Healthcare Heroes Update
A GIANT thanks to our H E A L T H C A R E 💙 H E R O E S for your work on the frontlines of the pandemic. You have taken care of us, and now 33 members of the legislature have co-sponsored the Healthcare Heroes Act to do our job to take care of you.
The bill is jacketed (pictured here with names of co-sponsors), off to get a bill number, assigned to a committee, and receive a public hearing. Let’s go!
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January is Human Trafficking Prevention month. This week we focus on labor trafficking– a devastating reality here in Wisconsin.
According to the ACLU, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry worldwide. Labor trafficking is often poorly understood, difficult to detect, and cases are hard to prosecute or even find by law enforcement. Victims are often isolated from our communities and hesitant to report their experiences, which is why it is important we know the signs of labor trafficking.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation has a Human Trafficking Bureau dedicated to fighting human trafficking in Wisconsin through enforcement, education and training. Attorney General Josh Kaul shared a list of possible signs and indicators of labor trafficking:
As Wisconsin state legislators it is past time for us to end labor trafficking once and for all. Let’s go.
#endtrafficking #humantrafficking #humantraffickingawareness #forwardTOGETHER
Gov. Evers Celebrates Wisconsin’s Record-Low Unemployment Rate
Governor Evers announced that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has reached an all-time record low of 2.8% in December 2021, breaking the previous record low of 3.0% in November 2021.To see the full press release from Governor Evers, please click HERE.
Congratulations Assembly Democratic Leader Rep. Greta Neubauer and Assistant Leader-elect Rep. Kalan Haywood on a Successful First Session
Assembly Democratic Leader Rep. Neubauer displayed strong leadership by highlighting common sense initiatives that would positively impact the daily lives of all Wisconsin residents during her first session as Minority Leader. I applaud her commitment to the people of Wisconsin, and look forward to her continued leadership as the legislative session continues.
To see my full press release congratulating Leader Neubauer click HERE.
Rep. Robyn Vining Honors Victims of Waukesha Parade Incident, Highlights Heroic Efforts of First Responders
On Thursday, the Wisconsin State Assembly took up Assembly Joint Resolution 109 to honor the victims and first responders of the November 21, 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade.
To view my full press release honoring the heroic efforts of first responders click HERE.
Rep. Vining Stands with the Trans Community
I will never back down from protecting trans kids. Every kid in Wisconsin and your families should know, Wisconsin Democrats will not back down when Republicans introduce anti-trans legislation like they did this week. To the trans community: we see you, we love you, and we have your back. Forward together.
Redistricting Update: WI Supreme Court Hearing on Jan. 19th
On Wednesday, January 19th the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the legislative redistricting case. Supreme Court justices weighed proposed maps submitted by various parties, following a November ruling that they would accept new maps based in part on how closely that the court would adhere to the gerrymandered maps Republicans drew in 2011.
Since I was elected, fair maps have been one of my priorities. In 2019, I authored the Fair Maps Bill, a bipartisan piece of legislation to create a nonpartisan redistricting process for Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Republican legislative leadership refused to call a vote on this bill. This session, the Fair Maps Bill was reintroduced as 2021 Assembly Bill 395, and I am once again a co-author.
The people of Wisconsin have a constitutional right to fair representation. Voters should get to choose their politicians; politicians should not get to choose their voters.
To learn more about the current redistricting case, please click HERE, and stay tuned for a ruling from the state supreme court (likely) later this month.
Press Conference Regarding Wisconsin’s Criminal Abortion Law in Honor of 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
January 22, 2022 marks the 49th anniversary since the landmark Roe v. Wade case made accessing abortion legal in all 50 United States.
Wisconsin is one of nine states in the country with a criminal abortion statute still in place that could immediately go into effect if Roe is overturned. Under the 172-year-old Wisconsin law criminalizing abortion, doctors and health care professionals assisting someone in obtaining an abortion would be guilty of committing a felony. The law has no exception for rape, incest, or the health of the pregnant person.
I attended this press conference yesterday.
Recently Co-Sponsored Legislation
Here are some bills that I recently signed onto as a co-sponsor:
- Assembly Bill 815/Senate Bill 791: relating to expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs.
- Assembly Bill 167/Senate Bill 158: section 529A ABLE savings account program
- Assembly Bill 416/Senate Bill 413: coverage of breast cancer screenings by the Medical Assistance program and health insurance policies and plans
- LRB 5687: Honoring Sidney Poitier
- LRB 5647: Supermarket Employee Day
- LRB 5650: Honoring the public service of Thomas Barrett
- LRB-5815: withdrawing authorization of Wisconsin State Assembly partisan election review efforts
- LRB-2613: scholarships for sibling connections and making an appropriation.
Four Free At-Home COVID Tests via USPS
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 FREE at-home tests from USPS.com. I ordered tests for my family this past week! Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
To fill out the form for your 4 at-home tests, click HERE.
Session Next Week
Next week on Tuesday, January 25th, at 1:00PM the Assembly will be in session. Watch live for free on wiseye.org.
Children and Families Committee Next Week
Next week, the Assembly Committee on Children and Families (of which I am a member) will be meeting on Thursday at 10:30AM for an executive session and public hearing. Watch live for free on wiseye.org.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
As of January 20th, 8,918, 695 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wisconsin and 62.6% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose, with 58.6% fully vaccinated. Additionally, 1,733,763 additional or booster doses have been administered.
DHS has reported that new data indicates that unvaccinated individuals are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, and die from COVID-19 at 14 times higher rates than fully vaccinated individuals.
The best protection against any variant of COVID-19, is to get fully vaccinated and get a booster shot. All Wisconsinites ages 5 and over are eligible for a FREE COVID-19 vaccine series. Additionally, all those 18 years or older who had their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or got their Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago, are eligible for a free booster shot. Getting your booster shot will provide the best protection from COVID-19, including the new omicron variant.
Find more information of COVID-19 variants HERE.
Find additional information on booster shots HERE.
For more information about where you can get a vaccine, visit the DHS website HERE.
En español, AQUI. ¿Tiene preguntas sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19? Llame al 844-684-1064 (llamada gratuita)
COVID-19 Update
14th District Counties
Milwaukee - 224,829 confirmed cases Fri, Jan 14, 2022 and 229,527 confirmed cases Fri, Jan 21, 2022 (increase of 4,698)
Waukesha - 87,352 confirmed cases Fri, Jan 14, 2022 and 89,835 confirmed cases Fri, Jan 21, 2022 (increase of 2,483)
