Representative Ron Estes

.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released new data that show that Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), which just came to end, was the second-worst year for inadmissible alien encounters ever – only surpassed by the all-time record set by the Biden-Harris administration in FY23. When you compare the data from the Biden-Harris administration to the previous administration, the scale of the crisis becomes even more clear. From FY21-FY24, inadmissible encounters were 10.8 million, compared to 3.004 million over the previous four years. The number of illegal aliens on the terrorist watch list who have been stopped trying to enter our country has climbed to 392 in the last four years, compared to only 14 during the same timeframe under the previous administration. Similarly, in the last four years, CBP has seized 9,055 pounds of fentanyl, compared to 1,604 pounds in FY17-FY20.

Our open borders have created a crisis across the country. Crime has increased, state and local budgets are being strained and more fentanyl on the streets has led to more deaths. We must return to tried and tested policies, like remain in Mexico and ending catch and release, that will secure our border and our nation. I’ve sponsored, cosponsored and supported common sense legislation to do just that.

.Farmers, ranchers and producers play a critical role in the 4th District and also help feed, fuel and clothe the world. As I’ve traveled throughout the district in recent months, many of those working in ag have expressed frustrations about still operating under the outdated policies of the 2018 Farm Bill, all while inflation has driven up costs.

As a result, I’ve prioritized ensuring the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 sufficiently meets the needs of our hardworking Kansas farmers and ranchers. I was glad to see this bill pass out of the House Agriculture Committee earlier this year, but we need it to come to the House floor for a vote on passage. That is why I joined many of my colleagues in sending a letter to House GOP Leadership urging them to take up the 2024 Farm Bill, so it is one step closer to being enacted.

.1. I was glad to be back at CNH in Wichita recently to meet with some of their hardworking manufacturing employees. We discussed our nation’s rising debt and deficit and the upcoming tax reform negotiations that will take place next year. I shared how I am using my role as chair of the U.S. Innovation Tax Team to support policies that boost the R&D and innovation we need to grow the manufacturing footprint in Kansas and across the country.

2. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, it was great to visit Wichita Technical Institute and hear about their various programs, such as pharmacy technician, HVAC/R, and computer technology and network administration. In my committee, I’ve worked to expand access to learning opportunities, whether that’s through a four-year degree or technical program. Our country has a need for the types of jobs for which WTI offers training.

3. I was honored to speak to nearly 100 seniors at the monthly New Vision Senior Luncheon at Countryside Christian Church in Wichita. We talked about what’s happening in our nation’s capital, our national debt, the opportunities to grow in faith with fellow members, and ways that everyday Kansans can get more involved in their communities. I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak with this great group.

4. Last week I spent time at Friends University in Wichita touring some of their new additions and speaking to a class. We started in the historic Davis Administration Building, and were honored to climb to the top of the clock tower and see the impressive views from above her storied walls. It was also great to talk with Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Bhargav Koppolu. As someone with a background in engineering, I was particularly interested in hearing about the new mechanical engineering degree and seeing the new engineering labs completed a year ago. Additionally, I toured the renovations to the Riney Fine Arts Center and spoke to students in an American Government class.

5. I was pleased to join local leaders and Kansas legislative leadership outside Wellington for Evergy’s announcement of a new natural gas plant in Sumner County near Conway Springs. A new, up-to-date natural gas plant will go a long way toward improving the service delivered to Kansans and will help spur economic activity in our area. Natural gas is reliable, easily dispatchable, affordable and abundant here in Kansas. This project is an example of the all-of-the-above energy approach we should be pursuing that uses American energy resources to ensure we meet the energy demands of Kansans.