Representative Ron Estes

.Last week I joined Woodward and Whit on KNSS to discuss the latest developments in our nation's capital. We did our job in the House and passed important legislation to clear the way to fund our nation’s security. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have stalled progress by proposing a plan to pick and choose which Department of Homeland Security employees receive a paycheck – leaving our immigration and border patrol officials without pay. To address this, we are pushing for a common sense, 60-day funding bridge to ensure these hardworking individuals can provide for their families.

The recent developments in Operation Epic Fury serve as a sobering reminder that the Iranian regime’s choices as a state sponsor of terrorism have real-world consequences. I remain firm in my stance – they must never possess a nuclear weapon. President Trump has been clear that our objective is to defend the American people and the free world by eliminating imminent threats, choosing strength to prevent a more catastrophic conflict in the future and ensuring security for generations of Americans.

To listen to my full interview, click here.

It was a pleasure to visit with Andy Hooser’s Kansas Talk while I was around the district and the state. We had a great lunch at The Barn in Burrton, where I had the opportunity to hear directly from the community about the challenges and opportunities facing our family farms.

During our conversation, we discussed the impact of the ongoing conflict with Iran on input costs like gas and fertilizer, which have added pressure during the spring planting season. While these geopolitical tensions create temporary hurdles, I am confident that as we restore stability, we will see these costs decrease.

We also highlighted the positive impact of recent tax relief – many Kansans are seeing higher tax refunds and rebates this year, providing a much-needed boost as our economy gets back on track. Getting out into the district and hearing directly from Kansans is vital to ensuring I represent your interests effectively when I am back in our nation’s capital.

You can click here to listen to the full interview.

.I’ve recently been traveling across the district and seeing firsthand the innovation and hard work that define south central Kansas.

At an architect roundtable hosted by Schaefer Architecture in Wichita, I met with local architects to discuss the intersection of the tax code and regional growth. Ensuring our tax policy supports current building trends is essential in keeping our local economy moving forward.

From there, I saw the incredible work being done by R3store Studios in Wichita, a part of the UV&S family. Because so many major production studios store their film in the UV&S salt mines in Hutchinson, they’ve found it’s much more efficient to have that restoration work done right here in Wichita. It was especially moving to see them digitizing and restoring archived footage of our real-life Rosie the Riveters from the Boeing plant – preserving that vital history before it’s lost forever. It was also great to see the incredible equipment used to preserve and restore film – I worked at a movie theater in high school and used some of the same tools R3store uses today.

While in Derby, I spent time at Embrace, an organization dedicated to providing a compassionate and safe environment for expectant mothers. It was great to see their nursing staff and doctors providing the professional care and oversight that helps mothers in our region navigate their journey with confidence.

Moving on to Rose Hill High School, it was great to visit with Butler Community College President Dr. Tamara Daniel and see the school’s incredible new welding partnership with Butler. It’s inspiring to see engaged students learning high-demand, hands-on skills while still in high school.

I also spent time at UV&S in Hutchinson after visiting their restoration studio in Wichita, an impressive company that still has deep roots with its original founding families and continues to expand and invest in our region. The facility is 650 feet underground, where the natural temperature and humidity make it the ideal location to safely store history right here in the heartland.

.As April 15 quickly approaches, I want to share a reminder regarding Tax Day and the resources available to help you file. Thanks to recent tax relief, more Americans are able to take advantage of the increased standard deduction, keeping more money in your pockets. I encourage all Kansans to visit estes.house.gov/taxcuts to explore these benefits and see how the latest tax cuts are working for you ahead of the deadline.

If you haven't filed yet, there are several free options available for eligible filers to make the process easier and more affordable. You can learn more at irs.gov/freefile.