Congressman Jake LaTurner bids farewell after two terms

KANSAS — Congressman Jake LaTurner gives his final address to the U.S. House of Representatives.

LaTurner, a two-term congressman from southeast Kansas, did not seek reelection this fall, citing a desire to spend more time with family as a major reason for his decision.

Prior to being elected to Congress, the sixth-generation Kansan served as a district representative for former Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, a state senator, and as state treasurer.

In his final address, LaTurner offered advice to those who will continue on after he leaves office.

"We must be thrifty, strategic, and we must never outsource our sovereignty. But we still have a critical role. One small, but impactful example is preventing children from dying of starvation. Ready to Use Therapeutic Food, or RUTF, is an American-made, nutrient-dense paste that has saved millions of lives across the globe. The State and Foreign Operations subcommittee increased funding by $300 million while reducing overall spending by over 10%, and this body passed it. That increase should be realized. It is the right thing to do," said Rep. Jake LaTurner, (R)-Kansas.

LaTurner will be succeeded by former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who won the general election for the second district seat this past November.