Jerry Moran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Moran
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Official portrait, 2011
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| Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jon Tester |
| In office January 6, 2020 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Johnny Isakson |
| Succeeded by | Jon Tester |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jon Tester |
| Succeeded by | Richard Blumenthal |
| Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | John Cornyn |
| Succeeded by | Roger Wicker |
| United States Senator from Kansas |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2011 Serving with Roger Marshall
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| Preceded by | Sam Brownback |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Tim Huelskamp |
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 37th district |
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| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Norvell |
| Succeeded by | Larry D. Salmans |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gerald Wesley Moran
May 29, 1954 Great Bend, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Robba Addison
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Fort Hays State University University of Kansas (BS, JD) |
Gerald Wesley Moran (born May 29, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician. He is the U.S. Senator for Kansas. He has held this job since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Before becoming a U.S. Senator, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Kansas's 1st district. In 2021, he became the most experienced senator from Kansas.
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Early Life and Education
Jerry Moran was born in Great Bend, Kansas. He grew up in Plainville, Kansas. He went to Fort Hays State University. Later, he studied at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1976, he earned a degree in economics.
While in college, he worked for U.S. Representative Keith Sebelius. After college, Moran worked as a banker. He then earned a law degree (called a Juris Doctor) from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1982. He worked as a lawyer for 15 years. He also served as a special assistant attorney general for Kansas. From 1987 to 1995, he was the deputy county attorney for Rooks County, Kansas. He also taught political science at Fort Hays State University.
Political Career
Kansas State Senate
Moran served in the Kansas Senate for eight years, from 1989 to 1997. During his last two years, he was the majority leader. This meant he was the main leader for his political party in the state senate.
U.S. House of Representatives
Moran was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996. He was reelected six times. He often won by a large number of votes.
While in the House, Moran held yearly town hall meetings. He visited all 69 counties in his district in Kansas. He still does this as a U.S. Senator, visiting all 105 counties in Kansas. He was also a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He worked on laws to help farms and ranches in Kansas. He also served on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
U.S. Senate
In 2010, Moran ran for the U.S. Senate. He won the Republican primary election against another representative, Todd Tiahrt. Then, he won the main election with 70% of the votes. He was reelected to the Senate in 2016 and 2022.
In 2012, Moran became the leader of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. This group helps elect Republican senators. Under his leadership, Republicans gained nine Senate seats in the 2014 elections. This gave them the majority in the Senate for the first time since 2006.
On January 5, 2021, Senator Moran said he would vote to confirm the 2020 presidential election results. The next day, on January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol. Moran tweeted that he strongly condemned the violence. He called it "completely unacceptable and unpatriotic."
Committee Work
Senators work in different committees to focus on specific topics. Here are some committees Senator Moran is currently part of:
- Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: This committee deals with things like transportation, science, and technology.
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee works on issues important to military veterans.
- Committee on Indian Affairs: This committee focuses on issues related to Native American tribes.
Political Views
Moran is known for having generally conservative political views.
Agriculture
Moran supports farmers and ranchers. He has worked on bills to help dairy farmers. He also supported a bill to make it easier for livestock haulers to transport animals safely.
Health Care
Moran did not support the Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare). He also voted against a Senate health care bill in 2017. He felt it did not go far enough to change the Affordable Care Act.
National Security
Moran has visited American troops in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. He has also been involved in discussions about U.S. foreign policy. He has voted on issues related to military actions and sanctions against other countries.
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Immigration
Moran has spoken about immigration policies. He criticized a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. from certain countries in 2017. He also voted against a national emergency declaration that would have funded border barriers.
Economy
Moran has supported bills to help American manufacturing. He also supports new businesses and startups. He has worked on laws to help small businesses get funding.
Education
Moran believes that public schools should be held accountable. He also thinks states should have flexibility in how they run their schools. He voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education in 2017.
Gun Policy
Moran supports policies that protect gun rights. He has an "A" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He has voted against stricter gun control measures. He believes that military bases should not be "gun-free zones."
Environment
Moran has generally voted against policies aimed at fighting climate change. He is a strong supporter of building the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Internet Issues
Moran opposed laws that would have limited internet freedom, like the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). He also voted to allow internet providers to share customer data without permission.
SafeSport
In 2022, Moran spoke about the United States Center for SafeSport. This organization investigates misconduct in sports. He said that many athletes he met did not trust SafeSport. He believes SafeSport needs to be more open about its work to protect young athletes.
Personal Life
Moran lived in Hays, Kansas for most of his political career. In 2012, he moved to Manhattan, Kansas. This move made it easier for him to travel to and from Kansas.
Moran volunteers with several community groups. He is involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He was also the honorary chair for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Kansas Special Olympics. Jerry Moran is married to Robba. They have two daughters, Kelsey and Alex.
Images for kids
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Jerry Moran (far right) assisting with a dinner at Fort Riley.
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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran talking with entrepreneurs about their startup competing at the 2013 South by Southwest Accelerator competition.
