Vicky Hartzler proudly represents the good people of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which is comprised of 24 counties in West Central Missouri.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As a leader on the House Armed Services Committee, Vicky has played an instrumental role in drafting the annual National Defense Authorization Act. This includes working to fund critical modernization programs for the B-2 bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base, providing funding for a new hospital facility at Ft. Leonard Wood, securing much needed support for the Army's Ammunition Production Plants like the one located at Lake City, and authorizing 24 additional F-18 Super Hornets to address the Navy's severe strike fighter shortfall. As a former teacher, Vicky understands the importance of investing in our children, which is why she worked to secure additional impact aid for military-connected schools, such as the school districts surrounding Ft. Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base. In addition to her work on the House Armed Services Committee, Vicky is a co-chair of the bipartisan Long Range Strike Caucus, which advocates for the health and longevity of the Air Force bomber fleet, including investments in the new B-21 bomber.
Missouri's Fourth District is also home to a large concentration of veterans, so it is essential that its VA hospitals effectively serve the needs of those who served. Aware that VA hospitals across America are struggling to recruit and retain nurses and doctors because of outdated hiring restrictions, Vicky introduced H.R. 3754, the REHIRE Act, which would empower these hospitals with the flexibility to hire and compete with other medical providers. This measure will help improve Missouri's VA facilities and ensure that its veterans receive the highest quality and most responsive care possible.
Vicky feels very honored to represent the good people of the Fourth District. Whether working for local interests, pushing back on government regulations or fighting for the Show Me State in Washington, Vicky Hartzler is putting Missouri first.
Vicky, her husband Lowell, and their daughter, Tiffany, reside on a working farm near Harrisonville in Cass County.
