SE Kansas City News

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents Missouri’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, recently used his social media platform to reaffirm his commitment to public institutions such as libraries and public broadcasters. Cleaver's posts highlighted both the historical significance of local organizations and the need for continued federal investment in community resources.

On July 17, 2025, Cleaver emphasized the importance of libraries, stating, "Public libraries play an invaluable role in our communities, educating our children and providing essential services to our neighbors. That’s why I’ll continue fighting to invest in these community cornerstones—and fight against short-sighted cuts."

In a separate post on the same day, Cleaver praised The Call newspaper and its preservation by a local institution: "The Call has been a pillar of the Black community in Kansas City for over a century, ensuring the voices and stories of African Americans are shared broadly. Thankful to the @KCLibrary for preserving this history for generations to come."

Cleaver reiterated his support for public broadcasting on July 18, 2025: "Just as I fought to protect the funding for NPR and PBS, I will continue fighting to return federal investments to these public broadcasters—because they are just too important to our communities."

Cleaver has served in Congress since 2005 after succeeding Karen McCarthy and is known for his advocacy on behalf of Missouri’s 5th District. Born in Waxahachie, Texas in 1944, he has resided in Kansas City throughout much of his career and graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972.