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Hello,

It’s been a busy month. I’m pleased to fill you in on what I’ve been working on and what’s been happening around Kansas.

Drought Relief

With the Senate in recess this month, I have continued my 105 county tour visiting with many of you. What was top among your concerns: the effects of this tremendous drought on your crops, livestock and family finances, as well as the tremendous need for policies which get this country back on the path to economic prosperity. Our state is making progress. Our nation needs to follow suit.

From one end of the state to the other, I have seen the dry hillsides and the fields of stunted crops and devastated pastures and ponds. Fall harvest will soon be underway, and it’s then that we really will feel the true effects of Mother Nature’s wrath.  While we pray for the communities under water due to Hurricane Isaac, we hope for better weather for our state. 

At the federal level I am doing all I can to help our farmers and ranchers who are struggling with these dry conditions. In fact, Governor Brownback and I were able to keep much needed water in Kansas reservoirs instead of being released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet navigation and conservation needs downstream. We were also able to persuade USDA to release CP 25 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for emergency haying and grazing. This is the first time this has been allowed in the history of the program. And as soon as the Senate reconvenes after Labor Day, you have my assurance that emergency relief is my first priority.

My website has a page dedicated entirely to drought resources. It can be found here or at roberts.senate.gov. It includes links to federal and state resources for those suffering from drought conditions. I also released a public service announcement, urging Kansans to call their Farm Service Agency office for immediate assistance. The PSA can be found here.

Around Kansas

Over the last few weeks, I held town hall meetings in Norton, Logan, Wallace, Sumner and Cheyenne Counties. We had tremendous turnouts in all locations, and I was grateful for everyone’s comments and input. We had candid discussions about everything from agriculture to Medicare reform as well as talked about ways to boost our economy.

I was pleased to meet with several Kansas businesses that are striving to do their part to boost the economy and create jobs. I spent time with Barton Solvents in El Dorado, Sure Fire Ag Manufacturing in Atwood, McCarty Brother’s Dairy in Thomas County, and with Google Fiber in Kansas City. Thanks to these companies and many others, there are good things happening throughout our state. Jobs are being created and innovation and entrepreneurship that our economy badly needs is spreading throughout our region.  The biggest job remaining is to stop the avalanche of regulatory nightmares which will impede their progress, success and importantly, their growth.

While in Kansas, I also met with many of you who are involved with various groups, including the Decatur County Farm Bureau Association, Goodland Rotary, the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, Wichita Downtown Rotary, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Harvey County Economic Development Council and El Dorado community leaders. Your input into our local communities and state are always needed and welcome.

You can see more pictures from my time in Kansas here.

Join Me at the Kansas State Fair

The 100^th Kansas State Fair kicks off next week in Hutchinson, and I hope to see many of you who are out enjoying a Pronto Pup and riding the Ferris wheel.

In fact, if you’re wandering around the exhibits, let me suggest a few stops where I’ll also be when I visit the fair.

First, come by my office booth where you can find helpful information on the services we provide and meet some of my staff who work for you. We’ll all be happy to visit and answer your questions. 

Likewise, I hope you stop by the prostate cancer screening booth hosted by the Hutchinson Clinic and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The clinic and foundation will offer free prostate cancer screenings every day of the fair. It’s a quick and simple test, and can detect one of the most common cancers in America for men.

This is a serious issue. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. That is why my wife, Franki, and I have teamed up with these groups to again be the honorary co-chairs of this screening.

The booth is located in the northwest corner of the Sunflower South Building. I’ll be getting tested too so I hope you or the one you love will take time to do this important screening.  It just might save a life.

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.