An unusual challenge. That is what comes to mind when I reflect back on my Summer 2020 focus on Southern Missouri Agriculture. Visiting all 30 counties across what makes up the 8th Congressional District during the normal Congressional August break in voting has been a tradition I have carried on since becoming your Representative in the United States Congress. It is during these visits that I get to hear directly from our area farmers, families, and small businesses about what new challenges th... READ MORE
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is in need of cost saving reforms. But this is nothing new. As a matter of fact, over the past 20 years those in charge of the postal service have tried to implement numerous measures to get the USPS back on better financial footing. Everything from removing costly old sorting machines, to limiting underutilized drop boxes, to increasing the cost of postage – all and more have been practices going back years. As a matter of fact, under President Obama the ... READ MORE
When the lead in The New York Times is to praise something accomplished by the Trump Administration, you know that the ‘something’ must have been a big deal. That was the case this week as those of us who are a fan of peace, stability, and democracy were greeted with the massive development that President Trump had helped broker a historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A deal which is built around full recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and a ... READ MORE
On November 3rd millions of Americans will engage in the civic duty of casting a vote to decide which individual will be entrusted with the responsibility of serving as President of the United States. As we learned four years ago, the outcome of presidential elections can come down to just a few thousand votes out of millions cast. And this year’s election is on pace to be one of the closest and most contentious since John Quincy Adams was awarded the presidency by Henry Clay’s House of Represen... READ MORE
The mainstream media has a dilemma. While they want to inform the American people about the progress on finding a vaccine for the coronavirus, they are also met with the harsh reality of violating their biggest rule: don’t say anything nice about Donald Trump. It’s been their mantra since he announced his candidacy for president, and in the years since they have demonstrated time and time again that they will not hesitate to focus on any negative thing they can tie to President Trump. However, e... READ MORE
The ability to defend your home, your family, and your property is a right that is absolutely protected here in Missouri. It’s also a right that has become even more essential as liberal mayors have failed to control violent mobs that are roaming the streets of their cities and have nothing to do with justice for George Floyd. Unfortunately, this isn’t isolated to just coastal communities. All across the country, American families are being put at risk by feckless local leaders that refuse to su... READ MORE
As a fourth-generation family farm owner myself, I take special pride in representing and fighting for the thousands of farming families which call southern Missouri home. We have some of the most diverse and unique agriculture found anywhere in the country and I constantly remind those who have never set foot in our area that if they want to see real Americans working day in and day out from sunrise to sunset, then come to rural Missouri and see what hard work really is. This week kicked off th... READ MORE
American life has been dramatically altered over the last several months as our nation has weathered the coronavirus pandemic. These changes are perhaps most profound to parents of school age children who have found their local elementary or middle school shuttered. On the educational side, distanced learning has been a massive struggle for all involved. Beyond the financial burdens of new laptops and smart devices, these challenges have been compounded for southern Missouri students and familie... READ MORE
On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress packed into the Pennsylvania State House and approved the text of the Declaration of Independence. When it was read aloud publicly for the first time four days later, the Liberty Bell rang out in cheer. While there was cause for celebration, the American colonists were a long way from freedom. For seven years, the young and resilient American patriots faced a steep uphill fight against the larger and more equipped British military. From the first battl... READ MORE
After the death of George Floyd, Americans across the country were united in their calls for justice. Now, over a month later, the responsible calls for justice have been drowned out by violent mobs. Local leaders in major U.S. cities have demeaned their law enforcement officers so harshly over recent weeks that it’s harder than ever for them to respond to the chaos. As a result, morale is plummeting. In Atlanta, a record number of cops are calling in sick. To make matters worse, Senate Democrat... READ MORE
