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Forward Fridays
Hello!
Welcome to my latest e-update! Here are highlights from the past week as your State Representative.
As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
Forward together!
Legislation Updates
It's been a busy year developing legislation to roll out this fall and winter, and over the next few months I'll share with you some of what we're working on.
Small Business
As a small business owner, in a community of small business owners, I am committed to make the state of Wisconsin work better for small business. Did you know that 99.9% of the new jobs created were businesses of 50 people or less? and 80% of those are businesses of 20 people or less? Yes! Wisconsin is a small business state, and I have been working this year to help small businesses.
Starting this fall, you'll see what we've been working on, and I'm very excited to start talking more about it! If you're a small business owner, or know a small business owner (I bet you do!), please answer this question:
How can the state of Wisconsin better serve small businesses?
Restroom Access for People with Disabilities
This is where constituents showing up to my office hours and sharing concerns can truly change the world we live in. At our very first office hours, a constituent shared a concern about lack of changing tables for adults with disabilities. She shared her son is unable to go to basketball games, museums, airports because at age 19, he has to be changed on the floor of public restrooms. And instantly I realized we have a population of people in need who are going unseen because since the buildings don't work for the people, the people aren't going to the buildings.
So, I'm working on a bill to improve restroom access in buildings and spaces for people with disabilities and their care providers. I'm told this will change the lives of families across the state of Wisconsin, so let's get it done!
And if you ever wonder if elections matter? This idea had been brought to other legislators and had gone ignored for years until our office hours one Thursday in Wauwatosa. It is an honor to work on this bill, along with several others related to caring for people with disabilities.
Adoption Task Force
The Adoption Task Force works on legislation ideas based on what we are hearing at the public hearings. If you are a birth mother, or know a birth mother, or you are an adult who was adopted as a child, please consider submitting a testimony by writing or in-person about what it's like to experience adoption in Wisconsin. We have not had a birth parent testify, and I look forward to hearing this perspective.
Legislation I have co-authored in the last month:
- Waiting period for handgun purchases (AB 366)
- Accommodations at legislative committee hearings (AB 355)
- Extension of Medicaid coverage postpartum (AB 346)
- Date change of State parks admission pass or receipt (AB 331)
- Coverage for extended contraceptives supply (AB 330)
- Marriage of same sax couples & parentage rights of married same sex couples (AB 337)
- Transgender Day of Remembrance (AJR 72)
- Congratulating Giannis Antetokounmpo for MVP Award (AJR 71)
- Wisconsin Sports MVP Week in December (AJR 74)
...and many more that have not received a bill number yet!
This Week's Meetings
 DCF/CPS Milwaukee
Last Friday, Rep. Kalan Haywood, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, & I joined Bianca Shaw at the Department of Children and Families for a round table related to housing for youth aging out of foster care. Thanks to all the community partners, including landlords and developers, DCF, St. A’s, Children’s Hospital, Ladd Lake and faith partners, etc., who attended today and are committed to working on this initiative. Milwaukee’s foster youth need reliable housing and we can come together and do the work to make it happen!
If you are a landlord, or know a landlord who would be interested in helping create safe, affordable, quality housing for 168 youth soon to age out of foster care, please contact my office. More to come on this!
Chief Weber - Wauwatosa PD
I met with Chief Barry Weber, and Captain Zalewski, from the Wauwatosa Police Department to discuss how to ensure the safety and well-being of Tosa's residents. It's important for legislators to check in with local government so that we can both establish relationships, and commit to partner together to serve our communities. Over the next 60 days you'll find me in the district as much as possible. I plan to connect with local government officials, build strong and effective relationships at home in our communities.
Governor's staff
I met with Governor Evers' office to discuss an exciting small business project that we're working on together. We will be announcing this project soon-- get excited!
Tosa's Night Out
On Wednesday, I started the day in Madison at the Steamfitters training facility, and ended in Wauwatosa for Tosa's Night Out at the Zoo. I was able to meet with various groups supporting the community, notably several groups serving the elderly population, as well as crime fighters related to sex trafficking, sex offenders, and parole. I found this to be very helpful because when I knock doors, I can connect people with the services that already exist in our local community. Sometimes it's difficult to find the people who need the services, but when I knock their doors, I'm right there with the information!
The Wauwatosa Police Department, Mayor Ehley, and I led the flashlight parade to close out the night! What a wonderful community we live in!
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Brookfield Night Out is next week!
Wednesday, August 7th, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Brookfield Civic Plaza (by City Hall)
Don’t miss this family fun event filled with activities, entertainment, food and fun for all: safety tips and demos, rock climbing wall, bounce house, and Community Walk Against Crime from 8:30-9PM. More info here.
State Fair
 I attended the kickoff of the Wisconsin State Fair yesterday, one of the TOP 10 state fairs in the country! Make sure you stop by between August 1-11, and grab a cream puff!
State Fair info here.
Letters from you!
As mentioned above, I’ve been spending the majority of my time in the district this month. It's important to pop into Madison periodically to build relationships across the aisle, meet with executive offices and secretaries based in Madison, and see in-person the mail sent to the office. (I am also required to sign time sheets in-person, so this summer I'm trying to stop by 1-2 times a month.) This week all the handwritten letters this week were supporting fair maps. I also made some calls to folks who have written in by email. Thank you for your letters, emails, and calls! Our office policy is to respond to everyone who writes or calls in. If your contact is ever dropped, please let us know!
Adoption Task Force Meetings 
Our last Adoption Task Force Public Hearing in Balsam Lake is available to watch on WisconsinEye here.
Our next hearings will be the last few weeks of August: one in Waukesha, one in Milwaukee, and one in Richland Center.
Adoption Task Force Public Hearing - Milwaukee
Wednesday, August 14th, 2PM
Vincent High School
7501 N Granville Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53224
Adoption Task Force Public Hearing - Waukesha
TBD
Adoption Task Force Public Hearing - Richland Center
Wednesday, August 28th, 12PM
UW-Platteville, Richland Center
1200 US-14, Richland Center, WI 53581
Assembly Democrats Podcast
 The Assembly Democratic Caucus just released a podcast called "Some Assembly Required." Each episode features a different policy or legislative issue and a Democratic Assembly member to discuss it. Listen on Spotify or Soundcloud!
Looking Forward
Feel free to email or call my office with any questions or concerns, or meet with me at one of my in-district office hours or listening sessions.
Forward together,
Rep. Robyn Vining
Contact Us:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
PH: (608) 266-9180
TF: (888) 534-0014
Email: Rep.Vining@legis.wi.gov
Web: www.vining.assembly.wi.gov
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