{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"VT\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=153", "Rep. Balint Names Williston High Schooler 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "BRATTLEBORO, VT \u2014 On Tuesday, Congresswoman Becca Balint virtually hosted a reception for the Congressional App Challenge. The winner, Clay Nicholson of Williston, submitted an app titled Lexiscan, an app that helps dyslexic people read books and signs.\n\nClay was inspired to make Lexiscan after a conversation with a friend, who shared his struggle with dyslexia and how it affected his reading. Using Lexiscan, the user can take a photo of the text they want to read, and the app will identify the text in the image, display the text on the screen, then read the text out loud in one of eight different languages. Judges were impressed that this app showed great technical skill and practicality.\n\n\u201cI am excited by all the students who developed creative and forward-thinking apps,\u201d Congresswoman Balint said. \u201cI am so proud to see Vermont\u2019s students finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges.\u201d\n\nOfficially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide effort that allows students to compete against their peers in each Congressional district by creating an application (also known as an \u201capp\u201d). The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science. The competition is open to all middle and high school students in the United States. The app designed by Vermont\u2019s first-place winner is featured alongside the winners from other Congressional districts in the United States Capitol Building and on the main website for the U.S. House: House.gov.\n\nJudges for the 2023 Vermont Congressional App Challenge include:\n\n\u00b7 Denise Reilly-Hughes, Vermont Secretary of Digital Services\n\n\u00b7 Vincent Moeykens, Beta Technologies\n\n\u00b7 Kevin Feal-Staub, Vermont Agency of Education Math Programs Coordinator\n\nFor more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=151", "Congresswoman Becca Balint and Congressman Dan Goldman Request Information from International Committee of the Red Cross, Urging Action on behalf of Hostages", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "What can the United States Congress do to assist the ICRC\u2019s efforts to immediately gain access to the hostages?\n\nRead the letter here or below:\n\nMirjana Spoljaric Egger\n\nPresident\n\nInternational Committee of the Red Cross 19 Avenue de la Paix\n\n1202 Geneva, Switzerland\n\nDear President Egger:\n\nWe write to express our profound concern at your lack of response to the recent war crimes perpetrated by terrorist organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (\u201cPIJ\u201d), including the illegal abduction of civilian hostages following the brutal events of October 7 and their continued captivity in horrific conditions. We appreciate your visit to Gaza last week and your call both for the hostages to be released \u2013 or at least for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to safely visit them \u2013 as well as more humanitarian aid to support displaced Palestinian civilians. But we do not accept Hamas\u2019s refusal to allow the ICRC to visit the hostages and urge you to do all that you can to provide care and protection of the hostages. We therefore write to request answers as to why your organization has been unable to execute its duties to ensure the care and protection of the Hostages; and we stand ready to offer our assistance in your efforts to achieve these objectives.\n\nRecently released hostages have revealed that they were forced to live in deplorable conditions lacking sufficient food, water, medication or sunlight. Worse yet, certain of them reported instances of sexual violence and rape, drugging, beating and branding. At least 20 died in captivity. Approximately 129 remain, 19 of which are female and 2 of which are children, and many are reportedly suffering from injury, illness, malnourishment and other ailments resulting from the living conditions and the lack of access to proper nourishment, sleep, medical attention and/or medication. Your intervention to attend to the hostages is required immediately.\n\nAs you know, the abduction of civilian hostages is explicitly prohibited under any circumstances by international law, which refers to any such abduction as a \u201cgrave breach.\u201d As such, there are no clear rules of internal humanitarian law (\u201cIHL\u201d) that even govern civilian hostages. But even if we were to apply treaties governing prisoners of war to the Israeli hostages, Hamas\u2019s and PIJ\u2019s treatment of them would easily be considered a clear violation of international law under Article 8(2) of the Rome Statute, the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (1979), as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1979.\n\nAs a critical threshold issue, international law requires those holding captives to provide proof of life, which Hamas and PIJ have refused to do. More importantly, international law requires those holding captives to permit wellness visits from the ICRC to ensure the health and well-being of the hostages. It is our understanding that, to date, Hamas and PIJ have refused to allow ICRC to visit the Hostages. This has been the case despite the fact that at least 20 have died in captivity; many others still remaining are sick and/or injured and in need of urgent medical attention; those released have revealed that the conditions of captivity are inhumane and illegal as discussed in greater detail below.\n\nYour organization exists to act in circumstances just like these. Indeed, the central mission of the ICRC is to \u201cprotect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and violence and to provide them with assistance.\u201d Given the widely-known depravity of the conditions of captivity, and the lack of public statements from the ICRC regarding such conditions or demanding access to the Hostages, we request answers to the questions enumerated below regarding why your organization has failed to properly execute its duty to ensure their care and protection, including the role, if any, that Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries in the region have played in assisting or obstructing your efforts.\n\nRemaining Female Hostages in Gaza\n\nHamas is reportedly still holding 129 Israeli hostages, of which 19 are women. According to the Biden administration, the Palestinian terrorist organizations continue to lie about the existence of these female hostages \u2013 purportedly for the most nefarious reasons. As State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said on December 4, \u201cit seems that one of the reasons they don\u2019t want to turn women over that they\u2019ve been holding hostage \u2014 and the reason this pause fell apart \u2014 is that they don\u2019t want these women to be able to talk about what happened to them during their time in custody.\u201d The obvious implication is that these women have suffered terrible abuse, including sexual violence. The Biden Administration has further stated that Hamas\u2019s refusal to release the 19 women hostages under the temporary ceasefire agreement caused the termination of that agreement.\n\nMore recently, multiple senior White House officials confirmed that the White House believes Hamas is not releasing the remaining women hostages because they have been sexually abusing them. Disturbingly, there is already evidence that one of the hostages, still in captivity, had been sexually assaulted when being abducted.\n\nRape is categorically prohibited under IHL, including Article 44 of the Lieber Code and Article 75 of Additional Protocol I and Article 4 of Additional Protocol II.9 The accounts of at least 10 of the released hostages included details of sexual assault, and those accounts have been corroborated by medical doctors in Israel. These acts of sexual violence \u2014against both men and women \u2014 are clear and medically verified instances of IHL violations.\n\nHamas & PIJ\u2019s Additional Gross Violations of International Humanitarian Law\n\nInformation provided by the recently released hostages has revealed a litany of other violations of IHL. A released Thai hostage testified that he personally witnessed the beatings of Israeli hostages by their Hamas captors with electric cables. Article 87 of the Third Geneva Convention expressly forbids \u201ccorporal punishment\u201d and \u201cany form of torture or cruelty.\u201d\n\nThe lack of adequate medical care, nutrition, and daily medication is also a gross violation of international law. In many cases, Hamas and PIJ deprived hostages of these necessities to such an extent that it led to the deaths of several hostages during captivity, according to medical experts. Under Article 26 of the Geneva Convention, daily food rations \u201cshall be sufficient in quantity, quality and variety to keep prisoners of war in good health and to prevent loss of weight or the development of nutritional deficiencies.\u201d Hamas and PIJ have clearly not abided by this standard. Doctors treating hostages upon their release reported that elderly hostages had lost between 8-15 kg (15-33 pounds) \u2014 a staggering 10-20 percent of their body weight \u2014 while relatives of children reported that the child hostages had likewise lost \u201csignificant amounts of weight.\u201d Indeed, according to certain of the accounts, food was so restricted that hostages would receive only \u201ca quarter of a pita in the morning,\u201d and in one case, a Filipino hostage reported being so hungry that he ate toilet paper (\u201cthat\u2019s how my stomach wasn\u2019t empty.)\u201d\n\nHostages have also reported horrendous quarters and sleeping conditions. One hostage described the room she was held in as \u201csuffocating,\u201d and revealed that she was forced to sleep on plastic chairs for nearly two months. Other hostages have explained that they were held captive in damp areas without access to sunlight or space to move around. Here again, as you know, Article 25 of the Geneva Convention requires not only bedding and blankets, but also that prisoners \u201cbe entirely protected from dampness and adequately heated and lighted, in particular between dusk and lights out.\u201d Reports of the conditions experienced by the released hostages clearly fail to meet this standard.\n\nThere are also reports, confirmed by doctors, that several of the hostages were drugged by Hamas before being released into your care to \u201cmake them look happy\u201d for cameras. Drugging prisoners, with no underlying medical necessity and without their consent, is another serious violation of IHL, specifically as it relates to the Geneva Convention\u2019s Additional Protocol II, Article 5(2)(e) with respect to persons deprived of their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict.\n\nICRC\u2019s Efforts & Obligations\n\nGiven the numerous egregious violations of IHL outlined above, it is imperative that the ICRC immediately attend to the remaining hostages held in Gaza to ensure proof of life and compliance with international law. We understand that the ICRC has made efforts to check on the hostages in Gaza but has been rebuffed by Hamas. We also appreciate that you recently called for the release of the hostages and demanded that the ICRC \u201cbe allowed to safely visit them.\u201d\n\nHowever, despite the horrific treatment of the hostages remaining in Gaza, shockingly few international organizations and other countries around the world have aggressively and publicly supported the need to tend to the hostages. The ICRC has been unable to see a single hostage in captivity and has not obtained any proof of life, observed the conditions they are in, or if they are in need of medical assistance. While we appreciate the ICRC\u2019s role in the transportation of released hostages, the status quo is simply insufficient and unacceptable as hostages are raped and die in captivity.\n\nAccording to its own statutes, the ICRC is obligated \u201cto endeavour at all times... to ensure the protection of and assistance to military and civilian victims of such events and of their direct results.\u201d Further, its purpose is \u201cto protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being.\u201d By any measurement, the ICRC has been unable to carry out its traditional role as an independent monitor during conflict.\n\nSuch hostile conditions during armed conflict are not unprecedented for the ICRC. Even during the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the ICRC \u201coften had access to\u201d and \u201cwas able to register\u201d captured soldiers and civilians that \u201cfell into the power of adverse parties.\u201d Despite the backdrop of mass murder and well-documented instances of ethnic cleansing and rape, the ICRC was able to gain access \u2014even if hampered and limited \u2014 to the Bosnian Serb prisons during the conflict.26\n\nAs recently as Saturday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Inbar Haiman, a 27-year-old Israeli hostage, had been killed during her captivity by Hamas.27 Additionally, the tragic news of the three hostages killed by friendly fire over the weekend only heightens the urgency and need for their safe return and for your organization\u2019s protection.28 Their continued captivity not only places them in mortal danger, but prolongs the war for all parties.\n\nFor the past two months, and despite increasing requests, your organization has had no access whatsoever to the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. We understand that the ICRC \u201ccannot force [its] way in\u201d and that it remains neutral \u201cso that we can be trusted,\u201d but its mandate of neutrality cannot be an obstacle to its duty to protect innocent hostages suffering under horrific treatment.\n\nAnswers Required from ICRC\n\nAs Members of Congress, we require additional information about the steps that have been taken to protect the well-being of the remaining hostages, eight of which are American. Accordingly, we request answers to the following questions:\n\n1. What efforts has the ICRC made to gain access to hostages in Gaza?\n\na. Please describe any communications the ICRC has had with Hamas or PIJ about access to the hostages, and include in detail what response you have received from Hamas or PIJ, whether directly or through a third party, explaining why they are refusing access.\n\nb. Please describe in detail what efforts the ICRC has made to communicate with other countries about gaining access to the hostages, and what response you have received. Please include any and all communications with the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, among others, as part of your efforts.\n\nc. Please describe in detail any discussions you have had with other international organizations to gain access to the hostages, including but not limited to the United Nations and Doctors Without Borders, and what efforts those organizations have made to support the ICRC in getting access to the hostages.\n\n2. What assistance does the ICRC require in order to gain access to the hostages in Gaza? Specifically, what other nations could be helpful in pressuring Hamas to allow the ICRC to safely check on the hostages?\n\n3. What can the United States Congress do to assist the ICRC\u2019s efforts to immediately gain access to the hostages?\n\n4. What efforts have you made to be responsive to the requests of the families of the hostages for information about their family members?\n\nEvery day the hostages remain in captivity without proper care is one more day too many. Due to the urgency of the dire circumstances currently facing the hostages, we ask that you respond to this letter as soon as possible and in any event no later than December 29, 2023.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=148", "Vermont Delegation Pushes for Residential Re-Entry Center in Vermont", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Residential Re-Entry Centers offer transitional services and assistance for those re-entering their communities after being incarcerated \u2013 Vermont is one of two states without a center\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), this week wrote to U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters to express their strong support for the Bureau\u2019s plan to place a Residential Re-Entry Center (RRC) in Vermont. Vermont is one of only two states, the other being Hawaii, without an RRC and a recent study by the Bureau recommended the placement of a center in the state.\n\n\u201cWe write to convey the Vermont delegation\u2019s continued full support for this much needed facility which would uniquely serve the needs of our state,\u201d wrote the Delegation in the letter. \u201cRRCs are essential facilities that allow individuals transitioning out of BOP custody to receive critical substance use and mental health treatment while also obtaining employment and housing assistance. RRCs also allow for defendants and probationers in federal court to receive housing and treatment in lieu of incarceration where deemed appropriate by a federal judge.\n\n\u201cThe lack of local resources for Vermonters involved in the federal prison system has detrimentally impacted not only those involved, but all of our constituents who suffer the collateral consequences of the dearth of re-entry and treatment options.\n\n\u201cThe Vermont delegation looks forward to working with the Bureau as it proceeds with a Request for Proposal for a Residential Re-Entry Center. We stand ready to help the Bureau in obtaining this necessary facility for Vermonters,\u201d the Delegation concluded.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nDear Director Peters,\n\nWe were excited by your announcement at the September 13, 2023 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that the Bureau of Prisons planned to place a Residential Re-Entry Center (RRC) in Vermont. We write to convey the Vermont delegation\u2019s continued full support for this much needed facility which would uniquely serve the needs of our state.\n\nRRCs are essential facilities that allow individuals transitioning out of BOP custody to receive critical substance use and mental health treatment while also obtaining employment and housing assistance. RRCs also allow for defendants and probationers in federal court to receive housing and treatment in lieu of incarceration where deemed appropriate by a federal judge.\n\nCurrently, the closest centers for Vermonters are located in Boston, MA; Manchester, NH; or Providence, RI. In fact, Vermont is one of only two states without an RRC. The lack of local resources for Vermonters involved in the federal prison system has detrimentally impacted not only those involved, but all of our constituents who suffer the collateral consequences of the dearth of re-entry and treatment options. We understand that a recent BOP study came to the same conclusion and recommended the placement of an RRC in Vermont.\n\nOur endorsement of a Residential Re-Entry Center in Vermont reflects numerous conversations we have had with stakeholders in the federal criminal justice system in the state. We understand that the federal judges on the Vermont bench strongly support placing a center in the state. Similarly, our conversations with attorneys involved in federal criminal cases have revealed unanimous support for a center. We would be happy to connect with you local stakeholders who can speak in more detail about the immediate need for a center should further information be helpful.\n\nThe Vermont delegation looks forward to working with the Bureau as it proceeds with a Request for Proposal for a Residential Re-Entry Center. We stand ready to help the Bureau in obtaining this necessary facility for Vermonters. Please reach out to our staff with any questions, concerns, or requests for assistance as you move forward.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=149", "House Republicans Fail to Address Growing Antisemitism on College Campuses", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cCombating rising antisemitism requires serious action \u2013 not performative, non-binding resolutions that attempt to score cheap political points off of the clear and present threats to Jewish Americans.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on today\u2019s vote on H.Res 927:\n\n\u201cI am gravely concerned about increasing antisemitism in the United States. The Director of the FBI has stated that antisemitism in this country is reaching historic levels. The antisemitism that has existed just below the surface in our nation has now been unmasked. Its aim is dehumanization, and it\u2019s both ugly and dangerous. We must be serious about combating it.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s resolution, authored by someone who has promoted the overtly antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, does nothing to help Jewish students facing antisemitism. Combating rising antisemitism requires serious action \u2013 not performative, non-binding resolutions that attempt to score cheap political points off of the clear and present threats to Jewish Americans. Acts of antisemitism we\u2019ve seen in recent weeks are deeply concerning. What our communities need is real action and a concrete plan to keep students and Jewish communities everywhere safe.\n\n\u201cIt should be abundantly clear that calling for the genocide of any people is harassment and has no place on college campuses or anywhere. My grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust and I grew up with the understanding of how fragile our democracy can be, how dangerous our rhetoric can be. When we don\u2019t stand clearly and unequivocally against hate, we risk real violence.\n\n\u201cI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure we are effectively fighting back against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and bigotry in any form.\u201d\n\nIn the 118th Congress, Rep. Balint has consistently condemned antisemitism both in her votes on the House Floor, in her co-sponsorships and throughout her career as a Vermont state legislator.\n\nRep. Balint voted to pass:\n\nH.Res. 382 - Condemning the rise of antisemitism and calling on elected officials to identify and educate others on the contributions of the Jewish American community.\n\nH.Res. 798 - Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.\n\nRep. Balint is a co-sponsor of:\n\nH.R. 603 - Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act - The HEAL Act directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide. The study would document where the curriculum is optional or not offered.\n\nH.Res. 839 - Condemning antisemitism at institutions of higher education in the United States and encouraging college and university leaders, administrators, and faculty to speak out against antisemitism.\n\nH.Res. 907 - To condemn the rise in antisemitism, call on all Americans to combat antisemitism in the United States, and implement aspects of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=147", "WATCH: Rep. Balint Calls Out Dangerous Republican Abortion Bans", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cThe Dobbs decision did exactly what was intended: to strip women of their bodily autonomy. It\u2019s inhumane.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C - Rep. Becca Balint delivers speech on the House Floor calling for protection of reproductive rights in response to extremist right-wing attacks on abortion access in states around the country. Read her speech here:\n\n\u201cNo one should need permission from a judge or a governor to make a personal choice for their family and for their health. This week the Texas Supreme Court ruled that 31-year-old mother of two, Kate Cox, was not entitled to a medically necessary abortion despite her doctor\u2019s concerns for her health.\n\n\u201cShe had to make the decision to leave the state and her family to access the care she needed and deserved- a choice not available to everyone. Ms. Cox is not the first to be denied lifesaving care and she will certainly not be the last. Women across this country in states like Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Idaho, and others have been stripped of their most basic rights. It is disturbing and it is dangerous.\n\n\u201cWe know these extreme laws cost lives. And disproportionately has costs for women of color and low-income women. Republicans are literally denying women the lifesaving care they need.\n\n\u201cThe Dobbs decision did exactly what was intended: to strip women of their bodily autonomy. It\u2019s inhumane. It\u2019s cruel and its\u2019 clearly against the will of the American people. We cannot let them win.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=146", "Vermont Delegation Announces $1 Million in DOT Grants to Improve and Expand Rail Service in Vermont", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), today announced the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will receive a combined $1 million to develop long-range plans to improve existing passenger rail services and expand services in Vermont from the Department of Transportation (DOT). This funding will be used to identify and plan for projects that will compete for Federal Railroad Administration grants under the Corridor Identification Program.\n\n\u201cThis investment in the continued development of Vermont\u2019s rail service will help connect our communities to new opportunity through improved and expanded service and strengthen our economy by making tourism and business travel easier between Vermont, neighboring states, and Quebec, the state\u2019s largest trading partner. We look forward to implementing these investments and will continue our push to improve Amtrak services across the state, between states, and between Vermont and Canada, and streamline the preclearance process,\u201d said the Vermont Delegation.\n\nProvided through the FY22 Corridor Identification and Development program, the grants will help develop and enhance domestic and international Amtrak travel to Vermont. The Vermonter Corridor Project will assess project needs to improve existing Amtrak Vermonter service between major east coast travel hubs including improving reliability, and extending service to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Green Mountain Corridor project will include planning and assessing project needs for establishing passenger rail to communities in southwestern Vermont through the Ethan Allen Express.\n\nIn September, the Vermont Congressional Delegation called on Amtrak to work with the delegation to expand rail service in Vermont, which included a request to improve preclearance operations and construct new preclearance facilities between Vermont and Quebec.\n\nCongress authorized Amtrak to expand preclearance operations to allow rail activities in Canada in 2016 through the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. Logistical and operational obstacles have hindered the full implementation of preclearance activities between the United States and Canada, and a preclearance facility in Montreal Central Station has not been finished to-date.\n\nFull details of the Department of Transportation awards can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=145", "Sanders, Welch, and Balint Receive Commitment from JetBlue on Return of Flight Service Between Burlington and JFK", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and representatives from Congresswoman Becca Balint\u2019s (Vt.-AL) office met yesterday with JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes to call for the reinstatement of flight service between Burlington International Airport (BTV) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).\n\nThe delegation emphasized the importance of bringing the flight service back to Burlington as soon as possible. In response to their concern, the delegation was happy to hear JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes say, \u201cWhen the slot waiver expires, JetBlue expects to restore service from Burlington to New York.\u201d\n\nThe delegation pledged to work with JetBlue and other airlines to address the major shortage in air traffic controllers that currently exists at JFK and across the country.\n\nAs a result of that shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a voluntary slot waiver system through October 2024 which allows airlines like JetBlue to temporarily suspend routes without losing the ability to use these slots \u2013 which are designated times that airlines are allowed to take off or land at an airport \u2013 in the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=144", "Rep. Becca Balint Votes \u201cPresent\u201d on H. Res. 894", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on today\u2019s vote on H.Res 894:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply concerned by the rise in antisemitism in recent months - it poses a clear and present threat to Jewish communities in Vermont and around the world. My voting record stands clearly against antisemitism and any form of hate and will continue to. But today\u2019s resolution makes a dangerous, unequivocal assertion that anti-Zionism is always antisemitism. This is another case of the majority using the real fears of many Jewish Americans to sow political divisions. As a long-standing critic of the extremist Netanyahu government, statements that paint legitimate criticisms of Israel as antisemitic are not only dangerous but undemocratic.\n\n\u201cWe must lead with our values, rather than stoking hate and fear. I\u2019m proud to consistently and firmly stand up against antisemitism and bigotry.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=141", "Op-Ed: What is needed right now is an immediate break in violence to allow for a true negotiated ceasefire", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Like so many Vermonters, I have been in a state of anguish since the devastating Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. That anguish has only grown as the ensuing siege has killed thousands of civilians in Gaza who were already struggling under Hamas rule and Israeli blockade.\n\nI am grieving deeply \u2014 for the Israelis killed in the brutal attack and all those taken hostage; for the Palestinians killed and suffering in the chaos of violence; and for the children dead, injured, and orphaned, who will carry this trauma for the rest of their lives. Thousands of Palestinian civilians, including thousands of children, have been killed. Many more are without water, food, medical supplies and fuel. Now, Gaza\u2019s largest hospital has run out of fuel and is unable to function. This is a dire crisis.\n\nWhat is needed right now is an immediate break in violence to allow for a true negotiated ceasefire. One in which both sides stop the bloodshed, allow critical access to humanitarian aid and move towards negotiating a sustainable and lasting peace. One that stops the deaths of innocent Gazans and leads to a near future where Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have true self-governance and economic security. One that returns all hostages safely and protects Israelis from continued terror from Hamas.\n\nIt will be the first step in the difficult and critical work needed ahead \u2014 building Israel\u2019s post-war government, determining who will govern the Gaza Strip, and negotiating long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.\n\nI\u2019m one generation removed from the horrific trauma of the Holocaust, which impacted my family and reshaped the world. Like me, there are thousands of American Jews that share a deep emotional connection to Israel because of what it meant for the survival of the Jewish people in the face of extermination.\n\nThis same history also drives so many of us to fight for the protection of Palestinian lives. I do not claim to know how to solve every aspect of this decades-long conflict. But what I do know is that killing civilians, and killing children, is an abomination and categorically unacceptable \u2014 no matter who the civilians are, and no matter who the children are.\n\nI understand that many Vermonters feel as I do \u2014 deeply distraught by this conflict. We want to see an immediate end to the violence and the realization of Palestinian self-governance, including economic and physical security. That is why I have repeatedly called for the violence to stop and for increased, robust humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel has a moral responsibility to ensure that civilians are protected at all costs, even in the midst of war.\n\nAs a country, Israel is accountable to international law. As a longstanding critic of Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s extremist government, I know that his strategy does not make Israel safer. Israel\u2019s continued bombing in Gaza is killing innocent people and fuels recruitment for terrorist groups like Hamas. This pattern further undermines the security of both Palestinians and Israelis. The aerial bombing must end. Israel must take every measure to protect Palestinian civilians.\n\nI want Vermonters to know that I am using the influence and power of my position to bring an end to this horrific violence and suffering. That is the work I\u2019m doing every day.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=140", "Rep. Balint joins Rep. Tokuda, Rep. Fitzpatrick, and Rep. LaMalfa to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Services for First Responders", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), alongside Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01, Becca Balint (VT-AL), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act, bipartisan legislation to provide specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services to first responders including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency response workers, and 9-1-1 operators.\n\nIn the United States, there are roughly 4.6 million first responders serving in law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency management, and public works. First responders are usually the first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and draining situations. They are also among the first to reach out to disaster survivors and provide them with emotional and physical support. These duties, although essential to the entire community, are strenuous for first responders and with time put them at an increased risk of experiencing mental health issues.\n\nAccording to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared with 20 percent of the general population. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System indicates that first responders made up 1 percent of all suicides from 2015 to 2017. When broken down by disciple, these first responder suicides occurred among law enforcement (58 percent), firefighters (21 percent), emergency medical services providers (18 percent), and public safety telecommunicators (2 percent).\n\nUnfortunately, there are a limited number of services and resources available specifically to address the mental health conditions of first responders. Often, first responders are directed to general mental health practitioners and counselors who may not understand the unique demands faced by first responders or the cultures in which they operate.\n\nThe CARE for First Responders Act addresses this gap by:\n\nEnsuring first responders of major disasters, including emergency response workers and public safety telecommunicators, are eligible to receive professional counseling and other mental health services offered through the Federal Emergency Management Administration\u2019s Crisis Assistance and Training Program;\n\nEstablishing a grant program to support on-site and mobile delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services for first responders of major disasters;\n\nEstablishing a 24-hour hotline within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline program to promote access to specialized services for first responders;\n\nCreating a peer support counseling program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist and conduct outreach to first responders and their families;\n\nRequiring HHS to conduct research, in consultation with other federal agencies, on best practices for providing mental health services to, and preventing suicide among, first responders.\n\n\u201cEvery day, brave men and women, our first responders, answer the call when we need them most. In the wake of the devastating fires on Maui and Hawaii Island, they played essential roles in evacuating homes and providing survivors with physical and emotional support. Yet, despite their essential work, first responders often face their own barriers with seeking help and accessing mental health services as they deal with their own trauma as a result of what they see and experience,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cAs disaster strikes across our country, we must do better to support these real-life heroes. That is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will ensure we take \u201cCARE\u201dof the mental health needs of our first responders.\u201d\n\n\"First responders are the heroes in our communities who bravely respond to emergencies,\" said Congressman Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. \"It is imperative that we provide these public servants with the needed support and access to resources for mental health and substance use disorder challenges, and this bipartisan bill will do just that.\"\n\n\u201cWhen I talk to first responders across Vermont, it\u2019s clear that they are facing mental health challenges as a result of their work on the frontlines responding to climate disasters,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Rep. Tokuda in getting our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement the specialized mental health services they need and deserve after all they do to protect us.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden. I am a co-lead of the bipartisan CARE for First Responders Act to hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated,\u201d said Congressman LaMalfa.\n\n\u201cFirst responders\u201d covered by this legislation include Federal, State, and local governmental and nongovernmental emergency public safety, fire, law enforcement, emergency response, emergency medical, and related personnel, agencies, and authorities, along with public safety telecommunicators (such as 911 operators and fire dispatchers).\n\nThe CARE for First Responders Act is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.\n\n\u201cFirefighters, EMS professionals, police officers, and 911 dispatchers get our communities through any emergency. But all too often, responding to trauma causes trauma. Our first responders shouldn\u2019t have to deal with the stress of the job all by themselves. The CARE for First Responders Act will provide funding for critical mental health services and benefits to these essential workers, including a crisis hotline and counseling. We urge Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation from Reps. Jill Tokuda and Brian Fitzpatrick,\u201d said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.\n\n\u201cIt is critical that we support the mental health of our nation\u2019s first responders, particularly after times of disaster,\u201d said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). \u201cNAMI proudly supports the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act and thanks Rep. Tokuda for bringing attention to this critical issue.\u201d\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC-AL), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Norma Torres (CA-35).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=139", "Welch, Sanders and Balint Introduce Bill to Support EMS Providers in Rural Vermont", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On November 8, Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced theEmergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\nCurrently, Medicare does not reimburse Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers unless the patient is transported to a hospital. However, EMS providers regularly deliver vital services on-scene when responding to 911 calls. In rural communities, the demand for EMS services for medical emergencies continues to increase\u2014especially for Medicare beneficiaries, who make up about 40% of patients treated by EMS. This bill would provide Medicare reimbursement for care provided by EMS on-scene, when transportation to the hospital is not needed.\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s EMS providers are on the frontlines of medical emergencies. They should get reimbursed for that work. The EMS ROCS Act is a commonsense bill that requires our government to pay for vital EMS services, regardless of whether a person needs an ambulance ride to the hospital,\u201d said Sen. Welch. \u201cThis bill works to modernize Medicare to ensure that EMS are paid for their lifesaving work and can continue to provide essential medical services in Vermont and across rural America.\u201d\n\n\u201cSimply put, EMS are the first responders to some of people\u2019s most difficult moments, and often are the difference between life and death,\u201d said Sen. Sanders. \u201cWe must do everything we can to ensure they receive the support and resources they need and deserve, and that includes reimbursement for all the care they provide. Rural communities in Vermont and across the country depend on their essential services and this bill is a right step forward in helping EMS agencies get fairly compensated for these services\u2013 even when transportation to the hospital is not needed.\u201d\n\n\u201cEMS workers shoulder incredible responsibility on the front lines of Vermont\u2019s overdose crisis and in our pandemic recovery. Rural communities depend on these critical services to close care gaps. This bill will mean commonsense change to ensure EMS get properly reimbursed for their lifesaving work,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cI\u2019m proud to stand united with Senators Welch and Sanders to support our health care workers and ensure access to high quality EMS care in every community.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmbulance services across Vermont and the country are stressed by workforce shortages, high inflation, and increased labor and fuel costs. On top of this, our EMS staff respond to calls that do not require transport to the hospital and receive no payment from Medicare,\u201d said James Finger, President of the Vermont Ambulance Association. \u201cThe Vermont Congressional Delegation\u2019s EMS ROCS Act would help recover costs during these hard times. We hope for quick passage, and greatly appreciate Senator Welch and the Delegation's support and introduction of this bill because EMS does indeed \u2018Rock!\u2019\u201d\n\nInflationary pressures, coupled with the increasing volume of services that are ineligible for reimbursement, pose a serious threat to EMS providers, particularly those serving rural and older communities. These challenges are forcing EMS providers to curtail service and, in some areas, shut down services entirely. In recent years, several EMS providers in rural Vermont have closed their doors due to mounting expenses, leaving local residents with fewer options for emergency services.\n\nRead more on the EMS ROCS Act here.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=138", "Rep. Becca Balint on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s Bigotry", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cShe uses her megaphone to inflame anger, resentment, and hatred\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. - Rep. Becca Balint released the following statement following Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s continued bigotry toward Rep. Rashida Tlaib.:\n\n\u201cLast week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene used the power of the House of Representatives to elevate an Islamophobic, bigoted attack on the only Palestinian-American Member of Congress. It was riddled with lies and was designed to fan the flames of hate and fear precisely during a time when Muslim Americans are already facing increased threats and violence.\n\n\u201cToday, she came to the floor yet again with another inflammatory resolution against Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Rep. Greene has shown us repeatedly that she is not interested in governing. She isn\u2019t working to make Americans\u2019 lives better. She uses her megaphone to inflame anger, resentment, and hatred. And her craven resolution has diminished the weight and gravity of a critical accountability tool for this body.\n\n\u201cTen days before a government shutdown Speaker Johnson has allowed his members to waste our time with multiple Islamophobic censure resolutions. It erodes the integrity of our institution. It\u2019s time for the Republican Conference to take responsibility for the hate their members spread and end this ridiculous show.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=136", "Sanders, Welch, Balint Demand Answers from Postmaster General DeJoy on Plan for Montpelier Post Office, Addressing Postal Worker Safety Concerns, and Restoring Agency\u2019s Ability to Meet Vermonters\u2019 Basic Needs", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 \u2013 Following the closure of the Montpelier Post Office, which was caused by the devastating summer flooding in Vermont, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) on Tuesday sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy regarding the unacceptable response by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to serious worker safety concerns \u2013 including a lack of heat \u2013 and service disruptions.\n\n\u201cSince July, the Montpelier Post Office has been operating out of a series of temporary locations, which most recently consisted of two mobile units positioned on River Street in Montpelier. Despite messaging to the contrary, these mobile units remain inoperable, with no power to sustain air conditioning in the summer, heat in cold fall temperatures, or lighting needed to work inside,\u201d wrote the Vermont Delegation. \u201cWhile these mobile units have been completely unacceptable in terms of providing a safe workplace for your postal employees, they allowed for continued service needed by Montpelier residents. Now, your agency intends to close these temporary mobile units by the end of this week with no stated plan to reopen services in Montpelier. This abandonment of your employees and customers is completely unacceptable and must be rectified immediately.\u201d\n\nSanders, Welch, and Balint continued: \u201cWhile these requests today center around the immediate crisis of the planned closure of the temporary location in Montpelier, our concerns do not end there. People are already suffering from so many other unavoidable tragedies stemming from Vermont\u2019s summer flooding. We urge you to take the necessary steps to restore Vermonters\u2019 faith in your agency and the critical federal government services you provide.\u201d\n\nThe Delegation called on DeJoy to provide workers in Montpelier \u2013 as well as post office box owners/holders, retail customers, municipal leadership, and the Delegation \u2013 with a firm timeline for reopening services in Montpelier that are safe, heated, electrified, and indoors by Friday, November 3. They also called for the immediate notification of USPS employees of their options to be placed on paid administrative leave, reassigned to nearby post offices, or otherwise made whole; and that the retail and post office box operations in Montpelier be reopened no later than Monday, November 13 in a temporary location agreed upon with the American Postal Workers Union.\n\nSanders, Welch, and Balint also called on DeJoy to address the ongoing failure of his leadership under which Vermont has seen the intentional undermining and deterioration of service as well as the demoralization of postal workers.\n\n\u201cThe problems in Montpelier reflect a failure of national management that has become a pattern in our state,\u201d the Delegation wrote. \u201cFor years, the Postal Service has left many of our rural communities unheard and underserved. We have consistently expressed our concerns over ongoing staffing shortages and extreme mail delays across Vermont, as well as the lack of proper resources for the USPS sorting facility in White River Junction.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder your leadership, we have seen a persistent deterioration of USPS service and an intentional undermining of the very mission of your agency, which has demoralized your workforce and undermined Americans\u2019 faith in your ability to meet their most basic needs. The City of Montpelier, the State of Vermont, and the United States as a whole need a functioning Postal Service.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=137", "Rep. Becca Balint on Defeat of Islamophobic Resolution to Censure Rep. Tlaib", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement following the failed vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib:\n\n\u201cTonight, we proved that standing up to bullies works. By not allowing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s repeated offenses to go uncatalogued or unchecked, we defeated a resolution riddled with lies and Islamophobia. Republicans must understand we will not put up with hatred, lies, or intimidation. We\u2019ve seen how hateful rhetoric can turn into violence, and the words we speak on the floor of the House matters.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m celebrating the fact that the truth prevailed about my friend and colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib. We couldn\u2019t let one of our own be censured for something that is completely fabricated and racist. I was surprised\u2013when on the floor\u2013several Republicans voted with us to table the hateful and untruthful censure resolution that Rep. Greene brought against Rep. Tlaib.\n\n\u201cThe fact remains that my Republican colleagues have allowed Rep. Greene to spew hatred and bigotry for far too long. Vermonters sent me to Congress to uphold the values of fairness and truth, and to protect our democracy. That means speaking out against a bully. I was fully prepared to move my resolution forward, and I plan to call this up for a vote at any time should we see continued vile rhetoric from Rep. Greene and her colleagues.\n\n\u201cGiven the fact that this conference voted unanimously for an election denier - there was a question of whether my resolution to censure Rep. Greene could pass with the votes it needed from \u201cmoderate\u201d Republicans. They have shown they are unable to stand up in moments that require courage.\n\n\u201cBut tonight, when 23 Republicans said \u201cno\u201d to Rep. Greene\u2019s bigotry, I saw this situation a little differently. I want to thank them for doing the right thing. And I\u2019m going to hold back on the vote for now. Vermonters and people across the country need us to get to work and focus on the urgent needs facing working people here at home and around the world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=135", "Vermont Delegation Demands Answers from JetBlue CEO on Recent Decision to Terminate Service from Burlington Airport to JFK", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cWe urge you not to leave rural America behind,\u201d wrote Sanders, Welch, and Balint\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) urged JetBlue Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robin Hayes to reinstate service between the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) and New York\u2019s JFK International Airport, which accounts for 10% of all passengers flying into Burlington monthly, and to compensate all passengers impacted by JetBlue\u2019s recently announced service termination.\n\n\u201cYour decision to abruptly terminate service at Leahy BTV has the potential to harm businesses in our state and make travel for constituents between Vermont and New York significantly more difficult. The news was particularly difficult to receive on the same day your corporation announced an expansion of your transatlantic service at JFK,\u201d wrote the Delegation.\n\n\u201cThis decision surprised us and many in Vermont. With advance notice, our offices may have been able to work with you and federal authorities to help prevent the need for this decision.\u201d the Delegation continued. \u201c...We urge you not to leave rural America behind by abandoning this essential service in places like Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport and remain willing to work with you to help address some of the circumstances that led to your decision.\u201d\n\nJetBlue has flown in and out of Burlington for more than two decades. On average, the Leahy BTV-JFK route accounts for 10% of all passengers flying into Burlington on a monthly basis.\n\nJetBlue\u2019s service change is scheduled to begin January 4, 2024.\n\nThe letter from the Delegation to JetBlue\u2019s CEO Robin Hayes read here and below:\n\nDear Mr. Hayes,\n\nWe write to express our disappointment with JetBlue\u2019s recent decision to terminate service between Burlington, Vermont, at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) and New York City, New York, at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport (JFK) starting January 4, 2024, and to request additional information regarding the announcement. We strongly urge you to consider reinstating service between Burlington and JFK and, in the event you do not reinstate service, to compensate all passengers impacted by this service termination.\n\nJetBlue has flown in and out of Burlington for more than two decades. On average, the Leahy BTV-JFK route accounts for 10% of all passengers flying into Burlington on a monthly basis. Your decision to abruptly terminate service at Leahy BTV has the potential to harm businesses in our state and make travel for constituents between Vermont and New York significantly more difficult. The news was particularly difficult to receive on the same day your corporation announced an expansion of your transatlantic service at JFK.\n\nThis decision surprised us and many in Vermont. With advance notice, our offices may have been able to work with you and federal authorities to help prevent the need for this decision. We strongly urge you to:\n\nReinstate Service to Leahy BTV from JFK. JetBlue and Leahy BTV have had a successful business relationship that has spanned over two decades. We ask that you consider reinstating the route.\n\nImmediately Reimburse All Impacted Passengers. Many U.S. passengers buy their flights well in advance to ensure the cheapest prices possible. Any customer whose flight was impacted by this decision should be reimbursed immediately, assuming you do not reverse your decision to terminate service.\n\nTo provide further clarity, we ask for a staff briefing no later than November 6, 2023, and provide written answers to the following questions ahead of time:\n\nWhy did JetBlue decide to terminate service between Leahy BTV and JFK? What alternatives, if any, did JetBlue consider before making its decision, and why were those alternatives not pursued as an interim step?\n\nShould JetBlue decide to reinstate service to Leahy BTV, what steps would the airline need to take and how long would the reinstatement process take?\n\nWhat steps has JetBlue taken to date to compensate and otherwise support impacted passengers? How many passengers have had or will have flights canceled as a result of this decision?\n\nWhat additional steps does JetBlue plan to take to ensure passengers are made whole, and what is the timeline for those actions?\n\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, JetBlue received nearly $1 billion in emergency support in CARES Act funding. Vermonters and U.S. taxpayers stepped up to support the airline industry because we understand it is essential to connecting the world in our modern economy.\n\nWe urge you not to leave rural America behind by abandoning this essential service in places like Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport and remain willing to work with you to help address some of the circumstances that led to your decision.\n\nSincerely,\n\nSenator Bernie Sanders\n\nSenator Peter Welch\n\nRepresentative Becca Balint\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=134", "Rep. Becca Balint Calls for Humanitarian Pause in Israel and Gaza", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - \u201cAn immediate humanitarian pause to the fighting in Gaza is needed to get all necessary supplies toPalestinians in desperate need. We must reduce human suffering and preserve the lives and safety of civilians in Gaza. During this humanitarian pause Hamas must immediately release all hostages.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m heartbroken by Hamas\u2019 brutal attack on civilians and support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself. Hamas still poses a clear and present danger to Israel.\n\n\u201cThe escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza has killed thousands of Palestinians and threatens more suffering if the international community doesn\u2019t take urgent action to protect civilians. Any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs of its actions could backfire by undermining Israel\u2019s standing in the world and further fan the flames of violence in the region.\n\n\u201cThe two million civilians in Gaza cannot survive without access to water, food, medicine, and fuel \u2013 and these resources cannot get through without a temporary cessation of hostilities for humanitarian workers to do their jobs safely. That\u2019s why I support Secretary Blinken\u2019s call for a pause of hostilities to establish safe passage for civilians and allow humanitarian aid to resume.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=131", "Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Mark Pocan Introduce Intersex Awareness Day Resolution", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Becca Balint and Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02) introduced the Intersex Awareness Day Resolution. The resolution recognizes October 26 as Intersex Awareness Day and affirms the dignity, and the universal human right to bodily autonomy of intersex people.\n\nIntersex Awareness Day is recognized on October 26 following the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1996.\n\n\u201cIntersex people must be recognized as valid and seen within the LGBTQI+ community,\u201d said Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). \u201cThis resolution is an important step in uplifting the intersex community and fighting interphobia. I\u2019m proud to join Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan in working toward intersex awareness and equality.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, intersex people have been left out of the conversation when discussing inclusivity, health equity, and equality for all,\u201d said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02).\u201cToday and every day we must uplift members of the intersex community and recommit to ensuring all levels of government are prioritizing the needs of the intersex community. That\u2019s why I was glad to join Co-Chair Becca Balint in introducing the first congressional resolution to recognize Intersex Awareness Day today.\u201d\n\nThe Intersex Awareness Day Resolution:\n\nSupports the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day;\n\nEncourages the Federal Government, States, localities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of increasing public knowledge of the intersex community and empowering individuals to celebrate and respect their diversity;\n\nEncourages health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the intersex community, and schools to support education regarding the intersex community, and connect individuals to resources for young people with intersex variations and their families; and\n\nEncourages the Federal Government, States, international funding organizations, and United States bilateral and multilateral aid efforts to prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.\n\nIntersex refers to having innate variations in physical traits that differ from typical expectations for male or female bodies regarding the development, appearance, or function of sex-related characteristics. This includes variations in one or more traits such as genitals, gonads and other reproductive organs, hormone production or response, or chromosome patterns, which may present at birth or may occur naturally at a later time.\n\nFull text of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=132", "Rep. Becca Balint Moves to Censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Following Marjorie Taylor Greene Censure Resolution that Spreads Islamophobic Lies\n\nWashington, D.C. - Rep. Becca Balint released the following statement after noticing a privileged resolution censuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for her record of antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ, xenophobic, and racist rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Today, Rep. Taylor Greene introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The resolution promotes hateful falsehoods about Rep. Tlaib:\n\n\u201cIf you want to talk antisemitism, look no further than Rep. Taylor Greene. Today, I moved to censure Rep. Taylor Greene to finally get accountability for years of lies and hate.\n\n\u201cRep. Taylor Greene\u2019s resolution to censure Rep. Tlaib is an overt Islamophobic attack on the only Palestinian-American member of Congress. Her resolution is riddled with lies. It\u2019s bigoted. It\u2019s dangerous. This kind of rhetoric fans the flames of hate and fear at a time when Muslim Americans are already facing increased threats and violence. Rep. Tlaib is a valued legislator, a fighter for her community, and a friend. This attack, based on bigotry and conspiracy theories, has no place in the House.\n\n\u201cOn his first day as Speaker, Mike Johnson has allowed Islamophobia and baseless lies to take center stage on the House floor. Elevating conspiracy theories erodes faith in this institution and shows the true colors of the Republican party.\n\nRep. Balint introduced a resolution censuring Rep. Taylor Greene on July 25, 2023. Read the full text of the resolution here. Noticing the privileged resolution today will trigger a vote within two legislative days on Rep. Balint\u2019s resolution.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=133", "Vermont Delegation Announces More Than $20 Million in Funds for Affordable Fuel Assistance in Vermont", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 \u2013 With winter around the corner and heating costs projected to increase this season, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) today announced that Vermont will receive more than $20.7 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds.\n\n\u201cAs Vermonters prepare for colder months, we are proud to announce this critical funding for home heating,\u201d the Vermont delegation said in a joint statement. \u201cHeating costs are rising, and we must do more to make sure all Vermonters have everything they need to get through winter. These funds will also help many Vermonters who are beginning to rebuild and recover after the devastating summer floods.\u201d\n\nThe funding will help low-income individuals and families pay their home heating costs and also help with cooling bills in the summer. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient, and used during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies. The funding released includes funds appropriated for this year from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These \u201cearly release\u201d funds represent a down payment on Vermont\u2019s total annual share of LIHEAP funding, which will be determined once Congress passes a final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024.\n\nEnsuring LIHEAP funds are released ahead of winter has been a longstanding priority of the Vermont congressional delegation to enable low-income Vermonters and the agencies who serve them to have the funding they need to prepare for the cold temperatures ahead.\n\nIn addition to this funding, which was announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Community Services announced the launch of a LIHEAP Eligibility Tool that allows households in Vermont and across the country to quickly identify if they might be eligible for LIHEAP assistance by inputting basic information like income and household size. For more information on how to apply, Vermonters can visit www.dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/fuel or call 1-800-479-6151.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=125", "Rep. Balint Introduces House Resolution to Designate \u201cBat Week\u201d", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Resolution acknowledges the important role bats play in national ecosystems\n\nWashington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint introduced a resolution designating October 24 \u2013 31, 2023 as \u201cBat Week.\u201d The resolution highlights the vital role that bats play in the sustainability of our ecosystems and human health as pollinators. Vermont farms rely on the pest control provided by bats to sustain their crops and keep forests and fields healthy. The resolution also calls for a robust response to white-nose syndrome which has killed millions of bats in North America and has spread to 40 states. Senator Welch (D-VT) and Braun (R-IN) lead the Senate companion resolution.\n\n\u201cBats play a critical role in Vermont\u2019s ecosystem. Our environment and local farms depend on bats to keep forests and fields pollinated and healthy,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cVermonters care deeply about conservation and our diverse ecosystem. This resolution stands to highlight the importance of bats and support the conservation work it takes to protect them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver half of Vermont\u2019s bat species are endangered, and the spread of White-nose Syndrome accompanied by human development poses a grave threat to the environmental and health benefits bats provide,\u201d said Sen Welch. \u201cThis resolution calls on the Senate to sink its fangs into conservation efforts to protect bats and their habitats, and encourages national observance of \u2018Bat Week\u2019 to highlight the vital role bats play in the health of Vermonters and our environment.\u201d\n\nText of the resolution can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=123", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Horrific Violence in Israel and Gaza", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - \u201cI\u2019m deeply saddened by the overwhelming, brutal loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives. The loss of civilian lives in Gaza and Israel is truly horrifying, and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza will surely lead to the death of more innocent people, including children.\n\n\u201cTo meet this moment with the moral clarity it requires, protecting innocent lives must be at the forefront of Israel\u2019s response to Hamas\u2019 terror campaign. The United States must work urgently with Israel, Egypt and other countries in the region to ensure that critical supplies can reach the civilian population in Gaza. I support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself after the unprecedented surprise attack against them. I\u2019m calling for Israel to take all necessary measures to ensure the successful transport of aid to Gaza. With millions of lives at risk, attacks on homes, schools, water, and power must be off limits. Any acts of collective punishment are unacceptable, in keeping with international law.\n\n\u201cAs a strong supporter of a two-state solution, I fear that the violence erupting right now will only serve as a setback to any hope of peace, security, and justice for both sides. The international community must find a path to reduce suffering and protect the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=121", "Rep. Becca Balint Joins 55 Members in Letter Condemning Hamas Attacks, Urging Protection of Civilian Lives", "2023-10-13", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today Rep. Becca Balint joined over 50 of her colleagues in condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.\n\n\u201cWe unequivocally condemn Hamas\u2019 shocking and horrifying terrorist attack on Israel. This is the worst perpetration of violence inflicted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts are with those who were tragically killed and their loved ones who mourn their loss,\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cWe also continue to hope for the safe return of those who were taken hostage by Hamas, including American citizens, and stand ready to support your Administration in bringing them home.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermonters, like me, are concerned about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Hamas does not represent Palestinians. They are using innocent Gazans and their children as human shields. I'm joining my colleagues in calling for a path to reduce suffering and protect innocent lives,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint.\n\nSpecifically, the Members are calling on the Administration to take the following priorities into account:\n\nCommunicate that Israel\u2019s response in Gaza must be carried out according to international law and take all due measures to limit harm to innocent civilians;\n\nWork to quickly restore the delivery of food, water, fuel, electricity, and other life-saving necessities to Gaza to ensure that innocent civilians have the basics needed for survival;\n\nCollaborate with regional partners to establish a humanitarian corridor to enable the delivery of such life-saving necessities and to allow Palestinian civilians and foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, to seek safe haven outside of Gaza;\n\nPublicly discourage any hate crimes and backlash against any American\u2014including Jews and Muslims\u2014including by communicating to the American people that Hamas is not the Palestinian people and the Palestinian people are not Hamas; and\n\nEnsure that supplemental funding requests to Congress include humanitarian assistance for both Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=122", "Rep. Becca Balint Joins Resolution Standing with Israel in the Face of Violent Attacks from Hamas", "2023-10-10", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Rep. Becca Balint joined Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) in standing with Israel in the face of violent attacks from Hamas. The resolution was co-sponsored by nearly 400 Members of Congress. Read the text of the resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=120", "Statement from Jewish Members of the House of Representatives Condemning Terrorist Attacks in Israel", "2023-10-07", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Nadler, Schneider, Schakowsky, Raskin, Auchincloss, Balint, Bonamici, Cohen, Frankel, Goldman, Gottheimer, Jacobs, Landsman, Levin, Magaziner, Manning, Moskowitz, Phillips, Schiff, Schrier, Sherman, Slotkin, Wasserman Schultz, and Wild issued the following joint statement in response to the despicable attacks on Israel this morning:\n\n\"We are united in standing with and supporting our ally Israel as it responds to terrorist attacks from Gaza. Hamas has declared war on Israel and her people. Our alliance with Israel is unbreakable, our commitment to Israel\u2019s security is ironclad. We extend our condolences to the families of all those killed, and our hopes for recovery for the many hundreds wounded. We support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself\u2014to protect its people and communities\u2014and will do all we can to ensure Israel has the ability and capacity to restore and maintain its security and the safety of all its citizens.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=119", "Rep. Becca Balint Votes to Remove Speaker McCarthy", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, DC - Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after the historic vote ousting the Speaker of the House of Representatives:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=118", "Rep. Balint and Rep. Tokuda Introduce The Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act. Following a summer of climate emergencies across the country, including in Vermont and Hawaii, Americans are suffering the cost. While the physical damage is clear, disaster-stricken communities need resources to cope with the mental and emotional damage they endure.\n\nCurrent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants are authorized to provide professional counseling services to victims of major disasters through the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCATP). The Addressing Addiction After Disasters (AAAD) Act strengthens the CCATP by allowing FEMA to provide services for substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder.\n\n\u201cStates like Vermont and Hawaii are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In the aftermath of disasters when stress and emotions run high, it\u2019s important we show up to support our communities with the resources they need,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cTogether, Rep. Tokuda and I are in the fight to end the stigma around substance and alcohol abuse disorders. I\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that can get our communities the direct assistance they need during challenging times.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Hawaii to Vermont, our nation has been hit hard by natural disasters. For those struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems, these are even darker times. This critical legislation will expand the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program to ensure we can respond quickly when people need us most. I\u2019m pleased to join Representative Balint in this effort, as we work to destigmatize substance and alcohol abuse disorders and help survivors of natural disasters gain access to the full range of health services and support they need,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02).\n\nStudies show that following Hurricane Katrina, alcohol consumption increased by about 185% from before the storm and the annual hospitalization rate for substance use disorders increased by approximately 30%. Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, 60% of individuals with substance use disorders experienced withdrawal and 70% of those on opioid maintenance therapy could not obtain sufficient doses.\n\nThe CCATP helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster. The CCATP works through immediate interventions such as:\n\nAssisting disaster survivors with navigating their current situation and reactions\n\nReducing stress and providing emotional support\n\nReviewing survivors\u2019 disaster recovery options\n\nDisseminating the use or development of coping strategies\n\nConnecting survivors with other people and agencies who can help them in their recovery process\n\nThe Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) and the Kennedy Forum.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=117", "Senator Warren, Rep. Balint, and Lawmakers Urge FTC and DOJ to Finalize Merger Guidelines, Strengthen Antitrust Enforcement to Protect Consumers", "2023-09-19", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "In the last quarter century, over 75 percent of American industries have become more concentrated. Without robust competition, large corporations dominate industries to the detriment of consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.\n\nFTC and DOJ\u2019s proposed guidelines are responsive to current economic conditions and rooted in statutory text, the congressional intent of the antitrust laws, and binding Supreme Court precedent.\n\nWashington, D.C. - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.), along with a bicameral group of lawmakers, submitted a public comment to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in support of the agencies\u2019 proposed merger guidelines. In the letter, the lawmakers endorse the agencies\u2019 reading of antitrust law, praising the guidelines as necessary to prevent harm to workers, consumers, and small businesses. The lawmakers also encourage the agencies to go further to fight consolidation and inequality.\n\n\u201cWe write in support of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division\u2019s draft merger guidelines. The proposed guidelines align with the congressional intent of the antitrust laws, are rooted in statute and binding Supreme Court precedent, and are necessary at a time of excessive consolidation and inequality. We urge the FTC and DOJ to move rapidly to finalize these guidelines, and consider additional ways to strengthen antitrust enforcement and protect consumers as your agencies do so,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nSigners include: Senators Mazie Hirono, Bernie Sanders, and Peter Welch, and Representatives Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Greg Casar, Chris Deluzio, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Joe Neguse, Summer Lee, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Mary Gay Scanlon, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.\n\nCongress enacted bold, transformative legislation to address economic concentration during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries \u2013 and this legislation continues to serve as the foundation of modern antitrust law. The Sherman Act of 1890, Clayton Act of 1914, and Celler-Kefauver Antimerger Act of 1950 each reflected legislative agreement that unchecked consolidation threatens democracy, economic vitality, individual liberty, and the well-being of local communities. DOJ and FTC issued the first merger guidelines in 1968 to inform regulated entities of the standards used to review and potentially challenge transactions under antitrust law. While the 1968 guidelines adhered closely to the congressional intent of the laws, subsequent revisions marked a severe and unjustified shift in enforcement policy, resulting in a merger control regime that has facilitated rising concentration and diminished competition.\\\n\nThe new FTC and DOJ merger guidelines represent a return to the statutory text and congressional intent of antitrust laws, outlining a path for robust antitrust enforcement at a time when it is sorely needed. In the last quarter century, over 75 percent of American industries have become more concentrated. Without robust competition, large corporations dominate industries to the detriment of consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. Excessive market power costs American families $5,000 per year on average. In concentrated markets, prices increase by at least three times, wages decrease by nearly 20 percent, and workers are likely to be forced into restrictive employment agreements. In their comment letter, the lawmakers specifically applaud the proposed merger guidelines\u2019 focus on serial acquisitions, entrenchment or extension of market dominance, and labor efforts as particularly powerful to prevent harm to workers, consumers, and small businesses. In addition, the lawmakers encourage the agencies to rely on clear \u2013 and lower \u2013 market share thresholds, reject the use of efficiencies defenses, and abandon the use of structural and behavioral remedies.\n\n\u201cThe FTC and DOJ\u2019s proposed merger guidelines are critical to addressing the ever-changing and complex American economy. Federal antitrust laws were intended to promote competition in order to protect democracy, promote economic growth and innovation, secure individual liberty, and safeguard the well-being of workers and communities. The draft guidelines address those still-vital goals. We urge you to finalize the proposed guidelines expeditiously, and make the additional modifications suggested . . . to strengthen them and ensure they are consistent with the letter and intent of antitrust law,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=116", "Senators Welch, Sanders, and Representative Balint Introduce Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act, to Help Protect Vermont Farmland from Flooding and Erosion", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following catastrophic flooding in Vermont, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) today introduced the Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act, legislation that would ensure all states, including Vermont, can access Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) funding to implement buffer zones, agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution. Representative Balint introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, we need to give our farmers the tools and resources they need to fight climate change and protect their land from flooding. I\u2019m proud to partner with my colleagues, Senator Sanders and Representative Balint, to deliver for Vermont\u2019s farmers and cut through red tape,\u201d said Sen. Welch, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. \u201cThe BUFFER Act will help us resolve a years-long bureaucratic battle our farmers and the State of Vermont have been forced to fight\u2014and we\u2019re going to make sure our farmers have the same support that farmers in other states do.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt goes without saying that this is an extremely difficult and stressful time for Vermonters, especially our farmers,\u201d said Sen. Sanders. \u201cThe federal government must do everything possible to help Vermonters recover. This legislation removes red tape and ensures farmers are compensated for their mitigation efforts that will improve our state\u2019s water quality and help protect their fields from the kind of damage we saw this summer. I look forward to continuing to work with the Vermont delegation in making sure the federal government is doing all it can to support Vermonters as we work to rebuild.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont farmers are on the front lines of climate change,\u201d said Rep. Balint. \u201cI\u2019m proud to partner with our Senators to introduce legislation that will help cut through red tape so that farmers can better protect their farmland from flooding and erosion. Resilience and conservation are key as we build back from this summer\u2019s floods, and I am doing everything I can do help Vermont\u2019s farmers come back stronger.\u201d\n\nBuffer zones are vegetative areas between active farm fields and bodies of water. Healthy buffer zones protect farmland from erosion, safeguard waterways from runoff, and provide habitat for pollinators. This legislation will help Vermont improve water quality and, in turn, better protect farmland during flooding events.\n\nVermont\u2014like many states across the United States\u2014requires farmers to implement buffer systems. Farmers in the state have fought to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) CRP to implement buffers in their fields, but red tape at the Farm Service Agency has hampered their ability to use this conservation tool.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=115", "Sanders, Welch, Balint Urge Congressional Leadership to Support More Aid for Vermont Flood Recovery in Supplemental Bill", "2023-09-12", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) on Monday sent a letter to majority, minority, and Appropriations Committee leadership in the Senate and House of Representatives urging them to ensure that Congress passes federal funding for essential recovery and long-term disaster mitigation work in Vermont following the devastating flooding that hit the state this summer. In the letter, the delegation also called for increasing the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) cap for hazard mitigation, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans forgivable in order to save small businesses, renters, and homeowners from taking on additional debt after experiencing a disaster, and expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) emergency grant relief for impacted Vermont farmers, as well as opening eligibility for retroactive enrollment in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.\n\n\u201cAs Vermont continues to respond to, and begins the recovery from, ongoing catastrophic flooding, we urge you to pass federal funding that meets the needs of our state, with a significant focus on funding for long-term disaster recovery and mitigation work. We ask you to move this funding expeditiously, so important federal resources for disaster response and recovery become available to states like Vermont as quickly as possible,\u201d wrote the Vermont congressional delegation to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Kay Granger (R-Texas), and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).\n\nThe flash flooding Vermont experienced from July 7 through August 8 impacted more than 5,000 individuals and families, led to over 200 water rescues, nearly 90 road closures along major routes, and damage to over 200 miles of rail in the state-owned rail system. The initial estimate from the state on flood-related damages is currently totaling in the many hundreds of millions of dollars. Small businesses, farming and rural communities, and individuals all suffered heavy losses, including anywhere between 145,000 and 686,000 acres of agricultural land across the state. Water and wastewater infrastructure was also severely damaged, including the wastewater facility in Johnson, which was completely destroyed and will likely cost upward of $10 million to replace. State inspectors have classified five dams as high hazard and 22 as significant hazards \u2014 leaving the state at significant risk for loss of life and property during future storms.\n\nVermont\u2019s congressional delegation also urged for support in investments in mitigation activities to build long-term resiliency against future disasters and the increasingly dangerous effects of climate change.\n\nSanders, Welch, and Balint concluded: \u201cWhile the damage assessments and needs are ongoing, we appreciate your support for the authorization and appropriation of all additional federal disaster recovery and mitigation dollars that Vermont will need for years to come. Thank you for your consideration of our request and for your support of Vermont\u2019s response and recovery process.\u201d\n\nRead the letter, here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=114", "Vermont Delegation Urges President Biden to Support More Aid for Vermont Flood Recovery in Disaster Supplemental Bill", "2023-08-09", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT. \u2013 Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to work closely with Congress to secure supplemental disaster aid for urgent flood recovery and long-term disaster mitigation in Vermont. This letter comes as Congress must act to provide additional federal funding for agencies that respond to disasters and follows Sanders and Welch\u2019s letter to Senate colleagues to approve such additional aid for the state.\n\nIn the letter, Sanders, Welch, and Balint wrote: \u201cAs Vermont continues to respond to, and begins the recovery from, ongoing catastrophic flooding, we urge you to request ample funding from Congress for a disaster supplemental appropriations bill that meets the needs of our state, with a significant focus on funding for long-term disaster response and mitigation work. We ask you to work closely with Congress to move this funding bill expeditiously, so important federal resources for disaster response and recovery become available to states like Vermont as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\nFrom the damage done to homes, businesses, farms, drinking water systems, wastewater infrastructure, roads, bridges, and dams, to the more than 4,000 individuals and families impacted by the disaster, the letter also outlined the terrible impact the floods have had on Vermonters across the state. To date, damage is still being reported and state and federal partners are working diligently to conduct damage assessments and loss estimates. This work will help individuals, small businesses, and non-profits begin to rebuild, as well as ensure the state of Vermont can make investments in recovery efforts that will make its infrastructure more resilient to future disasters. The delegation continues to work closely with the Scott Administration on these efforts, and is grateful to all the federal, state, and municipal employees who have been a part of this effort, as well as countless volunteers.\n\nIn addition to Vermont\u2019s immediate recovery needs, the Congressional Delegation urged President Biden to support investments in mitigation activities to build long-term resiliency against future disasters and the increasingly dangerous effects of climate change.\n\n\u201cVermont experienced severe flash floods beginning on July 7 that have continued to this day,\u201d continued Sanders, Welch, and Balint. \u201cThe immediate impacts were nothing short of catastrophic, requiring over 200 water rescues, nearly 90 road closures along major routes, and damage to over 200 miles of rail in the state-owned rail system. We greatly appreciate your support in moving quickly to approve the Major Disaster Declaration and to get Vermont the initial funding needed for immediate response, without which we believe the state would have experienced significantly more destruction. Unfortunately, the long-term impacts of the disaster are proving to be just as catastrophic\u2026While the damage assessments and needs are ongoing, we appreciate any support you may offer for the authorization and appropriation of all additional federal disaster recovery and mitigation dollars that Vermont will need for years to come.\u201d\n\nAccording to reports, the White House is expected to formally announce their funding request for domestic disaster relief in the coming days.\n\nRead the full letter, here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=108", "Rep. Becca Balint Introduces Marjorie Taylor Greene Censure Resolution", "2023-07-25", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for her racist, homophobic, transphobic, antisemitic remarks, and unhinged conspiracy theories. Rep. Balint introduced today\u2019s resolution to make clear that this extreme behavior cannot continue to be normalized by House Republicans.\n\n\u201cCensuring Rep. Taylor Greene is about the health of our democracy and faith in government. Her antisemitic, racist, transphobic rhetoric has no place in the House of Representatives. I ran for Congress after watching on January 6th that anti-democratic messages and fearmongering have real consequences for our democracy,\u201d said Rep. Balint.\n\n\u201cUnserious elected officials like Taylor Greene make a mockery of our democratic institutions and derail us from the urgent work we\u2019ve been tasked with. This job is about alleviating suffering and supporting our communities, and instead Taylor Greene uses her position as a megaphone for conspiracy theories and hate speech. There must be a counterforce that comes from within Congress. It begins with principled members standing up and saying we have had enough.\u201d\n\nThe resolution cites Rep. Taylor Greene\u2019s perpetuation of conspiracy theories around 9/11, January 6th and mass school shootings. Rep. Taylor Greene has also repeatedly called for violence against other elected officials and made numerous racist, antisemitic, and transphobic comments in her position as a Member of the House of Representatives.\n\nSee the full text of the resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=109", "In Letter to Secretary Buttigieg, Vermont Congressional Delegation Urges U.S. Department of Transportation to Activate Emergency Funds for Vermont Flood Recovery Efforts", "2023-07-24", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT \u2014 Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this past Friday, calling on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the State of Vermont\u2019s request for immediate and robust assistance to help Vermont rebuild and recover from the recent devastating flooding. The congressional delegation urged Secretary Buttigieg to activate aid through DOT\u2019s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief (ER) program to help fund repairs and improvements to roads, bridges, culverts, and other impacted infrastructure across the state, including the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for the show of support provided by your Department and the rest of the Biden Administration and urge a speedy approval of flexible FHWA ER funds requested by Vermont \u2014 so that the state and individuals impacted by the floods can begin to rebuild,\u201d the letter read. \u201cWe are confident that, with your support, Vermonters will come through this stronger and more resilient.\u201d\n\nFunding from the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief program can support repairs to roads and other federal-aid infrastructure damaged during natural disasters. In Vermont, where roads, bridges, and trails remain closed across the state due to damage from recent flooding, landslides, and mudslides, funds would provide essential support for the state\u2019s recovery efforts. The program also supports improvements to protective features that will minimize future damage from natural disasters, improve resilience to climate change, and ensure greater reliability of local infrastructure in the future. The letter also asked DOT to allow a longer timeline to grant Vermont 100% federal reimbursement for project costs under the FHWA ER program than the current 270-day period, given that the state cannot undergo construction in the winter season.\n\nSaid Governor Phil Scott: \u201cThe damages to the State Highway system from the July storms are substantial. Financial assistance from the Federal Highway Administration through the Emergency Relief Program is essential to ensure we\u2019re able to rebuild our highway network stronger and more resilient. I appreciate the continued support from the Department of Transportation, Secretary Buttigieg, and the hard work of our congressional delegation on behalf of Vermonters.\u201d\n\nSecretary Buttigieg traveled to Vermont to survey flood damage on July 17.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=110", "NEWS: Sanders, Welch, Balint Call On Federally-Backed and Private Insurers to Act Quickly and Fairly During Vermont Flood Recovery", "2023-07-24", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, Vt., July 24 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) today sent letters to 95 insurance companies holding federally-backed and private insurance policies across Vermont \u2013 including the top flood, homeowner, and auto insurance companies \u2013 calling on them to act quickly and fairly when assessing what damage from the recent floods can be covered under their individual policies. While most individuals and small businesses in Vermont have no flood insurance, the vast majority of those who do are covered through the federal government\u2019s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with policies operated by private insurance companies.\n\nIn the letters, the congressional delegation called on these companies to take specific and critical steps to help insured Vermonters get back on their feet, including temporarily suspending premium payments, promptly processing all claims, providing advanced payments when possible, and properly investigating all claims to determine if coverage exists. They also asked them to respond to the delegation no later than July 31, 2023, to confirm whether their respective companies are taking these steps and to detail any additional actions they have planned to help impacted Vermonters recover from this crisis.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that impacted Vermonters know how to best avoid incorrect insurance claim denials,\u201d Sanders, Welch, and Balint wrote in the letters. \u201cTo achieve this, we are counting on your company to take the steps outlined below to ensure that Vermonters receive all the help to which they are entitled to rebuild their lives following this catastrophic flooding. This is the time for showing compassion and flexibility for working families and small business owners so that disaster survivors in Vermont can get back on their feet as quickly as possible. As an insurance provider, you play an important role in this recovery process, and your actions today will decide the state\u2019s trajectory for years to come.\u201d\n\nSanders, Welch, and Balint concluded the letters by making clear to the insurance companies that each of their offices are in continuous and direct contact with impacted Vermonters, and that the delegation will be notifying the Department of Financial Regulation of any problems that arise, as well as following up directly with the insurers to address them.\n\nSanders, Welch, and Balint wrote: \u201cWe are closely tracking incoming correspondence from Vermonters regarding their insurance claims and payments by company, insurance type, and monitoring specific issues that constituents are experiencing. Should we notice any problematic patterns, we will be notifying the Department of Financial Regulation, as well as contacting your company directly to talk through possible solutions. Thank you in advance for doing the right thing by those Vermont families and businesses you insure as they, and our state, recovers from catastrophic flooding.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter, here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=111", "Vermont Delegation Urges USDA Secretary to Approve Vermont Disaster Designation, Streamline Flood Recovery Funds for Vermont Farmers", "2023-07-15", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "BURLINGTON, VT \u2014 Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welchand Congresswoman Becca Balint sent a letter today, urging United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsackto approve Governor Phil Scott\u2019s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for the State of Vermont following catastrophic flooding to farms and rural farming communities.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that the Federal government, working in conjunction with the state, mobilize as many resources as possible to quickly bring aid to Vermont\u2019s agricultural sector,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cWe are heartened that on July 14th, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for all counties in Vermont, with an additional authorization of individual assistance for six counties. However, Vermont will need additional, ongoing support from USDA. We therefore ask that you quickly approve Governor Scott\u2019s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation, and any additional requests for support forthcoming from the state.\u201d\n\nThe letter also asked Secretary Vilsack to take steps to expand USDA workforce capacity in Vermont to support loss assessment documentation and the provision of technical assistance to our farmers, residents, and communities.\n\nYesterday, the Delegation spoke with Secretary Vilsack about the dire circumstances many farmers and producers face following recent storms and flooding across the state of Vermont. During the call, the group urged Secretary Vilsack to act quickly to provide essential support for Vermont\u2019s farmers and agricultural producers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=101", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Devastating Vermont Floods", "2023-07-10", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cAs we continue to face significant and damaging flooding, I want to thank the emergency responders and hardworking state employees across Vermont who are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe.\n\nMy focus right now is ensuring Vermonters stay safe and know that my office is here to support with any resources people may need. This is a difficult time for our state with so many people, especially in vulnerable communities, struggling; please stay safe and avoid unnecessary risk to allow first responders to focus on urgent rescues.\n\nI\u2019m in contact with Governor Scott\u2019s office and will be coordinating with him to determine what federal resources may be needed to assist in emergency response and future recovery.\n\nPlease continue to follow guidance from Vermont Emergency Management (vtalert.gov), certainly while the Flash Flood Advisory remains place until Tuesday at 1pm. Vermonters can call 211 if you need assistance with evacuations or any flood related emergencies. Vermont Alert delivers updated weather, road, and other warnings via text or email. You can register for free at www.vtalert.gov.\n\nSo many people across the state are experiencing damage to their property and their communities. As flood conditions continue, I want to remind Vermonters to take care of themselves both physically and mentally. Many of us are reminded of the pain Tropical Storm Irene caused our communities in 2011. It is critical we take care of ourselves and our neighbors in the days to come as we begin to recover from the storm.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=102", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Death of Rutland Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen", "2023-07-08", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cI was deeply saddened to learn the news about Jessica Ebbighausen, the 19 year old Rutland Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty. This brave, young Vermonter from Ira was at the very start of her career in law enforcement. She was only two months into her job, when she courageously jumped into action to pursue a fleeing vehicle with her fellow officer and lost her life while protecting Vermonters.\n\nJessica exemplifies the very best of Vermonters, heroically responding without hesitation to help in a dangerous situation. My heart is with the family & friends of Ms. Ebbighausen, the communities of Ira and Rutland, and with the law enforcement community throughout Vermont as it grieves this terrible loss.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=96", "Reps. Balint and Torres Reintroduce Legislation Promoting More Inclusive Education to Include LGBTQI+ and Women\u2019s History", "2023-06-23", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15)\u2013 both Co-Chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus \u2013 today reintroduced the \u201cLGBTQI+ and Women\u2019s History Education Act of 2023\u201d following a string of states that have proposed and/or implemented harmful and discriminatory anti-LGBTQI+ education laws.\n\nThe bill authorizes the Director of the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution to develop and disseminate resources to classrooms for educators to teach LGBTQI+ and women\u2019s history education in a more inclusive and intersectional manner. Full legislative text can be found here.\n\n\u201cStudents\u2019 right to an education is facing continued efforts to silence the history and stories of women and LGBTQI+ people. In legislatures across the U.S., book and curriculum bans are erasing trailblazing historical figures and events and preventing students from getting a full and well-rounded education,\" said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). \"As a parent and former teacher, I know the importance of education to the health of our communities and democracy. We cannot support the next generation of responsible citizens without understanding the contributions of women and LGBTQI+ people. I'm proud to work alongside Congressman Torres to stand up for an education system that highlights and celebrates our difference rather than censoring them.\"\n\n\u201cIf we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it,\u201d said U.S. Rep. Torres (NY-15). \u201cChildren today must be provided the opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions and significant impacts of so many heroic trailblazers in the LGBTQI+ and women\u2019s movements. This is especially true at a time when extreme politicians are working overtime to ban books, silence our voices, and censor our history. As the first openly gay Afro-Latino elected to Congress and proud Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and am committed to working with Rep. Balint to prioritize this legislation because LGBTQI+ and women\u2019s history is American history, and we must teach all of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, U.S. Representatives Ritchie Torres and Becca Balint reintroduced the \u2018LGBTQI+ and Women\u2019s History Education Act\u2019, which would direct and provide funding to the Smithsonian to create high-quality resources and programming for educators on the histories of LGBTQI+ communities and women using an intersectional approach,\u201d said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director, GLSEN. \u201cResearch shows that LGBTQI+ youth who attend schools with inclusive curriculum have higher GPAs, a greater sense of belonging, and are more likely to pursue post-secondary education. We must rise up for LGBTQI+ youth and keep advocating for inclusive education where every young person sees themselves reflected in the classroom and can learn about others who are different.\u201d\n\n\u201cInclusive learning environments are proven to be important for student learning and development, and for supporting positive school climates, especially for LGBTQI+ students. This is why we\u2019re proud to support the \u2018LGBTQI+ and Women\u2019s History Education Act of 2023\u2019, which will support educators to teach history that is intersectional and inclusive of LGBTQI+ people and women,\u201d said Shiwali Patel, Director of Justice for Student Survivors, National Women\u2019s Law Center. \u201cEnsuring that all students see themselves in school curriculum and are able to learn about others is especially critical right now given the ongoing attacks on curriculum and books that teach history, and about race and the LGBTQI+ community.\u201d\n\nOriginal Cosponsors: Rep. Suzan Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), Rep. Al Green (TX-09), Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Rep. Linda S\u00e1nchez (CA-38), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rep. David Scott (GA-13), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rep. David Trone (MD-06), Rep. Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24)\n\nEndorsing Organizations: GLSEN, National Women\u2019s Law Center, AACTE, Advocates for Youth, American Association of University Women, American Atheists, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association Services, American School Counselor Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, EDGE Consulting Partners, EducateUS: SIECUS In Action, Education Law Center Pennsylvania, Education Reform Now, Equality California, Family Equality, FORGE, Inc., Gender Spectrum, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, GSA Network, Human Rights Campaign, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, Japanese American Citizens League, Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Movement Advancement Project, National Action Network, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE), National Center for Transgender Equality, National Council of Jewish Women, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Education Association, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Organization for Women, National Women's Political Caucus, PFLAG Fresno, PFLAG National, PROMO, School Social Work Association of America, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, The Education Trust , The Trevor Project, Trans Maryland, True Colors United\n\nAdditional Background: According to the New York Historical Society Museum & Library, only 13% of named historical figures in textbooks across the U.S. are women, and even fewer are women of color.\n\nBetween 2021 and 2023, the Movement Advancement Project found nine states passed curriculum censorship laws restricting instruction on LGBTQI+ people and issues, including Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay or Trans\u201d law.\n\nAs of May 2023, the ACLU reported there have been more than 200 anti-LGBTQI+ school and education bills introduced in state legislatures across the country.\n\nTo date, only three states have legislated standards for inclusion of women\u2019s history in elementary, middle, and high school instruction, according to the National Women\u2019s History Alliance.\n\nTo date, only seven states have passed legislation in support of LGBTQI+ inclusive curriculum, according to GLSEN.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=94", "Vermont Delegation Condemns Lyndonville Library Incident Targeting Black Queer Poet", "2023-06-16", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) issued the following statement condemning the targeted incident at LGBTQI+ poetry event at Lyndonville Library earlier this week:\n\n\u201cHate should have no place in Vermont. It\u2019s disturbing to see homophobia and racism loud and present here in Vermont. Extremism and hate must be answered. We cannot allow it to take root in darkness or hope it will disappear if we ignore it. We affirm, loudly and with pride, our commitment to an equitable, welcoming, inclusive Vermont.\n\n\u201cAs this incident sadly reminds us, Vermont is not immune from the challenges of our time. But we have also seen and lived the best of Vermont, one that is welcoming and courageous. In a healthy democracy we should embrace diversity, not protest it, and try to shut it down. That is the Vermont we must all continue to strive for, with courage, kindness, and an unceasing belief in community.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=93", "Rep. Becca Balint Named to two House Judiciary Subcommittees", "2023-06-14", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) was named to two House Judiciary Subcommittees: \u201cThe Constitution and Limited Government\u201d and \u201cAdministrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m honored to be assigned to these two influential subcommittees on the House Judiciary Committee,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cI\u2019m ready to hit the ground running on some of the most urgent issues facing our country right now related to civil rights, voting rights, government ethics, and antitrust. These subcommittees allow me to fight for issues that Vermonters sent me here to do. That includes making our economy work for American families \u2013 not corporations, and ensuring civil rights and liberties are protected as they come under continued attack. I look forward to joining my colleagues in engaging with these critical issues with clarity, reason, and grit.\u201d\n\nThe Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee, under the leadership of Mary Gay Scanlon, presides over some of the most important fundamental issues of our time including constitutional rights, constitutional amendments, Federal civil rights, voting rights, claims against the United States, non-immigration private claims bills, ethics in government, and tort liability.\n\nThe Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee has jurisdiction over most crucial issues facing our economy. Under Ranking Member Lou Correa\u2019s leadership, the subcommittee\u2019s work includes bankruptcy and commercial law, bankruptcy judgeships, administrative law, independent counsel, state taxation affecting interstate commerce, interstate compacts, and other antitrust matters.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=92", "Rep. Becca Balint Named to the House Judiciary Committee", "2023-06-12", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) was named to the House Judiciary Committee.\n\nThe Judiciary Committee is at the forefront of some of the most pressing issues of our time, including protecting Constitutional freedoms and civil liberties, oversight of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, legal and regulatory reform, antitrust laws, terrorism and crime, gun violence prevention and immigration reform.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m honored to be chosen to represent Vermont as a member of the House Judiciary Committee,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cI\u2019m ready to get to work on some of the most pressing issues facing American families today - reproductive rights, criminal justice, gun violence, democracy and voting rights, and LGBTQI+ rights. Protecting civil liberties has always been at the core of my career and Judiciary Democrats have been steadfast in the fight against continued attacks on our democratic values. I plan to be a voice of reason and clarity to serve the needs of New Englanders and rural Americans. I\u2019m looking forward to working alongside Ranking Member Jerry Nadler to stand up for the needs and rights of working families.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the committee and the House of Representatives loses one of its strongest champions for LGBTQI+ rights in former Rep. David Cicilline, I look forward to continuing his legacy on the committee,\u201d continued Rep. Becca Balint.\n\n\u201cToday, I am honored to announce that the Steering and Policy Committee has recommended that Rep. Becca Balint be appointed to the House Judiciary Committee to fill the seat vacated by Rep. David Cicilline. As an educator, a State Senator and now a Member of Congress, Rep. Balint has spent her entire career fighting for the least, the lost and the left behind. As Majority Leader in the Vermont Senate, Becca led the passage of the first gun safety laws in the state\u2019s history, aimed at keeping children and communities safe. She will be a strong voice on the Judiciary Committee and I look forward to working with her to fight back against MAGA extremism and continue putting People Over Politics,\u201d said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.\n\nRep. Balint will be the sole openly gay member and democratic representative from the Northeast on the Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=91", "WATCH: Rep. Balint Takes on Anti-Trans GOP Witness in Oversight Committee", "2023-06-06", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Press Releases\nWATCH: Rep. Balint Takes on Anti-Trans GOP Witness in Oversight Committee\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      June 6, 2023\nTags:\nLGBTQI+ Rights\n\u201cDo you believe that investing strategies are actually weaponized to support and promote gender transition in children? Do you really believe that garbage?\u201d\nLink to video\nhere\n.\nRelated News\nRep. Becca Balint and Rep. Mark Takano Introduce Intersex Awareness Day Resolution\nOctober 24, 2025\n| Posted in Press Releases\nBalint Joins Bonamici and Frost to Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care and Services for LGBTQI+ Seniors\nJune 27, 2025\n| Posted in Press Releases\nRep. Becca Balint on Supreme Court Anti-Trans Ruling\nJune 18, 2025\n| Posted in Press Releases\nRep. Becca Balint Introduces the Transgender Health Care Access Act\nMarch 31, 2025\n| Posted in Press Releases\nRep. Becca Balint Leads 88 Members in Calling out Trump\u2019s Dangerous Trans Youth Health Care Ban\nFebruary 26, 2025\n| Posted in Press Releases\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=89", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2023-05-31", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cMy bottom line will always be: how can I deliver the best results for Vermonters and the American people. After taking the time to ask the hard questions, I decided to vote \u201cYes\u201d on this agreement to avoid default and the job loss and economic distress that comes with it.\n\n\u201cI could not in good conscience vote no and risk over 250,000 Vermonters losing their health or veterans benefits - a lifeline for so many families. As I\u2019ve said consistently throughout negotiations, default would be devastating not only for working families across the nation, but also has real consequences for the health of our global economy.\n\n\u201cWhile far from perfect, this bill protects Social Security, Medicare, and veterans\u2019 benefits. It protects the progress Democrats have already made on climate change, accessible health care, and ensuring rich corporations pay their fair share of taxes. While there are parts of this bill that I oppose, the alternative of a default is unacceptable and would be devastating to Vermonters.\n\n\u201cThis situation has made it abundantly clear we must abolish the debt ceiling. No other major economy on earth does this. America should pay what it owes and stop allowing our economy to be held hostage to an extreme right-wing agenda.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=84", "Representatives Becca Balint and Nick Langworthy Introduce the  Supporting All Producers Act of 2023 (SAP Act)", "2023-05-18", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Representatives Becca Balint and Nick Langworthy Introduce the\n\nSupporting All Producers Act of 2023 (SAP Act)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Becca Balint and Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Supporting All Producers Act of 2023, also known as the SAP Act, which would ensure that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) carefully follows input from maple syrup producers when directing research and education priorities under the Acer Access and Development Program. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) will be leading the Senate companion.\n\n\u201cVermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States, making it an integral part of our economy and culture. Setting clear education and research priorities are fundamental to the future of the maple industry and none of that can be done without the input of maple producers themselves. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation `with Rep. Langworthy to support our region\u2019s maple industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaple syrup producers across the country rely on the Acer Access and Development Program and as we seek to reauthorize this program in this year\u2019s Farm Bill, it\u2019s the perfect time to improve upon its goals with a bottom-up approach from stakeholders,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy.\u201cThis legislation will ensure the limited research and development dollars dedicated to the production of maple syrup are used in the most effective, efficient way to help sustain and grow this critical American industry.\u201d\n\nIn addition to requiring consultation with maple syrup producers on where to focus annual research and education priorities under Acer, this legislation would further require that such input be used, to the maximum extent practicable, in determining grant awards under the program. It would also reauthorize this critical program through 2028.\n\nThis Bill is endorsed by the International Maple Syrup Institute, Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, New York State Maple Association, New York Farm Bureau (NYFB).\n\nOriginal Cosponsors of this legislation are Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY), and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=83", "Rep. Balint Joins LGBTQ Freshman in Introduction of Resolution to Expel Rep. George Santos", "2023-05-16", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington D.C.- Today, Rep. Becca Balint joined Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Rep. Eric Sorensen (Il-17) in introducing a resolution to expel George Santos from Congress. This resolution would force the full House to vote on the resolution to expel, potentially leading to the expulsion of Santos. Bill text can be found here.\n\n\u201cDemocracies don\u2019t die overnight; they erode slowly as we degrade our ethical standards and turn away from our values. The Republican party\u2019s defense of this proven liar who\u2019s been indicted on 13 criminal charges is sign of the deteriorating health of our government. Americans want to have faith in our democracy, but with trust in government at an all-time low it\u2019s critical we take action to restore that trust. Today, we\u2019re calling on Members of conscience to stand up for truth and finally expel George Santos,\u201d said Congresswoman Balint.\n\n\u201cToday, I began a process to force a vote to expel George Santos from the House of Representatives once and for all. News that federal prosecutors are filing 13 criminal charges against George Santos should have been the final straw for Kevin McCarthy- but clearly, he refuses to act,\u201d said Congressman Garcia. \u201cSpeaker McCarthy cannot stay silent as an indicted liar remains in his caucus with access to classified materials, Republicans now have a chance to demonstrate to Americans that no serial liar and criminal can serve in the House of Representatives.\u201d\n\n\u201cI ran for Congress as a known and trusted voice for the people in Central and Northwestern Illinois. Our neighbors should expect that they can trust their elected representatives to serve them and not their personal interests. Anyone who has failed to maintain that level of trust is a stain on the House\u2019s credibility. To protect this institution, it is important we act,\u201d said Congressman Eric Sorensen\n\nIn December of 2022, a report by Grace Ashford and Michael Gold of the of New York Times uncovered that George Santos lied about his qualifications and finances. In May of 2023 George Santos was charged with 13 federal charges: seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. Santos has also falsely claimed to have lost four employees in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting and his mother to 9/11. Santos also lied about his faith and his family\u2019s connection to the Holocaust. Per Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the Constitution, this resolution would require a 2/3 vote of the House to expel George Santos.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=82", "Rep. Balint Co-Leads the \u2018Honoring All Families\u2019 Resolution After Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Made Offensive Comments on Motherhood", "2023-05-12", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, ahead of Mother\u2019s Day Weekend, Rep. Balint co-led the \u201cHonoring All Families\u201d resolution, introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42). The resolution affirms support for all types of families -- especially LGBTQ+ families and families who adopt -- as legitimate and deserving of respect and recognition. Co-leads for this resolution are Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Ranking Member Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Angie Craig (MN-02), and Mark Pocan (WI-02).\n\nThe resolution is a direct response to insensitive and controversial remarks by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), who suggested a witness who is a stepmother and LGBTQ+ person, was \u201cnot a mother\u201d in an April 26 hearing of the Select Subcommittee for the Coronavirus Pandemic.\n\n\u201cFamilies take many forms. Like my own, families across our nation define who they are by love and support. We should be applauding and lifting up families of all kinds who give their loved ones the support they need and deserve. This kind of ignorance and bullying must be rejected and denounced. I stand with families of all kinds.\u201d said Congresswoman Balint (VT-AL).\n\n\u201cAs an LGBTQ+ person myself, I know the positive impact chosen family and adoptive figures have on our community. With this resolution, we stand with these families and honor the incredible work they do to nurture, raise, and provide for their loved ones. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and they shape who we are in an immeasurable way,\u201d said Congressman Garcia (CA-42).\u201cMarjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s comments were gross, bigoted, and invalidated the thousands of loving LGBTQ+ and adoptive families across this country.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Ranking Member of the Select Subcommittee, I was deeply troubled to hear such harmful, extreme remarks disparaging LGBTQ+ and adoptive families during last month\u2019s hearing,\u201d said Ranking Member Ruiz (CA-25). \u201cOur nation is forged by people from all different backgrounds and circumstances coming together to build a better future for the next generation. We are at our strongest when we recognize that a parent\u2019s contributions to their child\u2019s growth and success are not defined by the circumstances by which they become a parent, and adoptive parents, foster parents, and stepparents are no exception. That is why I\u2019m joining Congressman Garcia\u2019s resolution that gives all of America's families the respect and celebration they deserve.\"\n\n\"No one, including extremist politicians, has the right to tell any child or any parent whether their family is valid. It\u2019s not surprising, that Marjorie Taylor Greene is attacking LGBTQI+ families to raise her political profile and raise funds,\" said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02). \"I\u2019m grateful to Representatives Garcia, Ruiz, Balint, and Craig for introducing this resolution. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in uplifting all families and condemning Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s remarks.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy wife Cheryl, our four boys and our grandson are a family thanks in part to adoption. I\u2019m helping lead this push on behalf of every adopted mother in America, because I believe we should support and uplift all American families, no matter what Marjorie Taylor Greene and the Radical Right say.\u201d said Congresswoman Craig (MN-02).\n\n\u201cAs a proud adoptee; the son of two loving parents who provided me with all the love and support a child could ever ask for, I am repulsed by the baseless, hateful rhetoric that otherizes adoptive families,\u201d said Congressman Frost (FL-10). \u201cWe will not allow any single member to disrespect the people who have opened their hearts and homes up to children. This resolution sends a powerful message that whether you adopted your child, had biological children, or found your chosen family in some other way \u2014 your family matters.\u201d\n\nThe resolution is endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, Family Equality, the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, interACT, the National Partnership for Women & Families, the Whitman-Walker Institute, SAGE, COLAGE, Voice for Adoption, and the National Health Law Program.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=81", "Rep. Balint Calls out GOP Committee for Anti-LGBTQ Comments Amid Continued Attacks on Queer Youth", "2023-05-11", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WATCH: Rep. Balint Calls out GOP Committee for Anti-LGBTQ Comments Amid Continued Attacks on Queer Youth\n\n\u201cMy Republican colleagues seem to delight in attacking the LGBTQ people and their families and blaming us for all things, including now, it turns out, the deficit.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is morally bankrupt and deeply un-American to continue to attack these kids. It's time to do our job and pass a budget that supports and protects all of our kids, all of our constituents.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) calls out GOP Budget Committee witness for blaming federal programs that support LGBTQ people and kids for the deficit spending. Rep. Balint called their remarks \u201cmorally bankrupt and deeply un-American.\u201d Rep. Balint is a member of the Budget Committee and Co-Chair of the Equality Caucus.\n\nRead transcript from today\u2019s hearing below:\n\n\u201cI just want to mention something that is deeply troubling to me. A Republican witness earlier noted a few federal programs that support LGBTQ people including kids. And as a member of that community, it's really disappointing to me that my Republican colleagues seem to delight in attacking the LGBTQ people and their families and blaming us for all things, including now, it turns out, the deficit.\n\n\u201cSo, I just want to put this in perspective. Yesterday I met for an hour with parents of trans kids from across this nation, and they came from all over. All over from conservative districts and states. Just regular families, parents came to share their experiences of what it's like in this moment. And you know what I heard over and over again? Why are members of our own government scapegoating us and our children? Why have we become the favorite enemy when we just want the same things that all American families we want? We want to live safe, fulfilling lives and we want to support and love and protect our children.\n\n\u201cIt is morally bankrupt and deeply un-American to continue to attack these kids. It's time to do our job and pass a budget that supports and protects all of our kids, all of our constituents.\u201d\n\n###\n\nAbout Rep. Balint: Rep. Becca Balint is a mom, teacher, and progressive leader who comes to Washington ready to fight for working families. Becca is the first woman and openly LGBTQ person to represent her home state of Vermont. As the daughter of working-class, immigrant parents, Becca is deeply committed to defending American democracy and protecting vulnerable communities.\n\nA deep sense of justice, empathy and service has guided Becca\u2019s career from the beginning - first as an educator who taught middle school in Windham County for fourteen years, then as an activist and State Senator and ultimately as the President Pro Tempore in 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=80", "Rep. Becca Balint Introduces Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act", "2023-05-10", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Today, Rep. Balint introduced the Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act. The bill would expand access to the US Department of Agriculture emergency funding to combat the threat of non-native species to our forests.\n\n\u201cI, like so many Vermonters, am concerned about the future of our natural resources and ecosystems. To protect our forests and the health of native species, it\u2019s clear we need to take federal action. I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Welch to preserve our environment in the face of invasive species,\u201d said Rep. Balint.\n\nThe Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act would:\n\nExpand the USDA\u2019s access to emergency funding to combat invasive species.\n\nEstablish a grant program to support institutions focused on researching restoration of native tree species that have been severely damaged by invasive pests.\n\nAuthorize funding to implement promising research findings on protection of native tree species.\n\nMandate a study to overcome the lack of centralization and prioritization of non-native insect and pathogen research and response within the federal government, and develop national strategies for saving tree species.\n\nSenator Welch led Senators Braun and Hassan in introducing the Senate companion.\n\nText of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=78", "Joint Release: Vermont Congressional Delegation Celebrates $20 Million National Science Foundation Award to Fund Data Science Research in Vermont", "2023-05-09", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, Vermont\u2019s Congressional Delegation announced that the University of Vermont (UVM) would receive a $20 million award through the National Science Foundation (NSF)\u2019s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. The award will support continued data science research through the Harnessing the Data Revolution for Vermont: The Science of Online Corpora, Knowledge, and Stories (SOCKS) project \u2013 a joint initiative of UVM, Champlain College, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Vermont Technical College, and Saint Michael\u2019s College.\n\nSenator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cVermont colleges and universities are at the forefront of data science, pursuing groundbreaking research to help us better understand the world around us. The work happening at institutions across Vermont to complete the Harnessing the Data Revolution for Vermont: The Science of Online Corpora, Knowledge, and Stories project exemplifies that commitment.\n\nWith this $20 million award from the National Science Foundation\u2019s EPSCoR program, the University of Vermont and its partner institutions will be able to strengthen and grow Vermont\u2019s capacity for data science research and provide important information on the state of our world.\n\nWe congratulate the awardees \u2014 UVM, Champlain College, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Vermont Technical College, Saint Michael's College \u2014 and we thank the National Science Foundation for their work to bring this important funding to Vermont.\u201d\n\nTo read more about the award, please click here.\n\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=79", "Balint Joins Rep. Steil (WI-01) to Introduce Protecting Young Minds Online Act", "2023-05-09", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, during Mental Health Awareness Month, Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) introduced the Protecting Young Minds Online Act, legislation to require the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and disseminate a strategy to address the effects of new technologies, like social media, on children\u2019s mental health.\n\n\u201cWe are in the midst of a crisis of loneliness in this country and so many young people are relying on social media and technology for connection. But these tools can also have negative effects on our mental health. We can see the immediate impact, but we don\u2019t yet know the long-term effects on our kids. As a mom of two teens, and as a former teacher, I\u2019m deeply concerned about the mental health impact of social media on our youth. I\u2019m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to take the important step of promoting positive use of social media while protecting our youth from the potentially dangerous consequences,\u201d said Balint.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m working to protect children from the negative effects of social media. The effect of that usage is causing children to suffer from depression, anxiety, and in worst cases self-harm and suicide at alarming rates. Our federal agency tasked with addressing this crisis must have a strategy in place to meet this challenge. Experts on mental health need to come together to give parents, teachers, and children the tools they need to promote positive mental health and protect our nation\u2019s children online. This nonpartisan legislation is a step in the right direction for helping and protecting our children\u2019s mental health,\u201d said Steil.\n\nIn recent years, there have been a significant increase in mental health disorders in youth, including depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth age 15-24. Approximately one out of every 15 high school students report attempting suicide each year.\n\nAccording to the Center for Disease Control\u2019s (CDC) 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in three teenage girls seriously considered attempting suicide and the rates of sadness are the highest reported in a decade. In total, approximately 900,000 youth aged 12-17 and 1.7 million adults attempted suicide and 12.3 million had serious thoughts of suicide in 2021.\n\nRecent studies have also shown that social media use can negatively affect youth, distracting them, exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people\u2019s lives, and much more.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=76", "Rep. Balint Statement on Passage of \u201cDefault on America Act\u201d", "2023-04-27", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint, a member of the House Budget Committee, voted against the \u201cDefault on America Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cA budget reflects our values, and we can plainly see where Republicans\u2019 priorities lie. Their dangerous list of demands that passed the House today are reckless and clearly for political gain. But American families see through these games. Middle- and low-income families care about the future of the economy - how they\u2019ll buy a house, lease a car, or pay for college. I\u2019m concerned by this reckless and heartless move by Republicans. I plan to continue to work alongside my colleagues to block this plan and find a path to passing a clean debt limit bill,\u201d said Rep. Balint.\n\nBy refusing to act now to prevent a default, House Republicans are threatening an economic disaster that will devastate everyday Americans. In Vermont, an extreme MAGA Republican default on our debt would:\n\nPut 47,000 people at risk of losing Medicaid coverage in Vermont.\n\nThreaten access to food assistance for 1,000 people aged 50-55 in Vermont.\n\nEliminate preschool and child care for at least 500 children in Vermont.\n\nIncrease housing costs for at least 2,100 people in Vermont.\n\nMake college more expensive for at least 9,200 students in Vermont.\n\nCut at least 10 rail safety inspection days in Vermont.\n\nRepeal investments in cleaner, cheaper energy \u2014 threatening clean energy and manufacturing jobs.\n\nBut the Default on America Act is no alternative. In Vermont, the extreme House Republican scheme would:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=75", "Rep. Balint Calls out GOP Anti Trans Legislation", "2023-04-18", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WATCH: \u201cTrans kids and their families are being targeted and harassed for political gain. Is this the nation we want to live in?\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Balint delivered remarks on the House floor in opposition to the rule and against HR 734, the \u201cProtection of Women and Girls in Schools Act.\u201d Read her remarks below:\n\n\u201cI rise in opposition to the rule, and to speak clearly and directly on HR 734, which Republicans are ironically calling the \u201cProtecting Girls in Schools Act.\u201d This bill is undeniably an attack on our kids. And does nothing to protect girls.\n\nBills like this are aimed at taking away rights from LGBTQ+ Americans, often time kids. Kids and their families are being targeted and harassed for political gain. Is this the nation we want to live in?\n\nSports bans for kids, like this Republican bill, are cruel and unnecessary. These bills are clearly un-American at their core. They are about restricting rights. They are about barring kids, kids!, from full participation in school.\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives must not participate in this obvious fear-based hate and discrimination against trans youth. We risk lives when we don\u2019t stand up clearly and loudly against discrimination of all kinds. This bill would have us believe that we should be afraid of trans youth. Nothing could be further from the truth.\n\nWhen I talk to these kids and their families, when I listen deeply to their experiences, what they say is: I just want to live my life. I just want friends. I just want to be myself, I don\u2019t want to go to school and be picked on. These kids need our support, they do not need us demonizing them, and fear mongering, and bullying.\n\nToday, Republicans blocked our amendments which would have actually supported our girls in sports.\n\nMy amendment would have strengthened protections against harassment in schools based on sex, race, color, national origin, disability, and age. It would have restored protections against harassment and ensured equal opportunities for all students. It would also require schools to take additional steps to protect students who have experienced sex-based harassment.\n\nWe cannot keep putting these kids in harm's way with hateful rhetoric that is coming directly from inside the halls of Congress. Instead, let\u2019s do our jobs and take real steps to actually protect our children.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=74", "Rep. Becca Balint Introduces Youth Mental Health Legislation", "2023-04-17", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Becca Balint introduced the Peer Education and Emergency Response (PEER) for Mental Health Act. This legislation would establish a grant program that supports training for teachers, school personnel, parents, caregivers, and students in mental health first aid.\n\nIncreased isolation following the pandemic, greater academic and social pressures, and social media have all contributed to a significant mental health crisis among school aged children and adolescents. Forty-two percent of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and twenty-two percent say they seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, according to the CDC\u2019s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.\n\nThe grants established by this bill would be used to train teachers, school personnel, parents/caregivers and students in mental health first aid to:\n\nRecognize symptoms of mental health disorders in children in adolescents\n\nRefer participants to necessary mental health treatment\n\nIdentify signs of immediate mental distress (such as panic attacks) and, upon recognizing such signs apply mental health first aid tactics\n\nEducate participants on the resources that are available in the community for individuals with a mental illness.\n\n\u201cVermonters are struggling and feel ill equipped to support one another through the mental health crisis we are facing as a nation. I\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that alleviates the burden on our youth and gives them the tools they need to support one another,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cMental health first aid training won\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t take the place of training, recruiting, and hiring more counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. We must also invest in resources for professional intervention, but our kids want and need to be equipped with the knowledge to uplift and support their friends and classmates.\u201d\n\nThe bill streamlines the application process so that public schools and state and local education agencies with limited personnel and resources can easily apply. This bill authorizes $24,963,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, which complements the current Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Mental Health First Aid grant program.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Education Association (NEA), and the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.\n\nMore information on the bill here. For the text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=64", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Suspension of FDA Approved Mifepristone", "2023-04-08", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cLike many Vermonters and Americans, I\u2019m stunned and furious by the news that a federal judge has ruled against the personal medical decisions that should be made between a patient and their doctor. This decision sets a dangerous precedent. Mifepristone is safe and effective and has been for more than two decades. What other safe and effective drugs will be removed because of political and ideological extremism? This is an assault on reproductive rights and women\u2019s freedom. Right wing extremists will stop at nothing short of a national abortion ban. I will continue to fight back against this alarming and dangerous attack on our freedom, our choices, and our healthcare.\u201d\n\nRep. Balint is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and an original cosponsor Women\u2019s Health Protection Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=55", "Rep. Balint Named Vice Ranking Member of Oversight Subcommittee", "2023-04-03", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Joins Ranking Member Mfume to Lead the Government Operations and Federal Workforce Subcommittee\n\nWashington, D.C \u2013 Rep. Becca Balint announces new position as Vice Ranking Member of the Government Operations and Federal Workforce Subcommittee on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.\n\n\u201cJoining Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume as Vice Ranking Member of this subcommittee allows me to prioritize high-quality, adequately funded mail service through the United States Postal Service because Americans deserve reliable and efficient federal government agencies. I\u2019m committed to approaching this work with reason and clarity to deliver real results for Vermonters and working families across the country. Thank you to Ranking Members Raskin and Mfume for their faith in my leadership. I\u2019m proud to work alongside them to deliver fact-based and values-driven oversight of the federal government,\u201d said Rep. Balint.\n\n\u201cThis talented and diverse group of lawmakers shares a dedication to serving the American people through methodical, fact-based oversight. Oversight Democrats are committed to upholding the truth, which is constantly in danger these days, and I am proud to work alongside these distinguished Vice Ranking Members as we advance authentic fact findings and commonsense policy solutions, \u201d said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin of the five Oversight Committee Vice Ranking Members.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Government Operations and Federal Workforce has jurisdiction over the federal civil service, federal and state government relations, public information, and other federal services such as the US Postal Service. Kweisi Mfume is the Ranking Member of the subcommittee.\n\nShe is also a member of the Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=54", "Rep. Balint Joins the ERA Caucus as Vice Chair", "2023-03-28", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, Rep. Becca Balint joined Congresswomen Cori Bush (MO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) in launching the first-ever Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment.\n\nThe caucus was launched exactly 100 years after the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced in Congress in 1923 to commemorate the centennial of the struggle for constitutional gender equality. The caucus aims to affirm the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment to the Constitution; raise awareness in Congress to establish constitutional gender equality as a national priority; partner with an inclusive multi-generational, multi-racial coalition of advocates, activists, scholars, organizers, and public figures; and center the people who stand to benefit the most from gender equality, including Black and brown women, LGBTQ+ people, people seeking abortion care, and other marginalized groups.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=52", "Rep. Balint Calls out GOP for Harmful \u201cEducation\u201d Bill that Threatens to Defund Schools", "2023-03-23", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Becca Balint fought back against Republican attacks on students and families in her first Budget Committee hearing. Rep. Balint focused on education funding to ensure our schools and communities receive the funding they need to tackle our nation\u2019s mental health crisis. She asked Director Young what American families can expect in the President\u2019s budget that will address how the federal government chooses to fund schools and support students. This follows the Republican Majority\u2019s decision to advance a bill (HR5) that would insert the federal government between parents and schools and threatens trans youth. Her statement below:\n\n\u201cThis week the Republican majority is bringing a bill to the floor that would put a very large burden on schools and families. It would condition federal funding for schools on implementing policies that will actively harm LGBTQ youth. We\u2019re only in DC for a few days this week and we are spending our valuable time on a bill that would insert the federal government between parents and kids and local schools. It promotes censorship. It promotes book banning. It violates the privacy of young people. And they say it\u2019s about freedom. And they say it\u2019s about protecting kids. And I have to ask: what about book banning is about protecting freedom? What about defunding schools is about protecting kids. And I can tell you this is not how constituents want me to be spending my time.\n\n\u201cI was back in Vermont last week, traveling around the state and we talked about a lot of urgent, urgent issues facing families in Vermont \u2013 housing, mental health, protecting social safety nets like social security and Medicare. We talked about how we have to do more right now to support mental health in schools. And not one person, not one in all my travels around the state, advocated for less funding for schools. I met with so many high school students last week and what they told me directly and indirectly is that they need us to support them in meaningful ways when it comes to mental health supports.\n\n\u201cAmerican families across the country are facing these urgent problems. The Center for Disease Control just released their youth risk behavior survey results. And the results show that teen girls and LGBTQ teens are experiencing extremely high rates of mental distress, violence, and substance abuse. 3 in 5 girls feel consistently sad which is a marker for depressive symptoms. And more than 1in 4 girls report that they had seriously considered suicide in 2021. 1 in 4. This is a substantial increase from 2011.\n\n\u201cAnd we have House Republican Leadership ignoring this epidemic and instead pushing HR 5, a bill that stokes the fire of division instead of uniting us around this issue. I know that Republicans colleagues across the aisle also care about the mental struggles of families in their communities. So, I want to know why we\u2019re not talking about that more. Our kids and teens are suffering. We need real investments in mental health care. And as a parent of school aged children, I can tell you that is what parents are talking about right now. That\u2019s what they\u2019re talking about. I know Mr. Trone asked about mental health supports. I wondered if you [Director Young] could go back to the President\u2019s Budget and talk a little bit more about what families and students can look for that will give them hope in this budget around these issues.\u201d\n\nFull video below:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=49", "Rep. Balint Leads Letter in Support of Protections for Those Seeking Services from Faith Based and Neighborhood Organizations", "2023-03-15", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Rep. Becca Balint and nine other members submitted a comment letter to Federal Agencies heads regarding a proposed rule by the Education Department, the Homeland Security Department, the Agriculture Department, the Agency for International Development, the Housing and Urban Development Department, the Justice Department, the Labor Department, the Veterans Affairs Department, and the Health and Human Services Department.\n\nThe letter was submitted in support of the proposed regulations entitled \u201cPartnerships with Faith Based and Neighborhood Organizations\u201d and to urge additional improvements to ensure robust religious liberty and nondiscrimination protections for people who use federally funded social services. This follows Trump Administration regulations that eliminated critical religious freedom protections for people seeking government-funded social services and placed the interests of government-funded organizations over those of people seeking these services.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is a core American value and serves as a shield to protect people, especially religious minorities, from religious discrimination and ensures that the government does not pressure anyone to participate in religious activities,\u201d the letter read. \u201cWhen the government funds social services, they must be open to all people, including people of all faith backgrounds and the nonreligious. Religion should never be used to deny people government-funded services, and people who seek government-funded services should never be pressured to participate in religious activities in order to receive such services.\u201d\n\nRep. Balint is joined by Reps. Raskin, Huffman, Schakowsky, Pocan, Foushee, Evans, Bonamici, Frankel and Scanlon.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=47", "Rep. Balint to Host Housing Town Hall", "2023-03-10", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Rep. Balint to Host Housing Town Hall in Barre, VT\n\nBarre, VT - Rep. Becca Balint will host her first town hall in Barre, VT this Wednesday at 5:30 pm. The Congresswoman will be joined by a panel of housing experts for a discussion of housing in central Vermont and across the state. As the affordability crisis grows both in Vermont and across the country, the Congresswoman is focused on solutions that keep families in their homes and eases the burden of rising housing costs. Vermont is especially feeling the effects of rising costs as the state with the second highest rate of homelessness per capita in the country. After the panel discussion, there will be time for moderated Q&A with the Congresswoman. This event is free and open to the public.\n\n\u201cI am excited for an open and informative conversation with Vermonters next week on one of the biggest issues facing our state: the housing affordability crisis. I know access to affordable, safe housing offers working families the stability and opportunity they need to succeed. As Vermont\u2019s voice in the House of Representatives, I\u2019m focused on talking with families across the state and bringing their concerns to Washington,\u201d said Rep. Balint.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=46", "Rep. Becca Balint Calls on Ben & Jerry\u2019s Parent Company to Address Migrant Child Labor Practices", "2023-03-08", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Rep. Becca Balint calls on Vermont-founded Ben & Jerry\u2019s to address reports that milk used in their products are processed using child labor. Rep. Balint, like many Vermonters, is proud of the state\u2019s commitment to strong labor standards particularly within the dairy supply. These recent reports raise concerns for Rep. Balint, who is requesting a response from Ben & Jerry\u2019s parent company to outline how to quickly put an end to these labor practices.\n\n\u201cAs a Vermonter, I know that these reports are not consistent with Ben & Jerry\u2019s values. In 2017, Ben & Jerry\u2019s became the first company to implement the Milk with Dignity Program, which has its roots in Vermont and seeks to ensure strong labor standards for farmers and farmworkers in the dairy supply chain,\u201d Rep. Balint wrote in the letter. \u201cUnilever has a responsibility to its customers to ensure its supply chain does not rely on children working dangerous, exploitative and illegal jobs.\u201d\n\nRep. Balint is urging Unilever to take swift action to address any unsafe or exploitative labor practices from their supply chain with a response by March 21, 2023.\n\nSee text of letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=44", "Rep. Becca Balint Named to Two Oversight Subcommittees", "2023-02-27", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, DC - Rep. Becca Balint (VT-00) announces membership to two Oversight Subcommittees: Healthcare and Financial Services and Government Operations and the Federal Workforce.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Healthcare and Financial Services has jurisdiction over federal health care policy, food and drug safety, federal entitlement programs, monetary policy, banking, infrastructure, tax policy, and oversight and legislative jurisdiction over the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Katie Porter is the Ranking Member of the subcommittee.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Government Operations and Federal Workforce has jurisdiction over the federal civil service, federal and state government relations, public information and records, and other federal services such as the US Postal Service. Kweisi Mfume is the Ranking Member of the subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=42", "Rep. Becca Balint Joins Gun Violence Prevention Task Force", "2023-02-22", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Representative Becca Balint becomes a member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in the 118th Congress. The task force is chaired by Mike Thompson of California and includes 169 members.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s easy to feel hopeless and desensitized. But we can end gun violence. We can create a safer world for our children. And that begins with common sense gun safety measures. I helped pass Vermont\u2019s first gun safety laws and I will continue to fight to end gun violence. I\u2019m proud to join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and take action to keep our communities safe. I look forward to working alongside anyone who is willing to act to save lives,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint.\n\n\"Gun violence must be a top priority for this Congress, and essential to this effort is the involvement of the new leaders in Congress. I am thrilled to have Congresswoman Becca Balint join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,\" said Chair Mike Thompson. \"Becca will be a great addition to the Task Force and will help us champion the commonsense gun violence prevention measures that will help save lives and protect our communities.\"\n\nFormed in the aftermath of Sandy Hook, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force is a group of 169 democratic lawmakers working to find common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence in the United States. The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force played a leadership role in securing the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in 30 years with the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, higher funding to run the background checks program and research gun violence, and programs to break the cycle of violence.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=41", "Sanders, Welch, Balint Demand Answers from Postal Service Leadership on Postal Delays in Hinesburg and Across Vermont", "2023-02-17", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) on Thursday sent two letters to the leadership of the United States Postal Service (USPS) demanding answers and accountability regarding postal issues affecting workers and service in communities across Vermont. These letters \u2013 one to the USPS Board of Governors and one to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy \u2013 were the first sent by the newly-formed Vermont Delegation in the 118th Congress, continuing ongoing delegation efforts to resolve postal issues across the state.\n\n\u201cWe write with great concern regarding the ongoing staffing crisis and resulting mail delays at United States Postal Service locations across Vermont,\u201d the delegation wrote in both letters to USPS leadership. \u201cIn the last month alone, we have received a particularly high volume of calls from the Chittenden County town of Hinesburg about insufficient staffing that has resulted in poor customer service. We have heard similar concerning reports from post offices in Williston, South Burlington, and Windham County. These issues are unacceptable; our constituents deserve better.\u201d\n\nThe delegation laid out urgent requests for action, assessments, and recommendations. The letters include questions and requests for information covering a wide range of issues, including an immediate plan of action to fix the egregious postal issues in Hinesburg, improvements to USPS\u2019 hiring process, and actions to address postal workers\u2019 needs, delays in mail delivery, leadership deficiencies, and holiday performance. The delegation requested answers by no later than March 1, 2023.\n\nIn the letters, Sanders, Welch, and Balint described serious reports of mail delays that have lasted multiple weeks, local businesses and individuals that have missed bill payments, and even older Vermonters who have been forced to order emergency prescription replacements because their original medication never arrived or arrived in unusable condition. The delegation has also heard from numerous constituents whose regular mail was significantly delayed due to the prioritization of third-party packages, including from Amazon. \u201cThis is an outrage,\u201d they wrote.\n\nTo the Board of Governors, the delegation wrote: \u201cFor years, our Vermont Congressional Delegation has engaged with Postmaster General DeJoy and regional Postal Service leadership in an attempt to address mail delays and staffing issues, yet no help has come. Vermonters understand what we know to be true: passing the Postal Service Reform Act was critical in ensuring the Postal Service has the financial footing necessary to adequately staff the agency and restore delivery service. We, along with our constituents, expect meaningful progress.\u201d\n\nTo Postmaster DeJoy, the delegation wrote: \u201cAs Postmaster General, you are responsible for the timely delivery of the mail. As the Vermont Delegation noted in our December 2021 letter to you, when you fail in that mission you fail Vermont\u2019s seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and small business owners\u2026 We have made our and our constituents\u2019 frustrations regarding your leadership failures clear. The U.S. Postal Service is a critical government agency, not a money-making machine. We expect you to take these staffing issues in Vermont and across the country seriously, and to focus on meeting the Postal Service\u2019s duties to the American people.\u201d\n\nRead the delegation letter to the USPS Board of Governors, here.\n\nRead the delegation letter to Postmaster General DeJoy, here.\n\nRead past delegation letters to Postmaster DeJoy, in 2020 and 2021, here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=39", "Balint Joins Welch, Sanders to Introduce First Legislation as Vermont Delegation: Action to Protect Vermont Waterways", "2023-02-15", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act key step to ensure waterways remain free-flowing and healthy\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) today introduced the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act, taking an important step to protect the ecological, recreational, and economic value of these Northern Vermont waterways.\n\nThe Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act is the first legislation Sen. Welch, Sen. Sanders, and Rep. Balint have introduced as a delegation, following the retirement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the end of the 117th Congress. It is also the first legislation Sen. Welch and Rep. Balint have introduced as members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cHealthy rivers are essential to our state\u2019s ecology and play an important role in our tourism and recreation economy,\u201d said Sen. Welch. \u201cThis bill is a critical step to protect the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream. And it\u2019s a good example of our delegation\u2019s priorities for the 118th Congress: from environmental conservation to economic development and affordability issues, this delegation is focused on supporting the state we love and addressing the issues that matter to Vermonters. I\u2019m honored to work alongside Rep. Balint and Sen. Sanders to introduce this legislation and to continue fighting for Vermont values here in Washington.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s rivers are some of our most precious natural resources, and we must do everything we can to protect them for future generations,\u201d said Sen. Sanders. \u201cI look forward to working with my colleagues to preserve the Nulhegan River for our children and grandchildren.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermonters know the value of preserving our lands and waterways. This bill is an important step toward protecting the Nulhegan River for generations to come,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cIn my first opportunity to introduce federal legislation, I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Welch and Sanders to prioritize preserving our state\u2019s natural resources,\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nulhegan is one of Vermont\u2019s most wild rivers,\u201d said Noah Pollock, a representative of the Vermont River Conservancy. \u201cWe appreciate the efforts of Senator Welch, Senator Sanders, and Representative Balint to help authorize a study to better understand the river's values and to explore community interest in Wild and Scenic River designation.\u201d\n\nA broad coalition of local municipalities, cultural and regional groups, and environmental conservation groups have supported the request for a wild and scenic river study of the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream in recent years, including the organizations listed below.\n\nTo read the bill, please click here.\n\nSupporters\n\nTown of Brighton\n\nTown of Maidstone\n\nTown of Bloomfield\n\nUnified Towns and Gores of Essex County (Averill, Avery\u2019s Gore, Ferdinand, Lewis, Warrens Gore, Warner\u2019s Grant)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=35", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on False Threats to Vermont High Schools", "2023-02-08", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cToday, Vermont families were sent into panic and fear as false active shooter threats were made to high schools across the state. We now know, thanks to state law enforcement, that these threats were a hoax. As the parent of two Vermont students, I am disgusted by threats of violence to our schools. Like so many other parents today, I\u2019m angry and I\u2019m frustrated. As a former teacher, I am all too familiar with the training that students go through to be prepared if the unthinkable happens. But as we know, in 2023 there have been more mass shootings than days in the year. And the \u201cunthinkable\u201d happens every day in this country. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to our gun violence epidemic. We cannot allow our students to live in fear in their schools.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s easy to feel hopeless and desensitized to this kind of violence. But we can end gun violence. We can create a safer world for our children. And that begins with common sense gun safety measures. I helped pass Vermont\u2019s first gun safety laws and I will continue to fight to end gun violence.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s events were yet another reminder that gun violence touches everyone and we cannot stop until everyone is safe. My office will continue to monitor the situation closely and is in touch with state law enforcement.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=33", "Rep. Becca Balint Named to the Budget Committee for the 118th Congress", "2023-02-07", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) has been named to the Budget Committee in addition to her membership on the Committee on Oversight.\n\n\u201cI'm honored to join the Budget Committee in the 118th Congress. It is critical that the budget addresses our country\u2019s most pressing challenge and reflect the values of American families. We need to use every tool at our disposal to get closer to a more just and equitable economy that works for everyone. As Vermont\u2019s voice on the committee, I\u2019m eager to get to work for my community to fight for urgent investments in healthcare, education, and climate while ensuring that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint.\n\nRep. Balint\u2019s position on the Budget Committee allows her to remain focused on investing in Vermont priorities like the addressing the global climate crisis and providing accessible healthcare while supporting working families with their everyday costs like childcare and education.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to welcome 14 of my Democratic colleagues to the House Budget Committee this Congress and I look forward to working with them to lower costs for families, invest in our next generation, and stand up against Republicans\u2019 schemes to cut Social Security and Medicare. House Budget Committee Democrats are committed to supporting policies that will help families and hardworking Americans \u2014 not pull the rug out from under them. We\u2019re united behind our shared values and ready to get to work for the American people,\u201d said Ranking Member Brendan Boyle.\n\nAbout the Budget Committee: The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 created the Budget Committee to allow Congress to develop an independent means to analyze the Presidential budget, reconcile it with congressional plans, and develop a fiscal policy of its own. The House Budget Committee is responsible for drafting Congress's annual budget plan and has jurisdiction over the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the budget process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=34", "Rep. Becca Balint Announces State of the Union guest, Bill Lippert", "2023-02-07", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Tonight, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) will welcome Bill Lippert as her Congressional guest for President Biden\u2019s State of the Union Address. Lippert was a legislator for almost 30 years in Vermont and has been a steadfast champion of LGBTQ rights throughout his career.\n\nIn the 1980\u2019s, Lippert helped organize the first Pride parade in Burlington, and was a founding board member of Outright Vermont, Vermont\u2019s queer youth-serving organization. Lippert founded the Samara Fund, a community foundation dedicated to improving the lives of VT's LGBTQ citizens.\n\nAs the only openly gay member of the Vermont General Assembly, Lippert was instrumental in making Vermont the first state to grant civil unions to same-sex couples in 2000. Nearly a decade later, he played a critical role in guaranteeing full same-sex marriage rights through the state\u2019s legislature. Again, making Vermont a trailblazer as the first state to legalize same-sex marriage without a court order.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled Vermont is getting to share Becca\u2019s courage, kindness, and her full authentic self as an \u2018out\u2019 LGBTQ woman with Washington and Congress. Becca is such a hopeful role model for all Vermont young people, but especially of our Vermont queer youth. I am so proud to call Becca Vermont\u2019s Congresswoman and honored to be her guest for the State of the Union address,\u201d said Bill Lippert.\n\n\u201cBill\u2019s bravery as an openly gay legislator came at a time where many remained closeted due to lack of legal protections. His fearless championing of equality paved the way for LGBTQ leaders like me to run for office. I\u2019m thrilled to have him by my side this evening as we reflect on the state of our union under President Biden. Bill and I know there is still so much work left to achieve full equality. But tonight, I\u2019m reminded of just how important it is to lead with love in our fight for freedom and justice,\u201d said Rep. Balint.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=32", "Rep. Balint Participates in First Oversight Committee Hearing", "2023-02-01", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) joins the first Oversight Committee in her first committee hearing of the 118th Congress. The Committee held a hearing entitled \u201cFederal Pandemic Spending: A Prescription for Waste, Fraud and Abuse.\u201d\n\nRep. Balint and Oversight Democrats questioned witnesses to ensure federal dollars were used most effectively and efficiently to provide emergency relief to those who needed it most. In 2020, Congress passed the $3.3 trillion in the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Programs like expanded unemployment insurance benefits, through the American Rescue Plan, helped keep 6.7 million people above the poverty line in 2021. These federal programs saved lives and helped American families recover from the economic crisis.\n\n\u201cAt the heart of this hearing has been a false choice between ease of access to government assistance when disaster strikes\u2026and making sure people get the help they need. This is about real people; this is about real families. It\u2019s about desperate people needing assistance,\u201d said Rep. Balint in her questioning.\n\n\u201cWhat I know is getting the money out quickly to people desperately in need saved lives in every community in my home state,\u201d continued Rep. Balint.\n\nWitnesses included: The Honorable Michael Horowitz, Chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, The Honorable Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the GAO, David Smith, the Assistant Director of Investigations at the US Secret Service and Rebecca Dixon, Executive Director of The National Employment Law Project.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=31", "Rep. Becca Balint Named to Committee on Oversight and Accountability for the 118th Congress", "2023-01-27", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cI am honored to join the Committee on Oversight and am excited to get to work on urgent democracy reform under the leadership of Ranking Member Jamie Raskin,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cDemocracy has been under attack, and I am committed to using all the grit and courage I have to protect it. I\u2019m thrilled to join Oversight Democrats, who are dedicated to advancing the critical work required to maintain a healthy democratic system.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt the heart of the Oversight Committee\u2019s jurisdiction is ensuring our government works for the American people. I plan to bring reason and clarity to a committee that Republicans will use for political games.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m ready to do the hard work to ensure our government works for Vermonters, including our rural communities. I look forward to using this position to demand high-quality, adequately funded mail service through the United States Postal Service. Americans deserve reliable service and efficient federal government agencies.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to welcome to the Oversight and Accountability Committee Rep. Becca Balint, whose passion to make government work for the people will be a major new boost for our Committee. I look forward to partnering with Rep. Balint to defend the truth this Congress and ensure an effective and efficient government that works to promote the common good,\u201d said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.\n\nRep. Balint\u2019s legislative focus will remain on protecting freedoms and fundamental rights for people on the margins. Her position on this committee will allow her to hold government agencies accountable while protecting civil liberties.\n\nThe Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives. The committee is tasked with ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government and its agencies. The committee has wide ranging authority including jurisdiction over federal civil service, federal government operations, the District of Columbia, and the United States Postal Service.\n\nBalint joins the committee under the leadership of Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=30", "Rep. Balint Delivers First Floor Speech on Reproductive Freedom", "2023-01-11", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Video : \u201cThe American people are overwhelmingly with us. They want their rights. They want their freedoms.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) delivers an urgent call for protecting reproductive rights during her first speech on the House floor. Rep. Balint stands united with her Democratic colleagues as the House considers misleading and dangerous Republican-sponsored anti-abortion legislation. Rep. Balint has long been a champion of reproductive freedom and plans to fight continued attacks on abortion access for all Americans.\n\nWatch the Rep. Balint\u2019s remarks here .\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision to overturn Roe v Wade was dehumanizing and dangerous. It does not reflect the will of the majority of Americans who deeply value maintaining control of their bodies. As the Leader of the State Senate, I worked to make Vermont the first state in the nation to explicitly protect reproductive freedom in its constitution. It\u2019s time to provide those same protections for all Americans.\n\n\u201cWhile Republicans seek to control women\u2019s bodies, to try to distract us from their extreme stances with farcical resolutions, my Democratic colleagues and I will not stop until reproductive rights are restored as the law of the land. The American people are overwhelmingly with us. They want their rights. They want their freedoms. As a woman, mother, and Congresswoman, I will continue to fight for a world where abortion care is legal, safe, and accessible for all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=29", "Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Passage of Republican Rules Package", "2023-01-10", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Last night, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) voted to oppose the Republican rules package. The package brought to the floor by the Republican-led Rules Committee includes many of the concessions Speaker McCarthy made to the extreme right-wing which would pave the way for the MAGA agenda to reach the House floor. By voting \u201cno\u201d Rep. Balint is opposing allowing the far-right to hold the Speaker hostage to their agenda, attempting to end Congressional staff unionization, reinstating rules to target civil servants, and giving Committee Chairs unprecedented power.\n\nRepublican\u2019s first priority bill in this new Congress is designed to help the wealthy avoid paying their fair share by rescinding critical funding that allows the IRS to control tax evasion from the ultra-rich. Rep. Balint plans to partner with Republicans this Congress to solve problems for her constituents, however, she stands ready to oppose Republican extremism and attacks on the health of American democracy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=28", "Taking the Oath of Office", "2023-01-07", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "U.S. Representative Becca Balint to be sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives.\n\nThe Honorable Becca Balint was elected to serve as Representative of Vermont\u2019s Congressional District. Representative Becca Balint was added to the rolls of the House.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=27", "Representative-elect Becca Balint Statement on Anniversary of January 6th Attack on Capitol", "2023-01-06", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 \u201cToday, two years following the insurrection on the Capitol, I stand in the very same building, reflecting on the heroism that upheld the principles of democracy that day.\n\nWhen I came to Washington earlier this week, ready to be sworn-in, I felt hopeful and eager to be a part of a functioning and healthy democratic system. However, as we watch the House be held hostage by the dysfunction across the aisle, I am disheartened by the lack of urgency to lead our country with integrity and purpose.\n\nAs we begin the 118th Congress, we are reminded that democracy cannot be taken for granted. We must not allow ourselves to become numb to political vitriol and violence. As Vermont\u2019s voice in the House of Representatives, I am more committed than ever to defending our democracy with honesty, courage, and unity.\n\nI join with colleagues here in Washington to honor the lives lost, those injured, and the sacrifices officers made to protect our nation\u2019s capital and the peaceful transfer of power from violent attack. As I get to work for Vermonters, I remain committed to strengthening our democracy and expanding voting rights to live up to our oath of creating a more perfect union.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=21", "Newest Members of Congress", "2023-01-03", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The freshman class will be sworn in on January 3rd, 2023 when the First Session of the 118th United States Congress convenes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=22", "118th United States Congress Convenes", "2023-01-03", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The First Session of the 118th United States Congress commences on January 3rd, 2022. Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives will attend the First Session.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=23", "Taking the Oath of Office", "2023-01-03", "2023", "2023-01", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "U.S. Representative Becca Balint was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2023.\n\nThe Honorable Becca Balint was elected to serve as representative of 0th Congressional District of Vermont. Representative Becca Balint was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 75, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "VT", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 75, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 75, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT&year=2023&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "VT", "label": "VT", "count": 75, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 75, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=VT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 133.92391800880432, "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"}