Access to military benefits shouldn’t depend on geography or staffing gaps. That’s why I sent a letter to Acting Director Katie Griffin formally requesting the reopening of the DEERS/RAPIDS processing facility in Green Bay. This critical site enables active-duty servicemembers, reservists, veterans, and their families to obtain the identification they need to access military bases, VA hospitals, clinics, and other essential services.
The closest facility is currently located in Appleton and is staffed by a member of the Wisconsin National Guard. However, that guardsman is on temporary orders and is set to be reassigned. With the Appleton facility facing imminent closure due to staffing changes, Northeast Wisconsin and the surrounding regions risk losing their only in-person processing option. This will greatly impact not only constituents in Wisconsin’s 8th district, but also adjacent districts in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who utilize the Appleton DEERS/RAPIDS site.
This means that members of the military, veterans, and their beneficiaries in Northeast Wisconsin will face travel times upwards of three hours to the nearest DEERS/RAPIDS processing facility. This will lead to longer wait times and could hinder eligible veterans and beneficiaries from receiving their IDs in a timely manner. That is unacceptable.
Not only is it a logistical inconvenience, but it’s also a threat to timely care, earned benefits, and basic dignity for those who’ve served. Our active-duty servicemen and veterans risked everything for our country, and they and their families should not have to jump through unnecessary hoops to access their benefits.
I look forward to receiving a response from Acting Director Griffin and finding a swift resolution to this issue. As always, I will keep you updated.
Thank you for starting your weekend off with us! I hope you enjoy this week’s edition of The Wied Wire.
Read my letter to the Acting Director of Defense Manpower Data Center Katie Griffin above or by clicking HERE.
District Update
Connect to Congress: Visit to Forest Glen Elementary School
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Forest Glen Elementary School, located in Howard. It was great to meet Forest Glen’s Principal Angie Sorensen and Mark Smith, Superintendent of the Howard-Suamico School District, to discuss how I can be supportive to them and other educators in Congress. Forest Glen is just one of the many great schools we are lucky to have here in the 8th District that are doing a fantastic job shaping the next generation in our country.
Roundtable Discussion with the Small Business Administration
My staff recently participated in a small business roundtable discussion hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Office of Advocacy at Lambeau Field. It was great to connect with local businesses to hear about their concerns, best practices, and how the Administration and Congress can support them in their important roles. Thank you to each of the businesses for your participation and leadership.
Celebrating NEW Businesses
It was great to join the VerHalen/Pella Windows & Doors of Wisconsin for the grand opening celebration of their new Green Bay showroom! The new state-of-the-art facility located in De Pere is incredibly impressive. I wish the entire VerHalen/Pella team the best of luck at their new location!
U.S. Congress Meets Wisconsin State Legislature
[see featured photo above] This past week, I welcomed State Representative Elijah Behnke and his family to Washington, D.C. and had a great time showing them around our Nation’s beautiful capitol complex. If you or anyone you know is traveling to Washington, D.C. and is interested in scheduling a tour of the U.S. Capitol, the White House, or others, please submit your request through my website. You can also contact my Washington, D.C., office at 202-225-5665.
One Week Away: 2025 Service Academy Apps Due October 3rd!
The application deadline for my office’s 2025 Service Academy Nomination is only one week away on October 3rd, 2025. As a reminder, all applications must be completed fully and must be received by my District Office no later than 5:00pm on Friday, October 3rd, 2025. No late applications will be accepted, so please contact my District Office at 920-301-4500 with any questions before the deadline.
Watch my video to learn more about the Service Academy Nomination Process HERE.
Photo of the Week
We have received so many wonderful pictures since we launched the Photo of the Week section of the Wied Wire, and I would love to see more. This week’s photo is of a monarch butterfly emerging from its chrysalis in Shawano County. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in our Photo of the Week section, please email it to twstaff@mail.house.gov with your name and location.
