Rural Missouri

In a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs hearing today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed Eric Beightel, the Biden-appointed Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, on his agency's endorsement of the Grain Belt Express. This green-energy transmission corridor is set to cut across Missouri, confiscating farmers' land in its tracks while failing to adequately compensate landowners.  "Why is it a good idea to...

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley, (R-Mo.) Eric Schmitt, and Congressman Jason Smith sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to approve Missouri Governor Parson's disaster declaration request for urgent financial relief. The lawmakers' letter comes after devastating storms battered Missouri last month, damaging countless homes and businesses.  "On Wednesday, June 12, Governor Parson requested a major disaster declaration after multiple severe weather events occurred in the State of Missouri...

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed the Biden Administration's Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning on lying to Congress about her ties to tree spiking, a form of eco-terrorism that targets the timber industry and could kill or seriously maim blue-collar loggers. "You just said . . . that you were involved. There were two people convicted in 1989 of putting 500 pounds of spikes in an Idaho forest. . . . You testified that you sent a letter to...

Today U.S. Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a follow-up letter to Energy Secretary Granholm, urging transparency from her Department on its proposed designation of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC), which is projected to cut across the entirety of Missouri.  "Constituents in my state have rightfully complained that the proposal lacks essential information needed to adequately provide comments on the plan," wrote Senator Hawley. "I have...

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) – a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) – and HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reopen the Baring, Mo., Post Office. The Senators also requested that the USPS reopen other post offices it has placed under “emergency suspension” due to natural disasters or the need for repairs. Senators Hawley and...

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Rural Post Office Reconstruction Act of 2023, new legislation that would establish a clear timeframe for reopening rural post offices that experience closure due to natural disaster damage or other unforeseen circumstances. On August 4, 2023, in Baring, Mo., an EF-2 tornado almost completely destroyed the town’s Post Office, in addition to damaging nearby homes and businesses. There is still no public timetable for the...

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis Dejoy of the United States Postal Service (USPS) seeking an update on the status of the Post Office in Baring, Mo., after it was destroyed by a tornado on August 4, 2023. "Losing a functioning Post Office is more than an inconvenience for Baring’s citizens. They risk losing access to reliable medical delivery, payment disbursements, and indispensable communications," wrote Senator Hawley....