Wishing Kansans a Merry Christmas – Kansas Widespread Sense

Wishing Kansans a Merry Christmas
Robba and I want you and your family members a Merry Christmas and really joyful vacation season. Might this be a time full of particular moments and creating reminiscences that can final for years to return.

This vacation season, let every of us additionally bear in mind our navy women and men, first responders and legislation enforcement officers who’re away from their households over Christmas. I’m grateful to every of them for his or her selfless dedication and repair, and I want them a really Merry Christmas.

Thanking Our Troops
Robba and I are additionally pondering of our troops who’re deployed abroad this vacation season. Spending Christmas removed from family members is rarely simple, and it’s a sacrifice so a lot of our troops and navy households make to maintain our nation protected. I’m praying for his or her protected return and lots of future holidays surrounded by household and family members.

You’ll be able to watch my full Christmas message to our troops right here.

FY2023 Appropriations Bundle, Fulfilling Our Promise to Absolutely Fund Our Troops
Many Kansans have expressed considerations concerning the FY2023 Appropriations Bundle handed by Congress final week.

Congress has a accountability to go 12 separate appropriations payments by September 30. This 12 months’s appropriations invoice was three months overdue. Whereas the method was flawed, we should always not proceed to go away our navy at degree funding by delaying this laws even longer – particularly with the rising risk of China and Russia.

This invoice gives our women and men in uniform and their households with a 4.6 % pay enhance to assist navy households take care of the present record-high inflation and assist recruitment numbers. At a time when our navy is going through critical challenges in recruitment and retention, these further sources to our navy are extra vital than ever.

The appropriations invoice spends extra on protection than non-defense, and in reality non-defense spending decreased [in real dollars] from final 12 months. We offer more cash for protection and fewer cash for different authorities packages than President Biden requested in his 2023 funds.

This invoice was additionally profitable in including a variety of provisions that advance the reason for those that served our nation. By together with the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Advantages Enchancment Act (Cleland-Dole Act) and the STRONG Veterans Act within the appropriations invoice, we had been capable of make necessary adjustments to the way in which veterans obtain advantages and well being care.

This appropriations invoice was overdue, however the course of begins in early 2023 for subsequent 12 months’s appropriations invoice. We have now a chance to work with the brand new Republican Home majority to cut back spending. That chance begins in just a few weeks.

I spoke in regards to the appropriations invoice on the Senate ground final week. To observe the ground speech, click on right here.

Urging My Colleagues to Advance the Afghan Adjustment Act
This week, I spoke on the Senate ground to induce my colleagues to advance the Afghan Adjustment Act. The chaotic evacuation from Kabul stranded 1000’s of our Afghan allies behind enemy traces. Veterans are calling for Congress to assist our allies and buddies who assisted them in battle. We should reply that decision and make the Afghan Adjustment Act a high precedence subsequent Congress.

You’ll be able to watch my full remarks right here.

Kansas Group Visits

Pike Valley Excessive Faculty
I visited Pike Valley Excessive Faculty in Scandia to talk with the college administration and to obtain a tour from college students. It was nice to listen to from these younger Kansans about their fall semester as they ready for winter break. Thanks to Principal Jeremy Miller for internet hosting.

Courtland
I loved visiting Courtland this week and talking with of us from the group throughout my stops on the town. Thanks for the nice and cozy welcome from these at Bostwick Irrigation District, Swedish American State Financial institution, Courtland Coworking with North 40 Structure, Little Hometown Graphic Design, JenRus Freelance Advertising and marketing, Ag Advertising and marketing Companions, Republic County Financial Growth, Bestifor Farms, Metropolis Corridor and Courtland Group Library.