TOPEKA, KS – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today was honored with a Citation for Distinguished Statesmanship from the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas at their Centennial Banquet in Topeka. This is one of the highest awards given by the organization.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this incredible award,” said Roberts. “I have appreciated this organization and its celebration of our state since I was a little boy. I am so grateful for the work the Native Sons and Daughters do to preserve and applaud what makes Kansas special, and to be here tonight to celebrate so many great citizens of our state.”

The Kansas Native Sons and Daughters annually present awards honoring outstanding Kansans, the “highest honors Kansans bestow upon Kansans.” The organization honored Senator Roberts as Kansan of the Year in 1998 and as Distinguished Kansan of the Year in 1999. This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the program, where Roberts received the Citation for Distinguished Statesmanship in honor of his service and leadership in the state and the nation. For more information on the organization, go here.

Senator Roberts is the longest serving member of Congress from Kansas and is the only member of Congress in history to serve as both Chairman of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. He also held the gavel of four other committees, more than any other member of Congress from Kansas.

Gov. Sam Brownback presented a proclamation recognizing Roberts as the recipient of the 2017 Citation for Distinguished Statesmanship. The full text is as follows:

WHEREAS, The Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, in keeping with their purpose to honor outstanding Kansans who are exemplary role models, and who represent the spirit and character of all Kansans, do honor and recognize U.S. Senator Charles Patrick Roberts; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts has served our nation, first in the United States Marine Corps where he earned the rank of Captain; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts is the longest serving member of Congress from Kansas; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts represented Kansas’ Big First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for 16 years; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts has served 21 years representing the people of Kansas in the United States Senate where he continues to serve to this day; and, 

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts has been selected by his colleagues to hold six committee chairmanships in the United States Congress; and, 

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts has chaired the House Agriculture Committee, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, the Senate Committee on Ethics, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Commission; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts has held the gavel of more committees than any other member of Congress from Kansas; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Pat Roberts is the first member of Congress in American history to serve as both Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee; and,

WHEREAS, with Senator Pat Roberts’ seniority, experience and strong leadership of the many committees he has chaired, Kansans have a strong and visionary federal advocate in areas critical to the prosperity and security of the state and the nation; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SAM BROWNBACK, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby present UNITED STATES SENATOR PAT ROBERTS the 2017 Citation for Distinguished Statesmanship and urge all citizens to join in this recognition.