Dear Friend,

            Welcome to “This Week in Congress.”  I hope you find it useful. This week, with Congress in its final week of the Easter work period, I spent the time traveling throughout the district and meeting with Kansans.  

New District Office

On Monday, I joined community leaders in Salina for the ribbon cutting for an additional congressional district office. This office will allow me to better meet the needs of Kansans living in the eastern part of the First Congressional District. Working in the office will be Monte Shadwick and Steven Howe. With the addition of Nemaha, Geary and Greenwood Counties to the First District in 2002, it has become more important to have additional services available for the citizens I represent. I am particularly hoping to better meet the needs of our service men and women and their families in the Fort Riley area.

Monte Shadwick is the current mayor of Salina. He was first elected to the Salina City Commission in 1997 and as mayor in 2000. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in secondary education and from Kansas State University with a Master’s degree in business administration in 1991. Shadwick and his wife, Jannell, have four children. 

Prior to opening the Salina office, Steve Howe served as a legislative correspondent in my Washington, D.C. office. He is a native of the Manhattan area and graduated from Kansas State University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in speech and communication. While at KSU, he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and of the student sports staff at KSDB FM Radio.

The contact information for my new office is:

Salina District Office:

Congressman Jerry Moran

119 West Iron, Suite 603

P.O. Box 766

Salina, KS 67402-0766

Phone: (785) 309-0572

Fax: (785-827-6957

Website/Email: www.house.gov/moranks01/

Agriculture Disaster Payment Update

           On Wednesday, the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) received the computer software necessary to begin processing disaster payments for Kansas farmers and ranchers. Since Wednesday, FSA has already distributed nearly $10 million, through 23 county offices, to Kansans who were hit hard by the devastating drought conditions that have plagued the state for the past five years.

           I have worked on behalf of Kansans in Washington, D.C. for this disaster relief and am relieved to see that it is finally reaching the people that need it the most. It has been a long time coming.

           If you need further information about this program, please contact your local FSA office.

Visiting Kansas Communities

           Marion

           On Tuesday, I spoke to nearly 100 farmers at the National Farmers Union Annual Customer Appreciation Day hosted by Jerry Cady of Marion and Central National Bank. The event took place at the Marion city building and gave me a chance to thank farmers for all that they do for Kansas. Additionally, I was able to provide an update on the major agriculture issues being discussed in Washington, D.C.

            Salina

            Also on Tuesday, I spoke to over 200 farmers and manufacturers from nearly 30 different counties at the Mid-America Farm Expo in Salina. While at the expo, I was able to discuss the upcoming farm bill, address the proposed budget cuts and explain what I am doing to ensure that agriculture programs are not disproportionately affected. It was good to hear from folks, and I will take their comments with me as Congress continues to discuss these major agriculture issues next week. The Salina Chamber of Commerce hosted the Farm Expo, and the lunch was hosted by KSAL radio in Salina.

            Goodland

            On Wednesday, I joined Sharon Gregory, principal, and fourth grade teacher Rebecca Musil when I visited Mrs. Musil’s class and read to the students at Central Elementary School in Goodland. The event was part of the Kansas National Education Association’s (KNEA) “Read Across America” program, and this was the second year that I have participated. I was also able to donate, on behalf of the KNEA, a number of Dr. Seuss books to the school’s library. Ensuring that our children are literate is essential, and I appreciate the work of Mrs. Musil, Principal Gregory and the teachers of the KNEA for helping to advocate for this important issue. 

            LaCrosse

            On Saturday, I joined Sheriff Jack Mendenhall and over 275 friends and family at the LaCrosse city auditorium for his retirement reception. Sheriff Mendenhall has the distinction of being the longest serving sheriff in Kansas, serving for over 42 years. I have appreciated all of Sheriff Mendenhall’s work over the years. He will be hard to replace. I wish him well in his retirement and thank him for his years of work for the people of Rush County.

            Great Bend

            Saturday evening, my wife Robba and I attended the Kansas Oil and Gas Hall of Fame Banquet at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center in Great Bend. Danny Biggs of Great Bend and Miss Kansas, Megan Bushell of Wichita, emceed the banquet. I spoke to the attendees about the need for a comprehensive energy policy and for increased efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

            The oil and gas industry is an important one for Kansas. Our state currently ranks eighth among states in the production of oil and seventh in the production of natural gas. I appreciated the opportunity to speak to Kansas Oil and Gas members and would like to congratulate the new hall of fame inductees, including James Daniels, James Tasheff and J. Paul Jennings of Wichita, Tim Miller of Great Bend, Richard Pearce of El Dorado and Robert Watchous of Newton.

            To view the complete text of my speech, click on the following link: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ks01_moran/speech040205KSOilandGasHallofFame.html.

Contact me:

          It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C.  Please let me know how I can be of service.  You can email me through my web page at: http://www.house.gov/moranks01/hearingfromyou.htm. You can also contact me through one of my offices below:

Hays District Office:
1200 Main Street, Suite 402
P.O. Box 249
Hays, Kansas 67601
P: (785) 628-6401
F: (785) 628-3791

Hutchinson District Office:
1 N Main, Suite 525
P.O. Box 1128
Hutchinson, Kansas 67504
P: (620) 665-6138
F: (620) 665-6360

Salina District Office:
119 West Iron, Suite 603
P.O. Box 766
Salina, Kansas 67402
P: (785) 309-0572
F: (785) 827-6957  

Washington D.C. Office
2443 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, D.C. 20515
P: (202) 225-2715
F: (202) 225-5124


Very truly yours,

Jerry