Representatives in the News

Representative Garey Bies

Bies (R-Sister Bay) applauds the unanimous vote by the Joint Finance Committee on Nov. 12 to approve the Family Care contracts. The committee’s approval means the Department of Health Services (DHS) can begin implementing the program in northeast Wisconsin. “Expanding the program is the right thing to do,” Bies said. “The 1,300 people who have been on the waiting list for years can finally access the same services as those who live in other parts of the state.” The program currently operates in 57 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties and it allows the elderly and adults with developmental and physical disabilities to receive long-term care in their own homes and communities. A study by DHS found that expanding the Family Care program to other parts of the state could reduce the state’s long-term care costs by nearly $35 million during the next 10 years. “Providing needed services to individuals in their homes and other community based settings is better for their health and the state as a whole,” said Bies. “I’m thankful we were all able to come together to support the Family Care program and the expansion to Northeast Wisconsin.” Care Wisconsin and Lakeland Care District will be awarded the contracts to administer the program. Enrollment in the program is likely to being in early 2015.

Source:  Bies press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz urging the Administration to do more to prevent another propane crisis this year. The Administration has taken some steps recommended by Baldwin and Franken to avoid a repeat of last year’s propane crisis, including the collection of more data to better determine supply levels, but more can be done to implement a new emergency response system for heating fuel supply shortages. In July, Baldwin and Franken joined Senator Rob Portman (R-OR) to introduce the Propane Supply and Security Act, which will prevent shortages by improving propane supply and price information, coordinating responses to shortages, studying the need for regional propane reserves, and helping farmers purchase propane storage tanks.

Source:  Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson, who is in line to chair the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he is introducing border security legislation that would include a guest worker program to reduce incentives for illegal immigration. It would build on work already done by Congress, including a House bill aimed at ensuring that 90 percent of would-be border crossers are stopped. “Regardless of what President Obama does I’m going to move forward with a very strong border security bill,” Johnson said. Johnson said he would move his border bill “as quickly as we can” once the new Congress convenes. He said he supports solving the immigration system one issue at a time, the position of most Republicans.

Source:  The Associated Press

President Barack Obama

On Nov. 15, Obama announced the intention of the United States to contribute $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), reflecting the U.S. commitment to reduce carbon pollution and strengthen resilience in developing countries, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. The United States joins other nations that have already pledged financial support to this vital new global effort, including Mexico, Korea, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. Additional countries are expected to pledge soon. By financing investments that help countries reduce carbon pollution and strengthen resilience to climate change, the GCF will help leverage public and private finance to avoid some of the most catastrophic risks of climate change. By reducing those risks, the GCF will help promote smart, sustainable long-term economic growth and preserve stability and security in fragile regions of strategic importance to the United States. The U.S. contribution to the GCF builds on a history of U.S. leadership to support climate action. In 2008, the Bush Administration pledged $2 billion to the Climate Investment Funds, which were established as a transitional measure to finance efforts to help developing countries address climate change. The U.S. pledge to the GCF demonstrates a continuation of the bipartisan resolve to help developing nations reduce their own emissions, whose dangerous impacts on the climate affect us all, as well as to help the most vulnerable cope with the impacts of climate change.

Source:  White House press release