EC from DC
At noon on Friday, January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. According to polling data, President Trump will become the least liked incoming President in modern times. With thundering internal fuss, I went to the west front of the U.S. Capitol to witness the uniquely American transition of power. In doing so, I will disappoint friends, supporters and even some family members. |
I recently wrote an Op-Ed that was published in USA Today about how we, in Congress, are to behave in the midst of political discourse. Just when I thought my heart-felt words were falling on deaf ears, I received a letter from a citizen. This gentleman took the time to type a letter and send it to my office. He wasn't in my district and I have never met him but his sincere words resonated with me in a way that made me, well, hopeful. Here's an excerpt from his letter. |
The 115th Congress was sworn in this week. With each new Congress there is a chance of a new beginning, a chance to fight once again for the wellbeing of our citizens. As I took the oath to begin my seventh term as a member of the House, representing Missouri's 5th District, I thought to myself, there is so much I want to achieve for the American people and I have been graciously given another chance, another opportunity to do so. |
As 2016 comes to a close, I want to take this time to say thank you. Thank you to everyone reading this newsletter. Thank you for your time, your comments, and your support throughout this year. We have had an eventful year, tackling several important issues. And I didn't do it alone. It was a collective effort, from both parties, to bring significant and meaningful results to the 5th District and to the citizens of this country. |
The ancient Greek rhetorician, Isocrates, not to be confused with classical Greek philosopher, Socrates, taught his students the following: "Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you." Confucius, the influential Chinese philosopher, is credited with having said, "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Epictetus, from the School of Stoicism said, "Do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you." There are similar precepts found in The |
A development this week in Washington D.C. could have a huge impact on many families in my district and around the country. Earlier this week, the House considered H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act. This bill includes three parts; bipartisan 21st Century Cures provisions, bipartisan Mental Health Reform, and various bipartisan Medicare-related provisions. The 21st Century Cures bill dedicates $6.3 billion over 10 years for medical research, opioid prevention and FDA innovation.
As we watch President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence begin their selection process of the next White House administration, one can only hope that the future cabinet is a representation of the interest and benefits of all Americans.
The American people have spoken. The country has elected Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Election Day is now over and the job before us is to keep America moving forward. The only way to do that is to work together with humility and respect for one another despite our differences. I’ve talked many times about civility. Now is the time to practice that very act of decency and respectful conduct.
This week, I joined twenty-nine of my Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama, which you can read here, expressing our concerns about the dramatic increase in the cost of prescription medications.
In June, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and I sent a letter to the CEO of Airbnb, Inc. Brian Chesky. The letter, which can be found here, addressed recent reports of discrimination against African-Americans and other minorities who attempt to book rooms online with Airbnb.