E-Newsletters

One of the responsibilities I look forward to most every year is the opportunity to recommend deserving young men and women for nominations to the United States Service Academies.

These impressive Americans are among the brightest and most dedicated students in the nation. Although my recommendation is not the final step in their application process, I always feel confident that our candidates can compete with any group in this country.

I am proud to announce the following nominees have accepted appointments to the United States Service Academies:

When the federal government - or someone elected to serve in it - promises something that sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Health insurance for everyone? Some have gained coverage over the last few years. And that's a good thing. But for others, "universal healthcare" has meant cancelled plans, more expensive premiums, and slower care.

After hundreds of people were slaughtered in the streets of Paris last December, President Obama sent 50 special operations forces to the Middle East to combat ISIS - those responsible for the brutal attacks.

At around the same time, the United Nations hosted an international Climate Change Conference in France, where a group of bureaucrats from all around the world got together to talk about how to fight global warming.

President Obama sent more Americans there than he did to fight ISIS.

Last Wednesday, we celebrated national Teacher Appreciation Day.

Almost everyone has had a teacher leave a lasting impact on their life. And yet teachers are tremendously underappreciated in this country. That's a disgrace.

If teacher pay had risen in proportion to per-pupil spending since 1970, the average teacher would make more than $120,000 today. And studies have shown that an exceptional, high-performing teacher can impart a year and a half's worth of learning to a student in just one year.

There is a feeling around Washington that Americans can't make decisions for themselves. There are some people here who really do believe more government is the answer to every problem. The attitude isn't new by any stretch, but under President Obama it's only gotten worse.

We've seen it come to life in the form of health care mandates, strict regulations on family farms, and even limits on how much food our children can eat at school. But probably the best example is at the Environmental Protection Agency.

For those of you who don't already know, today is Tax Day. It comes every April, without fail. As the saying goes, nothing in life is guaranteed - except death and taxes.

U.S. tax policy is difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Loopholes and special interest deductions were bad enough. Now, Obamacare is making it impossible for even accountants to understand.

The tax code needs to be reinvented. It needs to be shortened and simplified so people can understand what they're paying and where their money is going.

That's what the Fair Tax is all about.

Over the past few weeks, Republicans in Congress have had the opportunity to make their priorities known before federal agency budgets are finalized.

One of my priorities throughout this process has been keeping money out of the hands of abortion providers and pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood.

Just this Congress, I have signed or helped introduce multiple bills that continue our fight for life. One prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion or any health plan that covers abortion.

It's hard to know what – or who – to trust in the debate over Kansas City International Airport.

The Kansas City Aviation Department spent $258 million renovating KCI in 2004. Today, 12 years later, their debt still sits at about $200 million.

But rather than paying off the airport's debt, the Aviation Department has their eyes set on spending more money – and convincing Kansas City that their plan is the only one that can save KCI.