Message from Rep. Tracey Mann. Having Trouble Viewing? Click Here. Fellow Kansan, Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! I’m excited to update you on my work in Washington, D.C. and the First District of Kansas. It is an honor to represent Kansans in the Big First District in the 118th Congress. I do not serve in Congress to be a caretaker in the slow demise of America – I serve to fight and work to make it stronger, and I believe our brightest days are yet to come. Yours in service,   Mann.House.Gov The Week Ahead I'm back in Washington, D.C. for another full week of votes, committee meetings, and visiting with stakeholders. The House is expected to vote on legislation this week that will protect Americans' choices, wallets, and jobs when it comes to the Biden Administration's war on natural gas, and fight against the executive branch's extreme overreach into the lives of American citizens. H.R. 277, the REINS Act of 2023, would protect the American people from incurring new costs by requiring any "major rule" by an administration to require Congress' approval to become law. This is a step towards stopping the wasteful government spending that has created our country's national debt crisis. The American people gave Republicans control of the House for a reason – they are tired of seeing their tax dollars wasted, their rights violated, and the laws of our land dictated by regulations and rules from the White House. Congress was created to legislate and to prevent the executive branch from abusing its power, and why I will be voting yes to the REINS Act this week. This week, the House Agriculture Committee will hold a full committee hearing to examine digital asset markets and a full committee hearing to discuss opportunities for modernization in Title IV of the Farm Bill, which deals with nutrition programs. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will also hold a hearing to examine opportunities to improve the efficiency of Amtrak operations. Meetings in the Office: Kansas Livestock Association Syngenta Kansas Building and Industry Association National Propane Gas Association Alliance to End Hunger Fall 2023 Internship Applications Now Open I'm excited to announce that my office is now accepting internship applications for Fall 2023. My first job on Capitol Hill was as an intern for a Kansas representative, and I'm honored to extend that same opportunity. Interns are a vital part of a congressional office and a rewarding experience for students interested in learning more about our government and serving Kansans in the Big First District. If you, or a student you know, are interested in applying for an internship in my Washington, D.C., Manhattan, or Dodge City offices, please click the link below to learn more and apply. The deadline to submit all required application materials is July 7, 2023. Click Here to Learn More and to Apply. Questions? Contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2715   Mann.House.Gov In the News Rep. Tracey Mann: Kansas leads the U.S. Fight against world hunger - and it pays back. America is the leader of the free world, which comes with certain responsibilities. Addressing global hunger is both the morally right and strategically wise thing to do. Click Here to Read My Opinion Piece. Legislative Update Debt Ceiling Fails to Make Necessary Reforms For more than 100 days, President Biden stalled, refused to negotiate, and used a looming government default as a bargaining chip. While I commend Republican Leadership for taking a much-needed step and putting forward a plan to rein in out-of-control government spending, I did not vote for the legislation that passed the House last week. Kansans in the Big First sent me to Washington, D.C. with a clear mandate – stop the government borrowing and spending spree. Today, America is at $31 trillion in debt, and in a matter of months, we will be at $34 trillion. This must end. Americans deserve a well-thought-out plan for addressing our skyrocketing national debt. Click Here to Read My Full Statement. Streamlining VA Mental Health Care for Veterans The Mission Act of 2018 expanded Community Care options for veterans, but for veterans in need of mental health care, the VA is failing to implement the program in the timely manner that they deserve. The Protecting Veteran Community Care Act, which I cosponsor, would amend the Mission Act of 2018 to make significant improvements. It would explicitly include mental health care into the list of treatment options, prohibit the VA from subverting Community Care access standards, requires the department to track and report on their eligibility decisions and prohibit the department from making ad hoc modifications to Community Care access standards without the input of Congress. Veterans struggling with mental health issues, especially those living in rural areas without VA-supported treatment options, don’t deserve to wait for care because of bureaucratic red tape. Protecting America's Short Line Railroads In the United States, we have more than 600 small business short-line freight railroads that play a vital role in transporting materials to support our agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors just to name a few. In the Big First, we have the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (K&O), which operates on over 800 miles of track throughout the district. Currently, federal programs don’t provide short line railroads with immediate financial relief after natural disasters. The Short Line Railroad Relief Act would direct the Department of Transportation Secretary, in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration, to establish an expedited process to provide meaningful relief to short line railroads following a natural disaster that causes catastrophic damage. Short line railroads keep the American economy running across multiple sectors, and Congress should invest in protecting them when disasters strike.   Mann.House.Gov In the District Last week, I attended the Kansas FFA Convention - the largest student gathering in the state. I enjoyed spending time with FFA members and am thankful to have received the Honorary State FFA Degree. I am grateful for my own experience in FFA. The memories I made, the friendships I built, and the lessons I learned will last a lifetime.  Kansas FFA members, thank you for getting into the middle of issues affecting food and agriculture today and charting a course into the future. As the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional FFA Caucus, it is an honor to serve you in Congress. Watch My Remarks at the 2023 Kansas FFA Convention Below.   Mann.House.Gov Happening Across the Country On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. 4,000 of the Allied troops were killed by German soldiers. On D-Day, we honor those brave individuals who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. This day also moves me to thank veterans and pray for our troops everywhere, who put their lives on the line every day for the same purpose. God bless America. June is National Dairy Month Happy National Dairy Month! Did you know that the average dairy cow in Kansas produces about 7.55 gallons of milk per day? That’s more than 2,755 gallons of milk over the course of a year. I’m grateful for all of our dairy farmers and producers in the Big First District, like Stateline Dairy in Morrowville, Kansas which I had the chance to visit earlier this year. Click Here to Read More About My Visit to Stateline Dairy. Follow Me on Social Media: CONSTITUENT SERVICES     Manhattan Office 317 Houston Street Suite A Manhattan, KS 66502 Phone: (785) 370-7277 Dodge City Office 100 Military Avenue Suite 203 Dodge City, KS 37801 Phone: (620) 682-7340 Washington, D.C. Office 344 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515  Phone: (202) 225-2715 If I can do anything to help you, please reach out to my office. Sincerely,   Rep. Mann | 344 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]