“Invisible Wounds of War” is a recent mental health study that predicts increasing suicides, divorces, drug and alcohol abuse, and unemployment among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost to treat them could reach $6.2 billion in the next two years.

May 17 is Armed Forces Day. Millions of Americans will go about their daily business without seeing the day as different from any other. Many will read tributes to our servicemen and women in their newspapers. Some will thank our armed forces in their prayers or stop by an event at the Dole Regional Medical Center in Wichita. At McConnell Air Force Base, Air Force personnel will attend family activities planned for the day.

Perhaps the best way to observe Armed Forces Day is to write, phone or email the President and members of Congress who have not done all that needs to be done to help our mentally and emotionally wounded veterans. Tell them that Armed Forces Day is a good time to decide to do more for those who suffer the “invisible wounds of war.”

I am proud to be part of the group of south-central Kansas business, city, county and legislative leaders who worked to bring more aircraft jobs to Wichita. The incentive package the Kansas legislature passed and Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed into law April 23 will give Cessna $33 million for its new Citation Columbus assembly and will result in 1,000 high-paying jobs in Wichita.

Plenty of states would like to have our aviation industry. Cessna's incentive package is part of a $150 million pool of bond money to keep jobs in Kansas and lure others to come here. Cessna is a Wichita company and, thanks to the efforts of many, it will be a Wichita company for many more years to come.

Welcome to my new website! This is, of course, just the beginning. More features will be added throughout the months ahead so be sure to check back often.

Please browse the new site for information regarding the schedule of Betts for Congress events, media releases and issue positions.

To make this site more user-friendly, we’ve begun to provide links to downloadable flyers of my biography and issue papers. You can also sign up online to communicate with the campaign, register to volunteer and make secure online contributions.

Thanks,