Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) was sworn into office one year ago today on April 25, 2017. Since entering office, Rep. Estes has focused on areas important to Kansans including cutting taxes and regulations, defending the 2^nd Amendment and life, reforming entitlements, and protecting Kansans and their quality of life. Also in that time, Rep. Estes has held more than 500 meetings with constituents in Washington, D.C. and throughout Kansas’ 4^th District.

“Being elected to represent Kansas’ 4^th District has been a great honor,” said Rep. Estes. “I have been proud to meet with constituents in all 17 counties of our district and represent their concerns in Washington, focusing on growing our economy, defending Kansas values, and protecting our quality of life. I look forward to building on the progress we have made over the last year.”

A resident of Wichita who travels home each weekend and during weeks Congress is not in session, Rep. Estes and his staff have attended more than 200 meetings and events in all 17 counties in the 4th District of Kansas since April 25, 2017. An interactive map of a number of those meetings can be found here, or by clicking the image of a snapshot of those meetings below.

Since entering office, Rep. Estes has sponsored and cosponsored 91 bills and cast 859 votes, including voting for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which lowered taxes for families and businesses throughout the country. In Kansas, an average family of four will see a $2,291 savings thanks to the law. Additional highlights of Rep. Estes’ time in office include:

Growing Our Economy

• Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Rep. Estes helped pass the law which has allowed 90 percent of Americans to see more in their paychecks each month while more than 400 companies have announced more than $4 billion in bonuses for more than 4 million workers, including many businesses in the 4^th District.
• Choice Act: Rep. Estes helped the House to repeal Dodd-Frank and end taxpayer bailouts of financial institutions that were too big to fail. The bill also repealed the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule which increased costs on those saving for retirement by $47 billion.
• Save Local Business Act: Rep. Estes helped the House pass a measure to fix the Obama administration’s joint employer rule that could end the franchising business. Kansas’ 9,000 franchise businesses employ 89,000 individuals.
• Obamacare Repeal: Rep. Estes helped the House pass the American Health Care Act to repeal and replace Obamacare.
• HOPE Act: Rep. Estes introduced the Hope Opportunity and Prosperity for Everyone Act as part of his efforts to reform entitlement programs, increase economic opportunity for all Americans and address growing workforce demands. The HOPE Act builds on several provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, including mandating work requirements for SNAP and TANF benefits.
• Immigration reform: Rep. Estes helped pass Kate’s Law and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. He has also cosponsored the Securing America’s Future Act to authorize construction of a border wall, implement E-Verify and shift the focus of legal immigration to meet specific skills needed in the U.S.
• Fighting for Free and Fair Trade: Rep. Estes has stood up to protect Kansas farmers and manufacturers, as well as free and fair trade.

 Defending Kansas Values

• Title X: Rep. Estes is leading efforts to update Title X family planning grant regulations to stop funding for programs where abortion is a method of family planning.
• Pain-Capable: Rep. Estes helped pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act to make it a crime for any person to perform an abortion past 20 weeks gestation.
• Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Rep. Estes helped pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to defend 2^nd Amendment rights of citizens in all states.
• American Conservative Union Award: For his efforts to defend conservative principles, Rep. Estes earned the American Conservative Union Foundation’s Award for Conservative Achievement.

 Protecting Kansans and Quality of Life

• Swatting: Rep. Estes introduced the Preventing Swatting and Protecting Our Communities Act to increase punishment for swatting.
• Equus Beds: Rep. Estes introduced the Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Extension Act to protect water supplies in Wichita and surrounding communities for the next 20 years.
• Chilocco: Rep. Estes successfully raised awareness of the Department of Homeland Security's proposed chemical testing at the Chilocco Indian School.