It was a busy week at the capitol with committee meetings. Not only did several of my committees meet, but I also testified in front of the Consumer Protection Committee on Assembly Bills 240 and 241, legislation that implements food allergy precautions in restaurants.
In addition to committee meetings, the Assembly was in Session where not only was one of my adoption bills was passed, but where I also stood together with my fellow Democrats to uphold one of Governor Evers' vetoes. You can read all about these events and more below in this week's e-Update.
Additionally, late this afternoon I introduced bi-partisan legislation to insure Wisconsin residents have access to ABLE accounts which help individuals with disabilities and their families plan and save for their futures. You can read the press release on this legislation here.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Lisa Subeck State Representative 78th Assembly District
A bill I authored along with Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R- Crivitz) passed the state Assembly on the 15th with bi-partisan support. The bill, AB 564, will expand eligibility for federal special needs adoption assistance in Wisconsin to include families adopting children 7 years of age and older or adopting siblings who are waiting for permanent adoptive placements.
Some children linger far too long in our child welfare system, while others ultimately age out without ever having a forever family. This legislation will make it a little easier for adoptive parents to meet the complex needs of older children and sibling groups as they leave the child welfare system to join their new forever families.
AB 564 was a product of the work of the Task Force on Adoption, a task force I had the honor of serving as its Vice Chair. This task force gathered input from families, experts, and agencies at a series of public hearings held across the state.
I was proud to uphold Governor Evers’s veto of AB 76 by voting against the Republican majority’s effort to override it in an attempt to reduce the number of training hours required for CNAs to practice in Wisconsin. While I understand the intentions behind this bill—namely addressing Wisconsin’s CNA shortage —I do not believe that lowering training requirements is a safe solution.
CNAs preform a vital service for our community, but often go unrecognized and underpaid. Rather than cutting training requirements and diminishing quality of care, we should seek to adequately compensate them for their important work. The Republican majority has had ample time to take up the CNA Pay Act which I introduced early in the session last year which would increase reimbursement for personal care services under the Medical Assistance program, create an individual income tax credit for CNAs, and provide grants to technical colleges for nurse aide training.
This week, I urged lawmakers on the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection to support of a pair of bills I co-authored to mitigate the risk of food allergies on consumers by preventing unnecessary exposure to allergens at restaurants. These two bills, AB 240 and AB 241, would require certain retail food establishments to display posters with information about how staff should handle food allergies and would require a statement on menus instructing customers to inform staff of any food allergies.
I believe that most restaurant staff work hard to ensure high standards of food safety in relation to customers with food allergies, too often they do not have the information they need to do so. As someone who has experienced an anaphylactic reaction as the result of a food allergy, I know firsthand the critical importance of arming food service workers with knowledge of safe practices to prevent unintentional exposure to allergens.
According to FARE, Food Allergy Research and Education, an estimated 32 million people in the United States have food allergies, including 5.6 million children. Each year in the United States, 200,000 people require emergency treatment for food-related allergic reactions. While food allergies cannot be cured, these two bills can help mitigate their impact by reducing the risk of exposure and may even save lives.
On Wednesday the Assembly held a floor session, where they passed several bipartisan bills. The full Assembly session calendar can be viewed here.
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) convened on Thursday. Once again, critical funds to combat homelessness were left off the agenda. Republicans continue to refuse to take action on bills that would protect and aid Wisconsin's most vulnerable citizens. Late last year, Governor Evers called a special meeting to force the GOP to act on these crucial bills. JFC Republicans declined to show up as hundreds Wisconsinites continue to suffer through the brutal winter temperatures.
Next week, both the Senate and the Assembly will be in session. Additionally, on Wednesday Governor Evers will hold his second State of the State address.
On Monday, January 20th, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, and MLK's impact and legacy includes a connection to Wisconsin. Several times throughout his Civil Rights activism in the late 1960s, King spoke in Milwaukee, and he encouraged people to erase two myths: "Only time can solve the problems of racial integration" and "Civil Rights legislation is not important.” The people of Milwaukee were largely receptive. After King's assassination in April 1968, 15,000 people marched through the streets of Downtown Milwaukee. It remains the largest civil rights demonstration in city history and was among the biggest in the country at the time.
In 2018, city leaders in Madison were joined by community members in a march that celebrated the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. A re-dedication of a two-block street, which runs between Main and Wilson streets Downtown, named in honor of the civil rights activist in 1987, followed the march. Though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts began in the South, his influence was heard all over the nation and continue to be heard today. On this day we should take time to remember all he did for civil rights in this country and country.
Things happening in the district & around Madison:
Free Fishing Weekend Saturday & Sunday, January 18 -19, 2020 All Day Most State Waters, look here for details.
Fish almost anywhere in Wisconsin without a license or trout stamp on Free Fishing Weekend. Most waters of the state are included, except for spring trout ponds.
Madison Comic Book Convention Saturday, January 18, 2020 10 AM - 4 PM Hawthorne Suites, 5421 Caddis Bend, Fitchburg
Come enjoy comics and good company this weekend at the Madison Comic Convention! Free admission.
Women's March Wisconsin Saturday, January 18, 2020 11 AM (Doors Open at 10:30 AM) South Division High School Auditorium, 1515 W Lapham Blvd, Milwaukee
The annual Wisconsin Women’s March is upon us. The largest march in the state is in Milwaukee, but the journey is worth it in order to support women across the state, nation and world!
UW Women's Basketball Sunday, January 19, 2020 2 PM Kohl Center 601 W. Dayton St., Madison
Support the Badgers in their game against Iowa this weekend!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 20, 2020 12 PM - 2 PM 1st Floor Capitol Rotunda
Africasong Communications, Inc. will sponsor the State of Wisconsin's Annual "Tribute and Ceremony" Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King Memorial Lecture Tuesday, January 21, 2020 6:30 PM UW Union South - Varsity Hall 1308 W. Dayton St., Madison
Trailblazing astronaut Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first woman of color in space, will present the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture Jan. 21 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.