Dear Friend,

My legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) passed the House with bipartisan support this week. This is a big win for Wisconsin farmers, hunters, and pet owners.

As many of us in northern Wisconsin know, the gray wolf population has skyrocketed.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shows there are over 1,000 wolves in Wisconsin — yet the state’s population goal is 350 wolves as written in the DNR plan in 1999 and 2007.

Now that we have three times the number of wolves than our original state’s population goal, we have seen devastating effects.

Not only have we seen attacks on livestock, but we have also seen more frequent attacks on pets. You can view some examples here and here (warning of graphic content). We have even seen a decrease in white-tail deer up north as well.

While President Trump delisted the gray wolf in 2020 using the best science available, a judge in California unilaterally relisted the gray wolf under the ESA in 2022.

I am not sure what a California judge would know about the wolf population in Wisconsin, but the science is clear. The gray wolf has met and exceeded recovery goals – even 26 scientists agree.

Our legislation – the Trust the Science Act – is very simple. It would remove the gray wolf from the list of federal endangered species, ensure that action is not subject to judicial review by activist judges like the California judge, and restore authority back to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials to control the gray wolf population. You can read more about it here.

Wisconsin wildlife officials know our wolf population best, and while the gray wolf certainly deserves a place on our landscape, their population should be controlled at the local level, not by the federal government.

The Trust the Science Act passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 209-205. You can view the vote total here.

It will now head to the U.S. Senate, where I encourage you to contact our U.S. Senators to support this legislation. Unfortunately, President Biden does not support delisting the gray wolf; however, if Senator Baldwin stands with Wisconsinites over bureaucrats in DC, we can get this bill through the U.S. Senate and put pressure on the Biden administration to delist it.

Thanks for starting your weekend off with the Tiffany Telegram. It was a busy week in Congress this week, and we have much more to tell you.

Sincerely,





Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress

Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks on the House passage of the Trust the Science Act.

“Just Say No” to Palestinian “refugees”

Telegram readers know I’ve been warning about the Biden administration’s plans to use the conflict in Israel as an excuse to flood the United States with Palestinians – three in four of whom support Hamas, according to a recent poll.  It’s been something I’ve been sounding the alarm on since last year – and why I tried unsuccessfully to amend a recently passed foreign aid package to block it. Well, this week the Biden administration showed their cards, with news reports all but confirming that this is exactly what they want to do. The good news is that Congress has what’s known as the “power of the purse,” meaning we get the final say on what the Biden administration is – and isn’t – allowed to spend your money on. That’s why this week I joined forces with two of my colleagues, Reps. Andy Ogles (TN-05) and Scott Perry (PA-10), to put a “stop payment” notice on President Biden’s dangerous “blank check.” Here’s the bottom line: It’s time to stop letting Joe Biden treat American neighborhoods as a dumping ground for foreign problems. If Palestinians need to be “resettled,” they should be sent to other countries in the region, not here. You can read more about our efforts here and here.

Keeping chocolate milk on the menu

You may recall that the Biden administration was planning to ban Chocolate milk in schools. That’s why I introduced the Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids Act or “MILK Act” for short, to prevent the Biden administration from doing so. You may remember that I also attached an amendment to House-passed legislation ensuring that chocolate milk stayed in school lunches. Thanks to these efforts, and the numerous comments on the proposed rule, the Biden administration finally relented and dropped their plans to ban it last week. That’s good news, because studies have shown that removing flavored milk from schools would result in a 62-63 percent reduction in milk consumption by kids in kindergarten through 5th grade. While I am thankful that the USDA reversed its decision to get rid of chocolate milk in schools, we have to remain vigilant when it comes to bureaucratic efforts to limit our children’s access to delicious and nutritious products, like whole milk. That’s why I also voted for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to restore the option of whole milk in school nutrition programs.

Bad sports?

As Americans from coast to coast prepare to cheer on Team USA in the upcoming Summer Olympics, we’re all looking forward to a big haul of gold medals for America and some friendly competition between some of the world’s finest athletes. Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) seems intent on being a “bad sport” thanks to Communist China’s bullying. As some of you probably know, Taiwan’s competitors aren’t allowed to participate in the Games on the same footing as their counterparts. They are forced to use the name “Chinese Taipei” instead of Taiwan, and when they win medals, they aren’t allowed to use their own flag or national anthem. These “inside baseball” restrictions are even imposed on Taiwan’s fans who come to cheer them on. That’s not right, and it’s why I teamed up with Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) – who also serves as Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China – to call out this poor sportsmanship. This week, we sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach telling him to take his thumb off the scale and treat Taiwan’s athletes the same way as those from other countries. You can check out our letter here, and read more about our push for fair play in Paris here and here.

The Beauty of Wisconsin 

Congratulations to Aila Laakso of Superior High School on winning my 2024 Congressional Art Competition. This year’s theme was: A day in the life of Wisconsin, and Aila’s drawing titled The Beauty of Wisconsin did a great job encapsulating that. Her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building throughout the year, and thanks to Southwest Airlines, she will have the opportunity to fly out to Washington, D.C. to see her work on exhibit. Congratulations to the young artists who placed in the top three, the honorable mentions, and a huge thank you to all thirty-two students who submitted pieces this year. You can view the rest of the winners here.

Congratulations to Aila Laakso on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition.

Committee Update

Judiciary

Overreach and overcriminalization

This week in the House Judiciary Committee, we held a hearing on overcriminalization – which might sound odd given the issues we have had lately with rogue prosecutors choosing not to prosecute crimes as it is – however, they go hand-in-hand. Over the years, when state and local officials failed to enforce the law, Congress has often been asked (and answered) the call to create federal laws to ensure that crimes are being prosecuted. The executive branch, which includes agencies and departments under the President, is responsible for enforcing those laws and can create regulations that also carry criminal penalties. The result? Executive branch overreach and the expansion of government interference into everyday life, entangling more and more people in the thicket of federal red tape. For example, the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) primary function is to administer and enforce tax laws, but in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift with the agency taking on duties usually associated with law enforcement. They’ve gone from oversight, audits, and collection to investigations, arrests, and prosecutions. Telegram readers may remember a couple years ago when it came to light that IRS agents now carry guns after a report showing they spent $10 million on weaponry and a viral job posting that said agents must be willing to use deadly force. This hearing demonstrated the importance of checks and balances to prevent the overreach that leads to overcriminalization – it is long past time for Congress to stop delegating its law-making authority to unelected regulators. 

Natural Resources

Secretary Haaland turns blind eye to border disaster

On Wednesday, the Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI), Deb Haaland, testified before the Natural Resources Committee for our annual budget hearing. Unfortunately, under this administration, the DOI has been marred by mismanagement of our federal lands, from locking up land, stopping domestic energy and mineral production, and failing to address the impacts of illegal immigration on our environment. Instead she seems much more focused on so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”. I asked the Secretary if she thought trash along our southern border was an issue, and she simply responded by saying she had not been to the border despite 40% of our southern border being under her judication. The Department’s budget even has zero dollars directed towards dealing with the accumulation of trash on our federal borderlands. I also pressed her on the lack of tribal consultation that has taken place on Alaska’s North Slope in connection with this administration’s extreme energy policies. You may remember, back in November when I asked Alaska Natives which administration was better to work with in terms of consultation, the answer was a resounding 100% endorsement of the Trump administration. The DOI continues to move in the wrong direction. I was glad I had a few minutes to bring these important issues to light with the Secretary, but our work to hold this Department accountable is far from over, and we will continue to do everything we can to stand firm. You can watch my questioning here.

Recent Legislation

Securing financial privacy and independence

My office has received several inquiries from Wisconsinites concerned about Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). CBDC is a term used to describe currency from the Federal Reserve that would be directly tied to the U.S. dollar. CBDC poses a real threat to the privacy and financial freedom of Americans nationwide because every purchase you make would be at risk of government surveillance. That’s why I cosponsored legislation authored by Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06), the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, which prohibits the creation of a central bank digital currency and keeps your financial privacy and freedom intact. After all, Americans shouldn’t have to worry that the government is keeping an eye on their shopping habits.

District Update

Best burger in Wisconsin

This week, Pickles Bar and Grill in Hazlehurst won the first-ever Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest put on by the Wisconsin Beef Council. Being not too far from there, my wife and I decided to try out their award-winning, 100% beef, All-American Burger, and it did not disappoint. I have always said that the Seventh District is home to some of the best views, food, and people in the country, and our visit was just another confirmation of that. Congratulations to Pickles Bar and Grill and thank you to the Wisconsin Beef Council for all the work they do in promoting local beef production! 

Hats off to Pickles Bar and Grill in Hazlehurst for clinching the top spot in Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest!

Photo of the week

There is no shortage of lakes in the Seventh District, and many provide some of the best opportunities to take in spectacular sunrises and sunsets. As the weather starts to warm up, please share any pictures you take enjoying Wisconsin’s beautiful outdoors. Submit your photo to [email protected] with your name and location.   

“Pure Gold” – Submitted by Larry on Lake Namekagon.

Resources  

Vacation is meant to be relaxing, so don’t let renewing or applying for your passport stress you out. The current processing time is 10 to 13 weeks, so we recommend getting this done as soon as possible. For more information, click here.

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. 

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