The following is a press release from the Green Bay Packers.
The Green Bay Packers, Bellin Health and the Center for Childhood Safety on Tuesday, Aug. 3 will team up to promote bike safety with a free bike helmet fitting and giveaway during a Green Bay Packers’ training camp session.
The event will take place from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot at Lambeau Field near the Oneida Nation Gate. For those who have helmets, representatives will be on hand to check sizing and make adjustments. The free bike helmets will be available for the first 400 children or while supplies last.
The bike safety event celebrates a Green Bay Packers’ time-honored tradition in which children bring their bikes to the Packers’ training camp and allow the players to ride the bikes back to the locker room.
Bellin Health and Center for Childhood Safety representatives will be on hand to fit and distribute bike helmets to children present for on-site fittings. Safety experts will educate children and parents alike on the importance of wearing properly fitted bike helmets.
The following is a press release from Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, who represents the Second District of Wisconsin.
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin announced that she will be traveling very soon to meet with U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan, including some from Wisconsin. She invites email messages from home to deliver to them. Baldwin is part of a small, Congressional delegation that will get a first-hand account of the military and political situation in the war zone.
“Our brave servicemen and women and their families have made countless sacrifices. I look forward to meeting these American heroes and expressing my own thanks for their efforts. As a small act of gratitude, I would like to bring our Wisconsin service members a collection of warm messages from home,” Baldwin said.
Anyone wishing to send a personal note to Wisconsin soldiers with whom Baldwin will be visiting should send an email to wisconsintroops@mail.house.gov no later than 6 PM Central Time, Sunday, August 1.
“Anything from a simple ‘Thank you for all you do’ to a longer message is welcome. I look forward to bringing your words of thanks to our Wisconsin troops overseas,” Baldwin said.
The following is a press release from Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, who represents the Second District of Wisconsin.
The House today passed (335-81) bipartisan legislation authored by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the Senior Financial Empowerment Act (H.R. 3040), to help stop abusive mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors.
Although it is difficult to estimate the prevalence of fraud targeting seniors due to severe under-reporting, millions of senior Americans have fallen victims to financial exploitation, including mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud. The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) estimates that 35,000 seniors in Wisconsin alone were the victims of financial exploitation in 2009. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions reports that half of its cases now being investigated include older victims.
According to a 2009 report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, the annual financial loss by victims of senior financial abuse is estimated to be at least $2.6 billion. In 2007, postal inspectors investigated almost 3,000 mail fraud cases in the U.S. and arrested more than 1,200 mail fraud suspects. Further, the FBI has confirmed that criminals are modifying their targeting techniques to include online scams such as “phishing” and e-mail spamming.
Baldwin’s desire to educate the public, seniors, their families, and their caregivers on how to identify and combat fraudulent activity is rooted in personal experience. She explains:
“Around the time that my grandmother turned 90, she asked me to help her sort through her mail and balance her checkbook. First, I was struck by the sheer volume of solicitations she was getting. I was also shocked by how many fly-by-night and ‘look-alike’ charities were writing her monthly. Their pleas for donations looked and sounded legit, but I had my suspicions. So I dug a little deeper.
I was also disturbed by the amount of money my grandmother had been giving to these entities. She believed that those able to do so, ought to be as generous as possible to those in need, but she had no way of determining the legitimacy of the entities that were contacting her.
That experience opened my eyes to the very real exploitation of seniors like my grandmother, through mail, telephone, and Internet fraud. Millions of Americans become victims of similar financial exploitation each year – and it is not just the isolated and lonely who fall prey to these scams.”
Just this spring, the Madison Capital Times reported that an 84-year-old Madison woman was duped out of nearly $3,000 after a phone scammer convinced her that her granddaughter’s boyfriend was in a Canadian jail and needed bail money. Madison police reported that she received a phone call from a man who called her “grandma” and told her he was in a Canadian jail after being picked up for drunken driving. To convince the elderly woman, someone posing as a police officer came on the line and convinced her of the need for bail money for her “granddaughter’s boyfriend.” This elderly woman wired the money and fell victim to a disturbingly common scam.
The Senior Financial Empowerment Act, introduced by Baldwin and co-sponsored by Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC):
•Creates a centralized service for consumer education on mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors;
•Authorizes the Attorney General to award competitive grants to carry out locally-focused mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud prevention and education programs for seniors;
•Establishes a National Senior Fraud Awareness week in May of each year to bring the issue to the public attention it warrants.
“The passage of the Senior Financial Empowerment Act is great news for Wisconsin’s older adults.” said John Hendrick, Attorney, CWAG Elder Financial Empowerment Project. “Internet and telemarketing fraud are constantly changing but our seniors will be vigilant if we get them the information they need. We applaud Congresswoman Baldwin’s work on this issue because we need the tools to stop this epidemic,” Hendrick said.
AARP President W. Lee Hammond told a House subcommittee earlier this year: “(This legislation) is another step that encourages a united, bipartisan commitment to protecting older, vulnerable adults from financial abuse and exploitation from various fraudulent and deceptive techniques that undermine their financial security and independence.”
“Representative Baldwin is one of the foremost champions of elder justice in Congress,” said Robert Blancato, National Coordinator for the non-partisan, 650-member Elder Justice Coalition. “Financial abuse, including the newest form, Internet abuse, costs seniors billions a year and must be addressed. Enacting this bill is one key solution,” Blancato said.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The following is a press release from Tim John, a candidate for Wisconsin Governor.
Hello Winning Wisconsin,
July is waning, while the waxing August will bring blessings especially to underfunded candidates. What a surprise when we discover on September 14 that the millions of dollars of special interest money given to the “major” candidates was to no avail. There will be a great grinding of teeth and crying to friends.
We will use the best ideas from the Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Libertarians. An idea-rich landscape will flow out upon Wisconsin.
I have walked – and still walk – the streets asking thousands of you voters for support in moving away from party politics to real government leadership. I work for every dollar donated – I carried a clipboard to gain required signatures to be on this ballot – I have earned your respect by listening and by being honest in every step of our successful journey.
My plan to re-invigorate Wisconsin remains with bringing unemployed and underemployed black men into the economy. Imagine for a minute, our state with tens of thousands of employed black men actively participating in their children’s education, paying taxes, keeping crime away from their neighborhoods. This idea alone will give us all better education, lower takes, and more jobs. Help me make Wisconsin the best state in the land.
President Barack Obama is coming to Milwaukee on August 16 to fund the already over funded other Democratic candidate on the ballot. Are the state and national Democratic parties so afraid of our campaign that they are bringing in the President before the primary election? Their hopes are fading – ours are rising.
I continue to make serious and fun videos for YouTube distribution, so please watch them at www.youtube.com/timjohnforgovernor and send them on to your family and friends. With 7,800 total views, you know that they are good. There will never be another campaign like ours, so enjoy it now.
To date we have raised $5,000 for our statewide campaign compared to the millions of the other candidates. While fund raising is not our strong suit, we run the best and leanest issue campaign that brings all people to us. Please send in your contribution now because we will continue to strengthen as the September 14 primary date approaches. Look at our website at www.timjohnforgovernor.com.
Spread the word about our campaign to your family and friends. We need your help.
Racine is one of three new communities to host an event in the Aflac Iron Girl National Series, the leader in women’s events. Participants of all ages will swim, bike and run their way through Lake Michigan and around the Racine countryside for the inaugural Aflac Iron Girl Racine Women’s Triathlon on Saturday, July 31, starting at North Beach Park.
Aflac Iron Girl races are multi-day events that feature ancillary activities including an interactive Aflac Iron Girl expo, post-race catered Breakfast Café and event merchandise sales. The event is estimated to have a direct economic impact of roughly $500,000, attracting approximately 1,500 participants and 2,250 spectators that are expected to spend two or more nights in the community.
“Real Racine is proud to bring this world-class event to the Racine area,” said David Blank, president and CEO of Real Racine. “We are looking forward to making the athletes feel at home and showing off our beautiful Blue Wave award-winning North Beach, rejuvenated downtown, world-class museums and historic neighborhoods.”
Online registration for the inaugural Aflac Iron Girl Racine Women’s Triathlon is currently open at www.AflacIronGirl.com. Consisting of an 800-meter swim, 30K bike and 5K run, the event will draw females from across the U.S. ranging in age and fitness level. The triathlon begins with a swim along the shores of Lake Michigan that will utilize an age-based wave start. Participants will bike through the surrounding rolling countryside of Racine and will finish with a flat run on a picturesque course.
The event experience provides women with a competitive platform and amenities such as: performance shirts sized for women, professional timing, personalized race bibs, custom finisher medals and awards, an on-demand results station, post-race giveaways and reusable athlete totes, part of Aflac’s and Iron Girl’s “Green” initiative. All participants in the 2010 series also receive a commemorative Aflac Iron Girl plush duck.
“At Aflac, we see the benefits of living a healthy, balanced lifestyle and so do our policyholders. Our sponsorship of the Aflac Iron Girl Event Series creates an atmosphere for us to speak to these inspiring women of all ages and showcase that our products and services help them achieve their goals,” said Tracy Martin, manager of corporate sponsorship for Aflac. “The Racine area provides us with the beautiful backdrop for this event we are glad to add it to this year’s lineup.”
Launched in 2004 with just two events, the Iron Girl brand has grown to now include 12 events nationwide, varying in distance from 5K to duathlon and triathlon. With a mission of empowering women toward a healthy lifestyle, Iron Girl has celebrated finishers ranging in age from 5 to 89 years old, with an average age of 35. The brand is supported by title sponsor, Aflac, and partners including Rohto Eye Care, Luna Bar, Polar Heart Rate Monitor, Aqua Sphere, Specialized Designed for Women Bicycles, K-Swiss, Nightmare Graphics, TriClique Jewelry and Flex-Power. To learn more, visit www.IronGirl.com, an interactive Web site filled with training tips, guest columnists and nutrition information, and www.IronGirlShop.com, an online store that offers apparel, jewelry, hydration products and Spinervals Iron Girl DVDs, among other items. The Iron Girl brand has been featured in a range of media outlets to include USA Today, The New York Times, Runner’s World, Family Circle, Ok! Magazine, Women’s Health, Fitness and Self.
Participants in the 2010 Aflac Iron Girl Event Series will have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving infants to young adults.
To learn more about the 2010 Aflac Iron Event Series and for event registration, visit www.AflacIronGirl.com.
The following is a press release from Congressman Ron Kind who represents the 3rd District of Wisconsin.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) yesterday voted to provide funding for health care benefits, military housing, and mission critical facilities to troops and veterans through H.R. 5822, the FY 2011 Military Construction/VA Appropriations bill.
“I am committed to supporting our men and women that work so hard to defend this country,” said Rep. Kind. “This bill looks out for their health and well-being, making sure they have access to safe facilities and quality health care both overseas and domestically. Just as our military pledges to leave no troop behind on the battlefield, this bill helps us keep our commitment to leaving no veteran behind when they return home.”
The bill provides funding for quality medical care for over 6 million veterans in 2011, including more than 439,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes an unprecedented increase to support the processing of more than 1 million VA disability claims – including newly eligible Agent Orange disabilities, strengthens the VA workforce to tackle more claims, and provides new family caregiver benefits to disabled veterans.
In addition, the bill helps modernize military housing, supports additional military construction requirements to support operations and troop increases in Afghanistan, and funds environmental cleanups on closed military bases.
“It is critical that we support these services to make sure our troops are successful in their mission, return home quickly, and are taken care of here in America. The bill helps us keep this promise and does so in a way that is fiscally responsible – by cutting programs that aren’t working and using those funds to provide resources to the programs that are.”
The bill is strongly supported by veterans’ service organizations. The VFW, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, and Paralyzed Veterans of America praise the bill.
The following is a press release from Ron Johnson, a candidate for Wisconsin Governor.
Oshkosh manufacturer and U.S. Senate Candidate Ron Johnson said today preserving Medicare and Social Security and keeping the programs sustainable long-term are important steps in keeping America’s promise to our seniors. At forum on Aging and Long Term Care in Green Bay today, Johnson will emphasize first and foremost that Medicare and Social Security must preserve benefits for current retirees and those approaching retirement.
“Our seniors deserve the peace of mind and certainty that the programs they’ve been planning their retirement around will remain intact and be the safety net they’re meant to be,” Johnson said. “Upcoming generations of Americans deserve a safety net, too, and that’s why I’m committed to keeping these programs solvent and making reforms necessary to do so after first securing benefits for current retirees and those approaching retirement.”
Johnson said ObamaCare represented a broken promise to seniors as it makes cuts to Medicare that will impact 100,000 Wisconsin seniors utilizing the Medicare Advantage program. ObamaCare makes $523 billion in Medicare cuts while increasing taxes by $569 billion. Johnson said by repealing ObamaCare, the Medicare cuts would be eliminated and Congress could start fresh on real reforms to bring down the cost of health care and make Medicare solvent in order to fix problems like the “donut hole.”
“Common-sense, step-by-step reforms are needed to bring down costs, make health care accessible and affordable, and keep Medicare and Social Security solvent for future generations,” Johnson said. “I’m committed to going to Washington to fix the problems with our broken system and ensuring our seniors are cared for. This is no time to play politics with promises to our seniors, that’s why I’m serious about making reforms.”
The following is a press release from Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold..
Republican Candidate Raises DC Cash with GOP Politicians Who Put Partisanship Ahead of Wisconsin Small Businesses
Ron Johnson’s campaign is calling yesterday a “big day” for his campaign. Unfortunately, Wisconsin small businesses don’t agree.
The multi-millionaire candidate for U.S. Senate spent yesterday in Washington D.C. raising money for his campaign from D.C. lobbyists with Republican Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn.
Senate Republicans also chose to put partisanship ahead of small businesses yesterday, standing in the way of creating thousands of jobs by providing assistance for small business. Not a single Republican voted to advance the measure.
The fully paid-for bill would support small businesses through tax credits, enhancements to Small Business Administration lending, counseling and contracting programs, and the development of new community bank lending facilities.
“Ron Johnson believes that it’s a ‘big day’ when that day includes raising money from Washington lobbyists for his campaign with the same politicians who are putting partisanship ahead of small businesses,” said John Kraus, Feingold Campaign senior advisor. “Yesterday was a bad day for Wisconsin small businesses that are working hard to create jobs and move our economy forward. Russ Feingold understands that and Ron Johnson just doesn’t get it.”
As the New York Times reported today, “Senate Republicans on Thursday rejected a bill to aid small businesses with expanded loan programs and tax breaks, a procedural blockade that underscored how fiercely determined the party’s leaders are to deny Democrats any further legislative accomplishments before November’s midterm elections.” [New York Times, July 30, 2010]
The measure is aimed at easing terms for loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, providing $12 billion in tax breaks, and issuing grants to states to provide business loans. The aid could spur $300 billion in lending. [Bloomberg News, July 29, 2010]
“Yesterday Ron Johnson had an opportunity to stand up and challenge his own party and stand with Wisconsin small businesses,” said Kraus. “It was a test of independence, and once again, he failed that test and chose Washington partisanship instead Wisconsin independence.”
The following is a press release from Congressman Paul Ryan, who represents the 1st District of Wisconsin
Congressman Paul Ryan announced that the First District Mobile Office will continue its regularly scheduled visits to communities throughout Wisconsin’s First District during the months of August, September, and October. At each scheduled stop, a representative from Congressman Ryan’s office will be available to meet personally with area residents. Please click here for a listing of scheduled stops for the 1st District Mobile Office.
When he entered Congress, Congressman Ryan established the First District Mobile Office to serve as an extension of the existing First District Constituent Services Centers. The Mobile Office provides resources to local residents and works to serve communities without permanent Congressional Offices. From 1999 through 2010, the Mobile Office has made roughly 2,400 visits to area communities.
“I need to hear from First District residents and be accessible to them, and the Mobile Office helps me do this. It’s a great resource for people who don’t live near a permanent Congressional Office.” Ryan added: “When the Mobile Office comes to their town or makes a visit to their area, they can stop by and talk to a member of my staff about any difficulties they are having dealing with government agencies or share their views on issues before Congress. I would encourage First District residents to check their local paper for the latest Mobile Office schedule and to take full advantage of the services it provides.”
Sites and addresses listed on the attached schedule of Mobile Office hours indicate where the Mobile Office will be parked (normally beside the address listed or located in an adjoining parking lot).
Area residents who are having trouble with a federal agency or would like to offer their opinions on legislative matters are encouraged to drop by.
