Wisconsin DNR and DHS Extend Current Water Advisory for Town of Campbell Residents

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) completed a review of testing results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in private wells on French Island. The DHS recommended that the health advisory remains in effect as originally written and that Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and DHS staff continue to review incoming data to assess the need for the interim area-wide advisory periodically. With the advisory still in effect, the DNR will continue to provide bottled water service to all residents with private well water on French Island who are not currently receiving water from the city of La Crosse. Residents currently receiving water do not need to take any further action; they will continue to receive bottled water from the DNR.

Residents not yet receiving bottled water can find information on the DNR’s French Island PFAS website or visit the Campbell Town Hall for a temporary water agreement form. Questions regarding bottled water service may be submitted to the DNR at DNRCampbellPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 866-220-4841.

Information regarding the extension of water will also be shared at the upcoming virtual listening session for the Town of Campbell, taking place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9 via Zoom. During the listening session, the DNR will provide updates on water service, long-term water supply, and PFAS contamination sampling results in the Town of Campbell. The public is encouraged to participate and may offer comments and questions at the listening session. The public can submit questions in advance by emailing DNRCampbellPFAS@wisconsin.gov.

Proposal to Cap the Cost of Insulin Circulated for Co-Sponsors

I recently co-authored LRB 3333, which would prohibit health insurance policies and governmental self-insured health plans that cover insulin from charging a deductible, co-payment, or coinsurance in an amount that exceeds $50 for a monthly supply. A copay cap offers immediate relief to people with diabetes who require insulin. No individual should ever have to choose between a life-saving medication and putting food on their table or paying their most basic living expenses.

LRB 3333 is a part of a package of legislation to address the problem of high prescription drug prices. The package is based upon recommendations made by the Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices, created by Governor Evers in August of 2019. The full report of the task force is available on its website. Task Force website: https://rxdrugtaskforce.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

Governor Evers and the DHS Announce Vaccine Reward Program

Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced Wisconsin residents who receive their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine from a provider located in Wisconsin, Michigan, or Minnesota between August 20 and September 19 can collect a $100 Visa gift card. Wisconsinites ages 12 and older are eligible for the reward. Please remember, proof of insurance, I.D., or citizenship are not required to receive the vaccine or the $100 reward.


For more information on the reward program, visit the DHS $100 reward page or call 844-684-1064. To find a COVID-19 vaccine location in your community, visit Vaccines.gov or call 2-1-1 or 877-947-2211. 

Waking Up White Regional Read

Sponsored by La Crosse Public Library and Waking Up White Collaborative, the Waking Up White Regional Read invites the La Crosse community to read Waking Up White, attend public presentations, and engage in book chat conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. Beginning September 14, you can sign up for a variety of book chats in the Coulee Region. To see the dates and book options please click here. Also starting September 12, you can attend free, public, in-person presentations. The September lineup is below, and you can click here for a more comprehensive listing.

Governor Evers Allocated $4.5 Billion of Federal Pandemic Relief and Recovery Dollars

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) legislation provided the State of Wisconsin with more than $4 billion to be used for pandemic relief and recovery efforts in our state. As of July 31, the Governor has allocated $4.5 billion to aid in our state’s COVID response. Governor Evers’ Administration reserved $525 million to ensure state agencies and their local partners have the necessary resources to respond to the increasing prominence of the Delta variant. The Administration also placed $400 million in a reserve fund to ensure the state has resources available to continue responding to health and workforce issues related to the pandemic.

A summary of planned allocations of ARPA funding include:

• $525 million for pandemic response and government operations;
• $200 million for eligible infrastructure projects, including broadband;
• $650 million for grants to small businesses;
• $101 million for tourism sector recovery;
• $130 million for workforce initiatives; 
• $510 million for economic wellbeing and healthy recovery programs; and
• $417 million held in reserve for future response needs.

Charts of CARES and ARPA funding allocations are available for review.

Opportunities to Support Afghan Resettlement at Fort McCoy

Wisconsin is stepping up to welcome refugees from Afghanistan to the United States. Officials at Fort McCoy are doing biometric screening for every refugee, and will be taking appropriate health precautions related to the pandemic. In addition, Afghan families and individuals arriving at Fort McCoy have been thoroughly vetted by the federal government.

The American Red Cross and Catholic Charities are working to meet the immediate needs of the growing population, and there are many things the local community can do to help. The following are the official channels that Fort McCoy would like used to collect donations, volunteers, and other incoming help. 

• The American Red Cross has more than 50 personnel on the ground at Fort McCoy to provide critical care and help to Afghan guests. Your financial gifts will help the American Red Cross continue to fund efforts to help the people affected by this crisis: www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/
• Team Rubicon partnered with the American Red Cross to coordinate local volunteers and donors throughout the Wisconsin community to improve the wellbeing of our Afghan guests. More information about Team Rubicon and how to volunteer is available here.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, launched a campaign to provide assistance. They are accepting donations at 3710 East Avenue South in La Crosse, and they also have a gift registry set up on AmazonSmiles where donors can purchase needed items and have them shipped directly.
  

Rep. Billings in La Crosse

It was an honor to attend the Highway Patrol Recruit Class Graduation. There were two local grads, Michael Abraham (3rd Generation) and my friend Gina Yang's son, David Yang. 

It was great to celebrate Irish heritage by attending La Crosse’s 16^th Annual Irishfest with State Senator Brad Pfaff and State Representative Steve Doyle.

I attended the Wisconsin State Fair for an “out of the Capitol”  State Building Commission meeting. Following the meeting, I spent some time walking through the fair grounds. My staff, Chandra, and I stopped by the Wisconsin Cranberry booth for a fun picture and good cranberry fair food.

I joined some current and former colleagues in Prairie du Chien and Potosi to celebrate the Wisconsin Great River Road being named an All-American Road. This designation is the culmination of years of work at the local, state, and federal level. I am proud to have been a part of this work as a member of the Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission.