Looking Ahead
My favorite season is just around the corner. Aside from shorter days and colder weather, nothing beats seeing the trees in our community change color! Many of you may be gearing up for hunting season or a relaxing fall vacation, but in the end don’t forget our area offers plenty of family-friendly fall activities.
The intensity in Madison has sure picked up after Labor Day weekend – many legislators are getting prepared for our October floor session on the 10th. I look forward to seeing my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and discussing the legislation they worked on over the summer. After a few months of not having session, this one might go on long!
Conservation Legislation
Since February, I’ve been participating in a rural workgroup where my colleagues and I discuss the issues impacting rural communities: economic sustainability, water use, broadband expansion, conservation efforts, rural transportation, and rural schools. During the first few meetings, the Department of Natural Resources stopped by and helped discuss our goals. One of the issues they stressed the most was ensuring CWD does not spread state-wide. As a result, I helped introduce the three bills below which aim to control the spread of CWD:
- LRB-0293 would provide more CWD testing across the State of Wisconsin. The health and vitality of our state’s deer herd are at risk and it’s important we provide the resources needed to combat the disease.
- LRB-4072 would provide additional carcass dumpsters which expands proper disposal resources for hunters.
- LRB-3300 would help the Department of Natural Resources expand Adopt-a-Kiosks sites, a site where hunters can drop off their deer and test them for CWD.
Wisconsin’s deer herd is an invaluable resource to our state. Our nine-day gun deer hunt season is a billion dollar industry and part of our culture and heritage, but as CWD puts that in jeopardy, it’s important we continue to focus on ways we can prevent it from reaching every county in this state.
Speaker's Task Force Update
Suicide Prevention
Our last public hearing was on September 9th at the Medical College of Wisconsin. During the past few months, members and I traveled around the state listening to testimony from survivors, families, and various stakeholders. In the coming weeks, we will begin to write policy recommendations which will help reduce the rate of suicide in Wisconsin.
Adoption
Our last public hearing was on August 19th at the Wisconsin Central Technical College in Waukesha. A final, wrap-up hearing was held in Madison on September 4th, where the Department of Children and Families was invited to answer questions and give recommendations. Like the Suicide Prevention Task Force, members and I will begin to write policy recommendations which will help streamline the adoption process in Wisconsin.
I want to thank all those who came out to give their testimony - sharing such personal stories is a testament to the bravery and resilience they all hold. Whether it was a story on suicide prevention or adoption, I hope members and I can draft bipartisan solutions to help move Wisconsin forward.
First Responder of the Year Award
In late August, Speaker Vos asked each legislator to identify a deserving person in their district for a First Responder of the Year recognition event during the October floor period. As the submission deadline has passed, I want to thank everyone who took the time to nominate a First Responder. I also want to thank all the First Responders who risk their life everyday – your service has been outstanding in our community.
Until next time,
Steve
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