Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Sen. Pat Roberts (R)!(Wichita Eagle commentary) Absence not making hearts grow fonder of Brownback: Kansans pay attention to whether their senators are paying attention to them. … Meanwhile, Sen. Pat Roberts, who’s keeping a high profile in the state in advance of his 2008 re-election bid, has seen his disapproval rate improve from 42 percent last October to just 33 percent this month; his most recent approval rating is 54 percent.Rep. Dennis Moore (D) !(LJWorld.com) A push for patient control: U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore wants Americans to be able to carry around their personal medical records in a microchip-embedded credit card for easy, controllable access. The way he figures it, this kind of plastic actually could save big money. “If we were to implement something like this nationwide, we could save : more than $160 billion a year,” said Moore, D-Kan., who was in Lawrence on Wednesday for a Lawrence Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “That’s a lot of money.” But that’s only the beginning of Moore’s push to pass the Independent Health Record Trust Act, a bill that would establish a “modern, market-driven approach” to building a National Health Information Network – a collection of independent trusts to handle patients’ health records on a voluntary basis.Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) !(LJWorld.com) Boyda touts plan for teacher tax credit: Standing behind a desk covered with school supplies purchased by a second-grade teacher, U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., on Wednesday touted a plan to increase and make permanent a tax deduction for teachers. “If America allows off-shore tax shelters for billion-dollar corporations but doesn’t help teachers pay for school supplies, what does that say about our priorities?” Boyda asked. Boyda has co-sponsored legislation that would increase, expand and make permanent the teacher tax deduction. Currently, teachers can deduct up to $250 for personal funds they use to buy classroom supplies. But the deduction is scheduled to expire this year.(Topeka Capital-Journal) Coast Guard celebrates 25 years in Topeka: Members of the Coast Guard lined the rails in the atrium of the Frank Carlson Federal Building on Wednesday as they celebrated the 25th birthday of the Guard’s Personnel Service Center in Topeka. … The PSC has 300 active-duty Coast Guard members, reservists and civilians assigned to Topeka. From Topeka, the PSC issues paychecks and handles personnel queries for about 41,000 active-duty Coast Guard members and for 42,000 to 43,000 retired members, Papp said. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., said in remarks following the celebration that she intends to keep the PSC in Topeka. Boyda said she is concerned about a trend in the Department of Defense toward contracting services. “We don’t want to contract this out,” Boyda said.Rep. Jerry Moran (R) !(LJWorld.com) Meth labs down, but importation up: Authorities said Wednesday that the number of methamphetamine labs in Kansas has fallen drastically, but that has led to a hefty increase in imported meth. … “Unfortunately, when we have success in reducing the manufacturing of methamphetamine in our state, the demand is filled by importation, particularly from Mexico,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays. Moran and officials from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation held a news conference to announce a proposal before Congress that would provide $150,000 to stop imported meth, and $75,000 to purchase new bullet-proof vests for KBI agents. The funding has been approved by the House and will be considered by the Senate.Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R) !(Derby Reporter) Tiahrt to sponsor Atomic Vet bill: Rep. Todd Tiahrt has agreed to sponsor a bill on behalf of the Atomic Veteran recognition effort. The bill will be presented in Washington when the 110th Congress returns for its second session next month. The bill requests the President of the United States authorize the striking of a special U.S. Atomic Service Medal to honor Atomic Veterans. It would recognize those involved in the 235 nuclear atmospheric and underwater tests conducted from July 16, 1945 to 1962 that utilized 225,000 American service personnel of every branch of the service. These test site participants were utilized as test subjects in providing the answers for the scientists, researchers, and government policy makers on the unknowns and effects of ionizing radiation.