Friends,

I’ve been working hard to preserve NAFTA. Last week the President decided to impose taxes on our allies. I have said time and time again, tariffs must target the bad actors. I urge the administration to focus their efforts on the problem-China, not Mexico, Canada and Europe. The administration’s announcement to implement tariffs on the aluminum and steel industry unfairly hurt our American manufacturers and stalls the progress of our trade negotiations.

As we saw in Friday’s job report, our economy is booming; I am concerned that these actions will impede economic growth.

Thanks to pro-growth policies like the #TaxCutsandJobsAct, consumer confidence is the highest it’s been in 18 years. Hardworking Americans can feel the economy booming and they are growing more hopeful and optimistic about the future. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to an 18-year-low of 3.8 percent with 223,000 new jobs added in May! This month’s jobs report is something all Americans can celebrate.

From fishing with my son, Cal, to honoring our fallen soldiers at Fort Riley and Newton I have been undoubtedly grateful to be back home in Kansas. Throughout the week I welcomed the Secretary of Agriculture to the Wheat State where we discussed the state of our agriculture industry. Later in the week, I sat down with members of the Kansas Chamber and special guest Vincent DeVito, Energy Counselor at the Department of Interior to discuss the future of our energy policy. While a very busy week, I have enjoyed meeting and addressing some top issues in the Big first, and some quality family time.

HONORING OUR VETS

Last week, week our nation paused to recognize and remember our fallen soldiers. I was honored to be a part of the Fort Riley and Newton Memorial Day services. I believe it is important to tell the stories of those who serve their country both past and present so that we don’t take for granted the freedoms that we all so enjoy. As a former Captain in the Army Reserve, I saw first-hand the many sacrifices our men and women in uniform make. On Monday we paid tribute to those who gave their all by remembering their valor and courage.

USDA SECRETARY IN KANSAS

I had the opportunity to welcome U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to our district last week. On Monday, Secretary Perdue, Governor Colyer, and I participated in the Memorial Day service at Fort Riley. Later in the week, the Secretary toured our NBAF facility, participated in an Ag panel at River Creek Farms, a Q&A session hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and delivered the keynote address at the Kansas FFA Convention. It was an honor to have the Secretary in Kansas and have him meet the great men and women of the state’s agriculture industry.

RIGHT TO TRY ACT

Wednesday President Trump signed the Right to Try Act into law. I was a cosponsor of this bill which passed through the House in March. This legislation will offer individuals with a terminally ill diagnosis the option to try medications that are in the FDA clinical trial phase.

For too long these methods of treatment have been out of reach for terminally-ill citizens. Access to clinical trials, where these resources were found, were extremely limited. With the passage of Right to Try, experimental drugs, which have passed phase one safety trials by the FDA, will offer families a fighting chance when all other resources have been exhausted.

OIL AND GAS ROUNDTABLE

The future of the energy sector is vital to the Kansas economy. The Big First is home to eight out of the 10 Kansas ethanol plants as well as many oil and gas rigs. Last week I participated in a roundtable discussion with the Kansas Chamber and special guest Vincent DeVito, Energy Counselor at the Department of Interior, to talk about the future of U.S. energy. During the roundtable, we discussed how the federal government could better partner with the private sector to encourage energy production rather than hinder it. We can improve the energy sector through transparent science, reduced regulation, and improved trade opportunities.

YOU’RE FIRED

In December, the nation was shocked to learn that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had hired medical providers who had a history of sexual misconduct, and had on numerous occasions engaged in unethical, unprofessional behavior. The VA’s hiring of many of these providers was not only appalling, but also violated federal law. I joined Representatives Rutherford (R-FL), Biggs (R-AZ), Norman (R-SC), Jones (R-NC), Stivers (R-OH), Yolo (R-FL), Bergman(R-MI), Comstock (R-VA), Pearce (R-NM), LaMalfa (R-CA), Meadows (R-NC), Walters (R-CA) to address this faulty hiring practices within the VA. Read our op-ed HERE.

ULTRA ELECTRONICS

As a leader in the aviation industry, Kansas is home to many of the nation’s top-performing military aviation manufacturing businesses. Located out of Manhattan, Ultra Electronics is at the forefront of this industry’s creative and innovative production. On Wednesday, CEO Randy O’Boyle showed me around their facility. Ultra Electronics is a defense, security, transport, and energy company, comprised of specialist businesses designing, manufacturing and supporting electronic and electro-mechanical systems.

One of the most promising aspects of Ultra Electronics is how it’s able to bring on bright, capable employees. Randy and I discussed how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act opened opportunities to increase employment to Fort Riley veterans and local technicians. I am proud to see a Kansas-based company take the lead in such an important industry in America’s economy and I hope they continue to be a shining example to other businesses in how they emphasize veteran employment to fill promising career fields.

GRAND OPENING

Last week I was proud to attend Foley Equipment’s ribbon cutting for their new facility in Colby, Kansas. Their new location is impressive, and will be a great addition to northwest Kansas. #jobsjobsjobs