Friends,
Last Wednesday, I was honored to join President Trump, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and others for the signing ceremony of a new trade agreement with Japan.
This agreement will be a major benefit to our beef, pork, wheat, sorghum, corn, ethanol, and other industries across Kansas. Among other important provisions, the deal will level the playing field for our farmers and ranchers by reducing tariffs and matching the competitive advantage currently benefiting countries involved in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Specifically, the deal will cut tariffs on an additional $7.2 billion worth of agricultural goods sold to Japan.
The United States is already the top supplier of agricultural commodities to Japan, and the agreement signed today will further build on this great relationship. The agreement will allow producers across our state to continue doing what they do best – providing the highest quality, safest, and most affordable food, fiber, and fuel to our partners around the world.
R&T Hearing on AI
Last Tuesday afternoon, SST’s Research and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on the impact of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) on workforce. AI presents unique opportunities for companies to become more efficient and streamlined, however the growth and adoption of these technologies also provides new job opportunities for the next generation. Ensuring that we have a skilled technical workforce has been a priority for Science Committee Republicans as well as the Trump Administration, as it is a vital component of US competitiveness and economic growth in the coming years.
Centura Health
Kansas was well represented at Centura Health’s meeting here in Washington. Centura Health, a Christian-run health system, has footprints in Kansas including St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City and the Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital in Ulysses. I’ve always praised mission-based health systems and how they give back to their communities. I shared with them my initiatives including my support for the 340B Drug Discount Program for rural hospitals and community health centers. These efforts would end surprise medical bills for patients, and help to reinvent rural health care in America.
Congressional Western Caucus Meeting
I joined fellow members of the Congressional Western Caucus to announce plans to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As an avid hunter and fisherman, I am dedicated to the preservation of wildlife for future generations. But with a meager 3 percent recovery rate since its inception more than 45 years ago, it’s clear the ESA must be updated. We need a plan that brings stakeholders, property owners, and local and state governments to the table when making habitat decisions to ensure species are delisted when desired population levels are met.
Talking Healthcare
I was honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Advocacy Summit. ASCO is a national organization representing over 40,000 physicians and other health care professionals that treat patients with cancer. I was happy to share with them a physician’s perspective from Congress and the many ways I am working to help physicians help their patients. As part of the advocacy efforts, over 130 of their members from across the country – including Kansas – were in DC this week to advocate for legislation I coauthored that would make long overdue changes to prior authorization. The bill I authored is the first step towards getting patients what they need, when they need it. And nothing is more timely than treating a patient battling cancer.
Congrats to Senator Dole
Last Tuesday, President Trump appointed Senator Bob Dole to serve as a member of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission.
The Commission is working to build a national memorial to President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower here in Washington, D.C., honoring his legacy both as Supreme Allied Commander during WWII as well as his accomplishments as 34th President of the United States.
Construction of the Memorial began in 2017, and is scheduled to open on May 8, 2020 – the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day. Senator Dole joins Kansas Senator Pat Roberts on the Commission and adds a valuable voice to the project as it nears completion. More details about the Memorial and the Commission can be found Here.
AGC of Kansas
Associated General Contractors of Kansas came through the office on Tuesday to give an update on their “Build Up Kansas” initiative and discuss workforce development issues across the state. Through “Build Up Kansas,” AGC is building workforce development partnerships with community colleges, technical colleges, and universities across the state to expose students to careers in the construction and manufacturing industries, which will be facing workforce shortfalls over the next decade. It’s great to see industry leaders thinking creatively about how to address the workforce challenges of tomorrow.
You can learn more about what AGC is doing in Kansas to promote workforce development Here.
Medicare Open Enrollment
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15th to December 7th this year. During Open Enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to change the way they receive their Medicare benefits for the upcoming year. This is the only opportunity that beneficiaries can switch their Medicare drug plan, (part D) to one that better meets their coverage and financial needs, or change the way they receive their Medicare healthcare benefits.
For more information on Open Enrollment Click Here.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.