Van Orden visits small businesses in CF, EC

CHIPPEWA VALLEY — Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, continued his visit to the region Monday, as the congressman was joined by Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling. In the past week, Van Orden has highlighted no taxes on overtime and tips as part of the Working Families Tax Cut and Jobs Act, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July 2025. While at Loopy’s Grill and Saloon in Chippewa Falls, the three discussed small business with local community members and business leaders. “Wisconsin is a pub culture,” Van Orden said. “And the people that are back here working, I don’t think that they should have to pay any money on their tips. And guess what we did in the Working Families Tax Cuts and Jobs Act? No tax on tips.” Sonderling said, “We’re seeing firsthand how President Trump’s policies are paying off. People are taking home more money thanks to the working families tax cuts. But more importantly, as businesses continue to invest in their workforce, we need skilled workers. And the most important thing is we need skilled workers here in Wisconsin.” During their discussion, Sonderling said there have been 900,000 new private sector jobs so far in Trump’s second administration through a promise to bring back industry. He said from their perspective at the DOL, the most important thing they can do is make sure local American workers have the first and best opportunities to get those jobs. A small business owner working in the trades in Bloomer said one of the biggest issues he has seen in the industry is getting people that want to work. Loeffler said, “I think the value of work in this country is enormous, but young people aren’t being told that work is a gift and a blessing and not a punishment. And I think it’s so vital that we have this amazing, skilled workforce strengthened.” As a result of hearing that from small businesses across the country, Loeffler said they’ve had a Memorandum of Understanding with the DOL recognizing labor quality, availability and skill as a top “pain point” for years. “We have an MOU, and you have some great programs that we’re going to continue to partner on to make sure that small businesses have the resources that they need,” she said. After the Chippewa Falls visit, Van Orden, Loeffler and Sonderling also visited McDonough Manufacturing and Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. Van Orden said, “What the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration have done, and will continue to do, is getting out and speaking to our constituents and the American people from the administration and understanding what they need, what are the effects of different policies on different parts of industry.” In a statement published in Monday’s Leader-Telegram, Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District Emily Berge criticized the “One Big Billionaire Bill” for rising health care costs more than no tax on overtime or tips has saved them. Rebecca Cooke, another Democratic candidate running for Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, shared a statement with the media on Monday that read, “I ran a small business in Eau Claire and work at one now — let’s be clear that Derrick Van Orden and this administration have made it harder for Main Street to compete with Wall Street. “DVO spends more time on photo opps with cabinet officials and social media tirades than actually delivering for Wisconsin families. Small business owners know how to live within a budget, so why is Congress driving up national debt to fund fancy ballrooms? Small business owners know how to make payroll, so why is it so hard to keep the government open and pay our people? Partisan politics.” Both Berge and Cooke are seeking to flip the congressional seat this fall, as Van Orden will be on the ballot seeking reelection. A primary election will be held Aug. 11, followed by a general election on Nov. 3. U.S.-Iran agreement At this time, an initial agreement between the United States and Iran to extend a ceasefire moved closer toward a formal signing. On Monday, an Associated Press article reported that within the pact is a planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway whose blockage has choked the supply of the world’s oil and natural gas. Sharing a statement on Monday, Van Orden said it is a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran. “Let’s be crystal clear: Iran declared war on the United States 47 years ago, and their ability to hold the entire world economy hostage, those days are over because of President Trump’s bold leadership,” Van Orden said. “He’s the first president in these 47 years to actually do what needs to be done. That is to destroy or degrade Iran’s ability to use conventional arms against us, ballistic missiles and their speed boats, all that stuff. Those have been decimated. But it’s critical that Iran under this regime never has a nuclear weapon. And that’s what Midnight Hammer — that mission did. “I’m incredibly thankful for President Trump getting this done. These mullahs in Iran are responsible for the deaths of thousands of American citizens, including many of my friends. So they have no sympathy from this department at all. “I’m really looking forward to getting this whole plan laid out. Prices are going to start dropping. I think Brent crude dropped $6 in a barrel just this morning. Because of this, the stock market is skyrocketing because people understand we have the best chance for a lasting peace in the Middle East, certainly in my lifetime. And that is directly due to President Trump’s leadership and the execution by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan ‘Razin’ Caine.”