Posted by Joel Mathis August 9, 2007 at 9:07 a.m.

Roberts wants more family and medical leave for injured soldiers

Here are today's headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Sen. Pat Roberts (R)![][1][(Manhattan Mercury) Amendment to boost military leave, care:][2] The U.S. Senate recently approved an amendment that would expand family and medical leave for soldiers injured in combat and their families. The amendment was passed as part of the State Child Health Insurance Plan reauthorization bill. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, is an original co-sponsor of the amendment. "It is only right to protect their jobs while they provide care or heal from wounds sustained in the defense of freedom," Roberts said in a prepared statement.Rep. Dennis Moore (D) ![][3][(InsuranceNews.net) AIA Commends Blue Dog Coalition On Creation Of Capital Markets Task Force :][4] Gov. Marc Racicot, president of the American Insurance Association (AIA), today issued a statement commending the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition on establishing an Innovation, Capital Markets, and Financial Services Task Force that is to be co-chaired by Rep. Tim Mahoney and Rep. Dennis Moore. The task force will be focused on improving and encouraging innovation and job growth through effective public/private partnerships and efficient regulation.Rep. Jerry Moran (R) ![][5][(Hays Daily News) Kansas representative Moran says health care is No. 1 issue:][6] Health care -- its accessibility and affordability -- is the No. 1 domestic issue facing the country, in the opinion of U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. With Congress in its August recess, Moran visited Hutchinson on Monday to address the Hutchinson Rotary Club and attend the ribbon-cutting at the new home for PrairieStar Health Center. The community health center serves the uninsured and underinsured. It acquired more space in July, as a result of its move to remodeled quarters at the Trade Center, 1600 North Lorraine. Moran, a Hays resident, said his congressional district contains 75 hospitals -- more hospitals than any other district in the country. Community health centers such as PrairieStar give the uninsured a better alternative than the hospital emergency room for receiving care.[(World Prout Assembly) U.S. House Members Express Concern that U.S. Aid being Used in Political Killings and Abductions:][7] In a letter dated August 1 sent to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, U.S. House members expressed concern over the unabated extrajudicial killings and abductions, the involvement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the probability that U.S. military aid is being used for these purposes. The letter, which was a rare display of bipartisan unity signed by 49 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, expressed their strong concern over the "ongoing human rights crisis in the Philippines" citing a number of "well-documented abductions and extrajudicial killings" and urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to exercise "strong and immediate leadership" to investigate and prosecute individuals and groups, including those in the AFP and PNP, who are responsible for the surge of extrajudicial killings and abductions, that continues to scar the Philippines. (Jerry Moran signed the letter.) [1]: http://roberts.senate.gov/Roberts-020405-18060-080-CFFflipped.jpg [2]: http://www.themercury.com/news/article.aspx?articleId=15993df503444648bbd0bda40ae3ba76 [3]: http://ljworld.com/specials/election04/primary/moore.jpg [4]: http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_pc&q=0&id=83439 [5]: http://ljworld.com/specials/kudole/bios/art/moran.jpg [6]: http://www.hdnews.net/Story/Moranvisit080807 [7]: http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2007/08/us_house_member.html