Opening New VA Clinic in Paola

On Thursday, I spoke at the grand opening of the new Paola VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which will be offering improved access, expanded services and an updated facility for veterans across eastern Kansas. The new clinic is more than double the size of the former location, meaning more veterans in Paola will be able to receive primary and mental health care, physical therapy, labs and other specialty services.

Facilities like Paola’s are critical for providing veterans, their family members and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned. At the event, I addressed the potential reductions to the VA workforce. While the VA is in need of reform, current efforts to downsize the department must be done in a responsible manner. I expect to work with the VA to right-size the current workforce and legislate necessary changes.

Thank you to all of the employees and health care workers here in Paola along with the staff in the Eastern Kansas VA Health Care System for their dedication to providing the best care and outcomes for all veterans who come through their doors. I look forward to seeing how this facility will provide better care for Kansas veterans.

Announcing Economic Assistance for Kansas Farmers
This week, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the implementation of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). With high input costs and low commodity prices, Kansas farm families have been hit hard. This program will provide $10 billion in economic assistance to agricultural producers that was passed by Congress at the end of last. During Secretary Rollins’s confirmation hearing, I urged her to prioritize distributing these funds in a timely manner, and I appreciate her commitment to following through with the development of ECAP.

Program enrollment opened March 19 and will remain open until August 15, 2025. USDA will be sending pre-filled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for 2024, but producers may also visit their local FSA office or visit the USDA website to apply. I will continue to work with USDA as they develop additional disaster programs using the funds appropriated by Congress.

You can get more information about the application process here.

Speaking at Ag Business Council of KC
Later on Thursday, I had the opportunity to speak with agricultural business leaders and stakeholders from Kansas and Missouri at the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s March luncheon. I spoke on progress in reauthorizing the Farm Bill, the economic relief program the U.S. Department of Agriculture just rolled out and the outlook on trade.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, I will work to be a voice for producers and businesses that call Kansas home. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with the council members, and I look forward to working with them on policies that help rural America thrive.

 Groundbreaking for Fort Leavenworth Child Development Center
On Thursday, I participated in the groundbreaking for the Child Development Center at Fort Leavenworth. I supported this project by securing federal resources for an expansion to Fort Leavenworth that will help support more than 300 children and reduce wait times for families. I want to thank Lieutenant General Milford Beagle, Command Sergeant Major Vanessa Sun and the Fort Leavenworth community for having me. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this facility on the many military families who call Fort Leavenworth their home.

Splashdown: Kansas Astronaut Returns from Space
On Tuesday, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned safely to Earth as part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 Mission. Wilmore and Williams spent nine months in orbit when they traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June of last year, joining other astronauts in carrying out NASA’s research mission. In September of last year, Crew-9 commanded by Nick Hague of Hoxie, launched and docked with the ISS, with two open crew positions to return Butch and Suni to Earth.

As the lead appropriator for NASA and as Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, I have always prioritized NASA’s critical missions and the robust supply chain in Kansas that supports the delivery of NASA’s objectives. As Congress works with a new administration to guide NASA’s priorities, I will work to make certain that America preserves its competitive advantage in space exploration.

Introducing Bill to Provide Reliable Energy to Kansans
This week, I joined Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in introducing legislation to help provide stable energy rates and a reliable electric grid to states in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) including Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act would give SWPA the authority to operate on a self-funding, revolving Treasury fund to help provide the administration with a long-term, reliable financing source. It is critical that Kansans have access to reliable electricity at stable rates, especially during extreme and dangerous weather. This legislation will provide funding stability that will allow energy providers to make needed infrastructure improvements and prevent Kansans from suffering mass power outages in the future.

Advocating for Improvements to the Olathe Post Office
I joined my colleagues Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) in urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to continue supporting the relocation of the Olathe Post Office. This relocation effort is essential to the continued improvements to downtown Olathe as the city plans to develop the currently occupied USPS site. I want to thank USPS for their efforts to date in working with the city, and I look forward to the postal service’s continued dedication to see this project completed in a timely manner.

Read the full letter here.

Applauding Michelle Bowman’s Nomination
President Donald Trump announced he is nominating current Federal Reserve Board Governor Michelle Bowman to be the Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision. A native of Council Grove, Governor Bowman has been a steadfast champion of community banks, and she understands the role that relationships play in business from her experience working at and supervising a small lender. Her perspective is desperately needed at the Federal Reserve, and I look forward to her confirmation.

Visits Across Kansas
Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
On Monday, I visited Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. Through my role as an appropriator, I was able to help secure funding for the construction of a new inpatient care wing and expansion of the emergency department and radiology suite. Last year, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital was nationally ranked a Top-20 critical access hospital for overall performance by the National Rural Health Association in 2024. Thank you to Chief Executive Officer Kiley Floyd and all the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital team for the great work you do to maintain and expand access to quality health care in Nemaha County.

Barton County Community College
On Tuesday, I stopped by Barton County Community College to meet with President Marcus Garstecki and receive updates on their programs and priorities. Barton County provides access to quality education throughout the region and abroad through Barton Online. Thank you to President Garstecki, Trustee Mike Johnson, Barton Community College Foundation Director Lindsey Bogner, Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons and Vice President of Administration Mark Dean for showing me around.

Seneca
I stopped in Seneca on Monday morning to visit the Nemaha County Courthouse and attend the Nemaha County Commissioners meeting. I also visited Allie’s Cafe, Heinen Brothers Ag and Kansas Rural Water. Thank you to all the Kansans in Nemaha County who visited with me.

Ellis County
On Tuesday, I met with Kansans at the Ellis County Courthouse and attended the Ellis County Commissioners meeting. I visited a few of the businesses in town including Salon 1007, Furniture Look and Advantage Glass Plus, which celebrated their grand re-opening on Friday.

Just down the road, I attended the Great Bend Noon Lions Club where the local American Legion Post taught valuable lessons on the proper etiquette regarding the American flag. I appreciate the conversations I had in Great Bend and the American Legion’s presentation.

Kansans in the Office  

Capitol Tours
Aaron Atzbach of Dodge City

Addison Poore of Alton

Alexa Turner of Ottawa

Amber Turner of Ottawa

Amy Cate of Olathe

Amy Dill of DeSoto

Ana Gabriella Espinoza of Wichita

Andrea Willson of Olathe

Andrew Harder of Hutchinson

Angelo Barone of Overland Park

Annalise Harder of Hutchinson

Annie Dahlstrand of Lawrence

April Bloxsom of Olathe

Arlington Young of Gardner

Banx Harris of Girard

Bob Dill of DeSoto

Bret Young of Gardner

Brian Lindteigen of Tecumseh

Brooke Peters of Olathe

Brooke Stevens of Overland Park

Carla Lien of Leawood

Carter Cate of Olathe

Cate Duerst of Mission Hills

Charlie Combs of Wichita

Christopher Bloxsom of Olathe

Christopher Rothwell of Overland Park

Cindy Osterhaus of Wetmore

Clara Duerst of Mission Hills

Clara Gleason of Great Bend

Clare Dahlstrand of Lawrence

Clement Samblat of Olathe

Colter Whitten of Topeka

Cooper Cate of Olathe

Craig Fletchall of Great Bend

Craig Poore of Alton

Daniel Alejandre of Wichita

Daniel Vestal of Leawood

David Harder of Hutchinson

David Klohr of Gardner

David Langford of Leawood

David Langford of Overland Park

Dax Harris of Girard

Dean Osterhaus of Wetmore

Deborah Webster of Great Bend

Doug Base of Topeka

Dustin Srisutiva of Lawrence

Eleanor Willson of Olathe

Emily Bauman of Wichita

Erica Harris of Girard

Erik Alejandre of Wichita

Ethan Biggs of Wichita

Faveisinia Faleta of Lawrence

Gina Dahlstrand of Lawrence

Grant Ellis of Overland Park

Grant Langford of Overland Park

Haley Gleason of Great Bend

Heather Poore of Alton

Jack Dahlstrand of Lawrence

Jackson Allen of Wichita

Jackson Vestal of Leawood

Jacob Buhrmester of Overland Park

Jacob Lien of Leawood

James Budzinski of Olathe

Jason Allen of Wichita

Jessica Jungk of Overland Park

John Dahlstrand of Lawrence

John Jungk of Overland Park

Jonathan Langford of Overland Park

Joshua Lien of Leawood

Joshua Turner of Ottawa

Joshua Vestal of Leawood

Jude Bloxsom of Olathe

Katie Lien of Leawood

Katlyn Nguyen of Wichita

Kendra Stevens of Overland Park

Knox Harris of Girard

Kristina Mattingly of Wichita

Kristopher Hassler of Pomona

Landon Dill of DeSoto

Laramie Starling of Wichita

Laura Buhrmester of Overland Park

Laura Quintana of Wichita

Lauren Vestal of Leawood

Layla Smith of Spring Hill

Lee Marks of Basehor

Liam Atzbach of Dodge City

Lori Rothwell of Overland Park

Luca Nicolas of Overland Park

Lucas Hassler of Pomona

Lucy Dahlstrand of Lawrence

Maddox Harris of Girard

Marc Nicolas of Overland Park

Mark Evilsizor of Olathe

Mary Allen of Wichita

Megan Case of Overland Park

Megan Nicolas of Overland Park

Megan Stevens of Overland Park

Melyne Fletchall of Great Bend

Michael Budzinski of Olathe

Michelle Budzinski of Olathe

Miguel Alex Rivarola of Lenexa

Monica Martinez of Topeka

Monrudee Srisutiva of Lawrence

Mulubrhan Lemma of Olathe

Nathan Buhrmester of Overland Park

Nathan Lien of Leawood

Nathaniel Evilsizor of Olathe

Nathaniel Hassler of Pomona

Nora Jungk of Overland Park

Nur Syahidah of Wichita

Owen Budzinski of Olathe

Owen Jungk of Overland Park

Paige Budzinski of Olathe