Dear [firstname] [lastname],
These past two weeks have been full of productive interactions, important meetings, and pivotal decision-making.
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In a united front, House Leader Steve Scalise, Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and I came together to drive a crucial press conference. Our goal? To solidify a Congressional consensus on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), ensuring its smooth passage. To get a deeper understanding of our focus, check out my remarks here.
Another highlight from the week was the opportunity to meet with the Missouri Soybean Association. We dove into discussions on critical topics like the Farm Bill, crop insurance, and the impact of biofuels.
July's tele-townhall meeting was an important event where we focused on the Farm Bill. It’s always great to hear from folks back home and the issues important to them—like the farm bill, Missouri drought, supply chain, NDAA, and the economy. The passionate voices and insightful questions from constituents like you truly help guide my decisions in Washington.
An urgent concern that we addressed in the Small Business Committee was the misappropriation of taxpayer funds, particularly in pandemic lending programs. A hearing titled "Stolen Taxpayer Funds: Reviewing the SBA and OIG Reports of Fraud" was held. The SBA Administrator was no-show, a disappointment given the Office of Inspector General's report indicating more than $200 billion in potentially fraudulent Covid-19 relief funds. The scale of the fraud is staggering and unacceptable. This is taxpayer money, hard-earned by the people. Our country cannot continue to spend recklessly without accountability. See my remarks here. |
I am pleased to announce that I voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which successfully passed through the United States House of Representatives this week. This significant progress in our legislative process was made possible in part due to the proactive leadership of Chairman Mike Rogers and the committee's dedicated bipartisan efforts.
The NDAA is an integral piece of legislation that ensures the safety and prosperity of our nation by maintaining the U.S. military's status as the world's leading fighting force. It is of utmost importance that we prioritize readiness, innovation, and the welfare of our service members, avoiding any divisive woke ideologies that are not focused on military objectives. With the NDAA, we can align our resources and efforts towards creating a robust, resilient, and mission-focused military.
One key focus of the NDAA is to strengthen our deterrence capabilities against adversaries such as China. This will be achieved through modernizing our forces and investing in new platforms, including the B-21 bomber. Such investments are vital to ensure our warfighters are equipped with the necessary resources to be a deterrent against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues as the NDAA moves forward to the Senate. The passage of the NDAA marks a significant step towards ensuring the strength, readiness, and future success of our military |
NewsNation On Balance with Leland Vittert
I was on NewsNation discussing the recent Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action [Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College].
I believe for far too long, we’ve had on these glasses of racial differences — trying to divide America up by race. In my view, the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action, puts an end to an insidious form of institutionalized discrimination. A win for meritocracy and a win for America.
Watch here |
Fox News Fox and Friends First
I am genuinely concerned about the current administration's relationship with China. The American people deserve answers and transparency.
Watch here |
NewsMax Watch Washington with Tony Perkins
I believe our military's focus is misguided, which is why during the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) markup process, I emphasized the need for the military to prioritize its core objectives rather than politically charged woke ideologies.
Watch here |
Mondays With Mark We hit the road for our "Mondays with Mark", visiting Studio Perks, a small business in Butler.
Supporting small businesses like Studio Perks is a big deal. They're the ones creating jobs, sparking fresh ideas, and keeping our local economy humming. Learning what policies impact their business is crucial to my job in Congress.
Looking forward to seeing everyone again next Monday - let's keep the ball rolling! |
Hammons Black Walnuts
I had a wonderful time visiting Hammons Black Walnuts, a small business in Stockton - the Black Walnut Capital of the World!
We got a tour of the factory. Brian Hammons showed us around and gave us some real insight into Missouri's Black Walnut industry.
As a member of the Small Business Committee, I'm proud to share that Hammons Black Walnut has been selected for a Small Business Spotlight. It's an initiative by the Committee to raise awareness and highlight the impact of small businesses on our community.
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BreakTime
I had the privilege to visit a local BreakTime convenience store visit in Bolivar, as part of the National Association of Convenience Stores' (NACS) In Store program.
The visit offered a unique perspective into convenience stores, and I saw firsthand the significant social, economic, and cultural contributions these establishments make to our communities.
I'm grateful for the work of the In Store program, which is building bridges between lawmakers, convenience stories, and local communities across the nation.
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That Place
It was great to be in Dade County hearing directly from constituents at That Place!
Special thanks to State Representative Ann Kelley and State Senator Curtis Trent for organizing and the invite!
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County Commissioners Of Pettis County Meeting
Great meeting with the County Commissioners of Pettis County.
I am thankful for their leadership and the meeting was fruitful; I emphasized I am here to amplify your voices and needs at the federal level.
I’ll always be strongest advocate for Missouri 4th district.
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District Office Team Meeting
Strong representation means having a strong team. Our team is engaged across our district in our offices in Raymore, Lebanon, and Columbia!
We are strategizing and planning on how to better serve the people of Missouri's 4th Congressional District, and to continue improving our operations within the district.
We have a phenomenal team: Ryan, Becky, Baylee, Grace, Jake, Patti, Payton, and Michele.
If we can be of any assistance to you, please find us at our district offices.
Teamwork makes the dream work!!
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If anyone you know needs assistance with any agency of the federal government, please contact my team in Raymore, Columbia, or Lebanon. Whether it's the IRS, Social Security, passports, veterans’ affairs, or anything else related to the federal government, please give us a call at one of the following numbers: - Raymore: 816-441-6318
- Columbia: 573-540-6600
- Lebanon: 417-532-5582
Meanwhile, if you have questions about legislation going through Congress, my office in Washington, D.C. can take care of you. My team in D.C. can be reached at 202-225-2876.
My number one job in Congress is to help folks here in Missouri. Please do not ever hesitate to call my offices at the numbers listed above.
I truly care about and will always be working for you. |
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