I want to talk about the Republican assault on Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. It's abundantly clear this attack has created total chaos for Missouri voters, and I've been hard-pressed to answer one simple question: why did Republicans target Congressman Cleaver in their redistricting plan? All for the sake of one more Republican vote.

The Congressman has brought millions of dollars to Missouri for healthcare programs, cultural institutions, medical research, and infrastructure projects like transit and water towers. Those investments have benefited urban and rural communities alike. He worked closely with Missouri Senator Kit Bond on many of these projects, and I believe it was in recognition of that partnership that Senator Bond asked Congressman Cleaver to deliver his eulogy.

A little-known fact: for many years, the Congressman sent emails to every member of Congress urging bipartisanship. A few excerpts:

• "We, the members of the 'Great House,' must quickly pledge our loyalty to a new level of civility or risk being labeled by future generations as the treasonists who extinguished the brightest light of democracy that ever gleamed."
• "Let us concentrate instead on working across the aisle to make momentous, enduring legislation that improves the lives of Americans for generations to come."
• "You can't plant corn and get beans. Politically, if we continue to plant divisiveness and hatred, then we cannot expect good policy to break through the soil and flourish."

His record of working across the aisle is unquestioned. Here are just a few recent examples:

1. 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (signed into law). The most significant housing package in nearly 50 years was introduced by Rep. Cleaver, Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE), and the leadership of the House Financial Services Committee. The bill became law on July 11th 2026,  without President Trump's signature after he declined to sign or veto it. It includes several provisions Rep. Cleaver sponsored with Republican colleagues:

• HOME Reform Act, with Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE)
• Rural Housing Service Reform Act, with Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA)
• Housing Supply Expansion Act, with Rep. John Rose (R-TN)
• HUD Accountability Act, with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)

2. Alpha-gal syndrome research. With Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), he secured an amendment adding $5 million for alpha-gal syndrome research to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Alpha-gal is a life-threatening allergy triggered by tick bites that affects roughly 500,000 Americans, including tens of thousands of Missourians.

3. Rural paramedicine. With Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), he introduced the Community Paramedicine Act of 2025, which would expand rural health grants to cover mobile integrated health and community paramedicine programs. That means rural Americans could get mobile, preventive care from local paramedics instead of relying on 911 and the emergency room. More than 57 million Americans live a long way from their nearest physician, and rural residents have it worst, since only 11% of physicians practice in rural areas.

4. Missouri River management.

• Served on a bipartisan, bi-state Missouri River working group in 2011.
• Introduced the Lower Missouri River Flood Protection Program Act with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) in 2020 and pushed for its inclusion in WRDA. The bill would expand the Lower Missouri Basin Flood Risk and Resiliency Study, so projects can be identified and moved forward without unnecessary delay.
• Called for an Inland Navigation Construction Organization (INCO) within Army Corps headquarters to coordinate federal inland waterway projects, sending a letter with Rep. Onder (R-MO) and 35 other members to push for greater transparency, accountability, and coordination.
• Submitted language for the 2026 Water Resources Development Act to authorize the Lower Missouri River Flood Risk and Resiliency Comprehensive Study and to limit out-of-basin water transfers from the Missouri River watershed.

One more thing: Secretary of State Hoskins is being sued by referendum petitioners for "Failure to Properly Discharge his Duties." He purged the contempt charge at the Missouri Supreme Court, but that episode may still strengthen the case against him.