Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Priorities before Congress Concludes

She is grateful to serve for another term. And since being re-elected, Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has been working on a list of key legislative priorities. Baldwin joined Jane Matenaer and Greg Bach, hosts of Matenaer on Air, to discuss the pressing issues facing Wisconsinites and the nation. But only after acknowledging Bach’s birthday! She then shared what she is focused on right now.    

“We need to keep the government funded through next year to avoid a shutdown on December 20th,” Baldwin says. “And we must plan to incorporate disaster relief for recent natural emergencies, including the Maui fires, Vermont floods, and hurricanes in the southeastern U.S., into a broader funding bill.”

Baldwin goes on to note another priority in the final days of the 118th Congress is the confirmation of President Biden’s judicial nominees. 

“These are lifetime appointments,” Baldwin explains. “It is important to fill federal bench positions with thoughtful, fair candidates.”

She also tells Matenaer and Bach about her bipartisan work on the Access Rural America Act. It’s a broadband expansion bill co-sponsored with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa. The legislation recently passed the Senate unanimously and aims to reduce regulatory burdens on small, local cooperatives that provide essential internet services to rural areas.

“Having high-speed broadband is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” Baldwin says. “These co-ops serve as lifelines for their communities, and we need to ensure they can continue deploying reliable internet without being burdened by regulations designed for massive telecom corporations.”

The conversation shifts to child welfare, where Baldwin expresses concern about funding for initiatives like the Marshfield Child Advocacy Center. There is an ongoing crisis in childcare, worsened by the pandemic’s impact on businesses serving children.

“Parents face limited, often unaffordable options,” Baldwin explains. “We need a strong federal and state commitment to ensure access to childcare and services for children who have experienced trauma.” 

She is calling for bipartisan action to address these issues, and urging state legislators to recognize the importance of these various programs for Wisconsin families.

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WATCH the entire show here. Baldwin joins at 1:18:20:

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