Date: January 31st, 2024To: Representative Bill Hardwick, Chairman, and Members of the House Committee on Emerging IssuesFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRE: Support for HB 2499 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy....Read More

Investing in Teachers = Investing in Education = Better Outcomes for us All.  Decades of research tell us that increasing our investment in education leads to safer and more prosperous communities. This includes higher salaries for individuals, higher employment rates, more economic opportunity, greater workforce effectiveness, and draws employers to the state who are seeking...Read More