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Fellow Kansan,
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. I am back in Washington, D.C. for a week of legislative activity, committee hearings, and meetings. If you would like more information on what I am working on this week, be sure to follow me on social media.
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. That’s what I am doing while believing our brightest days are yet to come.
Yours in service,
| | Click below to follow me on social media. | | |
This morning, I attended a House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee hearing examining how different states administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. While SNAP is federally funded, states have the responsibility to administer the program, and my colleagues and I had a great discussion with state food assistance experts on the benefits and drawbacks of different states' processes. Under our Republican majorities in Congress and in the White House, Washington has been focused on how we can restore integrity and efficiency into the SNAP program. We must continue working to steward tax dollars wisely and responsibly, and I appreciated this conversation about how we can do just that.
Tomorrow, I will participate in a Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing analyzing the implementation of the Water Resources Development Act we passed in 2024. This bipartisan legislation included several priority items for Kansas including support for the Manhattan levee project, a study for the Ogallala Aquifer, and a change in storage contracts that saved Kansans nearly $41 million. That legislation delivered for the Big First District and I look forward to hearing how it has improved our nation’s resources infrastructure.
We will also be voting on the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which funds and implements a peace through strength agenda in our military. This legislation provides funding to permanently secure our borders, speed up the delivery of innovative technologies to DoD, and raise base salaries for service members by 3.8%. These are commonsense changes that help our warfighters succeed and bolster the status of the greatest military the world has ever seen.
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- Greater Topeka Area Chamber of Commerce
- Meat Institute
- Kansas Automobile Dealers Association
- Kansas Pork Association
- Growth Energy
- Viega
- Kansas Hospital Association
- Kansas University Health Center
| | Celebrating Kansas Heritage and Tradition | | |
The State Fair is one of the crown jewels of Kansas tradition. For more than a century, families have made the trip to Hutchinson every September to celebrate agriculture, spend time together, and showcase the very best of our state. It is a place where urban and rural Kansans alike come together, where grandparents bring their grandkids to see livestock shows, enjoy funnel cakes and candy apples, ride the Ferris wheel, and come together to honor agriculture as the backbone of our economy and our culture.
On Saturday, I had the privilege of announcing the Legislative Showmanship competition alongside Mary McCurry, the Chairwoman of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation Board. This event is unlike anything else in the country. It gives lawmakers the opportunity to learn directly from Kansas FFA and 4-H students about how to show livestock and, more importantly, about the commitment and dedication it takes to care for those animals. These young people are the future leaders of agriculture, and I was inspired by their passion and knowledge. I would also like to acknowledge Mary Kane with Kansas FFA and Ann Sankey with the Kansas State Fair Foundation Board for putting on a great event. Congratulations again to this year’s winners and thank you to everyone who made the event possible!
| | Funding Energy and National Security Initiatives | | |
A strong America starts with secure energy, modern infrastructure, and unmatched national defense. This week, the House passed the Fiscal Year 26 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which delivers on those priorities. The bill invests in modernizing our nuclear weapons infrastructure, strengthens cybersecurity for the electric grid, and blocks adversaries like China and Russia from accessing U.S. energy systems and technology. It also expands domestic critical mineral production and supports the development of advanced nuclear energy—key steps toward American energy dominance.
The legislation eliminates funding for the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are well-stewarded. This legislation reflects the commonsense priorities of Kansans: protecting our country, strengthening our economy, and ensuring accountability in federal spending.
| | Fighting for Human Rights | | |
Last week, the House passed the bipartisan Uyghur Policy Act, which takes an important stand against the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses. For years, the CCP has carried out mass detentions, forced labor, and religious persecution in what is widely recognized as an ongoing genocide against the Uyghur people. This bill strengthens America’s response by promoting accountability, supporting Uyghur cultural identity, and pushing for the closure of the CCP’s reeducation camps.
The United States has a moral responsibility to confront these atrocities and stand with those who are targeted for their faith and heritage by a totalitarian regime.
| | Lowering Health Care Costs for Kansans | | |
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have operated in the shadows of our health care system for too long: driving up costs, limiting access, and hurting both patients and local pharmacies. Their anticompetitive practices often leave Kansans paying more for less.
I am cosponsoring H.R. 4317, the PBM Reform Act, which increases transparency, bans abusive pricing tactics, and ensures fair reimbursement for pharmacies serving Medicaid and Medicare patients. It’s a commonsense step to bring accountability to the prescription drug supply chain and protect access to care in rural communities.
| | Sharing the Big First's Sentiments on House Floor | | |
Over the August in-district work period, I had the privilege of meeting with Kansans all across the district, from Salina to Great Bend, and Hays to Hill City. It is the honor of my life to represent the Big First District of Kansas in this Congress, and I was grateful to spend time with Kansans while I was home. I visited all 60 counties in the Big First for the fifth year in a row, and I had the chance to hear about the impacts the working families tax cut will make on the hardworking men and women in our communities.
As I visited companies and families across the Big First District, stop after stop, my fellow Kansans expressed their appreciation for the wins the bill delivers for Kansas families. They are relieved that we were able to prevent the largest tax hike in American history for working and middle-class families and grateful for the work that is going on to usher in the Golden Age of America.
| | Improving our Aviation Workforce | | |
The FAA currently employs 2,300 fewer Certified Professional Controllers than needed and continues to fall below its hiring and certification targets. The shortage has forced many controllers to work mandatory overtime, leading to fatigue and increasing the risk of errors.
Last night, we passed the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025, legislation I cosponsor, which ensures that we can prepare and effectively equip the next generation of capable, qualified air traffic controllers to protect the future safety of our skies and maintain the American gold standard of aviation.
| | Preventing Deadly Chinese Drug Trafficking | | |
The House passed H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, to hold China accountable for its role in the fentanyl crisis devastating American families. This bill imposes sanctions on Chinese companies and officials who manufacture and export synthetic opioids, closes loopholes exploited by traffickers, and strengthens oversight of chemical shipments that feed drug cartels.
Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for young Americans, and much of it can be traced back to Chinese labs and government inaction. This legislation is a necessary step to confront that reality, give law enforcement better tools, and protect our communities from the poison flooding across our border.
| | Military Academy Applications | | Each year, I have the honor of nominating select students from the Big First District to join the ranks of the best and brightest in our nation’s service academies. If you or someone you know is interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy, my office is currently accepting military nomination applications through September 29, 2025. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit my website. | | Last week, I met with representatives from the Kansas Bankers Association to discuss the role of local banks in supporting small businesses, family farms, and rural communities across the Big First. I also joined Douglas County community leaders for a conversation about Haskell Indian Nations University and my legislation to return governance to a Tribal-nominated Board of Regents. Haskell should be led by those who understand its mission and are committed to strengthening Native education for generations to come. I appreciated the thoughtful discussion on how we can begin a new chapter that empowers Haskell to thrive and serve tribal communities in the way it was always meant to. | | Kansas Bankers Association | | Douglas County Commissioners and Community Leaders | | |
As fall approaches and Kansans settle into new routines, my offices in Washington, D.C., and across the Big First remain ready to help. Whether you’re planning a trip to our nation’s capital, need assistance with passports or a federal agency, or want to request an American flag flown over the Capitol, we have resources available.
We’re also proud to assist Kansas veterans with accessing benefits and resolving issues with the VA. You can find helpful information and request services anytime at mann.house.gov, or feel free to call one of my offices in Washington, Manhattan, or Dodge City. My team and I are here to serve you.
| | Visiting Washington, D.C.? Contact My Office | | |
One of my favorite parts of representing the Big First District in Congress is hosting Kansans when they visit our nation’s capital. If you are planning a visit to Washington, D.C., please contact my office. My staff and I can help schedule tours of the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and answer any questions that you may have.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit my website and submit a tour request form, or call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2715. We look forward to seeing you!
| | Please note: White House tour requests must be requested at least one week in advance. Space is limited and a tour request does not guarantee a spot. | | |
Manhattan Office
317 Houston Street
Suite A
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 370-7277
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Dodge City Office
100 Military Avenue
Suite 203
Dodge City, KS 37801
Phone: (620) 682-7340
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Washington, D.C. Office
344 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2715
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If I can do anything to help you, please reach out to my office.
Sincerely,
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