Friends,
Coming into this week I knew we had our work cut out for us, I did not want a government shutdown, but I also couldn’t, in good conscience ignore matters of national security. I was firm in that we should fund the $5 billion to help secure our borders.
After much back and forth, I am proud that the House voted and passed $5.7 billion in border security funds, which will fully fund President Trump’s request as the American people have demanded.
The fate of the bill is unclear as it sits in the Senate, and a partial shutdown is still possible if a final bill doesn’t reach the President’s desk by tonight. But I am fully prepared to work through the holidays to make sure border security funding is protected.
Kansas farmers back home will be working on Christmas Day, the cows have to be milked and the cattle fed. And as a physician, almost every year I delivered a Christmas baby, so I am perfectly accustomed to working through the holidays to do my job. Anyone who thinks that we are going to get a package that prioritizes border security when Nancy Pelosi takes over the House in January is delusional.
Preventing Maternal Deaths Act
Recently the House passed H.R. 1318, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017. This legislation aims to address maternal deaths across America by improving data collection analysis. Earlier this year, I joined The Hill, a Washington-based newspaper, for an in-depth discussion focused on improving outcomes in maternal and child health in the U.S.
The number of mothers who die today from pregnancy-related causes remains far too high. According to the CDC, nationally maternal deaths have actually increased in recent years to 20.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. The good news is that Kansas has set the standard, already bucking the national trend, with maternal mortality decreasing from 19.6 to 17.7 deaths since 2016. Currently, there are gaps in identifying trends and developing
I was one of the first to cosponsor this bill and worked tirelessly with patient advocacy groups to urge Congress to pass this much-needed legislation. I am so proud that it passed through the House.
Small Business Lending Fairness Act
This week, Rep Velázquez (D-NY) and I introduced the “Small Business Lending Fairness Act,” bipartisan legislation that aims to put an end to the practice of small business borrowers signing an obscure legal document known as a “confession of judgment,” which essentially requires the borrower to waive their legal rights.
Shady lenders are using confessions of judgment as a weapon to take advantage of entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Closing this loophole ensures that predatory lenders are unable to seize the assets of small firms without due process and extends protections to small business owners looking to obtain a loan. I am proud to work across the aisle to end this scam.
Military Service Academy Nominees
This week our office announced the 2018 nominations for the U.S. military service academies.It’s a privilege and honor to nominate these young men and women to our nation’s esteemed military service academies.This year we had nine students from our district apply and seven were ultimately given nominations.I am so proud of these young men and women and their leadership. Below are the students who received nominations from our office:
U.S. Air Force Academy
Keaton Keoning, son of Kris and Emily Koening, from Manhattan, Kan.
Emmanuel Effiong, son of Joseph and Annie Effiong, from Fort Riley, Kan.
U.S. Naval Academy
Blaise Hayden, daughter of Curtis and Eileen Hayden, from Manhattan, Kan.
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
Virginia Schaben, daughter of Doug and Shelley Schaben, from Ness City, Kan.
U.S. Marine Academy
Corbin Sanner, son of Troy and Judy Sanner, from Junction City, Kan.
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
Parker Wilson, son of Jeremy and Mandy Wilson, from Manhattan, Kan.
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Marine Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
To be nominated, applicants must meet the recommendations and standards set by each academy, complete online applications and interview with at least one Member of Congress or Senate.
President Trump Signs the Farm Bill
This week President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. I was fortunate to be invited to join the president for this signing. It truly has been an incredible journey to see this process from start to finish. I am so proud of this Farm Bill and happy to report that we have delivered on our promise to provide farmers with five-years of certainty. This Farm Bill will be a great Christmas present to our producers across Kansas who will see many wins in this bill.
In addition to the Farm bill being signed into law, the Department of Agriculture announced that it would move a key focus of the House’s Farm Bill that was lost in the final negotiations forward, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reform. Secretary Sonny Perdue proposed a rule to restore SNAP’s integrity.
This rule helps able-bodied Americans move off welfare and into work, and cracks down on states that are waiving the 20-hour per week work requirements. We want to help people by assisting them in finding work, and preparing them with the skills and training they need so that they can prosper. I am thrilled that the Trump administration is tackling this issue.
ACA Ruled Unconstitutional
On December 14, a federal district court in Texas ruled that the ACA was deemed unconstitutional without the individual mandate. The individual mandate, repealed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, was a penalty as a tax that legitimized the ACA under a Supreme Court decision years ago. Without the penalty, the federal court ruled that the health care law no longer met that Constitutional test. I’m not surprised by this decision. The ACA was and is not the solution to addressing health care.
As a physician, I’ve lived the nightmare of the ACA in rural Kansas. Where one can see a success story, I can give you a failed one. I came to Congress to work proactively with my colleagues across both sides of the aisle. I understand that there is a lot of talk about what the court’s decision means.
This court decision isn’t the end all, be all. It will most likely be appealed. Until then Congress should focus its efforts on coming together to develop bipartisan health care reform that focuses on increasing transparency and consumer choice, improves quality of care, lowers costs, and protects patients with preexisting conditions.
White House Congressional Ball with my daughter, Lauren.
My daughter Lauren spent the weekend with me in D.C. We went to the Library of Congress (one of my favorite places in D.C.), and I took her with me to the White House Congressional Ball. We admired the White House Christmas decorations and enjoyed our time at the ceremony.
I so enjoyed having Lauren in town to join me for this special event.
An end of an era:
This week we said goodbye to my friend and mentor, Speaker Ryan. From day one him and Janna were so kind and welcoming to Laina and I. In his farewell address he said, “well-done is always a better than well-said.” Speaker Ryan has been great leaders, he is genuine and thoughtful and we will miss him dearly.