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VIP VISIT IN KANSAS CITY
 | | Congressman Cleaver addresses large crowd about importance of comprehensive immigration reform |
Recently I had the honor of bringing Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois to Missouri's Fifth District to talk about comprehensive immigration reform. Congressman Gutierrez, as you know, is one of the leading advocates for such reform in the United States House of Representatives. He and I led an Immigration Town Hall at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City. More than two hundred area residents came to attend, ask questions, and find out the latest developments on this historic legislation.
For the first time in a very long time, I believe the Senate and the House are on the right path to passing meaningful reform. One of the issues many people in the rural areas of my district have talked to me about is the shortage of a stable and legal workforce. This is one of the reasons I want to see reform accomplished. Farmers, producers, and ranchers in Missouri's Fifth District need and deserve the chance to have experienced and willing workers. I am in favor of provisions in the reform that will make that happen, including a blue card program and a new agricultural visa program to make sure future needs are met.
You have often heard me lament the lack of cooperation and bipartisanship on this, and so many other issues, in Washington. But I believe the time has come for this comprehensive reform. And I am seeing efforts from both sides of the aisle to work together and move forward on this. Congressman Gutierrez, the long time leader in the House, shared with us many stories about his work to retool immigration. One of them was his conversations with Republicans and Democrats alike, who are expressing a real desire to find a compromise and get this done.
I am very grateful to the many agricultural leaders throughout my district who have offered advice and expertise in this area. I will continue to listen to all who are interested in this issue and encourage you to reach out to me to share your thoughts. You can do so by calling my Kansas City office at (816) 842-4545 or my office in Washington at (202) 225-4535. You can also visit my website: https://cleaver-evo.edit-dev-hir.house.gov. I appreciate all of the feedback I receive and will continue to let you know the very latest on this effort.
 | | Hundreds gathered for the Immigration Town Hall with Congressman Cleaver and Congressman Gutierrez recently in Kansas City |
MEMORIAL DAY AND A SPECIAL VISIT IN DC
 | | Congressman Cleaver meets with veterans from Saline County during their visit to Washington DC |
This week I met with several veterans from Missouri's Fifth District and from throughout the state. They were in Washington on the Missouri Honor Flight. It was such a pleasure to get to visit with them during their trip, and to listen to stories about their experiences. And the timing could not have been better, as we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day this weekend.
 | | The Missouri delegation on the Honor Flight stops for a group picture with Congressman Cleaver as they meet in Washington |
The first Memorial Day was on May 5th, three years after the Civil War ended. It was created as Decoration Day to remember Union and Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle. Decoration Day became Memorial Day, and serves as a day to honor all of those who have fallen in every war. It is also an opportunity to thank the men and women who have and currently are enlisted in our armed forces. This Monday, May 27th, will be the 144th Memorial Day celebration. I hope to spend time with my wife, my kids, and my grandchildren. But I also plan to take some time to reflect on the solemn meaning of this day – and the sacrifices by those who have made it possible.
TALKING FOOD & FARMERS
 | | Congressman Cleaver listens as students from Elm Grove Elementary School read to him |
It was a pleasure recently to visit Elm Grove Elementary School in Independence. We read books and I had the opportunity, despite some unseasonal snow, to visit their garden. The children were very interested in talking about the symbiotic relationship between farmers who depend upon the farm bill, and the kids at school who depend upon the food produced by Missouri's farmers.
 | | Congressman Cleaver and students from Oak Grove Elementary tour the school's garden |
We discussed how the farm bill helps with nutrition programs, school lunch programs, establishing farmer's markets, and helping farmers develop personal relationships with local schools through the breakfast and lunch programs. Not only do farmers need a new farm bill, but so do the kids at Elm Grove Elementary School, and all schools throughout Missouri's Fifth District.
DON'T FRY DAY
If current trends continue – how many Americans will suffer from skin cancer in their lifetime?- One in three
- One in five
- One in ten
How can many skin cancers be prevented?- Never go outside
- Reduce UV exposure from the sun
- Go outside only once a day
Melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, is one of the most common cancers among people of what age group?- Children under 12 years old
- People aged 15 to 29 years old
- People above the age of 50 years old
May 24th is a day of awareness for skin cancer. The goal is to help encourage all of us to take some simple steps to keep ourselves protected from skin cancer this summer. I remember when my kids were growing up, enjoying the outdoors was a very important part of each day. And we are still able to do that, of course, but now we know a bit more now about keeping ourselves healthy. Simple steps like putting on sunscreen, limiting the amount of time in the sun, and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses can do wonders.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the National Council on Skin cancer Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are all working together on this.
The FDA has issued some new labeling rules for sunscreen products that include: - Sunscreens proven to protect against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can be labeled "Broad Spectrum." Both UVB and UVA radiation contribute to the sun's damaging effects.
- Sunscreen products that meet the criteria for being called "Broad Spectrum" and have a Sunscreen Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used as directed with other sun protection measures.
- Any product that is not "Broad Spectrum," or has an SPF below 15, must have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.
- New water resistance claims on the front label must indicate whether the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating.
The answers to all of the above questions, by the way, are B.
For more information on preventing skin cancer, please visit my website: /.
END THE BACKLOGS FOR VETERANS
I am happy to pass along to you news of a new partnership that is focusing on severely cutting the number of compensation claims backlog for Veterans. It is called the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) Community of Practice – and is the effort of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), along with Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and The American Legion. As you know, the VA has a plan in place to completely end the backlog by 2015. The goal is to process claims within 125 days – and to do that with a 98% accuracy. This, in my opinion, is much needed and long overdue. The VA says it can process FDCs in just half the time it normally takes compared to a claim filed in the traditional way.
This process is about working better and working smarter for those who certainly deserve that commitment after serving our country so courageously. To find out more about when claims are considered "fully developed", more about this program, and where you can go to get additional information, please visit my website at: /.
CIVILITY CORNER
While watching a morning news show, a commentator remarked that Congress's approval rating was 12%. I thought to myself, that's terrible! Satan's approval rating is 13.5%!
Last August I boarded a flight from Kansas City to D.C. and sat next to a charming young woman from Denver who was visiting her son in suburban Virginia. During our conversation, she asked me what kind of work I did. "I work in Washington," I admitted. After fifteen minutes or so, she asked, "Where in Washington do you work?" I replied, "The Hill." A few minutes later, her eyes narrowed and she said, "I have figured out that you are a Member of Congress." "Yes," I sheepishly confessed.
In my apartment, later that evening, I shared my conversation with a friend back home and told him that I was reluctant to tell the nice woman where I actually worked, thinking that she might ask the attendant for another seat.
Whose fault is it that according to a Gallup poll just nearly one in ten Americans approve of the job Congress is doing? Another poll, conducted by the Public Policy Polling Group, found that 60% of voters agreed that, "This was the worst Congress ever." I began to blame the media, ill-informed citizens, the internet, and finally that T.V. show, Honey Boo Boo. But then I thought of a story I once heard.
One day at the lunch hour, a man opened his lunch box and pulled out his sandwich and said, "Ah phooey, I hate Tuna fish." The next day at lunch he did the same thing, and again on the third. One of his coworkers, having witnessed three days of disappointment and anger, asked, "Hey Buddy, why don't you just tell your wife that you don't like Tuna?" The Tuna hater turned, fuming to his coworker and said, "Mister, you'd better leave my wife out of this. I fix my own lunch."
Indeed, those of us in Congress, fix our own lunches. 
Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress
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| Kansas City Office
101 W 31st St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-842-4545
Fax: 816-471-5215 | Independence Office
211 West Maple Avenue
Independence, MO 64050
Phone: 816-833-4545
Fax: 816-833-2991 | Washington Office
2335 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-4535
Fax: 202-225-4403 |
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