Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

For the past 8 years, I have had the honor of presenting Resolutions to the American FFA Degree recipients of District 125. Every year our District has multiple winners of this award and I am proud of each of them and their hard work. FFA is a great organization with 25,920 members in Missouri. They are training the next generation to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population. Members learn the skills to develop their own talents and interests by exploring a broad range of career pathways through agricultural education.

The FFA Vision:

“Students whose lives are impacted by FFA and agricultural education will achieve academic and personal growth, strengthen American agriculture and provide leadership to build healthy local communities, a strong nation and a sustainable world.”

Congratulations to the District 125 Students that received the 2020 American FFA Degree:

Appleton City High School – Tayton E. Dains, Wyatt J. Oberly, Brett Roberts and Rebecca Siegismund

El Dorado Springs High School – Justin Dale Ellison, Cameron Hargrove, Bradley Clayton McCullick, Makenzie Scott Melton, Taylor Kay Robison, Levi Smith, Glen VanBummel and Bryce Marshall Wosoba

Hermitage High School – Emily M Christian and Abigail R Irek

Osceola High School – Gabby Lea Dutcher, Gage Lynn Fergerson and Mackenna Leah Neale

Skyline High School – Savannah Gruber and Paden Lee Hodges

Legislature Gives Final Approval to Spending Bill for Coronavirus Relief Efforts (HB 14)

A special session called by Gov. Mike Parson to allocate nearly $1.3 billion in supplemental spending has concluded. This week the Senate gave final approval to the spending bill that started in the House. The legislation will provide access to Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, which is intended to provide additional resources to respond to COVID-19.

The bill, which was originally passed by the House in November, received strong bipartisan support in both chambers. The largest item in the nearly $1.3 billion spending plan is $764 million for the state’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Other items of note in the spending plan include:

• $140 million for testing, tracing, reporting and other expenses related to mitigating the virus.

• $96.8 million to transfer child support debt intercepted from federal stimulus payments to custodial parents who are due the money.

• $75.7 million for school food service programs that have been extended through the end of December.

• $34 million for assistance to businesses/employees participating in the Shared Work Program.

• $19.6 million for homeless prevention grants.

• $5.1 million in additional funds for ongoing long-term behavioral health effects in both adults and children caused by natural disasters in our state in 2018 and 2019.

• $93 million for ongoing pharmacy expenses in the Medicaid program due to increased utilization during the pandemic.

With the approval of the legislature, the bill now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Passage of the bill marks the end of the legislature’s work during the special session. The governor had called for the session to be expanded to include legislation to provide liability protections for health care providers, manufacturers, businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations, among others. While the Senate had started work on the bill this week, Gov. Parson asked the legislature to table discussion on the bill for now. The legislature will now take up the issue of COVID-19 liability protection when the regular session begins in January.

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance, my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.

YOUR District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome.

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.