Madison… Leading up to Memorial Day Weekend, Representative Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) and Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dan Zimmerman are coming together for a renewed effort to honor Wisconsin’s Vietnam Veterans, and to raise awareness about Wisconsin Honor Flight. Currently all six regions are accepting Vietnam Veteran requests to fly to D.C. to visit the war memorials. Representative Skowronski, the Chair of Assembly Veterans Committee, will be joined Thursday by Secretary Zimmerman, Vietnam Veterans from around the area, Brian Ziegler from Badger Honor Flight, as well as colleagues from both the Senate and Assembly. Thursday, May 25, 2017 10:00 a.m.

Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland 608-267-9649 Sen. Jon Erpenbach 608-266-6670 Rep. Gordon Hintz 608-266-2254 Sen. Lena Taylor 608-266-5810 Madison – Today, Democrats on the Joint Committee on Finance proposed that Wisconsin residents be able to refinance student loan debt. The proposal would allow Wisconsin residents to refinance their student loan debt at a lower interest rate through an independent state refinancing authority. “Last week, Republicans told us that Wisconsin residents needed to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps’ to get a college degree. Roughly 70 percent of Wisconsin students are doing exactly that – taking on student debt to pay for

Contact: DOC Communications, 608-240-5060 DOCMedia@wisconsin.gov BLACK RIVER FALLS – Today, the first litter of ten puppies arrived at Jackson Correctional Institution in Black River Falls to begin training as service dogs. Jackson Correctional Institution is working with Can Do Canines, a Minnesota-based non-profit organization that trains assistance dogs for persons with hearing loss, mobility challenges, seizure disorders, diabetes, or childhood autism. The service dogs are provided at no cost to the recipient. In addition to the program launching at Jackson Correctional Institution, there are existing programs at Stanley Correctional Institution, Oshkosh Correctional Institution, and Flambeau Correctional Center. Correctional dog programs

Contact: Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-3387 Rep.Vos@legis.wi.gov Madison… Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) joined Governor Scott Walker, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and his legislative colleagues to unveil a proposal to create the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership at the UW-Madison. Its core mission is to facilitate research, leadership training, and bring speakers and public events to campus. “I’m proud that we can honor the leadership and accomplishments of Wisconsin’s longest serving governor by establishing a new center of learning and innovation,” said Speaker Vos. The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership would be run by a

Press Contacts:  David Kolovson (Pocan) 202-225-2906 Sayanna Molina (Grijalva) 202 225-2435 Brett Morrow (Ellison) 202-225-4755 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) was elected today by his colleagues as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).  He assumes the Co-Chair position vacated by Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05), who is now the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). “With the Trump Administration attacking both the values we hold dear and the programs which provide vital services to people across the country, it is my goal to help make the Congressional Progressive Caucus the voice of the resistance,”

Contact: Joe Scialfa or Gina Paige ― 608-266-9000 (MADISON) – As part of National Foster Care Awareness Month, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) joined the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to support, empower and give a voice to current and former foster youth throughout Wisconsin. DCF Secretary Eloise Anderson and department staff participated in the Hands Around the Capitol event on Tuesday, May 23rd to show support and raise awareness of the challenges facing foster children and youth. “Children and youth who are placed in foster care must overcome significant obstacles before, during and after their stay in

Contact: Sara Finger (608) 251-0139 x1 Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health partners with photographer & Madison native Amy Martin-Friedman Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health (WAWH) is proud to be partnering with San Francisco based photographer and Madison native Amy Martin Friedman to bring “A Day In My Shoes” fundraising project to Wisconsin in June. In its eighteenth installment, Amy has chosen WAWH to receive funds raised from this project aimed at empowering and supporting women. Ms. Martin-Friedman, a former victim of domestic abuse, launched this project eight years ago recognizing the importance to give women space

Contact: Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Amendment to Allow Student Loan Borrowers to Refinance, Just Like You Can With a Mortgage, Would Put State on Road to Reform MADISON, Wis. — Democrats on the state budget writing Joint Committee on Finance are offering a common sense plan to help provide relief from the student loan debt crisis for Wisconsinites today. Under the provisions of the amendment to the state budget, offered by Senators Taylor and Erpenbach and Representatives Hintz and Shankland, a state authority would be created to help student loan borrowers to refinance at lower interest rates, just like you