Hello,

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

Tornadoes in Kansas

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Reading, especially those who lost a loved one, and all those in Northeast Kansas who have been affected by this devastating storm. My staff has been in Reading the last two days giving me a first-hand assessment of the significant damage.

My utmost gratitude goes to all the emergency workers who have been tirelessly assisting those in need since the storm struck. It is always humbling to see the good people of our state come together to lend a hand in time of need. As the clean up continues, I will work closely with Governor Brownback to ensure every possible method of aid goes to help the people of these affected areas. I expect to visit the area during the congressional work period next week.

My heart also goes out to the people of Joplin, Missouri and those families affected by the deadly storm there. Joplin is closely tied to Southeast Kansas, and we offer them our assistance in the recovery. We learned much from the devastating tornado that struck Greensburg four years ago, about rebuilding and becoming stronger. It has since become a national model for recovery and perhaps a symbol of hope for towns like Reading and Joplin.

Disaster Designations in Kansas

Mother Nature hasn’t been good to Kansas this year. Recently, the USDA designated 21 counties in Kansas as natural disaster areas due to production losses caused by severe drought situations, wildfires, and high winds since the beginning of the year.

USDA designated Finney, Gove, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace and Wichita Counties as disaster counties.

Kansas is facing one of the worst droughts since the Dust Bowl days. The lack of rainfall has had a devastating impact on the wheat crop in Kansas, and many farms are facing total crop loss. Ranchers in Kansas are also facing severe hardship due to a lack of available feed caused by the drought. I applaud the USDA for acting quickly, and I am pleased that Kansans now have access to vital USDA resources to begin rebuilding their farms, ranches and communities.

These counties will now be eligible for important disaster programs, such as the emergency loan program administrated by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. These programs will help the farmers and ranchers of Kansas make it through one of the most difficult growing seasons on record.

Emergency Grazing

The USDA also announced that 12 Kansas counties are approved for emergency grazing in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage.

CRP emergency grazing acreage has been approved for Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Lane, Meade, Morton, Ness, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, and Stevens counties.

Those wishing to participate must contact the local FSA county office to request emergency grazing on an individual contract basis prior to grazing. For more information, click here.

Gas Price Relief

I gave a speech on the Senate floor this past week calling for greater domestic energy production to help reduce gas prices and provide relief to Kansans and all Americans.

I wanted to reiterate my point about the underlying economic factors which, like it or not, are the driving forces behind the price of gas at the pump. As global demand rises, prices will also rise. If we can allow greater access to our own domestic resources and provide industry the necessary tools to expand, then we’ll be able to put more Americans back to work, add to the global supply of crude, which over time will undoubtedly help stabilize gas prices.

During my speech, I voiced support for S.953, the Offshore Production & Safety Act of 2011, a bill introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), which would restore American offshore production, improve offshore safety, create jobs, require bureaucrats to process permits efficiently, all while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Click here to watch my speech or click play below:

GPS Dilemma

I led a bipartisan effort in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski, asking him to take all necessary steps to protect the Global Positioning System (GPS) from interference that could cause interruptions.

The letter comes after the International Bureau, a sub-organization within the FCC, granted a conditional waiver earlier this year to allow a company, LightSquared, to build 40,000 ground stations throughout the United States to enhance its satellite network. Those stations could cause widespread interference to nearby GPS receivers, because the spectrum used by LightSquared is adjacent to the spectrum used by GPS.

Millions of Americans rely on GPS to get around safely every day. It is also critically important to aviation safety, first responders, civil engineers who monitor dams and bridges, and it is central to our national defense capabilities. GPS is an integral part of our national economy. Farmers rely on GPS for greater efficiency and environmental protection, and just about every industry from manufacturing to distribution has come to rely on this valuable national utility. Reliable GPS affects virtually every American. GPS is far too important to have anything interfere with it. I’ll keep you posted on the FCC’s response.

Honor Flight at World War II Memorial

It’s always an honor for me to visit with our nation’s veterans. This past week I had the privilege of visiting with some World War II, Vietnam and Korean War veterans from Kansas at the World War II Memorial, along with Kansas’ favorite son, Senator Bob Dole. It was a rainy afternoon, but these veterans couldn't have been more gracious. I am always touched when I get the chance to shake their hands, hear their stories and thank them for their service. You can watch a short video of our visit 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.