Jaimie Trussell, president and CEO of Council of Churches Inc.: "There is a cost of doing nothing to support our most vulnerable neighbors. In many ways, our community is already paying for it."

Dan Chiles, Bois D’Arc: "Stand up for your land and your water or you will lose both."

Missouri Rural Crisis Center member Darvin Bentlage: "Control over the meat industry and our food markets is so concentrated that meatpackers are able to control prices for the consumer and producer alike."

Rep. Melanie Stinnett, R-Springfield: "With final approval now in place, let us unite as Missourians in celebrating this huge step forward, recognizing that by caring for new mothers during their postpartum journey, we are sowing the seeds of a healthier and more family-friendly Missouri for generations to come."

A reader writes in response to an email exchange recently printed in SBJ.

Missouri Family Health Council official says, “Further investment in the health care safety net is needed, especially at this time when reproductive health care is already in deep crisis.”

Brandon Jenson, Springfield city councilmember: "The Southern Hills Transportation Development District represents a missed opportunity to more fully realize Forward SGF. "

Mark Comfort, political activist based in St. Louis: "Anyone chasing the dream of retirement security needs as much certainty, reliability and affordability as they can get."

A reader responds to a recent headline in SBJ.

Show-Me Institute's Patrick Ishmael: "I hope the House will seize the moment in 2023 and, if necessary, reconsider its own changes to the bill so that real and substantive parental empowerment can be signed into law."