Smith Fights for all Methods of Feral Hog Eradication in Mark Twain

Smith language included in U.S. House passed bill requires Forest Service to listen to stakeholders on ground who know that hunting works

WASHINGTON, D.C.  - Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) continued his fight for all forms of feral hog eradication in the Mark Twain National Forest this week, including hunting, when he successfully inserted language into the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill which called on the Forest Service to work with stakeholders in the Mark Twain area in implementing a strategy which involves all methods for eradication. 

“Feral hogs are nothing but pests to local farmers and make farming more difficult than it already is,” said Congressman Smith. “I have personally spoken with numerous farmers in southern Missouri about this problem – and we all know the same thing, trapping isn’t enough.”Smith continued, “If we are going to get rid of these hogs, we need an all of the above approach which includes being able to hunt and kill them in the Mark Twain National Forest. I have called on the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Forest Service to allow hunting to continue. We should be able to use every tool in the toolbox to get rid of these pests.”

Congressman Smith has long-championed this position and has met with numerous farmers and ranchers in southern Missouri who have seen their property destroyed by dangerous feral hogs.  He recently met with the Forest Service and reiterated his support for an all-of-the-above solution to getting rid of feral hogs.

The language authored and included by Smith “recognizes the damage and danger caused by feral hogs in the Mark Twain National Forest and encourages the Forest Service to continue to work with stakeholders to utilize all practical methods for eradication.” 

“We can all agree that feral hogs are a problem, and if we want to control the hog population we need to work together with all methods of eradication on the table,” said Gary Crockett, who farms in northwest Ripley County. “Ending hog hunting will have an adverse effect on our ability to control the feral hog population, and I really appreciate Congressman Smith’s attention to this issue and standing up for our right to get rid of these pests.”

Conservative Entrepreneur, Former Emergency Management Director Jeff Shawan Announces Candidacy for State Senate

Shawan is looking to replace term-limited Senator Doug Libla

Local entrepreneur, former emergency management director, and State Representative Jeff Shawan announced his candidacy for State Senate Tuesday night to a packed house of more than 200 attendees at the Westwood Center in Poplar Bluff.  Shawan is no stranger to the 25th Senatorial District, which is comprised of Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Shannon, and Stoddard counties.  Shawan’s great grandfather, George Washington Shawan and wife Ruhamia Shawan moved to Stoddard County at the turn of the century to build their farm and family.  Still today a highway sign in Stoddard County marks the arrival of “Shawan, Missouri” where the Shawan family settled. 

Shawan says his deep roots in the 25th district give him a greater understanding of the issues important to the voters throughout the region.  “My family settled in Stoddard County and now my wife and I live in Butler County, Missouri,” Shawan said.  “We both have deep ties to the communities all throughout the district and I will be a strong voice in support of our shared rural conservative values.”

Shawan drew national attention as one of the co-sponsors of Missouri’s controversial pro-life bill that the national media called “one of the most restrictive bills on abortion in the entire country”.  Shawan said the controversy didn’t bother him.  “I am 100% pro-life and ran on a pro-life platform.  There is nothing more important than ensuring the right to life is protected and I was proud to co-sponsor the most pro-life bill in the country,” Shawan stated.  Missouri Right to Life endorsed Shawan in his campaign for State Representative.

“I’m an entrepreneur by trade and was inspired by President Trump’s candidacy.   Like the President, I’ve seen businesses succeed and business fail. I know the pain of having everything I’ve worked for taken away because of a catastrophic family illness,” Shawan said.  “But through it all I’ve been able to achieve my American Dream through hard work and determination.”

Shawan says he is running to promote individual liberty and get the government off the backs of small business owners and their families. “Like many outspoken conservatives, I’ve experienced first-hand a corrupt government agency trying to end my career and others in my family. Those threats didn’t stop me from speaking out for our conservative values then, and they won’t stop me now as your State Senator.”

While in office, Shawan has been a vocal supporter of President Trump and his plan to secure the border and build the wall. Shawan filed a resolution in support of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the work they are doing to secure the border.  Shawan also co-sponsored the “Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights” providing greater legal protections for men and women in law enforcement. “As Emergency Management Director I worked directly with our law enforcement officers and first responders.  I have seen first hand the work they do to keep our families and our communities safe and they deserve our support,” Shawan said.

At his kick-off event on Tuesday night, Shawan announced that Dustin Mayer, a fifth generation resident of Dexter, Missouri, would be serving as his campaign Treasurer. Mayer is an active member of the Dexter community as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the board of trustee of the First Baptist Church of Dexter. Jeff Shawan and his wife, Christy Montgomery Shawan, live in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on Shawan’s historic family land.  They are the proud parents of three children.  

Pictured from left to right Shawan, campaign treasurer Dustin Mayer and supporters Billy Pat Wright and Bill Foster

Smith, Colleagues Introduce ‘Rural Jobs Act’ to Fight Rural Poverty, Create Jobs

Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Would Boost Investment in Rural and Distressed Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Jason Smith, R-Mo. and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., along with U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Mark Warner, D-Va., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., today introduced the “Rural Jobs Act” in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would build on the success of the New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) by bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment to some of the poorest rural communities in America.

“The Rural Jobs Act will allow for new economic opportunities in the areas of our country that need it the most,” Congressman Smithsaid. “By building on the success of the New Markets program, the Rural Jobs Act will bring investment to rural communities with persistent poverty and high migration. It is too often that rural communities are overlooked by Washington. This legislation is a targeted approach that will encourage investment in rural America.”

“The Rural Jobs Act would be an important addition to the successful New Market Tax Credit program, which has spurred tens of billions in private investment in many distressed communities across America,” Senator Wicker said. “The legislation we have introduced today would help boost these investments in rural areas and ensure that every community is receiving a proportionate share of the benefits of the NMTC.”

“During my time as Governor and in the Senate, I’ve supported initiatives to help create jobs and boost economic opportunity for all Virginians. There’s a lot happening in parts of Southwest and Southside Virginia, but we still have more work to do to ensure that no part of Virginia is left behind. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this legislation to set aside additional tax credits for rural and underserved regions,” Senator Warner said.

“The New Markets Tax Credits program has played a vital role in helping economically distressed communities in West Virginia attract the private capital needed for economic development investments,” Senator Capito said. “The Rural Jobs Act expands upon this already powerful tool by ensuring these investments occur in the communities that need them the most. I’m proud to support this legislation that I know will go a long way in providing the boost these areas of West Virginia need.”

“In Maryland, the New Markets Tax Credit has been deployed throughout our state on a diverse range of infrastructure and community development efforts. I am pleased to support this bipartisan legislation, which will further the reach of the program to low-income rural communities, creating jobs and stimulating our economy across Maryland and across America,” said Senator Cardin.

“Alabama’s 7th District knows from experience that the New Market Tax Credit is a proven, cost-effective incentive that spurs investment in areas like Aliceville, where the credit helped transform the Huyck Felt brick plant into a new wood pellet manufacturing facility, creating 275 jobs, and Selma, where the program helped create 55 jobs at a biomass processing facility,” Rep. Sewell said. “Too many small towns are struggling to survive, which is why it is critically important that we expand the NMTC to incentivize investment in rural areas and, especially, persistent-poverty rural areas like many of those in the Black Belt to help ensure these communities are not left behind.”

The Rural Jobs Act would expand upon the NMTC program, which provides a modest tax incentive to private investors to invest in low-income communities. NMTC projects have spurred over $42 billion in private investment and generated over 1 million jobs since 2000. However, less than one in four NMTC jobs have been created in rural communities.

The Rural Jobs Act would help to close the job creation gap by designating $500 million in NMTC investments for “Rural Job Zones,” which are low-income communities that have a population smaller than 50,000 inhabitants and are not adjacent to an urban area. Under this new definition, Rural Job Zones would be established in 342 out of the 435 congressional districts across the country.

The bill would also require that at least 25 percent of this new investment activity be targeted to persistent poverty counties and high migration counties. There are approximately 400 persistent poverty counties in the United States, 85 percent of which are located in non-metro or rural areas.