WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – today announced a $2 million federal investment for the Kansas Forest Service to strengthen the efforts of local firefighters and support implementation of the Kansas Forest Service Action Plan. He was joined for the announcement at the Riley County EMS Headquarters in Manhattan by representatives from state and local fire and emergency management agencies. Sen. Moran secured the funding in the FY2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which was signed into law on January 23.

“Kansans know firsthand the devastation that natural disasters and wildfires can cause, and we have seen that devastation across our state this year,” said Sen. Moran. “When disaster strikes, our first responders are there to help their neighbors and protect their communities. We have a responsibility to make sure they have the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked to secure this funding so the Kansas Forest Service has the resources necessary to respond to wildfires and help protect Kansans when they need it most.”

Specifically, the federal resources will be used to purchase new fire management equipment, including trucks, hand tools, machinery and personal protective equipment (PPE). The investment will also support priorities outlined in the Kansas Forest Action Plan.

Items to note:

• This spring, Sen. Moran visited several Kansas communities affected by wildfires, where he surveyed the damage and met with local firefighters who worked to combat the fire.
• Sen. Moran introduced legislation, the CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act, that would help prevent and reduce the impact of wildfires by expanding access to grazing on CRP land. The legislation is included in the Senate Farm Bill.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement on the passing of Senator Nancy Kassebaum:

“We honor the life of Senator Nancy Kassebaum, a trailblazer who put the well-being of Kansans first. Her pioneering role as the first woman to represent our state in the U.S. Senate perfectly reflects the Kansas spirit. She was one of a kind, and she will be remembered among the greats who served the people of our state so well.

“Senator Kassebaum’s time in public service embodied the institution of the U.S. Senate at its best. I campaigned for her in western Kansas during her first election in 1978, as well as the campaigns that followed. She was never afraid to challenge me in our conversations, but she was always a friend and encourager. She was deeply respected across our state, and Kansans remain grateful for the way in which she represented us with such intelligence and integrity.

“Robba and I are keeping her children and the entire Kassebaum family in our thoughts as they mourn this loss. The legacy of the U.S. Senate, the well-being of our nation and, most significantly, the future of the state of Kansas are brighter because of the impact Senator Kassebaum had throughout her life. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will never be forgotten.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today urged U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to consider the consequences the administration’s proposed 50 percent tariffs on imported salt from Canada would have on Kansas businesses, local governments and taxpayers, who rely on de-icing salt to keep roads safe during the winter.

“Salt is a commodity well-known to Kansas, with commercial manufacturing beginning as early as 1863 and mining still occurring in Hutchinson, Kanopolis, and Lyons,” wrote Sen. Moran. “Despite being the second-largest salt producer in the world, the U.S. still relies on international markets to meet domestic demand.”

“I ask you to consider that no matter how duties are handled by the importers, the supply of de-icing salt could be impacted, which could in turn affect state and local governments’ access to a vital public safety tool,” continued Sen. Moran. “As we head into the fall and winter, taxpayers expect the government to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to keep roads open and the public safe, which requires a reliable supply of de-icing salt.”

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Ambassador Greer, I write concerning tariffs proposed as part of President Trump’s proclamation titled, “Imposing Additional Duties to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States with Respect to Motor Vehicles.” Specifically, I am concerned that imposing 50% tariffs on imported salt will disadvantage U.S. companies and place an undue burden on state and local governments. This strain will ultimately be felt by local taxpayers, particularly in states like Kansas where de-icing salt is used regularly to travel safely during the winter.

Salt is a commodity well-known to Kansas, with commercial manufacturing beginning as early as 1863 and mining still occurring in Hutchinson, Kanopolis, and Lyons. Despite being the second-largest salt producer in the world, the U.S. still relies on international markets to meet domestic demand. In 2025, the U.S. imported approximately $159 million of salt from Canada, making it our largest country of import, with much of the salt coming in as rock and de-icing salt. Two Kansas-based companies, Morton Salt and Compass Minerals, own and operate Canadian mines and bring the product to the U.S. for distribution.

I ask you to consider that no matter how duties are handled by the importers, the supply of de-icing salt could be impacted, which could in turn affect state and local governments’ access to a vital public safety tool. If the cost of the tariffs is passed on, end purchasers may buy less if their budget will not allow higher costs; if the importers instead factor the tariffs into the cost, volume may decrease to maintain the same level of expenditure. As we head into the fall and winter, taxpayers expect the government to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to keep roads open and the public safe, which requires a reliable supply of de-icing salt.

I believe we should hold our trading partners accountable, including Canada; that is why I have advocated for the renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which gives us the negotiating table we can use to resolve disputes such as these. As you and the administration consider the implementation of the president’s proclamation, I hope you will carefully evaluate the impact certain duties may have on U.S. companies, local governments, and taxpayers in Kansas and across the nation.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced more than $1 million in federal investments for seven Kansas rural health care providers through the second round of funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 

Sen. Moran worked to establish the federal program in last year’s reconciliation legislation, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut. The program was created to help identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers. 

“These resources are critical to make certain Kansans living in rural communities have access to high-quality care close to home,” said Sen. Moran. “Last year, I worked with my colleagues to create the Rural Health Transformation Program to help rural providers address the unique challenges in their communities and to give them the resources they need to provide quality care to patients. I will continue working with our rural health care providers and state leaders to find innovative solutions that improve care and strengthen rural communities in Kansas.” 

Recipients of the second round of federal resources will use the funding to expand Community Health Worker (CHW) and Accountable Food is Medicine (AFIM) programs, increasing access to community health services and nutritional intervention services and structures. 

Recipients:

• Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Inc. – $150,000
• Hospital District No. 6 of Harper County, Kansas – $150,000
• Great Plains of Smith County, Inc. – $150,000
• Hospital District No. 1 of Dickinson County, Kansas, DBA Memorial Health System – $150,000
• CommonSpirit Kansas, Inc. – $149,960
• Citizens Foundation – $146,476
• Newman Memorial County Hospital – $110,716

 Items to note:

• In the program’s first round of this year’s federal funding, nearly $80 million was distributed to 39 hospitals and providers in the state.
• Kansas will receive $222 million in the program’s first year, making Kansas the sixth-highest recipient. Over the next five years, Kansas providers are estimated to receive approximately $1 billion from the RHT Program.

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