Today, Thursday, August 15, 2013, Congressman Jason Smith announced the schedule for his Farm Tour. The Farm Tour will start on Monday, August 19 and will run through Friday, August 23. “Agriculture is the number one industry in our Eighth Congressional District and it is essential to the health of our rural economy. Our district is also one of the most diverse agriculture districts in the country growing everything except sugar and citrus fruits. During the weeklong tour I will be in 11 counti... READ MORE
After days of heavy rains, many in our Eighth Congressional District are now dealing with flooding and the headaches that will come after the water recedes. I certainly wish the rain could have been spread out over the last several months instead of the last several days. In the coming weeks Missouri families will be working to clean up their homes, businesses, farms and communities. As we move forward my staff and I will be working to ensure you have the resources you need. Here are a few tips ... READ MORE
Today, Tuesday, August 6, 2013, Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) announced the formation of a Veterans Advisory Council to advise on issues important to veterans. Smith and his staff will work with members of the Veterans Advisory Council to get feedback on issues with the Veterans Administration and as new policy is being crafted that will impact veterans living in Missouri’s 8th District. “Honoring our veteran’s service is a top priority for me. I formed this Veteran’s Advisory Council to be a... READ MORE
Regulatory reform has been a top priority of mine since my days serving in the Missouri General Assembly. As a state lawmaker I passed legislation that requires a review of all state regulations every five years. When I was elected to represent our Eighth Congressional District back in June, I asked to serve on the Regulatory Reform Judiciary Subcommittee because I wanted to have a voice in limiting regulations coming from Washington. In Missouri we have a review process in place for regulations... READ MORE
Today, the House of Representatives passed an amendment from Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08), that would require congressional oversight for burdensome regulations enacted from President Obama’s healthcare mandate, the Affordable Care Act. Smith’s amendment received broad bipartisan support and passed the House with a vote of 227 to 185. “From the beginning, the only part of President Obama’s healthcare law that has been bipartisan is the bipartisan opposition to this costly and burdensome mand... READ MORE
On Monday, July 29, 2013, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold an oversight field hearing in West Plains, Missouri titled “Stopping Federal Land and Water Grabs: Protecting Property Rights from Washington, DC Edicts.”The field hearing was requested by Congressman Billy Long (MO-7) and Congressman Jason Smith (MO-8). The hearing will examine the National Blueways Secretarial Order that was signed by Secretary Salazar in 2012. Congressmen Long and Smith will be jo... READ MORE
Nothing kills a job faster than a Washington regulation. When I ask farm families, small business owners and municipal leaders which federal agency poses the greatest threat to rural Missouri, they always give the same answer, the EPA. President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency seems to be focused on killing jobs and hurting our district’s rural economy. The House of Representatives is taking action to prevent the EPA from imposing new regulations with two common sense pieces of legislati... READ MORE
A quality education can be the spark that ignites imagination and enables young people to pursue their highest dreams. I have always been a believer in local control of education. Teachers and administrators in Missouri understand the needs of their students better than Washington bureaucrats. After listening to teachers and administrators across our district, it is clear our nation’s education system needs to be reformed with a greater emphasis put on local control. This week the House of Repre... READ MORE
U.S. Representative Jason Smith (MO-8) and U.S. Representative Billy Long (MO-7) today announced the House Natural Resources Committee will conduct a field hearing in West Plains, Missouri, on Monday, July 29th, to learn how the National Blueways System designation was initially imposed on the White River watershed in Missouri and Arkansas and how future designations can be prevented.The July 29th hearing will be titled, Stopping Federal Land and Water Grabs: Protecting Property Rights from Was... READ MORE
By now I am sure you have heard the news that the Department of the Interior has rescinded the National Blueways designation in Missouri and Arkansas. This is a tremendous victory for common sense and it proves that Washington bureaucrats will listen to Missourians if we protest loudly enough. In a time where common sense is not so common, I could not be more thrilled to have the common sense concerns of families who live in the White River Watershed prevail over environmental extremists.While t... READ MORE
