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Fellow Kansan,
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I’m excited to update you on my work in Washington, D.C. and the First District of Kansas.
It is an honor to represent Kansans in the Big First District in the 118th Congress. I do not serve in Congress to be a caretaker in the slow demise of America – I serve to fight and work to make it stronger, and I believe our brightest days are yet to come.
Yours in service,
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The House is back in session this week with votes happening Tuesday through Friday. House Republicans are keeping our commitment to America and prioritizing the safety of our country. That's why Congress will vote on H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023 this week. Since his first day in office, President Biden has actively worked to implement open border policies that have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history and turned every American community into a border community. Here are the facts:
- Since President Biden took office, there have been more than 5 MILLION illegal crossings of our southern border.
- More than 1.3 MILLION illegal immigrants have evaded apprehension at our southern border.
- Customs and Border Patrol have seized more than 14,000 pounds of fentanyl coming across the southwest border - enough to kill more than 3.1 billion people.
One of the top issues that Kansans bring up is the ongoing crisis at the southern border. I made a Commitment to the Big First to uphold a nation that's safe. H.R. 2 will force the Biden Administration to resume construction of the border wall, increase the number of brave Border Patrol agents, protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking, and terminate catch-and-release. The Secure the Border Act is a commonsense step toward a safer nation.
Other legislation that is up for consideration this week includes H.R. 1163, the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act. With our national debt at $31 trillion and the Biden Administration deficit-spending over $1 trillion every year, it’s high time Congress takes a look at places where we can claw money back from fraud. This legislation would incentivize state workforce agencies to pursue investigations and prosecutions around Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud by allowing states to retain 25% of fraudulent federal funds recovered.
Committee Activity this Week:
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House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Hearing: "Stakeholder Perspectives on Agriculture Trade"
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House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Hearing: “The Future of Digital Assets: Measuring the Regulatory Gaps in the Digital Asset Markets”
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House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Hearing: "Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges to Deliver for America"
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House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Hearing: “Getting Back on Track: Exploring Rail Supply Chain Resilience and Challenges”
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House Small Business Committee Hearing: "Taking on More Risk: Examining the Small Business Association's Changes to the 7(a) Lending Program Pt I"
Meetings in the Office:
- Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series
- Kansas Backcountry Hunters and Anglers & Land and Water Conservation Fund
- NORPAC, U.S.-Israel Alliance
- General Aviation Manufacturers Association
- National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
- Textron eAviation
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Kansas Food & Agriculture Listening Tour
with House Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson
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Thank you to those who attended my Kansas Food and Agricultural Listening Session last week with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson and more than 150 agricultural producers and stakeholders. Chairman Thompson and I hosted this event because we care about American agriculture, we care about getting agricultural policy right, and we want to see American farmers, ranchers, and producers thrive. We had people with many different perspectives in attendance – people who prioritize Title 1 and people who prioritize Title 12, people who care about row crops and people who care about livestock, representatives from commodity groups, and representatives from trade associations.
This session was a rich, multi-faceted picture of American agriculture, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to gather in a wheat field in Kansas to participate.
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Discussion Panel on Global Food Security with
Farm Journal Foundation
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As part of the Kansas Food and Agriculture Tour, Chairman Thompson and I participated on a panel about the role of research in global food security. The Farm Journal Foundation and Kansas State University hosted the event.
Investing in agricultural innovation and research today creates a stronger safety net for both producers and people around the world tomorrow. Producers know that their businesses live or die by their ability to innovate and adapt, and since our national security depends in large part on our food security, the return on investment of agricultural research dollars is unparalleled. Institutions like my alma mater, Kansas State University, understand this well, as they pave the way for conducting cutting-edge research in food and agriculture.
It was an honor to host Chairman Thompson in Kansas to showcase Kansas' rich agricultural contributions and heritage. Thank you to the Farm Journal Foundation for providing this opportunity to elevate the importance of agricultural research, innovation, and food security as Congress works to address critical problems and reauthorize the Farm Bill.
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Visiting the American Royal | |
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Last week, Chairman Thompson and I visited the American Royal, which provides opportunities for nearly half a million youth and adults from around the world to engage in high-quality events and experiences like livestock shows, youth and professional rodeos, youth outreach, and more. Strong leaders in American agriculture advance our country’s food security, and American Royal is equipping our next generation of agricultural leaders with world-class educational and professional training.
It was a pleasure to meet with Jackie McClaskey, President and CEO, and the entire board at the American Royal. Thank you for hosting us!
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Meeting with Dairy Farmers of America | |
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Chairman Thompson and I also had a chance to meet with Dairy Farmers of America. DFA is composed of 11,000 dairy farms from across the country. Their mission is to help dairy farmers succeed from one generation to the next and find innovative ways to connect people with fresh American dairy products.
Chairman Thompson and I tasted some delicious milk ourselves at the DFA Milk Bar! Thank you, DFA for your advocacy on behalf of American dairy farmers.
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Participating in a Farm Bill Roundtable with the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City | |
The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City hosted Chairman Thompson and me at a Farm Bill roundtable last week at the Dairy Farmers of America Headquarters. The group advocates for Kansas and Missouri food, fiber, and fuel producers, and for agri-science and related industries. Both Chairman Thompson and I were encouraged and inspired by their creativity and dedication. Kansas agricultural producers have a strong team of supporters on this council, and I look forward to working with them as we work to reauthorize a strong Farm Bill. | |
Meeting with Seaboard Corporation | |
Seaboard Corporation is an international company specializing in pork production, shipping, and grain processing. Chairman Thompson and I had a great meeting with their team where we learned about their cutting-edge technology, business strategy, and commitment to Kansas agricultural producers. Thank you for hosting us! | |
Cboe is the world's go-to derivatives and exchange network, delivering cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe works with assets in multiple classes including equities and digital assets. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, I was particularly interested to hear about their work on cryptocurrency. Chairman Thompson and I are grateful for their insights as we consider legislation relating to digital assets, including legislation before the House Agriculture Committee this week. | |
U.S. Senate Passes Rep. Mann's Lesser Prairie-Chicken Legislation, Passes in House Natural Resources Committee | |
I'm pleased that my legislation to strike down the Biden Administration's listing of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken passed in the House Natural Resources Committee and will now go to the House Floor for consideration. It is equally encouraging to see that the Senate version passed in the U.S. Senate last week. At a time when inflation is at a 40-year high and families are struggling to fuel their cars while keeping food on their tables, we should be working to eliminate barriers for the agriculture and energy sectors, not hamstring hardworking Americans with government overreach. Since this rule threatens the livelihoods of the men and women who feed, fuel, and clothe us all, I hope that all my colleagues in Congress will join me in refusing it. | |
Protecting American National Security from Cyber Attacks | |
America’s enemies are using every tool at their disposal, including cyber-attacks, to undermine our national security, disrupt our infrastructure, damage our economy, and hurt our citizens. The United States of America must not shy away from holding foreign governments accountable when they conduct cyber-attacks on American citizens. The Homeland and Cyber Threat (HACT) Act, which I support, would allow claims to be brought in federal or state court against foreign states that conduct or participate in cyberattacks against American citizens. Foreign state actors do not deserve immunity in our federal courts – American citizens, rather, deserve the right to fight back against foreign cyber-attacks in the courts of the United States. | |
Letter to Biden Administration to Make Improvements to the Federal Railroad Administration | |
When American companies are willing to test innovative, automated track safety technology while they keep America running, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) should not deny them the ability to do so. I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to FRA Administrator Bose requesting that the FRA reinstate waivers that promote the use of automated track inspection (ATI) safety technology by freight railroads. Specifically, the letter asks the FRA to return to supporting testing of automated track safety technology and includes specific oversight requests to hold the FRA accountable. I am proud to represent Kansans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and to stand up for making commonsense improvements to our country’s infrastructure system. | |
Happening Across the Country | |
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Freedom isn't free. It's paid for by the sacrifices of brave men and women who have fought and died to protect it. Please join me in honoring the courageous American heroes in the Big First District who have served and are currently serving our country. Every day, we are grateful for all that you do to protect our freedoms. Let us never take them for granted.
God bless our military service members.
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Ever since I was a boy, ranchers have been some of my heroes. I am a fifth-generation Kansan and grew up on my family’s preconditioning feedlot and family farm in Quinter, Kansas. My family still operates that feed yard and lives in the same house that I grew up in, which my great-great-grandfather ordered from a Montgomery Ward Catalogue. I understand the grit, tenacity, and courage it takes to make a living in agriculture, and the burden of responsibility for feeding the world that comes along with that. May is National Beef Month, and the Big First ranks number one in the country for the value of cattle and calf sales, at more than $9 billion annually. There are more than 4.4 million cattle and calves on ranches and feed yards in the Big First, and the ranchers who work tirelessly in the face of bad weather, animal disease, and market challenges deserve our respect and gratitude. Happy National Beef Month! | |
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Manhattan Office
317 Houston Street
Suite A
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 370-7277
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Dodge City Office
100 Military Avenue
Suite 203
Dodge City, KS 37801
Phone: (620) 682-7340
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Washington, D.C. Office
344 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2715
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If I can do anything to help you, please reach out to my office.
Sincerely,
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