Press Releases

The Transgender Parent and Nonbinary Advocacy Caucus strongly condemns the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed rules and the two U.S. House legislative bills that would severely ban access to medically necessary, evidence-based health care, for transgender and nonbinary minors. These proposals build on harmful policies advanced during the Trump administration and represent a dangerous step backward for families, patients, and providers.

Today, the Republican-created Special Committee on Oversight of the Department of Justice met for the first time. Announced by Senate Republicans just three days ago, the Special Committee is an unnecessary and wasteful exercise at a time when Wisconsinites are struggling with rising costs.

Senator Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) applauds the federal approval of our state’s ambitious plan to deploy more than $1 billion in broadband funding — a landmark investment that will connect high-speed internet to more than 175,000 homes and businesses statewide. 

Local governments are on the front lines of critical decisions like infrastructure development and community growth. Senator Ratcliff is honored to work closely with legislative colleagues and local leaders on these bills that represent the kind of forward thinking, collaborative efforts our state needs to grow stronger and more connected. 

Senator Ratcliff urges state and federal lawmakers to prioritize restoring full SNAP benefit levels, ensuring continuous funding of critical food-security programs, and enacting protections so that government shutdowns do not endanger the most vulnerable.

Parkinson Disease is the fastest growing and second-most common neurodegenerative disease with approximately 21,000 Wisconsinites living with the deadly disease. In honor of her late husband, Stephanie Johnson founded Parkinson’s Disease Alliance of WI. Stephanie states that currently Wisconsin has no systematic way of tracking the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s but we can change that by passing legislation to create a powerful registry.

In honor of First Amendment Day, Senator Melissa Ratcliff along with several of her Democratic colleagues announced co-authorship for two companion proposals that reaffirm the rights of Wisconsinites to free speech, civic engagement, and fair elections.

Senator Ratcliff would like to thank Governor Evers for standing firm in his commitment to protecting Wisconsin’s public schools by not signing on to new school choice tax credits. His decision reflects a dedication to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support strong, equitable public education for every child in our state, rather than diverting resources away from the schools that serve the vast majority of Wisconsin students.

Senator Melissa Ratcliff has been appointed by Minority Leader Senator Hesselbein to serve on the Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board, where she will represent the voices of families and communities as Wisconsin explores its future energy options.

Budgets are moral documents. Unfortunately, this budget continues to prioritize politics over progress. It does not reflect the values or needs of Wisconsin families especially not those in Senate District 16. Senator Ratcliff remains committed to fighting for the investments our communities deserve and she will continue working to ensure every student, parent, and worker has a fair chance.