As Telegram readers know, fentanyl poisonings have been on the rise for the past few years – amounting to an appalling 97 percent increase from 2019 to 2021 in Wisconsin.
It has become the leading killer of Americans ages 18-45, more than heart attacks, car accidents, and cancer. These heartbreaking statistics, which have skyrocketed over the past two years, are impacting so many Americans and the harsh reality is that it could impact your family next.
Fentanyl doesn’t care about race, color, or creed – it indiscriminately kills. All it takes is one pill.
Wisconsin had two witnesses present at the hearing – highlighting the impact that every state has become a border state – even if you are over a thousand miles away from the southern border.
We had the privilege of hearing from Mrs. Erin Rachwal, who tragically lost her son, Logan, to a fentanyl poisoning at a UW-Milwaukee dorm on Valentine’s Day two years ago. We also heard from Dr. Tim Westlake from Oconomowoc.
Dr. Westlake helped lead the HOPE Agenda in Wisconsin, which I voted for when I was in the State Senate. Through expanding access to NARCAN and changing access to who can dispense certain prescription drugs to providing resources for treatment and diversion programs, the HOPE Agenda was ground-breaking legislation for combating the heroin and opioid epidemic in our state and laid the groundwork for the rest of the United States to follow.
When I had the chance to ask Dr. Westlake what a fentanyl death looks like, he testified that it is the same thing as a “chemical execution.” Think about that… Our loved ones are being chemically executed by Communist China which sources the fentanyl precursors, Mexican cartels who then manufacture the fentanyl pills, and the U.S. federal government that is complicit in leaving our southern border open for drug smugglers.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way.
Democrats need to stop playing politics with people’s lives and work with Republicans on strong border measures that will save lives.
I thank both Dr. Westlake and Erin for joining the hearing. Erin is one of the too many moms who have lost their son or daughter to a fentanyl poisoning, and it’s long past time for Congress and the Biden administration to take action.
While the single most effective way to stop the flow of fentanyl is to secure the southern border, Democrats seemingly refuse to take action to do so. However, I am hopeful that all my colleagues – Republican and Democrat – will back Congressman Fitzgerald’s Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act to permanently designate fentanyl-related substances to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
This bill will help prevent new versions of fentanyl from landing on our streets and hold drug traffickers accountable with stronger sentencing. I am glad to be an original cosponsor of this bill.
We have a lot more to tell you in this week’s Tiffany Telegram. Thanks for starting your weekend off with us and be sure to tune in to the Fox News interview below.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
Click here or on the image above to watch Erin Rachwal, a Pewaukee mom who lost her son, Logan, to a fentanyl poisoning, and I join America Reports to discuss the fentanyl crisis in America.
Biden border crisis spreads north
It’s no secret that President Biden’s actions have created a crisis of unprecedented proportions on our border with Mexico, fueling a tidal wave of illegal migrants, drugs, and even suspected terrorists in every year of his presidency. But it isn’t just the southern border. His failed policies have also contributed to an eye-popping 846% increase in illegal crossings on the U.S.-Canada border – with more of those in January of this year than the last twelve monthly January totals combined. Word travels fast – and news of Canada’s loose visa rules and President Biden’s lax border policies have spread to every corner of the globe. The result? A fresh wave of migrants from around the world looking to exploit this new illegal pipeline into our country. That’s why this week, I joined several of my colleagues in calling out the White House and demanding a full accounting of just how bad this situation is. You can read our letter here.
Seeing red over Biden’s “green” 401(k) rules
When Americans set money aside in their retirement funds, they are making an investment in the financial future of their families. They aren’t handing over their hard-earned money so that fund managers can dump it into their political causes instead of getting you the best rate of return. That’s why this week, lawmakers in both the House and Senate passed bipartisan legislation to overturn a controversial Biden administration policy that would allow retirement funds to chase the “woke” fantasies of global warming extremists and social justice “diversity” warriors using your savings. You can read more about why this legislation is needed here. You can also check out how each Representative and Senator voted on protecting your nest egg here and here. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk. Sadly, he has threatened to veto it. I hope he will reconsider.
Lac Du Flambeau roadblocks
As residents in Vilas County and the surrounding areas know, since January 31st, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians has been blocking access to the roads on Annie Sunn Lane, Center Sugarbush Lane, East Ross Allen Lake Lane, and Elsie Lake Lane. Residents who depend on these roads have been held hostage with many being unable to buy groceries, receive mail, or go to work due to these barricades. That’s why last week, I sent a letter to the Tribe formally asking them to remove the roadblocks. While my office has not yet received a response, I am hopeful we can resolve this issue like neighbors. This week, I also followed up with a letter to President Biden’s Secretaries of Transportation and Interior requesting answers regarding how much federal funding has been poured into the maintenance and construction of the four roads the Lac Du Flambeau Tribe has blocked and asking them to make the appraisals of these rights-of-way public. It’s been a month of no movement from the Tribe or the Biden administration, and that’s unacceptable. These agencies owe the taxpayers who pay their salaries answers and transparency right now.
Need your opinion!
Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey asking for your opinion on continued taxpayer funding for Ukraine. If you have not yet taken that survey, you can do so here. Below are the results of the survey so far. Thank you for participating!
Results from the Ukraine survey.
Committee Update
Natural Resources
Reducing red tape
This week the Natural Resources Committee had a hearing on legislation that would reform the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, or NEPA for short. This bill, titled the BUILDER Act, would help streamline permitting for NEPA, reduce frivolous and expensive litigation, and help speed up the completion of key projects. We were lucky enough to welcome a witness from Wisconsin to speak on this important issue. John Carr is the Vice President of Dairyland Power Cooperative based out of La Crosse, WI, and he spoke to the dire need to modernize NEPA, which has been a major obstacle for many of their key projects. I spoke to him about the NTEC Project in Superior, which is facing burdensome delays and holding up a natural gas plant that will provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy for the region. You can watch some of the questions I asked him here. I am committed to bringing these antiquated permitting mandates of this Nixon-era law into the 21st century so we can cut through the thicket of red tape that too often keeps America from achieving its full potential.
Recent Legislation
Ensuring parents “have a say” in their child’s education
During the past couple of years, we have seen a growing effort by the left to shut parents out of their children’s education. Unfortunately, many school districts have been ignoring the wishes of parents while special interest groups try to criminalize free speech. From President Biden’s Justice Department classifying parents who speak out at school board meetings as ‘domestic terrorists‘ to state legislators proposing legislation to bring criminal charges against parents who don’t support woke transgender ideology. I find it disturbing that so many policymakers seem to subscribe to the extreme view that parents should not “have a say” in their child’s education. That’s just wrong. Empowering parents and promoting the well-being of children is a top priority of the House Republican majority. That’s why this week I joined Rep. Julia Letlow (LA-05) in introducing H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights. This bill would clarify that all schools that receive federal funding must allow parents to “have a say” in their child’s education. You can read the bill here.
District Update
Need help filing your taxes?
As tax season rolls around, I wanted to provide you with a few resources to help you file your taxes. The IRS offers free guided tax preparation to those with an annual gross income of less than $73,000. You can use their Free File tool here. If you fall outside of this range, the IRS also provides free fillable forms to complete on your own here. The AARP also offers free in-person or virtual tax assistance intended for individuals over the age of 50 with a low-moderate income. The AARP Tax-Aide service will be available through April 18th. As always if you have any trouble with the IRS or still have not received your tax refund from last year, please contact my office today by calling (715) 298-9344 or by visiting my website here.
Photo of the week
While this week’s photo of the week looks a bit different than past weeks, I wanted to take time to congratulate Alyson and Camryn from Prairie Farm High School on their community service project. Wanting to help their grandparents and other veterans, Alyson and Camryn have collected about 600 items for Soldiers’ Angels, and they will be competing in the Future Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) state conference in April after receiving gold for their community service project at the Regional FCCLA competition. As a reminder, if you have a photo of the week you would like to submit, please email it here.
“Keep up the great work” – Alyson and Camryn are two high school students that are collecting items for veterans, deployed military, and their families.
Upcoming Events
Service Academy Day: April
Are you a high school student interested in earning an appointment to one of our nation’s service academies? Then you will not want to miss my upcoming Service Academy Day on Saturday, April 22nd in Merrill. Students will get the chance to hear the best practices of the nomination and application processes and have the opportunity to talk with members of my staff and representatives from all five military branches. Admission is free, and parents, teachers, and students at any grade level are welcome to attend. The deadline to apply for a U.S. service academy nomination from my office is Friday, September 29th at 5 PM, and this informational event will help you get a head start on the process. More information can be found here.
Region-Wide USPS Job Fair
On March 7th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be holding a region-wide job fair at multiple USPS locations across the Seventh District. From New Richmond to Spooner and Superior to Rice Lake, on March 7th from 9 AM-3 PM, you can stop in at one of the USPS locations below to find out how to apply for a job. This opportunity will help some of our short-staffed USPS offices fill positions that will help speed up the mail delivery process. More information can be found in the image below as well as at the link here.
The USPS will be holding a region-wide job fair on March 7th.
Resources
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations in Florence, Forest, Marinette, and Vilas County are eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) due to losses from drought from April 28 through October 15, 2022. More information can be found here.
While many begin to travel internationally again, the Department of State is available to assist with passport services. We recommend to apply at least six months before planned travel as routine service may take up to about 18 weeks. For more information, please visit travel.state.gov.
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.
If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can subscribe here for weekly updates and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance.
Congressman Tom Tiffany- The Tiffany Tele-Gram March 3rd, 2023, Edition
Enews Sign Up | Website
Dear Friend,
As Telegram readers know, fentanyl poisonings have been on the rise for the past few years – amounting to an appalling 97 percent increase from 2019 to 2021 in Wisconsin.
It has become the leading killer of Americans ages 18-45, more than heart attacks, car accidents, and cancer. These heartbreaking statistics, which have skyrocketed over the past two years, are impacting so many Americans and the harsh reality is that it could impact your family next.
Fentanyl doesn’t care about race, color, or creed – it indiscriminately kills. All it takes is one pill.
As a result of this crisis, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held an incredibly impactful hearing on the fentanyl poisonings that are currently plaguing our communities and killing our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and loved ones.
Wisconsin had two witnesses present at the hearing – highlighting the impact that every state has become a border state – even if you are over a thousand miles away from the southern border.
We had the privilege of hearing from Mrs. Erin Rachwal, who tragically lost her son, Logan, to a fentanyl poisoning at a UW-Milwaukee dorm on Valentine’s Day two years ago. We also heard from Dr. Tim Westlake from Oconomowoc.
Dr. Westlake helped lead the HOPE Agenda in Wisconsin, which I voted for when I was in the State Senate. Through expanding access to NARCAN and changing access to who can dispense certain prescription drugs to providing resources for treatment and diversion programs, the HOPE Agenda was ground-breaking legislation for combating the heroin and opioid epidemic in our state and laid the groundwork for the rest of the United States to follow.
When I had the chance to ask Dr. Westlake what a fentanyl death looks like, he testified that it is the same thing as a “chemical execution.” Think about that… Our loved ones are being chemically executed by Communist China which sources the fentanyl precursors, Mexican cartels who then manufacture the fentanyl pills, and the U.S. federal government that is complicit in leaving our southern border open for drug smugglers.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way.
Democrats need to stop playing politics with people’s lives and work with Republicans on strong border measures that will save lives.
I thank both Dr. Westlake and Erin for joining the hearing. Erin is one of the too many moms who have lost their son or daughter to a fentanyl poisoning, and it’s long past time for Congress and the Biden administration to take action.
While the single most effective way to stop the flow of fentanyl is to secure the southern border, Democrats seemingly refuse to take action to do so. However, I am hopeful that all my colleagues – Republican and Democrat – will back Congressman Fitzgerald’s Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act to permanently designate fentanyl-related substances to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
This bill will help prevent new versions of fentanyl from landing on our streets and hold drug traffickers accountable with stronger sentencing. I am glad to be an original cosponsor of this bill.
We have a lot more to tell you in this week’s Tiffany Telegram. Thanks for starting your weekend off with us and be sure to tune in to the Fox News interview below.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
Click here or on the image above to watch Erin Rachwal, a Pewaukee mom who lost her son, Logan, to a fentanyl poisoning, and I join America Reports to discuss the fentanyl crisis in America.
Biden border crisis spreads north
It’s no secret that President Biden’s actions have created a crisis of unprecedented proportions on our border with Mexico, fueling a tidal wave of illegal migrants, drugs, and even suspected terrorists in every year of his presidency. But it isn’t just the southern border. His failed policies have also contributed to an eye-popping 846% increase in illegal crossings on the U.S.-Canada border – with more of those in January of this year than the last twelve monthly January totals combined. Word travels fast – and news of Canada’s loose visa rules and President Biden’s lax border policies have spread to every corner of the globe. The result? A fresh wave of migrants from around the world looking to exploit this new illegal pipeline into our country. That’s why this week, I joined several of my colleagues in calling out the White House and demanding a full accounting of just how bad this situation is. You can read our letter here.
Seeing red over Biden’s “green” 401(k) rules
When Americans set money aside in their retirement funds, they are making an investment in the financial future of their families. They aren’t handing over their hard-earned money so that fund managers can dump it into their political causes instead of getting you the best rate of return. That’s why this week, lawmakers in both the House and Senate passed bipartisan legislation to overturn a controversial Biden administration policy that would allow retirement funds to chase the “woke” fantasies of global warming extremists and social justice “diversity” warriors using your savings. You can read more about why this legislation is needed here. You can also check out how each Representative and Senator voted on protecting your nest egg here and here. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk. Sadly, he has threatened to veto it. I hope he will reconsider.
Lac Du Flambeau roadblocks
As residents in Vilas County and the surrounding areas know, since January 31st, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians has been blocking access to the roads on Annie Sunn Lane, Center Sugarbush Lane, East Ross Allen Lake Lane, and Elsie Lake Lane. Residents who depend on these roads have been held hostage with many being unable to buy groceries, receive mail, or go to work due to these barricades. That’s why last week, I sent a letter to the Tribe formally asking them to remove the roadblocks. While my office has not yet received a response, I am hopeful we can resolve this issue like neighbors. This week, I also followed up with a letter to President Biden’s Secretaries of Transportation and Interior requesting answers regarding how much federal funding has been poured into the maintenance and construction of the four roads the Lac Du Flambeau Tribe has blocked and asking them to make the appraisals of these rights-of-way public. It’s been a month of no movement from the Tribe or the Biden administration, and that’s unacceptable. These agencies owe the taxpayers who pay their salaries answers and transparency right now.
Need your opinion!
Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey asking for your opinion on continued taxpayer funding for Ukraine. If you have not yet taken that survey, you can do so here. Below are the results of the survey so far. Thank you for participating!
Results from the Ukraine survey.
Committee Update
Natural Resources
Reducing red tape
This week the Natural Resources Committee had a hearing on legislation that would reform the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, or NEPA for short. This bill, titled the BUILDER Act, would help streamline permitting for NEPA, reduce frivolous and expensive litigation, and help speed up the completion of key projects. We were lucky enough to welcome a witness from Wisconsin to speak on this important issue. John Carr is the Vice President of Dairyland Power Cooperative based out of La Crosse, WI, and he spoke to the dire need to modernize NEPA, which has been a major obstacle for many of their key projects. I spoke to him about the NTEC Project in Superior, which is facing burdensome delays and holding up a natural gas plant that will provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy for the region. You can watch some of the questions I asked him here. I am committed to bringing these antiquated permitting mandates of this Nixon-era law into the 21st century so we can cut through the thicket of red tape that too often keeps America from achieving its full potential.
Recent Legislation
Ensuring parents “have a say” in their child’s education
During the past couple of years, we have seen a growing effort by the left to shut parents out of their children’s education. Unfortunately, many school districts have been ignoring the wishes of parents while special interest groups try to criminalize free speech. From President Biden’s Justice Department classifying parents who speak out at school board meetings as ‘domestic terrorists‘ to state legislators proposing legislation to bring criminal charges against parents who don’t support woke transgender ideology. I find it disturbing that so many policymakers seem to subscribe to the extreme view that parents should not “have a say” in their child’s education. That’s just wrong. Empowering parents and promoting the well-being of children is a top priority of the House Republican majority. That’s why this week I joined Rep. Julia Letlow (LA-05) in introducing H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights. This bill would clarify that all schools that receive federal funding must allow parents to “have a say” in their child’s education. You can read the bill here.
District Update
Need help filing your taxes?
As tax season rolls around, I wanted to provide you with a few resources to help you file your taxes. The IRS offers free guided tax preparation to those with an annual gross income of less than $73,000. You can use their Free File tool here. If you fall outside of this range, the IRS also provides free fillable forms to complete on your own here. The AARP also offers free in-person or virtual tax assistance intended for individuals over the age of 50 with a low-moderate income. The AARP Tax-Aide service will be available through April 18th. As always if you have any trouble with the IRS or still have not received your tax refund from last year, please contact my office today by calling (715) 298-9344 or by visiting my website here.
Photo of the week
While this week’s photo of the week looks a bit different than past weeks, I wanted to take time to congratulate Alyson and Camryn from Prairie Farm High School on their community service project. Wanting to help their grandparents and other veterans, Alyson and Camryn have collected about 600 items for Soldiers’ Angels, and they will be competing in the Future Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) state conference in April after receiving gold for their community service project at the Regional FCCLA competition. As a reminder, if you have a photo of the week you would like to submit, please email it here.
“Keep up the great work” – Alyson and Camryn are two high school students that are collecting items for veterans, deployed military, and their families.
Upcoming Events
Service Academy Day: April
Are you a high school student interested in earning an appointment to one of our nation’s service academies? Then you will not want to miss my upcoming Service Academy Day on Saturday, April 22nd in Merrill. Students will get the chance to hear the best practices of the nomination and application processes and have the opportunity to talk with members of my staff and representatives from all five military branches. Admission is free, and parents, teachers, and students at any grade level are welcome to attend. The deadline to apply for a U.S. service academy nomination from my office is Friday, September 29th at 5 PM, and this informational event will help you get a head start on the process. More information can be found here.
Region-Wide USPS Job Fair
On March 7th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be holding a region-wide job fair at multiple USPS locations across the Seventh District. From New Richmond to Spooner and Superior to Rice Lake, on March 7th from 9 AM-3 PM, you can stop in at one of the USPS locations below to find out how to apply for a job. This opportunity will help some of our short-staffed USPS offices fill positions that will help speed up the mail delivery process. More information can be found in the image below as well as at the link here.
The USPS will be holding a region-wide job fair on March 7th.
Resources
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations in Florence, Forest, Marinette, and Vilas County are eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) due to losses from drought from April 28 through October 15, 2022. More information can be found here.
While many begin to travel internationally again, the Department of State is available to assist with passport services. We recommend to apply at least six months before planned travel as routine service may take up to about 18 weeks. For more information, please visit travel.state.gov.
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.
If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can subscribe here for weekly updates and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance.
Follow Rep. Tiffany
Washington, DC Office
451 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3365.
Wausau Office
2620 Stewart Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401
Phone: (715) 298-9344
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