Labor Day has passed, and we are all getting used to the new fall routine. As you head off to work or school drop off, be reminded that school buses are back on the roads as well. To help keep our students safe, please be mindful of passing rules regarding a stopped school bus in Wisconsin. All lanes of traffic, in both directions, must stop for a stopped school bus. If the opposing lanes of a highway are divided with a center median, all vehicles behind the bus must stop, and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction must proceed with caution.
Please continue reading for articles on National Recovery Month, the Governor’s executive order on PFAS, nominations for awards, and new mobile apps from the Department of Natural Resources. As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. You can always contact my office by calling (608) 266-5780 or emailing me at Rep.Billings@legis.wi.gov.
Best Wishes,
Jill Billings State Representative 95th Assembly District
National Recovery Month & Alliance to Heal Resources
September is National Recovery Month, dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders. For about a year, I’ve been a member of our local initiative, the Alliance to HEAL, a group of organizations dedicated to addressing the growing substance abuse crisis in the La Crosse area. Alliance to HEAL recently unveiled a new and updated website, alliancetoheal.com, which contains many resources on prevention, recovery, and services.
Executive Order on PFAS
Governor Evers recently signed an executive order, taking action to address Per- and Polyfluroalkyl Substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make consumer products resistant to water, grease, or stains. The man-made chemicals have been manufactured and used in products like food packaging, non-stick cookware, fire-fighting foam, and stain/water repellent fabrics since the 1950s.
PFAS don’t break down, so they can accumulate over time in the environment and in the human body. The chemicals are not federally regulated, and have been found in groundwater locations like Fort McCoy in Sparta.
The Governor’s executive order on PFAS orders that regulatory standards be created, expands monitoring in the development of wildlife consumption advisories, creates a public information website, and creates a council to create a multi-agency PFAS action plan for Wisconsin, among other preventative and proactive actions.
In La Crosse, Mayor Kabat has been working with local authorities to reduce the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The proliferation of PFAS affects La Crosse County, as well as the entire state of Wisconsin, so I am happy to see that this executive order is taking action to prevent exposure to PFAS through drinking water and other pathways.
Award Nominations: Recycling Excellence & Family Caregiver Support
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is accepting nominations for Recycling Excellence Awards, which celebrate outstanding recycling and waste diversion efforts, innovation, and performance in Wisconsin. Communities, organizations, schools, and businesses of all sizes are encouraged to apply for recognition. Programs may self-nominate, or submit an application on behalf of another program. Learn more and submit a nomination here. Nominations are due by September 15.
The Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA) is accepting nominations for their ‘Thank You For Being A Friend’ award, which honors a notable individual, agency, or employer who made a significant impact to a family caregiver. Family caregivers can submit nominations by September 15.
Department of Natural Resources Mobile Apps
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recommends a couple of mobile applications to help Wisconsinites get the most out of time spent outdoors this fall.
Local conservation biologists are urging gardeners, farmers, and other landowners to use a new free app, HabiTally, to record the number of milkweed or wildflower nectar plants in their backyard or farmyard. This data on pollinator habitats is being used to track progress towards restoring habitat for monarch butterfly populations and other pollinators.
DNR has also released ‘Hunt Wild Wisconsin’, which aids hunters in the field with features like property boundary maps, shooting hours, deer carcass disposal locations, and more. The app can be downloaded on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Additionally, with deer hunting season beginning September 14, DNR is asking archery and gun hunters to record their observations of deer and other wildlife, which helps track trends for Wisconsin. The 11th annual Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey is open until January 2020. To help with the survey and to learn more, visit this website.
Rep. Billings Out of the Capitol Building
As a member of the State Building Commission, earlier this week I toured Sellery and Witte residence halls on the UW-Madison campus, and learned about planned improvements and renovations.
