Green Bay– Today, Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner released the following statement in response to recent coverage in the Green Bay Press-Gazette regarding the closures impacting veterans in Green Bay and Chippewa Falls:

“It was disappointing, though sadly not surprising, to read more finger-pointing than solutions in today’s paper. Let’s be clear: Governor Evers placed funding for homeless veterans directly into the state budget. That funding was stripped out by the Joint Finance Committee — a committee Senator Wimberger sits on. When both Democrats and Republicans attempted to restore this funding, the majority rejected it.

Since then, legislators from both parties have introduced bills to fix this oversight, yet none of these efforts can claim the support of Senator Wimberger. That’s the record. And veterans, their families, and our communities deserve to hear the truth.”

Rivera-Wagner added:

“The people of Green Bay and across Wisconsin are tired of petty politics. They are tired of watching politicians chase headlines and score points while ignoring the real concerns of their neighbors. I did not come into public service to wallow in partisan mudslinging. I came here — like so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle — to improve lives.

I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan coalition working right now to ensure veterans, including those in my own family, never face the kind of homelessness I once experienced with my mother. That should never be a partisan issue. I am grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues who are stepping up. Together, we can do better — because veterans in Green Bay and across Wisconsin deserve nothing less.”

Rep. Rivera-Wagner, along with Rep. Ryan Spaude, will be in attendance at the Green Bay Disabled American Veterans meeting this Thursday, August 28.

You can find a comparison of funding for the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program in the Governor’s budget proposal and the budget passed by the Joint Finance Committee here.

You’ll find history and background information on proposals introduced in the State Legislature here.