Candidate Profile: Bryan Steil For WI 1st Congressional District

Bryan Steil, a Janesville resident is running for U.S. House of Representatives District 1.

Age: 39
Party affiliation: Republican Party
Family:n/a
Occupation:Attorney and business executive in Southeast Wisconsin’s Manufacturing industry, 10 years
Previous elected experience:Current: Representative, Wisconsin’s First Congressional District
Previous: Regent, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: https://bryansteil.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Unemployment and bringing good-paying jobs to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin workers are out of work through no fault of their own. Getting workers back to work and our economy on the road to recovery is my job number one. Before COVID-19, we saw record low unemployment and rising wages for workers. We can do it again. We must continue to keep taxes low, create more jobs, and ensure individuals can go to bed at night feeling financially secure. We need to prepare workers for the jobs of the future by investing in job skills and education, and supporting innovative programs, like Opportunity Zones, that drive investment and good paying jobs to areas of our communities that historically struggle. Expanding the federal government's control and raising taxes on families and workers will stifle job growth, depress wages, and hurt workers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
First, this is my home. I was born and raised in Janesville, and spent my professional career working in Southeast Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry. I still live in Janesville today. My opponent owns two Washington, D.C. homes, including a home worth nearly $1.3 million. Owning multiple homes in D.C. while renting in Wisconsin shows where his priorities are.

Second, I will always fight for our community and condemn criminal agitators and those who aim to do our community harm, especially in the wake of the Kenosha unrest. I will continue working to keep you and your families safe. It’s why I called on Attorney General Barr to investigate the funding and leadership structure of criminal groups who destroyed Kenosha. My opponent defended a Seattle-based group, Kitchen Riot, who was headed into Kenosha with a van filled with gas masks, fireworks, and helmets. There is no reason to support such people who were arrested by Kenosha police and clearly have ulterior motives.

Third, I believe that we must hold our foreign adversaries accountable for their actions. It’s why I’ve led numerous policies in Congress to ensure Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, does not obtain a nuclear weapon and we deter their reign of terror across the Middle East. The days of sweetheart deals and propping up Iran’s economy are over. My opponent is proud to have helped craft the disastrous Obama Iran Nuclear Deal, which lessened sanctions on Iran, gave Iran over $100 billion which they can use to fund terrorism throughout the region, and allowed Iran to keep its nuclear infrastructure in place. I will always work to keep America and our service members safe.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My experiences in Southeast Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry and my role on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents have helped me immensely throughout my first term in Congress. In both roles, I learned the importance of problem solving and putting politics aside to achieve results. That’s the attitude I bring to Congress. In my first term in office, I’ve helped 3,000 in our community cut through federal red tape and receive help at the federal level. That includes Social Security backpay, obtaining VA benefits, and ensuring local veterans groups had the equipment needed to conduct military funerals.

I also successfully fought for policies that help our community and state. The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) is an enhanced trade deal for Wisconsin dairy farmers and workers. USMCA creates new jobs and gives our economy a boost at a time we need it most. I also fought for a 10-year extension of Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program, which provides affordable prescription drugs for seniors.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Governor Evers should wisely spend the federal dollars allocated to the State of Wisconsin through the CARES Act, which I supported. The State of Wisconsin received nearly $2 billion in federal funding to help local workers and families. A Department of Treasury report found that earlier this summer, the State has spent only 3% of these dollars. The latest report from the State details there is still over $200 million to be allocated and spent. Funding should be provided to help workers receive their unemployment checks and give resources to students and schools. The state must use the significant resources it has been provided by the federal government to get Wisconsin back to work, keep our state healthy, and keep our communities safe.
Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.g...

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
We need to continue working towards a more perfect union, rebuild our community, and ensure everyone’s safety. In particular at this time, we need to show families and workers that Kenosha remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our communities. Following the George Floyd shooting and subsequent riots, I proactively reached out to our African American community leaders and law enforcement community for their input and thoughts on police reform. These were important conversations to have to learn how the federal government can strengthen our community. Following these discussions, I co-sponsored Senator Tim Scott’s bill, the JUSTICE Act, which provides funding for body cameras and funding for de-escalation training. The JUSTICE Act provides federal funding for local police departments while not hindering the work of law enforcement.

In wake of the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake and Kenosha riots, I joined a coalition of Kenosha faith, community, and business leaders to discuss these issues and work on a plan to move our community forward. I look forward to continuing to work with this group to make Kenosha stronger than ever before.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
The coronavirus pandemic affected our health and our economy. I am running to keep America healthy, get Wisconsin back to work, and keep our communities safe. Ensuring every worker who wants a job, has a job is my job number one. I’m focused on pro-growth policies that invest in workers, create jobs, and grow wages.

We must defeat coronavirus and keep America healthy. I am working to provide unprecedented support of our doctors, researchers, and scientists who are working to develop a safe and effective vaccine. I helped pass legislation to increase funding for COVID-19 vaccine research and development, expand testing capabilities, and help families cope with the financial burdens of this crisis. I will continue working to ensure we defeat this virus, expand access to telehealth and mental health services, and protect those with pre-existing conditions.

When I meet with people across the First District, I hear from families and workers on the need to keep our communities safe. I support our men and women in law enforcement. Defunding the police is a dangerous policy that will make our communities less safe. Assuring public safety means supporting those who keep us safe. We can achieve this goal by fixing what’s wrong and improving what’s right. Ensuring police departments have funding for body cameras and training is an important step. We should also help police departments retain and hire only the best officers. I am working in Congress to ensure we pass a nonpartisan bill to invest in sound law enforcement.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
In my first term, I held 14 in-person town halls, numerous telephone town halls, and in-person public forums on children’s mental health, identity theft prevention for seniors, college affordability, and agriculture. I promised to be available and accessible to you and I have kept that promise.

As our community was struggling under the mandated shutdowns during the pandemic, I worked to make sure workers, small businesses, and farmers received support in the CARES Act. Additionally, I worked with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and ensured Kenosha-based Jockey could produce thousands of PPE medical gowns per week for health care workers on the frontlines.

I ask for your vote on November 3rd and look forward to serving you in a second term.