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Inauguration Information »
On January 20th, 2017, our nation's capital will once again be the scene of history as America's 45th president is sworn in. Washington, D.C., will be buzzing with excitement during the inaugural ceremonies and there are lots of ways for visitors to take part. The window for requesting tickets to the Swearing-in Ceremony of President-elect Trump has closed. Missourians who are selected for tickets through our office's random drawing will be notified by Friday, December 16th. More information is available here: www.mccaskill.senate.gov/inauguration
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McCaskill Joins Arnold Veteran at French Legion of Honor Ceremony »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today joined local World War II veteran Joe Randazzo at his induction ceremony into the French Legion of Honor. The French Legion of Honor (officially called the Légion d’honneur) is the highest award for service the French Government bestows on living United States veterans who risked their life during World War I and World War II fighting on French territory. Those selected are appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor. “Generations of Americans have felt the call to serve in our military not only to defend our own borders, but to help defend those of our allies who have joined us in the fight against tyranny,” said McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the daughter of a World War II veteran. “We owe a true debt of gratitude to those who have risked their lives for our safety and freedom, and it’s such a special tribute for our nation’s oldest ally to recognize the incredible service of Joe Randazzo.” Improving care for veterans and honoring their service has been a priority for McCaskill in the U.S. Senate. Earlier this year she successfully advocated for World War II veteran Carl Willm to receive his Bronze Star Medal after a long delay. McCaskill has previously helped Missouri veterans and their families secure overdue combat awards, including World War II veterans Vernon C. Crecelius and Walter Wocjik, Vietnam veterans Patrick Howe and Walter Sitzwohl, and Korean War veterans Dencil Francis and Reverend Leo Hardin. McCaskill has led several efforts to increase accountability and quality of veterans services. Earlier this year, McCaskill released a report detailing shameful treatment of veterans of World War II who were exposed to mustard gas, leading to her introduction of the Arla Harrell Act. Aiming to continue improvements to the quality of customer service at statewide VA facilities, McCaskill last year announced the expansion of her successful “secret-shopper” program to the southwest Missouri area. The Veterans’ Customer Satisfaction Program allows veterans to share timely, confidential feedback about their VA health care visits, and helps provide oversight and accountability for VA health care facilities. The survey is now active in five regions: St. Louis; Kansas City; Columbia; Poplar Bluff; Southwest Missouri (Fayetteville). Veterans seeking to participate in the Veterans’ Customer Satisfaction Program can visit McCaskill’s website, McCaskill.senate.gov/VCSP, and complete the confidential survey. Responses can be submitted after each health care visit.
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Missouri Chamber of Commerce Meets with McCaskill »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s today met with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce to discuss the importance of infrastructure and job creation in the Show-Me state. “I’m always grateful for the opportunity to hear firsthand from many of folks working to create jobs and opportunity in our state,” said McCaskill, a former Missouri State Auditor. “Transportation and infrastructure funding are two areas that’ll be vital to that job creation in the coming years, and to Missouri’s long term growth. I was glad to team up with the Chamber to get our federal permitting bill across the finish line to do just that, and I look forward to continuing to build on that progress for Missouri’s families and businesses.” The Missouri and U.S. Chamber last year joined McCaskill to discuss her bipartisan legislation—now law—that will boost job and business opportunities by reforming the federal permitting process. Daniel Mehan, President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said on a media conference call: “Senator McCaskill, thanks so much for your leadership on this issue—it means a real breath of fresh air for infrastructure around the country. Missouri is keen on infrastructure with our location in the center of the country—we’ve got a cross-section of pipelines, roads, rails—with the second, third largest rail hubs in the country and sixth largest highway system. But this means that infrastructure development will be simplified, it’ll be expedited, and with the focused management it’ll help in a great way employ a lot of Missourians… congratulations on a unique display of bipartisanship in the federal government.” Last year’s long-term highway bill included provisions of the Federal Permitting Improvement Act, which McCaskill introduced more than two years ago along with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, that streamlines and speeds up the federal permitting process for the largest and most complex projects, which were laden with an uncoordinated federal review process. Businesses looking to undertake large infrastructure projects were subject to a massive bureaucratic process involving up to a dozen agencies and approvals, and even after approval, litigation could stall projects for years. The World Bank ranked the United States 41st in the world in “Dealing with Construction Permits,” a metric that measures how easy it is to actually build something. McCaskill’s bipartisan plan was backed by a number of groups including: Missouri Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Soybean Association, Missouri Realtors, Associated General Contractors of Missouri, North American Equipment Dealers Association, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield, St. Louis Regional Chamber, and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. The group today also discussed the need for Congress to confirm the qualified Republican nominee to serve as a Director of the Export-Import Bank. The Bank cannot currently operate at full capacity because of vacancies on its Board of Directors, threatening thousands of American jobs and financial transactions valued at more than $20 billion. In 2014, McCaskill, a vocal advocate for the job-creating impact of the Export-Import Bank, toured companies in Missouri to rally support for the Bank. McCaskill heard from employees on how their company has been positively impacted by the bank, and discussed ways the bank’s funding has allowed them to create jobs in Missouri and compete in the global marketplace.
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McCaskill Work to Protect Rental Car Consumers Honored with Award »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s role in passing into law landmark rental car safety legislation was honored today with the American Car Rental Association’s Legislator of the Year award. “In the wake of so many high-profile recalls, it’s more important than ever to ensure the cars that folks are driving off the rental car lots are safe,” said McCaskill, former Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection. “The commonsense legislation we passed into law was a real victory for consumers, and will help keep Missouri families safe on the road.” Last year’s highway bill included the Racheal and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act, which is now law, that ensures all recalled rental cars must be grounded and repaired before they are rented to consumers. McCaskill offered the provision as an amendment, which was adopted, during the Senate Commerce Committee’s consideration of the five-year highway bill. In 2012, McCaskill led discussions between rental car companies and safety advocates to reach an agreement on the legislation that garnered broad support from the rental car industry, car companies including Honda and GM, and consumer and auto safety advocates alike. The legislation was supported by all major car rental companies—Enterprise, Hertz, Avis Budget, and Dollar Thrifty, as well as the American Car Rental Association—together representing virtually 100 percent of the rental car market. In 2014, McCaskill held two hearings on the General Motors recall of 2.6 million vehicles for defective ignition switches that have been linked to a number of deaths, as well as an auto safety oversight hearing, and a hearing on rental car safety. McCaskill was honored in February by the Consumers Council of Missouri with their 2015 Alberta Slavin Consumer Award for her work on the rental car safety legislation.
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McCaskill’s Work to Protect Rural Farmers & Ranchers Honored with ‘Golden Triangle’ Award »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s work on behalf of Missouri’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities was honored this week with the National Farmers Union’s Golden Triangle Award. “Missouri’s farmers and ranchers are critical to the economic success of our state—and we’ve got to continue to ensure they’ve got the tools they need to expand that success and incentivize the next generation,” said McCaskill, who was born in Rolla, Missouri. “I’m humbled to receive this award and will continue fighting every way I know how to promote and protect our rural communities.” The Golden Triangle Award is an official honor given by the National Farmers Union to members of Congress “in recognition of outstanding leadership on issues affecting family farmers and rural America.” McCaskill is a longtime advocate for ensuring Missouri's farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to succeed, and for preventing unreasonable rules and regulations on producers. Last summer, McCaskill embarked on a statewide Agriculture Tour in which she heard directly from a wide variety of producers, farmers, ranchers, researchers, and other stakeholders in all corners of the state on Missouri’s agriculture needs. McCaskill was a leader in the fight to pass the Farm Bill in 2014 and was successful in co-sponsoring a bi-partisan amendment in the 2010 agriculture appropriations bill that provided an additional funds to adjust the dairy market so independent producers are able to stay afloat through tough times.
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McCaskill Meets with St. Louis-area Missouri Middle School Principal of the Year »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this week met and congratulated Dr. Theodore “Ted” Huff, Principal at Francis Howell Middle School, who was named the 2015-16 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. “Ted’s commitment to learning and fostering growth for not only his students, but also administrators, teachers, and the community alike, serves as an example of how our public schools can effectively engage and empower future generations,” said McCaskill, a graduate of Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. “I’m so happy to congratulate Ted on this remarkable honor and on all his contributions to Francis Howell Middle School.” Dr. Huff has been the Principal at Francis Howell Middle School for three years and was previously named the St. Louis Association of Secondary Principals’ Principal of the Year in 2015. He is being honored for his contributions to collaborative leadership, curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and his personalization of the learning environment at the school he serves. Dr. Huff was honored by the Association at the their Spring Conference in Lake Ozark, Missouri this past March.
