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 March.
Restrictions on Lesser Prairie-Chicken Regulations Removed In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officially finalized the removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.
This is a massive win for Kansas and for the hardworking farmers, ranchers and energy producers who have been the true stewards of our land for generations. For too long, D.C. bureaucrats ignored stable population data to weaponize the Endangered Species Act, attempting a hostile land grab through unscientific and burdensome mandates.
By stripping away these overreaching protections, we are liberating Kansans and protecting American energy independence. I am pleased to see the Trump administration restore local control and private property rights.
We have proven that we can protect our natural resources without a heavy-handed federal government crushing the people who feed and fuel this country.
Ways and Means Committee Hearing with IRS CEO Frank Bisignano The House Ways and Means Committee held a full hearing where I questioned IRS CEO Frank Bisignano about how modernizing systems are being prioritized so that the biggest-risk and most taxpayer- visible systems are addressed first. During the hearing I discussed the middle class receiving the largest relief of any income group, and that AARP estimates that seniors will see an average savings of $1,320 from the senior tax deduction. I also addressed how Kansans are having an easier time filing their taxes due to the boosted standard deduction, and that average refunds are expected to rise nearly $1,000 compared to last year. In fact, returns so far indicated refunds are up 11% from last year on average.
I also expressed my concerns about the Independence Analysis’ study that in 2024 noted ithat the Biden IRS wasted more than $39 million just to keep 34 legacy systems on life support. Under President Trump, the IRS cut roughly $2 billion from his 2025 IT budget without operational disruptions, demonstrating just how bloated the previous spend had become.
I remain committed in my efforts to taxpayer-focused modernization and ensuring that middle-class families and workers in Kansas receive meaningful, measurable tax relief.
Introducing Resolution on Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics I introduced a resolution recognizing the visionary leadership of former Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon and the profound global impact of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics.
In 1979, Chief LaMunyon was inspired by a heartfelt encounter with a Special Olympics athlete to champion the cause. Determined to remove financial barriers for participants, he and his officers launched the LETR in 1981. After demonstrating the program’s powerful impact on Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, LaMunyon received her blessing to take the initiative global.
Today, the LETR stands as the largest grassroots movement for the Special Olympics, fostering community and providing lasting stability for athletes everywhere. What began with a modest $300 raised during that first run in Wichita has now grown into a movement that has raised more than $1.1 billion to support individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
In addition to this resolution, I have written a letter to President Trump recommending that he award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Chief Richard LaMunyon. His visionary leadership and remarkable contributions have changed the lives of millions, proving that a single spark of local initiative can light the way for the world.
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 316262-8992 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.
