Friends,

Friday I voted against H.R. 5, the (IN)Equality Act. This bill might be the most irresponsible and least thought out legislation I’ve seen in my tenure in Congress. It allows males who self-identify as females the right to use the same bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, domestic violence shelters, and prisons as females. It also and forces doctors to perform abortions and transgender surgeries.

As a doctor and a Christian, I have been taught to show compassion, tolerance, and respect to all. This legislation does the exact opposite and is in direct contradiction to Kansas values.

In other news, last week the President unveiled his plan to modernize America’s legal immigration system to secure the southern border. I look forward to reviewing it and am glad to see that we are again bringing awareness to the crisis at our border and talking about solutions.

NO vote on the IN’ Equality Act
I heard from many of you week, and one thing is clear- Kansans know this legislation for what it is, an ‘IN’equality Act that will threaten the safety of millions. This legislation makes many changes to the law, each one worse than the last.

It entitles males who self-identify as females the right to use the same bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, domestic violence shelters, and prisons as women or girls. All federally funded entities would be forced to interpret “sex” as including multiple and fluid gender identities. The act also requires no medical or legal changes, but rather “gender identity” be reliant on the person’s self-identified gender. This bill would violate the privacy of women and men.

As a physician that’s delivered thousands of babies, I was horrified to find out that this legislation would force doctors and health care providers to perform abortions and be faced with harsh consequences. Christian schools would be legally forced to adapt their faith to the whims of the Government’s beliefs.

I want to thank all of you who have called my office to voice your thoughts on this legislation and am like many of you outraged by this bill that will harm men women and children.

‘Hoppy’ to have Kansas Brewers in Town
Beer is a product of agriculture, and breweries are just another perfect examples of what agriculture and small businesses contribute to the national economy and local communities. Whether it’s on the ranch, in the field, or the brewery, Kansas produces some high-quality brews.

I had the great pleasure of meeting with the Kansas Brewers Association here in Washington. I recently stopped in to check out the Radius Brewing Company in Emporia. I had the chance to sit down and catch up with the owner of Radius Brewing, JJ, here in DC to discuss the beer brewing industry. As a member of the Small Brewers Caucus, I know the value of having local breweries like Radius Brewing in our communities.

National Woman’s Health Week
I cannot stress enough the importance of a healthy diet. In my previous role as an OBGYN, nutrition and medicine went hand in hand in caring for patients. I want to take a moment to talk about some nutritious everyday steps that can be taken to encourage healthy living.

Calcium and vitamin D are both essential for building and maintaining bone strength throughout your lives. With nutritious foods and calcium-rich diets, women can help prevent the onset of debilitating diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is incredibly dangerous considering there are no symptoms until a fracture occurs. That’s why physicians run tests for measuring bone mass to predict fracture risk. Dairy products are a great natural source of calcium, and for the vitamin D just get out and get yourselves some sunshine, with sunscreen of course!

National Infrastructure Week
Last week was National Infrastructure Week, and in almost every meeting I took the need for an infrastructure package was raised. From maintaining our roads, bridges, and railways so that we can get our commodities to market, to expanding broadband access in rural communities, there is a lot of work to be done. Rural America faces unique challenges when it comes to infrastructure investments, however they are critical as we continue to grow the rural economy. These are true investments for our children and grandchildren’s sake, and vital for the communities across my district!

Celebrating ‘Colonel’ Bob Dole
Last week we celebrated my friend, mentor and legendary Kansan, Bob Dole for his recent honorary promotion to Colonel this week.

In his own words, he is now a “full bird colonel!” Read more about his honorary promotion HERE.

‘American Hero’
Great Work Ethan!
Join me in congratulating Ethan Beckman for his winning submission for the “I Like Ike” Congressional Art Competition.

Ethan, a junior at Wheatland High School in Grainfield, Kansas, submitted his original piece honoring our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ethan’s submission, titled “American Hero” depicts solider, Dwight D Eisenhower, in front of an American flag and will be hanging in the capitol for the next year. Great work, Ethan!

Supporting Diabetes Research
As a supporter of robust funding for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, I understand the importance of preventing and managing one of America’s most common, costly, and chronic diseases. Diabetes can affect anyone, all races, ages, and regions are susceptible, and the economic costs of the disease continue to rise.

I am proud to have joined hundreds of my fellow colleagues in signing on in support of reauthorizing the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). The SDP funds research into diabetes and is making meaningful progress in developing new insights and therapies that are improving the lives of those suffering with diabetes. I fully support funding the SDP and am optimistic about the work that they are doing.

To view the letter, click here.

National Police Week
This past week we showed our appreciation to all the men and women and K-9’s who protect and serve our communities as we celebrate National Police Week.

Our law enforcement officers are on the front lines of combating the opioid epidemic, human trafficking, and domestic violence in our state. We must continue to support our more than 7,500 law enforcement officers across Kansas and law enforcement officers across the country and acknowledge the risk they put themselves in to keep our communities safe. I know these risk far too well as a son of a Sheriff. I want to also thank my father, who was the Chief of Police and Fire Chief in El Dorado, Kansas for nearly 25 years.

Thank you to all of our police officers.

Eisenhower Women’s Leadership Visit
On Tuesday, we hosted a night tour with members of the 2018-19 Eisenhower Women’s Leadership Series. On the tour, we spoke with them about the legislative process and some of my top legislative priorities.

This year’s participants included a member of our own team, someone you’re probably familiar with, our District Director Katie Sawyer. The Eisenhower Series is a six-month leadership program for women across Kansas to learn more about local, state, and federal policy and stay involved in political issues. Participants travel the state, meeting with stakeholders in various industries and end the class with a trip to Washington D.C. where they meet with members of our delegation. Programs like these are excellent at teaching Kansans how to be more influential and engaged in the legislative process.

Innovative Cancer Treatments
I spoke to a group of research scientists about the progress on immunotherapies, specifically Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. These are innovative cancer treatments that work by engineering a patients’ own immune cells to recognize and fight off life-threatening cancer cells. These therapies are the first of their kind and have only recently been approved by the FDA within the last two years.

These treatments stand to be potentially much less demanding on patients bodies, possibly not even requiring inpatient hospitalization in the future! I recently led a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to recognize these treatment options for our Medicare patients. I am proud to carry the torch to ensure America’s seniors have access to the best new treatments to fight their cancer.

For more information, you can find my press release here.

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

By MARK TALLMAN
Kansas Association of School Boards

It’s graduation season in Kansas. In high school gyms and college stadiums, in family living rooms and all-night parties, we’re celebrating those who have put in the work to complete a credential: a high school diploma, technical certificate or college degree.

That is appropriate because each education step usually has a big impact on future standard of living. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that each step in the educational ladder increases employment and earnings. As would be expected, the reverse is true of poverty: each educational level lowers the chances of living in poverty.

Graduation is a sign of accomplishment. Completing twelve years of “formal schooling” used to be rather unusual. In 1940, the earliest year U.S. census information is available, only about one-third of Kansans (and Americans) had a high school diploma. Completing a four-year degree was quite rare: only five percent of the population had a bachelor’s degree in 1940.

Despite frequent criticisms that our school system is failing and programs have stagnated, Kansas educational attainment has continually improved. I can trace this in my own family history. In 1940, my parents were children. When I entered school in the 1960s, about half the population had a high school diploma. When my children were beginning school in the 1980s and 1990s, about 75 percent had completed high school; as my eldest granddaughter celebrates her “promotion” from preschool to kindergarten next fall, it’s over 90 percent.

Likewise, when my parents graduated from Fort Hays State University in the late 1950s, less than 10 percent of the population had a four-year degree; when I graduated from college in the 1980s it had only recently passed 15 percent; when my children earned degrees in the 2000s they were joining about 25 percent of the population; and today about one-third of adults have a four-year degree or higher.

By these long-term standards, educational attainment in Kansas has never been higher. There are short-term advances, as well. Since 2010, when Kansas and most other states began using the “adjusted cohort graduation rate” calculation, the overall percentage of Kansas students who graduate “on time” in four years rose from 80.7 percent to 87.3 percent in 2018. (This doesn’t count students who complete high school in more than four years or earn an equivalency.) Crucially, most subgroups of students who have lower graduation rates – those eligible for free and reduced lunch, disabled, African American and Hispanic students and English Language Learners – made even more progress, narrowing the gaps among groups.

There is good news on postsecondary graduation, as well. According to the Kansas Board of Regents Vision 2020 Progress Report, the total number of degrees or certificates awarded by public technical and community colleges and universities increased from 37,462 in 2010 to 43,843 in 2018, an increase of 17 percent, although total enrollment has actually declined.

Colleges and universities report graduation rates in two ways. First, the percentage of students who graduate in the expected time to complete a degree (two years for community colleges and four years for universities). Second, the percentage who take 50 percent longer: within three years for community colleges and six years for universities. Kansas community college and universities have increased both rates. Overall first-to-second year retention rates have also improved.

The enrollment of students in college and universities by racial and ethnic groups is similar to the overall population. Increasing numbers of students are enrolling and earning credit for postsecondary courses while in high school, which experts believe will further increase the rate of successful degree completion. The number of adults with previous prior credit but no degree returning to college has also increased.

Furthermore, Kansas compares favorably with the nation on many of these measures. Kansas’ average adjusted cohort graduation rate (percent graduating high school in four years) from 2011 to 2017 is 17^th in the nation; the percent of 18-24-year-old Kansans with any postsecondary education ranks 11^th.

Despite these improvements, Kansas is still struggling to keep up with needs. Economic experts predict that over 70 percent of future Kansas jobs will require a credential beyond high school. Currently, approximately 65 percent of Kansans over age 24 have some postsecondary experience, but that includes those who have not completed a degree or certificate. The Board of Regents estimates that Kansas will need an additional 5,000 bachelor’s degrees and 8,000 technical certificates and associate degrees by 2020 to meet that demand.

The Kansas State Board of Education has developed a measure called the Postsecondary Effective Rate for Kansas school districts, which looks at the percentage of each class of seniors that have both graduated from high school and either completed a degree or certificate or are enrolled in a postsecondary program within two years of graduation. Because of this two-year lag, the most recent data was for 2016, when the effective rate was 48.9 percent, up from 44.5 percent in 2012 but still far below the target of 70-75 percent.

Finally, although Kansas ranks high nationally in education attainment, there is evidence other states have been improving faster in recent years.

So, while Kansans are celebrating the achievement of graduates at all levels this spring, it is important to remember those who have not been as successful and redouble efforts to help them. That is a particularly important charge to school leaders after the Kansas Supreme Court and Legislature have directed significant new resources to help exactly those students. Let’s commit now to have many more students and families celebrating next year.

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Mark Tallman is the Associate Executive Director for Advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards.