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, and I believe our brightest days are yet to come. Yours in service,   Mann.House.Gov In the District Visiting with Marshall, Washington, and Republic counties on the Mann Listening Tour On Monday, I hosted three town halls in Marshall, Republic, and Washington counties as part of my annual 60-county Mann Listening Tour. Kansans in attendance spoke about border security, employment shortages at rural hospitals, and access to broadband. I am actively working with my colleagues to hold President Biden accountable for his failed open-door policies at the southern border, I support legislation that addresses the nursing shortage, like H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, and I will continue to support legislation that makes meaningful investments in broadband access for rural communities. Sadly, the Biden Administration has no idea what matters to Kansans in the Big First. As your Representative, I will always fight to make sure your voice is heard in Washington, D.C. Thank you to everyone who met with me, and thanks to the individuals who helped make each town hall possible. Visiting Landoll Farm Equipment, Marysville, KS Landoll Corporation has been producing innovative, world-class manufacturing equipment for nearly 60 years. They design products and services for agriculture, transportation, material handling, OEM, and the U.S. Government. This family-owned company creates quality products built by quality people. It was a pleasure to meet with Don Landoll, Founder, Owner, and President of Landoll Corporation to learn more about their Kansas homegrown business. Touring Reinke Manufacturing, Belleville, KS Reinke Manufacturing started as a company on a family farm specializing in chicken houses and laminate rafters in 1954. Today, they are a global leader in irrigation products. Thank you to Chris Roth, President of Reinke Manufacturing, and his team for giving me a tour of the facility in Belleville and sharing about Reinke’s commitment to supplying American agricultural producers with the tools they need. Touring Stateline Dairy, Morrowville, KS It was great visiting Stateline Dairy and the Ohlde family about their new robot dairy operation. This innovative dairy site uses Lely robots, which their 600 cows enter each day to be milked whenever they choose. The family-owned operation was established in 1955 by Robert and Norma Ohlde with three Holsteins for an FFA project. It's inspiring to see how this Kansas farm has grown with each generation, and I'm grateful to the Ohlde family for the great work they're doing to feed our world. Visiting the Mark Nutsch Horse Soldier Monument and 9/11 Memorial It was a solemn privilege to visit the Mark Nutsch Horse Soldier Monument and the 9/11 Memorial in Washington, Kansas. The monument honors Washington County, Kansas native, Mark Nutsch, who led the post-9/11 Special Forces team known as the “Horse Soldiers” in fighting alongside Afghanistan's Northern Alliance against the Taliban. This monument is a small tribute to a great Kansan and American hero, and it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that our U.S. service members make to protect our freedoms. Thank you, Mark Nutsch, and all members of our U.S. military for your service and sacrifice.   Mann.House.Gov In the Office Fighting President Biden's overreaching lesser praire-chicken rule I refuse to sit idly by while the United States Fish and Wildlife Service imposes burdensome regulations on producers with no input from Congress. That's why last week, I led my colleagues in reintroducing the joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to strike down the Biden Administration's listing of the northern lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) as threatened under the Endangered Species List (ESA). The designation of the lesser prairie-chicken as a threatened species in places like Kansas is unacceptable. This resolution calls for an absolute refusal of this rule, which should have no force or effect until Congress is consulted. At a time when inflation is running rampant 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 hamstringing 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 to accept it. Read more about the legislation here. Relaunching the House Hunger Caucus I’m proud to re-establish the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus with my colleague Rep. McGovern and other Members of Congress equally committed to ending hunger. Since 2007, the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus has provided a forum for Members of Congress to discuss, advance, engage, and work across the aisle on issues related to domestic and international hunger and food insecurity.  No one wants people to go hungry. Growing up on my family’s farm in Kansas taught me the sacred responsibility of feeding people, which American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers tirelessly embrace every day. Hunger destabilizes countries, starts wars, eliminates markets, and causes human suffering; America benefits on multiple levels from making investments that address it. We can stop wars before they start, strengthen markets for American producers to sell their products, and save people from starvation. America is the leader of the free world, which comes with certain responsibilities; addressing global hunger is both the morally right and strategically wise thing to do. Click here to read more about the House Hunger Caucus. Protecting Health Care Services for U.S. Veterans Veterans are American heroes who deserve the highest standard of care and attention to their medical needs. H.R. 41, the VA Same Day Scheduling Act would guarantee that any veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system may schedule an appointment during the same day on which it is requested. We enjoy the freedoms we have thanks to the courage and dedication of veterans; this bill is a simple way to help make their lives easier. I cosponsor it because we must continue to support our American service members after they take off their uniforms. Click here to read more about the VA Same Day Scheduling Act. Reining in Wasteful Government Spending Federal spending is way out of control, and our deficit approaching $62 trillion proves it. I cosponsor two pieces of legislation that will help get our fiscal house back in order. H.Res. 96, the Transparency in Federal Spending Resolution, would amend House rules to prohibit the consideration of legislation that authorizes or makes appropriations unless the legislation outlines the funds authorized or appropriated. We need to make sure that we understand how much something costs before we vote on it – that’s common sense. H.R. 564, the Saving Taxpayers’ Money and Paying America’s Debts Act, would rescind unobligated funds across all federal agencies under the American Rescue Plan and direct those funds back to the Treasury for deficit reduction. Americans don’t deserve to have their hard-earned tax dollars wasted and misappropriated. It is time for Congress to tighten the purse strings and promote the careful stewardship of taxpayer money. Unleashing American Energy Production I am in favor of an “all of the above” energy strategy that prioritizes American energy independence, embraces fossil fuels and renewable energy, and doesn’t allow Washington to pick winners and losers. Last week, I sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Management and Budget regarding the year-round sale of E-15, which would lower prices at the pump and get America back on track toward energy independence. Since ethanol is an available, affordable, and renewable way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we must make it available year-round. Read the full text of the letter here.   Mann.House.Gov On the House Floor Representing the Big First on House Committees I am honored to serve on the House Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business committees. Now, it's time to get to work. Over the next two years, we need to reauthorize the Farm Bill and develop new trade agreements that benefit American producers. We need to reauthorize FAA and the Water Resources Development Act, protect producers from a burdensome and overreaching definition of the Waters of the United States, and ensure that our small and regional airports have the support they need. We also need to maintain the stepped-up basis, return money to small businesses that would have been allocated instead to IRS watchdogs, and ensure that small businesses have a fair shot at government contracts. I will be working on a wide variety of issues, but I’m bringing the same Kansas conservative approach to all of them: honesty, hard work, respect for your roots, service, simplicity, genuine thoughtful care for people, and common sense. Listen to my full remarks on the House Floor below:   Mann.House.Gov Kansans in the Office K-State President Richard Linton It’s always great to have fellow Wildcats in D.C.! I had the privilege of meeting with KSU President Richard Linton, Vice President of Executive Affairs Marshall Stewart, Vice President of Research David Rosowsky, President/CEO of the Alumni Association Amy Button Renz and Chief Government Relations Officer Sue Peterson. We discussed the University’s priorities and innovative research efforts; KSU is conducting groundbreaking research and shaping the future of agriculture. These opportunities to sit down with President Linton and leaders on KSU’s campus are vitally important as Congress prepares to reauthorize the next Farm Bill. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, and for the incredible work you’re doing for KSU students, the state of Kansas, and the future of agriculture. Haskell Indian Nations University It was a privilege meeting with Haskell Indian Nations University while they were in D.C. for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Annual Legislative Summit. Haskell was founded in 1884 as an educational program focusing on agricultural education. Today, Haskell serves the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people from across the United States. It’s an honor to represent Haskell now that they are in the Big First District.  Thank you, Interim President Dr. Frank Arpan, members of the Haskell National Board of Regents, and faculty and students for visiting with me about critical issues that are important to Haskell and other Tribal Colleges and Universities across the country. I look forward to working together. Ducks Unlimited It’s always a pleasure meeting with Ducks Unlimited, the leader in the restoration, management, and conservation of wetlands.  They know that agricultural producers are the original conservationists, and I am grateful for the work they do to encourage the voluntary conservation of our resources and empower local producers. Agricultural Retailers Association When I met with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) this week, we discussed issues facing agricultural producers like workforce shortages, supply chain issues, and the next Farm Bill. As a member of both the House Agriculture and House Transportation and Infrastructure committees, I am always glad to hear from leaders in agriculture like ARA, and I am grateful for the work that they are doing. Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center It was great meeting with Darin Altenberg, the elected Kansas representative for the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC). We talked about the importance of supporting local law enforcement and the role that the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) plays in public safety. Thank you, Darin, for meeting with me and for your service to Kansas communities. Kansas Independent College Association Thank you, Kansas Independent College Association, for taking the time to meet with me this week. KICA supports students as they choose an independent college education that fits their goals and financial plans. I appreciated hearing about their current initiatives and discussing how to ensure that all Kansas students have educational opportunities available to them after high school.   Mann.House.Gov 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 about the internship program? Contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2715. 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 | 522 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]