url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-rouzer-critical-administrations-move-toward-obama-era-water,Graves & Rouzer Critical of Administration’s Move Toward Obama-Era Water Restrictions,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member David Rouzer (R-NC) today criticized the Administration for moving forward with their rulemaking process, in the face of a pending Supreme Court ruling, and reinstate strict and cumbersome regulations over waters and water use decisions throughout the United States.

The Administration’s final rule redefining “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) moves the federal government closer toward the tighter regulation of businesses, farmers, infrastructure builders, communities, and private citizens. The Administration announced its rulemaking despite the fact that the Supreme Court is scheduled to decide a case (Sackett) in the coming months that will bear directly on any WOTUS-related rules or regulations.

“Our economy continues to struggle with the economic crises brought about by the disastrous economic policies of this Administration, and it makes absolutely no sense to move the country back towards the costly and burdensome WOTUS regulations of the past,” Graves said. “It’s particularly foolish to do this now and waste federal resources when the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue – a ruling that will impact and alter what the Administration is hastily putting forward.”

“Today’s announcement by the Biden Administration on their new rule for Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) is disappointing. This rule is both poor policy and badly timed. It is another example of this Administration’s determined adherence to the demands of environmentalists at the expense of hard-working Americans. While cloaked a little differently, this new WOTUS rule will once again place overly burdensome regulations on our farm families, small businesses, and entire communities further harming our economy — not to mention making critical infrastructure projects that much more expensive,” Rouzer said. “While I appreciate the EPA’s acknowledgement that the Supreme Court has already heard arguments in Sackett v. EPA with a ruling soon expected, this further underscores how ill-advised it is for the Administration to rush a new rule given the Court’s forthcoming decision will impact any new definition of WOTUS.”

Background information:

On June 25, 2021, Graves, Rouzer, and Republican leaders highlighted concerns with the Administration’s plans to undo the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

On August 25, 2021, Graves and Rouzer urged the Agencies to extend the timeframe for public comments and stakeholder input on a new WOTUS rulemaking.

On October 26, 2021, Graves and Rouzer issued these statements regarding the Administration’s rushed roundtable process.

On January 20, 2022, Graves and Rouzer requested more time to allow adequate public comment on the WOTUS rulemaking.

On January 24, 2022, Graves and Rouzer first called for a halt to the Agencies’ rulemaking,based on the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the Sackett case.

On March 8, 2022, Graves, Rouzer, and over 200 House Republicans renewed calls for the Administration to drop its plan to expand the scope of WOTUS and allow the Supreme Court to take up its case.

On April 18, 2022, Graves, Rouzer, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito led 201 Republican Members and Senators in filing an amici curiae brief in support of the petitioners in the case Sackett case.

On April 28, 2022, Graves and Rouzer asked the Administration for more transparency about the formation, intent, and execution of stakeholder WOTUS roundtables.

On September 20, 2022, Graves and Rouzer raised concerns about actions by EPA and Army Corps of Engineers which would expand the breadth of their regulatory authority and warned the agencies to stay within the bounds of their authority as granted by Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-secures-more-91-million-local-projects-across-mo-05-final,Rep. Cleaver Secures More Than $91 Million for Local Projects Across MO-05 in Final Government Funding Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"December 23, 2022

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that he has successfully secured $91.85 million in Community Project Funding for local projects across the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri in the year-end government funding package. From infrastructure improvements to housing initiatives and job training programs, the funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs throughout Cleaver’s congressional district.

“After a long, hard fight to get this funding across the finish line, I’m proud to have helped secure more than $91 million in Community Project Funding for the Fifth District of Missouri, ensuring our communities have the resources necessary to meet the needs of Missouri families and workers,” said Congressman Cleaver. “From Kansas City to Independence; Grandview to Gladstone; and communities all across our congressional district, these investments will play a major role in creating good-paying jobs, boosting economic development, increasing public health and safety, and protecting the planet for future generations by combatting climate change.”

Rep. Cleaver championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit residents of Missouri’s 5th District, securing $39,250,000 in total—which ranks 27th out of the 344 Representatives who submitted Community Project Funding requests. These projects include:

$4,600,000 to the City of Grandview for improvements to Blue Ridge Boulevard, which connects two ends of Kansas City and is the main commercial corridor for the City of Grandview. The funding will be used to address safety improvements, including street resurfacing, an expansion of four lanes for traffic, miles of new sidewalk, a wide multi-use path, and all ADA-compliant intersections.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) for Low and No Emission Buses and Support Infrastructure. As the KCATA and regional transit partners seek to further incorporate battery-electric buses into the RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City region, this funding will help afford replacement buses and support infrastructure necessary for low and no emission buses.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City, Missouri Public Works Department to create an 18thStreet Pedestrian Plaza. The federal dollars will be used for the creation of a Pedestrian Mall on 18th Street between The Paseo Boulevard and Woodland Avenue near the Historic 18th & Vine Entertainment District. The Pedestrian Mall will be a flexible, multi-purpose assembly area that will allow for a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment for farmers’ markets, festivals, outdoor concerts, and a general congregations area for the district residents when these events are not active.

$4,000,000 to Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department for a Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park Project. This project will create recreational opportunities for the neighborhoods that were fractured by the Bruce R. Watkins Highway Project, which bisects this area North and South, and the Brush Creek Flood Control Project, which bisects this area East and West. The planned improvements will remove some of the barriers caused by these projects, allowing residents to fully access and utilize the park from adjacent neighborhoods. Additionally, the planned improvements will add amenities that will attract more people to the area.

$4,000,000 to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce for a Minority Chamber of Commerce Development Center. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce will be co-located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, while jointly serving an array of minority businesses throughout the region. This joint partnership will be the first of its kind nationwide as two of the largest minority chambers unite in their missions to advance business development, workforce development, and leadership development for the betterment of people of color throughout the Fifth District of Missouri.

$4,000,000 to the Urban Neighborhood Initiative to support a housing initiative intended to build community and unlock the path to homeownership. The pilot program will provide 100 quality, affordable homes to families in underserved communities under a financing structure that promotes resident wealth accumulation through ultimate homeownership.

$3,000,000 to the City of Independence for the Independence Historic Square Streetscape. The funding will be used for street modifications, including one-way and two-way conversions, parallel parking, sidewalks, and ADA ramp improvements. Additionally, for the safety of the citizens and visitors, the streetlights will be improved as well as the addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and amenities.

$3,000,000 to the Raytown Parks & Recreation Department for Raytown Parks renovation and redevelopment. The funding will address the demolition and redevelopment needs of two parks in Raytown, Missouri. The Super Splash Park closed in the fall of 2016, but the remaining facilities must be demolished to allow for redevelopment projects. The Kenagy Park pond is a part of the Raytown Storm Water system to catch and hold water in major rain conditions. The dam and bank of the pond is eroding, making hazardous conditions for park patrons. The Raytown Parks Department will utilize the federal funding to install ADA-compliant restroom facilities and access trails as part of the redevelopment plan.

$3,000,000 to the City of Gladstone for an HVAC replacement at the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium. The funding will be used to replace two indoor air quality units serving the natatorium space. Since 2008, the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium has served as the swimming arena for the North Kansas City School District and the site for the District’s 3rd-grade water safety/learn to swim project. Indoor air quality is critical to the facility to protect the participants and spectators.

$2,000,000 to the Digital Storytelling Center of Kansas City for the KC IMAGINE project. The funding will be used to restore this historic studio for members of the public and provide enrichment for the surrounding neighborhood. This facility will become a center for digital media training, job creation, and entrepreneurship serving low-income people in the immediate community and the KC metro.

$1,000,000 to MRIGlobal for an expansion of their biorepository. The funding will expand laboratory capabilities and resources to advance research and development in new and investigational drugs, as well as new technologies in medical treatments. This project will increase the number of high-paying jobs and services and continue to support Kansas City’s science, technology, engineering, and math education programs and workforce development.

$750,000 to Alphapointe for the Building Equitable Access to Community Opportunities Now (BEACON) Project. The funding will be used for the expansion of Alphapointe’s current building as well as the creation of a new, nearby facility to provide for the continued rehabilitation and training needs of disabled job seekers and offer new health and child care services to the surrounding, underserved community.

$750,000 to reStart Inc. for the Thriving Neighborhoods through Cottage Communities Project. Cottage Communities provide affordable single-family housing for low- and extremely low-income households to prevent and end homelessness, ultimately helping to strengthen neighborhoods throughout Kansas City.

$750,000 to the Full Employment Council for a Career Technology Academy. The funding will help provide training that leads to good-paying careers in (1) Providing housing weatherization/rehabilitation services; (2) rehabilitating, weatherizing, and detoxifying housing for low- and moderate-income families; and (3) information technology, advanced manufacturing, warehouse/distribution or other occupations through classroom training, on the job training, apprenticeship training, or combinations thereof based on the career aspirations of the individual. The Career Technology Academy will enable low- and moderate-income families to earn higher incomes through training and support, help more Missourians live in energy efficient housing, and ensure safer and more sanitary housing in Kansas City.

$400,000 to SAVE, Inc. for Pride Haven. Pride Haven helps ensure homeless LGBTQ+ youth can access safe, welcoming, and accepting drop-in and overnight shelter. Youth served are 18-24 years old and find a welcoming, supportive environment as well as case management, connection to community resources, shower and laundry facilities, computer access, a safe place to sleep, and healthy meals.

Additional projects that were championed by Senator Blunt and supported by Rep. Cleaver that were included in the year-end government spending bill include:

$28,600,000 to the Missouri Department of Transportation for the South Loop Link Project. The project will install a deck over a four-block section of Interstate 670 to create an enhanced green mobility hub, enabling multimodal transportation options, regional job access, green and healthy living space, private development, and climate resiliency.

$10,000,000 to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for facility upgrades and equipment. The funding will enable construction and additional equipment for schools of Medicine and Dentistry at UMKC.

$8,000,000 to Kansas City University for facility improvements and equipment. The funding will go toward improvements to facilities and additional equipment for a Center of Excellence to improve population health through its health professions programs.

$2,000,000 to Metropolitan Community College for facility and equipment upgrades. The funding will allow for equipment and construction of the Penn Valley Campus Health Science Center.

$2,000,000 to Swope Health for facility improvements and equipment. The investment will allow for construction and equipment for the PACE building at Swope Health.

$2,000,000 to Saline County for Clean Water Improvements near I-70 and Highway 65 Interchange. The funding will pay to install an upgraded sewer system to ensure clean drinking water for residents of Saline County.

The Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package also includes reforms to the Electoral Count Act to protect our democracy; critical investments to combat homelessness and create affordable housing; increased funding for veterans’ medical care and additional benefits for military families; boosts the maximum Pell Grant by $500; makes the Summer EBT Program permanent; and more. Taken together, the funding for Missouri’s Fifth District and the additional investments for critical government programs will continue to support our nation’s economic recovery, the workers and families who fuel it, and communities across Missouri.

The year-end government funding package was passed by the House of Representatives, with Rep. Cleaver’s support, and the United States Senate. The bill will now go to President Biden to be signed into law.

Official text of the government funding package is available here.

A detailed summary of the bill 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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-bill-protecting-flood-victims-signed-law,Graves Bill Protecting Flood Victims Signed into Law,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Congressman Sam Graves’ (MO-06) Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act (H.R. 539) was signed into law today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The bill prohibits the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from going after disaster victims when the Agency mistakenly awards individual assistance.

“When FEMA makes a mistake, FEMA needs to pay the price—not the innocent disaster victims,” Graves said. “I’ve heard too many horror stories about disaster victims who have accepted FEMA assistance, only for the agency to come back weeks, months, or even years later and demand the money back, plus interest, because of some technical error. This new law will protect disaster victims and give them peace of mind to use FEMA assistance to rebuild their lives after disasters.”

Graves introduced the bill after FEMA clawed back individual assistance funds from a Holt County resident following the Flood of 2019. The individual in question lost his family home and was provided over $12,000 in FEMA Individual Assistance money to help him get back on his feet, only to be told later he didn't qualify because of a technicality and would have to pay it back.

The bill previously passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support in June 2021. You can watch Congressman Graves’ remarks on the House Floor here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-rep-cleavers-legislation-reauthorize-freedoms-frontier,Congress Passes Rep. Cleaver’s Legislation to Reauthorize the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 1942, the National Heritage Area Act (NHAA), to support National Heritage Areas across the country. Included in the legislation was Rep. Cleaver’s Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) for another 15 years. The NHAA also establishes standard criteria for the funding, management and designation of National Heritage Areas throughout the United States and sets an annual authorization of $1 million for all National Heritage Areas, including the FFNHA.

“For more than 15 years, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area has helped tell the full story of our regional history while supporting local economies by bringing tourists to museums and historical sites throughout the area,” said Congressman Cleaver. “With passage of the National Heritage Area Act, I’m thrilled that we will be able to preserve these invaluable assets, boost tourism and stimulate economic activity in communities across Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, and continue to enlighten the next generation about our shared history.”

“Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area brings tourists interested in our Civil War history to the communities up and down the Kansas – Missouri border,” said Lucinda Adams, Freedom’s Frontier Executive Director. “This supports local economies as the tourists eat at restaurants, purchase gas, and stay in our hotels—bringing the benefits of tourism alongside our historical importance as one of the birthplaces of the Civil War.”

Established in 2006, the FFNHA is one of 55 National Heritage Areas throughout the United States. FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas’ past, present, and future, including the Kansas-Missouri border war, the Civil War, and the settlement of the western frontier and rural America. The FFNHA supports and promotes roughly 323 partners, including historic sites, museums, historical societies, libraries, and other cultural-heritage tourism destinations in 41 counties across the Missouri-Kansas border. Some notable FFNHA partners in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Truman Presidential Library, American Jazz Museum, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and more.

In September 2021, Rep. Cleaver joined Reps. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) to introduce the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act to preserve the FFNHA as a National Heritage Area. Following passage by the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, the NHAA will now go to President Biden to be signed into law, ensuring the FFNHA can continue to serve communities across the region for years to come.

Official text of the NHAA is available here.

Official text of Rep. Cleaver’s Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-modernization-committee-release-final-report,"Rep. Cleaver, Modernization Committee Release Final Report",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, following a four-year effort to increase the functionality, efficiency, and effectiveness of Congress, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (Modernization Committee) released their final report, which includes more than 200 bipartisan recommendations to improve the institution.

“When Democrats re-took the House majority in 2019, one of our first actions was to install the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to find ways in which we could make the People’s House work more efficiently and effectively for the American people,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I am grateful to my Democratic colleagues for entrusting me to sit on this committee for two terms, where I took their confidence in my civility and ability to work across the aisle to improve this institution extremely seriously. Four years and more than 200 bipartisan recommendations later, I am incredibly proud of not only the work we’ve accomplished, but the example we’ve set: that Democrats and Republicans can engage in respectful debate, seek common ground, and come together to produce meaningful reforms that will benefit our constituents and the lawmaking process. As the Modernization Committee comes to a close, I want to thank Chairman Kilmer for his leadership, my colleagues on the committee for their willingness to put people over politics, and the bipartisan committee staff for helping make the last four years a success.”

Over the past four years, the Modernization Committee has passed more than 200 recommendations to improve the functionality of Congress, including items such as making the Office of Diversity and Inclusion permanent; promoting civility during New Member Orientation, improving access to congressional websites for individuals with disabilities; and more. Of the 202 bipartisan recommendations, 45 have been fully implemented and 87 have been partially implemented.

The Modernization Committee’s official final report is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/hannibal-stormwater-project-funding-authorized-water-resources-development-act,Hannibal Stormwater Project Funding Authorized by Water Resources Development Act,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) applauded passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Actfor Fiscal Year 2023 in both the House and the Senate. The measure now heads to the White House for the President’s signature. The Act authorizes $3.5 million for repairing part of the stormwater system in downtown Hannibal, Missouri.

“The passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 brings us one step closer to securing this funding for Hannibal,” Graves said. “During the Flood of 2019, part of Hannibal’s stormwater system collapsed, nearly flooding large swaths of downtown Hannibal. The Corps fixed part of the damages near the levee, but there is still more work to be done. This authorization sends a clear message that historic downtown Hannibal is worth protecting for future generations.”

Once the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 is signed into law, funding will need to be appropriated by Congress in order for it to be distributed to the City of Hannibal. Securing funding for this project will be a top priority for Congressman Graves.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/st-joseph-sewer-project-funding-authorized-water-resources-development-act,St. Joseph Sewer Project Funding Authorized by Water Resources Development Act,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) applauded passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 by both the House and the Senate. The measure now heads to the White House for the President’s signature. The Act authorizes $50 million for funding sewer and stormwater projects throughout North Missouri, including $25 million in sewer updates for the City of St. Joseph, Missouri.

“Residents of St. Joseph have seen their sewer rates triple in recent years because of unfunded EPA mandates,” Graves said. “This year’s Water Resources Development Act provides much needed funding to help upgrade the City’s sewer system while taking some of the burden off local ratepayers. That’s incredibly important, especially now, when many Americans are struggling to keep up with unprecedented inflation and the rising cost of living in this country. I applaud the efforts of the City of St. Joseph to freeze sewer rates since 2018 and thank them for their efforts in helping get this critical funding authorized.”

Once the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 is signed into law, funding will need to be appropriated by Congress in order for it to be distributed to the City of St. Joseph. Securing funding for this project will be a top priority for Congressman Graves.

“The EPA mandates have been extremely hard to keep up with financially. Thanks to Congressman Graves and his staff, this much needed funding will assist St. Joseph in remaining compliant with the existing consent order. This money will be used for pipe lining which will reduce infiltration coming into the treatment plant and with future phosphorus limits expected from the EPA,” said Abe Forney, Public Works and Transportation Director, City of St. Joseph.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-introduces-sec-regulatory-accountability-act-protect-retail,"Wagner Introduces SEC Regulatory Accountability Act to Protect Retail Investors, Limit Unnecessary Rulemakings",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, legislation to protect retail investors from arbitrary and unnecessary SEC rulemakings. This bill would statutorily require the SEC to identify the problem a proposed regulation is seeking to address and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the rulemaking.

“Retail investors deserve consistency and transparency. The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act will help those saving for retirement, a down payment on a house, or for their children’s future by making sure the SEC doesn’t arbitrarily implement unnecessary and complex rules. It is vital the SEC only issues regulations that are absolutely necessary, to avoid burdening everyday investors, and this legislation will ensure all regulations are justified with compelling evidence and relevant, up-to-date analysis.”

Background on the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act:

Before issuing a regulation:

The bill establishes that the SEC, before issuing a regulation, must:

Identify the nature and source of the problem that the proposed regulation is designed to address in order to assess whether any new regulation is warranted;

Ensure that the proposed regulation is within the Commission’s jurisdiction and that the Commission has the experience and expertise to regulate the subject matter covered by the new regulation;

Identify the market participants who will be impacted by the new regulation;

Utilize the SEC Chief Economist to assess the costs and benefits of the intended regulation and adopt it only upon a reasoned determination that its benefits justify the costs;

Identify and assess available alternatives that were considered; and

Ensure regulation is accessible, consistent, in plain language, and easy to understand

While issuing a regulation:

The bill also establishes that when issuing a rule, the SEC must consider the impact of the regulation on:

Investor choice;

Market liquidity;

Small businesses;

Competition in the marketplace;

Investor access; and

United States’ economic competitiveness

Post-implementation regulatory review

Additionally, the SEC must:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-legislation-honor-st-louisan-ulysses-s-grant-passes-house,Wagner Legislation To Honor St. Louisan Ulysses S. Grant Passes House,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after passing her legislation to posthumously promote Civil War hero and St. Louis resident, President Ulysses S. Grant, to the highest rank in the US Army in honor of his bicentennial.

“As an Army mom, I have tremendous respect for anyone who answers the call of duty to protect and defend our nation. That’s why I am so proud to pass this legislation to honor one of the most influential military leaders in American history, Ulysses S. Grant. Missourians embody the values of President Grant. We are hardworking but humble, tough but generous, and feel a deep connection to our family, our neighbors, and our country. I look forward to the Senate passing this legislation and promoting Grant to General of the Armies of the United States.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-applauds-president-biden-using-american-rescue-plan-funding,Rep. Cleaver Applauds President Biden Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Shore Up Teamster Pension Funds,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the announcement from President Biden that he will use funding from the Cleaver-supported American Rescue Plan Act to shore up the Central States Pension Fund and protect the retirement benefits of more than 27,000 Missouri workers and retirees. Rep. Cleaver has long advocated for congressional intervention to protect the Central States Pension Fund, which supports more than 350,000 union retirees. He has held Town Halls with officials from the Department of Treasury, cosponsored and advocated strongly for the Butch Lewis Act, and supported the American Rescue Plan, which included $36 billion to address issues within the Central States Pension Fund.

“When President Biden was elected to the Presidency, he did so with the promise to focus his economic policies on American workers and working-class families, and today’s announcement, once again, makes good on his promise to create an economy that works for working people,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Because of this funding from the American Rescue Plan, tens of thousands of Missouri workers and retirees can rest a little easier tonight knowing that they will receive the full pension they have earned through their lifetime of hard work. After years of fighting for this result in Congress, the joyful and elated response I’ve received from labor leaders in Missouri has made it all worthwhile. I’m proud to have played a part in protecting these pensions, and I’ll continue doing everything I can in Congress to support Missouri workers.”

Congressman Cleaver has been working on behalf of retirees on this issue since 2015. In 2016, Cleaver held a Town Hall with officials from the Department of Treasury to address concerns and get answers for Missouri retirees. In 2017, Congressman Cleaver delivered a letter to President Trump calling on the former President to take immediate action on the pension crisis. Cleaver has been a cosponsor of the Butch Lewis Act since its introduction, and helped pass the bill in the House of Representatives in 2019. In 2021, Rep. Cleaver supported the inclusion of funding to protect pensions in the American Rescue Plan Act, which he then helped pass into law, making way for President Biden’s announcement today.

Without federal assistance, Teamster members could have seen their benefits reduced by an average of 60% starting within the next few years.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-protect-marriage-equality-celebrates-passage-respect,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Protect Marriage Equality, Celebrates Passage of Respect for Marriage Act",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act, to codify protections for marriage equality into federal law. The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, protect marriage equality for federal purposes, and provide additional protections at the state level for interracial and LGBTQ+ marriages.

“As a pastor for more than 4 decades, I’ve been fortunate enough to officiate numerous weddings, where I have enjoyed a front row seat to the beautiful moment when two individuals make the decision to join together for life. In that moment, regardless of race or religion or sexual orientation, I see the extraordinary love that binds two people, two families, and an entire community together. Today, I am prodigiously proud to have helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act, ensuring that interracial and same-sex couples will not have to live in fear of the future and demonstrating to the entire world that the United States remains a beacon of freedom thanks to our commitment to equality and human rights. Love is love—and in the end, love always wins,” said Congressman Cleaver.

Following Justice Clarence Thomas’ suggestion that the Supreme Court should revisit the Obergefell decision after striking down the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling, Rep. Cleaver and Democrats in Congress immediately began working to enshrine protections for marriage equality into federal law. The Respect for Marriage Act would do this by:

Repealing the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was rendered inert by the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decisions but still remains in the U.S. code and could be revived if the Supreme Court overrules previous decisions as they did with the Dobbs ruling;

Protecting marriage equality for federal purposes by ensuring that people are considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed; and

Providing additional protections at the state level by prohibiting any person acting under the color of state law from denying full faith and credit to an out of state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the people in the marriage.

Official text of the Respect for Marriage Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-applauds-passage-water-resources-bill-ndaa,Graves Applauds Passage of Water Resources Bill in NDAA,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C – The House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, a bipartisan bill that will improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure throughout the United States as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, today. The Senate is expected to take up the measure next before sending it to the White House for the President’s approval.

“WRDA2022 is a win for North Missouri—and for everyone that believes flood control and navigation should be the top priority in managing our nation’s waterways,” Graves said. “It makes real reforms to help local levee districts keep levees strong, limits the supersized science experiments that threaten flood control works, and encourages the Corps to partner with the University of Missouri to get a full accounting of how repeat flood events impact our rural communities. Working together, these provisions elevate the importance of flood control and place more of the Corps’ limited focus on protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people who live and work along our nation’s great waterways.”

Introduced by Congressman Graves, the lead Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), WRDA 2022 advances a number of priorities for North Missouri:

Enhances Flood Protection

Places strict limitations on the construction of new interception-rearing complexes (IRCs) on the Missouri River to ensure these environmental projects don’t negatively impact flood control or navigation

Requires the Corps of Engineers to work with local levee districts to get video inspections of submerged drainage structures completed

Creates a new program to stabilize river banks impacted by erosion that are endangering flood control works and taking land from farmers

Encourages the Corps of Engineers to collaborate with the University of Missouri’s newly created Missouri Water Center to better understand the impacts of flooding on rural communities

Fixes FEMA Clawback Problem

Prohibits FEMA from going after innocent disaster victims when the agency makes a mistake and there is no fraud

Authorizes Sewer and Stormwater Projects in North Missouri

Includes $50 million for sewer and stormwater projects in St. Joseph, Hannibal, Camden Point, Excelsior Springs, and Smithville.

More information on the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, including a section-by-section summary of provisions, can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/four-wagner-bills-become-law-national-defense-authorization-act,Four Wagner Bills to Become Law in National Defense Authorization Act,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after three of her bills and funding for St. Louis-area built Super Hornets were included in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act:

“This National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) makes our nation stronger and safer during a time our very freedoms are at stake. With countries like Russia, China, and Iran attempting to take advantage of instability around the globe to consolidate their own powers, it is critical we support our troops, strengthen our nuclear deterrence, and ensure our national security apparatus remains ready to counter bad actors worldwide. We also provide a pay raise for our troops who sacrifice for our freedoms. I fought to include several items in the NDAA that will support a strong national security and four of my priorities were ultimately included in the final bill. For years in Congress, I have advocated for our Super Hornet Fighters made here in St. Louis as an essential part of our warfighting capability. Eight of these vital Super Hornet fighters were included in the NDAA, supporting thousands of local jobs and our continued national security, and I will keep fighting on their behalf.

“Also included is my Isolate Russian Government Officials Act, legislation that will exclude Russian officials from major financial and intergovernmental forums during their unjust war against Ukraine. My DEFEND Act, legislation that will help our Middle Eastern partners build an integrated air and missile defense capacity to deter Iran, is also a part of the package, as well as legislation to appropriately honor Ulysses S. Grant by posthumously promoting him to General of the Armies.”

Wagner-led Initiatives Included

Eight Super Hornet Fighters

H.R. 6891 - Isolate Russian Government Officials Act

H.R. 7987 - DEFEND Act",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-avert-rail-shutdown-provide-paid-sick-leave-rail,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Avert Rail Shutdown, Provide Paid Sick Leave to Rail Workers",2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of two resolutions that would avert a catastrophic rail shutdown and provide paid sick leave, a 24% pay raise, and other critical benefits to more than 100,000 freight railroad workers. The resolutions were passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and will now go to the Senate to be taken up for a vote.

“For nearly two centuries, American rail workers helped forge the foundation that has allowed the United States to flourish and become the economic superpower we know today. It is because of these workers that our grocery store shelves remain full, businesses can ship their goods nationally, and American enterprise can continue to grow and thrive,” said Congressman Cleaver. “These individuals work day and night, through pandemics and personal sacrifice, to fulfill the duties expected of them—and in return they should expect the dignity of paid sick leave, fair wages, and proper benefits. Today, I was proud to join my Democratic colleagues to pass two resolutions that will avert a catastrophic rail shutdown while delivering a 24% pay raise, a $5,000 bonus, seven days of paid sick leave, and more to these essential workers.”

H.J.Res. 100 would adopt the Tentative Agreement that was reached in September between railroad companies and their labor unions, following months of tireless negotiating and efforts by President Biden, Secretary Walsh, and labor leaders. The agreement includes the 24 percent pay raise for rail workers, a $5,000 bonus over five years, and preserves critical health coverage and other safety requirements.

H.Con.Res. 119 would add an additional seven paid sick days to the Tentative Agreement, ensuring workers aren’t forced to choose between their health and their paycheck. According to a fact sheet prepared by the House Transportation Committee, the 7 Class I railroads could have paid for their workers to have 7 days of paid sick leave last year by spending just 6/10 of a penny for every dollar they reported in profit and shareholder returns in 2021.

“It is unfortunate that after three years of negotiations it has reached this point, but I believe these resolutions are a fair compromise that will keep our economic recovery on track and provide rail workers with common sense benefits that every worker deserves in the 21st century,” said Congressman Cleaver.

Official text of the resolutions is available here and here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-joyce-slotkin-and-titus-introduce-bipartisan-bill-support-human,"Wagner, Joyce, Slotkin, and Titus Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Human Trafficking Survivors, Investigators",2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) introduced the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act alongside Reps. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Dave Joyce (OH-14) and Dina Titus (NV-01) to ensure survivors of human trafficking and law enforcement officers working to combat these terrible crimes receive the resources and support they need. U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) have introduced the legislation in the Senate.

The IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act would make permanent and expand the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Victim Assistance Program that helps provide support and services to individuals impacted by human trafficking. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would also make permanent the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma (IMPACTT) program that ensures the wellbeing of HSI employees and partners who are exposed to repeated stress and associated trauma through their work to support victims and investigate these horrific crimes.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked with federal law enforcement to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to combat human trafficking in our community and across the country,” said Rep. Wagner. “The brave men and women who investigate these traumatic and heinous cases are on the front lines of this fight, saving vulnerable individuals from the modern sex trade every day. The IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act includes my Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Act and will provide the necessary support for investigators who deal with their own stresses from these cases. My provision will expand the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Victim Assistance Program to help survivors assist HSI investigators in apprehending and building a case against their traffickers, while also informing survivors about the multiple resources available to them. I will always support survivors and our HSI investigators, and I look forward to advancing this legislation.”

“The horrible truth is that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing forms of transnational crime,” said Rep. Joyce, a Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. “These crimes pose a threat to communities nationwide, with traffickers using violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people into modern day slavery where they often become victims of sexual violence as well. I’m proud to introduce this bill so that we can provide survivors and law enforcement officers who investigate these terrible crimes with the resources and support they need. With Ohio ranking among the worst states in the nation for human trafficking, I am committed to doing everything in my power to prevent these crimes from happening, support survivors, and bring traffickers to justice.”

“Human trafficking is an insidious crime that must be attacked from all sides,” said Rep. Titus. “I have spent years in Congress fighting these heinous acts by securing provisions to require that airline employees are trained to spot trafficking, advocating for measures to block convicted human traffickers from working in commercial transportation, and championing local efforts to provide more resources for victims. This bipartisan bill will ensure human trafficking victims and the professionals that investigate these crimes receive the resources and support they need.”

Specifically, the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act would:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleavers-statement-hud-assuming-responsibility-parade-park,Rep. Cleaver’s Statement on HUD Assuming Responsibility for Parade Park,2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development assumed responsibility for Parade Park.

“Today is a necessary step forward for the future of the residents of Parade Park, one of the oldest Black-owned housing cooperatives in the United States and an integral component of the 18th & Vine District in Kansas City. A number of unfortunate decisions have left the co-op in a state of deep despair, with over half the units vacant and many units in disrepair. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has now taken mortgagee-in-possession of Parade Park and installed a property management contractor to handle daily operations and ensure the health and safety of residents.

“It must be noted that this is the first step of many that will need to be taken, together, to save and revitalize this historic piece of Kansas City. In late July, I met with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge in Washington, DC, where we discussed a number of options to rescue Parade Park and stabilize the property. She telephoned me on Friday to inform me that she and her staff had determined that HUD assuming responsibility and working with property ownership and the community was in the best interest of residents. In the very near future, the HUD management team will meet with residents to ensure that tenants are informed and part of the decision making process going forward.

“The Secretary has assured me the Department remains committed to improving the property in a way that will benefit residents and ensure our shared goal of preserving an important affordable housing asset for hardworking Missourians. HUD will immediately begin making a full assessment of the property to determine next steps, and the Secretary has asked me to be attentive to the fact that the Department will need additional dollars to restore the integrity of the development and make the repairs necessary for tenants to live in safe, quality housing. This will be a top priority for me in Congress and must be deemed equally important for the State and City as well.”

###

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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-highlights-historic-investments-bipartisan-infrastructure,Rep. Cleaver Highlights Historic Investments from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on One Year Anniversary of Bill’s Signing,2022-11-15,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, on the first anniversary of President Biden’s landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), who was the only Representative from Missouri to support the law, highlighted the historic federal investments that are already creating good-paying jobs and strengthening communities across Missouri.

“At a time when our country is bitterly divided, the American people expect Congress to come together, seek common ground, and find a way to move the country forward. That’s exactly what we were able to do with President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last year, and I remain perpetually proud to have voted for the landmark legislation—which has already delivered $3.6 billion for more than 150 infrastructure projects across Missouri,” said Congressman Cleaver. “These projects aren’t just helping to pave better roads, rebuild crumbling bridges, deliver clean drinking water, and expand access to public transit, they’re also creating good-paying jobs for working class Missourians across the state, helping to strengthen communities all over. As we continue to build on the extraordinary progress already achieved, I remain committed to working with the Biden Administration to ensure these historic investments reach communities in Missouri’s Fifth District as quickly as possible.”

Decades of underinvestment in critical infrastructure projects have left Missouri communities in urgent need of repair and modernization. According to a report from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Missouri’s infrastructure was given an overall grade of C-, including D+ for our roads, a C for our bridges, and a C- for our drinking water.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already delivering historic investments and making progress to improve Missouri’s infrastructure, with more than $3.6 billion provided for a range of infrastructure improvements, including:

$2.8 billion for roads, bridges, roadway safety, and major projects;

$147 million for water infrastructure that will provide clean and safe drinking water;

$140 million for an expansion of public transportation options;

$106 million for infrastructure resilience, including $22.4 million for flood mitigation;

$54 million for airport improvements;

$36 million for ports and waterways to strengthen supply chains;

$35.7 million to create a network of EV chargers;

$21.8 million from the Clean School Bus Program; and more.

“Thanks to the President’s ability to find compromise and achieve consensus in Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the 2020s are set to be an ‘infrastructure decade’ for Missouri and the rest of the United States,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As this legislation has proven, putting people over politics leads to effective policy—and I remain laser-focused on passing bipartisan legislation that will help lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and build safer communities throughout my congressional district.”

A full summary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s investments in Missouri is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-evans-applaud-hud-efforts-raise-awareness-deed-fraud,"Reps. Cleaver, Evans Applaud HUD Efforts to Raise Awareness of Deed Fraud During Fraud Awareness Month",2022-11-14,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – During Fraud Awareness Month and International Fraud Awareness Week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Dwight Evans (D-PA) applauded the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General for releasing a bulletin to raise awareness about deed fraud, including a hotline where Americans can report information about fraudulent schemes related to HUD supported housing. Fraud Awareness Month is a HUD-wide initiative that aims to educate and encourage communication about preventing fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement and to highlight the many resources available to help combat fraud.

“I’m pleased that the Biden Administration and HUD have heard our calls for additional focus on this incredibly burdensome scam being perpetrated against Americans in communities across the country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “In honor of Fraud Awareness Month and International Fraud Awareness Week, I’m proud to stand with Representative Evans, Secretary Fudge, Inspector General Oliver Davis, and the Biden Administration to continue to raise awareness about these fraudulent schemes so that hardworking families can better protect themselves. As Congressman Evans and I work to build consensus on federal legislation that will crack down on scam artists and strengthen protections for homeowners, it’s important that the Administration continue to track data that will better inform Congress during the legislative process—and that’s why I want to highlight the hotline that Americans can call to report relevant information they may have.”

Congressman Evans said, “I welcome this action by the Biden administration, led by our former congressional colleague Secretary Fudge and Inspector General Davis. This has been a huge issue in Philadelphia. We also need action from the congressional side, which is why I’m co-leading the Good DEED Act with Congressman Cleaver. Tangled titles prevent families – including many African American families – from accumulating and transferring generational wealth, or even receiving help fixing up their homes.”

“One of my top priorities is to pursue all available remedies against bad actors who commit deed fraud and bring justice for people impacted by this fraud scheme,” said Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis.

In September, following reports of deed fraud in Jackson County, MO, Congressman Cleaver and Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. sounded the alarm on deed fraud crimes being perpetrated against homeowners in the county in an effort to raise awareness and protect homeowners. Last month, Reps. Cleaver and Evans introduced the Good DEED Act, legislation that would establish the first federal definition of deed fraud, increase penalties for criminals, create a federal grant program to assist law enforcement and local government with tracking and combating the practice, and expand access to legal services for victims. Additionally, Congressman Cleaver held a roundtable discussion with County Executive White, members of the Kansas City Police Department, and victims of deed fraud from Missouri to highlight the dangers of these scams, how to report and remedy the situation if one has fallen victim, and what kind of legislation is needed locally, statewide, and federally to put an end to the practice.

The official bulletin on deed fraud from the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General is available here.

Americans can report fraud schemes involving public housing or other HUD-funded government programs or benefits, by contacting the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or online here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-introduces-legislation-combat-price-gouging-during-crises,"Rep. Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Combat Price Gouging During Crises, Protect Missouri Families",2022-11-10,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) reintroduced legislation that would crack down on predatory price gouging during times of national crisis. The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act would prohibit unconscionable price increases on essential goods and services, including the sale of fuel, medication, and other items, during or in anticipation of a natural disaster, pandemic, or state of emergency. With the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) currently limited in its authority to combat price gouging at the federal level, Rep. Cleaver’s bill would give the FTC additional tools and legal authority to cut down on exorbitant price increases on critical items, such as gasoline, when an emergency or disaster arises. Companion legislation has been introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the U.S. Senate.

“In recent years, we’ve watched Big Oil and greedy executives exploit the global pandemic and other times of crisis, such as natural disasters, to unnecessarily raise prices on consumers and pad their profits to record-breaking levels. It is way past time for Congress to stand up to the corporate greed that has helped drive up prices and fight for hardworking families that are being ripped off,” said Congressman Cleaver. “The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act will give the FTC the tools and clear legal authority needed to go after corporations or nefarious actors who are trying to get rich off of Americans in crisis. To ensure our economy is one that works for working people, Congress must do more to protect consumers from corporate price gouging—and that’s what my legislation would do.”

The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act would:

Prohibit selling, or offering for sale, essential goods and services at an unconscionably excessive price during or in anticipation of a natural disaster, pandemic or state of emergency;

Apply to goods and services that may be used to preserve, protect, or sustain the health, safety or welfare of members of the public from potential harms resulting from a natural disaster, a pandemic or the circumstances giving rise to a state of emergency;

Establish a national price gouging hotline for consumers to report nefarious actors;

Provide for potential civil penalties; and

Not preempt state price gouging laws.

“Right now, there is no federal law that explicitly prohibits price gouging—and we’re seeing an inadequate patchwork of state laws that leave families like those here in Missouri unprotected,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Not only would my legislation give the FTC the clear authority to crack down on this pernicious practice, but it would provide the tools needed to do so effectively and efficiently. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to protect consumers in Missouri, and that starts with passage of the Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act.”

Official text of the Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-sewell-introduce-legislation-lower-cost-electric-vehicles,"Reps. Cleaver, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Electric Vehicles",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act, introduced legislation to ensure consumers can immediately and fully access tax credits provided under the Inflation Reduction Act that will lower the cost of purchasing electric vehicles (EVs). The legislation would delay the phase-in of the EV sourcing and manufacturing requirements necessary for credit eligibility from 2023 to 2026, giving American automakers the time they need to shore up their domestic supply chains while still offering full access to the tax credits to American consumers. These requirements were included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Rep. Cleaver supported and was signed into law by President Biden in August. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

“I’m proud to introduce the Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act with Congresswoman Sewell as we seek to lower energy costs for American families, create good-paying manufacturing jobs here at home, and accelerate our nation’s transition away from costly fossil fuels and toward affordable, clean vehicles,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Our legislation takes important steps to make the historic electric vehicle tax credits passed in the Inflation Reduction Act immediately accessible to consumers, particularly working- and middle-class Americans who would like to purchase an electric vehicle but need the federal credit to do so. As oil companies insist on continuing their exorbitant price-gouging of families at the pump, these tax credits offer hardworking Americans immediate and significant financial assistance to help them purchase a vehicle that is better both for the environment and their wallets. This bill would be a major win for consumers, autoworkers, and businesses alike, and I will work with my colleagues to ensure it is signed into law by President Biden.”

“Democrats’ historic Inflation Reduction Act includes critical tax credits that are bringing down the cost of electric vehicles and making them more accessible to working and middle class Alabamians, all while accelerating our transition to a clean energy economy,” said Rep. Sewell. “The Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act is a win-win for Alabama, ensuring that automakers and car buyers alike can take advantage of these tax credits immediately. My Democratic colleague and I will continue working to tackle inflation and lower costs!”

“The Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act will lower costs and provide consumers more options when purchasing an electric vehicle, while also supporting good-paying jobs across Georgia and our country,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m focused squarely on helping car buyers save money and helping car manufacturers who do business in our state thrive. That’s why I’m pleased to partner with Representatives Sewell and Cleaver to get this bill over the finish line.”

The Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act would delay the IRA’s phase-in period for automakers to follow specific sourcing and assembly requirements for their EVs in order for Americans to qualify for the federal tax credit to purchase a new vehicle. These requirements include:

Requiring EVs to be manufactured in North America;

Requiring EV batteries to be made domestically; and

Mandating that critical minerals used in battery production are only sourced domestically or from nations with whom America has a free trade agreement.

A vocal champion of strengthening domestic manufacturing, Rep. Cleaver was proud to support provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that incentivize automakers to return manufacturing to American factories. However, to give American automakers additional time to meet these new “Made in America” requirements, and to ensure Missourians can immediately access the federal tax credits to lower the cost of EVs, the Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act would extend the phase-in period for such requirements until 2026.

Congressman Cleaver has been a long-time supporter of accelerating our nation’s transition to renewable energy and EVs, creating good-paying green manufacturing jobs, and cutting down on carbon emissions. In February, Rep. Cleaver announced that Missouri had secured nearly $15 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out an EV infrastructure network across the state. In July, Rep. Cleaver announced that he had secured $4 million in federal funding for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to purchase Low and No Emission Buses and support infrastructure as Kansas City continues to go green.

Official text of the Affordable Electric Vehicles for America Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-announces-978-million-missouri-help-individuals-and,Rep. Cleaver Announces $97.8 Million for Missouri to Help Individuals and Families Lower Energy Costs This Winter,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that Missouri was awarded $97.8 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funding will go toward helping low-income individuals and families pay for home heating costs this winter, cover unpaid utility bills, and make cost-effective energy repairs to lower heating and cooling bills.

The total funding announced today comes from an additional $1 billion appropriated by Congress for LIHEAP to address rising energy costs, as well as $100 million appropriated for 2023 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both of which Congressman Cleaver proudly supported.

“Every year, LIHEAP serves millions of American households, helping to lower costs on heating, cooling, and weatherization services for hardworking families across the country. Today, I’m proud to announce that additional investments from President Biden and Democrats in Congress will enable this successful program to serve more households than ever as we seek to provide relief from higher than usual energy costs that have been driven up by Putin’s despicable war in Ukraine,” said Congressman Cleaver. “With this nearly $98 million in funding, more Missourians will be able to stay safe and warm throughout the upcoming winter months and at a reduced cost. That’s a major win in my book.”

Missourians interested in applying for energy assistance can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327. They can also find additional information and the application for LIHEAP assistance here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-88-million-grant-brunswick-port,Graves Announces $8.8 Million Grant for Brunswick Port,2022-10-27,2022,2022-10,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"KANSAS CITY, MO – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) today announced that Green Hills Regional Planning Commission will be receiving a $8,768,000 grant from the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) to further the development of container-on-barge shipping services in Brunswick, Missouri.

“This grant brings us one step closer to seeing container-on-barge shipping on the Missouri River,” Graves said. “That’s good news for AGRIServices of Brunswick, Chariton County, and all of North Missouri. Right now, much of our fertilizer products are shipped up the river and we ship out grain on bulk barges. That grain is then put into containers further south so it can be shipped around the globe. By building a container terminal here, not only are we supporting new Missouri jobs, but it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for products we can ship up and down the river—for Brunswick and hopefully PortKC and the Port of St. Joseph in the future.”

The grant will upgrade an existing port terminal with a new container dock and related mooring structures, add a new rail spur with loading pit, and construct a new 360’ x 140’ bulk agricultural supply building with conveyors between the rail and barge dock. The new sheet pile barge dock will provide 200 feet of frontage for loading and unloading barges and the rail component consists of approximately 4000 new feet of track that will support a 36 unit train at the port.

Earlier this year, Congressman Graves successfully helped secure a MARAD Marine Highway Project designations for container-on-barge service on the Missouri River. The designation was one of only six awarded nationwide and was the first secured by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), who worked with AGRIServices of Brunswick to develop the application.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleavers-statement-passing-former-kansas-city-mayor-charles,Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on the Passing of Former Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler,2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the passing of former Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler.

“Charlie Wheeler was my dear friend, an important mentor, and the most visionary Mayor in the history of our great city. During my eight years as Mayor, I was blessed to have had the likes of Charlie Wheeler, Ike Davis, and Dick Berkley as guides through the best and worst of times—and our city was better off for it.

“Having both a J.D. and an M.D., Charlie very likely was the smartest Mayor in our city’s history. And when you mix that with his daring, you get a powerful combination of genius with imagination. That was Charlie Wheeler. I will miss my friend, and the city will miss his ingenuity. We all owe him heartfelt gratitude for his public service, and I pray that his memory will be a blessing for all that had the privilege to know him.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-introduces-legislation-bring-transparency-equal-opportunity,"Rep. Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Bring Transparency, Equal Opportunity to Management of College and University Endowments",2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) continued his push for greater accountability to diversity and inclusion in the trillion-dollar asset management industry with the introduction of the Endowment Transparency Act of 2022. Asset managers manage funds for others, such as individuals, organizations, and institutions, and invest college and university endowment assets which collectively total more than $821 billion. Responsive to Rep. Cleaver’s inquiry into the lack of diversity among college and university endowment managers in 2020, the Endowment Transparency Act would support efforts to ensure colleges and universities are providing opportunities to women and minority asset managers by mandating transparency and standardizing data collection. In a similar inquiry of endowments done by the Knight Foundation this year, only 16 of the 50 colleges and universities surveyed elected to disclose the percent of endowment assets managed by diverse-owned firms.

“After the Knight Foundation released a report showing that diverse-owned asset management firms manage only 1.4% of the $82 trillion asset management industry, I immediately began seeking ways in which Congress could hold actors accountable to opening doors for the numerous, high-performing firms headed by women and minority managers who have been historically excluded. Surveys have obtained important diversity data on the endowment managers of colleges and universities, who help manage hundreds of billions in endowment funds, and shed light on the variation in efforts to provide opportunity to diverse-owned firms,” said Rep. Cleaver. “While some institutions have been happy to share data on their efforts to do business with women and minority managers, others are unforthcoming or less than thrilled to make public their numbers. For that reason, and to push for greater opportunity in the American economic system, I introduced the Endowment Transparency Act to require publicly subsidized higher education institutions to report on this critically important issue.”

“Rep. Cleaver continues to be the congressional leader in the effort to improve diversity in the realm of endowment management,” said Robert Raben, Executive Director of the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative. “He pushed a critical mass of universities to release their numbers, but, regrettably, they all obfuscated, unwilling to tell the truth that with hundreds of billions of dollars of money to manage, they are only working with handfuls of Black, Latino, Asian American or women managers. With the introduction of this legislation, Rep Cleaver’s leadership demonstrates a stark contrast to these universities, whose charge of fostering academic excellence is, ostensibly, meant to be achieved with integrity.”

“We appreciate Congressman Cleaver’s bill. Many of these institutions enjoy certain public support including taxpayer subsidies and research dollars. Thus, it is appropriate to mandate the expansion of their manager universe to include diverse firms. Most importantly, it ensures they are truly picking some of the best managers, many that are currently ineligible for hire because of meaningless artificial barriers of entry,” said Gilbert Garcia, Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee Chair of the SEC’s Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) and recent appointee to the Treasury Advisory Committee of Racial Justice.

“The National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP), the premier Association advocating for the full inclusion of minorities and women in the Financial Services industry, fully supports the ‘Endowment Transparency Act’ introduced by Congressman Cleaver, calling for the amendment of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require annual reporting on assets of higher education institutions. For years, the NASP organization has championed the reporting of the total assets of higher ed institutions by investment advisors in order to quantify the work that is being performed by minority and women-owned firms. The adoption of this legislation will go a long way in addressing the issues of the lack of business diversity in higher education,” said Ronald C. Parker, President and CEO, National Association of Securities Professionals.

“We at Ariel Investments applaud Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for his leadership to advance business diversity among colleges and universities. These anchor institutions are essential stewards of taxpayer funds as well as the trust and confidence of the communities they serve. They must do better when it comes to full-scale business diversity – not just supply chain diversity. Hiring minority owned professional services companies across sectors can support their range of operational needs. Black and Brown companies need both capital and customers to thrive. This legislation will help demonstrate through clear annual reporting whether Black and Brown companies are getting the opportunities they deserve. We hope it gains bipartisan support and Congress passes it before year end.” – Ariel Investments, LLC, founded by John W. Rogers, Jr.

“It is particularly important that the Congressman is mandating that this information become public and defining diversity at more than 50% diverse-owned. Presently, there are too many efforts to lower the threshold of a diverse firm’s definition to as low as 25% diverse-owned. This is a veiled attempt to move the goal post closer to inflate one’s diversity manager progress. Making the data publicly available is the only way to change past behavior,” said Ruby Munoz Dang, a 27-year industry veteran and senior partner of Garcia Hamilton, the largest Hispanic firm in the country.

In 2020, Reps. Cleaver and Joseph P. Kennedy, III surveyed the 25 colleges and universities with the largest endowments about their utilization of diverse-owned asset management firms. Every institution, except for the University of Notre Dame, provided at least some level of information on the data and practices used to ensure diversity and inclusion for the asset managers overseeing their enormous endowments. While some institutions, such as the University of California, track and disclosed investments with women- and minority-owned firms, others did not appear to have ever adopted policies or practices to address potential biases in the selection of asset managers.

Considering college and university endowments are subsidized by the federal government via tax exemptions in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)3, and the federal government’s interest in remedying the legacy of exclusion in the financial services industry, Rep. Cleaver introduced the Endowment Transparency Act of 2022 this week. The legislation would provide public transparency and accountability for diversity and inclusion in the management of more than $821 billion in assets from higher education endowments by:

Amending the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require information about investments with women- and minority-owned firms to be included in other data annually collected from colleges and universities;

Requiring the Minority Business Development Agency to publish a report, to be updated every two years, recommending legislative changes and best practices for substantially increasing the use of women- and minority-owned firms in higher education investment and bond transactions; and

Authorizing a conference, every five years, which shall convene institutions of higher education and investment advisors, firms, and consultants to develop professional networks and increase the visibility of business opportunities.

“In the year 2022, it is simply unacceptable that nearly 99% of assets controlled by the $82 trillion asset management industry—which influence where, when, and with what segments of the economy to invest—are overseen by White men, when we know that there are qualified women- and minority-owned firms that can fulfill these duties to the same, or even better, degree,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As colleges and universities tout their efforts to diversify at every level, from the student body to the faculty and staff, I believe they are a perfect place to encourage greater opportunity in this intractable industry—and the Endowment Transparency Act is an important step in that process.”

Official text of the Endowment Transparency Act is available here.

A fact sheet on the Endowment Transparency Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-cleaver-applauds-fhfa-announcement-it-will-eliminate-upfront,"Chairman Cleaver Applauds FHFA Announcement It Will Eliminate Upfront Fees for  First-time, Underserved Homebuyers",2022-10-24,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, applauded the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) announcement of targeted changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s guarantee fee pricing, eliminating upfront fees for certain borrowers and affordable mortgage products. Lenders commonly convert upfront fees into higher interest rates on a mortgage. Last week, Chairman Cleaver delivered a letter (LINK) to FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson calling on the agency to immediately reduce or eliminate upfront fees as interest rates continue to rise and impact first-time homebuyers, low-income borrowers, and underserved communities.

“I’m very pleased that FHFA Director Thompson has heeded my calls to eliminate unnecessarily costly upfront fees for borrowers that have historically been left behind and are already acutely feeling the pinch of rising interest rates from the Federal Reserve,” said Chairman Cleaver. “This action from the FHFA demonstrates President Biden’s firm commitment to promoting equitable access to affordable housing, and I applaud the President and Director Thompson for taking this important step that will result in savings for roughly 20 percent of borrowers of Fannie and Freddie’s recent mortgage acquisitions. Moving forward, as the Fed continues to grapple with global inflation in a way that makes borrowing more costly, we must continue to implement policies that ease the borrowing burden of working and middle-class Americans, ensuring they still have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream through homeownership.”

The FHFA announced today it will eliminate upfront fees for:

First-time homebuyers at or below 100 percent of area median income (AMI) in most of the United States and below 120 percent AMI in high-cost areas;

HomeReady and Home Possible loans (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s flagship affordable mortgage programs);

HFA Advantage and HFA Preferred loans; and

Single-family loans supporting the Duty to Serve program.

You can find the official letter from Chairman Cleaver to Director Thompson 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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-cleaver-rep-evans-introduce-legislation-combat-deed-fraud,"Chairman Cleaver, Rep. Evans Introduce Legislation to Combat Deed Fraud, Protect Homeowners",2022-10-19,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, along with Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA), introduced H.R. 9192, the Good Documentation and Enforcement of Estate Deeds (Good DEED) Act. The Good DEED Act would establish the first federal definition of deed fraud, a fraudulent scheme in which criminals steal real property from their victims, and create a federal grant program to assist local law enforcement with tracking and combatting deed fraud and to support legal services for victims, strengthen protections for homeowners against fraudulent notarizations, increase penalties for criminals who participate in the practice, and require the FBI to include data on deed fraud in the Uniform Crime Reporting program.

“Following my announcement with Jackson County Executive White to alert Missourians of the dangers of deed fraud, we have heard from additional members of our community that have been impacted by this contemptible practice. Today, as we continue our efforts to raise awareness, I’m proud to introduce federal legislation that would help to crack down on these illicit scams and protect hardworking homeowners from either losing their home or their hard-earned paychecks on costly legal fees,” said Chairman Cleaver. “While this will not solve the problem overnight, the Good DEED Act is critical to understanding the scope of the problem nationally and an important step toward protecting law-abiding Americans from getting ensnared in one of these nefarious schemes.”

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) said, “Philadelphia has a huge problem with tangled titles, all too often caused by deed fraud, so I’m proud to co-lead the Good DEED Act. Tangled titles prevent families – including many African American families – from accumulating and transferring generational wealth, or even receiving help fixing up their homes.”

“Bringing this crime to the forefront has empowered our residents to be informed, alert and proactive. Now it’s time to take prevention a step further,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “The Good DEED Act legislation provides the framework to help combat this financially and emotionally demoralizing crime from happening in our community and makes available critical assistance to homeowners who unfortunately fall victim. I give my full support to Congressmen Cleaver and Evans on this thought-leading initiative and urge everyone remain vigilant about this dangerous scam.”

“The Good DEED Act brings federal attention to the widespread problem of ‘tangled title.’ Tangled title occurs when someone has ownership rights to a house, but the deed is not in the person’s name,” said Judy Berkman, Senior Counsel, Regional Housing Legal Services. “Many tangled title cases involve ‘heir’ property. In gentrifying neighborhoods, fraudsters ‘steal’ these properties by forging deeds and other legal documents. The Good DEED Act will provide successful grant applicants with funding to implement infrastructure improvements to prevent and prosecute deed fraud. It will also provide free legal services to income-eligible people to resolve their tangled title cases allowing them to have the benefits of home ownership and build wealth.”

“We know firsthand in Philadelphia the damage that deed fraud can do to families and their generational wealth, and we’re thrilled that the Good DEED Act would create a federal source of funding to support the fight against deed fraud nationwide,” said James P. Leonard, Commissioner of Records for the City of Philadelphia.

Last month, Chairman Cleaver and Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. sounded the alarm on scams being perpetrated against property owners in Jackson County, where forged, false and/or fraudulently induced deeds are recorded against properties in the County without the knowledge or consent of the owner. Included in the alert was information on how to identify if one has fallen victim to deed fraud and the steps Jackson County residents can take to protect themselves and/or receive assistance from local authorities. However, there are additional reports of deed fraud occurring throughout the United States.

The Good DEED Act would make critical reforms to combat deed fraud nationally by:

Establishing a $10 million annual grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund applications that assist in prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of deed fraud;

Mandating that States receiving funding amend State laws to require identifiable information of individuals notarizing and filing deeds, such as fingerprints, photographs, and/or video of filers;

Requiring HUD to report to Congress on activities funded under the grant program and to identify best practices in reducing deed fraud;

Establishing the first federal definition of deed fraud and directing the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate guidelines or amend existing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for offenses involving deed fraud; and

Requiring the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to add a category for deed fraud to the Uniform Crime Reporting program.

“When Congress returns to session next month, I intend to push for quick action on the Good DEED Act so that we can immediately strengthen protections and begin tracking where and how these schemes are most frequently executed,” said Chairman Cleaver. “In the meantime, I highly encourage Missouri and other states to begin working on updating their own laws to eradicate these scams before they become even more prevalent and harmful to members of our communities.”

Official text of the Good DEED Act is available here.

A fact sheet on the Good DEED Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-seek-answers-united-states-postal-service,"Reps. Cleaver, Graves Seek Answers from the United States Postal Service",2022-10-11,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sam Graves (R-MO) sent a letter to United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking resolution to a number of ongoing issues facing constituents in Missouri’s Fifth and Sixth Congressional Districts including, inconsistent and unreliable mail delivery and lack of transparency when attempting to resolve ongoing mail delivery issues.

“Ensuring the delivery of mail is one of the few powers specifically delegated to Congress in the Constitution, so when I hear about constituents reaching out to my office having not received their mail in weeks, it compels Members of Congress to act,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Americans rely on the Postal Service to pay their bills on time, collect their hard-earned paychecks, and receive vital medications.”

“Missourians from all walks of life depend on the United States Postal Service to deliver the mail six days a week,” said Congressman Graves. “It doesn’t matter if you live in downtown Kansas City, in the suburbs, or in rural North Missouri, folks depend on the mail to get prescriptions, bills, and other important documents in a timely manner. The failure of the agency to live up to its core promise, particularly when they just posted a $60 billion net profit, is unconscionable. I’ve long supported our postal workers and the dedication they have to delivering the mail on time, but it’s clear there’s a leadership problem somewhere in the chain of command and Missourians deserve some answers.”

In February, the Congressmen joined the House in passing H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act, which became public law in April. The Postal Service Reform Act enacts overdue changes to address financial challenges, improve mail delivery, and support postal workers, including promoting reliable delivery and transparency through a public-facing online dashboard and codifying the Postal Service’s longtime tradition of delivering mail and packages six days a week.

“When I proudly voted in favor of the Postal Service Reform Act, I voted to strengthen the United States Postal Service and ensure reliable, on-time mail service for Missourians,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Rain or shine, sleet or snow, we must restore the public’s confidence in the USPS and their ability to fulfill their duty.”

The Congressmen requested formal responses to the following questions addressed to Postmaster DeJoy:

Has the USPS received internal or external reports of significant failures to uphold its six-day mail delivery, as required by law?

What is the USPS’ plan to achieve reliable six-day delivery of the mail in all regions of the country?

Specifically, how does the USPS plan to address the Kansas City region’s unreliable mail delivery?

If/when the USPS has a change in delivery service, how does the USPS plan to notify constituents?

If there are barriers to achieving this required level of service, what are they?

Does the USPS plan to reinvest its new profits into services that support letter carriers’ critical work to deliver six-day mail?

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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-cleaver-demand-answers-usps-problems-kansas-city,"Graves, Cleaver Demand Answers for USPS Problems in Kansas City",2022-10-11,2022,2022-10,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"KANSAS CITY, MO – Congressmen Sam Graves (MO-06) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) authored a letter demanding answers from United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the Postal Service’s failure to reliably deliver mail six days a week in the Greater Kansas City Area, as required by law.

“Missourians from all walks of life depend on the United States Postal Service to deliver the mail six days a week,” Graves said. “It doesn’t matter if you live in downtown Kansas City, in the suburbs, or in rural North Missouri, folks depend on the mail to get prescriptions, bills, and other important documents in a timely manner. The failure of the agency to live up to its core promise, particularly when they just posted a $60 billion net profit, is unconscionable. I’ve long supported our postal workers and the dedication they have to delivering the mail on time, but it’s clear there’s a leadership problem somewhere in the chain of command and Missourians deserve some answers.”

“Ensuring the delivery of mail is one of the few powers specifically delegated to Congress in the Constitution, so when I hear about constituents reaching out to my office having not received their mail in weeks, it compels Members of Congress to act,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Americans rely on the Postal Service to pay their bills on time, collect their hard-earned paychecks, and receive vital medications.”

Background

The Postal Service Reform Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in April of this year. The law eliminated a longstanding mandate that the Postal Service prefund retirement benefits for employees on the date an employee is hired. Eliminating the mandate relieved a massive financial burden on the agency and as a result, the Postal Service posted a nearly $60 billion net profit last quarter. In addition, the law mandated the Postal Service maintain its current level of service to communities, including reliable six-day mail delivery with few exceptions.

Despite this mandate, both congressmen have received reports from constituents that the Postal Service is failing to deliver the mail six days a week.

The congressmen requested formal responses to the following questions addressed to Postmaster DeJoy:

Has the USPS received internal or external reports of significant failures to uphold its six-day mail delivery, as required by law?

What is the USPS’ plan to achieve reliable six-day delivery of the mail in all regions of the country?

Specifically, how does the USPS plan to address the Kansas City region’s unreliable mail delivery?

If/when the USPS has a change in delivery service, how does the USPS plan to notify constituents?

If there are barriers to achieving this required level of service, what are they?

Does the USPS plan to reinvest its new profits into services that support letter carriers’ critical work to deliver six-day mail?

Read the full letter text here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-avert-government-shutdown-provide-22-million-lower,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Avert Government Shutdown, Provide $22 Million to Lower Energy Costs for Missouri Families, Support Ukraine",2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, to avert a government shutdown and fund the federal government through December 16. The legislation also provides emergency funding to lower energy costs for working families, supplemental funding to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and disaster relief for communities impacted by wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

“Although I never enjoy voting for a continuing resolution, I know that the American people would enjoy a government shutdown significantly less,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate continue to negotiate a year-long appropriations package, I believe passing this legislation to keep the government open and essential services up-and-running is the right decision. In addition to more than $12 billion in supplemental funding to assist Ukraine’s fight to defend their democracy, this funding bill provides another $22 million to help lower energy costs for hardworking families in Missouri who are struggling due to Putin’s despicable invasion and its impact on energy prices around the world.”

The Continuing Resolution advances a number of key priorities for the American people, including:

$12.3 billion to assist the fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine, including new security, economic, and humanitarian assistance;

Bolstering funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including roughly $22 million for Missouri, which will help working families pay for higher energy bills caused in part by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine;

Disaster relief for New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Florida, Alaska, and other communities across the United States that have been impacted by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters;

Additional Resources to respond to the respond to the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, an emergency that poses a dire threat to the health and well-being of countless Mississippi families; and

Five-year reauthorization of FDA user fees, ensuring no interruption to the FDA’s life-saving work reviewing and approving new prescription drugs coming to market.

Official text of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-westerman-introduce-legislation-promoting-access-american-energy,"Graves, Westerman Introduce Legislation Promoting Access to American Energy",2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06) and House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the Transparency and Production of (TAP) American Energy Act this week.

""We need to make America energy independent again. We have all the tools to do it – the Biden Administration just lacks the willpower to get the job done,"" Graves said. ""The TAP American Energy Act will enact common-sense reforms to streamline critical pipeline and energy infrastructure approvals, jumpstart American energy production, and restore American energy independence – regardless of who is in the White House. This is a blueprint for how we can lower gas prices, strengthen our energy grid, and fight the rising cost of living in this country.""

""American families have been on the front lines of dealing with the Biden administration's failed energy policies,"" Westerman said. ""Skyrocketing gas prices, threats of rolling blackouts, inflated grocery costs, more expensive home heating and cooling bills - these are just a sampling of the energy crises we've faced under Democrat control. It's time to reverse this downward trajectory and become fully energy independent. This is a pivotal part of the Republican commitment to America: that we will maximize American-made energy and reduce reliance on foreign countries. The TAP American Energy Act is a comprehensive solution doing just that by responsibly opening up access to our rich natural resources, reforming and streamlining permitting processes and incentivizing innovation. I'm honored to lead this effort and lower energy costs across the country.""

Background

The TAP American Energy Act would provide a much-needed jumpstart to American energy production and infrastructure. By eliminating bureaucratic hurdles, empowering the energy sector to innovate, expanding access to federal lands and waters for responsible energy development, and more, the U.S. can surpass anyone else in the world in reliable energy while incentivizing a true all-of-the-above energy approach.

The TAP American Energy Act would:

Prevent any president from imposing bans on federal energy leasing and mineral withdrawals without congressional approval.

Require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to immediately resume quarterly lease sales on federal lands and require a minimum of four leases sales per year in each state with eligible lands.

Require a minimum of two annual oil and gas lease sales in available federal waters in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and in the Alaska Region of the Outer Continental Shelf.

Require the publication of the 2023-2028 plan for offshore oil and gas lease sales by Dec. 30, 2022, and that DOI meet certain deadlines for publishing future five-year plans.

Require Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements for all forms of energy development to be completed within one and two years, respectively.

Amend the Geothermal Steam Act to require a yearly lease sale for geothermal energy.

Streamline the environmental review process to allow pipeline, renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects to move forward efficiently and without compromising environmental protections.

Eliminate requirements for duplicative review and analyses, reducing delays for important upgrades and improvements of our energy infrastructure.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-bill-speed-disaster-recovery-efforts-become-law,Graves Bill to Speed Disaster Recovery Efforts to Become Law,2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan bill led by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06) to expedite disaster recovery projects across the Nation, particularly in small and rural areas, has passed both the House and Senate and has been sent to the President to be signed into law.

The Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act (H.R. 5641) updates the threshold for what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deems a “small project” for communities seeking disaster assistance. Small projects do not face the same administrative burdens and paperwork required for larger, more complex projects. Communities can move forward with small projects in a much more expedited manner.

“The SPEED Recovery Act will help cut the red tape that many communities have to deal with to secure disaster assistance. This legislation is especially helpful for small and rural communities that simply do not have the same types of resources as large and urban areas to navigate the bureaucracy,” said Graves. “This bill will allow smaller recovery projects to move forward quickly, help disaster victims begin to get back on their feet sooner rather than later, and allow FEMA to better focus its resources when larger disasters strike.”

Background Information

The SPEED Recovery Act updates the small project threshold to $1 million. Historically, the number of disaster projects that qualified as small projects with simplified procedures accounted for 95% of such projects. However, because the threshold for a “small project” has not kept pace with inflation and modern construction costs, a much larger percentage of projects (nearly 25% of all recovery projects) now fall outside of the scope of a “small project.” This has added unnecessary paperwork and burdens for both communities and FEMA",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-17-million-grant-clarksville-flood-wall,Graves Announces $1.7 Million Grant for Clarksville Flood Wall,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) announced today that the City of Clarksville will be receiving a $1.7 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to construct a removable flood protection system along the Mississippi River to keep businesses open and operating while protecting historic downtown Clarksville. This EDA grant will be matched by $10 million in state funds.

“I’m thrilled to see the City of Clarksville receive the last piece of funding needed to begin work build on their movable flood wall project. With a movable flood wall, the community can finally protect themselves from future flooding, before it happens. For years, Mayor Jo Anne Smiley has worked tirelessly to see this project come to fruition and that day is finally in sight. I was proud to support the legislation back in 2019 that made this funding possible. I’m glad to see it awarded to Clarksville for this critical project,” said Rep. Sam Graves (MO-06). “I’m also grateful for the efforts of Governor Parson, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and state legislators to ensure that the rest of the funding needed was provided. Mayor Smiley, the City of Clarksville and the Mark Twain Council of Governments are to be commended for their hard work which will enable the city to not only survive, but thrive, for years to come.”

The EDA grant will be matched by $10 million in state funding. The project also received $695,310 in EDA Disaster Relief funding in 2019 to complete an engineering analysis to design the flood wall.

The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments (MTRCOG). EDA funds MTRCOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by the Flood of 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. You can visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-county-executive-white-sound-alarm-deed-fraud-reported,"Rep. Cleaver, County Executive White Sound the Alarm on Deed Fraud Reported in Kansas City and Jackson County, Highlight Ways Missourians Can Protect Their Homes",2022-09-26,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. are sounding the alarm on scams being perpetrated against property owners involving the legal title to their homes, and working to educate victims of actions they should take if they detect criminal activity. Authorities continue to take concerning reports of fraud where forged, false and/or fraudulently induced deeds are recorded against properties in Jackson County without the knowledge or consent of the owner.

“With a troubling number of cases of home title fraud in Jackson County, it’s important that we raise the public’s awareness and help to protect potentially vulnerable home and property owners from unknowingly becoming a victim,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Right now, there are folks in Jackson County who are sitting in their homes, watching their television or reading the paper, who are unaware that a scam artist has already illegally transferred ownership of their home to another individual or a made-up business. It is my hope that in taking this step to educate the public on deed fraud occurring in the area that we can help individuals not only know the warning signs, but the immediate actions to take to protect themselves and prevent these criminal exploits from continuing within our community. Moving forward, I intend to introduce federal legislation in the coming days that will help federal and local law enforcement across the country crack down on these despicable scams, but it’s important to sound the alarm so families can protect themselves today.”

“I would like to commend Congressman Cleaver for stepping up to protect property owners in Jackson County, especially our most vulnerable residents. Sadly, there are criminals in our community and across the nation who are willing to deceive, lie and steal from our residents by filing false deeds without the actual property owner’s knowledge or approval,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “I look forward to learning more about Congressman Cleaver’s legislation that will help homeowners from being taken advantage of in this terrible way. In the meantime, I urge everyone to spread the word about this dangerous scam and to please contact law enforcement if you think you, or someone you know, may have been a victim.”

Document Recording in Jackson County

Pursuant to State law, the Jackson County Recorder’s Office, upon payment of the proper fees and taxes, must accept and record any document that conforms to legal requirements. In the case of a deed, the recording office will typically ensure that the deed is properly acknowledged by a notary and is compliant with recording requirements set forth by law.

The County Recorder is not responsible for verifying the validity, authenticity or legitimacy of the document that is recorded. If the document meets recording requirements, and the proper fees are submitted, the County Recorder is obligated to and will record the document.

Fraudsters continue to exploit the lack of true safeguards or deterrents against recording illegitimate deeds on property. Victims who are most targeted include the elderly, low-income minority homeowners, or those with vacant or already-distressed properties.

Common Scams Involving Fraudulent Deeds

Forgery: A fraudster may forge a homeowner’s name on a deed to a home. The deed is acknowledged and signed by a notary public (either legitimately based on false identification or illegitimately), and then recorded, effectively transferring the property to the scammer without the knowledge of the true homeowner.

Misrepresentation/Coercion: A criminal might trick or pressure a homeowner into signing a deed for the home, thus transferring the property to the fraudster or another when the deed is recorded. The homeowner is unaware that the document they are signing is a grant deed or may be misled into believing the documents to be signed are of no consequence or are “just a bunch of legalese” and not important.

In either case, the fraudster seeks to effectively transfer the property away from the true owner to sell or extract equity from the property. You may be a victim without knowing.

Warning Signs of Deed Fraud

When you receive notification or become aware of:

A recorded document on your property where you never signed the document, and your signature was forged;

A recorded document on your property where ownership in your property, or a portion thereof, was transferred or sold to another party without your knowledge;

A recorded document on your property where the signer of the document was deceased at the time of execution of the document;

A loan was taken out on your property without your knowledge; and

Changes or alterations were made to a recorded document after you signed it.

Also, if you:

Stop receiving your property tax bill or notices;

Receive a Notice of Default or Notice of Trustee's Sale when you own your home outright (free and clear of a mortgage loan), or when you have a mortgage and you are not delinquent on your loan payments;

Receive loan documents in the mail for a loan that was obtained without your knowledge; and/or

Receive real estate documents in the mail for a transaction on your property that was conducted without your knowledge.

Check Public Records

Residents can verify deed information through the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds website or may consult the Kansas City, MO parcel viewer here, where applicable.

If You Have Been a Victim of Fraudulent Deed Activity, Take Immediate Action

Victims should immediately gather and collect all information, documents, and other evidence and report the forged and/or fraudulent deed to:

Jackson County, MO Sheriff’s Office and/or the Kansas City, MO Police Department, if applicable

Jackson County, MO Prosecutor’s Office

Jackson County, MO Recorder of Deeds (the Jackson County Office of the Recorder of Deeds does not have the authority to remove fraudulently recorded documents from the system)

Staying up to date about the status of property titles and records and taking immediate action if you become a victim will help stop this fraud from happening in our community.

Federal Legislation to Combat Deed Fraud

Congressman Cleaver has been working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to seek ways in which federal legislation can help provide the resources needed for law enforcement to identify and combat deed fraud, increase criminal penalties for perpetrators, and create remedies for victims. Cleaver intends to introduce the legislation in the coming days.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-package-public-safety-bills-rep-cleavers,House of Representatives Passes Package of Public Safety Bills with Rep. Cleaver’s Support,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of a bipartisan package of four public safety bills that would make long overdue investments in evidence-based community violence intervention programs, provide funding for the hiring and training of mental health professionals in local law enforcement, enhance support services for victims of crime and their families, and ensure police departments in small towns and communities with fewer than 125 officers have the resources needed to train, recruit, and retain personnel. All four bills were passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and will now go to the Senate to be taken up for debate.

“There is no higher responsibility of elected officials than ensuring the safety and security of the communities we represent,” said Congressman Cleaver. “After months of deliberative, collaborative, and constructive negotiations between Representatives across the ideological spectrum, I believe this package of public safety legislation takes a holistic approach—through increased mental health services, victim support services, and additional funding for critical community violence prevention programs—that will lead to safer communities in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri and all throughout the nation. I’ve long said that compromise is an essential component to our democratic system of government, and while I would never claim this legislation is perfect, it is an important step in the right direction.”

The public safety package passed by the House of Representatives consisted of four bills: the Mental Health Justice Act, VICTIM Act, Break the Cycle of Violence Act, and Invest to Protect Act. Put together, the legislation would:

Create a grant program to pay for hiring, training, salary, benefits, and additional expenses for mental health provider first responder units to ensure local law enforcement have mental health professionals that can respond appropriately when someone is in a mental health crisis or related situation.

Award $5 billion in grants to community-based nonprofit organizations and eligible local governments for community outreach programs staffed by violence intervention and prevention specialists; hospital-based violence intervention programs that provide intensive counseling, peer support, case management, mediation, and social services to patients recovering from gunshot wounds and other violent injuries; group violence intervention strategies; and violence interruption and crisis management initiatives.

Establish a Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to provide advice and assistance to help select the most effective and efficient grantees for evidence-based community violence prevention programs.

Create a National Community Violence Response Center to provide technical assistance and implementation support to grantees, and to conduct research, collect data, and report to Congress to inform future public safety legislation.

Direct the Department of Labor to award $1.5 billion for Improving Approaches for Communities to Thrive (IMPACT) grants to provide job training, apprenticeships, and other workforce experiences for youth in communities disproportionately impacted by violence.

Provide grant funding to state, tribal, or local law enforcement agencies to hire, retain, or train detectives to investigate homicides, rapes, sexual assaults, kidnappings, and non-fatal shootings.

Ensure victim services are funded, staffed, and trained to provide resources to victims and their family members, while also developing competitive, evidence-based programs to improve clearance rates and victim services.

Fund grant programs to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 125 officers to be utilized for de-escalation training, access to mental health resources, recruitment, and retention—and allows the Department of Justice to give preference to agencies applying for funds for de-escalation training.

Allow DOJ to audit any grantees to ensure funds are being used appropriately.

“With this public safety package, the House of Representatives is finally taking steps to fund community violence intervention and prevention programs; we’re installing certified mental health professionals to safely and appropriately respond to individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis; we’re strengthening support services for victims of crime and their families to help them fully recover; and we’re ensuring that local law enforcement have the resources needed to clear cases and keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Cleaver. “But this cannot, and will not, be the final step in our effort to improve public safety. Moving forward, we must continue working to get weapons of war off the street, prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining deadly firearms, fund mental health and substance use treatment services, reinvest in underserved communities, and invest in public schools and workforce training programs that keep our youth on the right track.”

Official text of the Mental Health Justice Act is available here.

Official text of the VICTIM Act is available here.

Official text of the Break the Cycle of Violence Act is available here.

Official text of the Invest to Protect Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-introduces-bill-protect-low-volume-medicare-dependent-rural-hospitals,"Graves Introduces Bill to Protect Low-Volume, Medicare-Dependent Rural Hospitals",2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves, (MO-06) introduced H.R. 8565, the Rural Hospital Extensions for Low-volume Programs (HELP) Act, to permanently extend two critical programs our rural hospitals rely on—the low-volume Medicare adjustment for small rural prospective payment system hospitals and the Medicare-Dependent Hospital Program.

“Our rural hospitals are a lifeline for our communities,” Graves said. “Not only do we depend on them to cure the sick, heal the injured, and care for our families, many times they’re one of the largest employers in the area. When a rural hospital closes, it doesn’t just force rural Americans to travel further for the care they need, it can spell the death of a small town. That’s why it’s critically important we do everything we can to protect the programs our rural hospitals depend on and keep them serving small town America.”

The low-volume Medicare adjustment helps to level the playing field for rural hospitals whose operating costs often exceed their revenues, while the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program which ensures the eligible rural hospitals are reimbursed for the full cost of caring for older Americans. 634 hospitals nationwide utilize the low-volume hospital adjustment and 174 hospitals are eligible for the Medicare-Dependent Hospital Program. Both programs have been critical for keeping the doors open at rural hospitals across the country and protecting access to vital care in our rural communities.

“Our estimates suggest it would cost us approximately $850K annually in a time when we, and rural hospitals across the state, are struggling to break-even (and, in some cases, stay open). The MLV reduction would have a significant impact likely forcing us to consider a reduction in services and/or staff and negatively impacting our ability to provide critical care to the communities we are entrusted to serve,” said Nate Blackford, President of Mosaic Maryville

Joseph F. Abrutz, Jr., Cameron Regional Medical Center Administrator said, ""Cameron Regional Medical Center is currently experiencing an inflation factor well over 20 percent. This is due to the ongoing shortage of labor, supply chain issues, and increasing energy, food, and general operating costs. It is imperative that Cameron Regional retain the Medicare Low Volume adjustment in order to continue providing necessary health care services to the residents of northwest Missouri."" -

“Most rural hospitals serve a disproportionately large number of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Jon D. Doolittle, Missouri Hospital Association President and CEO. “Programs that help hospitals reduce the losses of low Medicare reimbursements create stability, allowing rural and low-volume hospitals to remain viable community-supporting institutions.""

“Extension of these programs is essential to the health of the hospitals the programs support, as well as the health of the patients and communities these hospitals serve. The Rural HELP Act would continue enhanced Medicare Low Volume Adjustment and extend the Medicare Dependent Hospital program. Extending these essential payments to qualifying Missouri hospitals would save them from annual Medicare reductions of approximately $15.9 million. MHA appreciates Rep. Graves leadership in support of rural hospitals and health care.”

Congressman Graves also introduced the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Actearlier this year, which protects these programs, eliminates Medicare sequestration for rural hospitals, and extends increased Medicare payments for rural ground ambulance services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-reform-electoral-count-act-protect-american-democracy,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Reform Electoral Count Act, Protect American Democracy from Election Subversion",2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8873, the Presidential Election Reform Act, a bipartisan bill that would reform the outdated Electoral Count Act to protect our democracy against efforts at election subversion and ensure the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each State’s vote for President. The Presidential Election Reform Act would ensure that Congress counts the votes of the Electoral College as required by the Constitution and without any benefit to either political party, including by ensuring that Congress receives a single accurate electoral certificate from each State, requiring that States select electors in accordance with state law existing as of the date of the election, and providing a federal judicial remedy in the event that a state governor refuses to certify the lawful result of a presidential election.

“The January 6th assault on the Capitol was an attack on our democracy, on the rule of law, and on our 235-year-old Constitution—and Congress has an obligation to ensure that any future attempts to steal an election from the American people have no possibility of success,” said Congressman Cleaver. “With the bipartisan Presidential Election Reform Act, we have studied the variety of tactics utilized by the former president to try to overturn a free and fair election, and we have taken critical steps to shore up vulnerabilities in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. While I believe this is an important step that creates stronger guardrails that will help prevent another assault on our Constitution, we must remain vigilant to the rising threats to democracy in America and around the world.”

The Presidential Election Reform Act takes four critical steps to strengthen the integrity of future presidential elections, including:

Reaffirming that the Vice President has no authority or discretion to reject official slates of electors or delay the count in any material way;

Limiting the type of objections that can be raised during certification, adhering to only those outlined in our Constitution. All objections raised during the certification process would require one-third of each chamber to be entertained, and a majority to be sustained;

Requiring Governors to transmit lawful election results to Congress in a timely fashion—or be compelled by a federal court, which ensures that no rogue Governor can unlawfully subvert the will of the people; and

Making abundantly clear that States cannot change the rules governing an election after it has occurred, which would prevent radical state legislators from attempting to alter the outcome of an election after the election has been held.

“What makes America truly exceptional is our ability to peacefully settle political disagreements through the rule of law and free and fair elections,” said Congressman Cleaver. “With their violent attempt to disrupt the certification of the presidential election, the insurrectionists of January 6th took a wrecking ball to the hallmark of American democracy—the peaceful transfer of power. While this legislation cannot prevent demagogues from lying to the American people in an effort to incite violence and undermine the constitutional principles that have led our nation to greatness, it provides further protection against extreme attempts to bend the rule of law in favor of one political party and against the will of the people. Sadly, that has become a critically important step that Congress must take.”

Official text of the Presidential Election Reform Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-reminds-administration-congress-writes-laws-when-it-comes-wotus,Graves Reminds the Administration that Congress Writes the Laws When it Comes to WOTUS,2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican leader Sam Graves (MO-06) and several of his colleagues today raised concerns about regulatory actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) which would expand the breadth of their regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act to regulate “waters of the United States”, or “WOTUS”. The Committee leaders warned these agencies to stay within the bounds of authority granted to them by Congress.

In a letter to the Administrator of the EPA, Michael S. Regan, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Michael L. Connor, Graves and his colleagues noted the recent Supreme Court decision, West Virginia v. EPA, in which the majority opinion noted that there are extraordinary cases in which an agency must point to “clear congressional authorization for the authority it claims.”

In particular, the letter highlighted attempts to expand the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under both the Obama and Biden Administrations. The letter explained, “the fight over the definition of WOTUS is characterized by opportunistic attempts by both the Obama and Biden Administrations to administratively expand the authority of both the EPA and the Corps.” [Graves and colleagues] argued that the West Virginia v. EPA opinion gives “reason to hesitate” that Congress meant to confer to the EPA and the Corps the authority they claim.

Graves and colleagues also highlighted a prior Congressional letter signed by over 200 Members requesting the Corps to halt all current rule making actions until the Supreme Court rules on the pending Sackett v. EPA case, which deals precisely with the definition of WOTUS. They stated, “We reiterate that request, and now further stress that the Agencies must consider the decision of West Virginia vs. EPA prior to issuing a rule making that would clearly surpass the Agencies’ congressional authority to define WOTUS.”

Members asked for the EPA and the Corps to provide lists of all pending and expected rule makings related to WOTUS and to provide the specific Congressional authority for each.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-wagner-legislation-deter-destabilizing-actions-bosnia-and,House Passes Wagner Legislation to Deter Destabilizing Actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina,2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the House passed the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act.

“The St. Louis region is home to the largest Bosnian community outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This local community has been a strong partner, and I have worked closely with them to ensure we have the necessary tools to confront corruption in Bosnia.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-colleagues-house-abraham-accords-caucus-commemorate-2-year,"Wagner, Colleagues in House Abraham Accords Caucus Commemorate 2-Year Anniversary of Historic Abraham Accords Signing",2022-09-19,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Abraham Accords Caucus Co-Chairs Ann Wagner (R-MO), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), David Trone (MD-06), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced a resolution to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords. H.Res. 1359 highlights the progress made since the signing of the Accords and encourages continued development of the existing agreements and expansion to new countries. Additionally, in collaboration with the Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs, Schneider hosted a roundtable discussion celebrating the anniversary with the American Jewish Committee and young leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.

“Over the past two years, the Abraham Accords have already yielded tangible benefits to the people of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The Accords have become a pillar of stability in the Middle East, and they have advanced our commitment to supporting our partners in the region,” said Congresswoman Wagner. “It remains critical we work with our Israeli and Arab partners to combat extremism in the region and build on President Trump’s efforts to create economic opportunities and advance U.S. national security interests.”

“Two years ago yesterday, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords on the White House lawn, soon joined by Morocco and Sudan. The historic agreements launched a shift toward peace and normalization between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Congressman Schneider. “New economic opportunities, innovations, and partnerships continue to strengthen and grow, powered by the deepening ties between Israel and its neighbors. This week in the Capitol, members of the House Abraham Accords Caucus were joined by young leaders from Abraham Accords countries to celebrate the 2nd anniversary and the many positive impacts of the Accords across the region. I and my fellow Caucus co-chairs look forward to continuing our efforts to deepen and expand the Accords to advance safety and prosperity in the region.”

On September 15, 2020, the United States brought together leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain to sign the historic Abraham Accords. On December 22, 2020, Morocco signed the Abraham Accords, followed by Sudan on January 6, 2021. These normalization agreements transformed the region, enhanced Israel’s security, created economic opportunities, and advanced vital U.S. national security interests.

“Two years ago yesterday, the United States made historic progress towards achieving peace in the Middle East with the signing of the Abraham Accords Declaration. This long sought-after agreement marked the beginning of a new journey together in pursuit of creating a better, safer, and more prosperous world for our children and grandchildren,” said Congresswoman Rodgers. “Today, I can say with confidence that we are making great progress thanks to the tremendous work of our international partners and the work of my colleagues on the Abraham Accords Caucus on Capitol Hill. We are making significant strides to uphold and promote the values of human dignity, freedom, and hope around the world. I am proud of our work to this point and believe the best is yet to come!”

“The Abraham Accords have forged historic relationships and secured a diplomatic present and future for millions. Twenty years ago, we would have never imagined such progress in facilitating peace and prosperity in the Middle East,” said Congressman Trone. “On its second anniversary, this Caucus continues to serve as a model of how Congress can work together to help solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. I look forward to maintaining this vital work with our U.S. and international colleagues.”

In January 2022, Schneider, Rodgers, Trone, and Wagner, along with a bipartisan group of Senators, co-founded the Abraham Accords Caucuses to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to help strengthen the agreements of current Abraham Accords countries and help lay the groundwork to expand to new countries that do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-introduces-bill-promote-residency-fairness-osteopathic-medical-students,Graves Introduces Bill to Promote Residency Fairness for Osteopathic Medical Students,2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), along with Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME), today introduced the Fair Access in Residency (FAIR) Act to reduce potential barriers that face osteopathic medical students when applying for federally-funded physician residency programs.

“North Missouri is the home to A.T. Still University in Kirksville, MO, the birthplace of osteopathic medicine, which continues to train the next generation of DOs. In a day and age when doctors are in short supply, specifically in rural areas, it’s critical they are able to complete their training and begin practicing,” said Graves. “Yet, many times osteopathic medical students aren’t even considered for taxpayer-funded residency programs. Rural healthcare needs the services and expertise of DOs like never before and this bill will remove some of the hurdles which can keep them from taking the next step in their training.”

“I am proud to help lead legislation that has the ability to transform accessibility to DOs across the country and strengthen our physician pipeline, especially in rural and underserved areas. It’s more critical now than ever that we ensure our taxpayer-funded residency training programs are fairly and equally deploying all the best talent of tomorrow’s doctors and specialists, from both DO and MD educational backgrounds,” said Harshbarger. “This bill is an important step toward ensuring transparency and equality in our taxpayer-funded GME programs, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of physicians trained and serving our communities.”

“As one of the fastest growing health professions in the country, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine provide essential care in our communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. It’s ridiculous that osteopathic medical students are facing discrimination and extra hurdles to accessing federally funded residency programs. The FAIR Act will help to ensure more accountability from these programs,” said Pingree. “I’m proud that so many dedicated DOs are being trained in Maine and across the country. We should be helping them serve patients without unnecessary barriers, which is exactly what this legislation aims to do.”

The FAIR Act requires taxpayer-funded graduate medical education (GME) programs to: (1) report annually the number of applicants for residency from MD- and DO-granting medical schools and how many such applicants were accepted from each respective type of school and (2) affirm annually that they accept applicants from MD- and DO-granting medical schools and that if an examination score is required for acceptance, the MD and DO licensing exams will be equally accepted.

“The Fair Access in Residency (FAIR) Act is crucial to the health and wellness of our country. Passage helps assure patients will continue to have options and choices for their healthcare,"" said A.T. Still University President Craig M. Phelps, DO.

“We appreciate Reps. Harshbarger, Pingree and Graves’ effort to address the unfair barriers and discrimination that osteopathic medical students face when applying to federally funded residency training,” said American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Ensuring that osteopathic medical students have an equitable path to residency not only reflects the spirit of single accreditation, which was designed to increase access to residency programs for both DOs and MDs, but it also addresses persistent and prevalent biases against osteopathic medical students, many of whom will go on to care for patients in rural and medically underserved communities. We also thank our peer organizations for supporting this vital bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-introduce-resolution-honoring-fallen-independence,"Reps. Cleaver, Graves Introduce Resolution Honoring Fallen Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans on Anniversary of His Passing",2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sam Graves (R-MO) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of fallen Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans on the one-year anniversary of his tragic passing in the line of duty.

“By all accounts, from his family to fellow colleagues in law enforcement, Officer Madrid-Evans was a selfless, dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the safety of his family, friends, neighbors, and the entire Independence community,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While a year has passed since Officer Madrid-Evans was tragically taken from us, it is important that we continue to honor his legacy and never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made on behalf of the community he loved. My prayers are with the loved ones of Officer Madrid-Evans on this extraordinarily difficult day, and I hope that this resolution—to be recorded in the House of Representatives for all of history to see—will provide some comfort as they continue to grieve such a remarkable man.”

“Like too many in law enforcement today, Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans was taken from us far too soon,” said Congressman Graves. “Born and raised in the Northland, Officer Evans gave his life to protect our community. His generosity didn’t end with his passing, though. As an organ donor, Officer Evans has gone on to save 7 lives and enhance the lives of 37 others. Although he’s saved and healed many, his passing has still left deep wounds in our community. My prayers are with his family, friends, loved ones, and fellow officers as they continue to grieve. My hope is that this resolution recognizing his service, sacrifice, and generosity will be enshrined in history by the House of Representatives for all to learn from until the end of time.”

Official text of the resolution honoring Officer Madrid-Evans is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-graves-cleaver-introduce-resolution-honoring-fallen-independence-police,"Reps. Graves, Cleaver Introduce Resolution Honoring Fallen Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans on Anniversary of His Passing",2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of fallen Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans on the one-year anniversary of his tragic passing in the line of duty.

“Like too many in law enforcement today, Independence Police Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans was taken from us far too soon,” said Congressman Graves. “Born and raised in the Northland, Officer Evans gave his life to protect our community. His generosity didn’t end with his passing, though. As an organ donor, Officer Evans has gone on to save 7 lives and enhance the lives of 37 others. Although he’s saved and healed many, his passing has still left deep wounds in our community. My prayers are with his family, friends, loved ones, and fellow officers as they continue to grieve. My hope is that this resolution recognizing his service, sacrifice, and generosity will be enshrined in history by the House of Representatives for all to learn from until the end of time.""

“By all accounts, from his family to fellow colleagues in law enforcement, Officer Madrid-Evans was a selfless, dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the safety of his family, friends, neighbors, and the entire Independence community,”said Congressman Cleaver. “While a year has passed since Officer Madrid-Evans was tragically taken from us, it is important that we continue to honor his legacy and never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made on behalf of the community he loved. My prayers are with the loved ones of Officer Madrid-Evans on this extraordinarily difficult day, and I hope that this resolution—to be recorded in the House of Representatives for all of history to see—will provide some comfort as they continue to grieve such a remarkable man.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cleaver-blunt-missouri-congressional-delegation-truman-library,"Cleaver, Blunt, Missouri Congressional Delegation & Truman Library Institute Announce September 29th Unveiling of Harry S. Truman Statue in the U.S. Capitol",2022-09-13,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), along with the Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and U.S. Representatives Cori Bush(D-MO),Sam Graves (R-MO), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Billy Long (R-MO), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), and Jason Smith (R-MO), joined the Truman Library Institute in announcing that the congressional dedication ceremony for the Harry S. Truman statue is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 29, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

“The world needs to know about this man from Missouri who did so much for this country and whose name must be placed among those who’ve done the most for racial equality in America,” said Congressman Cleaver, who proudly represents Missouri’s 5th congressional district—the district of Harry Truman’s hometown of Independence, MO. “President Truman’s decision to eliminate racial discrimination within America’s armed forces and federal workforce was a true display of moral leadership—and a monumental contribution to the American Civil Rights movement. He stepped forward and placed himself directly in the line of fire—even putting his reelection in jeopardy. But he did what was right and necessary for the U.S. to carry the mantle as the world’s leader in the cause of democracy and human rights. For that, I’m pleased he will make his return to the U.S. Capitol to inspire the next generation of Americans to defend the sacred values of democracy, freedom, and equality for all.”

“President Truman’s tenacity, character, and courage to confront difficult problems are values admired by his fellow Missourians and people who study our history,” said Senator Blunt, who played a crucial role in steering the Truman Statue Project. “No president faced more crucial decisions than those President Truman confronted in the first nine months of his presidency. It’s been an honor to work in the same Russell Senate offices he used for the last 12 years.”

“President Harry Truman was a true son of Missouri, devoting his life to service and to the good men and women of the state he loved,” said Senator Hawley. “He was a decisive and honest leader when our nation needed it most and saw us through difficult and perilous times. It’s an honor to join my colleagues in dedication a statue to his memory.”

“I am excited to be able to join in the unveiling ceremony for President Harry S. Truman’s new statue in the United States Capitol Building,” Congressman Long said. “President Truman embodied the American Dream. From a farmer in Missouri to President of the United States, President Truman remained humbler throughout his entire life. I am glad that his statue now joins other great American presidents in the Capitol Building, so that future generations can continue to learn about his incredible life and legacy.”

“After only three months as Vice President, Harry Truman succeeded an extremely popular President in the middle of the deadliest war in human history,” said Congressman Luetkemeyer. “President Truman led the United States out of World War II and into one of our nation’s more prosperous periods. As the only Missourian to serve as President, he has certainly earned a place in the Capitol.”

“I am proud to join my Missouri colleagues in honoring one of the most influential public servants from our great state, President Harry S. Truman.” Said Congresswoman Wagner. “Throughout his life, President Truman served our nation at every level, from enlisting in the Missouri National Guard, to fighting in France during World War I, serving as a judge, representing our state in the United States Senate, and finally leading our nation as Commander-in-Chief. President Truman’s statue in the U.S. Capitol will serve as an important reminder of his long-lasting legacy and dedication to our country.”

“President Harry Truman was born in my district and lived a life reflective of his rural upbringing—with a strong work ethic, steadfast patriotism, and plainspoken ‘The Buck Stops Here’ accountability,” said Congresswoman Hartzler. “ These qualities enabled him to lead with courage and conviction ending World War II. I am pleased the Show Me State’s distinguished son’s statue will be displayed in our nation’s Capitol as an inspiration for future citizens to achieve greatness through humble leadership.”

“President Harry S. Truman was a true statesman and one of Missouri’s finest,” said Congressman Graves. “As an artillery officer, he fought bravely in the trenched of Europe during World War I. As President he made some of the most difficult decisions in the world, brought an end to World War II, and helped usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for these United States. No matter where he served, Harry Truman never forgot his roots and he always lived up to his favorite slogan: the buck stops here.”

“President Harry S. Truman’s rise from the son of humble Missouri farmers to the leader of the greatest nation in the world is the story of the American Dream,” said Congressman Smith. “As a proud Missourian, bold leader, and successful president, President Truman is a great addition to the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.”

“From desegregating our military to issuing executive orders prohibiting discrimination in housing and the workplace, President Truman implemented actions that prioritized civil rights,” said Congresswoman Bush. “I am glad to join the Missouri delegation in the announcement of the Congressional unveiling of the President Harry Truman statue.”

“President Truman may be remembered largely in black and white, but he is a 21st century standard for presidential leadership and public service. His story is our story, America’s story,” said Alex Burden, Executive Director of the Truman Library Institute. “Inheriting a global catastrophe after World War II, Truman shouldered the burden of leadership in a rudderless world with remarkable courage, integrity, and humility. That’s why it’s a tremendous honor to lead this effort to bring Truman back to Washington more than 75 years since he boldly led our nation through some of the most dramatic and consequential chapters in America’s history.”

That statue of President Harry S. Truman will represent the State of Missouri in the Statuary Hall Collection and will be the 10th presidential statue installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

The Truman Library Institute—founded by President Truman—spearheaded the Truman Statue Campaign to fund, create, and install the new Truman statue for the State of Missouri. The Truman Library Institute is the member-supported, nonprofit partner of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum, one of 15 presidential libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Truman Library Institute recently led a $41 million renovation of the Truman Library in Independence, Mo. Additional information on the statue is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-blunt-missouri-congressional-delegation-truman-library-institute,"Wagner, Blunt, Missouri Congressional Delegation & Truman Library Institute Announce September 29th Unveiling of Harry S. Truman Statue in the U.S. Capitol",2022-09-13,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (Mo.), along with the Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and U.S. Representatives Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Vicky Hartzler, Sam Graves, Jason Smith, and Cori Bush, joined the Truman Library Institute in announcing that the congressional dedication ceremony for the Harry S. Truman statue is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 29, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

“I am proud to join my Missouri colleagues in honoring one of the most influential public servants from our great state, President Harry S. Truman,” said Congresswoman Wagner. “Throughout his life, President Truman served our nation at every level, from enlisting in the Missouri National Guard, to fighting in France during World War I, serving as a judge, representing our state in the United States Senate, and finally leading our nation as Commander-in-Chief. President Truman’s statue in the U.S. Capitol will serve as an important reminder of his long-lasting legacy and dedication to our country.”

President Truman’s tenacity, character, and courage to confront difficult problems are values admired by his fellow Missourians and people who study our history,” said Senator Blunt, who played a crucial role in steering the Truman Statue Project. “No president faced more crucial decisions than those President Truman confronted in the first nine months of his presidency. It’s been an honor to work in the same Russell Senate offices he used for the last 12 years.”

“The world needs to know about this man from Missouri who did so much for this country and whose name must be placed among those who've done the most for racial equality in America,” said Congressman Cleaver, who proudly represents Missouri’s 5th congressional district—the district of Harry Truman’s hometown of Independence, Mo. “President Truman’s decision to eliminate racial discrimination within America’s armed forces and federal workforce was a true display of moral leadership—and a monumental contribution to the American Civil Rights movement. He stepped forward and placed himself directly in the line of fire—even putting his reelection in jeopardy. But he did what was right and necessary for the U.S. to carry the mantle as the world’s leader in the cause of democracy and human rights. For that, I’m pleased he will make his return to the U.S. Capitol to inspire the next generation of Americans to defend the sacred values of democracy, freedom, and equality for all.”

“President Harry Truman was a true son of Missouri, devoting his life to service and to the good men and women of the state he loved,” said Senator Hawley. “He was a decisive and honest leader when our nation needed it most and saw us through difficult and perilous times. It’s an honor to join my colleagues in dedicating a statue to his memory.”

“I am excited to be able to join in the unveiling ceremony for President Harry S. Truman’s new statue in the United States Capitol Building,” said Congressman Long. “President Truman embodied the American Dream. From a farmer in Missouri to President of the United States, President Truman remained humble throughout his entire life. I am glad that his statue now joins other great American presidents in the Capitol Building, so that future generations can continue to learn about his incredible life and legacy.”

“After only three months as Vice President, Harry Truman succeeded an extremely popular President in the middle of the deadliest war in human history,” said Congressman Luetkemeyer. “President Truman led the United States out of World War II and into one of our nation’s more prosperous periods. As the only Missourian to serve as President, he has certainly earned a place in the Capitol.”

“President Harry Truman was born in my district and lived a life reflective of his rural upbringing – with a strong work ethic, steadfast patriotism, and plainspoken ‘The Buck Stops Here’ accountability,” said Congresswoman Hartzler. “These qualities enabled him to lead with courage and conviction ending World War II. I am pleased the Show Me State’s distinguished son’s statue will be displayed in our nation’s Capitol as an inspiration for future citizens to achieve greatness through humble leadership.”

“President Harry S. Truman was a true statesman and one of Missouri’s finest,” said Congressman Graves. “As an artillery officer, he fought bravely in the trenches of Europe during World War I. As President, he made some of the most difficult decisions in the world, brought an end to World War II, and helped usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for these United States. No matter where he served, Harry Truman never forgot his roots and he always lived up to his favorite slogan: the buck stops here.”

“President Harry S. Truman’s rise from the son of humble Missouri farmers to the leader of the greatest nation in the world is the story of the American Dream,” said Congressman Smith. “As a proud Missourian, bold leader, and successful president, President Truman is a great addition to the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.”

“From desegregating our military to issuing executive orders prohibiting discrimination in housing and the workplace, President Truman implemented actions that prioritized civil rights,” said Congresswoman Bush. “I am glad to join the Missouri delegation in the announcement of the Congressional unveiling of the President Harry Truman statue.”

“President Truman may be remembered largely in black and white, but he is a 21st century standard for presidential leadership and public service. His story is our story, America's story,” said Alex Burden, executive director of the Truman Library Institute. “Inheriting a global catastrophe after World War II, Truman shouldered the burden of leadership in a rudderless world with remarkable courage, integrity and humility. That’s why it’s a tremendous honor to lead this effort to bring Truman back to Washington more than 75 years since he boldly led our nation through some of the most dramatic and consequential chapters in America’s history.”

The statue of President Harry S. Truman will represent the State of Missouri in the Statuary Hall Collection and will be the 10th presidential statue installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-condemns-russian-attendance-un-general-assembly,Wagner Condemns Russian Attendance at U.N. General Assembly,2022-09-13,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, today blasted the reported decision to allow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a visa to travel to the United States and attend the U.N. General Assembly.

Vice Ranking Member Wagner said on the reported visa approvals: “Sergei Lavrov, as Foreign Minister of Russia, has been actively involved in every stage of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine, and it is unconscionable he would be allowed to participate in the U.N. General Assembly. Vladimir Putin and his cronies have continued to commit evil acts in Ukraine, killing thousands. Russia is indisputably a threat to U.S. and allied security interests, and Russian officials should be treated accordingly.

“All Russian officials must be fully and appropriately punished for their crimes against the Ukrainian people. Russia’s U.N. ‘delegation’ should be barred from the United States and held to account for their brutality.”

Vice Ranking Member Wagner previously said on her legislation to hold Russia accountable: “As Vice Ranking Member of both the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been working to expose the horrors of this unjustified war and to properly punish Russian officials. My legislation, H.R. 6891, Isolate Russian Government Officials Act of 2022, requires the Department of Treasury and other financial agencies to take the necessary steps to exclude Russian government officials from key international financial meetings. This important bill overwhelmingly passed the United States House of Representatives in May 2022, and then again in July as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023. The House has made a strong statement that the United States must hold Russia accountable for their actions and isolate Russian officials from the world stage.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-authors-legislation-re-evaluate-postal-rate-hikes,Graves Authors Legislation to Re-Evaluate Postal Rate Hikes,2022-09-12,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Sam Graves (MO-06) introduced H.R. 8781, the Ensuring Accurate Postal Rates Act alongside Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), and Congressman Jake LaTurner (KS-02) to rein in rapidly rising postal rates.

“The United States Postal Service just posted a $60 billion net profit last quarter and we just gave them $10 billion in COVID relief funding,” Graves said. “The Postal Regulatory Commission needs to closely re-evaluate the agency’s continued authority to raise postage rates above inflation, particularly now that Congress has lifted the mandate that the Postal Service pre-fund retiree benefits. Not to mention millions of American families are struggling to make ends meet with the cost of living skyrocketing under President Biden’s leadership. It’s time for the United States Postal Service to live up to its promise to reliably deliver the mail 6 days a week at a reasonable price. Congress has given them the tools to do it, now they just need to get the job done.”

The Ensuring Accurate Postal Rates Act directs the Postal Regulatory Commission to reexamine the rate-setting system it established in 2020. The new system allowed the United States Postal Service (USPS) to adjust rates to account for inflation, declining mail volume, and rising retiree costs. Historically, USPS has only raised rates with inflation. These changes were meant to shore up the Postal Service as the agency faced financial difficulties.

However, Congress passed the Postal Service Reform Actearlier this year, which lifted the longstanding requirement that the United States Postal Service prefund retiree benefits. That change, along with a recent rise in package volumes, led the USPS to announce a $59.7 billion net profit in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022.

In light of these recent developments, it is clear the USPS needs to re-evaluate the way the agency considers and implements postage increases—particularly when millions of Americans are struggling to deal with the rising costs of inflation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-vows-continue-push-legislation-end-gun-violence,Rep. Cleaver Vows to Continue Push for Legislation to End Gun Violence,2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II reaffirmed his commitment to put People Over Politics and continue working to pass commonsense gun safety legislation that will lead to safer communities throughout Missouri.

“Since the unfortunate end of the assault weapons ban in 2004, the United States has seen an explosion of weapons of war in our streets—and the results are a tragedy that strikes every community and weighs on the heart of every American across the country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “We’ve seen far too many families forced to bear the horrific burden of a child lost to gun violence and far too many neighborhoods devastated by the unrelenting production and importation of firearms into their communities. While I am proud to have helped pass the first major piece of gun safety legislation in decades earlier this year via the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, it’s clear that more must be done to save lives. I am more committed than ever to passing commonsense reforms that would keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals, and I implore my colleagues in the United States Senate to help in this endeavor.”

Missouri currently has the fifth-highest rate of gun deaths in the United States. On average, 1,288 Missourians die from gun violence and 2,312 people are wounded by guns every year, costing every Missourian an average of $2,875 per year.

Congressman Cleaver has been an ardent supporter of commonsense gun violence prevention laws, including legislation to require background checks for all gun sales, close loopholes that let dangerous people get guns, ban assault weapons, and keep our children safe, such as:

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would establish new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties and close loopholes that allow criminals and abusers to buy weapons unchecked.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act, which would close the Charleston loophole that allows dealers to transfer a firearm to a buyer after 3 business days if the FBI background check has not been completed.

The Protecting Our Kids Act, which raises the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old, outlaws high-capacity magazines, requires the safe storage of firearms, and bans bump stocks and untraceable and deadly ghost guns.

The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others through a federal red-flag program.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, which bans military-style weapons, such as AR-15s, and high-capacity ammunition magazines that are frequently used in horrific mass shootings.

Due to the Senate filibuster and the GOP’s extreme opposition to life-saving gun violence prevention legislation, each of these bills have been blocked in the United States Senate.

“The overwhelming majority of Americans support laws that would require universal background checks, prevent criminals and domestic abusers from accessing firearms, and close loopholes that make it easier than ever for dangerous individuals to obtain deadly weapons that can then be used in mass shootings. It’s way past time for my friends across the aisle to side with the American people, not the gun lobby, and help us pass gun safety legislation that will save lives and lead to safer communities for the American people,” said Congressman Cleaver.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-united-states-must-deny-entrance-russian-foreign-minister-and,Wagner: United States Must Deny Entrance to Russian Foreign Minister and Other Top Russian Officials,2022-09-01,2022,2022-09,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, today called on the Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deny any top Russian officials entrance to the United States amid reports Russia is trying to secure a visa to attend the U.N General Assembly in New York in September.

Vice Ranking Member Wagner said: “Vladimir Putin and Russian forces continue their unconscionable assault on the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion began six months ago, over 5 million civilians have been forced to flee their homes and thousands have lost their lives, including countless innocent women and children.

“The Russian Federation has forfeited its right to be treated as a responsible member of the international community. Its ongoing participation in international forums threatens to delegitimize these organizations, whose express purpose is to safeguard global security and enforce peaceful relations between states.We must continue to punish Putin and Russia for the brutality of their invasion and the potential war crimes they are committing, and I urge you to deny any Russian official entry to the United States.”

Vice Ranking Member Wagner further said regarding her legislation to ensure Russia is held accountable for this unprovoked war: “As Vice Ranking Member of both the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been working to expose the horrors of this unjustified war and to properly punish Russian officials. My legislation, H.R. 6891, Isolate Russian Government Officials Act of 2022, requires the Department of Treasury and other financial agencies to take the necessary steps to exclude Russian government officials from key international financial meetings. This important bill overwhelmingly passed the United States House of Representatives in May 2022, and then again in July as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023. The House has made a strong statement that the United States must hold Russia accountable for their actions and isolate Russian officials from the world stage.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-joins-epa-deputy-administrator-mccabe-award-575-million,Rep. Cleaver Joins EPA Deputy Administrator McCabe to Award $5.75 Million to Kansas City for Brownfield Projects,2022-08-31,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe and EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister to award $5.75 million to the City of Kansas City, MO. These grants are provided through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, including $3.9 million to the Kansas City, Missouri, Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.

The breakdown for the $5.75 million in federal funding includes: $3.9 million to the Kansas City, Missouri Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, $1 million to the Kansas City, Missouri Bi-State Brownfields Coalition Revolving Loan Fund, $500,000 for a community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grant, and $350,000 for an environmental Brownfields Assessment Grant.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will extend the capacity of the Kansas City’s Brownfields program to provide funding for more cleanups in the city’s most disadvantaged areas.

Proposed plans at Hardesty Federal Complex Buildings 1 and 2 include abatement of contaminants such as asbestos, lead-based paint, and other hazards. This work is an important step toward redeveloping the buildings into housing, retail, and commercial space, and it has the potential to be funded through the Kansas City, Missouri, Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.

“I proudly supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure that critical federal investments were made right here in communities throughout Kansas City, and that’s exactly what we are seeing happen today,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I was thrilled to join EPA Deputy Administrator McCabe and Regional Administrator McCollister to highlight the funding for necessary work to address Kansas City’s brownfields and revitalize communities”

“Across the country, thousands of sites like the former Hardesty Federal Complex right here in Kansas City, sit idle, too often jeopardizing the health and economic security of local communities,” said Deputy Administrator McCabe. “Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties has the power to turn once blighted areas into economic engines right here in Missouri, providing opportunities for job growth, increasing tax revenues, and protecting people’s health and the environment.”

“We are thrilled to have Deputy Administrator McCabe, Congressman Cleaver, and the city of Kansas City, Missouri, join our celebration of the Brownfields program,” said Regional Administrator McCollister. “We’re excited for Kansas City to harness the potential of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build on past successes, clean up contaminated sites, and spur reinvestment in local communities that need it most.”

After the event, EPA joined Rep. Cleaver and community leaders from Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Mattie Rhodes for a roundtable on community reinvestment. The group focused on the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor, announced by Congressman Cleaver in February. Participants spoke about ongoing work being done inside communities within the corridor, the corridor’s anticipatory future, and how its collaborative approach makes it a magnet for future federal investments for communities along and within its boundaries.

“The Sustainable Corridor project presents the citizens of two states, five cities, two counties, and, perhaps, the entire nation, a sample of the community and economic development that can be created if we focus, like a laser, on healing our environment through sustainable efforts,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This project harnesses the ability to unlock greater opportunities for underserved communities throughout the region through targeted federal investments. The EPA’s $5.75 million grant to the City for its brownfields programs and the DOT’s $5.6 million RAISE grant for the Sustainable Corridor are only the beginning of a number of significant federal funding opportunities that we hope to see made here in our community. I will continue to work with our partners on a federal and local level to ensure that we maximize the positive impact these, and future, investments will have on area families.”

A Fact Sheet on the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-highlights-16-million-investment-american-rescue-plan-funds,"Rep. Cleaver Highlights $1.6 Million Investment in American Rescue Plan Funds to Build Visitors Center and Boost Tourism in Saline County, Missouri",2022-08-30,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauds the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) $1.6 million grant to Saline County, Missouri to support tourism by building a new visitors center. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, which was supported by Congressman Cleaver and signed into law by President Biden last year.

“The American Rescue Plan is once again delivering for the people of Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I am thrilled to see $1.6 million in federal funding heading toward Saline County to boost tourism, stimulate economic activity, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking families. With the construction of a new visitor center, Saline County will be able to attract more Americans and show all that rural Missouri has to offer! The economic development spurred by this investment will be felt for generations to come—and I’ll keep fighting for additional targeted investments that will support communities and workers throughout the Show Me State.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission (PTRPC). EDA funds PTRPC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in 2021 to all 50 states and territories. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-opens-application-process-service-academy-nominations-0,Graves Opens Application Process for Service Academy Nominations,2022-08-29,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) announced that he is currently accepting applications from North Missouri students interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or U.S. Naval Academy.

“Our nation’s service academies are some of the most selective and prestigious institutions in the world,” said Graves. “Each year I have the distinct honor of nominating several outstanding young men and women from North Missouri to attend the service academies. It’s a tough and competitive process, but I encourage every student who is interested in attending one of these incredible service academies to apply.”

Individuals interested in applying for a service academy nomination can do so by contacting Congressman Graves’ Kansas City District Office at 816-792-3976 after opening an application with their desired service academy. To be eligible to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or U.S. Naval Academy, you must:

· Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday. (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy).

· Be a U.S. Citizen, and a permanent resident of Missouri.

· Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

· Meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy

· Be of good moral character

· Have a valid Social Security Number

The deadline for applications for the nomination process is 5:00 pm, October 14th, 2022.

The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy all have extremely high admission standards and the nomination process is very competitive. Applicants are evaluated and interviewed by the Academy Nomination Review Board comprised of service academy graduates and citizens of Missouri’s 6th Congressional District before final recommendations are made to Congressman Graves.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-one-year-anniversary-kabul-bombing,Wagner Statement on One Year Anniversary of Kabul Bombing,2022-08-26,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs, released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan that took the lives of 13 American servicemembers:

“One year ago today, a devastating terror attack in Kabul took the lives of 13 American servicemembers and over 170 Afghans in the wake of President Biden’s reckless withdrawal from Afghanistan. Tragically, Wentzville’s own Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz lost his life that day while bravely serving his nation. His legacy will live on as we remember his bravery and his patriotism.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-introduce-resolution-honoring-fallen-north-kansas,"Reps. Cleaver, Graves Introduce Resolution Honoring Fallen North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez",2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Sam Graves (MO-06) introduced a resolution honoring the life of fallen North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez and expressing condolences to his family.

“The entirety of North Kansas City experienced a devastating loss with the passing of Officer Daniel Vasquez, who dedicated his career, and selflessly gave his life, protecting our communities,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we can never repay the debt owed to Officer Vasquez and his family, it’s important that we honor his legacy and ensure his memory lives on as a shining example of what it means to be an exemplary public servant–and the risks that law enforcement face every single day as they make our communities a safer place. As Congressman Graves and I introduce this resolution to recognize the life of Officer Vasquez, my prayers remain with his family, friends, and colleagues as they continue to grieve such a monumental loss.”

“Officer Vasquez made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our community,” Graves said. “We should never forget that and we should honor his lasting legacy of selfless service and dedication to making the greater Kansas City region a better, safer place to work, live, and raise a family. I pray that his family, friends, loved ones and colleagues can find peace in the face of this unspeakable loss to our community.”

You can read the official text of the resolution honoring Officer Vasquez here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-and-cleaver-introduce-resolution-honoring-fallen-north-kansas-city,Graves and Cleaver Introduce Resolution Honoring Fallen North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez,2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) introduced a resolution honoring the life of fallen North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez and expressing condolences to his family.

“Officer Vasquez made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our community,” Graves said. “We should never forget that and we should honor his lasting legacy of selfless service and dedication to making the greater Kansas City region a better, safer place to work, live, and raise a family. I pray that his family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues can find peace in the face of this unspeakable loss to our community.”

“The entirety of North Kansas City experienced a devastating loss with the passing of Officer Daniel Vasquez, who dedicated his career, and selflessly gave his life, protecting our communities,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we can never repay the debt owed to Officer Vasquez and his family, it’s important that we honor his legacy and ensure his memory lives on as a shining example of what it means to be an exemplary public servant–and the risks that law enforcement face every single day as they make our communities a safer place. As Congressman Graves and I introduce this resolution to recognize the life of Officer Vasquez, my prayers remain with his family, friends, and colleagues as they continue to grieve such a monumental loss.”

You can read the full text of the resolution honoring Officer Vasquez here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/inflation-reduction-act-passes-house-representatives-rep-cleavers,Inflation Reduction Act Passes House of Representatives with Rep. Cleaver’s Support,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed the House of Representatives and will now go to President Biden to be signed into law. The transformative legislation takes historic steps to lower prescription drug, healthcare, and energy costs, invest in domestic clean energy production and manufacturing, and cut carbon emissions by 40 percent. Additionally, the bill will help fight inflation by reducing the national deficit through reforms to our broken tax system that ensure Wall Street, corporations, and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes.

“Today, I’m proud to join my Democratic colleagues as we stand up to special interests and pass the Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription drug and healthcare costs, make the largest investment in climate action in American history, and create millions of good-paying clean energy jobs of the future—all while reducing our national deficit by cracking down on tax evasion and forcing giant corporations and Wall Street to pay their fair share,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This historic legislation will provide relief to American seniors who are going to pay less for their life-saving medications; to hardworking families who will see lower energy costs; to working class Missourians who will save money on their healthcare premiums; and to the public at large as the reduction in our national deficit helps to ease the heavy burden of inflation. The Inflation Reduction Act is an enormous and vital victory for regular families in Missouri and all across the nation, and I’m proud to have helped pass this legislation so that we can accelerate our transition to renewable energy and ensure our economy continues to grow in an equitable, strong, and sustainable fashion.”

According to 126 leading economists—including seven Nobel Prize winners, three former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers, and two former Treasury Secretaries—the Inflation Reduction Act “will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly-shared long-term economic growth.”

Specifically, the Inflation Reduction Act will lower prescription drug and healthcare costs by:

Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, giving the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to negotiate directly to lower the cost of prescription drugs and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries get the best possible deal on high cost medications;

Lowering out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors by implementing a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries;

Implementing a new inflation rebate that requires drug companies who increase the price of their drugs beyond the rate of inflation to pay a rebate to Medicare for Part B and Part D drugs, which will help to prevent unnecessary and excessive price hikes on a wide variety of medications;

Extending enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which will lock in lower health care premiums that save 13 million Americans, including 233,000 Missourians, an average of $800 a year;

Capping monthly insulin costs at $35 per month for Missourians on Medicare; and more.

The Inflation Reduction Act will combat climate change and lower energy costs by:

Making the largest investment in climate action in American history, with approximately $370 billion in funding and tax incentives to address climate change and accelerate America’s transition to renewable energy;

Reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030, which restores America’s global leadership in the fight against climate change and puts our nation on a path to reach President Biden’s goal of cutting carbon emissions in half by the end of the decade;

Providing tax breaks to American consumers who weatherize their homes, electrify their vehicles and home appliances, and take other steps to increase energy efficiency at home;

Boosting domestic manufacturing and clean energy production, with $60 billion for clean energy manufacturing across the full supply chain of clean energy and transportation technologies, which will help to alleviate energy costs and reduce the risk of future price shocks by bringing down the cost of clean energy;

Providing financing for energy infrastructure, next generation technologies, and energy projects that are critical to transitioning away from fossil fuels as swiftly as possible; and more.

The Inflation Reduction Act will reduce the national deficit by approximately $300 billion, helping to combat inflation, by:

Requiring the largest corporations to pay a 15% minimum tax, which would apply only to the approximately 150 corporations making over $1 billion in profits and paying less than 15% in taxes;

Imposing a 1% excise tax on corporate stock buybacks, which enrich CEOs and shareholders instead of creating new jobs or investing in American workers; and

Funding the IRS to crack down on wealthy tax cheats. Unlike honest, hard-working middle-class families, the top 1% is estimated to not pay $160 billion in owed taxes each year. Treasury Secretary Yellen has specifically directed the IRS Commissioner to not use funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase the audit rate for households making under $400,000 a year, instead directing the IRS to focus on increased enforcement activity of high-wealth taxpayers and large corporations.

“With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the United States is taking major steps to lower costs for American families, protect our planet for future generations, and ensure our economy is working for working people—not just the wealthy few,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I’m proud to have voted for this historic legislation, and I look forward to the countless benefits it will bring to my constituents in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri.”

Official text of the Inflation Reduction Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-votes-against-reckless-democrat-spending-bill,Wagner Votes Against Reckless Democrat Spending Bill,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the reckless Democrat spending bill:

“The record increases in the cost of living facing all Missouri families can be directly traced to the policies advanced by Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress. Instead of working to help families afford their everyday necessities and ease the economic pain, Democrats are ramming through a tax increase at a perilous time. This radical, far-left spending bill is just going to make life more unaffordable and increase inflation, at a time when people can’t afford the gas and groceries they need to get to work and feed their families.

“When Americans families are struggling, the last thing they need is the federal government imposing higher taxes, increasing energy prices, and targeting hard working folks with IRS audits. The facts are clear: this is a partisan, special interest driven bill that will fund nearly 90,000 IRS agents who will target the middle class with impunity. This legislation will tax American energy, leading directly to higher energy costs for consumers and more pain at the pump. Tax increases like this are unconscionable as working families are already paying higher utility and gas prices in the middle of an economic crisis. Over $300 billion goes to Green New Deal initiatives like climate justice, tree planting, and even an EPA slush fund. As businesses attempt to recover from the pandemic and rebuild during this recession, Democrats want to force through a $200 billion “Made in America” tax that will severely overburden American businesses.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-announces-56-million-raise-grant-bi-state-sustainable,Rep. Cleaver Announces $5.6 Million RAISE Grant for Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor Project,2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Mid-America Regional Council a $5,600,000 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant for the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor project. Utilizing federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, The Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor is a regional project that will connect three major cities in two states and two counties by implementing a 24-mile zero-emission regional transit route, including improved access to housing, health care, employment, and education for citizens in each city and surrounding area. The project was announced by Rep. Cleaver in February.

“Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed into law by President Biden, I have worked tirelessly with the Administration to secure federal funding for the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor—and I’m thrilled to announce that the first piece of the puzzle has fallen into place today with this $5.6 million RAISE grant,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Secretary Buttigieg about the possibilities of this project and the ways in which it will unlock opportunities for underserved communities throughout the region, and I’m pleased that he is as excited about these prospects as I am. With a concentration on sustainability, public transportation, and economic development, the Sustainable Corridor has an opportunity to be not just a major success in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, but a shining example of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can create a sustainable, equitable future for an entire region. As this funding makes its way to Kansas City, I will continue to work with our partners on a federal and local level to ensure we maximize the positive impact this project will have on Missouri families.”

“By working with leaders on both sides of the state line, the Kansas City region can be a national example on how to leverage both federal funding and local engagement to create green, resilient infrastructure that lasts for generations to come,” said Rep. Davids. “This RAISE grant for the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor will jumpstart these investments by reducing energy costs, upgrading broadband equipment, creating affordable housing, increasing job opportunities, and so much more. I’ll continue working across all levels of government to get this done.”

“I applaud Congressman Cleaver for his work on connecting communities and keeping investment in sustainable public transportation a priority,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Reliable, safe, and efficient public transportation unlocks opportunities for people across our region and helps our businesses attract talent in Kansas City and all of our bistate area.”

""Impacting and improving our transit system in a manner that makes it more responsive to the needs of our city and regional community is an attractive outcome of the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor Initiative. In addition, our City and regional community are most excited about, and looks forward to the benefits beyond transit services that the RAISE grant will bring to families and workers in Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County and the metropolitan area,"" said Unified Government/Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Tyrone Garner. ""We believe that the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor Initiative represents the critical delivery and life-line for economic development services, job opportunity and worker and family support desperately needed to build viable communities.

“Receiving this grant award for the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor sets the foundation to implement long-overdue community-based investments, including an east-west transportation network that connects diverse communities in our region,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “Today’s announcement brings residents and businesses on both sides of the state line one step closer to having that critical need fulfilled. Jackson County looks forward to continuing its work with MARC, our neighboring municipalities, and congressional representatives on this exciting project.”

“Our residents and businesses will greatly benefit from the opportunities that the Corridor will deliver. We are eager to work with neighboring jurisdictions, partner organizations and the community to support these critical needs for the Kansas City region,” said Sugar Creek, Missouri, Mayor Mike Larson.

The $5.6 million in federal funding will be used to fund planning activities for the east-west high-capacity transit corridor from Village West in Wyandotte County, Kansas through downtown Kansas City, Missouri to Independence, Missouri. The funding will help update transportation plans, complete project development and environmental documentation for zero-emission transportation elements, and complete advanced conceptual engineering design for one or more high-capacity transit routes.

A Fact Sheet on the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-raise-grant-south-main-street-corridor-project-maryville,Graves Announces RAISE Grant for South Main Street Corridor Project in Maryville,2022-08-09,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves, (MO-06), Ranking Member for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the South Main Street Corridor Project in Maryville has received a RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant.

The $5.925 million grant will go towards funding Phase II of the project.

“I’m thrilled to see this project receive additional funding,” Graves said. “This corridor is going to be beautiful and will greatly enhance safety and ease of travel through Maryville. Congratulations to all who put in the effort to get this grant. I’ve enjoyed seeing the progress so far and can’t wait to see South Main street completed.

The RAISE Grant program was previously called the BUILD Grant program before being renamed. Graves secured a $10.4 million BUILD grant in 2018 for Phase I of the project, which is currently under construction.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-raise-grant-us-highway-69-safe-streets-and-sidewalks-project,Graves Announces RAISE Grant for US Highway 69 Safe Streets and Sidewalks Project in Excelsior Springs,2022-08-09,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves, (MO-06), Ranking Member for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the US Highway 69 Safe Streets and Sidewalks Project in Excelsior Springs has received a RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant.

The $21.5 million grant will go towards funding rebuilding approximately 2 miles of streets with curb, gutter, storm drainage, and sidewalks, improvements to 9 intersections, adding approximately 2.3 miles of sidewalks, and approximately 2.5 miles of trail along US-69 to allow students to safely walk and bike to school and increase traffic safety for pedestrians and motorists.

“I’m thrilled to see this project receive funding,” Graves said. “These improvements are going to greatly enhance safety, both motorists and students walking and biking to school in Excelsior Springs. Congratulations to all who put in the effort to get this grant. I know this project has been a long time coming and can’t wait to see these improvements completed.

Graves also announced today that the City of Maryville has received a $5.925 million RAISE grant for the South Main Street Corridor Project.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-statement-raid-former-president-trumps-home,Wagner Statement on Raid of Former President Trump's Home,2022-08-09,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the unprecedented raid of former President Trump's home:

""At a time when American faith in government institutions and the media is at an all-time low, the unprecedented raid of former President Donald Trump’s home by the FBI is truly shocking and furthers our nation’s mistrust of government at all levels.

""For the American legal system to work and truly live up to the standard that justice should be blind, the application of criminal statutes should not be used selectively against political opponents. The Department of Justice lost credibility in the eyes of many Americans over the past decade, on multiple levels, and they need to be held accountable for their politically motivated actions.

""Distrust breeds resentment and anger in our communities when there is no transparency and no accountability for such unprecedented actions. FBI Director Wray and Attorney General Garland need to immediately explain to the American people, and to Congress, why this search and seizure was necessary. Anything less than full and complete transparency on their part will further divide our nation and is a miscarriage of justice.

""If Democrat leaders in Congress won’t lead an investigation into this unprecedented FBI raid, I am confident that Republican leadership will conduct strong and appropriate oversight.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-blunt-missouri-delegation-backs-request-major-disaster,"Wagner, Blunt, Missouri Delegation Backs Request for Major Disaster Declaration",2022-08-05,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) joined the entire Missouri delegation - Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Emanuel Cleaver, II. (MO-05), Sam Graves (MO-06), Billy Long (MO-07) and Jason Smith (MO-08) - in a letter to President Joseph R. Biden in support of Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the City of St. Louis, as well as St. Louis, St. Charles, and Montgomery counties in Missouri impacted by severe weather and flash flooding. Last week, St. Louis and Eastern Missouri experienced the highest rainfall in recorded history in 24 hours, causing flash flooding leading to hundreds of home evacuations, reports of submerged vehicles and, tragically, two deaths. A Major Disaster Declaration from the Biden administration would unlock much-needed federal resources, such as debris removal, infrastructure and home repairs, rental assistance, and small business disaster loans. Specifically, Governor Parson is requesting Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation.

“We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate federal support needed to respond to the disaster,” wrote the Missouri lawmakers. “Along with our fellow Missourians, we appreciate your attention to this request and stand by ready to assist in any way possible.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-disaster-recovery-legislation-prompts-change-fema-ensure-communities,Graves Disaster Recovery Legislation Prompts Change at FEMA to Ensure Communities Can Recover Faster,2022-08-04,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan bill by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06) to expedite disaster recovery projects across the Nation, particularly in small and rural areas, has prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update what it considers to be a “small project” for communities seeking disaster assistance.

The Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act (H.R. 5641), which overwhelmingly passed the House in April by a vote of 414 to 11, updates the threshold for what FEMA deems a “small project” in providing assistance. Small projects do not face the same administrative burdens and paperwork required for larger, more complex projects. Communities can move forward with small projects in a much more expedited manner.

Yesterday, FEMA announced that it was updating the small project threshold to $1 million, in accordance with the SPEED Recovery Act.

“I am pleased FEMA has taken this action that was laid out in the SPEED Recovery Act. Updating what qualifies as a ‘small project’ will help significantly reduce the red tape many communities have to deal with to secure disaster assistance. This is especially helpful for small and rural communities that simply do not have the same types of resources as large and urban areas to navigate the bureaucracy,” said Graves. “However, this much-needed change will not be permanent unless the SPEED Recovery Act is signed into law. The House passed the SPEED Recovery Act overwhelmingly earlier this year, and just yesterday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs also approved the bill. Sending this disaster recovery bill to the President’s desk ensures the updates will be made permanent and not subject to any changes in administration.”

Background Information

Historically, the number of disaster projects that qualified as small projects with simplified procedures accounted for 95% of such projects. However, because the threshold for a “small project” has not kept pace with inflation and modern construction costs, a much larger percentage of projects (nearly 25% of all recovery projects) now fall outside of the scope of a “small project.” This has added unnecessary paperwork and burdens for both communities and FEMA

The SPEED Recovery Act will give communities more control in the rebuilding process for smaller projects, and it will once again ensure that approximately 95% of projects qualify as “small projects.” Notably, while “small projects” constitute a large percentage of total projects, they only represent about 10% of federal disaster funding costs, and the bill’s proposed adjustment represents minimal risk to the taxpayer. FEMA will then be able to focus more of its staff and time on addressing larger, more complex projects.

Click here to read the SPEED Recovery Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-ann-wagner-tragic-passing-jackie-walorski,Congresswoman Ann Wagner on the Tragic Passing of Jackie Walorski,2022-08-03,2022,2022-08,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after the tragic death of her friend Congresswoman Jackie Walorski:

""Jackie was my closest friend and trusted confidant. Her husband Dean was a source of her strength, and she was blessed to have his support and boundless love as he stood by her. Jackie was a no nonsense, get it done woman with whom I shared countless late-night laughs and stories. She was a woman of great integrity who loved her team as deeply as they loved her. Her work ethic and passion for service was unequaled, and the people of Indiana, along with everyone who was lucky enough to know her, have lost an incredible woman and public servant.

""Jackie and I shared a deep and abiding friendship and words will never be able to do justice to this heartbreaking loss. I will miss her always. We spoke every day, and often finished each other's sentences. I am grateful to have spent such meaningful time with her. We are all praying deeply for her husband Dean, her dear dear mother and entire family, along with Zach and Emma, her two young staffers who also lost their lives today.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-assault-weapons-ban-protect-missouri-communities-gun,Rep. Cleaver Votes for Assault Weapons Ban to Protect Missouri Communities from Gun Violence,2022-07-30,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, to protect communities in Missouri from mass shootings that have devastated communities like Sandy Hook, Uvalde, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Orlando, and countless others. Similar to the assault weapons ban enacted in 1994, which lasted for a decade and led to a significant decline in mass shootings, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 would prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Congressman Cleaver was a cosponsor of the legislation, which will now go to the Senate for debate.

""Assault weapons are weapons of war that were specifically designed to kill human beings—and more must be done to keep these human killing machines off the street,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""We have seen countless examples of individuals legally obtaining assault weapons, who then go on to inflict unthinkable death and destruction in communities across the nation. We've also seen the substantial decline in mass shootings that come with an assault weapons ban, and it is way past time that Congress reinstituted this commonsense policy. While the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a critical step in the right direction to combat the scourge of gun violence plaguing our nation, we can do more to save lives and protect our communities. That's what the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 will do.""

With eight of the ten deadliest mass shootings in recent American history involving an assault weapon, these firearms have clearly become the weapon of choice for mass shooters, as they are designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, when assault weapons are used in a mass shooting, six times as many people are shot. Additionally, researchers estimate that a federal assault weapons ban would cut down on mass shooting deaths by as much as 70 percent.

To cut down on gun violence in communities across the country, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 would:

Prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, subject to grandfathering provisions and other exceptions;

Define semiautomatic assault weapons to include

Rifles, shotguns, and pistols that (1) are semiautomatic, (2) can accept a detachable ammunition feeding device, and (3) have at least one additional listed feature that make firearms especially deadly, including military features identified in ATF reports under the Bush and Clinton administrations;

Allow the possession of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of the enactment;

Allow the sale or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of enactment following a background check;

Require that semiautomatic assault weapons be securely stored so that they are not accessible to those who are prohibited from possessing them;

Allow states to use the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds for voluntary buyback programs for semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity magazines;

Protect the rights of hunters, gun collectors, farmers, sport shooters, and those who use firearms for self-defense through exemptions for grandfathered weapons, antiques, most manually operated firearms, and more than 2,200 listed firearms that are not affected by this prohibition; and

Exempt the use of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices for specific uses such as law enforcement (including retired service weapons), nuclear security, testing authorized by the Attorney General, and temporary transfers without a background check or target shooting at a licensed target facility or established range.

Official text of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-legislation-deter-destabilizing-actions-bosnia-and-herzegovina,Wagner Legislation to Deter Destabilizing Actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina Passes House Foreign Affairs Committee,2022-07-29,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after her Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

“I represent the largest Bosnian community outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and my constituents are deeply worried about the crisis back home. Cynical ethno-nationalist politicians are seeking to exploit upcoming general elections to deepen divisions, while Dodik escalates his reckless and illegal secessionist agenda with the backing of the Putin regime. The United States desperately needs a strong, usable economic stick to navigate an extremely volatile situation over the next few months. But the time to act is now.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-helps-pass-chips-science-act-lower-costs-strengthen,"Rep. Cleaver Helps Pass CHIPS & Science Act to Lower Costs, Strengthen American Manufacturing, and Secure America’s Economic and National Security",2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 4346, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) & Science Act, which will help lower costs for hardworking families, strengthen American manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs in Missouri and across the country. The bill will provide a historic $52 billion investment to bolster America's semiconductor industry, strengthen our supply chains, reduce America's dependence on foreign manufacturers, and stimulate American research & development to ensure our economic and national security for generations to come. The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 243-187 and will now go to President Biden to be signed into law.

""Potato chips are good, chocolate chips are great—but microchips are what makes the world go ‘round in the 21st century,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""Whether folks realize it or not, microchips are in everything from washing machines and refrigerators to automobiles and cellphones—and one of the key reasons Missourians are currently doling out more of their hard-earned money for these items is due to America's failure to invest in the manufacturing necessary to create American-made semiconductors right here at home. The CHIPS and Science Act takes a critical step to secure the homegrown manufacturing of microchips for decades to come, which is essential to lowering costs on everyday items and maintaining America's dominance in science and technologies of the future, rather than ceding ground to Russia or the People's Republic of China. While I find it baffling that only a handful of House Republicans could support a bill so widely supported by American workers and businesses alike, I was proud to support this important legislation because it will create good-paying jobs for Missourians, lower costs on hardworking families, and guarantee that America remains globally competitive throughout the 21st century.""

The CHIPS and Science Act will:

Lower costs for American families by manufacturing more semiconductor components in America, which will help to end the shortage of chips that has driven up the price of everything from cars to consumers goods;

Create approximately 100,000 new, good-paying jobs building, expanding, and maintaining hi-tech manufacturing facilities in Missouri and throughout the country;

End our dependence on foreign manufacturers that has led to supply chain disruptions and higher prices, bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S. instead of overseas where it can be threatened by our adversaries;

Boost American Research and Development by making investments to power America's dominance in basic research and next-generation technologies, helping to ensure the technologies of the future are made in America; and

Diversify and expand the innovation workforce to ensure America is maximizing the potential of our homegrown talent by diversifying our STEM workforce and advancing regional technology hubs. This will ensure more communities across the country can assist in advancing American research and development.

The CHIPS and Science Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, United Auto Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Communications Workers of America, Associated General Contractors of America, Semiconductor Industry Association, American Iron and Steel Institute, and more.

Official text of the CHIPS and Science Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleavers-bill-stimulate-economic-development-underserved,Rep. Cleaver’s Bill to Stimulate Economic Development in Underserved Communities Passes House of Representatives,2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, the House of Representatives passed U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II's (D-MO) CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority, rather than a simple majority, of the whole House to pass legislation. Rep. Cleaver's bipartisan CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act would stimulate greater economic development in underserved communities across the country by reauthorizing the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program for four years and implementing reforms that ensure smaller Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can access the program, giving additional financing and capital for more community development projects in the most economically distressed areas of the country.

""In the 21st century economy, access to capital and financial services is critical to the economic development and overall health of communities across the country. Unfortunately, the lack of access to affordable financing has led to unacceptable disparities in the economic well-being of rural, minority, and other underserved communities that are critical to the growth of our nation's economy,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I'm thankful that my colleagues in the House of Representatives once again passed my CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act—this time with a two-thirds majority—to extend the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and ensure it can continue to positively benefit underserved communities throughout Missouri and around the nation.""

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program was created in 2010 to provide long-term capital to CDFIs across the country at no expense to American taxpayers. While the program's authorization lapsed in 2014, it has been extended on a year-by-year basis through annual appropriations legislation. As required by law, CDFIs borrowers must have a loan size of at least $100 million to participate in the program—which allows for only relatively large and often complex multi-party applications.

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act would reauthorize the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program for another four years and lower the minimum loan threshold to $25 million, giving more and smaller CDFIs greater opportunity to access the benefits of the program, which will then help to stimulate additional community development in rural, urban, and Tribal communities around the country.

Official text of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-chips-production-good-not-when-it-makes-bidens-recession-worse,"Wagner: Chips production is good, but not when it makes Biden’s recession worse",2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the House Suburban Caucus, released the following statement on the Chips package:

“It was confirmed this morning that Joe Biden and his tax and spend policies have thrown the US into a recession, costing Missouri families more at the pump and the grocery store. It is utterly shocking that, during an economic crisis, Democrats insist on spending over a quarter trillion more of your taxpayer dollars. This legislation will not effectively address China’s attempts to control the semiconductor industry, and in fact, contains insufficient guardrails to prevent funds from supporting the expansion of manufacturing in China. The semiconductor industry is vital to both our national security and our day to day lives, and when Republicans have the majority in Congress, we will make it a priority to address China’s malign global influence and support American semiconductor manufacturing in a much more targeted and cost-effective manner.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-raises-concerns-biden-administration-diverting-fema-disaster-resources,Graves Raises Concerns that Biden Administration is Diverting FEMA Disaster Resources to Assist Illegal Immigrants,2022-07-27,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican leader Sam Graves (R-MO) today raised questions about the diversion of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources, workforce, and expertise to deal with illegal immigration and the Biden Administration’s crisis at the southern border.

In a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Graves noted his concerns that “FEMA – the Federal government’s lead emergency management agency – is being tasked to support functions outside its core mission while the Nation is also dealing with a record number of disasters.”

Graves noted that the Homeland Security Act prohibits the diversion of FEMA assets, functions, or mission for the continuing use of any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) organization unless such assignments do not reduce the capability of FEMA to perform its missions.

In particular, Graves highlighted the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which FEMA oversees to provide grants to individuals and families experiencing hunger and homelessness. Graves stated, “I am concerned that a program established to help people experiencing hunger and homelessness is being used instead to support the border crisis…. There have been recent reports of some of these shelters and nonprofits being overwhelmed with migrants, raising the question of how this new mandate impacts our investments in addressing homelessness at home.”

Graves added, “I am concerned that the Administration’s policies are creating the impression that entering the United States illegally is a risk worth taking. Lax border policies encourage migrant crossings that have a drastic humanitarian cost. FEMA will likely be one of the agencies to bear the brunt of that cost, impacting FEMA’s limited resources and core missions.”

Graves asked FEMA Administrator Criswell to answer a number of questions and provide detailed information about the role of FEMA at the border and generally within the space of immigration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-legislation-strengthen-credit-rating-company-oversight-passes,Wagner Legislation To Strengthen Credit Rating Company Oversight Passes House,2022-07-26,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement after her Risk-Based Credit Examination Act passed the United States House of Representatives:

“The Risk-Based Credit Examination Act will help consumers at an incredibly volatile economic time and will reduce the costly burdens placed on smaller credit rating agencies by Dodd-Frank. I am proud to report my legislation passed the House today, and now we look to the Senate to take immediate action so a more competitive marketplace can flourish under a more efficient and effective set of financial regulations.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-wild-introduce-bill-deter-destabilizing-actions-bosnia-and,"Wagner, Wild Introduce Bill to Deter Destabilizing Actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina",2022-07-25,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA) released the following statement after they introduced the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act. This legislation will send a clear deterrent signal before Bosnia’s October elections.

Rep. Wagner: “The destabilizing and anti-democratic behavior of some officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Russia’s destructive influence threaten to undermine the legacy of U.S. leadership in brokering the Dayton Peace Agreement and supporting the country’s stability. By mandating sanctions to address the political crisis and corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this bill makes clear to internal and external bad actors that they will be held accountable for threatening peace and stability in the country. We have a strong Bosnian community in St. Louis, and, following conversations with local advocates, I know how vital it is we use our sanctions authority to prevent Bosnia from being seriously destabilized. Ahead of the October elections, this message could not be more critical.”

Rep. Wild: “It is crucial that the United States support the efforts of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to protect their hard-won peace and build a unified, stronger, and more representative democracy. Among other critical provisions, this bill calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which require an end to the ethnic and religious requirements on holding high-ranking political office—requirements that have unacceptably disenfranchised far too many members of the population. This bill’s constructive approach can help bring about greater opportunity, inclusion, and stability throughout the region, now and for generations to come.”

Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-enshrine-right-contraception-federal-law,Rep. Cleaver Votes to Enshrine Right to Contraception into Federal Law,2022-07-21,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8373, the Right to Contraception Act, to protect the fundamental right to contraception and enshrine this right in federal law. Specifically, the legislation would ensure that neither states nor a hostile Administration can limit Americans' access to contraceptives or the ability of health care providers to provide contraceptives and information related to them. The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 228-195.

""With the Supreme Court's extreme decision to overturn fifty years of precedent by overruling Roe v. Wade, they have made it abundantly clear that other fundamental freedoms that Americans rely on are on the chopping block. One of those is the right to contraception,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""While I was proud to join 228 lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to defend the American people's right to make their own family decisions free from government intrusion, I find it mind boggling that 195 Republicans would prefer to leave those decisions in the hands of politicians in state legislatures—which is why the federal protections we passed today are so important.""

Ninety-nine percent of U.S. women who have been sexually active report having used some form of contraception, and ninety-six percent of voters support having access to contraception. In addition to contraceptives being crucial to preventing unintended pregnancies, they also prevent and treat a wide array of medical conditions and decrease the risk of certain cancers.

By overruling Roe v. Wade, the Republican supermajority on the Supreme Court has now called into question the constitutionality of contraception, marriage equality, and other rights that stem from the right to privacy guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly stated so in his concurrence in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, contending that the Supreme Court should reconsider ""all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold""—the landmark case that first recognized the Constitutional right to use contraceptives.

Some Republican legislators, such as legislators in Idaho and Louisiana, have used the Dobbs decision to try to block or ban certain contraceptive methods, such as emergency contraception and long-acting reversible contraception like intrauterine devices (IUDs). Previously, the Missouri State Legislature has tried to ban common forms of contraceptives from being paid for by the state's Medicaid program. Now that Roe has been overturned, one Republican state legislator noted that ""anything's on the table"" in terms of contraceptive limits.

To protect Americans' fundamental right to contraception, the Right to Contraception Act would:

Establish a statutory right to obtain contraceptives and to engage in contraception, and for health care providers to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.

Protect against any state laws that attempt to restrict access to contraceptives and affirms the Attorney General's enforcement authority to bring civil actions against any state that attempts to do so.

Establish a private right of action for individuals to enforce their right to obtain contraceptives and for health care providers to enforce their right to provide contraceptives and information related to contraception.

Official text of the Right to Contraception Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-government-funding-package-major-investments-missouri,Rep. Cleaver Votes for Government Funding Package with Major Investments in Missouri Families and Communities,2022-07-20,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8294, a package of six government funding bills with critical support for families and communities across Missouri. The historic investments in the bill would help lower the cost of living for Missourians, create good-paying jobs in every community, focus on uplifting working class families, and provide additional support for small businesses throughout the nation. In addition to critical investments in everything from affordable housing to nutrition assistance, the government funding package includes $38,250,000 in funding for 14 of Rep. Cleaver's 15 Community Project Funding requests, with the 15th project expected to be funded in the final government funding package to be debated later this month.

""As Missourians face higher costs caused by the ongoing pandemic and Putin's vile invasion of Ukraine, House Democrats and I are laser-focused on fighting inflation and lowering costs for the American people—and today we passed a government funding package with critical investments that will provide much-needed relief to hardworking families in the Show Me State,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""For months, I have pushed House Leadership and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to increase investments in things like affordable housing, renewable energy, and nutrition assistance programs—all of which are critical to working class families. I'm happy to report that major increases in all those areas are included in the legislation I proudly supported today.""

The appropriations package was passed by a vote of 220-207. The legislation would create good-paying jobs by rebuilding critical infrastructure, expand opportunity through homeownership and rental assistance, and promote safe transportation and public housing by providing $90.0 billion for the Departments of Transportation (DOT), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

HOME Investments Partnership Program, which is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. The program will receive $1.675 billion, $175 million over last year's total;

Public Housing Fund, which provides operating subsidies to housing authorities to assist in operating and maintenance expenses of public housing nationwide. The program will receive $8.733 billion, $282 million over last year's total;

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program, which helps individual households afford housing costs such as rent and security deposits. The program will receive $31.04 billion, $3.7 billion over last year's total;

Project-Based Rental Assistance program, which assists more than 1.2 million extremely low- and low-income families obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The program will receive $14.9 billion, 1$ billion over last year's total;

Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, which provides funding to develop and subsidize rental housing with the availability of supportive services for very low- and extremely low-income Americans with disabilities. The program will receive $400 million, $48 million over last year's total; and more.

The legislation helps to tackle hunger, lift up farmers and rural communities, rebuild our public health and safety infrastructure, and confront the climate crisis with $27.2 billion for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

School Breakfast Expansion Grants to expand public school breakfast resources will receive $10 million, a $4 million increase above last year's total;

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 by providing nutritious foods. The program will receive $6 billion;

Rural Electrification Loan Program, which helps electric utilities expand service in rural communities;

Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program, which helps improve and preserve the availability of affordable housing for low-income residents in rural areas; and more.

H.R. 8294 also helps to lower costs for working families, rebuild our water infrastructure, and invest in clean energy by providing $56.275 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and related agencies. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, which aims to strengthen American energy security, environmental quality, and economic security, will receive $4 billion, $800 million above last year's total;

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy technologies, will receive $550 million, $100 million over last year's total;

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy State and Community Energy programs, which provide funding and technical assistance to states and localities, will receive $562 million, $135 million over last year's total; and more.

The government funding package will create jobs, combat climate change, and ensure access to safe drinking water by providing $4.8 billion for the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Indian Health Services. Programs supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which provides support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence, will receive $207 million, $27 million over last year's total;

Clean School Bus Program, which helps states and localities transition to low and no-emission school buses;

Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program (DERA), which provides federal grants and rebates that protect Americans' health and improve air quality by reducing diesel emissions, will receive $150 million, $58 million over last year's total;

National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, which provides critical emission testing services for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and nonroad engine programs; and more.

""People often say that a budget is a list of values—and today's budget passed by House Democrats puts a high priority on lowering costs for working class families, investing in renewable energy and sustainable communities, and expanding opportunity for small businesses and American workers,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""As this funding package heads to the Senate, I will continue to push my colleagues to come together to meet the needs of the American people, something I think this budget does in a smart, effective, and efficient way.""

Official text of H.R. 8294 is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleavers-community-project-funding-requests-totaling-3825-million,"Rep. Cleaver’s Community Project Funding Requests, Totaling $38.25 Million, Included in Government Funding Bill Passed by House of Representatives",2022-07-20,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"July 20, 2022

The Community Project Funding would go toward affordable housing initiatives, infrastructure projects, new electric buses, and more

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8294, a package of six government funding bills for Fiscal Year 2023, with the support of U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO). Included in the government funding package were 14 of the 15 Community Project Funding requests submitted by Rep. Cleaver, totaling $38.25 million. Funding for the 15th project is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives in a separate government funding package later this month. H.R. 8294 will now go to the Senate for additional debate.

""I couldn't be happier that 14 of my 15 Community Project Funding requests were included in the FY2023 funding package passed by the House of Representatives today,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""Each of these projects will play a pivotal role in the communities they serve. With a focus on economic development, sustainability, and affordable housing, these projects are going to help us build a better, more equitable, and more sustainable future for communities throughout the Fifth District. While the funding bill is not finalized until it reaches President Biden's desk, I am confident that the House and Senate will come together to pass a bipartisan budget that meets the needs of the American people—and that includes each of these Community Project Funding requests.""

Rep. Cleaver's 14 Community Project Funding requests within H.R. 8294 include:

$4,600,000 to the City of Grandview for improvements to Blue Ridge Boulevard, which connects two ends of Kansas City and is the main commercial corridor for the City of Grandview. The funding will be used to address safety improvements, including street resurfacing, an expansion of four lanes for traffic, miles of new sidewalk, a wide multi-use path, and all ADA-compliant intersections.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) for Low and No Emission Buses and Support Infrastructure. As the KCATA and regional transit partners seek to further incorporate battery-electric buses into the RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City region, this funding will help afford replacement buses and support infrastructure necessary for low and no emission buses.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City, Missouri Public Works Department to create an 18th Street Pedestrian Plaza. The federal dollars will be used for the creation of a Pedestrian Mall on 18th Street between The Paseo Boulevard and Woodland Avenue near the Historic 18th & Vine Entertainment District. The Pedestrian Mall will be a flexible, multi-purpose assembly area that will allow for a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment for farmers' markets, festivals, outdoor concerts, and a general congregations area for the district residents when these events are not active.

$4,000,000 to Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department for a Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park Project. This project will create recreational opportunities for the neighborhoods that were fractured by the Bruce R. Watkins Highway Project, which bisects this area North and South, and the Brush Creek Flood Control Project, which bisects this area East and West. The planned improvements will remove some of the barriers caused by these projects, allowing residents to fully access and utilize the park from adjacent neighborhoods. Additionally, the planned improvements will add amenities that will attract more people to the area.

$4,000,000 to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce for a Minority Chamber of Commerce Development Center. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce will be co-located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, while jointly serving an array of minority businesses throughout the region. This joint partnership will be the first of its kind nationwide as two of the largest minority chambers unite in their missions to advance business development, workforce development, and leadership development for the betterment of people of color throughout the Fifth District of Missouri.

$4,000,000 to the Urban Neighborhood Initiative to support a housing initiative intended to build community and unlock the path to homeownership. The pilot program will provide 100 quality, affordable homes to families in underserved communities under a financing structure that promotes resident wealth accumulation through ultimate homeownership.

$3,000,000 to the City of Independence for the Independence Historic Square Streetscape. The funding will be used for street modifications, including one-way and two-way conversions, parallel parking, sidewalks, and ADA ramp improvements. Additionally, for the safety of the citizens and visitors, the streetlights will be improved as well as the addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and amenities.

$3,000,000 to the Raytown Parks & Recreation Department for Raytown Parks renovation and redevelopment. The funding will address the demolition and redevelopment needs of two parks in Raytown, Missouri. The Super Splash Park closed in the fall of 2016, but the remaining facilities must be demolished to allow for redevelopment projects. The Kenagy Park pond is a part of the Raytown Storm Water system to catch and hold water in major rain conditions. The dam and bank of the pond is eroding, making hazardous conditions for park patrons. The Raytown Parks Department will utilize the federal funding to install ADA-compliant restroom facilities and access trails as part of the redevelopment plan.

$3,000,000 to the City of Gladstone for an HVAC replacement at the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium. The funding will be used to replace two indoor air quality units serving the natatorium space. Since 2008, the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium has served as the swimming arena for the North Kansas City School District and the site for the District's 3rd-grade water safety/learn to swim project. Indoor air quality is critical to the facility to protect the participants and spectators.

$2,000,000 to Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. for the KC IMAGINE project. The funding will be used to restore this historic studio for members of the public and provide enrichment for the surrounding neighborhood. This facility will become a center for digital media training, job creation, and entrepreneurship serving low-income people in the immediate community and the KC metro.

$750,000 to Alphapointe for the Building Equitable Access to Community Opportunities Now (BEACON) Project. The funding will be used for the expansion of Alphapointe's current building as well as the creation of a new, nearby facility to provide for the continued rehabilitation and training needs of disabled job seekers and offer new health and child care services to the surrounding, underserved community.

$750,000 to reStart Inc. for the Thriving Neighborhoods through Cottage Communities Project. Cottage Communities provide affordable single-family housing for low- and extremely low-income households to prevent and end homelessness, ultimately helping to strengthen neighborhoods throughout Kansas City.

$750,000 to the Full Employment Council for a Career Technology Academy. The funding will help provide training that leads to good-paying careers in (1) Providing housing weatherization/rehabilitation services; (2) rehabilitating, weatherizing, and detoxifying housing for low- and moderate-income families; and (3) information technology, advanced manufacturing, warehouse/distribution or other occupations through classroom training, on the job training, apprenticeship training, or combinations thereof based on the career aspirations of the individual. The Career Technology Academy will enable low- and moderate-income families to earn higher incomes through training and support, help more Missourians live in energy efficient housing, and ensure safer and more sanitary housing in Kansas City.

$400,000 to SAVE, Inc. for Pride Haven. Pride Haven helps ensure homeless LGBTQ+ youth can access safe, welcoming, and accepting drop-in and overnight shelter. Youth served are 18-24 years old and find a welcoming, supportive environment as well as case management, connection to community resources, shower and laundry facilities, computer access, a safe place to sleep, and healthy meals.

Next week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to debate the second and final Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package, which is expected to include funding for Congressman Cleaver's 15th Community Project Funding request:

$1,000,000 to MRIGlobal for an expansion of their biorepository. The funding will expand laboratory capabilities and resources to advance research and development in new and investigational drugs, as well as new technologies in medical treatments. This project will increase the number of high-paying jobs and services and continue to support Kansas City's science, technology, engineering, and math education programs and workforce development.

Official text of H.R. 8294 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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-house-representatives-vote-protect-marriage-equality,"Rep. Cleaver, House of Representatives Vote to Protect Marriage Equality Nationwide",2022-07-19,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act, to enshrine marriage equality and protections for same-sex and interracial couples into federal law. The bipartisan bill, which would codify the protections afforded under the Supreme Court's Obergefell and Loving decisions, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 267-157.

""At a time when gerrymandered state legislatures are passing extreme laws to criminalize reproductive care and Republicans in Congress are openly calling for the Supreme Court to strike down Obergefell, Loving, and other decisions that prevent government intrusion into Americans' private affairs, it is essential that Congress take immediate action to protect these fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality. That's precisely what the House of Representatives and I have been working to do since the disastrous Dobbs decision was announced,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""America has come way too far since the days where interracial and same-sex marriage were banned by law, and I find it gob smacking that the GOP is trying to revive these debates from the dark ages. We can't, and won't, turn back now.""

While marriage equality remains constitutionally protected, the legal logic used in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to justify overturning the right to reproductive freedom could be used in the future to threaten other fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality. Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called on the Supreme Court to reconsider its previous decisions protecting other constitutional rights, including the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell. Additionally, Republican senators have voiced their support for the Supreme Court's reconsideration of Obergefell and Loving.

The Respect for Marriage Act would:

Enshrine marriage equality into federal law by requiring, for federal law purposes, that an individual be considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed. This gives same-sex and interracial couples additional security that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples.

Repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, which was effectively, but not literally, struck down with the Supreme Court's landmark decisions in United States v. Windsor and Obergefell, holding that marriage equality was a constitutional right. However, this unconstitutional and discriminatory law still officially remains on the books, and the Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the statute once and for all.

Provide additional legal protections from those seeking to undermine marriage equality by prohibiting any person acting under color of state law from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage. The bill also provides the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions and creates a private right of action for any individual harmed by a violation of this provision.

The Respect for Marriage Act is supported by the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women's Law Center and more.

Official text of the Respect for Marriage Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagners-gateway-solidarity-act-passes-house,Wagner’s Gateway Solidarity Act Passes House,2022-07-19,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the House Suburban Caucus, released the following statement after the House passed the Gateway Solidarity Act, her legislation to authorize the National Park Service to light up the Arch with the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

“Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation continue their unconscionable assault on the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion began, over 5 million civilians have been forced from their homes and thousands have lost their lives, including countless innocent women and children. We have heard numerous stories illustrating the brutality of this invasion and the potential war crimes being committed by the Putin regime. In response to this horrific assault, landmarks across the globe have been lit up in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-announces-3925-million-community-project-funding,Congressman Cleaver Announces $39.25 Million in Community Project Funding for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District,2022-07-18,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"July 18, 2022

All Fifteen Community Project Funding Requests from Rep. Cleaver were Approved by the House Appropriations Committee for FY2023

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that the House Appropriations Committee has approved all fifteen Community Project Funding requests submitted by the Congressman. Totaling more than $39 million, the funding will go toward fifteen separate projects throughout the Fifth Congressional District focused on economic development, public safety, affordable housing, environmental justice, and more. The funding, included in the House of Representative's annual budget bill, is set to receive a vote in the whole House of Representatives later this month. Following a vote by the House of Representatives, the Senate will also need to approve the government funding package.

""As the Representative of the Fifth Congressional District, my job is to fight for policies supported by my constituents and to bring their tax dollars back home. Today, I am thrilled to announce that our congressional district is set to receive nearly $40 million in federal funding for projects that are pivotal to communities throughout Western Missouri,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""From Kansas City to Raytown, from Independence to Gladstone, the funding provided for these projects will help spur economic development throughout the entire region, and do so in an equitable, sustainable way. Whether it is electric buses that will ensure cleaner air in our communities, an affordable housing initiative for low-income Missourians, or additional development of the 18th & Vine Entertainment District, each of these projects will play a major role in the growth of our congressional district—and I'm extraordinarily proud that I was able to have all of them included in the House of Representatives' appropriations package. As negotiations between the House and Senate are ongoing, I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure this funding remains in the final bill sent to President Biden's desk.""

After introducing Community Project Funding in the Fiscal Year 2022 government spending package, the House Appropriations Committee allowed members of Congress to submit 15 Community Project Funding requests for consideration by the committee for Fiscal Year 2023. The following criteria must have been met in order for projects to be approved:

Only state and local governments and verified 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to receive funding.

Community Project Funding is only available for one-year funding (FY2023) and cannot include multi-year funding.

Only projects with demonstrated community support could be considered.

Only 1% of all discretionary spending in the budget bill could be utilized for Community Project Funding requests.

Congressman Cleaver's full list of approved projects includes:

$4,600,000 to the City of Grandview for improvements to Blue Ridge Boulevard, which connects two ends of Kansas City and is the main commercial corridor for the City of Grandview. The funding will be used to address safety improvements, including street resurfacing, an expansion of four lanes for traffic, miles of new sidewalk, a wide multi-use path, and all ADA-compliant intersections.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) for Low and No Emission Buses and Support Infrastructure. As the KCATA and regional transit partners seek to further incorporate battery-electric buses into the RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City region, this funding will help afford replacement buses and support infrastructure necessary for low and no emission buses.

$4,000,000 to the Kansas City, Missouri Public Works Department to create an 18th Street Pedestrian Plaza. The federal dollars will be used for the creation of a Pedestrian Mall on 18th Street between The Paseo Boulevard and Woodland Avenue near the Historic 18th & Vine Entertainment District. The Pedestrian Mall will be a flexible, multi-purpose assembly area that will allow for a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment for farmers' markets, festivals, outdoor concerts, and a general congregations area for the district residents when these events are not active.

$4,000,000 to Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department for a Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park Project. This project will create recreational opportunities for the neighborhoods that were fractured by the Bruce R. Watkins Highway Project, which bisects this area North and South, and the Brush Creek Flood Control Project, which bisects this area East and West. The planned improvements will remove some of the barriers caused by these projects, allowing residents to fully access and utilize the park from adjacent neighborhoods. Additionally, the planned improvements will add amenities that will attract more people to the area.

$4,000,000 to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce for a Minority Chamber of Commerce Development Center. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce will be co-located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, while jointly serving an array of minority businesses throughout the region. This joint partnership will be the first of its kind nationwide as two of the largest minority chambers unite in their missions to advance business development, workforce development, and leadership development for the betterment of people of color throughout the Fifth District of Missouri.

$4,000,000 to the Urban Neighborhood Initiative to support a housing initiative intended to build community and unlock the path to homeownership. The pilot program will provide 100 quality, affordable homes to families in underserved communities under a financing structure that promotes resident wealth accumulation through ultimate homeownership.

$3,000,000 to the City of Independence for the Independence Historic Square Streetscape. The funding will be used for street modifications, including one-way and two-way conversions, parallel parking, sidewalks, and ADA ramp improvements. Additionally, for the safety of the citizens and visitors, the streetlights will be improved as well as the addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and amenities.

$3,000,000 to the Raytown Parks & Recreation Department for Raytown Parks renovation and redevelopment. The funding will address the demolition and redevelopment needs of two parks in Raytown, Missouri. The Super Splash Park closed in the fall of 2016, but the remaining facilities must be demolished to allow for redevelopment projects. The Kenagy Park pond is a part of the Raytown Storm Water system to catch and hold water in major rain conditions. The dam and bank of the pond is eroding, making hazardous conditions for park patrons. The Raytown Parks Department will utilize the federal funding to install ADA-compliant restroom facilities and access trails as part of the redevelopment plan.

$3,000,000 to the City of Gladstone for an HVAC replacement at the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium. The funding will be used to replace two indoor air quality units serving the natatorium space. Since 2008, the Gladstone Community Center/Natatorium has served as the swimming arena for the North Kansas City School District and the site for the District's 3rd-grade water safety/learn to swim project. Indoor air quality is critical to the facility to protect the participants and spectators.

$2,000,000 to Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. for the KC IMAGINE project. The funding will be used to restore this historic studio for members of the public and provide enrichment for the surrounding neighborhood. This facility will become a center for digital media training, job creation, and entrepreneurship serving low-income people in the immediate community and the KC metro.

$1,000,000 to MRIGlobal for an expansion of their biorepository. The funding will expand laboratory capabilities and resources to advance research and development in new and investigational drugs, as well as new technologies in medical treatments. This project will increase the number of high-paying jobs and services and continue to support Kansas City's science, technology, engineering, and math education programs and workforce development.

$750,000 to Alphapointe for the Building Equitable Access to Community Opportunities Now (BEACON) Project. The funding will be used for the expansion of Alphapointe's current building as well as the creation of a new, nearby facility to provide for the continued rehabilitation and training needs of disabled job seekers and offer new health and child care services to the surrounding, underserved community.

$750,000 to reStart Inc. for the Thriving Neighborhoods through Cottage Communities Project. Cottage Communities provide affordable single-family housing for low- and extremely low-income households to prevent and end homelessness, ultimately helping to strengthen neighborhoods throughout Kansas City.

$750,000 to the Full Employment Council for a Career Technology Academy. The funding will help provide training that leads to good-paying careers in (1) Providing housing weatherization/rehabilitation services; (2) rehabilitating, weatherizing, and detoxifying housing for low- and moderate-income families; and (3) information technology, advanced manufacturing, warehouse/distribution or other occupations through classroom training, on the job training, apprenticeship training, or combinations thereof based on the career aspirations of the individual. The Career Technology Academy will enable low- and moderate-income families to earn higher incomes through training and support, help more Missourians live in energy efficient housing, and ensure safer and more sanitary housing in Kansas City.

$400,000 to SAVE, Inc. for Pride Haven. Pride Haven helps ensure homeless LGBTQ+ youth can access safe, welcoming, and accepting drop-in and overnight shelter. Youth served are 18-24 years old and find a welcoming, supportive environment as well as case management, connection to community resources, shower and laundry facilities, computer access, a safe place to sleep, and healthy meals.

Last year, Congressman Cleaver secured $15,156,000 in Community Project Funding for 10 separate projects across the Fifth District. This year, all of Cleaver's fifteen Community Project Funding requests were approved by the House Appropriations committee, totaling $39,250,000—which ranks 27th out of the 344 lawmakers who submitted Community Project Funding requests.

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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-house-democrats-pass-legislation-protect-reproductive,"Rep. Cleaver, House Democrats Pass Legislation to Protect Reproductive Freedom",2022-07-15,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8296, the Women's Health Protection Act, and H.R. 8297, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, to protect reproductive freedom nationwide and stop Republican state legislatures from criminalizing, fining, or suing Americans who exercise their constitutional right to travel across state lines to obtain a lawful abortion. U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was a cosponsor and voted in favor of both bills. Since the Supreme Court reversed nearly 50 years of legal precedent by overturning Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion, at least nine states, including Missouri, have banned abortion, with more bans expected soon.

""Since the Supreme Court made the extreme and disastrous decision to upend fifty years of legal precedent by overturning Roe and rescinding a constitutional right, we've seen numerous states, like Missouri, immediately take steps to criminalize the reproductive care that millions of Americans rely on,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""It is absolutely imperative that Democrats in Congress take immediate steps to protect a women's right to reproductive freedom and prevent states from using the law as a weapon against women and healthcare providers. As long as I am the Representative for the Fifth Congressional District, I will do everything in my power to defend a woman's constitutional right to choose, including advocating for a carve out of the filibuster to pass these critical pieces of legislation.""

Following the Texas State Legislature's passage of S.B. 8, an onerous and restrictive law banning abortion in nearly all circumstances after six weeks, in 2021, the number of people traveling to nearby states for abortions increased tenfold. While dozens of major companies have announced policies that cover travel expenses for employees seeking abortion care who are unable to obtain the service in their own state, Republican politicians have proposed extreme legislation aimed at preventing women from crossing state lines to obtain an abortion, including criminalizing those that provide assistance. One such bill was proposed by a Missouri state legislator, which would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps an individual obtain an abortion, including out-of-state physicians and any other person who helps get the patient across state lines.

To protect women, healthcare providers, and others, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would ensure no person acting under state law, can prevent restrict, impede, or otherwise retaliate against a person traveling across state lines to obtain a lawful abortion. Additionally, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would prohibit interference against:

A health care provider's ability to provide, initiate, or enable an abortion service that is lawful in the state in which the service is to be provided;

A person's ability to assist a health care provider to provide, initiate, or enable an abortion service that is lawful in the state in which the service is to be provided;

A person or entity's ability to assist someone traveling across a state line for the purpose of obtaining an abortion that is lawful in the state in which the service is to be provided; and

The movement in interstate commerce of any drug approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for the termination of a pregnancy.

The Women's Health Protection Act would once again make the protections afforded under Roe v. Wade the law nationwide. Before the Supreme Court's decision, Congressman Cleaver and the House of Representatives previously voted to pass the Women's Health Protection Act in September 2021; however, due to a Republican filibuster blocking a vote on the bill, it has stalled in the Senate.

Official text of the Women's Health Protection Act is available here.

Official text of the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-national-defense-authorization-act,"House of Representatives Passes National Defense Authorization Act, Including Cleaver’s Amendment to Promote Diversity in Appraisal Industry",2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, with U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voting in favor of the legislation. The bipartisan bill would authorize $839 billion in discretionary spending for national defense for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), give a much-needed pay raise to service members and the Department of Defense civilian workforce, make crucial investments in America's global network of alliances and partnerships to combat challenges from China and Russia, fund research and development needed to ensure the United States is prepared to confront challenges of the future, and more. The bill will now go to the Senate to be taken up for debate.

""Every year Congress must pass a national defense funding bill, and every year I try to weigh the pros and cons of the legislation to determine whether or not I can, in good conscience, support the Pentagon's budget. While there are certainly components of this legislation that I would prefer to cut out, Congress is about compromise and consensus—and I believe this year's NDAA is a fair compromise that provides our troops and their families with a substantial pay raise and additional benefits, reauthorizes defense programs critical to our national security, and gives America and her allies the strength and flexibility needed to face any challenge that should arise in the coming years,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""As this legislation heads to the Senate for additional debate, I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend the nation.""

Additionally, included in this year's NDAA is an amendment sponsored by Congressman Cleaver to promote greater diversity in the appraisal industry, which has acknowledged a history of bias. Cleaver's amendment would help to diversify the appraisal industry, which is approximately 98% White, by authorizing a $50 million federal grant program to promote diversity and inclusion in the appraisal profession through scholarships, training and education, implicit bias training, and more. The legislative language for the amendment comes from Cleaver's Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act, a bill he introduced in April 2021.

""For over a year now, I have pushed my colleagues in Congress for action to address the extremely troubling and long history of bias in the appraisal industry, which has helped contribute to homes in majority-Black neighborhoods being valued at roughly half the price as homes in neighborhoods with no Black residents,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I'm incredibly grateful to my colleagues in Congress for adopting my amendment to help diversify the appraisal industry, helping to combat discrimination in the industry and, hopefully, ensure Black homeowners receive fair value for their homes. While there is still work to be done to ensure the rest of my Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act is signed into law, this is a critical step in the right direction.""

Provisions from the FY23 NDAA that were supported by Rep. Cleaver include:

Key pay raises for service members and their families, including a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, 2.4% inflation bonuses for service members earning less than $45,000 per year, and a $15 per hour minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts. The legislation also adds $750 million for commissary to help reduce costs for servicemembers, creates a victims compensation fund to ensure survivors of interpersonal crimes have the financial resources they need, and increases access to behavioral health services for servicemembers and their families;

Support for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions, with more than $111 million allocated for research activities at HBCUs—triple the President's budget request—and the establishment of a pilot program to increase research capacity at minority-serving institutions;

Critical Investments in science and technology competitiveness, including $275 million in additional funding for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and software;

Supply chain security, including an assessment of dual-use technology that the Chinese Communist Party might exploit and improving risk management in Department of Defense supply chains;

Resources for America's allies and partners, including $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, and more than $7 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative;

Requiring the Department of Defense to address contamination associated around military installations by expanding the list of non-essential items containing PFAS that the Department is prohibited from procuring for use within the Department, requiring the Department to send a list of essential uses for PFAS, and reporting on its progress in minimizing the use of certain non-essential PFOS and PFOA containing items;

Improving Quality of Life and Innovation Infrastructure for Servicemembers and their Families by adding $1.7 billion to address poor and failing infrastructure, such as barracks and child development centers, and creating a required percentage of investment for sustainment of child development centers to address poor and failing facilities;

Extending the authorization of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) program as well as the deadline for those who qualify to apply for SIVs. The bill would also allow Afghans wounded during their service to the U.S. government to apply for the SIV program even if they have not met the one-year minimum employment threshold; and more.

""One of my highest priorities as the Representative of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri is the safety and security of our communities and the men and women who have chosen to serve our nation in uniform,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I believe this year's NDAA gives America a comprehensive security strategy to defend our citizens and the resources needed to implement it—which is why I was proud to support the bill. As we move forward, I will continue to engage with my colleagues in Congress to ensure we get the best defense funding bill that compromise will allow.""

Official text of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-helps-house-representatives-pass-legislation-support,Rep. Cleaver Helps House of Representatives Pass Legislation to Support Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances,2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, the House of Representatives passed S. 3373, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, otherwise known as the Honoring Our PACT Act, to deliver long overdue benefits to American veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) supported the bipartisan bill, which would finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans, including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Honoring Our PACT Act is the largest veterans' healthcare bill passed in decades and would expand VA healthcare to more than 3.5 million veterans.

""The debt we owe to the men and women who have served in our armed forces is impossible to fully repay, but today's action from the House of Representatives will ensure that millions of toxic-exposed veterans receive the healthcare and benefits they desperately need and deserve based upon their heroic service to the nation,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""For years I have heard from countless Missouri veterans who have pleaded with Congress to ensure those who were exposed to toxic substances, such as burn pits and Agent Orange, during their military service, rightfully, receive healthcare for service-related injuries and illnesses. Today, thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Democrats in Congress, we're finally taking necessary steps to care of those who valiantly fought for our freedoms abroad. I'm proud to have supported this historic legislation, which will undoubtedly save veterans' lives in the years ahead.""

Although American veterans have a long history of suffering from toxic substances, the VA has not recognized the effects of exposure to these substances or provided care to those suffering from illnesses or injuries related to such exposure. The Honoring Our PACT Act would right this wrong by:

Expanding VA healthcare eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;

Creating a streamlined framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;

Adding 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to the VA's list of service-connected presumptive illnesses, including hypertension;

Expanding coverage for illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure;

Including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;

Strengthening federal research on toxic exposure;

Improving the VA's resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and

Setting the VA and veterans up for success by making critical investments in VA claims processing, recruiting and retaining the VA's workforce, and expanding the VA's healthcare infrastructure.

The Honoring Our PACT Act is supported by more than 40 Veterans Service Organizations, including Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, Minority Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives of America, Disabled American Veterans, and more.

Official text of the Honoring Our PACT Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-bipartisan-bill-implement-active-shooter-alert-system,Rep. Cleaver Votes for Bipartisan Bill to Implement Active Shooter Alert System,2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6538, the Active Shooter Alert Act, to create a program similar to the AMBER Alert system so that law enforcement can immediately alert the public to active shooters in the community. U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) supported the bipartisan bill, which will now go to the U.S. Senate for a vote.

""With active shooter incidents becoming more prevalent in the United States, due to increasingly lax gun safety laws in states across the country, it is imperative that Congress give law enforcement additional tools to protect communities from mass shootings,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""As my fellow Democrats and I seek to build on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and continue to push the Senate take up proposals recently passed by the House of Representatives, such as the implementation of universal background checks, raising the purchasing age of AR-15s to twenty-one, and enacting a federal red flag law, it's important to take action where possible. The AMBER Alert system has proven effective at immediately notifying the public of a missing person, and the same type of system can be used to instantly alert the public when a shooter is at-large. Even a small step in the right direction is still progress, and I will continue to proudly support proposals like the life-saving Active Shooter Alert Act—because even one life saved is worth it.""

With active shooter incidents putting a larger strain on law enforcement officers, one of the many challenges expressed by law enforcement and independent review commissions investigating active shooter incidents is preventing additional victims from unknowingly walking into the line of fire. The Active Shooter Alert Act would help to address these concerns by:

Establishing an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice. The Coordinator would work with subject matter experts to develop best practices for local and state law enforcement to effectively improve or implement active shooter alert systems

Enabling the usage of the federal Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) to send out active shooter alerts.

Making the Active Shooter Alert program available for local law enforcement to utilize on a voluntary basis to improve their local system of letting civilians know to stay away and stay safe. Resources provided to state and local law enforcement would include:

Guidance developed by subject matter experts with the advice of an advisory panel, such as recommendations on making alerts in the vicinity of a shooter silent so the shooter is not alerted to those sheltered in place.

Advice on what information is most effective to include in public alerts and how alerts should be sent.

The Active Shooter Alert Act has strong support from law enforcement organizations and has been endorsed by the National Sheriff's Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Fraternal Order of Police, National Police Foundation, National District Attorneys Association, and numerous other local and state law enforcement agencies.

Official text of the Active Shooter Alert Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-calls-biden-waive-fertilizer-tariffs,Graves Calls on Biden to Waive Fertilizer Tariffs,2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) joined Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01), and 29 colleagues in calling on President Biden to invoke his authority to waive duties imposed by the Biden Administration on phosphate fertilizer products from Morocco and suspend the process to impose new duties on urea ammonium nitrate imports from Trinidad and Tobago.

“American farmers are taking a beating with sky high fertilizer, fuel, and input costs,” Graves said. “We don’t need new taxes that are only going to make the fertilizer we need to feed the world even more expensive. The President just used this same authority to waive tariffs on solar panel imports from Vietnam. It’s time he used it to stand up for farmers.”

On June 6, 2022, President Biden issued a Proclamation, “Declaration of Emergency and Authorization for Temporary Extensions of Time and Duty-Free Importation of Solar Cells and Modules from Southeast Asia,” waiving duties placed on solar cell imports from the Kingdom of Cambodia, Malaysia, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

This spring, Congressman Graves highlighted how supply chain issues and skyrocketing fertilizer costs were hurting farmers. Recent actions by the Biden Administration to impose new tariffs on fertilizer problems promise to make these challenges even more difficult for next year’s crop.

Image

Congressman Graves also joined his colleagues in repeatedly calling on the Biden Administration to not impose these harmful tariffs on fertilizer products in March and June.

You can read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-endorses-wagner-bill-hold-russia-accountable-war-ukraine,House Endorses Wagner Bill to Hold Russia Accountable for War in Ukraine,2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

“I was proud to vote in support of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that will strengthen our national security and fully support the members of our military who put their lives on the line for our freedoms. My Isolate Russian Government Officials Act, legislation that excludes Russian Government Officials from major financial and intergovernmental forums, as well as my legislation to honor Ulysses S. Grant, were approved in the final package. I also fought to include eight Super Hornet planes made here in St. Louis that will support thousands of local jobs. This NDAA also has my bipartisan and bicameral DEFEND Act, legislation that will help combat Iranian aggression and support our allies in the Middle East with an integrated air and missile defense system.”

Wagner Provisions Included

DEFEND Act

Ulysses S. Grant Bicentennial Recognition Act",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-assistant-speaker-clark-and-rep-wagner-introduce,"Rep. Cleaver, Assistant Speaker Clark, and Rep. Wagner Introduce Legislation to Reduce National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog",2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Ann Wagner (MO-02), and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05), along with 28 cosponsors, introduced the bipartisan Backlog Justice Act of 2022, a bill to help sexual assault survivors obtain justice by reducing the national sexual assault kit (SAK) backlog and streamlining the DNA kit testing process. The Backlog Justice Act of 2022 would establish a National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Database, invest in training programs to increase the number of DNA analysts that can process SAKs, and incentivize states to implement Electronic Evidence Tracking Systems for SAKs that would provide greater transparency into the testing process for survivors and their advocates.

It is estimated that there are currently hundreds of thousands of SAKs backlogged in police departments and crime lab facilities across the country. With each passing day, these backlogged SAKs run the risk of becoming contaminated as they go untested for long periods of time. Additionally, it is not uncommon for SAKs to become lost in storage facilities, ensuring that violent criminals remain at-large and sexual assault survivors lose any opportunity for long overdue justice.

""Every rape kit that is booked into evidence should be submitted to a crime lab for testing in a timely manner, period. Yet for far too long, our state-by-state patchwork of laws and the failure to implement a National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Database has allowed violent criminals to fall through the cracks and evade accountability, while sexual assault survivors wait in perpetuity for justice that fails to come,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""As we stand with countless courageous survivors across the country who are demanding more from their elected officials, I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan Backlog Justice Act of 2022 with Rep. Wagner and Assistant Speaker Clark, which will help quickly cut down on the sexual assault kit backlog and provide greater transparency for survivors and their advocates.""

""Survivors of sexual assault depend on our justice system to get the support they need and put the criminals who assaulted them behind bars. Any backlog in rape kit testing fails the survivors who bravely reported their assault and are attempting to find justice. I am proud to introduce this legislation that will build on my efforts to eliminate the rape kit backlog, give survivors the tools they need to recover, and get violent criminals off the streets,"" said Representative Wagner.

""Survivors of sexual assault are denied justice when DNA evidence sits untested for years. The current backlog in testing the DNA in sexual assault kits results in lost and contaminated evidence and allows criminals to escape accountability. I'm proud to introduce the Backlog Justice Act to establish a national database on backlogs, increase the number of DNA analysts nationwide, and take more critical steps to eliminate the backlog and restore justice,"" said Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark.

""The Joyful Heart Foundation thanks Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II, Katherine Clark, and Ann Wagner for responding to the national crisis of untested rape kits through legislation that strengthens the nation's ability to track and ultimately end the rape kit backlog,"" said Ilse Knecht, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Joyful Heart Foundation. ""Increasing transparency and accountability through a national rape kit tracking system and enhancing DNA analyst training shows significant steps towards creating a justice system that puts survivors first. We also applaud the inclusion of programs aimed at gaining vital information and data about child sexual abuse, an epidemic that affects 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States.""

""Survivors deserve to have their sexual assault kits processed in transparent, timely manner. We are grateful to Reps. Cleaver, Clark, and Wagner for introducing the Backlog Justice Act of 2022. This bill will provide incentives for states to develop rape kit tracking systems, which empower survivors by giving them access to information about the status of their kits. It will also help reduce the rape kit backlog by increasing the capacity of DNA labs to test kits and help streamline processing of these kits nationwide,"" said Erin Earp, RAINN Senior Legislative Policy Counsel.

""I'm very impressed with the thoroughness of Congressman Cleaver's office to gather input from a variety of stakeholders in order to file this important and needed legislation. Although states like Missouri have made tremendous progress in their response to sexual assault, this bill addresses barriers that impact survivor experiences seeking justice, and how the federal government can help with consistency, accountability and transparency across state lines and jurisdictions. When we all come together to address complex social issues like sexual assault, creative solutions emerge,"" said Jennifer Carter Dochler, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence Public Policy Director.

To cut down on the SAK backlog, the Backlog Justice Act of 2022 would:

Direct the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish, maintain, and update a National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Database, enabling policymakers and advocates alike to have more comprehensive data so that they can recommend and implement more precise policies and funding levels that would more effectively reduce the backlog.

Authorize training programs at the FBI laboratory to increase the number of DNA analysts available to test SAKs in crime labs across the country, as the severe understaffing of crime labs is a key factor contributing to the backlog in testing.

Shift the burden of DNA instrument calibration and validation from individual crime labs to the FBI laboratory. In many jurisdictions, untested SAKs have outpaced the resources to test, process, and profile DNA samples in crime labs. One major reason for this is because lab technicians are often having to spend outsized portions of their time testing and validating the lab instruments used in the DNA testing process. By transferring much of the instrument validation burden over to FBI labs, DNA analysts in crime labs across the country would be able to focus more of their time and resources on testing SAKs.

Incentivize states to implement Electronic Evidence Tracking Systems for SAKs to increase transparency into the testing process for survivors and their advocates.

The Backlog Justice Act of 2022 is cosponsored by Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Andre Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02) Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Jim Costa (CA-16), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Suzan Delbene (WA-01), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Annie Kuster (NH-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Al Lawson (FL-05), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At-Large), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Katie Porter (CA-45), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Mark Takano (CA-41), Dina Titus (NV-01), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

The Backlog Justice Act of 2022 is endorsed by the Joyful Heart Foundation, RAINN, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, Consent Action Network, Consortium of Forsensic Science Organizations, End Rape on Campus, Faith Trust Institute, and It's On Us.

Official text of the Backlog Justice Act of 2022 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 Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; 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",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-house-ag-committee-republican-leader-thompson-hold-wotus-roundtable,"Graves, House Ag Committee Republican Leader Thompson Hold WOTUS Roundtable in Platte County",2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican Leader Sam Graves (MO-06) joined the Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Missouri Farm Bureau for a roundtable with local farmers on the Biden Administration’s proposed “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule at the Richardson Family Farm near Camden Point, Missouri.

“These attempts to redefine navigable waters of the United States to include practically every dry ditch and puddle in this country have gone on for far too long,” Graves said. “Farmers, ranchers, and landowners need a clear definition that protects our water resources and private property rights. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is trying to drag us back to an Obama-era definition that would require farmers to get a permission slip from the government every time we want to do anything with our land. It’s wrong and we’re going to do everything we can to stop this continued overreach.”

“The looming threat to redefine Waters of the United States plunges farmers, ranchers, and landowners back into a red tape nightmare,” said Thompson. “I’m grateful to Republican Leader Graves for the invitation to hear directly from farmers in his district about the devastating impact this would have. Every voice matters in fighting back against President Biden’s harmful regulatory regime.”

Image

Image

Image

Graves and Thompson, along with 199 of their colleagues, sent an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to limit the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act while considering the case Sackett v. EPA this fall. You can view a comprehensive list of all the actions Congressman Graves has taken to push back on the Biden Administration’s attempted WOTUS overreach as Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-statement-fatal-amtrak-accident,Graves Statement on Fatal Amtrak Accident,2022-06-27,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Graves, Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement after today’s fatal Amtrak train derailment in Chariton County near Mendon, Missouri.

“I’m deeply saddened to learn of the lives lost and the injuries sustained by those who were involved in the train accident today in Chariton County. I’m thankful for the emergency personnel and first responders from across the state who quickly responded to the accident and my heart goes out to all those affected by this horrible tragedy.

“I am in close contact with the National Transportation Safety Board, Amtrak, and the Federal Railroad Administration. My staff and I are available to assist those affected in any way possible.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-helps-pass-historic-gun-safety-legislation-protect-missouri,Rep. Cleaver Helps Pass Historic Gun Safety Legislation to Protect Missouri Communities,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America's children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of gun violence in communities across nation. The first major gun violence prevention bill in three decades, the legislation would close the boyfriend loophole, enhance background checks, strengthen mental health services for children and families, and invest in safer schools throughout the country.

""As America continues to face a rising tide of gun violence across the nation, now more than ever, it is imperative that Congress show the public that we can take action to protect our communities and save lives. Today, we took a major step in the right direction,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""While I am not pollyannaish enough to believe that this legislation will end our nation's addiction to weapons of war, it is the first gun safety legislation passed by Congress in decades—and it will unquestionably save lives in the future. As we celebrate this victory today, we must continue to push for common sense gun safety laws that will prevent the possibility of senseless and heartbreaking shootings tomorrow. If other developed nations can find a way to dramatically cut down on gun violence, then so can the United States. I remain committed to working toward solutions that will help us do just that.""

To protect Americans from mass shootings and senseless gun violence, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will:

Support State Crisis Intervention Orders with $750 million for states to create and administer laws that will ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals determined by a court to be a significant danger to themselves or others, and for extreme risk protection orders that have sufficient due process.

Protect victims of domestic violence by closing the boyfriend loophole, adding convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS).

Ban gun trafficking and crack down on straw purchases, combatting criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifying which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records. It also creates federal straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses for the first time, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.

Enhance background checks for people under 21, requiring an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement for buyers under 21 years of age, which will create an enhanced, longer background check of up to ten days.

Invest in anti-violence community initiatives, with $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.

Strengthen children and family mental health services by supporting the national expansion of community behavioral health centers; improving access to mental health services for children, youth, and families through the Medicaid program and CHIP; increasing access to mental health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth; and providing major investments at the Department of Health and Human Services to programs that expand provider training in mental health.

Invest in safer schools by expanding mental health and supportive services in schools, including early identification and intervention programs, school-based mental health and wrap-around services, improvements to school-wide learning conditions, and school safety.

Official text of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleavers-statement-supreme-court-overturning-roe-v-wade,Rep. Cleaver’s Statement on the Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced it has overturned Roe v. Wade.

""To say I am disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and decades of legal precedent—supported by conservative and liberal justices alike—would be an understatement of epic proportions. I, along with tens of millions of Americans, am disgusted and infuriated that the McConnell majority on the highest court in the land has concluded that women across this nation have no right to bodily autonomy or reproductive freedom. Instead, they believe the lives and family decisions of each and every woman in America should be controlled by politicians and gerrymandered state legislatures.

""Today's decision sets our nation back over 50 years, ensuring that for the first time in generations, women today will have fewer rights than their mothers before them. Additionally, it busts down the door to the real possibility that other rights, such as access to contraception, the right to marry whomever you love, and the right to privacy, could be struck down in the near future. It is an expansion of government power the likes of which we have not seen in decades. And it guarantees that states across the country, including Missouri, which has already enacted an abortion ban with no exception for rape or incest, will seek to further criminalize the health care decisions that should only belong to a woman and her doctor.

""The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that its justices have become so insular that they are completely out of touch with the American people. In two days, they have released two decisions so widely out of step with the overwhelming majority of the public that one can only interpret them as a slap in face to Americans who believe in an independent, nonpartisan judicial branch of government. And because of Mitch McConnell and the ideologues on the court, that essential tenet to America's rule of law appears to be more and more impossible with each passing day.

""However, in spite of this ludicrous decision, we must not be defeated, but defiant; we must not feel powerless, but persistent. All Americans who support a woman's right to choose and the right to privacy must stand together to make their voices heard—today and every day. I will continue doing everything in my power to defend the freedoms that Americans have fought, marched, and died for—but it's going to take all of us to right this malicious wrong.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-votes-against-senate-gun-control-bill,Graves Votes Against Senate Gun Control Bill,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) released the following statement after voting against S.2938, the Senate’s gun control bill.

“I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. I don’t support unconstitutional ‘red flag’ laws. The federal government shouldn’t be paying states to infringe on the rights of law-abiding Americans. We can—and must—secure our schools without trampling all over the Second Amendment.”

Earlier this month, Congressman Graves introduced the Secure Every School and Protect Our Nation’s Children Actto increase resources for school security and mental health without infringing on our Second Amendment rights.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-ann-wagner-supreme-courts-decision-overturn-roe-v-wade,Congresswoman Ann Wagner on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe V Wade,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Ann Wagner,W000812,wagner.house.gov,wagner,https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Chair of the House Suburban Caucus, today spoke at a press conference on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade and return the decision to the people and their elected state representatives.

You can find her full remarks at the House Republican press conference here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-protect-access-school-meals-missouri-children,Congressman Cleaver Votes to Protect Access to School Meals for Missouri Children,2022-06-23,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 8150, the Keep Kids Fed Act, which would ensure that schools in Missouri and across the country can continue providing meals for students despite ongoing supply chain issues. The Keep Kids Fed Act would allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional assistance to child nutrition programs by reimbursing them at a higher rate as they continue to serve healthy meals.

""As our nation and economy continue to recover from the global pandemic, like many other entities, school meal programs in Missouri and other states across the country are still grappling with supply chain shortages and cost barriers. Because no child should wonder where their next meal will come from, the Keep Kids Fed Act will make sure they don't have to by providing additional assistance so that schools in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri can continue to provide students the healthy and nutritious food they need to learn and grow strong,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I'm proud to have voted for this legislation, and as we take this important step in the fight to address child hunger, I will continue working on a bipartisan basis to support our nation's children by bolstering school nutrition programs.""

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Congress gave USDA critical flexibilities to help child nutrition programs continue serving children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief has helped feed hungry students in Missouri during school closures, virtual learning, and social distancing that disrupted traditional meal service. Without the Keep Kids Fed Act, those flexibilities provided under the FFCRA would expire on June 30, limiting schools' ability to maintain school meal programs.

To ensure America's children can continue to access school meal programs, the Keep Kids Fed Act would:

Provide nationwide waiver authority for school meal flexibilities that do not increase costs;

Allow waivers related to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during the summer months;

Increase reimbursement rates for the 2022-2023 school year by an additional 15 cents per breakfast and 40 cents per lunch; and

Provide enhanced support to the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program.

Official text of the Keep Kids Fed Act is available here.

A fact sheet on the Keep Kids Fed Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-historic-legislation-strengthen-mental-health-care,"Rep. Cleaver Votes for Historic Legislation to Strengthen Mental Health Care, Substance Use Disorder Services",2022-06-22,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, to strengthen mental health care and provide the resources necessary to address the mental health and substance use disorder crises facing millions of Americans. The historic legislation would support Americans with mental health challenges by strengthening and expanding more than 30 critical programs that collectively support mental health care and substance use disorder prevention, care, treatment, and recovery support services in communities across the United States.

""While the global pandemic has undoubtedly exacerbated the challenge, it's been clear to anyone paying attention that America is in the midst of a mental health and substance use disorder crisis. Sadly, we still don't have the necessary mental health care infrastructure to support the millions of Americans who are in need of help. But today the House of Representatives is taking action to change that,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I was proud to support the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act because it will provide long overdue investments that ensure more Americans will have access to professional mental health and substance use disorder services—which will help to combat the opioid epidemic, a rise in youth suicide, and other increasingly prevalent mental illnesses and disorders. While this won't solve all of America's mental health challenges, it will lead to a brighter future for millions of Americans yearning for help.""

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 percent of adults in America will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, and one in five children has or will have a seriously debilitating mental illness. Additionally, more than two million people in the United States have an opioid use disorder and nearly 108,000 Americans died of overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020. Despite these staggering statistics, roughly 122 million Americans live in areas experiencing mental health professional shortages, leading to less than 2 percent of individuals in need of substance use disorder treatment to get the care they need.

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act would help to address the mental health and substance use disorder crises by:

Expanding more than 30 critical programs that collectively support mental health care and substance use disorder services across the country, including the establishment of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Crisis Coordination Office, the development of crisis response best practices, additional adult suicide prevention services, treatment for those with serious mental illnesses, support for pregnant or postpartum women, and more. The bill also provides increased investments in the Community Mental Health Services Block Grants so that states, territories, and Tribes can provide additional services for adults and children with serious mental health conditions.

Cutting red tape to combat the nation's opioid epidemic by eliminating the X-waiver, which imposes arbitrary limits on insurance providers' ability to prescribe buprenorphine, and barriers in access to methadone, another evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorders. Additionally, the legislation enhances training for practitioners who prescribe controlled substances to reduce stigma and increase their ability to identify and treat substance use disorders.

Bolstering the behavioral health workforce and increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder care and coverage through additional investments in the Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants and by integrating behavioral health into primary care.

Supporting mental health awareness and substance use disorder prevention for children and young Americans with continued investment in Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Grants and increased support for a plethora of programs intended to provide services for a range of ages and mental health needs, from infant and early childhood mental health promotion to comprehensive community services for children with serious emotional disturbances.

Strengthening Medicaid behavioral health services for children by ensuring that state Medicaid programs have the resources needed to implement and build upon telehealth and in-school services that have proven to be effective strategies at increasing children's access to mental health care. Additionally, the bill would authorize federal Medicaid funding for mental health services for juveniles in pre-trial detention, conduct mental health screening prior to their release, and ensure they are not discharged without linkages to treatment in the community.

Congressman Cleaver has been a longtime supporter of strengthening mental health and substance use disorder services in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Last year, Cleaver re-introduced the Cady Housh and Gemesha Thomas Student Suicide Prevention Act to provide schools, teachers, and students with the tools and knowledge needed to assist children struggling with their mental health. Additionally, Cleaver secured $2.5 million this year to create a state-of-the-art substance use treatment center in the heart of Kansas City's UMKC Health Sciences District.

Official text of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-slams-biden-administration-effort-force-layoffs-lake-city-army,Graves Slams Biden Administration Effort to Force Layoffs  at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant,2022-06-20,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), along with 48 of their House Republican colleagues, led the call urging President Biden to immediately end consideration of banning commercial production of certain types of 5.56mm ammunition at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri. If pursued, this decision will result in the immediate termination of up to 500 highly skilled employees and undermine the facility’s ability to hire and retain the skilled workforce needed to carry out the contract with the Department of Defense.

For years, the U.S. Army has allowed the operating contractor of the Government-Owned, Contractor Operated Lake City Army Ammunition Plant to produce 5.56mm ammunition for commercial sales that exceeds U.S. Military needs. Having the ability to produce this product for commercial sale allows the contractor to maintain capacity and keep the facility at a high state of readiness, at no cost to the government. This ensures the Army is ready to ramp up production in the event of a national emergency. Lake City currently produces a significant portion of this type of 5.56mm ammunition for the commercial market.

“This is the second time President Biden has tried to force devastating layoffs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in the last two years,” said Graves. “This underhanded attack on the highly skilled union workers of Lake City is disgraceful, it threatens to severely degrade our ability to produce ammunition for our military, and it undermines the right of law-abiding Americans to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights. This has to stop.”

“This is a backdoor attempt by President Biden to bypass Congress and ban legal and highly popular commercial ammunition used by law-abiding Americans across the country,” Hartzler said. “The Biden administration has made their priorities clear: dismantle the Second Amendment, compromise military readiness, and push inflation to new heights. It’s time for the Biden Administration to stop its attack on our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.”

In the letter, the members state:

“Severely limiting the commercially available 5.56mm ammunition, which is most popularly used in modern sporting rifles (MSRs), is effectively a politically sanctioned semi-automatic rifle ban. This blatantly infringes on the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution by limiting law-abiding gun owners’ ability to legally purchase or use lawful semi-automatic rifles.”

Read the letter in its entirety here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-bipartisan-package-lower-food-and-fuel-costs,Rep. Cleaver Votes for Bipartisan Package to Lower Food and Fuel Costs,2022-06-16,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 7606, the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a package of bipartisan bills to combat inflation and reduce costs on Missouri families. The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would do this by strengthening the food and agriculture supply chain, creating greater competition in the meat and poultry industries, and expanding access to cheaper biofuels known as E-15 or Unleaded 88.

""As Missouri families are struggling to keep up with rising gas and food prices caused by the pandemic and Putin's despicable invasion of Ukraine, combatting global inflation is the top priority for myself and the rest of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""It is imperative that Congress come together to pass common sense legislation that will alleviate price pressures on American farmers, ranchers, and the entire agriculture industry so that those cost savings can then be passed on to hardworking families at the supermarket—and that's what the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would do. Additionally, by expanding access to significantly cheaper biofuels like Unleaded 88, we can support our corn growers and lower costs at the gas pump. That's a win-win in my book, and I'm hopeful that the U.S. Senate will not allow this bipartisan package of bills to die in the upper chamber while Missourians continue to pay the price.""

The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would:

Lower fertilizer costs in the field to lower food prices in the supermarket: Russia and Ukraine are major global producers of key components of fertilizer, and Putin's evil war has dramatically driven up the costs of fertilizer for Missouri farmers, which, in turn, has driven up the prices on supermarket shelves. The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would reduce America's dependence on foreign fertilizer production and includes bipartisan bills to help farmers lower their costs with USDA funds and loan guarantees to pay for solutions, including precision agriculture, to use fertilizers more efficiently.

Lower meat and poultry costs by increasing competition and capacity in the meatpacking industry: Unfair, anti-competitive practices by the four major meatpacking conglomerates who dominate the market are driving up the price of meat and poultry, even as many of the ranchers who raise the beef, pork, and chicken are forced to accept prices that make it nearly impossible to make ends meet. The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would strengthen competition in the meat and poultry industry and alleviate supply chain bottlenecks that have allowed meatpacking giants to set bad prices for producers and consumers alike.

Lower prices at the gas pump by making cheaper, cleaner Unleaded 88 more available: America-made ethanol grown by American farmers is one of our most powerful tools to fight Putin's Price Hike at the pump, and next generation biofuel infrastructure can make it even cleaner and more efficient to produce. Unleaded 88, otherwise known as E-15, is typically a cleaner, cheaper fuel option that costs, on average, approximately 40 cents less per gallon, emits less carbon pollution, and burns cleaner than regular gas. The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would expand access to Unleaded 88 and help deploy storage and dispensing equipment for higher ethanol blends, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel.

As Democrats in Congress continue working to combat global inflation, earlier this week the House of Representatives also took action to crack down on exorbitant ocean shipping fees that have inflated prices on goods by passing the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which will be signed by President Biden today.

Official text of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-chairman-cleavers-bill-spur-economic,House of Representatives Passes Chairman Cleaver’s Bill to Spur Economic Development in Underserved Communities,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2543, the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act, a package of several bills from the House Financial Services Committee focused on promoting racial and economic justice. Included in the legislation was H.R. 7733, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act would stimulate greater economic development in underserved communities by reauthorizing the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program for four years and implementing reforms to ensure smaller Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can access the program, giving support to more community development projects in the most economically distressed areas.

""According to the Federal Reserve, Black and Latino households earn about half as much as the average White household and own only 15 to 20 percent as much net wealth. As the United States continues to build back from the global pandemic, my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee and I are committed to ensuring our economic recovery is equitable and enjoyed by every community across the nation, including those who have been traditionally underserved by the financial system,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""That's why I am extraordinarily proud to have worked on the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act, which would expand access to credit and critical financial services, support minority-owned small businesses, and strengthen Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions that have a proven track record of serving our most underserved communities.""

""And I am particularly proud that my bipartisan CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act was included in the bill passed by the House of Representatives today—which would help to spur much needed economic development in rural, minority, and low-income communities by reauthorizing the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and lowering the minimum issuance threshold to allow more CDFIs to participate in this successful program,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""I have long prided myself on reaching across the aisle to get things done for the people of Missouri's Fifth District. With this bill's bipartisan support, I'm hopeful my colleagues in the Senate will quickly send it to the President's desk for signature.""

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program was created in 2010 to provide long-term capital to CDFIs across the country at no expense to American taxpayers. While the program's authorization lapsed in 2014, it has been extended on a year-by-year basis through annual appropriations legislation. As currently codified, CDFI borrowers must have a loan size of at least $100 million to participate in the program—which allows for only relatively large and often complex multi-party applications.

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act would reauthorize the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program for another four years and lower the minimum loan threshold to $25 million, enabling smaller CDFIs to access the benefits of the program and stimulate additional community development projects in rural, urban, and Tribal communities across the country.

The Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, Asian Real Estate Association of America, Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research, Center for Responsible Lending, CDFI Coalition, NAACP, National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders, National Bankers Association, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center, National Rural Housing Coalition, National Housing Resource Center, and more.

Official text of the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act is available here.

Official text of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-leads-call-cao-equal-pay-house-contractors,Rep. Cleaver Leads Call to CAO for Equal Pay for House Contractors,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) led a coalition of 29 House Democrats calling on the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to ensure contractors of the House of Representatives receive equal pay for equal work. Specifically, Cleaver and fellow Democrats called on the CAO to investigate and rectify disparities in pay for employees of Maslow Media Group, Inc. (Maslow), which has a contract with the House Recording Studio (HRS) to supply Television Production Specialists.

In the letter to Chief Administrator Officer Catherine Szpindor, Cleaver and fellow lawmakers wrote:

""These Maslow employees work side-by-side with HRS employees performing the same duties and responsibilities. However, the Maslow employees earn substantially less than the HRS employees and have few, if any, benefits (such as retirement, health insurance, etc.) available to them. As we understand the situation, the difference in pay between the Maslow employees and the HRS employees is the result of the contract between the Chief Administrative Officer and Maslow.""

The lawmakers continued:

""We believe that employees who perform the same work under the same conditions should be paid the same rate, whether they are direct employees of the CAO or employees of a contractor. We strongly urge you to work with us, the House Administration Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee to take the following actions.""

The actions requested by the lawmakers include:

Allocating sufficient funds under the Maslow Contract to increase the wage rates paid to Maslow employees so that they are equivalent to the rates paid to HRS employees;

Ensuring sufficient additional funding to enable Maslow to pay these increased wage rates to its employees;

Making the required amendments in the Maslow Contract to ensure that Maslow's employees receive the increases in their wage rates; and

Making the necessary changes to the contracting process to ensure that future contracts covering these Television Production Specialists provide for the payment of wages equal to the earnings of HRS employees who perform the same work under the same conditions.

""For far too long, Maslow workers have worked side-by-side with their House Recording Studio counterparts performing the same duties, yet Maslow workers make lower wages and receive less benefits. Maslow workers broadcast messages of pay equity and dignity and respect in the workplace from the House of Representatives—and now it's time the lawmakers they serve start speaking out for them and try to rectify this injustice. Thank you to Representative Cleaver and all the Members who signed on. This brings us one step closer to making sure that our members who provide vital services for the House of Representatives are paid fairly,"" said Bob Williams, President of NABET-CWA Local 52031.

Joining Cleaver's call for equal pay for House Contractors and Maslow Employees were Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), David Trone (D-MD), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Andre Carson (D-IN), Dina Titus (D-NV), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Marie Newman (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mark Pocan (D-WI), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Andy Levin (D-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Alma Adams (D-NC), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA).

Official text of Cleaver's letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-announces-winners-2022-6th-congressional-district-art-competition,Graves Announces Winners of 2022 6th Congressional District Art Competition,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Kansas City, MO – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) has announced the winners of the annual 6th Congressional District Art Competition.

The following works were selected for awards:

1st Place: Maegan Ericksen, Underwater Scape, Liberty HS

2nd Place: Sam Brusven, The Complex, Liberty HS

3rd Place: Addison Brooks, Fire Portrait, Platte County HS

“North Missouri is full of talented young artists. Once again, they’ve created some impressive artwork and I’m happy that we can showcase it,” Graves said.

“Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to our winners.”

High school students from across North Missouri submitted artwork for this years’ competition. The artwork was judged by Northwest Missouri State University’s Art Department. The first place artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel in the US Capitol complex. 2nd and 3rd place artwork will be displayed in Graves’ Kansas City District Office.

PHOTOS:

First Place: Underwater Scape byMaegan Ericksen, Liberty High School

Image

Second Place: The Complex by Sam Brusven, Liberty High School

Image

Third Place: Fire Portrait by Addison Brooks, Platte County High School

Image

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-protect-americas-wildlife-secures-nearly-21-million,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Protect America’s Wildlife, Secures Nearly $21 Million to Support Conservation in Missouri",2022-06-14,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 2773, the Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA), which would provide $1.3 billion and amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Act to assist in conserving, restoring, and protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat in Missouri and other states, territories and Tribal lands across the United States. Included in this bipartisan bill, which was cosponsored by Rep. Cleaver, is $20,966,804 for Missouri to help manage fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need.

""As the world faces the existential threat of climate change, it's important to remember that our planet is also facing a biodiversity crisis—and it's important that Congress take bipartisan action and provide the funding needed for wildlife and habitat conservation that will protect our most endangered species and ecosystems. With the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, that's precisely what we're doing and why I was proud to vote for this bipartisan bill,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""Missourians have a rich history when it comes to wildlife conservation, and I'm thrilled that I was able to secure nearly $21 million that will go toward protecting Missouri's wildlife, making our conservation efforts more effective and cost-efficient, boosting our outdoor economy, and addressing climate change by building more resilient ecosystems—which will ensure all Missourians and their children's children are able to enjoy Missouri's wildlife as we have.""

State, territory, and Tribal governments carry out most wildlife management and conservation through their State Wildlife Action Plans, but those plans rely on consistent, dependable federal funding. While current federal funding sources, like the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Act, are inadequate, the Recovering America's Wildlife Act will provide sufficient funding to meet America's conservation needs.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would:

Protect threatened and endangered species: at least 15% of RAWA funding must be spent on species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act or are considered threatened or endangered under Tribal law.

Make wildlife conservation more effective and cost-efficient: RAWA funding will help states, territories, and Tribes put conservation measures in place for species before they become threatened or endangered, making species protection less difficult and less costly. RAWA will also provide much-needed funding for non-hunted species.

Address climate change by building more resilient ecosystems: State Wildlife Action Plans often include habitat restoration projects (e.g., removing invasive species, fighting wildlife disease) that simultaneously benefit forest, watershed, and coastal health. These improvements help make ecosystems more resilient to severe weather events caused by climate change, including wildfires, hurricanes, and drought.

Boost the outdoor economy: By supporting wildlife conservation, RAWA funds will boost our $887 billion outdoor economy, which already supports over 7.6 million jobs and is fueled by more than 100 million American wildlife enthusiasts, hunters, anglers, birders, and hikers. A small portion of the funds will also support wildlife education.

Official text of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cleaver-votes-strengthen-ocean-shipping-supply-chains-crack-down,"Rep. Cleaver Votes to Strengthen Ocean Shipping Supply Chains, Crack Down on Price Gouging",2022-06-13,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,MO,Emanuel Cleaver,C001061,cleaver.house.gov,cleaver,https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of S. 3580, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which was already passed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support and would help lower costs for American consumers by addressing supply chain challenges and cracking down on exorbitant fees by international ocean shipping companies. The bill would give the Federal Maritime Commission new tools that will give it a greater ability to police the market and ensure that American products and American farmers are not being overcharged or left on the dock.

""Outrageous and exorbitant fees charged by international ocean shipping companies have made critical goods more expensive than necessary for hardworking Missouri families. It's unacceptable, and it's about time that Congress came together to do something about it,"" said Congressman Cleaver. ""The bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act will give the Federal Maritime Commission and the Biden Administration additional tools to ensure American consumers are not being price gouged at a time when families are struggling to get by. I am committed to working with President Biden and across the aisle to lower costs for the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is one important step toward that goal.""

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act builds on the House of Representatives' ongoing work to strengthen supply chains and bring down costs for working families. Later this week, the House will vote on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to slash prices in the grocery store and at the gas pump by supporting America's farmers and ranchers. Previously, the House of Representatives passed the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act with Rep. Cleaver's support to combat Big Oil's excessive gas price hikes. Additionally, earlier this year, the House passed the America COMPETES Act to strengthen the United States' broken supply chains and prevent goods shortages. Lastly, the Cleaver-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivered $17 billion in funding for ports and waterways across the United States—the largest-ever federal investment in port infrastructure.

Specifically, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act would:

Stop international ocean carriers from unreasonably declining American cargo space, as determined by the Federal Maritime Commission;

Direct the Federal Maritime Commission to self-initiate investigations of ocean carriers' business practices and apply enforcement measures;

Shift the burden of proof regarding overcharging certain container fees, called ""demurrage and detention"" charges, from the complainant to the international ocean carriers to help level the playing field and improve the Federal Maritime Commission's enforcement capacity;

Improve transparency of movement of U.S. agricultural and other exports by requiring international ocean carriers to report to the Federal Maritime Commission regarding how many empty containers are being transported;

Stop retaliation by international shipping companies against exporters and importers;

Formally establish the Federal Maritime Commission Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services to improve the complaint and investigation process for American businesses seeking assistance from the Federal Maritime Commission; and

Authorize the Federal Maritime Commission for Fiscal Year 2022 through Fiscal Year 2025 and increasing the funding for the Federal Maritime Commission from $32 million in FY22 up to nearly $50 million in FY25, giving the Commission the funding it needs for an enhanced role.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is supported by a coalition of more than 94 key trade groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, American Association of Exporters and Importers, National Retail Federation, American Chemistry Council, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Association of Food Industries, Consumer Technology Association, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and more.

Official text of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-approves-water-resources-development-act-2022,House Approves the Water Resources Development Act of 2022,2022-06-09,2022,2022-06,Republican,House,MO,Sam Graves,G000546,graves.house.gov,graves,https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Graves joined Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member David Rouzer (R-NC) in introducing H.R. 7776 last month.

Official text of the legislation is available here.

More information on WRDA 2022 can be found here.

Critically, the bill includes the following priorities for North Missourians:

Interception-Rearing Complexes (IRCs)

WRDA 2022 places strict limitations on the construction of new IRCs on the Missouri river and ensures the Corps of Engineers takes immediate action to address any negative impacts on navigation, flood control, or bank erosion caused by the construction of IRCs. Additionally, the bill requires all mitigation lands along the Missouri River acquired with federal funds to be counted towards the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Projects goal of 166,000 acres. Currently, only lands acquired or mitigated with Corps of Engineers BSNP Mitigation funds can be counted. Land mitigated with funding from other federal agencies is not counted.

Levee Maintenance

In 2014, the Corps of Engineers placed new video inspection requirements on local levee districts. This new requirement left levee districts staring down massive bills to perform the required inspections to stay in the PL 84-99 program. In some cases, local levee districts don’t even have the legal authority to raise local taxes enough to fund these inspections. WRDA 2022 reverses this unfunded mandate and requires the Corps to work with levee districts to get these inspections done and ensure districts remain in compliance.

Bank Erosion

This legislation creates a new demonstration program to address bank erosion impacting levee districts and private landowners on the Lower Missouri River based on prior efforts on the Upper Missouri River.

Projects in North Missouri",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z