The House of Representatives was quiet this week, but the same cannot be said for Florida Panhandle.

Hurricane Michael made landfall on Thursday, devastating Florida’s Gulf Coast and Panhandle. My heart goes out to the victims, especially those who have lost not only their livelihoods, but their loved ones, as well. The brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces are actively conducting search and rescue efforts. 285 people were said to have remained in Mexico Beach, where some of the worst damage can be seen. Many residents are still missing, with the National Guard rescuing up to 20 survivors in one night. President Trump is expected to travel to Florida next week and survey the damage.

Kansas called to help Florida

The Kansas National Guard has received a request from the state of Florida for assistance conducting aerial search and rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The Kansas National Guard is responding with one UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and six crew members. The request was made through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a multistate agreement that expedites interstate support for disaster response and recovery operations. A huge thanks to everyone responding to the call for aid, including our departing National Guardsmen.

A-Maze-ing News!

On Tuesday, President Trump announced EPA plans to allow the sale and use of E15 throughout the year.

This is a tremendous victory for Kansas agriculture and a huge step towards freeing our nation’s producers from unnecessarily strict regulations. The ban placed on E15 smothered summer consumption of ethanol and limited options for consumers. Our farmers are already seeing their net income drop to its lowest dollar level in a decade due, I am hopeful that these deregulatory measures will relieve some of that pressure.

This is a massive victory for our biofuels industry, as well. Kansas ethanol plants produce roughly half a billion gallons of ethanol a year and create over 4,000 jobs across our state. Their workers can now expect greater market certainty and job security.

I am extremely grateful to President Trump for keeping his promise to place our farmers and consumers first. 90% of cars are approved for using this cleaner, safer, and higher octane fuel, so it makes no sense to punish those who want to use it. Deregulation of E15 is a huge step in the right direction. Read my full press release here.

On National Farmers Day (Oct. 12) we celebrate the Kansas farmers and ranchers that are feeding the world. Agriculture is the largest economic driver in Kansas accounting for 44.5% of the state’s total economy. The agriculture sector employs 13% of Kansas’ workforce through direct and indirect careers. Kansas is the nation’s 8^th largest agricultural exporting state, shipping $4.7 billion in domestic agricultural exports abroad in 2016. Agriculture in Kansas is not just about growing crops and raising animals. The Kansas agricultural sector includes renewable energy production, food processing, research and education, agribusiness and more. I am proud to represent the farmers of Kansas that provide such vital roles in our society.

National Blue Ribbon Schools

Kansas’s own Lee Elementary, Marion Elementary, and Sterling Elementary are now included among this year’s National Blue Ribbon Schools. The title is awarded to schools across the nation whose students exhibit exceptional academic performance.

Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, recognized 349 public and private schools this year and, unsurprisingly, Kansas has distinguished itself once again. A special thanks goes out to Kansas educators who work tirelessly to deliver a top-notch education to our children and provide them with the tools for a more prosperous future.

Troop Inspection

This week I sat down with Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville to discuss Fort Riley.

We had a great conversation, and I always look forward to discussing the strengths Fort Riley brings to the Army.

As usual, it was a pleasure seeing General McConville, and a great end to AUSA week!