Real Estate Information Archive

Kansans remain frustrated by the high cost of energy, including gasoline, and the lack of progress toward finding solutions.

This Week in Congress

By Congressman Jerry Moran

June 30, 2008

www.jerrymoran.house.gov

Dear Friend,

            Welcome to “This Week in Congress.” Kansans remain frustrated by the high cost of energy, including gasoline, and the lack of progress toward finding solutions. Like Kansans, I am bothered by the partisan politics that prevent Congress from finding solutions to these critical problems. Click here to read about efforts I support to reduce the cost of energy and click here to vote in my online poll. I hope you find this newsletter useful.

House Passes Fixes for Pharmacies, Medical Providers

            I supported House passage of legislation this week to improve Medicare regulations for patients and health care providers. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act includes several important fixes for health care providers in Kansas. As a founder of the Congressional Community Pharmacy Caucus, I am especially pleased with the provisions of this bill that help community pharmacists. The legislation requires pharmacies to be reimbursed in a timely manner for prescriptions already dispensed to patients. The bill also delays the implementation of the Average Manufacturing Price payment system, which would reimburse pharmacists for less than what it costs to fill Medicaid prescriptions. In addition, the bill suspends the current bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment. The current program could compromise Kansans’ access to equipment and create more overhead costs for equipment providers.

            It also suspends for 18 months a reduction in Medicare payments to physicians, establishes new grants for mental health services to Iraq war veterans in rural areas and begins a demonstration program for integrating care in rural communities. These changes will help keep health care professionals on a level playing field whether they are serving patients in rural or urban areas. It will also help keep the doors open to local hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. The Senate now needs to quickly pass this bill.

Disaster Declaration Requested for Chapman, Manhattan and Other Communities

            On Thursday, Governor Sebelius formally asked the federal government to provide disaster assistance to 49 Kansas counties that suffered damage from severe storms and tornadoes beginning May 22 and ending June 16. I have urged President Bush to quickly approve the assistance so that public buildings and infrastructure can be repaired.

            The day after tornadoes and strong storms rolled through central and northeast Kansas, I visited Chapman and Manhattan to view the damage. I returned to Chapman the following day to encourage residents. The destruction was great in these two communities, but many other Kansas towns have also suffered. The request for federal assistance is welcome news to Kansans that live in these storm-damaged communities.

            The request asks for assistance for the following counties: Barber, Bourbon, Butler, Brown, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Franklin, Gove, Graham, Harper, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jewell, Kiowa, Lincoln, Linn, Logan, Meade, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Saline, Seward, Sheridan, Smith, Stafford, Sumner, Thomas, Trego and Wallace.

Pressing Air Force Officials to Rebid Tanker Contract

            After upholding Boeing’s protest last week of the Air Force’s decision to award the aerial refueling tanker contract to Northrop Grumman and Europe’s EADS, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said Wednesday that Boeing would have likely won the bid had significant errors not been made. The findings of the GAO report are disturbing. It is critical the Air Force start this competition over and work to make it right.

            Together with other Members of Congress, I asked the Air Force Acting Secretary to take into account all of the GAO findings and re-open a fair competition in a manner that corrects the significant errors identified by the GAO. According to the GAO report, the Air Force failed to judge the competitive bids based on the Air Force’s own evaluation criteria, made significant mistakes in considering the life cycle costs of each of the two aircraft and “conducted misleading and unequal discussions with Boeing.” I also joined Congressman Todd Tiahrt this week in introducing legislation that directs the Department of Defense to begin a new competition on the tanker contract if the Air Force fails to award the contract to Boeing. The legislation calls on the Department of Defense to take into account national security, industrial base concerns and foreign subsidies in the new competition.

            Click here to view my remarks after the GAO upheld Boeing’s protest.

Supporting the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration Act

            This week, I supported House passage of legislation that will ensure the right for all people to be evaluated on their job performance. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Restoration Act restores the law to Congress’ original intent by harmonizing the ADA with other civil rights laws and requiring the courts to interpret the law fairly. Overly broad court interpretations have weakened the law by allowing employers to say a person is “too disabled” to do the job but not “disabled enough” to be protected by the law. The ADA Restoration Act will correct this problem.

            I spoke on the House floor about the need for these reforms and was able to share the thoughts expressed by former Senator Bob Dole, a true disability rights advocate, on the passage of the original ADA in 1990. Click here to view my comments in support of this bill.

Emergency Grazing of CRP Acres Approved for Kansas Counties

            Producers in eight Kansas counties received good news this week when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a request for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. Producers in Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Morton, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens and Wallace Counties are now eligible to begin sign-up for emergency grazing of CRP acres. Producers in these Kansas counties are enduring months of drought. Allowing producers to graze CRP acres will help them maintain their herds during this time of extreme conditions.

            Emergency grazing is allowed through September 30, 2008. All livestock must be removed by the end of the grazing period. According to the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA), producers must not graze at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields or graze no more than 75 percent of the stocking rate. Producers participating in the emergency grazing will also face a 25 percent reduction in the annual rental payment for the grazed acres. Producers should visit their local FSA office for information about the restrictions on use and to begin the sign-up process.

Celebrating the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy Expansion

            I was in Wichita on Monday to participate in the ceremonial signing of state legislation that will allocate $20 million in bonds plus an additional $39 million for the expansion of the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. The funding will also allow the School of Pharmacy to conduct more pharmaceutical research. With the expansion of the school, nearly 200 more students will be able to enter the pharmacy program at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita and at a new building on the main campus in Lawrence. At a time when pharmacists are struggling to keep their doors open, the pharmacy expansion is a ray of hope for the profession and our state.

            KU has a strong record for retaining graduates within our state. Sixty-three percent of KU Pharmacy graduates live and work in Kansas. Increasing the educational capacity will give more students an opportunity to learn and will also help address the pharmacist shortage in Kansas. I would like to commend the leadership and faculty at KU and the Kansas State Legislature for having the foresight to invest in such a worthwhile project. Being with KU officials also allowed me the opportunity to encourage additional enrollments within the School of Medicine in order to better help Kansans meet the need for physicians, especially primary care doctors.

            Before attending the ceremony, I attended a meeting of the Downtown Rotary Club in Wichita. It was good to join fellow Rotarians for a discussion of current issues.

Testifying about Unique Health Care Challenges in Rural America

            I had the opportunity again this week to testify before a congressional subcommittee about the unique challenges Kansans face in getting the health care they need. It is important for Congress to understand the circumstances of rural health care delivery as we look at ways to improve health care across the country. An aging population, the lack of public transportation and the difficulty of recruiting new emergency medical service volunteers all present special challenges that health care reform must address. Click here to view my remarks before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on Oil Markets

            I participated in an Agriculture Committee hearing on Tuesday about energy markets. Many Americans are concerned that speculation in energy futures markets is driving up the cost of oil. The Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is responsible for preventing fraud and manipulation. Later in the week, the House passed legislation strengthening CFTC’s authority in its oversight of trading in the oil futures market.

In the Office

            Steve Johnson of Overland Park was in with ONEOK Partners, Inc. to discuss challenges facing natural gas businesses. Julie Hirons and John Rakos of Overland Park were in with Advantage Metals Recycling to tell me about the recycling industry in Kansas. Haley Davee of Hays was in with the Kansas Credit Union Association to update me on legislation important to credit unions in our state. Robert Cerda of Olathe was in with Crop Insurance Systems, Inc. to update me on his firm’s development of a new crop insurance administration product.

            Judi O’Grady of Eudora and Cathryn Hamilton of Overland Park were in with CureSearch to talk about the need to fund childhood cancer research. CEO of Mercy Regional Health Center Dick Allen of Manhattan and Matt Hickam with Kensinger and Associates of Topeka were in to discuss health care issues and express concern over reimbursement rates for the Tri-Care program. Reed Martin of Leawood was in with Nueterra to explain the need for quality outpatient health care facilities.

            Sue Boldra of Hays, John Ross of Pleasant Ridge, Bill Wilson of Tribune and Diane Becker of Lenora were in with the Center for Civic Education to bring me up to date on programs in the state and share success stories from Kansas students and schools. Philip Bradley and Tammy Davis of Lawrence were in with the Kansas Licensed Beverage Association to discuss efforts to prevent underage drinking. Spencer Boone of Timken was in with the National Young Leaders Conference to tell me about his experience in our nation’s capital. Ken McCauley of White Cloud also stopped by to visit.

            Several Kansans stopped by my Washington, D.C., office for tours of the United States Capitol this week, including Alan and Trevor MacDonald of Olathe, Glenn Seaver and Lori Davenport of Topeka, Kent and Lisa Colwell of Hays and Floyd and Mildred Colwell of Nebraska. Ciera Nelson of Little River, the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for my district, was in with her father David and sister Amara. They were joined by Little River High School art teacher Beth Myers. In from Hays were Lyle Lohrmeyer and Janet Affentranger with their children Jordan and Tessa and in from Leavenworth were David and Tammy Warren with their children Morgan and Zach.

Contact Me

            It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. To send me an email, click here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry

According to the Kansas Association of Realtors, Kansas ranks 27th in the nation for foreclosures. This is their report.

KANSAS FORECLOSURE NUMBERS

Welcome to Kansas.

This Week in Congress

By Congressman Jerry Moran

August 4, 2008

www.jerrymoran.house.gov

Dear Friend,

            Welcome to “This Week in Congress.” I hope you find this newsletter useful.

Congressional Leaders Fail to Address High Energy Costs

            Congress must move forward on a comprehensive energy policy. The American people can no longer afford the partisan bickering that has stalled meaningful action. This week, I voted against the resolution allowing Congress to adjourn for the month of August in order to force action. Congress should not take a month off when many families are unable to afford to take a vacation of their own. Despite my best efforts to convince my colleagues to stay and work, congressional leaders chose to break for five weeks without voting on legislation to lower energy prices for Kansas families, businesses and farmers.

            Although Congress traditionally puts its legislative work on hold during the month of August to allow representatives and senators to spend time in their districts and states, this year should be different. We must have a national energy policy that increases the supply of energy, promotes renewable and alternative fuels and encourages conservation now. The price of gas at the pump and the cost businesses and farmers face for fuel and fertilizer means that it should not be business as usual in Washington, D.C.

            Even though congressional leaders have decided to go on break, the President is able to call Congress back into session. I urged President Bush this week to use his constitutional authority to call Congress into emergency session to address high energy costs. In addition to voting against adjournment, I am also the sponsor of legislation that would prohibit the House of Representatives from adjourning for more than three days in August until an energy policy is approved.

            Click here to listen to my comments on the need for Congress to address high energy costs.

Veterans’ Programs Get Spending Boost; Fort Riley, Dodge City Projects Approved

            On Friday, I supported House passage of the 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) spending bill. The legislation provides a significant increase in funding for veterans care, including an increase to the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to VA facilities. It also includes more than $210 million for military construction projects at Fort Riley and $8.1 million for a new U.S. Army Reserve Center located in Dodge City. Click here to read more about Fort Riley projects and click here to read about funding for the Dodge City Army Reserve Center.

            Last year, the House approved an amendment I offered to raise the travel reimbursement rate for the first time in more than 30 years from 11 cents to 28.5 cents per mile. This week’s bill increases the travel reimbursement rate even more, raising it from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents per mile. The medical services offered at the VA can only be enjoyed by veterans if they have access to this care. Especially with today’s high gas prices, the increased mileage reimbursement will help many veterans who would not otherwise be able to afford the trip to VA facilities.

            The legislation also includes additional funding for fee-based services to improve access to care where VA services are not available and an increase in enrollment of Priority 8 veterans in VA medical care by 10 percent. This will begin the enrollment of this service group for the first time since 2003 and includes veterans with moderate income levels and no service-related disabilities.

            Support for our nation’s service men and women and veterans is a priority and this legislation ensures we continue our efforts to provide better facilities and care for those who serve and have made sacrifices on our behalf. The bill now awaits the approval of the Senate.

            Click here to view my comments in support of our veterans.

Learning about Electricity Supply in Rural America

            I attended a House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research hearing this week where the topic was the supply of electricity in rural America. Witnesses on two different panels spoke about providing electricity in rural areas and addressed concerns that the demand for energy in these areas is increasing more quickly than the supply.

            Many rural residents get their power from electric cooperatives. Across the country, more than 900 electric cooperatives provide power to 40 million Americans. Although these electric cooperatives represent the smallest segment of the electric utility industry, they are experiencing the highest growth percentages. Kansans require an abundant energy supply that is affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible. I will continue working to find solutions to increasing demand and rising electricity prices including expanding our current capacity and allowing for greater use of alternative resources.

Working to Implement Veterinary Medical Service Provisions of the Farm Bill

            This week, I spoke to officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) about implementation of the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVSMA), as directed by the 2008 Farm Bill. The NVMSA was passed in 2003 to provide student loan reimbursements to veterinarians who agree to work in underserved areas. For five years, regulatory delays prevented the program from being implemented. The 2008 Farm Bill contained provisions to speed up the process.

            USDA informed me that implementation is underway and a stakeholder meeting should occur in September. The stakeholder meeting will be followed by a formal rule making process that will include an opportunity for public comment. It is expected that implementation could be complete by as early as June 2009. I will continue to monitor this process and encourage USDA to make this program available as soon as possible.

Taxpayers Should Not Bailout Irresponsible Lenders

            Before adjourning for the month of August, Congress passed legislation to bailout irresponsible mortgage lenders and put taxpayers at risk by making them guarantee questionable home loans. I did not support this legislation because I thought it a poor use of taxpayer dollars. While there were good aspects of the legislation that would help Kansans hurt in the housing market, the legislation contained too many provisions I could not support. Most troubling to me were provisions that made taxpayers liable for $5 trillion in potential losses should housing lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fail. The bill spent $300 billion to bailout sub-prime lenders and established $4 billion in grants to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed properties. Perhaps most alarming is that it also increased the national debt limit to $10.6 trillion. Congress has to learn to set priorities and start acting responsibly with taxpayer money. Using the hard-earned money of Kansas taxpayers to bailout giant housing corporations is the wrong approach to take.

Visiting Kansas Critical Access Hospitals

            On Monday, I visited Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka and Anderson County Hospital in Garnett. Both of these hospitals are designated as Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Often CAHs are in rural areas and serve a high percentage of patients on Medicare. This designation helps keep hospital doors open and infrastructure in place by providing the hospital with a greater reimbursement for providing care to Medicare patients.

            Greenwood County Hospital Administrator Bruce Birchell gave me a tour of the facility. I enjoyed visiting with him about the challenges of providing care in rural areas. Tom Bell, President of the Kansas Hospital Association, joined me at Anderson County Hospital to tour the hospital. Anderson County Hospital is part of the Kansas City based St. Luke’s Health System and offers a range of outpatient services including laboratory, radiology, respiratory, pharmacy, physical therapy and speech therapy. Thanks to CEO Dennis Hachenberg for allowing me to visit.

Touring Monarch Cement Company

            I visited Monarch Cement Company in Humboldt on Monday to talk to company leaders about transportation issues. Last week, I supported House passage of legislation that will temporarily fix the funding gap in the federal account for highway maintenance and construction so that state highway projects can continue as scheduled. Making sure there is sufficient money available for transportation projects is not only important to all of us who drive, but also to Kansas companies such as Monarch Cement that help build the roads.

            Monarch Cement does business across Kansas and in Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The company has subsidiaries in Dodge City, Garden City, Hutchinson and Salina. Thanks to President and CEO Walter Wulf, Jr., Vice President of Operations Harvey Buckley, Vice President of Sales Joan Perez, Vice President of Subsidiaries Rick Rush, Chief Financial Officer Debbie Roe and Woody Moses, Managing Director of the Kansas Ready Mixed Concrete Association, for visiting with me.

Attending Parish Picnic Benefiting Tipton School

            I was in Tipton on Saturday to participate in a picnic and auction to raise money for Tipton Catholic High School. For 62 years the community has been coming together to raise money for the school, which relies on this yearly picnic as its main source of funding. I enjoyed eating dinner with members of the community and discussed their ongoing efforts in maintaining their community’s schools.

In the Office

            Ken Laudan of Mission Hills and David Kirkendall of Stafford were in to visit this week.

            Several Kansans were in for a tour of the U.S. Capitol, including Alex Ewy of Newton, Jessica Adams of Wichita, Luke Monaldo of Lawrence, Kayla Hill of Burrton and Josh Cromer of Topeka. In from Hutchinson were Carol Engelland, Martha Smith, Dana Bird and Shirley Reser. Betsy and Justin Brownlee, Jordan Ayers and Ron and Suong Nguyen of Overland Park were also in for a tour, as were Phat Nguyen and Ngochoa Tran of Derby and Darlene and Logan Fritz of Salina.

Contact Me

            It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. To send me an email, click here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry

Welcome to the Flint Hills! Folks that have never been here are always asking why we talk about the weather so much. Yesterday is a good example.

On Monday June 2, 2008 there was a weather event unlike any that I have seen. Since I was scheduled to drive east for an appointment, I wanted to determine driving conditions. You might ask, "Driving conditions in June?"

Turning on the local channel about 8 AM, I was spellbound watching the red and purple highlighted areas with softball size hail predicted. The weather folks kept the radar images on the screen showing the systems moving West to East in what they described as trains. One system following behind another.

Manhattan and Ft. Riley were  blasted with hail, rain and winds that devastated car dealerships and the cars parked at the Manhattan airport.

I hope this finds you enjoying spring and the soon to be summer weather.

We had an exciting adventure this past weekend starting on April 5. Getting up at 4 A.M. is always a challenge for me, especially when I am finalizing packing. Josey the German Shepherd slows us down by sticking her nose into everything that is moved. Finally, we closed the garage door and drove away at 6:25.

The truck was chock full of edibles for a day trip both directions and it wasn't long before it was snack time. The roads were clear of traffic and we breezed along under the speed limit pulling a trailer with the remainder of my mother's furniture, enjoying good food and each others company.

Crack! My husband said, "Oh, this is not good." as he began to slow down and inch to the side of the road. The truck and trailer finally stopped. When we walked around behind the truck, the tongue of the trailer was resting on the ground with the padlock still in place. It had popped off the ball and skidded 1/2 mile without being attached.

The moral of the story is---check it a dozen times. If it doesn't seem right you may want to change the hitch system. We have pulled trailers all our lives and never had anything like this happen. Even the mechanic said, "This is crazy!"

I hope you have a great week and welcome to the Flint Hills. Call me if you need assistance 785-532-9333

Welcome to the Flint Hills. We are experiencing beautiful spring weather and it is certainly appreciated after the bitter cold winter.

Unlike the East Coast and West Coast housing markets, our prices have not dropped significantly. Some seller's are willing to take offers and others are not depending on their individual circumstances. There is stiff competition between pre-existing homes and new construction for the buyers out shopping for houses, and we are in the "March Madness Syndrone".

The weather and school soon to be out for the summer has brought out all the spring buyers. Interest rates are also down from earlier this year. The biggest change in our market has been the lenght of time to sell a house. That has gone from being on the market a few days to a month with multiple offers to taking between 3 to 6 month to close.

I hope this information will help you as you prepare to enter the selling and buying in our Manhattan, Junction City and Ft. Riley communities.

Best regards,

Karen Westover

June 11, 2008 brought a tornado to our neighbor Chapman, 10 minutes to the West of Junction City and Ft. Riley. That day also brought a tornado to Manhattan, 10 minutes to the East of Ft. Riley. Our representatives in Washington have joined together to encourage quick Federal funds to rebuild our communities.

In addition to this news update, see the comments below for March 10, 2008 about Boeing.

This Week in Congress

By Congressman Jerry Moran

July 7, 2008

www.jerrymoran.house.gov

Dear Friend,

            Welcome to “This Week in Congress.” I hope you find this newsletter useful.

Celebrating America’s 232nd Birthday

            July 4th is a special holiday to enjoy time with family and neighbors and be thankful for the freedom we have as Americans. I marked Independence Day by participating in Fourth of July community celebrations in Hutchinson and Hays. I also attended a concert and fireworks display at old Fort Hays with my family.

            It was great to be in Hutchinson Friday morning for the community’s annual parade. After riding in the parade, I was able to visit with many residents. Thanks to Olen Mitchell for driving me in his Model T Ford.

            The parade in Hays is part of the Wild West Fest. This annual event features concerts, carnival games and other activities. Thanks to Josh Zweifel for driving me in the parade and to all of the event sponsors, chairmen and volunteers for their support of this community event.

Urging President to Make Funds Available for Communities Affected by Storms

            This week, I joined Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback in asking President Bush to act quickly to make funds available for areas affected by the June 11 tornado. Dickinson and Riley counties were hit especially hard by the tornado that destroyed homes and public property. In particular, we highlighted the need to move quickly so schools in Chapman can be rebuilt. Every school in Chapman was destroyed in the storm. In order to rebuild in time for the coming school year, funds are needed immediately to begin construction. Click here to read the letter to President Bush.

Many Kansans Still Eligible for Economic Stimulus Payments

            I recently learned from the Internal Revenue Service that around 40,000 Kansans who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment have not yet filed the required paperwork in order to receive a rebate check. Congress passed legislation in February that made most Americans eligible for a one-time government rebate. Individuals who normally do not file a tax return, such as some retirees and disabled veterans, must file Form 1040A before October 15 to receive their payment.

            Individuals must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income to be eligible for at least a $300 payment. Eligible income includes Social Security retirement, disability and survivor payments, as well as Veterans Affairs disability compensation, disability pension and survivor payments. Filing a tax return to receive a stimulus payment does not mean individuals will have to start filing tax returns again.

            Please share this information with any retirees or disabled veterans you know who may qualify. Click here to visit the IRS Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center. Kansans may also contact me for assistance.

Visiting Israel, the Middle East

            So much of what happens in our country is affected by what is happening in the Middle East. This week, I visited Israel to learn more about Middle East peace talks, U.S.-Israel relations, Israel’s security situation and the status of important economic and political developments in Israel.

            While there, I participated in several meetings with Israeli, Palestinian, religious and government leaders, as well as experts in the peace process. I met with Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Salam Fayyad and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones.

            This visit offered me the opportunity to learn more about the situation in Israel, the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship and the Middle East peace process. I also learned about U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation and Israel’s economy. I left Israel with information and experiences that will be helpful to my work on national security and international relations issues in Congress. Click here to view photos from my visit.

In the Office

            Students from the 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus trip were in to talk about issues affecting rural America and how 4-H programs are developing young leaders. In with the group were Adam Hewson and Briana O’Neill of Larned; Joe Leibbrandt of St. Francis; Meredith Allison of Belpre; Marshall Anliker, Michael Beaver, Elizabeth Huck, Aaron Kucharik, Gayle Minnix and Caitlin Beckman of Scott City; Emily Bieberly of Salina; Michael Bowman of Syracuse; Emily Carney of Sylvan Grove; Ann Clawson of Englewood; Cassadie Copeland of Kingsdown; Heather Domsch of Pratt; James Heitschmidt and Shannon McNeill of Garden City; Kilee Hutchison and Becca Landgraf of Lakin; Hope James of Clay Center; Morgan Keller of Hunter; Casssie Kniebel of White City; Devin Mangus of Kanorado; Jared Marcuson of Oberlin; Cody Richter of Barnes; Elissa Stein of Gypsum; Aryn Sturgeon of Bird City; Susan Todd of Seneca; Lane Trautwein of Falun; Daniel Riffel of Stockton; Mariah Woolsoncroft of Salina; and Katlin Senst of Greensburg.

            Several Kansans were in for a tour of the U.S. Capitol building, including Marvin and Elfrieda Funk of Hillsboro, Deborah Sturgeon and Danielle Kelley of Kinsley, Debora Farr of Nickerson, Justin Nusser and Rhiannon Becker of Plainville, Jane Melroy of Pratt and Melissa Keith of El Dorado. Also in were Mike, Christi, Ben, Brandon and Katie Spielman of Clay Center and Jeff, Patti, Chelsi, Tiffani, Rachel and Stratton Lange of Conway Springs. In from Hutchinson were Clinton, Monica, Caleb and Chase Hageman; Donna Basinger; Linda Henderson; Patricia Compton; Debi Ellis; Charlene Widener; and Patrick and Emerson Reading.

Contact Me

            It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. To send me an email, click here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry

Here in the Flint Hills of Kansas, we are affected by whatever goes on with all branches of the military. When the Air Force decided not to accept the Boeing bid for the new planes, it meant that 3,800 real people may lose their jobs.

This information provided by Representative Jerry Moran is a ray of hope for these folks:

This Week in Congress

By Congressman Jerry Moran

March 10, 2008

www.jerrymoran.house.gov

Dear Friend,

Welcome to “This Week in Congress.” I hope you find this newsletter useful.

Asking the Secretary of Defense to Suspend Tanker Contract

            I joined the Kansas congressional delegation this week in asking Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to suspend the Air Force’s new air refueling tanker contract with Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) until Congress can thoroughly review the decision and take appropriate action. Especially during this time of economic uncertainty, we should not be sending thousands of jobs overseas. In Kansas alone, Boeing’s proposal would create or sustain 3,800 jobs and is worth $145 million annually, important investments that Europe now stands to gain.

            The Air Force has a great deal of explaining to do. In addition to pointing out the harm to our country’s national and economic security, we also expressed to Secretary Gates our concerns that the tanker selection competition was unfair to Boeing and poorly executed. For example, the Air Force failed to account for foreign government subsidies, which made the cost of the Airbus tanker more competitive and biased the results against the domestic manufacturer. Click here to read the letter to Secretary Gates.

            On Wednesday, I attended a House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing where Members of Congress began to question Air Force officials about the tanker contract. In the coming days, I am committed to working to ensure we make the right choice for Americans and America’s military.