Newsletter

Joseph Project's 50th Class

May 18, 2018

On Wisconsin

The Joseph Project expanded into Green Bay this month, bringing soft skills and interview training to those seeking employment opportunites in northeast Wisconsin. The Joseph Project also hosted two classes in Milwaukee, including one with the Milwaukee House of Corrections. This class, which ran the week of May 7th, had the distinction of being the 50th Joseph Project class.

Joseph Project Class 49 & 50

The 49th and 50th classes of the Joseph Project

On the Hill

Making the Senate Work

Sen. Johnson and 15 other Senators sent a letter this week to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to keep the Senate in session nights, weekends and through the scheduled August recess to continue the important work of confirming nominees and funding the government in a thoughtful way.

"We stand ready to break through the confirmation backlog and get the government funded before we break in August, well before the September 30 deadline, the senators wrote. We stand ready to work Mondays and Fridays, nights as well as weekends, to ensure the funding process is not used to jam the President with a bad spending deal."

You can read the full letter here.

Confirmation of Gina Haspel as CIA Director

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm current acting CIA director Gina Haspel as the permanent director of the agency. Sen. Johnson explained his vote in favor of Director Haspel this way: "The world is a dangerous place, and, as the deputy director of the CIA and a career intelligence officer, Gina Haspel has the experience needed to help keep our country safe. I am pleased the Senate approved such a qualified candidate for the important role of CIA director."

Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018

Earlier this week, Sen. Johnson and four other senators introduced the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018.The bill provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with the authorities needed to keep buildings and sensitive areas safe from the ever-changing security risks posed by an unmanned aircraft.

Sen. Johnson said this about the bill: "The threats posed by malicious unmanned aircraft are too great to ignore. It is not enough to just tell drone operators not to fly in certain high-risk areas; we must give federal law enforcement the authority to act if necessary. By providing the DOJ and DHS with more tools in their toolbox to keep up with emerging security threats we are working towards our shared goal of a safer and more prosperous America."

Coming Up

The House has announced plans to take up Sen. Johnson's right to try bill Tuesday. Right to try provides freedom and hope to individuals with terminal conditions. Sen. Johnson spoke with journalist Sharyl Atkisson about the importance of passing right to try earlier this month. You can view that interview here.

Media Round Up