| Vicky is a wife, mother, life-long farmer, small business owner and a former public school teacher with a passion for life and for serving God and others. She grew up on a farm in Cass County, learned the value of hard work, graduated from Archie High School, then received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Missouri. She later earned a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Central Missouri.
She taught family and consumer sciences for 11 years in Lebanon and Belton, MO, coaching track for six years while at Belton and serving as co-director of a program for at-risk teens in addition to her regular teaching responsibilities.
Vicky began her public service in 1994 when she successfully ran for State Representative in the Missouri General Assembly. She served six years in the state house, representing parts of Cass and Johnson Counties.
She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees. On the House Armed Services Committee, she serves as the Ranking Member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and is a member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. On the House Agriculture Committee, she serves on the Livestock & Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee and the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee. She also chairs the House Values Action Team. An advocate for traditional Missouri values, strong national defense, and sound fiscal discipline, Vicky has used her position in Congress to advance these principles and fight for the interests of her constituents in the Fourth district.
Since entering Congress in 2011, Vicky has proven to be an effective legislator in Washington and a tireless advocate for her constituents at home. Vicky returns home on weekends and congressional work periods to listen and learn from those who elected her to represent them.
During her time in Congress, Vicky has effectively advanced legislation and initiatives reflective of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District.
Parts of Missouri's 4th District have been devastated by natural disasters in recent years and its communities have struggled to deal with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) with its bureaucratic maze of the federal government. Aware of this, Vicky introduced H.R. 1117, the FEMA Relief Improvement Act, which requires FEMA to provide victims better guidance, more accurate information, and greater service from FEMA during emergencies and natural disasters. The measure passed both the House and the Senate and was signed into law in 2017.
Recently, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported that Missouri ranked 17th in the nation for reported human trafficking cases, with many of these cases involving minors. That is why Vicky introduced H.R. 2480, the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act, which opens up more Department of Justice grant funding to fight the heinous crime of sex trafficking. The House passed Vicky's bill in 2017.
Another challenge facing our district is the drug epidemic, which has reached startling proportions throughout the country. Vicky launched the "Drug Free MO Initiative" to fight against drug abuse, working with counties to establish drug courts and talking to teenagers about the danger of drugs. Working with law enforcement, parents who have lost their child to drug overdoses, and motivational speakers, she organizes high school assemblies where young people are challenged to be the generation which chooses to be live drug-free. Informational resources are provided to help teens overcome opioid and drug abuse.
Our district is blessed with many rural areas that make Missouri a special place to live. Vicky has worked to ensure our rural communities have access to the resources and services needed to ensure quality of life for families. With that in mind, Vicky introduced H.R. 3242, the Expanding Rural Investment in Jobs and Infrastructure Act, which allows more community colleges, hospitals, technical schools, and other training centers to access federal funding for rural infrastructure improvements. Additionally, she successfully advocated for the repeal of the Waters of the U.S. rule, which would have potentially put up to 99% of Missouri land under federal jurisdiction.
In other efforts to help our communities, Vicky introduced and the House passed legislation to protect our school children. The Police Officers Protecting Children Act allows off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm while in a school zone if local schools choose to allow it. This is especially important for schools in our rural communities where law enforcement may take a significant amount of time to respond to an emergency. As a former teacher, Vicky understands the challenges our educators and students face on a day-to-day basis. From school safety to academics to the rising costs that come with having kids in school, she is working on common sense solutions. In fact, in the fall of 2017 the House passed Vicky's school lunch affordability amendment that would restore local control over school lunch prices, enabling school boards and localities to set their own prices based on need.
Vicky, her husband Lowell, and their daughter, Tiffany, reside on a working farm near Harrisonville in Cass County. |