What a wild year. I’m sure you are frustrated, as am I, that most news out of Washington has been about pointless political theatre. In the spirit of the season, I’d like to shine light on some of the good news for the Third District. 

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the impact we can have on the daily lives of Missourians. My team resolved nearly 1,000 constituent cases this year. These include issues with the IRS, acquiring passports for travel, veterans’ affairs, and more. If you have an issue with any federal agency, you can think of me as an advocate on your side. We’ll do everything we can to ensure your interactions with the government have a positive result. 

The House is currently out of session until January, so I spent this week traveling around the district. From Columbia to De Soto, it was great to visit with a few old friends, meet several Missourians for the first time, and learn what matters most to them. Christmas is definitely in the air. I’ve seen a lot of festive spirit, even if there isn’t a snowflake in sight. Of course, while a light snowfall and decorations add a special atmosphere to the season, the greatest joy comes from seeing our loved ones.

I’ll spend the holiday at home with my wife, our children, and our grandchildren. As our family continues to grow, we are blessed to carry on traditions and begin new ones. 

Christmas marks the season of generosity, and I don’t believe you can find more generous people than Missourians. I stopped by the Central MO Food Bank this week and saw the evidence. If you need any ideas of how you can give near you, my staff and I drew up a list of food banks across the district that accept donations of food, winter clothing, and other necessities. 

While we all love the anticipation of Santa coming down the chimney, it is important to remember the real meaning of Christmas. Our lord and savior was born to save us from sin and deliver a message of hope, love, and joy. There are a lot of people who could use a little love and joy. Hopefully we can play a role in delivering it to them. 

Lastly, if you’re traveling this weekend, I wish you a safe trip. It’s been unseasonably warm, but as we all know, Midwestern weather can flip in an instant. 

On behalf of the Luetkemeyers, we hope you have a blessed Merry Christmas and a very prosperous Happy New Year!