url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1335,Moore Expresses Concern Over Abuse Allegations at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake School,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"By Cristina Marcos The House early Friday passed the third 2015 appropriations bill that would fund the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as federal science programs. Passed in a 321-87 vote, the bill would provide $51.2 billion in funding through September 2015, a reduction of nearly $400 million below the current spending level. The legislation was considered under an open rule, which allowed members to offer an unlimited number of amendments. In total, the House considered more than 80 amendments over the course of two days. Immigration entered the fray during debate of the wide-ranging measure. Late Wednesday, the House gave voice vote approval to an amendment from Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) that would boost funding for the Justice Department's Executive Office of Immigration Review, which handles immigration court proceedings. Earlier Thursday, the House adopted, 218-193, an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) that would provide $5 million for the Justice Department to investigate the Obama administration's release of illegal immigrants facing deportation who are also criminals. King said the current policy amounted to ""de facto amnesty."" Consideration of the measure further included heated debates over drug policy. Shortly before final passage, the House adopted 219-189 an amendment from Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) that would prohibit the Justice Department from allowing states to implement their own medical marijuana laws. And earlier Thursday evening, the House rejected an amendment from Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), whose state has legalized marijuana, that would cut funding to the Drug Enforcement Administration by $35 million. About $2 billion is allocated for the DEA in the legislation. The controversy over the Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals' mishandling of wait times for medical care also made its way into the Commerce-Justice-Science bill. At nearly midnight Wednesday, the House gave voice vote approval to an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) that would provide the Justice Department $1 million to conduct a criminal investigation into the VA. The legislation would also provide $17.9 billion for NASA, which is $250 million above the current spending level. Additionally, it includes $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation, which is $232 million more than the 2014 level. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), the retiring chairman of the House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee, warned that the increased science funding should only be used for ""scientifically meritorious"" research grants. ""With increased funding comes increased responsibility,"" Wolf said. ""No funny grants is what I'm trying to say."" Passing all 12 of them before the end of September, the end of the current fiscal year, will be tough, especially in an election year. But House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) nonetheless said his panel would try to pass as many of the individual appropriations bills as possible. ""We're moving at a very fast clip on the committee that should allow us to complete our appropriations work for the 2015 fiscal year on time. And I promise my committee will do everything it can to make that a reality,"" Rogers said. The Senate, meanwhile, has yet to pass any 2015 appropriations bills. To view this article online, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2241,Moore Expresses Concern Over Abuse Allegations at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake School,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"I fear that, without swift intervention, these inmates are at serious risk of becoming another faceless member of our seemingly endless school-to-prison pipeline. I am determined to fulfill our promise to help these youth become productive and successful members of our society. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to alarming allegations of abuse at Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) sent the following letter to FBI Director James Comey: The Honorable James B. Comey Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20535 Dear Director Comey, I write to express my grave concerns about recent news reports documenting what seems to be a dangerous environment at Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls in Wisconsin. I understand that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has now joined what's been described as a sweeping probe into the matter. I thank you for your attention to this matter and ask that you keep me updated on any actions taken by federal authorities. Recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel articles have described a serious situation at Lincoln Hills and the Copper Lake School for Girls. According to the Sentinel's reporting, staff members at Lincoln Hills have apparently been placed on leave after having been involved in incidents where inmates have had their arms or wrists broken. Another article by the Sentinel reported on a November 29th event in which a juvenile inmate's foot was slammed so hard in a door frame it actually required an amputation of the toes. Other troubling events have also come to light, including allegations of sexual abuse, improper use of force by staff, and violence amongst the youth population. There have also been reported incidences of suicide attempts and violence at the sister school Copper Lake School for Girls at the facility. It is paramount that a safe environment is restored for those youth and staff who are presently in this facility. Moreover, many of these youth are particularly vulnerable, living through traumatizing events, poor socioeconomic conditions, and a lack of quality educational opportunity. I fear that, without swift intervention, these inmates are at serious risk of becoming another faceless member of our seemingly endless school-to-prison pipeline. I am determined to fulfill our promise to help these youth become productive and successful members of our society. This situation is particularly concerning to me because many of these youth hail from southeastern Wisconsin and my congressional district. In 2011, budget cuts by Governor Walker caused the closure of the Ethan Allen School and Southern Oaks Girls School, which housed many juveniles in southeast Wisconsin. This led to many youth in and around my district to move to this facility north of Wasau - far away from easy access to family members, which is a critical factor in reducing recidivism. I ask the Bureau to monitor these developments as they unfold and I request a briefing on efforts that you have currently undertaken or plan to take. Sincerely, Gwen Moore MEMBER OF CONGRESS",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-omnibus-big-win-for-wisconsin-veterans,Bipartisan Omnibus Big Win for Wisconsin Veterans,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.15 Bipartisan Omnibus Big Win for Wisconsin Veterans As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Baldwin secured several bipartisan provisions for Wisconsin veterans and their families WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after President Obama signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which included several provisions Senator Baldwin championed on behalf of Wisconsin veterans and their families: I was proud to usher in this legislation which rolls back devastating budget cuts to veterans and includes many reforms that I have fought for and support. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I fought to include provisions in this legislation that would improve transparency of VA Office of Inspector General reports, strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and provide stronger oversight of the VAs prescribing practices. These are significant reforms that take a serious step in the right direction to ensure we address underlying challenges at the VA. Earlier this month, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs passed an updated version of Senator Baldwins Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act, a bill aimed at providing safer and more effective pain management services to our nations veterans. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said Senator Baldwins bill would be viewed as one of the great accomplishments of the committee. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin championed the following provisions in the new law: Opioid Drug Abuse Prevention Funding Senator Baldwin is a strong supporter of increased funding for opioid and prescription drug abuse prevention, treatment and research programs. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin led a call to strengthen federal investments to combat the growing prescription drug and opioid abuse epidemic in America, including support for the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Prevention for States program. As a result of Senator Baldwins advocacy, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes robust funding for opioid abuse prevention efforts at the CDC and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including $70 million for CDCs prescription drug abuse overdose prevention and monitoring activities. This investment allows CDC to strengthen and expand its prevention program to all 50 states and to continue to develop safe opioid prescribing guidelines. VA Inspector General Transparency Improvements Senator Baldwin, along with Appropriations Subcommittee on MilCon/VA Chairman Mark Kirk (R-IL), authored a provision regarding increasing transparency at the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG). Based on an amendment Senator Baldwin included in S.579, the Inspector General Empowerment Act, the joint Baldwin-Kirk amendment would amend current law to ensure that when the VA OIG completes a report, it is promptly shared with the VA Secretary, Congress, and the public. This bill language would help address failures of transparency and agency oversight by requiring recommendations made by the VA OIG during investigations, audits or other reports to be sent directly to the VA Secretary. In addition, these recommendations would be available to the public and submitted directly to relevant Congressional oversight committees. Lastly, if the Inspector General initiated an investigation based on information provided by an individual, the recommendations would also be shared with that individual. Drug Diversion at Veterans Health Administration Facilities As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 that urges the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to maintain open communication with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and treat investigations of drug diversion in VHA facilities as a priority. DEA shall report to the Committee within 90 days after the enactment of this act on its drug diversion investigations involving VHA facilities and to report on the status of investigations on a quarterly basis thereafter. The initial report shall include: the number of ongoing DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA facilities, the number of DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA facilities concluded in the prior year, an analysis of trends in DEA and VHA drug diversion investigations over the past 10 years, the number of investigations that resulted in indictments, a review of factors that may be leading to drug diversion including VHA prescription drug prescribing practices, and recommendations or best practices to prevent drug diversion from VHA facilities. Whistleblower Enhancement for VA Medical Professionals Closes an existing legal loophole that harms VA medical professionals who have experienced whistleblower retaliation in the form of a negative personnel evaluation. Currently, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) cannot investigate these types of retaliation because VA medical professional personnel evaluations are governed by Title 38; while OSCs relevant investigatory power is limited to personnel evaluations governed by Title 5. Senator Baldwins provision would address this inconsistency in the law by including personnel reviews governed by Title 38 within the scope of potential retaliatory personnel actions that OSC can investigate. Update of Joint VA and DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines To help address the prescription drug abuse and overdose epidemic, Senator Baldwin included a provision requiring the VA, working with DoD, to update the joint VA-DoD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Management of Opioid Therapy (OT) for Chronic Pain, which has not been updated since 2010. In addition, to ensure prescribers have the most up-to-date science, VA will be required to adopt the safe opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic, non-cancer pain in outpatient settings currently being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Expanded Access to Opioid Receptor Antagonists Opioid receptor antagonists, such as naloxone, are drugs that reverse the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression, and, in certain cases, can prevent death. Indeed, the VAs year-old Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) program, which dispenses take-home naloxone kit prescriptions to at-risk veterans, has been credited with saving 33 lives by reversing opioid overdoses. Senator Baldwin included a provision to expand this program, ensuring every VA medical facility is equipped with opioid receptor antagonists, as well as to improve provider and pharmacist education on overdose prevention strategies. Joint Executive Council Working Group on Opioids and Pain Management Senator Baldwin authored a provision to create a new joint VA-DoD working group to focus on patient pain management and opioid therapy. This working group would be established within the DoD-VA Joint Executive Councilan existing forum for senior leadership at both Departments to develop policies and programs to address overlapping prioritiesand would cover, at minimum, opioid prescribing practices, acute and chronic pain management, complementary and integrated health, and the concurrent use of opioids and prescription drugs for mental health issues, including benzodiazepines. The working group would help combat the VAs continued overreliance on opioids for pain management; limit instances of VA providers prescribing opioids for mental health treatment, which is non-compliant with joint VA-DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines; and improve patient care during the DoD-VA transition. Enhancing VHA Opioid Safety Efforts VA has had some success improving the safe use of opioids to treat pain, including through the Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) and the use of the Opioid Therapy Risk Report tool. However, capability gaps exist in these initiatives, and more needs to be done. To help reduce rates of opioid addiction and fatal overdose, it is critical that real-time data is available at the individual prescriber and pharmacist level as well as the pharmacy management level to prevent inappropriate prescribing before it occurs. Senator Baldwin included a provision that directs the VA to develop and deploy mechanisms for including real-time patient information on existing opioid prescriptions within VHA as well as patient controlled substances prescription information in the state prescription drug monitoring programs. The mechanisms must also alert a provider or pharmacist in real-time that an opioid or benzodiazepine prescription would be inappropriate and protect against double-prescribing when an in-patient continues to receive take-home opioid prescriptions despite being treated with opioids at a VA facility. The provision further directs VA to submit information on controlled substances prescriptions to state prescription drug monitoring programs. GAO Audit of VA Opioid Therapy According to the CDC, in 2012, health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers, which is enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills. This drastic increase has also been seen in local VA facilities, including the Tomah VAMC in Wisconsin. To strengthen oversight of VA opioid prescribing practices, Senator Baldwin included a provision directing the Government Accountability Office, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA Opioid Safety Initiative and overall opioid prescribing practices throughout the VA system. This report shall include recommendations on improvements to the Opioid Safety Initiative, deaths involving veterans prescribed opioids, overall opioid prescription rates and indications at all VA facilities, including facilities and prescribers that are among the top ten percent in the nation regarding the percent of their patient population receiving opioids and the average dose per patient. In addition, the report shall note the use of benzodiazepines and opioid concomitantly and their prescription rates and indications along with facilities and prescribers that are among the top ten percent in the nation regarding the percent of their patient population receiving opioids and the average dose per patient. VISN Pain Management Boards and Complementary and Integrative Health To further help reduce the inappropriate use of opioids and improve treatment for chronic pain such as through the use of complementary and integrative health, Senator Baldwin included a provision that encourages the VA to establish a pain management board within each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) comprised of health care professionals andto give veterans a greater role in their careveteran patients and/or family members of a veteran patient. The pain management boards would serve as a resource for the regions facilities, patients, and family members; provide best practices recommendations for pain management to the VA facilities within its region, including patient, family member and medical perspectives; provide an annual report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs about pain management practices within its region, which would then be sent to Congress. GAO Report High Risk List In 2015 GAO placed VHA on its annual High Risk List, identifying VHA programs as high-risk due to their greater vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement or the need for transformation to address economy, efficiency, or effectiveness challenges. Accordingly, Senator Baldwin included language to require the VA Secretary to issue to Congress quarterly progress reports on Department action to address GAO findings and recommendations. Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) The bill includes a provision authored by Senator Baldwin requiring the AFRH to report on actions taken to implement recommendations made by the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) in a July 2014 report.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-statement-on-fda-recommendations-on-gay-men-blood-donation,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on FDA Recommendations on Gay Men Blood Donation,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on FDA Recommendations on Gay Men Blood Donation WASHINGTON, D.C. Today U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance that lifts the lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have sex with men (MSM) and implements a new policy requiring a year of abstinence prior to donating blood: I am encouraged that the FDA swiftly finalized this guidance to move forward and revise the discriminatory lifetime ban on blood donations. However, this is just the first step toward ending an outdated policy that is medically and scientifically unwarranted. This revision doesnt go far enough and I expect the FDA to maintain its commitment to work with stakeholders to develop better blood donor policies based on science. I will continue to push the Administration to move forward to achieve our ultimate goal of blood donation policies that are based on individual risk factors, that dont unfairly single out one group of individuals, and that allow all healthy Americans to donate. In December 2014, Senator Baldwin led over 75 Members of Congress in calling on HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to end the outdated and discriminatory ban, and replace it by instituting a risk-based policy. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6dbcb692-1a35-4425-a68a-0800126f13c1,Johnson Announces Staff Mobile Office Hours,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced Monday that his staff will be available for the mobile office hours listed below. Mobile office hours allow constituents to meet with the senators staff to request assistance with a federal agency or regarding other federal matters. Note: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of constituents we are here to assist. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 9 a.m. 10 a.m. Verona Public Library 500 Silent St., Verona Tuesday, Dec. 29, noon 1 p.m. Cuba City Municipal Building 108 N. Main St., Cuba City Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2:30 p.m. 3:30 pm. Browntown Village Hall 110 S. Mill St., Browntown Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Eastside Community Center 6156 Douglas Ave., Caledonia",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1334,"Omnibus Provides Much Needed Support for Students, Police, and Businesses",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"By WiG and AP reports A rally took place on May 29 in Milwaukee to protest President Barack Obama's decision to ask his Homeland Security chief to hold off on completing a review of U.S. deportation policies until the end of the summer. The White House said the request was a move aimed at salvaging any hopes for Congress to act on immigration this year, but immigration rights activists said more deportations will lead to more raids, stings and arrests and the continued separation of families. Milwaukee-based Voces de la Frontera reported that on May 26, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and detained approximately 21 undocumented people from their homes and workplaces across Milwaukee. A demonstration took place on May 29 outside the ICE office on Knapp Street and Broadway in downtown Milwaukee to protest the arrests and the delay in reform from the Obama administration. ""No family should have to endure this kind of harassment, said Silvia Juarez, whose cousin Epigmenio Martinez-Ruiz was taken this week to the Dodge County detention center. Epigmenio has no criminal record and a daughter, 8-year-old Tatiana, who is a U.S. citizen. He came to the United States before 2001, and has been working the past decade as a foundry worker in Milwaukee. Every day our office sees families like those affected by Tuesdays raids who are reeling from these attacks,"" said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, in a statement. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, and other members of the Congress wrote Johnson, asking him to address the problem of ICE targeting suspected undocumented immigrants at courthouses. People arriving to the court house for hearings and appearances for traffic citations or other matters are being detained for questioning and investigations that in some cases lead to deportation. My colleagues and I sent a strong message that people accessing our courthouses should be safe from profiling, fear, and intimidation,"" Moore said. By targeting courthouses, ICE is exacerbating the culture of fear in our immigrant communities and undermining public safety. Like schools, hospitals, and places of worship, courthouses should be protected from immigration profiling tactics. I am proud that my colleagues stood with me to promote open access to our court system. Obama in March directed the government to examine whether deportation practices can be made more humane, seeking to pacify frustrated immigration advocates. But that step emboldened House Republicans to argue they can't trust Obama to enforce the law, and that bypassing lawmakers through executive action would deliver a death knell to the broader immigration overhaul that Obama and Democrats are seeking. Now Obama is seeking to preserve what the White House sees as a narrow window in June and July in which Congress could conceivably act before Washington's focus becomes consumed by the November midterm elections. ""The president really wants to maximize the opportunity to get a permanent solution enacted, which requires Congress,"" said Cecilia Munoz, the director of the White House's Domestic Policy Council. ""We've got maybe a window of two, three months to get the ball rolling in the House of Representatives,"" Obama said earlier this month. That window, White House officials said, has opened now that primary elections have wrapped up in many states where Republican incumbents are being challenged by tea party candidates who oppose an immigration overhaul. But a make-or-break deadline comes when lawmakers leave Washington for a month long August recess to focus on campaigning. In Denver this week, Vice President Joe Biden made similar remarks about Republican opposition to immigration reform and reluctance to deal with legislation during campaigns. ""They've got their chance now,"" Biden said. ""Most of the primaries are over."" But immigration advocates and Democrats have urged Obama to take immediate executive action in the face of congressional procrastination. Obama informed Johnson of his decision to delay the review during a White House meeting last week in which Johnson updated the president on the review's progress, a senior White House official said. Homeland Security will continue working on the review but won't release the results until the window for congressional action has closed, said the official, who wasn't authorized to comment by name and demanded anonymity. Obama's announcement came the same day a coalition of groups backing an immigration overhaul asked Obama to hold off in order to ""give the House leadership all of the space they may need."" Among the groups urging Obama to delay were the National Immigration Forum, the Service Employees International Union and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. On the congressional front, the Senate last year passed a comprehensive bill with bipartisan support that Obama says meets his criteria for what an immigration fix must include. Republicans have refused to take up that bill, saying they preferred their own piecemeal approach. But House GOP leadership has made no move to bring legislation to a vote. And last week, GOP leaders last week blocked any votes on immigration legislation - including one offered as an amendment by a Republican - in yet another ominous sign for immigration's prospects. Johnson has offered few details about what potential policy changes he's considering or what the timeline for acting might be. But Obama has previously taken modest executive steps to ease deportation. Two years ago, he offered protection from deportation and extended work permits to some immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Johnson has said he's reviewing a possible expansion of that program, but he and Obama have both cautioned that the government is constrained in what it can do without Congress. To view this article online, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2249,"Omnibus Provides Much Needed Support for Students, Police, and Businesses",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill is not perfect, but this bipartisan compromise will keep the government functioning and is a tremendous improvement over the disastrous budget proposed by Republicans earlier this year. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to the passage of the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: Today, I voted with my colleagues in the House to adopt the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the government for FY 2016. While this is not the bill I would have written, I am proud to report that several of my legislative priorities were included in this bill. As co-chair of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, I was encouraged to see that federal TRIO programs received an additional $60 million in funding. This additional funding will support outreach and student support services that help low-income students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities succeed in education. Ensuring that all students, regardless of background, are able to access higher education is critical to our nation's long-term economic success. In addition, my financial services legislation, H.R. 1317, was also included in the Omnibus funding package. My bipartisan bill provides clarification of certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, helping companies mitigate commercial risk and keeping prices for consumers predictable and low. This legislation helps businesses, promotes stability, and enhances opportunity for America's job creators. Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) received an increase of funding in the Omnibus bill. My community in Milwaukee is still reeling over the death of Dontre Hamilton, an unarmed man suffering from mental illness who was shot 14 times during a tragic encounter with a Milwaukee police officer. MIOTCRA funding can be used to help train police officers to appropriately and safely deal with individuals in the midst of a mental health crisis. The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill is not perfect, but this bipartisan compromise will keep the government functioning and is a tremendous improvement over the disastrous budget proposed by Republicans earlier this year. As the year draws to a close, I look forward to working with colleagues in 2016 to pursue an agenda that invests in hard-working American families. ### Twitter| Facebook| Website",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-has-key-wisconsin-priorities-included-year-end-budget,Rep. Kind Has Key Wisconsin Priorities Included in Year End Budget,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) voted in favor of an end of year budget bill that includes a number of Wisconsin priorities that he worked over the last months to have included. With today's vote we avoided another disastrous government shutdown and gave families and businesses across Wisconsin more certainty. With this certainty western and central Wisconsin businesses will continue to grow and produce good-paying jobs in our communities, Rep. Kind stated. Additionally, I am pleased that Congress could come together in a bipartisan manner and ease the negative impact of the ongoing indiscriminate cuts to critical areas like education, job training, and Medicare. Today's budget also works to fix a number of issues I have been pushing for, including reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, increasing transparency in the VA, and providing additional funding for rail safety. Specific provisions Rep. Kind has pushed for that were included in the 2016 Budget: A $300,000 increase for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which would help improve rail safety. Find a copy of the letter Rep. Kind sent here. A number of provisions from Rep. Kind's Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015, including requiring the VA Inspector General to provide all work products to the Congress, share work products with any individual or entity that requested it, and post final reports on the IG website no later than 3 days after it is submitted in final form. Whistleblower protection to assure that VA medical staff has the same protections as other VA employees. 3 year reauthorization of Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program. In August Rep. Kind welcomed Secretary Sally Jewell of the Department of the Interior to La Crosse to tour the Mississippi River Basin and discuss the success and local impact of the Land and Water",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-chemical-safety-reform-legislation-supported-by-senator-baldwin-moving-forward,Bipartisan Chemical Safety Reform Legislation Supported by Senator Baldwin Moving Forward,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.06.15 Bipartisan Chemical Safety Reform Legislation Supported by Senator Baldwin Moving Forward Senate vote expected this Thursday to overhaul the nation's broken chemical safety law WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today applauded the fact that bipartisan chemical safety reform legislation is moving forward in the Senate this week. The comprehensive legislation, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, to overhaul the nation's broken chemical safety law is expected to be voted on Thursday in the U.S. Senate. Reform is long overdue, and I am proud to support this bipartisan bill, Senator Baldwin said. Its important that we advance protections for public health and the environment, while also ensuring that it happens at a pace that works for our manufacturing economy. This bipartisan legislation does just that and is a meaningful reform. Im pleased that we have worked across party lines on bipartisan reforms that will move forward this week in the Senate. In Wisconsin, the bipartisan legislation is supported by businesses including S.C. Johnson, BASF, Proctor and Gamble, Mattel - American Girl, Air Liquide and ChemDesign. Advocacy groups nationwide also support the bill, including March of Dimes, National Wildlife Federation, Humane Society of the United States, Environmental Defense Fund, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, American Alliance for Innovation and American Chemistry Council. The chemical safety reform legislation was introduced by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and David Vitter (R-LA). The bipartisan bill overhauls the broken and outdated 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act for the first time in almost 40 years. Previous efforts to reform the law have died for lack of bipartisan support, but an unprecedented number of senatorsfrom liberals to conservatives, as well as stakeholders ranging from environmental groups and health advocates, to labor unions and sportsmennow back comprehensive reform. A similar bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this summer. The Lautenberg Act would provide a national solution, requiring the EPA to act on all new chemicals entering the marketplace, providing the resources and authority to finally begin regulating unrestricted chemicals that are already on the marketincluding asbestosand ensuring that chemical companies would no longer be able to hide indefinitely the composition of their products from the public. The law would require the EPA to consider the impact on the most vulnerable populationspregnant women, infants, the elderly and chemical workerswhen regulating chemicals. It would also grandfather in existing state laws and respect states' rights to pass their own chemical safety laws. In July, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan Senate coalition as a cosponsor. Over half the Senate, representing 33 states supports the legislation. Named for the late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), a longtime champion for a strong chemical safety law, and supported by his widow Bonnie, the Lautenberg Act passed the Environment and Public Works Committee in April on a strong bipartisan vote of 15-5. 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/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-champions-made-in-america-policy-for-wisconsin-shipbuilding-suppliers,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Champions “Made in America” Policy for Wisconsin Shipbuilding Suppliers,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Champions Made in America Policy for Wisconsin Shipbuilding Suppliers WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the United States Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which included a provision championed by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requiring the domestic manufacture of certain shipboard components, such as diesel engines, for the U.S. Navys new oiler ship, one of which will be purchased in FY16 for $674 million. This provision will help ensure a level playing field for Beloit, Wisconsin-based Fairbanks Morse Engine, which has been a key supplier of superior-performance and best-value diesel engines to the U.S. Navy for decades, as well as other suppliers in Americas shipbuilding industry. Enacting this requirement into law will provide Fairbanks Morse with an opportunity to fairly compete for propulsion work on the Navys new oiler program, which ultimately will include 17 ships in the fleet, constructed over the next 17 years. This critical provision will maintain the U.S. Navys historical and mutually beneficial relationship with the domestic shipbuilding industrial base by continuing policies that have served U.S. national security and the public interest for almost 25 years, said Senator Baldwin. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was proud to fight on behalf of the hard-working men and women of Wisconsins shipbuilding industry who play a critical role in strengthening our Made in Wisconsin economy and our national security. Thanks to the efforts of Senator Baldwin and the U.S. Congress, the inclusion of Section 8125 in the budget will preserve critical technical skills and expertise in the United States. This provision supports the continued availability of skilled, middle class jobs in Wisconsin and Beloit, said Fairbanks Morse President Marvin Riley. We are committed to continue supplying engines and parts for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and to invest in our business, developing capabilities to support the critical defense industrial base, Riley said. We are proud to ensure the readiness of the fleet through life cycle support, including technical expertise, certified repair parts and availability of service personnel around the world. In November, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to leadership of both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, urging them to include this provision in their final legislation. 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/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-statement-on-bill-to-make-permanent-critical-tax-breaks-for-wisconsin-families-and-students,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Bill to Make Permanent Critical Tax Breaks for Wisconsin Families and Students,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Bill to Make Permanent Critical Tax Breaks for Wisconsin Families and Students WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, a tax extenders package which makes permanent critical provisions of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). These provisions, which were set to expire in December 2017, provide critical relief for Wisconsins families and college students. In Wisconsin, more than 301,000 children in 158,000 working families benefit from the EITC and CTC becoming permanent. Wisconsin families who benefit from these tax credits could have lost an average of $1,100 per year if they had expired. At a time when Wisconsin residents are struggling to get ahead as our states economy continues to lag behind, and as student debt is at a crisis level, Im proud to support these critical investments that will continue to provide some much-needed relief for Badger State families and students, while making significant strides to reduce the disturbing levels of poverty in our communities, said Senator Baldwin. Its great news that Congress has permanently extended the improvements in tax credits for families, which are among the nations strongest tools to help working families escape poverty and achieve greater self-sufficiency, said Ken Taylor, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. These tax credits lift 5 million children out of poverty, more than any other program, and research shows they have done as much or more as welfare reform to raise employment among single mothers. Julie Kerksick, Senior Policy Advocate, Community Advocates Public Policy Institute said, ""We applaud the federal legislative initiative that makes permanent the improvements that Congress made several years ago to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Both the EITC and CTC are powerful tools for encouraging work, reducing poverty, and strengthening families. The improvements now made permanent go even further in assisting the lowest income working families, those with three or more children, and those headed by married couples. ""We congratulate Senator Baldwin and other federal legislators who helped achieve these important gains. Their action, according to the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Center's MetroTax Model based on 2014 tax filings, has protected over 100,000 Wisconsin working families from losing over $62 million."" The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates over 13 million families, including 25 million children, would have lost all or part of their EITC or CTC if these provisions had not been made permanent. In October, Senator Baldwin introduced the Child Poverty Act in order to establish a national target to reduce the number of children living in poverty in the United States by half in the first 10 years, and completely eliminate in 20 years. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided a temporary increase in EITC for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. It also increased the beginning point of the credits phase-out for all married couples filing joint returnsgreatly reducing the marriage penalty that exists in EITC. Without congressional action, beginning in 2018 families with three or more children would have claimed the same credit as families with just two or more children. That would have been a cut of more than $700 for these working families. Without congressional action, marriage penalty relief would have been reduced, shrinking the EITC for many low-income married filers. Child Tax Credit (CTC) More families are eligible for and are able to make use of the Child Tax Credit because of the Recovery Act. Without extension, the earnings need to qualify for the credit would dramatically increase and families could lose some or all of their Child Tax Credit. American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) Prior to AOTC there were two permanent education tax credits, the Hope Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit. AOTC replaced the Hope Credit through the end of 2017. The AOTC is both larger and more widely available than the Hope Credit. The Lifetime Credit remains unchanged as a refundable tax credit up to $2,000. AOTC is a partially refundable tax credit that provides financial assistance to taxpayers attending college or whose children are attending college. The credit is worth up to $2,500 per student and can be claimed for a students qualifying expenses for the first for years of post-secondary education. The Hope Credit was a $1,800 credit that could be claimed in the first two years of post-secondary education. Additionally, required course materials are included on the list of qualified expenses for this AOTC.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-statement-on-bipartisan-omnibus-bill,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Bipartisan Omnibus Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Bipartisan Omnibus Bill As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Baldwin secured several significant provisions for the state of Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which now heads to the Presidents desk to become law: As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was proud to help usher in this bipartisan compromise which not only rolls back the harmful, arbitrary cuts weve seen due to the sequester, but does so in a fair, responsible, and balanced way that strengthens our investments in education, the environment, infrastructure and innovation, while ensuring we provide for our national defense here at home and abroad. While I am concerned that the bill lifts the longstanding ban on exporting American crude oil and contains cybersecurity legislation that does not adequately protect privacy and civil liberties, I believe this legislation goes a long way in supporting Wisconsins middle class and working families at a time when Badger State residents are struggling to get ahead as Wisconsins economy continues to lag behind. As Congress prepares to adjourn, I remain committed to working across party lines in the New Year as I fight to move Wisconsin, and our nation, forward. (DOWNLOAD audio of this statement here.) As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin was able to secure several, significant provisions for the state of Wisconsin, some of which include investments in: Made in Wisconsin Shipbuilding Suppliers The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, included a provision championed by Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requiring the domestic manufacture of certain shipboard components, such as diesel engines, for the U.S. Navys new oiler ship, one of which will be purchased in FY16 for $674 million. This provision will help ensure a level playing field for Beloit, Wisconsin-based Fairbanks Morse Engines, which has been a key supplier of superior-performance and best-value diesel engines to the U.S. Navy for decades, as well as other suppliers in Americas shipbuilding industry. Enacting this requirement into law will provide Fairbanks with an opportunity to fairly compete for propulsion work on the Navys new oiler program, which ultimately will include 17 ships in the fleet, constructed over the next 17 years. In November, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to leadership of both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, urging them to include this provision in their final legislation. Next Generation Researchers/National Institutes of Health The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes a key provision from Senator Baldwins bipartisan Next Generation Researchers Act to help invest in the future of research, science, and innovation. Senator Baldwin, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, advocated for legislative language to direct the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a comprehensive study and report on fostering the next generation of researchers. The study will evaluate current barriers for our new scientists, including the impact of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and recommend policies to improve opportunities for the next generation of researchers. In October, Senator Baldwin and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan joined University of WisconsinMadison in hosting a roundtable with young and early-stage researchers. Senator Baldwin and Representative Pocan heard directly from early-career researchers, who are facing the worst funding for research in 50 years. The provisions in Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 will help meet this challenge. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 also includes a $2 billion increase for NIH, the largest increase for NIH since 2003. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative/Asian Carp The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes language from Senator Baldwin to invest in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. Senator Baldwin introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA) in February and, as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and as a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, has advocated for strong federal funding for Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts. The legislation provides steady funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and includes provisions to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The bill incorporates language from GLEEPA to formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for the first time and provides $300 million for the program, above the budget request which cut the program to $250 million. The bill also has provisions that direct the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite actions addressing the threat Asian carp pose to the Great Lakes basin, including directing the Corps to move faster on the GLMRIS Study of actions that could be deployed at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. Trade Enforcement for Paper Companies As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Baldwin has worked to ensure to ensure Wisconsins paper manufacturers and their workers are able to compete on a level playing field. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes provisions led by Senator Baldwin to ensure enforcement of existing trade laws and take on unfair, foreign trade practices. The legislation will help Customs and Border Protection increase efforts and implement advanced methods to fight against illegal dumping of foreign paper products, especially products from China, into the United States to circumvent tariffs ensuring fairness for American manufacturing. 9/11 First Responders Health Program The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 reauthorizes the World Trade Center Health Program through 2090 and the Victim Compensation Fund for an additional five years. Senator Baldwin has been an outspoken advocate in the decade-long fight to stand by our first responders who answered the call of duty on September 11th and to ensure Congress fulfills its moral obligation to provide our 9/11 heroes with the health care they deserve. This year, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers from across the country in introducing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. During efforts to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, Senator Baldwin met with 9/11 first responders to discuss reauthorizing the WTC Health Program. National Network for Manufacturing Institute (NNMI) As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include funding for an additional manufacturing institute in the National Networks for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The legislation also includes Senator Baldwins request to require the program to shift from mission-driven agency funded institutes towards open call solicitations from public-private partnerships. Opioid Drug Abuse Prevention Funding Senator Baldwin is a strong supporter of increased funding for opioid and prescription drug abuse prevention, treatment and research programs. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin led a call to strengthen federal investments to combat the growing prescription drug and opioid abuse epidemic in America, including the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Prevention for States program. As a result of Senator Baldwins advocacy, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes robust funding for opioid abuse prevention efforts, including $70 million for CDCs Prevention for States program. This investment allows CDC to strengthen and expand the program to all 50 states and develop safe opioid prescribing guidelines. Drug Diversion at Veterans Health Administration Facilities As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 that urges the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to maintain open communication with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and treat investigations of drug diversion in VHA facilities as a priority. DEA shall report to the Committee within 90 days after the enactment of this act on its drug diversion investigations involving VHA facilities and to report on the status of investigations on a quarterly basis thereafter. The initial report shall include: the number of ongoing DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA facilities, the number of DEA drug diversion investigations into VHA facilities concluded in the prior year, an analysis of trends in DEA and VHA drug diversion investigations over the past 10 years, the number of investigations that resulted in indictments, a review of factors that may be leading to drug diversion including VHA prescription drug prescribing practices, and recommendations or best practices to prevent drug diversion from VHA facilities. Littoral Combat Ship Senator Baldwin is a champion of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, which employs thousands of Wisconsinites and helps meet our national security needs. The LCS program has 2,000 direct jobs in Wisconsin alone and 93 Wisconsin companies supply parts and help build Littoral Combat Ships at Marinette Marine. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin successfully worked to include procurement funding for three LCS in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. Earlier this year, she laid the ground work for that outcome by securing full funding for three LCS in both the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policy and authorizes spending levels for defense programs, and the Senate-version of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which passed out of committee this summer. These efforts follow Senator Baldwins work last year, when she also successfully secured funding for three LCS. Additionally, this week Senator Baldwin called on President Obama to reject a harmful Pentagon proposal to reduce the LCS program in next years budget request and expressed her commitment to continue to fight for the program. In August 2014, Senator Baldwin visited Marinette Marine to tour the shipyard. In November, Senator Baldwindelivered the principal address at the U.S. Navy commissioning ceremony for USS Milwaukee, a Littoral Combat Ship built in Wisconsin at Marinette Marine. Land and Water Conservation Fund The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 reauthorizes and increases funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a win for Wisconsin communities across the state. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Baldwin advocated for the highly-successful conservation program, which expired on September 30, 2015. The bill includes funding for a LWCF project in Wisconsin as part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Military Facilities The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes language Senator Baldwin fought for to enhance security at military facilities in America. In July, Senator Baldwin introduced the Military Facilities Force Protection Act to better protect our men and women in uniform from the types of attacks that occurred in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 16, 2015. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes $80 million for security upgrades, including those called for by Senator Baldwins Military Facilities Force Protection Act, such as enhanced surveillance cameras and ballistic protection. The Appropriations bill also contains language Senator Baldwin included to require the Department of Defense to report on completed and planned actions to improve site security as well as the funding needed for those actions. The family of Marine Sergeant Carson Holmquist, a Wisconsin native who was tragically killed in the attack in Chattanooga, recently accepted a Purple Heart awarded in recognition of his service and sacrifice. Small Shipyard Grant Program The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes $5 million in new investments for small shipyards. In April, Senator Baldwin continued her advocacy for Wisconsins small shipyards with a bipartisan call to renew the Small Shipyard Grant Program, which had not received funding in the last two years. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Baldwin worked to breathe new life into this program to help small shipyards increase efficiency and capacity for shipping products made in America. The Small Shipyard Grant Program provides grants to small commercial shipyards to purchase equipment and train employees. The grants require that equipment purchased be made in America. Firefighter Grants The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes a provision championed by Senator Baldwin to make robust investments to help Wisconsins first responders be better prepared for crude oil train derailments. Senator Baldwin, an outspoken leader in promoting oil train rail safety, previously called for these investments in April of 2015. Since then, multiple derailments in Wisconsin and across the country illustrated the need for increased funding for programs that firefighters can use to prepare for the growing threat of crude oil train shipments. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 provides a $10 million increase for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, which helps first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public. Supercomputing The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes language that Senator Baldwin, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, advocated for to invest in supercomputing. Cray Computing of Chippewa Falls will benefit from these provisions, which make critical investments in supercomputing and push to advance Americas computing infrastructure to support advanced research and maintain the United States role as a world leader in supercomputing. Multiple provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 help to boost supercomputing in America, including a funding increase of $45,000,000 more than the Presidents budget request for the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program. The High Performance Computing Modernization Program supports scientists and engineers in supercomputing resource centers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=900c0964-c3aa-474d-8439-bd66b3461cb5,Johnson: Economic Growth Outweighs Negatives,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Votes yes to end uncertainty on tax provisions while faultinghorrible omnibus spending process WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this after the Senate passed HR 2029, the bill containing both the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015: I have repeatedly said that the number one component of a solution to the problems facing America is economic growth. Although far from what I and most Republicans would have proposed, the compromise tax reform and FY2016 spending bill should have a net positive effect on our economy. Temporary tax provisions cause uncertainty that harms our economy. Making a number of temporary tax treatments permanentsuch as the research and development credit and Section 179 expensing for businesses that buy new equipment is long overdue and will be helpful. Lifting the oil export ban will decrease America's trade deficit, reduce the negative influence of other oil exporters such as Russia, help balance U.S. refining capabilities, and create greater incentives for U.S. producers to explore, innovate, and further reduce production costs. Massive omnibus spending bills are a horrible way of funding government, and I truly hope this is the last I ever have to vote on. Under a new Republican majority in the Senate, the Appropriations Committee carefully deliberated on, voted, and reported out every one of the 12 individual appropriation bills. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats blocked these bills from coming to the floor for consideration and a full amendment process. Republican leaders were forced to negotiate under threat of multiple presidential vetoes. The resulting spending bill stayed within the most recently agreed-upon limits, the uncertainty and resulting economic harm that would have been created by the presidents threatened government shutdown was avoided, and at least a few good policy amendments survived. These included my committees Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act and reforms to the Visa Waiver Program designed to improve national security. Noticeably and most regrettably absent was the reauthorization for the DC Opportunity Scholarship program, which gives low-income families in the nations capital a chance to escape failing schools. Negotiators also failed to include any meaningful regulatory relief for Wisconsins smaller community banks. Upon careful consideration, I believe the positives outweighed the negatives and I decided to vote yes. I hope that Democrats will stop obstructing and allow us to return to a more thoughtful and deliberative process next year so that we can do a far better job of prioritizing spending. Sen. Johnsons comments on his successful legislation to improve national security can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ca1bc5d0-d4ce-4bdb-a221-8b0babbe0642,Johnson Legislation to Help Keep Terrorists Out of U.S. by Reforming Visa Waiver Program Passes U.S. Congress,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Omnibus package also includes Johnson priority to fight cyberattacks WASHINGTON Two key priorities of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), strengthening national security protections in the Visa Waiver Program to keep terrorists off U.S. soil, and improving cooperation to stop cyberattacks, passed Congress on Friday. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015, S. 754, and the majority of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, S. 2362, passed as part of the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was the Senate sponsor of the reforms to the Visa Waiver Program. The program simplifies travel between the United States and a group of 38 countries, but in the wake of attacks in Paris by terrorists holding passports from European countries in the program, Congress sought to enhance the security measures in it. I am pleased that these reforms have passed Congress, said Johnson on Friday. Protecting Americans against terrorism is something we can all agree on. These reforms to the Visa Waiver Program will improve our ability to keep terrorists out of the United States while maintaining the legitimate travel and the security benefits of the Visa Waiver Program. Johnson also was part of a bipartisan group that shepherded the cybersecurity reforms through Senate and House homeland security and intelligence committees, and he crafted the reforms of network security for federal computer systems with Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, ranking member of the Senates homeland security committee. The bill enables private companies and the federal government to share information about attempts to steal information from computer systems. Foreign adversaries are pillaging American companies for their intellectual property and our government agencies for their sensitive data, said Johnson on Friday, citing notorious cyberattacks on private companies and the theft of personal data on millions of Americans from the Office of Personnel Management and the Internal Revenue Service. The Cybersecurity Act of 2015 is an important step in the right direction. It requires federal agencies to use common-sense solutions. Its long overdue, and I am pleased that it now has passed. Sen. Johnsons comments on the omnibus appropriations bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1333,Moore Welcomes DOJ Investigation of Milwaukee Police Department,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"By Priscilla Luong MILWAUKEE-- Before he became a jeweler-- Nyajtoua Her, was a soldier in Laos. Sitting in his shop near West Allis, he still remembers what ran through his mind when the communists took over. ""I'm not going to survive,"" said Her. Her left Laos with his family in 1978 to escape persecution. His nationality was Laotian, but his ethnicity-- Hmong, made his family targets for political oppression. ""We are Hmong, we have our own group,"" he explained. When his family settled in the US, they sought political asylum and opportunity. ""We don't know what the future is going to be,"" said Her, as he recalled their arrival on American soil. For Her and his family, Wisconsin-- became home. The state now has the third largest Hmong population in the US, behind California and Minnesota. This makes Hmong-Americans the largest ethnic group among Wisconsin's Asian Americans. Nearly four decades later, Hmong families are still trying to keep their heritage alive. ""For us, it's even more challenging,"" said Charles Vang, Executive Director of the Hmong Chamber of Commerce. Many Asian cultures have a country to call home, but leaders in the Hmong-American community say for them, not so much. Aside from Laos, people of Hmong culture are spread among China, Vietnam, and Thailand. ""We don't have a country,"" explained Vang, ""and it's harder for us to keep that heritage."" May marks Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month-- as the month comes to an end, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin) joined other lawmakers urging President Obama to designate July 22nd Lao-Hmong Recognition Day. For Her and his family, it's a day to celebrate how far Hmong-American families have come. ""I built my life from nothing,"" said Her, ""so this is good for me and my family."" To view this article online, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2027,Moore Welcomes DOJ Investigation of Milwaukee Police Department,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"Moore Welcomes DOJ Investigation of Milwaukee Police Department f t # e Washington, DC, December 17, 2015 I am encouraged by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn's decision to request this investigation, and I am hopeful that the recommendations made by the U.S. Department of Justice will help the Milwaukee Police Department better serve our community. Given the number of high profile incidences in my district, including the deaths of Dontre Hamilton and Derek Williams, change in our current system is long overdue. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to the U.S. Department of Justice's announcement that it will launch a collaborative reform initiative with the Milwaukee Police Department, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: I am encouraged by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn's decision to request this investigation, and I am hopeful that the recommendations made by the U.S. Department of Justice will help the Milwaukee Police Department better serve our community. Given the number of high profile incidences in my district, including the deaths of Dontre Hamilton and Derek Williams, change in our current system is long overdue. We must do everything we can to strengthen the relationship between the citizens of Milwaukee and those who have sworn to protect them. However, I remain deeply concerned about allegations of racial profiling and stop and frisk' style policies that I fear are deeply imbedded in our current policing strategy. While this Office of Community Oriented Policing Services review represents a promising step forward, it does not involve the type of in-depth legal investigation I have called for through the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. In the past, I have advocated for a full pattern and practice' review of the Milwaukee Police Department to broker the change many of my constituents feel is needed. As this review moves forward, I urge the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure that this process is conducted in an open and transparent manner. In addition, I firmly believe that we must continue to keep all options including a full pattern and practice investigation on the table in our shared goal of enhancing public safety and defending the civil rights of all citizens.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-rep-bustos-include-rail-safety-funding-year-end-budget,Rep. Kind & Rep. Bustos Include Rail Safety Funding in Year End Budget,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind's and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos' request for increased funding for rail safety was included in the year end spending bill. The bill is expected to come to the House floor for a vote on Friday. I am pleased to see that Congress has taken Rep. Bustos' and my recommendation to increase funding for rail safety measures. During a derailment or spill a quick response time and access to the proper tools saves lives and property, Congressman Kind stated. While this increase in funding is a step in the right direction I would have liked to have seen additional funding. Going forward I will continue to work on additional measures to ensure our first responders have the tools they need in emergencies. ""I fought to increase funding for emergency response equipment because we have an obligation to protect families in communities along rail lines,"" said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. ""Last March in Galena, we saw how important it is for first responders to have immediate access to the tools they need to prevent an accident from becoming a full scale disaster. While I would have preferred to have seen additional funding for emergency response equipment, this is an encouraging step in the right direction and I will continue to fight for more resources for our communities."" The 2016 budget contains funding for the various transportation safety programs and agencies within DOT. This includes a $300,000 increase for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Find a copy of the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-supports-passage-bipartisan-perkins-loan-extension-house,Rep. Kind Supports Passage of Bipartisan Perkins Loan Extension in House,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan, 2 year extension of the Perkins Loan Program. Rep. Kind has been pushing his colleagues to extend the program since its expiration in September of this year. In Wisconsin's Third Congressional District we are home to fourteen colleges, technical colleges, and private universities and more than 71,000 undergraduate students, which makes affordable higher education a top priority. Today, I was pleased to join my colleagues in unanimously passing a 2-year extension to the Perkins Loan Program. Wisconsin students and families deserve to have access to affordable quality education, and I have been pushing my colleagues in Congress to extend this vital program, Rep. Kind said. Recently Rep. Kind has discussed the need to reauthorize the program with UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank and during a tour of Chippewa Valley Technical College. Additionally, in September he voted in favor of the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015, which would have extended the program without delay.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-2-year-perkins-loan-extension,House Passes Bipartisan 2-Year Perkins Loan Progam Extension,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,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 Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015 passed the House reauthorizing Perkins Loans through Sept. 30, 2017. Rep. Pocan introduced the Higher Extension Act of 2015, which passed the House, along with his colleague Rep. Bishop (R-MI). Despite Rep. Pocan's efforts in the House, the Senate blocked the bill and allowed the program to expire on September 30, 2015. ""The Perkins Loans program has helped students in Wisconsin and all across the country struggling to find a way to pay for college,"" Rep. Pocan said. ""While this bipartisan bill is not as expansive as I would like, I am pleased that students will still be able to access much-needed federal financial aid for another two years. After months of working on this issue with education groups, students, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I am relieved to see that this critical program will continue. I will tirelessly work with my colleagues to ensure Perkins Loans are available to both graduate and undergraduate students in the years to come."" ""For approximately 16,000 UW System students a year, Perkins loans have been an important source of financial aid as they pursue a degree,"" said UW System President Ray Cross. ""We appreciate the leadership and partnership of Rep. Pocan and the Wisconsin Congressional delegation in helping continue this critical program for our students with financial need."" Since the inception of the Federal Perkins Loan program in 1958, over $28 billion dollars in loans have been made to students. The Federal Perkins Loan is a need-based loan, which fosters access to higher education for low-income students by providing low interest loans to students in need. Perkins Loans borrowers are predominantly from lower income families and are often the first in their family to attend college.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:33:33Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-president-obama-to-reject-harmful-plan-to-reduce-lcs-program,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President Obama to Reject Harmful Plan to Reduce LCS Program,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President Obama to Reject Harmful Plan to Reduce LCS Program WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statements after media reports indicated that U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, as part of the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, is proposing cuts to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program and the Frigate (FF) program that will follow LCS.The President will ultimately decide what is included in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, which will be released next year for Congress to then consider. News outlets have acquired an internal memo from Secretary Carter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, in which he directs the Navy to reduce the planned LCS/FF procurement from 52 ships to 40 ships. I am deeply troubled by Secretary Carters recent directive to reduce the Navys Littoral Combat Ship and Frigate purchases programs that the Navy strongly supports. At a time of continuing global instability and dynamic threatsparticularly in the very areas of the world the LCS and Frigate are meant to operatethe Navy is responding to ever-increasing mission demands. We need to give our men and women in uniform the resources and capabilities they need to meet those demandsthat means the LCS and the Frigate. The President should reject this short-sighted proposal, which is not driven by strategy and, while appearing to result from budgetary pressures, does not make fiscal sense in the long-term. I remain committed to fighting for this program and for the hard-working men and women of Wisconsins shipbuilding industry who play a critical role in strengthening our national security. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=67fc9192-4647-4598-9393-a5ab10f88d47,"Johnson, Senators Highlight Small Business Tax Relief",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Alongside Head of National Federation of Independent Business Watch remarks here. WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), along with Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Dan Danner, head of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), spoke Thursday outside the Senate floor on the critical small business tax relief that is part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, soon to be considered by the Senate. Making Section 179 expensing permanent increases small business certainty and cash flow, said Johnson. The level of uncertainty businesses in Wisconsin and across the country face right now is an enormous drag on our economy. It costs the economy jobs and overall growth. This provision increases cash flow and reduces borrowing, prompting businesses to invest in the kind of capital equipment that expands manufacturing and building. It will help develop a stronger economy and provide good paying jobs for Wisconsinites. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=78fdcadb-5eab-4911-b30c-37c3aa660600,"Johnson, Murphy Resolution Condemning Sexual Violence Against Women and Children by ISIS Militants Passes Senate",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON A bipartisan resolution introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) condemning the ongoing sexual violence against women and children of Yezidi, Christian, Shabak, Turkmen, and other religious communities by ISIS militants passed the full Senate Wednesday. Senate Res. 310 also urges the prosecution of the perpetrators of the violence and those complicit in these crimes. It was passed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by voice vote last month. ISIS publicly and systematically targets communities on the basis of their religious identities using a crusade of violence that includes executions, beheadings, arbitrary detainment, forced displacement, torture, enslavement, rape and other sexual violence. Johnsons resolution condemns these outrages. It calls upon the attorney general to commence the investigation and prosecution of any United States citizen alleged to be a perpetrator of this targeted violence or complicit in these crimes and urges the government of Iraq and other countries to act similarly. I recently had the opportunity to meet a young Yezidi woman who went by the name Bazi,"" said Johnsonfollowing passage of his resolution through committee. She was held by ISIS as a slave for months and was a victim to extreme brutality. She came to the United States to raise awareness of the sexual violence and religious persecution that is ongoing at the hands of ISIS militants. During our meeting we spoke about Americas role in the world helping to prevent these atrocities. Often, if the United States doesnt help, no one will. That discussion stuck with me. This resolution is a necessary first step in raising awareness and holding these evil perpetrators and accomplices accountable. I am pleased that this bipartisan effort to protect vulnerable women and children has now passed the full Senate. ""We can no longer turn a blind eye to the ISIS terrorists who rape, torture, and imprison innocent women and children, said Murphy. Sexual violence is a brutal weapon of war, and women from the Yezidi, Shabak, Turkmen and Christian communities have been systematically targeted for far too long. These women are hiding in the shadows of fear and the shameful stigma of abuse, while their perpetrators go free. Im proud to join a bipartisan coalition that worked to get this resolution passed. Its an important step in condemning this barbaric violence and finally bringing the terrorists to justice. Full text of the resolution can be foundhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2148,Interest Rate Hike Signals Stronger Economy,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"This modest increase the first since 2006 will also help us avoid a more substantial rise in rates in the future and prevent a potential disruption in financial markets. Although risks from the global economy continue to persist, this is a measured and pragmatic response to our nation's current economic standing. share: f t Washington, D.C. In response to today's announcement by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee's Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement: The decision by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to raise interest rates by a quarter-percentage point is a distinct indicator that our economy is growing stronger and is on the path to recovery. With the Great Recession behind us, this rate hike is consistent with our collective goal of job creation and inflation targets. As Chairwoman Yellen indicated to Congress earlier this year, Ongoing gains in the labor market, coupled with my judgment that longer-term inflation expectations remain reasonably well anchored, serve to bolster my confidence in a return of inflation to 2%.' This modest increase the first since 2006 will also help us avoid a more substantial rise in rates in the future and prevent a potential disruption in financial markets. Although risks from the global economy continue to persist, this is a measured and pragmatic response to our nation's current economic standing. As a result of President Obama's economic recovery policies, Americans can once again look toward the future with confidence and optimism.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kinds-va-inspector-general-transparency-bill-included-2016-funding,Rep. Kind's VA Inspector General Transparency Bill Included in 2016 Funding Bill,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, a number of provisions from U.S. Rep. Ron Kind's Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015 were included in the 2016 funding bill. The bill is expected to come to the House floor for a vote on Friday. After months of pushing my colleagues to increase transparency in the VA Inspector General's office I was pleased to see a number of the provisions from my Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015 included in the 2016 spending bill, said Rep. Kind. By working together to ensure greater transparency in the VA system, we can make sure the tragic events at Tomah are never repeated. Earlier this year Rep. Kind brought together the entire Wisconsin delegation to sponsor his bill, the Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015. Additionally, in July he sent aletter to House Leadership requesting they move forward on the legislation. The 2016 Omnibus includes an expansion of whistleblower protection to assure that VA medical staff has the same protections as other VA employees. In addition, the OIG is required to provide all work products to the Congress in a consistent and timely manner to support oversight, share work products with any individual or entity that requested it, and post final reports on the IG website no later than 3 days after it is submitted in final form.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-projection-shows-wisconsin-would-save-1-billion-if-walker-expands,New Projection Shows Wisconsin Would Save $1 Billion if Walker Expands Medicaid,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,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 an updated projection from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau showed a full Medicaid expansion allowed under Obamacare would save the state more than $1 billion through 2020-21: ""If Governor Walker would just expand Medicaid, our state could save $1 billion. This is a staggering amount of money Wisconsin desperately needs to offset the haphazard budget cuts imposed by Gov. Walker. The fact is because of Walker's actions we are going to face an even worse budget next year, which will yet again fail to provide critical investment in programs that matter most to the people of Wisconsin. ""If we expanded Medicaid, an additional 83,000 Wisconsinites could receive health care coverage and save our state $1 billion dollars in the process. It would be a huge win for our state. Plus, I'm sure we could find a few things to use some of this $1 billion in savings on like restoring cuts to the University of Wisconsin system, properly funding school districts, or maybe even fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, for starters. Now that Gov. Walker is back in Wisconsin, hopefully we can find a path forward for our state that grows our economy and creates good paying jobs.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:33:33Z https://web.archive.org/web/20160912042132/https://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1332,Interest Rate Hike Signals Stronger Economy,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In response to todays announcement by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committees Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement: The decision by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to raise interest rates by a quarter-percentage point is a distinct indicator that our economy is growing stronger and is on the path to recovery. With the Great Recession behind us, this rate hike is consistent with our collective goal of job creation and inflation targets. As Chairwoman Yellen indicated to Congress earlier this year, Ongoing gains in the labor market, coupled with my judgment that longer-term inflation expectations remain reasonably well anchored, serve to bolster my confidence in a return of inflation to 2%. This modest increase the first since 2006 will also help us avoid a more substantial rise in rates in the future and prevent a potential disruption in financial markets. Although risks from the global economy continue to persist, this is a measured and pragmatic response to our nations current economic standing. As a result of President Obamas economic recovery policies, Americans can once again look toward the future with confidence and optimism.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senate-passes-bipartisan-2-year-perkins-loan-extension,"U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan, 2-Year Perkins Loan Extension",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan, 2-Year Perkins Loan Extension U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Led Bipartisan Coalition to Save Program after September 30 Expiration UW System President: A significant victory for the students and families who are most in need of financial aid WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Senate cleared a bipartisan compromise to extend the Federal Perkins Loan Program. Senator Baldwin has led a bipartisan Senate coalition to reauthorize the program, which expired on September 30, 2015, cutting off the ability for approximately 1,500 colleges and universities across the country to make low-interest loans to new borrowers and leaving 150,000 students who have just started college in the lurch. The bipartisan Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015, passed by the U.S. Senate today, builds on a bill passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives in September and provides for a two-year extension of the Perkins Loan program. The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for consideration. Today we have found a bipartisan solution that breaks the gridlock and will revive the Perkins Loan Program, providing critical support to students across America who were left in the lurch when the program expired this fall, said Senator Baldwin. While this bipartisan compromise is not perfect and it is not the legislation that I would have written on my own, I was proud to lead a bipartisan coalition here in the Senate that really kept up the pressure to get this done on behalf of students in Wisconsin and across America. And as a member of the HELP Committee, I remain committed to fighting on behalf of programs like Perkins as we explore a long-term solution to strengthening and improving federal supports for higher education. I call on our colleagues in the House to immediately take up and pass this legislation so students in Wisconsin and across America know that their elected representatives are committed to helping them build a stronger future for themselves and our country. Todays action by the Senate represents a significant victory for the students and families who are most in need of financial aid to make the possibility of pursuing and obtaining a UW System degree a reality. Perkins loans have annually provided approximately $29 million to 16,000 UW System students. We appreciate the leadership of Senator Baldwin and the support of her Senate colleagues to help reach a bipartisan agreement that will continue this critical program for two more years. We are also proud that the UW System could play a leading role nationally in advocating for a legislative solution, said UW System President Ray Cross. On behalf of the thousands of incoming students who will now have access to the Perkins Loan program for two additional years, we applaud Sen. Baldwin for her leadership in working to achieve this bipartisan compromise. We look forward to working with members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation as Congress considers the future of federal financial aid programs as part of the next Higher Education Act,"" said UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca M. Blank. WATCH: Video of Senator Baldwin's remarks on the Senate floor. HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) thanked Senator Baldwin on the Senate floor for her work on the compromise, as well as her efforts on the bill recently passed into law aimed at fixing No Child Left Behind, ""This is the second time in two weeks that she's played a role in an important bipartisan decision here on the floor of the Senate regarding education. She made a major contribution to our Elementary and Secondary Education Act and by her willingness to work in a bipartisan way with other Senators, whom she mentioned, we've been able to get a bipartisan result here."" Since 1958, the Federal Perkins Loan Program has been successfully helping Americans access affordable higher education with low-interest loans for students who cannot borrow or afford more expensive private student loans. In Wisconsin, the program provides more than 20,000 low-income students with more than $41 million in aid. In fact, the program has been a critical resource for thousands of the neediest UW System students over the years, dispersing nearly $29 million to more than 15,800 students in 2013-14 alone. In other words, nearly 1 in every 11 students enrolled in the UW System that year were directly impacted by the Federal Perkins Loan Program. The Federal Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest loans to students who cannot borrow or afford more expensive private student loans. Colleges originate, service and collect the loans. Through a revolving fund, institutions maintain loans available for future students. Since the programs creation, institutions have invested millions of dollars in their own funds in the program. In addition to making higher education accessible for low-income students, the program serves as an incentive for people who wish to go into public service by offering targeted loan cancellations for specific professions in areas of national need such as teaching, nursing, and law enforcement. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=34330dbf-ff46-469b-bd74-74d854d7f22a,Johnson Congratulates Bo Ryan on Successful Career,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON On Tuesday, Bo Ryan announced his retirement after 14 years as the University of Wisconsin-Madison head mens basketball coach. He retires with 747 career wins, 364 of which were at UW-Madison, and seven Big Ten titles. Ryan has been one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. He will be remembered not just for his victories but also for his community service and dedication to helping fight cancer. In 2013, he won the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award. Sen. Johnson said this Wednesday: Bos contributions to collegiate basketball in Wisconsin are unmatched, and his successful career is greater tribute than any words could be. His retirement marks the end of an era. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of leadership on and off the court that always will be remembered.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a291e333-16e1-4ac1-b66e-5fe9d6497ef1,Chairman Johnson Speaks on Senate Floor to Support Legislation Empowering Government Watchdogs,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday alongside his colleagues Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in support of S. 579, the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2015. The bipartisan legislation was reported unanimously out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year and provides much-needed authorities for inspectors general to ensure they can perform their watchdog responsibilities in an efficient and independent manner. I am pleased that a bipartisan group of senators came together to make clear once again that inspectors general must have unfettered access to all agency documents, Johnson said of the committee passage. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Grassley has 13 cosponsors, five of them Democrats and eight of them Republicans, one of whom is Johnson. The bill was blocked Tuesday with scant explanation, however, by Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, leader of the Senate Democrats. The importance of inspectors general was made clear in the scandal of overprescriptions at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., when the inspector general office for the Department of Veterans Affairs investigated the allegations but did not publicly release its findings. The legislation requires the public posting of inspector general findings. On the floor Tuesday, Johnson remarked, I cannot imagine anything controversial about wanting inspectors generals to have access to the people and the documents they need to do their jobs. Americans deserve an accountable, transparent and effective government, and this is one tangible thing that we can do to help achieve that common goal. Sen. Grassley thanked the bills cosponsors in his remarks on Tuesday. I especially want to thank Sen. Johnson and Sen. McCaskill, he said, for working closely with me on this legislation from the very beginning and for their work on getting this through the committee. After the bills proponents spoke, Sen. Harry Reid objected to Sen. Grassleys request for unanimous consent of the bill on the Senate floor, refusing to give a reason. Johnson joined Grassley in voicing his disappointment at the blockage, citing a tragic case of a Wisconsin veteran. What is the objection to giving inspectors general the tools they need to provide the accountability, the transparency, to safeguard the American taxpayer money? he asked. Because an inspector general was not transparent, because the VA Inspector General held 140 reports on inspections and investigations, the family of Thomas Baer did not realize there were problems. They took their father to that health care facility, and their father died of a stroke because of neglect. Thats how important this is, and yet we cant even hear the reason behind the objection to allowing this very common-sense piece of legislation to pass? This is very disappointing. Watch Sen. Johnsons full remarks here. Full text of the bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=cddfcfff-0a82-45c2-89a5-02f86fb33b48,Johnson Applauds Passage of Perkins Loan Compromise,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this in support of a temporary extension of the Perkins Loan Program passed by unanimous consent on the Senate floor Wednesday: Its taken a number of months to achieve compromise on extending the Perkins Loan Program. I appreciate Chairman Alexanders willingness to listen to the concerns that universities, students and families in Wisconsin have shared with me on the importance of an extension. This decades-old program partners with colleges and universities to provide assistance to more than 20,000 low-income students in Wisconsin each year, and an extension will provide greater certainty as Congress continues its work toward broader reforms in federal student aid. The bipartisan proposal extends the Perkins Loan Program for two years for undergraduate students and provides one year of additional Perkins Loans to graduate students already participating in the program. Sen. Johnson has pushed hard to make sure that we found a way to help students who are depending on Perkins Loans, said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), original author of the proposal. This agreement will give Congress two years to think about how to make it simpler and easier for students to apply for financial aid and afford college.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e1aa6ef9-b744-4922-868a-5801491bb750,Johnson Comments on Inclusion of Key Security Bills in Omnibus,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said this Wednesday about the inclusion of S. 2362, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act and S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill: In my first year as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I have focused on the national and economic security of America. The committee's priorities have been border security, cybersecurity, threats to our critical infrastructure, and countering violent extremism. After the horrific attacks in Paris, the committee zeroed in on other U.S. vulnerabilities, holding hearings and roundtables on the Refugee Resettlement Program and the Visa Waiver Program. The committee heard consistently that the Visa Waiver Program must be thoroughly reviewed, particularly since the known attackers in Paris were nationals of countries that are part of the program. In response, I introduced and advocated for the Senate companion to H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015, which has now been included in the omnibus package we will vote on later this week. The reforms will strengthen the Visa Waiver Program and take significant steps toward preventing those who seek to cause us harm from entering our country while at the same time maintaining legitimate travel and the security benefits associated with the Visa Waiver Program partnership. On cybersecurity and on the inclusion of S. 754, Johnson said, Americans data and critical infrastructure is under attack. Former NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander called cyberattacks the greatest transfer of wealth in history, as foreign adversaries pillage American companies for their intellectual property and government agencies for their sensitive data on Americans. Recent cyber-thefts from the Office of Personnel Management and the Internal Revenue Service, and private companies such as Sony, Target, Anthem, and JP Morgan, have shown this is a growing trend. The biggest threat to privacy isnt government agencies trying to keep Americans safe. Its foreign adversaries stealing information on hundreds of millions of Americans. The Cybersecurity Act of 2015 is an important first step toward improving our cyber-defenses. Its not perfect, but its a big step in the right direction, one that Congress has been trying to enact for several years. Im proud to have been part of the bipartisan group, with my colleagues on the Senate and House Intelligence and the Homeland Security committees, that finally helped get this legislation passed. The information sharing authorization component of the bill enables private companies and the government to share information about known attackers and stop them. The federal network security component I crafted with Sen. Carper will require federal agencies to update their outdated cybersecurity, using common-sense solutions that the private sector has been using for years. This legislation protects us. Its necessary, and its long overdue.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-announces-2015-united-states-service-academy-nominations,Pocan Announces 2015 United States Service Academy Nominations,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,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) announced the nomination of 15 outstanding students from Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District to the Class of 2020 at the United States Service Academies. ""It is an honor to nominate these exceptional young men and women to attend our nation's service academies and become the future leaders in our military,"" said Rep. Pocan. ""All of the students have worked hard and demonstrated extraordinary academic achievement to earn these nominations. I am confident that if selected, these students will represent Wisconsin and our nation with the utmost integrity."" On Dec. 14, the students and their families were recognized at an award ceremony and reception at the Monona Public Library in Monona, WI and personally received an award from Rep. Pocan. 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. Rep. Pocan is recommending the following students to the service academy classes of 2020. Final admission is determined by the respective academy. Air Force Academy Tyler Kasperski- Madison La Follette High School Brynn Lunaas- Milton High School James Roberts- Waunakee High School Peter Speckman- Brodhead High School Victoria Trantow- Middleton High School Jack Zocher- Middleton High School Naval Academy Ajith Brown- 2015 Graduate of Madison West High School Diana Bulaong- Madison East High School Maxwell Cardwell- 2015 Graduate of Madison West High School Laura Kamm- Waunakee High School Samuel Noonan- Edgewood High School Allison Perales- DeForest High School West Point Jacob Kelley- St. John's Northwestern Military Academy Cheyenne Trilling- Verona High School Gray Woodward- Middleton High School",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:33:33Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-statement-on-governor-walkers-1-billion-missed-opportunity,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Governor Walker’s $1 Billion “Missed Opportunity”,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.15.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on Governor Walkers $1 Billion Missed Opportunity Nonpartisan Wisconsin agency estimates taxpayers could have saved over $1 billion through BadgerCare expansion WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after Wisconsins nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released updated projections outlining how the State of Wisconsin could have saved over $1 billion in taxpayer money over six years by accepting available federal dollars to expand Wisconsins BadgerCare program through the Affordable Care Act. According to LFBs projections, about 83,000 additional Wisconsinites would gain coverage through full expansion of BadgerCare. Todays projections from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau are further proof of the missed opportunity by Governor Walker to strengthen Wisconsins BadgerCare program, a critical lifeline for many in our state. I have repeatedly called on Governor Walker to put politics aside and accept this federal investment, but instead he pursued a plan that terminated health care coverage for 63,000 Wisconsinites, created a coverage gap, and exposes Wisconsin taxpayers to higher costs while covering fewer people. At a time when Wisconsin Republicans are making devastating cuts to education and infrastructure, Governor Walkers fiscally irresponsible path isnt the Wisconsin way, as he likes to call it. Its the wrong way. Wisconsin families and taxpayers need more opportunities to improve their health and economic security during these difficult times. They dont need elected officials putting their own personal, partisan politics first. Its time to seize the opportunity to move health care reform forward and put progress for Wisconsin ahead of politics. That is the Wisconsin way. After Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker kicked almost 63,000 low-income parents off their BadgerCare coverage last year, Senator Baldwin called on the Obama Administration to establish a special enrollment period to help those without coverage find a plan within the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Across the nation, 30 states and the District of Columbia, have already accepted this investment to strengthen health security of their constituents. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398443,"Ryan settles in as House speaker, sees good things happening in new role",2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Paul Ryan,R000570,paulryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC On Friday,Wisconsins First District Congressman and speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, spoke with Kenosha Newss Joe Potente. Excerpts of Ryans remarks follow: Q. How are you balancing your time between D.C. and your district these days? A. Ive kept my same routines, actually. Thats been pretty good. Ive been very pleased with it. Now with this budget agreement, Im probably going to stay longer. But I come home at the end of the weeks session. I spend a day in the district doing district work, and then Saturdays and Sundays at home. Typically, I do some constituent events along with my kids sporting events on Saturdays, and then Sundays are family days. So last Saturday, for instance, I went to Elkhorn to meet the kids that were going to nominate to the military academies. I did that on Saturday, then went to one of my kids ball games. Then Sunday, I went to the Rock County Historical Society holiday fundraiser, which is something we do in Janesville, and had a family dinner. So, basically Im finding that I have a similar routine, which Ive been really vigilant at keeping, which is to keep constituents and family as part of my weekly routine like I always have, and Ive been able to maintain that. The other thing is that technology helps. I can do a lot on a phone and a computer. So I do a lot of conference calls, a lot of texting and emailing you dont have to be physically present to do a lot of work. I do spend a lot of my weekends on the phone. Q. Youve been in the speakers job now for about a month and a half. How does it compare with what you thought it was going to be? A. Ive been in Congress for a while; this is my 17th year. So Ive always observed the job; Ive always felt like I had a pretty good sense of what it is. But you never know these things until you actually do them yourself. So, it is different in a number of ways. I find myself doing more macro then micro policy, and Ive always really enjoyed the nuts and bolts of policy, and I find I do more macro than micro. I think I knew that, but now Im experiencing it. I will find a way that I can get back involved in policy formulation, but for now I havent had that chance. There are a lot more ceremonial duties than I expected. Theyre pleasant you know, I meet with heads of state when they come into town. I do a lot of ceremonial things. I met with the president of Israel yesterday. Q. You dont seem rattled by these budget deadlines. How are you keeping your cool about this? A. Ive been around the block. My experience as Budget chair and Ways and Means chair gives me a pretty good perspective on these things. So, no, I am not rattled by these things. Ive seen this situation before. By the way, I dont want it to keep going like this. My goal as speaker is to return to what we call regular order, where we dont have these brinksmanship deadlines. My goal is try and de-escalate the situation, so that Congress works more smoothly, and more democratically. Q. What do you feel are your greatest accomplishments since becoming speaker? A. I basically feel like I have helped turn the battleship back to regular order, meaning it takes awhile to change the culture of any big institution like Congress. But in 10 days today being the 10th we will have passed three conference reports. In all of the last Congress, in 2014 and 2013, we passed three in the entire two-year period. And what a conference report is, is in the regular system of how a bill becomes a law, you pass a bill through the House and then you pass a bill through the Senate, and then you go to a conference committee consisting of House members and senators where you iron out the differences, get a reconciled bill and then pass it through both houses and onto the president. Thats the system the founders envisioned. Thats regular order. That is small d democratizing Congress so that everybody can participate in the process, and we only did that three times in 2013 and 2014. We have now done that three times on big issues in the last 10 days. That I think is my biggest accomplishment. To read these articles online, click here and here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-tours-chippewa-valley-technical-college-energy-education,Rep. Ron Kind Tours Chippewa Valley Technical College Energy Education Center,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"Eau Claire, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind toured Chippewa Valley Technical College's new Energy Education Center. The innovative new site represents an approximate $10 million investment in training workers for the energy sector jobs of the future. In order to continue to grow our economy we need to be investing in our greatest resource our workers so that we can remain the most innovative and creative nation in the world. Having facilities like the state of the art Energy Education Center makes sure that our workers are prepared to compete for new jobs in the energy sector, Rep. Kind said. Right here in the Chippewa Valley we have seen how technological advancements in wind, solar and geothermal energy systems have changed the landscape in the energy sector of our economy, CVTC President Bruce Barker said. The Energy Education Center provides the facilities where our students and their future employers can keep up with the changes and prepare for the next generation of energy technology Rep. Kind recently co-sponsored the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act, which would award grants to educational institutions, like Chippewa Valley Technical College, to develop programs of study for careers in clean and renewable energy.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7d42092a-a92c-4c96-a726-6461aeb09259,Johnson Announces Staff Mobile Office Hours,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced Monday that his staff will be available for the mobile office hours listed below. Mobile office hours allow constituents to meet with the senators staff to request assistance with a federal agency or regarding other federal matters. Note: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of constituents we are here to assist. Monday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Florence County Government Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room 501 Lake Ave., Florence Monday, Dec. 21, 12:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Forest County Government Building, County Board Room 200 E. Madison Ave., Crandon ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=211691c3-d943-4ac4-bd74-5b13265b4133,Johnson to Attend EAA Event,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) will attend Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1158s Breakfast with Santa event this Saturday in West Bend. Details are below. Time:8:30 a.m. 10 a.m. CT Location:West Bend Airport, 310 Aerial Drive, West Bend Note:This event is open to the press. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pocan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/pocan-op-ed-despite-25-years-of-failing-our-families-taxpayer-funded,"Pocan Op-Ed: Despite 25 Years of Failing Our Families, Taxpayer-Funded Vouchers Coming To Your School District",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Madison 365 By Rep. Mark Pocan In recent years, Wisconsins taxpayer-funded voucher program has wasted taxpayer dollars and harmed our public schools, but thats not stopping Republican legislators from expanding this failed program. In many places, voucher programs began with a honorable intent give low-income families in tough school districts access to the private school system. That is clearly no longer the case. Now, vouchers are being aggressively pursued by shady lobbying outfits, such as the notorious American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which seeks to take curriculum and financial control away from public accountability. In October 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released information demonstrating that nearly 75 percent of students in the states newly expanded program were already enrolled in private schools. This new data reveals that only 19 percent of new statewide enrollees came from the public-school system. The evidence is clear: this program doesnt exist to help students in need. It is nothing more than a taxpayer-funded perk for people who were already enrolled in private school. And this perk comes at the expense of our public schools. Wisconsinites now foot the bill for select children to attend private school, who were already there, while our public schools struggle to repair leaking roofs and class sizes rapidly expand. Having two separate and unequal school systems is costly for taxpayers and for our children. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, this year alone, Wisconsin is expected to take $258 million dollars in funding from public schools for tax-payer funded vouchers. Nationally, schools are spending close to 1.5 billion dollars on similar schemes. The American Civil Liberties Union has started to fight back, suing Nevada for its use of a voucher program to send students to for-profit religious schools on the taxpayers dime. My colleague Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and I recently formed a Public Education Caucus in Congress. The word public is in there for a reason. The goal of this caucus is to highlight that our public schools are working hard to serve ALL students and they have to do this with fewer resources. Voucher schools are hand-picking which students they prefer to educate, often turning down students like those with special needs. Public schools in Wisconsin educate all kids who come through their doors without discriminating against those who might have greater needs or more difficult circumstances. Voucher schools also operate with little-to-no oversight or transparency and they are not accountable to us as taxpayers despite the fact that we are funding them. In Wisconsin several voucher schools have abruptly shut down over night after taking the tax money to educate the students. The cost to taxpayers has been a staggering $176 million and indications are this number will only increase over time. Whats worse is that public schools must then take those students back without getting the tax money we gave to educate them putting local schools under further financial stress. Congress continues to work on massive budget agreements, which will have significant bearing on funding for education priorities, and it is imperative that both states and the federal government continue their commitment to invest in public schools. Its our best and most cost-effective option for educating all of our kids. Republicans and their lobbying arm, ALEC, have shown their hand. They are aggressively pursuing expanding this taxpayer funded scheme to Nevada, North Carolina and other state beyond Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. Earlier this year, Republicans unveiled their plans to create a federal voucher program via the legislative process while working on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Their end goal is plain. They will dismantle public education by underfunding our schools so they can point to them as failures and privatize public education, shipping off our tax dollars to unaccountable private schools. The goal of the Public Education Caucus is to fight back and defend our public schools. We want strong, unwavering support for our public schools, teachers and those committed to ensuring all kids, regardless of their background or situation, have access to great schools that offer a sound curriculum that will prepare our kids for the workforce and make them globally competitive. Public schools are the cornerstone of a great nation and education is a fundamental part of a governments responsibility to its citizens. Creating a private, duplicative school system, which caters to a select group of students, is wasteful to taxpayers and does serious harm to the schools that educate the vast majority of our kids. Public funds should be used for public education. Period.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/press-release/duffy-bill-addresses-puerto-rico-debt-crisis-shields-americans-from-a-taxpayer-bailout,Duffy Bill Addresses Puerto Rico Debt Crisis; Shields Americans from a Taxpayer Bailout,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (WI-07)introduced the Puerto Rico Financial Stability and Debt Restructuring Choice Act on Wednesday. Upon introduction of the bill, Rep. Duffy offered: This bill empowers the Government of Puerto Rico with the choice to partner with the Federal Government and put the island on a path towards balanced budgets and a return to fiscal security. If Congress does not act, it would have a devastating effect on the people of Puerto Rico and countless Americans throughout the states who stand to lose billions in the bond markets. He continued, This is a multi-pronged approach and a long-term solution. It cannot happen without adoption of legislation by the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly which must be signed by the Governor. We know bailouts do not change spending habits. We need all sides to be fully committed to changing the way Puerto Rico manages its budgets, tax collection and finances. Background: Puerto Ricos Choice Respecting the democratic process and the political leadership elected by the people of Puerto Rico, thePuerto Rico Financial Stability and Debt Restructuring Choice Actgives the islands leadership a choice: through the adoption of legislation passed by the Assembly and signed by the Governor, the Government of Puerto Rico will have access the same chapter 9 bankruptcy process that Americas States do if it also agrees to an independent Financial Stability Council to oversee the islands path toward balanced budgets and a return to financial stability. Chapter 9 Prior to the 1980s, Puerto Rico was treated like a state for the purposes of allowing its municipalities and political subdivisions to access the bankruptcy courts. After a rewrite of the bankruptcy code, Puerto Rico lost access to chapter 9. ThePuerto Rico Financial Stability and Debt Restructuring Choice Actwill restore Puerto Ricos access to an orderly debt restructuring process, without which the result would be disorderly litigation which is neither good for the island or its bondholders. Puerto Rico Financial Stability Council In order to restore investor confidence and improve tax collection and budgeting practices, the Government of Puerto Rico may choose to accept the establishment of a 5-member Financial Stability Council with the authority to oversee the islands financial planning and annual budgets. Unlike the D.C. Control Board of the 1990s, this Council will not be imposed on Puerto Rico the islands elected leaders in San Juan must agree to accept the Council. The Councils duration will also be limited and it will not have the blanket authority to impose changes to Puerto Ricos government. Rather, the Financial Stability Council will focus on just that: restoring financial stability to Puerto Rico. Read the full text of Rep. Duffy's bill here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=05e75d85-0e72-4b1e-a7e6-b11efcee314e,"Johnson, Senators Introduce Bill to Fast-Track Disposal of Excess Federal Real Property",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and James Lankford (R-Okla.), introduced the Federal Asset Sale and Transfer Act Tuesday to reduce the federal governments inventory of unneeded real properties and the cost of maintaining them. Johnson said this following committee passage on Wednesday: The federal government is sitting on thousands of federal properties that could be consolidated or sold. Because it doesnt dispose of them, it wastes millions of taxpayer dollars each year in overhead costs. This bill will simplify and accelerate the disposal process for these costly properties. This is a bipartisan effort, and I am pleased that we can build upon the previous work of Sens. Mark Warner and Roy Blunt, who spearheaded the Civilian Property Realignment Act. Too many federal properties are unneeded and underused. We need to take a businesslike approach to carefully review federal real estate holdings and look for opportunities to downsize, Sen. Warner said. By aggressively looking for ways to consolidate and sell these federal properties, we can save taxpayers billions of dollars by reducing maintenance and operations costs for years to come. The federal government is the largest property owner and manager in the country and must do a better job in managing assets, said Sen. Blunt. I am pleased to work with Senator Johnson to continue the efforts that Senator Warner and I have done. This bipartisan legislation will help consolidate and maximize the footprint and use of federal buildings which will save taxpayers money for years to come. The Federal Asset Sale and Transfer Act creates a process to cut through the red tape that prevents agencies from disposing of excess property in a timely and effective way. It requires that at least $500 million in unneeded properties be disposed of in the initial phase of sales. Proceeds from these sales will be used to carry out more property disposals, resulting in savings in operations and maintenance. Full text of the bill can be found here. The committee business meeting can be seen here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=69138fc1-9ed8-40dd-86d4-aa71e3d6cdcd,Chairman Johnson Applauds Bipartisan Passage of VA Whistleblower Bill,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act passes unanimously out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee WASHINGTON A bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), S. 2127, the Dr. ChrisKirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2015, passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by a unanimous vote of 16 to 0 on Wednesday. The bill is named for Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick, a whistleblower from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., who took his own life after being fired for questioning excessive prescription practices at the facility. Dr. Kirkpatricks brother, Sean, testified at a committee hearing in September about the retaliation his brother faced after blowing the whistle at the Tomah facility. Chairman Johnson introduced the bill in honor of Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick, and it is cosponsored by senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Jodi Ernst of Iowa. The legislation will strengthen penalties forthose whoretaliateagainst whistleblowers, add protections for probationary period employees,give greater authority to the Office of Special Counsel to investigate prohibited personnel actions, and ensure federal employees have a greater knowledge of whistleblower protections. Johnson said this after the vote: Dr. Kirkpatrick strove to provide the best possible care to our nations veterans. In his memory, our committee passed this bill to make needed reforms. The bill also ensures that accessing the medical file of another employee toretaliate against the employeefor blowing the whistle something that we have seenhappensall too oftenat the VA is prohibited and punished. I applaud the unanimous, bipartisan passage of this bill, and I will work with my colleagues toward its passage by the full Senate. Sen. Johnsons letters on the Tomah VAMC can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ec720472-5a3a-4877-a9a3-80991b2233fd,Johnson Comments on Passage of Every Student Succeeds Act,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this on Wednesday after voting in favor of adopting the conference report on the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan reform of the No Child Left Behind Act that authorizes federal K-12 education funding through fiscal year 2020: This bill is a strong bipartisan effort to devolve power away from Washington and toward states, communities, and the teachers and parents who are at the front line of education. Returning power to those closest to children will help educators perform their work more effectively and efficiently, and it gives students a better chance of success. It is a prime example of achieving a successful result by concentrating on areas of agreement an approach I fully support and practice.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f0d96f9f-9884-47d9-9a37-64a670ce3c7e,"Johnson, Carper Question K-1 Visa Program Vulnerabilities Following San Bernardino Terrorist Attack",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Chairman and Ranking Member Send Letters to Homeland Security and State Departments Requesting Documents and Information on K-1 Visa Program WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent letters to the departments of Homeland Security and State on Wednesday requesting documents and information on the K-1 visa program following the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Calif. One of the suspected terrorists, Tashfeen Malik, entered the United States under a fianc visa in July 2014. The San Bernardino attack has exposed the K-1 visa program as another potential vulnerability to our nations security, Johnson said. Despiteundergoing background checks and reviews by both the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, Tashfeen Malik gained lawful entry into the United States and brought terrorism to our shores. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs,I will push for answers from the Homeland Security and State departments to find out how Ms. Malik slipped through the cracks and explore necessary reforms aimed at preventing terrorists from entering the United States via K-1 visas in the future. Following the attacks in San Bernardino, the threat of homegrown terrorism and self-radicalization has become all too real to Americans, said Carper. As the Committee with oversight over our nations homeland security, its critical that we learn all that we can from this tragedy to inform our fight against terrorism in all forms here at home and keep Americans safe. I realize that many Americans are concerned about terrorists traveling to our country. I am too and thats why I believe we must continue to examine any vulnerabilities in the various that address how people travel to and stay in our country. Given that one of the San Bernardino attackers came to the United States on a K-1 visa or fianc visa its important for us to get more information about that program in particular to determine if there are weaknesses and, if so, fix them to help prevent tragedies like this from happening again. In addition to our examination of our traveler programs, we must also address the threat of homegrown terrorism and self-radicalization and work to destroy ISISs influence by countering their twisted message and inoculating against the groups efforts to radicalize our own people here at home. Full text of the letters can be found here and here. Chairman Johnsons border report can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-co-sponsors-bill-create-energy-job-training-program,Rep. Kind Co-Sponsors Bill to Create Energy Job Training Program,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind co-sponsored legislation to help prepare Wisconsin workers for jobs in the renewable and energy efficiency industries. I have toured a number of businesses in western and central Wisconsin that are on the cutting edge of renewable energy production. As the renewable energy sector continues to grow in Wisconsin, businesses will create more good paying high-skilled jobs. We need to make sure Wisconsin workers have the training they need to compete for these jobs, which is why I co-sponsored legislation to train our workers for jobs in renewable and energy efficiency industries, Rep. Kind stated. The Renewable Energy Act was introduced by Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA). The bill seeks to strengthen our energy independence and create jobs by setting up a competitive grant program to be run by the Department of Labor (DOL) which will provide the education and on the job training necessary to put unemployed workers to work in the renewable and energy efficiency industries.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwins-bipartisan-raise-family-caregivers-passes-senate,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Passes Senate,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwins Bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Passes Senate More than 50 national and state advocacy groups have joined in support of bipartisan legislation WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today applauded the passage of her bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act, by the United States Senate. Introduced with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and sustain a National Family Caregiving Strategy to support family caregivers. The legislation will now move to consideration by the House of Representatives. Over the past few months, Senator Baldwin has toured the state of Wisconsin, promoting the legislation and hosting listening sessions in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau with family caregivers. I applaud the Senates move to advance the bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act forward, and Im proud of the widespread support, nationally and in Wisconsin, that this critical, bipartisan bill has received, said Senator Baldwin. In so many instances, family caregivers put their own health, livelihoods and financial security at risk to tend to the needs of their loved ones, many of whom require full-time assistance and care. 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. The bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act creates a national strategy and plan to assist family caregivers. This effort is especially personal to me as I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmothers primary caretaker as she grew older, and I will continue to work to ensure that everyone has access to the care and assistance they need and deserve. Our family caregivers are an invaluable resource to our aging society, said Senator Collins. As our aging population continues to grow and the need for round-the-clock care for our seniors increases, uncompensated family caregivers will continue to be the most important source of support for people who need long-term care. At some point most of us will likely either be family caregivers or someone who needs one. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will launch a coordinated, national strategic plan that will help us to leverage our resources, promote innovation and promising practices, and provide our nations family caregivers with much-needed recognition and support. Caregiving was once a very personal and private matter, but now with over 578,000 family caregivers in Wisconsin alone - it is a public issue. Today, caring for an older relative, a spouse, a parent is affecting people in all walks of life boomers, men, women, millennials. It really is an ageless and nonpartisan issue. Family caregivers face huge responsibilities in keeping loved ones in their homes and communities and they need and deserve support. With todays passage of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act we are now on our way to developing a national strategy to recognize and support family caregivers. Thank you Senator Baldwin for your leadership on this issue, said AARP Wisconsin State Director Sam Wilson. ""We wholeheartedly endorse Senator Baldwins bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act and applaudits passage in theSenate,"" said Robert Kellerman, Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources.""Family caregivers are an incredibly important yet oftenundervaluedcomponent of our health and long-term care systems. This initiative recognizes,supports, and honorstheir efforts."" The Alzheimers and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin applauds and congratulates Senator Baldwin for passing the RAISE Family Caregivers Act in the U.S. Senate. We greatly appreciate all of the hard work Senator Baldwin and her staff have put into this important legislation which will significantly improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers, said Rob Gundermann, Public Policy Director, Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. Coming off of November as the Alzheimer's Caregiver Awareness month, family caregivers are the glue that hold our families together. Let's face it, all of us are aging. Many more of us are finding ourselves caring for mom or dad who may be struggling on their own. We simply cannot offer enough education about healthy aging, caregiving techniques and approaches, and ways to connect caregivers to resources in our community. I applaud the U.S. Senates passage of the RAISE Family Caregiver Act and Sen. Baldwin's commitment to the families of Wisconsin, said Kari Paterson, Alzheimer's Association South Central WI. At present, there are about 40 million family caregivers in the United States, who, in 2013, provided an estimated $470 billion in uncompensated long-term care. This is more than the total Medicaid spending that year. In addition, Americans 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. This population is most at risk of multiple and interacting health problems that can lead to disability and the need for round-the-clock care. This summer, a coalition of national organizations sent a letter of support for the RAISE Family Caregivers Act to Senators Baldwin and Collins, applauding their efforts to work on a bipartisan basis to support family caregivers. Family caregivers are the backbone of services and supports in this country. They help make it possible for older adults and people with disabilities to live independently in their homes and communities, wrote the supporters. By supporting family caregivers, we can help people live at home where they want to be, helping to delay or prevent more costly care and unnecessary hospitalizations, saving taxpayer dollars. We appreciate your bipartisan leadership and are committed to working with you to pass the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is also supported by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN), Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapters, Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of WI, Inc, and Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc. Learn more about the RAISE Family Caregivers Acthere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7aadcce5-a353-43c7-b9f3-034654acb07d,Johnson Announces Staff Mobile Office Hours,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced Tuesday that his staff will be available for the mobile office hours listed below. Mobile office hours allow constituents to meet with the senators staff to request assistance with a federal agency or regarding other federal matters. Note: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of constituents we are here to assist. Tuesday, Dec. 15,noon 1 p.m. Darien Public Library 47 Park St., Darien Tuesday, Dec. 15,2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Grinnell Hall Senior Center 631 Bluff St., Beloit Friday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. 10 a.m. Seneca Town Hall 21041 Town Hall Road, Seneca Friday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. noon Readstown Village Hall 116 N. 4th St., Readstown Friday, Dec. 18, noon 1 p.m. River Falls Public Library 140 Union St., River Falls Friday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. 3 p.m. Prairie du Sac Village Hall 335 Galena St., Prairie du Sac",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=900fa9f8-0c63-4686-a522-20de7e39881a,Johnson Voices Concern Over New Border Patrol Chief,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote this week to the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), R. Gil Kerlikowske, concerning the next border patrol chief. As I am sure you are aware, there have been concerning reports about a potential candidate from a sanctuary city jurisdiction, Johnson wrote, referencing Heather Fong, former chief of police for San Francisco. Obviously, the selection of such a candidate would send a strong message both in the U.S. and outside that enforcing our immigration laws is not the priority of CBP. Such an appointment would surely create another incentive for illegal migration to our country. The National Border Patrol Council commented, Ms. Fongs longstanding support of sanctuary cities makes her unqualified to hold this important position. Her appointment would demonstrate that the U.S. Border Patrol is no longer a law enforcement agency, but has become an agency designed to advance the political agenda of the administration. We thank Senator Johnson for his support and leadership on the important issue, the council added. The full text of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e7c9a000-7630-4da6-8bad-1d78eec7ca16,Johnson Calls for Inclusion of Visa Waiver Program Bill in Final Omnibus Package,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill Includes Additional Reforms to Promote Preclearance, Enhance the Screening of All Travelers in VWP Countries, Codify DHS Efforts to Increase the Use of Federal Air Marshals WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote Tuesday to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting inclusion of S. 2362, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, in the Senates final omnibus package. As you know, the bill takes significant steps towards enhancing the Visa Waiver Program, Johnson wrote. It will deny VWP status to individuals who have connections to terrorist hotspots, demand strong intelligence and law enforcement information sharing, enhance screening of all travelers in VWP countries, help prevent extremists from using documents to evade detection, increase threat monitoring of VWP countries, and take steps to ensure VWP travelers do not falsify their background information. My bill will also promote preclearance, enhance the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and codify efforts to increase the use of Federal Air Marshals. I believe, together, these reforms will strengthen the Visa Waiver Program and take significant steps toward preventing those who seek to cause us harm from entering our country through this program, while at the same time maintaining legitimate travel and the benefits associated with this partnership. As the holiday season approaches, we must ensure that Congress acts swiftly. Johnson said Monday the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will explore the legislation further on Wednesday during a roundtable discussion. Full text of the letter can be found here. Full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398441,Ryan Talks ISIS and Bipartisan Accomplishments in Congress,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Paul Ryan,R000570,paulryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC This morning,Wisconsins First District congressman and speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, spoke with the Big 1380 AMs Stan Milam and Wisconsin State Journals Mark Sommerhauser. Excerpts of Ryans remarks follow: On the Presidents remarks and combating ISIS: What I heard more was a defense of his containment strategynot an adjustment to a new strategy. We should not try to defend what has been our failing policy. *** And, I do believe we need a new strategy. Thats not just my opinionan overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House and the Senate as part of the defense authorization bill called on the Obama administration to present to Congress a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS. My concern is that the president more or less resuscitated what he had been saying and what he had been doing, which clearly has been inadequate. . . . What I was hoping to hear were the elements of a new strategy that was actually focused on defeating ISIS. Im hoping that the president, as now required by law on a bipartisan basis, actually comes up with a more comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS. *** We will be bringing a bill to the floor this week, cracking down on the loopholes in the visa-waiver program. There are 38 countries that are in the visa-waiver program. What does that mean? That means a radical with a French passport or a Belgian passport can get on a plane in Brussels or Paris today and come to America, no questions asked, and be here for 90 days without us knowing anything. And so, there are loopholesgaps in our systemthat need to be dealt with. Weve identified this with our taskforce in Congress, and we are working on bipartisan legislation to plug that loophole, just like we did two weeks ago on the issue of Syrian refugees. On recent bipartisan accomplishments in Congress: We have a full, completed five-year [highway bill] that paid for five years and its 10 percent above where spending was for highways. . . . And why this is important is, take a look at Rock County. Widening the interstate, I-90, from the state line up to Madison, is a multi-year project. In order to have the commitments by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, they need multiple years of funding for the transportation trust fund. Well, now we have that, and its the first time weve done that in a decade. We had something like 37 short-term extensions over the last number of years. Being able to unlock a bill that we havent been able to pass in a decade, getting a multi-year, five-year highway bill is one of the big accomplishments that Im very happy about. *** Well, we have replaced No Child Left Behind. And I, along with lots of educators and concerned parents in the First District of Wisconsin had big of problems with No Child Left Behind. I think we fixed those programs, and we had an enormous bipartisan vote359 out of 435 voted for a new Title I bill. We have now replaced No Child Left Behind, given more power to the states and the school districts to customize our primary and secondary education plans to meet the needs of our community. We are very happy with this; its been years in the making. Its a huge accomplishment. No Child Left Behind was written in 2002. This is the biggest rewrite of this area of education law in 25 years, and it was a very big bipartisan accomplishment. Just those two thingstwo big issues: transportation, educationthese have been thorny issues that havent been acted on for a long time. We finally delivered some big, comprehensive solutions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/tis-the-season,'Tis the Season,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear friends, Holiday hits are taking over radio stations, homes are being adorned with lights, the smell of fresh cuts Christmas trees are igniting our sensesand as boys and girls around the world complete their lists for Santa, Congress is checking items off its year-end to-do list as well. Energy Independence:One such item was the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act which passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 249 to 174 this past week. This bill seeks to harmonize energy security planning in North America and maximize our ability to utilize our countrys resources. Included in that bill is my amendment to hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the same standard that it holds American businesses. During debate on the bill,I offered: Let the American people see the impactoftherules that are being proposed. Just like inevery other government agency. The E.P.A. shouldn't get special treatment. Transparency, good government, and involving the American people in the process is what this amendment is about. Click on the image to watch my full remarks, or clickhere. The amendment, which can be read in fullhere, was originally introduced as a stand alone bill as part of my5 for 15agenda. Move that Busthe omnibus that is. In the coming week, you may hear about something policy folks like to call the omnibus. This is an end-of-year piece of legislation that wraps together the remaining Appropriations bills that have been debated, but Congress has yet to hold a vote. While legislation that is this large in nature is never my preference, an omnibus at least gives businesses the ability to plan for an entire year, as opposed to having to bow to the whim of short-term spending bills (Continuing Resolutions). Of course, I will stand by my pledge to you to read the bill before voting on it to ensure that it falls in line with the needs of the 7thDistrict. Keep an eye on myfacebookand this weekly newsletter for more updates on that. Untimely, but necessary, business:This weeks terrorist attack in San Bernardino and last months terrorist attacks in Paris have ignited a conversation in Congress and across the country about our refugee procedures and current visa-waiver program. This is a broad issue that will require a multi-pronged approach. In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress has resolved to take the lead. This week the House will begin consideration of a visa-waiver reform bill that will put necessary safeguards in place that will go a long way towards ensuring that terrorists cannot continue to take advantage of our outdated system. I spoke with Fox Business anchor Trish Regan about this first phase. Click on the image to watch my conversation with her: In other news:Is there an app for that? If not, now's your chance! All 7th District high schoolers, this is your invitation to show-off your STEM skills and take part in the Congressional App challenge. Click on the image for full contest details. Good luck! I will continue to keep you informed as Congress moves ahead with all of the legislation I mentioned above; in addition to these, please keep me up-to-date on the burning issues on the home front. Until next week Have a great week, Sean",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-joins-reps-moore-and-pocan-delay-cuts-wisconsin-national-guard,Rep. Kind Joins with Reps. Moore and Pocan to Delay Cuts to Wisconsin National Guard,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI- Today, U.S. Reps Ron Kind, Gwen Moore, and Mark Pocan sent a letter to leadership urging them to delay personnel cuts to the National Guard until the completion of a study on the future size and structure of the Army. At a time when the United States faces a number of threats to our homeland we must have a long-term strategic plan for the future of our Army National Guard, which is why I am calling on leadership to delay these cuts until we complete a study on the future size and structure of the Army, Rep. Kind said. The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act calls for reducing overall Army National Guard strength from 350,000 troops to 342,000 troops. This letter requests Congress delay ant personnel cuts until the National Commission on the Future of the Army completes their study on the appropriate size and role of the Army, including the National Guard. They are expected to provide their expert recommendations in February 2016. Find a copy of the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=34338a0c-d7bb-44ed-9834-96ed773fdbb1,Johnson Introduces Senate Companion Bill to Enhance the Security of the Visa Waiver Program,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Additional Reforms to Promote Preclearance, Enhance the Screening of All Travelers in VWP Countries, Codify DHS Efforts to Increase the Use of Federal Air Marshals WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced a bill Monday to enhance the security of the current Visa Waiver Program. The chairman said this about the bill: A review of U.S. security programs is critical. After the horrific attacks in Paris, I immediately convened a hearing to discuss our vulnerabilities. The committee heard expert testimony about our porous borders, the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program and the weaknesses with the current Visa Waiver Program, particularly since the known attackers in Paris were nationals of countries that are part of the program. It is clear that enhancements to the Visa Waiver Program are needed, and a number of proposals are being considered.I am introducing a bill that incorporates ideas that have emerged at our committee hearings and briefings as well as from the Senate bill I have cosponsored and the House bill that will be voted on this week. We will explore this legislation on Wednesday in our committee. I encourage my colleagues to support this package and will keep working to ensure these reforms are signed into law. Full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=698f2596-1d28-48f4-9336-9fa848afa0c9,Johnson: If only presidents actions matched his words,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued this statement Sunday following President Obamas address on the threat of terrorism and the fight against ISIS: On Sept. 4, 2014, President Obama stated America's goal was to 'degrade and ultimately defeat' ISIS. I immediately stated that I agreed with that goal and that I would back the president once he laid out and fully committed to an effective strategy to accomplish it. To dateand tonights status-quo speech was no exceptionhe has done neither. [AUDIO HERE] As is often the case, tonight I agreed with much of what President Obama said. Unfortunately, far too often the president's actions do not match his words. That will undoubtedly be the case again. [AUDIO HERE] It has been 15 months since President Obama stated his goal. The recent string of terror attacks -- the Russian airliner blown out of the sky over Egypt, the Beirut bombing, and the attacks in Paris, Mali, and now San Bernardinoprove that ISIS is neither a JV team"" nor contained. Fifteen months without defining and committing to a winning strategy is simply too long. [AUDIO HERE] Every day that ISIS is not overtly losing, it is perceived as winning, and it will continue to inspire and gain adherents throughout the world. ISIS, every form of Islamic terror, and every Islamic terrorist organization must be pursued and defeatedthe sooner the better. I stand ready to support the president as soon as he fully commits to a winning and decisive strategy. [AUDIO HERE] ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/press-release/duffy-on-the-president-s-address-to-the-nation,Duffy on the Presidents Address to the Nation,2015-12-06,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (WI-07)made the following statement in response to the Presidents address to the nation: The President proved yet again how tragically out of touch he is tonight. Days after the FBI, the media and the American public recognized San Bernardino as the second deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9-11, the President calls for a late night Oval Office addressto finally admit that he has come to terms with the fact that this was not another case of ""work place violence"". He also took the opportunity tonight to finally call the 2009 Fort Hood shootings terrorism. Again, this is not breaking news for the victims, their families and the American people. Nonetheless, the nation hoped the events in Paris and San Bernardino would finally compel the President to present a comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS and its evil ideology. Instead, President Obama is using the tragedy to push his left-wing agenda to restrict 2nd Amendment rights. Never mind that California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country and that the gun control measures he is proposing would have done nothing to prevent the massacre in San Bernardino. The President offered nothing new to combat terrorism. Even theplan he outlined to reform the visa waiver program has already been developed by Congress and will be voted on this week. The president's lack of seriousness when it comes to our national security is the reason why during his tenure, the world has gotten more - not less - dangerous. It's time for a Commander-in-Chief who is ready to confront and defeat our enemies wherever they hide.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://gwenmoore.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1331,Moore Announces 2015 Service Academy Nominees,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"By Mike Lowe MILWAUKEE (WITI) Americans are observing Memorial Day against the backdrop of a growing scandal over long wait times and secret records at Veterans Affairs medical facilities. But how will the backlogs in other states affect Wisconsins ability to serve its own veterans? Its a question being asked by every member of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation. The VA facility in Milwaukee is a sort of home away from home for Marine Corps veteran Kenneth Mueller. In my opinion, they dont deny any veteran any coverage, Mueller said. Mueller visits the VA facility in Milwaukee every week either to see friends or receive care himself. He wears his pride in the VA but he, like many veterans is disturbed by the backlog of cases that have kept military veterans waiting without proper medical care. I think its depressing. This VA scandal is not good so maybe theres some VAs that are not quite up to par, Mueller said. Its a problem Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore is working to resolve. Were very, very concerned about the backlog of cases that the VA has, Moore said. Moore says backlogs are bad enough, but the allegations that some VA hospitals manipulated waiting lists to hide delays are a downright disgrace. There was also an incentive to hide older cases if you hadnt gotten them services, so Im very curious about routing out that particular problem, Moore said. They shouldnt be doing that. They shouldnt be capitalizing on our health, Mueller said. The worst problems are in Arizona, but in Wisconsin, the VA does well processing cases. Ive had no problems at this VA. I can personally say that, Mueller said. In fact, last May, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki visited the VA facility in Milwaukee highlighting its move to digitized medical records allowing it to have a much smaller backlog. We realized that we had to go through a process of improving, Shinseki said. Now there is concern that the Wisconsin system could be jeopardized by the problems in other states as the VA moves out-of-state cases to Milwaukees efficient facility. I am fearful that VA is simply one national mission away from complete collapse and utter failure, Chairman Miller said. A letter of concern to Secretary Shinseki, signed by every member of the Wisconsin delegation says claims doubled in the last year, now that backlogged cases from other states are being sent to Milwaukee. The representative say the VAs strategy is negatively impacting the claims of Wisconsin veterans. Try to make sure that we dont end up shorting the services of Wisconsin veterans by trying to manage some of the cases from around the country, Moore said. Without addressing the scandal directly, President Obama on Monday, May 26th said: the country needs to do more to ensure veterans get the healthcare they need. To view this article online, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2284,Moore Announces 2015 Service Academy Nominees,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Gwen Moore,M001160,gwenmoore.house.gov,,,legacy,"I am immensely proud to nominate such exceptional students to our nation's military service academies this year, said Congresswoman Moore. ""They have been through an incredibly competitive process and I congratulate them on all that they have accomplished."" share: f t Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the 2015 service academy nominees from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. The nominees would enter their academies in the fall of 20 Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the 2015 service academy nominees from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. The nominees would enter their academies in the fall of 2016. I am immensely proud to nominate such exceptional students to our nation's military service academies this year. They have been through an incredibly competitive process and I congratulate them on all that they have accomplished. Our nation's service academies not only provide military training, but also four-year academic degrees. Students attending these academies receive a top-notch education and are given the tools and knowledge they need to serve our nation. I wish these exceptional young men and women well as they work to achieve their goals. Below, please find a list of this year's service academy nominees: USAF: Michael Kowalski Elijah Evers Connor Johnson Nicholas Pelkowski Brendan Lee Justin Weber Connor Fergus John Dargle USNA: Marlee Lane Connor Johnson Elijah Evers Cooper Fergus Maeve Hanley Percy Devlin West Point: Simon Kronschnobel Cooper Fergus Juwaun Battle Michael Kowalski Justin Weber Cooper Fergus Jacob Nygarrd ### Perry Devlin Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the 2015 service academy nominees from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. The nominees would enter their academies in the fall of 2016. I am immensely proud to nominate such exceptional students to our nation's military service academies this year, said Congresswoman Moore. They have been through an incredibly competitive process and I congratulate them on all that they have accomplished. Our nation's service academies not only provide military training, but also four year academic degrees. Students attending these academies receive a top-notch education and are given the tools and knowledge they need to serve our nation. I wish these exceptional young men and women well as they work to achieve their goals. Below, please find a list of this year's service academy nominees: USAF: Michael Kowalski Elijah Evers Connor Johnson Nicholas Pelkowski Brendan Lee Justin Weber Connor Fergus John Dargle USNA: Marlee Lane Connor Johnson Elijah Evers Cooper Fergus Maeve Hanley Percy Devlin West Point: Simon Kronschnobel Cooper Fergus Juwaun Battle Michael Kowalski Justin Weber Cooper Fergus Jacob Nygarrd Perry Devlin announced the 2015 service academy nomineesWashington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the 2015 service academy nominees from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. The nominees would enter their academies in the fall of 2016. I am immensely proud to nominate such exceptional students to our nation's military service academies this year, said Congresswoman Moore. They have been through an incredibly competitive process and I congratulate them on all that they have accomplished. Our nation's service academies not only provide military training, but also four year academic degrees. Students attending these academies receive a top-notch education and are given the tools and knowledge they need to serve our nation. I wish these exceptional young men and women well as they work to achieve their goals. Below, please find a list of this year's service academy nominees: USAF: Michael Kowalski Elijah Evers Connor Johnson Nicholas Pelkowski Brendan Lee Justin Weber Connor Fergus John Dargle USNA: Marlee Lane Connor Johnson Elijah Evers Cooper Fergus Maeve Hanley Percy Devlin West Point: Simon Kronschnobel Cooper Fergus Juwaun Battle Michael Kowalski Justin Weber Cooper Fergus Jacob Nygarrd Perry Devlin from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. The nominees would enter their academies in the fall of 2016. I am immensely proud to nominate such exceptional students to our nation's military service academies this year, said Congresswoman Moore. They have been through an incredibly competitive process and I congratulate them on all that they have accomplished. Our nation's service academies not only provide military training, but also four year academic degrees. Students attending these academies receive a top-notch education and are given the tools and knowledge they need to serve our nation. I wish these exceptional young men and women well as they work to achieve their goals. Below, please find a list of this year's service academy nominees: USAF: Michael Kowalski Elijah Evers Connor Johnson Nicholas Pelkowski Brendan Lee Justin Weber Connor Fergus John Dargle USNA: Marlee Lane Connor Johnson Elijah Evers Cooper Fergus Maeve Hanley Percy Devlin West Point: Simon Kronschnobel Cooper Fergus Juwaun Battle Michael Kowalski Justin Weber Cooper Fergus Jacob Nygarrd Perry Devlin",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-presents-purple-heart-local-veteran,Rep. Ron Kind Presents Purple Heart to Local Veteran,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind presented La Crosse resident Ray Anderson, a Korean War veteran, with a Purple Heart he had earned but never received. Rep. Kind's office was able to work with Mr. Anderson and his family to get him the recognition he had earned. Thank you to Ray Anderson for his bravery and dedication to our country. Today it was my honor to a present Ray with a Purple Heart he earned during the Korean War, but due to a clerical error had been unable to receive, Rep. Kind said, One of my office's most important jobs is to help veterans and their families cut through bureaucracy to secure the benefits they have earned and deserve. Ray Anderson is a veteran of the Korean War. He served as Private First Class attached to Company A, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division of the US Army from September 16, 1949 to October 1, 1952. Mr. Anderson previously received the following awards and decorations: United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 5 Bronze Campaign Stars, Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. He was never awarded the Purple Heart until now because it was omitted from his record. Rep. Kind's office helped rectify that.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-strongly-supports-reauthorization-of-export-import-bank,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Strongly Supports Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Strongly Supports Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank After Republican Opposition and Wisconsin Job Loss, Senate Passes Legislation WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has released a statement after the U.S. Senate voted to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through 2019. Due to opposition and inaction by the Republican majority in Congress, the Export-Import Bank was allowed to expire on June 30, 2015. This year, Senator Baldwin toured the state of Wisconsin, calling for a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, despite opposition from Wisconsin Republicans such as Speaker Paul Ryan and Governor Scott Walker. The Export-Import Bank is not only a vital export tool for small businesses, but an important tool for deficitreduction that returned $675 million to the U.S. Treasury last year. Since 2007, the Export-Import Bank has supported27,131 Wisconsin jobs by helping 218 Wisconsin businesses, including 128 small businesses, export $5 billion worth of goods and products made in Wisconsin. In 2014 alone, the Export-Import Bank supported $210.2 million of Wisconsin exports, 46% of which were from small businesses. In 2014, the Export-Import Bank supported 3,340 small-business transactions, $27 billion in total U.S. export sales and 164,000 jobs. In June, Senator Baldwin visited Wisconsin companiesAppvion, Inc.in Appleton,Fristam Pumps USAin Middleton andProlitec, Inc. in Milwaukeeduring her fight for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. In September, Wisconsin's manufacturing economy lost 2,700 jobs. In addition, GE Power & Water announced plans to stop manufacturing gas engines in Wisconsin, blaming the Waukesha closure on Congress' failure to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Statement from Senator Baldwin: The Export-Import Bank is an important tool that helps us create a level playing field, bringing fairness to global trade, and giving Wisconsin and American manufacturers the resources they need to fight and win against their global competition. While I applaud the action taken to finally reauthorize this critical resource, I'm disappointed that Republican leadership failed to lead on this tool for economic growth. The uncertainty created by the Republican majority's opposition and obstruction of the Export-Import Bank had real impacts on Wisconsin workers and families. This was a stark reminder that when Congress fails to do its job, hard-working people can lose their job as result. In Wisconsin, our economy is lagging behind and isnt growing as strong as we need to raise incomes. In fact household incomes are falling in Wisconsin and we can't afford to have partisan, political games standing in the way of economic growth. The manufacturing sector that has sustained Wisconsins economy for generations must move forward at a stronger pace if middle class families are to get ahead. Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank is just one of the many things both parties should support to help Wisconsin businesses move our economy forward and create shared prosperity for workers."" Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank was included as part of the bipartisan transportation funding bill, which cleared the Senate and now heads to the Presidents desk for his signature. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/press-release/duffy-amendment-included-in-bipartisan-house-passed-energy-bill,Duffy Amendment Included in Bipartisan House Passed Energy Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. U.S. Representative Sean Duffys (WI-07)amendment to hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the same standard that it holds American businesses was included in the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act which passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 249 to 174 on Thursday. During debate on the bill,Rep. Duffyoffered: Let the American people see the impactoftherules that are being proposed. Just like inevery other government agency. The E.P.A. shouldn't get special treatment. Transparency, good government, and involving the American people in the process is what this amendment is about. To watch Rep. Duffys full remarks, click on the image below orhere. The amendment, which can be read in fullhere, was originally introduced as a stand alone bill as part of Rep. Duffy5 for 15agenda. The North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act harmonizes energy security planning in North America and maximizes our ability to utilize our countrys resources; find quick facts on the billhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-supports-bipartisan-bill-improve-education-system,Rep. Ron Kind Supports Bipartisan Bill to Improve Education System,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI U.S. Rep. Ron Kind voted in favor of bipartisan legislation to revise the long-outdated policies of No Child Left Behind and give Wisconsin teachers and students the tools they need to succeed. After years of waiting for a replacement for No Child Left Behind, I am pleased that we were able to craft a bipartisan piece of legislation that gives our teachers the flexibility to adequately address each student's needs, rather than tying their hands with a one-size-fits-all approach, said Rep. Ron Kind. It is more important than ever that we ensure each student has the education and skills they need to compete in an increasingly global, 21st century economy; and these commonsense reforms take a significant step toward achieving that. The passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act marks the most significant changes to our education system in the last 15 years. The legislation replaces the national school accountability system with a system that gives states more flexibility to self-assess, reduces the overall amount of testing, and puts an end to testing being the primary factor used when assessing school efficiency.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kinds-statement-passage-long-term-bipartisan-transportation-bill,Rep. Ron Kind's Statement on Passage of Long-Term Bipartisan Transportation Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI- Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind voted in favor of bipartisan legislation to fund our nation's transportation system, increase rail safety, and re-authorize the Export-Import Bank. Below is his statement: Today's long-term transportation legislation shows that with bipartisan compromise we can take commonsense steps to address problems that have seemed intractable for years. This legislation gives local and state officials the certainty they need to move forward on transportation and infrastructure projects that are vital to creating jobs in western and central Wisconsin. One of the most pressing issues in western and central Wisconsin is rail safety, which is why I am pleased they included a provision from my Crude-by-Rail Safety Act to improve disclosure to our local communities of what exactly is being transported on the trains traveling through. Additionally, the renewal of the Export-Import bank will help open global markets for businesses across western and central Wisconsin to sell their products abroad. Access to these new markets will help businesses keep facilities in Wisconsin, hire Wisconsin workers, and continue to grow and innovate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-house-floor-statement-on-esea-reauthorization,Pocan House Floor Statement on ESEA Reauthorization,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,pocan,https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, spoke on the House Floor in support of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization, the Every Student Succeeds Act. The bipartisan bill passed the House last night by a vote of 359-64 and the Senate is expected to finalize it next week. This is the first reauthorization of the ESEA since the expiration of No Child Left Behind in 2007. You can find a video clip of Rep. Pocan speaking on the Floor here. ""I rise in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Defending public education is one of the reasons I came to Congress. For years, we've witnessed a negative impact on public education from underfunding our schools and to stripping teachers of their rights to collectively bargain for fair pay and conditions. At the same time, punitive policies which limit teachers' and administrators' abilities to manage their classrooms have further hampered student achievement. In my home state, attacks on public education are made on a regular basis. And nationally our dialogue surrounding K-12 education has lacked the input of local educators, parents and communities. It's past time we renew the promise of an ESEA which has students' best interests at heart. I meet with teachers and administrators from Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District regularly and was stunned when I was told one third of a school's staff turned over last year because schools lack the financial support and autonomy they need to give students the educational experience they deserve. Teachers are being asked to do more with less and it's coming at the expense of our kids' education. A 2014 Alliance for Excellent Education student demonstrated that 13% of the nation's 3.4 million teachers move schools or leave the profession every year. Close to 40-50% of teachers leave the job entirely within 5 years of starting. And while this bill is far from perfect, I am pleased that we are finally discussing a bill today that aims to put students first and trusts the teachers who dedicate their careers to education. This bill trusts and empowers teachers to ensure their voices are heard on the federal, state, and local level while increasing teacher quality and professional development, and reducing the burden of testing in schools. Those are good improvements, Mr. Speaker, good for our nation's children, and that's why I support this bill.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:33:33Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-casey-budget-amendment-cut-taxes-for-middle-class-by-ending-corporate-inversion-enacting-buffett-rule,"Baldwin, Casey Budget Amendment: Cut Taxes for Middle Class by Ending Corporate Inversion, Enacting Buffett Rule",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.15 Baldwin, Casey Budget Amendment: Cut Taxes for Middle Class by Ending Corporate Inversion, Enacting Buffett Rule WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that they have introduced a key middle class tax amendment to the House-passed Budget Reconciliation Act. The Amendment includes multiple tax provisions, specifically two major tax credits, including the Dual Earner Tax Credit, allowing up to a $700 tax credit on a second earners income, and the Child Care Tax Credit, which would help families afford childcare. Further provisions in the amendment include: Ending corporate inversions by tightening rules for inverted companies, requiring that they be at least 50 percent foreign-owned (as opposed to just 20 percent) to escape U.S. tax jurisdiction A new minimum tax, known as the Buffett Rule, which would be phased in for individuals with adjusted gross income between $1 million and $2 million; in later years, those thresholds would be indexed for inflation. Closing an executive loophole, which encourages executives to assume riskier management approaches in the hope of driving near-term profits and stock price gains Washington continues to give tax preferences to the wealthy and well connected as household income is falling for middle class families in Wisconsin. We need to rewrite the rules by making sure those at the top pay their fair share so we can cut taxes for the middle class and raise incomes for working families. Im proud to join Senator Casey in support of these tax reforms so that we can work to build an economy that works for everyone, Senator Baldwin said. Middle class families in Pennsylvania and around the country are struggling, said Senator Casey. Wages are stagnant and household costs, such as child care, continue to go up. My amendment provides tax relief for middle class families up front, but also enables families to invest in things like high quality early learning that we also know yield benefits down the road, such as higher earnings and lower rates of crime. The 21st Century Worker Tax Cut Act would make work pay for low- to middle-income families by allowing a 7 percent credit on up to $10,000 of the secondary earners income, while the Child Care Tax Credit would increase the maximum allowable expense limit to $8,000, extend the maximum credit rate of 35 percent to all households making up to $110,000, and make the credit fully refundable. The full text of the amendment 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/baldwin-murphy-letter-prompts-army-investigation-into-wrongful-discharge-of-servicemembers-with-mental-health-disorders,"Baldwin, Murphy Letter Prompts Army Investigation into Wrongful Discharge of Servicemembers with Mental Health Disorders",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.15 Baldwin, Murphy Letter Prompts Army Investigation into Wrongful Discharge of Servicemembers with Mental Health Disorders Baldwin, Murphy led 10 senators in calling for investigation after allegations that more than 22,000 soldiers diagnosed with mental health disorders were dismissed for misconduct WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today applauded the U.S. Armys announcement that they will conduct a thorough, multidisciplinary investigation into allegations that the Army has, since 2009, wrongfully dismissed more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with mental health disorders. The Armys announcement comes less than one month after Senator Baldwin joined a group of 10 senators, led by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), in requesting the investigation. In a letter to Senator Baldwin, Acting Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning wrote that the Assistant Secretary of the Army, The Inspector General of the Army, The Auditor General of the Army, and other senior Army leaders would conduct the investigation and report their findings. I am pleased the U.S. Army will be conducting a full investigation into the troubling allegations that men and women in uniform, diagnosed with PTSD or TBI, are being forcefully separated from service, said Senator Baldwin. I urge investigators to rectify this grave offense so our nations heroes are able to access the crucial retirement and health benefits and post-service employment eligibility they have earned. The November letter, addressed to Acting Secretary Fanning and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General Mark A. Milley, expressed serious concern that the dismissed soldiers will not receive the critical retirement, health care, and employment benefits that those with an honorable discharge would receive. The senators also emphasized that the forceful separation of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) further denies these men and women of much-needed treatments, and may even discourage other servicemembers from seeking the medical treatment they require. U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) joined Senators Baldwin and Murphy in calling for the investigation. 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/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-pay-for-business-tax-cuts-by-closing-loopholes-that-benefit-hedge-funds-and-corporate-ceos,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin: Pay for Business Tax Cuts by Closing Loopholes that Benefit Hedge Funds and Corporate CEOs,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin: Pay for Business Tax Cuts by Closing Loopholes that Benefit Hedge Funds and Corporate CEOs Baldwin, Reed, King, Warren, Whitehouse Call for Tax Fairness WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, joined by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance urging them to offset the cost of potential tax extenders legislation by closing tax loopholes that benefit hedge fund managers and corporate CEOs. If we are going to extend expired tax cuts for businesses and corporations we should pay for them instead of driving up the deficit. It is simply unfair to apply a different standard to these tax cuts than we apply to investments in the middle class, Senator Baldwin said. Washington continues to give tax preferences to the wealthy and well connected as household income is falling for middle class families. We need to rewrite the rules by closing tax loopholes for hedge fund managers and corporate CEOs and make those at the top pay their fair share. Middle class families cant afford to have the deficit placed on their backs alone. The letter shines a spotlight on a double standard whereby tax cuts that largely benefit businesses are allowed to drive up the deficit, while investments in healthcare, education, medical research and job training must be offset with budget cuts or increases in revenue. [A]s you work to finalize a tax extenders package, we urge you to also close tax loopholes to help pay for this bill so that we can give both businesses and middle class families the certainty they deserve, while eliminating some of the inequity in the tax code, the senators wrote. In October, Congress enacted legislationthe Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015that included spending cuts and revenue increases to help pay for national defense and investments in healthcare, education, medical research, homeland security and the economy. If Republicans believe that we must pay for sequester relief and offset these critical investments that support the middle class, then Republicans should also work with Democrats to close egregious loopholes to pay for extending expired tax cuts. The senators called for closing the carried interest loophole and tax write-offs for executive compensation over $1 million. The carried interest loophole allows many of the highest earners to pay a lower effective tax rate than nurses, first responders, truck drivers and teachers. The Carried Interest Fairness Act (S. 1686) was estimated by the Joint Committee on Taxation to raise $15.6 billion over ten years. The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act (S. 1127) was estimated to raise $50 billion. We encourage you to consider closing these and other loopholes to both help pay for tax extenders and make our tax code more fair. Read the full text of the letter online or below: December 3, 2015 Dear Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden, We appreciate your continued efforts to draft legislation to extend expired tax provisions, and we are encouraged that the Committee is working to make a number of tax provisions permanent. However, as you work to finalize a tax extenders package, we urge you to also close tax loopholes to help pay for this bill so that we can give both businesses and middle class families the certainty they deserve, while eliminating some of the inequity in the tax code. In October, Congress enacted legislationthe Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015that included spending cuts and revenue increases to help pay for national defense and investments in healthcare, education, medical research, homeland security and the economy. If Republicans believe that we must pay for sequester relief and offset these critical investments that support the middle class, then Republicans should also work with Democrats to close egregious loopholes to pay for extending expired tax cuts. We strongly support extending tax provisions that support the middle class and grow the economy. However, the Senate Finance Committee passed a bill earlier this year extending tax cuts and credits for two years that would add $96 billion to the deficit. Furthermore, reports indicate that House and Senate negotiators are considering making some corporate tax provisions permanent, which would cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars. Last month, Republicans and Democrats were able to come together in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation preventing harmful cuts to federal programs for two years. However, that legislation also included a variety of spending cuts and revenue increases to ensure that the federal spending would not add to the deficit. Therefore, extending expired tax breaks, or making them permanent, without offsetting the cost is a troubling double standard whereby tax cuts and credits dont need to be paid for but investments in education, job training, infrastructure, research and innovation must be paid for. Not requiring the same standard for these mostly business tax cuts is not only unfair, it would also add to the deficit and increase pressure to make additional cuts to domestic programs. Instead of passing tax cuts and credits that increase the deficit, we urge you to offset the cost of extenders by closing loopholes in the tax code. There are a number of unfair tax loopholes that should be closed to help pay for tax extenders legislation including the carried interest loophole and tax write-offs for executive compensation over $1 million. The carried interest loophole allows many of the highest earners to pay a lower effective tax rate than nurses, first responders, truck drivers and teachers. The Carried Interest Fairness Act (S. 1686) was estimated by the Joint Committee on Taxation to raise $15.6 billion over ten years. The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act (S. 1127) was estimated to raise $50 billion. We encourage you to consider closing these and other loopholes to both help pay for tax extenders and make our tax code more fair.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwins-rail-safety-reforms-clear-senate-head-to-presidents-desk,"U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Rail Safety Reforms Clear Senate, Head to President’s Desk",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwins Rail Safety Reforms Clear Senate, Head to Presidents Desk Baldwin thanks Wisconsin advocates, first responders, local officials, and concerned citizens for input and efforts on reforms Baldwin provisions improve safety, increase transparency, and require better communication between the railroads and local communities WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the United States Senate voted 83-16 to approve a bipartisan, five-year transportation funding bill that includes several provisions championed by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin aimed at increasing safety and transparency along Wisconsins oil train routes. The legislation now heads to President Obama for his signature. I am so grateful to the advocates, first responders, local officials, and concerned citizens who have spoken out and demanded increased transparency, communication and accountability when it comes to keeping our Wisconsin communities along oil train routes safe, said Senator Baldwin. I have been sounding the alarm for two years on the need to put in place strong rail safety reforms and today we have taken major action to hold railroad companies accountable and protect Wisconsins citizens from the catastrophic consequences of these dangerous derailments. As a fire chief with 37 years of experience, I know that there is no substitute for advance notification. I applaud Senator Baldwins efforts to include these important safety reforms in the highway bill. This law will allow Wisconsins hazmat response teams like mine to better prepare for an oil train coming into our communities, said La Crosse Fire Chief Gregg Cleveland, La Crosse Hazmat Team Leader. ""We are pleased that the bill requires railroads transporting hazardous materials to inform first responders when they travel through their communities. I'd like to thank Senator Baldwin for her hard work on this important provision to better secure the safety of citizens nationwide,"" said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger. I applaud Senator Baldwins efforts to improve oil train information sharing in the surface transportation bill. The senators provision provides first responders in Wisconsinand across the countrythe critical advance-notification information they need to keep their communities safe, said City of Milwaukee Director of Emergency Management Steve Fronk. Transparency: Currently, railroads do not have to provide bridge inspection reports to local officialsdespite the obligation of local officials to protect their citizens and ensure the soundness of local infrastructure. Senator Baldwins provision would require a railroad to provide local officials a public version of the most recent bridge inspection report. Real-Time Reporting: Currently, information about hazardous materials being carried through Wisconsin communities are only available to first responders after an incident has occurred. Senator Baldwins provision addresses concerns raised by the first responder community who would like real-time access to information about hazmat trains entering their jurisdictions in order to better prepare. Baldwins reform requires U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Fusion Centers to provide real-time information to state and local first responders before a hazmat train arrives in their jurisdiction. In addition, the bipartisan compromise includes provisions modeled after Senator Baldwins Crude-By-Rail Safety Act, which she introduced in March 2015. Comprehensive Oil Spill Response Plans: The bipartisan legislation asks DOT provide a plan to implement as soon as possible rules to require railroads to improve their plans for responding to a worst-case oil discharge. Rail Carrier Liability Study: The bipartisan bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate a study on the appropriate levels of insurance for railroads carrying hazardous materials. Read the full text of the bipartisan legislation here and a summary here. For more on Senator Baldwins advocacy for Wisconsin rail safety click here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=53cf2d97-8a53-45fe-882b-1e0ce60f2cd3,Johnson Comments on Passage of FAST Act,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said this on Thursday after voting in favor of the conference report implementing the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which reauthorizes and funds Americas surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2020: The FAST Acts bipartisan conference report is the product of months of thoughtful negotiations and public input. While not perfect, its the product of a functioning, productive Congress. I worked closely with my fellow Wisconsinites, Reps. Reid Ribble and Sean Duffy, as well as with my Senate colleagues, to ensure the final report would benefit Wisconsin constituents and businesses. The report gives local and state governments the ability to plan their road and bridge project budgets out further than just a few months at a time, which has unfortunately been the norm for a decade. These short-term funding measures can increase construction costs by as much as 30%, by some estimates. The FAST Act gives our transportation construction industry certainty, which every business craves as they build their annual budgets, bid on projects, make equipment purchases and set staffing needs. The report contains bipartisan language that will specifically benefit Wisconsin in a number of ways. It will: Improve the process for seeking federal permitting authorization for major infrastructure projects. Improve rules on carrying fluid milk so that fewer milk trucks would be needed, cutting costs for dairy farmers and benefiting consumers. Ensure that fire trucks and other heavy emergency vehicles are exempt from federal axle highway weight laws. Allow logging trucks on their way to the mill to continue driving a short 12-mile stretch of I-39 in Marathon County. Currently, these logging trucks must exit U.S. Highway 51 south of Wausau when it becomes I-39, because federal Interstate weight limits restrict trucks to 80,000 total pounds while the states highway limit is 98,000 pounds. Logging trucks will no longer have to pull off the highway and slowly traverse narrower city and county roads, thus improving safety conditions. Prohibit the Department of Transportation from awarding grants to local and state governments for motorcycle-only checkpoint programs. Reinstate the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) which would advise the Federal Highway Administration on infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=acf1b3d6-0047-4dc9-8595-fef13394327a,Johnson Votes to Repeal Obamacare,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said this on Thursday evening following Senate passage of the Restoring Americans Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act, a repeal of the unpopular Obamacare: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, has completely failed to live up to its name. President Obama repeatedly promised that if you like your health care plan, you can keep it. Instead, millions of Americans were not protected when Obamacare was enacted, and their policies were canceled. President Obama also promised Americans they could keep their doctors. Instead, Americans buying plans on Obamacare's government-run exchanges are discovering that the networks of providers are often narrower, with fewer choices. Those promises were repeated by many of Obamacare's supporters and were named PolitiFact's 2013 Lie of the Year. And instead of the Affordable Care Act making health care more affordable, the evidence shows that it has actually made health coverage more expensive. As a result, I voted yes tonight with 51 of my colleagues to repeal most of Obamacares harmful provisions. The president should sign this bill so we can begin moving toward free market reforms that devolve power from Washington toward doctors and patients. If the president refuses and instead vetoes this bill, our repeal is a marker for what a Republican Congress again will pass in 2017 under an administration that is willing to admit the harm done by Obamacare.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=148,House Replaces No Child Left Behind,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Replaces No Child Left Behind f t # e Washington, December 2, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 1177, Every Student Succeeds Act, formally replacing No Child Left Behind. Included in this legislation is an amendment Congressman Glenn Grothman offered that will increase oversight by requiring reauthorization in four years instead of the six years that was originally included in the bill. The legislation now provides a four-year trial period to states and local school districts and allows the next Administration to make needed education reforms.By reauthorizing this legislation in four years instead of six, the next president will be able to work with state and local school districts to make any necessary changes to our education laws, said Congressman Grothman. Reducing the federal footprint in education empowers parents and provides local control to help every student succeed. Giving states and local school districts the needed flexibility to establish real education reform is an important step towards fixing our K-12 education system. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kind-rep-bustos-push-increase-funding-emergency-response-equipment,Rep. Kind & Rep. Bustos Push to Increase Funding for Emergency Response Equipment,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos urged leaders to increase funding for foam trailers and other emergency response equipment in the upcoming FY16 Omnibus spending bill. During the recent train derailment in Alma local emergency personnel requested a foam trailer be sent to the scene as a precautionary measure in case of a fire, but the nearest trailer was located nearly sixty miles away in La Crosse, WI. In March, a train derailed near Galena Illinois leaking 110,000 gallons of crude oil, emergency responders said that with more foam available, they could have been significantly more effective in addressing the problem. As we saw with the recent derailment in Alma many of our rural communities and responders don't have timely access to vital equipment needed to handle a catastrophic incident. That is unacceptable, Rep. Kind said. During a derailment or spill a quick response time and access to the proper tools saves lives and property, which is why I am urging leaders to take immediate action to increase funding and give all our local communities tools they need to handle a derailment. When a train derailed near Galena and leaked thousands of gallons of crude oil, having more foam readily available would have helped our first responders do their jobs more effectively, said Rep. Cheri Bustos. It's critically important for us to do more to protect communities along rail lines. That's why I'm working to make common sense investments to provide our first responders with the tools they need to protect our communities and our environment.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=fcedf304-a0c6-4a60-9d7e-81b721a52f32,ICYMI: Johnson Introduces Amendment to Restoring Americans Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding his amendment to H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act. What my amendment would do is restore the promise that if you had health care that you liked in 2013, insurance companies could offer those same plans again, Johnson said. They were far more affordable, far more affordable. Obamacare at its heart is a massive consumer fraud. A massive consumer fraud. So the purpose of my amendment is the purpose of a piece of legislation I introduced in 2013. The same thing. It's designed to honor the promise that President Obama made that he did not keep, the promise that was made under Obamacare that was not kept. [AUDIO HERE] Watch Sen. Johnsons full remarks here. The full text of the amendment can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=146,"Grothman Votes To Keep Electricity Prices Low, Protect Wisconsin Businesses",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"Grothman Votes To Keep Electricity Prices Low, Protect Wisconsin Businesses f t # e Washington, December 1, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) Congressman Grothman voted today for S.J. Res 23 and 24 in order to prevent electricity prices from skyrocketing on Wisconsin businesses and consumers. S.J. Res 23 and 24 explicitly express Congressional disapproval over the Environmental Protection Agencys rule relating to carbon pollution emission guidelines for coal, oil and natural gas, including the regulations for greenhouse gas emissions. These rules proposed by the EPA would devastate Wisconsins power producing plants and would cause escalating electricity prices for the citizens of Wisconsin.Wisconsin residents shouldnt have to worry about paying their electric bill, but the Obama Administrations new rules ensure that Wisconsins electricity costs will surge, said Congressman Grothman. The EPA is not only hurting Wisconsin businesses, but also consumers. Make no mistake - this is cap and trade all over again. The EPA is looking to fundamentally change the way electricity is generated, consumed, and distributed. The Obama Administration needs to be stopped and this is a good first step to do so. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=146,"Grothman Votes To Keep Electricity Prices Low, Protect Wisconsin Businesses",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,grothman,https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Grothman voted today for S.J. Res 23 and 24 in order to prevent electricity prices from skyrocketing on Wisconsin businesses and consumers. S.J. Res 23 and 24 explicitly express Congressional disapproval over the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule relating to carbon pollution emission guidelines for coal, oil and natural gas, including the regulations for greenhouse gas emissions. These rules proposed by the EPA would devastate Wisconsin’s power producing plants and would cause escalating electricity prices for the citizens of Wisconsin. “Wisconsin residents shouldn’t have to worry about paying their electric bill, but the Obama Administration’s new rules ensure that Wisconsin’s electricity costs will surge,” said Congressman Grothman. “The EPA is not only hurting Wisconsin businesses, but also consumers. Make no mistake - this is cap and trade all over again. The EPA is looking to fundamentally change the way electricity is generated, consumed, and distributed. The Obama Administration needs to be stopped and this is a good first step to do so.” U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:33:33Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-joins-bipartisan-effort-to-strengthen-security-of-visa-waiver-program,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen Security of Visa Waiver Program,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.01.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen Security of Visa Waiver Program WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and a bipartisan group of senators to introduce legislation to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program in order to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States. In the aftermath of the Paris attacks we need to keep our eye on the enemy and prevent terrorists from entering the United States. It is imperative that Congress work across party lines to prevent terrorist attacks here at home and Im proud to join this bipartisan effort to address security gaps that exist within the Visa Waiver Program. This legislation will enhance security screenings in the Visa Waiver Program and close loopholes that need to be closed.said Senator Baldwin. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program by doing the following: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the travelers biometric information. Require travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States. Require all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which are more secure and harder to tamper with. Require increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States. Security enhancements in the bill would be paid for by increasing the Visa Waiver traveler fee, which is currently $14. Only $4 supports Visa Waiver Program security. In comparison, the fee for a traditional tourist visa is $160. Addressing security gaps The bill would strengthen the Visa Waiver Program in the following ways: 1. Preventing foreign fighters from using the Visa Waiver Program: An estimated 5,000 European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight. More than 1,500 of them are from France. If they return to their home countries, these individuals may be able travel to the United States without a visa. Legislative solution: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria and Iraq in the past five years to go through the traditional visa process, which includes an in-person interview, to come to the United States. 2. Requiring additional biometric information: In cases where the foreign national has never been to the United States before, U.S. law enforcement cannot run biometric information from that visa waiver program traveler against key databases in advance of the persons first arrival in the United States. Legislative solution: Require biometric data to be provided by a foreign national prior to travel to the United States using the Visa Waiver Program. 3. Requiring electronic passports for participation in the Visa Waiver Program: Although electronic passports with built-in chips carrying biometric data are now required to be issued by Visa Waiver Program countries, some existing designated countries are effectively allowed to phase-in this requirement over several years because older passports can remain valid. Legislative solution: Require all Visa Waiver Program travelers have electronic passports within 90 days of enactment. Only individuals with machine-readable passports may travel using the Visa Waiver Program. 4. Requiring additional information sharing between countries: Information-sharing with the United States is a means of protecting national security while allowing individuals to travel without a visa. Information-sharing must be improved to ensure threats are detected. Legislative solution: Improve information sharing by participating countries in the following ways: Require participation in the Visa Waiver Program be contingent on countries full implementation of information-sharing agreements, including agreements on foreign terrorists and those who have committed crimes. Increase contribution to, and screening against, INTERPOLs lost and stolen documents database. Require DHS to consider a countrys ability to collect, analyze and share passenger data concerning dangerous individuals. Improve biometric information sharing about, and screening of, refugees and asylum seekers. Require DHS to consider a countrys ability to share information about foreign fighters with multiple countries and multilateral organizations, like INTERPOL. 5. Increasing security in the air: All Visa Waiver Program countries should have signed federal air marshal agreements, which provide legal protection to air marshals in situations where they need to take action. Legislative solution: Require completion of a federal air marshal agreement. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). 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/us-senator-tammy-baldwins-rail-safety-reforms-included-in-final-bipartisan-transportation-legislation,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Rail Safety Reforms Included in Final Bipartisan Transportation Legislation,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.01.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwins Rail Safety Reforms Included in Final Bipartisan Transportation Legislation Baldwin provisions improve safety, transparency, and better communication between the railroads and local communities WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has announced that House and Senate negotiators have included several rail safety reforms she has championed in a long-term, bipartisan federal transportation compromise unveiled today, ahead of Fridays deadline. I have been sounding the alarm for two years on the need to put in place strong rail safety reforms, said Senator Baldwin. This legislation includes reforms I have been fighting for to improve safety, transparency, and better communication between the railroads and local first responders and communities, so I am proud that Congress is taking action. Last month, two trains carrying hazardous materials derailed in Wisconsin and Senator Baldwin called on the transportation conference committee to include her long-time efforts in their final product. Wisconsin first responders should be applauded for their reaction to these derailments but railroad companies need to do more. We need to strengthen communication between railroads and local communities before an accident occurs and railroads must let first responders know what is moving through their community beforehand, Senator Baldwin said.We also need to make railroads share infrastructure inspection reports with local elected officials. This legislation will make that happen. The bipartisan, five-year transportation funding extension legislation announced today includes several provisions championed by Senator Baldwin, aimed at increasing safety and transparency along Wisconsins oil train routes: Transparency: Currently, railroads do not have to provide bridge inspection reports to local officialsdespite the obligation of local officials to protect their citizens and ensure the soundness of local infrastructure. Senator Baldwins provision would require a railroad to provide local officials a public version of the most recent bridge inspection report. Real-Time Reporting: Currently, information about hazardous materials being carried through Wisconsin communities are only available to first responders after an incident has occurred. Senator Baldwins provision addresses concerns raised by the first responder community who would like real-time access to information about hazmat trains entering their jurisdictions in order to better prepare. Senator Baldwins reform requires U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Fusion Centers to provide real-time information to state and local first responders before a hazmat train arrives in their jurisdiction. In addition, the bipartisan compromise includes provisions modeled after Senator Baldwins Crude-By-Rail Safety Act, which she introduced in March 2015. Comprehensive Oil Spill Response Plans: The bipartisan legislation asks DOT provide a plan to implement as soon as possible rules to require railroads to improve their plans for responding to a worst-case oil discharge. Rail Carrier Liability Study: The bipartisan bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate a study on the appropriate levels of insurance for railroads carrying hazardous materials. For more on Senator Baldwins advocacy for Wisconsin rail safety click here. Read the full text of the bipartisan legislation here and a summary here. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398440,Ryan: I want us to renew the American Idea,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Paul Ryan,R000570,paulryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC This morning,Wisconsins First District Congressman and speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, spoke with WISNs Jay Weber.Excerpts of Ryans remarks follow: On moving the country forward: What matters to me as a citizen . . . is someone who will offer an alternative, not just a criticism of the status quo; weve got that down. We cant just be an opposition party, we have to be a proposition party. *** I dont like divisive identity politics, I dont like . . . dividing people and appealing to people [based] on what divides us. I want us to unify; I want us to inspire; I want us to be optimistic; I want us to get back to who we are and renew the American Idea . . . . Thats the kind of leadership I think we need. On the Syrian refugee crisis: When ISIS is telling us that they are trying to infiltrate the refugee population, its only reasonable and practical to put a pause on the program and make sure the proper security guards are in place, especially when our own security people [are] telling us they dont have those proper security safeguards in place. On a bipartisan basis, we passed with overwhelming support, this [refugee] bill . . . . Im hopeful that the president sees it our way. Im hopeful that the president comes around and listens to his own security people, so we can get this done.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=039bc71c-0e42-4d10-8cf7-6f9796afce4d,ICYMI: Johnson Releases Border Report,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released a100 + page reporton the state of Americas borders last Monday, Nov. 23, while in Phoenix holding a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the increasing threat of heroin and illicit narcotic trafficking across the Arizona border. Mondays hearingmarked the 13thheld by the committee on border security and the second focused on Americas heroin epidemic. These topics are closely related, Johnson said in hisopening statement, as one root cause of our unsecure border is Americas insatiable demand for drugs. Johnsons border report provides a summary of findings from the committees border security hearings, as well as a primer on key border security issues and recommendations for first step reforms that could begin improving security at our borders.The committee has already begun crafting and passing a number of these initial reforms.Six bills related to border security have been reported out of committee, one of which was recently signed into law. ""America's borders are not secure,"" the report reads. ""This current state of affairs is clearly unacceptable. A secure border is not only a prerequisite to a functioning legal immigration system, but it is essential to maintaining national security and protecting public health and safety. The full text of the report can be downloadedhere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4d853bb0-6904-4c90-9e25-646d92f7069b,Johnson Announces Staff Mobile Office Hours,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson announced Monday that his staff will be available for the mobile office hours listed below. Mobile office hours allow constituents to meet with the senators staff to request assistance with a federal agency or regarding other federal matters. Note: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of constituents we are here to assist. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Osseo City Hall, Council Chambers 13712 8th St., Osseo Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. 2 p.m. Sheboygan Falls City Hall 375 Buffalo St., Sheboygan Falls Thursday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. noon Kettle Moraine YMCA River Shores Branch 705 Village Green Way, Unit 201, West Bend Friday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. 2 p.m. Bristol Municipal Building 19801 83rd St., Bristol ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://pocan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/cap-times-mark-pocan-shadows-home-care-worker-fighting-for-minimum-wage,Cap Times: Mark Pocan shadows home care worker fighting for minimum wage increase,2015-11-27,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Mark Pocan,P000607,pocan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cap Times By Jessie Opoien The ""Fight for 15"" is a national movement, but it's personal for home care worker Mike Dickman and his client, Steve Verriden. Tucked into a corner of the window of Verriden's home on Madison's north side is a small ""Fight for 15"" sign. Verriden, 63, has been in a wheelchair for more than 40 years after he was paralyzed in a diving accident. Dickman is one of five home care workers who tend to Verriden throughout the week. He's been working in home care for more than 35 years, since he was in college, and has been with Verriden for about two years. On Tuesday afternoon, Dickman and Verriden were visited for a few hours by U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison. As Dickman worked through his afternoon duties, he and Verriden chatted about their time together and about his job. Verriden's cat, Peanut, rested on his lap. Peppered throughout Dickman's chatter was the phrase, ""Fifteen and a union."" That's what he and other home care, child care, fast food and other low-wage workers are asking for: increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Dickman currently makes $11.43 an hour. His duties include helping Verriden get washed and dressed, taking him to the bathroom, keeping the house clean, dispensing medication, preparing meals and managing his IV lines. In Dickman's case, he also lives upstairs and covers the night shift. ""They put a value on us that is too low,"" Dickman said. ""Fifteen dollars and a union is still too low, but it's a great start. It is an honorable occupation."" For Verriden, it means a lot to be able to live in the home he worked to pay for, and to not have to stay in a nursing home. He tried that for about a year ""never again,"" he said. After Pocan was introduced, Dickman walked him through the midday routine. He opened a metal safe secured with two combination locks to retrieve Verriden's medication about a dozen pills a day. Verriden washed the pills down with juice, and then it was time to move from his bed to his wheelchair. Dickman tucked the sling for Verriden's hoyer lift underneath him, then pulled him to the side to distribute it evenly. He checked for wrinkles a common culprit for bedsores. Then he put Verriden's slippers on his feet and hooked the lift's chains to the sling. Making sure to keep Verriden balanced, he cranked the lift and swung his legs around the pole, then lowered him into the chair. While Verriden was seated, Dickman and Pocan prepared a lunch of scrambled eggs and sausage. Dickman said home care workers need at least $15 an hour and a union to be able to give their clients the quality of life they deserve, but also for their own quality of life. He asked Pocan to help in Congress. ""There's valid points to both sides,"" Verriden said. ""We have to find a middle ground."" Public support for raising the minimum wage is high, butopponents arguemaking such a dramatic hike from $7.25 to $15 would be harmful to the economy. The libertarianCato Institute suggestssuch a steep increase would result in job loss, particularly among low-skilled workers, and that it wouldn't do much to reduce poverty. The think tank also argued an increase to $15 an hour could lead employers to raise their prices. ""The problem is, they haven't done anything with the minimum wage for so long if they don't put in indexing (when they do), it results in a political fight every time,"" Pocan said. But he argued if everyone's wages were increased, people would spend a little more and funnel money back into the economy. Several states have planned minimum wage increases for 2016, though none as high as $15 an hour. Wisconsin's minimum wage, like the federal wage, is $7.25 an hour.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e4fabfab-5418-44a9-992d-03e734c105b4,Johnson honored to attend tribute to Bart and Cherry Starr,2015-11-26,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"GREEN BAY Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Thursday attended a Thanksgiving Day tribute to Bart and Cherry Starr for the years of work they have done on behalf of Rawhide Boys Ranch, as well as numerous other charitable organizations. Johnson was among those addressing the people assembled at Green Bays KI Convention Center to honor the former Green Bay Packers quarterback and his wife for their years of patronage of the home and school for disadvantaged youth. The senator presented the couple with a commemorative text of the tribute to them that he delivered on the floor of the United States Senate earlier this month. Video of that tribute may be seen here. Afterward, Johnson remarked: Its an honor to be able to thank Cherry and Bart in person for all theyve done. Wisconsinites came to love Bart for the incredible way he led the Packers to greatness and for his humility in sharing the credit with his teammates. Afterward, the Starrs dedication to Rawhide, the passion they showed for helping young men find success in life it added a whole new level to the appreciationI think we all felt for them.Im just gladI was able to tell them in person. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/support-grows-for-bipartisan-baldwin-effort-to-save-perkins-program,Support Grows for Bipartisan Baldwin Effort to Save Perkins Program,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.24.15 Support Grows for Bipartisan Baldwin Effort to Save Perkins Program Letter signed by 53 organizations and 535 colleges and universities calls on congressional leaders to pass one-year extension of critical student loan program WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is continuing her efforts to reauthorize the federal Perkins Loan Program as 53 organizations and 535 colleges and universities, led by the American Council on Education, call on congressional leaders to pass a one-year extension of the critical student loan program. Senator Baldwin is leading a bipartisan Senate coalition to reauthorize the program, which expired on September 30, 2015. Last week, as the House and Senate finalized bipartisan legislation to fix No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Senator Baldwin reiterated her commitment to ensuring the Perkins Loan Program is also reauthorized as soon as possible: [A]s we move forward in this bipartisan process to improve and reauthorize a critical federal education law for Americas young people in preschool and the K-12 grades, I felt compelled to remind my colleagues of this unfinished business that impacts whether those students will also be able to afford to take the next step in their educational journeysUnfortunately, by letting the Perkins authorization lapse, we have left thousands of current and future students facing uncertainty and hundreds of institutions struggling to find another way to help their neediest students afford their educationI believe it is critical that we not leave those students and institutions depending on Perkins in the lurch. The entire American higher education community strongly supports the reauthorization of the Perkins Loan Program. The recent expiration of this valuable program has caused significant concern for the hundreds of thousands of students who rely on Perkins loans to finance their education, and it is critical that an extension is passed as soon as possible to prevent further harm to students. I applaud Senator Baldwins continued efforts to reauthorize the Perkins Loan Program on behalf of students and families across America and urge Congressional leaders to immediately pass a one-year extension, said American Council on Education President Molly Corbett Broad. Read the letter from the American Council on Education here. Since 1958, the Federal Perkins Loan Program has been successfully helping Americans access affordable higher education with low-interest loans for students who cannot borrow or afford more expensive private student loans. In Wisconsin, the program provides more than 20,000 low-income students with more than $41 million in aid. In fact, the program has been a critical resource for thousands of the neediest UW System students over the years, dispersing nearly $29 million to more than 15,800 students in 2013-14 alone. In other words, nearly 1 in every 11 students enrolled in the UW System that year were directly impacted by the Federal Perkins Loan Program. During her remarks on the Senate floor last month, Senator Baldwin discussed her recent college affordability listening session in Kenosha where students shared their concerns about the expiration of the Perkins Loan Program, During the course of that conversation, it was abundantly clear that most of the students were very frustrated that Congress could not take the most commonsense steps to make it happen. I told them I shared their frustration and ensured them I would be going back to Washington, D.C. to fight on their behalfSo here I am, almost one month from the day I last stood here on the Senate floor. One month since a single Senator, stood up and blocked a commonsense and bipartisan measure that would have continued to provide critical, financial support for Americas low-income students. WATCH Senator Baldwins remarks on the Senate floor. Since the programs creation, institutions have invested millions of dollars in their own funds in the program. In addition to making higher education accessible for low-income students, the program serves as an incentive for people who wish to go into public service by offering targeted loan cancellations for specific professions in areas of national need such as teaching, nursing, and law enforcement.Colleges originate, service and collect the loans. Through a revolving fund, institutions maintain loans available for future students. 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/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-joins-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-introducing-va-patient-protection-act,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Introducing VA Patient Protection Act,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.24.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Introducing VA Patient Protection Act Bill Forces VA to Address Reports of Patient Abuse, Punish Those Who Retaliate Against Whistleblowers; Bill Protects VA Employees Who Protect Veterans WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon/VA), has joined a bipartisan group of Senators, led by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), in introducing the VA Patient Protection Act to force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address reports of abuse of veteran patients and to punish VA managers who ignore, intimidate and retaliate against whistleblowers. More must be done to change the status quo. We must work to build a VA that embraces, rather than retaliates against, whistleblowers who want to improve the system, Senator Baldwin said. We need to ensure that whistleblowers are empowered and this bipartisan reform legislation will hold the VA managers accountable for unacceptable retaliation and intimidation. Most importantly, it will improve the VA so veterans can get the care and services they need and deserve. In order to address the challenges faced by VA employees who stand up for veterans, and to punish the managers who retaliate against whistleblowers, the VA Patient Protection Act: Punishes retaliation. After the first offense of retaliation, a supervisor will receive a minimum 12-day suspension. On the second offense, they will be fired. Holds supervisors accountable. Supervisors performance ratings will be tied to how they respond to and deal with whistleblower reports and complaints. Supervisors found to retaliate against whistleblowers would not be eligible to receive bonuses for the 1 year period beginning on the date when the determination was made and for the supervisor to must repay bonuses already paid under certain circumstances Protects whistleblowers. Includes a provision Senator Baldwin championed in the MilCon/VA Appropriations Act of 2016, which will expand the Whistleblower Protection Act to prevent retaliation against VA doctors and nurses through performance reports. All VA employees will receive training about their rights as whistleblowers. Ensures complaints are handled properly. Employees who report misconduct can go to the next level supervisor if their immediate supervisor fails to properly handle their complaint. Establishing a formal complaint process ensures there is a paper trail to hold the VA accountable. Creates a Central Whistleblower Office that will be responsible for investigating all whistleblower complaints. Reports of systemic misconduct and retaliation against whistleblowers are common across the nation, including: Dr. Katherine Mitchell, who first broke the VA wait list scandal, testified before the Senate MilCon/VA Appropriations Subcommittee about how she disclosed improper staffing in the emergency department and secret waitlists at the Phoenix VA. Management retaliated against Dr. Mitchell by removing her as the emergency department director. A doctor at Hines VA fraudulently inflated his productivity by entering service codes for work he did not perform an allegation substantiated by the VAs Office of Medical Inspection but is still employed at Hines and has not been disciplined. After a VA employee in Louisiana discovered secret wait lists and filed complaints with the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG), the OIG failed to investigate the wait lists, but sent criminal investigators to investigate the whistleblower by looking into how he obtained the wait lists, confiscating computer equipment and asking him to submit to a lie detector test. Instead of investigating reports of a Puerto Rico VA hospital directors misconduct, the VA sought to remove the employee who reported the misconduct. When the privacy officer concluded the whistleblower had not made an unauthorized disclosure, the VA sought to remove her as well. A VA employee in Wisconsin who reported improper disclosures of veterans health information was fired for sending an email to report the misconduct that contained personal information about a veteran. A nurse at a VA in Delaware who disclosed improper treatment of opiate addiction faced retaliation in the form of a 14-day suspension for minor allegations of misconduct. A VA employee in Wisconsin filed for whistleblower protection after being asked to falsify attendance records. Two weeks later, he resigned citing harassment and further disclosed problems with opioid over-prescription. Joining Senators Baldwin and Kirk in introducing the legislation were U.S. Senators Blumenthal, Grassley, Gillibrand, Johnson, and Rubio. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6ee2cc71-fdd6-4e3b-9435-8d713cc48905,Johnson Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for Increased Flexibility for Dairy Farmers in Transportation Bill,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators: The transportation of milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state. WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kelly Ayotte (D-N.H.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Angus King (I-Maine) this week in calling for flexibility for Americas dairy farmers in the recently-passed Surface Transportation bill. The senators sent a letter to bipartisan leaders on the conference committee asking that the final bill allow bulk milk trucks to carry milk without being forced to offload portions, which increases food safety risks for consumers and costs for dairy farmers. Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state, the senators wrote. We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards. The language, offered by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT-5) and Richard Hanna (R-NY-22), was included in the House-passed version of the bill but was not included the bill passed by the Senate. Full text of the letter is below: November 23, 2015 The Honorable Jim Inhofe The Honorable Barbara Boxer Chairman Ranking Member Senate Committee on Environment Senate Committee on Environment and Public Worksand Public Works 205 Russell Senate Office Building 112 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable John Thune Ranking Member Bill Nelson Chairman Ranking Member Senate Committee on Commerce, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Science, and Transportation 511 Dirksen Senate Office Building 716 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Richard Shelby The Honorable Sherrod Brown Chairman Ranking Member Senate Committee on Banking, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Housing, and Urban Affairs 304 Russell Senate Office Building 713 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch The Honorable Ron Wyden Chairman Ranking Member Senate Committee on Finance Senate Committee on Finance 104 Hart Senate Office Building 221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairs and Ranking Members, Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of bulk milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state. We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards. By classifying milk as a non-divisible load, this provision acknowledges that milk cannot be easily divided or dismantled between farms and processing plants. Milk is a perishable product that must be sealed for safety and transported quickly. When milk truckers pick up bulk milk, they must load the entire stock of bulk milk that a farm produced that day not just the amount of milk that would keep the trucker in compliance with state truck weight limits. This is problematic because the amount of milk produced at a farm varies from day-to-day, based on weather, feed, and other factors. As a result, milk truckers perpetually risk being overweight. While milk truckers can break the seal and offload a portion of the milk to bring their truck weight into compliance, doing so increases transportation time and compromises the safety and security of the milk. Current law already permits states to issue special permits for non-divisible loads, such as trees, boats, or any other products whose integrity would be compromised through division. Adding milk to the list of products that qualify as non-divisible loads would improve the safety and security of bulk milk. Whats more, this provision would improve the stability of trucks loaded with fluid milk. As the Conference Committee deliberates which provisions will be included in the final version of the DRIVE Act, we strongly urge your support the inclusion of this important milk classification. Sincerely, Sen. Chris Murphy Sen. Patrick Leahy Sen. Ron Johnson Sen. Mike Crapo Sen. Al Franken Sen. Tammy Baldwin Sen. Kelly Ayotte Sen. Jim Risch Sen. Angus King ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/americans-safety-must-be-first-priority,Americans' Safety Must Be First Priority,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear friends, Are you better off now than you were four years ago? An iconic question Ronald Reagan posed to the American people in 1980. Are you safer now than you were four years agoor even one week ago? A fair question that all Americans should be asking ourselves right now. While Russias neo-CzarVladimirPutin and Frances socialist President Francois Hollande take-up the fight abroad, President Obama is waging a full scale PR battle to increase the number of Syrian refugees allowed into the U.S. However, as we saw after the Paris attack - where at least one terrorist infiltrated Europe posing as a refugee - as much as he might like to make us believe that all of the people yearning for our shores have honest intentions, the threat against us is very real. Our first priority must be the safety of Americans. If that cannot be guaranteed, then we cannot allow a mass influx of refugees into our country. We now average one ISIS related arrest per week in this country, and have witnessed horrific ISIS inspired attacks like in Gardland, Texas and Chattanooga, Tennessee. We know that 30% of releaseddetainees from Guantanamo Bay return to the fight and ISIS has already pledged their intention to infiltrate the refugee process. To that point, FBI and counterterrorism officials have testified before Congress that we dont have the proper human intelligence and databases to ensure that a terrorist couldnt slip through the system. We are a compassionate people; it is one of the things I love most about our country, but when terrorists threaten to exploit our compassion, we have a responsibility to protect the American people from threats and vulnerabilities to our homeland. That is why the House voted this week to require the Administration to produce new security assurances for every refugee we admit from Iraq and Syria, which has become the largest breeding ground of jihadists the world has ever known. The House has also passed the FTO Passport Revocation Act, which will broaden the State Departments authority to revoke the passport of any U.S. citizen who joins a foreign terrorist organization. Additionally, Speaker Ryan signed the National Defense Authorization Act this week which will provide our military with the tools they need to keep us safe. That bill also requires the President to finally devise a real strategy to defeat ISIS, which now controls more territory than al Qaeda could have ever hoped to possess. Rather than bring in more refugees who may pose a threat to the United States, a compassionate approach would be to devote our resources to creating safe zones for refugees near their home countries. Of course, the most compassionate thing our nation and our president can do is take a lead: to defeat ISIS and end the four-year-old civil war in Syria so these displaced men, women and children can return to their homes. Where the President has faltered, we must take a stand. As your congressman, I will always stand up for your safety and the security of the United States. We live in dangerous times but I am committed to defending our shores from the terrorists who wish us harm. In other news. The threats abroad demand that we maintain a strong force at home. Gen. Dunbar and I remain in contact and I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that we retain a strong National Guard force in Wisconsin. Click on the image to watch my interview with KBJR about the situation: KARE 11's recent investigation unearthed the disturbing finding that an untold number of our Veterans are being seen by doctors who are not currently qualified to treat patients. I discussed my efforts to resolve this issue, but the real question: Should it take an act of Congress for the VA and doctors to be honest with our Veterans? Click on the image for the full story. Despite these uncertain times, as we begin this Thanksgiving week, I am reminded that we still have much to be grateful for in America. As Rachel, the kids and I gather around our table this Thursday, we will offer an extra prayer of thanks to the men and women in uniform who ensure our safety and safeguard our freedom. To them, and to all of you, our family wishes you a safe and blessed holiday. Until next week Happy Thanksgiving, Sean",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://duffy.house.gov/press-release/duffy-encourages-students-to-take-part-in-congressional-app-challenge,Duffy Encourages Students to Take Part in Congressional App Challenge,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Sean Duffy,D000614,duffy.house.gov,,,legacy,"HUDSON, WI U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (WI-07)is encouraging 7thDistrict high schoolers to show off their strongest science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and take part in the nation-wide Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC), now in its second year, was developed to expose high school students to coding and get them engaged and excited about computer science. As part of the challenge, students will compete against their peers to create their own app. As more businesses look for STEM-based skills in their applicants, we want to help ensure that they have qualified candidates from right here in Wisconsin. I am very happy that there seems to be significant interest from so many young, bright, 7th District students to take part in this competition and I look forward to seeing what they come up with, Duffy said. Between November 9, 2015 and January 15, 2016, 7thDistrict high school students may design and program an app and then submit it via theCAC website.Local judges, selected by Rep. Duffys office, will then test the apps and select an individual or team as the 7thDistrict winner. Please visit the CAC websitesofficial rules pagefor more information. Further questions can also be directed to Jesse Garza, Rep. Duffys District Director, at 715-808-8160 orJesse.Garza@mail.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/24-senators-urge-white-house-to-take-executive-action-to-reduce-gun-violence,24 Senators Urge White House to take Executive Action to Reduce Gun Violence,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.23.15 24 Senators Urge White House to take Executive Action to Reduce Gun Violence Baldwin, Murphy, Blumenthal, 21 Senate Democrats call on White House to close loophole in face of Congressional inaction Urges President Obama to take executive action that could save lives WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who led the group of 24 senators, in calling on President Barack Obama to investigate and pursue all possible options under his executive authority to reduce gun violence. In a letter to the President, the senators especially urged him to eliminate a loophole that currently allows individuals without a federal license to conduct high volumes of gun sales at gun shows, over the internet, and elsewhere, all without conducting background checks. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, today sent a similar letter signed by 114 of his colleagues in the House. We stand with you determined to take action to reduce the terrible epidemic of gun violence plaguing this nation. All across the country, communities are ravaged and lives are senselessly cut short by gun violence. Following yet another horrific mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, it is unthinkable that our country can continue to turn a blind eye to these tragedies, the Senators wrote. We urge you to address an aspect of the high-volume gun seller loophole that allows guns to be sold without a background check by eliminating the ambiguity surrounding the term engaged in the business as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers. Updating the definition of engaged in the business to provide more explicit guidance as to which gun sellers are required to obtain a federal firearms license wouldhelp ensure that individuals are not able to continue to exploit ambiguity in the current regulation and sell guns at a high volume without any oversight by ATF and without conducting background checks This change would be a positive step forward in achieving universal background checks, a policy change that roughly 90 percent of Americans support. It would help ensure that those clearly holding themselves out as gun dealers are held to the same standard as the thousands of responsible gun dealers already licensed with ATF across the country, the Senators continued. Senators Baldwin, Murphy and Blumenthal were joined by U.S. Senators Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Charles E Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Read the full text of the letter online or below: President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Mr. President: We stand with you determined to take action to reduce the terrible epidemic of gun violence plaguing this nation. All across the country, communities are ravaged and lives are senselessly cut short by gun violence. Following yet another horrific mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, it is unthinkable that our country can continue to turn a blind eye to these tragedies. We will continue to make every effort to build support for and demand a vote on legislation to improve background checks, close loopholes, and shut down the illegal pipeline of guns. We will not give up the fight to improve our nations gun laws to reflect the broad agreement of gun owners and non-gun owners who want Congress to act to halt gun violence. We ask you, concurrently, to investigate and pursue all available options under your executive authority to reduce gun violence. Specifically, your administration could take an immediate step that would have an important impact on limiting gun violence. We urge you to address an aspect of the high-volume gun seller loophole that allows guns to be sold without a background check by eliminating the ambiguity surrounding the term engaged in the business as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers. Under current law, only licensed gun dealers are required to perform background checks for all gun sales, and only those individuals deemed to be ""engaged in the business"" of dealing in guns are required to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). However, the regulatory definition of ""engaged in the business,"" needs clarification. Currently, individuals are able to sell guns at a high volume at gun shows, over the internet, or elsewhere without ever becoming licensed and, in turn, without being compelled to conduct a simple background check before completing a sale. Updating the definition of engaged in the business to provide more explicit guidance as to which gun sellers are required to obtain a federal firearms license would not impact a father giving a gun to his son, or an individual selling his gun on the internet. But it will help ensure that individuals are not able to continue to exploit ambiguity in the current regulation and sell guns at a high volume without any oversight by ATF and without conducting background checks. This type of action is not without precedent, as many states have provided this type of explicit guidance regarding which vendors engaged in retail sales in the state are required to collect state sales tax. This change would be a positive step forward in achieving universal background checks, a policy change that roughly 90 percent of Americans support. It would help ensure that those clearly holding themselves out as gun dealers are held to the same standard as the thousands of responsible gun dealers already licensed with ATF across the country. Thank you for your continued efforts to reduce gun violence and for your consideration of executive action that could save lives. We look forward to continuing to work together to prevent gun violence. Sincerely, Sen. Christopher S. Murphy Sen. Richard Blumenthal Sen. Tammy Baldwin Sen. Cory A. Booker Sen. Barbara Boxer Sen. Sherrod Brown Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin Sen. Tom Carper Sen. Chris Coons Sen. Richard Durbin Sen. Dianne Feinstein Sen. Al Franken Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Sen. Mazie K. Hirono Sen. Tim Kaine Sen. Edward J. Markey Sen. Robert Menendez Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski Sen. Patty Murray Sen. Jack Reed Sen. Brian Schatz Sen. Charles E Schumer Sen. Elizabeth Warren Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-for-increased-flexibility-for-wisconsin-dairy-farmers-in-transportation-bill,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls for Increased Flexibility for Wisconsin Dairy Farmers in Transportation Bill,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.23.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls for Increased Flexibility for Wisconsin Dairy Farmers in Transportation Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kelly Ayotte (D-N.H.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Angus King (I-Maine) in calling for flexibility for Americas dairy farmers in the recently-passed Surface Transportation bill. The senators sent a letter to bipartisan leaders on the conference committee asking that the final bill allow bulk milk trucks to carry milk without being forced to offload portions of their load at state borders, which increases food safety risks for consumers and costs for dairy farmers. Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state, the senators wrote. We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards. The cost of transporting bulk milk can be significant for dairy cooperatives and our dairy farmer-owners, said Randy Paulson, Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI) Division Manager (Jim Falls, WI). Having a more rational and coordinated weight limit policy for milk trucks crossing state borders makes total sense, and we applaud the Senators help on this matter. The language, offered by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT-5) and Richard Hanna (R-NY-22), was included in the House-passed version of the bill but was not included the bill passed by the Senate. Full text of the letter is below: November 23, 2015 Dear Chairs and Ranking Members, Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of bulk milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state. We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards. By classifying milk as a non-divisible load, this provision acknowledges that milk cannot be easily divided or dismantled between farms and processing plants. Milk is a perishable product that must be sealed for safety and transported quickly. When milk truckers pick up bulk milk, they must load the entire stock of bulk milk that a farm produced that day not just the amount of milk that would keep the trucker in compliance with state truck weight limits. This is problematic because the amount of milk produced at a farm varies from day-to-day, based on weather, feed, and other factors. As a result, milk truckers perpetually risk being overweight. While milk truckers can break the seal and offload a portion of the milk to bring their truck weight into compliance, doing so increases transportation time and compromises the safety and security of the milk. Current law already permits states to issue special permits for non-divisible loads, such as trees, boats, or any other products whose integrity would be compromised through division. Adding milk to the list of products that qualify as non-divisible loads would improve the safety and security of bulk milk. Whats more, this provision would improve the stability of trucks loaded with fluid milk. As the Conference Committee deliberates which provisions will be included in the final version of the DRIVE Act, we strongly urge your support the inclusion of this important milk classification. Sincerely, Sen. Tammy Baldwin Sen. Chris Murphy Sen. Patrick Leahy Sen. Ron Johnson Sen. Mike Crapo Sen. Al Franken Sen. Kelly Ayotte Sen. Jim Risch Sen. Angus King Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2a5dbe47-40f1-41c3-b015-8dacdf44db97,Johnson Announces Staff Mobile Office Hours,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson announced Monday that his staff will be available for the mobile office hours listed below. Mobile office hours allow constituents to meet with the senators staff to request assistance with a federal agency or regarding other federal matters. Note: Staff-led mobile office hours are closed to press. Recording devices of any kind are not allowed. These restrictions are put in place for the privacy of constituents we are here to assist. Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Waushara County Courthouse 209 S. Sainte Marie St., Wautoma Monday, Nov. 30, 2:15 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Lester Public Library 6550 Virginia St., Vesper ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=140,"Grothman Votes To Protect America, Strengthen Background Checks For Syrian Refugees",2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"Grothman Votes To Protect America, Strengthen Background Checks For Syrian Refugees f t # e Washington, November 19, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) - Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today voted to protect American citizens by strengthening background checks on Syrian refugees attempting to enter the United States. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 (SAFE Act) was introduced in response to the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated last week by the Islamic State in Paris, France. At least one terrorist involved in the Paris attack used a Syrian passport to gain entry into Europe. Numerous media reports have highlighted the threat of the Islamic State exploiting Americas refugee resettlement program to infiltrate the United States and the dire need for increased scrutiny on the backgrounds of Syrian refugees. Keeping Americans safe is my number one priority, said Congressman Grothman. Its clear the Islamic State wants to exploit and infiltrate the Syrian refugee program to plant terrorists inside the United States. This bipartisan legislation will protect Americans by ensuring that any Syrian refugee admitted to the United States passes a rigorous background check. President Obama downplayed the role radical Islam played in the Paris attacks, declaring the Islamic State was contained hours before the attacks occurred. The President has shown he is nave and weak when it comes to protecting America and our national interests overseas. While ultimately I believe we should halt our Syrian refugee program for the foreseeable future, this legislation is a serious first step towards preventing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=141,Grothman Introduces Amendment To Restore Fiscal Responsibility,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"Grothman Introduces Amendment To Restore Fiscal Responsibility f t # e Washington, November 19, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) Today, the House-Senate education conference committee voted to advance the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This legislation will replace No Child Left Behind and restore local control in K-12 education. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) urged fellow conference committee members to support his amendment keeping funding at current levels until 2020. The amendment passed the House conference committee 9-8, but failed in the Senate conference committee 6-16.At a time when government spending is completely out-of-control, we need to make fiscal responsibility a top priority. For too long our nations leaders have failed to act like adults and balance our nations budget. This amendment is the first step in restoring sanity in the budgeting process. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398438,Ryans Speaks with Fox Newss Hannity,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Paul Ryan,R000570,paulryan.house.gov,,,legacy,"This should not be about Republicans and Democratsthis should be about keeping America safe, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said last night during an appearance on Fox Newss Hannity with Sean Hannity. Here are excerpts from their conversation on the Syrian refugee crisis and eliminating the threat of ISIS.On the presidents threat to veto Congresss refugee legislation: I dont for the life of me understand this. He just said he is going to veto our bill putting a pause on the refugee program. I cant imagine why one would do that. Our bottom line is very, very clearand its the first responsibility of the federal governmentsecure the homeland. Keep people safe in America."" So heres what were doing. We obviously know that ISIS wants to infiltrate the refugee population. Thats very clear. So we need to put a pause on this program and have higher standards placed upon it so that we can verify on a person-by-person basis, each and every single refugee, whether or not they pose any security risk."" On putting politics aside and finding a bipartisan solution: This should not be a partisan issue. Democrats agree with us here in Congress, and I think were gonna have a pretty big bipartisan vote tomorrow.Because this should not be about Republicans and Democrats. This should be about keeping America safe. This is our national security. It shouldnt be politicized like the president is politicizing it. And that is why we are asking all of our colleagues to support fixing this, pausing this, and getting this right. On raising the standards of the refugee program: Were a compassionate country. The refugee laws are important laws. And we dont want terrorists to dictate how we runwhether we have a law or not. But we dont thinkin this particular case with respect to ISIS trying to infiltrate the Syrian and Iraqi refugee programthat the standards are anywhere near where they should be. On the presidents failure to devise a strategy to defeat ISIS: The reason were having this conversation about refugees, the reason were having this conversation about ISIS, is because we dont have a plan to defeat ISIS. Its because the president and his foreign policyparticularly with respect to Iraq and Syriais so abysmal, so lacking, it didnt contain ISIS, and we dont have a strategy to defeat ISIS. So lets not forget the big picture here, which is we have terrorism, worldwide, knocking on our door, and we do not have a plan to defeat this terrorist threat.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=140,"Grothman Votes To Protect America, Strengthen Background Checks For Syrian Refugees",2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,grothman,https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) - Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today voted to protect American citizens by strengthening background checks on Syrian refugees attempting to enter the United States. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 (SAFE Act) was introduced in response to the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated last week by the Islamic State in Paris, France. At least one terrorist involved in the Paris attack used a Syrian passport to gain entry into Europe. Numerous media reports have highlighted the threat of the Islamic State exploiting America’s refugee resettlement program to infiltrate the United States and the dire need for increased scrutiny on the backgrounds of Syrian refugees. “Keeping Americans safe is my number one priority,” said Congressman Grothman. “It’s clear the Islamic State wants to exploit and infiltrate the Syrian refugee program to plant terrorists inside the United States. This bipartisan legislation will protect Americans by ensuring that any Syrian refugee admitted to the United States passes a rigorous background check.” “President Obama downplayed the role radical Islam played in the Paris attacks, declaring the Islamic State was ‘contained’ hours before the attacks occurred. The President has shown he is naïve and weak when it comes to protecting America and our national interests overseas. While ultimately I believe we should halt our Syrian refugee program for the foreseeable future, this legislation is a serious first step towards preventing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.” U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:30:58Z https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=141,Grothman Introduces Amendment To Restore Fiscal Responsibility,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,grothman,https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House-Senate education conference committee voted to advance the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This legislation will replace No Child Left Behind and restore local control in K-12 education. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) urged fellow conference committee members to support his amendment keeping funding at current levels until 2020. The amendment passed the House conference committee 9-8, but failed in the Senate conference committee 6-16. “At a time when government spending is completely out-of-control, we need to make fiscal responsibility a top priority. For too long our nation’s leaders have failed to act like adults and balance our nation’s budget. This amendment is the first step in restoring sanity in the budgeting process.” U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:30:58Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-supports-common-sense-measures-keep-america-safe,Rep. Ron Kind Supports Common Sense Measures to Keep America Safe,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind voted in favor of the American SAFE Act of 2015, which would enhance and improve background checks and screening for Syria refugees. Below is his statement: In the wake of the recent attacks by ISIS our top priority must be doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the American people, both here and abroad. Currently, it takes between 18 and 24 months for each individual, over 75% of whom are women and children, to enter the US. While the current process for Syrian refugees to enter the country is extensive, there are additional common sense actions we can take to make it more secure. One step to enhance security is to increase background checks for Syrian refugees entering the United States. This legislation requires multiple Federal intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies to work together to verify that those entering the US don't pose a danger to the country. The legislation today strikes a good balance between protecting our national security while not implementing draconian policies that go against the values on which our country was founded. There are no provisions in the legislation that prohibit refugees from entering the US, it does not defund the refugee program or jeopardize our government funding, and it does not discriminate based on religious affiliation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ron-kind-introduces-jason-simcakoski-promise-act-0,Rep. Ron Kind Introduces Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Ron Kind,K000188,kind.house.gov,,,legacy,"La Crosse, WI Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind joined U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY) to introduce the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act, which aims to fix a number of problems seen at the Tomah VA, including looking into improved pain management practices. This legislation is named in honor of Jason Simcakoski, a Wisconsin veteran who tragically lost his life last year. We must make sure no other veterans and their families have to go through what the Simcakoski family and others have had to. One of the best ways to do this is to give veteran patients and their families a real role in VA oversight and to provide health care professionals better training on the negative effects of prescription painkillers. This legislation uses some of the lessons learned from problems at Tomah to help the VA provide better care for veterans nationwide, Rep. Kind stated. The Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act is an important piece of history. Helping our veterans get the best care possible is the ultimate goal. The guidelines in the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act will help the VA give our veterans and service men and women the best health care they deserve. Our family doesn't want to see what happened to our son Jason happen to another veteran or service person, said Jason's father Marvin Simcakoski. This bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update pain management guidelines, strengthens provider education and training, improves patient advocacy, and authorizes a new commission to examine alternative treatments, among other provisions. The Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act is similar to the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act in the Senate. The Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act is supported by Disabled Veterans of America, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwins-bipartisan-raise-family-caregivers-act-moves-forward,U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act Moves Forward,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.15 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwins Bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act Moves Forward More than 50 national and state advocacy groups have joined in support of bipartisan legislation Bill passes out of committee and moves to Senate floor WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today applauded the passage of her bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act, by the committee unanimously by voice vote. Introduced with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and sustain a National Family Caregiving Strategy to support family caregivers. The legislation will now move to the full Senate. Over the past few months, Senator Baldwin has toured the state of Wisconsin, promoting the legislation and hosting listening sessions in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau with family caregivers. Im proud of the widespread support, nationally and in Wisconsin, that the bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act has received and I applaud todays vote by my colleagues on the HELP Committee that moves this critical, bipartisan bill forward, said Senator Baldwin. Family caregivers are integral to our long-term care system and our economy, but are too often over-looked as part of the care team for seniors and those with disabilities. 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. The bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act creates a national strategy and plan to assist family caregivers. This effort is especially personal to me as I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmothers primary caretaker as she grew older, and I will continue to work to ensure that everyone has access to the care and assistance they need and deserve. November is National Family Caregivers Month and an important time to recognize that our family caregivers are an invaluable resource to our aging society. As our aging population continues to grow and the need for round-the-clock care for our seniors increases, uncompensated family caregivers will continue to be the most important source of support for people who need long-term care, said Senator Collins. At some point most of us will likely be either family caregivers or someone who needs one. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will launch a coordinated, national strategic plan that will help us to leverage our resources, promote innovation and promising practices, and provide our nations family caregivers with much-needed recognition and support. At present, there are about 40 million family caregivers in the United States, who, in 2013, provided an estimated $470 billion in uncompensated long-term care. This is more than the total Medicaid spending that year. In addition, Americans 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. This population is most at risk of multiple and interacting health problems that can lead to disability and the need for round-the-clock care. This summer, a coalition of national organizations sent a letter of support for the RAISE Family Caregivers Act to Senators Baldwin and Collins, applauding their efforts to work on a bipartisan basis to support family caregivers. Family caregivers are the backbone of services and supports in this country. They help make it possible for older adults and people with disabilities to live independently in their homes and communities, wrote the supporters. By supporting family caregivers, we can help people live at home where they want to be, helping to delay or prevent more costly care and unnecessary hospitalizations, saving taxpayer dollars. We appreciate your bipartisan leadership and are committed to working with you to pass the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is also supported by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN), Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapters, Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of WI, Inc, and Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc. Learn more about the RAISE Family Caregivers Acthere. Print Email Tweet Next Press Release Previous Press Release",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8d258fb5-61dc-4b2c-a4ee-85f96a9eb399,Johnson to Hold Public Town Hall at UW Green Bay,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) will hold a public town hall meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Details are below. Sen. Johnson said this in anticipation of the event: I am looking forward to visiting the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay next week. It should be a great opportunity to listen to students, faculty, and other members of the community and answer any questions they may have. Students are preparing themselves to build a successful life for themselves and their families. They should be able to leave college full of promise and hope, reasonably assured that opportunity awaits. Unfortunately, growing personal and national debt threaten their future. Together, we must honestly assess and address the challenges facing America. If we do so honestly by concentrating on areas of agreement that unify us, the hard work and determination of young people at UW-Green Bay will help secure our countrys future. Time:4:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. Location:Christie Theater, University Union, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay Note:This event is open to the press. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e850c868-8428-436b-92d6-82712489de60,Johnson Leads Senate Bill on Syrian Refugees,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill requires that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain refugees Serves as a companion bill to House legislation being considered later this week url WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced legislation Wednesday to require that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain refugees into the United States. The legislation serves as a Senate companion to the bill the House will consider later this week. Chairman Johnson said this following introduction of the bill: I am pleased to introduce the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015. As we have once again learned from the vicious attack in Paris, the threat posed by Islamic terrorists is real and growing. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, I feel a particular responsibility to ensure that any refugee whom this administration allows into America has been fully vetted. The best way to guarantee that the vetting process is not short circuited in any way is to have the officials of the agencies and departments responsible certify the integrity of the process. This bill requires that certification. I urge swift passage of this legislation. The full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=138,Grothman Announces Town Hall Meetings,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"Grothman Announces Town Hall Meetings f t # e Washington, November 17, 2015 (Fond du Lac, WI) Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) will host two town hall meetings on Wednesday, November 25. Congressman Grothman encourages all members of the community to attend to discuss important issues to the 6th Congressional District.Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Town of Algoma Town Hall - 9:00-10:00 AM 15 N Oakwood Rd, Oshkosh, WI Fox Lake Community Center - 2:30-3:30 PM 248 E State St, Fox Lake, WI U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=139,Grothman Named To Conference Committee For Education Reform,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,WI,Glenn Grothman,G000576,grothman.house.gov,,,legacy,"Grothman Named To Conference Committee For Education Reform f t # e Washington, November 17, 2015 (Washington, DC) Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) was named as a conferee to the conference committee to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Grothman was named along with nine other Republican House members.The House Education and Workforce Committee has worked hard to strengthen and reform education this year putting power back in the hands of parents, administrators and local officials, said Congressman Grothman. Americas next generation deserves a quality education. I look forward to working with my fellow conferees and coming to a final agreement that puts students and parents first. Speaker Ryan appointed the following members to serve on the House conference committee: Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Rep. David P. Roe (R-TN) Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2476, or online at grothman.house.gov. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z