On June 17, ANFP Government Affairs Committee Chair Barbara Thomsen, CDM,CFPP, and Washington Representative Craig Brightup participated in a virtual event for U.S. Representative Roger Marshall (R), from the 1st Congressional District in Kansas.  Thomsen and Brightup participated in connection with a $500 contribution from the association’s political action committee, ANFP-PAC, to Marshall’s primary campaign (Republican) for the U.S. Senate seat from Kansas. 

Rep. Marshall is a doctor and ANFP has worked with him since he was elected to the U.S. House in 2016 (also with ANFP-PAC support).  His interest in food and nutrition led him to form the House’s bipartisan “Food is Medicine Working Group,” which ANFP briefed in 2018.  

On Feb. 8, 2020, Rep. Marshall saluted “Pride in Foodservice Week” and “the nutrition and foodservice professionals for their hard work and dedication on the job.”  His official statement cited the CDM, CFPP credential and he recognized his constituent, former ANFP Chair Janice Hemel, CDM,CFPP, who is the Certified Dietary Manager at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS.    

The Kansas congressional primary will be held on August 4. If Marshall wins the Republican nomination there’s a strong likelihood he’ll go on to win the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R) in November.