Kansas Common Sense
Happy Labor Day
Sep 03 2024
Happy Labor Day
To recognize Labor Day, I attended the 128th Annual Hoisington Labor Day Parade.
During the parade, I met Officer Tittel with the Barton County Sheriff’s Department. Thank you to all of our Kansas law enforcement who work tirelessly to protect and serve our local communities.
It was also great to catch up with Sophia Linenberger and her family during the parade. Sophia is a two-time cancer survivor.
Special thanks to Dick Friedman for driving me in a 1922 Stanley Steamer during the parade.
Breaking Ground on New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant for Southwest Airlines
On Wednesday morning, I was in Liberal to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new facility that will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from corn stover in a partnership between Conestoga Energy Partners and Southwest Airline’s SAFFiRE. By using the stalks and leaves leftover after the corn harvest, this project will take advantage of a currently underutilized resource to fuel our airplanes. Liberal will play a key role in developing sustainable aviation fuel that is a cleaner fuel for planes, creates a new market for farmers and brings the United States closer to being energy independent
As the chairman of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus, I am thankful that SAFFiRE has chosen Kansas for this project, further securing our position as the leading aviation state. Earlier this year, I introduced the Farm to Fly Act, which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing USDA programs.
Thank you to Tom Willis, CEO of Conestoga Energy, Tom Nealon, CEO of SAFFiRE, FAA Deputy Regional Director Debra Sanning, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor and Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office Director Dr. Valerie Srisky-Reed for joining me for this exciting announcement. I also appreciate Senator Roger Marshall and Congressman Tracey Mann for joining me for the groundbreaking ceremony.
You can read more about the event here in KWCH.
Announcing Resources for K-State
I was at Kansas State University to announce federal funding for the construction of a new Biomanufacturing Core and Training Facility and additional resources for the Pharma Pilot Plant. These funds will update equipment and build a facility that aims to better prepare students for the future of biomanufacturing. It also aims to bolster K-State’s efforts to build Manhattan into a premier location for biotechnology and biodefense companies looking to expand. Additionally, I secured resources to purchase new equipment and machinery for the Pharma Pilot Plant. This much-needed equipment will allow early-stage drug discovery companies to scale up their manufacturing capabilities, allowing for greater production of potentially life-saving medications.
I was grateful to be joined by Kansas State University President Richard Linton, K-State Student Body President Paige Vulgamore and Biological and Agricultural Engineering Professor Dr. Abby E. Thank you for your continued service to Kansas and for your hospitality.
You can read more about the event here.
Kansas Astronaut, Nick Hague, to Lead SpaceX Crew-9 Mission to Retrieve Astronauts at ISS
On Friday, NASA announced changes to the SpaceX Crew-9 mission – the ninth operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight – following its decision to return Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft uncrewed. NASA astronaut, and Hoxie-native, Nick Hague was announced as mission commander on the Crew-9 flight to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for Tuesday, September 24. Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunuv will join NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the two veteran astronauts aboard the Boeing Starliner who were only supposed to be in space for one week.
The updates to Crew-9 come after NASA’s decision to return the Starliner spacecraft uncrewed and launch Crew-9 with two unoccupied seats. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will fly home with Hague and Gorbunov in February 2025. Until they return home, the astronauts will join Expedition 72 crew and conduct scientific research and maintenance on the ISS.
Not for Sale: Protecting Kansans from Federal Overreach
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been traveling across Kansas and have heard from many who live and work along the path of the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. There is concern and opposition. Their message to the federal government is clear: their land is not for sale and is not to be taken. If you or someone you know would like to offer comments on the proposed transmission line to the Department of Energy, please email: NIETC@hq.doe.gov.
I will be introducing legislation that will help protect Kansans’ private property from being seized by the federal government to build this transmission corridor. In addition, I will also continue my engagements with the Department of Energy to ensure they continue to accept comments and take them into consideration through the next phase of this proposal.
Click here for Sen. Moran’s Special Edition of Kansas Common Sense on the NIETC.
Visits Across Kansas
National Beef
While in Liberal, I joined National Beef Founder and CEO Tim Klein for a tour of their new fabrication floor. Once completed, this will be the largest of its kind in the world and will greatly improve the safety of their employees by using innovative machinery to keep employees better protected from saw blades. I appreciated the hospitality of General Manager Sergio Banuelos and learning more about this project as well as the history and vision of National Beef.
Thank you to State Senator Ron Ryckman, State Representative Shannon Francis, Seward County Commission Chairman Scott Carr, City of Liberal Mayor Jose Lara and Seward County Economic Development Director Eli Svatty for joining me.
Manhattan Rotary Club
I was pleased to speak at the Manhattan Rotary Club this week. We discussed critical priorities for when I return to Washington, D.C. including passing a farm bill and the twelve individual appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. We also discussed continuing to work on rural broadband, protecting local pharmacies and rural hospitals, supporting veterans, keeping the cost of business down and the dangerous threats our adversaries wage against the United States.
Thank you for Rotary President Randy Peterson for the invitation to connect with fellow Rotarians in Manhattan.
Satanta District Hospital
While in southwest Kansas, I toured the Satanta District Hospital. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the services they provide in Haskell County as well as the challenges they, and so many other rural hospitals, face in Kansas, such as recruitment and retention of providers, reimbursement rates and providing long-term care for their patients. I will continue working to make certain that hospitals across Kansas are able to provide high-quality care in the communities they serve.
Thank you to CEO Tina Pendergraft, Dr. Dan Derbes, Board Members Dan Palmgren, Lee Miller, Paige Clawson, Marciel Cloud and all who shared their experiences with me.
Greenwood Hospital
I also drove to Greenwood County Hospital for a tour. CEO Sandy Dickerson led me on a tour where I met hospital staff and discussed challenges rural hospitals face, including staffing shortages and reimbursements.
Kansas Veterans Home
I had the opportunity to visit the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield and tour the facilities. The veterans home provides a variety of services to our nation’s veterans and their families. The on-site staff are specialists prepared to assist with nursing, dietary services and physical therapy, among many other services. The veterans home is an active and positive light in the growing area around Wichita, and I thank Beth and Sue for hosting me.
Sedan High School
Following my stop in Winfield, I continued on to Chautauqua County to tour Sedan High School and visit with students, faculty and staff. School recently started, and it was great to hear how students have enjoyed their time back in the classroom. Thanks to Superintendent Rusty Arnold and students Brycen Dickens and Haylie Shipley for the tour.
Thanking Summer Intern Gracie Jo Stanton
This summer, Gracie Jo Stanton interned in my Hays office. Gracie is a rising Junior at K-State and plans to attend law school after graduating. Thank you, Gracie, for all your hard work this summer.
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Capitol Tour
Kerri Blain of Wichita
Adam Cox of Gardner
Kara Cox of Gardner
Austen Crockett of Manhattan
Don Mason of Overland Park
Jeanie Mason of Overland Park
Timothy McLemore of Wichita
Andrew Seiler of Wichita
Jay Sleichter of Clay Center
Katherine Sleichter of Clay Center
Linda Sleichter of Clay Center
Amon Vick of Kansas City
To recognize Labor Day, I attended the 128th Annual Hoisington Labor Day Parade.
During the parade, I met Officer Tittel with the Barton County Sheriff’s Department. Thank you to all of our Kansas law enforcement who work tirelessly to protect and serve our local communities.
It was also great to catch up with Sophia Linenberger and her family during the parade. Sophia is a two-time cancer survivor.
Special thanks to Dick Friedman for driving me in a 1922 Stanley Steamer during the parade.
Breaking Ground on New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant for Southwest Airlines
On Wednesday morning, I was in Liberal to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new facility that will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from corn stover in a partnership between Conestoga Energy Partners and Southwest Airline’s SAFFiRE. By using the stalks and leaves leftover after the corn harvest, this project will take advantage of a currently underutilized resource to fuel our airplanes. Liberal will play a key role in developing sustainable aviation fuel that is a cleaner fuel for planes, creates a new market for farmers and brings the United States closer to being energy independent
As the chairman of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus, I am thankful that SAFFiRE has chosen Kansas for this project, further securing our position as the leading aviation state. Earlier this year, I introduced the Farm to Fly Act, which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing USDA programs.
Thank you to Tom Willis, CEO of Conestoga Energy, Tom Nealon, CEO of SAFFiRE, FAA Deputy Regional Director Debra Sanning, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor and Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office Director Dr. Valerie Srisky-Reed for joining me for this exciting announcement. I also appreciate Senator Roger Marshall and Congressman Tracey Mann for joining me for the groundbreaking ceremony.
You can read more about the event here in KWCH.
Announcing Resources for K-State
I was at Kansas State University to announce federal funding for the construction of a new Biomanufacturing Core and Training Facility and additional resources for the Pharma Pilot Plant. These funds will update equipment and build a facility that aims to better prepare students for the future of biomanufacturing. It also aims to bolster K-State’s efforts to build Manhattan into a premier location for biotechnology and biodefense companies looking to expand. Additionally, I secured resources to purchase new equipment and machinery for the Pharma Pilot Plant. This much-needed equipment will allow early-stage drug discovery companies to scale up their manufacturing capabilities, allowing for greater production of potentially life-saving medications.
I was grateful to be joined by Kansas State University President Richard Linton, K-State Student Body President Paige Vulgamore and Biological and Agricultural Engineering Professor Dr. Abby E. Thank you for your continued service to Kansas and for your hospitality.
You can read more about the event here.
Kansas Astronaut, Nick Hague, to Lead SpaceX Crew-9 Mission to Retrieve Astronauts at ISS
On Friday, NASA announced changes to the SpaceX Crew-9 mission – the ninth operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight – following its decision to return Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft uncrewed. NASA astronaut, and Hoxie-native, Nick Hague was announced as mission commander on the Crew-9 flight to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for Tuesday, September 24. Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunuv will join NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the two veteran astronauts aboard the Boeing Starliner who were only supposed to be in space for one week.
The updates to Crew-9 come after NASA’s decision to return the Starliner spacecraft uncrewed and launch Crew-9 with two unoccupied seats. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will fly home with Hague and Gorbunov in February 2025. Until they return home, the astronauts will join Expedition 72 crew and conduct scientific research and maintenance on the ISS.
Not for Sale: Protecting Kansans from Federal Overreach
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been traveling across Kansas and have heard from many who live and work along the path of the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. There is concern and opposition. Their message to the federal government is clear: their land is not for sale and is not to be taken. If you or someone you know would like to offer comments on the proposed transmission line to the Department of Energy, please email: NIETC@hq.doe.gov.
I will be introducing legislation that will help protect Kansans’ private property from being seized by the federal government to build this transmission corridor. In addition, I will also continue my engagements with the Department of Energy to ensure they continue to accept comments and take them into consideration through the next phase of this proposal.
Click here for Sen. Moran’s Special Edition of Kansas Common Sense on the NIETC.
Visits Across Kansas
National Beef
While in Liberal, I joined National Beef Founder and CEO Tim Klein for a tour of their new fabrication floor. Once completed, this will be the largest of its kind in the world and will greatly improve the safety of their employees by using innovative machinery to keep employees better protected from saw blades. I appreciated the hospitality of General Manager Sergio Banuelos and learning more about this project as well as the history and vision of National Beef.
Thank you to State Senator Ron Ryckman, State Representative Shannon Francis, Seward County Commission Chairman Scott Carr, City of Liberal Mayor Jose Lara and Seward County Economic Development Director Eli Svatty for joining me.
Manhattan Rotary Club
I was pleased to speak at the Manhattan Rotary Club this week. We discussed critical priorities for when I return to Washington, D.C. including passing a farm bill and the twelve individual appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. We also discussed continuing to work on rural broadband, protecting local pharmacies and rural hospitals, supporting veterans, keeping the cost of business down and the dangerous threats our adversaries wage against the United States.
Thank you for Rotary President Randy Peterson for the invitation to connect with fellow Rotarians in Manhattan.
Satanta District Hospital
While in southwest Kansas, I toured the Satanta District Hospital. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the services they provide in Haskell County as well as the challenges they, and so many other rural hospitals, face in Kansas, such as recruitment and retention of providers, reimbursement rates and providing long-term care for their patients. I will continue working to make certain that hospitals across Kansas are able to provide high-quality care in the communities they serve.
Thank you to CEO Tina Pendergraft, Dr. Dan Derbes, Board Members Dan Palmgren, Lee Miller, Paige Clawson, Marciel Cloud and all who shared their experiences with me.
Greenwood Hospital
I also drove to Greenwood County Hospital for a tour. CEO Sandy Dickerson led me on a tour where I met hospital staff and discussed challenges rural hospitals face, including staffing shortages and reimbursements.
Kansas Veterans Home
I had the opportunity to visit the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield and tour the facilities. The veterans home provides a variety of services to our nation’s veterans and their families. The on-site staff are specialists prepared to assist with nursing, dietary services and physical therapy, among many other services. The veterans home is an active and positive light in the growing area around Wichita, and I thank Beth and Sue for hosting me.
Sedan High School
Following my stop in Winfield, I continued on to Chautauqua County to tour Sedan High School and visit with students, faculty and staff. School recently started, and it was great to hear how students have enjoyed their time back in the classroom. Thanks to Superintendent Rusty Arnold and students Brycen Dickens and Haylie Shipley for the tour.
Thanking Summer Intern Gracie Jo Stanton
This summer, Gracie Jo Stanton interned in my Hays office. Gracie is a rising Junior at K-State and plans to attend law school after graduating. Thank you, Gracie, for all your hard work this summer.
Capitol Tour
Kerri Blain of Wichita
Adam Cox of Gardner
Kara Cox of Gardner
Austen Crockett of Manhattan
Don Mason of Overland Park
Jeanie Mason of Overland Park
Timothy McLemore of Wichita
Andrew Seiler of Wichita
Jay Sleichter of Clay Center
Katherine Sleichter of Clay Center
Linda Sleichter of Clay Center
Amon Vick of Kansas City
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