I hosted a town hall forum on the importance of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for critical and lifesaving research at the KU Edwards Campus last Tuesday. It was exciting to hear the thoughtful questions from the audience and insightful remarks from the local, regional, and national experts who served on the panel. 

 

Learn more about what Congressman Yoder discussed during his NIH town hall by clicking the image above or here. 

 

It is clear this research is vital not only to those fighting life-altering diseases and disabilities, but also to those local universities and biomedical companies here in the district that are working to discover new scientific breakthroughs every day. 

 

 

I appreciate the work that Dr. Christopher Austin, the Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the NIH, and his team do to find cures and save lives.

 

A special thank you to Leesa Gabel, cancer survivor and Regional Leader for the LIVESTRONG Foundation, for participating on the panel. Leesa’s strength, courage, and determination is truly inspiring.

I enjoyed stopping by Congressional Forum, hosted by the Kansas City Kansas Area Chamber of Commerce, to discuss several important issues and give an update on legislation currently before Congress.

 

Thank you to Nancy Lindquist, Care Services Specialist at the ALS Association Keith Worthington Chapter, for stopping by my district office in Overland Park to share the latest developments in our fight against Lou Gherig’s Disease. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is sweeping the nation, increasing private donations at an astonishing rate. I will continue to work at the federal level to do our part and strengthen the search for treatment and a cure. I support efforts to bring new treatments to patients sooner and look forward to the day when we have a cure for this progressive neurodegenerative disease.

Studies show that early educational investment in the lives of children at risk, before Kindergarten, produces great value in their lives and our communities as they grow to become productive citizens. Extensive economic analyses have demonstrated that when dollars are invested in early learning programs, they provide a 17 percent return on the initial investment each year, according to Alliance for Childhood Education. As a recipient of the Head Start 2012 Kansas State Children’s Champion Award, I understand the importance of ensuring our children have the educational resources and opportunities necessary for success available to them at a very young age.

 

Thank you to Torree Pederson and Erin Brower, President/CEO and Vice-President of Alliance for Childhood Education (ACE) for sharing with me their work to improve early childhood education.

I joined several state legislators from Johnson and Miami County at the Johnson County Farm Bureau/Miami County Farm Bureau Legislative picnic and tour last week. We toured the Brunker family farming operation in Olathe and visited about many agriculture issues facing our state and country. As a fifth-generation Kansan who grew up on a farm and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, it is very important to me that our nation’s agriculture programs are adequately funded. We must ensure our vital food, animal, and plant programs are maintained, as well as provide resources for rural development, farm services, and marketplace oversight.

 

 

Thank you to the Johnson and Miami County Kansas Farm Bureaus for this opportunity.

After the town hall on Tuesday discussing the important role of the NIH in funding life-saving research, I was especially pleased to tour the Clinical and Translational Science Unit (CTSU) at the KU Clinical Research Center with Dr. Christopher Austin, Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The CTSU, along with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, is all about getting more treatments to more patients more efficiently. 

 

Thank you to Dr. Jeff Burns and Dr. Raymond Perez for the tour and description of all the exciting research taking place right here in Fairway.

I had a great time at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce iKC: The Unconference event Thursday morning with Kansas City Mayor Sly James. I always enjoy speaking with local entrepreneurs about how we can continue to help Kansas City grow as a leading innovative and startup community. We had a great conversation about the Start-up Act 3.0, the need for greater access to technology and research, and my bill, the Email Privacy Act.

 

Congressman Yoder addresses local entrepreneurs and startup companies about creative new opportunities through entrepreneurial activities, economic development, and innovation.

 

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Congressman Yoder discussing issues facing Congress from transportation, foreign policy, VA reform to immigration.

I visited the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant for a meeting with the Fairfax Industrial Association (FIA). After the meeting, I had the opportunity to tour the GM plant in the 3rd District and see production in action. I enjoyed the visiting with the employees and listening to the concerns. We discussed my efforts to stop harmful regulations that hinder business and job growth. 

 

 

Congressman Yoder listening to employees at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas.