Rep. Lynn Jenkins Weekly Update: Supporting Our Veterans, Mental Health First Aid, Working To End Human Trafficking & Coffees With Your Congresswoman Next Week

Statement

Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital:

Last week, I received a letter from the VA Heartland Director, which stated that "we anticipate the temporary "pause' on the Emergency Department to be removed by the end of May." It has now been nearly two years since I first heard of problems at the Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital, and more than 15 months since the Emergency Room closed due to staffing problems. In that time, I have been workinghard on resolving the situation. After receiving the letter, Senator Jerry Moran and I visited with leaders at Colmery-O'Neil on Tuesday to receive afirsthand update on thecurrent situation. Local officials informed us that the hospital emergency room is in fact waiting to reopen, pending final approval from the VA in Washington. Kansas veterans deserve the best and most timely care possible, so it is my hope the emergency room will finally reopen within the next few days.

Honoring Senator Bob Dole:

It was an honor to attend the Senator Bob Dole Room Dedication Ceremony at the Combat Air Museum on Thursday. There is noone more deserving of this honor than Senator Dole. He has always been one of Kansas' best, and it is a privilege to have the chance to call him my mentor and my friend. Renaming the education center at the Air Museum after Senator Dole is a fitting and lasting tribute to an outstanding lifetime that has truly made a difference in our country.

I also had a great time touring the Mars plant in Topeka with Senator Dole and Senator Pat Roberts earlier this week. As many of you know, M&M's have always been my personal favorite, and knowing that they are bringing jobs to Kansas makes it even sweeter!

Breaking Ground For NBAF:

I am proud to have attended the groundbreaking ceremony for NBAF this past Wednesday - a state of the art facility to protect our food source right here at home. As a country girl myself, feeding the world is something I am committed to, and this facility will help ensure our safety. Thank you to all the incredible people who worked to so hard to bring this facility to Kansas and to make the groundbreaking a reality.

Celebrating National 529 Day:

This Friday marked National 529 College Savings Day, a day specifically designated to increase awareness of 529 plans. These 529 funds are an issue near and dear to my heart. In January, the President threatened to tax 529 plans, seeking to pay for another one of his pet projects. Instead the House of Representatives rallied around my bill, H.R. 529, and quickly and overwhelmingly passed the legislation with over 400 votes.

We need college savings vehicles like 529 plans. Students from all over the country struggle with spiraling tuition costs and we must do everything we can to encourage families to plan ahead and save for their children's future. I am proud to have celebrated 529 Day as a champion of this important college savings tool, and I encourage the Senate to quickly pass this legislation so that we can start giving more help to hardworking families.

The EPA's Latest Power Grab:

This week, President Obama's administration announced they are moving forward with the final rule to expand the designation of waters that will be subject to regulations under the Clean Water Act, known as Waters of the United States. This comes after, just weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1732, a bipartisan bill that specifically sought to block the Administration's rule change.

Instead of listening to the American people, the administration not only ignored them, but did the exact opposite by again pursuing their priorities instead of the priorities of ordinary Americans. The rule change announced this week would unnecessarily add thousands of private bodies of water to the definition of what the government can regulate. Rest assured, this is not the end, and I will continue to fight for the rights of individuals, farmers, ranchers, home owners and family businesses, and against the President's overreach and massive expansion of the federal government's authority.

Halting President Obama's Immigration Actions:

I was pleased to see the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals uphold an injunction this week prohibiting implementation of President Obama's executive overreach on immigration. This is the second major ruling to have gone against this administration, and the Appeals Court in Texas stated that it was in the public's interest to maintain the injunction. The President cannot unilaterally change immigration policy and this ruling is another sign that the court of law agrees with that statement.

Coffees With Your Congresswoman Around Eastern Kansas:

I had a great time traveling around Eastern Kansas throughout the week as part of my Coffee with your Congresswoman tour and chatting with folks about their issues and their priorities. We talked about everything from tax reform and the budget process to the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Thanks to all the great people who came out in Paolo, Ottawa, Osage City and Leavenworth to talk and share their thoughts!

Source