By Gov. JEFF COLYER

At the close of my term as your Governor, I would like Kansans to know of my sincere gratitude for the time I have had to serve the people of this great state. I have always felt called to service, and the opportunity to do so as your governor has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It has been an honor to meet Kansans across our state and see the good they are doing.

On my first day in office, Caroline from Salina gave me some advice that I used during my time in office and that will continue to shape my mindset moving forward. She told me “There’s a reason they make the rearview mirror in a car small, and the windshield big. We are looking forward not backwards.”

As your Governor it has been my goal to move our state forward. During my first month in office I signed executive orders creating new policies about harassment in the workplace and transparency in government. It is my hope that these policies will continue to set the standard for many years to come. I’m also proud of what we have accomplished with the economy. Unemployment is at record lows, we have more people working than ever before, and job creation is on the rise. Truly Kansas has a brighter future because of the hard work done by so many over the past year, and we can’t go back.

In my inaugural address, I asked the people of Kansas to take up the call to serve; to look outside themselves and find ways to help their neighbors and their communities. In the past year as your Governor and the seven years before that as Lt. Governor, I have seen this happening in every corner of our state. The brightest example of this spirit of service is exhibited in our young people. It’s inspiring to see them excited to make a difference in their communities. They are our future, and they love to serve.



As I leave office, it is my hope that we will all find ways to do a little more good in the world around us. Search out opportunities to serve your fellow man and make the world, our country, and the state of Kansas a better place. I myself plan on continuing to serve my patients, the public, and my fellow Kansans. I’ve often said that Kansas is the true heart of America; you all are the reason that statement rings true. I love this state and the people who call it home. May God continue to bless you, and may God continue to bless the great state of Kansas.

Friends,

As we enter the weekend, the government will be going on its 21st day of being shut down. I want to express what I am finding in D.C. that is continually frustrating.

Too often, when we talk about the immigration issue, we are led to believe that we must choose between a binary option of either border security or compassionate immigration reform.

This is an opportune moment to quit kicking the can down the road and actually work together to couple border security priorities with long term immigration fixes. We have a chance to make historic changes and improvements to the course of our nation.

Kansans know that we can have both and that’s what I’m fighting for in Washington.

Securing our borders

We have tens of thousands of immigrants arriving at our entryways every month, and as a result, thousands of drugs, criminals, and violence spilling into our country. The crisis on our southern border is real, and we must stop refuting the facts and do our most sacred duty, protect our nation. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our nation’s safety.

In his address to the nation this week the President stressed the urgent humanitarian crisis at our southern border. I challenge those that deny this crisis to go and see the stress on our borders first hand. I did, and it was eye-opening.

Just last year alone, there were a total of 1.7 million pounds of narcotics seized by customs and border patrol. In the same year, 17,000 adults attempted to enter our southern border with existing criminal records, and we are now averaging 60,000 illegal and inadmissible aliens a month on our Southern Border.

According to DHS and numerous border patrol agents, illegal trafficking has dropped more than 90 percent in places that walls and barriers exist. Walls work, and the $5.7 Billion that the President is asking for is an investment that will pay off for decades.

This week I addressed the House floor to stress the urgency that we supply the President with the adequate funds for border security and in doing so re-open our government.

5 yr.-old raising awareness for Hydrocephalus

This week Caleb Wiggs from Leoti, Kansas celebrated his fifth birthday.

Caleb is grateful for many things this milestone, but perhaps one thing that many 5-year-olds overlook, he is grateful for his life. At the age of five, this condition has caused him to undergo three life-saving brain surgeries.

Caleb has been selected as one of the 2019 National Ambassador for Hydrocephalus Awareness for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. As an ambassador, he will educate people across the country on this disease that so desperately needs medical advancements and treatment solutions. He will also participate in the 2019 Hydrocephalus Issues & Action Conference in Washington this August where he will meet with my fellow lawmakers.

Hydrocephalus can develop at the time of birth or later. As an obstetrician, I understand the severity of this condition from having to prepare new mothers for the challenges ahead and ensuring the best care for these newborns. Sadly, one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus but there is hope. Robust medical research partnered with patient advocates like Caleb can bring new advancements to the finish line.

Caleb, your bravery and voice will have an impact on thousands of lives, including the many families fighting this condition.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

This week we celebrated National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. In honor of this, we thanked our officers that serve our communities and sacrifice so much.

I also honored my father, who was the Chief of Police and Fire Chief in El Dorado, Kansas for nearly 25 years. As the Chief he loved protecting and serving others, often getting calls on the holidays and weekends. Still, to this very day, my father always aims to help others. He is reliable, trustworthy, and an all-around leader in his community.

As a young boy, I couldn’t quite grasp the risks and dangers that he faced at his job day to day. He always seemed so calm, cool and collected. But his fellow officers would often tell me stories about his leadership and bravery while helping people at some of the most dangerous crime scenes and fires.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to our officers for everything that they do to keep our communities safe. Thank you!

Welcome, Mike!

Kansas Governor-Elect Laura Kelly announced this week the appointment of Mike Beam to head the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

I have had the pleasure of working with Mike in his role with the Kansas Livestock Association and as the Executive Director of the Ranchland Trust of Kansas.

Mike has been a tireless advocate for Kansas agriculture and the preservation of our state’s native resources and grasslands. As I continue my work in Washington D.C. on behalf of farmers and ranchers, I look forward to working with Mike and his staff at the KDA to ensure our state’s most valuable industry has the support it needs to continue to grow.

POTUS Nominates Kansan to NTSB

This week, President Trump nominated Kansan, Michael Graham to join the National Transportation Safety Board. This is exciting news for Kansas and the Navy veteran who began his career as a Naval Aviator flying A-7’s and F/A-18’s. Graham has been at Textron Aviation, Inc., a company based in Wichita, for more than 20 years, and currently serves as their Director of Flight Operations Safety, Security and Standardization.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Graham would complete a five-year term. Graham has been a tireless advocate for aviation across Kansas. He chairs the Air Charter Safety Foundation heads the National Business Aviation Association Safety Committee Single-Pilot Safety Working Group. Graham is also a member of the General Aviation Information Analysis Team of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis & Sharing (ASIAS) program.

With his leadership and experience, I could not think of anyone better for the role. It will be great to have a Kansans serving the Administration in this capacity!

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.