Friends,
This week our country lost a patriot and dedicated civil servant. President George H.W. Bush, from his service as a Navy pilot in 1941 to his time in the oval office, was a statesman through and through.
He was a gracious man, and his service to his country will never be forgotten. It has been a somber week on the Hill, but Laina and I were humbled to have the opportunity to pay our respects to President George H.W. Bush and attend his service in D.C. on Wednesday.
One thing this week reminded me is that when we pass, it is not where we stood on a particular issue that will be remembered. Rather, we will be remembered for how we treated others and how we made them feel. It is evident to any student of history that President Bush will be named among an exceptional class of statesmen who will be remembered for their character rather than their title.
Fighting for Farmers
China has long not played by the rules, and it’s about time that they start. They reject loads of sorghum and wheat for arbitrary reasons. For 14 years they’ve kept US beef out of their market for no reason, while they exceed their legal level of subsidies by $100 billion in support to their farmers.
I am hopeful that this 90 day period will allow us to restructure the way we trade with China and level the playing field.
But the real test will be what comes from these negotiations in the next 90 days, and if we can hold China accountable to an agreement. My track coach always used to say, “don’t tell me, show me,” and so far, we’ve gotten a lot of talk from China, but very little actual change.
I think the White House has heard our farmers loud and clear that, while they support holding China accountable, we need to be moving towards an agreement. Farm bankruptcies in Kansas are up a multiple of six just in the last three years. Farm country needs stability and certainty out of this trade agreement
Pentagon Community Partnership Program
This week Fort Riley and the City of Manhattan were honored at the 2018 Army Community Partnership Awards. Fort Riley’s partnership with the City of Manhattan was one of seven U.S. Army installations and neighboring communities that were awarded for their partnership that enhanced Army readiness, modernized Army processes, and improved business reform while building strong community relationships.
Fort Riley and the City of Manhattan received the award for their Intergovernmental Support Agreement for the bulk purchasing of road salt utilized during severe weather. Not only will this arrangement benefit the Flint Hills region, but will also save Fort Riley roughly $90,000 annually.
I was proud to attend the award ceremony at the Pentagon.
Meeting with Army Leaders
On Thursday, I addressed a group of Army Senior Sergeants Major who were visiting Capitol Hill as part of their professional military education. They traveled to D.C. to further understand the relationship between Congress and the Army and how that relationship translates into their current position.
It was my honor to discuss the role our office has in working with the military, and the way Congress works with military leadership to ensure they have the tools necessary for the US to remain strong and our citizens safe here at home and abroad. It’s important to also recognize these fine men and women and their decades of service. These are some of the best and brightest men and women when it comes to national security, generally taking 20 years of service to attain this rank.
The men and women I met with have been proven great leaders, and it was such a privilege to sit down with them and thank them for their service and discuss the significant opportunity they have in helping shape policy.
Honoring the Apollo 8 Mission
I also had the unique opportunity to meet and learn from some of my childhood heroes this week. The Cosmosphere, in Hutchinson, hosted NASA astronauts and mission control staff as part of its EarthRising Celebration, honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 8 Mission to the Moon. I had the distinct pleasure of helping to welcome NASA officials to Kansas and hear from them on the success and challenges of the Apollo 8 mission as well as celebrate the continued success of The Cosmosphere.
The Cosmosphere not only preserves NASA and space exploration history but works to spread the love of space and science to students across the state. The center recently received a federal grant to take its mission control consoles to Smithsonian affiliate museums, schools and Challenger centers through 2019 to allow students a hands-on learning opportunity and insight in the world of space exploration.
TUNE IN: Army v. Navy
Saturday, Army and Navy will face off in their 119th annual football game. The longstanding rivalry will start at 2:00 PM CT on CBS, and this year Army will be sporting the Big Red One patch. Army will be playing in uniforms that pay tribute to the WWI soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, and I couldn’t be prouder to see the Big Red One displayed on the field.
Go Army, Beat Navy!
A Day That Shall Live In Infamy
As you know, Friday is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On that day, 21 U.S. ships were sunk/severely damaged, over 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed, and most importantly we lost more than 2,400 American lives. Seventy-seven years later, we come together to honor those service members and civilians that lost their lives in the horrific attack on our nation.
To many, this devastating attack feels like yesterday.
Hunting season is in full swing
I was able to get a full day of hunting in with my son-in-law and a couple of my friends last weekend. Many of you know how much I love to hunt and fish, and it was great to be back in Kansas doing what I love best, enjoying the beautiful outdoors and putting down a record number of mallards.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the 1st District Kansas congressman.