Missouri Delegation Calls on President Trump to Support Disaster Declaration Following Historic Tornadoes and Flooding

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the entire Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-05), Sam Graves (R-06), Lacy Clay (D-01), Vicky Hartzler (R-04), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-03), Billy Long (R-07), Ann Wagner (R-02), and Jason Smith (R-08), and U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to support Acting Governor Mike Kehoe's disaster declaration request for the counties affected by recent tornadoes, high winds, flooding, and flash flooding. The disaster declaration is a necessary step in order for these counties to access critically important federal resources for recovery efforts.

"State and local governments continue to be burdened by the costs that have been incurred in the ongoing effort to protect life and property," the delegation wrote. "We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. Along with our fellow Missourians, we appreciate your attention to this request and stand ready to assist in any way possible."

"2019 has been one of the most devastating years on record and many communities in Missouri are still struggling to recover," said Congressman Cleaver. "The federal funds we're calling for are critical to the state and will go a long way in helping Missourians rebuild and restore what Mother Nature has destroyed."

Full text of the letter is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov You can find a high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver here