Photos
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McCaskill Hosts Public Forum at Farmington City Hall »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill—who has hosted more public town halls throughout Missouri in her time as Senator than the rest of Missouri’s Congressional delegation combined—will hold four public town halls in the greater St. Louis region on Friday. On previous tours this year, McCaskill has already hosted eighteen public town halls throughout Missouri. During debate over the Affordable Care Act—at a time of heightened demonstrations against the legislation—McCaskill held a series of highly publicized town halls, including in traditionally conservative areas of Missouri, to hear directly from Missourians about their concerns and respond to criticisms. In 2014, McCaskill logged more than 1,000 miles around the state on her “McCaskill on Main Street” series of public town halls. McCaskill has also toured the state with town halls aimed at military veterans and seniors—and has hosted individual town halls, such as one she hosted last year with then-U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack focused on the opioid epidemic.
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Cuba is first stop on McCaskill August Townhall Tour »
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National SWAT Team Officers Organization Meets with McCaskill »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill met today with the National Tactical Officers Association—which represents SWAT teams and other law enforcement specialists across the country—to discuss enhanced training opportunities for law enforcement and ways to make Missouri communities safer. “Our SWAT teams and tactical officers are on the front lines of keeping Missouri’s communities safe from some of the most dangerous weapons and criminals,” said McCaskill, a former prosecutor and the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. “So it’s always valuable to talk with them about the ways we can partner to make our communities safer and our law enforcement programs more efficient and effective.” McCaskill is a strong advocate for ensuring law enforcement have the tools and resources they need to succeed. She recently raised concerns to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly over proposed cuts of nearly $450 million to Department of Homeland Security grant programs that support state and local counterterrorism preparedness programs. McCaskill also a longtime supporter of grant funding for state and local law enforcement, including through the Justice Department’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which allows state and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime.
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McCaskill’s Bipartisan Bill to Combat Drug and Weapons Trafficking Unanimously Passes Key Committee »
Today the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Senator Claire McCaskill serves as the top-ranking Democrat, unanimously approved McCaskill’s bipartisan bill that targets transnational criminal organizations on the borders to address drug and weapons trafficking. “Too many illegally-smuggled opioids, drugs, and weapons make their way across our borders and into Missouri communities,” said McCaskill, a former prosecutor. “A coordinated effort among federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement is a key way to combat drug and weapons trafficking—and protect the safety of Missourians and all Americans.” The Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program, which the bill reauthorizes, consists of teams that coordinate federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement efforts targeting drug trafficking and other transnational criminal activity. This bill updates current law to reflect changes in the Department of Homeland Security and the nature of the threat risk since BEST units were first authorized. BEST team investigations have led to over 13,000 arrests and significant drug and weapon seizures. The legislation is also supported by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Senator Jon Tester of Montana. Now that the bill has been approved by the Committee, it awaits approval of the full Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill in May. McCaskill has been a longtime advocate for increasing border security and earlier this year toured the U.S.-Mexico border to learn more about what Customs and Border Protection needs to increase border security. Her efforts in 2010 led to the placement of 1,000 new border patrol agents, new unmanned aerial vehicles, improved communication equipment and more to monitor the border without adding to the deficit. In 2012, her bipartisan bill to combat illegal underground border tunnels—cosponsored by Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona—passed unanimously in the Senate and was signed into law. And bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to address the country’s broken system in 2013 that McCaskill supported would have added 20,000 enforcement agents to the U.S.-Mexico border, while financing the construction of 700 miles of border fence and aerial drones to monitor the border.
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McCaskill: We’ve Got to Get Postal Reform Across the Finish Line »
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill discussed the status of efforts to strengthen and reform the United States Postal Service (USPS) during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing today with the Postmaster General. McCaskill serves as the Committee’s top-ranking Democrat. “We’ve got to get postal reform across the finish line,” McCaskill said. She asked Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan for her “assessment of where we stand right now…when it comes to postal reform in terms of putting it on a more sound financial path going forward.” Brennan responded that she is “optimistic,” and agreed with McCaskill that “the need for postal reform is urgent. Our financial condition is worsening.” The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has oversight and legislative authority over USPS. A longtime advocate for postal service in rural communities, McCaskill waged a successful campaign over several years to save rural post offices and maintain delivery standards. Earlier this year, McCaskill introduced bipartisan legislation with Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas to protect hundreds of post offices around the country from indefinite “emergency closure.” McCaskill has also directed the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look into reported postal service problems. Last January, McCaskill demanded answers from the Postal Service on how it will protect mail delivery for rural Missourians and efficiently manage the cost-sharing benefits with competitors to carry mail the “last mile,” especially in rural areas.
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McCaskill Attends Arla Harrell’s VA Appeals Hearing »
