Sen. Sam Brownback continues his streak of rampant news-making around the world…Commentary & News Briefs (third item): “Conservatives are applauding the appointment of two pro-life senators to the Senate Judiciary Committee,” reports AgapePress.com. “Gary Bauer of the Campaign for Working Families says with the addition of Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) to the Senate committee, conservative values will be well-defended. ‘I am thrilled by their appointment,’ Bauer says in his daily newsletter. ‘Dr. Coburn an obstetrician] is one of the most effective advocates for the sanctity of life, and Sam Brownback has been a tireless leader on many issues on concern to pro-family conservatives.'” More comment from other conservatives.[Stacking the Dreck: Brownback’s appointment to the Judiciary Committee is being greeted less warmly at SaveRoe.com, a pro-choice blog apparently affiliated with Planned Parenthood. “Brownback hasn’t met an anti-abortion bill he doesn’t love, and Coburn wants abortion providers to get the death penalty,” the unnamed bloggers write. “The next session of Congress was already set to be a nonstop brawl over our most fundamental civil rights. Now we know the judiciary committee will be but a weigh station on the track to strict constructionism.”U.S. Senator Condemns Chinese Embassy’s “Abuse” of Power: Brownback sent a letter to the Chinese Embassy criticizing Chinese efforts to forcibly return North Korean refugees to their home country, according to Chosun.com. “The U.S. senator added in his letter that the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors did nothing to extend or protect the basic human rights of North Korean residents and that he hoped China would comply with international human rights laws.”U.S.:Soaring Deficit, Crises, Menace Overseas Food Aid: Brownback has drafted a letter urging the Bush Administration to keep budgetary promises of overseas food aid, according to AllAfrica.com.Pat Roberts links Senate Realigns Intelligence Procedures: Sen. Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, will oversee a panel that is much changed since the passage of intelligence reform, according to The Washington Post. “Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), the chairman and vice chairman of the intelligence panel, have said they want to maintain a nonpartisan staff, and a senior staff member this week said, ‘They plan to ask members to make professional staff appointments.'”How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation here.