This week, Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was temporarily relieved of her duties by the Wisconsin Supreme Court after she was arrested by the FBI for helping an illegal alien evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While I agree that Judge Dugan should be removed from the bench, I also believe she should be removed permanently if found guilty.
On April 18th, Eduardo Florez-Ruiz, who had been previously deported in 2013, was in court on charges of battery in relation to a domestic dispute. While he was there, six ICE agents arrived to arrest him with a deportation order. Witnesses stated that Judge Dugan told them they needed to speak to the Chief Judge to get a judicial warrant. While they did that, Judge Dugan led Florez-Ruiz out the back door of her chamber to evade arrest. After becoming aware of her actions, she was arrested by the FBI and is awaiting trial.
Wisconsinites deserve to have judges who uphold the rule of law. Judge Dugan broke the law and has lost the trust of the people of Wisconsin. She failed us by choosing to protect a criminal illegal alien over our own fellow citizens. She can no longer, in good faith, continue to do her job and I believe she should resign immediately.
In Congress, we are actively working with President Trump to secure our borders and make our nation safe once again. America is a nation of laws, and no one, including judges, has the right to break the law to protect those who have entered our country illegally, or for any other reason.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Wied Wire.
Watch my full interview with NewsNation about Judge Dugan’s arrest by clicking HERE.
In the Wieds
Supporting Main Street
This week, in the House Committee on Small Business, we successfully passed several pieces of legislation out of committee that will benefit small businesses. I was proud to cast my vote in support of H.R. 2027, the Returning SBA to Main Street Act. This bill would relocate thirty percent of Small Business Administration staff from Washington D.C. to communities around the country. This will allow SBA employees to be closer to the small businesses they are meant to serve. Republicans are dedicated to revitalizing Main Street America, and this legislation is one step toward doing so.
Investing in our Infrastructure
It was a busy week for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. On Wednesday, we held a full-day, full-committee markup of our budget reconciliation proposal. Democrats tried their hardest to include reckless spending amendments, but the American people gave Republicans a mandate to make government more effective, secure our borders, and strengthen our national security. Our final proposal not only exceeded our $10 billion deficit reduction goal by cutting wasteful spending, but also made historic investments in the Coast Guard and air traffic control technology. One of the most notable inclusions was a new $250 annual registration fee for electric vehicles to ensure they are paying their fair share for the use of federal highways. The Highway Trust Fund, which is used for the construction, operation, and maintenance of federal highways, has historically been funded through federal fuel taxes. However, these taxes have not kept pace with costs in recent years, due in part to the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles that do not contribute to the “user-pays” system. These annual fees for electric and hybrid vehicles mark the first step in ensuring that all users contribute fairly to support our nation’s highway system. More than 130 stakeholders from across the transportation and labor industries expressed their support for the Committee’s work. I look forward to continuing my work on this committee for the American people and Northeast Wisconsin.
District Update
Welcoming HUD Secretary Scott Turner to Green Bay!
I had the honor of joining U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner to tour the Oneida Nation, where he announced $2.2 million in new funding for the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program. This program provides rental assistance and critical support services to Native American veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. For nearly a decade, the Oneida Nation has been a leader in using HUD-VASH to care for veterans in their community. I’m proud to support efforts like this that honor our veterans and strengthen tribal housing infrastructure across Northeast Wisconsin. Thank you to Chairman Hill and his leadership team for your hospitality and productive dialogue.
I also joined Secretary Turner on a tour of local businesses and housing projects in Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin. We had the opportunity to tour Voyageurs Bakehouse and meet owners Ben and Celeste to discuss operations and the continued growth of their business. We also visited The Fort at the Rail Yard and learned about the mixed-use Fire Station and Affordable Housing Project from the City of Green Bay.
I enjoyed visiting Voyageurs Bakehouse with Secretary Turner and getting a chance to discuss their continued growth!
Visiting Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
A special thank you to Green Bay Austin Straubel International (GRB) Airport Director Marty Piette for leading me through GRB to share his insights on the complex operations his team undertakes to keep the airport running efficiently. I was honored to have the chance to meet members of the staff firsthand and hear about the unique tasks their jobs entail. I was blown away by the scope of the operation conducted on their grounds, from the maintenance hangar to the emergency services building that operates on-site. Managing the influx of flights and passengers to Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft was no easy feat and I applaud Marty and his team for their hard work and dedication. What a gem to have in Northeast Wisconsin!
Meeting Local Farmers
I had the opportunity to visit Kinnard Farms in Kewaunee County, a multi-generational family dairy farm that began in 1948 with just 14 cows and a vision rooted in hard work and stewardship. Today, the farm has grown to over 10,000 cows and the Kinnard family continues to build on that legacy, producing high-quality milk while employing local residents and investing in sustainable practices to protect the land for future generations. It was inspiring to see their commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. An impressive fact: Kinnard Farms operate gas digesters on-site that process manure to produce three semi loads of natural gas per day. Farms like Kinnard’s are the backbone of our country. A special thanks to Lee Kinnard and his niece Lauren Siemers (her first day on the job!) for taking time out of their busy schedules to showcase all the great work they do on the farm. I can’t wait to go back!
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 sandhill crane that “paint” themselves with mud for camouflage and courtship. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in our Photo of the Week section, please email it to [email protected] with your name and location.
“Feathers and Foundation” – submitted by Joe from Bellevue
