Hello,

I wanted to share with you an update on what I’ve been working on recently and what it means for Kansans:

Missouri River Updates

Mother Nature has not been kind to us. From tornadoes, to record droughts in the west, to the effects of ample amounts of precipitation in the east, we have seen all sorts of extreme weather this year.

My staff and I have been monitoring the Missouri River flood conditions on a daily basis. We will continue working hard to provide you with the most up to date information we can and how it will affect you. We're also working closely with the Brownback Administration and the congressional delegation for solutions to these weather crises.

The Army Corps of Engineers recently began releasing 150,000 cubic feet per second from the Gavins Point Dam, on the border of Nebraska and South Dakota. The rush of water has begun making its way to Kansas, and parts of the riverbank are already starting to feel the effects. Rest assured, mitigation and preparedness efforts are taking place throughout the state.

For current Missouri river information, or for flood assistance, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s website by clicking here. You can also visit the Kansas Division of Emergency Management’s site by clicking here.

Visiting Businesses in Kansas

Over the Memorial Day work period, I made a swing through Southeast Kansas, visiting Independence, Neodesha, Chanute, Parsons, Pittsburg and Reading.

During the trip, I met with employees at area businesses where I learned about regulations that are stifling their operations. It’s always troubling to learn of overzealous regulators, which make it hard for Kansas companies to perform.

This week I am testifying at a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing about a bill I introduced in the Senate earlier this year, that will help do away with redundant and unnecessary regulations.

Touring Reading

In Reading, I visited with the mayor, emergency officials, and residents to discuss clean-up and rebuilding efforts following the tornado there.

I want to thank Angee Morgan, Deputy Director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, and Rick Frevert, Lyon County Emergency Manager, for delivering excellent briefings. Rick’s insight into coping with the damages of the Reading Tornado was extremely helpful, as well as Angee’s observations into what’s being done to get the town back on its feet.

I'm impressed with the spirit of success and determination I see in the people I visited with who are working hard to put this town back together.

Farm Bill Field Hearing

Also as part of the Memorial Day work period, the Senate Agriculture Committee kicked off our first “on the road” Farm Bill hearing in the home state of our Chairwoman in Lansing, Michigan.

The field hearing was titled, “Opportunities for Growth, Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill,” and was hosted by Michigan State University. The Chairwoman convened a diverse panel representing the wide range of issues under our committee’s jurisdiction. We enjoyed having a productive discussion with producers about how to meet the growing demands of feeding a troubled and hungry world.

I look forward to taking our next field hearing to Wichita later this summer.

Regulations from Dodd-Frank

During another Ag Committee hearing this past week, I expressed concerns that the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, also known as Dodd-Frank, will force American businesses to move overseas, raise transaction costs, stifle legitimate economic activity, increase unemployment, and create new risks and uncertainly where it didn’t exist before.

At the hearing, I suggested that instead of looking back over the past year at the effects of Dodd-Frank, we should be examining the overall effect of all these new regulations on our economy and globally over the next 10 years. You can click here to watch my opening remarks at the hearing or press play below.

Visiting with Kansans

We’ve had a lot of school groups from Kansas visit recently. Many of them are making their end of the year field trips to our nation’s capital before school ends for the summer. I love meeting with these students, and I often share with them one of my favorite memories, along with a little lesson, from when I was an intern on Capitol Hill. I recently shared this experience with students from Solomon High School and Royal Valley Middle School. I’d love to share it with you too. You can hear it by clicking here or by pressing play below.

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.

If you wish to contact me about an issue or want more information, please visit my website, roberts.senate.gov.