Yearly Archives: 2016

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill has joined a bipartisan push in the Senate to boost American jobs, demanding that ‘Buy America’ provisions requiring U.S. workers and materials be used in construction projects, be restored to a national water infrastructure bill, after they were removed by U.S. House Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) issued the following statement upon conclusion of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee hearing titled “Modernizing Appraisals: A Regulatory Review and the Future of the Industry.”

The president of a Missouri-based construction company has been indicted on charges of unemployment fraud in connection with allegedly failing to pay unemployment insurance contributions to the Department of Unemployment Assistance, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

The U.S. Court of Appeals Sunday night rejected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request for a temporary injunction to halt construction of the Dakota Access pipeline thru traditional unceded Oceti Sakowin treaty lands near the Missouri River. The three-judge panel issued its decision Sunday after hearing oral arguments from lawyers representing the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and pipeline developers Energy Transfer Partners earlier this week. The decision was based on a specific request by the tribe for the court to continue a work stoppage order on the pipeline within 20 miles on either side of the Missouri River

After much deliberation, yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303. Earlier this week, Democratic Caucus members fervently argued for an amendment that would provide repairs and health services to the residents of Flint, Michigan, without success. Today, however, House Republicans have agreed to an amendment that will authorize $170 million to repair and replace public and private infrastructure in Flint and across the country.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) issued the following statement upon conclusion of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee titled “The Impact of U.S. – EU Dialogues on U.S. Insurance Markets.”

The number of residential permits issued during August indicates that local builders will be working hard to replenish new home inventory, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report.   Area communities issued 530 permits for new single family residences during August, an increase of 36 from the prior month and 105 more permits than in August of 2015.    The year-to-date total of 3,852 is 29% higher than 2015’s total through August.  Multi-family permits are also setting a brisk pace with 3,062 units permitted during the first eight months of this year.

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) calls on House leadership to move forward with protecting and securing homes and businesses from potential flooding by voting on the Water Resources Development Act, (WRDA) H.R. 5303. Congressman Cleaver, along with over 142 House Members, sent a letter to the Speaker Paul Ryan, and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asking that they bring WRDA for a vote. The letter can be found here. The U.S. Senate today passed their version of the water infrastructure bill, which also includes funding to help the residents of Flint, Michigan.

In June, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) along with Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) sent a letter to the CEO of Airbnb, Inc. Brian Chesky. The letter, which can be found here, addressed recent reports of discrimination against African-Americans and other minorities who attempt to book rooms online with Airbnb.

New residential permit activity in the Kansas City region slowed slightly during July but area builders are still on track for a 30% increase over 2015. Local cities and counties issued 494 permits for new single family units, bringing the year-to-date total to 3,322 according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s July Residential Building Permit Statistics report. Multi-family construction also continues to grow: construction activity from January to July rose 42 percent with 2,409 units permitted, compared with 1,706 units for the first seven months of 2015.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement marking today’s groundbreaking in Washington, Mo. for the new Route 47 Missouri River Bridge Project. Blunt was instrumental in securing resources for the project, which will create a safer, more efficient connection between Franklin and Warren Counties

On Monday morning, I had the privilege of joining Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) in a joint press conference in Jefferson City to discuss our bipartisan housing legislation that was recently signed into law by President Obama. This law, H.R. 3700 and Public Law No. 114-201, will reform housing policies in America for the first time in decades. This bipartisan effort has been a long time coming. H.R. 3700 represents the first time in more than 27 years that a bill has unanimously passed both houses of Congress under regular order, and not suspension of the rules

Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) will hold a press conference in Jefferson City, Missouri, on their legislation that was recently signed into law by President Obama. The legislation will reform housing policies in America for the first time in decades. This bi-partisan effort has been a long time coming.

resident Obama has signed into law legislation that U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) introduced which would reform housing policies in America for the first time in decades

H.R. 3700, The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, successfully passed through the Senate. This bill, sponsored by Missouri Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver, II and Blaine Luetkemeyer, passed unanimously in the House on February 2, 2016. The bill was later introduced in the Senate by Senator Menendez, Senator Scott, Senator Coons, and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt. It successfully passed on July 14, 2016, and is now on its way to President Barack Obama's desk for signature