Bryan Steil

Bryan is a former manufacturing executive who currently serves on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, where he has supported initiatives that froze tuition and increased access to quality, affordable education. His background taught him the importance of fighting for common-sense solutions. After being elected to Congress in 2018, Bryan has focused his attention on expanding job access and making investment in small businesses and entrepreneurs more widely available to Americans.

Seems like you can’t even take a stroll down the block these days without someone commenting on the recent jobs numbers, amirite?? Bryan noted in a recent statement that the percentage of Americans working remains historically low. The labor force participation rate remains near its lowest level in 45 years – just under 62%. Bryan, unsurprisingly, is not a fan of the Biden administration’s plans to get back on track. Will he and other Republicans be able to get any policies through in this still Dem-controlled Congress?

Bryan spent this year with his eyes on jobs and employment. Early on in 2021, Bryan met with workers in his district who work for the Wisconsin-based companies who had been awarded the Keystone XL pipeline construction contract—which was halted because of one of Biden’s Executive Orders. Bryan toured a Wisconsin business, KANDU Industries, which employs intellectually disabled individuals to help with things like assembly. The business has a special certificate (Section 14C from the Fair Labor Standard Act) that allows them to pay lower wages to their disabled workers based on productivity. Bryan argued to keep the certificate intact. Bryan led a group of his Republican colleagues in launching the Investing in Innovation Initiative, which promotes policies that will strengthen capital markets by supporting small business investment opportunities, inspiring entrepreneurship, and making the United States more competitive internationally.

You may be disappointed to learn that is not the name of a new show coming to NBC this winter, but you may be interested to learn that is the beef that Bryan has with the IRS currently. Tucked within the Dems’ large spending packages is a proposed surveillance program through the IRS. The concept stems from a desire to go after billions in unpaid taxes but what many Republicans are classifying as a blatant infringement on civil liberties. Bryan has now sent a letter to Secretary Yellen requesting the IRS provide an updated revenue estimate for this cockamamie scheme. Rather, Bryan hasn’t necessarily called it that yet, but without any data provided, it’s hard to call it anything but.

A lot of money just got approved for infrastructure and potential spending bills. The question is, will this money be issued and used appropriately? Many watchdogs groups are calling on there to be more transparency from the government. Bryan agrees that way too much is trying to be done and instead there needs to be “stop this spending bill.” He believes this spending will move us in the wrong direction…do you agree with him?