December 31, 2022

Constituent Services Update

Friend, 

I'm eager to start the new year and get to work on the issues most important to you. As costs remain high and crime continues to impact our communities, I'm focused on lowering costs and making our communities safe. I also remain focused on helping you. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty working with the federal government, contact my office. 

In the last year, my office heard from thousands of you. Thank you for your continued outreach to my office, I look forward to continuing to communicate with each of you. 

Spending and Inflation

You deserve a transparent government. Wasteful government spending harms us all. When Washington fails to live within its means, it leads to higher costs, taxes, and it threatens vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. I will never stop working to weed out government waste so that we can focus on the priorities of the American people. In the last year, this is how the federal government spent your tax dollars:

In the last two years, the federal government has passed $6.8 trillion in new spending and our National Debt has surpassed $90,000 per citizen. The result? Wisconsin’s inflation rate sits around 14.1%, costing families an additional $688 per month, plus higher energy costs coming this winter. This is unsustainable.

We need to get spending under control to address rising costs, unleash American energy, and help people get back to work. These are three simple policy solutions that Congress should be focused on. Congress must implement an all of the above approach, and increase American energy production. 

Fighting Fentanyl and Keeping us Safe

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for individuals aged 18-45. Fentanyl has devastated our community. In 2021, fentanyl killed:

• 508 people in Milwaukee County
• 68 people in Racine County
• 48 people in Kenosha County
• 47 people in Rock County

*Walworth County data not available at this time

This year, I hosted multiple roundtables across the district to raise awareness about fentanyl and how it is poisoning our communities. To stop it, we need to secure the border, fund law enforcement, get criminals off our streets, and make illicit fentanyl a Schedule I drug

Reopening the People's House and Holding Government Accountable

In part, the First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law…prohibiting…the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Since March 2020, that hasn’t been fully possible due to the people’s House being mostly closed to the public. It’s time to fully re-open. I'm working on reopening to People's House to best serve the public.

The Federal Government should be accessible, transparent, and accountable to the American people. It’s past time that we re-open the People’s House for families to speak with their Representatives, visit the U.S. Capitol building, and take part in our democracy in action,

Honoring Our Veterans and Their Families

Our state is home to over 340,000 veterans, including 42,000 in southeastern Wisconsin alone. Each week, our office hears from Veterans and their families experiencing difficulty working with the VA. We’re here to help.

After a veteran’s daughter from Burlington came to my office and told me the VA was demanding she return earned benefits, we sprang into action. The result was introducing the Survivor Benefits Fairness Act to ensure that no family ever has to return rightly deserved benefits to the VA after a family member’s passing,

Supporting Students and Giving Parents a Voice

Students are averaging seven percentage points lower in math scores and five percentage points lower in reading scores post-pandemic. That’s two decades of progress in math and reading…gone. It’s unacceptable.

We should make sure every student can succeed and give parents a voice. I’ve been proud to support both public schools and policies that expand choices for students in Wisconsin. I support creating a Parents a Bill of Rights to ensure parents have a voice in their children’s education. 

The Parents Bill of Rights includes: 

• Right to know what's being taught in schools
• Right to see school budget and spending
• Right to protect their child's privacy
• Right to be updated an any activity at school

Protecting Social Security and Medicare

Our nation’s inflation rate sits around 7%, making affording the things seniors need more difficult. As the cost of everything continues to rise, critical programs including Social Security and Medicare are put further at risk.

We must protect Social Security and Medicare. I’m committed to lowering costs for seniors, including prescription drug prices through legislation I cosponsored to make prices more transparent, and by stopping spending proposals in Washington that put these programs at risk. 

Happy New Year!

I hope you and your family were able to enjoy Christmas and can ring in the new year with friends and family. The last year has been challenging for families across Wisconsin. I remain grateful for the blessings we all enjoy, and hopeful for the new year. 

If you need assistance or have questions or concerns, always feel free to reach out. 

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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