Last Week in Congress

Yoder Working on Border Solutions for Children and Families

Click here to read more from the National Review

As a father of two daughters, I too do not want to see children separated from their parents. Last week, in my role as Homeland Security Appropriations Chairman I met with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and my Democratic counterpart on the Committee to understand the facts and develop solutions to this problem. This issue is caused in large part by restraints in our laws imposed by a Ninth Circuit court ruling and the actions of Mexican drug cartels.

It’s important to note that any family seeking asylum who comes to the United States at a legal port of entry is not prosecuted and is sent intact as a family to have their case adjudicated. Only those who cross the border illegally are being prosecuted.

On my recent fact-finding mission at the border, CBP officials were clear: drug cartels are making billions of dollars off trafficking humans and drugs across our border at increasing rates. Adults and children are being exploited and manipulated by drug cartels for the going rate of about $7,000 per person.

As for actual families crossing the border illegally and seeking asylum, our laws do not allow children to be housed with their parents while we sort out their case. Parents have criminal court proceedings and the children are housed in Department of Health and Human Services facilities. However, under the Ninth Circuit court’s ruling clarifying the law, HHS is not allowed to house children for more than 20 days. So even if we want to hold a family unit together for a longer period of time, we are forbidden from doing so. The choice then becomes either releasing the adults and children together into the US pending the adjudication of the illegal border crossing charges, or holding the adults and releasing the children. Neither are good options.

I am committed to finding a way to make this work humanely and responsibly. I will continue to involve Democrats and Republicans in the process and believe there are steps we can and will take in our Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
 

Yoder's Pay Freeze for Congress Passes House

Click here for more information on the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill

Our government needs to reign in overspending, and I believe this needs to start with Congress itself. As the author of the Fiscal Year 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, I wrote provisions to freeze pay for Members of Congress and maintain the 10% overall spending cuts on Congressional operations. My legislation was passed by the House last week as part of a larger package of appropriations bills, H.R. 5895. Elected officials must lead by example, and the tighter budget imposed by my bill will set the standard for fiscal responsibility across the government.

Yoder Discusses Immigration and Border Security on "Outnumbered Overtime"

Click here to watch Kevin's interview on Fox News

I was glad to join Fox News' Harris Faulkner on "Outnumbered Overtime" to talk about my recent trip to the border, immigration reform, and my new role as Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Currently, our immigration system is broken, and our border is not secure. I believe that the majority of Americans want to both secure our borders and provide a solution for children who were brought here illegally through no fault of their own. This is a problem that will require a bipartisan solution, and I am working hard alongside my colleagues to make that happen.

Yoder Votes Against CHIP Cuts

Click here to read more from The Hill

Last week, I voted against H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, also known as the rescissions package. While I support the principle of cutting government spending, this bill did not do so in a smart, targeted way. Instead, it would have clawed back funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) just a few months after we provided it with the longest reauthorization in history. I believe this would have sent the wrong signal about our priorities. Our government spends far too much, but CHIP is not the place to cut.

Two Major Achievements for Veterans

Click here to read more from USA Today

Our government is making big strides in the effort to bring better services and care to veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been plagued by shortcomings and scandals for too long, but Congress is working to reverse that trend. This past week saw two major achievements that will help veterans get the treatment they have earned through their service and sacrifice.

First, President Trump signed the VA MISSION Act into law. I voted in favor of this bill to reauthorize the VA Choice program, which helps veterans receive faster care when there are long wait times in the VA medical system. The bill also included new resources and reforms that will make it simpler and easier for veterans to access community health care that is convenient for them. Importantly, the VA MISSION Act also expands the VA Caregiver Program to veterans from all eras. This crucial program helps veterans battling disabilities and ailments from their service who rely on family members to serve as in-home caregivers.

Later in the week, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. This legislation provides funding for all veterans programs, increasing our total support for the VA by almost $4 billion. I was proud to vote in favor of this bill that makes targeted investments to better serve and care for our nation's veterans.

Meetings in D.C.

Children's Mercy Hospital

Kevin with Dallas Polen, Dr. Thomas Curran, and Genny Nicholas from Children's Mercy

It was a pleasure to meet with constituents from Children's Mercy Hospital last week. Children's Mercy is an important part of the Kansas City area's medical community, and they have exciting new plans underway. They are building a new Children's Research Institute, where they will leverage federal investments for pediatric research and attract top researchers from around the globe. I will continue supporting top medical institutions like Children's Mercy through investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and I look forward to seeing the great things that Children's Mercy accomplishes in the future!

Kansas Livestock Association

Kevin with Ty Breeden, Wyatt Bechtel and Jason Timmerman

It was good to see constituents from the Kansas Livestock Association in Washington last week. We talked about potential Farm Bill legislation this year and the importance this legislation holds for Kansas agriculture producers. We also discussed federal funding for the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank and conservation programs that are important to our state. 

Around the District

Yoder Fighting Against Rising Suicide Rates

Click here to read more from the Kansas City Star

Suicide rates are rising around the country, and Kansas is sadly outpacing the national average, with a 45% increase in suicides over the last 17 years. These are not the headlines we want to see. Far too many families struggle with the pain and loss experienced by suicide. It's the second leading cause of death for kids from middle school through college - it's an epidemic - and we need to be talking about it and working on all levels to address it. I'm working with Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver II from Missouri on H.R. 3552, the Cady Housh and Jason Flatt Teen Suicide Prevention Act, which would require teachers, principals, counselors and other school officials to receive youth suicide awareness and prevention training in schools. It is my hope that our bill can be an important step in the broader fight against suicides.

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7:1-800-273-8255.

73rd Annual Kansas State Council of Firefighters Conference

Kevin addressing the KS Firefighters Conference

I was honored to speak to the 73rd Annual Kansas State Council of Firefighters Conference in KCK last Friday. I thanked the many firefighters gathered from the 3rd District and around the state for their constant service and sacrifice. They put their lives on the line for us every day, and I sleep better at night knowing that they are working tirelessly for our safety. Unfortunately, firefighters face many challenges including higher than average rates of cancer and suicide. I'm working on both of those fronts through initiatives like cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health and major mental health reform legislation that Congress passed in 2016. Thank you again to all of our first responders, and special thank you to KCK's own International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 64 and Bob Wing for hosting this important event and inviting me to be a part of it.