This week is National Small Business Week! Remember to take the time this weekend to support all the amazing small businesses we are lucky to have across Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.
For too long, small businesses on Main Street have been overlooked in favor of big businesses on Wall Street. However, I am committed to supporting President Trump’s efforts to refocus the Small Business Administration (SBA) away from a bloated regulatory agency primarily staffed by career bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., towards its original mission of helping small businesses in their communities. As a former small business owner, I am extremely proud to sit on the House Committee on Small Business. Last week, the committee passed bills that moved thirty percent of SBA staff out of Washington, D.C., required proof of citizenship for SBA loans, and prohibited the SBA from engaging in any voter registration activities. These are all commonsense bills that refocus the Small Business Administration towards its original mission.
One of the biggest changes we have seen from the SBA under the Trump Administration is an increased focus on manufacturing in the United States. From shipbuilding to paper products, Wisconsin’s 8th District is a manufacturing hub with almost one quarter of our working population employed in this vital economic sector. I am committed to improving access to capital, reducing regulations, and supporting technical school graduates as we reshore American manufacturing. I am looking forward to continuing my work on the Small Business Committee to promote manufacturing both in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District and across our country.
There is much work to be done, but I am committed to small business and making Main Street America Great Again!
In The Wieds
Rural Roots, Real Impact
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Wisconsin representatives from the National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) during their legislative fly-in to D.C. NATaT advocates for nearly 10,000 towns and townships across the country. When thinking about “rural America,” one might picture vast open spaces of farmland, rolling fields of corn or wheat, and a quiet pace of life untouched by the hustle of cities. However, when it comes to federal transportation grants, “rural” is defined as “located outside a Census-designated urban area with a population greater than 200,000.” Most towns have populations of 5,000 or less, making it difficult for them to compete for federal dollars with large cities that technically meet this definition of “rural.”
One of the most important tools towns utilize to address this challenge is tax-exempt municipal bonds, which allow local governments to finance larger public infrastructure projects like schools, hospitals, and roads. In the 8th Congressional District, sub-state governments have invested $4.86 billion in projects financed by these bonds. In April, I joined dozens of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter of support for preserving these bonds in the upcoming budget reconciliation legislation. Supporting our towns means recognizing their unique challenges and ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Recent Legislation
Healing Heroes
Across our nation, many veterans face the psychological scars of war. While conventional therapies and medication may be enough for some, for others, these treatments simply do not work. I was proud to cosponsor H.R. 2623, Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act. This bipartisan bill would fund research into treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, and other conditions with psychedelic medication. The bill also instructs the Department of Veterans Affairs to designate five centers where this type of medication would be administered, in a supervised setting, to veterans who qualify and have elected to utilize this treatment.
Empowering Farmers, Uplifting Workers
This week, I was proud to cosponsor H.R. 1086, the Agriculture Export Promotion Act. This bill would double the authorized funding amount for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program in the Farm Bill. These programs are designed to develop new foreign markets and bolster existing ones for agricultural commodities. Wisconsin currently ranks 15th for agriculture exports. Finding and developing additional markets for our food products is vital for our farmers to thrive.
Additionally, I cosponsored H.R. 1528, the America Works Act. This bill would raise the age limit for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to work or participate in education for at least 20 hours per week. Currently, 82 percent of Wisconsin families who receive SNAP benefits already have at least one working member of the family. Providing work requirements in order to receive taxpayer-funded assistance is a commonsense approach to help lift people out of poverty and reduce long-term dependence on government assistance. It should not be controversial to expect able-bodied adults below retirement age to work.
In Case You Missed It
Read my Op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the bipartisan Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act that I was proud to recently cosponsor HERE.
District Update
Titletown Tech Startup Draft
Recently, I attended the TitletownTech Startup Draft, where nearly 1,000 startups from across the country competed for a shot at a massive investment and support. Thanks to an expanded commitment from TitletownTech and Microsoft, over $2.7 million in Azure credits and resources were awarded to promising early-stage companies. I was especially proud to see Ubicept, a startup from Madison, selected as one of the top finalists. Their work in next-generation computer vision technology, which was developed through research at UW–Madison, will help shape the future of imaging across industries. It’s great to see the innovation happening right here in Wisconsin.
N.E.W. Community Clinic
Happy National Nurses Week! Thank you to all nurses in Northeast Wisconsin for their unwavering commitment, compassion, and care to all they serve.
I had the opportunity to visit the Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Community Clinic in Green Bay, which has been serving vulnerable populations for over 50 years. What began as a student-led initiative in 1971 to address gaps in medical access has grown into a vital resource in Northeast Wisconsin. The clinic’s commitment to providing quality, affordable care, especially to those who would otherwise go without, is inspiring. We discussed their role in the broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement that focuses on creating innovative, community-based health care solutions. I’m grateful for the work the N.E.W. Community Clinic is doing to improve health outcomes and ensure care is available to all who need it.
Veterans in the Pipe Trades
Last week, my staff visited the UA Local 400 in Kaukauna to learn more about the UA Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program. This program partners the UA of Journeyworkers and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry with our military to provide an accelerated and comprehensive training to National Guard military members and veterans. Veterans participate in 18 weeks of training in the pipe trades, including classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The programs covered include pipe fabrication, plumbing, steamfitter construction, and steamfitter service (HVAC-R).
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 3-year-old German Shepherd named Roxana who got nose to nose with a deer! 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.
