Combating the Fentanyl Crisis and Supporting First Responders

Senator Baldwin’s Safe Response Act, bipartisan legislation to respond to the fentanyl crisis and provide first responders with training and tools to prevent drug overdose deaths, was signed into law on December 1, 2025. The bill was included in the SUPPORT Act and will reauthorize a grant program to provide funding for states, local government entities, Indian Tribes, and tribal organizations to train and provide resources to first responders to respond to an overdose. The Safe Response Act provides $57 million per year for fiscal year 2026 through 2030 for grants to first responders and those in key community sectors to respond to overdoses.

Cutting off Key Pathway for Deadly Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals into the U.S.

In April, the Trump Administration announced they were closing the de minimis loophole for China, cutting off a key pathway for deadly fentanyl precursor chemicals to travel into the United States. For years, Senator Baldwin has called on the federal government to close this trade loophole, which allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the United States duty-free and without inspection. This loophole for China and Hong Kong allowed illegal substances and counterfeit goods to enter the country.

The de minimis loophole has been abused by countries like China that are sending hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of products into the U.S. market, undermining U.S. manufacturers and retailers, and letting illicit substances into our communities. Senator Baldwin has led on this issue, introducing the bipartisan De Minimis Reciprocity Act to close this loophole by excluding countries like China from using the de minimis channel.

Delivering Strong Buy America Standards for Highway Construction

Senator Baldwin successfully pushed the Trump Administration to enforce Buy American laws for highway construction by finally stopping the Federal Highway Administration from skirting Buy America requirements. In early 2025, the Department of Transportation issued a final rule to end the Federal Highway Administration’s blanket waiver that has allowed the agency to bypass strong Buy America requirements designed to support American businesses and workers.

At Senator Baldwin’s urging, the Department of Transportation is currently enforcing the first phase of the rule, which requires that final assembly of all manufactured products occur in the United States.

Demanding RFK Jr. Reinstate Help to Address Lead in Milwaukee Public Schools

In Milwaukee, lead exposure shuttered six Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and displaced 1,800 children. However, after applying for support from the CDC to help mitigate the lead found in school classrooms, MPS was notified that their request for federal assistance was denied because the Trump administration fired the agency’s entire Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Surveillance Branch. Senator Baldwin demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy and called for him to reverse the reckless termination of the entire childhood lead team at CDC. After Baldwin’s intervention, these experts were rehired and Milwaukee received assistance from the CDC.

Keeping Head Start Centers Open for Children Families

Throughout the year, Senator Baldwin successfully beat back attempts by the Trump Administration to undermine and close Head Start centers across the state. In February, shortly after Senator Baldwin wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Head Start demanding immediate action to restore Head Start dollars that had been frozen, centers in Wisconsin were able to successfully draw down their funds.

During the Republicans’ government shutdown, Senator Baldwin led her colleagues in introducing the Keep Head Start Funded Act, legislation to keep Head Start programs open during the shutdown. Wisconsin programs received their funding awards shortly after Senator Baldwin wrote to Secretary Kennedy demanding the Department of Health and Human Services immediately issue Notice of Awards to Head Start programs that had their funding delayed due to the shutdown.

Keeping Job Corps Centers Open

When the Trump Administration ordered the closure of the Milwaukee Job Corps Center, along with 98 other Job Corps centers across the country, Senator Baldwin sounded the alarm and the Department of Labor reversed their decision. Moreover, Jobs Corps centers are still training and enrolling students thanks to a federal judge’s order.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Labor, Senator Baldwin advanced $1.8 billion for Job Corps in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which passed the Appropriations Committee by a wide bipartisan margin and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Fighting to Keep Health Insurance Affordable for 270,000 Wisconsinites

As co-lead of the Health Care Affordability Act, Senator Baldwin led the way in advocating for an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which Republicans allowed to expire at the end of 2025. Because President Trump and Republicans in Congress failed to act, 275,000 Wisconsinites will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket in 2026.

In November, Senator Baldwin forced a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits for one year. Senate Republicans voted to stop Baldwin’s effort to add her amendment that would have extended the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to the government funding bill before the Senate.

In December, Senator Baldwin voted to extend these tax breaks for three years. Republicans yet again rejected this plan.

Delivering Disaster Aid for Wisconsin and Calling on Trump to Finish the Job for Communities Impacted by August Storms

Following catastrophic storms and flooding in Milwaukee, Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Grant and Door Counties in August, Senator Baldwin helped deliver nearly $29.8 million in federal relief funding to address flood damage. Baldwin pushed the Trump Administration to fulfil Governor Evers’ request for federal disaster aid and get Wisconsin the federal resources communities need to recover. She led a bipartisan group of colleagues calling on the Trump Administration and FEMA to support Wisconsin’s request to assist in conducting a formal federal preliminary damage assessment, an important step to unlocking federal disaster aid. Baldwin also joined the entire Wisconsin delegation in requesting an expedited Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment and requesting the President issue a Major Disaster Declaration to unlock federal assistance for recovery efforts in Wisconsin.

When Trump denied Wisconsin’s request for public infrastructure aid and hazard mitigation funding, she called on the Administration to reconsider.

Made in America

Delivering Strong Buy America Standards for Highway Construction

Senator Baldwin successfully pushed the Trump Administration to enforce Buy American laws for highway construction by finally stopping the Federal Highway Administration from skirting Buy America requirements. In early 2025, the Department of Transportation issued a final rule to end the Federal Highway Administration’s blanket waiver that has allowed the agency to bypass strong Buy America requirements designed to support American businesses and workers.

At Senator Baldwin’s urging, the Department of Transportation is currently enforcing the first phase of the rule, which requires that final assembly of all manufactured products occur in the United States.

Leveling the Playing Field for Domestic Trailer Manufacturers

In July, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Secretary Lutnick asking the Commerce Department to expand the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs to dry van trailers and refrigerated trailers to level the playing field for domestic manufacturers, like Stoughton Trailers, while foreign manufacturers import products with artificially low prices. The Administration took action to address these unfair trade practices in August by imposing Section 232 tariffs on these products.

Leveling the Playing Field for Domestic Wire Rod Producers

Senator Baldwin pushed for existing steel and aluminum tariffs to cover prestressed concrete steel wire strand, a product made from steel wire rod. After Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum were imposed during the first Trump Administration, foreign manufacturers shifted production from wire rod, which is covered by the Section 232 program, to products like PC strand, which were not—undercutting domestic wire rod manufacturers in the process. In March, the tariffs were expanded to cover PC strand, thanks to Senator Baldwin’s efforts.

Boosting U.S. Manufacturers Making Gas Cylinders

This year, the House of Representatives passed Senator Baldwin’s bipartisan Compressed Gas and Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvement Act. The bill will create a more level playing field for American manufacturers, like Worthington Industries, and help prevent foreign manufacturers from selling counterfeit hazmat cylinders, a practice which is dangerous for consumers.

Preserving the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Senator Baldwin has successfully defended the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership against repeated attacks from the Trump Administration, whose budget seeks to eliminate the program. Senator Baldwin will continue to fight to preserve the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and its funding so that Wisconsin’s small and midsize manufacturers continue to receive targeted services that help them innovate and grow.

Jobs and Workforce Training

Keeping Job Corps Centers Open

When the Trump Administration ordered the closure of the Milwaukee Job Corps Center, along with 98 other Job Corps centers across the country, Senator Baldwin sounded the alarm and the Department of Labor reversed their decision. Moreover, Jobs Corps centers are still training and enrolling students thanks to a federal judge’s order.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Labor, Senator Baldwin advanced $1.8 billion for Job Corps in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which passed the Appropriations Committee by a wide bipartisan margin and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Health

Combating the Fentanyl Crisis and Supporting First Responders

Senator Baldwin’s Safe Response Act, bipartisan legislation to respond to the fentanyl crisis and provide first responders with training and tools to prevent drug overdose deaths, was signed into law on December 1, 2025. The bill was included in the SUPPORT Act and will reauthorize a grant program to provide funding for states, local government entities, Indian Tribes, and tribal organizations to train and provide resources to first responders to respond to an overdose. The Safe Response Act provides $57 million per year for fiscal year 2026 through 2030 for grants to first responders and those in key community sectors to respond to overdoses.

The SUPPORT Act invests in addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts. In addition to the Safe Response Act, the SUPPORT Act also includes the following Baldwin-backed legislation:

• Bruce’s Law: Bipartisan legislation to bolster federal prevention and education efforts surrounding fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid that is increasingly being incorporated into illicit street drugs and fake prescription pills.

• Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act – Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028.

• FASD Respect Act – Bipartisan legislation to collect data collection on prenatal smoking, alcohol, and other substance misuse, in addition to the outcomes associated with such activities on children’s health.

Cutting off Key Pathway for Deadly Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals into the U.S.

In April, the Trump Administration announced they were closing the de minimis loophole for China, cutting off a key pathway for deadly fentanyl precursor chemicals to travel into the United States. For years, Senator Baldwin has called on the federal government to close this trade loophole, which allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the United States duty-free and without inspection. This loophole for China and Hong Kong allowed illegal substances and counterfeit goods to enter the country.

The de minimis loophole has been abused by countries like China that are sending hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of products into the U.S. market, undermining U.S. manufacturers and retailers, and letting illicit substances into our communities. Senator Baldwin has led on this issue, introducing the bipartisan De Minimis Reciprocity Act to close this loophole by excluding countries like China from using the de minimis channel.

Fighting to Keep Health Insurance Affordable for 270,000 Wisconsinites

As co-lead of the Health Care Affordability Act, Senator Baldwin led the way in advocating for an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which Republicans allowed to expire at the end of 2025. Because President Trump and Republicans in Congress failed to act, 275,000 Wisconsinites will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket in 2026.

In November, Senator Baldwin forced a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits for one year. Senate Republicans voted to stop Baldwin’s effort to add her amendment that would have extended the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to the government funding bill before the Senate.

In December, Senator Baldwin voted to extend these tax breaks for three years. Republicans yet again rejected this plan.

Demanding RFK Jr. Reinstate Help to Address Lead in Milwaukee Public Schools

In Milwaukee, lead exposure shuttered six Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and displaced 1,800 children. However, after applying for support from the CDC to help mitigate the lead found in school classrooms, MPS was notified that their request for federal assistance was denied because the Trump administration fired the agency’s entire Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Surveillance Branch. Senator Baldwin demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy and called for him to reverse the reckless termination of the entire childhood lead team at CDC. After Baldwin’s intervention, these experts were rehired and Milwaukee received assistance from the CDC.

Fully Funding Foodshare for Wisconsin Families

During the government shutdown, President Trump played politics with Wisconsinites’ food assistance and attempted to withhold SNAP. Senator Baldwin called on the President to put people over politics and follow the law and the courts ordering the Administration to use emergency funds to pay out full benefits for SNAP beneficiaries in November. The Administration ultimately reversed course.

Senator Baldwin and her colleagues introduced the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 that requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP benefits during a shutdown.

Senator Baldwin also voted against Congressional Republicans’ legislation that will reduce or eliminate food assistance for 90,000 Wisconsinites. She supports legislation to reverse these historic SNAP cuts.

Calling out Republican Attacks on Medicaid

Congressional Republicans and President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” cuts nearly $1 trillion in health care to give tax cuts to billionaires. This includes massive cuts to the Medicaid program that will kick people off their health insurance and has the potential to close rural hospitals. Senator Baldwin strongly opposed Congressional Republicans’ gutting of the Medicaid program, which will terminate health care for at least 250,000 Wisconsinites. Throughout the year, she toured the state to hear from impacted individuals and highlight the catastrophic impacts of Republican’s Medicaid cuts.

Natural Disasters

Delivering Disaster Aid for Wisconsin and Calling on Trump to Finish the Job for Communities Impacted by August Storms

Following catastrophic storms and flooding in Milwaukee, Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Grant and Door Counties in August, Senator Baldwin helped deliver nearly $29.8 million in federal relief funding to address flood damage. Baldwin pushed the Trump Administration to fulfil Governor Evers’ request for federal disaster aid and get Wisconsin the federal resources communities need to recover. She led a bipartisan group of colleagues calling on the Trump Administration and FEMA to support Wisconsin’s request to assist in conducting a formal federal preliminary damage assessment, an important step to unlocking federal disaster aid. Baldwin also joined the entire Wisconsin delegation in requesting an expedited Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment and requesting the President issue a Major Disaster Declaration to unlock federal assistance for recovery efforts in Wisconsin.

When Trump denied Wisconsin’s request for public infrastructure aid and hazard mitigation funding, she called on the Administration to reconsider.

Labor

Punishing China for Cheating American Workers and Shipbuilders

Senator Baldwin pushed the United States Trade Representative to complete an investigation into Chinese shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics practices that undermine the United States shipbuilding industry for the last 20 years, and to take necessary actions to respond. The Administration concluded that China’s actions harm the United States economy and national security and issued a series of remedies to level the playing field for American workers and shipyards. Senator Baldwin will continue to press the Trump Administration to follow through on these announcements.

Housing

Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act

Senator Baldwin cosponsored legislation that will prohibit credit reporting agencies from selling “trigger leads” – a tip that a consumer has applied for a mortgage – to third parties. These trigger leads often inundate prospective home buyers with dozens or hundreds of spam calls, making the process of buying a home much more stressful. The bill became law in September.

Childcare

Keeping Head Start Centers Open for Families

Throughout the year, Senator Baldwin successfully beat back attempts by the Trump Administration to undermine and close Head Start centers across the state. In February, shortly after Senator Baldwin wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Head Start demanding immediate action to restore Head Start dollars that had been frozen, centers in Wisconsin were able to successfully draw down their funds.

During the Republicans’ government shutdown, Senator Baldwin led her colleagues in introducing the Keep Head Start Funded Act, legislation to keep Head Start programs open during the shutdown. Wisconsin programs received their funding awards shortly after Senator Baldwin wrote to Secretary Kennedy demanding the Department of Health and Human Services immediately issue Notice of Awards to Head Start programs that had their funding delayed due to the shutdown.

Broadband

Delivering Broadband Funding to Wisconsin

After the Trump administration unnecessarily required every state, including Wisconsin, to re-do their state plan for spending federal broadband funds, Senator Baldwin introduced an amendment for the FY 26 CJS Appropriations bill to provide states with flexibility on spending these already allocated funds. While this amendment was not adopted, in December NTIA approved Wisconsin’s plan to send the allocated $1 billion to the state for broadband implementation.

Agriculture

Dairy Business Innovation Act

After the Administration implemented government-wide Executive Orders intended to cancel grant funding, Senator Baldwin demanded the Trump Administration release the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative funding that was approved by Congress on a bipartisan basis, signed into law, and already awarded to farmers. That funding had been halted at the direction of the Trump Administration – taking $6.5 million from 88 dairy businesses– including 30 businesses in Wisconsin. After Senator Baldwin weighed in with Secretary Rollins, the USDA released these funds to farmers and processers to make them whole.

Great Lakes

Protecting our Shoreline Communities

Senator Baldwin introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Digital Coast Program at $4 million per year. The Digital Coast Program is a collaborative online database with up-to-date coastal information critical for emergency response, long-term coastal resilience and management of water resources. Senator Baldwin’s Digital Coast Act passed out of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in October, and companion legislation in the House passed out of the Committee on Natural Resources.

Improving our Response to Harmful Algal Blooms

Senator Baldwin led bipartisan legislation to expand research, education, monitoring and prevention of harmful algal blooms and “dead zones” in aquatic ecosystems, which are particularly critical for the Great Lakes. The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments (HABHRCA) Act passed unanimously in the Senate in September.

Civil Rights

Standing Up for LGBTQ+ Equity

This year, Senator Baldwin continued to advance and defend the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people. She again led the reintroduction of the Equality Act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans, just as religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination are illegal everywhere in the United States. Additionally, Senator Baldwin helped lead the reintroduction of the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to require institutions of higher education to establish an anti-harassment policy. Senator Baldwin also led the introduction of a resolution commemorating the anniversary of three historic Supreme Court victories that have played a pivotal role in advancing LGBTQ+ equality. To help strike harmful Republican poison pill policy riders, Senator Baldwin wrote to the Appropriation Committee urging the rejection of anti-LGBTQ+ provisions the FY26 funding bills.

This year, Congressional Republicans attempted to add measures to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that target LGBTQ+ service members and LGBTQ+ dependents. Senator Baldwin sent a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committee demanding these provisions be removed. She also offered an amendment to the Senate NDAA to remove language restricting the Department of Defense funds from providing or facilitating sex change surgeries. The final version of the NDAA did not include the vast majority of these harmful provisions.

Social Security

Keeping Social Security Field Offices in Wisconsin

In April, Senator Baldwin demanded the Trump Administration keep Social Security Administration field offices open so seniors can get their earned benefits amidst President Trump and Elon Musk’s attacks on the Social Security Administration. At that time, multiple reports revealed that Elon Musk’s DOGE directed SSA to close field offices across the country — only to reverse course after public backlash and deny the plans altogether. Given the lack of transparency, the Senator Baldwin pressed SSA to ensure that DOGE did not close the offices that so many Social Security beneficiaries rely on for services and assistance. SSA Field Offices in Wisconsin remain open.

Reversing DOGE Plan to Make Social Security More Difficult to Access

Senator Baldwin successfully pushed the Social Security Administration to reverse its decision that would have prevented Americans from signing up for Social Security benefits over the phone. The SSA’s initial plan would have created unnecessary barriers to access for millions of older and low-income Americans, including veterans and people who live in rural communities, trying to access their Social Security benefits.

Consumer Protection

Banning Chocking Hazards for Children

After Senator Baldwin’s efforts to bring attention to the deadly hazard posed by water beads, this summer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a rule effectively banning water beads as toys if they expand to a size that poses a choking hazard. Last Congress, Senator Baldwin introduced Esther’s Law to ban the sale of water beads, a product marketed as a toy, that killed 10-month-old Esther Jo Bethard of North Prairie, Wisconsin.