Wisconsin

November 17, 2009 -- TEL AVIV, Israel – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed a bilateral collaborative trade agreement between Israel and Wisconsin on research and development. The agreement, signed by Governor Doyle and Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ben-Eliezer, promotes collaboration and a strong working relationship between Wisconsin and Israel in research and development.

“Wisconsin and Israel share a strong past and a bright future in research and technology development,” Governor Doyle said. “This agreement creates an important framework for Israel’s and Wisconsin’s scientists, engineers and researchers to embark on ground-breaking research and development in many promising fields, especially water technology.“    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced a significant decrease in tobacco sales to Wisconsin minors. The state’s 2009 Synar sales compliance survey, which determines the number of retail outlets that are selling tobacco illegally to minors, shows a noncompliance rate of 5.7 percent—20 percent lower than the 2008 rate of 7.2 percent.

“In Wisconsin, we are working hard to protect our kids from the scourge of tobacco,” Governor Doyle said. “Our state has a long history of preventing youth tobacco sales and I’m pleased our efforts are paying off.”

Governor Doyle also thanked retailers for helping keep tobacco out of the hands of minors and for their dedication to protecting young people from tobacco’s harmful effects.    » read more »

10.1 percent of households in Wisconsin faced food insecurity from 2006-08

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) commented on the numbers released by the United States Department of Agriculture today tracking the food security of American households for 2008. Food security refers to a household’s consistent ability to access enough food for active, healthy lives for all household members at all times during the year.

The USDA study found that in 2008, 14.6 percent (17 million) households were food insecure, which means that eating patterns of a family were altered or disrupted because of insufficient resources for food.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today announced that Milwaukee will receive $5,839,100 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act. These funds are intended to create local green jobs and help improve energy efficiency in communities across the country by reducing energy use and fossil fuel emissions.    » read more »

(CHICAGO - Nov. 12, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has announced that two of Wisconsin’s lead-based paint programs have been federally authorized. They are the Lead-based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting program, and the Pre-Renovation Education program.

Wisconsin is the first state authorized to administer and enforce the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule which mandates training and licensing in lead-safe work practices for construction contractors, property managers and others that work in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. Gov. James E. Doyle has certified that the Wisconsin programs, to be administered by the division of public health, are at least as protective as EPA’s and provide adequate enforcement.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bills 280, 299, 331 and 347, which build on his work to protect kids, ensure every child has a chance to succeed, and prevent fraud.

“As Governor, my number one priority has always been putting our kids first,” Governor Doyle said. “We have come a long way to help kids have the best education, best health care and best family support system possible. These bills signed into law today build on our efforts to protect our kids and ensure they can get a great start to life.”

Legislation signed by the Governor also builds on efforts to detect and prevent fraud in Wisconsin Shares, the state’s child care program for over 60,000 low-income working families.    » read more »

Better Positions Wisconsin to Compete for Federal Race to the Top Funds

November 10, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bills 370, 371, 372 and 373, which take the first steps toward reforming education in Wisconsin and ensuring every student has a chance to succeed. Governor Doyle signed the laws at Wright Middle School just days after President Obama visited the school to call for states to make significant education reform. The bills take important steps to align Wisconsin with federal education reform goals laid out by the President and position Wisconsin to compete for Race to the Top funds.    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- Now that the House of Representatives has had its historic 220-215 vote for health care reform, the battle of the news releases has resumed in earnest.

Supporters of the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion plan have argued that the current situation leaves 15 percent of Americans without health insurance and unfairly discriminates against Midwest hospitals and clinics.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said, "Comprehensive health care reform is long overdue because the current system is unsustainable."

Kind and Minnesota 1st District Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, had fought to change the way Medicare reimburses geographically - making more of a level playing field for Midwestern providers.    » read more »

10/30/09 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that eight Wisconsin based financial institutions will receive New Market Tax Credits from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. These tax credits will provide financial backing for local businesses and organizations to support low-income community development in projects statewide.

Waveland Community Development, LLC - $100 million

First-Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise, Inc. - $70 million

Wisconsin Community Development Legacy Fund, Inc. - $85 million J

ohnson Community Development Company. - $50 million

M&I New Markets Fund, LLC - $40 million

Wisconsin Business Growth Fund, Inc. - $35 million    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold released the following statement after a Feingold amendment based on his Energy and Technology Advancement (ETA) Act, passed the Congress. The measure, which helps the government partner with private enterprises to develop energy technologies and is a part of his E4 Initiative to create jobs and boost Wisconsin’s economy, now heads to the president’s desk for his signature:    » read more »

After Hearing From Constituents, Feingold Cosponsors Legislation to Find Ways to Address Harmful Algal Blooms in Lakes

October 28, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – After hearing from Wisconsinites, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is cosponsoring legislation to investigate ways to curb harmful blue-green algal blooms, which plague some lakes in Wisconsin. Feingold has heard concerns from Wisconsinites about the excessive levels of blue-green algae in Lakes Tainter and Menomin that pose toxic risk to humans and wildlife.    » read more »

Sen. Kohl Announces Treasury Initiative To Help Wisconsin Families Gain Access To Affordable Housing

10/19/09 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that the United States Treasury Department will begin purchasing mortgage revenue bonds allowing housing finance agencies, such as the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), to continue their affordable home loan program and other housing development projects move forward. These programs provide housing solutions for low and moderate income families across the state.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today announced that three Milwaukee research facilities will receive a combined $3,940,596 in Recovery Act dollars to fund cutting-edge medical research in the Milwaukee area.

The grants are provided through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Marquette University will receive $2,003,655 to fund nine research projects, the BloodCenter of Wisconsin will receive $1,123,553 to fund five projects and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will receive $813,388 to fund four projects.    » read more »

Meets Federal Deadline, Continues National-Leading Efforts in Accountability, Transparency

October 13, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment on Saturday filed a comprehensive report with the federal government detailing Recovery money spent through the state of Wisconsin, and what impact these dollars are having in Wisconsin communities.    » read more »

Kohl and Obey worked to include measure in bill that funds USDA

10/8/09 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today voted to send the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which contains $350 million in additional assistance for dairy farmers championed by Senator Herb Kohl and Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey, to the President for his signature.

Kohl is the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations panel, with the responsibility of winning Congressional support for the annual funding measure. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives yesterday.    » read more »