Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all doing well.

This  E-Update will be focused on the Wisconsin State Assembly's legislative floor session on Tuesday. It was our first legislative floor session day for 2016. The Assembly started the new year on a very bipartisan note and approved important measures in the fight against heroin and opiate abuse. The package of bills is an extension of the Heroin, Opiate Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Agenda. I want to share a link to the HOPE Agenda column I recently wrote. I encourage you to read it.

Hometown Hero Award Presentation

On Tuesday, I had the honor of presenting Larry "Doc" Scheckel with the Hometown Hero Award during the Assembly’s legislative floor session. For 38 years, Doc was a beloved physics and aerospace teacher at Tomah High School, educating and inspiring over 4,000 students during his career. It is important to recognize Larry's lifetime devotion to education as he continues to creatively and enthusiastically offer his education skills to his community. The influence of great teachers throughout our life spans should be emphasized and commended. Here is a link to the presentation so you can watch it. I encourage you to take a look, the presentation starts at minute 19.

The HOPE Agenda

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Assembly overwhelmingly approved a package of bills aimed at expanding the Heroin, Opiate Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Agenda with the goal of fighting Wisconsin’s heroin and opiate epidemic. Last session, we made strong efforts to combat Wisconsin’s heroin and opiate epidemic, and we are continuing our legislative efforts to combat this devastating problem by focusing on prevention and treatment methods.

Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic has become a wide-spread issue within our communities. With each bill we pass, we are making it harder for addiction to start while also making it easier for someone with an already existing addiction to get the life-saving help they need.

Under the bills, pharmacies will be required to report any prescription painkillers filled within 24 hours, and all Wisconsin licensed physicians will have to review the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) when prescribing a monitored controlled substance. The Assembly also approved proposals that will help prescribers, dispensers, and law enforcement gather and analyze data to reduce problems like overprescribing, “doctor shopping,” and “pill mills.”

I am proud of the work we have done and believe we are moving in the right direction. Moving forward, I remain committed to working towards finding ways to expand and improve the HOPE Agenda to combat this epidemic.

I encourage you to visit the HOPE Agenda Facebook page and read my Hope Agenda column.

Sincerely,