The Tiffany Telegram: July 24, 2020
Dear Friend,
This week the House of Representatives reconvened. Unfortunately, rather than considering legislation that will help fuel our economic recovery and get businesses back on their feet, House Democrats passed a misguided, partisan bill that would severely limit the ability of President Trump (and future presidents) to suspend or limit the entry of foreign nationals from places like Communist China and Iran – even if their entry poses a threat to national security or public health. It makes no sense for Congress to make America less safe, and that's why I voted against this legislation.
- Said goodbye to a towering figure in the civil rights movement
- Received new and encouraging news about the development and deployment of a coronavirus vaccine
- Formally proposed legislation putting wolf management decisionsback into the hands of our state by de-listing it as a federally threatened or endangered species
- Saw new prospects for economic development
- Joined an effort to honor our state'sgreat shipbuilding and Navy tradition
- Saw moreevidence of our ability to safely reopen schoolsby the fall
Saying goodbye to a civil rights icon
While I only served with Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) for a few weeks, like all Americans I was moved by his passing. Mr. Lewis was a towering figure in the American civil rights movement, dedicating his entire adult life to advancing the cause of human freedom and equality embodied by the core principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
I signed the condolence book for Mr. Lewis' family this week, expressing my gratitude for his tireless efforts over the years to make America a more perfect union.
Virus treatment and vaccine development efforts continue
Last week we got great news that two experimental vaccines were given a "fast track"designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and developers say that they can potentially produce up to 100 million doses of the vaccine by the end of this year. The White House announced this week that they were making a $1.95 billion advance order, and the final phase of their clinical trials will begin this month.
On the therapeutic front, the Trump administration has secured a large supply of the drug Remdesivir, which has shown promise in helping sick patients recover. We also saw a potential breakthrough across the Atlantic in the UK, where a promising new treatment performed well in double-blind trials, reducing the odds of coronavirus patients developing a severe disease or requiring ventilation by almost 80 percent.
Working to de-list the wolf
This week I asked House Democrats to allow a vote on an amendment I authored to a spending package to restore responsibility for managing gray wolves back to where it belongs: The capable hands of state policymakers and state fish and game agencies. My amendment would have blocked the Interior Department from using any funds to implement or enforce the listing of the gray wolf as a federally protected endangered species. Unfortunately, the Democrats refused to allow a debate or an up-or-down vote on my very simple and fair amendment. You can read my amendment here.
The wolf has an important place in the national landscape, and the wolf population in Wisconsin is more than stable. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists the wolf recovery goal as 100 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin. Today, the population has grown to nearly 1,000, and that has come with consequences. Attacks on pets and livestock, for example, have become more frequent, and sportsmen are concerned that wolves are also threatening to inflict long-term damage on the hunting industry.
Decisions about how to manage Wisconsin's gray wolves ought to be made by people in Wisconsin, not by lawyers, judges and bureaucrats a thousand miles away in Washington, DC.
While I am disappointed that Democrats refused to allow an open discussion of this important issue, I will not give up and remain committed to restoring the right of our community to chart its own future when it comes to species conservation and resource management.
Canadian National Railway to start process of divesting local rail lines
Some good news may be on the way for expanded economic development in our district. Canadian National Railway (CN) has begun the process of selling unused rail lines that link many of our small communities. That means these lines could soon be available to rail companies hoping to transport products between stops that have not seen service in some time.
This infrastructure is vital for our local businesses and communities that depend on moving products more efficiently. I have been working with the rail industry, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and federal agencies to aid in the rehabilitation and the implementation of these promising transportation opportunities, and we'll keep you updated in The Telegram as this process moves forward.
Rep. Tiffany meets with Nick Arnoldy from Marshfield Insurance Agency in Marshfield, WI.
Honoring Wisconsin's maritime heritage
This week I joined with my colleagues from Wisconsin's congressional delegation to honor our state's rich shipbuilding and Navy tradition by asking the Secretary of the Navy to name the next Virginia class submarine in honor of the Badger State. You can read our letter to Secretary Braithwaite here.
Wisconsinites supply critical components to this key national security program, and it makes sense to recognize their contribution by naming a vessel after our state. Wisconsin's contributions to American Naval supremacy are longstanding, and to this day, the hard-working people of our great state continue their unwavering support for our United States Navy.
The last Navy vessel named for our state was an Iowa-class battleship commissioned in 1944 that saw action in World War II, including Iwo Jima and the Philippines, and Korea – and was reactivated for service in the Persian Gulf War, before being decommissioned and made a museum ship. You can read more about her here.
Iowa-class battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64), also known as "Big Wisky," served in three American wars.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines "hard in favor of school reopening"
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield declared this week that "[i]t is critically important for our public health to open schools this fall." I could not agree more.
The CDC issued comprehensive guidelines echoing the growing body of evidence suggesting that schools can and should be safely reopened. The agency noted in their statement that "according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 17, 2020, the United States reported that children and adolescents under 18 years old account for under 7 percent of COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 percent of COVID-19-related deaths," adding that "[i]nternational studies that have assessed how readily COVID-19 spreads in schools also reveal low rates of transmission…Based on current data, the rate of infection among younger school children, and from students to teachers, has been low, especially if proper precautions are followed."
You can read the entire CDC document on "The Importance of Reopening America's Schools This Fall" here.
There are steps Congress can take to help with a speedy and safe reopening, and I am committed to doing my part. As you know from prior newsletters, I joined my colleague Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana in proposing legislation to ensure that additional federal funds are conditioned on a return to in-person learning, and I have thrown my support behind common-sense liability protections that would prevent trial lawyers from targeting our community schools with junk lawsuits during the pandemic.
In case you missed it….
There was a positive story this week out of Weston about a fun tradition of recognizing law enforcement, first responders and members of our armed services with a free donut. You can read about it here.
Our men and women in uniform serving here at home and abroad work hard every day to preserve public safety, national security and the rights and freedoms that make America the envy of the world. We should never forget or take for granted how fortunate we are to have them protecting our families.
Regional Assistance
In addition to my Wausau and Washington, DC offices, you can reach my staff located in various parts of the district by phone in the location most convenient to you (Note: These lines have 202 area codes as they are connected directly through the US House of Representatives system in Washington, DC):
Hayward: (202) 510-2790
P.O. Box 586
Hayward, WI 54843
Hudson: (202) 510-8993
Tomahawk: (202) 738-6508
Coronavirus Response Resources
The USDA continues to make resources and assistance available to agricultural producers and working families to ensure access, safety and stability for food markets and supplies.
The USDA also continues to accept 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.
As you might recall, the Paycheck Protection Program briefly lapsed, but President Trump signed bipartisan legislation extending the deadline to apply for assistance under the program. The PPP program provides assistance to employers negatively affected by the public health emergency.
Small businesses can also apply for assistance through the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan program. This program provides economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.
And 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 contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress