With only a week until Labor Day, the House of Representatives district work period is quickly coming to a close. This month, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many constituents and business owners across the district to talk about their legislative priorities. This week, I met with a variety of groups to hear their stories, and I’d like to share just a few.
I had the opportunity to meet with local leaders in the fight against human trafficking, including St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar, O’Fallon Police Chief Roy Joachimstaler, and representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Child Advocacy Center and Gateway Human Trafficking. They briefed me on the role our local community’s law enforcement and district attorney’s offices play in finding justice for victims. In April, President Donald Trump signed legislation sponsored by fellow Missourian, Congresswoman Ann Wagner, which took a huge step in the fight against online sex trafficking. I was proud to cosponsor this important legislation, but we must continue our work to fight these terrible crimes and protect children across the globe.
I also toured the Child Advocacy Center in Wentzville, where they provided me with an update on their expansion efforts. It was great to see their build out as they provide a safe child advocacy center serving child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and children who witness violence. We must continue to prioritize these children and ensure they are provided with the opportunity to succeed.
Back in my office, I met with representatives from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Many of us have family members or friends who have suffered from MS, and we’ve seen firsthand just how important innovation and advanced research is to putting an end to the disease. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a great advocate for patients and their family. I enjoyed discussing their priorities along with upcoming legislation to support their mission.
In St. Charles County, I had the opportunity to tour the new state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center, which will provide a place to house all of the County’s emergency communications functions, allowing for a more coordinated and efficient response during an emergency. The new facility will be critical for constituents in St. Charles County in the event of a natural disaster. It was a pleasure to see the Emergency Operations Center for myself, and I am confident it will serve the people of St. Charles County well.
Finally, I had the opportunity to tour the FAA’s TRACON facility, which serves as the primary air-traffic-control facility for St. Louis Lambert International Airport. There are few jobs more stressful than an air-traffic controller, and I’m extremely grateful for the hard working professionals who make sure thousands of people who fly in and out of Missouri each day safely. We discussed future funding concerns, and I look forward to working with my Congressional colleagues to keep this facility running.
It was an exciting week in Missouri’s 3rd District, and I thank everyone for making the time to discuss your priorities with me!
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., shares his perspective each week on national issues, including ones that affect Missouri. He represents the state’s 3rd District, which includes Jefferson City. His local office can be reached at 635-7232.