Press releases
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140 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "MO" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending
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| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-to-override-president-s-veto-of-the-ndaa | Congressman Cleaver Votes to Override Presidents Veto of the NDAA | 2020-12-29 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Last night, the House of Representatives voted to override the President's veto of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (FY21 NDAA) by a vote of 322-87. With the requisite two-thirds majority supporting the measure, the President's veto has been overridden in the House of Representatives. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the legislation, which will provide a 3% pay raise for servicemembers, authorize and increase hazardous duty pay for servicemembers in harm's way, provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, strengthen our nation's cybersecurity, remove all names and symbols honoring the Confederacy from Department of Defense installations, and more. The NDAA will become law if the Senate also votes to override with a two-thirds majority. For 59 consecutive years, the U.S. Congress has passed the NDAA to ensure the needs of our military personnel and their families are met so that they have the tools necessary to continue defending the freedoms we hold so dearly, said Congressman Cleaver. While there are certainly provisions I would have personally taken out and others I would have liked to see included, this year's NDAA is a solid compromise that provides our military members with the pay raise and hazard pay they deserve, some critical benefits that are long-overdue, and the means to protect our nation in every field from the seas to the latest cyber threats. Despite the President's latest temper-tantrum, I'm pleased we were able to pass this critical legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. Included in this year's NDAA was the Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and Innovating Technology, and Examiner Reform (COUNTER) Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Cleaver to update and overhaul the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), which dictates banks' responsibilities to help the government detect and root out illicit financial transactions from nefarious actors domestically and abroad. The COUNTER Act woul… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-s-statement-following-passage-of-the-cash-act | Congressman Cleavers Statement Following Passage of the CASH Act | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Caring for Americans With Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020 with overwhelming bipartisan support. For months now, my Democratic colleagues in Congress have pushed for larger survival checks for working class Americans who have been devastated by the economic impact of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Despite previous objections from congressional Republicans, it appears the holiday spirit has rubbed off on my colleagues across the aisle. I'm extraordinarily pleased they have come around to the realization that American families are in dire need of substantive direct payments and have joined House Democrats in increasing these payments from $600 to $2,000. With support from the President, two-thirds of the House of Representatives, and every Democrat in the Senate, there is no excuse for the Senate Majority Leader to block this critical legislation from getting a vote on the Senate Floor. While I am certain that more relief will be needed in the coming months, which is why I have been calling for recurring payments since April, this is an important lifeline to keep families afloat until the flood of COVID-19 begins to recede across the nation. I only hope the GOP-controlled Senate will do the right thing and allow it to pass for the American people. ### Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-for-900-billion-coronavirus-relief-package-and | Congressman Cleaver Votes For $900 Billion Coronavirus Relief Package and Government Funding Bill | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 133, an omnibus spending bill consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, emergency coronavirus relief, and authorizations. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the legislation, which would provide $900 billion in relief to American families, workers and small businesses that have been crushed by the simultaneous economic and public health crises caused by coronavirus. This agreement should be interpreted as a down payment on the costs of recovery from the coronavirus-induced recession. It extends enhanced unemployment benefits for laid off workers, provides families with another round of direct payments, administers additional lending to struggling small businesses, grants rental and housing assistance to prevent millions from falling into homelessness, strengthens nutrition assistance programs that have been strained like never before, and equips our nation with the tools necessary to distribute the vaccines that will end this national nightmareall of which I strongly support, if not at the levels which I would prefer, said Congressman Cleaver. The bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus relief package brings desperately-needed support to Missourians and the communities of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Congressman Cleaver advocated for several important provisions within the bill that would: Send direct payments to American families and workers, including another round of $600 to every adult making less than $75,000 that phases out as incomes get up to $99,000. Families will also receive an additional $600 for each child, meaning a family of four making less than $75,000 would receive $2,400. Extend enhanced unemployment benefits that would have expired with the new year. Because of efforts from House Democrats, millions of workers who have been laid off due to a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic will continue to receive an added $300 per week of unemployment benefits. Provide ren… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-and-davids-applaud-492-million-grant-for-kc-streetcar-main | Reps. Cleaver and Davids Applaud $49.2 Million Grant For KC Streetcar Main Street Extension | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it would allocate another $49.2 million to the Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension project. The Main Street Extension project will be a 3.5 mile extension of the Kansas City Downtown Streetcar from the current streetcar terminus at Union Station to the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) applauded the announcement after previously advocating for such grant funding to be awarded for the project in July of this year. The KC Streetcar has transformed public transportation in Kansas City and been an economic boon to our citizens and business community since it first opened to the public years ago, said Congressman Cleaver. I'm thrilled to see the FTA agree to our calls for additional federal investment so that we can continue to expand the Streetcar and make Kansas Cityand everything it has to offermore accessible to all. The KC Streetcar has been a remarkable success for the Metro region bolstering our local economy, supporting manufacturing jobs, and connecting people to opportunities across our community. I was glad to have worked alongside members of the Kansas and Missouri delegation to help secure additional funding for the KC Streetcar, so we can build on this innovative work and grow its reach even more, said Representative Sharice Davids. In addition to this federal grant, the Main Street Extension Project has been awarded another $50 million Capital Investment Grant, a $14.2 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, and a $174 million grant from the Department of Transportation's New Starts Capital Investment Grants Program, totaling over $287 million in federal investments in the last four months. The current streetcar line is a two-mile track that connects all the city's downtown neighborhoods. The grant funding will go towards creating an additional 3.5 miles and 9 stations from Union Station t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-bass-introduce-the-preparing-superfund-for-climate-change | Reps. Cleaver, Bass Introduce The Preparing Superfund For Climate Change Act | 2020-12-10 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Karen Bass (D-CA) introduced H.R. 8915, the Preparing Superfund For Climate Change Act. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to account for climate change in their plans for managing Superfund sites, which are polluted locations that contain hazardous toxic waste and other contaminants harmful to public health. U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) has introduced identical legislation in the Senate. As we have witnessed natural disasters become more powerful, prevalent, and costly in recent years, it's clear that climate change is exacerbating these challenges and the damage they do to our communities, said Congressman Cleaver. Not only do we need to face the fact that climate change is happening in this very moment, but we must begin to account for its potential to release extremely toxic, dangerous materials from Superfund sites scattered across the country. This critical piece of legislation will require the EPA to plan for such scenarios and ensure neighboring communities have the protection needed to avoid a tragedy caused by lack of preparation. Sea level rise on the coasts, 100-year river flooding and devastating fires across the west could reach several Superfund sites and send highly dangerous chemicals into our air, soil and water, said Congressmember Bass. Last year, the Government Accountability Office confirmed that Superfund sites across the country are not equipped to withstand the threat of climate change. Unless EPA takes climate into account when preparing to clean up a Superfund, we are all in danger. I urge my colleagues to support this important and urgent piece of legislation. The Preparing Superfund For Climate Change Act would: Require the potential threat to human health and the environment associated with local natural disasters and hazards due to climate change be incorporated into any plans to clean-up a Superfund site; and Require that local natural disasters an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-s-counter-act-passes-with-defense-authorization-bill-ndaa | Cleavers COUNTER Act Passes with Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (FY21 NDAA) by a vote of 335-78. Included in this year's NDAA was the Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and Innovating Technology, and Examiner Reform Act (COUNTER Act), a bill introduced by United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) to update and overhaul the Bank Secrecy Act, which dictates banks' responsibilities to help the government detect and root out illicit financial transactions from nefarious actors domestically and abroad. Congressman Cleaver voted in favor of the NDAA, which also authorizes a 3% pay raise for servicemembers, removes all names, symbols, displays, and monuments of the Confederate States of America from all military installations, and provides long-overdue health benefits for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. I'm thrilled we were able to garner the bipartisan support needed to keep the COUNTER Act in the NDAA conference report, and that the legislation will help bring our financial security infrastructure into the 21st century, said Congressman Cleaver. For far too long, our national security apparatus has been limited in its ability to combat money laundering from groups and individuals who seek to take advantage of our financial system's outdated safeguards. With passage of the COUNTER Act and the FY21 NDAA, that should no longer be the case. I am pleased to have secured the inclusion of Representative Cleaver's COUNTER Act in the NDAA for FY 21. Representative Cleaver's legislation represents the most significant improvements to the Bank Secrecy Act since September 11th, said Chairwoman Maxine Waters. This long-overdue effort to close loopholes, strengthen enforcement, enhance information sharing, and adapt to new technologies is essential to fighting financial crime. Representative Cleaver's bill, combined with other provisions in the NDAA, will make a tangible difference in law enforcement's ability to purs… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-wrda-with-bipartisan-support-including-key-components-from | House Passes WRDA With Bipartisan Support, Including Key Components From Rep. Cleavers Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the final Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA), which authorizes $9.9 billion in federal funds for flood control, environmental restoration, coastal protection, and other water resources projects. Major components of the Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) in the House of Representatives and Senator Roy Blunt in the Senate, were kept in this year's WRDA legislation. In recent years, Missouri farmers and ranchers in my congressional district have been faced with increasingly frequent and powerful floods that have wreaked devastation on numerous communities, said Congressman Cleaver. As these communities have been forced to rebuild their lives and livelihoods time and time again, it is important for Congress to enact a proactive approach that gives flexibility to the Army Corps of Engineers so they can immediately bring relief and protect those along the Lower Missouri River. That was precisely the goal of my bipartisan proposal to address this reoccurring issue, and I'm extremely proud we were able to keep it in this year's WRDA bill, which I hope will be signed into law before the new year. A major provision from Rep. Cleaver's Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act that was included in WRDA is the expansion in scope of the Lower Missouri Basin Flood Risk & Resiliency Study, which would: Identify specific flood risk reduction solutions in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska; Free the study from traditional cost and duration limitations; Allow approved projects to proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design; Require additional consultation measures for any recommended actions, including solicitation of public comments; Provide $24 million over six years to help with technical assistance for disadvantaged communities with populations less than 15,000; and Mandate the submission of a report to… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-s-negro-leagues-baseball-centennial-commemorative-coin-act | Cleavers Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act Signed Into Law | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) The Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, a bill introduced by United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), has been signed into law by the President of the United States. The bipartisan bill directs the Department of Treasury to mint a coin to commemorate the centennial of the establishment of the Negro Leagues, which was founded in Kansas City in 1920. I want to thank Representative Stivers, along with Senators Blunt and Kaine, for teaming up on this effort to honor the legends of the Negro Leagues in such historic fashion, said Congressman Cleaver. Not only will this legislation appropriately commemorate the Negro Leagues for their profound impact on the nation during the Civil Rights Movement, but it will also provide substantial funding for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City to continue educating future generations on the league and the icons who helped break down the color barrier in baseball. It's a fitting way to cap off the centennial of the Negro Leagues, and I couldn't be prouder of the bipartisan effort that made this possible. The coin comes at no cost to taxpayers, and the U.S. Treasury will be reimbursed for the costs of issuing the coins. After the U.S. Treasury has recouped all of its costs for designing and minting the coins, funds will be distributed to the National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which was founded in 1990 in Kansas City. In addition to Cleaver and Stivers, the House bill is cosponsored by 301 representatives. In addition to Blunt and Kaine, the Senate bill is cosponsored by 77 senators. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, I… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-on-non-profits-and-landlords-to-mobilize-cares | Congressman Cleaver Calls on Non-Profits and Landlords to Mobilize CARES Act Funding to Prevent Evictions | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO.) Last week,with the CDC's eviction moratorium set to expire on December 31st,United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) called on Missouri Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) to expedite the implementation of the Emergency Rental Arrears Programin hopes ofavertingan impending eviction crisis. Heeding the Congressman's call, the MHDC plans to launch this rental assistance program later this week.The Rental Arrears Program, which provides one-time payments of up to six months of rental arrears directly to landlords, is in addition to the non-profit grantee program which has been assisting tenants since the onset of the pandemic. Under thenewRental Arrears Program, landlords must agree to not evicttenantsfor the next four months as we move towards winter. With nearly $30 million available in rental assistance between these two programs, including $13.3 million currently allocated to non-profits, Congressman Cleaver is encouraging both non-profits and landlords to take advantage of these critical programs. Since the pandemic struck the nationin mid-March,nearly 2,500 renters in the Greater Kansas City area have been faced with eviction filings. With the CDC's eviction moratorium soon to expire, this number may rise significantly in the coming months. In an effort toavertsuch a crisis, CARES Act ESG funds have been and will continue to be distributed by the Missouri Housing Development Commission through two programs. The standard ESG non-profit grantee program, which has been in place since the pandemic began, allows non-profits to submit applications totheMHDC to secure funding to provide homelessness prevention services. Currently, there are $13.3 million in CARES Act ESG funds still availablethrough this programtoassist tenants struggling with monthly rent payments. Additionally, MHDC has allocatedanother$15 million in federalfunding for its Rental Arrears Program, which is designed toprevent evictions whilealleviatingthe burden of financial de… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-on-governor-parson-mhdc-to-immediately | Congressman Cleaver Calls on Governor Parson, MHDC to Immediately Implement Program to Protect Missourians From Eviction | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) called on Missouri Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) to expedite the implementation of the Missouri Emergency Rental Arrears Program (MERAP), which was funded by the CARES Act, to protect Missourians who are currently being threatened with eviction. In a letter to Governor Parson, Congressman Cleaver wrote: I understand that there is significant concern that MHDC's program may not be rolled out in time to rescue the hundreds of Missouri families in the eviction pipeline and that it may take intervention from your office to close this time gap. I have every confidence that you can leverage the important tools within the state's infrastructure to meet this moment and help save these families on the verge of eviction. Missouri remains in the midst of a surge of coronavirus cases, and we currently rank among the top 10 states with the highest number of unpaid mortgages and rents in the country. Since March, thousands of eviction cases have been filed in Kansas City and St. Louis, while there has also been a 300% surge in the number of calls to Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri from families on the verge of losing their homes. In order to avoid a tsunami of evictions and protect those who are most vulnerable, the MHDC used CARES Act funding to create the MERAP. However, there is are concerns that the program may not be implemented in time to protect families who are most at risk of eviction, which is why it is critical for the State to roll out the MERAP without further delay. I know that Governor Parson understands the urgency with which we must rollout this program to protect hundreds of Missouri families from being forced out of their homes as the winter approaches, said Congressman Cleaver. In order to prevent that tragedy from occurring, we need the state to use every tool in the toolbox to get this program up-and-running as soon as humanly possible. I have every confidence the Go… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-blunt-kaine-stivers-negro-leagues-centennial-commemorative-coin | Cleaver, Blunt, Kaine, & Stivers Negro Leagues Centennial Commemorative Coin Act Heads to Presidents Desk | 2020-11-17 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Steve Stivers (R-OH), along with United States Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), announced the Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act passed the Senate and is on its way to be signed by the President. The bipartisan legislation directs the U.S. Treasury to mint a coin to commemorate the centennial of Negro Leagues Baseball. As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Negro Leagues, I'm ecstatic we were able to get this bill safely across home plate and on its way to the President's desk, said Cleaver. Not only will this honor the legends of the Negro Leaguessome of the greatest ballplayers to ever step on a fieldbut it will also raise significant funding for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City so that future generations can learn about the players, the history of the Negro Leagues, and their significance to the civil rights movement in America. I am glad this legislation is headed to the President's desk, sending an important message that the athletes' courageous efforts to end systemic racism undeniably bettered our nation, said Stivers. These Americans created a lasting impact in the fight for equality. Their unwavering commitment to making sure all Americans have equal opportunities, on and off the field, will continue to make a difference for generations to come. The incredible ability, excitement, and sportsmanship that baseball icons like Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Buck O'Neil brought to the game helped break down the barriers of segregation, said Blunt. This commemorative coin will honor the leagues' players and support the National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's great work to preserve the legacy of African-American baseball and its impact on our nation's history. I'm glad we were able to get this bill through Congress and to the President's desk as we mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the leagues. For forty years, the Negro Leagues of… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-tlaib-introduce-respond-act-to-protect-federal-pensions | Reps. Cleaver, Tlaib Introduce RESPOND Act To Protect Federal Pensions, Measure Economic Impact of Climate Change | 2020-11-17 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Restructuring Environmentally Sound Pensions in Order to Negate Disaster Act of 2020 (RESPOND Act) to protect federal pensions from the economic impact of climate change by establishing a Federal Advisory Panel on Climate Change within the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). The bill would also require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue an annual report projecting and accounting for the economic costs caused by the impacts of climate change. Climate change is not only a long-term threat to the health of our planet, but also a current threat to Americans' retirement portfolios, said Congressman Cleaver. With the RESPOND Act, Congresswoman Tlaib and I are calling on financial regulators to examine the economic costs of a changing climate and to utilize this data to make sound investments on behalf of more than 5.5 million federal employees. As the world continues to evolve and transition from the fossil fuel industry, it only makes sense for the investment portfolios of federal retirees to do the same in order to avoid catastrophic losses in the future. Our federal workers do not deserve to be set up to fail by being forced to invest their hard-earned savings in corporate polluters that endanger our public health, Congresswoman Tlaib said. Communities like the ones I represent deserve to have the Federal Reserve and other financial systems address the economic costs of climate change. Lives of countless people around the world and the life of our planet depend on it. That's why I'm proud to introduce the RESPOND Act with Congressman Cleaver. I thank him for his partnership in this and look forward to working together to see this much-needed legislation is made law. "Forcing federal employees to invest their savings in the fossil fuel industry threatens both the future of our planet and the bottom line for t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-joins-missouri-kansas-delegation-to-invite-toronto-raptors-to | Cleaver Joins Missouri, Kansas Delegation to Invite Toronto Raptors to Kansas City | 2020-10-27 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, along with U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), encouraged the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Toronto Raptors to select Kansas City as the team's host city should they seek a temporary home for the 2020-2021 NBA season. If there are three things I know about Kansas City, it's that we love our jazz music, we love our barbecue, and we absolutely love our sports, said Congressman Cleaver. What we may lack in market size, we more than make up for in location, loyalty and fanatical fervor, which is why I sincerely believe Kansas City is the right choice should the Toronto Raptors need a temporary home next season. I am proud to join Mayor Lucas and my congressional colleagues in putting this stake in the ground and letting the world know: Kansas City is open, and the NBA should give us our shot. In a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Toronto Raptors Ownership, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the lawmakers wrote: Kansas City sports fans are unmatched, already providing an avid fanbase for the Chiefs, the Royals, Sportingand would be eager to extend that support to the Raptors. Our T-Mobile Center, a first-class arena located in the heart of downtown, would make a great home for the Raptors as they look to match last season's impressive winning record. Kansas City is well-suited to host the Toronto Raptors for the 2020-2021 NBA season and our dynamic fans would be thrilled to adopt the team as our own. On behalf of our bi-state region, we thank you for your consideration of Kansas City as you move forward in the selection process. You can find the lawmakers' official letter here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-75-million-grant-for-rural-broadband | Congressman Cleaver Applauds $7.5 Million Grant For Rural Broadband Expansion in Saline County | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) allocation of $7.5 million to Saline County to expand broadband access. Theinvestment is part of $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program through the USDA,which is aimed at expanding broadband access and connectivity in rural areas. In March, Congressman Cleaverdelivered aletterin support of the Saline County Commission's ReConnect grant application. Now, more than ever, access to dependable broadband internet is vital for rural communities,said Congressman Cleaver. The economic success and growth of these communities depend on this critical access, which is why I was happy to join in supporting the Saline County Commission's recent grant application submitted to the USDA. Today, I am thrilled to report that the federal government has announced a seven and a half-million-dollar grant to the Saline County Commission. With this funding,approximatelyninety percent of Saline County will have access to quality broadband internetopening the doors to greater economic growth and providing an undeniably crucial resource to many individuals and families at a time when so many aspects of our lives are being conducted online. While I celebrate this momentous step, I am recommitted to working towards expanding broadband infrastructure to all of the rural communities that I serve. I want to thank our state and federal legislators for all of their support in obtaining this grant from the USDA,said Stephanie Gooden, Saline County Commissioner. Receiving this grant for Saline County will help move our county into the 21st-century when this year has proven that we need connectivity more than ever. Not only for distance learning for students but also in agriculture. I'm so happy on behalf of Saline County that Marshall Municipal Utilities is able to receive the USDA ReConnect grant, I'm thankful for the team, and I'm looking forward to implementing broadb… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-announces-creation-of-the-tri-chambers-of-kansas | Congressman Cleaver Announces Creation of the Tri-Chambers of Kansas City | 2020-10-19 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the formation of the Tri-Chambers of Kansas City, a consolidation of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City to assist minority-, women-, and LGBT-owned small businesses in the Greater Kansas City Area. Last week, the chambers signed a joint contract to receive $250,000 in CARES Act funding to help Kansas City small businesses devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to see the economic fallout from this awful pandemic, it is abundantly clear that not enough has been done to protect diverse-owned small businesses, said Congressman Cleaver. With the formation of the Tri-Chambers and the pooling of additional resources from the CARES Act, we're hopeful that minority-, women-, and LGBT-owned small and micro businesses in Kansas City will now have easier access to the financial and legal knowledge needed to access funding from programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, which disproportionately left minority-owned businesses behind. I want to thank Kim Randolph, Carlos Gomez, and Suzanne Wheeler for their leadership in making this possible. As Congress continues to negotiate the next relief package for American families and small businesses, I will continue to push for significant, targeted funding for the small businesses who have been hit the hardest. First and foremost this funding allows us to help the small business community of Kansas City, Missouri, which is needing assistance, said Carlos Gomez, President, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City. But it is also bringing together 3 incredible organizations to leverage our resources and create synergy to be more impactful." "We're thrilled to launch the Tri Chamber today with our friends and partners in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, said Jeff Harris, Board President, the Mid-America LGB… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-kennedy-release-report-following-inquiry-into-use-of | Reps. Cleaver, Kennedy Release Report Following Inquiry Into Use of Diverse Asset Managers by College and University Endowments | 2020-10-08 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA) released a report following their inquiry into the usage of women- and minority-owned asset management firms by college and university endowments. In July, Cleaver and Kennedy called for the twenty-five universities with the largest endowments to provide data on the asset managers administering their endowment assets as well as firm selection processes and practices. This inquiry was an important first step in uncovering what kind of disparities we're seeing among asset management firms handling monumental university endowments, said Congressman Cleaver. Now that we have this data, we can see where and how some universities are succeeding in diversifying their asset managers and what challenges remain. As we look forward, we will use this report to help inform Congress on steps that need to be taken to facilitate greater diversity within an industry that has tremendous influence on the allocation of hundreds of billions of dollars in assets, and let's be clear: there is certainly room for improvement. The devastating lack of diversity among asset managers in this country has denied women and people of color a path towards building wealth for generations, said Congressman Kennedy. For too long, these institutions have touted diversity among their admissions, but turned a blind eye to it with their investments. With their massive endowments, universities are uniquely positioned to not just encourage gender and racial diversity among asset managers, but demand it. Though the findings of our report are troubling, it is encouraging that many of our nation's leading colleges and universities recognize they have a role to play in solving this problem by pursuing the recommendations outlined in this report. The relentless commitment by Representatives Cleaver and Kennedy in their pursuit of endowment transparency and better overall diversity and inclusion practices through strong recommendations will help… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-for-updated-heroes-act-to-bring-relief-to | Congressman Cleaver Votes For Updated Heroes Act to Bring Relief to Missouri Families, Workers and Small Businesses | 2020-10-02 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Last night, the House of Representatives passed an updated version of the Heroes Act. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the $2.2 trillion legislation to bring immediate relief to American families, essential workers, small businesses, and state and local governments in Missouri and across the nation. In May, the House of Representatives passed a previous version of the Heroes Act, which would have provided over $3 trillion in relief to workers, families, small businesses, state and local governments and more. In a good-faith effort to negotiate a bipartisan, bicameral agreement, the House of Representatives has re-introduced a scaled-down version of the Heroes Act, shaving over $1 trillion off of the original proposal. While the Senate Majority Leader continues to sit on his hands as the American people struggle to make ends meet, the House of Representatives has demonstrated our commitment to bringing meaningful relief to the public, said Congressman Cleaver. This legislation provides desperately-needed funding to support essential workers and small businesses, ensure health care coverage, reopen our schools, restore unemployment benefits, strengthen housing assistance, and so much more. It's time for the Senate GOP to end the political brinksmanship and pass this stimulus package. An analysis using data from the Congressional Research Service, Census Bureau, and HUD estimates the updated Heroes Act would award approximately $3.75 billion in state funding for the people of Missouri, in addition to critically-needed funding for municipalities in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Estimated funding for these municipalities include: Kansas City - $241,404,825; Jackson County - $189,443,434; Clay County - $67,354,576; Independence - $30,869,318; Lee's Summit - $26,231,198; Blue Springs - $14,547,983; Lafayette County - $8,813,967; Raytown - $6,832,420; Ray County - $6,202,761; Saline County - $ 6,133,506; Marshall - $3,047,995; Richmo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-receives-friend-of-farm-bureau-award-from-american-farm | Rep. Cleaver Receives Friend of Farm Bureau Award From American Farm Bureau Federation | 2020-10-02 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was notified of his selection as a recipient of the Friend of Farm Bureau award by the American Farm Bureau Federation. It is impossible to overstate the pivotal role farmers and ranchers play in keeping food on the table for families in Missouri and across the country, said Congressman Cleaver. That is something I learned firsthand growing up in rural Texas, and the perspective through which I seek to find bipartisan solutions that will enable American agriculture to prosper. While I've always considered the Farm Bureau a friend, it is truly humbling to be recognized for this prestigious award, and it only reaffirms my commitment to working with any and all colleagues in Congress to protect our nation's proud farmers and ranchers. The Friend of Farm Bureau award is given to members of Congress who have supported Farm Bureau's position on policy issues, as demonstrated by their voting records, and who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the AFBF Board of Directors. Some notable actions Congressman Cleaver has taken to protect the American agricultural industry in the 116th Congress include: Voting for the bipartisan U.S., Mexico, Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, which would increase agricultural exports to the world by $2.2 billion; Advocating for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select Kansas City for the new headquarters of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA); Holding a hearing to examine U.S. trade policy and the negative impact of tariffs; Hosting the Canadian trade consul for a community discussion in Higginsville, Missouri; Calling on the Administration to revoke tariffs and provide additional aid to farmers impacted by them. Pushingfor congressional leadership to provide direct assistance to biofuels sector, which has been devastated from the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find the official letter from the American Farm … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-hits-a-home-run-with-negro-leagues-coin-bill | Rep. Cleaver Hits a Home Run with Negro Leagues Coin Bill | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Last Saturday, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill directing the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins commemorating Negro League baseball's 100th anniversary. Introduced by Cleaver in July of last year, the Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act is projected to raise up to $6 million for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum located in Kansas City's historic 18th & Vine district. I'm overjoyed to see this legislation earn a thumbs up from all my colleagues in the House, and it makes me ecstatic just thinking about the millions of dollars this bill will raise for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum back home in Kansas City, Cleaver said. This bill will help right some of the wrongs of our nation's past by honoring the players who never let prejudice or discrimination diminish their love for the game of baseball. Barred from joining the rosters of major and minor league baseball teams due to the color of their skin, African American ball players began forming their own professional teams in the latter half of the 1800s. By the dawn of the 20th century, efforts to establish an all-Black professional baseball league were being led by Andrew Rube Foster, a former pitcher for two African American teams who went on to manage Chicago's Leland Giants in 1907. Hoping to form a league of their own in February of 1920, Foster brought together eight independent African American baseball teams at the Paseo YMCA, located just one block away from the grounds of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in a red-brick building now recognized as the Buck O'Neil Center. From this seminal meeting emerged the Negro National League, the first successful, well-organized professional Black baseball league to take off in the United States. Many of the athletes who played in the Negro Leagues never received the praise and recognition they deserved, said Cleaver. The whole world knows the story of Jackie Robinson, but far fe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-s-tree-act-passed-by-house-of-representatives | Rep. Cleavers TREE Act Passed By House of Representatives | 2020-09-25 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, by a vote of 220-185. Included in the bipartisan legislation that would help to build a clean energy economy, support job growth, and address climate change was United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II's (D-MO) Tackling Residential Energy burdens Efficiently Act (TREE Act), which was adopted as an amendment to the original bill text of H.R. 4447. The TREE Act, which would reduce residential energy bills across the nation by planting millions of trees in low-income and urban communities, was introduced by Congressmen Cleaver and David McKinley (R-WV) this month. I'm thrilled we were able to get this bipartisan, common sense legislation adopted into the House of Representatives' energy package before the end of the 116th Congress, said Congressman Cleaver. With this bill, we have an opportunity to bring down utility costs, noticeably improve air quality, and rectify some of the environmental injustices that have overburdened low-income and communities of color for far too long. While we've still got some work to do to ensure it becomes law, this is an important first step towards that goal." The TREE Act would create a cost-share grant program at the Department of Energy to provide $50 million in funding to plant a minimum of 300,000 trees annually in residential neighborhoods throughout the United States through 2025. The TREE Act's grant program would prioritize projects that: Provide the largest potential reduction in residential energy consumption for households with a high energy burden; Are located in a neighborhood with lower tree canopy cover and higher maximum daytime summer temperatures; Are located in a neighborhood with high amounts of senior citizens or children; Will collaboratively engage neighbors and community members that will be closely affected by the tree planting; and Will employ a substantial percentage of the workforce locally, with a focus on engaging unemplo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-to-avert-government-shutdown-amid-coronavirus | Congressman Cleaver Votes to Avert Government Shutdown Amid Coronavirus Pandemic and Economic Crisis | 2020-09-24 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8319, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, to avoid a government shutdown in the middle of a global pandemic and economic crisis. The Continuing Resolution (CR) would extend funding for government agencies through December 11, 2020, provide billions in additional funding for nutrition assistance programs, and includes H.R. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, which was co-introduced by Congressman Cleaver. Failure to fund the government in the middle of a global pandemic and economic crisis unlike anything we've seen in decades would be a catastrophic failure in leadership from the Administration and Congress, said Congressman Cleaver. While I always prefer to avoid a continuing resolution, allowing the government to shut down in the midst of these crises would only further exacerbate the challenges we face as a nation. Now that we have funded the government, including critical programs like Pandemic EBT and SNAP, our next step should be to immediately pass a stimulus package to assist families and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Included in the CR was the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, a bill co-introduced by Congressman Cleaver to avoid federal employee furloughs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by immediately increasing the agency's premium processing revenues. Last month, USCIS was scheduled to furlough over 13,000 of its 19,881 employees, including 2,000 of the 3,100 in the Greater Kansas City Area, which would have a devastating impact on workers and the agency's ability to provide immigration and naturalization services to American businesses and families for months, if not years, to come. While USCIS announced they would delay federal furloughs, the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act will ensure the agency has additional revenue needed to prevent furloughs of federal workers, while also providing mor… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-gonzalez-unveil-bipartisan-bill-to-grant-name-image-and | Reps. Cleaver, Gonzalez Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Grant Name, Image and Likeness Rights to College Athletes | 2020-09-24 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | Senate | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives and former college athletes Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) introduced the bipartisan Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act alongside Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and Steve Stivers (R-OH). The bill grants student athletes the right to capitalize off their own name, image, and likeness while including important guardrails for the recruitment process and leveling the national playing field by pre-empting the patchwork of state laws that have been signed into law or are pending in state legislatures. I want to be unequivocally clear: This is a civil rights issue, said Congressman Cleaver. For far too long college athletes across the countrymany of whom are people of colorhave been denied the basic right to control their name, image and likeness. What we wanted to do from the outset was come to a bipartisan consensus that puts forth a national framework that gives college athletes the same rights every other American in the country is already afforded. That's exactly what this bill will do, and I'm proud we were able to put it together in a bipartisan way. As we know from our football days, it takes teamwork to make the dream work, and I want to thank Congressman Gonzalez for his willingness to put student-athletes first and work across the aisle in a way that will undoubtedly change lives for the better. I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with Rep. Cleaver today that delivers meaningful reforms and will make a difference in the lives of student athletes of all levels of competition across the country, said Congressman Gonzalez. This bill has strong bipartisan support, highlighting that Congress can find a way to reach a bipartisan agreement on this important issue. I look forward to working with my colleagues to keep the momentum going and continuing our bipartisan work to provide NIL rights to student athletes and improve the coll… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-pregnant-workers-fairness-act | House Passes Bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act | 2020-09-17 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which prohibits employment practices that discriminate against pregnant workers or job applicants and establishes a pregnant worker's unequivocal right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue burden on their employer. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was a cosponsor of the bill and voted in favor of passage. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation because no woman should have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and financial security, said Congressman Cleaver. With women increasingly working later into their pregnancies, we need to put forth clear-cut protections that keep women safe and help to prevent unnecessary tragedies. That's exactly what this bill will do. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would guarantee: Private sector employers with more than 15 employees and public sector employers must make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers. Similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers are not required to make an accommodation if it imposes an undue hardship on an employer's business. Pregnant workers cannot be denied employment opportunities, retaliated against for requesting a reasonable accommodation, or forced to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation is available. Workers denied a reasonable accommodation under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will have the same rights and remedies as those established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These include lost pay, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorneys' fees. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has broad support from more than 200 worker advocates, civil rights groups, and business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ACLU, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, NAACP, National Partnership for Women & Families, and more. You can find a fact-sheet of the Pregnant W… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-mckinley-introduce-bipartisan-tree-act | Reps. Cleaver, McKinley Introduce Bipartisan TREE Act | 2020-09-17 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced the Tackling Residential Energy burdens Efficiently Act (TREE Act) to increase tree planting and reduce residential energy bills across the nation. The TREE Act would create a cost-share grant program at the Department of Energy to provide $50 million in funding to plant a minimum of 300,000 trees annually in residential neighborhoods throughout the United States through 2025. I want to thank Rep. McKinley for his bipartisan support in introducing this piece of legislation that is vital for our urban and low-income communities, said Congressman Cleaver. By planting millions of trees in cities across the country, we have the ability to noticeably improve air quality, decrease energy consumption and bring down utility costs for communities that are disproportionately harmed by environmental degradation. That's something all Americans can agree on, and something I will continue to push for in the halls of Congress. By planting millions of trees, we can improve the quality of our air, reduce residential energy bills, and create healthier neighborhoods, said Rep. McKinley. This bill will create new federal partnerships with nonprofits, utility companies, and state and local governments to help reduce carbon emissions and provide benefits to our economy. Citizens' Climate Lobby's Kansas City Chapter wholeheartedly supports the Tackling Residential Energy burdens Efficiently (TREE) Act and applauds Representative Cleaver for his farsighted sponsorship of this legislation, said Stephen Melton, Chapter Leader of Citizens' Climate Lobby-KC. The TREE Act, which funds urban reforestation, will help make Kansas City more livable and resilient during the coming decades of global warming and is a necessary accompaniment to our efforts to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Trees are life-saving infrastructure, as this summer's record heat has made painfully clear. said Jad Daley, CEO and Preside… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-death-dr-william | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE DEATH OF DR. WILLIAM H. DANFORTH | 2020-09-17 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE DEATH OF DR. WILLIAM H. DANFORTH NOTE: The following, in its entirety, is a First-person statement by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri Dr. William Danforth was an amazing individual. I first struck up a relationship with Dr. Bill while serving in the state legislatureworking with him, the late, great Frankie Freeman, and other key stakeholders to settle the desegregation case for the St. Louis Public Schools. Our friendship grew based on my support of education in general, and of course my commitment to help Washington University become one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the world. Over the years we became close, speaking to each other frequently about how we move our community forward in an enlightened way. I will miss his wisdom, his vision, and his friendship. -30- | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ongressman-lacy-clay-epa-administrator-wheeler-celebrate-carter | Congressman Lacy Clay, EPA Administrator Wheeler Celebrate Carter Carburetor Superfund Site Cleanup Completion and Future Reuse with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis | 2020-09-16 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Lacy Clay, EPA Administrator Wheeler Celebrate Carter Carburetor Superfund Site Cleanup Completion and Future Reuse with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis $35 Million Superfund Cleanup Paves Way for Safer Neighborhood and Exciting Future in North St. Louis ST. LOUIS-At an event with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the completion of a $35 million site cleanup at the Carter Carburetor Superfund Site in St. Louis, Missouri.EPA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis entered into an agreement to transfer ownership of the former Carter Carburetor site property. Upon transfer of ownership, the club will partner with Gateway PGA Reach to develop a youth golf training facility at the site. In 2009, I made this site a priority with the EPA and good things started to happen.With the support of the Missouri congressional delegation and the diligent work of EPA, we went to work to nail down a cleanup plan that would be paid for by the responsible parties; keep this neighborhood safe; and when completed; offer a brighter futureNot just for young people, but for everyone who lives in this historic neighborhood,said U.S. Congressman Lacy Clay (MO-01). I couldn't be prouder to sign this Prospective Purchaser Agreement because it opens up a tremendous future for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Few imagined a polluted, former carburetor plant could be transformed into a golf training center for the youth of St. Louis. But with vision and teamwork it happened. Cleaning up the Carter Carburetor site was no small task given the multiple contaminants, including PCBs, TCE, asbestos and others,said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford.The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, the community leaders and partners worked tirelessly with EPA to see this through; and, now that the site has been cleaned up the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-co-introduces-thrive-agenda-for-economic-renewal | Rep. Cleaver Co-Introduces THRIVE Agenda for Economic Renewal | 2020-09-15 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced his support for the Agenda to Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy, or THRIVE Agenda. Congressman Cleaver joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM), over 80 lawmakers in the House and Senate, and a coalition of grassroots groups; labor unions; and Black, Brown and Indigenous leaders from across the country to introduce the bold plan for economic renewal. The THRIVE resolution lays out the unifying principles necessary to build a society that enables dignified work; increased racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice; healthy communities; and a stable climate. THRIVE is built on eight pillars, which span from creating millions of good, safe jobs with access to unions to averting climate catastrophe while investing in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. The year 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic have opened the eyes of the nation to the economic, racial, health, and environmental injustices that have long been interwoven into the fabric of our nation, said Congressman Cleaver. Just as the pandemic has compounded the institutional inequities in our public systems, climate change canand already doesexacerbate the burdens on Black and Brown communities across the nation. As we seek to rebuild from the public health and economic calamity caused by COVID-19, we must not settle for a return to the status quo. We should build back in a way that directly combats climate change and the inequalities we see in every industry from public health to public housing, and the THRIVE Agenda is the blueprint. The promise of the American dream should be available and accessible to everyone, but right now, our country is facing crises that are fatefully intertwined: tens of millions of people are unemployed, the COVID-19 pandemic rages, racial and economic injustice are rampant , and the climate crisis is accelerating, said Congresswoman Haaland, Vice Chair of the House Na… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-142-million-grant-toward-kc-streetcar | Congressman Cleaver Applauds $14.2 Million Grant Toward KC Streetcar Expansion | 2020-09-11 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Yesterday, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the announcement of a $14.2 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant awarded to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to extend the Kansas City Streetcar. This is another major win for the KC Streetcar, the people of Kansas City, and the businesses who will benefit from additional accessibility, said Congressman Cleaver. As we've seen over the last four years, millions of riders have utilized this light-rail system to get around downtown free-of-charge to the benefit of small businesses, workers, and consumers alike. I'm proud to have supported this grant funding, and I will continue to be a strong advocate for federal investments in infrastructure in the months and years ahead. The current streetcar line is a two-mile track that connects all the city's downtown neighborhoods. The $14.2 million in funding will go toward extending the streetcar line approximately .55 mile from its current terminus near 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard, across the existing Grand Avenue Bridge, to the Berkley Riverfront. Last month, following a letter of support from Congressman Cleaver and other local lawmakers, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a separate $50.8 million Capital Investment Grant (CIG) had been awarded to the Kansas City Streetcar Authority to further develop the KC Streetcar Mainstreet Extension project. This expansion would create an additional 3.5 miles and 9 stations from Union Station to the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC). Once the two extensions are completed, the expanded lines will run from Berkley Riverfront Park to UMKC and provide public transit between some of the area's largest employment centers free-of-charge. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas Cit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/clay-page-griffin-announce-redevelopment-agreement-save-affordable | Clay, Page, Griffin Announce Redevelopment Agreement to Save Affordable Housing in Wellston, Missouri | 2020-09-11 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Clay, Page, Griffin Announce Redevelopment Agreement to Save Affordable Housing in Wellston, Missouri Over 200 units and 25% of the Population of Historic Black Suburb in St. Louis County Saved from Removal ST. LOUIS, MO Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, Wellston Mayor Nate Griffin and local officials announced today that a master development agreement has been signed to renovate and redevelop over 200 affordable housing units in the City of Wellston that had previous been slated for demolition. Congressman Clay, who worked closely with Senator Roy Blunt, and HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson to save the affordable housing units said that this agreement represents a new beginning for Wellston, MO, a historic Black community located just outside the limits of the City of St. Louis. In remarks at today's press event, Congressman Clay said in part: Today's victory for these tenants, and for this historic community, is the result of a bipartisan effort over the last two years that refused to let Wellston die. The people who live in this neighborhood are hard-working citizens who not only deserve safe and affordable housing; They deserve the same services and amenities that anyone else would expect in a stable neighborhood I'm talking about shopping, transportation, accessible community healthcare and a job that they can support a family with. Those are the things I have always fought for and will continue to advocate for in the future. === The most important thing that I want you to understand is that problems of inner-city development aren't caused by the people who live here. They're caused by a fundamental failure of policy and development planning that wrote off predominantly Black neighborhoods as not worthy of investment and economic infusions of services and jobs. That was federal policy for decades, and the vestiges of that discrimination live on today. Which is why I have fought so hard against redlining in mortgages, appraisals, insurance and deliberate discrimi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-and-blunt-host-conversation-with-community-leaders-in-kansas | Cleaver and Blunt Host Conversation with Community Leaders in Kansas City | 2020-09-01 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and United States Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) hosted a conversation with community leaders in Kansas City, Missouri. During the conversation, participants discussed a variety of issues such as racial justice, COVID-19, and the economic impact the pandemic has had on Missouri communities. As Missourians grapple with the coronavirus and the nation faces a racial reckoning unlike anything seen in decades, it is imperative that we bring Americans together to find solutions that will help move our nation forward, and that all starts with open, honest communication, said Congressman Cleaver. I want to thank Senator Blunt and everyone who participated in today's discussion for taking the time to talk candidly about some of the most pressing challenges facing Kansas City, Missouri, and the nation today. I look forward to further constructive conversations in the weeks and months ahead." I appreciated the opportunity to hear from everyone who participated in today's discussion, said Senator Blunt. Having their advice and perspective is critically important as we work together to make sure families and communities have what they need to make it through this pandemic. I hope this will be an ongoing conversation about how we can respond to the unrest in the nation by looking at what needs to be done for every person in this country to feel secure in terms of their safety, their economic situation, and the opportunities that will be there for them and their children. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-usda-reversal-decision-to-extend-nutrition | Congressman Cleaver Applauds USDA Reversal, Decision to Extend Nutrition Program Waivers For Kids Learning Remotely | 2020-09-01 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, following public outcry at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision not to extend waivers that allow the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option to operate during school closures, the USDA reversed course and announced they will extend the waivers through the fall semester. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), who publicly called for the reversal, applauded the announcement. Millions of American families rely on these critical nutrition programs, and they need flexibility as the nation continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic, said Congressman Cleaver. Whether they are learning in school or remotely, thousands of children in Missouri count on these programs to get them through the school day without going hungry. By extending these waivers, we can ensure that every child has the support needed to succeed in their coursework until every school can safely reopen. Last week, Congressman Cleaver condemned the USDA's announcement that they would allow these waivers to expire as the new school year began. Cleaver, along with over 100 other lawmakers in Congress, called on USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to immediately reverse course and extend the waivers. You can find the official letter from the lawmakers here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-seeks-answers-on-uscis-contractor-furloughs-in-kansas-city | Rep. Cleaver Seeks Answers on USCIS Contractor Furloughs in Kansas City | 2020-09-01 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Sam Graves (R-MO), along with U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Pat Roberts (R-KS), called for an immediate bipartisan briefing from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the reduction of a contract, which has led to the furloughs of roughly 800 contract employees in the agency's Kansas City offices. In a letter to USCIS Deputy Director Joseph Edlow, the lawmakers wrote: As you know, the National Benefit Center (NBC) has approximately 1,300 contract employees between the Missouri and Kansas facilities, and overall USCIS has 3,100 contract and federal employees in the bi-state region. Employees at the NBC conduct pre-processing steps, run background checks, and prepare applications for interviews at field offices around the country. Were it not for the hard work of these dedicated individuals, the Kansas City Metropolitan region would not have grown into the diverse community it is today and the economic impact of such a reduction will be felt for years to come. To get a better understanding of how USCIS reached the decision to furlough hundreds of contract workers at the National Benefit Center (NBC), the lawmakers are requesting a briefing from the agency to detail how the determination was made to descope the contract in the Kansas City region, any changes that will be made to the responsibilities of remaining personnel, the potential impacts this change will have on application case backlogs in various application categories, and the metrics that will be used to restore the full contract level in the future. At a time when millions of Americans are struggling to find work and keep a paycheck coming in every month, it is both extremely disappointing and concerning to see the USCIS make this decision without working with Congress to find a suitable solution, said Congressman Cleaver. As I understand it, there is plenty of work to be done to e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-50-million-grant-to-expand-the-kc-streetcar | Congressman Cleaver Applauds $50 Million Grant to Expand the KC Streetcar Project | 2020-08-26 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the Federal Transit Administration's announcement of a $50.8 million Capital Investment Grant (CIG) to the Kansas City Streetcar Authority. Last month, Congressman Cleaver joined Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Sam Graves (R-MO), along with Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), to request CIG funding for the project. The KC Streetcar has proven to be a tremendous success ever since the first tracks were laid, said Congressman Cleaver. In just four years, over eight million Kansas Citians have travelled between the River Market and Union Station free-of-charge thanks to the streetcar, with well over six thousand riders taking advantage of the light-rail system each day. Given the positive impact that the streetcar has had on residents and businesses throughout the city, I was happy to join fellow Members of Congress from Missouri and Kansas in supporting the Kansas City Streetcar Authority's recent grant application submitted to the Department of Transportation. Today, I am delighted to report that the federal government has announced a fifty-million dollar grant to the KC Streetcar Authority. With this funding, the KC Streetcar will significantly expand its scope, reach a greater number of Kansas Citians, and make our city more far more accessible, all while boosting the local economy. I want to acknowledge the strong support of Congressman Sam Graves in moving this project forward, and I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis to make sure it gets across the finish line. The current streetcar line is a two-mile track that connects all the city's downtown neighborhoods. The grant funding will go towards development for the KC Streetcar Mainstreet Extension project, creating an additional 3.5 miles and 9 stations from Union Station to the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC). Once completed, the expanded line will run from Kansas City's River Market to the Plaza … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-gottheimer-call-for-bipartisan-briefing-following-seizure | Reps. Cleaver & Gottheimer Call for Bipartisan Briefing Following Seizure of Cryptocurrency Assets From Foreign Terrorist Organizations | 2020-08-26 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy (NSIDMP), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Treasury (DOT) to immediately brief the NSIDMP Subcommittee following the seizure of millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency from Foreign Terrorist Organizations. In a letter to the agencies, the lawmakers wrote: It is vital that Members of the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy receive a briefing, at the appropriate classification level, on this action, the largest ever seizure of online terrorist financing, from the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury on this investigation. In addition to an immediate briefing, the representatives are also calling for DOT to provide an assessment of how it is working to proactively confront and curtail these malign actors within our financial networks. This will further inform the Subcommittee on what legislative actions they should be undertaking to provide regulators and law enforcement the proper tools and resources to continue to address the illicit use of cryptocurrency and disrupt terrorist organizations' financial networks. Last year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2514, the Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and Innovating Technology, and Examiner Reform Act (COUNTER), a bill introduced by Congressman Cleaver that would implement a number of changes and additions to the to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), which dictates banks' responsibilities to help the government detect and root out illegal financial transactions. You can find the official letter from the lawmakers here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Nor… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-of-representatives-passes-delivering-for-america-act-with-rep | House of Representatives Passes Delivering For America Act With Rep. Cleavers Support | 2020-08-22 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8015, the Delivering For America Act, with bipartisan support by a vote of 257-150. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was a cosponsor and voted to pass the legislation, which would provide funding for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and prevent the Postmaster General from implementing any changes to USPS operations that were not already in effect on January 1, 2020. The Postal Service is a pillar of American society that should never be tainted by partisan politics, said Congressman Cleaver. Because of their dedicated service, seniors and veterans receive the life-saving medications, small businesses can affordably deliver their products to consumers, and voters can safely make their voices heard. The American people have made it unequivocally clear that they will not accept the Administration's sabotage of their Postal Service, and today the People's House did as well. Key provisions in the Delivering For America Act include: Prohibiting the Postal Service from implementing or approving any changes to the operations or service levels in effect on January 1, 2020, that would impede prompt, reliable, and efficient service. The prohibition would remain in effect during the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency or January 2021, whichever is later. Requiring the Postal Service to treat all election mail as first-class mail. Providing $25 billion in critically-needed emergency appropriations for the Postal Servicethe level of funding recommended by the USPS Board of Governors, which is composed of 100% Trump appointees. Congressman Cleaver has long been a fierce advocate for the USPS. In April, Cleaver led over 120 lawmakers in urging congressional leadership to including funding for the USPS in coronavirus relief legislation. This month, Cleaver joined over 170 House colleagues in calling on the Postmaster General to reverse policies that have exacerbated a dramatic increase in delayed and undelivered mail.… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-bipartisan-house-members-join-to-introduce-emergency-stopgap | Rep. Cleaver, Bipartisan House Members Join to Introduce Emergency Stopgap Bill to Prevent USCIS Furloughs | 2020-08-22 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), House Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (R-CO), Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Representative Peter Welch (D-VT), and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) introduced the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act to temporarily prevent the need for furloughs by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by immediately increasing the agency's premium processing revenues. USCIS is currently scheduled to furlough 13,355 (or 67%) of its 19,881 employees, including over 3,100 in the Greater Kansas City Area, on August 30, 2020. If such furloughs are implemented, they will have a devastating impact on the agency's ability to provide immigration and naturalization services to American businesses and families for many months, if not years, to come. The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act would allow the agency to halt the immediate furloughs, while providing more reliable and expanded services for premium processing applicants. The fees collected by USCIS may be used to address backlogs and adjudication delays for other applicants. For the sake of more than 13,000 American workers, small businesses seeking temporary employees, and local economies that will be devastated by these furloughs, it is absolutely vital that the United States Congress come together to pass this temporary fix for an immediate crisis, said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. Since May, these employees and thousands of individuals seeking to realize the American dream have been left in limbo. It's time for us to put politics aside, pass this legislation, and ensure the USCIS continues to operate at full force. This bill is not a complete solution to USCIS's current fiscal challenges. But it will provide the agency with quick access to additional revenue that will eliminate the need for imm… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-s-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-uscis-furloughs-passes-house-of | Rep. Cleavers Bipartisan Bill to Prevent USCIS Furloughs Passes House of Representatives With Unanimous Support | 2020-08-22 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, to temporarily prevent the need for furloughs by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by immediately increasing the agency's premium processing revenues. The legislation was introduced by United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), House Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (R-CO), Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Representative Peter Welch (D-VT), and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) Although this is a temporary solution to an immediate crisis, I'm thrilled we were able to garner the unanimous support needed to pass this critical legislation. It will keep over 3,000 Kansas Citians from being furloughed in the coming days and our immigration system operating at full capacity, said Congressman Cleaver. I want to thank Chairwoman Lofgren, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Members Fortenberry and Buck, and Representatives Welch and Raskin for their willingness to reach across the aisle and get something done so swiftly, and I'm hopeful the Senate will do the same. USCIS is scheduled to furlough 13,355 (or 67%) of its 19,881 employees, including over 2,000 of the 3,100 in the Greater Kansas City Area, on August 30, 2020. If such furloughs are implemented, they will have a devastating impact on the agency's ability to provide immigration and naturalization services to American businesses and families for many months, if not years, to come. The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act would allow the agency to halt the immediate furloughs, while providing more reliable and expanded services for premium processing applicants. The fees collected by USCIS may be used to address backlogs and adjudication delays for other applicants. Since USCIS first announced it would furlough nearly 70% of its workforce in May, Congre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-condemns-usda-decision-not-to-extend-nutrition-program | Rep. Cleaver Condemns USDA Decision Not to Extend Nutrition Program Waivers For Kids Learning Remotely | 2020-08-21 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the below statement following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that they would not extend waivers that allow the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option to operate during unexpected school closures. The decision from the USDAnot to extend waivers that allow the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option to operate despite unexpected school closures is deeply disappointing to me and the families of tens of thousands of children in the Fifth District of Missouri. As the coronavirus pandemic rages onwith more than 1,000 Americans succumbing to the virus daily and another 50,000 contracting it just yesterdayour nation must be prepared for the possibility that some schools may be forced continue remotely for varying periods of time. Considering millions of American families rely on these critical nutrition programs to keep children from skipping meals and going hungry, it is the height of irresponsibility for the USDA to discontinue these waivers as many schools around the country remain closed. This forces parents and administrators to make an impossible choice between keeping children healthy, stopping the spread of the virus in our communities, and keeping food on the table for the most vulnerable kids. This is not an either-or situation. we canand should--extend these waivers. If the Administration refuses to do so, Congress should pass legislation that leaves them no choice. ### Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-and-kennedy-blast-temp-agencies-profiting-off-of-ppp-0 | Reps. Cleaver and Kennedy Blast Temp Agencies Profiting Off of PPP Loans | 2020-08-21 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Weeks after introducing landmark legislation to enhance protections for temporary workers, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Joseph P. Kennedy, III(D-MA) today called on the nation's leading temporary staffing agencies to reimburse the federal government for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding awarded to the agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following reports of temp agencies profiting from the PPP, Reps. Cleaver and Kennedy are demanding the agencies either provide a complete accounting of how PPP funds were used to keep workers on payroll or otherwise repay American taxpayers. In separate letters to the Personnel Staffing Group, ManpowerGroup, Labor Finders International, Gee Group, and Chartwell Staffing Services, the lawmakers wrote: While the Small Business Administration's (SBA) database claims your loan helped retain hundreds of jobs, it appears likely this number includes workers that client companies are paying you to employ. If your company is engaging in a double-dipping arrangement in which you receive payment from both client companies and the federal government, this would be contrary to the PPP's intended purpose of saving jobs. As such, we write to demand you immediately reimburse the government for any PPP money that did not directly support the intended aims of this program or otherwise provide a more transparent accounting of how your usage of this program directly benefited the workers that you employ. Nobody likes a double-dipper, said Congressman Cleaver, especially when you are dipping into taxpayer money. The PPP was designed to uplift truly small businesses and keep American workers afloat, not for temp agencies to enrich themselves off the backs of their workers and hardworking Americans. Unfortunately, we've seen some nefarious actors use this job-saving program in ways Congress never intended just to make a quick buck. Now, they must explain themselves to the American people or return the funding immediately. Temp staffing agenc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-on-usda-to-provide-more-flexibility-support-to | Congressman Cleaver Calls on USDA to Provide More Flexibility, Support to Student Nutrition Programs | 2020-08-14 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) joined over 100 Members of Congress to call for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend important child food programs through the coming school year. Specifically, the members called for the USDA to renew waivers for families to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and to waive area eligibility requirements during the entirety of school year 2020-2021. In a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, the lawmakers wrote: Simply put, without these flexibilities, some schools will be unable to continue providing meals for students next yearIt is unconscionable that the Department would fail to utilize all of its available authority to ensure that children can continue to receive the nutritious meals they need to learn next year. The SFSP and SSO were first authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and have been utilized by schools and non-profits to provide meals to children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should the Administration fail to renew these waivers and provide flexibility for these programs, some schools will be unable to continue providing meals to students next year. Many students depend on schools and school lunches to help them meet their nutritional needs, uncertain of where their next meal might come from, said Congressman Cleaver. During this economically and educationally turbulent time, we must ensure that students don't have to worry about hunger in addition to social studies. You can find the official letter with a list of co-signers here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommitte… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/clay-blasts-trump-administration-attempt-sabotage-us-postal-service | Clay Blasts Trump Administration Attempt to Sabotage U.S. Postal Service | 2020-08-13 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Clay Blasts Trump Administration Attempt to Sabotage U.S. Postal Service Changes Will Degrade Mail Service to Residences and Businesses, Suppress Voting Rights Ahead of November Election WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri has signed on to a bipartisan letter authored by House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D) New York, and Congressman Peter King (R) New York, sent to newly installed Postmaster General of the United States Louis DeJoy, demanding that the recent damaging changes to USPS be reversed and that efforts to delay mail service cease immediately. Postmaster DeJoy's reckless and damaging changes have not only degraded mail service, they have put millions of postal customers across the nation at risk by slowing the delivery of prescription medications, groceries and other household necessities, said Mr. Clay. I am deeply concerned that elderly and disabled Americans, who depend on the USPS as a lifeline to the outside world, will bear the brunt of degraded and delayed mail delivery. There is also no question that the Postmaster General is actively trying to satisfy President Trump's postal paranoia by making it harder to vote by mail, a safe and secure option already used by millions of Americans, and especially appropriate during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan letter to Postmaster General DeJoy says in-part: It is vital that the U.S. Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages. Eliminating overtime and directing postal workers to leave mail on the floor of postal facilities will erode confidence in the Postal Service and drive customers away, resulting in even worse financial conditions in the future. To read the full letter signed by Congressman Clay and 83 other Members of the U.S. House, please go to: https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2020-08-06.CBM%20et%20a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-6-million-grant-to-construct-new-water | Congressman Cleaver Applauds $6 Million Grant to Construct New Water Treatment Plant in Lexington, MO | 2020-08-10 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Lexington, MO) - United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) announcement of a $6 million grant being awarded to the City of Lexington to construct a new well field and water treatment plant. In February, Rep. Cleaver sent a letter to EDA Regional Administrator Angela Martinez advocating for the grant funding. I want to thank Mayor Aull for his partnership and efforts in bringing this funding to fruition, said Congressman Cleaver. The people of Lexington have faced severe flooding events in recent years that have been catastrophic to the community. With this funding, the city will now have the ability to build a new water treatment facility and protective infrastructure to ensure the people of Lexington have clean, reliable drinking water no matter the weather conditions. This will not only benefit the people of Lexington, but will also incentivize investment and economic activity in the community. That's what I like to call a win-win. Congressman Cleaver has always been an advocate for Lexington and the rural areas in his district, said Joe Aull, Mayor of Lexington.We are grateful to Congressman Cleaver for working with us to secure this $6 million grant to build a new water treatment plant. The new water treatment plant and well field will be constructed in a location that will protect them from future Missouri River flood events. This will ensure that the people and businesses of Lexington will have a reliable drinking water source even during severe weather events. In addition to protection from future flooding events, the new water treatment plant will be constructed near a federal Opportunity Zone. Opportunity Zones were created nationwide in 2017 to spur economic development in communities using investment incentives. As a proponent of program in Congress, Rep. Cleaver looks forward to seeing new development near the new water treatment plant in the future. You can find Rep. Cleaver's letter to EDA Regional Administrator Angela Mar… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-applauds-8-million-grant-to-modernize-kcata-bus | Congressman Cleaver Applauds $8 Million Grant To Modernize KCATA Bus Operations Facility | 2020-08-07 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the Department of Transportation's (DOT) announcement of a $7.98 million grant being awarded to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to modernize its regional Operations and Dispatch Center (OC). In March Rep. Cleaver sent a letter to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao urging support for the grant funding. Public transportation is a critical component of everyday life in Kansas City as well as our local economy, said Congressman Cleaver. I'm thrilled to see the Department of Transportation heed our calls for this much-needed funding, and I'm thankful to KCATA for their efforts in bringing this funding to fruition. As they utilize this grant to upgrade their Operations Center, I look forward to their continued service to the people of Kansas City. "Congressman Cleaver has always been an advocate for public transportation," said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president & CEO. "We see the impact of his commitment reflected in the $56 million investment along the Prospect MAX corridor. We are grateful for Congressman Cleaver's and Senator Blunt's ability to deliver the critically needed funding to modernize our 1970s building, and make it fully ADA compliant. This grant will support safer, more energy efficient regional transit and a healthy workplace for our employees. The OC building is a 43-year old facility that will cost taxpayers substantially less to renovate than to construct an entirely new building. The grant funding will go towards a new roof, new HVAC ductwork, making the OC fully ADA accessible and compliant, integrating new communication technology, and shifting their record system to an electronic system for greater efficiency. You can find the official announcement from DOT here. You can find Congressman Cleaver's letter to DOT Secretary Chao here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-continues-push-for-uscis-funding-to-save-thousands | Congressman Cleaver Continues Push For USCIS Funding to Save Thousands of Kansas City Jobs | 2020-08-07 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) continued his efforts to save thousands of workers in the Kansas City region from being furloughed. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Cleaver called on congressional leadership to ensure any coronavirus relief package passed by Congress include funding to keep the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operational through the current fiscal year and into the first part of the next fiscal year. In the letter sent to Speaker Pelosi today, Congressman Cleaver wrote: Although primarily funded through fee collection, since May USCIS has been reporting a funding shortfall and planning potential furloughs of over 13,400 federal employees and contractors around the nation, potentially impacting over 3,100 in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. While the funding shortfall did not begin with the coronavirus pandemic, supplemental funding is needed to continue the important work of administering the nation's legal immigration system and to prevent further exacerbation of the current public health and economic crises. To ensure the funding is protected from political manipulation, Congressman Cleaver is also calling for specific guardrails to protect this funding from being diverted for other purposes. These guardrails include: Prohibiting transfer authority of funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Repayment of funds through premium processing applications rather than an across-the-board fee increase for all applications Reforming the fee structure to improve efficiency and address processing backlogs and ensure that USCIS has sufficient funding moving forward. As Congress continues negotiations to bring economic relief to Americans struggling to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, it's absolutely crucial that funding for USCIS is included in any relief package passed by Congress, said Congressman Cleaver. These jobs are critical to the local economies … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-calls-for-investigation-into-allegations-of-misconduct-at | Rep. Cleaver Calls for Investigation Into Allegations of Misconduct at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency | 2020-08-06 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy, along with Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protections and Financial Institutions, and Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Chairwoman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity & Inclusion, are calling for an investigation into allegations of abuse of authority and violations of statutory responsibility at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) following reports of the agency scuttling multiple civil rights investigations. In a letter to Department of Treasury Inspector General Richard Delmar and Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, the lawmakers wrote: These concerning patterns of circumventing policies and practices to the possible material detriment of female and minority borrowers is deeply disturbing. Such extreme departures in supervisory practices on civil rights matters necessitates a thorough and complete investigation. We request the Inspector General and GAO initiate an immediate, comprehensive and timely investigation into these allegations. According to a report from Pro Publica, the OCC has shelved at least six investigations into allegations of possible redlining and discrimination. In each case career officials at the OCC have uncovered discriminatory practices, which violated federal law and regulation, and provided recommendations of fines and/or other penalties only to be overruled by senior management to protect financial institutions. The substance and pervasiveness of these allegations are extremely concerning, and it's important for the IG and GAO get to the bottom of what's occurring at the OCC immediately, said Congressman Cleaver. We cannot allow discriminatory practices in financial institutions to go unchecked, and we certainly can't allow the cops on the beat… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-us-department-0 | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXPANSION OF OPERATION LEGEND TO ST. LOUIS. | 2020-08-06 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXPANSION OF OPERATION LEGEND TO ST. LOUIS. NOTE: The following, in its entirety, is a first-person statement by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri ST. LOUIS, MO - While I welcome additional funding from the Department of Justice to help St. Louis fight violent crime, federal law enforcement officers must not infringe on the rights of non-violent citizens in my community as was seen repeatedly in Portland, Oregon. Excessive force will not make St. Louis safer. Changing the culture of policing and restoring the trust of the community with local law enforcement will. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-of-representatives-passes-wrda-bill-including-key-provisions-from | House of Representatives Passes WRDA Bill, Including Key Provisions From Rep. Cleavers Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act | 2020-07-30 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7575, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA), which provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out water resources development projects and studies. Included in this year's WRDA legislation are key provisions from The Lower Missouri River Flood Protection Program Acta bill introduced by United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) in the House of Representatives and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senateto protect communities in Missouri consistently harmed by flooding. Communities up and down the Missouri River, including the Fifth District of Missouri, have been ravaged by historic floods on a seemingly annual basis, said Congressman Cleaver. I'm proud we were able to garner enough bipartisan support to get some critical provisions from my legislation included in this year's WRDA bill that will enable these communities to move forward with projects to protect their lives and livelihoods. A key component included in WRDA from Cleaver's legislation is the expansion in scope of the Lower Missouri Basin Flood Risk & Resiliency Study, which would: Identify specific flood risk reduction solutions in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska; Free the study from traditional cost and duration limitations; Allow approved projects to proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design; Require additional consultation measures for any recommended actions, including solicitation of public comments; Provide $24 million over six years to help with technical assistance for disadvantaged communities with populations less than 15,000; And Mandate the submission of a report to Congress with additional recommendations within the next 3 years. Times have been hard for farmers and rural communities in recent years, and it's made even more difficult when they have to rebuild from flooding year after year, said Congressman Cleaver. These communities understand the challenges in front of t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representative-cleaver-leads-call-for-congress-to-support-nonprofits-in | Representative Cleaver Leads Call for Congress to Support Nonprofits in Next Coronavirus Relief Proposal | 2020-07-30 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) led nearly 70 lawmakers in a bipartisan call for congressional leadership to provide relief to nonprofits devastated by the coronavirus-induced economic crisis. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Congressman Cleaver wrote: As you know, it is profoundly clear that more needs to be done to meet the evolving economic crisis. We request that any final legislative package include the meaningful relief for nonprofits expressed in the Heroes Act while going further to provide for loan forgiveness for these frontline service providers. Cleaver's push to bring relief to nonprofits comes after the Federal Reserve released the terms of its Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) for nonprofits, which entail numerous financial restrictions that make the loan program unfeasible for most nonprofit organizations engaged in the fight against COVID-19. To ensure nonprofits are not left behind during the current economic crisis, Cleaver is calling on the next COVID-19 relief package to include a mandate that the Federal Reserve offer a low-cost loan option tailored to the unique needs of nonprofit organizations and backstopped by the Treasury Department to allow the loan to be forgiven solely for mid-sized nonprofits who have been eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. According to a report released by Johns Hopkins University, an estimated 1.6 million job losses occurred at nonprofits between March and May of this year, representing roughly 13% of all nonprofit jobs in the United States. As the third-largest employer in the private sector, they are a vital component of the American economy. In Kansas City, nonprofits make up over 14% of the city's GDP and 11.3% of the total workforce, making them a key economic driver in the Fifth District or Missouri in addition to their service to some of the most vulnerable communities in Missouri. Rep. Cleaver understands the dire need for Congress to assist these organiza… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-joins-roundtable-on-neighborhood-safety-announces | Congressman Cleaver Joins Roundtable on Neighborhood Safety, Announces Partnership Between AdHoc Group Against Crime and Ring | 2020-07-27 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined with the AdHoc Group Against Crime, a Kansas City nonprofit promoting healing and justice, and Ring to announce a new partnership to promote and increase community safety measures in Kansas City. To inaugurate the partnership, Ring and AdHoc will launch a program to donate 750 Ring Video Doorbells to local residents in Kansas City neighborhoods troubled by crime. The devices will be given to Kansas Citians who voluntarily apply to participate and will include free installation and a Ring Protect Basic subscription for the life of the devices. The people of Kansas City want to see community leaders work together to create a safer environment for everyone, said Congressman Cleaver. By teaming up with Ring and utilizing the latest technologies, AdHoc and I believe this community partnership will foster a higher level of comfort on the part of people who are living in neighborhoods where criminal acts are occurring far too frequently. As these resources begin to be distributed, I look forward to further discussions with Kansas Citians on additional ways in which we can make our community safer. AdHoc Group Against Crime is proud to partner with Ring. This initiative is an example of various sectors i.e. business, government, community organizations, and local neighborhoods coming together to increase safety through the use of technology, said Damon Daniel, President of AdHoc Group Against Crime. AdHoc's mission is to be a community resource for violence prevention and intervention for individuals, families and communities impacted by crime and violence. This partnership helps strengthen our constant efforts to be a bridge that leverages resources to our community. At Ring, we believe that when communities work together, safer neighborhoods become a reality," said Leila Rouhi, President of Ring. "Engaging and working with local community groups is an important part of our mission, and Ring is proud to work with AdHoc, and organiza… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-death | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS (D) GEORGIA | 2020-07-18 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS (D) GEORGIA NOTE: The following in its entirety, is a first-person statement by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri Fifty-five years ago, John Lewis marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge into American history. He was beaten, bloodied, but not broken; and his sacrifice propelled the passage of the Voting Rights Act. John wore his humanity and decency on his sleeve and he never became bitter about the systemic racism he was born into or the vicious racial violence that he stared down time after time with the power of his dignity and non-violent civil disobedience. Congressman John Lewis has been called home to take his rightful place of eternal honor beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,; Malcom X; Frederick Douglass; Nelson Mandela and all the brave souls who sacrificed so much for the cause of civil rights. He believed in the promise of America, and that Black Americans would gain their full measure of freedom and take a seat at the table of power that guides our democracy. As John said in his own words: Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. America has lost a champion for freedom, and I have lost a dear friend. The Clay family has known John Lewis for over 50 years and we send our deepest sympathies to his family at this hour of great loss for them and our nation. May his memory always be a blessing. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-us-senator-josh | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. SENATOR JOSH HAWLEYs REQUEST TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE ST. LOUIS CIRCUIT ATTORNEY KIMBERLY GARDNER | 2020-07-18 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY's REQUEST TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE ST. LOUIS CIRCUIT ATTORNEY KIMBERLY GARDNER NOTE: The following in its entirety, is a first-person statement by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri I am appalled that Missouri's junior U.S. Senator would attempt to interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation in the City of St. Louis by asking our racist, incompetent President and his failed Attorney General; who has long-since surrendered any allegiance to the rule of law; to misuse the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division by intervening in this case. The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice was created to investigate and defend the rights of African Americans and other minorities who have been subjected to generations of racially-fueled violence, police misconduct, and voter suppression. It was not created to harass and interfere with local law enforcement. And it was not created to allow federal elected officials to interfere with local law enforcement by inflaming racial divisions to advance their own political agendas. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner is conducting a proper, ongoing investigation into the potentially tragic incident that occurred on Portland Place in St. Louis' Central West End. I am fully confident that she will apply the facts and the law, without prejudice, to reach a proper decision. The rights of non-violent protestors are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and should never be subject to the threat of deadly force, whether by individuals or by the police. The young Americans who are on the streets in St. Louis and across the nation deserve constitutional policing and a government as good as they are. I stand with them. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-speaks-with-justice-department-about-robert-courtney-confirms | Cleaver Speaks With Justice Department About Robert Courtney, Confirms Release Is Still Under Review | 2020-07-17 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) spoke with Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs Stephen Boyd and the warden of Federal Correction Institution (FCI) Englewood regarding the pending release of convicted felon Robert R. Courtney. During the phone call, Congressman Cleaver relayed the outrage among the Kansas City community at the potential release of Courtney and his belief that the decision should be immediately reversed. Officials on the call assured Congressman Cleaver that Courtney would not be released from prison today and that his release was still under review. Robert Courtney is a man who took advantage of public trust to commit abhorrent crimes that led to pain and suffering of hundreds, if not thousands, of Kansas Citians, said Congressman Cleaver. There are those in prison who have committed victimless crimes and are at high-risk of COVID-19 complications that, understandably, should be released for home confinement. However, Mr. Courtney is not one of these individuals. His crimes should disqualify him from early release, and I'm hopeful as the Justice Department undergoes further review of this case they will come to the same conclusion. Additionally, Rep. Cleaver, along with Sam Graves (R-MO) and U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Josh Hawley (R-MO), sent a letter urging U.S. Attorney General William Barr to block the early release of Courtney, who was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment for diluting as many as 98,000 prescriptions, including cancer treatment medication, over the course of nearly a decade. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: Courtney's crimes are heinous. As shown by the heart wrenching victim impact statements enclosed with this letter, he inflicted a steep physical and emotional toll upon his victims for personal financial gain. He acted without consideration for the theft of his victims' health and quality of life, and his actions can be described as no less than purposefully evil. Courtney should serv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-kennedy-introduce-restoring-worker-power-act | Reps. Cleaver & Kennedy Introduce Restoring Worker Power Act | 2020-07-17 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) As millions of temporary workers face unemployment, lost wages and reduced hours as a result of COVID-19, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) and Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) today introduced the Restoring Worker Power Act to comprehensively overhaul federal protections for temp workers. In recent years, corporations have become increasingly reliant on temp worker staffing agencies precisely because lax regulations allow for workplace discrimination and exploitation. This legislation would increase wages, strengthen workers' rights, ban predatory corporate practices, enshrine equal pay, extend health and safety protections, enact anti-discrimination measures, and increase transparency in the industry. Over the last decade, Corporate America has become increasingly aware that they can exploit their workforces for higher profits by taking advantage of temporary workers and labor loopholes, said Congressman Cleaver. Every worker in America deserves equal pay for equal work, and the federal government cannot allow temp workers to be an exception. The time has come for a temp workers Bill of Rights, and I'm proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Kennedy, which would boost wages and benefits, increase protections, and help restore the power balance between working class Americans and corporate executives. Temporary workers battled daily against discrimination, wage theft, workplace abuse, and predatory corporations, said Congressman Kennedy. But long before COVID-19 shook our economy to its core, temp workers were intentionally carved out of policies meant to enshrine economic justice, which has left them vulnerable to the worst actors in our society. Through the Restoring Worker Power Act, we can immediately give hardworking Americans a raise, while extending worker rights and workplace protections." The Restoring Worker Power Act will: Ensure temporary workers are paid the same as directly-hired employees. Ensure temp workers receive basic information regarding their work as… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-kennedy-demand-diversity-among-university-endowment-asset | Cleaver, Kennedy Demand Diversity Among University Endowment Asset Managers | 2020-07-10 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) today raised concerns about the lack of diversity among asset managers of university endowments. In a letter to the twenty-five universities with the largest endowments, Cleaver and Kennedy demanded answers about their equal opportunity practices and firm selection processes. Citing a study showing that firms owned by women and minorities manage just 1.3 percent of the assets in the $69 trillion asset management industry, the lawmakers pushed the universities to prioritize women and minority-owned asset management firms. Colleges and universities have long advertised themselves as bastions of inclusion, while most have failed to invest a single cent of their enormous endowments with asset management firms that reflect the same diversity of their campuses, said Congressman Cleaver. We believe these twenty-five institutions have an opportunity to be leaders in changing the culture of this $69 trillion industry. As our nation seeks to dismantle systems of injustice, the time has come for them to really put their money where their mouth is. Universities that tout diversity among their student body should prioritize investing their massive endowments with diverse asset manager firms, said Congressman Kennedy. Entrusting minority and women-owned firms with tens of millions of dollars isn't just about empowering and elevating those firms, it's about hiring firms with a proven record of success. These twenty-five universities hold more than $200 billion in endowments and can change the face of asset management if they choose to do so. The letter was sent to the following universities: Harvard University, The University of Texas, Yale University, Stanford University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, The Texas A&M University, University of Michigan, University of California, University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of Ne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-cleaver-holds-committee-hearing-dedicated-to-protecting-worker | Chairman Cleaver Holds Committee Hearing Dedicated to Protecting Worker Pay During COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-07-09 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy, held a hearing entitled Paycheck Security: Economic Perspectives on Alternative Approaches to Protecting Workers' Pay During COVID-19. The hearing examined the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal response to date, and policy approaches the government can take to protect workers moving forward. The hearing comes as Democrats in the House of Representatives are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up the Heroes Actwhich passed the House of Representatives in Mayand pass this next stimulus package to stabilize the economy and bring relief to American families. Chairman Cleaver invited several leading economists to testify on the state of the American economy, including Nobel Laureate Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, who noted, if we follow Herbert Hoover and don't provide the assistance the economy needs, then we're setting ourselves up for another Depression. You can watch a recording of the hearing here and read Chairman Cleaver's opening statement below. In February, before a pandemic was declared and the economic livelihood of Americans was placed in peril, I sent a letter asking the White House, Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve how they planned to prevent a crisis from occurring due to COVID-19. I asked them what their strategy was to help protect American health and the national economy. It was months until that letter I wrote with Chairmen Meeks, Green and Clay would receive a response. Unfortunately, by that time it was clear, at least to me, that there was no plan. Because we did not plan, we have become a part of the virus' plan. Congress was forced to take unprecedented steps to rescue our economy and provide emergency assistance to American families and front-line workers through the CARES Act. We provided nearly every American money to feed their families… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/helsinki-commissioners-emanuel-cleaver-gwen-moore-alcee-hastings-and | Helsinki Commissioners Emanuel Cleaver, Gwen Moore, Alcee Hastings, and Marc Veasey Lead Call for Comprehensive Action to Address anti-Black Racism Abroad | 2020-07-09 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) In a bicameral letter to the President of the European Commission, the Black members of the Helsinki Commission along with 35 other Members of United States Congress, including the Congressional Black Caucus Chair and other Helsinki Commissioners, call for a sweeping plan of action following the European Parliament's Juneteenth Day resolution supporting protests against racism and police brutality. The letter also urges an immediate inquiry into an altercation involving a Black Member of the European Parliament and a Belgian police officer. In response, the Commissioners released the following statements: Recently, we have seen a troubling rise in racism and police brutality around the world, said Helsinki Commissioner Emanuel Cleaver. I'm comforted to see the European Parliament and the people of Europe standing with Americans as we seek to abolish the systemic racism that has plagued our planet for far too long. As we stand united in the face of this age-old foe, now is the time for concrete action to root out racism in every corner of the globe. I am encouraged by the European Parliament's resolution supporting protests against racism and police brutality. I would like to see these efforts built upon with meaningful and comprehensive action that addresses the widespread racism and discrimination Black Europeans and people of African descent experience on a day-to-day basis, said Helsinki Commissioner Gwen Moore. Since convening the 2009 Black European Summit at the European Parliament, it is heartening to see the growing solidarity of this resolution and the opportunity it presents for joint U.S.-EU commitments to end systemic racism, said Helsinki Commission Chairman Alcee Hastings. I applaud the European Parliament's resolution that denounces anti-black racism and police brutality, said Helsinki Commissioner Marc Veasey. We must work together as a global community to create comprehensive solutions that will finally dismantle the systemic oppression that has caused too many Black and Brown… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-fortenberry-introduce-emergency-funding-legislation-to-save | Reps. Cleaver & Fortenberry Introduce Emergency Funding Legislation to Save Thousands of USCIS Jobs | 2020-07-09 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) announced they will introduce a bill to provide $1.2 billion in emergency supplemental funding to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through the end of 2020. The USCIS, which administers the nation's legal immigration system and processes millions of immigration applications and thousands of international adoptions each year, is normally funded through fees it collects from applicants. USCIS announced that it would run short of funds and will begin furloughing more than 13,400 employeesincluding over 3,100 workers in the Greater Kansas City Areain August should Congress fail to appropriate emergency funding. As millions of American workers and small businesses continue to feel the economic devastation of COVID-19, it's imperative that Congress come together to prevent over 13,400 unnecessary job losses and allow USCIS to continue processing legal immigration applications that have been waiting for months or longer, said Congressman Cleaver. Although I want to see policy changes made at USCIS, during the compounding public health and economic crises, preserving jobs and processing applications for workers and companies that have been waiting for months must be the first step. I want to thank Congressman Fortenberry for his willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to keep these workers on payroll and USCIS open for business. While Congress continues to negotiate with USCIS, we will fight vociferously to have this emergency funding approved before August. "The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has a quiet but important presence in Lincoln. Hundreds of its hard-working employees, through no fault of their own, received notices of possible furlough due to coronavirus. We're working on a bipartisan solution to fix the problem," said Rep. Fortenberry. You can read the official text of the draft legislation here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Cong… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-joins-fellow-democrats-calling-for-trump | Congressman Cleaver Joins Fellow Democrats Calling For Trump Administration to Immediately Release Children with their Families from ICE Detention | 2020-07-06 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) - United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) has joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and 79 fellow lawmakers in demanding the release of all parents and children being held in immigration and family detention centers by July 17. This comes following a recent order from District Court Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California, which required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release all children held for more than 20 days at Karnes, Dilley and Berks detention facilities. In the letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Matthew Albence, the lawmakers expressed their concern for children and parents exposed to unsafe living conditions as a result of ICE's inability to take the necessary precautions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Gee observed in her ruling that these facilities are now on fire due to ICE's failure to ensure the basics, and because of COVID-19 outbreaks in each facility's surrounding area. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: Since the COVID-19 crisis started, Members of Congress, advocates, attorneys, and doctors have continuously urged ICE to use its authority to release detained families. We know the Administration has a history of separating thousands of children from their parents. Family separation should never be this country's policy, the Members wrote. We call upon ICE to act with compassion and release families together. Once these families are free from detention, together, we urge ICE to commit to a permanent policy of family unity and to seek alternatives to family detention including release on recognizance or community-driven support - in every case. Family separation should never have become policy in the first place, said Rep. Cleaver. Now, with COVID-19 running rampant and ICE unable to protect the men, women and children detained in these facilities, it's more important than ever that these children are released with their families. We will con… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-calls-for-sanctions-on-russian-federation-following | Rep. Cleaver Calls for Sanctions on Russian Federation Following Revelations of Bounties on U.S. Troops | 2020-07-06 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, called for the Trump Administration to immediately impose sanctions on the Russian Federation following reports of Russia funding terrorist organizations to murder American and allied service members in Afghanistan. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Rep. Cleaver also calls for the Administration to implement sanctions against Russia that were passed by Congress in 2014 and are long overdue. The letter was co-signed by four other Financial Services Subcommittee chairmen, including Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Al Green (D-TX), Bill Foster (D-Il), and Brad Sherman (D-CA). In the letter, Rep. Cleaver wrote: As more information is revealed with each passing day, we are forced to question why this administration has not acted or spoken out in defense of our citizens. Worse still, the President has advocated in support of this dangerous regime for membership into the G-7. These reports, whether taken individually or together, highlight the utter insufficiency of the Trump administration's current posture vis a vis Russia and its aggressive and nefarious intentions. As we continue to investigate these developments, it is imperative that you use the tools Congress has provided to defend our country. The actions taken by Russia and the GRU warrant a significant and swift reprisal from the current Administration, said Congressman Cleaver. It's imperative that we make it unequivocally clear that this kind of aggression and any attempt to harm American troops will not be tolerated. Not only must the President implement sanctions that are long overdue from previous hostilities, we must now enact more serious and substantial sanctions to deter any future attempts by Russia to threaten U.S. and allied servicemembers. You can find the official letter from Rep. Cleaver here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which inclu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-for-patient-protection-affordable-care | Congressman Cleaver Votes For Patient Protection & Affordable Care Enhancement Act | 2020-07-02 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Last night, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, House Democrats' new legislation to build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to lower health costs and prescription drug prices. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 234-179 and comes less than one week after the Trump Administration filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down the entirety of the ACA. My Democratic colleagues and I are keenly aware that we were swept into the House Majority in 2018 in no small part due to demands that Congress lower drug costs and protect healthcare for the American people, not take it away, said Congressman Cleaver. With this legislationand since the commencement of the 116th Congresswe are working adamantly to strengthen and build upon the Affordable Care Act, which will drive down drug costs and ensure that millions more of our fellow Americans have sufficient, affordable health care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act will make several reforms to current health care law that will lower prescription drug prices and expand access to healthcare, including: Increasing the ACA's affordability subsidies to be more generous and cover more middle-class families. For the first time, no person will have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for a benchmark silver plan in the ACA marketplaces, and many Americans will see their premiums cut in half or more: A family of four earning $40,000 would save nearly $1,600 in premiums each year. A 64-year-old earning $57,420 would save more than $8,700 in premiums each year. A single adult with income of $31,900 would see premiums cut in half. An adult earning $19,140 would see premiums cut to zero, saving $800 dollars a year. Negotiating for lower prescription drug prices by delivering the power to negotiate lower drug prices so that Americans no longer have to pay more for our medicines than Big … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-for-transformational-sustainable-house-infrastructure | Rep. Cleaver Votes For Transformational, Sustainable House Infrastructure Legislation | 2020-07-02 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Last night, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which passed by a vote of 233-188. The bill would invest more than $1.5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs, combatting the climate crisis, and addressing disparities in urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the country For decades now, Missourians have watched as Congress has neglected our decrepit national infrastructure and allowed it to fall deeper and deeper into inefficiency and disrepair, said Congressman Cleaver. Now, as tens of millions of Americans are seeking employment, Congress has an opportunity to invest in sustainable, 21st century infrastructure that will create millions of good-paying jobs, support our nation's recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and reinforce our efforts to combat climate change. This isn't just good policy, it's responsible governing for American workers and future generations. The Moving Forward Act would: Provide a nearly $500 billion investment to rebuild and reimagine the nation's transportation infrastructure by fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, improving safety, reducing gridlock, and putting the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions from the transportation sector by cutting carbon pollution; investing in public transit and the national rail network; building out fueling infrastructure for low- and zero-emission vehicles; and deploying technology and innovative materials. Invest in schools with the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act, which funds $130 billion in school infrastructure targeted at high-poverty schools with facilities that endanger the health and safety of students and educators. This investment will help students safely get back to school and create more than 2 million jobs to help workers get back to work. Deliver affordable high-speed broadband Internet access to all parts of the country by investing $100 billion to promote competition fo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/with-rep-cleavers-support-house-democrats-pass-transformational-george | With Rep. Cleaver's Support, House Democrats Pass Transformational George Floyd Justice In Policing Act | 2020-06-26 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Last night, The United States House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Democrats' bold, transformative legislation to reimagine the culture of policing in America with unprecedented reforms to curb police brutality, end racial profiling, eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement, and build greater trust between law enforcement and our local communities. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was a cosponsor and voted in favor of the legislation, which passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 236-181. The American people have made it unequivocally clear that the time has come for major, concrete reform to address the systemic racism that has plagued our nation's policing system for generations, said Congressman Cleaver. Thanks to the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, this legislation delivers the transformational change Americans are seeking from Congress. It increases transparency, holds law enforcement accountable, and, ultimately, will save lives. The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act will take numerous key steps to achieve the structural change needed to combat America's history of police brutality and racial injustice, including: Banning all chokeholds; Banning no-knock warrants in drug cases; Ending racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling; Eliminating the qualified immunity doctrine that has long been a barrier to holding police officers accountable for wrongful conduct; Establishing a National Police Misconduct Registry to improve transparency and prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave one agency from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability; Requiring data collection, including mandatory body cameras and dashboard cameras; Establishing new standards for policing and the Public Safety Innovation grants for community-based organizations to help reimagine policing in their communities. Our nation was founded on the fundamental promise of equal justice under the law, and,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/clay-praises-move-1000-usdaemployees-contaminated-goodfellow-federal | Clay Praises Move of 1000 USDA Employees from Contaminated Goodfellow Federal Complex to Metropolitan Square Building in Downtown St. Louis | 2020-06-25 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Clay Praises Move of 1000 USDA Employees from Contaminated Goodfellow Federal Complex to Metropolitan Square Building in Downtown St. Louis Long Struggle Results in Victory for At-Risk Federal Employees WASHINGTON, DC -Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri announced today that after a four-year struggle to move endangered federal workers from the highly contaminated Goodfellow Federal Complex in North St. Louis, 1000 employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be relocated to the Metropolitan Square Building at211 N. Broadway in downtown St.Louis, the city's tallest building. The move will be completed by September of 2021. Mr. Clay, Missouri's Senior Democrat in Washington, has worked closely with the General Services Administration, the Public Building Service, and the American Federation of Government Employees to finally get these valued federal employees out of harms way. No one should have to choose between serving their country or sacrificing their health,said the Congressman.Since I became aware of the obvious unabated environmental hazards at this site and the terrible healthcare toll this has inflicted on so many federal employees; my goal was to first get these dedicated workers out of harms way, and then if possible, retain these good federal jobs for St. Louis. Today's announcement by the GSA achieves both of those goals. For years, federal employees at the Goodfellow Complex have complained of unusual medical problems including high rates of certain cancers. The toxic contamination was confirmed in 2016 following an investigation by OSHA, which listed 83 hazardous substances present at the site. In a follow-up report the Inspector General of the GSA cited the Public Building Service for Failing to adequately protect tenants, contractors and visitors from known hazards, despite having spent more than $1.9 million between 2002 - 2018 on at least 33 studies that identified numerous environmental hazards. The Goodfellow Federal Complex, which dates back to 1941, was originally part of the mas… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-for-senate-to-take-up-legislation-protecting | Congressman Cleaver Calls for Senate to Take Up Legislation Protecting Dreamers | 2020-06-23 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Following the Supreme Court's landmark decision rejecting the Trump Administration's illegal effort to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) is again calling for passage of legislation that would protect DACA recipients from deportation. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rep. Cleaver, along with over 100 other House lawmakers, is urging the Senate Majority Leader to schedule a vote on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which passed the House of Representatives more than a year ago and would give Dreamers a path to citizenship. With Republicans in the majority, the United States Senate has failed to challenge the most anti-immigrant President in modern history. It is not too late to change course, the Members wrote. As Majority Leader you can immediately schedule a vote in the Senate for the American Dream and Promise Act. It would be an American tragedy to deport DACA recipients who are saving lives in the midst of this pandemic. The time has come for the U.S. Congress to bring certainty to the nearly 700,000 Dreamers whose lives have been in limbo since this Administration attempted to illegally rescind the DACA program, said Congressman Cleaver. These are people who have been on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis; who have grown up in this great nation; and who are American in every single way except for on paper. The Senate must end their obstruction of the Dream and Promise Act and allow Dreamers the path to citizenship that they justly deserve. While DACA is just one part of our nation's broken immigration system, the bipartisan support it commands make it a great first step toward comprehensive immigration reform that has eluded Congress for years, Congressman Cleaver continued. It is long overdue that both parties sit down and find a bipartisan compromise that puts people first and addresses our country's immigration woes because the current system is not working for … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-missouri-delegation-urge-president-trump-to-support-disaster | Rep. Cleaver, Missouri Delegation Urge President Trump to Support Disaster Declaration for Areas Impacted by Severe Weather | 2020-06-22 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, the entire Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II, Sam Graves, Wm. Lacy Clay, Jason Smith, Billy Long, Vicky Hartzler, Ann Wagner, and Blaine Leutkemeyer, as well as U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, sent a letter urging President Trump to support Governor Mike Parson's request for a federal emergency disaster declaration for 19 counties impacted by severe storms and tornadoes in early May. The disaster declaration is a necessary step in order for these counties to access critically important federal resources for recovery efforts. State and federal assessment teams have observed damage to electric power systems and public infrastructure as a result of the storms; State Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have estimated that more than $9.3 million in damages are eligible for federal assistance. This event has compounded the financial stress that already encumbers the state due to COVID-19, the delegation wrote. We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. The delegation's official letter to President Trump can be found here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is av… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-and-davids-demand-information-on-allegations-of | Reps. Cleaver and Davids Demand Information on Allegations of Discrimination at KCVA | 2020-06-19 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) demanded documentation from the Kansas City Veterans Administration (KCVA) Medical Center following allegations of a pattern of discrimination against Black employees at the facility. Specifically, the Members of Congress are calling for all documented complaints and how they were handled going back ten years, as well as all information on applicant scoring protocols and the altering of scores to eliminate minority candidates in particular. In a letter to KCVA Director David Isaacks, the lawmakers wrote: Over the past several months, employees have raised concerns that have formed a pattern we simply cannot ignore. Our offices have brought some to your attention over the last few months through formal inquiries, but many more employees have been affected and it's on behalf of all of them and the veterans they serve that we write you today. According to recent reports to both congressional offices, African American employees were asked by management to take part in a living museum in which they portray historic figures, including former slaves and rappers, to celebrate Juneteenth. It was also noted that an Associate Director on a staff conference call proposed ordering friend chicken and watermelon as catering for the event. To make matters worse, when staff have the courage to report wrongdoing within the facility, they face retaliation rather than the wrongdoer being held accountable. The disturbing reports our offices have received from Black employees and veterans at the Kansas City VA are unacceptable, said Congressman Cleaver. No American veteran and at no work place in this country in the year 2020 should an employee be discriminated against for the color of their skin or retaliated against for standing up to this dehumanizing behavior. It's important that the leadership at the facility take the steps needed to root out this kind of conduct, and that starts with being transparent and turning over doc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-leads-congressional-call-for-facebook-to-strengthen-policies | Rep. Cleaver Leads Congressional Call For Facebook to Strengthen Policies In Order to Limit Violence and Paid Political Disinformation | 2020-06-12 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), joined by 17 colleagues in the House of Representatives, delivered a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling on the tech company to revise its policies governing the incitement of violence and political micro-targeting on its platform. Rep. Cleaver and his colleagues are also seeking more information on Facebook's current policies governing these issues, how they reached these policy decisions, and how they intend to enforce the lackadaisical policies going forward. Facebook's hands-off approach and failure to take responsibility for the disinformation and violent rhetoric that gets trafficked on their websitethat they profit from every dayis doing considerable damage to democracies around the world and even their staff has had enough, said Congressman Cleaver. The First Amendment is a sacred right that every American possesses, but it does not give politicians and nefarious actors the right to spread violence, lies and misleading claims on a public platform to individuals who are especially susceptible to disinformation. In the letter, Congressman Cleaver wrote: On May 29, 2020, In your function as CEO, you articulated Facebook's determination not to remove a post which other social media platforms, and a large number of Facebook employees, agreed incited violence and directly violated Facebook's Community Standards.' Further, we understand that hundreds of your employees, uncomfortable with your inaction, organized a walkout on Monday June 1, 2020. We share their disappointment with your response. This highlights a possible negligent obfuscation of responsibility to your team, your shareholders, and your users. It also underscores a likely pattern of practice in failing to appropriately balance free speech against public safety and the general welfare of users. This failing is also reflected in Facebook's practices around microtargeting and misinformation. Last month, following several Presidential posts regarding false c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-davids-push-to-save-thousands-of-kc-area-jobs-at-federal | Reps. Cleaver & Davids Push to Save Thousands of KC-Area Jobs at Federal Agency Amid Potential Layoffs | 2020-06-12 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) continue the push to save Kansas City area jobs after news broke in May of potential layoffs for 1,000 contract workers at the National Benefits Center due to coronavirus-related revenue shortfalls, which would be among the largest mass layoffs in the Kansas City area. Should the Agency fail to receive critically-needed funding, over 1,000 additional federal employees in the region could be laid off as well. As the representatives fight for federal funding, they are calling on the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) to put forward a plan demonstrating these jobs will remain should funding be secured. 44 million Americans have filed jobless claims in the last 3 months, and the Greater Kansas City Area has not been spared of the financial pain growing throughout the country, said Congressman Cleaver. We cannot allow thousands Kansas Citians to unnecessarily lose good-paying jobs amongst this economic backdrop. As Congresswoman Davids and I continue working within Congress to find funding and keep these workers employed, it's important that the USCIS put forward a plan that shows unequivocally their intention to maintain these jobs for the foreseeable future. With a satisfactory plan in place, I'm hopeful we can convince Congress to supply the funding these workers desperately need. At a time when so many Kansans have lost their job security and are facing enormous financial strain, Congress must do everything we can to prevent what would be massive and devastating layoffs at a major employer in the Kansas City area. I'm committed to working with Congressman Cleaver, as well as congressional leaders and the committees of jurisdiction, to protect these vital jobs and the livelihoods of families across the region, said Rep. Davids. Cleaver and Davids have been in discussion with congressional leadership and the committees of jurisdiction since the news became public in mid-May as they advocate for emerg… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-joins-congressional-democrats-to-introduce-transformative | Rep. Cleaver Joins Congressional Democrats to Introduce Transformative Police Reform Legislation | 2020-06-09 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, Congressional Democrats introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, an historic piece of legislation that would transform the nation's policing policies and begin to create structural reform in the United States Justice System. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined with over 200 House and Senate Democrats to support the legislation as an original cosponsor, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. In the past week the American people have made one thing abundantly clear: The time for change has come, said Congressman Cleaver. I've heard from countless Missourians of all stripes who want to see substantive changes to our system of justice which has disproportionately harmed the Black community for decades. With this piece of legislation, we are taking the initial steps needed to create concrete changes that will lead to a more just and equitable system for all. Following the murder of George Floyd by officers from the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25, civil demonstrations began throughout the United States. Last week, demonstrations were held in every state in the union, even sparking protests in other nations around the globe, with activists demanding systemic changes to the U.S. justice system. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is the first comprehensive legislative package introduced by the CBC and Congressional Democrats following the outpouring of calls for reform. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 would: Hold police accountable in our courts by reforming qualified immunity so that individuals are not entirely barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights; improving the use of patterns and practices investigations at the federal level; and incentivizing states to create independent investigative structures for police involved deaths through grants Im… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/speaker-nancy-pelosi-congressman-lacy-clay-senator-kamala-harris-and-0 | Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Lacy Clay, Senator Kamala Harris and Congressional Black Caucus Introduce Justice in Policing Act of 2020 | 2020-06-08 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Lacy Clay, Senator Kamala Harris and Congressional Black Caucus Introduce Justice in Policing Act of 2020 Sweeping Police Reform Act Includes Key Clay Legislation to Make Use of Deadly Force a Last Resort, Require an Independent Prosecutor For All Police Killings, Transform Training Standards for All Local Law Enforcement WASHINGTON, DC -Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) California, Congressman Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, Senator Kamala Harris (D) California; Senator Cory Booker (D) New Jersey and Judiciary Committee Chairman Congressman Jerry Nadler (D) New York joined Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Congresswoman Karen Bass (D) California and members of the CBC to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 this morning at the U.S. Capitol. This remarkable legislative proposal advances a long and arduous process that I have been pursuing since the Ferguson uprising to make a course correction in our democracy to finally address centuries of oppression and unequal treatment of African Americans by law enforcement, said Mr. Clay. I'm very proud that three of my top police reform priorities are included in this landmark bill, including: Making the use of deadly force the last resort for law enforcement; mandating an independent prosecutor in all instances of police killings; and requiring all new and existing police officers to undergo transformative training to address racial bias, cultural awareness, deescalation tactics, and the pervasive use of excessive force with non-white subjects. It may take generations to achieve all of this, but our bill is a powerful, bold step forward to move American society to a new normal for both race relations and policing. Highlights of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 include: Holding police officers accountable in the courts by reforming qualified immunity. Improving transparency of local law enforcement by collecting more accurate and timely data of police use of force and misconduct. Improving police training and practices by ending racial … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/joint-statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-and-congressman | JOINT STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI AND CONGRESSMAN EMANUAL CLEAVER, II (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. SENATOR ROY BLUNTs SUPPORT OF DEPT. OF JUSTICE INQUIRIES INTO THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD | 2020-06-05 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | JOINT STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI AND CONGRESSMAN EMANUAL CLEAVER, II (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. SENATOR ROY BLUNT's SUPPORT OF DEPT. OF JUSTICE INQUIRIES INTO THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD ST. LOUIS, MO KANSAS CITY, MO Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D) Missouri today issued a joint statement regarding U.S. Senator Roy Blunt's support of their calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to launch inquiries into the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN. The following, in its entirety, is first-person from Congressman Clay and Congressman Cleaver: We are very pleased that Senator Blunt strongly supports our call for Attorney General William Barr to order the U.S. Department of Justice to launch both a Patterns & Practices inquiry and a Civil Rights inquiry into the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The same standard that applied in Ferguson should apply in Minneapolis too, and we hope that it leads to the kind of fundamental reforms via a consent decree as was achieved in Ferguson that transformed their police department and city government. George Floyd was another in the long list of unarmed Black citizens who were denied their humanity, their dignity and their lives by racially driven deadly force exercised by local police without justification. We cannot allow this utter contempt for Black lives and rejection of our common humanity to continue without consequences for not just the alleged murderer and other officers who stood by and did nothing to stop this crime, but by exposing and reforming the culture of police violence against persons of color that allowed this murder to happen. -30- | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-police-murder | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD | 2020-05-30 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD ST. LOUIS, MO Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri made a special statement today regarding the police murder of George Floyd and the systematic racism and excessive force by some local police officers which led to another tragic death of an unarmed, Black citizen. The following are excerpts from the Congressman's live remarks delivered at the Urban League's Drive-thru Food Distribution community event in North St. Louis County. ============================================================================================= First, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to George Floyd's family. It's clear that he was a beloved man who lived his life for others. Like most of you, I am angry beyond words about his murder by a Minneapolis police officer. That videotape taken by a brave bystander has revealed to White Americans what Black Americans have witnessed for decades Racially driven, excessive force applied by some police officers who view Black citizens as something less than human. The video doesn't lie, and the whole world is watching. George Floyd was not resisting arrest. He was resisting strangulation. And while the police officer who pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes has been arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter The three other officers, who stood by and did absolutely nothing, and the medic who made no effort to save his life, must be charged as accessories to this tragic crime. ==== George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and our own Mike Brown too. The list of broken black bodies at the hands of local law enforcement keeps growing. And the hate and systematic racism that allows this violence to keep happening has never been fully confronted. We need full Justice Department Patterns & Practices and Civil Rights Investigations in Minneapolis. I hope they result in the same kind of sweeping consent decree that we achieved in Fergus… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-davids-and-axne-announce-legislation-to-establish-missouri | Reps. Cleaver, Davids, and Axne Announce Legislation to Establish Missouri River Flood Prevention Program | 2020-05-22 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Cindy Axne (D-IA) announced bipartisan legislation to establish a flood prevention program to protect Midwestern communities along the lower Missouri River system. The Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act would modernize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' methods for managing water resource projects along the Missouri River system and require the implementation of a system-wide approach to projects in order to reduce flood risk and increase flood protection along the lower Missouri River. My congressional districtand districts all along the lower Missouri Riverhave witnessed historic floods in recent years that only seem to be increasing in intensity and the havoc they wreak on our local communities, said Congressman Cleaver. We need a wide-ranging, proactive approach that mitigates the potential for overwhelming flooding along the Missouri River, and we need it now. I'm pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation, along with Reps. Davids and Axne, which will give the Army Corps of Engineers the flexibility and tools they need to protect these communities from the devastating floods they have faced time and time again in recent years. I'm proud to join my colleagues, Reps. Cleaver and Axne, in providing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the ability to swiftly address long-term Missouri flood risk in a sustainable way. Those of us that live along the river know all too well the terrible impact flooding has on our communities -- and it's only getting worse. It's my hope the House can consider this bipartisan legislation immediately and deliver much needed relief to our area, said Representative Davids. Southwest Iowa is still rebuilding after devastating floods last year destroyed communities and uprooted lives, said Rep. Axne.Throughout this recovery process, I have heard countless times on the need for a new approach to flood management. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-applauds-usda-approval-of-request-for-pandemic-ebt-funds-for-mo | Cleaver Applauds USDA Approval of Request For Pandemic EBT Funds for MO Families | 2020-05-19 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval for Missouri to access the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), a program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The program will assist families impacted by COVID-19 who already utilize EBT to receive an increase in funds and allow those who do not currently participate to sign-up for the program as an alternative to school districts' food distribution programs. It is of the utmost importance that we do everything we can to ensure food access for school children that would otherwise not receive a nutritious meal. said Congressman Cleaver No matter how dire the situation may be, we cannot forget about those who are vulnerable to food insecurity during these moments of crisis. I applaud the USDA for working with us to approve access to this vital program. Last month, Congressman Cleaver sent a letter to the Secretary of the USDA, Sonny Perdue, to approve Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (MO DESE) request to mobilize the P-EBT program. You can find Congressman Cleaver's official letter here. --- Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Juan Ramiro Sarmiento at 816-842-4545 or Ramiro.Sarmiento@mail.house.gov | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-supports-the-heroes-act-to-bring-immediate-relief-to | Rep. Cleaver Supports The Heroes Act To Bring Immediate Relief To Missourians and Local Communities | 2020-05-15 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted for The Heroes Act, the latest emergency coronavirus relief proposal to address the continued public health crisis and bring desperately needed support for struggling families and essential workers. The bill includes funds for testing and tracing measures, key support for frontline workers, and strengthened financial assistance for the American people. As I hear from more and more Missourians and small businesses, one thing is abundantly clear: they need major relief immediately, said Congressman Cleaver. We're witnessing an economic and public health crisis like I've never seen before, and we need a response that matches the scale of the challenge at hand. The American people and small businesses across the country have done their part to stem the spread of COVID-19. Congress and the Administration cannot fail to do ours by coming to the aid of workers and businesses who are hanging on by a thread. The Heroes Act brings much-needed support to Missouri and our local communities with robust funding to cover coronavirus-related revenue losses and pay our frontline health care workers as well as police, fire, transportation, EMS, teachers and other vital workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs. An analysis prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates the Heroes Act will provide more than $4.1 billion in state funding for the people of Missouri in 2020 as well as $5.2 billion in 2021, in addition to urgently needed funding for communities in the Fifth District of Missouri. These estimates based on current population levels include: Kansas City $562,514,052 over two years; Jackson County $395,356,323 over two years; Clay County $140,564,688 over two years; Independence $58,404,034 over two years; Lee's Summit $26,713,121 over two years; Blue Springs $19,295,751 over two years; Lafayette County $18,394,185 over two years; Raytown $14,313,828 over two years; Marshall $6,385… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/clay-applauds-passage-historic-heroes-act | Clay Applauds Passage of Historic Heroes Act - Bold Emergency Legislation Will Provide Critical Help to States and Local Governments, Hazard Pay for Essential Workers, Urgent Help for Homeowners and Renters | 2020-05-15 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | Clay Applauds Passage of Historic Heroes Act Bold Emergency Legislation Will Provide Critical Help to States and Local Governments, Hazard Pay for Essential Workers, Urgent Help for Homeowners and Renters WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri applauded today's passage of H.R. 6800 (The Heroes Act) in the U.S. House. Mr. Clay, who chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development & Insurance, worked closely with Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D) California to insert new emergency help for homeowners and renters into the over $3 trillion legislative package. The scope and power of this emergency funding bill will quickly reach right down to the state and local government levels to help them ensure no interruption in absolutely vital public services like education, police, fire protection and paramedics that could be cut without this urgent legislation, said the Congressman. Mr. Clay added, This legislation helps working families who are suffering job loss, through no fault of their own, with making the mortgage or rent payments. Working people need real relief now, not later. And they should not have to worry about keeping a roof over their heads during this pandemic. I'm also especially pleased that I was able to include some top priorities from the Financial Services Committee in the bill like creating a $100 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help struggling families and $75 billion in direct Homeowner Assistance to help working families hold onto their homes by providing emergency help with mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, utilities and other housing-related costs. The Heroes Act also expands foreclosure and forbearance relief for homeowners and multifamily property owners under the CARES Act to ALL mortgages, not just federally-backed loans, and it ensures that homeowners can request forbearance for up to a year after the enactment of this bill. We were also able to expand the moratorium on evictio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-cleaver-williams-lead-bipartisan-call-to-support-live | Congressmen Cleaver & Williams Lead Bipartisan Call To Support Live Entertainment Venues During Coronavirus Crisis | 2020-05-14 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Roger Williams (R-TX) led a bipartisan effort to support the live entertainment industry, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to Congressional leadership, Cleaver and Williams, along with 91 other members of Congress, called for a targeted legislative action to support the industry as Congress continues negotiations on the next emergency relief bill. Live entertainment venues were among the first to close as the coronavirus seeped into our society, and, sadly, they will be among the last to fully reopen to the public as we seek to stem the spread of this deadly virus, said Congressman Cleaver. Kansas City is well-known for its jazz bars and live music venues, which are a critical driver of our local economy, as they support musicians, event workers, and small businesses in surrounding areas. One study estimated that for every $1 spent on a ticket, a total of $12 in economic activity was generated, showing just how important these venues are to local economies across the nation. I'm proud to join Congressman Williams in a bipartisan effort to support these venues in their time of need and hope we can bring them some relief in the next stimulus package. Live music serves as a cultural hub for communities across our nation, especially right here in Austin, Texas. As businesses have had to close down due to government mandates, it has become clear that independent venues will be some of the last to reopen and return to normal operations. The venues play a crucial role in our societal identity while generating billions of dollars into our economy and supporting local 25th District businesses it is of the utmost importance we provide relief for these pillars in our communities, said Congressman Williams. You can find the official letter with a list of co-signers here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-applauds-inclusion-of-renters-assistance-bill-in-latest | Rep. Cleaver Applauds Inclusion of Renters Assistance Bill in Latest Coronavirus Relief Proposal | 2020-05-13 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), released the latest emergency coronavirus relief package, entitled the Heroes Act. Included in the legislative package was the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, a bill introduced by United States Representative Denny Heck (D-WA) and originally co-sponsored by Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO). In the month of April, nearly one-third of American renters couldn't pay rent due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus, said Congressman Cleaver. These are folks who, at no fault of their own, are at risk of losing shelter should the Administration and United States Congress fail to act. Not only would this leave millions of Americans without a roof over their head, but the economic impact could lead to a chain reaction that would further devastate the American economy. I'm happy to see the Speaker include this critical legislation in the Heroes Act, which would provide $100 billion in rental assistance to Americans who are in dire need of help, and I will continue to push for housing relief for American families as we debate this legislation. The Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020 would provide $100 billion to: Help families and individuals pay their rent and utility bills to keep a roof over their head; Supplement funding for households in urban and rural communities; Help rental property owners of all sizes continue to cover their costs, including the costs of necessary maintenance to ensure residents' health and safety; And help the economic recovery by stabilizing the rental housing market, something that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. You can find a one-pager on the Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act here and the official text here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandvi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-green-waters-clay-beatty-introduce-fair-housing-resolution | Reps. Cleaver, Green, Waters, Clay & Beatty Introduce Fair Housing Resolution | 2020-05-07 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) This week, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Al Green (D-TX), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) introduced H. Res. 946, recognizing April as Fair Housing Month. 52 years ago, the Civil Rights Movement, led by icons such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, reached its apex when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law, said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. Whilst this landmark legislation and the Civil Rights Movement furthered our nation's progress toward equality for all, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated vividly the inequalities our nation still faces in regards to housing, health care, and economic mobility. This resolution is in honor of the men and women who fought for true justice under the law; a reminder of the work unfinished; and a call for unified action to eliminate the disparities laid bare for all to see during the current public health crisis. The Fair Housing Act was the culmination of efforts orchestrated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who ardently supported fair housing and envisioned a society free of discrimination. Unfortunately, Dr. King was assassinated before he could see this landmark legislation enacted, but on April 11, 1968 a week after his assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law, said Congressman Al Green. In honor of the 52nd anniversary of this monumental step toward establishing equal opportunity in housing for all Americans, I and my colleagues in CongressRepresentatives William Lacy Clay, Emanuel Cleaver, and Joyce Beattyhave introduced a Fair Housing Resolution. I am pleased to join Subcommittee Chair Green in commemorating the Fair Housing Act and the month of April as Fair Housing Month, said Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters. In 1968, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act to make housing discrimination illegal based on protected classes that include race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status, and d… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-fudge-lead-fellow-lawmakers-urging-hhs-usda-dol-to-provide | Reps. Cleaver, Fudge Lead Fellow Lawmakers Urging HHS, USDA & DOL to Provide Protections For Workers in Meat Processing Plants | 2020-05-01 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, on International Workers Day, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and 46 Members of Congress called on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide transparency and guidance to ensure workers are protected as they continue to operate in meat processing facilities. This effort comes after an Executive Order classifying these plants as critical infrastructure, forcing them to remain in operation. In a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, DOL Secretary Eugene Scalia, and HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Cleaver and Fudge wrote: Neither the Executive Order nor the subsequent press release issued by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) contain information about coordination between federal agencies to provide PPE or plans to increase coronavirus testing for plant employees and the surrounding communities. Over 6,500 employees at meat processing plants have either tested positive or gone into self-quarantine, and 20 workers have died since the start of the pandemic, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Recently, Saline County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, with many connected to outbreaks in meat processing plants. While Kansas City and St. Louis have seen the highest number of total cases, Saline County now holds the highest per capita rates in the state at 788 cases per 100,000 residentsmore than seven times the rate of infection in Kansas City (108 per 100,000), according to the New York Times. In Saline, both Conagra and Cargill maintain meat processing plants in Marshall, Missouri. Conagra has confirmed at least 42 of their 700 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and Cargill has confirmed cases, but declined to cite the total number. These processing plants are extraordinarily susceptible to outbreaks of COVID-19 due to the confined spaces in which workers perform their duties, said Congressman Cleaver. An outbreak in on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-meeks-lead-call-for-ig-investigation-into-reports-of | Reps. Cleaver, Meeks Lead Call For IG Investigation Into Reports of Misconduct at CFPB | 2020-05-01 | 2020 | 2020-05 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy, and Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protections & Financial Institutions, along with 17fellow lawmakers, including United States Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), called for an investigation into potential criminal misconduct at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In a letter to Mark Bialek, Inspector General of the CFPB and Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office, Cleaver and Meeks wrote: We write to express our deep concern regarding allegations of possible violations of law and policy by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in changes to its payday lending rule. These detailed claims include possible political manipulation and influence aimed at undermining consumer protection, which strikes at the core function of the CFPB. We request that the Office of Inspector General and Government Accountability Office review these troubling allegations and take any other appropriate action to determine whether abuse of authority or other official misconduct occurred. In 2017, under the leadership of Obama-appointed Director Richard Corday, the CFPB initially finalized a payday lending rule that included provisions mandating underwriting from payday lenders. In 2019, under the leadership of Trump-appointed Director Kathleen Kraninger, a revised notice of proposed rulemaking was released rescinding these mandatory underwriting provisions as well as the date of rule implementation. On April 29, 2020, The New York Times published a 14-page internal memo, reportedly authored by former CFPB economist Jonathan Lanning, detailing potential political influence on the rulemaking process with the intention of undermining consumer protections in the CFPB's attempts to revise its payday lending rule. The leaked memo offers a specific chronology … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-and-fellow-homeland-security-committee-democrats-call-on-hhs | Cleaver and Fellow Homeland Security Committee Democrats Call on HHS Inspector General to Investigate Healthcare Disparities Intensified by COVID-19 | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, joined Democratic membership of the committee in requesting the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) examine healthcare disparities exposed by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Lawmakers urged the OIG to probe HHS's efforts to eliminate socioeconomic, racial and ethnic healthcare disparities and provide recommendations to address them moving forward. The pandemic has further exposed existing racial and socioeconomic disparities that remain entrenched across all facets of our society: education, criminal justice, employment, transportation, politics, and health. Most urgent are the healthcare disparities that place historically disadvantaged communities at greater risk of adverse outcomes for individuals with COVID-19. Said Congressman Cleaver. It is long overdue for our nation to seriously address these glaring inequities. They are the legacy of generations of institutional exclusion that are now being exacerbated by a global pandemic. We must first provide relief to those communities being devasted by Coronavirus, but also sustain a sense of urgency in addressing these disparities. You can find the official letter here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Juan Ramiro Sarmiento at 816-842-4545 or Ramiro.Sarmiento@mail.house.gov | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-joins-140-colleagues-urging-federal-communications-commission | Cleaver Joins 140 Colleagues Urging Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Coordinate With Other Federal Agencies to Inform Low-Income Families They Can Receive Broadband Services | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations, and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, along with 140 colleagues in both the House and Senate, in urging Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to work directly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the millions of Americans who are now eligible for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid due to job loss or reduction in income are informed that they are also eligible for the FCC's Lifeline program. The Lifeline program is the primary federal program charged with helping low-income families obtain broadband and telephone services. Non-essential businesses and schools have closed across the country to limit the spread of the coronavirus, leaving families to rely on the internet now more than ever to access public benefits, search for employment, learn from home, or access telehealth services. The need is greatest among low-income households forced to stretch limited resources to try to keep up with monthly expenses and put food on the table during the public health crisis. For these vulnerable populations, the FCC's Lifeline program can help struggling families afford basic internet and telephone connectivity at a time when they need it most but only if they know about it, the lawmakers wrote. While we understand that the FCC has traditionally issued guidelines for states and telecommunications providers to advertise the Lifeline program, given the critical role of internet connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic, we urge the FCC to coordinate directly with USDA and HHS as well as states and stakeholders to help ensure people in need are informed about their eligibility for the Lifelin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-midwest-house-members-send-bipartisan-letter-supporting-0 | Cleaver, Midwest House Members Send Bipartisan Letter Supporting American Pork Producers | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-AL), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and 48 additional members sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting improvements to pork producer aid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Additionally, the letter requests support by opening up existing programs for pork producers. The supply chain for pork producers is increasingly strained due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pork processing plants and other food service industry closures across the country have reduced processing capacity by hundreds of thousands of hogs per day, and slashed prices by over 33%. The aid producers are projected to receive under CFAP is not commensurate with losses incurred, and additional rules are imposed that could limit the benefits of the program to the agriculture community. "I've always said that rural and urban America have a symbiotic relationship. They benefit one another and neither can survive without the other said Cleaver. Pork producers have always done their best to help American families keep food on the tableand now, in their time of need, Congress and the Administration cannot fail to reciprocate that support." "Pork producers are in the midst of a crisis, said Emmer. By no fault of their own, they are feeling the impact of a slowdown in the food service industry and supply chain disruptions due to plant closures. I applaud all of the Administration's recent efforts to support the agriculture community. However, more must be done to help our producers facing these dire situations. Now more than ever, they need our immediate attention and assistance." "Our pork, beef and poultry producers are stepping up to meet their critical role in maintaining America's food supply, even during this pause in our economy that has created historically low demand and commodity prices. said Hagedorn. Congress and the USDA must work togeth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-midwest-house-members-send-bipartisan-letter-supporting-1 | Cleaver, Midwest House Members Send Bipartisan Letter Supporting American Pork Producers | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-AL), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and 48 additional members sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting improvements to pork producer aid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Additionally, the letter requests support by opening up existing programs for pork producers. The supply chain for pork producers is increasingly strained due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pork processing plants and other food service industry closures across the country have reduced processing capacity by hundreds of thousands of hogs per day, and slashed prices by over 33%. The aid producers are projected to receive under CFAP is not commensurate with losses incurred, and additional rules are imposed that could limit the benefits of the program to the agriculture community. "I've always said that rural and urban America have a symbiotic relationship. They benefit one another and neither can survive without the other said Cleaver. Pork producers have always done their best to help American families keep food on the tableand now, in their time of need, Congress and the Administration cannot fail to reciprocate that support." "Pork producers are in the midst of a crisis, said Emmer. By no fault of their own, they are feeling the impact of a slowdown in the food service industry and supply chain disruptions due to plant closures. I applaud all of the Administration's recent efforts to support the agriculture community. However, more must be done to help our producers facing these dire situations. Now more than ever, they need our immediate attention and assistance." "Our pork, beef and poultry producers are stepping up to meet their critical role in maintaining America's food supply, even during this pause in our economy that has created historically low demand and commodity prices. said Hagedorn. Congress and the USDA must work togeth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-midwest-house-members-send-bipartisan-letter-supporting-2 | Cleaver, Midwest House Members Send Bipartisan Letter Supporting American Pork Producers | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-AL), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and 48 additional members sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting improvements to pork producer aid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Additionally, the letter requests support by opening up existing programs for pork producers. The supply chain for pork producers is increasingly strained due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pork processing plants and other food service industry closures across the country have reduced processing capacity by hundreds of thousands of hogs per day, and slashed prices by over 33%. The aid producers are projected to receive under CFAP is not commensurate with losses incurred, and additional rules are imposed that could limit the benefits of the program to the agriculture community. "I've always said that rural and urban America have a symbiotic relationship. They benefit one another and neither can survive without the other said Cleaver. Pork producers have always done their best to help American families keep food on the tableand now, in their time of need, Congress and the Administration cannot fail to reciprocate that support." "Pork producers are in the midst of a crisis, said Emmer. By no fault of their own, they are feeling the impact of a slowdown in the food service industry and supply chain disruptions due to plant closures. I applaud all of the Administration's recent efforts to support the agriculture community. However, more must be done to help our producers facing these dire situations. Now more than ever, they need our immediate attention and assistance." "Our pork, beef and poultry producers are stepping up to meet their critical role in maintaining America's food supply, even during this pause in our economy that has created historically low demand and commodity prices. said Hagedorn. Congress and the USDA must work togeth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-midwest-house-members-send-bipartisan-letter-supporting-american | Cleaver, Midwest House Members Send Bipartisan Letter Supporting American Pork Producers | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-AL), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and 48 additional members sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting improvements to pork producer aid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Additionally, the letter requests support by opening up existing programs for pork producers. The supply chain for pork producers is increasingly strained due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pork processing plants and other food service industry closures across the country have reduced processing capacity by hundreds of thousands of hogs per day, and slashed prices by over 33%. The aid producers are projected to receive under CFAP is not commensurate with losses incurred, and additional rules are imposed that could limit the benefits of the program to the agriculture community. "I've always said that rural and urban America have a symbiotic relationship. They benefit one another and neither can survive without the other said Cleaver. Pork producers have always done their best to help American families keep food on the tableand now, in their time of need, Congress and the Administration cannot fail to reciprocate that support." "Pork producers are in the midst of a crisis, said Emmer. By no fault of their own, they are feeling the impact of a slowdown in the food service industry and supply chain disruptions due to plant closures. I applaud all of the Administration's recent efforts to support the agriculture community. However, more must be done to help our producers facing these dire situations. Now more than ever, they need our immediate attention and assistance." "Our pork, beef and poultry producers are stepping up to meet their critical role in maintaining America's food supply, even during this pause in our economy that has created historically low demand and commodity prices. said Hagedorn. Congress and the USDA must work togeth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-for-plan-to-protect-workers-in-meat-processing | Congressman Cleaver Calls For Plan to Protect Workers in Meat Processing Plants | 2020-04-30 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Following an Executive Order classifying meat processing plants as critical infrastructure that will force them to remain in operation, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) has called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide a plan that ensures workers can safely operate in these facilities. In a letter to Regional Administrator Paul Taylor, Cleaver wrote: Maintaining our food supply chain is critical to the food security of all Americans and to the continued operation of our food producers. However, it cannot be at the expense of worker health and safety, and indeed the supply chains are not sustainable without healthy and safe workers. Recently, Saline County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, with many connected to outbreaks in meat processing plants. While Kansas City and St. Louis have seen the highest number of total cases, Saline County now holds the highest per capita rates in the state at 788 cases per 100,000 residentsmore than seven times the rate of infection in Kansas City (108 per 100,000), according to the New York Times. In Saline, both Conagra and Cargill maintain meat processing plants in Marshall, Missouri. Conagra has confirmed at least 42 of their 700 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and Cargill has confirmed cases, but declined to cite the total number. These processing plants are extraordinarily susceptible to outbreaks of COVID-19 due to the confined spaces in which workers perform their duties, said Congressman Cleaver. An outbreak in one of these plants can lead to spike in cases in our rural communities at-large, where populations tend to lean disproportionately toward individuals most vulnerable to complications from coronavirus. I understand these facilities are critical to the food supply chain, but the safety of workers must always come first. Forcing these facilities to remain open without sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) or protocols to ensure workers can maintain proper social distancing will put… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-meeks-and-sen-harris-call-for-emergency-measures-for-cdfis | Reps. Cleaver, Meeks, and Sen. Harris Call for Emergency Measures for CDFIs and MDIs | 2020-04-28 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY), along with Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 5 other lawmakers, delivered a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking that temporary emergency measure be taken to support Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in their ability to serve small businesses, low- and moderate-income communities, and communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats recently succeeded in negotiating funds be set aside for small community banks, MDIs and CDFIs in the recent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) replenishment, giving truly small businesses and minority business owners better access to the PPP program through small community banks and CDFIs. It's clear that low-income communities and communities of color have been hit hardest by the coronavirus and remain extraordinarily vulnerable as the economic burden continues to mount, said Congressman Cleaver. It's critical that Treasury and the Fed assist these communities with a commensurate response to the challenge at hand, and I'll keep fighting to make sure they do. The official letter with a list of co-signers is available here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-calls-for-irs-to-extend-economic-impact-payment | Congressman Cleaver Calls For IRS To Extend Economic Impact Payment Filing Deadline For Americans With Dependents | 2020-04-24 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), along with Representative Michael Kelly (R-PA), led 53 lawmakers in a bipartisan letter encouraging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to extend its deadlines to allow families with dependents to receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payment. The deadline for Americans to file their information with the IRS was Wednesday, April 22. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: If we fail to get this lifeline to these children, we will be depriving them of the food and sustenance they need to make it through this crisis. This cohort of constituents disproportionately represent those most vulnerable to the coronavirus and, consistent with available guidance and best practices, every effort should be made to assist these families. According to recent reporting, approximately one million children may be deprived of the $500 payment intended to assist families in the CARES Act if they failed to complete an online form by noon this past Wednesday. However, the IRS sent out a special alert notifying the public of this deadline only two days before it expired. The notice required Social Security recipients and retirees caring for children to complete an online form under an unreasonable deadline and on a website with varying degrees of technical difficulties for many Americans. We cannot shortchange families struggling to put food on the table because of an arbitrary and unnecessary deadline that was only publicly announced by the IRS two days prior, said Congressman Cleaver. For even one child to be deprived of this funding would be shameful, but the potential for one million is utterly unconscionable. You can find the official letter with a list of co-signershere. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafaye… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-supports-emergency-coronavirus-appropriations-bill | Congressman Cleaver Supports Emergency Coronavirus Appropriations Bill To Bring Relief To Missouri Hospitals and Small Businesses | 2020-04-23 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Washington, D.C.) Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, with United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voting in favor of the legislation. The bill will provide over $350 billion in small business loans, $10 billion in small business grants, $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers across the country, and $25 billion to ramp up testing needed to reopen the country. It will now go to the President's desk to be signed into law immediately. As another 4.4 million workers filed jobless claims this week, 1 in 6 Americans have now lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, said Congressman Cleaver. While no bill of this magnitude is perfect, It is impossible to understate the extent of the challenge we're facing as a nation, and today's legislation is critical to helping small businesses bridge the gap until we can begin to reopen the economy. Now, Congress must immediately begin discussions to bring relief to state and local governments, provide additional food assistance to struggling families, stimulate the economy through investments in infrastructure, fund the Postal Service, and provide additional lending to small businesses in urban and rural communities. H.R. 266 follows the path set by the bipartisan CARES Act with significant support: For small businesses: It strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by providing $310 billion in additional funding. $30 billion is reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and another $30 billion will be guaranteed for medium-sized banks and credit unions, which will help small businesses in underserved rural and urban communities receive the funding they need to survive. Democrats were also able to secure an additional $50 billion in small business lending through SBA disaster loans, totaling over $350 billion in small business loans. Another $10 billion will be given to small businesses through SBA disaster g… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-tlaib-beatty-omar-urge-treasury-big-banks-to-combat-banking | Reps. Cleaver, Tlaib, Beatty, Omar Urge Treasury, Big Banks To Combat Banking Discrimination Against Muslim Americans As Economic Crisis Continues | 2020-04-23 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called on the Department of Treasury, as well as three of the largest banks in the U.S., to modernize anti-money laundering regulations to combat banking discrimination against Muslim Americans. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a toll on American workers and the broader economy, charitable organizations and accessible banking are more important than ever. In letters to financial regulators, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, the members of Congress are urging Treasury and big banks to end biased practices that have led to discrimination against Muslim Americans and organizations COVID-19 and the havoc it's wreaking on our economy doesn't discriminate against Democrat or Republican; Black or White; Muslim or Jewish; and the economic hardship will not be confined to any one region, race, or religious following, said Congressman Cleaver. As reports have indicated, our nation is likely facing the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, and we're going to need all hands on deck to climb out of the hole we find ourselves in. We cannot afford to deny individuals or charitable organizations the ability to access critical banking services that will undoubtedly help our local communities because of their name or country of origin. It's not just wrong, it's self-sabotage. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: Banking as a charity/nonprofit and banking while Muslim' are not crimes and must stop being treated as such. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to amplify the voices of those who feel powerless in the face of big banks and regulators. We are therefore advocating for a more inclusive financial system, and we reject the notion that there is a binary choice between creating financial inclusion and protecting our financial sys… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/clay-says-paycheck-protection-program-and-healthcare-enhancement-act | Clay Says Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act Will Focus $60 Billion in Forgivable Loans for Smaller, Unbanked Businesses through Community-Based Lenders | 2020-04-23 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | William Clay | C001049 | lacyclay.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC -Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing,Community Development and Insurance, praised passage of the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act which was approved today in the U.S. House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Today's action will immediately target $60 billion in forgivable SBA loans to smaller, cash-based and frequently unbanked businesses in urban areas who were largely shut out of the first round of emergency loans by including smaller, community-based lenders in the program,said the Congressman.I'm especially pleased that the $60 billion set aside out of the $370 billion small business lending package will be distributed through Community Development Financial Institutions, Minority Depository Institutions, community banks, credit unions, certified development companies and micro lenders. These smaller financial institutions function at the neighborhood level in underserved communities and they have the ability to process the loans and get minority-owned small businesses the help they need to keep their doors open during this pandemic. The Congressman continued,This interim emergency funding package also provides hospitals and community healthcare centers with $75 billion to purchase badly needed personal protective equipment to keep our healthcare heroes safe and it also provides $25 billion to expand critical COVID-19 testing which is essential to restoring both public health and our economy. This bill is a positive step forward, but Congress still has much work remaining to fully address the terrible damage that this pandemic has inflicted on working families, small businesses, and state & local governments. Highlights of the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act include: For small businesses:Strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding, with $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $3… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-applauds-fhfa-reversal-following-push-from-lawmakers | Rep. Cleaver Applauds FHFA Reversal Following Push From Lawmakers | 2020-04-22 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced it would offer cash-strapped mortgage servicers much-needed financial relief by limiting the obligations servicers must pay to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on missed payments from single-family loans. Additionally, the FHFA announced they would support homeowners and mortgage lenders by also approving the purchase of single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria. The FHFA's reversal comes following calls to support mortgage servicers from United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY). These changes will allow families in need to take advantage of mortgage forbearance while preserving the stability of our housing market. This is a critical win for homeowners across the nation, said Congressman Cleaver. By providing relief to servicers that originate 60% of America's mortgages and hold over half of them, the FHFA is protecting American borrowers from having to bear the cost of a possible failure at a time when most American families are just trying to stay afloat. I am pleased to see the FHFA come to their senses, and I want to thank Congressman Clay, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing, for his immediate efforts to address this untenable situation. In a letter to FHFA Director Mark Calabria last week, following public statements denouncing relief for servicers from the Director, the lawmakers urged Director Calabria to change course and give mortgage servicers, who process millions of mortgage payments every month, urgently need relief. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: We are concerned that your comments inappropriately undermine the gravity of the situation at hand, and that FHFA's response would ultimately cause significant market disruption and harm to borrowers as we have seen historically when servicing rights were transferred in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. You can find the offi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-and-clay-urge-usda-to-protect-snap-wic-beneficiaries-during | Reps. Cleaver and Clay Urge USDA To Protect SNAP, WIC beneficiaries During COVID-19 Pandemic | 2020-04-22 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Today, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO) delivered a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), calling on Secretary Perdue to protect Missourians by supporting the Missouri Department of Social Services' request for a waiver that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) beneficiaries to receive groceries by delivery. Low-income Americans who rely on SNAP and WIC benefits are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more must be done to protect them during this crisis, said Congressman Cleaver. As many of these individuals are cashiers, janitors, and other essential workers who cannot remain at home, we must find other ways to limit their exposure to this deadly virus. Allowing SNAP and WIC beneficiaries to have their groceries delivered is a common sense way to protect critical workers who are on the frontlines of this public health emergency. I look forward to the Secretary's swift approval. You can find Congressman Cleaver's official letter here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-leads-lawmakers-urging-funding-for-usps-in-next | Congressman Cleaver Leads Lawmakers Urging Funding For USPS In Next Coronavirus Relief Package | 2020-04-17 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) As Congress continues negotiations on the fourth phase of emergency coronavirus relief for the American people, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) led over 120 lawmakers in urging congressional leadership to include funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the final legislation. The USPS is one of the oldest institutions in the United States, connecting Americans across the country with quality service at a reasonable cost for over two centuries, said Congressman Cleaver. It's critical in linking rural and urban American; to individuals who receive life-saving medications through the mail; to the hundreds of thousands of workers who need their paycheck now more than ever. To allow the USPS to go bankrupt during a global pandemic would be among the greatest derelictions of duty I've seen in my time in Congress. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: President Trump's own bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors has asked for the Postal Service to be provided $50 billion in emergency grants and appropriations as well as access to $25 billion in borrowing authority. We encourage Congress and the Administration to quickly act in approving this or a commensurate level of funding to provide real relief for our Postal Service. Without significant support on this level, they will not be able to weather this storm. The USPS currently employs more than 650,000 Americans across more than 31,600 retail locations around the country, while handling 48% of the world's mail. Sadly, the Postal Service's financial outlook was already dire before the coronavirus crisis due to a 2006 law that required the Agency to prefund 75 years worth of retiree health benefits over 10 years, something no other federal agency is or has been required to do. As the COVID-19 pandemic has grinded the American economy to a halt, the USPS has been hit particularly hard, with projections showing it could go bankrupt by June without federal intervention. In order to prevent communities across the cou… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-pressley-meeks-call-on-treasury-to-provide-diversity-data | Reps. Cleaver, Pressley, Meeks Call On Treasury To Provide Diversity Data From Paycheck Protection Program | 2020-04-17 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and over 80 of their fellow lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate, have called on the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) to require lenders to report on the demographics of any lending from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, the members of Congress are also requesting the SBA and Treasury amend their guidance on PPP to reaffirm the obligation that lending institutions must comply with fair lending laws. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: Congress authorized the Paycheck Protection Program to provide financial support and stability to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet we continue to hear from minority-owned businesses that they face structural barriers to acquiring these loans. To ensure equitable access to this program, the U.S. Small Business Administration must ensure that minority-owned businesses are not shut out of this program and require lenders to report on the demographics of PPP lending. The members are specifically calling for the data to include information on loan applications and outcomes, disaggregated along racial and ethnic lines. Minority-owned businesses accounted for half of all new businesses created in the last decade, said Congressman Cleaver. They are a critical component to the American economy, and any failure to stabilize these locally-owned businesses will result in a significant weakening of the national economy as a whole. It's crucial that we ensure fair lending laws are being followed by PPP lenders to ensure these businesses survive the economic calamity we've found ourselves in. I look forward to working with Treasury and SBA make sure that happens. You can find the official letter here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fif… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-meeks-beatty-urge-fed-to-partner-with-minority-owned-firms | Reps. Cleaver, Meeks, & Beatty Urge Fed to Partner With Minority-Owned Firms As It Implements Economic Response Programs | 2020-04-13 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) issued a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell calling on the Fed to include minority-owned asset managers and broker deals as partners in the implementation of its capital markets and liquidity programs. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: Diversity and inclusion are central to the economic resilience of the American economy, and this must be reflected in the manner in which the Administration implements stimulus activities, and in the firms with which the Fed conducts its market activities. Pleaseconfirm how you plan to incorporate these recommendations in the manner in which the Fed continues to use market intervention to sustain the economy and mitigate the negative impacts to the broader economy of the global pandemic. The Fed has responded to the coronavirus pandemic with urgency and bold action required to help the American economy weather this raging storm, said Congressman Cleaver. However, we want to ensure equitable distribution of these vital lending programs to minority-owned firms because they're facing the same headwinds as everyone else, and, historically, tend to be overlooked. As the Fed continues to help businesses across the nation bridge the gap to the other side of this crisis, I look forward to further discussions to protect minority-owned firms. You can find the official letter here. Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Se… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-calls-on-hhs-to-prioritize-rural-hospitals-after-voting-for | Cleaver Calls on HHS to Prioritize Rural Hospitals After Voting for Relief Measures | 2020-04-10 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | April 10, 2020 (Kansas City, MO) On Thursday, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), along with Reps. Robert Latta (R-OH), TJ Cox (D-CA), and Jack Bergman (R-MI), led thirty of their fellow members of Congress in sending a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, enumerating concerns regarding the $100 billion in assistance for hospitals and health care providers. As COVID-19 threatens to close hundreds of rural hospitals across the nation, it is imperative that these funds are equitably distributed. Congressman Cleaver, who voted in favor of these funds included in the CARES Act, provided his recommendations to Secretary Azar, which include establishing rural-conscious benchmarks in the allocation process and prioritizing facilities most in need of this support. Congressman Cleaver continues to advocate for desperately needed aid at every phase of the federal response including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and upcoming relief legislation for farmers, small towns, and rural communities impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and economic downturn. He voted in favor of all three relief acts. This is first and foremost, a public health crisis and as such, we must safeguard critical health care infrastructure in our rural communities where hospitals are already experiencing overwhelming financial challenges. said Congressman Cleaver. We have also taken significant steps to provide desperately needed relief for farmers, rural businesses, and families. But this will not be enough, and more must be done in the coming days and weeks to close the gap. Our nation faces one of the most challenging situations in American history and it is not only our responsibility, but also our duty, to ensure we protect all Americans, regardless of where they live. You can find the official letter here. CARES Act Provisions: Farmers and Ranchers $9.5 billion dedicated disaster fund to assist… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-push-from-rep-cleaver-jpmorgan-chase-announces-improved | Following Push From Rep. Cleaver, JPMorgan Chase Announces Improved Diversity and Inclusion Practices | 2020-04-09 | 2020 | 2020-04 | Democrat | House | MO | Emanuel Cleaver | C001061 | cleaver.house.gov | legacy | (Kansas City, MO) Last week, Gordon Smith and Daniel Pinto, Co-Presidents and COOs for JPMorgan Chase (JPMC), issued a memo to JPMC employees announcing initial steps the bank will take to foster a more diverse and inclusive atmosphere at the largest bank in the United States. These newfound policies come after a months-long internal investigation conducted by the bank following calls for an investigation from United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Al Green (D-TX). I'm pleased to see the nation's leading banking institution investigate these credible allegations of discrimination, while taking initial steps to correct any fundamentally flawed practices that may have led to this kind of unacceptable behavior, said Congressman Cleaver. I think this is an opportunity for JPMorgan Chase to be a leader among financial institutions in demonstrating why policies that promote diversity and inclusion aren't just morally correct, but advantageous business decisions as well. This is an important first step along that path, and I look forward to additional reforms and increased transparency within the company in the near future. Five initial steps JPMC announced it will take include: Bolstering hiring systems to build a more robust pipeline of diverse talent Instituting required firmwide Diversity & Inclusion training Increasing the diversity of the businesses we partner with firmwide Enhancing employee feedback process Making it easier for customers to access products and services The bank also announced over the next 30 days, each business will review their current strategies and contribute a plan to bring this to life and each business will be held accountable. Last December, reported allegations of race-based discrimination within JPMorgan Chase came to light. Congressmen Cleaver and Green immediately sent a letter calling for the bank and financial regulators to investigate whether or not these reports were isolated incidents or a pattern of discriminatory behavior. The lawmakers also ca… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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