Not long ago, I had the opportunity to visit the downtown Sheboygan branch of Lakeshore Community Health Care for an update on their continued growth.  LCHC is a nonprofit community health center that aims to deliver comprehensive care under one roof for the under-served.

During my time serving you in the Legislature, LCHC has steadily improved their facilities and expanded service to more and more patients every year.  The most recent state budget law, enacted just a couple months ago, significantly increased the state grant funding that supports the operations of Wisconsin's 17 community health centers.  In this photo, I've just been presented by LCHC with a Champion award for my role in securing this funding increase as a member of the state budget committee.  I appreciate their recognition... but, even more, I appreciate their hard work serving our people with quality care.

Speaking of the state budget: the past decade of responsible budgeting and spending within our means continues to bear fruit.  We learned that Wisconsin's most recent fiscal year is ending in even better financial shape than we estimated just a few months ago (largely due to even-better-than-expected business profits).

Finally, I've received a number of inquiries over the past several days as to how folks can lend a hand to refugees from Afghanistan who are receiving temporary shelter at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.  (Fort McCoy is presently housing the most refugees of any U.S. military installation; the number is expected to soon reach 13,000 people.)

Ideal venues where you may donate to this effort, if you are so inclined, include: (1) the American Red Cross, who has dozens of volunteers on site at Fort McCoy delivering essential services; (2) Team Rubicon, a nonprofit group led by veterans who also have personnel on site; and (3) Catholic Charities of La Crosse, who have creatively come up with some gift registries on Amazon, Target and Walmart websites.  In this way, you can order high-priority items and have them shipped directly by the retailers to Fort McCoy where the items will be put immediately to use.

Best wishes on the end of your week and what looks like another sunny weekend!

New Blue Books Coming Soon

Legislative offices have been notified that the new 2021-22 edition of the Wisconsin Blue Book will become available on September 16.  First published in 1853, the Blue Book is an encyclopedia of Wisconsin state government.  It includes biographies and contact info for all state elected officials; summaries of major legislative and court actions from the past two years; statistics and reference reports; as well as many feature articles of public interest.

The entire Blue Book, and the entire text of every Blue Book ever published, is accessible online here courtesy of the Legislative Reference Bureau and the University of Wisconsin's digital collections.  Hardcover books will again be available also; just let me know if you'd like one!

Repeat Gold Medal Winners!

For the first time since 1976, the U.S. men's wheelchair basketball team has earned back-to-back gold medals in the world Paralympic Games.  Cedar Grove native Nate Hinze is among the 12 players who comprise Team USA's men's wheelchair basketball team; he has now added a new Tokyo 2020 gold medal to his Rio 2016 gold and London 2012 bronze medals.

Nate has been playing wheelchair basketball since his days as a student at UW-Whitewater.  When he isn't traveling the world for the red, white and blue, Nate teaches middle school physical education and cheers on the Packers, Brewers and Badgers.

Way to go, Team USA!

Office of Representative Terry Katsma
State Capitol, Room 306 East
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-0656
Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov|  |