Press Releases

WASHINGTON—U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), authors of the Right to Vote Amendment that would provide an affirmative constitutional right to vote for all Americans, today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court rejected Section 4 of the landmark Voting Right Act, which contains a formula to determine specified jurisdictions that need federal government approval before making voting changes that could be racially discriminatory. In its ruling on Shelby County v. Holder, the Court determined that the current formula was outdated.

WASHINGTON– U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) concluded the “SNAP Challenge” today, ending a week during which he lived off the food stamp budget of $4.50 of food per day to bring attention to the country’s hunger crisis and highlight Republican efforts to cut $20.5 billion from this critical food assistance program. On his final day of the challenge, Pocan voted on an amendment to the Farm Bill that would have restored the Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which benefits more than 800,000 Wisconsinites.

WASHINGTON—Almost two years since the landmark repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” tens of thousands of gay veterans who served this country with honor and dignity possess records that remain blemished with a range of discharges because of their sexuality. To support the Department of Defense’s efforts to rectify this injustice, U.S.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today congratulated former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on being named the U.S. special envoy to Africa's Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo by Secretary of State John Kerry.

WASHINGTON –U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today condemned the extreme and very likely unconstitutional bill being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives that would place a national ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and roll back critical women’s rights. A vote on the bill is scheduled for later this evening.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a small business owner for more than two decades, today honored small businesses across Wisconsin in celebration of the 50^th Annual National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week recognizes the immense contributions of the country’s small business owners to the economy and culture of America.

WASHINGTON – With less than 20 days till student loan interest rates will double for nearly 160,000 Wisconsin students, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan is taking action to force a vote to prevent this unnecessary financial strain. Pocan joined his colleagues in signing a discharge petition to bring up for a vote the Student Loan Relief Act of 2013, which would freeze the interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans for the next two years. If Congress does not act, on July 1 the interest rates on these loans will double from 3.4% to 6.8%--costing students about $1,000 more per year on average.

WASHINGTON, DC – Every day in America, 47 million Americans, including more than 800,000 Wisconsinites, use food stamps—a budget of $4.50 for food per day—to afford their daily meals. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, June 13, U.S. Rep Mark Pocan (WI-02) will stand in solidarity with all Wisconsinites who rely on this critical safety net and participate in a the “SNAP Challenge” by living off a food stamp budget for one week.