Looking after the Interests of Rural Missouri

Statement

When I visited the Missouri State Fair as part of Military Appreciation Day, I was reminded of how linked rural America is to our national defense and how fortunate we are here in the Fourth District to have two outstanding military installations in the midst of our country's agricultural heartland. According to Defense Department statistics, over 45 percent of the U.S. military is filled with young men and women from small towns. Many of these public servants will return to the rural countryside when their tours of duty have been completed, which is yet another reason why it is important for Congress to put in place policies that strengthen the farm economy and promote rural development.

Missouri's Fourth Congressional District is agriculturally diverse with plenty of row crops, like corn, soybeans, and milo, and livestock, such as poultry, pork, beef, and dairy. This diversity shapes the state's economy and creates jobs, which is why I have worked so very hard over the years to strengthen the farm safety net, to expand export opportunities for farm products, to protect family farmers from frustrating government regulations, and to reduce the estate tax burden for farm families.

During the 111th Congress, I have pressed a number of agricultural priorities, including two bills to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from farms and Midwestern power plants. If EPA is left unchecked by Congress and allowed to regulate these emissions, it could be devastating to farmers and the rural economy. That is why it is so very important for Congressional leaders to listen to the voices of rural America -- the bipartisan representatives who have signed on to my "Stop EPA" bills -- and allow a vote in the House on legislation to eliminate or slow down the agency's regulations.

In addition to getting a better handle on EPA, Congress must open more doors for agricultural exports. Missouri ranks 12th overall in agricultural exports, which totaled $2.7 billion in 2009. The state's top three farm exports are soybeans, feed grains, and animals & meat products. Expanding trade increases farm incomes and creates rural jobs.

I also support legislation in the 111th Congress to exempt all estates valued at less than $5 million for single folks and $10 million for couples from the federal estate tax. This tax can be particularly burdensome to family farmers and small business owners, which is why Congress ought to take up estate tax reform this year. And, as Congress prepares to consider the next Farm Bill, preserving a durable farm safety net, investing in conservation and renewable energy, and expanding rural economic development will be key.

It is critical that Congress promote rural priorities, which create jobs for those currently living in small towns and generate new economic opportunities for those wishing to return home to rural areas after serving in the military. As the 111th Congress prepares to reconvene, rest assured I will continue looking out for the vital economic interests of rural Missouri.

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