More Tanker Delays

Senator Roberts strongly criticized the White House’s recent budget cuts, which include a recommendation to delay the Air Force’s aerial refueling replacement tanker fleet. Roberts and Rep. Todd Tiahrt sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Peter Orzsag inviting him to fly with them in a tanker to Wichita to illustrate the urgent need to replace the Air Fore’s aging tanker fleet.

"For seven years we have failed to update the tanker for our troops. If he accepts, OMB Director Orzsag would see that right now, they are flying missions in planes that were delivered in the 1950s. The Administration should stop this terrible recommendation and fund the tanker, as it is the Air Force’s number one priority. The Air Force’s refueling tanker is vital to our ability to project power across the globe. Without it, we simply cannot deploy troops where they are needed in a timely fashion. In this world of ever increasing risk, access denial is a very real, very threatening prospect that we should do everything in our power to avoid," Senator Roberts said.

In a continued effort to reopen foreign markets to Kansas beef, Senator Roberts recently met with Taiwan Ambassador Jason Yuan and stressed the need to resume full trade of all U.S. beef and beef products. Senator Roberts said, "I had a good discussion with Ambassador Yuan. I reiterated the need to base future trade decisions on sound science which has proven all U.S. beef products to be safe. I pressed the Ambassador to move forward in fully opening their markets to safe and delicious U.S. beef. The continued delay is a barrier to international trade." In 2007, Taiwan was the 6^th largest export market for U.S. beef and since January of 2006, Taiwan only accepts boneless beef products from animals under 30 months of age.

Working to ensure that U.S. service members receive all of the pay earned while serving, Senator Roberts joined a bipartisan group of Senators and introduced legislation to retroactively pay soldiers for leave earned under the Post Deployment and Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA), affecting 20,000 service members due to a delay in implementation. This group included at least 120 Kansas Guard soldiers. The Senators’ legislation would reimburse soldiers who were left out during that period.

Senator Roberts said, "As a former Marine, I am pleased to co-sponsor this bill as I believe our Military members and their families deserve nothing less. This retroactive pay is long overdue to those who sacrifice to protect our nation."

Senator Roberts thanked the Kansas Farm Bureau for the opportunity to speak at their annual dinner recently in Washington, DC and for presenting him with their Friend of Farm Bureau Award. He was honored to receive the award and gave the Kansas farm leaders an update on agriculture issues before Congress saying the largest challenge production agriculture and consumers are facing now is increased national pressure to balance the federal budget by cutting Agriculture programs. "Such proposals would harm those who actually grow and raise the food Americans buy in the store. Agriculture programs may be an easy target to those who don’t understand them but these programs are critical to creating the safest and most affordable food supply in the world. As a senior Ag Committee Member, I promise to work to protect our Kansas farmers and ranchers from the Washington budgetary mess," Senator Roberts said. As a senior member of the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Roberts appreciates the Kansas Farm Bureau’s continued advice and counsel.

Honoring Ft. Leavenworth’s Army Command and General Staff College, Senator Roberts introduced a bill to honor the college for its service in education of the nation’s military leaders since its founding in 1881. The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 100,000 five dollar gold coins; 500,000 one dollar silver coins; and 750,000 half-dollar copper-nickel clad coins. The coin design honors the College’s most famous graduates, the five five-star generals who led our forces to victory in World War II.

Senator Roberts, a former Marine, said, "Kansas is proud to be the home of the oldest, largest and arguably the most prestigious military staff college in the United States. The school is a first class center of excellence for leadership development and joint operational education." Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) is a cosponsor of the legislation. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Congressman Dennis Moore (D-KS) will introduce similar legislation in the House of Representatives.

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