PBS Wisconsin Public Affairs

>> ED PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE WILL BE OFFERED BY TRAEJAN REN ROLLS, OFFERED BY TRAEJAN REN ROLLS, ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF WISCONSIN YOUTH.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> MEMBERS MAY BE SEATED.

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE CALL ROLL.

THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL.

HAVE ALL MEMBERS RECORDED THEIR PRESENT?

A QUORUM IS PRESENT.

GENTLEMAN FROM THE 68th.

>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR THE LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE MEMBER FROM THE 30th, AND GENTLEMAN FROM THE 56th.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 68th ASKING UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF AB SANS AND A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY FROM THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE 21st, 50th AND 36th.

ANY OBJECTION?

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION?

HEARING NONE, IT IS SO ORDERED.

LADY FROM THE 79th.

>> THANK YOU.

I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE EIGHTH AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 94th FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY, AND I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 90th AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 89th.

>> LADY ASK LEAVE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY BE GRANTED FROM THE LADY FROM THE EIGHTH AND 24th AND TEMPORARY FOR THE 90th AND 89th.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION?

HEARING NONE, IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 31st.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE RULES BE SUS EXTENDED AND ASSEMBLY 318 FROM THE CALENDAR.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE RULES BE SUSPENDED AND 18 BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CALENDAR.

ANY OBJECTION?

HEARING NONE, THE CLERK WILL READ THE JOINT RESOLUTION.

>> RELATING TO HONORING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN, WHEREAS REPRESENTATIVE AND ALDERMEN REPRESENTATIVE A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, BROTHER AND FRIEND PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 4th, 2024 AT THE AGE OF 41.

WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 25th, 1983 IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN AS THE SECOND OF TWO SONS TO PHYLLIS AND.

WHEREAS HE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL AND WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS BACHELORS DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OFS WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE EARNING A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

AND HE WORKED FOR SENATOR TOM HARKEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND COMPLETED THE UNITED NATIONS SUMMER SEMINAR PROGRAM AND ELECTED TO THE WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING THE 19th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT AND SERVED FROM 2014 TO 2023, SERVING ON THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE, CONSTITUTION AND ETHICS, FAMILY LAW, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT, MENTAL HEALTH, NATURAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORTING HERITAGE, STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, REGULATORY LICENSING REFORM, WAYS AND MEANS AND ON THE SPEAKERS TASK FORCE ON ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, AND WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS A FIERCE AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, FOR SAFEGUARDING LICENSING, WORKFORCE PROFESSIONALS AND DISABILITY RIGHTS WHERE HE FAMOUS DIDN'T CUT THE CURLY HAIR UNTIL IT BECAME LAW THE.

AND WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS ELECTED MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL IN 2022 AS ALDER FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT AND SERVED ON THE JUDICIARY AND REGULATION PUBLIC WORKS, ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHEREAS HE GENERALLY CARED FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS DEDICATING HIS TIME TO VOLUNTARY PATHFINDERS, A YOUTH SHELTER AND MADISON AVENUE IN MILWAUKEE.

A NONPROFIT SUPPORTING VETERANS AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING AS AN ALUMNUS OF THE MILWAUKEE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS HE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTY AND CLASS BELIEVING THAT WORKING ACROSS DIFFERENCES WAS VITAL FOR A WORKING DEMOCRACY.

WHEREAS JONATHAN WAS A DEDICATED MEMBER AND ADVOCATE OF MILWAUKEE'S JEWISH COMMITTEE AND WHEREAS HE WAS A LOVING HUSBAND TO HIS LIFE DIANA AND DEVOTED FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN, BOAZ, BARK, AND WHEREAS HE IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS KINDNESS, BIG HEART, SENSE OF HUMOR, COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND LOVE FOR FAMILY AND PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

THE SENATE CONCURRING THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE HONOR THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF JONATHAN AND EXTEND THEIR CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION 18.

MOTION ON ADOPT, LADY FROM THE 66th.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

JONATHAN WAS AN INCREDIBLY DEDICATED COLLEAGUE, MENTOR, HUSBAND AND SON AND A LOVING FATHER.

TO MANY IN THIS BODY, TRUE FRIEND.

ABOUT CREATING A WISCONSIN WORKED FOR EVERYONE FROM SUPPORTING YOUTH PROGRAMS IN MILWAUKEE TO ADVOCATING FOR VETERANS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, JONATHAN WAS A VOICE FOR SO MANY IN THIS CAPITAL.

AS MENTION HE WAS A FIERCE AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, GUN SAFETY, LICENSING REGULATIONS AND DISABILITY RIGHTS.

NONE OF US WILL FORGET WHEN JONATHAN CAME ON THE FLOOR WITH HIS LONG HAIR AND REMAINED DEDICATED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE BILL IN OUR STATE.

JONATHAN WAS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS HONESTY.

HE NEVER HELD BACK.

IF Y HE THOUGHT WE WERE HEADINGN THE WRONG DIRECTION OR MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT, OFTEN CROSSING HIS EYES AND STARING YOU DOWN.

WITH JONATHAN, YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHERE YOU STOOD, AND HE HELPED US GROW AS A CAUCUS AND AS INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS.

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER JONATHAN AND DO OUR WORK IN HIS HONOR.

HE HAD AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN IN HIS DISTRICT AND TO THIS INSTITUTION.

FAMILY.

PUBLIC SERVICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN BROSTOFF AND EXTEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU ALL AND THOSE WHO LOVED JONATHAN.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE BLESSING.

>> HE.

>> QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION 18, ADOPTION LEADING FROM THE 79 79th.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS MORNING THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY HERE TODAY.

JONATHAN AND I CAME INTO THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER IN 2015.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO CAME TO ME AND SAID YOU ARE A LEADER, AND YOU NEED TO DO GOOD THINGS.

THAT IS SOMETHING HE DID FOR SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.

I THINK THAT HIS ABILITY TO RAISE UP OTHERS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HOLDS CLOSEST TO ME.

AS YOU HEARD, JONATHAN WAS A FIERCE AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATE.

HE REMEMBER WHEN HE GREW OUT HIS HAIR, AND I WOULD SEND HIM PICTURES OF RICHARD SIMMONS, HE SENT ME BACK PICTURES OF BOB ROSS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST DOING THINGS LIKE GROWING OUT YOUR HAIR.

JONATHAN AND I WERE TWO OF THE THREE JEWISH MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHEN WE FIRST CAME INTO THE BODY TOGETHER, AND THERE'S A PRINCIPLE IN JUDAISM WHICH IS REPAIR OF THE WORLD.

THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT IS BUILT ON OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, OF MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, OF TAKING CARE OF OUR WORLD AND TAKING CARE OF ITS PEOPLE.

JONATHAN MORE THAN JUST ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE I'VE JOAN LIVED UP TO THAT PRINCIPLE OF IT.

HE AND I HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR JUDAISM AND HOW IT GUIDED OUR VALUES AND WHAT WE DO HERE IN THIS BODY BUT ALSO MORE BROADLY WHAT WE DO IN THE WORLD.

I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT I CAN LIVE UP TO THOSE PRINCIPLES AS JONATHAN DID.

AFTER HE LEFT US IN THIS BODY, AFTER HE LEFT US TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WE KEPT IN TOUCH.

I VALUED THE FREQUENT PHONE CALLS.

I VALUED THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T ME STAYING IN TOUCH; IT WAS ALWAYS HIM.

HE REACHED OUT.

HE MADE A POINT OF CALLING SO THAT WE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

RIGHT NOW THINGS AREN'T EASY, AND I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY FOR HIM BEING A JEWISH PERSON, BEING A PROGRESSIVE JEW IN PARTICULAR.

IT'S DIFFICULTY AND CHALLENGING.

WE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, AND SO MUCH OF WHAT HE SAID HELPED MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I WAS EASIER TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM BUT I ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT HE COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME.

I'M GOING TO HARKEN BACK TO THE TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW FUN THINGS ABOUT JONATHAN.

I REMEMBER A VERY FIRST CAUCUS MEETING TOGETHER.

JONATHAN AND DAVID SHOWED UP WITH A CASE OF ROOT BEER AND HANDED IT OUT.

AND THAT WAS A TRADEMARK.

IT WAS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS, AND HE ALWAYS BROUGHT IT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.

HERE IN THIS BODY HE FOUGHT FOR THE THINGS THAT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

I REMEMBER HIM TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND ABOUT HIS OWN STRUGGLES AND SHARING HIS OWN STRUGGLES, AND IT WAS A REMINDER TO ME THAT EACH OF US BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THIS BODY, AND WE SHOULD VALUE WHAT EACH MEMBER BRINGS.

HE BROUGHT HIS OWN STRUGGLES AND SHARED HIS VERY PERSONAL STRUGGLES WITH ALL OF US HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY MADE ME AND HOPEFULLY MADE MANY OF YOU A BETTER LEGISLATOR.

HAVING JONATHAN HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH US MADE US ALL BETTER LEGISLATORS, BUT IT ALSO MADE WISCONSIN BETTER.

JONATHAN'S PRESENCE IN THIS WORLD MADE FOR A BETTER WORLD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PICTURES HE WOULD SEND OF HIS CHILDREN.

OUT OF NOWHERE I WOULD BE SITTING IN A MEETING AND MY PHONE WOULD POP UP, AND IT'S ONE OF JONATHAN'S AND DIANA'S KIDS.

HE KNOW HOW MUCH THE KIDS MEANT TO HIM AND FAMILY MEANT TO HIM.

I APPRECIATE HE WAS WILLING TO SHARE HIS FAMILY AND HIMSELF WITH ALL OF US, AND I APPRECIATE THAT HIS FAMILY WAS SO WILLING TO SHARE HIM WITH US.

AS I SAID, JONATHAN REALLY LIVED UP TO THE PRINCIPLE, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE IN JUDAISM IS THAT NONE OF US IS GOING TO ALONE REPAIR THE WORLD.

THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO.

JONATHAN LEFT US WITH MORE WORK TO DO, WHETHER IN HIS WORK ON SUICIDE PREVENTION, WHETHER A WORK ON HELPING THE HOMELESS, WHETHER WORK ON REPAIRING THE ENVIRONMENT.

I KNOW THE THINGS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO HIM.

HE WANTED TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, SUICIDE AND INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO COMMIT TO IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN DO THAT, COMMIT TO MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, COMMIT TO REPAIRING THE WORLD AND COMMIT TO DOING A LITTLE BIT OF KINDNESS AS JONATHAN DID FOR ALL OF US TO SOMEBODY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IN JUDAISM, WE ALSO SAY WHEN SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY, MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING.

IN THIS CASE I'M CERTAIN THAT JONATHAN'S MEMORY IS A BLESSING TO HIS FAMILY, TO ALL OF US HERE IN THIS BODY, TO ALL WHICH CAN BE SERVED ON THE MILWAUKEE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR ALL THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

THANK YOU.

ADOPTION LEADING FROM THE 91 91st.

I WAS TALKING TO JONATHAN'S FATHER A FEW MINUTES AGO AND MENTIONED HOW OFTENTIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM MADISON TO O'CLAIRE, I WOULD CALL JONATHAN, AND WE WOULD PROCESS THE WEEK.

HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK AND REALLY WISHED HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO JONATHAN LAST WEEK.

I HAD MY OWN VERSION OF A CONVERSATION WITH HIM.

BUT THE RECEPTION WASN'T CLEAR FROM WHEREVER HE WAS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE TALKING, AND I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT A DEDICATED FATHER HE WAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF DISCUSSING SOME BILL THAT WAS BEFORE US, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE BREAKS OUT INTO SINGING ITSY BITSY SPIDER, BUT HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING A DIAPER AT THE TIME.

THAT'S ALWAYS A MEMORY THAT MAKES ME LAUGH.

IT WASN'T EXCUSE ME.

HOLD ON.

IN THE MIDDLE OF A DIAPER, HE BLASTED IT RIGHT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION.

HE ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE TO PEOPLE'S FACES.

A LOT OF US ARE WEARING GREEN RIBBONS TODAY IN HONOR OF HIM AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

AND I HADN'T SEEN JONATHAN SINCE JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

I HADN'T TALKED TO HIM.

IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

IT WAS THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO HIM.

AND I AM SO SORRY THAT I DID NOT KEEP IN BETTER CONTACT WITH HIM.

I HAD NO IDEA THE DEE DEMONS THE WAS BATTLING ON A DAILY BASIS.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF US WHO WISH THAT HE WOULD HAVE REACHED OUT.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN HE WAS IN TO LEAVE ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW HE LOVED YOU ALL SO INCREDIBLY MUCH, ESPECIALLY HIS CHILDREN, BUT A LOT OF US WILL CARRY JONATHAN WITH US IN THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SHARING HIM WITH US.

>> ADOPTION LADY FROM THE 20 20th.

I FIRST MET JONATHAN DURING HIS FIRST RACE FOR THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

PARADE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DID NOT ENDORSE JONATHAN.

ONE OF HIS VOLUNTEERS CAME OVER TO ME AND MADE KIND OF A SNIDE NASTY REMARK.

SO ME BEING WHO I AM, I WENT OVER TO JONATHAN AND SAID I DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT.

THE NEXT DAY THAT VOLUNTEER WAS AT MY DOOR APOLOGIZING.

THAT IS WHAT -- THAT'S THE KIND OF MAN THAT JONATHAN WAS.

HE HAD SO MUCH INTEGRITY.

THIS IS REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT JONATHAN.

YOU KNOW, I SERVED WITH HIM.

SOMETIMES HE COULD MAKE ME CRAZY, BUT THAT'S -- CRAZIER, YES.

BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE HAD SUCH PASSION AND SUCH CONVICTION FOR THE THINGS THAT HE BELIEVED IN.

NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND, NOTHING AT ALL.

JUST THE OTHER DAY, A PHOTO MEMORY POPPED UP ON MY PHONE, AND IT REALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES, BECAUSE ALL I KEPT THINKING WAS JONATHAN WANTED A FAMILY SO DESPERATELY, AND THIS PICTURE WAS OF A BOY SITTING ON MY LIFE.

HE GRABBED THE EGG MCMUFFIN OUT OF MY HAND, ABOUT A YEAR OLD AT THE TIME, AND HE ATE IT.

I LOOKED AT JONATHAN, AND I SAID DON'T YOU FEED YOUR CHILDREN, JONATHAN?

MOMENT IN THE OFFICE, AND WE WERE LAUGHING.

HE'S JUST -- HE WAS JUST SUCH A GUY.

THE LAST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HIM WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE LOST HIM.

HE ALWAYS ENDED CONVERSATIONS WITH I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND THAT ALWAYS STUCK WITH ME.

I WANT JONATHAN TO KNOW WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT HE TAUGHT US IN THIS ROOM.

THANK YOU.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 17th.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

BEFORE YOU ADDRESS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, TODAY I RISE WITH THE PERMISSION OF HARRIET MCKINNEY WHO IS AN ELDER IN THE 17th DISTRICT.

I GUESS NOW MY SUBCONSCIENCE WILL ALLOW ME TO RESOLUTION THAT MY CONSCIENCE THAT MY FRIEND IS NOT HERE IN A PHYSICAL FORM.

TWICE A WEEK I'M LIKE MAN I HAVE GOT TO CALL JOE PRO.

I NEED ADD VASE ON SOMETHING.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM AS JONATHAN FRANCIS BROSTOFF.

I MOTOR HIM AT UWM, THIS JEWISH DUDE, UWM, AND I REMEMBER HIM BECAUSE A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE FAN OUT WHEN THEY FIND OUT I'M RELATED TO MY MOM.

>> OH, YOU ARE RELATED TO SO-AND-SO, TOO, HUH?

OKAY.

COOL.

HE LIKED TO CALL HIMS THE HONEY BADGER.

IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE OF THE HONEY BADGER AND IT'S THE YOUTUBE VIDEO THAT SAYS HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE, MESSING WITH BEES AND SNAKES AND ALL TYPES OF THINGS, BECAUSE HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE.

THAT'S JONATHAN BROSTOFF.

MY COLLEAGUE CALLED HIM TENACIOUS.

LET'S BE HONEST.

JONATHAN WAS ANNOYING.

HE WAS ANNOYING, AND ANYBODY IN THIS BODY THAT HAS EVER COME ACROSS HIM KNOWS HE WAS ANNOYING.

MORNING, AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE'S BEEN UP FOR 3 HOURS ALREADY.

BUT HE FINALLY SAID IT'S LATE ENOUGH IN THE MORNING.

SO HE CALLS YOU AT 7: 00 IN THE MORNING AND SAYS HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M STILL ASLEEP.

I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.

YOU DO.

HE WAS -- I WILL TELL THE BRIEF STORY BEFORE I SIT DOWN.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN 2016 WITH LEGION AIRS DISEASE AND HOOKED UP TO MACHINES, AND I HAD TO BE ON DIALYSIS TO FLUSH OUT MY KIDNEYS.

WHO WAS SITTING BESIDE MY BED RUNNING HIS MOUTH?

JONATHAN.

YOU SHUT UP.

WHY ARE YOU TALKING SO MUCH.

AND I SAID WHY DID YOU KEEP TALKING WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL?

AND HE SAID DUDE, YOU LOOKED BAD.

I KEPT TALKING SO I WOULDN'T BE IN THE THING.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL HE WAS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MY FRIEND, JONATHAN BROSTOFF.

AND THERE'S A SAYING IN JEWISH TRADITION THAT SAYS -- AND I WILL SIT DOWN WITH THIS.

MAY HIS -- HAVE AN ALEAH.

>> ASSEMBLY ROINT RESOLUTION 1ONADOPTION LEADING THE.

>> I I MET JONATHAN IN A COFFEE SHOP NEAR UWM.

I MET THERE BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN 2018 AS A CANDIDATE AND SAID SOME GUY NAMED JONATHAN BROSTOFF WANTED TO VET ME.

I WILL BE HONEST.

I WAS SCARED AND NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT COFFEE SHOP.

I SHOWED UP AND MET A FIERCE ADVOCATE DRINKING WHAT I REMEMBER WAS SOMETHING LIKE A GREEN TEA.

AND JONATHAN DROVE ME WITH QUESTIONS AND WAS VERY CLEAR ON HIS PRIORITIES.

HE WAS ALSO VERY CLEAR THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING ME IF I DID NOT PASS HIS TEST.

AND WE BEGAN TO TALK.

WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT AFTER I DID PASS THAT TEST, JONATHAN WAS GOING TO JUMP ON BOARD AND FIGHT FOR ME, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.

WE FINISHED MY VETTING, AND HE SAID OKAY.

LET'S GO KNOCK SOME DOORS.

SECOND MEMORY IS ONE THAT I REVISIT REGULARLY.

WE CLIMBED A TALL STEEP HILL TO REACH A BROWN WOODEN DOORWAY WHERE HE STOOD NEXT TO MY VERY DEAR FRIEND.

AND HE TOLD THE MAN WHAT A GREAT LEGISLATULEGISLATOR I WOULD BE,E WHEN JONATHAN WAS FOR YOU, YOU KNEW IT.

FEELING, AND I THINK MILWAUKEE KNEW THAT FEELING.

ON THE DAY THAT JONATHAN DIED, I RECEIVED THE NEWS AS I WAS WALKING OUT OF AN APPOINTMENT, AND I COLLAPSED ON THE MILWAUKEE SIDEWALK.

SAID I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU JUST FOUND OUT.

CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG?

SHE KNEW THE NEWS I PROBABLY JUST RECEIVED WAS ABOUT JONATHAN, BECAUSE IN MILWAUKEE, WE FELT THIS LOSS AS A CITY.

JONATHAN'S PRESENCE WAS SO HUGE, WE FELT HIS LOSS AS A CITY.

JONATHAN AND HIS LOVE FOR MILWAUKEE WAS WELL KNOWN, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO CARES SO MUCH ABOUT FENCES AND SALT AND PARKING AS JONATHAN DID.

WE HEARD ABOUT HIS QUICK CONSTITUENT RESPONSE TIMES.

IF THERE WAS A WAY THAT HE COULD MAKE THIS CITY BETTER FOR YOU, HE WAS GOING TO DO IT.

AND HE WAS LOVED FOR THAT.

HE WAS LOVED FOR HIS FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE HE CARED ABOUT AND HIS LOSS WAS FELT BY HIS CITY.

WE ALL KNOW JONATHAN'S FIRE.

AS I WALKED TO MY CAR AFTER LEARNING OF HIS LOSS, I WAS SUDDENLY STRUCK WITH A MEMORY FROM MANY YEARS PRIOR, AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT.

IT WAS THE TABLE SLAP AT A TASK FORCE HEARING.

JONATHAN SERVED ON THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND BECAUSE IT WAS MEETING IN MY DISTRICT I WAS INVITED.

REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF AND SUDDENLY THE ROOM SHOOK.

I JUMPED.

I WAS TUN STUNNED.

HE SLAPPED THE FAIBL AND YELLED THAT WE WERE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

HE WAS FURIOUS.

AND I FELT IT IN MY BODY.

MY FIRST MEMORY OF JONATHAN AFTER HE DIED WAS OF THAT SLAP TO THE TABLE THAT WE HAD NOT DONE ENOUGH.

WE ALL KNOW JONATHAN'S FIRE AND KNOW IT'S MANY OF US THOUGHT OF WHEN WE LOST HIM.

HIS FIGHT, FIRE AND CLEAR ARTICULATION OF WHERE HE WAS ON AN ISSUE.

HIS RELENTLESS PUSH ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTERED TO HIM.

THAT FIRE.

I SAT BEHIND JONATHAN ON THE FLOOR HERE, AND WHEN HE SPOKE, I WOULD WATCH THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

AIR, AND I WOULD LOOK DOWN AT HIS FEET.

HIS SUIT PANTS PUDDLING AROUND THE RUNNING SHOES, CLASSIC JONATHAN, SUIT ON THE TOP, RUNNING SHOES ON THE BOTTOM, AND 340R OBVIOUSLY SIGNALING HIS ENERGY AND MORE QUIETLY COMMUNICATING HUMILITY.

THERE WAS A HUMILITY AND GENERALLINESS TO JONATHAN THAT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO MENTION.

LEGISLATURE I WAS WORKING ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA 678 I TOOK IT TO JONATHAN TO REVIEW BECAUSE IT WAS AN AREA OF EXPERTISE FOR HIM.

HE DIDN'T LIKE IT, BUT HE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT.

INSTEAD HE USED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH ME, AND HE DID IT IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL AND DIGNIFIED AND PATIENT WAY.

HE NEVER TOLD ME HE DIDN'T LIKE IT.

INSTEAD HE ASKED IF I WAS WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS ON IT.

I SAID YES, AND HE SET THEM UP, AND HE ATTENDED.

HE CIRCLED OUT VOICES TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, AND NO ONE OPPOSED ME BUT INSTEAD SHARED THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

IT WENT ON FOR MONTHS.

HE WOULD CHECK IN WITH ME PERIODICALLY.

PROPOSAL WASN'T SO GOOD AFTER ALL.

THERE WAS NO CELEBRATION FROM JONATHAN OR I TOLD YOU SO.

THERE WAS INSTEAD MOVEMENT FORWARD AND LIFE MOVED ON, AND I HAD LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO ASK THE RIGHT PEOPLE QUESTIONS WHEN WRITING NEW LEGISLATION.

I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO TREAT A COLLEAGUE WHO WAS WRITING LEGISLATION THAT I DISAGREED WITH WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND HUMILITY.

REMEMBERING THAT AND HOW I LIVE MY LIFE AS A LEGISLATOR.

I WORE MY RUNNING SHOES TODAY WITH MY SUIT TO HONOR JONATHAN.

I AM HERE, STANDING AND SPEAKING AND THINKING ABOUT HOW HE USED TO STAND RIGHT THERE.

I AM SO DEEPLY SAD THAT HE'S GONE.

I'M SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I LEARNED FROM REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING, COMPLETE WITH HUMILITY AND JONATHAN BROSTOFF FIRE.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE TENTH.

>> JONATHAN BROSTOFF, WHO WAS JAWLD JAY BRO BY SOME, HONEY BADGER AND OFTEN CALLED THE GIANT PLAYER BY ME WHEN HE DID SOMETHING SYSTEMATICALLY DOPE.

HE WAS A FRIEND I WAS HONORED TO HAVE IN MY LIFE FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS.

WHEN WE MET, I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE ALONGSIDE MY PREDECESSOR DAY OF THE BOWEN.

AND THEY HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL BITS FOR ASSEMBLY THROUGH THEIR OWN DETERMINATION AND DISCIPLINE.

REALIZED HOW MUCH OF A GOOF BALL AND NERDY HE WAS, JUST LIKE ME.

WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VIDEO GAMES, COMIC BOOKS, MUSIC THAT DROPPED.

TAUGHT HOW TO PLAY MAGIC THE GATHERING AND WENT ON TO GIVE ME MY FIRST DECK THAT I STILL HAVE AT HOME.

THEN I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW LEGENDARY OF A PLAYER HE WAS IN THAT GAME AS WELL WHEN HE BUST ME THREE TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN SAID LEARN AND PLAY ME AGAIN SOME TIME.

HOOD, I GOT TO SEE JONATHAN SHOW UP IN SOLIDARITY IN MOVEMENT SPACES.

HAPPENED IN MILWAUKEE, WE SPENT MANY WEEKS SHOWING UP ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DEFENSE OF BLACK LIVES AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO USE THEIR PARK IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

HIS CAMARADERIE IN THE MOVEMENT EVENTUALLY LED TO HIM GETTING ARRESTED.

AND HE WOULD CONSISTENTLY TELL ME THIS STORY LIKE I WASN'T THERE, BUT I LOVED TO HEAR IT EVERY TIME AND ALWAYS FELT LIKE IT WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE GAVE -- OR ATTEMPTED TO GIVE THE OFFICER THAT ARRESTED HIM A PIECE OF GUM, EXTRA GUM BECAUSE HE WAS BEING SO EXTRA.

I TELL THESE STORIES TO SHARE TWO LESSONS -- MORE THAN TWO LESSONS THAT JONATHAN TAUGHT ME THROUGH OUR FRIENDSHIP THAT HE WOULD CONSISTENTLY VOCALIZE TO ME, WHETHER IT BE A 6:30 A.M.

TEXT MESSAGE PHONE CALL OR 10: 0E OR JUST A RANDOM TEXT OF HIS KIDS DOING ALL THE THINGS.

THE FIRST LESSON WAS THIS.

LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE, WHICH HE ALWAYS TOLD ME WHEN I WAS FEELING STRESS.

WHEN I ASKED WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE TOLD ME THIS, HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WHILE LIFE PRESENTS CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES, THESE STRUGGLES ARE ULTIMATELY WHAT MAKES LIFE MEANINGFUL AND WOULD LEAD TO PERFECT -- PERSONAL GROWTH AND FULFILLMENT.

SECONDLY, HE WOULD SAY -- HE TOLD ME MANY STORIES ABOUT HOW HE HELD SO MANY FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, HIS COLLEAGUES, THE GOVERNOR, ALL FOLKS.

HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYONE.

AND THAT LESSON WAS HE TAUGHT ME THROUGH ALL OF THESE STORIES DON'T START NONE, WON'T BE NONE.

AND LASTLY, THE LAST STORY -- THE LAST LESSON HE TAUGHT ME WAS TO HOLD OUR FRIENDS CLOSE.

JONATHAN ALWAYS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, AT HIS HOUSE AT A BONFIRE, OR SHOWING UP AT SOMEONE'S EVENT AND CALLING AND TEXTING A FRIEND AND SAYING HEY, COME TO THIS THING REAL QUICK.

I WANT YOU TO MEET THIS PERSON OR WHETHER IT WAS AT THE DINNER, WHICH I GOT TO EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR IN APRIL.

HE HAD A GREAT, GREAT FAMILY.

AND HE -- BY HIS FAMILY, I MEAN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH WERE HIS FAMILY, NOT JUST HIS FRIENDS.

HE SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE TIME FOR EVERYONE.

YOU HEARD ALL THESE FOLKS WHO SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM AT 6:0E EVENING, AND HE WOULD ALWAYS CALL AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WHEN YOU FELT THE LOWEST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAGIC HE HAD, BUT HE KNEW TO CALL YOU AT THE RIGHT TIME I REALLY MISS MY FRIEND, BECAUSE I KNOW HE WOULD BE SO HAPPY TO HEAR THE STORIES THAT HE'S TOLD US, SHARED WITH PEOPLE TODAY AND THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS END THE CONVERSATION WITH BLESS UP.

SOLIDARITY, STAY WELL AND SO ON.

THANK YOU PHYLLIS.

THANK YOU, DIANA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR SON WITH US AND WELCOMING SO MANY FOLKS INTO YOUR FAMILY.

>> MORE MEMBERS HAVE POPPED INTO THE CUE, BECAUSE I WOULD ASK AS BRIEF AS WE COULD BE WHILE BE RESPECTFUL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

LADY FROM THE 23rd.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

JONATHAN HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT SUGGESTED THAT I RUN FOR OFFICE.

I WASN'T HIS CONSTITUENT.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM VERY WELL, BUT HE TOOK THE TIME TO INVITE HIS TIME IN ME.

HE WOULD GIVE ME ADVICE, AND HE WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS NO EASY TASK SOMETIMES, BUT HE CARED, AND HE SPENT HIS TIME WITH ME.

AFTER I WAS ELECTED, HE WOULD ALWAYS CALL AND CHECK IN, MORNING, NOON, NIGHT.

IF IT WAS A RANDOM CALL AT A RANDOM TIME, MY HUSBAND WOULD BE LIKE IS THAT JONATHAN?

IT USUALLY WAS.

HE HAD A PASSION FOR BE BETTER BETTERING HIS COMMUNITY.

IF YOU KNEW HIM FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

YOU FELT LIKE HE WAS YOUR FRIEND, BECAUSE HE INVESTED IN YOU.

PERMISSION TO READ FROM A PRINTED DOCUMENT?

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

>> THIS IS A LETTER FROM JONATHAN'S FAMILY, WHOSE HERE TODAY.

DEAR MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE FOR TODAY HONORING THE MEMORY OF OUR HUSBAND AND SON, JONATHAN BROSTOFF.

REMEMBER HIM AND ON NOVEMBER 4th, 2024, HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE WITH A GUN HE PURCHASED ONLY ONE HOUR EARLIER.

ON OCTOBER 2019 AND WHILE IN PUBLIC OFFICE, JONATHAN DISCUSSED HIS MENTAL STRUGGLES IN AN OP ED IN MILWAUKEE, REFLECTED ON HIS ATTEMPT AS A TEEN TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE AND JONATHAN SAID, FOR PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, ACCESS TO A FIREARM IS LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL AND PERMANENT DELETE BUTTON.

LET ME TELL YOU, HAVING THE POWER TO USE THAT DELETE BUTTON WHEN THOUGHTS DON'T MAKE SENSE AND WHEN STRUCTURED THINK SG NO LONGER PART OF THE EQUATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYONE FACING THOSE TYPES OF STRUGGLES IS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE.

AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO SHARE, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY IF I HAD A GUN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.

OUR FAMILY BELIEVES HAD JONATHAN BE REQUIRED TO WAIT PERHAPS A DAY OR TWO AFTER ENTERING THE GUN STORE LAST NOVEMBER HIS LIFE MAY HAVE BEEN SPARED.

NOW IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING OTHER LIVES AT RISK FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DMETS I CAN VIOLENCE OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU FIND THE COLLECTIVE WILL TO REINSTATE A REASONABLE WAIT PERIOD FOR FINALIZING GUN PURCHASES AND DOING THAT WOULD ENHANCE YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND KIND HONORING OF HIS MEMORY TODAY.

WITH OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION, DIANA BROSTOFF AND IF IS I WILL AND ALLEN BROSTOFF.

JONATHAN ALWAYS HAD THE GUTS TO SAY WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

HE DIDN'T CARE IF IT MADE HIM UNPOPULAR OR MADE OTHER PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

HE STOOD UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT WITH THE COURAGE OF CONVICTIONS AND I WHOLE HEARTEDLY ENCOURAGE YOU HERE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE AND DO THE SAME.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 64th.

>> MR. SPEAKER, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BUSY DAY AHEAD OF US.

I PROMISE TO BE BRIEF.

I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, PAUSE AND GIVE SOME COMMENTS ON FORMER COLLEAGUE AND MY FRIEND JONATHAN BROSTOFF.

JONATHAN AND I WERE NOT INSTANT FRIENDS.

IT TOOK US SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK, TO WARM UP TO EACH OTHER, BUT HE WAS A VERY BLUNT PERSON, AND HE WAS VERY HONEST IN WHAT HE THOUGHT, AND ONCE HE BECAME FRIENDS WITH SOMEBODY, THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK HAPPENED.

ADVOCATE FOR THAT PERSON IN ANY ROOM HE WALKED INTO, AND THE SECOND IS THAT HE WOULD URGE THAT PERSON TO ALWAYS DO MORE AND BE BETTER.

HE DID THE LATTER ONE AN AWFUL LOT FOR ME.

HE WAS FREQUENTLY URGING ME -- I THINK PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED QUITE AT LENGTH ABOUT THE PHONE CALLS HE WOULD GIVE AT ODD HOURS, SOMETIMES INAPPROPRIATE HOURS.

BUT HE WOULD FREQUENTLY DO THAT AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU WOULD AGREE WITH HIM, HE WOULD CALL BACK A SECOND TIME, IF HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO MAKE A POINT, EVEN AFTER I HAD JOINED IN HIS SENTIMENTS, HE WAS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR THE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND HE WILL BE MISSED GREATLY.

HE ALWAYS NEVER HESITATED TO REMIND US WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER.

HE WILL BE MISSED THANK YOU.

>> ADAPTATION OF LADY FROM THE 78th.

>> THANK YOU, MR.

CHAIR.

I, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE, IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN BROSTOFF AS NOT ONLY A COLLEAGUE BUT ALSO AS A FRIEND.

WHEN I WAS FIRST SWORN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 2019 MY OFFICE WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF'S OFFICE IN THE WEST WING.

WE KNOW THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WEST WING.

NO MATTER WHERE MY OFFICE MOVED IN THE CAPITAL, JONATHAN WAS ALWAYS MY NEIGHBOR.

HE ONCE TOLD ME HE LIKED STANDING ON THE GROUND FLOOR BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE BY THE NEW LEGISLATORS SO HE COULD GUIDE US AND GIVE US HELP IF WE NEEDED IT.

JONATHAN WAS LIKE A COACH IN THAT WAY.

IF YOU HAD A DIFFERENCE OF AN OPINION, EVEN IF HE DISAGREED WITH YOU, HE WOULD STILL BE THERE TO CHECK IN ON YOU AND TO CHEER YOU ON.

I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER JONATHAN FOR HIS PASSION AND HIS TENACITY AS A LEGISLATOR FOR THE HEART THAT HE HAD FOR PEOPLE.

IN 2019 FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF ASKED FOR MY SUPPORT TO SIGN ON HIS SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRET HE WERE LICENSING BILL WHICH SOUGHT TO REFORM LICENSING STANDARDS FOR INTERPRETERS AND ADDRESS SIGN LANGUAGE AN INTERPRETERS SHORTAGE.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE BILL DID.

HE BEGGED ME, AND SHEILA SIGN ON TO THIS BILL BECAUSE I WANT TO CUT MY HAIR.

I DID.

BECAUSE I WANTED HIM TO GET A HAIRCUT.

TALK THE TALK.

HE ACTUALLY WALKED THE WALK.

I MADE SURE THAT HE HELPED GET HIS BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

FOR THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING COMMUNITY.

SOMETHING, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAND HIS FIRM GROUND.

IN 2019?

JULY, OUR FRIEND, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BROSTOFF FINALLY GOT HIS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, AND GOT HIS HAIRCUT IN CELEBRATION OF THE VICTORY.

THAT IS HOW WE REMEMBER MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND AS AN ADVOCATE, AS A VOICE FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS, AS A FIGHTER.

IT IS MY HONOR TO SAY THAT I DEEPLY MISS HIM, AND I LAST SPOKE WITH JONATHAN THIS SUMMER, AND IN THE WORDS OF JONATHAN BROSTOFF, KEEP FIGHTING, AND DON'T GIVE UP.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 25th.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

>> DIANA AND FAMILY, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

JONATHAN WAS A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE.

HE WAS ALSO A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL PERSON.

HAD ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

FIRST HE ASKED ME IS THAT OKAY IF I ATTEND?

I'M JEWISH.

YES, I WORSHIP A JEWISH MAN, JESUS, IN CASE YOU DON'T GET IT.

HE ALWAYS ADDED TO THE CONVERSATION.

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS.

I DIDN'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

I WISH I DID.

BUT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, BUT THEY ARE AFFECTED BY IT, A FAMILY.

THERE WAS A WHOLE FAMILY AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH NOW HITTING OUR CHAMBERS.

MAYBE YOU ARE WATCHING THIS, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN.

WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS YOU CAN DO THAT.

988, YOU CAN TEXT.

YOU CAN CHAT.

YOU CAN CALL.

AND BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE ON-IF JONATHAN WERE HERE, I DON'T THINK HE WOULD WANT ANYBODY TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS.

HELP.

I'M SORRY HE HAD TO FEEL SO DESPERATE THAT HE COULDN'T GET THE HELP.

BUT WE AS FELLOW HUMANS, WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OUR FRIENDS AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE AND NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

WITH THAT, THE VOTE IS GREEN.

>> FINAL SPEAKER, LADY FROM THE 11th.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WOULD PUT ME IN A VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION.

DIANA, TO THE PARENTS, THOSE OF US WHO KNOW JOE BRO.

MOST PEOPLE SAY JONATHAN, BUT IF YOU SAY JOE BRO, THAT MEANS YOU KNOW JOE BRO.

I REMEMBER THE MANY TIMES, KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES, BONFIRES, PHONE CALLS, REAL CONVERSATIONS, I KNEW JOE BRO EVEN BEFORE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

THAT WE WOULD SPEND TOGETHER JUST AS FAMILIES EATING, TALKING AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WE WAS JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEAL, I WANT TO SAY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIM EATING HE WAS LIKE GIVE ME YOUR SPEAL.

GIVE ME YOUR SPEAL.

YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

GIVE ME YOUR SPEAL.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME UP TO YOU, AND YOU HAVE TO BE READY.

SO I WENT THROUGH MY LITTLE SPEAL.

AT ME, AND HE WAS LIKE YOU WILL BE GOOD, AND THEN HE WAS LIKE NEXT TIME SOMEBODY ASKS YOU, I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IN 30 SECONDS FLAT.

THAT WAS JUST HIM.

HE WAS ALWAYS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER.

YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT A GRAY AREA WITH JOE BRO BECAUSE THERE WAS NO GRAY AREA WITH HIM.

IT WAS EITHER BLACK OR ABSOLUTELY WHITE.

THERE WAS NO IN BETWEEN.

I LOVE HIM FOR THAT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE, I WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT HIS LOVE FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, HIS BABIES, AND IF YOU ARE REALLY CLOSE TO HIM, YOU WOULD GET A PICTURE OUT OF NOWHERE.

AND IT WILL BE LIKE LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

JOE BRO, THAT'S CUTE, AND IT'S LATE.

I WE TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO US, REMEMBERING WHO THEY ARE, IN SPITE OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND WHAT THEY ADVOCATE FOR.

AND HE STILL HAS A FAMILY AND BABIES AND NOT TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ANYONE ELSE, BUT MAKE SURE WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM, BECAUSE JOE BRO, IF HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH US, I THANK YOU FOR HAVING IT AND I ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SIT DOWN.

THANKS.

ADOPTION OF ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 18.

ALL THOSE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF ADOPTION PLEASE RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> JOINT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

GENTLEMAN FROM THE 31st.

>> THANK, MR. SPEAKER.

ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 21st ASK THE RULES BE SUSPENDED AND JOINT RESOLUTION 18 BE SUSPENDED.

OBJECTION?

THE JOINT RESOLUTION IS IN THE SENATE.

WHILE TODAY IS NOT A JOINT CONVENTION, AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE ACTION THAT WE JUST TOOK, WHICH IS NOT NORMAL DURING A JOINT CONVENTION, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF OUR SUPREME COURT, GOVERNOR EVERS, MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS FOR OUR STATE AND BY MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE.

WELCOME TO OUR ADDRESS.

AND THOMAS FOWLER WHO IS MEMBER OF THE ST. CHOI CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF WISCONSIN WILL ADDRESS OUR MEMBERS.

BOOZHOO INDAAWAMAGANIDOOG.

NI ANISHINAABEDOOG.

OGIMAAWAJIWEB INDIZHINIKAAZ.

MIIGIZI INDOODEM.

WIIKOONAMITAAWINGAASING MINIWAA WAAWIIYAGAMAAG INDOONJIBAA.

MY NAME IS THOMAS FOWLER.

MY ANISHINAABE NAME, OGIMAWAAJIWEB, WAS GIVEN TO ME BY GLADYS BEARHEART.

IT TRANSLATES TO CHIEF SITTING ON THE MOUNTAIN.

FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, MY WIFE MELISSA.

I WANT TO THANK MY CHILDREN ARIANNA, HUNTER, NOVA, NIAH, ANOKII, KOYA, AND MYLA.

WILL YOU PLEASE STAND.

[APPLAUSE] MY HEART HAS GROWN BIGGER WITH EACH OF YOU, AND I WITHOUT A DOUBT, I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY WITHOUT EACH OF YOU.

LOOKING BACK, I REMEMBER WHEN DAVID MAABIN MERRILL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ST. BROUGHT MYSELF AND HIS SON, MY FRIEND, TO THIS VERY PLACE, THE THEY SAY THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

MAABIN WAS PART OF THAT VILLAGE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ST. CROIX THE TRIBES ADDRESS.

I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK MY PARENTS FOR TEACHING ME TO MET WITH OPPOSITION.

I WANT TO THANK MY GRANDMOTHERS, DELORES CHIAAWAYSII ROGERS AND EILEEN MISCOBENAYSHII SKINAWAY, FOR TEACHING ME TO RESPECT MY FELLOW ANISHINAABE PEOPLE, AND ESPECIALLY TO RESPECT WOMEN.

I WANT TO THANK MY CEREMONIAL FAMILY, MY MENTORS, AND MY BOSS LADIES, YOU KNOW WHO EACH OF YOU THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME REALLY DOES MEAN THE WORLD TO ME AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE EACH ONE OF YOU IN MY LIFE.

IT IS AN IMMENSE PRIVILEGE TO NATIONS AT THE 21ST ANNUAL STAT OF THE TRIBES.

CHI-MIIGWECH, WHICH MEANS THANK YOU IN OUR OJIBWE LANGUAGE TO GOVERNOR EVERS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RODRIGUEZ, SPEAKER VOS SENATE, PRESIDENT FELZKOWSKI, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LEMAHIE -- I HOPE I GOT THAT RIGHT.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER KESSELBEIN AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER AUGUST, ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER NEUBAUER AND MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY, OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES SENATOR ROMAINE QUINN, SENATOR ROB STAFSHOLT, REPRESENTATIVE DUKE TUCKER REPRESENTATIVE ROB KREIBICH CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, CABINET SECRETARIES, JUSTICES OF THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE FOR EXTENDING THE SAME PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT AND APPELLATE JUDGES TO TRIBAL JUDGES.

TRIBAL COURTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE PROTOCOLS FOR WICWA, DISCRETIONARY TRANSFERS OF CHILD COLLECTIONS, HEALING TO WELLNESS COURTS, AND PEACEMAKING MEDIATION ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF UPHELD.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO NATION LEADERS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE RISE FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT: BAD RIVER BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, CHAIRMAN ROBERT BLANCHARD, FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY, CHAIRMAN JAMES CRAWFORD, HO-CHUNK NATION PRESIDENT JON GREENDEER, LAC COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE TAYLOR, LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS, MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF WISCONSIN, CHAIRMAN JOEY AWONOHOPAY, SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, CHAIRMAN ROBERT VAN ZILE, ONEIDA NATION CHAIRMAN TEHASSI HILL, RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA, STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE COMMUNITY BAND OF MOHICAN INDIANS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MY FELLOW ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA COUNCIL MEMBERS, BERNICE TAYLOR CONRAD, ST. JOHN, RICK BENJAMIN GEORGIA COBENAIS.

IT IS NO EASY TASK TO LEAD A IT TAKES AMBITION, DEVOTION, FAMILIES, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, REALLY, REALLY THICK SKIN.

THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS INSPIRING AND I THANK EACH OF CHI-MIIGWECH.

I CANNOT CONTINUE THIS SPEECH WITHOUT GIVING A SPECIAL MENTION OF THANKS TO ST. CROIX'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SPECIALISTS MICHAEL DECORAH AND PETE LABLANC, EACH CONTRIBUTING 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR ACTIVE WITH 16-MEMBER TRIBES FROM WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, AND MICHIGAN.

THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HERE IN MADISON, AND AT HOME, HAVE MADE FINALLY, CHI-MIIGWECH TO ST. CROIX TRIBAL ELDERS, OUR ST. CROIX ROYALTY AND YOUTH COUNCIL, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, GUESTS, AND TODAY'S GATHERING IS PROOF OF THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN TRIBAL NATIONS AND WE ARE THE LEGACY OF ALL US.

AS AN ANISHINAABE PERSON, MY GRANDPARENTS, AND ANCESTORS KNEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS COULD ONLY COMMUNITIES.

OUR SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, VALUES, EXPERTISE, CULTURE, AND LIVES.

OUR GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP IS FOREVER BENEFIT.

WISCONSIN IS HOME TO ELEVEN NATIVE, WITH AN ESTIMATION OF AROUND 86,000 TRIBAL MEMBERS RESIDING IN WISCONSIN.

TRIBAL NATIONS ENTERED INTO TREATIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 1837, 1842, 1847, AND 1854, WHICH ESTABLISHED WISCONSIN RESERVATIONS AND TERRITORIES, IN EXCHANGE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES OF OUR HISTORICAL HOMELANDS AND BEGAN THE TRUST RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TRIBES.

TODAY THIS TRUST RELATIONSHIP CERTIFIES TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND THE INHERENT AUTHORITY OF INDIGENOUS TRIBES TO GOVERN AFFAIRS.

AMERICAN TRIBES ARE DISTINCT, SELF-GOVERNING ENTITIES WITH OUR OWN LEGAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS, SEPARATE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.

THIS TRUST RELATIONSHIP ALSO OBLIGATES THE PROTECTION AND REGULATION OF TRIBAL LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH CARE.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO OUR MEMBERS THROUGH INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES TO TRIBES REQUIRE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD ITS COMMITMENT OF PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR PEOPLE.

TREATY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN RULINGS, INCLUDING THE LANDMARK VOIGT DECISION IN 1983 WHICH UPHELD OJIBWE OFF-RESERVATION HUNTING AND FISHING RIGHTS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

TRIBAL NATIONS EACH HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT, LANGUAGES, BELIEFS, AND CEREMONIES.

WE OPERATE OUR OWN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, OUR TRIBAL PEOPLE ARE BOTH UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND NATIONS, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OUR LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR HOMELANDS IS INTERTWINED IN EVERY PART OF OUR BEING, SO MUCH SO, THAT AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS, POWWOWS, AND GATHERINGS, OUR HONORED VETERANS LEAD THE WAY CARRYING NOT ONLY OUR TRIBAL NATION'S FLAGS AND STAFFS, BUT THE AMERICAN FLAG FIRST AND THERE IS NO OTHER BEING MORE PATRIOTIC THAN OUR OGICHIDAAG AND OUR OGICHIDAAKWEG, OUR WARRIORS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES SERVE IN THE ARMED NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE PER CAPITA SERVING THAN ANY OTHER NATIONALITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

[APPLAUSE] AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE OTHER PATRIOTS WITH DISTINCTION IN EVERY MAJOR CONFLICT FOR OVER 200 YEARS.

OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND WISCONSIN IS HOME TO AN ESTIMATED 2,800 NATIVE AMERICAN CHI-MIIGWECH TO OUR WARRIORS WHO HAVE BRAVELY DEFENDED OUR COUNTRY AND HOMELANDS, AND WHO CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR WAY OF [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE TVSO EAGLE STAFF, JEFF TAYLOR, U.S. MARINES, DESERT STORM, WISCONSIN TRIBAL VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER; [APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX EAGLE STAFF, BRUCE GERMANY; [APPLAUSE] UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FLAG, RESERVES, ACTIVE; [APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX FLAG.

ANNE TOMASZEWSKI, U.S. AIR FORCE, RETIRED WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE; [APPLAUSE] WISCONSIN FLAG, GEORGIA COBENAIS, ARMY RESERVES; POW FLAG, PATTI EDWARDS, U.S. ARMY, PEACE TIME.

[APPLAUSE] AT ST. CROIX WE STRIVE TO THAT EXISTS AMONGST OUR WARRIORS BY CONTINUALLY SEEKING SOLUTIONS THAT DEFEND AND REASSERT OUR SOVEREIGNTY AS A NATION, AND BY SECURING OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS: OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR CHILDREN.

NEAR THE END OF 2023, THE ST.

WHICH REMOVED THE BUREAU OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES.

THIS REMOVAL WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO DROP THE SECRETARIAL ELECTION ALSO ALLOWED OUR TRIBE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE BLOOD TO LINEAL DESCENDANCY, MEANING ELIGIBILITY TO BECOME A TRIBAL MEMBER IS NOW BASED ON IF A PARENT IS A MEMBER.

THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE CERTIFIED BY THE BIA ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2023.

OUR ENROLLMENT DEPARTMENT AND ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE HAVE SPENT THE LAST YEAR ENROLLING 765 DESCENDANTS INTO THE ST. CROI TRIBE.

IN DOING SO, PROVIDING THEM WITH GREATER OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES.

HAS ALLOWED OUR PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITIES, LEARN AND PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS CULTURAL PRACTICES, EXERCISE TREATY RIGHTS FOR FISHING, HUNTING AND HARVESTING AND INCREASE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES SO OUR CHILDREN CAN LEARN TO BE PROUD OF WHERE THEY COME FROM.

OUR TRIBE, LIKE MANY OTHERS, FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTINCTION PRIOR TO THE ELIMINATION OF BLOOD QUANTUM.

WITH LINEAL DESCENDANCY, WE ARE NO LONGER MEASURING WHO WE ARE BY THE AMOUNT OF INDIAN BLOOD WE HAVE.

WE ARE ST. CROIX BECAUSE OF OUR ANCESTORS BECAUSE OF WHO CAME THIS DECISION TO REMOVE BLOOD QUANTUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT ENSURES OUR SOVEREIGNTY CONTINUES FOREVER.

SOVEREIGNTY AND STRONG INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALWAYS FOCAL FOR TRIBAL LEADERS.

WHILE OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCES MANY NEW CHANGES AS OUR NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AND FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION TRANSITIONS IN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO DISTINGUISH AND DIFFERENTIATE THIS SOVEREIGNTY FROM ETHNICITY.

THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS DESCRIBES IT BEST: TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE NOT WE ARE CITIZENS OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

TO SPEAK TO CITIZENS OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AS A MINORITY IS THESE PROTOCOLS GO ON TO EXPLAIN, NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE HAD STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTS DUE TO LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH, APPROPRIATE BE MINDFUL OF THIS FACT WHEN WORKING WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS GROWN AND STRENGTHENED BETWEEN TRIBAL NATIONS AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN THE PAST 180+ YEARS.

CHI-MIIGWECH TO OUR PAST AND PRESENT TRIBAL AND STATE LEADERS NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH TO OF OUR PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT [APPLAUSE] WHILE WE DISCUSS GOOD FAITH, IT UNEASINESS SURROUNDING THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL AND WHAT THIS MAY MEAN FOR TRIBES AND OUR PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO DWELL IN UNCERTAINTIES.

THE TRUTH IS THAT WE HAVE NAVIGATED THROUGH SOME GREAT ADMINISTRATIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY WHO WORKED HARD TO UPHOLD TREATIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRIBES.

WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME BUT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED ORGANIZATIONS, COUNCILS, POLITICIANS, AND ALLIES WORKING WE ARE STRONG, COHESIVE, PROUD, INTELLIGENT, AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR COMMUNITIES YOUTH.

OFFER YOUR ASEMAA, YOUR TOBACCO.

THERE IS A STORY THAT ANISHINAABE TELL ABOUT THE MIGIZI, THE EAGLE, AND WHY HE IS SUCH A REVERED AND RESPECTED BEING.

I WON'T TELL THE FULL STORY HERE SAID THAT IF THE MIGIZI SEES JUST ONE ANISHINAABE STILL OFFERING THEIR TOBACCO AND GIVING THANKS THAT OUR CREATOR WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND TAKE PITY UPON ALL OF US.

OFFER YOUR TOBACCO.

GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THAT WE TOBACCO TO AN ELDER IN YOUR AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WE BELIEVE WE PROVIDE FOR OUR PEOPLE IN MANY WAYS.

I BELIEVE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WANT THE SAME THINGS; PHYSICAL SAFETY, FINANCIAL SECURITY, LOVE AND HAPPINESS.

MOST OF US WANT THAT FOR OTHER I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU ALL RAN WANT THOSE THINGS FOR OTHER [APPLAUSE] GOVERNOR EVERS HAS REPEATEDLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING TRIBAL NATION SOVEREIGNTY AND HAS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING TRIBES TO MANAGE THEIR OWN LAND AND RESOURCES AND BY ENSURING NATIVE COMMUNITIES ARE GUARANTEED THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROMOTE SELF- DETERMINATION.

FULLY REALIZING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE IS POSSIBLE AND TRIBAL NATIONS ARE EAGER TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE CLOSER TO THAT FULL REALIZATION.

TRIBAL NATIONS SEEK COMMON-SENSE PROTECT OUR OWN PEOPLE, PRESERVE OUR OWN CULTURES, AND CONTROL OUR OWN LANDS AND RESOURCES WITHIN OUR OWN BOUNDARIES.

BECAUSE TRIBES ARE NOT CHILDREN OF THE GOVERNMENT.

[APPLAUSE] WISCONSIN ACT 31 MANDATES TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.

THE INCEPTION OF ACT 31 STEMMED FROM THE VIOLENT CONTROVERSARY OVER OUR OJIBWE RIGHTS TO SPEARFISH IN THE 1980S, AS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE VOIGT DECISION.

THESE WERE THE DAYS OF THE WALLEYE WARS, SAVE A WALLEYE, WHILE WE REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR THE ANISHINAABE PRACTICES, WE WANT MORE.

WE FEAR RETURNING TO A PUBLIC EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND TEACHINGS.

ACT 31 IS NOT ENOUGH; IT TRUTHFULLY HAS NEVER BEEN OUR NEIGHBORS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT RIGHTS, OR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.

I THANK GOVERNOR EVERS FOR MEMBERS TO ST. CROIX AT THE END OF 2024 FOR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING ON THESE VERY TOPICS COMMISSION.

YOUR COMMITMENT TO UNDERSTANDING AND COLLABORATING WITH OUR I APPLAUD YOU, MR. EVERS.

[APPLAUSE] IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TRIBES POSITION THAT MORE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT IN OUR PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

WE ASK THIS BODY TO COLLABORATE FURTHER ON INDIAN EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS.

WE THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF TO INCLUDE FULL TUITION WAIVERS AT THE OTHER UW CAMPUSES CLOSER TO THOSE OF US IN RURAL, INDIAN [APPLAUSE] ST. CROIX IS IN AN EDUCATION DESERT, AND OUR KIDS WON'T ALL FIND SUCCESS MOVING SO FAR FROM WE ALSO ASK FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL UNIVERSITIES IN WISCONSIN, LIKE LAC COURTE THE COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATIO [APPLAUSE] INVESTING IN BOTH UW CAMPUSES AND TRIBAL HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORTS TRIBES AND OUR STUDENTS AND, ULTIMATELY, CHANGES LIVES.

OUR KIDS SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH WALKING IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT WORLDS.

WE ASK THAT THIS BODY SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT SERVES OUR STUDENTS LIKE LRB-0122/1 SO THAT SCHOOL BOARDS AND CHARTER INDIAN STUDENTS FROM WEARING GRADUATION CEREMONY OR [APPLAUSE] WE ALSO SEEK SUPPORT FOR BILL SB87 WHICH GIVES TRIBES MORE DISCRETION OVER TRIBAL TEACHER LICENSING AND REMOVES BARRIERS FOR QUALIFIED TRIBAL TEACHERS AND AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE HE EDUCATORS.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENT'S EDUCATION BY ALS PASSING.

AB101, SB89, WHICH WILL REQUIRE THAT EACH SCHOOL IN DECEMBER 2024, THE U.S. SENATE TOOK A HISTORIC STEP BY SCHOOL POLICIES ACT OF 2023, WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED THE WHERE IT CONTINUES TO SIT.

THIS ACT SEEKS TO UNCOVER THE INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IT WILL DELIVER RESEARCH AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES SO THAT PATHWAYS TOWARD HEALING CAN BE IDENTIFIED.

THIS ACT IS CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE TRAGEDY OF BOARDING SCHOOLS NOT LOST OR FORGOTTEN.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO AFFORD THEM DIGNITY AND RESPECT, TO ADDRESS THE LOSS THEY SUFFERED, OFTEN TIMES WHILE BEING ALONE.

WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS BODY TO HELP PROPEL THE S.1723 BILL FORWARD.

I RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE REPEATS ITSELF.

[APPLAUSE] WE NEED TO USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS OF PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS THAT WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY BOARDING SCHOOLS.

THE LOSS OF LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY THROUGHOUT OUR FAMILIES MANY OF OUR RELATIVES TURNED TO ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING DRUGS AND VIOLENCE THAT STRESS OUR COMMUNITIES AND OVERWHELM OUR SYSTEMS.

INDIAN COUNTRY IS OVERDUE FOR AN HONEST EFFORT TOWARDS RECONCILIATION.

[APPLAUSE] IT'S NO SECRET THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE UP TO FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND PLACED IN FOSTER CARE.

BEING A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT FOR OVER A DECADE, I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED HOW BOARDING SCHOOLS DISRUPTED TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN PARENTING AND DAMAGED WE KNOW THAT TRAUMA AFFECTS US IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

OUR ELDERS TODAY, THROUGHOUT TRIBAL NATIONS, SHARE A SIMILAR MEMORY OF A BLACK CAR COMING DOWN THEIR DRIVEWAY AND THE WOODS TO HIDE SO THEY WOULDN'T BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I HOLD THEIR LANGUAGE CLOSE TO MY HEART.

SPEAK OUR OJIBWEMOWIN.

SINCE COLONIZATION MANY MANY OF MY ANISHINAABE RELATIVES INCLUDING MY OWN GRANDMOTHER WERE FORCED INTO A BOARDING SCHOOL AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK OJIBWE.

WHILE OUR LANGUAGE MAY BE CURRENTLY ON LIFE SUPPORT, OJIBWEMOWIN HAS NO BORDERS, NO WALLS, AND THROUGH REVITALIZATION IT WILL HAVE NO LIMITS.

[APPLAUSE] A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FROM ALL REVITALIZATION HAS BEGUN.

ESTABLISHING FUNDING HAS US TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION VOCABULARY BACK AND TO BE TAUGHT WORDS WE NEVER WOULD HAVE HEARD WHILE SURVIVING THROUGH INTRICATE AND ABUSIVE OPPRESSION.

PRESERVATION OF OUR LANGUAGE IS SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF US.

I PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CATALOGING OUR ELDERS SPEAKING OJIBWEMOWIN AND SHARING THOSE LESSONS WITH THE WORLD.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSER TO THIS DREAM THAN WE ARE NOW WITH THE FLEXIBLE FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL IN ST. CROIX WHEN I SAY WE EXPRESS OUR IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO GOVERNOR EVERS AND THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE GRANT AWARD OF $4.25 MILLION TO ASSIST IN THE EXPANSION OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTER IN OUR SAND LAKE COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] THE FACILITY WILL REDUCE BARRIERS TO CRUCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING PROVIDING CULTURAL CONNECTION, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

THE FACILITY WILL BE A INCLUDE AN ELDER CENTER, LANGUAGE AND MUSIC PRESERVATION STUDIO, AND SIX CLASSROOMS.

CHI-MIIGWECH, GOVERNOR EVERS.

I ASK THAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE REVITALIZATION OF OJIBWEMOWIN.

NOT JUST MONETARILY, BUT WITH YOUR TIME, YOUR ATTENTION, AND YOUR PEOPLE.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, THE ST. CROIX NATION UPDATED OUR ROAD SIGNS TO INCLUDE THE OJIBWE WORDS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE THIS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

NEW FACILITIES ACROSS INDIAN COUNTRY ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION IS ALSO COLLABORATION WITH THE BAYFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TEACH OJIBWEMOWIN IN THEIR PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEM, BA RIVERS ADULT -- AND LTS BAD RIVER'S ADULT IMMERSION PROGRAM AND MENOMONIE'S WASECEWAN LANGUAGE CAMPUS.

I ENCOURAGE US ALL TO PUSH MOVE INTO A PLACE OF NORMALIZED [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE SHIFTED FROM PRESERVATION TO REVITALIZATION [APPLAUSE] ALONG WITH LANGUAGE BEING A RELIED ON PLANT MEDICINES FOR CENTURIES.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WERE PURPOSES.

AS EARLY PRACTITIONERS OF HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBES ACROSS THE CONTINENT, FROM TREATING PAIN AND INFLAMMATION TO ADDRESSING SPIRITUAL THE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL BEFORE WESTERN MEDICINE AND THE SHADOW OF PROHIBITION.

IN OUR MODERN SOCIETY, OUR PEOPLE ARE MEDICALLY PREDISPOSED TO NUMEROUS AFFLICTIONS.

WE NEED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT, DISORDER, AND ADDICTION.

[APPLAUSE] ADDICTION HAS LEFT NO FAMILY UNTOUCHED THROUGHOUT INDIAN COUNTRY.

AND DEADLY FENTANYL ARE NOW FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN NATIONAL RATES.

AND FENTANYL CAN DESTROY PEOPLE MY DAUGHTER WROTE A POEM TO HER THIS IS HER POEM.

MOM, I SEEN BABY TURTLES AND FROGS AND BIRDS AND GRASSHOPPERS AND SPIDERS, AND I SMELT BUG SPRAY AND TREES AND LEAVES AND PEOPLE AND THE SUN AND PONDS AND MOSQUITOES.

THEY WERE BIGHTING ME.

I PUT BUG SPRAY, AND THEY WERE STILL BIGHTING ME.

I GOT SO IRRITATED.

I LOVE YOU.

SHE LEFT THIS POEM, WRITTEN ON A SMALL PIECE OF NOTEBOOK PAPER, ON HER MOM'S GRAVE.

IN MAY 2023 MY DAUGHTER'S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER'S LIFE WAS TAKEN TOO EARLY, FROM AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE OF THIS DEADLY FENTANYL.

NIAH'S STORY ISN'T UNIQUE.

OVERDOSES HAVE NEARLY WIPED OUT A GENERATION OF OUR TRIBAL NATION MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

THROUGH THE REGULATION OF TOWARDS MOVING PEOPLE OFF HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUGS, DRUGS WHICH ARE KILLING OUR PEOPLE.

DATA INDICATES THAT IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WHERE BAN KISS IS NOT LEGAL, THERE IS OVER A 25% REDUCTION IN OPIOID USE AND OVERDOSES.

PROVIDE ALL CITIZENS IN WISCONSIN WITH ALTERNATIVE [APPLAUSE] A MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL LAST YEAR SHOWED 86% OF WISCONSIN REGISTERED VOTERS SUPPORT MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION [APPLAUSE] THE CHIPPEWA FEDERATION, IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE INDIGENOUS CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, ICIA, THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL TASK FORCE ON CANNABIS, AND TRIBAL NATION LEADERS ARE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE 95% OF DEMOCRATS, THE 84% OF INDEPENDENTS, AND THE 78% OF REPUBLICANS TO ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION.

[APPLAUSE] LET'S SEE THIS FORWARD.

WE MUST NOW FOCUS OUR WORK ON EDUCATION, REFORM, AND REGULATION OF SAFE, MEDICAL THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE PROUD OF IN OUR TRIBAL WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS ARE IN RECENT DATA PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION, WISCONSIN TRIBAL GAMING ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 26,700 JOBS, MANY OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN RURAL AREAS, HELPING TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL FAMILIES ALIKE.

FOR ABOUT $604 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE AND TRIBAL REVENUE SHARE TRIBES EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF THE ST. CROIX CASINOS OFFER 400+ HEALTH BENEFITS, AND RAISE A WE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN MANY OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS ARE WELL.

MONEY SPENT IN TRIBAL NATIONS IS COMMUNITIES.

GRANT FUNDS AWARDED TO TRIBES ALLOW FOR THE HIRING OF THE PROVISIONS WE PROVIDE FOR OUR PEOPLE BENEFIT OTHERS TOO.

OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES BENEFIT FROM OUR THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD WORK THE GENEROSITY OF OUR TRIBES COULD BE SEEN CLEARLY DURING THE OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH THE HELP OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SET UP DOZENS OF VACCINE CLINICS, INCLUDING MOBILE VACCINE CLINICS, WHICH OUR PEOPLE WORKED ON FOOD AND MILK GIVEAWAYS, OFTEN IN DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE ALSO OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

MOST RECENTLY, ST. CROIX VENDING MACHINES IN OUR LARGEST RESERVATION COMMUNITIES OF DANBURY, SAND LAKE, MAPLE PLAIN, AND ROUND LAKE.

THEY ARE THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND WISCONSIN, DISPENSING FIFTEEN UNIQUE PRODUCTS TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF TRIBAL AFFILIATION, AND AT ZERO COST.

THE MACHINES DISPENSE NARCAN, FENTANYL & XYLAZINE TEST KITS, DRUG DISPOSAL BAGS, VARIOUS TESTING KITS, PREGNANCY TESTS AND PLAN B, CABLE GUN LOCKS, AA BIG BOOKS, SMOKING CESSATION [APPLAUSE] WE PRIORITIZED THIS INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE THESE PRODUCTS ACROSS THREE COUNTIES, TO HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BENEFIT US ALL.

[APPLAUSE] THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE AND PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE A SECONDARY BENEFIT OF THIS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT IS THAT THESE MACHINES HEALTH.

[APPLAUSE] I WOULD BE REMISS IF I FAILED TO FOREFRONT AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND RELATIVES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH [APPLAUSE] A 2016 STUDY BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE FOUND THAT NEARLY 85% OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, INCLUDING OVER 56% WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

OTHER REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE IS NO RELIABLE COUNT OF JUST HOW MANY NATIVE WOMEN GO MISSING OR ARE KILLED EACH YEAR BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ADEQUATE RESEARCH.

IN JANUARY A SAN CARLOS APACHE TEENAGER, EMILY PIKE, WENT MISSING.

HER REMAINS WERE FOUND NEARLY MONTHLER MORE THAN 80 MILES FROM WHERE SHE WAS LAST SEEN.

THIS IS SUCH A TRAGEDY.

INDIAN COUNTRY, AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HER THIS IS TOO COMMON FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND IT MUST STOP.

WE NEED MORE STATE AND FEDERAL WE NEED ADEQUATE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO SERVE OUR ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, STRENGTHENED ALERT SYSTEMS, INCREASED FUNDING FOR TRIBAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SHELTER, AND INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

WE MUST DO BETTER.

FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM, SAY THEIR NAME.

EMILY PIKE.

[APPLAUSE] I STAND HERE ON BEHALF OF MY INDIGENOUS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WATER QUALITY STANDARDS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR STANDARDS OF WATER CLEANLINESS TO BETTER PROTECT OUR NATURAL WATER SHEDS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION TO GIIGOONH, OUR FISH, AND MANOOMIN, OUR WILD RICE.

THERE IS AN INCREASED LACK OF FIGHT INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE WATER.

THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE SULFATE LEVELS IN OUR WATERS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SULFATE THIS INVOLVES BETTER REGULATION RUNOFF OF CHEMICAL SPRAYS, COMMERCIAL WASTE, ROAD SALT, ETC.

WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE NEXT TO THE NATURAL WORLD HAS ALWAYS THREATS, INCLUDING POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGES, AND HABITAT LOSSES.

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE TACKLE ALONE, SO WE MUST UNIFY TO SECURE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ST. CROIX HAS COMMITTED TO CLEAN ENERGY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP $4.5 MILLION SOLAR PROJECT.

THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDAMENTAL OUR GREATEST ASSET IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE, A [APPLAUSE] THIS IS WHY IT FEELS SO DISHEARTENING TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER OIL SPILL SEEMINGLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

THE DNR INVESTIGATION OF A TRIBES HAVE NEVER BEEN SILENT ON THEIR CONCERN OF THE OUR LANDS AND WATERWAYS ARE AT RISK, PUTTING OUR FOOD, WATER, OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE SUSTAINED OUR PEOPLE FOR WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] ONE OF ST. CROIX'S MOST REVERED ELDERS, AND PREVIOUS TRIBAL CHAIRMAN FOR MANY YEARS, JOURNEYED HOME LAST YEAR.

HIS NAME WAS LEWIS ZHINAWISE LEWIS REPRESENTED ST. CROIX FOR HE GAVE THIS SPEECH IN 2010.

LEWIS HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR GAMING EXCLUSIVITY ACROSS HE STOOD FIRMLY ON TRIBAL HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GREAT LAKES INDIAN FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE AND AT ONE TIME SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE AROUND US, LEWIS HAD A HAND IN THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE MR. TAYLOR FOR ALL HIS CONTRIBUTIONS, NOT JUST IN ST. CROIX BUT THROUGHOUT INDIAN COUNTRY AND OUR GREAT STATE.

[APPLAUSE] I ALSO CANNOT CLOSE THIS SPEECH WITHOUT RECOGNIZING TWO ADDITIONAL ELDERS AND LEADERS WHOSE ABSENCE HAS BEEN AN INDESCRIBABLE LOSS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES: JEAN MOOKIJIWANIBIIKWE SONGETAY FROM OUR DANBURY COMMUNITY AND EILEEN MISCOBINAYSHII SKINAWAY FROM OUR BOTH JEAN AND MISCOBINAYSHII WERE NOT JUST LEADERS, BUT SHINING EXAMPLES OF THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.

AS INDIGENOUS MEN, WE CANNOT NURTURE THE WORLD LIKE OUR WOMEN THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RESPECT OUR MOTHERS, [APPLAUSE] NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE TRIBAL AND STATE RELATIONS.

WHEN WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER, WE BUILD A BETTER AND STRONGER OUR 11 TRIBAL NATIONS AND THIS BEGINS WITH HONORED HISTORY WISCONSIN'S COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH TRIBAL NATIONS CAN BE AN EXAMPLE OUR ENTIRE NATION CAN LOOK UP TO.

THE CHIPPEWA FEDERATION, AND ITS I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU TAKE POSITIONS ON BILLS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO RESPECT THE TRIBES AND OUR ANISHINAABE PEOPLE.

WISCONSIN IS OUR HOMELAND.

WE ALL WANT TO REPRESENT WISCONSIN WELL AND FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL RESIDENTS, OUR VETERANS, OUR ELDERS, OUR YOUTH, BECAUSE WHEN WISCONSIN IS AT ITS BEST, WE ALL WIN.

CHI MIIGWECH.

THANK YOU ALL.

[APPLAUSE] I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

TO ALL MY INDIGENOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUT THERE, WE ARE NOT BROKEN.

WE ARE STRONG, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] IF SOME OF YOU ARE UP FOR IT, WE WILL SING A COUPLE OF POWWOW SONGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAPITOL THERE.

YOU SHOULD COME DANCE WITH US.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE NOW.