“This year has been a note for the future, a commitment of hope. The investments we make can change lives for the better, and it’s important that we protect the progress we’ve made and continue to push for more.

"At the start of this session, I was honored with the confidence placed in me with the position of chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This placement on the appropriations committee is a key position, with the goal of taking the budget outlined by the House and formulating it into an effective spending roadmap.

"While I worked on the budget, I kept in mind the state’s great motto: ‘The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.’ I’m proud to have fought tirelessly to ensure that the wellbeing of both my constituents and those across Missouri is the primary goal of our state.

"One of the pieces of legislation I sponsored, Senate Bill 24, implements a fund specifically designed to help some of our most essential workers. Also known as the First Responders Mental Health Initiative Act, this will widen the current Critical Illness Fund and address post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Every day, our front-line first responders go beyond the call of duty and are exposed to mentally straining events. I feel it is our duty to support those who put their lives on the line for all of us. I’m proud to have our first responders' backs, and I’ll continue to fight to improve their wellbeing.

"As Appropriations chair, I led the effort to maintain library funding, increase school and mental health funding and promote career investments.

"Our largest investment this session accompanied the governor’s continued effort to revitalize our infrastructure, namely Interstate 70. I share the vision he created in his State of the State: ‘To those who say we can't afford it, I say we can't afford not to. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the time is now.’ The time is now, and by investing $2.8 billion into I-70, we can ensure its longevity throughout the next several decades.

"The Appropriations Committee collectively agreed that this issue is not going to evaporate and we must focus our attention to address the inadequacies of this roadway. We are lessening future expenditures by tackling this issue before it becomes even more desperate. Our actions in the budget are important to Missourians around the state. By selectively investing in vital projects, we can direct our state’s future towards prosperity.

"I’m extremely excited for the work our state’s appropriation committee was able to accomplish. The steps we took were in the right direction for our entire state. We passed the budget under a tight timeline while maintaining careful review of each item. I look forward to what the next session brings to our state, and I am honored that I’ll get another year to serve my constituents.”