Hosting NCI Director at KU Cancer Center & The University of Kansas Health System
On Friday, I hosted Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and The University of Kansas Health System. We started the day with a tour of the KU Cancer Center and met with doctors and nurses who discussed their important work and how KU is increasing its rural health care outreach. Dr. Rathmell and I also sat down with the leaders of the KU Cancer Center to hear the latest updates on construction plans for the new building. The new cancer center building will allow research at the medical school to be more coordinated with patient care at the health system. With both entities sharing the building, transferring research and treatments into patient care will be more streamlined and effective.



Later that afternoon, we had lunch with several researchers and investigators at KU, who shared their work with Dr. Rathmell and talked about their passion for science and research. At lunch, we were joined by Kansans who have consistently advocated for increased cancer research funding because of their own personal experiences. Thank you to Megan Word and Stephanie Barr with the Kansas Cancer Action Center, Peggy Johnson with Susan G. Komen Foundation and Stacey Sands with ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation for joining our conversation.



Dr. Rathmell and I toured the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapies unit to see the high quality patient care offered through the health system. Kansans are in a unique position to have access to treatments and care in their home state and people in the surrounding region often travel to KU to seek out these treatments and care as well.



Announcing Resources for the KU Cancer Center & The University of Kansas Health System
To finish the day, I announced new federal resources for the KU Cancer Center and The University of Kansas Health System. I secured $10 million for the KU Cancer Center to construct a new building, which is scheduled to open and running in the next several years. These resources are in addition to the $43 million I secured in FY2023.

Additionally, I announced $10 million for The University of Kansas Health System to purchase new equipment to expand their cardiovascular services. The new equipment will allow the Health System to operate two additional cardiac labs with advanced equipment. I was pleased to be joined at the announcement by Dr. Rathmell, KU Chancellor Doug Girod, Director of the KU Cancer Center Dr. Roy Jensen, TUKHS President and CEO Bob Page, and President of the Kansas City Division at TUKHS Tammy Peterman. I extend my thanks to each of them for their public service to Kansans and Americans, especially patients and their families.

You can read more about the event here.



Standing with Israel
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress. I appreciate the Prime Minister traveling to the United States and speaking on behalf of his country despite great opposition from around the world and even in the United States.

The United States must continue to provide Israel with crucial military and diplomatic support to make certain the dangers Israel faces can be deterred and, if possible, defeated. Our continued assistance to Israel is in our own national interest because the threats our friends face are also threats faced by the United States. This conflict may seem distant from our shores, but make no mistake that those who seek Israel’s destruction aspire to harm American citizens wherever they may be, including here at home. Israel’s existence is non-negotiable, and our shared adversaries must not doubt the resolution of American support.

You can watch my remarks here.