This November 8, Missourians across the state will cast their ballots in an election that will have a lasting impact on the future of St. Louis, Missouri and our nation as a whole. For the last six years, we have been fortunate to have a senator like Roy Blunt who fights for the issues we care most about. Whether he is working in a bipartisan manner to cut though gridlock or creating more good-paying jobs for stronger families, no one is more well-equipped than Roy Blunt to position our city to take advantage of the great opportunities ahead.
There is no question that St. Louis has a great work force, but far too many families are struggling to find good-paying jobs. Blunt’s number one priority is creating better jobs for stronger families, and he works closely with local business owners and their employees so that hardworking Missourians have every opportunity to take care of their families and be successful.
As a member of the Senate Intelligence committee, Blunt played a pivotal role in keeping the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) in St. Louis. In his usual bipartisan manner, Blunt worked closely with local, state, and federal officials to ensure the NGA and its 3,000 plus employees will continue providing the military with the information it needs to keep our nation safe.
Blunt has also played a key role in making sure job creators like Boeing have the incentive to create even more jobs in St. Louis. In 2014, Blunt successfully secured funding to extend deliveries for the F-18, which are produced by the 15,000 hardworking employees at the Boeing facility in St. Louis. And just this month, Blunt attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Boeing’s new 777X Composite Wing Center, a great example that demonstrates his bipartisan commitment to creating more good-paying jobs in St. Louis.
Blunt is also leading efforts to keep utility bills low, which will give families more disposable income and help struggling families keep the lights on. Blunt is doing everything he can to stop a misguided rule that would double Missourians utility rates and kill jobs. With Blunt in the Senate for another six years, he will work hard to prevent our utility bills from doubling, which would protect countless families from having to make additional difficult decisions.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year nationwide, an alarming statistic Blunt often mentions when discussing his groundbreaking work to expand access to mental health treatment. His bipartisan legislation, the Excellence in Mental Health Act, expanded access to community mental health services and strengthened the quality of care for those living with mental illness. Reelecting Blunt will give him the opportunity to continue his fight to bring mental health treatment in line with the way all other health is treated.
There are few elected officials who have accomplished more for our community. Since he was elected to the Senate, Blunt has repeatedly demonstrated in a bipartisan manner that he is committed to our city. From creating more good-paying for stronger families or working across the aisle to deliver real results, Blunt has the experience and leadership that is needed to make sure St. Louis can take advantage of the great opportunities ahead. That is why it is critical that we reelect Blunt to the Senate this November.
Rev. Charles J. Brown is pastor at Mount Airy Missionary Baptist Church.
