Senate Passes Landmark Opioids Bill

Last week, the Senate approved sweeping legislation to provide long-term solutions, encourage recovery, support families and reduce the supply of opioids in America. I’m hopeful it will bring real relief to those suffering from this terrible epidemic in Kansas and throughout the country.

The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 will reduce the use and supply of the drug through stopping the shipment of synthetic opioids and other measures. It will encourage recovery by establishing comprehensive recovery centers and expanding access to medication-assisted treatment.

I authored provisions to improve long-distance treatment for patients in rural areas and to allow electronic prior authorization for medications that help with addiction treatment.

The bill will also drive innovation and long-term solutions. It spurs the development of new, non-addictive painkillers and ensures parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits. 

To read more on the bill go here.

Farm Bill Conference Committee Meets

Work continues on the 2018 Farm Bill with the Conference Committee’s first public meeting. Members of the Conference have been hard at work resolving differences between the House and Senate-passed bills. We must commit to making the tough choices—and compromising to find common ground—to develop the best bill possible under very difficult circumstances.

For updates on our progress, make sure you are following the Senate Ag Committee Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Also, we have a new Instagram Account for the Ag Committee, follow our progress there for glimpses behind the scenes.

To watch a video with highlights from the hearing, click here.

Greeting Kansans at the Fair

I always look forward to the Kansas State Fair and this year was no exception. A lot of folks stopped by my booth in the Meadowlark Building to say hello, to ask questions and to share their concerns. Kansans stressed to me the importance of passing a farm bill and expressed their concerns about trade.

These two issues were also the two hot topics at the Farm Bureau Breakfast where I was happy to provide an update to members.

NBAF Visit

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen came to Manhattan for a tour of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) currently under construction. I invited Secretary Nielsen to Kansas because NBAF is going to play a major role in protecting national security for years to come.

Joining us on the tour were Governor Jeff Colyer, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, U.S. Representatives Roger Marshall and Kevin Yoder and K-State President General Richard Myers. 

We also received a briefing from the Kansas Fusion Center, an area where Kansas is leading other states in establishing partnerships among state and local law enforcement and intelligence resources to better respond to threats and emergencies. Finally, we concluded the tour showing off Kansas leadership in plant and animal research at Kansas State University’s Biosecurity Research Institute. Secretary Nielsen was impressed, and I was pleased she took the time to see firsthand NBAF and Kansas’ other impressive contributions to Homeland Security. 

Historic Atchison Post Office Named to Honor Amelia Earhart

To honor Amelia Earhart, Atchison Kansas’ very own aviation pioneer, U.S. Representative Lynn Jenkins and I passed a bill to rename the historic and iconic Atchison Post Office in Earhart’s honor.

Thanks to the many Atchison community members who joined with me, Rep. Jenkins and postal officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also featured Earhart’s great-nephew, Bram Kleppner. 

Amelia remains an inspiration to all, but especially to young women. She dreamed big and worked hard to make her dreams a reality.

Senate Ag Committee Trade Hearing

While Farm Bill negotiations continue, we held a hearing to examine the administration’s trade policies and their effect on farmers, ranchers and consumers. Repeating what I heard from Kansans at the State Fair and around the state, I said:

“We need to hold our trading partners accountable, but I am concerned that some of the trade actions we have seen in recent years are causing uncertainty and unpredictability for the agriculture industry.

“On top of already low prices, the agriculture sector has seen immediate negative impacts as a result of retaliatory trade actions. As time goes on without resolution, the concern of losing long-term market access only grows.”

Visit the Ag Committee’s website for more.

Constituent Services

Academy Nominations

As a Marine, it is my great honor to nominate a select group of outstanding Kansans to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marine acadamies. Our October 1st deadline is fast approaching!

For more information or to apply online, click here. 

Capitol Tours

If you and your family are planning a trip to Washington, D.C., my office is happy to assist you with setting up a tour of the U.S. Capitol. We can also arrange tours of the White House, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Pentagon.

For more information on tours of the nation's capital, click here.  

Federal Agency Help

Do you need help with a federal agency? My staff has plenty of experience assisting Kansans with federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact one of my offices in person or online today to see if we can help. 

For more information, click here. 

Flag Requests

If you would like to order a flag tht has been flown over the U.S. Capitol for a special event, ceremony, gift or other celebration, my office can help!

To place your flag order online, click here. 

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

Keep up to date with Senator Roberts online by following him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s a great place to find photos, interviews, videos, speeches, and hearings.