Senator Roberts to Serve Remainder of Term and Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2020

Press Release

After devoting a lifetime to public service, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today announced he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2020 and will retire at the end of this term and the 116th Congress. For audio and video go here: https://bit.ly/2ToH4es.

Making the announcement in the thriving City of Manhattan, near his alma mater, steps from the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) and flanked by Ft. Riley and the pastures of the Flint Hills, Roberts chose the location for its proximity to the various efforts for which he has worked tirelessly over the course of his career in public service for all Kansans.

"Manhattan is an example of all that I have worked for on behalf of Kansans and the nation," Roberts said. "It is the tangible realization of hope and progress, prosperity and growth."

Choosing points of the compass, Roberts reflected upon his ongoing work in agriculture, for the military, for economic development, for life science research, for education, for aviation, for national security and much more for the daily lives and pocketbooks of all Kansans.

Concluding his remarks with his agenda for the remaining two years of his current Senate term, Roberts said, "I will be forever grateful to the people of Kansas for allowing me to represent you -- and you can bet I still have a very long "to do' list. The fighting for you is a long way from over. I've said it before, "Marines always take the Hill!' You can count on me to march forward and press the battle on behalf of our great state and nation."

For biographical information about Senator Roberts go here: https://bit.ly/2RujLT8

For a list of some of Senator Roberts' accomplishments for Kansas and the nation go here: https://bit.ly/2LQKior

And for a longer narrative go here: https://bit.ly/2R4Aw86

The following are Senator Roberts' remarks as prepared for delivery:

Manhattan is a special place in Kansas for me.
The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, which looms large just outside, is the anchor of our state's new economy based on research infrastructure -- and agriculture. It will create jobs for our citizens and innovation for the world.
I have spent 18 years working with many partners in state, federal and local governments to bring this facility -- and all of the resulting benefits -- to our state. It is a personal point of pride to see this construction when 18 years ago, few people believed we could do it. But we did.
To the east stretches the Life Science Corridor, the realization of this new economy.
To the west, we have Ft. Riley, once again home of the Big Red One and thousands of soldiers fighting for our national security.
I worked for a decade as a member of the Armed Services Committee to prepare Ft. Riley and Ft. Leavenworth so that when leaders looked, they saw posts with surrounding communities that were Army Strong and ready for the challenges a more robust mission brings.
Some said we'd never get the Big Red One back from Europe…but we did.
We also have Ft. Leavenworth in the east, the intellectual center of the Army with its Combined Arms Center and the Army Command and General Staff College. The home to the Staff College is now the state of the art Lewis and Clark Center. I was proud to secure the funding for the new building to replace Bell Hall, which was crumbling around our officers. Some said we couldn't expedite the funding for the construction, but we did.
In the south, we are proud of McConnell Air Force Base, the primary home for the U.S. tanker fleet. For almost 20 years, we fought to ensure that McConnell would be the continued home of the long-awaited new KC-46 tanker. Some thought we could never win that battle…but we did.
And today, we are standing in the beautiful headquarters of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, a magnificent building for the promotion of our state's number one industry.
Many who do not live in farm country do not understand the role we Kansans play to feed a troubled and hungry world.
As the only two-time chairman of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in congressional history, I've always proudly been a champion for agriculture.
A few weeks ago, we passed a new farm bill by a historic bipartisan vote, bringing certainty and predictability to farmers, ranchers and growers. It was my 8th farm bill. The usual naysayers said this would not be possible, but we did it…again!
Over our heads are the planes and jets that are evidence of the many Kansas suppliers, workers and businesses that support American aviation. I am proud to be their champion too.
All around us is the campus of Kansas State University, my alma mater, and that of my Dad and son….the home of the ever optimistic and fighting Wildcats yes, but also the home to the energy and promise of young Kansans ready to take on the world…At least that is what K-State taught me to do -- first as a young Marine captain and later in public service in the House and Senate.
And we are in the city of Manhattan, a thriving and safe city, perfect for raising a family and enjoying the Kansas way of life.
Manhattan is symbolic of all that I have worked for on behalf of Kansans, and on behalf of our nation. It is the tangible realization of hope and progress, prosperity and growth.
So it is fitting that here today, in this spot, with my wife Franki standing beside me, I am announcing that I will serve the remainder of this term as your Senator, fighting for Kansas in these troubled times, however, I will not seek re-election in 2020 for a fifth Senate term.
I have had the honor and privilege of representing Kansans for 16 years in the House and 22 years so far in the Senate.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become the longest serving member of Congress in our state's history.
When I was considering this decision, I went back and re-read the speeches I gave when I first ran for the House and then for the Senate. All the memories of wonderful friends in Dodge City came flooding back to me.
The hours, days, months of driving the highways and bi-ways of the "Big First," beginning with Senator Frank Carlson and then with Congressman Keith Seblieus -- great bosses and mentors -- and then with my own staff….these are some of the most cherished times of my life.
It reminds me of the many Kansans I have gotten to know and love who were trying to make a difference in their cities, small towns or in their industry or for their schools, hospitals and churches.
The Pat Roberts of 1980 was fighting for Kansas values, for the daily lives and pocketbooks of all Kansans.
In 1996 I promised that when I was in the Senate, when Kansas spoke, Washington would listen.
I am proud of my commitment to these principles.
As I considered this decision, I reflected on whether after nearly 40 years, I could stand before you and say that I had made a difference for Kansas and the country.
I have held 6 gavels in Congress for the people of Kansas and our nation, and that in of itself might be a record. But it's what happened during my tenures as chairman that I believe will have lasting impacts. It's not just having the gavel -- it's what you do with it.
Certainly leading farm bills in the House and Senate touch many lives and I've always been mindful of what farm families do for our nation in a troubled and hungry world as we crafted each bill.
As the Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman for four years during the Iraq War, I led the Committee's investigation that exposed worldwide intelligence failures leading to building a better Intelligence Community that today keeps our country safer.
I chaired the Senate Ethics Committee and presided over one of the major investigations of a decade, leading to the resignation of a sitting Senator who had broken the Senate rules and diminished the institution.
And, a very personal accomplishment for me, a fourth generation Kansan, I am privileged to be chairman of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which is building the memorial to our favorite son Dwight D. Eisenhower on the National Mall in Washington. We have a dedication date of May 2020.
As I said in 1996 when I first ran for the Senate, Kansas is a diverse state from Johnson County in the east to Johnson City in the west, we have the people and the resources and the work ethic to compete and prosper in the 21st Century.
Here today, in Manhattan, we can see this was true and I am proud to have had a part in making a difference, a part in making it better.
And the best is yet to come, I intend to sprint to the finish line!
We still have -- and we will always have -- challenges affecting the daily lives and pocketbooks of Kansans.
Despite the partisan division and conflict in Washington that threatens progress, I continue to believe we can achieve results. Those who know me know -- I work hard, I persevere, I do not give up and I will do what it takes to get the job done. Experience counts!
I will continue as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. We have urgent work to do on our nation's trade policy; it is a top priority. We will oversee how USDA implements the new farm bill to make sure it is working for our farmers and ranchers.
And, the first priority of anyone in Congress is to protect our national security and our individual freedoms.
As the chairman of the Senate Marine Caucus, I share the concern of many regarding the need for a consistent and strong national security policy.
As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, I will continue to work on tax and health care reform.
And just as important, my staff and I will continue to be the court of last resort for Kansans experiencing problems with the federal government.
I also look forward to having time in the next two years to thank those who have helped me and our state along the way. There are many partners inside and outside of government who contribute to the policies and vision that have enhanced our way of life.
There are no self-made men or women in public office, it is your friends who make you what you are, and I have a lot of friends along the way who have helped me make a difference for this state.
Of course, that starts at home with Franki and my children, David, Ashleigh and Anne-Wesley, who sacrificed so much time with me so that I could be there for Kansas. Their love, support and perhaps most important, their understanding--well, you can imagine how that feels. I'm a very lucky husband, father and now grandfather to seven!
For a boy who was born in Topeka, grew up in Holton and bled purple at K-State, I've been given a wonderful opportunity by the people of Kansas through 16 elections in the House representing the "Big First' and eight elections in the Senate.
24 Elections! I'm damn proud of that undefeated record, and it's all thanks to a strong partnership in government with the good people of Kansas.
Even though the world has changed. The politics has changed. And, the personalities have changed, many times over. With the support of Kansans, I'm proud to have offered consistent and dependable leadership to our state through it all.
Think of all the dedicated public servants I have worked with and, not to get partisan, think of all the competitors and political personalities who have come and gone. We outlasted most of them and made genuine friends with many along the way.
I've learned that being true to myself and sticking to my principles will always win the day. I've learned from other's examples and if you will allow, I've gained a little wisdom over the years.
I will be forever grateful to the people of Kansas for allowing me to represent you -- and you can bet I still have a very long "to-do' list. The fighting for you is a long way from over.
I've said it before, "Marines always take the Hill!' You can count on me to march forward and press the battle on behalf of our great state and nation. God bless Kansas and God bless America.
Semper Fi. Always faithful.

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