In the United States, you’re required to show a photo ID for many everyday activities–purchasing alcohol, boarding a plane, or checking into a hotel, and it makes perfect sense why that is the case.
So, it’s remarkable that in some states, you can vote in a federal election without showing a photo ID or any identification at all.
More than 30 states have common sense voter ID laws in place. But states like New York, California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey still do not require a photo ID to vote. That opens the door for fraud, and anything that does that should not be an acceptable practice in this country. Without voter ID, how can a poll worker verify that someone is who they claim to be? The short answer: they can’t.
As weekly Wieders remember, last year I joined my House Republican colleagues to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This legislation required states to obtain proof of citizenship – in person – when registering an individual to vote. It also requires states to remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls. These were critical steps towards preserving election integrity.
This week, we took it even further by passing the SAVE America Act, which requires voter ID for federal elections. This was a huge win for election integrity and for restoring trust in our democracy.
The American people are overwhelmingly on our side. More than 83% of Americans – including 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans – support commonsense voter ID laws. If you need an ID to do so many basic things in daily life, voting should be no different. I was proud to stand with the vast majority of Americans who support this, and this is the type of bold measure Republicans were given the majority to achieve.
I am now calling on the Senate to bring this crucial legislation to the floor for debate. I would like to hear my colleagues explain to 83% of Americans why they think they are wrong about such a commonsense and popular issue.
We were sent to Washington to lead, and it’s time for the Senate to follow the House’s example, get this to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law, and secure our elections once and for all.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Wied Wire.
Click here to watch my latest interview with Real America’s Voice regarding the SAVE America Act and more.
In the Wieds
A Promise 160 Years in the Making
When our nation stood at a crossroads, divided by Civil War, brave men risked their lives to fight for the United States to live up to its founding ideal that all men are created equal. No matter how much time has passed, every American owes them a debt of gratitude. That is why I cosponsored a bill introduced by Representative Fitzgerald (WI-05) that requires the Secretary of the Interior to authorize a monument dedicated to the brave soldiers of the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Wisconsin Infantry Regiments at both the Antietam and Manassas National Battlefield sites. Despite being outnumbered, these soldiers fought valiantly against Confederate forces in August and September of 1862. By the end of September, over 1,000 Wisconsinites from these regiments were killed, wounded, or reported missing. Although the Wisconsin Legislature authorized a monument commission in 1913 to explore the construction of a monument, this initiative never came to fruition. These men were fathers, brothers, and sons who sacrificed their lives to preserve our Union, and their bravery deserves proper recognition. It is long overdue that we fulfill this mission and ensure their stories are honored for generations to come.
A Tradition Worth Fighting for: Hook, Line, and Legacy
Few traditions run as deep in Wisconsin as sturgeon spearing. For generations, families across the Lake Winnebago region have taken part in this time-honored tradition, which traces its roots back thousands of years. Thanks to strong public-private partnerships between local volunteer groups, fishing clubs, and the Wisconsin DNR, our state is home to one of the largest self-sustaining lake sturgeon populations in the world. Today, the sturgeon spearing season remains one of the most anticipated events of the winter. However, recently this tradition has faced uncertainty. In 2018, an animal-activist group sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to force a “threatened” listing for lake sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) – a move that would have effectively ended sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin. After strong opposition and a thorough species status assessment, the USFWS determined that lake sturgeon do not warrant listing. While this was the right outcome, nothing prevents similar petitions from being filed in the future. That’s why last year I introduced the SPEAR Act. This legislation would proactively exempt Wisconsin lake sturgeon from any future ESA listing attempts and ensure that this unique, long-standing tradition can continue for generations to come. The 2026 sturgeon spearing season opens tomorrow morning and runs until March 1st. As always, the season will close early if harvest caps are reached, so spearers should stay up to date on daily reports from the DNR. Good luck to everyone heading out this weekend – wishing you a safe and successful season on the ice!
Harvesting Big Wins for America’s Farmers
I am proud to announce that today the House Agriculture Committee released the text of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026–better known as the Farm Bill. Last summer, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, delivering an unprecedented investment in American agriculture. The Farm Bill builds on that progress and ensures our farmers have the tools they need to succeed. Throughout my first year as your Congressman, I have heard from countless farmers that passing a Farm Bill is their top priority. This legislation delivers meaningful wins for dairy farmers, specialty crop and organic producers, corn and soybean growers, and local producers in between. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to finally get this long-overdue bill across the finish line and onto President Trump’s desk.
District Update
Connecting with the Community
[see featured photo above] I recently had the opportunity to visit the Greater Green Bay YMCA West Side location to meet with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jamie Hanner and Chief Development Officer (CDO) Scott Johnson. I really enjoyed learning about the incredible work the YMCA does for our communities right here in Northeast Wisconsin – specifically how they support our youth through programs like summer camps, Youth in Government, after school programs, and so much more. Thank you to Jamie, Scott, and the entire team at YMCA for your hard work and support of our community!
Discover Green Bay
It was great to recently meet with President/CEO Brad Toll and members of his team at Discover Green Bay. I had the opportunity to learn about the great work that they are doing to promote our communities in Northeast Wisconsin and how I can be helpful to members of the tourism industry. I want to thank Brad and his entire team for their hard work and commitment to supporting the Greater Green Bay community and Northeast Wisconsin!
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 a throwback showing two of my constituents with their awesome old-school cars–a 1971 Chevy Impala Ragtop and a 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport. 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.
