Senator Jerry Moran

Yesterday, I met with Kansas student delegates from the NRECA Electric Cooperative Youth Tour during their visit to the U.S. Capitol. Rural students from across the country are chosen by their local electric cooperatives to participate in this leadership development program. I appreciated visiting with these students from across rural Kansas about the lessons they are learning on public service, leadership, and civic engagement through this program.

Thank you to the Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., Inc. delegates Aiden Aschenbrenner of Ellis, Lexi Averhoff of Garden City, Lakyn Beckman of Ellsworth, Spencer Beckman of Grinnell, Abigail Blundell of Cheney, Jarrett Bootsma of Wichita, Katelyn Burger of Johnson, Reygan Coonrod of Ellsworth, Goran Djurovic of Belle Plaine, Talia Flores of Ulysses, Katherine Hester of Cherryvale, Maria Limones of Bazine, Arielle Lindeen of Summerfield, Gracyn Monroe of Protection, Nicholas Naranjo of Liberal, Lucas Pauly of Conway Springs, Audriana Pena of Ulysses, Adeline Robinson of Dodge City; Jule Rolf of Westphalia, Owen Russell of Courtland, Eva Sharma of Dodge City, Isabelle Shipley of Norwich, Reid Stamper of Plainville, Kasen Stramel of Winona, Shelby Summervill of Marion, Addison Thorne of Perry and Karlee Whipple of Kalvesta for visiting with me. A special thank you to Sarah Madden of El Dorado, Kyle Madden of El Dorado and Shana Read of Topeka for helping make the trip possible for these students.

GOOD NEWS: U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened applications for grants through the Research Facilities Act Program. I introduced the AG RESEARCH Act to increase federal resources for this program and worked to make certain funding was included in last year’s reconciliation bill to help upgrade ag research facilities across the country.

This investment supports agricultural research institutions like Kansas State University, bolstering critical research for farming communities and strengthening our country’s food security.

📢 The FY2026 funding opportunity for the Research Facilities Act Program is OPEN.

Secretary Rollins & Secretary McMahon hosted land-grant university leaders at USDA to announce this historic investment, administered by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to upgrade agricultural research facilities.

Apply by July 17, 2026 ➡️ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/research-facilities-act-program

GOOD NEWS: 400,000 bushels of grain sorghum grown in western KS are being shipped through the Food for Peace program to help feed hungry people around the world. A Kansas farmer first had the idea for Food for Peace – a program that expands markets for U.S. producers, bolsters the fight against global hunger and strengthens our national security. I’m pleased by the progress we are seeing with the program now under the administration of U.S. Department of Agriculture, and I will continue working to make the move permanent.

Special thanks to National Sorghum Producers Chair Amy France and board member Jim Sipes for helping at the loading site yesterday and for their efforts to support our ag producers & feed the hungry.

The journey back to Moon continues with NASA’s announcement of the Artemis III Crew: Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, Mission Specialist Andre Douglas and Mission Specialist Frank Rubio!

The Artemis III Mission will test docking capabilities in low Earth orbit to prepare for a future lunar landing. Congratulations to these astronauts on their selection and thank you for your dedication to advancing this new era of space exploration.

NASA reveals Artemis III astronaut crew It'll be a key test flight before landing on the Moon.

Eighty-two years ago, Kansan and later President of the United States, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, led his men in what is still known as the largest amphibious invasion in history. Their success marked the beginning of the end to World War II.

Over 2,500 American soldiers lost their lives, including more than 30 Kansans, one being U.S. Army Sergeant John O. Herrick from Emporia, Kansas. At just 19 years of age, Sergeant Herrick paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom. In 2024, 80 years after his death on Normandy Beach, he finally returned home to Emporia and was laid to rest.

I have had the opportunity to visit Normandy, and seeing the place where Sgt. Herrick and thousands of other men laid down their lives for our country is a solemn reminder of the cost of our freedom. On D-Day, and every day, it is important to remember the sacrifice of those like Sergeant Herrick as we remain committed to honoring their legacy. To those of the Greatest Generation and their families: we respect you, we thank you for your service and we love you.

It was great to visit with Central Heights Honor Flight from Kansas while they were touring the Capitol this week. These veterans served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and had the opportunity to visit the memorials dedicated to them and their fellow servicemembers. There is no group of Americans I hold in higher regard than our nation’s heroes. These brave men and women truly represent the best of Kansas, and I’m thankful for the chance to shake their hands and express my gratitude for the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedoms.

Thank you the Honor Flight team, volunteers and family members of the veterans who made this trip possible. To the Kansas veterans on the Honor Flight, on behalf of a grateful nation, we thank you for your service.

The Rural Health Transformation Program, created in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, is investing $80 million in 39 Kansas health care providers to address the root challenges facing rural health care and bolster the long-term success of hospitals and providers across the state.

Kansas will receive $222 million in the program’s first year, making Kansas the sixth-highest recipient across the country. This is an historic investment in rural health care, and over the next five years, Kansas providers are estimated to receive $1 billion from the program.