In Profile: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin

This week, WAND/WiLL recognizes the accomplishments of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). She represents Wisconsin’s 2^nd district, which is centered around Madison. Baldwin was first elected in 1998 after Congressman Scott Klug retired. With her election to Congress, she became the first woman to represent Wisconsin, the first openly gay non-incumbent elected, and the first openly gay woman in Congress. Baldwin is currently running for Senate, and if she wins this fall, she will be the first openly LGBT person ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

Baldwin serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and is a member of a number of caucuses, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the International Conservation Caucus. Previously she worked on the Advisory Committee of Progressive Majority and participated in the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus.

During her time in Congress, Baldwin has advocated for women and veterans. She has campaigned for equal pay, the Violence Against Women Act, and reproductive rights. She co-sponsored an action supporting the National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and sponsored the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. She also wrote the Veteran Vision Equity Act, which improves aid to veterans who sustain vision loss while serving.

Baldwin also encourages peace and fiscal responsibility. She has long opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and frequently asserts that we must bring our men and women home safely and re-direct the money spent on war toward rebuilding our economy here at home. When she voted against continuing to fund the war in Afghanistan, she stated, “I have said repeatedly that it is time to bring our troops home safely as soon as possible and redirect the roughly $2 billion we spend in Afghanistan each week to balance our budget and strengthen our economy here at home. With all the challenges our country is facing, we should not be adding billions of dollars in new spending that the Pentagon does not want or need.”

WAND/WiLL is proud to acknowledge Congresswoman Baldwin’s achievements and her work advocating for women’s rights, fiscal responsibility, and peace.

-Hayley Anderson, Intern - Northeastern Class of 2015