Quick Links
- Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration Crime
- I-41 Project Update
- Elections Committee Hears Election Rule
- Marian University Tour
- Grand Chute Gazette Column
- National Wear Red Day
- In the Capitol
- New Website
- State Capitol Tours
Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration Crime
This week Legislative Republicans announced legislation to crack down on crime from illegal immigration. The bill requires county sheriffs to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when a criminal is in their custody. This is a common sense proposal that will increase the safety of our communities.
The bill requires sheriffs to attempt to verify the citizenship status of people who are arrested for a felony. If that person’s citizenship cannot be verified, then the sheriff must contact ICE and see if a detainer has been issued for the person. If it has, the sheriff must keep the person in custody.
A lot of felons who are here illegally are released into our communities, especially in places like Madison and Milwaukee. These are not the type of people we want in our neighborhoods. In 2024 alone, ICE arrested over 80,000 illegal aliens with criminal histories nationwide. This included over 57,000 assaults, 18,000 sexual assaults, and almost 3,000 homicides.
Last fall I broke the story that five Venezuelan nationals were arrested right here in the Fox Valley for robbing an ATM of about $38,000. To my dismay, none of our local media chose to cover this story. At the time I expressed concern that these individuals may be members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has infiltrated the United States due to uncontrolled immigration under the Biden-Harris administration. Since that time, other communities across the country have been hit with similar types of crimes.
We need all law enforcement cooperating to detain these criminals and keep them off our streets.
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This week saw the first long-term closure of 2025 on the I-41 project. WIS 15/County OO/Northland Avenue over I-41 will be closed until fall 2025. In addition, the southbound I-41 on-ramp from WIS 15 will also be closed. The southbound I-41 off-ramp to WIS 15 will remain open to right turns only. As the WIS 15 interchange construction progresses, additional ramps will be closed at various times during the construction season.
For more information check out the I-41 Project Construction Outlook for 2025 Video at https://www.youtube.com/
Elections Committee Hears Election Rule
I serve as a member of the Assembly’s Campaigns and Elections Committee. Among other duties, the committee is tasked with examining administrative regulations written by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This week we held a public hearing on a rule that would regulate election observers, and will eventually make a recommendation on whether the rule is acceptable or not. As always, I will continue my work to improve election integrity in Wisconsin.
Marian University Tour
Last week Marian University hosted legislative leaders who serve on the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate higher education committees to highlight the benefits of Wisconsin’s private colleges.  I toured the campus and learned about the programs offered by Marian University to help meet business and community needs. University President Aaron Sadoff shared information about new programs in construction management, supply chain management, and dual enrollment partnerships with area school districts.
I also met with Marian University students who discussed the role that the Wisconsin Grant Program plays in their ability to attend higher education. Â Students also shared their appreciation for small class sizes, faculty attention, and a supportive campus community.
As chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, I will continue to work to make higher education accessible and rewarding to all those who want to attend.
Grand Chute Gazette Column
I have a column in the current issue of The Grand Chute Gazette. You can read it on page 6 by clicking on the image above.
National Wear Red Day
Today is National Wear Red Day. On the first Friday in February, this annual campaign seeks to raise awareness about heart disease in women. The national campaign urges women to learn their risk for heart disease and to take steps to lower that risk.
In the Capitol
Students from FIRST Robotics NEW Apple Corps Team 93 from the Appleton Area School District visited the office. FIRST is a worldwide robotics program for K-12 students where students build robotics, learn programming skills, and develop essential soft skills such as public speaking, organizational skills, and conducting community outreach. These students are a great example of how important STEM education and extracurricular activities are to the future of our state.
Brian Rhodes, Jason Bessette, and Joseph Owen visited the office on behalf of the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin to discuss energy needs across the State of Wisconsin.
New Website
Along with the new legislative session my office has a new web site. Click on the image above or click here to visit my new web site.
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State Capitol Tours
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The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin’s Capitol building (located at 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53702) is to see it for yourself. It is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year round except on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (Monday – Friday), excluding holidays, during Memorial Day through Labor Day. Plan on spending 45-55 minutes for a tour. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months. Groups of ten or more can make an on-line reservation for a tour of the State Capitol or call (608)266-0382.
