Message from Rep. Tracey Mann. Having Trouble Viewing? Click Here. Fellow Kansan, Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I’m excited to update you on my work in Washington, D.C., and in the First District of Kansas. Please feel free to share this email with family and friends who may be interested. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please contact my office - my staff and I are here and ready to assist you. Yours in service,   Mann.House.Gov The Week Ahead Congress is back in session this week, and I am in Washington, D.C. ready to work on behalf of Kansans in the Big First District. The House convened Monday evening and will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for legislative business. Committee Meetings The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a markup to consider legislation relating to wait times for veterans seeking community care and enhancing clothing allowances for veterans who are disabled. Meetings in the Office National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S. Wheat, and the Food Aid Working Group U.S. Custom Harvesters Harvesters - The Community Food Network Kansas Wesleyan University During the October district work period, I met with folks from Gove County and Trego County for town hall discussions. My team and I have now hosted a town hall in all 63 counties of the Big First. My heart lies in Kansas, which is why I love spending time with Kansans when I’m back home, and why I love advocating for agriculture and our Kansas conservative values when I’m in Washington, D.C. When it feels like our country is straying further from our founding principles, Kansas shines through as the pilot light for freedom. I believe that as long as Kansas continues to shine, our brightest days are yet to come.   Mann.House.Gov In the Office Mark your calendars: Tele-Town Hall Join me at 4:30PM CT on Thursday, December 1, 2022, for a live tele-town hall. I will answer questions from Kansans and deliver an update on what is happening in Washington, D.C. If you have questions about the tele-town hall, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2715. Hope to talk with you soon! Follow me on Facebook for updates about Tele-Town Halls. In the District Veterans Day Ceremony in Manhattan It was an honor to speak at the Veterans Day ceremony in Manhattan. There are 41,000 veterans living in the Big First District, which is why I’m so proud to serve on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. As a member of the committee, I've introduced legislation that would enhance services for homeless veterans and bolster the counseling services that the VA can offer in regional offices around the country. Our nation's heroes deserve the highest quality of care and support. America is the greatest nation on earth because of the sacrifices of the servicemen and women that we honor today. They risked their lives to protect and defend the ideals that we hold dear – liberty and justice for all. God bless our veterans. Lincoln County Farm Bureau Visit Thank you, Lincoln County Farm Bureau, for having me at your meeting last week. Local farm bureau members serve as the boots on the ground in their communities. It is always great to catch up and speak with Kansas producers to learn how I can best serve them in Congress. During my meeting with the Lincoln County Farm Bureau, I also met with Lincoln County FFA members, State Representative Troy Waymaster, and State Senator Elaine Bowers.  If you would like me to join you at your meeting or event, please contact our Washington, D.C. office.   Mann.House.Gov Happening Across the Country The families of the U.S. military and veterans are often the unsung heroes of our country. Their resilience strengthens our military force, and they make selfless sacrifices for our country. November is a time to recognize our military families and acknowledge the challenges that they face. I am honored to represent the military families at Fort Riley and all across the Big First District. Thank you for your service to our country. National Rural Health Week Access to health care providers and resources is critical to rural communities in the Big First District and across the country. This week is National Rural Health Week, and I am focusing on addressing the unique health care challenges in rural America. Throughout Kansas and the United States, hospitals and other health care facilities are experiencing workforce shortages that are causing considerable strain on our health care system. In October, I sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the prohibition of the operation of power-driven patient lifts on Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) employees under the age of 18. My letter urges the Department of Labor to remove the power-driven patient lifts from the list of prohibited machinery, in order to allow for more CNAs under the age of 18 to serve in their respective health care capacities. If we want to improve the health of those in the Big First, and in rural areas all around the country, we need to start by expanding employment opportunities and targeting the workforce shortage in high-demand health care occupations like CNAs. Read the full text of the letter here. Since January 2021, I have proudly supported several pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen rural health development including: H.R. 8565 - Rural HELP Act H.R. 6700 - Critical Access Hospital Relief Act H.R. 5883 - Rural Health Fairness in Competition Act H.R. 5660 - Fairness for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Act H.R. 2256 - Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act Convenient access to health care is essential in rural America. Telehealth has helped us break down barriers to accessing care, and I believe that it is imperative to the health of the Big First. That is why I have supported several telehealth bills such as: H.R. 1332 - Telehealth Modernization Act H.R. 2903 - CONNECT for Health Act H.R. 366 - Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act H.R. 2168 - Expanded Telehealth Access Act H.R. 5981 - the Telehealth Expansion Act Happy National Rural Health Week, and thank you to all of the health care providers in Kansas who are working tirelessly to serve our rural communities. Follow Me on Social Media: CONSTITUENT SERVICES     Manhattan Office 121 South 4th Street Suite 205 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 522 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. 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