Sam Brownback links States play catch-up on stem cells: “In Congress, both sides in the stem cell debate are gearing up for battles next year,” reports USA Today. “Some bipartisan proposals would lift the restrictions Bush announced in August 2001, which limit federal financing to work with embryonic stem cell ‘lines,’ or colonies, that existed before his speech. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is sponsoring a bill that would criminalize an often-used lab technique called therapeutic cloning. The technique does not involve the reproductive cloning of human beings.”Breasts, butts…oh my! “In the home stretch of 2004, the Federal Communications Commission, the official enforcer of the nation’s anti-smut standards, has so far received more than a million complaints about public radio and television programming,” CNN reports. “Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback led a campaign throughout the year to raise the price of a decency violation ten-fold, to $500,000, and to hold for the first time entertainers individually liable for breaking the rules. Political wrangling killed the proposal in 2004, but it’s likely to be revived next year.”Brownback Urges General Worden for NASA Administrator: “U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today urged the Bush Administration to choose Brigadier General Simon P. Worden (USAF, Ret.) as the next head of NASA. Worden is a former legislative fellow in Brownback’s office,” reports SpaceRef.com. “General Worden would serve our nation strongly as NASA Administrator,” Brownback stated. “We are at a critical juncture in the agency’s history, when NASA is implementing the President’s vision for space, the shuttle is returning to flight and the agency is learning to work hand in hand with private enterprise. The agency needs an administrator with a strong background in scientific thought, practical application and the ability to get things done.”Senator to Ring Bells; Deliver Meals for Organizations: “Don’t be surprised if you see a member of Congress asking for money in Topeka Friday,” says Topeka’s WIBW. “That will be Senator Sam Brownback, and the money isn’t for him. The Republican will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the Topeka West Ridge Mall.”Pat Roberts links Bush Signs Bill to Reorganize Intelligence Gathering: “The new intelligence director will require Senate confirmation,” reports Bloomberg. “Leading candidates include White House homeland security adviser Frances Fargos Townsend and Sept. 11 commission member John Lehman, said Timothy Roemer, another member of the commission and former Democratic congressman from Indiana. Porter Goss, who was confirmed Sept. 22 as CIA director, isn’t in the running, said Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican who’s chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.”How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation here.