Tour of Western Kansas

Senator Pat Roberts spent much of the August congressional recess touring Western Kansas to hear the concerns of constituents and to discuss current events including immigration, the drought, energy prices and national security. Major stops included: McPherson, Dodge City, Liberal, Moscow, Garden City, Goodland, Colby, Hays, Stockton, Russell, Albert, Bunker Hill, Norton and Salina.

The Western Kansas swing was far reaching and included talks with community leaders, area residents, farmers and ranchers as well as tours of new rural economic initiatives like the Moscow Cotton Gin and Hospira, a biologics manufacturing plant in McPherson. Whether it was discussing agriculture with farmers in Hays, or having coffee with residents in Colby, or giving a speech to the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce, Senator Roberts appreciated the candid views, thoughtful debate and counsel from folks at home, which he will bring back to his colleagues in the Senate next week.

Also during the August recess period, Senator Roberts and Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) invited senior Air Force officials to Wichita to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new intelligence processing facility designed to host the Kansas Air National Guard’s 161^st Intelligence Operations Group at McConnell Air Force Base. "America’s Newest Intelligence Center" is the largest in the Air National Guard. The 161^st is already providing intelligence support for the war fighters, but the new intelligence facility at McConnell greatly enhances the imagery processing and battlefield support Kansas Guardsmen will provide to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

Senator Roberts and Congressman Tiahrt have worked tirelessly over the last several years to secure funding for this facility, including $7.4 million for construction in 2003; $5.6 million for sensitive equipment last year; and $5 million and $7.5 million, respectively, in this years House and Senate Defense Appropriations bills. Debate and final passage of the defense spending bills is expected later this year.

Given the seriousness of increased sectarian violence that could lead to civil war or endanger the newly-elected Iraqi government, Senator Roberts, as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led a bipartisan effort to require a new national intelligence assessment of the situation in Iraq. Sen. Roberts supported and helped modify an amendment introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) that calls for a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq within 90 days.

Senator Roberts said, "It’s also clear that we now need new and better intelligence to assess our Iraq policy and military operations and options. Those within our intelligence community in Iraq are working 24-7 in a continuous and joint effort. Our challenge is to match our best intelligence efforts with a very difficult and fast-changing environment. We need a new intelligence estimate as soon as feasible to better enable the new Iraqi government, U.S. and Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces to respond to the increase in violence."

To better serve his Kansas constituents, Senator Roberts unveiled his new "Home on the Web," an updated website providing information on his activities on behalf of Kansans, links to federal government resources and timely updates on issues that affect Kansans’ daily lives and pocketbooks. For students, the website provides information on applying for a nomination to the country’s military academies as well as information on internships for college students in Senator Roberts’ Washington office.

Senator Roberts said, "For many, the only office they will be able to visit is my online office, and I hope this new site serves them well. The site offers information on what to see and do when you visit our nation’s capital and help with scheduling tours. My website is an easy way to request information, learn about my representation of Kansas in the U.S. Senate and is a reference for other government sources on the web."