U.S. Rep. Smith Fights for Continued Use of Missouri Driver’s Licenses
Smith leads Congressional Delegation to allow Missouri residents to continue to use their driver’s license
 
Washington, D.C. -  This week, Congressman Jason Smith led the entire Missouri Congressional Delegation in calling for continued usage of Missouri driver’s licenses as the state begins the process of compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-13).
 
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the federal REAL ID Act was signed into law and established stricter standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and created an additional level of security as recommended by the 9/11 Commission.
 
In December of 2013, the Department of Homeland Security announced that effective January 2018, current Missouri driver’s licenses would no longer be accepted by federal agencies.
 
Specifically, the Missouri Congressional Delegation, led by Smith, is requesting that the Department of Homeland Security issue a waiver beyond the start of 2018 to continue to allow current Missouri driver’s licenses be used as the state comes in compliance with the federal law.
 
“Without this extension, Missourians will not be able to fly, access military bases or enter federal buildings with their current driver’s license,” said Congressman Smith.
 
The Congressional Delegation's request for a waiver is in response to Governor Greitens signing House Bill 151, which allows the Missouri Department of Revenue to start issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses if requested by the ID holder.
 
“Governor Greitens is giving Missourians the opportunity to get a REAL ID, and on the federal level, we have to make sure the entire state has time to get in compliance with the new standards,” said Congressman Smith.
 
The Department of Homeland Security has recently issued similar waivers in Maine and Minnesota.
 
Smith’s letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kelly was co-signed by the entire Missouri Congressional Delegation.

Thanks to Blunt-Led Effort, Missouri Students Now Eligible to Apply for Year-Round Pell Beginning July 1

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today commended the Department of Education’s announcement that year-round Pell Grants will be available to students beginning July 1. Blunt secured the year-round Pell provision in the FY 2017 government funding bill.
 
“Going to school year round allowed me to become the first person in my family to earn a college degree, and to do it in three years,” said Blunt. “Restoring year-round Pell Grants will help more students stay on track for graduation, enter or re-enter the workforce sooner, and graduate with less debt. I was proud to lead efforts to restore year-round Pell, and I hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to advance their education and secure their future.”
 
As Labor/HHS chairman, Blunt, a former history teacher and president of Southwest Baptist University, led efforts in Congress to restore year-round Pell Grants. Currently, many full-time students and some part-time students exhaust their full benefit after two semesters. Restoring year-round Pell will help an estimated one million students stay enrolled in classes throughout the year, which will lower their student debt and accelerate completion of their degree program.

Dexter, Missouri - Wayne Jean of the Stoddard County Republican Central Committee will be the guest speaker.  He will discuss the procedures of replacing the 151st State Represenative Tila Hubrecht.

Mrs. Hubrecht resigned her position effective June 2, 2017.

The meal will begin at 5:30 with the meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. at Hickory Log Restaurant on Monday, June 12, 2017.

151st District - MO - Tila Hubrecht announced this weekend a new staff member for the 151st District.

They would like to welcome the newest staffer for District 151, Adam Plunkett!

Adam is a highly motivated young man that has worked in the State Capitol since February, and we are excited to have him on our team. He is from Kansas City, Missouri and studied at Missouri State University in Springfield.

Please know that the constituents of District 151 will always have an advocate in Jefferson City; Adam will be in the office to take any phone calls, emails, or constituent concerns that the people may have.

You can reach him at 573-751-1494 or by email at adam.plunkett@house.mo.gov.

Missouri - Congressman Jason Smith media statement regarding President Trump's approval of Governor Gretiens' request for a federal disaster declaration from the storms on April 29, 2017.
 
Communities across southern Missouri have done an incredible job of helping each other recover from this historic flooding.

I have seen much of the devastation first hand and have been in constant communication with families, farmers, small business owners, first responders and community leaders impacted by this disaster.

I have relayed the needs of our area and the vast impact to our Governor and directly in conversations with the White House.

I am pleased to see the Administration expeditiously approved federal disaster declarations for numerous counties in our area so that additional resources can be provided to help the families, farmers and business owners of southern Missouri get their lives back to normal.