Dear Friend,

Welcome to “This Week in Congress.”  I hope you find this newsletter useful. 

Tour to Highlight First District Conservation Efforts

            On Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22, I will be hosting a conservation tour to learn more about conservation efforts in south central Kansas.  In a state where our natural resources are so important to our livelihood and way of life, I have regularly conducted these tours in order to better understand conservation efforts in various parts of our state.  This years tour will feature stops in Barber, Barton, Pratt, Reno and Stafford Counties.  The Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), will join me for the tour.

This year’s tour will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about and bring attention to the efforts of private landowners, conservation groups and government programs to protect our state’s precious resources and environment.  Additionally, the tour will focus on a variety of conservation issues important to Kansas including water quality, wildlife habitat protection, grazing lands management, and the preservation of wetlands. 

The public is invited to join us during any part of the tour.  For the full schedule, visit: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ks01_moran/nr101204ConservationTourSchedule.html   

Discussing Dairy, Health Care in Southwest Kansas

On Wednesday, I made several stops across southwest Kansas.  I spoke to the Garden City Rotary Club, followed by a stop at the Plymell Dairy south of Garden City.  This 1,200 head dairy employs 11 people.

After leaving the dairy, I joined Satanta District Hospital Interim-Director Cindy Schneider for a tour of their hospital facilities.  While there, we discussed a number of health care issues and their effect on small hospitals such as Satanta’s.  Following my visit to Satanta, I visited the High Plains Dairy, south of Plains.  This 3,645 head dairy employs 35 people.  The visit to the Plymell and High Plains dairies helped me to better understand the increasing importance of dairy within our state’s agricultural economy.  

Community Visits

            Salina

            On Tuesday, I joined the Salina Sunrise Rotary Club where I was the guest speaker.  Following the breakfast, I toured the Martin Luther King, Jr. Child Development Center. The center is doing great work for the community and the children. 

            Dodge City

            On Thursday,  I joined Roto-Mix President Rod Neier and Plant Manager Dale Mather for a tour of their facilities in Dodge City.  Roto-Mix is one of the leading producers of feed mixers in Kansas.  The tour allowed me to see the work being done at the plant and gave me the chance to discuss issues and concerns facing agricultural manufacturers.     

            Alton

            On Friday, I visited Alton and stopped by the Alton United Methodist Church, Post Office, Co-Op and Hartzler’s Hardware Store, where I talked to residents about topics ranging from fall harvest and drought assistance to transportation costs and the rising price of fuel. 

            Hays

            On Sunday, I joined my wife Robba and our children for an evening soup supper at Thomas Moore Prep High School.  Thomas Moore is the Catholic high school in Hays and the soup dinner is one of their annual school fundraisers.  It was nice to join my family for an event like this that goes to support education.

Visiting First District Schools

            On Thursday, I read to students in Bill Knight’s fourth grade class at Kinsley-Offerle Elementary School.  Principal Patti Heiland was there as I read, “House Mouse, Senate Mouse” by Peter and Cheryl Shaw Barnes.    

            On Friday, I joined Beloit Elementary School Teacher Nadyne Copp and Sherry Tiernam in their fourth grade classrooms to meet and read to their students.  I enjoy visiting classrooms because it gives me the opportunity to see the great future of our state, and to better understand what is happening in our schools across Kansas.  

In the Office

In for a tour of the U.S. Capitol this week was Arica Sadowsky of Little River, the sister of Jessica Sadowsky, who works in my Washington, D.C. office.  Also in for tours were Don and Carol Vineyard of Salina, David and Cheryl Donelan of Wichita and Jay and Marilyn Donelan of Colby.  Also visiting the Capitol were Jerry and Bette Dietz of Hays and their daughter Leann Adams of Wichita, Lee and Carol Fellhoelter of Plainville, and Don and Elaine Brin of Hays.  

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 67601-0249
P: (785) 628-6401
F: (785) 628-3791

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

Washington D.C. Office
1519 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
P: (202) 225-2715
F: (202) 225-5124


Very truly yours,

Jerry