Celebrating Our Independence

We celebrate our Independence on the 4th because the Declaration of Independence, the document that declared our independence from Great Britain, was adopted on the 4th of July, 1776. Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of our nation, 250 years after the adoption of the Declaration.

John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence - hanging in the US Capitol Rotunda

It was a summer of work to declare independence. Earlier in the summer, on June 10, 1776, the Continental Congress chose a committee of five to draft a statement of independence. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Over the next several weeks, Jefferson wrote several drafts, while John Adams and Benjamin Franklin reviewed them and suggested changes.

The Continental Congress continued to revise and debate the Declaration on July 2, 3, and 4. On July 4, 1776, it formally adopted the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence was then printed on July 5 and attached to the Journal of the Continental Congress. 

On July 19, Congress ordered a formal copy of the Declaration to be prepared with a new title and circulated for signatures.

Finally, on August 2, 1776, John Hancock signed the Declaration. Fifty-five other delegates followed.

As we celebrate 250 years of freedom and liberty, I hope you and your family have the opportunity to gather for fireworks, barbecues, and parades, to celebrate our nation and the opportunities it provides.

Sunday, I joined Kenosha to celebrate the 4th of July and our nation. Thousands of families were in attendance to celebrate America and honor our heroes - this includes a record number of entries into the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade. For photos and more details from the celebration, click here.

I spoke with Spectrum One about our opportunity to reflect on the blessings we have living in the greatest country in the world.

I hope to see you and your family this weekend as we celebrate America!

Nominate a Health Care Hero

Health care professionals serve on the front lines.

Each year, I recognize our health care professionals with our Health Care Worker of the Year Award. This award recognizes one health care professional who goes above and beyond. Nominees are evaluated by health care professionals across Southeast Wisconsin based on the following criteria:

• Service: Displays exemplary service and performance in their profession
• Dedication: Goes above and beyond the call of duty in performing their responsibilities
• Selflessness: Displays self-sacrifice and selflessness in caring for others

The nominee must reside in Wisconsin's First Congressional District (nominee may work at a facility outside the First District) and be a licensed health care professional.

This year's deadline is Friday, July 10, 2026. If you would like to nominate someone, please visit my website here.

In Congress, I'm working to support our health care professionals and lower costs for Wisconsin families.

This includes H.R. 1, which provides record federal Medicaid funding to Wisconsin of an estimated $9.7 billion - an increase of $1 billion. I'm also working to pass legislation like the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act to lower premiums, force companies to cover what healthcare providers prescribe, and make sure savings and discounts on medicine are passed on to patients at the pharmacy counter.

Thank you to the health care workers across our state for keeping our community healthy.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency.

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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