Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the springtime weather. This month has been busy with many committee meetings and session days. The Assembly has met a few times in the past month to debate many issues such as the regulation of Physician's Assistants, to-go cocktails, and if dentists should administer vaccines. In addition, I am working to spread the word about all of the provisions in Governor Evers' proposed budget, which would help our schools, businesses, healthcare system, and rural areas.

As always, please contact my office if you have any questions or concerns. Continue reading for updates on the legislative session, budget listening sessions, the COVID-19 vaccine, and more.

Sincerely,

Assembly Passes Physician Assistant Bill

On Tuesday, the Assembly voted on several bills including Assembly Bill 125 (AB 125), a bill that I co-authored. It now heads to the Senate for a vote. If signed into law, AB 125 would create a Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board and update the regulation of physician assistants.

This PA bill is important as it will allow patients increased access to healthcare while maintaining a high standard of care. This is crucial in rural communities like ours where patients often experience extended periods of time as they wait for treatment.

Budget Listening Sessions

This budget cycle, there are many ways for you to get involved.  Tomorrow, Saturday March 20th from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M., and Monday April 9th from 12 to 1 P.M., I will be hosting a listening session to hear from you about your priorities and concerns about the 2021-23 Biennial Budget. I hope to see you there! Sign up HERE.

In addition, Governor Evers will be holding virtual Badger Bounceback live sessions to allow Wisconsinites to discuss, provide feedback, and share personal experiences as it relates to the budget. These meetings will take place on Thursdays at 6 p.m. on the following dates:

  • March 25th - Accessible & Affordable Healthcare, register HERE.
  • March 30th - Transportation & Infrastructure, register HERE.
  • April 8th - What’s Best for Our Kids, register HERE.
  • April 14th - Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization, register HERE.
  • April 21st - Climate Change & Our Environment, register HERE.

Another way to get involved in the budget is by going to Forward Wisconsin budget meetings, run by my colleagues Rep. Goyke and Rep. Neubauer who are members of the Joint Committee on Finance. These meetings take place on Wednesday nights at 7pm at the following dates:

Check out Forward Wisconsin's Facebook page to watch past meetings, including the meeting on Education during which I presented.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

This week I was able to get my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I encourage all eligible individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Monday March 22nd, individuals with medical conditions associated with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. These conditions include asthma, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, down syndrome, heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies, hypertension or high blood pressure, immunocompromised state, liver disease, neurologic conditions, such as intellectual disabilities and dementia, overweight or obesity, pregnancy, pulmonary fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and thalassemia.

In addition, individuals who work in restaurants are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information about what groups are eligible, visit the DHS website HERE

For more information about where you can get a vaccine, visit the DHS website HERE.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Wisconsin continues to be one of the best states in the nation for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As of March 18th, 2,148,882 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wisconsin. 23% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose and 13.4% have completed their vaccination series.

Broadband Update

Many of you know I'm passionate about increasing access to broadband in rural areas. Oftentimes constituents ask me what they can do to help advocate for expansion. Luckily there's a really quick and easy way to do that today. By clicking HERE and clicking the button on the site, you can have your internet speed recorded.

This information is extremely important as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction gathers data about where broadband gaps currently exist. The more that people participate, the easier it will be to see that our communities have large gaps in access to high speed internet.

Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance

The state of Wisconsin has created the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERA), administered by the Department of Administration (DOA), Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR).

DOA has partnered with Wisconsin Community Action agencies and Energy Service Inc. to accept applications from residents around the state. For more information, visit the WERA webpage HERE.

Source: Governor Evers

Department of Workforce Development Updates

On Friday, March 5th, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) started making payments to individuals eligible for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). In December, the federal Continued Assistance Act was passed which extended PEUC benefits for an additional 11 weeks of assistance to those who qualify. In the past months, DWD coded those changes into the antiquated computer system. I am glad these benefits are finally in the hands of claimants.

Read the full announcement HERE

 

In addition, The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced this week that it is moving forward without legislative funding to begin the process to modernize Wisconsin's outdated Unemployment Insurance (UI) computer system. New federal grant funding allowed DWD to contract with technology consulting experts who will advise the Department through a procurement process, beginning with an expedited competitive purchase of an integrated cloud-based communications center that will allow people to easily access claim information by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Read the full announcement HERE.

Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council Applications

I had the opportunity to speak to some of the members of the 2020-21 Ag Youth Council a few weeks ago, and I enjoyed connecting with  youth engaged with these issues. The Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council was created in 2020 to encourage young people to engage with state government and increase their awareness of DATCP's interactions with Wisconsin's agriculture industry. Students serve a one-year term and receive a certificate at the completion of their year. The application for the 2021-22 Agriculture Youth Council is now open. I encourage you to share this with anyone you know who might be interested! To apply, students must be a high school senior during the 2021-2022 school year.

Read more about this HERE.

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month! For the first time ever, the Assembly Democratic Caucus is more than half women. We reached parity last session, and this session 21 of the 38 members are women! I respect and honor all of these leaders. They each bring experience, strength, and knowledge that is invaluable to our caucus.

COVID-19 Update

Wisconsin’s COVID-19 activity level continues to decrease. Until most Wisconsinites are vaccinated, we must remember all the tools we have to slow the spread of COVID-19 including masks and social distancing. This will keep case numbers low and will protect those who are not yet vaccinated.

On March 18th, the weekly average for new daily COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin was 409.

In addition, DHS has released guidance for those who are fully vaccinated, which you can find HERE.

DNR Update

 

Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will once again hold the Spring Hearing online due to COVID-19. You can attend this hearing to provide input on the proposed natural resources rule changes from the DNR and advisory questions from the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and WCC through the online input tool.
The 2021 Spring Hearing online input webpage will go live at 7 p.m. on April 12 and will remain open for three days (72 hours). Results will be posted as soon as they are available.
For more information, click HERE.
In addition, I would like to address the wolf hunt that occurred last month. Under a 2012 law, the DNR is required to hold a wolf hunt every year that the wolves are not on the endangered species list. This year the DNR policy board initially refused to start a wolf hunt this winter before a court ruled that the hunt must take place.

I believe that there are a number of reasons why the board did this. Tribal governments indicated that they opposed a wolf hunt as the gray wolf is sacred to them. In addition, the Biden administration may put the wolves back on the endangered species list soon and a premature hunt could hurt the gray wolf’s survival odds. It is my hope that the Wolf Management Plan Committee will create a plan to ensure gray wolves have a healthy population and stay off of the endangered species list.

 

Resources

During these uncertain times, you may not know where to look for assistance. You can call 211 for assistance on many topic such as paying your bills, mental health resources, and more. 211 is a resource managed by the United Way of Wisconsin. Call 2-1-1 or visit their website.

Office of Crime Victim Services

End Abuse Wisconsin 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233, text LOVEIS to 22522, or go to thehotline.org for free and confidential support.

Disaster Distress Hotline 

Coping Resources for Kids and Parents Amidst COVID-19 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Veterans Crisis Line 

Vets for Warriors 

Military One Source 

Resilient Wisconsin

Department of Corrections Helpline: The call center can be reached by members of the public Monday through Friday from 7:45am–4:30pm at (608) 240-5700.

Wisconsin Farm Center 

24/7 Farmer Wellness Hotline

LGBTQ Crisis Line 

HopeLine Text Service 

Wisconsin Elder Abuse Hotline 

Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline 

I encourage you to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns during this time. It is important to me to hear from you on issues at the state level.