U.S. Representative Billy Long joined the House of Representatives Friday to pass H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, 344-77, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The 21st Century Cures Act would unleash American medical potential with a number of provisions aiming to reduce bureaucratic barriers to research and development and to provide incentives for American development of drugs and treatment... Read more »

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday, 218-213, to reform No Child Left Behind with H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. This reform bill would reduce federal influence in education and empower state and local education programs. “Federal funds have poured into the education system over the decades with minimal result. The federal takeover in educational programs has only led us to have 38... Read more »

U.S. Representative Billy Long issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Michigan v. EPA ruling overturning a key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality regulation. “The Supreme Court decision handed down today is a major victory for Americans that will free regulatory burdens and give a much-needed boost to American energy, job creation and to family b... Read more »

U.S. Representative Billy Long issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Obergefell v. Hodges ruling against state same-sex marriage prohibition. “I am disappointed the Supreme Court has ruled to uphold same-sex marriage. This decision is troubling as it will overturn voter-imposed state bans on the practice, such as in Missouri. I believe this decision directly r... Read more »

U.S. Representative Billy Long issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court’s King v. Burwell decision, upholding federal subsidies for health insurance plans on the federal health insurance exchange. “I am disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling handed down today allowing federal subsidies to states on federal exchanges to continue. It is puzzling. The Affordable Care Act, as ... Read more »

U.S. Representative Billy Long voted in favor of the Ratepayer Protection Act, aiding House passage of the bill, 247-180. The bill would delay implementation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants until after federal courts have an opportunity to rule on the controversial regulation. It also grants states the flexibility to neith... Read more »

U.S. Rep. Billy Long welcomed Katelyn Clark, winner of the 34th Annual Congressional Art Competition for Missouri’s Seventh District, to Washington Wednesday. Katelyn’s pencil drawing, entitled My Sanity, has been hung in the halls of the U.S. Capitol along with other winning works from across the nation. In addition to winning the district competition, Katelyn’s work won the People’s Choice Awar... Read more »

U.S. Representative Billy Long voted with the House of Representatives to pass two bills repealing select Obamacare provisions. H.R. 160, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 would repeal Obamacare’s 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices. H.R. 1190, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015 would repeal the Obamacare-established Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) for ... Read more »

The House of Representatives passed Thursday legislation to provide transparent, streamlined free trade agreement negotiations, The legislation includes Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which would force a president to submit any negotiated trade deal to Congress prior to finalization for approval. TPA, a policy used since 1934 and last expired in 2007, gives a president authority to negotiate dea... Read more »

The House Members of Missouri’s Congressional delegation this week issued a letter to National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Robert Cardillo, suggesting the agency keep the NGA West complex at one of four sites in the Show Me State.Below is a copy of that letter and reflections on the complex’s importance by Missouri’s House delegation.“With nearly 70 percent of NGA’s current employees b... Read more »