Press Releases

MADISON, WI – One week after Congress missed its legal deadline to pass a final budget, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today called on Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans to stop blocking the budget process. Last week, Pocan sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner with his fellow House Budget Committee Democrats urging the Speaker to immediately appoint budget conferees so Congress can move forward and pass a final budget that lays out our national priorities.

The legal deadline for Congress to pass a budget was April 15.

MADISON, WI—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today issued the following statement in celebration of Earth Day, which was founded by former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson:

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today co-sponsored the bipartisan Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), which would prohibit at the federal level discrimination in public schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would also help ensure that every student has the protections needed to grow and prosper in a safe learning environment—free from fear and intimidation.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today announced that the City of Beloit's Fire Department will receive a Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $884,565. The funding will be used to hire more first responders to serve the city. The City of Beloit Fire Department was forced to reduce staffing in 2012 by five firefighters due to decreased revenue and increased operational costs.

WASHINGTON— U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today announced that his office is accepting submissions for the Congressional Art Competition, a high school visual arts contest that showcases the best student art from around the country. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 26th.

“I am excited for this opportunity to recognize the immense talent of our young artists across the second district,” Pocan said. “I encourage all young artists in the area to submit their work for consideration.”

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep Mark Pocan (WI-02), an owner of a union small business and proponent of labor rights, today strongly criticized legislation that would effectively shut down the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and deny legal recourses for workers across the country. The ironically titled “Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act” would in fact promote more uncertainty for both employees and employers by preventing the NLRB from issuing any new decisions or enforcing existing decisions.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today commented on the decision by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to withdraw its proposal to end Saturday delivery service. Pocan is a co-sponsor of The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013, which maintains the six-day delivery schedule and gives USPS the ability to make commonsense reforms so it can meet 21^st century customer needs.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Budget Committee, today expressed concern with the budget proposal released by President Obama. Pocan is disappointed with the decision to include a change in how benefits are calculated for Social Security recipients, also known as a chained CPI. According to the Social Security Administration, moving to a chained CPI formula would reduce an 85-year-old’s benefits by more than $1,100 a year.