Plane Talk - Midwest Flight 56, Seat 7C

Friday night, Steve picked me up from the airport and we drove up to Highland in Doniphan County, the northeast corner of the state.  We had scheduled a Congress on Your Corner at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, so it made sense to spend the night -- and did we ever luck out!

We stayed in a B&B run by a retired farm couple, Gene and Sally. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention just how much Sally looked like Mrs. Claus -- same smile, same twinkle in her eyes. (Those who know her know I'm not exaggerating a bit!) Gene welcomed us and made us feel so at home. Sally fixed a dream breakfast with a soufflé and delicate, perfectly baked cinnamon rolls.  Then they got us out the door and on our way.     

Saturday, we held two Congress on Your Corners, one each in Highland and in Horton.  We also attended the 150th anniversary celebration for Highland Community College, the oldest community college in Kansas. It has educated the mayors, business people, and community leaders who have been the mainstay of Kansas towns. It's hard to think of northeast Kansas without thinking of the college.

Monday started the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. It's always during the week of Valentine's Day, and its focus is encouraging citizens to volunteer at the VA. If you have some spare time, I'd recommend it. You'll feel truly blessed.

We visited the nursing home at the Topeka VA on Monday, then the med/surge unit and domiciliary at the Leavenworth VA on Tuesday.  I spoke with veterans Mike, Fred, Dennis, and Steve, and so many others.  All shared the same message:  how grateful they were for the care they get at the VA. No, the system isn't perfect, but the care veterans receive is, by and large, very good.  No one even complained about the food!  

Even though veterans seem generally very happy with the care they receive in VA facilities, I've heard many concerns about the terrible VA backlog that prevents some veterans from receiving treatment at all.  Getting VA benefits can be a true nightmare.

The good news is that, in the last year, the new Congress has made historic investments to improve VA care.

The Topeka VA received an additional $2 million for mental health care.  The terribly outdated ICU in Leavenworth is finally being renovated, and there is now a permanent full-time administrator at Leavenworth. But even more importantly, instead of cutting back on personnel, both locations are in continuous hiring mode for nurses and other health care professionals.

It was a fight last year to put this new VA funding in place, and it will probably be a fight again this year -- but it's a good fight and one I'm glad to be part of.  

During National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, I hope you'll take a few moments to tell a veteran "thank you."  While you're at it, tell the VA staff "thank you," too!  They are serving our country by serving our veterans.

Grace and peace,

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress


Casework Corner - 2007 Year in Review

By Joshua Dieker
District Representative

At the beginning of a new year, I like to look back and reflect on the lessons learned and the accomplishments of the previous one. Being that this was our office’s first year in operation, there is plenty to reflect upon. On day one we hit the ground running, and we haven’t looked back since.

In our first month alone it became clear that many of our neighbors in the district were struggling with Social Security, the VA, Medicare, immigration and numerous other issues. Our constituent services operation went from three people to seven as the case load grew. By summer we were working like a well oiled machine.

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This Week in Congress - February 4 to February 11, 2008

On Monday, Jane Kelly of the Kansas Home Care Association and Judy Bellome of the Douglas County Visiting Nurses visited my Topeka office to talk about health care issues. Visiting later that day were John Strickler and Laura Downey of the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education to discuss environmental education.

On Tuesday, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren visited Fort Leavenworth, and the base held a formal reception in honor of his visit. Later that day I flew back to Washington, D.C. for the week's votes. While I was in Kansas on Tuesday, my staff in D.C. met with representatives of the Kansas School Board Association, the Kansas Realtors, the Kansas Health Underwriters, Kansas State University, the Kansas Council of Insurance Agents, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee held a full committee hearing on the fiscal year 2009 national defense budget request from the Department of Defense.

Thursday was a real treat: Wes Davis, a pastor from southeast Kansas, opened the House of Representatives for the day with a prayer. In speaking of the partisan rhetoric that so often divides Congress, Pastor Davis said, "Help them see this clashing and grating as an opportunity to sharpen thought, to cut through rhetoric and to pierce conscience for the benefit of humanity." Later that day, I met with intern students from KU, as well as with Donna Huffman of the Kansas Association of Mortgage Brokers. Then the House Armed Services Committee Personnel Subcommittee met for an overview on beneficiary advocacy.

On Friday, I attended a briefing on the report of the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. Afterward, Lori Goodson – a winner of the Kansas award for the National Foundation for Improvement in Education – visited the office; she is one of 10 finalists nationwide for the National Education Association's teaching award.

On Saturday, Steve and I visited Highland and Horton for Congress on Your Corner events, where we met with Kansans to talk about issues pending before Congress and to offer assistance with federal agencies. We also attended Highland Community College’s 150th anniversary celebration, and Levi Henry offered a briefing on the Mission Lake Project in Horton. Finally, I wrapped up the week at the LULAC Sweetheart Dance at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.