Paying Tribute to the Plainville Times 
On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor to recognize my hometown newspaper, the Plainville Times, following its final publication before merging with the neighboring paper, the Stockton Sentinel. Growing up in western Kansas, I saw firsthand how my local paper supported our small town and brought neighbors, friends and even strangers together. Local journalism is important to the future of rural America, and I’m grateful to the dedicated editors, reporters and staff whose contributions have made my hometown paper what it is: informative, engaging and beloved by the community.

I’m grateful for the dedication, hard work and service of the Times' editor, Candace Rachel, whom I have had the opportunity to know well for many years. Candace is one of those editors who does it all, showing up with her pen and pad and a camera slung over her shoulder. She especially loves supporting Plainville’s local sports teams and their families. Thank you to the Times' publisher, Frank Mercer, and its dedicated staff, Bret Greenwood and Tonia Goertz, who have helped to make the Plainville Times what it is.

The good news is that the new unified paper, the Sentinel-Times, will continue to cover Plainville, Stockton and Rooks County. I appreciate its owners, Bart Hamilton and Susan Hamilton Schneider, for their investment in local journalism and their support for our community.

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

Touring DEA Laboratory
Before returning to Washington D.C., I traveled to Florida to meet with leadership and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program to see firsthand the critical role federal drug enforcement laboratories play in combatting illicit drugs. I appreciated touring the DEA laboratory with Incoming Special Agent in Charge, Miles Aley, and Acting Special Agent in Charge, Kevin Bobbitt, and their team, whose work focuses on identifying, testing and tracing narcotics to disrupt trafficking networks and stop fentanyl and other dangerous substances before they reach communities like those in Kansas.

During my visit, I also met with federal, state and local law enforcement personnel assigned to the HIDTA task force and received a briefing on their coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking throughout south Florida and the region. The briefing highlighted how intelligence-driven operations, maritime and air interdictions and forensic analysis done in labs like that in Miami work together to target transnational criminal organizations moving narcotics through the Caribbean and into the U.S.

Strong coordination among federal, state and local partners, and making certain those partners have the tools and resources they need, is essential to protecting public safety and holding traffickers accountable. My time in Miami reinforced the importance of sustained investment in federal law enforcement, particularly those that support drug identification, evidence processing and joint task force operations. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds federal law enforcement, I will continue working to prioritize resources for interagency task forces and facilities like the DEA Miami Lab so law enforcement personnel can continue their critical, cutting-edge work.


Recognizing the Importance of NATO Alliance & Greenland
This week, I raised concerns about reports suggesting the U.S. could consider using force against Greenland. Military action against Denmark or Greenland should be off the table, especially during a time when the President has been so successful in strengthening NATO partnerships. The U.S. and Greenland have been strategic partners for more than 70 years, and that partnership has strengthened our collective security. We should continue to build on that cooperation and work with our allies, not against them, to ensure stability and security for future generations.

Seeking Answers on Minnesota Child Care Fraud Allegations
This week, I joined my colleagues in seeking answers regarding serious allegations of fraud and misuse of federal funds within Minnesota’s child care assistance programs. Recent reports and ongoing federal investigations have raised significant concerns about whether adequate oversight and safeguards were in place to make certain taxpayer dollars were properly administered and directed to vulnerable children and working families who rely on these programs.

Congress has a constitutional responsibility to oversee how federal funds are spent. Our letter requests detailed information on Minnesota’s auditing, verification and enforcement efforts, as well as steps the state is taking to address past audit findings and prevent future abuse. Protecting taxpayer dollars and maintaining the integrity of safety net programs is essential to preserving public trust and making certain assistance reaches those who need it most.

Visiting with Veterans at Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center
On Friday, I visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leavenworth VA Medical Center with VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System Director Rudy Klopfer for a tour of the facility and conversations with veterans, patients and employees. During the visit, we toured the Women’s Clinic, a dedicated space for women veterans to schedule appointments and receive care. Women are the fastest growing group of veterans, and this space also serves as a meeting place for them to gather and support each other.

I also spoke with Dr. Alexander Hollock about the VA’s partnership with Friends University which allows local students to complete their Marriage and Family Counseling residency at the hospital. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with veteran volunteers and patients at the hospital and to hear about how I can best support them in my role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

There is no group I hold in higher regard than our nation’s veterans, and I am committed to making certain they have access to quality, timely care. I appreciate Director Klopfer joining me, and thank you to Dr. Hollock, Dr. Lisa Lorenzetti, Dr. Milica King, Julie Capes, Angel Williams and Lori Brown of the Women’s Clinic’s staff, and John Hays Donovan, a veteran volunteer, for speaking with me about their work to support veterans.


Touring Saint John Hospital
Following my visit to the Eisenhower VA Medical Center on Friday, I stopped by Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth for a tour of the facility. I appreciated meeting with Administrator Billie Leonard to discuss the $222 million awarded to Kansas rural hospitals through the Rural Health Transformation Program and to learn more about the programs Saint John offers to provide quality healthcare to the Leavenworth area. Thank you to Administrator Leonard, Regional CEO of Saint John and Providence Medical Center Rick Naegler, Providence Medical Center CEO Karen Orr, Director of Physician Services Mark Davis and Chief Financial Officer Dave Dulny for hosting me and for their dedication to serving their community. I am also grateful to Leavenworth Mayor Nancy Bauder, Leavenworth City Manager Scott Peterson, Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson and Kansas State Senator Jeff Klemp for joining me on my tour.


Joining KNSS Radio to Discuss News of the Day
On Monday, I joined the first episode of Ted Woodward and John Whitmer’s new show, “Woodard and Whit,” on KNSS Radio. We discussed the upcoming deadline for Congress to pass appropriations bills to fund the government, Kansas receiving support for rural hospitals through the Rural Heath Transformation Program and the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

You can listen to my full interview on KNSS here.

Recognizing National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
On Friday, the U.S. celebrated National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to recognize the brave men and women who keep us safe every day. We also paused to remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Thank you to the law enforcement officers across Kansas who serve and protect our communities.


Applauding Expansion of Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Winfield
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Winfield received over $1.3 million in funds for needed cemetery expansion that will provide 1,100 new spaces for veterans and their loved ones. I am grateful to VA for funding this expansion and making certain that veterans and their families in Kansas are being honorably laid to rest for years to come.

You can read more about the expansion from KSNW here.

Kansans in the Office

Capitol Tour

Bala Ramani Shakker of Overland Park

Venugopal Rao Tondupally of Overland Park

Mihika Lakshmi Tondupally of Overland Park

Anika Hamsini Tondupally of Overland Park

Barry Road

Ryan Canfield of Prairie Village

Mathematical Sciences on the Hill

Jacob Bucciarelli of Manhattan