People in southern Missouri always tell me they wish their federal government budgeted more like a family farm or small business – operating within its limits, balancing its books, and only rewarding employees when they do well. I couldn’t agree more. It’s why one of the first bills I introduced when I came to Congress was a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. Families in Missouri have to live within their means, and so should the federal government. This week Speaker Pe... READ MORE
This week the U.S. House of Representatives under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership reached a new low. The obstruction to President Trump has threatened the livelihoods of the men and women who protect us, left our border unsecure, and now resulted in the postponement of a right given to our President in the U.S. Constitution – the State of the Union address. This week, Speaker Pelosi became the first Speaker of the House in history to prevent the President of the United States from delivering the Sta... READ MORE
HAYTI, Mo. – Tuesday Congressman Jason Smith celebrated the Hayti High School football team’s historic Class 1 State Championship with the high school students. Speaking to Hayti High School students in the school’s gymnasium, Congressman Smith remarked how their championship was historic not only for Hayti, but for all of southeast Missouri. “Not only is this the first state championship for Hayti, but it’s the first state championship ever brought home to the Bootheel,” said Congressman Smith.... READ MORE
SCOTT CITY, Mo. – This week the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority honored Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) for his work to enhance rural infrastructure in southeast Missouri. After a tour of the port facility and mill, the Semo Port Authority Board of Commissioners presented Congressman Smith with a resolution recognizing and thanking him for his work to secure a $19.8 million grant from the Department of Transportation. The grant will be used to build a railway loop at the Semo Port, wh... READ MORE
Life is precious. It’s fragile, vulnerable, and must be protected. When our founding fathers established a new, free land, they wrote that our God-given rights would be protected in the United States of America. And the most crucial of these rights is the right to life. Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States ventured to Washington, D.C. this week and marched to defend the most essential of our human rights. I was impressed and inspired by the thousands of young people of the pro-li... READ MORE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Senator Ted Cruz (TX) introduced the Student Empowerment Act, which would expand the use of tax-free 529 College Savings Plans to allow families to save for K-12 education expenses. Eligible expenses would include tuition, books and instructional materials, tutoring expenses, fees for exams related to college admissions, and educational therapy for students with disabilities. “The Student Empowerment Act will help working families ... READ MORE
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Unfortunately, the ongoing debate over border security has been marked with insanity for years, but especially now with Nancy Pelosi in charge of the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker Pelosi publicly said that building a physical barrier on our southern border would be “immoral.” I believe allowing criminals and drugs to flow into our country uninhibited is immoral. Illegal border crossi... READ MORE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Friday Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) announced the 2019 Congressional Art Competition is now accepting entries from high school students across southeast and south central Missouri. “Southern Missouri is home to many talented high school artists, and I take pride in showing off the artistic spirit of the Show-Me State in the United States Capitol,” said Congressman Smith. “Friendly competition has a knack for bringing out the best of us, and I look forward to seeing students... READ MORE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) formally introduced the No Abortion Bonds Act, which prohibits the use of federal tax-exempt bonds to finance the construction of abortion clinics. “For 42 years it has been law in this country that no federal funds can be used for abortion services,” said Congressman Jason Smith. “Yet a loophole in the tax code remains, allowing abortion clinics to be built using federally subsidized tax-free bonds. The No Abortion Bonds Actwould remedy this an... READ MORE
This week was the beginning of the 116th Congress, and from the first day it was clear the U.S. House of Representatives is heading in a greatly different direction. A new Speaker of the House, new governing rules, and new members ensure the next two years will be a bumpy ride – buckle up. I wasn’t sure if Nancy Pelosi would have the votes to become Speaker after the midterm elections. Dozens of Democrats running for office in 2018 promised the American people they would support new leadership a... READ MORE
