COVID-19 Update
ANNOUNCEMENT
The health and safety of my constituents is my number one priority. Given the information provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and joining in the decision of other legislators, schools, universities, major sports leagues, and other organizations, my office is suspending public events and meetings through April 10th. This includes office hours, town halls, and knocking doors.
My office will continue operating, and you may continue to contact my office by phone, email, or mail.
SCHOOLS
Governor Evers and the Department of Health Services have closed all public and private schools from March 18th until April 6th.
CAPITOL BUILDING OPERATIONS
Tours of the State Capitol building have been suspended, however the building is still open and operations are functioning normally.
STAFFING
Our office intern program has been suspended until further notice — I want to thank our interns for their work this semester, and hope they have a safe spring break! With fewer hands on deck in the office, it may affect response times—we appreciate your patience.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
DHS has asked for all gatherings of 250 or more people to be cancelled or postponed, and events with less than 250 to take necessary precautions. Social distancing can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and reduce unnecessary risk for our vulnerable populations.
FLATTEN THE CURVE
This is important to help “flatten the curve,” which means to slow the spread of the virus and thus reduce some of the risk for vulnerable populations, as well as to help ensure our hospitals are not overwhelmed.
This is not a time for panic, but we should be careful and take necessary precautions because the most vulnerable members of society are at risk. The CEO of MD Anderson cancer center in Houston raised concerns that cancer patients are extremely vulnerable. Please make sure to do what you can to help cancer patients have what they need and can stay safely at home.
Continue to follow DHS’ recommendations:
- Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Avoiding touching your face
- Staying home when sick
- Social distancing & avoid large gatherings
- Carefully consider travel plans & avoid areas of the United - States & worldwide that have community spread of the disease
NATIONAL GUARD
Wisconsin’s National Guard is serving families in quarantine. We wish to express our gratitude to them and their families for their work.
ONE WISCONSIN
On a personal note, I want to assure you we are doing everything we can with the information and power that we have while working through an unprecedented pandemic that has facts and advice changing seemingly constantly. I will be monitoring this crisis through the weekend, and I will not forget my call to service to the people of the 14th district. Part of my job is disseminating information, and we will keep you posted as news happens. And, we will also work to generate ideas for how to best respond. I understand this is both a challenging time, and for many-- a scary time. Please check on your neighbors, reach out to the elderly, if you need help and receive an offer for help, take confidence in accepting that help. Together, as one Wisconsin, we will walk through this moment, and may we remember one another, reach out, ask for help, offer help, and be the community to one another we were made to be. Now is the time to draw together as one Wisconsin.
My office is here. Please reach out with any questions. We will be at work. And once again, the safety and security of my constituents is my number one priority. Please rest at night knowing that.
Forward together,
Robyn Vining
For daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the DHS website here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/outbreaks/index.htm
On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed a case of COVID- 19, or coronavirus, in Waukesha County. This is the sixth confirmed case in the state. On Thursday, Governor Evers declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin to help open up resources to mitigate COVID-19. Read the full Executive Order here. There are now 18 confirmed cases, with one having recovered.
Each and every day my utmost concern is for our citizens. I want to express my appreciation for the partnership between local and state health departments to mitigate COVID-19 in Wisconsin. It is important we follow recommendations from DHS and local health departments to help prevent the spread of this virus. We must protect our vulnerable populations.
DHS recommends people follow simple steps to avoid getting sick, including:
- Frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and water
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Avoiding touching your face
- Staying home when sick
- Disinfect personal electronic devices and work spaces
Visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website for daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin.
Read my full statement here.
This Week
Children's Caucus
On Tuesday, the bicameral, bipartisan Children’s Caucus met for a briefing focused on maternal and infant death & health, and racial disparities. I am grateful to the presenters for sharing their expertise and have already moved to write legislation they suggested, and worked to bring one of the speakers to our maternal health town hall in May! (This may be a virtual town hall if we are under COVID-19 restrictions).
Women's Suffrage Event - Capitol
At the Capitol on Tuesday was the Women’s Suffrage luncheon for legislators and staff — our wonderful First Lady joined us too!
Women's Suffrage Event - Milwaukee
On Tuesday, I dashed from the briefing and luncheon at the Capitol in Madison to Milwaukee for the Wisconsin Bar Association’s Women’s Suffrage presentation at the federal courthouse. We were joined by Wauwatosa West APPSE students, and Milwaukee Girl Scouts! We heard two fantastic lectures tracing the history of voting in America.
Hunger Task Force
Also on Tuesday, the Hunger Task Force facilitated an interactive hunger simulation presentation called “Food for Today.” Participants had to navigate income disparities and available community resources to “feed” themselves and their “families” a nutritious diet. This program demonstrates the challenges that individuals and their families face when struggling with food insecurity. Legislators and staff participated— I asked my staff to attend since I was in-transit to the afternoon Milwaukee event. My family knows this struggle personally, we know that this has been a growing challenge in the Milwaukee suburbs over the last half decade, and I’m glad legislators who haven’t experienced food insecurity are getting the chance to try to understand— food security can be lost in an instant, without warning. Earlier in the day in Children’s Caucus we heard that pregnant mothers eat last when food is scarce for a family. May we all seek to understand the challenges facing our friends and neighbors.
Trails Caucus
On Wednesday, the “Trails Caucus,” a bipartisan group of legislators led by Rep. Evan Goyke and Rep. Tony Kurtz, hosted a briefing today with presentations from state agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Dept of Natural Resources, and Dept of Tourism about how they are currently working on trails and outdoor recreation in Wisconsin.
Working Moms Day
Graphic from Working Moms of Milwaukee
In 2017, one of our constituents from Wauwatosa started the group Working Moms of Milwaukee. Moms uniting through their work in small businesses resonates with what I’m working to promote in our communities and our state. Seeing an idea like this start in the district I serve is something really exciting.
With this idea in mind, the group declared March 12 as "Working Moms Day" to celebrate the efforts of working moms all around. When I found out about this special day, I sent a request to Governor Evers' office to ensure this day is proclaimed for the entire state of Wisconsin.
Girl Scouts 108th Birthday
March 12th, 2020 is the 108th birthday of Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts has given girls the tools they need to lead, break barriers, and create positive change. Happy birthday, Girl Scouts! Thanks for all your work (and the great cookies)!
Unclaimed Property
A service available to constituents is locating "unclaimed property." You can search the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Database to see if you have any unclaimed property. Generally, unclaimed property is any financial asset that hasn't had owner activity for a period of one year or more and the holder of the asset is not able to contact the owner. This includes:
- Savings accounts
- Checking accounts
- Uncashed dividends
- Stocks and mutual funds
- Customer deposits or overpayments
- Certificates of deposit
- Credit balances
- Refunds
- Matured life insurance policies
- Uncashed death benefit checks
The unclaimed property law also requires that utility deposits, unclaimed wages and property resulting from a business closure, be reported as unclaimed property after one year of inactivity. The law does not include real estate. Click here to find out if you have unclaimed property!
Looking Forward
April 15th - 50 Piece Rule
Starting on April 15th, we are unable to send out 50 or more pieces of identical materials from our office, which would include this e-update. Our weekly e-update will continue to be posted on our legislative website, Facebook, and Twitter every Friday, but will not be sent directly to your inbox.
If you have any questions regarding this rule, please let us know!
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