Each month I want to provide you with regular updates about what’s going on in our nation’s capital and throughout the 4th District of Kansas. Here’s what happened in November.
The End of the Democrat Shutdown For 43 painful days, Senate Democrats held our government hostage and demanded we give in to their radical political agenda, causing the longest government shutdown in American history. House Republicans passed a clean, straightforward bill on Sept. 19. Senate Democrats repeatedly blocked the bill from moving forward, forcing the government to shut down on Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year was set to begin. Finally, on Nov. 9, Senate Democrats gave up their act and moved forward on a bill to reopen the government. On Nov. 12, I voted with my House Republican colleagues on the final passage of the funding bill, and President Trump quickly signed it.
Our bill extends funding to the end of January 2026, preventing Democrats from forcing a last-minute Christmas omnibus bill. Furthermore, our appropriations support rural Kansas communities and families while instituting $415 million in DOGE savings at the same time. Additionally, it provides full funding for three of the appropriations bills through the end of the fiscal year.
With the government back open, Congressional Republicans are ready to enact President Trump’s priorities and continue delivering wins for Kansans and the American people.
Latest Data on the Southern Border The latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data reveals that for the month of September, southern border apprehensions decreased by 84% compared to the same time last year when Biden was president. Additionally, this marks five consecutive months with zero illegal migrants being released into the United States. I’m grateful that President Trump’s policies are resulting in a more secure southern border.
Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day On Veterans Day, we honored and recognized the sacrifice of the brave men and women who answered the call to serve our country. They have all dedicated their time, and many their lives, so that we may live freely and securely.
To all the veterans, I humbly thank you for your service, and I will continue to advocate for you, your families, and our activeduty service members.
During the Veterans Day weekend, I attended the Wichita Veterans Day Parade, where we celebrated 250 years of service, and 250 years of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. It was also great to start the morning at the American Legion Post 4 pancake breakfast, benefitting the Tornado Alley Young Marines. The parade after party featured music, remarks and veteran support organizations. I enjoyed talking with and thanking so many veterans.
The Persecution of Christians in Nigeria Religious freedom is under egregious attack in Nigeria where thousands of innocent Christians are being murdered by Islamic terrorists. President Trump is raising awareness around these atrocities, and he designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” I applaud President Trump’s efforts to protect the lives of Christians around the world.
Working Families Tax Cuts
The Working Families Tax Cuts supports American families and promotes a culture of life by establishing “Trump Accounts.” For every newborn American citizen, $1,000 will be deposited into their Trump Account. Over time, parents can make tax-free contributions to these accounts, and their children will eventually be able to use their savings for qualifying expenses, including education, housing, and health care. The Working Families Tax Cuts are pro-family and will help build financial stability for Kansans.
Connect with Me
Interested in receiving regular updates about what’s going on in Congress? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter at estes.house.gov and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my District Office in Wichita at 316-262-8992 if you have questions, concerns or need help with a federal agency.
Ron Estes, one of only a handful of engineers in Congress, worked to improve systems and operations in the aerospace, energy and manufacturing sectors before representing Kansas’ 4th Congressional District beginning in 2017. He is a fifth-generation Kansan, former state treasurer, and serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, Budget Committee and Joint Economic Committee. He is the chair of the Social Security Subcommittee and co-chair of the House Aerospace Caucus.
