{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"WI\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4240286B-F65D-48FE-AB2A-B75C6559812A", "Johnson on Covid Funds: This Isnt Monopoly Money", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator calls for targeted relief to those who need it as debt climbs higher\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) continued to press for more targeted Covid relief in an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box Thursday.\r\nExcerpts from the interview are below and video can be found here.\r\nI certainly want to help people that are financially struggling through no fault of their own because of Covid. It's one of the reasons I voted for the $2.2 trillion CARES Act. We've now appropriated, we've authorized about $4 trillion in aid, but we did it in a shotgun approach. And we don't have an unlimited checking account. We're $27 trillion in debt. At the end of this fiscal year it will be over $29 trillion.\r\nMany, many, many of those individuals [receiving checks] have been working, they've been getting a paycheck, they're not financially struggling. Why would we be giving checks to people that truly don't need it? Again, we should have gone back to the drawing board, we should have targeted this relief.\r\nThe lack of targeting, the lack of thoughtful consideration given to mortgaging our children's future by another $464 billion. I know it sounds good, it feels good to give away money. Everybody loves benefits. Somebody has got to be thinking about the effect of this on our future generations.\r\nWe did it fast. We did it massively so the markets wouldn't collapse. We had to do that. I don't think even at that time it had to be $2.2 trillion. But we just had to lard out another $900 billion, and now people are talking about another $464 billion like this is Monopoly money. It's not. This is a mortgaging of our children's future. There is going to be a point in time where we have a debt crisis and it is not going to be pretty.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E8047A7C-61B6-4943-8CDB-AA3BA1CAD12F", "Johnson Urges Better-Targeted Relief in Fox Interview", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  During an interview on Fox and Friends' Wednesday, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) spoke about the need to better target financial relief to those who truly need it and the need to have a fair and unbiased federal investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings.\r\nExcerpts of the interview are below and video can be found here.\r\nOn Covid relief\r\nSo, first of all, there's the demand to increase the $600 per-person payments up to $2,000 per-person, which would increase the average amount of money going to households, for Covid relief about $2,400 in the original CARES Act to a family of four getting $8,000. So, from my standpoint, I've seen a report that adds another $464 billion to the total cost of that package  money we don't have, money that we're borrowing from our kids' future. So, I think we need to target that a little bit more.\r\nOn Biden investigation\r\nIn the end, we just might need a special counsel, as much as I dislike what happens with special counsels. In this case, I think, in order to restore the confidence in our justice system so that the American people do have confidence that it'll be equal justice under the law rather than special privileges for those that are [well] connected.  Particularly, Democrats, seem to have a little bit easier time of getting that pass when they do something wrong.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-urges-governor-evers-provide-transparency-develop-effective-covid-19", "Steil Urges Governor Evers to Provide Transparency, Develop Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy in Wisconsin", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) urged Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to provide transparency on Wisconsin's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Steil was joined by Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin in this request.\nThe coronavirus vaccines play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and defeating this virus. Across the state, frontline workers, seniors, and our most vulnerable populations are uncertain about when they are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. We must ensure the State of Wisconsin has a plan in place to disseminate information to the public and allocate the vaccine. Wisconsin's vaccination campaign must be fair and transparent, and we must ensure anyone who wants to receive a vaccine has the ability to do so, said Rep. Steil.\n  \n\tSpecifically, Steil and Baldwin ask Governor Evers to provide answers to the following questions on Wisconsin's vaccination strategy:\n \nWhat is your administration doing to distribute and administer the vaccine effectively and rapidly?\n\tWhen do you expect members of the general public to have access to the vaccine?\n\tHow will the vaccine be distributed geographically across Wisconsin?\n\tWhat partnerships are in place across the state with health departments and providers to help carry out your vaccination plan? How are you working with partners across the state to communicate scientifically accurate information about the importance of getting vaccinated when the vaccine is widely available?\n\tWe understand that the state has received unclear information from officials with Operation Warp Speed (OWS) regarding vaccine allocations. What additional resources or information do you need to ensure that vaccine distribution in the state will be conducted in an efficient manner? What steps have you taken to ensure that there is a high level of transparency for members of the public during this time?\n\tThe Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) has worked to convey accurate information about the spread and impact of COVID-19 in the state. Can you describe how vaccine information will be incorporated into this effort and made available to the public?", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-urges-governor-evers-to-provide-transparency-develop-effective-covid-19-vaccine-strategy-in-wisconsin", "Steil Urges Governor Evers to Provide Transparency, Develop Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy in Wisconsin", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 29, 2020\n\nSteil requests collaboration, transparency, and COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan from State of Wisconsin\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) urged Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to provide transparency on Wisconsin's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Steil was joined by Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin in this request.\n\n\"The coronavirus vaccines play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and defeating this virus. Across the state, frontline workers, seniors, and our most vulnerable populations are uncertain about when they are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. We must ensure the State of Wisconsin has a plan in place to disseminate information to the public and allocate the vaccine. Wisconsin's vaccination campaign must be fair and transparent, and we must ensure anyone who wants to receive a vaccine has the ability to do so,\" said Rep. Steil.\n\nSpecifically, Steil and Baldwin ask Governor Evers to provide answers to the following questions on Wisconsin's vaccination strategy:\n\nWhat is your administration doing to distribute and administer the vaccine effectively and rapidly?\n\nWhen do you expect members of the general public to have access to the vaccine?\n\nHow will the vaccine be distributed geographically across Wisconsin?\n\nWhat partnerships are in place across the state with health departments and providers to help carry out your vaccination plan? How are you working with partners across the state to communicate scientifically accurate information about the importance of getting vaccinated when the vaccine is widely available?\n\nWe understand that the state has received unclear information from officials with Operation Warp Speed (OWS) regarding vaccine allocations. What additional resources or information do you need to ensure that vaccine distribution in the state will be conducted in an efficient manner? What steps have you taken to ensure that there is a high level of transparency for members of the public during this time?\n\nThe Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) has worked to convey accurate information about the spread and impact of COVID-19 in the state. Can you describe how vaccine information will be incorporated into this effort and made available to the public?\n\nIssues:Health", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4701", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Legislation to Increase Survival Checks to $2,000", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Legislation to Increase Survival Checks to $2,000\r\nToday, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass the CASH Act, legislation to increase COVID-19 survival checks to $2,000, in response she released the following statement:\r\nI am so pleased to support legislation that would bring serious relief for my constituents, including those with adult dependents and Americans across the country, supplementing the COVID-19 package signed into law yesterday. As millions experience job loss along with housing and food insecurity, the need for direct relief is urgent. And $2,000 would provide a lifeline for Americans falling farther and farther behind.\r\nThat's why for months, Democrats have fought for higher cash payments, and after Trump's vocal support for increasing cash payments, there should be no hesitation in passing this relief in the Senate. Now Mitch McConnell must do what's right for the people.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4702", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Testing Positive for COVID-19", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Testing Positive for COVID-19 \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 28, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Testing Positive for COVID-19\r\nI tested positive for COVID-19. I am following guidance from my doctor and am isolating from others. I am thankful to be feeling well. I do not foresee this disrupting my work for Wisconsin's Fourth.I encourage every person to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and practicing social distancing.\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-nominates-17-high-school-students-attend-service-academies", "Steil Nominates 17 High School Students to Attend Service Academies", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSINToday, Congressman Bryan Steil announced the nomination of 17 high school students from Southeast Wisconsin for appointments to attend U.S. service academies.\nOne great responsibility I have as a Member of Congress is to recognize the character, leadership, and academic achievements of high school students in the First District. I am proud to nominate 17 students to attend our nation's service academies. These young men and women have excelled in the classroom, extracurriculars, and have a passion to service. I am confident these future leaders will serve our nation well, said Steil.\nPart of the U.S. service academy application process is obtaining a nomination from an authorized nominating source, such as a Member of Congress.Acceptance to the academies is highly competitive. Receiving a nomination is the important first step, however, the actual appointment to a service academy is determined by each academy itself.\nA list of students nominated by Congressman Steil can be found below:\n Paul Capelli of Salem has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\tAlyssa Cornell of Waterford has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tAbby Doble of Waukesha has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tWill French of Waterford has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tKaleb Gendron of Silver Lake has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\tKonnor Hill of Burlington has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\tRiley Larsen of Caledonia has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\tGeorge Main of Kenoshahas been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tJeffrey Meersman of Delavan has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tAnnie Oechsner of Muskego has been nominated for appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tThomas Roiniotis of Kenosha has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\tGeorge Smith of Janesville has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\tJoseph Sus of Racine has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\tJohnathan Totzke of Dousman has been nominated for appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\tAshton Valentine of Pleasant Prairie has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\tKiel Wolff of Janesville has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\tHunter Zoerner of Pleasant Prairie has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-nominates-17-high-school-students-to-attend-service-academies", "Steil Nominates 17 High School Students to Attend Service Academies", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2020\n\nJANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014Today, Congressman Bryan Steil announced the nomination of 17 high school students from Southeast Wisconsin for appointments to attend U.S. service academies.\n\n\"One great responsibility I have as a Member of Congress is to recognize the character, leadership, and academic achievements of high school students in the First District. I am proud to nominate 17 students to attend our nation's service academies. These young men and women have excelled in the classroom, extracurriculars, and have a passion to service. I am confident these future leaders will serve our nation well,\" said Steil.\n\nPart of the U.S. service academy application process is obtaining a nomination from an authorized nominating source, such as a Member of Congress. Acceptance to the academies is highly competitive. Receiving a nomination is the important first step, however, the actual appointment to a service academy is determined by each academy itself.\n\nA list of students nominated by Congressman Steil can be found below:\n\nPaul Capelli of Salem has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\nAlyssa Cornell of Waterford has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nAbby Doble of Waukesha has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nWill French of Waterford has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nKaleb Gendron of Silver Lake has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\nKonnor Hill of Burlington has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\nRiley Larsen of Caledonia has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\nGeorge Main of Kenosha has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nJeffrey Meersman of Delavan has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nAnnie Oechsner of Muskego has been nominated for appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nThomas Roiniotis of Kenosha has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\nGeorge Smith of Janesville has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\nJoseph Sus of Racine has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\nJohnathan Totzke of Dousman has been nominated for appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.\n\nAshton Valentine of Pleasant Prairie has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\nKiel Wolff of Janesville has been nominated for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.\n\nHunter Zoerner of Pleasant Prairie has been nominated for appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.\n\nIssues:Education", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4700", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Supports End of Year Legislation Benefitting Milwaukee Residents", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Supports End of Year Legislation Benefitting Milwaukee Residents\r\nToday, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass H.R. 133, the omnibus spending bill which includes provisions she fought to secure to benefit Wisconsin's Fourth. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nThis funding package includes investments in our communities that are critical to supporting Americans through this pandemic. The programs that I worked hard to increase funding for will increase educational opportunity, support domestic violence survivors, fight housing and food insecurity, and prevent lead exposure, providing services and resources for the most vulnerable at a time when they are often needed most.\r\nIn addition, I am very glad that my bill, HR 5816, the Continuing Care for Patients Act, is included in this legislation. I know how important to good health outcomes it is to have sustained access to high quality health care and providers you trust and have worked with. Patients who are undergoing a course of treatment will now have protections when their doctor or hospital is terminated from their health plan's network. Network changes like this can leave patients in the lurch, potentially facing unexpected costs or delays. Under my bill, patients must be notified on a timely basis if their doctor or hospital is terminated from their health plan's network. And patients will have the right to elect to continue to see the same provider for 90 days (or until the treatment is complete if it less than 90 days). Patients who elect continued transitional care maintains the same plan or coverage benefits through the transition period and are subject to the same terms and conditions. For patients whose care extends beyond 90 days, this bill will help reduce the financial, emotional, and physical toll that can arise from having to transition because they will now have time to find a new provider. This provision is included in the portion of the legislation that wouldprotect consumers against surprise medical bills. By holding patients harmless, this fix ensures they are only responsible for their in-network cost-sharing amounts, including deductibles, in situations where patients do not have the ability to choose an in-network provider.\r\nElsewhere, the omnibus package includes a proposal supported by Congresswoman Moore to help foster youth and families through the pandemic, including children who may have aged out or left foster care during this public health emergency and a provision to allow families who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) flexibility in how those credits are determined, potentially putting more money in the pockets of working families.\r\nThe needs of Milwaukee residents have heightened during this economic recession and pandemic, which is why I continue to work to meet this critical moment in our country.\r\nKey Initiatives\r\nEducational Opportunity\r\n \r\n    TRIO Programs: $1.09 billion, an increase of $7 million in funding\r\n    Pell Grants: $6,495 maximum Pell Grant, an increase of $150\r\n    \r\n        Elsewhere in this package, provisions are included to increase access to Pell including repealing the ban on Pell eligibility among incarcerated students and restoring Pell Grant eligibility for students who were defrauded by their institutions.\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies: $16.5 billion, an increase of $227 million\r\n    Head Start: $10.7 billion, an increase of $135 million\r\n    Child Care Development Block Grant: $5.9 billion, an increase of $85 million\r\n \r\nSupporting Domestic Violence Survivors\r\n \r\n    Family Violence Prevention and Services and the Domestic Violence Hotline:$196 million, an increase of $8.5 million\r\n    Violence Against Women Act programs: $513.5 million, an increase of $11 million\r\n \r\nReducing Food Insecurity\r\n \r\n    School Breakfast Expansion Grants: $6 million\r\n    WIC: $6 billion\r\n \r\nSecuring Housing\r\n \r\n    Tenant-based rental assistance: $25.8 billion in funding\r\n    McKinney Vento Homelessness Assistance Grants: $3 billion, an increase of $223 million\r\n    Community Development Block Grants:$3.5 billion, an increase of $50 million\r\n    Housing for the Elderly:$855 million, an increase of $62 million including up to $52 million for the construction of new affordable senior housing\r\n    New eviction prevention services demonstration program to provide legal assistance for low-income tenants facing eviction: $20 million\r\n \r\nSupporting Public Transportation\r\n \r\n    Transit infrastructure grants: $516 million\r\n    Capital Investment Grants: $2 billion\r\n \r\nLead Prevention\r\n \r\n    HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes: $360 million, an increase of $70 million\r\n \r\nCDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: $39 million, an increase of $2 million\r\nEnvironmental Protection\r\n \r\n    Combined Sewer Outflow grants: $40 million, an increase of $12 million in funding\r\n    Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $330 million, an increase of $10 million\r\n    EPA Environmental Justice activities: $12.5 million, a $2.3 million increase", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-statement-train-wreck-omnibus-package", "Tiffany statement on \u201ctrain wreck\u201d omnibus package", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) issued the following statement after a series of votes on a 5,500 page spending package considered mere hours after the release of bill text to lawmakers.\n\n\"The annual budget process in Congress has become the definition of insanity, as we are confronted with the same last-minute, take-it-or-leave it spending bills written behind closed doors with little to no involvement from rank-and-file lawmakers,\" said Tiffany. \"Adding almost a trillion dollars in Coronavirus Assistance to this whopping package is just insult to injury, the relief money could have passed on its own months ago. A measure I would have supported as a stand-alone bill.\"\n\n\"What is happening in Washington has become an annual, instant-replay train wreck in the eyes of most Americans \u2013 whose elected representatives have little input on the debt being charged up on the nation's credit card,\" concluded Tiffany. \"Americans deserve a real say in how their money is spent.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4699", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the COVID-19 Relief Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the COVID-19 Relief Package \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 21, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the COVID-19 Relief Package\r\nCongresswoman Moore released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 133:\r\nThis COVID relief legislation is not perfect and falls short of the comprehensive package that I know is needed to address the financial insecurity millions are experiencing right now. I fought for direct cash payments, and while I am disappointed that it does not match the amount that House Democrats passed, I know these payments are only the beginning. But it is an interim solution that includes additional SNAP benefits, rental assistance, and a temporary eviction moratorium that will secure help now to millions of Americans and I support the good faith bipartisan efforts that got us to this point.\r\nWe still need to continue to address the health and economic impacts of this pandemic which has killed more than 300,000 Americans in less than a year. I am prepared to keep working with my colleagues in the House and the new Administration to pass additional legislation that will put money in the hands of the American people and deliver other aid to individuals, businesses, and our communities that have been hit hard. This will continue to be my priority until this pandemic is over.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1922", "Grothman\u2019s Statement on Short-Term Government Funding Bill", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) released the following statement after voting for H.J. Res. 107, a bill to fund the government through 11:59 p.m. on December 20, 2020. This short-term bill was passed while Congress continues to negotiate legislation to fund the government for a longer period. H.J. Res. 107 passed the House of Representatives on December 18, 2020 by a vote of 320-60.\r\nToday I voted to keep the government open for two more days while negotiations are pending for a longer-term budget for the year ending September 30, 2021, said Grothman. 60 of my colleagues voted to shut down the government, however I don't understand the logic in shutting down national parks, telling federal employees they cannot work and closing other government facilities. This will only inconvenience Americans and add to the stress they currently face due to COVID-19.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4697", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Need for Future Stimulus Payments", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Need for Future Stimulus Payments\r\nCongresswoman Moore released the following statement, calling for additional individual cash payments to be included in the next COVID relief package:\r\nNine months ago, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act was the largest of the initial aid packages that Congress enacted to help Americans through the coronavirus pandemic. Among many critical provisions in that law was the one authorizing up to $1,200 payments to individuals (plus an additional $500 per child) for most Americans struggling with the economic impacts of this deadly virus.\r\nA true relief package must lift everyone up. And one of the best ways to do this is by putting money in the hands of the people. The cash payments in the CARES Act were needed relief, helping keep food on the table and pay rent, among other uses. But that money has since dried up. I support additional payments, as do most House Democrats, which is why strengthening those payments were a key part of the two follow up packages (H.R. 925 and H.R. 6800) that have passed in House in the last six months only to die in the Mitch McConnell's graveyard. The longer relief is delayed, the more Americans will be pushed into poverty and dire straits.\r\nI am calling on negotiators to include a new round of payments in any upcoming COVID-19 package. I have heard the calls from my constituents, who have spoken on the need for cash payments because they are facing financial trouble that worsens as the days go on. Millions are on the brink of eviction. Others are seeing their UI benefits expire, if they got them in the first place. Pantries are seeing long lines that keep growing. Congress must extend funding for vital public health efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic and must also help reduce the economic pain caused by the pandemic by quickly providing direct relief to Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4696", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Responds to House Passage of Her Scarlett\u2019s Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Responds to House Passage of Her Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act\r\nToday, a negotiated version of Congresswoman Moore's bipartisan legislation, the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act, passed the House. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nI am so pleased that the Scarlett Sunshine Act is that much closer to becoming law. Too many families know the pain of unexpectedly losing a child. My bill takes a needed step towards addressing the heartache families feel and helping save the lives of precious children.\r\nThe bill would provide grants to states, municipalities, and nonprofits to for a number of activities to better understand why these deaths happen and to prevent them, including to help improve data collection, to support bestpractices to reduce sleep-related infant deaths;and death scene investigations for deaths categorized as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) when it happens to infants under 12 months old (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, falls under the SUID umbrella). Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 445 children fell under the SUDC category in 2016, while 3,607 died under the SUID category.\r\nMy heart goes out to each and every family that has every had to experience such a heartbreaking death and the lifelong pain that accompanies it, including that of Scarlett Lillian Pauley for whom this bill is named. I am grateful to be part of this effort to turn that pain into policy that will hopefully save other children and families from having to experience these tragedies.\r\nThe Senate version of this measure has been championed by Senator Bob Casey and now retired Senator Johnny Isakson.\r\nThis bill has been endorsed by a number of organizations including Children's Wisconsin,Progressive Community Health Centers,Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers,the American Academy of Pediatrics,The Scarlett Lillian Pauley Foundation,March of Dimes, Cribs for Kids, First Candle, SUDC Foundation, Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital, andSafe Kids Worldwide.\r\nThe Senate is expected to take up and pass this legislation shortly, sending it to the White House to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4695", "Congresswoman Moore Urges Negotiators to Include Key Provisions in FY 2021 Defense Funding Bill", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Moore Urges Negotiators to Include Key Provisions in FY 2021 Defense Funding Bill \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 8, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Moore Urges Negotiators to Include Key Provisions in FY 2021 Defense Funding Bill\r\nAs negotiations on final FY 2021 funding bills continue, Congresswoman released the followingletterthat she sent to negotiators on the Defense Department funding bill regarding the inclusion of key House passed provisions reaffirming Congress' war powers.\r\nI strongly support our men and women in uniform and their families who sacrifice so much for our country. It is critical that Congress reclaims its authority when it comes to decisions about putting these men and women in harms way. Unfortunately, under Administrations of both parties, that important responsibility has been severely undermined The House passed provisions help restore Congress Constitutional authority and responsibility to the American people to debate the use of our military forces to engage in war. Retaining those provisions in a final bill will restore a critical check on reckless military action andensure that decisions to use U.S. military force are properly debated and considered by Congress.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-great-lakes-priorities-included-in-water-resources-development-act", "Steil Great Lakes Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Two of Congressman Bryan Steil's Great Lakes priorities were included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA passed the House of Representatives today and now heads to the Senate. The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project were both included in today's bill.\n\n\"Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes are a vital resource to Southeast Wisconsin. I am working to protect the Great Lakes today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. As we saw earlier this year, Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee counties suffered significant damage and shoreline erosion from high water levels in Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project address our communities' concerns. We must ensure our shoreline is protected and that Lake Michigan continues to bring economic, health, and recreational benefits to Southeast Wisconsin,\" said Steil.\n\nIn February, Steil testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the need to support Great Lakes funding. Specifically, Steil requested that the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project are included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Watch Steil's testimony before the committee here.\n\nThe Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study brings together the eight Great Lakes states and federal partners to examine our shorelines and prevent environmental hazards. The Study area includes more than 5,000 miles of shoreline. This is a federal program that helps detect vulnerabilities along the shoreline and improve our communities' sustainability. The Brandon Road Project, an Army Corps of Engineers program, is a preventive measure to safeguard the Great Lakes. The program is intended to prevent invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, jeopardizing the $7 billion fishing industry of the Great Lakes.\n\nToday, Steil spoke on the House floor today in support of passage of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Floor remarks below:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI rise today in support of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act.\n\nIn Southeast Wisconsin, the Great Lakes are vital to our environment, our economy, our health, and our way of life.\n\nLet me put it this way: If the Great Lakes region was a country, it would have the third largest economy in the world.\n\nWe must pass WRDA to protect the Great Lakes, invest in America's water infrastructure, and generate economic growth.\n\nEarlier this year, I urged the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to include the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project in WRDA.\n\nBoth programs are included in today's bill.\n\nThese programs detect vulnerabilities along the Great Lakes shoreline and prevent invasive species in the Great Lakes.\n\nI ask my colleagues to pass WRDA and support the Great Lakes for generations to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-great-lakes-priorities-included-water-resources-development-act", "Steil Great Lakes Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Two of Congressman Bryan Steil's Great Lakes priorities were included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA passed the House of Representatives today and now heads to the Senate. The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project were both included in today's bill. \nLake Michigan and the Great Lakes are a vital resource to Southeast Wisconsin. I am working to protect the Great Lakes today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. As we saw earlier this year, Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee counties suffered significant damage and shoreline erosion from high water levels in Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project address our communities' concerns. We must ensure our shoreline is protected and that Lake Michigan continues to bring economic, health, and recreational benefits to Southeast Wisconsin, said Steil.\nIn February, Steil testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the need to support Great Lakes funding. Specifically, Steil requested that the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project are included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Watch Steil's testimony before the committee here.\nThe Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study brings together the eight Great Lakes states and federal partners to examine our shorelines and prevent environmental hazards. The Study area includes more than 5,000 miles of shoreline. This is a federal program that helps detect vulnerabilities along the shoreline and improve our communities' sustainability. The Brandon Road Project, an Army Corps of Engineers program, is a preventive measure to safeguard the Great Lakes. The program is intended to prevent invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, jeopardizing the $7 billion fishing industry of the Great Lakes.\nToday, Steil spoke on the House floor today in support of passage of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Floor remarks below:\nMr. Speaker, \nI rise today in support of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act. \nIn Southeast Wisconsin, the Great Lakes are vital to our environment, our economy, our health, and our way of life.\nLet me put it this way: If the Great Lakes region was a country, it would have the third largest economy in the world.\nWe must pass WRDA to protect the Great Lakes, invest in America's water infrastructure, and generate economic growth. \nEarlier this year, I urged the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to include the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study and the Brandon Road Project in WRDA. \nBoth programs are included in today's bill.\nThese programs detect vulnerabilities along the Great Lakes shoreline and prevent invasive species in the Great Lakes.\nI ask my colleagues to pass WRDA and support the Great Lakes for generations to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4692", "Representatives Gwen Moore, Mary Gay Scanlon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Guy Reschenthaler Introduce Driving for Opportunity Act", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Gwen Moore, Mary Gay Scanlon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Guy Reschenthaler Introduce Driving for Opportunity Act\r\nRepresentatives Gwen Moore, Mary Gay Scanlon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Guy Reschenthaler introduced legislation to incentivize states to not suspend driver's licenses for unpaid court fees or fines. In response, she released the following statement: \r\nI can tell you firsthand that a valid driver's license can be a means  and in some cases the only means given cuts to public transit systems  to find gainful employment and thrive.\r\nYet, for a number of years now, we have been seeing a growing pattern by cities across the country using driver's license suspensions as a means to punish those who fail to pay a municipal debt, not to protect public safety on our roadways. Often, these penalties have nothing to do with traffic infractions or poor driving behavior and can be imposed against those who have yet to even reach the legal driving age.\r\nMake no mistake: Those with a flagrant disregard for public safety don't belong behind the wheel. However, each year, millions of drivers are seeing their driver's licenses suspended for conduct that is unrelated to driving.\r\nBesides not being an effective debt collection tool, these too poor to drive suspensions can hinder an individual's ability to keep working or get work and can lead to interactions with the criminal justice system, both of which have far reaching impacts on our communities. \r\nIn Milwaukee and around the country, these policies disproportionately impact minorities and the most financially vulnerable. As noted in a 2015 report about the practice here in Milwaukee, The practice of suspending eligibility for driver's license for non-payment of fines creates another burden for those who are already disadvantaged. \r\nTheDriving for Opportunity Actwould encourage states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fees to lift the burden off of drivers and to reinstate such licenses and ensure resources are better allocated towards promoting public safety.\r\nRead more about theDriving for Opportunity Acthere. This is a House companion to a bipartisan measure introduced in the Senate by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).\r\nThe legislation has been endorsed by, among others, theAmerican Civil Liberties Union, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Urban League, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, and the Drug Policy Alliance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-house-floor-we-cannot-return-one-sided-deals-strengthen-iran-must", "Steil on House Floor: We cannot return to one-sided deals that strengthen Iran, must maintain pressure on Iranian regime", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Bryan Steil delivered a speech on the House floor on the need to continue putting pressure on Iran through sanctions and peace agreements between Israel and Middle Eastern countries. Steil also highlighted his new bill, the Preventing Illicit Finance Act, which creates a public-private group to limit the use of the financial system by bad actors.\nU.S. financial sanctions hinder the Iranian Regime's influence and activity in the region and impair their ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. Our bill strengthens the United States' ability to enforce financial sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other bad actors. I will continue working to ensure government agencies and the private sector work together to combat illicit finance and sanctions evasion, said Steil.\nThe Preventing Illicit Finance Act creates a public-private partnership focused on ensuring that sanctions enacted by the U.S. and its allies are not circumvented by hidden transactions, as well as preventing proliferation finance  the use of the financial system to develop or distribute nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.\nSteil co-introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance Act with Congresswoman Cindy Axne. Both are both members of the House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction on the financial services products and institutions.\nEarlier this year, Steil introduced the Stop Evasion of Iran Sanctions Act, giving the Secretary of the Treasury the explicit authority to sanction a financial institution operating outside the United States that knowingly conducts a significant sanctionable transaction related to the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX). Read Steil's op-ed in the Washington Examiner on the need to hold Iran accountable here.\nSteil floor remarks:\nMr. Speaker,\nI rise to address one of the greatest threats to American safety, Iran. \nIran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and from its past actions, we know Iran cannot be trusted. \nHowever, over the past four years, progress has been made. \nOur maximum pressure campaign and sanctions have reined in Iran's power.\nNormalization agreements between Israel and numerous nations in the region continue to isolate Iran. \nThe United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan have embraced peace and cooperation. \nAt this moment of success, the United States cannot back down. \nWe cannot return to one-sided deals that strengthen Iran. \nThere is little doubt that without our efforts, Iran will continue its pursuit for a nuclear weapon and regional domination. \nWe must maintain pressure on the Regime. \nJust last month, the IAEA confirmed what we suspected all along. The Iranian Regime continues to ramp up its nuclear programin fact, it is accelerating its efforts. \nThis is not the time to appease the Iranian Regime  we must stand strong.\nUnder theObama-Biden Administration, we saw years of failed foreign policy. \nYears of policy that allowed Iran to continue developing a nuclear weapon. \nYears of policy that sent pallets of cash to Iran.\nYears of policy that neglected our alliance with Israel.\nYears of policy that allowed Iranian terrorism to thrive across the region.\nAfter the failed Obama-Biden Iran Deal was implemented. Iran continued perpetrating violence, terrorism, and proxy wars across the Middle East. Iran came closer and closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.\nPresident Trump has shown that there's another way. \nWe do not need to appease terrorist states and turn our backs on Israel. \nInstead, the Trump administration's strength has helped set the conditions for regional peace. \nCooperation between Israel and other Middle Eastern states is continuing to grow. This change of policy has brought hope. \nPeace is possible. But peace does not happen through capitulation and it will not happen if we go backwards. \nIt's clear that U.S. sanctions targeting Iran are working. We need to maintain our sanctions against Iran and take decisive steps to prevent evasion. \nSanctions cut off vital resources that Iran's leaders use to enrich themselves and spread terrorism. \nU.S. financial sanctions make it harder for Iran to fund its ambitions to become a nuclear power.\nUnfortunately, bad actors work hard to get around our sanctions. \nIt's why I co-introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance Act. \nThis bill supports our maximum pressure campaign and creates a public-private group to limit the abuse of the financial system by bad actors, like Iran. \nMy bill strengthens the United States' ability to enforce financial sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other adversaries.\nOur maximum pressure campaign is working. \nWe cannot turn a blind eye to Iran's aggression and pursuit of terrorism. \nIran must be held accountable. \nBy strengthening our sanctions enforcement and maintaining our tough approach, we can prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-on-house-floor-we-cannot-return-to-one-sided-deals-that-strengthen-iran-must-maintain-pressure-on-iranian-regime", "Steil on House Floor: We cannot return to one-sided deals that strengthen Iran, must maintain pressure on Iranian regime", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congressman Bryan Steil delivered a speech on the House floor on the need to continue putting pressure on Iran through sanctions and peace agreements between Israel and Middle Eastern countries. Steil also highlighted his new bill, the Preventing Illicit Finance Act, which creates a public-private group to limit the use of the financial system by bad actors.\n\n\"U.S. financial sanctions hinder the Iranian Regime's influence and activity in the region and impair their ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. Our bill strengthens the United States' ability to enforce financial sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other bad actors. I will continue working to ensure government agencies and the private sector work together to combat illicit finance and sanctions evasion,\" said Steil.\n\nThe Preventing Illicit Finance Act creates a public-private partnership focused on ensuring that sanctions enacted by the U.S. and its allies are not circumvented by hidden transactions, as well as preventing proliferation finance \u2013 the use of the financial system to develop or distribute nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.\n\nSteil co-introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance Act with Congresswoman Cindy Axne. Both are both members of the House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction on the financial services products and institutions.\n\nEarlier this year, Steil introduced the Stop Evasion of Iran Sanctions Act, giving the Secretary of the Treasury the explicit authority to sanction a financial institution operating outside the United States that knowingly conducts a significant sanctionable transaction related to the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX). Read Steil's op-ed in the Washington Examiner on the need to hold Iran accountable here.\n\nSteil floor remarks:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI rise to address one of the greatest threats to American safety, Iran.\n\nIran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and from its past actions, we know Iran cannot be trusted.\n\nHowever, over the past four years, progress has been made.\n\nOur maximum pressure campaign and sanctions have reined in Iran's power.\n\nNormalization agreements between Israel and numerous nations in the region continue to isolate Iran.\n\nThe United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan have embraced peace and cooperation.\n\nAt this moment of success, the United States cannot back down.\n\nWe cannot return to one-sided deals that strengthen Iran.\n\nThere is little doubt that without our efforts, Iran will continue its pursuit for a nuclear weapon and regional domination.\n\nWe must maintain pressure on the Regime.\n\nJust last month, the IAEA confirmed what we suspected all along. The Iranian Regime continues to ramp up its nuclear program\u2014in fact, it is accelerating its efforts.\n\nThis is not the time to appease the Iranian Regime \u2013 we must stand strong.\n\nUnder the Obama-Biden Administration, we saw years of failed foreign policy.\n\nYears of policy that allowed Iran to continue developing a nuclear weapon.\n\nYears of policy that sent pallets of cash to Iran.\n\nYears of policy that neglected our alliance with Israel.\n\nYears of policy that allowed Iranian terrorism to thrive across the region.\n\nAfter the failed Obama-Biden Iran Deal was implemented. Iran continued perpetrating violence, terrorism, and proxy wars across the Middle East. Iran came closer and closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.\n\nPresident Trump has shown that there's another way.\n\nWe do not need to appease terrorist states and turn our backs on Israel.\n\nInstead, the Trump administration's strength has helped set the conditions for regional peace.\n\nCooperation between Israel and other Middle Eastern states is continuing to grow. This change of policy has brought hope.\n\nPeace is possible. But peace does not happen through capitulation and it will not happen if we go backwards.\n\nIt's clear that U.S. sanctions targeting Iran are working. We need to maintain our sanctions against Iran and take decisive steps to prevent evasion.\n\nSanctions cut off vital resources that Iran's leaders use to enrich themselves and spread terrorism.\n\nU.S. financial sanctions make it harder for Iran to fund its ambitions to become a nuclear power.\n\nUnfortunately, bad actors work hard to get around our sanctions.\n\nIt's why I co-introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance Act.\n\nThis bill supports our maximum pressure campaign and creates a public-private group to limit the abuse of the financial system by bad actors, like Iran.\n\nMy bill strengthens the United States' ability to enforce financial sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other adversaries.\n\nOur maximum pressure campaign is working.\n\nWe cannot turn a blind eye to Iran's aggression and pursuit of terrorism.\n\nIran must be held accountable.\n\nBy strengthening our sanctions enforcement and maintaining our tough approach, we can prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4690", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Recognizes and Congratulates the 4th Congressional District\u2019s 2020 Service Academy Nominees", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Recognizes and Congratulates the 4thCongressional District's 2020 Service Academy Nominees\r\nEvery year, members of congress have the distinct privilege of helping choose the next leaders of our great nation's armed forces from their congressional districts. Today,Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)released the following statement, announcing the 2020 service academy nominees from Wisconsin's 4thcongressional district:\r\nIn 1899 General Douglas MacArthur was nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West point from Wisconsin's 4thCongressional District.\r\nHe once said, We must offer the world leadership designed to advance the goal of universal progress and enduring peace.'\r\nEach of the hard-working young men and women I nominated to attend U.S. military service academies this year show an unwavering commitment to serve the nation by advancing progress and peace through their leadership.\r\nOur country's military academies provide young people with world-class military training and an incredible education. Graduating from these schools is no easy task, but these young women and men from the 4thCongressional District are up to the challenge. While this year's process was highly competitive, I can say with certainty that these exceptional students will make our district and country proud.\r\nBelow, please find a list of this years' service academy nominees.\r\nMichael Bortolotti\r\nSadie Cumberbach\r\nBenjamin Eichholz\r\nPatrick Hauser\r\nEleanor Kattman\r\nChristopher Machtel\r\nJoseph Machtel\r\nDylan Payne\r\nAdam von Paumgartten", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/labor-caucus-announces-new-co-chairs", "Labor Caucus Announces New Co-Chairs", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014The Labor Caucus announced four additional co-chairs today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) will join Congressmen Mark Pocan(D-WI) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) as co-chairs of the Labor Caucus.\n\nIn order to unite pro-worker efforts in Congress, we are combining the existing Labor and Working Families Caucus, as well as another labor-focused caucus members were considering forming, under one cohesive banner. Formed this month, the Labor Caucus now has over 50 members.\n\n\"A Biden-Harris administration is an opportunity for Congress to centralize the needs of the labor movement and working families once again,\" said Congressman Pocan. \"Donald Trump has greenlighted union-busting, weakened labor rights, and refused to protect workers livelihoods or safety during this pandemic. I am eager to begin work with my co-chairs to reverse his actions and ensure working people have a voice in Congress again.\"\n\n\"While the Trump Administration has tried to dismantle labor rights, the incoming Biden-Harris Administration understands the dignity of work and knows that America succeeds when workers succeed,\" said Congressman Norcross, a proud, card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for over 40 years. \"Everyone should have a voice in their workplace to advocate for fair wages and safe spaces, and the Labor Caucus will advance the cause of working families by being their voice in Congress. I look forward to working together with my co-chairs and our brothers and sisters in the labor movement to strengthen unions and build a bright future for America's workers.\"\n\n\"The formation of the Labor Caucus is great news for working families across this country, and I welcome my like-minded colleagues to leadership on these key issues,\" said Congresswoman Linda S\u00e1nchez. \"I've had the privilege to lead the Labor and Working Families Caucus for more than a decade, where we have helped members speak with one voice on important issues. I'm glad this work will continue under this new banner, which will be especially important as we usher in the Biden-Harris administration and begin to undo the incredible damage of the last four years. As a card-carrying union member, my work in Congress has always put working families first. Now, more than ever, I won't stop fighting for them and the relief they've earned.\"\n\n\"Working families will lead our recovery from this pandemic and the economic devastation it has caused,\" said Congresswoman Dingell. \"In Michigan, we know that those efforts must include strong union protections, revitalized labor laws, and an intentional legislative focus on the everyday issues that matter most to working Americans. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our Labor Caucus will demand economic justice for our workers in every corner of this country.\"\n\n\"I'm honored to co-chair the new House Labor Caucus. In these challenging times, workers' rights and protections are important now more than ever. Creating good-paying jobs, protecting healthcare and security in retirement for working families should be a top focus in the next Congress,\" said Congressman Horsford. \"Union workers built and continue to be the backbone of my home state of Nevada, and I look forward to fighting for them and their families.\"\n\n\"Over the past several decades the United States has created enormous wealth but working men and women have been left behind with stagnant wages. Climate change, immigration, civil rights, trade, economic growth and every other issue must be analyzed through a pro-labor perspective,\" said Congressman Suozzi. \"The American Dream, where hard work is rewarded with wages sufficient to guarantee a home, health insurance, children's education and retirement security, is no longer in reach for too many. We must reclaim the American Dream and that starts with a pro-labor, pro-growth agenda. Our Labor Caucus will work with the Biden Administration, our diverse labor unions, and other caucuses and committees of jurisdictions to advocate for a new, robust, middle class and all those that aspire to be part of it.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-calls-evers-legislative-leaders-work-together-craft-realistic-workable", "Tiffany Calls on Evers, Legislative Leaders, to Work Together to Craft \u201cRealistic, Workable, and Data-Based\u201d COVID-19 Guidelines", "2020-11-24", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) called on Governor Tony Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and incoming Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to work together to set pragmatic guidelines for school districts to enable the full resumption of in-person classroom learning as soon as possible, citing a recent op-ed he authored in the Wisconsin State Journal.\n\nMr. Tiffany issued the following statement:\n\n\"School is essential and online education is simply not an acceptable substitute for classroom learning. Overly restrictive quarantine and contact tracing protocols are threatening to interrupt the full return to in-person instruction in our schools, jeopardizing the academic future of our kids and pushing parents to the breaking point. We need realistic, workable and data-based guidelines to ensure that students, who have already lost the 2020 academic year don't lose 2021, too.\"\n\n\"Overzealous quarantine protocols are forcing dozens of kids who are not sick and exhibit no symptoms to miss school for weeks if they have even minimal exposure to someone who tests positive. This means just a handful of positive tests \u2013 regardless of whether they occurred in schools or not \u2013 can effectively shut down schools, placing more pressure on families and contributing to health care staffing shortfalls by forcing parents, who may be doctors, nurses or other front-line caregivers, to stay home with kids who are not ill, disrupting critical medical treatment efforts.\"\n\n\"The data is clear: K-12 schools can operate responsibly, safely and effectively, and the governor and lawmakers should work together to empower our school administrators and school boards to implement common-sense, narrowly-tailored frameworks that reflect the needs and conditions of their unique communities while maximizing the academic well-being of our kids.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1898", "Grothman and Maloney Introduce Bipartisan Air America Act", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) have introduced the bipartisan Air America Act. This bill will correct an inequity suffered by the brave Americans who are former employees of Air America by ensuring they receive the federal retirement benefits they have earned.\r\nBetween 1950 and 1976, a group of approximately 500 U.S. citizens worked flight operations for Air America, whichwas portrayed as a private company carrying out flight operations during the Cold War.However,now-declassified documentshaverevealedthat Air America wasfullyowned by the U.S. government making these brave Americans federal employees.The Air America Act will ensure that these 500 Americaswill be given access tothefederal benefitsthat they deserve.\r\nThe Air America Act was introduced with 11 additional original cosponsors: Val Demings (D-FL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Brian Mast (R-FL), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Bradley Byrne (R-AL), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Michael Waltz (R-FL).\r\nThis bipartisan bill is the House companion to S. 4380, authored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), which is currently cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 31 Senators.\r\nCongress has twice passed corrective legislation for other covert CIA-affiliated groups, said Grothman. It is not right to continue to ignore Air Americans. These patriots risked their lives, many of them giving their life, fighting communism in the same way members of the Air Force did. I am honored that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are joining me to support these heroes. Now is the time to properly recognize Air Americans for their service to our country.\r\nI'm proud to join Rep. Grothman in introducing the Air America Act. This bipartisan bill would rightfully extend federal retirement benefits to Air America workers who put their lives on the line,said Rep. Maloney. The bravery, tenacity, and resolve of these workers helped secure the safety of thousands of soldiers and refugees in the midst of conflict. Our country is indebted to them for their actions and this bill is a crucial step to recompense the heroes of Air America.\r\nThe brave men and women employed by Air America who conducted covert operations during the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War were critical to U.S. efforts, Rubio said. I appreciate Congressman Grothman for introducing this legislation in the House to ensure that these Americans receive the long-overdue honor and recognition they deserve.\r\nFor decades, Air America employees risked and gave their lives in service to their country. These brave public servants deserve to have their sacrifice recognized and should be afforded the federal retirement credit they have earned. I am proud to join my colleagues to finally recognize the Air Americans for their contributions. Said Rep. Brownley.\r\nThe brave airmen who flew for Air America were servants of the American People, just like U.S. Marines at Khe Sanh, U.S. Soldiers at Hamburger Hill, U.S. Foreign Service Officers at U.S. Embassy  Saigon, and U.S. Government employees throughout our history. They should be entitled to the credit and benefits that they earned through their service. For that reason, I'm pleased to co-sponsor the Air America Act with this bipartisan group of colleagues. Said Rep. Gallego.\r\nBackground Information\r\nBetween 1950 and 1976, a group of approximately 500 U.S. citizens worked flight operations forAir America, which was portrayed as a private company.According tonow-declassified documents, we now know that Air America was not a private company and, in fact, worked as a top-secret arm of the executive branch in implementing Cold War policies under the management of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Air Americans saved tens of thousands of lives in search and rescue missions for downed U.S. military pilots, evacuations of allied refugees,and the final evacuations of Danang and Saigon in 1975.\r\nThe Air America Act would grant the individuals who worked for Air America the federal retirement credit they rightfully earned. Air America employees have not been granted their retirement credit because of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rule change in 1985 that required government form SF-50/52 to prove federal employment status. While these patriots were at the time legally defined as federal employees eligible for civil service retirement credit, the covert nature of their work resulted in a narrative that they were employees of a private entity. Moreover, for obvious reasons of secrecy in a clandestine operation, our government did not hire Air Americans using standard government forms. The unusual and unjust retroactive application of the amended regulation requiring form SF-50/52 in 1985 should never have been applied to Air Americans whose employing U.S. government entity, Air America, was dissolved in 1976.\r\nThis legislation will also recognize the heroes from Air America through the selection of five Air Americans for the CIA Wall of Stars and the CIA Museum's presentations of Air America at Langley headquarters and online.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-fights-for-wisconsin-veterans-calls-for-national-personnel-records-center-to-immediately-address-backlog-prohibiting-veterans-from-obtaining-benefits", "Steil Fights for Wisconsin Veterans, Calls for National Personnel Records Center to Immediately Address Backlog Prohibiting Veterans from Obtaining Benefits", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014 Today, Congressman Bryan Steil called on the Director of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to address the backlog of services requested by veterans. The NPRC provides veterans with documentation on service history, medical history, and other information that can be required to obtain VA benefits. Steil has assisted numerous veterans in Southeast Wisconsin with this issue throughout the coronavirus pandemic, however, NPRC has yet to provide Steil or Congress with a timeline or plan on how it intends to address the growing backlog.\n\n\"I am fighting for our veterans. Veterans in Southeast Wisconsin have waited months for VA benefits because of the NPRC's backlog. This is unacceptable. I am demanding the NPRC immediately addresses its backlog so veterans can obtain benefits. The NPRC is a vital agency that our veterans rely on. I heard from a veteran whose VA medical claim is in jeopardy because he cannot obtain his medical records from the NPRC. Every day that there is a backlog is another day a veteran cannot obtain benefits. I will provide updates to our veterans as I receive any new information,\" said Steil.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-fights-wisconsin-veterans-calls-national-personnel-records-center", "Steil Fights for Wisconsin Veterans, Calls for National Personnel Records Center to Immediately Address Backlog Prohibiting Veterans from Obtaining Benefits", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN Today, Congressman Bryan Steil called on the Director of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to address the backlog of services requested by veterans. The NPRC provides veterans with documentation on service history, medical history, and other information that can be required to obtain VA benefits. Steil has assisted numerous veterans in Southeast Wisconsin with this issue throughout the coronavirus pandemic, however, NPRC has yet to provide Steil or Congress with a timeline or plan on how it intends to address the growing backlog.\nI am fighting for our veterans. Veterans in Southeast Wisconsin have waited months for VA benefits because of the NPRC's backlog. This is unacceptable. I am demanding the NPRCimmediately addresses its backlog so veterans can obtain benefits. The NPRC is a vital agency that our veterans rely on. I heard from a veteran whose VA medical claim is in jeopardy because he cannot obtain his medical records from the NPRC. Every day that there is a backlog is another day a veteran cannot obtain benefits. I will provide updates to our veterans as I receive any new information, said Steil. \nYou can read the letter to the Director of the National Personnel Records Center here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-receives-response-from-us-department-of-veterans-affairs-on-investigation-into-covid-19-outbreak-in-union-grove-veterans-home", "Steil Receives Response from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Investigation into COVID-19 Outbreak in Union Grove Veterans Home", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, Congressman Bryan Steil has sought answers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In August, Steil called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to conduct an investigation into the outbreak. Steil received a response from Secretary Robert Wilkie last week. You can read the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs' response to Steil here.\n\n\"For the past several months, I have been in communication with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to get answers on the coronavirus outbreak in the Union Grove veterans home. We need to learn from these outbreaks so that we can prevent further cases. Our veterans deserve the highest quality care and frontline staff at the facility need support. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' response and attention to this issue is a step in the right direction to protect our veterans, health care workers, and Union Grove's staff. I am continuing to work with the federal VA to ensure we provide sufficient resources, personnel support, and a plan to keep Wisconsin veterans safe,\" said Steil.\n\nThe response notes that federal officials offered consultation and staffing assistance to the state veterans home in May. That offer was declined until August, after the outbreak occurred. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' response directly states, \"(a)t the direction of Milwaukee's VAMC director, the State Veterans Home VA Medical Facility Representative offered the Wisconsin State Veterans Home at Union Grove consultation and staffing support on May 27, 2020. At that time, SVH leadership declined this assistance until the outbreak in August 2020.\"\n\nIn response to this information, Steil reached out to the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs requesting clarification. You can find that letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-receives-response-us-department-veterans-affairs-investigation-covid-19", "Steil Receives Response from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Investigation into COVID-19 Outbreak in Union Grove Veterans Home", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSINSince the COVID-19 outbreak began in the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, Congressman Bryan Steil has sought answers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In August, Steil called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to conduct an investigation into the outbreak. Steil received a response from Secretary Robert Wilkie last week. You can read the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs' response to Steil here.\nFor the past several months, I have been in communication with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to get answers on the coronavirus outbreak in the Union Grove veterans home. We need to learn from these outbreaks so that we can prevent further cases. Our veterans deserve the highest quality care and frontline staff at the facility need support. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' response and attention to this issue is a step in the right direction to protect our veterans, health care workers, and Union Grove's staff. I am continuing to work with the federal VA to ensure we provide sufficient resources, personnel support, and a plan to keep Wisconsin veterans safe, said Steil.\nThe response notes that federal officials offered consultation and staffing assistance to the state veterans home in May.That offer was declined until August, after the outbreak occurred.The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' response directly states, (a)t the direction of Milwaukee's VAMC director, the State Veterans Home VA Medical Facility Representative offered the Wisconsin State Veterans Home at Union Grove consultation and staffing support on May 27, 2020. At that time, SVH leadership declined this assistance until the outbreak in August 2020.\nIn response to this information, Steil reached out to the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs requesting clarification.You can find that letter here.\nRead Steil's letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs calling for an investigation here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-participates-in-major-county-sheriffs-of-america-2020-regional-conference-meeting", "Steil Participates in Major County Sheriffs of America 2020 Regional Conference Meeting", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congressman Bryan Steil spoke at the Major County Sheriffs of America's Legislative Horizon in 2021 Regional Virtual Conference. Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas hosted the event.\n\n\"It was great to speak with our nation's sheriffs and host, Milwaukee County Sheriff Lucas. To strengthen our communities, we must stand with those who serve and protect us. I've seen firsthand the work of our men and women who wear the badge. I am committed to implementing policies that empower, not hinder, law enforcement's ability to do their jobs. Having a strong partnership between federal and local governments will allow us to make lasting, meaningful impacts on our nation. As Congress considers police reform, I will continue this proactive dialogue with Sheriff Lucas and sheriffs across Southeast Wisconsin and our nation to ensure we keep our communities safe,\" said Steil.\n\n\"Today, in a meeting with the Major County Sheriffs of America, Rep. Bryan Steil spoke to issues impacting Wisconsinites and the law enforcement community. Rep. Steil stressed the importance of workers having the essential tools to meet tomorrow's challenges today and working families having the education and skills necessary to live the American Dream. He also spoke to the need for Congress to find bipartisan solutions to reimagining and support for law enforcement, something so vitally needed in our country. I thank Rep. Steil for taking the time to address these critical issues with the Major County Sheriffs of America,\" said Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.\n\nThe Major County Sheriffs of America is a professional law enforcement association of the largest elected sheriffs' offices representing counties or parishes with 500,000 population or more. The Major County Sheriffs of America's membership represents over 120 million citizens.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-participates-major-county-sheriffs-america-2020-regional-conference", "Steil Participates in Major County Sheriffs of America 2020 Regional Conference Meeting", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Congressman Bryan Steil spoke at the Major County Sheriffs of America's Legislative Horizon in 2021 Regional Virtual Conference. Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas hosted the event.\nIt was great to speak with our nation's sheriffs and host, Milwaukee County Sheriff Lucas. To strengthen our communities, we must stand with those who serve and protect us. I've seen firsthand the work of our men and women who wear the badge. I am committed to implementing policies that empower, not hinder, law enforcement's ability to do their jobs. Having a strong partnership between federal and local governments will allow us to make lasting, meaningful impacts on our nation. As Congress considers police reform, I will continue this proactive dialogue with Sheriff Lucas and sheriffs across Southeast Wisconsin and our nation to ensure we keep our communities safe, said Steil. \nToday, in a meeting with the Major County Sheriffs of America, Rep. Bryan Steil spoke to issues impacting Wisconsinites and the law enforcement community. Rep. Steil stressed the importance of workers having the essential tools to meet tomorrow's challenges today and working families having the education and skills necessary to live the American Dream. He also spoke to the need for Congress to find bipartisan solutions to reimagining and support for law enforcement, something so vitally needed in our country. I thank Rep. Steil for taking the time to address these critical issues with the Major County Sheriffs of America, said Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.\nThe Major County Sheriffs of America is a professional law enforcement association of the largest elected sheriffs' offices representing counties or parishes with 500,000 population or more. The Major County Sheriffs of America's membership represents over 120 million citizens.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-norcross-announce-labor-caucus", "Pocan, Norcross Announce Labor Caucus", "2020-11-13", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congressmen Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) are announcing the creation of the Labor Caucus, intended to advance the needs of the labor movement, combat the issues facing working families, and connect legislators directly with unions and union leaders. The new caucus will be organized by union members of Congress\u2014Representatives Pocan and Norcross are both decades-long union members in the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), respectively.\n\n\"President-Elect Joe Biden's new administration gives the Democratic Party the opportunity to reprioritize working families at the center of our legislative agenda,\" said Congressman Pocan. \"Under Donald Trump, we've seen the erosion of labor rights, rise in union-busting, and the prioritization of corporate profits over working people's livelihoods and safety. In the 117th Congress, we must reaffirm our dedication to strengthening unions and helping works by urgently passing legislation like the PRO Act and the Raise the Wage Act. It's time for working people to have a voice in Congress again.\"\n\n\"Labor has shaped my life, taking me from the construction site to Congress,\" said Congressman Norcross. \"While the Trump Administration has tried to diminish labor rights, President-Elect Joe Biden's incoming Administration understands the dignity of work and that workers' rights are human rights. Every American worker should have the opportunity to earn a fair day's wage for a fair day's work, and working families deserve a bigger voice in Congress. I look forward to working together with our brothers and sisters in Labor to pass legislation for American workers and their futures.\"\n\n\"It is absolutely imperative that we return this country back into the hands of working people and the Labor Caucus will do just that,\" saidShane Larson, Senior Director for Government Affairs and Policy at the Communications Workers of America. \"Congressman Pocan and Norcross are card-carrying union members and we are proud to support their efforts to prioritize workers' rights and the labor movement in Congress. The Democratic Party has long been the party of unions and working families, and the Labor Caucus will ensure that legacy endures in every Congress to come.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-announces-franklin-resident-2020-veteran-year-recipient", "Steil Announces Franklin Resident as 2020 Veteran of the Year Recipient", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FRANKLIN, WISCONSINAs we approach Veterans Day, today Congressman Bryan Steil announced Mr. Steven Perrigo, United States Army Sergeant (Ret.) from Franklin, as Wisconsin's First Congressional District's 2020 Veteran of the Year recipient.\nI am honored to announce Steven as this year's Veteran of the Year recipient. When duty called, Steven did not hesitate to answer it. Steven's distinguished military career and commitment to fellow veterans, especially homeless veterans and those suffering from mental health challenges, is admirable. Too often our veterans' service, advocacy, and work in Southeast Wisconsin goes unrecognized. I am committed to shining a light on heroes, like Steven, who have dedicated their lives to bettering our country and community, said Steil.\nThank you to Congressman Steil for organizing the Veteran of the Year program and addressing the needs of our veterans community. I'm very pleased to receive this award not only for myself, but for veterans who support fellow veterans in our community. This award recognizes the importance of everyone in our community who help veterans rejoin society. It is a great pleasure to accept this recognition and I look forward to continue working with veteran organizations, said Steven Perrigo, the 2020 Veteran of the Year Award Recipient.\nPerrigo is the son of a World War II veteran who died in action. Rather than accepting an automatic exemption when drafted into the Vietnam War, Perrigo answered the call to service to honor the sacrifice of his father. Perrigo served in the U.S. Army in the Korean DMZ for fourteen months, receiving numerous merit awards and campaign ribbons, including the Army Commendation Medal for service for his leadership, performance, and commitment to his duties.\nSince living in Wisconsin, Perrigo has been an active member in Southeast Wisconsin's veterans community. Perrigo has worked with the Fisher House on the VA grounds in Milwaukee, Dry Hootch of Wisconsin providing peer-to-peer support for veterans suffering from PTSD, and as a Vice President of the Saint Andrew's Society. The Saint Andrew's Society awarded a donation of more than $20,000 to the Veterans Tiny Homes Project in Racine which helps homeless veterans with housing, employment, and educational opportunities.\nIn addition to the Veteran of the Year award, Steil awarded Congressional Recognitions of Service to Michelle Adams of Mukwonago, Daniel Newberry of Franklin, and Joseph Huelskamp of Waterford. All three served in the United States Army.\nMichelle Adams served eight years in the United States Army Reservesand is currently the Commander of the Mukwonago American Legion Post 375. Adams is also oneof the organizer of the annual Viper Ride for disabled veterans. This ride allows blind, visually impaired or physically limited veterans to enjoy a day of motorcycling and entertainment. Adams coordinates multiple dinners each year for physically and emotionally disabled veterans at American Legion Post 375.\nDaniel Newberry served in the United States Army for eight years. After struggling from his own battles with PTSD and seeking help, Newberry has made it his mission to serve veterans and first responders who also suffer from mental health challenges. Newberry started a non-profit, 22Fitness, that provides free fitness classes for military members, veterans, and first responders to help those cope with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.\nJoe Huelskamp is a Korean War Army veteran and currently serves as the Principal of the American Legion Post 20 in Waterford. Huelskamp supports Southeast Wisconsin's veterans by driving local veterans to their medical appointments. Huelskamp is also a member of the Honor Guard, providing veterans with military honors at services held at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Union Grove.\nVeterans were nominated by residents across Southeast Wisconsin. In total, 25 veterans were nominated. The First Congressional District's Veterans Advisory Board reviewed all nominations; evaluated each applicant's commitment to service, spirit of excellence, and dedication to community and fellow veterans; and selected the Veteran of the Year Award recipient based off of the overall evaluation.\nThe First Congressional District's Veteran Advisory Board evaluated nominees by reviewing the following criteria:\nSERVICE: Demonstrate a commitment to service in their community. This could be through advocacy, community projects, an act of heroism, or other actions.\nEXCELLENCE: Provide an example of how this veteran exudes a spirit of excellence.\nDEDICATION: Have a dedication to supporting their fellow veterans and building bridges between veterans and our greater Southeast Wisconsin community.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-announces-franklin-resident-as-2020-veteran-of-the-year-recipient", "Steil Announces Franklin Resident as 2020 Veteran of the Year Recipient", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FRANKLIN, WISCONSIN\u2014As we approach Veterans Day, today Congressman Bryan Steil announced Mr. Steven Perrigo, United States Army Sergeant (Ret.) from Franklin, as Wisconsin's First Congressional District's 2020 Veteran of the Year recipient.\n\n\"I am honored to announce Steven as this year's Veteran of the Year recipient. When duty called, Steven did not hesitate to answer it. Steven's distinguished military career and commitment to fellow veterans, especially homeless veterans and those suffering from mental health challenges, is admirable. Too often our veterans' service, advocacy, and work in Southeast Wisconsin goes unrecognized. I am committed to shining a light on heroes, like Steven, who have dedicated their lives to bettering our country and community,\" said Steil.\n\n\"Thank you to Congressman Steil for organizing the Veteran of the Year program and addressing the needs of our veterans community. I'm very pleased to receive this award not only for myself, but for veterans who support fellow veterans in our community. This award recognizes the importance of everyone in our community who help veterans rejoin society. It is a great pleasure to accept this recognition and I look forward to continue working with veteran organizations,\" said Steven Perrigo, the 2020 Veteran of the Year Award Recipient.\n\nPerrigo is the son of a World War II veteran who died in action. Rather than accepting an automatic exemption when drafted into the Vietnam War, Perrigo answered the call to service to honor the sacrifice of his father. Perrigo served in the U.S. Army in the Korean DMZ for fourteen months, receiving numerous merit awards and campaign ribbons, including the Army Commendation Medal for service for his leadership, performance, and commitment to his duties.\n\nSince living in Wisconsin, Perrigo has been an active member in Southeast Wisconsin's veterans community. Perrigo has worked with the Fisher House on the VA grounds in Milwaukee, Dry Hootch of Wisconsin providing peer-to-peer support for veterans suffering from PTSD, and as a Vice President of the Saint Andrew's Society. The Saint Andrew's Society awarded a donation of more than $20,000 to the Veterans Tiny Homes Project in Racine which helps homeless veterans with housing, employment, and educational opportunities.\n\nIn addition to the Veteran of the Year award, Steil awarded Congressional Recognitions of Service to Michelle Adams of Mukwonago, Daniel Newberry of Franklin, and Joseph Huelskamp of Waterford. All three served in the United States Army.\n\nMichelle Adams served eight years in the United States Army Reserves and is currently the Commander of the Mukwonago American Legion Post 375. Adams is also one of the organizer of the annual Viper Ride for disabled veterans. This ride allows blind, visually impaired or physically limited veterans to enjoy a day of motorcycling and entertainment. Adams coordinates multiple dinners each year for physically and emotionally disabled veterans at American Legion Post 375.\n\nDaniel Newberry served in the United States Army for eight years. After struggling from his own battles with PTSD and seeking help, Newberry has made it his mission to serve veterans and first responders who also suffer from mental health challenges. Newberry started a non-profit, 22Fitness, that provides free fitness classes for military members, veterans, and first responders to help those cope with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.\n\nJoe Huelskamp is a Korean War Army veteran and currently serves as the Principal of the American Legion Post 20 in Waterford. Huelskamp supports Southeast Wisconsin's veterans by driving local veterans to their medical appointments. Huelskamp is also a member of the Honor Guard, providing veterans with military honors at services held at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Union Grove.\n\nVeterans were nominated by residents across Southeast Wisconsin. In total, 25 veterans were nominated. The First Congressional District's Veterans Advisory Board reviewed all nominations; evaluated each applicant's commitment to service, spirit of excellence, and dedication to community and fellow veterans; and selected the Veteran of the Year Award recipient based off of the overall evaluation.\n\nThe First Congressional District's Veteran Advisory Board evaluated nominees by reviewing the following criteria:\n\nSERVICE: Demonstrate a commitment to service in their community. This could be through advocacy, community projects, an act of heroism, or other actions.\n\nEXCELLENCE: Provide an example of how this veteran exudes a spirit of excellence.\n\nDEDICATION: Have a dedication to supporting their fellow veterans and building bridges between veterans and our greater Southeast Wisconsin community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-calls-transparency-says-every-legal-vote-should-be-counted", "Tiffany Calls for Transparency, says \"Every Legal Vote\" Should Be Counted", "2020-11-09", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) released the following statement in response to the media's projected outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election.\n\n\"Let's halt the premature rush to declare a winner in the presidential race to ensure that every legal vote is counted and that every legitimate legal challenge is heard and addressed by our independent judiciary.\"\n\n\"The election is not over, and it is bigger than President Trump or Joe Biden \u2013 it is crucial to have transparency so the American people have confidence in the integrity of our election system.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4689", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Election of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris", "2020-11-07", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Election of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 7, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Election of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris\r\nCongresswoman Moore released the following statement following the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris:\r\n\"I am so thrilled that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election. The American peoplehad their say.This election reflects the voice of every American voter and was conducted fairly and with transparency.\r\nDecency, honesty, integrity, and competency will now be in the White House. And we will end the chapter of the cruel, callous, and corrupt Trump administration. The nightmare is finally over.\r\nWe are experiencing tough times and are in serious need of national leadership. I am confident that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead us through this pandemicand economicrecession and will help heal our dividedcountry. I am so ready to work with the Biden-Harris administration for the people.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-joins-hud-kenosha-county-officials-announce-44-million-provide-safe", "Steil Joins HUD, Kenosha County Officials to Announce $4.4 Million to Provide Safe, Healthy Homes for Southeast Wisconsin Families", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KENOSHA, WISCONSINToday at a press conference in Kenosha, Congressman Bryan Steil announced a $4.4 million grant for Southeast Wisconsin to eliminate lead paint from low-income homes. Steil joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph Galvan, HUD Deputy Secretary Brian Montgomery, Kenosha County Human Services Director John Jansen, and Kenosha County Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit at the Kenosha County Job Center for the announcement.\nEvery child and family in Southeast Wisconsin deserves to live in a safe, healthy, lead-free home. Today is the result of federal officials listening to Southeast Wisconsin's needs and providing resources to support our community. This investment provides resources to help the most vulnerable across Kenosha and Racine Counties. Everyone deserves to know their children are not at risk of lead exposure. I will continue working to remove the risk of lead paint in low-income homes and help protect Wisconsin families, said Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01).\nToday, we are renewing our commitment to improving the lives of families, and especially, their children by creating safer and healthier homes, said HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson. At HUD, one of our main priorities is to protect families from lead-based paint and other health hazards, and these grants will help states and local communities do precisely that.\nKenosha County was awarded $4 million under the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program and an additional $400,000 in Healthy Homes for a total of $4.4 million. The Kenosha County will address lead hazards in 204 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. As the fiscal agent, Kenosha County will also be working collaboratively with the City and County of Racine alongside other medical and social service providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-joins-hud-kenosha-county-officials-to-announce-44-million-to-provide-safe-healthy-homes-for-southeast-wisconsin-families", "Steil Joins HUD, Kenosha County Officials to Announce $4.4 Million to Provide Safe, Healthy Homes for Southeast Wisconsin Families", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KENOSHA, WISCONSIN\u2014Today at a press conference in Kenosha, Congressman Bryan Steil announced a $4.4 million grant for Southeast Wisconsin to eliminate lead paint from low-income homes. Steil joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph Galvan, HUD Deputy Secretary Brian Montgomery, Kenosha County Human Services Director John Jansen, and Kenosha County Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit at the Kenosha County Job Center for the announcement.\n\n\"Every child and family in Southeast Wisconsin deserves to live in a safe, healthy, lead-free home. Today is the result of federal officials listening to Southeast Wisconsin's needs and providing resources to support our community. This investment provides resources to help the most vulnerable across Kenosha and Racine Counties. Everyone deserves to know their children are not at risk of lead exposure. I will continue working to remove the risk of lead paint in low-income homes and help protect Wisconsin families,\" said Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01).\n\n\"Today, we are renewing our commitment to improving the lives of families, and especially, their children by creating safer and healthier homes,\" said HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson. \"At HUD, one of our main priorities is to protect families from lead-based paint and other health hazards, and these grants will help states and local communities do precisely that.\"\n\nKenosha County was awarded $4 million under the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program and an additional $400,000 in Healthy Homes for a total of $4.4 million. The Kenosha County will address lead hazards in 204 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. As the fiscal agent, Kenosha County will also be working collaboratively with the City and County of Racine alongside other medical and social service providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-applauds-removal-gray-wolf-federal-endangered-list", "Tiffany Applauds Removal of Gray Wolf from Federal Endangered List", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The Department of Interior today announced a new rule de-listing the Gray Wolf in the lower 48 states, allowing state and tribal governments to develop their own locally-tailored management rules to reflect the unique conditions and needs of their own jurisdictions.\n\n\"Today's announcement represents an important first step toward restoring local control over the skyrocketing gray wolf population in Wisconsin\" said Rep. Tom Tiffany. \"For too long, the Endangered Species Act has been a statutory \u2018Hotel California,' where well-funded, radical environmental groups see to it that animals \u2018check-in' to the federal ESA list \u2013 but never leave.\"\n\nThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initially pegged the wolf recovery goal at 100 for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin. Yet that population had grown to nearly 1,000 \u2014 far exceeding initial recovery goals \u2014 by 2017. And recent reports put the population of wolves even higher. This burgeoning number of wolves has placed a financial strain on Wisconsin taxpayers, with the Department of Natural Resources being forced to pay out millions in wolf-related damages to sportsmen and livestock owners since the original listing.\n\nTiffany noted that the rule change may only provide temporary relief given the potential for politically charged litigation and partisan interference with state management priorities.\n\n\"Wisconsin's rural communities have been a ping-pong ball bouncing back and forth between listings and de-listings for years,\" Tiffany said. \"Secretary Bernhardt and Director Skipwith deserve credit for providing this long-overdue relief \u2013 but I look forward to working with the Trump administration on a permanent legislative solution that prevents any future federal interference in our local efforts to manage these predators.\"\n\nTiffany introduced comprehensive legislation to permanently empower states to manage wolf populations shortly after he was sworn in this year. The bill has been endorsed by a variety of agriculture groups and sportsman's advocates.\n\n\"Today is a big win for Wisconsin, but there is more work to do,\" added Tiffany. \"We need to permanently restore wolf management authority in law to where it belongs: The capable hands of state policymakers and fish and game agencies.\"\n\nTiffany concluded by encouraging those state officials to authorize a wolf hunt before the end of the year.\n\n\"The Wisconsin DNR should immediately move to authorize a wolf hunting season in 2020,\" Tiffany said. \"Wisconsin sportsmen want it, and they are counting on us to deliver.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4688", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Senate Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Senate Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett\r\nCongresswoman Moore released the following statement following the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court:\r\nThe nomination and confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has been a shameful example of Senate Republicans power above principle approach of governance that puts the American people last.The fact that Amy Coney Barrett participated in this rushed power grab as she withheld material documents from the Senate speaks to her lack of candor and fitness for the high court. \r\nIn 2016 with over 260 days before the election, Mitch McConnell set a standard for Supreme Court nominations in an election year to let the American people decide. This was the principle they articulated to not only block the nomination of Merrick Garland but to refuse to even meet with him in an election year. It was a sentiment articulated by Amy Coney Barrett herself.Well, the people are voting. In fact, nearly 60 million people have already cast a ballot with millions more set to vote over the next 8 days until Nov 3rd. Yet, now with less than 8 days until the next election, Senator McConnell, Senate Republicans, and Amy Coney Barrett have shamelessly abandoned the principle they articulated in 2016. This confirmation process has forever altered the Senate and irreparably harmed the credibility, independence, and legitimacy of the Supreme Court.  \r\nThe record of Judge Barrett demonstrates she holds judicial opinions far outside the mainstream and will be nothing but a rubber stamp for the corporate interests who bankrolled her confirmation. She will advance an agenda from the bench that will hurt Americans by dismantling the Affordable Care Act; jeopardizing workplace protections for working men and women; rolling back protections for vulnerable communities, especially the LGBTQ community; and, undermining reproductive rights and other hard-fought crucial civil protections.\r\nThe American people deserve so much better from their leaders in the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-statement-senate-judiciary-democrats-decision-boycott-barrett", "Tiffany Statement on Senate Judiciary Democrats\u2019 Decision to \u2018Boycott\u2019 Barrett Confirmation Vote", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) issued the following statement today in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee's 12-0 vote to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court - a vote the committee Democrats chose to \u2018boycott' as a dilatory tactic.\n\n\"Today's decision by Judiciary Committee Democrats to \u2018boycott' the vote on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination was disappointing, unfortunate and an insult to Judge Barrett, who has shown remarkable grace and patience throughout these proceedings.\"\n\n\"Today's election-year posturing was eerily reminiscent of what we saw in Madison a decade ago, when Democrats in our state legislature pulled a \"no show\" and ran off to Illinois in a desperate, last-ditch effort to grind the people's business to a halt. They too failed.\"\n\n\"The American people deserve less political theater and more work from their elected leaders, and I look forward to watching Judge Barrett become Justice Barrett in the coming days when she is confirmed.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4647", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Congressman Van Taylor Introduce The Status of Child Marriages in the United States Act", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Congressman Van Taylor Introduce The Status of Child Marriages in the United States Act\r\nCongresswoman Moore and Congressman Van Taylor introduced legislation that asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to find information that will provide extensive data on child marriages. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nForced child marriages are occurring across the country. And too often, abuse and sexual violence is inflicted upon children under the veil of marriage.\r\nTo address the information gap, my legislation would call for needed comprehensive data on child marriages in the U.S. to understand know which measures would keep children safe, saidCongresswoman Moore.\r\nIn 2017, I led an effort to reform Texas child marriage laws to help end forced child marriages. The reform led to an almost 90% reduction in child marriages the year after enactment. However, the grim reality remains, there is no federal law regarding child marriages in the United States, saidVan Taylor, lead Republican of the legislation.\r\nWhile forced child marriages often lead to chilling and atrocious crimes that rip at the fabric of families and society, our bill,The Status of Child Marriages in the United States Act, would study state laws on child marriages to ensure we are doing all we can to protect children and empower them to enter into a marriage only with their full and free consent.\r\nAs a leader in the movement to end child marriage in the U.S., the Tahirih Justice Center has been eager for bipartisan federal leadership on this important issue. This bill is a strong step in the right direction - it will fill in critical data gaps which will help us to better understand the problem as well as the impact of progress made thus far. We are excited for the final report which will further drive home the need for all states to undertake strong minimum age of marriage reform to protect children in the U.S. from forced marriage, abuse, and exploitation,Casey Carter Swegman, Manager of the Forced Marriage Initiative at the Tahirih Justice Center.\r\nI, along with other child marriage survivor advocates across the U.S, am excited to see federal leadership in calling attention to the issue of child marriage as a domestic problem in the United States. We know, through our direct experience, that this abuse increases the likelihood of poverty, limits educational opportunities, and has lifelong mental and physical health impacts on survivors and their children. This bill is a concrete step towards better understanding and breaking cycles of abuse, poverty, and health challenges associated with child marriage,Donna Pollard, Child Marriage Survivor Advocate and Founder Survivor's Corner.\r\nThe Status of Child Marriages in the United States Act is supported byApna Ghar, Daya Inc., Muslims for Progressive Values, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) Peaceful Families Project, Sakhi for South Asian Women, Tahirih Justice Center (Chair), and There Is No Limit Foundation.\r\nFind more information on The Status of Child Marriages in the United States Acthere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-co-introduces-bill-expand-veterans-access-telehealth", "Steil Co-Introduces Bill to Expand Veterans Access to Telehealth", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSINCongressman Bryan Steil joined Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV), Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN), and Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) to introducethe VA Telehealth Expansion Act.\nI'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce theVA Telehealth Expansion Act. This bill offers an innovative solution for the VA to partner with the American Legion, VFW Posts, and the private sector to expand telehealth opportunities for our veterans. Wisconsin's First Congressional District is home to more than 45,000 veterans. We must ensure our nation's heroes receive the care they've earned. I will continue working to support our veterans and their families,said Steil.\nSteil recently visited the new VA clinic in Janesville at 1141 Black Bridge Road to discuss the importance of telehealth. Steil also supported the CARES Act which provided $2 billion for the VA to support information technology to serve veterans during the pandemic.\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth visits at the VA have increased by over 1,000% between March and June of 2020.The VA Telehealth Expansion Actimproves and expands veterans' telehealth access. This bill provides grants to outside partners to create and upgrade technology access points for veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-co-introduces-bill-to-expand-veterans-access-to-telehealth", "Steil Co-Introduces Bill to Expand Veterans\u2019 Access to Telehealth", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014Congressman Bryan Steil joined Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV), Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN), and Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) to introduce the VA Telehealth Expansion Act.\n\n\"I'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce the VA Telehealth Expansion Act. This bill offers an innovative solution for the VA to partner with the American Legion, VFW Posts, and the private sector to expand telehealth opportunities for our veterans. Wisconsin's First Congressional District is home to more than 45,000 veterans. We must ensure our nation's heroes receive the care they've earned. I will continue working to support our veterans and their families,\" said Steil.\n\nSteil recently visited the new VA clinic in Janesville at 1141 Black Bridge Road to discuss the importance of telehealth. Steil also supported the CARES Act which provided $2 billion for the VA to support information technology to serve veterans during the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4642", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Congressman Dan Kildee Call for CDC to Address Drop in Blood Lead Testing for Children", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Congressman Dan Kildee Call for CDC to Address Drop in Blood Lead Testing for Children\r\nAs reports indicate that rates of lead testing for children have dropped during the pandemic, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Congressman Dan Kildee are leading efforts to call on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to take steps to help states and local government boost testing measures and efforts, including making additional funding available. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nLead has a long-lasting impact on children and the harms of exposure don't pause just because we're in a pandemic. Families need access to lead testing to ensure parents can take the right steps to protect the health of children during critical times of growth and development. According to state data, nearly 2,400 children were screened and found to have elevated blood lead levels in Milwaukee in 2018. \r\nBlood lead screening is a critical part of efforts to not only identify children at risk for lead poisoning but it can also help lead to actions to remediate the source, whether in the home or water. That's why it's important that during the pandemic when children are spending more time at home, we find ways to continue blood lead testing for children and connect them and their families to the services they may need.\r\nRead the full text of the letterhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4640", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Decision Not to Charge Officer Joseph Mensah in Shooting of Alvin Cole", "2020-10-07", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Decision Not to Charge Officer Joseph Mensah in Shooting of Alvin Cole \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        October 7, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Decision Not to Charge Officer Joseph Mensah in Shooting of Alvin Cole\r\nToday, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement in response to the announcement that Officer Joseph Mensah will not be charged in the shooting of Alvin Cole:\r\nTragedies like these have happened too often. It's incredibly alarming that this police officer has been involved in the fatal shootings of three people. What is clear is that we need greater accountability and transparency in policing. This must include mandatory body cameras, psychological testing, de-escalation training, and other key reforms.\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-joins-racine-county-mental-health-advocates-highlights-importance-mental", "Steil Joins Racine County Mental Health Advocates, Highlights Importance of Mental Illness Awareness Week", "2020-10-07", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSINToday, Bryan Steil was the featured speaker during a live virtual panel with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Racine County. During the Zoom meeting with NAMI Racine County, Steil discussed his bill, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support During COVID-19 Act, and work in Congress to provide mental health resources to Southeast Wisconsin.\nNo one should battle mental health challenges alone. As we continue dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, workers, students, and seniors are coping with the stress and burdens this crisis has dealt us. I am working to ensure everyone has access to mental health resources, especially during these difficult times. NAMI Racine County is a great example of local leaders working to end the stigma surrounding mental illness and provide help to those who need it. Through my two Children's Mental Health Forums, I've worked directly with local and state experts, parents, and doctors to highlight best practices and ways the federal government can support our communities. I will continue working with my colleagues to address our needs in Southeast Wisconsin, said Steil.\nWorking with our local and state legislators is crucial. We need people like Congressman Bryan Steil and Representative Robert Wittke out there promoting mental illness awareness. We need legislation to help and protect individuals that many times cannot advocate for themselves. We need to make sure there are resources out there for treatment and therapy and that they are easy to access. We need Peer Support Specialists available to those in need of help to understand what they are experiencing and the best way to do that is to work together and break the party lines because this is something that affects 1 in 4 people,said Nicole Smart, Program Director of NAMI Racine County.\nSteil's bill, H.R. 7893, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support During COVID-19 Act, establishes a $1 billion COVID-19 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Response Grant Program within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. This program awards grants to states, on the basis of population, to help them address the rise in mental health and substance abuse public expenditures coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.\nStates can use this grant money in a variety of ways including: 24/7 crisis call centers; support programs for frontline coronavirus health care workers; mental health and substance abuse training for relevant health care workforce and community members; and partnership programs with police departments, community organizations, and schools to coordinate and expand resources available to at-risk individuals and their families.\nSteil held a Children's Mental Health Forum at Case High School in Racine in 2019. Parents attended to receive information on resources available to students in their schools and across Racine County. This summer, Steil held a virtual Children's Mental Health Forum with local and state experts, and doctors, to discuss the coronavirus' impact on students and effects this pandemic has on children's mental health.\nNAMI Racine has been serving the mental health community in Racine County for 40 years. NAMI Racine County provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-joins-racine-county-mental-health-advocates-highlights-importance-of-mental-illness-awareness-week", "Steil Joins Racine County Mental Health Advocates, Highlights Importance of Mental Illness Awareness Week", "2020-10-07", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014Today, Bryan Steil was the featured speaker during a live virtual panel with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Racine County. During the Zoom meeting with NAMI Racine County, Steil discussed his bill, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support During COVID-19 Act, and work in Congress to provide mental health resources to Southeast Wisconsin.\n\n\"No one should battle mental health challenges alone. As we continue dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, workers, students, and seniors are coping with the stress and burdens this crisis has dealt us. I am working to ensure everyone has access to mental health resources, especially during these difficult times. NAMI Racine County is a great example of local leaders working to end the stigma surrounding mental illness and provide help to those who need it. Through my two Children's Mental Health Forums, I've worked directly with local and state experts, parents, and doctors to highlight best practices and ways the federal government can support our communities. I will continue working with my colleagues to address our needs in Southeast Wisconsin,\" said Steil.\n\n\"Working with our local and state legislators is crucial. We need people like Congressman Bryan Steil and Representative Robert Wittke out there promoting mental illness awareness. We need legislation to help and protect individuals that many times cannot advocate for themselves. We need to make sure there are resources out there for treatment and therapy and that they are easy to access. We need Peer Support Specialists available to those in need of help to understand what they are experiencing and the best way to do that is to work together and break the party lines because this is something that affects 1 in 4 people,\" said Nicole Smart, Program Director of NAMI Racine County.\n\nSteil's bill, H.R. 7893, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support During COVID-19 Act, establishes a $1 billion \"COVID-19 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Response Grant Program\" within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. This program awards grants to states, on the basis of population, to help them address the rise in mental health and substance abuse public expenditures coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nStates can use this grant money in a variety of ways including: 24/7 crisis call centers; support programs for frontline coronavirus health care workers; mental health and substance abuse training for relevant health care workforce and community members; and partnership programs with police departments, community organizations, and schools to coordinate and expand resources available to at-risk individuals and their families.\n\nSteil held a Children's Mental Health Forum at Case High School in Racine in 2019. Parents attended to receive information on resources available to students in their schools and across Racine County. This summer, Steil held a virtual Children's Mental Health Forum with local and state experts, and doctors, to discuss the coronavirus' impact on students and effects this pandemic has on children's mental health.\n\nNAMI Racine has been serving the mental health community in Racine County for 40 years. NAMI Racine County provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4639", "Representatives Gwen Moore, Jamie Raskin, and Brian Fitzpatrick Demand the IRS Ensure Survivors of Domestic Abuse can Access their Economic Impact Payment (EIP)", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Gwen Moore, Jamie Raskin, and Brian Fitzpatrick Demand the IRS Ensure Survivors of Domestic Abuse can Access their Economic Impact Payment (EIP)\r\nToday, Representatives Gwen Moore, Jamie Raskin, and Brian Fitzpatrick led abipartisan letterjoined by over 100 cosponsors to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin calling on them to establish process that allows a survivor of domestic violence victims to notify the IRS that he/she is a victim of domestic violence whose EIP has been intercepted so that the IRS can issue the paymentdirectly to the survivor. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nEIPs, or economic recovery rebates, are a key part of the federal government's attempt to help all families affected by the unprecedented economic downturn our nation is now experiencing,said Rep. Gwen Moore.Receiving an EIP can mean the difference between a survivor having the means to leave an abuser and being forced to stay in a dangerous situation, which is critically important now given that cases of domestic violence are rising during the pandemic. But unfortunately, abusers are using EIPs as a tool of control to inflict financial abuse on their victims. That's why I am joining my colleagues in demanding the IRS take a series of steps to guarantee domestic violence victims have access to the payments they are rightfully entitled to.\r\nThis pandemic has exacerbated the terrifying hardships that victims of domestic abuse experience at home, and I am deeply concerned by the sharp increase of domestic violence cases we are seeing inMarylandand across the country,said Rep. Jamie Raskin. Congress passed the CARES Act to provide vital support to people in our communitiesfrom small business people to the unemployed to the hungry to large corporationsduring this public health and economic crisis. We must ensure survivors of domestic violence receive the essential relief they were guaranteed through the CARES Act, and the IRS should take immediate action to address this lingering injustice.\r\nWith people across our nation complying with stay-at-home orders, law enforcement has unfortunately seen an increase in the number of domestic violence calls they are receiving,said Rep. Fitzpatrick.We must do everything we can to support victims in their time of need, and our bipartisan request to the IRS will hopefully deliver the economic support that they deserve. I am proud to join my colleagues in urging the agency to issue missing economic impact payments (EIPs) to survivors of domestic violence , and I look forward to continuing our bipartisan work.\r\nThis letter is supported by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), and The Community Tax Law Project.\r\nRead the full text of the letterhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-ron-kind-and-tom-tiffany-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-rename-new", "Reps. Ron Kind and Tom Tiffany Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename New Richmond Post Office to Honor WWII Veterans", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014Today, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation to rename the post office at 430 S Knowles Avenue in New Richmond as the \"Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office\". Supported by the full Wisconsin Congressional Delegation, this bill honors Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson, brothers from New Richmond who died fighting in World War II.\n\n\"Captain Robert Harmon and Private John Peirson made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation while serving in World War II,\" said Rep. Ron Kind. \"While no expression of gratitude will ever be enough, I am proud to honor these heroes and thank their family by designating the New Richmond Post Office in their names. Their legacy will forever be a shining example of bravery and commitment for us all.\"\n\n\"Brothers and Wisconsinites, Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson, courageously served and died for our country during World War II,\" said Rep. Tom Tiffany. \"I am pleased to co-sponsor this bill to honor their sacrifices and continue their legacy in New Richmond.\"\n\n\"We are thankful to Reps. Ron Kind and Tom Tiffany for their bipartisan leadership on efforts to rename the New Richmond Post Office after brothers Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson,\" said the Harmon/Peirson Family. \"This is indeed a big day for our family, but it's a huge day for veterans. As it shows that our city, our state and our grateful nation have not and will not forget the sacrifices the men and women of our Armed Forces have made on behalf of all of us.\"\n\nCaptain Harmon was shot down over France a week before the D-Day invasion in Europe. A year later, Captain Harmon's half-brother, Private Peirson, was killed during the Easter Day assault on the island of Okinawa. Though Captain Harmon's remains were never found, the brothers' graves are next to each other at the Fort Snelling Military Cemetery in Minneapolis.\n\nThis effort is supported by the American Legion Butler-Harmon Post 80, St. Croix County Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10818 and the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1816", "Grothman Service Academy Nomination Deadline", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The deadline to apply for a service academy nomination through the office of Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) is Friday, October 9, 2020.\r\nMembers of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.\r\nNominating young people from Wisconsin's Sixth District for our country's military academies is one of the best parts of my job, said Grothman. I wish all applicants the best of luck as they seek to attend one of the U.S. service academies and serve our country.\r\nThe application can be found online at https://grothman.house.gov/constituent-services/service-academy-nominations.htm.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4637", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Introduces Family Crisis Cash Assistance Act", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore IntroducesFamily Crisis Cash Assistance Act\r\nCongresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Brian Schatz introduced bicameral legislation to establish a permanent program to deliver effective and timely cash relief to the most vulnerable during a natural disaster or economic crisis. In response, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\r\nLow-income families are disproportionately burdened during crises in our country. This has been only magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. And, too often, the slow delivery of government financial relief falls short, causing people to fall deeper into financial distress. This legislation will make sure we have a mechanism for delivering cash relief quickly, before the next crisis upends the lives of countless individuals and families already struggling with financial insecurity. Economic downturns and natural disasters exacerbate struggles such as housing and food insecurity and it is precisely in response to these situations that we need to stand together, saidCongresswoman Moore.\r\nDuring a crisis, we need to act fast to help families in real need. By making this process automatic and fair, we can quickly provide direct cash aid to the people who need it most,said Senator Schatz.\r\nOur communities were already struggling in the face of this global pandemic when unprecedented wildfires hit and caused even more damage. The situation is nothing short of a crisisfamilies have lost loved ones, their homes, all of their belongings, and their jobs,said Merkley.When people lose everything, their needs are immense, and nobody knows better than they do what is most critical to get back on their feet. This bill would put cash in families' hands when they need it most to secure food, shelter, and other immediate needs.\r\nThe Family Crisis Cash Assistance Act is supported by Prosperity Now, Economic Security Project, Children's Defense Fund, the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Children's HealthWatch, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd - U.S. Provinces, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Young Invincibles, Supporting Our Mothers Initiative LLC, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Global Women's Strike, Women of Color/Global Women's Strike, National Welfare and Caregivers Working Group, Every Mother is a Working Mother Network, Payday Men's Network, Kids Forward, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and Center for Popular Democracy.\r\nFind more information about theFamily Crisis Cash Assistance Acthere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1802", "Workplace Choice for Individuals with Disabilities", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) today introduced a bill to significantly increase career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.\r\nThe Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act will roll back a misguided regulation that significantly narrowed Congress's definition of Competitive Integrated Employment and effectively reduced career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.\r\nUnder my legislation, individuals with disabilities, after high school, can go to their local vocational rehabilitation agency to gain workplace skills, and then be referred by the agency to a job that fits their needs, said Grothman.\r\nYael Kerzan is a young lady from my district who was helped by this referral program before Congress changed the rules. She is concerned that others like her won't be able to enjoy the opportunities and experiences she's had since she was referred through her local agency in Portage, WI, 17-years ago.\r\nIt has been invaluable for young people like Yael to have the choice and flexibility to work in a fulfilling job that provides them with the dignity they deserve as vital members of our communities. That is the reason I introduced the Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act.\r\nBackground\r\nIn 2014, Congress passed the very popular Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which made significantly positive improvements to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Unfortunately, despite the many improvements made in WIOA to improve coordination between workforce development programs and local businesses, the new law was used as an opportunity to regulate what Competitive Integrated Employment means for individuals with disabilities.\r\nThe regulation and sub-regulatory guidance created confusion among state vocational rehabilitation agencies in whether they could refer individuals with disabilities to AbilityOne or state-use jobs. As a result, many state vocational rehabilitation agencies have adopted a blanket denial approach that deprives individuals with disabilities from being referred to valuable employment opportunities in a wide variety of settings, from community rehabilitation programs to jobs in federal and state government buildings. As a result, young people with disabilities are too-often left no option but to retire to the couch, or worse. The alternative, which will become reality under the Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act, is that these individuals will be offered the opportunity to be placed in a job that provides them with financial compensation, workforce experience, friends and social experience and a sense of dignity and respect that can only be derived from an honest day's work.\r\nThe Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act will provide clarity to the statutory definition of Competitive Integrated Employment in WIOA (originally in the Rehabilitation Act). Specifically, it will do so by stating that Competitive Integrated Employment includes jobs under federal and state set-aside contracts, with the goal of improving employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including AbilityOne jobs. It also clarifies that Competitive Integrated Employment includes work that involves social and interpersonal interactions with colleagues, vendors, customers, superiors, or other individuals that the employee may come into contact with during a given workday.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1803", "Grothman Statement on Government Funding Bill", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) released the following statement after voting no on H.R. 8337, a continuing resolution bill that will fund the government through December 11, 2020. The bill passed the House of Representatives on September 22, 2020 by a vote of 359-57.\r\nThere are some people who feel Congress is broken and last night we saw another example of why, said Grothman. The House, hastily and without enough time to review the legislation, passed a government funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, that will keep the government open from October 1 to December 11, 2020. I am against government shutdowns and would normally vote for such a bill.\r\nOn Monday, September 21, a continuing resolution package, with only Democratic support, was added to the House floor calendar for Tuesday, September 22. This package did not include much needed agriculture relief that Republicans and President Trump requested. Tuesday morning the continuing resolution package was suddenly removed from the calendar for the day and we were told negotiations were continuing with the Senate and White House.\r\nThere was no word on negotiations all day Tuesday. Suddenly, at 6:55 p.m. ET, we were told we would have to vote on a 115-page bill in 35 minutes. The roll call was actually called in 25 minutes.\r\nI feel it was insulting to hold a vote on such a significant bill without being able to discern the details. I can say that as a former state legislator, there is no way state senators or state representatives would accept such high-handed tactics from their leadership  Democrat or Republican.\r\nBy now, most congressmen have become dispirited and just vote yes on these bills, assuming that the people who negotiated it did a good job. Therefore, the bill passed 359-57. Every Democrat voted for the bill as did, to my surprise and dismay, most Republicans. There were just 57 of us who voted no.\r\nI was in strongly favor of the agricultural relief that was included in the passed bill. But, I could not find a single one of my colleagues who could answer the questions I had about other provisions in the bill.\r\nThere is no reason that this vote could not have been taken on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday after we had a chance to responsibly review the bill. I am dismayed that Democrats, some of whom are my friends, allowed Speaker Pelosi to ask them to vote for a bill with so little time to review it.\r\nI will continue to work to make sure the bill taken up in December, when this continuing resolution expires, is a fiscally responsible bill providing for the necessities of our government.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4636", "Congresswoman Moore Provisions Included in Congressional Black Caucus\u2019 Jobs and Justice Act of 2020", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Moore Provisions Included in Congressional Black Caucus' Jobs and Justice Act of 2020\r\nToday, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) introduced their policy agenda, the Jobs and Justice Act of 2020, which includes Congresswoman Moore's legislation. In response, she released the following statement:\r\nThis pandemic has highlighted the disparities in our country and the need to support the most vulnerable in our country. The CBC's Jobs and Justice Act addresses the social and economic inequities facing Black America. The bill includes strong provisions to support job creation, improve housing and education, reform policing and our criminal justice system and promote economic growth and development in our communities.\r\nThat's why I am so thrilled that my legislation to expand and modernize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), expand access to quality health care for foster youth who have aged out of the system and build upon the efforts of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to support businesses who tend to lack access to capital or have faced discrimination was included in the legislative package.\r\nMy Worker Relief and Credit Reform Act (WRCR) Act builds upon the success of the EITC as a poverty-alleviating tool to reach more workers and expand the definition of work to include caregivers and low-income students. In this health and economic crisis, it's critical that we put money in the hands of working people.\r\nMyDosha DJay Joi Immediate Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act will honor the legacy of DJay by ensuring that former foster youth have access to Medicaid until age 26. This will help former foster youth gain access to the care they need and support their successful transition into adulthood.\r\nMy other legislation that is included in this package would help improve the FAA's DBE program by increasing transparency and the sharing of information about how the FAA is working to ensure that minority contractors can compete for and win billions of dollars in federal aviation funding each year.\r\nLastly, this package includes the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which includes my provisions on increasing effective de-escalation training for police officers and numerous other reforms to increase accountability, transparency, and ensure that those who work in law enforcement are not above the law. \r\nThis legislation begins to respond to the cries from our communities for justice and change.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-cosponsors-bill-enhance-federal-penalties-criminals-who-target-law", "Steil Cosponsors Bill to Enhance Federal Penalties for Criminals Who Target Law Enforcement", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Bryan Steil announced his cosponsorship of H.R. 1325, the Protect and Serve Act, which creates federal penalties for individuals who cross state lines and target and attack law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) and Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL), both former members of law enforcement, introduced H.R. 1325.\nWe need to stand with our men and women who risk their lives to keep us all safe. As they head out the door to go to work, law enforcement never know what the day will bring. This bill helps keep our heroes safe as they are out doing their jobs, protecting our communities. In Kenosha, we've seen firsthand the need to hold these criminals accountable. Agitators threw water bottles filled with cement, firecrackers, and concrete bricks at law enforcement while they were trying to keep the public safe. I will continue working to support law enforcement and hold criminals accountable, said Steil.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-cosponsors-bill-to-enhance-federal-penalties-for-criminals-who-target-law-enforcement", "Steil Cosponsors Bill to Enhance Federal Penalties for Criminals Who Target Law Enforcement", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Bryan Steil announced his cosponsorship of H.R. 1325, the Protect and Serve Act, which creates federal penalties for individuals who cross state lines and target and attack law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) and Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL), both former members of law enforcement, introduced H.R. 1325.\n\n\"We need to stand with our men and women who risk their lives to keep us all safe. As they head out the door to go to work, law enforcement never know what the day will bring. This bill helps keep our heroes safe as they are out doing their jobs, protecting our communities. In Kenosha, we've seen firsthand the need to hold these criminals accountable. Agitators threw water bottles filled with cement, firecrackers, and concrete bricks at law enforcement while they were trying to keep the public safe. I will continue working to support law enforcement and hold criminals accountable,\" said Steil.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1798", "No American Deaths Since Taliban Peace Treaty", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today at a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) uncovered that since the February 29 U.S.-Taliban peace agreement negotiated by President Trump, no Americans have been killed in Afghanistan.\r\nThis news comes on the heels of last week's report that the Taliban have begun peace talks with the Afghan government after President Trump paved the way for negotiations.\r\nAt the Hearing, Grothman Questioned Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation at the Department of State and David F. Helvey, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.\r\nExcerpts of Grothman's questioning\r\nMr. Helvey: Since the February 29th Agreement was signed, there have been no U.S. service personnel killed in Afghanistan.\r\nCongressman Glenn Grothman: I want you to repeat that again because that is one of those things that if I repeat it back home people won't even believe the numbers. Can you say that again?\r\nHelvey: Zero U.S. service personnel have been killed since February 29 when we signed the agreement with the Taliban.\r\nGrothman: Wow, so in the last seven months, no Americans have been killed in Afghanistan.\r\nClick here to watch the clip\r\nClick here to view Grothman's full questioning.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-calls-attorney-general-barr-investigate-kenosha-riots", "Steil Calls on Attorney General Barr to Investigate Kenosha Riots", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Bryan Steil called on U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to investigate the Kenosha riots, specifically investigating the funding and leadership structure of criminal groups.\nThe violence and destruction in Kenosha was heartbreaking to witness. As we saw in the days that followed, many of the criminal agitators came from outside our community of Kenosha. Thanks to our federal and local law enforcement agents, the U.S. Marshals and Kenosha Police Department successfully stopped out-of-state protestors whose van was filled with fireworks, helmets, and gas masks. Criminals must be held accountable and we must look into their source of funding. I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to prevent riots and destruction from occurring in Kenosha and other cities across the nation, said Steil.\nIn the letter, Steil urges that the Department of Justice (DOJ) must thoroughly investigate the funding of rioters in cities nationwide. In particular, I request that you include the recent riots in Kenosha in your ongoing investigations. I also request a full report on your findings as you learn more about how these criminal groups are funded and coordinated.\nYou can read Steil's full letter to AG Barr here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-calls-on-attorney-general-barr-to-investigate-kenosha-riots", "Steil Calls on Attorney General Barr to Investigate Kenosha Riots", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Bryan Steil called on U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to investigate the Kenosha riots, specifically investigating the funding and leadership structure of criminal groups.\n\n\"The violence and destruction in Kenosha was heartbreaking to witness. As we saw in the days that followed, many of the criminal agitators came from outside our community of Kenosha. Thanks to our federal and local law enforcement agents, the U.S. Marshals and Kenosha Police Department successfully stopped out-of-state protestors whose van was filled with fireworks, helmets, and gas masks. Criminals must be held accountable and we must look into their source of funding. I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to prevent riots and destruction from occurring in Kenosha and other cities across the nation,\" said Steil.\n\nIn the letter, Steil urges that \"the Department of Justice (DOJ) must thoroughly investigate the funding of rioters in cities nationwide. In particular, I request that you include the recent riots in Kenosha in your ongoing investigations. I also request a full report on your findings as you learn more about how these criminal groups are funded and coordinated.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4635", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on House Passage of Her Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on House Passage of HerScarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act \r\nToday, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement after House passage of her legislation, the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act:\r\nSudden Unexpected Death in Infants and Children creates heartache for families who are left to search for answers after the devastating loss of a child. I am so thankful to Stephanie Zarecky and John Kahan, among other parents who have suffered loss, whose incredible advocacy helped advance this legislation.\r\nThe House passage of the Scarlett Sunshine Act brings us one step closer to providing the funds for further research and training that ensures these tragic deaths are properly investigated. We need answers to ensure that no more families will ever have to experience this pain again. I will continue to work with my colleagues to see this bill signed into law as soon as possible.\r\nScarlett's Sunshine Act offers hope to families like mine, who have lost a child to SIDS, saidJohn Kahan, founder of the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital and Vice President,Chief Data Analytics Officer at Microsoft. The legislation opens research to improve data quality and collection, which will be integral for policymakers, researchers, academics, nonprofits and health professionals. I thank House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Pallone as well as the bill's cosponsors U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Tom Cole for their leadership.\r\nScarlett's Sunshine is definitely shining down on us today as we celebrate the House passage of this critical legislation, saidScarlett's parents,Stephanie Zarecky and Ryan Pauley. On January 8th, 2017, our hearts and our lives were shattered when our beautiful, healthy, thriving 16-month-old daughter, Scarlett Lillian Pauley, went to sleep and never woke up. And we do not know why. Losing a child is the single greatest pain we could ever imagine and living without answers magnifies the tragedy exponentially. It is our greatest wish that no family experiences what we have. We are so grateful to Congresswoman Moore, as well as Representatives Herrera Beutler, Cole, McMorris Rodgers, and Pallone for their leadership on Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Actin honor of Scarlett and all of the other children who are deeply loved and dearly missed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/wdio-senator-baldwin-introduces-bipartisan-great-lakes-winter-commerce-act", "WDIO: Senator Baldwin Introduces Bipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/witi-baldwin-supports-bipartisan-bill-for-wisconsins-independent-live-music-venues-during-pandemic", "WITI: Baldwin Supports Bipartisan Bill for Wisconsin\u2019s Independent Live Music Venues During Pandemic", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/alleged-forced-hysterectomies-at-ice-facility", "Baldwin to DHS IG: Investigate Alleged Forced Hysterectomies at ICE Facility", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.18.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin to DHS IG: Investigate Alleged Forced Hysterectomies at ICE Facility \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S.Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues are calling on the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general to expeditiously investigate a whistleblower complaint alleging forced hysterectomies at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, Georgia. The letter was led by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).\r\nForced sterilizations infringe on reproductive rights and autonomy, the senators wrote. To understand whether such violations may have been committed against immigrants in our federal government's custody, the Inspector General's Office should immediately investigate the reproductive health policies and practices at the ICDC and at other facilities, including but not limited to, all instances of forced, coerced, or medically unnecessary hysterectomies.\r\nIn addition to Senators Baldwin, Feinstein, Leahy, Murray, Casey and Booker, the letter was signed by Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).\r\nFull text of the letter is below.\r\n\r\nDear Mr. Cuffari:\r\nThe Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General should expeditiously conduct a thorough investigation into a whistleblower complaint alleging forced hysterectomies and other egregious abuses at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, Georgia. LaSalle Corrections operates that facility for the federal government, including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The alleged abuses detailed in the complaint and in related reports must be thoroughly and swiftly investigated to protect the rights and safety of women and patients in our nation's care.\r\nThe whistleblower expressed alarm about the rate at which the hysterectomies have occurred at the facility. Specifically, the complaint alleges that between October and December 2019 at least five women detained at the ICDC received hysterectomies. When asked about the procedures, however, the women reacted confused when explaining why they had one done. The complaint also describes how a gynecologist once removed the wrong ovary on a young woman, causing her to go back to take out the left and she wound up with a total hysterectomy, leaving her unable to bear children.\r\nAnother detained woman who received a hysterectomy recounted that medical personnel did not properly explain to her what procedure she was going to have done. Although she asked for more information about why she was receiving a hysterectomy, she was given three different responses by three different individuals. When the woman told a nurse that the procedure isn't for me, the nurse responded by getting angry and agitated.\r\nForced sterilizations infringe on reproductive rights and autonomy. To understand whether such violations may have been committed against immigrants in our federal government's custody, the Inspector General's Office should immediately investigate the reproductive health policies and practices at the ICDC and at other ICE facilities, including but not limited to, all instances of forced, coerced, or medically unnecessary hysterectomies.\r\nIn addition to thoroughly investigating the recent alleged abuses at the ICDC, we urge you to immediately conduct a national review of reproductive health policies and practices at ICE facilities to ensure that the human rights of women in federal immigration custody are assured.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/spinal-cord-injury-awareness-month", "Senate Passes Baldwin, Rubio Bipartisan Resolution for National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.18.20\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Baldwin, Rubio Bipartisan Resolution for National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution from Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) designating September 2020 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. The resolution (S.Res.698) highlights the prevalence of spinal cord injuries and paralysis in the United States and commends those that are committed to improving the quality of life for these individuals while tirelessly working toward better therapies and treatments, with the eventual goal of a cure.\r\n\r\nWisconsin families, children and patients living with spinal cord injuries and paralysis need our commitment to provide essential services like peer support and information that will help improve their quality of life, said Senator Baldwin. This bipartisan resolution represents our continued promise in continuing our work to advance efforts that improve health and support independence for the millions of Americans living with spinal cord injuries and paralysis in Wisconsin and across the country.\r\n\r\nSpinal cord injuries and paralysis affect many Americans, and I am amazed by what those living with such injuries are able to achieve, said Senator Rubio. One of my goals is to continue promoting the conversation about the devastating effects of paralysis and bring spinal cord injury to the forefront of public awareness. I am proud to have introduced a resolution every year since joining the Senate to highlight National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month and to commend the families, friends, and organizations that are committed to improving the quality of life for these individuals while tirelessly working toward better therapies and treatments, with the eventual goal of a cure.\r\n\r\nThe full text of the resolution is available here and below. \r\n\r\n\r\nDesignating September 2020 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month''.\r\n\r\nWhereas approximately 294,000 individuals in the United States live with spinal cord injuries, which cost society billions of dollars in health care costs and lost wages;\r\n\r\nWhereas there are approximately 17,810 new spinal cord injuries in the United States each year;\r\n\r\nWhereas more than 42,000 individuals with spinal cord injuries are veterans;\r\n\r\nWhereas motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries;\r\n\r\nWhereas nearly half of all spinal cord injuries to individuals 30 years of age or younger occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents;\r\n\r\nWhereas the average remaining years of life for individuals living with spinal cord injuries has not improved significantly since the 1980s;\r\n\r\nWhereas there is an urgent need to develop new neuroprotection, pharmacological, and regeneration treatments to reduce, prevent, and reverse paralysis; and\r\n\r\nWhereas increased education and investment in research are key factors in improving outcomes for individuals living with spinal cord injuries, enhancing the quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injuries, and ultimately curing paralysis: Now, therefore, be it\r\n\r\nResolved, That the Senate \r\n(1) designates September 2020 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month''; \r\n(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month; \r\n(3) continues to support research to find better treatments, therapies, and a cure for spinal cord injuries; \r\n(4) supports clinical trials for new therapies that offer promise and hope to individuals living with paralysis; and \r\n(5) commends the dedication of national, regional, and local organizations, researchers, doctors, volunteers, and people across the United States who are working to improve the quality of life of individuals living with spinal cord injuries and their families.\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4634", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 18, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg\r\nCongresswoman Moore releasedthe following statement in response to the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:\r\n\"I am incredibly saddened to learn of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing. She was a fearless champion for women who exemplified strength, courage, and toughness.\r\nHer lifelongfight to secure equality for women has inspired new generations and her legacy will be cherished in the hearts of so many.\r\nShe will always be forever notorious!\r\nMay her memory be a blessing.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/keep-promise-to-deliver-federal-funding-for-kenosha", "U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Governor Tony Evers Call on President Trump to Keep His Promise to Deliver Federal Funding for Kenosha to Rebuild", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.17.20\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Governor Tony Evers Call on President Trump to Keep His Promise to Deliver Federal Funding for Kenosha to Rebuild \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers are calling on President Trump to keep the promises he made in Wisconsin on September 1 to deliver federal funding to help Kenosha rebuild.\r\nIn a letter sent to President Trump today, Baldwin and Evers write;\r\nWhen you visited Kenosha, Wisconsin you made a commitment to help the city and state recover and rebuild with a promise of federal funding. You told local business owners you would help them rebuild completely and also help with economic development. And you opened a roundtable by committing to do a lot for the state.' We welcome your commitments, but are dismayed that the funding you announced in Kenosha will not be sufficient to rebuild and heal the Kenosha community.\r\nOn September 1, President Trump visited Kenosha and promised federal funding to Kenosha small businesses, saying, I'm also providing nearly $4 million to support the small businesses that I talked about today that got burned up  burned down.\r\nIn fact, this $4 million in federal funding was included in the CARES Act, bipartisan legislation Congress passed in March, and was approved to help businesses and entrepreneurs affected by COVID-19. This Economic Development Administration funding will support loans to small businesses in Kenosha County to alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic. This federal funding cannot be used for damages to small businesses that got burned up  burned down, as the President told Kenosha small business owners.\r\nIn addition, President Trump announced $42 million to support public safety statewide. In fact, Wisconsin is receiving $41 million in grant awards from the U.S. Department of Justice already announced and awarded throughout the state, or already anticipated this year. More than half of this federal funding is Wisconsin's 2020 Crime Victims aid, announced earlier this year.\r\nAs Baldwin and Evers point out to President Trump, In fact, it seems the only new funding you announced in Kenosha is $1 million for Kenosha law enforcement.\r\nIn their letter to President Trump, Senator Baldwin and Governor Evers ask the President to keep his word to the Kenosha community, saying;\r\nWe have seen the need for additional federal funding in Kenosha firsthand. There is a need for aid for small businesses and help rebuilding public infrastructure and offsetting the public cleanup and recovery costs. Kenosha and Wisconsin will need a more robust federal response than you have already announced. We look forward to your plan to support a complete rebuild because the Kenosha community deserves more than empty promises.\r\nThe full letter is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/pharmaceutical-companies-undermining-340b-program", "Senator Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Effort in Urging Action to Address Practices of Pharmaceutical Companies Undermining 340B Program", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.17.20\n\t\t\t Senator Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Effort in Urging Action to Address Practices of Pharmaceutical Companies Undermining 340B Program  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), is leading a bipartisan group of her colleagues in calling for enforcement action to address practices of pharmaceutical companies that threaten to undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program during the COVID-19 public health emergency.\r\nThe 340B program requires drug companies to sell discounted prescription drugs to safety net hospitals, rural health facilities, and other entities that provide care in underserved communities. Savings from the 340B program ensure that these covered entities are able to continue to serve their patients. However, drug manufacturers have recently announced new burdensome requirements on covered entities beyond the scope of the 340B program, or they have announced that they will no longer provide discounts for medications shipped to pharmacies that dispense drugs to patients on behalf of covered entities.\r\nIn their letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, the bipartisan group of Senators urge the administration to take immediate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.\r\nThe Senators write, In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children's hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care.As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most.\r\nThe bipartisan letter was also signed by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Thune (R-SD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Doug Jones (D-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mark Warner (D-VA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).\r\nThis bipartisan effort is supported by the American Hospital Association (AHA), America's Essential Hospitals, American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), 340B Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children's Wisconsin, Marshfield Health System, Gunderson Health System, Advocate Aurora, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in Milwaukee.\r\nThe AHA thanks this bipartisan group of senators for their important effort to protect the 340B program, and the vulnerable communities it benefits, from big drug companies' efforts to harm the program, said Tom Nickels, AHA Executive Vice President. The AHA continues to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to take action against drug companies and to protect the patients and communities the 340B program helps serve.\r\nDrug manufacturers are flouting their statutory obligations by restricting access to safe, affordable medications for low-income Americans who also are among those most affected by COVID-19, said Bruce Siegel MD, MPH, President and CEO of America's Essential Hospitals. We applaud the bipartisan Senate signatories, led by Sens. Baldwin, Thune, Stabenow, Portman, Cardin, and Capito, for their swift action to urge the administration to stop big pharma's ill-timed and illegal efforts to narrow the 340B program.\r\nThe AAMC appreciates Senators from both sides of the aisle working together to protect the 340B program and patients, said Karen Fisher, JD, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unwarranted that several major drug companies are attempting to undermine this important program that allows safety net hospitals, including many teaching hospitals, to provide critical health care services to vulnerable patients in communities across the country.\r\n340B has a long history of bipartisan support in Congress. Drug companies must stop denying discounts on expensive outpatient drugs in violation of the 340B statute. We appreciate the efforts of these Senate leaders in making that message crystal clear, said Maureen Testoni, President and CEO of 340B Health.\r\nWisconsin rural hospitals and communities need a strong 340B Program, now more than ever. The current program saves Medicare money and achieves the Congressional purpose to reach more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services, Tim Size, Executive Director of Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative.\r\nCoordinated efforts by drug manufacturers to place arbitrary limits on the number of contract pharmacies they will serve or to eliminate discounted 340B pricing will significantly impact the health of our most vulnerable patients. Some medications will not be available for uninsured patients through the sliding fee scale. And without the savings accrued from 340B pricing, health centers will no longer be able to offer affordable pharmaceuticals to low-income patients --- thereby directly jeopardizing the health of the uninsured or underinsured. We need immediate support from Congress and HRSA to stop recent actions from drug manufacturers and prevent others from following suit, said Dr. Julie Schuller, President and CEO of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.\r\nWe appreciate the Senator's continued support of safety net providers. From our Medical Mission events, providing free care in our communities, to supporting new moms through Blanket of Love in Milwaukee - the 340B Program helps us care for our communities. Ascension continues to experience substantial increases in the costs to acquire needed medication, and we applaud the bipartisan effort to urge HRSA to take enforcement action to protect the 340B Program, said Bernie Sherry, Ministry Market Executive at Ascension Wisconsin.\r\nThe full letter is available here and below.\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Azar:\r\nWe write to express our concerns regarding recent actions from pharmaceutical manufacturers that threaten to undermine the role of contract pharmacies in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where providers have seen drops in revenue and available resources, it is critically important that 340B covered entities, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, children's hospitals, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and other safety-net hospitals and providers are able to continue to serve the individuals who seek out their care. As these threats to the Program progress, we fear the potential exacerbation of these shortfalls in resources for providers at a time when they are needed most. While we understand that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is further investigating these actions, we urge HRSA to take immediate and appropriate enforcement action to halt these tactics and ensure safety-net providers are able to continue providing life-saving medications to patients across the country.\r\nAs you are aware, on September 1, 2020, Eli Lilly announced that the company would no longer allow 340B covered entities to receive discounts for products that are shipped to a contract pharmacy, with an exception for insulin. This follows similar actions from AstraZeneca, which announced in August that it would refuse 340B pricing to hospitals with on-site pharmacies for any drugs dispensed through contract pharmacies. Similarly, other companies have imposed additional and burdensome reporting requirements on all contract pharmacy claims. For covered entities, and in particular rural hospitals and other rural covered entities that rely disproportionately on contract pharmacies, these changes could have long-lasting repercussions that will challenge a covered entity's ability to support its community now during this pandemic and in the future.\r\nThe Public Health Service Act requires that manufacturers wishing to participate in Medicaid and Medicare Part B enter into agreements with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that require that the manufacturer offer each covered entity covered outpatient drugs for purchase at or below the applicable ceiling price if such drug is made available to any other purchaser at any price. Further, HRSA has recognized the importance of contract pharmacies by acknowledging such arrangements in current guidance. We believe these recent actions by pharmaceutical manufacturers run counter to the statute and create a dangerous and negative precedent for the 340B Program and the providers and patients it serves.\r\nTo ensure pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to comply with the 340B statute and provide discounts to safety-net providers, we call on HRSA to take appropriate, prompt enforcement action to address violations of the Public Health Service Act. We appreciate your attention to this important issue and look forward to partnering with you and stakeholders to ensure the 340B program continues to support access to quality health services with proper oversight and transparency.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-introduces-nerd-act", "Gallagher Introduces the NERD Act", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today introduced the Nuclear Energy Reactor Demonstration (NERD) Act, a bill that would strengthen U.S. nuclear energy competitiveness by requiring the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish advanced nuclear reactor research and development goals. The NERD Act directs the DOE Secretary to work with private sector partners to complete at least 2 advanced reactor demonstration projects. Click HERE for bill text.\n\"A clean energy future will require nuclear energy to be reliable, affordable, and accessible to the private and public sectors. The first step in getting there is setting the right goals and bringing together the necessary stakeholders to expand our nuclear capacity,\" said Rep. Gallagher. \"I'm proud to introduce the NERD Act, and will continue working to ensure the United States stays competitive across all energy sectors.\"\n\"Future nuclear reactors will need to be smaller, cheaper, flexible and more widely deployed. Modernizing our nuclear sector is vital to ensuring that our electric grid has plenty of zero-carbon flexible power. Rep. Gallagher's bill will strengthen the research and development goals of nuclear energy by prioritizing demonstrations and developing advanced nuclear fuel which are both major steps to get the technology to commercialization,\" said Jay Faison, Founder and CEO at ClearPath.\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n Direct the DOE Secretary to advance the research and development of domestic, advanced, affordable, and clean energy through completing at least 2 advanced reactor demonstration projects by December 31, 2025,\n\tEstablish a program to create at least 2 and no more than 5 operational advanced nuclear reactor designs by December 31, 2035,\n\tCall on DOE to work with private sector partners to identify demonstration sites, and\n\tWork towards developing technologies that manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear waste.\n Background:\nRep. Gallagher has consistently fought to strengthen U.S. nuclear energy capabilities as a member of Congress. In addition to supporting funding for DOE energy storage research programs, he is a cosponsor of the BEST Act and supports continued funding for the DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases/tiffany-introduces-bill-scrap-one-china-policy-resume-normal-ties-taiwan", "Tiffany Introduces Bill to Scrap \u201cOne China Policy,\u201d Resume Normal Ties with Taiwan", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Thomas P. Tiffany", "T000165", "tiffany.house.gov", "tiffany", "https://tiffany.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) introduced legislation calling for the U.S. to resume formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and end the outdated and counter-productive \"One China Policy.\" The bill also directs the U.S. administration to support Taiwan's membership in international organizations, and to initiate negotiations with Taipei on crafting a bilateral, U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.\n\n\"For more than 40 years, American presidents of both political parties have repeated Beijing's bogus lie that Taiwan is part of Communist China \u2013 despite the objective reality that it is not,\" said Tiffany. \"It is long past time that America consigned the \u2018One China Policy' to the dustbin of history.\"\n\nThe U.S. maintained normal, friendly diplomatic relations with Taiwan until 1979, when then-President Jimmy Carter abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Taipei and recognized the Communist regime in Beijing \u2013 without legislative approval.\n\nCongress responded by approving the bipartisan Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the cornerstone of continued U.S. economic and cultural relations between the two countries. The TRA also authorized the sale of defensive weapons to Taipei to enable the democratic island to protect itself from Chinese aggression. President Reagan upgraded the relationship during his term with the issuance of the \"Six Assurances,\" which made clear that the U.S. did not recognize Communist Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.\n\nDespite the TRA and the \"Six Assurances,\" however, the U.S. still lacks formal ties with Taiwan, inexplicably treating the island's democratically elected government the same way it treats brutal regimes in North Korea and Iran from a U.S. diplomatic relations perspective \u2013 and in a category worse than that of Cuba's dictatorship, which President Obama and Vice President Biden recognized during their second term.\n\nIn recent years, President Trump's administration has taken bold steps to initiate closer U.S.-Taiwan ties. Trump spoke directly to Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-Wen by telephone shortly after his election \u2013 the first such conversation between heads of state in more than 40 years. Trump also approved a robust arms sale to the island last year and recently dispatched the highest-level U.S. delegation to Taipei in nearly half-a-century. In 2018, the President signed bipartisan legislation lifting decades-old, bureaucratic restrictions on travel between Taiwan and the U.S. by senior officials from both nations, recently signaled an intent to initiate talks on a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan and is reportedly preparing another transfer of defensive arms.\n\n\"America doesn't need a permission slip from the Chinese Communist Party to talk to its friends and partners around the world,\" added Tiffany. \"Now is the time for America to stop parroting Beijing's \u2018One China' fantasy, and for U.S. policy to reflect the reality that Taiwan is a free, democratic and independent country.\"\n\n\"If the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain can normalize relations with Israel, certainly we can formalize our enduring friendship with Taiwan,\" Tiffany concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/public-trust-in-covid19-vaccine-decisions", "Baldwin to FDA: Maintain Public Trust in COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions by Making Reviews Transparent", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.16.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin to FDA: Maintain Public Trust in COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions by Making Reviews Transparent  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t \"Full transparency throughout the review and authorization process is essential to countering real or perceived politicization and building public confidence in any approved vaccine.\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and her colleagues are calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commit to full transparency in the COVID-19 vaccine review process amidst mounting political pressure from the President to approve a vaccine before Election Day. The lawmakers, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), expressed concern that the Trump administration has overruled scientists and pressured federal agencies to approve products based on weak evidence, and they urged the FDA to ensure transparency in vaccine review efforts in order to maintain public trust.\r\nWe write to seek your commitment that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) review process for potential vaccinations against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be fully transparent and accountable, wrote the Senators. We are encouraged by the development of a number of vaccine candidates, and we share the FDA's goal of facilitating the timely development of safe and effective vaccines to prevent COVID-19.' However, we are concerned that the accelerated timeline and intense political pressure around the vaccine development process could have the unintended consequence of undermining public confidence in the safety and quality of an eventual vaccine.\r\nMore than 100 vaccines against COVID-19 are currently in development worldwide, with 37 in human clinical trials proceeding at an unprecedented pace. To address public concerns that the rapid speed of vaccine development could compromise the integrity of the review process, the FDA issued guidelines in June 2020 to assist in the clinical development and licensure of vaccines for COVID-19. However, President Trump and his administration have continuously applied political pressure to the agency  including promising that a vaccine will be approved by the end of 2020, or even by Election Day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recently notified states that they should be prepared to distribute a vaccine by November 1, further raising concerns that the approval process will be rushed. Such recent statements made by the Trump administration may risk undermining public confidence in the FDA unless the agency commits to greater transparency in the vaccine development and review process.\r\nRecent polling shows significant public skepticism about a future vaccine, including a recent poll that found that only 49% of American adults plan to accept a coronavirus vaccine, with 20% not planning to be vaccinated and 31% remaining unsure. The same poll found that only 25% of Black Americans and 37% of Hispanic Americans plan to be vaccinated.\r\nIn order to achieve broad acceptance with the public, a future vaccine for COVID-19 will need to overcome public skepticism about the speed of the process, underlying doubts about vaccine safety, long-standing mistrust of the medical system among communities of color  and the effects of the President's ongoing political interference, wrote the Senators. The Senators asked a series of questions, including whether meetings of the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee would be open to the public, ifdata and design details from clinical trials will be made available to the public, and how the FDA is involving representatives of communities of color, people with disabilities, older Americans, and other groups at elevated risk from COVID-19.\r\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).\r\nThe Senators requested a response to their letter no later than September 28, 2020. The full letter is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-announces-glri-grant-outagamie-county-land-conservation", "Gallagher Announces GLRI Grant for Outagamie County Land Conservation", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today announced that Outagamie County Land Conservation was awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant of $199,268 to increase water storage capacity in the Lower Fox River Basin. The Lower Fox River Basin project comes after a study indicated increased water storage can benefit water quality and reduce flooding events.\n\t\"Building storage capacity is a proven way to reduce sediment overflow and lower the risk harmful algal blooms in our waters,\"said Rep. Gallagher. \"This grant will go a long way in preserving our Great Lakes and waterways, and serves as a shining example of how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative positively impacts on our community.\"\n\t\n\tBringing together national, state, and local partners is key to protecting the Great Lakes and the ecosystems and economies they support,said Todd Ambs, vice chair of the Great Lakes Commission and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Assistant Deputy Secretary. The Great Lake Commission is proud to provide these grants to help organizations improve water quality in their communities.\n\n\tWith these funds, the Outagamie Land Conservation will install Agricultural Runoff Treatment Systems (ARTS) to construct three million gallons of additional storage capacity in the Plum Creek watershed. The unique ARTS use state technical standards to create an installation that traps sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen while reducing erosive peak flows to pre-settlement conditions.\n\t\n\tBackground:\n\tRep. Gallagher is committed to protecting water resources. Through his Save the Bay initiative, he brings together leaders in agriculture, academia, industry, government and nonprofit leaders to identify, share, and promote conservation practices to reduce phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment flowing into the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. He is also a member of the Great Lakes Task Force and has consistently supported funding for the GLRI since coming to Congress. He introduced theGreat Lakes Restoration Act of 2019, a bill that would gradually increase funding for the GLRI from $375 million in FY2022 to $475 million in FY2026.\n\t\n\tLast month, he joined EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for ahistoric announcementof the completion of the Fox River Superfund Site, a project supported by GLRI funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-kind-introduce-bill-support-family-farmers-and-strengthen-wisconsin", "Gallagher, Kind Introduce Bill to Support Family Farmers and Strengthen Wisconsin Dairy", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ron Kind (D-WI) today introduced the Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission Act of 2020, a bipartisan bill that would establish a commission to help address the problems facing Wisconsin farmers. The commission, which would involve stakeholders from across the dairy industry, would be tasked with evaluating the difficulties facing Wisconsin dairy farmers and recommending solutions needed to help strengthen the future of Wisconsin dairy.\nWhile the Coronavirus exacerbated the challenges facing many Wisconsin dairy farmers, problems like low milk prices and declining farm income predated the pandemic, said Rep. Mike Gallagher. Now more than ever, it's important that Congress does all it can to better evaluate these issues and improve the economic environment for these hardworking men and women. Bringing together experts across the agricultural, academic, and dairy industries is an important first step to help us do so, and I'm proud to join Rep. Kind in this bipartisan effort.\nWisconsin dairy farmers have been facing difficult conditions for years, with two farms a day closing even before the COVID-19 crisis, said Rep. Ron Kind. This week we were reminded that the status quo policies are not working for family farmers  with the nonpartisan GAO finding that USDA has dumped huge amounts of trade aid in response to the Administration's trade wars toward large agribusinesses, particularly in the south, at the expense of our family farmers. It's clear that we need to take a hard look at the factors creating struggles for our dairy industry, and then take action. To that end, I'm proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a commission and bring everyone to the table to identify the best options available to make sure our family farmers can succeed. Wisconsin dairy farmers are the heart of our rural communities, and I will continue to fight to ensure the future of America's Dairyland is bright.\nWisconsin Farm Bureau applauds Congressman Gallagher and Congressman Kind for authoring this bill to allow the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission, said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Joe Bragger. For too long Wisconsin dairy farmers have struggled with low and unfair milk prices. Additionally, this has had a harsh impact on rural communities. Farmers pride themselves on continuously improving their businesses. The same mindset should be put in place for the entire dairy economy. Our members support federal milk marketing reform, transparency in dairy pricing and would appreciate a close examination into our supply chain needs and possible disruptions. The Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission is needed to do just that.\nThe Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission would consist of a broad coalition of dairy farmers, dairy processors, and other industry experts who would provide recommendations on some of the biggest challenges facing our dairy farmers today, including options on how to:\n Respond to periods of heightened dairy production during low prices by considering better supply chain coordination\n\tEvaluate and identify challenges and opportunities for new markets for dairy exports\n\tConsider Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) reforms\n Wisconsin has led the nation in farm bankruptcies for the past two years, underscoring the need to take substantive steps toward identifying and implementing critical reforms and ensuring dairy farmers have the tools they need to succeed.\nBackground:\nIn Congress, Rep. Gallagher has led efforts to support dairy farmers throughout this crisis. He's worked to ensure farmers have fair access to all of the federal funds made available in response to the Coronavirus, called on his colleagues to strengthen funding for the Milk Reimbursement Program, and asked USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and HHS Secretary Alex Azar to include whole milkand other full fat dairy products in federal food programs.\n\nEarlier this year, he published a podcast with stakeholders across the dairy industry to talk about the challenges they face and what Congress can do to support our farmers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-kind-gallagher-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-support-family", "Reps. Kind, Gallagher Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Family Farmers and Preserve the Future of Wisconsin Dairy", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Ron Kind", "K000188", "kind.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC Today,Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI)andMike Gallagher (R-WI)introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission to evaluate the difficulties facing Wisconsin dairy farmers andrecommendsolutions needed to secure the future of Wisconsin dairy. Wisconsin has led the nation in farm bankruptcies for the past two years, underscoring the need to take substantive steps towardidentifying and implementing critical reformsand ensuring dairy farmers have the tools they need to succeed.\nThe Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission would consist ofa broad coalition of dairy farmers, dairy processors, and other industry experts who wouldprovide recommendations onsome of the biggest challenges facing our dairy farmers today, including options on how to:\n Respond to periods of heightened dairy production during low prices by considering better supply chain coordination\n\tEvaluate and identify challenges and opportunities for new markets for dairy exports\n\tConsider Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) reforms \n Wisconsin dairy farmers have been facing difficult conditions for years, with two farms a day closing even before the COVID-19 crisis, saidRep. Ron Kind. This week we were reminded that the status quo policies are not working for family farmers  with the nonpartisan GAO finding that USDA has dumped huge amounts of trade aid in response to the Administration's trade wars toward large agribusinesses, particularly in the south, at the expense of our family farmers.It's clear that we need to take a hard look at the factors creating struggles for our dairy industry, and then take action.To that end, I'm proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a commission and bring everyone to the table to identify the best options available to make sure our family farmers can succeed. Wisconsin dairy farmers are the heart of our rural communities, and I will continue to fight to ensure the future of America's Dairyland is bright.\nWhile the Coronavirus exacerbated the challenges facing many Wisconsin dairy farmers, problems like low milk prices and declining farm income predated the pandemic, saidRep. Mike Gallagher. Now more than ever, it's important that Congress does all it can to better evaluate these issues and improve the economic environment for these hardworking men and women. Bringing together experts across the agricultural, academic, and dairy industries is an important first step to help us do so, and I'm proud to join Rep. Kind in this bipartisan effort.\nWisconsin Farm Bureau applauds Congressman Kind for authoring this bill to allow the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission, saidWisconsin Farm Bureau President Joe Bragger. For too long Wisconsin dairy farmers have struggled with low and unfair milk prices. Additionally, this has had a harsh impact on rural communities. Farmers pride themselves on continuously improving their businesses. The same mindset should be put in place for the entire dairy economy. Our members support federal milk marketing reform, transparency in dairy pricing and would appreciate a close examination into our supply chain needs and possible disruptions. The Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission is needed to do just that. \n\"We must take a serious look at the factors driving low milk prices and dairy farm loss in Wisconsin, such as oversupply, an uncoordinated dairy supply chain, and an opaque pricing system that is subject to manipulation. The Dairy Pricing and Policy commission will bring key stakeholders together to find ways to move the industry forward on a path to profitability. We thank Congressman Kind for his leadership and continued support for Wisconsin dairy farmers, saidWisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden. \nRep. Kind has been a long-time advocate for expanding export opportunities, protecting farmers from market volatility, and ensuring accurate labeling for plant-based products marketed as dairy alternatives,priorities he outlinedfor the 2018 Farm Bill. Additionally, last year Rep. Kindwroteto U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to take measures to level the playing field after initial trade aid payments went disproportionately to large agribusinesses. Instead, the Administration doubled payment limits for massive agribusinesses, particularly in the south. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office recently released areportthat found the increase allowed the largest farming operations to collect an additional $519 million for the 2019 version of the MarketFacilitationProgram, which USDA has used to compensate farmers for retaliatory tariffs, and left family farmers behind.\nIn April, Rep. Ron Kind released his Family Farm Rescue Plan, which focused on five concrete steps that the Administration could take to support family farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ensuring farmers are eligible for all small business relief programs like the PPP. He also called for using Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to directly support family farms, purchasing excess food supply and delivering food banks, reopening the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, and ending the Trade War and implementing USMCA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-letter-on-the-us-postal-service-causing-delays-of-critical-medications-to-americans", "Baldwin, Colleagues Call on Postmaster General to Immediately Reverse Operational Changes to the U.S. Postal Service Causing Delays of Critical Medications to Americans", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.15.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin, Colleagues Call on Postmaster General to Immediately Reverse Operational Changes to the U.S. Postal Service Causing Delays of Critical Medications to Americans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senators: We continue to have grave concerns regarding widespread delays in the delivery of critical medications that millions of Americans rely upon every day.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined more than 30 of her Senate colleagues in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calling on him to immediately reverse all operational and organizational changes that have resulted in delays of critical medications to Americans.\r\nThe Postal Service is an essential public institution that must uphold its duty to serve every community. Your recently implemented changes pose an unacceptable threat and continue to have a devastating effect on communities that rely on consistent access to medication through the mail. We have received numerous reports from seniors about delays in receiving their prescriptions through the mail, leaving some without life-sustaining medication for days. Others have been forced to obtain emergency prescriptions from their doctors and pay out-of-pocket for medication because their original prescriptions covered by insurance never arrived, wrote the Senators.\r\nWe call on you to immediately reverse all operational and organizational changes that have resulted in life-threatening delays of critical medications to Americans. As you noted, it is imperative for the Postal Service to operate efficiently and effectively, while continuing to provide service that meets the needs of [its] customers. Right now, the Postal Service is failing to meet the needs of many Americans and adhere to its mission of prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas. As we continue to fight this pandemic, the Postal Service is integral to keeping millions of Americans safe, especially seniors, people with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities, continued the Senators.\r\nToday's letter was led by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Bob Casey (D-PA), and Committee on Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and also signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mark Warner (D-VA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kamala Harris (D-CA).\r\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below:\r\nDear Mr. DeJoy:\r\nIn your three months as U.S. Postmaster General, you have made detrimental operational and structural changes to the U.S. Postal Service. After facing criticism from members of Congress, states, and the public as well as lawsuits from multiple state attorneys general you announced the reversal of somebut not allof these policies. Damage from your decisions has already been done as Americans continue to experience potentially life-threatening delays in the delivery of prescription medications. These delays will continue to disproportionately harm the same individuals who are most at risk during the COVID-19 crisis, including seniors, people with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities.\r\nWhile we hope that your recent policy reversals will curtail some of the harmful effects and delays we have seen, we continue to have grave concerns regarding widespread delays in the delivery of critical medications that millions of Americans rely upon every day. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever for Americans to have safe and timely access to their medications from their homes. For years, Americans have entrusted the Postal Service to deliver essential goodsyet during this public health crisis, a number of Americans continue to await needed medications that are lost or delayed in the mail.\r\nThe Postal Service is an essential public institution that must uphold its duty to serve every community. Your recently implemented changes pose an unacceptable threat and continue to have a devastating effect on communities that rely on consistent access to medication through the mail. We have received numerous reports from seniors about delays in receiving their prescriptions through the mail, leaving some without life-sustaining medication for days. Others have been forced to obtain emergency prescriptions from their doctors and pay out-of-pocket for medication because their original prescriptions covered by insurance never arrived.\r\nThe National Association of Letter Carriers reported that the Postal Service delivers 1.2 billion prescription drug shipments each year  amounting to four million shipments every day, six days a week. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mail Order Pharmacy provides prescriptions to approximately 80 percent of all veterans via mail, processing 470,000 prescriptions daily. Despite these figures, prescription medication can only be as effective as a patient's ability to access it.\r\nThe Postal Service's role in delivering medications to Americans has only grown during the COVID-19 crisis. When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began in March, mail-order prescriptions reportedly increased by 21 percent from the year prior. What was previously a routine visit to the pharmacy now places millions of Americans at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises Americans to limit in-person visits to the pharmacy and, if possible, to use drive-thru windows, mail-order, or other delivery services to pick up medications. As Postal Service delays cause Americans to worry when, if at all, they will receive their next supply of medication in the mail, patients across the country may be forced to seek their prescriptions in person at a pharmacyincreasing their risk of exposure to COVID-19 at a time when staying home is vital to their health and well-being.\r\nWe call on you to immediately reverse all operational and organizational changes that have resulted in life-threatening delays of critical medications to Americans. As you noted, it is imperative for the Postal Service to operate efficiently and effectively, while continuing to provide service that meets the needs of [its] customers. Right now, the Postal Service is failing to meet the needs of many Americans and adhere to its mission of prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas. As we continue to fight this pandemic, the Postal Service is integral to keeping millions of Americans safe, especially seniors, people with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities.\r\nTo that end, please provide the following information by September 21, 2020:\r\n \r\nWhat considerations did you give to mail-order medications before implementing the recent operational and structural changes throughout the Postal Service?\r\n  \r\nWhat, if any, actions did you take to prevent potential delays in the delivery of mail-order medications? If you made no specific adjustments or considerations, please explain why.\r\n  \r\nWhat steps, if any, does the Postal Service intend to take to address existing delays in the delivery of mail-ordered prescriptions that have occurred as a result of the operational and structural changes you implemented?\r\n  \r\nPlease identify the operational and structural changes implemented during your tenure that you plan to reverse.\r\n\r\nPlease explain how you decided which changes to reverse, as well as your rationale for each reversal.\r\nDo you plan to re-implement any of these changes after the November 2020 election? If so, what safeguards will you put in place to avoid significant mail delays and keep Americans safe?\r\n  \r\nPlease identify the operational and structural changes implemented during your tenure that you chose not to reverse.\r\n\r\nPlease explain your justification for each decision.\r\nPlease explain the consequences these changes could have for the ability of Americans to receive their medications in a timely and consistent manner through the mail, and whether the Postal Service has adopted safeguards to address these issues.\r\n \r\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/great-lakes-winter-commerce-act", "U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Todd Young and Gary Peters Introduce Bipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.15.20\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Todd Young and Gary Peters Introduce Bipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bipartisan legislation will increase icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes region\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Todd Young (R-IN) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are introducing the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act, bipartisan legislation that will codify the U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet. Icebreaking is critical for commerce in the Great Lakes, and increasing icebreaking capacity will help the many businesses and workers that rely on the maritime industry to transport their goods to market and grow our regional economy.\r\nInadequate icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes is costing us thousands of American jobs and millions in business revenue. We must boost our icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes to keep our maritime commerce moving, said Senator Baldwin. I'm proud to partner with Senators Young and Peters on this bipartisan effort that will move our region closer to getting the sufficient icebreaking resources needed to support our maritime industry, mitigate devastating climate-related events and protect our Great Lakes for generations to come. I will keep working with my colleagues to get this job done for Wisconsin businesses and workers.\r\nIn recent years, commerce on the Great Lakes has suffered due to a lack of icebreaking during cold weather months,said Senator Young. Roughly 28% of our nation's annual economic output comes from the Great Lakes region, and our legislation will enable us to expand capacity to ship goods, create jobs, and strengthen the economy in Indiana and other Great Lake states.\r\nIcebreaking in the Great Lakes is critical not just for Michigan's economy and small business  but for our entire country. As we gear up for another winter, the importance of icebreaking is more vital than ever given the economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, said Senator Peters. I'm pleased to join my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to prioritize icebreaking in the Great Lakes and ensure safe trade and commerce.\r\nIcebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes supports more than 90 million tons of cargo annually. A study commissioned by the Lake Carriers' Association found that during the 2018-2019 ice-season, businesses that depend upon the Great Lakes maritime industry lost over $1 billion in revenues because of delays caused by inadequate icebreaking. These economic losses resulted in the loss of over 5,000 jobs throughout the Great Lakes Region.\r\nThe Senators' bipartisan bill would update the outdated U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) Great Lakes icebreaking mission and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet. Specifically, the legislation:\r\n \r\nCodifies into law the USCG's icebreaking mission in the Great Lakes. Requires the USCG to break ice in the Great Lakes in accordance with the reasonable demands of commerce set forth in the bill. The standards derive from a 1997 Coast Guard study outlining icebreaking requirements on the Great Lakes. They are written to allow the USCG to size its icebreaker fleet to be capable of handling the vast majority of ice seasons while limiting excess capacity. The bill includes a one-time report on the operating costs associated with this new performance standard.\r\nRequires USCG to report to Congress on the icebreaking season. Requires an annual report of USCG activities during the previous winter's icebreaking activities.\r\nRequires USCG to coordinate with industry for icebreaking operations.\r\nRequires the USCG to prioritize domestic icebreaking mission before breaking ice for Canadian harbors or bays, but allows for exceptions for missions related to safety of life.\r\nDefines reasonable demands of commerce. The safe movement of commercial vessels transiting ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes at a speed consistent with the design capability of Coast Guard icebreakers operating in the Great Lakes.\r\n \r\n\r\nThis historic bill will codify into law a long time Coast Guard mission that protects national and economic security. It provides Congressional direction and performance metrics.Currently, the Coast Guard interprets the 'reasonable demands of commerce' as meaning that an ice covered waterway is open until a second vessel is stuck in the ice for more than twenty-four hours as a result of another vessel's inability to move.They only report to Congress ice restrictions in four connecting channels for the entire Great Lakes, said Jim Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers' Association.\r\nFor too many years, inadequate icebreaking has unnecessarily risked the lives of sailors. Ships have been forced into collisions and groundings or have been sliced open by ice because no Coast Guard icebreakers were available to assist. The bill respects those risking their lives to keep our economy moving during the winter, said John Clemons, Vice President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task force and American Maritime Officers Union National Vice President, Great Lakes.\r\nThis has been a priority for the Great Lake Maritime Task Force for a decade and we welcome the bill's introduction. Just like we plow our roads, we need to keep traffic moving on our maritime highways, said Richard Hammer, President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force and General Manager of Donjon Shipbuilding.\r\nThis bill supports jobs across the Great Lakes and the nation. It comes at a critical time as ports continue to move cargo vital to the economic recovery. Now, more than ever, predictable and dependable icebreaking is needed to ensure cargo can continue to move efficiently. It would be devastating to have another winter like 2019 when the economy lost $1 Billion and more than 5,000 jobs due to inadequate icebreaking, said Steve Fisher, Executive Director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association.\r\nOrganizations endorsing the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act include the Lake Carriers' Association (Ohio), Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, American Great Lakes Ports Association, American Maritime Congress, American Maritime Officers, American Maritime Officers Service, American Steamship (New York), Andrie (Michigan), ArcelorMittal USA (Indiana/Ohio), Carmeuse (Pennsylvania/Michigan), Central Marine Logistics (Indiana), Cleveland-Cliffs (Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota), Consumer Energy Alliance (Ohio), Detroit Wayne County Port Authority (Michigan), Donjon Marine (Pennsylvania), Duluth Seaway Port Authority (Minnesota), Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding & Marine Group (Wisconsin), Fraser Shipyards (Wisconsin), Grand River Navigation (Michigan), Great Lakes Fleet (Minnesota), Great Lakes Shipyard (Ohio), Great Lakes Towing Company, Inland Lakes Management (Michigan), Interlake Steamship (Ohio), International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Lodge 60 (Michigan), International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Longshoremen's Association, International Shipmasters Association, Key Lakes Shipping (Pennsylvania), Kokosing Industrial (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana), LafargeHolcim (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio), Lake Erie Coal and Ore Dock Council (Ohio), Lake Michigan Carferry Service (Michigan, Wisconsin), Lakes Pilots Association (Michigan, Ohio), Lorain Port Authority (Ohio), Lower Lakes Towing (Ontario), Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, Masters Mates and Pilots Union, MCM Dredging (Michigan), Michigan Maritime Trades Port Council, Pere Marquette Shipping Company (Michigan), Port City Marine Services (Michigan), Port of Cheboygan (Michigan), Port of Cleveland (Ohio), Ryba Marine (Michian), Seafarers International Union, Soo Marine Supply (Michigan), The American Waterways Operators (AWO), Transportation Institute, VanEnkevort Tug and Barge (Michigan, Ohio) and the Western Great Lakes Pilots Association (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan).\r\nMore information about the legislation is available here. The full bill text is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-cotton-raise-chinese-lobbying-concerns-doj", "Gallagher, Cotton Raise Chinese Lobbying Concerns to DOJ", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Attorney General Barr,\n\t\t\n\t\tWe write to you today with concerns about the lobbying registration practices of individuals representing Chinese military companies in the United States.\n\t\t\n\t\tAs you know, on June 24, the Department of Defense (DOD) released a list of 20 Chinese military companies operating in the United States.[1] On August 28, the DOD added 11 additional companies to the list.[2] This report was required by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. Notably, the Pentagon deemed several Chinese technology companies, including Huawei, Hikvision, and China Telecom, to be military firms. We applaud the inclusion of these companies in the report, as we believe the DOD's determination accurately reflects these firms' close collaboration with the People's Liberation Army.\n\t\t\n\t\tA number of individuals and firms representing these Chinese military companies in our nation's capital have registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), not the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). These lobbyists may claim that they do not represent a foreign government or foreign political party, and therefore are eligible for the LDA exemption to FARA. However, the U.S. government has determined that these Chinese firms are extensions of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China. That begs the question: Does the LDA exemption to FARA still apply in this case?\n\t\t\n\t\tAlternatively, these lobbyists for Chinese military firms may be relying on FARA's commercial exemption to justify registration only under the LDA. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) materials on FARA note that the commercial exemption does not apply when the lobbying activities are directed by a foreign government or political party, or they directly promote the public or political interests of the foreign government or political party.[3] With the formal U.S. government determination that these firms are Chinese military companies, does FARA's commercial exemption clause still apply to these firms?\n\t\t\n\t\tIf these exemptions to FARA do not apply to the representatives of these Chinese military firms, does the DOJ believe that lobbyists for these firms must register under FARA?\n\t\t\n\t\tWe appreciate your consideration of this important matter and we look forward to continued cooperation with the Administration to safeguard our democratic process from influence by hostile foreign powers.\n\t\t\n\t\tSincerely,\n\t\t\n\t\tRep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI)\n\t\tSen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1777", "Dr. Fauci Endorses Vitamin D", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) released the following statement after news that Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has made a public assertion that vitamins D and C can lessen your susceptibility to infection and recommended that people take vitamin D supplements as he does.\r\nIn April, Grothman sent a letter to Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Stephen Hahn, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asking if their agencies had evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplements in relationship with COVID-19.\r\nIn May, Grothman issued a press release addressing medical research studies out of Northwestern University and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland asserting that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in increasing the severity of symptoms and overall mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. Since then, Grothman has encouraged people to take vitamin deficiencies seriously and has championed vitamin D supplements for those who need them.\r\nIn June, the assertion of Grothman's press release was rated True by Politifact.\r\nGrothman has repeatedly called on the CDC, even from the House floor, to further investigate the relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19, as well as other treatments, and explain the benefits of having a healthy immune system.\r\nIt is imperative that we find treatment options for people suffering from COVID-19, said Grothman. Unfortunately, most media outlets have largely ignored possible treatments for COVID-19. The obfuscation of this research has been irresponsible and has no doubt cost lives.\r\nI am glad that Dr. Fauci has finally spoken up about the negative effects of having a vitamin D deficiency, something that I have been talking about since April, and the importance of keeping a healthy immune system to combat infections. As the country's top epidemiologist, Dr. Fauci should use his platform to continue to promote the ways to obtain a healthy immune system and other things we can do every day to lessen the ill-effects of the novel coronavirus.\r\nI hope that I can count on my local media outlets to publicize this news that could save lives in Wisconsin and move us closer to a return to normalcy.\r\nExcerpt from the Insider article:\r\n\"If you're deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection.I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements,\" [Dr. Fauci] said.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-urges-administration-provide-immediate-support-wisconsin", "Rep. Ron Kind Urges Administration to Provide Immediate Support to Wisconsin Amid Recent Spikes in COVID-19 Cases", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Ron Kind", "K000188", "kind.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC Today,Rep. Ron Kindsent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging them to direct additional resources to Wisconsin in order to keep communities safe amid severe spikes in COVID-19 cases, particularly in counties with universities as students and faculty returned to campuses last week for the fall semester.\nIt's been nearly eight months since COVID-19 reached our shores, andthe Administration still has not put in place a national plan to combat the pandemic. Now, this lack of leadership is proving costly here in Wisconsin as our universities returned to in-person classes last week without sufficient guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on how to operate safely, saidRep. Ron Kind. Over the last week, Wisconsin has seen an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, especially in counties with universities. Without additional resources, these trends could quickly result in exponential growth. It's critical that the Administration provides immediate support to our state and local governments as they work to combat the spread of the virus and ensures counties and cities with universities have the PPE, testing supplies, and resources they need.\nLast week, many universities across Wisconsin returned to in-person classes. Currently, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has suspended in-person learning aftermore than1,000 students, and staff tested positive for the virus. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse also issued a shelter-in-place order and suspended in-person undergraduate classes after a growing number of students tested positive for the virus.\nOn September 13, 2020, Wisconsin set a single-day new case record with 1,582 new infections reported and a test positivity rate of 20.5%. Wisconsin cities represent 7 of the 20 metro areas in the United States, where rates of COVID-19 are growing the fastest, including three cities in Wisconsin's Third Congressional District  La Crosse, Platteville, and Eau Claire. La Crosse is seeing the second-fastest rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.\nIn May, Rep. Kind voted for theHEROES Act, which included more than $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments to ensure they have the resources needed to continue to manage the health and economic consequences of COVID-19. TheHEROES Actalso provided additional funding for testing and contact tracing and required the Administration to develop a national strategic plan on testing.\nRep. Kind is a member of the Health Subcommittee on the Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful - and the oldest - committee in the House of Representatives. It has jurisdiction over tax measures, the management of public debt, trade and tariff laws, Social Security, Medicare, pensions, and many other economic growth measures. Read the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/wfrv-after-baldwins-efforts-ftc-proposes-stronger-made-in-usa-rules-to-protect-us-manufacturers", "WFRV: After Baldwin\u2019s Efforts, FTC Proposes Stronger Made in USA Rules to Protect US Manufacturers", "2020-09-14", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/a-failure-of-leadership", "A Failure of Leadership", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/baldwin-wisconsin-leaders-call-for-more-federal-emergency-funding-for-state-and-local-governments", "Baldwin, Wisconsin Leaders Call for More Federal Emergency Funding for State and Local Governments", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/cbs-58-baldwin-supporting-bipartisan-effort-to-provide-relief-for-local-restaurants-in-wisconsin", "CBS 58: Baldwin Supporting Bipartisan Effort to Provide Relief for Local Restaurants in Wisconsin", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/wdio-senator-baldwin-working-to-support-wisconsin-restaurants-and-workers-during-covid-19-pandemic", "WDIO: Senator Baldwin Working to Support Wisconsin Restaurants and Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/wisconsin-local-leaders-on-needing-more-federal-funding-from-washington-to-combat-covid-19-pandemic", "Wisconsin Local Leaders on Needing More Federal Funding from Washington to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/community-development-block-grant-funding-for-wisconsin", "U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Over $23 Million in Community Development Block Grant Funding for Wisconsin", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.11.20\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Over $23 Million in Community Development Block Grant Funding for Wisconsin \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Baldwin worked to secure federal funds for Wisconsin in the bipartisan CARES Act\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced an additional $23,473,973 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the State of Wisconsin's coordinated response to COVID-19 and the economic and housing impacts caused by it. This funding was included in the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law in March.\r\nTheCARES Actincluded $5 billion total in CDBG funding. Today's announcement is the third round of funding to support states, cities and counties based on the prevalence and risk of COVID-19 and related economic and housing disruption. In March, Senator Baldwinannouncedthe first round of this CARES Act funding for Wisconsin and local governments. And in May, she announced the second round of funding for the State of Wisconsin to support a coordinated coronavirus response across entitlement and non-entitlement communities.\r\nLocal officials and the communities they serve need resources to respond to the public health, economic, and housing challenges we are still facing. This federal support will continue to help local communities quickly respond to this pandemic, said Senator Baldwin. I've seen firsthand how Community Development Block Grants help people throughout our state. Now more than ever, this funding is needed for our State partners to support our workers, families and neighborhoods. We're all in this together, so we need to continue working together to get through this public health crisis and move our state forward.\r\nThe following cities and counties in Wisconsin will receive this final round of CDBG funding from the CARES Act:\r\n \r\nCity of Appleton: $343,268\r\nCity of Beloit: $165,070\r\nCity of Eau Claire: $331,145\r\nCity of Fond Du Lac: $194,332\r\nCity of Green Bay: $566,729\r\nCity of Janesville: $265,573\r\nCity of Kenosha: $453,243\r\nCity of La Crosse: $283,394\r\nCity of Madison: $1,442,062\r\nCity of Milwaukee: $3,364,766\r\nCity of Neenah: $102,302\r\nCity of Oshkosh: $292,664\r\nCity of Racine: $342,617\r\nCity of Sheboygan: $230,211\r\nCity of Superior: $139,991\r\nCity of Wausau: $193,945\r\nCity of Wauwatosa: $201,677\r\nCity of West Allis: $303,902\r\nDane County: $1,036,495\r\nMilwaukee County: $966,350\r\nWaukesha County: $1,335,096\r\n \r\n\r\nThe State of Wisconsin will also receive $10,919,141 in CDBG funding to support local communities on the frontlines of this pandemic.\r\nFor more than 40 years, the CDBG program has invested billions of federal dollars in communities across the country and helped millions of Americans. The CDBG program fosters job development and provides assistance to neighborhood-based organizations, including community development corporations, in support of economic development, housing assistance, or neighborhood revitalization activities in Wisconsin that are vital to getting through this public health emergency. CDBG funding can be used for the expansion of community health facilities, child care centers, food banks and senior services.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/emergency-funding-for-state-and-local-governments", "VIDEO: Baldwin, Local Wisconsin Leaders Call for More Federal Emergency Funding for State and Local Governments to Provide Essential Services", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.11.20\n\t\t\t VIDEO: Baldwin, Local Wisconsin Leaders Call for More Federal Emergency Funding for State and Local Governments to Provide Essential Services \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a virtual roundtable with local leaders from across Wisconsin to call for more emergency relief funding for states and localities to respond to COVID-19 and cover budgetary shortfalls that have resulted from the public health emergency and economic crisis. Senator Baldwin was joined by Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat, Marathon County Board of Supervisors Chair Kurt Gibbs, and American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas.\r\nIn May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, which includes federal support for state and local COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The funding includes $500 billion for states, $375 billion for local governments and $20 billion to tribes. Senate Republicans have not taken up that legislation for more than four months and made a recent proposal that didn't include any federal funding to help states and localities with their budgets.\r\nLocal governments in Wisconsin have been on the frontlines of our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. They've had to cover unanticipated expenses to respond to the pandemic and provide a lifeline to families and businesses, keeping renters in their homes and businesses afloat, said Senator Baldwin. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have not put forward a proposal that includes federal funding to help states and localities with their budgets. It is past time to take action in the Senate to pass bipartisan legislation that delivers more federal funding for schools to safely reopen, and helps local governments pay essential workers and provide essential services.\r\nWatch the full conversation with Senator Baldwin and local officials here:\r\n\r\nLocal officials across Wisconsin have reached out to Senator Baldwin's office about the need for more funding from the federal government so they can continue supporting essential workers and essential services during the pandemic. As state and local governments report anticipated cuts to their budgets, this will invariably affect such services as public schools, social services and health departments, with widespread economic consequences. Local and state governments expect cuts in services to local health departments which employ essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as child welfare workers, social workers, firefighters and more employees. Many county and state governments have been forced to furlough workers due to the pandemic, and without funding, these furloughs could become permanent job losses. Decreased local government spending may lead to a $344 billion decrease in economic output and 4.9 million fewer jobs.\r\nThe full conversation with Senator Baldwin and local officials is available on YouTube here.\r\nWe really do need this sizable investment on the part of our federal government to stand us up and more importantly, to support our citizens, many of whom are without employment. Nearly 20,000 people who are out of work here in the Green Bay Area and in desperate need of support. So I'm very thankful that Senator Baldwin is advocating for the policies that we really think are necessary in Washington, said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich. Mayor Genrich's remarks begin at 5:30 in the video.\r\nLa Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat said, We are having to make reductions in personnel and we're doing everything we can to avoid reducing police and fire on our streets and those public safety positions. But the reality is, we're having to make those tough choices in those departments as well. The initial CARES Act funding was helpful, but we really need to be made whole when it comes to our revenues. Mayor Kabat's remarks begin at 11:25 in the video.\r\nIn Wisconsin, the counties are charged with the responsibility of maintaining infrastructure throughout the state, including the county highways, the state roads and the interstate system. When our resources are stretched, some of those levels of services that are provided there are also cut. The demands that the county is receiving on its health department, as you're well aware with the pandemic, is huge. And the struggle is that we're getting through this year by not replacing individuals as they retire and using up reserves - that is going to be a huge impact come next year, said Marathon County Board of Supervisors Chair Kurt Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs' remarks begin at 16:30 in the video.\r\nThese stories are real. What's happening in our communities is real. Every aspect of our system is struggling and the schools are no different. Our budgets reflect our priorities. And without funding to support schools reopening, it definitely doesn't feel like it's a priority. It doesn't feel like the safety of our students and our staff is a priority, said Kim Kohlhaas, President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. Ms. Kohlhaas' remarks begin at 22:20.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AAC3C97C-E896-45E0-8AE0-0013EC5659C9", "Johnson Secures Federal Funds for Wisconsin", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said the following Friday, sharing that Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northwestern Wisconsin will receive a $5.8 million federal Department of Transportation grant:\r\nI'm pleased that the Department of Transportation is awarding a grant to Red Cliff Band to assist with transportation and infrastructure repair and maintenance needs. I appreciate President Trump's administration acknowledging and acting to address the infrastructure needs of northern Wisconsin's tribes.\r\nThe transit project in Bayfield constructs a multipurpose transportation center with storage and maintenance bays and transportation-related office space, and it purchases a road grader, a front-end loader, a tracked backhoe, plow trucks, and two additional buses for Miskwaabekong Transit.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-cover-act-2020", "U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Introduces New Legislation to Support Millions of Americans Who Have Lost Health Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.10.20\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Introduces New Legislation to Support Millions of Americans Who Have Lost Health Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Over Six Million Workers Have Lost Access to Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic \r\n Baldwin's Legislation Supports Outreach and Enrollment Assistance to Help Americans Find Health Insurance \r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is introducing new legislation to help the more than six million American workers who have lost health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more Americans become uninsured due to job losses this year than ever before in our nation's history, Baldwin is introducing the COVid Enrollment Response (COVER) Act to invest in outreach and enrollment assistance to help more Americans find quality, affordable health insurance.\r\nMillions of Americans have lost their jobs and employer sponsored health insurance this year, and we must make sure that during this ongoing public health and economic crisis Americans are able to find the health care they need at a price they can afford,said Senator Baldwin.The Trump administration has done nothing but sabotage the Affordable Care Act and our health care system. We need to support enrollment assistance now more than ever before, especially given the number of people in need of comprehensive coverage, and the additional burdens in providing assistance due to COVID-19.\r\nRecent reporting has shown that the Affordable Care Act has made it easier for people who lose their job and their employer-sponsored health insurance to find coverage. Baldwin's legislation would build on that progress by investing in the existing ACA navigator program and supporting enrollment assistance and outreach efforts, and would also make up for the significant funding cuts and continued sabotage from the Trump administration.\r\nThe COVER Act would:\r\n \r\nProvide $600 million for intensive consumer assistance, including dedicated staff, one-on-one virtual meetings, and application completion assistance, that would build off the existing navigator program and help laid-off workers and their families obtain health coverage. This level of funding would replicate state-based-marketplaces' level of effort per uninsured consumer in 2014, and based on prior results achieved by such marketplaces, an estimated 11.4 million people could receive help applying for coverage.\r\nEnsure that every state qualifies for funding based on either the rate of uninsured individuals or the number of individuals receiving unemployment.\r\nSupport existing navigator programs and organizations with a demonstrated capacity in successfully serving laid-off and furloughed workers, residents of rural areas, low-income individuals, and other historically underserved populations.\r\nPromote efforts to provide Americans with information on comprehensive health insurance that protects individuals with pre-existing conditions.\r\n \r\nBaldwin's legislation is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed and exacerbated the deep structural flaws in our health care system, said Senator Booker. Since the beginning of this pandemic, tens of millions of Americans have been laid off and furloughed, leaving many families without health insurance. It is both a public health and a moral imperative to do everything we can to ensure that those who have lost their health coverage due to COVID-19 are able to get new comprehensive coverage quickly, which is why I'm proud to partner with Senator Baldwin on this important legislation.\r\nNevadans who have lost their health insurance due to layoffs or furloughs have the opportunity to sign up for affordable coverage on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, but many are unaware of the resources and support available to them, said Senator Cortez Masto. While health insurance navigator programs run by state agencies and unions are working tirelessly to connect uninsured workers and their families with the resources they need to sign up for coverage, more support is needed in order to reach the millions of Americans impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. I'm proud to support legislation that would provide navigator programs with over $600 million in funding to bolster their outreach efforts and ensure families can find the coverage and resources for which they're qualified during this difficult time.\r\nHealth care is a basic human rightand while we've made big strides, we have a long way to go before every American has the high-quality, affordable coverage they deserve, said Senator Merkley. Especially right now, during an unprecedented public health emergency, we can't give up on our fight to put critical health services within reach for all. This bill will help us allocate the resources we need to double down on those efforts, so we make sure that everyone can get care at a time when so many need it the most.\r\nAs millions of Americans lose health insurance because they're losing jobs the COVER Act helps restore it, said Senator Blumenthal. This bill would provide targeted resources and support for the uninsured to find coverage, vital to peace of mind and health. It's the least we can do for countless unemployed American families.\r\nBaldwin's legislation is supported by American Cancer Society Action Network, Young Invincibles, Cancer Support Community, National Health Council, Citizen Action Wisconsin, National Hispanic Medical Association, Families USA, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, National Partnership for Women & Families, Western Wisconsin Health, American Lung Association, Protect Our Care, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Association for Community Affiliated Plans, National Hemophilia Foundation, Children's Community Health Plan, Human Rights Campaign, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Susan G. Komen, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National Organization for Rare Disorders, and the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.\r\nSenator Baldwin's COVER Act supplies the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle of American health care. The bill would provide consumer assistance that helps struggling families sort through confusing choices, complete necessary paperwork, and finally obtain the health insurance they need to thrive in these challenging times, said Stan Dorn, Director of the National Center for Coverage Innovation at Families USA.\r\nThe COVER Act would provide critical consumer assistance funding to ensure that people who find themselves newly uninsured, who are unsure of where to go or how to enroll, get the resources they need to get covered. Millions of young workers lost their jobs because of the COVID pandemic, disrupting their access to coverage, and their ability to afford it. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration still refuses to adequately fund the Navigator program or marketing and outreach about ACA coverage. Senator Baldwin has been a longtime champion of outreach and enrollment support, and we applaud this latest effort through the COVER Act and urge the Senate to take it up for consideration immediately, said Erin Hemlin, Health Policy and Advocacy Director, Young Invincibles.\r\n\"It doesn't matter how much money we have, where we live, or what we look like; no one should be without health coverage during a pandemic. Unfortunately, we live in a country where millions of people's health coverage is tied to employment, leaving them not only financially but also medically and physically vulnerable when they lose their jobs,\" said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. \"Universal health coverage is critical to stopping community spread of the virus. People must not be deterred from seeking needed care out of fear of cost. I thank Senator Baldwin for introducing the COVER Act which will invest significant resources into connecting people with the health coverage they desperately need.\"\r\nPresident Trump and his Republican enablers in Congress have done nothing to help people who have lost coverage as a result of their fumbled coronavirus response. With this legislation, Senator Baldwin is taking concrete steps to help more Americans get the health care coverage they need as coronavirus continues to ravage the nation. Instead of playing politics and taking every opportunity to rip health care away from Americans, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans should work with Senator Baldwin to ensure people can get health care coverage in the midst of a global pandemic,said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse.\r\nAcross Wisconsin, we've seen too many workers and their families lose their health care coverage due to the economic impact of COVID-19. That's why I applaud Senator Baldwin for her continued efforts to ensure that all Wisconsinites can get health care coverage, especially during this challenging time, said Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable. The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance stands ready to support enhanced consumer outreach and assistance efforts to help Wisconsin workers who need to find new health care coverage as a result of being laid-off or furloughed.\r\nMore information on the COVER Act is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/stronger-made-in-usa-standards", "Following Baldwin\u2019s Efforts, Federal Trade Commission Proposes to Enforce Stronger Made in USA Standards to Protect Wisconsin Manufacturers", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.10.20\n\t\t\t Following Baldwin's Efforts, Federal Trade Commission Proposes to Enforce Stronger Made in USA Standards to Protect Wisconsin Manufacturers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Stronger Enforcement of Made in America Standards will Better Protect American Manufacturers and Workers\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.Following continued efforts by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced proposed Made in USA rules that will prevent fraud and abuse by foreign companies, which will help protect Wisconsin manufacturers and workers.Now, Baldwin and Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are continuing their efforts today by urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to utilize their entire existing authority to establish and enforce Made in USA standards, and to apply them to online and physical labels.\r\n\r\nWe have long pushed the Commission to utilize all of its existing authority to establish and enforce Made in USA standards, and we strongly support the Commission's initiation of a NPRM process. We ask that any final rule and its implementation cover all online Made in USA claims, as well as physical labels, and emphasize the Commission's authority to apply civil penalties to violators,wrote the Senators. \r\n\r\nIn October of 2019, the senatorswrote the FTCurging the promulgation of a rule to codify the current Made in the USA standard and, more importantly, clarify when violators will face civil penalties. The senators have asked the Commission to ensure the final rule accomplishes both of these goals.\r\n\r\nTo date, the Commission has narrowly interpreted the word label to those physically applied to goods, which limits the Commission's ability to enforce Made in USA requirements in e-commerce. Consumers purchasing goods online, however, are given information about products in various forms on websites, including product filters, technical specifications, and other sources. In an online transaction, all of these details about the product's origin may have the same impact on a consumer as a physical label attached to the product.The senators' letter pushed the FTC to ensure any final Made in USA rule applies to physical labels and any online product description or marketing.\r\n\r\nIn October of 2018, the Senatorswrote to the FTCand referenced instances where companies had fraudulently affixed Made in America labels to foreign-made products. The senators said mislabeling products not only misleads consumers but also harms American businesses. The senators urged the FTC to consider monetary penalties as well as admission of guilt settlements for companies that import products from countries like China and then commit these label violations.The senatorsfollowed-upin February of 2019, demanding increased transparency and stronger enforcement against violators, in addition to requesting additional information regarding the FTC's enforcement actions against companies that commit Made in the USA labeling violations, since little information has been available to date.\r\n\r\nThe full letter is availablehereand below.\r\n\r\n\r\nDear Commissioners:\r\n\r\nWe write in response to the Federal Trade Commission's (Commission) request for comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to Made in USA product labels (MUSA Rulemaking, Matter No. P074204). We have long pushed the Commission to utilize all of its existing authority to establish and enforce Made in USA standards, and we strongly support the Commission's initiation of a NPRM process. We ask that any final rule and its implementation cover all online Made in USA claims, as well as physical labels, and emphasize the Commission's authority to apply civil penalties to violators. Further, we want to emphasize the importance of strong enforcement of Made in USA labeling standards throughout the regulatory process to protect American manufacturers and consumers from fraud.\r\nAs the Commission is aware, we have advocated for the issuance of regulations as an important component of Made in USA labeling enforcement. In October 2019, we sent a letter urging the promulgation of a rule to codify the current Made in the USA standard and, more importantly, clarify when violators will face civil penalties. We ask the Commission to ensure the final rule accomplishes both of these goals.\r\n\r\nFirst, we are pleased that the rule applies to physical and online labels. Section 323.3 of the rule explicitly requires online promotional materials that include a seal, mark, tag, or stamp labeling a product Made in the United States to comply with Made in USA labeling standards. Unfortunately, to date, the Commission has narrowly interpreted the word label, which limits the Commission's ability to enforce Made in USA requirements in e-commerce.\r\n\r\nOnline sales have increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and internet shopping is expected to remain a significant percentage of consumer purchases in the future. Consumers purchasing goods online are given information about products in various forms on websites, including product filters, technical specifications, and other sources. In an online transaction, all of these details about the product's origin may have the same impact on a consumer as a physical label attached to the product.\r\n\r\nAny deceptive claims that a product is Made in the USA, including those made in physical labels or in any online product description or marketing, should be considered a prohibited act under Section 323.2 of the proposed rule.\r\n\r\nSecond, we ask any finalized rule to restate the Commission's authority and willingness to apply civil penalties in response to Made in USA infractions. We have been critical of no fault, no money settlements and closing letters because these enforcement actions do not penalize or deter violators.We understand that the Commission may want to preserve its discretion to seek appropriate enforcement measures in each case.We believe, however, that a finalized rule should make clear to Made in USA violators that they may face civil penalties, particularly in cases of repeat offenders or egregious deception. Doing so will send a clear signal to consumers and businesses that the Commission intends to fully enforce Made in USA labeling standards.\r\n\r\nAs you work to finalize the proposed rule, it is imperative that the Commission continue to strongly enforce Made in USA labeling requirements. We applaud the recent enforcement efforts against Williams Sonoma, which included a $1 million judgment and court-enforceable provisions on the company's claim that its products were Made in the USA. In contrast to the no fault, no money agreements, the Williams Sonoma settlement demonstrates that the FTC will take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the Made in the USA label and force violators to pay for defrauding American consumers and disadvantaging American producers.\r\n\r\nThank you for your consideration of this letter.We look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure the Made in USA label means just that.\r\n\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-announces-550000-federal-investment-supporting-door-county-economy", "Gallagher Announces $550,000 Federal Investment Supporting Door County Economy", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GREEN BAY, WI Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08) today announced that the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) received a $550,000 investment to help small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Theinvestment, which was awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Association (EDA), can be used to \"alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the pandemic, provide permanent resources to support economic resiliency, and further the long-term economic adjustment objectives of the region served by this EDA investment.\"\n\tSmall businesses across Door County have faced enormous challenges over the course of these past few months,said Rep. Gallagher. This funding will play a critical role in supporting these businesses as we rebuild our economy, and I'm glad we're seeing continued benefits from the CARES Act here in Northeast Wisconsin.\n\t\n\t\"DCEDC has worked with the U.S. Department of Education, Economic Development Administration (EDA) for several years to provide resources that support Door County businesses. The majority of Door County businesses have less than four employees and were very vulnerable to COVID-19 impacts.We are excited to have been granted $550,000 to establish a special low interest Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to assist Door County businesses with economic recovery resulting from COVID-19. More details on the RLF will be forthcoming pending EDA guideline approvals,\"said Steve Jenkins, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-condemns-administration-s-repeated-attempts-dismantle", "Rep. Kind Condemns Administration\u2019s Repeated Attempts to Dismantle the Affordable Care Act", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Ron Kind", "K000188", "kind.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "La Crosse, WI Today,Rep. Ron Kindjoinedhis colleagues incondemning the Administration's continued legal assault on existing healthcare coverage and urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in court.\nCurrently the DOJ has decided to not defend the ACA's constitutionality in court, with the United States Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments onTexas v. U.S.this fall. If successful, the Administration's lawsuit would strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the entirety of the ACA, putting health care for Wisconsinites who live with a pre-existing condition and Wisconsinites who purchased their health care on the ACA exchange at risk.\nAs the COVID-19 crisis continues, it has never been more important for Wisconsin families to have quality, affordable health care, saidRep. Ron Kind. Over half of all Wisconsinites stand to lose their coverage if this lawsuit is successful. In the midst of a global pandemic, the last thing Wisconsin families should have to worry about is whether or not they will lose their health care. We need to work together to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act, not tear it down without any replacement. Rest assured I will continue to fight for those with pre-existing conditions and protect Wisconsinites' access to affordable coverage.\nThe ACA has improved health care coverage across the country and introduced life-saving protections for those with pre-existing conditions since it was enacted in 2010. Dismantling the ACA would cause 224,000 Wisconsinites to lose their health insurance, threaten vital access to Medicare, and raise drug prices. Additionally, 2.5 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage if insurance companies are allowed to discriminate on this basis.\nIn 2019, Rep. Kindvotedfor the House of Representatives to intervene and defend the Affordable Care Act on behalf of the American people and has consistently voted to protect Wisconsinites' access to quality, affordable health care amidst these ongoing attacks. In 2018, Rep. Kindcalledon former Attorney General Brad Schimel and former Governor Scott Walker to immediately withdraw fromTexas v. U.S.(previously listed as Texas v. Azar). In 2019, Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul,officially removedWisconsin's name and support from the lawsuit, and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the ACA remains the law of the land.\nRep. Kind is a member of the Health Subcommittee on the Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful - and the oldest - committee in the House of Representatives. It has jurisdiction over tax measures, the management of public debt, trade and tariff laws, Social Security, Medicare, pensions, and many other economic growth measures.\nRead the resolution here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-honors-milton-doctor-as-wisconsin-s-first-congressional-district-health-care-professional-of-the-year", "Steil Honors Milton Doctor as Wisconsin\u2019s First Congressional District Health Care Professional of the Year", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", "steil", "https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN\u2014Today at Mercyhealth Hospital in Janesville, Bryan Steil honored Dr. Frank Brodkey of Milton as Wisconsin's First Congressional District's Health Care Professional of the Year. Steil also recognized Emily Bundy, RN, of Janesville, Casey Stubbs, RN and Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator, of Janesville, and the COVID-19 unit team as Health Care Heroes.\n\n\"Today we celebrated our local health care workers. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health care workers have gone above and beyond to combat coronavirus. Dr. Brodkey, Emily, and Casey have played a critical role in fighting coronavirus, caring for their patients, and ensuring information on coronavirus is available to our community. They sacrifice time away from family, work holidays and extended hours, and put their patients first. I was honored to recognize them for their efforts and sacrifices,\" said Steil.\n\nDr. Frank Brodkey, intensivist, works in the ICU at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center\u2013Janesville and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UW-Madison. Dr. Brodkey has led the charge against coronavirus here in Janesville, and has published several scientific reviews of COVID-19 studies to help countless doctors find best practices and best course of treatment.\n\nEmily Bundy, RN, is a nurse at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center\u2013Janesville and is the lead nurse of the hospital's COVID-19 unit. When Emily was notified that she received the Health Care Hero award, she wanted to give it to her entire floor and ensure her colleagues were also recognized for their tireless work. Emily is described as a dedicated professional who has so much compassion that there is little room for her own needs.\n\nCasey Stubbs, RN, is a nurse and Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator for Mercyhealth. Casey's role has been instrumental in the fight against coronavirus. Casey has been tasked with providing the latest information on coronavirus to physicians, staff, and patients. At the peak of the crisis, Casey was simultaneously on her desk phone, her cell phone, writing email responses, and had a line of people outside of her door with questions, never failing to help and answer questions.\n\nRecipients were selected by Wisconsin's First Congressional District's Health Care Advisory Board comprised of health care professionals across Southeast Wisconsin. The Health Care Advisory Board evaluated nominees on the following criteria:\n\n\u2022 Displays exemplary service and performance in their profession\n\n\u2022 Upholds the standard of providing unsurpassed care and treatment for their patients\n\n\u2022 Goes above and beyond the call of duty in performing their responsibilities\n\n\u2022 Displays self-sacrifice and selflessness in caring for others", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-honors-milton-doctor-wisconsin-s-first-congressional-district-health-care", "Steil Honors Milton Doctor as Wisconsins First Congressional District Health Care Professional of the Year", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Bryan Steil", "S001213", "steil.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JANESVILLE, WISCONSINToday at Mercyhealth Hospital in Janesville, Bryan Steil honored Dr. Frank Brodkey of Milton as Wisconsin's First Congressional District's Health Care Professional of the Year. Steil also recognized Emily Bundy, RN, of Janesville, Casey Stubbs, RN and Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator, of Janesville, and the COVID-19 unit team as Health Care Heroes.\nToday we celebrated our local health care workers. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health care workers have gone above and beyond to combat coronavirus. Dr. Brodkey, Emily, and Casey have played a critical role in fighting coronavirus, caring for their patients, and ensuring information on coronavirus is available to our community. They sacrifice time away from family, work holidays and extended hours, and put their patients first. I was honored to recognize them for their efforts and sacrifices, said Steil.\nDr. Frank Brodkey, intensivist, works in the ICU at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma CenterJanesville and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UW-Madison. Dr. Brodkey has led the charge against coronavirus here in Janesville, and has published several scientific reviews of COVID-19 studies to help countless doctors find best practices and best course of treatment.\nEmily Bundy, RN, is a nurse at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma CenterJanesville and is the lead nurse of the hospital's COVID-19 unit. When Emily was notified that she received the Health Care Hero award, she wanted to give it to her entire floor and ensure her colleagues were also recognized for their tireless work. Emily is described as a dedicated professional who has so much compassion that there is little room for her own needs.\nCasey Stubbs, RN, is a nurse and Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator for Mercyhealth. Casey's role has been instrumental in the fight against coronavirus. Casey has been tasked with providing the latest information on coronavirus to physicians, staff, and patients. At the peak of the crisis, Casey was simultaneously on her desk phone, her cell phone, writing email responses, and had a line of people outside of her door with questions, never failing to help and answer questions.\n\nRecipients were selected by Wisconsin's First Congressional District's Health Care Advisory Board comprised of health care professionals across Southeast Wisconsin. The Health Care Advisory Board evaluated nominees on the following criteria:\n Displays exemplary service and performance in their profession\n Upholds the standard of providing unsurpassed care and treatment for their patients\n Goes above and beyond the call of duty in performing their responsibilities\n Displays self-sacrifice and selflessness in caring for others", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6BF6CCFD-57EC-40F0-87EE-B95AC7AF975C", "Johnson Statement on Senate Coronavirus Relief Bill", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said the following Thursday after Senate Democrats, again, blocked a coronavirus relief bill that would help unemployed workers and small businesses:\r\nIt is unfortunate Democrats won't take yes for an answer. Once again, they have taken the position it's either their way or the highway. Just because Republicans wouldn't agree to spend $3 trillion and give Democrats everything they demanded, unemployed workers won't get additional federal unemployment benefits and small businesses won't get needed financial support. What a shame.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-call-on-va-secretary-wilkie-to-provide-coverage-for-telehealth-services", "Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on VA Secretary Wilkie to Provide Coverage for Telehealth Services for America\u2019s Veterans During the Pandemic", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.09.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on VA Secretary Wilkie to Provide Coverage for Telehealth Services for America's Veterans During the Pandemic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin led a bipartisan group of senators to call on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to provide coverage of comprehensive telehealth services, including voice communication, for beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).\r\nCurrently, federal regulations do not allow CHAMPVA to cover health care services that are delivered through audio-only conferencing, telephone calls and text messaging.\r\nOur constituents, including those who reside in rural areas where internet access may be limited, need access to telehealth services that involve voice communication, especially during a public health emergency, wrote the senators in their letter. We appreciate the steps VA has taken in recent years to make telehealth more accessible to veterans and their families, but in order for this access to be meaningful, it must reach constituents through the platforms that work best for them and their providers. As such, we urge VA to take the necessary steps to immediately ensure CHAMPVA beneficiaries are able to access health services through voice communication platforms.\r\nThe letter was led by Senator Baldwin and also signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael Rounds (R-SD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\r\nThe full letter is available here and included below.\r\nDear Secretary Wilkie,\r\nWe write today to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide coverage of comprehensive telehealth services, including voice communication, for beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).\r\nTelehealth has been an important resource for our constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has helped ensure that patients are able to access care without exposing themselves or their providers to the risk of COVID-19 infection. This is in part due to Congressional and administrative action. Many patients that are covered by Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance are now able to receive a greater variety of telehealth services in their own homes, through different platforms, for the duration of the public health emergency due to COVID-19. Our nation's veterans are also increasingly utilizing telehealth services. This year, VA has seen a 1,000 percent increase in the number of telehealth video appointments conducted each day.\r\nBenefits available to CHAMPVA beneficiaries are not the same as those available to veterans through VA. Section 17.272(a)(46) of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, allows CHAMPVA to cover synchronous telehealth services, defined as the use of real-time, interactive video conferencing, to assess, treat, and provide care to a patient remotely. Our understanding is that these regulations do not allow CHAMPVA to cover sessions that involve voice communication only, including audio-only conferencing, telephone calls, and text messaging.\r\nOur constituents, including those who reside in rural areas where internet access may be limited, need access to telehealth services that involve voice communication, especially during a public health emergency. We appreciate the steps VA has taken in recent years to make telehealth more accessible to veterans and their families, but in order for this access to be meaningful, it must reach constituents through the platforms that work best for them and their providers. As such, we urge VA to take the necessary steps to immediately ensure CHAMPVA beneficiaries are able to access health services through voice communication platforms.\r\nWe look forward to working with you to ensure continued progress on this issue.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/delivery-delays-harm-small-businesses", "Baldwin Presses Postmaster General DeJoy on Delivery Delays that Harm Small Businesses", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.09.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin Presses Postmaster General DeJoy on Delivery Delays that Harm Small Businesses \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on how recent United States Postal Service (USPS) delays have harmed small businesses.\r\nUSPS is thecarrier of choicefor small businesses that have fewer than 10 employees, which are among the most vulnerable small businesses. According to a 2019 report, 70% of these vulnerable businesses regularly rely on the Postal Service, the majority of which use the service more frequently than other carriers. In the four months since DeJoy became Postmaster General, he has taken actions that have compromised mail service for all Americans, especially veterans, seniors and those in rural communities, and has presented yet another challenge for American small businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 Recession.\r\nThe Senators, led by Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tom Carper (D-DE), wrote:\r\nIf small businesses cannot fulfill orders in a timely manner, they will quickly lose customers. Furthermore, if small businesses are forced to adapt to Postal Service delays by making use of more expensive delivery options, the increased costs will eat into the already thin margins of so many small businesses and may even result in the closure of their operation. At a time when the pandemic has potentially driven hundreds of thousands of small businesses to close their doors, these changes only exacerbate the financial crisis facing business owners, their employees, and their communities.\r\nThe Senators called on Postmaster General DeJoy to clarify the status of any initiatives he has implemented at USPS and to reverse all changes he has made to operational services since becoming Postmaster General. The Senators also requested the following information by September 11, 2020:\r\n \r\nDid you conduct any formal analysis pertaining specifically to small businesses before making the recent changes to Postal Service operations, as outlined in our August 17, 2020 letter? If so, please provide the analysis. If not, please explain why.\r\nDid you consult with the Small Business Administration or any other stakeholders representing small businesses prior to these recent changes? If so, please list and describe any such discussions. If you did not engage in such discussions, please explain why.\r\nWhat steps, if any, is the Postal Service currently taking to track and analyze the impact of recent changes on small businesses, including the impact on delivery times and small businesses' utilization of services provided by the Postal Service? Please provide the information you have gathered thus far and if you are not tracking this information, please explain why.\r\nIn your August 18, 2020 statement, you stated that you were suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded. However, this statement did not clarify which specific initiatives you intended to suspend. Please provide a list of any changes you have instituted at the Postal Service during your tenure, the status of each change, and whether each change will be suspended until after the election.\r\n \r\n\r\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Angus King (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).\r\nThe letter is availablehere and below.\r\n\r\nDear Postmaster DeJoy:\r\nYour recent changes to Postal Service operations have resulted in delays that threaten to undermine the viability of small businesses, which are critical to our economy and are already at financial risk because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. We write to seek answers about changes to the Postal Service under your leadership that have adversely affected mail delivery for millions of Americans, including countless small businesses across the country.\r\nAs many of us have previously written, actions you have taken in the few months since you became Postmaster General have slowed down mail and compromised service for veterans, rural communities, seniors, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for medicines, essential goods, voting, correspondence, and  especially for small businesses  for their livelihoods. We were initially relieved to hear that the Postal Service will be suspending some of these changes. It now appears, however, that your statement was misleading. During the recent hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, you testified that I have not removed any machines.\r\nHowever, in response to Senator Peters' questions during the recent Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, you stated that there is no intention to bring back the machines. We are concerned by your continued lack of transparency regarding which specific initiatives the Postal Service has suspended, what that actually means, and the potential for continued harm to America's small businesses.\r\nSmall businesses are the driving force of our economy, making up 99.7% of all firms in the U.S. with paid employees. Many of these businesses have structured their business models around the U.S. Postal Service, which has long offered fast, reliable, and affordable service for their needs, from shipping products to sending paychecks to connecting with customers. According to a 2019 report, the Postal Service is the carrier of choice for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, with 70% of these businesses using the Postal Service and the majority relying on it more frequently than other carriers. Due to the ongoing pandemic, countless small businesses have shifted from brick and mortar operations to online ordering and deliveryintensifying the need for consistent, dependable postal services.\r\nChanges that you have instituted at the Postal Service threaten the financial well-being of small businesses and their employees. Since you directed operational changes in post offices and processing centers that restrict timely mail delivery, small businesses across the country are reporting significant delays after years of reliable service. For example, as detailed in Senator Peters' interim investigative report on postal delays, an Ada, Michigan company that produces educational materials for health care workers working with dementia patients has had to lay off multiple employees due to the combined impact of the pandemic and mail delay costs. One small business owner of a key replacement company in Madison, WI states that, after eight years of reliable service, one in five packages no longer reaches customers on time. Another business owner in Irvine, CA has received customer service calls about slowed deliveries. The owner of an accessories and clothing shop in Houston, TX worries about the delays becoming a routine problem that could hurt her business. A small business owner in Maryland expressed frustration about a three-week shipment delay.\r\nThese delays have a magnified negative impact on small businesses that exist solely on online platforms like Etsy and eBay and rely on the Postal Service to reach their customers. These platforms offer unique opportunities for microbusinesses to thrive, especially women-owned businesses, which make up over 80 percent of Etsy sellers. Limiting the Postal Service's operations undermines the low rates and door-to-door service that the vast majority of microbusinesses on Etsy, eBay, and other online marketplaces benefit from, threatening the success of these entrepreneurs. For example, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from the Bronx, NY who recently launched an Etsy shop selling hand-painted pouches, tote bags, and enamel pins has expressed serious concerns that she will go out of business if her shipping costs increase due to a loss of reliable Postal Service deliveries.\r\nIf small businesses cannot fulfill orders in a timely manner, they will quickly lose customers. Furthermore, if small businesses are forced to adapt to Postal Service delays by making use of more expensive delivery options, the increased costs will eat into the already thin margins of so many small businesses and may even result in the closure of their operation. At a time when the pandemic has potentially driven hundreds of thousands of small businesses to close their doors, these changes only exacerbate the financial crisis facing business owners, their employees, and their communities.\r\nAlienating small businesses will harm not only business owners but also the Postal Service itself. In 2018 alone, e-commerce accounted for over half a trillion dollars in sales for U.S. retailers. Many of these businesses utilize the Postal Service to deliver online orders to consumers. Although you claim your recent actions are meant to improve the financial situation of the Postal Service, delaying mail delivery services will almost certainly do just the opposite.\r\nAs Postmaster General, you have a responsibility to ensure your actions are in the best interest of the Postal Service and those it serves, including small businesses across the country. However, as we wrote earlier this week, you have avoided answering questions about the magnitude of delays we have seen and have not yet provided any evidence that you studied or considered how your changes would affect mail service prior to implementing these changesthis appears equally true in relation to small businesses.\r\nThe Postal Service is a critical service and lifeline for small businesses across the country and your actions are needlessly damaging a service that has reliably served our businesses and communities for decades. We call on you to clarify the status of any initiatives you have implemented at the Postal Service and to reverse all changes you have made to operational services since becoming Postmaster General.\r\nPlease provide the following information by September 11, 2020:\r\n \r\nDid you conduct any formal analysis pertaining specifically to small businesses before making the recent changes to Postal Service operations, as outlined in our August 17, 2020 letter? If so, please provide the analysis. If not, please explain why.\r\nDid you consult with the Small Business Administration or any other stakeholders representing small businesses prior to these recent changes? If so, please list and describe any such discussions. If you did not engage in such discussions, please explain why.\r\nWhat steps, if any, is the Postal Service currently taking to track and analyze the impact of recent changes on small businesses, including the impact on delivery times and small businesses' utilization of services provided by the Postal Service? Please provide the information you have gathered thus far and if you are not tracking this information, please explain why.\r\nIn your August 18, 2020 statement, you stated that you were suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded. However, this statement did not clarify which specific initiatives you intended to suspend. Please provide a list of any changes you have instituted at the Postal Service during your tenure, the status of each change, and whether each change will be suspended until after the election.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/payroll-tax-deferral", "Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Push for Answers on Administration\u2019s Implementation of the Payroll Tax Deferral for Federal Employees, Service Members", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "09.09.20\n\t\t\t Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Push for Answers on Administration's Implementation of the Payroll Tax Deferral for Federal Employees, Service Members \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Federal workers and service members should not be used as pawns for a payroll tax scheme that many private sector employers are unlikely to join and where key questions remain unanswered.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of her colleagues, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump last month optional for federal employees and service members. In their letter, the Senators also push for answers on how the administration plans to implement this deferral.\r\nWe urge you to let federal workers and uniformed service members choose whether to defer their payroll tax obligations under IRS Notice 2020-65, rather than forcing them to participate. Federal workers and service members should not be used as pawns for a payroll tax scheme that many private sector employers are unlikely to join and where key questions remain unanswered, the Senators begin.\r\nWhile some federal employees may want to defer their payroll tax payments, unions representing federal workers have made clear that many others do not, they continue. IRS Notice 2020-65 does not answer many key questions, but KPMG concludes that it appears' to give employers the option to, Permit deferrals only at the employee's election.'\r\nThey go on to highlight several unanswered questions on the tax deferral, writing, Federal employees and service members lack basic information about how agencies will implement the payroll tax deferral. The Senators urge Secretary Mnuchin and Director Vought to clarify these key details before the deferral begins on or around September 18.\r\nIn addition to Baldwin and Van Hollen, the bipartisan letter was also signed by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\r\nThe full letter is available here and below.\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Mnuchin and Director Vought,\r\nWe urge you to let federal workers and uniformed service members choose whether to defer their payroll tax obligations under IRS Notice 2020-65, rather than forcing them to participate. Federal workers and service members should not be used as pawns for a payroll tax scheme that many private sector employers are unlikely to join and where key questions remain unanswered.\r\nWhile some federal employees may want to defer their payroll tax payments, unions representing federal workers have made clear that many others do not. IRS Notice 2020-65 does not answer many key questions, but KPMG concludes that it appears to give employers the option to, Permit deferrals only at the employee's election. PwC states that employers may want to provide this option to their workers, noting that, The reduced take-home pay in early 2021 as a result of the additional withholding for the deferred Social Security tax may make some employees not want to participate in the deferral, even if their employer opts in.\r\nFederal employees and service members lack basic information about how agencies will implement the payroll tax deferral. In addition to clarifying whether federal employees will be forced to participate, please answer the following questions:\r\n \r\nIf an employee or service member separates from their job prior to repaying deferred payroll taxes in their 2021 withholdings, will their employing agency or the IRS seek to collect unpaid payroll taxes from that employee? If so, how will they do so?\r\n  \r\nPlease provide us with a cost estimate for federal agencies to pay the employee payroll taxes that they are unable to withhold or otherwise recoup as a result of the deferral.\r\n  \r\nHow will federal agencies communicate key information about the payroll tax deferral to their workers, particularly regarding the reduction in take-home pay in 2021? As KPMG stresses, It is important to manage employee expectations and keep employees informed of their obligations prior to making the election to defer.\r\n \r\n\r\nReports indicate that federal employee paychecks may be affected by the payroll tax deferral on or around September 18. Please respond to these questions as soon as possible so that federal workers and service members have some clarity on these issues before their paychecks are changed.\r\nSincerely,\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Press Release", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-signs-heritage-action-police-pledge", "Gallagher Signs Heritage Action Police Pledge", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Mike Gallagher", "G000579", "gallagher.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A lawful society-free from mob rule and violent insurrection-is not possible without Law Enforcement.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPolice Officers have chosen a noble profession. They dedicate their lives to upholding the law and protecting the sacred rights of their fellow citizens. As a profession, they deserve support and respect.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tI stand with America's Police and pledge to oppose any bill, resolution, or movement to \"Defund the Police.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1762", "Grothman Introduces Bill to Increase Insulin Competition and Affordability", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressmen Glenn Grothman (WI-06) introduced legislation to help increase competition in the insulin market, expand availability to affordable insulin products and lower costs to patients who depend on insulin.\r\nThe Biosimilar Insulin Access Act will waive interchangeability requirements for insulin products granted biosimilar approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This would enable pharmacists to dispense and patients to choose which biosimilar insulin product works best for their individual needs instead of being forced to pay top-dollar for brand-name insulin, or a reference product. This is an idea that has been covered by the Center for Biosimilars, New England Journal of Medicine and one the FDA has indicated interest in pursuing.\r\nAccording to the Center for Biosimilars, the annual cost of insulin for a patient with Type 1 diabetes doubled from $2,864 in 2012 to $5,705 in 2016. While it has been estimated that FDA-approved biosimilars could save patients and the health care system anywhere from $54 to $250 billion over their first 10 years on the market, these cost savings have yet to be achieved due to a slow moving approval process, patent considerations and anti-competitive strategies.\r\nThe Biosimilar Insulin Access Act would be a milestone for the biologic industry, as it would allow an FDA approved biosimilar insulin to be the first biosimilar product with an interchangeable designation.\r\nThere are over 34 million diabetes patients in the U.S. and for many of them, having insulin is as important as breathing, said Grothman. The way the system is set up, however, the deck is stacked in favor of more expensive brand-name products.\r\nThe Biosimilar Insulin Access Act will enable the FDA to quickly and safely make biosimilar insulin products, that are cheaper but every bit as effective as brand-name insulin, more widely available to patients who want it. We owe it to Americans to fix our broken health care system. Having biosimilar insulin products more widely available will create competition in the market, which can drive down costs, increase quality and finally give patients with Diabetes greater choice and flexibility in their treatment.\r\nBackground Information\r\nThere are two types of drugs: chemical and biologic. Chemical drugs, such as Tylenol, can be easily replicated because they are manufactured by combining chemical compounds in a structured process. Replications of chemical drugs are called generics.\r\nBiologics, such as insulin, can be replicated as well, but involve complex mixtures of molecules and require a much lengthier manufacturing process. Biologic drugs that have the same effect as their reference drug are called biosimilars. Biosimilars can be thought of as a generic option for a biologic drug.\r\nOn March 23, 2020, the FDA transitioned biologics previously classified and approved as large molecule chemical drugs under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to the Public Health Service (PHS) Act through a Biologics License Application (BLA). Transitioning these biologic products previously classified under the FD&C Act to the biologic's pathway opens insulin products for biosimilar approval and competition, something the insulin market in the United States has severely lacked for decades.\r\nBiosimilars must have the same mechanism of action, route of administration, dosage form and strength as the original reference biological product. Before approving a biosimilar, FDA experts must conclude it is highly similar to the original biologic and that it has no clinically meaningful differences from the original biologic. This means you can expect the same safety and effectiveness from the biosimilar over the course of treatment as you would from the reference product. The same quality manufacturing standards that apply to the original biologic also apply to the biosimilar.\r\nAfter receiving biosimilar approval, manufacturers can apply for an interchangeable designation. An interchangeable product may be automatically substituted for the reference product at the pharmacy counter; however, they require rigorous and lengthy trials including several switches between the reference product and biosimilar in clinical trials to determine whether any difference is noticed over the course of treatment. As of 2019, all but five states had biosimilar interchangeability laws, all of which require patient and physician consent prior to dispensing an interchangeable product.\r\nWhile standard interchangeability requirements for biosimilars dealing with more complex and less understood conditions are necessary, the long history of diabetes treatment and insulin regulation suggests the interchangeability process for biosimilar insulin products should be abbreviated.\r\nThe Biosimilar Insulin Access Act would waive interchangeability requirements for insulin products granted biosimilar approval by the FDA. If an insulin product achieved approval from the FDA to be licensed and marketed as a biosimilar to its reference product, that insulin product would be deemed interchangeable as well. The FDA has approved 28 products as biosimilars up to this point, however, none of those products have been granted interchangeable designation. This bill will allow these insulin products to be automatically substituted at the pharmacy counter for their reference product at the patient and physician's decision. Streamlining interchangeability for biosimilar insulin products is broadly supported by physicians and pharmacists across the United States. This legislation would dramatically increase competition in the insulin market and give physicians and pharmacists the ability to dispense lower cost options to patients.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4630", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Supports Legislation to Overturn Trump\u2019s Empty Executive Action on Payroll Taxes to Sabotage Social Security", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Supports Legislation to Overturn Trump's Empty Executive Action on Payroll Taxes to Sabotage Social Security\r\nCongresswoman Moore supported Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson's legislation (H.R. 8171--Save our Social Security Now Act and H. J. Res 94)to overturn President Trump's executive action to defer payroll taxes from September 2020 to December 2020. In response, shereleased the following statement:\r\nTrump's presidential memorandum provides no relief to the millions unemployed during the economic crisis and may harm the employees who would be subjected to deferral As is, the relief' provided by the President simply shifts when employees will pay these taxes, meaning those affected will see smaller paychecks in four months. Just one of the reasons employers are wary of participating in this scheme  employers that have a choice, that is. The Administration has forced federal employees, including members of the military, to participate. Additionally, the President is attempting to blatantly bypass bipartisan opposition in Congress to any permanent payroll tax scheme, claiming that if he is re-elected he would convince Congress to forgive the amounts deferred.\r\nPerhaps worst of all, the President's action threatens the integrity of the Social Security program and the benefits workers earn by paying into the system during their working years. In these uncertain times, we should be doing everything possible to strengthen Social Security, which is themost effective anti-poverty programin our country, keeping seniors and children from falling through the cracks of poverty. I join Rep. Larson and my Ways and Means colleagues in standing up for the Social Security program and the millions that it supports.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1009, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "WI", "p2": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 629, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 380, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1009, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WI&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "WI", "label": "WI", "count": 1009, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 1009, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-09-09,https~3A~2F~2Fgwenmoore~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D4630", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=WI&year=2020&_next=2020-09-09%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fgwenmoore~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D4630&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 195.69561211392283, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}