2021 was a memorable year for Americans from all walks of life. Most importantly, this past year served as a reminder of the strength of the American people to persevere through trying times. As we march into 2022, I look forward to continuing to make your voice heard in Washington.
Here is a look back at some highlights from 2021. |
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I, along with Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), and Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), sent a letter to President Biden expressing our support for the completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline after the President signed an Executive Order halting its construction on his first day in office. Not only would this pipeline have provided thousands of good-paying jobs, hundreds right here in Wisconsin, but it would have been a welcomed reinforcement as gas prices remain elevated.
On January 22, I met with Wisconsin workers that were directly harmed by the President’s decision to halt construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. |
At the end of January, I visited the Tucson Sector of our Southern border in Arizona, marking my first trip to the border in 2021. Every border patrol agent, ICE agent and local law enforcement officer I spoke with made it clear — the border wall system helps them do their job because it both reduces the number of agents needed to patrol the border and increases the amount of time they have to respond to people trying to cross illegally. I reported on my findings from this trip in this video from a section of the wall that will, for now, remain incomplete. |
I again highlighted medical studies out of Northwestern University and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland asserting that Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in increasing the severity of symptoms and overall mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. While Vitamin D is not a cure for COVID-19, the research illustrates a clear correlation between Vitamin D deficiencies and COVID-19 mortality rates. As a result, sufficient Vitamin D levels are likely to help fight COVID-19 through a strengthened immune system.
On February 11, I introduced a House Resolution to recognize the significant role Vitamin D may play in the fight against COVID-19. There is evidence it may reduce hospitalizations and deaths, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have not adequately supported research or given guidance.
On the House floor, I spoke about why Vitamin D warrants more attention and further research. |
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During the Cold War, Air America was portrayed as a private company carrying out flight operations in Southeast Asia. Now-declassified documents, however, show that this airline was a clandestine operation under control of the U.S. Government – meaning these brave Americans were federal employees at the time they worked for Air America. Unfortunately, Air Americans have not received federal retirement benefits or sufficient recognition from the government for their role in U.S. operations.
On February 24, I introduced the bipartisan Air America Act, which now has 184 cosponsors. My bill would grant individuals who worked for Air America the federal retirement benefits and recognition they rightfully earned.
Neil Hansen is a resident of Wisconsin’s 6th District, and he brought this issue to my attention. He is now 83 years old and still seeking recognition for himself, other surviving Air Americans, and their deceased colleagues for their service to our country. Though they were not members of the military, Air Americans were federal employees who risked their lives to support our soldiers in Southeast Asia and fight communism. They deserve proper recognition for their service to our country. |
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Read more about Neil's story by clicking the image above |
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As a lifelong Wisconsinite, I'm proud of our state’s beautiful natural environment. One of our crown jewels is the Ice Age Trail, which makes its way through 31 counties. Not only is it a wonder of nature, but it is also a huge economic driver, with bikers, runners, and tourists of the trail contributing approximately $355 million every year to local economies.
In an effort to protect the Ice Age Trail for future generations to enjoy, I worked with fellow Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) in February to introduce a bipartisan amendment to give this trail the recognition and maintenance it deserves by making it a part of the National Park System. Our amendment passed the House on February 26, 2021. Click below to watch us speak about the Ice Age Trail and our amendment. |
Lieutenant Colonel James “Maggie” Megellas, a native of Fond du Lac, put himself in danger to save the lives of his fellow soldiers during World War II by single-handedly stopping an enemy tank. His heroic actions during the Battle of the Bulge remind us of the American values that define us as one nation united.
On February 25, I teamed up with Senator Ron Johnson to introduce legislation to award Maggie the Medal of Honor for his acts of valor during the Battle of the Bulge. Maggie risked his life to protect his brothers in arms in the face of one of WWII’s bloodiest battles. He is an American hero clearly deserving of the Medal of Honor.
Every member of the Wisconsin House delegation, and the Texas Representative for where he lived his final years, supported Maggie by cosponsoring my bill. |
On February 22, I visited Attwill Medical Solutions in Lodi to learn about how they use their pharmaceutical technology to make crucial components of COVID-19 testing kits. |
On March 22, I spoke with Lakeshore Technical College about how I am working with my House Education and Labor Committee colleagues to help students realize that career and technical education is a great option and will often lead to a high-paying job and less student loan debt than a traditional four-year degree. |
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On March 25, I held another telephone town hall meeting, this time with residents of Green Lake and Fond du Lac counties. I will always welcome feedback, criticism, and thorough dialogue from the residents of the 6th District. |
In early April, I joined my Republican colleagues with the House Oversight Committee on my second trip to the Southern border of the year. On his first day in office, President Biden issued numerous executive actions rescinding several successful immigration policies. Months later, we had a record number of unaccompanied minors showing up at our border. Weak border policies empower the Mexican drug cartels, who also deal in human trafficking, which has led to the humanitarian crisis at the border.
On all my trips to the border, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with Border Patrol agents about how the surge of migrants we have seen in 2021 is overwhelming them, and steps we can take to support them from Washington. |
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On April 15, I joined the students and parents of Ozaukee Christian School in Washington on a visit to the Lincoln Memorial! |
On April 26, I had lunch with Fond du Lac Police Chief William Lamb to celebrate his retirement after 33 years in law enforcement. Thank you, Chief, for your years of service protecting our community! |
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On May 14, it was a true honor to be one of the few members of the House to be named as a Notable Leader by 21 Wilber Force, a nonpartisan Christian human rights organization that promotes international religious freedom. I will always defend the right to freely practice religion in the U.S. and abroad. |
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On May 24, I visited Trinity Lutheran School of Freistadt in Mequon and spoke with many bright, young students who will become our leaders of tomorrow. |
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On June 22, it was a pleasure to meet with Taiwan Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao in the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington. I'm thankful to Ambassador Bi-khim for hosting me to discuss Taiwan’s success and how we can strengthen our countries’ relationship. |
In 2014, 18-year-old Mishicot native Dillon Mueller fell into a coma after a bee sting and lost his life. I worked directly with Dillon’s parents, Angel and George, to introduce Dillon’s Law, which will give states the opportunity to expand EpiPen training so more people can be trained to prevent the same tragedy suffered by the Muellers. |
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Over the past few years, we have seen a dramatic increase in cybercrime. The fact is, any person or business can be the target of these online criminals. That is why, in June, I shared information on my website about how to recognize the warning signs and what to do if you think you are the target of a cyber-attack. Click here to learn more about steps to take to prevent and respond to attempted security breaches. |
This June, the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh celebrated 50 years of improving the physical and mental well-being of Wisconsin’s youth. It was an honor to deliver them this 50th Anniversary commendation. |
July was an exciting time for the 6th District, specifically during the Summer Olympics. Neenah native, Madeleine Wanamaker, proudly represented the 6th District and the Badgers on the United States rowing team at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo! My family and I were cheering on Madeleine as she made all Wisconsinites proud.
Cuba Libre! In July, the people of Cuba held one of the largest anti-Communist protest against their government in decades. The Cuban people have been demanding freedom for nearly 60 years and deserve to be liberated from oppression. From the House floor, I made clear that I stand with the people of Cuba, and urged President Biden to as well. |
On July 29, I testified against predatory lending in front of the Senate Banking Committee. I have fought against predatory lending for years, dating back to my days in the Wisconsin state legislature. We already have federal laws prohibiting predatory lenders from taking advantage of members of the military, which begs the question—If we have recognized that it is wrong to take advantage of servicemembers, why is it right to allow predatory lenders to take advantage of anyone? |
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At the end of July, I returned home from my fourth trip to the Southern border of the year, this time to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector. At the time of my trip, Border Patrol agents saw a dramatic increase in illegal border crossings for the first six months of 2021, a trend that would continue throughout the year. Under the Biden Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents saw an increase in illegal border crossings for the first six months of his term in office. Because of this influx of illegal immigrants, I was told that it's common for almost half our Border Patrol agents to be stuck inside processing illegal migrants and providing medical assistance instead of patrolling the border. They say this has contributed to a decline in morale among agents. |
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On July 24, I attended the Sheboygan County Towns Association meeting to discuss ways we can work together to continue to make Sheboygan County a great place to live. |
During a typical month, the House is in session three weeks and in recess one week. Some representatives stay in Washington when we are in session for weeks at a time, but I always come back to Wisconsin on the weekend and return to Washington the next week. Every August, Congress is out-of-session for the whole month, so each member has the chance to go back to their district to stay in touch with the people who elected them and hear which issues are most important to each local community. This August, I held five town hall meetings during my time back home. Thank you to everyone who attended! |
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Before my town hall meeting in Omro, I thanked the Omro Police and Firefighters for their service at their National Night Out in Scott Park. |
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In the aftermath of our chaotic and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan, Americans are left with many questions about the procedure behind this withdrawal. Finding answers to basic questions about the intelligence given to the President in the months leading up to this catastrophe is of utmost importance to ensure a disaster of this magnitude never occurs again. Without accountability, this abandonment of the Afghan Armed Forces will remain a stain on the United States.
On August 19, I joined my Republican colleagues on the House Oversight Committee on a letter to Chairwoman Maloney demanding a hearing on Afghanistan to conduct oversight of the Biden Administration’s catastrophic withdrawal. |
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On August 31, I visited Fort McCoy with Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), and Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) to receive a briefing on the processing of the Afghan evacuees arriving in Wisconsin. It is our American duty to protect the interpreters that risked their lives to aid our mission in Afghanistan, but it's important that the Afghan refugees we welcomed into Wisconsin are properly vetted. |
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On August 19, I spoke at the Kiwanis Club of Two Rivers. Thank you for all the support for our local youth, schools, and communities in the 6th District! |
In the first week of September, Nate Hinze, a native of Cedar Grove, won a Gold Medal in Basketball at the Paralympic Games 2020 in Tokyo! Nate is a perfect embodiment of the strong principles and work ethic of Wisconsin. Thank you for making our state and the 6th District proud! |
It was an honor to speak at the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Ceremony in Westfield. Thanks to everyone for attending to honor those lives lost and the sacrifices of the heroic first responders and servicemembers. America will never forget 9/11/2001. |
On September 15, I was thrilled to meet the residents of the Meadows of Fond du Lac and discuss how I can help them through my work in Congress. |
Joseph Demler demonstrated immense courage by joining the military after high school to defend our country and the western world against tyranny in World War II. He repeatedly showed bravery throughout his military career and embodies what it means to be a true American hero. It was a privilege to honor him at the Port Washington Post Office Renaming Ceremony on September 20. |
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Wisconsin is home to the third highest Hmong population of any state and it is an honor to represent them in Congress. As an avid supporter and friend of the Hmong community, I was proud to lead the entire Wisconsin delegation in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Hmong New Year on October 5. I am glad that both sides of the aisle came together to recognize Hmong Americans’ significant role in our communities and their pursuit of the American Dream. Click here to read more about the resolution.
Each year, I attend Hmong New Year celebrations in my district. These celebrations of thanksgiving are an honor to attend – the food, music, and dance make these festivals truly special events. The Hmong people will always be dear to my heart for the important role they played helping the United States fight communism in the Vietnam war. |
On October 10, I wished my Taiwanese friends across the world a healthy and peaceful Taiwan National Day. Taiwan is an important American ally in the Asia-Pacific region, and I am glad to use my role as a Congressman to further the dialogue and long friendship between the United States and Taiwan. |
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On October 11, I held town hall meetings in Randolph and Coloma. Thanks to all who came out! I enjoyed hearing your thoughts and answering your questions. |
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Throughout my time in Congress, I have been working to make insulin less costly to patients and give them more options. With this goal in mind, I introduced The Insulin Cost Reduction Act to help drive down insulin costs for Medicare Part D participants who depend on it. Americans with diabetes rely on insulin for their well-being, and thanks to the system currently in place, consumers are seeing higher prices. We owe it to Americans suffering from diabetes to promote a patient-centered health care system that will provide more options at lower costs, while maintaining excellent quality. Click here to read more about my bill. |
Wisconsin's world-class manufacturing industry is highlighted each year when Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Johnson Financial Group team up to find the "Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin". Products from companies all over the state compete head-to-head in a bracket challenge until one is declared the "Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin". Congratulations to Broadwind Heavy Fabrications of Manitowoc and their 140 Ton Navy Crane for winning the 2021 contest! This is the 3rd time in the contest’s 6-year history that a product from the 6th District has won. You can click here to see past winners. |
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140 Ton Crane by Broadwind Heavy Fabrications in Manitowoc |
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In October of 2020, 32 countries signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration to express their commitment to protecting the right to life. On October 28, 2021, I spoke at the Geneva Consensus Declaration Commemoration about the importance of this historic agreement and urging President Biden to re-join after he withdrew the United States. |
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On October 7, I spoke at the the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club. |
Early research has shown that Fenofibrate, an FDA-approved medication, may lessen the ill-effects of COVID-19. Because of this, I have urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further pursue this promising lead and support research looking into Fenofibrate’s effects on COVID-positive patients.
Specifically, due to encouraging results from research out of Hebrew University in Israel and University of Pennsylvania, I sent a letter with six of my colleagues on November 23 calling for the NIH to support these two promising clinical studies and help complete this potentially life-saving research. Time is of the essence, and without a sufficient numbers of patients and large enough sample sizes, this research may not be complete until well into 2022. Click below to watch me speak about Fenofibrate's potential from the House floor. |
In November, I held three more in-person town hall meetings in Campbellsport, Oostburg, and Black Wolf. Stay tuned to my weekly E-newsletter for information regarding town hall dates and locations for 2022. |
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Each year, Congress holds the Congressional Art Competition, which is open to all high school students in the country. The winner from each congressional district has their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year in an exhibit that features the other winners from across the country.
Congratulations to Emily Swanson of Kiel High School, this year’s winner from Wisconsin’s 6th District! Her artwork titled “Enigma” (top) is currently displayed in the Capitol for visitors, staff, and Members of Congress to see. |
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Emily's winning artwork, titled "Enigma," is at the top of the display |
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It doesn’t make sense to regulate some unconscionable financial products and not others, like payday loans with interest rates sometimes over 500 percent. My bipartisan bill, The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, is a great starting point to address the influx of foul play by payday lenders who seize on vulnerable borrowers. |
Each year, we celebrate National Bible Week during the week of Thanksgiving. Since I was in Wisconsin that week, I joined my friend Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) on the House floor to discuss the importance of the Bible and its role in American history. |
On November 16, I sat down with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for a productive meeting discussing the importance of supporting our ally Israel. |
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On December 5, I had the pleasure of joining the Jewish community of Mequon and Thiensville to celebrate the first night of the Festival of Lights at Chanukah in the Village in Thiensville. Chag Sameach! |
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Monroe Engineering is a family-owned tooling and battery manufacturer with locations throughout the Midwest. Thanks to the team in Manitowoc for the warm welcome during an informative tour of your facility! |
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As Ranking Member on the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, I am dedicated to ensuring that the interests of the American people are upheld on the world stage. This Subcommittee has jurisdiction over national security, homeland security, and foreign operations, including the relationships of the United States with other nations. That is why I opened our December 7 hearing by questioning why my Democratic colleagues on the House Oversight Committee refuse to hold a hearing on President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. This should not be a partisan issue. Conducting oversight of this catastrophic withdrawal is critical to ensure the Biden Administration is transparent and held to account because the American people deserve to know what happened. Click the Tweet below to watch my opening statement. |
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It is an honor to represent you in Washington, and I thank you for your support and feedback. I look forward to what 2022 has in store and will continue to fight for you in Washington. |
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As your Congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter, be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the 6th District, and let them know that they can subscribe by clicking here.
You can also stay up-to-the-minute by following me on Facebook (Congressman Glenn Grothman), Twitter (@RepGrothman) and Instagram (@RepGlennGrothman). |
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Sincerely,
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Glenn Grothman
Member of Congress
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