From the moment I took office, I have made it clear that our country must become not only energy independent, but energy dominant. There is nothing scarier than relying on foreign nations to keep the lights on.
For too many Americans, rising energy costs have been downright frightening. That is why I am committed to doing everything I can to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, strengthen domestic energy production, and help lower costs for Wisconsin families.
Wisconsin relies on refined fuels to power its transportation network, making them a cornerstone of our state’s $450 billion economy. U.S. Venture, headquartered in Appleton, has been supplying Wisconsinites with gasoline and diesel fuel for more than 70 years.
However, in 2016, a 110-mile pipeline that transported fuel from Milwaukee to the Green Bay Terminal Complex was decommissioned, threatening the fuel supply for Northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Since the pipeline closed, diesel-powered tanker trucks have hauled fuel from Milwaukee to Green Bay.
This has driven up costs and made it more difficult to transport fuel throughout our region. Fortunately, there’s no need to be spooked, because we have a solution. I am proud to announce that this week, the Department of Transportation awarded Wisconsin a $30 million grant through its Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The $30,407,281 grant will fund the Lake Michigan Marine Highway Transportation Energy Project, which will extend a pipeline from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport to the U.S. Venture terminal at Port Milwaukee. This will allow fuel to be loaded onto barges at Port Milwaukee and transported across Lake Michigan to Green Bay, making better use of Wisconsin’s underutilized maritime transportation network. A single barge can carry approximately 4.2 million gallons of fuel, or the equivalent of 500 tanker truck loads.
As Wieders may remember, last year, I wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to advocate for this funding and stress the positive impact it will have for Northeast Wisconsin. I want to thank Secretary Duffy for giving our state a real treat and supporting a project that will advance our long-term efforts to lower energy costs for Wisconsinites.
I will always advocate for bringing federal funding back to Wisconsin and I’ll keep fighting to make sure high energy costs don’t haunt Wisconsin families.
Thanks for starting your weekend with us! We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween weekend, and that you enjoy this special edition of the Wied Wire.
In the Wieds
Haunting History Beneath the Dome
The U.S. Capitol isn’t just home to lawmakers – it’s also rumored to be home to a few lingering ghosts. From the spirit of John Quincy Adams whispering in Statuary Hall to the phantom footsteps echoing through the Rotunda, tales of haunted halls have swirled for centuries. Some say a Civil War soldier still stands guard at night. Others claim the ghost of Representative William Taulbee roams the marble steps where he was fatally shot by a journalist in 1890 – occasionally tripping unsuspecting reporters. Flickering lights and shadowy figures have been spotted in the old House chamber, and a mysterious black cat is said to appear in the Capitol crypt before national tragedies. If you’re ever on a tour through the halls of Congress, if you look closely – you might even spot tiny cat prints forever sealed in the concrete floors. Whether you believe in ghosts or just enjoy a good scare, the Capitol’s history is full of eerie intrigue. My office would love to welcome you for a behind-the-scenes look at both the history and the hauntings of our Nation’s Capital. For help booking a tour, click here.
For a closer look at the Capitol’s ghostly past check out this video from the Architect of the Capitol.
A Frightfully Fun District Update
Trick or Treat, Heroes on the Street
It was great to celebrate National First Responders Day this week during a visit to Shawano Ambulance Services. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day than visiting with the incredible men and women hometown heroes who quickly act in emergency situations and keep our communities safe throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Shawano Ambulance Service was started in 1967 when Douglas Knope took the initiative to meet the community’s need for local emergency services, and we are lucky to have them in Shawano County.
Honoring the Spirit of Service
[see featured photo above] I was proud to join the send-off for the last Old Glory Honor Flight of 2026 from the Appleton Airport this week. It was great to connect with the 88 veterans who participated in Flight Mission 84 and to thank them for their unwavering service. We owe every single one of our veterans a debt of gratitude. We appreciate their unwavering service and sacrifice for our great country.
Hauntingly Good Improvements
My number one goal in Washington is to make life better for the great people of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, and I’m proud of the $12.4 million for Community Funding Projects that we secured to help do just that. This week, I joined the City of Kaukauna and Kaukauna Utilities for a firsthand look at the ongoing construction of their new water treatment system improvement project and for a tour of their 100-year-old hydro plant along the Fox River.
Spotlight on Spooktacular Services
Providing the best constituent services to people of the 8th Congressional District is a top priority for me, from Veterans Affairs (VA) to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), my staff and I are here to help! To request assistance with a Federal Agency, you can contact my District Office at 920-301-4500 or submit a message through my website here.
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 the sunrise in Clay Banks. 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.
