{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"WI\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-announces-mobile-office-hours", "Sen. Johnson Announces Mobile Office Hours", "2023-12-29", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that his staff will be available for mobile office hours at the times and locations listed below. These office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Sen. Johnson\u2019s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.\n\nNote: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of our constituents.\n\nMilwaukee County Office Hours\n\nTuesday, January 2\n\n9:30 a.m. \u2013 10:30 a.m.\n\nWashington Park Senior Center\n\n4420 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-passing-of-senator-herb-kohl", "Senator Baldwin Statement on Passing of Senator Herb Kohl", "2023-12-27", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on the passing of former Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl.\n\n\u201cHerb was my role model. Herb was a true public servant, leading with compassion and humility, and uncompromising in putting Wisconsin first. It didn\u2019t matter how powerful the opposing forces were or how long the fight was, Herb was willing to take on any challenge if it meant a brighter future for Wisconsin. Herb was as generous as they come \u2013 with his resources, his knowledge, his time, and his heart. Wisconsin is lucky to have had Herb Kohl in our corner and we are undoubtedly a better, more just place because of his service. He truly was nobody\u2019s senator but ours. My heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and the entire Badger State as we mourn the loss of a Wisconsin giant.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/a-year-in-review-senator-baldwin-crisscrossed-wisconsin", "A Year in Review: Senator Baldwin Crisscrossed Wisconsin", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 In 2023, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) attended or hosted nearly 150 community events and meetings with constituents spanning 44 counties across Wisconsin. While crisscrossing the state, Senator Baldwin heard from constituents and celebrated her work to lower costs for families, support veterans, grow the Made in Wisconsin economy, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and more.\n\n\u201cTraveling across the state and listening to Wisconsinites is what informs my work in Washington, and I\u2019m so grateful to the families, businesses, local leaders, and all the Wisconsinites who take the time to share their experiences with me and are working to solve our state\u2019s toughest challenges,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cTraveling the state is also a time to celebrate the progress we\u2019ve made. I was proud to deliver real results for Wisconsin families \u2013 lowering costs, curbing the opioid and fentanyl crisis, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and growing our Made in Wisconsin economy. I know we have more work to do, but I am so proud that we are following our state\u2019s motto and moving Forward.\u201d\n\nBelow are some highlights from Senator Baldwin\u2019s year crisscrossing Wisconsin:\n\nAddressing Public Safety and Opioid Epidemic\n\nLadysmith: At a roundtable, Senator Baldwin was joined by public health experts, law enforcement, and local officials to discuss her FEND Off Fentanyl Act and how to better protect our communities against the devastating impacts of opioids and fentanyl.\n\nWausau: While touring the Wausau Fire Station, Senator Baldwin heard about the impact the $3 million SAFER Grant she helped secure will allow for the hiring of nine new firefighters, helping them meet increasing demand and responsibilities.\n\nPrairie du Chien: Joining first responders, Senator Baldwin celebrated the nearly $5 million of federal funding she helped deliver for the new Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center that will help first responders meet challenges, keep communities safe, and attract and retain talent.\n\nKeshena: Senator Baldwin visited the Menominee Tribal Clinic in Keshena to see how a $1.3 million federal investment is helping the Menominee Tribe build a new tribal clinic to expand access to affordable health care, including mental health services and substance use disorder treatment.\n\nBuilding a Made in America Economy\n\nMilwaukee: At Rockwell Automation, Senator Baldwin touted her work to bring home a Tech Hub and discussed with consortium partners their work to spur personal medicine innovation, grow our economy, and create jobs in this cutting-edge industry.\n\nSuperior: Senator Baldwin met with AFL-CIO Wisconsin leaders at their Annual Meeting in Superior to discuss her efforts to support organized labor and good-paying jobs, grow the economy, and ensure American families have the economic security they need to sleep well at night.\n\nPleasant Prairie: Senator Baldwin visited Sanmina to celebrate Nokia bringing up to 200 manufacturing jobs to Wisconsin to produce key components for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.\n\nEau Claire: While hosting a roundtable at Chippewa Valley Technical College, Senator Baldwin heard about Chippewa Valley Tech College\u2019s program for health career job training. Senator Baldwin helped secure nearly $5 million for this program that will train the healthcare workforce we need in our small towns and rural areas and help ensure traditionally underserved communities are not left behind in today\u2019s economy.\n\nCambridge: While visiting Cobrahead, a small family business that makes gardening, horticulture, and agriculture equipment, Senator Baldwin highlighted her COOL Online Act, legislation that ensures all goods sold online list their country-of-origin and promotes American-made goods for online shoppers.\n\nCutting Prescription Drug Prices and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care\n\nWaukesha: Senator Baldwin toured the Waukesha Free Clinic and joined local seniors and stakeholders to discuss the impact of cutting prescription drug prices. Senator Baldwin has long advocated for lowering prescription drug prices and helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, caps the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 per month, and caps Medicare beneficiaries out of pocket costs at $2,000 per year.\n\nGreen Bay: Senator Baldwin and Governor Evers toured the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center and hosted a roundtable with local leaders and metal health providers. Senator Baldwin successfully secured $3 million in this year\u2019s budget to support implementation of the hotline.\n\nOnalaska: Senator Baldwin visited Gunderson Pharmacy with seniors and health officials to learn about the impact of her Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s provisions to cap the cost of insulin and cut prescription drug costs.\n\nDelivering for Wisconsin Infrastructure\n\nSuperior: Senator Baldwin, Governor Evers, and local officials visited the Blatnik Bridge to continue to urge the Biden Administration to replace the aging bridge.\n\nCasco: Senator Baldwin stopped in Casco to highlight the broadband expansion the Village of Casco has undertaken to connect 291 distinct addresses to high-speed internet through a grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin using state and federal funds.\n\nMilwaukee: Senator Baldwin saw firsthand the block-by-block lead service line replacement work being done and highlighted investments from the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead pipes in Milwaukee.\n\nWausau: Senator Baldwin joined officials from Wausau and Rib Mountain to tour the new Wausau Water Treatment Plant and highlight the over $3.3 million in federal funding Senator Baldwin secured for PFAS remediation for the city of Wausau and the Rib Mountain Sanitary District.\n\nStanding Up for Wisconsin Veterans and Servicemembers\n\nNew Richmond, Wausau, Green Bay, Racine: In May, Senator Baldwin hosted a series of roundtable discussions on her efforts to increase health care and disability benefits for Wisconsin veterans who have been harmed by toxic exposure while serving in the military. Veterans are now eligible for these benefits because of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that Senator Baldwin helped pass into law.\n\nPrairie du Sac: Senator Baldwin presented a Purple Heart Award to Rebecca Litscher, to provide long overdue recognition for her service and sacrifice.\n\nFort McCoy: Senator Baldwin toured the existing barracks at Fort McCoy that serve the thousands of reservists who come from across the country to train each year. Senator Baldwin secured the funds for Fort McCoy in the 2022 and 2023 government funding bills, to help construct permanent barracks that can house nearly 1,000 enlisted soldiers and officers during annual training and mobilization.\n\nSupporting Our Farmers and Rural Communities\n\nGreenleaf: Senator Baldwin toured Brickstead Farms, a fifth-generation family-run dairy farm, to discuss her work securing investments to help Wisconsin\u2019s farmers, producers, and growers mitigate the impact of climate change and build sustainable agriculture operations.\n\nColumbus: Senator Baldwin toured Gurn-Z Meadow Farm in Columbus and met with Dairy Business Innovation Initiative recipients to hear how they are using the funding to diversify their business products and launch new processing ventures.\n\nStratford: Senator Baldwin visited Marshfield Agricultural Research Center for a tour and to hear how the $6 million in federal funding she secured will better support researchers and the Wisconsin agricultural community.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-for-the-washington-examiner-rushed-secret-negotiations-are-not-the-way-to-address-the-border-crisis", "Sen. Johnson for the Washington Examiner: Rushed, Secret Negotiations are Not the Way to Address the Border Crisis", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Thursday, the Washington Examiner published an op-ed written by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), where he emphasized that rushed and secret backroom negotiations by Senate leadership with President Biden are not the way to address the Democrat-caused crisis at the southern border. The senator stated that this effort should be about actually securing the border \u2014 not broader immigration reform.\n\nThe full op-ed can be found here and excerpts are below.\n\n\u201cOver the weekend, I joined 14 Republican Senate colleagues in releasing a letter calling for a meeting of the Senate Republican Conference to discuss the negotiations with the White House and Senate Democrats regarding securing our border. The letter appears to have succeeded in letting Senate leadership know that a large group of senators does not want to be jammed with legislation addressing the catastrophe at our border without a thorough review by us and the public.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cThe crisis at the southwest border is unlike anything we\u2019ve experienced in history. The massive flood of illegal migration is an order of magnitude larger than the \u2018humanitarian crisis\u2019 former President Barack Obama sparked when he abused prosecutorial discretion and granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in 2012. In 2019, Obama\u2019s Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson, stated that 1,000 apprehensions per day \u2018overwhelm[ed] the system.\u2019 We recently experienced more than 14,000 encounters in a single day, and it has become common for encounters to exceed 10,000 per day.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, Biden and his Democratic allies in Congress want an open border. Biden came into office with the border largely secured and then immediately reversed all the policies that had successfully stemmed the flow of illegal immigrants. The fact that Biden and congressional Democrats are the root cause of the crisis is a major problem in conducting good-faith negotiations with them.\n\n\u201cIndeed, because Biden has not faithfully executed existing law, repeatedly lied to the public, ignored and violated Supreme Court rulings, and failed to engage in meaningful negotiations on securing the border until only recently, it is impossible for Republicans to trust him to comply with whatever he agrees to. That\u2019s a real challenge for Republican negotiators.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cMoreover, conducting rushed and secret backroom negotiations is not the way to address the unprecedented border crisis. That\u2019s the kind of business as usual process Washington leadership has relied upon to mortgage our children\u2019s future and weaken our country. Whatever negotiators produce will need to be fully vetted, discussed, and understood \u2014 by members and the general public. That will take weeks, not hours or days.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cBut this effort should be about securing the border \u2014 not broader immigration reform. Addressing DACA recipients is politically impossible until the border is secure, and now, with Biden expanding the population of undocumented immigrants by more than 6 million people, he has made the problem significantly worse.\n\n\u201cThe essential ingredient will be how to enforce any agreement reached. I have suggested making Ukraine funding contingent on benchmarks being met on a monthly basis. I am open to other foolproof enforcement ideas, but negotiators must realize enforcement is the key to any agreement that can pass the House and Senate.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-the-ongoing-israel-hamas-war", "Senator Baldwin Statement on the Ongoing Israel-Hamas War", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war:\n\n\u201cHamas\u2019s October 7th terrorist massacre has led to unbearable suffering in Israel, Gaza, and around the world. As I have said before, I support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself against Hamas, bring hostages back home, and end the terrorist organization\u2019s threat \u2013 but it does not have the right to go to war against innocent Palestinian people. Eliminating the threat posed by Hamas and protecting civilians are not mutually exclusive aims.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, the Netanyahu government\u2019s indiscriminate bombing and military approach has led to unacceptable bloodshed in Gaza and does not appear to be moving us closer to our ultimate goals of removing Hamas from power and achieving a lasting peace in the region through a two-state solution. Preservation of innocent lives and civilian infrastructure is not just morally right, but also necessary to accomplish security, stability, and peace in the region moving forward.\n\n\u201cI support the resumption of a humanitarian ceasefire, in order to accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid, protect innocent civilians and civilian sites, and negotiate the release of the hostages taken on October 7th. This is only possible if both Hamas and the Israeli government cooperate. As we look ahead, the United States needs to continue to do more to urge Israel to protect Palestinian civilians, facilitate humanitarian efforts, and play a more active role in helping create a two-state solution \u2013 something I have long supported \u2013 to ensure that both the Palestinian and Israeli people have the right to self-determination, safety, and security.\u201d\n\nIn response to ongoing war and the growing humanitarian crisis, Senator Baldwin supports the following actions:\n\nAn immediate humanitarian ceasefire that ensures the unconditional release of all hostages and full humanitarian access to Gaza, agreed to by both Israel and Hamas.\n\nAdherence to International Humanitarian Law by all parties and the protection of all civilians and civilian sites.\n\nIncreased humanitarian aid access to prevent starvation and an even more severe public health crisis, including maintaining the opening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, and any other steps needed to allow the sustained delivery of the basic essentials in quantities sufficient to meet the current need.\n\nThe United States to provide immediate humanitarian aid to help those in Gaza.\n\nAccess to prompt medical attention for sick and wounded civilians, both within Gaza as well as the option to evacuate to a neighboring country for medical care.\n\nHamas to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to the hostages while the United States and Israel work to secure their release.\n\nEnsure no Palestinians are forcibly removed from Gaza.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-announces-milwaukee-selected-as-finalist-in-new-economic-development-program-opens-door-to-up-to-50-million-investment", "Baldwin Announces Milwaukee Selected as Finalist in New Economic Development Program; Opens Door to Up to $50 Million Investment", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Grow Milwaukee Recompete Plan has been selected as a finalist for a new economic development initiative, the Recompete Pilot Program. The Recompete Pilot Program was created under the Baldwin-supported CHIPS and Science Act to do targeted economic development in distressed communities and create and connect people to good jobs.\n\nOut of 560 applicants nationwide, Grow Milwaukee was one of only 22 organizations selected to move forward in the process, allowing them to compete for up to a $50 million economic development investment. Grow Milwaukee will also receive a $500,000 Strategy Development Grant to further develop their plan. Grow Milwaukee's focus will be centered on the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, an area with a history of segregation and business exodus that has stunted economic prosperity in the surrounding area.\n\n\u201cI voted for the CHIPS and Science Act to bring home manufacturing jobs and open the door to economic opportunity for Wisconsin families,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am thrilled that Milwaukee has been selected for this program, putting us on the path to connect more people with good-paying jobs, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and ensure that no community is left behind.\u201d\n\nGrow Milwaukee is a consortium of Milwaukee organizations including Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, the Milwaukee Bucks, Rockwell Automation, Jonco Industries, WRTP Big Step, City of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County that is aiming to support business growth, revitalize vacant and underutilized sites, expand small businesses, and create workforce pathways to quality jobs, including union, trades, and advanced manufacturing positions. Senator Baldwin advocated to the Biden administration for Grow Milwaukee\u2019s application earlier this year.\n\nThe Strategy Development Grant for $500,000 can be used to hire experts, build and strengthen partnerships, conduct studies, pilot strategies, and more. This Recompete Pilot Program targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment significantly trails the national average, with the goal to close this gap through large, flexible investments. More information on the Recompete Pilot Program can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-brings-home-over-15-million-for-rhinelander-oneida-county-airport-upgrades", "Baldwin Brings Home Over $1.5 Million for Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport Upgrades", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport is receiving over $1.5 million through the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make necessary upgrades to improve safety and increase efficiency for travelers.\n\n\u201cWisconsin relies on our regional airports to connect travelers, commuters, and businesses to destinations around the world,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud that my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making this investment to help keep our Made in Wisconsin economy moving forward and travelers in Northern Wisconsin safe for years to come.\u201d\n\nThe investment comes through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, which is making a $15 billion investment over five years nationwide to upgrade runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. In just the first three years of the program, Wisconsin airports have received over $117 million in AIG grants.\n\nThe $1.5 million grant for the County of Oneida and City of Rhinelander will be used to improve 15,000 square feet of the airport's existing runway to address drainage issues, install new lighting on runways, and upgrade existing signage and navigation aids that provide pilots with critical airfield information, including an airport beacon that has reached the end of its useful life.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport Commission and its regional sponsors, we extend our gratitude to Senator Baldwin for her continued support of our facility. Funding for this comprehensive project will go toward supplanting much of our airport\u2019s 45-year-old physical infrastructure,\u201d said Matthew J. Leitner, Airport Director at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport. \u201cThis will enhance our airport\u2019s operational capabilities and further increase the economic contribution it makes to our region, which is already over $40,000,000 annually.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-delivers-27-million-to-help-grow-wisconsins-agricultural-businesses", "Baldwin Delivers $27 Million to Help Grow Wisconsin\u2019s Agricultural Businesses", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced a new partnership between Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen the Badger State\u2019s food supply through the Baldwin-backed American Rescue Plan. Through this agreement, USDA and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will offer $27 million in grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the food supply chain.\n\n\u201cOur farmers and producers feed the world and are the economic engines that drive many of our rural economies \u2013 but many face roadblocks to increasing capacity and getting their products to consumers. Whether it's lowering processing costs or improving access to local grocery stores, this partnership will help our farmers tackle these problems, strengthen our food supply chains, and create economic opportunity for our farmers,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to bring home this investment for Wisconsin to ensure our farmers have the tools they need to grow their businesses and reach new markets.\u201d\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s agricultural industry is core to our culture, heritage, and economy, and thanks to Senator Baldwin\u2019s advocacy at the federal level, we\u2019ve been able to direct more than $100 million in federal funds to support farmers across the state and invest in bolstering our food processors so they can increase capacity and get more of their product to market,\u201d said Governor Evers. \u201cThe announcement of this new cooperative agreement between USDA and DATCP will only build upon those efforts, strengthening our local food supply chains, supporting our rural communities, and keeping food on our grocery store shelves and our tables.\u201d\n\nThe partnership will fund projects that expand processing capacities, increase food storage space, reduce energy use, increase commercial kitchen space, improve aggregation and distribution, improve marketing and branding, and increase access to value-added markets for small farms. This will ultimately create more diverse local and regional market options and create additional economic opportunities for communities, allowing them to retain more of the value chain dollar. The state\u2019s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.\n\nIn May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program grants to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, the Agricultural Marketing Service has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories.\n\nWisconsin is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through March 6, 2024, and applicants should apply through DATCP. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.\n\nFor more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwins-law-to-support-made-in-america-freight-railcars-on-track-to-implementation", "Senator Baldwin\u2019s Law to Support Made in America Freight Railcars on Track to Implementation", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that her bipartisan legislation to support Made in America freight railcars is going into effect, safeguarding our national security against state-owned companies in countries like China. Senator Baldwin introduced Stopping America\u2019s Foreign Enemies Through Rail and Infrastructure National Security Act (SAFE TRAINS Act) with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and successfully added it as an amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021.\n\n\u201cInvesting in American manufacturing has always been a win-win for American taxpayers, businesses, and workers, but when it comes to freight rail, ensuring our railcars are not manufactured in China is also a national security imperative. Our economy depends on freight rail to transport goods and get products to market, and it\u2019s critical the U.S. does not rely on China for this crucial mode of transportation,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \"I\u2019m proud my bipartisan legislation to safeguard our rail supply chains is going into effect, supporting American manufacturing, and helping ensure Made in Wisconsin businesses have safe, reliable rail service for years to come.\u201d\n\nThe SAFE TRAINS Act of 2021 prohibits railroad freight cars from operating on the U.S. freight railroad interchange system if the cars are manufactured in or use sensitive technologies from a country of concern or an affiliated state-owned enterprise. Countries of concern include nonmarket economies, those that inadequately protect intellectual property rights, and violators of certain foreign trade practices and agreements.\n\nLast week, the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) took the first steps to implement Senator Baldwin\u2019s legislation, proposing a rule to place restrictions on newly built freight cars placed into service in the United States.\n\n\"The Railway Supply Institute strongly supports protecting the freight rolling stock supply chain from bad actors and unfair competition. We applaud the FRA for its work to ensure our freight rail network is secure and are encouraged by our initial review of the proposed rule. We are hopeful that the final rule will mirror congressional intent of the SAFE TRAINS provision in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,\u201d said Patty Long, President, Railway Supply Institute.\n\n\u201cProtecting our nation\u2019s freight rail rolling stock from foreign adversaries like China is not optional. We are grateful for the leadership of Sens. Baldwin and Cornyn for prioritizing the SAFE TRAINS Act as part of the 2021 infrastructure law and thank the Federal Railroad Administration for their work. The national and economic security of the U.S. rail interchange system depends on being free from unfair competition and the incursion of state-owned enterprises from adversarial countries,\u201d said Erik Olson, Executive Director, Rail Security Alliance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-demands-swift-response-to-inquiry-into-sexual-assault-harassment-at-the-coast-guard-academy", "Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Demands Swift Response to Inquiry into Sexual Assault & Harassment at the Coast Guard Academy", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Admiral Linda Fagan, United States Coast Guard Academy Commandant, demanding the Coast Guard immediately provide all records responsive to PSI\u2019s probe into sexual assault and harassment at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This followsPSI\u2019s hearing last week with current and former Coast Guard Academy cadets, who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or retaliation at the Academy and in the Coast Guard.\n\n\u201cIt is clear from this testimony, and the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry to date, that the Coast Guard\u2019s culture of cover-up has allowed sexual assault and sexual harassment to persist for decades, both at the Academy and in the Coast Guard,\u201dwrote Sens. Johnson and Blumenthal in a letter to Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan. \u201cIt is equally apparent that accountability and systematic change at both the Coast Guard and the Academy are necessary to address past failures and to ensure that future cadets are protected. Full compliance with the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry is a necessary component of these actions.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have expressed a commitment to investigate reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, hold perpetrators accountable, support victims, and be fully transparent with Congress and the American people. It is imperative that you live up to that commitment and ensure that the Coast Guard provides all requested documents and information to the Subcommittee without further delay,\u201dthe senators continued. \u201cShould the Coast Guard continue to withhold or redact requested records, PSI will have no choice but to utilize other means to ensure compliance with congressional oversight.\u201d\n\nIn September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard Academy\u2019s mishandling of sexual assault investigations and its failure to disclose the results of its sexual assault investigation to Congress or the public.\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-continues-to-push-for-federal-funding-to-rebuild-the-blatnik-bridge", "Baldwin Continues to Push for Federal Funding to Rebuild the Blatnik Bridge", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) are urging Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to support Wisconsin and Minnesota\u2019s application for federal funding to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge.\n\n\u201cWe write to reiterate our strong support of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Department of Transportations\u2019 application for federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cBy replacing the Blatnik Bridge, the project would exemplify the type of critical infrastructure project that was envisioned by Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs noted in our previous letter to President Biden in September 2023, the Blatnik Bridge, located over St. Louis Bay on Lake Superior, is one of two bridges that connects the cities of Duluth, Minnesota with Superior, Wisconsin,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cIt is an essential economic engine in the region and a key link in the global supply chain.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Baldwin called on the Biden Administration to support the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)\u2019s application for federal funding to rebuild the critical bridge. In September, Senator Baldwin and a bipartisan group of eight Minnesota and Wisconsin legislators sent a letter to President Biden urging him to fund this project.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg:\n\nWe write to reiterate our strong support of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation\u2019s application for federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This federal funding will improve the condition of major bridges across the country. By replacing the Blatnik Bridge, the project would exemplify the type of critical infrastructure project that was envisioned by Congress.\n\nAs noted in our letter to President Biden in September 2023, the Blatnik Bridge, located over St. Louis Bay on Lake Superior, is one of two bridges that connects the cities of Duluth, Minnesota with Superior, Wisconsin. The Bridge carries Interstate Highway 535 and over 33,000 vehicles per day. It is an essential economic engine in the region and a key link in the global supply chain. Each year, 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods pass over the bridge. Many businesses and industries in the region also rely on the bridge to reach the Port of Duluth-Superior, the largest U.S. port on the Great Lakes and North America\u2019s farthest-inland freshwater seaport.\n\nHowever, the bridge is over sixty years old and has reached the end of its useful service life. It is in poor condition with significant structural deterioration, creating serious capacity, mobility, and safety concerns. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would be used to replace the Blatnik Bridge. Specifically, the project would replace all structural elements of the bridge, address safety concerns at bridge interchanges, and restore the bridge to its original operational condition. These improvements to the bridge would significantly enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of this key regional connection. Completing this project would support the needs of Minnesotans and Wisconsinites by improving and modernizing the regional transportation network in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.\n\nThank you again for your attention to the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation\u2019s application for funding.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-joins-colleagues-in-calling-for-a-meeting-of-the-conference-to-discuss-border-security-negotiations", "Sen. Johnson Joins Colleagues in Calling for a Meeting of the Conference to Discuss Border Security Negotiations", "2023-12-17", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined 14 of his Senate GOP colleagues in sending a letter to Conference Chair John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.) requesting a meeting of the Conference the week of January 8, 2024 to discuss the negotiations with President Biden and Senate Democrats regarding border security.\n\nSen. Johnson was joined on this letter by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 17, 2023\n\nThe Honorable John Barrasso\n\nChairman\n\nSenate Republican Conference\n\nDear Senator Barrasso:\n\nWe write to request that you call a meeting of the Conference to discuss Senate negotiations on securing the border. Rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats who want an open border and who caused the current crisis will not secure the border. The American public deserves an open and transparent process which cannot occur until the House returns the week of January 8, 2024. Accordingly, we request this Conference be held the week of January 8th, but not before.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-releases-statement-on-letter-calling-for-gop-conference-meeting-to-discuss-border-security-negotiations", "Sen. Johnson Releases Statement on Letter Calling for GOP Conference Meeting to Discuss Border Security Negotiations", "2023-12-17", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released the following statement on the letter sent today by 15 Senate Republicans to Conference Chair John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.) requesting a meeting of the Conference the week of January 8, 2024 to discuss the negotiations with President Biden and Senate Democrats regarding border security.\n\n\u201cEarlier today, I joined 14 Republican Senate colleagues in releasing our letter calling for a meeting of the Senate Republican Conference to discuss the negotiations with the White House and Senate Democrats regarding securing our border.\n\n\u201cThe crisis at the southwest border is unlike anything we\u2019ve experienced in American history. The massive flood of illegal migration is an order of magnitude larger than the \u2018humanitarian crisis\u2019 President Obama sparked when he abused \u2018prosecutorial discretion\u2019 and granted Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in 2012. In 2019, Obama\u2019s Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated that 1,000 apprehensions per day \u2018overwhelm[ed] the system.\u2019 We recently experienced over 12,000 \u2018encounters\u2019 in a single day, and it has become common for encounters to exceed 10,000 per day.\n\n\u201cOf the more than 6 million migrants who have entered and stayed since President Biden took office and opened the border, approximately 1.7 million have been what CBP calls \u2018known gotaways.\u2019 That\u2019s a misnomer, because we have no idea who these people are or where they went \u2014 we just detected them illegally crossing our porous border. With FBI Director Wray confirming that terror threats to our nation are at an all-time high, particularly from Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Biden\u2019s open border represents a clear and present danger to America.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, President Biden and his Democrat allies in Congress WANT an open border. Biden came into office with the border largely secured, and then immediately reversed all the policies that had successfully stemmed the flow of illegal migrants. The fact that President Biden and congressional Democrats ARE the root cause of the current crisis is a major problem in conducting good-faith negotiations with them.\n\n\u201cBecause President Biden has not faithfully executed existing law, lied repeatedly to the public, ignored and violated Supreme Court rulings, and failed to engage in meaningful negotiations on securing the border until only recently, it is impossible for Republicans to trust him to comply with whatever he agrees to. That\u2019s a real challenge for Republican negotiators.\n\n\u201cI appreciate Senator Lankford\u2019s knowledge and tenacity in negotiating the types of policies and legislative language that would provide a president who actually wants to secure the border with the authorities to do so. The essential ingredient will be how to enforce any agreement reached. I have suggested making Ukraine funding contingent on benchmarks being met on a monthly basis. I am open to other foolproof enforcement ideas.\n\n\"Conducting rushed and secret backroom negotiations is not the way to address the unprecedented border crisis. That\u2019s the kind of business as usual process that Washington leadership has relied upon to mortgage our children\u2019s future and weaken our country. Whatever negotiators produce will need to be fully vetted, discussed, and understood \u2014 by members and the general public. That will take weeks \u2014 not hours or days. I look forward to our conference meeting the week of January 8th, where we can begin that vetting and discussion.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-and-colleagues-demand-va-step-up-and-protect-veterans-from-prescription-drug-abuse", "Baldwin and Colleagues Demand VA Step Up and Protect Veterans from Prescription Drug Abuse", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined five of her colleagues in pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take swift action to protect veterans seeking opioid prescriptions following concerning reports that found some providers of veterans\u2019 health care are not meeting VA prescription opioids safety standards.\n\n\u201cWe write today to discuss our concerns with the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 oversight of non-VA providers who prescribe opioids to veterans,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough. \u201cIn Fiscal Year 2022, the Department spent more than $27 billion in the community for health care services for veterans. VA must ensure the dollars it spends result in high-quality, safe care for veterans.\u201d\n\nIn 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services declared opioid deaths a public health emergency. At the time, studies indicated veterans were twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses. To combat this, Congress included a provision in the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to ensure non-VA providers were informed of VA best practices and evidence-based guidelines when prescribing opioids under VA\u2019s Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI). Congress also required third-party administrators responsible for contracting with VA community care providers to check their states prescription drug monitoring program to mitigate prescription drug abuse and overdose by veterans using VA community care.\n\nHowever, a recent report from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) found the third-party administrators failed to provide adequate oversight of whether Veterans Community Care Network health care providers were completing and certifying VA\u2019s OSI training module. The OIG also found that approximately 14,700 of 18,200 non-VA providers in the Community Care Network who prescribed opioids to veterans in fiscal year 2021 had not completed VA\u2019s OSI training module and did not certify their mandated review of VA\u2019s guidelines. An additional VA OIG report found a similar lapse in oversight resulted in patients being overprescribed opioids from both VA and Community Care Network providers\u2014increasing veterans\u2019 risk of sedation and overdose.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cIt is clear VA and its contracted third-party administrators failed to do their due diligence in ensuring the health and safety of the veterans in their care\u2026As stated many times before, we feel if there is an issue at one location, it will likely occur elsewhere. The Department must work not only to address the shortcomings outlined in these OIG reports but also to ensure lessons learned are implemented system-wide.\u201d\n\nContinuing their efforts to protect veterans and ensure they are being provided high-quality care, the Senators urged VA to provide an update on their implementation of recommendations from the OIG reports. These recommendations include issuing formal guidance to VA pharmacy staff regarding best practices related to prescription drug monitoring programs after receiving controlled substance prescriptions from community providers, and strengthening its own monitoring controls over third-party administrators. The lawmakers concluded their letter by urging VA to move swiftly to address their concerns and protect veterans.\n\n\u201cIt is the responsibility of VA to ensure the veterans in its care, or that of its community partners, are being provided high-quality care,\u201d concluded the Senators. \u201cWe urge VA to act to ensure our nation\u2019s veterans are not put at risk when seeking care in the community\u2026VA can outsource the work \u2013 but it cannot outsource the responsibility for taking care of our veterans.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and co-signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-MA), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).\n\nA full version of this letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-warren-lead-group-of-38-senators-in-introducing-resolution-affirming-support-for-medication-abortion", "Baldwin, Warren Lead Group of 38 Senators in Introducing Resolution Affirming Support for Medication Abortion", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led 38 other Senators in introducing a resolution in support of access to the widely used, safe medication abortion. This action comes as Americans continue to grapple with the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and follows this week\u2019s announcement that the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to medication abortion access.\n\n\u201cIn Wisconsin and across the country, the right to comprehensive health care is under attack,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cWe need to fight on all fronts to restore and protect the freedom of every American to make their own health care decisions, and that includes protecting access to medication abortion. Mifepristone is a safe, effective, and sometimes lifesaving medication, and it\u2019s high time politicians and judges leave women alone and allow Americans to make their own decisions about their health, families, and future.\u201d\n\nThe resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the scientific judgment of the FDA that mifepristone is safe and effective should be respected, and that law and policy governing access to life-saving, time-sensitive medication abortion care in the United States should be equitable and based on science. The resolution affirms that mifepristone is safe and effective, while acknowledging the significant harm that would be posed to both health care providers and patients across the nation if mifepristone were sharply curtailed.\n\nSenator Baldwin is a steadfast advocate for women\u2019s reproductive freedom, and is the lead sponsor of the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.\n\nThe resolution was also co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-WY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).\n\nThe resolution has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Council of Jewish Women, The Century Foundation\u2019s Health Equity and Reform Team, National Partnership for Women and Families, Guttmacher Institute, Center for Reproductive Rights, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), In Our Own Voice: National Black Women\u2019s Reproductive Justice Agenda, and the EMAA Project.\n\nResolution text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-helps-advance-bipartisan-bill-to-address-opioid-and-fentanyl-crisis", "Baldwin Helps Advance Bipartisan Bill to Address Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin helped pass major legislation out of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to address the opioid and fentanyl crisis by investing in prevention, treatment recovery, and law enforcement efforts. The bipartisan Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2023, or SUPPORT Act included key provisions Senator Baldwin authored to train first responders to prevent overdoses, combat opioid-related infectious diseases, and improve the health of expecting mothers and their children, among other things.\n\n\u201cToo many families know the pain of losing a loved one too soon to a drug overdose or poisoning,\" said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAs we continue to see the sharp rise in poisonings and overdoses caused by synthetic drugs like fentanyl, we need to fight this epidemic on all fronts \u2013 making sure that these drugs cannot come into our country, our law enforcement have the resources they need, and our communities have access to life-saving overdose reversal drugs. I am happy to have worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to advance this needed legislation, help fight this growing crisis, and save lives.\u201d\n\nIn response to the opioid epidemic, Congress originally passed the SUPPORT Act in 2018 \u2013 legislation that focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery services for opioid misuse, including fentanyl. Now, Congress is working to reauthorize many of the provisions and add to their efforts to combat the opioid and substance use disorder crisis.\n\nThe SUPPORT Act incorporates a number of Senator Baldwin\u2019s bipartisan bills, including:\n\nSafe Response Act -Bipartisan legislation to ensure that first responders and other essential community members have access to training on how to use life-saving reversal drugs, like naloxone.\n\nBruce\u2019s Law \u2013 Bipartisan legislation to bolster federal prevention and education efforts surrounding fentanyl.\n\nEliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act \u2013 Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028.\n\nFASD Respect Act \u2013 Bipartisan legislation to collect data collection on prenatal smoking, alcohol, and other substance misuse, in addition to the outcomes associated with such activities on children\u2019s health.\n\nPACE Act \u2013 Bipartisan legislation that codifies a program to support State, territories, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, and local governments in carrying out public health activities to prevent or reduce adverse childhood experiences.\n\nEFFECTIVE Act \u2013 Bipartisan legislation to allow the FDA to deny a new drug application for an opioid analgesic drug on the basis of the drug not being clinically superior to other commercially available drugs.\n\nThe SUPPORT Act also includes a key provision that Senator Baldwin advocated for that would reauthorize and improve the CDC\u2019s Overdose Data to Action program to ensure that communities who receive grants as part of the program are able to use funding for emerging substances of concern, such as xylazine.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwins-bill-to-increase-access-to-lifesaving-cancer-screenings-advances-in-senate", "Senator Baldwin\u2019s Bill to Increase Access to Lifesaving Cancer Screenings Advances in Senate", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) advanced bipartisan legislation in the Senate this week to expand access to lifesaving cancer screenings. The Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act reauthorizes a lifesaving program that provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, or underinsured and who do not qualify for Medicaid. On Tuesday, the bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) with unanimous support, teeing it up for a full vote in the Senate.\n\nSenators Baldwin and Collins introduced the SCREENS for Cancer Act earlier this year to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which since 1991 has served more than 6.1 million women, detecting nearly 77,000 breast cancers and over 24,000 premalignant breast lesions.\n\n\u201cPreventative screenings can be the difference between life and death for Americans battling cancer. The NBCCEDP provides these lifesaving screenings to millions of women who would otherwise not have access to this critical care,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have worked with Republicans and Democrats to advance our bill so we can help ensure no American is locked out of lifesaving cancer screenings because of cost.\u201d\n\nBreast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Wisconsin, accounting for nearly one-third of all cancer diagnosed among women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2017 to 2021, the NBCCEDP has helped at least 10,000 women in Wisconsin receive a total of 9,908 preventative breast screening tests, and 3,564 cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. This preventative screening helped detect 204 breast cancers and 110 cervical cancers or pre-cancerous cervical lesions.\n\nThe SCREENS for Cancer Act would reauthorize NBCCEDP through 2028. The program, which is a partnership between the CDC and state health departments, provides public education, outreach, patient navigation and care coordination to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates and reach underserved, vulnerable populations. Without access to early detection programs, many people who are uninsured are forced to delay or forgo screenings, which can lead to late-stage cancer diagnoses. This delay can mean that a person may not seek care until the cancer has spread, making it more dangerous, more expensive, and harder to treat.\n\nThe bill would also increase flexibility to NBCCEDP grantees, allowing for a greater emphasis on implementing innovative evidence-based interventions and aggressive outreach to underserved communities through media, peer educators, and patient navigators. At current funding levels, NBCCEDP serves fewer than 15 percent of the estimated number of eligible women for breast cancer services. The SCREENS for Cancer Act provides additional funding to better support the program and ensure that more women are able to access services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-joins-bipartisan-push-to-stop-surge-in-mexican-steel-imports-and-support-us-workers", "Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Push to Stop Surge in Mexican Steel Imports and Support U.S. Workers", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in pushing the Biden Administration to take action to stop an unsustainable increase in Mexican steel imports. In a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the senators demanded the Administration set a clear deadline for Mexico to enforce its 2019 agreement with the U.S., and urged the Administration to take reciprocal action to counter the increase in Mexican steel imports if the country refuses to comply.\n\nEarlier this year, the senators voiced their deep concerns with the surge in Mexican steel imports and urged the Administration to act. Today, the Mexican government is still refusing to comply with the 2019 agreement, and the delay in action by the administration is costing American steel jobs.\n\n\u201cWe write to you regarding the surge of Mexican steel imports into the U.S. market in violation of the 2019 Joint Agreement on Steel and Aluminum. This breach, and the resulting surge, threatens our manufacturing base and American national security, and demands immediate action from the administration,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nThe senators continued: \u201cThe administration must do more to protect America\u2019s steel industry and prevent the further loss of good-paying American jobs. Failure to conclude an export monitoring agreement due to the unwillingness or inability of the Mexican government is unacceptable. We urge the administration to set a clear deadline for the implementation of an export monitoring agreement. If Mexico fails to meet this deadline or proves unable or unwilling to effectively enforce the 2019 Joint Agreement, we respectfully urge the administration to take aggressive action to counter the increase of Mexican steel imports.\u201d\n\nIn August, Mexico\u2019s Grupo Simek announced plans to close Republic Steel plants in Canton, Ohio, and Lackawanna, New York, while moving significant quantities of that production to Mexico. These closures will mean the loss of over 500 good-paying, union jobs. Grupo Simek\u2019s decision not to invest in their U.S.-based assets and to shift production to Mexico further highlights the lack of seriousness by the Mexican Government in adhering to the 2019 agreement.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and also signed by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Ted Budd (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Bob Casey (D-PA).\n\nThe full letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Mr. Sullivan,\n\nWe write to you regarding the surge of Mexican steel imports into the U.S. market in violation of the 2019 Joint Agreement on Steel and Aluminum. This breach, and the resulting surge, threatens our manufacturing base and American national security, and demands immediate action from the administration. We request additional information on the administration\u2019s plans to address this continued surge and urge you to take immediate action to safeguard U.S. jobs and domestic steel manufacturing.\n\nData from 2022 shows that annual iron and steel imports from Mexico have increased by approximately 73 percent over the pre-Section 232 2015-2017 baseline.[1] During the same period, semi-finished steel and long product imports increased 120 percent and steel conduit imports rose 577 percent.[2]\n\nThis steel surge has already resulted in at least one plant closure, the loss of over a thousand new and existing jobs, and the deferment of hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment.\n\nWe are deeply concerned by Mexico\u2019s continued failure to comply with the 2019 Joint Agreement, along with ongoing attempts by Mexican steel companies to further increase their market share in the United States. Wire and rebar producer Deacero, for example, just opened a new Laredo, Texas distribution center to \u201cget a bigger share of the US market.\u201d[3] Grupo Simek bought Republic Steel and is now closing plants in Ohio and New York to move production to a facility east of Mexico City.[4] A Mexican electric conduit producer, Quality Tube S.A., is expanding its distribution enormously in Laredo to further penetrate the U.S. market.\n\nWe commend Ambassador Tai for securing a commitment on September 23, 2023, from Mexican Economic Minister Buenrostro to reinstate export monitoring to guarantee future compliance with the 2019 Joint Agreement. However, we are concerned that the Mexican government is willfully delaying finalization of this agreement and is negotiating in bad faith.\n\nFurthermore, we are concerned that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has drastically reduced the staff of Mexico\u2019s Economy Ministry by at least a third, putting into question whether Mexico can even enforce an export monitoring agreement. The administration must do more to protect America\u2019s steel industry and prevent the further loss of good-paying American jobs.\n\nFailure to conclude an export monitoring agreement due to the unwillingness or inability of the Mexican government is unacceptable. We urge the administration to set a clear deadline for the implementation of an export monitoring agreement. If Mexico fails to meet this deadline or proves unable or unwilling to effectively enforce the 2019 Joint Agreement, we respectfully urge the administration to take aggressive action to counter the increase of Mexican steel imports.\n\nWe ask for an update from your office by December 31, 2023 on the administration\u2019s next steps in driving these post-breach negotiations to conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-to-strengthen-national-security-support-service-members-and-stand-up-to-china", "Senator Baldwin Votes to Strengthen National Security, Support Service Members, and Stand Up to China", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which passed the Senate 87-13. The annual defense bill includes a pay increase for service members, key investments for Wisconsin military installations, protections against our adversaries, and updates to strengthen Buy America policies for defense spending.\n\n\u201cAt a time when tensions are rising globally, Democrats and Republicans came together to make a down payment on our national security: supporting our service members, standing up against our adversaries, and making important investments in our Made in America supply chains. This bipartisan legislation delivers a well-deserved pay raise for our military and their families and additional resources so our service members can get the housing and healthcare they deserve,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI was also proud this legislation included a provision that strengthens our Made in America economy \u2013 better ensuring taxpayer dollars used for our nation\u2019s defense support American workers and businesses, while housing more critical supply chains in America.\u201d\n\nInvesting in Made in America \u2013 NDAA includes an amendment that would increase domestic content percentages for major defense acquisition programs from 55% to 75% by January 1, 2029. Senator Baldwin supported this measure in the Senate version of NDAA and pushed to include strong Buy America provisions in the final legislation passed today.\n\nSupporting Service Members\n\nPay Increase for Service Members: The bill authorizes a 5.2% pay increase, the largest raise for service members in 20 years.\n\nAffordable Housing: It also modifies the calculation for the basic allowance for housing rates for junior enlisted members living in areas with limited housing inventory, a change that would support junior service members stationed at locations such as Fort McCoy and some Coast Guard locations.\n\nParental Leave: Expands parental leave for certain members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.\n\nInvesting in Military Infrastructure\n\nWisconsin\u2019s Military Installations: The legislation includes $18.2 million for an Army National Guard Readiness Center in Viroqua and $5.2 million for an Air Force National Guard F-35 maintenance facility at Truax Airfield.\n\nPFAS Remediation: Senator Baldwin has been working to ensure Wisconsin military installations have the resources they need to remediate PFAS. The 2024 NDAA requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the pace, thoroughness, and cost-effectiveness of the Defense Department\u2019s PFAS remediation efforts.\n\nStanding up to Adversaries\n\nBarring Logistics Systems from China: Prevents the Department of Defense and its contractors from using logistics systems owned or operated by the People\u2019s Republic of China.\n\nBarring Aerial Systems from China: Prevents, except in certain circumstances, Executive Branch agencies from purchasing or operating unmanned aerial systems manufactured in the People\u2019s Republic of China.\n\nAdditional details on the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-to-hold-press-conference-on-impact-of-crime-in-wisconsin-due-to-biden-s-open-border-policies", "Sen. Johnson to Hold Press Conference on Impact of Crime in Wisconsin Due to Biden\u2019s Open Border Policies", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "OSHKOSH \u2013 On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) will attend a closed-door meeting with Winnebago County, City of Oshkosh, and neighboring area law enforcement officials highlighting the impact of the illegal drug trade, sex trafficking, and cartel-related activities in numerous Wisconsin communities\u2014all in part due to the disastrous situation at the southern border. Following this, the senator will hold a press conference.\n\nWHAT: Meeting,Press Conference\n\nWHO: Senator Ron Johnson, Members of Law Enforcement\n\nWHEN: December 15, 2023\n\nMEETING:1:30 p.m. CT (closed to media)\n\nPRESS CONFERENCE:2:15 p.m. CT\n\nWHERE: Winnebago County Sheriff\u2019s Office\n\n4311 Jackson St\n\nOshkosh, WI 54901\n\nRSVP: Please RSVP byFriday, December 15 at 1:00 PM CT with name, outlet, email and phone number topress@ronjohnson.senate.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-grassley-ernst-team-up-to-lower-fertilizer-cost-for-farmers", "Baldwin, Grassley, Ernst Team Up to Lower Fertilizer Cost for Farmers", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in leading a bipartisan push to help lower the cost of fertilizer by shedding light on market factors driving the cost of fertilizer, a major expense for farmers. The Midwest senators\u2019 Fertilizer Research Act would require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on competition and trends in the fertilizer market to determine their subsequent impacts on price.\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s farmers work long hours year-round to provide food for our families, but in recent years, they have faced tough economic headwinds, including the high cost of fertilizer. This hurts their bottom lines, our rural communities, and American consumers, and we need to do more to address rising input costs for our agricultural industry. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Grassley to improve the fertilizer market so our farmers can afford to continue feeding America,\u201d Baldwin said.\n\n\u201cFarmers\u2019 bottom lines thin as the price of fertilizer rises. With fertilizer being one of the ag industry\u2019s highest input costs, its problematic farmers have such a limited window into market fluctuations. Our bill will provide farmers in Iowa and across the Heartland with needed transparency and certainty as they navigate production costs,\u201d Grassley said.\n\n\u201cBidenomics has been tough on all Iowans, especially our farmers and rural communities. On top of rising prices for everyday goods, Iowa\u2019s ag community is facing all-time high fertilizer costs,\u201d Ernst said. \u201cSenator Chuck Grassley and I are teaming up to force Biden\u2019s USDA to create more transparency around why fertilizer costs are so high and how we can work to bring them down.\u201d\n\nThe Fertilizer Research Act is endorsed by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.\n\nWithin one year of the bill\u2019s passage, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Economic Research Council, would be required to issue a report on USDA\u2019s website regarding the U.S. fertilizer industry. Specifically, the report should include:\n\nA description of impacts on the fertilizer market that influence price;\n\nMarket trends in the past 25 years;\n\nA description of the imported fertilizer and market impacts;\n\nImpacts of anti-dumping and countervailing duties;\n\nA study of fertilizer industry concentration;\n\nA study of emerging fertilizer technologies; and\n\nA description of whether current public price reporting is sufficient for market transparency.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/icymi-sen-johnson-unravels-biden-family-foreign-business-entanglements-and-addresses-danger-of-biden-s-open-border", "ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Unravels Biden Family Foreign Business Entanglements and Addresses Danger of Biden\u2019s Open Border", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Larry Kudlow on Kudlow and Sean Hannity on Hannity to address the scandal of the Biden crime family corruption, and the need for Senate Republicans to make any Ukraine funding contingent on achieving benchmarks that actually secure the southern border. On Saturday, the senator joined Fox and Friends\u2019 Rachel Campos-Duffy, Will Cain, and Pete Hegseth where he also discussed solutions to record-high drug shortages and the liberties and freedoms that unite Americans.\n\nOn Hannity, Sen. Johnson discussed how he and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) attempted to warn the American public about how Joe Biden was compromised through the corrupt and illicit activities of his family\u2019s business dealings leading up to 2020.\n\nWatch the full interview with Sean Hannity here.\n\nOn how President Biden is compromised by his family receiving millions from our adversaries\n\n\u201cI think Chairman Comer, Chairman Smith, Chairman Jordan have done an excellent job of building on the record that Senator Grassley and I developed before the election. And now you've got Hunter Biden out there doing podcasts, you know, whining about being persecuted. I've said repeatedly I took no joy in uncovering the Biden crime family corruption. But Senator Grassley and I, we were trying to warn the American public before an election, before Joe Biden became president, before he was compromised. We tried to warn the American public that this man and his family had received millions of dollars from countries that were adversaries of ours. That if he were elected, that he would be compromised and our national security would be compromised. That's why we did this.\u201d\n\nOn how no one should feel sorry for Hunter Biden given his vile and criminal actions\n\n\u201cThis has nothing to do with some vendetta against poor Hunter Biden. Who, by the way, $872,000 on women and adult entertainment. Now, those women, and we knew this and reported on this, these women were probably trafficked through an international sex trafficking ring. We're supposed to feel sorry for a man in his late forties to early fifties who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on women who were sex trafficked. I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for the man whatsoever.\u201d\n\nWatch the full interview with Larry Kudlow here.\n\nOn Kudlow, Sen. Johnson slammed Joe Biden\u2019s open border, calling it a \u201cclear and present danger\u201d to the country. He emphasized that any funding for Ukraine must be tied to benchmarks that secure our border.\n\nOn the senator\u2019s plan to reduce the flow of illegal migrants and close Biden\u2019s open border through hard metrics tied to Ukraine aid\n\n\u201cThe open border, Biden and the Democrats\u2019 open border, is a clear and present danger to this country. It should be our number one national security and homeland security priority, and we have to use whatever leverage we have. Biden wants money for Ukraine, regardless of how you view funding for Ukraine, we must use that as leverage. And so we just wrote an op-ed, Senator Scott and I did for Fox News, that says that \u2018any money going to Ukraine must be contingent on actually securing the border.\u2019 We need to establish benchmarks, just like any kind of incentive you would have in business, benchmarks must be established, and they must be met, before money flows on a monthly basis to Ukraine. It's common sense. They're looking for $60 billion. You know, President Trump, under current law, secured the border in about 12 months. He went from peak to trough in 12 months with remain in Mexico and safe third countries. So, listen, I want the language that Senator Lankford is trying to negotiate for. Democrats are not negotiating in good faith. But regardless of what language we get passed, we cannot count on this president to faithfully execute those laws. This is a lawless administration. This is a president that wants an open border.\u201d\n\nWatch the full interview with Fox and Friends here.\n\nOn Fox and Friends, the senator broke down the vast financial foreign entanglements implicating President Biden and his son and addressed solutions to drug shortages exacerbated by federal government involvement in the healthcare market.\n\nOn the mountain of incriminating evidence against Joe Biden and his family\n\n\u201cOver a four year time period, where he decided not to pay $1.4 million in tax, he spent $4.9 million. Rachel, that's $23,500 a week, and he spent $872,000 on women and adult entertainment. That's $4,000 a week, about $600 a day. And these women were trafficked through an international sex trafficking ring. So, no, I don't feel sorry for Hunter Biden. He's a criminal. He has done vile, vile things. And now he's out there, you know, claiming persecution. Don't buy it. Nobody should feel sorry for Hunter Biden\u2026\n\n\u201cWell, Senator Grassley and I proved that Joe Biden was lying. The evidence continues to mount. Now, we know that Joe Biden had transferred into his account $40,000. You know these were supposedly loan repayments. But, you know, show us the loan documents, show us the interest payments. So no, I really appreciate the work that Chairmens Comer, and Smith, and Jordan are doing, they're filling in the pieces of the puzzle here, but the evidence is very incriminating and there's no way that Joe Biden can really evade his responsibility here. His family, he is corrupt, and he is compromised as president. He never should have been elected president, but because of the corrupt and complicit mainstream media that cover it up for him, and they continue to cover up for him, now, we're in this awful position here in America.\u201d\n\nOn how drug shortages can be alleviated through free market competition\n\n\u201cSo, what we have here, is we have a broken marketplace. Generally, when you have very low prices and shortages, it means that there are too few buyers. There are a lot of consumers, but there's just too much buying power concentrated in, for example, the government's hands, in a few insurance companies\u2019 hands. That's what needs to be broken up. We need to bring consumerism, the benefits of free market competition back into the drug market. Now, generic drugs might increase in price a little bit. That'll stabilize it, that\u2019ll alleviate those shortages. Don't look for a solution out of Washington, D.C. The federal government involved in healthcare has already screwed up the market. We need to let the market actually work.\u201d\n\nOn embracing the things that unite us as Americans: freedom and family\n\n\u201cWell, Americans are good people. I mean, we're concerned about each other, we want the best for our fellow citizens, we want the best for people all around the world. So Americans are good people, but we are being very ill-served by government. And one of my missions is to try and wean as many Americans off the federal government as possible. Understand, the federal government doesn't solve problems. It exacerbates problems. So defend your individual liberty and freedom and recognize we're not a naturally divided people. These are individuals, people like Joe Biden, people like the radical left that are purposely dividing us, which right now I would say our division is probably the greatest threat to this country, so resist it. Embrace the things that we all agree on: and that's freedom, that's raising our family, that\u2019s safety and security. Concentrate on those things.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-delivers-over-11-million-to-keep-wisconsinites-safe-on-the-road", "Baldwin Delivers Over $11 Million to Keep Wisconsinites Safe on the Road", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced eight Wisconsin communities are receiving a total of over $11 million in funding to improve safety on roadways through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, funded by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.\n\n\u201cI voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to keep Wisconsinites safe while traveling, create good paying jobs, and put Wisconsinites to work rebuilding our infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThis funding will help communities across the state reduce the amount of roadway incidents and make our streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers.\u201d\n\nThe SS4A program supports the development of a comprehensive safety action plan that identifies the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community, as well as the implementation of projects and strategies to address roadway safety issues. The awarded Planning and Demonstration Grants will provide funds to develop, complete, or supplement a comprehensive safety action plan. Planning and Demonstration Grants also fund supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities that inform the development of a new or existing Action Plan.\n\nThe following Wisconsin communities received SS4A grants:\n\nCity of Madison - $6,267,668 to make multiple safety improvements across 14 different projects to implement the Vision Zero Madison plan. Project components which include improving pedestrian, bicycle, and transit rider safety and accessibility with sidewalks, ADA ramps, median and pedestrian refuge islands, protected bike lanes, and traffic calming. With the majority of crashes occurring at intersections, the project focuses on making safety improvements on intersections along the City\u2019s transit network and shared use paths located in their HIN using low-cost, high-impact strategies. Other improvements include rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs), accessible pedestrian push buttons and pedestrian signal upgrades.\n\nCity of Milwaukee - $4,000,000 to update its Citywide Mobility Plan to meet SS4A Action Plan requirements; develop a Communications Plan to identify effective public engagement strategies; and conduct demonstration activities including street design corrections, neighborhood-scale traffic calming, innovative bike infrastructure, and transit improvements using temporary materials such as jersey barriers, modular bus boarding islands, rubber speed humps, and planters. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\nCity of Sheboygan - $200,000 to develop a comprehensive safety action plan, conduct a study of heavily traveled corridors, conduct stakeholder engagement to inform the development of a new Complete Streets policy for the City.\n\nPortage County - $200,000 to develop a comprehensive safety action plan; conduct supplemental planning activities to update the County\u2019s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; and pilot demonstration activities at concerning locations/corridors. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\nCity of River Falls - $200,000 to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.\n\nCounty of Chippewa - $200,000 to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.\n\nCity of West Bend - $197,600 to conduct supplemental planning activities including updating the City\u2019s Safety Action Plan, and conducting speed studies, comprehensive traffic counts, road safety audits, additional stakeholder outreach, and proactive traffic control warrants.\n\nMenominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin - $54,990 to conduct demonstration activities to test strategies in response to excessive speeding, such as speed bumps and visual signage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-delivers-upgraded-national-park-service-designation-additional-funding-opportunities-to-ice-age-trail", "Baldwin Delivers Upgraded National Park Service Designation, Additional Funding Opportunities to Ice Age Trail", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced a boost for Wisconsin\u2019s Ice Age and North Country scenic trails, providing them improved management and access to additional funding. Since 2014, Senator Baldwin has called for this change, designating Wisconsin\u2019s trails unit status under the National Park Service, to deliver additional federal resources to maintain and preserve these critical resources for Wisconsin.\n\n\u201cThe Ice Age Trail touches countless communities in the Badger State, charting a path from the St. Croix River, through the heart of Wisconsin, and all the way back up to Door County. Along those hundreds of miles, local businesses, families, outdoor enthusiasts, and communities reap the benefits as visitors from all over come to enjoy Wisconsin\u2019s great outdoors,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI was proud to lead the charge to support both the Ice Age and the North Country scenic trails new designations, unlocking additional federal resources to ensure generations to come can better enjoy Wisconsin\u2019s wilderness.\u201d\n\nSince 2014, Senator Baldwin has introduced the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, bipartisan legislation to grant unit status to three National Scenic Trails that are part of the National Park System (NPS), including the Ice Age and North Country National Scenic Trails, to improve management, establish administrative clarity, and grant access to additional federal resources.\n\nWisconsin\u2019s newly designated trails have joined the ranks of existing parks along with the New England scenic trail, bringing the total number of NPS units from 425 to 428. The Ice Age, New England, and North Country national scenic trails, all previously established by Congress and administered by the National Park Service as part of?the National Trails System, are now also recognized as units of the National Park System. Joining this system will raise public awareness about Wisconsin\u2019s national scenic trails and allow them to access more funding and programmatic resources of the agency that are limited to NPS units.\n\n\u201cThis is truly momentous for the Ice Age Trail and its thousands of supporters and volunteers,\u201d said Luke Kloberdanz, Executive Director and CEO of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. \u201cUnit status gives the Trail, and its volunteers, the recognition it duly deserves. Make no mistake: the Ice Age Trail is world-class and the number of hours Alliance volunteers devote to it consistently rank among the top in all the National Park Service.\u201d\n\nThe Ice Age National Scenic Trail?in Wisconsin is nearly 1,200 miles long. Its landscape of lakes, river valleys, gently rolling hills, and ridges?are reminders that just 15,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, much of North America lay under a huge glacier. The North Country National Scenic Trail?is expected to be a 4,600-mile continuous path when completed, crossing through Wisconsin in Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties.\n\nSenator Baldwin made the announcement Thursday with NPS Director Chuck Sams and Luke Kloberdanz, Executive Director and CEO of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. A full recording of that announcement is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-pushes-to-provide-milwaukee-residents-tools-to-compete-against-wealthy-out-of-state-investors-in-housing-market", "Baldwin Pushes to Provide Milwaukee Residents Tools to Compete Against Wealthy Out-of-State Investors in Housing Market", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Chicago to continue working with her office and Milwaukee affordable housing nonprofits to expand opportunities for Milwaukee residents to compete with wealthy, out-of-state investors for homes in Milwaukee neighborhoods. Senator Baldwin is asking the FHLB of Chicago to work with lenders in Milwaukee to provide unique and innovative financial products to first-time homebuyers or mission-oriented organizations that seek to compete with out-of-state investors for properties in their communities.\n\n\"Too many Wisconsinites struggle to find quality, affordable housing in their neighborhoods because wealthy out-of-state investors are buying up houses and locking out hard working families from home ownership,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m working with community partners to set up more Wisconsinites to buy homes, build generational wealth, and live in the neighborhoods they love.\u201d\n\nIn November, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees the FHLB System, concluded a year-long review of the System by releasing a report identifying that the Banks should be more active in addressing the affordable housing crisis. Senator Baldwin saw an opportunity for a new, innovative partnership between the FHLB of Chicago and affordable housing advocates, like Acts Housing and the Community Development Alliance, two organizations working to create a loan product for graduates of their homebuyer counseling programs to be able to compete with wealthy investors. By forging this partnership and creating a mortgage product for graduates of these community partners\u2019 homebuyer counseling programs, more Wisconsinites can have a path towards homeownership.\n\nAs of last year, out-of-state landlords owned over 7,000 single family homes in Milwaukee, up 50 percent since 2017 and 476 percent since 2005. Typically, out-of-state investors rent their properties for well above what a homeowner would pay in monthly costs. According to an analysis by Marquette University and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, out-of-state investors have almost exclusively targeted majority-Black neighborhoods in Milwaukee.\n\n\u201cOut-of-state investors are paying cash to buy dozens of Milwaukee homes at a time, putting affordable housing options for Milwaukee residents out of reach,\u201d said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. \u201cI am grateful to Senator Baldwin for her leadership to address this problem by working with Milwaukee housing advocates and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and I join her in encouraging the Bank to continue its work with the goal of developing innovative financial products to meet this challenge.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe know that racial inequities in homeownership rates and lack of access to affordable housing are challenges in Milwaukee County,\u201d said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. \u201cRather than wealthy, out-of-state investors buying up homes just to make a profit, we must work to put Milwaukee\u2019s housing stock back into the hands of Milwaukeeans. I am grateful for the leadership and partnership of Senator Tammy Baldwin in working with our community to expand affordable housing options, boost homeownership rates among our communities of color, and help us advance racial and health equity in Milwaukee County.\u201d\n\n\"Institutional purchases of single-family homes in Milwaukee coupled with mortgage rates that are at 20+ year highs have made homeownership increasingly out of reach for far too many families,\u201d said Michael Gosman, President & CEO, Acts Housing. \u201cThis year Acts Housing has supported more than 300 families with low-to-moderate income to become first-time homebuyers, but our community compels us to do more. We are eager to work with all potential partners, including public and private sector stakeholders, to make sure exponentially more families in our region have a path towards sustainable homeownership. We are profoundly grateful to Senator Baldwin for elevating these issues for the benefit of hardworking families.\"\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Ericson,\n\nI write to you out of concern for the affordable housing crisis across the nation and in Wisconsin. Over the last year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has conducted a review of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. On November 7, 2023, the FHFA released a report sharing its findings, FHLBank System at 100\u2014Focusing on the Future. Over the coming months, as you work with the FHFA to implement the recommendations of the report, I encourage you to continue leading the way among the 11 regional Banks in offering innovative programs to address the affordable housing crisis facing so many areas of Wisconsin today. I am encouraged by the progress you have made working with my staff and housing leaders in Milwaukee to develop financial products to serve first time homebuyers who face barriers to accessing credit in markets increasingly dominated by large, out-of-state investors. I am hopeful that your efforts will bear fruit next year.\n\nIn the nearly one hundred years the Banks have been in existence, much has changed in mortgage markets. As a result, the FHLBs\u2019 connection to the housing markets they were designed to serve has become less direct. The recent review conducted by the FHFA\u2014intended to clarify the mission of the FHLBs\u2014included solicitations of written input from the public as well as multiple listening sessions throughout the country. A frequent request from participants in the roundtable discussions was for the FHLB System to play a more active role in addressing the acute affordable housing crisis facing many parts of the country.\n\nIn Milwaukee, the affordable housing crisis has been exacerbated by out-of-state investors buying up single family homes. These investors are particularly attracted to urban centers hollowed out by the decline in manufacturing jobs, which provides buyers with ready access to cash the opportunity to buy many properties cheaply. As of last year, out-of-state landlords owned over 7,000 single family homes in Milwaukee, up 50 percent since 2017 and 476 percent since 2005. Out-of-state investors typically rent their properties for well above what a homeowner would pay in monthly costs. According to an analysis by Marquette University and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, out-of-state investors have almost exclusively targeted majority-Black neighborhoods in Milwaukee.\n\nWhile rental homes are an important part of meeting affordable housing needs, they should not come at the expense of first-time homebuyers looking to provide for their families, root themselves in a community, and build wealth. Unfortunately, the phenomenon in Milwaukee pits deep-pocketed and sophisticated investors against middle- and low-income families seeking homeownership. Homeownership is the most common way families build assets and wealth, yet homeownership rates have not recovered from the Great Recession, according to the 2020 Census. Black homeownership rates nationally are below the rate in 1968 when housing discrimination was first made illegal with the Fair Housing Act. In Wisconsin, Black homeownership rates have declined to 23 percent, the third-lowest in the nation.\n\nAs you work to implement the recommendations in FHFA\u2019s report, I believe that the FHLB of Chicago has an opportunity to expand its role by working with lenders in Wisconsin to provide unique and innovative financial products to first-time homebuyers or mission-oriented organizations that seek to compete with out-of-state investors for properties in their communities.\n\nThe Community Development Alliance and Acts Housing are two organizations working to create a loan product for graduates of their homebuyer counseling programs, which are approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These are prospective borrowers who\u2014for any number of reasons\u2014may not be eligible for traditional mortgage financing. The loans would be originated and serviced by Acts, which maintains the relationship with the borrower, but would be sold to banks in the region seeking credit from their regulators for lending within their communities under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).\n\nThe recently finalized Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule will increase the demand for exactly the kinds of loans that Acts and others in Milwaukee are looking to do. The rule will evaluate banks on their lending to low- and moderate-income borrowers, with special emphasis on smaller loans. Currently, Acts and other lenders are limited by their scale and the lack of access to a reliable secondary market, but with help from FHLB Chicago and its members, they could increase their scale to a level that could turn the tide in Milwaukee\u2019s neighborhoods.\n\nThe FHFA report noted that the agency will soon begin \u201crequiring the FHLBanks to establish mission-oriented collateral programs that could improve their support of safe, sustainable housing finance and community development products that lack a reliable secondary market outlet\u201d (emphasis added). While the timeline for this requirement could be over a year away, I am encouraged that it so closely mirrors your efforts with my office and Acts Housing. I hope that you will take the FHFA\u2019s proposed requirement as encouragement and not let an impending rule delay your efforts to spearhead the development of an innovative mortgage product and a reliable secondary market for its loans.\n\nWhile I am greatly encouraged that you are working with FHFA to implement the recommendations of the report, I also recognize that solutions are needed now in Wisconsin. The lack of affordable housing is getting worse as interest rates are kept stubbornly high, pushing traditional mortgages out of reach for so many in our region. In closing, I want to offer my office as a resource to work with you, the FHFA, and the many mission-oriented lenders and affordable housing advocates in Wisconsin towards our shared goal. Together I believe we can increase access to affordable housing that would allow low- and moderate-income families to buy homes and begin living their American Dream.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-announces-big-step-towards-expanding-rail-in-wisconsin", "Baldwin Announces Big Step Towards Expanding Rail in Wisconsin", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that five new routes in Wisconsin have been selected as priorities for passenger rail expansion and will be receiving $500,000 each in planning and development grants for a total of $2.5 million statewide. The funding for these projects comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program, funded by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cPassenger rail helps people get to work and school safely, boosts tourism and recreation, and grows our local economies, and I am proud to deliver funding to help expand it in Wisconsin,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to move our economy forward and get Wisconsinites where they need to go efficiently and safely, and I am excited to see these plans for passenger rail move forward.\u201d\n\nThe Corridor ID Program is a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country and create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation. Each selected Corridor will be granted $500,000 for eligible activities related to the initiation of a grantee\u2019s Corridor development efforts including the development of a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing a service development plan.\n\nThrough the Corridor ID Program, the following projects will receive funding:\n\nMilwaukee to Green Bay: The proposed Corridor would connect the existing Hiawatha service between Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI with an extension to Green Bay, WI. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\nMilwaukee to Chicago: The proposed Corridor would provide improvements to the existing Hiawatha service between Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL by adding new frequencies. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\nMilwaukee to Madison to Eau Claire: The proposed Corridor would connect Milwaukee, WI to Minneapolis, MN through Madison, WI and Eau Claire, WI. The proposed Corridor would provide new service on an existing alignment. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\nEau Claire to Twin Cities: The proposed Corridor would connect St. Paul, MN to Eau Claire, WI. The proposed Corridor would provide a new service on an existing alignment.\n\nChicago via La Crosse to St. Paul: The proposed Corridor would initiate a new daily round-trip between Chicago, IL and St. Paul, MN to complement the existing Amtrak long-distance Empire Builder, with an extension to Minneapolis, MN. Senator Baldwin submitted a letter of support for the project, which can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-support-communities-hurt-by-chinese-trade-cheating", "Baldwin, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Communities Hurt by Chinese Trade Cheating", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced bipartisan legislation that will support communities that have been negatively impacted by foreign, often Chinese companies that skirt trade laws. The legislation directs the millions of dollars collected in penalties for trade violations back to the communities impacted by unfair practices. Over the last three decades, American communities have lost millions of jobs after being exposed to the harms of cheaper, dumped, or illegally subsidized products imported into the U.S. from China.\n\nThe Resilient Communities Act would direct antidumping and countervailing duty revenue collected by Customs and Border Protection to a fund at the Commerce Department to support communities that have been injured by trade, including where there are companies facing layoffs, declining sales, or reduced shifts as a result of import competition.\n\n\u201cWhen countries like China cheat the trade system and flood the market with cheap goods, American companies, workers, and communities pay the price,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to lead this bill with my Republican colleague to invest in the places that are experiencing layoffs or closures because Chinese companies aren\u2019t playing by the rules.\u201d\n\n\u201cLouisiana shrimpers have a great story to tell. Their shrimp is fresher, cleaner, and tastes better,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cThis is an important step towards protecting the families that rely on Louisiana\u2019s seafood industry and ensuring that their communities prosper no matter how much China and India try to dump into U.S. markets.\u201d\n\nDumping is a predatory trade practice wherein a manufacturer sells their product in the United States for a price below the producer\u2019s sale price in their country of origin or cost of production in an effort to devalue their competitor\u2019s products. Countervailing duties, or anti-subsidy duties, are imposed to offset the lower prices of goods entering a country because of subsidies from foreign governments.\n\nWhile collections vary annually, antidumping and countervailing duty revenues collected by Customs and Border Protection have ranged from roughly $100 million to $300 million each year. Antidumping and countervailing duty laws are designed to raise the price of unfairly dumped and subsidized products to their fair market level, but filing a case is a costly and time-consuming process that too often comes too late for communities impacted by devalued goods flooding the market.\n\nUnder the Resilient Communities Act, the Secretary of Commerce would award these funds to communities that have been injured by trade, with priority given to communities where a domestic producer would be most likely to increase production and employment with the benefit of a grant. Additional eligible uses are for economic development, including: building public infrastructure, improving workforce development services, improving access to health and social services, and complying with Federal environmental standards.\n\nThis legislation is supported by the United Steelworkers and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.\n\nA one-pager of this legislation is available here. Full text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-emergency-national-security-funding-calls-for-border-deal", "Senator Baldwin Statement on Emergency National Security Funding; Calls for Border Deal", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting to advance legislation that would provide support for our allies, including Israel and Ukraine, deliver humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians, and strengthen our Southern border:\n\n\u201cThis emergency funding package is necessary to keep Americans safe at home and support our allies abroad, and I was proud to vote to advance it. This legislation makes key investments in our Southern border, helps our allies like Israel and Ukraine defend themselves in brutal wars against terrorists and war criminals, and delivers needed humanitarian aid to the innocent people caught in the crosshairs of these conflicts, like those in Gaza.\n\n\u201cThis bill would make long overdue investments in security for our Southern border and help stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl from coming into our country \u2013 but the truth is, it's not enough. I was encouraged by my colleagues\u2019 talks to draft a bipartisan deal that will help address our broken immigration system and strengthen our Southern border, and we must come back to the table to continue those negotiations. We owe it to the American people to find a compromise that helps secure our border and stop the flow of fentanyl coming into our communities \u2013 and I am committed to being part of the solution.\u201d\n\nDetails of the supplemental package can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sens-johnson-and-scott-for-fox-news-before-biden-gives-one-more-dime-to-ukraine-he-must-first-secure-our-border", "Sens. Johnson and Scott for FOX News: Before Biden Gives One More Dime to Ukraine, He Must First Secure Our Border", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Wednesday, FOX News published an op-ed by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) that addressed the \u201cclear and present danger\u201d of the open border under the Biden administration and called on Senate Republicans to deny cloture on any Ukraine support bill that does not include border metrics that dramatically reduce the number of illegal migrants being dispersed into the U.S.\n\nThe full op-ed can be found here and excerpts are below.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s open border policy is a clear and present danger to America. We believe a U.S. president\u2019s primary responsibility is to defend the country's citizens and our Constitution. When it comes to border security, he is doing neither. Rather than address and alleviate this clear and present danger, President Biden and his Democrat allies in Congress are the root cause.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cWhen the Biden administration took over, the border was largely secure. Once in office, the Biden administration claimed President Trump\u2019s policies that had secured the border were \u2018inhumane,\u2019 and they abruptly reversed course. The very unfortunate result is that Biden\u2019s open border policy is now facilitating the multi-billion dollar business model of some of the most evil people on the planet\u2014sex, drug, and human traffickers. The depredations caused by this trafficking occur in the shadows and go largely unreported. Overdose deaths, largely from fentanyl coming through the southwest border topped 100,000 annually. There is nothing humane about Biden\u2019s policies.\n\n\u201cIn addition to its inhumanity, the open border represents a huge national and homeland security threat. Of the 6 million migrants who got in, 1.7 million were detected crossing the border and accounted for as \u2018known gotaways.\u2019 We obviously don\u2019t \u2018know\u2019 who these people are, or where they currently reside.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cIn a recent hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, of which we are both members, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in response to questioning by Senator Scott:\n\n\"\u2019What has now increased is the greater possibility of one of these Foreign Terrorist Organizations directing an attack in the United States\u2026 It is time to be concerned. We are in a dangerous period\u2026 The terror threats have elevated\u2026\u2019 since Joe Biden took office.\n\n\u201cWith an open border, it\u2019s obvious how and where foreign terrorists organizations would insert their fighters into our country. President Biden\u2019s failure to secure the border means it\u2019s up to Republicans to use any leverage we can\u2014including his administration\u2019s desire to provide foreign aid to Ukraine\u2014to secure it once and for all. Regardless of how anyone feels regarding support for Ukraine, and we are skeptical, we believe securing America\u2019s border and protecting our citizens should take precedence.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cA recent column stated that support for Ukraine combined with \u2018modest immigration reform\u2019 would be a \u2018win/win.\u2019 With a president who actually wanted to secure the border and could be counted on to faithfully execute the laws Congress passes, that might be true. But we have a lawless administration and a president who wants an open border\u2026\n\n\u201cAs a result, the strongest border security legislation probably won\u2019t work under Biden. Republicans must insist not only on strong legislative language, but also making any Ukraine funding contingent on achieving benchmarks proving the border is being secured.\n\n\u201cThe metric should be the number of migrants dispersed in America each month which would include, but not be limited to, migrants encountered, processed, and released (regardless of the waiver or program used), plus the detected gotaways. Each month the administration would be forced to significantly reduce the number of migrants getting into America, and its ability to disperse U.S. taxpayer money to aid for Ukraine would be tied to achieving those monthly goals.\n\n\u201cUnder existing law, President Trump went from peak to trough of illegal immigration in 12 months using \u2018Remain in Mexico\u2019 and safe third country agreements in Central America. Using that precedent, releasing aid to Ukraine only as we ramp down to a secure border over a twelve-month period is a reasonable expectation. House Republicans should not consider, and Senate Republicans should deny cloture on, any Ukraine funding bill that falls short of this requirement.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-joins-38-gop-senators-in-demanding-changes-to-biden-administration-rule-endangering-safety-and-wellbeing-of-unaccompanied-alien-children", "Sen. Johnson Joins 38 GOP Senators in Demanding Changes to Biden Administration Rule Endangering Safety and Wellbeing of Unaccompanied Alien Children", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), joined U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and 38 of their Senate GOP colleagues in a letter calling on the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency\u2019s treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR\u2019s Proposed Rule\u2014parts of which the agency is already enforcing\u2014allows ORR to place vulnerable children in the custody of poorly vetted, andpotentially criminal, sponsors and obstructs whistleblowers from reporting abuse in the program to Congress. This letter comes one year after Sen. Johnson first wrote to HHS Secretary Xavior Becerra about the disturbing whistleblower account of HHS employee Tara Lee Rodas regarding the department\u2019s handling of the Unaccompanied Children Program.\n\n\u201cThis Proposed Rule ignores nearly seven years of oversight conducted by Congress and the Office of Inspector General and reveals chronic foot-dragging\u2014if not total reluctance\u2014when it comes to protecting vulnerable children,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIt provides ample protections to government bureaucrats at the expense of children. Even more concerning, \u2018the requirements being [adopted] in this proposed rule are already enforced by [the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)].\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2026ORR does not even consider a sponsor\u2019s criminal record, current illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other child welfare concerns \u2018necessarily disqualifying to potential sponsorship.\u2019\u2026 In effect, ORR accepts a sponsor\u2019s representations almost entirely on face value,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cORR\u2019s Proposed Rule abdicates the agency\u2019s responsibility for protecting the vulnerable children in its custody from harmful behavior by poorly vetted, potential criminals. For these services, the taxpayer paid ORR $5.5 billion in FY2022. The Proposed Rule is wholly unworkable and ORR should discard it and its current practices. If not, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nSens. Johnson and Grassley are joined in this letter by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).\n\nRead more about the senators\u2019 December 4, 2023 letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Washington Examiner.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-joins-letter-urging-biden-administration-to-enforce-iran-steel-sanctions", "Sen. Johnson Joins Letter Urging Biden Administration to Enforce Iran Steel Sanctions", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and 29 of their Senate GOP colleagues, in sending a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging the Administration to enforce existing sanctions on Iranian steel.\n\nIn the letter, the senators express the importance of \u201cproactively and continuously\u201d enforcing sanctions and the detrimental consequences of ineffective\u2014or willfully negligent\u2014enforcement. Iran is one of the largest steel producing countries in the world, with the industry generating significant export revenue.\n\n\u201cIn 2020, the United States sanctioned Iran\u2019s metals industries and steel producers, massively impacting their exports in 2021. The enforcement of these sanctions decreased Iranian steel exports from 9 million metric tons in 2020 to 4.2 million tons in 2021,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cHowever, Iranian steel exports rebounded to 10 million tons in 2022. This correlates to the United States reengaging with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), along with a decrease in enforcement of existing sanctions by the Treasury Department.\u201d\n\nThe senators warned relaxed sanctions enforcement only fuels the ability of Iranian-backed proxies to continue to fund and carry out terrorist attacks that further destabilize the region.\n\n\u201cIn this instance, relaxing sanctions enforcement resulted in economic enrichment for the world\u2019s largest state sponsor of terrorism,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cWe urge your Administration to enforce all Iran-related sanctions at your disposal, to include secondary sanctions on other countries who seek economic engagement with Iran. We owe it to the innocent children, women, and men who were savagely beaten, raped, tortured, and killed on October 7, 2023.\u201d\n\nSens. Johnson and Britt were joined on this letter by Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nRead more about the senators\u2019 December 4, 2023 letter to the President and Secs. Blinken and Yellen in Politico.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-backs-wisconsins-application-for-federal-funding-to-replace-the-blatnik-bridge", "Senator Baldwin Backs Wisconsin\u2019s Application for Federal Funding to Replace the Blatnik Bridge", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) continues to call on the Biden Administration to replace the John A. Blatnik Bridge and announced her support for Wisconsin and Minnesota\u2019s latest application for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to rebuild the critical bridge connecting Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.\n\n\u201cI voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring federal funding home to Wisconsin to repair our roads and replace outdated bridges\u2014like the Blatnik Bridge,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe bridge is a crucial link between Minnesota and Wisconsin, supporting our supply chain, commuters, and visitors. I am proud to support Wisconsin\u2019s application for funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge and invest in our economy, safety, and future.\u201d\n\nThe Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) applied for more than $1 billion in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program (BIP) to replace the deteriorating bridge. The Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made over $12.5 billion available through the USDOT\u2019s BIP. President Biden visited the Blatnik Bridge in 2022, and touted that the $12.5 billion investment will help fix the most economically significant bridges in the country, like the Blatnik Bridge.\n\nThis is the second federal grant jointly sought by the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota to replace this critical Midwest transportation structure. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin voiced her support for Wisconsin\u2019s federal grant application for more than $1 billion through the USDOT\u2019s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program, also funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nSince the MPDG grant submission in August, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of eight Minnesota and Wisconsin legislators urging President Biden to support Minnesota and Wisconsin\u2019s application for federal funding to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge.\n\nThe Blatnik Bridge is a vital connection between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, with over 33,000 vehicles passing through daily and 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods annually. After more than 60 years of heavy usage, the bridge has suffered from significant structural deterioration, leading to capacity, mobility, and safety concerns.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-brings-home-over-18-million-to-support-coastal-communities-in-wisconsin", "Senator Baldwin Brings Home Over $1.8 Million to Support Coastal Communities in Wisconsin", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 U.S. Senator Baldwin announced over $1.8 million in funding to support coastal communities in building resilient infrastructure and reducing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.\n\n\"In Wisconsin, our fresh coasts are critical to our way of life, and with the increase in extreme weather events and climate change, we need to make sure our coastal communities have the tools and resources to protect themselves and adapt,\" said Senator Baldwin. \"I am proud to bring home funding so our coastal communities can prepare and build resilience to our changing environment \u2013 helping keep our harbors open, waters clean, and communities open for business.\u201d\n\nThe funding for these projects comes from the National Coastal Resilience Fund, a program funded by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The National Coastal Resilience Fund is jointly administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The following projects in Wisconsin will be funded under this announcement:\n\nThe City of Port Washington was awarded $915,000 to identify nature-based solutions to mitigate Valley Creek\u2019s unstable condition, while building ecosystem and community resiliency within an important Lake Michigan coastal tributary. Project will develop 60 percent designs for 1.8 miles of urban stream restoration, two culvert upgrades, daylighting of the 550-foot box culvert, and restoration of the estuary and floodplain wetland.\n\nThe City of Green Bay was awarded $741,200 to develop a premium engineering design based on site evaluation, wave analysis, survey activities and other assessments to build resiliency along Renard Island, Fox River and Lower Green Bay. Project will result in 60 percent design to reduce flood risk and expand habitats, while allowing for waterfront public access and recreation.\n\nThe Nature Conservancy was awarded $199,800 to support community-engaged, data driven planning to identify and prioritize nature-based projects, enhance coordination of the East River Resilience Collaborative, and support on the ground technical assistance to implement demonstration projects in the East River watershed. The project will develop a flood resilience implementation plan outlining priority nature-based solutions that will reduce flood risk and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-to-department-of-defense-sec-austin-the-overall-lack-of-transparency-from-you-and-your-colleagues-on-covid-19-vaccine-safety-and-efficacy-is-appalling", "Sen. Johnson to Department of Defense Sec. Austin: \u201cThe Overall Lack of Transparency From You and Your Colleagues on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy Is Appalling.\u201d", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding the Army\u2019srecent letter to previously discharged service members who were involuntarily separated after refusing to comply with the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order, allowing them to request a correction of their records and potentially apply to return to service.\n\nSen. Johnson wrote, \u201cAllowing service members torequestto correct their records or potentially apply to return to service falls well short of providing those brave men and women any kind of compensation resulting from their involuntary separation and a profound apology for upending their lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf DOD wants to restore its credibility and trust among current and prospective service members, it needs to show that it is willing to be transparent and forthcoming regarding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines,\u201dSen. Johnson continued.\n\nSen. Johnson has previously described DOD\u2019s credibility issues in hismultiple letters on data integrity issues in theDefense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED). His office continues to receive reports from DOD whistleblowers indicating that adverse medical events are alarmingly persistent in DMED.\n\nFor over two years, DOD has stonewalled the senator\u2019s oversight work that could provide service members and their families much much-needed information about the health consequences of the vaccines.\n\nLast month, DOD admitted to Sen. Johnson that it had \u201cidentified an increased incidence of very rare conditions \u2013 myo/pericarditis \u2013 during COVID-19 vaccine introduction in 2021.\u201d However, DOD attempted to downplay the significance of this by stating: \u201cIt is difficult to report precise numbers of adverse events following immunization since establishing a causal relationship between vaccination and a clinical diagnosis can be challenging. Nonetheless, the military has identified 80-90 cases of myo/pericarditis in Service members following administration of more than 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in this population.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the last two years I have sent over 60 public letters to federal agencies, including DOD, on various aspects of the pandemic. The overall lack of transparency from you and your colleagues on COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy is appalling,\u201dSen. Johnson stated.\n\nThe senator is still waiting to receive complete answers to questions his staff sent DOD following the publication of anews article that reported on new information from a DOD whistleblower on more increases in medical diagnoses in DMED. The senator also reiteratedrequests for Tricare data that he made to DOD nearly one year ago. DOD has failed to provide any response to that letter.\n\n\u201cInquiries and requests for information concerning the health and well-being of service members should never be ignored, particularly when those questions are from members of Congress and their staff,\u201dthe senator concluded.\n\nHe is requesting a response to his inquiries by no later than December 15, 2023.\n\nRead more about the senator\u2019s December 1, 2023 letter to Sec. Austin in theEpoch Times.\n\nFull text of the letter can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-delivers-over-38-million-to-improve-airports-in-wisconsin", "Senator Baldwin Delivers Over $38 Million to Improve Airports in Wisconsin", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced airports across Wisconsin will receive over $38 million in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades \u2013 including investments in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, terminal upgrades, airport-transit connections, and roadway projects. The funding for these projects comes from Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Grants (AIG), a program funded by the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cOur Wisconsin airports are vital to our economy and way of life, connecting our communities, empowering tourism, and driving our local economies,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAging infrastructure can cause delays, jeopardize passenger safety, and negatively impact our economy and that is why I am thrilled to deliver this federal funding. These resources will help our airports across the state increase efficiency, improve safety, and ensure our airports can welcome new passengers for years to come.\u201d\n\nIn September, Senator Baldwin announced a similar investment of over $23.5 million in federal funding from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) awarded to Appleton International, Dane County Regional, and Rhinelander-Oneida County airports, as well as the Wisconsin State Block Grant Program.\n\nThrough AIG, the following airports will receive funding:\n\nNorthern Region: $5.5 Million\n\nLanglade County Airport, Antigo, $144,000\n\nJohn F Kennedy Memorial Airport, Ashland, $144,000\n\nCable Union Airport, Cable, $113,000\n\nCrandon/Steve Conway Municipal Airport, Crandon, $113,000\n\nEagle River Union Airport, Eagle River, $144,000\n\nSawyer County Airport, Hayward, $144,000\n\nMajor Gilbert Field Airport, La Pointe, $113,000\n\nRusk County Airport, Ladysmith, $144,000\n\nKings Land O' Lakes Airport, Land O'Lakes, $113,000\n\nManitowish Waters Airport, Manitowish Waters, $144,000\n\nMarshfield Municipal Airport, Marshfield, $113,000\n\nTaylor County Airport, Medford, $113,000\n\nMerrill Municipal Airport, Merrill, $144,000\n\nLakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial Field Airport, Minocqua?Woodruff, $144,000\n\nCentral Wisconsin Airport, Mosinee, $1,567,153\n\nPark Falls Municipal Airport, Park Falls, $113,000\n\nPrice County Airport, Phillips, $113,000\n\nRhinelander/Oneida County Airport, Rhinelander, $1,014,266\n\nStevens Point Municipal Airport, Stevens Point, $294,000\n\nTomahawk Regional Airport, Tomahawk, $113,000\n\nWausau Downtown Airport, Wausau, $294,000\n\nAlexander Field South Wood County Airport, Wisconsin Rapids, $144,000\n\nNortheastern Region: $8.2 Million\n\nAppleton International Airport, Appleton, $3,273,549\n\nClintonville Municipal Airport, Clintonville, $144,000\n\nEphraim/Gibraltar Airport, Ephraim, $144,000\n\nFond du Lac County Airport, Fond du Lac, $144,000\n\nGreen Bay/Austin Straubel International Airport, Green Bay, $2,791,263\n\nManitowoc County Airport, Manitowoc, $144,000\n\nNew Holstein Municipal Airport, New Holstein, $144,000\n\nOconto/J Douglas Bake Municipal Airport, Oconto, $144,000\n\nWittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, $294,000\n\nShawano Municipal Airport, Shawano, $144,000\n\nSheboygan County Memorial Airport, Sheboygan, $294,000\n\nDoor County Cherryland Airport, Sturgeon Bay, $144,000\n\nWashington Island Airport, Washington Island, $113,000\n\nWaupaca Municipal Airport, Waupaca, $144,000\n\nWautoma Municipal Airport, Wautoma, $144,000\n\nWestern Region: $4.4 Million\n\nAmery Municipal Airport, Amery, $144,000\n\nBlack River Falls Area Airport, Black River Falls, $144,000\n\nBoyceville Municipal Airport, Boyceville, $144,000\n\nCumberland Municipal Airport, Cumberland, $144,000\n\nChippewa Valley Regional Airport, Eau Claire, $1,011,827\n\nGrantsburg Municipal Airport, Grantsburg, $113,000\n\nLa Crosse Regional Airport, La Crosse, $1,340,873\n\nNeillsville Municipal Airport, Neillsville, $144,000\n\nNew Richmond Regional Airport, New Richmond, $294,000\n\nL O Simenstad Municipal Airport, Osceola, $144,000\n\nRice Lake Regional/Carl's Field Airport, Rice Lake, $144,000\n\nShell Lake Municipal Airport, Shell Lake, $113,000\n\nBurnett County Airport, Siren, $144,000\n\nSolon Springs Municipal Airport, Solon Springs, $113,000\n\nSparta/Fort McCoy Airport, Sparta, $144,000\n\nRichard I Bong Airport, Superior, $144,000\n\nSouthern Region: $8.1Million\n\nBaraboo/Wisconsin Dells Regional Airport, Baraboo, $294,000\n\nBoscobel Airport, Boscobel, $144,000\n\nAdams County Legion Field Airport, Friendship (Adams), $113,000\n\nHartford Municipal Airport, Hartford, $144,000\n\nSouthern Wisconsin Regional Airport, Janesville, $851,000\n\nDodge County Airport, Juneau, $144,000\n\nTri County Regional Airport, Lone Rock, $144,000\n\nDane County Regional/Truax Field Airport, Madison, $4,890,551\n\nMiddleton Municipal/Morey Field Airport, Middleton, $294,000\n\nIowa County Airport, Mineral Point, $144,000\n\nMonroe Municipal Airport, Monroe, $144,000\n\nMauston/New Lisbon Union Airport, New Lisbon, $144,000\n\nPlatteville Municipal Airport, Platteville, $144,000\n\nPortage Municipal Airport, Portage, $144,000\n\nPrairie Du Chien Municipal Airport, Prairie du Chien, $113,000\n\nReedsburg Municipal Airport, Reedsburg, $144,000\n\nViroqua Municipal Airport, Viroqua, $144,000\n\nSoutheastern Region: $12.1 Million\n\nCapitol Drive Airport, Brookfield, $294,000\n\nBurlington Municipal Airport, Burlington, $294,000\n\nEast Troy Municipal Airport, East Troy, $144,000\n\nFort Atkinson Municipal Airport, Fort Atkinson, $144,000\n\nKenosha Regional Airport, Kenosha, $851,000\n\nLancaster Municipal Airport, Lancaster, $113,000\n\nGeneral Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, $8,572,780\n\nLawrence J Timmerman Airport, Milwaukee, $294,000\n\nPalmyra Municipal Airport, Palmyra, $144,000\n\nWatertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, $144,000\n\nWaukesha County Airport, Waukesha, $851,000\n\nWest Bend Municipal Airport, West Bend, $294,000\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-murray-collins-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-opioid-fentanyl-and-substance-use-disorder-for-pregnant-and-postpartum-women", "Senators Baldwin, Murray, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Opioid, Fentanyl, and Substance Use Disorder for Pregnant and Postpartum Women", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to introduce a bipartisan bill to reauthorize critical research and prevention efforts for expectant and new mothers battling substance use disorder. The bipartisan legislation, the Promoting Maternal and Child Health Through Substance Use Prevention Act, was initially established in 2018 as part of the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, a comprehensive package to help address the root causes and ripple effects of the opioid crisis.\n\n\u201cThe fentanyl and opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across the country and sadly, expectant mothers and their newborn babies are not spared. We can and must do more to ensure that every American struggling with substance use disorder has access to the treatment and resources they need to get better, and that is especially true for pregnant women and new mothers,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to help identify the root causes of this crisis, better prevent substance use in prenatal and postpartum women, and ensure that every baby can get the strong start they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe legislation the Senators introduced today would extend for five years the portion of the SUPPORT Act that authorizes programs carried out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to research and prevent substance use disorder among pregnant and postpartum women. These CDC programs support data collection on prenatal substance abuse and misuse, research on prenatal and postnatal substance use prevention, evaluation of treatment and cessation efforts, and public outreach and education efforts.\n\nSenator Baldwin has led the charge to deliver more resources for Wisconsinites struggling with substance use disorder. Her FEND Off Fentanyl Act was included in the Senate-passed FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, bipartisan legislation that would combat our country\u2019s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, including chemical suppliers in China and cartels that traffic the drugs from Mexico. As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin also advanced bipartisan funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2024 that includes $5 billion for opioid treatment and prevention, a more than $125 million increase over fiscal year 2023.\n\nFull text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-delivers-13-million-for-wisconsin-farmers-distillers-and-processors-to-grow-their-businesses", "Senator Baldwin Delivers $1.3 Million for Wisconsin Farmers, Distillers, and Processors to Grow their Businesses", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that six Wisconsin rural businesses are receiving a total of nearly $1.3 million in funding to reach new customers and add value to their businesses through The U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. As then-chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees rural development, Senator Baldwin helped secure this funding through last year\u2019s government funding process.\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s agricultural businesses are the beating heart of rural communities, and I am committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to grow for the future,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThese grants will help businesses all over the state create new products, get the word out about their businesses, and attract new customers so they can continue to grow, hire more workers, and invest in their communities.\u201d\n\nThe VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. VAPG funds can be used for activities and expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of how these funds can be used include conducting feasibility studies, developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product, processing costs, or marketing and advertising expenses.\n\nThe following Wisconsin businesses received USDA Value-Added Producer Grants:\n\nNortheastern Wisconsin\n\nLEDGEROCK DISTILLERY\n\nFond du Lac County \u2013 $250,000 to process corn and wheat into high-end craft spirits including bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and gin. Funds will also be used for marketing. This project is estimated to increase their customer base by over 6,000 customers and increase revenue by more than $1.3 million.\n\nMAY HILL FARM\n\nFond du Lac County \u2013$49,960 to provide working capital to May Hill Farm LLC, a beginning farming operation, to process hogs into whole/half hogs, individual cuts, pork sausage products, pork subscription boxes, and high end cut sales to restaurants and retailers. Funds will also be used for marketing. This project will increase their customer base by about 194 customers and increase revenue by $150,000.\n\nLAKESHORE FOREST PRODUCTS\n\nManitowoc County \u2013 $250,000 to provide working capital to process hardwood logs into kiln-dried hardwood lumber. Funds will also be used for marketing. This project is estimated to increase revenue by more than $4 million.\n\nWestern and Central Wisconsin\n\nCHATEAU SAINT CROIX\n\nPolk County \u2013 $250,000 to provide working capital to Chateau Saint Croix, a small winery in northern Wisconsin, to increase direct-to consumer sales of its locally grown and produced wines. The project will increase their customer base by over 1,600 customers and is projected to increase sales by approximately $346,000.\n\nRED DOOR FAMILY FARM\n\nMarathon County \u2013$250,000 to provide working capital to Red Door Family Farm LLC, a certified organic farming operation in Athens, Wisconsin, to increase sales of its produce to new customers. The project will increase their customer base by more than 600 customers and is projected to increase sales by nearly $420,000.\n\nSoutheastern Wisconsin\n\nTHREE BROTHERS FARM, LLC\n\nWaukesha County \u2013 $249,962 to provide working capital to Three Brothers Farm LLC, a small farming operation in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, to increase sales of certified organic, pasture-raised eggs to new customers. The project is estimated to increase their customer base by nearly 800 customers and is projected to increase sales by $725,000.\n\nMore information about USDA\u2019s Value-Added Grant Program is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-introduces-bill-to-ensure-billionaires-pay-their-fair-share-in-taxes", "Senator Baldwin Introduces Bill to Ensure Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share in Taxes", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in introducing the Billionaires Income Tax Act, legislation to close loopholes in the tax code that let the wealthiest Americans avoid paying their fair share in taxes.\n\n\"Plain and simple, the system is rigged to benefit the ultra-rich and it\u2019s time we level the playing field,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to finally make sure that billionaires at the top pay their fair share and bring some fairness to our tax system.\u201d\n\nThe Billionaires Income Tax Act would, for the first time, end one of the most prominent, legal ways that billionaires avoid paying taxes known as \u201cbuy, borrow, die.\u201d Buy, borrow, die works as follows:\n\nBuy: A billionaire uses their wealth to buy assets that appreciate in value (real estate, stocks, artwork, collectibles).\n\nBorrow: The individual then borrows against that asset\u2019s growing, untaxed value to fund their extravagant lifestyle, purchasing yachts, luxurious vacations, expensive art deals, and more. All the while, the assets continue to go up in value without paying a dime in tax.\n\nDie: When the individual dies, their assets are passed to their children or other beneficiaries, often entirely tax-free, and the cycle continues.\n\nThe proposal would only apply to taxpayers with more than $1 billion in assets, or more than $100 million in income for three consecutive years.\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and also co-sponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ed Markey (D-MA).\n\nA one-pager of the legislation is available here and a section-by-section summary of the legislation is available here.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/icymi-sen-johnson-joins-gop-lawmakers-in-press-conference-calling-for-any-ukraine-support-bill-to-be-contingent-on-securing-the-southern-border", "ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Joins GOP Lawmakers in Press Conference Calling for Any Ukraine Support Bill to be Contingent on Securing the Southern Border", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cWe need to make any funds that go to Ukraine contingent on the administration actually reducing the number of migrants that are being dispersed in America\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Senate GOP colleagues, and members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) in a joint press conference calling for Ukraine funding to be contingent on actually securing the southern border. Sen. Johnson emphasized the clear and present danger that President Biden\u2019s open border poses to America, and he urged Senate Republicans to deny cloture to any spending bill that does not include hard metrics for dramatically reducing the flow of illegal migrants.\n\n\u201cBiden\u2019s open border is a clear and present danger to America,\u201d said Sen. Johnson. \u201cAnd no matter what we pass legislatively, we can\u2019t trust the president and his administration, to faithfully execute that law. So we have one leverage point here. The administration wants funding for Ukraine. We need to use that leverage point.\u201d\n\nWatch the senator\u2019s full remarks here.\n\nOn the significance of House and Senate conservatives working together on spending issues\n\n\u201cI want to thank all of our conservative House colleagues for trekking over here to the Senate. Not only today, but consistently over the last year, meeting with conservatives in the Senate, trying to resolve and fix some of these issues. I\u2019ll point out, it\u2019s those meetings that resulted in, for example, us getting through the whole debt ceiling crisis. You\u2019ll remember it was the House Freedom Caucus that proposed a piece of legislation, and then compromised with the House colleagues and offered the Senate a pretty commonsense piece of legislation that again, got us past that. So, again, we\u2019re trying to lead in this instance as well. Just real quick on this chart, before I put up the border chart, I keep playing with the numbers, I\u2019m an accountant, and I thought this was pretty simple, pretty interesting. When you take a look at what we passed in terms of budget authority over the last four years, it was $5.6 trillion, but we outlayed $6.6 trillion\u2026 It is completely out-of-control.\u201d\n\nOn the clear and present danger at the southern border\n\n\u201cIt is unfortunate, and I completely agree with what the House has passed in terms of, H.R. 2, that type of language, in the hands of a president that actually wanted to secure the border, in the hands of an administration that would faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress, H.R. 2 would work, but we don\u2019t have that with this administration. Our open border, Biden\u2019s open border, is a clear and present danger to America, and no matter what we pass legislatively, we can\u2019t trust the president and his administration to faithfully execute that law.\n\n\u201c\u2026Now, since this administration has started, there\u2019s been about over 6 million people, at least 6 million, 1.7 million of that are detected gotaways. We have no idea who these people are or where they are located. We really don\u2019t know where the other 5.3 million people are,the ones who were encountered, processed, and dispersed. This is completely out-of-control. You have Hamas now calling for days of rage. Do you think in that 1.7 million or the overall 6 million, there may be a bad person or two? It\u2019s a clear and present danger.\u201d\n\nOn the need for hard metrics that reduce the number of illegal migrants dispersed in America\n\n\u201cSo we have one leverage point here. The administration wants funding for Ukraine. We need to use that leverage point, and we need to make any funds that go to Ukraine contingent on the administration actually reducing the number of migrants that are being dispersed in America.\n\n\u201c\u2026So, what the Senate must insist on is if they take up a supplemental, if they\u2019re looking at funding for Ukraine, Republicans in the Senate must hold firm and deny cloture on any bill that doesn\u2019t include benchmarks, hard metrics, and again, the metric needs to be number of migrants dispersed into America, whether, again, they\u2019re encountered, processed, and dispersed, or detectable gotaways, or any other category. And we need to deny cloture on any bill that doesn\u2019t include that hard metric. And just as an example, and you see in this chart, President Trump had to deal with the effect of DACA, the lawless actions of the Obama administration, which really sparked this multi-year border crisis, but just through sheer willpower with the current laws in place, President Trump basically secured the border in a 12-month time period. And so that\u2019s what the bill I\u2019m working on, in terms of providing metrics, again, where the Ukraine funding would be contingent on those metrics being met and certified, you would ramp that down to pretty much a secure border over 12 months.\u201d\n\nOn not allowing Biden\u2019s open border policies to continue\n\n\u201cThere is going to be one of two things that happen by next November. We\u2019re either going to secure the border or we\u2019re not going to secure it, and the Biden open border policy is going to continue. I think what we\u2019re saying is, we don\u2019t want, and we will not allow, to the best of our ability, any Republican fingerprints on anything that\u2019s going to keep the border open. We want to be part of the solution, and by the way that would be a huge favor to Democrats and Biden. We\u2019re not playing politics here. This would be actually detrimental politically to us. If we help Biden and force him to actually secure the border, that would fix one of the problems that the American people don\u2019t like his administration for. So we are about actually securing the border and nothing less than that.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:33:57Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-joins-colleagues-in-demanding-transparency-related-to-taxpayer-funded-voter-mobilization-plans", "Sen. Johnson Joins Colleagues in Demanding Transparency Related To Taxpayer-Funded Voter-Mobilization Plans", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and 21 of their Senate GOP colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden reiterating concerns over the White House\u2019s refusal to respond to the senators\u2019 previous demands for transparency regarding Biden\u2019s Executive Order 14019\u2014which instructs federal agencies to engage in voter mobilization and submit to the White House a plan for doing so\u2014and its potential violation of federal law prohibiting agencies from expending federal funds without congressional authorization.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned by your failure to respond to our previous inquiry on May 10, 2023, regarding Executive Order 14019 on \u2018Promoting Access to Voting,'\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThis policy directive merits congressional oversight both as a general matter and under the Antideficiency Act. Accordingly, we write to reiterate our request for information regarding the implementation of this executive order, including copies of the plans submitted to the White House.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal agencies should be focused on their defined missions in a nonpartisan manner, not using taxpayer funds for voter mobilization efforts with potentially partisan impacts,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cIn other words, it\u2019s not the job of the federal government to drive voter turnout.\u201d\n\nIn order to determine the voter mobilization and electioneering activities for which the Biden Administration is using taxpayer dollars, the senators once again request that the Biden administration provide the American people the following basic information:\n\n1. Copies of all federal agency \u201cstrategic plans\u201d required under the Order and a list of which agencies have not yet submitted a strategic plan;\n\n2. The strategic plan required by the General Services Administration under the Order;\n\n3. The recommendations provided by the Office of Personnel Management under the Order; and\n\n4. All procedures established by the Attorney General under the Order.\n\nSens. Johnson and Hagerty are joined on this letter by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.).\n\nRead more about the senators\u2019 November 28, 2023 letter to the president in FOX News.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:33:57Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-sullivan-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-response-to-harmful-algal-blooms", "Baldwin, Sullivan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Response to Harmful Algal Blooms", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AL) introduced the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) of 2023, a bipartisan bill to improve our response to harmful algal blooms that have the potential to threaten aquatic ecosystems, hurt local economies, and endanger public health. The legislation would reauthorize the HABHRCA of 1998 and improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia by requiring better coordination among task force agencies, and state and local entities, including Indian tribes.\n\n\u201cOur Great Lakes and abundant fresh waters are among Wisconsin\u2019s most valuable resources, supporting wildlife, our economy, and our way of life. I am proud to be a partner in protecting these critical ecosystems from harmful algal blooms that have the potential to endanger our Made in Wisconsin economy and public health,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe critical support provided by this bipartisan legislation ensures that we can monitor algal bloom and hypoxia growth in our fresh waters, while preventing and mitigating their spread. I am proud to lead this legislation with Senator Sullivan to ensure generations to come can enjoy and benefit from the Great Lakes and Wisconsin\u2019s inland waters.\u201d\n\nHarmful algal blooms (HABs) have long been an issue across the Badger State, often caused by an overabundance of nutrients from fertilizer and stormwater runoff, but climate change is contributing to the acceleration of algae growth in Wisconsin and across the country. Warming waters and strong storms have created ideal conditions for toxic algal blooms as far north as Lake Superior, threatening outdoor recreation and hurting local economies. Additionally, HABs can reduce oxygen levels in the water in events called hypoxia, harming coastal ecosystems and posing health risks for coastal communities. HABs occur in all 50 states, in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.\n\nThe original HABHRCA was passed in 1998 and established an interagency task force to assess the distribution of harmful algal blooms and their impacts on coastal waters and human health. HABHRCA has since been reauthorized three times and is currently due for reauthorization. This bill reauthorizes the original 1998 HABHRCA, and improves coordination among state and local entities, as well as Indian tribes, to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of HABs and hypoxia.\n\nAs Chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing, Senator Baldwin has been a fierce advocate for the protection and preservation of Wisconsin\u2019s waters. Earlier this year, she helped secure $2.5 million to help protect the Great Lakes against extreme weather events and climate change. She also successfully called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize investments from the Baldwin-supported Inflation Reduction Act funding in programs that support Great Lakes resiliency.\n\nCompanion legislation in the House of Representatives is led by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Dave Joyce (R-OH-14).\n\nFull text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-announces-mobile-office-hours/6bb404f7-1a6c-4d38-af60-aacebd00ee0b", "Sen. Johnson Announces Mobile Office Hours", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that his staff will be available for mobile office hours at the times and locations listed below. These office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Sen. Johnson\u2019s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.\n\nNote: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of our constituents.\n\nVilas County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n10:30 a.m. \u2013 11:30 p.m.\n\nEagle River City Hall\n\n525 E. Maple St., Eagle River, WI 54521\n\nOneida County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n12:30 p.m. \u2013 1:30 p.m.\n\nRhinelander City Hall\n\n135 S. Stevens St., Rhinelander, WI 54501\n\nLincoln County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n2:30 p.m. \u2013 3:30 p.m.\n\nMerrill City Hall\n\n1004 E. 1st St., Merrill, WI 54452\n\nMarathon County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n4:00 p.m. \u2013 5:00 p.m.\n\nMaine Village Hall\n\n6111 N. 44th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401\n\nOutagamie County Office Hours\n\nWednesday, December 6\n\n11:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m.\n\nKimberly Public Library\n\n515 W. Kimberly Ave., Kimberly, WI 54136\n\nCalumet County Office Hours\n\nWednesday, December 6\n\n12:30 p.m. \u2013 1:30 p.m.\n\nHarrison Village Hall\n\nW5298 State Rd. 114, Harrison, WI 54952\n\nVernon County Office Hours\n\nWednesday, December 6\n\n2:00 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m.\n\nReadstown Village Office\n\n116 N. 4th St., Readstown, WI 54652\n\nLafayette County Office Hours\n\nThursday, December 7\n\n11:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m.\n\nBelmont Village Office\n\n222 S. Mound Ave., Belmont, WI 53510\n\nIowa County Office Hours\n\nThursday, December 7\n\n1:00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m.\n\nHighland Village Office\n\n530 Main St., Highland, WI 53543\n\nCrawford County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 8\n\n3:00 p.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m.\n\nPrairie du Chien City Hall\n\n214 E. Blackhawk Ave., Prairie du Chien, WI 53821\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-blasts-decision-to-allow-canadas-unfair-dairy-trade-practices-to-stand-hurting-wisconsin-farmers", "Baldwin Blasts Decision to Allow Canada\u2019s Unfair Dairy Trade Practices to Stand, Hurting Wisconsin Farmers", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after a trade dispute panel established under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ruled in Canada\u2019s favor and against Wisconsin dairy farmers and producers. The ruling delivered late last week rejected a complaint that Canada has overly restricted U.S. dairy imports and violated USMCA obligations.\n\n\u201cWisconsin dairy farmers work hard every day to bring world class products to market, and they deserve a level playing field with their global competitors. This decision flies in the face of the agreement our country made with Canada and puts our Made in Wisconsin dairy products at a disadvantage,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThis decision should have resulted in necessary improvements for market access for American dairy products in Canada, but instead sets a disturbing precedent that weakens the ability to use USMCA to push back against trade violations moving forward.\u201d\n\nThe dispute settlement mechanism included in USMCA is intended to bring resolutions to trade disputes quickly and fairly. Last year, a dispute settlement panel brought under USMCA found that Canada was reserving its dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for the exclusive use of Canadian processors, in violation of commitments to dairy market access under USMCA. Despite the ruling, Canada did not make the necessary reforms to its TRQ procedures.\n\nIn January, Senator Baldwin called for a second dispute settlement panel on the subject of Canada\u2019s failed implementation of the changes required by the first ruling. A second panel was launched and found late last week that Canada\u2019s measures do not breach the USMCA commitments.\n\nSince the USMCA went into effect, Senator Baldwin has pushed both then-President Trump and President Biden to enforce USMCA dairy provisions.\n\nThe United States is a global leader in dairy production and safeguarding access to international markets is paramount in maintaining such status. The dairy industry in Wisconsin alone supports over 150,000 jobs and contributes $45.6 billion to the state\u2019s economy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-announces-mobile-office-hours/cb5ae11b-c8bd-478f-a767-af987a6dbdec", "Sen. Johnson Announces Mobile Office Hours", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that his staff will be available for mobile office hours at the times and locations listed below. These office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Sen. Johnson\u2019s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.\n\nNote: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of our constituents.\n\nTaylor County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 30\n\n10:30 a.m. \u2013 11:30 a.m.\n\nStetsonville Community Room\n\n105 N. Gershwin St., Stetsonville, WI 54480\n\nPrice County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 30\n\n1: 00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m.\n\nPark Falls City Hall\n\n400 4th Ave. S., Park Falls, WI 54552\n\nIron County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 30\n\n3:30 p.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.\n\nIron County Courthouse, County Board Room\n\n300 Taconite St., Hurley, WI 54534\n\nVilas County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n10:30 a.m. \u2013 11:30 a.m.\n\nEagle River City Hall\n\n525 E. Maple St., Eagle River, WI 54521\n\nOneida County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n12:30 p.m. \u2013 1:30 p.m.\n\nRhinelander City Hall\n\n135 S. Stevens St., Rhinelander, WI 54501\n\nLincoln County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n2:30 p.m. \u2013 3:30 p.m.\n\nMerrill City Hall\n\n1004 E. 1st St., Merrill, WI 54452\n\nMarathon County Office Hours\n\nFriday, December 1\n\n4:00 p.m. \u2013 5:00 p.m.\n\nMaine Village Hall\n\n6111 N. 44th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-pushes-to-crack-down-on-big-oil-mergers-and-prevent-price-hikes-at-pump-for-wisconsinites", "Baldwin Pushes to Crack Down on Big Oil Mergers and Prevent Price Hikes at Pump for Wisconsinites", "2023-11-21", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of Thanksgiving and increased travel, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her colleagues in pushing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and crack down on Big Oil mergers that greatly reduce competition and drive up gas prices at the pump for Wisconsin families.\n\nThe letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan urges the FTC to closely review two newly-proposed mergers by the two largest oil companies in the United States. ExxonMobil\u2019s proposed $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Chevron\u2019s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation are two of the largest petroleum deals in American history.\n\n\u201cExxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s operations downstream would enable them to redirect Pioneer\u2019s and Hess\u2019s crude supply to themselves, away from (and possibly to the detriment of) their midstream competitors,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cThese new market dynamics could result in price hikes for midstream customers, and such added costs are often passed downstream to retail customers, including drivers at gas stations.\u201d\n\nAmericans have felt the negative effects of unchecked Big Oil mergers for decades. A wave of nearly 3,000 mergers in the 1990s caused the number of major American energy companies to plummet, creating a Big Oil oligopoly in which oil companies have continued to see increasing profits, and consumers are left with higher gas prices.\n\n\u201cBy 2005, due to the wave of mergers, the top five controlled 55 percent of the market, and the largest ten had 81.4 percent. This increase in concentration enabled the largest players to manipulate the industry by withholding supply in order to drive up prices, and since most of the firms were also vertically integrated, they benefited from higher prices at the retail level, as well,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nSenator Baldwin has pushed to hold Big Oil accountable and keep prices at the pump down for Wisconsin families. Earlier this year, she introduced legislation to crack down on Big Oil price gouging by clawing back windfall profits from the five biggest producers to deliver relief for consumers in the form of rebates.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Chair Khan:\n\nWe write regarding our concerns about two blockbuster oil-and-gas deals announced in October: ExxonMobil\u2019s (Exxon) proposed $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources (Pioneer) and Chevron\u2019s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation (Hess) \u2013 two of the largest oil-and-gas deals of the 21st century. By allowing Exxon and Chevron to further integrate their extensive operations into important oil-and-gas fields, these deals are likely to harm competition, risking increased consumer prices and reduced output throughout the United States. At the regional level, the deals threaten to harm small operators and suppress wages. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must carefully consider all of the possible anticompetitive harms that these acquisitions present. Should the FTC determine that these mergers would violate antitrust law, we urge you to oppose them.\n\nThis Industry Is Already Too Concentrated, and Americans Are Already Paying the Price.\n\nIn the 1990s, over 2,600 mergers occurred throughout all segments of the U.S. petroleum industry. Between 1990 and 2001, the number of major U.S. energy companies plunged by more than half, dropping from 19 to 9, due to merger activity. Most notably, Exxon merged with Mobil in 1999; Chevron merged with Texaco in 2001 (after Chevron had already acquired Gulf Oil and Texaco had already bought Getty Oil in the 1980s). Such consolidation enabled anticompetitive coordination in the industry, and the remaining firms were well aware that they were members of an oligopoly with a \u201csmall number of companies involved, all of whom share[d] a motivation to recoup costs and not undermine the market.\u201d For example, according to internal Mobil and BP documents, the majors understood that \u201c[f]looding the market and depressing margins on the base volume\u201d they marketed was unprofitable. Likewise, they knew that directing their individual supplies into, or away from, particular regions of the country enabled them to achieve \u201cprice uplift scenarios\u201d and to \u201cleverage up\u201d prices. The Government Accountability Office found that five specific mergers from that time period \u2013 Marathon-Ashland, Shell-Texaco I (Equilon), BP-Amoco, MAP-UDS, and Exxon-Mobil \u2013 led to wholesale gasoline price increases ranging from 0.39 to 5.00 cents per gallon. Of those five, the price increase due to the Exxon-Mobil merger was the greatest.\n\nAfter these huge mergers took place, the majors\u2019 upstream operations were skewed to the detriment of consumers. Studies at the time demonstrated that spending on drilling for new oil supplies by the merged giants fell significantly compared to the drilling budgets before their mergers. Strangely enough, the majors cut back on upstream production at a time when crude prices were sky high and exploration costs had fallen by more than half, \u201cone of the biggest potential disconnects between supply and demand in the 150-year history of the oil business.\u201d These anticompetitive tactics resulted in a fragile supply for the nation where isolated mishaps at refineries or broken pipelines caused enormous price spikes for consumers (as took place in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005) \u2013 all of which financially benefited the oligopolists, providing them no incentive to stabilize national supply.\n\nConsolidation in midstream operations hurt Americans consumers, as well. In 1993, the largest five oil refiners had a collective share of about one-third of the American market, and the largest ten controlled 55.6 percent. By 2005, due to the wave of mergers, the top five controlled 55 percent of the market, and the largest ten had 81.4 percent. This increase in concentration enabled the largest players to manipulate the industry by withholding supply in order to drive up prices, and since most of the firms were also vertically integrated, they benefited from higher prices at the retail level, as well.\n\nSimilar market dynamics exist today. The oil-and-gas industry is still dominated by a handful of corporate giants, led by the top-two players Exxon and Chevron. Any further consolidation could harm American consumers. This is especially true given the inelastic demand for gas products; those who drive to work rarely have substitutes for gas, so as prices rise, people do not purchase less gas. In April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began, retail gasoline prices averaged $1.84. Prices steadily rose for two years, hitting a historic height of $4.93 in June 2022, and remain relatively high today at $3.84. Meanwhile, Exxon and Chevron posted their own historic heights in 2022: $56 billion in profits for Exxon and $36.5 billion for Chevron. They were not alone; Big Oil corporations collectively earned an industry high of nearly $200 billion last year. President Biden rightfully called for the FTC to investigate the oil industry for price gouging since such surges cannot be explained away by increased production costs from the pandemic or inflation, especially in light of these firms\u2019 astronomical profits.\n\nThe Deals Could Harm Competition and Lead to Even Higher Prices for Americans.\n\nExxon is the largest oil-and-gas corporation in the United States, operating up and down the supply chain and across the entire industry. Its acquisition target, Pioneer, is an upstream petroleum operator drilling in Texas\u2019s Permian Basin. Pioneer owns more drilling acreage than any other producer in the Permian where Exxon is also a top producer. A merged Exxon-Pioneer could produce a staggering 1.2 million barrels per day \u2013 more than twice the amount of the next competitor. Accordingly, this deal would enable the new Exxon to dominate the Permian \u2013 the most prolific oil-and-gas field in the world and America\u2019s most important.\n\nChevron is America\u2019s 2nd largest oil-and-gas firm with integrated operations rivaling Exxon\u2019s. Hess is one of the largest producers in North Dakota\u2019s Bakken Shale, the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and offshore Guyana.\n\nSupporters of the deals have argued that the global market for oil and gas is so enormous that dominant firms in the relevant basins would not have enough supply to restrict capacity or raise prices in any meaningful way. Focusing only on the global market is improper. Even if these energy firms represent a small fraction of the global petroleum market, the question before the FTC is whether these proposed transactions may substantially lessen competition in any line of commerce. Thus, the FTC must consider how Exxon\u2019s or Chevron\u2019s vertically integrated operations may harm American competition in any national or regional market. For example, Exxon owns extensive midstream operations in the Permian Basin, meaning Exxon controls storage, refining, and transportation for a significant amount of capacity in the region where it will acquire Pioneer\u2019s drilling operations. Exxon has an extensive pipeline system that transfers crude supply from the Permian to the Texas Gulf Coast. Recently, Exxon expanded its refinery operations on the Texas Gulf Coast by an additional capacity of 250,000 barrels per day and announced plans to ramp up its exporting operations on the Texas Gulf Coast, suggesting that Exxon-Pioneer intends to move significantly more oil and gas out of the United States than the two companies exported separately. Exxon\u2019s CEO Darren Woods put it more bluntly in 2020: \u201cThese projects are export machines, generating products that high-growth nations need to support larger populations with higher standards of living. Those overseas markets are the motivation behind our investments. The supply is here; the demand is there. We want to keep connecting those dots.\u201d This export strategy \u2013 in the nation\u2019s most important oil-and-gas field, no less \u2013 could reduce the amount of their capacity ultimately available to American consumers and thereby increase prices throughout the energy supply chain, including at the gas pump. Furthermore, as we described above, the major energy firms already have a history of artificially reducing supply and increasing prices following rounds of consolidation.\n\nIf this \u201cconsolidation trend in the US\u201d continues accelerating, competing exploration-and-production companies will find it increasingly difficult to operate without Exxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s networks, which creates new abilities and incentives for Exxon and Chevron to engage in anticompetitive tactics. Exxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s operations downstream would enable them to redirect Pioneer\u2019s and Hess\u2019s crude supply to themselves, away from (and possibly to the detriment of) their midstream competitors. These new market dynamics could result in price hikes for midstream customers, and such added costs are often passed downstream to retail customers, including drivers at gas stations.\n\nWe also urge you to investigate how an Exxon-Pioneer merger might impact local operators in the Permian as well as oilfield employees such as geologists and engineers. Potential anticompetitive harms at any level of the supply chain and in any market merit consideration by the FTC.\n\nThe FTC Must Protect Americans from Big Oil. These deals also demonstrate how corporate consolidation can frustrate self-governing democracy. At a time when Americans overwhelmingly support governmental efforts to clean up the environment and protect our nation from climate disasters, Exxon and Chevron are doubling down on fossil-fuel production. The proposed transactions would augment these corporations\u2019 outsized political power, further enabling them to spend millions on lobbyists to thwart climate legislation, litigation to slash environmental rules, and a coordinated campaign to mislead consumers and discredit climate science \u2013 all to protect their billions in profits. By taking actions to promote competition, the FTC would also prevent the fossil-fuel industry from further subverting our democratic processes.\n\nUnder President Biden, the FTC has been willing to stand up to Big Oil. Just last year, the FTC required an energy private-equity fund to divest its entire crude-oil business in Utah before allowing a similar transaction to close, expressing concerns that the deal would lead to higher prices for refiners and consumers at the pump.\n\nThe fight against Big Oil is not new. When the Justice Department took on Standard Oil in the early twentieth century, the Supreme Court protected competition by breaking up Standard Oil into 43 different firms. Eventually, the global industry reorganized into seven dominant global players, including five prominent American companies \u2013 three of which (Standard Oil of California, Gulf Oil, and Texaco) combined into today\u2019s Chevron, and two of which were Standard Oil of New Jersey (now known as Exxon) and Standard Oil of New York (now known as Mobil). In our view, the FTC should not have approved the ExxonMobil merger in 1999, which created the largest corporate successor of Standard Oil\u2019s original illegal monopoly, or the merger between Chevron and Texaco in 2001. Lax enforcement during that period resulted in market manipulation, unstable supply, and price hikes for Americans. We must avoid similar mistakes going forward. It is incumbent upon the FTC to closely review the Exxon-Pioneer and Chevron-Hess acquisitions and take appropriate action should such reviews uncover any possible anticompetitive effects enabled by the acquisitions.\n\nIf anything, the FTC should be investigating the past anticompetitive mergers of Big Oil conglomerates like ExxonMobil and Chevron to determine whether these energy giants should be broken up once again.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these serious matters.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-kaine-van-hollen-lead-colleagues-in-calling-for-immediate-steps-to-deliver-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-and-protect-civilians", "Baldwin, Kaine, Van Hollen Lead Colleagues in Calling for Immediate Steps to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Protect Civilians", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led their colleagues in urging President Biden to work with Israel and international partners to implement a plan that will protect innocent civilian life in Gaza, deliver sustained humanitarian aid, and work toward the long term goals of ending Hamas\u2019s threat, bringing hostages home, and achieving sustainable peace in the region through a two-state solution. In the letter to President Biden, the senators call for the protection of civilians and civilian sites, the opening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, and access to prompt medical attention for civilians injured to help address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.\n\n\u201cAs you and your administration work with Israel and international partners to secure the release of hostages and respond to the terror attack on Israel, we join you in your urgent call for humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We encourage you to work with international partners to achieve expeditious implementation of a plan for sustained humanitarian aid in Gaza. We hope you\u2019ll join us in encouraging our ally Israel to take immediate steps to help provide critical humanitarian aid to the innocent civilians in Gaza, including re-opening the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow life-saving water, food, and fuel to reach vulnerable civilians,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cWe are concerned that increased and prolonged suffering in Gaza is not only intolerable for Palestinian civilians there but will also negatively impact the security of Israeli civilians by exacerbating existing tensions and eroding regional alliances.\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cThis conflict will not be solved by force alone. Preservation of and respect for innocent life is both morally right and the best hope for a long-term strategy to accomplish security, stability, and peace in the region.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Baldwin, Kaine, and Van Hollen, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also signed the letter.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Mr. President,\n\nAs you and your administration work with Israel and international partners to secure the release of hostages and respond to the terror attack on Israel, we join you in your urgent call for humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We encourage you to work with international partners to achieve expeditious implementation of a plan for sustained humanitarian aid in Gaza. We hope you\u2019ll join us in encouraging our ally Israel to take immediate steps to help provide critical humanitarian aid to the innocent civilians in Gaza, including re-opening the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow life-saving water, food, and fuel to reach vulnerable civilians.\n\nHamas\u2019s October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel were nothing short of horrific. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend its people against these unspeakable horrors, to seek the release of hundreds of innocent hostages, and to ensure Hamas can never carry out a massacre like this again. We also believe that while Israel works to defeat Hamas, Israel must employ all possible measures to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. It is important for Israel to take every step possible to make clear it is defending Israelis against Hamas, not waging war on Palestinians. Eliminating the threat posed by Hamas and protecting civilians are not mutually exclusive aims. Indeed, International Humanitarian Law requires that civilians be protected during armed conflict.\n\nIt is hard to overstate the scale of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The United Nations estimates 1.6 million Palestinians are internally displaced within the Gaza Strip, a land area comparable to twice the size of the District of Columbia. It is estimated that half of the displaced civilians are in make-shift United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) shelters. It is largely unknown where the remaining displaced civilians are seeking shelter. The United States must urge Israel to work with international relief agencies to facilitate safe and adequate accommodations for displaced individuals, and the United States must make clear that no non-combatant individuals should be compelled to leave Gaza.\n\nThis humanitarian crisis will precipitate a significant, and preventable loss of human life if not addressed immediately. More than half of Gaza\u2019s hospitals have shut down, desalination plants are struggling to remain operational, and the last operative flour mill has been shut down due to a lack of fuel.\n\nWe recognize the urgent need to fulfill your emergency supplemental request for necessary security assistance to help Israel defend itself and humanitarian assistance to civilians impacted by the war. As we work to secure the needed humanitarian funds in bipartisan legislation, we also expect our international partners to share the responsibility to improve the conditions of life in Gaza.\n\nMoreover, the conflict cannot leave Gaza so destroyed and devastated that there is no possibility for Palestinians to return to their communities and rebuild. We are concerned that increased and prolonged suffering in Gaza is not only intolerable for Palestinian civilians there but will also negatively impact the security of Israeli civilians by exacerbating existing tensions and eroding regional alliances. Professional militaries have a dual responsibility throughout their campaigns to minimize civilian casualties during tactical operations and to sustain living conditions for civilians.\n\nWe therefore urge you to communicate to the Israeli government and other relevant parties that the ongoing military operations must provide for:\n\nThe protection of civilians and civilian sites, in coordination with the relevant United Nations organizations.\n\nThe sustained delivery of the basic essentials of life (including water, food, medical and hygiene supplies and fuel for transportation of such essentials) in quantities sufficient to meet the current need. To do so, the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza, the main access point for supplies before October 7, must reopen to facilitate the proper inspection and delivery of larger quantities of aid and the reopening of this crossing must become part of the humanitarian support plan.\n\nAccess to prompt medical attention for sick and wounded civilians, both within Gaza as well as the option to evacuate to a neighboring country.\n\nThrough United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UN vetting and oversight processes, the U.S. must help ensure that the humanitarian aid and protections afforded civilians are not used or exploited by Hamas or other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza.\n\nLastly, there must be hope for the future. We worry the current trajectory of the conflict moves us further away from our shared goals of ending Hamas\u2019s threat and removing them from power in Gaza, bringing hostages home, and achieving sustainable peace in the region through a two-state solution. Mr. President, it is in our national interest that you clearly articulate that vision. To these ends, we urge you to define a U.S. vision for the future of Israel and Palestine as well as the role our country will play in encouraging a peaceful resolution and rebuilding. Part of this vision must not only include two sovereign states for Israelis and Palestinians, but an expectation of equal treatment under law, including a serious effort to address violence committed by a minority of Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents of the West Bank.\n\nThis conflict will not be solved by force alone. Preservation of and respect for innocent life is both morally right and the best hope for a long-term strategy to accomplish security, stability, and peace in the region.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-calls-on-biden-to-address-fentanyl-trafficking-at-the-border-during-meeting-with-president-of-mexico", "Baldwin Calls on Biden to Address Fentanyl Trafficking at the Border During Meeting with President of Mexico", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C \u2013 Ahead of President Biden\u2019s meeting with Mexican President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on President Biden to address the flow of fentanyl being trafficked into the United States through the Southwest border and highlight the deadly impact it is having in the United States. Between 2019 and 2021, fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97%, and in 2022, nearly 1,400 Badger State families lost a loved one to opioid overdose or poisoning.\n\n\u201cTo save lives in Wisconsin, we must stop illicit fentanyl at its source. While cartels appear to be feeling the pressure of U.S. sanctions and law enforcement, Wisconsin families and law enforcement should not be forced to shoulder the burden of Mexico\u2019s failure to prevent illicit fentanyl production and trafficking within its own borders,\u201d wrote Senator Baldwin in a letter to President Biden.\n\nSenator Baldwin has long worked to both increase opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts and disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the country and communities. Senator Baldwin\u2019s FEND Off Fentanyl Act was included in the Senate-passed FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, bipartisan legislation that would combat our country\u2019s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, including chemical suppliers in China and cartels that traffic the drugs from Mexico. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin is working to fulfill the Administration\u2019s domestic and national security supplemental requests that include necessary investments to both disrupt fentanyl trafficking and help those struggling with substance use disorder. As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin also advanced funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2024 that includes an additional $20 million for State Opioid Response grants to help communities with prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.\n\n\u201cWhile these measures and investments will strengthen our nation\u2019s ability to fight against the flow of fentanyl in the future, we cannot afford to wait. The United States and Mexico share a nearly 2,000 mile border and, along with it, a shared responsibility to ensure that the criminal production and trafficking of fentanyl in Mexico does not harm Americans and American interests. I urge you to impress upon President L\u00f3pez Obrador his nation\u2019s obligation to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States and to secure commitments for additional defense and law enforcement cooperation,\u201d concluded Senator Baldwin.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nI am encouraged that you will use the occasion of the APEC Economic Leaders\u2019 forum to meet with Mexican President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador. I hope that the discussion will enhance our bilateral relationship, including managing migration at our shared border and spurring additional hemispheric cooperation to address the international factors contributing to unprecedented growth of migration. I urge you to use this opportunity to ensure President L\u00f3pez Obrador understands the deadly impact of international fentanyl trafficking on Wisconsin and the role that his country must play in saving American lives.\n\nBetween fiscal years 2021-2023, fentanyl seizures at our Southwest border increased by more than 150%. The flood of fentanyl into our country from Mexico has had devastating consequences for communities across Wisconsin. Between 2019 and 2021, fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97%, and in 2022, nearly 1,400 families lost a loved one to opioid overdose or poisoning. To save lives in Wisconsin, we must stop illicit fentanyl at its source. While cartels appear to be feeling the pressure of U.S. sanctions and law enforcement, Wisconsin families and law enforcement should not be forced to shoulder the burden of Mexico\u2019s failure to prevent illicit fentanyl production and trafficking within its own borders.\n\nThat is why I am proud that the FEND Off Fentanyl Act was included in the Senate-passed FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FEND Off Fentanyl Act would declare a national emergency regarding the international trafficking of fentanyl and combat our country\u2019s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, including chemical suppliers in China and cartels that traffic the drugs from Mexico. By strengthening current law and directing the Treasury Department to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act aims to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl into our country by choking off the income source of those who traffic in synthetic opioids. I am also glad that the FY24 NDAA acknowledges that transnational criminal organizations have established effective control over significant areas of Mexico, thereby enabling the development of fentanyl production and trafficking infrastructure, and directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance cooperation with defense officials in Mexico to target, disrupt, and degrade transnational criminal organizations within Mexico that traffic fentanyl.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am working to fulfill the Administration\u2019s domestic and national security supplemental requests in bipartisan legislation that includes necessary investments in programs to both disrupt fentanyl trafficking and help those struggling with substance use disorder. I support the national security supplemental\u2019s request for $1.2 billion to crack down on the trafficking of dangerous and lethal illicit drugs, including hiring an additional 1,300 border agents and deploying new detection equipment will disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the country, and the domestic supplemental request for $1.55 billion for HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration State Opioid Response grants to provide treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services in all States and territories.\n\nWhile these measures and investments will strengthen our nation\u2019s ability to fight against the flow of fentanyl in the future, we cannot afford to wait. The United States and Mexico share a nearly 2,000 mile border and, along with it, a shared responsibility to ensure that the criminal production and trafficking of fentanyl in Mexico does not harm Americans and American interests. I urge you to impress upon President L\u00f3pez Obrador his nation\u2019s obligation to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States and to secure commitments for additional defense and law enforcement cooperation.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-announces-mobile-office-hours", "Sen. Johnson Announces Mobile Office Hours", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that his staff will be available for mobile office hours at the times and locations listed below. These office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Sen. Johnson\u2019s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.\n\nNote: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of our constituents.\n\nKewaunee County Office Hours\n\nWednesday, November 22\n\n10:30 a.m. \u2013 11:30 a.m.\n\nAlgoma City Hall\n\n416 Fremont St., Algoma, WI 54201\n\nDoor County Office Hours\n\nWednesday, November 22\n\n12:30 p.m. \u2013 1:30 p.m.\n\nEgg Harbor Village Hall\n\n7860 WI-42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209\n\nEau Claire County Office Hours\n\nMonday, November 27\n\n9:00 a.m. \u2013 10:00 a.m.\n\nEau Claire County Highway Department\n\n5061 US 53, Eau Claire, WI 54701\n\nChippewa County Office Hours\n\nMonday, November 27\n\n11:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m.\n\nChippewa Falls Public Library, Wissota Meeting Room\n\n105 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729\n\nDunn County Office Hours\n\nMonday, November 27\n\n1:00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m.\n\nMenomonie Public Library\n\n600 Wolske Bay Rd., Menomonie, WI 54751\n\nSt. Croix County Office Hours\n\nMonday, November 27\n\n3:00 p.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m.\n\nStar Prairie Community Center\n\n207 Bridge Ave., Star Praire, WI 54026\n\nBrown County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 30\n\n11:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m.\n\nWrightstown Village Hall\n\n352 High St., Wrightstown, WI 54180\n\nManitowoc County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 30\n\n1:00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m.\n\nTwo Rivers City Hall\n\n1717 E Park St., Two Rivers, WI 54241\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-joins-45-senators-to-demand-answers-over-biden-administration-s-unprecedented-pause-of-firearms-export-licenses", "Sen. Johnson Joins 45 Senators to Demand Answers Over Biden Administration\u2019s Unprecedented Pause of Firearms Export Licenses", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and 44 of their Republican Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary, Gina Raimondo, raising questions over last month\u2019s decision by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to impose a 90-day pause on the issuance of export licenses for firearms, ammunition, and certain accessories to most overseas markets. This unprecedented move is the latest chapter in the Biden administration\u2019s hostility towards America\u2019s firearms industry.\n\nThe letter notes the impact this pause could have on U.S. commercial and economic interests, which, according to the firearms and ammunition industry, would directly cost at least $89 million for the 90-day pause and at least $238 million annually should the pause become permanent.\n\nThe senators are demanding a response to their inquiry by no later than November 30.\n\nJoining Sens. Johnson and Budd are Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), and Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Kennedy (R-La.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rand Paul, M.D. (R-Ky.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-bill-to-connect-veterans-with-earned-benefits-passes-the-senate-with-unanimous-bipartisan-support", "Baldwin Bill to Connect Veterans with Earned Benefits Passes the Senate with Unanimous Bipartisan Support", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday evening, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Dan Sullivan\u2019s (R-AK) Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. Baldwin\u2019s bipartisan legislation would expand and support Tribal Veterans Service Officers and County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO), the community-based employees who work directly with veterans to inform them of eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and services, file pension and compensation claims, and help them enroll in job, housing, disability, and education benefits. CVSOs play an outsized role in helping veterans in rural, native, and other hard to reach communities connect with VA services.\n\n\u201cOur veterans have sacrificed so much to serve their country and we owe it to them to make it as easy as possible to access the benefits they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud my bipartisan legislation to help our veterans access their hard-earned benefits is moving forward so we can do right by those who served us.\u201d\n\n\u201cLess than half of Alaska\u2019s more than 75,000 veterans are currently enrolled in the VA system, meaning a majority are not accessing the benefits and health care services that they have earned, including those struggling with mental illness,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThat is unacceptable. Alaska\u2019s vast size and sparse population certainly contribute to this challenge, but local partners and veteran service officers present an opportunity to reach these off-the-grid veterans. I\u2019m grateful that the Senate passed the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, introduced by Senator Baldwin and me. This legislation will reinforce the VA\u2019s mission to expand its reach and ensure veterans who live in rural, frontier states\u2014like Alaska\u2014do not get left behind.\u201d\n\nOut of the estimated 19 million veterans in the United States, only a small fraction utilizes the care and benefits they are entitled to.\n\nWhile CVSOs work tirelessly to connect veterans with their federal benefits, they currently receive zero funding from the federal government. Specifically, the legislation would create a grant program to improve outreach to veterans and increase the number of county and tribal veterans service officers. By increasing the number of CVSOs, states will also be better able to leverage their local and federal resources to serve our veterans.\n\nIn Wisconsin, several CVSOs helped sound the alarm about a doctor at the Tomah VA who was misdiagnosing veterans who were suffering from traumatic brain injury. In part because CVSOs identified a troubling pattern, Senator Baldwin and impacted patients successfully got the VA to identify, reexamine, and in appropriate cases, deliver those misdiagnosed their earned benefits.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Baldwin traveled around Wisconsin on her \u201cDelivering for Our Veterans Tour,\u201d meeting with veterans and advocates in New Richmond, Wausau, Green Bay, and Racine to discuss the need to pass the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act and highlight new benefits for veterans harmed by toxic exposure. Click here to hear how CVSOs help veterans connect with the benefits and services they are owed.\n\n\u201cI would strongly encourage your support and passage of this 'first of its kind' legislation to expand and continue to provide CVSO services to those who have served our great country,\u201d said Joseph Aulik, Brown County CVSO Veterans Service Office Director.\n\n\u201cCVSOs are the \u2018boots on the ground\u2019 for veterans and returning service members. They serve as local, responsive advocates connecting those in need with services. Every additional dollar CVSOs nationwide would receive could assist in outreach and claim submission, and improve access to VA mental health, homeless services and healthcare our nation\u2019s veterans richly deserve. Furthermore, local CVSO offices would be able to hire additional staff to keep up with rising demand. I am very hopeful the CVSO Act will be passed by Congress to assist our returning heroes in obtaining the benefits to which they are entitled,\u201d said Phillip Landgraf, St. Croix County Director of Veterans Affairs.\n\nThe Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act is supported by the National Association of Counties, the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, the Wisconsin and Alaska Departments of Veterans Affairs, the Wisconsin State Association of County Veterans Service Commissions and Committees, the Wisconsin Association of Counties, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-supports-bipartisan-bill-to-cut-insulin-costs-for-millions-more-americans", "Senator Baldwin Supports Bipartisan Bill to Cut Insulin Costs for Millions More Americans", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in supporting legislation to comprehensively address the skyrocketing costs of insulin and lower prices for Wisconsinites. The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2023 would remove barriers to care, limit out of pocket costs for patients, and make insulin more accessible for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cAmericans should not have to choose between putting food on the table and the lifesaving medications they need to stay healthy. This bill builds on the historic gains we\u2019ve made in capping the cost of insulin for seniors by lowering the out-of-pocket costs for all Wisconsinites living with diabetes,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to lower the price of insulin and give families some much needed relief.\u201d\n\nA new report from the American Diabetes Association that shows the cost of diabetes in America, including the cost of insulin, continues to skyrocket for patients and the federal government. More than 37 million Americans live with diabetes, including over 400,000 Wisconsinites. The disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming over 100,000 lives in 2021. It is also the most expensive chronic condition in the nation, costing Americans a combined total of $412.9 billion per year. The rising cost of insulin presents a barrier to care for a growing number of Americans living with diabetes; 1 in 4 individuals report reducing insulin use due to cost.\n\nThe INSULIN Act would directly address the root problems in the insulin market causing high list prices, while simultaneously extending vital patient protections, fostering competition, and broadening access to needed insulin products. Specifically, the INSULIN Act of 2023 would:\n\nLimit out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 or 25% of list price per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form.\n\nPharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) would be prohibited from placing utilization management tools \u2013 prior authorization, step therapy, etc. \u2013 on products with capped out-of-pocket costs.\n\nMandate PBMs pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing perverse incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices and helping patients in the form of reduced premiums.\n\nPromote generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs to patients by:\n\nCreating a new expedited FDA approval pathway for biologic drugs lacking biosimilar competition, similar to FDA\u2019s current Competitive Generic Therapies pathway;\n\nThis will improve the timeliness of resolving regulatory barriers slowing down market entry of lower cost products;\n\nEnsuring adequate oversight of the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) citizen petition process, easing approval of generic and biosimilar drugs;\n\nAllowing Medicare Part D plans to place biosimilar drugs on formulary immediately after entering the market, identical to other generic drugs; and,\n\nRequiring the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and FDA, to issue a report to Congress on issues and market dynamics delaying or restricting biosimilar insulin competition.\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and also co-sponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).\n\nSenator Baldwin has long advocated for holding big drug companies accountable and expanding access to affordable health care for Wisconsinites. Last year, she helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which for the first time allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and caps the cost of insulin at $35-a-month for Medicare recipients. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin\u2019s bipartisan legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to be transparent with their customers and explain to the public why they are raising drug prices on working families passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.\n\nA full text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-to-hhs-sec-becerra-and-inspector-general-grimm-niaid-official-s-actions-may-have-directly-obstructed-my-oversight-efforts", "Sen. Johnson to HHS Sec. Becerra and Inspector General Grimm: NIAID Official\u2019s Actions May Have Directly Obstructed My Oversight Efforts", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent letters to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Xavier Becerra and HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm revealing a recently obtained email apparently showing a concerted effort led by Dr. David Morens, a senior scientific advisor at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to circumvent federal record keeping laws and avoid producing responsive documents to congressional requests including the senator\u2019s own request from June 2021.\n\nIn the letters, the senator included the text of Dr. Morens\u2019 June 17, 2021 email that he sent from his Gmail account to ten individuals he referred to as his American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH) \u201ccolleagues.\u201d In that email with the subject line, \u201cCONFIDENTIAL WITHIN OUR SMALL GROUP, PLEASE,\u201d Dr. Morens attached a June 11, 2021 letter Sen. Johnson and four other senators sent to Sec. Becerra and then-National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins requesting documents related to the origins of COVID-19.\n\nDr. Morens, who at the time reported to Dr. Anthony Fauci, summarized the requests relating to COVID-19 origins, and then informed his colleagues he has retained \u201cvery few\u201d records on \u201cthese matters\u201d and reiterated his preference that \u201ccorrespondence on sensitive issues be sent to [him] at [his] gmail [sic] address[.]\u201d Dr. Morens\u2019 complete email is copied below:\n\nSen. Johnson wrote, \u201cit appears that Dr. Morens may have intentionally deleted or destroyed records relating to the origins of COVID-19 given his admission that he has \u2018retained very few emails or documents on these matters.\u2019 Further, Dr. Morens\u2019 stated preference to receive correspondence on \u2018sensitive issues\u2019 through Gmail shows an apparent evasion of federal record keeping requirements and a complete disregard for transparency.\u201d\n\nThe senator added, \u201cDr. Morens\u2019 apparent actions may have directly obstructed my oversight efforts. . . . [I]n light of the information I recently obtained regarding Dr. Morens\u2019 efforts to hinder HHS\u2019s response to my June 11, 2021 letter, I am deeply concerned that HHS officials may have intentionally removed or destroyed responsive records on the origins of COVID-19 or on other aspects of the pandemic.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson requested Dr. Morens appear before his Subcommittee staff for an interview and also called on Sec. Becerra to immediately provide complete responses to his June 11, 2021 letter and the March 31, 2023 follow-up letter by December 6, 2023.\n\nAdditionally, Sen. Johnson reiterated his August 14, 2023 request to HHS Inspector General Grimm to investigate Dr. Morens\u2019 apparent violations of federal record keeping requirements and potential obstruction of congressional requests.\n\nRead more about the senator\u2019s November 15, 2023 letters to Sec. Becerra and Inspector General Grimm in the New York Post.\n\nThe full letter to HHS can be found here and the letter to the Office of the Inspector General can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-backed-infrastructure-law-delivers-over-56-billion-for-wisconsin-in-first-two-years", "Baldwin-Backed Infrastructure Law Delivers Over $5.6 Billion for Wisconsin In First Two Years", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement celebrating the two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which has delivered over $5.6 billion in funding for Wisconsin roads, bridges, broadband, water infrastructure, and more.\n\n\u201cTwo years ago, Republicans and Democrats came together to make an investment in Wisconsin and our nation\u2019s future. Whether it be replacing lead pipes to keep kids healthy, repaving roads and replacing crumbling bridges to keep our economy moving forward, or connecting more Wisconsinites to high-speed internet, it is clear that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for Wisconsin families and businesses,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to see my strong Buy America provisions ensuring that this investment in America\u2019s infrastructure is also investing in American businesses and workers. In just the first two years, communities from Bayfield to Beloit are reaping the benefits of these investments, and I remain committed to ensuring the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to work for Wisconsin and puts Wisconsinites to work.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin championed strong Buy America provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, requiring that key manufactured products for materials used in roads, bridges, broadband, and water infrastructure, be manufactured in the United States, supporting American jobs, businesses, and workers. In August, Senator Baldwin helped announce that Sanmina in Kenosha County is bringing up to 200 manufacturing jobs to Wisconsin to produce key components that expand access to broadband, in part because of the Buy America standards in the BIL.\n\nThe $5.6 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Wisconsin that Senator Baldwin helped secure is headed to over 327 specific projects. In the coming years, Wisconsin can expect to see additional investments. Information on and examples of investments in Wisconsin\u2019s roads, bridges, broadband, and water infrastructure can be found below:\n\nSafe Roads and Bridges\n\nSenator Baldwin secured $3.4 billion for Wisconsin roads, bridges, roadway safety, and major projects, including:\n\n$3.1 billion in highway formula funding and $135 million in dedicated formula funding for bridges.\n\n$66.2 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program and $80 million through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program.\n\nJohn Nolen Drive Bridges: Over $15 million in BIL funding will replace six off-system bridges along the John Nolen Drive causeway, a major artery into downtown Madison, across Lake Monona. The six two-lane bridges (three north-bound, three southbound) on the corridor have reached the end of their service lives. This project will also include a separated bike and pedestrian path, traffic signals and street lighting, smart technologies to manage traffic, and associated green infrastructure.\n\nCity of Beloit: Over $13 million in BIL along with annual budget funding will make safety improvements including a new bridge on Willowbrook Road, reconstruction of Willowbrook Road, reconstruction of Colley Road, multilane roundabouts at three intersections, and railroad crossing improvements.\n\nCity of Milwaukee: Over $14 million through the RAISE program to make street improvements on approximately 1.5 miles of West Villard Avenue from North Sherman Boulevard to the Oak Leaf Trail and 20th Street Powerline Trail at N 20th Street. Improvements include raised bike lanes, raised intersections, curb extensions, bus bulbs, lighting and signal improvements, a pedestrian plaza, and other streetscaping enhancements.\n\nColumbia County: $80 million in BIL funding to replace the existing I-39/90/94 Wisconsin River Bridge with two new bridge spans dedicated to serve traffic in opposite directions. Two overcrossing bridges for county roads (CTH U and CTH V), will also be replaced.\n\nEau Claire County: Over $49 million through the National Highway Freight Program and National Highway Performance Program for I-94 from the I-94/US 53 interchange to Mallard Road for construction and pavement replacement.\n\nBayfield County: $4.9 million through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program to replace existing concrete pavement on WIS 13 (Bayfield Street) which has deteriorated.\n\nIncreasing Access to Affordable High-Speed Internet\n\nSenator Baldwin successfully delivered Wisconsin more than $1 billion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) to expand access to high-speed internet. Wisconsin also received $14.9 million in funding to expand middle-mile infrastructure in the state. In addition, about 413,000 households in Wisconsin have saved on the cost of internet from the Affordable Connectivity Program, a program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nTribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Over $35 million for Wisconsin from the program made possible by the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual funding legislation, to support Tribal government efforts to bring high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, and affordability initiatives. Along with projects for the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Stockbridge-Munsee Community, and Oneida Nation, this includes:\n\nLac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians: Over $25 million to install fiber directly connecting 2,300 unserved Native American households, plus 25 businesses, the Tribal Government, and 19 community anchor institutions with qualifying broadband service at speeds up to 100 Mbps symmetrical.\n\nRed Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Over $8 million to install fiber to directly connect 705 unserved Native American households, 18 unserved Native American businesses, and 4 Native American community anchor institutions with fiber-to-the-home 940 Mbps/30 Mbps service.\n\nDairyland Power Cooperative (Western Wisconsin): Nearly $15 million to Dairyland Power Cooperative to implement its Tri-State Fiber Deployment Project (TSFDP), which will?retrofit 240.23 miles of fiber optic communications network using mostly optical ground wire (OPGW) on DPCs transmission lines in 3 years. Through the TSFDP, last mile providers in Barron, Polk, Burnett, and Washburn Counties will have enhanced capacity to reach unserved and underserved residents at affordable rates and help bridge the nations digital divide.?\n\nDelivering Clean and Safe Water\n\nSenator Baldwin brought home $369 million to Wisconsin to provide clean and safe water across the state and improve water infrastructure. This includes $336 million available to date to provide clean and safe water across the state through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of this funding, $129.5 million is dedicated to lead pipe and service line replacement, with another $66.7 million for safe drinking water investments that can also support lead pipe replacement.\n\nLead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Accelerators: Wisconsin was selected as one of four states designated as an LSLR Accelerator. The EPA program will provide hands-on support to guide communities through the process of lead service line removals from start to finish. In August, Senator Baldwin visited a lead pipe removal site in Milwaukee to see how infrastructure dollars are accelerating LSLR.\n\nImproving Public Transit\n\nSenator Baldwin secured $237.1 million to improve Wisconsin\u2019s public transportation options and $25.8 million for Wisconsin through the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Clean School Bus Program. In addition, communities in Wisconsin were awarded $42.4 million for clean transit buses and improved bus service through DOT\u2019s Low-and No-Emission Bus and Bus Facilities Program.\n\nCity of Madison: Over $37 million for their Electrify Madison initiative, which will be used to buy battery-electric buses to replace older diesel buses and install charging equipment and solar panels to modernize its bus maintenance facility, as well as develop a workforce training program.\n\nClean Buses: Several Wisconsin school districts are benefiting from the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Clean School Bus Program, which provides funding to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission (ZE) models, including the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District which received a $2.3 million rebate, Granton Area School District which received $1.8 million, Mondovi School District which received $1.9 million, Lumira School District which received $1.5 million, and the Augusta School District which received $1.1 million.\n\nClean Energy and Power\n\nSenator Baldwin helped deliver approximately $173.1 million to Wisconsin for clean energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and power generation. This includes:\n\n$95 million for weatherization.\n\n$7.9 million through the State Energy Program.\n\n$6.5 million through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.\n\n$14.2 million to prevent outages and make the power grid more resilient.\n\n$45.1 million to build out a network of EV chargers across the state.\n\nCreating Safer, More Efficient Airports\n\nSenator Baldwin ensured Wisconsin received approximately $87.3 million for airports. This money will support investments in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal improvement projects.\n\nGeneral Mitchell International Airport?Project: $5.1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Airport Terminal Program to replace flat roof areas on airport buildings that have reached the end of their useful life \u2013 making the buildings more resilient to weather and energy efficient.\n\nDane County Regional Airport Project: $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Airport Terminal Program to resurface pavement, install 400 energy efficient street lights, improve public bus access and safety, and improve signage and guidance.\n\nInvesting in Ports, Resiliency, and Waterways\n\nSenator Baldwin brought $32.1 million to Wisconsin for ports and waterways. BIL also invests $111.6 million in Wisconsin\u2019s infrastructure resilience, including $13.2 million through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation.\n\nPort of Milwaukee: Over $9 million in BIL and annual budget funding will help construct two grain storage silos, purchase additional grain handling equipment, purchase rolling equipment including a locomotive, excavators, and skid steers to move products between storage and vessels.\n\nPort of Green Bay: Over $10.1 million in BIL and annual budget funding through Port Infrastructure Development Program Grants to redevelop the decommissioned Pulliam power plant site into a state-of-the-art port facility. The project will include brownfield clean-up, filling in an old boat slip, dredging, resurfacing, and construction of a new dock wall, crane pad, asphalt pads, and rail lines.\n\nAlgoma Harbor: An over $19 million BIL investment from the Corps of Engineers to help rebuild the South Pier, which has not been updated since it was built over 100 years ago. The project will stabilize the North Pier and South Breakwater Pier so that they can sustain rising water levels.\n\nCleaning Up Legacy Pollution\n\nSenator Baldwin delivered BIL funding to address legacy pollution and conserve ecosystems, including the Great Lakes and former industrial sites across Wisconsin.\n\nBrownfields: Wisconsin received approximately $15.4 million to clean up brownfield sites, or land that is abandoned or underutilized because of pollution from industrial use. Senator Baldwin joined EPA Administrator Regan in Milwaukee in May to celebrate funding announced for Milwaukee, Calumet County, Green Bay, Sheboygan County, Eau Claire and more to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites.\n\nGreat Lakes Areas of Concern: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes a $1 billion investment in the Great Lakes to clean up and restore severely degraded sites, known as \u201cAreas of Concern\u201d or AOCs. Wisconsin has four AOC\u2019s near the St. Louis River, Fox River, Milwaukee Estuary, and Sheboygan. In October, Senator Baldwin joined EPA Administrator Regan to announce $275 million in BIL funding would go to cleaning up the Milwaukee Estuary.\n\nA full list of federal investments heading to Wisconsin under BIL can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-to-keep-government-open-avoid-devastating-impacts-for-wisconsin-families-and-economy", "Senator Baldwin Votes to Keep Government Open, Avoid Devastating Impacts for Wisconsin Families and Economy", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after voting to avoid a government shutdown:\n\n\u201cToday, we passed a bipartisan package to fund the government into next year, avoiding an unnecessary shutdown which would have threatened our economy and Americans\u2019 safety. Playing politics and shutting down the government would have had devastating impacts for Wisconsin, cutting off critical support for our troops and law enforcement, pausing funding for nutrition programs that children and families rely on, and hurting our small businesses just before Thanksgiving. This compromise also extends critical programs that help power our agricultural communities and support Wisconsin dairy farmers, agricultural research, and biofuel producers. As we work to fund the government for the coming year, I remain committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to deliver support for Wisconsin families, farmers, and businesses, while also keeping up the fight to deliver additional aid to our allies abroad like Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian aid to those in need, resources to strengthen our border, and funding to address the child care crisis and fentanyl epidemic.\u201d\n\nIn addition to continuing to fund the government into early 2024, the legislation also extended Farm Bill programs until September 30, 2024, giving Congress additional time to continue negotiating a new long-term Farm Bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/icymi-sen-johnson-joins-house-of-representatives-panel-on-injuries-caused-by-covid-19-vaccines", "ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Joins House of Representatives Panel on Injuries Caused by COVID-19 Vaccines", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and seven of her House GOP colleagues, in a hearing titled Injuries Caused by COVID-19 Vaccines which explored potential links between COVID-19 vaccination and adverse events including myocarditis, pericarditis, blood clots, neurological damage, cardiac arrest, miscarriages, fertility issues, and more. The panel heard witness testimony on vaccine adverse events from medical experts Dr. Robert Malone and Dr. Kimberly Biss and also heard from attorney Thomas Renz who represented Department of Defense (DOD) whistleblowers who revealed increases in medical diagnoses among service members registered in a DOD database.\n\nThe senator discussed how U.S. public health agencies, including DOD, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lack transparency regarding the COVID-19 vaccines and have failed to provide complete responses to many of the 60 public oversight letters the senator has sent. The senator also displayed his censored drug adverse event comparison chart showing the worldwide totals of about 1.6 million adverse events and 36,501 deaths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines. Sen. Johnson has held four roundtable (May 6, 2020, January 24, 2022, August 3, 2022, and December 7, 2022) events on COVID-19 early treatment and vaccine safety with world-renowned doctors and medical experts since May 2020.\n\nSen. Johnson\u2019s panel remarks can be found here. Excerpts can be found below:\n\nOpening remarks on federal health agency oversight and COVID-19 vaccine adverse events\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cI put on our first event in June of 2021 in Milwaukee to just allow five vaccine-injured individuals to tell their story. My hope was that the media would show some ounce of sympathy for their plight. That didn't happen. I've held a number of other public events like you're doing here today and always the focus has been on the vaccine injured because they deserve to be seen and heard and believed because they deserve treatment. No matter what percent of doses result in an injury, we can't ignore the plight of the vaccine injury. So, again, I really appreciate you doing this. I do have a chart that's been censored a number of times. I don\u2019t know if they can get up behind me. This is CDC and FDA's own numbers. And yet, you know, through all the social media censorship directed by, unconstitutionally directed by, the Biden administration, people just don't want to see this. But these are the true numbers. The first five drugs that are listed here, this is over 28 years of reporting on the VAERS system and the FAERS system, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, you can see ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine are pretty safe drugs as is dexamethasone, the two drugs below\u2014this is since the COVID pandemic\u2014remdesivir and the COVID vaccines. Now, I don't know how anybody can take a look at our response to COVID and not claim it was anything but a miserable failure; we\u2019re 4% of the world's population we experienced supposedly 16% of the deaths. The VAERS system on the COVID vaccines alone: 1.6 million adverse events, 36,501 deaths. Now, these are worldwide figures which are a little bit different than what you're showing in terms of U.S. figures. These are worldwide deaths. It's important to point out, though, of those, of that 36,501 deaths, 8,923 deaths occurred either on the day of vaccination or within day one or two. Now, there's always two complaints about the VAERS system. One, it doesn't prove causality, which is true, but when you have that correlation of 24.4% of the deaths occurring day zero, one, or two, it certainly is a correlation I would be concerned about, and I'm just not quite sure why the FDA, CDC, NIH are not concerned about or the general medical community. I do want to just quickly, and I'll do this quickly, talk about the oversight letters I've written trying to get this information during most of my public events, I always invited the heads of the representatives of the federal health agencies or Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson to come and discuss this with people like Dr. Malone, Peter McCullough, and the other experts I've had in my panels. They've never shown up. We had Dr. Peter Hotez, a real vaccine proponent, turned down, I think it's up to $2.6 million donation, to his charity just to debate a lawyer about medical, you know, RFK Jr.; he won't do it. That tells you something. But what also is pretty revealing is in the 60 oversight letters I've written to the FDA, the CDC, the Department of Defense, the NIH, some aspect of COVID, I've virtually gotten no response. I just want to talk about three general efforts. The first I want to talk about is the standard operating procedure that the FDA, CDC issued on how they were going to analyze their safety surveillance systems. So I first wrote a letter in June of 2022 because the CDC was nonresponsive to a Freedom of Information Act asking for those documents, the proportional reporting ratios that the analysis they're going to do, and then eventually the empirical Bayesian analysis. They didn't respond. Then we found out that, again, they weren't going to be doing PRR, they were going to be doing a Bayesian analysis, that was the FDA was going to do that, not the CDC. So its bottom line, cut to the chase here. It's been over a year and a half since I first tried to get that analysis of their own safety surveillance system, and they won't show it to us. You have to ask the question \u2018why?\u2019 Again, this is information the American public has a right to know. These are public servants, but they are so arrogant that they believe that they're not accountable to the American people, that they don't have to respond to congressional oversight. The other effort was regarding hot lots. This was pointed out by a fellow named Craig Paardekooper and Jessica Rose. There was 1 lot of Moderna had 5,297 adverse events reported to the VAERS system. This goes back to December 3rd, 2021. So the first year 1 lot had 5,297 adverse events reported. The worst flu vaccine lot ever reported had 137. There were 256 different lots of the vaccines in total, they had more than 500 adverse events reported and yet the response I get from the CDC or the FDA is even though you show them the data they write back, say \u2018FDA\u2019s analysis of counts of serious adverse events reported by COVID 19 vaccine lot numbers showed no unusual concentration reports of a single lot or small group of lots.\u2019 So again, they are just willfully blind. With impunity they just say \u2018we see nothing here, so quit asking questions.\u2019 The last attempt was my 60th oversight letter, and this had to do with an FDA-funded, and now I found out it's an FDA-conducted study, that concluded, the study found statistically significant signals for myocarditis and pericarditis, but also in the primary analysis, seizures, convulsions, met the statistical threshold for a signal in children age two to four years following Pfizer vaccination, all three databases and in children age two to five following Moderna vaccination. Now, the reason I'm pointing this out is this is, again, not only funded but conducted by senior FDA officials. The results were, they concluded the data collection in April of 2023. They issued on, September 12th, 2023 after an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. They advise that every American six months and up get these vaccines, even though they conduct a study, the data being collected ended in April that it has signals for myocarditis, pericarditis, and seizures. They didn't publish a report until a month after the committee recommended the immunization. What is going on here? So again, when you cannot get information that the American public deserves, when people don't show up for events like this and just be willing to engage in discussion or debate with eminently qualified doctors and vaccine experts, all they do instead is. they denigrate they vilify, they try and destroy their careers. Something's not right. Something smells to high heaven.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson questions Dr. Robert Malone on COVID-19 vaccine toxicity\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cYou know, those few members who did show up, you're not going to get a lot of accolades for doing this. It's pretty lonely in the Senate. Pretty lonely in the House to, to be asking these questions, which I think is its own travesty. Dr. Malone, in our event about 12 months ago, on December 7th, that was billed as \u2018What is in the vaccine? How does it work? How it would cause injury?\u2019 I still don't think we got nailed down, that nailed down asmuch as I wanted to. It's certainly been described to me in layman's terms that you've got this lipid nanoparticle, bio-distributes all over the body. It injects this modified mRNA that lasts a lot longer in the body than it was supposed to. Now, you said something earlier that is slightly different from what I've heard. I've heard is it gets injected into the cell, it juices the mitochondria to produce the energy, to produce and express the spike protein, andthen the body attacks the spike protein, because it's a foreign body, it's toxic, and that creates inflammation, that's what myocarditis is. So that's my layman term of what happened. Can you accurately describe \u2013 again, we don't we don't exactly know what's in these, you know, this gene therapy, but how is, how does it operate and how could itcause these injuries?\u201d\n\nDr. Robert Malone: \u201cSo the injuries are so widespread and many of them can be\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cLet me just add, we're hearing this, these turbo cancers.\u201d\n\nDr. Robert Malone: \u201cYes.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cAgain, if, if all of a sudden you're juicing the mitochondria of a cancer cell, again, as a layman, that would be concerning. So take it away.\u201d\n\nDr. Robert Malone: \u201cI think you're conflating two trains of research, the activation of mitochondrial metabolism and \u2013 which is the mitochondria are these energy sources that are within our cells. You can think of them as the Tesla battery for your cells. They are impacted in some way that's not clear by the nature of the composition of the material, and that, that's what's observed that as you administer the material to cells, you observe this alteration in mitochondrial function. The part that \u2013 mitochondria are not directly involved in producing protein, those areribosomes, and functionally what happens here is that this large molecule, I call it a string of pearls, the modified messenger RNA moves into the white part of the egg, the cytoplasm of the cell, and gets loaded on to these protein manufacturing machines that we call ribosomes. They do consume energy in order to make proteins, but it's those ribosomes that do the business. In terms of what could be causing the turbo cancers, certainly the modification of metabolism, which is what you're talking about, the energy generating part of the cell can contribute to that becausecancer cells are already kind of predisposed and off-the-rails in terms of their regular control. However, what we have learned recently, and this is literally just recently now, there's over a dozen labs that have confirmed it, and it's beenconfirmed by, as I mentioned, the European Medicines Agency, Health Canada, and the FDA is that we have these short DNA fragments. Now, science in the real world is a situation where we have constantly evolving understanding of a complex system, and in that evolving understanding, we often have situations where we find that things are caused by many phenomena, all acting at the same time. It is well established that DNA fragments will cause what's called insertional mutagenesis. They will stick themselves into the DNA of those cells that receive them. Short DNAfragments are particularly prone to this. It has been a topic of great concern by the FDA historically. They have basically parked those concerns and not done the types of studies that they would normally have done in the past for similar systems, but this type of insertion of genetic material into your chromosomes, and, by the way, this because asthe doctor will, I think, concur these particles are also shown to cross the placenta and so there's germ cells there in the fetus. There's germ cells throughout your body, like in your bone marrow, and then there's cells that are not stem cells \u2013 I should say stem cells, not germ cells. There are stem cells throughout your body, but many cell types thataren't. If you have integration or or DNA disruption of your regular cells in your body, that can lead to cancer, but if you have disruption in particularly many of these stem cell types, that is even more prone to cancers, including bloodcancers, which is among--among the profile of tumors that we're observing that are caused, that are associated with this turbo cancer. We have leukemias and lymphomas. So I think that it \u2013 I speculate that what we may find is that the incidence, the cancer risk here may be partially attributed to these DNA contaminations that would be consistent with the peer-reviewed literature. And by the way, these DNA fragments may also be shown to contribute to geneticanomalies in fetus, which is one of the most prominent causes of premature abortion. Do we agree on that? So I think that this question you've asked is touching on an evolving understanding or area of investigation that should havebeen well known, and previously, under FDA policy, would have been well investigated. We call this genotoxicity andinsertion of mutagenesis studies that were not performed.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cSo I probably made a mistake concentrating on turbo. I really wanted to know, the harm to the lining ofthe arteries, the, you know, what's doing neurologically \u2013 so many of the women have neurological \u2013 myocarditis, what\u2019s causing that?\u201d\n\nDr. Robert Malone: \u201cOkay, so we \u2013 what I can say definitively is that every aspect of these particles has a toxicity. The modified messenger RNA is intrinsically immunosuppressive. That's why it's been modified. It's been modified to be immunosuppressive. So the mRNA has intrinsic toxicity associated with it. This is what Karik\u00f3 and Weissman got the Nobel Prize for was making it less toxic by making it anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive. The lipidic components, the particles themselves are intrinsically toxic. This has long been known. It is the reason why I abandoned the technology. They're highly inflammatory. They destroy cells. When you use this in experimentation, you have to carefully monitor the dose that you administer and you basically administer up to a toxic dose in which you're still killing a large number of cells because it is membrane active, it disrupts membrane integrity. When youlose membrane integrity, cells die. Okay, so the RNA component is toxic. The formulations themselves are toxic. That's well documented. And then the payload, the thing that they are producing, the spike protein, this is, as I mentioned, one of the things that I was ridiculed for saying so long ago, but in fact the spike protein is a toxin that is now well established in the scientific literature, and I think there's wide consensus on that. The cardiovascular effects that you're talking about may also include a component of autoimmune disease that is elicited by the complex themselves,potentially binding to other proteins there. This is, the immunotoxicity is one explanation that many use for the cardiotoxicity. This autoimmune problem is a known complication, for instance, of the smallpox vaccines. The DOD dealt with that for decades, but the problem with that theory is that you observe the cardiotoxicity within hours to days. So you can observe the release of enzymes that are specific for damaged heart cells starting within hours ofwhen the injections are provided, and data suggests that it may be up to half of people that are receiving these have some degree of cardiac damage based on these enzyme releases. So there's direct toxicity, there's indirect toxicity,there is autoimmune disease, there is toxicity from the particles, there's toxicity from the proteins, there's toxicity from the mRNA. It's all a big mess.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cSo, there is independent research looking into these things, but it's not coming out of it's not beingdirected by the CDC, the FDA and the NIH, by and large, correct?\u201d\n\nDr. Robert Malone: \u201cBy and large, and I've provided to Ms. Greene and her aides a library of thousands of peer-reviewed references with or without the abstract that I've requested they put into the record for this meeting that anyone can search now, peer-reviewed, published references of thousands of papers covering these adverse events. So, it's coming in from all over the world, and I\u2019ve attempted to aggregate them for purposes of this committee.\u201d\n\nClosing remarks\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cSo, my final comment, I really do appreciate you allowing me to be a part of this. Earlier on I said there are two problems with VAERS complaints: doesn't prove causality, it generally, dramatically understates by only 1%, 10% we don't really know. It dramatically understates the number of adverse events. So, again, I really can't thank you enough for holding this. Thank you for, you know, exposing yourselves to public scrutiny and vilification, because that's basically what you're going to get. We've got to get to the bottom of this. So thank you.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-joins-sen-peters-in-bipartisan-legislation-recognizing-the-service-of-hmong-veterans-during-vietnam-war", "Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Peters in Bipartisan Legislation Recognizing the Service of Hmong Veterans During Vietnam War", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Sen Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in introducing bipartisan legislation\u2014the Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act\u2014to recognize the distinguished service of the Hmong veterans who served alongside American troops in the Vietnam War by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal.\n\nAs the Vietnam War spread south and west into Laos, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited and trained Hmong men to help American troops fight back against the communist North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao. At great risk to the safety of themselves and their families, Hmong soldiers fought the ground war, flew combat missions, gathered intelligence on North Vietnamese troop movements, interrupted the Ho-Chi-Min Supply Trail, and rescued American pilots downed behind enemy lines. The Hmong people suffered heavy casualties, and their soldiers died at a rate ten times as high as that of American soldiers in Vietnam.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m happy to lead with Senator Peters to ensure the Hmong people get the recognition they deserve for their dedication to the fight against communism,\u201d Sen. Johnson said. \u201cWisconsin is proud to be home to so many brave individuals who are dedicated to liberty and freedom and opposed to government tyranny.\u201d\n\nFollowing the war, many Hmong were displaced from their villages as they were either bombed or burned down by the North Vietnamese and over 150,000 Hmong fled Laos when the nation fell to communist forces in 1975. Due to their ties with the American military, many Hmong came to the United States as refugees to start a new life. Over the ensuing decades, Hmong populations and their traditions have become engrained in communities in Wisconsin and across the United States. Currently, there are over 327,000 Hmong living in the United States, including approximately 58,000 in Wisconsin.\n\nSens. Johnson and Peters are joined on this legislation by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-colleagues-urge-inclusion-of-full-humanitarian-assistance-in-supplemental-funding-package", "Baldwin, Colleagues Urge Inclusion of Full Humanitarian Assistance in Supplemental Funding Package", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined more than two dozen of her colleagues in urging Republican and Democratic Senate and Appropriations Committee leadership to include the full $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by the President in the national security supplemental.\n\n\u201cBeyond the moral significance of continuing our country\u2019s tradition as the world\u2019s leader in delivering life-saving humanitarian aid, this assistance promotes global stability and security by helping manage and provide for displaced populations, preventing recruitment to extremism, and mitigating economic pressure on partner governments,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe letter highlights the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the devastating impacts these global crises have on millions of innocent civilians caught in the middle. The Senators urge U.S. leadership in ensuring aid reaches sick, wounded, and displaced civilians.\n\n\u201cWithout these funds, global efforts led by the United States to address ongoing and expanded crises in Sudan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Burma, Syria, and other humanitarian responses will suffer reductions in support. This would directly threaten U.S. national security and the security of our partners,\u201d the letter continues.\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and was co-signed by 21 senators.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and follows below:\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Chair Murray, and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe urge you to ensure that the final package for the national security supplemental includes the full $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by the President, including for refugee and emergency food aid. This funding would roughly match U.S. emergency spending on humanitarian assistance appropriated since the beginning of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and would come at a time when global needs are only rising. Beyond the moral significance of continuing our country\u2019s tradition as the world\u2019s leader in delivering life-saving humanitarian aid, this assistance promotes global stability and security by helping manage and provide for displaced populations, preventing recruitment to extremism, and mitigating economic pressure on partner governments.\n\nWithout these funds, global efforts led by the United States to address ongoing and expanded crises in Sudan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Burma, Syria, and other humanitarian responses will suffer reductions in support. This would directly threaten U.S. national security and the security of our partners.\n\nIf these funds are not included, U.S. assistance for displaced Ukrainians could be reduced by as much as 75 percent. As you know, Ukrainians have valiantly fought against Vladimir Putin\u2019s unjust and unprovoked invasion of their country. To sustain their heroic struggle, Ukrainians not only need weapons and ammunition, but also basic humanitarian support for the families and communities they are fighting to defend. An estimated 16 million people in Ukraine and more than 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees in the region rely on humanitarian assistance. While other donors have provided the majority of total humanitarian and economic assistance that has been delivered to Ukraine (roughly double U.S. support), U.S. leadership has been critical in this effort. We must continue to lead the way in ensuring aid reaches sick, wounded, and displaced Ukrainians suffering as a result of Putin\u2019s brutality.\n\nAs supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, we believe Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself against Hamas \u2013 a terrorist organization whose horrific attacks on October 7 and long history of violence against Israelis and Palestinians make clear its total disregard for innocent human life. We also know from our country\u2019s own experiences that protecting civilians and ensuring access to desperately needed food, water, medical care, and shelter for innocent civilians caught in the middle of conflict is critical for strategic success. Preventing Hamas from ever again threatening Israeli lives does not depend solely on Israel\u2019s ability to degrade Hamas militarily. It also requires giving Palestinians hope for a better future, starting with making sure that humanitarian aid continuously reaches vulnerable civilians in Gaza. This is why the United States and our implementing partners, working closely with the Israeli government, undertake extensive oversight procedures so that U.S. assistance flows only to its intended recipients.\n\nThe ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have impacts beyond their borders. The proliferation of global crises is putting pressure on millions of innocent civilians who are bearing the brunt of the fighting, and key U.S. partners, including in Europe and the Middle East, continue to grapple with how to manage the outbreak of violence in their regions. These realities underscore the importance of the United States maintaining its indispensable leadership role in support of assistance that effectively responds to dire humanitarian needs and prevents further instability.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of this important request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-baldwin-pens-op-ed-in-la-crosse-tribune-to-honor-veterans-day", "ICYMI: Senator Baldwin Pens Op-ed in La Crosse Tribune to Honor Veterans Day", "2023-11-11", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the La Crosse Tribune published an op-ed penned by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) honoring Veterans Day.\n\nLa Crosse Tribune: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin: Despite successes for veterans health care, more work to be done\n\nVeterans Day is a time for us to reflect and honor the sacrifice that our servicemembers have made in defense of our country.\n\nServicemembers missed holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays with loved ones; they\u2019ve sustained injuries, both visible and invisible, and, they\u2019ve devoted years of their lives to serving our nation.\n\nIn Wisconsin, service to others is in our DNA. Wisconsinites have stepped up to defend our values, freedom and way of life.\n\nAnd when our servicemembers return home and hang up their boots for a final time, we have a sacred commitment to do right by those who served us. But, sadly for some veterans, we have come up short on our end of the bargain.\n\nTwo years ago, I heard from a veteran whose traumatic brain injury was improperly diagnosed at the Tomah Veterans Health Administration facility and subsequently did not receive the benefits they deserved.\n\nWhile inquiring with the Department of Veterans Affairs about how to help this veteran get reexamined, I heard from another veteran with a similar experience. And another. And another.\n\nIt was a disturbing pattern of a particular doctor misdiagnosing these heroes and robbing them of the compensation they earned. Alongside some brave Wisconsin veterans, I took these devastating stories up the entire chain of the VA, eventually speaking with the VA Secretary Denis McDonough about this pattern of misdiagnosis and asking that he investigate and make amends.\n\nWe successfully got the VA to open an investigation into the doctor, get hundreds of potentially impacted veterans\u2019 new exams, and, just last week, the VA announced that those impacted will be eligible for years of backdated benefits.\n\nNothing can undo the compounded harm done to these veterans by getting told their condition was not real and then denied care and benefits, but I am so proud that after years of advocacy, we held the VA accountable and pushed them to right this wrong.\n\nThis is not the only case in which our country left some of our veterans shortchanged. For too long, generations of toxic-exposed veterans, many of whom were exposed to open-air burn pits that contained garbage, jet fuel and other materials, were denied health care for conditions related to this exposure. That\u2019s why I was proud to join Democrats and Republicans in passing the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics of 2022 (PACT Act), to finally deliver these toxic-exposed veterans their earned health care and benefits.\n\nAs a senator, I take my obligation to care for those who served us seriously. I am honored to be an advocate and voice for the hundreds of thousands of veterans who call Wisconsin home.\n\nTo all those who have served our nation, their families, and loved ones, thank you for your service and sacrifice.\n\nI am committed to following through on these words of support each and every day and delivering for our veteran community. Happy Veterans Day, Wisconsin.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-celebrates-veterans-day-in-la-crosse", "Senator Baldwin Celebrates Veterans Day in La Crosse", "2023-11-10", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "LA CROSSE, WI \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin honored veterans and current servicemembers at Viterbo University\u2019s Annual Veterans Day Program. After the program, she had lunch with Abby Siakpere, a local veteran who was one of the many Wisconsin veterans misdiagnosed by a doctor at the Tomah VA Medical Center, depriving her of the benefits and compensation she deserved.\n\n\u201cVeterans Day is a time for us to reflect and honor the sacrifice that our servicemembers have made in defense of our country,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cFrom the tens of thousands of Wisconsinites who served dating back to World War I, to the thousands currently enlisted \u2013 Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of service. Wisconsinites have stepped up to defend our values, freedom, and way of life, and it is our duty to ensure that they receive the high-quality benefits they earned and deserve.\u201d\n\nAt Viterbo University, Senator Baldwin joined veterans, current servicemembers and their families, faculty, students, and La Crosse community members to honor veterans and current servicemembers. Senator Baldwin gave remarks during the program and joined in the raising of the POW/MIA flag.\n\nAt lunch, Senator Baldwin was joined by Abby Siakpere, a La Crosse area veteran who served for fourteen years, including a deployment to Iraq in 2007. In 2017, Abby received a medical discharge from service and later reported a misdiagnosis by Dr. Lanska at the Tomah VA Medical Center to Senator Baldwin. After years of working with impacted Wisconsin veterans, like Abby, Senator Baldwin announced last week that nearly 650 potentially impacted veterans\u2019 will get new exams and those impacted will be eligible for years of benefits backdated.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-colleagues-push-president-biden-for-more-information-around-strategy-to-defeat-hamas-protect-civilians-in-gaza", "Baldwin, Colleagues Push President Biden for More Information Around Strategy to Defeat Hamas, Protect Civilians in Gaza", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel\u2019s defensive systems, and seeking more information from President Biden on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\n\u201cThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators press for answers on how assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.\n\n\u201cWe must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThat includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\n\n\u201cWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was co-signed by more than two dozen Senators. The letter was led by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe have joined you in condemning the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel and agree with you that Israel has the right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. We applaud your actions to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage and support your continued efforts to free the remaining hostages. In the days and weeks since these attacks, you have rightly demonstrated America\u2019s commitment to support Israel in this dark hour.\n\nThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples.\n\nWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\nFirst, it is in America\u2019s interest to ensure that any military plans to fight Hamas do not produce the same strategic mistakes as many U.S. military operations over the past few decades. As we review the Administration\u2019s supplemental request for military assistance to Israel, we respectfully ask that you share with us your assessment of the viability of Israel\u2019s military strategy in Gaza, and whether it prioritizes the release of hostages. We would also like to better understand whether there is an achievable plan for governing Gaza when the Israeli military operation ends. We further seek to understand if Israel supports the conditions necessary to ultimately achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n\nSecond, we ask you to inform us about what specific mechanisms you are putting in place to ensure that Israeli military operations conducted inside Gaza are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure that any U.S.-provided equipment is used in a manner consistent with U.S. law. Relatedly, we would like to know your assessment of whether Israel\u2019s military rules of engagement, particularly regarding mitigation of civilian casualties, align with U.S. policy and practice. In addition, to prevent another front from opening in the West Bank, we ask that you obtain public assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that his coalition government will immediately stop the escalating extremist settler violence directed against unprotected Palestinians there, as well as assurances from President Abbas that his government take steps to quell any violence against Israelis.\n\nFinally, we request information on how our assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. As we consider additional military assistance to Israel, we must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children. That includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\n\nWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives.\n\nMr. President, your leadership at this time of crisis has been vital. We appreciate your attention to these urgent matters.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-questions-biden-administration-officials-on-efforts-to-stop-fentanyl-at-the-border-and-address-the-child-care-crisis", "Senator Baldwin Questions Biden Administration Officials on Efforts to Stop Fentanyl at the Border and Address the Child Care Crisis", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on the Biden Administration\u2019s requests for additional funding to address the child care crisis and to combat the opioid crisis by disrupting the flow of illegal drugs into the country. A full video of Senator Baldwin\u2019s questions is available here.\n\nIn 2022, accidental drug overdoses were the largest cause of death for people under 40. More than 1,400 Wisconsinites died from overdoses in 2022, and between 2019 and 2021, fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97%. To address the opioid and fentanyl epidemics, the Biden Administration\u2019s supplemental requests include:\n\nDisrupting the Flow of Fentanyl: The national security supplemental request includes $1.2 billion to crack down on the trafficking of dangerous and lethal illicit drugs like fentanyl, including hiring an additional 1,300 border agents and deploying new cutting-edge detection equipment to disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the country.\n\nBoosting State Opioid Response: The emergency domestic supplemental request includes $1.55 billion for HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to provide treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services in all States and territories. Since 2018, the SOR grant program has provided treatment services to over 1.2 million people.\n\nSenator Baldwin has long worked to both increase resources for individuals struggling with substance use disorder, disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the country, and keep dangerous and illicit drugs out of our communities. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin also advanced funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2024 that includes $1.5 billion for the State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help communities with prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.\n\nIn October, Senator Baldwin sent a letter pushing President Biden to prioritize additional resources to strengthen the security at the southwest border to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border. Senator Baldwin also co-sponsors the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act to target the illicit fentanyl supply chain and transnational criminal organizations, which was included in the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act of 2024.\n\nSenator Baldwin also questioned the Biden Administration officials on their efforts to address the child care crisis, which is impacting Wisconsin child care providers, families, and employers. The President\u2019s domestic supplemental funding request includes $16 billion for HHS to provide an additional year of child care stabilization funding to help keep child care providers afloat, mitigating the likelihood that providers will close or raise costs for families.\n\nAccording to the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute, approximately 4 out of 5 Wisconsin employers say the state economy is impacted by parent\u2019s access to affordable, high-quality childcare. In Wisconsin, Child Care Counts, which received funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, supported nearly 5,000 child care providers across the state. An analysis found that if Congress does not provide additional funding for the nation\u2019s child care sector, more than 70,000 child care programs\u2014one-third of those supported by ARPA stabilization funding\u2014could close nationwide, causing approximately 3.2 million children to lose their child care spots.\n\nA full video of Senator Baldwin\u2019s questions is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-helps-wisconsin-communities-upgrade-water-infrastructure", "Senator Baldwin Helps Communities in Rural Wisconsin Upgrade Water Infrastructure", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today shared that five Wisconsin villages will receive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants to upgrade and replace aging water and waste water infrastructure. The villages of Wilton, La Valle, Edgar, Wonewoc, and Eleva will receive a combination of low-interest loans and grants to complete water projects, protecting their natural resources, providing clean drinking water, and reducing the cost of these necessary upgrades for rate payers.\n\n\u201cEvery community across Wisconsin deserves to live in an environment free from dangerous toxins and have confidence that safe water is coming out of the faucet. But, across the state, I hear about how the cost of aging water infrastructure keeps small communities from making this possible.\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI was proud to support this additional funding to help our communities get these projects over the finish line, while keeping rates down for residents and ensuring that every Wisconsinite\u2019s drinking water is clean and safe from contaminants.\u201d\n\nThe USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. The following communities will receive funding:\n\nVillage of Wilton received a loan of $300,000.00 and a grant of $824,000.00 to upgrade their waste water treatment facility (WWTF). This project includes upgrading the WWTF to address equipment, lagoon, and process deficiencies to meet current and future permit requirements. The existing WWTF system was constructed in 1980 and has historically struggled to meet current discharge limits. The existing lagoons have a number of items needing to be brought into compliance within WDNR requirements. Most processes and equipment are original to the plant construction and are reaching the end of their useful life and need replacement or upgrading.\n\nVillage of La Valle received a loan of $300,000.00 and a grant of $1,145,000.00 to upgrade and expand the village's water system. The village has benzene contaminants in well # 1, their only water source, and will be using the funds to pay for temporary treatment of water until a suitable well site is found. Funds will also be used for well site investigation, testing, and the construction of new well #2 and well house. The higher-than-normal levels of benzene the village is experiencing is resulting in a health and sanitary issue for the community water system.\n\nVillage of Edgar received a loan of $4,335,000.00 and a grant of $1,000,000.00 to improve their WWTF. The existing WWTF, originally constructed in the 1930's, and upgraded in 1968, needs improvements to keep the system running efficiently and within requirements. This project includes improvements that will recondition several of the treatment processes, replace a major portion of the electrical system, and will include the conversion of the blower/generator room to a lab/office. These improvements will allow the WWTF to remove phosphorus both chemically and biologically to achieve the phosphorus waste load allocation imposed by the Wisconsin River total maximum daily load.\n\nVillage of Wonewoc received a loan of $900,000.00 and a grant of $2,634,000.00 to upgrade and expand their WWTF. The WWTF, last updated in 1979, is located in the floodway and has experienced extreme flooding events. The collection system also has significant inflow and infiltration issues and in turn, is not able to handle the peak flows during heavy rain events. In 2018, the WWTF exceeded the design flow capacity five out of 12 months and experienced a treatment facility overflow. Upgrades and expansion include an extension of the aeration activated sludge system to a new site, and the conversion of existing wet well to a new floodproofed pump station at the existing WWTF to pump the waste water to the new WWTF in the new location.\n\nVillage of Eleva received a loan of $641,000.00 and a grant of $124,000.00 to upgrade the water system. The existing system is not functioning as the village needs, and the water supply currently exceeds the allowable levels of iron and manganese due to a deficient sand filter. The water treatment plant is more than 70 years old, outdated, and has surpassed its useful life. Well #1 is providing sufficient water to the system currently, but the village has had to reduce the flow rate through the filter, reducing the fill rate of the water tower and is not ideal for the long term. Because well #1 is the only source of water in the community, there is a risk of well failure that would result in no water supply to the community. This project will include a new water treatment plant and water main connecting well #2 and the new water treatment plant, updates to the well #1 well house, and a centralization of the office and equipment storage into one location for the water treatment plant.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-helps-bring-home-nearly-6-million-for-wisconsin-farmers-and-rural-businesses-to-cut-energy-costs", "Baldwin Helps Bring Home Nearly $6 Million for Wisconsin Farmers and Rural Businesses to Cut Energy Costs", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced she helped deliver nearly $6 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for more than 50 Wisconsin farmers, ranchers, and businesses to invest in renewable energy, upgrade to energy efficient equipment, and cut their energy costs. The grants, from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations.\n\n\u201cInvesting in renewable energy for Wisconsin is a win-win for our farmers, businesses, and environment. By installing more energy efficient equipment and renewable energy like solar panels, Wisconsinites can see their energy bills go down, helping them re-invest more dollars back into their businesses and workers,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to support these investments which pay for themselves, saving Wisconsinites money and combatting the impacts of climate change like extreme weather, flooding, and drought.\u201d\n\nThe REAP program \u2013 which received a $2 billion boost through the Baldwin-backed Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 is helping farms and small businesses invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will lower their energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of their operations. Over 50 farms and businesses in Wisconsin were awarded REAP grants earlier this month, including:\n\nKinnard Farms in Casco \u2013 $403,507 to help Kinnard Farms Inc., a dairy farming operation in Casco, Wisconsin, install a new feed handling system. This project is expected to save $163,059 per year. It will replace 1,186,313 kilowatt hours (kWh) (45 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 109 homes.\n\nLemere Farms in Oconto \u2013 $92,404.00 to help LeMere Farms LLC, a farming operation in Oconto, Wisconsin, install a grain drying system. This project is expected to save $11,664 per year. It will replace 164,830 kilowatt hours (kWh) (90 percent of the company s energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 15 homes.\n\nI-K-I Manufacturing in Edgerton \u2013 $371,700 to install a 497 kilowatt (kW) roof mounted solar array. I-K-I Manufacturing Co. Inc. is an aerosol can manufacturing company in Edgerton, Wisconsin, This project is expected to save $74,474 per year. It will replace 600,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) (73 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 55 homes.\n\nNidus Hospitality in Wausau \u2013 $157,500 to help Nidus Hospitality LLC, a hotel operation in Wausau, Wisconsin, make energy efficiency improvements to the hotel's elevator system. This project is expected to save $55,675 year. It will replace 482,038 kilowatt hours (kWh) (82 percent of the energy used by the elevator system) per year, which is enough energy to power 44 homes.\n\nTomahawk Terminal Company in Tomahawk \u2013 $106,183 to help Tomahawk Terminals Company install a small solar electric array. This rural small business operates in Tomahawk, Wisconsin and the project is expected to save $5,998 per year. It will replace 103,225 kilowatt hours (kW) (100 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes.\n\nTom Saffert & Sons in Rice Lake \u2013 $145,440 to install a more energy efficient grain dryer. Tom Saffert & Sons SCG is a farming operation in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. This project is expected to save $7,422 per year. It will save 103,561 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (63 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes.\n\nCVG in Eau Claire \u2013 $58,400.00 to help CVG LLC install a small solar electric array. This farming operation is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the project is expected to save $6,364 per year. It will replace 62,041 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (87 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power five homes.\n\nCOMWAS in Ettrick \u2013 $100,160.00 to install a small solar electric array. COMWAS Inc. is a rural small business in Ettrick, Wisconsin. This project is expected to save $19,990 per year. It will replace 177,802 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (100 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 16 homes.\n\nA full list of REAP award winners announced earlier this month can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-colleagues-statement-regarding-humanitarian-aid-to-civilians-in-gaza", "Baldwin, Colleagues Statement Regarding Humanitarian Aid to Civilians in Gaza", "2023-11-04", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined over a dozen of her colleagues in releasing the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe tragic war in Gaza, initiated by Hamas terrorist attacks on innocent civilians on October 7, is causing heartbreaking suffering among Israelis, Palestinians and citizens of other nations living in the region.\n\n\u201cIsrael has the right and obligation to defend itself against Hamas, whose leadership continues to state clearly that their goal is the complete annihilation of Israel. Israel also has the obligation, pursuant to international law, to conduct that defense in such a way as to minimize harm to civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach those who are suffering. We acknowledge the increased burden that this necessarily places on Israel to accomplish these obligations.\n\n\u201cHamas\u2019s horrific actions cannot be ascribed to all Palestinians. Indeed, Palestinian residents of Gaza have often been victimized by Hamas.\n\n\u201cAs Senators, we have been closely monitoring the war in Gaza and believe that much more must be done to protect civilian life. We have been in ongoing dialogue with government officials in the United States, Israel and other nations in the region. We have communicated extensively with international aid officials doing work in Gaza, including those working together with the U.S. Agency for International Development. And we have talked at length with our own constituents who have family and friends in the region.\n\n\u201cThe failure to adequately protect non-combatant civilians risks dramatic escalation of the conflict in the region and imposes severe damage on prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Based on the consensus opinion of U.S. and international aid officials, it is nearly impossible to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to protect civilian life under current conditions.\n\n\u201cThus, we join President Biden in his call for a short-term cessation of hostilities that pose high-risk to civilians, aid workers or humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza, in order to accomplish three goals:\n\nSuccessful delivery of needed humanitarian aid to civilians under strict and necessary oversight\n\nIncreased focus on the release of all hostages kidnapped on October 7\n\nOpportunity for broader discussion amongst Israeli and Palestinian leadership, together with regional and global partners, about long-term strategies to reduce decades-long conflict in the region.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin released the statement in support of additional humanitarian aid to Gaza with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-ernst-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-access-to-internet-in-rural-america", "Baldwin, Ernst Lead Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Internet in Rural America", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to broadband in rural areas and ease the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on. The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Krysten Sinema (I-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).\n\n\u201cWisconsinites in rural communities rely on high-speed internet to start a business, manage their farms, work remotely, and attend school online, and I\u2019m committed to ensuring families in every corner of the state have the internet access they need to participate fully in our economy,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to ease burdensome regulations for small broadband providers and help expand reliable, affordable broadband to more Wisconsinites.\u201d\n\n\u201cDue to red tape, many Iowans in rural areas still lack access to the high-speed internet and quality broadband services they need for school and work,\u201d said Senator Ernst. \u201cAs baseless bureaucracy continues to make it more difficult to expand broadband access, I will keep pushing to cut regulations and unleash our local telecom companies on behalf of rural communities everywhere.\u201d\n\nThe Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports (ACCESS) Rural America Act would provide regulatory relief to rural telecommunications service providers by allowing them to submit streamlined financial reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These small companies\u2014many of which are the sole service providers in their region\u2014could be put out of business by looming regulatory costs. Specifically, this bipartisan legislation would increase the number of investors that triggers SEC public reporting requirements for rural telecommunications companies. This will save these small companies from costly SEC reporting requirements that were never intended for them.\n\n\u201cLakeland Communications is a rural local community-based provider in northwest Wisconsin and our communities are thrilled to see Senator Baldwin introduce a ACCESS bill that will help us and other community based Broadband providers across the nation to be freed up to deploy more fiber optic networks in Wisconsin. Just in time to utilize the federal BEAD program that is providing 42.4 billion dollars in funding that is needed in our high capital Intensive industry to construct and maintain state of the art fiber optic networks,\u201d said John Klatt, President and CEO of Lakeland Communications in Milltown, WI. \u201cThe nation needs us more, now than ever, to fulfil the need to build out and with this long-awaited relief it will relieve small providers like us from costly and burdensome unintended restrictions of 2002 SOX SEC regulations that were intended for large corporations with SOX safeguards. This bill and its passage will enable us to get back to doing more network building and supporting the business of the good people of rural Wisconsin and less monies spent on SEC regulation compliance. We are hopeful that this bill will be successful in our bicameral possesses and become law as soon as possible. Thank you, Senator Baldwin!\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal Securities and Exchange Commission registration and reporting requirements intended for larger, publicly-traded firms pose significant challenges for, and can impose substantial burdens on, smaller, locally-owned companies with limited resources. NTCA therefore greatly appreciates the leadership of Senator Tammy Baldwin in introducing the ACCESS Rural America Act, which will help relieve these burdens and enable small providers to focus more on their core mission of deploying and operating advanced broadband networks in rural areas,\u201d said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA\u2013The Rural Broadband Association.\n\nFull text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-delivers-additional-93-million-for-port-milwaukee", "Senator Baldwin Delivers Additional $9.3 Million for Port Milwaukee", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced she helped deliver $9.3 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to expand Port Milwaukee\u2019s newly opened Agriculture Maritime Export Facility (AMEF). The funding will support Phase 2 of the AMEF project, constructing two grain storage silos, purchasing additional grain handling equipment, and acquiring new equipment to move products between storage and vessels. In April, Senator Baldwin called on DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to fund this project.\n\n\u201cPort Milwaukee plays a critical role in connecting our Wisconsin farmers and businesses to markets across the world,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help deliver this next investment to strengthen our maritime commerce, create jobs in Milwaukee, and grow Made in Wisconsin economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement of a more than $9mil Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grant from the US Department of Transportation will allow Port Milwaukee to construct Phase 2 of the Agriculture Maritime Export Facility,\u201d said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. \u201cThis grant further cements Port Milwaukee as a vital hub for international agricultural commerce, which benefits not only the City of Milwaukee but the entire State of Wisconsin. Once again, Sen. Baldwin has been the City of Milwaukee\u2019s champion on bringing more federal dollars to support essential projects in Milwaukee. I am very grateful for the support of President Biden, Sec. Buttigieg, and Sen. Baldwin on the awarding of this PIDP Grant for Port Milwaukee.\u201d\n\n\u201cPort Milwaukee is grateful for the continued support of both Senator Baldwin and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation \u2013 Maritime Administration (MARAD), and this second Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant award for the Agricultural Maritime Export Facility (AMEF) Phase 2 project. This expansion project, in partnership with the DeLong Company, Inc., will increase capacity and allow for the simultaneous handling of multiple agricultural commodities, providing access for growers and producers from Wisconsin and surrounding states to efficiently move their products to international markets,\u201d Jackie Q. Carter, Port Milwaukee Director said.\n\nSenator Baldwin has long supported the AMEF, helping secure $15.9 million to establish the facility in 2020 to help Port Milwaukee complete Phase 1 of the project, which established the Agricultural Maritime Export Facility on the west side of Jones Island to improve transportation infrastructure at the Port, expand Wisconsin\u2019s agribusiness access to international markets, and create new jobs in Milwaukee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-colleagues-push-biden-administration-to-correct-inflation-reduction-act-guidelines-that-undercut-us-manufacturers", "Baldwin, Colleagues Push Biden Administration to Correct Inflation Reduction Act Guidelines that Undercut U.S. Manufacturers", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) called on the Biden Administration to correct the Department of the Treasury\u2019s guidance on an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) program that would undercut American manufactures and workers. The Senators are calling on the Treasury to reexamine their guidance for the IRA\u2019s Domestic Content Bonus Credit to ensure that steel and iron in solar electricity generation projects is produced in the United States. Correcting current guidance will ensure that the IRA champions American products and American workers and does not unwittingly benefit China and other countries.\n\nIn the letter to Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel, the Senators outlined specific concerns with the placement of structural steel components of photovoltaic trackers, which are mounting structures, in the Manufactured Product Category instead of the Steel and Iron category. As reported in The Wall Street Journal, the guidance currently in place \u201cwould let firms use steel from abroad and still qualify for the 10%.\u201d\n\n\u201cCorrecting this error in the Guidance will help ensure that the steel and iron in solar electricity generation projects is produced in the United States. It also ensures that the IRA does not unwittingly benefit China and other countries that have a history of dumping their excess steel capacity in the U.S. market, to the detriment of U.S. workers and industry,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, America\u2019s largest domestic steel producers, the United Steelworkers, and organizations representing the industry and its workers warned that the current Guidance would significantly damage U.S. domestic steel producers and the millions of Americans workers who depend on the domestic steel industry,\u201d said Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. \u201cThe legislative intent of the Inflation Reduction Act was clearly to require the structural steel components of new solar projects eligible for the domestic content bonus credit requirements to be manufactured with steel and iron that are produced entirely in the United States. Fixing this error in the Guidance is consistent with the clear intent of Congress and it ensures that the Guidance does not unwittingly benefit China and other countries that have a history of using predatory, illegal trade tactics to target the U.S. steel industry.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, before the Administration released guidance on the Domestic Content Bonus Credit, Senator Baldwin sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Treasury and IRS to prioritize American manufacturing and workers in the implementation of the clean energy tax credits passed in the IRA. In the letter, Senator Baldwin noted that tax credits will give American workers a competitive advantage against Chinese manufacturers that are racing to own the clean energy manufacturing market.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Yellen and Commissioner Werfel:\n\nWe are writing in response to Domestic Content Bonus Credit Guidance (\u201cGuidance\u201d) published by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service describing rules for implementing the domestic content bonus credit requirements for solar and other renewable energy electricity generation projects under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Specifically, we are writing to request that you address a provision of the Guidance which we believe is contrary to Congressional intent.\n\nIn enacting the renewable energy credits of the IRA, Congress sought to incentivize the development of the U.S. renewable energy sector. With the domestic content bonus credit, the intention of Congress was more specifically to incentivize the development of U.S. clean energy supply chains. Toward that end, Congress provided a domestic content bonus credit for projects that meet two requirements:\n\nthat all the steel or iron in a project must be produced in the United States (herein, the \u201csteel or iron requirement\u201d), and\n\nthat an increasing percentage of the manufactured products in a project must be produced in the United States (herein, the \u201cmanufactured product requirement\u201d).\n\nIn the Guidance, Treasury and IRS apply the steel or iron requirement to components that are structural in function. In general, we believe this decision is in line with Congressional intent.\n\nHowever, the Guidance departs from this principal in the table included in the \u201csafe harbor\u201d provisions, where Treasury and IRS include in the manufactured products category components that are clearly structural in nature.\n\nWe are specifically concerned with the categorization of \u201cphotovoltaic tracker\u201d as a manufactured product. A photovoltaic tracker is merely a mounting structure that has the capability to follow, or \u201ctrack,\u201d the position of the sun, as described in the Department of Energy\u2019s supply chain report on solar photovoltaics in response to Executive Order 14017. The steel structural components of tracking systems, including torque tubes, foundations, and rails, therefore, must be included in the \u201csteel and iron\u201d category, as they are in fixed-tilt ground-mount systems. Torque tubes, while not appearing in fixed-tilt systems, are structural in nature, in that they bear the load of the solar panels, to which they are attached via rails and purlins. The fact that they rotate does not change their structural nature. We do believe that the non-structural components of tracking systems, including bearings, drive train components, and shock absorbers, are properly categorized as manufactured products.\n\nRecognizing the structural nature of tracking systems with this Guidance has great importance, because mounting structures are where the steel and iron in a solar project are concentrated. To include tracking systems in the manufactured products category has the effect of removing as much as 50 percent of the steel and iron used in a project from the \u201csteel and iron\u201d category, where it would be required to be of U.S. origin.\n\nInstead, categorization of tracking systems as manufactured products would permit many of the structural steel components of new solar projects in the U.S. to be imported from China and other countries, so long as the overall project met the percentage domestic content requirement. This was certainly not Congress\u2019s intent.\n\nTo avoid this result, we ask that the Guidance, specifically the safe harbor table, be amended to distinguish between the structural steel components and the other components of tracking systems. This can be done by including in the Steel/Iron category, and excluding from the Manufactured Product category, \u201csteel or iron in module rails, support columns, torque tubes, and any other elements that are structural in function.\u201d This change would be consistent overall with the Guidance, which, as we have noted, states, \u201cThe Steel or Iron Requirement applies to Applicable Project Components that are construction materials made primarily of steel or iron and are structural in function.\u201d\n\nCorrecting this error in the Guidance will help ensure that the steel and iron in solar electricity generation projects is produced in the United States. It also ensures that the IRA does not unwittingly benefit China and other countries that have a history of dumping their excess steel capacity in the U.S. market, to the detriment of U.S. workers and industry.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-leads-legislation-to-help-protect-americans-from-flu", "Baldwin Leads Legislation to Help Protect Americans from Flu", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to better protect Americans from getting sick and to end deaths from the flu by supporting our nation\u2019s preparedness and response. The Protecting America from Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Act of 2023, or Influenza Act, will invest in vaccine development, promote new technology to detect and prevent illness, and increase access to influenza vaccines, treatment, and testing for all Americans.\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans get sick from the flu every year, stopping people from working, kids from going to school, and too often, leading to hospitalizations and deaths, devastating families in Wisconsin and across the country,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cInvesting in proven methods to prevent, detect, and respond to the flu will keep Americans healthy and save lives.\u201d\n\nThe flu occurs seasonally each year, and throughout history has caused devastating pandemics. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates as many as 640,000 flu hospitalizations and 57,000 flu deaths occurred between October 1, 2022 and April 29, 2023 \u2013 more than the number of Americans who died in motor vehicle accidents.\n\nTo stop deaths and illness from the seasonal flu, the U.S. can and should do more to invest in pandemic response. The Influenza Act builds on the National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy, taking steps to:\n\nStrengthen and diversify influenza vaccine development, manufacturing, and supply chains \u2013 Speeds up vaccine development and requires a plan to achieve a universal influenza vaccine; implements the National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy; and strengthens the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) pandemic influenza medical countermeasures program.\n\nPromote innovative approaches and use of new technologies to detect, prevent, and respond to influenza \u2013 Supports interoperable immunization information systems; authorizes the development of novel sequencing modalities, point-of-care and self-testing diagnostics, novel preventive approaches, and improved therapeutics; and strengthens the diagnostics supply chain.\n\nIncrease influenza vaccine, therapeutics, and testing access and coverage across all populations \u2013 Addresses vaccine confidence and mis- and dis-information; incorporates health equity across federal influenza planning and response programs; creates a test-to-treat demonstration program for influenza; incentivizes pathways for pharmacy personnel to administer influenza vaccines; requires dynamic management and diversification of influenza products in the Strategic National Stockpile; and requires HHS to monitor antiviral supplies and create a strategy for distributing products in areas of urgent need.\n\nAuthorize sustainable funding for the federal influenza ecosystem \u2013 Funds programs at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, CDC, Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), National Institutes of Health, and BARDA.\n\nThe Influenza Act is co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA) introduced this legislation in the House earlier this year.\n\nA full version of this legislation is available here. A one-pager on this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-successfully-pushes-va-to-pay-earned-benefits-to-up-to-650-veterans-after-doctor-misdiagnosed-conditions", "Baldwin Successfully Pushes VA to Pay Earned Benefits to Up to 650 Veterans After Doctor Misdiagnosed Conditions", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 After working for years with veterans whose neurological conditions were misdiagnosed by a doctor at the Tomah VA Medical Center and subsequently denied compensation and benefits, Senator Tammy Baldwin successfully pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide these impacted veterans their earned benefits. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin announced that she successfully got the VA to identify and reexamine veterans who could have been misdiagnosed by Dr. Mary Jo Lanska, MD. The VA is using these exams to readjudicate the original claims filed by these Veterans, meaning that they will not have to file a new claim and they could be eligible for years of benefits backdated to their original effective date. Additionally, for Veterans who have passed away since the original exam, the VA will contact their survivors to initiate the readjudication process and provide benefits accordingly.\n\nSince the June announcement, the VA reviewed 941 Veterans\u2019 exams performed by Dr. Lanska and found that 649 Veterans may have been negatively impacted by Dr. Lanska\u2019s exams, making them eligible for a new exam and benefits.\n\n\u201cOur veterans and their families have made great sacrifices to serve us, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they come back home. Sadly, we came up short on our end of the deal and many Wisconsin veterans were denied the care and benefits that they earned serving us. But today, we helped right that wrong. After years of working alongside our veterans, hundreds of Wisconsinites who have been wronged by the VA will now be able to get the benefits that they have long been owed,\u201d said Senator Baldwin.\n\nSince 2021, Senator Baldwin has been working with multiple Wisconsin veterans who reported that their traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other conditions were misdiagnosed by Dr. Lanska. Senator Baldwin had been calling on the VA to investigate the pattern of misdiagnoses, ensure misdiagnosed veterans get a new exam, and get the veterans the proper compensation and benefits they deserve.\n\nIn May 2023, Dr. Mary Jo Lanska, MD, was terminated from the Tomah VA.\n\nIn a March meeting, Senator Baldwin pressed VA Secretary Denis McDonough to investigate the pattern of misdiagnosis and shared the Wisconsin veterans\u2019 concerns. In August 2022, Senators Baldwin and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to Secretary McDonough highlighting their concerns about TBI misdiagnosis at the Tomah VA and pushing for answers about the process for veterans who may have been improperly diagnosed and not receiving the benefits they deserve. After hearing from additional veterans, in September 2022, Senator Baldwin called on the VA to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the practices of this doctor to determine whether there is a broader pattern of her misdiagnosing patients\u2019 neurological disorders that are preventing veterans from receiving care or benefits they earned.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/sen-johnson-and-finance-committee-republicans-new-medicaid-rule-risks-disrupting-patient-care", "Sen. Johnson and Finance Committee Republicans: New Medicaid Rule Risks Disrupting Patient Care", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013 On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.) and nine other Senate Finance Committee Republicans in sending a letter regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule to change Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) operations in ways that offer no material benefit for patients. In the letter to Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the senators urged the Administration to withdraw problematic components of the proposed rule and to work with Congress to develop improvements to the Medicaid program so patients have access to cutting-edge, life-saving prescription drugs.\n\nThe senators note, \u201cWhile we share some of the agency\u2019s objectives, including preventing certain problematic practices within the prescription drug supply chain, many of the [rule\u2019s] proposed changes defy longstanding statutory understanding and impose costly new mandates, creating fiscal uncertainty for states and risking patient access to the most innovative therapies and cures.\u201d\n\nThey identify several problems with the proposal, including \u201cstacking\u201d to compute the \u201cBest Price\u201d benchmark, which would create technical complications and risk undercutting the policy\u2019s core objectives by disincetivizing larger price concessions.\n\nThe senators also highlight the lack of a patient-oriented justification for the proposal\u2019s price verification survey, noting that the proposed rule seeks to establish a survey process for certain \u201chigh cost\u201d covered outpatient drugs, like cell and gene therapies, instead of addressing the access barriers identified by states, patients, and providers.\n\nThey end the letter, \u201cWe urge CMS to preserve the MDRP\u2019s statutory balance consistent with Congress\u2019s intent by withdrawing the misguided proposals that risk disrupting patient care. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you to improve the Medicaid program so that patients have access to cutting-edge, live-changing prescription drugs.\u201d\n\nSens. Johnson and Crapo were joined on the letter by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).\n\nFull text of the letter can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-kennedy-push-for-strong-buy-america-policies-in-ndaa", "Baldwin, Kennedy Push for Strong Buy America Policies in NDAA", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Kennedy (R-LA) called on House and Senate Armed Services leadership to retain Buy America provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as the House and Senate come together to finalize the legislation. Each chamber has passed a version of the must-pass defense bill, and now, as they conference to reconcile the differences, the bipartisan duo is pushing to keep strong Buy America provisions in the legislation. Senator Baldwin championed a provision in the Senate NDAA to bolster Made in America shipbuilding, boosting national security, supporting American manufacturers and workers, and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.\n\n\u201cEnhanced domestic content requirements have a history of bipartisan, bicameral support and this year is no different. Once again, Members of both Chambers successfully advocated for inclusion of provisions that increase domestic content requirements for defense acquisition programs. We urge conference adoption of these provisions, all of which contain appropriate waiver processes in keeping with the interests of National Security,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairs and Ranking Members:\n\nAs you prepare for conference on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we respectfully request that you retain provisions that are critical to sustaining a healthy domestic defense industrial base. We make this request out of concern for the state of our domestic supply base and, by extension, the future of U.S. defense industrial capacity.\n\nThe country\u2019s experience of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the lessons learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine demonstrate the importance of secure supply chains and the urgent need to proactively examine all facets of our defense industrial base for vulnerabilities. The need to strengthen our domestic defense industrial base has become even clearer as weaknesses in reliance on foreign supply chains and cybersecurity threats came to light over the last several years.\n\nThe Department of Defense has repeatedly noted serious concerns regarding the decline in suppliers participating in the domestic defense industrial base. Without a healthy supplier base, there is no defense industrial base.\n\nOf note, the shipbuilding supply chain is particularly vulnerable. Even prior to the pandemic, the shipbuilding industry was listed by the Department of Defense\u2019s FY19 Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress as one of the hardest hit industries over the last 20 years. The report notes that the country has lost an astonishing 25,000 suppliers during that time. Federal policies can help recover the industry from this decline. President Biden\u2019s 100-day review of supply chain resilience recommends use of federal procurement to strengthen supply chains, and specifically lists the \u201cMade in America\u201d process as an important strategy for identifying stable sources of critical components. Implementation of increased domestic content for the shipbuilding industry will pay economic dividends right here at home. A robust shipbuilding supply base is squarely in the Navy\u2019s best interest and in America\u2019s.\n\nFor years, Congress and the Navy have identified national security risks associated with sole-source suppliers of critical parts across acquisition programs, including problems related to cost, schedule, and quality control. We must support the Department in efforts to immediately address weaknesses within the supply chain by qualifying new suppliers and demonstrating a demand for\n\ndomestic procurement. Made in America policies support bringing suppliers into the defense market and retaining them by providing predictability.\n\nFurther, domestic content reduces risk to our servicemembers and our operations. Grounding platforms is costly and added risk to the very lives of our servicemembers is unacceptable.\n\nA kinetic conflict with China \u2013 whether direct or through proxies \u2013 will put a far greater strain on defense supply chains than we experienced throughout the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. We must urgently and proactively address this shortcoming before paying the immense cost of scrambling to identify alternate sources while in the midst of a conflict. We must decide to pay the cost of high-quality components up front, rather than pay unknown costs in the future.\n\nEnhanced domestic content requirements have a history of bipartisan, bicameral support and this year is no different. Once again, Members of both Chambers successfully advocated for inclusion of provisions that increase domestic content requirements for defense acquisition programs. We urge conference adoption of these provisions, all of which contain appropriate waiver processes in keeping with the interests of National Security.\n\nThank you for your steadfast support of our servicemembers; I have full confidence in your commitment to growing and sustaining a strong National Defense posture. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-to-support-veterans-wisconsin-farmers-and-rural-communities-and-affordable-housing", "Senator Baldwin Votes to Support Veterans, Wisconsin Farmers and Rural Communities, and Affordable Housing", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined an overwhelming bipartisan majority of her colleagues to pass a package of three funding bills that support veterans, invest in agriculture and rural communities, and expand access to affordable housing. By a vote of 82-15, the U.S. Senate voted to advance the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriation bills for Fiscal Year 2024.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to meet the needs of Wisconsin families, veterans, and farmers. By working in a bipartisan fashion, the Senate came together to advance legislation that will help grow our economy, lower costs for working families, and address some of our toughest challenges, all while abiding by the budget deal that the Senate, House, and White House agreed on,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI was proud to champion provisions in this package that deliver for our farming and rural communities \u2013 investing in Wisconsin\u2019s dairy industry, providing mental health resources for those struggling, and scrutinizing foreign investments in our agricultural land. I also fought hard to include more resources for veterans \u2013 creating a Veterans Crisis Lifeline to help our heroes grappling with mental health challenges, supporting county veterans service officers, and investing in VA facilities. Our bipartisan bill will help expand access to affordable housing and make critical investments in our infrastructure to ensure families can travel safely and support Wisconsin businesses get their products to market.\u201d\n\nIncluded in the legislation is:\n\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies\n\nFarmland Security Act: The legislation includes $1 million to support the Senator\u2019s legislation that increases scrutiny over foreign investments in American agricultural land. The funding will support a new data system that will help provide the American people and Congress with information on the impacts foreign investments have on family farms, rural communities, and the domestic food supply.\n\nDairy Business Innovation Initiative: The bill includes continued investment in the program that Senator Baldwin created in 2018 that provides technical assistance and grants to dairy farmers and businesses across Wisconsin, supporting them with business plan development, marketing, and branding, as well as increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products.\n\nFarm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network: Senator Baldwin secured increased funding for the program that she helped create to address the mental health epidemic in rural America and expand access to critical mental health support and resources for our nation\u2019s agricultural communities. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin led her colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the Appropriations Committee seeking robust funding for the program.\n\nInstitute for Rural Partnerships (IRP): The bill includes continued investment for IRP, of which Wisconsin is a direct recipient through the work of the University of Wisconsin Rural Partnerships Institute in addressing challenges unique to rural communities. Most recently, the Institute announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment in a weather station network that will provide real-time Wisconsin weather data. The project is vital for communities across the state impacted by increasingly common severe weather events, in particular, Wisconsin\u2019s robust agriculture community.\n\nRural Development: The bill provides $1.6 billion for rental assistance to ensure rural Americans have access to safe and affordable housing. It would also decouple rental assistance from Multifamily Direct Loans, which will prevent thousands of low-income families from losing rental assistance.\n\nNutrition: The bill delivers critical new funding to ensure women, infants, and children can get the nutrition they need, and it protects vital nutrition assistance programs for families across the country with tight budgets.\n\nWIC: The bill includes $6.3 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)\u2014a $615 million increase over FY 2023 that meets the President\u2019s budget request. These new resources will ensure over 6 million women, infants, and children can get the nutrition they need.\n\nSNAP: The bill fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to serve an estimated 42 million people per month\u2014and does not include any new restrictions on eligibility.\n\nChild Nutrition: The bill fully funds Child Nutrition Programs to ensure schools can continue to serve healthy meals. In 2024, this funding will help serve an estimated 5 billion lunches and 2.6 billion breakfasts to kids across the country.\n\nAgriculture Research: Agricultural research plays a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers, particularly as they continue to respond to a changing climate. The bill provides $1.792 billion\u2014a $48.6 million increase\u2014for the Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) premiere in-house research agency.\n\nFood and Drug Administration (FDA): The bill provides a $20 million increase in funding for the FDA to carry out its critical mission to keep families healthy and safe. More specifically, it provides an additional $7 million to conduct oversight of cosmetics for the first time ever, $3.75 million to strengthen FDA\u2019s food safety programs, $3.75 million to address device shortages and supply chain issues, $3 million to advance neuroscience research, and $2.5 million for ALS research.\n\nFood Safety: The bill provides $1.205 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an increase of $46.7 million. This funding will help ensure FSIS can continue its vital work protecting America\u2019s food supply without being forced to reduce its staffing levels, which would jeopardize food safety and exacerbate supply chain delays.\n\nInternational Food Aid: The bill provides $1.8 billion in funding for the Food for Peace program and $248.3 million for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. As the world experiences an unprecedented hunger crisis, this funding will continue to combat hunger abroad\u2014and save lives.\n\nConservation: The bill protects funding for Conservation Technical Assistance, which supports voluntary conservation practices on private land.\n\nThe Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Act fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and related agencies $135.3 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, as well as $161.7 billion in mandatory funding, to fulfill our nation\u2019s obligations to our veterans. The bill further provides advance appropriations for our veterans in fiscal year 2025, including $112.6 billion for veterans\u2019 medical care and $193 billion for veterans\u2019 benefits. The bill also includes $19.1 billion in defense spending for military construction and family housing this year\u2014an increase of $70 million over fiscal year 2023\u2014to upgrade and modernize critical infrastructure and support military families.\n\nMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Act\n\nSupport for Veterans: The package that passed the Senate fully funds veterans\u2019 medical care and benefits, including:\n\nMental Health, 988 and Crisis Intervention: The Senate package includes Senator Baldwin\u2019s request of $300.5 million for the Veterans Crisis Line in support of the program\u2019s suicide prevention and crisis intervention services. In total, the funding package includes a $2.3 billion increase in funding over the previous year to get veterans the mental health care they deserve.\n\nSupport to County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers: The legislation includes Senator Baldwin\u2019s request for report language directing the VA to develop a plan for facilitating collaboration between county, state, and Tribal Veterans Service Officers, VHA facilities and VBA offices to improve services to all veterans and proactively identify barriers to care or indications that care is substandard.\n\nVeteran Caregiving, Women\u2019s Health, and Childcare: Provides $557 million more to strengthen VA\u2019s caregiver program and reach more families, $439 million more to support women veterans\u2019 health care, and $23 million to expand the Child Care Pilot Program to eliminate barriers for veterans in need of child care while attending medical appointments.\n\nVA Facilities: Boosts investments in VA facilities to deliver better care for veterans across the country.\n\nTraumatic Brain Injury: Invests $938 million in VA Medical and Prosthetic Research to advance efforts related to Traumatic Brain Injury, PFAS exposure, and more.\n\nStrengthens National Security: The Senate-passed legislation provides a historic funding level to modernize critical military infrastructure and build our presence in key regions around the world, including:\n\nInfrastructure Improvements: Boosts funding to support critical maintenance projects, upgrade our shipyards, and improve the resiliency of our bases and military infrastructure, particularly in the face climate-driven threats.\n\nDeterring Adversaries: Provides more than $1.8 billion in funding for projects in the Indo-Pacific Command to support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, delivering $300 million for projects to support the European Deterrence Initiative, and fully funding the U.S. commitment to support the NATO Security Investment Program.\n\nDelivers for Servicemembers and Military Families:\n\nHousing: Delivers new resources to construct new family housing, maintain and upgrade existing units, and strengthen oversight of privatized housing.\n\nChild Care: Increases funding for child development centers to expand access to child care for military families.\n\nPFAS and Toxic Clean Up: In accordance with a request from Senator Baldwin, the legislation provides additional funding to address the threat posed by PFAS and to support environmental remediation at Base Realignment and Closure installations.\n\nTransportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies\n\nIncreasing Affordable Housing and Addressing Homelessness\n\nIncreasing Affordable Housing: Increasing the supply of affordable housing nationwide with funding to build 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units.\n\nLower Housing Costs: Extending funding for the \u201cYes In My Back Yard\u201d grant program to support efforts to increase our nation\u2019s housing supply and lower housing costs through state and local zoning changes.\n\nAddressing Homelessness: Delivering $275 million in new funding for Homeless Assistance Grants to help address homelessness in communities across the country and providing new resources to better connect people experiencing homelessness with health care services.\n\nTransportation\n\nFAA: Providing $1.255 billion in new resources for the FAA to address the shortage of air traffic controllers, improve safety, reduce flight delays, and increase efficiency.\n\nImproving Reliable Rail Service: Addressing rail safety deficiencies after recent derailments, disasters, and close calls with $32 million in new funding for the Federal Railroad Administration to improve safety and operations nationwide. This also bill includes around $47.5 million for the Surface Transportation Board\u2019s operations, an increase of $6 million above FY23, which regulates and decides disputes involving railroad rates.\n\nHelping Communities Respond to Extreme Weather: The PROTECT Program provides funding to ensure surface transportation resilience to natural hazards including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. Senator Baldwin fought to include $450 million for the PROTECT competitive grant program and over $1.4 billion for formula funding that goes directly to states.\n\nImproving Port Infrastructure: Maintains funding for the MARAD Port Infrastructure Development Grants program at $212 million, grants awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-moran-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-recognize-role-of-southeast-asian-diasporas-contribution-in-vietnam-war", "Senators Baldwin, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Recognize Role of Southeast Asian Diasporas\u2019 Contribution in Vietnam War", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced bipartisan legislation to recognize the contributions of the many communities and Diasporas from Southeast Asia who supported and defended the United States Armed Forces during the war in Vietnam. The Legacies of War Recognition and Unexploded Ordnance Removal Act also authorizes funding for the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) and victim support programs for those injured by landmines and other legacies of war.\n\n\u201cHmong-Americans and other Southeast Asian Diaspora made tremendous sacrifices for the United States during the Vietnam War, and Americans owe them a debt of gratitude for the critical assistance they provided and American lives they undoubtedly saved,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to work with my Republican colleague to introduce this bill to not only recognize and honor that service, but also take action to help the communities that are still grappling with the deadly consequences of war.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe impact of war decades ago in southeast Asia is still being felt to this day,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis bill recognizes the assistance provided to the American military by people of the region and helps remove the dangerous remnants of war, such as unexploded ordnances, left in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos that continue to prevent farmers from cultivating fields and parents from allowing their children to play outside without fear.\u201d\n\nThe legislation recognizes the Hmong, Cham, Cambodian, Lu-Mien, Khmu, Lao, Montagnard, and Vietnamese American communities who supported the U.S. during the war in Vietnam. Members of those communities saved thousands of lives by evacuating allied refugees and rescuing United States pilots shot down in enemy-controlled territory. Additionally, they gathered and provided intelligence to the U.S. Armed Forces about enemy troop positions, movement, strength and provided food, shelter, and support.\n\nMore than 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, UXOs dropped over Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam during the Vietnam War continue to cause injuries and casualties. In Laos, much of the country\u2019s land remains littered with tens of millions of small UXOs that have led to the injury or death of more than 50,000 civilians since 1964. In Vietnam, an estimated 800,000 tons of UXOs are left over from the War and have caused more than 38,000 civilian deaths. Cambodia has one of the highest rates of landmine and UXO casualties in the world, with nearly 65,000 Cambodians losing their life or suffering an injury since 1979. This bill authorizes important funding for demining operations and the removal of these landmines and UXOs in Southeast Asia. The funding goes towards working with vetted demining organizations operating in the countries with the host government\u2019s approval.\n\nWisconsin has the third-highest Hmong population in the country, with the city of Wausau having one of the highest Hmong populations per capita in the United States. Many of the families fled during the Vietnam War and were never able to return.\n\nThe legislation is supported by Legacies of War (LoW), The HALO Trust (USA), and Mines Advisory Group (MAG) America, Inc.\n\nFull text of this legislation is available here. A one-pager on this bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/11/icymi-sen-johnson-grills-fbi-director-wray-and-dhs-secretary-mayorkas-in-emerging-threats-to-the-homeland-hearing", "ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Grills FBI Director Wray and DHS Secretary Mayorkas in Emerging Threats to the Homeland Hearing", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, participated in an annual hearing titled, Threats to the Homeland, where he sought answers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Christine Abizaid about the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous open border policies and mounting evidence that the FBI shut down the investigation into Joe Biden, James Biden, and Hunter Biden.\n\nSen. Johnson pointed out how failures by Sec. Mayorkas and the Biden administration\u2019s open border policies are the greatest threat to America\u2019s homeland. The senator emphasized the out-of-control number of illegal border crossings, the dispersion of millions of illegal aliens into the U.S., the horrors of human and fentanyl trafficking networks, and the spike in apprehensions of individuals on the terrorist watch list.\n\nWatch the highlights here. Excerpts can be found below:\n\nOn the alarming number of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration \u2014 which Secretary Mayorkas refused to answer\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201c\u2026It seems like your solution to the self-inflicted wound to America is we've just gotten more efficient at processing. I can't, quite honestly, think of a greater threat to America than what is represented by this chart. And this chart represents this administration's open border policy. It's a travesty. Director Wray, you said in your testimony the threats they're not getting any easier to deal with. Would having a secure border, would that make your job easier?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWell, I will let Secretary Mayorkas speak for border security. But I will tell you that the threats that we have to contend with that are attributed to the border; cartel violence, distribution of fentanyl, etc are\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cThe answer is yes. Your job would be a whole lot easier if you don't have to deal with over 70,000 special interest aliens coming from countries that are of concern to us. Your job would be a whole lot easier if this year we hadn't encountered actually encountered 169 people on the terror watch list. Secretary Mayorkas, I've asked you this in the past. What numbers are represented here? How many people has this administration let in by encountering, processing, dispersing, or that have come in as a known or unknown got-away? What approximately? I don't need an exact number. So what do we got?\u201d\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cSenator, let me say\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cI need numbers. Again, don\u2019t filibuster me. How many people has this administration let into the country?\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cLet me say at the outset that our job would be a lot easier if the broken immigration system was fixed\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cMr. Secretary, I want a number. How many people have you let into this country?\u201d\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cI should also comment\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cOkay. I'll give you the number. It's about 6 million. About 1.7 million as known got-aways. Now again, we don't know who these people are. We just know that they've come to this country and they're residing somewhere. Where are all these people residing? Where did the 6 million people go?\u201d\n\nOn potential terror threats coming into the country\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cWe know we've got about 100,000 in New York. And New York Mayor Adams says it will destroy New York. That's, by the way, less than 2% of the 6 million people. So less than 2%, 100,000, is going to destroy New York. What's happening around the country? I'm not going to get answers from Secretary Mayorkas. Director Wray, what are you doing to track these people and investigate the potential threat?\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cSo we are tackling it through a variety of means. There are some categories I would put kind of in the terrorist watch list category, and there are our joint terrorism task forces that are working with partners throughout the law enforcement community to try to identify\u2026\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cSo how many agents, how many agents do you have tasked to investigate potential terror threats coming into this country in those 6 million people, and particularly the 1.7 million got-aways? How many agents are on investigating that flow of illegal immigrants?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWell, I don't know that I can give you the exact number.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cGive, do a ballpark. Try to ballpark.\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cLet me try it this way.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cIs it 100? Is it a couple hundred? Is it? I mean, just a ballpark?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWell, I would say we have several hundred agents who are tackling the threats that come from the border, both from a national security side, a counterterrorism side, and from an organized crime or violent crime side.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cHow does that compare to the number of agents you had on, for example, investigating the January 6 protesters? How many agents at the height of that investigation, how many FBI agents were assigned to that task force?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cI don't have exact numbers, but what I would tell you is that I feel relatively confident that the number of agents workings on threats that are attributable to the border far exceeds the number of people working on the January 6 investigation.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cAgain, a ballpark. A ballpark.\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cI feel relatively confident that the number of agents working on threats that are attributable to the border far exceeds the number of people working on the January 6 investigation.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cWhat about the height of the January 6 investigations?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cSame answer.\u201d\n\nOn the horrors of human trafficking at the southern border\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cMr. Secretary Mayorkas, what is the average or the range of trafficking fees? I mean, because, by the way, we have a 100% secure border on the Mexican side, right. Very few people are crossing into this country without going through human traffickers. So they have to pay a trafficking fee. What is that range of trafficking fees?\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cWhen you speak of trafficking Senator, you mean smugglers?\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cWell, I'm talking about the human traffickers. You know, the people, the people coming across here are paying what, a $7,000 fee? A 10,000? A fifty-or what is that range?\u201d\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cSeveral thousand dollars per person.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cSo how do they pay that off? How does a young woman pay off 10 to $15,000 human trafficking fee?\u201d\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cTragically, Senator, they often spend their entire life savings to pay a smuggler.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cWell, they also tragically get put into the human sex trade, correct?\u201d\n\nSec. Mayorkas: \u201cThere are all sorts.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cDirector Wray, are you investigating that? Are we busting up some, you know, we saw the Sound of Freedom. That movie. What investigations are you doing in terms of the sex trade that is going on because of the Biden administration's open border policy?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWe have a number of task forces that are focused on human trafficking, especially sex trafficking, all across the country. And last year, we rounded up, I think, maybe 1,000 or so predators of that sort. And so that's probably the main vehicle through which we're tackling this, which is a significant, significant problem.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cOf the 73,000 special interest aliens coming from these countries that are of concern to ours, how many of those people are you keeping track of? What happens to them? Are we detaining them? Are we deporting them or are we granting them asylum?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWell, as to deportation and asylum, I would leave that to the agencies that handle that.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cYou\u2019re aware of the 73,000 special interest aliens, correct?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cBut I'm aware of special interest aliens. I don't have the numbers.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cWhat are you doing to track them?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cSo if we have a fully predicated appropriately predicated investigation, then those people are squarely within scope of those investigations.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cHow many active investigations do you have on 73,000 special interest aliens?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cI don't have that number here. I can see if that's something we can get for you and follow up.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cYou can expect a QFR on that one. Thanks.\u201d\n\nOn evidence mounting that the FBI implemented a scheme to label any derogatory information on the Bidens as \u201cforeign disinformation\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cNow Director Wray, I'm assuming you've seen and read the letter the Senator Grassley wrote to you and Attorney General Garland, on October 24th?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cI'm generally aware of it.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cOh, you ought to read it. Let me read some segments to you. The FBI maintained over 40 confidential human sources thatprovided criminal information related to Joe Biden, James Biden, and Hunter Biden. An essential question that must be answered in this: did the FBI investigate the information or shut it down? Certainly, there is a host of reasons to conclude that they attempted to shut it down. It goes on. It has been alleged that the basis for shutting down the investigative activity \u2013 shutting it down was an August 2020 assessmentcreated by FBI supervisory intelligence analyst Brian Auten. That assessment was used by FBI headquarters team to improperly discredit negative Hunter Biden information as disinformation, causing investigative activity to cease. It goes on. Analyst Brian Auten opened the aforementioned assessment, which was used by the Foreign Influence Task Force to seek out CHS holdings in FBI field offices across the country related to the Biden family and falsely discredit them as foreign disinformation. My staff calls that \u201ccatch and kill.\u201d And by the way, it was that same task force that gave Senator Grassley and I our unsolicited briefing that was later leaked to the media to smear me and impactmy 2022 election. Senator Grassley concludes there appears to be an effort within the Justice Department and FBI to shut down investigative activity relating to the Biden family. Such decisions point to significant political bias, infecting the decision-making of not onlythe attorney general and FBI director, but also line agents and prosecutors. Our republic cannot survive such a political infection, and you have an obligation to this country to clear the air. Let me ask you another. And by the way, I'd ask unanimous consent that this letter be entered into the record and also this column that appeared in The Wall Street Journal published yesterday. Have you read this one? \u2018More on the stifled Hunter Biden probe.\u2019\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cI have seen that.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cOkay. Well enter that into the record. Again, this is column is written based on the October 23rd Judiciary Committee interview with former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Who was tapped by Attorney General Barr to vet information related to Ukrainian corporate corruption and pass on credible material to officers with ongoing investigations. I'll get some highlights here. The FBI office in Pittsburgh couldn't takeany steps without the review and approval of FBI headquarters. Mr. Brady describes a reluctance on the part of the FBI to really do any tasking related to allegations of Ukrainian corruption broadly and then specifically anything that intersected with Hunter Biden in his role in Burisma. FBI headquarters had to sign off on every assignment, no matter how small or routine. And that this, sometimes required 17different people, mostly at the headquarter level. And Mr. Brady said he'd never in his DOJ career seen anything like it. Mr. Brady says his office was informed by members of the Pittsburgh FBI team that they'd been instructed by headquarters not to affirmatively share information with the Brady team. He said he was surprised to learn that the FBI possessed the Hunter Biden laptop since 2019. He heard that through public reports. Senator Grassley's letter concludes that he has obtained names from his whistleblower, 25 Department of Justice, FBI personnel to interview at a future date. And he is also requesting a bunch of information. Will you provide those FBI personnel for interviews with hisoffice and mine and will you provide that those documents?\u201d\n\nDirector Wray: \u201cWell, I'll have to review the specific requests, and we'll see how we can be helpful.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson: \u201cOkay. Well, I'll hand you this letter. Final point I want to make. I was briefed a couple of weeks ago by members of the FBI on what Senator Blumenthal is doing to try and unredact a lot of the information on the 9/11 event. Okay. Now, the briefers seem to be people ofintegrity, like I think the vast majority of the men and women that work in the FBI, the 30,000 field agents. So, again, they, they\u2019re people ofintegrity. The problem is that they gave me three different examples of redacted and then unredacted to explain it. And the redactions made sense of those three examples. But I had to make the point. The problem I have is I simply cannot trust what the FBI is providing me, and I don't see that with any joy in my heart. I think that's a travesty. The American people want to believe and have trust in the FBI. We want credibility, integrity restored to the institution. But, Director Wray, you have not done that since assuming office. And I can go through a long laundry list of the reasons why that trust has been violated. I don't have it right now. I'm happy to sit down and meet with you and go over these things in detail. But I would say \u2013 because ask me, what can we do to restore our trust? Start being transparent. My final point is, and this is actually a question, why is it this makes no sense. I am an elected U.S. Senator. I have the highest security clearance. Why is it that unelected members of the FBI can see the documents unredacted? But I can't even in a secure briefing room? That makes no sense whatsoever. But that's exactly how federal law enforcement, Department of Justice, the FBI, who are the law, remain above the law, remain above scrutiny and completely scorn our constitutional responsibility and authority to provide oversight. We just can't do it, as the Chairman was talking about earlier, about how you've basically ignored his requests for credit for the requests for the record.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-announces-mobile-office-hours", "Sen. Johnson Announces Mobile Office Hours", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that his staff will be available for mobile office hours at the times and locations listed below. These office hours give constituents the opportunity to meet with Sen. Johnson\u2019s staff to request assistance with a federal agency or other federal matters.\n\nNote: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of our constituents.\n\nWashington County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 2\n\n11:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m.\n\nSlinger Village Hall\n\n300 Slinger Rd., Slinger, WI 53086\n\nWashington County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 2\n\n2:00 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m.\n\nGermantown Village Hall\n\nN112 W17001 Mequon Rd., Germantown, WI 53022\n\nPepin County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 9\n\n1:30 p.m. \u2013 2:30 p.m.\n\nPepin Village Hall\n\n508 2nd St., Pepin, WI 54759\n\nPierce County Office Hours\n\nThursday, November 9\n\n3:30 p.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.\n\nPrescott City Hall\n\n800 N. Borner St., Prescott, WI 54021\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-leads-call-to-expand-access-lower-cost-of-over-the-counter-birth-control", "Baldwin Leads Call to Expand Access, Lower Cost of Over-the-Counter Birth Control", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a group of colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill\u2014the first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill, which will become available in early 2024\u2014with no copays or out of pocket costs, and without a prescription requirement.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to improve health insurance coverage, both public and private, of the full range of FDA-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive products\u2014including birth control that is available over-the-counter (OTC) without requiring a prescription for coverage,\u201d the senators wrote in their letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and the Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su. \u201cOver 19 million women live in counties with limited access to health care providers that offer comprehensive contraceptive services, and about one-third of women who have received prescription contraceptives have reported barriers to access. Expanding access to affordable coverage for eligible, uninsured populations would improve the quality of contraceptive care that patients receive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe availability of safe and effective OTC birth control products has enormous potential to help people overcome significant barriers to consistent contraceptive use, including the many logistical and financial challenges to obtaining a prescription. The FDA\u2019s approval of Opill is a milestone; however, for an OTC birth control pill to meet its potential and be truly accessible, federal departments must ensure that it is covered without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription as a condition of coverage,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cTo expand access to affordable contraception, we urge the tri-departments to issue new guidance that reflects current HRSA guidelines and clarifies that federally and state-regulated private health plans must cover OTC contraceptive products without cost-sharing, including when purchased without a prescription\u2026 Given the increased need for access to contraception in the wake of the Dobbs decision, this issue is incredibly timely and important,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nAs women\u2019s reproductive rights are under attack in Wisconsin and across the country, Senator Baldwin has pushed for measures to break down barriers to safe, effective contraception. In July, Senator Baldwin introduced the Convenient Contraception Act, legislation that would improve access to contraceptive products, including over-the-counter contraceptives.\n\nThe letter was also led by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and also signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Becerra, Secretary Yellen, and Acting Secretary Su:\n\nWe urge you to improve health insurance coverage, both public and private, of the full range of FDA-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive products\u2014including birth control that is available over-the-counter (OTC) without requiring a prescription for coverage. Over 19 million women live in counties with limited access to health care providers that offer comprehensive contraceptive services, and about one-third of women who have received prescription contraceptives have reported barriers to access. Expanding access to affordable coverage for eligible, uninsured populations would improve the quality of contraceptive care that patients receive.\n\nIn recent months, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken several major steps toward this goal. First, on June 23, President Biden issued an executive order on \u201cStrengthening Access to Affordable, High-Quality Contraception and Family Planning Services,\u201d which directed each of your departments to take steps to improve access to contraception. Second, on July 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever OTC birth control pill for sale in the United States, a groundbreaking advancement in contraceptive access. Most recently, on September 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Internal Revenue Service, and the Employee Benefit Services Administration (EBSA) issued a Request of Information regarding the application of the preventive services requirements under section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act to OTC preventive services, including OTC contraceptive products.\n\nWe applaud these efforts and ask that you undertake additional actions to ensure coverage for OTC contraceptive products\u2014including the new OTC birth control pill once it becomes available in 2024\u2014without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription in all federally and state-regulated private health plans and federally and state-regulated and run coverage programs.\n\nThe availability of safe and effective OTC birth control products has enormous potential to help people overcome significant barriers to consistent contraceptive use, including the many logistical and financial challenges to obtaining a prescription. The FDA\u2019s approval of Opill is a milestone; however, for an OTC birth control pill to meet its potential and be truly accessible, federal departments must ensure that it is covered without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription as a condition of coverage. Even prior to the FDA\u2019s approval of Opill, several states have expanded access to OTC contraceptives and other lifesaving ACA preventive services to ensure that patients continue to receive quality care. Additional training and billing guidance for pharmacists and other health care providers would support state efforts to expand access to covered ACA preventive services like OTC contraceptives.\n\nCurrently, existing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guidance on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s (ACA) contraceptive coverage requirement from the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (\u201ctri-departments\u201d) allows federally and state-regulated private health plans to require a prescription for OTC contraceptives as a condition of coverage without cost sharing. This significantly reduces the advantages to consumers of an OTC product. To expand access to affordable contraception, we urge the tri-departments to issue new guidance that reflects current HRSA guidelines and clarifies that federally and state-regulated private health plans must cover OTC contraceptive products without cost-sharing, including when purchased without a prescription. We request that you do this as soon as possible and encourage the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to adopt parallel changes for the next plan year.\n\nIn addition to new guidance, your departments may need to take one or more discrete steps as soon as possible to:\n\nCover the new OTC birth control pill and other OTC contraceptives by adding it to an existing coverage requirement and/or formulary;\n\nEliminate any otherwise-required cost-sharing and prior authorization for OTC contraceptives;\n\nEliminate any prescription requirement for OTC contraceptive coverage;\n\nWork with providers, pharmacy chains, health plans, and other stakeholders to make coverage for OTC contraceptives function as smoothly as possible at pharmacies and via mail order;\n\nProvide notice to beneficiaries, providers, and other stakeholders about any changes to coverage, as well as information about how to navigate and facilitate coverage of OTC contraceptives without a prescription;\n\nProvide guidance to encourage state Medicaid programs to cover OTC contraceptives without a prescription for Medicaid beneficiaries; and\n\nProvide guidance to pharmacies, health care providers, and insurers to improve claims processing and reimbursement for OTC contraceptives.\n\nThese steps would be in line with the goals and directives of the June 2023 executive order, including its directive to \u201cpromote increased access to affordable over-the-counter contraception, including emergency contraception.\u201d\n\nWe appreciate your ongoing commitment to these goals for improving coverage of and access to the full range of contraceptives, including OTC contraception, and look forward to continuing to work together to achieve them. Given the increased need for access to contraception in the wake of the Dobbs decision, this issue is incredibly timely and important. Thank you in advance for considering this request.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/icymi-sen-johnson-exposes-deep-state-corruption-slams-destructive-biden-policies", "ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Exposes Deep State Corruption, Slams Destructive Biden Policies", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Neil Cavuto on Cavuto\u2019s World to discuss the war in Israel and the threats posed by Iran and Hamas terrorists. On Wednesday, the senator joined Harris Faulkner on The Faulkner Focus and Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria to expose the corruption of the FBI and their mishandling of the investigation into the Biden Crime Family as well as the worsening crisis at the southern border.\n\nOn The Faulkner Focus, Sen. Johnson discussed how the FBI undermined the investigation into the Biden family. He also brought attention to the national security threat posed by the Biden administration\u2019s open border policies.\n\nSen. Johnson criticized the FBI turning a blind eye to the Biden Crime Family: \u201cUnfortunately, we can't trust top officials in the FBI anymore. Their credibility is shattered. You take a look at how they tormented President Trump when they knew that, for example, the Steele dossier was sourced by somebody they were investigating as a Russian spy. And then they have 40 human sources saying that there's potential criminal activity within the Biden Crime Family.\u201d\n\nThe senator blasted Democrat open border policies that threaten our national security: \u201cDemocrat supporters in Congress, care more about Ukraine's border than our own southern border. So, there's going to be a legitimate attempt to tie any funding for Ukraine to real border security where we actually stop the flow of illegal immigration, not allow 270,000 people come in one month through our southwest border. This is beyond a crisis. And it's also a huge national security threat. When you have Hamas calling for days of rage,probably periods of rage. You think in the 1.7 million known got-aways \u2026 there might be a terrorist or two in that cohort? So, we are highly concerned about the national security aspects and we need to secure border.\u201d\n\nWatch the full interview with Harris Faulkner here.\n\nOn Mornings with Maria, Sen. Johnson shed light on U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley\u2019s (R-Iowa) recent letter that revealed the FBI sidelined and discredited over 40 confidential human sources despite providing criminal information related to Joe Biden, James Biden, and Hunter Biden.\n\nSen. Johnson revealed the pervasive corruption at the highest levels of the FBI: \u201cWell first of all, I\u2019d recommend that everybody read Senator Grassley\u2019s seven-page letter. God bless the whistleblowers that are coming forward to his office. He\u2019s the perfect person. He\u2019s a champion of whistleblowers. But what this is showing is just, you know, just pervasive corruption at the highest levels of the FBI and not just in the Biden administration. This obstruction of justice, this obstruction of these investigations were occurring under the Trump administration, under Attorney General Bill Barr. Again, I don\u2019t know whether, you know, Attorney General Bill Barr was aware of it, but his underlings were certainly frustrating, and of course, what they were doing is they were they actually had a scheme to downplay, not only downplay, but to denigrate any derogatory information on Hunter Biden calling it Russian disinformation. Senator Grassley and I were both actually, you know, targets of that operation to dissuade us off our investigation on Hunter Biden, as well. So this is corruption that runs deep inside some of the top offices of the FBI and people ought to read that letter, and we need those witnesses coming forward. We need more whistleblowers. But these individuals that Senator Grassley lays out, they need to be interviewed by Senator Grassley. Hopefully my office can be involved as well. And certainly the house.\u201d\n\nWatch the full interview with Maria Bartiromo here.\n\nOn Cavuto\u2019s World, Sen. Johnson argued that any aid package to Israel be kept separate from Ukraine funding. The senator also emphasized the importance of U.S. strength on the world stage, remarking that the United States must stop appeasing the world\u2019s largest state-sponsor of terror, Iran.\n\nWatch the full interview with Neil Cavuto here.\n\nThe senator slammed both the Biden and Obama administrations for appeasement of Iran, saying, \u201cYou know, the fact of the matter is the Obama administration and now the Biden administration have funneled tens, hundreds of billions of dollars into the largest state sponsor of terror, hoping to appease them. Hoping to buy better behavior from them. All it has done is embolden Iran. And so the first thing we need to do is cut off that funding. We need to recognize Iran for the malign force that is in the world and stop funding them.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-presses-hhs-fda-cdc-and-nih-for-information-on-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-events", "Sen. Johnson Presses HHS, FDA, CDC, and NIH for Information on COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to the top U.S. health officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) calling for transparency and complete responses to the senator\u2019s numerous requests on the COVID-19 vaccines and other aspects of the pandemic. This correspondence marks the senator\u2019s 60th public letter to U.S. government agencies on the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nIn his letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, CDC Director Mandy Cohen, and NIH Acting Director Lawrence Tabak, the senator wrote, \u201cAs the top U.S. health officials, and for some of you, medical doctors who have sworn to uphold the Hippocratic Oath, you and your colleagues also bear the absolute responsibility of providing patients and the American public the benefit of informed consent.\u201d\n\nSen. Johnson added, \u201cYou and your colleagues have a duty to provide the American people with complete and transparent data regarding the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 \u2018vaccines.\u2019 It is completely unacceptable that public health agencies have ignored requests for detailed information about \u2018vaccine\u2019 lots that are associated with higher rates of adverse events and have failed to provide CDC\u2019s and FDA\u2019s complete data analyses (Proportional Reporting Ratio tables and empirical Bayesian data mining \u2013 if they exist) on \u2018vaccine\u2019 adverse events. The fact that the vast majority of my questions and information requests remain unanswered or outstanding only heightens my level of suspicion.\u201d\n\nThe senator emphasized the health agencies\u2019 lack of transparency by highlighting his numerous oversight requests to various government agencies that remain unanswered.\n\nSen. Johnson noted, \u201cIndividuals who willingly or reluctantly received the COVID-19 \u2018vaccines\u2019 deserve to know the full truth about the adverse health outcomes they or their loved ones may face following \u2018vaccination.\u2019 However, your agencies continue to obstruct my efforts to provide the public with the truth about the COVID-19 \u2018vaccines.\u2019\n\nThis letter also raised questions regarding a recently released, FDA-funded preprint study which found multiple adverse health outcomes, including seizures, associated with the COVID-19 vaccines among vaccinated children.\n\n\u201cThe results of this FDA-funded study reaffirm previous concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 \u2018vaccines\u2019\u2014particularly for children\u2014and underscore the need for federal health agencies to be transparent with the American people and responsive to Congress,\u201d the senator wrote.\n\nIn addition to reiterating the outstanding requests that health agencies have failed to address, the senator asked for new information and materials following the results of the FDA-funded study.\n\n\u201cIt is well past time for U.S public health agencies to be transparent,\u201d he concluded.\n\nRead more about the senator\u2019s October 25, 2023 letter to HHS, FDA, CDC, and NIH in the Epoch Times.\n\nThe full letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-pushes-doj-to-help-address-steep-decline-for-crime-victims-fund", "Baldwin Pushes DOJ to Help Address Steep Decline for Crime Victims Fund", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the U.S. Department of Justice to help address steep cuts to a critical fund that assists victims of crime. The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is used to provide services to victims of crime in Wisconsin and across the country, but the Wisconsin Department of Justice estimates that its CVF victim assistance funding will be cut by 41% in Fiscal Year 24, nearly $10 million less than the year prior.\n\n\u201cOrganizations across Wisconsin rely on this funding to provide support to victims of crime, including victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Sadly, Wisconsin continues to suffer from an epidemic of domestic violence, and these funds are vital to assist the adults and children harmed by these crimes,\u201d wrote Senator Baldwin in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. \u201cThe Department must do everything in its power to ensure that these organizations and the victims they serve have the resources they need.\u201d\n\nIn Wisconsin, the CVF provides funding for victim compensation and assistance, including grants to organizations that provide direct services to victims of crime like safety planning, community service referrals, counseling, crisis intervention, and legal advocacy. The CVF, created under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), is financed by fines and penalties paid by persons convicted in federal cases, as well as gifts, donations, and bequests by private parties. However, due to a steep reduction in incoming funds to the CVF, state and Tribal victim assistance programs that rely on these resources are facing major budget shortfalls in Fiscal Year 24 and may be unable to meet the needs of victims of crime.\n\nSenator Baldwin successfully included her legislation to help provide more resources to the CVF as part of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, which passed in 2021. Senator Baldwin\u2019s measure identified the \u201cdeposit fix\u201d to redirect monetary penalties stemming from agreements to delay or forego prosecution into the CVF. While Senator Baldwin\u2019s work was a historic effort to stabilize the fund, adding an additional $1 billion to the CVF between 2021 and 2023, more is needed to meet the basic needs of Wisconsin victims.\n\nThe decrease in funding comes as Wisconsin is experiencing the largest increase in domestic violence deaths in two decades, setting a new record in 2022. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has projected that its Fiscal Year 2024 victim assistance CVF award will be nearly $10 million less than its Fiscal Year 2023 award, a 41% reduction in funding that will harm organizations, communities, and families across the state.\n\nAdditionally, because of the unpredictability of criminal penalties and private donations, state and Tribal victim assistance programs that rely on CVF funding to help victims cannot plan for the size of the awards they will receive. Senator Baldwin also called on the DOJ to provide more visibility regarding deposits into the fund, including implementing a system to track payments from successfully concluded cases that may result in deposits into the CVF.\n\n\u201cI urge the Department to work with me and others in Congress to identify other long-term solutions to direct additional funds into the CVF. Successful prosecutions can both hold wrongdoers accountable and result in deposits to the CVF,\u201d concluded Senator Baldwin. \u201cI urge the Department to keep the important implications of its work in mind and partner with Congress to identify sustainable funding sources to support victims of crime.\u201d\n\n\u201cVOCA funding is vital to ensuring that services are available to victims of crime,\u201d said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. \u201cUnless a sustainable funding solution is put in place soon, there will be potentially devastating cutbacks to victim services, leaving some crime victims without sufficient support and our communities less safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cChildren\u2019s Wisconsin appreciates Senator Baldwin\u2019s long-standing leadership and commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the Crime Victims Fund. This funding is critically important to programs that provide care and services to children impacted by abuse, neglect and violence across the state. Crime Victims Fund dollars help to support medical assessments, crisis intervention, and connection to other resources, including mental health and other victim services that promote safety and healing for kids and families. We are deeply concerned about the projected decline in funding and the impact it will have on access to services for Wisconsin\u2019s most vulnerable children,\u201d said Karen Timberlake, Senior Vice President and President of Child Well-Being of Children\u2019s Wisconsin.\n\n\u201cSojourner is grateful for Senator Baldwin\u2019s leadership in addressing the needs of domestic violence survivors in Wisconsin. Crime Victim Funds allow Sojourner and partners to address the housing, food and support needs of thousands of survivors in Wisconsin. We believe that the projected cuts in Crime Victim funds will have a devastating impact on survivors across the nation. This reduction in funding will erode the safety net of services desperately needed by survivors, ultimately leaving people less safe, more at risk and in lethal situations without access to resources,\u201d said Carmen Pitre, President & CEO of Sojourner Family Peace Center.\n\n\u201cPeople experiencing domestic violence are killed needlessly every year in Wisconsin, with alarming frequency, and we know how to prevent it. No survivor of violence should have to take the courageous step of leaving an abusive relationship without the safety & support offered by domestic violence advocates & programs. Without this critical funding, that is precisely what is and will continue to happen,\u201d said Jenna Gormal, Public Policy Director at End Domestic Abuse WI.\n\nA full version of this letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Attorney General Garland:\n\nI write to express my concern regarding the steep decline in Victims of Crime Act funding that the State of Wisconsin is expected to experience in fiscal year 2024 and to ask for your assistance in identifying additional, sustainable sources of revenue for the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Organizations across Wisconsin rely on this funding to provide support to victims of crime, including victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Sadly, Wisconsin continues to suffer from an epidemic of domestic violence, and these funds are vital to assist the adults and children harmed by these crimes. The Department must do everything in its power to ensure that these organizations and the victims they serve have the resources they need.\n\nIn 2022, Wisconsin experienced the largest increase in domestic violence deaths in two decades \u2013 setting a disturbing new record for the state. The tragic toll of this crime coincides with a deeply concerning reduction in funding from the CVF to states. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has projected that its Fiscal Year 2024 victim assistance CVF award will be nearly $10 million less than its Fiscal Year 2023 award, a 41% reduction in funding that will harm organizations, communities, and families across the state. The End Domestic Violence Wisconsin\u2019s Homicide Report 2022 states plainly this stark reality: \u201cthere is not enough funding to meet the basic needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Wisconsin,\u201d and the same is true of all adult and child victims of crime across the state.\n\nWhile I am proud that the \u201cdeposits fix,\u201d enacted as part of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 and first identified in my Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act, has directed an additional $1 billion in revenue to the CVF between 2021-2023, more is needed to ensure that the fund can meet the needs of Wisconsin crime victims. To that end, I request your assistance to further stabilize the fund and identify additional sources of revenue that could appropriately help to grow its balance.\n\nI urge the Department to continuing advising its litigators of the availability of the CVF as a repository for fines, fees, and other penalties to ensure that the Department understands how its work affects the CVF. I additionally urge the Department to provide more visibility regarding deposits into the fund. The lack of predictability relating to proceeds makes it difficult for Congress and states to plan without greater insight into potential future revenue to the CVF. To create more transparency, the Department should implement a system to track payments from successfully concluded cases that may result in deposits into the CVF. Lastly, I urge the Department to work with me and others in Congress to identify other long-term solutions to direct additional funds into the CVF. Successful prosecutions can both hold wrongdoers accountable and result in deposits to the CVF. I urge the Department to keep the important implications of its work in mind and partner with Congress to identify sustainable funding sources to support victims of crime.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-introduces-bill-to-support-organic-dairy-farmers", "Baldwin Introduces Bill to Support Organic Dairy Farmers", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to support organic dairy farmers and help them address economic challenges like feed shortages and increased costs. The Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields (O DAIRY) Act of 2023 will increase investments in the organic dairy industry to ensure resiliency and longevity and works to improve data collection for organic milk production to enhance price accuracy and transparency.\n\n\u201cWisconsin is one of the nation\u2019s top organic dairy producing states, driving our local economies, feeding families from coast to coast, and keeping our state\u2019s heritage of America\u2019s Dairyland alive and strong,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cIn the face of recent headwinds, I\u2019m committed to delivering the support our dairies need to keep their operations open for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe O DAIRY Act would:\n\nExtend emergency assistance to organic dairy farmers facing losses, including any time a farm\u2019s net income decreases by over 10% in any given year;\n\nInvest $25 million annually in dairy infrastructure investments, research and innovation;\n\nCall for increased industry organic data collection that will be shared with farmers so they can plan better; and\n\nDirect the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study the viability of an organic safety net program, which would get aid to farmers faster when disasters hit in the future.\n\nThe bill is led by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and also co-sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The O DAIRY Act of 2023 has the broad support of farms, dairy cooperatives, producers, and associations across the country, including the Organic Farmers Association, Organic Valley, the National Organic Coalition, and the Center for Food Safety.\n\nA one-pager on this legislation can be found here. Full text of this legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-statement-on-emergency-funding-to-address-child-care-crisis-curb-opioid-and-fentanyl-epidemic", "Baldwin Statement on Emergency Funding to Address Child Care Crisis, Curb Opioid and Fentanyl Epidemic", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, released the following statement in response to the President's emergency funding request that includes resources to address the child care crisis and the opioid epidemic:\n\n\u201cWhen I travel the state, I hear time and again from families who want to ensure their kids get a strong start, their loved ones are safe and sound, and they can live a stable middle-class lifestyle. And I am committed to delivering the results to help them do that.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard from countless families that are struggling to find affordable child care, with parents paying thousands every month or dropping out of the workforce to care for their kids. I\u2019ve heard from Wisconsin businesses who cannot find workers or have lost good employees who cannot afford child care, while hardworking child care providers struggle to stay afloat and pay their workers fairly without gouging parents. We must meet the moment and invest in child care to give our kids the strong start they deserve, lower costs for working families, and grow our economy.\n\n\u201cI also hear from too many Wisconsin families who have lost a loved one too soon to opioid and fentanyl overdoses and poisonings. We need to do everything we can, from stopping these drugs from coming across the border, to ensuring Wisconsinites have access to prevention, treatment, and overdose reversal drugs. I\u2019m committed to ensuring Wisconsin has the resources we need to help those suffering, keep these deadly drugs out of our communities, and prevent needless heartache.\n\n\u201cThe emergency funding package that the President announced today will help us address these crises head on, lowering costs for working families, growing our economy, and saving lives. Now, Congress must act to deliver for the American people.\u201d\n\nThe funding to address the child care crisis and fentanyl and opioid epidemics comes as part of an emergency funding request that also includes critical resources to help communities impacted by natural disasters, strengthen our national security, connect more Americans to affordable internet, and reduce energy costs for low income Americans. The emergency request includes:\n\nAddressing the Child Care Crisis \u2013 $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an additional year of child care stabilization funding to help keep child care providers afloat, mitigating the likelihood that providers will close or raise costs for families.\n\nCountering Fentanyl \u2013 In addition to critical resources to crack down on the illicit flow of fentanyl that were included in a package President Biden announced last week, the emergency funding request invests in opioid use disorder treatment, evidence-based harm reduction services, overdose prevention measures like naloxone, and recovery support services. The proposed funding includes:\n\n$1.55 billion for HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to provide treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services in all States and territories. Since 2018, the SOR grant program has provided treatment services to over 1.2 million people.\n\n$1.2 billion, included in a package announced last week, to crack down on the trafficking of dangerous and lethal illicit drugs like fentanyl, including hiring an additional 1,300 border agents and deploying new cutting-edge detection equipment to disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-announces-over-101-million-to-lower-energy-costs-for-wisconsin-families", "Baldwin Announces Over $101 Million to Lower Energy Costs for Wisconsin Families", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), announced Wisconsin was awarded over $101.2 million to lower Wisconsin families\u2019 home energy costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding comes through the 2024 federal government funding legislation with additional support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both of which Senator Baldwin supported.\n\n\u201cAnyone who\u2019s spent a winter in Wisconsin understands that the cold and snow can be dangerous. As the weather turns cold, no Wisconsin family should have to worry about if they will be able to keep their homes and families warm,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help lower costs for working families and better ensure no Wisconsinite goes cold this winter.\u201d\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and energy crisis assistance to pay for gas, electric, and other methods customers use to heat their homes. LIHEAP funding can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient, and during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies. In Fiscal Year 2022, LIHEAP provided heat billing assistance to over 136,000 households across Wisconsin, with the average LIHEAP benefit covering $432 in winter home heating costs for Wisconsinites.\n\nAs LHHS Chair, Senator Baldwin successfully included increased funding for the LIHEAP program in the Senate\u2019s funding legislation for the Department of Health and Human Services. The legislation successfully passed the Appropriations Committee with near-unanimous bipartisan support and now the Senator is working to pass the legislation on the floor of the Senate.\n\nA one pager on this announcement is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-introduces-resolution-calling-for-end-to-religious-and-political-persecution-in-india", "Baldwin Introduces Resolution Calling for End to Religious and Political Persecution in India", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced a resolution in the Senate urging the U.S. government to engage with India to reverse policies that discriminate on the basis of religion and push for an end to violence against peaceful civilian protesters in India.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is a fundamental human right, and when any country infringes on it, the United States must stand up and speak out,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am calling on the United States to continue pushing the government of India to reverse course on the systematic religious and political persecution that is endangering and disenfranchising innocent civilians.\u201d\n\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s tenure has been marked by a troubling increase in violence, hate crimes, incendiary rhetoric by politicians, and an overall decline in religious freedom typically seen in healthy democracies. The Senate resolution introduced by Senator Baldwin urges the U.S. government to engage with the government of India to end the persecution of, and violence against, religious minorities and human rights defenders in India, and work to reverse government policies that discriminate against Muslims and Christians on the basis of faiths.\n\n\u201cIndia is a key partner of the United States and that makes it doubly important that the Indian government observe, practice and implement civil and political liberties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Rising social conflict and democratic backslide in India will weaken and not strengthen India\u2019s relevance as a global bulwark against anti-democratic forces. We applaud Senator Baldwin for introducing this significant resolution and we encourage the US Senate to pass it to send a clear and unequivocal message to both the Biden Administration and the Indian government,\u201d said Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of Indian American Muslim Council.\n\n\u201cAs a proud Indian-born American, I strongly believe in India\u2019s Constitution as written, and if faithfully followed, would ensure that India remains the world\u2019s largest secular democracy, as a role model for other countries,\u201d said Masood Akhtar, a Wisconsin entrepreneur and activist.\n\nFull text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-wisconsin-leaders-praise-baldwins-work-to-bring-home-a-tech-hub", "What They Are Saying: Wisconsin Leaders Praise Baldwin\u2019s Work to Bring Home a Tech Hub", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that Wisconsin has been designated by the Biden Administration as a Regional Technology (Tech Hub), an initiative created by the Baldwin-supported CHIPS and Science Act. The designation clears the way for Wisconsin to compete for up to $75 million in funding to enable stakeholders to scale up operations to a global level, align and scale the supply chain and manufacturing sector, improve access to capital to start and grow businesses, and increase lab space and expand opportunities for worker housing and transportation. Additionally, Wisconsin is receiving a $350,000 planning grant to execute its Biohealth Tech Hub strategy.\n\nPublic and private partners praised Senator Baldwin\u2019s announcement. Here\u2019s what they\u2019re saying:\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s designation as a Regional Tech Hub is a testament to the strength of our state\u2019s biohealth and personalized medicine industry,\u201d said Governor Evers. \u201cAs this sector continues to grow, it will mean more high-paying jobs and economic growth for our state, as well as innovations that will transform the future of medical care for people in Wisconsin and around the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere was no surprise that Wisconsin was chosen as an inaugural Tech Hub,\u201d said Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02). \u201cMadison is a world-class city, home to some of the best research institutions, a robust entrepreneurial and manufacturing ecosystem, and a highly skilled workforce. Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for recognizing Wisconsin and thank you to Senator Tammy Baldwin for her leadership in helping bring this vital tech hub to Wisconsin.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis effort is a real win for Wisconsin, expanding economic opportunities for Wisconsin workers and businesses,\u201d said Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04). \u201cThanks to Senator Baldwin, Wisconsin will continue cultivating a growing, innovative bio health industry. This tech hub brings our state on the cusp of exciting opportunities, including high-paying jobs of the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompanies like Harley Davidson and Allen-Bradley (now Rockwell Automation) put Wisconsin on the map as a manufacturing powerhouse a hundred years ago. The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub will nurture the companies that will be recognized a century from now for curing disease and creating innovative new industries,\u201d said Aaron Olver, Chairman, Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium Steering Committee.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement by the Biden-Harris administration confirms the competitiveness of Wisconsin\u2019s biohealth assets,\u201d said Jim Paetsch, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership. \u201cPersonalized medicine is changing the way in which disease is detected and treated. Our institutional and corporate assets uniquely position the Milwaukee-Madison region to be a global leader in this dynamic and emerging space, which holds great potential for improving human health.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe achieved a major milestone and we\u2019re just getting started. Together with other members of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub consortium, our focus is now on preparing a compelling application to achieve Phase 2 designation which will place our region on a transformative trajectory, securing our future as trailblazers, paving the path to personalized medicine. It\u2019s a path that will be marked by greater educational opportunities, economic growth, amplified collaboration, and a bright future for our state,\u201d said Anjon Audhya, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology, and Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.\n\n\u201cThe tech hub designation and initial grant is a wonderful recognition of Wisconsin\u2019s contribution to growth and innovation in medical and biotechnology. As a leading global designer, developer, manufacturer and servicer of Healthcare/Life Science products with its headquarters and key talent located in Wisconsin, we are excited to partner with the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub as we look to fulfill our vision to help create the products that build a better world,\u201d said Michael Tendick, Plexus Corp.\u2019s Market Sector Vice President \u2013 Healthcare/Life Sciences.\n\n\"MATC is ready to serve as a partner to this effort by providing instructional leadership to our students in degree and diploma programs so they will be prepared to work in the state\u2019s burgeoning biohealth industry,\u201d said MATC President Vicki J. Martin, Ph.D.\n\n\"Exact Sciences' longstanding commitment to Wisconsin spans over two decades, a testament to the symbiotic relationship between our company and the state's unwavering dedication to workforce development and the advancement of biotechnology,\u201d said Ana Hooker, Chief Laboratory Officer for Exact Sciences. \u201cWisconsin's relentless pursuit of upskilling its workforce has positioned it as a leader in nurturing talent and fostering innovation. Our collaboration with Senator Baldwin and the community coalition exemplifies Wisconsin's leadership in bringing cutting-edge technology hubs to the heart of our communities, showcasing the power of public-private partnerships in driving economic growth and creating valuable opportunities for the workforce.\"\n\n\u201cWe are excited to see Wisconsin receive both the U.S. Economic Development Association Phase 1 Tech Hub designation and a Strategy Grant to support the build out of a regional strategy and implementation plan to grow Wisconsin\u2019s Tech Hub,\u201d said Jay Hill, Vice President, Advanced Technology, GE HealthCare, former BioForward Board Chair (2021). \u201cGE HealthCare has had a presence in Wisconsin since 1947 and we are proud to be part of the public and private consortium organized by BioForward Wisconsin, and to play a leading role in strengthening the state\u2019s biohealth ecosystem. This recognition is a testament to Wisconsin's leadership in the biohealth industry, highlighting our capabilities for future growth and innovation. We are excited by the potential of personalized medicine and proud to be part of defining that future.\u201d\n\n\u201cRockwell Automation is thrilled that Wisconsin has received both the Phase 1 Tech Hub designation and a Strategy Grant. As a member of the consortia, we are proud to share our expertise in automation and precision manufacturing with the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub. This recognition and funding will help showcase how the public and private sectors can come together in Wisconsin to drive medical innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace, and create good paying jobs while doing it,\u201d said Michael Cook, Director, Global Academic Engagement.\n\n\u201cThis investment in Wisconsin will assist us in creating sustainable career pathways for everyone and help focus our efforts on ensuring our talent pipeline is safe, skilled and diverse and has access to pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship opportunities that have family-sustaining wages,\u201d said Lindsay Blumer, President & CEO at WRTP | BIG STEP and member of the Biohealth Tech Hub Steering Committee.\n\n\u201cThe new Regional Tech Hub designation recognizes Wisconsin\u2019s leadership in innovation and biotechnology and brings with it the promise of high skill jobs. At Madison College, we\u2019re looking forward to working with our fellow consortium members to identify workforce needs, and we stand ready to meet these emerging training needs in program areas that will support Wisconsin\u2019s growth as a Regional Tech Hub. This includes developing targeted credentials as well as technical degrees and diplomas that lead directly to employability in Wisconsin\u2019s biohealth workforce,\u201d said Dr. Jack E. Daniels III, President, Madison College.\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s designation as a Biohealth Tech Hub and receipt of the Strategy Grant recognizes the significant role the Universities of Wisconsin play in helping create a statewide biohealth network. Our universities will provide access to education and research that will help drive growth and innovation in this dynamic field. We are proud to play a critical role in helping Wisconsin win this designation and strategy grant. The Universities of Wisconsin look forward to working with our consortium partners in the public and private sectors to advance the fields of personalized medicine, biohealth technology, precision manufacturing, and automation as we develop talent for companies all across Wisconsin,\u201d said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman.\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s Tech Hub designation is another step forward embracing our status as a premier location for personalized medicine technology and growth. As the leading USA-based manufacturer of radiation therapy solutions, Accuray is proud to establish our headquarters in Madison and call Wisconsin home, innovating, manufacturing, and exporting around the world, building on our Wisconsin legacy, said Daniel Biank, Vice President Regulatory & Government Affairs, Accuray.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-announces-wisconsin-selected-as-a-tech-hub", "Baldwin Announces Wisconsin Selected as a Tech Hub", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Wisconsin has been designated by the Biden Administration as a Regional Technology Hub (Tech Hub), an initiative created by the Baldwin-supported CHIPS and Science Act. Additionally, Wisconsin is receiving a $350,000 planning grant to execute its Biohealth Tech Hub strategy. Working with stakeholders across the state, Senator Baldwin has advocated to bring a Tech Hub to Wisconsin, supporting Wisconsin\u2019s application to invest in the Badger State\u2019s growing personalized medicine and biohealth technology industry.\n\n\u201cWisconsin has a long and proud tradition of innovation, and bringing a Tech Hub to Wisconsin will help us continue that legacy into the future. With world class research institutions, a strong pipeline of talent, and cutting-edge Made in Wisconsin manufacturing, our state is well positioned to drive innovation in biohealth and personalized medicine, pioneering technologies that have the potential to improve access to affordable care, better diagnose and treat patients, and save lives,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to have helped create and support the Tech Hub program and know that bringing one to Wisconsin will create more opportunities for our businesses and workers. I am committed to continuing to work with our consortium partners to make this reality, strengthening Wisconsin\u2019s competitive edge in an industry that will only grow in the future.\u201d\n\nIn September, BioForward Wisconsin, along with a consortium of 15 public and private partners organized by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), submitted Wisconsin\u2019s application for a Tech Hub to bolster the state as a leader in personalized medicine and biohealth technology. The Tech Hub designation and $350,000 planning grant announced today validate Wisconsin\u2019s potential for rapid technology-led economic growth in biohealth. Planning grant funding will be utilized to build upon the consortium\u2019s comprehensive regional strategy to grow Wisconsin\u2019s Tech Hub, helping to create a corresponding implementation plan and a workforce strategy informed by global experts, best practices, and regional stakeholders.\n\nOut of hundreds of applications, the U.S. Economic Development Association (EDA) today announced 31 designees across the country, including Wisconsin\u2019s Biohealth Tech Hub. Additionally, BioForward Wisconsin was awarded a strategy development grant to accelerate the development of its proposal. Following the designee announcement, EDA will also offer an additional grant application to make at least 5 implementation awards ranging from $20 million to $70 million to designated EDA Tech Hubs.\n\nSenator Baldwin voted to create the Tech Hubs program in the CHIPS and Science Act, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she worked to secure $500 million in funding to initiate the program in the FY2023 budget. In September, she penned a letter of support for Wisconsin\u2019s application for a Tech Hub focused on biohealth. Senator Baldwin also gathered consortium partners in August to rally support for Wisconsin\u2019s application, hosting events in Madison and Milwaukee this August to highlight Wisconsin\u2019s strong biohealth industry and Tech Hub application.\n\n\u201cThe Regional Tech Hub designation confirms what we already know about Wisconsin: when it comes to bringing together the best in research and development, cutting-edge manufacturing, highly skilled and educated workers, and a commitment to relentless improvement, no state is better prepared to lead the way,\u201d said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). \u201cThis is a huge win in creating an economy for all, where everyone has the opportunity to live healthy, prosperous lives.\u201d\n\n\"Today's Tech Hub designation for Wisconsin is not just a recognition of our state's strengths in personalized medicine, biohealth technology, precision manufacturing, and automation; it's an acknowledgment of our potential for exponential growth and innovation,\u201d said Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin. \u201cWe are extremely thankful to Senator Tammy Baldwin for her unwavering support. Her dedication to the legislation that created the Tech Hub program and her advocacy for Wisconsin have been instrumental in making this achievement possible. Together, we will propel our region onto the national and international stage, fostering collaboration, attracting new talent and companies, and driving innovations that will benefit not only Wisconsin but all of humankind.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-leads-senate-resolution-recognizing-national-marine-sanctuary-day", "Baldwin Leads Senate Resolution Recognizing National Marine Sanctuary Day", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recognized the importance of national marine sanctuaries with a resolution designating October 23, 2023 as National Marine Sanctuary Day. The resolution highlights the role of national marine sanctuaries in increasing access to nature, protecting biodiversity, and boosting economic activity for coastal communities.\n\n\u201cIn Wisconsin, the Great Lakes are essential to our way of life. Last year, I was proud to help establish the first national marine sanctuary in the Badger State to ensure that Wisconsinites can enjoy our pristine natural waters for generations to come,\" said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThis resolution will honor the critical role that marine sanctuaries play in preserving our abundant fresh waters, supporting local economies, and driving tourism for coastal communities.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin has fought to support national marine sanctuaries, successfully leading the charge to bring a National Marine Sanctuary to Wisconsin in 2021. In October 2013, Senator Baldwin urged NOAA to re-open the public nomination process for marine sanctuaries for the first time in 20 years. After the Administration announced in June 2014 that Americans would be given the opportunity to nominate nationally significant marine and Great Lakes areas as national marine sanctuaries, Wisconsin\u2019s Lake Michigan proposal was submitted and Senator Baldwin called on NOAA to support their efforts. The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was officially designated in 2021.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin has continued to advocate for Wisconsin\u2019s Great Lakes by supporting robust funding for the National Marine Sanctuaries Program and by requesting federal funding for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.\n\nThe resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and is supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.\n\n\"For over 50 years, national marine sanctuaries have engaged with local partners across the country to conserve and protect some of our nation's most spectacular marine habitats, wildlife, archaeological wonders, and cultural seascapes. Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary embodies the idea that conserving special places in the ocean and Great Lakes can unite communities and sustain local economies by providing opportunities for people to discover, recreate, and form lifelong connections with these special places,\" said Russ Green, Superintendent of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. \"As the second sanctuary in the Great Lakes, and with more on the horizon, we are grateful for today's recognition and remain firmly committed to a vision of a locally-led, inclusive effort to be better stewards of the waters upon which we all depend.\"\n\n\"Our national marine sanctuaries are partnerships of people, and sources of solutions to the greatest challenges facing our ocean. From the Pacific to the East Coast, the Great Lakes to the Gulf, sanctuaries illuminate history, protect biodiversity, and fight climate change. I thank Senator Baldwin and the co-sponsors for their support of National Marine Sanctuary Day and protecting our waters,\" said National Marine Sanctuary Foundation President and CEO Joel R. Johnson.\n\nFull text of the Senate Resolution is available here and below:\n\nDesignating October 23, 2023, as \u2018\u2018National Marine Sanctuary Day\u2019\u2019.\n\nWhereas, on October 23, 1972, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) became law and ushered in a new era of ocean conservation;\n\nWhereas the National Marine Sanctuary System is a nationwide network that conserves spectacular oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes;\n\nWhereas communities across the United States can nominate their most treasured marine and Great Lakes waters for consideration as national marine sanctuaries;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity, safeguard extraordinary seascapes, historic shipwrecks, and sacred cultural places, and provide abundant recreational opportunities;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries seek opportunities to partner with indigenous governments and communities to achieve shared conservation goals and to support the care-taking of ecological resources and cultural sites of indigenous peoples;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries protect vital habitats for countless species of fish and wildlife, including many species that are listed as threatened or endangered;\n\nWhereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, for addressing climate change, and for sustaining productive coastal economies;\n\nWhereas the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and its partners work to protect and nurture the growth of the National Marine Sanctuary System;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries increase access to nature for all, support coastal communities, and generate billions of dollars annually in local communities by providing jobs in the United States, supporting commercial, Tribal, and recreational fisheries, bolstering tourism and recreation, engaging businesses in stewardship, and driving the growth of the blue economy;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries connect people and communities through science, education, United States history, recreation, and stewardship and inspire community-based solutions that help individuals understand and protect the spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, archaeological resources, and cultural seascapes of the United States;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories that enable cooperative science and research that improves resource management and advances innovative public-private partnerships;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries can help make oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes more resilient by protecting ecosystems that sequester carbon, by safeguarding coastal communities from flooding and storms, and by protecting biodiversity;\n\nWhereas the United States is a historic maritime Nation, and oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are central to the way of life of the people of the United States;\n\nWhereas engaging communities as stewards of these protected waters makes national marine sanctuaries unique and provides a comprehensive, ecosystem-based, highly participatory approach to managing and conserving marine and Great Lakes environments for current and future generations; and\n\nWhereas October 23, 2023, is recognized as \u2018\u2018National Marine Sanctuary Day\u2019\u2019 to increase awareness about the importance of the National Marine Sanctuary System and healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and to celebrate the many recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this network of protected waters: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) designates October 23, 2023, as \u2018\u2018National Marine Sanctuary Day\u2019\u2019;\n\n(2) encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and support the treasured national marine sanctuaries of the United States;\n\n(3) acknowledges the importance of national marine sanctuaries in supporting community resilience, protecting biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;\n\n(4) recognizes the importance of national marine sanctuaries for their recreational opportunities and contributions to local and national economies across the United States;\n\n(5) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary System to protect nationally significant places in oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes;\n\n(6) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to partner with communities and to complete designations of new national marine sanctuaries; and\n\n(7) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and work together to support the priorities of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-presses-biden-administration-to-get-patients-providers-answers-on-covid-test-fraud", "Baldwin Presses Biden Administration to Get Patients, Providers Answers on COVID Test Fraud", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue looking into reports that Medicare beneficiaries are being billed for COVID-19 tests that they did not order or receive. The letter to CMS comes after Senator Baldwin heard from multiple constituents who have seen unfamiliar charges appear on their Medicare bills. Senator Baldwin also pushed CMS to communicate with Medicare recipients who have reported fraudulent charges on their bills to ensure Wisconsinites have faith that their benefits are safe.\n\n\u201cI write to express my serious concerns regarding the experiences of Wisconsin retirees who have reported numerous unrequested and unreceived COVID-19 test kits on their Medicare statements, or have been solicited for fake COVID-19 tests,\u201d wrote Senator Baldwin. \u201cI recognize that the agency is working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and investigating fraud and waste pertaining to the distribution of COVID-19 tests, however, seniors in Wisconsin are concerned that their health information has been compromised. I respectfully request that CMS be as transparent and communicative as possible with providers and beneficiaries to bolster public awareness and make clear that CMS is doing its job.\u201d\n\nIn April 2021, CMS launched a program that covered and paid for up to eight COVID-19 tests for people with Medicare Part B from eligible participating providers at no cost to beneficiaries, ending in conjunction with the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. In total, the program distributed millions of tests directly to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. However, following the termination of this program, Americans have reported unsolicited COVID-19 tests or noticed additional charges on their bills for tests they never requested.\n\n\u201cWhen a Medicare beneficiary sees a charge that they do not recognize, they have the right to be concerned. It is CMS\u2019s duty to provide them with information and to ensure that their benefits and health information are protected,\u201d wrote Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am committed to protecting the strength of the Medicare program by rooting out fraud and abuse. I believe it is critical that the agency provides clarity and information regarding both situations so that providers and beneficiaries can make informed decisions going forward.\u201d\n\nA full version of this letter is available here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Chiquita Brooks La-Sure\n\nAdministrator\n\nCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services\n\n7500 Security Boulevard\n\nBaltimore, MD 21244\n\nDear Administrator Brooks La-Sure:\n\nThank you for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continued efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and your work to protect Wisconsin\u2019s seniors. I write to express my serious concerns regarding the experiences of Wisconsin retirees who have reported numerous unrequested and unreceived COVID-19 test kits on their Medicare statements, or have been solicited for fake COVID-19 tests. I recognize that the agency is working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and investigating fraud and waste pertaining to the distribution of COVID-19 tests, however, seniors in Wisconsin are concerned that their health information has been compromised. I respectfully request that CMS be as transparent and communicative as possible with providers and beneficiaries to bolster public awareness and make clear that CMS is doing its job.\n\nIn April 2021, CMS launched a demonstration program that covered and paid for up to eight over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests for people with Medicare Part B. Eligible Medicare beneficiaries could get these OTC tests at no cost from eligible participating providers, including physicians, hospitals, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Furthermore, the cost of these OTC tests did not apply to their annual deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. The OTC COVID-19 test demonstration ended in conjunction with the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. In total, the program distributed millions of tests directly to Medicare beneficiaries and their families.\n\nUnfortunately, since the suspension of the OTC program, I have heard from several constituents who have either received unsolicited COVID-19 tests or noticed additional charges on their bills for tests they never requested. In July of 2023, The Los Angeles Times reported on a physician illegally stealing Medicare ID numbers to order unwanted COVID-19 tests, leading to \u201c$8.4 million in fraudulent Medicare Claims\u201d across the country. The investigation revealed that hundreds of thousands of unwanted tests were sent out to seniors in at least 10 different states. CMS must continue to protect the integrity of Medicare by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse like these scams.\n\nAt the same time, it is my understanding that a delayed provider billing issue is occurring alongside instances of fraud and may be contributing to inflated reports of Medicare scams. While there may be two separate issues occurring here, I am concerned by the lack of information being shared with beneficiaries, who closely monitor their bills and statements, and their providers. When a Medicare beneficiary sees a charge that they do not recognize, they have the right to be concerned. It is CMS\u2019s duty to provide them with information and to ensure that their benefits and health information are protected. I urge CMS to take this issue seriously, given the significant uptick in the amount of fraud being investigated and wide potential for seniors to be taken advantage of. I am committed to protecting the strength of the Medicare program by rooting out fraud and abuse. I believe it is critical that the agency provides clarity and information regarding both situations so that providers and beneficiaries can make informed decisions going forward.\n\nI specifically request CMS respond with information on how the agency is making clear the distinction of issues to beneficiary and providers, and what steps will be taken to prevent ongoing issues of fraud in the distribution of COVID-19 tests.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-pushes-for-increased-border-security-to-stop-flow-of-fentanyl-into-us", "Baldwin Pushes for Increased Border Security to Stop Flow of Fentanyl into U.S.", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined 7 of her colleagues in pushing President Biden to prioritize additional resources to strengthen the security at the southwest border to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border. As overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows drugs are overwhelmingly being smuggled through U.S. ports of entry, particularly in Arizona and California. In response to CBP agents reporting finding pills in seat cushions, car batteries, metal walkers, and bicycle frames, the Senators are pushing for increased funding for security and surveillance for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\n\n\u201cWe have long supported increasing funding for comprehensive measures to enhance border enforcement, management, and security,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThe situation at our border is complex, and it will take continued leadership and funding to stem the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl, smuggling, and transnational criminal organizations that operate along our border.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, as Chair of the LHHS Subcommittee, Senator Baldwin remains supportive of the Biden Administration\u2019s request for supplemental funding to support fentanyl treatment and prevention. Overdose deaths, particularly among young people, are increasing across the United States. In total, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 112,000 people died from a drug overdose between May 2022 and May 2023, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids causing the vast majority of overdoses.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators urged President Biden to request additional supplemental funding for the border. Specifically, the Senators pushed for additional CBP agents to increase processing and screening capacity at ports of entry, as well as acquiring non-invasive inspection technology to stop drug smugglers before their fentanyl hits American fentanyl.\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and signed by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Warner (D-VA).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nOctober 19, 2023\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden, Jr.\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nAs you consider the critical funding needs of our Nation, we urge you to prioritize additional funding, resources, and innovative strategies to strengthen the security of our southwest border and address the multiple, overlapping challenges there. We have long supported increasing funding for comprehensive measures to enhance border enforcement, management, and security. The situation at our border is complex, and it will take continued leadership and funding to stem the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl, smuggling, and transnational criminal organizations that operate along our border.\n\nOverdose deaths, particularly among young people, are increasing across our Nation. In total, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 112,000 people died from a drug overdose between May 2022 and May 2023, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids causing the vast majority of overdoses.[1] Furthermore, according to a new analysis reported in September 2023, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, and Virginia were among the 37 states in which accidental drug overdoses were the largest cause of death for people under 40-years-old in 2022.[2] In Montana, accidental overdoses of young people under 40 increased by 121% from 2018 to 2022.[3]\n\nThe increasing rates of overdose deaths are clearly being driven, in part, by fentanyl trafficking across our border. From FY 2019 to FY 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seizures of fentanyl nearly tripled. So far in FY 2023, CBP has already seized over 25,000 pounds of fentanyl.[4] In March, it was reported that CBP seized more than 21 million fentanyl tablets in the Nogales, AZ port of entry over the prior five months\u2014more than the number of tablets seized during the entire previous year.[5]Highlighting the complex situation that CBP must navigate when seizing fentanyl, officials have indicated that individuals are smuggling pills inside seat cushions, car batteries, metal walkers, and even hollowed-out bicycle frames.[6] Furthermore, CBP data has shown that drugs are overwhelmingly being smuggled through U.S. ports of entry\u2014particularly in Arizona and California[7]\u2014and we must do more to ensure that our CBP Officers have the funding, tools, and technology necessary to be able to stop this surge of fentanyl into our country.\n\nStrengthening our southwest border is not only vital to our national security, but also our public health. To achieve this, we must prioritize additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security for its critical border security operations, including funding construction and infrastructure improvements at our ports of entry. We also urge you to invest funding to hire additional CBP Officers, increase processing and screening capacity at ports of entry along the border, engage in a wide range of counter-drug activities, and acquire additional non-intrusive inspection technology to substantially increase the number of passenger cars and cargo that are scanned at the border. This border security technology will provide CBP Officers with more tools to support their mission and more frequently interdict fentanyl and other illicit drugs. These types of technology and resources will provide CBP with enhanced capabilities to detect the transport of illicit drugs, contraband, invasive species, and other dangers in inbound and outbound cargo at parts of entry.\n\nFor years, we have voted to enact additional funding to address the complex challenges at our southwest border by focusing on smart security measures and enhanced technology. We continue to support strong investments in border security measures that will keep our Nation safer and increase the capacity, personnel, and technology that are available to enhance the security of our border. Thank you for your attention to our request and these critical funding needs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-joins-gop-colleagues-in-demanding-aid-package-to-israel-be-kept-separate-from-ukraine-funding", "Sen. Johnson Joins GOP Colleagues in Demanding Aid Package to Israel be Kept Separate from Ukraine Funding", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and seven of their Senate GOP colleagues in a letter to Senate Leadership requesting any federal assistance to Israel not be leveraged for more Ukraine funding. It has beenreported that President Biden plans to pair tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine with any new request for federal assistance for Israel.\n\nIn the letter, the senators highlighted that these are two separate and unrelated conflicts that cannot be considered as a \u201cpackage deal.\u201d Any attempt to give additional money to Ukraine risks complicating the process and prolonging the time it will take to get aid to our ally Israel.\n\n\u201cWe write today in the wake of over 1,400 Israeli civilians and at least 30 American citizens having been killed over the last week after brutal Hamas terrorists invaded Israel,\u201dthe senators wrote.\n\n\u201cIn response to these developments, it is critical we give prompt consideration to any request for financial aid or other material support requested by Israel. Based on the breadth of responses from members of Congress, there is a shared urgency to consider such a request,\u201dthe letter continues.\n\n\u201cThat being said, we know there will no doubt be efforts to attach any funding to Israel to more aid to Ukraine, in excess of the already $113 billion Congress has provided to Ukraine,\u201dthe senators continued. \u201cThese are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cFurthermore, it would be irresponsible and we should not risk a government shutdown by bundling these priorities together and thus complicating the process and lessening the likelihood of a funding package,\u201dthe senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to keep separate attempts to provide military aid to Israel from additional funds to Ukraine or other matters,\u201d the letter concludes.\n\nSens. Johnson and Marshall were joined on this letter by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).\n\nRead more about the senators\u2019 letter in theNew York Post.\n\nFull text of the letter can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-and-33-senators-call-for-humanitarian-aid-to-address-emergency-needs-in-gaza", "Baldwin and 33 Senators Call for Humanitarian Aid to Address Emergency Needs in Gaza", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 33 of her colleagues are calling on the Biden administration to deliver humanitarian aid, like food, water, and shelter, to the innocent civilians and help address the emergency needs in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of Hamas\u2019 terrorist attacks. The Senators call on the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations\u2019 emergency appeal of $294 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza. The funds would be provided to the United Nations who distributes aid directly to those in need through vetted professional staff on the ground.\n\n\u201cAs a result of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza prompted by Hamas\u2019 horrific terror attacks, more than 1.2 million people are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance. More than one million people have fled the violence, stretching the already strained ability of the United Nations and humanitarian partners on the ground to provide the food, medical treatment, and shelter they need to survive,\u201d the senators wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cWe support Israel\u2019s right to defend its people against the brutal attacks carried out by Hamas. Hamas knew that the Israeli government would have to respond to the unconscionable murder and hostage-taking of its citizens and thus bears the blame for initiating this conflict. We also know there are many innocent Palestinians in Gaza who do not support Hamas and urgently need help as they seek to flee the fighting.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe therefore urge you to join the international community in answering the call from the United Nations by contributing toward this lifesaving $294 million appeal, and ask that you work with the UN and its partners to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended recipients without diversion or delay,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nAs a result of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza prompted by Hamas\u2019 horrific terror attacks, more than 1.2 million people are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance. More than one million people have fled the violence, stretching the already strained ability of the United Nations and humanitarian partners on the ground to provide the food, medical treatment, and shelter they need to survive. In this context, the UN has released an emergency appeal for $294 million to address these humanitarian needs, help protect displaced people and save countless lives. We urge you to uphold our country\u2019s proud tradition of leading the international community in providing lifesaving relief by contributing funding for international humanitarian assistance toward this UN appeal.\n\nWe support Israel\u2019s right to defend its people against the brutal attacks carried out by Hamas. Hamas knew that the Israeli government would have to respond to the unconscionable murder and hostage-taking of its citizens and thus bears the blame for initiating this conflict. We also know there are many innocent Palestinians in Gaza who do not support Hamas and urgently need help as they seek to flee the fighting. More than one million people in Gaza have fled their homes in search of safety, with nearly half of those taking shelter in UN facilities. The United Nations estimates that Gaza will run out of food and water within days. Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, running desperately short on supplies and impacted by the lack of electricity. The humanitarian needs on the ground have dramatically increased over the past week, and conditions will likely continue to deteriorate in the days and weeks ahead.\n\nDisplaced people around the world depend on lifesaving humanitarian assistance from the UN and its partners to feed their families, receive medical treatment, and secure shelter. The United States should continue its steadfast support for Israel while also doing our part to help the UN assist innocent civilians as they flee the violence. We therefore urge you to join the international community in answering the call from the United Nations by contributing toward this lifesaving $294 million appeal, and ask that you work with the UN and its partners to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended recipients without diversion or delay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-fernandez-scott-dean-introduce-legislation-to-lower-cost-of-community-and-tech-college", "Baldwin, Fern\u00e1ndez, Scott, Dean Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Community and Tech College", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bicameral legislation with Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-NM-03), Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (D-VA-03), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-03) to make two-year technical and community college accessible to more Americans by waiving tuition for eligible students.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s technical and community colleges give students the education and skills they need to land good-paying jobs in high-demand industries and grow our economy. But for too many students, the cost of a two-year degree is holding them back, hamstringing businesses who need skilled workers and preventing them from providing for their families,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAmerica\u2019s College Promise will break down those barriers for students who want to pursue a technical education, training tomorrow\u2019s workforce without saddling young people with debt that prevents them from buying a house, starting a family, and contributing to our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew Mexico knows how free community college unlocks opportunities for students - from the recent high school graduate to the experienced worker who wants to go back to school. Students are going to school at higher rates in New Mexico than most states,\u201d said Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-NM-03). \u201cThe America\u2019s College Promise Act builds on New Mexico\u2019s example to make sure that students across the country can attend community college without the burden of tuition and fees. This bill will provide funds for services to help students successfully complete their degrees. To unlock the door for a brighter future, it also reduces the financial burden for low-income students to attend TCUs, HBCUs, and MSIs.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunity colleges play a unique and vital role in providing students access a quality postsecondary degree. Regrettably, the chronic underfunding of community colleges is jeopardizing their ability to support their students and communities. The America\u2019s College Promise Act is a major investment in expanding opportunities for students and building back a better economy. This bill is one critical piece of our comprehensive plan to make quality higher education more affordable for students and families and developing a competitive 21st century workforce,\u201d said Representative Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (D-VA-03).\n\n\u201cHigher education should promise a bright future, yet the cost of college inhibits that opportunity for many and burdens many more with immense debt \u2014 we must change this for future generations,\u201d said Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA-03). \u201cAs a professor, it was a profound joy to witness students claim their education and carve out their own future \u2014 and I want to ensure that for more young adults and those looking to make a career change. The America\u2019s College Promise Act will help make that a reality, from providing tuition-free community college courses to expanding funding for HBCUs and trade schools. I look forward to this important legislation being brought to the House floor.\u201d\n\nThe America\u2019s College Promise Act of 2023 will make the skills and credentials necessary to succeed in our economy more accessible to all students by creating a new federal-state partnership to provide two years of tuition-free community or technical college. Specifically, the America\u2019s College Promise Act of 2023:\n\nCreates a partnership between the federal government and states to waive tuition and fees for two years of community and technical college programs for eligible students, while promoting key reforms to accelerate student success;\n\nCreates a sliding scale for federal share beginning at 100% for the first year and ending at 80% for the fifth and subsequent years;\n\nEnsures that programs offer academic credits that are transferable to four-year institutions in their state, or occupational training that leads to recognized credentials;\n\nMaintains and encourages state funding for higher education;\n\nEstablishes a student success fund to improve enrollment, retention, transfer, or completion rates and labor market outcomes for underserved student populations, including students of color and low-income and fist generation college students, who attend community and technical colleges at disproportionate rates;\n\nWaives two years of tuition and fees for eligible students at tribal colleges and universities; and\n\nEstablishes a new grant program to provide pathways to success at historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions by covering a significant portion of tuition and fees for the first two years of attendance for low-income students.\n\nTo meet the growing demand for skilled workers, Senator Baldwin has long supported expanding access to affordable two-year technical and community college, introducing similar legislation in years past. The America\u2019s College Promise Act of 2023 makes critical improvements to this effort, including giving states a more generous federal match, eliminating tribal match requirements, and supporting state and local investment in higher education.\n\nThe America\u2019s College Promise Act of 2023 is cosponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), in addition to seven co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe bicameral legislation is supported by the American Federation of Teachers; AFL-CIO; Association of Community College Trustees; The Education Trust; The Hope Center at Temple University; The National Education Association; The Century Foundation Higher Education Team; Higher Learning Advocates; the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars, American Association of Community Colleges, Young Invincibles, and Jobs for the Future.\n\nA one-pager on this legislation is available here. Full text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-helps-deliver-more-than-450k-to-support-child-care-at-uw-eau-claire", "Baldwin Helps Deliver More Than $450K to Support Child Care at UW-Eau Claire", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced she helped deliver more than $450,000 for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to expand access to child care for student parents. The funding, from the 2023 annual funding legislation, which Senator Baldwin supported, will support or establish high-quality, campus-based child care programs to meet the needs of student parents enrolled on their campus.\n\n\u201cWhen Wisconsin families cannot find child care, it prevents parents from entering the workforce and going back to school,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAn investment in child care at our higher education institutions will help more Wisconsinites get the skills they need to participate fully in our economy and meet the growing demand Made in Wisconsin businesses have for workers. I am proud to support this investment for Blugold students and parents in Western Wisconsin that will strengthen the pipeline of new talent entering our workforce.\u201d\n\nChild Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grants are provided to institutions of higher education by the federal government to support or establish campus-based child care services that primarily serve the needs of low-income students. More than one in five students are parents and 42% of all student parents attend community colleges. High-quality child care provides benefits to children, their parents, and the economy at large.\n\nWith the grant, fees for child care services will be significantly reduced for student parents, in addition to reducing students\u2019 day care bills and hiring the family service specialist, grant funds will be used for training and development, first-year expansion costs and hiring teachers, especially in younger age groups.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-and-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-stand-with-united-auto-workers-on-strike", "Baldwin and Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Stand with United Auto Workers on Strike", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of colleagues introduced a resolution today in solidarity with 150,000 members of United Auto Workers (UAW) bargaining for a fair contract, with 34,000 currently on strike. Last week, Senator Baldwin stood in solidarity and joined the picket line with striking United Auto Workers Local 75 members at the Stellantis Mopar plant in Milwaukee.\n\nOne of the largest U.S. strikes in the past three decades, autoworkers workers voted to go on strike in September \u2013 calling for a fair share of the record-breaking profits their labor produces as well as cost-of-living adjustments, an end to a two-tier wage system, and restoration of pension benefits. Since then, the strike has expanded to 44 locations across 22 states, including 180 auto workers in Milwaukee and Hudson, Wisconsin.\n\n\"As these big auto companies rake in record profits and their CEOs take home millions, it is high time the dedicated workers who make it all happen get their fair share and are treated with dignity and respect,\" said Senator Baldwin. \"I stand in solidarity with the striking workers as they bargain for fair pay and benefits, and call on the Big Three to negotiate in good faith.\"\n\nU.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led the resolution and other signers include Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT.), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).\n\nRead the full resolution here and below.\n\nRESOLUTION\n\nWhereas the United Auto Workers (referred to in this pre- amble as \u2018\u2018UAW\u2019\u2019) are on strike for better wages, bene- fits, and working conditions at the Big Three automakers (General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford);\n\nWhereas the Big Three automakers have made $21,000,000,000 in profits over the first 6 months of 2023, an increase of 80 percent from the same time period last year;\n\nWhereas the Big Three automakers have made $250,000,000,000 in profits over the past decade in North America;\n\nWhereas the Big Three automakers are providing their Chief Executive Officers with exorbitant compensation pack- ages, while autoworkers continue to fall further and further behind;\n\nWhereas the average wage for an autoworker has decreased by 30 percent over the past 20 years, after adjusting for inflation;\n\nWhereas the Big Three spent $9,000,000,000 last year on stock buybacks and dividends, while the average starting wage at these companies is just $17 an hour;\n\nWhereas many UAW members today cannot afford to buy the cars they make and struggle to afford the basic necessities of life, including groceries, housing, child care, and prescription drugs;\n\nWhereas UAW members are fighting against corporate greed and to finally receive a fair share of the record-breaking profits that their labor has produced, including for cost- of-living adjustments, an end to the 2-tier wage system, and the restoration of pension benefits; and\n\nWhereas, since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) in 1935, it is the clear policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining and protect the fundamental right of workers to seek better working conditions: Now, therefore, be it\n\n1 Resolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n1 (1) stands with the United Auto Workers in\n\n2 their fight against corporate greed;\n\n3 (2) supports every worker\u2019s fundamental right 4 to organize and collectively bargain for better wages,\n\n5 benefits, and working conditions; and\n\n6 (3) calls on the Big Three automakers\u2014Gen\n\n7 eral Motors, Stellantis, and Ford\u2014to negotiate in\n\n8 good faith and offer their workers a fair contract.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-announces-25-million-to-support-wisconsin-agricultural-innovation", "Baldwin Announces $2.5 Million to Support Wisconsin Agricultural Innovation", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that Dairy Dreams LLC in Casco, Wisconsin, will receive more than $2.5 million to help launch the production of organic fertilizers. The investment comes as the low supply and increased expense of fertilizer across the world is contributing to rising food prices and increased hunger. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Fertilizer Product Expansion Program.\n\n\u201cWisconsin\u2019s agriculture community helps feed the world, and as many of them innovate and scale up operations to meet the global demand, I am proud to deliver the resources they need to grow their business and drive our Wisconsin agriculture economy forward,\" said Senator Baldwin.\n\nDairy Dreams will use the funding to offset equipment costs and building improvements associated with launching the production of organic fertilizers, including constructing a nutrient concentration system and a pelleting system on a dairy farm to convert manure to domestically manufactured fertilizer, making it easier for farmers to access organic liquid and pellet fertilizers. The technology will also convert one-third of manure inputs into clean, dischargeable water and is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the hauling and disposal of manure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-urging-president-biden-to-continue-working-to-rescue-american-hostages", "Senator Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Urging President Biden to Continue Working to Rescue American Hostages", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues led by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in urging President Biden to continue working to free American hostages that were taken by Hamas during the terrorist organization\u2019s October 7th attacks on Israel and supporting Israel\u2019s efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas. According to Israeli authorities, up to 199 total hostages, including Americans, are being held in Gaza by Hamas.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators wrote, \u201cWe appreciate that you have sent the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs to Israel to assist in the recovery of the hostages, and we urge you to do everything in your power to secure their safe release. Hamas has already killed 30 Americans and likely injured many more\u2026The terrorists responsible for these atrocities hide behind human shields while they threaten to livestream the execution of hostages.\n\n\u201cHamas has also reportedly demanded the mass release of prisoners in exchange for freeing its hostages and could use the hostages to push for a ceasefire. With several U.S. citizens still missing in the aftermath of the terror group\u2019s brutal attack, we urge you to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency.\n\n\u201cAs a result, we urge the United States to continue supporting Israel\u2019s urgent efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas, provide the necessary resources for Israel\u2019s defense, and continue offering whatever support necessary to immediately and safely rescue kidnapped Americans, with particular attention to those who require urgent medical care.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to encourage our allies and partners in the region to place pressure on Hamas to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to the hostages while the United States and Israel work to secure their release.\u201d\n\nFull text of this letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-joins-letter-to-biden-administration-on-improper-placement-of-acting-sec-of-labor-julie-su-in-presidential-succession", "Sen. Johnson Joins Letter to Biden Administration on Improper Placement of Acting Sec. of Labor Julie Su in Presidential Succession", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and 28 of their Republican Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden demanding clarification regarding the Biden Administration\u2019s apparent decision to improperly place Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, into the presidential line of succession. The letter calls on the President to withdraw Su\u2019s nomination and put forward a nominee who can garner enough support to be confirmed to the position of Secretary of Labor.\n\nAlthough Ms. Su has failed to receive Senate confirmation and has bipartisan opposition to her nomination, the Biden Administration is choosing to keep her in place as Acting Secretary of Labor indefinitely and is listing her on the White House website as a member of the Cabinet \u201cin order of succession to the presidency.\u201d\n\nThe letter expresses that, pursuant to Article II of the Constitution, Congress has the authority to set the presidential line of succession beyond the Vice President \u2013 a power that it exercised with passage of the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. This Act further states that a Cabinet member is eligible to assume the presidency only if they are an officer \u201cappointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.\u201d\n\nSens. Johnson and Britt are joined in this letter by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), and Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\nRead more about the senators\u2019 October 18, 2023 letter in FOX News.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-joins-colleagues-in-resolution-supporting-israel", "Sen. Johnson Joins Colleagues in Resolution Supporting Israel", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, (R-Wis.) joined a bipartisan resolution, led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho.) and Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.), condemning Hamas and reinforcing the United States\u2019 commitment to Israel\u2019s security. The resolution secured the support of nearly all members of the U.S. Senate.\n\nSens. Johnson, Risch, and Cardin are joined on the resolution by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).\n\nFull text of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-calls-for-replenishment-of-iron-dome-and-us-to-stand-ready-to-provide-additional-munitions-to-israel", "Baldwin Calls for Replenishment of Iron Dome and U.S. to Stand Ready to Provide Additional Munitions to Israel", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of colleagues called on President Biden to take quick action to ensure Israel has the munitions it needs, including Iron Dome interceptors. The senators noted that the conflict could expand and that Israel may need additional munitions. The senators urged the Department of Defense to assess its stockpiles of munitions; to stand ready to coordinate ammunitions transfers to Israel; and to submit to Congress requests for any necessary supplemental assistance packages.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful your Administration has already granted all of Israel\u2019s requests for military hardware and that you authorized additional intelligence sharing with the Israeli military,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cHowever, as Israel braces for a longer conflict, one that could expand to additional fronts, we urge the Administration to continue to cooperate with Israel on its military, intelligence, and humanitarian needs. Thus far, Israel has requested munitions and Iron Dome interceptors. It may soon need additional types of munitions, personal protective equipment, assistance to rebuild communities, and/or intelligence regarding Iranian cooperation with Hamas and its regional proxies.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe ask that the Department of Defense holistically assess its stockpiles of these defense articles\u2014especially Iron Dome interceptors-- so that it can quickly transfer these munitions to Israel, upon request. We further urge the Department of Defense to coordinate ammunition transfers with allies, especially those that have joined American calls of support for Israel. Finally, we urge the Administration to quickly evaluate these stockpiles, allied commitments, and near-term Israeli needs and submit to Congress any necessary supplemental assistance packages so that Congress may act quickly to get Israel the support it needs during this crisis,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and co-signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nThank you for your commitment to Israel as it responds to Hamas\u2019 October 7 invasion. We are grateful that you have updated the Department of Defense\u2019s force posture in the region to deter action from Iran or its proxies. We join your condemnation of Hamas\u2019 detestable attacks and hostage taking, and urge quick action to ensure Israel has the munitions and supplies it needs to defend itself and protect civilians.\n\nIsrael is countering Hamas, dismantling its command structure, and recovering hostages. Israel is successfully expelling Hamas terrorists that infiltrated parts of southern Israel. Israel has displayed remarkable resilience and ability in responding to thousands of Hamas\u2019 rockets and its initial assault. We are grateful your Administration has already granted all of Israel\u2019s requests for military hardware and that you authorized additional intelligence sharing with the Israeli military.\n\nHowever, as Israel braces for a longer conflict, one that could expand to additional fronts, we urge the Administration to continue to cooperate with Israel on its military, intelligence, and humanitarian needs. Thus far, Israel has requested munitions and Iron Dome interceptors. It may soon need additional types of munitions, personal protective equipment, assistance to rebuild communities, and/or intelligence regarding Iranian cooperation with Hamas and its regional proxies.\n\nWe ask that the Department of Defense holistically assess its stockpiles of these defense articles \u2014 especially Iron Dome interceptors \u2014 so that it can quickly transfer these munitions to Israel, upon request. We further urge the Department of Defense to coordinate ammunition transfers with allies, especially those that have joined American calls of support for Israel. Finally, we urge the Administration to quickly evaluate these stockpiles, allied commitments, and near-term Israeli needs and submit to Congress any necessary supplemental assistance packages so that Congress may act quickly to get Israel the support it needs during this crisis.\n\nThank you for your consideration of these requests and for your steadfast support of Israel.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-and-bipartisan-group-of-senators-pushing-biden-administration-to-officially-freeze-iranian-assets", "Baldwin and Bipartisan Group of Senators Pushing Biden Administration to Officially Freeze Iranian Assets", "2023-10-13", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of senators are urging Secretary of State Blinken to make it the official policy of the United States to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in the wake of Hamas\u2019s deadly terrorist attacks on Israel. In September of this year, the State Department announced its intention to release these assets to Iran as part of a deal that led to the release of imprisoned Americans. However, given Iran\u2019s long-standing material and financial support for Hamas, the senators are pushing the Administration to officially freeze these assets.\n\n\u201cGiven Iran\u2019s history of supporting acts of terrorism through Hamas, the United States must do everything in its power in the wake of this brutal attack to ensure that Iran is not in a position to continue funding Hamas\u2019 terrorist activities in Israel and throughout the Middle East,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cAs you know, the State Department\u2019s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism found that Hamas received weapons systems and other direct support from Iran, allowing the group to carry out deadly attacks against Israel. In 2022, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, stated publicly that the terrorist organization had received $70 million in assistance from Iran that year, and that it used the money to build rockets.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess Iran\u2019s role in the October 7 terrorist attacks, it is clear that Iran\u2019s support for Hamas has sustained the terrorist group, ensuring that Hamas had the means to carry out their abhorrent attack on Israel.\u201d the senators continued. \u201cWe therefore strongly urge you to make it official U.S. policy to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, and continue to hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including direct support of Hamas.\u201d\n\nSenators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) led the effort and other signers included Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), James Lankford (R-OK), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Todd Young (R-IN), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe write to you in light of Hamas\u2019 violent and horrific terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7 which killed over a thousand innocent civilians, including American citizens. Given Iran\u2019s history of supporting acts of terrorism through Hamas, the United States must do everything in its power in the wake of this brutal attack to ensure that Iran is not in a position to continue funding Hamas\u2019 terrorist activities in Israel and throughout the Middle East. While we understand that there are reports of an agreement with Qatar to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets, we urge you to make this decision official U.S. policy and continue your efforts to limit Iran\u2019s ability to provide support to Hamas.\n\nIran, which is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and has been designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism since 1984, has provided material and financial support to Hamas and is a strong supporter of its violent activities in the region. As you know, the State Department\u2019s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism found that Hamas received weapons systems and other direct support from Iran, allowing the group to carry out deadly attacks against Israel. In 2022, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, stated publicly that the terrorist organization had received $70 million in assistance from Iran that year, and that it used the money to build rockets.\n\nWhile the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess Iran\u2019s role in the October 7 terrorist attacks, it is clear that Iran\u2019s support for Hamas has sustained the terrorist group, ensuring that Hamas had the means to carry out their abhorrent attack on Israel. Iran has been unrelenting in its backing of terrorist groups in an effort to expand its malign influence in the Middle East.\n\nWe therefore strongly urge you to make it official U.S. policy to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, and continue to hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including direct support of Hamas. We look forward to working with you to assist Israel in its time of need and ensure it has the resources and tools needed to defend itself against Iranian-sponsored terrorism. Thank you for your consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-highlights-expanding-access-to-child-care-in-platteville-stands-with-workers-in-fenimore", "Senator Baldwin Highlights Expanding Access to Child Care in Platteville, Stands with Workers in Fenimore", "2023-10-13", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) visited with local stakeholders in Platteville to highlight the $2.5 million she secured for Southwest Health to construct a new childcare center. Senator Baldwin also met with Energizer employees in Fenimore who will be impacted by the closure of the local Energizer plant. The closure comes after a 2018 Energizer-Spectrum Brands merger, which Senator Baldwin has heavily scrutinized.\n\n\u201cI hear from families across Wisconsin who are struggling to find affordable childcare options in their area, keeping them from joining the workforce, stopping kids from getting a strong start, and holding businesses back who need workers,\u201d said Senator Tammy Baldwin. \u201cI was proud to secure resources to expand access to childcare in southwest Wisconsin, get more parents back to work, and support our Wisconsin economy.\u201d\n\nThe resources Senator Baldwin secured will help Southwest Health build its new facility that plans to accommodate 120 children. Over half of Wisconsin is in a childcare desert, meaning for every open childcare slot available in a community, three or more children need it. Wisconsin\u2019s economy loses an estimated $1.1 billion annually from infant-toddler childcare challenges.\n\nSenator Baldwin also visited with Energizer Employees and members of the Teamsters Local 695 to hear about the impact of Energizer closing its Fennimore plant. Senator Baldwin has scrutinized Energizer\u2019s 2018 acquisition of Rayovac, which led to price hikes for consumers and put hundreds of Wisconsin jobs at risk.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 478, "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": "Senate", "p1": "WI", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 340, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 138, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 478, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WI&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "WI", "label": "WI", "count": 478, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 478, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-10-13,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ebaldwin~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-baldwin-highlights-expanding-access-to-child-care-in-platteville-stands-with-workers-in-fenimore", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=WI&year=2023&_next=2023-10-13%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ebaldwin~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-baldwin-highlights-expanding-access-to-child-care-in-platteville-stands-with-workers-in-fenimore&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 254.9959965981543, "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"}