As America’s Dairyland, it goes without saying that agriculture is deeply embedded in the rich and historic culture of our state and Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District. We are known throughout the country for our milk and cheese production, with more dairy farms than any other state. Our state is home to over 1.2 million cows and our district has the most in Wisconsin. One-quarter of all cheese made in the United States comes straight out of Wisconsin, made by one of our nearly 1,200 licensed cheese makers.
Wisconsin is also the leading producer of snap peas, cranberries, ginseng, corn silage, and dry whey and so much more.
This week I celebrated our incredible heritage and agriculture industry by being an original cosponsor of H. Res 227, which designated Tuesday, March 18th as National Agriculture Day. It is crucially important to support this $116 billion industry in the state to continue to provide the nation healthy and safe foods. I am incredibly honored to work on behalf of this important industry as a member of the House Agriculture Committee.
When it comes to agriculture, I’m committed to protecting not only the producers, but also the consumer’s access to healthy, American-grown food. That’s why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 2222, the Bipartisan Lowering Egg Prices Act. The sharp increase in egg prices due to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has impacted every consumer in Wisconsin and across the country. This bipartisan bill would free up millions of eggs for use in facilities that make products like pasta by modifying an Obama-era rule. This bill would provide relief during a time when egg prices were far too high and grocery store shelves far too empty.
Thank you to every farmer, cheese processor, and producer in WI-08 for the work you do every day to put food on our tables and provide national security through food security.
Safe Routes
Northeast Wisconsin has one of the highest concentrations of pulp and paper mills in the country, which rely heavily on the trucking industry for the transport of raw forest products. Across the country loaded logging trucks are forced to travel on non-interstate roads, increasing the risk of accidents as they encounter two-way traffic, intersections, school zones, pedestrians, and driveways. To address this, last week I introduced the Safe Routes Act of 2025, which would allow trucks hauling forest products at state legal weights to access the interstate for a short distance to avoid these hazards. Research has shown that this would reduce the likelihood of accidents while simultaneously saving time and fuel. I look forward to working with my co-lead on this legislation, Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02) to ensure its timely passage. Additional supporters of this bill include the Great Lakes Timber Professionals, the Forest Resources Association along with Reps. Tiffany, Van Orden, and Ezell. Additionally Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Diabetes Caucus
During my time in Congress, I have learned about the impact of diabetes on Americans and my constituents of the 8th District. Diabetes affects over 38.4 million adults and children across the United States. In addition, 1 in 11 people in Wisconsin have been diagnosed with the disease and 2 out of 5 adults will be diagnosed in their lifetime. For these reasons, I was proud to join the U.S House of Representatives Diabetes Caucus. This bipartisan caucus was founded in 1996 and has grown to be one of the largest member organizations in Congress with almost 270 members. The mission of the caucus is to educate Members of Congress about diabetes and legislative activities regarding research, education, and treatment for this disease. I look forward to continuing to be an advocate for people with diabetes. For more information, please visit the House Diabetes Caucus website here. Please note that the Caucus is in the process of updating their website to reflect 119th Congress membership.
Department of Education
Since its establishment in 1980, the Department of Education has utilized over $3 trillion in taxpayer funds, yet student performance has shown little to no progress. Federal funding accounts for roughly 13% of K-12 education costs, with the majority provided by state and local sources. President Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. Although the department will be phased out, programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) would remain intact, student loans will be moved to Small Business Administration (SBA), and Congress would retain the ability to allocate funds for critical needs. I believe that by every metric, the Department of Education has consistently failed America’s students. I trust Wisconsin educators over federal bureaucrats any day and I will always be a proponent of returning more power to the states and our local officials.
Here is what the real result of eliminating the DOE will be:
– Ends $3 trillion in wasteful spending that has seen a decrease in math and reading scores
– Relieves taxpayers from funding progressive social experiments
– Empowers Parents to send their children to a school of their choice
– Cuts burdensome regulations and paperwork that plague schools
Air Force Academy Appointment
Congratulations to De Pere High School Senior Aaron Broadrick on his appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Having the opportunity to give him a call and share the exciting news is one of the great honors I have as your Congressman and it is truly one of my favorite parts of this job! Read more about his appointment HERE.
District Update
2025 Congressional Art Competition
Reminder: My office is now accepting entries for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. All signed documents and art must be delivered by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 7th, 2025, to my District Office located at 1702 Scheuring Road, Suite B, De Pere, WI 54115. If you have any questions, please contact my District Office at 920-301-4500. You can also find additional details on my website.
Visiting Bellin Health Oconto Hospital
As you know, I enjoy traveling throughout the Eighth District and wanted to highlight a visit to Bellin Health Oconto Hospital. I was extremely impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the high level of care they provide for patients in rural areas of Northeast Wisconsin. Bellin Oconto facilitates more than 31,000 patient visits annually and offers life-saving services, including 24/7 emergency care, ambulatory surgery, cancer treatment, a multi-specialty clinic, urgent care, and primary care. I had the opportunity to meet doctors, nurses, and administrative staff to hear more about their roles and the unique challenges they face. My focus is to explore avenues in the federal government that support rural healthcare and facilitate top notch care for constituents like you. A special thank you to all the staff and patients at Bellin Health Oconto Hospital that took time from their day to share their individual stories with me.
