I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read through my newsletter. Each week, I'll include information to keep you up to date with what's happening in Madison and the 1st Assembly District.
GI Bill Legislation
I recently introduced legislation that will provide military veterans with more opportunities to take advantage of the GI Bill in Wisconsin.
My legislative proposal makes this possible by modifying the residency requirements for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children who are enrolled in University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges.
Under current state law, qualifying veterans are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits. A veteran must be a resident of this state when entering military service or for at least five consecutive years prior to registering at a UW System school or technical college.
My bill lowers the five-year requirement to three years. I decided to make this adjustment because the federal GI Bill ends after three years. This will ensure that a student’s education is not interrupted.
My legislation also eliminates the provision that a student must be a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into active duty as a condition of eligibility for the nonresident tuition exemption for veterans. By making this change, veterans will be able to qualify for in-state tuition when they enroll in a UW System institution.
In addition to honoring the brave men and women who protect our country, I am hopeful this bill will entice more people to move to Wisconsin. With the significant labor shortage we are facing right now, any increase in workers should help us with addressing this issue.
Long-Term Care Investments
With our area having one of the oldest populations in Wisconsin, it is vital that we make substantial investments in our long-term care industry so this large group of residents can maintain the highest quality of life.
I am proud the 2021-23 state budget does just that.
The biennial spending plan dedicates nearly $440 million for long-term care facilities and staff, with almost $252 million going toward nursing home reimbursement rates.
Additionally, the budget increases funding for direct caregivers in Family Care by $104 million and personal care workers by $78 million.
All of the aforementioned totals are higher than what the governor proposed in his budget.
It is no secret that many long-term care programs are experiencing workforce shortages right now. I believe this budget will have a considerable impact on the ability of long-term care providers to hire and retain staff. In the end, that will benefit us all.
ARPA Allocations
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a report this week detailing how the governor's administration has been allocating our state's share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The report also discloses how much each county and municipality is receiving in ARPA funding. The four counties in our Assembly district are getting the following amounts:
Thank you for taking the time to read my e-update. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff members, Adam and Henry, look forward to working with you. Also, if you would like a 2019-20 Wisconsin Blue Book or 2019-20 state highway map free of charge, just send us an email!
