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 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. That’s what I intend to do while believing our brightest days are yet to come. Yours in service,   Mann.House.Gov The Week Ahead The House is in session this week. Among other items, we will vote on, H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the U.S. Department of Energy develops a plan to increase oil and gas leases. Last year, while Americans faced skyrocketing prices at the pump, President Biden's Department of Energy sold more than one million barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to a Chinese Communist Party-affiliated company. Under the Biden Administration, the SPR has been depleted by 36% to its lowest level since 1984. This is unacceptable. The SPR was created for national security emergencies - not political points. The Strategic Production Response Act requires the Biden Administration to have a concrete plan to refill our SPR by unleashing domestic energy production following any non-emergency drawdown. I strongly support this legislation. It is time to end President Biden's war on fossil fuels and empower domestic producers to restore American energy independence. Eleven other pieces of legislation are up for consideration, including:  H. Con. Res. 7, a resolution commending the bravery, courage, and resolve of men and women of Iran for speaking out against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses. H.R. 255, the Federal Disaster Assistance Act. H.R. 388, the Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act. H.R. 399, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023. Meetings in the Office U.S. Coast Guard Salina Regional Airport K-State Salina Campus Tele-Town Hall this Thursday My first tele-town hall of the year is this Thursday, January 26, at 5:30PM CT. I'll be giving a Washington, D.C. update, recapping the first stops on my Mann Listening Tour last week, and taking questions from Kansans. If you'd like to listen or ask a question, call the number above or tune-in to my Facebook live Thursday evening. I'm looking forward to visiting with you! Click here to submit your tele-town hall questions.   Mann.House.Gov In the Office Biden Administration delays listing of Lesser Prairie-Chicken The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced that it's listing of the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) as threatened would be delayed by 60 days and would now go into effect on March 27, 2023. The announcement comes after Senator Marshall and I led a group of our colleagues in urging the USFWS to revoke the ruling altogether or to at least delay the ruling to allow for involved parties to effectively comply with the rule. We wrote: “An extension of the effective date will give industry stakeholders more time to participate in or expand voluntary conservation prior to the primary nesting season of the LPC…” If the federal government is going to hamstring producers with burdensome and unnecessary regulations, the people who feed, fuel, and clothe the world at least deserve ample time to prepare for compliance before regulations go into effect. The LPC ruling is nothing more than a proxy war on the U.S. oil and gas industry which will hurt our nation’s agricultural economy, hinder our oil and gas independence, increase utility costs, and prevent the development of renewable energy. We’ve won a small battle against the sudden implementation of an unfair rule, but we’re still fighting a war against both the LPC rule itself and government overreach in all its forms. Protecting the Right to Life This week, on the solemn 50-year anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision, I’m imagining what our country would look like economically, culturally, socially, and spiritually if abortion hadn’t wiped out an entire generation of Americans – nearly 64 million people over the last 50 years. Last year, I joined all pro-life Americans in celebrating when the Supreme Court finally overturned their Roe V. Wade decision with its ruling on Dobbs. Now, I cosponsor the Resolution Expressing Support for the Dobbs decision, which applauds the ruling, commits the House of Representatives to support pro-life policies, and commends the Justices who, in the face of intimidation and threats of violence, courageously stood by their allegiance to the Constitution. I also co-sponsor the Life at Conception Act, which declares that life begins at conception and secures the God-given right to life for unborn American citizens, who deserve legal protection under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. I will always stand up to defend life, no matter the cost, and I hope that it won’t take another 50 years for America to become a country that enshrines our most sacred and fundamental right – the right to life. A+ Rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life I am proud to have earned an A+ on both the Susan B. Anthony National Pro-Life Scorecard and the Students for Life Action Scorecard. In the 117th Congress, I fought back against the anti-life agenda of the Biden Administration at every opportunity. I voted against taxpayer-funded abortions and introduced legislation that would demand transparency and accountability on executive orders relating to abortion. I voted to permanently codify the Hyde Amendment into law and cosponsored the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act in the fall of 2022. In the 118th Congress, I am keeping up the fight to defend life. I cosponsored H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, and H. Con. Res. 3, Expressing the sense of Congress condemning the recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches, both of which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives two weeks ago. I am proud to be a pro-life member of Congress, and I will always support policies that protect unborn American citizens. It is horrifying that we need to address issues like these in a free country, but Washington Democrats have advocated for unthinkable, gruesome policies that constitute an all-out attack on human life. Our country has become desensitized to the horrors of abortion, but voters gave Republicans a pro-life majority in the House of Representatives for a reason – to fight back and protect the right to life. Read more here. H.J. Res. 12, the Balanced Budget Amendment Act Washington has a spending addiction, and voters gave Republicans control of the House of Representatives to do something about it. I am a proud cosponsor of H.J.Res. 12, the Balanced Budget Amendment Act, which would direct the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. This is a comprehensive, commonsense piece of legislation that mirrors the way businesses and families across the country budget for their operations every day. Republicans are honoring our Commitment to America, and I’m honoring my commitment to you. Bills like the Balanced Budget Act are a first step towards an economy that’s strong. Legislation to Amend the Security Exchange Act of 1934 In December 2022, I sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission demanding answers on their proposed requirement that issuers of securities make climate-related disclosures. Since my colleagues and I have received no response, I am now cosponsoring legislation that would prohibit the SEC from imposing such a rule. This politically motivated rule would hurt businesses, handcuff them with even more red tape, and diminish investors’ returns. Republicans are using our majority in the House to push back on bad ideas like this one and protect American businesses from big government overreach. We need an economy that’s strong, not an Administration that’s using the SEC to legislate from the executive branch. Summer 2023 Internship Applications Now Open My office is now accepting applications for Summer 2023 interns! Our internship program is one of the highlights of serving the Big First District. It is a privilege to offer Kansas students the opportunity to serve our state and learn more about the legislative process. Applicants may apply for the first session (May 22-June 30), the second session (July 3-August 11), or both. The deadline to apply for the Summer Internship session is March 12, 2023, at 5:00PM CT. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND TO APPLY. Questions? Contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2715 or email [email protected].   Mann.House.Gov In the District Mann Listening Tour Recap #1: Grant Co.; #2: Haskell Co.; #3 Morton Co.; #4 Stanton Co.; #5 Meade Co.; #6 Seward Co.; #7 Clark Co.; #8 Hodgeman Co.; #9 Rush Co.; #10 Stevens Co.; #11 Ness Co. Last week, I hit the road and hosted 11 town halls in 11 counties as part of my annual Mann Listening Tour. Thank you to everyone who met with me, and a special thank you to the people who hosted us. During the town halls, Kansans shared their concerns about the impending debt ceiling, federal regulations like the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken that are hindering agricultural producers, the ongoing southern border crisis, and the next Farm Bill. If it matters to a Kansan, it matters to me, which is why I'm actively working to address these issues. In the 118th Congress, I will uphold my Commitment to the Big First to get America back on track, advocate for agriculture, and advance our Kansas conservative values. It's clear that Washington, D.C. is out of touch with Kansans and middle America, which is why I'm bringing some Kansas common sense to Congress. I'm looking forward to hosting more town halls on the Mann Listening Tour in all 60 counties in the Big First District. When more town halls are scheduled, they will be posted in future E-newsletters and on my Facebook and Instagram. Welcome Home Ceremony for First Infantry Division, DIVARTY ADVON My staff had the privilege of helping welcome home soldiers with the First Infantry Division and DIVARTY ADVON from deployment last week. I'm thankful that each of them made it home safely, and even more so for their service to our country. God bless our military servicemembers. Farmers and Ranchers Breakfast Last week, I hosted a Farmers and Ranchers Breakfast in Dodge City. It was a special pleasure to see Ford County Commissioner Shawn Tasset, former Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George, and other agricultural leaders from the surrounding communities. As Congress prepares for the next Farm Bill, I value the opportunity to meet with Kansas agricultural producers who are in the middle of it every day - tirelessly working to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. It is an honor to advocate on behalf of Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers in Congress and on the House Agriculture Committee. Pride Ag, Jetmore It was great visiting Pride Ag in Jetmore last week. Originally formed in 1914 in Dodge City, Pride Ag (also known as the Dodge City Cooperation Exchange) has now expanded to 15 grain facilities-attached businesses and two stand-alone agronomy locations, an ACE Hardware store, and ownership in a multitude of other ventures. It has one of the largest memberships in Kansas with 5,500 members and more than 2,000 voting members. Thank you for hosting me! Kansas Dairy Ingredients, Hugoton Kansas Dairy Ingredients is a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of ultrafiltered concentrated milk products. Their industry knowledge lets them customize dairy ingredients for their customer's products. Their mission is to produce nutritious and wholesome milk with freshness, purity, and great taste. I enjoyed touring their facility in Hugoton and learning more about their operation. Ashland Health Center Ashland Health Center is a comprehensive, rural community health complex that has been providing care to the greater Ashland community for over 50 years. I had the opportunity to hear from their CEO, Sandi Wright, and members of their staff. Rural health care providers like AHC are vital to the health and well-being of rural communities in the Big First. I appreciate the great work they are doing and the chance to listen to their questions, comments, and concerns. Plains State Bank While I was in Liberal last week, I stopped by the Plains State Bank branch in town. The branch in Liberal is fully bilingual in Spanish and English, and ready to assist all customers in developing a healthy financial future. Thank you to President and CEO Gene Dikeman, Vice President and Market President Teresa Randle, and their entire staff for hosting me. Dodge City VA Clinic Thank you, Dr. Sameh Moawad and April Crocket with the Dodge City VA Clinic for meeting with me last week. The VA Clinic provides medical services to veterans in Dodge City and the surrounding areas in southwest Kansas. It is critical that our veterans receive the care and supprty they need. I'm grateful for the opportunity to visit with the clinic's health care providers and discuss how we can best serve our Kansas veterans. Fort Dodge Long-Term Care Located five miles east of Dodge City, Fort Dodge dates back to 1865 when it was ordered to be built as a supply post for people traveling the Santa Fe Trail. Today, the post serves veterans by offering a variety of services including 30 long-term care units, physical therapy, restorative care, and social services. A special thank you to Superintendent David Smith and his staff for giving me a tour of Halsey Hall at Soldiers' Home and for sharing about the incredible work Fort Dodge is doing to care for our veterans. In the News Brownfield Ag News: Congressman wants a legislative fix to WOTUS Rep.Mann joins "Coffee Talk" on 910 KINA Salina Radio Follow Me on Social Media: 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]