Earlier this month I introduced the Biodiversity Oversight Scaled-back And Fully Erased (BIOSAFE) Act, co-led by Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-08).

The Biden Administration is currently proposing a new policy through the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that will make changes in the wildlife conservation decision-making process, stripping the authority of local biologists and placing final policy decisions for local hunters and anglers in the hands of bureaucrats at the Washington, D.C.-based National Wildlife Refuge System.

My bill will prevent the Biden Administration from forcing state and local wildlife conservationists to forego final authority on conservation decisions resulting in the prioritization of Washington’s one-size-fits-all initiatives rather than decades of local conservation efforts.

I am proud to introduce this bill because it is important to protect our local hunters and conservationists from the Biden Administration’s Washington-first agenda. I firmly believe in protecting our most precious natural resources for future generations to enjoy and am proud to represent a beautiful district with a variety of lakes, rivers, and other natural attractions.

The quality of our state’s natural environment is thanks to the efforts of Wisconsinites who care about our state. It would be wholly inappropriate for Washington bureaucrats to come in and override decisions made by Wisconsin citizens, hunters, fishermen, and local Refuge managers, but that is exactly what would happen if the Administration’s proposed policy goes into effect.

My bill is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, and Safari Club International. 

To read my press release on the BIOSAFE Act, click here. 

One of the most important things I do as your Representative is assist with federal problems. I can often intervene on behalf of Sixth District residents to answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through government red tape.

I'm thrilled to share that my office successfully helped Mr. Khue Vang reunite with his wife and their American citizen children.

In 2022, Vietnamese authorities confiscated Ly Y Xo's (Mr. Vang's wife) legal identity documents and threatened imprisonment due to the family's Christian faith. Despite these obstacles, we managed to expedite Mr. Vang's immigrant visa petition for his wife with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and later coordinated with the U.S. Embassy and Department of State for the rapid issuance of an immigrant visa.

Mr. Vang's situation was particularly urgent as his family had been forced to flee their village due to persecution for their faith. When Mr. Vang came to me, our first step was to expedite his wife's immigrant visa petition with USCIS by highlighting the severe risks they faced in Vietnam. Once USCIS approved the expedited petition, my office and I worked closely with the U.S. embassy to secure an immigrant visa for his wife. This proved to be difficult because of the lack of her original birth certificate, which had been confiscated by Vietnamese authorities.

The embassy's understanding and cooperation were crucial, and they approved a visa for Mr. Vang's wife, enabling her to immigrate safely to the United States. While their children, already American citizens, faced delays in obtaining exit visas from Vietnam, they have also now joined their father in the U.S. after some initial separation.

On Monday, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Vang and his family, who expressed immense gratitude for our assistance. It was a heartwarming moment to see the family finally reunited, safe, and together once again. I will always fight to protect religious freedom, advocate for people to freely practice their faith, and shine a light on religious persecution. 

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Fond Du Lac Noon Rotary about my work in D.C. and connecting with fellow Wisconsinites

On Monday, I toured RB Royal Industries in Fond Du Lac which was started in 1942! RB Royal has been providing fluid transfer systems and new capabilities for its customers ever since.

I had a productive meeting with AARP workers to discuss supporting family caregiving, protecting Social Security, and lowering prescription drug costs. It was a great discussion!

My office assisted Suzanne Stuckart in renewing her permanent resident green card, and this year, I am excited to announce she became a U.S. citizen! Although I couldn't attend her naturalization ceremony, I had the pleasure of meeting her at my office to present her with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. Last year, the United States welcomed 878,500 new citizens.