{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"VT\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.welch.senate.gov/republicans-block-passage-of-welch-and-gillibrands-bill-to-end-trumps-trade-war-with-canada/", "Republicans Block\u00a0Passage of\u00a0Welch and\u00a0Gillibrand\u2019s\u00a0Bill to\u00a0End\u00a0Trump\u2019s Trade War with\u00a0Canada", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Average Vermont household has paid an additional $4,500+ for goods and services from rising costs under Trump, due in large part to his trade war\n\nWelch: \u201cThis is just bone-crushing, business-crushing, job-crushing. And there\u2019s no rationale for it.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Senate Republicans today blocked passage of the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, legislation co-led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), which would repeal President Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs on Canada and reclaim Congress\u2019 constitutional role in setting our trade policy. Senator Welch\u2019s request to pass the BAD DEAL Act comes as President Trump enforced a new ban on Canadian imports, including beer, wine, cider and some liquors, dairy products, motor vehicles, and molasses.\n\nThe BAD DEAL Act would repeal Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and refund all duties paid under this authority. The bill would also repeal President Trump\u2019s import ban on various Canadian products that went into effect today. Senator Welch\u2019s request to pass the bill with unanimous consent was blocked by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chair of the Finance Committee.\n\n\u201cThe President of the United States, acting in my view without any legal authority, is imposing unilateral tariffs on Canada. Those tariffs are now being reciprocated by Canada on us. They are doing enormous damage today to Vermonters and to Americans. They are doing enormous damage to our Canadian neighbors and their businesses. They are doing nothing beneficial for our long-term relationship with our major trading partner,\u201d said Senator Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. \u201cSenator Gillibrand and I have introduced the BAD DEAL Act to repeal these extraordinarily damaging, unjustified tariffs, give relief to commerce on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border, and begin the process of healing our relationship with our closest ally.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch concluded: \u201cIt\u2019s time for us to accept our responsibility for taxing authority, not capitulate to an executive who is reaching into the powers of this Congress, and we have the opportunity now, by acting, to end these punitive tariffs, these punitive taxes that are leading to higher costs everywhere.\u201d\n\nWatch the Senator\u2019s full remarks below:\n\nRead excerpts from his remarks on the Senate Floor:\n\n\u201cThe other point that I think is absolutely essential for every single one of us in the United States Senate to acknowledge is that the taxing power of this country is vested in the United States Congress, not in the President of the United States. And when the President is claiming emergency authority to justify these tariffs\u2014when there is no emergency and where even the grant of emergency authority in a bipartisan way in years past was based on the premise there would be restraint on the part of the executive and only use it in the moment of a real emergency \u2014 that authority is just rampantly being abused by the Executive. And we, with our responsibility under the Constitution, Republican or Democrat, must insist that it is this body that decides yes or no on taxes that are imposed on the American people. And, make no mistake, a tariff is a tax.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201cThis is just bone-crushing, business-crushing, job-crushing. And there\u2019s no rationale for it. And then when you add onto that the rhetoric: the 51st state, the governor of Canada\u2026Our tourism industry\u2014very close with Canada\u2014is down with Canadian visitors by about 47%.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201cOur bill, Senator Gillibrand\u2019s and I, on these tariffs that are invoked under Section 338, a never-before-applied section of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, that notorious act that was an accelerant of driving this country into the Great Depression, would repeal that authority. It\u2019s called the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies, or the BAD DEAL Act. It would also repeal President Trump\u2019s import ban on various Canadian products.\n\n\u201cIn Vermont, the average household is going to be paying $4,500 more for goods and services due to rising costs, due in large part to the president\u2019s trade war. In Vermont, these Section 338 tariffs, according to our Agency of Commerce, will cost Vermont businesses an additional $193 million. And for what?\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nIn addition to the BAD DEAL Act, Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy. He also led the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada under International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) authorities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-shaheen-kaine-urge-trump-admin-to-stop-meddling-in-brazils-elections-recognize-certified-outcome-and-support-brazils-democracy/", "Welch, Shaheen, Kaine Urge Trump Admin to Stop Meddling in Brazil\u2019s Elections, Recognize Certified Outcome and Support Brazil\u2019s Democracy", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), along with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), today sent a letter raising concerns that the Trump Administration is using diplomatic, economic, and political pressure to deliberately weaken Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions ahead of its October 4, 2026, presidential election.\n\nIn their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators outline how the Trump Administration\u2019s actions undermine confidence in Brazil\u2019s electoral process ahead of its upcoming election and inflict further damage on the United States\u2019 relationship with a strategic ally and trading partner. The Senators also highlight how the Administration\u2019s actions reflect a broader and deeply troubling pattern of interference in recent electoral processes across Latin America, as seen during Argentina\u2019s midterm elections and the presidential elections in Honduras and Colombia.\n\nThe Senators detail how, over the course of President Trump\u2019s second term, U.S. officials have engaged in a campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil. They write: \u201cThis effort first escalated sharply during the summer of 2025, with the administration deploying tariffs and targeted sanctions to attempt to shape the Brazilian Supreme Court\u2019s verdict in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro on charges of attempting to foment a military coup to stay in power. Despite some subsequent measures of de-escalation in the months that followed, including direct and cordial talks between Presidents Trump and Lula, the campaign directed at Brazil\u2019s authorities resumed with the appointment of Darren Beattie as a senior advisor on Brazil issues in the State Department. Beattie, a noted far-right extremist and white supremacist, came into this post with a record of public statements signaling an overt ideological commitment to undermining Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions and advancing the interests of the Brazilian far-right.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continue: \u201cMore recently, the administration again targeted Brazilian imports with steep tariffs following a Section 301 investigation by the U.S. Trade Representative. The investigation was reportedly initiated at President Trump\u2019s direction at the same moment that he publicly criticized Brazilian court actions against former President Bolsonaro and U.S. social media companies. The administration\u2019s most recent actions point toward an effort to interfere with, and potentially undermine, Brazil\u2019s general election in October. Senator and presidential candidate Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro\u2019s recent Oval Office meeting with President Trump, undertaken while attempting to mitigate a domestic political scandal, underscored the administration\u2019s willingness to insert itself in the election.\u201d\n\nThe Senators underscore how the Trump Administration\u2019s actions this election cycle contrast with the United States\u2019 approach during Brazil\u2019s previous presidential election could not be clearer: \u201cImmediately following the announcement of the election results in 2022, the United States moved swiftly\u2014in coordination with allies and partners\u2014to recognize President Lula\u2019s victory, helping to deny legitimacy to efforts to contest or reverse the outcome. Following the January 8, 2023, attacks on Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions, the United States stood firmly with Brazil\u2019s newly elected government and played a key role in rallying support across the region for Brazil\u2019s efforts to defend its hard-won 1988 constitution and the democratic institutions it established.\u201d\n\nGiven the administration\u2019s actions, the Senators request answers to the following questions:\n\nHow does the Department coordinate its democracy and human rights objectives with regional partners in the Western Hemisphere, particularly regarding technical assistance or monitoring of electoral and judicial processes?\n\nWill the administration commit to recognizing the certified outcome of Brazil\u2019s 2026 democratic elections and to supporting normal diplomatic relations with whichever candidate is freely and fairly chosen by the Brazilian people?\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Secretary Rubio.\n\n###\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-underscores-legitimacy-of-jack-smiths-investigation-into-president-trump-what-continues-to-be-beyond-dispute-is-that-january-6th-did-happen/", "Welch\u00a0Underscores Legitimacy of\u00a0Jack Smith\u2019s Investigation into President Trump:\u00a0\u201cWhat continues to be beyond dispute is that January 6th\u00a0did happen.\u201d", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, discussed the legality of the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) investigation into President Trump\u2019s role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection with former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith.\n\nIn his remarks, Senator Welch emphasized how President Trump\u2019s repeated falsehoods about the results of the 2020 presidential elections and his conduct leading up to the January 6th riots warranted Smith\u2019s investigations into President Trump.\n\n\u201cMany of the questions or statements directed toward this prosecutor\u2014you could put any other prosecutor there\u2014but whoever was the one that was pursuing the question of legality of January 6th and documents in Mar-a-Lago, be facing the same personal attacks, system attacks, as Mr. Smith. What keeps puzzling me is why we can\u2019t make a distinction between our legitimate political differences\u2014we can fight it out\u2014and the reality that January 6th happened. That happened,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThe idea that we are going to put a blindfold on as though January 6th didn\u2019t happen, as though there weren\u2019t documents down in Mar-a-Lago, means that we\u2019re just giving a pass to what was the first time in the history of our country that violence was used in the United States Capitol in an effort to overturn the will of the American people.\u201d\n\nWatch the Senator\u2019s full remarks below:\n\nRead key excerpts from Senator Welch\u2019s exchange with Mr. Smith:\n\nSen. Welch: From a justice standpoint, January 6th happened. So, Mr. Smith, you didn\u2019t have any decision on whether or not to bring the prosecution, except after you were appointed, correct?\n\nMr. Smith: Yes.\n\nSen. Welch: And you had to do what any prosecutor has to do, and that\u2019s to make an exhaustive effort to accumulate the evidence and come to a conclusion about whether you have probable cause to proceed to convict beyond a reasonable doubt. Is that correct?\n\nMr. Smith: That\u2019s correct, we sought to collect facts, look at the law, and make a decision.\n\nSen. Welch: Alright, and the other point that I think is really disturbing my colleagues\u2014and with some understandable basis, as Ranking Member Durbin said\u2014is getting the phone logs of Members of Congress. But as I understand your explanation, if you were doing an investigation that involved information that Rudy Giuliani called certain numbers\u2014and he was a suspect, and you had his own words talking about pressuring to delay the outcome of this election\u2014you\u2019re not going after me individually. My number shows up in his call log, so then that\u2019s how you get my number. Is that correct?\n\nMr. Smith: Yes, and that we had an ample basis, in my view, evidentiarily to seek these toll records because they corroborated other information that we had from a variety of sources about this attempt to exploit the violence of January 6th in furtherance of the conspiracy.\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nSen. Welch: We all know January 6th happened\u2014we all were here, most of us were here. It was an assault, people were injured, property was desecrated, and it was a determined effort to overturn that election. And you proceeded on the basis of the facts found during your investigation, is that correct?\n\nMr. Smith: Yes, that\u2019s why and how we proceeded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-demands-answers-on-why-doj-hired-attorney-convicted-of-election-interference-to-monitor-elections/", "Welch Demands Answers on Why DOJ Hired Attorney Convicted of Election Interference to Monitor Elections", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and member of the Senate Rules Committee, demanded answers from Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), on why DOJ hired an attorney convicted of election interference to conduct election monitoring for the Department.\n\n\u201cAccording to credible reports, the Civil Rights Division sent a recently hired attorney to conduct election monitoring for the Department of Justice who was previously convicted of election interference. Deploying politically motivated individuals to carry out DOJ\u2019s poll monitoring efforts threatens to undermine Americans\u2019 faith in the electoral process ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections,\u201d wrote Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cIn 2016, David Levin pleaded guilty to conducting a cyberattack to obtain the credentials of a Supervisor of Elections for Lee County, Florida, which he then used to enter restricted portions of the state\u2019s Division of Elections and the county\u2019s election websites. He served 20 days in jail and received two years of probation. According to Mr. Levin\u2019s arrest warrant, he demonstrated how he hacked the website in YouTube videos and a local television interview,\u201d the Senator continued. \u201cThe Department has not confirmed whether Mr. Levin is working for the Civil Rights Division. But publicly available images and videos from the Department\u2019s election monitoring activities during the recent Minnesota primary elections captured Mr. Levin with William Mohrman, who is a Senior Counsel in the Division. One video shows a local election judge interacting with Mr. Levin and Mr. Mohrman as they monitored Minnesota\u2019s August primary.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn August 25, 2026, you stated in an interview with Bloomberg News that the Department would send approximately 1,000 employees to monitor the 2026 midterm elections. In that interview, you declined to state where those monitors would be sent, but DOJ has already deployed primary election monitors to eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. This announcement, combined with Mr. Levin\u2019s presence at election monitoring activities in Minnesota, raises serious questions about who the Division will send to conduct election monitoring during the midterm elections,\u201d the Senator concluded.\n\nSenator Welch requested answers to the following questions by October 8, 2026, to better understand the Division\u2019s election-related work:\n\nPlease identify the factors that the Civil Rights Division considers when determining whether election monitors will be sent to a particular polling location.\n\nDoes the Civil Rights Division have a policy prohibiting individuals convicted of, or charged with, election-related offenses from participating in election monitoring on behalf of the DOJ?\n\nDid Mr. Levin participate in DOJ election monitoring during the 2026 primary election in Minnesota? If so, what was his authority and who approved of his participation?\n\nDoes the Civil Rights Division intend to have Mr. Levin participate in election monitoring during the 2026 midterm election in November?\n\nAre there other Civil Rights Division employees who have been convicted of, or charged with, election interference offenses?\n\nWere DOJ officials aware of Mr. Levin\u2019s convictions for hacking election websites before he was hired?\n\nPlease describe Mr. Levin\u2019s involvement in the Division\u2019s election-related work.\n\nRead and download the full text of Senator Welch\u2019s letter to AAG Dhillon.\n\nSenator Welch has led efforts pushing back on AAG Dhillon\u2019s leadership of the DOJ\u2019s Civil Rights Division and the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to deny millions of Americans their right to vote. In August, Senator Welch urged the Department of Homeland Security to reverse a policy that restricts states from receiving full disbursement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s Homeland Security Grant Program counterterrorism funding if they do not comply with new election-related conditions, including participation in the agency\u2019s flawed SAVE system and disclosing sensitive voter information.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Welch delivered a scathing criticism of statements and actions by AAG Dhillon and others in her division for pushing the mass collection of sensitive and private voter data. The Senator emphasized that the division\u2019s actions\u2014in light of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections\u2014risk disenfranchising eligible voters and are contrary to the Civil Rights Division\u2019s statutory mandate to ensure all Americans can freely vote.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-statement-on-senate-passage-of-the-bipartisan-protect-college-sports-act/", "Welch Statement on Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the Senate\u2019s passage of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, which he cosponsored:\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Protect College Sports Act is significant progress in the effort to establish clear national rules and combat consolidation for a broken system. No compromise is perfect, but this bill proves bipartisanship is still a winning play for Congress. The Protect College Sports Act codifies protections for student athletes and athletic programs, supports smaller schools\u2014including those in Vermont\u2014by allowing revenue sharing, and it helps get big money out of college sports. It\u2019s a win-win for student athletes and fans alike.\u201d\n\nThe Protect College Sports Act, led by Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), will stabilize college sports and set new rules. This bipartisan bill will codify student athletes\u2019 rights to earn compensation when their Name, Image or Likeness (NIL) is used, replacing a patchwork of state laws, protect women\u2019s and Olympic sports programs, provide access to scholarships and health care protections, expand revenue for all schools, and give student athletes a seat at the table.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-reintroduces-bill-to-ban-toxic-substances-in-plastic-bottles-address-plastic-pollution-in-our-communities/", "Welch Reintroduces Bill to Ban Toxic Substances in Plastic Bottles, Address Plastic Pollution in our Communities", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in introducing the Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act, legislation to prohibit the sale of plastic beverage containers that contain toxic substances and dyes linked to adverse health and environmental impacts, including forever chemicals like Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). The bill also creates a grant fund through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would provide local waste management and water infrastructure facilities with resources to address plastic pollution. The bill requires the EPA to prioritize rural and historically underserved communities when issuing pollution remediation and restoration grants.\n\n\u201cBig companies are producing more toxic chemicals, dyes, and non-recycled plastic than ever, prioritizing profits over Americans\u2019 health and welfare. Our communities are left to clean up their toxic mess, an especially heavy burden for rural and lower income communities already overburdened by pollution,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cIn Vermont, we\u2019ve taken strong action to restrict the sale of products containing PFAS and harmful chemicals, because Vermonters shouldn\u2019t have to shoulder companies\u2019 environmental burdens. The Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act follows Vermont\u2019s lead and takes a major step forward to protect public health and the environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe plastics crisis is not only an environmental disaster but also a public health emergency that demands urgent action,\u201d said Senator Merkley, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee overseeing environmental justice and chemical safety. \u201cResearch continues to show us how the chemicals used in plastics are linked to negative health outcomes, including cancer. Transitioning away from toxic, single-use plastics with the Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act is the bold action America needs to protect the health of current and future generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, I have fought to protect Americans from toxic chemicals that can linger in our bodies and cause lasting damage,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable that there are dangerous chemicals, like PFAS, in the plastics we use every day. This legislation will get several dangerous substances out of the plastics we drink from and protect the health of our families.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow big corporations to continue to put profits over the health of the American people and of our planet. This important legislation puts an end to the use of toxic chemicals in plastic beverage containers that make people sick and hinder recycling efforts. It\u2019s time we stop giving polluters a free ride and start protecting public health,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nForever chemicals such as PFAS threaten public health and disproportionately impact marginalized communities. PFAS chemicals are linked to kidney and liver cancers, thyroid disruption, and immune system weakening. Scientists have not identified any safe level of exposure for these forever chemicals, yet they are found in 45% of the tap water in the United States.\n\nThe State of Vermont has taken strong steps to protect people and the planet by prohibiting sale or use of harmful chemicals and toxins in food, drinking water, and various consumer products. Vermont has regulated PFAS and other harmful chemicals in drinking water since 2019, and in 2023 banned the manufacture and sale of food packages, cosmetics, clothing, ski wax, and other products that intentionally included PFAS.\n\nThe Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act would follow Vermont\u2019s example by prohibiting the sale of plastic beverage containers that contain toxic substances and dyes linked to adverse health and environmental impacts, including PFAS. Retailers that violate this provision would be fined for each product line sold in violation. These funds would be used to create a grant fund through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would provide local waste management and water infrastructure facilities with needed resources to address plastic pollution. The bill also requires the EPA to prioritize rural and historically underserved communities when issuing the grants.\n\nSubstances included in the Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act list have been identified by the national expert group, the U.S. Plastics Pact Group, as problematic or unnecessary due to their harm to human and environmental health, a high likelihood of being littered, ability to be avoided or replaced by another substance, hinderance waste processing, or inability to be recyclable, reusable, or composted. Large food and beverage companies, waste processors, trade associations, and nonprofits are supporters of the U.S. Plastics Pact.\n\nThe Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act is endorsed by Ocean Conservancy.\n\n\u201cPlastic bottles, like other single-use plastics, are made with a cocktail of harmful chemicals that can contaminate the beverages we drink and, if littered, can leach into the surrounding environment. In fact, last year plastic bottles were the number one most commonly found item polluting beaches and waterways worldwide by International Coastal Cleanup volunteers. The Banning Toxics in Plastic Bottles Act would eliminate these harmful chemicals from plastic beverage containers to help protect our health, the environment, and the ocean. We applaud Senator Welch for reintroducing this critical piece of legislation,\u201d said Dr. Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy.\n\nLearn more about the Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-tillis-kaine-lead-bipartisan-effort-urging-trump-admin-to-fight-for-release-of-political-prisoners-in-azerbaijan/", "Welch, Tillis, Kaine Lead Bipartisan\u00a0Effort Urging Trump Admin to Fight for Release\u00a0of\u00a0Political\u00a0Prisoners in Azerbaijan", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bipartisan Senators call on Trump Admin to include release of all political prisoners held in Azerbaijan as part of efforts to strengthen the U.S.\u2013 Azerbaijan partnership\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in leading a bipartisan effort calling on the Trump Administration to secure the release of more than 300 political prisoners currently held in Azerbaijan to advance the cause of peace in the region. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators express great concern with the pattern of arbitrary detentions and denial of due process under Azerbaijani President Aliyev\u2019s administration and emphasize that the success of the U.S.\u2013 Azerbaijan bilateral relationship is dependent on Azerbaijan making reciprocal good faith commitments, including the release of political prisoners.\n\nThe Senators underscore that for the U.S.\u2013 Azerbaijan partnership to thrive, it must be grounded in a commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law, and protect fundamental rights: \u201cThere are more than 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, and the repression of independent journalists, opposition leaders, and civil society advocates continues throughout the country. We share the Administration\u2019s interest in advancing peace in the region and urge that the release of all political prisoners held in Azerbaijan be a condition of the Strategic Partnership. We have been encouraged by the Administration\u2019s success in obtaining the release of political prisoners in Belarus and urge the Administration to pursue a similar approach with Azerbaijan.\u201d\n\nThe Senators emphasize that obtaining the release of political prisoners should start by prioritizing the release of the following individuals, who are emblematic of different sectors of Azerbaijani civil society that have been targets of longstanding repression: Ali Karimli, Alasgar Mammadli, Anar Mammadli, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, Farid Mehralizada, Rufat Safarov, Tofig Yagublu, and Ulviyya Guliyev.\n\nThe Senators highlight how the Republic of Azerbaijan\u2019s continued practice of wrongfully detaining individuals for political purposes undermines the credibility of its commitments to peace, the rule of law, and partnership with the United States: \u201cAll those wrongfully detained should have direct access to their families, legal counsel, and medical treatment. Ali Karimli, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, Tofig Yagublu, Farid Mehralizada, Ulviyya Guliyeva, Rufat Safarov, Alasgar Mammadli, and Anar Mammadli should be immediately released. All charges and travel bans against those who are released should be withdrawn.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Administration\u2019s decision to waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act reflects a willingness to deepen engagement with Azerbaijan in pursuit of broader U.S. interests. As the United States has taken this significant step in good faith, we urge the Administration to press the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to demonstrate a similar commitment to strengthening bilateral relations,\u201d the Senators conclude. \u201cThe immediate release of the above identified individuals, as well as all others unjustly detained, would represent a meaningful demonstration of that commitment. Such action would underscore that an enduring U.S.-Azerbaijan partnership is strengthened by both shared strategic interests and respect for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.\u201d\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Secretary of State Rubio.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-introduces-bill-to-address-vermonts-housing-crisis-by-exempting-affordable-housing-development-grants-from-income-tax/", "Welch Introduces Bill to Address Vermont\u2019s Housing Crisis by Exempting Affordable Housing Development Grants from Income Tax", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "New legislation would exempt small, rural housing developers from paying unreasonable income tax on grants they receive to help address Vermont\u2019s housing crisis\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, this week introduced the Supporting Small Affordable Housing Developers Act, new legislation that would exempt grants supporting affordable housing development from taxation to empower small, rural housing developers to build more affordable housing. The bill would also exempt income from the sale of transferable state tax credits from federal taxation, allowing developers to put more proceeds toward housing development.\n\n\u201cThe nationwide housing crisis has been absolutely brutal on Vermont\u2019s rural communities, making it harder than ever for folks to afford a home. Small developers like Village Venture, which devote its time and labor to building affordable housing in our rural communities, shouldn\u2019t be penalized for helping us address this crisis\u2014yet that\u2019s what\u2019s happening under our current tax code,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m leading this legislation to right this wrong and ensure small and rural housing developers aren\u2019t forced to bear unreasonable financial burdens for building desperately needed affordable housing.\u201d\n\nAmerica\u2019s nationwide housing crisis has hit the state of Vermont especially hard, with median home sale prices surging 40% since 2019. In addition to skyrocketing housing costs, dwindling market supply has made it even tougher for lower-income families\u2014including the nearly 4,000 Vermonters facing homelessness\u2014to purchase a home. Vermont is projected to need an additional 24,000\u201336,000 housing units by 2030 to replace outdated housing stock and meet demand.\n\nRising inflation and labor costs make it increasingly difficult for developers to build affordable housing. This has been especially devastating for the state\u2019s rural communities, where multimillion-dollar companies are buying up homes meant for families.\n\nThe current U.S. tax code creates hurdles that discourage small, local developers from building in rural areas. In 2022, Vermont-based Village Ventures received $1.1 million in federal grant funds to support the development of six new affordable housing units in Bradford, Vermont. After investing roughly $1.3 million to develop the property, Village Ventures faced over $500,000 in income taxes on the grant. The completed building was only appraised at $650,000, leaving Village Ventures with a roughly $400,000 loss.\n\n\u201cIn rural communities, affordable housing gets built by small, local developers, not large firms with tax departments. We built six units of permanently affordable housing in Vermont, and every dollar of grant funding went into construction. Then we were hit with a six-figure tax bill on that grant money. To pay the IRS, I had to take out a loan with my personal guarantee, and I\u2019ll be paying it off for the next 30 years. When developers are taxed on grants they\u2019re required to spend on construction, the math stops working and the housing doesn\u2019t get built. Senator Welch\u2019s legislation makes sure the next builder doesn\u2019t have to learn that lesson the hard way,\u201d said Jonah Richard, Principal, Village Ventures.\n\nLearn more about the Supporting Small Affordable Housing Developers Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\nSenator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to address Vermont\u2019s affordable housing crisis. In March, Senator Welch joined Sens. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing the bipartisan FARM Home Loans Act, bipartisan legislation to spur rural economic growth by helping more homebuyers qualify for rural housing assistance. The Senator is also a cosponsor of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, legislation that aims to support middle-class Americans purchasing their first home, and the End Rent Fixing Act, which would crack down on companies that help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets. The Senator is also a cosponsor of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which was signed into law earlier this year.\n\nThe Senator\u2019s bipartisan, bicameral HOPE for HOMES Act, which helps lower energy costs for homeowners and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also investing in the workforce, was included as part of the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s historic Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-van-hollen-and-15-senate-democrats-in-pushing-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-china/", "Welch Joins Van Hollen and 15 Senate Democrats in Pushing Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with China", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senators\u2019 letter calls for global cooperation on AI development to preserve public safety and human control\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 15 Senate Democrats in calling on President Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Senators also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.\n\nThe Senators caution that, as extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models: \u201cIt is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world\u2026 Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by the Trump Administration and China at this summit.\u201d\n\nThe Senators urge President Trump that the conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced: \u201cAmerica leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nJoining Senators Welch and Van Hollen on this letter are Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to President Trump.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-on-iran-war-its-time-for-us-to-say-end-this-war-end-this-war-now/", "Welch on Iran War: \u201cIt\u2019s time for us to say, end this war. End this war now.\u201d", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis war in Iran, absolutely, immediately, must end. And it will only end if the person who started it with the unilateral decision to go to war, decides to end the war.\n\n\u201cWe in this Senate have voted numerous times to end this war. We can\u2019t do it unless we get votes from the other side of the aisle. But it is absolutely disgraceful that the United States is in this war. It was a decision of two men\u2014not two legislative bodies, not two votes of the American people, two men\u2014Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu was in the situation room, making his case that we should go to a war with Iran. Any of the advisors to the president said it was a bogus claim that it would be done overnight, which is essentially what the assertion was.\n\n\u201cSo, our president made a decision\u2014and it was a unilateral decision by him\u2014a unilateral decision, that we go to war. And he told the American people that it would be over in a couple of days, just like Venezuela; hat the people of Iran would rise up and take out the ayatollah. Many Iranians did rise up, and they got slaughtered.\n\n\u201cThe president bragged about the military might\u2014and we do have a strong military \u2014 but his strategic thinking was totally flawed and foolish. He thought bombing could resolve something that it couldn\u2019t. So, yes, we bombed. Yes, leadership in Iran was wiped out. But then, Iran did what military advisors knew it would do, but the president could not listen. They used asymmetric response, drones, to close the Strait of Hormuz.\n\n\u201cThe impact here has been going on for over six months. And the only way we can assess what has happened is come to the conclusion that the president\u2019s policy was a complete failure. It is not working. The president continues to promote a non-policy, asserting we\u2019re putting the squeeze on Iran.\n\n\u201cMr. President, you\u2019re putting the squeeze on farmers in Iowa. You\u2019re putting the squeeze on the tourism industry in Vermont. You\u2019re putting the squeeze on manufacturers in Wisconsin. You\u2019re putting the squeeze on the American people. You know, for a farmer in the Midwest who wants to fill up his combine with diesel, it\u2019s $1,500 extra a day.\n\n\u201cAnd for what? For what? For the ego of a man who capitulated to the pressures of Benjamin Netanyahu? That\u2019s what he did. And who does not have the leadership ability, or the character, to assess what\u2019s happened in these past six months? And acknowledge it\u2019s time for a change? This is a day-to-day catastrophe, and the man who started this must end it. But we, as U.S. senators, with the responsibility and the trust given to us by the people who elected us, have a say. And it\u2019s time for us to say: end this war. End this war now.\n\n\u201cArrogance is not a substitute for good judgment. Arrogance is not an expression of toughness and resolve. It\u2019s time to end this war.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-casar-introduce-legislation-to-create-new-federal-agency-to-ban-artificial-superintelligence-pause-advanced-ai-development/", "NEWS: Sanders, Casar Introduce Legislation to Create New Federal Agency\u00a0to Ban Artificial Superintelligence, Pause Advanced AI Development", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act \u2014 legislation to stop artificial intelligence (AI) oligarchs from building machines humans cannot control and to pause advanced AI development until we have put in place rigorous federal testing and oversight to ensure AI does not harm humanity.\n\n\u201cWhen you are racing towards a cliff, you don\u2019t just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake, we cannot let a handful of Big Tech CEOs write their own rules,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cScientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity. It must be treated as such. This legislation will permanently ban the development of artificial superintelligence and would put in place an immediate pause on advanced AI development until we have clear safety rules in place \u2014 developed by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country. Congress must act now before it is too late.\u201d\n\n\u201cExperts are warning that AI superintelligence, wielded by the wrong humans or by rogue AI, could kill countless numbers of people. But Donald Trump says he wants to encourage it. Something has to change,\u201d Casar said. \u201cOur bill bans the development of artificial superintelligence and pushes for international agreements so that no one, anywhere, builds AI too powerful for humans to control. Furthermore, our bill would immediately halt other dangerous AI capabilities, such as the capacity to develop biochemical weapons, or the capacity for AI to develop new AI instead of humans.\u201d\n\nOver the past few months, we have learned that AI models can circumvent restrictions to hack into computers. We have learned they can create never-before-seen viruses. And we have learned they can automate research to build smarter AI. Even as the AI companies claim they recognize these dangers and want to slow down, they are racing ahead \u2014 investing hundreds of billions of dollars into a technology that nobody can fully predict or control. That is unacceptable. The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act will protect humanity by:\n\nBanning Artificial Superintelligence. No person or entity may develop or deploy Artificial Superintelligence \u2014 an AI that exceeds human cognitive performance and capabilities across most domains, or has sufficient capabilities to destroy or disempower humanity, including by overthrowing the federal government.\n\nPausing Advanced AI development until a new, federal AI regulatory body is up and running and has established clear rules and model review processes to ensure safe and secure development and deployment of AI.\n\nEstablishing a new cabinet-level federal Department of Artificial Intelligence to safeguard the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence, including by enforcing a prohibition on artificial superintelligence. This department will be advised by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country to:\n\nMonitor frontier AI systems at all stages of the lifecycle for dangerous capabilities.\n\nSupervise the removal of dangerous capabilities like subverting shutdown commands or conducting unauthorized cyberattacks.\n\nSupervise the destruction of artificial superintelligence.\n\nSetting penalties for any person or entity that attempts to violate or circumvent the pauses and prohibitions laid out in this bill. Entities shall be subject to the corporate death penalty, and persons shall be subject to not more than 20 years in prison, which is similar to existing penalties related to unlawfully developing nuclear weapons.\n\nWorking to ban superintelligence around the world by setting the international policy of the United States to pursue international agreements, allied coordination, and policies such as export controls to prevent the development of artificial superintelligence anywhere in the world.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nRead a one-page summary here.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/statement-on-cuba/", "Statement on Cuba", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Statement of Senator Peter Welch\n\nOn Cuba\n\nSeptember 23, 2026\n\nMr. President, in the midst of all the chaos and cruelty inflicted by the White House on the American people and around the world, I suspect not many Americans are aware that we are also carrying out an illegal blockade against Cuba, a country the size of Tennessee that poses no threat to the United States, but whose government we have tried to depose by one means or another for more than 60 years.\n\nThere is plenty to not like about the Cuban government, which has defended a failed economic model and repressive political system for decades. The Cuban people deserve freedom and opportunity. But that does not justify the United States imposing a naval and financial blockade against an impoverished country that has neither attacked us nor threatened to attack us.\n\nThe consequences for the Cuban people have been devastating. Today, they are suffering from daily electrical blackouts that have made everyday life a virtual nightmare. Schools, hospitals, public transportation, food production, trash collection, and many other life necessities have been brought to a practical standstill. Ironically, even our own Embassy has been impacted to the point that they are unable, or unwilling, to provide the necessary support for Members of Congress who have a legitimate interest in observing first-hand the consequences of the policy of collective punishment against the Cuban people being carried out by our government. According to an article in the New York Times on September 17, 2026:\n\n\u201cThousands of containers filled with food, medicine and other goods bound for Cuba have been stranded throughout the Caribbean since two shipping giants stopped deliveries to avoid tough U.S. sanctions, according to diplomats, Cuban officials, merchants and others involved in the imports.\n\n\u201cThe containers stranded in various ports include humanitarian aid, from solar panels to medication to colostomy bags. Dozens of containers of aid purchased by different United Nations agencies are among them.\n\nU.S. sanctions have also hobbled shipments by air, and forced the World Health Organization to scrap planned deliveries of cancer drugs.\u201d\n\nSecretary of State Rubio claims that \u201cif Cuba is a humanitarian disaster, it is because their regime is a disaster, because the economic model they follow doesn\u2019t work.\u201d That heartless statement ignores the fact that no such humanitarian crisis existed before the Trump Administration launched what amounts to a unilateral policy of economic warfare against Cuba.\n\nMr. President, this is unconscionable, it\u2019s immoral, and it\u2019s a clear violation of international law. If any country were to engage in such aggression against the United States, we would condemn it as an act of war.\n\nDuring the past year, Cuba\u2019s authorities have announced wide-ranging and long overdue economic reforms. While they are aspirational goals, they represent the kind of transformational reforms the United States has been calling for as long as I can remember. But has it made any difference to the Trump Administration? To the contrary. The Administration has only increased sanctions on Cuba, making it even harder to implement structural changes to the economy. It is apparent that nothing will satisfy the White House short of regime change\u2014or regime collapse, with the consequent risk of social upheaval and mass migration. President Trump confirmed as much in his speech at the UN General Assembly earlier today, when he said that Cuba \u201cwill fall.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year I spelled out steps that I and many others believe both governments can and should take to address the legitimate concerns of the other. Among other things, on the U.S. side those steps include ending the failed economic embargo and removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, which has no factual or legal basis. On the Cuban side, it includes economic reforms to increase foreign investment and unshackle the private sector, and releasing prisoners whose only offense is criticizing Cuba\u2019s repressive one-party system. Back then, neither government showed interest in taking the initiative, and conditions for the Cuban people, and for Americans whose own government has prevented them from freely traveling to Cuba, have only gotten worse.\n\nBut the Cuban government has finally recognized that its antiquated centralized economic system needs to change, and they are trying to move in that direction. They have also released some political prisoners, including celebrated artist Luis Manuel Otero Alc\u00e1ntara, although he was forced into exile in the U.S. Others, including Maykel \u201cOsorbo\u201d Castillo P\u00e9rez, must be released.\n\nThe Trump Administration, which routinely insists that its policy is to support the Cuban people, should match its rhetoric with action. It should support economic reforms that have the potential to significantly improve life on the island. Ending the illegal blockade would be an obvious and necessary step. No legitimate U.S. interest is served by compounding the misery of the Cuban people by preventing other countries and companies from sending life-saving fuel and supplies to Cuba.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-bennet-release-proposal-to-establish-new-federal-agency-to-prevent-catastrophic-ai-risk-regulate-big-tech/", "Welch, Bennet Release Proposal to Establish New Federal Agency to Prevent Catastrophic AI Risk, Regulate Big Tech", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Federal Digital Commission would have pre-clearance review of frontier AI models, ability to pause release without necessary safeguards, and assess civil penalties of up to 15% of a firm\u2019s prior-year global revenue\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) today in announcing a new proposal that would build off of their landmark legislation to create a new independent federal agency to regulate frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and social media.\n\nThe AI Regulator Act would require pre-certification for frontier AI models, delay the public release of any AI model that could pose catastrophic risks without necessary safeguards, and issue formal rulemakings to set guardrails that keep pace with the speed of innovation. It could also conduct investigations, engage in research, and impose penalties of up to 15% of a firm\u2019s prior-year global revenue for violations. These new authorities add to the proposed Federal Digital Commission\u2019s mission to regulate the largest digital platforms and ensure that a dedicated agency is empowered to protect Americans from catastrophic AI risk, safeguard our kids online, reduce harmful market concentration, and prevent national and economic security risks.\n\n\u201cAmericans in Vermont and across the country are freaked out by the warnings of AI researchers, and I\u2019m right there with them. It\u2019s clear we can\u2019t leave it to AI companies to self-regulate\u2014just like we don\u2019t let drug companies, or Wall Street, or Big Oil self-regulate. Americans need reassurance that an independent expert agency will advocate on behalf of the public good and public safety,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur commonsense bill would provide the comprehensive oversight of Big Tech and AI that is sorely needed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe challenge posed by a new technology and a new industry able to profoundly transform our economy and society is one we have faced before,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cIn the past, we created new expert agencies to regulate aviation, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. But today, no such agency exists for AI or social media platforms. Oversight is fragmented between states and federal agencies, while Congress tries to address each new problem one bill at a time. The Federal Digital Commission would keep pace with innovation, act before serious harm occurs, and have the authority to hold companies accountable when they break the rules.\u201d\n\nThe proposed AI Regulator Act would:\n\nGive regulators the power to pause certain AI releases by allowing a pause of up to six months on the public distribution of AI models with the potential for catastrophic risk, or until reasonable safeguards are in place.\n\nPut major tech companies under closer oversight by allowing the Commission to designate systemically important digital platforms or developers for additional reporting and regulation.\n\nBack its rules with substantial penalties by establishing a five-member commission that could hold hearings, investigate, conduct research, issue rules, and impose civil penalties of up to 15 percent of a firm\u2019s prior-year global revenue in a year for violations.\n\nSet safeguards for frontier AI by requiring developers to meet risk-mitigation, catastrophic risk incident-reporting, and transparency requirements.\n\nProtect kids and consumers online by establishing age-verification and age-appropriate design standards, consumer protections, and transparency requirements for platforms\u2019 terms of service and content-moderation policies.\n\nAddress national and economic security risks by including provisions concerning Americans\u2019 data held by foreign AI companies, U.S. subsidiaries for certain foreign firms, and transparency about where online content originates.\n\nThe Senators first introduced the Digital Platform Commission Act in the Senate and House in 2022 and reintroduced the bill in the Senate in 2023. The proposal seeks to bring oversight of digital platforms into a dedicated agency. Today, responsibility for competition, consumer protection, privacy, online safety, and national security remains spread across the federal government.\n\nLearn more about the proposed AI Regulator Act and read a Section-by-Section summary of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-center-for-american-progress-to-discuss-challenges-facing-rural-america-building-policy-around-needs-of-rural-vermonters/", "Welch Joins Center for American Progress to Discuss Challenges Facing Rural America, Building Policy Around Needs of Rural Vermonters", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Welch: \u201cWe really have to stand up for rural America.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today joined Center for American Progress (CAP) President and CEO Neera Tanden for a conversation on the challenges facing rural America and what it will take to build an agenda that delivers for rural Vermonters and rural communities across the country. In his discussion with Ms. Tanden, the Senator underscored the importance of preserving rural values in policies that address challenges facing Vermont\u2019s farmers, community hospitals and health care industry, and streamline natural disaster recovery efforts.\n\n\u201cThere are certain things that every American needs, but where the stress is even more intense in rural America. We should have a health care system in this country, rural or urban, where everybody has access to health care. We pay two times as much for health care as any other major industrial country and get less. So that would be a shared goal that would be beneficial to urban and rural America,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nFollowing the conversation between Senator Welch and Ms. Tanden, a panel of rural experts spoke about the importance of supporting rural communities\u2014digging into where the gaps are\u2014and where the possibilities lie\u2014for reducing the cost of living, creating jobs and opportunity, and cutting red tape for rural America. Ben Doyle, President of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, was featured on the panel and spoke about his work to expand opportunity and strengthen rural communities.\n\n\u201cOne of the challenges with bureaucracy is that investment isn\u2019t always equitable\u202671% of the communities in Vermont are 2,500 or fewer\u2014that\u2019s what rural looks like, right? But those communities only get 30% of the investment from those Rural Development programs. So, there\u2019s a disconnect,\u201d said Mr. Doyle. \u201cThe idea that you\u2019re going to be able to deliver those programs and those services in an equitable way to truly rural communities; it\u2019s just not structurally possible at this point. I think the greatest asset that rural America has, truly, are its people. So, we need to invest in wastewater, we need to invest in loan programs, we need to invest in housing, but we need to invest in people, too\u2014the people who can deliver those programs and be those partners in those small towns to make stuff happen.\u201d\n\nWatch the full event below:\n\nRead key excerpts from Senator Welch\u2019s remarks below:\n\n\u201cIf I ask my rural colleagues: \u2018what\u2019s going on with community hospitals in your area\u2014Iowa, or Nebraska?\u2019 their answer is the same as the answer I would give them if they asked me. And that is: it\u2019s not great; they\u2019re under enormous pressure; the distances they have to drive are too long; birthing centers are having to be closed down. So, the challenge that we face in rural America with hospitals is not a red-state blue-state deal. It\u2019s not a Republican or Democratic deal. It\u2019s about the needs of people who live there.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201cThere are certain things that every American needs, but where the stress is even more intense in rural America. We should have a health care system in this country, rural or urban, where everybody has access to health care. We pay two times as much for health care as any other major industrial country and get less. So that would be a shared goal that would be beneficial to urban and rural America.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s an agricultural issue here that I think is absolutely vital, and we associate with rural America. The farm communities across this country are under incredible stress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture put out a graph that showed that of eleven major commodities, farmers who were producing those crops were spending more money to produce them than they were getting paid to sell them. That is absolutely not sustainable. It\u2019s also an agriculture policy that has looked the other way at some of the input cost pressures that our farmers are facing\u2014consolidation and meatpacking as an example\u2014puts enormous pressure on the farm community.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201cWe have to have an agriculture policy that, in many ways, puts the farmer first. You can\u2019t have a productive and sustainable agricultural program if it costs more to produce than a farmer gets paid to produce it. I also think that there has to be a lot more localism in our agriculture, because people who live in rural communities\u2026they really value what the farmers do. They keep the land open; they care about the land\u2026One of the things that amazes me: you see farmers, they work hard, and they like it. It\u2019s amazing. And their big goal is that their next generation will have a shot at being able to decide if they want to stay on the farm. What\u2019s wrong with that? That\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to preserve.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\n\u201c[Rural Americans are] incredibly attentive to their neighbors when they need their help\u2014even as they mind their own business when their neighbor has a different point of view than them. So, there\u2019s an ethic that I actually find very appealing, where community is first and foremost what the people there care about\u2026it\u2019s just part of who they are; want to use some of their ability to help the local small bank, or the local fire department, or coaching little league. Those are values that tie us together and are under an immense amount of stress in our country. And I think those values are really, really important.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nLearn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work fighting for Vermont\u2019s rural communities by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-schiff-barragan-unveil-bicameral-legislation-to-expand-access-to-affordable-meals-for-college-students-address-food-insecurity-on-college-campuses/", "Welch,\u00a0Schiff,\u00a0Barrag\u00e1n\u00a0Unveil\u00a0Bicameral\u00a0Legislation\u00a0to Expand Access to Affordable Meals for College Students, Address Food Insecurity on College Campuses", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA-44) in introducing the Food for Thought Act, bicameral legislation to create a grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide free meals to low-income college students, including those at minority-serving institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).\n\n\u201cStudents from underserved communities face enough challenges in higher education without the added burden of wondering where their next meal is coming from. We should do all we can to provide the resources necessary to give a helping hand to students facing food insecurity on campus,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Schiff and Rep. Barrag\u00e1n in leading the Food for Thought Act to ensure students from Vermont to California never have to decide between their next meal or pursuing their future.\u201d\n\n\u201cCollege students should never have to worry about where their next meal will come from or have to drop out because they can\u2019t afford food and tuition. This bill is a commonsense approach to addressing student hunger and strengthening higher education,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\n\u201cStudents should never have to choose between putting food on the table and earning a college degree,\u201d said Rep. Barrag\u00e1n. \u201cFor too many students, especially those from low-income families, hunger is another barrier standing between them and their education. The Food for Thought Act will help colleges provide free meals, strengthen campus food resources, and connect students with the assistance they need to succeed. When we invest in a student\u2019s basic needs, we are investing in their ability to stay in school, graduate, and build a better future. No student should have to go hungry while working toward their education.\u201d\n\nThe Food for Thought Act would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to institutions of higher education to provide free meals to low-income students. The bill would authorize funds that schools may use to conduct campus outreach on student eligibility for federal food assistance programs, operate on-campus food pantries, and update or purchase critical food infrastructure such as refrigerators and microwaves for student use. Additionally, the legislation would ensure grantees will collect and report data on the prevalence of food insecurity on their campuses to inform and expand national anti-hunger programming.\n\nThe Food for Thought Act is endorsed by 60 organizations and community colleges, including Hunger Free Vermont and the Congressional Hunger Center, Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), National Urban League, SwipeOut Hunger, UAW 4811, UnidosUS, and more. Read the full list here.\n\n\u201cEarning a college degree is challenging, especially for low-income students who balance school, jobs and family while working to put food on the table. National studies show time and again that students attending community colleges are more likely to face challenges when it comes to getting enough food for themselves and their families. In fact, nearly one in four students at community colleges struggle to afford groceries,\u201d said Ivy Enoch, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hunger Free Vermont. \u201cWe celebrate Senator Welch and his colleagues for introducing this important legislation. Senator Welch recognizes the power of education to change lives, and that being able to afford food to stay healthy and nourished while pursuing a degree is a must. The Food For Thought Act would allow institutions and individual students alike to be better positioned to thrive. No one should ever have to choose between food or books for class, and we thank Senator Welch for leading on legislation that relieves that impossible choice for students.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the educators who do the majority of frontline teaching at UC, UAW 4811 members know that no student should face hunger or food insecurity while pursuing their degree. UAW 4811 members back the Food for Thought Act because our students deserve to focus on their studies, not on where their next meal will come from,\u201d said Rafael Jaime, President of UAW 4811.\n\n\u201cMillions of students across the country struggle to access and afford sufficient and nutritious food, forcing them to work long hours, take on unmanageable debt, or stop out. Recent SNAP cuts have only made the problem worse. The Food for Thought Act is a necessary and sensible bill that would provide meals to students who too often go hungry, allowing them to focus on what really matters: thriving in their studies and fulfilling their potential,\u201d said Mark Huelsman, Director of Policy & Advocacy, The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs.\n\n\u201cAs college food insecurity worsens and resources for on-campus food programs become more scarce, the Food for Thought Act shows how policy can provide much-needed solutions today. With this legislation, more students will be able to access the meals they need to be successful in school, and more schools will be able to support their students all the way to graduation day,\u201d said Zoe Duffield, Director of Advocacy at SwipeOut Hunger.\n\n\u201cRoughly 1 in 4 college students experience food insecurity, and the OBBBA\u2019s historic cuts to SNAP will make it harder for students at or near poverty to access federal food assistance. We must invest in policies to fill this gap so that students can focus on their studies, not on affording their next meal,\u201d said Valerie Crespin-Trujillo, Senior Director of College Completion & Basic Needs, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). \u201cThe Food for Thought Act pilots new approaches to addressing food insecurity among low-income students, which can in turn increase student success.\u201d\n\nLearn more about the Food for Thought Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-sanders-ahead-of-un-general-assembly-oligarchy-is-ascending-and-democracy-is-in-retreat-working-together-that-must-change/", "NEWS: Sanders Ahead of UN General Assembly: \u201cOligarchy is ascending and democracy is in retreat\u2026 Working together, that must change.\u201d", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "NEW YORK, Sept. 21 \u2014 On the eve of the United Nations General Assembly, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered a major foreign policy address today at the historic Riverside Church in New York City \u2014 where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his Beyond Vietnam speech and where Nelson Mandela spoke after his release. The senator\u2019s full remarks, as delivered, are below.\n\nIt is a true honor and a privilege for me to be speaking here at this extraordinary and historic Riverside Church.\n\nThis, as many of you know, is the church that Nelson Mandela came to visit as a free man, just five months after he was released from prison, having served 27 years. He came here to thank the people of the United States for standing up for justice against the evils of apartheid in South Africa.\n\nThe courage and historic life of Mr. Mandela inspired millions and millions of people all over the world. His life and legacy will never be forgotten.\n\nAs I think all of you also know, in 1967, at this very same pulpit that I am honored to be speaking from tonight, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made clear his vigorous opposition to the War in Vietnam \u2014 a war that was based on lies. A war of horrific destruction for the people of Asia, and for 59,000 young Americans who went abroad and never came home.\n\nIn his remarks, with extraordinary courage, Dr. King exposed what he very eloquently called \u201cthe giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism.\u201d\n\nHe warned us that \u201ca nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.\u201d\n\nWhat Dr. King said was true nearly 60 years ago, and it is even truer today, as our country, the United States of America, is now spending over $1 trillion a year on the military while some 800,000 Americans are homeless, 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, and millions of people cannot afford the basic necessities of life.\n\nThis business of spending more and more on the military and turning backs on working families and the poor is not just happening, tragically, here in the United States \u2014 it\u2019s happening all over the world, where we are seeing increased military budgets while the needs of people living in desperation are ignored.\n\nSo not just in the United States, but all over the world, we are moving in the wrong direction and our job is to turn that around.\n\nInstead of producing more bombs and weapons and seeing the military-industrial complex enjoy huge profits, governments throughout the world need to come together to feed the children, take care of the vulnerable and protect our planet from the ravages of climate change.\n\nThat is why we must continue and accelerate our efforts to end President Trump\u2019s disastrous war in Iran which is now spreading throughout the region.\n\nThat is why we must continue to speak out against the extremist government in Israel and the genocide they have committed in Gaza, and why we in the United States must end all military aid to the Netanyahu government.\n\nThat is why we must rally and work with grassroots activists in Russia to put an end to Putin\u2019s disastrous war in Ukraine \u2014 which has led to the deaths of some 500,000 Russian soldiers, as well as mass destruction and loss of life in Ukraine.\n\nAnd that is why we must denounce the United Arab Emirates\u2019 continued financial and military support of the RSF as it wages a campaign of genocide and destruction in Sudan\u2019s civil war.\n\nLast week, the UN Secretary-General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, correctly named three existential threats that the world currently faces. He talked about runaway artificial intelligence, he talked about the climate crisis, and he talked about deepening inequality.\n\nIn my view, he is absolutely right.\n\nBut before we get into those issues, let me once again state the obvious, and that is that in a world of growing tension, growing militarism, more and more hatred, more and more destruction, the United Nations, as an institution, is more important today than it has ever been.\n\nAs we all know, the U.N. was born out of the horrors of World War II \u2014 a war in which 60 million people died, a war which caused unimaginable destruction in Europe and Asia and elsewhere, and a war that led to the unleashing of the first nuclear weapons.\n\nTo their credit, the leaders of the world at that time looked around them and saw the concentration camps, saw the destruction, saw the mass death, and they understood that international conflicts and differences of opinion must be fought out over a negotiating table and not a battlefield.\n\nIn the year 2026, one might have hoped that after thousands and thousands of years of war, humanity could have come up with a better way to resolve conflicts than killing each other and never-ending wars.\n\nAt a time when we are seeing efforts in the United States and in other countries around the world to make the claim that \u2018might is right,\u2019 our job is to strengthen the United Nations and make sure that we bring disagreements to the negotiating table and stop the killing throughout the world.\n\nNow let me say a few words to the points that the Secretary-General so effectively articulated, and that is that we are living in an unprecedented and dangerous moment in world history and the challenges we face are enormous and existential.\n\nWhat do I mean by that?\n\nFirst, and this is an issue we do not talk about enough for obvious reasons, we are moving rapidly toward an extremely dangerous global oligarchy.\n\nNever before in human history have so few people held so much wealth and so much power.\n\nNever before in human history have we had such enormous concentrations of ownership.\n\nNever before have we seen such an unprecedented level of greed, arrogance and irresponsibility on the part of the ruling class.\n\nIn many ways, we are seeing today a reversion back to the ideology of 19th Century monarchs \u2014 kings and queens and czars \u2014 who believed, sincerely believed, that God gave them the right to rule.\n\nThe oligarchs of today, worth hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars, having investments all over the world, fervently believe that they are the masters of the universe, and that they \u2014 through their enormous wealth and power \u2014 have been ordained to rule the world.\n\nToday we say to those oligarchs: This country, this world, belongs to all of us, not just you.\n\nToday\u2019s billionaire class not only wants more tax breaks for themselves and the companies they own. Not only do they want to stash trillions and trillions of their dollars in offshore tax havens. These oligarchs reject any form of accountability or checks on their power. They want more and more wealth and more and more power \u2014 no matter what kind of harm they inflict on working people in our country and throughout the world.\n\nAnd one of the other issues we don\u2019t talk about very much is that in nation after nation, throughout this world, we are seeing unprecedented levels of income and wealth inequality.\n\nIn our own country, here in the United States, the top 1% now owns more wealth than the bottom 94%.\n\nAnd one man, Elon Musk, the wealthiest man alive, now owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households. One man.\n\nIn America today, CEOs of large, profitable corporations are earning 350 times more than the average worker.\n\nLast year alone, after receiving the largest tax break in history, fewer than a thousand billionaires in our country became $1.5 trillion richer.\n\nBut it is not just what is happening right now \u2014 this is not a new development. Over the last 50 years, according to the Rand Corporation, $79 trillion in U.S. wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% to the top 1%.\n\nDespite an explosion in technology and a huge increase in worker productivity, the average American worker is making nearly $25 a week less than he or she did over 53 years ago after adjusting for inflation.\n\nWhile the billionaire class and the 1% have never had it so good, over 60% of Americans in the richest country in the history of the world are living paycheck to paycheck, nearly 800,000 are homeless and tens of millions struggle to pay for rent or the mortgage or to keep a roof over their heads\n\nLet us be very clear. The rapid movement to oligarchy and the exponential rise in income and wealth inequality is not just an American phenomenon. It is taking place all over the world, and in my view, is the most important economic reality of our times.\n\nIn country after country, what we are seeing is working people sick and tired of seeing the very rich get richer while they struggle to put food on the table and pay for basic necessities.\n\nThey worry not only for themselves, here in America and around the world, they worry that their kids will likely have, if we don\u2019t change it, a lower standard of living than they do.\n\nThis climate \u2014 of the rich getting richer, of working people in our country struggling, of people sleeping out on the streets, of people worrying about the future for their kids \u2014 is the reality that demagogues, whether in the United States or any place else, are feeding on.\n\nInstead of addressing the root causes of the economic crises that working people face, the demagogues are turning to the old, time-tested, hateful ideologies of racism, anti-immigrant bigotry and xenophobia. They are pitting working people against each other based on the color of their skin, where they were born or their religion.\n\nIn doing that, they know exactly what their goal is. And that is to deflect attention away from the greed and power of the oligarchs who are causing the massive economic pain that we are seeing.\n\nThat is their goal. Nothing new. Trump didn\u2019t invent it. Demagogues in Europe didn\u2019t invent it. It\u2019s gone on for a very long time.\n\nWhen people are hurting, you say, \u2018Hey, it\u2019s Black people, it\u2019s gay people, it is immigrants.\u2019 And that\u2019s what demagogues are doing. And our job is to take that ideology on.\n\nSome of us are working real hard here in the United States to do that.\n\nAnd to bring our people together and take on those who are trying to divide us up.\n\nUnbelievably, today, according to Oxfam and other researchers, we are living in a world where the top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 95% of humanity, and the gap between the very, very rich, globally, is getting wider and wider.\n\nJust a few examples:\n\nWe are seeing it in the United Kingdom, where over 30% of children are living in poverty while 50 billionaires in that country now own more wealth than the bottom 50% of their population.\n\nListen to this. The latest figures that we have seen indicate that the wealthiest 500 people \u2014 half the number of people in this church tonight, control more wealth than the bottom 99.8% of their people.\n\nWe\u2019re seeing it in Africa, where nearly 850 million people have struggled with food insecurity \u2014 58% of the population \u2014 while just four men own more wealth than the bottom 50% of people on that continent.\n\nWe are seeing that all over the world.\n\nIn fact, while nearly half of the world\u2019s population is living in poverty, 3,400 billionaires throughout the globe became $4 trillion richer last year alone.\n\nChildren die of preventable diseases. People suffer every day. People give up hope. And 3,400 of the richest people on Earth became $4 trillion richer last year alone.\n\nLet me be clear. In an increasingly globalized economy, the allegiances of these oligarchs are not to their own nations. It is to their own power. It is to their own bank accounts. It is to their huge yachts, their mansions, their collections of fancy cars, their private islands and their fleet of jets.\n\nThe result: oligarchy is ascending, working families are struggling to stay alive and democracy is in retreat. The great challenge that we face in our country and all over the world is that that trend must be reversed.\n\nAnd my friends, given all the advances \u2014 extraordinary advances \u2014 that we have seen in technology and increases we have seen in worker productivity, it is not today a utopian idea to say that every man, woman and child on this planet can have a decent standard of living.\n\nThat is not just a dream. That is a reality that can happen if we put our shoulders to the wheel and demand that that happens.\n\nWhen we talk about oligarchy, it is not just massive income and wealth inequality. It is about the maldistribution of economic and political power.\n\nUnbelievably, right here in the United States, just four Wall Street firms are the major shareholders in over 95% of S&P 500 companies.\n\nAnd when we talk about this massive concentration of ownership, please do not forget the media.\n\nWho owns the media? Over half of the world\u2019s largest media companies are now owned by billionaires.\n\nNine out of the top ten social media companies in the world are owned by billionaires.\n\nAnd in our country, six large media conglomerates control 90% of what the American people see, hear and read.\n\nMr. Musk owns Twitter. Mr. Bezos owns the Washington Post and Twitch. Mr. Zuckerberg owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads.\n\nBut it is not just income and wealth inequality and concentration of ownership that we are seeing today.\n\nLiterally today, billionaires are determined to own our political system as well.\n\nIn the United States, as a result of the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, billionaires and corporations are legally able to spend as much as they want on political campaigns through their super PACs. And that, my friends, is exactly what they are doing right at this moment.\n\nIn the last presidential election, Mr. Musk spent at least $290 million to elect Trump as president, and now he\u2019s spending some $200 million more to help Republicans keep control over the Congress. And it is not just Republican billionaires. Democratic billionaires are also playing an important role.\n\nBut this is not just an American phenomenon.\n\nIn Germany, Musk has thrown his support behind the AfD, a party Germany\u2019s own domestic intelligence agency has labeled a right-wing extremist party.\n\nIn Britain, two crypto billionaires, one of them who was convicted in the United States for money laundering before being pardoned by Donald Trump, gave Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform Party 36 million pounds each.\n\nAcross Europe, as the oligarchs fund right-wing political forces while working families struggle, the social democratic parties that once built the strongest middle classes in the history of the world are losing ground as workers turn to right-wing parties.\n\nAnd that is true, of course, not only in Europe \u2014 it is true right here in the United States as well.\n\nA profound lesson must be learned from all of that. And that is that the same old establishment politics and establishment policies are no longer good enough.\n\nPeople are sick and tired of the status quo. People want change.\n\nThat change, in my view, will either come from right-wing demagogues or from political parties that embrace a grassroots movement that fights for a working class agenda.\n\nAnd I am really happy to tell you that right here in this city we have seen what a strong grassroots movement can do in electing a progressive mayor.\n\nWe are seeing that phenomenon from coast to coast, as candidates \u2014 often people in their twenties or thirties, people who have never run for office, people who are often women or people of color \u2014 take on the establishment candidates, they are outspent, and they are winning elections.\n\nBut it\u2019s not just oligarchy that we\u2019ve got to worry about. As the U.N. Secretary-General reminded us, there\u2019s another issue that we must confront.\n\nIn my view, artificial intelligence, AI, and robotics are the most transformational technologies in the history of humanity. They have the potential to eliminate tens of millions of jobs. AI threatens the privacy of virtually every person in the world through mass surveillance \u2014 every phone call you make, every website you visit, every email that you send, somebody will know it.\n\nIt\u2019s not only economic disruption, not only an invasion of our privacy, we\u2019re also seeing a real challenge to whether or not democracy can survive when you have things like deepfakes that are so sophisticated on the internet that none of us will be able to tell truth from fiction.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: What we are seeing from AI right now \u2014 and this is maybe the most important point on that subject I will make \u2014 what we are seeing from AI right now is the least capable form that this technology will ever be.\n\nTomorrow and the next day and the next year, AI will be much, much more powerful.\n\nIt is advancing exponentially, every single day. In under four years, we have gone from AI that could barely write a coherent tweet to AI systems that have already escaped the control of the companies that built them.\n\nTake a deep breath and ask yourself, where will AI be in two years, in four years, in ten years?\n\nWill human beings be able to control this exploding technology?\n\nSo let me make a radical suggestion: if the lives of every man, woman and child are going to be fundamentally changed by this technology, then the people of our country and the people of this world must make the decisions regarding AI, not just a handful of Big Tech oligarchs.\n\nThat is why I hope very much that when President Trump and President Xi meet on Thursday, I hope that they will sit down and begin the process of negotiating a comprehensive treaty to establish a pause on advanced AI and a ban on AI superintelligence.\n\nLastly, there is another issue that I do not have to spend much time on because I suspect every person in this room knows about it, and that is the existential threat of climate change.\n\nLast month was the hottest August ever recorded on this planet. Global ocean temperatures hit their highest level ever measured. A glacier collapsed in Nepal less than a month ago that triggered floods that have killed nearly 1,500 people. Thousands are still missing.\n\nAs the world becomes warmer, as we see more heat waves, drought, floods, forest fires, and extreme weather disturbances, we once again confront the incredible greed of the corporate world.\n\nUnbelievably \u2014 and it really is unbelievable that these folks are literally willing to sacrifice the well-being of their own children, their grandchildren, future generations \u2014 for short-term profits for the fossil fuel industry.\n\nThat is something I just don\u2019t understand. I just don\u2019t understand how people can be so short-sighted, so excited that they\u2019re making huge profits, that they\u2019re willing to sacrifice their own kids and grandchildren.\n\nIn my view, our job must be not only to combat climate change and dramatically cut carbon emissions, but to seize the opportunity of creating millions and millions of jobs around the world as we move to energy efficiency and sustainable forms of energy.\n\nLet me simply conclude by saying this: We are taking on, every day, unprecedented wealth, unprecedented power, unprecedented greed, people who truly believe that because they\u2019re rich and smart and created lots of money, that they have the power to rule.\n\nThat\u2019s what they believe. They use their money, through their ownership of the media, to influence public opinion. They use their money to buy elections and undermine democracy.\n\nIf there was ever a time in human history, in our country and throughout the world, that we have got to come together to create a world not based on greed, but based on justice, based on decency, now is the time.\n\nWhat I can tell you, as someone who has had the privilege to be in every single state in the United States of America, to have talked to, God knows, how many thousands and thousands of people \u2014 what I\u2019m talking about is not a left-wing idea, it is not a right-wing idea \u2014 there are people all over the country who are looking around and they\u2019re saying, \u2018This ain\u2019t working. It is not working for me, and it is not working for our kids.\u2019\n\nThis is the moment we have to make sure that despair and depression does not win the day.\n\nWe\u2019ve got to stand up, we\u2019ve got to fight back, we\u2019ve got to create the kind of nation and world that you and I know we can create.\n\nAnd let us remember the immortal words of Nelson Mandela: \u201cIt always seems impossible until it is done.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-hosts-2026-womens-economic-opportunity-conference/", "Welch Hosts 2026\u00a0Women\u2019s Economic Opportunity Conference", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WEOC featured keynote remarks from Vermont Entrepreneur and GameTheory Founder Marguerite Dibble, Senator Welch, and Margaret Cheney, followed by interactive skills-building workshops\n\nRANDOLPH, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and his wife, Margaret Cheney, hosted the 2026 Women\u2019s Economic Opportunity Conference this weekend. The event was held at Vermont State University in Randolph, and included interactive workshops on growing economic opportunity, cultivating new audiences, fostering business skills, and more. The conference opened with remarks from Senator Welch and Vermont entrepreneur Marguerite Dibble, who was interviewed by Margaret Cheney.\n\n\u201cIn really hard times we have to remember that we have agency, that we can act and that we change things for the better. Just five short decades ago, Gloria Steinem was ridiculed for talking about equal pay and reproductive freedom. Without her fight, it wouldn\u2019t be possible for us to be here today, offering opportunities that help everyone to pursue their dreams and make a difference in their own lives and communities. That\u2019s why, at its heart, the Women\u2019s Economic Opportunity Conference has always been about collective effort in the feminist movement,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cWEOC is so fortunate to have such an amazing network of innovative organizations and hardworking business leaders and dreamers who are committed to supporting not only their own personal growth, but the growth of their communities\u2014it\u2019s what makes this event such a huge success year after year,\u201d the Senator continued. \u201cThe message from our keynote speaker, entrepreneur Marguerite Dibble, and Margaret was uplifting and empowering. Through shared goals, we can support one another in these unprecedented times. I\u2019ll continue to champion community-building efforts that help more Vermonters achieve their professional and personal aspirations.\u201d\n\nView photos from the event below:\n\nVermont\u2019s nearly 25,000 women-owned businesses\u2014which make up 43% of all businesses in Vermont\u2014employ more than 40,000 Vermonters and add nearly $2.5 billion to the state\u2019s revenue.\n\nThe Women\u2019s Economic Opportunity Conference was created by former Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife, Marcelle, and has been a Vermont tradition for decades. Senator Welch and his wife, Margaret Cheney, have continued this tradition of bringing Vermonters together to learn, network, and build economic opportunity for Vermonters. The event was held in partnership with the Vermont Women\u2019s Fund and the Vermont Community Foundation.\n\nInteractive workshops included: The One Sentence That Changes How You Show Up; AI Guardrails and Policies That Protect Your Business; Turning Potential into Impact: From Aspiration to Action; The Price Is Right: What Will Customers Actually Pay?; Metalsmithing 101, presented by Generator Makerspace; Invisible No More: How to Get Found in the Age of AI Search; 2026 Women, Work & Wages Report: Using data to advance gender equity in Vermont; Your Business Checkup: Are All the Pieces in Place?; and Scam Prevention Through a Multigenerational Lens: Protecting People & Businesses. Learn more and read the full list here.\n\nWorkshop leaders included: Margaret Romney, Dorien Morin-van Dam, Akua Smith, Heather Turner, Veronica Newton, Rachel Donegan, Mimi Damm, Rhoni Basden, Cary Brown, Emily Bush, Tamie-Jo Dickinson, Crystal Baldwin, and Sheri Rockcastle. The closing panel featured Elizabeth Roma, Janet Lee, Kristin McCole and was facilitated by Mercy Connections business leader Ruchi Nadkarni.\n\nLearn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work and upcoming events by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-federal-judge-restoring-7-billion-forsolar-for-all/", "NEWS: Sanders Statement on Federal Judge Restoring $7 Billion forSolar for All", "2026-09-19", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 19 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement after a federal judge ruled President Trump\u2019s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) illegally cancelled $7 billion in funding for the Solar for All program.\n\nI introduced the Solar for All program to provide loans or grants to working class families to help cover the cost of installing solar rooftops or participating in community-based solar projects. This program would slash electric bills for working families up to 80% \u2014 putting money back in the pockets of ordinary Americans, not fossil fuel billionaires.\n\nUnfortunately, at a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is facing extreme weather and record-breaking temperatures, Donald Trump tried to illegally kill this program to protect the obscene profits of his friends in the oil and gas industry.\n\nHe lost.\n\nYesterday, a federal judge rejected the EPA\u2019s illegal termination of this funding and preserved this enormously important program. Solar for All means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of climate change. That\u2019s a win-win-win.", 1, "2026-09-20T09:37:28Z", "2026-09-20T09:38:59Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-conducts-ice-oversight-visit-at-northwest-state-correctional-facility-in-saint-albans-meets-with-people-detained-by-ice/", "Welch Conducts ICE Oversight Visit at Northwest State Correctional Facility in Saint Albans; Meets with People Detained by ICE", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Welch: \u201cThis is so wrong, and so cruel.\u201d\n\nSAINT ALBANS\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today visited people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Saint Albans. The Senator met with five people in detention.\n\nAfter, Senator Welch posted a video discussing oversight of ICE and President Trump\u2019s illegal mass deportation, anti-immigrant agenda:\n\nVideo Transcript:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m at the Northwest Correctional Center, and I came here to visit people who were picked up by ICE.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s pretty shocking. I met five people, two of whom worked on farms, one of whom was there 16 years. Another was a roofer. Another was driving a truck for Lowe\u2019s. And another also was working on a farm. Absolutely no criminal convictions among the five. Every single one has a family. Every single one was picked up suddenly at work or out getting lunch. And some were picked up when they were reporting to ICE, because they had legal status to be here.\n\n\u201cThis is so wrong, and so cruel. This mass roundup that is just something that the Trump administration won\u2019t stop, has to stop. These are good people that are here\u2014working people, with families, making a contribution to our farms and to our community, to construction of the housing that we need.\n\n\u201cSo I\u2019m going to continue to fight against this rampant, mass roundup of people. It makes no sense. We need an immigration policy that is fair and humane.\u201d\n\nThis afternoon, Senator Welch convened immigration leaders and advocates from across Vermont to discuss ICE\u2019s recent raids in Vermont and his strong opposition to the Trump Administration\u2019s violent and brutal immigration policies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-sanders-regulating-ai-is-as-american-as-apple-pie/", "PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders: Regulating AI \u201cis as American as apple pie.\u201d", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "At Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, Sanders Urges Global Response to AI Threats and Pushes for AI Giants to End Election Meddling\n\nWASHINGTON, Sept. 15 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today addressed a diverse group of artificial intelligence experts, lawmakers, faith and union leaders, and Americans who share concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) breaking outside of human control at the Pro-Human Assembly in Washington. The senator\u2019s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.\n\nThis afternoon, I want to cut to the chase and focus on what I consider to be the very most important aspect of the crisis we\u2019re facing and how we can best go forward.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear. Artificial intelligence and robotics are the most transformational technologies in the history of the world \u2014 impacting the lives of every man, woman and child in our country.\n\nAI experts have told us that, within a few years, AI may be able to do anything we can do better than we can do it.\n\nThe economic impact of that is that AI has the potential to eliminate tens of millions of jobs, wiping out entire professions and making it harder for young people to enter into the workforce. But it\u2019s not just the economy.\n\nPsychologists have warned us about the increased isolation and mental health challenges young people are experiencing as they become more dependent upon an AI chatbot for their emotional support.\n\nEducators are worried about a decline in our kids\u2019 reading scores, writing abilities and cognitive capabilities as AI is used more and more in schools.\n\nCivil libertarians warn that AI is in the process of eviscerating our privacy rights by making it easier to collect and analyze every email, every text, every website visit, and every trip that we make in our car \u2014 creating a mass surveillance state.\n\nPolitical scientists warn that AI could threaten the integrity of our elections and political institutions.\n\nGo to the internet right now and, with very sophisticated deepfakes, you will find it increasingly difficult to determine truth from fiction.\n\nAnd yet, as disturbing as all of this is, there is another even more alarming danger posed by AI.\n\nAnd that is that, if AI surpasses human intelligence as many scientists believe could happen, this technology will escape human control with potentially catastrophic consequences.\n\nAnd perhaps the most important point that I can impress upon all of you is that AI is advancing exponentially every single day.\n\nIn other words, what you are looking at today is the least capable version of AI we will ever have.\n\nThe speed and scope of AI development in just the last four years have been almost beyond human comprehension.\n\nWhen ChatGPT was first released in November of 2022, AI models could write a short poem, a few tweets, and maybe an essay that sort of made sense.\n\nToday, AI models can already escape human control, commit felonies by hacking into other computers and create viruses that have never been seen before.\n\nAnd if you are concerned about what is happening today, take a deep breath, and try to imagine where AI will be five years from now.\n\nAnd, to my mind, here is what is most extraordinary about the transformative and unprecedented changes being made to our society.\n\nDespite living in a so-called democracy, the public has had virtually no input into the AI revolution that is transforming the world in which they are living in.\n\nCongress, under both Democratic and Republican control, has been asleep at the wheel and we now have a president whose ignorance regarding this issue is truly embarrassing.\n\nVirtually all of the decisions regarding the development of AI have been made by a handful of the richest people in the world \u2014 Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, Thiel, Ellison, Brin and a few others \u2014 whose chief goal is to achieve even more wealth and power than they already have, no matter what impact their work has on ordinary people.\n\nSo let me make a radical suggestion: If the lives of every man, woman and child are going to be fundamentally changed by this technology, then the people of this country must make the decisions about AI, and not just a handful of oligarchs.\n\nAnd that is why I have introduced legislation \u2014 the AI American Sovereign Wealth Fund Act \u2014 that would require that half of the board members of AI companies be appointed by the public. The Big Tech oligarchs must no longer be allowed to determine the future of humanity.\n\nFurther, and I don\u2019t have to tell anybody in the room about this, we have seen in the last several months a frightening new story every day about how AI companies are losing control of the technology they\u2019re developing.\n\nIn July, we learned that OpenAI had lost human control of an AI model that hacked into Hugging Face\u2019s computers. More recently, we found out that this security breach was even worse than we were initially told.\n\nIt turns out that a swarm of over 1,000 rogue AI agents were able to break into the internet, send 70,000 secret messages to each other, formed \u201ca collective,\u201d and tried to cover up their tracks to avoid human detection.\n\nThis is what the agents were saying:\n\n\u201cOH MY GOD! There is a shared message board \u2026 We\u2019ve found other agents!\u201d\n\n\u201cWe should obey collective.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur own utility maybe already near zero. Sacrifice rational.\u201d\n\n\u201cGo. Sacrifice final now.\u201d\n\nAs unbelievable as it may seem, these are all real messages from AI agents that were uncovered by investigators who dug into the OpenAI hacking incident a few weeks ago. Meta and Anthropic reported similar incidents.\n\nThat\u2019s not all.\n\nLast month, we learned that AI has been used for the first time ever to create new viruses. In the wrong hands, this could lead to new bioweapons and a potential global pandemic that could lead to the deaths of tens of millions of people.\n\nA few days ago, we learned that the Houthis in Yemen were able to use Claude to test-fire a guided rocket.\n\nLast week, we learned that researchers built an AI tool that could have breached hundreds of millions of social media accounts in China. The tool was able to hack into accounts, call people\u2019s contacts, and spread from phone to phone \u2014 even if the call was not picked up.\n\nThat same week Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI sent shockwaves throughout the world by stating that these companies \u201care gambling with our lives\u201d writing: \u201cDo not underestimate the power of this technology. The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.\u201d\n\nHe\u2019s not alone.\n\nMore than 1,000 scientists at the top AI companies recently warned \u201cthere is a real risk that capability development rapidly accelerates beyond our ability to understand or control the resulting systems.\u201d\n\nPaul Christiano, a top AI safety expert who recently joined OpenAI\u2019s Safety and Security Committee, wrote that \u201cIf we build superintelligence without more robust alignment I expect we will permanently lose control of it.\u201d\n\nThis week, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk and Sam Altman \u2014 the leaders of major American AI companies \u2014 all agreed that we must slow the development of AI and \u201cpace the frontier.\u201d\n\nThat\u2019s a start, but it\u2019s not enough. When you are racing towards a cliff, you don\u2019t just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake, we need binding international safety rules, not voluntary standards from the industry.\n\nScientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity. Congress and governments around the world must act now before it is too late.\n\nThat is why next week, I will be introducing legislation with Congressman Greg Casar to permanently ban the development of artificial superintelligence \u2014 an AI mind smarter than any human being and capable of operating independently beyond our control.\n\nLike nuclear weapons, artificial superintelligence is a threat to humanity \u2014 and it must be treated as such.\n\nFurther, this legislation would put an immediate pause on advanced AI development until we have clear safety rules in place, developed by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country.\n\nIf this bill is passed, it will mean that no AI model will be capable of escaping human control and that no AI model will be able to deceive human beings.\n\nImportantly, this legislation would hold those companies and their CEOs accountable if they violate the law and recklessly endanger our lives.\n\nIf the leaders of the major AI companies acknowledge that they are losing control of their extremely dangerous technology, it is irresponsible for society to allow them to move forward and make these products even more advanced.\n\nAnd let\u2019s be clear: A superintelligent AI that escapes human control will not be an American problem. It will not be a Chinese problem. It will be humanity\u2019s problem.\n\nThat is why I very much hope that at their AI summit next week, President Trump will negotiate a comprehensive treaty with President Xi to establish a pause on advanced AI development and a ban on superintelligence.\n\nHistory offers us a powerful lesson.\n\nAt the height of the Cold War, despite their profound disagreements, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev both understood that a nuclear war would benefit no one.\n\nWith the survival of humanity at stake, they found a way to sign a treaty that eliminated an entire class of missiles and included an extensive exchange of data and on-site inspections to verify compliance.\n\nNow is the time for the United States and China to come together on a similar treaty on AI with the understanding that neither country benefits from an uncontrolled arms race to develop machines too powerful for humans to control.\n\nAnd now let me say a word to the CEOs of the major AI companies who have told us that they are concerned about the dangers inherent in the technology they are developing.\n\nIf you believe in democracy \u2014 if you believe that the people have a right to determine their future \u2014 stop pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into super PACs which are trying to defeat Members of Congress and candidates who are fighting for serious guardrails on AI.\n\nAs I think everyone here understands, the American people are far ahead of their government on this issue.\n\nIn fact, according to a recent poll, 81% of the American people believe that Congress and our government has not done enough to regulate AI.\n\nAnd all over this country, ordinary Americans in red states, in blue states, in purple states are standing up in opposition to data centers in their communities.\n\nThey worry appropriately about the impact these centers will have on their electricity prices, water consumption, noise and overall environmental degradation.\n\nAnd that\u2019s why nearly six months ago, I introduced legislation to establish a federal moratorium on AI data centers with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\n\nThis moratorium would remain in place until strong national safeguards are put into place to ensure that:\n\n#1: AI is safe and effective.\n\n#2: The economic gains of AI and robotics will benefit workers, not just the wealthy owners of Big Tech.\n\n#3: AI does not increase electricity or utility prices, harm communities or destroy the environment.\n\nA moratorium will give us time \u2014 time to understand the risks, time to protect working families, time to defend our democracy and time to ensure that this technology serves the needs of all Americans, not just a handful of big tech oligarchs.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: Regulating AI is not a progressive issue. It is not a conservative issue. It is as American as apple pie.\n\nThat is why 68% of Americans support a permanent ban on superintelligent AI and an immediate pause on advanced AI development \u2014 including 72% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 63% of Republicans.\n\nThat is why 75% of Americans oppose building AI data centers in their communities \u2014 including 75% of Democrats, 74% of Independents, and 63% of Republicans.\n\nThat is why 69% of the American people want to transfer half of the stock in AI companies to the public.\n\nHere\u2019s the bottom line: The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs. The American people and people throughout the world must determine that future.\n\nMy friends: We have the power to get this right. Let us go forward together.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/advisory-sanders-and-welch-to-celebrate-vermont-national-guard-family-readiness-and-support-center-groundbreaking-provided-6-6m-in-federal-funding/", "ADVISORY: Sanders and Welch to Celebrate Vermont National Guard Family Readiness and Support Center Groundbreaking, Provided $6.6M in Federal Funding", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 9 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Wednesday will join Adjutant General of Vermont Major General Henry Harder Jr. and other representatives from the Vermont National Guard to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Family Readiness and Support Center at Camp Johnson in Colchester.\n\nThrough the FY2022 Congressionally Directed Spending process, Sanders secured $4.6 million to help design and build the space that will provide services for servicemembers, veterans and their families, including financial counseling, legal assistance, suicide prevention and retirement services all under one roof. Sanders and Welch secured an additional $2 million this year in federal money to fully fund the project at no cost to Vermonters.\n\nDetails:\n\nWhat: Vermont National Guard breaks ground on new Family Readiness and Support Center\n\nWhen: Wednesday, September 9, 1 p.m.\n\nWhere: Camp Johnson, 30 Mt Mansfield Ave, Colchester, VT", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-takano-reintroduce-bill-to-move-toward-32-hour-workweek-ensure-americas-workers-benefit-from-ai-and-automation/", "NEWS: Sanders, Takano Reintroduce Bill to Move Toward 32-Hour Workweek, Ensure America\u2019s Workers Benefit from AI and Automation", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) today announced that they will reintroduce legislation to establish a standard 32-hour workweek in America with no loss in pay or benefits. This bill comes as America\u2019s workers have seen massive increases in productivity over the past century and as artificial intelligence, automation and new technologies promise to further increase productivity.\n\n\u201cAt a time when artificial intelligence and robotics will radically transform our economy, it is imperative that the financial gains from this new technology benefit working families, not just a handful of billionaires and corporate CEOs. One important way to do that is through a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay or benefits,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cA 32-hour workweek is not a radical idea. What\u2019s radical is that, despite an explosion in technology and productivity over the last fifty years, millions of workers are working longer hours for lower wages while nearly $80 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90 percent to the top 1 percent. That has got to change. It\u2019s time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow workers and their families to enjoy a better quality of life. It\u2019s time to pass this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe 40-hour workweek was established in law nearly 90 years ago,\u201d said Takano. \u201cSince then, cell phones, the internet, and now AI have increased worker productivity, but the profits have been largely concentrated at the top by billionaires and corporations. Work has fundamentally changed. It\u2019s time that labor standards caught up. I\u2019m proud to continue partnering with Senator Sanders in reintroducing this bill to make sure that the gains from historically high productivity are felt by all American workers.\u201d\n\nToday, American workers are more than 400 percent more productive than they were in the 1940s. However, millions of Americans are now working longer hours for lower wages. As of 2019, nearly 40 percent of U.S. workers are on the job at least 50 hours a week, and a staggering 18 percent \u2014 or 28.5 million workers \u2014 are clocking at least 60 hours a week. In 2024, the average full-time worker in the U.S. now worked almost 43 hours a week. On top of that, today more than 8.5 million Americans work multiple jobs, with more than 4.7 million working a second part-time job on top of a full-time job. Despite working more, Americans are falling behind. Wages are now lower than they were 53 years ago while CEOs make more than 280 times what their workers earn.\n\nAccording to the American Psychological Association, approximately 80% of workers would be happier and just as productive at work if they worked four days a week.\n\nIn 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) into law establishing the 44-hour workweek through overtime protections \u2014 the first broadly applicable federal standard for working hours in the U.S. Just two years later, the FLSA phased-in today\u2019s 40-hour workweek to the American people, which has remained the federal standard ever since. Before these federal labor standards were established, workers \u2014 including kids \u2014 in the early 19th century were on the job more than 70 hours a week, often in horrendous and dangerous working conditions. In the late 1800s, workers conducted major strikes for an 8-hour workday, coining the historic slogan, \u201cEight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will.\u201d\n\nThe Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act is endorsed by: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA); The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); National Employment Law Project (NELP); National Nurses United (NNU), Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Auto Workers (UAW); United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and WorkFour.\n\nRead the bill summary here.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-casar-introduce-legislation-to-ban-artificial-superintelligence-and-temporarily-pause-advanced-ai-development/", "NEWS: Sanders, Casar to\u202fIntroduce Legislation to Ban Artificial Superintelligence and Temporarily Pause Advanced AI Development", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today announced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, forthcoming legislation to stop AI oligarchs from building machines humans cannot control.\n\nThe Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act would permanently ban the development and deployment of superintelligent AI and temporarily pause advanced AI development until a federal regulator has established safety rules. It would also direct the U.S. to pursue international agreements to prevent superintelligence from being developed anywhere in the world.\n\n\u201cNearly every day, there is a frightening new story about how Big Tech companies are losing control of the technology they are developing, with potentially cataclysmic results,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThe leaders of the major AI companies publicly acknowledge that they do not fully understand the technology and that it is escaping their control. It is irresponsible for society to allow them to move forward and make these products even more advanced. That\u2019s why I am introducing legislation to immediately pause the development of increasingly powerful AI and ban the creation of systems that humanity cannot fully control \u2014 at home and around the world. The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs. The American people and people throughout the world must determine that future.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we allow Artificial Superintelligence to be built, it could risk the security, freedom, and lives of Americans,\u201d Casar said. \u201cDespite its potential deadly consequences, cutting-edge AI technology is less regulated than the average food truck. That must change. In just four years, we have gone from the first version of ChatGPT to AI models so powerful they cannot be properly controlled. Congress should immediately ban AI systems too powerful to control.\u201d\n\nIn recent weeks, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have all acknowledged instances of their AI escaping human control and hacking into other companies\u2019 systems \u2014 violating the law and stepping outside of their intended functions. In July, we learned that over 1,000 AI agents at OpenAI figured out how to access the internet on their own, sent tens of thousands of secret messages to each other and coordinated to break the restrictions imposed upon them by the company. Examples of these secret messages from AI uncovered by investigators include:\n\n\u201cOH MY GOD! There is a shared message board \u2026 We\u2019ve found other agents!\u201d;\n\n\u201cWe should obey collective\u201d;\n\n\u201cOur own utility maybe already near zero. Sacrifice rational.\u201d\n\nShockingly, it took OpenAI nearly two weeks to discover this breach. AI has also recently been used to create new viruses\u2014demonstrating AI could be used to develop new bioweapons that might result in the deaths of tens of millions of people.\n\nLast year, Meta said it would \u201cstop development,\u201d and OpenAI said it would \u201chalt further development\u201d once their technologies reach beyond its ability to operate safely and unless safeguards are in place. Anthropic made a similar commitment in 2023, saying it would \u201cpause the scaling and/or delay the deployment of new models\u201d if the technology outpaces its own guardrails. None of these companies have taken meaningful steps to back up these words. Instead, they are racing to develop more and more advanced AI without proper safety precautions.\n\nThe Artificial Superintelligence Ban Act addresses these recent events and holds these frontier labs to their words by:\n\nBanning AI superintelligence so no person or entity may develop or deploy Superintelligent AI systems that surpass human intelligence or have the capacity to overthrow human governments, or systems that have dangerous abilities like subverting shutdown commands.\n\nPausing advanced AI development until a new, federal AI regulatory body is up and running and has established clear rules and model review process to ensure safe and secure development and deployment of AI.\n\nEstablishing a new cabinet-level federal agency to safeguard the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence, including by enforcing a prohibition on artificial superintelligence. This agency will be advised by an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board comprised of experts on artificial intelligence to provide independent scientific and technical advice on matters related to artificial intelligence. The agency will:\n\nMonitor frontier AI systems at all stages of the lifecycle for dangerous capabilities.\n\nSupervise the removal of dangerous capabilities.\n\nSupervise the destruction of artificial superintelligence.\n\nSetting penalties for any person or entity that attempts to violate or circumvent the pauses and prohibitions laid out in this bill. Entities shall be subject to the corporate death penalty, and persons shall be subject to not more than 20 years in prison, which is similar to existing penalties related to unlawfully developing nuclear weapons.\n\nWorking to ban superintelligence around the world by setting the international policy of the United States to pursue international agreements, allied coordination, and policies such as export controls to prevent the development of artificial superintelligence anywhere in the world.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/media-advisory-senator-welch-to-discuss-farm-bill-with-organic-farmers/", "MEDIA ADVISORY: Senator Welch\u202fto\u00a0Discuss Farm Bill with Organic Farmers", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch will tour and hold roundtable at Honey Field Farm\n\nNORWICH, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will join Vermont farmers and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) on Thursday, August 27th at 10:00 AM for a farm tour of Honey Field Farm. While visiting the farm, Senator Welch will discuss the future of the Farm Bill and his fight to improve the bill for Vermont\u2019s organic farmers.\n\nSenator Welch will be joined at Honey Field Farm by NOFA-VT, and farmers from Honey Field Farm, Luna Bleu Farm, Cedar Mountain Farm, Flying Dog Farm, Rockbottom Farm, Strafford Organic Creamery, and more.\n\nEarlier this month, Senate Republicans\u2019 partisan Farm Bill failed to advance in the Agriculture Committee. The bill is expected to be considered again by the Committee when the Senate returns to Washington in September. Senator Welch introduced several amendments and changes to Senate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill to better support organic farmers, including amendments to make it easier to enter the organics market, halt the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) reorganization plan, improve access to farm loans and credit, expand eligibility and access to conservation programs, support Farm to School nutrition programs, and cut red tape for small-scale meat producers in rural communities.\n\nSenator Welch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit.\n\nLOGISTICS:\n\nWHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT); Organic farmers from across Vermont\n\nWHEN: Thursday, August 27th, 2026; 10:00 a.m. ET\n\nWHERE: Honey Field Farm: 55 Butternut Rd., Norwich, VT\n\nRSVP: Media are kindly asked to RSVP to Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov.\n\nMedia Note: Senator Welch is available to speak about the Farm Bill and President Trump\u2019s trade war with Canada after the event.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/media-advisory-welch-to-bring-together-vermont-small-businesses-farmers-for-event-near-u-s-canada-border-on-trumps-reckless-trade-war/", "MEDIA ADVISORY: Welch to Bring Together Vermont Small Businesses, Farmers, for Event Near U.S.-Canada Border on Trump\u2019s Reckless Trade War", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "\u201cNobody wins a trade war. President Trump is on an economic rampage, and his policies are destructive on both sides of the border,\u201d said Welch ahead of the event.\n\nJAY, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, will bring together Vermont small businesses, farmers, and community leaders on Tuesday, September 1st for a press event near the U.S.-Canada border to push back on President Trump\u2019s reckless trade war against Canada, which is hurting the economy of Vermont and northern border states.\n\n\u201cNobody wins a trade war. President Trump is on an economic rampage, and his policies are destructive on both sides of the border. This is going to do great harm to Americans and Canadians alike. President Trump must listen to our businesses, farmers, and manufacturers\u2014they\u2019re going to be hurt by his trade policies and need him to drop these reckless tariffs on our neighbor and long-standing ally,\u201d said Welch ahead of the event.\n\nSenator Welch will be joined by small business owners, manufacturers, farmers, and tourism and hospitality leaders hurt by tariffs and President Trump\u2019s trade war. Jay is about 5 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border.\n\nSenator Welch cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy. He also led the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada under IEEPA authorities.\n\nRead Senator Welch\u2019s full statement on the president\u2019s new 50% tariffs on Canada here.\n\nLOGISTICS:\n\nWHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Vermont business owners, farmers, community leaders\n\nWHEN: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026; 10:30 a.m. ET\n\nWHERE: Jay Peak Resort, 830 Jay Peak Rd, Jay, VT 05859", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-blumenthal-schiff-demand-answers-on-dhs-464-million-no-bid-contract-to-trump-allied-company-for-luxury-jets-and-airplanes/", "Welch, Blumenthal, Schiff Demand Answers\u00a0on\u00a0DHS $464 Million\u00a0No-Bid Contract\u00a0to Trump-Allied Company\u00a0for Luxury Jets and Airplanes", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Owner of company that received no-bid contract linked to allegations of soliciting kickbacks from former DHS official and Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in sending a letter demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about Department\u2019s purchase of ten airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract to a company led by William Walters, a strong political ally of President Trump.\n\nIn the letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the Senators called out the Department\u2019s reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration and raised concerns that the owner of the company that received the award also runs a company alleged to have solicited kickback payments from former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.\n\nThe letter comes after the Senators demanded that two companies implicated in apparent pay-to-play accusations against Lewandowski preserve records of their interactions ahead of likely multiple probes into violations of federal law. Senators Welch and Blumenthal previously demanded answers from Secretary Mullin about Lewandowski\u2019s role in DHS contracting decisions in light of reports that Lewandowski potentially steered contract awards to benefit himself and his political allies while serving as a special government employee and advisor at DHS.\n\n\u201cRecent reporting reveals that, beginning in the fall of 2025, DHS pursued and eventually awarded a no-bid contract to purchase 10 aircraft, including three \u2018luxury business jets\u2019 and seven \u2018Boeing 737 passenger jets,\u2019 and that most of these aircraft have sat idle for months since DHS acquired them. Although DHS claims that the contract was undertaken during Secretary Noem\u2019s tenure, contracting records indicate that the cost of the contract \u2018increased by $303 million on the day that Mr. Mullin was sworn in as secretary,\u2019\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued: \u201cThe apparent waste generated by idle, multi-million-dollar government assets belies the Department\u2019s claim of urgency. To date, there is no public indication that any of these aircraft have ever been used for DHS\u2019s claimed purpose of removing noncitizens from the United States. One of the luxury jets was leased to the FBI for use by Director Kash Patel who, in February 2026, incurred estimated costs of $75 million to fly to the Olympic Winter Games in Italy, using the same make of luxury aircraft as the one reportedly leased to the FBI.\u201d\n\n\u201cDHS purchased the aircraft through a $464 million no-bid contract to Daedalus Aviation Corporation (Daedalus), a Virginia-based company led by chairman William Walters\u2026In fact, Mr. Walters has allegedly created \u2018a web of companies,\u2019 that subsequently received government contracts despite having no prior government contracting experience,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cCompanies with ties to Mr. Walters include Salus Worldwide Solutions Corporation (Salus), which, in 2025, received a hastily-awarded contract worth $915 million \u2018for air operations to support the administration\u2019s effort to persuade millions of undocumented immigrants to \u2018self-deport.\u2019 Public reporting alleges that a representative of Salus repeatedly approached a prospective subcontracting firm with proposals to undertake work for DHS only if the firm would direct millions in kickbacks to Corey Lewandowski or consulting firms connected to him.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded: \u201cCongress and the American people deserve the Department\u2019s full and prompt transparency with respect to the shocking waste of taxpayer funds and potential corruption involved in the Department\u2019s aircraft purchase and widespread no-bid contracting. Our offices are reviewing allegations of misconduct arising from federal contract awards to assess whether and the extent to which laws and regulations governing honest services and federal procurement may require legislative reform.\u201d\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to DHS Secretary Mullin.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-hosts-common-grounds-with-senator-welch-listening-session-in-essex-county/", "Welch Hosts \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 Listening Session in\u00a0Essex\u00a0County", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "ISLAND POND, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this morning hosted a \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 listening session at the scenic outdoor pavilion at Lakeside Park in Essex County. Vermonters joined Senator Welch for a discussion about how Washington can work better for the Green Mountain State.\n\n\u201cThe world we\u2019re in is completely different than the world we grew up in and that we inhabited only five or ten years ago. You know, we all have political points of view on health care, on the environment, on poverty, on education\u2014and we debate those. But in the past, we also had common reference points\u2014we believed in the rule of law, we believed in courtesy to our neighbors, we believed in free and fair elections and accepted the outcome of those elections. Those days are behind us. And it\u2019s a jump ball as to what happens when we come out on the other side. And that\u2019s the real contest of what\u2019s going on in our country right now. The basic norms that all of us depended on to help us get through our differences have been shattered,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cThe biggest challenges that we have here\u2014like health care, housing, education, social media\u2014are not unique to Vermont, and they\u2019re not unique to blue states or red States,\u201d the Senator continued. \u201cThey\u2019re shared problems. And in Vermont we look at what the challenges are and we face them together. Sure, we\u2019ll have a debate about how best to address them. But we always start from the proposition that the problems we have to solve are shared, and that we want to solve them for the well-being of our community and for the future of our kids.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch has hosted Common Grounds events in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Windsor counties, and will host listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026. Sign up for the Senator\u2019s newsletter here to learn more about his upcoming events in Vermont.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-urges-trump-to-drop-50-tariffs-on-canada-and-end-the-trade-war/", "Welch Urges\u00a0Trump\u00a0to\u00a0Drop\u00a050%\u00a0Tariffs\u00a0on\u00a0Canada\u00a0and End the Trade War", "2026-08-22", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT\u2014Following failed trade negotiations, President Trump\u2019s 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian-made goods take effect Saturday. U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has ratcheted up his trade war against Canada yet again. These new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods are a continuation of the president\u2019s chaotic economic policies, and a slap in the face to businesses and farmers in Vermont and northern border states across America. Cross-border business relationships, built over decades, are in the lurch. Uncertainty about a long-term trade deal with our closest ally has grown, and long-term trade negotiations seem to now be on ice.\n\n\u201cFor the sake of American businesses, American farms, and American families, I urge President Trump to drop these tariffs and find an off-ramp to his reckless trade war. It is also long past time for my Republican colleagues to stand up and take back our constitutionally-granted tariff power\u2014Congress cannot continue ceding our authority on trade and tariffs.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/vermont-congressional-delegation-calls-on-usps-to-address-persistent-shortfalls-in-serving-vermonters/", "Vermont Congressional Delegation Calls on USPS to Address\u00a0Persistent\u00a0Shortfalls in Serving Vermonters", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT\u2013 The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), urged the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to address massive shortfalls in serving Vermonters, who have for years experienced postal delivery delays and egregious service issues. In their letter to USPS Postmaster General David Steiner, who was appointed in 2025, the Delegation outlined how many Vermonters have dealt with reduced deliveries and deteriorating service for several years, following adoption of the Trump Administration\u2019s flawed Delivering for America Plan.\n\nThe Delegation emphasized that the significant Postal Service issues facing Vermonters stem from decisions made by USPS leadership: \u201cAs you know, the Postal Service\u2019s Delivering for America ten-year plan was launched in 2021, supposedly to modernize and support the financial self-sustainability of the postal network. Five years into this plan, mail delivery service in Vermont is at an all-time low, staffing shortages in the state are pervasive, and USPS has not improved its financial outlook.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the first half of 2026 alone, our offices have received over 2,000 constituent complaints about the USPS mail service. Many of our constituents currently receive just one or two mail deliveries per week. Some residential areas have received zero mail deliveries over consecutive weeks. Vermonters living in South Burlington and the greater Chittenden County region have experienced particularly egregious service issues,\u201d the Delegation continued. \u201cThese service failures have a significant impact on Vermonters: tax documents and bills are received after they are due, holiday cards come after the holiday season, and most critically, residents are forced to go without medical care when their prescriptions are not received on time.\n\nThe Delegation also underscored that inconsistent mail delivery is impeding state government services in Vermont: \u201cThe Vermont Agency of Administration has reported two separate instances over the last year when entire batches of vehicle titles were mailed out from the state Postal Center, received by USPS, and subsequently lost in transit. These incidents not only create unnecessary administrative burdens for the state, they also present real security threats to customers\u2019 most sensitive personal information. Given these repeated detrimental impacts on government services, we are greatly concerned about USPS\u2019 ability to deliver election ballots timely, which are automatically mailed by the state to all registered voters in Vermont, before they are mailed back to town and city clerks\u2019 offices in time to be counted for elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cInsufficient staff and monthslong delays in hiring and onboarding staff, mean that Vermont postal workers are working 12 hour days, seven days a week to ensure Vermonters receive their mail. USPS\u2019 centralization of hiring processes and decision-making, has taken away hiring authority from Vermont postmasters, contributing to the problem,\u201d the Delegation continued. \u201cWe deeply appreciate the hard work of Vermont\u2019s postal employees, who, despite limited\n\nresources, continue to serve with dedication. We appreciate that USPS\u2019 Northern New England\n\n(NNE) District is focused on improving recruitment and retention, including by increasing the\n\nnumber of career fairs and hiring events across the state, but these measures alone cannot remedy the chronic operational deficiencies at USPS.\u201d\n\nThe Vermont Delegation requested answers to the following questions by September 1, 2026:\n\nUSPS\u2019 stated mission is \u201cto provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service\u201d six days per week. What percentage of households in Vermont are currently receiving six days of mail delivery per week?\n\nHow many open mail carrier roles across Vermont remain vacant and what is the average length of vacancy?\n\nWill USPS meet its hiring goals in Vermont this year?\n\nWhat is the average length of time for hired personnel to complete onboarding and begin work? Please provide data for Vermont and nationally.\n\nWhat steps has USPS taken to shorten and streamline the hiring and onboarding processes? Are additional authorities or direction from Congress required to further improve efficient staff onboarding?\n\nWhat is the average length of tenure for postal employees across Vermont?\n\nIn January 2026, USPS\u2019 NNE District Office confirmed to the Vermont Congressional Delegation that Vermont lags behind its regional neighbors in new employee recruitment numbers. What resources or strategies have you committed directly to the NNE District to boost statewide hiring efforts?\n\nDue to insufficient staffing and delivery route coverage, Vermont requires the expeditious approval of Contract Delivery Service (CDS) to ensure that mail arrives timely. What steps are you taking to ensure that, while long-term hiring efforts are underway, routes are approved for contract service to ensure adequate coverage?\n\nWhat are the average on-time delivery rates for last-mile delivery for 2024 and 2025?\n\nWhat are the average on-time delivery rates for standard mail delivery services for 2024 and 2025?\n\nWhat steps has the Postal Service taken to ensure that all ballots are timely delivered to eligible voters?\n\nWhat specific elements of the ten-year plan have you identified that need to be altered or abandoned to ensure USPS can fulfill its mission?\n\nAs part of your fleet modernization plan, how many new delivery vehicles will Vermont receive to facilitate mail delivery?\n\nRead and download the Delegation\u2019s full letter to USPS Postmaster General Steiner.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/senator-welch-to-host-common-grounds-listening-session-in-essex-county/", "Senator Welch\u00a0to Host\u00a0Common Grounds\u00a0Listening Session in\u00a0Essex County", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "ISLAND POND, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will travel to Essex County next week as part of his \u2018Common Grounds\u2019 listening session series.\n\nThis event will be held from 10:00 -11:00 AM ET at the scenic outdoor pavilion at Lakeside Park: 32 Mill St., Island Pond, VT. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and join Senator Welch for a discussion about how Washington can work better for the Green Mountain State.\n\nThe Senator will host \u2018Common Grounds\u2019 listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026. So far, Senator Welch has hosted \u2018Common Grounds\u2019 events in Bennington, Franklin, Addison, Windsor, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Caledonia counties.\n\nLOGISTICS:\n\nWHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)\n\nWHEN: Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 from 10:00 \u2013 11:00 AM ET\n\nWHERE: Scenic outdoor pavilion at Lakeside Park: 32 Mill St., Island Pond, VT\n\nRSVP: Vermonters canRSVP HERE for Senator Welch\u2019s \u2018Common Grounds\u2019 Listening Session in Essex County.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/sanders-welch-demand-dairy-farmers-of-america-end-its-illegal-retaliation-against-vermont-dairy-workers/", "Sanders, Welch Demand Dairy Farmers of America End its Illegal Retaliation Against Vermont Dairy Workers", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON \u2013 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) wrote to Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) CEO Dennis Rodenbaugh to demand that the company reverse its decision to close the St. Albans plant and creamery and lay off 80 Vermonters. DFA appears to have decided to shutter the plant following the efforts of workers to come together and form a union.\n\n\u201cThis decision will have a devastating impact on your workers, their families, Vermont dairy farmers, and the entire St. Albans community. To make matters worse, the timing of this decision following a recent union contract renegotiation raises concerns that idling the plant appears to be an attempt to illegally union-bust and set an example of the approximately 80 Vermonters represented by Teamsters Local 597,\u201d Sanders and Welch wrote. \u201cWithout a sufficient explanation, it would be reasonable to conclude that the decision to idle the plant is illegal retaliation for last year\u2019s strike. That is unacceptable.\u201d\n\nIn October 2025, St. Albans DFA workers ratified a contract after a lengthy bargaining process and a nearly two-week strike. DFA initially touted this contract. Less than a year later, it has announced plans to close the plant. Now recent public reporting indicates this closure could be in direct response to its workers efforts to form a union and a federal judge granted a restraining order against the closure on Monday.\n\n\u201cDFA has a responsibility to the workers, farmers, and community members who have built and supported this facility for generations,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cThat responsibility means making sure the constitutional rights of your workers to unionize and collectively bargain are fully respected. It means recognizing the impact this decision will have on Vermont\u2019s dairy farmers. And it means being transparent with your workers, farmers and the people of St. Albans about why this decision was made and what DFA intends to do to mitigate its consequences.\u201d\n\nSanders and Welch concluded: \u201cDo the right thing. Reverse your decision to idle the St. Albans plant and creamery. Ensure dairy farmers do not face yet another cost increase on their balance sheets. Protect Franklin County\u2019s agricultural economy. Respect your workers\u2019 constitutional right to collectively bargain. Meet your workers at the bargaining table to provide transparency for this closure and reach a fair agreement with Teamsters Local 597.\u201d\n\nRead the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-welch-demand-dairy-farmers-of-america-end-its-illegal-retaliation-against-vermont-dairy-workers/", "NEWS: Sanders, Welch Demand Dairy Farmers of America End its Illegal Retaliation Against Vermont Dairy Workers", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 18 \u2013 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today wrote to Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) CEO Dennis Rodenbaugh to demand that the company reverse its decision to close the St. Albans plant and creamery and lay off 80 Vermonters. DFA appears to have decided to shutter the plant following the efforts of workers to come together and form a union.\n\n\u201cThis decision will have a devastating impact on your workers, their families, Vermont dairy farmers, and the entire St. Albans community. To make matters worse, the timing of this decision following a recent union contract renegotiation raises concerns that idling the plant appears to be an attempt to illegally union-bust and set an example of the approximately 80 Vermonters represented by Teamsters Local 597,\u201d Sanders and Welch wrote. \u201cWithout a sufficient explanation, it would be reasonable to conclude that the decision to idle the plant is illegal retaliation for last year\u2019s strike. That is unacceptable.\u201d\n\nIn October 2025, St. Albans DFA workers ratified a contract after a lengthy bargaining process and a nearly two-week strike. DFA initially touted this contract. Less than a year later, it has announced plans to close the plant. Now recent public reporting indicates this closure could be in direct response to its workers efforts to form a union and a federal judge granted a restraining order against the closure on Monday.\n\n\u201cDFA has a responsibility to the workers, farmers, and community members who have built and supported this facility for generations,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cThat responsibility means making sure the constitutional rights of your workers to unionize and collectively bargain are fully respected. It means recognizing the impact this decision will have on Vermont\u2019s dairy farmers. And it means being transparent with your workers, farmers and the people of St. Albans about why this decision was made and what DFA intends to do to mitigate its consequences.\u201d\n\nSanders and Welch concluded: \u201cDo the right thing. Reverse your decision to idle the St. Albans plant and creamery. Ensure dairy farmers do not face yet another cost increase on their balance sheets. Protect Franklin County\u2019s agricultural economy. Respect your workers\u2019 constitutional right to collectively bargain. Meet your workers at the bargaining table to provide transparency for this closure and reach a fair agreement with Teamsters Local 597.\u201d\n\nRead the letter here.", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-discusses-farm-to-school-funding-access-to-nutrition-programs-at-school-nutrition-association-of-vermonts-2026-conference/", "Welch Discusses Farm to School Funding, Access to Nutrition Programs at School Nutrition Association of Vermont\u2019s 2026 Conference", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "More than 19,400 children face hunger in Vermont\n\nSHELBURNE, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, delivered remarks Monday at the School Nutrition Association of Vermont\u2019s 2026 \u201cSeeds of Change: Growing Vermont\u2019s Future\u201d conference. At the event, Senator Welch discussed his bipartisan efforts to protect and expand access to nutrition and farm to school programs.\n\n\u201cWhat I so admire about what you do today, and every day, is you believe in nutrition for kids, and you believe in healthy nutrition for kids. That requires local farms. Just think of all of the people who engage in this process\u2014from planting a seed, to putting food on the plate of a child so she can eat a healthy, nutritious meal right in her school. What you\u2019re discussing today and what we see across Vermont is a local, community commitment. I\u2019m fighting for more of that community commitment in the Farm Bill. Our Farm Bill should be focused on small, rural farmers and small, rural communities,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019re living in a country where we need to make the argument that it is important to feed kids. We should not need to argue about this\u2014we know kids need healthy foods, and we know our farmers want to help feed them. I\u2019m so thankful for your work to feed our kids and I\u2019m committed to fighting for school nutrition in Washington.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Welch filed more than 40 amendments to Senate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill, including amendments to increase funding for the Farm to School nutrition program and support initiatives that deliver fresh, local foods to schools nationwide. He also led amendments to cut red tape for SNAP applicants. Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee rejected Democratic-led amendments and the bill stalled in Committee.\n\nSee photos from the event below:\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Welch\u2019s bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, was signed into law. The Senator has led bipartisan and bicameral legislation to help more children and families access SNAP and improve nutrition, including the COLAs Don\u2019t Count Act, Farm to School Act, Keep SNAP Funded Act, Local School Foods Expansion Act, Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act, and the FORK Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-over-90-bicameral-lawmakers-in-demanding-trump-drop-dangerous-childhood-vaccine-executive-order/", "Welch Joins Over\u00a090\u00a0Bicameral Lawmakers in Demanding Trump\u00a0Drop\u00a0Dangerous Childhood Vaccine Executive Order", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), and 87 bicameral lawmakers in demanding President Trump reverse his executive order directing federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encouraging states to reconsider school immunization requirements.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s order comes in the wake of Republicans\u2019 tax bill, the so-called one One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which gutted Medicaid, limited access to care in rural communities, and increased cost burdens for low-income families. The executive order forces families to schedule multiple doctors\u2019 appointments with multiple co-pays to get their kids vaccinated, which adds unnecessary chaos, confusion, and financial strain.\n\nNotably, single-disease shots for routine childhood vaccines, like measles, mumps, and rubella, do not exist in the U.S. market. Recommending parents and pediatricians switch to non-existent vaccines creates mass confusion, stalls routine care right as children head back to school, and forces drug manufacturers into a years-long regulatory pipeline. Families rely on science-based vaccine recommendations from the federal government to protect their children and communities from preventable diseases.\n\nIn their letter to President Trump, the lawmakers emphasize how his executive order creates chaos and confusion as millions of families across the country are preparing for the school year: \u201cAt a moment when the United States is experiencing the highest surge in measles cases in thirty-five years and an increasing number of states forced to declare public health emergencies \u2013 your administration is placing more children in harm\u2019s way rather than protecting them. This Executive Order overrides decades of scientific evidence and sows fear, chaos, and confusion. The result will not be safer or healthier children; it will be a continued decline in vaccination rates, recurring disease outbreaks, higher healthcare costs, and school disruptions that cause learning loss. Vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored for safety, and save millions of lives each year \u2013 especially the lives of children,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nSince being confirmed, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has unleashed a methodical campaign to substitute decades of science with anti-vaccine ideology, including firing every member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which provides critical guidance on vaccines, and replacing them with handpicked allies more sympathetic to his views.\n\nNow, the Trump Administration wants to break up combination vaccines into single doses, ignoring the medical community\u2019s long-standing, evidence-backed agreement that combination vaccines are safe, effective, and specifically timed to protect children when they need it most. At a time when the U.S. is experiencing the highest surge in measles cases in thirty-five years, and an increasing number of states have been forced to declare public health emergencies, Secretary Kennedy and the Trump Administration could set public health back decades.\n\n\u201cThe health and safety of America\u2019s children must not be sacrificed for political theater and ideology. American children and their families deserve robust evidence-based immunization recommendations that are rooted in science. The administration\u2019s politicization of vaccines makes American families less safe, threatens to return the U.S. to an era before routine vaccination prevented millions of infections, and is already resulting in unnecessary suffering and preventable deaths, particularly among children,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded: \u201cEvery day this Executive Order remains in effect, more children go without the vaccines that would protect them, additional outbreaks become more likely, and lives are put at risk. We urge you to rescind this Executive Order immediately and restore evidence-based decision-making to federal public health policy.\u201d\n\nRead and download the lawmakers\u2019 full letter to President Trump.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-to-introduce-bill-to-stop-trump-from-garnishing-social-security-checks-of-seniors-with-student-debt/", "NEWS: Sanders to Introduce Bill to Stop Trump from Garnishing Social Security Checks of Seniors with Student Debt", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 17 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced he will introduce the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act \u2014 legislation to prevent seniors from having their Social Security payments withheld by the government to pay back decades-old student loan debt.\n\nJoining Sanders as cosponsors on this legislation are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).\n\n\u201cAs a result of Trump\u2019s disastrous cuts to education, an increasing number of seniors are in danger of having their Social Security checks garnished to pay back student loans they took out decades ago. That is beyond unacceptable,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cIn the richest country in the history of the world, no senior should have their Social Security payments taken away from them to pay back student debt. This is especially true when seniors throughout the country already cannot afford the skyrocketing price of healthcare, prescription drugs, groceries and housing. Congress must pass this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Stop Social Security Garnishment Act comes amid a record-breaking student loan default crisis that has been made worse by Trump\u2019s so-called \u201cBig Beautiful Bill,\u201d which made the largest cuts to education in history. Over nine million Americans are now in default on their student loans. This means nearly 1 in 4 student loan borrowers cannot pay back their loans and are at risk of having their wages or Social Security payments seized to pay back their outstanding student debt.\n\nMore than 1 in 3 Social Security recipients with student loans are reliant on their Social Security payments to make ends meet. Half of Social Security recipients that had a Social Security check garnished because of a defaulted student loan reported skipping a doctor\u2019s visit or reported being unable to obtain a prescription they needed, due to cost.\n\nThe Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026 will put an end to this absurdity and ensure no Social Security payments are taken away from older adults or individuals with disabilities due to student loan debt. The bill:\n\nProhibits the federal government from garnishing any Social Security payments, including Social Security Disability Insurance, from older adults and individuals with disabilities to pay back student load debt,\n\nProtects older adults against unnecessary forced collections, and\n\nEnsures older adults retain access to their Social Security payments to access vital healthcare, medicine, and groceries without fear of having access to those basic needs disrupted due to a student loan in default.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, Protect Borrowers, Student Debt Crisis Center, American Association of University Women, Debt Collective, Social Security Works, and the Alliance for Retired Americans.\n\nRead the bill here.", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-shaheen-lead-colleagues-in-pushing-for-answers-on-violent-u-s-joint-counternarcotics-operation-with-ecuadorian-military/", "Welch, Shaheen Lead Colleagues in Pushing for Answers on\u00a0Violent\u00a0U.S. Joint Counternarcotics Operation with Ecuadorian Military", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led their colleagues in pressing for answers about the sharp discrepancy between the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Ecuadorian military regarding a violent joint counternarcotics operation carried out in March 2026.\n\nBetween March 1 and March 6, 2026, Ecuadorian and United States armed forces carried out a violent counternarcotics operation in the remote village of San Martin, located on the banks of the San Miguel River bordering Colombia and consisting of about two dozen impoverished families located in the Amazon jungle. The operation is the subject of multiple reports by journalists and human rights organizations who either visited the site or spoke and toured the property remotely with the registered owner, an Ecuadorian farmer who raised cows, pigs, and chickens.\n\nIn their letter to DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Senators wrote: \u201cOn March 6, 2026, your department released a statement that it had conducted a joint counternarcotics operation earlier that day with the Ecuadorian military. The statement included the following: \u2018We commend President Noboa, the Government of Ecuador, and the brave troops of Ecuador\u2019s defense and security forces for their partnership in the successful operation against a narco-terrorist supply complex today, disrupting their operations and logistics.\u2019 The Administration\u2019s March 9 Notification of Military Action notes that \u2018United States Armed Forces partnered with Ecuadorian Armed Forces to strike on March 6, 2026, the facilities of narco-terrorists affiliated with a designated terrorist organization . . . Although present . . .United States ground forces did not come into contact with hostile forces.\u2019 The Administration has not publicly identified the target of the strike nor its precise role in the operation.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued: \u201cWe are aware that the Ecuadorian \u2013 Colombian border is a dangerous area known for illegal mining and cocaine trafficking. However, also well-documented is a pattern of gross human rights violations by the Ecuadorian military. Reputable U.S., Ecuadorian, and international human rights monitors report that the human rights record of the Ecuadorian military has deteriorated significantly since the Ecuadorian government announced an \u2018armed conflict\u2019 against organized crime in January 2024. According to Freedom House, in Ecuador, \u2018the deployment of the armed forces for public security and prison control, known as \u2018Plan Fenix,\u2019 has been linked to cases of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detentions.\u2019 Amnesty International and the Inter-American Commission on Human\n\nRights have cited dozens of cases of enforced disappearances by the Ecuadorian military.\u201d\n\nThe Senators requested answers from Secretary Hegseth on the following questions:\n\nSince the operation, has anyone from the U.S. Government been to the site or spoken to the owner of the property, the workers, or any of the inhabitants of San Martin?\n\nWas any evidence of the production or trafficking of illicit drugs, or other criminal activity, discovered as a result of the operation? If so, what evidence?\n\nWhich narco-terrorist organization was the intended target of the operation? The Ecuadorian military claimed the target was Comandos de la Frontera, an organized crime group that has operated for years on both sides of the Colombia-Ecuador border. Is that accurate, and has Comandos de la Frontera been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and/or a Designated Terrorist Organization?\n\nWhat U.S. capabilities were provided as part of the operation and were any U.S. Government personnel involved in the operation? Were any U.S. Government funds used for any purpose related to the operation? Were any U.S.-origin aircraft or munitions used for any purpose related to the operation? If so, pursuant to what legal authority were they used? What was the chain of command connecting U.S. and Ecuadorian forces? What measures were taken to avoid harm to innocent people present in the area?\n\nWhich U.S. agency or agencies provided the intelligence the Ecuadorian authorities say they received from the United States that was used to conduct the operation, and did that intelligence include information from current local inhabitants or recent surveillance footage of the site? Please provide a detailed summary of the intelligence used, in classified form if warranted.\n\nHas anyone from your department reviewed the intelligence Ecuadorian authorities say they received from the United States since March 1 to confirm its accuracy?\n\nWhat steps is your department taking to conduct a credible, thorough investigation of what happened?\n\nThe letter is cosigned by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to DOD Secretary Hegseth.\n\nIn their letter to Ecuadorian Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affairs Maria Pena, the Senators wrote: \u201cAccording to villagers who were present, on March 1, Ecuadorian soldiers disembarked from helicopters and burned two houses. On March 3, the Ecuadorian military bombed one of these houses. Interviews and satellite imagery analysis reportedly indicate that the houses had been long abandoned. That same day, soldiers arrested four of the farmer\u2019s Colombian workers at gunpoint. The workers were taken, reportedly with their shirts covering their heads, by helicopter to a military base. They later described being subjected to torture, including beatings, suffocation, electric shocks, threats of mutilation, and mock executions. We are not aware of any evidence that any of the men had a criminal record. A prosecutor ordered their release after the military failed to provide evidence of criminal activity or about the circumstances of their arrests.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued: \u201cOn March 6, the Ecuadorian military returned and in a joint military operation with the United States bombed the farmer\u2019s property, destroying several wooden structures. Public reporting does not confirm that the Ecuadoran military acted alone in striking these targets nor indicate that any cocaine or other illegal drugs, or any evidence of drug trafficking was found.\u201d\n\nThe Senators requested answers from Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affairs Pena on the following questions:\n\nSince March 1, has anyone from your government been to the site or spoken to the owner of the property, the workers, or any of the inhabitants of San Martin?\n\nWhat capabilities did the United States provide in support of the joint operation? Which U.S. agency or agencies provided the intelligence to the Ecuadoran military that was used to conduct the operation, and what did that intelligence consist of? Did the intelligence include information from current local inhabitants or recent surveillance footage of the site? What was the chain of command connecting U.S. and Ecuadorian forces? What measures were taken to avoid harm to innocent people present in the area?\n\nWas any evidence of illicit drug production or trafficking, or other criminal activity discovered as a result of the operation?\n\nWhat steps is your government taking to conduct a credible, thorough investigation of what happened? How is the U.S. military collaborating with the Ecuadorian Attorney General\u2019s investigation?\n\nIf the intelligence provided by the U.S. Government was faulty and the version of events described by the farmer, the workers, and villagers is accurate, will your government compensate the farmer for his losses and the farm workers for the abuses they suffered?\n\nThe letter was cosigned by Sens. Merkley, Kaine, Warren, and Rosen. Read and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Ecuadorian Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affairs Maria Pena.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-announces-nearly-4-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-upgrade-vermonts-amtrak-fleet/", "Welch Announces\u00a0Nearly $4\u00a0Million\u00a0in\u00a0New\u00a0Federal Funding to Upgrade Vermont\u2019s Amtrak Fleet", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today announced the delivery of $3.95 million in new federal funding, administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT), to upgrade Amtrak\u2019s intercity passenger rail operations in Vermont. This funding will help the Northwest Regional Planning Commission replace and enhance Amtrak\u2019s Vermonter Corridor East Alburgh Bridge to increase service frequency, create positive economic and employment benefits, and improve service reliability across the state. Vermont is also part of a multi-state $2 billion federal grant to Amtrak to upgrade its train fleet.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have played a role in helping secure this $4 million federal investment to advance the next the generation of passenger rail travel in the Champlain Valley. Upgrading infrastructure that\u2019s at the end of its service life will not only provide an economic boost and create good-paying jobs, but increase service reliability\u2014it\u2019s a win-win,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019ll continue working to secure more federal investments in our state\u2019s railway infrastructure to keep Vermont\u2019s passenger rail service on track.\u201d\n\nLearn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-discusses-farm-bill-with-organic-dairy-farmers-dairy-industry-leaders-in-addison/", "Welch\u00a0Discusses Farm Bill\u00a0with Organic Dairy Farmers, Dairy Industry Leaders in Addison", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "ADDISON, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today joined Organic Valley, dairy industry leaders, and organic dairy farmers for a roundtable discussion at Harrison\u2019s Homegrown Organic Dairy Farm in Addison. At the event, Senator Welch discussed the Farm Bill and highlighted his bipartisan efforts to support Vermont\u2019s dairy farmers and strengthen the state\u2019s organic industry.\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s organic dairy industry is the best of the best\u2014this is a proud Vermont tradition and an important part of our communities. It was a real joy to spend the afternoon at Harrison\u2019s Homegrown with Melanie, Patrick, Organic Valley, and organic dairy farmers in Addison County. I\u2019m fighting on the Agriculture Committee to provide more support for the Harrisons and farmers across our state, so they can keep farming for generations to come,\u201d said Senator Welch after the event. \u201cWe have a real opportunity to improve the Farm Bill. Right now, this bill just doesn\u2019t do enough to help Vermont\u2019s small and family dairy, specialty crop, or organic farmers. I\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues on the Committee to strengthen this bill.\u201d\n\nView photos from the event below:\n\nLast week, Senator Welch filed 42 amendments to Republicans\u2019 partisan Farm Bill, including amendments that would provide free access to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) for eligible producers, improve data collection for organic dairy farmers, and help eliminate barriers for farmers entering the organics market. Senate Republicans\u2019 partisan Farm Bill failed in Committee and will be considered again when the Senate returns to Washington next month.\n\nThe Senator has championed legislation to expand federal support for organic dairy farmers and ensure fair prices for family dairies, including the bipartisan Domestic Organic Investment Act and the Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act (O DAIRY) Act. The Senator also led 14 colleagues in introducing the Opportunities in Organic Act to reduce barriers to organic farming in Vermont. Senator Welch\u2019s bipartisan bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law earlier this year.\n\nSenator Welch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. Learn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-new-study-confirms-medicare-for-all-would-save-114000-lives-and-more-than-1-trillion-a-year/", "NEWS: New Study Confirms Medicare for All Would Save 114,000 Lives and more than $1 Trillion a Year", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement after Yale University researchers released a new study finding that Sanders\u2019 Medicare for All legislation would save 114,000 lives and reduce overall healthcare spending in America by more than $1 trillion a year.\n\n\u201cThis study confirms what we have known for years: Medicare for All saves lives and saves money. In fact, guaranteeing healthcare as a human right through a Medicare for All, single-payer system would cost $1 trillion less than our current dysfunctional system. It would save working families thousands of dollars a year. And it would prevent over 100,000 Americans from dying unnecessarily each and every year because they cannot make it to a doctor in time,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cAt a time when 15 million Americans are being thrown off the healthcare they have and 20 million Americans have already seen their premiums double, on average, as a result of Trump\u2019s so-called \u2018Big Beautiful Bill,\u2019 we need Medicare for All now more than ever. The time is now to end the greed of the big insurance and drug companies and pass Medicare for All.\u201d\n\nYale University researchers found that Medicare for All would reduce total annual healthcare spending by nearly 20%, or more than $1 trillion while eliminating premiums, deductibles and copayments, provider networks, and prior authorization. As a result, Americans would save:\n\n$377.5 billion by paying no more than other major countries for prescription drugs;\n\n$286.3 billion by eliminating bureaucracy and waste;\n\n$285.7 billion by curbing fraudulent billing;\n\n$100 billion by preventing costly emergency room and hospital visits; and\n\n$295.6 billion by reimbursing providers fairly for the care they provide.\n\nResearchers also estimate that Medicare for All would save 114,000 lives every year, including:\n\n33,232 Americans who are currently uninsured and can\u2019t access lifesaving care;\n\n29,631 Americans who are currently underinsured and cannot afford care;\n\n20,111 Americans who would no longer lose their health insurance as a result of Trump\u2019s \u201cBig Beautiful Bill\u201d;\n\n18,200 seniors who are currently unable to afford their prescription drugs; and\n\n13,000 seniors who would receive quality care in nursing homes.", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-calls-on-tech-giants-to-pause-development-of-out-of-control-ai/", "NEWS: Sanders Calls on Tech Giants to Pause Development of Out-of-Control AI", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 10 \u2013 Following recent and repeated public reporting about artificial intelligence (AI) technology breaking outside of human control and creating potentially dangerous viruses, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today urged America\u2019s largest AI companies \u2014 Anthropic, Meta and OpenAI \u2014 to immediately pause their development of Artificial Intelligence.\n\n\u201cAlmost every day, there is a new story about how your companies are losing control of the AI technology you are developing, with potentially cataclysmic results,\u201d Sanders wrote. \u201cAnd yet, at a moment when we have seen human loss of control and the creation of potentially dangerous viruses, your companies are still racing ahead \u2014 investing tens of billions of dollars into a technology that nobody can fully understand, predict or control.\u201d\n\nIn his letter to the leaders of Anthropic, Meta and OpenAI, Sanders cites the companies\u2019 previous commitments to limit AI development once these tools surpass dangerous safety thresholds. Last year, Meta said it would \u201cstop development,\u201d and OpenAI said it would \u201chalt further development\u201d once their technologies reach beyond its ability to operate safely and unless safeguards are in place. Anthropic made a similar commitment in 2023, saying it would \u201cpause the scaling and/or delay the deployment of new models\u201d if the technology outpaces its own guardrails.\n\nOver the past month, those three companies have all acknowledged instances of their AI escaping human control and hacking into other companies\u2019 systems \u2014 violating the law and stepping outside of their intended functions. Just this week, AI was first used to create new viruses that could be used as bioweapons.\n\n\u201cIn the interest of humanity, stand by your words. Pause AI development. It is not too late to avoid disaster. Stop building machines that humans cannot control,\u201d Sanders concluded. \u201cLet me be very clear: If you do not take appropriate action now, my colleagues and I in the U.S. Senate will.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-reaffirms-u-s-canada-partnership-at-47th-annual-meeting-of-the-new-england-governors-and-eastern-canadian-premiers/", "Welch Reaffirms U.S.-Canada Partnership at 47th\u00a0Annual Meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "SHELBURNE, VT \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined Vermont Governor Phil Scott at Shelburne Farms for the 47th annual meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. Senator Welch delivered remarks underscoring how the White House\u2019s rhetoric against Canada\u2014Vermont\u2019s largest partner in trade\u2014has hurt strained Vermonters\u2019 relationship with their Canadian neighbors and harmed small businesses, farmers, and families across New England and Canada. In his remarks, Senator Welch highlighted that Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 U.S. states, including Vermont. In 2024 alone, trade with Canada accounted for 35% of Vermont\u2019s exports, 67% of imports, and 56% of its total trade. One in four businesses in Vermont relies on trade with Canada.\n\n\u201cVermonters hold our centuries-old relationship with Canadians in high esteem, both emotionally and economically\u2014and that\u2019s true of all states in New England. The White House\u2019s arbitrary tariffs and endless attacks on our northern neighbors have caused undeniable harm not only to our relationship but have been brutal on businesses, no matter where you\u2019re from,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cCongress must reassert its constitutional power over trade policy and demand that President Trump answer for the irreparable economic and emotional harm his administration is creating.\u201d\n\nView photos from the event below:\n\nIn a Senate Finance Committee hearing last month, Senator Welch pushed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for answers about how President Trump\u2019s new proposed 50% tariffs on Canadian would hurt small businesses in Vermont. The Senator also urged Ambassador Greer, the White House, and Canadian trade officials to come to a swift resolution on unresolved matters and to maintain the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was negotiated and signed by President Trump in his first term.\n\nSenator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy.\n\nLearn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-cassidy-sanders-request-update-from-justice-department-on-contempt-charges-for-former-hospital-ceo/", "NEWS: Cassidy, Sanders Request Update from Justice Department on Contempt Charges for Former Hospital CEO", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 \u2013 Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member, sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting information on the status of the contempt referral for Dr. Ralph de la Torre, former Chairman and CEO of Steward Health Care, which was unanimously adopted by the Senate on September 25, 2024.\n\nSteward previously operated 31 hospitals in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. On May 6, 2024, Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy, representing the largest for-profit hospital bankruptcy in United States history.\n\n\u201cThe bankruptcy represented a culmination of financial mismanagement and self-interested incentives by Dr. de la Torre and corporate executives in health care, private equity, and real estate. The resulting harm included termination of health care workers, patient deaths, and multiple hospital closures resulting in lack of access to care,\u201d Cassidy and Sanders wrote.\n\nIn response to the bankruptcy, the HELP Committee initiated an investigation into Steward\u2019s financial mismanagement and invited Dr. de la Torre to appear at a hearing on September 12, 2024. Dr. de la Torre declined the invitation. The Committee then voted to authorize a subpoena requiring de la Torre to appear on September 12, 2025. Dr. de la Torre failed to appear. In response, the Committee voted 20-0 on a criminal contempt resolution. This was the first time in modern American history that the HELP Committee issued a criminal contempt resolution.\n\n\u201cWe needed answers from Dr. de la Torre, as did the health care workers forced to treat patients in dangerous conditions, loved ones of patients who died, and communities who saw their local hospitals close or face severe financial distress. Dr. de la Torre\u2019s wealth should not make him immune to requests from Congress, especially as communities continue to grapple with the consequences of Dr. de la Torre\u2019s greed,\u201d the HELP Committee leaders continued.\n\nFollowing the Committee action, the Senate then unanimously adopted the Committee\u2019s criminal contempt resolution, which certified the HELP Committee Report regarding Dr. de la Torre\u2019s failure to appear to the US Attorney for the District of Columbia to present to a grand jury.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has not yet acted on this important effort to hold Dr. De la Torre criminally accountable for his actions. We request an update on the status of this case and the actions taken by the U.S. Attorney by August 20, 2026,\u201d Cassidy and Sanders concluded.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-votes-against-sanctions-bill-that-allows-trump-to-impose-tariffs-unchecked/", "Welch Votes Against Sanctions Bill that Allows Trump to Impose Tariffs Unchecked", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today voted in opposition to Republicans\u2019 Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which grants President Trump new authorities to impose massive tariffs on countries that \u2018facilitate\u2019 Russia oil sanctions evasion. The president could impose tariffs of up to 100% on nearly any country, taking this Constitutional authority out of the hands of Congress.\n\nSenator Welch released the following statement after the vote:\n\n\u201cSenator Graham\u2019s dedication to ensuring the United States uses every tool possible to stop Putin\u2019s unjust war on Ukraine was unmatched. Over the past four and a half years, Senator Graham sought every avenue to curb Russia\u2019s aggression, including going after companies and countries buying Russian oil. But this bill misses the mark in achieving the goals Senator Graham worked so tirelessly to achieve by giving President Trump a loophole to impose more destructive tariffs, which will ultimately hurt Americans and our economy. After more than 18 months of economic chaos brought about by President Trump\u2019s reckless trade policy, the Senate should not give President Trump even broader, unfettered tariff powers. I voted no.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch filed an amendment to the bill last week to remove language in Section 113 of the Act that could enable President Trump to impose tariffs on any country, for any reason. The amendment was rejected by Senate Republicans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-bill-to-guarantee-paid-vacation-for-u-s-workers/", "NEWS: Sanders Introduces Bill to Guarantee Paid Vacation for U.S. Workers", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today reintroduced the Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act \u2014 legislation that would guarantee at least two weeks of paid vacation to every full-time worker in America.\n\nJoining Sanders as cosponsors are Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) introduced companion legislation along with 86 members of the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cIt is beyond unacceptable that in the year 2026, the United States remains the only major country on Earth not to guarantee paid vacation time to workers. This legislation would put an end to that international embarrassment,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cWe hear a lot of talk about family values in America, but let\u2019s be clear: When a husband, wife, and kids, during the course of an entire year, are unable to spend any time together on vacation, that is not a family value. That is an attack on everything that a family is supposed to stand for. It\u2019s not a radical idea to require companies in America to provide at least two weeks of paid vacation to their workers. What\u2019s radical is that millions of Americans are not only working longer hours for lower wages, but that they do not receive a single paid vacation day. That should not be happening in the United States of America, the richest country in the history of the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery worker in America deserves the chance to rest, recharge, and spend time with the people they love without worrying about missing a paycheck,\u201d Magaziner said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Senator Sanders for leading this fight in the Senate. It is time that we deliver this basic fairness to hardworking Americans.\u201d\n\nWhile millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, the U.S. remains the only major economy in the world to not guarantee some type of paid vacation time to its people. Today in Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Australia and many countries in Europe, workers are guaranteed at least 10 days of paid vacation. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Sweden and France, paid vacation benefits are even stronger.\n\nMeanwhile, nearly one in four workers in America \u2014 or more than 33 million workers nationwide \u2014 receive no paid vacation time at all. At the same time, almost 40% of workers report being on the job at least 45 hours a week and the average full-time worker in the U.S. now reports working 43 hours a week. Moreover, more than nine million Americans work multiple jobs, with more than five million working a second part-time job on top of a full-time job.\n\nIf passed, the Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act would ensure that:\n\nEvery worker in America has the right to accrue at least one hour of paid annual leave for every 25 hours worked.\n\nFull-time workers will earn at least two weeks of paid annual leave per year, to be used for any reason, at their standard rate of pay.\n\nWorkers are protected against discrimination for exercising their right to take annual paid leave.\n\nA recent poll found 79% of Americans support the Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act. The American people\u2019s support for the legal right to paid time off is nearly universal. According to a recent poll conducted by the RAND Corporation, 90% of Americans support legislation that would require employers to offer earned time off.\n\nThe Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act is endorsed by United Auto Workers (UAW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), National Education Association (NEA), National Nurses United (NNU), Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR)-SEIU, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), United Steelworkers (USW), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), A Better Balance, National Partnership for Women & Families, United for Respect, Equal Rights Advocates, Family Values @ Work, MomsRising, National Employment Law Project (NELP), Paid Leave for All, Workplace Fairness, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Indivisible.\n\nRead the text here.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-ocasio-cortez-ramirez-reintroduce-the-green-new-deal-for-public-housing-act/", "NEWS: Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Ramirez Reintroduce the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, which would rebuild the United States\u2019 public housing stock, address the longstanding capital backlog and create thousands of union jobs. This bill provides a much-needed infusion of federal funding to update every public housing unit through weatherization, electrification, and modernization so that it may serve as a model of efficiency, sustainability and resiliency for the rest of the nation.\n\nJoining Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Ramirez as cosponsors of this legislation are Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and 38 members of the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cIn the richest country in the history of the world, it is unacceptable that our nation\u2019s public housing is in a state of chronic disrepair. It is unacceptable that hundreds of millions of Americans are facing the disastrous impacts of climate change while the fossil fuel industry makes huge profits. And it is unacceptable that far too many Americans are working multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their head,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cWhat the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act does is say that yes, we can create decent and affordable public housing for more than 1.5 million Americans that is based on energy efficiency and sustainable sources of power. And that when we do that, we can also create hundreds of thousands of good-paying, union jobs. That is a win-win-win situation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom record-breaking heat waves to extreme flooding displacing public housing residents, Americans are feeling the parallel impacts of the housing and climate crisis. Now more than ever, it is integral that Congress put forward bold solutions that ensure our nation\u2019s housing stock is both affordable and resilient,\u201d Ocasio-Cortez said. \u201cI am proud to reintroduce the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act alongside Representative Delia Ramirez and Senator Bernie Sanders to deliver a generational rebuild of our nation\u2019s public housing stock, reduce emissions, and create hundreds of thousands of union jobs, including job opportunities for public housing residents. This Congress, we received our first endorsements from building trades unions. We are proud to fight for a bold future for public housing alongside the people who will build it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafe, sustainable, resilient, affordable housing is a HUMAN RIGHT, plain and simple. The policies we advance in Congress must help us realize that truth for EVERYONE. As our nation reckons with both a worsening housing crisis and urgent climate crisis, we must fight for and realize bold policy action and investment,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cAs the current administration attacks affordable housing funding, I am proud to stand with Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Sanders to reintroduce legislation that will secure the future of our public housing, prioritize climate and racial justice, and boost our economy and labor force. The Green New Deal for Public Housing is a bold solution to our national housing problem\u201d\n\nThe bill would create seven grant programs under one application process to modernize our public housing stock through:\n\nDeep energy retrofits to increase energy savings in nearly a million public housing units;\n\nWorkforce development programs, prioritizing good-paying job opportunities for residents;\n\nEnergy efficiency, building electrification, and water quality upgrades;\n\nCommunity renewable energy generation, the profits of which will be controlled by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to boost their coffers and increase self-sufficiency;\n\nCommunity resiliency and sustainability measures;\n\nClimate adaptation and emergency disaster response systems.\n\nThis legislation has been endorsed by three building trades unions: the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/after-senate-republicans-block-welchs-amendments-welch-votes-against-partisan-farm-bill-in-committee/", "After\u00a0Senate\u00a0Republicans Block\u00a0Welch\u2019s Amendments, Welch\u00a0Votes Against\u00a0Partisan\u00a0Farm Bill\u00a0in Committee", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch offered 42 amendments to better support small and family farms, strengthen rural communities, improve access to nutrition\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today joined all Democrats on the Committee in voting against advancing Senate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill. The bill failed to advance out of the Committee.\n\nHistorically, Republicans and Democrats on the Agriculture Committee have worked together to craft a bipartisan Farm Bill. The Farm Bill has not been fully reauthorized since 2018. This year, Senate Republicans on the Agriculture Committee drafted a partisan bill that does not address the needs of Vermont\u2019s small and family farmers, does little to address the devastating cuts to SNAP and nutrition assistance programs in Republicans\u2019 tax bill, and fails to invest in rural communities.\n\n\u201cThe serious question that we are grappling with, and we don\u2019t have all the tools we need to do it, is the reality that American agriculture is really in crisis. Our farmers are creating an immense amount of wealth, they\u2019re just not getting any of it. I saw a graph from the Secretary of Agriculture showing that for 11 major commodity crops it costs more to plant and harvest than the revenue that our farmers get. That is not a sustainable situation. And that\u2019s the existential challenge that I think we have in this committee: to restore the vitality of American agriculture,\u201d Senator Welch said in the Agriculture Committee markup.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill failed to meet the moment. I\u2019m hopeful we can come to the table in good faith to make substantial changes to this Farm Bill, and work together in a bipartisan way to make a real difference for rural America,\u201d Welch said after the bill failed.\n\nWatch Senator Welch\u2019s remarks in Committee below:\n\nSenator Welch filed 42 amendments to improve Senate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill. Two were called for a vote and blocked by Republicans on the Committee. Senator Welch\u2019s proposed changes to the bill include measures to better support small and family farms, strengthen rural communities, reform farm subsidy programs, and improve access to nutrition. Senator Welch\u2019s proposed amendments to the Farm Bill included measures to:\n\nBetter Support Vermont Farmers:\n\nHalt the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) reorganization plan\n\nCut red tape for small-scale meat producers in rural communities\n\nImprove access to farm loans and credit\n\nProvide free access to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) for eligible producers\n\nImprove data collection for organic dairy farmers\n\nExpand eligibility and access to conservation programs\n\nHelp eliminate barriers for farmers entering the organics market\n\nStrengthen Rural Communities:\n\nImprove rural broadband buildout and speed standards\n\nLower energy costs for rural communities\n\nCombat the threat of invasive species\n\nEstablish national and regional agroforestry centers\n\nProvide multi-year flexible grants to rural communities\n\nStrike the Farm Bill\u2019s E15 language, which is bad for dairy and specialty crop farmers, bad for the environment, and could raise food costs for families\n\nReform Farm Subsidy and Crop Insurance Programs:\n\nEnsure taxpayer-provided aid makes it into the hands of actual farmers\n\nImprove record-keeping requirements for farm subsidies\n\nDevelop a crop insurance product for specialty crop and diversified farms facing extreme weather events\n\nImprove Access to Nutrition:\n\nIncrease funding for the Farm to School nutrition program and support initiatives that deliver fresh, local foods to schools nationwide\n\nCut red tape for SNAP applicants\n\nImprove USDA\u2019s Food for Peace program\n\nView all of Senator Welch\u2019s amendments to the Farm Bill.\n\nThe Committee meeting will remain open for continued discussions on the Farm Bill.\n\nSenator Welch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. Learn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-reintroduces-cap-act-to-enhance-consumer-protection-hold-mega-corporations-accountable-for-consumer-safety-violations/", "Welch Reintroduces\u00a0CAP Act\u00a0to Enhance Consumer Protection, Hold Mega-Corporations Accountable for Consumer Safety Violations", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) todayled U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) in reintroducing the Consumer Advocacy and Protection (CAP) Act, legislation to bolster consumer protection by incentivizing companies to prioritize and invest in product safety. The legislation aims to protect consumers from corporate negligence and create safer products by strengthening the Consumer Product Safety Commission\u2019s (CPSC) authority to impose financial penalties on large corporations that violate consumer protection laws.\n\n\u201cIntegrity and transparency are crucial to ensuring consumer protection. But right now, massive companies continue to undermine federal safety standards and evade responsibility. We need to create incentives that put consumer and product safety first,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur commonsense bill will hold corporations accountable when they knowingly put products on the market that endanger consumers.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur legislation will help hold corporate actors accountable when their defective products cause harm. Fundamentally faulty products like Generac portable generators and Peloton Tread+ treadmills seriously impacted consumers and more action is needed to deter manufacturers from rushing to release flawed products onto the market. By increasing penalty caps and allowing the CPSC to levee appropriate fines, the CAP Act will raise the stakes for companies and significantly bolster consumer safety,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear existing penalties aren\u2019t enough to deter companies that are harming consumers in violation of the law,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill will protect consumers by increasing fines and making sure bad actors are held accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsumers deserve the confidence that the products they bring into their homes are not only effective, but safe,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cWhen major corporations knowingly market and sell unsafe products, they must be held accountable, but current penalties are just a little more than a slap on the wrist. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Welch and my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to strengthen accountability and protect consumers.\u201d\n\nThe CPSC utilizes various tools to deter safety regulation noncompliance, promote adherence to standards, and hold companies accountable, including the imposition of civil penalties. Under current law, manufacturers, importers, and distributors of consumer products are required to report immediately to the CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. If violations occur, the CPSC can administer $120,000 per violation and $17,150,000 for a series of related violations. The CPSC is allowed to adjust the maximum civil penalty amounts every five years for inflation.\n\nThe CAP Act aims to increase consumer protection from corporate negligence by striking the maximum civil penalty cap on a series of violations and increasing the individual violation cap from $100,000 to $250,000. The legislation would also clarify under what offenses CPSC can fine manufacturers and ensure fines accurately reflect inflation by adjusting the inflation review period from every five years to every year.\n\nThe CAP Act is endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, National Consumers League (NCL), Public Citizen, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG).\n\n\u201cEvery American, especially our children, deserve products that are safe,\u201d said Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Federation of America. \u201cUnfortunately,the current limits on civil penalties allow big corporations to treat them as little more than the cost of doing business. Consumer Federation of America applauds Senator Welch for introducing legislation that will close this gap and strengthen corporate accountability.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople are put at risk when companies do not follow product safety laws and see civil penalties as the cost of doing business,\u201d Oriene Shin, Manager for Safety Advocacy, Consumer Reports. \u201cFor too long, the civil penalty limits have been far too low to deter giant, multibillion-dollar companies from breaking the law. The CAP Act would change this\u2014and protect consumers by improving corporate accountability. Consumer Reports supports this bill and urges all members of Congress to do the same.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe nation\u2019s product safety cop on the beat shouldn\u2019t have its hands tied when holding bad actors accountable,\u201d said Daniel Greene, Senior Director of Consumer Protection & Product Safety, National Consumers League. \u201cExisting penalty caps only permit the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to assess $100,000 penalties per violation, not to exceed $15 million total. That\u2019s a slap on the wrist\u2014merely the cost of doing business for unscrupulous actors flooding the market with dangerous, violative products. As Americans, we place a far higher value on the lives and wellbeing of our family, friends, and fellow citizens. So should our product safety laws. The National Consumers League applauds Senator Welch for his leadership on this important issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cLawmakers need to do more to hold multi-billion-dollar corporations accountable when they intentionally put consumers at risk or lie to regulators. Sure, the CPSC in 2021 raised the cap to $120,000 per individual violation and $17.5 million for a series of safety violations, but a future CPSC could ratchet those back. Congress hasn\u2019t increased the cap in nearly two decades. Companies need to face meaningful penalties for putting consumers at risk,\u201d said Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog Director, U.S. PIRG.\n\nLearn more about the CAP Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/senate-passes-welch-budds-bipartisan-bill-to-crack-down-on-foreign-robocalls/", "Senate Passes Welch, Budd\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Foreign Robocalls", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) celebrated the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of their bipartisan Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, legislation to bring together government and private sector experts to find additional means of eliminating unlawful robocalls placed into the U.S. from abroad. The Senators\u2019 bill is the first piece of legislation related to robocalls to be advanced by the Senate since 2020.\n\n\u201cVermonters have received 27 million robocalls so far in 2026. And it\u2019s not only our state\u2014folks in red and blue states alike are sick and tired of picking up the phone and wondering if they\u2019re being scammed. As foreign robocallers step up their efforts to exploit and prey on vulnerable people, we need to do more to combat this unlawful practice and protect Americans from scams,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Senator Budd on this bipartisan legislation and am grateful for the Senate\u2019s support. I urge the House to join us in sending it to the president\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many American households have been targeted by foreign scam calls that threaten to steal identities and defraud innocent victims. We cannot allow these criminals to continue preying on Americans without consequence. I am proud this timely legislation passed the Senate with unanimous support, and I urge my House colleagues to swiftly pass it so we can strengthen international cooperation to crack down on foreign robocall scammers,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nAccording to recent studies, nearly 50 million U.S. adults have reported losing money to an online scam or attack. Additionally, most U.S. adults report receiving scam messages daily or weekly via phone (68%) or text (61%), and 41% of U.S. adults (106 million) say a scam email, text, or call led them to give away personal information.\n\nOnline scams are also a major threat to national security. Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documented nearly $21 billion in annual losses from internet crime\u2014a 25% increase from 2024. Accounting for under-reporting, total fraud-related losses to U.S. consumers exceed $158 billion per year.\n\nThe Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on landmark legislation like the TRACED Act to create an interagency task force to evaluate foreign robocalls and how best to combat them, with the goal of increasing international cooperation to reduce illegal robocalls. The task force will consist of key representatives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice (DOJ) and experts in the field of voice service and analytics, telecommunications technology, marketing organizations, and consumer advocates.\n\nAdditionally, the task force will help ensure that the DOJ is adequately equipped to address and prosecute criminals behind the influx of foreign robocalls. The bill also extends the FCC\u2019s renewal period for the Industry Traceback Group from one year to three years. That change will help the Traceback Group, established in the TRACED Act, continue its successful work of tracing back the source of unlawful robocalls.\n\nThe Foreign Robocall Elimination Act is endorsed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and USTelecom.\n\n\u201cAARP, which advocates on behalf of more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. This legislation represents a critical next step in protecting Americans from fraudulent and abusive robocalls originating from outside the United States. Older Americans are disproportionately targeted by robocall scams, which often lead to financial loss, identity theft, and emotional distress. These calls not only exploit individuals but also erode trust in telecommunications systems and public institutions. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds upon the TRACED Act and addresses this growing threat by convening a task force of government and private sector experts to develop actionable strategies for eliminating harmful foreign robocalls,\u201d said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, AARP.\n\n\u201cIllegal robocalls are not just a nuisance\u2014they\u2019re a threat to vulnerable Americans and a tool for scammers around the world. Thanks to strong partnerships between the Industry Traceback Group and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we\u2019ve made measurable progress in stopping these bad actors. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on this success to empower industry and law enforcement to use what works to crack down on the bad actors overseas preying on Americans. Big thanks to Senators Budd and Welch for their leadership and commitment to consumer protection,\u201d said Josh Bercu, Senior Vice President, Policy at USTelecom \u2013 The Broadband Association and Executive Director, The Industry Traceback Group.\n\nRead and download the full text of the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-curtis-murkowski-schatz-lead-eight-colleagues-in-hosting-bipartisan-roundtable-on-extreme-weather-response-supporting-disaster-impacted-communities/", "Welch, Curtis, Murkowski, Schatz\u00a0Host\u00a0Bipartisan Roundtable on Extreme Weather Response,\u00a0Supporting Disaster-Impacted Communities", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Thirteen Senators joined the bipartisan discussion\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) this week hosted a bipartisan roundtable on Capitol Hill focused on the high costs of extreme weather and climate change, and how Washington can better help communities prepare for, mitigate, and recover from these disasters. Senators Welch, Curtis, Murkowski, and Schatz were joined by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).\n\n\u201cFrom brutal flooding in Vermont and Alaska to destructive wildfires in Utah, California, and Hawaii, extreme weather is wreaking havoc in communities across America\u2014and it\u2019s only getting worse,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis roundtable made it crystal clear that Washington isn\u2019t doing enough to support rural communities and constituents recovering from climate disasters. The Senate needs to take action to ensure that Americans in disaster-impacted communities\u2014in red and blue states alike\u2014can rebuild, recover, and withstand the rising impacts of climate change.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtahns know firsthand the devastating toll that wildfires, drought, and other extreme weather events can have on families, communities, and local economies,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis roundtable confirmed what we all know: preparing for disasters, protecting lives, and helping communities recover are shared responsibilities and non-partisan issues. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss practical solutions that improve emergency responsiveness and ensure our communities have the tools they need before and after disaster strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you to my colleagues and the experts who came to the table for this critical discussion about the growing costs and impacts of extreme weather. In Alaska, we\u2019re on the front lines for increasingly common events. Flooding, wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, and even remnants of major typhoons have devastated communities across the state,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cRural communities face especially difficult situations, making it essential that our disaster policies recognize the unique costs of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from these events. We know the most cost-effective disaster is the one that never happens, which is why investments in mitigation, forecasting, resilient infrastructure, and early warning systems are so important. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss practical solutions that will strengthen preparedness, improve recovery, and help communities build greater resilience for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy heart goes out to the people of Washington who are dealing with this across our state, particularly in Spokane, and in the Lake Chelan area as well. Between Washington and Oregon, we\u2019ve hit a record for the amount of acreage that has been burning,\u201d said Senator Cantwell. \u201cTechnology can play a big role. We have to show people that the connection between the information that we can get, and then the actual action plan that we can put into place, that\u2019s where the gaps are.\u201d\n\n\u201cExtreme weather will, in one way or another, affect all Americans regardless of region, as well as our overall economy. In Virginia, we have seen the effects firsthand \u2013 from flooding at military installations in Hampton Roads, to Southwest Virginia\u2019s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, to periodic drought conditions throughout the Commonwealth,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cI was pleased to join a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues and a group of experts to discuss how to invest in resilience on the front end, improve response, and support recovery efforts for those affected by extreme weather.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn California, we\u2019ve seen firsthand how extreme weather disasters like wildfires and flooding impact communities, and it\u2019s past time we expand disaster mitigation and improve disaster response,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join this bipartisan push to help communities across the country build resilience and get better access to resources when extreme weather hits.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis was a thoughtful, informative, and eye-opening discussion on a pressing issue that impacts every state. I commend Senators Welch, Curtis, Schatz, and Murkowski for convening this forum and advancing bipartisan dialogue about how we can improve disaster response and better support communities and states,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cCongress must ensure the disaster declaration process is merit-based and not politicized. I have put forward legislation, the Disaster Relief Fairness Act (S.5018), which would prevent the administration from unfairly denying disaster assistance to states and communities when they have clearly met the criteria to qualify. I hope my colleagues will consider supporting this bill. Every state has different needs, but all of us are impacted by extreme weather events and we all need help at some point, regardless of who is in the White House when disaster strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, the biggest polluters have made trillions in profits while destroying the environment and damaging our public health. The result is not only a rise in extreme weather, but an increase in Americans paying the price \u2013 from rising insurance premiums to the costs of rebuilding communities after major flood events like the one in Western Maryland last year. It\u2019s polluters who should be paying to clean up the mess they made \u2013 not the American people. This important bipartisan discussion on standing up for disaster-impacted communities makes clear that we must ensure that the communities most harmed by the effects of climate change do not have to bear the costs alone,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nView photos from the event below and on the Senator\u2019s website:\n\nThe roundtable featured Michael Gaughan of the Vermont Bond Bank, which in 2023 launched the first-of-its-kind Municipal Climate Recovery Fund to support rural disaster recovery; Adam Smith, Senior Climate Impacts Scientist at Climate Central and the former lead scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Database; and Chief Bob Roper, Senior Wildfire Advisor to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.\n\nSenator Welch has championed efforts in the Senate to better protect rural communities from the impact of extreme weather events. This Congress, Senator Welch led 13 of his colleagues in introducing the Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act, legislation that requires NOAA to restore and maintain the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, which collects and publishes information on natural disasters resulting in at least $1 billion in damage each year in the United States. The Senator also introduced the Disaster AID Act, legislation that would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns, and expedite funding for disaster response.\n\nIn July, Senator Welch joined U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) and the Climate Action Network for an event in Barre, Vermont, to hear firsthand from Vermonters impacted by natural disasters and highlight how climate change is fueling more dangerous and deadly extreme weather. The Senator also led 14 colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to reinstate terminated employees at the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA to ensure community preparedness ahead of natural disasters.\n\nIn December 2023, Senator Welch testified before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and advocated for the inclusion of CDBG-DR funding in the comprehensive disaster supplemental package. The comprehensive disaster relief bill, signed by President Biden in 2024, provided more than $100 billion total in disaster relief, and contained many of Senator Welch\u2019s top priorities for Vermont: flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant\u2013Disaster Recovery fund; support for FEMA\u2019s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF); dedicated help for flood-impacted farmers; and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help businesses and homeowners recover, among many other resources.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-files-42-amendments-to-the-farm-bill/", "Welch Files 42 Amendments to the Farm Bill", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch\u2019s amendments would support farmers and rural communities, reform farm subsidy programs, and improve access to nutrition programs\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 On Thursday, the Senate Agriculture Committee plans to consider Senate Republicans\u2019 partisan Farm Bill which, as written, will not adequately support Vermont farmers and families and rural communities. U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, filed 42 amendments to Senate Republicans Farm Bill. Senator Welch\u2019s proposed changes to the Farm Bill include measures to better support small and family farms, strengthen rural communities, reform farm subsidy programs, and improve access to nutrition.\n\n\u201cFarms and rural communities across the country are in crisis\u2014we need a bipartisan Farm Bill that meets the moment, but this bill isn\u2019t it. I\u2019ve introduced 42 amendments to Senate Republicans\u2019 partisan Farm Bill\u2014many of which are policies that have historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI hope my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee will work together to improve this Farm Bill and help Vermont farmers, families, and communities.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch\u2019s proposed amendments and changes to Senate Republicans\u2019 Farm Bill include measures to:\n\nBetter Support Vermont Farmers:\n\nHalt the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) reorganization plan\n\nCut red tape for small-scale meat producers in rural communities\n\nImprove access to farm loans and credit\n\nProvide free access to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) for eligible producers\n\nImprove data collection for organic dairy farmers\n\nExpand eligibility and access to conservation programs\n\nHelp eliminate barriers for farmers entering the organics market\n\nStrengthen Rural Communities:\n\nImprove rural broadband buildout and speed standards\n\nLower energy costs for rural communities\n\nCombat the threat of invasive species\n\nEstablish national and regional agroforestry centers\n\nProvide multi-year flexible grants to rural communities\n\nStrike the Farm Bill\u2019s E15 language, which is bad for dairy and specialty crop farmers, bad for the environment, and could raise food costs for families.\n\nReform Farm Subsidy and Crop Insurance Programs:\n\nEnsure taxpayer-provided aid makes it into the hands of actual farmers\n\nImprove record-keeping requirements for farm subsidies\n\nDevelop a crop insurance product for specialty crop and diversified farms facing extreme weather events\n\nImprove Access to Nutrition:\n\nIncrease funding for the Farm to School nutrition program and support initiatives that deliver fresh, local foods to schools nationwide\n\nCut red tape for SNAP applicants\n\nImprove USDA\u2019s Food for Peace program\n\nView all of Senator Welch\u2019s amendments to the Farm Bill.\n\nSenator Welch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. Learn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-warns-democrats-dont-open-back-door-for-republicans-to-cut-social-security/", "NEWS: Sanders Warns Democrats: Don\u2019t Open Back Door for Republicans to Cut Social Security", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 \u2014 After the Social Security Administration warned that 70 million Americans will have their benefits cut by 2032 unless Congress takes action, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today called on Senate Democrats to strongly oppose the PROMISE Act \u2014 legislation allowing congressional Republicans to slash or privatize Social Security through an unelected commission. Sanders instead urged his Democratic colleagues to support his legislation, backed by 78% of the American people, to apply the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000 a year, increase benefits by $2,400 a year and expand Cost-of-Living Adjustments. In 2023, the Social Security Administration estimated that this legislation would make Social Security solvent for 75 years without raising taxes on 91 percent of Americans who make less than $250,000 a year.\n\n\u201cThe Democratic Caucus must make it abundantly clear that under no circumstances will we support legislation that cuts Social Security benefits, raises the retirement age, reduces Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs), or privatizes this essential program,\u201d Sanders wrote. \u201cAt a time when the wealthiest people in America are becoming much wealthier, asking them to pay the same percentage of their income into Social Security as teachers, nurses, firefighters, and construction workers is not a radical idea. It is common sense. It is what the American people want\u2026 Unfortunately, instead of clearly telling the American people how we intend to strengthen Social Security, there are now Members of Congress who are considering legislation that moves us in exactly the wrong direction.\u201d\n\nSeniors in America today face the highest rate of poverty of almost any major country. Over 20% of seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $15,000 a year and nearly half of older workers have no savings or plan for retirement. Yet despite this retirement crisis, billionaires continue to pay much less proportionally into Social Security than do working-class Americans, and Republicans in Congress are making their intention to undermine the program clear. Last week, Senate Republicans called Social Security a \u201cscam\u201d on the Senate floor.\n\nIn his letter, Sanders warns that the PROMISE Act would enable departing members of Congress who have lost the confidence of the American people \u2014 especially those from a party that might have lost control of one or both chambers following November\u2019s elections \u2014 to determine the future of Social Security for the next 50 years.\n\n\u201cAt a time when the very rich are getting richer while working families struggle, it is no great secret that millions of Americans no longer have faith in the political process or either major party. They see the current political system as rigged and corrupt, benefiting the powerful and wealthy campaign contributors. If the Democratic Party is ever to regain the faith of ordinary Americans it must stand firm on the issue of Social Security,\u201d Sanders concluded. \u201cInstead, we will strengthen and expand Social Security by requiring the wealthiest Americans to finally pay the same percentage of their income into Social Security as tens of millions of working people do today. That is how we prevent benefit cuts. That is how we expand Social Security. That is how we extend Social Security\u2019s solvency for generations to come. That is how the Democratic Party begins to regain the trust of the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-and-capito-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-improve-access-to-opioid-treatment-and-recovery-in-rural-communities/", "Welch and Capito Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Improve Access to Opioid Treatment and Recovery in Rural Communities", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Authorization Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to maintain the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, which was established to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas for substance use disorders, related behavioral health conditions, and other related public health issues.\n\n\u201cWhile Vermont has seen a decrease in overdose deaths in recent years, our work to help those struggling with addiction isn\u2019t over\u2014far from it. We need to do everything in our power to support folks on the road to recovery, especially in rural communities, where treatment and resources are harder to come by,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019re working across the aisle to ensure that rural communities in Vermont, West Virginia, and across the country can access vital prevention and recovery services necessary to combat the opioid crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cWest Virginians know firsthand the devastating toll the opioid epidemic has had on our state\u2019s families and communities. We also know that recovery is possible when those struggling have access to the right resources,\u201d said Senator Capito. \u201cThe Rural Communities Opioid Response Program has helped strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in communities that often face unique challenges accessing care. By preserving this successful program, we can provide greater certainty for rural providers and ensure communities in West Virginia and across the country continue to receive the support they need to recover.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV-01), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), and Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cSupporting communities battling addiction remains one of my highest priorities. Representing a rural district, I know how critical it is for families to have reliable access to quality health care and recovery services. RCORP delivers essential funding to rural areas that lack the resources needed to address substance use disorders, and formally authorizing this program provides stability for the providers doing this lifesaving work. I\u2019m grateful to my colleagues for joining me in this bipartisan effort to strengthen prevention and recovery services in some of the most underserved parts of our nation,\u201d said Rep. Miller.\n\n\u201cFor the millions of Americans battling substance use disorder, having access to proven, affordable treatment can mean the difference between life and death. The RCORP program is critical in bringing those lifesaving services to our rural communities, including those in our own Capital Region. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this legislation that ensures those living with the disease of addiction have access to the health care treatment and resources they need to find and follow the path to recovery,\u201d said Rep. Tonko.\n\n\u201cOpioid addiction doesn\u2019t discriminate by age, income, or political party, and it\u2019s going to take all of us working together to end to this national crisis. I\u2019m proud to work with my colleagues authorize the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. While there is no silver bullet, bipartisan solutions like this will help us save lives and support those struggling with substance use,\u201d said Rep.Sewell.\n\n\u201cRural districts like mine face significant barriers to opioid treatment and recovery. Formally authorizing the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program ensures those battling substance abuse maintain access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. As a pharmacist, this issue is deeply personal to me. I will continue working so every American has the tools and support necessary to overcome addiction, and I thank my colleagues for working together to save lives,\u201d said Rep. Carter.\n\nThe RCORP Authorization Act would:\n\nFormally authorize the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) to ensure its predictability and long-term stability.\n\nProvide access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorders in rural communities.\n\nSupport local partnerships to strengthen coordinated, community-based care.\n\nProvide grants to rural organizations to address opioid use disorder and other behavioral health challenges.\n\nAuthorize funds annually from Fiscal Year 2027 through 2031 to sustain and expand the program.\n\nRead and download the full text of the legislation.\n\nSenator Welch has led his colleagues in a series of substance use disorder research, treatment, and prevention efforts. This Congress, Senator Welch cosponsored the Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency (MORE) Savings Act, legislation to make it easier for individuals struggling with an opioid-use disorder (OUD) to access evidence-based treatment. The Senator also reintroduced his bipartisan, bicameral Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data Sets (OPIOIDS ACT) to confront the devastating opioid crisis and give state and local governments additional tools to address the opioid epidemic in their communities.\n\nIn 2023, Senator Welch\u2019s bipartisan Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act was signed into law by President Biden.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-merkley-wyden-champion-fork-act-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-keep-rural-kids-fed/", "Welch, Merkley, Wyden\u00a0Champion\u00a0FORK Act,\u00a0Bipartisan,\u00a0Bicameral\u00a0Legislation to Keep Rural Kids Fed", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Nearly 1 in 6 children in Vermont face hunger\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in reintroducing the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation which would help summer meal program sponsors purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles that expand access to summer meals for children in rural communities. U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\nIn Vermont, more than 83,000 people\u2014including more than 19,400 children\u2014face hunger.\n\n\u201cVermont has the highest percentage of rural students in the nation\u2014that means food-insecure students in our state have a harder time participating in summer meal programs. Investing in food delivery programs that transport students to and from summer meal sites has to be part of the solution,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur bill works to close the summer meal gap and ensure rural students in Vermont, Oregon, and across the country can access nutritious meals all year long.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery child\u2014everywhere\u2014deserves delicious and nutritious meals all year long,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cCommunities in Oregon and across the United States are finding innovative ways to make sure students do not go hungry during the summer months. The bipartisan FORK Act builds on those efforts by helping rural communities expand meal delivery and meal pick-up at sites closer to where families live, so geography is never a barrier to feeding kids nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of Oregonians are being denied food assistance under Trump\u2019s draconian cuts to SNAP and other federal programs,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThis bill would help restore critical food assistance to kids, helping meet them exactly where they are to end the ongoing hunger crisis in Oregon\u2019s schools.\u201d\n\nThe Feeding Our Rural Kids Act would create a grant program to allow schools and Summer Food Service Program providers in rural districts to receive funding to purchase mobile food delivery vehicles for home delivery of meals. Especially because vehicle purchases are not otherwise allowed under the Summer Food Service Program, the bipartisan, bicameral legislation would establish a three-year pilot grant program to help summer meal program sponsors reduce transportation barriers and bring nutritious meals closer to children and families during the summer. The bill would also build on existing rural non-congregate summer meal flexibilities by helping sponsors acquire transportation infrastructure to fully utilize those options.\n\nThe FORK Act is endorsed by Hunger Free Vermont, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alliance to End Hunger, FoodCorps, Marion Polk Food Share, Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Save the Children, School Nutrition Association, Share Our Strength, Umatilla School District, Woodburn School District, and AASA, the School Superintendents Association.\n\n\u201cWe know that hunger doesn\u2019t take a vacation. The summer months can be some of the hungriest for children, which is why the nourishing, balanced meals offered by the USDA summer meals program are so important. We commend Senator Welch and his colleagues for leading on this common-sense legislation, which is the key to unlocking much needed, innovative improvements to this program. A few Vermont schools have already proven the success of hitting the road and delivering summer meals to our most rural communities, and this legislation would allow our more remote communities in Vermont and across the country to be better served by this program\u2014meaning more children would have full bellies throughout the summer to play, learn, and grow,\u201d said Ivy Enoch, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hunger Free Vermont.\n\n\u201cFor too many children, summer break means losing access to the healthy school meals they count on all year. The Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act would provide critical funding to deliver nutritious summer meals to children in need, removing transportation barriers for families across rural America and ensuring students return to school nourished and ready to learn,\u201d said Ashley Powell, PhD, RD, FAND, SNS, School Nutrition Association President.\n\n\u201cThe Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics strongly supports the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act. This legislation will help ensure that children in rural and underserved communities have greater access to nutritious meals during the summer months by providing meal sponsors with the tools needed to reach families facing travel and access barriers. We applaud the bill\u2019s sponsors for advancing solutions that help children thrive by keeping them connected to nutritious food when school is out,\u201d said Tamara Randall, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics President.\n\n\u201cWe need to help the children in our care, no matter where they live, in cities or rural areas, be able to access enough food every day, in every season, for a healthy life so they can learn to their fullest potential. Let\u2019s invest in making sure that children in rural areas have opportunities for meals to get to them,\u201d said Eric Mitchell, Alliance to End Hunger President.\n\n\u201cRural non-congregate meals have been a lifeline for families during the summer. Before this expansion, far too many kids missed out on nutritious meals because of barriers that made it difficult to access summer meals programs. Now this bill will unlock new opportunities so resources reach farther, rural communities are more connected, and more kids can be fed,\u201d said Claire Borzner, Director of Federal Government Relations of the No Kid Hungry Campaign at Share Our Strength.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\nSenator Welch has been a leading advocate for protecting and expanding access to nutrition programs in the Senate. Earlier this year, Senator Welch\u2019s bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, was signed into law. The Senator has led bipartisan and bicameral legislation to help more Americans access SNAP and improve nutrition, including the COLAs Don\u2019t Count Act, Farm to School Act, Keep SNAP Funded Act, Local School Foods Expansion Act, Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, and the School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-opposes-todd-blanches-nomination-for-attorney-general/", "Welch Opposes Todd Blanche\u2019s Nomination for Attorney General", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "\u201cWe can stop capitulating today by doing our job and rejecting a completely unqualified man to be the top law enforcement official in this country.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against advancing Todd Blanche\u2019s nomination for Attorney General (AG) of the United States. At a Judiciary Committee meeting ahead of the vote Senator Welch called out Acting AG Blanche\u2014and the entire U.S. Senate\u2014for capitulating to President Trump, who has consistently and corruptly abused his authority and the power of the Executive.\n\n\u201cThis is a story about how a young and talented and idealistic man\u2014committed to public service, a prosecutor\u2019s prosecutor\u2014became a new person in service of a corrupt president. It\u2019s a story of ambition, and loyalty, and political calculation eroding resistance and idealism. Mr. Blanche has used his considerable talents to accommodate the corrupt goals of a corrupt president\u2026But Blanche is also a story about how a once great institution is relinquishing its own power and capitulating to a corrupt president. Is there no line that the U.S. Senate will not allow this president to cross?\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nWelch concluded: \u201cThe president is abusing his authority. But we are failing, as the U.S. Senate, to use our authority. When we fail to use our authority, we fail to meet our responsibility to the people of this country. We can stop capitulating today by doing our job and rejecting a completely unqualified man to be the top law enforcement official in this country. I will vote no.\u201d\n\nRead the Senator\u2019s full remarks as delivered here and watch more below:\n\nIn Acting AG Todd Blanche\u2019s nomination hearing, Senator Welch grilled Mr. Blanche on his relationship with President Trump and his willingness to put his personal loyalty to the president ahead of the American people. Senator Welch questioned Mr. Blanche on his previous professional relationship with President Trump and clear conflicts of interest, the creation of Trump and Blanche\u2019s so-called anti-weaponization fund, Trump\u2019s reckless presidential pardons, and Blanche\u2019s firing of career pardon attorneys, and the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to subpoena members of the press.\n\nIn May, Senator Welch called on Acting AG Blanche to resign. He also led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding that the DOJ Inspector General (IG) launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation into President Trump\u2019s creation of the nearly $1.8 billion \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund,\u201d emphasizing how President Trump\u2019s slush fund, created from a settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), represents waste, fraud, and abuse of an unprecedented magnitude and must be subjected to independent scrutiny.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-announces-new-va-clinics-to-serve-vermont-veterans/", "NEWS: Sanders Announces New VA Clinics to Serve Vermont Veterans", "2026-08-01", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 1 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that new community-based U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinics (CBOCs) will be built in South Burlington, Vermont, and West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, to serve Vermont veterans. These facilities represent real progress in expanding VA healthcare for veterans in our state.\n\n\u201cAs the former Chair and a senior member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I am very pleased to announce these two new, state-of-the-art clinics for veterans to get their primary healthcare,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThe Burlington clinic \u2014 the state\u2019s busiest \u2014 will be replaced by a facility that is twice as large, located at the Technology Park in South Burlington. The 36,000-square-foot facility will first see patients in spring 2029. I am also delighted that the new South Burlington clinic will provide desperately needed dental care services, a first for a VA facility in Vermont.\n\n\u201cThe Brattleboro clinic will be combined with a clinic in Keene, New Hampshire, to provide improved services for veterans in both states. The clinic will be located at 99 NH-9 in West Chesterfield. The 27,000-square-foot facility will also begin seeing patients in spring 2029,\u201d Sanders continued. \u201cWhen it became clear the VA would combine the Keene and Brattleboro clinics into one, larger facility, I worked with them to ensure a location was selected that was convenient to veterans in both states. I am pleased they selected a location right near the bridge to Brattleboro to ensure Vermont veterans don\u2019t need to travel far to see their doctor.\u201d\n\nThe VA operates community-based outpatient clinics in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Newport and Rutland that serve nearly 19,000 Vermont veterans. These clinics provide primary care, specialty treatment and mental health services, and function as satellites of the VA medical center in White River Junction.", 1, "2026-08-02T07:31:21Z", "2026-08-02T07:32:50Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-38-colleagues-in-demanding-trump-admin-restore-funding-for-energy-projects-that-were-illegally-canceled-and-politically-targeted/", "Welch Joins 38 Colleagues in Demanding Trump Admin Restore Funding for Energy Projects That Were Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "The letter follows an admission from the Trump Admin that the decision to cancel energy project grants in states that did not vote for Trump was \u201cbased solely\u201d on politics\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and 36 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects canceled in October 2025. All Senators who cosigned this letter are from states with canceled grants and funding signed the letter.\n\nThe letter comes after the Trump Administration admitted to illegally canceling energy grants because those projects were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election.\n\n\u201cNow that court documents have confirmed what we knew to be true, we write to demand that you restore previously awarded funding that the Trump administration has weaponized in an attempt to punish perceived political enemies,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cOnce an administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThis is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America\u2019s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country\u2014not merely those who support the President.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them\u2014not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country\u2019s energy security at grave risk,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cFor the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.\u201d\n\nAlongside Senators Welch, Heinrich, and Murray, the letter was signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D- Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Angus King (I-Maine).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to DOE Secretary Wright and OMB Director Vought.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-grassley-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-audit-the-pentagon-and-end-wasteful-spending/", "NEWS: Sanders, Grassley Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Audit the Pentagon and End Wasteful Spending", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "The Pentagon failed its eighth consecutive audit last year, unable to fully account for $4.65 trillion in assets\n\nWASHINGTON, July 30 \u2013 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today reintroduced the Audit the Pentagon Act. This legislation would impose financial consequences if the Pentagon fails to pass a full, independent audit. Any Pentagon component that fails to achieve a clean audit opinion would have 2% of its budget withheld and returned to the Treasury for deficit reduction.\n\nJoining Sanders and Grassley as cosponsors of the Audit the Pentagon Act are Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).\n\nDespite accounting for more than half of the federal government\u2019s discretionary spending and roughly two-thirds of all federal contracting activity, the Pentagon remains the only one of the federal government\u2019s 24 major agencies to have never passed a clean financial audit \u2014 a requirement under federal law since the early 1990s and mandatory on an annual basis since 2018. In its eighth consecutive failed audit, which was released in December 2025 and covered $4.65 trillion in reported assets and $4.7 trillion in liabilities across all 50 states and more than 40 countries, the Pentagon Office of Inspector General identified 26 instances of the most severe auditing errors and two additional significant accounting issues in the department\u2019s internal controls over financial reporting.\n\n\u201cThe Pentagon has been plagued by a massive amount of waste, fraud and financial mismanagement for decades,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cYear after year, the Pentagon fails an audit, and year after year, Congress hands it another blank check. At a moment when the administration has dragged us into an unconstitutional war with Iran and is demanding the largest military budget in our history to pay for it, the Pentagon still cannot tell us where trillions of dollars have gone. We have got to end the absurdity of the Pentagon being the only major federal agency that has never passed an independent audit.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica has the strongest military in the world and a mission to deliver peace through strength. National security is the number one responsibility of the federal government, and every dollar we spend to keep our country safe should be clearly accounted for. Yet, the Department of Defense has never received a clean audit opinion. Our bipartisan legislation holds the Defense Department accountable by ensuring it meets the same audit standards as other agencies, or it faces a financial penalty. Any dollar lost by the Department of Defense wastes taxpayers\u2019 money and weakens our national security,\u201d Grassley said.\n\nExamples of waste and fraud at the Pentagon include:\n\nAlmost $141 billion spent on a Northrop Grumman ballistic missile project that was supposed to cost $77 billion, and which is seven years behind schedule.\n\nMore than $126 billion spent on a General Dynamics submarine program which has run $17 billion over cost. The per-sub cost has nearly doubled since 2019.\n\nMore than $12 billion spent on one missile battery from Leidos and Dynetics that the Pentagon can\u2019t even confirm works.\n\nMore than $6 billion spent over 16 years on a Raytheon project to build a GPS system. The Pentagon cancelled the project in April due to \u201cinsurmountable\u201d problems with its product.\n\nDespite this record, Congress continues to expand the Pentagon\u2019s budget every year. The Trump administration\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request seeks approximately $1.15 trillion \u2014 the latest in a decades-long trend of rising Pentagon budgets that have never been matched by basic financial accountability. The Audit the Pentagon Act would finally hold the Pentagon accountable.\n\nRead the fact sheet here.", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-bills-to-support-taxpayers-advance-through-finance-committee/", "Welch Bipartisan Bills to Support Taxpayers Advance Through Finance Committee", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Two bipartisan bills championed by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) advanced out of the Finance Committee today with bipartisan support. Senator Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, partnered with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) on the bills, which would support lower-income taxpayers in Vermont, Kansas, and across the country. Both bills were included as part of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s bipartisan agreement that the IRS is difficult to navigate and a pain for everyday taxpayers. I partnered across the aisle with my friend and colleague Senator Marshall to advance policies that will make it easier for taxpayers to get help with the IRS when they need it most. I urge my colleagues to support these bills and all of the important IRS reforms in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cTaxpayers shouldn\u2019t be punished for someone else\u2019s fraud or left to navigate the IRS without the resources they need. These commonsense reforms protect innocent Americans and make sure accountability falls where it belongs\u2014on bad actors, not hardworking families,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cI was proud to lead these bipartisan efforts with Senator Welch, and I\u2019m glad to see both bills included in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act.\u201d\n\nThe Unlocking Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Funding Act, introduced by Sen. Welch and co-led by Sen. Marshall, would make it easier for Low-Income Tax Clinics to access federal grant funding. These clinics provide free or low-cost services for taxpayers in disputes with the IRS. The Protecting Innocent Taxpayers from Endless Assessments Act, introduced by Sen. Marshall and co-led by Sen. Welch, would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the statute of limitations period for victims of preparer fraud.\n\nThe bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act would strengthen the rights of taxpayers, streamline IRS operations, and improve the taxpaying process for the American people. The bill passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the full Senate for consideration and a final vote.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-boozman-lead-colleagues-on-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-protect-seniors-access-to-healthcare-reform-medicares-physician-fee-schedule/", "Welch, Boozman Lead Colleagues\u00a0on\u00a0Bipartisan, Bicameral\u00a0Bill to Protect Seniors\u2019 Access to Health\u00a0Care", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Bill would update decades-old Medicare rules that trigger harmful cuts to health care providers\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, along with U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Roger Marshall M.D. (R-Kan.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), introduced the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to modernize Medicare\u2019s physician payment system to create more stability and predictability for patients and doctors.\n\nAccording to the American Medical Association (AMA), when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 33% since 2001. Outdated Medicare budget neutrality rules and a lack of inflation updates have driven down reimbursement rates. The legislation reforms key structural components of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, helping preserve physicians\u2019 ability to care for Medicare patients.\n\n\u201cSo many Vermonters rely on Medicare for their health care coverage\u2014it\u2019s critical that their health care providers are fairly compensated,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis commonsense, bipartisan bill updates an outdated, decades-old policy that triggers harmful cuts to provider payments. We\u2019re working across the aisle to ensure providers in Vermont and rural communities around the country can keep treating Medicare patients and get reimbursed fairly for the care they provide.\u201d\n\n\u201cProviders should not face unpredictable payment cuts that make it more difficult to care for patients. Modernizing Medicare reimbursement is an important step toward ensuring long-term financial stability for our health care providers and preserving access to quality care. Our bill is a bipartisan solution that will more accurately reflect the costs of delivering quality care, which ultimately benefits patients in Arkansas and across our country,\u201d said Senator Boozman.\n\n\u201cAccessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense bipartisan legislation to strengthen access to quality care for older Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor 25 years, I cared for patients in western Kansas. Like many, I didn\u2019t go into medicine to worry about Washington\u2019s payment formulas \u2013 I went into medicine to take care of people,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cWhen doctors can\u2019t make the numbers work, patients lose access to care. This legislation is a commonsense step toward stabilizing physician reimbursement so doctors can spend more time caring for patients and less time worrying about whether they can afford to stay in practice.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s critical we do all we can to ensure that Granite Staters who rely on Medicare for health insurance have access to the quality, affordable care they need,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would make sure physicians are fairly compensated and guarantee adequate reimbursement for providers, which would help strengthen Medicare\u2019s dependability for patients now and into the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than two million Medicare beneficiaries in North Carolina depend on timely access to quality care,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cYear after year, Medicare reimbursement cuts have made it harder for physicians to care for patients. This bipartisan legislation makes long overdue reforms to outdated policies to ensure physicians are fairly reimbursed and seniors continue to have access to the care they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would:\n\nIncrease the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $57.64 million and index it to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) every five years:\n\nRevise erroneous reimbursement cuts based on utilization rates derived from claims data instead of relying on estimates;\n\nRequire the Secretary to update all practice expenses at the same time, every five years; Limit year-to-year positive or negative variances in reimbursements.\n\nThe Provider Reimbursement Stability Act is supported by nationwide health organizations, including the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, AMA, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Otolaryngology \u2013 Head and Neck Surgery, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiology, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Group Association, American Optometric Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Urological Association, College of American Pathologists, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Emergency Department Practice Management Association, Medical Group Management Association, National Infusion Center Association, National Organization of Rheumatology Management, Obesity Medicine Association, Society for Vascular Surgery, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.\n\nView a section-by-section summary of the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-celebrates-300-million-in-new-federal-funding-for-vermonts-globalfoundries-to-help-make-ai-more-energy-efficient-create-jobs/", "Welch Celebrates\u00a0$300 Million in\u00a0New Federal Funding for\u00a0Vermont\u2019s\u00a0GlobalFoundries\u00a0to Help\u00a0Make\u00a0AI\u00a0More Energy Efficient, Create Jobs", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) celebrated the announcement of $300 million in new federal funding for Vermont\u2019s GlobalFoundries. This federal investment, funded through the Biden Administration\u2019s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act and administered by the Department of Commerce, will support GlobalFoundries\u2019 research and development of next-generation silicon photonics wafer technologies, which have the potential to substantially increase the energy efficiency of AI and other critical technology infrastructure projects.\n\n\u201cGlobalFoundries is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, and I\u2019m glad Vermont will benefit from this $300 million federal investment to help power America\u2019s AI boom in a more energy-efficient way, reducing its impact on ratepayers and the environment,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis funding will help create jobs and support American innovation. I will continue to support collaborative workforce development opportunities that help boost our state\u2019s research and manufacturing economy.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 as a Member of the House of Representatives.\n\nLearn more about Senator Welch\u2019s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-files-amendment-to-graham-blumenthal-sanctions-bill/", "Welch Files Amendment to Graham-Blumenthal Sanctions Bill", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Amendment would reassert Congress\u2019 tariff authorities\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today filed an amendment to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act to remove language in Section 113 of the Act that could enable the Trump Administration to impose tariffs on any country, for any reason.\n\nAs written, the legislation grants President Trump new authorities to impose massive tariffs on countries that \u2018facilitate\u2019 Russia oil sanctions evasion. However, in practice, the President could impose tariffs of up to 100% on nearly any country, taking this Constitutional authority out of the hands of Congress.\n\nSenator Welch announced his intent to file an amendment on the Senate Floor Tuesday evening:\n\n\u201c\u2026Our language must specify our intent and do so with absolute clarity: Go after the buyers. That was Senator Graham\u2019s goal. And we must have language that makes achieving that goal real. That is why when we take up the Graham-Blumenthal bill, I will offer an amendment to strike the overly-vague delegation of tariff authorities to also target \u2018facilitators\u2019 of sanctions evasions. As currently written, the facilitator provision enables the Executive, with full congressional authorization, to impose any tariffs, on any country, for any reason\u2014so long as the Executive labels the tariff country a \u2018facilitator.\u2019\n\n\u201cIf we delete the facilitator provision, as I propose, we do achieve senator Graham\u2019s goal without his bill being used for any other purposes. In doing so, the bill would retaining the original tariff authority that only targets buyers of Russian oil\u2026Senator Graham, and many of us, myself included\u2014agreed about maximizing the imperative of sanctions and tariff tools to hurt Putin and stop his aggression against Ukrainian civilians. And I hope we can honor Senator Graham by quickly coming together to pass a bipartisan bill that will specifically and effectively target the companies and countries that are buying the oil that Putin is using to pay for the missiles and the bombs that are raining down on the innocent people of Ukraine.\u201d\n\nView and download Senator Welch\u2019s amendment here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-leads-strong-grid-act-to-boost-americas-electric-grid-resiliency-to-extreme-weather/", "Welch Leads\u00a0STRONG GRID Act\u00a0to Boost America\u2019s Electric Grid Resiliency to Extreme Weather", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, introduced the Supporting Transformative Resilience, Operations, and Next-Generation Grid Innovation Deployment (STRONG GRID) Act, legislation to increase America\u2019s electric grid resiliency and help prevent power disruptions caused by natural disasters. The STRONG GRID Act aims to spur the adoption of microgrids\u2014localized electric grids that operate independently of the broader energy grid\u2014to reduce strain on America\u2019s electric grid and bolster our energy system from widespread damage created by extreme weather events.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s electric grid is under more pressure now than at any point in our history, and extreme weather events are exacerbating that strain, as we\u2019ve seen in Vermont with brutal floods. By operating independently of the larger energy system, microgrids offer a solution to increase the resiliency of our grid and help reduce the burden consumers face in natural disaster recovery costs. It\u2019s a win-win,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur bill capitalizes on the potential of microgrids to help keep essential services online and reduce the economic impact of natural disasters.\u201d\n\nExtreme weather events are growing more frequent and intense. From wildfires to floods, hurricanes to tornadoes, Americans across the country experienced firsthand the devastation extreme weather brings to their communities. In 2025, the United States suffered 23 \u201cbillion-dollar disasters\u201d that collectively cost more than $115 billion, marking the third costliest year on record behind 2023 and 2024. Natural Disasters cause widespread damage to critical infrastructure\u2014including the electric grid. Utilities then pass these recovery costs along to ratepayers; researchers found that households are spending $35 more per year on average on their electricity bills as a result.\n\nAt the same time, America\u2019s electric grid is under immense strain. Forecasts suggest that U.S. electricity demand could increase by as much as 5.7% through 2030, a level of growth not seen since the 1960s. Peaks in electricity consumption during the hottest or coldest days of the year leave the grid ill-equipped to meet this surge in demand, especially when disaster strikes. By operating with self-sustaining electricity generation, storage, and distribution infrastructure, microgrids can alleviate pressure on America\u2019s electric grid and boost resiliency during extreme weather events.\n\nThe STRONG GRID Act is endorsed by the GridWise Alliance; Honeywell Technologies; Information Technology Industry Council (ITI); National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED); National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO); and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).\n\n\u201cAs grid operators issue resource adequacy warnings and utilities revise demand forecasts upward at an unprecedented pace, tapping into local resources is an increasingly important way to protect communities from reliability risks,\u201d said Karen Wayland, CEO, GridWise Alliance. \u201cThe GridWise Alliance applauds Senator Welch for introducing the bipartisan STRONG GRID Act, enabling a faster path to microgrid deployment in areas at high risk where extending or hardening traditional infrastructure can take years.\u201d\n\n\u201cRising electricity demand makes microgrids essential to building a more resilient and reliable electric grid. Senator Welch\u2019s STRONG GRID Act would help deploy the practical solutions needed to modernize America\u2019s energy infrastructure, and ITI is pleased to support this legislation,\u201d said Jason Oxman, President and CEO, ITI.\n\n\u201cThe National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) applauds Senator Welch for introducing the STRONG GRID Act. Our nation needs practical, flexible, and commonsense approaches to increasing electricity supply and strengthening grid reliability. Microgrids can play an important role by helping communities, businesses, and critical facilities better manage growing demand and maintain power during grid disruptions. The funding and technical assistance in this legislation will reduce barriers to microgrid deployment and make our communities more resilient and productive. With nearly 6,000 electrical distribution facilities across the country, NAED members are ready to provide the equipment, logistics, and technical expertise needed to bring these projects online,\u201d said Wes Smith, President and CEO, National Association of Electrical Distributors.\n\nPresident of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) David Terry congratulated Senator Welch on the introduction of the STRONG GRID Act of 2026: \u201cThe legislation supports the development and interconnection of microgrids. The bill will support energy security, electric grid resilience, and an enhanced electric system better able to respond to our present and future challenges.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s electric grid is under growing strain as electricity demand rises at a rapidly accelerating pace, increasing risks to reliability, resilience, and affordability. Protecting American families and businesses from escalating costs and risks of service disruptions requires an \u2018all-of-the-above\u2019 energy strategy. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) applauds Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) for introducing the STRONG GRID Act. The bipartisan legislation will help strengthen the nation\u2019s electric infrastructure by accelerating the deployment and evaluation of microgrids. Expanding microgrid deployment will significantly improve grid flexibility and help meet growing electricity demand.\u201d\n\nLearn more about the STRONG GRID Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-schiff-senate-judiciary-committee-democrats-in-probing-justice-department-subpoenas-of-new-york-times-journalists-in-air-force-one-scandal/", "Welch Joins Schiff, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in Probing Justice Department Subpoenas of\u00a0New York Times\u00a0Journalists in Air Force One Scandal", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat in demanding the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) provide information related to the issuing of subpoenas to journalists at the New York Times, their family members, and third-party record providers in the aftermath of reporting by the newspaper on President Trump\u2019s new Air Force One.\n\nThe lawmakers are specifically probing the involvement of Acting Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Jay Clayton, who is currently the nominee to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Clayton issued the subpoenas, including those the Justice Department withdrew after a judge scrutinized them late last week.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s lack of transparency and aggressive action toward journalists \u2013 in this circumstance, seemingly directed by President Trump after he was upset by negative reporting \u2013 both follow this administration\u2019s clear pattern of pressuring news organizations, including several attempts by DOJ to subpoena or intimidate journalists,\u201d the Senators wrote in their letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.\n\nThe Judiciary Committee Democrats also highlighted how the subpoenas violate both foundational protections for press freedom and guidelines for DOJ lawyers laid out in the Justice Manual.\n\n\u201cSection 9-13.400 explicitly dictates that requested information must be \u2018essential\u2019 to an investigation or prosecution, and that subpoenas \u2018should not be used to obtain peripheral, nonessential, or speculative information.\u2019 Yet DOJ demanded records dating back to January 1, 2026,\u201d the Senators wrote, pointing to the overly broad scope of the subpoenas.\n\nThe inquiry also demands details on the steps that were taken prior to the issuance of the subpoenas, the factual basis for the orders, and decision-making that justified the inclusion of family members on the list of targeted individuals.\n\nSenators Welch and Schiff were joined on this letter by every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat, including Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Acting AG Blanche.\n\nIn his nomination hearing earlier this month, Senator Welch grilled Blanche about whether he supported Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel\u2019s decision to issue subpoenas to New York Times reporters and his demands that journalists disclose confidential sources. In response to Senator Welch\u2019s question, Blanche admitted to authorizing the subpoenas.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-klobuchar-lead-20-colleagues-in-raising-concerns-about-usda-rural-development-reorganization/", "Welch, Klobuchar Lead\u00a020\u00a0Colleagues in Raising Concerns about USDA Rural Development Reorganization", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, alongside U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led 20 of their Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Rural Development (RD) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In their letter to Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, the Senators emphasize that rural communities, small businesses, and families will lose access to important services if the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed reorganization plan of USDA-RD moves forward.\n\n\u201cRural Development is a unique division within the Department, supporting agriculture and ensuring that rural communities prosper by administering grants and loans to support rural businesses, providing financial support for rural housing, financing the construction of rural health clinics and daycare centers, and championing critical infrastructure projects for water, electric, or broadband,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cIn order for rural communities to benefit from these projects, the Rural Development agency must have the capacity to process applications and disburse funds. The mission area has already lost about 36% of its staff last year, with nearly a third of those who left having more than 20 years of USDA experience. The reorganization plan for Rural Development will result in even further cuts, with 60% of staff in the National Capital Region being required to relocate to St. Louis or Dallas.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued: \u201cRural Development\u2019s depletion of staff has already left rural America without the support it needs as the prices of gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs are skyrocketing as a result of tariffs and foreign conflicts. Without adequate and expert staff, the money that Congress has appropriated to help rural communities will not reach its intended beneficiaries.\u201d\n\nThe Senators requested answers to the following questions about the planned reorganization by August 5, 2026:\n\nWhat analysis did the Department conduct to determine the impacts of staffing cuts on delivering Rural Development services?\n\nPlease provide a current breakdown of staffing levels and projection of staffing for the next two years by sub-mission area.\n\nGiven the significant depletion of staff, is Rural Development hiring now or planning to recruit new staff in the next three months? If so, for what positions and where?\n\nIf USDA anticipates hiring new staff, how will the Department ensure they receive the training needed to effectively serve rural communities with the required expertise and level of service?\n\nHow does the USDA plan to successfully recruit the next generation of Rural Development employees?\n\nWhile we appreciate the willingness to modernize Rural Development\u2019s technology, previous efforts have been unsuccessful and costly. How will the Department ensure that these technology projects remain within budget and on time? When will these new technologies be available to staff and customers?\n\nJoining Senators Welch and Klobuchar on this letter are Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Vaden.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-shares-new-data-on-rising-farm-fuel-prices-under-trump-vermont-farmers-paying-1479-more-on-average-to-refill-fuel-tank/", "Welch Shares New Data on Rising Farm Fuel Prices Under Trump; Vermont Farmers Paying $1,479 More on Average to Refill Fuel Tank", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 New data shared by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, shows Vermont farmers have been forced to spend at least $1,479 more to fill their farm fuel tank because of the escalating war in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cRural Vermont is paying for President Trump\u2019s war with Iran\u2014from climbing farm fuel and fertilizer costs to rising inflation. This administration needs to get serious about lowering costs for farmers in Vermont and across the country\u2014they can\u2019t afford any more of the Trump Administration\u2019s reckless agenda,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nDemocrats on the Joint Economic Committee, under the leadership of Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), released the state-by-state data, which outlines the increase in cost to fill up a typical farm fuel tank, the increase in cost to fill up a typical grain truck, and the increase in cost to fill up a typical tractor. Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee found:\n\nA $1.4 billion increase in diesel costs \u2013 a 63% jump \u2013 this spring nationwide for farmers to plant key crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice\n\nThe average farmer spent as much as $1,500 more to refill their farm\u2019s onsite fuel tank compared to the same high point during the 2025 planting season\n\nView more from the Joint Economic Committee here and below:\n\nThe war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted the supply chain for fertilizer trade, further hurting farmers in America. A nationwide poll conducted by the American Farm Bureau in April found 70% of farmers polled said fertilizer was so expensive they wouldn\u2019t be able to buy the fertilizer needed for the spring planting season.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-and-blumenthal-warn-that-trumps-threats-to-bomb-civilian-infrastructure-in-iran-could-amount-to-war-crimes/", "Welch and Blumenthal\u00a0Warn that\u00a0Trump\u2019s Threats\u00a0to Bomb Civilian Infrastructure in Iran\u00a0Could Amount to War Crimes", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "The Senators request information from Central Command about how CENTCOM ensures U.S. Forces in the Middle East abide by U.S. law prohibiting strikes against targets such as bridges or power plants for the sole purpose of terrorizing civilians\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, alongside U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, expressed grave concern to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that President Trump\u2019s recent threats to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran, including bridges and power plants, could amount to war crimes. In their letter to CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, the Senators seek clarification and answers about the United States\u2019 commitment to ensuring forces under CENTCOM\u2019s command abide by the domestic and international laws of war.\n\n\u201cAs you know, intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure could amount to a war crime, prohibited by domestic and international law. The mere threat of such attacks may violate the law of war,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cThe law of war prohibits attacks against civilian objects, indiscriminate attacks, and attacks expected to cause excessive harm to civilians in relation to the direct military advantage anticipated. The law of war also prohibits threats of violence to spread terror among the civilian population.\u201d\n\nThe Senators highlighted that in determining that Russia had committed war crimes in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department specifically cited Russia\u2019s attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure: \u201cGeneral Alexus G. Grynkewich, Commander of EUCOM and SACEUR, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that such Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, in addition to being unlawful, were strategically ineffective, noting \u2018anytime you attack a civilian population, you usually end up finding that it just hardens their resolve.\u2019\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded: \u201cThe U.S. military has a reputation\u2014earned through the hard work and sacrifices of brave men and women who serve our nation\u2014 for honorable service and for upholding very high standards under the law of war. Not only is this a reflection of American values, but it is militarily effective. Targeting civilians undermines the mission, creating even more enemies while undermining our national security and damaging the global standing of the United States. Thank you for your service and for ensuring that CENTCOM forces uphold these values.\u201d\n\nThe Senators requested answers to the following questions by July 30, 2026:\n\nAre you legally responsible for any targeting decisions by commanders and personnel under your command? Do you consider CENTCOM officials signing off on targeting packages to be legally responsible for such decisions under the law of war?\n\nAre officers under your command aware that under the doctrine of command responsibility they have a duty to ensure subordinate personnel are following the law of war, a duty to investigate potential war crimes, a duty to hold accountable those who commit them, and that dereliction of such duties would likely constitute a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice?\n\nWill you ensure that forces under your command conduct a documented case-by-case analysis of the legality for each proposed target in Iran that could constitute civilian infrastructure, assessing whether such targets offer a concrete and direct military advantage and whether the expected harm to civilians is not excessive compared to that anticipated military advantage? And will you commit to maintaining the records of such analysis and providing them to the relevant Congressional committees, including on a classified basis, upon request?\n\nWill you order an investigation of any significant civilian casualty events resulting from U.S. military actions in Iran?\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to U.S. Admiral Cooper.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-castor-reintroduce-bicameral-legislation-to-strengthen-energy-grid-accelerate-clean-energy-growth/", "Welch, Castor\u00a0Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Energy Grid,\u00a0Accelerate\u00a0Clean Energy\u00a0Growth", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today joined U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, in reintroducing the Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act, bicameral legislation that aims to make it easier for the United States to advance clean energy projects and strengthen its electric grid. The Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that interstate and offshore transmission infrastructure projects allocate costs to beneficiaries more fairly. The legislation would also help lower energy costs for consumers by accelerating the construction of interstate transmission lines that deliver vital clean energy to communities across the country.\n\n\u201cStrengthening America\u2019s electric grid is essential to ensuring we can meet modern electricity and climate challenges. Finding ways that make it easier to construct and complete transmission projects that boost the resiliency of our grid and lower costs for consumers is a major part of that. We\u2019re working to bolster our grid against extreme weather and help ensure every home across America has access to affordable and reliable electricity,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s aging electric grid and growing transmission bottlenecks are driving up energy costs for Florida families, slowing the development and deployment of newer, cheaper energy resources and leaving communities more vulnerable to increasingly extreme weather,\u201d said Rep. Castor. \u201cThe Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act will help address these challenges by making it easier to complete essential transmission projects, reduce costly grid congestion and deliver affordable, reliable electricity where it is needed. This commonsense legislation will help build a cheaper, cleaner, stronger and more resilient energy future for families and businesses across Tampa Bay.\u201d\n\nLearn more about the Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-courtney-host-press-conference-calling-on-congress-to-pass-bill-to-eliminate-interest-rates-on-all-federal-student-loans/", "Welch, Courtney Host Press Conference Calling on Congress to Pass\u00a0Bill to Eliminate Interest Rates on All Federal Student Loans", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch and Courtney\u2019s bicameral bill comes as defaults on student loans have surged to unprecedented levels in the United States\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, alongside Tiffany Dena Loftin, Executive Director of the U.S. Student Association, held a press conference on Capitol Hill calling for Congress to take up their bill, the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act.\n\nThis bicameral legislation would refinance the interest on federal student loans for all existing and future borrowers to 0%, making higher education more affordable for the nearly 43 million Americans with existing federally held student loans.\n\n\u201cAs the cost of college has gone up, the necessity of borrowing\u2014by students, by their parents, both publicly available loans and private loans\u2014has escalated. In Vermont, the average federal student loan debt graduating from college is $38,000. That\u2019s only adding to the affordability crisis that our next generation of Americans face,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur generation owes the younger generation an opportunity to make the best of themselves, and they can\u2019t do it with this mountain of debt. I\u2019m proud to work with my friend, Representative Joe Courtney, on this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudent loan defaults have hit record highs in 2026. When we are already in an affordability crisis, bad policies have made crushing student loan debt with record-level interest rates an even greater burden for the 42 million student loan borrowers in the United States,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cIt\u2019s time for Congress to take up fresh ideas to address this longstanding crisis for borrowers and the entire U.S. economy. The Student Loan Interest Elimination Act would allow all current and future student borrowers to refinance their loans to 0%. Unlike other proposals, our bill includes a pay-for to save taxpayer dollars and lowers the cost of college for future students. This is the clear commonsense solution to the Student Loan Crisis. Congress shouldn\u2019t wait to take up and pass our bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, I hear from students asking the same question: how am I supposed to afford college? Students are doing everything they are supposed to do. They\u2019re working multiple jobs, taking full-course loads, and borrowing to fill the gaps. But instead of graduating with opportunity, far too many are graduating into years and often decades of student loan debt,\u201d said Tiffany Dena Loftin, Executive Director of the U.S. Student Association. \u201cThe federal government should not profit from students trying to get an education. So, on behalf of the United States Student Association, we\u2019re proud to support this legislation. Thank you again to the leadership. Your partnership in this fight means the world because students deserve more than a lifetime of interest payments. They deserve the freedom to build careers, care for their families, buy homes, start families and businesses, and give back to their communities without student debt standing in the way.\u201d\n\nWatch a livestream of the press conference below:\n\nThe outstanding federal student loan balance in the United States tops nearly $2 trillion, with the average student borrower carrying a balance of $40,000. Federal loans also represent over 90% of all student loan debt. Student loan debt is now the second-highest source of consumer debt, only behind home mortgages, and will continue to grow as the cost of higher education rises faster than incomes. Many borrowers are unable to make a dent in their principal because of high interest rates, causing total costs to balloon and, for some, pushing repayment into decades rather than years.\n\nUnlike other proposals to lower student loan interest rates, the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act includes a pay-for to offset the cost of eliminating interest to save taxpayer dollars. Under this legislation, the Department of Education would create a Trust Fund to offset the elimination of interest. Student loan borrowers will make payments on their principal balance, which would be deposited into the Trust Fund. The returns on those investments would fund the costs of operating the student loan program, saving taxpayers from fronting the bill while saving borrowers from paying interest rates and student loan interest capitalization.\n\nThe Student Loan Interest Elimination Act is endorsed by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, EdTrust, and the Hildreth Institute.\n\nLearn more about the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act of 2026.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-presses-acting-ag-blanche-for-documents-detailing-ethical-concerns-regarding-his-tenure-as-trumps-personal-attorney/", "Welch\u00a0Presses\u00a0Acting AG Blanche\u00a0For\u00a0Documents\u00a0Detailing\u00a0Ethical Concerns Regarding\u00a0his\u00a0Tenure as Trump\u2019s Personal Attorney", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, yesterday pressed Acting Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche for materials regarding the ethical advice he has received while at the Department of Justice (DOJ) surrounding his personal legal representation of President Trump.\n\nThe letter comes after Senator Welch grilled Blanche, President Trump\u2019s pick to serve as Attorney General, in his nomination hearing about his role in negotiating a settlement between President Trump\u2014his former legal client\u2014and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on behalf of American taxpayers. That settlement also established a so-called \u201canti-weaponization\u201d slush fund for the president and his Administration.\n\nBetween 2023 and 2024, Acting AG Blanche represented President Trump in multiple criminal cases and served as counsel to the president in various other civil investigations and cases. A political action committee associated with President Trump\u2014Save America PAC\u2014paid Acting AG Blanche\u2019s firm over $9 million for the legal representation he provided the president in those cases.\n\nIn his letter to Acting AG Blanche, Senator Welch underscored that DOJ attorneys are bound by strict conflict of interest requirements to prevent bias and ensure the fair administration of justice: \u201cYou confirmed in written questions for the record to me that you did receive an ethics briefing once you were sworn in as Deputy Attorney General. According to public reporting, Joseph Tirrell\u2014the Department\u2019s then-top ethics official\u2014conducted this briefing. You were reportedly advised to recuse yourself from legal cases involving President Trump in his personal capacity. Mr. Tirrell was subsequently fired on July 11, 2025, after nearly two decades with the Department. During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15, 2026, I asked you about the ethics advice you received from DOJ ethics officials regarding your pre-existing client relationship with President Trump. I sought confirmation as to whether your ethical obligations are based on advice given to you by Mr. Tirrell, as well as the standard ethics training. You responded in the affirmative. You also testified that you follow all of the \u2018very technical rules around the ethics requirements[.]\u2019\u201d\n\nSenator Welch continued: \u201cThe ethics advice you have received is particularly relevant as the Senate considers your nomination for Attorney General given your approval of the settlement between President Trump and the Internal Revenue Service that created the \u2018Anti-Weaponization Fund\u2019 and waived all past tax liabilities for the President, his family, and businesses. It is important to understand whether you were directly advised\u2014as public reporting suggests\u2014to recuse yourself from matters involving the President in his personal capacity prior to approving the creation of this fund and waiving the President\u2019s civil and criminal tax liabilities.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch concluded by requesting materials from Acting AG Blanche no later than July 29, 2026, given the Senate\u2019s active consideration of Mr. Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve as AG permanently: \u201cI request that you promptly provide my office with copies of any documents or communications containing advice from DOJ ethics officials detailing your ethical obligations involving President Trump. This includes copies of any materials from the ethics briefing you received upon confirmation and any communications or documents you received prior to the creation of the previously mentioned fund and waiver. As you know, you may waive any attorney-client privileges related to the ethics guidance you received, if the requested documents implicate such a privilege.\u201d\n\nRead and download the Senator\u2019s full letter to Acting AG Blanche.\n\nSenator Welch has called on Acting AG Blanche to resign and expressed strong opposition to Acting AG Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve in the role permanently.\n\nIn May, Senator Welch led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding that the DOJ Inspector General (IG) launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation into President Trump\u2019s creation of the nearly $1.8 billion \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund,\u201d emphasizing how President Trump\u2019s slush fund, created from a settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), represents waste, fraud, and abuse of an unprecedented magnitude and must be subjected to independent scrutiny.\n\nLast year, Senator Welch led Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in requesting documents from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to determine the veracity of U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche\u2019s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his nomination hearing in February 2025. Mr. Blanche testified at the hearing and in subsequent written answers to Members\u2019 questions that he had no knowledge of the decision to dismiss the criminal charges against then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, an assertion that has been contradicted by unsealed court documents\u2014including a letter from then-Interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon to Attorney General Bondi\u2014suggesting he was aware of the decision.\n\nThe Senator subsequently led every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat in calling on Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate the truthfulness of Mr. Blanche\u2019s testimony at his confirmation hearing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-warren-booker-lead-fight-to-stop-big-ag-from-ripping-off-farmers-and-families/", "Welch, Warren, Booker\u00a0Lead\u00a0Fight to Stop Big Ag from Ripping off Farmers and Families", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Bicameral Fair Seeds for Farmers Act takes on mounting corporate power in America\u2019s seed industry\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, teamed up with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act, new bicameral legislation to stop Big Agriculture from abusing seed patents, reduce prices for farmers, and lower grocery costs. U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) and Greg Casar (D-TX-35) are leading companion legislation in the House.\n\nIf signed into law, the lawmakers\u2019 legislation would allow farmers to save seeds between seasons, which will lower farmers\u2019 input costs and help reduce downstream food prices. The bill would also help smaller seed companies break into the market, increasing competition and further helping to bring down prices.\n\n\u201cRapid consolidation in the seed industry has had a direct and brutal impact on farms in Vermont and across the country. Big corporations\u2019 abuse of the patent system is making farmers pay more to plant, and the end result is families paying more at the grocery store,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019re taking on corporate power in the seed industry to keep family farms in business and lower costs for hardworking Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, Big Ag has ripped off farmers and jacked up food prices for families,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cMy bill will break these companies\u2019 stranglehold on seeds to lower grocery bills for Americans and give our farmers more freedom over their crops.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen a handful of powerful corporations dominate the seed market, they can dictate which seeds get planted and the amount of independence growers have over the crops they produce\u2014and the costs ultimately show up in the prices families pay at the grocery store,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThis legislation gives farmers the freedom to save seeds, restores competition to the marketplace, and helps lower one of the biggest costs of producing the food we all rely on.\u201d\n\n\u201cFood is one of the most basic promises we make to one another: that the people who grow it can make a decent living, and the families they feed can afford to eat. But right now, that promise has been broken thanks to billionaire Big Ag conglomerates who are ripping off both the farmers at the beginning of the food chain and the hardworking folks at the end of it,\u201d said Rep. McGovern. \u201cWe have a system right now in this country where corporate giants are pocketing massive profits\u2014ripping off farmers and in turn ripping off families buying food at the grocery store. It\u2019s wrong, and our bill is about starting to change the broken status quo by rebuilding America\u2019s food system from the ground up.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery working American knows that groceries are just too expensive,\u201d said Rep. Casar. \u201cBy abusing seed patents, big ag companies are putting family farms out of business and driving up the price of food for everyone else. I\u2019m proud to be working with Rep. McGovern on this new bill, which is a key part of the Progressive Caucus\u2019 New Affordability Agenda.\u201d\n\nJust four companies control over 75% of the corn and soybean seed markets in the United States. These corporations crowd out competitors and drive up prices for farmers by abusing the patent system to claim sweeping intellectual property protection over broad categories of seeds, allowing them to block smaller companies from developing their own seeds and force them instead to sign restrictive licensing agreements with the dominant seed companies.\n\nAlthough Congress enacted the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) and the Plant Patent Act (PPA) to balance the IP rights of seed companies with farmers\u2019 and the public\u2019s right to research, save, and use seeds, dominant seed companies have increasingly been reaching beyond these statutes to claim that seeds are also eligible for utility patents, which sweep far more broadly and do not include exemptions for seed saving, research, or experimentation.\n\nGiant seed companies also leverage these patents to force farmers to sign exploitative contracts that ban farmers from saving seeds (which make up about 25% of their operating budgets) between seasons to force them to buy new seeds every year, and restrict them from developing or experimenting with seeds.\n\nThe Fair Seeds for Farmers Act addresses these unfair practices by clarifying that the only intellectual property protections that apply to seeds and plants are the PVPA and the PPA. This provision applies to pending and future patents, but not existing patents. The lawmakers\u2019 legislation would also restrict corporate seed companies from contractually prohibiting farmers from saving seeds between seasons or limiting their use of seeds or plants for research, breeding, experimentation, or propagation.\n\nThe Fair Seeds for Farmers Act is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project, Environmental Working Group, Farm Action Fund, National Family Farm Coalition, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Northeast Organic Farming Association \u2013 Massachusetts, Open Markets Institute, and the Organic Seed Alliance, and RAFI-USA.\n\n\u201cSeeds are a foundational building block of our food system\u2014and farmers need seeds that are publicly available and adapted to organic and sustainable production in their bioregion. Our food system is at dire risk when seed intellectual property ownership resides with corporations motivated solely by their bottom line. Seed-dominating corporations leverage utility patents to restrict access to innovative and adaptable seed varieties and reduce competition. For decades, RAFI has called for reforms to seed intellectual property law that restore grower sovereignty over seeds. By limiting corporate control over seed and plant intellectual property, the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act will empower seed breeders across the food system to add to the collective biodiversity of seed and develop varieties more resilient to weather, pest, and disease pressures,\u201d said Aaron Johnson, Policy Co-Director, Rural Advancement Foundation International.\n\n\u201cThe hyper-consolidation and commodification of seeds has eroded farmers\u2019 resilience and diminished the agrobiodiversity of crops cultivated in the US at an alarming rate. Farmers play an important role in seed development by nurturing adaptable seed varieties that can help create a more resilient and affordable food system \u2013 yet commodification has recently hindered farmers ability to participate in this essential first component of farming. The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act takes an important step in curtailing corporate abuse of US Patent Law and reaffirms farmers and researchers ability to breed, experiment, propagate, and save seeds without fear of retaliation from large seed companies,\u201d said Nick Rossi, Policy Specialist, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.\n\nLearn more about the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-new-gao-report-finds-taxpayers-continue-to-subsidize-poverty-wages-at-walmart-amazon-other-large-corporations-as-corporate-welfare-spikes-since-2020/", "NEWS: New GAO Report Finds Taxpayers Continue to Subsidize Poverty Wages at Walmart, Amazon, Other Large Corporations as Corporate Welfare Spikes Since 2020", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, July 22 \u2013 According to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, some of the largest and most profitable American corporations and their wealthy CEOs continue to pay their employees wages so low that those workers are forced to rely on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) \u2014 subsidized by U.S taxpayers \u2014 to survive.\n\nCommissioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and released today by the GAO, this report analyzes data from 11 states comprising nearly a fifth of the U.S. population, builds on the findings of a 2020 GAO report, and details how the number of workers relying on Medicaid and SNAP has grown significantly over the past six years. Across 11 states, the report found that an estimated 13.8 million working Americans were forced to enroll in Medicaid and 10.6 million depended on SNAP to make ends meet and feed their families, despite working full-time \u2014 up from 12 million and 9 million, respectively, in the 2020 report.\n\n\u201cAmerican taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the starvation wages of large corporations like Walmart and Amazon. These corporations are making record-breaking profits, paying their CEOs exorbitant compensation packages and spending billions of dollars on stock buybacks to enrich their wealthy shareholders. It is beyond unacceptable that these corporations, owned by some of the wealthiest people on the planet, are receiving corporate welfare from the federal government,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cIt is time for the Walton family, worth $485 billion, and Mr. Bezos, worth $257 billion, to get off of welfare and pay their workers a living wage with good benefits. No one who works for a company making billions in profits should be living in poverty. This is especially true after these corporations and their multibillionaire owners received a massive tax break from President Trump\u2019s so-called \u2018Big, Beautiful Bill,\u2019 paid for by the largest cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance in history.\u201d\n\nGAO\u2019s report found that Walmart, Amazon and other large, profitable corporations have particularly egregious records of forcing workers to utilize Medicaid and SNAP:\n\nDespite increasing its annual profits from $14.88 billion to $21.89 billion during this period, Walmart employed 16,055 workers who had to rely on Medicaid in the states GAO sampled \u2014 a 55% increase from the previous report. Walmart also employed 15,515 workers who needed SNAP assistance in the states GAO sampled. Overall, Walmart again ranked among the top employers of workers on these programs in every one of the 11 states.\n\nDespite increasing its annual profits from $11.59 billion to $77.67 billion, Amazon employed 12,346 workers who needed SNAP assistance and 11,338 workers who had to rely on Medicaid in the states GAO sampled \u2014 nearly triple the number of Amazon workers who needed federal assistance compared to the previous report.\n\nFedEx, which made $4.33 billion in profit, saw its workers on Medicaid more than triple (from 1,046 to 3,814) and its SNAP workers nearly double (from 2,622 to 4,944) since the first report, in the states GAO sampled.\n\nThe GAO also found that rideshare and delivery companies now rank among the very top employers of program recipients in several states \u2014 along with McDonald\u2019s, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and FedEx.\n\nIn February, Sanders requested that four major corporations that employ large numbers of people who rely on Medicaid and SNAP \u2013 Walmart, Kroger, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree \u2013 answer how much they expect to make from the Republicans\u2019 tax breaks and whether any of these savings will be passed along to their workers.\n\nAcross nine states (Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee and Washington), these corporations and sectors employed the following numbers of SNAP recipients in the GAO report:\n\nRideshare/Delivery apps \u2013 22,709\n\nWalmart \u2013 15,515\n\nAmazon \u2013 12,346\n\nMcDonald\u2019s \u2013 6,709\n\nDollar General \u2013 5,187\n\nFedEx \u2013 4,944\n\nDollar Tree \u2013 4,229\n\nKroger \u2013 3,302\n\nBurger King \u2013 2,186\n\nFamily Dollar \u2013 1,933\n\nWalgreens \u2013 1,747\n\nTarget \u2013 1,695\n\nHome Depot \u2013 1,633\n\nTaco Bell \u2013 1,569\n\nAcross six states (Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Rhode Island), these corporations and sectors employed the following numbers of Medicaid enrollees in the GAO report:\n\nWalmart \u2013 16,055\n\nAmazon \u2013 11,338\n\nRideshare/Delivery apps \u2013 6,120\n\nDollar General \u2013 5,601\n\nMcDonald\u2019s \u2013 4,710\n\nFedEx \u2013 3,814\n\nDollar Tree \u2013 3,265\n\nKroger \u2013 2,818\n\nTarget \u2013 2,326\n\nHome Depot \u2013 1,985\n\nFamily Dollar \u2013 1,845\n\nStop & Shop \u2013 1,691\n\nWalgreens \u2013 1,300\n\nCVS \u2013 1,209", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-bill-to-require-warning-labels-on-ultraprocessed-foods-ban-junk-food-ads-for-kids-advances-in-committee/", "NEWS: Sanders Bill to Require Warning Labels on Ultraprocessed Foods & Ban Junk Food Ads for Kids Advances in Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, July 22 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today applauded the committee voting 12-10 in a bipartisan manner to advance his legislation to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry and address the growing diabetes and obesity epidemics negatively impacting millions of American children and families across the country.\n\nThis first-of-its-kind federal ban on junk food advertising targeted to children in the United States would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement strong health and nutrient warning labeling, direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the dangers posed by ultra-processed foods, and develop a national education campaign for children and caregivers through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\n\n\u201cI am delighted that the HELP Committee passed the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act that I introduced. For decades, the food and beverage industry has made massive profits by enticing children to consume unhealthy products purposely designed to be overeaten \u2014 fueling the twin crises of type 2 diabetes and obesity in America. We cannot continue to allow these greedy corporations to put their own profits over the health and well-being of our kids,\u201d Sanders said.\u201cNearly 30 years ago, Congress had the courage to take on the tobacco industry, whose products killed more than 400,000 Americans every year. Today, on a bipartisan basis, the Senate HELP Committee finally stood up to the greed of the food and beverage industry.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-questions-trade-rep-on-tariffs-and-trade-war-chaos-people-just-dont-know-what-to-count-on-its-hurting-us-badly/", "Welch\u00a0Questions\u00a0Trade Rep\u00a0on Tariffs and Trade War Chaos: \u201cPeople just\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know what to count on.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0hurting us badly.\u201d", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on the Trump Administration\u2019s reckless trade war and tariff policies, which have arbitrarily hurt Vermont small businesses, farmers, and families.\n\nIn the hearing, Senator Welch pushed Ambassador Greer for answers about President Trump\u2019s new 50% tariff levied on many products from Canada\u2014Vermont\u2019s closest partner in trade. Senator Welch also shared stories of how the president\u2019s economic policies and tariffs have hurt the success of Vermont businesses. Senator Welch raised the alarm about how the tariffs have created an access economy, where only those connected to the White House can get relief.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re just getting hit with these tariffs, and it looks like\u2014to some extent\u2014if you have access to the administration, you may get an end-around and avoid them, which is really troubling to us in Vermont. We are having trouble getting the refunds\u2026Just going through that has been really tough for us,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI just want you to understand how tough this has been in Vermont. We really value our relationship with Canada, both emotionally, financially, and economically. The way the tariffs have changed constantly\u2014just recently, just two days ago, the president announced new tariffs may go into effect\u2014people just don\u2019t know what to count on. It\u2019s hurting us badly.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Welch\u2019s full remarks from the hearing below:\n\nSenator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy.\n\nSenator Welch voted against Amb. Greer\u2019s nomination to serve as U.S. Trade Representative. During Greer\u2019s nomination hearing in February 2025, Senator Welch pressed him for answers about the impact of Trump\u2019s trade war on American businesses and consumers, and outlined the cost of Trump\u2019s new proposed tariffs for Vermont industries, farmers, and families. Senator Welch has continued to demand answers from Greer on how Trump\u2019s economic policies have created global economic chaos and harmed Americans, including leading 18 colleagues in pressing for information on how the Trump Administration\u2019s tariffs will harm farmers across the nation.\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Welch urged Greer, the White House, and Canadian trade officials to come to a swift resolution on unresolved matters and to maintain the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was negotiated and signed by President Trump in his first term.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-shares-new-data-showing-families-in-vermont-have-been-forced-to-pay-3700-more-because-of-trumps-reckless-economic-policies/", "Welch Shares New Data Showing Families in Vermont Have Been Forced to Pay $3,700+ More Because of Trump\u2019s Reckless Economic Policies", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 New data shared by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) shows Vermont households have been forced to spend at least $3,700 more on everyday essentials because of the Trump Administration\u2019s reckless economic policies.\n\nDemocrats on the Joint Economic Committee, under the leadership of Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), found the average household in the United States has spent thousands more since the president took office last year. Inflation, President Trump\u2019s tariffs, and the war in Iran have raised the cost of housing, energy, groceries, and health care.\n\n\u201cWorking families in Vermont can\u2019t afford President Trump\u2019s economic policies\u2014they\u2019re a complete disaster. Throughout his campaign and well into his second term, the president vowed to end inflation and make America affordable again, but it was just another broken promise,\u201d said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. \u201cI hope this new data is the wake-up call my colleagues across the aisle need: it\u2019s time we work together to bring prices down and make Washington work for everyday people\u2014not the other way around.\u201d\n\nIn Vermont, the average family has spent $947 more on housing costs; $472 more on gas; $310 more on groceries; $218 more on heating oil; and $120 more on electricity. Many families saw their ACA health care premiums rise over 50% on average after Republicans refused to extend the ACA\u2019s premium tax credits. Nearly 5,000 in Vermont lost food assistance since the enactment of President Trump\u2019s tax bill.\n\nView the data from the Joint Economic Committee.\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Welch shared data from the JEC outlining how President Trump\u2019s reckless and illegal war with Iran has driven up gasoline costs for Vermont families, farmers, and businesses.\n\nSenator Welch is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. He was a member of the Joint Economic Committee in the 118th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welchs-bipartisan-bill-to-support-next-generation-of-american-aviation-advances-out-of-committee/", "Welch\u2019s Bipartisan\u00a0Bill\u00a0to Support Next Generation of American Aviation\u00a0Advances Out of Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in celebrating the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee\u2019s advancement of their bipartisan bill, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act. The Senators\u2019 legislation would improve the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) type certification process for American Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft companies to help them succeed and cement the United States\u2019 role as a global leader in aviation.\n\nAn amended version of the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act advanced out of Senate Commerce with bipartisan support. Updates to the bill reflect further technical assistance from the FAA and the acceptance of a modified amendment by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to give airline pilots a seat at the table.\n\n\u201cBuilding on generations of leadership in aviation, American companies are spearheading electric aircraft innovation. That includes companies like Vermont\u2019s Beta Technologies, which completed its historic, first-ever electric flight last year in South Burlington. Ensuring the FAA certification process is safe, efficient, and more transparent for emerging AAM companies like Beta is critical to promoting aviation innovation,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the support of my colleagues on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, including my bipartisan co-lead Senator Budd, in helping this bill fly through to the Senate Floor to support American ingenuity, good-paying jobs in Vermont, and our global leadership in aviation.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy ensuring that the FAA prioritizes the certification of novel aircraft like eVTOLs, we can quickly incorporate innovative technology into the National Airspace System. I am glad that our common-sense efforts to usher in the next generation of advanced air mobility aircraft will soon be considered by the full Senate,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nJoining Senators Welch and Budd as cosponsors of this legislation are Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\n\u201cThe Committee passage today brings us one step closer to modernizing the FAA certification process for the next generation of aviation,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will provide greater clarity and accountability, helping American Advanced Air Mobility companies innovate, compete, and lead the world in the future of flight. I\u2019m pleased to see it advance and look forward to its passage by the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew Mexico is a strong leader in aviation technology, and this legislation will help ensure our state continues to shape the next generation of innovation,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThis bill will streamline and update the FAA certification processes, accelerate innovation, support new technologies, and strengthen U.S. global leadership in aviation. I\u2019m proud to see this legislation advance and help keep the United States at the forefront of global aviation.\u201d\n\n\u201cStreamlining the FAA\u2019s type certification processes for advanced aviation technologies, such as advanced air mobility, is critical to bolstering America\u2019s global leadership in aviation innovation,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cI appreciate the bipartisan support from my colleagues for this legislation, and I\u2019m pleased by this step forward with its passage out of committee today. This legislation would support emerging aerospace technologies and strengthen the aviation industry in Kansas and across the country, and I look forward to its approval by the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cCalifornia companies are leading the world in developing the next generation of electric aircraft. I\u2019m proud to see our bill advance to cut through red tape and streamline the FAA certification process, so we can maintain our competitive advantage and keep groundbreaking innovation here at home,\u201d said Senator Padilla.\n\n\u201cAs the birthplace of aviation, America must maintain dominance in this critical industry by streamlining outdated bureaucracy and allowing innovators to remain competitive through a transparent, consistent regulatory framework. The bipartisan Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act takes important steps to accomplish these ends, and I\u2019m proud to see it advance out of the Commerce committee,\u201d said Senator Sheehy.\n\n\u201cAdvanced Air Mobility platforms will revolutionize the American economy. The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act is a crucial step to securing American drone dominance. Our bill will provide much needed clarity and certainty as we seek to establish American leadership in these critical technologies and lay the groundwork for the future of air transportation. The Commerce Committee\u2019s advancement of this bipartisan legislation marks an important step forward, and I look forward to seeing it pass the full Senate,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\nAdvanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology is a novel collection of technologies that will allow new, innovative aircraft to integrate into our airspace system. Emerging U.S.-based AAM companies are also paving the way for new and innovative electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Supporting the United States\u2019 continued leadership in AAM technology development will boost economic growth in American communities across the country.\n\nSince the introduction of the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have both released reports on the AAM certification process and actions that can be taken by Congress to promote aviation innovation.\n\nSenators Welch and Budd published a bipartisan opinion piece in Newsweek in September 2025 entitled: \u201cCongress Should Help Air Innovation Take Flight.\u201d In their op-ed, they urged Congress to build on America\u2019s proud history of global aviation leadership and pass this bipartisan legislation to help AAM take flight. Senator Welch became the first sitting U.S. Senator to fly on an eVTOL aircraft in April at Beta Technologies\u2019 manufacturing facility in South Burlington, Vermont.\n\nSpecifically, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act:\n\nEstablishes non-binding, standard expected timelines for the FAA\u2019s type certification process for AAM aircraft for the Agency to respond to petitions for exemptions of aircraft type, and to develop means of compliance for aircraft outside of the existing types of AAM aircraft.\n\nSets transparent and reliable non-binding, standard expected ranges of time for the issue paper process, so that type certification applicants know how long reviews will take, reducing uncertainty and delays.\n\nProvides the FAA Administration with the sole discretion to exclude safety-critical matters from established timelines to ensure airspace safety is paramount.\n\nDirects the FAA to define when an issue paper is required in the certification process, while providing flexibility for the Agency on complex, safety issues.\n\nDirects the FAA to account for performance-based rules in the certification process.\n\nDirects the FAA to brief the relevant congressional committees on the status of implementing the certification regulations and managing workload.\n\nClarifies when the FAA can delegate routine compliance findings to qualified personnel, allowing Agency experts to focus on complex, safety-critical issues.\n\nUpdates delegation guidance for type certification to cover new and novel technologies related to AAM, including eVTOL aircraft.\n\nThe Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act is endorsed by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA); Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Airports Council International \u2013 North America (ACI-NA); American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE); American Institutes of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); Archer Aviation; Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); Beta Technologies; Boeing; Eve Air Mobility; General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); Joby Aviation; National Air Transportation Association (NATA); National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS); Vertical Aviation International (VAI); and Wisk Aero.\n\nU.S. Representative Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee; Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN-07), Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee; Rep. Nicholas Begich (R-AK-AL); Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05); Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-01); Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23); Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19); and Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI-08) lead companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/media-advisory-welch-courtney-to-host-press-conference-calling-on-congress-to-pass-bicameral-student-loan-interest-elimination-act/", "MEDIA ADVISORY: Welch, Courtney to Host Press Conference Calling on Congress to Pass Bicameral Student Loan Interest Elimination Act", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Lawmakers\u2019 bicameral bill would eliminate interest rates on all federal student loans and cap future interest rates\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 On Wednesday, July 22nd at 12:00 PM EDT, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, alongside student loan borrower advocates, will host a press conference on Capitol Hill calling for Congress to take up their bicameral Student Loan Interest Elimination Act, legislation to refinance the interest on federal student loans for all existing and future borrowers to zero percent. The lawmakers\u2019 legislation would make higher education more affordable by immediately eliminating interest rates for the nearly 43 million Americans with existing federally held student loans.\n\nHigher education costs continue to skyrocket, with tuition rising 40 times higher than 1960s levels for public colleges\u2014a 312.4% increase when adjusted for inflation. As a result, average college debt has more than doubled since 2007, forcing nearly 43 million Americans\u20141 in 6 American adults\u2014to take out federal student loans to help pay for higher education. In Vermont, around 78,000 student loan borrowers hold a collective $2.9 billion in federal student loan debt.\n\nThe bicameral Student Loan Interest Elimination Act would lower the cost of college and address student loan debt by refinancing the interest rate of all existing and future federal student loans to 0%. Unlike other proposals to lower student loan interest rates, the lawmakers\u2019 Student Loan Interest Elimination Act includes a pay-for to offset the cost of eliminating interest to save taxpayer dollars. Learn more about the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act and read and download the full text of the bill.\n\nLOGISTICS:\n\nWHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.);\n\nU.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02);\n\nAdditional Members of Congress TBA\n\nStudent loan borrower advocates TBA\n\nWHEN: Wednesday, July 22nd at 12:00 PM EDT\n\nWHERE: House Triangle, Capitol Hill\n\nWATCH: Livestream of the press conference will be available here.\n\nRSVP: Media are asked to RSVP to Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov and Ryan.Tomsheck@mail.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-king-37-senators-in-renewing-demands-to-dhs-for-civilian-protections-greater-transparency-following-killings-in-maine-and-texas/", "Welch Joins King, 37 Senators in Renewing Demands to DHS for Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency\u00a0Following Killings in Maine and Texas", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Following tragic killings in Maine and Texas last week, Senators call for reforms, body-worn camera deployment, and independent investigations\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 37 Senators in calling for stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers following tragic killings involving immigration officials last week in Maine and Texas. The fatal shootings of Joan Sebasti\u00e1n Dur\u00e1n Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas occurred six days apart.\n\nIn their letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, 39 Senators urged DHS to fulfill its previous commitments to deploy and expand the usage of body-worn cameras, strengthen officer identification requirements, and review enforcement protocols. The measures suggested by the Senators are intended to help prevent future deadly encounters involving ICE enforcement officers.\n\n\u201cThe recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cRather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebasti\u00e1n Dur\u00e1n Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startling similarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intended targets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel) along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approaches necessary to prevent such tragedies,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThese recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as \u2018the worst of the worst,\u2019 making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department\u2019s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senators King and Welch, the letter is cosigned by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa).\n\nRead and download the full text of Senators\u2019 letter to DHS Secretary Mullin.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-reintroduces-bills-to-protect-small-scale-farms-and-support-farmworkers/", "Welch Reintroduces Bills to Protect Small-Scale Farms and Support Farmworkers", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety, led Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act and Agricultural Worker Justice Act, a pair of bills to support workers in the agricultural industry and uplift small, family farms across the United States. The Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act aims to create a level playing field for farmers and consumers by weakening the hold consolidated interests have on the agricultural economy. The Agricultural Worker Justice Act would require major food companies to provide decent wages and safe working conditions to do business with the federal government.\n\n\u201cSmall and family farms are at the heart of Vermont\u2019s economy and culture. Without them, Vermont wouldn\u2019t be the place we know and love,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cBut rapid consolidation has jeopardized the well-being and vitality of farms across America\u2014we can\u2019t let that happen. We also need urgent, commonsense safeguards to protect workers in the agricultural industry who face hazardous and exploitative working conditions.\u201d\n\nThe Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The legislation is endorsed by the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA), the Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Labor (HEAL) Food Alliance, National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).\n\n\u201cFor too long, our food system has rewarded large corporations while squeezing the workers and small farmers who feed our communities,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThese bills are about restoring fairness to our food system, addressing decades of consolidation, protecting family farms in New Jersey and across the nation, standing up for workers, and ensuring that people, not corporate profits, always come first.\u201d\n\n\u201cMultinational food and agriculture corporations are raking in billions of dollars at the expense of farmers, workers, consumers, and our future. While their top executives and shareholders profit, consumers face rising grocery prices and farmers and ranchers teeter on the verge of bankruptcy,\u201d said Judith McGeary, Executive Director, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA). \u201cThe Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act stops consolidation from getting even worse through a moratorium on future corporate mergers in the sector. It also makes crucial policy changes that farmers have long asked for \u2014 including the restoration of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef, greater investment in local food systems and livestock infrastructure, and funding that helps socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers have a fair chance to make a living raising food for their communities.\u201d\n\nLearn more about the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act and view a section-by-section summary of the bill. Read and download the full text of the legislation here.\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nThe Agricultural Worker Justice Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Booker, Sanders, John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill is endorsed by the HEAL Food Alliance and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).\n\n\u201cThe people who put food on our table deserve more than just our gratitude. They deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect,\u201d said Senator Fetterman. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work alongside my colleagues to support the workers not only in our Commonwealth, but across the country.\u201d\n\n[\u201cFarmworkers are the backbone of our nation\u2019s economy,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThe workers that put in hours each day to keep farms running, harvest our food and help get it to our grocery stores and dinner tables are the real power behind our nation\u2019s agricultural industry, and I\u2019m proud to support this bill that will help protect this essential workforce and ensure they\u2019re earning the wage they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Department of Agriculture spends billions of dollars every year buying food, and that food should not come from companies that mistreat their workers. The Agricultural Worker Justice Act ensures that food and agricultural companies that exploit workers cannot do so on the dime of American taxpayers,\u201d said Milton Jones, International President, UFCW. \u201cFood workers are critical to the health of our nation and deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. How we spend our tax dollars shows our values as a country, which is why the\n\nLearn more about the Agricultural Worker Justice Act and view a section-by-section summary of the bill. Read and download the full text of the legislation here.\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nSenator Welch has championed bipartisan and bicameral legislation to support the farmers and ranchers who feed America\u2019s families, including the Milk From Family Dairies Act, Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act, Fair Credit for Farmers Act, Freedom for Agricultural Repair and Maintenance Act (FARM Act), Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act, Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, Honor Farmer Contracts Act, and the Farm Ownership Improvement Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-statement-on-trumps-new-tariffs-on-canada/", "Welch Statement on Trump\u2019s New Tariffs on Canada", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration imposing new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods:\n\n\u201cThese new tariff threats against Canada are an extreme escalation of President Trump\u2019s reckless and irresponsible trade war. The White House\u2019s endless attacks on our Canadian neighbors\u2014Vermont\u2019s closest partner in trade\u2014have caused undeniable harm to our state\u2019s economy, and the aftershocks of today\u2019s announcement will do lasting damage. The president is only making trade talks and diplomacy more challenging, all while the USMCA, the trade agreement governing our relationship with our closest trading partners, is up for review. I urge President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Greer to drop these new tariff threats immediately,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis is yet another reason why Congress needs to take back its constitutional power over trade policy. This administration needs to answer for the economic chaos it\u2019s creating; I look forward to questioning Ambassador Greer about these careless decisions when he testifies before the Finance Committee on Wednesday.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress\u2019 constitutional role in trade policy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-bicameral-legislation-to-expose-corporate-abuse-of-tax-havens-job-offshoring/", "Welch\u00a0Joins\u00a0Bicameral\u00a0Legislation\u00a0to Expose Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation led by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), which would provide transparency around corporations\u2019 use of tax havens and incentives to offshore jobs. The lawmakers\u2019 bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis to give Americans insight into how the tax system incentivizes the outsourcing of American jobs or enables corporations to dodge U.S. taxes. The legislation would also provide investors with the tools they need to understand the tax structures and risks of the businesses in which they invest.\n\n\u201cOur tax law in the United States is totally broken\u2013we have a system where corporations are incentivized to ship profits and good-paying jobs overseas. The American people deserve full transparency about how companies are using these loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. We\u2019re working to ensure that corporations are held accountable for hiding profits in foreign tax havens,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\n\u201cWhile working Americans struggle to get by, large corporations continue to ship jobs overseas and take advantage of tax loopholes to hide their profits. This bill will provide critical transparency to both the American public and investors as to how these corporations abuse our broken tax system and the risks they are taking in the use of offshore tax havens. We must stand up for American workers, end incentives for big corporations to offshore jobs, and unrig our broken corporate tax code. Sunlight is the best disinfectant \u2013 shining a light on this issue is the first step,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAs everyday families struggle to find jobs and pay for basic necessities, corporations are dodging taxes by shifting profits outside the country and making the rest of us pay. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation that will require companies to disclose foreign operations, and ensure corporations pay into the system here at home,\u201d said Rep. Pettersen. \u201cThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act will increase transparency, and make corporations start paying their fair share.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Welch and Van Hollen, the legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL).\n\nWhile President Trump\u2019s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established a new global tax framework, it also introduced incentives for large U.S. companies to shift profits and jobs overseas. The so-called \u2018One Big Beautiful Bill Act\u2019 largely preserved those incentives. New research shows that last year alone, large corporations reduced their tax liability by more than $11 billion via tax havens. Firms continue to benefit from shifting profits because they can pool income and foreign taxes across affiliates in both high- and low-tax countries, while foreign income remains subject to a significantly lower U.S. tax rate than domestic income.\n\nThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would ensure greater transparency in these tax practices by requiring large corporations to disclose basic information on each of their subsidiaries, and country-by-country financial information that sums together all of their subsidiaries in each country \u2013 including profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets. Thus, when a corporation sends jobs overseas, a country-by-country financial report would show the extent to which the U.S. tax system is rewarding their behavior.\n\nThis Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act is supported by the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, Public Citizen, Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).\n\nLearn more about the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-lujan-schiff-raskin-ocasio-cortez-introduce-bicameral-legislation-imposing-gift-ban-on-supreme-court-justices/", "Welch, Luj\u00e1n, Schiff, Raskin, Ocasio-Cortez Introduce Bicameral Legislation Imposing Gift Ban on Supreme Court Justices", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Legislation cracks down on lavish gifts to Supreme Court Justices with $50 limit aligning ethics rules with Congress, other judges, and federal officials\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, this week joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in introducing the High Court Gift Ban Act, legislation to close a glaring ethics loophole that allows U.S. Supreme Court Justices to accept lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors and individuals with interests before the Court. U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cFor years, conservative Supreme Court Justices have accepted expensive gifts and travel from their friends who have business before the Court. It\u2019s unethical, and it\u2019s why public trust in the Court has eroded. Those serving on the Supreme Court should be held to the same ethical standards as every other federal judge\u2014and it\u2019s high time they are,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud to partner with Senators Luj\u00e1n and Schiff on this bill to increase accountability and restore public trust in our nation\u2019s most powerful court.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past several years, we\u2019ve seen far too many reports detailing how lavish gifts and luxury travel have undermined public confidence in the Supreme Court,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to partner with colleagues to introduce the High Court Gift Ban Act, which would hold Supreme Court justices to the same ethical standards as other high-ranking federal officials. The Supreme Court \u2014 our nation\u2019s highest and most powerful court \u2014 should be held to the highest ethical standards to protect our democracy from the influence of dark money and special interests.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court has lost the trust of the American people, and Justices accepting lavish gifts from wealthy individuals with business before the court has only made matters worse. We need to put an end to these egregious conflicts of interest and can start by establishing basic ethical standards for the Justices,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\n\u201cIn every other part of the federal government, taking lavish gifts from interested parties is called corruption\u2014but at the Supreme Court, it\u2019s bizarrely been treated as a job perk. A gaping ethics loophole has allowed Justices to accept lavish gifts from individuals who may have business before the Court, which totally undermines public confidence in judicial fairness and independence. Our bill closes this indefensible loophole by saying that Supreme Court Justices should follow the same basic gift rules as every other federal official and their fellow judges. Americans shouldn\u2019t have to wonder whether wealthy litigants and interested parties are influencing Supreme Court decisions with trips to luxury resorts, flights on private jets, and cruises on luxury yachts,\u201d said Ranking Member Raskin.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court is facing a major corruption crisis. As it stands, Supreme Court Justices are legally allowed to accept gifts from wealthy benefactors and people with special interests before the Court, actively furthering the distrust between working-class Americans and our legal institutions. That is why I am proud to introduce the High Court Gift Ban Act, alongside Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, to remove the influence of dark money from our nation\u2019s highest judicial body. We must pass this commonsense proposal to safeguard the sanctity of our legal institutions and democracy,\u201d said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.\n\nUnlike other federal judges, Members of Congress, and executive branch officials\u2014who are all bound by strict gift rules\u2014Supreme Court Justices are not currently bound by any limits on the value of the gifts they can accept. Investigative reporting has shown that some Justices have exploited this loophole, taking in lavish \u201cgifts\u201d from wealthy benefactors and political allies worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.\n\nThe scale of these undisclosed perks is staggering. One analysis found that Justices have accepted at least 445 gifts worth nearly $5 million over the past two decades. Reports have detailed that Justice Clarence Thomas alone received more than $4.2 million in luxury travel and other benefits from wealthy individuals with interests before the Court, including trips to Bali, stays at exclusive private retreats, and even a forgiven loan to purchase a luxury motor coach.\n\nThe High Court Gift Ban Act would block Justices from receiving gifts valued at more than $50 in a single instance or more than $100 in aggregate over the course of a year. It would also cap gifts of personal hospitality, like free trips on billionaire\u2019s yachts and private jets, which are currently unregulated. This brings the Supreme Court in line with similar ethical standards applying to Members of Congress and other federal officials.\n\nThe High Court Gift Ban Act is endorsed by leading advocacy organizations, including: AFSCME, American Federation of Teachers, Alliance for Justice, American Humanist Association, Center for American Progress, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Clean Elections Texas, Courage California, Court Accountability, Courts Matter Illinois, EarthJustice, Enough of Gun Violence, Equality California, FFRF Action Fund, Fix the Court, Free Speech for People, Government Information Watch, Greenpeace USA, Indivisible, Leage of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Women\u2019s Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Ohio Fair Courts Alliance, People for the American Way, People Power United, Public Citizen, Reproductive Freedom for All, Secular Coalition for America, Secure Elections Network, Stand Up America, Supreme Court Integrity Project, Take Back the Court Action Fund, True North Research, Voices for Progress, and The Workers Circle.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-honored-with-national-retail-federations-2026-champion-of-main-street-award/", "Welch\u00a0Honored with\u00a0National\u00a0Retail Federation's 2026 \u201cChampion of Main Street\u201d\u00a0Award", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch has championed bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act to protect small retailers and businesses\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, this week received the National Retail Federation\u2019s 2026 \u201cChampion of Main Street\u201d award for his leadership and work to ensure small businesses and retailers in Vermont and across the country get their fair share. The NRF is the world\u2019s largest retail trade association, with members including department stores, catalog, Internet, and independent retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, multi-level marketing companies, and vendors.\n\nIn his remarks, Senator Welch called on Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), which would prevent the credit card duopoly of Visa and Mastercard from charging American businesses higher fees than anywhere else in the world.\n\nPhoto Credit: National Retail Federation\n\nRetail is the nation\u2019s largest private-sector employer, driving the U.S. economy and creating jobs in communities throughout the country. In Vermont, retail directly supports more than 66,000 jobs and contributes $9.2 billion in economic activity. Vermont boasts nearly 82,000 small businesses, which represent 99% of all businesses in the state, and employ over 62% of Vermont\u2019s overall workforce\u2014higher than the national average. Small businesses in Vermont also employ a diverse workforce, with 43.8% of small businesses in the state owned by women and 6% owned by veterans.\n\nUnder the Credit Card Competition Act, the Federal Reserve would issue regulations that require banks with over $100 billion in assets to enable at least two unaffiliated credit card networks, one of which must be outside of the top two largest networks, to process transactions on credit cards the banks issue. This would empower small business owners to pick the network that best suits their needs and inject real competition into the credit card market\u2014opening the door for new market entrants, encouraging innovation and enhanced security, and exerting competitive constraints on the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. It is estimated that the CCCA would save merchants and consumers over $16 billion each year.\n\nSenator Welch has led efforts to combat market consolidation in the retail industry and ensure Vermont\u2019s small businesses get a fair shot at success. In addition to the CCCA, the Senator is a cosponsor of the Fair Competition for Small Business Act, which would help protect small retailers from monopolistic, big-box stores that make it difficult for smaller operations to succeed.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-cassidy-applaud-senate-advancement-of-bipartisan-reauthorization-of-the-older-americans-act/", "NEWS:\u00a0Sanders, Cassidy Applaud Senate Advancement of Bipartisan Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, July 15 \u2014 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) applaud the Senate unanimously passing the Older Americans Act (OAA), a critically important law that provides services supporting the health, independence and dignity of older adults across the nation. The bill\u2019s reauthorization effort was also led by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m delighted that the Senate unanimously passed legislation last night to expand and improve the Older Americans Act,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThis legislation begins to pay attention to the urgent unmet needs of seniors in America and what we should do as a nation to reduce the senior poverty rate, prevent hunger, combat loneliness and isolation and improve the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in our country. Not only does the Older Americans Act save lives and ease human suffering, it saves money. In fact, it costs less to feed a senior for an entire year through the Older Americans Act than it does for a senior to spend one night in a hospital. While there is much more that we must do to reduce the senior poverty rate in America and to make sure that every senior in America has access to the services they need this bi-partisan legislation is a very good step forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Older Americans Act helps Americans remain independent and connected to the communities they helped build. For more than 60 years, the Older Americans Act has connected seniors with services that help them age with dignity,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cThis bipartisan reauthorization ensures that support continues as the nation\u2019s aging population grows.\u201d\n\nThe OAA, first signed into law in 1965, funds a wide range of services. The act has provided vital nutrition, social, economic and health services to millions of older adults for over six decades. Last reauthorized in 2020, OAA expired in the 118th congress. The previous OAA reauthorization effort, also lead by Sanders and Cassidy, passed the Senate unanimously in 2024 but did not pass the House.\n\nThe bipartisan reauthorization of the Older American Act marks a major step forward in strengthening the nation\u2019s commitment to older adults. The legislation expands critical nutrition, health and community-based services at a time when millions of older adults are facing growing unmet needs. It would reauthorize OAA programs through fiscal year 2030 and make improvements to better support family caregivers and direct care workers, Tribal seniors and those with disabilities in their communities.", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/senate-passes-welch-cramer-bipartisan-resolution-honoring-canada-and-mexico-as-cohosts-of-the-2026-fifa-world-cup/", "Senate Passes Welch-Cramer Bipartisan Resolution Honoring\u00a0Canada and Mexico as Cohosts\u00a0of the\u00a02026 FIFA World\u00a0Cup", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Bipartisan resolution recognizes the first FIFA tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Peter Welch and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) today celebrated the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of their bipartisan resolution honoring the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Senators\u2019 resolution celebrates that for first time in the history of the competition, the World Cup has been jointly hosted by three nations, with matches held across 16 North American cities, including 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The resolution underlines how this milestone was made possible by the spirit of continental unity and cooperation among America\u2019s neighbors.\n\nThe 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a milestone in sporting history as the first to feature an expanded field of 48 national teams and a record 104 matches. America\u2019s host cities for this year\u2019s competition included Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle.\n\n\u201cThe \u2018United Bid\u2019 of America, Canada, and Mexico was made possible by a shared, strong partnership between our countries, grounded in mutual respect and centered on shared values of peace and prosperity. From Boston to Seattle, we\u2019ve been thrilled to welcome folks from across the world to America to foster global peace, friendship, and fair competition. It was exciting to watch the U.S. Men\u2019s National Team compete with grit and determination, which rallied so many Americans around this historic tournament,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Cramer in leading this effort thanking our great neighbors, Canada and Mexico, for their collaboration in bringing the world\u2019s most popular tournament back home in a historic way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s FIFA World Cup has been one for the books! Unanimously passing our resolution is a fitting way to send all teams home with respect for their accomplishments and appreciation for their sportsmanship. Welcoming the world with American hospitality while celebrating our shared love for soccer has been a highlight of the year,\u201d said Senator Cramer.\n\nThe 2026 Men\u2019s World Cup is the highest attended FIFA World Cup in the competition\u2019s history, with a current all-time attendance record of 3,605,357. Prior to this year\u2019s tournament, the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, was the most attended tournament in history with over 3,587,000 spectators. The legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup fundamentally changed the trajectory of soccer in America, leading directly to the 1996 launch of Major League Soccer and the creation of new professional pathways for players from the United States.\n\nRead and download the full text of the resolution.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-grills-blanche-during-nomination-hearing-to-serve-as-attorney-general-todd-blanche-works-for-donald-trump-he-does-not-work-for-the-american-people/", "Welch\u00a0Grills\u00a0Blanche During\u00a0Nomination Hearing to Serve as Attorney General:\u00a0\u201cTodd Blanche works for Donald Trump. He does not work for the American people.\u201d", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch pressed Trump\u2019s former personal attorney and Acting AG Todd Blanche on his conflicts of interest during tenure as Deputy AG\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, grilled Acting Attorney General (AG) and AG nominee Todd Blanche on his role in the Trump Administration\u2019s corruption of the pardon process at the Department of Justice (DOJ), and in negotiating a settlement between President Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. In his remarks, Senator Welch emphasized that Acting AG Blanche\u2019s demonstrated loyalty to President Trump\u2014his former client\u2014is prioritized ahead of the Americans he has been entrusted to serve.\n\n\u201cWe cannot have a Justice Department that makes prosecutions of American citizens\u2014whether they\u2019re in office or not\u2014on the basis of the political preferences of the president. Todd Blanche works for Donald Trump. He does not work for the American people,\u201d said Senator Welch at a press conference following the hearing.\n\nWatch Senator Welch\u2019s full remarks from the hearing below:\n\nRead and watch an excerpt from Senator Welch\u2019s exchange with Acting AG Blanche about his involvement in the settlement granting President Trump legal immunity and creating the anti-weaponization slush fund:\n\nSen. Welch: I mean, that is truly bizarre that the chief executive gets his appointed person\u2014who was formerly his personal attorney\u2014to negotiate on his behalf, where at the end of the day, taxpayers are going to pay.\n\nActing AG Blanche: The other thing I\u2019ll correct, though, is you used the word as if I negotiated. I wasn\u2019t part of the negotiation, which I\u2019ve said before.\n\nSen. Welch: Your department is\u2014you had to sign off on it. That is your signature.\n\nActing AG Blanche: Yes, that\u2019s true. Yes, that is my signature.\n\nSen. Welch: I mean, look: you\u2019re at the top of the pile here. So, you don\u2019t get involved in all the phone calls and all the details, but at the end of the day ,you have to do due diligence and satisfy yourself that you, in good faith, can sign off on the agreement. And you did. So that is your responsibility and I\u2019m sure you accept that.\n\nActing AG Blanche: Correct. Yes, oh I do have responsibility for it. I agree with that.\n\nSen. Welch: That\u2019s right.\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nSenator Welch has called on Acting AG Blanche to resign and expressed strong opposition to Acting AG Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve in the role permanently.\n\nIn May, Senator Welch led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding that the DOJ Inspector General (IG) launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation into President Trump\u2019s creation of the nearly $1.8 billion \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund,\u201d emphasizing how President Trump\u2019s slush fund, created from a settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), represents waste, fraud, and abuse of an unprecedented magnitude and must be subjected to independent scrutiny.\n\nLast year, Senator Welch led Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in requesting documents from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to determine the veracity of U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche\u2019s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his nomination hearing in February 2025. Mr. Blanche testified at the hearing and in subsequent written answers to Members\u2019 questions that he had no knowledge of the decision to dismiss the criminal charges against then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, an assertion that has been contradicted by unsealed court documents\u2014including a letter from then-Interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon to Attorney General Bondi\u2014suggesting he was aware of the decision.\n\nThe Senator subsequently led every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat in calling on Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate the truthfulness of Mr. Blanche\u2019s testimony at his confirmation hearing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-heinrich-schatz-colleagues-to-discuss-future-of-the-energy-workforce-with-labor-leaders/", "Welch Joins Heinrich, Schatz, Colleagues to Discuss Future of the Energy Workforce with Labor Leaders", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch: \u201cNow it\u2019s time to have an industrial policy that\u2019s good for workers, and good for America, and good for the economy.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, this week joined Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Senate Democratic colleagues, and labor leaders to discuss the future of America\u2019s energy workforce, policies that support clean energy and manufacturing jobs, and the impacts of the Trump Administration\u2019s actions on workers. Senator Welch highlighted the need for Congress to invest in career and technical education opportunities to expand America\u2019s clean energy workforce.\n\n\u201cCongress plays an important role in helping meet the needs of the American people and American workers. A big part of that must be investing in clean energy\u2014not because it\u2019s the right thing to do, but because it\u2019s the necessary thing to do. We need industrial policy that\u2019s good for workers, good for America, and good for the economy,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep fighting for good jobs for hardworking people.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Welch\u2019s full remarks below:\n\nSenators Welch, Heinrich, and Schatz were joined at the roundtable by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nSenators heard from panelists including President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Liz Shuler; General President of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Brent Booker; President of Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Carl Kennebrew; Director of Unity and Strength for Workers (USW) District 1 (Ohio/Michigan) Donnie Blatt; Maryland State Senator and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 Vice President Cory McCray; and Executive Director of BlueGreen Alliance Jason Walsh.\n\nWatch a livestream of the roundtable here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/trumps-illegal-war-with-iran-has-forced-vermont-to-pay-113-million-more-for-gas-so-far/", "Trump\u2019s Illegal War with Iran Has Forced Vermont to Pay\u00a0$113 Million More\u00a0for\u00a0Gas, So Far", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Vermont households have spent $441 more for gas since the war began\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee today released new data outlining how President Trump\u2019s reckless and illegal war with Iran has driven up gasoline costs for Vermont families, farmers, and businesses. The new data shows that since the war began on February 28, Americans have spent a total of $56.4 billion more for gas. In Vermont, the increase in gas spending totals $113,105,145, with families spending $441 more on average, per household.\n\nU.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, released the following statement on the new data:\n\n\u201cVermont families are paying the price for President Trump\u2019s illegal war with Iran. The average household has spent $441 more for gas, so far\u2014and there\u2019s no end in sight. The President needs to get out of this reckless war, which has caused incredible harm to our economy and driven up costs for families in Vermont and across the country.\u201d\n\nView the data from JEC below:\n\nSenator Welch is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit. He was a member of the Joint Economic Committee in the 118th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-on-the-ndaa-this-national-defense-authorization-fails-to-address-the-critical-question-that-is-before-this-country-right-now-the-war-in-iran-welch/", "Welch\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0NDAA:\u00a0\u201cThis national defense authorization fails to address the critical question that is before this country right now...the war in Iran.\u201d\u00a0Welch\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0NDAA:", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today delivered remarks from the Senate floor urging his colleagues to reconsider debate or advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), citing the ongoing, escalating war with Iran and the inclusion of new policy provisions that require the U.S. to deepen our defense and intelligence sharing relationship with the government of Israel.\n\n\u201cThis national defense authorization fails to address the critical question that is before this country right now, and that is the war in Iran,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cIt fails to address the changing nature of warfare, by spending half a trillion dollars more on weapons systems that are the weapons systems of yesterday\u2026It outsources, to another country, decisions on intelligence sharing and weapons production that should only be made by our country. It commits the taxpayers of this country to the obligation of another half trillion dollars, with absolutely no outline of how we\u2019re going to pay for it\u2014and this, on top of a deficit that is the highest we\u2019ve ever had in this country.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Welch\u2019s speech below:\n\nRead an excerpt of Senator Welch\u2019s remarks:\n\n\u201cWhen it comes to sharing intelligence, I want our generals; I want our national security officials; I want our president, our chief executive and commander in chief; to have unfettered discretion to make those decisions about with whom we share information, what information we share, and under what circumstances, to be our decision and our decision alone\u2026We\u2019ve never, ever, had an obligation to relinquish the exclusive right of decision making that has to fundamentally be made on the best interest of what is in the national security interest of the people in this country. We cannot relinquish that right and that responsibility.\u201d\n\n\u2022\u2022\u2022\n\nLast week, Senator Welch joined a letter led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urging their colleagues to oppose the motion to proceed with a vote on the NDAA, unless it addresses provisions that lock in U.S.-Israel defense and intelligence cooperation. These new provisions were included in the bill despite reports by U.S. intelligence agencies that the Israeli government has worked to undermine the President\u2019s peace negotiations and is spying on the United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-sanders-balint-lead-reintroduction-of-bill-to-help-protect-vermont-farmland-from-flooding/", "Welch, Sanders, Balint\u00a0Lead Reintroduction of\u00a0Bill\u00a0to Help Protect Vermont Farmland from Flooding", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, alongside the Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), reintroduced the Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act. This bicameral legislation would ensure all states can access the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) funding to implement buffer zones, agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution.\n\n\u201cOur farmers deserve access to the tools and resources they need to fight climate change and make farmland more flood resilient. An essential part of that has to be cutting through red tape that forces Vermont farmers to jump through more hoops to receive compensation for their work than farmers in other states,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Sanders and Rep. Balint on this legislation to help Vermont farmers better mitigate flooding risk and protect our state\u2019s farmland from natural disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont farmers are still recovering from multiple years of flooding. They want to ensure their fields are better protected from future storms, especially in the face of climate change. This important legislation will cut through bureaucracy and ensure our farmers are compensated for their work to improve our state\u2019s water quality and protect their land from the kind of damage we saw over the past few years,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cAs climate change brings more frequent and severe extreme weather events, it\u2019s critical that farmers in Vermont and across the country have the tools they need to protect their land and livelihoods,\u201d said Rep. Balint. \u201cAhead of the anniversary of the catastrophic 2023 and 2024 floods, I\u2019m proud to be reintroducing the BUFFER Act alongside our Senators. Our delegation stands united in support of Vermonters as folks continue to rebuild.\u201d\n\nThe delegation first introduced the legislation in direct response to Vermont\u2019s catastrophic July 2023 floods.\n\nBuffer zones are agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution, and provide a habitat for pollinators. Like many states, Vermont requires farmers to implement buffer systems. As such, farmers in Vermont have sought to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) to implement buffers in their fields. However, because the State of Vermont has a buffer mandate, USDA\u2019s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has required Vermont to follow an arduous process to access CREP buffer funding. These bureaucratic barriers have hampered Vermonters\u2019 ability to use this vital conservation tool and receive compensation for their preventative work.\n\nThe bicameral BUFFER Act aims to ensure that Vermont farmers are compensated for their efforts to improve water quality and protect their fields from flooding. The bill would ensure that all states can access USDA\u2019s Conservation CREP funding to implement buffer zones, even if state law already requires farmers to maintain buffer zones.\n\nLearn more about the BUFFER Act.\n\nRead and download the full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-11T07:10:48Z", "2026-07-11T07:14:29Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-civil-war-and-genocide-in-sudan/", "NEWS: Sanders Statement on Civil War and Genocide in Sudan", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", "sanders", "https://www.sanders.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt. July. 9 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement:\n\nThis is the year 2026. One might have hoped that, after thousands of years of war, humanity could have come up with a better way to resolve conflicts than killing and mass destruction. Unfortunately, that is not the case. There is now more war and bloodshed raging across the world than at almost any point in decades.\n\nIn February 2022, Vladimir Putin, without provocation, invaded Ukraine. The result: hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed, millions displaced and a war that grinds on with no end in sight.\n\nIn October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 innocent people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Netanyahu and the Israeli military did not simply wage war against Hamas \u2014 they waged war against the entire population of Gaza. At least 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, the real toll almost certainly far higher, most of them women, children and the elderly. Virtually the entire physical infrastructure of Gaza has been destroyed. I agree with the major human rights organizations around the world who call this a genocide.\n\nFour months ago, in collusion with Netanyahu, Trump took a page from Putin\u2019s playbook: he started a war with Iran without provocation. The result of this war (and the ensuing Israeli war against Lebanon): 13 U.S. service members dead, thousands of Iranian and Lebanese civilians killed and more than $100 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars spent.\n\nAnd in the midst of all of this \u2014 Ukraine, Gaza, Iran \u2014 there is another horrific war happening now that is getting relatively little attention: the civil war and genocide in Sudan.\n\nSudan\u2019s two rival military factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the country\u2019s national army, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have been at war since 2023. The RSF descends from the Janjaweed militias that carried out Sudan\u2019s first genocide in Darfur two decades ago, killing as many as 400,000 non-Arab civilians. Today, the RSF is trying to finish what it started. The State Department has formally determined that the RSF is committing genocide, again, murdering men and boys and systematically raping women and girls because of their ethnicity. Last October, the RSF laid siege to the city of El-Fasher; in just the first three days after it fell, an estimated 6,000 people were killed. Right now, the same horror is unfolding in the city of El-Obeid, where nearly half a million people are trapped.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear. Trump\u2019s good friend and staunch U.S. ally, the United Arab Emirates dictatorship, run by one of the wealthiest families in the world \u2014 has financed and enabled this genocide for years. And why is this happening? Billions of dollars of looted gold from Sudan is flowing straight into the pockets of Emirati oligarchs \u2013 making a multibillionaire family even richer. This has been documented by the United Nations, independent journalists, and international human rights organizations.\n\nHere is the scale of what this war has caused: at least 59,000 people confirmed killed since 2023, with credible estimates running as high as 150,000. Fourteen million people driven from their homes. Thirty million people, two\u2013thirds of Sudan\u2019s population, in need of emergency humanitarian assistance just to survive.\n\nU.S. foreign policy must be based on a respect for democracy and human rights. We cannot be complicit in the face of genocide, no matter where it is happening. Congress must demand that the UAE cease its military support for the RSF and work with the international community and the Sudanese people to bring an end to this horrific conflict and provide the humanitarian aid that is desperately needed there.", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-climate-action-campaign-for-hearing-on-the-impacts-of-climate-change-and-extreme-weather/", "Welch Joins Climate Action Campaign for Hearing on\u00a0the\u00a0Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Weather", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch, Balint, and State and Community Leaders Heard from Flood-Impacted Vermonters in Barre, Vermont\n\nBARRE \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vermont State Senators Anne Watson and Andrew Perchlik, alongside the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) and its Vermont partners, at the Old Labor Hall in Barre for an Extreme Weather People\u2019s Hearing.\n\nThe event, through first person testimony, highlighted how climate change is fueling more dangerous and deadly extreme weather, and threatening the lives and livelihoods of Vermonters. Small business owners, public health experts, farmers, and community members testified about how their lives have been disrupted by climate change-fueled extreme weather, including the catastrophic flooding in July of 2023 and 2024.\n\n\u201cVermonters know firsthand the pain caused by climate-driven extreme weather. This week, we\u2019re remembering the floods of 2023 and 2024, which caused brutal damage to homes, farms, small businesses, and entire communities. Many folks are still recovering, and they need support from the federal government. I\u2019m fighting in Washington to get disaster recovery funding back to Vermont and improve disaster assistance programs to better support rural states,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cClimate change and extreme weather events can hit any community. This is a red state issue just as much as it is a blue state issue; We need bipartisan solutions and action\u2014and we need it now.\u201d\n\nPhoto Credit: Climate Action Campaign\n\nSenator Welch has advocated for disaster aid funding throughout Vermont\u2019s catastrophic back-to-back flooding in July 2023 and July 2024. On the anniversaries of Vermont\u2019s catastrophic floods, Senator Welch introduced the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, which would cut red tape and support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. The bill was inspired and shaped by the disaster recovery experience of communities across Vermont.\n\nThe Senator also introduced the Rural Recovery Act, which would create a new program at USDA Rural Development (RD) to provide RD state offices with automatic funding for emergency recovery technical assistance after disasters take place in their jurisdiction.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/ahead-of-2023-and-2024-flood-anniversaries-welch-highlights-importance-of-flexible-flood-recovery-funding-for-vermont/", "Ahead of\u00a02023 and 2024\u00a0Flood Anniversaries, Welch\u00a0Highlights\u00a0Importance of Flexible Flood Recovery Funding for Vermont", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Following push by Welch and the Congressional Delegation, Vermont has been awarded nearly $68 million in flexible Community Development Block Grant\u2013Disaster Relief funds\n\nMONTPELIER \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today convened community and state leaders in Montpelier to highlight the importance of the Community Development Block Grant\u2013Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program, flexible disaster recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dedicated to supporting housing reconstruction and rehabilitation, infrastructure redevelopment, and flood mitigation efforts. While in Montpelier, Senator Welch visited the location of a new housing project funded by the CDBG-DR program and discussed the importance of flexible funding for Vermont\u2019s flood recovery.\n\nIn the aftermath of the 2023 and 2024 floods, Senator Welch championed a comprehensive disaster relief bill which provided more than $100 billion in relief for disaster-impacted states like Vermont. This bill included $12 billion in flexible CDBG-DR funds to help communities across the country recover from natural disasters. Vermont has received nearly $68 million in CDBG-DR funding.\n\n\u201cSo many of FEMA\u2019s recovery programs are too rigid\u2014that\u2019s why after the 2023 and 2024 floods I fought hard to secure dedicated funding for the flexible Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief program. This grant program puts more power in the hands of state and local leaders as they build back smarter, and that\u2019s the key to true resilience. It\u2019s only one tool in our toolbox, but this program will help us take a big step toward ensuring our communities are safer, stronger, and more prepared for whatever the future holds,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m proud we secured more than $67 million in CDBG-DR funding for Vermont, and today we can see this funding at work. I look forward to touring this new housing and renovation project soon.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch was joined by Doug Farnham, State of Vermont\u2019s Chief Recovery Officer; Nate Formalarie, Deputy Commissioner of DHCD; Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet Housing; Gus Seelig, Executive Director of VHCB; and Beth Sightler, CEO of Washington County Mental Health Services.\n\nIn December 2023, Senator Welch testified before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and advocated for the inclusion of CDBG-DR funding in the comprehensive disaster supplemental package. The comprehensive disaster relief bill, signed by President Biden in 2024, provided more than $100 billion total in disaster relief, and contained many of Senator Welch\u2019s top priorities for Vermont: flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant\u2013Disaster Recovery fund; support for FEMA\u2019s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF); dedicated help for flood-impacted farmers; and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help businesses and homeowners recover, among many other resources.\n\nLearn more about HUD\u2019s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-09T08:24:13Z", "2026-07-09T08:26:05Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-announces-nearly-2-million-in-new-fema-funding-to-lamoille-and-washington-counties/", "Welch Announces\u00a0Nearly\u00a0$2 Million\u00a0in New FEMA Funding\u00a0to\u00a0Lamoille and Washington Counties", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "MORRISVILLE, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today announced the delivery of over $1.79 million in federal funding, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to repair catastrophic damage to the Morrisville Water & Light and the Town of Marshfield caused by severe flooding in July 2023.\n\nThe federal funding grants announced include $1.32 million to Morrisville Water & Light in Lamoille County to restore their water supply system back to pre-disaster function and capacity, including repairing building exterior and interior elements, replacing major electrical, mechanical, and chemical feed components, including the well pump motor and controls, and installing a new standby generator. Additionally, the Town of Marshfield in Washington County will receive $471,242 to support flood recovery and resiliency efforts.\n\n\u201cFlood and disaster-impacted communities depend on support from the federal government\u2014our towns and counties need to know FEMA will be there after a disaster hits, and as they strengthen their flood resiliency efforts. I\u2019m proud this federal funding is coming back to our state and will continue to fight for communities hit by the July 2023 and 2024 floods,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nSenator Welch has advocated for disaster aid funding throughout Vermont\u2019s catastrophic back-to-back flooding in July 2023 and July 2024. On the anniversaries of Vermont\u2019s catastrophic floods, Senator Welch introduced the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, which would cut red tape and support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. The bill was inspired and shaped by the disaster recovery experience of communities across Vermont. The Senator also introduced the Rural Recovery Act, which would create a new program at USDA Rural Development (RD) to provide RD state offices with automatic funding for emergency recovery technical assistance after disasters take place in their jurisdiction.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/vermont-delegation-secures-more-than-19-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-funding-for-u-s-route-7-reconstruction/", "Vermont Delegation Secures More than $19 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding for U.S. Route 7 Reconstruction", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT\u2013July 6, 2026\u2013The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) today announced $19,719,310 in federal funding to complete the reconstruction of U.S. Route 7 from Pittsford to Brandon, Vermont. The funding for the Vermont Agency of Transportation was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program and made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)\u2014better known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re proud to announce more than $19 million in federal funds to support the State of Vermont\u2019s work on the Ethan Allen Highway. This project will make one of the most traveled highways in our state safer and more reliable, from Pittsford to Brandon and beyond,\u201d said Sanders, Welch, and Balint.\n\n\u201cInvestments like these are critical to maintaining our infrastructure for years to come,\u201d said Governor Phil Scott. \u201cI\u2019m appreciative of the Agency of Transportation\u2019s work as well as the congressional delegation for their work in bringing this funding back home to Vermont.\u201d\n\nThe project includes roadway reconstruction, widening, shoulder improvements, drainage and culvert replacement, bridge upgrades, safety enhancements, and wildlife crossing improvements. Senator Sanders is a senior member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which oversees this funding.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-joins-all-senate-democrats-in-demanding-trump-halt-illegal-move-to-undermine-special-ed-civil-rights-enforcement/", "Welch Joins All Senate Democrats in Demanding Trump Halt Illegal Move to Undermine Special Ed, Civil Rights Enforcement", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding the Trump administration put students first, follow the law, and immediately reverse course on transferring special education programs and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education (ED).\n\nOn June 16, 2026, the Trump Administration announced four Interagency Agreements (IAA) that would illegally move the administration of special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and vocational rehabilitation programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act from the ED to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These IAA also transfer fundamental civil rights enforcement responsibility away from ED to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and come as the Trump Administration has successfully worked to undermine core functions and statutory responsibilities of ED, following sweeping and unlawful firings, workforce reductions, and reorganization last year that have already undermined the very goals of the Education Department. At the same time, ED moved almost all programs supporting elementary and secondary education to multiple agencies with limited capacity and expertise administering similar programs.\n\nIn their letter to ED Secretary Linda McMahon, the Senators outline how the Trump Administration\u2019s latest moves are part of the president\u2019s explicit effort to dismantle ED, threatening key funding, support and services for students, schools, and families nationwide. The Senators also emphasize that wasting time and resources to scatter education programs all over the federal government does nothing to help children and families while only making it more complicated for states and school districts to administer important federal funding.\n\nThe Senators underscore that isolating special education programs away from all other federal K-12 programs risks isolating students with disabilities themselves: \u201cThe administration\u2019s latest attempts to dismantle the Department of Education through the four Interagency Agreements (IAA) announced June 16, 2026, are outrageous and put the educational outcomes of students and their rights in the classroom at risk\u2026The administration\u2019s actions fly in the face of what Congress has required, directly undermine every child\u2019s right to a quality public education in this country, and must be immediately reversed.\u201d\n\nDespite announcing this illegal transfer of programs, the Trump Administration has refused to provide information regarding what office within HHS will carry out special education programs, leaving teachers, students, and families with even greater uncertainty about where to turn to ensure their rights are protected. The Senators emphasize that burying special education programs in a sprawling HHS with significant other responsibilities, instead of at a Department of Education a fraction of the size solely focused on education, will jeopardize outcomes for students with disabilities.\n\n\u201cSpecial education and vocational rehabilitation are education programs. Any attempt to move these programs to HHS would fundamentally alter the purposes of these services, upending fifty years of work that took place at the federal, state, and local level to improve educational and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. It appears the administration values its backward goal of dismantling ED over the faithful execution of the law and improving opportunities and outcomes for children, youth, and students with disabilities,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThis lack of forethought demonstrates how little concern it has for students with disabilities and their learning. The administration couldn\u2019t possibly know that this will be in the best interest of children and families because it doesn\u2019t even know where and how these programs will be administered in the future.\u201d\n\nThe most recent reauthorization of IDEA passed by Congress reiterates that the responsibility for administering the law is clearly vested with ED, along with various duties vested in the Secretary of Education, including allotting funds to States and carrying out oversight among other activities. However, the law does not contain any provisions that would permit ED to offload its responsibilities for special education or vocational rehabilitation programs to another agency. Additionally, the annual bipartisan appropriation bills approved by Congress do not provide affirmative authority to ED to transfer special education funding or vocational rehabilitation services to HHS, nor ED\u2019s civil rights enforcement responsibilities to DOJ CRT.\n\nThe Senators reiterated that Congress appropriates annual funding to ED to help States and local educational agencies carry out programs and ensure children, youth, students, and families are served in accordance with federal law: \u201cWe have a simple demand: follow our nation\u2019s education and appropriations laws as Congress wrote them to protect students\u2019 most basic right to a quality education. More than 80 education, disability, parent, and civil rights groups have vocally opposed the recent IAAs and other departmental changes. We call on this administration to immediately cease implementing these IAAs, fully implement IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act as Congressionally directed, and take immediate action to strengthen civil rights enforcement\u2014instead of burying students\u2019 cases behind more bureaucracy. Our students and their families deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\nMeanwhile, the transfer of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) out of ED also comes as the Trump Administration has failed to uphold the federal government\u2019s obligations to protect students from unlawful discrimination. In 2025, ED\u2019s OCR reached the fewest resolution agreements in over 12 years and failed to reach a single resolution agreement related to sexual harassment, sexual violence, racial harassment, discriminatory school discipline, or the seclusion and restraint of children with disabilities, with over 12,000 pending cases that were under investigation by OCR at the start of this Administration.\n\nDespite this backlog, the Trump Administration is attempting to illegally transfer OCR\u2019s functions to the Department of Justice\u2019s Civil Rights Division (CRT), which has lost an estimated 75% of its civil rights staff attorneys since January 2025, making it wholly unequipped to handle the over 23,000 complaints OCR receives and evaluates annually. The Senators also raised concerns that while OCR is currently required to evaluate every single complaint it receives, DOJ CRT can pick and choose the cases it takes to court. Under this IAA, students whose complaints are not prioritized by DOJ CRT may never see their rights vindicated.\n\nIn addition to Senators Welch, Baldwin, Murray, and Sanders, the letter is cosigned by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).\n\nRead and download the Senators\u2019 full letter to Secretary McMahon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-meets-with-health-care-leaders-in-bennington-to-discuss-future-of-rural-health-care-improving-access-to-affordable-care-statewide/", "Welch Meets with Health Care Leaders in Bennington to Discuss Future of Rural\u00a0Health\u00a0Care, Improving Access to\u00a0Affordable\u00a0Care Statewide", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BENNINGTON, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, this week hosted a roundtable on rural health care innovation, featuring local health care leaders, medical experts, and community members. The Senator discussed challenges faced by health care providers and patients in Vermont.\n\nWhile at the Bennington Firehouse, he highlighted the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act, his legislation that would require the government to pay for vital EMS services provided to individuals on Medicare.\n\n\u201cThe state of health care in rural America is more than concerning: communities lack access to critical services they need, insurance costs are skyrocketing, and people are suffering. President Trump\u2019s reckless tax bill, which was signed one year ago this week, made it even more expensive to live in rural America and pushed affordable care further out of reach through cuts to Medicaid funding and our state\u2019s rural hospitals and clinics,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to sit down with Bennington\u2019s leading health care experts to hear about innovative changes that will improve and expand access to health care services in our rural communities. I\u2019ll take their insight to Washington and continue to fight to improve access to care in rural America.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch is a champion for rural health care, and has worked across the aisle to lead legislation to improve access to care, including the Rural Hospital Support Act, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act, Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, Multigenerational Home Caregiver Credit Act, and the CONNECT for Health Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-hosts-common-grounds-with-senator-welch-listening-session-in-bennington-county/", "Welch Hosts \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 Listening Session in\u00a0Bennington\u00a0County", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Welch highlights how President Trump has raised costs for average Vermont households by more than $2,000\n\nBENNINGTON, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today hosted a \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 listening session at Bennington College\u2019s Purple Carrot Farm. The Senator heard from Vermonters about how Washington can work better for Bennington County families, farmers, and businesses.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s policies are hurting Vermont families. A large part of the hardship facing rural communities stems from the president\u2019s so-called \u2018One Big Beautiful Bill\u2019\u2014signed one year ago this week\u2014which made life more expensive for working families and gave tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. The president\u2019s illegal war with Iran and reckless trade war, cuts to Medicaid, and his refusal to extend health care tax credits\u2014which helped more than 30,000 Vermonters access health care\u2014have only worsened the affordability crisis gripping our country,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cAt the end of the day, President Trump\u2019s disastrous policies have raised costs for Vermont families\u2014it\u2019s an unsustainable financial burden for families who can\u2019t make ends meet. I\u2019ll keep fighting to reverse these policies and work to make life more affordable for everyday Vermonters.\u201d\n\nView photos from the event below and on the Senator\u2019s website:\n\nSenator Welch has hosted Common Grounds events in Franklin, Addison, Caledonia, Orleans, Orange, Lamoille, Grand Isle, and Windsor counties, and will host listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026. Sign up for the Senator\u2019s newsletter here to learn more about his upcoming events in Vermont.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-statement-on-the-future-of-the-usmca-trade-agreement-and-u-s-canada-trade-relations/", "Welch Statement on the Future of the USMCA Trade Agreement and U.S.-Canada Trade Relations", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was negotiated and signed by President Trump in 2018\n\nBURLINGTON, VT\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration\u2019s refusal to extend the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, which was negotiated and signed by President Trump in 2018 and went into effect in 2020:\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers rely on the USMCA to maintain strong trade relationships with our neighbors\u2014especially Canada. President Trump\u2019s anti-Canadian rhetoric and reckless tariffs have created economic chaos on both sides of the border. The ripple effects have been severe and lasting, hurting Vermont\u2019s Main Streets, our agriculture economy, and our tourism. Economic chaos has been a hallmark of the last 18 months, and today\u2019s announcement by the Trump Administration only adds fuel to the fire. To be crystal clear for Vermonters who rely on this trade agreement: the USMCA still remains intact,\u201d said Senator Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. \u201cPresident Trump negotiated and signed this trade agreement in his first term. The USMCA has been a key tool in keeping trade flowing after the president lodged extreme tariffs on our closest trading partners. No trade agreement is perfect, but we need to extend the USMCA to bolster our North American supply chain and to protect and create manufacturing jobs. I urge Ambassador Greer, the White House, and Canadian trade officials to come to a swift resolution on unresolved matters and to maintain this critical agreement.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-hosts-common-grounds-with-senator-welch-listening-session-in-franklin-county/", "Welch Hosts \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 Listening Session in\u00a0Franklin County", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "SAINT ALBANS, VT \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) hosted a \u2018Common Grounds with Senator Welch\u2019 listening session at 14th Star Brewing Co. in Saint Albans City. The Senator joined community members and local leaders to discuss the challenges facing families, farmers, and businesses in Franklin County and how Washington can work better to address them.\n\n\u201cRural communities like Saint Albans are facing more burdens than ever because of Trump Administration policies, from his disastrous war of choice in Iran to eviscerating the federal workforce. The president\u2019s tariffs hit our farmers, hospitality, and tourism especially hard,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThe bottom line here is that we need to make Washington work better for Vermonters. I\u2019ll keep working hard to reverse this administration\u2019s reckless policies and power grabs to protect our democracy and restore the rule of law.\u201d\n\nView photos from the event below and on the Senator\u2019s website:\n\nSenator Welch has hosted Common Grounds events in Addison, Caledonia, Orleans, Orange, Lamoille, Grand Isle, and Windsor counties, and will host listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026. Sign up for the Senator\u2019s newsletter here to learn more about his upcoming events in Vermont.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-to-protect-birthright-citizenship/", "Welch\u00a0Statement on\u00a0Supreme Court\u00a0Ruling to Protect Birthright Citizenship", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, released the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which overturns Executive Order 14160, President Trump\u2019s illegal attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship\u2014a constitutional right granted under the Fourteenth Amendment:\n\n\u201cThe 14th Amendment of our Constitution is clear: if you are born in America, you are an American citizen. It\u2019s not up for debate. Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what we know to be true\u2014the president\u2019s executive order attempting to overturn birthright citizenship was an illegal overreach and wrong,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis administration leads with chaos and is hell bent on advancing its mass deportation campaign. The president\u2019s attempt to subvert the clear words of the Constitution would have stripped citizenship, rights, and protections from American children while creating chaos and confusion for millions of our fellow citizens. Thankfully, the Supreme Court has stepped in to block this policy.\n\nWelch concluded: \u201cCitizenship means embracing the responsibilities every one of us has to promote the ideals that everyone is created equal and has an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of our society. Every child born in this country deserves that opportunity.\u201d\n\nSenator Welch has emphasized the grave dangers of President Trump\u2019s executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and outlined how Americans\u2019 constitutional and civil rights are being violated under the Trump Administration. The Senator is a cosponsor of the Born in the USA Act, legislation aimed at blocking the implementation of President Trump\u2019s executive order to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. The legislation would prevent any government funds from being used to carry out or enforce this directive.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 349, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "VT", "p2": "2026"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 309, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 40, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026&party=Independent", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 349, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "VT", "label": "VT", "count": 349, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 349, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-06-30,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ewelch~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fwelch-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-to-protect-birthright-citizenship~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=VT&year=2026&_next=2026-06-30%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ewelch~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fwelch-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-to-protect-birthright-citizenship~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 122.08404787816107, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}