April 18, 2013

 

Hello – It has been a remarkably difficult time for our nation. The evil of terrorism has struck us at home again, a terrible explosion in Texas cost us more lives and ricin letters were sent to the Capitol raising fears of the anthrax attacks from over a decade ago.  However, even in the darkest times, the best of America shines through.  We honor our fallen heroes from the first responders in Texas and Boston to a Kansas Army Chaplin who made the ultimate sacrifice caring for his brothers in arms in the Korean War.

 

Here’s what we’ve been working on in Washington:

 

Thoughts and Prayers Remain with the Victims of Tragedies in Boston and West, Texas

There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for the families who are grieving this week after they lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack in Boston and the explosion in Texas. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Boston and West, Texas as they begin the long road to recovery. We are beyond thankful for the first responders both professionals and good Samaritans who fought for the survivors and prevented further loss of life. The American people have been terribly hurt over the last week, but the American spirit cannot be damaged. 

 

Father Kapaun Receives Medal of Honor

Last week I had the honor of attending the ceremony at the White House to award a posthumous Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for bravery, to Father Emil Kapaun, a Kansas priest who served in the Korean war and who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

 

On a perfect spring day in our nation’s capital, it was an honor and a privilege to gather with the fellow soldiers and family of Father Emil Kapaun to recognize his sacrifice and service to our nation, to his faith, and to those that served with him and were witness to his acts of grace, civility and courage under the most difficult of circumstances. I am thankful for the veterans that fought for this recognition after all of these years. Father Kapaun’s bravery and inspiration lives on in the hearts and minds of Kansans, and now will forever have a place of honor in the history of our nation. May God bless Father Kapaun

 

 

 

The Kelsey Smith Act

On June 2, 2007, 18-year-old Kelsey Smith was abducted in broad daylight from an Overland Park, Kansas department store and murdered. The abduction was captured on the store’s security camera leaving little doubt of the emergency nature of the circumstances. Four days after she disappeared, authorities were able to locate Kelsey’s body after her wireless provider released the “ping” or “call location” information from her cell phone. Providing this information as fast as possible is critical to ensure law enforcement officials can rescue victims in imminent danger of death or serious physical harm.

 

This week, I joined Senator Jerry Moran in introducing legislation that will require wireless communication providers to provide call location information to the requesting law enforcement agencies only when responding to a call for emergency services or in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm.

 

Protecting the lives of our children is the paramount concern for any parent. The Kelsey Smith Act is commonsense legislation that makes it easier for law enforcement to find our children if the nightmare of abduction ever becomes a reality. Because the fear of legal liability is a legitimate concern our bill provides industry and law enforcement with the necessary tools to work together to do everything they can do find a loved one in danger, while at the same time ensuring that all citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights are protected.  I look forward to broad, bipartisan, bicameral support of the Kelsey Smith Act.

 

Honest Gun Control Proposals that Don’t Threaten Constitutional Rights

I'm a dad and a granddad -- If I thought the gun control proposal made by my colleagues Senator Manchin and Senator Toomey would end violence, I would have voted for it. However, I just don't think this proposal is the answer we need and neither do the thousands of Kansans who have contacted me.

 

So while I believe that Senators Toomey and Manchin came to the table with a sincere proposal, I do have serious concerns with their legislation, including the expansion of the background check system and government intrusion on private firearm transfers.

 

I think there is a better solution. As an alternative, I helped introduce legislation that protects Kansans’ fundamental right to self-protection, while making a comprehensive effort to reduce illegal gun violence, the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2013.

 

A background check can provide a key line of defense against gun violence, but it must be done in a way that does not infringe upon Second Amendment rights. The legislation we introduced is a comprehensive package that will improve the efficiency and accuracy in the background check system. In addition, our bill will address mental illness and improve school safety along with other measures to end gun crimes.

 

We have a unique opportunity to address the root cause of this tragic violence, but we can’t waste time with legislation that does not reduce gun violence. We need to enact realistic legislation. For an executive summary of the alternative gun control legislation click HERE, for the full bill text click HERE.   

 

I have also introduced legislation, S. 689, the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, to improve awareness and prevention of mental illness with special emphasis on services for children and youth. The bill was approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee with broad bipartisan support. The bill reauthorizes and improves programs administered by both the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services related to awareness, prevention, and early identification of mental health conditions, and the promotion of linkages to appropriate services for children and youth. This legislation was offered as an amendment to S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act and was agreed to by the full Senate with a vote of 95-2. The Senate is yet to have a final vote on S. 649.

President’s Budget Funds NBAF; Fails to Address National Debt

The President’s budget, released two months late last week, got one thing right: a clear and renewed commitment for improved national security by protecting plant and animal health.  I have been fighting, demanding and pleading with the Administration, as have my congressional colleagues, to fulfill the pledge to build a much needed state-of-the-art National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Kansas State University will house the facility, building on the research that is already being done there. The $714 million included in the budget helps achieve this vital national security mandate that everyone from the Department of Homeland Security to the Department of Agriculture believes we must have to ensure we are protected from a threat to the nation’s plant or animal health.

 

The real work to complete NBAF begins as we continue to fight to ensure this $714 million in funding is appropriated to advance construction of the NBAF in Manhattan and achieve this critical national security goal.

 

Beyond this commitment to finish work on NBAF, the President’s budget was more of the same.

I am very disappointed that the budget once again includes a misguided proposal to increase taxes on the business aviation industry. Especially since elsewhere in the same document, the President calls for investment in high-tech and innovative manufacturing. Business aviation perfectly fits the profile of a manufacturing sector we, and the President, should take every effort to encourage – creating good paying, high technology jobs.

 

This budget repeats the attacks on the oil and gas industry, calling for targeted tax hikes on an industry that provides thousands of jobs in Kansas. Singling out this industry, which is crucial to economic growth, and a source of reliable income for many Kansas families, is particularly short-sighted.

 

His budget raises over a trillion dollars in taxes and contributes a mere $119 billion in deficit reduction over 10 years. This is not the right formula to grow jobs and create stability in the economy.

 

 

Strengthening Crop Insurance and Saving Taxpayers $5 Billion

Last week, I introduced a bill to strengthen the federal crop insurance program, improving the critical safety-net for farmers while also saving the taxpayer $5.2 billion over 10 years.

In the last few years, farmers and ranchers have been tested by prolonged drought, freezes and floods. Time after time, we are told by producers that crop insurance is the single most important program that helps them when disasters strike. As debate begins again on a five year farm bill, I want to ensure crop insurance is protected and improved.

 

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.