>> ED PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE WILL BE OFFERED BY TRAEJAN REN ROLLS,
ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF
WISCONSIN YOUTH. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> MEMBERS MAY BE SEATED.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE CALL ROLL.
THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL. HAVE ALL MEMBERS RECORDED THEIR
PRESENT? A QUORUM IS PRESENT.
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 68th. >> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR
THE LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE MEMBER FROM THE 30th, AND
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 56th. >> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 68th
ASKING UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF AB SANS AND A
LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY FROM THE GENTLEMAN
FROM THE 21st, 50th AND 36th.
ANY OBJECTION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION?
HEARING NONE, IT IS SO ORDERED. LADY FROM THE 79th.
>> THANK YOU. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR
LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE EIGHTH
AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 94th FOR THE BALANCE OF THE
DAY, AND I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF
ABSENCE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 90th AND THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 89th. >> LADY ASK LEAVE FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE DAY BE GRANTED FROM THE LADY FROM THE EIGHTH
AND 24th AND TEMPORARY FOR THE 90th AND 89th.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, IT IS SO ORDERED.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 31st. >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE RULES BE SUS EXTENDED AND
ASSEMBLY 318 FROM THE CALENDAR. >> REPRESENTATIVE ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE RULES BE SUSPENDED AND 18 BE WITHDRAWN
FROM THE CALENDAR. ANY OBJECTION?
HEARING NONE, THE CLERK WILL READ THE JOINT RESOLUTION.
>> RELATING TO HONORING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN, WHEREAS REPRESENTATIVE AND ALDERMEN
REPRESENTATIVE A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, HUSBAND, FATHER,
SON, BROTHER AND FRIEND PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 4th, 2024 AT
THE AGE OF 41. WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS BORN ON
SEPTEMBER 25th, 1983 IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN AS THE
SECOND OF TWO SONS TO PHYLLIS AND.
WHEREAS HE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL AND WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS
BACHELORS DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OFS WISCONSIN,
MILWAUKEE EARNING A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
AND HE WORKED FOR SENATOR TOM HARKEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
COMPLETED THE UNITED NATIONS SUMMER SEMINAR PROGRAM AND
ELECTED TO THE WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING THE 19th
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT AND SERVED FROM 2014 TO 2023, SERVING ON
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE, CONSTITUTION
AND ETHICS, FAMILY LAW, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT, MENTAL HEALTH,
NATURAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORTING HERITAGE, STATE AFFAIRS AND
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, REGULATORY LICENSING REFORM,
WAYS AND MEANS AND ON THE SPEAKERS TASK FORCE ON
ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, AND WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS A FIERCE
AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, FOR
SAFEGUARDING LICENSING, WORKFORCE PROFESSIONALS AND
DISABILITY RIGHTS WHERE HE FAMOUS DIDN'T CUT THE CURLY HAIR
UNTIL IT BECAME LAW THE. AND WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS ELECTED
MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL IN 2022 AS ALDER FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT
AND SERVED ON THE JUDICIARY AND REGULATION PUBLIC WORKS, ZONING
AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS HE GENERALLY CARED
FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS DEDICATING HIS TIME TO VOLUNTARY
PATHFINDERS, A YOUTH SHELTER AND MADISON AVENUE IN MILWAUKEE.
A NONPROFIT SUPPORTING VETERANS AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING AS AN
ALUMNUS OF THE MILWAUKEE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS HE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTY AND CLASS BELIEVING
THAT WORKING ACROSS DIFFERENCES WAS VITAL FOR A WORKING
DEMOCRACY. WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS A DEDICATED
MEMBER AND ADVOCATE OF MILWAUKEE'S JEWISH COMMITTEE AND
WHEREAS HE WAS A LOVING HUSBAND TO HIS LIFE DIANA AND DEVOTED
FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN, BOAZ, BARK, AND WHEREAS HE IS
REMEMBERED FOR HIS KINDNESS, BIG HEART, SENSE OF HUMOR,
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND LOVE FOR FAMILY AND PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN. THE SENATE CONCURRING THAT THE
MEMBERS OF THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE HONOR THE LIFE AND
PUBLIC SERVICE OF JONATHAN AND EXTEND THEIR CONDOLENCES TO
FAMILY AND FRIENDS. >> QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION 18. MOTION ON ADOPT, LADY FROM THE
66th. >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
JONATHAN WAS AN INCREDIBLY DEDICATED COLLEAGUE, MENTOR,
HUSBAND AND SON AND A LOVING FATHER.
TO MANY IN THIS BODY, TRUE FRIEND.
ABOUT CREATING A WISCONSIN WORKED FOR EVERYONE FROM
SUPPORTING YOUTH PROGRAMS IN MILWAUKEE TO ADVOCATING FOR
VETERANS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, JONATHAN WAS A
VOICE FOR SO MANY IN THIS CAPITAL.
AS MENTION HE WAS A FIERCE AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM, GUN SAFETY, LICENSING REGULATIONS AND
DISABILITY RIGHTS. NONE OF US WILL FORGET WHEN
JONATHAN CAME ON THE FLOOR WITH HIS LONG HAIR AND REMAINED
DEDICATED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE BILL IN
OUR STATE. JONATHAN WAS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS
HONESTY. HE NEVER HELD BACK.
IF Y HE THOUGHT WE WERE HEADINGN THE WRONG DIRECTION OR MISSING
SOMETHING IMPORTANT, OFTEN CROSSING HIS EYES AND STARING
YOU DOWN. WITH JONATHAN, YOU ALWAYS KNEW
WHERE YOU STOOD, AND HE HELPED US GROW AS A CAUCUS AND AS
INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER JONATHAN
AND DO OUR WORK IN HIS HONOR. HE HAD AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT
TO THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN IN HIS DISTRICT AND TO THIS
INSTITUTION. FAMILY.
PUBLIC SERVICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN BROSTOFF AND EXTEND OUR
CONDOLENCES TO YOU ALL AND THOSE WHO LOVED JONATHAN.
MAY HIS MEMORY BE BLESSING. >> HE.
>> QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION 18,
ADOPTION LEADING FROM THE 79 79th.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS MORNING THINKING ABOUT WHAT I
WAS GOING TO SAY HERE TODAY. JONATHAN AND I CAME INTO THE
ASSEMBLY TOGETHER IN 2015. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO ME AND SAID YOU ARE A LEADER, AND YOU NEED TO DO
GOOD THINGS. THAT IS SOMETHING HE DID FOR SO
MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. I THINK THAT HIS ABILITY TO
RAISE UP OTHERS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HOLDS CLOSEST TO ME.
AS YOU HEARD, JONATHAN WAS A FIERCE AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE.
HE REMEMBER WHEN HE GREW OUT HIS HAIR, AND I WOULD SEND HIM
PICTURES OF RICHARD SIMMONS, HE SENT ME BACK PICTURES OF BOB
ROSS. BUT IT'S NOT JUST DOING THINGS
LIKE GROWING OUT YOUR HAIR. JONATHAN AND I WERE TWO OF THE
THREE JEWISH MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHEN WE FIRST CAME INTO THE
BODY TOGETHER, AND THERE'S A PRINCIPLE IN JUDAISM WHICH IS
REPAIR OF THE WORLD. THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT IS
BUILT ON OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, OF MAKING THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE, OF TAKING CARE OF OUR WORLD AND TAKING
CARE OF ITS PEOPLE. JONATHAN MORE THAN JUST ABOUT
ANYBODY ELSE I'VE JOAN LIVED UP TO THAT PRINCIPLE OF IT.
HE AND I HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR JUDAISM AND HOW IT
GUIDED OUR VALUES AND WHAT WE DO HERE IN THIS BODY BUT ALSO MORE
BROADLY WHAT WE DO IN THE WORLD. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT I CAN LIVE
UP TO THOSE PRINCIPLES AS JONATHAN DID.
AFTER HE LEFT US IN THIS BODY, AFTER HE LEFT US TO GO TO THE
CITY COUNCIL, WE KEPT IN TOUCH. I VALUED THE FREQUENT PHONE
CALLS. I VALUED THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T
ME STAYING IN TOUCH; IT WAS ALWAYS HIM.
HE REACHED OUT. HE MADE A POINT OF CALLING SO
THAT WE HAD CONVERSATIONS. RIGHT NOW THINGS AREN'T EASY,
AND I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY FOR HIM BEING A JEWISH PERSON, BEING
A PROGRESSIVE JEW IN PARTICULAR. IT'S DIFFICULTY AND CHALLENGING.
WE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, AND SO MUCH OF WHAT HE
SAID HELPED MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I WAS EASIER TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM BUT I
ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT HE COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME.
I'M GOING TO HARKEN BACK TO THE TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW FUN THINGS ABOUT JONATHAN.
I REMEMBER A VERY FIRST CAUCUS MEETING TOGETHER.
JONATHAN AND DAVID SHOWED UP WITH A CASE OF ROOT BEER AND
HANDED IT OUT. AND THAT WAS A TRADEMARK.
IT WAS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS, AND HE ALWAYS BROUGHT IT
TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. HERE IN THIS BODY HE FOUGHT FOR
THE THINGS THAT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM.
I REMEMBER HIM TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND ABOUT HIS OWN
STRUGGLES AND SHARING HIS OWN STRUGGLES, AND IT WAS A REMINDER
TO ME THAT EACH OF US BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THIS
BODY, AND WE SHOULD VALUE WHAT EACH MEMBER BRINGS.
HE BROUGHT HIS OWN STRUGGLES AND SHARED HIS VERY PERSONAL
STRUGGLES WITH ALL OF US HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY MADE ME AND HOPEFULLY MADE MANY OF YOU A
BETTER LEGISLATOR. HAVING JONATHAN HERE IN THE
LEGISLATURE WITH US MADE US ALL BETTER LEGISLATORS, BUT IT ALSO
MADE WISCONSIN BETTER. JONATHAN'S PRESENCE IN THIS
WORLD MADE FOR A BETTER WORLD. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PICTURES
HE WOULD SEND OF HIS CHILDREN. OUT OF NOWHERE I WOULD BE
SITTING IN A MEETING AND MY PHONE WOULD POP UP, AND IT'S ONE
OF JONATHAN'S AND DIANA'S KIDS. HE KNOW HOW MUCH THE KIDS MEANT
TO HIM AND FAMILY MEANT TO HIM. I APPRECIATE HE WAS WILLING TO
SHARE HIS FAMILY AND HIMSELF WITH ALL OF US, AND I APPRECIATE
THAT HIS FAMILY WAS SO WILLING TO SHARE HIM WITH US.
AS I SAID, JONATHAN REALLY LIVED UP TO THE PRINCIPLE, BUT
SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE IN JUDAISM IS THAT NONE OF US IS
GOING TO ALONE REPAIR THE WORLD. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO.
JONATHAN LEFT US WITH MORE WORK TO DO, WHETHER IN HIS WORK ON
SUICIDE PREVENTION, WHETHER A WORK ON HELPING THE HOMELESS,
WHETHER WORK ON REPAIRING THE ENVIRONMENT.
I KNOW THE THINGS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO HIM.
HE WANTED TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, SUICIDE AND INCREASE
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO
COMMIT TO IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN DO THAT, COMMIT TO MAKING THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE, COMMIT TO REPAIRING THE WORLD AND COMMIT
TO DOING A LITTLE BIT OF KINDNESS AS JONATHAN DID FOR ALL
OF US TO SOMEBODY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IN JUDAISM, WE ALSO SAY WHEN SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY, MAY THEIR
MEMORY BE A BLESSING. IN THIS CASE I'M CERTAIN THAT
JONATHAN'S MEMORY IS A BLESSING TO HIS FAMILY, TO ALL OF US HERE
IN THIS BODY, TO ALL WHICH CAN BE SERVED ON THE MILWAUKEE CITY
COUNCIL AND FOR ALL THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THANK YOU. ADOPTION LEADING FROM THE 91
91st. I WAS TALKING TO JONATHAN'S
FATHER A FEW MINUTES AGO AND MENTIONED HOW OFTENTIMES WHEN I
WAS DRIVING BACK FROM MADISON TO O'CLAIRE, I WOULD CALL JONATHAN,
AND WE WOULD PROCESS THE WEEK. HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT LAST
WEEK AND REALLY WISHED HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO
JONATHAN LAST WEEK. I HAD MY OWN VERSION OF A
CONVERSATION WITH HIM. BUT THE RECEPTION WASN'T CLEAR
FROM WHEREVER HE WAS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. BUT ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE
TALKING, AND I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT A DEDICATED FATHER HE
WAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF DISCUSSING SOME
BILL THAT WAS BEFORE US, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE BREAKS OUT INTO
SINGING ITSY BITSY SPIDER, BUT HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING
A DIAPER AT THE TIME. THAT'S ALWAYS A MEMORY THAT
MAKES ME LAUGH. IT WASN'T EXCUSE ME.
HOLD ON. IN THE MIDDLE OF A DIAPER, HE
BLASTED IT RIGHT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION.
HE ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE TO PEOPLE'S FACES.
A LOT OF US ARE WEARING GREEN RIBBONS TODAY IN HONOR OF HIM
AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. AND I HADN'T SEEN JONATHAN SINCE
JUNE OF LAST YEAR. I HADN'T TALKED TO HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.
IT WAS THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO HIM.
AND I AM SO SORRY THAT I DID NOT KEEP IN BETTER CONTACT WITH HIM.
I HAD NO IDEA THE DEE DEMONS THE WAS BATTLING ON A DAILY BASIS.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN. THERE'S A LOT OF US WHO WISH
THAT HE WOULD HAVE REACHED OUT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN HE
WAS IN TO LEAVE ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW HE LOVED YOU ALL
SO INCREDIBLY MUCH, ESPECIALLY HIS CHILDREN, BUT A LOT OF US
WILL CARRY JONATHAN WITH US IN THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SHARING HIM WITH US.
>> ADOPTION LADY FROM THE 20 20th.
I FIRST MET JONATHAN DURING HIS FIRST RACE FOR THE STATE
ASSEMBLY. PARADE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DID NOT ENDORSE JONATHAN. ONE OF HIS VOLUNTEERS CAME OVER
TO ME AND MADE KIND OF A SNIDE NASTY REMARK.
SO ME BEING WHO I AM, I WENT OVER TO JONATHAN AND SAID I DID
NOT APPRECIATE THAT. THE NEXT DAY THAT VOLUNTEER WAS
AT MY DOOR APOLOGIZING. THAT IS WHAT -- THAT'S THE KIND
OF MAN THAT JONATHAN WAS. HE HAD SO MUCH INTEGRITY.
THIS IS REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT JONATHAN.
YOU KNOW, I SERVED WITH HIM. SOMETIMES HE COULD MAKE ME
CRAZY, BUT THAT'S -- CRAZIER, YES.
BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE HAD SUCH PASSION AND SUCH CONVICTION
FOR THE THINGS THAT HE BELIEVED IN.
NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND, NOTHING AT ALL.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, A PHOTO MEMORY POPPED UP ON MY PHONE,
AND IT REALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES, BECAUSE ALL I KEPT
THINKING WAS JONATHAN WANTED A FAMILY SO DESPERATELY, AND THIS
PICTURE WAS OF A BOY SITTING ON MY LIFE.
HE GRABBED THE EGG MCMUFFIN OUT OF MY HAND, ABOUT A YEAR OLD AT
THE TIME, AND HE ATE IT. I LOOKED AT JONATHAN, AND I SAID
DON'T YOU FEED YOUR CHILDREN, JONATHAN?
MOMENT IN THE OFFICE, AND WE WERE LAUGHING.
HE'S JUST -- HE WAS JUST SUCH A GUY.
THE LAST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HIM WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE LOST
HIM. HE ALWAYS ENDED CONVERSATIONS
WITH I APPRECIATE YOU. AND THAT ALWAYS STUCK WITH ME.
I WANT JONATHAN TO KNOW WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT HE TAUGHT US IN
THIS ROOM. THANK YOU.
>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 17th. >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
BEFORE YOU ADDRESS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, TODAY I RISE WITH THE
PERMISSION OF HARRIET MCKINNEY WHO IS AN ELDER IN THE 17th
DISTRICT. I GUESS NOW MY SUBCONSCIENCE
WILL ALLOW ME TO RESOLUTION THAT MY CONSCIENCE THAT MY FRIEND IS
NOT HERE IN A PHYSICAL FORM. TWICE A WEEK I'M LIKE MAN I HAVE
GOT TO CALL JOE PRO. I NEED ADD VASE ON SOMETHING.
EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM AS JONATHAN FRANCIS BROSTOFF.
I MOTOR HIM AT UWM, THIS JEWISH DUDE, UWM, AND I REMEMBER HIM
BECAUSE A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE FAN OUT WHEN THEY FIND OUT I'M
RELATED TO MY MOM. >> OH, YOU ARE RELATED TO
SO-AND-SO, TOO, HUH? OKAY.
COOL. HE LIKED TO CALL HIMS THE HONEY
BADGER. IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN THE VIDEO
ON YOUTUBE OF THE HONEY BADGER AND IT'S THE YOUTUBE VIDEO THAT
SAYS HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE, MESSING WITH BEES AND SNAKES AND
ALL TYPES OF THINGS, BECAUSE HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE.
THAT'S JONATHAN BROSTOFF. MY COLLEAGUE CALLED HIM
TENACIOUS. LET'S BE HONEST.
JONATHAN WAS ANNOYING. HE WAS ANNOYING, AND ANYBODY IN
THIS BODY THAT HAS EVER COME ACROSS HIM KNOWS HE WAS
ANNOYING. MORNING, AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE
HE'S BEEN UP FOR 3 HOURS ALREADY.
BUT HE FINALLY SAID IT'S LATE ENOUGH IN THE MORNING.
SO HE CALLS YOU AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING AND SAYS HEY, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING? I'M STILL ASLEEP.
I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN. YOU DO.
HE WAS -- I WILL TELL THE BRIEF STORY BEFORE I SIT DOWN.
I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN 2016 WITH LEGION AIRS DISEASE AND
HOOKED UP TO MACHINES, AND I HAD TO BE ON DIALYSIS TO FLUSH OUT
MY KIDNEYS. WHO WAS SITTING BESIDE MY BED
RUNNING HIS MOUTH? JONATHAN.
YOU SHUT UP. WHY ARE YOU TALKING SO MUCH.
AND I SAID WHY DID YOU KEEP TALKING WHEN I WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL? AND HE SAID DUDE, YOU LOOKED
BAD. I KEPT TALKING SO I WOULDN'T BE
IN THE THING. SO THAT'S THE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL
HE WAS. I'M TALKING ABOUT MY FRIEND,
JONATHAN BROSTOFF. AND THERE'S A SAYING IN JEWISH
TRADITION THAT SAYS -- AND I WILL SIT DOWN WITH THIS.
MAY HIS -- HAVE AN ALEAH. >> ASSEMBLY ROINT RESOLUTION
1ONADOPTION LEADING THE. >> I I MET JONATHAN IN A COFFEE
SHOP NEAR UWM. I MET THERE BECAUSE I WAS
RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN 2018 AS A CANDIDATE AND SAID SOME GUY
NAMED JONATHAN BROSTOFF WANTED TO VET ME.
I WILL BE HONEST. I WAS SCARED AND NOT SURE
EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT COFFEE SHOP.
I SHOWED UP AND MET A FIERCE ADVOCATE DRINKING WHAT I
REMEMBER WAS SOMETHING LIKE A GREEN TEA.
AND JONATHAN DROVE ME WITH QUESTIONS AND WAS VERY CLEAR ON
HIS PRIORITIES. HE WAS ALSO VERY CLEAR THAT HE
WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING ME IF I DID NOT PASS HIS TEST.
AND WE BEGAN TO TALK. WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT
AFTER I DID PASS THAT TEST, JONATHAN WAS GOING TO JUMP ON
BOARD AND FIGHT FOR ME, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.
WE FINISHED MY VETTING, AND HE SAID OKAY.
LET'S GO KNOCK SOME DOORS. SECOND MEMORY IS ONE THAT I
REVISIT REGULARLY. WE CLIMBED A TALL STEEP HILL TO
REACH A BROWN WOODEN DOORWAY WHERE HE STOOD NEXT TO MY VERY
DEAR FRIEND. AND HE TOLD THE MAN WHAT A GREAT
LEGISLATULEGISLATOR I WOULD BE,E WHEN JONATHAN WAS FOR YOU, YOU
KNEW IT. FEELING, AND I THINK MILWAUKEE
KNEW THAT FEELING. ON THE DAY THAT JONATHAN DIED, I
RECEIVED THE NEWS AS I WAS WALKING OUT OF AN APPOINTMENT,
AND I COLLAPSED ON THE MILWAUKEE SIDEWALK.
SAID I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU JUST FOUND OUT.
CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG? SHE KNEW THE NEWS I PROBABLY
JUST RECEIVED WAS ABOUT JONATHAN, BECAUSE IN MILWAUKEE,
WE FELT THIS LOSS AS A CITY. JONATHAN'S PRESENCE WAS SO HUGE,
WE FELT HIS LOSS AS A CITY. JONATHAN AND HIS LOVE FOR
MILWAUKEE WAS WELL KNOWN, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO CARES SO
MUCH ABOUT FENCES AND SALT AND PARKING AS JONATHAN DID.
WE HEARD ABOUT HIS QUICK CONSTITUENT RESPONSE TIMES.
IF THERE WAS A WAY THAT HE COULD MAKE THIS CITY BETTER FOR YOU,
HE WAS GOING TO DO IT. AND HE WAS LOVED FOR THAT.
HE WAS LOVED FOR HIS FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE HE CARED ABOUT AND
HIS LOSS WAS FELT BY HIS CITY. WE ALL KNOW JONATHAN'S FIRE.
AS I WALKED TO MY CAR AFTER LEARNING OF HIS LOSS, I WAS
SUDDENLY STRUCK WITH A MEMORY FROM MANY YEARS PRIOR, AND IT
FELT LIKE IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT.
IT WAS THE TABLE SLAP AT A TASK FORCE HEARING.
JONATHAN SERVED ON THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON SUICIDE
PREVENTION, AND BECAUSE IT WAS MEETING IN MY DISTRICT I WAS
INVITED. REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF AND
SUDDENLY THE ROOM SHOOK. I JUMPED.
I WAS TUN STUNNED. HE SLAPPED THE FAIBL AND YELLED
THAT WE WERE NOT DOING ENOUGH. HE WAS FURIOUS.
AND I FELT IT IN MY BODY. MY FIRST MEMORY OF JONATHAN
AFTER HE DIED WAS OF THAT SLAP TO THE TABLE THAT WE HAD NOT
DONE ENOUGH. WE ALL KNOW JONATHAN'S FIRE AND
KNOW IT'S MANY OF US THOUGHT OF WHEN WE LOST HIM.
HIS FIGHT, FIRE AND CLEAR ARTICULATION OF WHERE HE WAS ON
AN ISSUE. HIS RELENTLESS PUSH ON THE
ISSUES THAT MATTERED TO HIM. THAT FIRE.
I SAT BEHIND JONATHAN ON THE FLOOR HERE, AND WHEN HE SPOKE, I
WOULD WATCH THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.
AIR, AND I WOULD LOOK DOWN AT HIS FEET.
HIS SUIT PANTS PUDDLING AROUND THE RUNNING SHOES, CLASSIC
JONATHAN, SUIT ON THE TOP, RUNNING SHOES ON THE BOTTOM, AND
340R OBVIOUSLY SIGNALING HIS ENERGY AND MORE QUIETLY
COMMUNICATING HUMILITY. THERE WAS A HUMILITY AND
GENERALLINESS TO JONATHAN THAT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
MENTION. LEGISLATURE I WAS WORKING ON A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA 678 I
TOOK IT TO JONATHAN TO REVIEW BECAUSE IT WAS AN AREA OF
EXPERTISE FOR HIM. HE DIDN'T LIKE IT, BUT HE DIDN'T
TELL ME THAT. INSTEAD HE USED IT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH ME, AND HE DID IT IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL
AND DIGNIFIED AND PATIENT WAY. HE NEVER TOLD ME HE DIDN'T LIKE
IT. INSTEAD HE ASKED IF I WAS
WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS ON IT.
I SAID YES, AND HE SET THEM UP, AND HE ATTENDED.
HE CIRCLED OUT VOICES TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, AND NO ONE
OPPOSED ME BUT INSTEAD SHARED THEIR PERSPECTIVES.
IT WENT ON FOR MONTHS. HE WOULD CHECK IN WITH ME
PERIODICALLY. PROPOSAL WASN'T SO GOOD AFTER
ALL. THERE WAS NO CELEBRATION FROM
JONATHAN OR I TOLD YOU SO. THERE WAS INSTEAD MOVEMENT
FORWARD AND LIFE MOVED ON, AND I HAD LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO
ASK THE RIGHT PEOPLE QUESTIONS WHEN WRITING NEW LEGISLATION.
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO TREAT A COLLEAGUE WHO WAS WRITING
LEGISLATION THAT I DISAGREED WITH WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND
HUMILITY. REMEMBERING THAT AND HOW I LIVE
MY LIFE AS A LEGISLATOR. I WORE MY RUNNING SHOES TODAY
WITH MY SUIT TO HONOR JONATHAN. I AM HERE, STANDING AND SPEAKING
AND THINKING ABOUT HOW HE USED TO STAND RIGHT THERE.
I AM SO DEEPLY SAD THAT HE'S GONE.
I'M SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I LEARNED FROM REPRESENTATIVE
BROSTOFF. MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING,
COMPLETE WITH HUMILITY AND JONATHAN BROSTOFF FIRE.
>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE TENTH. >> JONATHAN BROSTOFF, WHO WAS
JAWLD JAY BRO BY SOME, HONEY BADGER AND OFTEN CALLED THE
GIANT PLAYER BY ME WHEN HE DID SOMETHING SYSTEMATICALLY DOPE.
HE WAS A FRIEND I WAS HONORED TO HAVE IN MY LIFE FOR ALMOST 12
YEARS. WHEN WE MET, I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.
HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE ALONGSIDE MY PREDECESSOR DAY OF
THE BOWEN. AND THEY HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL
BITS FOR ASSEMBLY THROUGH THEIR OWN DETERMINATION AND
DISCIPLINE. REALIZED HOW MUCH OF A GOOF BALL
AND NERDY HE WAS, JUST LIKE ME. WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
VIDEO GAMES, COMIC BOOKS, MUSIC THAT DROPPED.
TAUGHT HOW TO PLAY MAGIC THE GATHERING AND WENT ON TO GIVE ME
MY FIRST DECK THAT I STILL HAVE AT HOME.
THEN I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW LEGENDARY OF A PLAYER HE WAS IN
THAT GAME AS WELL WHEN HE BUST ME THREE TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN
SAID LEARN AND PLAY ME AGAIN SOME TIME.
HOOD, I GOT TO SEE JONATHAN SHOW UP IN SOLIDARITY IN MOVEMENT
SPACES. HAPPENED IN MILWAUKEE, WE SPENT
MANY WEEKS SHOWING UP ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DEFENSE OF
BLACK LIVES AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO USE THEIR PARK IN
THEIR COMMUNITY. HIS CAMARADERIE IN THE MOVEMENT
EVENTUALLY LED TO HIM GETTING ARRESTED.
AND HE WOULD CONSISTENTLY TELL ME THIS STORY LIKE I WASN'T
THERE, BUT I LOVED TO HEAR IT EVERY TIME AND ALWAYS FELT LIKE
IT WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE GAVE -- OR
ATTEMPTED TO GIVE THE OFFICER THAT ARRESTED HIM A PIECE OF
GUM, EXTRA GUM BECAUSE HE WAS BEING SO EXTRA.
I TELL THESE STORIES TO SHARE TWO LESSONS -- MORE THAN TWO
LESSONS THAT JONATHAN TAUGHT ME THROUGH OUR FRIENDSHIP THAT HE
WOULD CONSISTENTLY VOCALIZE TO ME, WHETHER IT BE A 6:30 A.M.
TEXT MESSAGE PHONE CALL OR 10:0E OR JUST A RANDOM TEXT OF HIS
KIDS DOING ALL THE THINGS. THE FIRST LESSON WAS THIS.
LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE, WHICH HE ALWAYS TOLD ME WHEN I
WAS FEELING STRESS. WHEN I ASKED WHAT HE MEANT WHEN
HE TOLD ME THIS, HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WHILE LIFE PRESENTS
CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES, THESE STRUGGLES ARE ULTIMATELY
WHAT MAKES LIFE MEANINGFUL AND WOULD LEAD TO PERFECT --
PERSONAL GROWTH AND FULFILLMENT. SECONDLY, HE WOULD SAY -- HE
TOLD ME MANY STORIES ABOUT HOW HE HELD SO MANY FOLKS
ACCOUNTABLE, HIS COLLEAGUES, THE GOVERNOR, ALL FOLKS.
HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYONE. AND THAT LESSON WAS HE TAUGHT ME
THROUGH ALL OF THESE STORIES DON'T START NONE, WON'T BE NONE.
AND LASTLY, THE LAST STORY -- THE LAST LESSON HE TAUGHT ME WAS
TO HOLD OUR FRIENDS CLOSE. JONATHAN ALWAYS BROUGHT PEOPLE
TOGETHER, WHETHER THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, AT HIS HOUSE AT A BONFIRE,
OR SHOWING UP AT SOMEONE'S EVENT AND CALLING AND TEXTING A FRIEND
AND SAYING HEY, COME TO THIS THING REAL QUICK.
I WANT YOU TO MEET THIS PERSON OR WHETHER IT WAS AT THE DINNER,
WHICH I GOT TO EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR IN
APRIL. HE HAD A GREAT, GREAT FAMILY.
AND HE -- BY HIS FAMILY, I MEAN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HE BUILT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH WERE HIS FAMILY, NOT JUST HIS FRIENDS.
HE SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE TIME FOR EVERYONE.
YOU HEARD ALL THESE FOLKS WHO SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM AT 6:0E
EVENING, AND HE WOULD ALWAYS CALL AT THE RIGHT TIME.
WHEN YOU FELT THE LOWEST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAGIC HE
HAD, BUT HE KNEW TO CALL YOU AT THE RIGHT TIME
I REALLY MISS MY FRIEND, BECAUSE I KNOW HE WOULD BE SO
HAPPY TO HEAR THE STORIES THAT HE'S TOLD US, SHARED WITH PEOPLE
TODAY AND THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS END THE CONVERSATION WITH BLESS
UP. SOLIDARITY, STAY WELL AND SO ON.
THANK YOU PHYLLIS. THANK YOU, DIANA.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR SON WITH US AND WELCOMING SO MANY
FOLKS INTO YOUR FAMILY. >> MORE MEMBERS HAVE POPPED INTO
THE CUE, BECAUSE I WOULD ASK AS BRIEF AS WE COULD BE WHILE BE
RESPECTFUL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LADY FROM THE 23rd.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. JONATHAN HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE
IN MY HEART BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT SUGGESTED THAT
I RUN FOR OFFICE. I WASN'T HIS CONSTITUENT.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM VERY WELL, BUT HE TOOK THE TIME TO
INVITE HIS TIME IN ME. HE WOULD GIVE ME ADVICE, AND HE
WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS
IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS NO EASY TASK SOMETIMES, BUT HE
CARED, AND HE SPENT HIS TIME WITH ME.
AFTER I WAS ELECTED, HE WOULD ALWAYS CALL AND CHECK IN,
MORNING, NOON, NIGHT. IF IT WAS A RANDOM CALL AT A
RANDOM TIME, MY HUSBAND WOULD BE LIKE IS THAT JONATHAN?
IT USUALLY WAS. HE HAD A PASSION FOR BE BETTER
BETTERING HIS COMMUNITY. IF YOU KNEW HIM FOR A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME. YOU FELT LIKE HE WAS YOUR
FRIEND, BECAUSE HE INVESTED IN YOU.
PERMISSION TO READ FROM A PRINTED DOCUMENT?
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION. >> THIS IS A LETTER FROM
JONATHAN'S FAMILY, WHOSE HERE TODAY.
DEAR MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE FOR
TODAY HONORING THE MEMORY OF OUR HUSBAND AND SON, JONATHAN
BROSTOFF. REMEMBER HIM AND ON
NOVEMBER 4th, 2024, HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE WITH A GUN HE
PURCHASED ONLY ONE HOUR EARLIER. ON OCTOBER 2019 AND WHILE IN
PUBLIC OFFICE, JONATHAN DISCUSSED HIS MENTAL STRUGGLES
IN AN OP ED IN MILWAUKEE, REFLECTED ON HIS ATTEMPT AS A
TEEN TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE AND JONATHAN SAID, FOR PEOPLE
CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, ACCESS TO A FIREARM IS LIKE HAVING YOUR
OWN PERSONAL AND PERMANENT DELETE BUTTON.
LET ME TELL YOU, HAVING THE POWER TO USE THAT DELETE BUTTON
WHEN THOUGHTS DON'T MAKE SENSE AND WHEN STRUCTURED THINK SG NO
LONGER PART OF THE EQUATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYONE FACING
THOSE TYPES OF STRUGGLES IS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE.
AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO SHARE, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY IF I HAD A
GUN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
OUR FAMILY BELIEVES HAD JONATHAN BE REQUIRED TO WAIT PERHAPS A
DAY OR TWO AFTER ENTERING THE GUN STORE LAST NOVEMBER HIS LIFE
MAY HAVE BEEN SPARED. NOW IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING
OTHER LIVES AT RISK FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DMETS I CAN
VIOLENCE OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU FIND THE
COLLECTIVE WILL TO REINSTATE A REASONABLE WAIT PERIOD FOR
FINALIZING GUN PURCHASES AND DOING THAT WOULD ENHANCE YOUR
THOUGHTFUL AND KIND HONORING OF HIS MEMORY TODAY.
WITH OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION, DIANA BROSTOFF AND
IF IS I WILL AND ALLEN BROSTOFF. JONATHAN ALWAYS HAD THE GUTS TO
SAY WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID. HE DIDN'T CARE IF IT MADE HIM
UNPOPULAR OR MADE OTHER PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.
HE STOOD UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT WITH THE COURAGE OF CONVICTIONS
AND I WHOLE HEARTEDLY ENCOURAGE YOU HERE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE
AND DO THE SAME. >> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 64th.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BUSY DAY AHEAD OF US.
I PROMISE TO BE BRIEF. I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT,
PAUSE AND GIVE SOME COMMENTS ON FORMER COLLEAGUE AND MY FRIEND
JONATHAN BROSTOFF. JONATHAN AND I WERE NOT INSTANT
FRIENDS. IT TOOK US SEVERAL YEARS, I
THINK, TO WARM UP TO EACH OTHER, BUT HE WAS A VERY BLUNT PERSON,
AND HE WAS VERY HONEST IN WHAT HE THOUGHT, AND ONCE HE BECAME
FRIENDS WITH SOMEBODY, THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK
HAPPENED. ADVOCATE FOR THAT PERSON IN ANY
ROOM HE WALKED INTO, AND THE SECOND IS THAT HE WOULD URGE
THAT PERSON TO ALWAYS DO MORE AND BE BETTER.
HE DID THE LATTER ONE AN AWFUL LOT FOR ME.
HE WAS FREQUENTLY URGING ME -- I THINK PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED
QUITE AT LENGTH ABOUT THE PHONE CALLS HE WOULD GIVE AT ODD
HOURS, SOMETIMES INAPPROPRIATE HOURS.
BUT HE WOULD FREQUENTLY DO THAT AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU
WOULD AGREE WITH HIM, HE WOULD CALL BACK A SECOND TIME, IF HE
HAD FORGOTTEN TO MAKE A POINT, EVEN AFTER I HAD JOINED IN HIS
SENTIMENTS, HE WAS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR THE VULNERABLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY, AND HE WILL BE MISSED GREATLY.
HE ALWAYS NEVER HESITATED TO REMIND US WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN
WE ALL DO BETTER. HE WILL BE MISSED THANK YOU.
>> ADAPTATION OF LADY FROM THE 78th.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE, IN THIS
CHAMBER TODAY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE
JONATHAN BROSTOFF AS NOT ONLY A COLLEAGUE BUT ALSO AS A FRIEND.
WHEN I WAS FIRST SWORN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 2019 MY OFFICE
WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF'S OFFICE
IN THE WEST WING. WE KNOW THINGS HAPPEN IN THE
WEST WING. NO MATTER WHERE MY OFFICE MOVED
IN THE CAPITAL, JONATHAN WAS ALWAYS MY NEIGHBOR.
HE ONCE TOLD ME HE LIKED STANDING ON THE GROUND FLOOR
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE BY THE NEW LEGISLATORS SO HE COULD
GUIDE US AND GIVE US HELP IF WE NEEDED IT.
JONATHAN WAS LIKE A COACH IN THAT WAY.
IF YOU HAD A DIFFERENCE OF AN OPINION, EVEN IF HE DISAGREED
WITH YOU, HE WOULD STILL BE THERE TO CHECK IN ON YOU AND TO
CHEER YOU ON. I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER JONATHAN
FOR HIS PASSION AND HIS TENACITY AS A LEGISLATOR FOR THE HEART
THAT HE HAD FOR PEOPLE. IN 2019 FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF ASKED FOR MY SUPPORT TO SIGN ON HIS
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRET HE WERE LICENSING BILL WHICH SOUGHT TO
REFORM LICENSING STANDARDS FOR INTERPRETERS AND ADDRESS SIGN
LANGUAGE AN INTERPRETERS SHORTAGE.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE BILL DID. HE BEGGED ME, AND SHEILA SIGN ON
TO THIS BILL BECAUSE I WANT TO CUT MY HAIR.
I DID. BECAUSE I WANTED HIM TO GET A
HAIRCUT. TALK THE TALK.
HE ACTUALLY WALKED THE WALK. I MADE SURE THAT HE HELPED GET
HIS BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
FOR THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAND HIS FIRM
GROUND. IN 2019?
JULY, OUR FRIEND, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF FINALLY
GOT HIS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS,
AND GOT HIS HAIRCUT IN CELEBRATION OF THE VICTORY.
THAT IS HOW WE REMEMBER MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND AS AN
ADVOCATE, AS A VOICE FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS, AS A FIGHTER.
IT IS MY HONOR TO SAY THAT I DEEPLY MISS HIM, AND I LAST
SPOKE WITH JONATHAN THIS SUMMER, AND IN THE WORDS OF JONATHAN
BROSTOFF, KEEP FIGHTING, AND DON'T GIVE UP.
>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 25th. >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
>> DIANA AND FAMILY, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
JONATHAN WAS A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE.
HE WAS ALSO A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL PERSON.
HAD ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS HERE AT THE CAPITOL.
FIRST HE ASKED ME IS THAT OKAY IF I ATTEND?
I'M JEWISH. YES, I WORSHIP A JEWISH MAN,
JESUS, IN CASE YOU DON'T GET IT. HE ALWAYS ADDED TO THE
CONVERSATION. SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS.
I DIDN'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
I WISH I DID. BUT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH
PROBLEMS, BUT THEY ARE AFFECTED BY IT, A FAMILY.
THERE WAS A WHOLE FAMILY AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH NOW
HITTING OUR CHAMBERS. MAYBE YOU ARE WATCHING THIS, AND
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS
YOU CAN DO THAT. 988, YOU CAN TEXT.
YOU CAN CHAT. YOU CAN CALL.
AND BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE ON-IF JONATHAN WERE HERE, I
DON'T THINK HE WOULD WANT ANYBODY TO BE GOING THROUGH
THIS. HELP.
I'M SORRY HE HAD TO FEEL SO DESPERATE THAT HE COULDN'T GET
THE HELP. BUT WE AS FELLOW HUMANS, WE HAVE
TO REACH OUT TO OUR FRIENDS AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE AND NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.
WITH THAT, THE VOTE IS GREEN. >> FINAL SPEAKER, LADY FROM THE
11th. >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT
WOULD PUT ME IN A VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION.
DIANA, TO THE PARENTS, THOSE OF US WHO KNOW JOE BRO.
MOST PEOPLE SAY JONATHAN, BUT IF YOU SAY JOE BRO, THAT MEANS YOU
KNOW JOE BRO. I REMEMBER THE MANY TIMES, KIDS
BIRTHDAY PARTIES, BONFIRES, PHONE CALLS, REAL CONVERSATIONS,
I KNEW JOE BRO EVEN BEFORE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR
OFFICE. THAT WE WOULD SPEND TOGETHER
JUST AS FAMILIES EATING, TALKING AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS
RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WE WAS JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEAL, I
WANT TO SAY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIM EATING HE WAS LIKE GIVE ME YOUR
SPEAL. GIVE ME YOUR SPEAL.
YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE? GIVE ME YOUR SPEAL.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME UP TO YOU, AND YOU HAVE TO BE READY.
SO I WENT THROUGH MY LITTLE SPEAL.
AT ME, AND HE WAS LIKE YOU WILL BE GOOD, AND THEN HE WAS LIKE
NEXT TIME SOMEBODY ASKS YOU, I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS
IN 30 SECONDS FLAT. THAT WAS JUST HIM.
HE WAS ALWAYS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER.
YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT A GRAY AREA WITH JOE BRO BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO GRAY AREA WITH HIM. IT WAS EITHER BLACK OR
ABSOLUTELY WHITE. THERE WAS NO IN BETWEEN.
I LOVE HIM FOR THAT. AS WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE, I WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT HIS LOVE
FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, HIS BABIES, AND IF
YOU ARE REALLY CLOSE TO HIM, YOU WOULD GET A PICTURE OUT OF
NOWHERE. AND IT WILL BE LIKE LOOK WHAT
THEY ARE DOING. JOE BRO, THAT'S CUTE, AND IT'S
LATE. I WE TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE
CLOSEST TO US, REMEMBERING WHO THEY ARE, IN SPITE OF WHAT THEY
WENT THROUGH, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND WHAT THEY
ADVOCATE FOR. AND HE STILL HAS A FAMILY AND
BABIES AND NOT TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ANYONE ELSE, BUT
MAKE SURE WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM, BECAUSE JOE BRO, IF HE WAS
IN TOUCH WITH US, I THANK YOU FOR HAVING IT AND I ABSOLUTELY
NEED TO SIT DOWN. THANKS.
ADOPTION OF ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 18.
ALL THOSE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF ADOPTION PLEASE RISE
FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> JOINT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 31st. >> THANK, MR. SPEAKER.
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT. >> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 21st ASK
THE RULES BE SUSPENDED AND JOINT RESOLUTION 18 BE SUSPENDED.
OBJECTION? THE JOINT RESOLUTION IS IN THE
SENATE. WHILE TODAY IS NOT A JOINT
CONVENTION, AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE ACTION THAT WE JUST TOOK,
WHICH IS NOT NORMAL DURING A JOINT CONVENTION, I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF OUR SUPREME COURT,
GOVERNOR EVERS, MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS FOR OUR
STATE AND BY MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE.
WELCOME TO OUR ADDRESS. AND THOMAS FOWLER WHO IS MEMBER
OF THE ST. CHOI CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF WISCONSIN WILL ADDRESS OUR
MEMBERS. BOOZHOO INDAAWAMAGANIDOOG.
NI ANISHINAABEDOOG. OGIMAAWAJIWEB INDIZHINIKAAZ.
MIIGIZI INDOODEM. WIIKOONAMITAAWINGAASING MINIWAA
WAAWIIYAGAMAAG INDOONJIBAA. MY NAME IS THOMAS FOWLER.
MY ANISHINAABE NAME, OGIMAWAAJIWEB, WAS GIVEN TO ME
BY GLADYS BEARHEART. IT TRANSLATES TO CHIEF SITTING
ON THE MOUNTAIN. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO MY FAMILY, MY WIFE MELISSA. I WANT TO THANK MY CHILDREN
ARIANNA, HUNTER, NOVA, NIAH, ANOKII, KOYA, AND MYLA.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE]
MY HEART HAS GROWN BIGGER WITH EACH OF YOU, AND I WITHOUT A
DOUBT, I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY WITHOUT EACH OF YOU.
LOOKING BACK, I REMEMBER WHEN DAVID MAABIN
MERRILL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ST. BROUGHT MYSELF AND HIS SON, MY
FRIEND, TO THIS VERY PLACE, THE THEY SAY THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE
TO RAISE A CHILD. MAABIN WAS PART OF THAT VILLAGE
AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ST. CROIX THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK MY PARENTS FOR TEACHING ME TO
MET WITH OPPOSITION. I WANT TO THANK MY GRANDMOTHERS,
DELORES CHIAAWAYSII ROGERS AND EILEEN MISCOBENAYSHII SKINAWAY,
FOR TEACHING ME TO RESPECT MY FELLOW ANISHINAABE PEOPLE, AND
ESPECIALLY TO RESPECT WOMEN. I WANT TO THANK MY CEREMONIAL
FAMILY, MY MENTORS, AND MY BOSS LADIES, YOU KNOW WHO EACH OF YOU
THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME REALLY DOES MEAN THE WORLD TO ME
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE EACH ONE OF YOU IN MY LIFE.
IT IS AN IMMENSE PRIVILEGE TO NATIONS AT THE 21ST ANNUAL STAT
OF THE TRIBES. CHI-MIIGWECH, WHICH MEANS THANK
YOU IN OUR OJIBWE LANGUAGE TO GOVERNOR EVERS, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR RODRIGUEZ, SPEAKER VOS SENATE, PRESIDENT FELZKOWSKI,
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LEMAHIE -- I HOPE I GOT THAT RIGHT.
SENATE MINORITY LEADER KESSELBEIN AND MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER AUGUST, ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER
NEUBAUER AND MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY, OUR LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES SENATOR ROMAINE QUINN, SENATOR ROB STAFSHOLT,
REPRESENTATIVE DUKE TUCKER REPRESENTATIVE ROB KREIBICH
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, CABINET SECRETARIES, JUSTICES OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WISCONSIN
TRIBAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE FOR
EXTENDING THE SAME PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO WISCONSIN CIRCUIT
COURT AND APPELLATE JUDGES TO TRIBAL JUDGES.
TRIBAL COURTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE PROTOCOLS FOR WICWA,
DISCRETIONARY TRANSFERS OF CHILD COLLECTIONS, HEALING TO WELLNESS
COURTS, AND PEACEMAKING MEDIATION ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF
UPHELD. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO
NATION LEADERS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE RISE FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
BAD RIVER BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, CHAIRMAN ROBERT
BLANCHARD, FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY, CHAIRMAN
JAMES CRAWFORD, HO-CHUNK NATION PRESIDENT JON GREENDEER, LAC
COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE TAYLOR, LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF
LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS, MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF
WISCONSIN, CHAIRMAN JOEY AWONOHOPAY, SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA
LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, CHAIRMAN ROBERT VAN ZILE, ONEIDA NATION
CHAIRMAN TEHASSI HILL, RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA,
STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE COMMUNITY BAND OF MOHICAN INDIANS,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MY FELLOW ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA
COUNCIL MEMBERS, BERNICE TAYLOR CONRAD, ST. JOHN, RICK BENJAMIN
GEORGIA COBENAIS. IT IS NO EASY TASK TO LEAD A
IT TAKES AMBITION, DEVOTION, FAMILIES, AND MORE OFTEN THAN
NOT, REALLY, REALLY THICK SKIN. THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS
INSPIRING AND I THANK EACH OF CHI-MIIGWECH.
I CANNOT CONTINUE THIS SPEECH WITHOUT GIVING A SPECIAL MENTION
OF THANKS TO ST. CROIX'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SPECIALISTS MICHAEL DECORAH AND PETE LABLANC, EACH CONTRIBUTING
20+ YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR ACTIVE WITH 16-MEMBER TRIBES
FROM WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, AND MICHIGAN.
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HERE IN MADISON, AND AT HOME, HAVE MADE
FINALLY, CHI-MIIGWECH TO ST. CROIX TRIBAL ELDERS, OUR ST.
CROIX ROYALTY AND YOUTH COUNCIL, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, GUESTS, AND
TODAY'S GATHERING IS PROOF OF THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT
EXIST BETWEEN TRIBAL NATIONS AND WE ARE THE LEGACY OF ALL
US. AS AN ANISHINAABE PERSON, MY
GRANDPARENTS, AND ANCESTORS KNEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS COULD ONLY
COMMUNITIES. OUR SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES,
VALUES, EXPERTISE, CULTURE, AND LIVES.
OUR GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP IS FOREVER
BENEFIT. WISCONSIN IS HOME TO ELEVEN
NATIVE, WITH AN ESTIMATION OF AROUND 86,000 TRIBAL MEMBERS
RESIDING IN WISCONSIN. TRIBAL NATIONS ENTERED INTO
TREATIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 1837, 1842, 1847,
AND 1854, WHICH ESTABLISHED WISCONSIN RESERVATIONS AND
TERRITORIES, IN EXCHANGE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES OF OUR
HISTORICAL HOMELANDS AND BEGAN THE TRUST RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TRIBES.
TODAY THIS TRUST RELATIONSHIP CERTIFIES TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND
THE INHERENT AUTHORITY OF INDIGENOUS TRIBES TO GOVERN
AFFAIRS. AMERICAN TRIBES ARE DISTINCT,
SELF-GOVERNING ENTITIES WITH OUR OWN LEGAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS,
SEPARATE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
THIS TRUST RELATIONSHIP ALSO OBLIGATES THE PROTECTION AND
REGULATION OF TRIBAL LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES, EDUCATION,
AND HEALTH CARE. HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED TO OUR MEMBERS THROUGH INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND
TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES TO TRIBES REQUIRE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO
UPHOLD ITS COMMITMENT OF PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES TO
OUR PEOPLE. TREATY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN
RULINGS, INCLUDING THE LANDMARK VOIGT DECISION IN 1983 WHICH
UPHELD OJIBWE OFF-RESERVATION HUNTING AND FISHING RIGHTS IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN. TRIBAL NATIONS EACH HAVE THEIR
OWN GOVERNMENT, LANGUAGES, BELIEFS, AND CEREMONIES.
WE OPERATE OUR OWN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, OUR TRIBAL PEOPLE ARE BOTH
UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND NATIONS, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD
OUR LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR HOMELANDS IS INTERTWINED IN
EVERY PART OF OUR BEING, SO MUCH SO, THAT AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR
IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS, POWWOWS, AND GATHERINGS, OUR HONORED
VETERANS LEAD THE WAY CARRYING NOT ONLY OUR TRIBAL NATION'S
FLAGS AND STAFFS, BUT THE AMERICAN FLAG FIRST AND
THERE IS NO OTHER BEING MORE PATRIOTIC THAN OUR OGICHIDAAG
AND OUR OGICHIDAAKWEG, OUR WARRIORS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES SERVE IN THE ARMED
NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE PER CAPITA SERVING
THAN ANY OTHER NATIONALITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
[APPLAUSE] AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA
NATIVES HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE OTHER PATRIOTS WITH DISTINCTION
IN EVERY MAJOR CONFLICT FOR OVER 200 YEARS.
OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND
WISCONSIN IS HOME TO AN ESTIMATED 2,800 NATIVE AMERICAN
CHI-MIIGWECH TO OUR WARRIORS WHO HAVE BRAVELY DEFENDED OUR
COUNTRY AND HOMELANDS, AND WHO CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR WAY OF
[APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE
TVSO EAGLE STAFF, JEFF TAYLOR, U.S. MARINES, DESERT STORM,
WISCONSIN TRIBAL VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER;
[APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX EAGLE STAFF, BRUCE
GERMANY; [APPLAUSE]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FLAG, RESERVES, ACTIVE;
[APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX FLAG. ANNE
TOMASZEWSKI, U.S. AIR FORCE, RETIRED WITH 20 YEARS OF
SERVICE; [APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN FLAG, GEORGIA COBENAIS, ARMY RESERVES;
POW FLAG, PATTI EDWARDS, U.S. ARMY, PEACE TIME.
[APPLAUSE] AT ST. CROIX WE STRIVE TO
THAT EXISTS AMONGST OUR WARRIORS BY CONTINUALLY SEEKING SOLUTIONS
THAT DEFEND AND REASSERT OUR SOVEREIGNTY AS A NATION, AND BY
SECURING OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS: OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR
CHILDREN. NEAR THE END OF 2023, THE ST.
WHICH REMOVED THE BUREAU OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES.
THIS REMOVAL WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO DROP
THE SECRETARIAL ELECTION ALSO ALLOWED OUR TRIBE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE BLOOD TO LINEAL DESCENDANCY, MEANING
ELIGIBILITY TO BECOME A TRIBAL MEMBER IS NOW BASED ON IF A
PARENT IS A MEMBER. THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE
CERTIFIED BY THE BIA ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2023.
OUR ENROLLMENT DEPARTMENT AND ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE HAVE SPENT
THE LAST YEAR ENROLLING 765 DESCENDANTS INTO THE ST. CROI
TRIBE. IN DOING SO, PROVIDING THEM WITH
GREATER OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES.
HAS ALLOWED OUR PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITIES, LEARN
AND PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS CULTURAL PRACTICES, EXERCISE
TREATY RIGHTS FOR FISHING, HUNTING AND HARVESTING AND
INCREASE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES SO OUR CHILDREN CAN LEARN TO BE
PROUD OF WHERE THEY COME FROM. OUR TRIBE, LIKE MANY OTHERS,
FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTINCTION PRIOR TO THE
ELIMINATION OF BLOOD QUANTUM. WITH LINEAL DESCENDANCY, WE ARE
NO LONGER MEASURING WHO WE ARE BY THE AMOUNT OF INDIAN BLOOD WE
HAVE. WE ARE ST. CROIX BECAUSE OF OUR
ANCESTORS BECAUSE OF WHO CAME THIS DECISION TO REMOVE BLOOD
QUANTUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT ENSURES OUR
SOVEREIGNTY CONTINUES FOREVER. SOVEREIGNTY AND STRONG
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALWAYS FOCAL FOR TRIBAL
LEADERS. WHILE OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
MANY NEW CHANGES AS OUR NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AND FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION TRANSITIONS IN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE
TO DISTINGUISH AND DIFFERENTIATE THIS SOVEREIGNTY FROM ETHNICITY.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS,
STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS DESCRIBES IT BEST: TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE NOT
WE ARE CITIZENS OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS.
TO SPEAK TO CITIZENS OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AS A MINORITY IS
THESE PROTOCOLS GO ON TO EXPLAIN, NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE
HAD STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTS DUE TO LACK OF
FOLLOW THROUGH, APPROPRIATE BE MINDFUL OF THIS FACT WHEN
WORKING WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.
RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS GROWN AND STRENGTHENED BETWEEN TRIBAL
NATIONS AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN THE PAST 180+
YEARS. CHI-MIIGWECH TO OUR PAST AND
PRESENT TRIBAL AND STATE LEADERS NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH TO
OF OUR PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT [APPLAUSE]
WHILE WE DISCUSS GOOD FAITH, IT UNEASINESS SURROUNDING THE
GOVERNMENT LEVEL AND WHAT THIS MAY MEAN FOR TRIBES AND OUR
PEOPLE. I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT NOT
TO DWELL IN UNCERTAINTIES. THE TRUTH IS THAT WE HAVE
NAVIGATED THROUGH SOME GREAT ADMINISTRATIONS THROUGHOUT
HISTORY WHO WORKED HARD TO UPHOLD TREATIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH
TRIBES. WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME
BUT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED
ORGANIZATIONS, COUNCILS, POLITICIANS, AND ALLIES WORKING
WE ARE STRONG, COHESIVE, PROUD, INTELLIGENT, AND HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR
COMMUNITIES YOUTH. OFFER YOUR ASEMAA, YOUR TOBACCO.
THERE IS A STORY THAT ANISHINAABE TELL ABOUT THE
MIGIZI, THE EAGLE, AND WHY HE IS SUCH A REVERED AND RESPECTED
BEING. I WON'T TELL THE FULL STORY HERE
SAID THAT IF THE MIGIZI SEES JUST ONE ANISHINAABE STILL
OFFERING THEIR TOBACCO AND GIVING THANKS THAT OUR CREATOR
WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND TAKE PITY UPON ALL OF US. OFFER YOUR
TOBACCO. GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THAT WE
TOBACCO TO AN ELDER IN YOUR AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WE BELIEVE
WE PROVIDE FOR OUR PEOPLE IN MANY WAYS.
I BELIEVE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WANT THE SAME THINGS; PHYSICAL
SAFETY, FINANCIAL SECURITY, LOVE AND HAPPINESS.
MOST OF US WANT THAT FOR OTHER I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU ALL RAN
WANT THOSE THINGS FOR OTHER [APPLAUSE]
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS REPEATEDLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF
RESPECTING TRIBAL NATION SOVEREIGNTY AND HAS COMMITTED TO
EMPOWERING TRIBES TO MANAGE THEIR OWN LAND AND RESOURCES AND
BY ENSURING NATIVE COMMUNITIES ARE GUARANTEED THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO PROMOTE SELF- DETERMINATION.
FULLY REALIZING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE
IS POSSIBLE AND TRIBAL NATIONS ARE EAGER TO CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE CLOSER TO THAT FULL REALIZATION.
TRIBAL NATIONS SEEK COMMON-SENSE PROTECT OUR OWN PEOPLE, PRESERVE
OUR OWN CULTURES, AND CONTROL OUR OWN LANDS AND RESOURCES
WITHIN OUR OWN BOUNDARIES. BECAUSE TRIBES ARE NOT CHILDREN
OF THE GOVERNMENT. [APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN ACT 31 MANDATES TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.
THE INCEPTION OF ACT 31 STEMMED FROM THE VIOLENT CONTROVERSARY
OVER OUR OJIBWE RIGHTS TO SPEARFISH IN THE 1980S, AS
ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE VOIGT DECISION.
THESE WERE THE DAYS OF THE WALLEYE WARS, SAVE A WALLEYE,
WHILE WE REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR THE ANISHINAABE PRACTICES, WE WANT
MORE. WE FEAR RETURNING TO A PUBLIC
EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND
TEACHINGS. ACT 31 IS NOT ENOUGH; IT
TRUTHFULLY HAS NEVER BEEN OUR NEIGHBORS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT
RIGHTS, OR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. I THANK GOVERNOR EVERS FOR
MEMBERS TO ST. CROIX AT THE END OF 2024 FOR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
TRAINING ON THESE VERY TOPICS COMMISSION.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO UNDERSTANDING AND COLLABORATING WITH OUR
I APPLAUD YOU, MR. EVERS. [APPLAUSE]
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TRIBES POSITION THAT MORE NATIVE
AMERICAN HISTORY NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT IN OUR PUBLIC-SCHOOL
SYSTEMS. WE ASK THIS BODY TO COLLABORATE
FURTHER ON INDIAN EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS.
WE THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF TO INCLUDE FULL TUITION WAIVERS
AT THE OTHER UW CAMPUSES CLOSER TO THOSE OF US IN RURAL, INDIAN
[APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX IS IN AN EDUCATION
DESERT, AND OUR KIDS WON'T ALL FIND SUCCESS MOVING SO FAR FROM
WE ALSO ASK FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL UNIVERSITIES IN
WISCONSIN, LIKE LAC COURTE THE COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATIO
[APPLAUSE] INVESTING IN BOTH UW CAMPUSES
AND TRIBAL HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORTS TRIBES AND OUR STUDENTS
AND, ULTIMATELY, CHANGES LIVES. OUR KIDS SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH
WALKING IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT WORLDS.
WE ASK THAT THIS BODY SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT SERVES OUR
STUDENTS LIKE LRB-0122/1 SO THAT SCHOOL BOARDS AND CHARTER
INDIAN STUDENTS FROM WEARING GRADUATION CEREMONY OR
[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO SEEK SUPPORT FOR BILL
SB87 WHICH GIVES TRIBES MORE DISCRETION OVER TRIBAL TEACHER
LICENSING AND REMOVES BARRIERS FOR QUALIFIED TRIBAL TEACHERS
AND AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE HE EDUCATORS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENT'S EDUCATION BY ALS
PASSING. AB101, SB89, WHICH WILL
REQUIRE THAT EACH SCHOOL IN DECEMBER 2024, THE U.S.
SENATE TOOK A HISTORIC STEP BY SCHOOL POLICIES ACT OF 2023,
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT. THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED THE WHERE IT CONTINUES TO SIT.
THIS ACT SEEKS TO UNCOVER THE INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT WILL DELIVER RESEARCH AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES SO
THAT PATHWAYS TOWARD HEALING CAN BE IDENTIFIED.
THIS ACT IS CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE TRAGEDY OF BOARDING SCHOOLS NOT LOST OR FORGOTTEN.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO AFFORD THEM DIGNITY AND RESPECT, TO ADDRESS
THE LOSS THEY SUFFERED, OFTEN TIMES WHILE BEING ALONE.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS BODY TO HELP PROPEL THE S.1723 BILL
FORWARD. I RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ALL THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE REPEATS ITSELF.
[APPLAUSE] WE NEED TO USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO
UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
OUR PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS OF PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS THAT
WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY BOARDING SCHOOLS.
THE LOSS OF LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY THROUGHOUT OUR FAMILIES
MANY OF OUR RELATIVES TURNED TO ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING DRUGS AND
VIOLENCE THAT STRESS OUR COMMUNITIES AND OVERWHELM OUR
SYSTEMS. INDIAN COUNTRY IS OVERDUE FOR AN
HONEST EFFORT TOWARDS RECONCILIATION.
[APPLAUSE] IT'S NO SECRET THAT OUR CHILDREN
ARE UP TO FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES
AND PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. BEING A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER AND
ADOPTIVE PARENT FOR OVER A DECADE, I HAVE PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED HOW BOARDING SCHOOLS DISRUPTED TRADITIONAL NATIVE
AMERICAN PARENTING AND DAMAGED WE KNOW THAT TRAUMA AFFECTS US
IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
OUR ELDERS TODAY, THROUGHOUT TRIBAL NATIONS, SHARE A SIMILAR
MEMORY OF A BLACK CAR COMING DOWN THEIR DRIVEWAY AND THE
WOODS TO HIDE SO THEY WOULDN'T BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I HOLD THEIR LANGUAGE CLOSE TO MY
HEART. SPEAK OUR OJIBWEMOWIN.
SINCE COLONIZATION MANY MANY OF MY ANISHINAABE RELATIVES
INCLUDING MY OWN GRANDMOTHER WERE FORCED INTO A BOARDING
SCHOOL AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK OJIBWE.
WHILE OUR LANGUAGE MAY BE CURRENTLY ON LIFE SUPPORT,
OJIBWEMOWIN HAS NO BORDERS, NO WALLS, AND THROUGH
REVITALIZATION IT WILL HAVE NO LIMITS.
[APPLAUSE] A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FROM ALL
REVITALIZATION HAS BEGUN. ESTABLISHING FUNDING HAS US
TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION VOCABULARY BACK AND TO BE TAUGHT
WORDS WE NEVER WOULD HAVE HEARD WHILE SURVIVING THROUGH
INTRICATE AND ABUSIVE OPPRESSION.
PRESERVATION OF OUR LANGUAGE IS SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF US.
I PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CATALOGING OUR ELDERS SPEAKING
OJIBWEMOWIN AND SHARING THOSE LESSONS WITH THE WORLD.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSER TO THIS DREAM THAN WE ARE NOW WITH
THE FLEXIBLE FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL IN ST. CROIX WHEN I SAY WE EXPRESS
OUR IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO GOVERNOR EVERS AND THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE GRANT AWARD OF $4.25 MILLION
TO ASSIST IN THE EXPANSION OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY
CENTER IN OUR SAND LAKE COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] THE FACILITY WILL REDUCE
BARRIERS TO CRUCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING PROVIDING
CULTURAL CONNECTION, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES. THE FACILITY WILL BE A
INCLUDE AN ELDER CENTER, LANGUAGE AND MUSIC PRESERVATION
STUDIO, AND SIX CLASSROOMS. CHI-MIIGWECH, GOVERNOR EVERS.
I ASK THAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE
REVITALIZATION OF OJIBWEMOWIN. NOT JUST MONETARILY, BUT WITH
YOUR TIME, YOUR ATTENTION, AND YOUR PEOPLE.
IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, THE ST. CROIX NATION UPDATED OUR ROAD
SIGNS TO INCLUDE THE OJIBWE WORDS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
I KNOW MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE THIS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS
WELL. NEW FACILITIES ACROSS INDIAN
COUNTRY ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION IS ALSO
COLLABORATION WITH THE BAYFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TEACH
OJIBWEMOWIN IN THEIR PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEM, BA
RIVERS ADULT -- AND LTS BAD RIVER'S ADULT IMMERSION PROGRAM
AND MENOMONIE'S WASECEWAN LANGUAGE CAMPUS.
I ENCOURAGE US ALL TO PUSH MOVE INTO A PLACE OF NORMALIZED
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE SHIFTED FROM
PRESERVATION TO REVITALIZATION [APPLAUSE]
ALONG WITH LANGUAGE BEING A RELIED ON PLANT MEDICINES FOR
CENTURIES. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS
THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WERE PURPOSES.
AS EARLY PRACTITIONERS OF HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBES
ACROSS THE CONTINENT, FROM TREATING PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
TO ADDRESSING SPIRITUAL THE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL
BEFORE WESTERN MEDICINE AND THE SHADOW OF PROHIBITION.
IN OUR MODERN SOCIETY, OUR PEOPLE ARE MEDICALLY PREDISPOSED
TO NUMEROUS AFFLICTIONS. WE NEED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR
CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT, DISORDER, AND ADDICTION.
[APPLAUSE] ADDICTION HAS LEFT NO FAMILY
UNTOUCHED THROUGHOUT INDIAN COUNTRY.
AND DEADLY FENTANYL ARE NOW FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN NATIONAL
RATES. AND FENTANYL CAN DESTROY PEOPLE
MY DAUGHTER WROTE A POEM TO HER THIS IS HER POEM.
MOM, I SEEN BABY TURTLES AND FROGS AND BIRDS AND GRASSHOPPERS
AND SPIDERS, AND I SMELT BUG SPRAY AND TREES AND LEAVES AND
PEOPLE AND THE SUN AND PONDS AND MOSQUITOES.
THEY WERE BIGHTING ME. I PUT BUG SPRAY, AND THEY WERE
STILL BIGHTING ME. I GOT SO IRRITATED.
I LOVE YOU. SHE LEFT THIS POEM, WRITTEN ON A
SMALL PIECE OF NOTEBOOK PAPER, ON HER MOM'S GRAVE.
IN MAY 2023 MY DAUGHTER'S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER'S LIFE WAS
TAKEN TOO EARLY, FROM AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE OF THIS
DEADLY FENTANYL. NIAH'S STORY ISN'T UNIQUE.
OVERDOSES HAVE NEARLY WIPED OUT A GENERATION OF OUR TRIBAL
NATION MOTHERS AND FATHERS. THROUGH THE REGULATION OF
TOWARDS MOVING PEOPLE OFF HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUGS, DRUGS WHICH ARE
KILLING OUR PEOPLE. DATA INDICATES THAT IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN WHERE BAN KISS IS NOT LEGAL,
THERE IS OVER A 25% REDUCTION IN OPIOID USE AND OVERDOSES.
PROVIDE ALL CITIZENS IN WISCONSIN WITH ALTERNATIVE
[APPLAUSE] A MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL LAST
YEAR SHOWED 86% OF WISCONSIN REGISTERED VOTERS SUPPORT
MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION [APPLAUSE]
THE CHIPPEWA FEDERATION, IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE INDIGENOUS
CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, ICIA, THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL TASK
FORCE ON CANNABIS, AND TRIBAL NATION LEADERS ARE HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE 95% OF DEMOCRATS, THE 84% OF INDEPENDENTS, AND THE
78% OF REPUBLICANS TO ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS
LEGALIZATION. [APPLAUSE]
LET'S SEE THIS FORWARD. WE MUST NOW FOCUS OUR WORK ON
EDUCATION, REFORM, AND REGULATION OF SAFE, MEDICAL
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE PROUD OF IN OUR TRIBAL
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS ARE IN RECENT DATA PROVIDED BY THE
AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION, WISCONSIN TRIBAL GAMING ALONE
ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 26,700 JOBS, MANY OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN
RURAL AREAS, HELPING TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL FAMILIES ALIKE.
FOR ABOUT $604 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE AND TRIBAL REVENUE SHARE
TRIBES EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF THE ST. CROIX CASINOS OFFER 400+
HEALTH BENEFITS, AND RAISE A WE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN
MANY OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS ARE WELL.
MONEY SPENT IN TRIBAL NATIONS IS COMMUNITIES.
GRANT FUNDS AWARDED TO TRIBES ALLOW FOR THE HIRING OF
THE PROVISIONS WE PROVIDE FOR OUR PEOPLE BENEFIT OTHERS TOO.
OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES BENEFIT FROM OUR
THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD WORK THE GENEROSITY OF OUR TRIBES
COULD BE SEEN CLEARLY DURING THE OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH THE HELP
OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SET UP DOZENS OF
VACCINE CLINICS, INCLUDING MOBILE VACCINE CLINICS, WHICH
OUR PEOPLE WORKED ON FOOD AND MILK GIVEAWAYS, OFTEN IN
DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE ALSO OPEN
AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC. MOST RECENTLY, ST. CROIX
VENDING MACHINES IN OUR LARGEST RESERVATION COMMUNITIES OF
DANBURY, SAND LAKE, MAPLE PLAIN, AND ROUND LAKE.
THEY ARE THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND WISCONSIN, DISPENSING FIFTEEN
UNIQUE PRODUCTS TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF TRIBAL
AFFILIATION, AND AT ZERO COST. THE MACHINES DISPENSE NARCAN,
FENTANYL & XYLAZINE TEST KITS, DRUG DISPOSAL BAGS, VARIOUS
TESTING KITS, PREGNANCY TESTS AND PLAN B, CABLE GUN LOCKS, AA
BIG BOOKS, SMOKING CESSATION [APPLAUSE]
WE PRIORITIZED THIS INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE THESE PRODUCTS
ACROSS THREE COUNTIES, TO HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BENEFIT US
ALL. [APPLAUSE]
THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE AND PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE A
SECONDARY BENEFIT OF THIS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT
BENEFIT IS THAT THESE MACHINES HEALTH.
[APPLAUSE] I WOULD BE REMISS IF I FAILED TO
FOREFRONT AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN
AND RELATIVES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH [APPLAUSE]
A 2016 STUDY BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE FOUND THAT
NEARLY 85% OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN HAVE
EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, INCLUDING OVER 56% WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
OTHER REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE IS NO RELIABLE COUNT OF
JUST HOW MANY NATIVE WOMEN GO MISSING OR ARE KILLED EACH YEAR
BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ADEQUATE RESEARCH.
IN JANUARY A SAN CARLOS APACHE TEENAGER, EMILY PIKE, WENT
MISSING. HER REMAINS WERE FOUND NEARLY
MONTHLER MORE THAN 80 MILES FROM WHERE SHE WAS LAST SEEN.
THIS IS SUCH A TRAGEDY. INDIAN COUNTRY, AND OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HER THIS IS TOO COMMON FOR OUR
PEOPLE, AND IT MUST STOP. WE NEED MORE STATE AND FEDERAL
WE NEED ADEQUATE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO SERVE OUR
ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, STRENGTHENED ALERT SYSTEMS,
INCREASED FUNDING FOR TRIBAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SHELTER,
AND INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
WE MUST DO BETTER. FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM, SAY THEIR
NAME. EMILY PIKE.
[APPLAUSE] I STAND HERE ON BEHALF OF MY
INDIGENOUS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WATER QUALITY STANDARDS IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN. WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR STANDARDS
OF WATER CLEANLINESS TO BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL WATER SHEDS,
WHICH WILL PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION TO GIIGOONH, OUR
FISH, AND MANOOMIN, OUR WILD RICE.
THERE IS AN INCREASED LACK OF FIGHT INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE
WATER. THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE SULFATE
LEVELS IN OUR WATERS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SULFATE
THIS INVOLVES BETTER REGULATION RUNOFF OF CHEMICAL SPRAYS,
COMMERCIAL WASTE, ROAD SALT, ETC.
WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE NEXT TO THE NATURAL WORLD HAS ALWAYS
THREATS, INCLUDING POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGES, AND HABITAT
LOSSES. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE
TACKLE ALONE, SO WE MUST UNIFY TO SECURE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ST. CROIX HAS COMMITTED TO CLEAN
ENERGY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP $4.5 MILLION SOLAR PROJECT.
THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDAMENTAL OUR GREATEST ASSET IS SOMETHING
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE, A [APPLAUSE]
THIS IS WHY IT FEELS SO DISHEARTENING TO HEAR ABOUT
ANOTHER OIL SPILL SEEMINGLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
THE DNR INVESTIGATION OF A TRIBES HAVE NEVER BEEN SILENT ON
THEIR CONCERN OF THE OUR LANDS AND WATERWAYS ARE AT
RISK, PUTTING OUR FOOD, WATER, OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE
NATURAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE SUSTAINED OUR PEOPLE FOR
WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR
OUR NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
ONE OF ST. CROIX'S MOST REVERED ELDERS, AND PREVIOUS TRIBAL
CHAIRMAN FOR MANY YEARS, JOURNEYED HOME LAST YEAR.
HIS NAME WAS LEWIS ZHINAWISE LEWIS REPRESENTED ST. CROIX FOR
HE GAVE THIS SPEECH IN 2010. LEWIS HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR
GAMING EXCLUSIVITY ACROSS HE STOOD FIRMLY ON TRIBAL
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GREAT LAKES INDIAN FISH AND WILDLIFE
COMMITTEE AND AT ONE TIME SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE GREAT LAKES
ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE AROUND US, LEWIS HAD A HAND IN THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE MR. TAYLOR FOR ALL HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS, NOT JUST IN ST. CROIX BUT THROUGHOUT INDIAN
COUNTRY AND OUR GREAT STATE. [APPLAUSE]
I ALSO CANNOT CLOSE THIS SPEECH WITHOUT RECOGNIZING TWO
ADDITIONAL ELDERS AND LEADERS WHOSE ABSENCE HAS BEEN AN
INDESCRIBABLE LOSS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES: JEAN
MOOKIJIWANIBIIKWE SONGETAY FROM OUR DANBURY COMMUNITY AND EILEEN
MISCOBINAYSHII SKINAWAY FROM OUR BOTH JEAN AND MISCOBINAYSHII
WERE NOT JUST LEADERS, BUT SHINING EXAMPLES OF THE STRENGTH
AND RESILIENCE OF OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.
AS INDIGENOUS MEN, WE CANNOT NURTURE THE WORLD LIKE OUR WOMEN
THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RESPECT OUR MOTHERS,
[APPLAUSE] NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS
ESSENTIAL TO HAVE STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE TRIBAL AND STATE
RELATIONS. WHEN WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER, WE
BUILD A BETTER AND STRONGER OUR 11 TRIBAL NATIONS AND
THIS BEGINS WITH HONORED HISTORY WISCONSIN'S COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH TRIBAL NATIONS CAN BE AN EXAMPLE OUR ENTIRE
NATION CAN LOOK UP TO. THE CHIPPEWA FEDERATION, AND ITS
I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
WHEN YOU TAKE POSITIONS ON BILLS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO
RESPECT THE TRIBES AND OUR ANISHINAABE PEOPLE.
WISCONSIN IS OUR HOMELAND. WE ALL WANT TO REPRESENT
WISCONSIN WELL AND FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL RESIDENTS, OUR
VETERANS, OUR ELDERS, OUR YOUTH, BECAUSE WHEN WISCONSIN IS AT ITS
BEST, WE ALL WIN. CHI MIIGWECH.
THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]
I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING. TO ALL MY INDIGENOUS BROTHERS
AND SISTERS OUT THERE, WE ARE NOT BROKEN.
WE ARE STRONG, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] IF SOME OF YOU ARE UP FOR IT, WE
WILL SING A COUPLE OF POWWOW SONGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CAPITOL THERE. YOU SHOULD COME DANCE WITH US.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE NOW.