About Jerry

Serving Kansas' "Big First"
 

Raised in Plainville, Kansas, Congressman Jerry Moran was taught from an early age the value of a hard day's work, to look after one's neighbors and to serve his community. These same values guide Moran today as he serves his sixth term, representing the people of Kansas in the United States House of Representatives.

In the House, Moran is a leading advocate for protecting and preserving the way of life in Kansas. With rural populations on the decline throughout the nation, there are fewer advocates for issues unique to rural communities. Moran, who comes home each weekend to Hays, Kansas, is a champion in Congress for rural America. As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, Moran focuses on legislation that will allow Kansas farms and ranches to remain viable. Moran has been recognized for his agriculture efforts by many organizations, including the top legislative award from three of the nation's largest agriculture groups: the American Farm Bureau, the National Farmer's Union and the National Association of Wheat Growers.

In addition to serving on the Agriculture Committee, Moran is also an active member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, where he has been the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. He also helps lead a number of congressional caucuses and coalitions, including the Rural Health Care Coalition (RHCC), the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine and the National Guard Reserve Components Caucus. This year, Moran became a co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus. Through his work with the RHCC, Moran has led the fight to save rural hospitals and has sponsored legislation to bring more physicians to underserved areas. His efforts to restore Medicare funding for small hospitals has earned him the top legislative award from the National Rural Health Association and the Distinguished Health Care Advocate Award from the Kansas Hospital Association.

Since first coming to Congress in 1997, Moran has made it a priority to stay connected to the people he represents. Despite the distance between Washington, D.C., and Kansas, Moran returns home each weekend. The "Big First" Congressional District includes 69 counties and covers 57,575 square miles. Keeping in touch with Kansans across the district means a lot of driving. Moran's last three cars have racked up more than 450,000 miles. Each year, he conducts 69 town-hall meetings, one in each county of the First District.

At home, Moran volunteers his time at several community organizations. He is a trustee of the Eisenhower Foundation, serves on the Board of Trustees of the Fort Hays State University Foundation, is an honorary board member to Special Olympics Kansas, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Coronado Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This year, Moran was named the 2007 Honorary Chairman for the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raises awareness and funds for the athletes of Special Olympics Kansas. 

Before his election to Congress, Moran served eight years in the Kansas Senate in Topeka, the last two as Majority Leader. Moran attended Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and later the University of Kansas, where he completed degrees in economics and law. After an early career as a small town banker, Moran established a law practice in Hays and returned to FHSU as an adjunct professor of political science.

Moran and his wife, Robba, continue to live in Hays. They have two daughters, one a student at Kansas State University and the other a student at Hays High School.