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It is no secret that America has the finest fighting force this world has ever seen. When those brave military men and women return from service, it is our duty to provide them with the benefits they have earned and deserve. From long wait times to subpar care, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not provided the exceptional care that we expect for our heroes.  This is especially apparent for veterans in rural areas.  As an advocate for rural America, it has been my mission to improve the care of these veterans, and all veterans across this great nation. There have been multiple improvements to the VA recently, including the Veterans Choice program established in the Veterans Access, Choice, and

“We must maintain the peace through our strength; weakness only invites aggression.”  These are the words Ronald Reagan spoke more than 30 years ago and a philosophy I still believe wholeheartedly today.  Yet, with proposed cuts to our national defense, including potential cuts at Fort Leonard Wood, it seems some have forgotten the necessity of a strong military. Fortunately, folks from all around Missouri gathered at Fort Leonard Wood this week to oppose cuts and highlight both the major impact the base has on our area and the strategic role it plays in America’s national defense. I share a commitment to Fort Leonard Wood and have been vocal in my unwavering support of the base and strong opposition to operational

February is the birth month of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and each February, Presidents’ Day offers us a chance to reflect on lessons learned from our former presidents. As America faces challenges at home and abroad, some of George Washington’s lessons are especially relevant today. “The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.” George Washington’s commitment to the Constitution is one of the most important lessons we can take to heart. In Washington, D.C., some seem to have forgotten that Congress is the law-making body in our Constitutional government and the executive branch is tasked with enforcing the laws. We must protect the Constitution our Founding Fathers established and work through the legislative process to move America forward. “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of

Last week at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., President Obama made insensitive remarks about Christianity that deeply disappointed me and many other Christians across the nation. While rightly criticizing the atrocious violence by the Islamic State, the president wrongly compared this behavior to the Christian faith to make a political point. His remarks oversimplified history and did not acknowledge the real threat radical Islam poses to all faiths. The Christianity I know spreads a message of love and hope that we see throughout southeast and southern Missouri. In Cape Girardeau, La Croix Church collects money to build clean wells for villages in Africa and supports Feed My Starving Children. In Rolla, volunteers from Grace Fellowship Church and churches

I have always been and will always be committed to protecting the life of the unborn and standing for the voiceless. It saddens me that we actually have to fight for something such as the life of a precious unborn child, something that each of our mothers chose for us from the first time they heard our heartbeat on the monitor, to the day we were born.  However, it is encouraging to see so many people standing and joining the fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. This week, on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, I welcomed pro-life advocates from Missouri to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life.  I watched as they joined