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,
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Reining in President Biden's ATF,
Protecting the Second Amendment
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Since President Biden can’t just do away with the Second Amendment, he's turned to shutting down our local gun stores.
The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been using what they call a zero-tolerance policy to shut down small and mid-sized gun stores across the country, including right here in the Big First. It is destroying livelihoods for political gain and trampling on the Constitution in the process.
Last week, I introduced legislation to put a stop to that. The Reining in Federal Licensing Enforcement (RIFLE) Act will protect our mom-and-pop gun store owners from the ATF’s abuse of power.
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Federal Firearm Licensees (FFL) are America’s first line of defense for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. President Biden's zero-tolerance policy is a substantial deviation from the ATF’s long history of partnering with FFLs, and it has made it even harder for them to do their job. I'm also proud to co-sponsor the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act, which would enhance penalties for individuals stealing firearms from an FFL dealer. As crime rises across the country, we must hold bad actors accountable for their actions, not punish law-abiding citizens, and restrict their ability to defend themselves and their families. | |
Fighting Reckless Government Spending | |
Last week, I voted against another continuing resolution because we cannot afford to pass another band-aid that will only add fuel to the $34 trillion debt crisis.
I remain committed to reducing and reprioritizing federal government spending, securing the southern border, and ending the weaponization of the federal government.
Congress needs to stop kicking the can down the road, address the situation, return to regular order, and pass 12 individual appropriation bills.
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Protecting the Right to Life | |
The right to life is self-evident. As a father, Christian, and American, I am proud to stand for the right to life.
Last week, I helped pass two pro-life pieces of legislation that protect the unborn and provide life-saving resources. The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act would require colleges and universities to inform pregnant women on campus of their rights and resources, and the Supporting Pregnant Women and Parenting Women and Families Act would prohibit the Biden Administration from restricting federal resources for pregnancy centers.
As the member of Congress for the Big First District, I’ll continue to advocate on behalf of our most vulnerable Americans – our children.
ICYMI: Watch my Mann Minute
celebrating the right to life.
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I’m also proud to have earned an A+ rating on the Susan B. Anthony pro-life scorecard. The right to life is the foundation on which all other rights are built. I will always defend the lives of unborn Americans, stop hard-earned taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortion and support life-giving resources. | |
President Biden's Failed Leadership at the Southern Border | |
President Biden has made our southern border a wide-open welcome mat, and he has done so with disregard for law and order. Since President Biden took office, there have been more than seven million illegal encounters at our southern border. There have been two million known got-aways – just the people we know about, who avoided apprehension and entered our country illegally. That 9 million represents nearly 13 congressional districts and is over three times the population of Kansas.
Kansans are rightfully concerned about the border crisis, and I share their outrage. It is time for President Biden to wake up to reality and fix the problem at our southern border. House Republicans did our job. We passed legislation which would finish construction on our southern border, hire additional border security agents, and reinstate the Remain in Mexico Policy.
If President Biden wanted to, he could end the crisis today, but he continues to put his partisan agenda ahead of the safety of Americans.
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Addressing Problematic Railroad Crossings, Safety Issues | |
Kansas is served by more than 4,600 miles of active railway, 4 class one railroads, 13 shortlines, and 2 switching terminal railroads. Moving goods across the state and country is vital to sustaining our livelihoods and driving the economy. But, there are ways to improve the relationship between rural communities and the railways that are near them. During last week's House Transporation and Infrastructure Committee's hearing, I thanked railroad leaders for their service but also discussed Kansans concerns about how blocked railroad crossings can cause severe delays in commutes and for emergency vehicles. I asked them how we can alleviate issues like this, prioritize safety, and still utilize more railway transportation to bolster our nation's supply chains. | |
Reviewing the State of Transportation
and U.S. Supply Chain
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As the geographic center of the country, the Big First District offers excellent transportation advantages for many industries. Over the last several years, there have been a number of regulatory proposals that have disrupted the nation's supply chain, created undue burdens on American businesses, and increased massive delays in the shipping of goods. Instead of focusing on these issues, the Biden Administration chooses to focus on more regulations that will only add to more burdens on the supply chain.
Last week, the House Transportation Committee held a hearing to examine the current state of U.S. transportation and supply chain. I asked leaders in the transportation industry how burdensome policies have affected them, and what they believe can be done to help remove the red tape hindering their ability to do their jobs.
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Unleashing Capital Access for Main Street | Those of us in the Big First District know all too well that our livelihoods often depend on forces outside of our control. Droughts, floods, and geopolitical events and conflicts can drastically impact markets overnight. That’s why for decades, end users — like farmers and ranchers — have used derivatives to hedge against volatility. Hedging common risks like volatility in the prices of things, interest rate fluctuations, and input cost increases are vital for maintaining stable prices from the combined to the consumer. During a House Small Business Committee hearing last week, I asked American small business owners how safety net policies have benefitted them, and how Congress can support small businesses. | |
Kansas Ag Hero: Brent Rogers | |
If we want agriculture to succeed, we must support today’s producers and invest in the next generation. Brent Rogers, a corn farmer in Sheridan County, embodies this ideal. On top of running his own farm, Brent is an active leader in his community and is committed to helping other agricultural producers succeed. Brent works tirelessly to ensure that Kansas agriculture continues to thrive. That is why he is this month's Kansas Ag Hero.
Brent says that his family members showcased passion for agriculture and taught him how to have perseverance, grit, and a pioneering spirit. He says it is that spirit that has helped generations of Kansans pave the way for others involved in production agriculture. Today, Brent relies on those qualities to also pave a wider road for the generation that follows. I'm honored to represent Kansas farmers like Brent, who are preserving Kansas agriculture and our rural way of life.
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Happening Across the Country | |
International Holocaust Remembrance Day | |
January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. On this day, we remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of others who were killed by Nazi persecution. After witnessing the brutality of a Nazi concentration camp himself, Kansas native Dwight D. Eisenhower wisely stated that the world must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. Now more than ever, we must remember the stain that the Holocaust left on history and fight against such evil from ever occurring again.
We will never forget.
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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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