Fighting for Kelsey’s Law

On June 2, 2007, 18-year-old Kelsey Smith was abducted in broad daylight from an Overland Park, Kansas, department store and murdered. The abduction was captured on the store’s security camera leaving little doubt of the emergency nature of the circumstances. Four days after she disappeared, authorities were able to locate Kelsey’s body after her wireless provider released the “ping” or “call location” information from her cell phone. Providing this information as fast as possible is critical to ensure law enforcement officials can rescue victims in imminent danger of death or serious physical harm.

This week, I offered the Kelsey Smith Act as an amendment to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act currently before the U.S. Senate. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will provide law enforcement with the tools to crack down on human traffickers, while also helping victims restore their lives. My amendment, the Kelsey Smith Act, would add to these tools by strengthening law enforcement’s ability to lawfully and quickly access cell phone location information, or “ping” information, when a person is abducted and their life is threatened.

The Kelsey Smith Act is a commonsense amendment to the human trafficking legislation that will make it easier for law enforcement to find our loved ones if the nightmare of abduction ever becomes a reality.

Obstructionist Senate Democrats are currently blocking this important legislation from being debated and amended on the Senate floor. It is my sincere hope my colleagues across the aisle will stop their partisan gains and allow this important amendment to have a vote on the Senate floor.

In case you missed it, FOX 4 News Kansas City reported on my work to attach the Kelsey Smith Act as an amendment to the human trafficking bill in front of the Senate. Click the video below to watch

Click to Watch

Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Portion of Obamacare

This week, I introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that repeals a portion of Obamacare that prohibits people from using their medical savings account funds to buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

My legislation repeals what is known as the Medicine Cabinet Tax and restores the ability of those participating in a medical savings account, such as a Flexible Savings Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), or other similar types of medical savings account, to use the funds to purchase OTC medications.

Because of Obamacare, responsible folks saving their money in FSAs or HSAs may no longer use funds from these accounts to purchase OTC medications, like allergy medicine or anti-inflammatories, unless they have a prescription for the medication. That’s right - they would need a prescription for Advil.

This absurd prohibition under Obamacare takes away choice and flexibility from individuals about how to manage their health care expenses and adds yet another burden to physicians. Rather than promoting cost-effectiveness and accessibility, Obamacare directs people to potentially more costly, less convenient, and more time-consuming alternatives.

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Standing with Israel

I had the opportunity to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the joint meeting of Congress. The Prime Minister correctly warned that a nuclear Iran is a direct threat to Israel’s security, and that of the entire Mideast and the U.S. I share the Prime Minister’s concern with the reports that we are getting from the nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Let me be clear, any deal that would allow Iran to retain vast portions of its nuclear infrastructure and enrichment capability is a bad deal. Any deal that would eventually allow Iran to become a nuclear state is a bad deal. Any deal that holds out a promise of economic relief to Tehran in exchange for promises that will not be kept is a bad deal.

Given the stakes, I do not see why serious sanctions should not play a role in the aftermath of the Obama Administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran. I support a plan that would escalate sanctions on Iran in the event the Administration agrees to a bad deal, or no deal is reached.

Introducing Bill Providing Ag Industry Relief from Transportation Regulation

Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Jerry Moran and I have introduced another piece of bi-partisan and bi-cameral legislation eliminating a burdensome regulation that requires agriculture industry professionals to obtain a hazardous material endorsement before transporting diesel fuel critical for a number of agricultural operations.

Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to provide the world with the most abundant and safest food supply in the world. The least we can do is remove frivolous government red tape that makes their efforts more onerous.

Under current regulations, any driver transporting more than 119 gallons of diesel fuel is required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement on their Class A commercial driver’s license.

Requiring our producers to treat a truck transporting large amounts of diesel fuel in a similar fashion to hauling radioactive material is patently absurd and is simply another example of the federal government’s overly burdensome regulations stifling the rural economy.

Our legislation exempts agribusiness participants from the requirement to obtain a hazardous material endorsement, while operating a service vehicle carrying diesel fuel in quantities of 1,000 gallons or less, if the tank containing diesel fuel is clearly marked.

Hosting City Leadership Teams

This week, I had the immense pleasure of meeting with leaders from many wonderful Kansas cities. We were able to discuss the challenges facing our communities and the successes of our fantastic towns across our great state. Here are a few of the groups I had the chance to sit down with.

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 www.youtube.com/SenPatRoberts. 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.