Press release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – One of the legislature’s most respected bipartisan consensus builders will lead the efforts of the Missouri House of Representatives to address some of the pressing issues impacting the state’s urban areas. State Rep. Bruce Franks, a Democrat, was recently appointed by Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr to serve as the chairman of the House Urban Issues Committee for the 100th General Assembly.
In appointing Franks as chair, Haahr, R-Springfield said, “Representative Franks speaks for a community of people whose voice needs to be heard in the Capitol. His passion for his work and his leadership on the policies impacting the urban community will effect positive change for Missourians who live in our urban centers.”
Franks said he plans to work closely with his vice chair, Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, and the members of his committee to tackle several high priority issues that can improve the quality of life for residents of the state’s large cities. Franks and the committee plan to hold a town hall meeting in St. Louis, as well as one in Kansas City, to take public input that can then be utilized to help craft potential legislation.
Franks said he wants the committee to look at ways to expand broadband Internet and free Wi-Fi access for residents in urban areas. He hopes to use the conversation to also address the lack of Internet access that many people living in rural areas experience. He said he plans to take the input of rural legislators and residents to develop solutions that will expand Internet access to Missourians in all parts of the state.
“The Internet is a transformational resource for millions of Missourians, but it’s a resource that too many people in our urban and rural areas have no way to access. That means they miss out on life-changing job opportunities, educational opportunities for their kids, and the informational resources that can make life easier,” said Franks, D-St. Louis. “We have to work together – urban and rural, Democrat and Republican – to find ways to make broadband Internet access a reality for all Missourians no matter where they live or what their income is.”
Franks said he will also ask his committee to develop solutions that can help strengthen relations between urban communities and law enforcement. He said he will draw on the experience he gained as the Police Community Liaison with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In that role, Franks paved the way for police accountability reform by facilitating crucial conversations between community members and the police department. He said he hopes to see a similar dialogue in the Urban Issues Committee this year.
“Law enforcement isn’t just about arresting people. It’s about being engaged in the community and providing a sense of help and support with a focus on prevention. The more we can do to get our police to develop relationships and really get a sense of the community, the more effective they will be at keeping our communities safe. I want this committee to look for ways to build these relationships and bridge the gap between our communities and the members of law enforcement who are sworn to protect and serve,” said Franks.
Franks said another issue the committee will tackle focuses on improving minority recruitment practices for police departments. He wants his colleagues to look at ways to develop better avenues and incentives for minority recruitment with the goal of creating a police force that is more demographically representative of the community it serves.
“I want us to look not only at recruitment methods, but also the barriers that exist that can prevent minorities from being employed in law enforcement. It’s important that we look for solutions to break down these barriers so we can create a more diverse police force that can better serve our communities,” said Franks.
Franks said he wants the committee to work together this session to share ideas and develop solutions that will ultimately be used to formulate a House Committee Bill that he hopes will make it to the House floor for discussion and passage. He said in the coming weeks he will announce the town hall meetings where the committee will take valuable public input to assist in doing their work.
