E-Newsletters

For farmers, planting season is usually over by now. Unfortunately, that isn't the case this year. Persistent rain and flooding have kept many of us out of the field. As a result, a lot of acres still haven't been planted.

The weather has been bad and bad trade deals have made things even more difficult for farmers. We all know the United States has gotten the short end of the stick for years. Deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have locked farmers out of some markets and shipped American jobs out of the country.

On June 6, 1944, 156,000 young men embarked upon an invasion that forever changed the world. More than 9,000 of them sacrificed life and limb to secure a foothold for freedom in Europe. Today, 75 years later, we strive to remember the service and sacrifice of those who stormed the beaches of Normandy and pray our Nation never again sees a day so bloody.

As residents of North Missouri, we've learned to expect the floods that accompany the heavy rains of Spring. We're used to flash floods cutting off roads and making our lives more difficult. We're prepared to deal with minor and moderate flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This year has been different.

Gridlock is everywhere these days, from the halls of Congress to the highways and streets back home. It is only fitting, then, that the best way to end the gridlock in Washington is to invest in our infrastructure and end the gridlock that affects Americans every day. Whether we're talking about roads, rivers, railways, or airports, it's obvious we have a lot of work to do in repairing our nation's crumbling infrastructure.

As the school year begins to wind down—though maybe not as quickly as we would like after so many snow days—it is important we take a moment to recognize the important role teachers play in our country.

In the 1930s, rural electrification was a game-changer for folks across the country. It completely changed the future for millions of Americans, bringing their lives into the 20th Century. Now we face a similar moment in our nation's history and the history of rural America.

Recent flooding along the Missouri River has devastated communities, destroyed homes, and ruined farms. For some, the recovery process is just starting to begin—others are still waiting for the floodwaters to recede. Ultimately, this is going to be a long rebuilding process. Right now, we are still working to make sure those affected by flooding receive the resources needed to rebuild. It is my hope that we learn from this disaster and make the changes necessary to put families, farms, and communities first when it comes to managing the Missouri River.

Tax Day came and went again earlier this week, but, this year, many Americans actually did have something to celebrate. This year, thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the federal government kept less of your money and you were able to keep more.

More money in the pockets of hard-working North Missourians is a great thing for our country's economy. That's why we implemented the most comprehensive tax reform in 30 years. Undoubtedly, it was time to make some changes to ease the tax burden on middle-class families.