Messaged.
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Consideration of resolutions and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
Senate Joint Resolution 16
Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin.
Senate Joint Resolution 22
Relating to: designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in Wisconsin.
Senate Joint Resolution 23
Relating to: proclaiming the week of April 28 to May 2, 2025, as School Nutrition Professionals Appreciation Week.
Senate Joint Resolution 24
Relating to: proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin.
Senate Joint Resolution 27
Relating to: proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin.
hist202510Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all members of the Senate be added as coauthors of Senate Joint Resolution 27. Senate Joint Resolution 28
Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile.
Senate Joint Resolution 29
Relating to: designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Months.
Senate Joint Resolution 32
Relating to: designating the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.
Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Relating to: proclaiming the week of April 14, 2025, as Two Lights for Tomorrow Week in the state of Wisconsin.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly:
Messaged.
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Announcements, Adjournment Honors, and Remarks Under Special Privilege
Senator Spreitzer, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Jennifer Livingston and Ann Sitrick Joyce - two leaders the Beloit community has lost this year to cancer. Jennifer Livingston passed away on February 10th. Born in Janesville, she was a Parker High School graduate who went on to study at the UW and at Indiana University - earning a bachelor’s degree and a paralegal certificate. She began her career as a judicial assistant in Rock County, where she met her husband Jeff. Jennifer owned the Pleasant Street Coffee House in Beloit for several years, earned the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award, and was active across the city on the boards of Visit Beloit, the Beloit International Film Festival, and the Beloit Snappers, now Sky Carp. She returned to paralegal work as the Clerk of Courts for the Town of Turtle before becoming a litigation paralegal with Regal Rexnord. Jennifer, Jeff, and their rescue dog Stella also opened and ran Tin Dog Records, a vintage record shop in downtown Beloit. Senator Spreitzer remembered Governor Evers visiting their shop in November 2023 and talking with Jennifer. It was also wonderful to see Jennifer posthumously honored at the Beloit International Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary Gala in February. Ann Sitrick Joyce passed away just a week ago on April 15. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Ann moved to Wisconsin with her first husband Stephen Sitrick, with whom she had three sons. Ann’s work in her community was tremendous. She served in multiple roles with the School District of Beloit, ultimately serving as the district’s Title IX officer and assistant to the superintendent for safe schools and community relations. In 1996, Ann became the Executive Director of the Beloit Health System Foundation, where she worked until her retirement from the role in 2014. Around that time, Ann met her second husband, Hal Joyce, and they married in June of 2014. Ann’s work for the community did not end with her retirement from the Beloit Health System Foundation. She served as a consultant to organizations in need of strategic planning, fundraising, and governance - and her service to her community during her “retirement” will leave a long lasting legacy. She served as a civic and volunteer leader for many local organizations, including the Beloit International Film Festival, Cedar Crest Retirement Community, the Rock River and Badger Council Girl Scouts, New Court Theatre, Rotary Club of Beloit, Stateline Community Foundation, Visit Beloit, Voluntary Action Center, Zonta, and the Town of Beloit’s Planning Commission. Ann was the first woman to serve as president of Rotary in 2001 and she earned the highest volunteer recognitions awarded by the Girl Scouts - the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II, for her leadership’s measurable impact on the entire Girl Scout Movement. Ann’s volunteer leadership culminated in her service as the Board Chair of the Stateline Community Foundation, a role she was serving in at the time of her death. Ann’s passion for social justice extended to her leadership in her church, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, where she served on the Social Justice Committee. Senator Spreitzer had a chance to work with her in fall 2023 when she led a monthly series on social justice issues in the community such as housing and childcare. Titled “If Not Now…When” the series was sponsored by the OLA Social Justice Committee, the Beloit Area Task Force on Homelessness and the Women’s Fund of Stateline Community Foundation, all organizations that Ann was deeply involved with. Both Ann and Jennifer gave so much to our community. Their impact will truly reverberate across the years as their important work is picked up and continued by those who knew them. Senator Spreitzer is so honored to have known them and is proud to adjourn in their honor.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his brother, Kevin Wanggaard. April 23rd is the 3-year anniversary of his passing
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his brother, Chris Wanggaard’s birthday on April 26th and in honor of Don Hermes’ 95th birthday on April 22nd.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Daniel D. Brown Sr., age 72, who married his wife’s childhood friend. Dan was killed this past week when his vehicle was struck by a fleeing felon operating recklessly who sped through a posted stop sign. Dan leaves his wife, seven daughters, grandchildren and friends to grieve his loss.
Senator Wanggaard, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his wonderful office intern, Anna Carroll. Anna has been with our office for 4 years. She is leaving in a couple of weeks to attend law school. She will be greatly missed in his office, but they wish her continued happiness and success in her future.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of former Senator Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day. Senator Wirch was a history major, so he liked to read up on these things. Senator Nelson’s inspiration came after he witnessed a 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which was the largest in U.S. history at that time. He was also concerned with pollution and environmental degradation. He also wanted to harness the power of student anti-war protests for environmental action. He proposed Earth Day in 1970, and teach-ins were held across the country. 20 million people, which was 10% of the population at that time, participated in rallies, clean-up efforts, and educational events. His efforts helped start the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act. We should remember this, as the current administration wages war on the environment.
Senator Wirch, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Pope Francis. Senator Wirch is not a Catholic, but he was one of his heroes. He was a Jesuit, and they say that almost every night he would call into areas of the world and try to cheer up people who were being persecuted. A personal call from the Pope. He was also a man who embraced unpopular causes. He fought for the poor, and he fought for immigrants all over the world. So let us remember these two wonderful people.
Senator Wall, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of the thousands of people with the Green Bay Packers, the city of Green Bay, the village of Ashwaubenon, throughout Brown County and all over Wisconsin, who have worked for years to plan and prepare for the NFL Draft that is taking place in Green Bay this week. Senator Wall is tremendously proud of all the work his community, from businesses, nonprofits, government officials, have done to work together to bring this national event to the Brown County area.
Senator Marklein, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his grandson, Simon Thomas, who turned 14 years old today.
Senator Jacque, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Vincent Terry of Kaukauna, his 2024-’25 Capitol office intern, who is completing his second semester as a student at UW-Madison while seeking a B.B.A. in Finance.
Senator Jacque, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Bud Styer, a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur, mentor, friend, and driving force behind the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners who passed away on Friday, April 11 and express condolences on behalf of the Senate to his family and friends.
Senator James, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Senator Van Wanggaard to celebrate his 73rd birthday that was on April 19th.
Senator Tomczyk, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of his wife, Becky. Tomorrow afternoon, 42 years ago, she said “yes,” and he would be nothing without her. He wouldn’t have made it here without her. God willing, he gets another 25-30 years with her.
Senator Roys, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the 278 or more residents of this country that have been disappeared by our own federal government.
Senator Carpenter, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn in honor of and memory of Pope Francis who passed away April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. Pope Francis, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio and through the course of his life became the head of the Catholic Church, and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013 until his death. He spoke for the voiceless and was an advocate for pressing issues. During his time, he was outspoken about issues of climate change, war and peace, migration, and many more of our world’s concerns. Pope Francis blazed many trails within the Catholic Church. He was the first Pope to come from Latin America and the southern hemisphere, he was the first to take the papal name of Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, and as Pope he pursued reforms within the Vatican. He lived in accordance with his papal namesake, declining to live in the grand papal apartments, and refusing many of the finer accommodations afforded to the Pope in order to demonstrate his commitment to simplicity and solidarity with the people. Even in death he set in his will that he would be buried in a simple wooden casket lined with zinc, rather than the three nesting coffins traditionally used for papal burials. Pope Francis helped and inspired millions with his actions. He will be remembered for his commitments to humility and his service of the people and the Lord.
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Adjournment
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate stand adjourned until Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Adjourned.
2:17 P.M.
