The Tiffany Telegram

Dear Friend,

We saw a lot of encouraging news this week indicating that a resilient American economy, built on the pro-growth tax and regulatory reforms of the last three years, is showing more signs of recovery thanks to the dedication and contributions of American workers and entrepreneurs.

I also had the chance to talk to folks around our state about the importance of putting local communities back in the driver's seat when it comes to environmental quality and species conservation efforts, and continued to promote the pro-child, pro-parent, pro-teacher "Reopen Our Schools Act" designed to get our kids back into the classroom to hit the books this fall.

Getting America Back on Her Feet

On Tuesday, we learned that US retail sales grew by an unprecedented 17.7 percent between April and May – more than double what experts had predicted. That news was followed by data revealing a 4.3 percent uptick in home construction, a good sign that more folks in the building industry are returning to work. These encouraging signs come on the heels of a record increase of 2.5 million jobs in May, and more than two straight months of declining new unemployment claims.

We still have a lot of work to do, but we have reason for optimism as record numbers of hardworking Americans are getting back to doing what they do best. I hope when Congress reconvenes next week, we can take steps to keep this recovery on track by enacting common-sense liability protections for employers so small businesses can reopen their doors without fear of being bankrupted by job-killing lawsuits.

Mike from TMS Tire and Auto in Baldwin, Wisconsin shares his thoughts on getting America back to work with Rep. Tiffany.

A Win-Win Approach to Conservation

I joined EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler this week in eastern Wisconsin to announce that a previously designated "non-attainment" zone is now breathing a little easier.

For many years, we've seen too many communities saddled with top-down, heavy-handed federal restrictions and millions of dollars in compliance costs because of environmental problems that in some cases literally blew in from somewhere else. In the past, federal regulators have sometimes treated local communities as enemies instead of partners. The event with Administrator Wheeler was a reminder of how the Trump administration is rejecting that tired, Washington-knows-best mentality in favor of a cooperative, win-win approach that yields better economic and environmental outcomes for all Americans. After all, economic prosperity and environmental protection are not a zero-sum game.

Species conservation is another area where state and local officials often have the best knowledge to tailor policies that work best. Predator management related to the wolf is one such issue, and I had the opportunity to discuss that with thousands of folks during a tele-town hall forum this week.

There is broad agreement that wolf populations in the state have recovered. In fact, wolf numbers are now so stable that we are seeing routine incidents of wolves taking pets and threatening livestock. This is real-world evidence that the wolf is no longer a threatened or endangered species in our state. It is also an indication that it's time to put Wisconsinites back in the driver's seat when it comes to wolf management decisions in our state, and I have begun the process of drafting legislation to do just that.

More broadly, it is long past time we took a hard look at updating and modernizing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to give states and local communities that bear the brunt of questionable species listing designations made by bureaucrats in Washington, DC a greater say in these decisions. A lot has changed since the ESA was first enacted in the 1970s. It's time the law was changed too.

Rep. Tiffany attends Taylor County Sportsman's Club meeting.

Back to School

As a father, I have seen first-hand how open-ended school shutdowns are harming the education of our kids. These shutdowns have set students back, made it harder for teachers to teach, and pushed many parents to the breaking point. And that is why I'm continuing to push for the enactment of the Reopen Our Schools Act.

Mandatory, one-size-fits-all distance learning is often a larger challenge for rural areas than it is for big cities because of the digital divide that many of our neighbors face. Unreliable internet connections and a lack of access to the latest computer technology is hampering the ability of some kids to keep up in areas like reading and math. We can't afford to let our students fall behind and must continue to push for a return to safe, responsible in-classroom instruction rather than standing idly by as shuttered schools become the "new normal" in our communities.

Allowing our kids to get back on track with their studies while also protecting our vulnerable and at-risk neighbors are not mutually exclusive goals, and I believe we can accomplish both.

Our Condolences

This week, we lost a treasured member of our shared Wisconsin family when Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner's wife Cheryl, a tireless advocate for the disabled and the elderly, passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his family during this difficult time.

Federal Assistance News

The Small Business Administration has disbursed billions in SBA Loans, saving some 50 million American jobs.

The Marshfield Medical Center was recently awarded $1 million for telehealth related technology and equipment to promote access to health care services.

As I mentioned last week, the USDA continues to make resources and assistance available to agricultural producers and working families to ensure the stability and safety of, and access to food supplies.

The USDA is accepting applications for assistance under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through August 28, 2020 to assist farmers and ranchers who have been adversely affected by price instability, supply-chain problems and cost spikes.

You can learn more about how this program applies to soybeans, dairy, corn, livestock and a variety of other agricultural products here, and a useful fact sheet on the program can be viewed here.

The Small Business Administration also continues to provide assistance to employers negatively affected by the public health emergency through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan program.

Once again, remember to make sure that you and your family are counted in the census. Please be sure to visit 2020census.gov to learn more.

If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can sign up here, and don't forget to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, D.C. or Wisconsin, which remain open, if you have any questions or need assistance.

Sincerely,

Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress