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Contents

January 8, 2021

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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.

Inauguration Message

Earlier this week, I officially began my fourth term as the state representative for the 1st Assembly District after I took the oath of office at our inauguration ceremony at the state Capitol.

Please click on this link to view a video of my inauguration message.

On a related note, I am honored to announce that I will continue to serve as the chairman of the Assembly Environment Committee and the vice chairman of the Assembly Education Committee for the 2021-22 legislative session.

Being the chairman of the Assembly Environment Committee is especially important to me because we live in the most beautiful area of the state and we have a responsibility to preserve that beauty for future generations to come. Plus, our whole way of life depends on clean water.

Please know that I remain committed to considering and advancing bipartisan legislation that will help protect our natural resources while also allowing our economy to thrive.

As a father of three and a former school board president, I am also excited to continue my role as vice chairman of the Assembly Education Committee.

I will use my knowledge and past experiences in education to see that our children and teenagers are provided with sufficient learning opportunities. Additionally, I'll work to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We must also prioritize revising the state’s complex school funding formula so that every student in our state has a chance to succeed.

For the new session, I am also serving as a member of the Assembly committees on Agriculture, Tourism, and Housing and Real Estate.  

The critical legislation that will come out of all five of my committees will surely have a significant impact on our communities and the state as a whole. I vow to collaborate with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring forward common sense solutions that benefit all Wisconsinites.

COVID-19 Relief Package

During the first official week of Wisconsin's 105th legislative session, the state Assembly passed a COVID-19 relief package that intends to assist residents, businesses and schools with navigating through the pandemic.

While I do not agree with every single item in the comprehensive bill, I think that, overall, the legislation will go a long way toward helping many of our friends, family and neighbors. Given the importance of these measures, we should not be squabbling over minor differences.

I can’t think of a single person in Wisconsin who hasn’t been impacted by COVID-19 in one way or another, whether it be infected individuals, business owners, healthcare professionals, parents who’ve become teachers or those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

The legislation, which was formally introduced earlier this week following months of discussions with the governor, frontline workers, businesses and citizens, contains 44 separate proposals. Many of the provisions reflect those bipartisan conversations or are continuations of the COVID-19 relief package we passed last April.

Some of the items in the bill would address the backlog in the unemployment insurance system, create a $100 million fund to respond to the public health emergency, extend prescription orders, allow health service professionals from other states to practice in Wisconsin, guarantee that vaccines are covered by SeniorCare and provide civil liability exemptions for certain entities related to COVID-19 claims.

I believe it is extremely important that we protect our businesses and schools from frivolous lawsuits that could potentially cripple them. Under the legislation, immunity will not apply if the act or omission involves reckless or intentional misconduct. This way, we can safeguard both our residents and our economy.

If you would like to learn more about the relief package, please check out this detailed summary that was put together by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. 

COVID Vaccinations 

Throughout the past week or so, a large number of constituents have been contacting my office to voice their concerns over how the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is being handled in Wisconsin.

On behalf of my constituents, I sent a letter yesterday to the state Department of Health Services seeking answers as to why Wisconsin is lagging behind so many other states when it comes to getting their residents doses of the vaccine.

It's important to remember that the governor's administration – and not the Legislature – has complete control over Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination program. However, the Legislature has been asking to be involved in the process. 

If you would like to read my letter in full, please click here.

Once I receive our answers from DHS, I will be sure to provide you with an update.

Birth Control Legislation

While helping our state respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic will be my top priority this legislative session, I'll also be pursuing other bills that will benefit our communities in other ways.

This week I circulated for co-sponsorship a piece of legislation that would, under certain circumstances, allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives – including common birth control pills. Under current state law, hormonal birth control is only available through a prescription from a physician or an advanced practice nurse who has met the required qualifications.

The legislation is identical to my bill that was passed last session by the state Assembly. It could not receive a vote in the Senate because that governing body’s last floor session in March was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To read my press release on this session's proposal, please click on this link