I recently led a letter with my Kansas House delegation colleagues to President Trump requesting that he quickly approve Governor Kelly’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Kansas. Over 60 counties across the state have been impacted by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, with many communities struggling to recover.

President Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Kansas, which triggers federal funds to help communities recover from these severe weather incidents. This declaration opens the entire state of Kansas to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Eligible affected counties can now receive public assistance for rebuilding public facilities and infrastructure. These counties are also eligible for Disaster Loan Assistance through the Small Business Administration (SBA), which can help communities, businesses and homeowners. More information on the SBA’s Disaster Loan Assistance program can be found HERE!

My colleagues and I here in Washington will continue to work with the Administration, FEMA, and Small Business Administration to ensure that Kansans have the tools and resources they need to get through these difficult times.

For more information read our press release HERE.

More News From the USDA
USDA’s Risk Management Agency this week announced changes to its haying and grazing program to accommodate those who planted a cover crop on Prevented Planting Acres.

For 2019 only, farmers who planted a cover crop on prevented planted acres will be permitted to hay, graze or chop those fields starting September 1 and still retain their eligibility for a full 2019 prevented planting indemnity. This is a change from the normal November 1 starting date. The move is intended to help farmers who were unable to plant because of excessive rainfall and flooding this spring but will be able to utilize the land for forage or livestock grazing this fall.

I applaud the USDA for the small but substantial change to its policy to help farmers recoup from lost planting opportunities and realize as much productivity out of their land as possible.

Talking with Sec. Chao
As a member of the Congressional Western Caucus I had the opportunity to meet with Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to discuss transportation and infrastructure priorities back in Kansas. Thanks to efforts from Kansas Livestock Association, the Livestock Marketing Association, and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Sec. Chao has heard from many of our beef and pork producers on the burden that Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) cause for livestock haulers. This was a great opportunity for me to remind her of the need for a delay in implementing this rule, so that we can ensure the health and safety of these animals.

We also discussed the need to continue to rollback duplicate regulations, many of which are often more burdensome on small, rural communities. Sec. Chao highlighted how the Department is working to streamline the approval process for new roads and bridges, as well as improvements to existing infrastructure. I appreciate her willingness to work with us on issues of importance to our districts. It was great to hear her thoughts on transportation infrastructure, and ways that she and the Administration are working to help rural America.

USDA Takes Control of NBAF
I had the honor of joining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the signing ceremony to transfer ownership and operational responsibility of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) from DHS to the USDA. Under the terms of the agreement, DHS retains responsibility for completing construction and commissioning of the $1.25 billion facility, while USDA will assume responsibility for all operational planning and eventual operation of the facility.

What started out as a research project at Kansas State University, then turned into a Congressional inquiry investigating biological terror threats. Along with the tireless work of so many folks in the state, that inquiry has morphed into NBAF. The work being done in Manhattan today and in the years to come will continue to keep our country safe and will protect two of our most valuable assets – our citizens and our food supply. The location of the NBAF site in Manhattan strategically places it near the largest concentration of animal health companies in the world, providing access to important veterinary, agricultural and biosecurity research and expertise. Construction is on schedule and on budget, and I am looking forward to its completion in December 2020.

G.I. Bill 75th Anniversary
This is the 75th anniversary of the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly known as the GI Bill. The monumental law makes sure that our troops receive immediate rewards for their service in the form of tuition assistance, small business loans, mortgages, and unemployment compensation. It has changed the lives of so many of our American heroes and hearing their stories is truly a heartwarming experience.

This anniversary I joined the rest of the Kansas delegation in sending a letter to President Trump asking him to select Mr. Harry W. Colmery to be a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mr. Colmery served our country in World War I as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. When he returned home, he continued advocating for veterans by serving as an active member of the American Legion and would eventually become the organization’s national commander. In December of 1943, Mr. Colmery went on to handwrite the first draft of the GI Bill in the now historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. Because of his dedication to helping veterans and work on the legislation President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited him to the White House when he signed the bill into law in 1944.

Mr. Colmery may be gone, but we continue to honor his legacy. Last Congress, I helped my colleagues in passing the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017. Signed into law in August of 2017, the Colmery Act makes several improvements to the Post-9/11 GI Bill including expansion of the Survivors and Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program, improved calculations for monthly stipends, increased benefit eligibility for Reservists and Guardsmen, restoration of GI Bill benefits for students affected by school closures, funding IT improvements to ensure that GI Bill claims are processed quickly and accurately, and much more.

If you would like to hear some of the stories of what the G.I. Bill has done for our service men Click Here.

Seeking Fairness and Transparency
Who knew liver allocation policy would be such a divisive issue? A few months ago, I co-led a policy letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking that they halt a harmful policy instituted by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). OPTN is contracted by HHS to implement organ procurement and transplant allocation throughout the US.

The policy we are fighting would redistribute organs donated by Kansans to big cities and states with larger populations and avoids the real problem which is under performing Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO). In our state, nearly 75% of Kansans are organ donors. We support one another and our OPO is stellar at recruiting. Despite low performing OPOs like the one in New York, Kansans in need of a transplant will face longer wait times and increased costs. My amendment to the HHS appropriations bill attempted to halt this policy. Even with the support from the Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ranking Members of the Appropriations Committee, and the Republican Whip, Steve Scalise, we failed at persuading Democratic Leadership from allowing my amendment to be made in order so the full House could vote for fairness, transparency and accountability.

Kansas Nurses
I was fortunate to speak with colleagues that hold a special place in my heart – America’s nurses! As a physician (and husband to a nurse), I worked hand in hand with my nursing staff to deliver the best health care to our patients, but like my profession, their workforce is also in crisis. In its current state, we will have a massive nursing workforce shortage across the US, and none will feel it more than our rural communities. With our medical professionals aging, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 1.1 million additional nurses are needed to avoid further shortage. Last Congress I was proud to help pass H.R. 959, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017, which would have reauthorized nursing workforce development programs that support recruitment, retention, and advanced education of skilled nurses. The bill would also reauthorize loan repayments, scholarships, and grants fro graduates going into this profession. Unfortunately the legislation was never adopted in the Senate so there is more work to be done. Our Kansan nurses brought this program up in yesterday’s meeting, and I hope to work with my colleagues in both chambers to make sure bipartisan legislation is signed into law that will help our nurses get the resources they need to succeed.

Rural Electric Youth Tour
We had a great group of Kansans in town last week for the National Rural Electric Co-operative Youth Tour! We spent Thursday morning on the Capitol steps, where I shared a bit about my time in Congress and they asked some great questions about how to better engage with their Congressional Representatives while in Washington DC. These bright youths impressed me with their knowledge about issues affecting folks back home. It’s always encouraging to see the next generation thinking about ways to improve rural America.

Blue Cross Blue Shield
Taxes and patients. That was the big discussion with BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas and BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City when they met with my office last week. Both groups shared with me their concerns over the health insurance tax established under Obamacare. This annual fee on health insurers would result in higher premiums for consumers, ultimately making health care less affordable to all. Last Congress, we delayed the $16 billion tax for two years, and it’s time to delay it once again. I offered them my support in working with my colleagues across the aisle to prevent this tax from going into effect.

Woman’s Congressional Softball Game
On Wednesday a group of my female colleagues from Congress took on opponents from the press corp in the Congressional Woman’s Softball Game. Started in 2009, the Congressional Woman’s Softball Game donates all proceeds to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), and to date they have raised more than $1.3 million dollars. YSC is a group committed to improving the quality of life of young adults that have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

This was an incredible event for an even better cause and it has gotten me even more excited to play in the Congressional Baseball Game for charity this week!

4-H Meeting
I got the chance to sit down with several 4-Hers from Kansas’ First District in the middle of a busy day on the hill. We discussed the importance of passing USMCA, the recent flooding which has devastated farmers and ranchers across the Midwest, and immigration reform. Additionally, we addressed the need to create a bipartisan solution to climate change focused on innovation that would not destroy the agriculture industry as we know it. I always enjoy interacting with these young leaders and am confident that the skills they are learning now will provide them with a bright future.