Representative Ron Estes

.Dear Friend,

On Saturday, our nation will celebrate its semiquincentennial and the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. As we approach this important milestone, we should acknowledge the role that our very own Sunflower State and the great folks who hail from it have played in our nation’s history.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, for example, was one of our nation’s greatest military leaders who went on to serve as our 34th President and champion the interstate highway system. Our state’s legacy of innovation extends from the ground into the skies. Kansan Clyde Cessna pioneered early aircraft manufacturing, helping establish Wichita as the “Air Capital of the World,” while our state’s very own Amelia Earhart blazed her own trail by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

As we celebrate Independence Day this year, we must always remember that our freedom isn’t free. I cannot adequately express my gratitude to the courageous men and women who have served in our U.S. Armed Forces, and we deeply honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy each and every day.

Susan and I are wishing you and your family a wonderful Independence Day.

On the eve of our nation’s semiquincentennial, I joined Woodward & Whit to discuss the upcoming July 4th holiday, and I invite you to listen to my interview below.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

.On Thursday, I met with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to discuss several key military initiatives impacting Kansans. Our conversation highlighted the Point Defense Battle Lab, a new mission for the Kansas National Guard’s 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, as well as the critical ongoing support WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research provides to the Department of War.

.U.S. companies are not a piggy bank for foreign nations, which is why I am strongly opposed to discriminatory digital services taxes (DSTs) that take billions of dollars from American innovators. Congress and the Trump administration will defend American companies and workers by fighting to repeal every discriminatory DST.

I published an op-ed in Bloomberg to discuss this at length. You can read more by clicking here or on the image below.

.It was an honor to receive the 2026 Guardian of Seniors’ Rights award from the American Association of Senior Citizens for my work on Social Security and Medicare. As Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee, I remain deeply committed to advocating for Kansas seniors and working to strengthen the long-term stability of these vital programs.

.I always look forward to returning home to the district each weekend to connect with Kansans. During a recent trip, I had the opportunity to speak at the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, honor our heroes at the Kansas Veterans Festival in El Dorado, and visit with constituents in Eureka.

Starting at the Wichita Regional Chamber’s Federal Issue Forum, I shared critical legislative updates with local leaders. I highlighted our successful effort to restore immediate expensing for Research and Development (R&D) in last summer's Working Families Tax Cut Act. This policy is a major win for Kansas businesses, providing the stability needed to incentivize growth in domestic manufacturing.

Wichita Chamber of Commerce

From Wichita, I headed to El Dorado Lake for the Kansas Veterans Festival. It was a privilege to personally thank so many veterans and their families for their service. The event served as a beautiful reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who defend our country.

Kansas Veterans Festival

Finally, I traveled to the Eureka Senior Center, where we had a productive conversation covering immigration, Social Security, and private property rights. Afterward, I took a tour of the town to hear about local economic efforts, including an exciting push to renovate historic buildings and reopen Eureka Downs, the oldest horse racing track west of the Mississippi River.

Eureka Senior Center

.Did you know that the ICEE frozen slushie drink was invented in the Sunflower State? On a hot day in 1958, Omar Knedlik, a local owner of a Dairy Queen in Coffeyville started freezing soda and selling it to customers. The sodas were not completely frozen solid when he sold them, becoming like slushies. He then created a machine and patented his invention. The ICEE still remains one of Kansas’ most-famous inventions.