JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House Future Caucus will convene its first hearing in St. Louis on September 30, 10:00 am, 1520 Market Street, 2nd floor, main board room. This first hearing will concentrate on the future of disaster mitigation, emergency response, and recovery for Missouri, and how to increase state ability to build resilience and restoration capacity.
The Future Caucus is holding this hearing to better equip House standing committees with details and recommendations on effective legislation and budget considerations for a more resilient Missouri.
Top-line questions the Caucus could reflect on include: 1) what can state agencies, non-profits, companies, and local governments do better to prepare for and respond to disasters; 2) how can the state assist local governments with their response, recovery, federal interface, and assistance coordination; 3) if the state were to build an additional disaster mitigation capacity what should it be and how can it facilitate state operations?
Witness List: (the Caucus may add additional witnesses not listed)
Hon. Cara Spencer, Mayor of St. Louis, MO
James W. Remillard, Director, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency
Lt. Col. Andrew James, Deputy District Engineer, St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Eric Gordon, Sr. Director of Disaster Operations, Convoy of Hope, Springfield, MO
Dru Buntin, Chief of Water Resources, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Speaker of the House Jonathan Patterson formed the Future Caucus of the 103rd General Assembly and selected State Representative Colin Wellenkamp to chair. The newly formed Future Caucus is intended to seek out and determine issues and challenges impacting the State of Missouri.
Members of the Caucus include:
Rep. Colin Wellenkamp (Caucus Chair) Rep. Phil Oehlerking Rep. Betsy Fogle
Rep. Marty Murray Rep. Mazzie Christensen
Missouri House of Representatives
Attending the Future Caucus Hearing:
Hearings of the Future Caucus are open to the public. All attendees must enter 1520 Market from the front entrance and proceed through security.
All are also welcome to attend via Zoom link, which is listed below.
https://zoom.us/j/97416904742?pwd=85qN2MM9ZDrPaY6ncbwAdhghKJRxvR.1
Submitting Testimony:
Only witnesses invited by the Caucus may offer testimony in person to the Caucus during the hearing. However, anyone may submit written testimony to the Caucus by emailing their testimony to Peter.McGrath@house.mo.gov , or by post to Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, State Capitol, 201 W Capitol Avenue, Room 115-F, Jefferson City, MO 65101. All written testimony must be received by 5:00 pm CDT, October 29, 2025.