EC From DC - April 27, 2012

BREAKING: Withdrawal of Proposed Rule Impacting Missouri Farmers, Ranchers

Over the past few months, I have met with countless farmers, ranchers, and families who raised concerns about the impact this proposed regulation would have on their livelihoods and experiences. After listening to many residents, I expressed these concerns to the Department of Labor and to the Administration. I am pleased to see that they listened to us. It was the right choice to withdraw this rule, and it is time to focus more on working with, not against, folks on the ground. I will continue to fight for the right of farmers and ranchers to make critical decisions about running their businesses, with a focus on protecting educational programs, animal and equipment exemptions, and a policy that allows and inspires the younger generations to benefit from the experiences of their parents and grandparents.

For the full news release, click here.

CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER HOSTS HOUSING ROUNDTABLE WITH HUD SECRETARY

I was pleased to host a roundtable discussion this week with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan in Kansas City. The Secretary wanted to talk with local lenders, community leaders and elected officials about housing issues, including previous and future steps to help area residents stay in their homes. The meeting focused on initiatives to help financially troubled homeowners in Missouri's Fifth District and beyond.

We heard a lot of good discussion surrounding the stabilization of many area neighborhoods, faster refinancing efforts for homeowners who are current on their mortgages but still underwater, and the understanding that housing directly relates to jobs and job development.

Secretary Donovan and I highlighted "Project Rebuild" which focuses on the renovation of foreclosed and vacant houses and stressed the job creation potential of the program. We also discussed upcoming developments on Capitol Hill which will assist all homeowners with refinancing, not just those with FHA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgages.

I am very hopeful that this is an area where we can put our country ahead of political party and help not only those struggling with their home mortgages, but all taxpayers.

AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PREPARE FOR ALL-STAR GAME

I also got the chance to take the Secretary by a meeting of almost a hundred law enforcement officers who are preparing for this year's All-Star Game in Kansas City. In less than three months, the game will shine a national spotlight on our city and local law enforcement has been preparing for a safe and successful event for months. It was a great opportunity to offer a sincere thank you for all they do for us – putting their lives on the line each and every day.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Each week I try to update you on progress within the Green Impact Zone. This week, amidst all of the sidewalk and street repair, job training, weatherization and other initiatives, I wanted to let you know about our latest job success stories. Three recent graduates from the deconstruction class, who also participated in the Essential Employability Skills class, have been hired by a local contractor. Our work to create and keep jobs here at home goes on.

MEET ME AT THE BRIDGE

On Saturday, May 5th, we will celebrate an important event in our city and I hope you can join us. There will be music, a free street festival, a children's activity area, energy efficiency displays, food, and a very symbolic ceremony. The ribbon cutting for the new Troost Bridge over Brush Creek will mark a transformative time as our communities come together to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens. Working with city and federal funds I am pleased we could reach this milestone to move forward in making Kansas City a stronger, safer and better place to work and play. For more information: www.bccp.org.

DID YOU KNOW??

As many of you know, I'm an avid fan of animals and their protection is a matter of great importance to me. This week I had the opportunity to attend a briefing organized by my colleague Rep. Don Young of Alaska with special guest Dr. Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. We were also joined by some of his animal ambassadors. I got the chance to meet a Siberian tiger cub (pictured above) as well as a very playful chimpanzee. We learned more about some of the issues facing these fascinating creatures as well as some fun facts. For instance, did you know that at one point the Siberian tiger was the largest cat in the world and that a tiger cub can gain up to one pound everyday during its first year of life?

CIVILITY CORNER

Over many of my twenty years in elected office, eight of which I served as the Mayor of Missouri's largest city, Kansas City, I have made friends with people who hold different political views than I do. One of my cherished friendships is with former U.S. Senator, Christopher "Kit" Bond. Both of us have endured hits from our respective parties' hard-liners for daring to be friends.

Once I was told by a self-described "Yellow Dog Democrat" that he could not trust me because he had heard that I attended Kit Bond's wedding. Actually, my wife Dianne and I attended his wedding reception, and the good Senator has on more than one occasion visited the St. James United Methodist Church, which I pastor. We both have, as I suggested above, been victims of Washington's pathological partisanship.

No matter what, we have remained friends. When I arrived in D.C. after winning Missouri's Fifth Congressional Seat, Kit hosted a reception for me. When he announced his retirement from the Senate, Dianne and I hosted a dinner for him and his wife, Linda. I'm sure that neither of those things sat well with the partisan police.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great American essayist, lecturer, and poet once said about friendship that, "Do you love me?' means ‘Do you see the same truth?' — or at least, ‘Do you care about the same truth?"

Make no mistake, Sen. Bond and I had our differences. He used to say in speeches, "The Rev and I are opposites. He is Methodist and I am Presbyterian." Although Kit and I had dissimilar voting records, we saw the same truth. We both love Missouri, and understood the truth that Missouri would benefit by our cooperation. There are knotty issues which must be untangled if our nation is going to survive the 21st century as one of the world's super powers.

Some of us, perhaps not all, must coalesce across party lines to do what is in the best interests of the growth and development of our nation, simply because we care about the same truth. Those who value the same thing, even amidst disagreement, can form genuine and rewarding friendships. When some of us from both sides work together to solve our nation's problems, we divide the damage and multiply the benefits to our nation.