Veteran and Military Affairs Committee

Last week, I was proud to head my first ever committee hearing for the Senate Committee on Veteran and Military Affairs. The committee passed legislation on Hmong-Laos Veteran's Day here in Wisconsin.

Marinette 

Last week, the American Legion Post 39 was generous enough to allow me to speak with their group in Marinette and talk about local issues that are affecting them.

Listening Sessions

Last week, I held various listening sessions around the district. Constituents from all over the 30th came out to express their concerns on PFAS, redistricting, the budget and much more. If you were not able to make any of the listening sessions that were held last week and want to express your concerns on any state issues, please contact me office here.

COVID UPDATE

Anyone in the state of Wisconsin older than 16 years old is now eligible for the Covid-19 Vaccine. Please click here to see where the vaccine is available in your area!

DNR UPDATE

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues efforts to sample drinking water wells for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Expanded Site Investigation Area in the town of Peshtigo.

Previously, well owners in the study area were asked to return the Potable Well Survey and the Access Permission Agreement to have their well sampled for PFAS by April 2, 2021. The DNR is extending this deadline for well owners to return those documents to May 7, 2021. There is no cost to residents to have their well sampled.

Well owners are not required to have their well sampled. However, the DNR recommends that well owners participate in the sampling program so that the DNR can provide detailed information about potential PFAS in their drinking water.

In the fall of 2020, the DNR and its contractor, Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions (Wood), sent 576 well sampling information packets to landowners in the town of Peshtigo. On March 5, 2021, the DNR and Wood again sent well sampling packets to landowners who had not yet responded. So far, more than 300 drinking water wells have been tested for PFAS.

If you received a packet and would like your well sampled, please return the Potable Well Survey and Access Permission Agreement to the DNR with a postmark date no later than May 7, 2021. If you were expecting a packet but did not receive one, please contact the DNR at DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 1-888-626-3244.

All well owners can expect to receive results via U.S. Postal Service within 30 days of the sampling event. If the sample results from a well exceed Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Cycle 10 and Cycle 11 recommended groundwater standards, the DNR will contact the well owner via telephone within 24 hours of receipt of laboratory data. The DHS will contact well owners if additional action is warranted.

Well owners who decide not to participate in the sampling effort are also asked to return the Potable Well Survey with a postmark date no later than May 7, 2021 to let the DNR know they do not want to have their well sampled.

Questions regarding the well sampling initiative may be submitted to the DNR at DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 1-888-626-3244.

DOT UPDATE

Northeast Region weekly highway construction update.

(Green Bay) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Northeast Region provides a weekly construction update on all WisDOT Northeast Region state highway projects currently under construction. It details construction activities, schedules and traffic impacts for a two-week period. The Northeast Region consists of 11 counties: Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, Sheboygan, and Winnebago. Active construction projects are listed by county below.

Motorists are advised to use caution and remain alert when driving through any work zone. Drivers can seek information about highway maintenance, work zones, and traffic impacts in the following ways:

• Northeast Region Highway Maintenance Weekly Advisory: https://projects.511wi.gov/maintain-ne/  
• Individual Northeast Region project websites: https://projects.511wi.gov/region/northeast/   
• View this Weekly Advisory online:  https://projects.511wi.gov/weeklyupdates-ne/
• Upcoming 2021 construction projects in Northeast Region: https://projects.511wi.gov/weeklyupdates-ne/2021-annual-construction-advisory/
• Northeast Region Twitter account: https://twitter.com/WisDOTnortheast
• Statewide traffic impacts and construction projects: https://511wi.gov/ or call 511

*All work and traffic impacts are weather dependent and subject to change*

BROWN COUNTY

I-43 Bridge Deck Overlays – Green Bay

Location/limits: I-43 between WIS 172 to Atkinson Drive

Length: 10.03 miles

Cost: $6.3 million

Schedule: July 2020 to October 2021

Description of work: This project includes shoulder improvements, bridge deck milling with concrete overlays, bridge painting, culvert and bridge wingwall repairs and pavement markings.

April 19 to April 23: Crews will shift traffic to the outside lane at two southbound I-43 bridges, mill asphalt roadway on the approaches for two mainline bridges, prep bridge decks and parapet surfaces on three mainline bridges, and place concrete overlays at two mainline bridges.

April 26 to April 30: Bridge painting will continue this week. Bridge deck, parapet surface repair and concrete overlays will take place on various bridges.

Traffic impacts: Long-term I-43 lane closures will continue through the end of May 2021. The interstate is down to one lane open at various locations in the project work zone. Motorists could encounter delays/backups on I-43 during peak travel times. Please consider WIS 172 and I-41 as an alternate route. Current ramp closures include:

• Northbound I-43 to northbound WIS 57 ramp CLOSED until May 27, 2021.
• Northbound WIS 57 to northbound I-43 ramp CLOSED until May 27, 2021.

Detours:

• Motorist on I-43 seeking northbound WIS 57 should continue north and exit at Webster Avenue. Take Webster Avenue west to southbound I-43 and follow southbound I-43 to the off-ramp east onto northbound WIS 54/57.
• Motorist on southbound WIS 54/57 seeking southbound I-43 should take the northbound I-43 ramp and continue northbound I-43 to the Webster Avenue off-ramp, and then take Webster Avenue west to rejoin southbound I-43.
• Motorists on northbound WIS 54/57 seeking northbound I-43 will be directed to continue northbound on WIS 54/57, turn north onto Nicolet Drive, turn west onto southbound WIS 54/57 and continue to the northbound I-43 on-ramp.

Project website: https://projects.511wi.gov/i43greenbay/

Committees

This session I'll be serving on the following committees.

• Veteran and Military Affairs + Constitutional and Federalism
• Judiciary and Public Safety
• Human Services, Children, and Families
• Transportation and Local Government

I'm looking forward to working on each of these with many of my colleagues.

How Did I Vote?

As always you can click here to see how I have voted on bills as well as legislation I have authored and co-sponsored. 

Contacting My Office

My capitol office is here to help you with general inquiries as well as questions and concerns regarding legislative matters. Feel free to contact me or my staff. We are always ready to assist you in your needs. Please visit my website for press releases and other Capitol updates. If you would like to meet with me click here to contact my office.