Message from Congressman Scott Fitzgerald

Good afternoon, everyone, and happy Monday!

I’m happy to report that the House recently passed H.R. 276, the Gulf of America Act. This legislation makes President Trump's Executive Order official—renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

The American people are footing the bill to protect and secure the Gulf of America’s maritime waterways so that commerce can be conducted. It’s only right that the Gulf is named appropriately. The Gulf is a vital region—its ports, fisheries, abundance of natural gas, and tourism opportunities contribute to our economic success.

House Republicans are taking action to codify President Trump's America First agenda in Congress.

Keep reading on to hear additional updates about what's been happening in Washington. I hope you have a great week.

-Scott

The Importance of Trade Secret Protection in AI Development

The House Judiciary Committee last week held a hearing titled, “Protecting Our Edge: Trade Secrets and the Global AI Arms Race.” The hearing examined the role of trade secret protection in U.S. artificial intelligence development and countering economic espionage by foreign competitors and nation-states. The hearing also explored key considerations for protecting U.S. intellectual property as legislation and government policy continue to develop regarding AI competition and transparency.

During my committee remarks, I discussed how trade secrets are the backbone of America’s AI leadership. Without them, we risk falling behind—as China works overtime to close the gap. Strong IP protection is critical to staying ahead and maintaining our competitive edge in AI development.

Statement on the Election of Pope Leo XIV

Last week, I issued the following statement on the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first
American pope:

“The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a historic and joyful moment for Catholics in the United States and around the world. As the first American pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s elevation to the papacy is a powerful reflection of the Church’s global reach and the enduring strength of its mission. 

“This is a proud day for our country and for American Catholics. May the Holy Spirit guide Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church into a new chapter of hope and renewal.”

Interview on WISN 12's UPFRONT: Thoughts on Judge Dugan’s Arrest for Obstructing ICE

In case you missed it, last week I joined WISN 12's UPFRONT to discuss the FBI's arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping an illegal alien evade arrest by ICE.

What Judge Dugan did is outrageous—and everything that's happened since her arrest, including the Wisconsin Supreme Court relieving her of her duties, has been appropriate. A judge is expected to be the level head in the room, no matter what. Judge Dugan failed this basic standard.

Reminder: The Deadline to Obtain Your Real ID Was
May 7, 2025

Starting May 7, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security will require U.S. travelers to be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.

Do I Need a REAL ID?

You are not required to get a REAL ID—it is optional. If you do not apply for the REAL ID, your current driver license or ID status remains unchanged until the expiration date. However, after the May 7th deadline, TSA will require all passengers to present a REAL ID to board domestic flights. If you do not have a REAL ID, you will need to present a valid U.S. passport—even for domestic travel. Without a valid passport or REAL ID-compliant identification, you will not be permitted to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities.

Need Help Renewing Your Passport?

If you need help renewing your passport, please don’t hesitate to contact my Oconomowoc office at (262) 784-1111. You can also visit the State Department’s website for more information on how to apply for your passport or get a replacement passport here.

How Do I Know if My ID is Compliant?

REAL IDs include the image of a star inside a black circle. If your Wisconsin state license or ID does not have a star inside a black circle, then you are not REAL ID compliant. Click here for more information about REAL ID in Wisconsin. If you aren't sure if you have a Real ID, you can check by visiting the Wisconsin DMV Driver License Lookup.

Visit your local DMV or click here to start the process of getting your Wisconsin REAL ID. If you have additional questions about REAL IDs, you can also visit the Department of Homeland Security website.

As always, my team and I are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact my Oconomowoc office or visit my website if you have any questions or need assistance with a federal agency.

Interview on OAN: Border Security and the
“One Big, Beautiful Bill”

Last week, I joined OAN Morning News to discuss the reconciliation process. House Republicans are continuing the work of marking up and passing pieces of the one big, beautiful bill that will deliver historic savings and protect essential programs. This process is key to enacting President Trump’s full agenda as quickly as possible.

The House Judiciary Committee allocated over $80 billion to secure the border—funding 100K new ICE detention beds, boosting ICE removal operations, and enhancing recruitment and retention efforts for ICE, Border Patrol, and HSI agents, delivering on our promise to secure our border.

WI-05 High School Art Show

Thank you again to all the student artists who participated in WI-05's Congressional Art Competition, and to everyone who came out to support this year's artists at the 2025 High School Art Show in Oconomowoc.

The Grand Prize-winning piece by Katie Weitner (Arrowhead Union High School) will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. Katie will be traveling to Washington, D.C., next month to attend the national Congressional Art Competition winners' reception and see her piece on display.

The second-place piece by Leah Harju (Arrowhead Union High School) will hang in my D.C. office for the next year, and the third-place piece by Amy Peterson (New Berlin Eisenhower High School) will be displayed in my district office.

That wraps the updates from this edition of my eNewsletter. Thanks for reading along!  

-Scott

That's a wrap for this week's eNewsletter! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on my work for the 5th District of Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

Scott Fitzgerald
Member of Congress