Roberts Report - May 5, 2017

Confirming Agriculture Secretary Perdue and Getting Right to Work on School Nutrition

I was pleased the Senate voted last week to confirm former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture. I spoke on the Senate floor prior to his vote and was honored to attend his confirmation ceremony last week. I look forward to working with him in this role.

Once he was confirmed, we got right to work on improving the school nutrition program. On Monday, I joined him for lunch with Catoctin Elementary School’s 5^th grade class. We received some much-needed feedback from these students about what they like and what they simply don’t eat in their school meals.

Secretary Perdue and I announced more school lunch regulatory flexibility, and he signed a proclamation declaring schools will be provided flexibility to serve nutritious meals that children will actually eat. That is really what these programs are about: serving meals to hungry children so that they can learn and grow.

It is sure nice to have the Secretary in place, and I am glad he has hit the ground running.

I wrote an op-ed in the Kansas City Star on this topic, which you can read here.

 

Meeting with Kansas Veterans at the WWII Memorial

It was an honor to meet with Kansas WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans at the WWII Memorial. These veterans have some amazing stories, and I was humbled to meet this group of 180 people that came to visit their memorial on an honor flight from Kansas City.
 

Commemorating the 10^th Anniversary of the Greensburg Tornado

Thursday, May 4, marked the tenth anniversaryof the Greensburg tornado. With the comeback spirit of the people of Greensburg, the town has been re-imagined and rebuilt with the future in mind. Anyone in Greensburg now can see the destiny, the faith and the hope all around. It has been ever-present since May 4, 2007.

I released the following video commemorating the anniversary and the rebuilding of Greensburg. Watch and share below.

Touring Our Kansas Military Installations

I recently toured and met with officials at Ft. Leavenworth, Ft. Riley, and McConnell Air Force Base for briefings on updates from the base and to meet with our men and women in uniform. It is always a pleasure to be back on base, and I am grateful to have these leaders in Kansas to serve our nation.

 

Expressing Gratitude for Americans’ Generosity during the Wildfire Recovery

It has been a long recovery for the people of Southwest Kansas after the largest wildfire in state history. However, the outpouring of support from around the nation has been remarkable. I recently wrote an op-ed in the Wichita Eagle sharing stories and giving thanks for this generous help that has come from all over. Whether it was Axtell High School donating their spring break money to fire victims or convoys driving thousands of miles waving American flags to bring hay and supplies, it truly showed the American spirit alive and well.

Read more heartwarming stories in my column here.

 

Welcoming Ron Estes to Congress

I was pleased to welcome Ron Estes to Congress last week, as U.S. Representative for Kansas’ 4^th District, the seat vacated by CIA Director Mike Pompeo. I look forward to working with Congressman Estes on behalf of Kansans. To stay up to date with him on social media, follow him here and here.
 

Confirming Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court

Judge Gorsuch will make an extraordinary Supreme Court justice. He has had an outstanding judicial record and is highly respected and supported by individuals in the judicial community who align on all sides of the political spectrum. Judge Gorsuch previously served in the 10th Circuit, which includes Kansas. Our state has seen firsthand that he is a judge who follows the law and applies the text of the Constitution and statues impartially. I am confident Judge Gorsuch will carry on the tradition of Justice Scalia and uphold the values of the Constitution to the highest standard.
 

Reflecting on President Trump’s First 100 Days

I recently spoke with the Kansas City Star’s Bryan Lowry about President Trump’s First 100 days and my experience with past presidents – from Reagan until today. Read more of these stories here.

 

 

Check Senator Roberts’ Website, YouTube and Facebook Sites for Updates

You can visit my YouTube site for more information on what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and Kansas by visiting my YouTube page. It's a great place to find speeches and debates on the Senate floor, press conferences, interviews and Senate hearings. You can also stay updated on all these happenings on my Facebook and Twitter sites.