Holiday Mail for Heroes Program
With the holidays approaching, Senator Roberts wants Kansans to be aware of the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes Program. The Red Cross will receive and distribute holiday cards to service members, veterans and their families in the United States and abroad. This card campaign also includes those working and receiving care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is key to remember that cards must be postmarked by December 10th, just days away. For those interested, send holiday greetings to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
For more information on this program, please visit: www.redcross.org/holidaymail .
Following Health Care
Senator Roberts continues to follow the fallout from the recently enacted partisan health care reform law. Senator Roberts spoke on the Senate floor and called attention to rationing already underway at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the leadership of Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick and as a direct result of the new health care law. He concluded his remarks by asking when the American people can obtain waivers for mandates in Obamacare like those 111 waivers granted to unions and other employers. To view Sen. Roberts’ floor speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpf4L3IyvxI.
Additionally, Sen. Roberts authored a letter to the editor in the Topeka Capital-Journal recently highlighting these waivers: http://cjonline.com/opinion/2010-10-26/letter_health_reform_fails .
Sen. Roberts is concerned about the continued broken promises from the Administration from the new “reform” law. Sen. Roberts said, “The latest issue is that some health insurance companies can no longer afford to sell children-only policies because of the new law. Under the law, insurers are prohibited from denying coverage for children with pre-existing conditions. While this may sound good, in practice it is causing insurers to drop their child-only policies, or to charge more for sick children. Anyone who understands insurance can see why: when people know they can wait until they are sick to purchase coverage, that’s what they will do. Why would you buy homeowner’s insurance if you could just wait until the roof’s on fire to do so? And since insurance works by spreading risk among pools of people, an absence of healthy people in the pool means prohibitively high risk and, in turn, prohibitively high prices. Once again the Administration and leadership in Congress cannot keep the promises made while this partisan bill was rammed through Congress. For more information, read a recent New York Times story on this issue: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/health/policy/14health.html .
Roberts concluded, “I warned that this health care reform law would do nothing to address the real problem in our health care system: cost. I am highly concerned about the consequences of this new law for children, and I will be following this issue closely.”
Honoring Veterans Day
This month, Senator Roberts thanked and honored all veterans on Veterans Day with the following message: “On this Veterans Day, I join my fellow American citizens in saluting our nation's heroes. Their service in the defense of this great nation deserves our respect and gratitude - particularly for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This day of annual homage allows us to honor their contributions.
“Kansans have a long tradition of supporting and honoring our veterans. Two examples come to mind. Recently, I had the privilege to meet Sentinel Kyle Obrosky, a Topeka native, who participates in the sacred practice of standing guard over the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. These soldiers are the best of the U.S. Army and keep watch over the Tomb 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on holidays and in all weather. His own words describing the importance of his solemn duty also applies to all veterans and why we pause to honor those who have served: ‘They are known but to God. We are their friends and family now, it is up to me to take care and honor them. They did not lose their country.’
“There is no better example of this statement than the steady pilgrimage of Honor Flights to visit the National WWII Memorial. Championed by our own Senator Bob Dole, volunteers including high school students, coordinate to bring WWII vets to visit their monument. Without the contributions of this Greatest Generation, American would not be what it is today. Each individual veteran and service member's story of sacrifice is unique, but all have the collective threads of honor and service which makes our great nation the symbol of freedom and liberty around the world. From this Marine, on Veterans Day to all those that have served our country, Semper Fi.”
Also, the Topeka Capital-Journal covered a recent visit by Senator Roberts to Arlington National Cemetery in honor of our nation’s heroes: http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-11-10/kansans_hallowed_ground .
Senator Roberts wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Hays Daily News describing his visit to Arlington National Cemetery and his tribute to our veterans: http://www.hdnews.net/Story/Roberts111010 .
Marine Corps 235th Birthday
This month marked the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. As a former Marine, Senator Roberts saluted our nation’s Marines: “As we celebrate our 235th birthday of our nation’s greatest fighting force, let us dedicate ourselves to the legacy of those who served before us. In doing that, we safeguard our country, loved ones and all Americans. Today Marines are doing one hell of a job under difficult circumstances. Some things never change. Happy Birthday, be proud and Semper Fi.”
To view Senator Roberts' message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoxsPh4DPgo.
Service Academy Nominations
Senator Roberts nominated thirty-nine young Kansans for appointments to U.S. Service Academies, including the Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Co), Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY), Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), and United States Military Academy (West Point, NY). “I am very pleased to announce this year’s nominees. These men and women are outstanding representatives of Kansas in every way, and I wish them the best of luck,” Senator Roberts said.
In making the nominations, Roberts followed the recommendations of his Academy Screening Board; a nonpartisan Board comprised of volunteers from across Kansas and is overseen by Karin Wisdom, Senator Roberts’ District Director in Wichita. As part of the decision-making process, board members conduct personal interviews with the applicants, as well as review their written applications, G.P.A, and standardized test scores. Once nominated by Senator Roberts, the applicants then must meet the individual admission requirements of each academy, which makes the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission. Due to the limited number of openings at each academy, not every nominee will receive an appointment. The academies this spring will announce appointments for the class entering in July 2011. In March, Roberts will begin accepting applications for nominations to academy classes entering in July 2012. For more information, please visit: http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=AcademyNominations .
Recognizing Kansas Blue Ribbon Schools
Senator Roberts congratulated the five schools in Kansas selected by the United States Department of Education as “Blue Ribbon Schools.”
“This is truly an honor! As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I am delighted to see so many Kansas schools recognized for such a high honor. Congrats to Franklin Elementary School in Junction City, Garden Plain High School, Lakeside Intermediate School in Cawker City, St. George Elementary School, and Woodlawn Elementary School in Lawrence for being named a Blue Ribbon School. We have a long tradition of Kansas schools receiving these awards, and I congratulate these schools.”
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students. The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan honored the 314 schools across the nation and presented representatives from the schools with recognition in Washington, DC. A list of the 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2010/index.html .
