SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Smith says he thinks the federal Environmental Protection Agency should be eliminated. Smith's remarks came during a Missouri Farm Bureau presentation Thursday at the Missouri State Fair on a new rule on streams, tributaries and wetlands. The EPA says the federal rule clarifies but doesn't expand which smaller bodies of water should be protected from development and pollution. The Missouri Farm Bureau says the rule is a significant expans... READ MORE
Thursday, Congressman Jason Smith called for elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal agency that accidentally dumped three million gallons of toxic waste into a river system in Colorado earlier this month. The call came during a Missouri Farm Bureau press conference at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. “The EPA spill is just one more in a long list of examples that show this federal agency cannot be trusted,” Smith said afterward. “Environmental policy should be le... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith kicked off his third annual Farm Tour Monday, which included a stop at Brandywine Blueberry Farm on County Road 7160 near Rolla. Congressman Jason Smith kicked off his third annual Farm Tour Monday, which included a stop at Brandywine Blueberry Farm on County Road 7160 near Rolla. During the Farm Tour, Smith is traveling to each of the 30 counties in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District and highlighting the robust role that agriculture and farming play in our area. “Bra... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith is pictured here with Paul Perkins as Smith kicked off his 3rd Annual Farm Tour on Monday at the Perkins Family Cattle Farm in Steelville. Smith’s Farm Tour will travel to each of the 30 counties in Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District and highlight the robust role that agriculture and farming play in our area. “The Farm Tour highlights some of the best parts of our agriculture-rich district with the farms and ranches that make our area unique,” said Smith. “Agricult... READ MORE
Jason Smith At Levee District 2 U.S. Representative Jason Smith met with some of the 60 farmers who maintain Ste. Genevieve Levee District 2 on August 5 at Loida Ag on Bourbon Road. The taxing district shields 7,500 acres of land from flooding during severe weather. A representative from Smith’s office said those with Levee District 2 asked that the meeting not have media coverage, a potential violation of Missouri’s Sunshine Law. Smith’s office last Thursday issued a news release on the meetin... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith introduced a bill to help make college more affordable for students on Wednesday. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 3409, would allow students to earn tax-free, work-based scholarships at Work Colleges across the country. At a time when students graduating college average $35,000 in student loan debt, work colleges offer an alternative by allowing students to achieve a four-year degree with little to no student loan debt in exchange for participation in a work-learning program. ... READ MORE
This week, Congressman Jason Smith cosponsored two bills to block all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The action comes after two disturbing videos were made public showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing selling body parts of unborn babies, potentially in violation of federal law. H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, completely defunds Planned Parenthood, its affiliates, and associated clinics while the organization’s activities are investi... READ MORE
On Monday, Congressman Jason Smith presented Vietnam Veteran Frank Grosspietsch of Salem with the Purple Heart, a medal given to members of the military wounded or killed in service. Mr. Grosspietsch earned two Purple Heart medals during his service in Vietnam, but was initially only presented with one. Congressman Jason Smith’s office was able to secure the second medal for Mr. Grosspietsch, and personally thank him for his service during a presentation ceremony in Rolla. “This year we are mar... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency : “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court in Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency is a win for common sense. The Court simply said that the EPA must consider the immense cost complying with regulations will have on folks. Only after looking at the cost, should the EPA determine if the ‘regulation is appropriate and necessary.’ “The power plant e... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Obergefell v. Hodges: “As the son of a preacher, I have never wavered in my commitment to the biblical definition of marriage, and in our state, more than a million Missourians voted to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Until today, it was the right of each state to determine how they wished to define marriage. The Supreme Court wrote yesterday that it is not in the Court’s sc... READ MORE