Hosting NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in Kansas

Summary

Kansas Common Sense Hosting NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in Kansas During the Artemis II mission, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made three visits – the Kennedy Space Center, the Johnson Space Center and Kansas! I hosted Administrator Isaacman in Kansas on Monday to visit the Cosmosphere and cut the ribbon on the Hall of Space Museum. We stopped to view the Apollo 13 capsule, which is housed at the Cosmosphere, just hours before the Artemis II astronauts broke the Apollo 13 record for traveling the farthest away from Earth. Administrator Isaacman was able to see firsthand the science demonstrations happening at Dr. Goddard’s Rocket Lab and the unique space artifacts spanning from the space race against the Soviet Union through the Shuttle Program. Thank you to Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar for the tour and Gerry Griffin, former NASA Flight Director during Apollo and former Johnson Space Center Director, for joining us. From Hutchinson, we traveled to meet with two local aerospace companies that contributed to the construction and success of the Artemis Program – D-J Engineering in Augusta and Globe Engineering Co. in Wichita. There are seven local suppliers in the Wichita area, and 15 across Kansas, that contributed to the success of the Artemis II mission. The administrator also took time to meet with other aerospace suppliers and pilots-in-training at Wichita State University Tech’s National Center for Aviation Training. The road to space runs through Kansas, and I am grateful to Administrator Isaacman for visiting Kansas. Thank you to D-J Engineering CEO Rezaul Chowdhury and Globe Engineering President Jeff Teague for welcoming Administrator Isaacman to your businesses and Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, Congressman Ron Estes, Greater Wichita Partnership Chief Economic Development Officer Andrew Nave and many others for helping welcome the administrator to Kansas. You can watch a recap video of Administrator Isaacman's visit to the Cosmosphere here. You can read more about Administrator Isaacman’s visit to Kansas from The Hutchinson News here and KAKE here. Splashdown! Welcome home, Artemis II! Your journey to the moon was inspiring, captivating, historical and a tremendous achievement for NASA and the United States. Congratulations to the hundreds of men and women who contributed to the success of this mission, from the innovation and ingenuity of the engineers and manufacturers who built the SLS, to the Mission Control flight controllers who worked around the clock to safely guide this mission from launch to splashdown, to the four astronauts who carried with them the hopes and dreams of millions of people, exploring deeper into space than any human being has gone before. This is just the start of an exciting new era of space exploration. Participating in Call with Artemis II Astronauts During their Return to Earth On Thursday evening, I joined a live call with NASA Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. As the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA, I had the opportunity to briefly speak with the four astronauts, invite them to join me at the Cosmosphere, the museum that Reid Wiseman says is the “best space museum in the world,” and ask them how the Artemis II mission will help inspire the next generation. Thank you to these four incredible individuals and the entire Artemis II and NASA teams for the work they do every day to push humanity forward and help us better understand our world. You can watch my questioning of the Artemis II astronauts here. Space Symposium Interagency Roundtable On Sunday, I participated in a roundtable with NASA, Space Force and industry leaders to discuss the future of space exploration, appropriations and interagency collaboration. In my role leading funding and oversight of NASA, I shared my perspective on the investments needed to reach the moon and Mars. America’s leadership in space isn’t guaranteed – China is quickly advancing its own space program and making significant investments in its goal of beating the U.S. back to the moon. It is critical that the U.S. continues to maintain our global leadership in space exploration, scientific advancement and national security. Update on U.S. Military Operation in Iran After five weeks, the fighting in Iran halted due to the agreement of a two-week ceasefire announced last Tuesday night. The pause permitted the highest level of talks between Iranian leaders and Americans led by Vice President J.D. Vance since 1979. While the talks on Saturday failed to yield a breakthrough in negotiating positions, it appears diplomacy will continue. In the meantime, the United States this week imposed a blockade of Iranian-related shipping through the Persian Gulf in an attempt to squeeze Iran’s energy-based economy. The decision to waive oil sanctions on Russia and Iran freed up millions of barrels of Russian and Iranian oil, enriching two of our adversaries and further funding their aggression against the U.S., Ukraine and our partners in the Middle East. Now that the waiver on the Russian oil sanctions has expired, it should not be extended. There is little evidence that the waiver produced any significant relief to American consumers during the month it was in effect. However, the waiver has generated billions in revenue for Moscow, sustaining Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine & efforts to undermine the U.S. around the world. Russia is actively working with Iran, providing support that endangers our troops in the region. Iran continues to reap significant revenue due to its current waiver, providing financial relief to an adversary we are actively fighting. Any additional waivers for Russia or Iran would be against our national interests. Visits Across Kansans Alzheimer’s Advocates and Senior Living Leader Roundtable While in Wichita on Monday, I met with members of the Alzheimer’s Association and senior living leaders from across the country. During our conversation, we discussed the importance of Alzheimer’s research funding, veterans’ access to assisted living options, long-term care financing and housing issues and opportunities to create workforce development partnerships. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Alzheimer's Congressional Task Force and co-founder of the Senate National Institutes of Health (NIH) Caucus, I have long been an advocate for investing in NIH’s lifesaving mission and positioning Kansas to be a leader in medical research and innovation. Through FY2025 appropriations, I secured a significant increase in funding for NIH research into Alzheimer’s and related dementias. I am committed to working on legislation that builds on the important progress that has been made to effectively treat and hopefully one day cure a disease that afflicts more than 7 million Americans. Thank you to the many experts and local leaders who took time to meet with me including Marty Cornejo, Chris Mahen, Matt Buchanan, Doug Stark, Chris Wettig, Brian Warren, Dan Unruh, Don King, Joe Perkin, Michael Damone, Diane Macheers and Tyler York. And special thanks to my friends Tim Buchanan and Bob Thomas for organizing such an informative and useful event. Hutchinson Community College On Tuesday, I was in Hutchinson to celebrate the renovation of Hutchinson Community College’s (HCC) Davis Hall. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked to secure $3 million in federal support in FY2023 for HCC to renovate and expand its nursing program in Davis Hall. While I was on campus, I also met with HCC nursing students and received a tour of the nursing school. These upgrades to Davis Hall will bolster student success and strengthen HCC’s capacity to train students for in-demand careers, particularly in healthcare. Thank you to HCC President Dr. Tricia Paramore, Allied Health Department Chairs Alison Casebolt and Katie Wilkerson, President and CEO at Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Debra Teufel, HCC Board of Trustees members David Marshall, Jan Young, Bob Snyder, Terry Bisbee, Rod Calhoun, Todd Miller, Mo Penny, Kansas State Representative Kyler Sweely and everyone in the Hutchinson community for joining us for this special event. Newman University I was in Garden City on Tuesday to cut the ribbon on Newman University’s new Smart Mobile Agriculture Lab. This mobile classroom will provide opportunities for agricultural students at Newman’s campuses in Wichita and southwest Kansas to utilize the cutting-edge technology used in agriculture today and into the future. I secured federal resources in the FY24 appropriations bill to support the purchase of the mobile lab to strengthen Newman’s efforts to make quality education more accessible across Kansas. Thank you to Newman President Dr. Kathleen Jagger, Vice President Dr. Alden Stout, Dean Dr. Jessica Bird and GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda for their leadership and innovation, and thank you to all those who joined us. You can read more about the ribbon cutting from Garden City Today here. Airbus Suppliers Conference This week, I welcomed Airbus Americas Chairman and CEO Robin Hayes to the Air Capital of the World. Mr. Hayes is the third Airbus CEO to visit Wichita since my time serving in the U.S. Senate, and during that time, the company has grown its local supply chain footprint to 12 partners with hopes of further increasing that number. Wichita State University’s (WSU) Digital Research and Transformation Hub served as an ideal location for an event that brought Airbus leadership together with regional suppliers for presentations and one-on-one meetings focused on strengthening Airbus’ global supply chain. Thank you to Chairman Hayes, Senior Director for Government Relations Tom Bush and the Airbus team for their investment in our state. Thank you also to Kansas Lieutenant Governor David Toland, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, WSU President Dr. Rick Muma and Greater Wichita Partnership CEO Jeff Fluhr for joining me in expressing support for an increased Airbus presence in our state. You can read more about Mr. Hayes’ visit to Wichita from KAKE here. Empirical Foods Grand Opening On Wednesday, I participated in the grand opening of Empirical Foods’ new 280,000 square-foot ground beef facility in Garden City. This state-of-the-art center will bring more than 250 new jobs to the area and significantly increase Empirical’s production capacity. The grand opening marks a significant day for Kansas beef production and the local economy, and this new facility will strengthen the local cattle industry and bolster Kansas as a national leader in beef production. Thank you to Nick Roth, Craig and Jennifer Letch, co-founder Regina Roth from Empirical, Mayor Tom Nguyen, Finney County Chairwoman Vicki Germann, City Manager Matt Allen, County Administrator Derek Ramos, Economic Development Director Lona DuVall and all who came to celebrate this achievement and milestone in the growth of Garden City. You can read more about the grand opening from High Plains Journal here. SkyWest Airlines Overnight Maintenance Base Thursday was an important day for the Salina community! I started the day at the ribbon cutting of the new SkyWest Airlines Overnight Maintenance Base which will help keep SkyWest’s fleet running smoothly and provide new jobs in the Salina region. Thank you to SkyWest CEO Chip Childs, Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Pieter Miller, Salina Airport Authority Board Chairman Don Boos, former Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers, Salina Chamber CEO Renee Duxler, Pure Imagination CEO of Fun Joshua Wexler, Kansas State Senator Scott Hill, Salina City Manager Jacob Wood, Saline County Economic Development Director Mitch Robinson, Saline County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes and Davcon CEO Dave Wakefield for attending the event. You can read more about the event from KSAL here. Salina Family Healthcare On Thursday afternoon, I participated in the groundbreaking of the Salina Family Healthcare’s new community center. This new facility will expand the high-quality services offered by the center. I appreciate Salina Family’s commitment to providing comprehensive, whole-person care. Through my role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I helped secure more than $3 million in federal resources for Salina Family Healthcare. This investment will help support the construction of a new clinical education facility and innovate training programs to improve care and bolster Kansas’ rural healthcare workforce. Thank you to Salina Family Healthcare CEO Dr. Robert Kraft, Salina Chamber of Commerce CEO Renee Duxler, Congressman Tracey Mann, City Manager Jacob Wood, Saline County Economic Development Director Mitch Robinson and Saline County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes for joining us for the event. You can read more about the groundbreaking from the Salina Post here. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Later on Thursday, I joined the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new General Atomics Aeronautical Systems facility in Salina. Kansas is at the forefront of innovative aerospace manufacturing, and the addition of General Atomics to our state will strengthen our leadership in the industry while providing more job opportunities. This new investment builds off the significant partnership General Atomics has with our state, including a partnership with Kansas State University Salina’s Aerospace and Technology Campus for which General Atomics gifted $10 million to K-State Salina for a new Aerospace Innovation Ramp in October 2022. I was pleased to support this tremendous investment and secure federal resources that have allowed K-State Salina to expand and grow its operations and remain a leader in pilot education. Thank you to General Atomics President David Alexander, General Atomics Salina Site Manager Craig Bronson, Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock, Salina Chamber CEO Renee Duxler, Congressman Tracey Mann, Pure Imagination CEO of Fun Joshua Wexler, City Manager Jacob Wood, Saline County Economic Development Director Mitch Robinson and Saline County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes for attending. You can read more about the ribbon cutting from KSAL here. Goodland National Weather Service Office On Friday, I stopped in at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Goodland to meet with their staff. During our meeting, we discussed NWS’ intent to increase demand-based opportunities in Western Kansas such as coordinating with U.S. Department of Transportation on dust forecasts for highways and improving agricultural forecasts for seasonal products for farmers. Last year, I helped secure an exemption from the federal hiring freeze to enable NWS to hire critical meteorologists and weather forecasters and allow offices like the one in Goodland to maintain 24/7 weather monitoring. It is vital that NWS offices in Kansas and across the country remain fully staffed to provide critical public safety information to their community. Thank you to the Meteorologist-in-Charge Jeremy Martin and the entire Goodland NWS team for having me. Fort Hays Tech Northwest Later on Friday, I visited Fort Hays Tech Northwest to announce federal funding for the renovation of the college’s rural advanced manufacturing innovation lab. This new lab will help to bolster student success and provide opportunities for students to acquire the skills they need to pursue future manufacturing jobs in our state. Thank you to Fort Hays Tech NW President Dr. Corey Isbell for hosting me. Thank you also to Fort Hays State University President Dr. Tisa Mason, Fort Hays Tech NW Engineering Technology Instructor Mike Zimmerman, Fort Hays Tech North Central President Eric Burks, City Manager Kent Brown, Sherman County Sheriff Chad Mann, Goodland Regional Medical Center CEO Lucretia Stargell and all who came to celebrate this new chapter for Fort Hays Tech NW. Wheatland High School I enjoyed touring Wheatland High School (WHS) in Grainfield this week and meeting with students as they wrap up their school year. Through FY2023 appropriations, I helped secure a federal investment for Wheatland to support and expand its Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) Education Program. During my tour, I appreciated learning more about this program and seeing the positive impact it has had on students as they plan for their future. Thank you to Principal Bryant Biggs and all the faculty and staff for hosting me. Special thank you to WHS Juniors Marissa Beckman and Student Body President Spencer Beckman for the great tour. Colby Community College This week, I visited Colby Community College to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s new dormitory. Colby Community College has built a strong reputation within the community, seeing an increase of enrollment of 16 percent over the last five years. Community colleges like Colby play an essential role across our state, providing affordable, accessible education and preparing students for careers critical to our communities and economy. This new dormitory will create new housing opportunities for students across Kansas as they look to build their future lives, families and careers in our state. Thank you to Colby Community College President Seth Carter for hosting me. Thank you also to Colby Mayor Lee Leiker, City Manager Ron Alexander, Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce CEO Lizzie Lewis and Thomas County Sheriff Joel Nickols for joining me at this great event. Burrton Community On Tuesday, I stopped by Burrton to meet with Kansans in the community. During my visit, I visited City Hall and the Burrton Police Department to meet with local leaders. I also appreciated visiting Burrton High School to meet with students and learn more about how Burrton High School is fostering student success. Thank you to Superintendent Kara Schwindt and students, Anthony Lewis, Colt Schmitt and Enzo Larson, for hosting me and showing me around. Hutchinson’s Anchor Inn While in Hutchinson on Tuesday, I stopped for lunch at historic Anchor Inn. It was great to catch up with Rachel Flores who, along with her husband, Tony, founded the restaurant in 1977. While we lost Tony nearly a year ago, Rachel and four generations of the Flores family carry on his legacy of serving delicious food and creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who enters their restaurant. Speaking with Sacred Heart High School Student Mason Brown During my visit to Salina on Thursday, I appreciated visiting with Mason Brown, a student at Sacred Heart High School in Salina, who interviewed me for his high school English project. I want to thank Mason for the thoughtful conversation, and I wish him the best in all his future endeavors. Remembering Greeley County Assistant Fire Chief Levi Evans I was saddened to hear of the passing of Greeley County Assistant Fire Chief Levi Evans of Tribune. Levi was a husband and a father, who dedicated his life to protecting the community he loved. My prayers are with the Evans family, the Greeley County Fire and Rescue Department and the entire Greeley County community during this difficult time. You can read more about Levi’s life from KSN here. Kansans in the Office Bill Losey of Ransom Joyce Losey of Ransom Tom Gorman of Fort Scott Jill Gorman of Fort Scott Bruce Smith of Arkansas City Teresa Smith of Arkansas City Liberty Cook of Arkansas City Eden Cook of Arkansas City Gloryanna Cook of Arkansas City Scarlett Cook of Arkansas City Sarah Kisling of Wichita Philomena Kisling of Wichita Newsletter Sign-up Form Note: Fields marked with an * are required.