Committee Appointments

Last week, I received my Assembly committee appointments for the 2017-2018 legislative session. Next session, I will serve as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Children & Families. I will also continue serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Education and as a member of the Assembly Committees on Agriculture, Environment and Forestry, Tourism and Financial Institutions.

The Assembly Committee on Children and Families covers legislation that affects social service programs such as W-2, child abuse prevention efforts, and efforts to prevent identity fraud and abuse in current welfare programs. I am looking forward to assuming my role as Chairman and to begin working on these issues.

I am incredibly happy with my appointments. The committees I will serve on this session have a huge impact on important issues in the 1st Assembly District. We live in the most beautiful area of the state, and we are blessed with an abundance of natural recourses. Our economy depends on the preservation of these resources. Our challenge is to maintain our robust agricultural economy while doing more to protect our ground and surface water.

I am particularly excited to assume my role as the Chair of Children and Families and to continue my work as the Vice-Chair on Education. As the father of three and a former school board president, I have spent much of my time focusing on the wellbeing of our young people. Since our children are the future of Wisconsin, I am looking forward to doing everything in my power to ensure that they have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Algoma Interview

On December 14th, I interviewed with Bob Gray at Algoma Community Access Television. In this interview, Bob and I discuss my views on local and state issues going into the 2017-2018 legislative session.

The Algoma Hardwoods plant is scheduled to begin shutting down in January of 2017 and is disrupting the lives of many families employed there. However, a strong job market and efforts from the local community and the Department of Workforce Development are all helping to make this transition easier for the families affected by this closure. Bob and I also discuss my intentions to work on issues facing our public schools and funding for education, transportation, and state parks. Finally, groundwater contamination continues to be the issue I spend most of my time working on. Governor Walker asked the Department of Natural Resources, Public Service Commission, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to draft a request for biodigester proposals in Kewaunee County. In this interview, I explain where the state is at in the process and correct some misinformation surrounding biodigesters.

 If you have a moment, please click the photo below to watch the interview and learn about the issues I am working on.

Above: "Algoma Interview" Video

Friends of the Kewaunee Lighthouse

If you would like to support the Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighouse, please visit their facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofthekewauneepierheadlighthouse
 

Blue Books Available

If you would like a complimentary copy of the 2015-2016 Wisconsin State Blue Book, please follow the link:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/01/kitchens/constituent-services/ 

The 2015-2016 Blue Book is also available online:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/publications/wisconsin-blue-book/

In Closing...

Thank you for taking the time to read over my E-update.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office.

Representative Joel Kitchens