Today, Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking for a review of conditions that have led to propane cost spikes in Missouri and much of the Midwest. “Shortages in the supply of propane and the resulting cost spikes are causing a real hardship for families, farmers, rural schools districts, senior citizens on fixed incomes and small business owners in Missouri’s Eighth District who rely on propane to heat their homes and businesses,” said Smith. “... READ MORE
This week marked the 41st anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in our country. Since the court’s ruling, more than 56 million innocent lives have tragically been lost. To put that into perspective, there are roughly 56 million people living in the states of New York and California combined. To raise awareness for the Pro-Life cause, thousands of grassroots advocates from across the country are in Washington this week for the Annual March for L... READ MORE
This week the House of Representatives voted on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund government activity through October of this year. I opposed the bill, also known as an Omnibus Appropriations. Since my campaign for Congress, I have advocated for an open and transparent appropriations process. This omnibus appropriations bill was rushed through Congress at the last minute without a single hearing. If we ever hope to reign in our crushing national debt, we must return to regular order with the... READ MORE
Today, Congressman Jason Smith released the following statement after voting against the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives: “This $1.1 trillion spending bill was made available to Members of Congress just two days before a vote was held. The bill is 1,582 pages. I find it hard to believe that anyone had the time needed to properly vet this legislation before the vote was called. We learned with ObamaCare what happens when Congress rushes massive new ... READ MORE
As your voice in the halls of Congress, one of the obligations I take most seriously is taking care of our veterans. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces who volunteer to protect our freedoms deserve not only our respect, but also action from Congress that shows true appreciation for their sacrifices. Shortly before Christmas, Congress passed a budget compromise bill that contained a provision that will reduce the cost-of-living increases for retired military personnel under the age of 62... READ MORE
Today, Congressman Jason Smith renewed his opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) on new power plants that will be included in the Federal Register today. The new standards will limit emissions from new power plants and have the potential to raise Missourians electric rates. These rules are specifically targeted at the coal-fired power plants relied on throughout Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District where over 80% of electricity is genera... READ MORE
Today, Congressman Jason Smith, Senator Claire McCaskill, Senator Roy Blunt and Congresswoman Ann Wagner announced the National Park Service has agreed to postpone three public comment meetings concerning the draft general management plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR). Smith, McCaskill, Blunt and Wagner wrote a letter to Russell Runge, the Acting Superintendent for the ONSR, asking for the public comment meetings to be postponed due to severe weather conditions. The letter read... READ MORE
Today, Congressman Jason Smith announced the Interior Department has decided to end further designation under the National Blueways System. The announcement comes after months of continuous pressure from Smith and property rights advocates to end the controversial land designation. Smith has strongly opposed the National Blueways designation for the White River Watershed in Missouri and Arkansas because the designation did not have local support. In July, Smith brought a congressional field hea... READ MORE
America’s veterans make tremendous sacrifices to defend our liberties and freedoms. Recently, I had the honor of cosponsoring HR 685, the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize America’s Fighter Aces. This legislation ensures that Fighter Aces, 51 of whom are from Missouri, will forever be distinguished for their valuable contribution to our War efforts in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. To be a Fighter Ace, an individual must shoot down five enemy planes ... READ MORE
As 2013 comes to a close, now is the time to look toward 2014 and the challenges ahead. Some people make resolutions at the start of the New Year, some set goals. For my part, I see five key goals for the upcoming year: 1. During my time as your voice in the halls of Congress, I have been shocked by the extraordinary power federal agencies like the IRS and EPA have to create rules and regulations. Many of President Obama’s policies are too extreme to be supported by Congress and the President ha... READ MORE
