Message from Congressman Scott Fitzgerald

Good afternoon, everyone!

Last week, I had the privilege of leading the entire Wisconsin House delegation in reintroducing a bipartisan House Resolution honoring the victims of the devastating attack on the Waukesha Christmas Parade in 2021. I also introduced the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, legislation aimed at combating radical bail policies by subjecting bail bonds to insurance fraud laws. My official statement is listed below:

"Four years ago, during Waukesha’s 58th annual Christmas parade, a horrific act of violence took the lives of six innocent people: Wilhelm Hospel, Virginia Sorenson, LeAnna Owen, Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich and Jackson Sparks. It was an honor to introduce a resolution alongside my colleagues in Wisconsin’s House delegation to honor their memory and recognize the resilience the community of Waukesha has shown in the years since this tragedy. Through a mural, a statue, and a soon-to-be-unveiled sculpture, Waukesha has preserved the legacy of those who are no longer with us, while offering hope as healing continues."

Read the House Resolution text here.

My bill, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, would bring transparency and accountability to charitable bail funds by requiring them to comply with federal insurance fraud laws and background check requirements.

“I introduced the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act with the tragic incident that happened in Waukesha in mind. For too long, weak and radical bail policies have allowed left-wing groups to aggressively solicit funds to pay bail with little regard to the criminal histories of those they’re putting back on the streets. This legislation strengthens accountability in the bail process and helps ensure violent criminals are not released because of soft-on-crime policies. We must do everything we can to make sure that what happened at the Waukesha Christmas parade in 2021 never happens again. We will never forget the six lives lost that day.”

Read the bill text here.

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

-Scott

Rep. Fitzgerald's Statement on Epstein Files Vote

Rep. Fitzgerald's NDO Fairness Act and Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act Pass House Judiciary Committee

Last week, I issued the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee passed two bills I introduced, the NDO Fairness Act and the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025.

NDO Fairness Act

“The federal government should not be able to pull the personal data of individuals under investigation and then hide that fact indefinitely. The NDO Fairness Act puts guardrails in place to restore transparency, reinforce constitutional rights, and end this pattern of surveillance overreach. I thank Chairman Jordan for bringing this bill before the Committee, especially with the recent revelation that Special Counsel, Jack Smith, sought and obtained cell phone records of Members of Congress, and then prevented notification of that search through a non-disclosure order.”

Background: The NDO Fairness Act reins in prosecutorial abuse and executive branch overreach by strengthening the standards prosecutors must meet when seeking to place non-disclosure orders (NDOs) on service providers. This bill will prevent federal prosecutors from using indefinite and often boilerplate secrecy orders to access third-party communications data. It will also ensure an individual is notified within 90 days when their data was searched and allow that individual to request a copy of any information disclosed.

Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025

“Law enforcement depends on effective less-than-lethal tools to respond safely in unpredictable situations. As technology advances, our laws need to keep pace so departments can access equipment that helps protect officers and the public. The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act makes that possible, and I’m proud to see it moving forward.”

Background: This legislation modernizes the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) by excluding “less-than-lethal projectile devices” from its definition of the term “firearm.” Under the current reading of the GCA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) considers new models of less-than-lethal equipment, such as TASER devices, to be classified as firearms due to the way an object is propelled, although they do not carry a substantial risk of serious injury or death. The current classification has made procurement of these devices, critical for self-defense and de-escalation, difficult for law enforcement. This also leads to the misclassification of police officers' use of force, as the use of any firearm is considered “deadly force” by a majority of states.

Rep. Fitzgerald Discusses Potential Reforms to Deposit Insurance

Recently, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing titled, “The Future of Deposit Insurance: Exploring the Coverage, Costs, and Depositor Confidence.” The hearing provided a comprehensive overview of the deposit and share insurance frameworks in the Unites States. It also explored the structure, function, and effectiveness of these frameworks in safeguarding depositors and promoting financial stability.

NASA Internship Program

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) paid internships allow college-level students to contribute to the agency’s mission to advance science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. 

OSTEM internships offer students an opportunity to gain practical work experience while working side-by-side with mentors who are research scientists, engineers, and individuals from many other professions. Internships may be full time or part time on a NASA center or facility.

2026 Internship Application Deadlines:

Summer 2026: February 27, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
Fall 2026: May 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

Visit: intern.nasa.gov for more information and to apply.

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