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(608)266-5780 | State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 | rep.billings@legis.wi.gov |
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COMMUNITY EVENTS: Saturday, April 22 10:00 a.m. Weigent Park
Saturday, April 22 7:30 p.m. Pump House Regional Arts Center
TEDx UW-La Crosse Salon: Adam Carroll on financial literacy Thursday, April 27 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. UW-L Murphy Library
A Conversation About Immigration in Our Community Friday, April 28 5 pm. - 7:30 p.m. Lunda Center at WTC
CONTACT ME:
State Capitol Phone:
(608) 266-5780
(888) 534-0095
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Friends and Neighbors,
Next week will kick off with the Committee on Workforce Development and the Committee on Transportation meeting on Tuesday. These will be followed by a meeting of the Committee on Tourism on Wednesday. Please continue reading for a more detailed outline of the bills being taken up by these committees.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended my water listening session this Wednesday! We had a great, sophisticated discussion about access to clean water in Wisconsin and it was wonderful to hear from so many students and community members. The main concerns brought up by attendees included over-pumping by high capacity wells, water pollution and the spread of liquid manure from large industrial farms, and the environmental impacts of the use of water by frac sand mining facilities. Community members stressed the importance of healthy and sustainable farming practices to keeping our water clean. They also emphasized the economic impacts of a healthy environment for communities, highlighting the importance of stream restoration and that the trout fishing industry brings in a billion dollars to our region. I was joined by many community members and UW-L students, and would like to extend a special thank you to the experts in the field who gave presentations and answered questions: Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo, who studies karst geology in the driftless region; Dr. Colin Belby, geography and earth science professor at UW-L; and Dan Baumann from the DNR.
I have really appreciated all the visits to my Capitol office, as well as the phone calls and emails I have received from constituents expressing their legislative priorities. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office by calling (608) 266-5780 or emailing me at Rep.Billings@legis.wi.gov.
Please continue reading for more information on the happenings both in La Crosse and statewide.
Best Wishes, Jill Billings State Representative 95th Assembly District
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Upcoming Assembly Committee Meetings
My first committee of the week, the Committee on Workforce Development, will hold a public hearing on AB 124 and AB 192.
Committee on Transportation The Committee on Transportation will be voting on AB 142 and AB 170 on Tuesday, April 25. These bills were heard in a March 28 meeting. Additionally, the committee will be hearing AB 185.
Committee on Tourism The Committee on Tourism will hear AB 180 and AB 181, relating to snowmobile trails and ATV safety training, respectively.
Remember
that constituents are always welcome to attend and/or testify on bills
during committee public hearings. If you are ever interested in
attending a public hearing or have questions about the process, please
do not hesitate to contact my office. |
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Earth Day On Saturday, April 22nd, I encourage all of you to join in the celebration of Earth Day. Earth Day has deep Wisconsin roots; it was founded by former Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who sought to channel existing civic engagement into mobilization around environmental protection. Nelson believed that if enough people rallied around this cause, environmental issues would become part of the national political agenda. For nearly 50 years, Earth Day has proven to be a movement with the potential to spark changes in behavior and environmental policy. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, the movement has grown from 20 million American participants to an estimated 1 billion people around the globe joining in activities each year. It is the largest civic demonstration in the world, and its organization works with a range of partners to address environmental issues from all angles. This year's Earth Day global campaign centers around environmental and climate literacy. Education and awareness of environmental issues are integral in forming an engaged population that will take serious steps to combat the effects of climate change. One of the
newest members of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame is Milly
Zantow who was a pioneer in plastics recycling and from Sauk City,
Wisconsin! She joined forces with lawmakers, the plastics industry, and
various communities to develop the "Recycling Triangle" which is now
universally used to identify different kinds of plastics. Milly also set
up recycling programs across the country and world, co-founded Sauk
County's E-Z Recycling Center, which was one of the nation's first, and
contributed to the 1990 Wisconsin Recycling Law and the EPA's recycling
policies. To learn more about her,
click here.
"Sustainable: A Documentary" (followed by a Q&A) |
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Drug Take-Back Day On April 29th, the Department of
Justice in Wisconsin will be hosting a state-wide Prescription Drug
Take-Back Day. Police stations, sheriff offices, town halls, and other
sites around the state will be accepting prescriptions and
over-the-counter medications, ointments, creams, patches, non-aerosol
sprays, inhalers, vials and pet medications so that these substances can
be disposed of safely. To learn more,
click here. |
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month This April 2017 Alcohol
Awareness Month is recognized nationwide as an opportunity to educate
ourselves and reflect on the negative effects of excessive alcohol
consumption. In its latest summary of statewide alcohol use and abuse,
the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported that the alcohol
consumption rate among Wisconsinites is 1.3 times higher than the
national rate. Furthermore, our state's rate of adult binge drinking
(22%) is third highest in the nation. This binge drinking can lead to a
number of diseases and disorders, or physical injury.
If you are concerned about a friend or loved one who is showing signs of alcohol abuse, here are some resources for guidance and support:
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Spring Turkey Hunting Safety Tips Spring turkey hunting season began Wednesday and, with an estimated 80,000 hunters expected to participate, it is essential to be very cautious and follow important safety practices. The Wisconsin DNR advises that the two key factors for a safe turkey hunt are following a detailed hunting plan and having a firm understanding of firearm safety. According to the DNR, about 80 percent of all turkey hunting accidents result from hunters mistakenly shooting other hunters thinking they are game; the rest of the accidents are self-inflicted due to violating firearm safety rules. As such, remember to treat every firearm as though it is loaded, to point the muzzle away from yourself and others, and not to put your finger on the trigger until you have carefully identified your target and are ready to shoot. Additionally, wearing a blaze orange cap and gloves while walking can make you more visible to other hunters. When you do settle down in your spot, it is good practice to lean against a tree big enough to cover your back and shoulders - this will protect you from stray bullets, as well as make it harder for turkeys to see you. I grew up in a family of hunters and know how exciting this time is for people. I hope these additional safety rules and tips from the DNR will help everyone stay safe and have a successful turkey hunting season:
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Deer Feeding and Chronic Wasting Disease
For more information on affected counties and regulations, visit the DNR's webpage here.
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