A Year in Review: Senator Baldwin Crisscrossed Wisconsin

WISCONSIN – In 2023, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) attended or hosted nearly 150 community events and meetings with constituents spanning 44 counties across Wisconsin. While crisscrossing the state, Senator Baldwin heard from constituents and celebrated her work to lower costs for families, support veterans, grow the Made in Wisconsin economy, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and more.

“Traveling across the state and listening to Wisconsinites is what informs my work in Washington, and I’m so grateful to the families, businesses, local leaders, and all the Wisconsinites who take the time to share their experiences with me and are working to solve our state’s toughest challenges,” said Senator Baldwin. “Traveling the state is also a time to celebrate the progress we’ve made. I was proud to deliver real results for Wisconsin families – lowering costs, curbing the opioid and fentanyl crisis, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and growing our Made in Wisconsin economy. I know we have more work to do, but I am so proud that we are following our state’s motto and moving Forward.”   

Below are some highlights from Senator Baldwin’s year crisscrossing Wisconsin:

Addressing Public Safety and Opioid Epidemic

Ladysmith: At a roundtable, Senator Baldwin was joined by public health experts, law enforcement, and local officials to discuss her FEND Off Fentanyl Act and how to better protect our communities against the devastating impacts of opioids and fentanyl.

Wausau: While touring the Wausau Fire Station, Senator Baldwin heard about the impact the  $3 million SAFER Grant she helped secure will allow for the hiring of nine new firefighters, helping them meet increasing demand and responsibilities.

Prairie du Chien: Joining first responders, Senator Baldwin celebrated the nearly $5 million of federal funding she helped deliver for the new Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center that will help first responders meet challenges, keep communities safe, and attract and retain talent.

Keshena: Senator Baldwin visited the Menominee Tribal Clinic in Keshena to see how a $1.3 million federal investment is helping the Menominee Tribe build a new tribal clinic to expand access to affordable health care, including mental health services and substance use disorder treatment.

Building a Made in America Economy

Milwaukee: At Rockwell Automation, Senator Baldwin touted her work to bring home a Tech Hub and discussed with consortium partners their work to spur personal medicine innovation, grow our economy, and create jobs in this cutting-edge industry.

Superior: Senator Baldwin met with AFL-CIO Wisconsin leaders at their Annual Meeting in Superior to discuss her efforts to support organized labor and good-paying jobs, grow the economy, and ensure American families have the economic security they need to sleep well at night.

Pleasant Prairie: Senator Baldwin visited Sanmina to celebrate Nokia bringing up to 200 manufacturing jobs to Wisconsin to produce key components for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Eau Claire: While hosting a roundtable at Chippewa Valley Technical College, Senator Baldwin heard about Chippewa Valley Tech College’s program for health career job training. Senator Baldwin helped secure nearly $5 million for this program that will train the healthcare workforce we need in our small towns and rural areas and help ensure traditionally underserved communities are not left behind in today’s economy.

Cambridge: While visiting Cobrahead, a small family business that makes gardening, horticulture, and agriculture equipment, Senator Baldwin highlighted her COOL Online Act, legislation that ensures all goods sold online list their country-of-origin and promotes American-made goods for online shoppers.

Cutting Prescription Drug Prices and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care

Waukesha: Senator Baldwin toured the Waukesha Free Clinic and joined local seniors and stakeholders to discuss the impact of cutting prescription drug prices. Senator Baldwin has long advocated for lowering prescription drug prices and helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, caps the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 per month, and caps Medicare beneficiaries out of pocket costs at $2,000 per year.

Green Bay: Senator Baldwin and Governor Evers toured the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center and hosted a roundtable with local leaders and metal health providers. Senator Baldwin successfully secured $3 million in this year’s budget to support implementation of the hotline.

Onalaska: Senator Baldwin visited Gunderson Pharmacy with seniors and health officials to learn about the impact of her Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to cap the cost of insulin and cut prescription drug costs.

Delivering for Wisconsin Infrastructure

Superior: Senator Baldwin, Governor Evers, and local officials visited the Blatnik Bridge to continue to urge the Biden Administration to replace the aging bridge.

Casco: Senator Baldwin stopped in Casco to highlight the broadband expansion the Village of Casco has undertaken to connect 291 distinct addresses to high-speed internet through a grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin using state and federal funds.

Milwaukee: Senator Baldwin saw firsthand the block-by-block lead service line replacement work being done and highlighted investments from the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead pipes in Milwaukee.

Wausau: Senator Baldwin joined officials from Wausau and Rib Mountain to tour the new Wausau Water Treatment Plant and highlight the over $3.3 million in federal funding Senator Baldwin secured for PFAS remediation for the city of Wausau and the Rib Mountain Sanitary District.

Standing Up for Wisconsin Veterans and Servicemembers

New Richmond, Wausau, Green Bay, Racine: In May, Senator Baldwin hosted a series of roundtable discussions on her efforts to increase health care and disability benefits for Wisconsin veterans who have been harmed by toxic exposure while serving in the military. Veterans are now eligible for these benefits because of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that Senator Baldwin helped pass into law.

Prairie du Sac: Senator Baldwin presented a Purple Heart Award to Rebecca Litscher, to provide long overdue recognition for her service and sacrifice.

Fort McCoy: Senator Baldwin toured the existing barracks at Fort McCoy that serve the thousands of reservists who come from across the country to train each year. Senator Baldwin secured the funds for Fort McCoy in the 2022 and 2023 government funding bills, to help construct permanent barracks that can house nearly 1,000 enlisted soldiers and officers during annual training and mobilization.

Supporting Our Farmers and Rural Communities

Greenleaf: Senator Baldwin toured Brickstead Farms, a fifth-generation family-run dairy farm, to discuss her work securing investments to help Wisconsin’s farmers, producers, and growers mitigate the impact of climate change and build sustainable agriculture operations.

Columbus: Senator Baldwin toured Gurn-Z Meadow Farm in Columbus and met with Dairy Business Innovation Initiative recipients to hear how they are using the funding to diversify their business products and launch new processing ventures.

Stratford: Senator Baldwin visited Marshfield Agricultural Research Center for a tour and to hear how the $6 million in federal funding she secured will better support researchers and the Wisconsin agricultural community.

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