Providing Quality, Affordable Health Care

After nearly 30 years in public office, not much surprises me anymore. So you can imagine my lack of astonishment when a conservative member of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation recently used abortion statistics as a means to lecture Black legislators like myself about defending the welfare of our constituents. Read more »

by Kayla BrandonWhen a Wisconsin congressman took the House floor last week to talk about abortion, he also brought up another sensitive subject — race. U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R) addressed his ‘liberal friends’ and members of the Congressional Black Caucus to defend the lives of unborn African American babies:“…talk about fighting for the defenseless,… Read more »

by Julia CravenRep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) says he's heard a lot about how the criminal justice system and other institutions treat African-Americans from the Congressional Black Caucus. But on Thursday, he wondered aloud on the House floor why the CBC wasn't more vocal about “how their communities are targeted in abortion.” “Here are some stunning facts.… Read more »

Rather than starting the New Year with new bipartisan initiatives to create jobs and move our economy forward, House Republicans have once again decided to pursue the same partisan fights from the year before. Their efforts not only compromise the health care of millions of families across the country, but also represent an outright refusal to pursue sensible legislation with their colleagues across the aisle. Read more »

After years of political obstacles and partisan gridlock on the part of congressional Republicans, President Barack Obama is moving forward with a series of sensible executive actions aimed at curbing our nation's gun violence epidemic. I enthusiastically welcome this practical and measured response to the ongoing inaction in the House and Senate that has compromised the safety of communities across the United States. Read more »

I fear that, without swift intervention, these inmates are at serious risk of becoming another faceless member of our seemingly endless school-to-prison pipeline. I am determined to fulfill our promise to help these youth become productive and successful members of our society. Read more »

I am encouraged by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn's decision to request this investigation, and I am hopeful that the recommendations made by the U.S. Department of Justice will help the Milwaukee Police Department better serve our community. Given the number of high profile incidences in my district, including the deaths of Dontre Hamilton and Derek Williams, change in our current system is long overdue. Read more »

As a mother to two young Black men, I am especially saddened by the Department of Justice's decision not to bring criminal civil rights charges against Officer Christopher Manney. More than eighteen months have passed since Officer Manney fatally shot Dontre Hamilton – an unarmed Black man struggling with mental illness – and many unanswered questions still remain. Although this decision is certainly a setback, it is by no means the end of our collective efforts to pursue justice for the Hamilton family. I continue to hold them in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, as I know the wounds from such a devastating loss will take time to heal. Read more »

As we continue our national dialogue regarding how we can collectively address the rash of mass shootings in our country, we cannot overlook how pervasive gun violence is to our local communities, especially to women, said Congresswoman Moore. "My bill – the Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Act – encourages states to implement strong firearm enforcement policies and empowers law enforcement officials to remove a gun from a dangerous domestic violence situation. One of the most dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence is right after the victim tries to leave. With this critical legislation, we can help support and protect these brave survivors when they are at their most vulnerable." Read more »

by Tom KertscherWhen U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said, "I don’t think we do children a favor by forcing women to give birth," she drew criticism from The Daily Caller, a conservative-leaning website.The Milwaukee Democrat was speaking at a Washington, D.C., news conference in favor of continuing federal funding for Planned Parenthood.Moore made similar remarks the next day, Sept.… Read more »