Last weekend, we witnessed a third assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
On Saturday night, a gunman attempted to rush the Secret Service and enter the room where the event was being held, with the aim of killing the president. Thankfully, due to the swift action of the United States Secret Service, the gunman was subdued, and President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, and everyone else in attendance were unharmed.
As I have said for months, this type of political violence needs to end. We must turn down the temperature in this country. Whether you agree with the president or not, he was duly elected by the American people, and in this country, we settle our differences at the ballot box, not with violence.
Prior to his attempted attack, the gunman sent a manifesto to his family and friends stating that he believed it was “his righteous duty to target the administration.” The manifesto was littered with the same attacks that we have seen elected officials irresponsibly lob at President Trump for years. It is abundantly clear that the dangerous rhetoric that has come from high-ranking Democrat officials is encouraging these deranged people, and it needs to end.
Unfortunately, the reaction to this near tragedy by some on the left has been deeply concerning. In our own district, a high school teacher has been placed on leave after saying we need to “Make Americans Great Assassins Again.” On my own social media, there were comments stating they were sad the shooter missed. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, the owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company said that these shooters need to “work on their marksmanship” and that he looks forward to the day that, God forbid, the President is killed so they can offer free beer.
This type of disgusting rhetoric has no place in our society and does not represent our values in Wisconsin. No matter what side of the aisle you are on, we should all be able to agree that political violence is wrong.
Americans have the right to free speech, but I also have the right to call out this anti-American behavior when I see it, and I will do so every time. Let’s get back to debating ideas and policies, be good to one another, and put an end to this concerning streak of violence before any more tragedies occur.
Thanks again for starting your weekend with us. We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of The Wied Wire.
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In the Wieds
Funding the Front Lines
American families don’t get to put their responsibilities on hold, and neither should the federal government. After more than two months of uncertainty at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the House took meaningful steps this week to restore stability for the men and women who keep our country safe. We passed a partial DHS funding bill to ensure that essential parts of the department – including FEMA, CISA, and the Coast Guard – can finally operate without the strain of the shutdown. These employees have gone without a regular paycheck more often than they’ve received one this year, and it was long past time to get them the support they deserve. President Trump signed the DHS funding bill into law yesterday – finally putting an end to the record-breaking shutdown. At the same time, the House approved a separate resolution to begin the budget reconciliation process for the remaining portions of DHS, specifically ICE and CBP. After months of gridlock, it’s clear that this is the only viable path to fully funding the department and ending the uncertainty created by the Senate Democrats’ obstruction. I would have preferred a bipartisan solution, just like we did when we passed all 12 appropriations bills through the House for the first time since 1997, but the work of securing our border and protecting our communities cannot wait. These two actions move us closer to restoring full operations at DHS and delivering the safety and security the American people expect and deserve.
Update on Flooding Relief
On Wednesday, April 29th, Governor Evers directed Wisconsin Emergency Management to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in conducting a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment in response to the multiple rounds of storms that struck the state in April. FEMA quickly responded the following day, indicating that these assessments would begin on Monday, May 4th. I was joined by Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) in sending a letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Karen Evans, thanking the agency for its swift response to the State’s request for a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment and urging the agency to act swiftly and in coordination with Wisconsin Emergency Management. Completing this assessment is the next step to secure federal assistance for families and communities impacted by the recent storms and flooding across the state, which have overwhelmed local emergency management agencies. If you or someone you know has experienced damage from flooding, reporting it by calling 211 or using this online form is the best way to get connected to relief resources and ensure that recovery efforts can be efficiently coordinated.
Recent Legislation
A Farm Bill That Delivers
For years, our farmers have asked Congress to pass a new Farm Bill, and this week I was proud to join my colleagues to do just that. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is a bipartisan bill that modernizes our agricultural industry, aligning it with science, technology, and innovation, enabling our country to produce the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world. I am proud to have introduced three bipartisan Amendments that were included in the final bill, including the Low Sugar-Added Yogurt Amendment, the Rightsizing Organic Integrity (ROI) Amendment, and the EBT Fee Free Act. The Low Sugar-Added Yogurt Amendment includes low-sugar-added yogurt eligible for the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program, incentivizing SNAP recipients to purchase more nutritious yogurt as part of their healthy diets. The Rightsizing Organic Integrity (ROI) Amendment modernizes inspection requirements for organic operations by allowing the USDA to do virtual inspections annually and in-person inspections every 3 years for low-risk domestic producers. The EBT Fee Free Act, introduced as a stand-alone bill last year, would make permanent the 2018 Farm Bill’s temporary prohibition on processing fees for EBT cards– protecting both small businesses and SNAP recipients. The 2026 Farm Bill provides long-overdue support to Wisconsin farmers and dairy producers, giving them the tools they need to thrive for years to come. Now it’s in the Senate where they can finish the job and send it to President Trump’s desk.
District Update
Assessing Flood Damage
Last week, I joined local officials during visits to Shiocton, Fremont, and New London to assess the damage of the recent flooding throughout the 8th Congressional District. My team and I will continue working with local leaders to support a full recovery and advocate to the Trump Administration to ensure that these communities get the assistance they need. I want to thank all our local officials, men and women in public safety, and all the volunteers for your leadership and support of our great communities here in WI-08 during this time. If you have been impacted by flooding, please call 2-1-1 to report your damage and/or for additional resources. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my office if we can assist you in any way.
Celebrating Young Artists
[see featured photo above] This past weekend, my office held the 2026 Congressional Art Competition Reception at the Appleton Public Library. This year, we received 28 incredible entries from 6 schools throughout the 8th Congressional District, including Xavier, Kimberly, Kaukauna, Fox Valley Lutheran, Preble, and De Pere High Schools.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
First Place – Scarlett Anderson
Second Place – Tessa DeMeuse
Third Place – Brooke McGinnis
Thank you to all the talented young artists and teachers for your participation in the competition this year!
Building the Future
It was great to join the Brown County Home Builders Association (BCHBA) at their annual legislative breakfast earlier this week. I virtually addressed the group to provide an update from Congress and answered questions from BCHBA members in attendance. Thank you to the association and its members for having me and I look forward to continuing to work for you in Congress!
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 continue seeing more. This week’s photo is of eagles soaring in Waupaca County. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in an upcoming Photo of the Week, please email it to twstaff@mail.house.gov with your name and location. We look forward to highlighting more of your photos that celebrate the places and moments that make Wisconsin special.
