Cleaver: More than 12,000 Missourians without pay being held hostage by Trump demands for wall

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

As the 116th Congress begins, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of our hard-won accomplishments in 2018 and explore what we will work to achieve in the new Congress.

We have had a productive year.

I secured essential funding for important projects in the Fifth District of Missouri, including the World War I Centennial Commission, levee and flood control projects, and infrastructure investment for bridges and roadways.

Keeping a constant eye on ever-changing technology and the Big Tech companies also kept me busy in 2018. That included investigations into the Fintech industry, questioning the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement, and speaking with the CEO’s of social media giants such as Twitter and Facebook, encouraging them to take immediate action to combat the racially divisive content on their platforms, as well as to promote diversity among their leadership. I will continue to call for inclusivity and responsible regulatory reform within the tech industry.

One of the most critical issues facing our nation continues to be the effects of the trade war on the U.S. economy. Thousands of jobs and millions of American consumers may be negatively impacted by these tariffs. Congress must act to protect American workers and consumers, provide stability in place of the administration’s volatility, and push to end this trade war as soon as possible.


There is still much to be done and I look forward to working with the new and historic 116th Congress.


It has been eight years since there has been a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. Now more than ever, Members of Congress must demonstrate civility and respect for one another and work together through our disagreements.
First on the agenda, get the government adequately funded. I voted to approve a legislative package that would reopen the federal government and end the Trump shutdown. 

It is troubling that we are in the second week of an unnecessary and damaging shutdown – holding 800,000 workers’ paychecks hostage over the President’s demands for a wall. More than 12,000 Missourians have been without pay during this shutdown. We must work together to end this.

I have done my best to promote and practice civility within the halls of Congress and will continue to do so as we negotiate government funding, border security, and host of legislative issues.

I would like to close with the opening prayer that I gave at the swearing-in ceremony of the 116th Congress yesterday.

“In recognition of Father Patrick Conroy and in unbridled optimism for this prayer, please join in. Almighty and enduring God whose lordship is just and true, we bow in recognition of that God-ship and this haloed and consequential moment of inaugurating a speaker to preside over and provide leadership to the House of Representatives of the United States. May we temporarily hush our preoccupation with vexing considerations that deplete our energy and consume our hours to seek now from thou whose immaculate voting record demonstrates on thee guidance. 

We pray, Oh Lord, for wisdom sufficient to lean not only on our unaided privilege and power, to embrace our summons, to address the great challenges of this day, fraught with tribalism at home and turbulence abroad.

Thou who has the whole world in his hand to thee we pray for inner resources, to rise as a legislative body above political selfishness and then shrink to a level of a level of and penitence that would be in harmony with your will. And when we leave this place, we will with your blessing launch a bold attempt to become the architects of a kindlier nation that is purging itself of any and all prejudices which degrade the unmatched blessings you have awarded the people of this great nation.
Inspire us, the members of this body, to dedicate ourselves to the healing of open sores in a land where there is far too much mistrust of those who are different.

Led now in this temple of governance by the Speaker and leaders of both sides of the political aisle, we pray for your presence in this place. 

We need thee every hour, Oh Lord, how we need thee. When we're puzzled, guide us with your hand of direction.

When we're worn and weary, grant us light to find a just and fair way, and when we're confused, ignore our priorities and pet projects so that any diminutive success may give you the glory.
We have now this prayer, Oh Lord, Amen.”