View from the Capitol - April 16, 2016
After two in-district work weeks, we were back in Washington this week. Prior to leaving Missouri, however, I visited with some people in Morgan and Camden Counties.
Around the District
In Versailles, I toured Martin Metal, a business that has, for 30 years, manufactured construction materials, employing about 80 people. This company bills itself as a "one stop shop for your next building project," offering rolled metal roofing and siding, custom metal trim pieces, custom built trusses, and a full lumber yard. Martin Metal will even contract the concrete and labor for customers.
Vicky tours Martin Metal in Versailles
While I was impressed with the operation of the business, I was touched by the attention paid to family. This is, indeed, a family-oriented company that works with its employees who are raising families. Women are able to bring their babies to work. In addition, employees are given the flex-time option to give them a greater ability to be with their children as the kids are growing up. Certainly, not every business can operate in this way, but Martin Metal is a great example for businesses that do have the capability of doing so.
In Camden County, I visited the Pregnancy Help Center, a Camdenton-based pro-life center that offers guidance, spiritual help, and material needs to pregnant women considering abortion.
Vicky with Erma Moenkhoff of the Camdenton Pregnancy Help Center
Executive Director Erma Moenkhoff and a staff of volunteers offer on-site ultrasounds and other free services that include pregnancy tests, parenting classes, housing, and baby items. The Pregnancy Help Center offers women struggling with an unexpected pregnancy an option to choose life for their unborn child. We are blessed to have this center available to the women of our district.
On another note, you might have heard recently of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) misuse of taxpayer dollars to support an attack on our nation's agriculture industry. An Indian tribe and a coalition of environmental groups used EPA grant money to put up billboards in Washington State to promote a media campaign attempting to link agriculture with water pollution. These billboards urge citizens to lobby lawmakers to require a Waters of the U.S.-type rule that would harm our farmers and producers. I am solidly opposed to this smear campaign and support efforts to investigate this lie-filled campaign and other abuses of taxpayer money by the EPA.
Meanwhile, in DC
Back in Washington I had the opportunity to continue my work as the House Armed Services Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Chairwoman as I chaired a hearing to investigate some questionable spending by the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vicky chairs the Oversight and Investigations hearing
This hearing took a look into $150 billion spent on a series of villas used to house Department of Defense personnel while they worked to promote economic activity in Afghanistan, $43 million spent on construction of a compressed gas infrastructure project, and $2.3 million spent on an Italian cashmere goat farm operation. Given today's vast and expanding threats, our limited resources should be spent to ensure our troops can fully address those threats. And, as the country has surpassed $19 trillion in debt, we owe it to you to ensure your tax dollars are being spent wisely. I am committed to this mission of rooting our fraud, waste, and abuse so you can be assured defense funding is being used to maintain our national security.
I was also honored as the American National Cattlewomen this week presented me with an honorary lifetime membership. These women work tirelessly to advocate for women who share a passion for the beef industry, including youth development in the industry, beef production, and land and animal care. I am honored to be recognized and am proud to support the U.S. beef industry. As a livestock producer myself, I am proud to bring their message and efforts to Washington.
Vicky was named an honorary member of the American National Cattlewomen
I’d love to see you there…
Each year I have the distinct honor of nominating a select group of high school students from our district to our country’s service academies. Attendance at these schools, whether it be the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy, West Point, or the Merchant Marine Academy, is highly selective, very difficult, and very rewarding. I am continuously impressed as I read through all the accomplishments of our district’s high schoolers, and I am proud to be able to nominate them each year.
I will be hosting a an information session for anyone wanting to get more information on what attending our service academies entails. If you or someone you know would like to get more information about our service academies, the appointment process, or are just generally curious about military service, I urge you to come join us in Warrensburg on Saturday, May 7. You can get more details by clicking here.
Last week I told you about our new “People’s Choice Award” for the Congressional Art Competition. Time is running out to get your votes in. You can vote by clicking here.
Also, we will be honoring this year’s winners and hosting a reception to display all of the wonderful entries at our Art Competition Reception in Columbia on Saturday, April 23. If you are in the area, I hope you can join us and see the talent from our district! For more information, click the link in this paragraph, or visit the “Events” page on my website.
Lastly, I would like to bring your attention to a section on my website that will make it easier for you to share your stories with me. By going to the “Your Story” page at https://hartzler.house.gov/your-story you can share your experiences with Obamacare, taxes, federal agencies such as the EPA or the IRS, almost anything. I want to hear from you. You can also use this page to share your ideas to improve how our government works for you. I encourage you to visit and tell me your story. My office and I will do what we can to resolve your issue, get you the information you need, or bring your issue to the attention of Congress. I am honored to serve you in the House of Representatives, and I am committed to making sure your voice is heard in Washington.