Friends,

The House has kicked off August recess and I was happy to be home back in Kansas with my beautiful wife, Laina, to celebrate our 36th anniversary. We have four wonderful children, and two grandchildren, who are jewels in our crown. She takes a dull day, and suddenly makes it seem worthwhile and she is a saint for putting up with me! Thank you to everyone who prays for us, as we continue this wonderful American journey, 36 years later.

Scam Alert

The Social Security Administration is working with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to create a new fraud prevention placemat to help you identify and avoid Social Security scams. You can order free copies of the placemat to use at home, or to share with friends and family.

Here are a few things to remember to help others avoid scams:

• Talk about it! Social Security scams haven’t been as common until recently. Share the message with others to make them aware of this type of scam.
• Government employees will not threaten to take away benefits or ask for money or personal information to protect your Social Security card or benefits.
• Report Social Security scams to the SSA Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov/report and to the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov/complaint.

If you think you are being targeted by a scammer, please call my office at (785) 829-9000 for assistance. We are always happy to help!

Champlin Tire Recycling

Last week, members of my staff visited Champlin Tire Recycling in Concordia, Kan.

This small, family owned business looks for new and innovative ways to recycle old tires, turning them into items such as park benches, picnic tables, and playground mulch.

Owner Gary Champlin is the chair-elect of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc – an international trade association representing scrap commodities. While there, they spoke about a number of issues facing the industry, including ways we can all work to do more with less.

Thank you, Gary, for showing my team around and helping them better understand the creative ways recycling can benefit our communities.

Beef Up Sustainability

Cargill recently announced they are launching a new initiative, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, called “BeefUp Sustainability.”

The project is committed to achieving a 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction across its North American beef supply chain by 2030. The opt-in initiative will reduce GHG emissions throughout Cargill’s beef supply chain from a 2017 baseline, measured on a per pound of product basis.

BeefUp Sustainability is designed to engage a variety of stakeholders including producers, customers and innovators. The initiative will focus on four areas: grazing management, feed production, innovation and food waste reduction. The 30% reduction builds on the industry’s existing GHG efficiency efforts and will equate to removing 2 million cars from U.S. highways for a year.

To see Cargill’s full news release, Click Here.

Broadband Roundtable

My office hosted a roundtable in McPherson to discuss issues of importance to rural broadband providers. The providers emphasized the need for updates to the national broadband maps, which are necessary for closing the digital divide. The roundtable included discussions about the need to empower stakeholders by establishing a strong challenge process to the FCC and USDA, to ensure the accuracy of data being reported. These providers are working tirelessly to build out future-focused networks in rural America, and I appreciated them taking the time to share ways in which I can help support these efforts.

Big News for Kansas Ranchers

President Trump has announced a trade deal to sell more American beef to the European Union. Kansas is one of the top beef-producing states in the nation – each year the industry contributes more than $9 billion to the state’s economy.

Thank you to the Trump Administration for fighting to deliver new and fair trade deals on behalf of Kansas farmers, ranchers, and producers.

FCC Open Meeting

The Federal Communications Commission held its August meeting and considered a number of rural-focused agenda items. The FCC is working to make access to their programs easier, by streamlining and simplifying the way health care providers can apply for telehealth support, and by formally establishing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Reducing the red tape for providers is critical to continue building broadband networks, and to ensure rural homes, small businesses, and community institutions are able to connect.

National Council on Independent Living
Last week, I had a great meeting with Kansas representatives, including Lou Ann Kibbee of Hays, from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)  the longest-running national disability and grassroots organization led by people with disabilities.

The conversation focused on health care, as well as employment and economic equity. We discussed my support for H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019, which reauthorizes funding for the “Money Follows the Person” program, so elderly people and those with disabilities can use federal dollars to pay for care by providers of their choice.

I am pleased to report this legislation is now on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Volunteers Needed!

My office is looking for volunteers to help out at my booth at the Kansas State Fair on Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 15. Volunteers are needed to hand out fliers and take down contact information from constituents with questions.

Gate admission and WiFi will be provided – couples welcome! If you are interested please contact my District Director, [email protected] for more info.

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