Congressman Smith Speaks to Area SchoolsCongressman Jason Smith spoke with 7-12th grade students at Summersville High School November 9 and talked about everything from policy to political ideology. Jason Smith said, “Great to see the kids at Mountain Grove Middle School! These kids are leaders already. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish.” Congressman Smith talks with students at West St. Francois County High SchoolToday Congressman Jason Smith brought Congress to the classroom, speaking with freshman American Government students at West County High School. Congressman Smith took questions from students on a variety of topics and shared his personal story in the hopes of inspiring the next generation of leaders. Pictured: Congressman Smith takes questions from students "Students don’t always understand how much legislation affects them," said Smith. "Issues like social security or student loans will have ... Smith teaches students lesson about paying attention to politicsU.S. Rep. Jason Smith takes questions from sixth-grade students during a visit to Scott City Middle School on Friday. U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, visited with sixth-graders Friday at Scott City Middle School, where he stressed the importance of staying up-to-date on decisions made by legislators and answered questions from students. At the beginning of his visit, Smith asked the students whether they followed decisions he made during the previous week, and many responded, "No." He then aske... Congressman Jason Smith Statement on Speaker Paul RyanToday, Congressman Jason Smith released the following statement: “Today I cast my vote in support of Paul Ryan as the new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Paul is someone with deep Midwestern roots and values, and his election as Speaker represents a new direction for House Republicans; a new direction for America. “Paul Ryan is my Chairman on the House Ways & Means Committee and I am glad that he will now Chair the people’s House. He is a true policy leader and I have never worked... Hardwood Checkoff Dropped by USDA After Action by Congressman Jason SmithOn Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would drop the proposed “hardwood checkoff” after opposition from Congressman Jason Smith and other members of the Missouri congressional delegation. The program would have hurt small forestry businesses in our area by forcing them to pay mandatory assessments for the USDA to conduct research and execute a public relations campaign. The plan was opposed by forestry groups in the state and around the country, including the Missou... Congressman Smith urges DNR to rethink Oregon County land acquisitionLast week, Congressman Jason Smith sent a letter to the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expressing concerns over the Southeast Missouri Ozarks Regional Restoration Plan’s attempt to acquire lands in Oregon County and lack of transparency. The proposal calls for the DNR to acquire 2,463 acres of land in Oregon County, funded with money from a lawsuit filed by the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District against lead smelter ASARCO. The damaged lands in the lawsuit d... Congressman Smith Blasts Governor Nixon Over Oregon County Land Transfer, Asserts Deal Misuses FundsToday, Congressman Jason Smith called Governor Nixon’s proposal to transfer private land to state control in Oregon County “a clear misuse of funds.” Governor Nixon’s Missouri Department of Natural Resources plans to buy the land in Oregon County with money set aside in a lawsuit settlement to restore land damaged by lead mining. The problem is that the counties damaged in the lawsuit are nowhere near Oregon County. “As much as the governor’s administration may want to stake their legacy on thi... Congressman Smith says Nixon’s land-use deal ‘misuses funds’Calling it a “clear misuse of funds,” U.S. Rep. Jason Smith has taken Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to task over a state proposal to transfer private land to state control in Oregon County. Smith’s office issued a news release Monday evening that addresses the plan that would allow the state Department of Natural Resources to buy land in Oregon County. The land would be bought with money set aside in a lawsuit settlement, the release said, that is intended to be used for restoration to land damaged b... Congressman Smith Urges DNR to Rethink Oregon County Land GrabToday, Congressman Jason Smith sent a letter to the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expressing concerns over the Southeast Missouri Ozarks Regional Restoration Plan’s (SMORRP) attempt to acquire lands in Oregon County and lack of transparency. The proposal calls for the DNR to acquire 2,463 acres of land in Oregon County, funded with money from a lawsuit filed by the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District against lead smelter ASARCO. The damaged lands in the laws... Congressman Smith Demands Better Communication from DNR on Proposed Land Purchase in Oregon CountyLast week, Congressman Jason Smith sent a letter to the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asking for better communication about the department’s planned purchase of 2,463 acres in Oregon County. In the letter, Congressman Smith urged DNR to extend the comment period for this project and to host a public meeting so that community members may voice their opinions. “I am deeply concerned about the implications this purchase would have on our area,” said Congressman Smi... |