Message from Rep. Tracey Mann. Having Trouble Viewing? Click Here. Fellow Kansan, Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I’m pleased 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,   Mann.House.Gov   This Week This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is back in session, House Republicans are pushing forward with their Commitment to America, and I am working to advance my Commitment to the Big First. Congress needs to create an economy that’s strong. This week, the House passed legislation to reclaim unspent and fraudulently paid COVID relief dollars. Congress needs to create a nation that’s safe. The House is also considering legislation to block the federal government from housing illegal immigrants on America's federal lands. Congress needs to create a future that’s built on freedom. The House is considering legislation to re-freeze the $6 billion in liquid Iranian assets that President Biden released as part of the 2023 hostage deal. We need to ensure that the funds remain permanently off-limits to the Iranian regime and its funding of Hamas. Earlier this week, the House passed legislation to reaffirm the State of Israel’s right to exist and call on Hamas to release all hostages immediately. Congress needs to create a government that’s accountable. The House passed legislation to increase accountability at the Small Business Administration. Congress has a lot of work to do to get our country back on track. We all want our grandchildren to live in a country that still stands for freedom, and I serve in Congress to work towards building that future.     On the House Floor Farm Bill Impact Series: Reauthorizing a Five-Year Farm Bill Many people in Washington have forgotten about the importance of a five-year Farm Bill. A five-year Farm Bill is long enough to provide certainty to producers and short enough for Congress to respond to market changes and strengthen the farm safety net. The last Farm Bill was signed on December 20, 2018, and a lot has changed since then. We have seen a global pandemic devastate the supply chain, war between Russia and Ukraine, the Biden Administration’s failed trade agenda, inflation hit a record high, and some of the worst drought conditions in decades. We need a five-year Farm Bill to address these changes. American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers deserve it, America’s food and national security depend on it, and Congress must deliver it. If you think about a safety net, the higher the risk, the higher the fall, and the stronger the safety net you need to survive. Producers’ risk levels are at an all-time high because of inflation, input costs, and other market changes. The livelihoods of American producers and consumers are on the line right now, and that means our food security and national security are on the line, too. American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers need certainty like never before – and Congress must deliver for them with a five-year Farm Bill. Watch my full remarks on the House Floor below. Click here for my full statement on the importance of a five-year Farm Bill.     In the Office Advocating for American Entrepreneurs As Congress works to reduce and reprioritize government spending, American small business owners need certainty and stability to invest in their workers, equipment, and facilities. Yesterday, I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Johnson requesting the inclusion of certain tax provisions in any potential end-of-year tax package. Those provisions include full research and development (R&D) expensing, full capital expensing, and a pro-growth interest deductibility rule. They help American entrepreneurs innovate and create jobs, and I want to make sure that my colleagues are fully aware of their vital impact on small businesses. Click here to read the letter. Defending American Pork Producers On June 30, 2021, American pork processing plants were ordered to cut back on their production due to an unsubstantiated worker safety issue with production line speed. On March 4, 2022, nearly nine months after the Court ordered the plants to slow down production, the first plant was allowed to return to its former line speed for a 12-month time-limited trial (TLT). Back in February, and then once again this month, I sent letters urging the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend the TLT for pork processing plants and find a permanent solution, avoiding future unnecessary hits to our nation's hog farmers and the pork processing capacity they rely on. This week, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service finally announced that pork processing facilities will have 90 more days to operate under the original line speeds. During that time, USDA plans to collect and submit more data on the impact of these line speeds on workers. While this is good news, 90 days is not enough. Without a permanent solution for pork processing plants, American pork producers will once again face lost market leverage, fewer options for selling their hogs, potential contract cancellations, and greater transportation costs. America’s family farmers, food supply chain, and consumers need the certainty that our pork processing capacity will remain strong, and plants will not be forced to reduce production and cut back on hog purchasing. As the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, I am still urging USDA to develop a permanent solution for these facilities that allows them to function at full operational capacity. Defunding Iran, Defending Israel Today, I voted yes on H.R. 5961, the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, which would permanently freeze the $6 billion that the Biden Administration released to the Iranian regime in September 2023. Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and Congress must strip its regime of resources and block its funding streams. Iran’s regime deploys its funding to purchase missiles, ramp up nuclear capabilities, sponsor terrorism, commit human rights violations, and destabilize the security of America and our democratic allies like Israel. By freezing these liquid assets, this legislation will prevent billions of dollars from funding terror. Earlier this week, I also voted yes on legislation I cosponsor, H. Res. 793, Calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during October 2023 attack on Israel, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 414-0, and H. Res. 888, Reaffirming the State of Israel’s right to exist, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 412-1.  I am praying for an end to the conflict in Israel, for all hostages to be returned home safely, and for a restoration of peace.     In the District ICYMI: November Ag Hero of the Month, Dick Gehring This Month’s Ag Hero is Dick Gehring from Harvey County, who operates Black Kettle Buffalo near Moundridge, raising the Kansas state animal – the American buffalo. Dick has been working with bison (American buffalo) since 1980, caring for the animals to produce nutrient-dense meat. Bison are native to the Great Plains, and they graze year-round, which keeps the prairie grasses and soil healthy while blocking invasive species from taking over. Dick exemplifies the attention to detail, honesty, hard work, and respect for tradition that are the hallmarks of American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Thanks to bison producers like Dick, the Kansas state animal will be thriving on the Great Plains for many years to come. Click here to read more about Dick Gehring. Serving Kansans in the Big First As the representative for the Big First District, I am here to serve you. Since 2021, my team and I have solved more than 2,700 casework issues for Kansans. My office is here to answer any questions you have about legislation in Congress, listen to your comments and concerns, offer learning experiences for young Kansas leaders, and more. Here are a few ways that we are happy to assist you: Navigating a federal agency Expediting a passport Resolving a federal tax matter Seeking a military academy nomination Applying for a student internship in Kansas and Washington, D.C. Learning more about pending legislation Visiting our nation's capitol If you need assistance, please call my office or send an email through my website. We are here and ready to serve you. Contact my office today.     Happening Across the Country Pro-life Policies are Saving Lives A study published last week reported that 32,000 innocent lives have been saved since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to overturn the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade that federally legalized abortion services across the country. This ruling was a gross overreach of the federal government's power, it stripped away the states' right to decide, and 62 million American children were robbed of their right to life because of it. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a monumental win for the pro-life movement, and now we are seeing thousands of lives being saved because of it. Our country is founded on the right to life. We believe all people are created equally and given the right to life by our Creator. Every life has value, and I will always fight to protect the lives of all Americans - born and unborn. Click here to read about pro-life legislation I've supported. Click here to read more about the study. CONSTITUENT SERVICES     Manhattan Office 317 Houston Street Suite A Manhattan, KS 66502 Phone: (785) 370-7277 Dodge City Office 100 Military Avenue Suite 203 Dodge City, KS 37801 Phone: (620) 682-7340 Washington, D.C. Office 344 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515  Phone: (202) 225-2715 If I can do anything to help you, please reach out to my office. Sincerely,   Rep. Mann | 344 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]