2024 Campaigns
Support Access to Menstrual Hygiene Products & Diapers
As advocates for reproductive health, we request your support to contact your Wisconsin representatives in support of important legislative efforts to address period poverty. The link below requests support for a committee vote on Wisconsin SB 219, which would create a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of menstrual hygiene products and diapers.
ACP has long believed that women should have access to affordable, comprehensive and nondiscriminatory health care coverage. This should include access to affordable menstrual hygiene products. Through this legislation, Wisconsin would join the majority of states that provide sales and use tax exemption for these products, as well as for diapers for children and incontinent adults. Since cost of these products is especially burdensome to individuals facing financial hardship, this legislation reflects a policy to reduce socioeconomic inequalities and improve health equity.
Thank you for taking the time to urge action on this important initiative.
Sincerely,
Lopa Kabir-Islam, MD, MBA, FACP; Rachel Bernard, MD, MPH, FACP; Jennifer Mackinnon, MD, MM, FACP
ACP-Wisconsin Health and Public Policy Committee, Reproductive Health Advocacy Workgroup
Promote State-wide Investment in Pollution-free Transportation - A.B. 846 and A.B. 847
ACP Wisconsin is calling on all members to contact their representative in the Wisconsin legislature to urge them to pass legislation allowing Wisconsin to receive $78.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build out electric vehicle charging across the state. This legislation aligns with ACP policy and is critical for achieving the necessary transition in how transportation is powered in the United States from fossil fuels, which are causing climate change and harming human health, to renewable energy sources. While we have recommendations for the bill text to be strengthened, our priority is for the bill to pass in time for the state to apply for federal funding at the end of February.
Please use the link below to e-mail or call your Wisconsin assembly representative to support this important legislation.
Sincerely
Victoria Gillet, MD and Richard Dart, MD, MACP
ACP-Wisconsin Health and Public Policy Committee, Climate and Health Advocacy Work Group
2023 Campaigns
Suicide Awareness
In recognition of September as Suicide Awareness month, we have an opportunity to ask our elected representatives to support current bills in the Wisconsin legislature known as “Gun Shop Bills". This package of bills will create grant funding for voluntary safe gun storage at gun shops for people who are at risk for suicide, as well as education about suicide prevention.
Action Requested: Please use this alert to email your members of the Wisconsin State Legislature asking them to sponsor and pass these bills. Sample email messages to state representatives and senators are provided for you that includes space for you to personalize the letters.
Background: Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the State Assembly (AB 173 and AB 355) and State Senate (SB 205 and SB 356) that would allow the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to award grants to organizations or coalitions of organizations for 1) training staff at firearm retailers or ranges to recognize a person who may be considering suicide; 2) providing suicide prevention material for distribution at a firearm retailer or range; or 3) providing voluntary, temporary firearm storage for the lawful owner of a firearm.
The inspiration for this proposal comes from “The Gun Shop Project,” a program started in response to suicide among veterans. While the VA is currently providing some funding, further expansion will depend on state funding.
https://www.betherewis.com/firearm-storage-online-map/
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/special-reports/2023/08/23/wisconsin-gun-store-owners-offer-to-take-in-firearms-to-combat-suicwisconsin-gun-store-owners-offer/70502343007/
Suicide accounts for over half of all gun deaths. ACP has long advocated for evidence-based policies to reduce the rates of firearm injuries and deaths and calls on physicians to advocate for national, state, and local efforts to enact meaningful legislation.
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M18-1530?journalCode=aim
These bills will provide funding to help reduce the risk of suicide at the community level, by providing support and protection for lawful gun owners at risk of acute suicidal crisis until their crisis passes. This program has the potential to save countless lives without the need to petition a court for removal of firearms from individuals who are at imminent risk of harming themselves or others.
Sincerely,
Sophie Kramer, M.D., FACP
Chair, ACP Wisconsin Chapter Health and Public Policy Committee
Gun Safety Advocacy Workgroup: Mara Terras, M.D.; Siobhan Wilson, M.D., Ph.D.; Megan Schleusner, MCW-Central Wisconsin Student; Apurva Popat, M.D., IM Resident Marshfield Clinic
Health Equity: AB 114
We request that you take this opportunity to contact your Wisconsin Assembly representative to support AB 114, a companion bill to Senate Bill 110, which would extend health coverage provided postpartum under the Medical Assistance program from 60 days to 12 months.
This important bill aligns with ACP policies on expanding health coverage and health equity. Assembly Bill 114 will improve access to care, help patients better manage serious and chronic health conditions and reduce negative maternal outcomes that disproportionately affect women of color.
Please feel free to personalize the message linked above through Voter Voice. If you know that your Assembly Representative currently supports AB 114, please thank them for their support.
Sincerely,
Sophie Kramer, M.D., FACP, Chair, ACP-Wisconsin Chapter Health and Public Policy Committee (HPPC)
Leila Famouri, M.D., Member Medicaid Expansion Advocacy Workgroup, ACP-WI HPPC
Barbara Horner-Ibler, M.D., FACP, Member Medicaid Expansion Advocacy Workgroup, ACP-WI HPPC