Dear Friend,

This week reminds us how fragile life is. We cannot let darkness define who we are as a society.

Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of 9/11, when terrorists attacked our homeland. Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives, and our nation was changed in ways we will Never Forget. Yet amid the rubble and despair, the American spirit never surrendered.

As we remember and honor those we lost on this dark day, recent events remind us that evil still persists.

That reality struck when Charlie Kirk was assassinated this week while speaking at Utah Valley University. Charlie was a champion for free speech, dedicating his life to encouraging open debate among young people on college campuses. His impact will be felt for generations, and I ask that you join me in praying for his wife, Erika, and their two children.

We also mourn Iryna Zarutska who was violently stabbed to death while riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Iryna came to this country as a Ukrainian refugee, only to have her life cut short by a career criminal. Her killer had been previously arrested 14 times yet was repeatedly released by rogue judges.

Tragedies like this force us to pause and reflect on the state of our society. It makes me ask what kind of country have we become when we call our neighbors “Nazis” and then act surprised when violence follows?

We cannot allow political violence or media-driven division to tear us apart. As President Trump warned this week, years of demonizing political opponents can lead to deadly consequences – something he knows all too well. They may try to attack our homeland or attempt to silence us with a bullet, but American freedom will always prevail. You can watch President Trump’s remarks here.

I know many of you are angry and hurting, and I understand. I expect justice to answer the call, and it must be swift and severe for both perpetrators. As Charlie said, “What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have reasonable disagreement where violence is not an option.” That’s how we heal our wounds.

Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you take a moment to pray for our country as you enjoy this week’s edition of the Tiffany Telegram.

Sincerely,





Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress

Thank you to Secretary Duffy and the thousands of constituents who joined Tuesday’s telephone town hall. We covered historic tax cuts for working families, English proficiency for truckers, and the many wins delivered by the Trump administration. You can listen to a recording here.

One strike and you’re out

Like our criminal justice system, our immigration system has too often functioned as a “revolving door” for career offenders during President Biden’s term in office. Unfortunately, that weak approach to public safety – worsened by so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions – has made every state a border state, sadly resulting in the release of hardened lawbreakers into American communities. Predictably, these dangerous individuals often go on to prey on our friends and neighbors, stacking up new victims over and over again. That’s why President Trump prioritized prosecutions of illegal aliens with an executive order he issued on his first day in office – and why the House of Representatives passed the Stop Illegal Entry Act on Thursday. This bill takes aim at criminal aliens by requiring lengthy prison terms for any alien who illegally enters the US and is later convicted of a felony, as well as stiff sentences – including life in prison – for felonious foreigners who illegally re-enter our country after being previously removed. Sadly, only 11 Democrats joined Republicans in backing this common-sense bill. You can see how lawmakers voted here, and read more about the legislation here.

The truth about the OBBB: Week 6

Wisconsinites may have heard the Lefts claims that recently passed tax and spending reform package shuts down rural hospitals like ours; however that is not true. In fact, we are seeing an expansion of options, with a new facility being constructed in Chippewa Falls, and the recently renovated Marshfield Medical Center in Park Falls. Unfortunately, critics will likely continue to mischaracterize the Working Families Tax Cut, which supports small-town care like ours and invests in it. This critical legislation creates the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded with $50 billion over fiscal years 2026 through 2030. We also cleaned up Medicaid so resources reach the truly vulnerable – pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. The legislation requires able-bodied adults without young children to work, train, or volunteer for 20 hours each week with common-sense exemptions. These reforms are an important step toward making sure that patients are prioritized over politics, promoting better outcomes for families.

Much-needed reforms to our education system 

Over the past several weeks, we have seen deeply concerning stories about the state of our education system. Recent data has shown that 2024 test scores in our K-12 institutions reached an all-time low with only one-third of our 12th graders scoring proficient math and reading scores. On top of this, organizations such as the National Education Association – a teachers union – shelled out over $43 million to organizations that support racially discriminatory DEI initiatives, dangerous “gender transition” for minors, and other issues that have nothing to do with educating our kids. The state of our higher education is not much better. Instead of preparing students to enter the workforce, teachers at our own very University of Wisconsin are forcing students to sit through lectures on “straight privilege” and “marginalized pansexuals” rather than teaching practical skills. Clearly our education system needs reform which is why I have sponsored bills such as the FAIR Act of 2025 and cosponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act by Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03). The FAIR Act will prohibit federal funds, such as those received by the University of Wisconsin, from being used to implement discriminatory policies that stray away from the educational purpose of our schools, and the Educational Choice for Children Act will expand education freedom, putting parents back in the drivers seat when it comes to decisions about their child’s education.

Committee Update

Natural Resources

SPEEDing up the NEPA process

On Wednesday, the Natural Resources Committee had a hearing on a very important topic, permitting reform. This is something members have been harping on for years now, and we have a real opportunity to get some meaningful reforms over the finish line with the current landscape in Washington, DC. We considered three bills as part of this hearing, but one bill, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, sponsored by committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04), stole the show. The SPEED Act would bring much needed modernization to antiquated National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) by reducing permitting timelines, streamlining judicial reviews, and cutting down on frivolous litigation. It is because of NEPA and the red tape in the permitting process that it can take 29 years to open a single mine. Building in America should not be this hard. One of our witnesses mentioned that, because of these burdensome regulations, there are many projects that never even get off the ground, calling this the “dark matter” of NEPA. All sectors of our economy are impacted by these permitting requirements, and reforms such as those in the SPEED Actwould help usher in new era of American prosperity and opportunity. We are in a battle for whether or not the 21st century is going to be an American century or a communist Chinese century, and to succeed, we must enact meaningful permitting reform so we can get back to building and developing resources here in America. You can watch my questions here.

District Update

Evers' attack on livestock businesses

2025 has been the year of Governor Evers’ fee hikes, and this week he went even further. Telegram readers may remember that earlier this year, the Evers administration tried to raise licensing fees on hunters and anglers, punishing them for fiscal mismanagement by his own DNR. Thankfully, the state Legislature stopped him. But now, his administration is bypassing the Legislature entirely, using rulemaking to push fee hikes of up to 1,700% on farmers, auction barns, and livestock haulers. Yes, you read that right… 1,700%. This week, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced that licensing fees for auction barns will jump from $420 to $7,430. Not only is this outrageous, it will force many of these businesses to close and drive up food costs for all Wisconsinites. One thing is clear: Democrats cannot manage a budget, so they shift the burden onto you. The good news is, you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. Public hearings are scheduled for September 16 and 17, or you can submit written comments by October 15. You can learn more here.

Photo of the week

Wisconsin is filled with a vast variety of wildlife that never fail to showcase our state’s breathtaking natural beauty. If you have a photo of Wisconsin that you’d like to share, send it to [email protected] with your name and location. Your photo could be featured in next week’s Telegram! 

“A Family of Trumpeter Swans” – Ryan of Osceola

Resources  

Vacation is meant to be relaxing, so don’t let renewing or applying for your passport stress you out. The current processing time is 4 to 6 weeks, so we recommend getting this done as soon as possible. For more information, click here.

Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Wisconsin due to economic losses caused by excessive moisture. Click here to see if you are eligible to apply.

If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can subscribe here for weekly updates and connect with me on X, Facebook, and Instagram. 

As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance. 

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