Press Releases

"Kansans sent me to Washington to make sure their concerns are addressed and their voices are heard. A big part of my job is to take a stand and vote on every piece of legislation that comes before the House. I made it a priority to vote in each of the 991 roll call votes the House held this year and will do everything in my power to continue that record in 2010."

"The American people are struggling to find work and make ends meet, but it doesn't matter whether you are in Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, or Vermont, no one should get special favors. So it is extremely disappointing that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid resorted to cutting deals, choosing winners and losers, and awarding special favors in order to pass his misguided health care bill."

"Our fiscal house is in disarray, but rather than reducing spending and restoring fiscal responsibility, the majority in Congress voted today to spend more money we don't have and sent our kids and grandkids another $300 billion IOU."

"It is our obligation to ensure the men and women in our armed services have what they need to do their jobs. With a strong military presence in Eastern Kansas, I will always support our troops and do all I can do ensure their success."

"Instead of passing meaningful reform to restore stability in financial markets, the House today passed legislation to give the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve permanent bailout authority."

"While I am pleased President Obama plans to send additional troops to Afghanistan, I am concerned about some of the early details. I hope the President will choose to follow the counsel of his experienced commanders on the ground and implement their plan for victory in Afghanistan."

Kansans deserve better than Speaker Pelosi's government takeover of health care. That is why I supported an alternative that would bring down health care premiums by as much as 10 percent, reduce the deficit, and give folks more control over their health care without raising taxes or cutting Medicare.

I voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment because I am opposed to public funding for abortion.

In addition to creating a government-controlled "public option," H.R. 3962 imposes unfunded mandates on states to pay for an expansion of Medicaid. While the goal of covering more of the uninsured in our nation is one we all share, I cannot support a plan that will make the fiscal challenges facing Kansas even worse.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins took to the highways of Eastern Kansas today to deliver copies of Speaker Pelosi's 1,990 page health care overhaul to public libraries in Leavenworth, Hiawatha, Atchison, Holton and Topeka.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins today will share the House Majority's massive health care overhaul with her constituents.

"By taking the go-it-alone approach, Speaker Pelosi appears to have drafted another nearly trillion dollar plan that will raise taxes on our nation's small businesses, grow the government, further erode our nation's fiscal stability and put a government bureaucrat between patients and their doctors."

"My staff and I are continuing to work to provide the folks of Eastern Kansas with the most accessible congressional office they have ever seen. While I will be in Washington next week, my staff will once again travel to communities throughout the district bringing Congress to Kansas."

"This is only my first year in Washington, but if this is "business as usual," then it's time for business to change. Committees should post legislation online within 24-hours to give all members of Congress as well as the American people time to read and understand the legislation. The status quo of secrecy and back-door deals has worn out its welcome."

"Kansas, and frankly our nation, needs NBAF to ensure public health and the safety and security of our national food supply. In this age of uncertainty and global threats, conducting vital research to protect our nation couldn't be more crucial. I am pleased that the House today passed the DHS appropriations conference report that includes critical NBAF funding."

"We have American troops fighting two wars right now. They are fighting to protect us from harm and to prevent another attack on American soil. The district I represent in Kansas has a strong military presence, and I will do everything I can to make sure our troops on the ground have the best possible equipment, training and support to enable them to undertake their missions."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce Kevin Rodriguez of Leavenworth, Kan., is working as a congressional intern in her Washington, D.C. office.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce Lauren Hoover of Overland Park, Kan., is working as a congressional intern in her Washington, D.C. office.

"Congressional internships give students a valuable opportunity to work with my staff and me on important issues facing Kansans."

"Providing vital constituent services to folks in Kansas continues to be one of my top priorities. In October, my staff will hold office hours in communities throughout Eastern Kansas. I hope folks will continue engaging and taking an active role in their government like we have seen recently."

"I agree with President Obama that our nation's health care system needs to be reformed, and I was hopeful that tonight he would lead the way on a bipartisan solution. Unfortunately, the President has ignored the voice of many Americans along with some in his own party who are opposed to a government-run public ‘option.'"

"This is a critical step forward in our efforts to help the folks in Treece. I am hopeful once EPA sees firsthand the irreparable damage mining has done in Treece, they will agree a clean-up alone is not enough."

"Rather than recklessly spending taxpayer dollars on programs that don't work, I am hopeful when Congress returns to Washington in September that all members can work together to curb spending, control debt and get Americans back to work."

"I have been in Kansas almost every weekend since January and being home this month will let me spend even more time with the good folks of Kansas. Folks are concerned about the out-of-control spending, increasing debt and the rapid expansion of the federal government. I share their concerns and look forward to listening to them and discussing ideas to turn our nation around."

"I strongly agree with Chairman Skelton's feeling that, ‘This would have a very negative outcome for our military officers, the school, and the health of our relationships with Muslim nations.' I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion with Chairman Skelton and others in the future to ensure terrorist suspects are not transferred to Kansas."

"This is a very complex issue, and it is very important for folks to have the chance to ask questions about how these plans will affect them. I am pleased that five health care experts will join me for a panel discussion and forum to talk about health care reform."

"This is a simple, common-sense fix to an issue that would put unnecessary hardships on these two rural hospitals. At a time when rural communities are already faced with major challenges, any loss of health care would be devastating."

"At a time when Americans have tightened their belts to make ends meet, Congress must do the same. This legislation is an effort to give each Member of Congress the opportunity to vote on the side of fiscal restraint or fiscal neglect."

"I was proud to cosponsor legislation that passed the House today to make common sense changes to the federal flood insurance program. This bill will give communities more flexibility in maintaining and repairing their levee systems.

"Rather than forcing the House to vote next week on a bill that will increase healthcare costs, add to our debt, kill jobs and drive folks off their current health coverage, Speaker Pelosi needs to work with Democrats and Republicans, as well as President Obama on a solution that will improve our nation's health care system without putting additional, unnecessary hardships on middle-class families and small businesses."

"The Administration must come forward with a comprehensive plan that does not jeopardize the safety of the American people. Closing Guantanamo Bay is a complex issue, but moving forward without a plan to relocate the terrorist detainees is irresponsible."

"Time after time, the Democrat Majority has shut down the debate of important issues from even being heard on the floor. She is the Speaker of "the people's house," and it's high time she allow the democratic legislative process to work like it has for the past 233 years."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce Jessica Schultz of Manhattan, Kan., will work as a congressional intern in her Washington, D.C. office.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce Steve Iverson of Holton, Kan., will work as a congressional intern in her Washington, D.C. office.

"One hundred years of mining near Treece has left the approximately 100 residents with toxic soil, dangerous conditions and no hope of rebuilding. While I appreciate the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to cleanup Treece, I am convinced a cleanup is not sufficient."

"We cannot play politics with this issue. The NBAF is a necessary part of the disease research that will protect our food supply and public health in the 21st Century. The decision to place the facility in Manhattan, made by the Bush Administration, was also affirmed by the Obama Administration and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano."

"In the midst of this severe recession, Congress should be focused on enacting policies that will put folks back to work and grow the economy. This legislation does exactly the opposite. It creates a national energy tax that will drive millions of American jobs overseas and will unfairly burden Kansans with increased energy and gasoline prices. At a time when Kansas families are struggling, hitting them with a job-killing national energy tax is absolutely wrong."

"This is a simple, common-sense fix to an issue that would put unnecessary hardships on these two rural hospitals. As the former governor of Kansas, I am confident Secretary Sebelius understands the negative affects these changes will have on Onaga and Wamego, and I am hopeful she and Acting Administrator Frizzera will grant this exception."

"I remain confident the Senate will include funding for the NBAF in its DHS funding bill, and I will continue to work with Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback on this issue. The research that will be conducted at the new NBAF will protect our food supply and is critical to public health in the 21st Century."

"It is so important that our veterans' hospitals are adequately funded and that they receive a timely and predictable budget each year," Jenkins said. "In 19 of the past 22 years, Congress has failed to approve VA funding legislation on time, and that has caused major problems in many of our VA hospitals. I was proud to cosponsor this legislation because it will address those problems, and I was glad the House approved it."

"I rise today in support of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, also known as the NBAF. After September 11, former-President Bush issued a security directive to increase our nation's capacity for animal disease research to protect our food supply as well as defend our agriculture and public health against disease outbreaks."

"Kansans do not support bringing terrorist detainees to Ft. Leavenworth, and today, the House of Representatives had two chances to stand up and stop that from happening. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, and I was proud to support this amendment with my Kansas colleagues Congressmen Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran as well as 40 Democrats from across the nation, but unfortunately, we fell just one vote short."

"Americans are feeling the effects of a health care system in crisis and now is the time to implement reforms that empower individuals, families and small businesses instead of the government. As a mother of two and a daughter with aging parents, I want to see a system that strengthens the patient-doctor relationship, prevents the long waiting periods that are seen in other countries around the world and eliminates the waste, fraud and abuse in our nation's current health care system."

"I support our troops, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they have every resource they need to defend our nation. I was proud to vote for a clean War Supplemental in the House on May 14th, and that legislation passed with broad bipartisan support."

"After having a first-hand look at the facilities at Guantanamo, I am more convinced than ever that Fort Leavenworth is the wrong location to hold the terrorist detainees."

"The storms on May 8 left more than 20,000 residents without electricity and extensively damaged many homes, schools, churches and businesses in Southeast Kansas communities," Jenkins said. "After personally touring the damage and visiting with the folks in the affected communities, I committed to helping them rebuild and clean-up after these damaging storms."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce the schedule for her upcoming Congress to Kansas mobile office tour during the week of June 22nd. To provide the most accessible service to Kansans, Congresswoman Jenkins' staff will travel to communities throughout the 2nd District to assist them with any federal issues.

"On Monday, I will travel to Guantanamo Bay to tour the detention facilities and meet with the military officials in charge," Jenkins said. "The January 22nd deadline set by President Obama for the closure of Guantanamo Bay is fast approaching, but we've still not seen any details about where he plans to send the terrorist detainees."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins congratulates the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL) for securing a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant to repair flood damage to the Gorilla Subdivision section of the railroad between Sherwin, Kan. and Cherokee, Kan.

"Although the agreement is tentative, the big winners today are clearly the residents of Randolph. I was elected to represent the interests of folks in eastern Kansas, and I look forward to continuing to work with communities like Randolph across the Second District."

"I continue to strongly oppose any plan to relocate suspected terrorists to Fort Leavenworth and hope President Obama will be more straightforward with the American people on where he intends to send terrorist detainees."

"The war funding legislation that passed in the House today was not perfect. While I am disappointed the Democrat Majority added $12.2 billion for non-war related programs, I supported the legislation because it provides critical funding to our military men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep all of us safe and secure here at home."

"After surveying the damage on Monday, my office has been in contact with Governor Parkinson's staff to offer our full support, including potential federal resources that may be available. We will continue to provide the necessary assistance to the Governor's office to ensure Kansans have access to any appropriate federal resources."

"It's time to stop placing blame and start working together on solutions to turn the economy around."

"Chairman Obey's rejection of the President's plan to close Guantanamo Bay does not settle this issue, but it does send a clear message to the Administration that closing the detention facility will not be as simple as they had hoped."

U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-Kansas) will deliver the weekly Republican radio address on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

"Today, the House agreed to a budget resolution to set the spending, taxing and borrowing guidelines for our nation, and I am very concerned it takes us in the wrong direction. We should be focused on growing the economy, not the government."

"I am so pleased to launch my new website, which makes it easier for the folks in Kansas to stay updated on what I am doing as their representative in Washington."

"Folks across the nation are worried about paying their mortgages, keeping their jobs, and feeding their families...This legislation will help workers, seniors and students and their families rebuild their savings and will help achieve long-term sustainable economic growth."

"I was proud to stand with the folks in Pittsburg and Iola to say increasing taxes on hard-working families to expand the size of government is the wrong direction to take our nation."

"One of the main responsibilities of Congress is to set the budget for the federal government, and during this recession, Congress should have passed a budget plan that eliminates wasteful spending, creates jobs and controls debt. The Democrat's budget fails in all three areas."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins congratulates the City of Topeka Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development for being named as a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence.

"At a time when folks are worried about losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet, they should not also have to worry about losing any more of the money they've worked so hard to save," Jenkins said. "I am proud to work with the Solutions Group for Savings Restoration on a plan to help the American people restore their personal, college and retirement savings."

"The $165 million in bonuses AIG recently made must absolutely be recaptured. I am an original cosponsor of legislation that would require Treasury Secretary Geithner to pursue every legal option to recapture 100 percent of the bonus payments made by AIG.

"We are in unchartered waters with AIG, and it is absolutely critical the American taxpayers are paid back for every dollar of the nearly $180 billion that was used to bailout AIG. There is no doubt that mistakes have been made – from the lack of accountability in the bailout program, to the outrageous employee bonuses AIG recently made.

"From day-one I opposed the bank bailout that increased government intervention into the private financial markets. The American taxpayer has been forced to foot the bill for far too long for the bad decisions made by financial institutions that were deemed ‘too big to fail.'

"Workers should absolutely have the right to join a union, but that decision should be private. The Employee Free Choice Act would remove the secret ballot requirement and allow union certification based on simple card-check.

"Today Congress voted to fund the federal government until next Wednesday at the current level. Even though this short-term resolution is far better than Nancy Pelosi's $410 billion plan, the House missed yet another opportunity to reduce the financial burden on all Americans.

"More than 90 percent of homeowners have played by the rules and paid their monthly mortgages. It is completely unfair to force them to subsidize lenders who made risky loans or people who knowingly got in over their head buying a home they couldn't afford.

"The hard-working families in Kansas have tightened their budgets to make ends meet. I am disappointed President Obama's budget proposal will increase their financial struggle by raising their taxes and implementing colossal spending programs. His proposal will actually increase the federal deficit to a record $1.75 trillion.

"The omnibus spending bill that passed today represents the largest increase in nonemergency spending since President Carter was in office," Jenkins said. "The bill spends $32 billion more than last year. H.R. 1105 will cost more than $400 billion and comes on the back of the $1 trillion stimulus bill. It is time to stop talking about fiscal responsibility and start practicing it."

"I agree with President Obama that we must address the fiscal and economic challenges facing the nation today in order to create sustained economic growth and prosperity. The American people continue to struggle to find jobs and to make ends meet. But I am optimistic we can overcome these challenges and I look forward to working with President Obama and his Administration to find solutions to jump-start the economy.

"Reducing the $1.3 trillion federal deficit is critical, and I look forward to hearing President Obama's plans to responsibly cut the deficit in half by 2013. Out-of-control government spending in Washington got us into the financial mess we're in right now, and I am glad President Obama recognizes that reducing the deficit is crucial to growing our economy. I hope his plan is responsible and focuses on reducing spending on wasteful or duplicative government programs.

"There is no question about it – the American people are struggling, and our economy is in a recession. It is unacceptable for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to decide to use our ailing economy as an opportunity to fund a long list of liberal pet projects. There have been claims that voting against H.R. 1 is voting to do nothing. I voted against this bill because it will cost Americans nearly $1 trillion and won't work."

"Times are tough, and Congress has had to act quickly making tough policy decisions. The challenging circumstances do not give government a blank check. These times call for increased accountability, transparency and scrutiny before throwing billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars at programs that might not even address the root of the problems.

"This is perhaps the biggest financial burden one generation has ever passed onto future generations, and now we're finding out it may actually make things worse, not better. The out-of-control spending practices of the federal government got us into this mess, and the folks in the 2nd district know we cannot borrow and spend our way back to prosperity."

Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins attended the International Flag Ceremony for the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth. This annual ceremony marks the start of each new class of the Command and General Staff College. She also visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth to meet with hospitalized veterans.

"SCHIP is a very valuable program that I have fought for since my time in the Kansas legislature. The intent of SCHIP is simple – provide health coverage for the neediest American children. Unfortunately, there are some in Washington, D.C. whose primary focus is not to fix the program, but simply to expand it."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) will serve on a select health care task force, created by House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and led by Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt. Jenkins is the only freshman serving in the group.

"This isn't a Republican or Democrat issue," Jenkins said. "It's a Kansas issue. Governor Sebelius and I discussed the consequences moving Guantanamo detainees would have on Fort Leavenworth and on surrounding communities. It is imperative everyone understands the many physical and logistical problems involved with relocating suspected terrorists to Fort Leavenworth, and also the threat it would pose to the Leavenworth community and to the Fort's education and training mission."

"Americans are counting on Congress to take action to get our economy moving again. That requires innovative ideas that are missing from this legislation. H.R. 1 turned into a pork-filled bill that costs as much as the annual discretionary budget for the entire federal government."

"President Obama today signed an executive order to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay within one year. The order, however, left unclear where the new Administration intends to transfer the suspected terrorists who are held at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. I am here today to say those detainees do not belong at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins will officially open her district office in Topeka, Saturday, January 24.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is pleased to announce Wesley Callahan of Baldwin City, Kansas, will work as a congressional intern in her Washington, D.C. office.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins will officially open her district office in Pittsburg, Friday, January 23.

"I look forward to communicating the interests of Kansans to House Leadership as an Assistant Whip," Jenkins said. "It is an honor to be selected to work with leaders to promote Republican principles in the 111th Congress. I am committed to advancing common-sense and innovative solutions to problems facing Americans today, especially the folks in the Second Congressional District."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins today stood up for children in low-income families by voting against H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, which would undercut the program's mission to provide health coverage to low-income children, while increasing the opportunity for fraud by enabling illegal immigrants to enroll in SCHIP.

"SCHIP was intended to provide high-quality health coverage to children in low-income families that can't afford private health insurance. The current SCHIP is set to expire at the end of March 2009, but before we consider any legislation to extend it, we must ensure the program is serving the neediest children first.

"The selection speaks loudly to the leadership in animal health research and the animal health industry that Kansas has in the United States," Jenkins said. "K-State's internationally recognized animal health research expertise and research infrastructure, including the Biosecurity Research Institute and the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, make it an exceptional location for the NBAF."

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins was named to the House Committee on Financial Services, which oversees all aspects of the nation's housing and financial services sectors.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins issued the following statement after being sworn in today as a member of the 111th Congress during official ceremonies at the United States Capitol