U.S. Representative stands with labor, environment, community at Milwaukee event.

MILWAUKEE – On Wednesday, June 2,  U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore joined clean energy advocates, elected officials, labor organizations, and community members to speak about her support of initiatives to increase energy efficiency in schools, clean energy buses, investments in Milwaukee’s BRT bus program, and the American Jobs Plan.

At the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Rep. Gwen Moore; Ariana Hones, Southeast Organizer, Wisconsin Conservation Voters; Ryan Clancy, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor, owner of Bounce MKE; Ted Kraig, member of the Milwaukee City/County Task Force on Climate Change and Economic Equity; Richard Diaz, BlueGreen Alliance; and Donnell Shorter, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Executive Board Member, all spoke to opportunities for committing to a clean energy future.

Click here for video of the event.

Excerpts from speeches included:

Rep. Gwen Moore: “Our children deserve to be in environments that provide the proper ventilation so they don’t spread diseases, but also green environments on their school buses and on their public buses. Especially children in our low income inner city communities – what we have noticed is that those people who rely on our public transportation for work or for school is that if you’re a person of color you’re probably six times as likely to rely on bus service than if you’re not.”

Ariana Hones, Southeast Organizer for Wisconsin Conservation Voters: “We’re calling on congress to invest at least 50 billion dollars in the adoption of electric buses for transit and school bus fleets. Electrifying transit and school busses will not only boost the emerging electric bus industry, these vehicles have no tailpipe emissions and will thus protect the health of drivers, riders, and people who live along the routes.”

Ryan Clancy, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor and owner of Bounce MKE: “I come here today as a father and a husband. In 2011 we got our first electric vehicle and it was in large part because our child who is now 12 has asthma. It’s triggered by a particulate matter in the air and we knew that getting an electric vehicle was a small way of making a small contribution to changing that impact on our environment.”

Ted Kraig, Chair of Transportation Committee for the City/County Task Force on Climate Change and Economic Equity: “The other end of this, which is really important for Milwaukee is that the investments that we need to make to solve the climate problem are investments that will create jobs and economic prosperity. Especially if we do it right, they can rectify some of the horrific racial injustice and racial inequality that we’ve had in our metro area for quite a long time.”

Richard Diaz, BlueGreen Alliance: “Milwaukee is a different town than it was 50 years ago when we had big manufacturing giants employing thousands of Milwaukeeans and you didn’t see people gravitating towards jobs that weren’t livable wage jobs because the opportunity to earn a honest dollar and to have a path to upward mobility was so accessible. The American Jobs Plan provides that opportunity for us as people of color, as working class people across the nation to have that path to upward mobility.”

Donnell Shorter, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Executive Board Member: “Some of the benefits of electric buses would be that some of our drivers wouldn’t have to walk to a warehouse with a hundred buses with diesel smoke in the air.”

For more information contact Ryan Billingham at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/assembly-wi-robin-vos-s5.jpgThis year, Republicans in Madison have cost our state $1.6 billion by rejecting BadgerCare expansion and are gambling $1.5 billion for our kids by failing to maintain the State’s investment in public schools.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/farm-family-s5.jpgSen. Smith writes about how Wisconsinites can celebrate Dairy Month in June. Dairy breakfasts are just one way to show your appreciation for our farmers and members of Wisconsin’s agricultural industry.

Governor signs executive orders on Monday directing state agencies to use gender-neutral language, prohibiting use of state and federal funds for conversion therapy.

MADISON- June 1st marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a month to celebrate and acknowledge the many contributions our LGBTQ+ friends, neighbors, and loved ones have given our state throughout its history.

Senator Melissa Agard released the following statement:

“Happy Pride Wisconsin! LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrates the contributions and impact of LGBTQ+ individuals, to honor and memorialize LGBTQ+ community members that are no longer with us, and to recognize what still must be done to ensure equality for all.

“To the LGBTQ+ community, I see you, I hear you, and I will always stand with you and support legislation that lifts you up. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights and I will never stop advocating for you in the state legislature. Recently, we have seen several bills in the legislature aimed at attacking LGBTQ+ communities, especially Trans and non-binary individuals. I pledge to continue to work tirelessly against these policies and others like them.

“This month we celebrate and remember those who helped us get to this point, but we also recommit ourselves to the work we still have to do every day to make sure Wisconsin is a safe and inclusive place for all.”

Support Wisconsin’s dairy farmers and producers who work every day to make Wisconsin great.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/clean-drinking-water-s5.jpg Event, Thursday, highlights solutions including federal, state, and local initiatives to clean up PFAS contaminated sites.

“Our service members exemplify great courage, selflessness, dedication, hard work, and determination, and we owe so much,” says Governor.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/school-bus-kids-s5.jpgGOP Needs to Add Another $200 Million for School Funding to Budget or Wisconsin Loses $3.1 Billion in COVID-19 Relief.

Blaney was Adjutant General of the State of Wisconsin from 1997 to 2002.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #118 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Fri., June 4, 2021 in honor of Maj. Gen. James G. Blaney who passed away on October 18, 2020 at the age of 82.

Maj. Gen. Blaney joined the Wisconsin National Guard in 1960, mobilized to federal service in 1961 with the 32nd Infantry Division during the Berlin Crisis, and served as the Adjutant General of the State of Wisconsin from 1997 to 2002. During his time as Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Blaney oversaw the federal and state missions of the Wisconsin Air and Army National Guards.

“Maj. Gen. Blaney led a distinguished life of service and dedication to Wisconsin and the United States of America," said Gov. Evers. "While he will be missed by many, his years of devotion will be remembered for generations to come.”

On Fri., June 4, 2021, funeral services will be held in the Village of Kendall. Executive Order #118 is in effect from sunrise to sunset on Fri., June 4, 2021, and is available here.