- Hi, I'm Congressman Mark Pocan
from Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District,
and I'm running for reelection
to serve the people of southcentral Wisconsin,
Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District.
It's been an honor to serve people for the last five terms,
10 years, in Congress.
This session in particular, we have gotten a lot done,
more than I think any term I've been in Congress.
And I'd just like to share that with you.
Last year, early in the year,
we passed the American Rescue Plan.
That's the bill that put money in people's pockets,
the $1,400 checks, the shots in people's arms,
got kids back into school safely,
and got people into jobs.
It also was our first chance
to get some funds to local and state governments
coming out of COVID,
and it was really crucial at the time it happened.
Then in fall, I think for four presidents,
Democrats and Republicans,
we've talked about rebuilding our nation's infrastructure.
Well, we did it.
An over trillion dollar bill
that is gonna invest in our roads and bridges,
our broadband, our water delivery systems,
half a million electric vehicle charging stations
across the country.
In all, about a million and a half new jobs
helping to rebuild America.
Then this year, we passed the CHIPS Act.
The CHIPS Act is probably something
that got the least attention,
but probably has some of the longest-term ramifications.
Trying to build more things here in the United States.
Mainly, computer chips.
The average vehicle has about 1,000 computer chips.
The average electric vehicle, about 2,000 chips.
And this bill will make sure that we make more of those here.
Right now, we only make about 12%,
and our nation's supply was down to four days' worth
at any given time during COVID.
That's something that we need to change.
So this would help incentivize making that,
as well as some other items we noticed
that we had supply chain issues with during COVID.
And then finally, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act,
which was probably the most comprehensive bill we've passed
to try to lower costs for families
when it comes to energy and health care.
And let me talk just a little bit about that.
The health care bill, we are allowing for the first time ever
the ability to negotiate for prescription drug prices
through Medicare, using our large-volume purchasing
to be able to get cheaper drug prices.
We pay some of the highest prices on the planet
for prescription drugs.
And this will help lower those costs.
It also caps out of pocket expenses for seniors
to $2,000 for prescription drugs,
something that will save people
thousands and thousands of dollars.
It also caps insulin at $35.
We wanted to do it for everyone,
but the Republicans wouldn't agree.
But we were able to do it at least for people on Medicare.
And that's gonna provide hundreds of dollars a month
of savings to many, many people.
On the energy side,
it's the most comprehensive bill we've had
addressing climate change.
It will reduce emissions by 40% by 2030,
investing in renewable energies right here in America.
So we're not relying on other countries
or organizations like OPEC to tell us what we have.
We can do these things with renewable energy
and other energy sources right here in America.
And that is gonna be really transformational in many ways.
And the best part is we paid for it
by having those who haven't paid their fair share pay.
Corporations that have found ways to hide their profits
and put them overseas to not pay U.S. taxes
now have a 15% minimum tax
to disincentivize that bad behavior.
Also, there's a small tax on stock buybacks,
something that will help a lot of people
because that's something used
only by the wealthiest of the wealthy.
And here, we'll be able to get that done with this bill.
So there's a lot of really great things
that I think are gonna be really phenomenal happening,
and I just wanted to share those with you.
Those are four big bills we did this session,
probably the most productive since I've been in Congress,
and I'd like to keep doing that.
So I'm asking for your vote.
I'd be honored to have your support on November 8,
so I can keep representing the people
of southcentral Wisconsin.
Hopefully we'll see each other during the coming weeks
as we're campaigning across the district.
But again, thank you, and I would appreciate your support.