Senator Baldwin Highlights Federal Funding to Address Food Insecurity and PFAS in Western Wisconsin

HUDSON and EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) visited Hudson and Eau Claire to highlight federal funds she delivered for the St. Croix Valley Food Bank to help provide nutritious food to the communities they serve and the City of Eau Claire to remediate PFAS in their drinking water. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin secured the funding as part of the bipartisan federal funding bill for 2023, which was signed into law late last year.

Senator Baldwin visited the St. Croix Valley Food Bank in Hudson to highlight $4.3 million in federal funds she secured for a new food bank. The funding will be used to construct a new facility that will allow the organization to accept more fresh and healthy food, and expand their reach to receive, store and distribute food to their service region of St. Croix, Pierce, Polk and Burnett Counties. Senator Baldwin toured the food bank to discuss how the current facility is not meeting the needs of Western Wisconsinites and helped volunteers assemble donation boxes.

“Food insecurity is a problem too many families face, and too often don’t know where to turn. In Western Wisconsin, the St. Croix Valley Food Bank serves a large portion of the state that would not otherwise have another option for securing nutritious and healthy foods,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to secure federal support for this project to help ensure our friends, family, and neighbors don’t have to wonder where their next meal will come from.”

“We know that hunger is here and hunger cannot wait,” said Ann Prifrel Searles, Executive Director of St. Croix Valley Food Bank. “A permanent facility will allow us to be more efficient in serving the high poverty, diverse and rural populations across the region. We are incredibly grateful for the support of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and her staff to work to ensure funding for a facility to serve the growing need for food in the St. Croix Valley.”

Senator Tammy Baldwin then joined officials from the City of Eau Claire to tour the Eau Claire Water Treatment Plant and highlight the over $1.6 million in federal funding she secured for PFAS remediation in Eau Claire’s drinking water. Senator Baldwin toured the facility and discussed how the City of Eau Claire will use these federal funds to deliver clean drinking water to its residents.

“In Wisconsin, water is central to our way of life and for Wisconsin’s children, families and communities, the importance of healthy drinking water is second to none. Countless communities, including Eau Claire, are testing their water only to find their wells and ground water have high levels of emerging contaminants like PFAS,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to deliver over $1.6 million in direct federal support to help the City of Eau Claire remediate PFAS because every Wisconsinite deserves to turn on their faucet and know the water they are drinking is free of harmful toxins.”

“Our journey with PFAS began in June of 2020 when we met internally and decided to test for the substances in our drinking water. We had heard much talk about the subject and we wanted to know if it was in our water. Even though we are well below DNR standards, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to produce the safest water possible,” said Lane Berg, Community Services Director for the City of Eau Claire. “I would like to thank Senator Tammy Baldwin. We are thrilled to receive 1.66 million dollars as a result of your efforts.”

Senator Baldwin’s office began soliciting input for appropriations requests from communities in every part of Wisconsin in early spring, working to submit requests for projects that benefit communities across the state. 

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