(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)This week, Members of Congress returned to their congressional districts following the September work period in our nation's capital, where the House of Representatives and I passed important legislation to avert a government shutdown and enhance public safety in communities across the country.
Additionally, thanks to years of bipartisan work from Senator Blunt and I, along with local, state, and federal officials, I'm happy to relay that President Harry S. Truman made his return to the U.S. Capitol, with a statue of the former president having been officially unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda last week.
If you have a few minutes, I wanted to take this moment to provide a brief update about the unveiling of the Truman Statue and a few of the bills passed by the House of Representatives during September. So, without further ado, let's get right to it.
President Harry S. Truman Statue is Officially Unveiled in the U.S. Capitol
One of the greatest honors of my congressional career occurred last week when I had the opportunity to join my fellow Missouri lawmakers, along with members of the Truman family, to unveil the Truman Statue in the U.S. Capitol. As part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, to which every state in the Union can send two statues to represent their state in the Capitol building, President Truman has joined nine other former presidents who currently reside in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by the likes of George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant.
From humble beginnings as a family farmer in Missouri, Harry Truman rose to the pinnacle of power in American government, demonstrating that with hard work, determination, and perseverance, anyone can achieve the American Dream. Whether it was guiding our nation through the end of World War II or helping to chart a course for the American Civil Rights Movement by desegregating the armed forces and federal workforce, President Truman represented Missouri with the utmost dignity, integrity, and respect for our Constitution. For that, I'm proud to have him represent our state in the citadel of American democracy.
As the Representative of President Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri, I have worked for years with local, state, and federal officials to honor the life and legacy of Missouri's only son to assume the presidency--and I'm honored to have played a role in bringing him back to the Capitol, where he can continue to inspire the next generation of Americans.
If you are interested in visiting Washington, D.C. to see the Truman Statue, you can reach out to my office to request a tour of the Capitol here.
If you would like to re-watch the unveiling ceremony, you can find a recording of the celebration here. More information on the Truman Statue is available here.
Congress Passes Supplemental Funding Bill to Avert a Government Shutdown, Lower Household Energy Costs, and Support Ukraine
Last week, I was relieved when Congress came together to avert a government shutdown by passing a Continuing Resolution that will keep the government funded through mid-December, ensuring that Missouri families are still able to access essential government services they depend on.
While I never enjoy voting for a Continuing Resolution, as it simply continues funding levels from the previous year without accounting for cost-of-living increases, I know that the people of the Fifth Congressional District would have enjoyed a government shutdown significantly less. For that reason, I voted to support the resolution.
In addition to keeping the government up-and-running, the Continuing Resolution advanced a number of key priorities for the American people, including:
$12.3 billion to assist the fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine, including new security, economic, and humanitarian assistance;
Bolstering funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including roughly $22 million for Missouri, which will help working families pay for higher energy bills caused in part by Putin's invasion of Ukraine;
Disaster relief for Puerto Rico, Florida, New Mexico, Alaska, and other communities throughout the nation that have been impacted by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters;
Additional resources to respond to the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, an emergency that poses a dire threat to the health and well-being of countless Mississippians.
As negotiations continue on a year-long, bipartisan budget, I will continue fighting for an appropriations package that will lower costs on hardworking families, support critical projects that will create good-paying jobs in our communities, and ensure the safety and security of the Fifth Congressional District and the nation as a whole.
You can find more information on my support for the Continuing Resolution here.
House of Representatives Passes Package of Public Safety Legislation
There is no higher responsibility for elected officials than ensuring the safety of the communities and constituents they serve. That's why I was thrilled to support a bipartisan package of public safety bills passed by the House of Representatives in September that included the Mental Health Justice Act, VICTIM Act, Break the Cycle of Violence Act, and Invest to Protect Act.
These bills would make long overdue investments in evidence-based community violence intervention programs, provide funding for the hiring and training of mental health professionals in local law enforcement, enhance support services for victims of crime and their families, and ensure police departments in communities with fewer than 125 officers have the resources needed to train, recruit, and retain personnel.
Through mental health services, victim support services, and additional funding for critical community violence prevention programs as well as local law enforcement, I believe this package of public safety legislation takes a holistic approach that will help keep communities throughout Missouri safe.
But this cannot, and will not, be the final step in our effort to improve public safety. Congress must continue working to get weapons of war off the street, prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining deadly firearms, reinvest in underserved communities, and fund our public schools and workforce training programs--and I will continue to advocate for such policies.
As these critical pieces of legislation await debate in the U.S. Senate, you can find more information on these public safety bills here.
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