{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"WI\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5106", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Secures $23,863,352 For Local Projects in Final Government Funding Package", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Secures $23,863,352 For Local Projects in Final Government Funding Package\n\nIn response, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cMilwaukee has many incredible organizations and initiatives that are devoted to uplifting our residents, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to support to use Congress\u2019 power of the purse to help support their important missions with federal funding. The community projects included in this omnibus are direct investments in Milwaukee, addressing needs from increasing mental health services to supporting low-income students to building on our efforts to secure clean water. I am looking forward to witnessing firsthand how these federal funds will make a difference in the lives of my constituents,\u201d said Congresswoman Moore.\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Moore is a champion for the residents of her district, and her work has very positive impacts on our city,\u201d Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. \u201cHer efforts on the omnibus funding bill reflect the commitment she has to Milwaukee.\u201d\n\n\u201cYet again, Milwaukee County residents have a champion for change, equity and community in Congresswoman Moore,\u201d said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. \u201cFederal funding for transit, housing and wellness projects in Milwaukee County will serve as critical investments in building a greater community for all residents, thanks to the Congresswoman\u2019s continued advocacy.\u201d\n\nRep. Moore championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Wisconsin\u2019s 4th District residents. These include:\n\n$150,000 for Capita Productions Inc. to engage more individuals, including youth, in their theatrical productions\n\n$3,452,972 for the City of Milwaukee for a Clean Water Initiative to help support the replacement of outdated equipment at the Howard Avenue Water Treatment Plant and the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility. Funding would also be used to identify solutions for flooding at the General Mitchell airport during some storm events that negatively affect operations for the Wisconsin Air National Guard\u2019s 128th Air Refueling Wing.\n\n$3,850,000 for Milwaukee County Transit to purchase new buses.\n\n$750,000 for the Community Wellness Center at the City of Milwaukee's Westlawn Gardens Choice Neighborhood Project.\n\n$2,350,000 for the Concordia 27 Consortium Initiative to build a new comprehensive community center that would provide access to food, health and wellness education, job training, and other benefits in an area of the city struggling with high poverty and food insecurity rates. Funding would also be used to support a youth summit and healing and trauma services for adult victims of sexual abuse.\n\n$1,000,000 for the Emergency Home Repair and Improving Accessibility Initiative and would be used to fund housing accessibility modifications for individuals who struggle with limited physical mobility, emergency home repairs to address and/or remove urgent health and safety hazards, and critical housing repairs of low-income Milwaukee homeowners, including seniors who are unable to otherwise afford them.\n\n$750,000 for the LISC-Milwaukee's Predevelopment Loans for Affordable Housing Program to help support affordable housing and commercial corridor redevelopment projects in low-income communities.\n\n$250,000 for the Local 212 MATC Believe in Students FAST Fund provide emergency assistance to additional l0w-income students, helping them stay enrolled and graduate.\n\n$799,500 for the Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI for college readiness and STEM pipeline services.\n\n$2,983,000 to help four local Community Health Centers that serve about 80,000 patients combined annually to support facility improvements that promote patient and staff safety and improve accessibility.\n\n$241,250 for the Milwaukee Public Library Ready to Read (RTR) program which prepares children for success in school.\n\n$290,000 for the Muslim Community and Health Center, Milwaukee, WI to expand mental health services, including outreach and equipment\n\n$500,000 to build a new North Shore Library to serve the four suburban Milwaukee County communities of Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale and River Hills\n\n$4,000,000 for the City of Glendale to Reconstruct Silver Spring Drive from 27th Street to the Milwaukee River\n\n$2,496,630 for the Ten Mile Park in the Village of Brown Deer. The project will revitalize a narrow one-acre piece of property that is a blighted former lumber storage yard and help make it a vibrant attraction including new public art, restrooms, public information kiosks and recreational amenities that do not currently exist.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5107", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Omnibus Package With Key Investments", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Following House passage of the final 2023 appropriations government funding package, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThough the omnibus is imperfect, communities across the country and in Milwaukee will reap the benefits of federal investments in housing, health care, nutrition assistance, our veterans, mental health services, energy assistance, and more.\n\nA critical issue in Milwaukee is the crisis of domestic violence, and I have made it my priority to secure resources to prevent this violence and help survivors and their children, which is why this bill\u2019s inclusion of $700 million for the Department of Justice\u2019s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, the highest level of funding ever for these programs, is crucial.\n\nMy lived experiences mean that I can now support the programs which helped me when I was a poor, single teenage mother. Because of the caring assistance of a home visiting nurse, I learned how to change my baby girl\u2019s diaper and other important parenting skills, so I am thrilled that this bill carries a bipartisan five-year reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program with increased levels of funding that will help Wisconsin and other states serve more families.\n\nAs a Congresswoman, I am so pleased to see increased funding for this critical program for five years. I wouldn\u2019t serve in Congress without TRIO. As a TRIO alum and co-chair of the TRIO Caucus, I am so excited to have fought for and secured a $54 million increase in funding, helping more low-income and first-generation students access the support they need to succeed.\n\nI am also proud that my legislation to remove penalties for survivors who dip into their retirement funds to build a new life for themselves was included in this package. I was honored to have the opportunity to use my seat on the Ways and Means Committee to change our retirement policies to support survivors.\n\nI am so pleased that this omnibus includes $6 billion in WIC funding, which is the amount I called for in a bipartisan letter with Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n (PR). The omnibus also includes the Pregnant Women Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act that will help support working mothers and help ensure they are protected and supported in the workplace.\n\nThis legislation also secures much-needed stability for 40 million children by making reforms that ensure children stay covered in CHIP and Medicaid for up to 12 months \u2013 even if their parents\u2019 income changes.\n\nThis package will make the summer EBT program permanent, ensuring that families with children eligible for reduced or free school meals receive a $40 allowance each month, for each child. These funds will help fight food insecurity when children are out of school \u2013 often challenging months for our most vulnerable children. This will change lives. Another vital program, especially for my constituents during Wisconsin\u2019s winter months is the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). That\u2019s why I have consistently led efforts calling for robust federal funding. These calls were answered, as LIHEAP is set to receive $5 billion in funding.\n\nThe Great Lakes is a recreational, economic, and environmental good in our region that must be protected. The Great Lakes Authority Act, my legislation with Rep. Marcy Kaptur that\u2019s included in the omnibus package, would create a federal commission to help coordinate and support regional efforts to support economic growth, poverty reduction, broadband expansion, clean energy production and other infrastructure needs. The bill also again increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has provided over $2 billion to restore and protect the Great Lakes since it was created by the Obama Administration.\n\nEven though this omnibus includes key priorities that will benefit my constituents, I am very disappointed there was no inclusion of the enhanced Child Tax Credit. This credit was incredibly effective policy: infusing billions into local economies while reducing child poverty, hunger, and hardship for families. And I am also disappointed at the absence of commonsense immigration proposals to provide permanent protections for DACA recipients and other vulnerable immigrants in the face of misguided opposition from the other side of the aisle.\n\nThis legislation also lacks funding I sought to help fund more doulas to address the maternal mortality crisis in our communities and my proposal to secure a childcare allowance for trade-impacted workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which could help those who are parents advance into good-paying jobs.\n\nHowever, this doesn\u2019t mean the end, I will continue championing these family-supporting efforts in the new Congress.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-s-15-earmarks-to-be-signed-by-potus", "Pocan\u2019s 15 Earmarks To Be Signed by POTUS", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, celebrated the passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriation legislation. This $1.7 trillion piece of legislation will fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year and is expected to be signed by President Biden as soon as today.\n\n\"Today is a great day for Wisconsin. This funding legislation provides a major investment in our schools, healthcare, workers, and infrastructure,\" said Congressman Pocan. \"I'm pleased that 15 Community Project Funding awards for Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District will become law. These projects will reach every corner of the district and I look forward to seeing the impact of these projects for years to come.\"\n\nThe FY23 Appropriations Bill will include a number of provisions benefitting Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District, including:\n\n$4 million for the Salvation Army of Dane County to construct a new shelter facility for women and families.\n\n$3.2 million for the City of Sun Prairie to construct a solar radiation water pollution control facility, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of water pollution control operations.\n\n$2 million for the Wisconsin River Recreational Bridge, a joint project between Dane and Sauk Counties that will connect bikers and pedestrians to the Great Sauk Trail.\n\n$1.2 million for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County to support the development of the new McKenzie Regional Workforce Center.\n\n$1 million for the Village of New Glarus to construct a new water tower.\n\n$1 million for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to upgrade the University's aging helium plant, securing infrastructure needed by federal researchers on campus performing work funded by the NIH, Dept. of Energy, NSF, Dept. of Agriculture, and more.\n\n$1 million for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to enable the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery to expand student-led research for new antibiotics and offer additional high-quality STEM opportunities.\n\n$700,000 for Edgerton Community Outreach, Inc. to renovate 210/212 W. Fulton St. and create six units of affordable housing and a home for veterans' group meetings, senior programming, and public events.\n\n$560,000 for the City of Reedsburg toward the construction of a 52,000 square-foot fieldhouse for local residents and to host regional athletic tournaments benefiting the local economy.\n\n$500,000 for the City of Baraboo to construct an ADA-compliant ramp with railing and lighting between Water Street and the Oak Street Overlook in order to better connect downtown Baraboo with the Riverwalk/Ice Age Trail.\n\n$250,000 for the Dick Wagner Memorial Grant which will be awarded to Our Lives Media to archive documents and tell the story of the nation's first gay rights law which was passed in Wisconsin in 1982 (AB70).\n\n$250,000 for the Jewish Social Services of Madison to assist with refugee resettlement activities.\n\n$250,000 for the Historic Driver Opera House Restoration in Darlington to support the installation of a heating and cooling system and an ADA-accessible elevator and restrooms.\n\n$190,000 for SWCAP Head Start in Dodgeville to build an addition on the existing Head Start building.\n\n$100,000 for the Mineral Point Opera House Historic Marquee Replacement, subject to further approval from the National Park Service with respect to work on historic structures.\n\nThe bill also sends an additional $45 billion to Ukraine to help its fight for democracy following President Zelenskyy's speech to Congress Wednesday night.\n\nAdditionally, numerous increases in funding for vital federal programs were included, including:\n\n$28.5 billion for Child Nutrition Programs ($1.66 billion increase)\n\n$3.5 billion for the Food and Drug Administration ($226 million increase)\n\n$11.2 billion for the Dept. of Commerce ($1.3 billion increase)\n\n$9.54 billion for the National Science Foundation ($700.2 million increase)\n\n$3.5 billion for the Dept. of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ($260 million increase)\n\n$152 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission ($13.5 million increase)\n\n$1.2 billion for the Small Business Administration ($188 million increase)\n\n$25.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency ($1.5 billion increase)\n\n$3.5 billion for the National Park Service ($210 million increase)\n\n$10.1 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency ($576 million increase)\n\n$207 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities ($27 million increase)\n\n$13.8 billion for the Department of Labor ($652 million increase)\n\n$10.5 billion for the Employment and Training Administration ($545 million increase)\n\n$299 billion for the National Labor Relations Board ($25 million increase)\n\n$120.7 billion for the Dept. of Health and Human Services ($9.9 billion increase)\n\n$47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health ($2.5 billion increase)\n\n$9.2 billion for the CDC ($760 million increase)\n\n$7.3 billion for the National Cancer Institute ($408 million increase)\n\n$3.7 billion for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Research ($226 million increase)\n\n$12 billion for Head Start ($960 million increase)\n\n$4 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ($200 million increase)\n\n$79.6 billion for the Dept. of Education ($3.2 billion increase)\n\n$36 million for the Special Olympics ($5 million increase)\n\n$134.7 billion for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs ($22.5 billion increase)\n\n$2.1 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development ($108.8 million increase)\n\n$58.2 billion for the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development ($4.5 billion increase)\n\nAs a member of the Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for drafting all federal funding legislation, Rep. Pocan looks forward to Wisconsin \u2013 and Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District \u2013 receiving the funding it needs and deserves.\n\nA full summary of the bill can be found here, and a summary of the $45 billion in aid for Ukraine also included in the bill can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-calls-for-accountability-from-fcc-on-broadband-mapping-and-joins-pscs-call-for-wisconsinites-to-badger-the-fcc", "Senator Baldwin Calls for Accountability from FCC on Broadband Mapping & Joins PSC\u2019s Call for Wisconsinites to \u201cBadger the FCC\u201d", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Wis.) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to ensure the FCC\u2019s new national broadband maps satisfy the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provide a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the nation. The FCC\u2019s new map will help determine funding allocations under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program \u2013 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\u2019s historic investment to close Wisconsin\u2019s digital divide.\n\n\u201cWe have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cTo ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cBut these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed.\u201d\n\nAccurate maps are necessary to the success of the BEAD program, which is why the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin is encouraging Wisconsinites to \u201cBadger the FCC\u201d and check the accuracy of the FCC\u2019s new map. View the map at BroadbandMap.FCC.gov and visit the FCC\u2019s consumer challenge website to learn more.\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). Joining Senators Baldwin, Capito and Rosen in signing the letter were Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).\n\nTo ensure accountability and accuracy, the senators\u2019 letter asks the FCC to:\n\nWork with stakeholders to make sure that all serviceable locations are represented on the map.\n\nUpdate the Fabric more than twice each year.\n\nMake sure that providers are held accountable for their reports if they are found to have overreported coverage.\n\nEnsure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairwoman Rosenworcel,\n\nWe write today to highlight important next steps in ensuring that the national broadband map being developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ultimately satisfies the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provides a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the country.\n\nAs an initial matter, we appreciate the efforts of you, your colleagues on the FCC, and the FCC staff in seeking to develop a nationwide Fabric that identifies serviceable locations and in amassing data detailing the level of broadband service available to each of them. We appreciate that this has involved the creation of a new means of capturing and presenting such data, and we are pleased that the public can now view a preliminary version of the map reflecting initial location estimates and initial service coverage reports from providers.\n\nBut for all of the work done to date, as you and others have noted on multiple occasions, this is an \u201citerative\u201d process. We have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers. To ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner.\n\nAccountability and accuracy must be paramount moving forward. A more granular map will be of little use if there is little confidence in the results and if providers are not accountable for reporting accurately. We encourage you therefore to work with stakeholders of all kinds to make sure that all serviceable locations are in fact represented on the map, such as by making it relatively simple for adjustments to be made to the Fabric. We also recommend that the Fabric be updated more than twice each year and that such updates, especially when adding new locations, also enable the identification of the locations as served or not.\n\nSimilarly, we encourage you to make sure that providers are accountable for their reports \u2013 not just after the fact if they are found to have overreported coverage, but on the front end even prior to the map being finalized. This is especially important precisely because choices as to how billions of broadband dollars will be spent or not will turn on these claims. We therefore ask, for example, that you not allow a provider to claim coverage at locations where challengers can demonstrate they have tried to request service and been told the service is unavailable or cannot be delivered within 10 business days. Likewise, if a challenger submits robust testing data or publicly available coverage data indicating that a provider\u2019s signals cannot in fact be received at a given location as promised, this should disqualify the provider from claiming to serve that location. In addition, the Commission should ensure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available.\n\nWe recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data. But these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed.\n\nThank you again for your work thus far in developing the map and for your attention to this letter. We look forward to continuing to work with you to promote accountability on the part of reporting providers and to ensure that we are working from a map that is both granular and accurate in making responsible decisions about distributing valuable taxpayer resources for broadband deployment.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-secures-over-255-million-for-wisconsin-in-senate-appropriations-legislation", "Senator Baldwin Secures Over $255 Million for Wisconsin in Senate Appropriations Legislation", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "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, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that more than $255.7 million in congressionally directed spending for Wisconsin projects she supported has been included in the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. Senator Baldwin has spent the last year working to fund the following projects on behalf of public and nonprofit entities across Wisconsin.\n\n\u201cFor the second year in a row, I\u2019m proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to deliver direct support from Washington to Wisconsin,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThese community driven projects will reach every corner of Wisconsin, with critical investments for roads, bridges and water infrastructure, workforce development, access to health and child care, improvements for emergency services, and so much more. By working with folks from across Wisconsin, I am proud to deliver federal support that responds to the unique needs of so many different communities.\u201d\n\nStatewide\n\nWisconsin Department of Workforce Development: $5,000,000 to create innovative career pathways in educational sectors to attract and retain more diverse talent and increase affordable access to childcare by expanding and enhancing early childhood education apprenticeship programming.\n\nWisconsin Department of Health Services: $3,140,000 in funding to support Wisconsin\u2019s implementation of the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Senator Baldwin introduced the legislation to create the nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which launched over the summer.\n\nWisconsin Technology Council: $115,000 to expand entrepreneurial reach across all regions and demographics of Wisconsin, including through regional networking and educational programming workshops for would-be entrepreneurs, with a special focus on rural communities, women and minorities.\n\nSoutheastern Wisconsin\n\nMilwaukee County: $5,000,000 to rehabilitate foreclosed properties and prioritize the sale to first-time homebuyers. This project will give these households an opportunity to become homeowners and will support the County\u2019s vision on racial equity.\n\nMilwaukee County: $2,000,000 to partner with a local opioid treatment provider to provide evidence-based, direct treatment services to underserved areas severely impacted by opioid use/abuse and overdoses within Milwaukee County via a mobile unit.\n\nMilwaukee County: $3,850,000 to purchase buses as part of the County\u2019s cleaner buses initiative and to support public transportation.\n\nCity of Milwaukee \u2013 Milwaukee Police Department: $6,000,000 to support the Milwaukee Police Department\u2019s initiative to update its current radio system infrastructure, which is reaching the end of its manufacturer-supported lifecycle. The update will improve radio interoperability with surrounding cities and counties, which is critical to responding to crime and collaborating across southeastern Wisconsin.\n\nCity of Milwaukee: $3,452,972 for the City of Milwaukee\u2019s Clean Water Initiative, in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Wisconsin National Guard, to replace outdated water infrastructure and remove pollutants.\n\nCity of Milwaukee: $750,000 for a community wellness center at the City of Milwaukee\u2019s Westlawn Gardens Choice Neighborhood Project.\n\nMilwaukee Health Services: $2,983,000 to support infrastructure investments that promote patient and staff safety, accessibility and wellness at federally-qualified health centers in Milwaukee.\n\nNear West Side Partners: $2,350,000 for the Concordia 27 Consortium Initiative to build a new comprehensive community center in Milwaukee that will provide access to food, health and wellness education, job training, and other benefits in an area of the city struggling with high poverty and food insecurity rates. Funding will also be used to support a youth summit and healing and trauma services for adult victims of sexual abuse.\n\nMilwaukee Area Technical College: $310,000 to hire bilingual welding faculty to expand access to welding training and offer scholarships to economically disadvantaged students to gain access to welding careers.\n\nMarquette University: $799,500 for college readiness and STEM pipeline services.\n\nLocal Initiatives Support Corporation Milwaukee: $750,000 for predevelopment loans for affordable housing.\n\nWRTP Big Step: $1,500,000 for a skilled trades and manufacturing lab that will serve youth and adults in training, support and placement in family-sustaining wage careers.\n\nGerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center: $900,000 to support the build out of existing facility space within the Ignace Health Center in Milwaukee to accommodate increased patient demand for behavioral and physical health care, including to add additional child and family therapist offices, an occupational therapist office, speech pathologist office, additional clinical care areas, and behavioral health programming space.\n\nCity of Kenosha: $3,000,000 for a solar panel project at the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. The City of Kenosha is revitalizing a closed auto manufacturing facility and plans to ensure the entire site has as much sustainable and renewable energy as possible, including solar streetlights and solar lighting on the first plaza. As part of the City\u2019s commitment to maximizing renewable and sustainable energy use on the site, their plan includes utilizing solar energy for street, pedestrian and bike path lighting\n\nCity of Racine: $1,235,000 for a solar project to offset EV bus charging with renewable energy generated on-site.\n\nCity of Burlington: $880,000 for a new fire truck for City of Burlington Fire Department.\n\nCentral Wisconsin\n\nMarshfield Agricultural Research Station Dairy Facilities: $6,000,000 for expansion of the facilities at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station in Marathon County currently used by UW-Madison and USDA researchers. This project will finish the original station plan which remains incomplete by constructing permanent office space, restrooms, facilities for 24-hour animal studies, and indoor meeting space for stakeholders and community groups.\n\nCity of Wausau: $1,667,000 to investigate, assess and implement PFAS treatment or alternative drinking water options for Wausau residents.\n\nRib Mountain Sanitary District: $1,667,000 for construction of a water treatment plant to obtain safe drinking water by removing PFAS, present in municipal supply wells.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area: $500,000 for construction of a new building in Ripon offering affordable childcare and skilled trades employment training.\n\nBrandon Public Library: $473,000 to expand the current library space, which currently houses the Brandon Historical Society and museum, and make the building handicapped accessible.\n\nAdams County Fire District: $34,000 for a backup generator to ensure that citizens can continue to receive protections and services provided by the Fire District during power outages. It will be able to maintain heat and lights for the station and radio communications with emergency responding crews.\n\nSouth Central Wisconsin\n\nCity of Janesville: $5,000,000 in funding for the Woodman\u2019s Community Center, which will create a space for community members of all ages and demographics to participate in a greater range of social, recreational and physical activities and build community resiliency through improved physical, social and mental health outcomes. The WCC will serve as a public facility, conference and event venue, and tourism hub.\n\nMemorial Hospital of Lafayette County: $5,000,000 for construction of a new hospital facility.\n\nSalvation Army of Dane County: $4,000,000 to construct a new shelter facility for women and families.\n\nCity of Sun Prairie: $3,200,000 to construct a solar radiation water pollution control facility, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of water pollution control operations.\n\nSouthwest Health: $2,585,000 for two new high-quality childcare centers in Platteville and Richland Center.\n\nLatino Academy of Workforce Development: $2,000,000 in funding to support the Latino Academy\u2019s education and workforce training model to grow Wisconsin\u2019s truck driver workforce.\n\nCity of Madison: $1,500,000 for a solar project at the Truax Park Apartments complex on the city\u2019s northeast side, serving low-income residents. The City is seeking to install a roof-mounted system of solar panels for the benefit of tenants and the neighboring East Madison Community Center in order to lower utility costs.\n\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $1,000,000 to enable the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery to expand student-led research for new antibiotics and offer additional high-quality STEM opportunities.\n\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $1,000,000 to upgrade the University\u2019s aging helium plant, securing infrastructure needed by federal researchers on campus performing work funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Department of Agriculture, and others.\n\nVillage of Oregon \u2013 Oregon Public Library: $1,000,000 to build a new library to provide much-needed meeting space including a community room, conference room and study rooms.\n\nVillage of New Glarus: $1,000,000 to construct a new water tower for the Village of New Glarus.\n\nCity of Monroe: $825,000 to replace a fire truck to better serve and protect the city and surrounding areas.\n\nCity of Baraboo: $500,000 for construction of the Wisconsin Riverwalk and Oak Street Overlook.\n\nWestern Wisconsin\n\nArmy Corps of Engineers (Upper Mississippi River/NESP): $49,300,000 for implementation of the Navigation and Environmental Sustainability Program, which aims to improve the capacity and efficiency of the navigation system through updated lock and dam infrastructure and smaller-scale infrastructure designed to further improve the advantages of towboat and barge transportation on the Mississippi River.\n\nFort McCoy \u2013 Enlisted Barracks: $38,000,000 for Enlisted barracks at Ft. McCoy to provide a permanently constructed barracks building to house 400 Soldiers during annual training and mobilization.\n\nFort McCoy \u2013 Officer Barracks: $31,000,000 for Officer barracks at Ft. McCoy to provide a permanently constructed barracks building to house 160 Soldiers during annual training or mobilization.\n\nCity of Prairie du Chien: $4,950,000 for construction of a new Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center that will house the Prairie du Chien Police Department, Prairie du Chien Fire Department, and local EMS.\n\nCity of Viroqua: $5,250,000 to design and construct a new fire station to replace the current facility to serve as the sole base of operations for the Viroqua Fire Department. The Department provides traditional fire services, public safety services, and emergency medical response to the City of Viroqua as well as the Townships of Viroqua, Franklin, and Jefferson.\n\nCity of Viroqua: $1,223,400 for projects to support the resiliency and expanded capacity of sewer infrastructure supporting businesses, residents, and future growth\u2014including at the new Viroqua Business Park.\n\nSt. Croix Valley Food Bank: $4,319,000 for construction of a new food bank serving Western Wisconsin that will allow the organization to not only accept more fresh and healthy food, it will allow them to receive, store and distribute food to all counties in the service region of St. Croix, Pierce, Polk and Burnett Counties.\n\nVillage of Viola: $1,751,115 for construction for commercial and residential development outside the floodplain to advance Viola\u2019s economic recovery plan.\n\nCity of Eau Claire: $1,666,000 in funding for a PFAS remediation project to provide safe drinking water to residents.\n\nTown of Campbell: $1,666,000 in funding to support a new water utility system due to PFAS contamination in private drinking water wells.\n\nGunderson Tri-County Hospital: $1,000,000 to support the hospital\u2019s solar array upgrade and renovation in Whitehall, WI.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley: $1,000,000 to develop a Teen Program Center.\n\nAdventHealth Durand: $916,000 to expand and modernize the ambulance bay at AdventHealth Durand to enhance patient safety, accommodate the larger modern ambulances operated by local municipalities, provide enhanced isolation for decontamination and hazardous waste cleanup and additional space for community services.\n\nRiverwood Nature Center: $950,000 for the establishment of a nature center, providing much needed community facilities, creating jobs and economic development in a rural area of western Wisconsin serving St. Croix and Polk Counties. It will provide a Visitor and Interpretive Center and a Youth & Senior Activity Center, as well as an Environmental Learning Center and additional classroom spaces.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of Barron County: $500,000 for construction of a new building in Rice Lake that will include community spaces and allow for continued programming on leadership, healthy lifestyles, the arts, fitness, and education and career.\n\nFamily and Children\u2019s Center Wisconsin: $450,000 to expand behavioral health services, including outreach, education, equipment and technology in La Crosse.\n\nNorth Eastern Wisconsin\n\nSturgeon Bay Historical Society: $3,300,000 for an agricultural museum and community gathering space at the Door County Granary. A rehabilitated Granary will further transform Sturgeon Bay\u2019s waterfront.\n\nTown of Peshtigo: $1,667,000 in funding to support installation of a new water line to provide residents living with PFAS contamination safe drinking water.\n\nCollege of Menominee Nation: $1,425,000 for purchase, renovation, and service re-design of an administrative office building in the Neopit community on the Menominee Indian Reservation. This project is essential to begin to bring more direct educational services, economic and entrepreneurial support, workforce development, and other community outreach services to an underserved area of the reservation.\n\nMenominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin: $1,326,000 to construct a new Menominee Tribal Clinic, as health needs of the community have outgrown capacity of the current facility.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of Oshkosh: $1,000,000 towards reconstruction of a new community center, which will include additional classrooms and outside green space for the use of over 1,000 children each year for the county\u2019s largest non-profit youth serving agency. The new construction will address the economic impact for the county at large by bringing as many low-income serving agencies together to work in the same facility to improve the upward mobility for low-income people. By combining services in one location, we will work to help those in poverty to increase their self-sufficiency.\n\nSister Bay & Liberty Grove Fire Department: $900,000 for a new fire apparatus for this volunteer fire department.\n\nArmy Corps of Engineers (Menominee River Deepening): $600,000 to continue a feasibility study of infrastructure improvements to Menominee Harbor in Marinette, WI. This project will evaluate potential improvements important to the economic future of the region. The infrastructure improvements will benefit multiple harbor users.\n\nLakes Country Public Library: $500,000 to expand the library in Lakewood, WI and upgrade technology to allow patrons access to fast, reliable, free broadband service.\n\nBrown County: $100,000 in funding to support mental health outreach by creating additional staffing capacity to conduct help underserved populations within the county access behavioral health services.\n\nNorthern Wisconsin\n\nWisconsin Department of Transportation: $7,500,000 for the Blatnik Bridge construction project in Superior, Wisconsin. The purpose of the project is to provide an interstate highway connection across the St. Louis Bay that does not restrict the movements of freight and provides local, regional, and international movement in a reliable and efficient manner. President Biden visited Superior and highlighted the Blatnik Bridge project following passage of the IIJA.\n\nLac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College: $5,000,000 for construction as part of the college\u2019s expansion project.\n\nLaona Rescue Unit: $2,093,000 for construction of a new station to allow Laona Rescue to continue to provide ambulance service to the citizens and visitors to the area.\n\nCity of Park Falls: $1,667,000 to repair and improve the aging public infrastructure of the City of Park Falls Municipal Water and Sewer utilities.\n\nAshland County: $900,000 to construct shoreline revetment to protect one of Madeline Island\u2019s widely used and most at-risk stretches of road along Lake Superior from catastrophic failure. If nothing is done to protect the road, it is estimated to fail due to erosion damages within the next ten years.\n\nDouglas County: $825,000 to construct a new bridge on County Highway W over the Nemadji River that is designed to handle larger storm events, which are occurring in Northern Wisconsin in greater magnitudes and frequencies.\n\nSenator Baldwin\u2019s office began soliciting input for appropriations requests from communities in every part of Wisconsin in early spring, working to submit requests for projects that benefit communities across the state. The Senate Appropriations Committee reviews all requests from Senators. Only those requests that comply with Committee and Senate rules and are deemed appropriate for federal support were considered for funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-s-21st-century-president-act-heads-to-president-s-desk", "Pocan\u2019s 21st Century President Act Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last night, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan's (WI-02) bill, the 21st Century President Act (H.R. 3285), passed the United States Senate unanimously by voice vote. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed it unanimously by voice vote. The bill now heads to President Biden's desk where he is expected to sign it.\n\nPocan's bill would make commonsense updates to gendered language in the U.S. Code, reflecting the reality that a woman or LGBTQ+ person will someday hold the office of the presidency. Without this change, the law that makes it a crime to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the President or the President's family would fail to explicitly include a future female president or president with a same-sex spouse.\n\n\"Federal law has finally caught up to times, specifically when it comes to who a future president can be,\" said Representative Pocan. \"The last presidential election saw six women and one gay man in the Democratic presidential primary, but current federal law would have failed to fully protect them and their spouses if elected. We're closer than we've ever been to electing a woman, or someone with a spouse of the same sex, as president. Today, we've taken one more step toward guaranteed equal protection under the law, and I thank Senator Baldwin for her support in assisting its passage through the Senate.\"\n\n18 U.S.C. 879 makes it a criminal act to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the President, a former President, a candidate for President, or a member of their family, while referring to Presidents as men and to their spouses as wives. \u200b\u200bThe bipartisan 21st Century President Act would replace the terms \"wife\" and \"widow\" with \"spouse,\" and replaces gender-specific pronouns referring to the President and presidential spouses with gender-neutral terms to extend full protection to anyone elected to become the president and first family.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-moore-call-for-review-of-milwaukees-2020-census", "Baldwin, Moore Call for Review of Milwaukee\u2019s 2020 Census", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "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, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) sent a letter to the United States Census Bureau in support of the City of Milwaukee\u2019s challenge to the 2020 Census of the city. Milwaukee submitted an official 2020 Census Count Question Resolution Housing Count Case today, and Baldwin and Moore\u2019s letter was included in the request. If the request is accepted, the Census Bureau will review if certain errors were made in the 2020 Census. An accurate 2020 Census count is needed for Wisconsin\u2019s communities to receive proper federal resources, such as funding for health care, infrastructure, housing, job programs, and more.\n\nAn analysis by the City of Milwaukee suggests that the Census undercounted nearly 10,000 residents, disproportionately undercounting Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino residents.\n\n\u201cAn accurate Census is necessary for the appropriate distribution of federal funds and data-driven policymaking,\u201d wrote the members of Congress.\n\n\u201cThe City of Milwaukee is home to a large, diverse population of Wisconsinites. These Wisconsinites contribute to the vibrancy of Milwaukee and deserve to be reflected in an accurate Census,\u201d the members continued.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Robert Santos\n\nDirector\n\nUnited States Census Bureau\n\n4600 Silver Hill Road\n\nWashington, D.C. 20233\n\nDear Director Santos:\n\nWe write to urge a prompt review of the City of Milwaukee\u2019s 2020 Census Count Question Resolution Case. An accurate Census is necessary for the appropriate distribution of federal funds and data-driven policymaking. The City of Milwaukee\u2019s submission includes evidence of a concerning undercount of housing units contributing to an overall undercount within the City. We urge the Bureau take this opportunity to correct the housing undercount and issue a new, official 2020 Census count for the City of Milwaukee in response to the City\u2019s case submission.\n\nIn a challenging environment, communities across Wisconsin organized to encourage Census participation. Without this organizing, the undercount of Milwaukee\u2019s population would likely have been much larger, and their efforts are to be commended. The unprecedented difficulties associated with the pandemic, however, resulted in an undercount that we are concerned will harm the City for years to come. By the City\u2019s estimates, the Census failed to capture nearly 10,000 residents in aggregate and in particular failed to account for 13,000 Hispanic and Black residents. The disproportionate impact of the undercount on Hispanic and Black residents is deeply troubling and requires immediate attention.\n\nThe City of Milwaukee is home to a large, diverse population of Wisconsinites. These Wisconsinites contribute to the vibrancy of Milwaukee and deserve to be reflected in an accurate Census. We urge the Bureau to take prompt action to ameliorate the housing undercount that fails to capture the actual population of the City of Milwaukee. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-bill-to-forgive-student-loan-debt-for-beginning-farmers", "Senator Baldwin Joins Bill to Forgive Student Loan Debt for Beginning Farmers", "2022-12-19", "2022", "2022-12", "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 Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) on Monday to introduce the Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act, legislation to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women, veteran, and minority farmers.\n\nStudent loan debt is a major hurdle for beginning farmers, and this legislation would serve as an incentive for farmers to enter\u2014and stay\u2014in the agricultural industry, and strengthen opportunities to grow successful businesses. According to a survey by the National Young Farmers Coalition, the average student loan debt for a young farmer is $35,660, while 72% of young farmers hold a loan to finance their farm or ranch, at an average of $208,885.\n\n\u201cRight now, the cost of starting and maintaining a new farm is too expensive for many young farmers, ranchers and their families, who are often already struggling to pay off existing debt,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cBy helping Wisconsinites pay off their student loans, more new farmers and ranchers will be able to pursue careers in agriculture \u2013 creating jobs in the heartland, producing Made in WI products and keeping our rural communities strong.\u201d\n\n\u201cStarting and maintaining a new farm is tough, expensive work. Too often, young farmers are saddled with thousands in student loan debt and can\u2019t afford to make the investments necessary for success. Connecticut farms are key to the health of our rural communities and the future of food security, and this legislation would help more people start and stay in farming,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\n\"The Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act provides a path out of debt for many young and beginning farmers who haven't been able to see one before. Held back by existing debt making financing complicated-- on top of climate crisis, input, and living costs-- passing this act will open the possibility of becoming a full-time farmer and/or rancher to many who would be, but for having repayment of existing loans in their way. National Young Farmers Coalition supports Senator Murphy's commitment to easing some of the unprecedented debt burden currently hindering our next generation of food growing to feed our communities and protect the land as its stewards,\u201d said Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Policy Campaigns Co-Director, National Young Farmers Coalition.\n\nU.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Baldwin and Murphy in introducing the legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-of-world-cup-championship-match-baldwin-joins-colleagues-in-bicameral-letter-calling-out-fifas-anti-lgbtq-stance", "Ahead of World Cup Championship Match, Baldwin Joins Colleagues in Bicameral Letter Calling Out FIFA\u2019s Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "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 29 of her colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, expressing outrage over the association\u2019s decision to censor support for LGBTQ+ rights by fans and players at the 2022 World Cup.\n\n\u201cWe write today with concern regarding FIFA\u2019s decision to penalize players in the 2022 World Cup for wearing \u2018OneLove\u2019 armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as reports that spectators wearing clothing in support of the LGBTQ+ community faced confrontation from officials at events,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cIt is our understanding that team captains from several European teams competing in the World Cup intended to wear OneLove armbands as a signal of support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity, but were instructed by FIFA that doing so would result in the issuance of in-game sanctions (e.g. yellow cards),\u201d they continued. \u201cThis is in contrast to the typical monetary fine issued for uniform violations, and ultimately deterred players from adorning their uniforms with the armbands.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 letter expresses deep concerns with the unprecedented actions taken by FIFA to silence players in their attempt to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights around the globe.\n\n\u201c[T]hese actions stand in stark contrast to FIFA\u2019s own commitments. FIFA has promoted its own \u2018No Discrimination\u2019 campaign, featuring different captains\u2019 armbands, and released a statement indicating that, \u2018FIFA is an inclusive organization and supports all legitimate causes, such as \u2018One Love\u2019,\u2019\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cIf FIFA believes itself to be an inclusive organization that supports causes like the OneLove movement, then its erasure of the movement\u2019s armbands and other LGBTQ+ symbols and apparel in support of its own campaign runs counter to its public attestations about the values it espouses.\u201d\n\nIn order to meaningfully reaffirm the principle that harassment and discrimination are not tolerated at FIFA sanctioned events\u2014including the next World Cup set to be held jointly in North America, including the United States, and the Women\u2019s World Cup kicking off in less than a year\u2014the lawmakers specifically ask the following:\n\nTo what extent will FIFA consider government\u2019s track record on LGBTQ+ rights when determining where to host future World Cups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to consistent future policies with respect to players\u2019 uniforms; fans\u2019 apparel, signs, and symbols; and other forms of expression that allows for individuals to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to reviewing its protocols for how it engages with host country governments?\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Mark Takano (D-CA-41), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15). The letter was also cosigned by Senators Edward, J. Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), David Cicilline (D-RI-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), and Grace Meng (D-NY-06).\n\nThis letter is supported by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Mr. Infantino:\n\nWe write today with concern regarding FIFA\u2019s decision to penalize players in the 2022 World Cup for wearing \u201cOneLove\u201d armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as reports that spectators wearing clothing in support of the LGBTQ+ community faced confrontation from officials at events.\n\nIt is our understanding that team captains from several European teams competing in the World Cup intended to wear OneLove armbands as a signal of support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity, but were instructed by FIFA that doing so would result in the issuance of in-game sanctions (e.g. yellow cards). This is in contrast to the typical monetary fine issued for uniform violations, and ultimately deterred players from adorning their uniforms with the armbands. We write to express our deep concern with these unprecedented actions taken by FIFA to silence players in their attempt to advocate for the worthy and legitimate cause of LGBTQ+ rights.\n\nSoccer is often called the universal language, but FIFA\u2019s position undermines the sport\u2019s power of transcending divisions and bringing people together. The association\u2019s practices have not been limited to the players, either. We are also concerned about reports that spectators wearing apparel or bearing symbols that show support for the LGBTQ+ community have been detained, harassed, denied entry to events, or have had their apparel or possessions confiscated. These actions have culminated in a message to LGBTQ+ people that neither they nor their allies are welcome at the World Cup, contrary to several public statements made about the tournament.\n\nMoreover, these actions stand in stark contrast to FIFA\u2019s own commitments. FIFA has promoted its own \u201cNo Discrimination\u201d campaign, featuring different captains\u2019 armbands, and released a statement indicating that, \u201cFIFA is an inclusive organization and supports all legitimate causes, such as \u2018One Love\u2019.\u201d If FIFA believes itself to be an inclusive organization that supports causes like the OneLove movement, then its erasure of the movement\u2019s armbands and other LGBTQ+ symbols and apparel in support of its own campaign runs counter to its public attestations about the values it espouses.\n\nSports are about belonging, well-being, and affirming one\u2019s place amongst their peers and fellow fans. Indeed, with the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted by in North America\u2014including 60 matches set to be played in the United States\u2014we cannot remain silent while this discrimination continues. Every person\u2014regardless of who they are or whom they love\u2014has the right to be treated with decency and respect, and to live their life free from fear of discrimination. No one should be denied the opportunity to participate in daily life or their love of a sport because of who they are, and no one should be silenced for standing up for those rights.\n\nWe implore FIFA to meaningfully reaffirm the principle that harassment and discrimination are not tolerated at their sanctioned events, consistent with the association\u2019s own campaign and public statements. Specifically, we ask:\n\nTo what extent will FIFA consider government\u2019s track record on LGBTQ+ rights when determining where to host future World Cups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to consistent future policies with respect to players\u2019 uniforms; fans\u2019 apparel, signs, and symbols; and other forms of expression that allows for individuals to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to reviewing its protocols for how it engages with host country governments?\n\nAs the most watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup has a responsibility to adhere to international rights and norms regarding freedom of expression. And with the next World Cup taking place in the United States as well as in Mexico and Canada, as well as the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup set to begin in just over 200 days, we will be watching closely to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups are treated with respect.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response and assurances that future FIFA events are inclusive to all.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-colleagues-in-introducing-legislation-to-protect-americans-right-to-build-a-family-through-ivf-other-assisted-reproductive-technology", "Senator Baldwin Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Protect Americans' Right to Build A Family Through IVF, Other Assisted Reproductive Technology", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "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 joined a bicameral group of colleagues in introducing legislation to protect every American\u2019s right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) that millions of Americans need to have children. The Right to Build Families Act of 2022 would prohibit limiting access to IVF or any assisted reproductive technology to any American\u2014regardless of their zip code.\n\n\u201cRegardless of where they live, every American deserves the freedom to decide when and how to build a family,\u201d said Senator Tammy Baldwin. \u201cUnfortunately, since the activist Supreme Court stripped away the reproductive rights of millions of women across the country, Americans are now worried about other health care rights that might be on the chopping block \u2013 like IVF. I\u2019m proud to support the Right to Build Families Act to ensure that families across the country have access to the tools they need to start a family on their own terms.\u201d\n\nThe Right to Build Families Act of 2022 would:\n\nProhibit limiting any individual from accessing ART or retaining their reproductive genetic materials, including gametes;\n\nProtect healthcare providers who provide ART or related counseling and information;\n\nAllow the Department of Justice to pursue civil action against states that violate the legislation; and\n\nCreate a private right of action for individuals and healthcare providers in states that have limited access to ART.\n\nThe legislation is led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who relied on IVF to have her two daughters, and Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07). The bill is also sponsored by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03).\n\nWith the Supreme Court overturning Roe and some states enacting extreme abortion bans, many women have not only seen their constitutional right to abortion ripped away from them, but their ability to get treatment for cancer, lupus and more\u2014and to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technology in order to build a family\u2014have also been jeopardized. The new patchwork of state abortion bans has created significant confusion among patients and providers alike about what services doctors can and cannot provide\u2014including assisted reproductive technology\u2014in states with the most restrictive laws. These threats have led IVF centers to call for new protections. In a number of states, Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation that would restrict access to ART. In a recent leaked audio recording, a leading anti-abortion group advised state lawmakers to avoid discussing regulating IVF and contraception at this time but noted that restrictions could be revisited in a few years.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Humanist Association; American Society for Reproductive Medicine; Center for Reproductive Rights; HealthyWomen; National Council of Jewish Women; National Partnership for Women and Families; Physicians for Reproductive Health and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.\n\nA copy of the bill one-pager can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-for-national-defense-authorization-act-to-support-wisconsins-service-members-veterans-and-economy", "Senator Baldwin Votes for National Defense Authorization Act to Support Wisconsin\u2019s Service Members, Veterans, and Economy", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "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 voted for the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 that supports Wisconsin\u2019s military members, families, and economy. The bill includes the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and Water Resources Development Act of 2022, among other provisions.\n\nAs Chair of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing, with jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, Senator Baldwin successfully negotiated inclusion of her bipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act, which will improve the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes Fleet and provide $350 million for the Great Lakes Icebreaker (GLIB). For the first time, the USCG Authorization Act will also include a standalone Great Lakes subtitle in the bill.\n\n\u201cI am proud to vote for the bipartisan defense authorization legislation that supports our servicemembers and veterans, strengthens our national security and invests in Wisconsin\u2019s economy,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to have included bipartisan provisions in this legislation to strengthen our Made in America economy \u2013 including the Invent Here, Make Here Act to ensure technology developed in the U.S. is also manufactured here and my Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act, which will boost our icebreaking resources, support our maritime economy, and protect our Great Lakes for generations to come. I am excited to have included so many provisions in the NDAA that deliver for our servicemembers, veterans, and Made in Wisconsin economy.\u201d\n\nBelow are some of the major victories Senator Baldwin secured for Wisconsin in the NDAA:\n\nBoosting the Made in Wisconsin and Made in America Economies\n\nBipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act \u2013 Included in the NDAA is $350 million for the acquisition of a Great Lakes icebreaker and $20 million for the design and selection of icebreaking cutters for operation in the Great Lakes, Northeastern US, and the Arctic. The Great Lakes Ice Breaker will strengthen icebreaking capacity and increase year-round commerce on the Great Lakes. The bill will also create a database specific to icebreaking operations, including unsuccessful attempts to transit during ice season because of inadequate icebreaking.\n\nBipartisan Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act \u2013 Senator Baldwin\u2019s legislation will better ensure products invented as a result of funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) are manufactured in America.\n\nInvesting in Wisconsin\u2019s Military Installations, Equipment and Infrastructure\n\nFt. McCoy \u2013 Senator Baldwin secured a total of $64 million for military infrastructure improvements at Fort McCoy in Monroe County. Specifically, the bill includes $38 million for enlisted barracks and $26 million for officer barracks.\n\nGreat Lakes Snowmobile Acquisition Plan \u2013 the bill directs the Coast Guard to develop a plan for snowmobile procurement to support ice search and rescue efforts. Senator Baldwin also included a study on sufficiency of the Coast Guard\u2019s Aviation Assets, often used in search and rescue on the Great Lakes. These provisions will highlight gaps in capabilities in meeting mission needs and improve the Coast Guard\u2019s search and rescue capacity along the Great Lakes.\n\nSupporting and Honoring Veterans, Service Members and Their Families\n\n4.6% pay raise for uniformed service members and Department of Defense civilian employees.\n\nHealthcare for Our Troops \u2013 In line with Senator Baldwin\u2019s bipartisan legislation, the bill requires a study on the cost and feasibility of expanding enrollment in TRICARE Reserve Select coverage for National Guard members \u2013 including the impact providing health benefits will have on deployment readiness. This provision moves forward Senator Baldwin\u2019s legislation to expand TRICARE Reserve Select coverage to all members of the Guard and Reserve at no cost.\n\nChildcare for Coast Guard Members \u2013 The bill expands the Coast Guard childcare subsidy program, which helps Coast Guard families pay for childcare services. The bill would authorize $25 million (a 56 percent increase over current authorization) and expand eligibility so families are able to use the subsidy for additional types of childcare, such as nannies and multigenerational support.\n\nOpioid Prescribing Practices \u2013 Senator Baldwin has pushed for reform on opioid prescribing practices at the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense. The NDAA includes authorizations for a permanent program to improve opioid management in the military health system.\n\nAccess to Affordable Housing \u2013 To address the high cost of housing, Senator Baldwin helped secure a provision last year to help the Department of Defense (DOD) more accurately determine the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for service members. This year\u2019s legislation extends authority to adjust the BAH in high-cost areas and encourages DOD to coordinate efforts to address housing shortages. The bill also requires the Coast Guard to study and develop a plan to improve access to housing.\n\nMedical training \u2013 The bill would provide increased professional opportunities for medical training for Coast Guard Members as well as help address shortages in medical providers by directing the Coast Guard to allow more Members to obtain postgraduate degrees in medical disciplines.\n\nSupporting America\u2019s Allies\n\nThe NDAA supports our allies abroad by extending and modifying the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through Fiscal Year 2023. The bill also authorizes $800 million in Fiscal Year 2023 to provide security assistance to Ukraine.\n\nBoosting USCG Capacity in the Indo-Pacific \u2013 The bill would require a study on the USCG needs in the Indo-Pacific, to include an assessment on a permanent USCG cutter presence, which would help deter China and increase partner and allied capacity in the region. Senator Baldwin recently spoke to USCG members in Japan about this request.\n\nPreserving the Great Lakes and Investing in Water Infrastructure", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-announces-28-million-investment-to-create-institute-for-rural-partnerships", "Senator Baldwin Announces $28 Million Investment to Create Institute for Rural Partnerships", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "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, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, is announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $28 million to establish the Institute for Rural Partnerships to address the unique challenges facing rural communities through research, outreach activities, and partnership development. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of only three institutions to be awarded funding, is receiving $9.3 million to create the Wisconsin Rural Partnership to advance the land-grant mission of the University, support community-based projects, and create new partnerships to better meet the needs of rural communities. The funding for this initiative comes from the Senator Baldwin-led fiscal year 2022 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was then included in the bipartisan fiscal year 2022 omnibus legislation.\n\n\u201cPeople in rural America face unique challenges to creating economic prosperity and it is important that we provide them the tools and resources they need to thrive in a changing environment and economy,\u201d said Senator Tammy Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to have worked to deliver this federal funding to create the Institute for Rural Partnerships and invest in the future prosperity of our rural communities. These resources will help support local innovative projects, forge new partnerships, and ensure our farmers and producers have the information they need to make the best decisions for their future. I appreciate President Biden\u2019s commitment to supporting Wisconsin\u2019s agriculture industry and rural communities.\u201d\n\n\"We are excited to be a part of this initiative and to be selected as an Institute for Rural Partnership,\" said Steve Ackerman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison. \"One partnership we have already identified to receive this funding is the Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet, which is also supported by $1 million from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. UW\u2013Madison plans to purchase scientific equipment and develop a comprehensive statewide network of 90 environmental (weather and soil) monitoring stations across Wisconsin called the Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet. This equipment, along with the support from the USDA will enable the development of infrastructure that can support solutions to a variety of challenges currently facing rural Wisconsin. This is the Wisconsin Idea in action.\"\n\nThe Institute for Rural Partnerships, housed at the University of Wisconsin, Auburn University, and the University of Vermont, will promote equitable, resilient, and prosperous food and agricultural systems, a fair marketplace for producers, and expanded opportunities for economic development in rural communities. The Partnership will also collaborate with community-based initiatives and local research, educational institutions, and subject matter experts.\n\nThe University of Wisconsin has already identified a partnership that will receive funding to support the Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet, an initiative to develop a comprehensive statewide network of weather and soil monitoring stations to support decision-making in food and agricultural systems, and climate data recordkeeping. The Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet will provide data, research, and education for the agriculture community to help them boost harvests and yields, protect crops and resources, and increase overall economic benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-president-biden-signing-the-respect-for-marriage-act-into-law", "Senator Baldwin Statement on President Biden Signing the Respect for Marriage Act Into Law", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "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) released the following statement on the Respect for Marriage Act being signed into law by President Biden:\n\n\u201cToday, we are making history and making a difference for millions of Americans. We are telling the millions of same-sex and interracial couples that we see them and we respect them. I am thinking of couples like my dear friends Margaret and Denise, who no longer have to worry their marriage could be on the chopping block. Because of our bipartisan work to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, millions of couples like Margaret and Denise can rest assured that the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities that come with marriage cannot be taken away by an activist Supreme Court. I am proud to have worked across the aisle to earn bipartisan support for our Respect for Marriage Act and am overcome with joy to see President Biden make marriage equality the law of the land.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-request-for-immediate-support-for-farmers-in-wake-of-agriculture-crisis-", "Baldwin Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Request for Immediate Support for Farmers in Wake of Agriculture Crisis", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) led 25 of their colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral letter asking U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack for immediate assistance for organic dairy and poultry farmers who face simultaneous crises threatening their farms.\n\n\u201cWe are writing on behalf of the U.S. organic dairy and poultry sectors, made up of thousands of family farmers and the businesses that support them, to request emergency relief in response to skyrocketing feed costs that are impacting the future viability of the industry. The situation is dire and requires your immediate attention. We urgently ask that you work closely with Congress and stakeholders to develop a solution that quickly gets assistance to producers to prevent further losses. Without rapid action, families are on track to lose their farms,\u201d the members said in the letter.\n\nInternational trade challenges specific to the organic agriculture sector, persistent drought, and the lack of a stable domestic supply of certified organic feed have created a dire economic situation for organic livestock farmers across the U.S. over the last two years.\n\nYear-over-year price spikes in the cost of feedstuffs are now creating unsustainable circumstances that could lead to further farm closures, reduced competition and ultimately, limited consumer choice. If not addressed, these closures will have devastating impacts on the burgeoning organic dairy and poultry sectors and diminish the role of organics in the marketplace for years to come. Many organic businesses have already lost entire farms and without action this trend will continue.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Peter Welch (VT-At Large), Annie Kuster (NH-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), and Ron Kind (WI-03).\n\nThe full letter can be viewed here or below:\n\nThomas J. Vilsack\n\nSecretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture\n\nJamie L. Whitten Building\n\n1400 Independence Avenue, SW\n\nWashington DC, 20250\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack:\n\nWe are writing on behalf of the U.S. organic dairy and poultry sectors, made up of thousands of family farmers and the businesses that support them, to request emergency relief in response to skyrocketing feed costs that are impacting the future viability of the industry. The situation is dire and requires your immediate attention. We urgently ask that you work closely with Congress and stakeholders to develop a solution that quickly gets assistance to producers to prevent further losses. Without rapid action, families are on track to lose their farms.\n\nWhile the agriculture sector overall is struggling with a multitude of challenges that have affected the market, organic is a unique supply chain and market that requires tailored solutions to meet the needs of producers. International trade challenges specific to organic, persistent drought, and the lack of a stable domestic supply of certified organic feed have created a dire economic situation for organic livestock farmers across the U.S. over the last two years.\n\nFor example, prices for organic soybeans in the U.S. reached $40.52 per bushel in May 2022, up close to 110% from January 2021\u2019s $19.37 per bushel. Feed costs for organic dairy and poultry producers traditionally average over 50% of the total cost of production, but dramatic increases year-over-year in organic feedstuffs are now creating unsustainable circumstances that could lead to farm closures, reduced competition and ultimately, limited consumer choice. If not addressed, these closures will have devastating impacts on the burgeoning organic dairy and poultry sectors and diminish the role of organics in the marketplace for years to come. Unlike conventional farming, the organic sector cannot respond quickly to market needs due to the three-year transition period required on most land.\n\nWhile we are supportive of existing emergency disaster relief, pandemic assistance and other risk management programs administered by USDA, these efforts have unfortunately not been sufficient to address the current situation facing organic livestock producers. Therefore, we ask that you work with us to find a targeted solution to provide immediate, direct relief.\n\nOrganic agriculture is a growing market that has provided opportunities for increased profitability for U.S. farmers, benefitting rural communities across the country. We thank you for your longstanding support of the organic industry and look forward to working with you to ensure the longevity of a healthy organic market that supports thousands of family farms.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-thune-klobuchar-hoeven-urge-federal-maritime-commission-to-carefully-implement-key-ocean-shipping-reform-act-rule", "Baldwin, Thune, Klobuchar, Hoeven Urge Federal Maritime Commission to Carefully Implement Key Ocean Shipping Reform Act Rule", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and John Hoeven (R-ND) today urged Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Daniel Maffei to provide additional clarity on the definition of \u201cunreasonable\u201d as it relates to refusal by ocean carriers to provide vessel space accommodations.\n\n\u201cIn order to ensure the law is faithfully implemented in a manner consistent with congressional intent, the definition of \u2018unreasonable\u2019 must adequately take into account both transportation and commercial-related factors when evaluating the behavior of an ocean carrier,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe agree with the Commission\u2019s view that \u2018commercial convenience alone is not a reasonable basis\u2019 for refusal by an ocean carrier to deal or negotiate. However, we have questions about the breadth of the \u2018transportation factors\u2019 under the proposed rule. In particular, an ocean carrier might point to the \u2018existence\u2019 of \u2018scheduling considerations\u2019 as a basis for refusing to negotiate with a would-be exporter. We urge you to consider whether additional clarifying language about the magnitude of the \u2018transportation factors\u2019 might provide useful guidance to industry and align with the goal of promoting an efficient, competitive, accessible, and affordable global shipping market, consistent with congressional intent.\u201d\n\nIn June, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which Senator Baldwin co-sponsored, was signed into law. The bill strengthens the authority of the FMC by providing it with new tools to help level the playing field for American exporters and counteract anticompetitive behavior. The bill would also help FMC more efficiently resolve disputes between ocean carriers and shippers, while also taking actions at the U.S. Department of Transportation to alleviate strain across the supply chain.\n\nThe full letter is here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Daniel B. Maffei\n\nChairman\n\nFederal Maritime Commission\n\n800 North Capitol Street, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20573\n\nDear Chairman Maffei:\n\nWe write regarding the Federal Maritime Commission\u2019s recent notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) establishing a definition of unreasonable refusal by an ocean common carrier to deal or negotiate with respect to vessel space accommodations, consistent with the requirement established in section 7 of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The Commission\u2019s implementation of this requirement is crucial to ensuring American exporters and importers alike have fair and competitive access to the global shipping market.\n\nCongress passed this landmark legislation, signed into law in June, to make it easier for American farmers and manufacturers to ship ready-to-export goods left waiting at our ports and to limit foreign ocean carriers\u2019 ability to impose added fees on container handling. Section 7 of the Act sought to clarify that an \u201cunreasonable\u201d refusal by an ocean carrier to provide vessel space accommodations should constitute a prohibited practice under the Shipping Act of 1984. The need to require such a clarification arose specifically from reports of ocean carriers refusing certain export cargo \u2013 particularly agricultural cargo \u2013 even when vessel space was readily available, often opting to carry empty containers instead.\n\nIn order to ensure the law is faithfully implemented in a manner consistent with congressional intent, the definition of \u201cunreasonable\u201d must adequately take into account both transportation and commercial-related factors when evaluating the behavior of an ocean carrier. We agree with the Commission\u2019s view that \u201ccommercial convenience alone is not a reasonable basis\u201d for refusal by an ocean carrier to deal or negotiate. However, we have questions about the breadth of the \u201ctransportation factors\u201d under the proposed rule. In particular, an ocean carrier might point to the \u201cexistence\u201d of \u201cscheduling considerations\u201d as a basis for refusing to negotiate with a would-be exporter. We urge you to consider whether additional clarifying language about the magnitude of the \u201ctransportation factors\u201d might provide useful guidance to industry and align with the goal of promoting an efficient, competitive, accessible, and affordable global shipping market, consistent with congressional intent.\n\nThoroughly defining what constitutes the \u2018unreasonable\u2019 refusal to deal with or negotiate as it relates to vessel space accommodations is a crucial component of our landmark shipping reform law. We greatly appreciate your attention to this issue and applaud your continued work to speedily implement the provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-more-than-70-total-signers-in-the-senate-and-house-urging-biden-to-take-executive-action-on-paid-sick-days-for-rail-workers", "Senator Baldwin Joins More Than 70 Total Signers in the Senate and House Urging Biden to Take Executive Action on Paid Sick Days for Rail Workers", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "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 Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Friday on a letter with more than 70 total signers in the House and Senate urging President Biden to take executive action to guarantee rail workers paid sick days.\n\n\u201cWhile this agreement was much better than the disastrous proposals put forward by the rail industry, it still does not guarantee a single paid sick day to rail workers who work dangerous and difficult jobs, have risked their lives during the pandemic to keep our economy moving and have not received a pay raise in over three years,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cThat is unacceptable and must be rectified.\u201d\n\nThe letter comes just a week after Congress passed legislation to avert a nationwide rail strike but failed to pass an amendment to guarantee paid sick days to rail workers. The amendment, which passed the House but failed in the Senate, received the votes of every Senate Democrat, but one, as well as six Republicans. The letter was signed by 15 colleagues in the Senate and 52 in the House.\n\n\u201cAs you know, a majority in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives voted for legislation to guarantee seven paid sick days to every rail worker in America,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cTragically, because of the arcane rules of the Senate, this legislation was filibustered by just 42 Republicans and one Democrat and did not make it to your desk for signature. It is literally beyond belief that rail workers are not guaranteed this basic and fundamental human right. Therefore, we urge you and your administration to do everything within your authority to guarantee rail workers the seven paid sick days that they desperately need through executive action.\u201d\n\nGuaranteeing seven paid sick days to rail workers would cost the rail industry a grand total of $321 million a year \u2013 less than 2% of its profits. Last year alone, the rail industry made a record-breaking $20 billion in profits after cutting their workforce by 30% over the last 6 years. In the first three quarters of 2022, rail companies spent $25.5 billion on stock buybacks and dividends. Rail workers across the U.S. currently are guaranteed zero sick days, paid or unpaid, and are forced to work under a points-based attendance policy that can penalize and even fire workers for taking sick time, including for family and health emergencies. The current deal that passed Congress does not include any paid sick days.\n\nIn addition to executive order power to deliver paid sick days to rail workers, the letter points to the authority held by the Secretary of Labor under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to set mandatory occupational safety and health standards for businesses affecting interstate commerce, as well as the responsibility of the Secretary of Transportation to promote safety in all areas of railroad operations under the Federal Railroad Safety Act. In 2015, then President Obama also issued an executive order that required companies with federal contracts to grant at minimum seven days of paid sick leave. However, rail workers were excluded from these protections.\n\n\u201cYou can and you must expand this executive order,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cOver 115,000 rail workers in this country are looking to you to guarantee them the dignity at work they deserve and to ensure that our rail system is safe for its workers and for millions of Americans who cross rail tracks every day. Through Executive Order, agency rulemaking, and any other applicable authority, we ask that you take quick and decisive action to guarantee these workers paid sick leave.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-duckworth-lead-bill-to-ensure-seat-size-other-real-life-conditions-are-considered-in-federal-aircraft-emergency-evacuation-standards", "Senators Baldwin, Duckworth Lead Bill to Ensure Seat Size, Other Real Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in announcing the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its emergency evacuation standards.\n\nThe FAA\u2019s current standards require that passengers be able to evacuate aircraft within 90 seconds, but recent simulation tests failed to adequately consider whether a flight is full or mostly empty, has passengers with mobility issues or many other real-life conditions that Americans deal with every time they fly. An identical companion bill was introduced in the House today by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), who authored the law that led the FAA to conduct these simulation tests.\n\n\u201cAs we enter a busy holiday season, travelers should have the peace of mind that evacuation and safety protocols have taken all passengers into account,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe FAA has a responsibility to ensure they meet their own safety requirements under realistic conditions, especially for children, senior citizens and passengers with disabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cImagine being on a crowded flight when the worst-case scenario happens: the crew tells you that you have 90 seconds to evacuate\u2014but how can more than 150 passengers sandwiched into crowded rows actually safely evacuate in less time than it takes to brush your teeth?\u201dsaid Senator Duckworth. \u201cThe flying public deserves better. That\u2019s why Senator Baldwin and I are introducing the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabins (EVAC) Act to require the FAA to finally establish evacuation standards that consider not just seat size, pitch and configuration, but other real-life conditions like the presence of carry-on bags and passengers of different heights, weights, ages and abilities. We must act to make flying as safe as we know it can be\u2014and as safe as Americans deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have long held doubts that the 90-second evacuation standard can be met in most instances, which is why I previously introduced and passed the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act to require the FAA to establish minimum standards for seat sizes and distances between rows of seats in order to ensure passengers can safely evacuate,\u201dsaid Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09). \u201cThe EVAC Act will ensure the FAA\u2019s emergency evacuation standards address the needs of all members of the flying public, including those with disabilities.\u201d\n\nRecent FAA simulations to determine the impact of smaller seat size and smaller seat pitch on passengers\u2019 ability to safely evacuate within 90 seconds were limited to test subjects who were all adults under age 60. Additionally, according to CBS News, the tests did not include the presence of obstacles like carry-on baggage that could slow down an evacuation, and were conducted in groups of just 60, while Boeing 737 MAX 8 seating capacity, for instance, ranges from 162 to 178. Then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson even conceded the tests \u201cprovide useful, but not necessarily definitive information\u2026\u201d\n\nThe EVAC Act would direct the FAA to issue a rule establishing evacuation standards that take into account certain real-life conditions including:\n\nPassengers of different ages, including young children and senior citizens\n\nPassengers of different heights and weights\n\nPassengers with disabilities\n\nPassengers who do not speak English\n\nPassengers who cannot speak, are non-vocal or non-verbal\n\nPresence of carry-on luggage and personal items like purses, backpacks and briefcases\n\nSeat size and pitch\n\nSeat configuration, location, and other obstacles in pathway to exit\n\n\u201cCheers to Senator Duckworth, Senator Baldwin, and Rep. Cohen for introducing the EVAC Act to direct the FAA to establish evacuation standards that reflect the current realities of cabin environment including cabin density, carry-on bags, charging cords, and challenges for passengers with disabilities,\u201dsaid Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines. \u201cIn order to save lives, Flight Attendants are charged with evacuating passengers in 90 seconds during an emergency. We are concerned that current regulations for certification of the aircraft cabin don't reflect our real world conditions. We don't need the first test on this to be an active emergency. Let's get real now! That's what Senator Duckworth is making possible with this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs professional pilots, safety will always be our highest priority, and we strongly support the common-sense recommendation that the FAA reevaluate transport-category aircraft evacuation standards,\u201d said Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Ed Sicher. \u201cThe realities of commercial air travel today \u2014 including widely differing passenger ages and physical abilities, language barriers, seat pods blocking access across aisles, and ever-shrinking seat size and pitch \u2014 all come into play when an evacuation becomes necessary. We applaud Senator Duckworth, Senator Baldwin, and Representative Cohen for taking the lead on this critical safety issue.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is supported by a broad coalition: the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Allied Pilots Association (APA), Captain Chesley \u201cSully\u201d Sullenberger, FlyersRights.org, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), National League of Cities, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Association of the Deaf, Judith Heumann, World Institute on Disability, Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), American Foundation for the Blind, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Muscular Dystrophy Association, All Wheels Up, Amputee Coalition, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, United Spinal Association, ALS Association, Access Ready and American Council of the Blind.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5105", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI have always fought for marriage equality \u2013 the freedom for Americans to marry who they love. This right is under threat because of a radical Supreme Court and an extreme GOP agenda, which denies personal liberties to Americans. That\u2019s why acting now is critical. It makes so proud to know that Wisconsin\u2019s own Senator Tammy Baldwin led these negotiations. Today, I join my colleagues in securing key marriage equality protections with bipartisan federal legislation - the Respect for Marriage Act.\u201d\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:\n\n\u2022Repealing the \u201cDefense of Marriage Act\u201d: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.\n\n\u2022Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples\u2019 right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans\u2019 benefits.\n\n\u2022Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-delivers-pension-restoration-for-22000-wisconsin-workers-and-retirees", "Senator Baldwin Delivers Pension Restoration for 22,000 Wisconsin Workers and Retirees", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that nearly 22,000 Wisconsin workers and retirees in the Central States Pension Fund will have the retirement benefits they earned restored in full under the American Rescue Plan Act, thanks to Senator Baldwin\u2019s efforts to include the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act in that historic legislation and the Biden Administration\u2019s approval of the pension plan\u2019s application for funding.\n\nThe United States Department of Labor, through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), has approved $35.8 billion through a Special Financial Assistance program for the pension plan. The fund was enacted as a part of the American Rescue Plan, which Baldwin supported. Under the program, payments are being made to financially troubled multiemployer pension plans to ensure that these plans can continue paying retirees\u2019 benefits and remain solvent for at least 30 years. Baldwin has been fighting for this fix for years and was able to secure key provisions in the American Rescue Plan.\n\n\u201cA pension is a promise, and today\u2019s announcement ensures that promise is kept for the nearly 22,000 workers and retirees in Wisconsin who were facing massive cuts to their pensions, through no fault of their own. I worked for years with retirees from across the state to make sure they receive the pensions they earned over a lifetime of work,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cToday, retirees and their families across Wisconsin can rest easier knowing that we have kept our promise.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding will protect 350,000 workers and retirees across the country \u2013 including 22,000 in Wisconsin \u2013 from having their pension benefits cut by up to 70 percent in the coming years. Union workers in the Central States Pension Fund include truck drivers, warehouse workers, construction workers and food processors. By putting the pension plan back on solid footing, today\u2019s announcement protects small businesses from the threat of a pension liability they could not afford.\n\nMultiemployer pensions provide retirement income to over 10 million hard-working Americans for approximately 200,000 employers across America. Over one million of these workers and retirees \u2013 including 22,000 in Wisconsin \u2013 were in danger of losing their hard-earned benefits. Without this relief, Central States was expected to be insolvent by 2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-leads-bipartisan-group-calling-on-fda-to-support-farmers-goals-of-reducing-enteric-methane-emissions", "Senator Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Group Calling on FDA to Support Farmers\u2019 Goals of Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "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) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encouraging the agency to review the role that animal feed additives play in achieving the Biden Administration\u2019s goal of halving economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030 in order to reach net zero by 2050.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators note that the FDA has not yet approved any feed additives to achieve this goal despite the potential for these products to provide farmers with additional tools to reduce a large share of their operations\u2019 GHG footprint and create a level playing field with their European and Brazilian competitors.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s crucial that our farmers here in Wisconsin and across the nation have the resources they need to achieve their climate goals, all while they work keep our nation fed,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe FDA must work to review the role that animal feed additives play in lowering enteric emissions so that farmers have more resources at their disposal to achieve their proposed GHG reductions and compete on a global scale with producers who already have access to feed additives.\u201d\n\nThe letter was co-led by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Dr. Califf:\n\nWe write to you today regarding the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) role in achieving President Biden\u2019s goal of halving economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030 in order to reach net zero by 2050. Meeting these targets will require innovation and coordination with industry from every federal agency, and the FDA is uniquely positioned to provide climate solutions to the agriculture industry in reducing enteric methane emissions.\n\nBoth the dairy and cattle industries have committed to reducing the climate impact of their farming operations over the next 20-30 years. To meet their commitments, farmers are subscribing to conventional climate and land management programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. However, these programs do not address the nearly one third of operations\u2019 emissions resulting from enteric methane. Enteric methane emissions are currently being addressed by our agricultural competitors in the European Union and Brazil through feed additives, but farmers in the U.S. do not have this option.\n\nThe FDA has not yet approved any feed additives to meet this need, in part due to agency\u2019s initial discretionary decision to regulate some potential feed ingredients within the animal drug process instead of the food additives process. Though both the animal drug and the Food Additive Petition (FAP) processes must demonstrate product efficacy and safety in human and animal reviews, the FAP route can be completed in 2-3 years, where the drug route can be completed in 8-10 years. Furthermore, if products are regulated as foods, they should be authorized and explicitly approved by FDA\u2019s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).\n\nFeed additives aimed at reducing enteric methane emissions would give farmers another tool to reduce a large share of their GHG footprint and create a level playing field with their European and Brazilian competitors as they work towards their sustainability goals. We encourage the FDA to review the role that animal feed additives approved by CVM are poised to play in helping achieve these goals, and we appreciate your attention to this important issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-murray-introduce-reproductive-health-travel-fund-act", "Senators Baldwin, Murray Introduce Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, legislation to provide women the support they need to access reproductive health services by providing grants to organizations, including abortion funds, to offset the cost of travel-related expenses.\n\n\u201cRight now in states across the country, Americans are unable to make their own health care decisions,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cWomen in states like Wisconsin are being forced to travel out of state just to see a doctor for critical health care, including abortion. And for too many, the cost of travel, child care, overnight housing, and time away from work puts safe, comprehensive reproductive care totally out of reach. By reducing the costs of travel for people seeking reproductive care, more Americans will be able to make the health care decisions that are best for their family, health, and future.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn overturning Roe and passing one extreme state abortion ban after the next, Republicans have unleashed a full-fledged health care crisis that is jeopardizing women\u2019s health and forcing them to stay pregnant against their will. This moment calls for bold solutions\u2014and that\u2019s why I\u2019ve proposed creating a new, historic abortion fund and why I\u2019m proud to cosponsor Senator Baldwin\u2019s bill to help get women the abortion care they need,\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cEvery woman deserves to have control over her own body and be able to get the care she needs\u2014no matter what state she lives in\u2014and that\u2019s what this proposal will help deliver.\u201d\n\nThe Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would set up a grant program, authorized at $350 million per year for FY23 through FY27, to help ease the financial burden associated with traveling long distances to access safe and legal reproductive health care. Specifically, the bill would allow the Treasury Secretary to award grants to eligible entities to pay for travel-related expenses and logistical support for individuals accessing abortion services. Funds, made available through a competitive grant, could be used for round trip travel, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services, doula care, and patient education and information services.\n\nEligible entities include non-profits or community-based organizations that assist individuals seeking abortions. Grants would be prioritized for entities that serve people who live in a jurisdiction that has banned or severely restricted access to abortion, serve those who travel to a jurisdiction to access abortion care, or have a program in operation that helps patients access abortion services.\n\n\"Abortion funds play a critical role in connecting patients like mine with the resources they need to get abortions,\u201d said Dr. Kristin Lyerly, Board Certified OB/GYN from Green Bay. \u201cAs a physician who provides comprehensive care in obstetrics and gynecology including abortion, I'm grateful to Senator Tammy Baldwin for her leadership in helping to break down the barriers that exist for patients in abortion-restricted states and for building on the existing infrastructure of support that abortion funds provide. Until we can restore legal access to abortion in all 50 states, innovative legislation like the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act will touch countless people in need of abortion care.\"\n\n\"Prior to Dobbs, Wisconsinites already faced too many barriers to accessing comprehensive pregnancy care, including abortion care. Post-Dobbs, accessing that care now requires leaving our state. As an OBGYN who provides full-scope pregnancy care, it feels unconscionable to have to send my patients across state lines to obtain the health care they need,\u201d said Dr. Abby Cutler, Board-Certified OB/GYN in Madison. \u201cToo often this requires travel money, job flexibility, overnight housing, childcare \u2013 financial and logistical resources that most people struggle to secure even under the best of circumstances. Access to health care in pregnancy, including abortion care, should not depend on your zip code or your financial resources. I am grateful to Senator Tammy Baldwin for her efforts to help ensure my patients and their families get the care they need and deserve.\"\n\n\u201cThe Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health decision exacerbated an existing abortion access crisis across the country, leaving many people unable to access care unless they travel hundreds of miles to a state where abortion is legal,\u201d said Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL. \u201cThe costs are almost always unexpected\u2014and steep. Senator Baldwin\u2019s legislation will help mitigate this crisis by providing essential resources to those who must travel to access abortion care. We commend Senator Baldwin for working to meet the urgent needs of pregnant people in a post-Roe world, while we work to expand equitable abortion access to all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs one of the oldest abortion funds in the nation, WMF Wisconsin has supported Wisconsinites seeking abortion care since 1972. This work has been led by community members for 50 years in the face of discriminatory legislation like the Hyde Amendment, which historically barred the use of federal funds for abortion care. With no in-clinic abortion care available in Wisconsin since June 24, 2022, Wisconsinites are forced to travel out-of-state for abortion care,\u201d said Lucy Marshall, Board President of WMF Wisconsin. \u201cThis exacerbates the existing inequalities that so many of our community members already face, particularly people of color, young people, and people facing by economic hardship. The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would help provide necessary funding for abortion care, as well as expenses related to traveling for such care. Abortion is health care. Abortion is a human right. Nobody should be denied health care, and this bill would provide funding that is crucial at this point in this crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a physician in Wisconsin, I have seen firsthand the detrimental impact the Dobbs decision has had on my patients\u2019 ability to access health care. Abortion bans are forcing women to travel sometimes hundreds of miles across state lines or remain pregnant against their will,\u201d Allie Linton MD MPH, Associate Medical Director of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. \u201cAs a result, pregnant patients are confronted with multiple obstacles that can prevent them from accessing the health care they need including increased costs for travel, hotel stays and childcare. I am incredibly thankful for Senators Baldwin and Murray and for introducing the Reproductive Health Travel Act to help assist my patients and patients around the country access the healthcare they need.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Baldwin and Murray, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act is co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Similar legislation was introduced in the House in July.\n\n\u201cAccess to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, should not be limited to those with the resources to travel. Blocking access to this life-saving care disproportionately impacts low-income families, women of color, and so many more underrepresented communities,\u201d said Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), who authored the House version of the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act. \u201cI want to thank Senator Baldwin for her partnership in working to ensure equitable access to reproductive health care for all women regardless of where they live.\u201d\n\nThe Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act is supported by the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Power to Decide, National Network of Abortion Funds, Physicians for Reproductive Health, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Partnership for Women and Families, NARAL, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, Catholics for Choice, the National Council of Jewish Women, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and WMF Wisconsin.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-statement-on-the-respect-for-marriage-act-passing-the-house-of-representatives", "Senators\u2019 Statement on the Respect for Marriage Act Passing the House of Representatives", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "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), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement on the Respect for Marriage Act passing the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 258-169:\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled that the Respect for Marriage Act passed both the Senate and the House with robust bipartisan support. This commonsense legislation provides certainty to millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages, who will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages. At the same time, our legislation fully respects and protects religious liberty and diverse beliefs about marriage. This is an important and historic step forward in ensuring dignity and respect for all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-the-national-defense-authorization-act", "Senator Baldwin Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "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, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing, released the following statement on the final conferenced National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023:\n\n\u201cThe final agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 strengthens our national security, invests in Wisconsin\u2019s servicemembers and veterans, and supports our Wisconsin economy. I am thrilled that the bill includes my bipartisan Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act, legislation that will boost our icebreaking resources needed to support our maritime economy, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and protect our Great Lakes for generations to come. I am excited for this legislation to come to the Senate and to get the job done for our servicemembers, veterans, and Made in Wisconsin\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-blackburn-introduce-legislation-to-place-womans-suffrage-national-monument-on-national-mall-", "Senators Baldwin, Blackburn Introduce Legislation to Place Women\u2019s Suffrage National Monument on National Mall", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "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 Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Women's Suffrage National Monument Location Act, to ensure that the Women\u2019s Suffrage National Monument is located on the National Mall. In 2020, legislation passed to create the Women\u2019s Suffrage National Monument on federal lands in Washington, D.C., but it did not authorize establishment of the monument on the National Mall. Under current law, the Commemorative Works Clarification and Revision Act of 2003, a specific act of Congress is required to place a new commemorative work or visitor center on the National Mall, therefore requiring passage of the Women\u2019s Suffrage National Monument Location Act to secure a monument to honor women\u2019s history in the sacred location.\n\n\u201cJust over a century ago, the United States finally welcomed women into our democracy and extended to them its most fundamental right \u2013 the right to vote. But we know that this milestone was only accomplished through a decades-long fight led by women of all backgrounds joining arm in arm, including women of color who fought alongside their white counterparts even though many of whom were still denied the right to vote after the 19th Amendment was ratified,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am honored to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure that the monument that honors the suffragettes and fight for women\u2019s right to vote is housed in its rightful place for the world to see, the National Mall. The National Mall is home to memorials for those who fought for our freedom, Presidents who defined our country, and the seat of our government, and it is only fitting that it also houses the Women's Suffrage National Monument. Wisconsin has been at the forefront of the fight for women\u2019s rights and I am proud to be continuing this long and proud tradition.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee has played a critical role in the women\u2019s suffrage fight since we became the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment \u2013 granting women the right to vote. I\u2019m pleased to join Senator Baldwin in this bipartisan legislation that will ensure the Women\u2019s Suffrage Monument is given its rightful place on the National Mall and honors the work of Susan B. Anthony and the trailblazers who fought ardently for future generations of women,\u201d said Senator Blackburn.\n\nThe monument will commemorate the women\u2019s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was first ratified in Wisconsin and last ratified in Tennessee.\n\n\u201cThe two-mile stretch of land that reaches from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is known as the National Mall,\u201d said Anna Laymon, Executive Director of the Women\u2019s Suffrage National Monument Foundation. \u201cFlanked by the White House, our national cultural institutions, and the halls of government, the National Mall is where \u201cwe the people\u201d showcase our history. It is the land that holds our national memory. And yet, walking the grounds of the National Mall today, you will encounter war memorials and monuments honoring civil rights heroes and past presidents. You will stand in awe of the giants who have earned their place in our national story. But you won't see women. With the support of Congress, that is all about to change.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin led a bipartisan group of women Senators in introducing and passing the Women\u2019s Suffrage Centennial Commission Act into law, creating a commission charged with planning and executing programs, projects and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment. Throughout 2020, this Commission told the story of women\u2019s fight for the vote, culminating in Senator Baldwin\u2019s resolution that designated August 2020 as National Women\u2019s Suffrage Month.\n\nFull text of this legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-container-life-cycle-managements-165-million-settlement-and-required-facility-upgrades", "Senator Baldwin Statement on Container Life Cycle Management\u2019s $1.65 Million Settlement and Required Facility Upgrades", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "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 the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement with Container Life Cycle Management LLC to address the company\u2019s air emissions and waste management violations at its container reconditioning facilities in St. Francis and Oak Creek and a former site in Milwaukee. The settlement requires the company to upgrade its facilities that will protect workers and nearby residents.\n\n\u201cI welcome the news that Container Life Cycle Management is being held accountable for their actions and required to upgrade its facilities because protecting the health and wellness of workers, community members, and our environment is not just the right thing to do, it is the law,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to have worked with workers and community members for the past five years to shine a light on these violations and bring justice to the community. Still, there is more work to be done. A recent EPA report highlights significant and ongoing problems at drum reconditioning facilities across the country, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration to help ensure laws and regulations protect workers and those who live nearby these facilities.\u201d\n\nFor more than five years, Senator Baldwin has been advocating for workers and neighbors who have been put at risk due to the company\u2019s violations of federal air and hazardous waste laws. At Senator Baldwin\u2019s request, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) opened investigations at the Container Life Cycle Management, owned by Greif, Inc. facilities in Wisconsin and have issued fines. Below are actions Senator Baldwin has taken to keep Wisconsinites safe:\n\nFebruary 15, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman Gwen Moore\u2019s Letter to the EPA calling for an investigation into the apparent violation of federal environmental protections.\n\nFebruary 15, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman Gwen Moore\u2019s letter to the DOT urging Secretary Chao to investigate the apparent violation of federal law that requires safe transportation of hazardous materials.\n\nFebruary 15, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman Gwen Moore\u2019s letter to OSHA calling on the agency to investigate the accounts of a hazardous and unsafe workplace that failed to protect workers from serious short-term hazards and long-term health impacts.\n\nMay 1, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin\u2019s Letter to OSHA requesting that OSHA investigate Oak Creek and St. Francis, in addition to the Milwaukee facility.\n\nMay 8, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman Gwen Moore\u2019s letter to the DOT requesting that the investigation be shared when complete\n\nJuly 28, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin\u2019s letter to OSHA again requesting that OSHA investigates Oak Creek and St. Francis, citing OSHA inspection referral guidelines.\n\nSeptember 5, 2017 \u2013 Senator Baldwin\u2019s letter to OSHA urging OSHA to use all authorities in going after Greif, specifically those outlined in a DOJ/OSHA MOU.\n\nOctober 12, 2017 \u2013 Sens. Baldwin and Donnelly\u2019s letter to EPA and OSHA imploring them to investigate Greif, Inc. at all sites nationwide.\n\nOctober 12, 2017 \u2013 Sens. Baldwin and Donnelly\u2019s letter to EPA and OSHA imploring them to investigate Greif, Inc. at all sites nationwide.\n\nAugust 4, 2022 \u2013 Senator Baldwin\u2019s letter to EPA requesting an update on the investigation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5104", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on House Passage of the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am so pleased to support this vital legislation, which helps our most vulnerable new mothers when they need assistance the most. This guidance for new parents -- from securing mental health screenings, to helping mothers with the breastfeeding process -- benefits both parents and their babies. MIECHV program\u2019s success speaks for itself: it supports children\u2019s development, improves mother\u2019s maternal health, and helps connect families to resources they need. The research shows, through repeated evaluation, this program is consistently proven to provide an improved outcome for families and children.\n\nI can speak personally to the improved outcomes having access to trained home visitors can make. When I was 18 years old, some 50 years ago, when I became a teenage mother, having a home visitor was such a blessing for me and my baby girl. I didn't even know how to change a diaper. As a new parent, I learned so many skills that I was struggling to learn as a single mother. The home visiting program was a fail-safe for me.\n\nIt brings me great joy that this reauthorization, named after my late colleague Jackie Walorski, who was such a champion of MIECHV programs, will improve funding for states and tribes, ensuring that more families can access this amazing resource.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-applauds-epa-taking-next-step-to-strengthen-renewable-fuel-standard", "Senator Baldwin Applauds EPA Taking Next Step to Strengthen Renewable Fuel Standard", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "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) released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) multi-part proposal to build on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The RFS requires annual volumes of renewable fuels, including ethanol, be used in the fuel supply to reduce emissions, improve energy security and lower costs.\n\n\u201cI appreciate the Biden Administrations commitment to growing our biofuel industry and today\u2019s announcement is a step in the right direction for our homegrown, clean energy economy,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cStronger RFS standards not only support Wisconsin corn growers and biofuel producers, but also generate savings at the pump for working families, lower carbon emissions, and increase our energy security. I\u2019ve been a proud advocate for Wisconsin\u2019s strong biofuels industry and look forward to continuing this work with the Administration to provide certainty for our farmers and our Made In Wisconsin renewable fuels economy.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin has long pushed the EPA to increase the biofuel volume under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to increase our energy security, cut pollution, and support Wisconsin\u2019s biofuels industry. Senator Baldwin is also a co-sponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Defend the Blend Act, which would prohibit the EPA from retroactively reducing RVO levels once the annual rule is finalized.\n\nThis proposal includes steady growth of biofuels for use in the nation\u2019s fuel supply for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Because the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) does not include volumes after 2022, this is the first time that EPA is setting these proposed biofuel volume targets without using those outlined in statute.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-leads-senate-resolution-commemorating-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-marine-protection-research-and-sanctuaries-act-of-1972", "Senator Baldwin Leads Senate Resolution Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "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), a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced a Senate Resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. The legislation has long protected our nation\u2019s maritime heritage by providing for the establishment of national marine sanctuaries across the United States. This Senate Resolution acknowledges the importance of national marine sanctuaries in conserving marine ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and supporting community resilience.\n\n\u201cFor decades, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act has helped preserve our natural waters while providing new opportunities for research, recreation and tourism across the country,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cLast year, I was proud to help establish the first national marine sanctuary in Wisconsin to preserve our Great Lakes and drive tourism, research and preservation efforts for communities along Lake Michigan. With this resolution, we are continuing our commitment to the strong Wisconsin tradition of preserving our natural resources for generations to come.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin successfully led the charge to bring a national marine sanctuary to Wisconsin. 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\nFull text of the Senate Resolution is available here and below:\n\nRecognizing the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, which provided for the establishment of national marine sanctuaries.\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, as of October 2022, the National Marine Sanctuary System is a nationwide network that conserves spectacular oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes waters;\n\nWhereas communities across the United States can nominate their most treasured places in 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 provide opportunities for community-Tribal partnerships to preserve the traditional ecological resources and cultural sites of local Indigenous peoples;\n\nWhereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, addressing climate change, and sustaining productive coastal economies;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries support coastal communities and generate billions of dollars annually in local economies 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, recreation, and stewardship, inspiring community-based solutions that help individuals understand and protect the most spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, archaeological resources, and cultural seascapes of the United States;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories to conduct cooperative science and research to improve resource management and advance innovative public-private partnerships;\n\nWhereas national marine sanctuaries can help make the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes more resilient by protecting ecosystems that sequester carbon, safeguarding coastal communities from flooding and storms, and protecting biodiversity;\n\nWhereas the United States is a maritime nation, and the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are central to the way of life of the people of the United States; and\n\nWhereas engaging communities as stewards of the waters protected as natural marine sanctuaries makes natural marine sanctuaries unique and provides a comprehensive, highly participatory approach to conserving marine eco-systems and the Great Lakes for current and future generations: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) recognizes and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972;\n\n(2) acknowledges the importance of national marine sanctuaries to supporting community resilience, protecting biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;\n\n(3) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary System to protect nationally significant places in the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes;\n\n(4) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to partner with communities and find consensus on designations of new national marine sanctuaries; and\n\n(5) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and work together to support the priorities of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-to-keep-railroads-open-and-wisconsin-economy-moving-forward-", "Senator Baldwin Votes to Keep Railroads Open and Wisconsin Economy Moving Forward", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "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 avoid a freight railroad shutdown:\n\n\u201cReliable rail service is essential to get Wisconsin\u2019s farmers, producers, and manufacturers\u2019 products to market and ensure families have access to the food and goods they need. I voted to keep our Made in Wisconsin economy moving forward and improve working conditions for rail workers nationwide. The impasse Congress, unfortunately, had to vote to resolve today was the direct result of the greed of the railroads and their Wall Street backers who have decimated the workforce and denied paid sick leave to workers in the service of ever higher profits. I am disappointed that our effort to ensure rail workers seven days of sick leave came up short, but moving forward, I will continue advocating for systemic reforms to protect rail workers and provide farmers, manufacturers, and consumers the fair rail service they deserve.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-colleagues-pass-resolution-to-designate-november-2022-as-national-hospice-and-palliative-care-month", "Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Pass Resolution to Designate November 2022 as \u2018\u2018National Hospice and Palliative Care Month\u201d", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her fellow co-chairs and co-founders of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), in passing a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 2022 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, observed in November, honors the work and dedication of long-term and palliative care providers and volunteers, and the critical services they provide to families and their loved ones facing serious illnesses. This resolution is endorsed by the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).\n\n\u201cServing as my grandmother\u2019s primary caregiver as she grew older, I know the world of difference it makes in someone\u2019s life to have compassionate palliative care,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have passed this bipartisan resolution to recognize the importance of palliative and hospice care, and look forward to continuing our work to improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans facing serious illnesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to have passed this resolution to designate November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cAs someone who took care of my parents and in-laws when they aged, I know just how critical access to quality long-term care and supportive services is. This resolution will recognize all the ways in which hospice and palliative care providers improve the quality of life of so many patients and their caregivers.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have experienced hospice care as both a doctor and family member,\u201d said Senator Barrasso. \u201cHospice lets patients enjoy the highest quality of life when they need it most. Our bipartisan resolution recognizes all of the dedicated hospice providers in Wyoming and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy marking November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we can raise awareness about the benefits this type of care can provide,\u201d said Senator Fischer. \u201cThrough our bipartisan work in the Comprehensive Care Caucus, we\u2019ll continue to promote access to quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt means a great deal to our providers to have this congressional honor from the Senate,\u201d said NHPCO COO and Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. \u201cThis year marks the fortieth anniversary of the first Proclamation recognizing November as National Hospice Month. Hospice and palliative care providers work tirelessly to meet patients and their families where they are with compassionate care that places the individual at the heart of their own healthcare decisions. We thank Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer for continuing this important tradition of honoring and supporting the hospice and palliative care community. \u201d\n\n\u201cOnce again, Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer should be commended for drawing attention to serious illness and the tremendous value of palliative care and hospice services for millions of individuals and their families across the nation,\u201d said Jon Broyles, CEO of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care. \u201cThank you for the introduction and passage of this bill to designate November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. We believe in access to high-quality, equitable serious illness care that reflects individual care preferences. This should cover needed palliative care and community-based services and supports, and hospice care. For C-TAC, educational efforts to share information on the value and need for palliative care and hospice and the staff and volunteers that provide this essential care is a year-round effort, and we are so pleased to have these issues highlighted each November by our friends in the U.S. Senate.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin has been committed to improving the quality of life for palliative care patients and their families. Senator Baldwin leads the bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act with her colleague Senator Capito (R-WV) and in 2021, she introduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act with Senators Barrasso, Fischer, and Rosen. The legislation would allow palliative care to be covered concurrently with curative treatment for illness under Medicare.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-passing-the-respect-for-marriage-act", "Senator Baldwin Statement on Passing the Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "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) released the following statement following the Senate vote, 61-36, to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.\n\n\u201cToday, an overwhelming majority of Senators stepped up to protect the freedoms and rights of millions of Americans in same-sex and interracial marriages. I\u2019m proud to have worked across the aisle to get the job done for millions of loving couples in Wisconsin and across the country,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cMillions of same-sex and interracial couples made this moment possible by living openly as their authentic selves, changing the hearts and minds of people around them. This legislation will protect the hard-fought progress we\u2019ve made on marriage equality and I look forward to the Respect for Marriage Act becoming the law of the land.\u201d\n\nVideo of Senator Baldwin\u2019s floor speech prior to the vote on final passage can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-collins-introduce-healthcare-for-our-troops-act", "Senators Baldwin, Collins Introduce Healthcare for Our Troops Act", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Healthcare for Our Troops Act, bipartisan legislation to provide premium-free medical insurance coverage for members of the National Guard and Reserve.\n\nThe Healthcare for Our Troops Act addresses the Chief of the National Guard Bureau\u2019s most pressing concern: healthcare for our troops, no matter the duty status. Sixteen percent of Reserve and National Guard members \u2013 roughly 130,000 men and women who have volunteered to serve our country \u2013 do not have private health insurance.\n\n\u201cOur National Guard and Reserve members make sacrifices every day to keep us safe, and yet too many of them struggle to access affordable health care. By providing these benefits, our service members will lead healthier lives, improve their readiness for deployment and devote more time to valuable training,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cProviding all service members with the health coverage they deserve is not only an investment in our national security, it is also the right thing to do.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring that all of our troops have access to health care is not just the right thing to do, but it enhances military readiness as well,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThroughout my Senate service, I have worked to ensure that America\u2019s service members receive the resources they need to defend our country. Our bipartisan bill would ensure that Guard and Reserve members maintain consistent and reliable health care, including the roughly 130,000 who currently lack private health insurance.\u201d\n\nThe Healthcare for Our Troops Act would provide premium-free, zero cost-sharing medical coverage for Selected Reserve members eligible for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and address financial barriers to seeking mental health care. In addition to providing health insurance, the legislation would require a study on eliminating annual physicals during drill and replacing them with forms to be completed by civilian providers to assess medical readiness \u2013 giving commanders back valuable training days and saving over $162 million annually in contracted medical assessments. The legislation would also create an incentive for employers to hire Guard and Reserve members by lessening demand for employer-sponsored healthcare plans.\n\nThis bill is a companion to bipartisan legislation introduced in the House, led by Rep. Kim (D-NJ) and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) with a group of 27 bipartisan cosponsors.\n\nA one pager on the legislation is available here.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-bipartisan-group-of-senators-tell-appropriators-americas-competitive-future-depends-on-fully-funding-chips-and-science-act", "Senator Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Tell Appropriators: America\u2019s Competitive Future Depends on Fully Funding CHIPS & Science Act", "2022-11-22", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167) recognized that both our national defense and economic security depend on advancing critical technologies and workforce skills\u2014from semiconductors to quantum computing to pharmaceuticals. During a period of increased global competition, including with technologically capable nations like China and Russia, the United States must increase investment in the science and technology innovation that has long underpinned our economic and security leadership.\n\nCHIPS and Science marks a significant bipartisan commitment to domestic manufacturing, regional innovation, and strong supply chains. Fully funded, it will foster an inclusive and highly-skilled 21st century workforce, expand scientific research and development across the nation, and unleash American innovation in emerging technologies. To that end, the law authorizes critical programs at the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Department of Energy (DOE).\n\nCongress has twice before authorized meaningful growth in our scientific enterprise through the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69) and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358). However, the lack of funding for these efforts prohibited agencies from fully delivering on their potential. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, key research agencies would have received $77 billion in additional dollars over the past 15 years under a COMPETES 2007 funding path. In 2013, the Government Accountability Office reported that only one of 28 new COMPETES programs was fully implemented and funded.\n\nDOC Regional Technology Hubs and Recompete Pilot Program: The CHIPS and Science Act authorized approximately $1.5 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for technology hubs, to stimulate technology innovation and workforce development in up to 20 geographically distributed regions. According to a Brookings Institution report, a third of the nation\u2019s innovation jobs reside in only 16 counties, despite significant untapped talent nationwide. Appropriating $1.5 billion in FY2023 will directly address this disparity, allowing DOC to award at least 20 grants for developing regional innovation strategies and to begin funding the business, technology, and workforce development activities of four to six geographically diverse regional hubs. Additionally, appropriating $100 million for Recompete will ensure that smaller, persistently distressed communities can develop science-driven economic strategies.\n\nNSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships: While the United States leads the world in basic research, growth in patenting activity has not kept pace with Asian competitors. In 2020, the Asia Pacific region received twice as many patent protections as North America in key fields. The CHIPS and Science Act authorized $1.5 billion in FY23 for research and related activities at the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate, to accelerate the translation of patent-protected research. TIP has already launched the Regional Innovation Engines program\u2014to build research partnerships between universities, industry, workers, and economic development organizations\u2014and attracted over 700 applications across every state and territory. Fully funding TIP in FY23 will allow NSF to establish at least 10 Engines and to help university technology transfer offices increase the patenting and startup activity needed to translate research into useful products.\n\nNSF Research and Workforce Development: The United States will have 9 million high-skilled job vacancies by 2030, jeopardizing our ability to compete globally. NSF has struggled to support promising scientists, with nearly $4 billion in unfunded highly rated research proposals in 2020. The CHIPS and Science Act sought to triple the size of the NSF\u2019s education efforts over 5 years, with an FY23 investment of $1.95 billion, and to grow NSF FY23 research and related efforts (outside of TIP) to $7.55 billion. Multi-year funding for TIP STEM activities alone could create more than 40,000 new scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships. Combined with the Act\u2019s commitment to dedicating 15.5% of key NSF accounts in FY 2023 to EPSCoR jurisdictions, fully funding NSF\u2019s research and workforce development programs will empower our community colleges to train skilled labor; increase opportunities at historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions as defined in section 10002 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-167); invest in the promising basic research and researchers; and support economic and scientific growth across America.\n\nNIST Manufacturing: According to McKinsey, American manufacturing has fallen by 25% since 1997. The impact of the pandemic and war in Ukraine have illustrated how this weakened domestic manufacturing base leaves the United States vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, risking domestic jobs, higher consumer prices, and limited options to procure components critical to the national defense. The CHIPS and Science Act expands the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and its work with small- and medium-sized manufacturers to improve cybersecurity, worker training, and supply chain resiliency. The MEP has a proven track record, creating and retaining 125,746 U.S. manufacturing jobs in 2021. The Act also seeks to strengthen education and workforce development activities at Manufacturing USA research institutes and to create up to ten new institutes in critical manufacturing fields, such as aviation, energy, healthcare, and agriculture. Fully funding MEP at $275 million and Manufacturing USA at $97 million will ensure that America\u2019s commitment to science translates into strengthening domestic manufacturing, small businesses, and job growth.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-colleagues-urge-omb-to-follow-through-on-chips-act-funding-authorizations-for-department-of-energy", "Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Urge OMB to Follow Through on CHIPS Act Funding Authorizations for Department of Energy", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "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 17 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is given the full amount of authorized funding allocated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. In their letter, the Senators emphasize that properly funding DOE will demonstrate the U.S.\u2019 commitment to remaining a leader in global research.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5102", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Speaker Pelosi", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI want to thank Nancy Pelosi for her service to Congress and the nation. There have only been 54 Speakers of the United States House of Representatives since the first Congress convened in 1789 and only a few have been as consequential as Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She is a skilled legislator with a tireless work ethic and a legendary toughness who has left her indelible mark on the history of this country.\n\nSpeaker Pelosi played a critical role in providing health care for millions through the Affordable Care Act, stabilizing the country after the Great Recession by passing financial reforms and economic relief, making historic investments in clean energy, securing equal pay for women legislation, seeing the country through its successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and inspiring a horrified nation on the evening of January 6, 2021, by presiding over the House as it finished its business of certifying the results of the election.\n\nI am so honored and blessed to have served under her leadership and I know our country has benefited from her tireless work in Congress.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-helps-secure-13m-to-improve-health-care-for-rural-communities-across-wisconsin", "Senator Baldwin Helps Secure $13M to Improve Health Care for Rural Communities Across Wisconsin", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 On National Rural Health Care Day, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $13 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across Wisconsin. The grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan, which Senator Baldwin supported. These grants will help 13 rural health care organizations expand critical services for rural residents in Wisconsin.\n\n\u201cEvery Wisconsinite deserves easy, affordable access to comprehensive health care. Too often, I hear from folks living in rural areas that are forced to delay or forgo care because of long drive or wait times to see a doctor,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThese grants funded through the American Rescue Plan will help equip our rural health care organizations with the facilities, staff and resources they need and allow more Wisconsinites to access the critical care they need to lead healthy lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday we are celebrating National Rural Health Care Day as a reminder that a strong community is rooted in its people,\u201d said Julie Lassa, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Wisconsin. \u201cHaving sustainable and accessible health care infrastructure in rural areas is critical to the health and well-being of the people living in small towns across Wisconsin. Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is promoting healthy communities through grants to make sure everyone has access to the health care they need.\u201d\n\nThe Emergency Rural Health Care Grants announced today will help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. The grants can also help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and Tribes solve regional rural health care problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. For example:\n\nHSHS St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital (Chippewa Falls) will use a $9.47 million grant to increase patient care capacity, improve long-term sustainability and address the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on Opioid/Substance/Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery. This project will address the limitations of the response to substance use disorders in rural communities drastically affected by the pandemic by establishing telemedicine hubs, access to peer support and monitoring as well as construction of pandemic accessible recovery spaces and care. The facilities and proposed service area is expansive and includes a focus on the following Wisconsin counties: Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Rusk, Shawano, and Washburn.\n\nAugusta Area Home Inc. in Eau Claire County will use a $346,151 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will allow the facility to continue to operate efficiently while addressing expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nBaldwin Care Center Inc. in St. Croix County will use a $382,769 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility aims to attempt to recapture pre-pandemic census levels and has a goal to attract/retain highly trained staff.\n\nBethany Home Inc. in Waupaca County will use a $458,278 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be used to replenish funds lost due to increased expenses including equipment and payroll costs related to the pandemic as well as decreased admissions and capacity limits.\n\nCentral Wisconsin Community Action Council Inc. in Adams County will use a $126,084 grant to expand the existing Adams County Food Pantry space located in Friendship. This project will include internal renovations to increase floor space and storage capacity from 850 to 2,100 square feet to accommodate the expanding needs of the local area due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nGlenhaven Inc. in St. Croix County will use a $720,832 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will allow the facility to continue to operate efficiently while addressing continuing raised expenses associated with the pandemic. The facility aims to recapture pre-pandemic census levels and has a goal to attract/retain highly trained staff.\n\nGood Shepherd Services LTD in Outagamie County will use a $146,515 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility had to limit occupancy due to social distancing restrictions and incurred additional expenses due to purchasing personal protective equipment and higher staffing costs. Funds will allow the facility to continue to operate efficiently while addressing continuing raised expenses associated with the pandemic.\n\nGrant Regional Health Center Inc. in Grant County will use a $533,750 grant to construct a satellite healthcare facility in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The facility will be located 12 miles from the main campus to better serve the local area population \u2013 decreasing travel times for residents in remote areas. The clinic will provide patients with high-quality healthcare including primary services as well rehabilitation, X-ray, and lab processing. The facility will also allow employers in that community to help retain their workforce, including the ability for workers to receive healthcare in town rather than driving out of town, potentially missing work time or relocating out of the community.\n\nPark View Home Inc. in St. Croix County will use a $27,131 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the lost revenue funds will be utilized to replenish funds lost due to increased expenses including equipment and payroll costs as well as decreased admissions and overall decline in census revenue related to the pandemic.\n\nSchmitt Woodland Hills Inc. in Richland County will use a $543,689 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2021 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting the census of the facility due to social distancing, restrictions and additional expenses incurred due to personal protective equipment and higher staffing costs. The funds will allow the facility to continue to operate efficiently while addressing continuing raised expenses associated with the pandemic.\n\nShawano Area Matthew 25 Inc. in Shawano County will use a $69,300 grant to complete renovations on the Shawano Area Matthew 25 Inc. (SAM25) Community Clinic. This project will provide assistance with the increasing cost of supplies, equipment, wages, and operating expenses. These funds are necessary to keep this low-cost/free, health clinic operational, and to expand medical resources such as treatments, exams, and COVID-19 lab and pharmacy services.\n\nThe Brick Ministries, Inc. in Ashland County will use a $154,500 grant to renovate the current food distribution and warehouse facility and lobby area. The renovation includes a reconfiguration of the floor plan for better flow, bringing the building up to code to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.\n\nWaushara County Food Pantry, Inc. will use a $198,000 grant to expand the food pantry and improve the facility to meet the rise in demand for products and services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds for this project will be used to cover the increased cost and need of additional refrigeration, greater food supply and new equipment, as well as staffing costs and operating expenses.\n\nSeveral recipients will make an impact on surrounding communities and will also benefit communities located in recently established Rural Partners Network (RPN) Community Networks:\n\nNorthwestern Wisconsin Community Network: August Area Home, Inc. and HSHS St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital\n\nGreater Menominee Community Network: HSHS St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital\n\nNorthern Wisconsin Community Network: The Brick Ministries, Inc.\n\nAdams County Visionary Community Network: Central Wisconsin Community Action Council Inc.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-floor-speech-on-respect-for-marriage-act", "Senator Baldwin Floor Speech on Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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 spoke on the Senate floor in support of her Respect for Marriage Act and the need to provide millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages the certainty that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages.\n\nA video of the speech can be downloaded here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-statement-on-advancing-the-respect-for-marriage-act", "Senator Baldwin Statement on Advancing the Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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 following the Senate vote, 62-37, to advance the Respect for Marriage Act.\n\n\u201cToday, we took a step forward in our fight to give millions of loving couples the certainty, dignity, and respect that they need and deserve. A bipartisan coalition of Senators stood with the overwhelming majority of Americans who support marriage equality. We came together to move the Respect for Marriage Act forward and give the millions of Americans in same-sex and interracial marriages the certainty that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to have worked across the aisle to earn broad, bipartisan support for this legislation, and look forward to making marriage equality the law of the land.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-and-johnson-lead-resolution-to-remember-first-anniversary-of-the-waukesha-christmas-parade-tragedy", "Senators Baldwin and Johnson Lead Resolution to Remember First Anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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 Ron Johnson (R-WI) introduced a bipartisan resolution to remember the anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy on November 21, 2021. The Senate resolution honors the 6 individuals who lost their lives and the 62 others who were injured.\n\n\u201cOne year ago, the Waukesha community was devastated by senseless violence during what should have been a joyous celebration,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI am proud to co-lead this resolution to honor the victims, our first responders and the impacted community members as we come together to heal from this tragedy and remember those we have lost too soon.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Waukesha Christmas Parade massacre was a horrific attack that never should have happened. Today, we remember those killed, injured and forever impacted by this senseless act of violence,\u201d said Senator Johnson. \u201cFamilies who came to see Santa Claus, high school bands and the Dancing Grannies instead witnessed a horror that will leave life-long psychological scars. My thoughts and prayers are with the community of Waukesha as they continue to recover from this tragedy.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the Senate Resolution can be found here and below.\n\nRecognizing the 1-year anniversary of the tragic attack at the Waukesha Christmas Parade on November 21, 2021, and honoring the 6 individuals who lost their lives and the 62 others who were injured.\n\nWhereas, on November 21, 2021, the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and the City of Waukesha Chamber of Commerce held the 58th annual Waukesha Christmas Parade, which has for more than 50 years brought residents of Wisconsin together to celebrate the holiday season with family, friends, and neighbors;\n\nWhereas attendees and participants of the parade included hundreds of children, families, and valued community institutions such as local law enforcement, public safety professionals, school groups, business leaders, and dance troupes, including the beloved \u201cDancing Grannies\u201d;\n\nWhereas, on the day of the parade, a perpetrator committed a senseless attack, driving through the parade barricades and ramming into the crowd of attendees and parade participants;\n\nWhereas police officers bravely attempted to intervene to stop the ongoing attack;\n\nWhereas the perpetrator caused the death of 6 individuals and the injury of 62 other individuals, including 17 children;\n\nWhereas local hospitals and health professionals cared for many of the injured, several of whom continue to suffer long term effects from their injuries;\n\nWhereas countless individuals were injured by the immeasurable and lasting trauma of witnessing the attack;\n\nWhereas, on October 26, 2022, a jury of 12 Wisconsinites found the accused perpetrator guilty on 76 counts, including 6 counts of first-degree intentional homicide;\n\nWhereas the Waukesha community continues to contend with the aftermath of the tragic attack and will do so for years to come;\n\nWhereas members of the Waukesha community will be stronger for having supported one another during and in the aftermath of the attack; and\n\nWhereas, despite such tragedy, the City of Waukesha and Waukesha Chamber of Commerce will continue the tradition of hosting the Waukesha Christmas Parade, which has brought joy to the community for more than half a century: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) recognizes the 1-year anniversary of the tragic attack at the Waukesha Christmas Parade on November 21, 2021, and condemns the attack in the strongest possible terms;\n\n(2) honors the memories of Tamara Durand, Wilhelm Hospel, Jane Kulich, Leanna Owen, Virginia Sorenson, and Jackson Sparks;\n\n(3) recognizes the strength of the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and the resilience of the community in response to the attack;\n\n(4) applauds the bravery of the first responders and medical professionals who responded to the attack and cared for the injured; and\n\n(5) offers heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and neighbors who lost loved ones in the attack.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-move-forward-on-bipartisan-respect-for-marriage-act-with-protections-for-religious-liberties", "Senators Move Forward on Bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act With Protections For Religious Liberties", "2022-11-14", "2022", "2022-11", "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), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement on moving forward with the Respect for Marriage Act:\n\n\u201cThe Respect for Marriage Act is a needed step to provide millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages the certainty that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages. Through bipartisan collaboration, we\u2019ve crafted commonsense language to confirm that this legislation fully respects and protects Americans\u2019 religious liberties and diverse beliefs, while leaving intact the core mission of the legislation to protect marriage equality. We look forward to this legislation coming to the floor and are confident that this amendment has helped earn the broad, bipartisan support needed to pass our commonsense legislation into law.\u201d\n\nThe Senators\u2019 bipartisan amendment:\n\nProtects all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution or Federal law, including but not limited to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and prevents this bill from being used to diminish or repeal any such protection.\n\nConfirms that non-profit religious organizations will not be required to provide any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.\n\nGuarantees that this bill may not be used to deny or alter any benefit, right, or status of an otherwise eligible person or entity \u2013 including tax-exempt status, tax treatment, grants, contracts, agreements, guarantees, educational funding, loans, scholarships, licenses, certifications, accreditations, claims, or defenses \u2013 provided that the benefit, right, or status does not arise from a marriage. For instance, a church, university, or other nonprofit\u2019s eligibility for tax-exempt status is unrelated to marriage, so its status would not be affected by this legislation.\n\nMakes clear that the bill does not require or authorize the Federal government to recognize polygamous marriages.\n\nRecognizes the importance of marriage, acknowledges that diverse beliefs and the people who hold them are due respect, and affirms that couples, including same-sex and interracial couples, deserve the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection of marriage.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is a narrow but important bill that would do two primary things:\n\nFirst, it would require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.\n\nSecond, the bill would guarantee that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple\u2019s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin, but the bill would not require a State to issue a marriage license contrary to state law.\n\nA one-pager on the amendment is available here and full text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5101", "Moore, Hudson, and Phillips Introduce Love Lives On Act", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Gwen Moore, Dean Phillips, and Richard Hudson introduced the Love Lives On Act, legislation that will allow surviving spouses of military service members, who make the ultimate sacrifice, to retain vital benefits if they remarry.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s vital that our country takes care of all surviving spouses of military service members, which is why I am so pleased to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort. Our bill, the Love Lives On Act, will make important changes to current policies for surviving spouses, ensuring more can access crucial benefits,\u201d said Rep. Moore.\n\n\u201cAs a Gold Star Son, my gratitude to our servicemembers and their families is immeasurable,\u201d said Rep. Phillips. \u201cWe always seem to find enough resources to send our men and women in uniform into harm\u2019s way, but we must ensure the families of those who do not return are given equal priority. Gold Star Spouses make unimaginable sacrifices and deserve unending respect and support. The Love Lives On Act is part of my mission to ensure our Gold Star Families have access every single benefit they are owed, and I\u2019m grateful to colleagues on both sides of the aisle for backing it.\u201d\n\n\"As Fort Bragg\u2019s Congressman, I believe our country owes a tremendous debt to the surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cIt takes great courage to pick up the pieces and move on. Therefore, we must ensure that surviving spouses can continue to move forward, free from the fear of losing the benefits owed to them through their late spouse\u2019s military sacrifice.\"\n\nSpecifically, this legislation will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-brings-home-7-million-investment-for-wisconsin-dairy", "Senator Baldwin Brings Home $7 Million Investment for Wisconsin Dairy", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "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), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, announced $22.9 million in awards to support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program, including over $7 million for Wisconsin. Sen. Baldwin authored the bill creating the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative program, successfully shepherding its passage in 2018.\n\nThe awards are part of the 2022 annual appropriations provided by Congress and are in addition to the $80 million in supplemental funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act awarded to the four DBI initiatives in June. This funding enables the DBI Initiatives to build on their achievements and continue to support producers in increasing processing capacity, making on-farm improvements, and offering technical assistance.\n\n\u201cThe Dairy Business Innovation Initiative has created brighter futures for many dairy farms who drive our rural economy forward. I am proud to have secured this critical funding in the 2022 government funding bill so that farmers, cheesemakers, and dairy processors can continue to innovate and develop new Made in Wisconsin dairy products,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAs our dairy economy faces supply chain challenges, federal dollars for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives will help Wisconsin dairy businesses to address those challenges, through growing their operations, modernizing their dairy plants and reaching new markets.\u201d\n\nThe $22.9 million in federal funding is being awarded noncompetitively to the four current DBI Initiatives at the California State University Fresno, the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin will receive $7,053,333.\n\n\u201cThe Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program is a unique and effective model that targets resources in ways that meet shared regional needs and builds upon local and regional dairy markets,\u201d said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. \u201cThis program is just another example of USDA\u2019s commitment to strengthening our nation\u2019s food systems by supporting local and regional producers.\u201d\n\nSince its inception in 2019, DBI initiatives have provided valuable technical assistance and sub-grants to dairy farmers and businesses across their regions, 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.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-applauds-biden-administration-rule-to-support-made-in-usa-masks-and-prevent-future-shortages", "Senator Baldwin Applauds Biden Administration Rule to Support Made in USA Masks and Prevent Future Shortages", "2022-11-07", "2022", "2022-11", "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 applauded a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u2019 (CMS) rule that encourages hospitals to buy American products and bolsters Made in America mask manufacturers. This announcement comes after Senator Baldwin led a group of colleagues in a letter encouraging CMS to take this action in June to support Made in America manufacturing and help prevent future shortages of lifesaving personal protective equipment.\n\n\u201cIt is not \u2018if,\u2019 but rather \u2018when\u2019 our country will face another health emergency, and to be better prepared to respond, we need to have a ready-supply of high quality, Made in America-manufactured masks,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAmerican companies and workers make second-to-none products and stand ready to support this effort to help prevent any future mask shortages and keep our communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate Senator Baldwin\u2019s leadership as a champion for the domestic manufacturing of critical surgical products and PPE,\u201d said Edward A. Pesicka, President and CEO of Owens & Minor. \u201cWe join the senator in applauding the administration\u2019s policy goal of ensuring that quality PPE is available to healthcare personnel when it\u2019s needed and incentivizing hospitals to use domestically produced products, helping to ensure a stronger and more resilient domestic supply chain.\u201d\n\nCMS made the announcement to boost domestic mask supply through their annual inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) rules, which they update annually to establish payment rates in Medicare.\n\nSenator Baldwin also led a bipartisan letter to the Department of Commerce to advocate for American mask and medical equipment manufacturers, calling for an investigation into the alleged dumping of Chinese-made products into the U.S. marketplace at low prices that create an unfair market for American manufacturers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-applauds-rural-partners-network-expansion-to-support-economic-development-in-wisconsin", "Senator Baldwin Applauds Rural Partners Network Expansion to Support Economic Development in Wisconsin", "2022-11-04", "2022", "2022-11", "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, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, applauded an announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice that the Rural Partners Network will expand to rural communities in Wisconsin to create local jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability. This announcement is part of President Biden\u2019s commitment to ensure all rural communities can benefit from federal resources, including historic funding provided by the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cThe Rural Partners Network will help bridge the gap between our federal government and Wisconsin's rural communities,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cBy expanding the reach of this program to our state, we can ensure every Wisconsin community has access to federal resources and opportunities for job creation, infrastructure, and community development.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that people in rural communities have every opportunity to succeed \u2013 and that they can find those opportunities right at home in rural America,\u201d Vilsack said. \u201cRural people make up America\u2019s spirit and character and provide the everyday essentials our country depends on. We know that when rural people thrive, America thrives. By expanding the Rural Partners Network, we can help these important but often overlooked communities receive their fair share of government resources to keep rural people and economies prepared for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural America is full of opportunities but these vital communities don\u2019t always have a way to navigate federal agencies or access the resources of the government,\u201d said Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice. \u201cThe Rural Partners Network is bringing federal staff directly to rural communities to ensure local leaders have access to federal resources as they build strong and vibrant economies.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Partners Network helps establish community networks in rural areas where local leaders and residents collaborate with civic and business organizations, nonprofits, service providers, development agencies and others to create new opportunities and build on the diversity of a region\u2019s population and perspectives.\n\nWith this announcement, the Rural Partners Network is expanding to the following community networks in Wisconsin: Northern Wisconsin Community Network including Ashland, Iron and Price counties; Greater Menominee Community Network including Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and Menominee County; Forest County Community Network; Northwestern Wisconsin Community Network including Eau Claire, Dunn, Clark, Buffalo, Pepin, and Chippewa counties; and Adams County Visionary Community Network.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-secures-462000-investment-for-wisconsin-tribes-climate-resiliency-projects", "Senator Baldwin Secures $462,000 Investment for Wisconsin Tribes\u2019 Climate Resiliency Projects", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Department of the Interior announced a $45 million investment in Tribal communities to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change, including over $462,000 for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and the Forest County Potawatomi Community. This federal funding is possible because Senator Baldwin and Democrats in Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the fiscal year 2022 government funding bill, which included $20 million and $25 million for these projects, respectively.\n\nThese Tribal Climate Resilience projects will support Tribes and Tribal organizations in adaptation planning, climate implementation actions, ocean and coastal management planning, capacity building, relocation, managed retreat, and protect-in-place planning for climate risks.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment to help Wisconsin communities deal with the impacts of climate change and build more resilient infrastructure for generations to come,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThese federal investments will allow Wisconsin\u2019s Tribes manage the current and future impacts of climate change, including protecting and revitalizing our Tribal lands and natural habitats.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndigenous communities are facing unique and intensifying climate-related challenges that pose an existential threat to Tribal economies, infrastructure, lives and livelihoods,\u201d said Secretary Deb Haaland. \u201cThrough the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making an unprecedented investment in Indian Country to help ensure that Native communities will have clean air, drinkable water, fertile soil and an overall good quality of life for generations to come.\u201d\n\nNationally, 124 awards will support 76 Tribes and 8 Tribal organizations. The following projects in Wisconsin will be funded under this announcement:\n\nThe Forest County Potawatomi Community was awarded $212,079 to implement their Sustainability & Climate Change Resilience Project. This project will help the Tribe implement sustainability and climate change resilience in the Tribal community, specifically by establishing the Tribe\u2019s Sustainability and Resilience Program. The Sustainability and Resilience Program will be managed by a Climate Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator who will prepare Tribal leadership, Tribal divisions, and the Tribal community to address predicted climate change impacts and in ensuring resilience of the Tribe, its members, and its culture, now and into the future.\n\nThe Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Tribe was awarded $250,000 for a project to implement actions in Lac du Flambeau\u2019s Tribal Climate Resiliency Plan (TCRP) or better known as Waaswaaganing Gaagige Bimaadiziwin Gaawin Geqaabi Naniizanasinoon. In the plan, 20 species were assessed for climate vulnerability through a climate change vulnerability index. This project focuses on species culturally sensitive to the Lac du Flambeau Community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-announces-101-million-investment-to-redevelop-port-of-green-bay-boost-regional-economy", "Senator Baldwin Announces $10.1 Million Investment to Redevelop Port of Green Bay, Boost Regional Economy", "2022-10-28", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Brown County will receive more than $10.1 million for the Port of Green Bay 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\nThis investment towards the redevelopment of the port is estimated to have a total economic impact of more than $87 million in the first five years and will create 20 jobs. The investment comes from the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), a program funded by the Baldwin-supported Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation. Senator Baldwin also advocated for this project, sending a letter of support to DOT.\n\n\u201cI supported this investment in the Port of Green Bay because it moves our Made in Wisconsin economy forward, creating and supporting good paying jobs and helping goods get to market efficiently,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe new and improved port will be a vital economic engine for Wisconsin, providing critical connections for our supply chains, moving our Made in Wisconsin products, and helping lower costs for families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe grant serves to support the long-term economic vitality of ports that are critical links to domestic and international trade markets,\u201d said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. \u201cThis grant award closes the gap on our journey to strengthen the Port of Green Bay for the regional economy and improve the redevelopment efforts of downtown Green Bay. Thank you, Senator Baldwin, for your support in helping us competitively secure this grant.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe infusion of these federal dollars makes possible a transformational reinvention of 35 acres of our City\u2019s downtown riverfront while strengthening the Port of Green Bay as an important economic engine of the region,\u201d said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich. \u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Sen. Baldwin, Sec. Buttigieg, and President Biden for recognizing the importance of this critical investment in our city\u2019s future, which is brightest when partners in the private and public sectors come together to do what\u2019s best for our communities and our people.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe redevelopment of the old WPS power plant into a state-of-the-art port facility will generate jobs and economic activity that will be transformational for Green Bay and NE Wisconsin,\u201d said Brown County Port and Resource Recovery Department Director Dean Haen. \u201cThis is a once in a lifetime opportunity and Brown County is very grateful for all the local, state, and federal support to make this a reality.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Brown County received $15 million through the Neighborhood Investment Fund program, funding made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act, to accelerate this project at the Port of Green Bay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-helps-secure-a-163-million-investment-in-madison-and-milwaukee-police-departments", "Senator Baldwin Helps Secure a $16.3 Million Investment in Madison and Milwaukee Police Departments", "2022-10-26", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WISCONSIN \u2014 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s announcement that Wisconsin will receive more than $16.3 million in grants to support the Milwaukee Police Department and Madison Police Department. The grants awarded to the Milwaukee Police Department will invest more than $15 million to hire 50 new officers to increase community policing capacity and deliver resources to train officers in crisis intervention for individuals who have behavioral health conditions and intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. The resources for the Madison Police Department will invest in officers\u2019 mental health and support the city\u2019s community policing efforts. Senator Baldwin sent letters of support for all of the projects awarded.\n\n\u201cI supported these investments because they will help keep our neighborhoods safe and give our police officers the resources they need to do their jobs safely, build trust in the community, and serve the people of Wisconsin,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThis investment from the Biden administration will boost proven public safety methods like community policing, ensure our officers have the training they need to respond to our neighbors in crisis, and hire the officers needed to reduce crime, build sustainable neighborhoods, and foster positive community relations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is no higher priority than improving public safety, and the Biden administration\u2019s investment in Milwaukee police officers is greatly appreciated,\u201d Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. \u201cSenator Baldwin\u2019s support, and the support of others, is particularly valuable as we work to reduce crime and make the entire region safer.\u201d\n\nThe grants for the Milwaukee Police Department include:\n\n$15,740,904 for FY 2022 COPS Hiring Program to hire 50 new police officers to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.\n\n$250,000 for FY 2022 Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program to provide advanced crisis intervention training for individuals who have behavioral health conditions, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities.\n\nThe grants for the Madison Police Department include:\n\n$175,000 for FY 2022 COPS Office Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for employees through expanding peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs.\n\n$175,000 for FY 2022 COPS Community Policing Development Microgrant to create Community Policing Advisory Boards in each of six police districts.\n\nThese resources are provided by the Senator Baldwin-supported FY22 Appropriations Legislation that increased investments in public safety, including an increase of 33% for the COPS program.\n\nSenator Baldwin\u2019s letters of support can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-helps-deliver-historic-water-infrastructure-funding-for-wisconsin", "Baldwin Helps Deliver Historic Water Infrastructure Funding for Wisconsin", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $79 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding to the state of Wisconsin for water infrastructure improvements. Senator Baldwin supported the infrastructure legislation in the Senate, which President Joe Biden signed into law last year.\n\nWisconsin has been awarded $79 million in capitalization grants from the infrastructure law through its State Revolving Funds (SRFs) program. EPA is directing this funding to Wisconsin\u2019s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs that provide communities with low-cost financing to improve their water infrastructure and ensure safe drinking water. These grants supplement $43 million in regular FY22 funding to Wisconsin\u2019s SRFs program. An additional $64 million in FY22 capitalization grants are forthcoming.\n\n\u201cEvery Wisconsin community needs access to clean drinking water and an environment free of toxic chemicals. Now we have an investment from the Environmental Protection Agency that will create jobs and help make that a reality,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThis is a major federal investment will help local communities in Wisconsin replace dangerous lead service lines and address PFAS contaminants so that we can provide safe and clean drinking water to people across our state. This federal funding will also help Wisconsin rebuild wastewater and storm water management systems, and build stronger infrastructure that is more resilient to damage from extreme weather events and flooding. We also have federal support to better protect our Great Lakes and waterways to ensure that they continue to serve as vital economic and recreational assets. I am proud to stand with the Biden Administration and deliver results for the people of Wisconsin.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Wisconsinite should have access to safe, clean drinking water. Period. We\u2019re proud of the progress we\u2019ve made over the last three years to invest in our water infrastructure\u2014from declaring 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water to investing in farmer-led water quality efforts to signing some of the first bipartisan bills addressing clean water in years,\u201d said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. \u201cI look forward to continuing this important work with support from the historic level of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help us make significant progress on ensuring clean water for every kid, family, and community in our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe historic investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is accelerating critical infrastructure upgrades in communities, especially those overburdened by water challenges,\u201d said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. \u201cEPA is proud to partner with Wisconsin to maximize the benefits of these resources \u2013 including modernized infrastructure, lead service line replacement, and increased resiliency to climate impacts \u2013 in communities where they\u2019re most needed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese investments will help address the water infrastructure crisis that is threatening our drinking water, our public health, and our communities,\u201d said Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin. \u201cThese investments will provide much-needed help to the people who have been most impacted by pollution and environmental harm \u2013 and will put the Great Lakes region on the path to providing clean, safe, and affordable drinking water for all.\u201d\n\nThe IIJA allocates more than $50 billion to EPA toward repairing the nation\u2019s essential water infrastructure, in turn helping communities access clean, safe, and reliable drinking water, prevent flooding, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, and safeguard vital waterways. EPA's SRFs are part of President Biden's Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits from certain federal programs flow to underserved communities. Furthermore, nearly half the funding available through the SRFs thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law must be grants or principal forgiveness loans that remove barriers to investing in essential water infrastructure in underserved communities across America.\n\nWisconsin has submitted and obtained EPA\u2019s approval of their plans for use of the FY22 funding announced today. Capitalization grants will continue to be awarded, on a rolling, state-by-state basis, as more states submit applications; states will also receive awards over the course of the next four years. Once grants are awarded, state programs will begin to deliver the funds as grants and loans to communities across their state.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-bipartisan-request-for-historic-rfs-set-rulemaking", "Senator Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Request for Historic RFS \u201cSet\u201d Rulemaking", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has joined a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish renewable volume obligations that are additive for all fuel types in the upcoming \u201cset\u201d rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter was led by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and the bipartisan group also highlighted additional actions EPA should take in order to maximize the use and benefit of biofuels, including updating lifecycle analysis for biofuel emissions and approving additional fuel registrations and pathways under the RFS.\n\n\u201cThrough this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America\u2019s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIn order to guard against sidelining decades of investment and the diverse workforce that supports biofuels, we request that EPA set the conventional target above 15 billion gallons, set advanced biofuel volumes that account for increased production capacity of fuels like sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, and ensure that renewable identification numbers (RINs) for emerging technologies and e-RINs are additive to existing volumes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the forthcoming \u2018set\u2019 rule, EPA has a golden opportunity to stimulate further growth in low-carbon fuel use and build on the successes of the Renewable Fuel Standard,\u201d said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. \u201cWe appreciate the efforts of Senator Thune, Senator Durbin, and other stalwart renewable fuel supporters to ensure EPA issues a \u2018set\u2019 rule that furthers the environmental and economic objectives of the original RFS program.\u201d\n\n\u201cA stronger RFS means more savings at the pump for working families, lower carbon emissions, and greater U.S. energy security,\u201d said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Senators Durbin, Thune, and other clean energy champions working to deliver the regulatory certainty we need to fast-track growth in the U.S. bioeconomy and shield motorists from volatile global oil prices. This is a vital opportunity to drive transformative progress in low-carbon transportation, and we look forward to working with EPA Administrator Regan, the White House, and leaders on Capitol Hill to tap the full potential of the RFS as a climate and energy solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we near EPA\u2019s announcement on the proposed Set rule, ACE applauds Senators Thune and Durbin for their leadership on a timely, bipartisan letter urging the Agency to utilize this historic opportunity to increase biofuel blending targets and take other important steps to leverage the role low carbon biofuels can and should play to address our nation\u2019s energy demands and meet the Administration\u2019s decarbonization goals,\u201d said Brian Jennings, CEO of American Coalition for Ethanol. \u201cNew incentives enacted by Congress will boost investments in clean fuel technologies that support action by EPA to expand the use of clean fuels like ethanol through future RFS targets.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe thank Senators Thune, Durbin, and others for highlighting the bipartisan support for continued growth in the Renewable Fuel Standard volumes,\u201d said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. \u201cWe appreciate the Senators\u2019 request that EPA build on the foundation of advanced biofuels and provide additional space for emerging volumes of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and other potential new biomass-based fuels.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Thune and Senator Durbin for leading a bipartisan coalition working to maximize the clean energy benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),\u201d said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC). \u201cWe keep hearing about the importance of strong policy to ensure that new technologies are developed, clean energy targets are hit, and U.S. global competitiveness is enhanced as we seek to reduce emissions and grow the economy. There is no better example than the RFS. We appreciate the recognition that an ambitious, multiyear RFS rule could be a game-changer for advanced biofuels, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), climate smart feedstock production, and transportation sector decarbonization.\u201d\n\n\u201cCorn growers appreciate the Senators\u2019 leadership and advocacy for renewable fuels with EPA,\u201d said Tom Hagg, president of the National Corn Growers Association. \u201cWe also urge EPA to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of the RFS in the pending rulemaking, building on the success of biofuels to do more to cut emissions and lower fuel prices.\u201d\n\nThis letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Michael S. Regan\n\nAdministrator\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\n\n1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20460\n\nDear Administrator Regan:\n\nWe write to request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish robust and expanded renewable volume obligations (RVOs) in its forthcoming \u201cSet\u201d rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Through this rulemaking, EPA will determine blending volumes according to a set of environmental and economic factors in the statute. Strong RVOs will be bolstered by numerous incentives and investments that are poised to increase biofuel blending and further reduce the carbon intensity of these fuels. Additionally, we request that EPA take supportive actions to provide regulatory certainty and afford new opportunities for these homegrown fuels to deepen their contribution to America\u2019s evolving energy landscape. Through this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America\u2019s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy.\n\nPrevious RVOs, backed by statutory volumes, established blending requirements for biofuels and sent an important signal to all levels of the renewable fuel value chain. Unfortunately, many of these RVOs were undercut by small refinery exemptions (SREs), and we appreciate EPA affirming the Tenth Circuit\u2019s decision and finding that RFS compliance does not cause disproportionate economic hardship and that the RFS has a negligible influence on fuel prices. With this matter settled, we hope we can look to the impending Set rule with confidence that future-year RVOs will not be eroded by SREs, but left to stand and maximize EPA\u2019s ability to drive higher utilization of these cleaner fuels.\n\nIn setting RVOs for 2023 and beyond, EPA can justify ambitious blending targets by leveraging recently extended and expanded incentive structures, including the second generation biofuel and biodiesel tax credits. As you know, these credits will parallel a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credit before they merge into an emissions-based clean fuel credit. Fuel credits will be complemented by expanded credits to capture and sequester carbon dioxide, including from biofuel production facilities, and additional support for ongoing agriculture production practice improvements, driving more value toward America\u2019s biofuel and farm economies. Together, these credits will incentivize continued low-carbon renewable fuel blending, providing significant value to consumers while maintaining a critical market for our farmers and generating a key source of high-quality animal feed and other value-added co-products.\n\nHowever, it bears clarifying that new fuels like SAF, as well as other new pathways for RFS compliance, such as electricity generated from biogas that may be proposed for so-called electric renewable identification numbers (e-RINs), must be accommodated in a fashion that is additive to existing fuel technologies and previous blending targets. They must also be subject to the same rigorous transparency, integrity, and lifecycle analysis standards as other renewable transportation fuels. Failure to do so will displace biofuels that have been foundational to decarbonizing the transportation sector, leave additional environmental gains on the table, and hinder industry growth. In order to guard against sidelining decades of investment and the diverse workforce that supports biofuels, we request that EPA set the conventional target above 15 billion gallons, set advanced biofuel volumes that account for increased production capacity of fuels like SAF and renewable diesel, and ensure that RINs for emerging technologies and e-RINs are additive to existing volumes.\n\nEPA can also justify ascending RVOs by recognizing the technological advances made by the biofuels sector and approving long-pending RFS fuel registration applications and pathway petitions. By rendering timely decisions for prospective advanced fuels, including those derived from corn kernel fiber that have already proven their efficacy and safety in states like California, EPA would add value to the bottom line of many biofuel operations and enable them to generate more fuel per bushel of feedstock while further reducing the carbon intensity of each gallon. Similarly, EPA can help scale-up SAF production by addressing in the Set regulatory barriers that deny certain biointermediates entry to SAF. Such actions would permit these biofuel producers to use at scale the investments they have made, access low-carbon markets, and pave the way for the next generation of renewable fuel innovation.\n\nWhen setting forward-year RVOs, EPA must also consider how record investments in biofuel blending infrastructure will facilitate meeting progressively higher blending targets by making higher blends more readily accessible to consumers. As you know, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in August $100 million in cost-sharing grants for blending infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks for blends above E10 and B5 through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). This round of funding follows $5.6 million in funding in April 2022 for blending infrastructure in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and South Dakota, which EPA projected would \u201cincrease the availability of biofuels by 59.5 million gallons per year\u201d across recipient states, as well as over $60 million delivered through other HBIIP awards made since 2020. Increased consumer access to higher blends will also be supported by $500 million for biofuel infrastructure and agriculture product market expansion.\n\nOf course, the most efficient way to promote higher blends is to provide the marketplace the certainty that fuels like E15 may be sold year-round, removing the costly deterrent of fuel switching. The president was correct to ensure uninterrupted sales of E15 during 2022 to provide consumers driving approximately 96 percent of light-duty vehicles a lower-cost fuel option while displacing Russian oil. Even during this time of sustained energy challenges, E15 was sold for as much a 96 cents cheaper per gallon than E10 under the emergency waiver. We encourage EPA to utilize any authority at its disposal to extend year-round E15 into the future. When paired with $2.8 billion in recently announced USDA funding, it would help ensure biofuels are able to maximally contribute to America\u2019s energy and climate needs from field to tailpipe.\n\nIn addition to setting robust blending targets, we request that EPA use the Set rulemaking as a timely opportunity to insert greater certainty and efficiency in the regulatory landscape of the RFS. As previously addressed, accurate and standardized lifecycle emissions modeling will not only assign appropriate tax credit values and motivate continued decarbonization of biofuels, but updated lifecycle emissions values also justify growth in RFS volumes to accelerate transportation decarbonization. Contemporary carbon intensity scoring will help settle recurring questions regarding the net environmental benefit of biofuels, permitting stakeholders to readily compare the carbon footprint of biofuels against other technologies. Finally securing reliable, EPA-endorsed lifecycle analysis will encourage increased use of biofuels in domestic low-carbon fuel markets and expand export opportunities to the growing number of countries turning to biofuels to meet their energy needs and climate action goals, such as Canada, India, and Japan. Accordingly, we urge you to culminate the stakeholder engagement conducted via EPA\u2019s public workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas emissions by formally adopting the Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory\u2019s GREET model for lifecycle analysis in the Set rule.\n\nWe agree with you that biofuels are ready to meet the moment and serve as a key element of American energy security, economic opportunity, and climate response. We greatly appreciate the actions and commitments the president provided last spring, which provided an emergency waiver for the sale of higher ethanol blends like E15. Steps like these not only allow for more homegrown ethanol to be sold across the United States in order to increase fuel supply, but they also provide consumers options for more affordable gasoline options at the pump. As such, we urge you to build upon these prior commitments and use the historic opportunity of the Set rule to establish robust forward-year RVOs and take the necessary accompanying regulatory steps to further realize the environmental and economic benefits of our biofuels sector. We look forward to working with you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-colleagues-urge-department-of-education-to-hold-predatory-for-profit-college-executives-accountable-for-scamming-students", "Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Urge Department of Education to Hold Predatory For-Profit College Executives Accountable for Scamming Students", "2022-10-18", "2022", "2022-10", "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) joined senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to use the Department of Education\u2019s authority to hold executives and owners of predatory for-profit colleges accountable for scamming students out of a meaningful education and saddling them with insurmountable student debt while they count their profits. Holding these executives personally liable would allow the Department of Education to recoup the federal funds spent to rescue students from the mountains of debt they are left with by the for-profit colleges that offer near meaningless degrees and no prospects for employment. It also would send a clear warning signal to current executives at for-profit colleges that the Department may hold them accountable if they continue to scam students.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to use your clear statutory authority under 20 U.S.C. \u00a7 1099c(e) to hold school owners and executives personally liable for scamming students and taxpayers and recoup funds related to certain student debt discharges, including closed school discharges, borrower defense discharges, and other discharges premised on misconduct by for-profit institutions of higher education,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cDespite the Department repeatedly finding that fraudulent for-profit colleges widely mislead students and misrepresented their costs, ability to transfer credits, and earning potential, their executives continue to take home huge profits. Too often, students are left saddled with debt and no career path while the executives at these institutions prioritize profits over student outcomes.\u201d\n\nThe Senators went on to emphasize that the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) gives the Department the authority to hold executives personally liable for the damage done by scamming students. While the Department has yet to use this authority, the Senators called on Secretary Cardona to use this power to recoup federal funds used to bail out students from the executives who took advantage of those students.\n\n\u201cThe HEA expressly authorizes the Department to recoup financial losses from individuals who \u2018exercise substantial control\u2019 over institutions, including owners, board members, CEOs, and other executives. The HEA also does not state that a Program Participation Agreement (PPA) signature is required to hold an owner, board member, CEO, or executive personally liable. On the contrary, the HEA allows the Secretary of Education to determine substantial control as a person who, \u2018directly or indirectly controls a substantial ownership interest in the institution,\u2019 or \u2018represents [\u2026] substantial ownership interest in the institution,\u2019\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThe public record, however, is devoid of any instance where the Department has exerted its authority to hold executives and owners personally liable. As a result, the federal government shoulders the full financial burden of schools\u2019 misdeeds while executives face little personal risk for continuing to take advantage of both students and taxpayers,\u201d they continued.\n\nThe Senators concluded their letter by requesting a response to six questions that focused on the financial damage that for-profit colleges have inflicted on students and what actions have been taken to hold for-profit college executives liable for their role in leaving students drowning in debt without a viable degree.\n\n\u201cStudents and taxpayers should not be left holding the bag when predatory for-profit colleges and executives cause lifelong damage to students' educational and financial well-being, nor should the Department adopt positions that encourage executives to prey on students. We strongly urge the Department to work swiftly to leverage its authority in the future and retroactively to better hold bad actors accountable for their actions. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt response,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn August, the Department of Education cancelled $96 million in loans to nearly 5,000 Wisconsin borrowers who attended ITT Technical Institute, following its widespread and pervasive misrepresentations regarding job placement, credit transfer, and program accreditation. Prior to shuttering, ITT Tech operated campuses in Madison, Greenfield, and Green Bay. In June, the Department cancelled $36 million in loans to more than 3,000 people in Wisconsin who attended Everest College in Milwaukee, which was operated by Corinthian Colleges. Corinthian ceased operations after fraudulent behavior, including misrepresentations regarding its job placement rates, which it alleged were as high as 90% when the placement rate was as low as 5%.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Cardona:\n\nWe applaud the Department of Education\u2019s (\u201cthe Department\u201d) recent and ongoing efforts to clear the backlog of borrower defense to repayment claims that the Trump Administration allowed to accumulate. Students who were defrauded by some of the worst actors in the for-profit college industry, including Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute, and Westwood College, have finally received the relief they deserve after years of waiting. As the Department rights these wrongs, we urge you to use your clear statutory authority under 20 U.S.C. \u00a7 1099c(e) to hold school owners and executives personally liable for scamming students and taxpayers and recoup funds related to certain student debt discharges, including closed school discharges, borrower defense discharges, and other discharges premised on misconduct by for-profit institutions of higher education.\n\nDespite the Department repeatedly finding that fraudulent for-profit colleges widely mislead students and misrepresented their costs, ability to transfer credits, and earning potential, their executives continue to take home huge profits. Too often, students are left saddled with debt and no career path while the executives at these institutions prioritize profits over student outcomes. ITT Technical Institute\u2019s CEO, Kevin Modany, made more than $7.5 million from his salary, bonus, and stocks in 2009, a year when the majority of Americans were still navigating the Great Recession.[1] Corinthian College\u2019s executives were paid nearly $1 million in bonuses weeks before its disastrous collapse.[2] When owners and executives are not held personally accountable, they continue to take home large profits as students and taxpayers end up holding the bag.\n\nIn a 1991 House Committee on Education and Labor hearing, former Inspector General Thomas recommended that the 1992 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) should, \u201crequire owners of corporate proprietary schools to be personally liable for school losses.\u201d[3] The HEA expressly authorizes the Department to recoup financial losses from individuals who \u201cexercise substantial control\u201d over institutions, including owners, board members, CEOs, and other executives.[4] The HEA also does not state that a Program Participation Agreement (PPA) signature is required to hold an owner, board member, CEO, or executive personally liable. On the contrary, the HEA allows the Secretary of Education to determine substantial control as a person who, \u201cdirectly or indirectly controls a substantial ownership interest in the institution,\u201d or \u201crepresents [\u2026] substantial ownership interest in the institution.\u201d[5]\n\nThe public record, however, is devoid of any instance where the Department has exerted its authority to hold executives and owners personally liable. As a result, the federal government shoulders the full financial burden of schools\u2019 misdeeds while executives face little personal risk for continuing to take advantage of both students and taxpayers. During an October 2021 House Education and Labor Committee hearing, Chairman Scott urged Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer (COO) Cordray to use the Department\u2019s personal liability authorities to recoup federal funds instead of leaving taxpayers on the hook for the misdoings of unscrupulous institutions. Mr. Cordray agreed.[6]\n\nNearly a year later, the Department has approved more than $14.5 billion in loan discharges for nearly 1.1 million borrowers, but has failed to hold Corinthian College, ITT Technical Institute, and other higher education profiteers accountable for their predatory practices.[7] In a March 31, 2022, letter to Chairman Scott, Under Secretary Kvaal asserted that because the Department \u201cdid not require the owners of [certain] institutions to assume for losses by co-signing the [PPAs], [\u2026] there is no clear path to collect liabilities from entities or individuals associated with the shuttered institutions.\u201d[8] While we appreciate that the Department has amended its practices with respect to signatories on those agreements, and \u201crecently denied an institution\u2019s application to be recertified to participate in the Federal financial aid programs after an entity owner refused to sign the institution\u2019s PPA,\u201d there is nothing in the HEA that limits the application of personal liability to those individuals who signed a PPA.[9]\n\nAfter issuing nearly $6 billion of loan forgiveness for defrauded former Corinthian Colleges students on June 13, 2022, the Department said it did not have the authority to pursue owners and executives for debts related to these discharges.[10] Furthermore, the proposed regulations from the Department\u2019s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on this issue state that the federal government would recoup only two percent of borrower defense discharges from companies and individuals responsible. This is contrary to what the HEA authorizes and what COO Cordray agreed to do. This stance also greenlights executives to continue to prey on students while lining their pockets.\n\nGiven the ongoing obscurity around this policy, we request your response to following questions by X:\n\n1. Please provide an accounting of the total losses to the federal government due to students being defrauded by the following colleges:\n\n\u25cb Institutions owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc.;\n\n\u25cb Institutions owned by ITT Educational Services;\n\n\u25cb Westwood College;\n\n\u25cb Kaplan Career Institute;\n\n\u25cb Marinello Schools of Beauty;\n\n\u25cb DeVry University; and\n\n\u25cb Minnesota School of Business and Globe University.\n\n2. When providing this accounting, please show, with respect to each school, the total amount recovered from any individual executive, owner, or board member.\n\n3. Please provide an explanation for the Department\u2019s position that it lacks legal authority under 20 U.S.C. \u00a7 1099c(e) to hold college executives personally liable for losses to students and taxpayers.\n\n4. In the wake of approving student loan debt relief for students who attended Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, the Department said it would not hold former owners or executives personally liable.[11] Please provide an explanation for this decision.\n\n5. Please explain the apparent inconsistencies between Mr. Cordray\u2019s testimony to Chairman Scott and Under Secretary Kvaal\u2019s March 2022 letter to Chairman Scott regarding the Department\u2019s authority to hold individual owners and executives personally accountable.\n\n6. Personal liability is designed to deter future misconduct. When former owners and executives walk away unscathed, they are incentivized to prey on students and taxpayers in the future. Since PPAs can include specific conditions for an institution to receive Title IV funding, as former Secretary DeVos used in the 2020 case with Florida Coastal School of Law, they can act as a deterrent for this predation.[12] We applaud the Department\u2019s updated PPA signature requirements, insofar as they make it explicit to schools that the HEA provides the Department the authority to hold \u201centities\u201d liable if they have a significant effect on a school\u2019s administrative capability or financial responsibility. Please clarify whether an individual could be considered an \u201centity\u201d if the individual meets the criteria in the Department\u2019s updated requirements. Going forward, how will the Department determine how much to recoup from a person who \u201cexercises substantial control?\u201d\n\nStudents and taxpayers should not be left holding the bag when predatory for-profit colleges and executives cause lifelong damage to students' educational and financial well-being, nor should the Department adopt positions that encourage executives to prey on students. We strongly urge the Department to work swiftly to leverage its authority in the future and retroactively to better hold bad actors accountable for their actions. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-khanna-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-medicare-define-alternative", "Pocan, Khanna Introduce Bill to Strengthen Medicare, Define Alternative Plans", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of the Medicare Open Enrollment period, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) are introducing the \"Save Medicare Act\" to rename so-called \"Medicare Advantage\" plans, prohibit private insurers from using \"Medicare\" in plan titles or advertisements, and impose significant fines for any insurer that engages in this deceptive practice.\n\n\"Only Medicare is Medicare. It is one of the most popular and important services the government provides,\" Rep. Pocan said. \"We should be working to expand this service to include coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care, as well as looking at ways to strengthen it rather than allowing these \u2018Medicare Advantage' programs to provide pale alternatives to what Medicare does. These non-Medicare plans run by private insurers undermine traditional Medicare. They often leave patients without the benefits they need while overcharging the federal government for corporate profit. This bill eliminates any confusion about what is \u2013 and what is not \u2013 Medicare, and ensures this essential program will continue to serve seniors and other Americans for years to come.\"\n\n\"\u2018Medicare Advantage' is just private insurance that profits by denying coverage and the name is being used to trick seniors into enrolling. That's not right,\" said Rep. Khanna. \"This bill will prevent these private insurers from labeling themselves as \u2018Medicare' and allow us to focus on strengthening and expanding real Medicare instead.\"\n\n\"So-called Medicare Advantage is neither Medicare nor an advantage,\" said Wendell Potter, President of the Center for Health and Democracy. \"It is simply another scheme by the insurance companies to line their pockets at the expense of consumers. I applaud Congressman Pocan and Congressman Khanna for introducing this vital legislation. The health care market is confusing for consumers and misleading branding like so-called Medicare Advantage just makes it worse.\"\n\n\"Medicare is a national treasure, delivering real value to millions of older adults and people with disabilities,\" Diane Archer, Senior Advisor at Social Security Works and President of Just Care USA said. \"Corporate insurance plans too often lean on Medicare's good name to mislead people into signing up with them. Rep. Pocan and Rep. Khanna's bill would put an end to this practice.\"\n\nAccording to a recent New York Times article, \"8 of the 10 largest Medicare Advantage insurers \u2013 representing more than two-thirds of the market \u2013 have submitted inflated bills\u2026and four of the five largest players \u2013 United Health, Humana, Elevance, and Kaiser \u2013 have faced federal lawsuits alleging that efforts to overdiagnose their customers crossed the line into fraud.\"\n\nAdditionally, according to the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's 2022 report to Congress, at least $12 billion in overpayments were made to Medicare Advantage plans in 2020 by the federal government.\n\nThe \"Save Medicare Act\" will eliminate the confusion private insurers have relied upon for years to enroll unsuspecting seniors, and restore true Medicare as the primary health plan older Americans rely on.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-applauds-40-million-american-rescue-plan-investment-for-wisconsin-to-expand-access-to-affordable-high-speed-internet", "Senator Baldwin Applauds $40 Million American Rescue Plan Investment for Wisconsin to Expand Access to Affordable, High-Speed Internet", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded an announcement from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that Wisconsin will receive over $40 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expedite Wisconsin\u2019s efforts to expand access to high-speed internet across the state. The federal funding will support Governor Evers\u2019 plan to use the funding to connect more than 8,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. The federal funding will come to Wisconsin from Treasury\u2019s Capital Projects Fund (CPF).\n\n\u201cI voted for the American Rescue Plan because it has helped us build a stronger economy in Wisconsin and make a real difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cAffordable and reliable high-speed internet is essential to Wisconsin families, students, small businesses, and farmers. This investment from the Biden Administration will help us connect more homes and businesses and close the digital divide so more Wisconsinites can get the telehealth they need, work from home, and participate in remote learning.\u201d\n\nThe plan submitted to Treasury by Governor Evers and being approved represents 21% of the state\u2019s total allocation under the CPF program. The state\u2019s award will fund the Wisconsin Broadband Infrastructure Projects program, a competitive grant program that aims to invest in broadband infrastructure projects designed to provide consistent, reliable service to households that currently lack consistent speeds of 100/20 Mbps. The program is designed to provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to locations upon project completion. The funding will be invested in grants and planning resources awarded by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to internet service providers to bring high-speed broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations throughout the state. Treasury has indicated that the goal of the funding is to expand the availability of reliable, affordable broadband infrastructure and other digital connectivity technology through critical capital projects.\n\nWisconsin submitted plans for the remainder of their CPF funds and these plans are currently under review by Treasury and expected to be approved and announced at a later date. Wisconsin\u2019s CPF funds will complement $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds the state has already committed for its State Broadband Expansion Grant Program using a portion of its State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocation, which it estimates will serve more than 31,000 residential and business locations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-leads-117-members-of-congress-in-asking-the-biden-administration-to-request-budget-funding-that-adequately-reflects-the-presidents-priority-to-advance-lgbtqi-rights-around-the-world", "Senator Baldwin Leads 117 Members of Congress in Asking the Biden Administration to Request Budget Funding that Adequately Reflects the President\u2019s Priority to Advance LGBTQI+ Rights Around the World", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "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) led a group of 117 members of Congress in asking that the Biden Administration request sufficient FY24 budget funding for LGBTQI+ programs in line with the President\u2019s Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World.\n\n\u201cIt is our sincere hope that the President\u2019s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request will adequately and accurately reflect the Biden Administration\u2019s priority to advance LGBTQI+ rights around the world,\u201d the members of Congress wrote to Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.\n\nThe President\u2019s Memorandum states it is \u201cthe policy of the United States to pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and to lead by the power of our example in the cause of advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe stand committed to the global movement for LGBTQI+ equality and hope that the forthcoming FY24 PBR will be in alignment with these values,\u201d the members wrote.\n\nThe letter was led in the House by Representative David Cicilline (D-RI-01) and also signed by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL-24), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garcia (D-IL-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA-47), Mark Takano (D-CA-41), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI-11), Anthony G. Brown (D-MD-04), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16), Alma S. Adams (D-NC-12), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA-04), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-04), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-04), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Tony C\u00e1rdenas (D-CA-29), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10), Jerrod Nadler (D-NY-10), Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Juan Vargas (D-CA-51), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35), William R. Keating (D-MA-09), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA-33), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY-20), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-33), Peter Welch (D-VT), Marie Newman (D-IL-03), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL-10), Karen Bass (D-CA-33), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI-05), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Katie Porter (D-CA-45), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA-29), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI-04), Brad Sherman (D-CA-30), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-07), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-15), Doris Matsui (D-CA-06), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA-44), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH-11), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH-02), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Andy Kim (D-NJ-03), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Brendan F. Doyle (D-PA-02), John B. Larson (D-CT-01), Scott H. Peters (D-CA-52), Mondaire Jones (D-NY-17), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-05), Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva (D-AZ-03), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Sharice L. Davids (D-KS-03), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found below or here.\n\nDear Director Young:\n\nAs you work to craft the President\u2019s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024, we request that you include sufficient funding for LGBTQI+ programs in line with the President\u2019s Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World (hereafter \u201cMemorandum\u201d). Unfortunately, for successive years, funding included in annual budget submissions have fallen short and instead relied on congressional support to increase funding for these critical programs within the State and Foreign Operations accounts.\n\nAs the Memorandum states, it is \u201cthe policy of the United States to pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and to lead by the power of our example in the cause of advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world.\u201d The Memorandum recognizes the need to increase our efforts to combat criminalization and discrimination and improve our engagement to promote respect for the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.\n\nIntegral to these efforts is sufficient funding of local LGBTQI+-led civil society organizations around the world. However, budget requests for global LGBTQI+ human rights and development programs at the State Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have largely remained flat. Of even greater concern is that budget requests have, at times, requested less funding than that previously enacted by Congress. Insufficient funding risks undercutting the Administration\u2019s stated priorities and the needs of global LGBTQI+ movements facing democratic backsliding, a proliferation of anti-LGBTQI+ laws and policies, and continued stigma and discrimination.\n\nBoth the State Department\u2019s Global Equality Fund (GEF) and USAID\u2019s Inclusive Development Hub\u2019s Protection of LGBTQI+ Persons face significant resource constraints amidst overwhelming demands for funding. The GEF can only fund an estimated 15 percent of the requests it receives from embassies around the world. Additionally, U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Jessica Stern has pointed to funding gaps for LGBTQI+-led organizations in Congressional briefings. Similarly, USAID Administrator Samantha Power noted in a July 2021 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing\n\nthat USAID\u2019s LGBTQI+ programs were only able to fund roughly 16 percent of the proposals it received from Missions. This sentiment was reflected in the Interagency Report on the Implementation of the Presidential Memorandum, which noted that the \u201cLGBTQI+ budget is one of the smallest in the agency. Its size is far less than demand from Missions.\u201d\n\nThese funding gaps stymie the U.S.\u2019s ability to attain the goals of the Memorandum, despite documentation demonstrating how these funding streams are instrumental in advancing LGBTQI+ rights. For example, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) successfully led two litigation efforts to overturn anti-LGBTQI+ laws and policies, including the ability to legally register as an LGBTQI+ organization and, most recently, to decriminalize same-sex relationships in Botswana. The GEF was able to assist these efforts, providing SALC and LEGABIBO with the support to win these landmark cases.3 Likewise, USAID\u2019s programs have funded LGBTQI+ inclusive development efforts, such as the creation of toolkits to enhance security protections for organizations working with key populations - including gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender people - on HIV programming.4 Each of these programs, and the countless others funded through the GEF and USAID\u2019s LGBTQI+ programs, enable the United States to live up to the values included within the Memorandum.\n\nIt is our sincere hope that the President\u2019s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request will adequately and accurately reflect the Biden Administration\u2019s priority to advance LGBTQI+ rights around the world. To this end, we urge you to include $40 million for the State Department\u2019s Global Equality Fund and $30 million for USAID\u2019s Inclusive Development Hub\u2019s Protection of LGBTQI+ Persons in the FY24 budget. This level of funding will ensure that we are adequately supporting the U.S.\u2019s efforts to protect and advance LGBTQI+ rights around the world. Additionally, a strong level of funding in the budget will assist our efforts to secure additional resources for these lifesaving programs as a part of the annual appropriations process by emphasizing that global LGBTQI+ programming has the full support of the White House and the agencies themselves.\n\nWe stand committed to the global movement for LGBTQI+ equality and hope that the forthcoming FY24 PBR will be in alignment with these values. We thank you for your consideration of our request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-visits-world-dairy-expo-to-tout-made-in-wi-agriculture-portage-to-celebrate-american-rescue-plan-funding-", "Baldwin Visits World Dairy Expo to Tout Made in WI Agriculture; Portage to Celebrate American Rescue Plan Funding", "2022-10-06", "2022", "2022-10", "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 visited the World Dairy Expo to meet with the Wisconsin dairy producers feeding the America and Portage to learn about how the city is using $425,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support the Portage Fire Department and help residents replace lead pipes.\n\nAt the World Dairy Expo, Senator Baldwin met with leaders of the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and the Dairy Business Association to discuss the Senator\u2019s work as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture to ensure farmers, producers, ranchers, and food businesses have the resources they need to thrive, through risk management tools, market access support, and rural economic development. Senator Baldwin underscored the ongoing investments she has secured for the Made in Wisconsin agriculture community through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, including the partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture, the Wisconsin Cheesemakers, and the Center for Dairy Research to advance the innovative ideas of dairy entrepreneurs across the Badger State.\n\nIn Portage, Senator Baldwin joined Portage Mayor Mitchel Craig, Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase, and city leadership to highlight the $325,000 federal investment from the Baldwin-supported ARPA to help purchase a new aerial fire truck for the Portage Fire Department to help keep Portage residents safe. Portage is also receiving $100,000 in ARPA funds to establish a lead pipe replacement program to help homeowners replace lead laterals and keep families healthy for generations to come. This funding in clean water comes alongside an additional $142.7 million investment in safe drinking water and clean water infrastructure that Wisconsin will see this year from the Baldwin-supported Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\nAn online version of this release is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-colleagues-to-commerce-department-prevent-stock-buybacks-by-corporations-that-receive-chips-act-funds", "Baldwin, Colleagues to Commerce Department: Prevent Stock Buybacks by Corporations That Receive CHIPS Act Funds", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "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. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Bill Foster (D-IL) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the Commerce Department to strengthen and enforce critical protections against the abuse of funds provided under the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act for stock buybacks and promising continued Congressional oversight over the Department\u2019s implementation of its commitments.\n\n\u201cWe were encouraged by the Department of Commerce\u2019s (Department) recent commitments to \u201censuring the effective, efficient and accountable use\u201d of the $52 billion Congress appropriated for bolstering our domestic semiconductor manufacturing, research, and design capacity, including making certain that awards are not used as \u201ca subsidy for companies to make them more profitable or enable them to have more cash for stock buybacks or to pad their bottom line(s),\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe CHIPS Act provides $52 billion in funding to build and modernize U.S. semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The Department of Commerce is tasked with distributing this assistance to semiconductor manufacturers. While the legislation specifically prohibits the use of CHIPS funds for stock buybacks and dividend payments, these restrictions do not explicitly prohibit award recipients from using CHIPS funds to free up their own funds, which they can then use for those purposes.\n\nAmerica\u2019s largest semiconductor companies have spent hundreds of billions on stock buybacks in recent years. Since 2005, Intel has spent over $100 billion on buybacks. Texas Instruments has spent $48 billion on buybacks in the same period, including nearly $14 billion in the last five years alone. Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Micron have all announced $10 billion stock buyback authorizations in recent years. IBM routinely engages in multi-billion-dollar buybacks. In total, five of these companies \u2013 Intel, IBM, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Broadcom \u2013 alone engaged in nearly $250 billion in stock buybacks from 2011 to 2020.\n\nThe letter encourages the Commerce Department to strengthen and enforce commitments released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which \u201cis working closely with the Office of the Secretary to plan for the implementation of the Department of Commerce\u2019s CHIPS Act programs.\u201d These commitments included ensuring that CHIPS funds are not used to indirectly \u201cenable\u201d buybacks, that the Department \u201cclawback funds or pursue other remedies if companies misuse taxpayer dollars,\u201d and that the Department \u201cdevelop other guardrails\u2026to maximize the public purposes of federal investments and prevent companies from seeking to evade statutory requirements.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile the existing guidelines are a productive start, we urge and expect the Department to announce additional protections and to refine its existing guidance over the coming weeks and months. We also ask that the Department ensure all of these commitments are incorporated into any future Notice(s) of Funding Opportunity arising from the program and are supported by the resources necessary to ensure robust oversight,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-thune-lead-a-dozen-bipartisan-colleagues-in-pushing-the-fcc-to-increase-speed-and-expand-access-to-broadband", "Baldwin, Thune Lead a Dozen Bipartisan Colleagues in Pushing the FCC to Increase Speed and Expand Access to Broadband", "2022-10-04", "2022", "2022-10", "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. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in pushing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action to increase broadband speed requirements in its existing programs so that Americans, particularly in rural and underserved areas, have access to the download and upload speeds necessary to participate in telehealth, telework, and remote learning.\n\nThe Senators wrote, \u201cWithout agency action, the FCC risks leaving Americans in rural areas behind. We respectfully urge the FCC to take action to enhance these programs as soon as possible. Doing so will position the FCC to better respond to the needs of our constituents living and working in rural high-cost areas. We appreciate your work to bring fast, reliable, and affordable broadband to every American.\u201d\n\nThe FCC is considering proposals to update two programs \u2013 the Alternative Connect American Cost Model (ACAM) and Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) \u2013 that help connect people in rural America to affordable broadband services that are provided by local, smaller telecom companies. These updates, which would extend financial support in exchange for commitments to serve more people at higher broadband speeds, would connect thousands more Wisconsinites to the kind of internet service necessary to participate in Wisconsin\u2019s modern digital economy.\n\nThe letter urges the FCC to move forward with updates to these programs that would give more Wisconsinites access to higher-speed broadband than what is currently required.\n\n\u201cWSTA appreciates the leadership of Senators Tammy Baldwin and John Thune as they encourage the FCC to adopt ACAM enhancements and CAF BLS updates,\" said Bill Esbeck, Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association. \"Moving forward with both proposals will facilitate additional broadband deployment and ensure continued network sustainability and reliability. Senators Baldwin and Thune should be commended for their support of rural broadband providers across the country.\"\n\n\u201cOn behalf of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association and the rural, community-based providers we represent, I thank Senators Tammy Baldwin and John Thune for leading a letter, along with other Senators, encouraging the FCC to move forward with updates to the Alternative Connect America Model and Connect America Fund-Broadband Loop Support mechanisms. The updates under consideration would ensure more widespread access to better broadband on a more affordable and sustainable basis for millions of rural Americans, accelerating efforts to close the digital divide and complementing the early stage efforts to promote broadband deployment just beginning at other agencies,\u201d said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Gary Peters (D-MI).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Chairwoman Rosenworcel:\n\nWe appreciate the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) examination of the ACAM Broadband Coalition\u2019s proposal to modify and update the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) high-cost Universal Service Fund (USF) support program, and the FCC\u2019s proposal to make permanent changes to the Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) high-cost program.\n\nRecognizing the importance of reliable broadband services, comments in response to the FCC\u2019s rulemaking notice demonstrate strong support to facilitate access to modern upload and download speeds and to ensure both the sustainability of networks once built and the affordability of services atop them. For that reason, we respectfully urge the FCC to move forward to update the ACAM and CAF-BLS programs as soon as possible.\n\nSince their creation, high-cost USF programs like ACAM and CAF-BLS have delivered affordable broadband service to millions of rural Americans. However, there is more to do to reach consumers in the areas these programs target as the speeds in these programs are in need of an update, with maximum required download speeds that limit household access to technologies like telework, telehealth, and distance learning. Without agency action, the FCC risks leaving Americans in rural areas behind.\n\nWe respectfully urge the FCC to take action to enhance these programs as soon as possible. Doing so will position the FCC to better respond to the needs of our constituents living and working in rural high-cost areas. We appreciate your work to bring fast, reliable, and affordable broadband to every American. Thank you for your consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-and-colleagues-applaud-biden-admin-restoring-key-nondiscrimination-protections-in-health-care-push-to-strengthen-proposal", "Senator Baldwin and Colleagues Applaud Biden Admin Restoring Key Nondiscrimination Protections in Health Care, Push to Strengthen Proposal", "2022-10-04", "2022", "2022-10", "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. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), led 15 of their colleagues in commenting on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed rule prohibiting discrimination in health care under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators applauded the Biden Administration for restoring and expanding key nondiscrimination protections after the Trump Administration dismantled protections for LGBTQIA+ patients, women, people whose primary language is not English, and others, and the Senators urged HHS to further strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and those seeking care for pregnancy and related conditions.\n\n\u201cThis proposal is an important step forward to help ensure no one in our country has their health care undermined by discrimination or bigotry, and we urge the Department to further strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and people seeking to access care for pregnancy, infertility, or related conditions,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nSpecifically, the Senators urged HHS to take additional steps to strengthen protections for people with disabilities and trans patients, and explicitly prohibit discrimination against patients because of their medical history or for seeking out services like abortion, contraception, miscarriage management, fertility care, or maternity care, particularly in light of the Dobbs decision and ongoing attacks on Americans\u2019 reproductive rights.\n\n\u201cRecent and ongoing threats to health care access underscore why eliminating discrimination in health care programs and activities remains such an essential goal. The Supreme Court\u2019s devastating decision in Dobbs upended abortion rights and left tens of millions of women without access to critical, lifesaving care and in danger of grave health consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing health inequities, particularly in communities of color and for people with disabilities. And the transgender community is facing a barrage of discriminatory attacks that deny patients access to gender-affirming care and create barriers to treatment,\u201d the Senators stated. \u201cIn the face of such obstacles, it is as important as ever that the Administration work to ensure everyone has the right to get the care they need\u2014and undo the harm caused to patients by the Trump Administration\u2019s rule.\u201d\n\nThe comment letter, led by Senators Baldwin, Murray, and Wyden was also signed by Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Padilla, Reed, Sanders, Smith, and Warren.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 full letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Becerra and Director Fontes Rainer:\n\nWe write in support of the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (the Department or HHS) proposed regulations implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 1557 of the ACA is a landmark health care civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin (including language proficiency), sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy status or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, and disability. Recent and ongoing threats to health care access underscore why eliminating discrimination in health care programs and activities remains such an essential goal. The Supreme Court\u2019s devastating decision in Dobbs upended abortion rights and left tens of millions of women without access to critical, lifesaving care and in danger of grave health consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing health inequities, particularly in communities of color and for people with disabilities. And the transgender community is facing a barrage of discriminatory attacks that deny patients access to gender-affirming care and create barriers to treatment.\n\nIn the face of such obstacles, it is as important as ever that the Administration work to ensure everyone has the right to get the care they need\u2014and undo the harm caused to patients by the Trump Administration\u2019s rule.\n\nWe applaud the Department\u2019s proposed regulation which helps to realize Congress\u2019s broad purpose in passing Section 1557: eliminating discrimination in health care. We appreciate that this proposed regulation restores protections for people who face significant barriers to quality, affordable health care, including women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It further clarifies enforcement of important protections against discrimination, articulates important notice requirements, and promotes health equity and equitable coverage for historically underserved communities. Moreover, the Department\u2019s rule recognizes intersectional discrimination, and makes important progress to reflect developments in civil rights case law and address confusion regarding compliance and enforcement of Section 1557.\n\nThis proposal is an important step forward to help ensure no one in our country has their health care undermined by discrimination or bigotry, and we urge the Department to further strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and people seeking to access care for pregnancy, infertility, or related conditions. We offer the following comments on the proposed rule.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Clarifies and Expands the Scope of Nondiscrimination in Covered Health Programs and Activities\n\nWe applaud HHS for clarifying that the scope of Section 1557 covers an expansive range of programs and activities, consistent with Congressional intent. We support the Department\u2019s proposal to return to the 2016 interpretation that applies Section 1557 to all health programs and activities receiving funding from the Department or administered by the Department, such as state or federally-facilitated Exchanges, health insurance issuers that receive federal financial assistance, and third-party administrators like Pharmacy Benefits Managers. We also support the proposed rule\u2019s expanded enforcement of nondiscrimination in health insurance coverage to include discriminatory health plan designs adopted by group health plans as well as marketing practices.\n\nWe strongly agree with the Department\u2019s interpretation that Medicare Part B payments to health care providers and entities are federal financial assistance for the purposes of civil rights enforcement.3 In practical effect, this clarification will ensure a single standard across Medicare providers that will reduce confusion and ensure that the nearly 65 million older adults and people with disabilities covered by the Medicare program have the same protections regardless of whether they receive care in a hospital, outpatient hospital, or physician\u2019s office. These changes will be particularly important for ensuring access to care and language assistance services for the estimated 14 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities and eight percent of Medicare beneficiaries who have limited English proficiency (LEP).\n\nA new provision proposed by the Department seeks to eliminate the potential discrimination that patients may face when providers overly rely on algorithms in decision-making by replacing or substituting their clinical judgment. Clinical algorithms, automated or augmented decision-making tools and models, including machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), are useful tools to help diagnose and inform the health care services a person will receive. But, clinical algorithms can contribute to discrimination and bias against people of color and people with disabilities, from screening out certain populations for treatment priorities, to incorrectly focusing on health care costs as a proxy to care, to decreasing the quality of care patients receive. While complex and ever-changing, we applaud the Administration for working to ensure entities\u2019 usage of algorithms do not perpetuate patterns of discrimination against marginalized and underserved communities, and to encourage more transparency and accountability in the development and use of algorithmic technologies.\n\nWe also support that the proposed rule clarifies prohibitions on discrimination in the delivery of health programs and activities through telemedicine\u2014which includes videoconferencing, streaming media, terrestrial and wireless communications, and the internet. The use of telemedicine has risen, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is critical the Department ensure equitable access to telehealth services continues.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Improves Communication Access Requirements and Processes\n\nWe applaud HHS\u2019s restoration and expansion of communication access requirements, processes, and training, which would allow LEP individuals and people with disabilities to better access health care. The proposed rule would require covered entities to provide a notice of rights on an annual basis and upon request and outlines requirements for available language services and reasonable modifications for LEP individuals and people with disabilities. Further, the proposed rule adds a definition and new requirements for machine translations and updates standards for video remote interpretation.\n\nThe proposed rule includes additional changes that specifically support the LEP community. It restores requirements to provide meaningful access for LEP individuals and includes a nuanced definition of LEP that recognizes that a person who is competent in some communications may still require assistance in other contexts. The rule also obligates entities to provide a qualified interpreter, which includes a limitation that relying on a minor child, family member, or friend for interpretation can only be used as a temporary measure in an emergency until a qualified interpreter is found.14 Language access remains a barrier to care for the over 26 million households in the U.S. who are LEP.15 For example, recent studies suggest that LEP individuals\u2014who are more likely to be Latino or Asian\u2014have lower rates of COVID-19 vaccinations and have higher cases of COVID-19 infections, hospitalization, and deaths.\n\nIn addition to improvements to language access, this proposed rule provides clear standards for effective communication and reasonable modifications that benefit the disability community. Specifically, the proposed rule\u2019s clarification of the scope of discrimination prohibited under Section 1557 to include telehealth and the accessibility of information and communication technology would reduce the barriers to care for people with disabilities. While there have been advancements in health care access for people with disabilities, entities still deny care or fail to provide the necessary supports and accommodations to people with disabilities. Therefore, we ask that the rule consider incorporating the U.S. Access Board\u2019s standards related to accessible medical diagnostic equipment.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Continues to Recognize Protections for Intersectional Discrimination\n\nWe applaud the Department\u2019s recognition of the many ways people often experience discrimination based on their intersecting race, national origin, sex, age, disability, and other protected categories. The preamble of the proposed rule highlights the serious health consequences of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions, especially for Black and Latino women. The preamble also notes the prevalence of discrimination against people who experience transphobia and racism and discrimination against women with disabilities. To better ensure that section 1557 applies to intersectional discrimination, we urge the Department to include a clear reference to discrimination based on a combination of protected categories in the relevant provisions of the proposed rule.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Strengthens Protections for LGBTQIA+ Individuals\n\nWe applaud HHS\u2019s proposed rule for making explicit that Section 1557\u2019s protections against discrimination on the basis of sex includes gender identity, which is consistent with the interpretation of the Supreme Court decision in Bostock and federal anti-discrimination laws. We support the proposed rule for clarifying that discrimination on the basis of sex in health care programs and activities includes sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristic including intersex trait, and marital, parental, or family status. Sex stereotypes, such as expectations about how people should present or communicate, have historically created barriers to equitable health care access and services. We also support the restoration of enforcement of protections against discrimination on the basis of association, which should protect LGBTQIA+ couples who may be turned away from care.\n\nWe also appreciate the Department\u2019s inclusion of equal program access which explicitly includes provisions that programs may not deny or limit services based on sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or gender. This provision includes protections for gender transition or gender affirming care, which clarifies that a provider\u2019s beliefs are not a sufficient basis for judgement that health services are not clinically appropriate. LGBTQIA+ people experience barriers to accessing health care, from providers refusing care based on their actual or perceived gender identity, to discriminatory attacks on gender affirming care as well as litigation regarding employer coverage of care. These changes will better ensure that health providers, insurers, and other programs and activities cannot refuse care or provide discriminatory care or treatment.\n\nFinally, we support the Department\u2019s proposed amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for programs including Medicaid, Children\u2019s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), the Exchange, and Qualified Health Plans. Additionally, the prohibition of insurers from marketing practices and benefit designs that discriminate, in particular, would help deter discriminatory practices such as insurers charging people with HIV/AIDS higher costs or placing their medications in higher cost tiers. We request that the Department\u2019s changes to CMS regulations are consistent with the language in the proposed rule section 92.101(a)(2).\n\nConsidering the onslaught of discriminatory attacks on transgender and nonbinary people, we recommend the proposed rule add explicit inclusion of \u201ctransgender status\u201d to the relevant provisions of the regulatory text. We further urge the Department to provide more explicit examples of prohibited discrimination in coverage and services, such as clarification on whether Section 1557 nondiscrimination protection includes coverage of, and treatment for, infertility.\n\nMany insurers refuse to cover in vitro fertilization or limit coverage of in vitro fertilization to cisgender heterosexual couples and exclude LGBTQIA+ couples.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Clarifies Protections for Pregnancy or Related Conditions\n\nWe support that the Department\u2019s proposed rule explicitly includes \u201cpregnancy or related conditions\u201d in its definition of discrimination on the basis of sex. Congress intended Section 1557 to prohibit discrimination against patients because of their medical history or needs, which includes if they had an abortion, miscarriage, or other pregnancy-related care. We also support HHS\u2019s proposal to repeal 45 C.F.R. \u00a7 92.6, which incorporates the language of Title IX\u2019s abortion provision.\n\nWe urge the Department to include broader reproductive and sexual health care in its language around prohibited sex discrimination. Specifically, the \u201cequal program access\u201d section of the regulatory text should include clear prohibitions on denying or limiting services or the ability for professionals to provide services for pregnancy or related conditions including, contraception, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage management, fertility care, maternity care, and other health services. This is especially important as people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ people, low-income people, and people from rural areas, face insurmountable barriers and stigma to reproductive health care in the wake of the Dobbs decision and the ongoing attacks on abortion.\n\nThe Proposed Rule Creates a Separate Process for Raising Potential Religious Freedom Objections.\n\nWe support HHS\u2019s proposal to not import the Title IX exemptions and create a separate fact- specific process that balances the interest of providing nondiscriminatory health care and the conscience and religious freedom laws. This decision to provide a case-by-case analysis will better ensure that patients will not be refused the care they need because of discriminatory practices. Retaining the previous religious refusal and abortion exception would cause delays in abortion care in order to determine compliance, which given the existing barriers to abortion, would permit providers treating patients in medically dangerous situations to put them further at risk. We request the Department consider requiring institution\u2019s or provider\u2019s notice requirements be transparent about any refusal of care granted so people can be fully informed about any potential lack of full health care access.\n\nAdditional Provisions\n\nWe support the Department\u2019s requirements that a covered entity develop civil rights policies and procedures and take proactive measures to prevent discrimination through training, as well as the hiring of a Section 1557 coordinator. These provisions will allow OCR to better identify patterns or practices of discrimination through the availability of information on past complaints and aid in delivering effective and efficient care to people.\n\nIn response to the Department\u2019s inquiry, we encourage the Department to require covered entities to collect and report comprehensive, disaggregated data to ensure civil rights enforcement and allow for better resources to address health disparities and inequities. Data collection should include: race, ethnicity, language, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy status. As these data can reveal deeply sensitive information, we urge the Department, in consultation with relevant agencies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Federal Trade Commission, to require that data collection, use, storage, and sharing is consistent with best practices for sensitive data and adopts the principles of privacy and security by design, in order to ensure providers and patients are protected from data breaches and are not targeted for civil, criminal, or immigration enforcement. We also urge the Department to share any gaps or limitations they encounter in creating and implementing such requirements.\n\nConclusion\n\nWhile the proposed rule restores and strengthens civil rights protections for people accessing HHS and federally funded health programs, we urge the Department to further strengthen the rule in accordance to our recommendations. We also ask you to quickly finalize this rule to advance much needed protections for people seeking health care. Thank you for your consideration of our requests.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-visits-milwaukee-mequon-to-discuss-investments-in-community-safety-and-conservation", "Senator Baldwin Visits Milwaukee, Mequon to Discuss Investments in Community Safety and Conservation", "2022-10-04", "2022", "2022-10", "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 visited Milwaukee and Mequon to discuss investments she helped secure to keep our state safer and build resilient communities in the face of climate change through legislation signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.\n\nAlongside Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, the Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, and other community leaders, Senator Baldwin joined a roundtable discussion on violence in the community and the ongoing efforts to keep families safe. As the sole Wisconsin Senator who supported the American Rescue Plan, Senator Baldwin helped deliver more than $100 million to Wisconsin for violence prevention and public safety through flexible Coronavirus Relief Fund allocations. These resources invest in evidence-based crime prevention strategies, bolster summer youth programming and job training, support law enforcement agencies, and alleviate court backlogs.\n\nThe roundtable also discussed the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that is expanding background checks for guns, funding anti-violence programs, protecting survivors of domestic violence, increasing access to mental health services, among other things to keep our schools and communities safe. Senator Baldwin also discussed her efforts to include several projects in the upcoming fiscal year 2023 federal budget related to policing and criminal justice, including $6 million for Milwaukee Police Department to upgrade its police radios.\n\nIn Mequon, Senator Baldwin joined a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate an $800,000 investment she secured the for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), part of more than $187 million in funding she delivered for Wisconsin in the bipartisan appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2022. The $800,000 will help MMSD\u2019s plan to restore ecosystems and reduce flood risk along the Milwaukee Lake Michigan coast by using nature-based solutions in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Senator Baldwin also discussed the Wisconsin\u2019s rich history of environmental stewardship, the economic impact on protecting our Great Lakes and environment, and investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will help communities prepare for and respond to climate change.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-senator-baldwin-visits-uwgb-kaukauna-and-ozaukee-county-to-highlight-investments-in-the-made-in-wisconsin-economy", "Senator Baldwin Visits UWGB, Kaukauna, and Ozaukee County to Highlight Investments in the Made in Wisconsin Economy", "2022-10-03", "2022", "2022-10", "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 visited the Green Bay, Kaukauna, and Ozaukee County to highlight investments in the Made in Wisconsin economy, including ones she helped secure through legislation signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.\n\nAt the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Senator Baldwin met with University leadership, including Chancellor Michael Alexander, to discuss the University\u2019s priorities and learn about the proposed Phoenix Innovation Park and the Cofrin School of Business Financial Literacy programming. The Phoenix Innovation Park is a potential 250-acre addition to the campus that will allow research and instruction in water, advanced manufacturing, and economic development.\n\nIn Kaukauna, Senator Baldwin toured the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 400 Training Facility and discussed their federally supported apprenticeship program that provides students with a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced, industry-sanctioned training from the industry\u2019s highest trained instructors. Senator Baldwin has worked to include increased funding for the registered apprenticeship program in appropriations bills, including fighting for $303 million in the upcoming fiscal year 2023 annual appropriations legislation.\n\nSenator Baldwin also hosted in a roundtable discussion with Local 400 members and apprentices about workforce training, including the Baldwin-supported Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which is making historic investments in Wisconsin\u2019s infrastructure and creating family-supporting jobs across the trades. Under the IIJA, Wisconsin is set to receive $841 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state to ensure every community has access to clean, safe drinking water, which the Local 400 is training the next generation of plumbers and steamfitters who will make that investment a reality.\n\nVideo footage from Senator Baldwin\u2019s visit can be found here.\n\nIn Ozaukee County, Senator Baldwin joined a group of women in agriculture at Dream Apple Farms, a United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Value Added Producer grant recipient of $49,500 that was used to better market, distribute, and process their organic, locally-grown apples and products. Senator Baldwin helped include $13 million in the 2022 fiscal year appropriations legislation for the Value Added Producer grant program and is fighting to include the same amount in the upcoming year\u2019s budget. The roundtable discussed how as Chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin is fighting to ensure the long-term viability of small family farms, support young farmers acquire land, and help rural businesses thrive \u2013 including expanding opportunities for women in farming to boost Wisconsin\u2019s agriculture economy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-supports-introduction-of-senate-resolution-to-protect-and-expand-social-security-in-the-face-of-republican-attacks", "Baldwin Supports Introduction of Senate Resolution to Protect and Expand Social Security in the Face of Republican Attacks", "2022-09-30", "2022", "2022-09", "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 her colleagues in introducing a resolution affirming the Senate\u2019s commitment to protect and expand Social Security, so that future generations can continue to rely on its bedrock promise. This comes after several Republican members in the House and Senate have made proposals to undermine the retirement security Americans have earned.\n\n\u201cWisconsinites work real hard and they pay into Social Security, so they should be able to count on the guaranteed benefits they have earned,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cWorking families in Wisconsin shouldn\u2019t have to worry about politicians in Washington breaking the promise of Social Security and putting it on the chopping block. Social Security is an earned benefit that Wisconsin families worked for, and I will always work to protect the economic security they have earned. Social Security is a promise that must be kept.\u201d\n\nThe resolution was led by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and was joined by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).\n\nThe text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-introduces-bills-to-create-national-museum-of-american-lgbtq", "Pocan Introduces Bills to Create National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As the nation prepares to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus introduced two bills to begin the process of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture.\n\n\"As our community faces unprecedented attacks and attempts to erase our history, we must preserve and protect our stories for future generations,\" Rep. Pocan said. \"It is vital to remember our collective past \u2013 particularly when certain states seek to constrain and repeal existing rights by passing bills that harm LGBTQ+ youth and our community at large. Let's tell these stories, and honor the many contributions the LGBTQ+ community has made to this nation with a museum in Washington, D.C. I look forward to the passage of this legislation and to visiting this museum in the near future.\"\n\nRep. Pocan introduced bills to establish a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture and to establish it within the Smithsonian Institution. Both bills are required to be signed into law to create a new Smithsonian Museum.\n\nThe first bill creates an eight-member commission \u2013 consisting of individuals with various expertise in museum planning or LGBTQ+ research and culture \u2013 to look into the viability of establishing such a facility in the nation's Capital. The measure would require this commission to:\n\nReport recommendations for a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture;\n\nDevelop a fundraising plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the museum through public contributions;\n\nObtain an independent review of this fundraising plan, including an analysis of the resources necessary to fund the construction of the museum and its operations and maintenance without reliance on federal funds;\n\nReport on the availability and cost of acquiring collections for the museum, identify potential locations for the facility in Washington, D.C., and determine its regional impact on other museums; and,\n\nSubmit to Congress a legislative plan of action to establish and construct the museum.\n\nThe bill would also direct the commission's recommendations to address whether the museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum and research complex. The commission would have 18 months to complete the full study.\n\nAfter the commission completes its work and issues its recommendations, Congress can consider the second bill to formally create the museum.\n\nAll 9 openly LGBTQ+ Members of Congress as well as 50 other members are sponsors of this legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-reauthorize-key-program-aimed-at-improving-rural-health-care", "Senator Baldwin Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Key Program Aimed at Improving Rural Health Care", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "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 John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tina Smith (D-MN), in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a key program that supports state health facilities across the country to help improve health care in rural areas.\n\nThe State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Reauthorization Act of 2022 would ensure that State Offices of Rural Health have the financial resources they need to improve information-sharing, technical assistance, and care delivery in rural health settings. By reauthorizing the program for five years, this bill would also preserve the program\u2019s flexibility to meet state and local rural health care needs.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s crucial that rural communities in Wisconsin receive the best quality health care services they need to live healthy lives and I am proud that this legislation delivers on that,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will provide rural health practitioners with the technical support needed to deliver standard care to patients in Wisconsin and develop more health care resources to meet the needs of rural residents across our state.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).\n\nThis legislation is supported by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the National Rural Health Association.\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tina Smith (D-MN) for their introduction of the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Program Reauthorization Act of 2022. Last reauthorized in 2018, and first authorized in 1990, the SORH program has been an integral part of improving health care in rural areas. The SORH program requires State Offices to coordinate rural health activities across each state and provide technical assistance to rural health care providers on relevant rural programs. NRHA urges Congress to pass this important legislation to reauthorize the SORH program at a level of $15 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2027. This increase would align with levels proposed by recent budget requests, and with recent Congressional appropriations.\u201d \u2013 Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association\n\n\u201cReauthorization of the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Grant Program provides the vehicle to build the capacity of SORH and their stakeholders to help patients, neighbors and rural communities become and remain healthy. Every SORH Grant dollar is matched with $3 in non-federal funds, providing state-level consensus for growing collaboration around rural health needs. The effect of the increased appropriation provides approximately $50,000 to each of the 50 SORH. With the 3-to-1 match, $200,000 in service value is provided to rural communities in each state.\u201d \u2013 Tammy Norville. President, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-joins-colleagues-in-urging-president-biden-to-fill-leadership-posts-at-social-security-administration", "Senator Baldwin Joins Colleagues in Urging President Biden to Fill Leadership Posts at Social Security Administration", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "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 sending a letter to President Biden, urging him to nominate a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to serve at the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration has been without permanent leadership for over a year, making it difficult to address longstanding challenges that the agency faces in providing service to Americans who rely on these benefits.\n\nThe Senators write, \u201cToday Social Security covers over 179 million workers, and over 70 million people receive monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. More than one out of every six U.S. residents collects Social Security benefits and older Americans make up about four out of every five beneficiaries. Recent U.S. Census Bureau reports show that Social Security provides over half of the income for older adults, and nearly all of their income for one in four older adults. Social Security continues to be one of the largest anti-poverty programs in the country, lifting over 22 million Americans out of poverty.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Social Security Commissioner is directly responsible for all programs administered by the agency, including state-administered programs directed by SSA. Nominating and confirming a permanent Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner would provide accountable leadership to the agency and reassure the public of SSA\u2019s commitment to supporting the vulnerable populations that rely on its programs,\u201d they continue.\n\nThe Senators go on to note, \u201cThe Social Security Administration\u2019s longstanding labor-management problems worsened under the prior Administration. Under prior leadership, SSA was among the most hostile agencies in the federal government in the way it chose to implement the since-repealed anti-union executive orders from 2018. Employee satisfaction is falling at SSA, and SSA employees report feelings of exhaustion at among the highest rates of any federal agency. Permanent, Senate-confirmed leadership at the agency will help improve this longstanding challenge for the agency and its employees.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and also signed by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write today to urge the nomination of a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to serve as Senate-confirmed leaders for the Social Security Administration (SSA) and carry out the responsibilities of the agency.\n\nToday Social Security covers over 179 million workers, and over 70 million people receive monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. More than one out of every six U.S. residents collects Social Security benefits and older Americans make up about four out of every five beneficiaries. Recent U.S. Census Bureau reports show that Social Security provides over half of the income for older adults, and nearly all of their income for one in four older adults. Social Security continues to be one of the largest anti-poverty programs in the country, lifting over 22 million Americans out of poverty.\n\nThe Social Security Commissioner is directly responsible for all programs administered by the agency, including state-administered programs directed by SSA. Nominating and confirming a permanent Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner would provide accountable leadership to the agency and reassure the public of SSA\u2019s commitment to supporting the vulnerable populations that rely on its programs.\n\nThe Social Security Administration\u2019s longstanding labor-management problems worsened under the prior Administration. Under prior leadership, SSA was among the most hostile agencies in the federal government in the way it chose to implement the since-repealed anti-union executive orders from 2018. Employee satisfaction is falling at SSA, and SSA employees report feelings of exhaustion at among the highest rates of any federal agency. Permanent, Senate-confirmed leadership at the agency will help improve this longstanding challenge for the agency and its employees.\n\nThank you for your unwavering focus on ensuring the financial security and well-being of all Americans, including the millions who receive support from Social Security. We look forward to considering your nominees for Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, and working together to improve overall service at the Social Security Administration for the millions of beneficiaries and those who use SSA\u2019s services.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5073", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Ways and Means Committee Mark-up of Critical Home Visiting and Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder legislation", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the House Ways and Means Committee approved several critical bills important to safeguarding her constituent\u2019s health and well-being including several proposals she authored or co-authored\n\n\u201cThe Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 honors my late colleague, who served as the Ranking Member of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Ranking Member and was a fierce advocate for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program.\n\nHome visiting has been found to be an effective tool for helping support families. Under this program, Wisconsin has received about $8 million annually to support home visiting, including at Children's Wisconsin, where over 700 families were served last year.\n\nThis vital program uses a variety of effective models to provide comprehensive support, assisting mothers with breastfeeding, infant nutrition and safe sleep and providing parenting guidance. Home visiting provides families with assistance tailored to the needs of families and home visitors can refer families to other services that promote positive mental health and maternal health outcomes. These supports work and have been proven to improve outcomes for both parents and children, with improved educational readiness for children, better maternal outcomes for mothers, and a stronger parent-child bond for families.\n\nBlack women are three to five more times likely to die from pregnancy complications, and these disparities are heightened in my district. The maternal health crisis remains my priority, and I am proud to support legislation that directly combats these inequities with funding for home visits to vulnerable mothers, that can connect them to postnatal care and mental health resources. Home visitors can also serve as advocate for mothers, helping them effectively communicate their needs to their health care providers, a known barrier to quality care for mothers of color.\n\nThe reauthorization measure would increase funding for states and tribes to continue to provide, these services and to help increase access for more families, among other positive changes.\n\nAdditionally, I am pleased that the Committee approved my bipartisan bill with Rep. Schweikert, the Promoting Clarity in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act (HR 8886), which helps ensure that individuals with private insurance know which benefits are covered by federal mental health parity requirements. As too many Americans struggle with accessing the mental health care and substance abuse treatment they need, it\u2019s vital that patients understand what mental health and substance use disorder benefits are covered by federal parity protections that prevent insurers from imposing more financial and treatment barriers than for other health benefits.\n\nI am also incredibly proud that my bipartisan legislation with Rep. Carol Miller and Rep. Linda Sanchez, the No Surprises for Survivors Act (HR 8891), was approved by the Committee today. A survivor of sexual assault in need of a rape kit should not face the compounding stress of an unexpected medical bill. With our bill, we help support survivors through this trauma by building on VAWA\u2019s no-cost coverage for rape kits to fully protect survivors from being billed for these services by eliminating cost-sharing by private insurers and preventing them from receiving surprise medical bills by out-of-network providers .\u201d\n\nThe Congresswoman's legislation was included in a broader mental health and substance abuse package negotiated by Democrats and Republicans and approved by the Committee in response to the need for these services in communities across the country, including Milwaukee. These bills now move to the full House for consideration.\n\nThe following legislation passed out of the Ways and Means Committee:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-introduces-constitutional-amendment-guaranteeing-right-to-vote", "Pocan Introduces Constitutional Amendment Guaranteeing Right to Vote", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) reintroduced legislation that would amend the Constitution to explicitly guarantee the right to vote. At a time when voting rights are under attack nationwide, this amendment would provide all Americans of voting age the affirmative right to vote and further empower Congress to protect this fundamental right.\n\n\"Democracy works best when everyone participates,\" said Rep. Pocan. \"Across the country, elected officials are attempting to disenfranchise voters and restrict access to the ballot box through any loophole they can find \u2014 all for their own political gain. The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy; it's too important to be left open to interpretation. A constitutional amendment would ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts the same. As one of the world's leading democracies, we must demand of ourselves what we demand of others: a guaranteed right to vote for all.\"\n\nPocan has introduced identical legislation every term since the 113th Congress, and is joined this year by 22 original cosponsors and 11 endorsing organizations.\n\n\"Our Constitution is in many ways an aspirational charter. And it is far from perfect,\" Sarah E. Turberville, Director, The Constitution Project said. \"While it prohibits the government from denying the right to vote under numerous circumstances, the Supreme Court and policymakers across the country have exploited gaps in our founding document to suppress the right to vote in other nefarious ways. Congressman Pocan's resolution is an apolitical and obvious solution needed to ensure we have a democracy that is truly representative of the governed.\"\n\n\"The right to vote is fundamental to a democracy,\" Daniel Schuman, policy director, Demand Progress said. \"Our democracy has a long, unfortunate history of limits on that fundamental right in furtherance of granting political minorities the power to rule over political majorities. This cannot be tolerated and we cannot rely on the courts as a guarantor of this basic right. For now, and for all time, the right to vote must be enumerated in the Constitution and enforceable by an act of Congress.\"\n\n\"Our democracy is built on the promise of one person, one vote. We applaud Congressman Pocan on his leadership and commitment to protecting that right with this amendment,\" Tiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund said.\n\n\"Already enshrined in many state constitutions, a federal right to vote amendment will provide a national guarantee of the right of every eligible voter to participate in our elections. Affirming that right will ensure that voting is accessible, fair, and secure in every corner of the country,\" said Rob Richie, President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. \"This amendment comes at a particularly important time \u2013 a moment of great promise and peril for our republic, in which too many Americans are distrustful and dissatisfied with our elections and seek a better way forward.\"\n\n\"Republicans are relentless and systematically working to chip away at the foundational right to vote and undermining our basic democratic principles,\" said MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting. \"As we anticipate the Republican-packed Supreme Court further stripping away voting rights protections, it is critical to continue fighting to enshrine people's right to vote \u2013 I am grateful to Congressman Pocan for his leadership on this important resolution.\"\n\n\"This is simple. We fully endorse Rep. Mark Pocan's joint resolution, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote,\" said Pablo DeJes\u00fas, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. \"Unitarian Universalists want a healthy, inclusive democracy. We envision an America where all eligible voters participate, with ease, in the election of our leadership. Where every voice within our Nation is treated with dignity and valued, even in disagreement. Our foundation for this desire is clear. As a matter of faith, we uphold 'the inherent worth and dignity of every person.' We do so right alongside a belief in 'the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.' We, therefore, endorse Rep. Pocan's constitutional amendment with our loudest voice and most fervent commitment to love and justice.\"\n\nEndorsing Organizations Include: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Demand Progress, End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund, FairVote, Fix Democracy First, Indivisible, MoveOn, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Project On Government Oversight, Sojourners, and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.\n\nThe full text of this resolution is as follows:\n\nSection 1. Every citizen of the United States, who is of legal voting age, shall have the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5072", "Moore, S\u00e1nchez, Miller Introduce Bill to Protect Survivors of Sexual Violence from Unexpected Medical Costs", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 On Monday, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Congresswoman Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-CA), and Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced the No Surprises for Survivors Act, bipartisan legislation that will protect survivors of sexual violence from unexpected medical costs. Specifically, the legislation will ensure patients with private health insurance do not face out-of-pocket costs or surprise medical bills for forensic medical exams, commonly known as rape kits.\n\nThe bill is included in a broader package of mental health and consumer protection bills under consideration by the Ways and Means Committee.\n\n\u201cThe last thing a survivor of sexual violence should have to worry about is an unexpected medical bill,\u201d said Congresswoman Gwen Moore. \u201cThis legislation is needed because too many survivors, grappling with trauma, also become burdened with the cost of a forensic medical exam \u2013 even though they shouldn\u2019t be. With our bipartisan bill, we build on VAWA\u2019s no-cost coverage to ensure victims are protected from cost sharing for exams.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one should have to worry about getting a surprise bill in the mail, especially following a traumatic experience like a sexual assault. Unfortunately, many survivors still find themselves stuck with unexpected charges,\u201d said Congresswoman Linda T. S\u00e1nchez. \"Our bipartisan bill will help right that wrong, ensuring more survivors have access to the care they need and deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cSexual assault is one of the most abhorrent acts of violence a woman can experience,\u201d said Congresswoman Carol Miller. \u201cIt is unacceptable for any sexual assault victim to receive a bill for a forensic medical exam, which is critical to ensuring their recovery and collecting any evidence needed for an investigation. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will protect victims and ensure no woman who experiences sexual violence has to pay a dime for a forensic medical exam.\u201d\n\nThe Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) authorizes federal funds to be used for services that support victims of sexual violence. Under VAWA, states or another entity must provide no-cost forensic medical exams administered by certain providers. Unfortunately, independent analysis and media reports have found that some victims still receive bills for these services and can be left to pay for them out-of-pocket.\n\nAccordingly, the No Surprises for Survivors Act protects victims of sexual violence from out-of-pocket expenses and surprise medical bills by:\n\n\u2022 Requiring coverage of forensic medical exams with zero cost sharing. The bill requires private insurers to provide coverage, without cost-sharing, for forensic medical exams regardless of where they are administered (unless reimbursed by the state under VAWA).\n\n\u2022 Protecting victims of sexual violence from certain surprise medical bills: The bill further provides that forensic medical exams are covered under the emergency services protections of the No Surprises Act, regardless of where they are performed.\n\n\u2022 Facilitating reimbursement, where appropriate, from states: The bill specifies that if an individual receives a forensic medical exam where the state is responsible for the out-of-pocket costs associated with such exam, private insurers must provide appropriate notice to help victims avoid bills and streamline the reimbursement process.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-cole-suozzi-celebrate-passage-of-helen-keller-national-center", "Reps. Pocan, Cole, Suozzi Celebrate Passage of Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Tom Cole (OK-04), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) led a bipartisan group of representatives to pass the \"Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act,\" which would reauthorize Helen Keller National National Center for DeafBlind Youth and Adults (HKNC) for five years through 2027.\n\nHKNC provides essential vocational training and rehabilitation to the DeafBlind community across the United States. The HKNC Reauthorization Act passed the House today and now heads to the Senate.\n\n\"The Helen Keller National Center has a long history of supporting DeafBlind people nationwide, providing them with opportunities to take an active role in their local communities,\" said Pocan. \"For over 50 years, the Center has been an invaluable resource and solid foundation for DeafBlind Americans across the nation and in my home state of Wisconsin. I'm proud to join my colleagues and lead this effort to reauthorize the Center for five more years so this beneficial work can continue to shape the lives of so many.\"\n\n\"To this day, the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults is the only comprehensive national program that provides information, referrals, support and training exclusively to Americans who have combined vision and hearing loss. The work the Center performs is essential and life changing for the people they are able to serve, and this work and this population deserves all our support,\" said Chairman Robert C. \"Bobby\" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Labor.\n\n\"Following its passage in the House, I am very pleased that legislation to reauthorize the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youth and Adults is now one step closer to the finish line. For more than 50 years, the Center has admirably served DeafBlind communities and also supported those who care for and work with these individuals,\" said Cole. \"Certainly, the Center's valuable mission, important work and role as a resource is worth affirming through reauthorization by Congress.\"\n\n\"The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, which is located in my district, is unique in that it is the only organization of its kind nationwide that serves a population that is both deaf and blind. HKNC enables DeafBlind Americans to live, work, and thrive in our community,\" said Suozzi. \"It is my privilege to support this legislation and do what I can to support and strengthen this organization, one that truly represents miracles in people's lives.\"\n\n\"On behalf of Helen Keller National Center I would like to express a special thanks to Representative Pocan for championing the reauthorization of the HKNC Act,\" said Susan Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services. \"By doing so, he has made visible to Congress a community that strives to realize their aspirations and has demonstrated time and time again that given access to quality services and opportunities they too can achieve self-actualized lives.\"\n\nSince it was first authorized by Congress in 1967, HKNC has established national services with regional offices based in California, Florida, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Arizona, and Washington. It has additionally created two Community Services programs in New York and California and has deployed 12 DeafBlind Employment Specialist positions across the country that provide additional assistance and support to DeafBlind persons in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan/Ohio, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, and Arkansas. HKNC has also deployed three Youth services Coordinators in Utah, New York, and Illinois. HKNC's goal is to deploy 20 DeafBlind Employment Specialists (two in each region) and to establish two additional Community Service Programs.\n\nHKNC is the only comprehensive national program that provides information, referral, support, and training exclusively to youths and adults who have combined vision and hearing loss. The Center also supports the families and professionals who work with the DeafBlind community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-statement-on-tentative-rail-agreementwashington-dc-today-us", "Pocan Statement on Tentative Rail Agreement", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, released the following statement after President Biden and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced a tentative agreement between railway unions and major rail companies early this morning:\n\n\"President Biden is the most pro-worker and pro-union president in our nation's history. Today's tentative agreement is proof of that. This is a moment for workers across the country to have their voices heard, and concerns about their working conditions, safety, pay, and sick time addressed.\n\n\"I applaud the railway unions, President Biden, Secretary Walsh, and Deputy Secretary Su for securing this agreement that recognizes workers' needs and ensures the continued operation of our nation's railways.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5071", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on President Biden\u2019s Reversal of Trump-Era \u201cPublic-Charge\u201d Rule", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cNo immigrant should be punished for getting health, housing, and food aid they are eligible for when tough times hit. I am grateful that the Biden Administration is restoring the longstanding \u2018public-charge\u2019 policy and formally rejecting changes put forward by the Trump Administration that were harmful.\n\n\u201cI applaud President Biden for continuing to deliver on his promise to create fair and compassionate immigration policies and to build an immigration system that reflects America\u2019s values.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5056", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Benedict Center Host Celebration Reception to Highlight Federal Funds for Benedict Center's Sisters Program", "2022-08-26", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the Benedict Center Sisters Program hosted a Celebration Reception with Congresswoman Gwen Moore to kick off its new Community Funded Project. Rep. Moore helped secure a HUD Community Funded Project grant of $157,000 as part of the US Consolidated Appropriations Act to support the life-saving work of the Sisters Program to help women in the street-based sex trade in Milwaukee. The Sisters Program helps women in the street-based sex trade, including sex trafficking by connecting them to housing, treatment, and support services to enhance their health and the safety of the community. Through a street outreach team and at two drop-in centers women receive food, clothing, harm reduction services and safe respite during the day. In the coming year, the Sisters Program will provide essential services for over 225 women.\n\n\"The Benedict Center is a shining light to women in the street sex trade/sex trafficking, offering hope, compassionate staff, and the resources these women need to lead bright futures. It is my honor to help support their amazing work in Milwaukee through this community funding project grant, ensuring they can reach and uplift more vulnerable members of our community,\" said Congresswoman Moore.\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Moore is a champion for women who are victimized by sexual and physical violence and sex trafficking. When she secured funding for the Sisters Program she prioritized and ensured hundreds of women in the street based sex trade will find hope and begin their healing journey,\u201d said Jeanne Geraci, Executive Director of Benedict Center.\n\nThe Benedict Center showcased the Sisters Program northside drop-in center at the Innovation and Wellness Commons located at 1609 W. North Avenue. and Rep. Gwen Moore, Benedict Center leadership and partners, Sisters Program Participants, and the Milwaukee County Housing Division provided remarks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5055", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on President Biden\u2019s Student Debt Relief Plan", "2022-08-24", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday, an estimated 30 percent of job openings require a 2-year or 4-year degree. The reality is that for most, the pathway to the American Dream means pursuing a higher education or training as tuitions soar, requiring increasingly absurd amounts of debt to be competitive in the job market. Not taking this step to unlock greater potential in the workforce would be to be stuck on stupid waiting on dumb to come.\n\nWe need to reform our current educational model that has created this affordability and debt trap for students, where colleges tuitions rise and rise and students, as a result, are forced to take on increasing debt loads from federally subsidized financial firms.\n\nI am pleased that President Biden announced a plan to address student debt for borrowers, which will reach those most in need of relief and make loan repayment for others less burdensome. Thanks to this loan forgiveness, many people saddled with heavy debt burdens will now be able to purchase homes, buy cars, and take other steps to fully participate in our economy.\n\nFor me, college affordability is personal. I entered college at Marquette as a poor, single teenager mother. As a TRIO alum and co-chair of the TRIO Caucus, I am fully committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible. That\u2019s why I support increasing funding for Pell Grant aid to better meet the needs of students and will continue championing vital TRIO programs to support vulnerable students,\u201d said Congresswoman Moore.\n\n\u201cConsidering the significant unmet financial need for UW-Milwaukee students, today\u2019s announcement is of particular value for many of our alumni. This is an important step for our region enabling graduates to flourish, removing debt and providing access to homeownership and other life changing financial investments that stimulate our local and statewide economies,\u201d said University of Wisconsin \u2013 Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5054", "Moore, Baldwin, Pocan, and Kind Request Resources for Wisconsin to Respond to Monkeypox Crisis", "2022-08-16", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Wisconsin Democratic delegation highlighted the disproportionate impact on the LGBTQ+ community and need to reduce stigmatization\n\nWISCONSIN \u2013 Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) and Ron Kind (D-WI-03) requested that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provide additional resources for the state of Wisconsin to respond to the monkeypox outbreak, including vaccines. With the virus disproportionately impacting members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Wisconsin Democratic delegation urged HHS and CDC to work with stakeholders and members of the LGBTQ+ community to reduce stigmatization and misinformation.\n\n\u201cAlthough the risk of widespread transmission remains low, it is essential that we have supplies on hand to both prevent new cases and provide care for those who contract this virus,\u201d said the members of Congress. \u201cUnfortunately, nationwide, access to testing remains a challenge, which has prevented us from having a full understanding of the reach and spread of this virus. This is unacceptable. It is imperative that the Administration act without delay to remove barriers to testing to help us better understand how monkeypox is spreading nationally.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter can be found below or here.\n\nDear Secretary Becerra, Director Walensky, and Assistant Secretary O\u2019Connell,\n\nFollowing the declaration of a public health emergency for monkeypox on August 4 by Secretary Becerra, we write to request additional resources for the state of Wisconsin, including additional vaccine doses. Further, we request that the Administration continue to prioritize outreach and public education, conducted in close collaboration with the LGBTQ+ community to prevent stigmatization.\n\nAs of August 11, 2022, the state of Wisconsin had identified 38 cases of orthopoxvirus, presumed to be monkeypox. Although the risk of widespread transmission remains low, it is essential that we have supplies on hand to both prevent new cases and provide care for those who contract this virus. Unfortunately, nationwide, access to testing remains a challenge, which has prevented us from having a full understanding of the reach and spread of this virus. This is unacceptable. It is imperative that the Administration act without delay to remove barriers to testing to help us better understand how monkeypox is spreading nationally.\n\nIn addition, we must capitalize on the availability of a vaccine. Unlike COVID-19, we already have an FDA-licensed vaccine indicated for prevention of smallpox and monkeypox that can also serve as a post-exposure prophylactic. Further, the state of Wisconsin has been able to effectively utilize the \u201chub and spoke\u201d model for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to make monkeypox vaccines available to those at high risk. Demand for the vaccine, however, far outpaces the state\u2019s allotment. We are concerned by the reported missteps that have contributed to delays in making distributions to states and jurisdictions, resulting in limited access to vaccine doses. Although we support efforts to extend vaccine availability, more clinical research is needed to ensure the safety of the new intradermal vaccine protocol, and more communication and training must be done to ensure that vaccines are administered safely. State officials and vaccinators need more information about this update, as well as reliable information regarding when and how many additional doses of vaccine will be allocated. Further, there needs to be more public education to mitigate apprehension regarding this method of administration, and to provide information regarding safety and effectiveness. As of August 12, 2022, the state of Wisconsin had been allocated enough vaccine doses for less than 3,400 residents. This is a fraction of the state\u2019s demand. We need more doses, and we need HHS to exercise all available authorities to make sure that individuals at increased risk are protected.\n\nFinally, it is essential that the Administration\u2019s response to the outbreak of monkeypox be informed by stakeholders and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Although monkeypox can infect anyone, the virus has had a disproportionate impact on men who have sex with men (MSM). Numerous reports indicate that individuals have faced significant obstacles in accessing testing and treatment, and a recent CNN investigation revealed that large commercial laboratories were denying drawing blood from patients who might have the virus. As you know, health care services are too often inaccessible for members of at-risk communities, and these reports are all too reminiscent of the nation\u2019s initial response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We must address this crisis, and those at the highest levels of government must make clear that stigma and misinformation will only allow the virus to spread further.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5052", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Historic Inflation Reduction Act", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which takes critical steps to address the climate crisis, build a fairer tax system, and lower personal costs including health care, energy bills, and the price of prescription drugs. In response, she released the following statement:\n\n\u201cOnce again, the Biden administration and Democrats are advancing a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation and putting people over politics. Unlike Republicans who use inflation as a political tool and offer no plan to address it, Democrats are directly tackling inflation and acting to lower costs that families worry about.\n\nDemocrats\u2019 have persistently worked to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and this measure will expand access to more affordable, life-saving prescription drugs for Medicare recipients. For years, Big Pharma has gouged seniors, setting sky high prices for essential medicine and forcing too many to ration their prescriptions or skip paying bills. I am so proud we secured a provision allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of the most expensive medicines, cap Medicare Part D out-of-pocket drug spending at $2,000 per year and the price of insulin is capped at $35 for Medicare patients. Shamefully but unsurprisingly, Republicans stopped millions more with private insurance from accessing affordable insulin because they put Big Pharma above people.\n\nIn the American Rescue Plan, Democrats made health care more affordable than ever with tax credits that lowered premiums and now, were extending these benefits to millions of Americans.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act takes historic climate action, using incentives like tax credits that make it more affordable for Americans to use clean energy in our homes, including solar panels, electric water heaters, and electric HVAC. I\u2019m so glad that the IRA includes my proposal creating a tax credit to make home energy audits more affordable by allowing taxpayers to offset up to $150 of the cost of a home energy audit. These investments will lower energy costs for Americans in the long-term and give more Americans greater opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint.\n\nThis legislation also empowers states, tribes, and municipalities to develop plans to fight pollution while expanding manufacturing in clean energy to support good-paying jobs. I\u2019m proud that my proposal to extend the direct pay provisions to tribal governments was included, incentivizing tribal communities to pursue renewable energy projects. Direct pay offers a cash payment in lieu of tax credits such as the investment tax credit and production tax credit, enabling tribal governments which do not have tax liability, to monetize the tax credits. I am also pleased to see equity at the center of these climate action proposals, with $3 billion dedicated to support vulnerable communities most at risk to the impact of climate change. I am looking forward to these climate justice measures benefiting communities in Milwaukee.\n\nAnd we are paying for this bill in part by helping ensure the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes, including by providing the IRS with resources to enforce our tax laws. Republicans have purposefully underfunded the IRS, allowing Americans and large companies with the most funds and resources to dodge paying taxes. We\u2019re providing monies to the IRS for tax enforcement to go after these sophisticated, wealthy individuals and big corporations \u2013 not working people.\n\nToo many families still lack affordable childcare, housing, and paid family and medical leave, too many Black women are losing their lives because of the maternal health crisis, and more than 2 million Americans are denied affordable health care because Republicans in their state refused to expand Medicaid. Making investments in families, affordable housing, maternal health, and health care remain my key priorities, and I am still fighting to address these critical needs. While this legislation required compromises and is imperfect, I am so thrilled to support the Inflation Reduction Act, which will have a positive impact on my constituents and millions of other Americans.\u201d\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act will:\n\nHealth Care:\n\n\u2022 Empowering Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices: For the first time, empowers Medicare to negotiate prices for the highest cost single-source drugs in Medicare, a policy that Democrats have been trying to enact for years. The provisions save more than $100 billion over 10 years. It allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for about 100 drugs over the next decade: 10 high-cost drugs beginning in 2026, 15 additional drugs in both 2027 and 2028, and 20 more in 2029 and thereafter. The Secretary must negotiate a price that is no more than the 75 percent of the non-federal Average Manufacturer Price, a price that is used by the Department of Defense and others.\n\n\u2022 An Inflation Rebate for Seniors on Medicare: Over the past 20 years, price increases for brand-name drugs in Medicare Part D have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. Under this bill, if drug companies raise prices in Medicare faster than the rate of inflation, they must pay rebates back to Medicare for the difference, beginning in October 2022. Senate Republicans forced the removal of aprovision that applied inflation rebates to drug sales to families with private health insurance.\n\n\u2022 New $2,000 Out-Of-Pocket Cap for Part D Drugs for Seniors on Medicare: Caps Part D out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for seniors and individuals with disabilities on Medicare, starting in 2025.\n\n\u2022 Caps Insulin Costs at $35 A Month for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities on Medicare: Caps\n\nMedicare beneficiaries\u2019 insulin costs at $35 a month. Republicans voted against capping insulin out-of pocket costs for Americans with private health insurance keeping this vital protection out of the bill.\n\n\u2022 Lowers Premiums in ACA Marketplaces for 13 Million Americans: Extends enhanced ACA subsidies for three years, through 2025. Without these provisions, these enhanced ACA subsidies would expire in January, causing increases in the premiums Americans would pay who are in the ACA marketplace and leading roughly 3 million Americans to lose their health coverage.\n\nEnergy Security and Climate Change Investments:\n\n\u2022 The Inflation Reduction Act includes approximately $370 billion in investments addressing climate change \u2013 by far the single biggest climate investment in U.S. history.\n\n\u2022 The Inflation Reduction Act's investments will restore American global leadership on climate change by reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030.\n\n\u2022 The Inflation Reduction Act lowers costs for American consumers, invests in American-made solutions that restore American global leadership and energy independence, and ensures that environmental justice and rural communities reap the benefits of the clean economy.\n\nLower Consumer Energy Costs:\n\n\u2022 Consumer Home Energy Rebate Programs: Provides $9 billion in consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, to electrify home appliances and for energy efficient retrofits.\n\n\u2022 10 Years of Consumer Tax Credits to Make Homes Energy Efficient: Provides 10 years of consumer tax credits to make homes energy efficient and run on clean energy, making heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC, and water heaters more affordable.\n\n\u2022 Consumer Tax Credits to Buy Used or New Clean Vehicles: Provides a $4,000 consumer tax credit for lower/middle income individuals to buy used clean vehicles, and up to $7,000 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles.\n\n\u2022 $1 Billion Grant Program to Make Housing More Energy Efficient: $1 billion grant program to make affordable housing more energy efficient.\n\n\u2022 Methane Emissions Reduction Program: Leaked or intentionally wasted natural gas never makes its way to customers, but they are nevertheless stuck with the bill. The Methane Emission Reduction Program will ensure consumers no longer pay for wasted energy.\n\nAmerican Energy Security and Domestic Manufacturing\n\n\u2022 Overview: The bill will support energy reliability and cleaner energy production coupled with historic investments in American clean energy manufacturing. It includes over $60 billion for clean energy manufacturing in the United States across the full supply chain of clean energy and transportation technologies. These manufacturing incentives will help alleviate inflation and reduce the risk of future price shocks by bringing down the cost of clean energy and clean vehicles and relieving supply chain bottlenecks.\n\n\u2022 Production and Investment Tax Credits: The bill provides production and investment tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals processing, with an estimated total investment of $40 billion.\n\n\u2022 Defense Production Act: Provides $500 million in Defense Production Act funding to support heat pump manufacturing and critical minerals processing.\n\n\u2022 Domestic Manufacturing: Provides $2 billion for grants to retool existing auto manufacturing facilities to manufacture clean vehicles, ensuring that auto manufacturing jobs stay in the communities that depend on them.\n\n\u2022 Financing for Energy Infrastructure, Next Generation Technologies, and Tribal Energy Projects: Provides loans and loan guarantees for more than $300 billion in clean energy infrastructure, advanced technologies, and transmission projects in across the United States, including in historical energy producing communities and on Tribal lands.\n\n\u2022 Investing in Our National Laboratories: The bill provides $2 billion for National Labs to accelerate breakthrough energy research.\n\nDecarbonize the Economy\n\n\u2022 Overview: The investments in the bill will reduce emissions in every sector of the economy, substantially reducing emissions from electricity production, transportation, industrial manufacturing, buildings, and agriculture:\n\n\u2022 Tax Credits for Clean Sources of Electricity and Energy Storage: Provides tax credits for clean sources of electricity and energy storage and roughly $30 billion in targeted grant and loan programs for states and electric utilities to accelerate the transition to clean electricity.\n\n\u2022 Tax Credits and Grants for Clean Fuels and Clean Commercial Vehicles: Provides tax credits and grants for clean fuels and clean commercial vehicles to reduce emissions from all parts of the transportation sector.\n\n\u2022 Grants and Tax Credits to Reduce Emissions from Industrial Manufacturing: Provides grants and tax credits to reduce emissions from industrial and manufacturing processes, including almost $6 billion for a new Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program to reduce emissions from energy intensive industrial and manufacturing facilities like chemical and cement plants.\n\n\u2022 Over $9 Billion for Federal Procurement of American-Made Clean Technologies: Provides over $9 billion for Federal procurement of American-made clean technologies to create a stable market for clean products, including $3 billion for the U.S. Postal Service to purchase zero-emissions vehicles.\n\n\u2022 $27 Billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Provides $27 billion for nonprofit, state, and local climate finance institutions that support the rapid deployment of low- and zero- emission technologies to help communities reduce and avoid pollution, especially in disadvantaged communities.\n\nInvest in Communities and Environmental Justice\n\n\u2022 Overview: Building on regular engagement with Environmental Justice leaders from across the country, this package includes over $60 billion in environmental justice priorities to drive investments into disadvantaged communities. Some of the highlight include:\n\n\u2022 Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants: Provides Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants, funded at $3 billion, that invest in community-led projects in disadvantaged communities and community capacity building centers to address disproportionate environmental and public health harms caused by pollution and climate change.\n\n\u2022 Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants: Provides Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants, funded at $3 billion, that support neighborhood equity, safety, and affordable transportation access with competitive grants to reconnect communities divided by existing infrastructure barriers, mitigate negative impacts of transportation facilities or construction projects on disadvantaged or underserved communities, and support equitable transportation planning and community engagement activities.\n\n\u2022 Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports: Provides grants to reduce air pollution at ports, funded at $3 billion, that support the purchase and installation of zero-emission equipment and technology at ports.\n\n\u2022 $1 Billion for Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Provide $1 billion for clean heavy-duty vehicles, like school and transit buses and garbage trucks.\n\n\u2022 Clean Energy Tax Credits: Many of the clean energy tax credits also include either a bonus or a set-aside structure to drive investments and economic development in disadvantaged communities.\n\nFarmers, Forestland Owners, and Resilient Rural Communities\n\n\u2022 Overview: The bill will make historic investments to ensure that rural communities are at the forefront of climate solutions. The investments affirm the central role of agricultural producers and forest\n\nlandowners in our climate solutions by investing in climate-smart agriculture, forest restoration and land conservation. It also makes significant investments in clean energy development in disadvantaged communities:\n\n\u2022 Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices: Provides more than $20 billion to support climate-smart\n\nagriculture practices.\n\n\u2022 Grants to Support Healthy Forests: Provides $5 billion in grants to support healthy, fire resilient forests, forest conservation, and urban tree planting.\n\n\u2022 Tax Credits and Grants to Support the Domestic Production of Biofuels: Provides tax credits and grants to support the domestic production of biofuels, and to build the infrastructure needed for sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuels.\n\n\u2022 Grants to Conserve and Restore Coastal Habitats: Provides $2.6 billion to conserve and restore coastal habitats and protect communities that depend on those habitats.\n\nTaxes\n\nThe historic Inflation Reduction Act honors our promise to American families \u2013 and is fully paid for:\n\n\u2022 Makes biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy pay their fair share: is paid for by strengthening IRS enforcement against wealthy tax cheats, closing tax loopholes exploited by the wealthiest few, and implementing a 15 percent corporate minimum tax \u2013 which applies only to the 150 corporations making earning over $1 billion in profits that pay less than 15% in taxes.\n\n\u2022 NO new taxes on families making $400,000 or less and NO new taxes on small businesses: Not one middle class person filling out their taxes will find that they are facing higher taxes or higher tax rates.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-house-democrats-send-inflation-reduction-act-to-president-s-desk", "Pocan, House Democrats Send Inflation Reduction Act to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation will lower the out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs, lower household energy bills, reduce health insurance premiums, and invest in American clean energy to take on the climate crisis \u2014 all while closing tax loopholes for big, billion-dollar corporations, making them pay their fair share.\n\n\"This is a huge deal,\" said Pocan. \"Only one party is focused on putting people over politics, and this legislation is just the latest example of how stark that contrast is. As our world continues to recover from a global pandemic, Democrats worked to address some of the biggest needs facing our communities and our planet. This bill takes concrete steps to lower healthcare costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping out-of-pocket expenses for seniors. On top of that, the Inflation Reduction Act will save people money on energy costs, address the climate crisis, and close tax loopholes to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share. I'm grateful to see this bill come together at long last, and look forward to it receiving President Biden's signature soon.\"\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act:\n\nReduces the cost of health care for millions by extending ACA subsidies for three more years,\n\nAllows Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs,\n\nCombats the climate crisis by reducing carbon pollution by 40 percent by 2030,\n\nLowers energy costs and advances energy security,\n\nLimits out-of-pocket expenses to $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act reduces the deficit and helps fight inflation by allocating a historic $300 billion for deficit reduction. It is fully paid for by:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5051", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Cosponsors Resolution to Honor the Anniversary of the Sikh Gurdwara Tragedy", "2022-08-03", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore joined the Wisconsin Congressional delegation in supporting a resolution to honor the ten-year tragic anniversary of the shooting at the Oak Creek Sikh Gurdwara and its victims.\n\n\u201cTen years after this painful tragedy, we remember and honor the memories of the worshippers who were killed in this horrific attack and recognize the survivors who are still healing.\n\nThrough these losses, Oak Creek\u2019s Sikh community has shown remarkable strength in coming together with hope and optimism, and by championing advocacy and education. I show my love and support to the Sikh community in Oak Creek on these days and beyond.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5049", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Assault Weapons Ban to Protect Our Communities", "2022-07-29", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 which will prohibit the sale, transfer, and manufacture of semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Additionally, this legislation includes provisions mandating safe storage of semiautomatic assault weapons, and will allow states to use federal funds for voluntary assault weapons buyback programs.\n\n\u201cNo ordinary citizen needs an AR-15 or similar weapons of mass destruction. Far too often, assault weapons are used to rip communities apart, take away innocent lives, including our children. Our children! Gun violence is a preventable epidemic, and we can save lives by enacting an assault weapons ban. Congress has done it before, and this crisis demands that we do it again.\n\nAccording to Giffords, all of America\u2019s deadliest shootings in the past decade have involved weapons using high-capacity ammunition magazines. Every loss from these weapons of war is a reminder of the real cost to our families, our children, and our country.\n\nToday, I am proudly joining my colleagues in taking action to help stop these weapons of war from causing trauma, pain, and senseless tragedies in my district, and across the country.\n\nI am pleased this bill also includes safe storage mandate for semi automatic weapons, which is much needed. According to Everytown, this year alone there have been more than 158 accidental shootings by children, leading to 68 deaths. This legislation also will ensure states can facilitate buyback programs for these deadly weapons.\n\nWe need the Assault Weapons Act of 2022 now, but I also recognize that more can be done to address the deadly toll of gun violence is having on our families and communities. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to pass additional commonsense and meaningful gun violence prevention measures that will keep our constituents safe, invest in evidence based community violence prevention efforts such as de-escalation training, and measures to help keep guns out of the wrong hands.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Bill", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5048", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Legislation to Secure Right to Contraceptive Care", "2022-07-21", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted in support of the Right to Contraception Act, which establishes a statutory right to protect access to contraceptives and ensures health care professionals can continue providing patients with essential contraceptive care.\n\n\u201cWomen should make their own health care decisions. This right shouldn\u2019t be left in the hands of an extremist Supreme Court majority intent on restricting individual liberties and freedoms, not expanding them.\n\nThe ability to access birth control pills, emergency contraception, and IUDs are critical to a women\u2019s ability to plan her own future, including when and if to start a family. I proudly voted for the Right to Contraception Act to safeguard this essential right for women everywhere.\u201d\n\nThe Right to Contraception Act will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5047", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Secures Key Investments and Vital Resources for Milwaukee in House-passed FY 2023 Omnibus Funding Package", "2022-07-20", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore voted to pass H.R. 8294, a six-bill appropriations minibus. This package includes the following six appropriations bills: Transportation-HUD; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior-Environment; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.\n\n\u201cI am proud to support an omnibus package that speaks to many urgent needs in Milwaukee. Federal funding for affordable housing, reducing homelessness, securing clean drinking water, fighting food insecurity, and keeping some of our most vulnerable, domestic violence survivors, housed will benefit and uplift my constituents. I am thrilled that many of the efforts I spearheaded to build on these efforts were included in this omnibus package. I have long supported putting the resources our communities need towards tackling the homelessness crisis. In a bipartisan letter sent earlier this year, I advocated for $3.6 billion for McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Grant programs, so we can address the rise in homeless and build on the promise of ensuring every person has a home, an amount that is included in this legislation.\n\nI am also a long-time champion of WIC and am pleased this bill includes the $6 billion in funding I requested, including funding for a robust fresh fruits and vegetables voucher. These funds will help ensure WIC can remain a lifeline for women and children and continue helping them access healthy foods. Building on my efforts to fight child hunger, the bill includes $10 million for school breakfast expansion grants, another key effort I fought for. And during debate in the House, my amendment to increase funding for those expansion grants by another $2 million was adopted.\n\nAddressing lead crisis in Milwaukee has remained my priority. There is no safe level of lead exposure, this toxin stays with children as they grow and hinders their development. Federal funding is critical to ending this crisis. That\u2019s why I was so pleased that this legislation also includes a $15 million increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, which works to remove lead paint. Earlier this year, I led my colleagues in requesting increased funding for this program. The funding package also makes key investments in public transit to support economic growth and help Milwaukee residents stay connected, increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect the fresh coast, increases investments to help provide emergency housing for domestic violence survivors, takes steps to support our response to climate change, and provides funding that improves the quality of care at the VA, so we can honor our obligation to care for our heroes.\u201d\n\nLast but not least, this legislation includes funding for ten community projects that I requested, which pour resources into Milwaukee. These projects provide crucial funding to:\n\nBuild a new library to serve as a gathering space for the community and provide services for young people and families in the communities of Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale and River Hills.\n\nEncourage engagement and interest in the arts through Capita Productions Inc.\n\nHelp the City of Glendale reconstruct Silver Spring Dr. from 27th St to the Milwaukee River to reduce congestion and improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and commuters.\n\nSupport predevelopment loans for emerging real estate developers, including those of color, to encourage investments in low-income neighborhoods through Local Initiatives Support Corporation (Milwaukee Office).\n\nEnsure reliable public transit for constituents by supporting bus purchases by Milwaukee County.\n\nConstruct a community wellness center at the City of Milwaukee's Westlawn Gardens Choice Neighborhood Project to provide services that support the health and wellbeing of residents in conjunction with Milwaukee County and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.\n\nHelp create a new Park in Brown Deer by revitalize dilapidated property.\n\nHelp low-income homeowners, including seniors, make needed renovations to their homes that make them more accessible and safer through Revitalize Milwaukee.\n\nIn conjunction with the Social Development Commission and Aurora Health Care, provide funding to support the Consortium 27 community center.\n\nIn partnership with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and the Wisconsin National Guard, secure funding to protect our water by replacing outdated equipment at Howard Avenue Water Treatment Plant and the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility.\n\nRead more on Rep. Moore\u2019s community projects here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5046", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality in Federal Law", "2022-07-19", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which enshrines marriage equality in law for same-sex couples and interracial couples guaranteed by Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges and repeals the Defense of Marriage Act. In response, she released the following statement:\n\n\u201cClarence Thomas\u2019s radical opinion supporting the repeal of Roe made it clear that other freedoms are at-risk, including same-sex marriage. This right must be protected from a conservative and extreme Supreme Court majority who have already chipped away at equality and taken us back in time.\n\nToday, House Democrats are responding to this threat by passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which safeguards legal protections for same-sex couples and interracial couples.\n\nI have always thought it was wrong for the government to tell people who they can or can\u2019t marry. Marriage equality is a right I have championed for decades and will continue fighting to protect.\n\nThat\u2019s why I supported the Respect for Marriage Act, which helps preserve the dignity and freedom that comes with being able to marry who you love \u2013 no matter their gender or skin color.\u201d\n\nThe Key Provisions of the Bill", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5043", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Legislation to Strengthen and Restore Women\u2019s Reproductive Freedoms", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore supported House passage of the Women's Health Protection Act and the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which helps ensure women can make their own health care decisions without far-right politicians' interference. The Women's Health Protection Act would enshrine abortion rights into federal law and the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would secure legal protections for women traveling out of state to receive an abortion, preventing Republicans from criminalizing women seeking out-of-state abortion.\n\n\u201cThe GOP\u2019s forced-birth policies are dangerous to the health of women and accompany pro-poverty policies such as cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC. Once the umbilical cord is cut, the GOP stops caring for the health and wellbeing of babies.\n\nIt is my duty to protect women in every state from the GOP\u2019s extremist policies and a radically conservative Supreme Court majority, which is why I voted in favor of these two vital bills, reaffirming a woman\u2019s right to control her own body.\n\nAll personal freedoms are at stake. That\u2019s why House Democrats are using their power to help restore abortion rights and protect existing liberties for women. Because as we have seen, Republicans will not stop at repealing Roe. They are pursuing even more extreme policies, including trying to throw doctors in jail who perform abortion care and shoving women in jail for leaving their state for abortion care.\n\nAs the GOP-majority Supreme Court threatens to put other rights on the chopping block like birth control, miscarriage care, and marriage equality, House Democrats are fighting for women\u2019s freedoms and all the individual liberties we hold dear as a country.\u201d\n\nSummary of the Women's Health Protection Act\n\nH.R. 8296 is landmark legislation that ensures health care providers have a statutory right to provide abortion care and patients have a statutory right to receive that care, free from state bans and restrictions that are only intended to impede or block access.\n\nThe bill would restore abortion access nationwide and make it clear that all people have a right to an abortion without ideological, stigmatizing, and unnecessary restrictions that block care and undermine a woman\u2019s ability to make her own health care decisions.\n\nSummary of the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-lee-issue-statement-on-house-vote-to-reduce-defense-budget", "Reps. Pocan, Lee Issue Statement on House Vote to Reduce Defense Budget", "2022-07-14", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Barbara Lee (CA-13), co-founders and Co-Chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus and members of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the House vote on their amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would cut the Pentagon's budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 by $100 billion. Reps. Pocan and Lee also proposed a $37 billion dollar cut to bring the FY23 NDAA topline back to the President's request of $813.3 billion.\n\nSince the beginning of the Trump administration, defense spending has increased every year \u2014 over $100 billion total, an almost 20% increase. Military spending now represents more than half of all federal discretionary spending. A 2021 CBO study found that Pentagon could cut $100b per year without compromising our national defense priorities.\n\n\"An $839 billion defense budget is too much with too little accountability,\" Rep. Pocan said. \"Cutting just a fraction of the Pentagon's budget could help address domestic priorities like housing, education, clean energy, and more. I'll continue fighting alongside Rep. Lee until our budgets are an accurate reflection of our priorities. Until then, I can't support this unaccountable increase to the Defense budget.\"\n\n\"Congress should not increase the Pentagon's budget beyond what the administration has requested, and we certainly should not be adding more funding to an unauditable and unaccountable Pentagon,\" said Congresswoman Lee. \"The House again stands poised to pour over $800 billion dollars into a defense establishment that does little to answer the biggest threats to the safety and welfare of our people. Imagine what we could do with even a fraction of that? We could hire more than 300,000 nurses to address the nation's nursing shortage, provide free, quality child care for more than 800,000 children to help caretakers get back to work, or fully fund Build Back Better's provisions for child and earned income tax credits, improved health care access, and Medicare hearing benefits for seniors.\n\n\"The $100 billion dollars Rep. Pocan and I proposed to cut from the Defense budget is sorely needed for other key national priorities. We face an array of threats in America today, including the continuing COVID health emergency and the impacts of the climate crisis. It is our duty to look for savings at the Pentagon and meet the urgent needs of the American people. Enough is enough.\"\n\nThe proposed $100B dollar cut (Roll Call 316) failed on a vote of 350 to 78, with 1 Republican voting for passage.\n\nThe proposed $37B dollar cut (Roll Call 317) failed on a vote of 277 to 151, with 14 Republicans voting for passage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-s-15-earmarks-passed-by-committee", "Pocan\u2019s 15 Earmarks Passed by Committee", "2022-06-30", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "June 30, 2022\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee,announced that all 15 of his requested earmarks are advancing out of committee. These provisions will receive a vote in the House of Representatives as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Appropriations Bills.\n\n\"Investments in education, infrastructure, and working families are critical for the well-being of our communities,\" said Congressman Pocan. \"Today's Appropriations Committee vote acknowledges the importance of these priorities with investments that will benefit all Americans. I'm happy to announce that the committee advanced all 15 of my Community Project Funding requests. These projects will reach all corners of the district and I look forward to voting for these on the House floor.\"\n\nThese 15 projects now head to the House floor for consideration and must be agreed to by the United States Senate and signed by the President before they become law.\n\nThe FY23 Appropriations Bill will include a number of provisions benefitting Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District, including:\n\n$4 million for the Salvation Army of Dane County to construct a new shelter facility for women and families.\n\n$3.2 million for the City of Sun Prairie to construct a solar radiation water pollution control facility, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of water pollution control operations.\n\n$2 million for the Wisconsin River Recreational Bridge, a joint project between Dane and Sauk Counties that will connect bikers and pedestrians to the Great Sauk Trail.\n\n$1.2 million for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County to support the development of the new McKenzie Regional Workforce Center.\n\n$1 million for the Village of New Glarus to construct a new water tower.\n\n$1 million for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to upgrade the University's aging helium plant, securing infrastructure needed by federal researchers on campus performing work funded by the NIH, Dept. of Energy, NSF, Dept. of Agriculture, and more.\n\n$1 million for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to enable the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery to expand student-led research for new antibiotics and offer additional high-quality STEM opportunities.\n\n$700,000 for Edgerton Community Outreach, Inc. to renovate 210/212 W. Fulton St. and create six units of affordable housing and a home for veterans' group meetings, senior programming, and public events.\n\n$560,000 for the City of Reedsburg toward the construction of a 52,000 square-foot fieldhouse for local residents and to host regional athletic tournaments benefiting the local economy.\n\n$500,000 for the City of Baraboo to construct an ADA-compliant ramp with railing and lighting between Water Street and the Oak Street Overlook in order to better connect downtown Baraboo with the Riverwalk/Ice Age Trail.\n\n$250,000 for the Dick Wagner Memorial Grant which will be awarded to Our Lives Media to archive documents and tell the story of the nation's first gay rights law which was passed in Wisconsin in 1982 (AB70).\n\n$250,000 for the Jewish Social Services of Madison to assist with refugee resettlement activities.\n\n$250,000 for the Historic Driver Opera House Restoration in Darlington to support the installation of a heating and cooling system and an ADA-accessible elevator and restrooms.\n\n$190,000 for SWCAP Head Start in Dodgeville to build an addition on the existing Head Start building.\n\n$100,000 for the Mineral Point Opera House Historic Marquee Replacement, subject to further approval from the National Park Service with respect to work on historic structures.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5041", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Pass Bipartisan, Bicameral Safer Communities Act", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cThe scourge of gun violence has made Americans going to the grocery store, movie theater, school, or their place of worship, worry whether their next outing will become the next site of a tragedy.\n\nThis isn\u2019t real freedom. America\u2019s nearly unrestricted access to weapons, including assault rifles, has infringed on every Americans\u2019 ability to live without fear of gun violence in their daily lives. And the gun violence epidemic has sadly, touched every community in some way. In Milwaukee, we too often see gun violence taking precious members of our community. This is why for years, I have championed gun violence prevention measures, including measures to crack down on bad actor gun dealers, to help keep guns out of the hands of domestic violence perpetrators, and to expand the use of community de-escalation tactics and training to empower our residents.\n\nAfter decades of inaction on the gun violence epidemic, I am glad some Republicans worked with Democrats to advance critical gun safety legislation.\n\nThough this legislation lacks other crucial measures I support, it takes a major step in addressing gun violence in our communities. I am so pleased this legislation includes a provision to encourage states to create their own red flag laws, giving law enforcement and concerned family members the power to intervene if someone poses a dangerous to others. Another important measure is funding for community-based violence programs. These programs use an approach that addresses people as a whole, considers their socioeconomic needs, and understands their unique community. I support community-based violence prevention programs in Milwaukee and their funding in this bill.\n\nAnother initiative I have long fought for is closing the boyfriend loophole. I know firsthand that can happen when an abuser gets their hands on a gun. This legislation would take steps to close the boyfriend loophole, helping protect domestic abuse survivors and their families. This bill also expands background checks for the youngest gun owners, a necessary measure especially after the horrific tragedies in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.\n\nAnd critically, this bill will improve law enforcement\u2019s ability to crack down on gun traffickers, whose weapons have flooded our streets and taken loved ones.\n\nAnd finally, the bill\u2019s public health investments, including more funding for initiatives I have championed to help get more social workers and other mental health professionals in our schools, is also welcomed.\n\nI am supporting this bipartisan, bicameral legislation because I know it will help make our communities a safer place to live for all my constituents.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5042", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis is a terrifying day, because the Supreme Court has turned its back on precedent to roll back individual rights and liberties. Today\u2019s ruling is not only the end of the federal right for women to have control over their bodies, but also demonstrates the Court is very likely to take away other personal liberties from Americans. This decision has made the lives of women and girls more tenuous, dangerous, and restricted.\n\nIf you don\u2019t care about abortion, you should! This decision goes beyond reproductive rights \u2013 it\u2019s about the personal freedoms now at risk because of a partisan, extremist Supreme Court.\n\nWhen people start talking about taking their country back, they must be talking about this day \u2013 because this is that moment when the country is taking us back in time to not only when abortion was banned, but gay marriage was illegal, and interracial marriage was outlawed.\n\nThough this is a hard day, it\u2019s not over! I will keep getting up each day to safeguard our other liberties and restore this vital right to every woman.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-on-scotus-decision-overturning-roe", "Pocan on SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after the United State Supreme Court ruled on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning 50 years of precedent affirming the constitutional right to an abortion:\n\n\"This decision is awful. Throwing out nearly 50 years of settled law to eliminate fundamental human rights is outrageous and an insult to our democracy, where a significant majority of Americans wanted Roe to stand. I share the sadness, fear, and anger of that majority today.\n\n\"This ruling takes Wisconsin back to 1849, criminalizing abortion with no exception for rape or incest. Earlier this week, Governor Evers called the legislature back for a special session to repeal this antiquated and cruel law, but right-wing extremist Republicans gaveled in and out immediately without rectifying this terrible wrong. The deeply personal decision to terminate a pregnancy should be made by individuals and their doctors, not politicians.\n\n\"Though this extreme ruling is rooted in misogyny and disproportionately impacts women, it also undermines every American's right to bodily autonomy and threatens other essential protections for privacy and self-determination. Justice Thomas's concurring opinion calls on the Court to revisit prior rulings on marriage equality, contraception, and private relationships between consenting adults.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5040", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Supports House Passage of Keep Kids Fed Act", "2022-06-23", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cSchool meal waivers gave schools the flexibility to feed kids during the pandemic, allowing them to adjust how food was distributed and keep our children fed. This quick action was vital as COVID-19 spread throughout communities, it ensured that children learning remotely could still access meals each day. It helped provide flexibilities so that parents could pick up meals and removed other barriers that could have kept children from accessing these meals.\n\nThat\u2019s why acting before this looming deadline was of the upmost importance to me.\n\nI want to ensure that school meal programs continue to operate in ways that make it easier for our children and their parents to access them during the school year. Additionally, these waivers helped improve access to meals during the summer. Hunger does not take a break during the summer, and neither should the programs our children use to stay full and nourished.\n\nThat\u2019s why the Keep Kids Fed Act is so important. It continues vital summer meal flexibilities through September and allow schools continued flexibility in the meals they must serve through the end of the upcoming school year while still ensuring access to nutritious meals. During the upcoming school year, the bill would boost reimbursements for every school lunch and breakfast serve to help offset higher costs and supply chain challenges facing those who operate these programs. And it would temporarily allow families up to 185% of the federal poverty level to be eligible for free school meals, among other provisions.\n\nEnsuring every child can access nutritious meals means they can focus on their learning, not on a growling stomach. Congress can build on this anti-hunger work by advancing the bill I have introduced with Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Universal School Meals Act, to provide every child with three meals each school day, which will help every child \u2013 no matter their income - succeed in the classroom and support families facing food insecurity.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5039", "Moore, Cortez Masto Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Increase Access to Homeownership", "2022-06-22", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.-04) and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced bicameral legislation to help working families afford their first mortgages. The Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act makes improvements to the Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) and Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) programs that make first-time homeownership possible for thousands of families every year. Since the programs\u2019 inception, nearly 4 million families who earn below the area median income have become homeowners for the first time.\n\nThis legislation would allow families to receive MRB loans to refinance their homes or make health and safety improvements. It also simplifies administration and makes it easier for lenders to use these programs while increasing Congressional oversight by requiring annual reporting.\n\n\u201cThe Mortgage Revenue Bond and Mortgage Credit Certificate programs have helped make possible the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans,\u201d said Representative Moore. \u201cTo address the stark racial homeownership gap in Milwaukee, we must use every tool in the toolkit to put the goal of homeownership in closer reach to our residents. These programs have been around for decades and are due for reforms to make them more effective. I am sponsoring this legislation to make homeownership more affordable for eligible households, giving more Americans, in Milwaukee and across the nation, the opportunity to own a home and build generational wealth for their families or make needed modifications to their home.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to make sure that as many Nevadans as possible can own their own homes and create security for their families. These federal tax breaks make mortgages more affordable so that families can have security, stability, and the chance to build wealth,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cI\u2019m working in the Senate to increase both our supply of affordable housing and access to homeownership, and my legislation will give Nevadans vital support in buying or renovating a home.\u201d\n\nCongress provides each state an amount of private activity bonds (PABs), which include MRB and MCC programs issued by housing finance agencies to support homeownership for families earning below 115% of area median income. MRBs are tax-exempt bonds that help fund below-market interest-rate mortgages for qualifying homebuyers. MCCs are issued directly to qualifying homebuyers, who are then entitled to a nonrefundable federal tax credit annually. MCCs and MRBs lower costs for low- and moderate-income homeowners, which can make sustainable homeownership possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-introduces-bipartisan-national-scenic-trails-parity-act", "Pocan Introduces Bipartisan National Scenic Trails Parity Act", "2022-06-22", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) introduced the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, bipartisan legislation that will increase funding access and improve maintenance for three National Scenic Trails, including two in Wisconsin. The three trails, which are already part of the National Park System but currently lack full unit status, are the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail, and the New England National Scenic Trail.\n\n\"Every year, thousands of volunteers \u2013 including many of my constituents \u2013 contribute hours and hours of their time to ensure their neighbors and visitors can enjoy these beautiful trails,\" Congressman Mark Pocan said. \"These trails are invaluable natural resources that provide communities like mine with unique outdoor experiences and economic opportunities. These trails have been particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic when outdoor recreation became essential for physical and mental well-being. This bill will level the playing field for some of the nation's most beautiful trails.\"\n\n\"As a lifelong Wisconsinite, I am proud to be from a state with such a beautiful natural environment,\" said Congressman Grothman (WI-06). \"I am happy to support this bipartisan effort to ensure the Ice Age Trail has the opportunity to participate as a unit of the National Park System.\"\n\n\"Despite being visited by millions of people, despite having more volunteer service hours than Yellowstone National Park, despite bringing people face-to-face with internationally significant geologic features, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail remains under-represented in the National Park System,\" Mike Wollmer, Executive Director/CEO, Ice Age Trail Alliance said. \"As a result, the Ice Age Trail faces considerable obstacles for funding and other programming. The National Scenic Trails Parity Act will bring the Ice Age Trail, as well as the North Country Trail and New England Trail, the recognition and status they deserve. We thank Rep. Pocan and other sponsors of the Act for their support to ensure the Trails' equal involvement in the National Park System.\"\n\n\"American Hiking applauds Rep. Pocan's introduction of the bipartisan National Scenic Trails Parity Act to provide equitable access to federal resources for all National Park Service managed national scenic trails.\" said Kate Van Waes, Executive Director, American Hiking Society. \"As the 57 million strong hiking community enjoy the benefits of these world renowned congressionally designated trails, it's critical that the North Country, Ice Age, and New England National Scenic Trails have access to the same funding and management opportunities as other NPS managed national scenic trails.\"\n\n\"The New England National Scenic Trail provides accessible outdoor recreation opportunities to millions of New England residents living in urban and rural communities,\" said Susan Arnold, Interim President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club. \"The National Scenic Trails Parity Act would provide access to vital federal funding and support to ensure continued public access and stewardship of this essential resource. AMC is grateful to Representative Pocan, Senator Baldwin, and to all original cosponsors of this bill in the House and Senate, for their work advancing this important legislation.\"\n\n\"Each park service-administered National Scenic Trail is a national park, and they all deserve that treatment,\" said Brendan Mysliwiec, Appalachian Trail Conservancy Director of Federal Policy. \"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy supports the recognition of national park \u2018unit' status that Representative Pocan's Parity Act would provide for all National Scenic Trails, and we are committed to working with Representative Pocan to ensure the best administration of our National Scenic Trails.\"\n\n\"The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) celebrates the opportunity for the North Country National Scenic Trail, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and New England National Scenic Trail to be formally recognized as units of the National Park System,\" Teresa Martinez, Continental Divide Trail Coalition Executive Director said. \"These trails, along with all National Scenic Trails, provide fantastic opportunities for both local communities and visitors from around the globe to enjoy the beauty and restorative powers of the outdoors.\"\n\n\"Just as \u2018all men are created equal' I believe it was the intent of the National Trails Act that all of our trails were also meant to be \u2018created equal,'\" Ellen von Karajan, Executive Director of the National Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association said. \"Our sister trails who do not have parity are hampered in their effectiveness, are not eligible to compete for certain funds for important projects they are well qualified to undertake and are denied important benefits allowed to other trails. Granting parity - leveling the playing field for all trails -isn't just \u2018equitable', it's an investment that will produce real and lasting results.\"\n\n\"The National Scenic Trails Parity Act is simple and common sense legislation that corrects an inequity in the management of National Scenic Trails by the National Park Service,\" said Andrea Ketchmark, North Country Trail Association Executive Director. \"The North Country Trail Association, representing thousands of partners and volunteers along one of these forgotten trails, is so grateful for Rep. Pocan's leadership. His support will help ensure the agency does its part to see that these national treasures get managed properly and in line with the National Trails System Act.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the legislation.\n\nSenator Baldwin introduced a companion bill in the United States Senate last year.\n\nEndorsing Organizations:Ala Kahakai Trail Association, American Hiking Society, American Trails, Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Arizona Trail Association, Back Country Horsemen of America, Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Continental Divide Trail Association, Florida Trail Association, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance, National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, North Country Trail, Overmountain Victory Trail Association, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Partnership for the National Trails System\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-s-21st-century-president-act-passes-house", "Pocan\u2019s 21st Century President Act Passes House", "2022-06-21", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan's (WI-02) bill, the 21st Century President Act (H.R. 3285), passed the House unanimously by voice vote.Pocan's bill would make commonsense updates to gendered language in the U.S. Code, reflecting the reality that a woman or LGBTQ+ person will someday hold the office of the presidency. Without this change, the law that makes it a crime to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the President or the President's family would fail to explicitly include a future female president or president with a same-sex spouse.\n\n\"In the last presidential election, six women and one gay man entered the Democratic primary in the race to be president, but current federal law would have failed to fully protect them and their spouses if elected,\" said Representative Pocan. \"We're closer than we've ever been to electing a woman, or someone with a spouse of the same sex, as president. Let's not wait until that day comes to ensure the Constitution's promise of equal protection under the law is guaranteed.\"\n\n\"Words have meaning, and in 2022, our laws should reflect that a President and their spouse can be any gender,\" said Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. \"I was proud to vote today for the 21st Century President Act, which -- by replacing certain gender-specific references in the U.S. code -- makes it clear that LGBTQ+ people and women can be President. Thank you Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan for introducing this important bill, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler for helping shepherd this bill through the House Judiciary Committee and through the House.\"\n\n\"I am thrilled that the House voted today to pass the 21st Century President Act,\" said Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. \"This bill takes direct action to modernize the language we use criminalizing threats against former Presidents and their families by removing gendered terms. As it stands, the statute defines immediate family with terms such as \u2018wife,' \u2018her,' and \u2018widow,' which presumes the President will always be a man married to a woman. When first enacted, Congress did not account for issues of gender equality, an area in which we have made significant, though incomplete, progress. I am proud to have helped pass this bill out of the Judiciary Committee, and I am grateful to Congressman Pocan for his tireless leadership on this issue.\"\n\n18 U.S.C. 879 makes it a criminal act to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the President, a former President, a candidate for President, or a member of their family, while referring to Presidents as men and to their spouses as wives. \u200b\u200bThe bipartisan 21st Century President Act would replace the terms \"wife\" and \"widow\" with \"spouse,\" and replaces gender-specific pronouns referring to the President and presidential spouses with gender-neutral terms to extend full protection to anyone elected to become the president and first family.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5038", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Advances Legislation to Increase Access to Federal Credit Unions in Underserved Communities", "2022-06-15", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass H.R. 2543, the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act, a package of bills aimed at promoting racial and economic equity in our communities. This package includes H.R. 7003, the Expanding Financial Access for Communities Act, legislation Congresswoman Moore introduced during her tenure on the Financial Services Committee, which Chairwoman Maxine Waters is now spearheading.\n\n\u201cGrowing up during the Civil Rights movement, I saw Black Americans gain access to civil rights long denied to them and finally receive basic accommodations. But even after gaining these freedoms, Black people had to and continue to play catch up financially. I knew the increasing economic opportunity was the next step in achieving equity. I noticed that people in my community lacked access to capital and financial resources. That\u2019s why when I was an AmeriCorps member, I started a community credit union in Milwaukee from scratch, which still exists today.\n\nBy expanding access to federal credit unions in low-income communities, the Expanding Financial Access for Communities Act builds on my personal mission and addresses urgent needs in underbanked and unbanked communities. I previously introduced this bill and am so thrilled and proud that Chairwoman Waters picked up the mantle. With this much-needed legislation, we will help honor the promise of financial freedom for all Americans and help give those previously shut out access to resources to achieve their dreams.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/labor-caucus-celebrates-jec-report-on-unions", "Labor Caucus Celebrates JEC Report on Unions", "2022-06-13", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI) Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) applaud the publishing of the joint report from the House Education and Labor Committee and the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) titled \"Unions Provide Major Economic Benefits for Workers and Families.\"\n\n\"Labor unions are having more than a moment,\" the Co-Chairs of the Labor Caucus said. \"Unions have helped level the playing field in the United States for years and this report from the Joint Economic Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee proves what we already knew: unions are not just good for workers, they're good for the entire economy. The statistics speak for themselves, creating yet another compelling reason for the Senate to immediately pass the PRO Act and protect the right to organize. Thank you to JEC Chairman Beyer and Education and Labor Chairman Scott for putting this excellent report together.\"\n\n\"Unions are the foundation of America's middle class. For too long, the wealthy have captured an increasing share of the economic pie,\" JEC Chairman Beyer said. \"As this report makes clear, unions help address economic inequality and ensure workers actually see the benefits when the economy grows. Even better, the positive effects of unions extend beyond just those workplaces that have formally organized. By boosting wages industry-wide, narrowing the gender and racial wage gaps and improving job quality, unions generate benefits that are economy wide. Supporting the right to organize puts more money directly into workers' pockets. That is why I continue to firmly support legislation to strengthen labor protections, including the PRO Act, which passed the House last year and would further strengthen the right of workers to join a union.\"\n\n\"This report offers the latest evidence that labor unions are workers' best tool to access higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces,\" Education and Labor Chairman Scott said. \"In fact, the benefits of union membership extend even to nonunion members and the children of unionized workers. The need to protect workers' right to organize is greater than ever. While wealthy individuals and the largest corporations continue to boost their profits, workers across the country have been forced to work in unsafe conditions for insufficient pay, because they lacked the ability to stand together and negotiate with their employer. As Chair of the Education and Labor Committee, I am committed to addressing the decades of anti-worker attacks that have eroded workers' collective bargaining rights. With the release of this report, I once again call on the Senate to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which would take historic steps to strengthen workers' right to organize, rebuild our middle class, and improve the lives of workers and their families.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-and-lee-introduce-bill-to-cut-defense-spending-by-100-billion", "Reps. Pocan and Lee Introduce Bill to Cut Defense Spending by $100 Billion and Prioritize People Over the Pentagon", "2022-06-13", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Defense Spending Reduction Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Mark Pocan and Barbara Lee introduced legislation to cut $100 billion from the Defense budget and reallocate the funds to prioritize people over the Pentagon.\n\n\"The Pentagon's budget continues to grow year after year, even as our forever wars have finally wound down,\" Rep. Pocan said. \"The United States spends more on defense than the next nine countries combined and cutting it by $100 billion will still keep the United States safe at the top spot. The amount of money the defense industry convinces Congress to spend each year doesn't protect us from real threats like climate change, pandemics, or cyber-attacks. It only lines contractors' pockets. Just imagine for once if we led the world in funding peace and not wars.\"\n\n\"For far too long, this country has put profits ahead of its people. Nowhere is that more apparent than in our Pentagon topline budget,\" said Congresswoman Lee. \"Just last year, key priorities like Build Back Better were left on the negotiating table, while Congress approved a $782 billion defense budget\u2014higher than the military even requested. Meanwhile, our constituents continue to struggle with the cost of living and barriers to basic needs like housing and health care. It is time that we realign our priorities to reflect the urgent needs of communities across this country that are healing from a pandemic, ongoing economic insecurity, and an international energy crisis\u2014none of which will be resolved through greater military spending. Taking this step to downsize our military budget by $100 billion will ensure that our national security truly centers on the American people, not weapons industry profits.\"\n\n\"The Lee-Pocan bill disproves the claim that there's not money to feed the hungry, care for the sick, cut child poverty or protect the planet,\" said Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen. \"With U.S. military spending totaling more than China and the next 8 biggest military spenders combined, the Lee-Pocan bill will reclaim $100 billion in Pentagon spending and free it to be reallocated to domestic and human needs priorities. Thank you, Reps. Lee and Pocan. This is how we advance our true national security interests.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5037", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Backs Legislation that Would Create Tool for Federal, State, Local Courts to Use to Help Prevent Gun Violence", "2022-06-09", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021 (HR 2377) authorizes and establishes procedures for federal courts to issue extreme risk protection orders. Additionally, this legislation would allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order to temporarily remove access to firearms for an individual who is deemed a danger to themselves or others by the court. The bill also encourages states to adopt extreme risk protection order laws using a new grant through the Department of Justice. Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:\n\n\u201cWhen family members, a domestic violence survivor, or law enforcement have knowledge or information that an individual may pose a threat to others and has access to guns, we need to give them tools to be able to act to help prevent a tragedy. That\u2019s where red flag laws can help by providing a mechanism by which loved ones or law enforcement can go to a court to help get dangerous weapons, including assault rifles, away from those individuals.\n\nOften, it isn\u2019t until after a tragedy occurs that we learn that loved ones were concerned and sounded the alarm to authorities, but current laws made it difficult to intervene.\n\n\"Right now, 19 states across the political spectrum and the District of Columbia have red flag laws and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act would fill in the gap by creating a similar process at the national level. It would also provide grants to encourage states and local red flag laws as well to help ensure that guns don\u2019t end up in the wrong hands while ensuring due process. It will provide an opportunity for law enforcement and loved ones to intervene before a tragedy takes place.\n\nThis is a good step forward, but more can be done. I have legislation to help improve oversight of bad actor gun dealers whose guns often end up at crime scenes. I also have a bill that would help protect domestic violence survivors by incentivizing state and local courts to implement procedures to remove guns owned by abusers. According to research from Everytown, access to a gun makes domestic abuse situations five times deadlier for victims. Their research also revealed that an estimated 4.5 million women have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner, showing how pervasive the intersection of domestic abuse and gun violence is.\n\nWe must continue building on these life-saving efforts to ensure children feel safe at school, worshippers feel safe at their places of worship and people no longer have to worry about the threat of gun violence in their daily lives.\u201d\n\nThe Extreme Risk Protection Order Act will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-reacts-to-january-6th-public-hearing", "Pocan Reacts to January 6th Public Hearing", "2022-06-09", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "MADISON, WI \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after the first public hearing for the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol concluded:\n\n\"This evening's hearing confirmed what we already knew: this was not a spontaneous mob attack on the U.S. Capitol \u2013 it was an explicit attempt to stage a coup and override a free and fair election. Efforts to subvert democracy extended beyond the Capitol too. They occurred in Wisconsin where supporters of the losing 2020 presidential candidate posed as fraudulent electors in violation of not just federal law, but the very concept of the rule of law itself. The Select Committee is detailing for the American people the planned and coordinated effort to overturn a presidential election so that the crimes committed can be known and we can ensure it never happens again.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-garamendi-ask-pentagon-to-scrutinize-defense-industry-0", "Reps. Pocan, Garamendi Ask Pentagon to Scrutinize Defense Industry Mergers", "2022-06-09", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and John Garamendi (CA-03) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting him to scrutinize mergers in the defense industry. This comes after a Department of Defense report in February 2022 that identifies consolidation in the defense industry as a threat that can \"reduce the availability of key supplies and equipment, diminish vendors' incentives for innovation and performance in government contracts, and lead to supply chain vulnerabilities.\"\n\n\"We write to express concern with defense industry consolidation and urge the Department to assist the Federal Trade Commission in assessing past merger impacts on defense programs; namely [\u2026] the 2018 Northrop Grumman - Orbital ATK merger,\" the lawmakers wrote. \"In January 2022, the Federal Trade Commission blocked the proposed merger of Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne over concerns that Lockheed would use its control of Aerojet to increase prices, and the increased industry consolidation would result in lower quality goods and services to the Department of Defense.\"\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"We remain concerned that the 2018 merger between Northrop Grumman and Orbital ATK poses the same threats [\u2026] Post-merger, Northrop enjoys virtually unilateral power to set prices on some of the most expensive military weapons on the planet, nuclear weapons [\u2026] It is critical that this merger, and all defense industry mergers, are subject to adequate scrutiny, both to keep defense contractor profiteering at bay and to advance national security priorities.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-garamendi-ask-pentagon-to-scrutinize-defense-industry-mergers", "Reps. Pocan, Garamendi Ask Pentagon to Scrutinize Defense Industry Mergers", "2022-06-09", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and John Garamendi (CA-03) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting him to scrutinize mergers in the defense industry. This comes after a Department of Defense report in February 2022 that identifies consolidation in the defense industry as a threat that can \"reduce the availability of key supplies and equipment, diminish vendors' incentives for innovation and performance in government contracts, and lead to supply chain vulnerabilities.\"\n\n\"We write to express concern with defense industry consolidation and urge the Department to assist the Federal Trade Commission in assessing past merger impacts on defense programs; namely [\u2026] the 2018 Northrop Grumman - Orbital ATK merger,\" the lawmakers wrote. \"In January 2022, the Federal Trade Commission blocked the proposed merger of Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne over concerns that Lockheed would use its control of Aerojet to increase prices, and the increased industry consolidation would result in lower quality goods and services to the Department of Defense.\"\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"We remain concerned that the 2018 merger between Northrop Grumman and Orbital ATK poses the same threats [\u2026] Post-merger, Northrop enjoys virtually unilateral power to set prices on some of the most expensive military weapons on the planet, nuclear weapons [\u2026] It is critical that this merger, and all defense industry mergers, are subject to adequate scrutiny, both to keep defense contractor profiteering at bay and to advance national security priorities.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5035", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Advances Protecting Our Kids Act", "2022-06-08", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore voted to pass the Protect Our Kids Act, which includes sensible gun reforms that will save lives and keep our children safe.\n\n\u201cIn America, there are more guns than people. There have been more shootings in 2022 than there have been days. We are only halfway through the year, and there have already been 246 mass shootings!\n\nThis past month has been particularly deadly: Our hearts broke for cities including Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa whose communities have been mourning after tragedies. Racine, my own birthplace, made headlines after there was a shooting at a funeral. A funeral!\n\nEvery day, we see gun violence being all too common in Milwaukee. We are all tied to the souls we have lost in these tragedies. Each loss means a family and community left to grieve and pick up the pieces. This epidemic is taking away fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and our precious babies. It only strengthens my resolve to pursue long overdue solutions, many of which has broad support among the American people, such as strengthening background checks.\n\nIt is clear that we need these reforms because gun violence touches every community whether they are urban, rural, or suburban. We need solutions, not just more thoughts and prayers.\n\nDemocrats are advancing commonsense gun safety measures, including raising the age to purchase assault weapons, help stop ghost guns from flooding our streets, banning bump stocks, and ensure guns are safely stored in homes. We will keep working to make all our communities safe and whole.\u201d\n\nThe Protecting Our Kids Act will:\n\n\u00b7 Raise the purchasing age for certain semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old.\n\n\u00b7 Cracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchases to get illegal guns off our streets.\n\n\u00b7 Close the ghost gun loophole.\n\n\u00b7 Strengthen safe storage requirements to protect children from accidental shootings.\n\n\u00b7 Outlaw bump stocks and high-capacity magazines for civilian use, as these only make mass shootings more deadly.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5036", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Protect Great Lakes and Support Milwaukee Project to Prevent Sewer Overflows", "2022-06-08", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Moore voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), which supports Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 projects that address flood damage reduction, promote ecosystem restoration, support climate resiliency, and address water resource needs in underserved communities. These projects benefit communities across the country, including in Milwaukee.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to once again support a bipartisan bill to authorize critical Army Corps of Engineers authorities, including provisions directly related to protecting Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.\n\nFor example, the bill would continue to strengthen our fight against invasive species such as the Asian Carp that have long posed a threat to our Great Lakes. The bill would increase the federal cost share for work at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to put in place technology and other features to keep the Asian Carp out of Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. Allowing the Carp to get into the Great Lakes would be a disaster and I am so glad that on a bipartisan basis, Congress has made clear that doing all we can to prevent that remains a priority.\n\nThe bill also builds on work I have done previously to help ensure that underserved communities are meaningfully engaged and consulted with on Army Corps projects in their communities. Too often, community members are overlooked, or not aware as major Corps funded activities take place around them, without them. The bill would direct the Corps to increase outreach to urban and rural communities and Indian Tribes on the Corps\u2019 water resources development authorities and to provide additional public resources for increased community engagement with Corps programs. In that vein, the bill also would require each Army Corps district that contains a Tribal community to create a position within that district to carry out the duties and serve as a Tribal liaison.\n\nThe legislation also takes step to combat harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes, among other areas and calls for the Army Corps to expedite the completion of the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, a collaborative effort by 8 Great Lakes states, the Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies to improve the resiliency of the Great Lake coastline to protect the immense economic, environmental and social value of the Great Lakes shoreline and provide recommendations to bolster the ability of Great Lakes coastlines to withstand, recover from, and adapt to future lake level conditions and increased storm severity. This study, which has bipartisan support in the Great Lakes delegation, would provide federal, state, and local agencies decisionmakers with the necessary information to support effective management decisions and investments, especially given climate change\u2019s impact on the region.\n\nLastly, I am pleased that authorization for a Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District project that I requested is included. This project would support the use of green infrastructure within an approximately 25 square mile combined sewer service area in the City of Milwaukee that uses natural means to help reduce the volume of water entering our sewers during storm events. The project will take place at 8 sites in the city, include the installation of bioswales, stormwater trees and green parking lots, and is estimated to help capture over 525,000 gallons of stormwater during a single storm event.\u201d\n\nRead more about the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-takes-action-on-gun-violence", "Pocan Takes Action on Gun Violence", "2022-06-08", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) voted to pass the Protecting Our Children Act (H.R. 7910), a package of gun safety measures to help stem the tide of gun violence which has afflicted the United States for decades.\n\n\"Gun violence is a uniquely American problem,\" Pocan said. \"There are widely popular steps we can take \u2013 steps most other countries have taken \u2013 to help stop these horrific tragedies. 321 people are shot every day in the United States, and 111 are killed. Moments of silence mean nothing without moments of action. Thoughts and prayers mean nothing if we don't take steps to prevent future tragedies. Our children are watching. Will my colleagues in the Senate stand by while kids live in fear, or will they have the strength to finally act?\"\n\nThe Protecting Our Children Act includes the following titles that take steps to reduce gun violence in this country and keep people safe:\n\nRaising the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old (Title 1)\n\nCracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchases to get illegal guns off of our streets (Title 2)\n\nSubjecting ghost gun purchases to background check requirements (Title 3)\n\nStrengthening safe storage requirements to protect children from accidental shootings (Title 4)\n\nClosing the bump stock loophole to ban these deadly tools from civilian use (Title 5)\n\nOutlawing high-capacity magazines, which are designed for killing en masse and have been the accessory of choice in the bloodiest mass shootings (Title 6)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5033", "Congresswoman Gwen Moore Votes to Fight Gas Price Gouging", "2022-05-19", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cDemocrats know inflation is hurting Americans and unlike Republicans, are committed to working to lower everyday prices, including at the gas pump. I know my constituents are feeling the pain as they are forced to pay more to travel where they need to go.\n\nWhen gas prices are high, it is an expensive burden that Americans have to shoulder every time they go to and from work, pick up their kids from school or go to the grocery store. While the causes for these higher prices are many, including Russia\u2019s ongoing unjustified invasion of Ukraine, it\u2019s unacceptable for any oil companies to exploit this moment to hurt consumers even as they rake in big profits.\n\nInstead of boosting production including on the thousands of federal oil leases that they currently own but are not utilizing, it appears that these oil companies would rather enrich their shareholders through stock buybacks.\n\nThe Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act would grant the president the power to issue an emergency energy proclamation outlawing the sale of consumer fuels \u2013 including gas \u2013 at artificially high prices during that emergency period. It would boost the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s (FTC) authority to oversee the energy market and penalize bad actors manipulating the market, improving transparency and fair competition. The FTC is the federal consumer protection agency tasked with protecting consumers and promoting competition. Importantly, the bill contains protections for independently owned gas stations that are passing along higher costs imposed on them. Among other provisions, the bill would require the Federal Trade Commission to determine if the price of gasoline is being manipulated by the industry reducing refinery capacity or by any other form of market manipulation or artificially increased by price gouging practices. 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