Press Releases
Baldwin Statement on New FDA Guidance on Gay Men Blood Donation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance that lifts the lifetime ban on blood donation for gay men and proposes a policy requiring a year of abstinence prior to donating blood. The public will have 60 days to comment on the draft policy, and the FDA will later issue final guidance. "I am encouraged that the FDA is moving forward with guidance that will revise the discriminator… Continue Reading
05.12.15
Baldwin Introduces Bill to Protect Grieving Parents from Job Loss
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) to introduce legislation to protect grieving parents from losing their jobs in the event of their child's death. The Parental Bereavement Act would amend the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to give parents up to 12 weeks of unpaid, but job-protected, time off of work to cope with the death of a child. FMLA currently allows parents to take extended leave for the birth of a child, adoption, and to care for fami… Continue Reading
05.11.15
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports Legislation to Help Veterans Through Disability Claims Appeals Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced her co-sponsorship of legislation introduced today by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to help improve the quality and consistency of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals and help address the VA's oldest pending claims. Specifically, the bill would improve and expand pro bono legal services for veterans during their appeals process, and provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with additional authority to… Continue Reading
05.11.15
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces New Wisconsin State Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that she has named Janet Piraino as her new Wisconsin State Director. Piraino most recently worked as State District Director for U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan. With thirty years of public service experience, Piraino has previously served as State Director for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold; Chief of Staff for Congressman Tom Barrett; and Chief of Staff for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "I share Senator Baldwin's strong commitment to pu… Continue Reading
05.08.15
Baldwin Applauds Removal of Research Ban on HIV Organ Donation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded a final rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that instructs the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) to accept organs from individuals known to be HIV-positive. The organs will be available for transplantation only into individuals who are infected with HIV before receiving such organs and who are participating in clinical research. This final rule comes as a result of the bipartisan HIV Organ… Continue Reading
05.08.15
Baldwin and Markey Preserve Public Access to Local Television Channels, Ensure Diversity of Programming
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) have reintroduced the Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act, legislation to ensure public access to local television programming. "The 80-plus public, educational, and governmental access channels in the state of Wisconsin deliver invaluable public programming on a daily basis, commercial free and with the sole purpose of informing and educating our communities," said Senator Baldwin. "As local budgets tighten a… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Senate Unanimously Passes Baldwin-Supported Bipartisan Bill to Renew Lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Grant Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate has unanimously approved legislation to reauthorize the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and supported by Senator Tammy Baldwin. This bill would extend for five years the matching grant program that helps members of law enforcement purchase lifesaving bulletproof vests. The program has helped 13,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country purchase mor… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Senators Urge USDOT to Immediately Strengthen Oil Train Disclosure Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx to enact stronger disclosure requirements on railroads regarding shipments of highly flammable Bakken crude oil. The letter was sent on the same day as a derailment in Wells County, Nort… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Baldwin to HHS: Women Should Have Full Access to All FDA-Approved Contraception
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has joined Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and 37 Senate Democrats in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell following reports that insurers are failing to cover forms of contraception approved by the FDA, as required under the Affordable Care Act, and failing to provide women with accurate information about th… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Baldwin Says Republican Budget Rewards Those at the Top
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, took the Senate floor to highlight the harmful impact the Republican budget will have on Wisconsin's economy and middle class. Yesterday, the Senate adopted the Republican's non-binding budget blueprint, which has already passed the House of Representatives, by a vote of 51-48. This proposal will now serve as an outline for Congressional spending priorities in the coming year. … Continue Reading
05.06.15
With Republican Budget Slashing Funding for Local Law Enforcement, Baldwin Urges Full Funding for Vital Byrne Justice Assistance Grant
Republican Budget Agreement Could Reduce Funding for Critical Police Department Grant Program by $24 Million The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program Has Helped More than 600 Police Departments Nationwide Utilize Police Camera Technology WASHINGTON, D.C. - With a Republican budget agreement that could cut funding by $24 million for a critical grant program that helps police departments utilize body cameras and other innovative technology, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Senator Sherrod B… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Baldwin Presses for Strong Avian Flu Response
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has joined a Senate effort to ensure strong support to test for and help limit the spread of Avian flu. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin now has 10 total cases of H5 Avian flu as of this week. The Centers for Disease Control has determined that this particular viral strain is a low threat to human health and the food supply. In a letter to key Senate appropriators, the group of seven Sena… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Baldwin Statement on Crude by Rail Final Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its Final Rule on High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) Rulemaking (also known as the "Crude by Rail Rule"): "Today the Department of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration released much-anticipated final rules to update safety standards governing the transportation of crude oil by rail. While I am glad that the Ad… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Baldwin Introduces Raise the Wage Act to Help Wisconsin Workers, Economy
Legislation would increase federal minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020 The Raise the Wage Act would boost wages for an estimated 677,000 Wisconsin workers, nearly a quarter of the state's workforce WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined other Senate Democrats in introducing a bill to raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2020 to help more families make ends meet, expand economic opportunity, and help build an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthiest few. T… Continue Reading
04.30.15
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Leads Call for Accountability on Risky Wall Street Compensation Practices
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today led a call to prohibit compensation practices that incentivize excessive risk-taking beneficial to Wall Street in the short-term, but damaging to the long-term growth and health of the economy and middle class. In a letter joined by nine other senators, Senator Baldwin urged financial leaders in the United States to finalize the overdue mandatory rules included in section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. "F… Continue Reading
04.29.15
MILWAUKEE OIL TRAINS: Baldwin Statement for the Record
City of Milwaukee Common Council Public Works Committee Baldwin: "Without our consent or even notification, Wisconsin has become one of the busiest routes for dangerous oil train traffic in the nation." MILWAUKEE, WI - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin submitted the following statement for the record as part of today's Milwaukee Common Council's Public Works Committee meeting focusing on "the use of rail lines within the City of Milwaukee for the transport of Bakken crude oil." Senator Baldwin has… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Senators Baldwin and Coons Kick Off “Manufacturing Jobs for America” Campaign
Wisconsin, Delaware Senators launch effort to pass bipartisan, pro-manufacturing bills During the last Congress, eight MJA bills were enacted into law WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chris Coons (D-DE) kicked off the "Manufacturing Jobs for America" (MJA) campaign at an event in Washington, D.C. hosted by Third Way. The MJA campaign began last Congress, when Senator Coons led a coalition of 27 Senators to introduce 36 manufacturing bills, half of which were strongly … Continue Reading
04.28.15
Baldwin Secures Independent Review of VA’s Opioid Prescribing Practices
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As a result of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin's efforts, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act now contains direction to include a review of opioid prescribing practices as part of a larger, independent examination of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health care and suicide prevention programs. In February, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs requesting the inclusion of this provision in the committee… Continue Reading
04.24.15
Baldwin Champions Efforts to Promote Wisconsin’s National Scenic Trails
Legislation provides strong support for Wisconsin's Ice Age and North Country National Scenic Trails VIDEO: Baldwin Calls for support of Wisconsin's National Parks and Trails WASHINGTON, D.C. - In honor of National Park Week, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has championed two bills to improve and protect National Scenic Trails in Wisconsin. Senator Baldwin also participated in the National Park Service and National Park Foundation's "Find Your Park" social media campaign with a video calling for… Continue Reading
04.23.15
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports ‘Homeless Veterans Welcome Home Act’ to Provide Support for Veterans Transitioning Into Permanent Housing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has cosponsored the Homeless Veterans Welcome Home Act of 2015, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to establish a national pilot program to provide furniture, household items, and other assistance to help homeless veterans as they transition into permanent housing. "We have a shared responsibility to meet the needs of veterans who served our nation and who are experiencing homelessness. Ve… Continue Reading
