FAA Reauthorization Update
It is Time to Vote on FAA Reauthorization
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Friday, June 30 marked the single busiest day in history at U.S. airports, with TSA screening nearly 3 million passengers alone. While airports, airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) all predicted the demand, passengers were still left stranded and sleeping on airport floors instead of celebrating Independence Day with family due to the delays, cancellations and chaos that ensued.

A Department of Transportation Inspector General (DOT IG) report released the week prior highlighted air traffic controller staffing challenges the FAA currently faces, stating the levels present a “risk to the continuity of air traffic operations” – only meeting 54% of its staffing target in the New York area. The risks detailed in this report were validated this last weekend.

As the lead Republican of the Commerce Aviation Subcommittee, I helped craft the FAA Reauthorization legislation. It is critical that we provide certainty and a long-term reauthorization to the FAA to meet the current demands. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stalled a markup of the Senate’s bipartisan FAA Reauthorization product last month, and I urge Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to have the committee vote on this critical legislation as soon as possible.

FAA Safety Starts at the Top
The FAA is responsible for the safety of travelers and is vital to our nation’s economy, which is why it is also deeply concerning that the FAA has not had a permanent, Senate-approved leader – the FAA Administrator – for more than 450 days. Leaving this post vacant is having a ripple effect not just in aviation but on multiple sectors and industries. Even with new resources and modernized authorities, these are just words on paper if we don’t have an FAA administrator. The FAA is too critical to be guided by interim leaders.

While Congress can help ensure resources, craft authorizing language and provide the FAA with most of the tools it needs to succeed, the agency must have a leader with a steady hand at the helm.

The White House must act to nominate an individual with extensive experience in transportation and aviation, an understanding of the role the FAA plays in consumer safety and knowledge of the business models by which aviation works in the U.S. and around the world.

I urge the president to put forward an experienced nominee so the FAA can reduce disruptions for air travelers, ensure the safety of our skies and guide us into the next era of aviation.

You can read my full op-ed in Aviation Week here.

Bill to Streamline VA Minor Construction Projects
The Department of Veterans Affairs Minor Construction Threshold Adjustment Act of 2023 seeks to streamline the nationwide delivery of minor construction projects within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Recognizing the recent increase in construction costs, due to factors like inflation, supply chain challenges and material prices, the proposed legislation aims to optimize the VA's rules and regulations. By doing so, it intends to expedite the implementation of projects at local VA facilities across the country while also achieving cost savings for taxpayers.

Additionally, the bill mandates the establishment of a new process, subject to biennial review, which will determine the feasibility of carrying out projects locally, with appropriate oversight from Congress. This pragmatic approach will accelerate the completion of construction projects and the modernization of facilities, ultimately enhancing veterans' access to high-quality health care. Notably, this bill represents the first significant improvement to the program since the enactment of the VA MISSION Act of 2018.



Marking Anniversary of Hong Kong Handover, National Security Law
This past week marked the anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer from British control to China’s in 1997. China agreed to permit Hong Kong to operate its own economic and government systems for a period of 50 years, but beginning in 2019, China began to dramatically curtail Hong Kong’s freedoms, culminating in the passage of the National Security Law in 2020.

I joined the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and 26 other colleagues in a bipartisan statement condemning the National Security Law, which has been used to unjustly charge democracy supporters with sedition and to charge and intimidate individuals beyond China’s borders, including in the United States. I will continue to speak out in defense of freedom and the rule of law around the world.

Leading Legislation to Encourage Responsible Lending
I joined my colleagues in introducing the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act. This bill would unwind the recent harmful changes made by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to the Loan Level Pricing Adjustments (LLPA), one-time, upfront fees charged to lenders when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase their loans. The change to the LLPA effectively raised rates for those with credit scores above 680 to subsidize lower rates for those with lower credit scores. Since nearly two-thirds of Americans meet this credit score threshold, this change will result in a loss of $1.8 billion from borrowers and raise mortgage rates for millions.

I also signed a bipartisan letter to the FHFA in April pushing back on this misguided policy. We need to encourage responsible lending, not punish those who pay back their loans with higher fees.



Increasing Access to Advisor Information Act
I introduced legislation aimed at supporting investment research into small-capital public companies. The bill would extend a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) no-action letter that currently excludes brokers and dealers compensated for research services from being defined as investment advisers. Since many broker-dealers that provide research coverage do not have an affiliated registered investment advisory business, nor do they otherwise act as investment advisors, the no-action letter’s expiration will subject them to a costly, largely inapplicable regulatory framework, and drastically reduce investment research on small-cap firms.

Additionally, I sent a bipartisan letter to the SEC highlighting the decrease in available small business research when the no-action letter expires. At a time when small issuers face increased hurdles to public offerings, this legislation and bipartisan letter aim to make it easier to invest in small public companies.



Kansans in the Office

Capitol Tour

Jason Manhart of Silver Lake

Jamie Manhart of Silver Lake

Jersey Manhart of Silver Lake

Journey Manhart of Silver Lake

Jax Manhart of Silver Lake

Dr. Joey Linn of Hays

Lori Linn of Hays

Mallory Lin of Hays

Michael Hartwig of Shawnee

Melanie Hartwig of Shawnee

Sawyer Hartwig of Shawnee

Ashlyn Hartwig of Shawnee

Brynlee Hartwig of Shawnee

Carrie Hartigan of Olathe

Joseph Hartigan of Olathe

Jennifer Knobel of Olathe

Greg Knobel of Olathe

Wendy Walker of Hill City

Michael Cann of Kansas City

Brandy Cann of Kansas City

Michael Cann Jr. of Kansas City

Rose Blahut Cantu of Lenexa

Jackson Cantu of Lenexa

Davis Cantu of Lenexa

Olivia Cantu of Lenexa

James Burton of Leavenworth

Allison Burton of Leavenworth

Morgan Burton of Leavenworth

Lola Burton of Leavenworth

Christian Bechard of Prairie Village

Lauren Bechard of Prairie Village

Thomas Hilleary of Lenexa

Sherry Hilleary of Lenexa

Lorraine Hilleary of Overland Park

Ero Alber of Overland Park

Louise Alber of Overland Park

Suzanne Hilleary of Overland Park

Josephine Hilleary of Overland Park

Cecilia Hilleary of Overland Park

Keenen Smith-Southern of Wichita

Mark Weigum of Olathe

Denyse Weigum of Olathe

Connor Weigum of Olathe

Olivia Weigum of Olathe

Grant Miller of Topeka

Tom Kruse of Wichita

Barbara Kruse of Wichita

Ian Blankinship of Wichita

Alma Hidalgo of Wichita

Jimmy Jones of Kinsley

Marianna Jones of Kinsley

Natalie Mica Jones of Kinsley

Cady Dooley of Hill City

David Shewmaker of Leawood

Kelly Shewmaker of Leawood

Caroline Shewmaker of Leawood

Elizabeth Shewmaker of Leawood

Adam West of Olathe

Ashley West of Olathe

Addison West of Olathe

Audra West of Olathe

Avianna West of Olathe

Jordan VanMeter of Olathe

Ian Schuetz of Hiawatha

Christie Schuetz of Hiawatha

Rafe Schuetz of Hiawatha

Briar Schuetz of Hiawatha

Tom Schuetz of Hiawatha

Debbie Schuetz of Hiawatha

Dwight Kinzer of Sedgwick

Elyse Kinzer of Sedgwick

Dr. Kent Brand of Goddard

Nicole Brand of Goddard

Paige Brand of Goddard

Evan Brand of Goddard

Avery Brand of Goddard

Bruce Haber of Shawnee

Natalie Haber of Shawnee

Reghan Haber of Shawnee

Kennedy Haber of Shawnee

Caleb Haber of Shawnee

William Haber of Shawnee

Bob Durst of Topeka

Timothy Bateman of Lawrence

Kyly Bateman of Lawrence

Anderson Bateman of Lawrence

Spencer Bateman of Lawrence

Daphne Bateman of Lawrence

Cheryl Deters of Seneca

Donna Sasser of Seneca

Mary Sack of Seneca

Joan Davis of Seneca

Pat Ronnebaum of Seneca

Jill Holt of St. George