Dear Friend,
As we begin 2025, I wanted to share a meaningful prayer that opened a recent session of the House of Representatives. Its message was a powerful reminder to seek God’s guidance and protection in every step we take – a fitting way to start the year. You can listen to the full prayer here.
Since our last Telegram, Congress has hit the ground running. We kicked off last week by electing Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. It will be his job to ensure we deliver on the America First agenda.
On Monday, Congress officially certified the election of President Donald Trump, paving the way for his inauguration on January 20th.
While this election wasn’t perfect – as we saw with issues like duplicate ballots and failing to count votes in Madison – there were improvements that strengthened public confidence compared to 2020. However, there’s more to do. That’s why one of the first bills I co-led this Congress was the SAVE Act, which ensures noncitizens cannot vote in American elections. You can read more about it here.
This week, I also helped lead legislation to impose term limits, ensure your Second Amendment rights do not disappear when you cross state lines, and to repeal the so-called Inflation Reduction Act – which did nothing to reduce inflation.
Looking ahead, securing our border, achieving energy independence, and cutting wasteful spending are top priorities. Many of these actions will happen through a process called reconciliation, and details are still being worked out. I recently discussed this in an interview with Breitbart. You can listen to it here.
When it comes to spending cuts, this is an issue I believe that we cannot falter on. Congress does not have a revenue problem – we have a spending problem. A few of the places I would like to see spending cuts is by repealing funding for 87,000 new IRS agents, rooting out the fraud and abuse in government programs, and stopping endless foreign aid to Ukraine.
We’re just getting started, but I remain committed to fighting for northern and western Wisconsin values every single day.
Thank you for kicking your weekend off with the Tiffany Telegram. There’s much more below to fill you in on, and we will be back next week with another update!
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
It's an honor to serve the people of Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, and I look forward to fighting for you every day.
Taking action to protect Americans
Telegram readers will remember the horrific murder of University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley – a tragedy that should have never happened. Laken Riley was innocently going for a jog on campus when she was brutally attacked and killed by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan gang member, who crossed the border illegally in 2022. Due to the Biden administration’s failure to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, states from all across the map have felt the effects of having an open border. In Laken’s case, the system failed her at every level. First, the Biden administration allowed him into our country, and then, sanctuary jurisdictions like New York City and Athens, Georgia, refused to report Ibarra’s crimes – including child endangerment and shoplifting – to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for detainment. To prevent future tragedies like this from happening, the House’s first legislation in the 119th Congress was the bipartisan passage of the Laken Riley Act. This critical legislation will require the detainment and deportation of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting crimes and allows states to sue the federal government for illegal immigration effects. While I’m pleased that some Democrats joined Republicans in passing this bipartisan bill, I’m disappointed that 159 Democrats voted against it. The Senate is expected to pass this legislation next week, so it is ready for President Trump to sign on day one. However, Senator Tammy Baldwin has already said she will vote against it – a shocking betrayal to Wisconsinites who demand safety in our communities. You can read more about this bill here and see the House vote here.
Getting men out of women’s spaces
In a big win for our country and females everywhere, yesterday, a federal judge struck down Joe Biden’s radical Title IX rewrite nationwide. As many of you know, I’ve been fighting against this dangerous agenda since 2021. When Title IX was passed in 1972, it was a historic promise to women, ensuring equal opportunities in education and athletics. Unfortunately, President Biden attempted to erase the scientific definition of sex and force schools to comply with woke gender ideology – opening girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms to biological men. Thankfully, this dangerous rewrite has been overturned. Schools are no longer required to follow these misguided federal rules; however, the fight is far from over. That’s why I will be supporting legislation again this Congress to ensure that only biological females compete in women’s sports. You can read more about this court ruling here.
Victory for health and farmers
Good news recently came from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with the agency ruling that cranberries can be labeled as “healthy.” This is fantastic for Wisconsin’s cranberry farmers, who produce more cranberries than any other state. The rule as originally proposed would have prevented them from being labeled as “healthy,” which is something I pushed back on here in Congress. In December of 2022, I sent a letter to the Commissioner of the FDA, alongside Senator Johnson and Senator Baldwin, asking that the agency make an exception for cranberries. This fruit has many health benefits, and the labeling of its products should reflect that. I am grateful that the FDA adhered to common sense on this ruling, as it is a win for farmers and consumers alike.
Committee Update
Natural Resources
Great news for the great outdoors
The EXPLORE Act, is a piece of legislation that we’ve discussed in past Telegrams, and on Monday, President Biden signed this bill into law. I am a cosponsor of this bipartisan recreation package that will improve access to our public lands and national parks, as well as increase recreation opportunities for all Americans. It also reduces red tape and cuts bureaucracy for guides and outfitters seeking recreation permits to use our federal lands – making trails more accessible and improving visitor experiences. Now that this bill has become law, there will be more ways for everyone to recreate outdoors. This is a major win for the American people, who are the rightful owners of our public lands and national parks. Everyone has a right to enjoy these lands, and now it will be easier to do so.
Recent Legislation
Drain the Swamp – implement term limits
For far too long, those who were elected to be a representative of the people have been abusing their power by turning themselves into lifelong politicians. Implementing term limits will help keep the marketplace of ideas flowing by ensuring that new minds and ideas are regularly brought to Washington. That is why I co-led legislation that would amend the Constitution to limit members of the House of Representatives to serving three terms and members of the Senate to serving two terms. Having Members of Congress serve for over half a century was never what our Founding Fathers intended, and I hope that Speaker Johnson will take up this legislation. You can read more about this push here.
District Update
Photo of the week
Winter is in full swing, and we would like to showcase any pictures you take of the ice, snow, or wildlife. Just remember that a good rule of thumb is that ice is never completely safe. You can read more ice safety tips here. If you have a photo you'd like to share, please submit it to [email protected] with your name and location.
“Un-brrr-lievably Beautiful” – Submitted by Hal at Little Sand Bay Marina
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 4 to 6 weeks, so we recommend getting this done as soon as possible. For more information, click here.
Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Wisconsin due to economic losses during the wet spring that occurred in April. Click here to see if you are eligible to apply.
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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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