| 
Wichita Crime Roundtable I recently hosted a crime roundtable with representatives from the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, USD259, local non-profits, law enforcement, and Wichita city and county officials.
During the roundtable we discussed the growing crime rate in the Wichita area. Our conversations focused on solutions and ways we can come together to address and prevent crimes in our communities. Our office stands ready to help and fully supports local level solutions- we want to put wind beneath these local leaders' sales who are on the front lines of these crimes. On the federal level I am working hard to ensure every Kansan feels safe in their neighborhoods. Sadly, a lot of what we're up against right now is a result of the wide open southern border that has brought in a historic amount of lethal drugs, human trafficking and sex trafficking to communities across the country.
 Fighting for Aspiring College Students Amid Biden's Botched FAFSA Rollout The Department of Education has upended the FASFA process with intentions to simplify the application but has only created a more onerous and burdensome log jam for institutions, prospective students, and their families. The botched rollout has left millions of students' futures hanging in the balance. Additionally, multiple Kansas colleges have brought to my attention that this rollout is responsible for delays in informing prospective students about their eligible financial aid packages. College commitment deadlines are looming for students and time is of the essence when it comes to helping them get the help they need to pursue higher education. That's why I recently led a bipartisan letter to the Education Department requesting two specific actions to help alleviate administrative headaches for colleges and universities rolling out financial aid packages for students. With financial aid offices already dealing with staffing difficulties, any administrative streamlining the Department can provide will have an outsized impact on ensuring students are informed in a timely matter about how much aid they will be awarded. You may click HERE to read my full letter to the Department of Education. Rice County Farm Bureau's Legislative Coffee I joined the Rice County Farm Bureau's Legislative Coffee to discuss the impasse on Farm Bill negotiations. I'm disappointed that Senate Ag Committee Democrats haven't emphasized the farm in the Farm Bill, instead focusing their efforts on a small subsection of the agriculture industry and extreme environmental programs that are already well-funded. I hear the growing frustration of Kansas farmers and ranchers over this drawn-out process, and I share those same feelings. It's past time for Democrats to come to the table and get a Farm Bill that puts farm operations first. Our hard-working farmers, ranchers, and producers deserve certainty and cannot afford a Farm Bill that doesn't have their priorities front and center. 
Visit to Pride Ag's Ace Hardware on Swipe Fee Legislation I visited the Pride Ag Ace Hardware in Lyons to thank them for their continued support of my swipe fee legislation, the Credit Card Competition Act, that would drive down credit card swipe fee costs for small businesses and retailers. Small businesses like Pride Ag are getting crushed by credit card swipe fees. In many cases swipe fees are the second-largest expense for businesses behind rent payments. These fees are an inflation multiplier that are ultimately passed down to consumers. Our bipartisan swipe fee legislation would offer much-needed relief to small businesses and consumers by forcing competition into the payment processing industry. Passing our bill means that small businesses will finally have a choice between the fee offered by the Visa-Mastercard credit card duopoly or a third-party provider. 
| 
Comments