State Rep. Bennie Cook recently joined fellow Missouri legislators in Washington, D.C., for the White House Leadership Conference for Missouri.
The conference, hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, provided a platform for Cook and other state officials to engage directly with Cabinet Secretaries and senior White House officials to advance President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda.
“These discussions were an invaluable opportunity to build relationships with federal leaders and advocate for the needs of rural Missouri,” Cook said. “I’m committed to making sure our communities have a seat at the table when national policies are shaped.”
The conference featured discussions with high-profile officials, including Alex Meyer, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Will Scharf, Staff Secretary; Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration; Linda McMahon, Department of Education; Chris Wright, Department of Energy; Howard Lutnick, Department of Commerce; Scott Turner, Housing & Urban Development; Matt Brasseaux, Office of Political Affairs; and leaders from the Domestic Policy Council.
Topics covered included returning education control to the states, ensuring law and order, ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and combating waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.
Cook said he looks forward to using these discussions to guide his legislative efforts in the upcoming session, with the goal of addressing the needs of Missourians and strengthening communities across Texas, Maries and Phelps counties.
Cook can be contacted by phone at 573-751-2264 or by email at Bennie.Cook@house.mo.gov.
