It was warmer than last year, and that was a good thing.
On Jan. 11, we gathered on the front lawn of the state Capitol for the inauguration of Missouri's statewide officials. It was cold, but not as cold as the last inauguration. You have to be happy for those small victories, sometimes.
The governor spoke about the tough times we've gone through over the past year. We've fought the coronavirus and the economic fallout that came with it, unemployment and business closures. Our state has faced the challenges of educating our children in these conditions. We've watched riots across the country and in the national Capitol. It can seem overwhelming at times.
However, the governor had a message for us all. Missouri has a strong foundation and is getting stronger every day. We are weathering the storm of COVID-19, and more vaccines are being provided to our citizens every day. Our unemployment rate, which peaked at 10.2 percent in the wake of the coronavirus, has fallen to 4.4 percent in the latest report. Federal funds have been provided to help businesses, farms and families come out of this situation OK.
I think it's typical to hope that a new year is better than the one before it. But that's especially true this year. And I believe, statewide, we are going to be stronger.
In the Missouri Senate, we have received our committee assignments, and I will continue to serve as chairman of the Senate's Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee. Missouri's biggest industry is agriculture, and we are committed to creating new opportunities for our farmers and ranchers. Missouri is positioned to be at the forefront of new developments in agriculture technology and advancement, and I'm going to work to make sure this state remains an agricultural leader in the coming decades.
I will also continue to serve on the Senate's Economic Development and Small Business and Industry committees. I am continuing to work in those committees to help our businesses grow and provide new jobs for working families. I have also been appointed to the Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee this session and will be in a position to rein in excessive or wasteful government spending when I find it.
On another note, the Truman Veterans' Hospital has announced veterans age 65 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination through that hospital. If you are a veteran age 65 or older and enrolled in VA health care, you can call 573-814-6000, extension 54300, to make an appointment for vaccination.
I'm looking forward to the year ahead and to helping Missouri grow even stronger. It is an honor to serve the 6th District.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th District and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.