Happy Fourth of July, John! This holiday means a lot of things to my family and me.

It means barbecues, fireworks, and lighting sparklers on the farm with my kids and grandkids. We have so many special memories of coming together and celebrating the Fourth of July.

It means honoring the service of my son, my daughter-in-law, and all the brave Americans who make up our Armed Forces. We must never forget that we owe so many of our freedoms and so much of our democracy to sacrifice.

It means thinking about how blessed my family and I are to have truly lived the American Dream. I'm so grateful for the opportunities that this country has given my entire family and the beautiful life I've been able to build here in my beloved Missouri.

But it also means reflecting on all the work we still must do to ensure that America lives up to its full potential. You see, my dad achieved his American Dream and it set up our entire family to prosper, but our story is the exception, not the rule. For so many of my fellow Missourians, the American Dream simply has too high a price tag.

It's up to us to change that. We must work every day to make healthcare affordable, help families prosper and create financial security, empower parents to give their children a better future, and end the gridlock and greed in Washington.

I love this country so, so much – our vibrant communities, our rich history of protest, and our unrelenting spirit. It's that love that drives me to work for change and demand that we do better. We can – and must – live up to the promise of America.

Together, we can move our country forward for all of us and give every family a fair shot at achieving their American Dream.

With hope for the future and pride for our country,

Trudy