie Village

Dustin Cooper of Overland Park

Ruth Cooper of Overland Park

James Donohue of Overland Park

Emily Donohue of Overland Park

James Donohue of Overland Park

Kiernan Donohue of Overland Park

Abigail Donohue of Overland Park

Alexis Donohue of Overland Park

Angie Fry of Great Bend

Baleigh Fry of Great Bend

Jeff Fry of Great Bend

Graham Gordon of Wichita

Ignatius Gordon of Wichita

Molly Gordon of Wichita

Isaac Hargett of Manhattan

Kirk Hargett of Manhattan

Deema Karajeh of Manhattan

Anne Lewis of Wichita

Charlie Lewis of Wichita

Todd Lewis of Wichita

Wyatt Lewis of Wichita

Jack Marsha of Lenexa

Jennifer Marsha of Lenexa

Todd Marsha of Lenexa

Bill Prater of Liberal

Katie Prater of Liberal

Kevin Prater of Liberal

Malorie Prater of Burden

Terry Trarbach of Salina

Nancy Trarbach of Salina

Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.
Kyle Kessler of Topeka