{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"MO\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400304", "Blaine's Bulletin: End of the Year", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As we close out 2019, I always like to take a moment and reflect on the past year. With all of the headlines, endless news coverage, and last week's vote it would be easy to assume impeachment and the months-long investigations in search of any evidence to support it was the only thing that took place in Congress. And, truth be told, for some of my colleagues it was the only thing they cared to accomplish. However, that last year was filled with many ups and downs for Missourians both in Washington and here at home.\r\nOne very positive note is the continued economic success our country and state are experiencing. Unemployment has stayed at all-time lows while the Bureau of Economic Analysis recently announced wages have gone up by 5.34% compared to last year. In the summer U.S. job openings outnumbered available workers by the widest gap in history. And, the passage of the USMCA is expected to create 176,000 new jobs and add $68.2 billion in economic activity across the country.\r\nWhile rising tides lift all ships, the rising of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers earlier this year devastated communities across Missouri. The flooding decimated homes and farmland and prevented many farmers from planting their crops at all. In Mid-Missouri the floods came right on the heels of devastating tornados that injured our neighbors, flattened homes, and destroyed businesses. While Mother Nature reminded us that no economic momentum can stand in her way, the reaction to the disasters in the weeks and months that followed delivered the even more powerful message that at the worst of times we show the best of us. The outpouring of support, resources, and willingness to lend a hand was a testament to the true character of our community and one of my most heartwarming memories of the year.\r\nIn an extremely partisan and slow-moving Congress filled with frustrations, there were also several key victories for our area. Recently the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which financed over $300 million worth of Missouri exports in the last few years, was reauthorized for seven years, keeping foreign markets available to the numerous Missouri small businesses and workers who depend on that access. The House Financial Services Committee passed legislation to renew the National Flood Insurance Program that included several of my provisions to stop forcing Missourians to supplement coverage for wealthy coastal landowners and end taxpayer bailouts when the program's mismanagement leads to shortfalls. Numerous bills to combat the opioid crisis that is wreaking havoc across the country have passed the House along with my bill to stop the Department of Justice's Operation Choke Point, and the biggest pay raise for our troops in a decade.\r\nWhile there were too many politically-motivated theatrics and several missed opportunities throughout the year, we were still able to do some important work. Now that the House is finished with its part in the impeachment process, I look forward to the clean slate the new year brings and getting back to the business that matters to Missouri. As always, I'm proud to be your Congressman and look forward to a productive year working for you and your families in Congress. Happy New Year!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-excerpts-from-blunts-appearances-on-cnns-state-of-the-union-and-cbss-face-the-nation", "VIDEO: Excerpts from Blunt\u2019s Appearances on CNN\u2019s State of the Union and CBS\u2019s Face the Nation", "2019-12-22", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) appeared on CNN's State of the Union with Dana Bash and CBS's Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. Blunt slammed House Democrats' politically-driven impeachment effort and discussed next steps in the Republican-led Senate.   Click Here to Watch Blunt's CNN Interview Following Are Excerpts From Blunt's CNN Interview: BASH:So, as you well know, the standoff right now is that the speaker is holding the articles of impeachment at the House until the parameters of the trial are done. \"The Wall Street Journal\" editorial board said that the Senate should and even could hold a trial even if they don't get the articles. You're the chair of the Rules Committee. Is that possible? Have you even looked into that? BLUNT:You know, I don't know that that's possible. I think it's very unlikely. I, frankly, don't think the speaker has the right to do this or the power to do this. The speaker has a lot of power. But once the House has spoken, the speaker doesn't get the decision as to whether or not she transmits that decision to the Senate, in my view. I think we will have this all handled by the time we get back in January. I'm sure everybody is beginning to figure out how to present their case. Frankly, I think it's a mistake on the speaker's part. I think this has looked pretty political anyway, and this is sort of the icing on the political cake, where, at the end, the speaker still can't let go of this as an issue to try to wring the last vestige of politics out of.  BLUNT:Well, based on what I know right now, I just don't think they made the case. I don't think they came close to making the case. And this is called a trial because there was really in the Constitution, I think, no better thing to call it. But it's a very political process. Five of the so-called jurors running for president, not a single Republican in the House convinced that they should vote for either the articles of impeachment, and a couple of Democrats convinced that they shouldn't vote for the article of impeachment. So, it's not a classic -- I was talking to a federal judge one day this week, and he said, how could you call this really a trial -- he was a federal judge for a decade or more -- where half of the jurors can overrule what the judge decides that ought to happen next? It's not a trial in any classic sense. It is a political decision to do it. And, at the end of the day, every single member of the Senate has considerations that are pretty obvious.  Click Here to Watch Blunt's CBS Interview: Following Are Excerpts From Blunt's CBS Interview: BRENNAN:This time Democrats are arguing the trial needs to be fair, and that includes the certainty of hearing from witnesses. How can you have a credible trial without that? BLUNT: Well, every one of the Democrats that were in the Senate the last time that are here now voted against witnesses the last time. So, this is you know, this is a political process, no matter how you describe it. You can call it a trial, but it's a trial where half of the jurors can decide that the chief justice is wrong and we're going to go in a different direction. It is a political process. It always has been. It always will be. One of my concerns, Margaret, is that in a hundred- the first hundred and eighty years of the history of the country, we went to presidential impeachment exactly one time. And here in the last 46 years, we've gone to it three times and never with a result that removed a president  BRENNAN:Right. BLUNT:because of the impeachment itself. And I think it's a mistake to take this lightly or to act like you can send a half-baked case over to the Senate. And then it's the Senate's job to try to figure out how to do what you didn't do.  BLUNT:And there may be a time when we decide that witnesses are essential, but the witnesses that the House didn't call would have the same privilege in the Senate that they had in the House. I think the House sending over a very vague two charges to the Senate and then assuming it's the Senate's job to try to make something out of that takes a process we're already taking too lightly, impeachment three times in 46 years, and taking it even more lightly. The world we live in now is more certain, more likely than not, that a president will always have a house, at some point in their presidency, controlled by the other party. A majority of that -- of the other party can send articles of impeachment over. I think we need to be sure that we set a standard where they have to make sense before they're sent over, not leave it up to the Senate to try to make sense out of a case that the House says they clearly made.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400303", "Blaines Bulletin: Christmas", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. The lights, the tree, the music, the cookies  everything about this season is cheerful. Spirits are higher, people are more hopeful, and there is a general sense of excitement that comes around Christmas time. Children are anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival, adults embrace the season of giving and charity, and all across our state Missourians are wondering if we'll have a white Christmas.\r\nEvery Christmas season, I look forward to spending time with my family. This year we'll have a house full of sisters, brothers, cousins, and all six grandchildren. I'm looking forward to the holiday chaos and to Santa Claus visiting our house -- there are few more joyful sights than a child's face on Christmas morning.\r\nWhile gift giving and traditions are parts of Christmas we all look forward to, it's important that we remember the reason for the season. It's easy to get caught up in the Christmas chaos, but what we are truly celebrating is the birth of Jesus Christ. God sent his son to earth to teach us, guide us, and ultimately die for us  giving us the gift of eternal life. It can sometimes seem like Americans are just concerned with giving the latest and greatest gifts, but if you look a little bit closer you will see that love, charity, and hope  all pillars of our Christian faith  remain very much part of the American Christmas tradition.\r\nIt is especially important to think about the men and women in our military who are deployed and unable to share this holiday season with their families. This is the time of year when we all want to embrace treasured Christmas traditions with our loved ones. But many of our troops and their families will be spending this Christmas half a world apart. As always -- but especially during the Christmas season -- we pray for the safety of our troops and for the families who are missing them at home.\r\nThe holiday season brings out the best in Missourians. From the Jaycees Candyland Christmas Parade in Jefferson City, to the incredible decorations at the Governor's mansion, to the St. Charles Christmas Traditions Festival, our state really gets in the spirit. Missouri is also home to some of the most generous people you could ever hope to meet. In the season of giving, it is always heartwarming to see our communities come together not just to exchange gifts, but to remember those less fortunate. I'm so grateful to live in a place where there is such an importance placed on community all year round, but especially at this special time of year.\r\nOn behalf of my family, we wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/we-passed-usmca", "We Passed the USMCA!", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "384 days ago, President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a 21st century trade deal that puts America first and provides American businesses, American farmers, and American workers with a level playing field. After more than a year of delay, the House finally approved the USMCA and I was proud to support it. It's about time we got this deal done. The USMCA is a much better deal than NAFTAand an overwhelming majority of Republicans and Democrats agree on that. When President Trump announced that he secured a new, better trade deal to replace NAFTA, we knew it could pass with bipartisan support. The USMCA is a major step forward for American workers. It is expected to help create 176,000 new American jobsincluding 76,000 new jobs in the automotive sector. More than that, this deal levels the playing field for workers and will help keep American jobs in America for generations to come. The USMCA is also a great deal for American farmers. Under the new terms, Canada agreed to scrap unfair trade restrictions on American dairy, wheat, chicken, eggs, and turkey. This opens a key new market for American farmersa new market that's right next door. The USMCA is a real win for American businesses too. It's estimated to generate more than $68 billion in new economic activity. The USMCA establishes stronger enforcement measures, a big improvement over NAFTA, which will help ensure American businesses aren't getting cheated by foreign competitors. I strongly supported USMCA because it's a clear win for North Missouri and all of America. It's a great deal, and I'm glad we were finally able to get it done.\nSincerely,\n  \n\tSam Graves", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-and-cardin-secure-new-markets-tax-credit-extension", "Blunt & Cardin Secure New Markets Tax Credit Extension", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) announced the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program has been extended for one year with a $1.5 billion allocation increase, bringing the total authorization to $5 billion for FY2020, in legislation headed to the president's desk. The NMTC program promotes investments in underserved communities by providing a 39 percent federal tax credit over seven years for businesses or economic development projects in areas with poverty rates of at least 20 percent, or median incomes at or below 80 percent. The New Markets Tax Credit program has played an important role in attracting new investment to communities across the state, Blunt said. The program has benefited at least 345 Missouri businesses and economic revitalization projects, bringing in a total of $3.9 billion in new investments. I will continue working with my colleagues to permanently extend this program, a critical tool in boosting economic development in areas where it is needed most. I am pleased that Congress not only extended the New Markets Tax Credit for another year, but also expanded the funding of this highly successful program, Cardin said. The New Markets Tax Credit has broad bipartisan support in Congress because of its demonstrated ability to drive investment in some of the most vulnerable communities in the country. In Maryland, the program has been integral to many community development projects, from an affordable housing project in Baltimore to a multicultural center for low-income families in Langley Park. I look forward to continue working with Senator Blunt to make the New Markets Tax Credit permanent to spur investment and economic development in underserved communities for years to come. Earlier this year, Blunt and Cardin introduced legislation that would permanently authorize the program. The NMTC was originally authorized in 2000 as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act. Direct NMTC investments have generated more than 1,000,000 jobs and $90 billion in capital from other sources, all of which was invested in communities with high poverty and unemployment rates.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-klobuchar-gardner-cortez-masto-bill-to-promote-tourism-boost-jobs-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Blunt, Klobuchar, Gardner, Cortez Masto Bill to Promote Tourism, Boost Jobs Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.), Amy\r\nKlobuchar (Minn.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.)\r\nannounced that their legislation to reauthorize Brand USA passed the Senate and\r\nis on its way to the president's desk. Brand USA is a public-private\r\npartnership that enhances tourism across the country by promoting international\r\ntravel to the United States. Missouri's tourism industry supports more than\r\n300,000 jobs and contributes billions of dollars to our economy, said Blunt.\r\nReauthorizing Brand USA will help ensure we remain competitive in the\r\ninternational tourism industry, and will bring even more visitors to\r\nattractions, restaurants, and hotels in Missouri and across the nation. Tourism is an important aspect of Minnesota's\r\neconomy and the beauty and wilderness of our state has attracted visitors from\r\naround the world for decades, said Klobuchar. The spending agreement will\r\nhelp ensure that Brand USA can fulfill its mission of encouraging travelers\r\nfrom around the world to visit Minnesota. Reauthorization of Brand USA is exciting news for\r\nColorado's tourism industry, which has exploded in growth as more than 80\r\nmillion visitors each year travel to ski our world-class resorts, enjoy the\r\ngreat outdoors, and experience the real American West, said Gardner. Colorado\r\nshines as one of the nation's top-ten most visited states, with direct flights\r\nto Denver International Airport from countries like Canada, Japan, the United\r\nKingdom, and Germany. This bill will boost further tourism by strengthening the\r\nBrand USA program, which is the promotion agency for U.S. tourism and operates\r\nat no cost to the U.S. taxpayer. I look forward to seeing this legislation\r\nsigned into law and helping grow the U.S. tourism industry, which generates\r\nmore than $20 billion in annual spending in Colorado. Brand USA has a proven\r\ntrack record of boosting international tourism and creating good-paying jobs in\r\nNevada, said Cortez Masto. Restoring long-term funding to this program, at no\r\ncost to the taxpayer, ensures we're doing everything possible to support the\r\nhundreds of thousands of Nevadans who work in the tourism and hospitality\r\nindustries. I'm pleased by the passage of the Brand USA reauthorization, and\r\nI'll continue fighting to grow the Silver State's tourism industry and support\r\nthe families and communities who rely on it. \"Brand USA provides incredibly positive\r\nimpact on the U.S. economy and jobs base at no cost to the taxpayer, and the\r\nlawmakers who championed its reauthorization deserve tremendous credit for\r\nsmart and effective policymaking,\" said U.S. Travel Association President\r\nand CEO Roger Dow. \"Brand USA is not only proven to boost the country's\r\nability to tap into the lucrative international travel market, but it is\r\nexplicitly tasked with driving that value into every corner of the country.\r\nCongratulations to the measure's cosponsors for getting this outstanding\r\nprogram renewed before the end of this year, which will enable Brand USA to\r\nmaximize its value for the American people. Since 2013, Brand USA has brought 6.6 million\r\nincremental international visitors to the United States, generating a total\r\neconomic impact of nearly $48 billion and supporting an average of around\r\n52,000 jobs annually. International visitors are some of the most lucrative drivers\r\nof economic activity, spending an average of $4,200 per person, per trip when\r\nvisiting the U.S. In 2018, Brand USA generated $4.1 billion in incremental\r\nvisitor spending, resulting in a marketing return on investment of 32:1.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe program has been a proven success in boosting\r\ntourism to the United States and driving economic growth. Brand USA is funded\r\nby international visitors and private contributions  not U.S. taxpayers. Half\r\nof its budget comes from the private sector through cash and in-kind contributions.\r\nThe rest of the budget  up to a maximum of $100 million  is funded by a\r\nnominal fee assessed on visa-free international visitors screened by the U.S.\r\nDepartment of Homeland Security's Electronic System for Travel Authorization.\r\nAmounts collected in excess of the cap are returned to the U.S. Treasury to\r\nhelp reduce the deficit.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-blunt-and-coons-reps-pascrell_rutherfords-national-law-enforcement-museum-commemorative-coin-act-headed-to-presidents-desk", "Sens. Blunt & Coons, Reps. Pascrell & Rutherford\u2019s National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act Headed to President\u2019s Desk", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Chris Coons (Del.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell (N.J.) and John Rutherford (Fla.), co-chairs of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, announced that their National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act is on its way to the president's desk. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the Treasury Department to mint coins to commemorate the opening of the National Law Enforcement Museum. The museum is dedicated to highlighting and honoring past, present, and future law enforcement officers. We owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who keep our communities safe, said Blunt. This commemorative coin will help celebrate and honor law enforcement officers and their families. I hope more Americans will visit the museum and gain a deeper appreciation for the countless sacrifices law enforcement officers make every day. As a co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, I'm proud this bill garnered widespread bipartisan support and look forward to seeing it signed into law. The women and men of law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, said Coons. I was proud to work with my colleagues to pass the National Law Enforcement Commemorative Coin Act to recognize the achievements and sacrifices of law enforcement from Delaware and across the country. After we passed our bulletproof vest legislation into law last year, we're continuing our commitment to law enforcement with the passage of this bill, said Pascrell. I thank my fellow Law Enforcement Caucus co-chair, Rep. John Rutherford, for his efforts to move this bipartisan bill forward. Our legislation extends our shared gratitude for the protectors of our communities and honors the National Law Enforcement Museum, a monument to our nation's men and women in uniform. God bless them. By passing this bill, we help tell the story of our law enforcement officers and the work they do on a daily basis to keep our communities safe, said Rutherford. Thank you to Senator Blunt and Senator Coons for their leadership in the Senate and to Congressman Pascrell, my fellow co-chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, for working with me to introduce and pass this bill in the House. I now look forward to President Trump signing this important measure into law, so the National Law Enforcement Museum and our officers around the country can receive the recognition and support they so deserve. The coin comes at no cost to taxpayers and the Treasury Department will be reimbursed for the costs of issuing the coins. Proceeds from the coin will support the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's educational and outreach programs. The museum opened last year and is located in Washington, D.C. The bill is supported by many of the nation's top law enforcement advocacy groups, including the Concerns of Police Survivors, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the International Union of Police Associations, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Black Police Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs' Association, the National Troopers Coalition, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Police Foundation, the Police Unity Tour, and the United Federation of Police Officers. In addition to Blunt and Coons, the bill is cosponsored by 68 senators; in addition to Pascrell and Rutherford, the bill is cosponsored by 303 representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400302", "Luetkemeyer: USMCA is a Major Win for Missouri", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luetkemeyer: USMCA is a Major Win for Missouri \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 19, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) released to the following statement after House passage of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA).\r\nThere are over 234,000 jobs in Missouri that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, and thanks to USMCA, U.S. agriculture and food exports will increase by at least $2 billion each year. This is a major victory for Missouri farmers, manufacturers and small businesses, said Congressman Luetkemeyer. This bill is also an example of the success that can be achieved when Congress actually works with the Administration. Instead of blindly attacking the President as usual, I'm pleased Democrats finally decided to embrace the critical trade deal he negotiated for the betterment of all Americans. \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/graves-celebrates-house-passage-usmca", "Graves Celebrates House Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Following passage today of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\nToday's approval of theUSMCAis a huge victory for America and I was proud to support it. After more than a year of delay by Speaker Pelosi, we were finally able to get this common-sense trade agreement approved. President Trump promised to get a much better trade deal with Canada and Mexico and he kept his promise. This agreement is a good deal for the American farmer, the American worker and the American family. I'm glad we finally got this done. It's a big win for the American people.\n\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-celebrates-house-passage-usmca", "Graves Celebrates House Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Following passage today of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\n\n\"Today's approval of the USMCA is a huge victory for America and I was proud to support it. After more than a year of delay by Speaker Pelosi, we were finally able to get this common-sense trade agreement approved. President Trump promised to get a much better trade deal with Canada and Mexico and he kept his promise. This agreement is a good deal for the American farmer, the American worker and the American family. I'm glad we finally got this done. It's a big win for the American people.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-supports-us-mexico-canada-agreement", "Hartzler Supports U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler issued the following statement in support of today's vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):\nToday, I am pleased to finally vote for USMCA. This agreement, which has been held up for well over a year, is a win for Missourians and a win for all Americans, bringing 176,000 new jobs to the U.S. and spurring over $60 billion in new economic activity, Hartzler said.\nAt a time when many of our exporting businesses are facing uncertainty, the USMCA will expand access to critical markets in both Mexico and Canada. Our closest neighborspurchase more U.S.-made goods than our next 10 trading partners combined. The USMCA will further foster this continental relationship, ensuring afuture of long-term growth for American businesses.\nAgriculture is our number one industry in Missouri. The USMCA is a big win for our farmers and ranchers by solidifying beneficial trade arrangements with Mexico and breaking down current trade barriers with Canada. For example, Canada will allow more of our dairy products into their country and begin to fairly grade our wheat exports. Increasing trade with these important partners will bring millions in new revenue to rural America while creating additional well-paying jobs in Missouri and throughout our country.\nThe USMCA will not only help American farmers, but it will also be a powerful tool in the national economic expansion we have experienced under the Trump administration. America's small businesses, which create two-thirds of all new jobs in the United States and represent most American export companies, will be immensely benefited by the expanded markets and protections developed in the USMCA. For Missouri's 6,008 exporting companies, 85 percent of which are small- and medium-sized businesses with less than 500 workers, this agreement means increased opportunities for product markets, benefiting both producers and consumers.\nThis agreement includes safeguards that will make it easier for small mom-and-pop businesses to search, register, and protect intellectual property through new and stronger protections for patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. These new safeguards will protect American workers from being undermined by foreign companies and help level the playing field in the global market.\nThe USMCA also has stronger labor provisions than NAFTA, protecting American workers from being undercut by cheap foreign labor. The agreement also addresses a range of issues rarely addressed in NAFTA, such as regulations on digital trade and a chapter dedicated to small businesses.\nWhen the original transcontinental agreement was signed, the concept of e-commerce (the tool that revolutionized direct-to-consumer business and opened the market to small and locally owned businesses) was still an idea of the future. Now more than ever, small businesses in Missouri and across the country rely on the internet and e-commerce to advertise and sell their products. The USMCA delves into these areas never discussed in the NAFTA and creates opportunities for consumers across the global to experience products made in Missouri, by Missourians.\nThe American manufacturing sector will also be boosted greatly by the USMCA. This industry alone represents an enormous portion of Missouri's state economy, with nearly 252,600 American manufacturing employees calling Missouri home.\nAll in all, this agreement moves our existing trading relationship with Mexico and Canada into the 21st century. As the only Missourian on the House Agriculture Committee, I have been committed to ensuring the benefits of this monumental agreement are extended to all hardworking Americans as soon as possible. We owe it to our producers and consumers to take the lead and reaffirm our commitment to productive and mutually beneficial trade with our two closest neighbors.\nOne of the President's priorities was to deliver an improved, stronger version of the North American Free Trade Agreement and I congratulate him on doing so. We're one step closer in making the USMCA a reality, and I remain confident that the USMCA will pass both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-announces-missouri-priorities-included-in-defense-and-military-construction-funding-bills", "Blunt Announces Missouri Priorities Included in Defense & Military Construction Funding Bills", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on\r\nDefense, today announced that several key Missouri and national defense\r\npriorities were included in the FY2020 funding bills for defense and military\r\nconstruction. Both bills passed as part of a larger government funding package that is headed to the president's desk. Congress's top priority is making sure our nation's\r\nmilitary has the resources and support it needs to keep America safe, said Blunt. By providing the largest\r\npay raise in a decade, we are helping to fulfill our obligation to honor those\r\nwho serve. We're also making critical investments in equipment, training, and\r\nresearch to ensure our men and women in uniform have every advantage when\r\nthey're sent into harm's way. The measures also includes resources to support\r\nthe important role of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Missouri's military installations in the\r\ndefense of our nation. Following Are Key\r\nBlunt-Backed Missouri and National Defense Priorities Included in the Defense and Military Construction Funding Legislation:  Military Pay Raise:\r\nThe legislation provides a military pay raise of 3.1%, the largest increase for\r\nservice members in a decade.  Fort Leonard Wood:\r\nThe bill includes $50 million in additional funding for further construction of\r\na new hospital at Fort Leonard Wood, which will replace the current General\r\nLeonard Wood Army Community Hospital. The bill also provides $10 million in additional\r\nresearch funding to improve soldier lethality to directly benefit the training\r\nat Fort Leonard Wood.  National Guard:\r\nThe bill provides $12 million for the construction of a National Guard\r\nReadiness Center in Springfield, Mo.  NGA St. Louis:\r\nThe bill provides full funding of $218.8 million for further construction of\r\nthe new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) West headquarters in\r\nNorth St. Louis, Mo. The bill also provides $20 million that can be used for\r\nthe construction of a secure, modern, and collaborative facility to support the\r\nrapidly evolving geospatial intelligence mission in St. Louis. In November,\r\nBlunt attended\r\nthe ground breaking ceremony and has long led efforts to ensure the NGA West\r\nfacility remains in Missouri.  Rosecrans Air\r\nNational Guard Base: The legislation provides an additional $134 million in\r\nfunding for C-130 modernization, such as propellers and engines, to meet Air\r\nNational Guard intra-theater airlift mobility requirements. The bill also\r\nincludes $9.5 million for construction of a new C-130 Flight Simulator\r\nFacility. Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is the nation's premier Air\r\nNational Guard training center for Advanced Airlift Tactical Training.  Whiteman Air Force\r\nBase: The measure provides robust resources for the B-2 program and the\r\nA-10 wing replacement program. In addition, the bill provides nearly $3 billion\r\nin research funding for the B-21, a next generation Air Force bomber that is\r\ncurrently under development. In March, the U.S. Air Force announced\r\nthat Whiteman Air Force Base will be the second base to receive the B-21\r\nbomber, which will replace the B-2 beginning in the mid-2030's. The bill also\r\nprovides $27 million for construction of a Consolidated Vehicle Operations and\r\nMaintenance Facility. Last year, Blunt sent a letter\r\nto then-Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson in support of this project.  \r\n  F-15EX: The\r\nbill includes funding for 8 F-15EX aircraft, which are manufactured in St. Louis,\r\nMo., to meet the U.S. Air Force's air superiority needs.  Super Hornets:\r\nThe legislation provides funding for 24 Super Hornets, which are manufactured\r\nin St. Louis, Mo., to meet the U.S. Navy's tactical aviation shortfall. The\r\nlegislation also includes $52 million in additional funding to fulfill one of\r\nthe U.S. Navy's top unfunded requests for Super Hornet spare engines to improve\r\nmission readiness.    Defense Community\r\nInfrastructure Pilot Program (DCIP): The measure includes $50 million in\r\nfunding for DCIP infrastructure projects that could benefit military\r\ninstallations like Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman, to improve the quality of\r\nlife for service members and their families as well as base resiliency.    Lake City Army\r\nAmmunition Plant: The measure includes full funding for Army industrial\r\nfacilities. Blunt has long championed additional funding, including over $177\r\nmillion in additional funding in the past, to provide critical support to\r\nmodernize facilities like Lake City Army Ammunition Plant near Independence,\r\nMo.    U.S. Navy MQ-25:\r\nThe bill provides robust funding for the U.S. Navy MQ-25 program. Last year,\r\nthe U.S. Navy awarded\r\nBoeing the contract for the MQ-25, an unmanned aircraft that would embark on a\r\ncarrier to conduct aerial refueling. Boeing subsequently announced that the\r\nMQ-25 will be built in St. Louis.    U.S. Air Force T-7:\r\nThe legislation includes strong funding for the U.S. Air Force T-7 program. The\r\nT-7 trainer, which was designed in St. Louis and will be built\r\nthere, is a two-seat trainer aircraft that would replace the decades-old T-38\r\ntrainer currently in use by the U.S. Air Force.  Research\r\nInvestments: The measure provides research funding for the Army, Navy, Air\r\nForce, and Department of Defense. This funding will support research and\r\ndevelopment initiatives at the University of Missouri, Missouri State\r\nUniversity, and among defense industry leaders across the state. The bill also\r\nprovides increased funding to continue groundbreaking medical research, which\r\nwill save lives, reduce disability, and decrease the economic burden of\r\ntraumatic injury.  Impact Aid: The\r\nbill includes $70 million in additional funding for Impact Aid assistance to\r\nbenefit Whiteman and Fort Leonard Wood area schools. Department of Defense\r\nSupplemental Impact Aid Assistance is critical to local school districts\r\nimpacted by the presence of federally-owned land.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-backed-funding-bills-prioritize-resources-for-missouri-law-enforcement-first-responders", "Blunt-Backed Funding Bills Prioritize Resources for Missouri Law Enforcement, First Responders", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \r\nToday, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations\r\nCommittee, announced several Missouri priorities he worked to include in the\r\nfollowing FY2020 funding bills: Homeland Security; Commerce, Justice, Science\r\nand Related Agencies; and Financial Services and General Government. The bill has passed the Senate and is headed to the president's desk. This legislation provides vital resources for programs that\r\nsupport the brave men and women who work tirelessly to keep our communities\r\nsafe, said Blunt. We're investing\r\nin grant programs that help fire departments in areas across the state purchase\r\nequipment, conduct training, and hire personnel. We're also providing\r\nadditional funding for the Victims of Child Abuse Act, ensuring Children's\r\nAdvocacy Centers and law enforcement have the tools they need to coordinate the\r\ninvestigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. The opioid\r\ncrisis continues to devastate towns and cities across the state, and this bill\r\nincludes resources for a grant program for drug courts, which help people get\r\nthe treatment and support they need. To help stem the flow of illegal drugs\r\ninto our communities, this bill provides funding for an innovative program that\r\nimproves coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement to\r\nbetter combat major drug-trafficking organizations. In a tight fiscal\r\nenvironment, these are all areas where smart, targeted federal investment goes\r\na long way toward supporting state and local agencies and the important work\r\nthey do. Following are the\r\nMissouri priorities included in the funding bills: Homeland Security:  Staffing for Adequate\r\nFire and Emergency Response Program (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters\r\nGrants (AFG): The bill provides $355 million each for the SAFER and AFG\r\nprograms, $5 million above FY2019 levels. The SAFER program provides funding to\r\nhire firefighters, and the AFG program provides equipment to firefighters. This\r\nyear, and in previous years, Blunt sent a letter to the Homeland Security\r\nAppropriations Subcommittee advocating for the SAFER and AFG programs.  Nonprofit Security\r\nGrant Program: The legislation provides $665 million for Urban Area\r\nSecurity Initiative grants, including $50 million for nonprofit organizations.\r\nBlunt is a longtime supporter of the Nonprofit Security Grant program, which\r\nprovides financial support to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a\r\nterrorist attack, such as synagogues and cultural centers, for physical\r\nsecurity enhancements.  Federal Emergency\r\nManagement Agency (FEMA): The measure includes $22.3 billion for FEMA,\r\nincluding $17.8 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund. The bill includes strong\r\nsupport for state and local first responders and emergency management\r\npersonnel, providing a total of $2.9 billion for these grant and training\r\nprograms. Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies:  Victims of Child\r\nAbuse Program: The legislation provides $27 million for the Victims of\r\nChild Abuse program, a $4.5 million increase over FY2019. Blunt's bipartisan legislation\r\nto reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) was signed into law in\r\n2018. The bill provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve\r\nchild abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable.  Court Appointed\r\nSpecial Advocates (CASA): The legislation provides $12 million for the CASA\r\nprogram, which provides competent, court-appointed community volunteers to\r\nadvocate on behalf of abused and neglected children.  Regional\r\nInnovation: The bill provides $33 million, a $9.5 million increase from\r\nlast year's level, for the Regional Innovation program, which provides\r\noperational support for local innovators and entrepreneurs to commercialize new\r\nideas and technologies. The grants, administered by the Economic Development\r\nAdministration, help translate innovative ideas into local job growth.   Regional\r\nInformation Sharing System Program (RISS): The RISS program, which includes\r\nthe Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center based in Springfield, Mo.,\r\nand in operation in nine states, is funded at $38 million, a $1 million\r\nincrease over last year's funding level. RISS allows law enforcement agencies\r\nacross the country to successfully resolve criminal investigations, apprehend\r\nand prosecute offenders, and ensure officer and public safety.  Justice and Mental\r\nHealth Collaboration Program (JMHCP): The bill provides $33 million for\r\nJMHCP, a $2 million increase over FY2019. JMHCP is designed to increase public\r\nsafety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile\r\njustice, and mental health and substance abuse treatment systems. Grants can be\r\nused for a broad range of activities, including specialized law\r\nenforcement-based programs, mental health courts, and crisis intervention\r\nteams.  Drug Courts\r\nDiscretionary Grant Program: The legislation includes $80 million for the\r\ndrug courts discretionary grant program, a $3 million increase over FY2019.\r\nDrug courts have been on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and have become\r\nimportant resources for law enforcement and other community stakeholders\r\naffected by opioid addiction.  Manufacturing\r\nExtension Partnership (MEP): The bill provides $146 million, a $6 million\r\nincrease, for MEP. MEP is a public-private partnership operated by the National\r\nInstitute of Standards and Technology in collaboration with centers in all 50\r\nstates. MEP serves as a bridge to other organizations and federal research labs\r\nfocused on enhancing the manufacturing community. Missouri Enterprise in Rolla\r\nis part of the MEP program. Financial Services and General Government:  Drug-Free\r\nCommunities Program: The legislation provides more than $101 million for\r\nthe Drug-Free Communities Program, an increase of over $1 million. This program\r\nhelps fund community-based coalitions that work to prevent youth substance use.  High Intensity Drug\r\nTrafficking Areas Program (HIDTA): The bill includes $285 million for the\r\nBlunt-backed HIDTA program, an $5 million increase over FY2019. HIDTA is an\r\neffective and innovative initiative that provides critical assistance to\r\nfederal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in combatting major\r\ndrug-trafficking organizations across the country. Midwest HIDTA is located in\r\nKansas City, Mo. and supports HIDTA law enforcement initiatives in six states.  Harry S Truman\r\nScholarship Foundation: The legislation provides more than $1.6 million for\r\nthe Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. The Harry S Truman Scholarship\r\nFoundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the sole federal memorial to\r\nPresident Truman supporting graduate education for young people committed to\r\ncareers in public service.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-highlights-missouri-ag-infrastructure-priorities-in-fy2020-legislative-package", "Blunt Highlights Missouri Ag, Infrastructure Priorities in FY2020 Legislative Package", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \r\nToday, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Appropriations Committee,\r\nannounced that several Missouri priorities were included in the following\r\nFY2020 funding bills: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies;\r\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related\r\nAgencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Transportation,\r\nHousing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. The bill has passed the Senate and is headed to the president's desk. The funding measures make critical investments in two of my\r\ntop priorities: strengthening our transportation networks and enhancing\r\neconomic opportunities for Missouri farm families, said Blunt. Missouri is a national transportation hub, and\r\nlocation is our greatest competitive advantage. That's why I'm pleased that\r\nresources in this bill will go toward programs that have played an important\r\nrole in helping our state improve roads, bridges, airports, and other critical\r\ninfrastructure. Agriculture is a top economic driver in our state, and this\r\nbill supports our farmers and ranchers by increasing resources for rural\r\nbroadband and ag research. I'll continue advocating for resources that will\r\nbetter position our state to take advantage of the great economic opportunities\r\ntoday and in the years ahead. Following are the\r\nMissouri priorities included in the legislation: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies: Agricultural Research:The bill provides $3.2 billion to support agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This investment will support research, education, and extension activities at the University of Missouri, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Lincoln University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ARS facility in Columbia, Mo. o Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: The bill includes $425 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, a $10 million increase over FY2019. o Policy Research Centers: The legislation provides $8 million for policy research cooperative agreements, an increase of $3 million over FY2019. This investment will assist with the analysis of national and international projections of agricultural markets and the rural economy. o Building and Facilities: The measure includes $25 million for the construction of a new plant bioscience lab at the University of Missouri. o NIFA and Economic Research Service (ERS): The legislation does not include any U.S. House of Representatives riders to prevent the relocation of NIFA and ERS to Kansas City, Mo. In November, Blunt joined Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in welcoming U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to Missouri to tour the new site for ERS and NIFA. In a Kansas City Starop-ed, Blunt highlighted the benefits of relocating ERS and NIFA to Kansas City. o Livestock Genetic Research: The bill includes $1.5 million for ARS to conduct livestock genetic research. Farm Service Agency (FSA):The legislation includes more than $1 billion for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs that Missouri farmers and ranchers rely upon. The bill also prohibits the closure of FSA county offices. Natural Resources Conservation Service:The bill provides $830 million for conservation operations and technical assistance, an increase of $10 million over FY2019, to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land. o Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program: The measure includes $175 million for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program, a $25 million increase from FY2019. Additionally, the bill includes $5.6 million for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project, which will provide water to rural communities. Disaster Assistance:The bill redirects disaster relief funds that are set to expire at the end of the calendar year to assist agricultural producers who have been affected by natural disasters, including drought, excessive moisture, and quality losses of crops, in 2018 and 2019. Rural Development:The legislation provides over $3.1 billion for Rural Development programs and activities, including infrastructure, community development, rural housing, and water programs. o Rural Broadband: The bill includes $550 million for the ReConnect Pilot Program. The program targets areas that currently lack access to broadband and includes provisions that prevent overbuilding existing infrastructure. The bill also includes $50 million for Distance Learning/Telemedicine and Broadband grants that will help expand access to modern, high-speed internet services in rural areas. Blunt has led efforts to end the digital divide that has left about one-third of rural Missourians without access to broadband. o Water and Electric Infrastructure: The measure includes nearly $1.5 billion for rural water and waste program loans, $443 million for water and waste grants, and over $6.9 billion for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans. Food & Drug Administration:The bill includes $5 million for Animal Feed Ingredient Reviews at the Center for Veterinary Medicine. Secure Rural Schools:The legislation includes a two year extension of the Secure Rural School program. Public schools and localities in 29 Missouri counties receive critical support from the program to fund vital education and infrastructure projects. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies: Federal Highway Administration:The legislation includes $1 billion for roads, tunnels, and bridges through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, which has funded critical infrastructure projects in Missouri including the Rocheport Bridge. The bill includes $46.3 billion in obligation limitation from the Highway Trust Fund for the Federal Highways Program, consistent with the FAST Act. In addition, the bill includes $2.2 billion in discretionary appropriations for highway programs, of which $781 million is for the Surface Transportation Block Grant program, and $1.15 billion is for bridge repair and rehabilitation. U.S. Maritime Administration:The legislation includes $9 million for the Marine Highway Grant Program, which helps states like Missouri maximize the efficiency of waterborne transportation. Also, the bill includes language allowing inland ports to be eligible for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. BUILD Grants:The measure includes $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants, previously known as TIGER Grants. This program has also funded critical infrastructure projects in Missouri, including the Rocheport Bridge, the Buck O'Neil Bridge in Kansas City, the port loop track terminal at the SEMOPort, the South Main Corridor Improvement Project in Maryville, the new rail industrial park in Sedalia, and the Bella Vista Bypass in McDonald County. This program has also funded the replacement of the Champ ClarkBridge over the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Mo., and the replacement of the Route 47 Bridge over the Missouri River in Washington, Mo. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):The legislation provides $17.6 billion in total budgetary resources for the FAA, fully funding all air traffic control personnel and providing increased funding for aviation safety personnel. Contract Towers:The measure fully funds the contract tower program at $170 million. There are five airports in the state that depend on the contract tower program, including Joplin, Columbia, Branson, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph. Essential Air Service:The bill fully funds the Essential Air Service program at $162 million. The Essential Air Service program provides resources to small and rural airports to ensure that travelers can connect with larger airports. The Essential Air Service provides support for airports in Cape Girardeau, Waynesville-St. Robert, Joplin, and Kirksville. Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies:  U.S. Army Corps of\r\nEngineers: The legislation provides more than $7.6 billion for the Army\r\nCorps of Engineers, which is $651 million above the FY2019 enacted level. The\r\nfunding will support vital flood control and navigation projects across\r\nMissouri and the nation.  Navigation and\r\nEcosystem Sustainability Program (NESP): The bill includes language that\r\nadvances the NESP, which authorizes the modernization of seven locks and dams\r\non the Upper Mississippi River.  Missouri River Bank\r\nStabilization and Navigation Program: The legislation provides $10.5\r\nmillion for operation and maintenance work activities, including critical\r\nstructure maintenance for navigation.  Inland Waterways\r\nTrust Fund: The bill includes $131 million for the Inland Waterways Trust\r\nFund. The bill also ensures the resources inland navigation operators put into\r\nthe Inland Waterways Trust Fund are used for construction and modernization of\r\nour nation's locks and dams.  Mississippi River\r\nand Tributaries Project: The legislation includes $375 million for the\r\nMississippi River and Tributaries Project, providing vital funding for the\r\nCorps to fulfill its flood control and navigation missions.  Delta Regional\r\nAuthority (DRA): The bill provides $30 million for the DRA with a focus on\r\ninfrastructure development in rural areas, including $15 million for flood\r\ncontrol, public infrastructure, and transportation improvements. The DRA\r\nprovides infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development assistance to 29\r\ncounties in Southeast Missouri.  Small Ports:\r\nThe legislation includes $65 million for the dredging of small ports, including\r\nthose in Missouri located on the Mississippi River.  Kansas City\r\nNational Security Campus: The bill provides $760 million for the Weapons\r\nActivities account at the National Nuclear Security Administration, an increase\r\nof $224 million above FY2019 funding levels. This funding is essential to the\r\noperation of the Kansas City National Security Campus, and will help ensure the\r\nsafety, security, reliability, and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear\r\nweapons stockpile.  Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:  National Park\r\nService (NPS): The measure provides nearly $2.6 billion for the operation\r\nof the National Park System, which is almost $74 million above the FY2019\r\nenacted level. In addition, the bill includes more than $2.2 million in\r\ndedicated funding for new responsibilities at existing parks and newly\r\nauthorized park units in the NPS, including the Ste. Genevieve National\r\nHistorical Park. In March 2018, Blunt's legislation to establish the Ste.\r\nGenevieve National Historical Park and designate it as a unit of the NPS was\r\nsigned into law.  Water\r\nInfrastructure: The bill includes more than $2.7 billion for the Clean\r\nWater and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan funds, which help states and\r\nlocalities improve water infrastructure.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife\r\nService (FWS): The legislation provides more than $1.6 billion for the FWS,\r\nwhich is $65 million above the FY2019 enacted level. The bill includes\r\nimportant program increases including $46 million for the North American\r\nWetlands Conservation Act, $25 million for combatting invasive species like\r\nAsian Carp, and $7 million for the Recovery Challenge Grant Program.   400 Years of\r\nAfrican-American History Commission: The bill includes a Blunt-backed\r\nprovision that clarifies the use of federal funds provided to the 400 Years of\r\nAfrican-American History Commission.  Preserving\r\nAmerica's Battlefields Act: The bill includes Blunt-backed legislation that\r\nencourages the preservation and protection of nationally significant\r\nbattlefields, including those that were part of the Civil War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-highlights-priorities-in-senate-passed-health-education-and-labor-funding-bill", "Blunt Highlights Priorities in Senate-Passed Health, Education, and Labor Funding Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,\r\nHealth and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), today\r\npraised Senate passage of the fiscal year 2020 Labor/HHS appropriations bill.\r\nThe bill includes several national and Missouri priorities, including the fifth\r\nconsecutive increase for the National Institutes of Health and additional\r\nresources to combat the opioid epidemic, support high-quality early childhood\r\ncare and education, promote college affordability and completion, and\r\nstrengthen America's workforce. The bill is now headed to the president's desk. This bill funds a wide range of programs that have one\r\nthing in common: improving the quality of life for every American, said Blunt. The $2.6 billion increase\r\nfor NIH marks more than a 38% increase over the past five years, paving the way\r\nfor new medical advances that are giving hope to millions of families. The bill\r\nalso focuses on giving every American the opportunity to be successful in\r\nwhatever educational or career path they choose. This year, the bill begins a\r\nnew initiative to ensure that high-school age kids have the ability to pursue a\r\nfull-range of post-secondary options  whether it's attending a four-year\r\nuniversity, a community college, or entering an apprenticeship program. We have\r\nalso, for a third year in a row, increased the maximum Pell Grant award and\r\ncontinued eligibility for Year-Round Pell, and increased investments in core\r\nelementary and secondary education programs. This bill reflects numerous\r\npriorities that have had broad support on both sides of the aisle and I look\r\nforward to seeing it signed into law. The bill also includes resources to prevent waste, fraud,\r\nabuse, and improper payments in the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid\r\nprograms, saving taxpayers billions over the next decade. Key Priorities\r\nFunded in the Labor/HHS Bill: Supporting Groundbreaking Medical Research and Expanding Access to\r\nHealth Care Services, Including Mental and Behavioral Health Care:  National Institutes\r\nof Health (NIH): The bill includes a $2.6 billion increase for the NIH.\r\nSince Blunt became chairman of the Labor/HHS subcommittee in the FY2016\r\nappropriations cycle, NIH funding has increased by $11.6 billion, or 38.6%.\r\nMissouri institutions received $640.5 million in NIH funding in FY2019. From\r\n2015-2019, NIH funding to Missouri institutions increased by $168.9 million.\r\nMore details here.  \r\n  Ending the HIV\r\nEpidemic: The bill includes $295 million, an increase of $245 million, to\r\nsupport the President's HIV initiative and other high priority HIV efforts to\r\nreduce the number of new HIV infections by 90% in 10 years. The majority of\r\nthese resources will be targeted to 48 counties and seven states, including\r\nMissouri, for prevention, diagnoses, research, and response activities.  \r\n  Opioid Epidemic:\r\nThe bill continues $3.8 billion to combat the opioid epidemic. Funds are\r\ntargeted toward improving treatment and prevention efforts; finding alternative\r\npain medications; workforce needs, especially in our rural communities; and\r\ntreating behavioral health. Importantly, the bill gives states flexibility to\r\nuse State Opioid Response grants on stimulants. Under Blunt's leadership,\r\nfunding for health-related opioid programs has increased by $3.6 billion.  Mental Health:\r\nAs a critical part of both combating opioid use disorder and ensuring safety in\r\nour schools and communities, the bill provides $3.9 billion, a $328 million\r\nincrease, for mental health research, treatment, and prevention, including:  o Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: The bill provides\r\n$200 million, an increase of $50 million, for Certified Community Behavioral\r\nHealth Clinics. In 2018, Blunt targeted funding to community clinics that\r\nprovide a comprehensive approach to mental health care treatment. To date,\r\nMissouri clinics have received $12 million in funds from this program. Blunt\r\nhas led efforts to expand access to mental health care, including through his Excellence\r\nIn Mental Health Act, which created a pilot program in Missouri and seven\r\nother states to advance progress toward treating mental health like all other\r\nhealth; o Project AWARE: The bill provides $102 million, a $31 million\r\nincrease, for this program that supports coordination between schools and State\r\nMental Health Agencies to increase awareness of mental health among school-aged\r\nyouth, train school personnel on detecting and responding to mental health\r\nissues, and connect school-aged youth and their families with needed\r\nservices;  o Mental Health Awareness Training: The bill provides $23 million, an\r\nincrease of $2 million, for Mental Health Awareness Training in which Missouri\r\nwas one of the first adopters; o Suicide Prevention Programs: The bill provides $90 million, an\r\nincrease of $16 million, to support the suicide lifeline and grants to help\r\nidentify and help those at risk of suicide; o Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training: The bill\r\nprovides $105 million, an increase of $30 million, to support new and existing\r\nworkforce training programs, including $26.7 million to establish the Mental\r\nand Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Workforce Training Demonstration for grants to\r\ntrain professionals to provide SUD and mental health treatment and $10 million\r\nfor peer support specialists and other types of behavioral health-related\r\nparaprofessionals. o Pediatric Mental Health Access Grants: The bill provides $10\r\nmillion for Pediatric Mental Health Access Grants to expand access to\r\nbehavioral health services in pediatric primary care settings; o National Institute of Mental Health: The bill provides $2 billion\r\nfor mental health research at the National Institutes of Health, an increase of\r\n$161.7 million.  Community Health\r\nCenters: The bill provides $1.63 billion for Community Health Centers. As\r\nco-chair of the Community Health Center caucus, Blunt has introduced legislation\r\nto reauthorize and increase mandatory funding for the program. There are more\r\nthan 260 sites in Missouri, with Missouri health centers receiving over $100\r\nmillion in federal grant funding to serve a total of 585,000 patients a year.\r\nAdditionally, Community Health Centers received a five-month extension of their\r\nmandatory funding as part of the bill.  Medical Student\r\nEducation: The bill provides $50 million, an increase of $25 million, for\r\nMedical Student Education funding for states with highest projected physician\r\nshortages in 2025. Missouri is one of eight eligible states. Funding includes\r\n$15 million for supplemental grants to 2019 grantees, including the University\r\nof Missouri, and $35 million to fund the remaining 2019 applicants.  Rural Health:\r\n$318.3 million for Rural Health Care programs. The obstacles faced by patients\r\nand providers in rural communities are unique and often differ greatly from\r\nthose in urban areas. The bill focuses resources toward efforts and programs to\r\nhelp rural communities, including: o Opioid Response: $110 million to support treatment for and\r\nprevention of substance use disorders, with a focus on rural communities at the\r\nhighest risk for substance use disorder; o Telehealth: $29 million, an increase of $4.5 million, to expand the\r\nuse of telecommunications technologies within rural areas that can link rural\r\nhealth providers and patients with specialists; and o Delta States Network Rural Development Network Grant: $22 million,\r\nan increase of $2 million, to continue a program to help underserved rural\r\ncommunities in the Delta identify and better address their health care needs.\r\nThis includes $10 million for the Delta Region Community Health Systems\r\nDevelopment (DRCHSD) program, which started under Blunt's chairmanship, to help\r\nsmall rural hospitals improve their financial and operational stability.\r\nMadison Medical Center in Fredericktown, Mo., was selected to participate\r\nin the DRCHSD program in August 2019; Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital in\r\nHayti, Mo., and Iron County Hospital in Pilot Knob, Mo., have participated\r\nin the in the program since December 2017.  Children's\r\nHospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME): The bill provides $340\r\nmillion, a $15 million increase, for the CHGME program. The program protects\r\nchildren's access to high quality medical care by providing freestanding\r\nchildren's hospitals with funding to support the training of pediatric\r\nproviders. In Missouri, Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and St. Louis\r\nChildren's Hospital in St. Louis both receive approximately $6 million a year\r\neach in funding from this program. This funding level represents an increase of\r\n$75 million for CHGME under Blunt's chairmanship the last four years, or 20\r\npercent. Supporting Education from Early Childhood through Career: Early Childhood Care\r\nand Education:  Head Start: The\r\nbill provides $10.6 billion, an increase of $550 million, for Head Start. This\r\nincludes funding to help all Head Start programs keep up with rising costs,\r\nmaintain enrollment, and continue to provide high-quality services for children\r\nand families. In 2018, Missouri Head Start programs received more than $167\r\nmillion to serve 15,000 children and their families. The increase includes: o $250 million in new funding for\r\nall Head Start programs targeted at improving trauma-informed care practices to\r\naddress adverse childhood experiences, including those related to substance use\r\ndisorders; o $100 million to expand Early Head\r\nStart, which serves children and families from\r\nbefore birth to age three, including partnerships with child care providers\r\nto leverage investments in child care and improve the quality of those\r\nprograms.  Child Care and\r\nDevelopment Block Grant (CCDBG): The bill provides $5.8 billion, an\r\nincrease of $550 million, for CCDBG. This funding will help ensure and improve\r\nthe safety and quality of child care programs, including increasing provider\r\npayment rates, and expand working families' access to high-quality child care.\r\nMissouri receives over $95 million from CCDBG annually, and an additional $56\r\nmillion from related mandatory programs. Blunt previously highlighted the\r\nimportance of CCDBG during\r\na roundtable discussion led by Ivanka Trump in Kansas City.    Preschool\r\nDevelopment Grants: The bill provides $275 million, an increase of $25\r\nmillion, to help improve the coordination of existing early childhood programs\r\nfor children from birth to five. Missouri received a $6.5 million planning\r\ngrant in January 2019. Elementary and\r\nSecondary Education:  Individuals with\r\nDisabilities Education Act (IDEA): The bill provides $13.6 billion, an\r\nincrease of $410 million, to support the educational needs of students with\r\ndisabilities. Missouri received approximately $254 million from these programs\r\nfor the 2019-2020 school year.  Title I Grants to\r\nLocal Educational Agencies: The bill provides $16.3 billion, an increase of\r\n$450 million, for grants to school districts to help all children meet\r\nchallenging state academic standards. Missouri received approximately $249\r\nmillion in Title I funding for the 2019-2020 school year to support schools\r\nwith a significant number or percentage of students from low-income families.  Title II Supporting\r\nEffective Instruction State Grants: The bill provides $2.1 billion, an\r\nincrease of $76 million, to support teacher professional development.  Impact Aid: The\r\nbill provides $1.5 billion, an increase of $40 million, for Impact Aid.\r\nMissouri school districts receive approximately $26 million annually to help\r\ncompensate for the presence of federal activities and land, including lost\r\nrevenue.  STEM and Computer\r\nScience Education: The bill provides $65 million, an increase of $5\r\nmillion, in targeted STEM and computer science education funding, including\r\nsupporting STEM/CSE teachers. Higher Education:  Pell Grants:\r\nFor the third year in a row, the bill increases the maximum Pell Grant award,\r\nproviding an increase of $150 or 2.4%, for the 2020-21 school year, from $6,195\r\nto $6,345. Approximately 90,000 students receive over $350 million in Pell\r\nGrant funding to attend Missouri colleges and universities. In 2018, Blunt successfully\r\nled efforts to restore funding for year-round Pell Grants.  Campus-Based\r\nStudent Aid Programs: The bill provides $865 million, an increase of $25\r\nmillion, for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and $1.2 billion, an\r\nincrease of $50 million, for Federal Work Study. These programs provide\r\nflexibility for colleges and universities to design financial aid packages to\r\nbest meet their students' needs.  TRIO: The bill\r\nprovides $1.1 billion, an increase of $30 million, for the TRIO program to help\r\nlow-income and first generation students get into college and succeed when they\r\nare there.           Preparing America's\r\nWorkforce:  Career Pathways\r\nInitiative: Too many students leave high school without a clear\r\nunderstanding of the full range of post-secondary options, from apprenticeship\r\nprograms to advanced degrees, that can lead to good, high-paying careers.\r\nCreating these connections for students beginning when they are high school-age\r\ncan be critical to improving educational and employment outcomes. The bill\r\nprovides $20 million to establish new initiatives at the Departments of Labor\r\nand Education: o $10 million for a new initiative\r\nto help school districts, institutions of higher education, and area CTE\r\nschools implement a wide-range of activities, such as aligning curriculums with\r\nacademic standards and occupational licensing and credentialing, and providing\r\ndirect services to students, with the goal of improving pathways for students\r\nbeginning in high school that can lead to the full-range of post-secondary\r\ncollege and career options. o $10 million for a new youth\r\ncareer pathways demonstration program at the Department of Labor to improve\r\nworkforce readiness, employment and training opportunities, and provide early\r\nexposure to multiple career pathways.  Apprenticeship\r\nProgram: The bill includes a $15 million increase for the Apprenticeship\r\nprogram, bringing the overall funding level to $175 million. That marks an $85\r\nmillion increase since Congress began funding this program in FY2016. Blunt has\r\nadvocated\r\nfor increased apprenticeship opportunities to close the skills gap.  Veterans Employment\r\nand Training (VETS): The bill provides $311.3 million, an $11.3 million\r\nincrease, for VETS. VETS provides intensive employment services to veterans and\r\neligible spouses, transitioning service members, and disabled veterans. This\r\nincreased funding will support veterans in the transition assistance program as\r\nthey move into the civilian workforce, and allow the Department of Labor to implement\r\nreforms required by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act and assist\r\nmilitary spouses in addressing occupational and credentialing barriers.  HIRE Vets Medallion\r\nProgram: The bill continues to provide resources to carry out the HIRE\r\nVets Act, a bill authored by Sen. Blunt which established a tiered\r\nrecognition program within the Department of Labor to award employers based on\r\ntheir contributions to veteran employment. In November, the department\r\nannounced that seven Missouri employers received HIRE Vets Medallion Program\r\nAwards.  Rural Workforce\r\nTraining Initiative: The bill provides $30 million in continued funding for\r\nthe dislocated worker training initiative, Workforce Opportunity for Rural\r\nCommunities, to provide reemployment and training assistance to dislocated\r\nworkers in rural areas of the country hit hardest by the recession and\r\nrecovering more slowly. Funding is\r\ndevoted to training those who have lost their jobs in the Appalachian and Delta\r\nregions to ensure they can adapt existing skills and learn new skills demanded\r\nby other growing industries and return to work as soon as possible.  Strengthening\r\nCommunity Colleges Initiative: The bill provides $40 million for a new\r\ninitiative to better align workforce development needs for in-demand industries\r\nwith post-secondary education.  Workforce Training\r\nGrants: The bill includes $2.8 billion in grants to states, an increase of\r\n$30 million. These funds are distributed by formula to states and localities to\r\nmeet each state's unique workforce training and development needs. Missouri\r\nreceived $38.2 million in training and employment services grants in 2019.  Youth Workforce\r\nTraining: The bill increases funding for several other programs to provide\r\nat-risk youth with the opportunity to gain educational and occupations skills:      o Youth Grants to States: $913 million, an increase of $9.7\r\nmillion; o YouthBuild: $94.5 million, an\r\nincrease of $5 million. Missouri has\r\nfour current YouthBuild grantees located in Columbia, St. Joseph, and St.\r\nLouis; and o Job Corps: $1.7 billion, an\r\nincrease of $25 million. Missouri has\r\nthree Job Corps centers located in Excelsior Springs, Puxico, and St. Louis. Reducing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars:  Reemployment\r\nServices and Eligibility Assessments: $175 million to conduct enhanced,\r\nin-person assessments to accelerate the reemployment of Unemployment\r\nCompensation recipients in order to reduce the duration of their time receiving\r\nbenefits and the likelihood of exhausting benefit coverage. These actions would\r\nalso help protect the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund by\r\nreducing improper payments. This program has been shown to save $2.60 for every\r\n$1.00 spent.  Health Care Fraud\r\nand Abuse Control (HCFAC): $786 million is provided by utilizing the cap\r\nadjustment provided in the Budget Control Act. For every $1 spent on HCFAC, $2\r\nis recovered by the U.S. Treasury. This will create over $10.2 billion in\r\nsavings to the Treasury over 10 years.  Preventing Social\r\nSecurity Disability Fraud, Abuse, and Improper Payments: $1.6 billion is\r\nprovided to support periodic reviews to ensure that individuals receiving\r\nSocial Security disability benefits are still eligible under program rules.\r\nThis funding is estimated to save approximately $9.6 billion over 10 years for\r\nthe Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. Other highlights of the bill include:  Child Welfare and\r\nChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Programs: The bill includes $90\r\nmillion, an increase of $5 million, for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment\r\nState Grants and $56 million, an increase of $16 million, for Community Based\r\nChild Abuse Prevention Grants. In addition, the bill includes funding to accelerate\r\nreview of programs and interventions potentially eligible for mandatory funding\r\nto leverage those resources to prevent children from entering the foster care\r\nsystem.  Family Violence and\r\nPrevention Services: The bill includes $175 million, an increase of $10.5\r\nmillion, for domestic violence shelters and services, and $12 million, an\r\nincrease of $2 million, for the national domestic violence hotline.  Low Income Home\r\nEnergy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): $3.7 billion, an increase of $50\r\nmillion, for home heating and cooling assistance for low-income households.\r\nMissouri receives approximately $80 million which provides home energy\r\nassistance to approximately 124,000 households.  Corporation for\r\nNational and Community Service: $1.1 billion, an increase of $20 million,\r\nincluding $428.5 million for AmeriCorps grants, an increase of $3.5 million,\r\nand $221 million for Senior Corps, an increase of $13 million, including\r\nfunding to increase the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Program\r\nstipends.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-statement-on-renewable-fuel-standard-final-rule", "Blunt Statement on Renewable Fuel Standard Final Rule", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today after the\r\nEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Renewable Fuel Standard\r\n(RFS) supplemental rule:\r\n The Trump administration needs to live up to the commitments it made to\r\nMissouri farmers and the biofuels sector. In\r\nthe wake of historic flooding and months of market instability, it's important\r\nfor growers to be certain that EPA will uphold the 15 billion gallon\r\nblended fuel target. This rule falls short by ignoring industry recommendations\r\nfor how EPA should fully account for small refinery exemptions moving forward.\r\n\r\n There are six ethanol plants in Missouri that produce nearly 300 million\r\ngallons of ethanol annually. Missouri is the second largest state nationwide\r\nwith regard to biodiesel production.\r\n\r\n Blunt continued, I've heard a lot of skepticism from Missouri growers about\r\nwhat this rulemaking will mean for them and the future of the biofuels\r\nindustry. The Trump administration has an important opportunity to make it\r\nclear that agency decisions moving forward will maintain the integrity of the\r\nRFS.It's an issue I'll be watching very closely and I'll continue working\r\nwith my colleagues to ensure EPA is held accountable.\r\n \r\n\r\nBlunt has repeatedly advocated for policies to promote a strong biofuels\r\nindustry.In November, he joined five other Midwest senators in sending a letter to EPA urging the\r\nadministration to take corrective action in its RFS rulemaking to uphold the\r\nagreement reached between President Trump and Midwest senators on September 12,\r\n2019. Blunt also submitted comments to EPA expressing\r\nconcerns about the manner in which the agency planned to calculate the\r\nreallocation of biofuel gallons due to exemptions for oil refineries. \r\n\r\n In August 2018, Blunt led a bipartisan group of 35 senators in a letter to EPA urging the agency to increase volume obligations for\r\nbiomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel and ensure any small refiner economic\r\nhardship exemptions are appropriately accounted for in its final rule for the\r\nRFS. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIn\r\nOctober 2018, Blunt commended the administration for\r\nmoving to allow 15 percent ethanol blends (E15) to be sold year round. Blunt had\r\npreviously advocated for the move in a letter to EPA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-praises-passage-bill-curb-robocalls", "Senator Hawley Praises Passage of Bill to Curb Robocalls", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today the United States Senate unanimously passed the conference report of the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED) Act, sending the bill to President Trump's desk. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is a cosponsor of the TRACED Act, which will crack down on the illegal robocalls that inundate Missourians every day. The final version of the legislation includes a proposal from Senator Hawley and Senator Susan Collins that will make it easier to prosecute criminal robocallers by extending the statute of limitations for illegal spoofing.\nCriminal robocallers have been hounding and ripping off Missourians for far too long, said Senator Hawley. This legislation will help block illegal robocalls and hold these fraudsters accountable.\n Background \n \n\tIn recent years, scammers have flooded the U.S. telecommunications network with robocalls. In 2018, there were nearly 50,000 complaints to then-Attorney General Hawley's office about illegal telemarking calls, topping the list of consumer complaints for that year.\n\tThe TRACED Act, originally introduced by Senator John Thune and Senator Ed Markey, takes aim at this epidemic by increasing civil forfeiture penalties on illegal robocallers, eliminating restrictions on regulators, and requiring that voice service providers adopt new call authentication technology to verify incoming calls at no cost to the consumer.\n \n Senator Hawley's Provision \n \n\tIn July 2019, Senator Hawley joined Senator Susan Collins and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing the Anti-Spoofing Penalties Modernization Act of 2019. This legislation would crack down on illegal spoofing, a tactic often used by robocallers to trick victims into answering phone calls by manipulating Caller ID data. Like Senator Hawley's bill, the final conference report of the TRACED Act includes a provision to extend the statute of limitations for illegal spoofing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-statement-house-impeachment-vote", "Senator Hawley Statement on House Impeachment Vote", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) issued the following statement after the House approved articles of impeachment against President Trump:\n \n\"With last night's vote, House Democrats have earned a place in history for the worst abuse of the impeachment process ever perpetrated. They have ignored due process, ignored House procedures, and ignored the evidence on their way to adopting the first impeachment articles against a president in history that do not even bother to allege a crime. With a bipartisan coalition voting against impeachment, now they are threatening not to hold a trial. They have harmed the country and disgraced both themselves and the House with their rabidly partisan crusade, and the voters should reward them accordingly in November.\"\nSenator Josh Hawley", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sino-british-joint-declaration-anniversary-hawley-leads-bipartisan-letter-urging-un-raise-issue", "On Sino-British Joint Declaration Anniversary, Hawley Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging U.N. to Raise Issue of China\u2019s Human Rights Violations", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) today sent a letter with his colleagues to United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, urging him to raise the issue of China's violations of human rights and its destruction of its documentary record in both his discussions with member states and at the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Security Council. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also signed onto the letter.\nThe letter comes on the anniversary of the Dec. 19, 1984 signing of the Sino-British Joint Declarationa bilateral agreement that was registered at the U.N. which defined the terms of the \"one country, two systems\" principle that would protect Hong Kong's autonomy as it transferred from British to Chinese authority.\nThe Senators' letter today states \"China's actions in Hong Kong are consistent with its actions in other parts of the region and its treatment of those within its borders who may hold different beliefs from those of the Communist Party of China. Its detention camps in Xinjiang holding nearly a million Uyghur Muslims reflect China's true ambitions.\"\nThey continue, \"We the undersigned urge you to work with both member states and with the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Security Council to take meaningful steps to condemn China's operation of its detention camps in Xinjiang and to protect the documentary record of what is taking place in Xinjiang. Your actions on this matter will be a testament to the United Nations' important mandate of protecting human rights wherever they are threatened.\"\nLast month violence at PolyU Hong Kong drew international attention, leading Senator Hawley to suggest China was in violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Shortly after Senator Hawley called on U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft to consider options at the U.N to hold Beijing accountable for treaty and human rights violations in Hong Kong.\nThe letter sent today is available here and below.\n  \nDecember 19, 2019\nThe Honorable Antnio Guterres\nSecretary-General of the United Nations\nUnited Nations Headquarters\nNew York, NY 10017\nDear Mr. Secretary-General:\nThirty-five years ago today the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China signed the Joint Declaration - a bilateral agreement that was registered at the United Nations which defined the terms of the \"one country, two systems\" principle that would protect Hong Kong's autonomy as it transferred from British to Chinese authority in 1997. In the decades since, and in particular during both the Umbrella movement in 2014, the unraveling of the Legislative Council elections in 2016, and over the last six months, Beijing has systematically violated core aspects of Hong Kong's autonomy, from violently silencing demonstrators to interfering in local elections to imposing on Hong Kong's judicial independence. Simply put, China has repeatedly demonstrated cavalier disregard for its treaty commitments, including those registered at the United Nations.\nChina's actions in Hong Kong are consistent with its actions in other parts of the region and its treatment of those within its borders who may hold different beliefs from those of the Communist Party of China. Its detention camps in Xinjiang holding nearly a million Uyghur Muslims reflect China's true ambitions. Last month, over 400 pages of leaked internal documents published in The New York Times revealed harrowing examples of how Chinese officials issued guidance for surveillance and population control, including requiring that Chinese bureaucrats threaten that students' behavior could impact their relatives' detention, and that their parents' faith is a \"virus' in their thinking\" which requires that authorities \"show absolutely no mercy.\"\nThis week, in response to The New York Times report about these documents, Chinese authorities reportedly began a campaign to systematically destroy all documentation related to its internment camps in Xinjiang. According to The Associated Press, Chinese officials were reportedly instructed to \"burn paper forms containing sensitive personal details on residents in their area, such as their detention status, and for various state offices to throw away computers, tighten management of classified information, and ensure all information related to the camps is now stored on databases disconnected from the internet in special, restricted access rooms to bar hackers.\"\nMr. Secretary-General, when asked about the detention camps in Xinjiang earlier this year you rightfully insisted that \"it is necessary for human rights to be respected,\" and that \"it is very important to act in a way that each community feels that their identity is respected and that they belong, at the same time, to the society as a whole.\" The United States and twenty-two countries at the United Nations came together to push for holding China accountable for its actions in Xinjiang.\nMr. Secretary-General, as representatives of the U.N.'s principal founding member and largest contributor, we the undersigned urge actions by the United Nations to hold China accountable for its human rights violations. Specifically, we ask that you work with both member states and with the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Security Council to take meaningful steps to condemn China's operation of its detention camps in Xinjiang and to protect the documentary record of what is taking place in Xinjiang. Your actions on this matter will be a testament to the United Nations' important mandate of protecting human rights wherever they are threatened.\nIf you take these actions we stand ready to work with you to ensure China's ruthless disregard for international norms and basic liberties will have consequences.\nSincerely,\nJosh Hawley\nJohn Cornyn\nMarco Rubio\nRick Scott\nThom Tillis\nEdward J. Markey\nTed Cruz\nTodd Young\nCC:\nThe Honorable Ambassador Kelly Craft, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400301", "Luetkemeyer on Impeachment: This Wasnt an Investigation. This Was a Political Crusade.", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) released the following statement after voting in opposition of the articles of impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.\r\nAs Speaker Pelosi stated herself, this has been a two-and-a half year process with the sole mission of overturning the 2016 election results. Democrats' obsession with impeachment has rendered them completely incapable of governing and brought this Congress to a standstill, said Congressman Luetkemeyer. House Democrats have spent the last several months staging well-rehearsed hearings where the charges were drawn up by a focus group. Democrat donors served as witnesses and Democrat staff served as judge and jury. This wasn't an investigation. This was a political crusade. House Democrats have achieved nothing more than a massive political divide in America and long-lasting damage to our democracy.\r\nCongressman Luetkemeyer's impeachment debate remarks as delivered:\r\nMadam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this political charade that has tormented our country for nearly three years.\r\nIf there was ever any doubt that this entire illegitimate investigation is 100 percent politically motivated, earlier this month, Speaker Pelosi actually admitted the impeachment process began two and half years ago.\r\nLet me say that again -- the Speaker of the House said publicly that Democrats have been trying to remove our President from office since the day he got elected simply because it was not the outcome they wanted.\r\nAnother of my Democrat colleagues publicly admitted in May that the driving force behind their actions was and I quote, if we don't impeach the President, he will get reelected.\r\nThis wasn't an investigation, Madame Speaker. This was a political crusade.\r\nIn order to arrive at their Stalinistic, predetermined conclusion, House Democrats spent the last several months staging well-rehearsed hearings where the charges were drawn up by their own focus groups. Democrat donors served as witnesses and Democrat staff served as judge and jury.\r\nEven with the odds so blatantly stacked against the President, Democrats still came up with absolutely nothing.\r\nA while ago the Speaker spoke of the Pledge of Allegiance. The last phrase of the pledge is justice for all. Justice was not something that was afforded of the President in the investigation. He was denied due process  something the Supreme Court said should be afforded in all Congressional investigations. That makes this process illegal and illegitimate.\r\nWhat a shame. What a sham.\r\nWith that, I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/graves-votes-no-articles-impeachment", "Graves Votes NO on Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Following his NO vote on both articles of impeachment, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\nI strongly opposed the articles of impeachment brought by the liberal majority. Perhaps now we can get back to work for the American people and accomplish many of the important things that we should have finished months ago-like securing better trade deals and fixing our Nation's aging infrastructure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-votes-no-articles-impeachment", "Graves Votes NO on Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Following his NO vote on both articles of impeachment, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\n\n\"I strongly opposed the articles of impeachment brought by the liberal majority. Perhaps now we can get back to work for the American people and accomplish many of the important things that we should have finished months ago-like securing better trade deals and fixing our Nation's aging infrastructure.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-opposes-democrats-impeachment-president", "Hartzler Opposes Democrats Impeachment of the President", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement announcing a NO vote on the articles of impeachment against President Trump:\nToday's vote is a gross abuse of power by Congress. This entire process to impeach President Trump is nothing more than a political calculation being made to undo the voice of nearly 63 million Americans. House Democrats fear they cannot beat him fairly at the ballot box, so they are intent in removing him at all costs, Hartzler said.\nTellingly, the removal of President Trump from office has been the goal of Democrats in Congress since he was elected. One need not look any further than the quotes from some of my Democrat colleagues expressing their desire to impeach solely as a way of keeping the President from being re-elected.\nCongresswoman Rashida Tlaib, hours after being sworn into Congress in January of 2019, charmingly exclaimed on a YouTube video that We're going to go in there, and we're going to impeach the !@#$%^&*&^-.\nCongressman Al Green in July of 2019 on NBC News said I'm concerned that if we don't impeach this president, he will get reelected. If we don't impeach him, he will say he has been vindicated.\nCongresswoman Ocasio-Cortez in November of 2019 on CNN said We all need to move quite quickly because we're talking about the potential compromise of the 2020 election. And so, this is not just about something that has occurred, this is about preventing a potentially disastrous outcome from occurring next year.\nThe Democrats own words have delegitimized this entire impeachment process and have shined a light on their political motives and blatant abuse of power. In fact, Speaker Pelosi announced in September that the House of Representatives would move forward with an impeachment inquiry before the Trump administration even released details of the President's call with his Ukrainian counterpart.\nNow after weeks of an unfair, Soviet-style show trial, we have learned nothing from the democrats hand-picked witnesses except accounts of hearsay and shared perspectives from second- and third-hand sources. The Judiciary Committee presented a panel of university professors who, despite lacking any kind of understanding or evidence of the allegations being waged against President Trump, shared with the Committee what they believed were impeachable offenses. The only thing of substance we learned from these professors is when forced to answer under oath they revealed they were major financial donors to President Trump's political rivals.\nThis entire process has been embarrassing. Democrats have turned this Congress into a circus and this obsession with reversing the electoral will of the people has damaged this country. From the beginning, Speaker Pelosi has said that an impeachment process that wasn't compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan would divide our country. She was right. There has been nothing compelling, overwhelming, or bipartisan about this process and it has indeed divided a nation.\nThis notion was echoed by Democrat Congressman Jerry Nadler of New York, who in 1998 said of the impeachment of Bill Clinton:\n\"There must never be a narrowly-voted impeachment or an impeachment substantially supported by one of our major political parties and largely opposed by the other.\n\"Such an impeachment would lack legitimacy.\"\nYet today Nadler is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and serves as the ring leader of a completely partisan impeachment effort.\nThishypocrisy further demonstrates that impeachment is about Democrats removing Donald Trump from office before he is re-elected in November. This is no reason to impeach an elected leader and this act further establishes a damaging precedent where those in power can remove a President because they do not agree with his or her policies. It is a grotesque abuse of power by the Speaker and the left wing of her party as they try and erase the decision of nearly 1.6 million Missourians who voted for President Trump.\nThe American people elected Congress to address the pressing needs of this nation; not to undo the will of the electorate. Months of pointless investigation have led to nothing other than partisan rhetoric and wasted time as issues such as rising health care costs, the problems of illegal immigration and the needs of rural America go unmet. It is time to move on from this charade and get back to the people's work.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://jasonsmith.house.gov/news//news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2648", "Smith Defends President Trump from Lefts Blind Hatred", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Jason Smith", "S001195", "jasonsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://long.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=453", "Rep. Billy Long Votes 'No' on Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Billy Long", "L000576", "long.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Billy Long Votes 'No' on Impeachment \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      December 18, 2019\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.Rep. Billy Long issued the following statement on impeachment:\r\nHouse Democrats have wanted to impeach President Trump from the moment he was sworn in. In March of this year, Speaker Pelosi said that because an impeachment would be so divisive for this country, it must have bipartisan support and there must be overwhelming evidence, yet she has ignored her own standard. This impeachment marks the first in modern history to be completely partisan, and House Democrats failed to offer the overwhelming evidence they promised. I voted no on impeaching President Trump because I believe this has been a partisan attempt to overturn the outcome of the 2016 election absent any substantial evidence, and I believe it sets a dangerous precedent of which the House of Representatives should be deeply ashamed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-impeachment", "Wagner Statement on Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the impeachment vote:\n\n\"Today I chose the Constitution over partisanship and cast my vote against the articles of impeachment. These impeachment articles do not come close to the constitutional standards of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors.\n\n\"Our Republic relies on robust political disagreements, but political disagreements are not cause for impeachment of a duly elected President. Democrats were outraged when President Trump was elected, and many immediately declared their intention to impeach him.\n\n\"Well, I am outraged by the behavior I have witnessed during these proceedings. This is a crime-less impeachment and today we saw Democrats vote to undermine the results of an election without a single Republican joining them.\n\n\"The impeachment crusade has been a painfully partisan and unjust process. This sets a terrible precedent for future Congresses if the Speaker of the House can ram through an impeachment without overwhelming support from Congress and the people.\n\n\"Speaker Pelosi committed earlier this year to a nonpartisan process. It is sad to see she succumbed to the progressive voices of her caucus and set a dangerous precedent for the future of our country. This is a charade orchestrated by Democrat politicians who have fought to defeat President Trump since day one.\n\n\"We must stop the divisiveness. Now is the time to focus on what brings us together and get back to work for the American families who depend on us to represent their best interests in Congress.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-on-impeachment", "Wagner Statement on Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the impeachment vote:\n\"Today I chose the Constitution over partisanship and cast my vote against the articles of impeachment. These impeachment articles do not come close to the constitutional standards of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors.\n\"Our Republic relies on robust political disagreements, but political disagreements are not cause for impeachment of a duly elected President. Democrats were outraged when President Trump was elected, and many immediately declared their intention to impeach him.\n\"Well, I am outraged by the behavior I have witnessed during these proceedings. This is a crime-less impeachment and today we saw Democrats vote to undermine the results of an election without a single Republican joining them.\n\"The impeachment crusade has been a painfully partisan and unjust process. This sets a terrible precedent for future Congresses if the Speaker of the House can ram through an impeachment without overwhelming support from Congress and the people.\n\"Speaker Pelosi committed earlier this year to a nonpartisan process. It is sad to see she succumbed to the progressive voices of her caucus and set a dangerous precedent for the future of our country. This is a charade orchestrated by Democrat politicians who have fought to defeat President Trump since day one.\n\"We must stop the divisiveness. Now is the time to focus on what brings us together and get back to work for the American families who depend on us to represent their best interests in Congress.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/ig-horowitz-sen-hawley-there-was-potential-bias-fbi-counterintelligence-investigation-against-trump", "IG Horowitz to Sen. Hawley: There Was Potential Bias In FBI Counterintelligence Investigation Against Trump Campaign", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz about his report detailing widespread FISA application abuse by the FBI during its 2016 counterintelligence investigation against the Trump campaign. Under questioning from Senator Hawley, IG Horowitz left the door open to the possibility that bias against the Trump campaign played a role in the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation.\nSen. Hawley: Was it your conclusion that political bias did not affect any part of the Page investigation, any part of Crossfire Hurricane?\nIG Horowitz: We did not reach that conclusion.\nSen. Hawley: Because I could have sworn, in fact, I know for a fact that I've heard that today from this committee. That's not your conclusion?\nIG Horowitz: We have been very careful in the connection with the FISA's for the reasons you mentioned to not reach that conclusion in part - as we've talked about earlier - the alteration of the email, the text messages associated with the individual who did that, and our inability to explain or understand, to get good explanations so that we could understand why this all happened.\nSen. Hawley: I think we're left with two possibilities here. You have three different investigative teams as you testified earlier, you've got a dozen people at the FBI, you've got the decisions made over time to mislead the FISA court. Either these people were really incompetent and bad at their jobs or they had an agenda that they were pursuing. And having an agenda  I don't care what word you put in front of it  political agenda, personal agenda, but whatever it is, it is antithetical to democracy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-applauds-passage-bill-end-rape-kit-backlog", "Senator Hawley Applauds Passage of Bill to End Rape Kit Backlog", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last night the Senate unanimously passed the Debbie Smith Act of 2019, a bill that authorizes crucial grant funding to help state crime labs work through their backlogs of untested DNA samples, including rape kits. The bill now heads to the President's desk. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), an original cosponsor of the Debbie Smith Act, issued the following statement:\nFar too often, survivors of this horrendous crime go through the invasive process of completing a rape kit only to have the evidence that could put their attackers away sit on a shelf for years on end. This bill gives law enforcement the resources they need to deliver justice to these brave survivors.\nIn May, Senator Hawley spoke in support of the bill as it passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. A video of his remarks is below.\nWhile Attorney General of Missouri, Senator Hawley conducted a statewide audit of rape kits where he found that the state had more than 5,000 untested kits. The state was then able to secure the necessary federal funding to tackle this backlog and to begin to set up a statewide rape kit tracking system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://long.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=452", "Rep. McEachin and Rep. Long Applaud Passage of Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Billy Long", "L000576", "long.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Congressman Billy Long (MO-07) released the following statement praising House passage of their bipartisan Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act. The MAPS Act would prohibit broadband providers from willfully, knowingly, or recklessly providing inaccurate broadband coverage data to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).\r\nToo many Virginians do not have access to high-speed internet. Without these services, businesses and jobs relocate; community health suffers due to less connected hospitals and providers; and children lack much-needed internet access to complete their homework,said Congressman McEachin.We cannot expand broadband internet access to our communities, however, if we do not know exactly where broadband service is needed. The MAPS Act will help ensure we have a more complete understanding of broadband availability  and thus bring much-needed, high-speed internet to all our constituents. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to consider this bill immediately so that all Virginians and all Americans have access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet services.\r\nThe federal government spends billions of dollars each yearon rural broadband deployment, yetmillions of Americans lack basic access to broadband services.For rural communities, such as those in Missouri, knowing where broadband is and is not available at certain speeds is crucial and will go a long way in closing the digital divide.I'm grateful for thestrong, bipartisan supportas we work towards a more connected future, and I commend my colleague, Rep. Donald McEachin, for his hard work on the MAPS Act,saidCongressman Billy Long.\r\nThe Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act:\r\n Prohibits internet service providers from knowingly, willfully, or recklessly providing inaccurate data to the FCC; and\r\n Subjects providers who do submit inaccurate data appropriate penalty as determined by the FCC.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/suburban-caucus-legislative-platform-released", "Suburban Caucus Legislative Platform Released", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the Suburban Caucus, and Representatives French Hill (R-AR), Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Steve Stivers (R-OH), Suburban Caucus Task Force Chairs, released the following statement announcing the first installment of the Suburban Caucus Legislative Platform:\n\n\"I am proud to join our Task Force Chairs to announce the first segment of Suburban Caucus-endorsed legislation. These twelve bills are specifically designed to target challenges that impact families all across suburban America. From paid parental leave and protecting patients with preexisting conditions to making the child tax credit permanent, addressing the affordable housing crisis, and raising the age to purchase tobacco products to 21, we are confident that these bills will improve the quality of life for our constituents,\" said Rep. Wagner. \"This wave of legislation is just a first step for the Suburban Caucus, and we will continue fighting for a better, more prosperous world and craft policies that engage our suburban communities.\"\n\n\"These bills are commonsense, bipartisan solutions to the real problems facing suburban communities. I'm particularly proud to have two of my bills, the RAISE Act and the Homeless Children and Youth Act, recognized as part of this effort,\" said Rep. Stivers. \"From covering childcare costs and taking care of our parks, to helping families cover medical expenses and combatting youth homelessness, this platform is just a sample of how Republican values can make an impact in communities across the country.\"\n\n\"Central Arkansas is home to a growing suburban population,\" said Rep. Hill. \"With more people, from all walks of life, moving to Arkansas's suburbs, it's critical for Congress to advance solutions that will empower their pursuit of happiness. I'm proud to support the first legislative package championed by the Suburban Caucus that will result in greater opportunities for families to save for college, lower healthcare costs, and access workforce training programs.\"\n\n\"As promised, the Suburban Caucus has released its first set of bills aimed to address the challenges faced by folks living and working in suburban America. My legislation included in this package, the PROPEL Act, would expand access to career and technical education by allowing students to use Pell Grants for short-term vocational, technical, or on-job training,\" said Rep. Wittman. \"I am proud to be a part of this effort and look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation forward.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-hails-senate-passage-debbie-smith-reauthorization-act", "Wagner Hails Senate Passage of Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Ann Wagner's (R-MO) H.R. 777, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. This bipartisan bill to combat the rape kit backlog was introduced with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in January and passed the House in October.\n\n\"I am thrilled that the Debbie Smith Reauthorization \u00ad\u00adAct has finally passed the Senate,\" said Rep. Wagner. \"Survivors of sexual assault have looked to us for leadership since this critical DNA testing program was allowed to lapse in September. Now that the Debbie Smith Act is being reauthorized, our communities can better identify and prosecute violent predators and find justice for the survivors who have bravely come forward to pursue their attackers. Alongside sexual assault survivors, I have been whipping my colleagues and Senators in a push to get this done ever since we introduced this legislation. While these vital programs should never have been allowed to lapse at all, I am pleased that our continued efforts to get this legislation over the finish line worked, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-hails-senate-passage-of-debbie-smith-reauthorization-act", "Wagner Hails Senate Passage of Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Congresswoman Ann Wagner's (R-MO) H.R. 777, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. This bipartisan bill to combat the rape kit backlog was introduced with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in January and passed the House in October.\nI am thrilled that the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act has finally passed the Senate, said Rep. Wagner.Survivors of sexual assault have looked to us for leadership since this critical DNA testing program was allowed to lapse in September.Now that the Debbie Smith Act is being reauthorized, our communities can better identify and prosecute violent predators and find justice for the survivors who have bravely come forward to pursue their attackers. Alongside sexual assault survivors, I have been whipping my colleagues and Senators in a push to get this done ever since we introduced this legislation. While these vital programs should never have been allowed to lapse at all, I am pleased that our continued efforts to get this legislation over the finish line worked, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.\nToo many victims of violent crime are being denied justice because forensic labs across this country don't have the resources to process DNA evidence  the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program is changing that, said Rep. Maloney. I first wrote and passed the Debbie Smith Act after hearing testimony from the bill's namesake, Debbie Smith, that it took 6 years for her rape kit to be tested. When the Debbie Smith Act first passed, it was called the the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law.' The results of the grant program speak for themselves. This funding keeps rapists and other criminals off the streets. And equally important, the program is instrumental in delivering some measure of justice to survivors of violence. I urge the President to sign this reauthorization bill immediately.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-secures-missouri-priorities-final-passage-fy-20-ndaa", "Senator Hawley Secures Missouri Priorities in Final Passage of FY \u201920 NDAA", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today the Senate passed the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, sending it to President Trump's desk. The FY'20 NDAA includes measures to implement the National Defense Strategy (NDS) to counter the growing threats posed by China and Russia. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, secured several Missouri priorities in the bill and issued the following statement:\n\"This bill puts our armed forces in a better position to confront the growing threat posed by China and provides crucial support to our military men and women. I am pleased that the Conference Report included several priorities for Missouri's military bases and the defense-focused businesses that call Missouri home.\"\n FY2020 NDAADirect Missouri Benefits \n \n\tAuthorizes 3.1% pay raise for America's servicemen and women  the largest in a decade.\n\tSecures more than $217 million for construction projects at Fort Leonard Wood; Whiteman Air Force Base; Next NGA West in St. Louis; the Army National Guard in Springfield; and Rosecrans Air National Guard Base.\n\tAuthorizes 12 weeks of paid parental leave to tens of thousands of Missouri workers.\n\tRepeals widow's tax for surviving military spouses.\n\tAuthorizes $1.8 billion for the Navy to buy 24 F/A-18-E/F Super Hornets, to be built in St. Louis.\n\tAuthorizes $985 million for the Air Force to purchase 8 new F-15 fighter jets, to be built in St. Louis.\n\tAuthorizes more than $1 billion for research and development on two other military aircraft that will be built in St. Louis.\n\tFully funds the B-21 bomber, to be stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base.\n\tSupports the President's efforts to grow the Navy, benefiting Missouri businesses and workers who provide parts and supplies to shipyards across the nation.\n\tProhibits another Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, ensuring Missouri military installations remain relevant.\n\tEnsures all servicemembers have access to quality healthcare by prohibiting cuts to certain military medical positions until the Department of Defense has shown that bases' local health care networks can provide the necessary care.\n\tDoubles the reimbursements available for military spouses who require new professional licenses when they move to a new state.\n\tAuthorizes a cooperative agreement among state governors to help military spouses avoid having to relicense every time they move to a new state.\n\tProtects military families' personal property by ensuring the Department of Defense does it due diligence as it reforms the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3).\n\tOverhauls the Military Housing Privatization Initiative to ensure our servicemembers have access to safe and affordable housing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400299", "Luetkemeyer Introduces Bill to Stop Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luetkemeyer Introduces Bill to Stop Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 16, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. Last week, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) introduced the bipartisan Stopping Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act to permanently schedule all illicitly manufactured fentanyl. This legislation would permanently codify the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) emergency scheduling of illicit fentanyl which is set to expire in February 2020.\r\n\r\nIn 2018 alone, we lost 1,132 Missourians to opioid overdoses. 75% of those were fentanyl related. In the past few years, deaths related to fentanyl have seen a 1,000% increase. These numbers are as shocking as they are heartbreaking,said Congressmen Luetkemeyer.This bill requires all fentanyl-like substances that do not have a medical purpose to be listed as Schedule 1 drugs. It also creates a formal review process for the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to re-schedule a substance if it has a medical purpose. With the scheduling made permanent, law enforcement can better stop the illegal flow of this deadly substance while still allowing the necessary medical research to be conducted.\r\n\r\nIn the midst of the opioid crisis that claimed nearly 1,000 Missourians last year, the recent surge of fentanyl has drastically exacerbated the problem and devastated parts of Missouri and the country. We support action and legislation to stop this flow of deadly fentanyl into our state and stem overdose deaths,said Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://long.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=451", "Reps. Loebsack, Latta, Long and McEachin Praise House Passage of Legislation to Improve Broadband Data Maps", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Billy Long", "L000576", "long.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bob Latta (OH-05) authors of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (HR 4229), along with its cosponsors, Reps. Billy Long (MO-07) and Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statements praising the House passage of the bill. The Broadband DATA Act is bipartisan legislation that would improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by changing the way broadband data is collected. The bill now heads to the Senate where similar legislation has been introduced Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN), Roger Wicker (MS), Gary Peters (MI) and John Thune (SD).\r\nIn 2019, it is simply unacceptable that many families, small businesses, farmers, educators and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the necessary access to high-speed internet. When this bill becomes law, we will finally begin to fix the bad broadband maps that for too long have often misstated speed and availability, said Congressman Dave Loebsack.I have often said there are two things needed to connect rural America to highspeed broadband and that is dollars and data. But without reliable data, the dollars do not matter. Garbage in, is garbage out. You have to have good data to know where the problems exist, otherwise it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I am pleased that the Broadband DATA Act, which will help address those issues, has passed the House. I look forward to working with the Senate to get the Broadband DATA Act to the President's desk.\r\nOur country's technological capabilities are revolutionizing the way Americans communicate and work with each other, but due to inaccuracies in our maps that identify where people can and cannot access the internet, some people are being left behind. The passage of this bill means more Americans, whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural communities, will be able to participate in our 21st century economy, because we will be able to better pinpoint where internet access is lacking so that funding can be appropriately dispersed to areas that need it most. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly consider this bill so people across the country can engage in the digital age,said Congressman Bob Latta.\r\nIt is unacceptable that many Virginians and people across our country, particularly in rural and underserved communities, lack access to high-speed internet,said Congressman A. Donald McEachin.The Broadband DATA Act will help ensure we have a more complete understanding of broadband availability  and thus bring much-needed, high-speed internet to all of our constituents. I urge my Senate colleagues to consider this bill immediately so that all Americans have access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet services.\r\nIt's crucial that federal broadband programs are using accurate data and up-to-date maps. The federal government spends billions of dollars each year on rural broadband deployment, yet millions of Americans lack basic access to broadband services. For rural communities, such as those in Missouri, knowing where broadband is and is not available at certain speeds will go a long way in closing the digital divide. I'm grateful for the strong, bipartisan support as we work towards a more connected future, and I commend my colleagues, Reps. Donald McEachin, Dave Loebsack and Bob Latta for their hard work on the Broadband DATA Act,said Congressman Billy Long.\r\nSpecifically, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act would:\r\n \r\n    require the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers;\r\n    require strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy;\r\n    and create a challenge process for consumers, state, local, and Tribal governments, and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data, and requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on challengers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-led-bill-invests-in-education-from-early-childhood-through-career", "Blunt-Led Bill Invests in Education, from Early Childhood Through Career", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,\r\nHealth and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), today\r\nannounced that the fiscal year 2020 Labor/HHS appropriations bill includes\r\nseveral new investments in high-quality early childhood care and education,\r\nelementary and secondary education programs, and higher education. The bill was\r\nfiled today and is expected to be considered by the full Senate later this\r\nweek. This bill invests in education programs that are aimed at\r\ngiving every child in this country the opportunity to be successful  from the\r\ntime they first step into the classroom until they're on a career path. The\r\nbill supports high-quality early childhood care and education, giving kids the\r\nright start while working parents are able to continue building their future.\r\nThe bill increases funding for elementary and secondary education programs that\r\nprovide the most flexibility to local school districts and schools to decide\r\nhow to best use limited resources to improve educational outcomes. With\r\nworkforce demands continuing to evolve, the bill increases funding for programs\r\nthat help students of all backgrounds pursue the full-range of post-secondary\r\noptions, whether it's getting into college and succeeding while they're there,\r\nor returning to school for an advanced credential to further their career.\r\nStrengthening our education system and supporting students at every stage in\r\ntheir academic careers isn't just the right thing to do, it's the necessary\r\nthing to do to maintain our role as a global leader in growth and innovation. Early Childhood\r\nCare and Education:  Head Start: The\r\nbill provides $10.6 billion, an increase of $550 million, for Head Start. This\r\nincludes funding to help all Head Start programs keep up with rising costs,\r\nmaintain enrollment, and continue to provide high-quality services for children\r\nand families. In 2018, Missouri Head Start programs received more than $167\r\nmillion to serve 15,000 children and their families. The increase includes:  o $250 million in new funding for\r\nall Head Start programs targeted at improving trauma-informed care practices to\r\naddress adverse childhood experiences, including those related to substance use\r\ndisorders; o $100 million to expand Early Head\r\nStart, which serves children and families from\r\nbefore birth to age three, including partnerships with child care providers\r\nto leverage investments in child care and improve the quality of those\r\nprograms.  Child Care and\r\nDevelopment Block Grant (CCDBG): The bill provides $5.8 billion, an\r\nincrease of $550 million, for CCDBG. This funding will help ensure and improve\r\nthe safety and quality of child care programs, including increasing provider\r\npayment rates, and expand working families' access to high-quality child care.\r\nMissouri receives over $95 million from CCDBG annually, and an additional $56\r\nmillion from related mandatory programs. Blunt previously highlighted the\r\nimportance of CCDBG during\r\na roundtable discussion led by Ivanka Trump in Kansas City.   Preschool\r\nDevelopment Grants: The bill provides $275 million, an increase of $25\r\nmillion, to help improve the coordination of existing early childhood programs\r\nfor children from birth to five. Missouri received a $6.5 million planning\r\ngrant in January 2019. Elementary and\r\nSecondary Education:  Individuals with\r\nDisabilities Education Act (IDEA): The bill provides $13.6 billion, an\r\nincrease of $410 million, to support the educational needs of students with\r\ndisabilities. Missouri received approximately $254 million from these programs\r\nfor the 2019-2020 school year.  Title I Grants to\r\nLocal Educational Agencies: The bill provides $16.3 billion, an increase of\r\n$450 million, for grants to school districts to help all children meet\r\nchallenging state academic standards. Missouri received approximately $249\r\nmillion in Title I funding for the 2019-2020 school year to support schools\r\nwith a significant number or percentage of students from low-income families.  Title II Supporting\r\nEffective Instruction State Grants: The bill provides $2.1 billion, an\r\nincrease of $76 million, to support teacher professional development.  Impact Aid: The\r\nbill provides $1.5 billion, an increase of $40 million, for Impact Aid.\r\nMissouri school districts receive approximately $26 million annually to help\r\ncompensate for the presence of federal activities and land, including lost\r\nrevenue.  STEM and Computer\r\nScience Education: The bill provides $65 million, an increase of $5\r\nmillion, in targeted STEM and computer science education funding, including\r\nsupporting STEM/CSE teachers. Higher Education:  Pell Grants:\r\nFor the third year in a row, the bill increases the maximum Pell Grant award,\r\nproviding an increase of $150 or 2.4%, for the 2020-21 school year, from $6,195\r\nto $6,345. Approximately 90,000 students receive over $350 million in Pell\r\nGrant funding to attend Missouri colleges and universities. In fiscal year 2017, Bluntsuccessfullyled efforts to restore funding for year-round Pell Grants.  Career Pathways:\r\nThe bill provides $20 million to establish new initiatives at the Departments\r\nof Labor and Education with the goal of improving pathways to good careers\r\nbeginning in high school. Funding is targeted to the lost decade, which is\r\nthe timeframe after high school when some young adults have jobs, but not\r\ncareers. o $10 million for a new initiative\r\nat the Department of Education to help states, school districts and\r\ninstitutions of higher education implement a wide-range of activities with the\r\ngoal of improving pathways for students beginning in high school that can lead\r\nto the full-range of post-secondary college and career options. o $10 million for a new youth\r\ncareer pathways demonstration program at the Department of Labor to improve\r\nworkforce readiness, employment and training opportunities, and provide early\r\nexposure to multiple career pathways.  Campus-Based\r\nStudent Aid Programs: The bill provides $865 million, an increase of $25\r\nmillion, for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and $1.2 billion, an\r\nincrease of $50 million, for Federal Work Study. These programs provide\r\nflexibility for colleges and universities to design financial aid packages to\r\nbest meet their students' needs.  TRIO: The bill\r\nprovides $1.1 billion, an increase of $30 million, for the TRIO program to help\r\nlow-income and first generation students get into college and succeed when they\r\nare there.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-led-funding-bill-provides-5th-consecutive-increase-for-life-saving-cost-saving-nih-research", "Blunt-Led Funding Bill Provides 5th Consecutive Increase for Life-Saving, Cost-Saving NIH Research", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,\r\nHealth and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), today\r\nannounced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has received nearly\r\n$41.7 billion in the fiscal year 2020 Labor/HHS appropriations bill, a $2.6\r\nbillion increase over last year's level. The bill was filed today and the full\r\nSenate is expected to consider it on the floor later this week. Federal investment in the National Institutes of Health has\r\nprovided millions of Americans and their families with hope, especially at a\r\ntime when we are on the verge of so many potential breakthroughs, said Blunt.\r\nNIH-funded research has raised life expectancy and vastly improved the quality\r\nof life for all Americans. In addition,\r\nit has lowered health care costs and spurred economic growth by supporting jobs\r\nin research and generating biomedical innovations. Blunt previously secured four consecutive funding increases\r\nfor NIH, bringing the five-year total increase to $11.6 billion, or 38.6% under Blunt's subcommittee chairmanship. Blunt continued, In my home state of Missouri, NIH research\r\nhas discovered an enzyme responsible for the spread of cancer, supported\r\nresearch aimed at improving cancer immunotherapy, and is getting us closer to a\r\nblood test for Alzheimer's disease. But further progress depends on sustained,\r\npredictable increases in NIH funding that allow researchers to build upon\r\nprevious discoveries. It is one of the most important investments we can make\r\nas a federal government. In fiscal year 2019, Missouri received $640.5 million in NIH\r\ngrant funding, generating more than $1.4 billion in economic activity and\r\nsupporting 8,400 jobs. Nationwide, medical research supports more than 433,000\r\njobs and nearly $74 billion in economic activity. The influx in funding over\r\nthe last four years has restored more than half of the purchasing power NIH lost\r\nsince its peak in fiscal year 2003. Following Are\r\nSeveral of the Key NIH Investments Included in the Labor/HHS Bill:  $2.82 Billion for\r\nAlzheimer's Disease Research: The bill includes $2.82 billion for\r\nAlzheimer's disease research, a $350 million increase from last year's level.\r\nCurrently, Medicare and Medicaid spend $195 billion caring for those with\r\nAlzheimer's, making it the most expensive disease in America. Since Blunt\r\nbecame subcommittee chair five years ago, Alzheimer's disease research funding\r\nhas more than quadrupled, increasing from $631 million to $2.82 billion.  $6.44 Billion for\r\nthe National Cancer Institute (NCI): The bill includes $6.44 billion for\r\nNCI, an increase of $299.4 million above FY2019. Within NCI funding, the bill\r\nprovides:  o\r\n$50 million in new funding for the President's\r\nChildhood Cancer Data program to connect and integrate multiple childhood\r\ncancer data sources;  o\r\n$25 million for the Childhood\r\nCancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act, which\r\nBlunt cosponsored. The STAR Act is a bipartisan, comprehensive bill that would\r\nexpand opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify\r\nand track incidence of childhood cancer, and enhance the quality of life for\r\nchildhood cancer survivors;  o\r\n$212.5 million to prioritize competing grants in\r\ncancer research and sustain commitments to continuing grants. Grant applications to the National Cancer\r\nInstitute have increased by approximately 50% since 2013, with requests for\r\ncancer research ten-fold greater than other institutes.  $500 Million for\r\nthe BRAIN Initiative: The measure increases funding for the BRAIN\r\ninitiative by $71 million above FY2019. The BRAIN Initiative is developing a\r\nmore complete understanding of brain function, which could help millions of\r\npeople who suffer from a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric\r\ndisorders, including Alzheimer's disease.  $500 Million for\r\nthe All of Us Precision Medicine Initiative: The measure includes $500\r\nmillion to fund the All of Us precision medicine study, an increase of $161\r\nmillion from FY2019. This study will enroll one million Americans to take into\r\naccount differences in biology, lifestyle, and environment to discover new\r\npaths towards delivering individualized precision medicine.  $578.1 Million for\r\nthe Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA): The measure includes\r\n$578.1 million, an increase of $18.4 million, for the National Center for\r\nAdvancing Translational Sciences' CTSA program. Washington University's CTSA is\r\npart of the national program aimed at accelerating discoveries toward better\r\nhealth.  $2 Billion for\r\nMental Health Research: The bill includes $2 billion, an increase of $161.7\r\nmillion, for mental health research at the National Institute of Mental Health.  $200 Million for\r\nResearch on the Universal Flu Vaccine: The bill provides an increase of $60\r\nmillion in targeted funding to advance progress toward a universal flu vaccine.\r\nUnder Blunt's leadership, funding for a universal flu vaccine has more than\r\nquadrupled in the last three years. St.\r\nLouis University is part of NIH's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units\r\nworking on a universal flu vaccine.  $511 Million to\r\nCombat Antibiotic Resistance: To help combat antibiotic-resistant\r\nsuperbugs, the bill provides a total of $511 million, an increase of $50\r\nmillion over last year's level to expand efforts to develop new antibiotics,\r\ncreate rapid diagnostic tests, and build a national genome sequence database on\r\nall reported resistant human infections. Antibiotics have been used to\r\nsuccessfully treat patients for more than 70 years, but over time, the drugs\r\nhave become less effective as organisms adapt to the drugs designed to kill\r\nthem.  $818 Million for\r\nOpioid & Pain-Related Research: The bill includes $818 million for\r\nresearch on opioid addiction, development of opioids alternatives, pain\r\nmanagement, and addiction treatment. If patients with acute or chronic pain do\r\nnot have reasonable access to non-addictive pain medications or alternative\r\ntreatments, it will be difficult to get the opioid crisis under control. This\r\nincludes $500 million in dedicated funding provided to the National Institute\r\nof Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Drug\r\nAbuse.  $425 Million for\r\nInfrastructure Improvements on NIH's Campus: The bill provides a $225\r\nmillion increase to support NIH's Bethesda Campus, including a 200-bed research\r\nhospital, numerous laboratories, outpatient clinics, and administrative and\r\nfacilities space. The funding increase follows a National Academies of\r\nSciences, Engineering, and Medicine report stating there is a $1.3 billion\r\nbacklog in facilities maintenance on the campus. More than 72% of the facilities in Bethesda\r\nare over 20 years old and the average condition index is in the poor\r\nrange.  $5 Million to\r\nCombat Foreign Threats to Research: The bill includes $5 million for NIH to\r\ncontinue its work with HHS' Office of National Security to combat foreign\r\nthreats to the research infrastructure. Blunt discussed\r\nthis issue at a Labor/HHS subcommittee hearing in April, particularly China's\r\nThousand Talents program aimed at recruiting NIH-funded researchers to steal\r\nintellectual property, cheat the peer-review system, establish shadow\r\nlaboratories in China, and help the Chinese government obtain confidential\r\ninformation about NIH research grants.  $12.6 Million for\r\nthe Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act: The Gabriella Miller Kids\r\nFirst Act, which was signed into law in 2014, created a dedicated fund for\r\npediatric medical research. The bill provides the resources authorized under\r\nthe law, and prioritizes funding for pediatric cancer research.  National Academies\r\nStudy on Organ Allocation Policies: The bill includes funding for a new\r\nNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study on organ\r\nallocation policies, particularly related to livers. Blunt has led\r\nefforts against the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's move to\r\nchange the liver allocation policy. The new policy could lead to a 32% drop in\r\nliver transplants in Missouri. In addition, the bill provides increases to every NIH\r\nInstitute and Center to continue investments in innovative research that will\r\nadvance fundamental knowledge and speed the development of new therapies,\r\ndiagnostics, and preventive measures to improve the health of all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-touts-key-investments-in-closing-the-skills-gap-strengthening-us-workforce", "Blunt Touts Key Investments in Closing the Skills Gap, Strengthening U.S. Workforce", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S.\r\nSenator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,\r\nHealth and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), today\r\nannounced that the fiscal year 2020 Senate Labor/HHS appropriations bill\r\nincludes several investments in key\r\nworkforce development programs. The bill was filed today and is expected to be\r\nconsidered by the Senate later this week. There are over a million more job openings than people\r\nlooking for work, said Blunt. I hear from employers all the time who are\r\nstruggling to find candidates with the right education, skills, and training to\r\nfill open jobs. By strengthening workforce development programs, including the\r\nApprenticeship program and Career and Technical Education, we'll help Americans\r\nget the skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities that come with\r\na growing economy. This year, we've also started a new initiative to ensure\r\nthat high-school age kids have the ability to pursue a full-range of\r\npost-secondary options  whether it's attending a four-year university, a\r\ncommunity college, or entering an apprenticeship program  to help them not\r\njust get a job, but build a career. Following Are Some\r\nof the Key Workforce Development Priorities Included in the Labor/HHS Bill:  Career Pathways\r\nInitiative: Too many students leave high school without a clear\r\nunderstanding of the full range of post-secondary options, from apprenticeship\r\nprograms to advanced degrees, that can lead to good, high-paying careers.\r\nCreating these connections for students beginning when they are high school-age\r\ncan be critical to improving educational and employment outcomes. The bill\r\nprovides $20 million to establish new initiatives at the Departments of Labor\r\nand Education: o $10 million for a new initiative at the Department of Education to help school districts, institutions of higher education, and area CTE\r\nschools implement a wide-range of activities, such as aligning curriculums with\r\nacademic standards and occupational licensing and credentialing, and providing\r\ndirect services to students, with the goal of improving pathways for students\r\nbeginning in high school that can lead to the full-range of post-secondary\r\ncollege and career options.  o $10 million for a new youth career\r\npathways demonstration program at the Department of Labor to improve workforce\r\nreadiness, employment and training opportunities, and provide early exposure to\r\nmultiple career pathways.  Apprenticeship\r\nProgram: The bill includes a $15 million increase for the Apprenticeship\r\nprogram, bringing the overall funding level to $175 million. That marks an $85\r\nmillion increase since Congress began funding this program in FY2016. Blunt has\r\nadvocated\r\nfor increased apprenticeship opportunities to close the skills gap.     Veterans Employment\r\nand Training (VETS): The bill provides $311.3 million, an $11.3 million\r\nincrease, for VETS. VETS provides intensive employment services to veterans and\r\neligible spouses, transitioning service members, and disabled veterans. This\r\nincreased funding will support veterans in the transition assistance program as\r\nthey move into the civilian workforce, and allow the Department of Labor to\r\nimplement reforms required by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act and\r\nassist military spouses in addressing occupational and credentialing\r\nbarriers.     HIRE Vets Medallion\r\nProgram: The bill continues to provide resources to carry out the HIRE\r\nVets Act, a bill authored by Sen. Blunt which established a tiered\r\nrecognition program within the Department of Labor to award employers based on\r\ntheir contributions to veteran employment. In November, the department\r\nannounced that seven\r\nMissouri employers received HIRE Vets Medallion Program Awards.  Rural Workforce\r\nTraining Initiative: The bill provides $30 million in continued funding for\r\nthe dislocated worker training initiative, Workforce Opportunity for Rural\r\nCommunities, to provide reemployment and training assistance to dislocated\r\nworkers in rural areas of the country hit hardest by the recession and\r\nrecovering more slowly. Funding is\r\ndevoted to training those who have lost their jobs in the Appalachian and Delta\r\nregions to ensure they can adapt existing skills and learn new skills demanded\r\nby other growing industries, and return to work as soon as possible.  Strengthening\r\nCommunity Colleges Initiative: The bill provides $40 million for a new\r\ninitiative to better align workforce development needs for in-demand industries\r\nwith post-secondary education.  Workforce Training\r\nGrants: The bill includes $2.8 billion in grants to states, an increase of\r\n$30 million. These funds are distributed by formula to states and localities to\r\nmeet each state's unique workforce training and development needs. Missouri\r\nreceived $38.2 million in training and employment services grants in 2019.  Youth Workforce\r\nTraining: The bill increases funding for several other programs to provide\r\nat-risk youth with the opportunity to gain educational and occupations skills: o Youth Grants to States: $913\r\nmillion, an increase of $9.7 million;  o YouthBuild: $94.5 million, an\r\nincrease of $5 million. Missouri has\r\nfour current YouthBuild grantees located in Columbia, St. Joseph, and St.\r\nLouis; and o Job Corps: $1.7 billion, an\r\nincrease of $25 million. Missouri has\r\nthree Job Corps centers located in Excelsior Springs, Puxico, and St. Louis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400298", "Blaines Bulletin: Drug Pricing", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Chances are we all know someone who is suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that require regular medication. We have children and elderly family members who depend on a daily dose of medication to live healthy lives. So, it's not surprising that in a recent poll, 75% of Americans said drug pricing should be at the top of Congress' priority list. The cost of medication has gotten out of control, and families are being forced between medication and other daily essentials like food and clothing. \r\nEven in this hyper-partisan environment, everyone can agree that drug pricing needs to be addressed. President Trump has been working on this issue since his first day in office and Democrats and Republicans in Congress have worked on multiple bills to achieve our goal of more affordable medication. Just this week, I joined over 130 of my colleagues in introducing H.R.19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. While this bill was introduced by Republicans, every reform in this legislation enjoys bipartisan agreement. Many of the provisions are contained in bipartisan bills in the House and Senate. \r\nIf enacted, the bill will provide affordability, pricing predictability, and transparency for patients in need of medication. Insurance companies will be required to make cost information available to both patients and doctors so you can actually discuss your medication options with your doctor. You will no longer have to drive to the pharmacy to find out how much your medication will cost and discuss alternatives. It will bring more generic medications to market so there will be increased competition as well as increased low-cost options for patients. This legislation also protects Americans by establishing a new trade negotiator specifically for drug prices in international trade agreements. For too long, other countries have benefited from our country's medical innovation while Americans are stuck footing the over-priced bill. \r\nUnfortunately, even a bipartisan issue can't avoid some political roadblocks. Instead of bringing this bill to the floor, this week the House was forced to vote on a bill that would eliminate many drug options and cripple innovation. That bill, which was only voted on for political purposes, will not see the light of day in the Senate, and the President has already said he would veto it. H.R. 19 on the other hand, is supported by members on both sides of the aisle and would be signed into law without delay. I look forward to the day Speaker Pelosi allows that to happen.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-votes-for-legislation-to-lower-prescription-drug-costs-and", "Wagner Votes for Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Costs and Protect Access to Lifesaving Cures", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted for H.R. 19, theLower Costs, More Cures Act,bipartisan legislation that would lower drug costs and help patients:\nAmericans spend too much on prescription medications, and it is up to Congress to fix the problems that are driving these burdensome medical costs.I was proud to vote for legislation that lowers costs at the pharmacy counter for all Americans and makes healthcare more affordable.\nTheLower Costs, More Cures Actprotects patient access to new lifesaving cures and medicines. It creates transparency in the prescribing process by ensuring that patients can find out the costs of their medications at the doctor's office before they reach the pharmacy counter. This bill caps out-of-pocket costs for seniors, lowers how much families pay for insulin, brings generic drugs to market faster, and provides incentives to provide rebates to seniors at the pharmacy counter.TheLower Costs, More CuresAct stops drug companies from taking advantage of Americans. It can pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President.Every provision is bipartisan, and we owe it to all Americans to pass legislation that can become law. We cannot settle for Speaker Pelosi's legislation that is dead on arrival in the Senate and would blackmail innovators, end America's fast and comprehensive access to new and existing medicines, do nothing to protect Medicare from insolvency, and prevent cures from being developed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-votes-legislation-lower-prescription-drug-costs-and-protect", "Wagner Votes for Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Costs and Protect Access to Lifesaving Cures", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted for H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, bipartisan legislation that would lower drug costs and help patients:\n\n\"Americans spend too much on prescription medications, and it is up to Congress to fix the problems that are driving these burdensome medical costs. I was proud to vote for legislation that lowers costs at the pharmacy counter for all Americans and makes healthcare more affordable.\n\n\"The Lower Costs, More Cures Act protects patient access to new lifesaving cures and medicines. It creates transparency in the prescribing process by ensuring that patients can find out the costs of their medications at the doctor's office before they reach the pharmacy counter. This bill caps out-of-pocket costs for seniors, lowers how much families pay for insulin, brings generic drugs to market faster, and provides incentives to provide rebates to seniors at the pharmacy counter. The Lower Costs, More Cures Act stops drug companies from taking advantage of Americans. It can pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President. Every provision is bipartisan, and we owe it to all Americans to pass legislation that can become law. We cannot settle for Speaker Pelosi's legislation that is dead on arrival in the Senate and would blackmail innovators, end America's fast and comprehensive access to new and existing medicines, do nothing to protect Medicare from insolvency, and prevent cures from being developed.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/photos-blunt-welcomes-gms-15-billion-investment-in-wentzville-facility", "PHOTOS: Blunt Welcomes GM\u2019s $1.5 Billion Investment in Wentzville Facility", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the\r\nfollowing statement after attending General Motors' (GM) event where the\r\ncompany announced it will invest $1.5 billion in its Wentzville facility: This historic investment is great news for the\r\nregion and our state. I appreciate GM for making a long-term commitment to the\r\nWentzville facility, which is home to thousands of hardworking employees. This\r\nis another milestone in Governor Parson's efforts to make Missouri an even\r\nbetter place to start or grow a business. I'll continue advocating for policies\r\nthat will help our state lead the way in an increasingly global economy.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\nThe\r\ninvestment will retain nearly 4,000 jobs at the Wentzville facility, which will\r\nmanufacture the next generation of midsize pickup trucks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/supporting-our-troops", "Supporting our Troops", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After months of partisan bickering and political games, the House finally voted this week to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fully funding our military and giving our troops the biggest pay raise they've received in the last decade. Providing for the common defense is one of the most important things we do in Congress. I serve on the House Armed Services Committee and for the first time that I can remember, a bill was put forward earlier this year which passed on a completely partisan basis. Thankfully, a strong, bipartisan bill was negotiated between the House and the Senate and it overwhelmingly passed the House this week. This full funding of our military gives our warfighters the tools they need to fight our adversaries and keep America safe. It includes funding to modernize our nuclear arsenal, equip our military with the latest aircraft, and enhance our technological capabilities to combat enemies of freedom in the 21st century. It also establishes the United States Space Force, to maintain America's status as a world leader for generations to come. These much needed investments in the future of our military will even be happening right here in Missouri. I was able to secure funding for additional C-130 aircraft upgrades for the 139th Airlift WIng based at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, just outside of St. Joseph. What's more, this NDAA also ends the unfair widow's tax which cost some families who lost a loved one in the military tens of thousands of dollars every year. It also raises troop pay by 3.1%, the biggest such increase in 10 years. Our brave men and women in the Armed Forces deserve the best equipment, training and support we can provide them in order to defend our nation. Service in the various branches of the military is a calling and I'm grateful we have so many in North Missouri who feel led to serve. To that end, I had the honor of nominating 9 brave young men and women to our Nation's military academies this week. They have chosen and sought to dedicate their lives to serving our country so that we might be free. This year's nominations are: Sydney Boutz, Parkville  US Naval Academy (Park Hill South HS) Jacob Brown, Weston  US Naval Academy (West Platte HS) Murphy Corum, Kansas City  US Air Force Academy (Staley HS) Kellen Dewey, Louisiana  US Merchant Marine Academy (Louisiana HS) Charles Hill, Kansas City  US Military Academy (Kansas City Christian School) Braden Presser, Liberty  US Naval Academy (Liberty North HS) Gabriel Spencer, Platte City  US Naval Academy (St. Vincent de Paul Academy) Benjamin Thimjon, Kansas City  US Military Academy (Staley HS) Isaac Washburn, Chillicothe  US Air Force Academy (Chillicothe HS) The service academy process is highly competitive and I applaud these individuals for putting themselves forward. Our Nation is grateful for those who choose to serve in defense of our freedoms and this great country. I was proud to nominate these young men and women who are the future of our military and I'm glad we were able to finally pass a strong defense bill to give our Armed Forces the tools they need to keep us safe.\nSincerely,\n  \n\tSam Graves", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-opposes-nancy-pelosi-s-health-care-bill", "Hartzler Opposes Nancy Pelosis Health Care Bill", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) today voted against HR 3, legislation supported by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats mandating government control of drug prices, stifling innovation, and reducing the availability of life saving drugs. Instead, Hartzler is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, which encompasses over forty bipartisan provisions focused on lowering out of pocket drug costs, protecting access to new medicines and cures and working on price transparency in healthcare.\nFrom my travels throughout the state, it is clear that the rising cost of healthcare is the number one priority facing Missouri families today, Hartzler said. While we must move forward with workable solutions to this problem, Speaker Pelosi's H.R. 3 would mandate government control of key drug prices which, as research has shown, stifles innovation and limits the availability of life saving drugs for families that need them. This bill is not a solution. It simply perpetuates the problem, Hartzler added.\nSpecifically, Speaker Pelosi's H.R. 3 would appoint a government bureaucrat to set prices for a drug and, if manufacturers do not agree with this price, they will be subject to additional taxes that increase on a sliding scale. These strongarm tactics can lead to taxes up to 95 percent, forcing companies to quit offering lifesaving drugs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) notes that 15 fewer cures could be developed because of H.R. 3, with other estimates suggesting up to 100 fewer cures brought to market because of Speaker Pelosi's bill.\nWe need legislation that lowers health care costs while encouraging research and development of new cures and promoting costs transparency. If even one cure is denied due to Speaker Pelosi's heavy-handed bill, that is reason enough to oppose her scheme. For the many families caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease, for the many families with a child struggling with childhood diabetes, for the mom or dad fighting cancer so they can be there for their daughter's wedding, for all the brave individuals in my district fighting a disease or sickness, we need to be fighting for more cures, not less.\nThat's why I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, Hartzler said. Unlike the Pelosi bill, H.R. 19 encompasses over forty bipartisan provisions focused on lowering out of pocket drug costs, protecting access to new medicines and cures and working on price transparency in healthcare. This is the solution we need.\nSpecifically, H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act:\n Encourages innovation of new cures, promotes more low-cost options for patients and limits how drug companies can game the system. This includes stopping the establishment of pay for delay agreements in which drug companies pay generic manufacturers to keep a generic equivalent off the market. It also gives the FDA authority to approve multiple generic applications of the same drug, resulting in more competition and speeding cures to the market.\n\tMakes drugs more affordable for seniors by capping out of pocket prescription drug costs at $3100 per year for Medicare beneficiaries in Part D. This includes a smoothing out mechanism that would allow seniors to distribute their out-of-pocket expenses throughout the year, minimizing the cost impact on those with fixed incomes. The bill further cuts out of pocket spending for seniors getting infused drugs like chemotherapy and lowers the cost of insulin for seniors in Medicare Part D.\n\tIncreases cost transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy by requiring insurance companies to make real time information about prices available before a prescription is written. This allows a patient to discuss the most affordable treatment options with their doctor. The legislation also expands online cost estimate tools allowing patients to shop around ahead so they know how much they will have to pay before their appointment.\n\tStops subsidizing other developed countries' health care by assigning a US Trade Representative negotiator to advocate for the American consumer and make sure other countries are not treating American innovators differently.\n The Lower Costs, More Cures Act is a bi-partisan solution that can pass the House, Senate and be signed into law. It is unfortunate that instead of supporting this effort, Nancy Pelosi has put her support behind H.R. 3, a partisan bill that relies on government control of medicine and is dead on arrival in the Senate. We need solutions and we need them now. I encourage Speaker Pelosi to bring H.R. 19 up for a vote in the House, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-joins-president-trump-and-ivanka-trump-bipartisan-paid-parental", "Wagner Joins President Trump and Ivanka Trump for Bipartisan Paid Parental Leave Summit", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she joined President Trump and Ivanka Trump for a Bipartisan Paid Parental Leave Summit:\n\n\"I thank Ivanka for inviting me to the bipartisan White House Child Care and Paid Leave Summit. This was an incredible opportunity to bring Members of Congress and paid leave advocates together in a bipartisan setting with the goal of making life easier for new parents during one of life's most precious and exceptional moments. I have labored on this issue for many years and yesterday we passed a historic bipartisan NDAA that included paid parental leave. Ivanka has been a strong partner as I advocate for paid family leave, and I am confident that with her help and the support of President Trump we will see paid family leave become a reality for all Americans. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave, and I will not rest until we have provided more solutions and flexibility for all American families.\"\n\nRep. Wagner, Chair of the Suburban Caucus, introduced paid leave legislation this year and yesterday praised the inclusion of paid parental leave in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-joins-president-trump-and-ivanka-trump-for-bipartisan-paid", "Wagner Joins President Trump and Ivanka Trump for Bipartisan Paid Parental Leave Summit", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she joined President Trump and Ivanka Trump for a Bipartisan Paid Parental Leave Summit:\n\nI thank Ivanka for inviting me to the bipartisan White House Child Care and Paid Leave Summit. This was an incredible opportunity to bring Members of Congress and paid leave advocates together in a bipartisan setting with the goal of making life easier for new parents during one of life's most precious and exceptional moments. I have labored on this issue for many years and yesterday we passed a historic bipartisan NDAA that included paid parental leave. Ivanka has been a strong partner as I advocate for paid family leave, and I am confident that with her help and the support of President Trump we will see paid family leave become a reality for all Americans. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave, and I will not rest until we have provided more solutions and flexibility for all American families.\n\nRep. Wagner, Chair of the Suburban Caucus, introduced paid leave legislation this year and yesterday praised the inclusion of paid parental leave in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nWatch the paid leave panel at the White House here and Rep. Wagner's comment on the importance of paid parental leave here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sen-hawley-democrats-bought-federal-investigation-trump-campaign", "Sen. Hawley: Democrats Bought A Federal Investigation of The Trump Campaign", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today on Fox & Friends Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said the Democrat National Committee was essentially able to purchase a federal investigation of the Trump Campaign. Senator Hawley's comments follow revelations that the FBI used Christopher Steele's Democrat-funded dossier to trigger its application to the FISA court to spy on a Trump campaign official.\nSenator Hawley said, Essentially the Democrat Party bought themselves an FBI investigation. The Democrats went out and paid for this fake dossier, they fed it to the FBI, and the FBI used it to get surveillance of the Trump campaign during a presidential election. This has never happened before in American history, and the Horowitz report, the IG report, is really damning. It shows that the FBI bought this hook, line, and sinker.\nSenator Hawley also expressed skepticism that only low-level FBI case agents were involved in the surveillance of the Trump presidential campaign.\nSenator Hawley said, You cannot tell me that case agents  mid-level, low-level case agents  opened up the surveillance program without the supervision of say the Attorney General or the President of the United States. I think we need to find this out. What did the Attorney General know, Loretta Lynch, what did the President Barack Obama, what did he know? Are we really to believe that the FBI is conducting a surveillance campaign during an election of a political opponent and the White House doesn't know anything about it? I think we gotta find that out.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/graves-announces-nominations-us-military-academies", "Graves Announces Nominations to U.S. Military Academies", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KANSAS CITY, MO U.S. Representative Sam Graves (MO-06) has announced United States Military Service Academy nominations for students in Missouri's Sixth Congressional District. Each year, members of Congress are tasked with selecting qualified students from their respective districts to attend one of America's prestigious military academies.\n\"North Missouri year in and year out hasproducedimpressive candidates for our nation's military academies, said Rep. Graves, who notified each student by phone of their nomination.\nThis year is no exception. I am proud of all the young men and women who have sought out and received nominations, andI thank all of them for their willingness to serve this country. I know that each of the individuals who received a nominationwillmake North Missouri proud at their respective academies.\nThe following students from across North Missouri received nominations from Congressman Graves:\n\nSydney Boutz, Parkville  US Naval Academy (Park Hill South HS)\nJacob Brown, Weston  US Naval Academy (West Platte HS)\nMurphy Corum, Kansas City  US Air Force Academy (Staley HS)\nKellen Dewey, Louisiana  US Merchant Marine Academy (Louisiana HS)\nCharles Hill, Kansas City  US Military Academy (Kansas City Christian School)\nBraden Presser, Liberty  US Naval Academy (Liberty North HS)\nGabriel Spencer, Platte City  US Naval Academy (St. Vincent de Paul Academy)\nBenjamin Thimjon, Kansas City  US Military Academy (Staley HS)\nIsaac Washburn, Chillicothe  US Air Force Academy (Chillicothe HS)\n\nThe nomination system is a very competitive process.Various military academies hold extremely selective admission standards. To help in the nomination process, Rep. Graves created an Academy Nominations Review Board.The board, made up of service academy graduates and citizens of the Sixth District, interviewed and reviewed all applicants before making final recommendations to Rep. Graves.\nStudents interested in being appointed to a service academy in the future can find out more information by contacting Graves' district office in Kansas City or by visiting graves.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/graves-statement-house-passage-national-defense-authorization-act", "Graves Applauds House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Following House passage today of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\nToday's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act conference report is a win for our country and the brave men and women in the Armed Services who are committed to defending it. Providing for the common defense shouldn't be a partisan issue and I'm pleased that the conference report reflects that. This bill went from a progressive wish list in the House that was not bipartisan at all, to a final product that gives our war fighters the tools they need to capably defend our country. I was pleased to support this final bill as it continues to restore readiness, supports the largest pay increase in 10 years for our troops, and provides additional resourcesto maintain America's competitive military edge andcounterourforeign adversaries.I was also pleased to push for additional C-130 upgrades for the 139thAirlift Wing in St. Joseph which are included in the bill.\nGraves serves on the House Armed Services Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-nominations-us-military-academies-1", "Graves Announces Nominations to U.S. Military Academies", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KANSAS CITY, MO \u2013 U.S. Representative Sam Graves (MO-06) has announced United States Military Service Academy nominations for students in Missouri's Sixth Congressional District. Each year, members of Congress are tasked with selecting qualified students from their respective districts to attend one of America's prestigious military academies.\n\n\"North Missouri year in and year out has produced impressive candidates for our nation's military academies,\" said Rep. Graves, who notified each student by phone of their nomination.\n\n\"This year is no exception. I am proud of all the young men and women who have sought out and received nominations, and I thank all of them for their willingness to serve this country. I know that each of the individuals who received a nomination will make North Missouri proud at their respective academies.\"\n\nThe following students from across North Missouri received nominations from Congressman Graves:\n\nSydney Boutz, Parkville \u2013 US Naval Academy (Park Hill South HS)\n\nJacob Brown, Weston \u2013 US Naval Academy (West Platte HS)\n\nMurphy Corum, Kansas City \u2013 US Air Force Academy (Staley HS)\n\nKellen Dewey, Louisiana \u2013 US Merchant Marine Academy (Louisiana HS)\n\nCharles Hill, Kansas City \u2013 US Military Academy (Kansas City Christian School)\n\nBraden Presser, Liberty \u2013 US Naval Academy (Liberty North HS)\n\nGabriel Spencer, Platte City \u2013 US Naval Academy (St. Vincent de Paul Academy)\n\nBenjamin Thimjon, Kansas City \u2013 US Military Academy (Staley HS)\n\nIsaac Washburn, Chillicothe \u2013 US Air Force Academy (Chillicothe HS)\n\nThe nomination system is a very competitive process. Various military academies hold extremely selective admission standards. To help in the nomination process, Rep. Graves created an Academy Nominations Review Board. The board, made up of service academy graduates and citizens of the Sixth District, interviewed and reviewed all applicants before making final recommendations to Rep. Graves.\n\nStudents interested in being appointed to a service academy in the future can find out more information by contacting Graves' district office in Kansas City or by visiting graves.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-applauds-house-passage-national-defense-authorization-act-conference", "Graves Applauds House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Following House passage today of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) released the following statement:\n\n\"Today's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act conference report is a win for our country and the brave men and women in the Armed Services who are committed to defending it. Providing for the common defense shouldn't be a partisan issue and I'm pleased that the conference report reflects that. This bill went from a progressive wish list in the House that was not bipartisan at all, to a final product that gives our war fighters the tools they need to capably defend our country. I was pleased to support this final bill as it continues to restore readiness, supports the largest pay increase in 10 years for our troops, and provides additional resources to maintain America's competitive military edge and counter our foreign adversaries. I was also pleased to push for additional C-130 upgrades for the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph which are included in the bill.\"\n\nGraves serves on the House Armed Services Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-supports-defense-bill-strengthening-america-s-national-security", "Hartzler Supports Defense Bill Strengthening Americas National Security", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) today supported the conference report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, annual legislation that determines the policies and funding levels for the Department of Defense and other national security entities.\nAmong other things, this legislation provides a pay raise for our men and women in uniform and supports several Missouri defense initiatives that Hartzler secured into the bill. Hartzler released the following statement regarding the House passage:\nAs the Ranking Member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and one of the conferees assisting in this conference report's negotiation, I am pleased this bill continues the progress we have made in restoring and rebuilding military readiness, while also setting the right conditions through oversight to accelerate modernization for those capabilities and capacities required for the national defense strategy, Hartzler said.\nThis bipartisan bill not only provides our troops with the resources they need to keep our nation safe, but also provides their families with support by including a 3.1 percent pay raise, needed reforms to the military privatized housing system, and a repeal of the military's widow's tax for surviving spouses.\nHistorically, the NDAA has been a product of bipartisan consensus and I am pleased we were successful in reaching that level of consensus again. This makes 59 years in a row we have passed this vital piece of legislation and is a testament to how legislators can come together on issues of national importance. We need more instances where members set aside political differences to do the people's work, Hartzler added.\nCongresswoman Hartzler had significant initiatives included in the annual legislation including:\n \n$27 million for a consolidated vehicle operations and maintenance facility at Whiteman Air Force Base;\n\t$50 million for increment two of the Fort Leonard Wood hospital replacement projects;\n\tA partial dislocation allowance for service members forced to move from dormitories;\n\tFull funding for the B-21 program, which will eventually replace the B-2 at Whiteman;\n\tFunding for B-2 modernization programs, including the Defensive Management System, to ensure the bomber fleet maintains its long-range strike capability until the B-21 is operational;\n\tFunding for the A-10 modifications to ensure the A-10 fleet, including those at Whiteman, can continue to protect our ground troops;\n\tSupport for Army Ammunition Production Plants, like the one at Lake City;\n\tFunding for Missouri-made aircraft, such as the F-15EX, F-18 Super Hornet, and T-7A advanced trainer;\n\tFunding for Missouri-made munitions for the warfighter;\n\tSupport for Missouri-made Army mobility and logistics support equipment;\n\tFunding for engine and propeller upgrades for the C-130H fleet, including the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base;\n\tLanguage directing the Air National Guard to conduct a by-unit audit on control grade deficiencies to ensure units, including the 131st Bomb Wing, have enough positions to meet mission requirements.\n \nThe primary responsibility of Congress is to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need as they selflessly serve our nation. Whiteman Air Force Base, Fort Leonard Wood, and the state of Missouri play a vital role in our national defense and I am proud this bill will provide them with adequate resources to deter our adversaries, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-national-defense-authorization-act", "Wagner Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report.\n\n\"I am extremely pleased that paid parental leave is included in the FY2020 NDAA. This is an important step forward in our ongoing fight to ensure that all Americans have access to paid parental leave, and I will work with my colleagues to make this critical benefit a reality for new families nationwide.\n\n\"The NDAA also includes the largest pay increase for our military in a decade and provides the necessary resources to modernize our defense systems and advance technologies that will keep our military the strongest in the world. It would also fund 24 Super Hornets that will be built locally and sustain over 5,000 jobs in our community. It is important to note that this agreement does not prohibit funding for the border wall that is vital to preventing drug smugglers and human traffickers from entering our country. This legislation strengthens America's national security and military readiness and keeps our citizens safe, both at home and abroad.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-on-national-defense-authorization-act", "Wagner Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report.\nI am extremely pleased that paid parental leave is included in the FY2020 NDAA.This is an important step forward in our ongoing fight to ensure that all Americans have access to paid parental leave, and I will work with my colleagues to make this critical benefit a reality for new families nationwide.\nThe NDAA also includes the largest pay increase for our military in a decade and provides the necessary resources to modernize our defense systems and advance technologies that will keep our military the strongest in the world. It would also fund 24 Super Hornets that will be built locally and sustain over 5,000 jobs in our community. It is important to note that this agreement does not prohibit funding for the border wall that is vital to preventing drug smugglers and human traffickers from entering our country. This legislation strengthens America's national security and military readiness and keeps our citizens safe, both at home and abroad.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-brown-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-reporting-of-child-abuse-deaths-prevent-future-fatalities", "Blunt, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Reporting of Child Abuse Deaths, Prevent Future Fatalities", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \r\nToday, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) introduced\r\nbipartisan legislation, the Child Abuse Deaths Disclosure Act, which would\r\nrequire states to report data on all child-abuse related deaths and develop\r\nrecommendations to prevent child abuse deaths from occurring in the first\r\nplace.\r\n\r\nThe senators' bill would provide policymakers and public\r\nhealth officials with a clearer picture of the number of child abuse fatalities\r\nand allow states to collect important information to better assess when and why\r\nchild abuse fatalities occur.\r\n\r\nWe have an obligation to do all we can to keep children\r\nsafe, said Blunt. Having a\r\ncomplete and accurate understanding of the circumstances surrounding every\r\nchild abuse-related death will give policymakers, law enforcement, and public\r\nhealth officials the information they need to prevent these heinous\r\ndeaths.\r\n\r\nThe only way we can prevent more of these tragic deaths is\r\nif we get an accurate picture of the problem and treat child abuse prevention\r\nlike the public health issue that it is. That is why we must get an accurate\r\npicture of the problem and tailor our response to meet the needs of families in\r\nOhio and around the country, said\r\nBrown.\r\n\r\nSynergy Services is pleased to support Sen. Blunt's\r\ncontinued efforts to advance the protection of children, said Gwen O'Brien, Director of Advocacy and Prevention, Synergy\r\nServices. Strengthening the national data on child maltreatment fatalities\r\nand implementing annual reviews of this information are critical steps in\r\ninforming best practices and policies to eliminate child maltreatment\r\nfatalities. It is our hope that legislation such as the Child Abuse Deaths\r\nDisclosure Act will support the initiatives already in place in Missouri to\r\nimprove accurate identification and classifications, identify risk factors, assess\r\nsystemic factors at or near the time of the child's death, and develop\r\nprevention strategies to eliminate child maltreatment fatalities.\r\n\r\nIn 2017, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System\r\n(NCANDS) estimated that approximately 1,720 children died from abuse and\r\nneglect. The federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities\r\n(CECANF) indicated in its final report that NCANDS data does not fully capture\r\nthe entire number of child abuse fatalities and recommended significant reforms\r\nincluding improved data collection and interagency collaboration, increased\r\nfunding to child welfare programs, and the development of a standard definition\r\nof child maltreatment fatality.\r\n\r\nThe Child Abuse Deaths Disclosure Act would:\r\n\r\n Require states to develop a multidisciplinary team to\r\nannually examine the circumstances of all child abuse related deaths and report\r\ncase specific information to the National Center for Fatality Review and\r\nPrevention. The taskforce would also be required to develop recommendations to\r\nprevent child abuse deaths and submit an annual report to state and federal\r\nofficials to publish on a national public website. \r\n\r\n Require HHS to consult with state and local officials,\r\nchild welfare practitioners, pediatricians, public health officials, and law\r\nenforcement to develop a national standard definition related to child abuse\r\ndeaths or child maltreatment fatalities.\r\n\r\n Promote training on child maltreatment fatalities for\r\nchild death review teams to address disparities in treatment by officials or\r\noutcomes in child maltreatment fatalities based on race or culture and\r\nencourage best practices.\r\n\r\nThe bill is also supported by child advocacy organizations,\r\nincluding the National Children's Alliance, Child Welfare League of America,\r\nChildren's Advocacy Institute, Within Our Reach, and the Alliance for Strong\r\nFamilies and Communities. If you suspect or know a child is being abused or\r\nneglected, please call or text the National Child Abuse Hotline at\r\n1-800-422-4453, contact your local child protective services office, or a law\r\nenforcement agency.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-van-hollen-secure-key-provisions-of-valor-medals-review-act-in-defense-authorization-bill", "Blunt, Van Hollen Secure Key Provisions of Valor Medals Review Act in Defense Authorization Bill", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and\r\nChris Van Hollen (Md.) announced that key provisions of the World War I Valor\r\nMedals Review Act have been included in the House and Senate-negotiated\r\nNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The senators' provisions would\r\nrequire the Department of Defense (DOD) to undertake a review of valor medals\r\nawarded to minority veterans during WWI to determine whether any should receive\r\nthe Medal of Honor. The language encourages DOD to conduct this review in\r\nconsultation with the Valor Medals Review Task Force, a joint project of the\r\nCongressionally-established World War I Centennial Commission and Park University's George\r\nS. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, which has conducted extensive\r\nresearch to identify WWI veteran service records for this review. Service members of all races,\r\nreligions, and backgrounds fought in WWI, but the Medal of Honor was not\r\nawarded to minority veterans until the 1990s. Congress has authorized more\r\nrecent reviews for minority service members from World War II to the present,\r\nbut the only review undertaken for WWI took place in 1919  and no minority veterans received the Medal of Honor as a result of that review. Righting this\r\nhistorical wrong is long overdue. Minority WWI veterans who\r\ndemonstrated the highest acts of bravery deserve to be recognized with the\r\nMedal of Honor, said Blunt. While we can't undo the discrimination\r\nthese heroes faced in their lifetimes, we can do the right thing now by making\r\nsure they receive the honor they're due. I appreciate the important efforts by\r\nthe Valor Medals Review Task Force, with the support of Park University, to\r\nensure veterans who were wrongly denied our nation's highest military honor\r\nwill finally be acknowledged for their heroic actions.  Hundreds of thousands of\r\nminority Veterans served their country during World War I, and their efforts\r\nwere essential to our victory. But for far too long, their sacrifice has not\r\nreceived the recognition it deserves, said Van Hollen. William Butler,\r\nan African American Veteran from Salisbury, was recognized with the Croix de\r\nGuerre with Palm, the Distinguished Service Cross, and a recommendation for the\r\nMedal of Honor  but he never received that medal before his death. This\r\nlegislation is designed to ensure that cases like William Butler's will get a\r\nfair review. I was proud to fight for the inclusion of these crucial provisions\r\nin the NDAA so that William Butler and countless others have the opportunity to\r\nbe honored.Blunt and Van Hollen originally introduced\r\nthis legislation in April of this year. They have since repeatedly\r\nfought for its inclusion in the NDAA by introducing an amendment and sending a letter\r\nto the conference negotiators. The negotiated House and Senate NDAA\r\nConference Agreement will now go to the House and Senate floors for a final\r\nvote, before proceeding to the president's desk. U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth\r\n(Ill.), Tim Scott (S.C.), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) are original\r\ncosponsors of the Senate bill, and U.S. Representative French Hill (Ark.) has\r\nintroduced the House companion legislation.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis\r\nbipartisan effort reflects the finest traditions of the Senate and their deep\r\ncommitment to serve those who serve us. We appreciate the leadership and\r\nsupport of Senators Van Hollen, Blunt and others to formalize this Valor Medals\r\nReview, said Park University President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D.\r\nPark University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War looks\r\nforward to working carefully and diligently over the next five years to review\r\nindividual service records of these World War I heroes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-cosponsors-bill-imposing-sanctions-drug-cartels", "Hawley Cosponsors Bill Imposing Sanctions on Drug Cartels", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) today introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).\nSenator Hawley said, Violent Mexican cartels have gotten rich by flooding our communities with addictive drugs that are ruining lives and tearing families apart. Unfortunately, the Mexican government has been unwilling or unable to stop these criminals. Enough is enough. This bill will beat back the cartels by freezing their assets, removing them from the country, and sanctioning anyone who helps sustain their criminal enterprises.\"\nSenator Cotton said, Criminal organizations and drug cartels like the one responsible for last month's attack in Mexico ought to be treated just like terrorist groups in the eyes of the U.S. government. This bill would help stop cartel violence by ensuring these groups--and anyone who helps them--face dire consequences for their actions.\"\n Background \n \n\tThe Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act enables the federal government to impose on the most significant Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) the same sanctions that apply to FTOs including:\n\t\n\t\tBarring organization members and their immediate families from admission to the United States.\n\t\tFreezing assets.\n\t\tSeeking civil and criminal penalties against Individuals providing material assistance or resources to the organization.\n\t\n\t\n\tThe bill also requires the President to submit a report to Congress with the government's findings on the November 4, 2019 attack on U.S. citizens in northern Mexico once the investigation is completed, including whether the organization responsible should be designated a Significant TCO.\n \nClick here for the text of the legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sen-hawley-ig-report-shows-fbi-effectively-meddled-2016-campaign-investigating-president-trump", "Sen. Hawley: IG Report Shows FBI \u201cEffectively Meddled\u201d in 2016 Campaign By Investigating President Trump", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz about his report detailing widespread misconduct related to the 2016 counterintelligence investigation against the Trump campaign. Senator Hawley expressed deep concern about the revelation that the FBI doctored evidence to obtain a surveillance warrant against a Trump campaign official asking, Is it worse to have a foreign government trying to meddle in our elections, or is it worse to have our own government meddling in the election?\nSen. Hawley also asked Inspector General Horowitz if this was the first time the FBI used partisan-funded opposition research to obtain FISA warrants against an American presidential campaign saying, The DNC pays for the Steele Dossier, solicits the Steele Dossier, and then gets the Federal Bureau of Investigation to go get FISA warrants, surveil an American citizen, and surveil a presidential campaign all on the basis of this manufactured garbage that they paid for. I mean that's extraordinary. That has got to be a first time in history. In fact let me just ask you, Mr. Horowitz, are you aware of ever of another presidential campaign being targeted by the FBI like the Trump campaign was?\nInspector General Horowitz told Senator Hawley that to his knowledge that to his knowledge this was the first time a presidential campaign had been targeted in this manner.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400297", "Luetkemeyer on Articles of Impeachment: This is a Sad Day for Our Country", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luetkemeyer on Articles of Impeachment: This is a Sad Day for Our Country \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 10, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) released the following statement regarding today's announcement that the House Judiciary Committee will pursue two articles of impeachment against President Trump.\r\nThis is a sad day for our country. Despite an unconstitutional investigation and a complete lack of evidence, House Democrats are formally introducing the articles of impeachment of President Trump.\r\nJust last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats have been pursuing impeachment for a couple of years  two and a half.' With that statement, the Speaker confirmed what we already knew: this investigation' has been nothing more than a political show from the beginning. The manufactured outrage over a phone call and the failed Mueller investigation were merely thinly-veiled attempts to justify the conclusion Democrats formed the day President Trump was elected.\r\nDespite months of dishonestly from Adam Schiff and countless hours of testimony from Democrat donors, the facts have not changed. There was no announcement of an investigation; Ukraine has in fact received aid from the United States; and President Zelensky has repeatedly confirmed there was no quid pro quo or pressure. It is clear that this is an all-consuming obsession for House Democrats. Instead of working with the President and Republicans to support the United States' historic economic success, their three-year temper tantrum appears to be headed toward the next phase.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/wagner-schmitt-request-end-to-standoff-over-federal-rape-kit-legislation", "Wagner, Schmitt request end to standoff over federal rape kit legislation reauthorization", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and U.S. Congresswoman Ann Wagner teamed up to request assurance a federal program that provides resources to state and local agencies for the handling of rape kits is reauthorized.\nRead the full story at the Missouri Times here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ann-wagner-and-attorney-general-eric-schmitt-call-on-speaker-pelosi", "Rep. Ann Wagner and Attorney General Eric Schmitt Call on Speaker Pelosi to Include Sexual Assault Kit Funding in End-of-Year Appropriations Process", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging her to include reauthorization of the Debbie Smith DNA backlog grant program in any end-of-year appropriations bills or continuing resolution. Debbie Smith programs provide much-needed funding to crime labs to process DNA evidence and strengthen the national DNA database that identifies criminals and helps victims find justice.\nVictims in Missouri and all parts of our nation rely on the testing of DNA evidence to identify and capture the criminals who have assaulted them. I urge the Speaker to make the Debbie Smith Act a priority so our state and local law enforcement have the necessary tools to put rapists and other perpetrators of sexual violence behind bars where they belong,said Rep. Wagner.The Debbie Smith Act has tragically been allowed to lapse, and reauthorizing this vital program is increasingly urgent as we stand up for survivors of sexual assault.\nSubmitting to a sexual assault kit and examination is an invasive process and takes outstanding courage  we need to honor that courage by ensuring that those responsible for these horrible crimes are held accountable for their actions. Providing funding for the state's crime labs and other resources is an essential first step to bringing perpetrators to justice,said Attorney General Schmitt. I appreciate Representative Wagner's leadership on this issue, and urge Congress to reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act.\nRead the full letter to Speaker Pelosihere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ann-wagner-and-attorney-general-eric-schmitt-call-speaker-pelosi", "Rep. Ann Wagner and Attorney General Eric Schmitt Call on Speaker Pelosi to Include Sexual Assault Kit Funding in End-of-Year Appropriations Process", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging her to include reauthorization of the Debbie Smith DNA backlog grant program in any end-of-year appropriations bills or continuing resolution. Debbie Smith programs provide much-needed funding to crime labs to process DNA evidence and strengthen the national DNA database that identifies criminals and helps victims find justice.\n\n\"Victims in Missouri and all parts of our nation rely on the testing of DNA evidence to identify and capture the criminals who have assaulted them. I urge the Speaker to make the Debbie Smith Act a priority so our state and local law enforcement have the necessary tools to put rapists and other perpetrators of sexual violence behind bars where they belong,\" said Rep. Wagner. \"The Debbie Smith Act has tragically been allowed to lapse, and reauthorizing this vital program is increasingly urgent as we stand up for survivors of sexual assault.\"\n\n\"Submitting to a sexual assault kit and examination is an invasive process and takes outstanding courage \u2013 we need to honor that courage by ensuring that those responsible for these horrible crimes are held accountable for their actions. Providing funding for the state's crime labs and other resources is an essential first step to bringing perpetrators to justice,\" said Attorney General Schmitt. \"I appreciate Representative Wagner's leadership on this issue, and urge Congress to reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-discusses-usmca-agreement", "Blunt Discusses USMCA Agreement", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n At the\r\nweekly Republican leadership press conference today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt\r\n(Mo.) welcomed the agreement reached between President Trump and House\r\nDemocrats to move forward on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade\r\ndeal. Under USMCA, U.S. agriculture exports are estimated to increase by $2.2\r\nbillion. Following\r\nAre Blunt's Remarks: \r\nWell any time in the last year, including any\r\ntime in the last three months, I've had a lot more questions in Missouri about\r\nwhen are you going to get to USMCA,' than I've had about impeachment. People\r\nthat make pickup trucks, and airplanes, and put things in aluminum cans, and\r\nfarmers who grow crops, all have been waiting for us to step up and see the\r\nCongress deal with the agreement that was negotiated initially over a year ago,\r\nto see the House bring that to the floor so the Senate could then have the\r\nopportunity to deal with it. Anything that's good for us and our relationships\r\nwith our number one trading partner in the world, Mexico, and our number two\r\ntrading partner in the world, Canada, is something that the Congress needs to\r\nget done. It's good for our neighborhood, it's good for the Western Hemisphere,\r\nit's good for workers and paychecks and families.  \r\n\r\nOn\r\nthe three legged stool that you launch an economy with, good tax policy, great\r\nregulatory policy, and good trade policy make all the difference. We've had two\r\nof those going for us, and as we move toward completion of the Japan agreement\r\nbetween now and the first of the year, according to the U.S. Trade Ambassador,\r\nin all likelihood, and getting certainty about USMCA - that third launching pad\r\nof the strongest economy we've seen in 50 years will be in place as well and it\r\nwill make a big difference.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-statement-on-usmca-agreement", "Blunt Statement on USMCA Agreement", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released\r\nthe following statement after President Trump and House Democrats announced an\r\nagreement to move forward on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal:  This is great news for our state's ag industry. For the\r\nlast year, the question I've been asked the most in Missouri is, when will\r\nCongress vote on USMCA?' This agreement with our two biggest trading partners\r\nwill help our economy, increase jobs, and benefit families. The best economy in\r\n50 years has been defined by good regulatory policy and good tax policy. Today,\r\nPresident Trump adds to those two areas the importance of good trade policy. I've been\r\nproud to support this agreement and hope to see it ratified as quickly as\r\npossible.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-co-signs-usmca-letter-pelosi", "Hartzler Co-Signs USMCA Letter to Pelosi", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement joining 158 colleagues on a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to bring the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to a vote in the House of Representatives:\nI sent Speaker Pelosi a letter urging her to bring this important agreement to a vote nearly two months ago, highlighting the importance the USMCA has on my district. I've heard nothing but radio silence from her office, Hartzler said. I'm pleased to have joined over 150 colleagues on this second push to get answers from the Speaker on the USMCA. We are running out of legislative days this calendar year and House leadership has still not addressed many issues hardworking people face every day, including the USMCA.\nIt is unfortunate that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led us to believe in the last weeks that the USMCA would be brought to the House for a vote, adding that House Democrats were on a path to yes and that action on the USMCA was imminent. Saying that she now believes there is not enough time in the year to bring the agreement to a vote is quite the statement, especially after how, under her leadership, the House of Representatives spent nearly 30 legislative days on their quest to impeach a duly elected president.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-and-brown-introduce-fly-together-act", "Wagner and Brown Introduce Fly Together Act", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the Suburban Caucus, and Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) released the following statement announcing the introduction of H.R. 5292, the Fly Together Act, legislation to ensure young children are seated together with their family members on flights.\n\n\"It should be commonsense that young children are seated with their parents, especially during air travel where children need supervision and comfort in unfamiliar surroundings,\" said Congresswoman Ann Wagner. \"This legislation would require a policy where airlines keep children with their families without mandating extra fees. Airlines should not establish conditions and discriminatory fees that create potentially dangerous situations for young children. Children should not be left alone on flights, and the Fly Together Act will help families avoid unpredictable, stressful, and unsafe situations.\"\n\n\"Parents should be able to sit with their young children on flights,\" said Congressman Anthony Brown. \"Separating kids from their parents is unsafe, potentially traumatic and needlessly increases stress and anxiety. This bill is the right choice for consumers and families, who are some of the most frequent fliers.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-stabenow-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-community-mental-health-and-addiction-services-included-in-senate-finance-drug-pricing-and-health-extenders-legislation", "Blunt, Stabenow: Bipartisan Bill to Expand Community Mental Health and Addiction Services Included in Senate Finance Drug Pricing and Health Extenders Legislation", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) today announced the inclusion of their bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act in the Senate Finance Committee's bipartisan drug pricing and health extenders legislation. Blunt and Stabenow's bipartisan legislation renews and expands funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. These clinics were established in the 2014 Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act, resulting in the most significant expansion of community mental health and addiction services in decades. Nearly one in five Americans has a mental health issue that is diagnosable and almost always treatable, but less than half of them receive the care they need, said Blunt. The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act is helping people get treatment faster and closer to home, providing new tools to law enforcement, and bringing us closer to our goal of treating mental and behavioral health like all other health. I'm confident this demonstration program will show that expanding access to mental and behavioral health care will help lower costs and improve health outcomes over time. Thanks to our Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act, we are beginning to transform the way mental health and addiction treatment services are delivered in communities across the country, Stabenow said. There is an urgent need to immediately extend and expand these vital services so more people can get the care they need at clinics in their communities. I thank Senators Grassley and Wyden on their partnership and for including our legislation in their package. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are transforming care in many regions because they respond to the urgent needs of people in need of mental health and addiction treatment. We are grateful for the work of Senators Debbie Stabenow, Roy Blunt and many others who want to bring CCBHCs to more people in more states and communities through the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act, said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health. We also thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Ron Wyden for recognizing the importance of CCBHCs and including extension and expansion of the program in their package. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to provide a comprehensive set of services including 24/7/365 crisis services, and immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses. They provide outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services, as well as coordination of care and partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement, and veterans groups. The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act created a Certified Behavioral Health Center pilot program that provided a competitive process for funding for eight states. The Expansion Act increases the number of eligible states from eight to 19 and gives the eight participating states two years of additional funding through Medicaid.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/putting-stop-illegal-robocalls", "Putting a Stop to Illegal Robocalls", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We've all been there. The phone rings and it's a number you don't recognize. The odds are good the person on the other end of the line wants to update your car warranty, help you get a free vacation or check your credit score. Other times, it's far more insidious. These unknown callers say they are from the IRS or the Social Security Administration and ask for highly personal information. They sound like they could be legitimate, but they definitely aren't. Unfortunately, many fall prey to these phone scams every day. These calls aren't just unwarranted and unwanted, many are highly illegal. It's estimated that nearly 45% of calls to cell phones this year will be from scam callers. Even with the Do Not Call Registry, which was implemented in 2003, these scammers have found ways to get around the law, or they simply don't care about paying the current fines.  \n\t  \n\tEarlier this year, before all the impeachment hoopla, the House set out to change that by passing good legislation to address illegal robocalls. I was proud to support the original bill and the version we finally got around to passing this week after months of delay. The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED) Act will make several key reforms to strengthen our laws and help law enforcement agencies clamp down on illegal robocalls. First, the TRACED Act establishes nationwide caller authentication system. This will significantly reduce the chances that the number that appears on your caller ID is coming from someone it's nottargeting scammers who use falsified caller ID information to trick Americans into revealing personal information over the phone. \nSecond, this legislation allows folks with landlines to block unlawful calls in a consistent and transparent way. While folks with cell phones currently have the ability to block numbers, many with landlines aren't afforded that opportunity without paying extra. The TRACED Act changes that, allowing folks with landlines this service for no extra charge. Finally, illegal robocallers have made it clear that the current fines and enforcement measures aren't strict enough to keep them from breaking the law. Going forward, law enforcement and the FCC will be given additional tools to go after law-breaking robocallers. Those who violate the law could be fined up to $10,000 per call. With increased enforcement and higher fines, hopefully those looking to perpetrate these scams will think twice. If there is one issue that all Americans can agree on, it's that these unrelenting robocalls are frustrating, annoying and need to be stopped. I was proud to vote to pass the TRACED Act this week to do just thatand finally hang up on scam robocalls.\nSincerely,\n  \n\tSam Graves", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-statement-speaker-pelosi-s-articles-impeachment", "Hartzler Statement on Speaker Pelosis Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi instructed House leadership to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump:\nSpeaker Pelosi's announcement does not come as a surprise. The removal of President Trump has been a goal of Democrats in Congress since he was elected. This has been and continues to be their top priority in Congress while important issues such as rising healthcare costs, illegal immigration, the need to fund our military and strengthening our public schools gets ignored, Hartzler said.\nThe Democrats obsession with reversing the will of the people and removing the President has damaged this country. From the beginning, Speaker Pelosi has said that an impeachment process that wasn't compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan would divide our country. There has been nothing compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan about a process built on second- and third-hand information, testimonies from academics who are donors to President Trump's political opponents, and a dishonest and illegitimate process that has turned into a political circus.\nSpeaker Pelosi and House Democrats are trying to impeach the President because they do not like him and his policies. This is no reason to impeach a President and establishes a damaging precedent where those in power can remove a President because they do not agree with his or her policies. This action is a grotesque abuse of power by the Speaker and the left wing of her party as they try and erase the decision of nearly 1.6 million Missourians who voted for President Trump.\nThis entire process is purely political in nature and needs to come to an end. We have pressing issues to work on here in Congress, including avoiding a government shutdown in two weeks, passing a defense spending bill, and moving forward the USMCA. This is what the American people want us to focus on and this is where our priorities should be, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-colleagues-urge-olympic-committee-hold-china-accountable-and-ensure-human-rights-upheld-2022", "Hawley, Colleagues Urge Olympic Committee to Hold China Accountable and Ensure Human Rights Upheld at 2022 Beijing Olympics", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As Beijing prepares to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, the international community remembers the human rights abuses that occurred during China's 2008 tenure as host.\nU.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are urging the International Olympic Committee to implement its Host City Contract requirements in time for the Beijing Games instead of the current timeline of 2024. The new guidelines, among other requirements, hold host cities to international human rights norms and standards.\nWe hold great concern that the People's Republic of China, a country plagued with violent suppression of free speech, state-sponsored oppression, and human rights abuses, is set to serve as host to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games without proper guidelines or requirements,the Senators write.\nRightfully present in the revised Host City Contract under the Olympic Agenda 2020 is an address of the host city's respect of human rights,the Senators continue. These revised Host City Contract requirements include protection of human rights and labor-related protections, as well as the assurance that all violations of human rights, fraud, or acts of corruption are remedied in accordance with applicable international agreements, laws, and regulations.\nChina executed its 2022 Host City Contract in 2015, approximately seven months after the new guidelines were agreed to, but years before full implementation was expected. China did implement some of the non-human rights related new Host City Contract requirements in its contract, but has not complied with it in totality.\nThe letter is available below and here.\n  \nMr. Thomas Bach\nPresident, International Olympic Committee\nChteau de Vidy\nCase Postale 356\n1001 Lausanne\nSwitzerland\nDear Mr. Bach:\nWe write to express support of the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Agenda 2020 and request its immediate full implementation. Specifically, we hold great concern that the People's Republic of China (PRC), a country plagued with violent suppression of free speech, state-sponsored oppression, and human rights abuses, is set to serve as host to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games without proper guidelines or requirements.\nFor years, host cities have unfortunately committed human rights abuses in accordance with the preparation and conducting of the Olympic Games. In response to these concerning trends, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in December 2014, unanimously agreed to adopt the Olympic Agenda 2020. This document maintains that Olympic principles are United Nations principles; one reform included in adhering to these international principles is an overhaul to the Host City Contract requirements to be fully implemented by 2024.\nThe Olympic Agenda 2020 and its corresponding Host City Contract requirements were unanimously adopted seven months prior to the awarding of the 2022 Olympic Games to Beijing, PRC, and the execution of its Host City Contract. As part of the host city selection process, the IOC considers whether the Games would leave a positive legacy that meets the individual needs and long-term development goals of the respective city and region. Further, the IOC's Olympic Charter holds that The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, making the host city a crucial piece of the puzzle.\nRightfully present in the revised Host City Contract under the Olympic Agenda 2020 is an address of the host city's respect of human rights. These revised Host City Contract requirements include protection of human rights and labor-related protections, as well as the assurance that all violations of human rights, fraud, or acts of corruption are remedied in accordance with applicable international agreements, laws, and regulations.\nDelaying application of imperative guidelines like these until the 2024 Olympic Games leaves China free reign in 2022. China has made evident their exploitation of human labor and violation of human rights. Two most recent examples are the 403 pages of internal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) documents published by the New York Times outlining the CCP's ruthless and extraordinary campaign to organize the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims within its borders as well as a classified list of guidelines for operating the camps revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists  both revealed in November 2019.\nFurthermore, we also ask that you look to Beijing's past actions when entrusted with the Olympic torch. The Department of State in its annual Report on Human Rights Practices identified a peak in human rights abuses around the 2008 Olympic Games. This report documents forced relocations linked to Olympic infrastructure construction; mandatory travel abroad or house arrest for political prisoners during the Games; increased surveillance of civil society organizations and suspension of meetings and activities by NGOs; increased harassment of religious groups, including prominent Christian activists; directives to schools and universities regarding guardrails for political and social discourse leading up to and during the Olympics; heightened harassment, detention, and incarceration of dissidents; restrictions on the right to assemble and raise grievances; and other abuses.\nAdditionally, an international NGO documented  and a Chinese governmental investigation later confirmed  eight cases of child labor utilized by Lekit Stationary Company to produce 2008 Olympics-branded and -licensed goods. These actions clearly all fall out of the bounds of international norms regarding human rights practices and would be in violation of the new Host City Contract requirements.\nHost City Contract requirements also include close cooperation between Olympic committees and the host city and its authorities in the areas of media, information and knowledge management, and rights protection. Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese propaganda authorities issued a 21-point directive outlining how domestic media could report on the Olympics, including a ban on reporting on Tibetan and Uyghur movements, a prohibition from noting the lifting of censorship of Western websites just during the time of the Olympics, and a blanket requirement to report positively on Olympic security arrangements.\nThe Foreign Correspondent's Club of China also noted a spike in the weeks prior and during the Olympics in infringement by local authorities on the freedom of foreign journalists  including the beating of two Japanese journalists, abuse of Hong Kong journalists, and detention of two Finnish journalists as well as other foreign correspondents.\nTherefore, we call on the International Olympic Committee to implement the Host City Contract requirements as outlined in the Olympic Agenda 2020 to all contracts applied to Olympic Games occurring after January 1, 2020. We understand that this implementation would apply both to the execution of new Host City Contracts and to the update of existing Host City Contracts. These guidelines have been prepared for six years, and were publically available prior to Beijing signing its July 2015 Host City Contract, providing all prospective and current host nations ample time to consider the requirements. Any nation enjoying the opportunity to promote of its image on the world stage should be held to the utmost standards of human rights and freedom. The Olympic Games are a shining example of the best that humans can be. We urge you to allow this to be true across all arenas and implement the most current Host City Requirements for each forthcoming Games.\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400295", "Blaines Bulletin: Flood Control Update", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "There is no question that there is urgent need in Missouri for better flood control plans. Being the Representative of a Congressional District that has thousands of miles of shoreline thanks to the Mississippi River, Missouri River, and Lake of the Ozarks, I am always looking for ways we can improve Missouri's flooding plan of action. Heavy rain and snowfall this year made for one of the worst years of flooding in our state's history. Entire towns were debilitated; farms, businesses, town halls, churches, and homes were all hit by devastating floods that brought normal life to a halt for many Missourians. \r\nThe Third District endured its fair share of flooding this year. Much of our ag industry in the Upper Mississippi River Basin was hit hard  fields that remained flooded for long periods of time were obviously unable to be farmed. In Lincoln County, over 22,000 acres of farmland couldn't be planted. And in St. Charles County there was more than double that number with over 47,000 acres of farmland that couldn't be used. This is not just farmland, but people's entire livelihoods. Farming is how they put food on their table, and the crops they raise make up the food we put on ours. This year's flooding was so bad that President Trump approved not just one, but two major disaster declarations to provide federal assistance to Missourians hit by severe storms and flooding. \r\nThis week I introduced a bill that will put a better flood control plan in place for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. After an especially devastating flood year, we were reminded once again that we must ensure there is a more effective strategy in place to protect Missourians. The Upper Mississippi River Flood Control Act will make much needed improvements to current flood protocols and ensure Missouri farms and communities are provided with the necessary relief. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers to submit a flood plan to Congress by January 2021 to address both water and land resource problems in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The bill also forces the Corps to work with local landowners, agriculture groups, government officials, and other stakeholders while developing that plan. This helps to ensure the plan is not developed to satisfy the Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., but to meet the needs of those of us who live here and endure the cost of failed flood policy. It is long past time Missouri's flood plans be created by Missourians. \r\nFlooding is an unfortunate fact of life for communities adjacent to rivers and lakes. However, we don't have to sit idly by while our homes, roads, bridges, and land continually get devastatedby water damage. An effective flood plan, especially in this high-risk area, will better equip us to prevent future floods and expedite aid, recovery, and rebuilding in the aftermath of those we cannot. My bill goes a long way in helping us achieve that goal.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://jasonsmith.house.gov/news//news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2616", "Smith Calls for Senate Presidential Candidates to Recuse Themselves from Impeachment Proceedings", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Jason Smith", "S001195", "jasonsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-announces-winners-2nd-district-congressional-app-challenge", "Wagner Announces Winners of 2nd District Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement announcing the winners of the 2019 2nd District Congressional App Challenge:\n\n\"Congratulations to Kailin Zhang, a senior at Marquette High School, and Sophie Maniscalco, a junior at St. Joseph's Academy, for being named this year's winners of the 2nd District Congressional App Challenge! Their Supergirls Code App claimed the top prize in this year's competition, and I am extremely proud of Kailin and Sophie's hard work and dedication.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an incredible opportunity to highlight the coding abilities of students in Missouri's 2nd District and I was thrilled we had so many students enter this year. Thank you to Everett Johnson and Launch Code for judging the competition and The Coder School for hosting the award presentation.\"\n\nYou can view a demonstration of this year's winning app here.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a national competition highlighting the value of computer science and STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge allows students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or \"app,\" for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-announces-winners-of-2nd-district-congressional-app-challenge", "Wagner Announces Winners of 2nd District Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C  Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement announcing the winners of the 2019 2nd District Congressional App Challenge:\nCongratulations to Kailin Zhang, a senior at Marquette High School, and Sophie Maniscalco, a junior at St. Joseph's Academy, for being named this year's winners of the 2nd District Congressional App Challenge! Their Supergirls Code App claimed the top prize in this year's competition, and I am extremely proud of Kailin and Sophie's hard work and dedication.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an incredible opportunity to highlight the coding abilities of students in Missouri's 2nd District and I was thrilled we had so many students enter this year. Thank you to Everett Johnson and Launch Code for judging the competition and The Coder School for hosting the award presentation.\nYou can view a demonstration of this year's winning app here.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a national competition highlighting the value of computer science and STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge allows students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or app, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-presses-pentagon-contradictory-statements-regarding-middle-east-troop-expansion", "Senator Hawley Presses Pentagon on Contradictory Statements Regarding Middle East Troop Expansion", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood on reports that the United States is considering sending as many as 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East.\nLast night the Pentagon told Senator Hawley the \"U.S is not considering sending 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East.\" Today Under Secretary Rood told Senator Hawley that the Pentagon is considering sending additional troops to the Middle East. In response to these contradictory statements, Senator Hawley asked Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for clarification. Senator Hawley also pressed Under Secretary Rood on what stability looks like in the Middle East and what our goals are in the region.\nA transcript of the exchange can be found below.\n  \nHAWLEY: I have to confess that you've confused me in your responses first to the Chairman and then to Senator Blackburn. I think you just said to Senator Blackburn that the Pentagon is considering additional troops to CENTCOM. Now that confuses me because the Pentagon spokesperson said last night in direct to response to me that the Pentagon is not considering sending additional troops to CENTCOM. So let me ask you again, is the Pentagon considering additional troops to CENTCOM?\nROOD: Senator, we're always considering changes to our force posture, not only in CENTCOM, but in other...\nHAWLEY: So the Pentagon spokesperson in responding to me last night publicly misspoke, is that what you're saying? Let me just read to you what she said,  she said, \"To be clear, the reporting [about the Wall Street Journal report] is wrong. The U.S. is not considering sending 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East.\" But you just told Senator Blackburn that that is under consideration. And that was in direct response to me. So I'd like a direct answer. Are you considering it or not?\nROOD: The direct answer I'd give you, Senator, is that we're always considering and in fact based on the threat situation in the Middle East are watching that and as necessary the Secretary of Defense has told me he intends to make changes to our force posture there. With respect to that statement by the spokesperson, we have not made a decision to deploy 14,000 troops.\nHAWLEY: Well, that wasn't what she said though, she said it's not  so, you're telling me now that she misspoke. I think at this point it would be helpful to hear from the Secretary on this issue. And I'd like to hear from him today on this issue. I assume that he signed off on the official spokesperson's comments  direct public comments last night to me  which she repeated over and over again, and you've directly contradicted here, this morning, multiple times. So, I think some clarification is in order and I'd like to have it. I'd like to have it in public. Because the Pentagon has now made multiple contradictory public statements. Can we do that? Can we get that done today?\nROOD: I'll talk to the Secretary of Defense about that.\nHAWLEY: Great.\nROOD: I do want to say Senator, I wouldn't agree with your characterization that I have directly contradicted the spokesperson.\nHAWLEY: Well how can that be the case when she says the United States is not considering sending additional troops to the Middle East and you just said that you are.\nROOD: Um. I believe her statement was we're not considering 14,000 troops.\nHAWLEY: Right. So, wait, I'm sorry, what's your testimony then? Your testimony's different from that, because you just told Senator Blackburn that that is under consideration.\nROOD: For example Senator there isn't some pending document with the Secretary of Defense that states deploy 14,000 troops. Do you approve: Yes or No? I'm not trying to be argumentative, sir. I'm just trying to point out there is a dynamic security situation in the Middle East and that it's a custom that we do, and we didn't do it just because of recent of events, where we regularly evaluate the appropriate number of...\nHAWLEY: Well, I'm hearing what you're saying, but there is a pretty direct contradiction here. You're telling me, have told me, have told Senator Blackburn, that this is under consideration. The Pentagon spokesperson said last night that it's not. So, I'll let you all circle up, and talk to one another, and then issue a public statement today clarifying this, preferably form the secretary.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-supports-tougher-penalties-crack-down-intrusive-robocalls", "Hartzler Supports Tougher Penalties to Crack Down on Intrusive Robocalls", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) today supported the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, legislation which will crack down on illegal and abusive robocalls and text messages. The bill passed the House and will now head to the White House for the President's approval.\nIllegal robocalls are insidious in nature and prey on seniors. More often than not, robocallers are looking to scare vulnerable people into giving up whatever savings they have, using tactics like fake threats of having their social security benefits canceled or the fake threat of jail time. These scammers also target other groups with dishonest and fraudulent claims, including disabled veterans or families caring for children with disabilities, Hartzler said. They violate our privacy and are an unsolicited burden to many of my constituents. This legislation helps rein in these calls and punish those who disgustingly prey on vulnerable people.\nSpecifically, the TRACED Act increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught illegally spamming people with fraudulent and harmful calls. It creates a nationwide caller authentication system to drastically improve the accuracy of caller ID systems and help consumers block unlawful calls at no extra charge. Finally, the bill also seeks to harmonize coordinated efforts among federal and state agencies prosecuting robocallers.\nThe inconvenience and burden of illegal robocalls is something too many of us have experienced. It is time to protect all Americans from these attacks and bolster our capability to block illegal robocalls.\nThis is the second piece of legislation Hartzler has supported addressing invasive robocalls. Earlier this year Hartzler supported H.R. 3375, the Stop Bad Robocalls Act. The bill, which passed the House 429-3, sought similar penalties against robocallers who intended to defraud vulnerable people. It also supported new technology to ensure the authentication of calls and the blocking of illegal calls without an extra line-item charge to consumers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-congratulates-sarah-pitlyk-on-confirmation-as-a-us-district-court-judge-for-the-eastern-district-of-missouri", "Blunt Congratulates Sarah Pitlyk on Confirmation as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \r\nToday, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement on\r\nthe Senate's confirmation of Sarah Pitlyk as a U.S. District Court Judge for\r\nthe Eastern District of Missouri:\r\n \r\nSarah\r\nPitlyk is an experienced attorney who understands the Constitution should be\r\nread and applied as our founders intended. I was proud to support her nomination\r\nand I'm glad she will soon be sworn in as a U.S. District Court Judge for the\r\nEastern District of Missouri.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-statement-sarah-pitlyks-judicial-confirmation", "Senator Hawley Statement on Sarah Pitlyk's Judicial Confirmation", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 4, 2019\n\n      \n            Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement on the confirmation of Sarah Pitlyk as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri:\n Sarah's strong legal experience, sharp intellect, and commitment to the rule of law make her an outstanding choice for the Eastern District. I was proud to recommend her to President Trump, and I am confident that she will serve the people of Missouri as a principled and fair judge for decades to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400296", "Luetkemeyer Introduces Legislation to Improve Flood Control Plan for Upper Mississippi River", "2019-12-03", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luetkemeyer Introduces Legislation to Improve Flood Control Plan for Upper Mississippi River  \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 3, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) introduced the Upper Mississippi River Flood Control Act which will require the Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers to submit a flood plan for the Upper Mississippi River to Congress by January 1, 2021. The bill requires the plan to guarantee that all stakeholders have a voice with the Army Corps and ensures that agricultural districts are fairly compensated following a flood.\r\nMissouri and the entire Upper Mississippi River Basin saw historic flooding in 2019 and have endured devasting losses as a result, said Congressman Luetkemeyer. I'm proud to introduce the Upper Mississippi River Flood Control Act in order to make much needed improvements to current flood protocols and ensure Missouri farms and communities are provided with the necessary relief.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400294", "Blaines Bulletin: Thanksgiving", "2019-11-29", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thanksgiving is always a good time to reflect on the year and think about what we're grateful for. Missouri has faced more challenges than usual this year. We have seen historic flooding, severe storms and tornadoes that have all had devastating effects on our communities. In the wake of these difficult circumstances, I'm so grateful for the people who have come together in the Third District. In light of the upcoming movie, Mr. Rogers had a great quote about times like these  when he saw scary things in the news as a child, his mother would tell him look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping. This is exactly what we saw here in Missouri over this past year. Yes, we have weathered our fair share of storms  both figuratively and literally  but it has been especially heartwarming to witness the helpers of all sorts who have come out to offer assistance and rebuild.\r\nDespite the differences that exist and the vitriol spewed by the news each night, we are not defined by these things. While it is true that a certain degree of political divide exists, when push comes to shove we put all these things aside and see the good in people. When our neighbors fall on hard times or disaster strikes, everyone comes together to help one another. It's been moving to witness this first hand over the past year throughout our district and throughout our state. When flooding and tornadoes devastated parts of our state, we saw incredible compassion and commitment to others from our first responders, disaster volunteers, our military, and fellow Missourians who wanted to lend a helping hand. We had a challenging year, but I'm so thankful to live in an area where the goodness in people conquers all.\r\nWe have many other blessings in our lives for which we give thanks. As always, I'm grateful for my family  my wife, our three children and their spouses, and our six precious grandchildren  who continues to be an amazing source of love and support. This year, we're grateful for our St. Louis Blues who brought the Stanley Cup home to Missouri. And, I continue to be honored and grateful to be your Congressman and represent an area my family has called home for generations.\r\nWhile most of us are enjoying time with family and likely eating a little too much, please keep in mind those for whom we are the most thankful: the men and women stationed around the world sacrificing everything to defend our nation. Many service members and their families are half a world apart so we can enjoy the holidays with the ones we love. As we worry about overcooking the turkey or the kids making it to dinner on time, they live everyday with the fear that their mother, father, son, or daughter may never make it home for dinner again. It's appropriate that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving both take place in November. We are eternally grateful for our veterans and servicemembers as they ensure the safety of every other blessing we have in our lives.\r\nFrom my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-statement-president-signing-hong-kong-human-rights-and-democracy-act-law", "Senator Hawley Statement on the President Signing Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act into Law", "2019-11-27", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement on President Donald Trump signing theHong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019:\n\"Hong Kongers have put their lives on the line fighting for the basic freedoms promised them by Beijing. President Trumps decision to sign theHong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Acthonors their courage and aids their cause. And it sends a clear signal to Beijing: the United States will not stand by and watch China break its treaty commitments and try to dominate all of Asia.\nSenator Hawley was anoriginal cosponsorof theHong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. He has alsointroducedtheHong Kong Be Water Actandcalled upon the United Nationsto pass a resolution condemning Beijing's abuse of the people of Hong Kong.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400293", "Luetkemeyer Reintroduces Legislation to Clarify Burdensome Regulatory Guidance", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luetkemeyer Reintroduces Legislation to Clarify Burdensome Regulatory Guidance \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 26, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) reintroduced the Guidance Clarity Act which requires Federal agencies to include text in guidance documents clarifying that the document is not legally binding. This enables Congress to ensure that the regulatory system operates with the transparency small businesses and entrepreneurs need to continue growing.\r\nMost small businesses do not have access to teams of lawyers to navigate the regulatory maze and clarify what is a law, what is a rule, and what is simply guidance said Luetkemeyer. I am introducing the Guidance Clarity Act to force regulators to provide a plain language statement on the front page of guidance documents stating that it is not law nor will it be enforced as a law.\r\nBackground: Guidance documents are intended to clarify an agency's policy or interpretation of a regulation but do not carry the weight of finalized rule or law. The official rulemaking process includes numerous steps that must be taken before final enactment. These steps can include public notice and comment, submission to Congress pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, and additional provisions to ensure the input of all stakeholders is included in the formation of a rule. Guidance documents skip over many of these checks and balances and can be published without review or comment.\r\nIn October, the Trump Administration shed further light on this problem by issuing an executive order to improve the transparency of guidance documents. If enacted the Guidance Clarity Act would cement the clarity sought by the executive order into law.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-ncaa-s-decision-sanction-university-missouri", "Hartzler on NCAAs Decision to Sanction the University of Missouri", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "HARRISONVILLE, MO.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement over the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) decision to not reverse sanctions against the University of Missouri.\nI entirely disagree with the NCAA's disproportionate sanctions against Mizzou's athletic programs. These sanctions against Mizzou will ultimately hurt student athletes, stifle the university's ability to recruit, block an important revenue stream for college athletics, and set back the progress made by the college football program. Athletes will be denied needed scholarships they deserve hampering their education and their future, Hartzler said.\nAs the NCAA's own report acknowledged this year, the fact remains that Mizzou administrators self-reported the rogue, part-time tutor and took internal steps to ensure that tutor's termination. Mizzou has cooperated fully throughout the process. The NCAA's sanctions should be proportional and reward cooperation and responsible action.\nIt's wrong to penalize today's athletes for the actions of others and wrong to sanction a university when they have done everything right from an institutional standpoint, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-heals-act", "Wagner Statement on HEALS Act", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", "wagner", "https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), along with Reps. Gwen Moore (WI-04), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Harley Rouda (CA-48), introduced the Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act, legislation to assist survivors of domestic violence to rapidly secure safe housing situations.\n\n\"Survivors of intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual assault often face volatile situations where they find themselves without a stable or safe place to live,\" said Congresswoman Wagner. \"Without safe housing options, victims can fall back into the cycle of violence they are desperately trying to escape. Many victims are also without a support network while they work to rebuild their lives, and these housing resources can give them the support they need to break the cycle of abuse. This legislation will help provide a vital lifeline to victims as they fight for independence and safety.\"\n\n\"As a former law enforcement officer, some of the very first calls I responded to involved domestic violence. I've seen firsthand the damage this uniquely heinous kind of violence can do to families and to survivors.\" said Rep. O'Halleran. \"No person experiencing DV should be forced to stay in a dangerous situation because they do not have housing elsewhere. I'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce this bill that will make a real difference for those seeking to leave abusive situations.\"\n\nThe HEALS Act directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prioritize funding for transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The legislation also establishes standards in evaluating current resources available to survivors and instructs HUD to research and identify new housing options that may be viable for survivors of domestic violence.\n\n\"As a survivor of domestic violence, I have made it my personal mission to uplift and empower individuals who have been victimized,\" said Congresswoman Moore. \"For those fleeing dangerous situations, access to safe housing can mean the difference between life and death. I am so proud to support this legislation, which will tackle the current housing shortage and help keep women, children, and men safe.\"\n\n\"A lack of housing or safe place to stay is one of the most dangerous barriers for survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault,\" said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. \"Too often, those trying to escape abusive relationships have nowhere to go. No one should be made to choose between an abusive relationship and homelessness. I will always stand with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, which is why today, I join my colleagues in introducing the HEALS Act to ensure survivors have access to vital housing assistance.\"\n\n\"This bipartisan legislation empowers survivors of abusive living situations and provides critical resources needed to escape the cyclical violence that plagues so many United States households,\" said Congressman Rouda. \"I thank my colleagues for their work on this issue and am proud to support the thousands of brave Americans who have endured or are currently enduring domestic violence.\"\n\nThe HEALS Act is endorsed by the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.\n\n\"On behalf of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, we would like to thank you for leadership in introducing the Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act. This Act would undoubtedly help survivors to secure safe housing, which as you know, is an integral component of a survivor's pathway to healing. The HEALS Act would eliminate barriers survivors often face in securing and maintaining housing. This is a crucial step on a very important issue, and survivors of domestic violence in Arizona will greatly benefit from this legislation.\" \u2013 Katie Ares, Public Policy Specialist at the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence\n\n\"Housing is safety for survivors. It is essential that our government designate resources to provide survivor-centered housing so that all survivors can find safety when fleeing danger.\" \u2013 Monica McLaughlin, Director of Public Policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-on-heals-act", "Wagner Statement on HEALS Act", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Ann Wagner", "W000812", "wagner.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), along with Reps. Gwen Moore (WI-04), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Harley Rouda (CA-48), introduced the Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act, legislation to assist survivors of domestic violence to rapidly secure safe housing situations.\nSurvivors of intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual assault often face volatile situations where they find themselves without a stable or safe place to live,said Congresswoman Wagner.Without safe housing options, victims can fall back into the cycle of violence they are desperately trying to escape. Many victims are also without a support network while they work to rebuild their lives, and these housing resources can give them the support they need to break the cycle of abuse. This legislation will help provide a vital lifeline to victims as they fight for independence and safety.\nAs a former law enforcement officer, some of the very first calls I responded to involved domestic violence. I've seen firsthand the damage this uniquely heinous kind of violence can do to families and to survivors.said Rep. O'Halleran. No person experiencing DV should be forced to stay in a dangerous situation because they do not have housing elsewhere. I'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce this bill that will make a real difference for those seeking to leave abusive situations.\nThe HEALS Act directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prioritize funding for transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The legislation also establishes standards in evaluating current resources available to survivors and instructs HUD to research and identify new housing options that may be viable for survivors of domestic violence.\nAs a survivor of domestic violence, I have made it my personal mission to uplift and empower individuals who have been victimized,said Congresswoman Moore.For those fleeing dangerous situations, access to safe housing can mean the difference between life and death. I am so proud to support this legislation, which will tackle the current housing shortage and help keep women, children, and men safe.\nA lack of housing or safe place to stay is one of the most dangerous barriers for survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault,said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.Too often, those trying to escape abusive relationships have nowhere to go. No one should be made to choose between an abusive relationship and homelessness. I will always stand with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, which is why today, I join my colleagues in introducing the HEALS Act to ensure survivors have access to vital housing assistance.\nThis bipartisan legislation empowers survivors of abusive living situations and provides critical resources needed to escape the cyclical violence that plagues so many United States households,said Congressman Rouda.I thank my colleagues for their work on this issue and am proud to support the thousands of brave Americans who have endured or are currently enduring domestic violence.\nThe HEALS Act is endorsed by the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.\nOn behalf of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, we would like to thank you for leadership in introducing the Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act. This Act would undoubtedly help survivors to secure safe housing, which as you know, is an integral component of a survivor's pathway to healing. The HEALS Act would eliminate barriers survivors often face in securing and maintaining housing. This is a crucial step on a very important issue, and survivors of domestic violence in Arizona will greatly benefit from this legislation. Katie Ares, Public Policy Specialist at the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence\nHousing is safety for survivors. It is essential that our government designate resources to provide survivor-centered housing so that all survivors can find safety when fleeing danger. Monica McLaughlin, Director of Public Policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence\n\"In 2018, Missouri domestic and sexual violence programs provided 55,320 nights of safety in longer-term transitional housing to domestic violence victims and their families. Yet annual statistics provided by MCADSV member programs show that for every one person able to receive shelter services, another two are turned away. The Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act is critical for ensuring the housing needs of survivors and their families are understood and addressed. Safe, stable housing plays a critical role in survivors' ability to lift themselves out of poverty or prevent falling into poverty. Homelessness is not an urban or rural issue  it is a Missouri issue. In order to fully prevent and end homelessness, coordinated efforts need to be strengthened on the federal down to local level. Advocates and survivors consistently identify housing as a primary need. We are hopeful the HEALS Act will help to prioritize reinvestment in the housing needs of survivors.\"Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-blasts-ncaa-decision-upholding-penalties-against-university-of-missouri", "Blunt Blasts NCAA Decision Upholding Penalties Against University of Missouri", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released\r\nthe following statement today condemning the\r\nNational Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) decision to uphold penalties\r\nimposed on the University of Missouri's athletics program:\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\nThe NCAA made the absolute wrong decision here. The facts in this case\r\nclearly do not support these unfair,\r\nunwarranted sanctions. The University\r\nof Missouri did the right thing by self-reporting the actions of the tutor and\r\na small number of players. The NCAA is punishing\r\ncurrent players for actions that occurred years\r\nago and they had nothing to do with.\r\nI will continue to support Chancellor Cartwright, Athletic Director Jim Sterk, and UM System President\r\nMun Choi as they press for badly-needed reforms to the NCAA's enforcement\r\nprocess. I hope Mizzou fans will join me in\r\nexpressing our pride in all of the athletes who work hard every day to be the\r\nbest at what they do. We are cheering for you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-secures-pledge-hud-secretary-carson-engage-deplorable-conditions-teh-realty", "Senator Hawley Secures Pledge from HUD Secretary Carson to Engage on Deplorable Conditions at T.E.H. Realty Properties", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today Senator Hawleyannouncedthat he spoke with Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson about the deplorable living conditions at T.E.H. Realty properties in St. Louis and Kansas City. Secretary Carson pledged to Senator Hawley that HUD would get engaged.\nLast weekend in St. Louis, Senator Hawleytouredone of T.E.H. Realty's worst properties, Bridgeport Crossing. During his tour Senator Hawley witnessed thedangerousand unlivable conditions of multiple Bridgeport Crossing apartments. Last week, Senator Hawley called for federal investigations into T.E.H. Realty properties in bothSt. LouisandKansas Citythat have received federal funding in the past.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-statement-next-nga-west-groundbreaking", "Senator Hawley Statement on Next NGA West Groundbreaking", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley released the following statement on the groundbreaking of the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) western headquarters in St. Louis:  \n\nThis $1.7 billion investment by the NGA will create thousands of good-paying jobs in St. Louis. The geospatial intelligence professionals at NGA West help us understand the physical world in a way that enhances our national security and strengthens our response to threats at home and around the world. This work is of the utmost importance to our nation and will continue to happen right here in St. Louis for years to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400292", "Blaines Bulletin: The Export-Import Bank", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In the last two years, Missouri businesses have exported over $300 million worth of goods and services around the world by utilizing the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. In other words, consumers worldwide are spending $300 million to buy products made here in Missouri by our workers. The access to foreign markets provided by the Bank gives our local businesses an incredible opportunity to reach consumers anywhere on the map, and the more those consumers buy, the more workers our companies can hire.\r\nOftentimes, people associate export financing with only the biggest American companies. While large corporations like Boeing and GE -- who both employ thousands of Missourians and Third District residents -- do utilize the EXIM Bank, the majority of Bank users are small businesses. In fact, 75 percent of the companies in Missouri who utilize EXIM are small businesses. Nationwide, more than 90 percent of EXIM transactions in 2019 directly supported American small businesses. Companies like Lubri-loy Company in Wentzville, who created technologically-advanced lubricating products for machinery, and Ace Manufacturing and Parts Company in Wentzville, who sells the last American-made clutch on the market, are shipping their products around the world. With the EXIM Bank's assistance, our small businesses are not just able to keep up with bigger international companies -- they are successfully competing in the global marketplace.\r\nUnlike most government agencies that are packed with inefficiencies and cost taxpayers entirely too much money, the EXIM Bank actually makes America money. Because it finances the purchases of American products by foreign companies, the interest paid by those companies comes back to the U.S. creating a profit for taxpayers  certainly a welcome change from the norm. It's also important to note the Bank does not compete with the private sector. It partners with the private sectors lenders to assist with financing that could not otherwise be provided. \r\nWith the Banks authorization set to expire, last week I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in the House in passing a bill to reauthorize it for ten years. Given the success our companies and workers are experiencing, I was proud to support a bill that will help us keep this economic success going.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hartzler.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hartzler-pelosi-s-back-peddling-usmca", "Hartzler on Pelosis Back-Peddling on USMCA", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Vicky Hartzler", "H001053", "hartzler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised skepticism over passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the remainder of the 2019 legislative year:\nIt is unfortunate that Speaker Pelosi has led us to believe in the last weeks that the USMCA would be brought to the House for a vote. Saying that she now believes there is not enough time in the year to bring the agreement to a vote is quite the statement, especially after how, under her leadership, the House of Representatives spent nearly 30 legislative days on their quest to undo the 2016 presidential election, Hartzler said.\nThe USMCA will bring 176,000 new jobs to the U.S. and will spur over $60 billion in new economic activity. Additionally, it opens access to critical markets, such as the Canadian dairy market.\nThe agreement is a great improvement on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It increases the percentage of components in goods that have to be made in North America in order to take advantage of the free tariff advantage.\nThe USMCA also has stronger labor provisions than NAFTA, protecting American workers from being undercut by cheap foreign labor. The agreement also addresses a range of issues rarely addressed in NAFTA, such as regulations on digital trade and a chapter dedicated to small businesses. \nIt is concerning that Speaker Pelosi is back peddling on such an important deal for farmers and ranchers across my state and across our country. Needed jobs, critical access to markets, and new investments in American industries should not be held up by Speaker Pelosi because of her need to undermine President Trump.\nIt is my hope that Congress will work together with President Trump to make sure this deal is passed.I look forward to working expeditiously to secure this new deal for Missouri and all Americans, Hartzler concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://jasonsmith.house.gov/news//news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2596", "Rep. Smith Secures $2.9 Million for Malden Regional Airport", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Jason Smith", "S001195", "jasonsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-asks-us-attorney-hud-federal-investigation-kansas-city-public-housing", "Senator Hawley Asks U.S. Attorney, HUD for Federal Investigation into Kansas City Public Housing", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Joshua Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent letters to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Timothy Garrison asking for investigations of public housing in the Kansas City region. These letters come after recent news reports documented the conditions residents of T.E.H. Realty's properties across the state face from significant rodent infestations, to mold, to systems that leave residents with no source of heat during the winter.\nIn the letter, Senator Hawley wrote,These news stories report that large companies managing housing complexes for predominantly low-income Missourians in Kansas City are failing to maintain units in habitable conditions, evicting tenants at higher than normal rates, and failing to pay utilities bills that are the landlord's responsibility, leaving hundreds of residents potentially without heat.\"\nHe continued,I therefore ask HUD to work with local housing authorities to ensure that residents who are affected by bad management companies receive all interim relief to which they are entitled, including Tenant Protection Vouchers and Enhanced Vouchers. Providing these benefits would enable residents to obtain adequate housing with minimal disruption and with the opportunity to stay in their communities.\nYesterday, hesent similar lettersto HUD and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Jeffrey Jensen asking for investigations of public housing in the St. Louis region\nRead the full letter toHUDis available here and below. An identical letter was sent toGarrison.\n  \nNovember 22, 2019\nThe Hon. Benjamin S. Carson\nSecretary\nDepartment of Housing and Urban Development\n451 7th Street S.W.\nWashington, DC 20410\nDear Secretary Carson:\nI write following disturbing reports of unacceptable housing conditions in the Kansas City region. For years, residents in the region have had to put up with conditions ranging from significant rodent infestations, to mold, to systems that leave residents with no source of heat during winter. These conditions are widespread, persistent, and affect residents across the state. As Attorney General of Missouri, for example, I brought a lawsuit against a management company following reports that nearly half the units in a complex it managed were infested with rodents.[1]\nRecent reports suggest that these housing problems have not only remainedthey have become worse in the Kansas City region. These news stories report that large companies managing housing complexes for predominantly low-income Missourians in Kansas City are failing to maintain units in habitable conditions, evicting tenants at higher than normal rates,[2]and failing to pay utilities bills that are the landlord's responsibility, leaving hundreds of residents potentially without heat.[3]Recently, the Housing Authority of Kansas City cut off future Section 8 eligibility for at least one large housing company, TEH Realty, for the company's history and pattern of non-compliance.[4]\nConditions may be even worse than what these reports suggest. When some landlords neglect their duties, tenants often will not bring complaints. Eviction is a cause, and not just a symptom, of poverty. And many of these tenants fear that, if they raise complaints, a landlord will evict them, either illegally or pretextually over a small-scale infraction. That concern is especially severe when residents live in complexes managed by companies with higher than normal eviction rates.\nThese reports of housing conditions in the Kansas City region warrant a thorough investigation by your agency. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides critical housing resources to the landlords of millions of Americans. But HUD provides those resources for the benefit of the tenants, and taxpayer dollars should not go to landlords who do not provide even basic levels of acceptable housing. I ask that HUD conduct a thorough investigation of publicly managed housing complexes and landlords receiving federal funds in the Kansas City region, including Section 8 funding, who are failing to meet their obligations to provide quality housing.\nAt the same time, HUD should not cut off funding from bad property management companies without providing reciprocal support to the tenants harmed by those facilities. The Department must not compound harm to low-income residents by terminating relationships with bad management companies in a way that would risk making residents even worse off.\nI therefore ask HUD to work with local housing authorities to ensure that residents who are affected by bad management companies receive all interim relief to which they are entitled, including Tenant Protection Vouchers and Enhanced Vouchers. Providing these benefits would enable residents to obtain adequate housing with minimal disruption and with the opportunity to stay in their communities.\nThank you for your prompt attention to this important issue.\nSincerely,\nJosh Hawley\nU.S. Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/protecting-our-rural-communities", "Protecting our Rural Communities", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Laddonia is just like a lot of towns in North Missouri. It's small with about 500 folks who call it home. It's your average, rural community that's had an unmatched love for family, God, and country since 1872. Unfortunately, like a lot of small towns, they've been handed a laundry-list of regulations to comply with, dreamed up by a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington. The EPA gave the City of Laddonia an ultimatummake major changes to your wastewater system or else. So, the city complied and spent $2 million dollars to make the requested improvements. That doesn't include the money they had to subsequently spend for additional compliance. All told, that works out to just over $4500 per person. Worse still, under the current law, those fixes will only stave off the EPA for 5 yearsat which point the Washington bureaucrats could return, demanding the people of Laddonia fork over an even larger sum of money to comply with whatever new regulations they've dreamed up. That's right, the EPA will be right back, demanding more expensive upgrades before folks can even begin to pay off what the bureaucrats demanded last time. This isn't just a problem in Laddoniait's a problem for small towns across Missouri, and America. It's ridiculous, it's unfair, and it punishes our small, rural communities who continue to spend untold sums of money to comply with the latest regulations coming out of Washington. Thankfully, President Trump has placed a focus on cutting bad regulations. But, many can't be undone overnight. For years I've been working to ease the burden on rural America by pushing for longer EPA permit lengths and giving communities more resources to comply with these costly regulations. Earlier this month, we got some good news. We were finally able to get a bill moving that could add up to 5 more years to the standard permit lengthroughly doubling it. Many small towns apply for funding through a loan fund to upgrade their water and sewer systems. In this same bill, I was able to make sure more funding is set aside specifically to help our rural communities. Just as the case is with the federal government most of the time, a little common sense would go a long way towards fixing this problem. Extending these permit lengths and making it easier for rural communities to get help footing the bill to comply with these costly regulations doesn't fix the problem, but it's a big step in the right direction. I'll keep fighting to get the government off our backs and make sure we protect our rural communities. Sincerely,    Sam Graves", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/graves-blunt-hawley-applaud-139th-airlift-wing-s-inclusion-potential", "Graves, Blunt, Hawley applaud 139th Airlift Wings Inclusion on Potential Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Base List", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.), applauded the Air Force's decision to include Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph in the next round of potential bases to host an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.\nToday's announcement is great news. Whether it be its central location, primary aircraft inventory or stellar mission crews, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is well-positioned to host this unit. I'm thrilled they've made it through the first round and I know the impeccable credentials of the 139th Airlift Wing make it incredibly competitive to secure this squadron, said Graves.\nAs the home to the highly skilled men and women of the 139th Airlift Wing, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is an ideal host for the next Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, saidBlunt. Every year, the region's well-respected medical and nursing schools produce thousands of health care professionals who are eager to serve. I hope the U.S. Air Force will consider all the benefits Rosecrans brings to the table as the basing process continues.\nSenator Hawley said,It's encouraging that the Air Force will continue to consider the Air National Guard base at St. Joseph for the new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.Already home to the 139th Airlift Wing, the citizen-airmen and women there enjoy tremendous support from the local St. Joseph community. I can think of no better location for this important capability.\nIn August 2019, Graves, Hawley and Blunt sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force expressing their support for locating the squadron in St. Joseph. Today's decision is just the first round of potential bases. Another decision is expected in 2020 as to which base on today's list will house the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.\nClick here to view a copy of the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/missouri-delegation-asks-fema-clarify-disaster-relief-reform-efforts", "Missouri Delegation Asks FEMA to Clarify Disaster Relief Reform Efforts", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Earlier this week, the entire Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Vicky Hartzler, Ann Wagner, Wm. Lacy Clay, Billy Long, and Jason Smith, sent a letter asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify what steps they've taken to fairly implement Section 1232 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA) in light of recent disasters in Missouri, including flooding. Section 1232 states that the Administrator of FEMA shall give greater consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters when making recommendations to the President of the United States regarding a major disaster declaration.\nThe letter was sent in light of the denial of Individual Assistance to several counties for flooding that occurred earlier this year.\nWith these difficulties in mind, we ask for FEMA to provide detailed information into how greater consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters' in accordance with Section 1232 of DRRA is objectively defined and measured. Furthermore, we ask you to provide specifics into how Section 1232 ofDRRA has been implemented, the delegation wrote. It is our understanding that you distributed a guidance on May 1, 2019 to regional counterparts on how to describe localized impacts. What is the mechanism used to administer this guidance and what information is included in such a guidance? How does FEMA ensure that there is no discrepancy between how regional divisions execute this guidance?\nClick here to read the full letter.\n\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-blunt-hawley-applaud-139th-airlift-wings-inclusion-potential", "Graves, Blunt, Hawley applaud 139th Airlift Wing\u2019s Inclusion on Potential Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Base List", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.), applauded the Air Force's decision to include Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph in the next round of potential bases to host an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.\n\n\"Today's announcement is great news. Whether it be its central location, primary aircraft inventory or stellar mission crews, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is well-positioned to host this unit. I'm thrilled they've made it through the first round and I know the impeccable credentials of the 139th Airlift Wing make it incredibly competitive to secure this squadron,\" saidGraves.\n\n\"As the home to the highly skilled men and women of the 139th Airlift Wing, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is an ideal host for the next Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron,\" said Blunt. \"Every year, the region's well-respected medical and nursing schools produce thousands of health care professionals who are eager to serve. I hope the U.S. Air Force will consider all the benefits Rosecrans brings to the table as the basing process continues.\"\n\nSenator Hawley said, \"It's encouraging that the Air Force will continue to consider the Air National Guard base at St. Joseph for the new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Already home to the 139th Airlift Wing, the citizen-airmen and women there enjoy tremendous support from the local St. Joseph community. I can think of no better location for this important capability.\"\n\nIn August 2019, Graves, Hawley and Blunt sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force expressing their support for locating the squadron in St. Joseph. Today's decision is just the first round of potential bases. Another decision is expected in 2020 as to which base on today's list will house the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/missouri-delegation-asks-fema-clarify-disaster-relief-reform-efforts", "Missouri Delegation Asks FEMA to Clarify Disaster Relief Reform Efforts", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Earlier this week, the entire Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Vicky Hartzler, Ann Wagner, Wm. Lacy Clay, Billy Long, and Jason Smith, sent a letter asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify what steps they've taken to fairly implement Section 1232 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA) in light of recent disasters in Missouri, including flooding. Section 1232 states that the Administrator of FEMA shall give \"greater consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters\" when making recommendations to the President of the United States regarding a major disaster declaration.\n\nThe letter was sent in light of the denial of Individual Assistance to several counties for flooding that occurred earlier this year.\n\n\"With these difficulties in mind, we ask for FEMA to provide detailed information into how \u2018greater consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters' in accordance with Section 1232 of DRRA is objectively defined and measured. Furthermore, we ask you to provide specifics into how Section 1232 ofDRRA has been implemented,\" the delegation wrote. \"It is our understanding that you distributed a guidance on May 1, 2019 to regional counterparts on how to describe localized impacts. What is the mechanism used to administer this guidance and what information is included in such a guidance? How does FEMA ensure that there is no discrepancy between how regional divisions execute this guidance?\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-hawley-graves-applaud-139th-airlift-wings-inclusion-on-potential-aeromedical-evacuation-squadron-base-list", "Blunt, Hawley, Graves Applaud 139th Airlift Wing\u2019s Inclusion on Potential Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Base List", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Josh\r\nHawley (Mo.), along with U.S. Representative Sam\r\nGraves (Mo.), applauded the Air Force's decision to include Rosecrans\r\nAir National Guard Base in St. Joseph in the next round of potential bases to\r\nhost an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. As\r\nthe home to the highly skilled men and women of the 139th Airlift Wing,\r\nRosecrans Air National Guard Base is an ideal host for the next Aeromedical\r\nEvacuation Squadron, saidBlunt. Every year, the region's\r\nwell-respected medical and nursing schools produce thousands of health care\r\nprofessionals who are eager to serve. I hope the U.S. Air Force will consider\r\nall the benefits Rosecrans brings to the table as the basing process\r\ncontinues. Senator\r\nHawley said,It's\r\nencouraging that the Air Force will continue to consider the Air National Guard\r\nbase at St. Joseph for the new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.Already\r\nhome to the 139th Airlift Wing, the citizen-airmen and women there enjoy\r\ntremendous support from the local St. Joseph community. I can think of no better\r\nlocation for this important capability. Today's announcement is great news. Whether\r\nit be its central location, primary aircraft inventory or stellar mission\r\ncrews, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is well-positioned to host this unit.\r\nI'm thrilled they've made it through the first round and I know the impeccable\r\ncredentials of the 139th Airlift Wing make it incredibly competitive\r\nto secure this squadron, said Graves. In\r\nAugust 2019, Blunt, Hawley, and Graves sent\r\na letter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force expressing their support for\r\nlocating the squadron in St. Joseph. Today's decision is just the first round\r\nof potential bases. Another decision is expected in 2020 as to which base on\r\ntoday's list will house the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blunt-klobuchar-applaud-unanimous-senate-passage-of-resolution-marking-national-adoption-month-and-day-in-november", "Blunt, Klobuchar Applaud Unanimous Senate Passage of Resolution Marking National Adoption Month & Day in November", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar\r\n(Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), today announced\r\nthat their resolution marking November as National Adoption Month and November\r\n23rd as National Adoption Day passed the Senate with unanimous support. As\r\nco-chairs of the bipartisan CCA, Blunt and Klobuchar work to engage Members of\r\nCongress on issues pertaining to children in need of permanent homes, children\r\nin the foster care system, and domestic and international child welfare. With more than 400,000 children in the U.S.\r\nfoster care system, it's vital that we keep working to improve the adoption process\r\nand better support adoptive families, said Blunt. I'm proud that Senator\r\nKlobuchar and I were once again able to have the Senate's full support for this\r\nresolution marking National Adoption Month and Day. As an adoptive parent, I\r\nencourage families across America to consider opening their home to a child in\r\nneed. This is the fifth consecutive year that Blunt and\r\nKlobuchar have led legislation to recognize November as National Adoption Month\r\nand to mark National Adoption Day. National Adoption Month is an opportunity to\r\nbring attention to and support adoptive families who open their hearts and\r\nhomes to deserving children, said Klobuchar. As Senate co-chairs of the\r\nCongressional Coalition on Adoption, Senator Blunt and I continue to work with\r\ncolleagues on both sides of the aisle to help make the adoption process better\r\nfor children and families across our country. It's important to increase\r\nawareness about children in need of loving homes and to honor the hard work of\r\nthese nurturing adoptive families.Blunt and Klobuchar have been leaders in the fight\r\nto give every child a permanent home. In May 2019, they introduced theSupporting Adoptive Families Actto help ensure\r\nadoptive families have access to pre- and post- adoption services, including\r\nmental and behavioral health treatment. In February 2019, they introduced legislation to improve\r\nthe intercountry adoption process. The bipartisanIntercountry Adoption Advisory Committee Actprovides\r\nthe Secretary of State the authority to establish an Intercountry Adoption\r\nAdvisory Committee within the Bureau of Consular Affairs to focus on\r\ncoordinating the development, refinement, and implementation of policy and\r\nprograms on intercountry adoption. Last year, they sent a letter urging the\r\nBureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to ensure that\r\nthe dialogue between the DOS, Congress, and the Adoption Service Providers\r\ncontinues and that members and experts in the adoption community are consulted\r\nin efforts to develop and implement policies that advance intercountry\r\nadoption.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 768, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "MO", "p2": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 768, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MO&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 768, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "MO", "label": "MO", "count": 768, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 768, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-11-21,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblunt~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fblunt-klobuchar-applaud-unanimous-senate-passage-of-resolution-marking-national-adoption-month-and-day-in-november", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MO&year=2019&_next=2019-11-21%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblunt~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fblunt-klobuchar-applaud-unanimous-senate-passage-of-resolution-marking-national-adoption-month-and-day-in-november&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 215.6950521748513, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}