Listening Session Review

Dear John,

Today, I held four listening sessions across south central and southeast Wisconsin to discuss the issues that matter most in our community. It was great to hear directly from you and learn about the issues impacting you and your family.

If you couldn’t make it, I'll be hosting a telephone town hall on Monday at 3:15pm CT to answer your questions. Sign up to receive a call here.

Rising Prices are Hurting Wisconsin Families

In Janesville, we discussed how rising prices from the grocery store to energy bills, continue to strain family budgets. When we discussed the need to tackle rising costs, I shared my top two priorities: we need to unleash American energy and stop the reckless spending in Washington.

Our national debt now exceeds $36 trillion. Reckless spending is driving up inflation and putting real pressure on family budgets. Over the past four years, costs in Wisconsin have increased by 20.4%. This isn't sustainable.

I'll continue working to bring down costs and stop the reckless spending in Washington.

Securing Energy Independence

Energy costs continue to impact Wisconsin families, especially in these winter months. The average Wisconsinite is paying $76 more per month on energy since 2021. That's nearly $4,700 more in total over the past four years.

In Beloit, I discussed how securing American energy independence will lower costs for all Wisconsin families. In Congress, I'm working towards an all of the above energy policy which would reduce costs for Wisconsin families.

Helping Our Seniors

In Racine County, seniors raised concerns about the future of critical programs like Social Security and Medicare. I want to tell you the same thing I told them: I support Social Security and Medicare.

Our government made a promise to seniors and those who are at or nearing retirement that these programs would be there to protect them. Reckless spending and dysfunction in Washington have put these programs at risk.

While in office, I’ve worked to protect seniors by introducing legislation capping the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and increasing penalties on scammers.

Securing the Border

I’ve visited the southern border several times during our border crisis and I have seen how dire the situation has become. Ask Law Enforcement throughout the first district; the fact is that every community is now a border community. It’s a topic that's on everyone’s mind, including a resident in Kenosha.

Whether that is the CBP agents on our border or the law enforcement officials back home, we must stand with our men and women in uniform and give them the resources they need to do their jobs and restore safety to our communities.

In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) seized 21,900 lbs of illicit fentanyl at our southern border. The fentanyl that does make it across the border finds its way across the nation, including to Wisconsin. Many of us know a friend, family member, or neighbor who has been affected by substance abuse. All too often, fentanyl is the leading culprit.

I'll continue working secure our border and give border agents and law enforcement the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

I want to thank everyone who attended my listening sessions this week. I always appreciate the opportunity to hear from you about important topics affecting our community. We cannot afford to ignore the issues impacting every American family. 

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance with a federal agency, do not hesitate to contact my office. In case you missed filling out my quick survey last week, please do so below.

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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