Comments at Swearing-In Ceremony

Swearing-In Ceremony - January 7, 2003

Today I was sworn in for my second term as your U.S. Senator from Kansas. I want to discuss with you my priorities for the new year and the tough challenges we face as a nation in the coming months.

First I would like to recognize the patriotic and dedicated Kansans fighting the war on terrorism and securing our homeland. Our brave men and women in uniform and their families are always in our thoughts and prayers.

Next as the incoming Chairmen of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am looking forward to shaping our intelligence resources to best protect our nation from terrorist threats. We have a lot of work to do to win the war on terrorism and I am confident we will prevail.

One of our most important duties this week is to pass unemployment benefits for those hit hard by the recession. I have talked with people across the state who need this critical aid and need it now.

I want to see a prescription drug benefit passed by the Senate this year. I will work with my colleagues on the Health Education Labor and Pensions committee to ease the burden on seniors and their families so that they do not have to choose between medicine and other necessities.

As the year progresses, we will continue to ensure the high quality of Kansas highways with passage of new transportation funding.

I hope that we can deliver on the government's promise to fully fund special education benefits easing the financial burden on an already taxed state budget and improving the quality of education for all Kansas children.

I look forward to all of these challenges, to making real progress on the war on terrorism and to improving the daily lives of Kansans.