U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has announced his support for the Senate budget reconciliation legislation, emphasizing its impact on Kansas families, hospitals, and rural communities.
According to Moran, "The Senate budget reconciliation bill provides certainty for Kansans by preventing a tax hike on middle-class families and small businesses, while also investing in the long-term security of our southern border and bolstering our military’s capabilities at a time when threats from our adversaries are increasing."
Moran detailed his efforts during the drafting process to prioritize Kansas hospitals. "As this legislation was being drafted, I worked to make certain hospitals in Kansas were at the forefront of these discussions. After numerous discussions with Kansas hospital leaders, my colleagues and Administrator Oz, I was able to make changes to the legislation to make certain Kansas hospitals will not face any immediate cuts upon enactment of this legislation," he said.
He added that these provisions allow Kansas to continue its application for increased Medicaid payments for some providers. "These provisions will protect Kansas’ ability to continue pursuing its application for increased Medicaid payments for certain providers. This change ensures that as state directed payments wind down, Kansas providers will be starting at a higher percentage of enhanced payments buying them much-needed time to utilize federal dollars as payments are reduced."
Moran also noted securing a delay in reductions to state-directed payments and advocating for additional support for rural hospitals. "I also secured a one-year delay in the implementation of reductions to state directed payments to give Kansas providers more time to access these resources. Finally, I pushed for the establishment of a rural provider fund to aid rural hospitals facing significant financial challenges. These changes and investments, along with tax cuts for Kansas families, will bolster our economy and strengthen the safety of our nation," he said.
Key components of the legislation include creating a $50 billion emergency assistance fund aimed at supporting rural hospitals experiencing financial difficulties. The bill also provides funding increases for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol focused on border security measures against illicit drug trafficking such as fentanyl.
The package allocates $12.52 billion toward modernizing air traffic control infrastructure under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), supports Department of Defense modernization with $150 billion—some designated for projects within Kansas—and includes updates to agricultural policy through Farm Bill modifications.
Other elements are designed to offer permanent relief from estate taxes for family farms in Kansas and provide tax reductions benefiting American families, workers, and small businesses.
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