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.
She taught family and consumer sciences for 11 years in Lebanon and Belton, MO, coaching track for six years while at Belton and serving as co-director of a program for at-risk teens in addition to her regular teaching responsibilities.
Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District is proud to be one of our nation’s most military-intensive congressional districts, home to two major military installations, Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood. Our District is blessed to have them as a part of our community. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, I am committed to working hard to ensure that these facilities remain vital components of our national defense.
We must be ever vigilant in countering the threats we face in today’s uncertain world. While our attention is rightly focused on combating global terrorism, we must not forget other national security threats—China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia among others. Sadly, additional threats persist with the rise of the Islamic State and the presence of homegrown terrorism. With these concerns foremost in mind, I work every day to help keep our country safe. Providing our military the resources necessary to safeguard our liberties and to protect our shores is one of my top legislative priorities.
In my work on the House Armed Services Committee, I have been a constant advocate for our troops and veterans. I remain steadfast in fighting for a strong national defense while also seeking fiscal accountability in the vast array of programs run by the Pentagon. We are a nation with men and women fighting in harm’s way on multiple fronts. We need to ensure that our forces are well equipped with every resources they need to protect the liberties we all enjoy.
The duty to protect our nation is a key responsibility of Congress and thus deserves our utmost dedication. I am honored to represent the military personnel, their families, and the installations of which we are so proud. Rest assured, I will continue my work to increase the quality of veteran and active duty military care to Missourians and ensure they have all they need to fulfill their missions. Members of the Armed Forces put their lives on the line to preserve our nation’s freedom, and we owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude. They have stood up for us; we must stand by them. It is my high honor to fight for them.