Senator Elaine Gannon’s Capitol Report for Dec. 12, 2022

My family can attest I am fanatical about Christmas music. I’m the type who plays the holiday station in the car and at home 24/7, sings classic hymns at the top of my lungs and makes up similar sounding lyrics to the verses I think I know by heart, but don’t. While my boys used to complain and cover their ears when I melodiously praised the Lord’s birth, now that they are grown and have families of their own, they accept Grandma’s off-key renditions more graciously. While I love all the traditional carols, my favorite is “Joy to the World.” I admire how it gets right to the point, blaring out its intent without an instrumental introduction. I enjoy how the lyrics relay a global call to action with phrases like “let earth receive her king,” “let every heart prepare him room,” “let all their songs employ” and “makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness.” I also love how the volume fluctuates between the bold chorus and softer verses, mimicking the sights and sounds of the holiday season. From now until Christmas, families everywhere will be intentionally preparing, receiving, employing and more as they gear up for the birth of Christ. No wonder this season brings such joy to the world! Whether you are a skilled soprano or tenor in a choir or a mere Christmas-inspired vocalist like me, I hope you have a merry Christmas and relish the peace that comes when heaven and nature sing.

While I highly anticipate spending Christmas with my family and serenading my grandsons with the wonders of His love, I have also been called to action in Jefferson City, receiving input, employing resources and preparing bills for the 2023 legislative session with the intention of ushering life-changing policies across the legislative finish line. As a staunch pro-life supporter, I have pre-filed a bill to extend MO HealthNet coverage to postpartum women from 60 days to one year to help our new moms and their babies get off to a healthy start. I’ve also filed legislation to protect our four-legged family members from abuse and neglect, exempt homeless children and youth from paying fees when obtaining needed certificates and other legal documentation and permit communities to cover telecommunicator first responders as public safety personnel.

If you have not been involved in the legislative process in the past, I encourage you to make it one of your New Year’s resolutions. Bookmark the Senate website so you can easily track legislation, testify and share your story at hearings and offer to be a resource in your field of expertise. Together, we can repeat the sounding joy of helping those who call the Show-Me state home lead better, more prosperous lives.