Preparing for Veterans Day
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and this year is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. I recently met with several Vietnam veterans from Kansas on an Honor Flight to D.C. I listened to their stories and learned about their experiences in Vietnam. They told me about the overwhelming gratitude they felt visiting the Vietnam War Memorial that was built in their honor and the welcome they received from everyone they met in D.C. We will never forget the sacrifices of our Vietnam veterans. Thank you for your service. We love you and welcome home.

Click here to see more from my Kansas Honor Flight visit. 


Marking 50 Years Since the End of the Vietnam War
This week, I introduced a resolution to recognize the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. From 1955 to 1975, more than 10 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces fought to support the cause of freedom in South Vietnam and 58,281 of them made the ultimate sacrifice. On Tuesday, I went to the Senate floor to recognize the anniversary and honor the sacrifices of two Kansans from Rooks County, Marine Corps Sergeant Timmy Miller and Army Private First-Class Charles Acheson, who gave their lives while serving their country during this conflict. We must never forget their sacrifices, and we must continue honoring the service of these veterans to make certain they receive the care, benefits, respect, recognition and long overdue welcome home they deserve.

You can watch my full speech on the Senate floor here.


Leading Committee Hearing on Veteran Success After Service
On Wednesday, I led a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing to discuss how veterans can achieve sustained success after serving in the military. Veterans are among our nation’s greatest civic assets. The discipline, leadership and commitment servicemembers learn during their time in uniform is a major asset to communities and employers in Kansas and across the country. When veterans succeed, our country succeeds too.

During this hearing, the committee heard testimony from veterans and veteran advocates from the George W. Bush Institute, Combined Arms, D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, Student Veterans of America, Hiring Our Heroes at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Yale University. I would like to thank all of these witnesses for a great discussion, and I look forward to continuing these conversations to make certain veterans are able to achieve success after service.

You can watch my questioning of the witnesses here.

 
PASSED: Legislation to Deliver Annual Cost-of-Living Increase for Veterans
This week, the U.S. Senate passed my legislation to make certain the rate of disability compensation and other financial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans and military survivors keep pace with the rate of inflation. The annual Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2025 Act will increase certain VA benefits by 2.8% – including disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children – to reflect changes in the everyday cost of living and align with annual benefit increases by the Social Security Administration.

This adjustment allows veterans and their families to have peace of mind knowing that their VA benefits will keep up with our nation’s economy and that the VA can continue delivering support to those who have served, while alleviating the stresses of financial uncertainty due to circumstances that are out of their control. This legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives, and I look forward to its passage.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Working to Reopen the Government
Monday evening, the Senate took a major step in reopening the government by passing a continuing resolution that would extend government funding until January 30 and includes three of the twelve annual appropriations bills. This legislation would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the end of fiscal year 2026, reopening USDA offices across the state and allowing programs like SNAP and WIC to operate. The legislation also makes certain air traffic controllers, TSA agents and furloughed federal workers will once again receive their paychecks. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives to be voted on. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to address the concerns they have, and any issues brought forth by the shutdown. Congress must work swiftly to pass the remaining appropriations bills. Our constituents and our nation depend on us to do so.

Keeping Our Skies Safe As Shutdown Drags On
This week, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announced the decision to cut U.S. air traffic by 10 percent at 40-high traffic airports to keep passengers safe as the ongoing government shutdown continues to strain our aviation system. One major airline told me these cuts are impacting 100,000 of their customers per day. This is extremely disruptive to passengers and the aviation industry.

The ongoing staffing shortage of air traffic controllers due to the government shutdown has made a reduction in flights a harsh but necessary consequence of this useless shutdown. We must keep our skies safe. It’s long-past time to fund the government, pay our air traffic controllers and TSA agents and keep our airspace safe and fully functioning.

Over the weekend, I spoke on the Senate floor to once again highlight the negative impacts this government shutdown has had on the U.S. aviation system. Unfortunately, the position the aviation industry finds itself in today cannot be easily solved, but we cannot even begin to solve it unless we reopen the government. Every day we remain shut down the fragility of this system intensifies. Congress must act swiftly to reopen the government and pass all twelve appropriations bills to deliver on our constitutional duty for our constituents.

You can watch my full speech on the Senate floor here.


Interview with Bloomberg TV
On Thursday, I joined Bloomberg’s Balance of Power to discuss the latest on negotiations on Capitol Hill and the consequences of the shutdown on our airspace. Safety must come first. I also spoke about the consequences this unnecessary government shutdown is having on the air traffic controller workforce. You can watch the full interview here.


Interview with KMBC 9 News
I also joined KMBC 9 News’ Andy Alcock to discuss Secretary Duffy’s decision and its impacts on traveling Kansans and Americans. You can watch the interview here.


Urging CMS to Approve Kansas’ Rural Health Transformation Program Application
This week, I led U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Ron Estes (KS-04) in expressing our strong support for Kansas’ application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program. I worked with my colleagues to establish this critical $50 billion fund to help states identify the challenges facing rural providers and invest in long-term solutions to strengthen access to care. Kansas providers are estimated to receive approximately $1 billion over the next five years through this program.

Kansas’ plan was developed through extensive engagement with local hospitals, clinics and community leaders. It aligns with the program’s goals to improve health outcomes, sustain access to care, strengthen the health care workforce and support the transition to value-based care. These resources will help rural providers make the strategic investments necessary to continue serving their communities.

Making certain Kansans in every part of our state have access to quality health care remains a top priority, and I will continue working to support our rural hospitals and health care providers as CMS reviews this application.

You can learn more and read our full letter here.

Importance of the Senate Filibuster
When Sen. Schumer proposed eliminating the filibuster, I opposed that idea, and my views on the importance of the filibuster have not changed. The filibuster forces senators to find common ground and provides them the ability to stop bad policies to better serve our constituents. The balance of power might change, but the principles our Founding Fathers held dear should not.

Meetings with Kansans
Kansas Farm Credit
This week, I met with Kansas Farm Credit members during their annual visit to Washington, D.C. We discussed the financial difficulties rural America is facing, as well as the need to modernize credit opportunities and expand access for young and beginning farmers and ranchers. We also talked about the government shutdown and the impact it is having on rural communities, many of which already face financial stress due to the agriculture economy. I look forward to continuing working with Kansas Farm Credit and our lenders across Kansas to provide certainty and stability to the agriculture industry.


Kansas EMS STARS of Life Awardees
This week, I met with three Kansas Emergency Medical Service (EMS) professionals – Carlos Bautista with EagleMed in Dodge City, Nathanael Day with EagleMed in Wichita and Aaron Goodloe with American Medical Response in Kansas City – who were in town to be recognized as American Ambulance Association’s ‘Stars of Life’ for their exceptional service and heroism within their communities. EMS providers are often the first line of care in emergencies, especially in our rural communities where resources are limited. I appreciated the opportunity to thank them for their lifesaving work and to hear their stories. I remain committed to supporting the EMS workforce and strengthening emergency services across Kansas.

As Kansas works to strengthen rural health care, improving EMS access and sustainability has been identified as a priority in the state’s recent application to the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program. The application includes proposals to strengthen transport services and expand reimbursement options for EMS providers. These efforts reflect the essential role EMS plays in connecting Kansans to timely care.


Kansas Housing Association
On Tuesday, I met with members of the Kansas Housing Association (KHA) to discuss critical housing issues facing Kansans. KHA works to address and improve the access to affordable housing, and I appreciated learning more about their work across Kansas. During our meeting, we discussed how Congress can bolster affordable housing resources to address the high demand for housing. One key legislative effort we discussed was the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that includes numerous provisions aimed at expanding federal housing initiatives. This comprehensive package includes the Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025, legislation that I introduced that directs the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce red tape for home builders and align their environmental review and inspection processes. Expanding affordable housing is a top priority of mine, and I will continue to work to address this issue on the federal level to deliver results for Kansans.


Visits Across Kansas
Lakin High School
This week, I stopped by Lakin High School for a tour of the campus. I appreciated visiting with students and teachers during my tour to learn more about how Lakin is preparing students for the future. Thank you to Principal Matt Heydman and all the students and faculty of Lakin High School for the conversations.


CommonSpirit Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
I also traveled to Ulysses to visit CommonSpirit Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. I appreciated meeting with President and CEO Jason Justus to discuss the critical care Bob Wilson Memorial provides the community and the challenges facing rural healthcare providers in Kansas. We also discussed the Rural Health Transformation fund I worked to establish in the Reconciliation bill to provide increased funding for rural hospitals in need. Thank you to Mr. Justus and to the hospital staff for continuing to provide quality healthcare to their community.


Morton County Hospital
This week, I made a stop in Elkhart for a tour of Morton County Hospital (MCH). During my community meeting, I met with CEO Richard Adams to discuss the programs MCH provides to deliver quality, affordable care to Morton County. We also discussed Kansas’ recent application to CMS regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program and the federal resources I helped secure in FY2024 appropriations to add a Pain Management unit to focus on non-opioid pain treatment and add telemedicine capabilities. Thank you to Mr. Adams and the entire Morton County Hospital staff for your service to Kansans and for welcoming me.


Honoring Steve Morris at Funeral in Hugoton
On Friday, Robba and I attended the funeral service for my longtime friend and fellow state senator, Steve Morris, at Hugoton Methodist Church. He was well-loved and deeply respected in southwest Kansas and across our state. Robba and I are deeply saddened for our dear friend, his wife Barb, his family and the entire community. He is deeply missed.

Kansans in the Office  

American Bakers Association

James Boddicker of Overland Park

Chris Isom of Leawood

Joe Marx of Overland Park

Benedictine College

Jackie Harris of Atchinson

EMS Stars of Life Awardees

Carlos Bautista of Dodge City

Nathanael Day of Wichita

Kansas Aviation Museum

Ben Sauceda of Wichita

Kansas Housing Association

Doug Smith of Topeka

Matt Gillam of Leawood

Kelsey Herr of Olathe

Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Haely Ordoyne of Clyde

Raleigh Ordoyne of Clyde

Muscular Dystrophy Association

Jonathan Blackwell of Wichita

Tamara Blackwell of Wichita

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Jennifer Ferguson of Olathe

National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias

Hank Marshall of Overland Park

Selena Marshall of Overland Park

Pittsburg State University

Amy Hite of Pittsburg

University of Kansas School of Nursing

Laura Klenke-Borgmann of Kansas City

Jill Peltzer of Kansas City

Washburn University

Debbie Isaacson of Topeka

Crystal Stevens of Topeka