U.S. Rep. Smith Hosts Students from SEMO Electric Cooperative
Students participating in NRECA’s Youth Tour joined Smith on Capitol Hill
 
Washington, D.C. -  Congressman Jason Smith recently hosted students from the SEMO Electric Cooperative who were participating in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.
 
“I’m excited to host these outstanding young students and think it’s great that they have taken an interest in American history and civics,” said Congressman Smith. “I remember my first trip to Washington, and it had a lasting impact. It really helped me understand our civic duties as Americans and inspired me to serve and lead.”
 
NRECA’s Youth Tour is a national program where students apply and are selected to participate by their local electric cooperative. According to the NRECA, the purpose of the tour is for “students to gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as a citizen by meeting their Representative and Senators.”
 
Smith and the students discussed how Missouri residents get 83% of their energy from coal-fired power plants and Smith’s work with the Trump Administration to end Obama’s so-called Clean Power Plan.
 
“The cost of energy for Missourians would have skyrocketed if we didn’t stop the harmful regulations brought on by Obama’s Clean Power Plan,” said Congressman Smith. “President Trump’s team asked me to help identify regulations hurting rural America, and this was at the top of my list. I am very happy that the Trump Administration took action to rescind these rules.”
 
Smith also answered questions about what it’s like to work in Washington.
 
“It has been my honor to serve southeast and south central Missouri, and I learned quickly after being elected to Congress that the quickest and best way to make a difference is to build relationships with people and understand how you can accomplish your goals together,” said Congressman Smith.
 
Smith’s office has hosted NRECA’s Youth Tour participants every summer since he was elected four years ago.
 
Please see attached for a photo. Students pictured include Morgan Roper from Advance, MO and Noah Hester from Bloomfield, MO.

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.