ICYMI: Senator Baldwin Highlights Investments in Broadband, Made in Wisconsin Economy, and Combatting the Opioid Epidemic with 10+ Stops Across Wisconsin
WISCONSIN – This week, Senator Tammy Baldwin traveled across the state with stops in nine Wisconsin counties to highlight federal investments she’s championed to expand access to broadband, invest in our Made in Wisconsin economy and workers, and deliver the resources Wisconsin communities need to combat the opioid epidemic.
“I’m proud to be working for Wisconsin every day to deliver the resources our communities need to stay safe, healthy, and grow their economies for the future. Traveling around the state is an opportunity for me to listen to Wisconsinites concerns firsthand and see the impact of my work in Washington expanding high-speed internet to every household and business, creating jobs in communities big and small, and curbing the opioid epidemic,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am grateful to the advocates, Made in Wisconsin businesses, local leaders, and all the Wisconsinites who take the time to share their insights and experiences as we celebrate our victories, discuss our challenges, and continue to work together to move our state forward.”
Friday, August 4, 2023
Senator Baldwin hosted Arizona Senator Mark Kelly for a tour at Badger Technology Group, a high-tech engineering company working on renewable energy, aerospace, and aviation engineering in Port Washington. The Senators toured the facility to learn how federal investments through the Department of Defense, which Senator Baldwin supported, are allowing the company to partner with UW-Milwaukee and the U.S. Air Force to research and develop innovative solutions for energy storage.
Senator Baldwin also showed her Senate colleague around the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis.
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo at Sanmina’s facility in Kenosha County to celebrate Nokia bringing up to 200 manufacturing jobs to Wisconsin to produce key components for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, a $42.45 billion grant program created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand high-speed internet to every American. Senator Baldwin championed strong Buy America provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, requiring that key manufactured products for the BEAD program, along with materials used in roads, bridges, and water infrastructure, be manufactured in the United States, supporting American jobs, businesses, and workers.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Senator Baldwin toured Fox Valley Metal Tech and met with employees to highlight her success supporting Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry with strong Buy America requirements for the shipbuilding industry. Fox Valley Metal Tech conducts shipboard maintenance and modernization for the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier and amphibious warship programs. Recently, Senator Baldwin successfully included an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen Buy America requirements for Navy shipbuilding.
Senator Baldwin also visited Door and Kewaunee Counties to see how federal investments she delivered are expanding access to broadband and being used to upgrade a historical sight in Sturgeon Bay. First, 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. She then toured the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, a project she secured $1.75 million to help expand the musuem, increase tourism, and further highlight Wisconsin's rich maritime history. Finally, Senator Baldwin hosted a rountable with Door County leaders on economic development to discuss efforts to bolster the tourism and manufacting sectors and address business challenges like affordable childcare, workforce shortages, and lack of access to high-speed broadband.
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Senator Baldwin started her week by hosting a roundtable in Appleton to discuss her efforts to address the fentanyl, tranq, and opioid epidemic. Senator Baldwin highlighted that her bipartisan legislation to cut off the supply chains for synthetic opioids like fentanyl advanced in the Senate as part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Senator Baldwin has also worked to increase access to the opioid reversal drug naloxone and increase resources for local and tribal communities to better combat the opioid and substance use disorder epidemic, successfully including funding for both programs in last year’s budget.
Senator Baldwin also visited the Menominee Tribal Clinic in Menasha 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.
She also visited local businesses and met with leaders in Oconto that received support from the American Rescue Plan Act, which Baldwin supported, to help Wisconsin small businesses weather the pandemic and grow the local economy. Senator Baldwin visited The Shop, an art studio, coffee and gift shop, and The Secret Garden, a garden shop, before hosting a roundtable with local leaders and the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation to discuss the continued support Wisconsin main streets need to grow, create jobs, and strengthen local communities.
Next week, Senator Baldwin will continue traveling the state with stops in Columbia, Marquette, Wood, Jackson, La Crosse, and Monroe counties to highlight investments she delivered for public safety, Wisconsin’s military installations, our agricultural economy, and cutting the cost of perscription drugs for Wisconsin seniors.
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