Dear friend,I hope you are doing well! I have been busy working for Milwaukee and wanted to share some legislative updates, free resources, and programs that could benefit you. Legislative UpdatesLast week, I supported the House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects marriage equality for same-sex couples and interracial couples. This bill would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act definition of marriage, which states that legal marriage only occurs between a man and a woman. Furthermore, this bill prohibits any person from invalidating an out-of-state marriage based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. The bill will also allow the U.S. Attorney General to intervene in case of a provision violation.I voted in favor of the House’s omnibus package, which includes vital investments in Milwaukee. This bill includes the funding that I requested and fought for, such as $3.6 billion for McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Grant programs, $6 billion for WIC, $10 million for school breakfast expansion grants, and a $15 million increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to remove lead paint from homes. This omnibus package also includes funding for all 10 of my community projects (formerly called earmarks), which would support efforts to build a new North Shore library, a community wellness center as part of the city of Milwaukee’s Westlawn Garden Choice Neighborhood Initiative, new public transit buses, and more. I supported the Right to Contraception Act to protect women’s access to contraception because a woman should make her own health care decisions. Reminders and COVID-19 UpdatesIf you are 50 years old or older or 12 years and up and immunocompromised, the CDC recommends getting a second booster at least 4 months after your first one. To learn where you can get your booster, click here.Read about the different COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for moderately or severely immunocompromised people here. Free Resources in the Milwaukee AreaThe Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Access Clinic, located at 9455 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI, offers mental health assessments, medications, therapy referrals, and emergency psychiatric services for uninsured people. The clinic is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-2 pm. Those needing immediate emergency counseling and/or referral information should call Psychiatric Crisis Line at 414-257-7222The Milwaukee Health Department’s Community Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) assists community members in getting free or low-cost health insurance.CHAP can also assist in enrollment or provide referrals for enrollment in FoodShare, WIC, energy assistance, tax preparation, dental services, and free and sliding-fee clinics. If you have questions, call 414-286-8620.Milwaukee Emergency Health ResourcesYou can now call 988 to connect to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. The 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to work.The Milwaukee Health Department lists a full contact sheet for emergency services helping with: Shelters, Meal Programs, Homeless Health Care, and various crisis hotlines. To view the full list, click here.My Office is Here to HelpAs always, I am here to help. If you need help with a federal matter, please don’t hesitate to call my district office at 414-297-1140. Take care and stay cool!Your friend,Gwen
|
Dear friend,
I hope you are doing well! I have been busy working for Milwaukee and wanted to share some legislative updates, free resources, and programs that could benefit you.
Legislative Updates - Last week, I supported the House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects marriage equality for same-sex couples and interracial couples. This bill would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act definition of marriage, which states that legal marriage only occurs between a man and a woman. Furthermore, this bill prohibits any person from invalidating an out-of-state marriage based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. The bill will also allow the U.S. Attorney General to intervene in case of a provision violation.
- I voted in favor of the House’s omnibus package, which includes vital investments in Milwaukee. This bill includes the funding that I requested and fought for, such as $3.6 billion for McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Grant programs, $6 billion for WIC, $10 million for school breakfast expansion grants, and a $15 million increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to remove lead paint from homes. This omnibus package also includes funding for all 10 of my community projects (formerly called earmarks), which would support efforts to build a new North Shore library, a community wellness center as part of the city of Milwaukee’s Westlawn Garden Choice Neighborhood Initiative, new public transit buses, and more.
- I supported the Right to Contraception Act to protect women’s access to contraception because a woman should make her own health care decisions.
Reminders and COVID-19 Updates
Free Resources in the Milwaukee Area - The Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Access Clinic, located at 9455 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI, offers mental health assessments, medications, therapy referrals, and emergency psychiatric services for uninsured people. The clinic is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-2 pm. Those needing immediate emergency counseling and/or referral information should call Psychiatric Crisis Line at 414-257-7222
- The Milwaukee Health Department’s Community Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) assists community members in getting free or low-cost health insurance.
- CHAP can also assist in enrollment or provide referrals for enrollment in FoodShare, WIC, energy assistance, tax preparation, dental services, and free and sliding-fee clinics. If you have questions, call 414-286-8620.
Milwaukee Emergency Health Resources - You can now call 988 to connect to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. The 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to work.
- The Milwaukee Health Department lists a full contact sheet for emergency services helping with: Shelters, Meal Programs, Homeless Health Care, and various crisis hotlines. To view the full list, click here.
My Office is Here to Help As always, I am here to help. If you need help with a federal matter, please don’t hesitate to call my district office at 414-297-1140. Take care and stay cool!
Your friend,
Gwen |
|
