Tag: Sen. Jerry Moran

Ribbon-cutting held for new VA Outpatient Clinic in KCK

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, left, talked with Paul Mimms, the vice president of the National Blinded Veterans Association, during the ribbon-cutting event Friday at the new VA Outpatient Clinic at 9201 Parallel Parkway. (Photo from Sen. Moran’s staff)

A ribbon-cutting was held Friday for a new VA Outpatient Clinic at 9201 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.

The new clinic will offer primary care and specialty health services such as mental health care and laboratory services.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, participated in the ribbon-cutting and gave this statement:

“On Friday, it was great to be with veterans in Kansas City as we officially opened a new VA Outpatient Clinic. To open the new VA Outpatient Clinic, we were joined by the first patient to be seen at the clinic and navy veteran, Carroll Hill. Mr. Hill’s grandfather was also the first American drafted in WWI. This is a family that is truly dedicated to serving our country and I thank them for their service. There is no group of individuals I hold in higher regard than those who have served our country, and I’m pleased that this new VA Outpatient Clinic will help veterans like Mr. Hill. This VA Outpatient Clinic will offer many important services to veterans in the KC-area including primary care, labs, pharmacies, tele-health and behavioral-health services.

“During the ceremony today, we were also joined by Paul Mimms, the Vice President of the National Blinded Veterans Association. Mr. Mimms presented the VA Outpatient Clinic with a Bronze Braille Flag to be on display at the clinic. I appreciate all Mr. Mimms does for veterans in Kansas and across our country, and I look forward to displaying a replica of the Bronze Braille Flag in my office. Thank you to Director Rudy Klopfer, Joseph Burks and everyone in the Eastern Kansas VA Health System, as well as Bill Turner, Director of the Kansas Commission of Veterans Affairs, for your commitment to serving our veterans.”

  • Information from Sen. Moran’s staff
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, at the ribbon-cutting event Friday for a new VA Outpatient Clinic at 9201 Parallel Parkway. (Photo from Sen. Moran’s staff)
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, left, at the ribbon-cutting event for the new VA Outpatient Clinic in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo from Sen. Moran’s staff)
A ribbon-cutting was held Friday for a new VA Outpatient Clinic at 9201 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo from Sen. Jerry Moran’s staff)

U.S. senators from Kansas vote against bipartisan federal gun safety legislation

Bill promotes red-flag laws, expansion of background checks

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran voted Thursday against gun safety reforms supported by two-thirds of the chamber’s members, including 15 Republicans and all Democrats.

The Kansas GOP lawmakers rejected the Gun Violence Prevention Bill crafted in wake of mass shootings in Texas and New York during May that left 21 dead in a Uvalde elementary school and 10 dead at a Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo.

The legislation passed 65-33 was scheduled for a vote Friday in the U.S. House, where it was expected to pass and move to President Joe Biden.
Sen. Marshall said he wouldn’t sacrifice the right of Kansans to bear arms for a “gun-grabbing scheme.” He predicted adoption of the measure would strip law-abiding people of Second Amendment rights.

Under the bill, federal grants would be provided to states for crisis intervention programs. Congressional aid would flow to states with red-flag laws, which enable law enforcement officers to petition a state court to temporary remove firearms from people thought to be danger to others or themselves.

“Red-flag laws not only violate the Second Amendment, but they are also begging to be abused by individuals who do not have a shred of respect for due process,” Sen. Marshall said. “I do not doubt that the corrupt political actors who have infiltrated the American legal system at various levels would happily oblige.”

The bill would strengthen federal penalties for gun trafficking. It would enhance background checks for people 18 to 21. It also would clarify who was considered a firearm seller for purposes of background checks on potential buyers. Another section would keep guns away from non-spouse dating partners convicted of abuse.

Instead, Sen. Marshall recommended Congress use COVID-19 relief funding to bolster security at schools and pay salaries of armed guards. In addition, he endorsed tax incentives to people completing firearm safety courses or properly storing weapons.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District Republican from Kansas, said he would vote against the Senate-passed bill. He said the legislation fell short of protecting students and inhibited the ability of citizens to use guns for personal protection.

“Our focus should be on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, securing schools and enhancing mental health programs through enforcement of existing laws,” he said.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/24/u-s-senators-from-kansas-vote-against-bipartisan-federal-gun-safety-legislation/

Moran, Marshall travel to Europe for NATO briefings amid invasion of Ukraine

Kansas’ four U.S. House members vote to deepen sanctions against Russia

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall are part of a bipartisan 10-member entourage of senators traveling to Poland and Germany to gathering information about NATO and the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican leading the delegation, scheduled meetings with top military leaders about work of NATO allies and to learn firsthand more about the “heartbreaking humanitarian impact” of Russia President Vladimir Putin’s “war of aggression.”

Republicans Marshall and Moran, who were in Europe on Friday, said a prime directive of the United States’ government was to protect freedom and liberty for people around the world. Kansas is the only state with two senators in this overseas delegation.

“The United States has the capability to provide further resources to Ukrainians through defensive military equipment, food aid and medical supplies to give Ukraine a fighting chance not only to survive but to win,” Moran said.

Moran was recently appointed to the Senate’s NATO Observer Group comprised of six Republicans and six Democrats. The panel was re-established in 2018 to better inform senators outside of national security committees about defense spending commitments of alliance members, the alliance’s counter-terrorism capability, NATO enlargement and the ability of NATO members to address non-conventional warfare.

Marshall said President Joe Biden wasn’t doing enough in terms of economic sanctions against Russia. The Kansas senator said Ukrainian forces should be given broader access to MiG-29 and A-10 fighter aircraft as well as additional drones and anti-aircraft missiles. Marshall also sponsored legislation banning U.S. purchases of Russian uranium.

“I am committed that there will be no American bloodshed in Ukraine,” Marshall said. “This has to be a war that is led be Europe. We will be standing beside and behind, but we don’t want American pilots in the air space or American boots on the ground.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. House voted 424-8 on Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. The measure sent to the U.S. Senate would enable Biden to impose higher tariffs on Russian goods.

Biden’s directives to cut off flow of Russian oil, gas, seafood, alcohol and diamonds to the United States has blocked an estimated 60% of Russian imports.

“We must keep in mind that the American marketplace is not something that is a right. It is a privilege for those that uphold international order,” said U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Kansas Republican. “Congress must make clear to the world that normal trade relations with the United States must be reserved for honest brokers that adhere to international order.”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/moran-marshall-travel-to-europe-for-nato-briefings-amid-invasion-of-ukraine/.