As you know, before coming to Congress, my wife, Angela, and I owned and operated a small business in Northeast Wisconsin for nearly 30 years. That experience not only allowed me to bring my business background to Washington to get things done, but it also gave me a better understanding of what small business owners need.
That is why, when I was selecting which committees I would like to serve on, the Small Business Committee was a no-brainer. Serving on this committee lets me be on the front lines of pushing legislation that benefits Main Street and gives small businesses the tools they need to keep driving our economy.
Last week, I was very proud to see two of my pro-small business bills pass through committee with bipartisan support.
The first bill was the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act, which requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to collaborate with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide small businesses with information on cybersecurity best practices.
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity for our small business contractors is a priority of mine. Cybersecurity has become an increasingly important consideration for small businesses, but many struggle to find clear, up-to-date guidance. Currently, the SBA’s website provides some information for small businesses looking to secure their cyber infrastructure, but it may not reflect other agencies’ best-practice recommendations. This leaves small businesses’ cyber infrastructure vulnerable to nefarious actors.
Additionally, the SBA lacks information on complying with the Department of War’s new cybersecurity initiative, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). This certification is multi-tiered based on the sensitive information a contractor or subcontractor may handle. However, higher levels of cybersecurity can be costly, and not all businesses need the highest tier.
This bill will clarify those standards and ensure that small businesses are not forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain a level of cybersecurity they don’t need. This will not only ensure small businesses maintain the highest-quality, most up-to-date cybersecurity infrastructure, but also allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money.
The second bill was the Reshoring American Manufacturing Act. This bill Requires the SBA to establish, operate, and maintain a webpage that provides a free tool for small businesses seeking information on onshoring their manufacturing capacity to the United States, including a list of resources, relevant organizations, and other information deemed necessary by the SBA.
By making it easier for small businesses to bring manufacturing back to the United States, we can strengthen our economy and create new, good-paying jobs.
These commonsense pieces of legislation were designed to make life easier for small business owners and give them the tools they need to continue being the backbone of our nation’s economy. I was pleased to see both bills advance through committee, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass them through the House.
Thanks again for starting your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Wied Wire.
District Update
Connecting with Communities
[see featured photo above] I had a great visit with members of Wisconsin Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, and NEW Water, who are all part of the East River Collaborative to discuss several environmental programs and resiliency efforts that are taking place in Green Bay and communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin. I was proud to support efforts in Congress like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) that support some of these important projects. I want to thank Julia, Kari, and Jeff for your time and for all of your hard work!
A Triton Tribute
It is an honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. Northeast Wisconsin is the best place to live, work, and raise a family and we have so many incredible people who call it home. As your congressman, it is my honor to recognize the great people and communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin. I recently recognized Mrs. Carolyn Brown of Notre Dame Academy for her many years of service and support from our youth. I wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement!
Breaking Ground in Appleton
I was proud to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for Thrivent’s new Appleton campus that will feature a new building totaling 155,000 square feet. The development will create additional opportunities for business, housing, public spaces, and add an estimated 2,100 jobs for hardworking Wisconsinites. Congratulations to the entire Thrivent team on this exciting new development and I look forward to seeing the final project!
Constituent Services Spotlight
Providing the best constituent services to the people of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District is a top priority for me, from Veteran 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 send 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 sunset taken at Sugar Creek Park in Door County. 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.
