url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-announces-grant-university-wisconsin-platteville,Rep. Kind Announces Grant for University of Wisconsin-Platteville,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announced that the University of Wisconsin-Platteville would be receiving a grant from the US Department of Agriculture and National Institute of Food Agriculture. The grant will aid in the establishment of a Hydrologic Observatory and supports long-term agro-ecosystem research, education, and outreach in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. “As Wisconsinites, we are fortunate to have abundant natural resources in our own backyard. We must do our part to ensure they are taken care of for future generations. I am proud of the work UW-Platteville has done to research how to best preserve and understand the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and this grant allows them to expand the work they do,” said Rep. Kind.  ""The funding provided through the USDA NIFA grant will support the establishment of UW-Platteville's Hydrologic Observatory on the Fever River. This observatory will be one of several established across the country for the purpose of improving our understanding of water and nutrient cycling, and developing national data sets to support large-scale modeling efforts within the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Long Term Agroecosystems Research Program. We are grateful for the support of USDA NIFA and look forward to completing the project with our collaborators within the Agricultural Research Service and UW-Stevens Point,"" said Dennis Busch of UW-Platteville. Rep. Kind has continually worked to make sure that researchers have access to USDA Capacity Building Grants. He supported funding for the grants in the 2016 budget bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-dingell-lead-letter-urging-congressional-leadership-to-expand,"Pocan, Dingell Lead Letter Urging Congressional Leadership to Expand Economic Opportunities in Communities Harmed by Outsourcing",2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) led a letter with 23 House Democrats to Majority Leader McConnell, Leader-elect Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Leader Pelosi urging immediate action in the upcoming Congress to expand economic opportunities in communities harmed by the outsourcing of American jobs. ""The frustration and despair felt by workers in our region is palpable, and the discourse during the year's election detailing the lack of opportunity for the working class underscores the need for solutions to these challenges. Congress has a responsibility to address their concerns and work together to strengthen the economic stability of these communities,"" the letter states. ""Too many working class families in our districts have been left behind because of the outsourcing of American jobs. It is critical Congress takes immediate action to jumpstart the economic prosperity of these communities."" The letter to Congressional Leadership was signed by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), André Carson (D-IN), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Bill Foster (D-IL), Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI), Richard M. Nolan (D-MN), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Pete Visclosky (D-IN), and Sander M. Levin (D-MI). The text of the letter is below and an electronic copy can be found here. Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader-elect Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Leader Pelosi: We write today to urge immediate action in the 115th Congress to expand economic opportunity in communities harmed by the outsourcing of American jobs. Our states encompass communities that once served as thriving hubs for manufacturing and development, providing the opportunity for working class families to achieve the American Dream. In recent decades, the livelihoods of these workers have been pulled out from beneath them. We have watched too many factories shutter their doors and too many workers lose their jobs, decimating these neighborhoods and leaving families behind. The frustration and despair felt by workers in our region is palpable, and the discourse during the year's election detailing the lack of opportunity for the working class underscores the need for solutions to these challenges. Congress has a responsibility to address their concerns and work together to strengthen the economic stability of these communities. For these reasons, we urge Congress to prioritize the consideration and passage of legislation consistent with the following principles: 1. We should close loopholes in our tax code which reward companies that ship jobs overseas and punish companies that stay in the United States and invest in American workers. 2. Federal contracting and procurement policies should give preference to American labor and domestic-made goods so our taxpayer dollars benefit working class families in the United States. 3. We should increase investments in education and prepare workers for careers in advanced manufacturing and other industries that will be pivotal in the 21st century economy. 4. Trade Adjustment Assistance and retraining programs should be improved and expanded to give workers the opportunity to get back on their feet when confronting job displacement. 5. We should expand access to quality broadband services and increased telecommunications connectivity so all communities have the digital resources that are necessary to compete in our digital economy. 6. The promise of a secure retirement must be upheld by preserving benefits that workers have paid into and earned, including Social Security, Medicare, and workplace pension guarantees. Too many working class families in our districts have been left behind because of the outsourcing of American jobs. It is critical Congress takes immediate action to jumpstart the economic prosperity of these communities by passing legislation that adheres to the principles listed above. We hope you will stand with us and our constituents during the 115th Congress to advance these goals and revive the American Dream for workers across the country. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1437,"In Letter to Trump, House Democrats Draw Line on Women's Right to Choose",2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – This week, 105 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President-elect Trump urging the elimination of the Hyde Amendment. Federal restrictions prevent millions of women, including low-income women, servicewomen, federal employees, Native American women and residents of Washington, D.C. from exercising their constitutional right to abortion care. The letter was led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.   “For far too long, low-income, particularly women of color, have been disproportionately affected by the implementation of Hyde. Such blatant discrimination not only limits critical access to reproductive health services, but can also have a crushing impact on a woman’s economic mobility,” said Congresswoman Moore. “If President-elect Trump is serious about creating economic opportunities for the most vulnerable among us, it is imperative that we end this archaic policy and stop those who continue to restrict women from making their own personal reproductive decisions.”    “It’s past time for Congress to end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment once and for all. With this letter, House Democrats are sending a clear message: we will not back down from defending women’s constitutional rights,” said Congresswoman Lee. “No woman should ever be denied reproductive health care because of how much she earns or the type of her insurance. The EACH Woman Act would end this discrimination and ensure that all women, including low-income women and women of color, can make the health care decisions that are best for them and their family.”   Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said, “The Hyde Amendment denies crucial health care coverage to women who serve in our military, work in our federal government, and join the Peace Corps, as well as those who depend on Medicaid and the Indian Health Service. All women, no matter their income level, zip code, health insurance plan, or career path should have access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion services. It is unacceptable that this constitutional right would be denied to women because Republican politicians refuse to allow them to make their own choices. It is time to get rid of the Hyde Amendment once and for all.”   The letter calls on President-elect Trump to end decades of health care discrimination and adopt reproductive health care policies based in dignity and respect for women. The letter notes, “For too long, low-income women and women of color have shouldered the burden on our country’s restrictive reproductive health laws. Together, we ask that you send a strong signal that this will no longer be the legacy of the United States.”    “We will hold President-Elect Trump accountable every step of the way as we protect access to women’s health care and the constitutionally-protected right to an abortion. The Hyde Amendment overwhelmingly affects low-income women and women of color, and we will not stand quietly by should the Trump Administration continue supporting this destructive and discriminatory amendment that denies them the coverage they need,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.   “Over the last 40 years, the Hyde Amendment has been used to deny low income Americans Medicaid coverage of reproductive health care. Whether a woman has private or government funded health insurance, every woman, in concert with her family and doctor, should be able to make her own health decisions,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “We must promote and protect the rights of every woman to make her own family planning decisions, and to have access to a full range of healthcare services. The time to repeal the Hyde Amendment is now.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2050,"In Letter to Trump, House Democrats Draw Line on Women's Right to Choose",2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"For far too long, low-income, particularly women of color, have been disproportionately affected by the implementation of Hyde. Such blatant discrimination not only limits critical access to reproductive health services, but can also have a crushing impact on a woman's economic mobility. share: f t Washington, D.C. This week, 105 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President-elect Trump urging the elimination of the Hyde Amendment. Federal restrictions prevent millions of women, including low-income women, servicewomen, federal employees, Native American women and residents of Washington, D.C. from exercising their constitutional right to abortion care. The letter was led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. For far too long, low-income, particularly women of color, have been disproportionately affected by the implementation of Hyde. Such blatant discrimination not only limits critical access to reproductive health services, but can also have a crushing impact on a woman's economic mobility, said Congresswoman Moore. If President-elect Trump is serious about creating economic opportunities for the most vulnerable among us, it is imperative that we end this archaic policy and stop those who continue to restrict women from making their own personal reproductive decisions. It's past time for Congress to end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment once and for all. With this letter, House Democrats are sending a clear message: we will not back down from defending women's constitutional rights, said Congresswoman Lee. No woman should ever be denied reproductive health care because of how much she earns or the type of her insurance. The EACH Woman Act would end this discrimination and ensure that all women, including low-income women and women of color, can make the health care decisions that are best for them and their family. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said, The Hyde Amendment denies crucial health care coverage to women who serve in our military, work in our federal government, and join the Peace Corps, as well as those who depend on Medicaid and the Indian Health Service. All women, no matter their income level, zip code, health insurance plan, or career path should have access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion services. It is unacceptable that this constitutional right would be denied to women because Republican politicians refuse to allow them to make their own choices. It is time to get rid of the Hyde Amendment once and for all. The letter calls on President-elect Trump to end decades of health care discrimination and adopt reproductive health care policies based in dignity and respect for women. The letter notes, For too long, low-income women and women of color have shouldered the burden on our country's restrictive reproductive health laws. Together, we ask that you send a strong signal that this will no longer be the legacy of the United States. We will hold President-Elect Trump accountable every step of the way as we protect access to women's health care and the constitutionally-protected right to an abortion. The Hyde Amendment overwhelmingly affects low-income women and women of color, and we will not stand quietly by should the Trump Administration continue supporting this destructive and discriminatory amendment that denies them the coverage they need, said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Over the last 40 years, the Hyde Amendment has been used to deny low income Americans Medicaid coverage of reproductive health care. Whether a woman has private or government funded health insurance, every woman, in concert with her family and doctor, should be able to make her own health decisions, said Congresswoman DeLauro. We must promote and protect the rights of every woman to make her own family planning decisions, and to have access to a full range of healthcare services. The time to repeal the Hyde Amendment is now. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/committee-appointments-115th,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Committee Appointments for New Senate,2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Committee Appointments for New Senate Senator Baldwin will continue to serve on Appropriations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), will join Commerce Committee in January WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced that in January she will continue to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and that she will join the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “I am proud to continue serving on Senate Appropriations and HELP Committees and I look forward to joining the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Working on behalf of the people of Wisconsin on these committees will provide me with a great opportunity to continue focusing on issues important to our state,” said Senator Baldwin.  “My top priority is working to build a strong Made in Wisconsin economy that works for everyone. So I will continue to focus on investing in job training and workforce readiness; making higher education more affordable; strengthening our manufacturing economy; and growing small business start-ups by supporting innovation, science and research. I will also continue my fight to provide affordable health care for all Americans and work to protect Medicare and Social Security for today’s seniors and future generations. Joining the Commerce Committee will also allow me an opportunity to work on two issues that can help create stronger economic growth in Wisconsin. We need to make better investments in rural broadband and I look forward to working on behalf of Wisconsin’s agriculture, timber and manufacturing industries to make sure they have strong transportation infrastructure to ship their goods to market.” Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/letter-walker-opioid-funding,"In Letter to Governor Scott Walker, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Encourages Action on Newly Available Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic",2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.16 In Letter to Governor Scott Walker, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Encourages Action on Newly Available Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic Major legislation signed into law this month includes $1 billion in funding championed by Senator Baldwin for states to address opioid epidemic WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Governor Scott Walker today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin encouraged the Governor to act and apply for newly available federal funding to help Wisconsin combat the opioid epidemic. Senator Baldwin led the effort to include $1 billion in investments to fight the opioid epidemic in bipartisan legislation that was signed into law this month. “This epidemic is not a partisan issue, and a strong partnership between the federal government and our state will be essential to an effective response. I led the effort calling on bipartisan leaders in Congress to include $1 billion in additional investments to address opioid abuse while the 21st Century Cures Act was being negotiated,” wrote Senator Baldwin. “Now that Congress has finally stepped up to be a stronger partner in fighting this epidemic, Wisconsin leaders must act immediately to put these investments to work. Applying for the new state grant funding made available last week will be a significant step in advancing local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.” Last week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the availability of new funding for states to prevent and treat opioid abuse. The funding is provided through the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama last week. Senator Baldwin previously encouraged the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to apply for the newly available federal grants as they met in La Crosse last Friday. The funds will be made available through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants. Applications for the funds are due from states by February 17, 2017. Detailed information on how to apply for the grant is available here: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-014. Senator Baldwin has been a strong advocate in the fight to address the national opioid epidemic. In just this year, Senator Baldwin has traveled across Wisconsin to hold roundtable dialogues on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Green Bay, La Crosse, Wausau, Viroqua, Ashland, Superior, Eau Claire and Arlington. Over the past year, Senator Baldwin has been a leading advocate for stronger investments in prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, including cosponsoring legislation to provide emergency funding to address the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic that is devastating communities in Wisconsin and across the country. An online version of the letter is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-s-statement-la-crosse-becoming-first-city-wisconsin-end,Rep. Kind’s Statement on La Crosse Becoming the First City in Wisconsin to End Homelessness among Veterans,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"The La Crosse Collaborative to End Homelessness announced that it met the goal they set in September: to end homelessness for veterans. Below is U.S. Rep. Kind’s statement on the announcement: “I am incredibly proud that La Crosse has become the first city in Wisconsin to end homelessness among our veterans. I want to congratulate the over thirty La Crosse agencies, who worked collaboratively, to make sure that every local veteran has a roof over their head by Christmas day,” said Rep. Kind. “In the coming months I look forward to working with the La Crosse Collaborative to End Homelessness to find ways to build on this progress.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1436,Trump Taps his Bankruptcy Lawyer for Ambassador to Israel,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC — In response to President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to choose David Friedman as his nominee for ambassador to Israel, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement:   “The ambassador to Israel plays a vital role in every administration. Before taking on the position, both James Cunningham and Daniel Shapiro shared a combined 35 years of foreign policy experience. In contrast, David Friedman, President-elect Trump’s choice for the position, was his bankruptcy lawyer and lacks any foreign policy experience.    “From his blind support for settlements in the West Bank and flagrant opposition to a two-state solution to his unconscionable and frighteningly casual use of holocaust imagery to vilify progressive American Jews, Mr. Friedman lacks the experience and temperament necessary to serve as our nation’s ambassador to Israel.    “Now, more than ever, we need to work together with our partners abroad and at home to ensure the protection and survival of the Jewish State. I urge the president-elect to reconsider this appointment and instead focus on a qualified candidate who can work with all sides to stabilize the region.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2296,Trump Taps his Bankruptcy Lawyer for Ambassador to Israel,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"From his blind support for settlements in the West Bank and flagrant opposition to a two-state solution to his unconscionable and frighteningly causal use of holocaust imagery to vilify progressive American Jews, Mr. Friedman lacks the experience and temperament necessary to serve as our nation's ambassador to Israel. share: f t Washington, DC In response to President-elect Donald Trump's decision to choose David Friedman as his nominee for ambassador to Israel, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: The ambassador to Israel plays a vital role in every administration. Before taking on the position, both James Cunningham and Daniel Shapiro shared a combined 35 years of foreign policy experience. In contrast, David Friedman, President-elect Trump's choice for the position, was his bankruptcy lawyer and lacks any foreign policy experience. From his blind support for settlements in the West Bank and flagrant opposition to a two-state solution to his unconscionable and frighteningly casual use of holocaust imagery to vilify progressive American Jews, Mr. Friedman lacks the experience and temperament necessaryto serve as our nation's ambassador to Israel. Now, more than ever, we need to work together with our partners abroad and at home to ensure the protection and survival of the Jewish State. I urge the president-elect to reconsider this appointment and instead focus on a qualified candidate who can work with all sides to stabilize the region. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/governors-task-force-new-funding-available,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Encourages Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to Act on Newly Available Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Encourages Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to Act on Newly Available Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic Major legislation signed into law last week includes $1 billion in funding championed by Senator Baldwin to address opioid epidemic Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse to meet in La Crosse today WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse is set to meet in La Crosse today, Senator Baldwin is encouraging them to act and apply for newly available federal funding to combat the opioid epidemic. Senator Baldwin led the effort to include $1 billion in investments to fight the opioid epidemic in bipartisan legislation. This week, the availability of new funding to combat the opioid crisis was announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding is provided through the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama this week. “Opioid abuse is an epidemic in our state. Now that Washington has finally stepped up to be a stronger partner for Wisconsin, we must act immediately to put these investments to work,” said Senator Baldwin. “As the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse meets in La Crosse today, I urge them to act on these federal investments that can help support our state’s prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.” The funds will be made available through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants. Applications for the funds are due from states by February 17, 2017. For detailed information on how to apply for the grant, the Task Force on Opioid Abuse can visit: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-014. Senator Baldwin has been a strong advocate in the fight to address the national opioid epidemic. In just this year, Senator Baldwin has traveled across Wisconsin to hold roundtable dialogues on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Green Bay, La Crosse, Wausau, Viroqua, Ashland, Superior, Eau Claire and Arlington. Over the past year, Senator Baldwin has been a leading advocate for stronger investments to address the opioid crisis, including cosponsoring legislation to provide emergency funding to address the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic that is devastating communities in Wisconsin and across the country. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/statement-on-statement-on-russian-cyberattacks,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Russian Cyberattacks,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Russian Cyberattacks WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today released the following statement on Facebook regarding Russian cyberattacks: “Yesterday, President Obama said that the United States will respond to Russian cyberattacks that the intelligence community has concluded were part of an effort to influence the 2016 presidential election. I support this response, as I do the order President Obama has given to the U.S. intelligence community to conduct a full review of Russian interference, including cyberattacks, before Inauguration Day. “Our intelligence community is highly confident that Russian President Vladimir Putin became personally involved in espionage meant to interfere with and impact our election, so it is important that their assessments are appropriately declassified and made public, so the American people know more about Russia’s online attacks. “In July, Donald Trump encouraged Russian interference in our elections and according to media reports he has known for the past 4 months, through intelligence community briefings, of direct links between Vladimir Putin's government and cyberattacks against America. “Russia’s interference in our elections cannot be dismissed or ignored. Congress has a responsibility to get to the bottom of this. That is why we need nonpartisan efforts in the Senate to investigate how Putin and the Russian government intervened in our election and sought to influence it.” Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-tillerson-spent-career-putting-profits-of-exxon-over-country-s,Pocan: Tillerson Spent Career Putting Profits of Exxon over Country’s National Interests,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Madison – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement today after President-elect Trump nominated Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon Mobil, as Secretary of State. “President-elect Trump’s nomination of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, as Secretary of State, signals that US diplomacy is now in the pockets of big oil. Tillerson has spent his entire career putting the profits of Exxon over our country’s national interests. “Not only does Tillerson have billions of dollars at stake with sanctions on Russia, his company has been under a formal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for inaccurate accounting practices that affect global climate regulations. Our country needs a Secretary of State who will guide US foreign policy with a steady hand, not place profit margins ahead of diplomacy.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/call-on-trump-to-divest-holdings-,"After Trump Delays Announcement on Business Plans, Baldwin & Senate Democrats Call on President-elect to Divest Holdings",2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.16 After Trump Delays Announcement on Business Plans, Baldwin & Senate Democrats Call on President-elect to Divest Holdings In new letter, 23 senators urge President-elect Trump to follow advice of Office of Government Ethics and allow independent party to control assets Senators: “Whether the President of the United States makes decisions about potential trade agreements or sending troops into war, the American people need to know that the President is acting in their best interest.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Tom Carper (D-DE) and 21 Democratic senators, in sending a letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump urging him to follow the advice of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), an independent, nonpartisan ethics agency, and divest his business holdings in order to resolve potential conflicts of interest and deal with constitutional requirements before he assumes office. “As a businessman with interests in the United States and around the world, your holdings have the potential for serious conflicts between the national interest and your personal financial interests,” the lawmakers wrote. They continued, “Whether the President of the United States makes decisions about potential trade agreements or sending troops into war, the American people need to know that the President is acting in their best interest. Divestiture of your businesses and the establishment of a blind trust controlled by an independent party would provide assurances that you will put the interests of the American people first and are fully committed to the success of your presidency.” The letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Patrick Leahy (VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). A copy of the letter is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/next-generation-researchers-signed-into-law,U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins Legislation Supporting Young Researchers Signed into Law,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.16 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins Legislation Supporting Young Researchers Signed into Law Next Generation Researchers Act was included in major bipartisan health care innovation legislation passed by Congress last week. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today bipartisan legislation supporting young researchers authored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) was signed into law by President Obama. At a time when America’s young researchers are facing a difficult funding environment, Senators Baldwin and Collins introduced the Next Generation Researchers Act to build opportunities for new researchers, address the debt burden that young researchers face today, and invest in the future of research, science, and innovation. The bipartisan legislation was included in the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed Congress last week. “In order for America to out-innovate the rest of the world and create an economy built to last, we must protect and strengthen our investments in research, science, and innovation,” said Senator Baldwin. “We can’t accomplish this without supporting and investing in the next generation of researchers. Our best and brightest minds deserve to know that our country stands with them. This new law will make a strong commitment to our young scientists, who are being held back by state and federal budget cuts and are in need of greater support to pursue life-saving research and discover the next medical breakthrough.” “Maintaining our nation’s competitive edge in both research and innovation depends greatly on the strength of our commitment to attracting, cultivating, and equipping world-class scientific minds,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan legislation strengthens our nation’s commitment to the next generation of cutting-edge researchers.  This critical investment will help to empower these young innovative researchers in Maine and across our country with the resources they need to continue to lead the world in groundbreaking scientific research and development.” The Next Generation Researchers Act will establish the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director to coordinate all current and new NIH policies to promote opportunities for our new scientists and earlier research independence. This measure will also improve NIH’s loan repayment programs by increasing the amount of loans that NIH can forgive for trainees, from $35,000 a year to $50,000. “UW-Madison is a world class research institution and home to many researchers who have launched their careers here and can benefit from the passage of the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We are extremely grateful to Senator Tammy Baldwin for introducing this legislation, which makes a strong investment in the next generation of researchers,” says Marsha Mailick, UW-Madison’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. “This initiative will help researchers in the areas of biomedical and behavioral research who are hungry for additional support with training, mentorship programs, and much needed funding – all critical to their success as they build their research portfolios and conduct transformative research at UW-Madison.” “The passage of the Next Generation Researchers Act affirms the bipartisan commitment to enabling our nations’ young scientists to establish their independent careers and push the envelope of basic and translational scientific discovery,” said Matt Hodges, PhD, Associate Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin. “Young scientists bring new ideas and drive the discovery process to new frontiers, which is vital to the future of medicine and health care in our country. However, obtaining funding for research is particularly difficult to obtain and maintain for young scientists, and the Next Generation Researchers Act directs attention to potential solutions to this problem. The community of young scientists congratulates Senator Baldwin and those in support of our nations next generation of biomedical researchers.” “BioForward applauds Senator Baldwin’s passionate pursuit to increase funding towards the opioid epidemic and her commitment to expand new opportunities for young scientists through her Next Generation Researchers Act,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin. Wisconsin has already seen the negative impacts of not investing in our research universities and their young researchers. As a result of cuts at the state level, UW-Madison fell out of the top 5 in national research university rankings for the first time in over 40 years. Wisconsin has long been a leader in pioneering remarkable breakthroughs in science that have improved health, saved lives and created jobs. But, current state and federal policies are putting the brakes on research and innovation, jeopardizing our country’s leadership. Since 2003, the NIH budget has failed to keep up with inflation, decreasing the purchasing power of the NIH by over 22 percent while our global competitors accelerate their research capabilities. Federal budget cuts enacted in sequestration have slashed $1.5 billion from the NIH budget. This trend is particularly devastating for our nation’s new and young researchers and has contributed to the stagnation of our biomedical workforce. The average age of a first-time NIH grant recipient is 42 years old— up from 36 in 1980. Without action, talented young scientists may decide to do something else, or leave the country to pursue their research. Scientific and medical innovation depends on our ability to foster and support the best and brightest scientific minds, and the Next Generation Researchers Act shows a commitment to our nation’s future researchers that our country stands with them. The Next Generation Researchers Act was also supported by: AcademyHealth, American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), American Association for Dental Researchers (AADR), American Heart Association, American Society of Transplantation (AST), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), BioForward, Inc., Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Medical College of Wisconsin, Research!America, University of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-announces-2016-united-states-service-academy-nominations,Rep. Pocan Announces 2016 United States Service Academy Nominations,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) is pleased to announce the nomination of exemplary students from Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District to the Class of 2021 at the United States Service Academies. “I am proud and honored to nominate these outstanding young men and women as candidates to our nation’s service academies.” said Rep. Pocan. “All of these students have exhibited commendable academic achievement and perseverance to earn these nominations. They will surely become successful leaders, representing Wisconsin and our nation with virtue.” Rep. Pocan assembled a board of volunteers comprised of community leaders, as well as active and retired service members from south central Wisconsin, to assist with the evaluation of the applicants from the 2nd Congressional District. After the completion of the application process, the nomination board recommended the following students, who were then nominated by Rep. Pocan to the service academy classes of 2021. Final admission is determined by the respective academy. Air Force Academy Benjamin Hauser-Sun Prairie High School Benjamin Keegstra-Monona Grove High School Taylor Lyons-Madison West High School Jack Zocher-2016 Graduate of Middleton High School Military Academy at West Point Christian Arnett-New Glarus High School Gregory Driscoll-Middleton High School Michael Gerber-2016 Graduate of Stoughton High School Margaret Go-Middleton High School Kaleb Louis-Stoughton High School Nathan Smith-Sun Prairie High School Trevaun Turner-Middleton High School Naval Academy Collin Argue-Argyle High School* William Donohoe IV-St. Ambrose Academy Mitchell Jorgensen-Madison West High School Asa Pauls-Waunakee Community High School *Has been accepted to Service Academy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-leads-letter-to-president-elect-trump-highlighting-republicans,Rep. Pocan Leads Letter to President-elect Trump Highlighting Republicans’ Divisions Over Buy America Requirements,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) sent a letter to President-elect Trump asking him to enforce and expand the Buy America Act, and also highlighting Congressional Republican leadership’s opposition to requirements that American tax dollars go to companies that employ American workers. Rep. Pocan and his colleagues also expressed concern over current loopholes and lax enforcement of the Buy America Act, particularly those related to shipbuilding. “If President-elect Trump is concerned with livelihood of American workers, he should take steps to ensure the Buy America Act is strongly and meaningfully enforced,” said Rep. Pocan. “Last week, House Republican leadership removed a provision to permanently require American steel and iron be used in our country’s water infrastructure. It is unthinkable for House Republicans to eliminate these Buy America requirements after they were voted on and passed by the Senate. President-elect Trump can and should ensure that enforcement of the Act is strengthened. It is his duty to stand up to Congressional Republican leadership when the allow taxpayer dollars to go to companies that ship jobs overseas.” “Wisconsin has one of the highest percentages of its workforce employed in the manufacturing sector,” continued Rep. Pocan. “Foundries across the state are scratching their heads wondering why Republicans would want to send taxpayer dollars to companies that ship jobs overseas. House Republicans claim to care about keeping jobs here in America, yet consistently rally around legislation that costs our country jobs. I hope President-elect Trump will ensure what happened to the Water Resources bill doesn’t happen again- we need a firm commitment from both parties to buy American.” Rep. Pocan was joined by 20 of his colleagues on the letter; they were Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Rick Nolan (D-MN), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Robert “Bobby” C. Scott (D-VA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and John Yarmuth (D-KY). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/trump-medicare-medicaid,Senator Baldwin Urges President-Elect Trump to Live Up to Campaign Promises and Clarify Whether He Opposes Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid,2016-12-11,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.16 Senator Baldwin Urges President-Elect Trump to Live Up to Campaign Promises and Clarify Whether He Opposes Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with 18 fellow senators, in sending a letter calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to remind him of his campaign promises to reject cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and to ask that he clarify whether he still intends to do so. The letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Robert P. Casey (D-PA), Al Franken (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). ""During your campaign for President of the United States, you differentiated yourself from your 16 primary opponents by noting that you were the only Republican who would protect Medicare and Medicaid,"" the senators wrote. ""After winning the election, you suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs."" The letter continues, ""Over one hundred million Americans rely on these programs for health care. Low-income children and families and people with disabilities are the primary beneficiaries of Medicaid.  Millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities have earned and rely on their Medicare benefits.  Medicaid is the only assistance available to millions of low and middle-income families who have a loved one requiring nursing home care.  As you noted when you extolled their benefits on your campaign website, cutting these programs would be devastating."" The senators' letter draws attention to differences between the President-Elect's statements during the campaign, which were highlighted on his campaign website, and statements that are now posted on his transition website. These new policy positions contradict President-Elect Trump's promises as a candidate to protect Medicare and Medicaid, instead echoing Congressional Republicans' plans to cut these programs. The letter also notes that the President-Elect's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, has been a ""leading architect"" of such plans. The senators pressed President-Elect Trump to live up to his campaign promises and reject any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. They wrote, ""We ask that you rapidly and publicly clarify in plain language for the American public that you continue to stand behind your campaign promises; that you will not raise the Medicare eligibility age; that you will not privatize, voucherize, or otherwise cut Medicare benefits; and that you will not put in place changes to Medicaid that force enrollees' coverage to be dropped and benefits to be cut or limited.  You promised Americans you would not cut Medicare or Medicaid-please tell Americans you will stand by your promise to them."" A copy of the letter is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/senator-baldwin-silence-from-trump-tower-on-buy-america,Senator Baldwin: Silence From Trump Tower On Buy America,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,Senator Baldwin spoke on the Senate floor to show that the time is now for Donald Trump to take a stand in support of American workers by calling on Republican leadership in Congress to support strong #BuyAmerica requirements in the water infrastructure legislation.,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/letter-va-ecfa-compliance,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Effort Urging the VA to Comply with Law that Protects Veterans from Exorbitant ER Bills,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Effort Urging the VA to Comply with Law that Protects Veterans from Exorbitant ER Bills WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of 22 senators, led by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), in writing to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald, urging him to comply with the Emergency Care Fairness Act (ECFA). The ECFA was enacted in 2010 and directs the VA to cover veterans non-VA emergency care bills when their private health insurance doesn’t cover the full amount of care. Yet since 2010, the VA has not complied with the law, denying hundreds of thousands of veterans’ reimbursement claims for emergency care. Earlier this year, a federal court ordered the VA to write regulations that comply with the ECFA.  In addition to urging the VA to comply with the law, the Senators also requested that the agency fix its mistake and re-open all previously-denied claims. “Congress’s clear intent in passing the ECFA was to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished to veterans in non-department facilities,” wrote the senators. “Specifically, congressional intent was to require the VA to act as a secondary payer for emergency treatment costs not covered by the veteran’s third-party insurance. It is evident that the VA has ignored congressional intent. Most troubling is the fact that those who are most affected by the VA’s non-compliance with the ECFA are our elderly veterans, many of whom are living on fixed incomes and have limited resources to pay medical bills.” In addition to Baldwin, Rounds and Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Boozman (R-AK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Steve Daines (R-MT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Al Franken (D-MN), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The bipartisan effort is supported by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). A copy of the letter is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/no-windfalls-for-government-service-act-,"Baldwin, Whitehouse, Warren Introduce Bill to Limit Tax Windfalls for Billionaires in the Trump Administration",2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.16 Baldwin, Whitehouse, Warren Introduce Bill to Limit Tax Windfalls for Billionaires in the Trump Administration Legislation would curb little-known tax loophole that allows ultra-wealthy appointees to delay their tax bills WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced legislation today to prevent President-elect Donald Trump’s enormously wealthy cabinet nominees – and possibly Trump himself – from ducking millions of dollars in taxes.  A little-known provision of the tax code currently allows executive branch and judicial appointees to defer paying taxes on profits from assets they sell to comply with ethics rules. The No Windfalls for Government Service Act would limit to $1 million the amount of capital gains that can be deferred under the program, stopping billionaires from reaping outsized tax write-offs. “When billionaires move through the revolving door from the private sector to public service they should not be rewarded with tax loopholes,” said Senator Baldwin. “President-elect Trump has every right to fill his cabinet with billionaires and he has, but these wealthy insiders should not be allowed to dodge paying their fair share of taxes.” “As Donald Trump prepares to nominate what could be the wealthiest cabinet in history, this bill would prevent billionaires from reaping enormous tax benefits from their new jobs,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “The ultra-wealthy do not need a financial incentive to enter public service.”  “Not only is Donald Trump giving a gang of billionaires control of our government, he’s offering them a special tax break just for signing up,” said Senator Warren. “This bill would stop billionaires from getting yet another special favor from Donald Trump.” Allowing government appointees to delay paying taxes can be a sensible policy to help middle-class individuals transition to government service.  However, as the Washington Post reported last week, this can be a lucrative benefit for ultra-wealthy appointees who can use it to rebalance their portfolios and save millions of dollars in taxes.  Section 1043 of the tax code, added during the George H. W. Bush administration, allowed former Goldman Sachs CEO and George W. Bush Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to avoid paying an estimated $200 million tax bill, according to The Economist.  So far, Donald Trump has selected several billionaires to helm federal agencies, including hedge fund manager and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross for Commerce Secretary, and Republican mega-donor Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary.  Historians expect the cabinet to be the wealthiest ever, and the Washington Post has noted that Mr. Ross alone is ten times wealthier than the entire first cabinet under George W. Bush in 2001. The bill has been endorsed by Americans for Tax Fairness and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.   Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-s-next-generation-researchers-act-passes-senate-heads-to-0,"Rep. Pocan’s Next Generation Researchers Act Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk To Be Signed Into Law",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after the Next Generation Researchers Act passed the House & Senate as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. The Next Generation Researchers Act directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote and provide new opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence. “I was proud to see the Next Generation Researchers Act pass the House & Senate as part of the 21st Century Cures Act today,” Rep. Pocan said. “This bill reaffirms our commitment to help early career researchers and young innovators pursue their research and ensures the U.S. continues to be the global leader in science research and development. With one of the country’s greatest research universities in my own District, I have heard directly from graduate researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison about the need for investment, coordination and promotion of policies focused on the future of the research workforce in the United States. By providing our young scientists and researchers with more funding opportunities and focused policies they have the support necessary to tackling the challenges of tomorrow. I want to thank Senator Baldwin for her work on this initiative and the countless advocates who worked to get this legislation passed.” The legislation authorizes NIH to establish a “Next Generation of Researchers Initiative” within the NIH Office of the Director to develop and coordinate policies and programs related to young scientists, such as funding opportunities, training and mentorship programs, and policies to enhance workforce diversity. It also funds a study by the National Academies of Science to review career barriers for biomedical researchers, which the NIH will subsequently use to continue to focus and pursue effectively policies promoting the future of the research workforce. ""We are deeply grateful to Congressman Pocan for his dedication and leadership in advancing the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the Next Generation Researchers Act, which he authored to ensure that we continue our progress in biomedical research,"" said Robert Golden, Dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. ""This legislation provides critical support for the development of young researchers, many of whom are working on new cures and therapies right here in Wisconsin.” “As a world class research institution, UW-Madison is home to many researchers who are early in their careers and can benefit from the passage of the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We are extremely grateful to Representative Pocan for introducing this legislation and shepherding it through bipartisan approval as an investment in the next generation of researchers,” said Marsha Mailick, UW-Madison’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. “Our researchers in the growing biomedical and behavioral research areas are eager for opportunities like this initiative, which seeks to enhance training, provide mentorship programs, and jump start much needed funding for those early in their careers who have great potential to conduct transformative research at UW-Madison.” “Ensuring young researchers have opportunities to pursue their dreams and contribute to faster medical progress is crucial to sustaining our global competitiveness in the life sciences arena, and to the national imperative of faster medical progress,” said Mary Wooley, President and CEO of Research! America. “The inclusion of the “NextGen” Act in the 21st Century Cures bill will help ensure those opportunities proliferate. We are grateful to Representative Pocan, Senator Baldwin, Senator Collins, and the bill’s other champions for their vision and leadership in championing this strategically important initiative.” “The Next Generation Research Act will enhance career opportunities for younger researchers in the biological and biomedical sciences,” said Howard Garrison, Director of Public Affairs of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). “We are grateful for Representative Pocan’s support for the biomedical research community and are pleased that this important legislation was included in the 21st Century Cures Act.” Rep. Pocan introduced the Next Generations Researches Act in September 2015 and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion bill in the Senate. Rep. Pocan previously introduced this legislation in the 113th Congress as well. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-sets-the-facts-straight-with-rep-duffy-after-he-refuses-to,Rep. Pocan Sets the Facts Straight with Rep. Duffy After He Refuses to Apologize,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"December 8, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) provided some facts for Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07) after he dismissed Madison, WI, as a “communist” community on FOX News, got basic facts about the recount incorrect and refused to apologize for his alarming comments. Rep. Duffy claimed only Dane County was doing a hand recount, but the state Elections Commission says 47 counties are conducting hand recounts and another 13 are doing partial hand recounts. Communism is defined as an economic and political theory where all property and businesses are publically owned, but Dane County is responsible for 73% of the new jobs created in Wisconsin in the last decade. Monica Moorehead the 2016 Workers World Party presidential candidate received 175 votes out of the more than 300,000 cast in Dane County. Rep. Duffy has offered to send anyone in Madison who was offended by his comments a therapy dog to their “safe place” of choice. Yet he has not provided any details as to how his office plans to facilitate the transportation of so many dogs to the Madison area, nor has he specified what breed(s) of dog. “I understand Rep. Duffy doesn’t want to appear weak by apologizing, but I want to make sure he at least has some facts next time he decides to shoot his mouth off on Fox News. Facts sometimes even matter there,” said Rep. Pocan.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://web.archive.org/web/20161208160717/https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-s-next-generation-researchers-act-passes-senate-heads-to,"Rep. Pocans Next Generation Researchers Act Passes Senate, Heads to Presidents Desk To Be Signed Into Law",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after the Next Generation Researchers Act passed the House & Senate as part of the 21st Century Cures Act today. The Next Generation Researchers Act directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote and provide new opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence. I was proud to see the Next Generation Researchers Act pass the House & Senate as part of the 21st Century Cures Act today, Rep. Pocan said. This bill reaffirms our commitment to help early career researchers and young innovators pursue their research and ensures the U.S. continues to be the global leader in science research and development. With one of the countrys greatest research universities in my own District, I have heard directly from graduate researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison about the need for investment, coordination and promotion of policies focused on the future of the research workforce in the United States. By providing our young scientists and researchers with more funding opportunities and focused policies they have the support necessary to tackling the challenges of tomorrow. I want to thank Senator Baldwin for her work on this initiative and the countless advocates who worked to get this legislation passed. The legislation authorizes NIH to establish a Next Generation of Researchers Initiative within the NIH Office of the Director to develop and coordinate policies and programs related to young scientists, such as funding opportunities, training and mentorship programs, and policies to enhance workforce diversity. It also funds a study by the National Academies of Science to review career barriers for biomedical researchers, which the NIH will subsequently use to continue to focus and pursue effectively policies promoting the future of the research workforce. ""We are deeply grateful to Congressman Pocan for his dedication and leadership in advancing the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the Next Generation Researchers Act, which he authored to ensure that we continue our progress in biomedical research,"" said Robert Golden, Dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. ""This legislation provides critical support for the development of young researchers, many of whom are working on new cures and therapies right here in Wisconsin. As a world class research institution, UW-Madison is home to many researchers who are early in their careers and can benefit from the passage of theNext Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).We are extremely grateful to Representative Pocan for introducing this legislation and shepherding it through bipartisan approval as an investment in the next generation of researchers, said Marsha Mailick, UW-Madisons Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. Our researchers in the growing biomedical and behavioral research areas are eager for opportunities like this initiative, which seeks to enhance training, provide mentorship programs, and jump start much needed funding for those early in their careers who have great potential to conduct transformative research at UW-Madison. Ensuring young researchers have opportunities to pursue their dreams and contribute to faster medical progress is crucial to sustaining our global competitiveness in the life sciences arena, and to the national imperative of faster medical progress, said Mary Wooley, President and CEO of Research! America. The inclusion of the NextGen Act in the 21st Century Cures bill will help ensure those opportunities proliferate. We are grateful to Representative Pocan, Senator Baldwin, Senator Collins, and the bills other champions for their vision and leadership in championing this strategically important initiative. The Next Generation Research Act will enhance career opportunities for younger researchers in the biological and biomedical sciences, said Howard Garrison, Director of Public Affairs of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). We are grateful for Representative Pocans support for the biomedical research community and are pleased that this important legislation was included in the 21st Century Cures Act. Rep. Pocan introduced the Next Generations Researches Act in September 2015 and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion bill in the Senate. Rep. Pocan previously introduced this legislation in the 113th Congress as well. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/house-passage-veterans-reform-bill-,"U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan, Bicameral Veterans Reform Bill",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan, Bicameral Veterans Reform Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded action by the U.S. House of Representatives to unanimously pass legislation that will improve veterans’ access to health care, disability benefits, education and homelessness assistance, among other important benefits for our nation’s veterans. “After two decade-long wars, our veterans and their families are facing many difficult challenges,” said Senator Baldwin. “This comprehensive, bipartisan, bicameral veterans package contains over 70 provisions that will reform and improve the services and benefits provided to our veterans. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible so that we can bring much needed changes to the VA.”      The Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 (H.R.6416) includes 76 provisions that address a variety of veterans’ services that are in need of reform or improvement. It incorporates language from a number of previously introduced House and Senate bills, including several provisions from the Veterans First Act, which unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in May 2016. Following Tuesday’s unanimous House passage, the measure now comes to the Senate for a vote. Specifically, the H.R.6416 will: Streamline the disability compensation process for veterans and their families to more easily obtain benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); Expand the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from seven judges to nine, in order to help address the large backlog of veterans’ appeals; Make changes to the VA’s burial benefits and interment policies, including expanding eligibility for presidential memorial certificates to certain individuals who served in reserve units of the Armed Forces, among others; Provide a much-needed extension of education benefits for surviving spouses who lost a loved one on September 11, 2001, or during the early years of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Improve how the VA administers and approves education benefits for veterans, and allow mobilized reservists to keep their GI Bill eligibility when a deployment interrupts their schooling; Modify ownership requirements for small businesses participating in VA contract assistance programs and require the Department of Labor to conduct a five-year study on job counseling, training, and placement service for veterans; Make improvements to the VA’s health care services and benefits, specifically: Ensuring preventative health services for veterans include access to adult immunizations for veterans who wish to receive them; Prioritizing access to care for medal of honor recipients; Ensuring veterans who served in classified missions can access mental health care without disclosing classified information; Requiring the VA to submit an annual report to Congress on the Veterans Health Administration’s provision of hospital care, medical services and nursing home care; Enhancing the qualification criteria to make it easier to hire qualified mental health care professionals; Expanding research on potential health effects from toxic exposure to veterans and their descendants. Increase access to benefits for homeless veterans. The measure is named after retiring chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., as well as outgoing ranking member Blumenthal of the Senate committee in tribute to their years-long commitment to serving veterans in Congress. A section-by-section summary of the H.R.6416 is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/letter-house-leadership-to-delist-wolf,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on House Leadership to Delist Gray Wolf Before They Leave Town,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on House Leadership to Delist Gray Wolf Before They Leave Town Baldwin urges Congressional Leadership to act on legislation that would delist the Western Great Lakes population of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and pass management of the wolf back to the State of Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is calling on House Leadership to act on legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List before they adjourn the congressional session for the year. Currently, the House is on track to adjourn for the year this week without acting to delist the Western Great Lakes population of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List. In a letter to Congressional Leadership, Baldwin urges them to finish this important work and schedule time to act on legislation that would delist the Western Great Lakes population of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and pass management of the wolf back to the State of Wisconsin. Congress has been working to resolve differences between the Senate and House energy bills, which were passed earlier this year.  The House-passed bill included the provision to delist the wolf and the issue could be resolved with the passage of the final energy bill.   “Members of the House and Senate have been negotiating the Energy Bill with the goal of reaching a compromise that would pass and become law before Congress adjourned for the holidays,” wrote Senator Baldwin. “However, the House is on track to adjourn this week without finishing this legislation, leaving the business of delisting the Western Great Lakes population of the gray wolf unfinished. I would urge congressional leadership to finish this important work and schedule time needed to pass the bill prior to adjourning.  Senator Murkowski (R-AK), the author of the Senate Energy Bill, S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, also expressed frustration that House leaders, led by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI-1st) are preventing the bill from passing. “The House may want to claim that this bill cannot move forward because we are running out of time,” said Senator Murkowski. “The reality is that the House is attempting to run us out of time, in order to prevent this bill from moving forward, even though it contains the priorities of dozens of its members. I urge my House colleagues to reconsider and to allow our conference report to come up for a vote before we adjourn.”  Senator Baldwin has worked across party lines on this issue for the past five years. She supported a bipartisan effort on delisting the gray wolf when she was in the House of Representatives in 2011. Last month, she sent a separate letter to Senate Leadership calling for them to take action to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and return management of the wolf to Wisconsin. Senator Baldwin has recently published an op-ed on de listing the gray wolf that can be found here. A copy of the letter Baldwin sent to Congressional Leadership this week is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/statement-on-ndaa-senate-passage,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on National Defense Authorization Act Senate Passage,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on National Defense Authorization Act Senate Passage WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after the Senate passed the compromise FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today by a vote of 92-7: “Today, I voted in favor of the defense authorization legislation, which, while an imperfect compromise, makes important investments to strengthen our national security, support our servicemembers and their families, and boost our Made in Wisconsin economy. “I’m proud to have championed and fought for many provisions in this legislation. My reform to direct the National Academies of Sciences to assist the military in using safer and more environmentally-friendly technologies to properly dispose of munitions will help prevent military sites around the country from being contaminated in the way the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was. I worked across party lines on the Manufacturing Universities Act, which is the basis for a provision included to strengthen engineering programs to better prepare students for our 21st century advanced manufacturing economy. Importantly, this legislation also authorizes more than $11 million for the construction of a new facility at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy, which is one of the Army’s premier total force training centers. “I am also pleased that this bill authorizes funding for critical programs that are made in Wisconsin, like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle produced by Oshkosh Defense. However, it also unfortunately includes misguided reductions to and constraints on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The NDAA is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to the LCS, and I will continue my work as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund and support this program, which is so critical to our national security and our Wisconsin economy.” Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-calls-out-rep-duffy-for-saying-madison-is-a-communist,"Rep. Pocan Calls Out Rep. Duffy for Saying Madison is a Communist Community that does not Believe in Democracy, Demands Apology",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) called out Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07) for dismissing Madison, WI, as a “communist” community that does not believe in democracy or freedom during a disturbing exchange with Tucker Carlson on FOX News criticizing the recount in Wisconsin. “I represent more than 700,000 people in Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District. Madison, the heart of Dane County, is one of the leading economic drivers in our state and the county is responsible for 73% of the new jobs created in Wisconsin in the last decade. His insinuation that my constituents are somehow un-American for exercising their political views is extremely alarming. At a time when our country stands divided, Congressman Duffy’s ‘Trumpizing’ of Wisconsin is the wrong direction for our state. “The Wisconsin delegation has a reputation for cooperation and respect. For Rep. Duffy to try and drive divisions among Wisconsinites is unconscionable. On behalf of my constituents, I demand an apology from Rep. Duffy and hope the Wisconsin delegation will condemn his comments as they are far from the Wisconsin values we hold dear.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/21st-century-cures-act,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Votes for Major Bipartisan Health Care Innovation Legislation,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Votes for Major Bipartisan Health Care Innovation Legislation 21st Century Cures Act includes actions championed by Senator Baldwin, including $1 billion to fight opioid epidemic and strong support for next generation researchers WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today voted for the 21st Century Cures Act. The bipartisan health care innovation legislation includes actions championed by Senator Baldwin, including $1 billion in funding to fight the opioid epidemic and stronger support for our next generation of researchers. Senator Baldwin released the following statement after the legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 94-5: “This bipartisan legislation includes many reforms I championed, including my efforts to invest in the fight against the opioid epidemic and strengthen medical research in Wisconsin. Opioid abuse is an epidemic that continues to grow at an alarming rate and Washington needs to be a stronger partner for states like Wisconsin. That is why I led the fight to include additional investments for opioid abuse prevention, treatment and recovery efforts in the 21st Century Cures Act. And by including my Next Generation Researchers Act, this bipartisan legislation makes a strong commitment to our young scientists, who are being held back by state budget cuts and are in need of greater support to pursue life-saving research and discover the next medical breakthrough.” “The 21st Century Cures Act is a compromise so it is not perfect and there is more work to be done. I am concerned that this legislation does not do more to strengthen patient safety, to improve oversight of medical products once they reach our families, and to ensure that the life-saving medications patients rely on are affordable. Advancing innovation must be balanced with protecting the public health, and I will continue my work to ensure that all Americans have access to the most high-quality, safe and affordable health care.” Investing $1 billion to fight the opioid epidemic As the 21st Century Cures Act was being negotiated, Senator Baldwin led the effort to include investments to fight the opioid epidemic in the legislation. Senator Baldwin’s efforts resulted in $1 billion of additional funding for state prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. The funding will be provided over two years through Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to states struggling with a high incidence of opioid abuse. Senator Baldwin has been a strong advocate in the fight to address the national opioid epidemic. In just this year, Senator Baldwin has traveled across Wisconsin to hold roundtable dialogues on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Green Bay, La Crosse, Wausau, Viroqua, Ashland, Superior, Eau Claire and Arlington. Senator Baldwin has repeatedly called for Washington to be a stronger partner for states and communities combating the opioid epidemic. She cosponsored the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which became law and included her bipartisan VA opioid prescribing reforms named in honor of Wisconsin Marine veteran Jason Simcakoski. Over the past year she has also been a leading advocate for stronger investments to address the opioid crisis, cosponsoring legislation to provide emergency funding to address the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic that is devastating communities in Wisconsin and across the country. Supporting Wisconsin’s next generation researchers At a time when America’s young researchers are facing a difficult funding environment, Senator Baldwin was joined by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to introduce bipartisan legislation that improves opportunities for new researchers and helps address the debt burden that young scientists face today. Senator Baldwin’s Next Generation Researchers Act has been included in the 21st Century Cures Act to invest in the future of American research, science, and innovation. By including Senator Baldwin’s Next Generation Researchers Act, the 21st Century Cures Act will establish the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative at NIH to expand opportunities for our new scientists. This measure will also improve NIH’s loan repayment programs by increasing the amount of loans that NIH can forgive for trainees, from $35,000 a year to $50,000. Wisconsin has already seen the negative impacts of not investing in our research universities and their young researchers. As a result of cuts at the state level, UW-Madison fell out of the top 5 in national research university rankings for the first time in over 40 years. Research and innovation have long been drivers of economic growth in Wisconsin and this legislation will show a commitment to our nation’s future scientists. Bipartisan Investments in America’s Health Care The bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act also makes additional investments and strengthens America’s medical research and healthcare system. The 21st Century Cures Act makes investments in innovative biomedical research that includes Vice President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, precision medicine and research for degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and takes important steps to improve our mental health and substance use disorder system. The 21st Century Cures Act also includes Senator Baldwin’s bipartisan Anna Westin Act to help combat eating disorders, as well as her Advancing NIH Strategic Planning and Representation in Medical Research Act to improve research efforts related to the health of LGBT Americans.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/statement-on-traux-field,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on U.S. Air Force Announcement of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Truax Field as a Finalist for Deployment of New Fighter Jets,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on U.S. Air Force Announcement of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Truax Field as a Finalist for Deployment of New Fighter Jets WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement today in response to an announcement from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) that the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Truax Field has been named a finalist for the deployment of new fighter jets: “We are proving ourselves to be a very strong competitor and I am going to continue my work being a leading advocate for the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax,” said Senator Baldwin. “I have been proud to play a lead role with the Wisconsin Congressional delegation and be a part of a team effort on this.” This afternoon, the U.S. Air Force announced that the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s Truax Field is one of five bases—out of 18 that were considered—that has been selected as a candidate to host one of the next two units of F-35 fighter aircraft. Truax Field will now be the subject of a USAF site survey and a further senior level review over the winter, which will result in the USAF selection in the spring of the two preferred locations and the two reasonable alternative locations for the F-35 basing process. Senator Baldwin has played a leading role organizing the Wisconsin Congressional delegation’s support for the Truax effort. In June, Senator Baldwin sent two letters to the U.S. Air Force in support of the effort to base the F-35 mission at Truax Field. In addition to the contributions to our nation’s and Wisconsin’s security, basing the F-35 mission at Truax Field would maintain the more than 1,650 jobs to which the 115th currently contributes, as well as the continuity of services the unit provides to the city and state, while also benefiting regional retail, healthcare, real estate, food services and construction industries. Indeed, over the lifetime of the F-35 mission, there is an estimated economic impact of $4.8 billion. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/wrda-buyamerica-amendment,"U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown and Bob Casey Introducing ‘Buy America’ Amendment to Water Infrastructure Bill, Call on Republican Leaders to Take Action",2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.16 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown and Bob Casey Introducing ‘Buy America’ Amendment to Water Infrastructure Bill, Call on Republican Leaders to Take Action Republican House leadership removed the Buy America reform, which previously passed the Senate by 95-3  Senators call on Republican leaders to reinsert provision or schedule immediate vote on amendment Baldwin: “Our American manufacturers and workers deserve a solid commitment from us and I’m not giving up this fight to build a made in America infrastructure.”   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that they will introduce a ‘Buy America’ amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the Senate and are calling on Republican leaders to add the provision back into the final bill. Yesterday, Republican House leadership announced they removed the Buy America reform from the House-Senate compromise bill – even after the Senators led a letter demanding Buy America remain in the infrastructure bill. Stripping the Buy America provision will allow foreign companies to continue undercutting the American steel industry and its 1 million workers nationwide. The Buy America reform could be added back into WRDA before the House votes on the bill later this week. If this does not occur, the Senators are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule a vote on the amendment when WRDA gets to the Senate. “By removing my Buy America standard, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans embraced the status-quo in Washington,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our American manufacturers and workers deserve a solid commitment from us and I’m not giving up this fight to build a made in America infrastructure. The choice for the Republican establishment in Washington is clear: Do you stand with American workers or do you support spending taxpayer dollars on Chinese and Russian steel for American water infrastructure projects?” “American tax dollars should go toward American-made steel that supports American jobs, and that’s what we are fighting for,” said Senator Brown. “This was the first major test for President-elect Trump’s promises to put America first and it failed because Washington establishment Republicans chose China and Russia over Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. While President-elect Trump remains silent, we will continue to fight for American jobs.”   “Removing Buy America from this legislation will undermine our workers and make it harder for businesses who do want to create jobs at home,” said Senator Casey. “Congressional Republicans should stop blowing hot air about their claims to support workers and actually do something that will- reinsert Buy America into this bill.”   Last Thursday night in Cincinnati, on the first stop of his ""Thank You Tour,"" Trump said his infrastructure plan would follow two simple rules: ""Buy American and hire American. We're going to do it ourselves."" President-elect Trump has remained silent about the Republican House leadership stripping the Buy America reform from the water infrastructure legislation. “The silence from Trump Tower on this issue is deafening. If President-elect Trump is serious about keeping his promise to American workers, he needs to take a stand,” said Senator Baldwin. “American workers should build our infrastructure with American products, and taxpayers' money should not be spent on Chinese iron and steel.” Senator Baldwin introduced Buy America legislation, the Made in America Water Infrastructure Act, to require American-made iron and steel is used in drinking water projects funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Baldwin’s reform is supported by the United Steelworkers union and Wisconsin manufacturers in the iron and steel industry supply chain, including Neenah Foundry. The Buy America standard in WRDA had already passed the Senate in September with broad bipartisan support before Republican House leadership stripped it from the final water infrastructure bill released yesterday. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/buy-america-removed,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Removal of ‘Buy America’ Reform in Water Infrastructure Bill,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.05.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Removal of ‘Buy America’ Reform in Water Infrastructure Bill Baldwin’s ‘Buy America’ reform removed by Republican House Leadership  “By removing my Buy America standard, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans are embracing the status-quo in Washington.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today released the following statement on the removal of her ‘Buy America’ reform from the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by Republican House Leadership: “By removing my Buy America standard, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans are embracing the status-quo in Washington. This is a failure by House leadership to make a solid commitment to American manufacturers and workers,” said Senator Baldwin. “American workers should build our infrastructure with American products and taxpayers' money should not be spent on Chinese or Russian iron and steel. It’s disappointing that the President-elect is sitting silent in Trump Tower.” Senator Baldwin previously called on President-elect Donald Trump to take a stand against the effort being made by Speaker Paul Ryan and Congressional Republicans to pull her Buy America provision from the water infrastructure bill that passed the Senate in September.  Last Thursday night in Cincinnati, on the first stop of his ""Thank You Tour,"" Trump said his infrastructure plan would follow two simple rules: ""Buy American and hire American. We're going to do it ourselves."" However, on Friday, the media reported that Speaker Ryan was leading a push to remove the Buy America reform from Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan a group of 25 Senators in sending a letter to House and Senate leaders calling for her Buy America provision to be put back into the final bill to support U.S. steel and iron workers and manufacturers. Senator Baldwin introduced Buy America legislation, the Made in America Water Infrastructure Act, to require American-made iron and steel is used in drinking water projects funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Baldwin’s ‘Buy America’ standard had already passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support before Republican House Leadership stripped it from the final water infrastructure bill released today. Senator Baldwin’s reform is supported by the United Steelworkers union and Wisconsin manufacturers in the iron and steel industry supply chain, including Neenah Foundry.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/buy-america-water,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President-elect Trump to Take a Stand for ‘Buy America’ Reform in Water Infrastructure Bill,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.05.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President-elect Trump to Take a Stand for ‘Buy America’ Reform in Water Infrastructure Bill Baldwin’s ‘Buy America’ reform threatened by House Republicans  “American workers should build our infrastructure with American products, and taxpayers' money should not be spent on Chinese iron and steel.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today called for President-elect Donald Trump to take a stand against an effort by Speaker Paul Ryan and Congressional Republicans to pull a ‘Buy America’ reform she included in a water infrastructure bill that passed the Senate in September.  “If President-elect Trump is serious about keeping his promise to build a made in America manufacturing economy, he needs to take a stand against this threat from Speaker Ryan and House Republicans,” said Senator Baldwin, “Stripping my ‘Buy America’ reform from the bipartisan water infrastructure legislation that passed the Senate will allow foreign companies to continue undercutting the American iron and steel industries and manufacturers in Wisconsin and across the country. American workers should build our infrastructure with American products, and taxpayers' money should not be spent on Chinese iron and steel.” Senator Baldwin worked to include the Buy America provision in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The Buy America rule—which requires the use of American-made iron and steel for U.S. water infrastructure projects—already passed in the Senate version of the bill with broad bipartisan support. However, it has been pulled from the compromise package reached between leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. As reported in the Wall Street Journal this weekend, Speaker Ryan and the House Republicans have taken a position on the Buy America provision that is at odds with Trump. Last Thursday night in Cincinnati, on the first stop of his ""Thank You Tour,"" Trump said his infrastructure plan would follow two simple rules: ""Buy American and hire American. We're going to do it ourselves."" Last Friday, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan a group of 25 Senators in sending a letter to House and Senate leaders calling for her Buy America provision to be put back into the final bill to support U.S. steel and iron workers and manufacturers. Senator Baldwin introduced Buy America legislation, the Made in America Water Infrastructure Act, to require American-made iron and steel is used in drinking water projects funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). After working closely with her colleagues in the Senate, Senator Baldwin was able to include the reform in the Senate-passed WRDA bill in September. Senator Baldwin’s provision is supported by the United Steelworkers union and Wisconsin manufacturers in the iron and steel industry supply chain, including Neenah Foundry.  “As we invest in our nation’s water infrastructure, American taxpayers expect—now more than ever—that the iron and steel products incorporated into these taxpayer-financed projects will be melted, molded, and made in America by American workers and the foundries and mills that employ them,” said Neenah Foundry’s Municipal Products Group Vice President Scott Hoffman. “On behalf of Neenah Enterprises of Neenah, Wisconsin I write to convey our deep appreciation for Senator Baldwin’s leadership in introducing legislation that will make permanent a procurement preference policy for U.S.–produced iron and steel products acquired for infrastructure projects funded and financed by the nation’s largest taxpayer-financed federal-aid program for drinking water infrastructure.”  “It is no secret that American drinking water infrastructure is in desperate need of repair and replacement. Senator Baldwin’s bill will ensure that not only will Americans receive the highest-quality water infrastructure, but that the jobs created by this undertaking will be good, family-supporting American manufacturing jobs,” said United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard. “We have seen the impact that strong Buy America laws like this one have in creating and retaining jobs here at home, and we thank Senator Baldwin for her leadership in ensuring that American taxpayer dollars go to support American workers and industries. That is what the Steelworkers want, what manufacturing workers want, and what an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans want.  This is good, commonsense legislation that keeps its focus where it should be: on improving American infrastructure and creating American jobs.” Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1435,Concerns Grow Over Mistreatment of Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — In response to concerns over the increasingly aggressive tactics being deployed against protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) sent the following letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch:   The Honorable Loretta Lynch Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice   Dear Attorney General Lynch,   I write to share my concerns related to the ongoing protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline by the Standing Rock Tribe and its supporters. I am alarmed by the increasingly aggressive tactics being deployed against protestors including the use of armed vehicles, rubber bullets, and even water cannons in freezing temperatures. One media account noted that over 100 protestors were recently injured and other accounts have even higher numbers including one demonstrator who may have lost her arm according to credible media reports.     As you know, the federal government is currently examining concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe about potential pipeline impacts on environmental and tribal resources. Many have joined the tribe to peacefully protest in North Dakota in the meantime.       The disturbing reports and images of actions taken against protestors for exercising such a basic right raise troubling memories of the terrible tactics used during the turbulent struggle for civil rights equality in our country. I urge you to step in and work with state and local authorities to quickly de-escalate the situation, while ensuring that peaceful protestors can freely exercise those rights without fear.     I cannot overemphasize the need for you to do everything in your power to work with both sides to ensure the situation does not get worse. Law enforcement should be able to maintain order without violence and without violating the rights of tribal members and other peaceful protestors. The Justice Department must help restore calm and ease tensions.       Please act to ease tensions, restore order, and make clear that violence against peaceful protestors or against law enforcement officials should not be tolerated. Thank you for your timely consideration and response to this request.       Sincerely, Gwen Moore Member of Congress     ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2051,Concerns Grow Over Mistreatment of Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Law enforcement should be able to maintain order without violence and without violating the rights of tribal members and other peaceful protestors. The Justice Department must help restore calm and ease tensions. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to concerns over the increasingly aggressive tactics being deployed against protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) sent the following letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch: The Honorable Loretta Lynch Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Dear Attorney General Lynch, I write to share my concerns related to the ongoing protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline by the Standing Rock Tribe and its supporters. I am alarmed by the increasingly aggressive tactics being deployed against protestors including the use of armed vehicles, rubber bullets, and even water cannons in freezing temperatures. One media account noted that over 100 protestors were recently injured and other accounts have even higher numbers including one demonstrator who may have lost her arm according to credible media reports. As you know, the federal government is currently examining concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe about potential pipeline impacts on environmental and tribal resources. Many have joined the tribe to peacefully protest in North Dakota in the meantime. The disturbing reports and images of actions taken against protestors for exercising such a basic right raise troubling memories of the terrible tactics used during the turbulent struggle for civil rights equality in our country. I urge you to step in and work with state and local authorities to quickly de-escalate the situation, while ensuring that peaceful protestors can freely exercise those rights without fear. I cannot overemphasize the need for you to do everything in your power to work with both sides to ensure the situation does not get worse. Law enforcement should be able to maintain order without violence and without violating the rights of tribal members and other peaceful protestors. The Justice Department must help restore calm and ease tensions. Please act to ease tensions, restore order, and make clear that violence against peaceful protestors or against law enforcement officials should not be tolerated. Thank you for your timely consideration and response to this request. Sincerely, Gwen Moore Member of Congress ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/heather-simcakoski-on-bipartisan-va-reforms,Heather Simcakoski on bipartisan VA reforms,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Heather Simcakoski, Jason's widow, spoke after Senator Baldwin's roundtable dialogue titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/marv-simcakoski-at-veterans-care-roundtable,Marv Simcakoski at Veterans Care Roundtable,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Marv Simcakoski, Jason's father, spoke at the opening of Senator Baldwin's roundtable dialogue titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/marv-simcakoski-on-bipartisan-va-reforms,Marv Simcakoski on bipartisan VA reforms,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Marv Simcakoski, Jason's father, spoke after Senator Baldwin's roundtable dialogue titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/vfws-carlos-fuentes-at-veterans-care-roundtable,VFW's Carlos Fuentes at Veterans Care Roundtable,2016-12-02,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Carlos Fuentes, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)'s Deputy Director of their National Legislative Service spoke at Senator Baldwin's roundtable dialogue titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-steve-mnuchin-prioritized-profits-above-livelihoods-of-working,Rep. Pocan: Steve Mnuchin Prioritized Profits Above Livelihoods of Working Class Americans,2016-11-30,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after President-elect Trump nominated Steven Mnuchin as Secretary of the Department of the Treasury: “During his campaign, Donald Trump railed against Wall Street cronies for their excessive political influence, but his nomination of Steve Mnuchin, a former hedge fund manager and Goldman Sachs exec, as Secretary of the Treasury proves that his administration will be directly in the pocket of Wall Street. He capitalized on the suffering of families facing foreclosure during the financial crisis, prioritizing his own profits above the livelihoods of working class Americans. “Mnuchin has repeatedly praised the risky tactics used by Wall Street bankers that caused the economic collapse. And he has continually targeted vulnerable populations and discriminated against minority groups in his drive to make a profit, including recently facing federal complaints over unfair lending practices. “A man who got rich off the backs of working families during the foreclosure crisis should not be allowed anywhere near our financial regulatory system. President-elect Trump continues to show his administration only cares about the interests of Wall Street at the expense of hard-working American families.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/live-roundtable-realizing-the-jason-simcakoski-memorial-and-promise-act,LIVE Roundtable: Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act,2016-11-30,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Tammy Baldwin is joined by Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and the Simcakoski Family to host a roundtable titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans. The roundtable will address veterans’ opioid safety and pain management, including the implementation of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act that was signed into law in July as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Key stakeholders will also discuss the VA’s progress in addressing opioid prescribing practices, the critical health care needs of veterans that Congress should focus on in the upcoming year, and how to realize the goals of Jason’s law: meaningful access to high-quality care, including more effective pain management services for our nation’s veterans; improved patient advocacy to give veterans and their families a stronger voice in their care; and enhanced hiring practices at the VA to ensure that the best health care providers are treating our veterans. The roundtable will include officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), The American Legion, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/roundtable-veterans-and-simcakoski-family,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Gus Bilirakis Host Roundtable with Veterans Care Stakeholders and Simcakoski Family,2016-11-30,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.30.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Gus Bilirakis Host Roundtable with Veterans Care Stakeholders and Simcakoski Family In July, bipartisan VA reforms named after Wisconsin Marine veteran Jason Simcakoski were signed into law by President Obama “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” roundtable addresses the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) led a roundtable dialogue titled “Realizing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act” to address the opioid crisis and quality pain care for veterans. Senator Baldwin and Representative Bilirakis were joined by members of the Simcakoski family, as well as officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), The American Legion, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The roundtable addressed veterans’ opioid safety and pain management, including the implementation of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act that was signed into law in July as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Key stakeholders discussed the VA’s progress in addressing opioid prescribing practices, the critical health care needs of veterans that Congress should focus on in the upcoming year, and how to realize the goals of Jason’s law: meaningful access to high-quality care, including more effective pain management services for our nation’s veterans; improved patient advocacy to give veterans and their families a stronger voice in their care; and enhanced hiring practices at the VA to ensure that the best health care providers are treating our veterans.  Video of the roundtable available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/statement-mnuchin,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Releases Statement on Nomination of Wealthy Insider with Deep Roots on Wall Street for Treasury Secretary,2016-11-30,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.30.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Releases Statement on Nomination of Wealthy Insider with Deep Roots on Wall Street for Treasury Secretary “Wisconsin families struggling to get ahead do not want foxes guarding the hen house.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on President-elect Trump’s nomination of hedge fund manager Steven Mnuchin for United States Secretary of the Treasury: “The Republican establishment now owns Washington and this is more proof that Wall Street, big banks, hedge funds and billionaires will be writing the rules to make a rigged system work for them. This is another broken promise from Donald Trump to ‘drain the swamp’ in Washington and not the change hardworking people in Wisconsin voted for. “Wisconsin families struggling to get ahead do not want foxes guarding the hen house. They do not want a wealthy Wall Street insider making Washington work for hedge funds and big banks. I have never been afraid to stand up to these powerful interests in Washington and I will continue my fight for the people of Wisconsin to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.” Background On October 22, 2016, as a candidate, Donald Trump said, “I've seen the system up-close-and-personal for many years. I've been a major part of it. I know how the game works in Washington and on Wall Street and I know how they've rigged the rules of the game against everyday Americans. The rules are rigged.” On November 17, 2016, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to President-elect Trump, calling on him to keep his promise to make Washington work for Wisconsin by closing the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington and not appointing “foxes to guard the hen house.” Senator Baldwin has introduced legislation, the Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act, which would help close the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington and crack down on conflicts of interest in government.  On August 20, 2015, as a candidate, Donald Trump said, ""I have hedge fund guys that are making a lot of money that aren't paying anything. I would change it. They're paying nothing. And it's ridiculous.” Senator Baldwin has introduced legislation, the Carried Interest Fairness Act, to close the carried interest tax loophole for wealthy hedge fund managers and require the managers of investment partnerships to pay the same tax rates on their income that most American workers pay. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-s-response-act-unanimously-passes-house,Rep. Kind’s RESPONSE Act Unanimously Passes the House,2016-11-29,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today U.S. Rep. Ron Kind’s legislation to increase rail safety and provide needed resources for first responders, the RESPONSE Act, passed unanimously out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill is now headed to the Senate for final vote and then will be signed by the President. “With the passage of the RESPONSE Act we are making our Wisconsin communities safer by providing more training for our first responders and holding big railroad companies accountable for their actions,” said Rep. Kind. “Our residents have dealt with the negative impacts of rail traffic long enough and today we took action to solve the problem and keep our neighborhoods safe.” The RESPONSE Act establishes a subcommittee under FEMA’s National Advisory Council. It brings together federal agencies, technical experts, emergency responders and the private sector to review training methods, resources, best practices, and unmet needs related to railroad incidents we can ensure the safety of Wisconsin residents and local communities. The subcommittee is tasked with evaluating and providing recommendations on: The quality and application of training for local emergency responders related to rail hazardous materials incidents Modernizing training course content related to rail hazardous material incidents Identifying any overlap in training content and opportunities to develop complementary courses and materials Determining the effectiveness of funding levels for training emergency responders Developing a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies The companion bill, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), passed the full Senate with broad bipartisan support",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/digital-coast-act-passes-senate,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Bipartisan Digital Coast Act Unanimously Passes the Senate,2016-11-29,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.29.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Bipartisan Digital Coast Act Unanimously Passes the Senate Legislation aids Great Lakes communities by delivering next generation coastal data WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s bipartisan Digital Coast Act has unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation will help shoreline communities along the Great Lakes better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels and strengthen economic development planning efforts continues to move forward and now heads to the House for consideration. The bipartisan Digital Coast Act was introduced by Senator Baldwin and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last year. The Digital Coast Act is also cosponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). “We are making progress by moving bipartisan reforms forward to strengthen our Great Lakes communities as we face a variety of challenges to keep our harbors open, our waters clean and our beaches ready for visitors,” said Senator Baldwin. “This bipartisan legislation ensures that our Great Lakes shoreline communities have the resources and tools they need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, maintain healthy shores, and make smart planning decisions to support their local economies and way of life.” The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently assembles and hosts the Digital Coast Project, a collaborative online database of the most up-to-date coastal information, and makes it available to both the public and private sectors. Digital Coast also provides tools for coastal communities to decipher and use the high-tech mapping data to make accurate decisions and smart investments in coastal communities. The Digital Coast Act authorizes the next phase in coastal mapping at NOAA by ensuring that communities will continue to have the data to make smart choices for economic development, shoreline management and coastal restoration. The Act supports further development of the current project, including increasing access to uniform, up-to-date data, to help communities get the coastal data they need to respond to emergencies, plan for long-term coastal resilience, and manage their water resources. ""Senator Baldwin and Senator Murkowski’s leadership on coastal issues supports the work local communities do to manage risk and protect people and property from extreme weather and changing conditions. This legislation will directly improve local disaster response and hazard mitigation planning. This bill will help local communities minimize potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure, private property, and conservation areas. The Digital Coast Act is an important step for effective coastal management,” said American Planning Association President Carol Rhea, FAICP. “Communities in Wisconsin need tools like Digital Coast to make better decisions about the safety and resilience of our coastal regions. Digital Coast empowers communities to better adapt to changing coastal conditions and identify cost effective tools to address those changes. Thank you, Senator Baldwin for your leadership,” said Steve Hiniker of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. The Digital Coast Act is supported by: American Planning Association, Ayres Associates, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Coastal States Organization, Continental Mapping Consultants, Inc., The National Association of Counties, The Nature Conservancy, Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS), National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), National States Geographic Information Council, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, and Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department. Read what supporters have said about the Digital Coast Act here. More information on the Digital Coast Act is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/echo-act,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Votes for Bipartisan Reform to Increase Access to High Quality Health Care in Rural Wisconsin,2016-11-29,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.29.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Votes for Bipartisan Reform to Increase Access to High Quality Health Care in Rural Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today voted for the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, which passed the Senate with a vote of 97-0. The bipartisan legislation will support rural Wisconsin communities by promoting innovative continuing education for health providers to improve quality care.   “Many Wisconsinites in rural communities face challenges in accessing the high-quality health care they need,” said Senator Baldwin. “I voted for this bipartisan reform to promote innovation and collaboration that will help more Wisconsinites receive high-quality health care, no matter where they live.” Rural communities in Wisconsin and across the country face many challenges in accessing high-quality health care. Only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural areas of the United States, despite nearly one-fourth of the population living in these areas. Project ECHO is an innovative medical education system that uses interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural and underserved areas. The ECHO Act aims to better integrate the Project ECHO model into health systems in Wisconsin and across the country by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to analyze and provide recommendations for advancing this model. Studying the Project ECHO model would help assist Wisconsin in integrating this and other innovative models to improve health care delivery for: Patients: Improved access to quality and accessible care, with high-patient satisfaction. Providers: Increased knowledge for providers in rural and underserved areas, with ability to serve as a local resource; improved provider network; enhanced professional satisfaction and reduced isolation; more access to specialists. Health care system: Higher retention of providers in rural and underserved areas; better care delivered in the right place at the right time by the right person; decreased costs. Current health care challenges: Project ECHO has successfully been used to increase the number of physicians able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid abuse, to quickly educate health providers on public health crises such as H1N1, and to train providers to address complex mental health disorders. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/opioid-funding-cures,"U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Jeanne Shaheen, Ed Markey, and Joe Donnelly Call for Investments to Fight Opioid Epidemic in 21st Century Cures Act",2016-11-23,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.23.16 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Jeanne Shaheen, Ed Markey, and Joe Donnelly Call for Investments to Fight Opioid Epidemic in 21st Century Cures Act WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) are calling for investments to fight the opioid epidemic to be included in the 21st Century Cures Act, which is under consideration for passage during the Lame Duck session. “This epidemic knows no political party. Substance use, misuse, and use disorders are national problems that continue to cripple our communities. Our law enforcement, health care system, families, and states simply cannot tackle the problem alone and without necessary resources,” the Senators wrote to Senate leaders. “As the end of the year fast approaches, it is past time for Republicans and Democrats to come together to provide emergency funding and increase investments in prevention and treatment services for opioid use, misuse, and use disorders. Until we do, our job is not done and our communities will continue to hurt. We urge you to act immediately to ensure that Congress fulfills its commitment to the American people by providing adequate resources to help quell this epidemic in the 21st Century Cures Act. We stand ready and look forward to working with you to swiftly achieve this goal.” In the letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid, the Senators stressed the need to provide immediate funding to address the opioid epidemic before the end of the year. The Senators also highlighted recent efforts in the Senate to provide needed investments to increase access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services and the need to build on these proposals. An online version of the letter is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-announces-fall-office-hours-across-the-second-district,Rep. Pocan Announces Fall Office Hours Across the Second District,2016-11-22,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MADISON – Today, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) announced his staff will be holding fall office hours across the Second Congressional District. Rep. Pocan’s outreach staff will be at the office hours to work directly with constituents to answer questions and help address any concerns with federal agencies, including the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Social Security Administration. All constituents are invited to attend, and no RSVP is required. Fall Office Hours will start the week following Thanksgiving and end in mid-December. Second Congressional District Fall Office Hours Tuesday, Nov 29th • Sauk City Public Library (515 Water St, Sauk City, WI 53583) 10am-11am • Baraboo City Hall (135 4th St, Baraboo, WI 53913) 1pm-2pm Thursday, Dec 1st • Brodhead Memorial Library (1207 25th St, Brodhead, WI 53520) 10am-11am • Monroe Public Library (925 16th Ave, Monroe, WI 53566) 1pm-2pm Tuesday, Dec 6th • Verona City Hall (111 Lincoln St, Verona, WI 53593) 10am-11am • DeForest Area Public Library (203 Library St, DeForest, WI 53532) 1pm-2pm Thursday, Dec 8th • Beloit City Hall (100 State St, Beloit, WI 53511) 9:30am-11:30am • Evansville Eager Free Public Library (39 W Main St, Evansville, WI 53536) 2pm-3pm Tuesday, Dec 13th • Darlington Municipal Building (627 Main St, Darlington, WI 53530) 10am-11am • Benton Village Hall (244 Ridge Ave, Benton, WI 53803) 1pm-2pm Thursday, Dec 15th • Lone Rock Village Hall (156 East Liberty St, Lone Rock, WI 53556) 10am-11am • Mineral Point Public Library (137 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565) 1pm-2pm",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-calls-on-president-obama-to-protect-dreamers-from-deportation,Rep. Pocan Calls on President Obama to Protect Dreamers from Deportation,2016-11-18,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) is calling on President Obama to take all steps necessary to protect those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs after President-elect Trump reiterated his support to deport undocumented people. “Undocumented immigrants trusted that when they enrolled in the DACA and DAPA programs they would be able to live and work legally without fear of deportation,” Rep. Pocan said. “However, President-elect Trump continues to make sweeping claims about dismantling these programs and deporting families who have been living and working in the United States for years. I strongly urge President Obama to take all necessary means to protect those enrolled in the DACA and DAPA programs.” In November 2014, President Obama announced executive orders that would allow certain undocumented immigrants to live and work in the United State legally. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program allows young people who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable work permit and exemption from deportation. The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program granted deferred action status to parents of American citizens or lawful permanent residents. These programs were subsequently halted by a court injunction after several states sued the federal government. In June 2016, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s injunction in a deadlocked 4-4 decision. As of the end of June 2016, about 742,000 Dreamers had received DACA status. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/aarp-caregivers-award,AARP Presents U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin with ‘Champion for the 50+’ Legislative Leadership Award,2016-11-18,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.16 AARP Presents U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin with ‘Champion for the 50+’ Legislative Leadership Award Senator Baldwin honored by AARP for leading the bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which unanimously passed the Senate MADISON, WI – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today was presented with the AARP’s ‘Champion for the 50+’ Legislative Leadership Award by AARP Wisconsin staff and volunteers to recognize her commitment to supporting and improving the lives of family caregivers with the bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act (S.1719).  “I am honored to receive this award from AARP and their members across the country and throughout Wisconsin. This effort is especially personal to me, as I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmother’s primary caretaker as she grew older,” said Senator Baldwin. “We have a shared responsibility to guarantee that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, and the ability to live and age with support and dignity. That is why we worked on a bipartisan solution to support family caregivers with the goal of ensuring that everyone has access to the care and assistance they need. If we are serious about ensuring that our older adults and loved ones with disabilities receive the highest quality care in their own homes, we must formally recognize and support family caregivers as an official member of the health care and long-term care team.” “The work Senator Baldwin has done to improve the lives of Wisconsin and American families as we age, and help to care for family members who are aging, will give current and future generations the opportunity to live their best lives,” said Sam Wilson, AARP Wisconsin State Director. “She has put partisanship aside to find solutions that have a substantial impact on the lives of Wisconsinites.” The bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act, introduced by Senators Baldwin and Susan Collins (R-ME), would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and sustain a National Family Caregiving Strategy to support family caregivers. More than 50 national and state advocacy groups joined in support of the bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously less than a year ago. Senator Baldwin has toured the state of Wisconsin, promoting the legislation and hosting listening sessions in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau with family caregivers. The AARP’s ‘Champion for the 50+’ Legislative Award is one of AARP's highest honors which recognize legislators for their distinguished work to help improve the lives of our nation's seniors. The award is made on behalf of AARP’s nearly 38 million members, with over 840,000 in Wisconsin. Photos of the award ceremony are available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/american-education-week,U.S. Senators Baldwin and Capito Recognize American Education Week,2016-11-18,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.16 U.S. Senators Baldwin and Capito Recognize American Education Week WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the goals and ideas of American Education Week. The resolution urges the people of the United States to observe American Education Week by reflecting on the positive impact of all those who work together to educate children. “American Education Week is an opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate our public education system and those who do the hard work of educating our children,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am excited to celebrate its 95th anniversary this year.” “Knowledge is a powerful tool and a resource everyone deserves access to. As the mother of three children who are products of our local public schools in West Virginia, I saw firsthand how hard the teachers, administrators and staff worked to create a safe environment for students to learn. Let’s celebrate public education this week by honoring and thanking those who have played such an influential role in so many lives,” said Senator Capito. November 14 through November 18th, 2016, marks the 95th annual observance of American Education Week which is an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are working in public education. A copy of the resolution is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/silatronix-visit,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Tours Advanced Wisconsin Battery Manufacturer Silatronix,2016-11-18,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Tours Advanced Wisconsin Battery Manufacturer Silatronix MADISON, WI – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today toured Silatronix headquarters to highlight our advanced Made in Wisconsin economy and congratulate the manufacturer on their recently awarded $3.7M Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin has championed the ONR program that is supporting Silatronix’s pioneering work.  “Here at Silatronix, I’m seeing firsthand how we can work together to build a next-generation, advanced manufacturing economy,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to have secured federal funding for the Navy programs that support Made in Wisconsin work being done at Silatronix. These investments will accelerate the development of our fast-growing lithium ion battery industry and create good paying, high-tech jobs here in Wisconsin.” During the visit, Senator Baldwin toured the Silatronix Madison Headquarters facility, which includes their in-house battery and chemistry lab. Senator Baldwin met with the Silatronix team of chemists to discuss the next generation technologies in the works at Silatronix and the new program funded by the ONR contract. This new program will create “Organosilicon Electrolytes for Safe High Energy NCA-Based Li-ion Batteries.” The end product will produce a state of the art high-performance and high-safety battery that will be used in the military's UH-60 helicopter fleet. Photos of the visit are available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-stefanik-introduce-bipartisan-broadband-connections-for-rural,"Reps. Pocan, Stefanik Introduce Bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act",2016-11-17,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) introduced H.R. 6336 -- the bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act to increase internet connectivity in rural communities through a combination of grants and loans. This legislation is a companion bill to one introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) earlier this fall. “In a 21st century economy, our businesses and families need access to broadband so we can compete around the globe,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This important legislation would provide greater resources to build this infrastructure in the North Country and in rural areas across our nation. I am pleased to join Congressman Pocan to introduce this bipartisan legislation in the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this critical 21st century infrastructure project.” “Access to reliable, high-speed internet service is vital to communities across America especially to small businesses and students,” Rep. Mark Pocan said. “Yet, in rural areas, including parts of my district in Wisconsin, over a third of the population doesn’t have access to quality broadband. The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act will increase resources to update and expand broadband infrastructure. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Stefanik to help close the broadband gap so all communities can have a reliable connection.” Nationally, more than 55 million Americans lack access to advanced broadband speeds and an even greater number lack even basic connectivity. Broadband internet for rural communities serves as a crucial economic engine to generate widely shared prosperity. Therefore the push toward developing a 21st century infrastructure for America is quickly emerging as an initiative with bipartisan consensus. This legislation helps connect rural communities by: • Allowing for grants of up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, and up to 75 percent for remote, high-need areas, to be awarded in combination with the current loan funding available through USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS). • Combining grants with loans, the bill helps enhance the economic feasibility of projects serving rural and tribal areas. • Providing highest priority to projects that serve areas that are currently unserved by high-speed broadband. • This legislation also increases the authorized funding for RUS’s Broadband programs to $50 million per fiscal year. • This proposal would provide adequate resources to private sector providers, including corporations, LLCs, cooperatives or mutual organizations, state or local government, and Indian tribes or tribal organizations to expand broadband access to unserved rural areas. Partnership projects would be given special attention including initiatives that leverage matching funds and that work with anchor institutions like health centers, colleges, universities, and other educational entities, and libraries.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/6-million-for-employ-milwaukee,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Mayor Tom Barrett Announces $6 Million for Workforce Development to Employ Milwaukee,2016-11-17,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.17.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Mayor Tom Barrett Announces $6 Million for Workforce Development to Employ Milwaukee MILWAUKEE, WI – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett today announced a $6 million America’s Promise Job-Driven grant from the Department of Labor has been awarded to Employ Milwaukee and Midwest Urban Strategies, an alliance of 11 urban Midwest workforce boards, to grow their workforce development programs. “As the demand for a highly skilled workforce continues to grow, we need to ensure that our workforce is getting the education and skills they need to fill those jobs, said Senator Baldwin. “This grant funding will have a tremendous impact in helping us invest in Wisconsin’s workforce and help us raise incomes and strengthen the middle class.” “We are thrilled to be receiving the America's Promise award. It will ensure job seekers are connected to educational opportunities and career pathways,"" said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. ""It is an example of strong regional collaboration to develop a highly skilled workforce across the Midwest and bring much needed resources to Milwaukee."" ""America's Promise strengthens the consortium of urban Midwest workforce boards and their collaborative planning efforts to attract and retain businesses and talent to grow the regional economy,"" said Earl Buford, Employ Milwaukee President and CEO. ""It is our 'promise' to expand regional partnerships to provide a pipeline of workers to fill existing job openings, meet business needs for expansion, and fuel the talent needs of entrepreneurs."" The grant funding will go towards a project that will train more than 1,430 individuals for middle-to-high-skilled jobs, coordinate regional planning to attract and retain businesses and talent to grow the Midwest economy, and integrate efforts and resources to fully maximize federal, state and local funds to build a competitive regional workforce system. The America’s Promise Job-Driven grant program is a part of President Obama’s initiative to expand tuition-free community college programs that connect Americans to in-demand jobs. Employ Milwaukee a workforce development board serving Milwaukee County. They work to provide job seekers education and training options in high-growth, high-demand sectors -- and provide a skilled and sustainable workforce to attract, retain and grow diverse businesses and talent in order to be competitive in an innovative economy.   Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/fhlbc-assistance-central-wi,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Financial Assistance for Families and Communities in Central Wisconsin Affected by Flooding,2016-11-17,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.17.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Financial Assistance for Families and Communities in Central Wisconsin Affected by Flooding WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded an announcement from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBC) that it will expand the counties it is currently assisting with its $500,000 Community First® Disaster Relief Program to include central Wisconsin communities impacted by the severe storms, flash flooding, and mudslides that occurred on September 21-22, 2016. Grants of $5,000 are available to eligible households and small businesses located in the central Wisconsin areas declared a disaster by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA disaster declaration DR-4288), which include Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, and Vernon counties. Funds are available to individuals and business owners through local banks, credit unions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies that are members of the FHLBC. “Severe storms and subsequent flooding in Wisconsin have left families and communities wondering how they are going to rebuild,"" said Senator Baldwin. “The expansion of FHLBC grants will help bring relief to homeowners and businesses affected in Wisconsin.” “We are extremely pleased to extend our support to now include communities in central Wisconsin that are served by our member institutions,” said William Sennholz, FHLBC Chairman of the Board and President of Forward Financial Bank located in Marshfield, Wisconsin. “Utilizing the FHLBC’s Community First Disaster Relief Program during these times of need is at the very heart of our mission.” The funding is available now for immediate access through March 24, 2017, on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible households or small businesses that apply for a disaster assistance grant through any FHLBC member financial institution. A list of members is on www.fhlbc.com. Potential applicants should contact the member institution directly to see if they qualify for assistance. More information about the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and the Community First Disaster Relief Program is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/trump-letter-on-revolving-door,"U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President-Elect Trump to Keep His Promise to Make Washington Work for Wisconsin, Not Wall Street",2016-11-17,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.17.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President-Elect Trump to Keep His Promise to Make Washington Work for Wisconsin, Not Wall Street Close the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington  “Don’t appoint foxes to guard the hen house.”  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today sent a letter to President-Elect Trump, calling on him to keep his promise to make Washington work for Wisconsin by closing the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington and not appointing “foxes to guard the hen house.” “You have made a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ in Washington by reducing the influence of special interests in government and expressed deep concerns about the influence of Wall Street over government. I share these concerns because I know that financial conflicts of interest and a revolving door between Wall Street and Washington created a culture of weak oversight that allowed excessive risk-taking at Wall Street banks to flourish at the expense of hard working, middle-class Americans,” Senator Baldwin wrote. “Given that you expressed skepticism of the relationship between Washington and Wall Street, I urge you to not appoint foxes to guard the hen house. The people of Wisconsin cannot afford to have insiders in the pocket of Wall Street writing the rules and making a rigged system worse.” On October 22, 2016, Trump said, ““I've seen the system up-close-and-personal for many years. I've been a major part of it. I know how the game works in Washington and on Wall Street and I know how they've rigged the rules of the game against everyday Americans. The rules are rigged.” Senator Baldwin highlighted legislation she introduced in 2015, the Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act. Senator Baldwin’s reform would: Enhance the integrity of our financial regulatory system by slowing the revolving door between industry and government.  Outlaw bonuses for government work by prohibiting government employees from accepting bonuses from their former private sector employers for entering government service.  Expand cooling off periods and tighten lobbying rules. Reduce conflicts of interest by requiring senior financial service regulators to recuse themselves from any official actions that directly or substantially benefit the former employers or clients for whom they worked in the previous two years before joining federal service.  Senator Baldwin urged President-Elect Trump to adopt her reforms as he appoints staff for his Administration. “We have heard from too many Americans who feel that Washington’s economic and political system is broken and isn’t working for them.  People are angry because they feel that too often our government institutions seem to work for big banks on Wall Street and not on behalf of working Americans who are struggling to get ahead. I have heard these voices and it is my hope that you have too,” Senator Baldwin wrote. The full text of the letter is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-requests-bnsf-railway-answer-questions-about-their-severe,Rep. Kind Requests BNSF Railway Answer Questions about their Severe Weather Practices,2016-11-16,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to the Chairman of BNSF Railway requesting they answer a number of questions about what safety measures they have in place for severe weather. In September heavy rains caused a BNSF train to derail near Ferryville, WI, spilling about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel near the Mississippi River. “Given the severe weather Wisconsin has seen already this year and the upcoming winter weather it is vital that BNSF assures our local residents and communities that they are taking all necessary action to operate safely and prevent derailments like the one in Ferryville. I look forward to receiving a timely response from BNSF,” said Rep. Kind.  Find a copy of the letter here. Rep. Kind has long been focused on increasing rail safety. His legislation, the RESPONSE Act, to increase rail safety and provide needed resources for first responders, passed unanimously out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in September. The bill is expected to head to the House floor for a final vote in the coming weeks.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-supports-gold-star-families,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports Gold Star Families,2016-11-15,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.15.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports Gold Star Families Senator Baldwin votes to help the families of fallen soldiers contribute stories about their loved ones to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin voted in support of the Gold Star Families Voices Act (H.R.4511). The legislation will allow the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project to collect video and audio recordings of biographical histories from the immediate family members of service men and women who became missing in action or who died as a result of their wartime service. Currently, only living veterans are able to contribute to the Veterans Oral History Project, which excludes all of tales and narratives of our fallen soldiers. “As we reflect on Veterans Day, it is important to remember that we have a shared responsibility to support veterans and their families every day,” Senator Baldwin said. “The Gold Star Family Voices Act will help ensure that the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered and that their service is honored. Their stories of sacrifice can be an inspiration to all of us, to do our part to serve those who have served.” The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1433,Bannon Appointment Underscores Danger of Trump Presidency,2016-11-14,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the appointment of campaign strategist Stephen Bannon to a senior role within the Trump Administration, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement:   ""After his victory, I tried to give President-elect Trump the benefit of the doubt that he truly wanted to unite us and heal the wounds that have left our nation so deeply divided. I had hoped his bigoted rhetoric was merely a campaign tactic, but after learning of the appointment of Stephen Bannon — a prominent leader in the white nationalist and alt-right movements — as a senior counselor to the president, my darkest fears about the man who will soon lead our country were strongly reaffirmed.   ""Stephen Bannon has no place in the White House and his racist views have no place in our society. Put simply, he is a hate peddler, and the Breitbart News Network he manages is nothing more than a well of depravity masquerading as journalism. His appointment — one of President-elect Trump’s first official acts — is not only mortifying, but also a stark reminder of how far our country has to go in quelling hate both inside and outside the halls of government.""          ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2049,Bannon Appointment Underscores Danger of Trump Presidency,2016-11-14,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Stephen Bannon has no place in the White House and his racist views have no place in our society. Put simply, he is a hate peddler, and the Breitbart News Network he manages is nothing more than a well of depravity masquerading as journalism. share: f t WASHINGTON, DC In response to the appointment of campaign strategist Stephen Bannon to a senior role within the Trump Administration, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: ""After his victory, I tried to give President-elect Trump the benefit of the doubt that he truly wanted to unite us and heal the wounds that have left our nation so deeply divided. I had hoped his bigoted rhetoric was merely a campaign tactic, but after learning of the appointment of Stephen Bannon a prominent leader in the white nationalist and alt-right movements as a senior counselor to the president, my darkest fears about the man who will soon lead our country were strongly reaffirmed. ""Stephen Bannon has no place in the White House and his racist views have no place in our society. Put simply, he is a hate peddler, and the Breitbart News Network he manages is nothing more than a well of depravity masquerading as journalism. His appointment one of President-elect Trump's first official acts is not only mortifying, but also a stark reminder of how far our country has to go in quelling hate both inside and outside the halls of government."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1431,Gwen Moore Commemorates Veterans Day,2016-11-11,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Milwaukee, Wisconsin – In commemoration of Veterans Day, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement:   “On Veterans Day, we honor the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who continue to keep our nation safe. As we take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of our country’s brave men and women in uniform, let us also reaffirm our commitment to taking care of our servicemembers both on and off the battlefield.    “Supporting and empowering America’s heroes nationwide begins at home, from creating employment opportunities for our local veteran workforce to providing quality health care for those who return from the theatre of war. Just months ago, I was delighted to learn that that after years of collaboration and advocacy from my office, six buildings at the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home will finally be rehabilitated and restored to serve veterans. It was a major victory for our servicemembers and those of us who worked diligently to preserve this truly historic site.   “Today, please join me in extending warmth and gratitude to our veterans, their families, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2367,Gwen Moore Commemorates Veterans Day,2016-11-11,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"On Veterans Day, we honor the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who continue to keep our nation safe. As we take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of our country's brave men and women in uniform, let us also reaffirm our commitment to taking care of our servicemembers both on and off the battlefield. share: f t Milwaukee, Wisconsin In commemoration of Veterans Day, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: On Veterans Day, we honor the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who continue to keep our nation safe. As we take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of our country's brave men and women in uniform, let us also reaffirm our commitment to taking care of our servicemembers both on and off the battlefield. Supporting and empowering America's heroes nationwide begins at home, from creating employment opportunities for our local veteran workforce to providing quality health care for those who return from the theatre of war. Just months ago, I was delighted to learn that that after years of collaboration and advocacy from my office, six buildings at the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home will finally be rehabilitated and restored to serve veterans. It was a major victory for our servicemembers and those of us who worked diligently to preserve this truly historic site. Today, please join me in extending warmth and gratitude to our veterans, their families, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-honors-veterans-day-menomonie-middle-school-veterans-day,Rep. Kind Honors Veterans Day at Menomonie Middle School Veterans Day Program,2016-11-11,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind joined local veterans, students, and teachers at Menomonie Middle School to celebrate Veterans Day and recognize the contributions of Wisconsin veterans.   “Veterans Day reminds us how important it is to honor the men and women who have served our country. Today, I was pleased to join Menomonie Middle School students as we heard directly from Wisconsin veterans about their service and sacrifice. One of the most important things we can do is preserve our veteran’s stories for future generations, which is why I started the Veterans History project,” said Rep. Kind. In 2000, Rep. Kind authored, and Congress unanimously passed, legislation creating the Veterans History Project, which has since allowed 98,000 veterans to record their stories and preserve them in the Library of Congress for future generations. To learn more about the project or how you can help collect stories for the project, visit: https://kind.house.gov/veterans-history-project/",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1429,DOJ to Deploy Personnel to Wisconsin to Monitor Elections,2016-11-07,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC – In response to a formal request from Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that its Civil Rights Division plans to deploy resources to Wisconsin for tomorrow’s general election. Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan responded to this announcement with the following statement:    “I take great comfort in knowing that personnel from the U.S. Justice Department will be on the ground in Milwaukee during this historic election,” said Congresswoman Moore. “Too many Wisconsinites, especially those in communities of color, face a host of unnecessary obstacles in their efforts exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is simply unacceptable. My colleagues and I in Wisconsin’s Democratic congressional delegation would like to thank the DOJ for ensuring that all voters, regardless of party affiliation or political ideology, have the right to take part in our democracy, free of discrimination or intimidation.”   “The decision by the Department of Justice, while welcome, is a bittersweet victory for those of us who want to ensure voting rights are upheld,” said Congressman Pocan. “Although the DOJ’s efforts to enforce federal voting-rights laws is essential to fending off the worst aspects of this relentless attack on the right to vote, my colleagues and I will fight to end the suppression and intimidation that have become normalized in this election. The bedrock of democracy is the robust participation of all of us in the political process—this has always been a core Wisconsin value. We cannot and will not tolerate the continued threat of disenfranchisement against hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.”    In an op-ed published earlier today, Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan outlined their motivation behind the request to the DOJ and underscored how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in serious jeopardy.       ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2358,DOJ to Deploy Personnel to Wisconsin to Monitor Elections,2016-11-07,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"DOJ to Deploy Personnel to Wisconsin to Monitor Elections f t # e Washington, DC, November 7, 2016 My colleagues and I in Wisconsin's Democratic congressional delegation would like to thank the DOJ for ensuring that all voters, regardless of party affiliation or political ideology, have the right to take part in our democracy, free of needles complexity, discrimination, or intimidation. share: f t WASHINGTON, DC In response to a formal request from Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that its Civil Rights Division plans to deploy resources to Wisconsin for tomorrow's general election. Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan responded to this announcement with the following statement: I take great comfort in knowing that personnel from the U.S. Justice Department will be on the ground in Milwaukee during this historic election, said Congresswoman Moore. Too many Wisconsinites, especially those in communities of color, face a host of unnecessary obstacles in their efforts exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is simply unacceptable. My colleagues and I in Wisconsin's Democratic congressional delegation would like to thank the DOJ for ensuring that all voters, regardless of party affiliation or political ideology, have the right to take part in our democracy, free of discrimination or intimidation. The decision by the Department of Justice, while welcome, is a bittersweet victory for those of us who want to ensure voting rights are upheld, said Congressman Pocan. Although the DOJ's efforts to enforce federal voting-rights laws is essential to fending off the worst aspects of this relentless attack on the right to vote, my colleagues and I will fight to end the suppression and intimidation that have become normalized in this election. The bedrock of democracy is the robust participation of all of us in the political processthis has always been a core Wisconsin value. We cannot and will not tolerate the continued threat of disenfranchisement against hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites. In an op-ed published earlier today, Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan outlined their motivation behind the request to the DOJ and underscored how Wisconsin's voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in serious jeopardy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/redoj-to-deploy-personnel-to-wisconsin-to-monitor-elections,DOJ to Deploy Personnel to Wisconsin to Monitor Elections,2016-11-07,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – In response to a formal request from Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that its Civil Rights Division plans to deploy resources to Wisconsin for tomorrow’s general election. Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan responded to this announcement with the following statement: “I take great comfort in knowing that personnel from the U.S. Justice Department will be on the ground in Milwaukee during this historic election,” said Congresswoman Moore. “Too many Wisconsinites, especially those in communities of color, face a host of unnecessary obstacles in their efforts exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is simply unacceptable. My colleagues and I in Wisconsin’s Democratic congressional delegation would like to thank the DOJ for ensuring that all voters, regardless of party affiliation or political ideology, have the right to take part in our democracy, free of discrimination or intimidation.” “The decision by the Department of Justice, while welcome, is a bittersweet victory for those of us who want to ensure voting rights are upheld,” said Congressman Pocan. “Although the DOJ’s efforts to enforce federal voting-rights laws is essential to fending off the worst aspects of this relentless attack on the right to vote, my colleagues and I will fight to end the suppression and intimidation that have become normalized in this election. The bedrock of democracy is the robust participation of all of us in the political process—this has always been a core Wisconsin value. We cannot and will not tolerate the continued threat of disenfranchisement against hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.” In an op-ed published earlier today, Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan outlined their motivation behind the request to the DOJ and underscored how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in serious jeopardy. Click here to read Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan’s op-ed in the Huffington Post.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/letter-to-surface-transportation-board,Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge the Surface Transportation Board to Take Action to Increase Competition and Ensure Fair Treatment for Shippers,2016-11-04,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.04.16 Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge the Surface Transportation Board to Take Action to Increase Competition and Ensure Fair Treatment for Shippers Substantial consolidation in the railroad industry has put shippers at a disadvantage and led to a rapid increase in freight rail rates WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to take action to increase competition and ensure fair treatment for shippers. Substantial consolidation in the railroad industry has put shippers at a disadvantage and led to a rapid increase in freight rail rates. In a letter to Chairman Elliott, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the senators called on the STB to reform outdated railroad rate procedures, allow competitive switching, and revoke certain commodity exemptions. “Our economy demands a system where railroads as well as their customers can proposer. To achieve this balance, rail service must be fair, efficient, and cost effective, especially to captive shippers or those with access to only one rail service provider,” the senators wrote. “Where meaningful competition exists, the STB should let market forces play out. But because the railroads have certain exemptions from the antitrust laws, the STB must ensure rates are fair and stop anticompetitive behavior. We urge the Board to continue to advance reforms that will meet the needs of all stakeholders.” The letter was signed by Baldwin and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA). A copy of the letter the lawmakers sent is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-congressman-kind-hold-open-office-hours-2,Representatives for Congressman Kind Hold Open Office Hours,2016-11-03,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announced that representatives from his district offices will be available at open office hours in multiple counties in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District during November. “It is important to me, and to my office, that we are always available and working to help the residents of central and western Wisconsin,” said Rep. Kind. “I hope people will take advantage of these opportunities to share their thoughts and seek help on problems they may be facing with a federal agency.” Rep. Kind’s office can assist people having issues dealing with the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and a number of other Federal agencies. District Office representatives will be available at the dates, times and locations listed below:  Monday, November 14, 2016 1:00-2:00 p.m.             Centralia Center                                     220 3rd Street South Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 Tuesday, November 15, 2016 9:00-10:00 a.m.           Village of Stoddard 180 North Main Street Stoddard, WI 54658 10:30-11:30 a.m.         Prescott Public Library – Mississippi Room 800 Borner Street North                                     Prescott, WI 54021 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. DeSoto Community Center 53 Crawford Street DeSoto, WI  54624 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Adams Community Center 569 North Cedar St. Adams, WI 53910 1:00-2:00 p.m.             Prairie du Chien Memorial Library 125 South Wacouta Avenue Prairie du Chien, WI  53821 1:00-2:00 p.m.             Pepin Municipal Center – Community Room 508 Second Street Pepin, WI 54759 2:00-3:00 p.m.             Stevens Point Public Library 1001 Main Street Stevens Point, WI 54481 Wednesday, November 16, 2016 9:30-10:30 a.m.           Village of Cashton 811 Main Street Cashton, WI  54619 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Viola Village Hall 106 West Wisconsin Street Viola, WI  54664 2:00-3:00p.m.              Brewer Public Library 325 North Central Avenue Richland Center, WI  53581 Thursday, November 17, 2016 10:30-11:30 a.m.         Jackson County Court House – County Board Room – 2nd Floor 307 Main Street Black River Falls, WI 54615 1:00-2:00 p.m.             Trempealeau County Office Building – Packer Room                                     36245 Main Street                                     Whitehall, WI 54773 2:00-3:00 p.m.             Hatch Public Library                                     111 West State Street Mauston, WI 53948 Friday, November 18, 2016 10:00-11:00 a.m.         Boscobel City Hall 1006 Wisconsin Avenue Boscobel, WI 53805               10:00-11:00 a.m.         Alma Public Library                                     312 N. Main Street Alma, WI 54610 1:00-2:00 p.m.             Platteville City Hall, G.A.R Room 75 North Bonson Street Platteville, WI  53818 2:00-3:00 p.m.             Wheeler Village Hall 105 W. Tower Road Wheeler, WI 54772",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/urges-rejection-chinese-purchase-us-aluminum,"Senator Baldwin Stands with American Steelworkers, Urges Rejection of Proposed Chinese Purchase of U.S. Aluminum Producer",2016-11-03,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.03.16 Senator Baldwin Stands with American Steelworkers, Urges Rejection of Proposed Chinese Purchase of U.S. Aluminum Producer Purchase threatens U.S. national security, risks transfer of sensitive R&D WASHINGTON, D.C –U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today joined a bipartisan group of 12 senators, led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to urge the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to reject the proposed purchase of Aleris Co., by China-based Zhongwang International Group The senators wrote that the proposed purchase would undermine U.S. national security by risking the transfer of sensitive technologies. The senators also said it would impair U.S. capacity to produce advanced aluminum products, including defense-grade armor, aerospace and other applications. “Zhongwang’s purchase of Aleris would directly undermine our national security, including by jeopardizing the U.S. manufacturing base for sensitive technologies in an industry already devastated by the effects of China’s market distorting policies, and creating serious risk that sensitive technologies and knowhow will be transferred to China, further imperiling U.S. defense interests,” the senators wrote. The letter was signed by Baldwin and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Rob Portman (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Al Frankin (D-MN). United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard also voiced concerned about the purchase. “The purchase of Aleris by Zhongwang USA, LLC, held by China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, a Chinese company known for its evasion of US trade laws has raised great concern among USW’s leadership and our members working in the aluminum sector.  Aleris’ assets are critical to not only our national security, but our domestic infrastructure and we are pleased to have these 12 Senators led by Senator Wyden sharing our concerns,” Gerard said. A copy of the letter the senators sent is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-applauds-small-business-administration-s-disaster-declaration,Rep. Kind Applauds Small Business Administration’s Disaster Declaration for Western & Central Wisconsin,2016-11-02,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind applauded the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster declaration for the state of Wisconsin. By taking this action the SBA will provide low-interest loans to help residents and businesses rebuild after September’s severe weather.   “I applaud the Small Business Administration’s attention to this matter and timely action. Today’s action by SBA will provide needed low-interest loans to help Wisconsin residents and businesses rebuild following last month’s severe storms,” said Rep. Kind. “I look forward to continuing to working with SBA, state officials, and local officials to ensure local residents and businesses are aware that these loans are available to them.” Last week Rep. Kind wrote a letter to the SBA requesting they take immediate action to work with the State of Wisconsin and provide funding to help western and central Wisconsin communities rebuild after September’s severe weather.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/questions-for-mylan-epipen,"Senators Have New Questions for Mylan About EpiPen Price Hike, Pricing Strategy",2016-11-02,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.02.16 Senators Have New Questions for Mylan About EpiPen Price Hike, Pricing Strategy Company’s previous response left unanswered questions about EpiPen pricing impact on consumers, taxpayers, and insurance premiums WASHINGTON, D.C – In a 13-page letter sent to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Mylan, 17 senators requested additional information about the company's recent EpiPen Auto-Injector (EpiPen) price increases and how Mylan's pricing strategy affects consumers, taxpayers, and insurance premiums. The letter follows a previous request for information made in August about the EpiPen price hike. The letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Mylan’s response to the August letter revealed that: Mylan’s My EpiPen Savings Card and Patient Assistance Program do not help the vast majority of EpiPen users – in fact, the free product provided through the Patient Assistance Program touted by Mylan represents less than 1% of all EpiPens sold. The majority of EpiPen’s cost increases appear to have been borne by taxpayers, via higher costs for programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and by employers and insured patients, via higher premiums. Mylan’s pricing system is complex and non-transparent, allowing the company to segregate consumers into different categories, charging different prices to different customers while shielding some customers from price increases and shifting costs to others. Mylan, however, failed to provide important information needed to put these findings in context.  The senators explained in today’s letter to Mylan that they “remain frustrated with both the lack of information and lack of clarity in your response, and your insistence that you are not aware of basic facts about sales of your own drug to Medicaid and Medicare Part D.” The letter seeks additional information on Mylan’s pricing strategy, particularly after Mylan provided information revealing a significant gap between the listed Wholesale Acquisition Cost for EpiPen and what consumers actually pay, and that the company is manipulating prices in order to maximize its revenue. “Mylan appears to be engaging in practices that shield some consumers from price increases and high deductibles while shifting these costs—both directly and indirectly—to others.  The net result of this process is profitable for Mylan—but these increased revenues come at a significant cost to consumers and taxpayers.”  The letter requests that Mylan provide answers to a series of questions about its pricing strategies for four different groups of customers – the uninsured, Medicated patients, Medicare patients, and patients with employer or Affordable Care Act insurance coverage – and how the company’s approach to pricing affects its revenue and patient access to the EpiPen. In September, Senator Baldwin introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) to require transparency and accountability for drug corporations that increase prescription drug prices. Specifically, the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research (FAIR) Drug Pricing Act would require drug manufacturers to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and submit a transparency and justification report 30 days before they increase the price of certain drug products by more than 10 percent. The report will require manufacturers to provide a justification for each price increase, manufacturing, research and development costs for the qualifying drug, net profits attributable to the qualifying drug, marketing and advertising spending on the qualifying drug, and other information as deemed appropriate. The bill will not prohibit manufacturers from increasing prices, but it will, for the first time, give taxpayers notice of price increases and bring basic transparency to the market for prescription drugs. A copy of the letter the senators sent is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/query-of-dea-doj-wholesale-opioid-distributors,Senator Baldwin Joins Senate Colleagues in Query of DEA and Justice Department About Enforcement Efforts Against Wholesale Opioid Distributors,2016-11-01,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.01.16 Senator Baldwin Joins Senate Colleagues in Query of DEA and Justice Department About Enforcement Efforts Against Wholesale Opioid Distributors Senators express concerns that DEA, in coordination with DOJ, scaled back enforcement against violators allowing more legal controlled substances to enter illicit drug market as opioid epidemic exploded WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of senators led by Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) querying both agencies about enforcement efforts against wholesale opioid distributors that are violating DEA rules intended to prevent legal controlled substances from entering the illicit market. A recent story in the Washington Post (“The DEA slowed enforcement while the opioid epidemic grew out of control”, October 22, 2016) revealed that, over the last several years, as opioid overdose deaths began to dramatically rise, the DEA was hampered in its enforcement efforts. Several roadblocks, including requiring DEA to use a higher standard of proof before enforcement cases could proceed, and other efforts by the industry to circumvent the agency, led to a drop in civil case filings against distributors, manufacturers, pharmacies, and doctors, from 131 in fiscal year 2011 to just 40 in fiscal year 2014. However, in 2014 alone, U.S. retail pharmacies dispensed 245 million opioid painkiller prescriptions and there were 28,647 opioid overdose deaths. Other senators signing the letter include Joe Manchin (D-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “While much of the national attention has focused rightly on opioid painkiller manufacturers like Purdue Pharma, wholesale distributors also play a significant role in the crisis when they place prescription drugs in the hands of corrupt drugstores, pill mills, and crooked physicians,” wrote the Senators in the letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “DEA’s Diversion Control Division is charged with disrupting and preventing this flow of pharmaceuticals for illicit purposes while maintaining an adequate supply for legitimate needs.” A copy of the letter the senators sent to DEA and the Justice Department is available here. In the letter, the Senators ask questions that include: Did civil case filings against distributors, manufacturers, pharmacies, and doctors fall between fiscal years 2011 and 2014 and what caused this drop in filings? Was DEA policy changed so that DEA lawyers were required to satisfy a higher “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard, as opposed to a “preponderance of the evidence” standard, before civil cases could proceed?  What is the status of current enforcement actions against distributors? What steps are you taking to ensure that DOJ and DEA can proactively and promptly take action against distributors that are violating anti-diversion rules? What are the requirements on pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors for monitoring internal reports, trends, and outliers within its supply chain and reporting this information to the DEA?    Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/userra-improvement-act-of-2016-,"Senators Baldwin, Blumenthal, Murray, Durbin Announce Legislation to Strengthen Servicemember Employment and Reemployment Protections",2016-11-01,2016,2016-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.01.16 Senators Baldwin, Blumenthal, Murray, Durbin Announce Legislation to Strengthen Servicemember Employment and Reemployment Protections WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation to better protect military personnel and veterans from potentially unfair employment disadvantages caused by any extended absence from work while on active duty. Passage of the USERRA Improvement Act, as well as the Justice for Servicemembers Act, are especially critical after a federal court ruled this month that a Navy reservist could not sue his former employer for firing him after he was deployed to Afghanistan due to a pre-employment arbitration agreement. “When citizens step up and serve our country they deserve the right to their civilian job when they return home,” Baldwin said. “This legislation will help us keep our promise to servicemembers by better protecting the job security of military personnel while on active duty."" “In peace and in war, members of the Reserve Component are called away from their civilian jobs to ensure the safety of our nation,” Blumenthal said. “With the passage of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, we guaranteed these brave servicemembers the right to return to their civilian job when they return home. This critical legislation would build on this promise by strengthening employment and reemployment protections already in place, solidifying the Department of Justice’s authority to enforce these protections, and ensuring servicemembers who believe their rights have been violated have their day in court.” ""Our men and women in uniform volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way and serve our country.  They should never have to worry about whether their job will be there when they get back,"" Murray said. ""I'm proud to support this legislation to make sure we are doing everything possible to protect our servicemembers and ensure they get the basic safeguards they deserve. This is good for our servicemembers and military families, and it's good for our country.""??  “We owe our nation’s servicemen and women a great debt of gratitude, and that includes the promise that upon their return to civilian life, they can return to work and provide for their families. It is unacceptable that members of our Armed Forces come back from military service only to find they have lost their jobs,” said Durbin. “This bipartisan effort would strengthen existing protections and ensure our veterans and servicemembers have the right to take their employers to court when that promise is broken.” The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)—Congresses’ most recent enactment of servicemember reemployment protection—encourages military service by minimizing the disruptions to civilian careers that are caused by military service. USERRA guarantees servicemembers the right to return to their civilian jobs after a period of service. The USERRA Improvement Act of 2016 builds upon the current law, works to eliminate the disadvantages to civilian careers which can result from service, and expands protections for servicemembers with greater federal enforcement mechanisms. The bill would improve USERRA by providing essential enforcement powers to the Department of Justice. Specifically, the legislation would:                                                                       Strengthen enforcement of USERRA rights by allowing the United States to serve as a plaintiff in all suits filed by the Attorney General, as opposed to only suits filed against State employers. Strengthen enforcement of USERRA by granting independent authority to the Attorney General to investigate and file suit to challenge a pattern or practice in violation of USERRA. Allow servicemembers to bring an action against a State or private employer in State court or Federal district court using jurisdictional requirements that are similar to the federal general venue statute. Authorize the Attorney General to issue civil investigative demands in its USERRA investigations. Clarify that the employer has the burden of identifying proper reemployment positions. This legislation is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and National Guard Association of the United States.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-coalition-presses-doj-about-government-hacking-,Bipartisan Coalition Presses DOJ About Government Hacking,2016-10-28,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.28.16 Bipartisan Coalition Presses DOJ About Government Hacking Lawmakers seek answers about how government would use new hacking authority, one month before Rule 41 amendments would take effect WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a bipartisan coalition of Senate and House lawmakers in urging Attorney General Loretta Lynch to provide Congress with more information about a proposed expansion of government hacking and surveillance powers. The bipartisan group of 23 lawmakers, led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), asked for more information about the proposal, formally known as amendments to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Unless Congress acts, these new amendments are scheduled to go into effect on December 1. “We are concerned about the full scope of the new authority that would be provided to the Department of Justice,” the lawmakers wrote. “We believe that Congress -- and the American public -- must better understand the Department’s need for the proposed amendments, how the Department intends to use its proposed new powers, and the potential consequences to our digital security before these rules go into effect.”  The lawmakers ask DOJ a number of questions about how Rule 41 will be used, including: How the government intends to prevent forum shopping by prosecutors seeking court approval to hack into Americans' devices; How the government will prevent collateral damage to innocent Americans' devices and electronic data when it remotely searches devices such as smartphones or medical devices; Whether the government intends to use this new authority to search and “clean” Americans' computers; How the government will maintain a chain of custody when searching or removing evidence from a device; How the government will notify Americans who are the subjects of remote government searches. The letter was signed by: Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Al Franken (D-MN) Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) as well as and Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ted Poe (R-TX), Justin Amash (R-MI), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Judy Chu (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). A copy of the letter the lawmakers sent is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/mental-health-substance-use-disorder-parity-task-force-,"Senator Baldwin, Members of Congress Applaud Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force's Steps to Help Further Parity Protections",2016-10-28,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.28.16 Senator Baldwin, Members of Congress Applaud Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force's Steps to Help Further Parity Protections WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Al Franken (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) along with Representative Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) applauded the President's Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force announcement yesterday of a series of steps to help ensure that patients receive the insurance coverage they are entitled to under the law. The task force released its final report with recommendations informing future actions on parity, along with a beta version of a consumer parity portal website. The Members also urged the next administration to continue this work, advance plans to effectively use data collected through the online portal, and further develop the online portal so that it gives consumers a single place to get information about their rights and to submit complaints with assurance of timely responses. ‎""I am encouraged that the President is taking some needed steps to strengthen implementation of mental health and substance abuse parity protections. The Task Force's report and a new consumer portal will serve as important tools to help patients access needed care,"" said Senator Baldwin. ""But there is more that we must do. I continue to hear from Wisconsinites who are regularly denied insurance coverage of life-saving services. I urge the Administration to work swiftly to improve the new parity portal and to hold insurers accountable through stronger transparency, oversight and enforcement so our families get the mental health and substance abuse care they need."" ""The law is clear that insurance companies must treat mental health and substance abuse problems with the same access and coverage as other medical problems, but many companies make it far harder for people seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment to get the help they need,"" said Senator Warren.  The administration has just taken first steps to help create real parity, and I urge the next administration to continue this work so that no one is denied insurance coverage that they are entitled to.""   ""My good friend Paul Wellstone believed in creating a world where mental and physical illness were treated the same."" said Senator Franken. ""And since joining the Senate, I've made it a priority to continue this fight by championing ‘mental health parity.' The steps announced by the White House will bring us closer to that goal, and I hope we can continue working to expand mental health awareness and treatment options for people in Minnesota and across the country.""   ""While the law is clear that access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment should be equal to physical health care access, far too many Ohioans continue to call and write my office to share their stories of struggling to utilize the mental health care services they need,"" said Senator Brown. ""I'm glad the Administration has taken steps to make it easier for these patients to access treatment, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to secure true mental health parity as the law intended.""   ""Current law requires parity for mental health and medical benefits, but insurers reject claims for mental illness at nearly twice the rate as claims for physical illness. That means that Americans fighting addition, struggling with depression, or experiencing anxiety are forced to argue with their insurance agency instead of accessing treatment. The new portal announced by the Administration will help give those consumers the tools they need to hold their insurers accountable. But full enforcement of mental health parity requires that we maximize transparency by shining a light on the unlawful denial of mental health services,"" said Senator Blumenthal.    ""It is essential that Congress takes bipartisan action to not only codify many of the critical reforms suggested by the White House Parity Task Force today, but enact even stronger enforcement,"" said Congressman Kennedy. ""The Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act will add teeth to our parity laws and hold insurers accountable for unjustly denied mental health claims. As Congress continues to work towards a comprehensive mental health bill in the months ahead, these provisions must be included.""   Federal laws require that insurance coverage for mental and behavioral health care services is on par with the coverage offered for physical health care services, for most plans. However, a survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that nearly 50 percent of respondents had been denied coverage for mental or behavioral health care, compared with only 14 percent denied for physical health care.   In March, the Senators introduced the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act, which would increase transparency and strengthen accountability for insurers so that patients receive the mental health coverage they are entitled under the law. The legislation is a companion to the House bill originally introduced by Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ron-kind-and-usda-rural-business-administrator-announce-37,Congressman Ron Kind and USDA Rural Business Administrator Announce $3.7 Million in Grants to Help Wisconsin Agricultural Producers and Small Businesses,2016-10-27,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Ron Kind joined USDA Rural Business Service Administrator Sam Rikkers in Eau Claire, Wis. today to announce USDA is providing $45 million in Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants to agricultural producers and rural businesses for the development of new products. In all, 23 Wisconsin agricultural producers will receive more than $3.7 million in assistance. Rikkers made the announcement on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a visit to Leffel Roots, LLC with U.S. Congressman Kind. Leffel Roots is receiving a $22,500 grant to develop and market new bakery, cider and hard cider products. “Through the Value Added Producer Grant program, USDA Rural Development invests both in the quality of food and quality of life in rural areas,” Rikkers said. “Wisconsin businesses like Leffel Roots are creating jobs and growing local economies with their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.” “Small businesses and family farmers are the backbone of our Wisconsin economy and the lifeblood of our communities. I am pleased to see that USDA Rural Development is working to provide funds to assist them in growing, creating jobs and tapping into new markets,” said Rep Kind. “During our tour of Leffel Roots we were able to see first-hand the positive impact that this grant will have on local businesses.” Wisconsin led the nation in number of grants received. Another Wisconsin recipient is Bee Forest, LLC, a logging and sawmill company in Nelson, Wis. They are receiving a $250,000 grant to market, process and ship shredded bark and saw dust.  Since the program’s inception in 2001, USDA Rural Development has funded 163 projects totaling over $29.9 million in the State.  Today’s announcement includes awards for 326 projects nationwide. The VAPG program assists agricultural producers and rural businesses to grow and increase their income by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities, or developing new uses for existing products. Find a full list of recipients here. Congress increased funding for the program in the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA has awarded 1,442 VAPG awards since 2009, totaling $184.2 million. The grants are a key element of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the Department's work on local and regional food systems. Secretary Vilsack has identified local and regional food systems as a key component of rural economic development.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-meets-tomah-va-acting-director-brahm-following-news-facility,Rep. Kind Meets with Tomah VA Acting Director Brahm Following News of Facility Closure,2016-10-27,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind met with Tomah VA Acting Director Vicki Brahm to discuss the recent decision to request the Veterans Assistance Foundation relocate their homeless veterans program. During the meeting, Rep. Kind urged Acting Director Brahm to take action to make sure that every veteran impacted has access to housing and the care and treatment they need.  Below is his statement: “It is critical that throughout this process our focus remains on making sure all the veterans impacted will have access to housing and the care and treatment they need to successfully transition back into the community. I have been and will remain in communication with both the Tomah VA Acting Director Vicki Brahm, her leadership team and the Veterans Assistance Foundation to ensure that the focus remains on helping our veterans find housing,” said Rep. Kind.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/strengthen-accountability-for-executive-pay,"With Stumpf’s Resignation, Sens. Baldwin, Menendez, Franken and Colleagues Ask Feds to Strengthen Accountability Measures for Executive Pay",2016-10-27,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.27.16 With Stumpf’s Resignation, Sens. Baldwin, Menendez, Franken and Colleagues Ask Feds to Strengthen Accountability Measures for Executive Pay Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Al Franken (D-MN) led a group of 16 Democratic senators calling on federal financial regulators to strengthen a proposed “clawback” rule pursuant to Dodd-Frank that aims to prohibit executive pay arrangements that promote excessive risk-taking or misconduct in the financial services industry. In light of the more than two million fraudulent deposit and credit card accounts opened to meet stringent sales quotas at Wells Fargo, including nearly 9,000 accounts in Wisconsin, the senators emphasized the importance of a stronger incentive-based compensation rule that holds senior executives responsible for implementing programs and designing sales cultures that lead to widespread misconduct.  Citing Wells Fargo’s failure to properly align sales goals with customers’ interests, the senators asked regulators to strengthen requirements so major financial institutions are required to enforce policies that reclaim executives’ compensation connected to misconduct and fraudulent activities, writing, “key senior executives at the bank who were both aware of the behavior and were instrumental in designing policies that led to the scandal, such as former Senior Executive Vice President for Community Banking Carrie Tolstedt and former Chairman and CEO John Stumpf, have received hundreds of millions of dollars in bonus compensation, even as over 5,300 low-paid retail banking employees were fired.”  In response to immense public pressure, Wells Fargo rescinded some of the compensation of its former CEO and former head of community banking, yet both walked away with millions of dollars gained as a result of fraudulent activity that led to over $2.6 million in fees nationwide, including over $11,000 in Wisconsin. In their letter, the senators also list recommendations to improve shortcomings in the proposed clawback rule to produce accountability for top executives and rein in unjustifiable risk taking by big financial services firms, adding, “concerns that a number of specific weaknesses in the proposed rule could render the new rule ineffective in creating accountability for top executives.”  Specifically, the senators recommend: (1) lengthening the bonus deferral period in the rule to ensure that executives are not improperly awarded bonuses before wrongdoing has become apparent; (2) requiring, instead of suggesting, downward pay adjustments and clawbacks if misconduct or inappropriate risk-taking has clearly occurred; and (3) in the case of misconduct, strengthening the trigger mechanism for clawbacks to ensure senior executives are held accountable if they served in a managerial position and had oversight of the improper activities.  In reaction to the letter, Marcus Stanley, Policy Director of Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) said: ""The consistent lack of individual accountability for top executives at major banks, from the financial crisis through the Wells Fargo case, shows that we need to hold executive bonuses at risk in cases of bank misconduct. Unfortunately, the proposed Dodd-Frank rules in this area are much too weak. We applaud this forceful letter, which outlines concrete ways the rules need to be strengthened to truly hold bank executives accountable."" Addressed to the heads of six federal regulating agencies, the letter was signed by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Bob Menendez (D-NJ); Al Franken (D-MN); Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Barbara Boxer (D-CA); Sherrod Brown (D-OH); Richard J. Durbin (D-IL); Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); Patrick Leahy (D-VT); Ed Markey (D-MA); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Jack Reed (D-RI); Elizabeth Warren (D-MA); Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); and Ron Wyden (D-OR). A copy of the Senators’ letter can he found here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1428,Wisconsin Democrats Ask DOJ to Help Oversee Elections,2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), along with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting assistance in overseeing Wisconsin’s monitoring of the election, including providing poll-monitoring services in the state. The request was spurred by Wisconsin’s contentious and discriminatory Voter ID Law and a political environment that has become increasingly intimidating for voters.   “We have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy,” the Members of Congress write. “Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.”     The Honorable Loretta Lynch U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530   Dear Attorney General Lynch,   As you are aware, Wisconsin, which we represent, is among 14 states that have adopted new voter restrictions in advance of the November 8th election. The state’s 2011 voter identification law, one of the strictest in the country, has been repeatedly challenged in federal court due to its discriminatory effects on vulnerable populations’ voting rights.  Due to the law’s contentious nature and poor implementation, coupled with a political environment that is becoming increasingly intimidating, we are requesting the Department of Justice’s assistance in overseeing the state’s monitoring of the election, including by providing poll-monitoring services in Wisconsin.    In 2014, a U.S. district court noted that more than 300,000 Wisconsinites lacked the newly requisite form of identification, and that this population disproportionately included persons of color. Judge Lynn Adelman further observed that state officials “could not point to a single instance of known voter impersonation occurring in Wisconsin at any time in the recent past,” casting serious doubt on the official rationale for the policy.   A second federal court determined earlier this summer that even the “safety net” built into the law to help voters who have trouble obtaining ID was a “wretched failure” that “disenfranchised citizens” who are “overwhelmingly African American and Latino.”   Deeming the provision unconstitutional, Judge James Peterson mandated changes in practice and public education to ensure that that process better serves all Wisconsinites with documentation challenges in obtaining identification so they can vote. Concurring with Judge Adelman, Judge Peterson also expressed “misgivings about whether the law actually promotes confidence and integrity,” and observed that prior to 2011, “Wisconsin had an exemplary election system that produced high levels of voter participation without significant irregularities.”   Unfortunately, since that court order in late July, we have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy. Over the last month, press reports have revealed that on numerous occasions, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle employees provided erroneous and incomplete information to potential voters who are unable to obtain IDs due to a lack of required documentation (like a birth certificate), despite their eligibility for alternative credentials.   These revelations led Judge Peterson to remark on October 12, “I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order,” noting that voters are “at the mercy of the DMV, and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it.” We are deeply troubled by the prospect of such misinformation contributing to voter disenfranchisement in this election. While further scrutiny by the federal court has prompted state officials to institute additional training and public education efforts at the DMV, there is entirely too much at stake in the limited time left before the election to let this continue without additional oversight.    In addition to misinformation, we are also concerned about potential voter intimidation at the polling places, particularly in light of recent, high-profile rhetoric that alleges “election rigging.” National figures have suggested that there is widespread voter fraud in our country and have encouraged private citizens to monitor the voting behaviors of certain communities for potential misconduct.    Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts.   We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.  For example, the Department has historically provided poll monitors on Election Day to help ensure that all eligible voters will be permitted to register and exercise their fundamental right to participate in our democracy. We therefore urge the Department of Justice to utilize any available election monitoring resources to ensure voters in Wisconsin are able to safely access the polls.    The right to elect our public representatives is unrivaled in its importance to a fully functioning democracy.  With few days remaining until the election, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to limit the amount of harm caused to our state’s voters.   Thank you for your consideration of this request and for the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to ensure the fairness of all elections in our country.    ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1996,Wisconsin Democrats Ask DOJ to Help Oversee Elections,2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may resultparticularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. share: f t WASHINGTON, DC Today, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), along with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting assistance in overseeing Wisconsin's monitoring of the election, including providing poll-monitoring services in the state. The request was spurred by Wisconsin's contentious and discriminatory Voter ID Law and a political environment that has become increasingly intimidating for voters. We have continued to see how Wisconsin's voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy, the Members of Congress write. Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may resultparticularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances. The Honorable Loretta Lynch U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Attorney General Lynch, As you are aware, Wisconsin, which we represent, is among 14 states that have adopted new voter restrictions in advance of the November 8th election. The state's 2011 voter identification law, one of the strictest in the country, has been repeatedly challenged in federal court due to its discriminatory effects on vulnerable populations' voting rights. Due to the law's contentious nature and poor implementation, coupled with a political environment that is becoming increasingly intimidating, we are requesting the Department of Justice's assistance in overseeing the state's monitoring of the election, including by providing poll-monitoring services in Wisconsin. In 2014, a U.S. district court noted that more than 300,000 Wisconsinites lacked the newly requisite form of identification, and that this population disproportionately included persons of color. Judge Lynn Adelman further observed that state officials could not point to a single instance of known voter impersonation occurring in Wisconsin at any time in the recent past, casting serious doubt on the official rationale for the policy. A second federal court determined earlier this summer that even the safety net built into the law to help voters who have trouble obtaining ID was a wretched failure that disenfranchised citizens who are overwhelmingly African American and Latino. Deeming the provision unconstitutional, Judge James Peterson mandated changes in practice and public education to ensure that that process better serves all Wisconsinites with documentation challenges in obtaining identification so they can vote. Concurring with Judge Adelman, Judge Peterson also expressed misgivings about whether the law actually promotes confidence and integrity, and observed that prior to 2011, Wisconsin had an exemplary election system that produced high levels of voter participation without significant irregularities. Unfortunately, since that court order in late July, we have continued to see how Wisconsin's voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy. Over the last month, press reports have revealed that on numerous occasions, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle employees provided erroneous and incomplete information to potential voters who are unable to obtain IDs due to a lack of required documentation (like a birth certificate), despite their eligibility for alternative credentials. These revelations led Judge Peterson to remark on October 12, I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order, noting that voters are at the mercy of the DMV, and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it. We are deeply troubled by the prospect of such misinformation contributing to voter disenfranchisement in this election. While further scrutiny by the federal court has prompted state officials to institute additional training and public education efforts at the DMV, there is entirely too much at stake in the limited time left before the election to let this continue without additional oversight. In addition to misinformation, we are also concerned about potential voter intimidation at the polling places, particularly in light of recent, high-profile rhetoric that alleges election rigging. National figures have suggested that there is widespread voter fraud in our country and have encouraged private citizens to monitor the voting behaviors of certain communities for potential misconduct. Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may resultparticularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances. For example, the Department has historically provided poll monitors on Election Day to help ensure that all eligible voters will be permitted to register and exercise their fundamental right to participate in our democracy. We therefore urge the Department of Justice to utilize any available election monitoring resources to ensure voters in Wisconsin are able to safely access the polls. The right to elect our public representatives is unrivaled in its importance to a fully functioning democracy. With few days remaining until the election, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to limit the amount of harm caused to our state's voters. Thank you for your consideration of this request and for the Department of Justice's ongoing efforts to ensure the fairness of all elections in our country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-announces-16-million-grants-repair-wisconsin-roads-damaged,Rep. Kind Announces $1.6 Million in Grants to Repair Wisconsin Roads Damaged by Severe Weather,2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has given the Wisconsin Department of Transportation $1.6 million to help repair the roads and highways that were destroyed by the severe weather in August and September. This grant would help communities across western and central Wisconsin. “During my visit to the Wisconsin communities impacted by severe weather I saw first-hand the extent of the damage to key infrastructure like roads and highways.  Repairing transportation infrastructure is one of the first steps in helping our communities rebuild after severe weather, and these funds will go directly to fixing many of the roads and highways that were washed away or damaged during the August and September storms,” said Rep. Kind. Rep. Kind lead the Wisconsin delegation in requesting President Obama issue a major disaster declaration for Wisconsin, which allowed these funds to be provided to the state of Wisconsin.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-sen-tammy-baldwin-and-reps-gwen-moore-and-mark-pocan-urge,"Rep. Ron Kind Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Reps. Gwen Moore, and Mark Pocan Urge DOJ to Assist in Overseeing Wisconsin’s Elections",2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), along with Rep. Gwen Moore, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting assistance in overseeing Wisconsin’s monitoring of the election, including providing poll-monitoring services in the state. The request was spurred by Wisconsin’s contentious and discriminatory Voter ID Law and a political environment that has become increasingly intimidating for voters. “We have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy,” the Members of Congress write. “Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.” The full text of the letter is below and a signed copy can be found here.   The Honorable Loretta Lynch U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530   Dear Attorney General Lynch, As you are aware, Wisconsin, which we represent, is among 14 states that have adopted new voter restrictions in advance of the November 8th election. The state’s 2011 voter identification law, one of the strictest in the country, has been repeatedly challenged in federal court due to its discriminatory effects on vulnerable populations’ voting rights.  Due to the law’s contentious nature and poor implementation, coupled with a political environment that is becoming increasingly intimidating, we are requesting the Department of Justice’s assistance in overseeing the state’s monitoring of the election, including by providing poll-monitoring services in Wisconsin. In 2014, a U.S. district court noted that more than 300,000 Wisconsinites lacked the newly requisite form of identification, and that this population disproportionately included persons of color. Judge Lynn Adelman further observed that state officials “could not point to a single instance of known voter impersonation occurring in Wisconsin at any time in the recent past,” casting serious doubt on the official rationale for the policy. A second federal court determined earlier this summer that even the “safety net” built into the law to help voters who have trouble obtaining ID was a “wretched failure” that “disenfranchised citizens” who are “overwhelmingly African American and Latino.” Deeming the provision unconstitutional, Judge James Peterson mandated changes in practice and public education to ensure that that process better serves all Wisconsinites with documentation challenges in obtaining identification so they can vote. Concurring with Judge Adelman, Judge Peterson also expressed “misgivings about whether the law actually promotes confidence and integrity,” and observed that prior to 2011, “Wisconsin had an exemplary election system that produced high levels of voter participation without significant irregularities.” Unfortunately, since that court order in late July, we have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy. Over the last month, press reports have revealed that on numerous occasions, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle employees provided erroneous and incomplete information to potential voters who are unable to obtain IDs due to a lack of required documentation (like a birth certificate), despite their eligibility for alternative credentials. These revelations led Judge Peterson to remark on October 12, “I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order,” noting that voters are “at the mercy of the DMV, and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it.” We are deeply troubled by the prospect of such misinformation contributing to voter disenfranchisement in this election. While further scrutiny by the federal court has prompted state officials to institute additional training and public education efforts at the DMV, there is entirely too much at stake in the limited time left before the election to let this continue without additional oversight. In addition to misinformation, we are also concerned about potential voter intimidation at the polling places, particularly in light of recent, high-profile rhetoric that alleges “election rigging.” National figures have suggested that there is widespread voter fraud in our country and have encouraged private citizens to monitor the voting behaviors of certain communities for potential misconduct. Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.  For example, the Department has historically provided poll monitors on Election Day to help ensure that all eligible voters will be permitted to register and exercise their fundamental right to participate in our democracy. We therefore urge the Department of Justice to utilize any available election monitoring resources to ensure voters in Wisconsin are able to safely access the polls. The right to elect our public representatives is unrivaled in its importance to a fully functioning democracy.  With few days remaining until the election, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to limit the amount of harm caused to our state’s voters. Thank you for your consideration of this request and for the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to ensure the fairness of all elections in our country.   # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-mark-pocan-sen-tammy-baldwin-and-reps-ron-kind-gwen-moore-urge-doj,"Rep. Mark Pocan, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Reps. Ron Kind & Gwen Moore Urge DOJ to Assist in Overseeing Wisconsin’s Elections",2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), along with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Gwen Moore (D-WI), sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting assistance in overseeing Wisconsin’s monitoring of the election, including providing poll-monitoring services in the state. The request was spurred by Wisconsin’s contentious and discriminatory Voter ID Law and a political environment that has become increasingly intimidating for voters. “We have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy,” the Members of Congress write. “Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.” The full text of the letter is below and a signed copy can be found here. Dear Attorney General Lynch, As you are aware, Wisconsin, which we represent, is among 14 states that have adopted new voter restrictions in advance of the November 8th election. The state’s 2011 voter identification law, one of the strictest in the country, has been repeatedly challenged in federal court due to its discriminatory effects on vulnerable populations’ voting rights. Due to the law’s contentious nature and poor implementation, coupled with a political environment that is becoming increasingly intimidating, we are requesting the Department of Justice’s assistance in overseeing the state’s monitoring of the election, including by providing poll-monitoring services in Wisconsin. In 2014, a U.S. district court noted that more than 300,000 Wisconsinites lacked the newly requisite form of identification, and that this population disproportionately included persons of color. Judge Lynn Adelman further observed that state officials “could not point to a single instance of known voter impersonation occurring in Wisconsin at any time in the recent past,” casting serious doubt on the official rationale for the policy. A second federal court determined earlier this summer that even the “safety net” built into the law to help voters who have trouble obtaining ID was a “wretched failure” that “disenfranchised citizens” who are “overwhelmingly African American and Latino.” Deeming the provision unconstitutional, Judge James Peterson mandated changes in practice and public education to ensure that that process better serves all Wisconsinites with documentation challenges in obtaining identification so they can vote. Concurring with Judge Adelman, Judge Peterson also expressed “misgivings about whether the law actually promotes confidence and integrity,” and observed that prior to 2011, “Wisconsin had an exemplary election system that produced high levels of voter participation without significant irregularities.” Unfortunately, since that court order in late July, we have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy. Over the last month, press reports have revealed that on numerous occasions, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle employees provided erroneous and incomplete information to potential voters who are unable to obtain IDs due to a lack of required documentation (like a birth certificate), despite their eligibility for alternative credentials. These revelations led Judge Peterson to remark on October 12, “I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order,” noting that voters are “at the mercy of the DMV, and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it.” We are deeply troubled by the prospect of such misinformation contributing to voter disenfranchisement in this election. While further scrutiny by the federal court has prompted state officials to institute additional training and public education efforts at the DMV, there is entirely too much at stake in the limited time left before the election to let this continue without additional oversight. In addition to misinformation, we are also concerned about potential voter intimidation at the polling places, particularly in light of recent, high-profile rhetoric that alleges “election rigging.” National figures have suggested that there is widespread voter fraud in our country and have encouraged private citizens to monitor the voting behaviors of certain communities for potential misconduct. Given the flawed efforts thus far by state officials to properly implement this law, with proof of demonstrably false information having been disseminated to voters just days before the election, we fear that irreparable harm may result—particularly to voters of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these policies and any Election Day intimidation efforts. We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances. For example, the Department has historically provided poll monitors on Election Day to help ensure that all eligible voters will be permitted to register and exercise their fundamental right to participate in our democracy. We therefore urge the Department of Justice to utilize any available election monitoring resources to ensure voters in Wisconsin are able to safely access the polls. The right to elect our public representatives is unrivaled in its importance to a fully functioning democracy. With few days remaining until the election, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to limit the amount of harm caused to our state’s voters. Thank you for your consideration of this request and for the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to ensure the fairness of all elections in our country. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/letter-to-doj-re-overseeing-wi-elections,"Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Reps. Gwen Moore, Ron Kind and Mark Pocan Urge U.S Department of Justice to Assist in Overseeing Wisconsin’s Elections",2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.26.16 Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Reps. Gwen Moore, Ron Kind and Mark Pocan Urge U.S Department of Justice to Assist in Overseeing Wisconsin’s Elections WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin along with Representatives Gwen Moore, Ron Kind and Mark Pocan, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting assistance in overseeing Wisconsin’s monitoring of the election, including providing poll-monitoring services in the state. The request was spurred by Wisconsin’s contentious and discriminatory Voter ID Law and a political environment that has become increasingly intimidating for voters. “The state’s 2011 voter identification law, one of the strictest in the country, has been repeatedly challenged in federal court due to its discriminatory effects on vulnerable populations’ voting rights.  Due to the law’s contentious nature and poor implementation, coupled with a political environment that is becoming increasingly intimidating, we are requesting the Department of Justice’s assistance in overseeing the state’s monitoring of the election, including by providing poll-monitoring services in Wisconsin,” wrote the lawmakers. “We have continued to see how Wisconsin’s voter ID law puts the franchise of many Wisconsinites, particularly people of color, in real jeopardy. Over the last month, press reports have revealed that on numerous occasions, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle employees provided erroneous and incomplete information to potential voters who are unable to obtain IDs due to a lack of required documentation (like a birth certificate), despite their eligibility for alternative credentials.” In addition, they asked the U.S. Department of Justice for resources and assistance in Wisconsin, writing, “We ask the Department to provide any resources or assistance it can in order to help our state navigate these unsettling circumstances.  For example, the Department has historically provided poll monitors on Election Day to help ensure that all eligible voters will be permitted to register and exercise their fundamental right to participate in our democracy. We therefore urge the Department of Justice to utilize any available election monitoring resources to ensure voters in Wisconsin are able to safely access the polls.” A copy of the letter the lawmakers sent is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/stronger-way-at-heartland-alliance-national-conference-,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Discusses Stronger Way Act at Heartland Alliance National Conference,2016-10-26,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.26.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Discusses Stronger Way Act at Heartland Alliance National Conference Baldwin’s Stronger Way Act Offers Real Solutions to Reward Work CHICAGO, IL – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin discussed her new legislation to help fight poverty, The Stronger Way Act, at the Heartland Alliance National Conference.  Heartland Alliance is home to the National Transitional Jobs Network, a coalition dedicated to solutions addressing chronic unemployment.  “I was inspired to write the Stronger Way Act when I saw the incredible work being done by organizations like Heartland Alliance and groups even closer to home in Wisconsin. It is clear that we need to do more to build an economy that works for everyone and respects the hard work of every American. The Stronger Way Act will help us do just that,” said Senator Baldwin. “Together we can meet the challenge of lifting people up and out of poverty with respect, opportunity, and the dignity of work.” The legislation has received support from local, state, and national leaders including the Director of Heartland Alliance’s National Initiatives on Poverty & Economic Opportunity, Melissa Young. “At Heartland Alliance, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to work and support themselves and their families. We support the Stronger Way Act’s focus on creating pathways to work and opportunity for all through transitional jobs programs,” said Young. In July, Senator Baldwin introduced The Stronger Way Act with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The legislation will help meet the challenge of lifting people up and out of poverty, moving our unemployed into the workforce and advancing tax reforms that make work pay.  Specifically, The Stronger Way Act creates a new federal partnership to support state and local transitional jobs programs; rewards work with tax reforms that raise incomes for working families and individuals; and targets tax credits to working families with children. Yesterday, Senator Baldwin gave remarks at UMOS’ Faith-Based Luncheon in Milwaukee where she also spoke about The Stronger Way Act.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/flood-funding-for-western-wi,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces $1.6 Million in Federal Funding to Repair Flood-Damaged Roads and Bridges in Western Wisconsin,2016-10-25,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.25.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces $1.6 Million in Federal Funding to Repair Flood-Damaged Roads and Bridges in Western Wisconsin This announcement comes after Senator Baldwin called on Secretary Foxx to make emergency funding available WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced $1.6 million in Emergency Relief funds from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to repair roads and bridges damaged by flooding in western Wisconsin. This announcement comes after Senator Baldwin sent a letter earlier this month to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx requesting that he make funding available to help repair roads and bridges damaged by recent storms in western Wisconsin. “Recent flooding has severely damaged many important roads and bridges in communities throughout western Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “These emergency funds will provide relief to communities and help ensure Wisconsinites have safe access to food, water, gas and other necessities.” A total of $1,615,000 in “quick release” funding will be used to stabilize, rebuild and repair damaged embankments, roadways and bridges.  Last week, Senator Baldwin also announced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration by President Obama for ten western Wisconsin counties affected by the September flooding that made federal funds available to repair damaged public infrastructure. This declaration came after Senator Baldwin and members of the Wisconsin delegation sent a letter to President Obama requesting prompt federal support for the affected counties in western Wisconsin at the beginning of the month, and then another follow up letter requesting a major disaster declaration for western Wisconsin. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/umos-stronger-way-forward-to-reduce-poverty,"At UMOS Faith-Based Luncheon, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls for Stronger Way Forward to Reduce Poverty",2016-10-25,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.25.16 At UMOS Faith-Based Luncheon, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls for Stronger Way Forward to Reduce Poverty Baldwin’s Stronger Way Act Offer Real Solutions to Reward Work MILWAUKEE, WI – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin gave remarks at UMOS’ Faith-Based Luncheon on her new legislation to help fight poverty, The Stronger Way Act. “I was inspired to write the Stronger Way Act when I saw the incredible work being done by organizations like UMOS in Milwaukee to fight poverty. I was honored they asked me to speak at their Faith-Based Luncheon on my bold legislation to put real solutions in place to create opportunity for all and reward hard work,” said Senator Baldwin. “Together we can meet the challenge of lifting people up and out of poverty with respect, opportunity, and the dignity of work.” The legislation has received support from local, state, and national leaders including UMOS’ President and CEO, Lupe Martinez. “UMOS is in full support of stronger efforts that help reduce poverty by giving the people of Wisconsin and everyone in this great nation the opportunity to get and keep family supporting employment,” said Martinez. “We think the Stronger Way Act is one of those strong efforts.” In July, Senator Baldwin introduced The Stronger Way Act with Cory Booker (D-NJ). The legislation will help meet the challenge of lifting people up and out of poverty, moving our unemployed into the workforce and advancing tax reforms that make work pay.  Specifically, The Stronger Way Act creates a new federal partnership to support state and local transitional jobs programs; rewards work with tax reforms that raise incomes for working families and individuals; and targets tax credits to working families with children. Tomorrow, Senator Baldwin will attend the Heartland Alliance National Conference in Chicago and participate in an on-stage discussion with Heartland Alliance President Evelyn Diaz on The Stronger Way Act. Senator Baldwin’s discussion on Wednesday will live streamed at 9:30 a.m. CDT here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/assistance-for-northern-wi-flooding,"U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds $500,000 in Assistance for Families and Communities Affected by Northern Wisconsin Flooding",2016-10-24,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.24.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds $500,000 in Assistance for Families and Communities Affected by Northern Wisconsin Flooding WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded an announcement from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago that $500,000 in financial assistance will be available through local financial institutions to individuals and business owners in northern Wisconsin communities impacted by the severe storms and subsequent flooding that occurred on July 11-12, 2016.  The assistance is being provided by banks, savings institutions, credit unions, community development financial institutions and insurance companies that are members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBC).  Grants of $5,000 will be available through the FHLBC’s Community First® Disaster Relief Program to eligible households and small businesses located in disaster areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA disaster declaration DR-4276), which include Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Iron, Sawyer, and Washburn counties, and the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe. “Torrential rain and flooding has caused severe damage in many northern Wisconsin communities,” said Senator Baldwin. “I applaud this announcement from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. This assistance will help northern Wisconsin homeowners and businesses affected by the flooding repair, rebuild and get back on their feet.” The funding will be available until March 24, 2017, on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible households or small businesses that apply for a disaster assistance grant through any FHLBC member financial institution.  A list of members can be found by visiting www.fhlbc.com.  Potential applicants should contact the member institution directly to see if they qualify for assistance. In July, Senator Baldwin traveled to northern Wisconsin with the Wisconsin National Guard to tour areas most affected by flooding in that area. After witnessing sections of highways and roads that had been destroyed, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Foxx urging emergency federal funds to repair and reopen roads. As a result, U.S. DOT provided Emergency Relief funds to help expedite repairs.  More information about the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and the Community First Disaster Relief Program is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/distinguished-public-service-medal,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Receives Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Medal from Secretary Ray Mabus,2016-10-24,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.24.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Receives Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Medal from Secretary Ray Mabus Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal is the Department of the Navy’s highest award for civilians (VIDEO) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin received the Department of the Navy’s highest award for civilians, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal. Senator Baldwin was presented the award by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus at Marinette Marine today. “I take great pride in representing Wisconsin’s shipbuilding industry because our workers have helped sustain America’s security for generations, boasting a successful history of building ships for our nation’s defense,” said Senator Baldwin. “The LCS program is supported by thousands of skilled workers at the Marinette Marine shipyard and at the 200 suppliers across Wisconsin. I would like to thank my friend, Secretary Mabus, for selecting me for this award – it is truly an honor. I look forward to many more years of working with the Navy and supporting Made in Wisconsin shipbuilding.”  ""Sen. Baldwin has been amazingly helpful to the Navy and Marine Corps and I wanted to formally thank her for her work on behalf of the Department of the Navy ensuring or Sailors and Marines have the resources they need to defend our nation's interests around the globe,"" said Secretary Ray Mabus. Senator Baldwin received the award in recognition for her longtime support of the Littoral Combat Ship Program, the Freedom variant of which is built by Marinette Marine, and her advocacy of personnel policies supporting the health and well-being of America’s Sailors and Marines. The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, established in 1951, is an award presented by the Secretary of the Navy to civilians for specific courageous or heroic acts or exceptionally outstanding service of substantial and long-term benefit to the Navy, Marine Corps, or Department of the Navy as a whole. Click here to watch the video of today’s ceremony. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-applauds-505-million-dol-grants-to-expand-apprenticeships-as-sec,Pocan Applauds $50.5 Million DOL Grants to Expand Apprenticeships as Sec. Perez Plans to Make Announcement at Madison College Today,2016-10-21,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) applauded the United States Department of Labor’s $50.5 million dollar investment to expand apprenticeships. The ApprenticeshipUSA grants will go to 37 states for the purpose of expanding apprenticeship and meeting the national goal set by President Obama to double the number of apprentices. United States Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez is scheduled to highlight the investment in Wisconsin, totaling $1.5 million, at Madison College later this morning. “I applaud the Obama Administration and Secretary Perez for the emphasis they have placed on expanding apprenticeships with these grants,” said Rep. Mark Pocan. “Wisconsin has been a leader in apprenticeship training since 1911, when we established the nation's first apprenticeship law, so it is fitting that Secretary Perez will announce these grants in the Badger state.” “It’s critical for us to support the development of more apprenticeship programs across the spectrum of industries in order to prepare more highly skilled workers for in-demand occupations,” continued Rep. Pocan. “We must provide workers and job seekers with better access to employment, education, training, and support programs to help them secure good, well-paying jobs.” “Under the Obama administration we’ve partnered with Congress, state and local officials, employers, educators, community organizations, and the workforce system to add 125,000 new apprentices since 2014, the largest increase in nearly a decade,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “The ApprenticeshipUSA grants announced today will help continue this momentum and put apprenticeship front and center to develop the career-ready workforce that businesses need to compete in our global economy and deliver the skills that workers need to thrive on the job.” Since becoming a Member of Congress in January 2013, Congressman Pocan has been a leader on the expansion of apprenticeship. He authored the LEARNS Act, and has encouraged appropriators to include funding to expand apprenticeships. More than 90 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs, with an average starting wage above $60,000. There is also a substantial return on investment for employers — international studies suggest that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers may get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity and greater front-line innovation. Unfortunately, the Republican House FY2017 Budget terminates future funding for this program. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/funding-for-apprenticeships,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces $1.5 Million to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities Across Wisconsin,2016-10-21,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.21.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces $1.5 Million to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities Across Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced $1.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards’ (DWD/BAS) to expand apprenticeship opportunities across Wisconsin. This announcement comes after Senator Baldwin sent a letter of support for DWD/BAS’ grant application. “Apprenticeship initiatives are one of the most effective vehicles for responding to the workforce readiness needs of business and industry,"" said Senator Baldwin. “This funding will help us invest in Wisconsin’s workforce to help us raise incomes and strengthen the middle class.” DWD/BAS aims to use the funding to create more apprenticeship opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, youth and those transitioning from incarceration. A copy of the letter of support Senator Baldwin sent is available here.   Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/federal-disaster-declaration-for-western-wi-,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Federal Disaster Declaration for Flooding in Western Wisconsin,2016-10-20,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.20.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Federal Disaster Declaration for Flooding in Western Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration by President Obama for ten western Wisconsin counties affected by the September flooding. This declaration will make federal funds available to repair damaged public infrastructure in Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland and Vernon counties. “Damage caused by heavy rains and flooding have left some communities wondering how they were going to pay for the repairs,” said Senator Baldwin. “This declaration will provide relief for communities and help ensure they receive the federal funding they need to rebuild.” This declaration came after Senator Baldwin and members of the Wisconsin delegation sent a letter to President Obama requesting prompt federal support for the affected counties in western Wisconsin at the beginning of the month, and then another follow up letter last week requesting a major disaster declaration for western Wisconsin. Senator Baldwin has also recently called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to make federal Emergency Relief funds available to help repair roads and bridges damaged by recent severe storms and flooding in western Wisconsin.‎ Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/dairy-support-letter-to-omb-,"Baldwin Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Appeal To the OMB Urging Support For USDA’s Efforts To Ramp Up Help To Struggling Dairy Farmers",2016-10-19,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.19.16 Baldwin Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Appeal To the OMB Urging Support For USDA’s Efforts To Ramp Up Help To Struggling Dairy Farmers WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 56 members of the House and Senate in urging Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan to free up safety net funds to help dairy farmers in Wisconsin and across the nation who are struggling with declining milk prices. In a letter sent last Thursday, Baldwin and the lawmakers request that Donovan do all he can to support Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in using existing authorities to expand and maintain U.S. domestic markets, encourage the domestic consumption of dairy products, and help dairy farmers through the ongoing financial crisis. “These dairy farms make up the backbone of our rural economy, and farms both large and small act as economic drivers, providing local jobs and supporting a wide array of other businesses,” wrote the lawmakers. The last financial crisis that hit the dairy industry in 2009 forced far too many families to go out of business and sell off their herds.  Farms that had been in families for generations were driven into ruin and forced to close their doors for good.  Through the support of this administration, we can hopefully prevent many farms from needing to make that same difficult decision today.  We hope you will work with us to support all of our dairy farmers across the country.” Last week, the Agriculture Department announced it would purchase $20 million of cheddar cheese to reduce a cheese surplus that has reached record levels as milk prices have plummeted.  This move by USDA came following a bipartisan, bicameral letter Senator Baldwin sent with 60 other lawmakers to Secretary Vilsack asking for assistance for dairy producers struggling with declining milk prices. This purchase will also help food banks and other food assistance agencies.  Recent reports, according to USDA data, suggest that more than 43 million gallons of milk were dumped in fields, manure lagoons or animal feed, or have been lost on truck routes or discarded at plants in the first eight months of 2016. A copy of the letter the lawmakers sent is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/renew-call-save-benefits-act,"After New Social Security Cost-of-Living Announcement, Senator Baldwin Renews Call to Pass the SAVE Benefits Act to Provide Emergency Payments to Seniors, Veterans, and Other Americans",2016-10-18,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.18.16 After New Social Security Cost-of-Living Announcement, Senator Baldwin Renews Call to Pass the SAVE Benefits Act to Provide Emergency Payments to Seniors, Veterans, and Other Americans Despite rising core expenses, seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities to receive only 0.3 percent COLA increase in 2017 after facing a zero COLA in 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today in renewing their call for Congress to pass the Seniors and Veterans Emergency (SAVE) Benefits Act, which would boost Social Security and other critical benefits for seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities. This follows today's announcement by the Social Security Administration that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 0.3 percent for 2017, after a zero COLA in 2016.  Baldwin sponsors the legislation in the Senate with 22 Senate Democrats. ""Every month, thirty percent of Wisconsin's seniors depend on Social Security as their only source of income to pay their bills. This means they are relying on a promise that must be kept,"" Senator Baldwin said. ""With no cost-of-living adjustment last year, and an extremely small increase this year, seniors are struggling. Congress must take action and pass the SAVE Benefits Act to make sure seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and other Americans are able to make ends meet."" The SAVE Benefits Act would give about 70 million seniors, veterans, Americans with disabilities, and others an emergency payment equal to 3.9 percent of the average annual Social Security benefit, about $581 - the same percentage raise that top CEOs received last year. A $581 increase could cover almost three months of groceries for seniors or a year's worth of out-of-pocket costs on critical prescription drugs for the average Medicare beneficiary. The bill would lift more than 1 million Americans out of poverty. The cost of this emergency payment would be covered by closing a tax loophole allowing corporations to write off executive bonuses as a business expense for ""performance pay."" The substantial additional revenue saved by closing the CEO compensation loophole would be used to bolster and extend the life of the Social Security and Disability trust funds. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/rejoicethe19th,"#RejoiceThe19th: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Seeks to Commemorate the Centennial of the Passage and Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which Granted American Women the Right to Vote",2016-10-13,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.13.16 #RejoiceThe19th: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Seeks to Commemorate the Centennial of the Passage and Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which Granted American Women the Right to Vote The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission Act creates a special commission charged with coordinating programs, projects and activities to commemorate the centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced today that she has led a bipartisan group of women senators in introducing legislation to commemorate the centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted American women the right to vote. The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission Act creates a commission charged with planning and executing programs, projects and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this critical step forward in our democracy.  “Almost 100 years ago, after decades of struggle by brave women and men, our nation finally extended to women the most fundamental right in our democracy – the right to vote. Today, women vote at higher rates than men, more than 300 women have served as members of Congress and for the first time, a woman has been selected as a major party’s presidential nominee,” said Senator Baldwin. “We still have more work to do, more glass ceilings to break, but it is important to celebrate this monumental anniversary and all the progress that women have made in the last 100 years. The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission will ensure that the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment receives the celebration and recognition it deserves.” The Commission would be composed of fourteen members, with two appointed each by the President, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader, along with the Librarian of Congress, Archivist of the United States, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and Director of the National Park Service.  The Nineteenth Amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and was ratified on August 18, 1920, when the legislature of the thirty-sixth state approved the measure. The Commission will work to celebrate the centennial of this multiyear process to make a woman’s right to vote a reality in our nation. The bill’s bipartisan cosponsors include: Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). A copy of the legislation can be found here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/usdot-western-wi-flooding,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on U.S. Department of Transportation for Emergency Funding to Repair Roads and Bridges Damaged by Flooding in Western Wisconsin,2016-10-13,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.13.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on U.S. Department of Transportation for Emergency Funding to Repair Roads and Bridges Damaged by Flooding in Western Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has called on U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to make federal Emergency Relief fund available to help repair roads and bridges damaged by recent severe storms and flooding in western Wisconsin. “Torrential rain and flooding has severely damaged many important roads and bridges in communities throughout western Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m calling on the Department of Transportation to continue our productive partnership and make these emergency funds available to help ensure Wisconsinites have safe access food, water, gas and other necessities.” In a letter to Secretary Foxx, Senator Baldwin outlined how severe storms in August and September caused widespread flooding and mudslides that damaged roads and bridges throughout western Wisconsin. More than 80 sites in Buffalo, Chippewa, Crawford, Eau Claire, Trempealeau and Vernon counties have been identified as eligible for Emergency Relief by the Federal Highway Administration. Funding from the U.S. DOT would ensure Wisconsinites in these counties have access to safe transportation as they recover from the severe weather and flooding.   Additionally, Senator Baldwin joined members of the Wisconsin delegation last week in sending a letter to President Obama requesting prompt federal support for 12 counties in western Wisconsin.  In July, Senator Baldwin traveled to northern Wisconsin with the Wisconsin National Guard to tour areas most affected by flooding in that area. After witnessing sections of highways and roads that had been destroyed, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Foxx urging emergency federal funds to repair and reopen roads. As a result, U.S. DOT provided Emergency Relief funds to help expedite repairs.  An online version of the letter is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-pocan-urges-president-obama-to-take-executive-action-to-lower,Rep. Pocan Urges President Obama to Take Executive Action to Lower Prescription Drug Prices,2016-10-12,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) along with 33 House Democrats, sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take executive action to reign in the dramatic increase in costs for prescription medications. In the letter, the members note that since 2011, prices for four of the nation’s top 10 drugs rose more than 100 percent and the cost of the other six most commonly used prescription medications went up more than 50 percent. These price hikes are restricting and preventing Americans’ access to critical drugs. “Americans deserve reliable access to safe and affordable prescription drugs. While drug company profits continue to increase at a faster pace than any other sector of the health care industry, too many working families are being squeezed by skyrocketing drug prices,” Rep. Pocan said. “The President should use his executive authority to end pharmaceutical companies’ monopoly on drug pricing and ensure that Americans don’t have to worry about how they will pay for lifesaving prescriptions.” ""Drug prices are too high, forcing millions of Americans to choose between their financial health and their physical health. But, as Rep. Pocan and the signers of his letter point out, President Obama can take executive action to lower drug prices,” said Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works. “We urge him to do so immediately."" A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that almost 75% of Americans believe drug costs are unreasonable and a majority of Americans (including Republicans) support a variety of government actions to limit pharmaceutical companies increasing drug prices to benefit their own bottom line. The letter was signed by Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sam Farr (D-CA), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Earl Blumenauer (D- OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Emanuel Cleaver(D-MO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Don Beyer (D-VA). The letter is also endorsed by Social Security Works, CREDO Action, People Demanding Action, the Other 98%, Courage Campaign, Progressive Congress, Blue America, Public Citizen, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Daily Kos, Public Leadership Institute, People’s Action, Democracy for America, the Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, Communication Workers of America (CWA), National Physicians Alliance, Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network, MoveOn, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The text of the letter is below and a signed copy can be found here. Dear President Obama: We write to express our concern regarding the dramatic increase in costs for prescription medications and commend your continued commitment to decreasing the costs of health care without reducing quality for millions of Americans. In fact, the Affordable Care Act has reduced the rate of uninsured Americans to below 9 percent, the lowest rate on record. However, the federal government has yet to seriously address the alarming rise in the price of prescription drugs, which makes up nearly 20 percent of total health care costs in the United States. We urge your administration to use executive action and take concrete steps now to enable more Americans have access to affordable prescription drugs. In the past five years, patients have seen multiple pharmaceutical corporations participate in the cruel practice of price gouging: preventing Americans from accessing lifesaving drugs in order to maximize their profits. Recently, Gilead Sciences set a price of $84,000 for Solvaldi, their 12-week Hepatitis C treatment, restricting patient access to the life-changing drug in order to maximize their profits. Additionally, Turing Pharmaceuticals, which purchased Daraprim, a drug used to treat a rare disease and AIDS patients, drastically hiked the price by 5,000 percent from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Unfortunately, Turing is not alone. Pharmaceutical corporations are buying rights to older drugs with limited competition in the market and then quickly increasing prices several times over a short period of time. The most recent example of the pharmaceutical industries’ price-gouging and anti-competitive behavior is Mylan Pharmaceuticals. Mylan increased the price of the EpiPen, an auto-injector of epinephrine for patients with severe allergies who are at-risk of anaphylaxis, by over 480 percent in the United States over 5 years. This practice has restricted families’ and emergency medical providers’ access to this lifesaving product. Unfortunately, the tactics used by pharmaceutical companies have an outsized impact on low- and middle-income families and seniors. We have all heard too many stories from our constituents about families who are forced to choose between buying groceries, paying their mortgage or getting medication their child desperately needs. Since 2011, prices for four of the nation’s top 10 drugs rose more than 100 percent and the other six went up more than 50 percent. Pharmaceutical companies are restricting, or even worse, preventing Americans’ access to critical drugs for the sake of their own profits. As Congress pursues multiple legislative strategies aimed at ending the pharmaceutical price gouging behavior, we also urge you engage in efforts to address this through executive action. With continued Republican obstruction of necessary legislation, we need your leadership to prevent harm to millions of families hurt by soaring prices for the medicines they need. We believe your Administration should issue fair and transparent guidelines to ensure the public has access to lifesaving drugs developed using federally funded research. Specifically, you should instruct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to ensure that drugs researched and developed with taxpayer funds are kept accessible to the public by authorizing new competition for unaffordable, monopoly-priced medications—an existing statutory power granted by the Bayh-Dole Act (Pub. L. 96-517). This is an important step in deterring corporations from holding federally funded patented drugs from setting unreasonable prices. Moreover, we also encourage your administration to explore implementing drug importation rules that are already part of U.S. law. Under authority from the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, the Secretary of Health and Human Services can certify the importation of prescription drugs from other countries under specific qualifications. This regulatory action would pose no risk to public health and safety and could result in a significant reduction in the cost of prescription drugs to American families. We believe your administration also has the authority to address issues within the Federal Trade Commission to more effectively combat monopolies held by pharmaceutical companies and the use of patent settlements to block all other generic drug competition for a growing number of branded drugs, also known as “pay-for-delay.” We are deeply concerned that pharmaceutical companies will continue this unethical and unlawful practice until necessary reforms are developed and implemented. In any given month, about half of all Americans and 90 percent of seniors take a prescription drug. We strongly encourage you to consider these executive actions to stop the rapid increase in drug prices and ensure affordable consumer access to medication.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-applauds-usda-decision-purchase-additional-20-million-cheese,Rep. Kind Applauds USDA Decision to Purchase an Additional $20 Million in Cheese for Federal Nutrition Programs,2016-10-11,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) applauds action taken by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase an additional $20 million worth of cheddar cheese, supporting food banks and other food assistance recipients. The decision was announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today following a discussion with dairy producers in Westby. “Wisconsin dairy farmers are struggling due to low milk prices and other market conditions beyond their control,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “I applaud the USDA for taking action to increase demand for dairy products, which strengthens Wisconsin’s economy, while also providing food banks with nutritional assistance. I will continue to support dairy farmers in western and central Wisconsin and look for additional steps that can be taken to help farmers during these difficult times.” Rep. Kind recently joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack urging him to take action to help bring stability to dairy prices. The letter, signed by Kind and a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives from Wisconsin and other dairy-producing states, detailed the current unfavorable market conditions for the dairy industry and urged the USDA to take all actions available in order to support U.S. dairy farmers. In June, Rep. Kind presented a comprehensive Dairy Action Plan to fix problems dairy farmers currently face. His plan intends to make federal farm programs more efficient, open new markets, expand agriculture research, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and encourage the next generation of family farmers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/westby-cheese-surplus-purchase,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Additional Cheese Surplus Purchase,2016-10-11,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.11.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Additional Cheese Surplus Purchase Senator Baldwin had called on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for additional action, new purchase was announced today in Westby WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded today’s announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack of a new $20 million cheddar cheese purchase. “Keeping our Grown in Wisconsin economy strong means ensuring our rural communities and farms make it through this challenging time for the dairy industry. Today’s announcement in Wisconsin is a positive step forward. I will continue to work with dairy farmers to update and improve the dairy safety net so that it works for Wisconsin.” Previously, Senator Baldwin sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter with 60 other lawmakers to Secretary Vilsack asking for assistance for dairy producers struggling with declining milk prices. The purchase, announced by Secretary Vilsack today at the Westby Cooperative Creamery after a roundtable discussion with dairy producers, will use non-taxpayer funds to reduce the cheese surplus that has reached record levels, while assisting food banks and other food assistance recipients. Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 authorizes USDA to purchase surplus food to benefit food banks and families in need through its nutrition assistance programs. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/doj-hold-wf-executives-accountable,"Baldwin, Senate Democrats Call for Justice Department to Hold Wells Fargo Executives Accountable",2016-10-05,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.05.16 Baldwin, Senate Democrats Call for Justice Department to Hold Wells Fargo Executives Accountable Senators: There shouldn’t be a separate set of rules for Wall Street and Main Street WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and 12 other Senators in urging the Justice Department to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute individual wrongdoing at Wells Fargo after revelations that the bank’s employees had opened millions of accounts without customer approval. The Senators wrote: “A bank teller that takes a handful of bills from the cash drawer is likely to face charges for theft and prison time. She can’t hide behind an army of lawyers and corporate policies that diffuse accountability for those at the top. Meanwhile, an executive who oversees a massive fraud that implicates thousands of bank employees and costs customers millions of dollars can walk away with a hefty retirement package and millions in the bank. “Every time the Department of Justice settles a case of corporate fraud without holding individuals accountable, it reinforces the notion that the wealthy and powerful have purchased a higher class of justice for themselves.” In September, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its largest penalty to date of over $100 million to the bank as a result of this multi-year, multi-state fraud. The Senators urged Attorney General Loretta Lynch not only to hold Wells Fargo accountable as a corporation, but also prosecute individual executives who may have broken the law. The letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). A copy of the letter the Senators sent is available here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/schimel-letter-rapekit-backlog,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to Get the Job Done on Wisconsin’s Longstanding Rape Kit Backlog,2016-10-05,2016,2016-10,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.05.16 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to Get the Job Done on Wisconsin’s Longstanding Rape Kit Backlog More than one year after Wisconsin Justice Department received federal investments, reports show state still has 6,000 kit backlog WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin sent a letter to Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel calling on him to act as swiftly as possible to address Wisconsin’s sexual assault kit backlog. Recent press reports indicate that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has yet to test more than 6,000 sexual assault kits despite receiving more than $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and the District Attorney of New York County last September to support sexual assault kit testing, investigative work, research and a public awareness campaign. “I am very troubled by reports that, more than a year after receiving this infusion of outside resources, the backlog in our state has not been reduced. This is unacceptable and the people of Wisconsin deserve better,” said Senator Baldwin. “I want to know that this funding is being met with a strong commitment from Attorney General Schimel to get the job done on the backlog.” Last year, Senator Baldwin called on the U.S Department of Justice to take “immediate steps” after a USA Today investigation revealed more than 6,000 sexual assault kits remained untested in Wisconsin. In September 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Justice received more than $4 million in investments from the U.S. Department of Justice and the District Attorney of New York County. In addition, Senator Baldwin has also made more federal funding available as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to enhance sexual assault kit testing. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded Wisconsin an additional $1.1 million to support processing sexual assault kits and reduce the state backlog. An online version of the letter is available here.  Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z