Care For Our Climate
I have been named a “Conservation Champion”, meaning I received a 100% score for past legislative work to protect Wisconsin’s air, land, water, and democracy. I am proud to have received the “Conservation Champion” award from Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
Wisconsin is rich in natural resources. We are famous for our land, air, and water. These resources belong to the people of Wisconsin and should be preserved for the good of the people of Wisconsin. Generations of Wisconsinites have protected the beauty and provision of land, air, and water, gifted it to us, and entrusted us to preserve it for future generations.
Data Centers
I know Wisconsinites are concerned about data centers and their impact on our environment and utility bills. I co-sponsored the Data Center Transparency & Accountability Bill which provides a framework for regulating data centers and requires them to report their water and energy use – and pay for it. Republican lawmakers never gave this bill a hearing or a vote, but put forward their own bill that would fail to adequately regulate data centers and protect Wisconsinites from rising energy costs.
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has funded Wisconsin’s parks and trails and conserved our state’s natural resources for generations. But Republicans failed to fund the program for the first time in decades, putting forward a proposal that actually amounted to a cut in funding instead. I co-authored legislation to reauthorize the program alongside my Democratic colleagues and will continue fighting for this program that Wisconsinites love.
Forward on Climate
Democratic legislators introduced the Forward on Climate package this session–20 bills to address climate change in Wisconsin. I co-sponsored most of this legislation, and I authored the Complete Streets bill to require pedestrian and bike paths for all state and federally funded highway construction projects. I also authored the Local Climate Plans bill, which requires local governments to consider the impacts of climate change when developing comprehensive plans, community health plans, or disaster mitigation plans. Generations of Wisconsinites have set aside land for the enjoyment of its citizens. People love hiking, biking, camping, and hosting family cookouts in our parks. We need to preserve these traditions.
Clean Air and Water
Clean air and water are fundamental to all life. I will continue to work to protect our natural resources. I co-sponsored bills to protect land and groundwater from pesticides and allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish groundwater protection standards for PFAS. We got two bills signed into law that would release more than $130 million in state funding for communities to test for PFAS contamination and invest in PFAS remediation. But we have more work to do and I will continue working to protect our air and water.
Environmental Technology: Transportation & Renewable Energies
We should be investing in technologies that protect both the planet and human prosperity. I co-sponsored bills to invest in renewable energy, and fund energy efficiency and innovation projects.
Standing up for Wisconsin’s Environment
Since the current President took office in Washington, D.C., the federal government has repeatedly rolled back protections for Wisconsin’s environment. I have made it clear that these attempts are reckless and endanger our state’s great natural resources. I joined my Democratic colleagues in writing to the EPA opposing their repeal of the endangerment finding which states that greenhouse gases cause global warming and endanger public health and welfare. I also joined my colleagues in writing to the USDA opposing the rescission of the Roadless Rule which protected the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest from logging.