{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"VT\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-reaction-on-russian-hacking-of-a-vermont-electric-utility", "Leahy Reaction On Russian Hacking Of A Vermont Electric Utility", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.16\n\t\t\t Leahy Reaction On Russian Hacking Of A Vermont Electric Utility \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tStatement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Russian Hacking\r\nFriday, December 30, 2016\r\nState-sponsored Russian hacking is a serious threat, and the attempts to penetrate the electric grid through a Vermont utility are the latest example. My staff and I were briefed by Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham this evening. This is beyond hackers having electronic joy rides  this is now about trying to access utilities to potentially manipulate the grid and shut it down in the middle of winter. That is a direct threat to Vermont and we do not take it lightly.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-va-must-not-be-privatized", "Sanders: VA Must Not Be Privatized", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders: VA Must Not Be Privatized\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 30, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 30 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, issued the following statement Friday in response to reports that President-elect Donald Trump is considering privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs:\u00a0\r\n\u201cPrivatizing the VA would be an insult to the more than 22 million veterans who risked their lives to defend our country and it would significantly lower the quality of health care they receive. Our goal, shared by The American Legion and other major veterans\u2019 organizations, must be to improve the VA, not destroy it. When men and women put their lives on the line to defend us, the president must listen to them, not to the Koch brothers and their extreme right-wing, anti-government ideology. We will vigorously oppose any and all efforts to privatize the VA.\r\n\u201cThe president-elect should listen to American Legion Executive Director Verna Jones, who recently said the nation\u2019s largest veterans\u2019 organization \u2018would like the Trump administration to know that we value our Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 because \u2018dollar-for-dollar, there is no better care or value available anywhere in the United States \u2013 period.\u2019\r\n\u201cThe president-elect should listen to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. \u2018Politicians, pundits and politically-motivated organizations are using the national crisis in access to care at the Department of Veterans Affairs as justification to dismantle and privatize the VA health care system, with some even proposing that veterans be charged for their service-connected care. The VFW says no! Veterans must not stand idle as politicians who never served or use the VA health care system dictate when and where veterans can receive care.\u2019\r\n\u201cThe president-elect should listen to Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America who said, \u2018The worst case scenario within the vets community is a total dismantling of everything they worked generations to create. There is a growing fear it is all going to get burned down.\u2019\u201cThe veterans\u2019 organizations are right. We must protect the VA, not destroy it.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-va", "Sanders Statement on VA", "2016-12-30", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on VA\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 30, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 30 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, issued the following statement Friday in response to reports that President-elect Donald Trump is considering privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs:\r\n\u201cPrivatizing the VA would be an insult to the more than 22 million veterans who risked their lives to defend our country and it would significantly lower the quality of health care they receive. Our goal, shared by The American Legion and other major veterans\u2019 organizations, must be to improve the VA, not destroy it. When men and women put their lives on the line to defend us, the president must listen to them, not to the Koch brothers and their extreme right-wing, anti-government ideology. We will vigorously oppose any and all efforts to privatize the VA.\u201cThe president-elect should listen to American Legion Executive Director Verna Jones, who recently said the nation\u2019s largest veterans\u2019 organization \u2018would like the Trump administration to know that we value our Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 because \u2018dollar-for-dollar, there is no better care or value available anywhere in the United States \u2013 period.\u2019\u201cThe president-elect should listen to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. \u2018Politicians, pundits and politically-motivated organizations are using the national crisis in access to care at the Department of Veterans Affairs as justification to dismantle and privatize the VA health care system, with some even proposing that veterans be charged for their service-connected care. The VFW says no! Veterans must not stand idle as politicians who never served or use the VA health care system dictate when and where veterans can receive care.\u2019\u201cThe president-elect should listen to Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America who said, \u2018The worst case scenario within the vets community is a total dismantling of everything they worked generations to create. There is a growing fear it is all going to get burned down.\u2019\u201cThe veterans\u2019 organizations are right. We must protect the VA, not destroy it.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/senators-ask-trump-epa-chief-pick-to-disclose-energy-industry-ties", "Senators Ask Trump EPA Chief Pick to Disclose Energy Industry Ties", "2016-12-29", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Ask Trump EPA Chief Pick to Disclose Energy Industry Ties\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 29, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tDemocrats on the U.S. Senate's environment panel on Wednesday asked President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency to disclose his ties to the energy industry ahead of his confirmation hearing early next year.\r\nThe six senators sent a letter to Scott Pruitt, who as Oklahoma Attorney General led several lawsuits against the Obama administration's EPA to block its environmental rules. They asked him to list his connections to energy companies, to weigh whether these will influence his ability to run the agency.\r\n\"What that conduct says about your ability to lead EPA in a manner that is not beholden to special or secret interests is a subject that we expect will receive a full airing during your confirmation hearing,\" the senators wrote in the letter.\r\nThe senators raised concerns about a 2014 New York Times report, which found that Pruitt's policy positions as Oklahoma's top attorney reflected his close ties to Devon Energy Corp.\r\nContinue reading here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-to-the-united-states-abstention-in-the-un-security-council-on-the-resolution-on-israeli-settlements", "Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) To The United States Abstention In The UN Security Council On The Resolution On Israeli Settlements", "2016-12-24", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.24.16\n\t\t\t Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) To The United States Abstention In The UN Security Council On The Resolution On Israeli Settlements \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\"Ever since Oslo, Republican and Democratic administrations have opposed Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank as an obstacle to peace. That was not a throwaway line, but nevertheless,year after year the expansion of settlements into disputed territory continued and even accelerated as if the policy of the United States, and UN resolutions, didn't matter.\r\n\"Throughout theseyears, U.S. militaryaid to Israel has increased, evenasprospects for a two statesolution, which Israeli leaders have consistently claimed to want, have steadily diminished. And even asthe festeringIsraeli-Palestinian conflict has itselfbecome a threat to thenational security ofthe United States.\r\n\"I commend President Obama and Ambassador Power for makingclear that while wedeplore the failure of the Palestinian leadership to condemn violence andwill defend Israel against any foe, we will do so in a manner that says we must also defend America's interests as Ambassador Power did.\"\r\n# # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/vermonts-snowmobiling-season-underway_as-new-lvrt-sections-open", "Vermonts Snowmobiling Season Underway,  As New LVRT Sections Open", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Vermont\u2019s Snowmobiling Season Underway,  As New LVRT Sections Open\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 23, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tVermont\u2019s snowmobile season has begun. This year, Vermonters and visitors to our state will be able to enjoy newly opened sections of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). \r\nWhen complete, the LVRT will be a 93-mile long, multi-use, four-season recreational trail that traverses northern Vermont from Swanton to St. Johnsbury. The rail trail will be longest of its kind in New England. So far, about one-third of the project is complete, said Cindy Locke, the executive director the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST).\u00a0 \r\nThe most recent trail sections completed are the 13-mile section from West Danville to St. Johnsbury and the 17-mile leg from Morrisville to Jeffersonville, Locke said. \u00a0The next section to be created will be from Sheldon to Swanton. \r\nIn addition to significantly expanding VAST\u2019s roughly 500-mile trail network throughout Vermont, the LVRT is providing new opportunities for walkers, runners, bicyclists, horse-riders, dog mushers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers.\r\nSen. Bernie Sanders secured $5.2 million for the project in 2006. \u00a0Another $10 million to $12 million will be needed to finish the trail, Locke said, adding that the goal is to complete the project in the next six years.\u00a0 VAST has launched a fundraising effort to help raise resources which could include additional state and federal funds.\r\nLocke said it is hard to underestimate the value of the project for the region\u2019s economy. \u201cWe have seen businesses growing -- businesses being born -- because of this trail,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is like the best story in the world. It is going to do so much for the economy of northern Vermont.\u201d \u00a0\r\nSince the LVRT is a four-season trail, the economic benefit is not limited to winter.\u00a0 Restaurants and biking tour companies, for example, have been given a major boost from the increased tourism along the sections of the trail that have been completed, Locke said. \u00a0\r\n\u201cI see this as playing a significant role in creating jobs in a part of the state where we really need those jobs,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThe other thing about the old rail trail is it\u2019s going allow Vermonters to access areas of the state which people have not seen for a very long time in areas that are extraordinarily beautiful.\u201d\r\nThe trail boasts \u201cspectacular views into the heart of Vermont\u2019s working landscape,\u201d VAST states. The trail will take people \"through farms and forests, right into the downtown districts of Vermont\u2019s scenic communities.\u201d\r\nDecember\u2019s snowfall bodes well for a good snowmobiling season, which will translate into an economic boost for the state. \u00a0Locke estimates that snowmobiling has an annual $500 million impact on Vermont\u2019s economy, including equipment sales and money spent on lodging and food. \u00a0Each year, she notes, VAST spends $2 million on grooming trails. \r\n\u201cThis is the first time in seven years when we have actually had trails open on opening day. We are optimistic and hopeful for a good season,\u201d she said. Vermont\u2019s snowmobiling season runs from Dec. 16 through April 15.\r\nHISTORY CORNER \r\nThe history of the Lamoille Rail Trail railway corridor spans two centuries. \r\n\u201cOriginally intended to be part of a rail corridor that would run from the Great Lakes to the Maine coast (the westerly section was never made), the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad was completed in 1877. Through the years it served Vermont as both a passenger and a freight line,\u201d the group\u2019s website states. \u201cFreight traffic primarily consisted of dairy products for the Boston market as well as timber, limestone, talc and asbestos from the Northern Vermont forests and quarries. Passenger service ended in 1956. The State of Vermont purchased the line in 1973 and renamed it the Lamoille Valley Railroad with freight service continuing until the railroad\u2019s closing in 1994.\u201d \r\n\u00a0\r\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/the-year-closes-on-a-high-note-for-vermonts-transportation-future_---", "The Year Closes On A High Note For Vermonts Transportation Future -- Leahy-Authored Bill To Facilitate Preclearance Travel Operations In Canada Is Signed Into Law", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.16\n\t\t\t The Year Closes On A High Note For Vermont's Transportation Future' -- Leahy-Authored Bill To Facilitate Preclearance Travel Operations In Canada Is Signed Into Law   \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t . . . Thursday News Conference In Burlington Spotlights Removal Of The Largest Hurdle For Swifter Cross-Border Air and Rail Travel Between Vermont and Canada\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t BURLINGTON (THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016)  Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was joined Thursday by federal and state officials, representatives of Amtrak, Porter Airlines and local chamber of commerce officials at the Burlington International Airport to mark the enactment of the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act.  The legislation, unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in the last day of this year's session, was signed into law by President Obama on December 16th. Leahy penned the legislation earlier this year, which is needed to facilitate air travel  and eventually, passenger rail service  between Burlington and Canadian cities, and between other U.S. and Canadian destinations.\r\nThe new law paves the way for expansion of preclearance facilities, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, at land, rail, marine and air ports of departure in Canada, easing travel and commerce between the two countries. The event Thursday coincided with Porter Airlines first seasonal flight between Toronto City Airport and Burlington International. Toronto City Airport is a possible future preclearance site in Canada.\r\nThe Leahy-led bill promotes two key national goals: enhancing U.S. national security, and increasing efficiency for travelers and commercial exchanges. Leahy has long advocated improving cross-border travel and was the driving force behind this effort, forging the bipartisan and bicameral coalition and guiding its passage through the Senate.\r\nLeahy said: Vermonters regularly talk to me about improving the travel experience between Canada and the United States. As we welcome the first Porter Airlines flight between Toronto and Burlington for the winter season, it's great to be able to celebrate the progress we have made this year. We still have more work to do, but with President Obama signing this into law, we removed the biggest hurdle standing in the way of improved air and rail travel between our countries. This year is closing on a high note for Vermont's transportation future.\r\nCustoms and Border Protection Boston Field Office Director Ferrara said: This agreement marks an important step in enhancing security in the aviation, land, rail and maritime environments with a dual benefit of facilitating legitimate travel between the U.S. and Canada.\r\nPorter Airlines President and CEO Robert Deluce said: The longstanding and successful preclearance system in Canada will be enhanced with implementation of this legislation. Porter Airlines is pleased that our main operating base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has been prioritized as an early addition to the program. Preclearance at Billy Bishop Airport will allow Porter to operate more effectively on our many existing U.S. routes, while also opening the door to serving new U.S. destinations. Burlington, Vt., is among Porter's current seasonal routes that can benefit by providing an even simpler entry point to the state. Senator Leahy is a leader in Congress who recognized the value of preclearance early on. This opportunity to create more two-way travel and trade between Canada and the U.S. will strengthen existing cultural and economic ties. We look forward to the Parliament of Canada also making necessary legislative updates to allow for preclearance at Billy Bishop Airport to become a reality.\r\nCEO of PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Geoffrey Wilson said: PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, is pleased to be one step closer to securing a U.S. Preclearance Facility at Billy Bishop Airport. As the sixth busiest Canadian airport servicing the U.S., and the only one of Canada's top-tier airports without preclearance, Billy Bishop Airport is an important gateway. Preclearance will encourage trade and tourism between our two countries and provide easier access to the U.S. for our passengers, further enhancing the customer service experience at our award-winning airport. Preclearance also presents the ability to serve U.S. markets more broadly and creates opportunity to add new hub and regional U.S. markets to our network. We look forward to continuing to work with Canadian officials and U.S. CBP on implementing preclearance at Billy Bishop Airport and realizing the benefits associated with encouraging bilateral trade, facilitating convenient travel for business and leisure passengers, offering next-generation travel technology, and reinforcing national security.\r\nSenior Vice President, Government Affairs at Amtrak, Joe McHugh said: Amtrak appreciates the leadership of Senator Patrick Leahy and hard work by many others in working to pass the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. This Act is key to the long term strategy of the United States and Canada to make cross-border transit more efficient, fostering economic development and improving safety and security of our shared border. When implemented, Amtrak passengers can look forward to a more reliable, safer and more efficient cross-border experience.\r\nThe United States currently operates preclearance facilities at 15 airports in six countries, including Canada. These facilities allow travelers to pass through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections prior to traveling, expediting their arrival in the United States, and protecting national security by preventing those who should not be traveling to the United States from doing so before they arrive. Under a new agreement, the United States will expand its preclearance operations in Canada. The Leahy-authored legislation ensures that the United States has the legal authority to hold U.S. officials accountable if they engage in wrongdoing while stationed in Canada  a necessary prerequisite to full implementation of this agreement.\r\nThe new law will advance discussions regarding the creation of a preclearance facility at Montreal's Central Station, reestablishing passenger train service between Vermont and Montreal, and it is a step forward in improving the air service between Burlington International Airport and Toronto City Airport. The United States currently stations CBP Officers in select locations in Canada to inspect passengers and cargo bound for the United States before they leave Canada. These operations relieve congestion at U.S. airports, improve commerce, save money, and provide national security benefits.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/u-32s-mccann-is-vt-teacher-of-the-year", "U-32s McCann is Vt. Teacher of the Year", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U-32\u2019s McCann is Vt. Teacher of the Year\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Eric Blaisdell \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTimes Argus\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 21, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tEAST MONTPELIER \u2014 A mathematics teacher at U-32 Middle & High School has been named Vermont\u2019s Teacher of the Year for 2017.\r\nKatherine McCann, who is in the middle of her 11th year at the school, was chosen for the honor by the Agency of Education. The alternate Teacher of the Year is Rachael Potts, a special education and transition specialist at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, and a finalist was Corey Smith, a fourth-grade teacher at Proctor Elementary School.\r\nMcCann is now Vermont\u2019s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers. She will travel this spring to the White House in Washington for a reception where she will meet President Donald Trump.\u00a0\r\nMcCann was told the news at a surprise assembly at the East Montpelier school Tuesday.\r\nShe said in an interview that it was \u201cvery overwhelming\u201d to be picked and she wasn\u2019t sure what it entailed.\r\n\u201cI hope that I can do a good job speaking for teachers throughout the state,\u201d McCann said.\r\nContinue reading here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-potus-announcement-banning-drilling-in-parts-of-atlantic-and-arctic-oceans", "Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On POTUS Announcement Banning Drilling in Parts of Atlantic and Arctic Oceans", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.20.16\n\t\t\t Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On POTUS Announcement Banning Drilling in Parts of Atlantic and Arctic Oceans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe President clearly listened to the countless voices of coastal residents who oppose the unnecessary risk that drilling poses to their way of life and to the coastal economies that depend on healthy oceans and pristine beaches. I agree with the President that these risks, as well as those posed to the wildlife and marine life that call these oceans home, should not be jeopardized to enable multi-billion dollar corporations to benefit from risky offshore drilling activities. I applaud President Obama for today's announcement, as well as that of the Canadian government. This important cross border work with Canada ensures that a joint withdrawal of the Arctic will prevent irreparable harm to the rare and fragile Arctic ecosystem.\r\n\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/social-security-checks-are-being-reduced-for-unpaid-student-debt", "Social Security Checks Are Being Reduced for Unpaid Student Debt", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Social Security Checks Are Being Reduced for Unpaid Student Debt\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Josh Mitchell \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 20, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe federal government is increasingly taking money out of recipients\u2019 Social Security checks to recover millions in unpaid student debt, leaving thousands of retired and disabled Americans with below-poverty incomes, according to a report set to be released Tuesday.\r\nThe government has collected about $1.1 billion since 2001 from Social Security recipients of all ages over unpaid student loans, the Government Accountability Office reported. That includes $171 million in Social Security benefits in fiscal 2015 alone.\r\nIn the year through September 2015, about 114,000 Americans age 50 and older had their Social Security benefits reduced to offset defaulted student loans. That figure\u2014which includes 38,000 people age 65 or older\u2014has risen 440% since 2002.\r\nThe report highlights the growing number of baby boomers who are entering retirement with student debt, many of them in default on loans from decades ago. About 4 in 10 borrowers whose Social Security checks were garnished have held the debt for at least 20 years, the report said. Most of the borrowers took out the loans to pay for their own educations, though a big share borrowed to help pay for their children\u2019s schooling.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/study-largest-us-banks-still-charge-high-overdraft-fees", "Study: Largest U.S. banks still charge high overdraft fees", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Study: Largest U.S. banks still charge high overdraft fees\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Kevin McCoy \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 20, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tMost major U.S. banks continue to charge high fees when customers overdraft their accounts, according to a new report issued Tuesday.\r\nMore than two out of five banks also rearrange their processing of account holders' transactions with a procedure that maximizes overdraft fees, said the report by The Pew Charitable Trusts, an independent, non-profit organization.\r\nA separate review of overdraft programs at a selection of smaller U.S. banks found many practices are largely comparable to those of larger banks, the report also concluded.\r\nSome of the findings echo previous studies of the issue, including a 2008 analysis by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study in 2013. The new results show a need for banks to institute new policies that prevent their widely-offered \"courtesy\" overdraft programs \"from being costly and unsustainable forms of short-term credit for many financially vulnerable consumers, said Nick Bourke, director of Pew's consumer finance project.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/as-vermonts-ag-donovan-to-focus-on-criminal-justice-reform", "As Vermonts AG, Donovan to Focus on Criminal Justice Reform", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As Vermont\u2019s AG, Donovan to Focus on Criminal Justice Reform\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 20, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tLast month, Vermonters elected T.J. Donovan, 42, to serve as Vermont\u2019s next attorney general. He will replace Attorney General Bill Sorrell, who has held the office since 1997.\u00a0 Donovan has served as Chittenden County\u2019s state\u2019s attorney for the last decade and is planning an ambitious agenda as Vermont\u2019s attorney general, including significant criminal justice reform on the state level.\u00a0\r\nIn an interview last week, Donovan outlined some of that agenda:\r\nQUESTION: What are your major goals as Vermont\u2019s attorney general?\r\nDONOVAN: My biggest goal is to simply help Vermonters, wherever they are, whomever they are, and with whatever they need. The Attorney General\u2019s Office has a broad portfolio that touches many different areas. But what I feel passionately about is just helping regular folks with issues that are preventing them from getting ahead or getting by. That could mean helping a small business figure out what the rules and regs are in order for compliance. It could mean making sure that we continue to reform our criminal justice system so we don\u2019t keep people out of upward mobility. It could mean making sure that we\u2019re protecting our environment so we have clean water and clean air. Just being engaged at a really local level -- at a grassroots level -- and helping Vermonters get ahead. \r\nWhat I believe in is in common sense. I believe in the goodness of people. I believe most people want to do the right thing. And I\u2019m excited to be an Attorney General who, hopefully, responds in a way that helps regular folks get ahead. \u00a0\r\nQUESTION:\u00a0 In Chittenden County, you developed the Rapid Intervention Community Court. Can you speak a little about that? Is that the model for a statewide approach to criminal justice reform?\r\n[Note: The Rapid Intervention Community Court is an award-winning pre-charge diversion program started by Donovan in 2010 for non-violent offenders whose crimes were driven by addiction or mental illness.]\u00a0\r\nDONOVAN:\u00a0 I think it is. Most people who are in jail are there because of addiction and mental illness. We have a heroin epidemic. We also have a mental health crisis in this state\u2026 I would say that our largest mental health facility is our jails.\u00a0 As state\u2019s attorney, I just started seeing the same folks day in and day out, coming into the criminal court system\u2014mostly poor, uneducated, unemployed or under-employed with an addiction issue or mental health issue. The traditional approach through the criminal justice system is, you really have three different types of responses: you can put them in jail; they\u2019re going to get out. You can put them on probation and ask them to comply with certain conditions that they\u2019re not going to be able to. Or you can ask them to pay a monetary fine that they\u2019re never going to pay because they don\u2019t have any money. \r\nIt created this cycle of recidivism and failure. I don\u2019t think it was making our community more safe. I think it was making our community less safe. It cost a whole lot of money, too. We spend more money on corrections in this state than we do on higher education.\r\nQUESTION: Do you have numbers on that?\r\nDONOVAN: Our corrections budget is roughly $150 million. It costs more than $73,000 a year to incarcerate a woman. It costs about $59,000 to incarcerate a man. \r\nQUESTION: Per year?\r\nDONOVAN: Per year. And we have a recidivism rate of, I think, close to 50 percent -- meaning five out of 10 people who are in our jails are back in our jails, at a cost not only to the taxpayer, but to the individual and to our community. And so I said, \u201cLet\u2019s try something different.\u201d \r\nIf most people are coming in because of addiction, because of mental illness, I think what a safe community looks like is a community where people are sober, are healthy, are stable, are housed, and hopefully working. \u2026\u00a0[The Rapid Intervention Community Court] was about redefining what accountability is. We\u2019d do compliance checks at 30, 60, 90 days. And my point was: if somebody\u2019s in treatment, somebody\u2019s doing what they\u2019re supposed to be doing in the community and they\u2019re in compliance, that\u2019s going to make us more safe as a society than convicting somebody of a retail theft and asking them to pay $200 that they don\u2019t have. \r\nQUESTION: How was that effort received, was there any pushback?\r\nDONOVAN: Of course there was pushback, it was different. But it worked. And that was the difference. When you look at the traditional system, you can\u2019t justify the numbers. You can\u2019t justify the $150 million that the Vermont taxpayers are paying. \r\nQUESTION: I saw you that have said, \u201cThe best form of public safety is a good job.\u201d\r\nDONOVAN: Absolutely. Because, again, any courthouse you go to, any jail you go to, you\u2019re going to see the poor. And you ask yourself the question: why? \r\nThe poor don\u2019t have a monopoly on committing crime, but that is who is represented in the criminal justice system, by and large. And it becomes a cycle \u2026 Poverty plays a role in this. What neighborhoods are being enforced? Who\u2019s getting arrested and for what? What type of lawyer do you have or do you even have a lawyer? All these different variables play out. And poverty is the one constant in it. The poor get the short end of the stick.\r\n\u2026\u00a0 And what that leads to is the marginalization of folks by virtue of having criminal records. Criminal records prevent people from getting jobs, period. We get petitions every week\u2014probably every day -- in the criminal justice system from folks who are trying to get old criminal histories expunged so they can get a job. It\u2019s mostly for minimum wage work. What we\u2019ve done is we\u2019ve marginalized so many people in the name of \u201cpublic safety\u201d and it has not worked. We are more safe when people are working. Give people the opportunity, because here\u2019s the thing -- there\u2019s no judge, and there\u2019s no prosecutor, when that case was adjudicated and the sentence was imposed, that they ever thought that they were sentencing this person to a lifetime of poverty. But that\u2019s what\u2019s happened. \r\nQUESTION: What would you do first, in terms of criminal justice reform?\r\nDONOVAN: I\u2019m a big believer in expunging criminal records because we have to hit the reset button. It is some of the best anti-poverty work we can do. So, expunging old criminal histories -- and it\u2019s not sex offenses and murders -- I\u2019m talking the low-level stuff. It\u2019s the low-level stuff that\u2019s kept people out of the mainstream of society, upward mobility because they can\u2019t get that job. Create the infrastructure in the community for alternatives, not just to incarceration, but alternatives to the criminal justice system.\r\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/patrick-and-marcelle-leahy-pay-respects-to-john-glenn-at-memorial-service-in-columbus", "Patrick And Marcelle Leahy Pay Respects To John Glenn At Memorial Service In Columbus", "2016-12-17", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.16\n\t\t\t Patrick And Marcelle Leahy Pay Respects To John Glenn At Memorial Service In Columbus \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCOLUMBUS (SATURDAY, Dec. 17, 2016)  Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and his wife Marcelle Leahy on Saturday attended the memorial service here for the late former Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio). The Leahys and Glenns enjoyed an especially close bond of friendship in the United States Senate.  The Leahys traveled to Columbus with Vice President Biden and Jill Biden, aboard the Vice President's plane. We met when John and I came to the Senate. Our friendship crystalized in an instant, and it blossomed and endured for years, said Patrick Leahy. We worked side by side, we spent time together, and Marcelle and I traveled together with John and Annie on Senate delegations to such countries as China and Vietnam. Leahy continued:  Of the 371 senators I have served with, John stands out, for his decency, for his courage, and for his optimism about our country. It also was a joy and a tonic to see and feel the deep and everlasting bond of love and affection that John and Annie lived, each and every day. He was at the cusp of a generation of leaders who sought to challenge and inspire us. Godspeed, John Glenn. Our prayers, our hearts and a grateful nation's admiration are with you and Annie.  Leahy also released a gallery of photos of John and Annie Glenn that he has drawn from his archives. These PHOTOS (LINK, BELOW) are available for immediate use:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n# # # # #\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-leads-bipartisan-effort-stop-illegal-branding-fake-milk-real-milk", "Welch Leads Bipartisan Effort to Stop the Illegal Branding of Fake Milk as Real Milk", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Continuing his advocacy to protect Vermont's dairy farmers as well as the consumers' right to know, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), joined by Mike Simpson (R-ID) and 23 other members of Congress, today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to exercise its legal authority to investigate and take action against the manufacturers of products they falsely claim to be milk.\nDairy farmers continue to be buffeted by extreme financial hardships. Since 2014, milk prices have plunged 40 percent. During that same time, there has been a surge in the mislabeling of imitation milk products, including beverages produced from almond, soy, and rice.\nIn a bipartisan letter to the FDA, Welch and his colleagues objected to the mislabeling of imitation plant-based products that do not have the unique attributes and nutritional value of milk, yet are marketed as milk.\nWhile consumers are entitled to choose imitation products, it is misleading and illegal for manufacturers of these items to profit from the milk name, said Welch and his colleagues. These products should be allowed on the market only when accurately labeled. We urge FDA to enforce this matter by requiring plant-based products to adopt a more appropriate name that does not include the word milk'.\nThe letter can be read in its entirety below.\nThanks to Congressman Welch for spearheading this effort to support our dairy sector, said Leon Berthiaume, CEO of the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, Inc. Proper labeling of milk is of utmost importance to our industry and dairy farmers. Milk has its own unique, positive attributes that must be clearly communicated to consumers.\nWhile imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery; dairy imitators do not naturally provide the same level of nutrition to the people buying them as milk does, President and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association Michael Dykes said. Non-dairy beverages can mislead people into thinking that these products are comparable replacements for milk when in fact most are nutritionally inferior.\nYou haven't got milk' if it comes from a seed, nut or bean, said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. In the many years since we first raised concerns about the misbranding of these products, we've seen an explosion of imitators attaching the word milk' to everything from hemp to peas to algae. We don't need new regulations on this issue, we just need FDA to enforce those that have been on the books for years.\n###\n\nDecember 16, 2016\nThe Honorable Robert M. Califf, M.D.  \n\tCommissioner  \n\tFood and Drug Administration  \n\t10903 New Hampshire Avenue  \n\tSilver Spring, MD 20993\nDear Commissioner Califf:\nWe strongly believe that the use of the term milk by manufacturers of plant-based products is misleading to consumers, harmful to the dairy industry, and a violation of milk's standard of identity. We request that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exercise its legal authority to investigate and take appropriate action against the manufacturers of these misbranded products.\nAs you know, dairy farmers are facing a serious financial crisis. These hard working Americans have experienced deep cuts in income as milk prices have plunged 40 percent since 2014. While the Administration has taken steps to address this crisis, market forecasts predict that the dairy industry will continue to face depressed prices in the immediate future. Unless more is done, many more farmers will be forced to sell their herds.\nIt is against this backdrop that we write concerning the mislabeling of imitation milk products. In recent years, there has been tremendous growth in the sale of plant-based products often labeled as milk. A recent Neilson survey revealed that in the past five years, sales of certain plant-based grew 250 percent to more than $894.6 million. By contrast, sales of milk fell 7 percent in 2015.\nWhile consumers are entitled to choose imitation products, it is misleading and illegal for manufacturers of these items to profit from the milk name. These products should be allowed on the market only when accurately labeled. We urge FDA to enforce this matter by requiring plant-based products to adopt a more appropriate name that does not include the word milk.\nAs you are aware, milk has a clear standard of identity defined as the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows (21 CFR 131.110). Milk, produced by the mammary gland, also has a unique nutritional value, providing an excellent source of protein and a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamins A and D, and potassium. Plant-based products clearly fail to meet this standard of identity. They are unable to match the nutritional makeup of the product they mimic, yet they continue to be marketed as milk.\nWhile addressing this serious issue will not solve all the challenges confronting dairy farmers, it is an important part of the solution that will also provide consumers with the accurate information they expect. We urge you to initiate a thorough investigation and appropriate enforcement action.\nThank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to your timely response.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt_ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee-on-the-appointment-of-debo-p-adegbile-to-serve-as-a-commissioner-on-the-us-commission-on-civil-rights", "Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),  Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Appointment of Debo P. Adegbile to Serve as a Commissioner On the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.16\n\t\t\t Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),  Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Appointment of Debo P. Adegbile to Serve as a Commissioner On the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tI applaud President Obama's wise appointment today of Debo P. Adegbile to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Debo brings a strong, independent and knowledgeable voice to the Commission. He has devoted much of his career to fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. Debo has also twice argued before the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.\r\nAt a time when religious and racial minorities feel afraid and threatened, and when Americans' voting rights are in their greatest jeopardy since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the Commission will play an important role in ensuring that the American people are informed about the current state of federal civil rights policy and the enforcement of those laws. Debo's much needed expertise will serve the Commission well. I congratulate Debo on his appointment.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/grassley-leahy-comment-on-us-copyright-office-report-examining-the-legal-framework-of-software-enabled-consumer-products", "Grassley, Leahy Comment on U.S. Copyright Office Report Examining the Legal Framework of Software-Enabled Consumer Products", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.16\n\t\t\t Grassley, Leahy Comment on U.S. Copyright Office Report Examining the Legal Framework of Software-Enabled Consumer Products \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  The U.S. Copyright Office released ananalysisof how copyright law applies to software-enabled consumer products, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the lives of American consumers. The report was prompted by a 2015 requestfrom Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The senators issued the following statement:\r\nIn everything from Fitbit to farm equipment, we've seen a sweeping expansion of smart technology in recent years and the emergence of the new internet of things. While this innovation presents new opportunities, it also poses important questions about privacy, consumer protection, public safety, cybersecurity, competition, and the development of the digital economy. To help us understand a critical component of these issues, we asked the Copyright Office for a study of how our copyright laws are implicated by the prevalence of software enabled devices. We greatly appreciate the Copyright Office's hard work in producing this timely study, which will prove invaluable to the Senate Judiciary Committee as we continue to work together to make informed policy choices that protect the interests of consumers, creators and innovators.\r\n-30-\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-bill-to-improve-criminal-justice-system_signed-into-law", "Leahy Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System  Signed Into Law", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.16\n\t\t\t Leahy Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System  Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bipartisan Justice for All Reauthorization Act Renews Leahy's Groundbreaking Innocence Protection Act & Aims to Reduce Rape Kit Backlog\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, December 16, 2016)  Legislation authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to help ensure that the criminal justice system functions fairly was signed into law on Friday by President Obama.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act aims to reduce the rape kit backlog by supporting grant programs that fund forensic testing. The bill, introduced by Leahy and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), also renews the Innocence Protection Act, a landmark Leahy law which includes the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. That program facilitates the use of post-conviction testing of DNA evidence that can exonerate the wrongly convicted and hold the guilty accountable. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act also requires the Justice Department to assist state and local governments to improve their indigent defense systems and ensures implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.\r\nAlthough there is more to be done, the Justice for All Reauthorization Act takes important steps to even the scales of our justice system. This criminal justice reform law will improve our indigent defense system, ensure access to post-conviction DNA testing, and make sure that the rights of crime victims, including survivors of sexual assault, are protected, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said. I will continue to fight alongside leaders like Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person exonerated by DNA evidence after being sentenced to die, and Debbie Smith, who fought for years to have her rape kit tested, to ensure our criminal justice system has integrity and inspires confidence.\r\nHe added: When it is available and when it is used, DNA evidence can help convict the guilty, and exonerate the innocent. It can help make sure that the right people are caught and punished and aren't left on the street to commit other crimes. As we consider legislation next Congress, we must remember that we have a continuing obligation to look out for all victims and to create fairness in our criminal justice system.\r\nLeahy has long worked to reduce the rape kit backlog and advance several bills in support of sexual assault survivors. In 2014, he led the successful effort to pass legislation renewing the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction Program. Leahy also included language in the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act, enacted in 2013, that significantly increased resources for survivors of sexual assault.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act builds on Leahy's work on VAWA by including key housing protections for victims of abuse whose partners get evicted for domestic violence. Finally, the bill builds upon the success of the Crime Victims' Rights Act by making it easier for crime victims to have an interpreter present during court proceedings and to obtain court-ordered restitution.\r\nA sectional analysis of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act can be found here.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/credit-card-rates-are-going-up-and-may-keep-rising", "Credit-Card Rates Are Going Up and May Keep Rising", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Credit-Card Rates Are Going Up and May Keep Rising\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 By PETER RUDEGEAIR and  ANNAMARIA ANDRIOTIS \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tCredit-card companies have been spending huge sums to woo consumers with perks and rewards. Now, cardholders are about to be reminded that lenders can dish out higher costs, too.\r\nThe annual percentage rates on millions of credit-card accounts are set to rise following the Federal Reserve\u2019s decision\u00a0on Wednesday\u00a0toincrease its target short-term interest rate.\r\nBorrowers can expect the quarter-point rate increase to pass through to their card balances within the next two billing cycles, saidGreg McBride,\u00a0chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, a firm that tracks credit-card rates.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/employers-nationwide-gave-raises-to-avoid-paying-overtime-now-theyre-taking-them-back", "Employers nationwide gave raises to avoid paying overtime. Now they're taking them back.", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Employers nationwide gave raises to avoid paying overtime. Now they're taking them back.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Jack Smith IV  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tGarrett Hutcheson, a supervisor at a catering supply company in the southwest, was told he was getting an enormous raise: a $7,000 bump to his salary of around $40,000. The extra cash meant he could move his youngfamily\u00a0out of his girlfriend's parents' house. Instead, he'll be staying there, working long night shifts without overtime pay.\r\n\"This would've gotten us on our feet,\" Hutcheson said. \"I've still got hope, but I'm not optimistic.\"\r\nPay increases like the one Hutcheson got, the result of a\u00a0regulatory rule change by the Obama administration, were set to help more than 4 million workers. Just the expectation of the new rule triggered raises for workers across the country, including managers at\u00a0Walmart,\u00a0. Now, as a result of the\u00a0ongoing tussle between the administration and federal courts\u00a0regarding overtime pay that began in 2014, an injunction against the rule means a victory for big business interests \u2014 and rescinding of raises for Hutcheson and an unclear number of fellow workers.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cummings-and-sanders-raise-concerns-about-assertions-to-congress-by-heritage-pharmaceuticals-while-company-engaged-in-alleged-price-fixing", "Cummings and Sanders Raise Concerns about Assertions to Congress by Heritage Pharmaceuticals While Company Engaged in Alleged Price Fixing", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Cummings and Sanders Raise Concerns about Assertions to Congress by Heritage Pharmaceuticals While Company Engaged in Alleged Price Fixing\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 16 \u2014 Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Bernie Sanders, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, sent a letter to Heritage Pharmaceuticals requesting information about the company\u2019s assertions to Congress in 2014 while the company was engaged in alleged price fixing of certain drugs, according to the Department of Justice and Attorneys General from 20 different states.\r\nCummings and Sanders first began investigating Heritage\u2019s pricing practices in 2014 when they sent a letter to the company\u2019s former CEO, Jeffrey Glazer, raising concerns and requesting documents about the sales and pricing of doxycycline hyclate.\r\nIn response, Heritage\u2019s counsel sent a letter on October 23, 2014, asserting that \u201cHeritage has not seen any significant price increases for its Doxycycline Hyclate DR product in the United States market.\u201d\u00a0 Heritage declined to provide any of the documents or information the Members requested.\r\nThe individual who signed the letter making these assertions is Gary Ruckelshaus, who served at the time at an outside firm, but now appears to have joined Heritage as Vice President and General Counsel.\u00a0\r\nThis week, the Department of Justice filed charges against Mr. Glazer and former Heritage President Jason Malek for engaging in price fixing with doxycycline hyclate and another drug.\u00a0 Attorneys General from 20 states followed with their own complaint yesterday.\r\n\u201cIn light of these new criminal allegations against Mr. Glazer and Mr. Malek, we are very concerned that your company made these assertions to Congress during the exact time period that your executives were engaged in a price fixing scheme to prevent competition from driving down prices of doxycycline hyclate, according to the Department of Justice,\u201d Cummings and Sanders wrote. \u00a0\u201cIf these allegations are true and Heritage executives sought to keep the price of doxycycline hyclate artificially high through price fixing and other anticompetitive arrangements, your company\u2019s assertions to Congress now seem disingenuous at best.\u201d\r\nIn today\u2019s letter, the Members requested all communications relating to their request and Heritage\u2019s response in 2014, as well as all materials about the company\u2019s sales and pricing of doxycycline hyclate. The Members requested this information by December 30, 2016.\u00a0\r\nClick here read today\u2019s letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/cummings-and-sanders-raise-concerns-about-assertions-to-congress-by-heritage-pharmaceuticals-while-company-engaged-in-alleged-price-fixing", "Cummings and Sanders Raise Concerns about Assertions to Congress by Heritage Pharmaceuticals While Company Engaged in Alleged Price Fixing", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Cummings and Sanders Raise Concerns about Assertions to Congress by Heritage Pharmaceuticals While Company Engaged in Alleged Price Fixing\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 16 \u2014 Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Bernie Sanders, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, sent a letter to Heritage Pharmaceuticals requesting information about the company\u2019s assertions to Congress in 2014 while the company was engaged in alleged price fixing of certain drugs, according to the Department of Justice and Attorneys General from 20 different states.\r\nCummings and Sanders first began investigating Heritage\u2019s pricing practices in 2014 when they sent a\u00a0letter\u00a0to the company\u2019s former CEO, Jeffrey Glazer, raising concerns and requesting documents about the sales and pricing of doxycycline hyclate.\r\nIn response, Heritage\u2019s counsel sent a letter on October 23, 2014, asserting that \u201cHeritage has not seen any significant price increases for its Doxycycline Hyclate DR product in the United States market.\u201d\u00a0 Heritage declined to provide any of the documents or information the Members requested.\r\nThe individual who signed the letter making these assertions is Gary Ruckelshaus, who served at the time at an outside firm, but now appears to have joined Heritage as Vice President and General Counsel.\u00a0\r\nThis week, the Department of Justice filed charges against Mr. Glazer and former Heritage President Jason Malek for engaging in price fixing with doxycycline hyclate and another drug.\u00a0 Attorneys General from 20 states followed with their own complaint yesterday.\r\n\u201cIn light of these new criminal allegations against Mr. Glazer and Mr. Malek, we are very concerned that your company made these assertions to Congress during the exact time period that your executives were engaged in a price fixing scheme to prevent competition from driving down prices of doxycycline hyclate, according to the Department of Justice,\u201d Cummings and Sanders wrote. \u00a0\u201cIf these allegations are true and Heritage executives sought to keep the price of doxycycline hyclate artificially high through price fixing and other anticompetitive arrangements, your company\u2019s assertions to Congress now seem disingenuous at best.\u201d\r\nIn today\u2019s letter, the Members requested all communications relating to their request and Heritage\u2019s response in 2014, as well as all materials about the company\u2019s sales and pricing of doxycycline hyclate. The Members requested this information by December 30, 2016.\u00a0\r\nClick\u00a0here\u00a0read today\u2019s letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-outpatient-procedure-is-successful", "Sanders' Outpatient Procedure is Successful", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders' Outpatient Procedure is Successful\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 15, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBETHESDA, Md., Dec. 15 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had an outpatient procedure today to remove a small basal-cell carcinoma from his cheek.\r\nThe procedure, which lasted about an hour, was completed successfully. Sanders returned to work after the procedure and, later, took a plane home to Vermont.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-outlines-ethanol-reform-agenda-new-congress", "Welch Outlines Ethanol Reform Agenda for New Congress", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BURLINGTON, Vt.  With leaders of Vermont's environmental community at his side, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) renewed his commitment to reform the federal ethanol mandate in the new Congress that convenes in early January. Joining Welch were representatives of the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Lake Champlain International, and Vermont Natural Resources Council. Speakers highlighted the harm to the environment resulting from a federal corn-based ethanol mandate.\nWelch will reintroduce the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Reform Act, which will reform the corn ethanol mandate while continuing to promote advanced biofuels, as well as the bipartisan Food and Fuel Consumer Protection Act, which would cap the maximum volume of ethanol blended into the transportation fuel supply at 9.7 percent. \nDespite its initial promise, the RFS has been a well-intended flop, Rep. Welch said. In addition to driving up the cost of feed for struggling dairy farmers, increasing the cost of food for working families, and ruining small engines, the Renewable Fuel Standard is wreaking havoc on our environment. I look forward to working with environmental leaders to build on our momentum and kick off the new Congress with a renewed sense of urgency to stop the environmental degradation caused by this misguided federal policy.\nPhotos of today's event can be found here.\nThe announcement comes as the National Wildlife Federation is expected to unveil a new study this week in Washington that will detail the harm inflicted on the environment by the RFS mandate, including the destruction of sensitive crops and habitats and the deterioration of water quality. Contrary to the claims of corn-based ethanol advocates, a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the RFS mandate is unlikely to meet its statutory goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due its over-reliance on corn-based ethanol fuel blends instead of climate friendly advanced biofuels. \nThank heaven leaders like Peter Welch are stepping forward to say what scientists have known for years: it makes no sense to use corn to fuel our cars. It wrecks the landscape and the climate, and keeps us from making a decisive turn toward clean electricity. Time to end this big payoff to big ag! said Bill McKibben, Senior Advisor and Co-Founder at 350.org.\nThe RFS is the last of three federal incentives that have supported the expansion of the ethanol industry. In December 2011, Welch and other House RFS reform leaders were successful in eliminating a federal tax credit for blending ethanol into gasoline and a 54 cent per gallon tariff on imported ethanol.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-sanders-call-reversal-fairpoint-layoffs", "Welch, Sanders Call For Reversal of FairPoint Layoffs", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 14  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Tuesday called upon the CEOs of FairPoint Communications and the Illinois company that is set to purchase it, Consolidated Communications Holdings, to reverse the planned layoff of nearly 10 percent of FairPoint's workforce.\nIt is particularly callous to destroy the livelihoods of loyal FairPoint workers just as the cold weather approaches and as families prepare to celebrate the holiday season, Sanders and Welch wrote to FairPoint CEO Paul Sunu. These workers helped build the company's value, yet they are being discarded as collateral damage of a sale designed to maximize profits for a tiny group of Wall Street hedge fund investors.\nIn their letter to the CEO of Consolidated Communications, which is in the process of purchasing FairPoint, Sanders and Welch outlined FairPoint's checkered history in dealing with its Vermont workforce, stating FairPoint's relationship with its workforce was unnecessarily antagonist. The Charlotte, N.C.-based phone company purchased Verizon Communication's landline phone operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in 2007.\nInstead of negotiating a reasonable labor agreement, [FairPoint] pursued drastic cuts to pay and benefits that led to a four-month strike in 2014-15, Sanders and Welch wrote. Just three months after the strike ended, FairPoint closed its South Burlington call center and laid-off more than 70 unionized workers. Most recently, FairPoint announced last month that it was laying off nearly 10 percent of its remaining workforce, presumably to make the company more attractive for the sale to Consolidated.\nSanders and Welch said reversing the layoffs would be a significant demonstration of good faith on Consolidated's part. \nWe urge you to reverse FairPoint's decision and send the clear message that Consolidated values its workers and the communities in which the company operates. We know the CWA and IBEW welcome the opportunity to work with Consolidated to help make its New England operations successful again, Sanders and Welch wrote.\nTo read the letter to FairPoint, click here  \n\tTo read the letter to Consolidated Communications, click here\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/democratic-senators-call-on-trump-education-secretary-nominee-devos-to-pay-53-million-in-unpaid-fines-for-election-violations", "Democratic Senators Call on Trump Education Secretary Nominee DeVos to Pay $5.3 Million in Unpaid Fines for Election Violations", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Democratic Senators Call on Trump Education Secretary Nominee DeVos to Pay $5.3 Million in Unpaid Fines for Election Violations\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 14, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)\u00a0and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced that they are calling on President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, to ensure payment of the $5.3 million in fines and penalties owed by DeVos\u2019 All Children Matter Political Action Committee (PAC) for campaign finance violations dating back to 2008. All Children Matter broke Ohio election law by illegally funneling $870,000 in contributions from its nationwide PAC to its Ohio affiliate \u2013 and accordingly, the state of Ohio levied a record fine of more than $5 million against DeVos\u2019 group. Yet nearly a decade later, the PAC has not paid the debts for its illegal activities.\u00a0\r\nIn a letter to DeVos, the senators expressed their deep concern at the willingness of DeVos\u2019 PAC to both brazenly disregard election law and blatantly refuse to take responsibility and pay its fines. The senators noted that, as Secretary of Education, DeVos would be responsible for seeing to the timely repayment of debt from student loan borrowers \u2013 even as the PAC she chaired refused to pay fines that are nearly a decade old. Roughly 44 million Americans owe nearly $1.3 trillion in federal student loans, creating a crushing debt burden for individuals struggling to make their payments. But when All Children Matter broke election law and was fined a record $5.3 million, DeVos\u2019 group chose to simply cease operations and disband, rather than taking responsibility for its debts.\u00a0\r\n\"The blatant disregard for the law that your PAC demonstrated is deeply troubling. However, when the organization\u2019s violations of law were punished by the Ohio Elections Commission, the PAC\u2019s refusal to take responsibility and pay the fines is unconscionable,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIf confirmed as Secretary of Education, you would be responsible for administering our nation\u2019s student loan programs and ensuring that borrowers repay their loans in a timely manner. However, the PAC that you chaired failed to pay fines that were imposed on it over eight years ago. This demonstrates a serious lack of judgment by the PAC\u2019s board and a willingness to avoid paying legally obligated public debts.\u201d\r\n\u201cPrior to your confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, we request that you take the necessary steps to ensure payment of all fines and penalties imposed on the All Children Matter PACs by the Ohio Elections Commission and the state courts,\u201d the senators continued.\u00a0\r\nDeVos\u2019 leadership role in the All Children Matter PAC is one of her many activities as a longtime billionaire mega-donor for conservative causes, with DeVos stating her own goal to be \u201cbuying influence.\u201d As DeVos wrote in a 1997 op-ed for Roll Call, \u201cmy family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party\u2026. I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues. We expect a return on our investment; we expect a good and honest government. Furthermore, we expect the Republican party to use the money to promote these policies, and yes, to win elections.\u201d\r\nThe full text of the letter can be found\u00a0here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-welch-call-for-reversal-of-fairpoint-layoffs-", "Sanders, Welch Call For Reversal of FairPoint Layoffs", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders, Welch Call For Reversal of FairPoint Layoffs \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 14, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 14 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Tuesday called upon the CEOs of FairPoint Communications and the Illinois company that is set to purchase it, Consolidated Communications Holdings, to reverse the planned layoff of nearly 10 percent of FairPoint\u2019s workforce.\u00a0\r\n\u201cIt is particularly callous to destroy the livelihoods of loyal FairPoint workers just as the cold weather approaches and as families prepare to celebrate the holiday season,\u201d Sanders and Welch wrote to FairPoint CEO Paul Sunu. \u201cThese workers helped build the company\u2019s value, yet they are being discarded as collateral damage of a sale designed to maximize profits for a tiny group of Wall Street hedge fund investors.\u201d\u00a0\r\nIn their letter to the CEO of Consolidated Communications, which is in the process of purchasing FairPoint, Sanders and Welch outlined FairPoint\u2019s checkered history in dealing with its Vermont workforce, stating \u201cFairPoint\u2019s relationship with its workforce was unnecessarily antagonist.\u201d The Charlotte, N.C.-based phone company purchased Verizon Communication\u2019s landline phone operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in 2007.\r\n\u201cInstead of negotiating a reasonable labor agreement, [FairPoint] pursued drastic cuts to pay and benefits that led to a four-month strike in 2014-15,\u201d Sanders and Welch wrote. \u201cJust three months after the strike ended, FairPoint closed its South Burlington call center and laid-off more than 70 unionized workers. Most recently, FairPoint announced last month that it was laying off nearly 10 percent of its remaining workforce, presumably to make the company more attractive for the sale to Consolidated.\u201d\r\nSanders and Welch said reversing the layoffs would \u201cbe a significant demonstration of good faith\u201d on Consolidated\u2019s part. \u00a0\r\n\u201cWe urge you to reverse FairPoint\u2019s decision and send the clear message that Consolidated values its workers and the communities in which the company operates. We know the CWA and IBEW welcome the opportunity to work with Consolidated to help make its New England operations successful again,\u201d Sanders and Welch wrote.\r\nTo read the letter to FairPoint,\u00a0click here\r\nTo read the letter to Consolidated Communications,\u00a0click here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senators-call-for-national-intelligence-estimate-of-russian-tampering-in-us-election-request-confirmation-of-justice-dept-investigation", "SENATORS CALL FOR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE OF RUSSIAN TAMPERING IN U.S. ELECTION, REQUEST CONFIRMATION OF JUSTICE DEPT. INVESTIGATION", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t SENATORS CALL FOR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE OF RUSSIAN TAMPERING IN U.S. ELECTION, REQUEST CONFIRMATION OF JUSTICE DEPT. INVESTIGATION \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t In letters to Director James Clapper, Attorney General Lynch, Senators push Administration on Russian hacks\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Dec. 13, 2016)  U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Ed Markey (D-MA) today called for a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to determine the extent of Russian intervention in the 2016 United States presidential election, accompanied by an unclassified summary of its key judgments by January 20th, 2017. An NIE is the formal, authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence related to a particular national security issue, which reflects the collective judgment of the nation's sixteen intelligence agencies.\r\nThe senators also called on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to publicly confirm that nonpartisan career Justice Department officials are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, and if not, to open one immediately. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the election to assist Donald Trump.\r\nDirect and deliberate interference in our election is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national securityit is absolutely critical that information about these matters be disclosed to the public and to Congress, the senators said. We strongly support calls for bipartisan investigations by Congressthis issue requires the full attention of the executive and legislative branches alike, and a conclusive, public national intelligence estimate will lay out the facts for the American people. The public also needs transparency and reassurance that federal law enforcement is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.\r\nFull text of the senators' letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper:\r\nDecember 13, 2016\r\nThe Honorable James Clapper\r\nDirector of National Intelligence\r\nWashington, D.C. 20511\r\nDear Director Clapper:\r\nWe request an immediate National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding Russian efforts to manipulate the recent U.S. presidential election, including public release of its key judgments no later than January 20, 2017. Recently disclosed U.S. intelligence findings as publicly reported that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election and sought to undermine our democratic institutions  and the consequences thereof (including possible future such attacks on the United States)  are deeply concerning. They make it imperative that information be provided to the public and Congress. Quite simply, deliberate interference in our election to favor a particular candidate is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security.\r\nOn Saturday, December 10, 2016, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help a particular candidate win the election. It further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton's campaign chair. Russia was also reported to have had a role in cyber intrusions in at least two U.S. state election systems. These were described as individuals or actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost one candidate over the other. The Post quoted a senior U.S. official briefed at an intelligence presentation made to some U.S. senators as saying, It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia's goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected. Also reported was that intelligence agency briefers told some senators as recently as last week that it was now quite clear that electing Trump was Russia's goal. In fact, you were quoted in early October as saying, We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.\r\nUnder President Putin, Russia has taken aggressive actions that are contrary to American interests and those of its key allies. Its military has seized land in Georgia and Ukraine and aggressively tried to sow disinformation and instability in European democracies. It plants false news, promotes a distorted and false narrative about threats to Russia and ethnic Russians in border states, funds political parties sympathetic to Russian interests, and reportedly conducts cyberattacks against key Western interests. Its proxies were recently implicated in a coup plot in Montenegro and were involved in murdering more than 300 innocent civilians in a downed commercial airline over occupied eastern Ukraine. Russian military forces have aggressively probed NATO-member airspace and waters, and conducted reckless intercepts of U.S. aircraft in international airspace. It has reportedly tried to manipulate upcoming German elections. Finally, Russian State TV host and Putin confidant Dmitry Kiselyov  also known as the Kremlin's Chief Propagandist  warned this year that impudent U.S. behavior towards Russia may have nuclear consequences. Quite simply, Russia is determined to foster political chaos and institutional mistrust in the West and may have alarmingly succeeded in the United States.\r\nGiven the serious nature of these matters, with unprecedented national security implications, we believe that our intelligence community must prioritize a conclusive, public NIE to lay out the facts of this serious matter for the American people. Threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process must not become hostage to partisanship and narrow political interests. We know that Russia continues to make a concerted effort to undermine democratic institutions in the West and we fear we have fallen victim to their agenda. Such an attack on the United States must not go undisclosed. \r\nThank you for your attention to this important issue.\r\n--\r\nFull text of the senators' letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch:\r\nDecember 13, 2016\r\nThe Honorable Loretta Lynch\r\nAttorney General\r\nU.S. Department of Justice\r\nWashington, D.C. 20530\r\nDear Attorney General Lynch:\r\nWe urge the Department of Justice to publicly confirm that objective career Department professionals are conducting a criminal investigation into whether officials in the Russian government intervened in, or directed others to intervene in, the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help one candidate over the other. If such an investigation is not ongoing, we urge you to open one without delay.\r\nOn September 28, 2016, Director James Comey of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified before the House Judiciary Committee and was asked about the Department's standard for commenting on whether an investigation is underway. Director Comey stated that [o]ur standard is we do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations, but he cited examples of exceptional circumstances that he said justified commenting on the existence of investigations, including when there is a need for the public to be reassured and where the public needed transparency.[i]\r\nSurely this is just such an exceptional circumstance. On December 9, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has concluded that Russia moved deliberately to help elect one candidate as president of the United States. The Post further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to Russia's government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from one U.S. party's national political committee and campaign chairman. Deliberate hacking of national political party and campaign staff email systems in order to tilt the election results in favor of the candidate deemed more sympathetic to Russian interests is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security. The public needs transparency and reassurance that the Department of Justice is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.\r\nThe American people need to know that threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process will not go unexamined and unchallenged by the Department of Justice. We must ensure that a foreign government cannot undermine our democratic institutions and elections as a means to serve its own interests. We urge you to publicly confirm that a criminal investigation into these matters is underway or will immediately be opened.\r\nThank you for your attention to this important issue.\r\n-30-\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-ranking-member-us-senate-judiciary-committee-on-republican-staff-report-on-planned-parenthood-and-fetal-tissue-donation", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Republican Staff Report on Planned Parenthood and Fetal Tissue Donation", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Republican Staff Report on Planned Parenthood and Fetal Tissue Donation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOver a year after Republicans began pouring taxpayer dollars into five separate congressional investigations, there has been no credible finding  including in the Republican Staff Report issued today  that Planned Parenthood broke the law. While we do not know the total cost to taxpayers for these five duplicative Republican-led investigations, we do know that just one of the House investigations alone has cost the American people more than $1.5 million.\r\nIt is important to understand these wasteful and ideological inquiries for what they are: a relentless partisan effort to attack and defund a women's health provider that millions of women across this country depend on each year for basic medical services.\r\nTo be clear, the Republican Staff Report issued today has never been voted on or adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee as an official report.\r\nRepublicans should abandon their attacks on Planned Parenthood and instead focus on efforts that truly protect women's health. \r\n#####\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tDavid Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trumps-secretary-of-state-nominee", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Secretary of State Nominee", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Secretary of State Nominee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 13, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 13 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state:\r\n\u201cMr. Trump's nomination of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state is sending a very troubling message to the international community. Not only is Mr. Tillerson a pal of Russia's authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, but he is the head of one of the largest oil companies in the world. In this appointment, Mr. Trump is making it abundantly clear that the short-term profits of the fossil fuel industry are more important than climate change and the future of the planet. Very sad. Very dangerous. Mr. Tillerson must be opposed.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-trumps-secretary-of-state-nominee", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Secretary of State Nominee", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Secretary of State Nominee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 13, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 13 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state:\r\n\u201cMr. Trump's nomination of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state is sending a very troubling message to the international community. Not only is Mr. Tillerson a pal of Russia's authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, but he is the head of one of the largest oil companies in the world. In this appointment, Mr. Trump is making it abundantly clear that the short-term profits of the fossil fuel industry are more important than climate change and the future of the planet. Very sad. Very dangerous. Mr. Tillerson must be opposed.\u201d\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPress Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senators-cardin-feinstein-leahy-call-for-independent-nonpartisan-commission-to-investigate-russian-interference-in-election", "Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy Call for Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.16\n\t\t\t Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy Call for Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called Monday for the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.\r\nThe commission would fully investigate alleged Russian cyberattacks on U.S. political entities and election infrastructure, seek to identify those responsible, and recommend a response as well as actions the U.S. can take to defend itself in the future. Modeled on other independent commissions, this body would compile all available classified intelligence and open source information, conduct hearings and interviews, with subpoena power, and report its findings to Congress within 18 months from being formed. The membership of the commission would be individuals appointed by the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leadership.\r\nAfter the White House announced it was conducting its own review into alleged Russian interference in the election late last week, reporting in The Washington Post raised serious further questions about this matter. And in October, the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that senior-level Russian officials were involved in the hacks of the emails of the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.\r\nThe Senators' announcement Monday complements the call by bipartisan leadership in the Senate for Congressional investigations as well as support in the House of Representatives for an independent commission.\r\nWe've seen what Russia can do with a MiG, but they can be equally destructive with a mouse. The American people deserve a nonpartisan, transparent, public investigation into this insidious attack on our democratic institutions, said Senator Cardin, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Elections and the peaceful transfer of power are the foundational elements of our democracy. They have been attacked and undermined by the world's most destabilizing major power. As a nation it's time to get to the bottom of it and learn what we can do to prevent it from ever happening again.\r\nFor the last 20 years, as chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have worked to protect the voting rights of all Americans. But the right to vote  the foundation of our democracy  is undermined if a foreign country can interfere with our democratic process, said Senator Leahy, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is time to rise above the fray and engage in a serious, independent, and bipartisan investigation of the allegations that the Russians interfered with the American presidential election. This is larger than any one candidate or any one election. This is about protecting our democracy now, and going forward.\r\nAn attack against our election system is an attack on our very way of life and must not go unchallenged, said Senator Feinstein, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. We need this commission to determine if my personal belief is correctthat the real intent of what appears to be a classic Russian covert influence campaign was to harm the candidacy of the Democratic candidate or undermine our democratic system. This bipartisan commission will help identify the specific actors' responsible and recommend a possible course of action to prevent this from ever happening again.\r\nAbout the Commission:\r\n \r\nThe Commission to End Russian Interference in United States Elections will conduct a comprehensive review of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.\r\nThe Commission will provide the Congress, the Executive Branch, and the U.S. public with full information regarding how alleged Russian interference may have affected the 2016 election, as well as recommendations to protect our elections going forward, so that the American people and their leaders can have faith and confidence in the integrity of our elections, our Constitution, anddemocratic form of government.\r\nThe Commission will be bipartisan, with members appointed by Republican and Democratic leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of Congress would not be members of the Committee.\r\nThe Members of the Commission would have access to all unclassified and classified information, including subpoena power, regarding all Russian activities with regards to the 2016 Presidential election.\r\nThe Commission will produce a Report within 18 monthsoutlining the facts of what occurred, in an unclassified form with a classified annex,and make recommendations to the Congress and Executive on appropriate actions to defend our system of elections and government, including a plan to counter Russian interference in US elections.\r\nVladimir Putin has repeatedly shown the world that he aggressively seeksto underminethe sovereignty of sovereign countries,democratic institutions, and the rule of law. He is a threat to democracy, peace, security, and human rights worldwide.  The Commission's report would show how and to what extent his activities, and the activities of those who do his bidding,impact the political system of United States and the American people.\r\n \r\n# # # # #\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-fy17-continuing-resolution", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On the FY17 Continuing Resolution", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On the FY17 Continuing Resolution \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday, the Senate will vote to put the government on autopilot for the next four and a half months. Coupled with the continuing resolution we are currently under, that's seven months of Fiscal Year 2017 priorities funded  or not  under the terms of the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus bill. Freezing in place an earlier year's priorities  ignoring the many hearings, and the committee work, and the debates, and the oversight that the Appropriations Committees have invested in genuine, full-year funding bills for next year  by definition means this stop-gap bill is chock-full of great mis-matches between our current priorities, and those set long ago for an earlier fiscal year. By definition it means wasted diversion of funds to past priorities, and giving short-shrift to changing circumstances, needs and priorities.\r\nWhat does that mean to Vermonters? It means cuts to food assistance needs. It means halted homeland security preparedness grants. It means uncertainty for affordable housing developers and transportation planners. It means we here in Congress didn't get our job done.\r\nWhat makes the vote on this continuing resolution all the more frustrating is the fact that we didn't need to be in this predicament today. The Senate Appropriations Committee carefully considered 12 individual appropriations bills. All but one were reported with broad if not unanimous support. Through September, October, and into November we negotiated in good faith and in a productive way with our counterparts in the House of Representatives. That is, UNTIL the order came to stand down. The word was that the President-elect didn't want us to pass a responsible, full-year budget. The word was that he wanted Congress once again to kick the can further down the road. Then, Democrats in both the Senate and House were shut out of the process. No consultation, and no negotiations.\r\nIn the absence of what could have been an achievable omnibus appropriations bill, this continuing resolution does fulfill a few key priorities. It avoids a government shutdown, just before the holiday season. It provides the millions of dollars authorized earlier this week in the 21st Century Cures Act to fight opioid abuse and cancer. It rejects the National Defense Authorization Act's proposal to increase base defense spending through an increase in Overseas Contingency Operations funds. It provides billions of dollars in emergency disaster assistance for recent natural disasters. It supports additional funds to care for unaccompanied children from Central American and Mexico. And at long last, it provides overdue funds  fully offset through the Water Resources Development Act authorization  to address the shameful lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan. The people of Flint have waited far too long, while Congress has dragged its feet, to finally have access to the needed resources for the children and families suffering there.\r\nThese are, surely, all reasons to support this continuing resolution. But, as with most things, there is another side to this story.\r\nThe continuing resolution extends, without desperately needed reforms, the EB-5 immigrant visa program. I opposed the current continuing resolution for this same extension. As I have said numerous times, the EB-5 program has become mired in fraud and abuse. Almost everyone agrees it is broken. It is time we fix it. If EB-5 cannot be reformed due to a paralysis of leadership, the time has come for it to end, not be extended, without debate, in a continuing resolution.\r\nThis continuing resolution  again, negotiated behind closed doors by Senate and House Republicans  does nothing to resolve the questions about how to sustain health care for miners and miners' widows. The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation in September to address this crisis in a bipartisan vote of 18 to 8. The Republican leadership has chosen  chosen  to not bring that legislation forward. Instead, now mine workers will be forced to spend the last dollars in their multiemployer health plan to cover this four month extension. What promises do we have that there will be a real commitment to provide for these men and women come next May? None. These mineworkers cannot afford thousands of dollars in monthly healthcare bills on the small pension payments they receive.\r\nFurther, the continuing resolution includes a troubling, precedent-setting provision to expedite consideration of waiver legislation for the President-elect's announced nominee to serve as Secretary of Defense. The Framers of the Constitution provided that the Senate should provide advice and consent in the appointment of such Cabinet nominees. Congress subsequently sought to implement limitations on who could serve as Secretary of Defense, thereby ensuring that America's military would remain under civilian control. Circumventing these limitations requires an act of Congress. It's been done just once before, and not with any deal of levity. This continuing resolution, however, seeks to truncate the Senate's debate over granting, for only the second time in history, such a waiver. My opposition to the inclusion of this language stands apart from the nominee himself, as well as the legislation granting such a waiver, each of which should be debated fully. I oppose limiting the Senate's debate over the granting of such a waiver. That's what this language does. The Senate is the most deliberative body in the world. With this provision, we cede that designation, at least a bit, and pave the way for further erosions.\r\nNonetheless, we face what is ironically both a complicated and straightforward decision: allow for a government shutdown, two weeks before the winter holidays, or approve this continuing resolution that casts aside Congress's responsibility to enact meaningful appropriations bills for the fiscal year. As the incoming Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I don't take this decision lightly. I want the record to be clear. To Senate Republican Leaders, and Republican leaders in the House; to the President-elect, and the Vice President-elect: Democrats will not rubberstamp a partisan agenda in the 115th Congress. We will not tolerate being shut out of negotiations about how our taxpayers' dollars are spent. And we will not allow Congress to continue to buck its constitutional duties to quite simply do its job.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-trump-should-pledge-to-veto-social-security-medicare-medicaid-cuts", "Sanders: Trump Should Pledge to Veto Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid Cuts", "2016-12-11", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders: Trump Should Pledge to Veto Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid Cuts\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSunday, December 11, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 11 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President-elect Donald Trump\u00a0Sunday\u00a0to keep the campaign promises he made not to cut\u00a0Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Trump should pledge to veto legislation cutting those programs that Republicans in Congress plan to pass in the new session of Congress, Sanders\u00a0said\u00a0on the CBS News program Face the Nation.\r\n\u201cI challenge Mr. Trump today: tell\u00a0the American people you are going to\u00a0keep your campaign promises.\u00a0Tell the Republicans to back\u00a0off. No cuts for Social\u00a0Security, Medicare, Medicaid and\u00a0go forward with your campaign\u00a0promise to lower the cost of\u00a0prescription drugs,\u201d Sanders said.\u00a0\r\nDuring the campaign, Trump said, \u201cI am not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican. And I\u2019m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid. Every other Republican is going to cut\u00a0[them].\u201d\u00a0\u00a0On May 7, 2015, Trump sent out a tweet stating:\u00a0\"I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid.\" On another occasion speaking at the New Hampshire Republican Leadership Summit, Trump scolded Republicans for trying to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u00a0\r\nBut as president-elect, Trump has picked Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who advocated steep cuts in Medicare and Social Security, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.\r\n\u201cAll that Mr. Trump has got to do today is tell his Republican colleagues in the House and the Senate, \u2018Back off. It ain't going to go anywhere. I will veto any legislation that will cut Social Security because I promised the American people that I would not do that.\u2019\u201d\r\nSanders supports expanding Social Security benefits by lifting the cap on\u00a0all income above\u00a0$250,000 a year. \u201cIf we do that we can extend Social Security for 50 years. The top 1.5 percent of people in this country will pay more in taxes. That's the right thing to do.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/preclearance-bill-to-ease-vt-canada-rail-and-air-travel-clears-congress-saturday-morning", "Leahy 'Preclearance' Bill To Ease Vt.-Canada Rail & Air Travel Clears Congress Saturday Morning", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.10.16\n\t\t\t Leahy 'Preclearance' Bill To Ease Vt.-Canada Rail & Air Travel Clears Congress Saturday Morning \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Leahy-Authored Bill To Facilitate Preclearance Operations In Canada Passes Senate, Headed to President's Desk \r\n Legislation Needed To Facilitate Passenger Air And Rail Service Between Vermont And Canada, And Other Travel Destinations \r\n[BREAKING] WASHINGTON (SATURDAY, Dec. 10, 2016)  The Senate Saturdayunanimously passed long-awaited legislation authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to facilitate travel and commerce between the United States and Canada, the largest U.S. trading partner.\r\nPassage of the bill Saturday morning was one of the last actions of the Senate of this congressional session. The legislation, which will now go to the President's desk to be signed into law, is needed to facilitate air travel  and eventually, passenger rail service  between Burlington and Canadian cities, and between other U.S. and Canadian destinations.\r\nIn March, Leahy introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. The bill paves the way for expansion of preclearance facilities, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, at land, rail, marine and air ports of departure in Canada, easing travel and commerce between the two countries.\r\nThe Leahy-led bill promotes two key national goals: enhancing U.S. national security, and increasing efficiency for travelers and commercial exchanges. Leahy has long advocated improving cross-border travel and was the driving force behind this effort, forging the bipartisan and bicameral coalition and guiding its passage through the Senate.\r\nLeahy said: This agreement has long been a priority for Vermonters. It would make it possible to restore Amtrak service between Vermont and Quebec in the future. It's a win for Vermont's economy, and for Canadians who visit Vermont to sightsee, ski, shop and dine. This process has been a true bipartisan effort, at every level of government in both the United States and Canada have been fully supportive and engaged. Now, at last, we can confidently move to the next stages of getting passenger service to Montreal up and running. Many of us can't wait to hear those first whistles blow.\r\nThe United States currently operates preclearance facilities at 15 airports in six countries, including Canada. These facilities allow travelers to pass through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections prior to traveling, expediting their arrival in the United States, and protecting national security by preventing those who should not be traveling to the United States from doing so before they arrive. Under a new agreement, the United States will expand its preclearance operations in Canada. The Leahy-authored legislation ensures that the United States has the legal authority to hold U.S. officials accountable if they engage in wrongdoing while stationed in Canada  a necessary prerequisite to full implementation of this agreement.\r\nThe legislation will advance discussions regarding the creation of a preclearance facility at Montreal's Central Station, reestablishing passenger train service between Vermont and Montreal, and it is a step forward in improving the air service between Burlington International Airport and Toronto City Airport. The United States currently stations CBP Officers in select locations in Canada to inspect passengers and cargo bound for the United States before they leave Canada. These operations relieve congestion at U.S. airports, improve commerce, save money, and provide national security benefits.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161209120704/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/photos/the-fight-for-15", "The Fight For $15", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-us-policy-on-cuba", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On U.S. Policy On Cuba", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On U.S. Policy On Cuba \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe election of Donald Trump as our next President has ignited a rash of speculation about the future of U.S. policy toward Cuba.\r\nWhat we know is that President-elect Trump has said contradictory things about President Obama's decision to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba, as he has about some other issues.\r\nAmong other things, he has tweeted that he plans to reverse the Obama administration's regulatory changes relaxing restrictions on U.S. engagement with Cuba unless the Cuban government agrees to a better deal.\r\nDespite that, we don't actually know what he will do. I hope before making a decision he listens to advocates on both sides of the issue, including Cuban Americans, a growing majority of whom support the resumption of diplomatic relations.\r\nAs someone who has traveled to Cuba many times and seen firsthand the benefits of the policy of engagement for both the Cuban people and American people, I will do whatever I can to encourage the President-elect to continue that policy.\r\nThe decision to resume diplomatic relations has been enthusiastically supported here and around the world. The number of Americans traveling to Cuba has risen dramatically. U.S. airline companies and cruise ships are carrying passengers there. Hotel deals have been signed.\r\nYet the same five Members of Congress  three in the Senate and two in the House  have steadfastly opposed the new opening with Cuba. They continually say that the only Cubans who have benefited from the new opening are Raul Castro and the Cuban military.\r\nThe Cuban government has benefited, that is unavoidable. It happens in any country with state-owned enterprises with which we have diplomatic and commercial relations, of which there are many.\r\nBut it is false and misleading to say that they alone have benefited. In fact, the Cuban people, particularly Cuban entrepreneurs, have benefited and so have the American people. And they overwhelmingly want this opening to continue.\r\nThese Members of Congress have insisted, year after year, that we should continue a policy of sanctions and isolation until the Castro regime makes significant and irreversible progress on human rights and political freedom for the Cuban people. Perhaps that is what President-elect Trump means by a better deal.\r\nHaving met many times with Cuban government officials, as well as with Cuban dissidents who have been persecuted and imprisoned, no one is a stronger defender of democracy and human rights there than I am.\r\nLike President Obama, we all want the Cuban people to be able to express themselves freely, and to choose their own leaders in a free and fair election.\r\nI resent the assertions of those who remain wedded to the old failed policy, that to favor diplomatic relations is appeasement to the Castro government.\r\nI am as outraged as anyone when Cubans who peacefully advocate for human rights and democracy are harassed, threatened, arrested and abused, just as I am when such violations of human rights occur in other countries, including by governments whose armed forces and police annually receive hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid.\r\nFor 55 years we have tried the approach of isolating and pressuring Cuba that is advocated by a dwindling, albeit passionate, minority in Congress. That approach has failed miserably. The Castro family and their shrinking circle of aging revolutionaries is still in power, and Cuba is still a country where political dissent is not tolerated.\r\nNo one who knows the Castro government expected the resumption of diplomatic relations to quickly result in an end to repression or free elections. Those who label the policy of engagement a failure after just two years because the Castro government continues to persecute its opponents are either nave or not to be taken seriously. \r\nChange in Cuba will happen incrementally, as it does in most countries. But I have no doubt that in a lot fewer than 55 years the Cuban people will have a lot more freedom than they have had for the past 55 years.\r\nThe record is indisputable: bullying the Cuban government, making threats and ultimatums, have achieved nothing in more than half a century. In fact, it isolated the United States and damaged our own interests.\r\nConsider for a moment what it would mean if we did what these Members of Congress advocate.\r\nNot only would we have no embassy in Cuba; to be consistent, we would withdraw our ambassadors and impose a unilateral embargo against China, Vietnam, Russia, Ethiopia, and many other countries where human rights are routinely violated, where political opponents, journalists, and human rights defenders are imprisoned and tortured, where there is no such thing as a fair trial, where civil society organizations are threatened and harassed, and where dissent is severely punished.\r\nAnd when we withdraw others will happily fill the vacuum, as they have in Cuba, which trades with countries around the world, including with many of our closest allies. In fact, I recall meeting in Havana with the ambassadors of at least a dozen European and Asian countries. They told me how much they like our embargo because their companies don't have to compete with American businesses.\r\nIs that what these isolationist Members of Congress want, or are they just concerned about human rights in Cuba? Would they rather have Cubans buy rice grown in China, or in Louisiana? Would they rather have Cubans buy milk from New Zealand, or from the United States?\r\nWould they prefer that China and Russia build ports and airports in Cuba, while we lower the flag at our Embassy, pound our chests, and demand that the Cuban government relinquish power? That argument is as illogical as it is inconsistent.\r\nFor 55 years, Americans have been able to travel freely to Iran, Russia, Vietnam  any country in the world  but not to Cuba, which is only 90 miles away. The resumption of diplomatic relations changed that.\r\nLast year more than half a million Americans visited Cuba, and this year the number is even higher. But these Members of Congress want to turn back the clock and make it a crime for Americans to travel to one country in the world: Cuba.\r\nFortunately, far more Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate support the right of Americans to travel freely to Cuba, and the right of U.S. farmers to sell their products on credit to Cuban buyers, which is still barred by the embargo.\r\nAnd the ability of Cuban private businesses, who are already benefiting directly from the new opening with the United States. They will benefit even more when the U.S. embargo  a failed, self-defeating, vindictive policy if there ever was one  is finally ended. Those who continue to defend the embargo should listen to these people. I hope President-elect Trump will listen to them.\r\nThe purpose of a policy of engagement is to protect and defend the interests of the United States and the American people, and to promote our values and our products. Diplomatic relations is not a reward to a foreign government.\r\nDo the isolationists think that our Embassy in Russia is a reward to President Putin, or that having an ambassador in Moscow somehow conveys that we agree with President Putin's corrupt, repressive policies? Does anyone think that Russia's embassy in Washington is somehow a reward to the United States or to President Obama? Does anyone think that the Cuban government regards its ambassador here as a reward to us?\r\nThe United States has interests in every country, even if it is just to stand up for the rights of Americans who travel, study, or work overseas. But there are many other reasons, like promoting trade and investment, protecting national security, law enforcement cooperation, and stopping the spread of contagious diseases.\r\nWe either believe in the benefits of diplomacy or we don't. We either empower our diplomats, or we don't. Cuba, after a year of difficult negotiations, agreed to reopen embassies. Americans are traveling to Cuba in record numbers, including representatives of American companies, chambers of commerce, and state and local government officials.\r\nOur two governments have signed new agreements paving the way for cooperation on a wide range of issues, from the resumption of regular postal and commercial airline service, to cooperation on law enforcement and search and rescue.\r\nI understand that this is an emotional issue for some Cuban-American families, including some who are Members of Congress. But after 55 years, survey after survey shows that most Cuban Americans support the new policy of engagement. They want the United States to have an Embassy in Havana. \r\nThere is a time for family politics and there is a time for what is in the interest of the nation as a whole. Diplomatic relations serve the national interest.\r\nI urge these Members of Congress to put what is in the interests of the American people above their personal interests, and listen to the overwhelming majority of the Cuban and American people who want the policy of engagement to continue because they believe it is the best hope for a free and prosperous Cuba.\r\nAnd I urge President-elect Trump to carefully weigh the pros and cons of this issue. I believe that if he follows his instincts, if he listens to Cuban private entrepreneurs, he too will conclude that it makes no sense to return to a failed policy of isolation.\r\nThat policy has been used by Cuban officials as an excuse to justify their grip on power and their failed economic policies, it has divided the Cuban and American people, and no other country in this hemisphere supports it.\r\nThe Cuban and American people share much in common: our history, our cultures, our families, our ideals, and our hopes for the future. We are neighbors whose economies are increasingly intertwined, and we should no longer be isolated from one another.\r\nAs the Castro era nears its end, our policy today is focused on the next generation of Cuban entrepreneurs, activists, students, and leaders. They are Cuba's future, and we should endeavor to engage with them in every way that we can.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/converting-methane-gas-to-electricity", "Converting Methane Gas to Electricity", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Converting Methane Gas to Electricity \n            The Washington Electric Co-op is one of two Vermont electric utilities with a 100 percent renewable energy portfolio, thanks in large part to its 8-megawatt generator fired by waste methane on Vermont\u2019s only operating landfill.  Washington Electric\u2019s Coventry landfill facility produces enough electricity from waste methane to power approximately 6,000 homes and generates more than half of Washington Electric\u2019s electricity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/tapping-vermonts-largest-landfill-for-renewable-energy", "Tapping Vermonts Largest Landfill for Renewable Energy", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tapping Vermont\u2019s Largest Landfill for Renewable Energy\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 9, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\r\nCOVENTRY, Vt.\u2014The Washington Electric Co-op is one of two Vermont electric utilities with a 100 percent renewable energy portfolio, thanks in large part to its 8-megawatt generator fired by waste methane on Vermont\u2019s only operating landfill. Washington Electric\u2019s Coventry landfill facility produces enough electricity from waste methane to power approximately 6,000 homes and generates more than half of Washington Electric\u2019s electricity. As organic landfill waste decomposes, it naturally produces methane. Unless captured and converted to energy, the powerful greenhouse gas either would be released into the atmosphere, or burned off by the landfill operators. \u201cIf no generator was here, the landfill would burn it off in a flare,\u201d said Patricia Richards, general manager for Washington Electric, comparing it to \u201ca great big candlestick literally burning the gas. No electricity is produced and it\u2019s just wasted into the atmosphere.\u201d\u201cWe\u2019re a small cooperative, we\u2019re not-for-profit. We have roughly 11,000 member-customers and the Coventry Landfill project is our anchor power supply resource that serves our membership,\u201d said Richards. \u201cThe power plant serves over half of the energy needs of our membership.\u201dThe idea for this methane generator emerged when Washington Electric Co-op set out to replace the electricity it was buying from the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. \u201cWe said, \u2018Hey, we want to do renewable power. What about a landfill? Could we build a power plant like this in Vermont and produce renewable power instead of taking power from a Vermont Yankee type resource?\u2019 In 2002, the contract ended with Vermont Yankee and, in 2005, this project came online,\u201d Richards said.Vermont Yankee, which was built in 1972, stopped producing electricity in December 2014. The Coventry generator first came on line with three engines in 2005. Since then, two more engines have been added.The $14.2 million landfill gas-to-energy generator at Coventry \u201ccompletely did away with [our reliance on] Vermont Yankee. We replaced a base-load resource with another base-load resource, which was renewable,\u201d Richards said. \u201cIt runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It\u2019s on all the time,\u201d she said. \u201cSo literally, constantly there\u2019s being electricity produced here.\u201d\u201cThis power is really affordable. It\u2019s the cheapest resource in our mix. It\u2019s six cents a kilowatt hour,\u201d she said.HOW DOES IT WORK?\r\nRichards likes to describe the plant, which employs three Vermonters full-time, in stages. \u201cThe landfill and extraction of gas off of the landfill is stage one. There are several wells that are drilled into the landfill itself. There\u2019s over 80 to 90 wells,\u201d she said. \u201cWe collect all the gas from those wells into one pipe and they come into a staging area outside the Coventry plant. That\u2019s where the actual treatment of the gas begins.\u201d\r\n\u201cAs the gas is collected, it essentially becomes naturally compressed, and it comes off the landfill really, really hot,\u201d she notes. \u201cIt\u2019s 140 degrees.\u201d\u201cThe microbes are doing the decomposition inside the landfill. We collect all that gas \u2026 Basically, water particles start to drip off the gas and the rest of the gas comes into the building,\u201d she said.In the next stage, the gas passes through \u201ca scrubbing system\u201d to remove toxic particles and other pollutants. After the gas is scrubbed, it goes to the engine room to be burned, producing electricity. \u201cWe\u2019ve got five engines and their technical capacity is 1.6 megawatts each,\u201d she said. The facility has proven so effective for Washington Electric and its members that it has been expanded two times \u2013 in 2007 and 2009. The $1.7 million investment currently underway will upgrade the turbines and further improve air quality by installing a new scrubbing system. The methane generator abides by \u201cvery stringent federal and state standards regarding emissions,\u201d Richards said. \u201cWe want to be on as many controls as we can to make sure we are not making pollutants.\u201dTo help finance the project, Washington Electric secured the funding through federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, or CREBs. ##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161209142425/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/holding-trump-accountable-on-medicare-and-social-security", "Holding Trump Accountable on Medicare and Social Security", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senators-chuck-grassley-r-iowa-and-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-house-judiciary-proposal-to-reform-the-copyright-office", "Comment Of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On The House Judiciary Proposal To Reform The Copyright Office", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.16\n\t\t\t Comment Of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On The House Judiciary Proposal To Reform The Copyright Office \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWe have been working together for the last year on a legislative proposal to modernize the U.S. Copyright Office in order to better fulfill its mission in a rapidly changing digital environment. Based on our extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, we believe the Copyright Office should have more independence, accountability, and authority to make decisions in areas such as IT, budget, and staffing. Our draft Senate proposal would achieve these important goals. Now that our partners in the House have unveiled their policy proposal, we look forward to working with them next Congress on this important issue.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee-floor-remarks-on-extending-the-eb-5-regional-center-program-without-reforms", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Floor remarks on extending the EB-5 Regional Center program without reforms", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Floor remarks on extending the EB-5 Regional Center program without reforms \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tI once again come to the floor, joined by Senator Grassley, to share my frustration with the EB-5 Regional Center program. Senator Grassley and I have been working for years to improve this flawed program, which is set to expire tomorrow. But once again Republican congressional leadership has rejected our bipartisan reforms and the program will be extended in the continuing resolution. Time and again, Republican leadership has caved behind closed doors to narrow corporate interests. I believe this is a serious mistake.\r\nThe EB-5 program I once championed seems like a distant memory. The program was designed to bring jobs to underserved rural and distressed urban communities. And for some time it did just that. Communities in Vermont, like Warren and Vergennes, once used EB-5 to create and save jobs during difficult economic times. But that is the EB-5 of yesterday.\r\nToday EB-5 is mired in fraud and abuse. It suffers from obvious and outrageous flaws. It is a magnet for fraud. Securities violations are rampant. And the incentives that Congress created to promote investment and create jobs in rural and high unemployment areasthe sole reason why I championed this programhave been rendered obsolete through economic gerrymandering.\r\nOnly three percent of EB-5 investors now invest in rural areas. Three percent. Less than 10 percent invest in true high unemployment areas. Almost every other EB-5 project uses gerrymandering to qualify as distressed, despite many being located in the most affluent areas of the country. The fact that a luxury hotel in Beverly Hills can use gerrymandering to claim it is located in a distressed community is troubling. But the fact that this type of abuse now represents almost 90 percent of the entire EB-5 program is appalling.\r\nAnyone who maintains that today's EB-5 program is about creating jobs is either a lobbyist for the real estate industry or is simply not paying attention. An untold number of the luxury developments that now dominate EB-5 would be pursued regardless of EB-5 financing. Financing provided through EB-5 represents a small portion of the capital stack. To claim that EB-5 is responsible for all of the jobs created by these projects is a farce. EB-5 merely allows developers to replace their conventional financing with dirt cheap capital subsidized by the sale of U.S. visas.\r\nThis corporate handout is not just exploited by wealthy American developers. Chinese developers, and even the Chinese government itself, are now exploiting the EB-5 subsidy. This is beyond troubling. A foreign government should not be permitted to earn tens of millions of dollars from the sale of U.S. visas.\r\nThe proposal I developed with Senator Grassley would address these abuses. Our proposal would require background checks and third party oversight of funds. It would create protections for defrauded investors. It would ban foreign government ownership of an EB-5 company. And it would end gerrymandering and provide modest incentives to direct a small portion of investment to underserved areasjust 15 percent to both rural and urban poor communities. But even this was too much for some developers.\r\nGluttonous, shortsighted corporate greed blocked these critical reforms. Greed that was given a voice by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Republican leadership has allowed a couple of powerful developers who exploit this program's flaws to derail critical reforms. I find it shameful: the worst abusers of this program have been given veto power over its reform. \r\nThankfully, Secretary Johnson is serious about improving EB-5. I commend his efforts to strengthen rules to address fraud, inadequate investment levels, and the abuse of development incentives. I will work with the Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees and the next Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that these reforms are implemented and enforced. But even Secretary Johnson has acknowledged that this problem ultimately needs a legislative solution.\r\nThe EB-5 Regional Center program no longer serves the American people's interests. And it certainly does not serve the rural and urban poor communities as Congress intended. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee next Congress, I will continue to press for broad, bipartisan reforms. I know Senators Grassley and Feinstein, the incoming Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, will not sit idly by either.\r\nAlmost everyone agrees this is a broken program. It is time we fix it. If EB-5 cannot be reformed due to a paralysis of leadership, the time has come for it to end.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-us-life-expectancy-declines-for-the-first-time-since-1993", "U.S. life expectancy declines for the first time since 1993", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. life expectancy declines for the first time since 1993\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 By Lenny Bernstein \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 8, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tFor the first time in more than two decades, life expectancy for Americans declined last year \u2014 a troubling development linked to a panoply of worsening health problems in the United States.\r\nRising fatalities from heart disease and stroke, diabetes, drug overdoses, accidents and other conditions caused the lower life expectancy revealed in a report released Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics. In all, death rates rose for eight of the top 10 leading causes of death.\r\n\u201cI think we should be very concerned,\u201d said Princeton economist Anne Case, who called for thorough research on the increase in deaths from heart disease, the No. 1 killer in the United States. \u201cThis is singular. This doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d\r\nA year ago, research by Case and Angus Deaton, also an economist at Princeton, brought worldwide attention to the unexpected jump in mortality rates among white middle-aged Americans. That trend was blamed on what are sometimes called diseases of despair: overdoses, alcoholism and suicide. The new report raises the possibility that major illnesses may be eroding prospects for an even wider group of Americans.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161208070656/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/national-strike-for-15-rally-in-washington", "National Strike for $15 Rally in Washington", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161209135021/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/photos/hands-off-medicare", "Hands Off Medicare", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/letter-president-elect-trump-welch-suggests-steps-stabilize-dairy", "In Letter to President-Elect Trump, Welch Suggests Steps to Stabilize Dairy Industry", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) sent a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump outlining practical steps he can take to steady wildly fluctuating milk prices and restore stability to the dairy industry.\nDairy farmers are imperiled by wildly fluctuating milk prices that threaten the very existence of many farms. Just in the last two years, producers have experienced a 40 percent drop in milk prices. Many dairy farms are selling milk below the cost of production and are on the brink of selling their herds. This boom and bust cycle has taken a substantial toll on Vermont farmers, Welch writes.  \nThe letter suggests the following steps for stabilization:\n \nImplement a supply management tool to help prevent volatility in milk prices;\n\tReform the Margin Protection Program, which has failed to provide dairy farmers with sufficient support in the face of steep milk price declines;\n\tIncrease demand for dairy products by opening new markets abroad and encouraging domestic consumption; and\n\tEnsure a reliable labor supply.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/fleming-elementary-school", "Fleming Elementary School", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t Fleming Elementary School \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOn December 7, 2016, Senator Leahy conducted an online chat with the fifth graders of Fleming Elementary School. After having just finished their unit on government, Senator Leahy was quite impressed with the students' interest in the Constitution. He especially enjoyed answering their questions about the role of the three branches of government.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tDavid Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/-senator-patrick-leahy-remarks-news-conference-with-cuban-entrepreneurs-russell-senate-office-building", "Senator Patrick Leahy Remarks News Conference With Cuban Entrepreneurs Russell Senate Office Building", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t  Senator Patrick Leahy Remarks News Conference With Cuban Entrepreneurs Russell Senate Office Building \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tI want to thank the representatives of the Cuban private business community who are here. This is an all too rare opportunity for Members of Congress and the news media to hear directly from people like you, and we greatly appreciate you coming all this way.\r\nSince President Obama and President Raul Castro re-established diplomatic relations we have seen what many would describe as remarkable changes between the United States and Cuba.\r\nCritics of the new opening continually say that the only Cubans who have benefited are Raul Castro and the Cuban military.\r\nThe Cuban government has benefited, that is unavoidable. It happens in any country with state-owned enterprises with which we have diplomatic and commercial relations, of which there are many.\r\nBut it is false and misleading to say that they alone have benefited. In fact, the Cuban people, particularly Cuban entrepreneurs, have benefited and so have the American people. And they overwhelmingly want this opening to continue.\r\nOur governments have engaged in discussions on a wide range of topics, from resuming regular mail service to law enforcement cooperation to agricultural exports. United States cruise ships and regular airline service has resumed. Cultural and educational visits are increasing.\r\nCuban private businesses, as we will hear today, are benefiting directly from the new opening with the United States. They will benefit even more when the U.S. embargo  a failed, self-defeating, vindictive policy if there ever was one  is finally ended. Those who continue to defend the embargo should listen to these people. I hope President-elect Trump will listen to them.\r\nWe have a long way to go, but this is what the people of both countries want, and I am convinced that there is no going back.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-franken-and-leading-democratic-senators-again-call-on-wells-fargo-to-end-use-of-forced-arbitration-so-that-consumers-can-seek-justice-in-court", "Leahy, Franken & Leading Democratic Senators Again Call On Wells Fargo To End Use Of Forced Arbitration So That Consumers Can Seek Justice In Court", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t Leahy, Franken & Leading Democratic Senators Again Call On Wells Fargo To End Use Of Forced Arbitration So That Consumers Can Seek Justice In Court \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)  Democratic Senators led by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are again pressing Wells Fargo to end the use of forced arbitration clauses and allow customers whose names were used to open fraudulent accounts to seek justice in court.\r\nThe Senators reiterated their call after Wells Fargo refused to commit to end its use of forced arbitration in customer service agreements in a letter sent to lawmakers last week. Wells Fargo has used these clauses to deny customers access to the court system to challenge the creation of sham accounts by the financial institution. In fact, Wells Fargo asked a federal court in Utah to move a number of new sham account allegations to arbitration.\r\nWe are shocked and appalled by this latest attempt to stack the deck against the victims of the bank's fraudulent scheme and your continued unwillingness to allow victims of this scheme to fully exercise their rights, the Senators wrote in a letter to CEO Timothy Sloan. In addition to Leahy and Brown, the letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).\r\nThey added: Wells Fargo's demand to deny defrauded customers their fundamental rights demonstrates your complete failure to understand the gravity of the company's actions and an utter unwillingness, despite promises to the contrary, to actually put your customers first. Forced arbitration denies Americans their constitutional right to seek justice in a court of law and shields companies from accountability  both from the courts and the public eye. We will not simply trust you to get this right as long as your actions continue to belie your words. We will not forget that your company has harmed millions of Americans. We will continue to watch closely and hold you accountable at every misstep. We strongly urge you to reconsider your use of forced arbitration.\r\nThe Senators first wrote to Wells Fargo in September urging the company to reject forced arbitration clauses. In addition, the Senators have been leading legislative efforts to rein in the harm cause by forced arbitration agreements, including the Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016 introduced last week by Senator Brown and others to prohibit the use of forced arbitration to resolve disputes over unauthorized credit card or other bank accounts, Senator Leahy's Restoring Statutory Rights Act to ensure that state and federal laws protecting victims are not undermined by arbitration, and Senator Franken's Arbitration Fairness Act to eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases.\r\nA copy of the December 7 letter to Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan is online and below.\r\nA copy of the September 23 letter to former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf is online, and a copy of the company's response to that letter is also online.\r\n#####\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-sanders-says-protest-critical-in-trump-era", "Sanders Says Protest Critical in Trump Era", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Says Protest Critical in Trump Era\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 7, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013 Citing several recent victories, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) thanked striking workers Wednesday for proving the power of protest to make progress under President-elect Donald Trump.\u00a0\r\n\u201cFive years ago, if anybody in America said that folks would be talking and cities would be passing a $15 an hour minimum wage, people would have said you\u2019re crazy, it can\u2019t be done,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cBut you did it.\u201d\r\nMarches led by workers played a critical role in minimum wage increases in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Washington. Over the past four years, 19 million workers nationwide received a stunning $61.5 billion in pay \u2013 12 times as much as the last time Congress increased the federal minimum wage in 2007.\r\n\u201cMillions of workers have received significant pay increases because of your efforts. Thank you for what you\u2019ve done. Today we tell the United States Congress that we have got to go further. We want every worker in this country to earn at least $15 an hour and have a union.\u201d\r\nRecent direct action also halted construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and protests stopped one of the biggest trade deals in history.\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re telling Mr. Trump and anybody else that when millions of us stand together we are going to win. Nobody is going to stop us,\u201d Sanders said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-sanders-statement-on-trumps-epa-nominee", "Sanders Statement on Trumps EPA Nominee", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump\u2019s EPA Nominee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 7, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to run the Environmental Protection Agency:\r\n\"At a time when climate change is the great environmental threat to the entire planet, it is sad and dangerous that Mr. Trump has nominated Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA. Mr. Pruitt\u2019s record is not only that of being a climate change denier, but also someone who has worked closely with the fossil fuel industry to make this country more dependent, not less, on fossil fuels. The American people must demand leaders who are willing to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels. I will vigorously oppose this nomination.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-tells-trump-to-keep-his-promise-to-protect-medicare-and-social-security", "Sanders Tells Trump to Keep His Promise to Protect Medicare and Social Security", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Tells Trump to Keep His Promise to Protect Medicare and Social Security\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 7, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Wednesday on President-elect Donald Trump to keep his promise to protect Medicare and Social Security. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cMr. Trump, we are going to hold you accountable,\u201d Sanders said.\u00a0 \u201cYou told the seniors of this country and you told working people you were on their side. Millions of us are going to demand that you keep your promise. We\u2019re going to tell the Republican leadership in the House and the Senate to forget about all their plans to 'voucherize' and privatize Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u201d\r\nDuring his campaign for president, Trump\u00a0repeatedly promised\u00a0to protect Medicare. But he nominated Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who has a long history of supporting cuts to Medicare, to run the Department of Health and Human Services.\u00a0\r\nIn March, the president-elect\u00a0said\u00a0he would\u00a0\u201cdo everything within my power not to touch Social Security, to leave it the way it is; to make this country rich again.\u201d But the aides in charge of staffing Trump\u2019s Social Security Administration expressed doubts about the viability of the program.\u00a0\r\nSanders was joined by grassroots organizations delivering a petition to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The petition, which calls on the Republican leaders to follow through on Trump\u2019s campaign promises, garnered more than 1 million signatures.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-trumps-epa-nominee", "Sanders Statement on Trumps EPA Nominee", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump\u2019s EPA Nominee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 7, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to run the Environmental Protection Agency:\r\n\"At a time when climate change is the great environmental threat to the entire planet, it is sad and dangerous that Mr. Trump has nominated Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA. Mr. Pruitt\u2019s record is not only that of being a climate change denier, but also someone who has worked closely with the fossil fuel industry to make this country more dependent, not less, on fossil fuels. The American people must demand leaders who are willing to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels. I will vigorously oppose this nomination.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee-statement-following-final-passage-of-the-justice-for-all-reauthorization-act", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Statement Following Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Statement Following Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFor more than six years, I have championed the reauthorization of the Justice for All Act to ensure our criminal justice system lives up to our national pledge of liberty and justice for all. As a former prosecutor, I am committed to ensuring our criminal justice system has integrity and the confidence of the public it serves. From my time on the front lines as a State's Attorney in Vermont, in Chittenden County, and through the past 15 years I have served as Chairman or Ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, it has become clear to me that our system is deeply flawed. There is not always justice for all.\r\nI have met many innocent people who were wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit. I have shared the story of Kirk Bloodsworth, one such man who was falsely convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl. He maintained his innocence, and in 1993 he became the first death row inmate to be exonerated by DNA. We know the system gets it wrong, and we have a responsibility to improve our criminal justice system. That is why I joined with Kirk years ago to introduce and enact the Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. This was originally part of the Innocence Protection Act enacted in 2000, and it gives defendants like Kirk a chance to prove their innocence.\r\nTo ensure that our justice system gets it right from the beginning, this bill provides the means to improve the quality of indigent defense. Ensuring good representation for those accused of crimes will mean fewer innocent people behind bars. It is an outrage when an innocent person is wrongly punished, and this injustice is exacerbated when the true culprit remains on the street. The American people deserve a system that gets it right the first time.\r\nMany Senators in this chamber know the story of my friend Debbie Smith who has become a champion for victims of sexual assault. She waited six years after being attacked before her rape kit was tested and the culprit was caught. No one should have to live in fear while their attacker remains free to victimize someone else. This legislation provides important resources to improve the quality and efficiency of forensic testing while expanding access to underserved populations like those in rural areas.\r\nIt has been my great honor to serve as the most senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee since 1997. During this time, I have worked with Senators from both sides of the aisle to craft solutions to some of the most significant issues of our time. I am proud to have partnered with Senator Cornyn on this important legislation, and I hope we can continue to work together in the next Congress to continue to protect all victims and create fairness in our criminal justice system. As we look forward from this important step, I call on all those who work with me on this important legislation to continue to support efforts to correct costly mistakes in our criminal justice system.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee-statement-on-voting-rights", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Statement On Voting Rights", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Statement On Voting Rights \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAn editorial this morning in The New York Times is entitled, Why the Lies About Voting Fraud? That is a question that many of us who have been fighting for the right to vote have been asking for decades. Ten years ago this Congress reauthorized the Voting Rights Act. During the course of many Senate and House Judiciary Committee hearings we fought against the false narrative that in-person voting fraud was at all common in our country. The evidence clearly and irrefutably shows that it is not.\r\nBut of course that evidence does not stop those partisans who are determined to make it harder for Americans to cast their votes.Right after five justices on the Supreme Court gutted the core protection of the Voting Rights Act, several states led by Republican majorities enacted voting restrictions that made it harder for many Americans to vote.\r\nIt is most troubling that our President-elect has decided to himself make an unfounded charge of widespread voting fraud. I can imagine he is disappointed in the fact that he did not win the support of a majority of Americans who voted last month but we should all hope that when our next President is presented with unfavorable realities he will not resort to spreading information that has no basis in fact. That cannot be the standard of American leadership.\r\nIn an article published in The Valley News of West Lebanon, N.H., and reprinted this morning in Vermont Digger, researchers at Dartmouth explored President-elect Trump's allegation of widespread voting fraud and they found nothing to support his claim, noting voter fraud concerns fomented and espoused by the Trump campaign are not grounded in any observable features of the 2016 presidential election.\" Many other analyses have also made this crystal clear. In a report to Congress, the Government Accountability Office concluded that no apparent cases of in-person voter impersonation [were] charged by DOJ's Criminal Division or by U.S. Attorney's offices anywhere in the United States, from 2004 through July 3, 2014. That is the reality. And yet, Republicans, including the President-elect, continue to peddle lies about voter fraud.\r\nThis year we have seen a dangerous uptick in what some call fake news. These are articles that have no basis in reality or factual evidence but they are broadly circulated because they affirm a particular ideology, or because they are a proven way to make a quick buck by drawing the attention of unsuspecting online readers. Fake news stories get attention, and clicks. Some consider this despicable propaganda to be harmless, but it certainly is not without its victims. We know that the spread of lies through fake news can have real world consequences, even for the public's faith in the republic itself. There is no doubt that is how Russia sees it. \r\nIt should not be too much to ask that our elected officials operate on facts and reality. We will have many debates over policy in the years to come but Americans deserve leaders who refuse to peddle in lies for political gain. And I call on leaders on both sides of the political aisle to no longer defend the indefensible. \r\nI ask that the New York Times editorial, Why Does Donald Trump Lie About Voter Fraud? be included in the Record.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/under-leahys-initiative-bipartisan-leaders-of-the-senate-judiciary-committee-urge-senators-to-address-rising-prescription-drug-prices", "Under Leahys Initiative, Bipartisan Leaders Of The Senate Judiciary Committee Urge Senators To Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Under Leahy's Initiative, Bipartisan Leaders Of The Senate Judiciary Committee Urge Senators To Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Dec. 6, 2016)  Senate Judiciary Committee members led by Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) are calling on all senators to support a bipartisan amendment to benefit consumers and deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace.\r\nLeahy, joined by other leading members of the panel, filed an updated version of their bipartisan Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act as an amendment to the 21st Century Cures Act, which the Senate is debating this week. The CREATES Act targets anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. The bill was introduced in June by Leahy, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), leaders of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. The Judiciary Committee also held a hearing on the issue of prescription drug prices earlier this year.\r\nPharmaceutical companies should be compensated for their important work developing life-saving treatments, but predatory practices at the expense of consumers are unacceptable, Leahy said. As the Senate considers legislation to support healthcare innovation, we should be prioritizing the millions of consumers who deserve access to affordable drugs. The CREATES Act combats abusive behavior that drives up prescription costs. All senators should support this common sense amendment.\r\nThe rising price of prescription drugs is having a major impact on families and seniors everywhere. Some brand-name drug companies are engaging in anti-competitive tactics that delay entry of lower cost generic drugs into the market, and this tactic is becoming more common, Grassley said. We need to start taking steps to ensure that our laws are not frustrated and consumers have access to less expensive generic drugs in a timely fashion.\r\nThe costs of prescription drugs are just too high, Klobuchar said. More competition would bring the prices down, yet that competition is being blocked. Our bipartisan legislation will help bring costs down by putting an end to these unfair practices.\r\nTwo of the biggest problems faced by American consumers are high drug prices and burdensome regulation. The CREATES Act tackles both of these by helping put an end to abuse of a regulatory loophole by branded pharmaceutical companies that has prevented the entry of lower-cost generic alternatives to several life-saving drugs,Lee said. I hope thisamendment is given a vote as the 21st Century Cures Act moves through the Senate.\r\nThe CREATES Act and the amendment filed on Monday encourage name brand drug manufacturers to share product samples with generic companies in order for lower cost drugs to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The amendment further ensures patient safety by allowing the FDA to require additional information before approving a request for samples of high risk drugs. The original bill and the modified amendment also help generic drug companies develop safety protocols to bring their products to market. Finally, the amendment allows the FDA to more easily approve separate safety protocols.\r\nText of amendment can be found here. \r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste", "Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 By Craig Whitlock and Bob Woodward \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 6, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe Pentagon has buried an internal study that exposed $125\u00a0billion in administrative waste in its business operations amid fears Congress would use the findings as an excuse to slash the defense budget, according to interviews and confidential memos obtained by The Washington Post.\r\nPentagon leaders had requested the study to help make their enormous back-office bureaucracy more efficient and reinvest any savings in combat power. But after the project documented far more wasteful spending than expected, senior defense officials moved swiftly to kill it by discrediting and suppressing the results.\r\nThe\u00a0report, issued in January 2015, identified \u201ca clear path\u201d for the Defense Department to save $125\u00a0billion over five years. The plan would not have required layoffs of civil servants or reductions in military personnel. Instead, it would have streamlined the bureaucracy through attrition and early retirements, curtailed high-priced contractors and made better use of information technology.\r\nThe study was produced last year by the Defense Business Board, a federal advisory panel of corporate executives, and consultants from McKinsey and Company. Based on reams of personnel and cost data, their report revealed for the first time that the Pentagon was spending almost a quarter of its $580\u00a0billion budget on overhead and core business operations such as accounting, human resources, logistics and property management.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-republicans-block-trump-proposal-to-lower-prescription-drug-prices", "Senate Republicans Block Trump Proposal to Lower Prescription Drug Prices", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Republicans Block Trump Proposal to Lower Prescription Drug Prices\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 6, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 6 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed an amendment Tuesday to lower the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiate drug prices and allowing for the importation from other countries of low-cost prescription drugs \u2013 both proposals advocated by President-elect Donald Trump.\r\nRepublicans blocked the Sanders amendment.\r\nDuring his run for the White House, Trump called for requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to lower prices. In a speech in New Hampshire last Feb. 7, Trump criticized current U.S. law that forbids Medicare from negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies. Trump said: \u201cWe are not allowed to negotiate drug prices. Can you believe it? We pay about $300 billion more than we are supposed to, than if we negotiated the price. So there\u2019s $300 billion on day one we solve.\u201d\r\nTrump\u2019s campaign platform also advocated making it legal to reimport cheaper drugs from other countries.\r\nSanders offered an amendment to implement Trump\u2019s campaign promises.\r\n\u201cI am sure that all of my Republican colleagues will support an amendment in my hands that will do exactly what Mr. Trump said he would accomplish as president,\u201d Sanders told Senate colleagues. But Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) objected to holding a vote on the amendment.\r\nWithout those changes in a bill now before Congress, Sanders said he could not support the overall legislation because it caves to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry and cuts Medicare and Medicaid by $1 billion.\r\n\u201cIt is incomprehensible to me that we have a major bill dealing with prescription drugs and yet we are running from the most important issue and that is the greed of the pharmaceutical industry,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThe prescription drug industry, along with Wall Street, is the most powerful political force in America. I have been fighting the greed of the prescription drug industry for decades. And, as far as I can tell, the prescription drug industry always wins, but the American people lose.\u201d\r\nTo see the amendment, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/senate-republicans-block-trump-proposal-to-lower-prescription-drug-prices", "Senate Republicans Block Trump Proposal to Lower Prescription Drug Prices", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Republicans Block Trump Proposal to Lower Prescription Drug Prices\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 6, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\r\nSen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed an amendment Tuesday to lower the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiate drug prices and allowing for the importation from other countries of low-cost prescription drugs \u2013 both proposals advocated by President-elect Donald Trump.\r\nRepublicans blocked the Sanders amendment.\r\nDuring his run for the White House, Trump called for requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to lower prices. In a speech in New Hampshire last Feb. 7, Trump criticized current U.S. law that forbids Medicare from negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies. Trump said: \u201cWe are not allowed to negotiate drug prices. Can you believe it? We pay about $300 billion more than we are supposed to, than if we negotiated the price. So there\u2019s $300 billion on day one we solve.\u201d\r\nTrump\u2019s campaign platform also advocated making it legal to reimport cheaper drugs from other countries.\r\nSanders offered an amendment to implement Trump\u2019s campaign promises.\r\n\u201cI am sure that all of my Republican colleagues will support an amendment in my hands that will do exactly what Mr. Trump said he would accomplish as president,\u201d Sanders told Senate colleagues. But Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) objected to holding a vote on the amendment.\r\nWithout those changes in a bill now before Congress, Sanders said he could not support the overall legislation because it caves to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry and cuts Medicare and Medicaid by $1 billion.\r\n\u201cIt is incomprehensible to me that we have a major bill dealing with prescription drugs and yet we are running from the most important issue and that is the greed of the pharmaceutical industry,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cThe prescription drug industry, along with Wall Street, is the most powerful political force in America. I have been fighting the greed of the prescription drug industry for decades. And, as far as I can tell, the prescription drug industry always wins, but the American people lose.\u201d\r\nTo see the amendment, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-dakota-access-pipeline-decision", "Sanders Statement on Dakota Access Pipeline Decision", "2016-12-04", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Dakota Access Pipeline Decision\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSunday, December 4, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 4 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) congratulated President Barack Obama Sunday after the Army Corps of Engineers announced it will deny a federal permit needed for the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.\r\n\"I appreciate very much President Obama listening to the Native American people and millions of others who believe this pipeline should not be built. In the year 2016, we should not continue to trample on Native American sovereignty. We should not endanger the water supply of millions of people. We should not become more dependent on fossil fuel and accelerate the planetary crisis of climate change. Our job now is to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels, not to produce more greenhouse gas emissions.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-bill-to-improve-criminal-justice-system_to-be-signed-into-law", "Leahy Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System  To Be Signed Into Law", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.02.16\n\t\t\t Leahy Bill To Improve Criminal Justice System  To Be Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bipartisan Justice for All Reauthorization Act Renews Leahy's Groundbreaking Innocence Protection Act & Aims to Reduce Rape Kit Backlog\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2016)  Legislation long championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to help ensure that the criminal justice system functions fairly now goes to the White House for signature after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill late Thursday.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act aims to reduce the rape kit backlog by supporting grant programs that fund forensic testing. The bill, coauthored by Leahy and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), also renews the Innocence Protection Act, a landmark Leahy law which includes the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. That program facilitates the use of post-conviction testing of DNA evidence that can exonerate the wrongly convicted and hold the guilty accountable. The bill also requires the Justice Department to assist state and local governments to improve their indigent defense systems and ensures implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.\r\nI have long championed the Justice for All Act to make our justice system more fair, said Leahy, a former prosecutor. Our bill will strengthen indigent defense and expand the rights of crime victims. It will improve the use of forensic evidence, including rape kits, to provide justice swiftly. It will help protect the innocent by increasing access to post-conviction DNA testing. \r\nLeahy has long worked to reduce the rape kit backlog and advance several bills in support of sexual assault survivors. In 2014, he led the successful effort to pass legislation renewing the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction Program. Leahy also included language in the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act, enacted in 2013, that significantly increased resources for survivors of sexual assault.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act builds on Leahy's work on the Violence Against Women Act by including key housing protections for victims of abuse whose partners get evicted for domestic violence. Finally, the bill builds upon the success of the Crime Victims' Rights Act by making it easier for crime victims to have an interpreter present during court proceedings and to obtain court-ordered restitution.\r\nIt has been my great honor to serve as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 1997. During that time I have worked with Senators from both sides of the aisle to craft solutions to some of the most important problems of our time. I am proud to join with my partner Senator Cornyn on this legislation, and the many advocates who have helped guide our work, Leahy said. As we consider legislation next Congress, we must remember that we have a continuing obligation to look out for all victims and to create fairness in our criminal justice system.\r\nSenator Leahy's full statement on the Justice for All Reauthorization Act can be found here, and a sectional analysis can be found here and BELOW.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-approves-new-funding-states-battling-nationwide-opioid-epidemic", "House Approves New Funding for States Battling Nationwide Opioid Epidemic", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation that will provide much-needed new funding for Vermont and other states battling the opioid epidemic devastating families and communities across the country. Also included in the bill is new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on the treatment and cure of life threatening diseases.\nThe legislation provides $1 billion in grants to states, localities, and service organizations working on the front lines of the epidemic. States experiencing a high incidence of opioid addiction will be given priority in the distribution of funds.\nThe 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34) was developed by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition to funding for opioid abuse and medical research, the bill includes two Welch-authored provisions. The Tick-Borne Disease Research Accountability Act (H.R. 789) will ensure coordination among federal agencies to promote Lyme disease research. The Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act (H.R. 3716) will reduce fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program.\nThe legislation passed the House by a vote of 392-26. It is expected to pass the Senate before Congress adjourns for the year and be signed into law by President Obama.\nAcross Vermont, families and communities are reeling from the devastating impact of opioid addiction. Three years ago, Governor Peter Shumlin turned a bright light on the hidden crisis in Vermont which led to a nationwide acknowledgment of an epidemic ravaging rural America, Rep. Welch said. Congress is finally poised to provide long overdue resources to assist states battling this heartbreaking scourge on our communities. In addition, this legislation will jumpstart research to find treatments and cures for life threatening diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's.  \n\t  \n\tThe 21st Century Cures Act sets aside $6 billion to implement the following cutting-edge health initiatives.\n \n$1 billion in federal grants to states fighting the nationwide opioid epidemic;\n\t$1.5 billion to fund BRAIN Initiative research to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders;\n\t$1.8 billion to fund the Obama Administration's Cancer Moonshot initiative to accelerate research to prevent, treat, and cure cancer;\n\t$1.5 billion for research and development on drugs tailored to individuals, rather than one-size-fits-all treatments; and\n\tAn expansion of mental health services\n \nWelch has been a longtime advocate for increased funding for medical research. His bipartisan legislation to increase NIH funding for pediatric cancer research was signed into law by President Obama in 2014.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-dakota-access-pipeline-", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Dakota Access Pipeline", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Dakota Access Pipeline  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tI share the concerns of many of my fellow Vermonters for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Lakota Nation and their supporters who oppose the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Marcelle and I also are troubled by the recent news reports of how they are being treated by some government officials and law enforcement agents. I firmly believe that the construction of this pipeline should be suspended indefinitely pending approval by the Standing Rock Tribal Leaders.\r\nWe must also pay serious consideration to the long term environmental impacts of this pipeline. Climate change is real, and as such we should take this pipeline's potential to significantly contribute to global climate change very seriously.\r\nIn October, I joined Senator Bernie Sanders in sending a letter to President Obama raising these concerns. You can read that letter here.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee-urging-final-passage-of-the-justice-for-all-reauthorization-act", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Urging Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Urging Final Passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEach morning in this chamber we pledge allegiance to our flag, and we end by declaring that we are one Nation under God with liberty and justice for all. It is not enough to say the words. It is our obligation to bring meaning to this promise. Today I hope the Congress will finally take an important step forward by passing the bipartisan Justice for All Reauthorization Act.\r\nI have long championed the Justice for All Act to make our justice system more fair. Our bill will strengthen indigent defense and expand the rights of crime victims. It will improve the use of forensic evidence, including rape kits, to provide justice swiftly. It will help protect the innocent by increasing access to post-conviction DNA testing. The Senate passed this bipartisan legislation in June, and the House approved a slightly modified version earlier this week. I am disappointed the House decreased authorizations for many programs I support. Still, the bill makes important changes and will improve the lives of many of our most vulnerable citizens. I urge my fellow Senators to consent to its immediate passage.\r\nAs a former prosecutor, I am dedicated to ensuring that our criminal justice system has integrity and the confidence of the public it serves. I started out on the front lines as State's Attorney in Chittenden County, Vermont. And for the past 20 years I have served as Chairman or Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During that time it has become clear to me that our system is deeply flawed  there is not always justice for all. \r\nI have met many innocent people who were wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit. Kirk Bloodsworth was one such young man. He was just out of the Marines in 1984 when he was falsely convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl. He was nearly executed until DNA evidence proved he was innocent in 1993. He became the first death row inmate in the United States exonerated by DNA evidence. But he was not the last. There were 149 innocent people exonerated just last year, the highest number on record. Our justice system failed not only these innocent people but also the victims of crime. We can and we must do more to fix this injustice.\r\nI believe we should eliminate the death penalty entirely because I know the system gets it wrong. But until we do away with the death penalty, we must improve the integrity of our criminal justice system. That is why I joined with Kirk years ago to enact the Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. This was originally part of the Innocence Protection Act enacted in 2000, and it gives defendants like Kirk a chance to prove their innocence. That should not be too much to ask.\r\nWe must also do more to ensure that our justice system gets it right from the beginning and that means improving the quality of indigent defense. Our system too often fails to provide a lawyer for every person accused of a crime, even if they cannot afford one. Our Founding Fathers recognized that no system could be fair if accusations by a King or a government went unchallenged. Without a vigorous defense it is impossible to determine who is actually guilty and who has been wrongly accused. This legislation requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to States to improve their indigent defense systems, and it ensures that public defenders will have a seat at the table when States determine how to use their Byrne JAG criminal justice funding.\r\nImproving systems of indigent defense will mean fewer innocent people behind bars. It is an outrage when an innocent person is wrongly punished, and this injustice is compounded when the true perpetrator remains on the streets, able to commit more crimes. My brave friend Debbie Smith, a champion for victims of sexual assault, waited six years after being attacked before her rape kit was tested and the perpetrator was caught. Survivors like Debbie should not have to live in anguish while their attacker remains free. Our bill provides resources for forensic testing and specifically the creation of tracking systems so that testing can be done more efficiently. It will also help expand access to forensic exams in rural areas and for underserved populations.\r\nSexual assaults must be prevented wherever they occur, including in our nation's prisons. That is why I strongly supported the Prison Rape Elimination Act when it was enacted in 2003. This bill imposes true accountability by withholding federal funds from states who do not implement protections to prevent sexual assaults in our prisons. It also protects grants designed to provide services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.\r\nOur legislation also builds on the landmark protections provided for victims of domestic violence in the 2013 Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act. Imagine a woman living with an abusive partner in public housing, but her name is not on the lease. One night he beats her and she calls the police. The man is arrested and the woman believes she is finally safe. But then the landlord says she must leave immediately, because the man is being evicted and she has no rights to stay. The Justice for All Act will allow this woman time to remain there while she either finds another place to live or can demonstrate she is eligible to remain under her own name. No person should be forced to choose between abuse and a place to live.\r\nAnd finally, our bill expands rights for victims of all crime. It builds upon the success of the Crime Victims' Rights Act by making it easier for crime victims to have an interpreter present during court proceedings and to obtain court-ordered restitution.\r\nIt has been my great honor to serve as the most senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee since 1997. During that time I have worked with Senators from both sides of the aisle to craft solutions to some of the most important problems of our time. I am proud to join with my partner Senator Cornyn on this legislation, and the many advocates who have helped guide our work. I especially appreciate the work of the Innocence Project, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, Just Detention International, the National Criminal Justice Association, the National District Attorneys Association, Legal Aid DC, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and the National Center for Victims of Crime.\r\nAs we consider legislation next Congress, we must remember that we have an obligation to look out for all victims and to create fairness in our criminal justice system. While we made some improvements this year, including passing the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, I am disappointed the Republican-led Congress failed to even allow a vote on bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation despite its strong support. As we look to the new Congress, I hope those who worked with me on this important issue will continue to support efforts to correct the costly mistakes of mandatory minimum sentences. I hope that we can again build the same kind of broad, bipartisan consensus in support of all victims of sexual assault and domestic violence that we did last Congress when we passed the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act through the Senate.\r\n# # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-really-rich-got-richer-according-to-irss-top-400", "The Really Rich Got Richer, According to IRSs Top 400", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Really Rich Got Richer, According to IRS\u2019s Top 400\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal income reported on the top 400 individual tax returns rose 20% in 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Richard Rubin \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 1, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe total income reported on the top 400 individual tax returns rose 20% in 2014, according to Internal Revenue Service\u00a0data\u00a0released Thursday.\r\nThe figures reveal the concentration of earnings at the pinnacle of the income distribution, in a club that required $126.8 million of adjusted gross income to enter. That group, out of nearly 150 million tax returns in 2014, received 1.3% of income and 10% of capital gains that get preferential rates. The same 400 households also made 6.9% of all charitable contributions.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-carrier-just-showed-corporations-how-to-beat-donald-trump", "Sanders: Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders: Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 1, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe Washington Post: Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump\r\nBy Sen. Bernie Sanders\r\nToday, about 1,000 Carrier workers and their families should be rejoicing. But the rest of our nation\u2019s workers should be very nervous.\r\nPresident-elect Donald Trump will reportedly announce a deal with United Technologies, the corporation that owns Carrier, that keeps less than 1,000 of the 2100 jobs in America that were previously scheduled to be transferred to Mexico. Let\u2019s be clear: It is not good enough to save some of these jobs. Trump made a promise that he would save all of these jobs, and we cannot rest until an ironclad contract is signed to ensure that all of these workers are able to continue working in Indiana without having their pay or benefits slashed.\r\nIn exchange for allowing United Technologies to continue to offshore more than 1,000 jobs, Trump will reportedly give the company tax and regulatory favors that the corporation has sought. Just a short few months ago, Trump was pledging to force United Technologies to \u201cpay a damn tax.\u201d He was insisting on very steep tariffs for companies like Carrier that left the United States and wanted to sell their foreign-made products back in the United States. Instead of a damn tax, the company will be rewarded with a damn tax cut. Wow! How\u2019s that for standing up to corporate greed? How\u2019s that for punishing corporations that shut down in the United States and move abroad?\r\nIn essence, United Technologies took Trump hostage and won. And that should send a shock wave of fear through all workers across the country.\r\nTrump has endangered the jobs of workers who were previously safe in the United States. Why? Because he has signaled to every corporation in America that they can threaten to offshore jobs in exchange for business-friendly tax benefits and incentives. Even corporations that weren\u2019t thinking of offshoring jobs will most probably be re-evaluating their stance this morning. And who would pay for the high cost for tax cuts that go to the richest businessmen in America? The working class of America.\r\nLet\u2019s be clear. United Technologies is not going broke. Last year, it made a profit of $7.6 billion and received more than $6 billion in defense contracts. It has also received more than $50 million from the Export-Import Bank and very generous tax breaks. In 2014, United Technologies gave its former chief executive Louis Chenevert a golden parachute worth more than $172 million. Last year, the company\u2019s five highest-paid executives made more than $50 million. The firm also spent $12 billion to inflate its stock price instead of using that money to invest in new plants and workers.\r\nDoes that sound like a company that deserves more corporate welfare from our government? Trump\u2019s Band-Aid solution is only making the problem of wealth inequality in America even worse.\r\nI said I would work with Trump if he was serious about the promises he made to members of the working class. But after running a campaign pledging to be tough on corporate America, Trump has hypocritically decided to do the exact opposite. He wants to treat corporate irresponsibility with kid gloves. The problem with our rigged economy is not that our policies have been too tough on corporations; it\u2019s that we haven\u2019t been tough enough.\r\nWe need to re-instill an ethic of corporate patriotism. We need to send a very loud and clear message to corporate America: The era of outsourcing is over. Instead of offshoring jobs, the time has come for you to start bringing good-paying jobs back to America.\r\nIf United Technologies or any other company wants to keep outsourcing decent-paying American jobs, those companies must pay an outsourcing tax equal to the amount of money it expects to save by moving factories to Mexico or other low-wage countries. \u00a0They should not receive federal contracts or other forms of corporate welfare. \u00a0They must pay back all of the tax breaks and other corporate welfare they have received from the federal government. And they must not be allowed to reward their executives with stock options, bonuses or golden parachutes for outsourcing jobs to low-wage countries. I will soon be introducing the Outsourcing Prevention Act, which will address exactly that.\r\nIf Donald Trump won\u2019t stand up for America\u2019s working class, we must.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-floor-remarks-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-on-the-duplicity-of-the-double-standard", "Senate Floor Remarks of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On the Duplicity of the Double Standard", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.30.16\n\t\t\t Senate Floor Remarks of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On the Duplicity of the Double Standard \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFor months  no, for years  in the lead up to the November 8th election, congressional Republicans spent countless taxpayer dollars to air their unsubstantiated concerns about corruption at the highest levels of our government. The Clinton Foundation must be dissolved, they said. Every action, every meeting, every activity of the Clinton Foundation should be revealed, they said. We cannot allow such a foundation to run so close to the Oval Office, they said.\r\nIt is ironic  sadly ironic, maddeningly ironic  that since November 8th, I have heard neither shout nor whisper from congressional Republicans echoing the same concerns about our President-elect's personal  and profitable  business dealings. No outrage that the President-elect's family may charge the American taxpayer millions of dollars to rent space for the Secret Service at Trump Tower. No demand that the President-elect  the Chairman and President of The Trump Organization  dissolve his stake in the corporation he owns. Now, today, we hear that the President-elect will finally explain how he plans to address these conflicts of interest  which he feels is a visual problem rather than an ethical one. Unless he does what I and others have called for  divest his interest in, and sever his relationship to, the Trump Organization, and put the proceeds in a true blind trust  it is nothing more than lip service. And until we know more about what role his family will have both in his business interests and the government's operation under a Trump administration, no one should consider this serious concern addressed.\r\nAnd here is the duplicity of congressional Republicans' double standard. After years of partisan witch hunts, and millions of wasted taxpayer dollars investigating bogus allegations against Hillary Clinton, and by extension, the Clinton Foundation, if Republicans fail to demand the same of Donald Trump that they demanded of her, they will, as E.J. Dionne said so eloquently in his column on November 27, be fully implicated in any Trump scandal that results from a shameful and partisan double standard.\r\nMr./Madam President, I am hearing from Vermonters. They are worried. They are uncertain. Some of them are scared. Congress could do a great service to all our constituents if it led by example, not by convenient spoken platitudes. If my colleagues want to actually be the leaders they claim they are, do not start by validating an offensive and dangerous double standard.\r\nI ask unanimous consent that the text of E.J. Dionne's column, A Double Standard for Trump?, as published in the November 27 Washington Post, be printed in the Record.\r\n\r\nThe Washington Post\r\nNovember 27, 2016\r\nAn ethical double standard for Trump  and the GOP?\r\nBy E.J. Dionne Jr.\r\nRepublicans are deeply concerned about ethics in government and the vast potential for corruption stemming from conflicts of interest. We know this because of the acute worries they expressed over how these issues could have cast a shadow over a Hillary Clinton presidency.\r\nIf Hillary Clinton wins this election and they don't shut down the Clinton Foundation and come clean with all of its past activities, then there's no telling the kind of corruption that you might see out of the Clinton White House, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt.\r\nPresumably Cotton will take the lead in advising Donald Trump to shut down his business activities and come clean on what came before. Surely Cotton wants to be consistent.\r\nThe same must be true of Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chair whom Trump tapped as his chief of staff. When that 3 a.m. phone call comes, Americans deserve to have a president on the line who is not compromised by foreign donations, Priebus said earnestly in a statement on Aug. 18.\r\nPriebus, you would think, believes this even more strongly about a president whose enterprises might reap direct profits for himself or members of his family from foreign businesses or governments. Priebus must thus be hard at work right now on a plan for Trump to sell off his assets.\r\nThe deals that she and her husband were pocketing  hundreds of thousands of foreign money, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told the Breitbart website, the right-wing outlet once led by the soon-to-be White House chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon. Issa added that Clinton wanted her activities to be behind closed doors and did that because she doesn't know where the line is.\r\nWe can assume that Issa will press the president-elect about the dangers of doing business deals behind closed doors and instruct him about where the ethical line should be.\r\nAnd it would be truly heartening to know that Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a vociferous critic of the Clinton Foundation (There's a connection between what the foundation is doing and what the secretary of state's office is doing), plans to apply the same benchmarks to Trump.\r\nAfter all, when the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was asked last August on CNN if Trump should release his tax returns, his answer was both colorful and unequivocal. If you're going to run and try to become the president of the United States, Chaffetz replied, you're going to have to open up your kimono and show everything, your tax returns, your medical records. You are ... just going to have to do that.\r\nI eagerly await Chaffetz's news conference reiterating his kimono policy, since he made very clear that he sees his role as nonpartisan. My job is not to be a cheerleader for the president, he said. My job is to hold them accountable and to provide that oversight. That's what we do. Early, comprehensive hearings on the problems Trump's business dealings would pose to his independence and trustworthiness as our commander in chief would be a fine way to prove Chaffetz meant this.\r\nRepublicans did an extraordinary job raising doubts about Clinton  helped, we learned courtesy of The Post, by a Russian disinformation campaign. Does the GOP want to cast itself as a band of hypocrites who cared not at all about ethics and were simply trying to win an election?\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-warren-joint-statement-on-trumps-treasury-nominee", "Sanders, Warren Joint Statement on Trump's Treasury Nominee", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders, Warren Joint Statement on Trump's Treasury Nominee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 30, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 30 \u2013 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement Wednesday after it was reported that President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Steve Mnuchin to serve as Treasury secretary:\r\n\"During the campaign, Donald Trump told the American people that he was going to change Washington by taking on Wall Street. Donald Trump\u2019s choice for Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, is just another Wall Street insider. That is not the type of change that Donald Trump promised to bring to Washington \u2013 that is hypocrisy at its worst. After his bank pocketed billions in taxpayer dollars from the bailout, Mnuchin moved on to make a fortune running another bank that aggressively foreclosed on families still reeling from the crisis. This pick makes clear that Donald Trump wants to cater to the same Wall Street executives that have hurt working families time and again.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/house-approves-bill-championed-by-leahy-to-improve-criminal-justice-system", "House Approves Bill Championed By Leahy To Improve Criminal Justice System", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t House Approves Bill Championed By Leahy To Improve Criminal Justice System \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t . . . Renewal Of Leahy's Groundbreaking Innocence Protection Act Facilitates Post-Conviction Use Of DNA Evidence\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, November 29, 2016)  The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation long championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to help ensure that the criminal justice system functions fairly.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act supports critical grant programs which provide funding for forensic testing, including rape kits. The House-passed measure closely mirrors legislation coauthored by Leahy and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), which passed the Senate in June. On Tuesday, Leahy called on the Senate to pass the slightly modified bill in order to get it to the President's desk and signed into law.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act provides tools to strengthen indigent defense, expand the rights of crime victims, improve the use of forensic evidence and test rape kits, and protect the innocent by increasing access to post-conviction DNA testing. Now that the House has finally passed this bipartisan legislation, the Senate should do the same this week, Leahy said.\r\nLeahy has long worked to reduce the rape kit backlog and advance several bills in support of sexual assault survivors. In 2014, he led the successful reauthorization of legislation to renew the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Reduction Program. Leahy also included language in the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act, enacted in 2013, to increase the resources for survivors of sexual assault and to reduce the rape kit backlog.\r\nThe Justice for All Reauthorization Act also renews the Innocence Protection Act, a landmark Leahy law which includes the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. That program facilitates the use of post-conviction testing of DNA evidence that can exonerate the wrongly convicted and hold accountable the guilty. It also includes important measures to help ensure that all criminal defendants, including those who cannot afford a lawyer, receive effective representation.\r\nAs a former prosecutor, I am dedicated to ensuring that our criminal justice system has integrity and the confidence of the public it serves. It is an outrage when an innocent person is wrongly punished, and it is unacceptable to let rape victims live in fear while evidence languishes in storage and criminals remain on our streets, Leahy said. As we consider legislation next Congress to support crime victims, we must remember that we as policymakers have an obligation to look out for all victims and to enact policies that create fairness in the criminal justice system. Our work today is an example of what we can do when we work together.\r\n\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-ranking-member-senate-committee-on-the-judiciary-on-senate-passage-of-s-2944-public-safety-officers-benefits-improvement-act-of-2016", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary On Senate Passage of S. 2944, Public Safety Officers Benefits Improvement Act of 2016", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary On Senate Passage of S. 2944, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday, the Senate reiterates its commitment to our nation's law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders. Forty years ago, we created the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to support first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. We have now passed legislation to make much needed improvements to the claims adjudication process, which for too long has been plagued by red tape and delays.\r\nToday's legislation builds upon my past efforts to improve the PSOB program. In 2003, I worked with a bipartisan group of senators to pass the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, which recognized that law enforcement officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty also deserve benefits. In 2009, I introduced the Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act, which became law in 2012 and extended PSOB benefits to nonprofit Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. This change covered an estimated 1,200 EMS personnel in Vermont alone. Today's legislation will add transparency to the PSOB's decision-making process and should help expedite the review of applications for benefits.\r\nThe legislation also includes an amendment I offered in the Judiciary Committee that improved this bill in three important ways. First, it ensured that children are not disqualified from receiving education benefits due to delays within the PSOB program, which can approach 10 years. At a Senate Judiciary hearing in April, the Honorable Karol Mason, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, testified that this situation is unconscionable. I agree. My amendment ensures it will never happen again. Second, a fallen officer or first responder's family should not have their claim denied simply because their employer fails to provide necessary paperwork to the PSOB Office. My amendment requires that the PSOB Office use every investigative tool it has to obtain what it needs from third parties to process a claim. This will ensure that officers and their families who are entitled to benefits are not further victimized by delays beyond their control. Finally, as originally drafted this legislation only applied to claims filed after it becomes law. I want these improvements to help those currently stuck in the backlog, and my amendment fixed this issue.\r\nOne hundred twenty-three law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty so far in 2016. These families deserve a working and responsive PSOB program. This legislation, while only a modest step, demonstrates our shared commitment to those officers and their families. I urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass this legislation and send it to the President for signature.\r\n# # # # #\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy_on--fiscal-year-2017-appropriations", "Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy  On  Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy  On  Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMr. President, for the past two years the Republican Party has enjoyed solid majorities in both the House and Senate. They control the schedule and the process. They can decide which legislation to call up for debate, and frankly for all intents and purposes, they can decide whether anything gets done around here.\r\nA good example is the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. If he had been treated like other Supreme Court nominees throughout the entire history of this country, he would have received a hearing and a vote and he almost certainly would have been easily confirmed just as he was when he was nominated to the DC Court of Appeals.\r\nInstead, the Republican leadership did not even give Judge Garland a hearing, much less a vote. The Republican Senators refused to do their job.\r\nThere are countless examples of this. It would behoove people in this country who complain about the do nothing Congress to remind themselves that the Republicans are in control. They can make it possible for work to get done, or they can make it impossible.\r\nTheir track record for the past two years speaks for itself. Instead of a Congress that sets the standard for the world's democracies, we have been treated to a lesson of how not to get things done.\r\nThe latest example is the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bills. I went back and reviewed the record. For months, the Republican leadership extolled the virtues of regular order. They spoke with great optimism and confidence about passing appropriations bills. Individual bills, not even an omnibus bill that has become the norm.\r\nThey said over and over that they were going to do their job this year and pass these bills, the way we used to do.\r\nWe on the Democratic side fully supported that goal. And we negotiated 12 individual appropriations bills that were reported, with one exception, with bipartisan majorities  in most cases overwhelming majorities  by the Appropriations Committee.\r\nSenator Lindsey Graham and I wrote the FY17 State and foreign operations bill. As we always do, we wrote a balanced bill and it was reported by the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 30 to 0. \r\nOur staffs have been meeting for weeks with their House counterparts to hammer out a conference agreement that the House and Senate can vote on and the President can sign. We could easily be finished by December 9th when the current funding resolution expires.\r\nSo what is the problem? It's simple. Donald Trump was elected President, and now the Republican leadership has a different idea. Forget all those uplifting speeches about passing appropriations bills. Forget about so-called regular order. Forget about doing our jobs. What's their new plan? Throw ten months of work into the trash can.\r\nNow we are going to punt the ball down the field for another four months, and after that who knows? Maybe then we will do it again and end up with a continuing resolution for the rest of the year. There is no way to predict.\r\nFor Members of Congress who may not be familiar with the intricate operations of Federal agencies and would prefer not to think about it, the idea of another four-month continuing resolution may not be a big deal. For those of us who do know, it's an example of government at its worst.\r\nFunding the government by continuing resolution means putting priorities and budgeting decisions on autopilot. It negates the hard work that has gone into reevaluating priorities from one year to the next.\r\nIt negates the careful process of looking at federal agencies, account by account, to make adjustments, as warranted. It means largely making a carbon copy of an earlier appropriations bill or bills, regardless of changed circumstances or compelling need to modify earlier priorities.\r\nI want to mention a few examples of what this means for the State and foreign operations bill, which totals only one percent of the Federal budget.\r\nA continuing resolution will provide $433 million less than Senator Graham's and my bill for economic development, governance, and security programs, like the Power Africa initiative. It will mean $59 million less for programs to counter violent extremism.\r\nThese programs have strong bipartisan support because they are the building blocks for stability where we have critical national security interests.\r\nA continuing resolution will provide $162 million less than our bill for global health, including for maternal and child health programs  like vaccines for children  and to combat malaria and tuberculosis. These programs literally mean life or death for millions of people, which is why they have had bipartisan support. Or at least they did before the Republican leadership scrapped the appropriations bills.\r\nA continuing resolution will provide $454 million less than our bill for security for U.S. diplomatic and consular personnel, for security upgrades for U.S. embassies and facilities overseas, and for cyber security programs. So when the Republican leadership blames others for not doing enough to protect our embassies and diplomats, as they have a habit of doing, they need only look in the mirror.\r\nIronically, the continuing resolution will provide $538 million more for U.S. contributions to international financial institutions than the amount in Senator Graham's and my bill. That is because the 2016 Omnibus provided $220 million for the Strategic Climate and Clean Technology Funds which is not needed in FY17 because the U.S. will not be contributing to either of those funds in FY17.\r\nThe balance of $318 million is not needed because U.S. contributions to several international financial institutions are lower in FY17 than in FY16.\r\nThe continuing resolution will provide $161 million more than Senator Graham's and my bill for contributions to international organizations. We don't need to pay that additional amount because of reductions in assessments and exchange rate costs.\r\nThe continuing resolution will provide $90 million more than our bill for assessed contributions to international peacekeeping. Again, we don't need to pay that additional amount due to reductions in several peacekeeping missions.\r\nThese are just examples for State and foreign operations. Every appropriations bill has its own laundry list of reasons why a continuing resolution makes no sense, wastes taxpayer dollars, and wreaks havoc for the agencies that run the government.\r\nContinuing resolutions, beyond a few months, are illogical, wasteful, and harmful. We end up spending less for things both Republicans and Democrats strongly support, and we waste money on things we don't need. It is bad government 101.\r\nIt is just what the Republican leadership ten months ago said they wanted to avoid. But that was then, and this is now.\r\nSenator McCain, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, denounced his colleagues for abandoning the regular appropriations process. He knows what it will mean for the U.S. military.\r\nSenator Mikulski, the Vice Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, has called it absolutely outrageous. She aptly called it procrastinating instead of legislating.\r\nAnother four-month continuing resolution is completely unnecessary, not to mention outrageous, wasteful, and irresponsible.\r\nIt can still be avoided. Speaking for State and foreign operations, we can complete our conference agreement in less than one week. I suspect the other subcommittees could do the same, or close to it. Certainly we can finish these bills before Christmas.\r\nSo why don't we? That's what the Republican leadership said they wanted. That's what regular order is. That's how the Congress is supposed to work. We should do it. We should do our jobs.\r\n# # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-the-21st-century-cures-act", "Sanders Statement on the 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on the 21st Century Cures Act\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, November 29, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 29 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Tuesday on the 21st Century Cures Act:\r\n\"At a time when Americans pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, this bill provides absolutely no relief for soaring drug prices. The greed of the pharmaceutical industry has no limit, and this bill includes numerous corporate giveaways that will make drug companies even richer. Further, this bill cuts Medicare and Medicaid by $1 billion, while not even guaranteeing funding for medical research or substance abuse treatment.\r\n\"This is a bad bill which should not be passed in its current form. It's time for Congress to stand up to the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, not give them more handouts.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trumps-hhs-pick", "Sanders Statement on Trump's HHS Pick", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Tuesday after it was reported that President-elect Donald Trump will name Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to serve as secretary of health and human services:\r\n\u201cDonald Trump asked workers and seniors to vote for him because he was the only Republican candidate who\u00a0would not cut\u00a0Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid \u2013 programs that are of life-and-death importance for millions of Americans. Now, he has nominated a person for secretary of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price, who has a long history of wanting to do exactly the opposite of what Trump campaigned on. Rep. Price has a long history of wanting to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. What hypocrisy! Mr. Trump needs to tell the American people that what he said during the campaign were just lies, or else appoint an HHS secretary who will protect these programs and do what Trump said he would do.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/trump-vows-to-protect-social-security-medicare-and-medicaid", "Trump Vows To Protect Social Security, Medicare  Medicaid", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Trump Vows To Protect Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid \n            Speaking at the New Hampshire Republican Leadership Summit, Donald Trump scolded Republicans for trying to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\n            \n                \n                    \n                       \t\n        \t\t\t\t\n                        \n                            \n                                \n                                \n                                    \n                                    \n                                    \n                                \n                                \n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \n                        \n                        \n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n                \n            \n        \t\n            \n            \n            \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                    \n                   \tSee Video on YouTube\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n                    Copy Link", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-engage-vermonters-priorities-new-president-and-congress", "Welch to Engage Vermonters on Priorities for New President and Congress", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONAs President-elect Trump and a new Congress prepare to take office in January, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) today announced that he will host a live, statewide telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday evening, November 29th at 7:15 p.m. EST. Welch will outline his agenda and listen to Vermonters' priorities, hopes, and concerns. Callers will be able to ask Welch questions on the call, which is expected to last one hour.\nWHO: Congressman Peter Welch  \n\tWHAT: Statewide Telephone Town Hall Meeting  \n\tWHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 29th at 7:15 p.m. EST  \n\tTOPIC: Conversation with Vermonters about new Congress and President\nTo connect Vermonters to the live call, Welch's office will use a technology that automatically calls all Vermont households in its data base.\nAlternatively, Vermonters and media can join the call directly by dialing 877-229-8493 at 7:15 p.m. and using 116275 as the passcode.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-republicans-are-threatening-american-democracy", "Sanders: Republicans Are Threatening American Democracy", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders: Republicans Are Threatening American Democracy\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, November 28, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 28 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Monday after Donald Trump claimed\u00a0\"millions of people...voted illegally\" and made unfounded allegations of \"serious\u00a0voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California\":\r\n\"The threat to American democracy under Republican control is two-fold. First, they will likely move to go beyond the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and end\u00a0all\u00a0campaign finance limitations. Right now, the Koch brothers and the billionaire class can spend as much as they want only on\u00a0independent expenditures. The Republican leadership wants more. They want billionaires to be able to contribute\u00a0directly\u00a0to the candidate and, in essence, make the candidate a full-fledged\u00a0employee\u00a0of wealthy contributors.\u00a0\r\n\"Secondly, the Republicans will likely move aggressively to expand their current\u00a0voter\u00a0suppression\u00a0efforts. When Trump talks his disgraceful and unfounded nonsense about millions of people voting illegally, he is sending a very clear signal that the Republicans will move to make it harder for people of color, the elderly, immigrants, young people and poor people to participate in elections.\r\n\"Our job: State by state and at the federal level, resist all efforts at voter suppression. We must do everything we can to make it\u00a0easier\u00a0for people to participate in the political process, not harder.\u00a0States like California, Vermont and others have already moved effectively in that direction. Others must follow.\r\n\"For many Republicans leaders, 'democracy' means billionaires buying elections and poor and working people being disenfranchised. Too many Americans have fought and died to defend American democracy.\u00a0The Republican anti-democratic vision is not a future we will allow to happen.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/reaction-of-senator-patrick-leahy-to-the-death-of-fidel-castro", "Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Death Of Fidel Castro", "2016-11-26", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.26.16\n\t\t\t Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Death Of Fidel Castro \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFidel Castro will be remembered as an ideologue who liberated the Cuban people from a corrupt dictatorship only to replace it with a family dynasty that maintained its grip on power through fear and repression.\r\nWhile the Cuban people for the first time enjoyed universal access to basic health care and literacy, Castro's failed economic policies, compounded by the U.S. embargo, left the country impoverished. \r\nFor 55 years, the mere mention of Fidel Castro has incited fiercely emotional reactions from a deeply divided Cuban population, whether separated by the Florida straits or political ideology. Throughout those years, U.S. - Cuban relations were fraught with hostility, misunderstanding, and missed opportunities on both sides.\r\nThe majority of Cubans alive today were born after the Revolution, and are chafing for a better life. Having visited Cuba many times, I have seen the benefits of the steps President Obama and President Raul Castro have taken to rebuild bridges between our countries. That process has only begun, and it is in the interests of both countries that it continue.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-sanders-statement-on-carrier-and-outsourcing", "Sanders Statement on Carrier and Outsourcing", "2016-11-26", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Carrier and Outsourcing\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, November 26, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 26 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Saturday:\r\n\u201cDuring the campaign, Donald Trump made a 100 percent commitment to prevent United Technologies from shipping 2,100 jobs from Indiana to Mexico. All of us need to hold Mr. Trump accountable to make sure that he keeps this promise.\r\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear: it is not good enough to save some of these jobs. We cannot rest until United Technologies signs a firm contract to keep all of these good-paying jobs in Indiana without slashing the salaries or benefits workers have earned.\r\n\u201cUnited Technologies is not going broke. Last year, it made a profit of $7.6 billion and received over $6 billion in defense contracts.\u00a0 It has also received more than $50 million in corporate welfare from the Export-Import Bank and very generous tax breaks.\r\n\u201cIn 2014, United Technologies gave its former CEO Louis Chenevert a golden parachute worth over $172 million. Last year, the company\u2019s five highest paid executives made over $50 million. The firm also spent $12 billion to inflate its stock price instead of using that money to invest in new plants and workers.\r\n\u201cI call on Mr. Trump to make it clear to the CEO of United Technologies that if his firm\u00a0wants to receive another defense contract from the taxpayers of this country, it must not move these plants to Mexico.\r\n\u201cWe need to send a very loud and very clear message to corporate America: the era of outsourcing is over. Instead of offshoring jobs, the time has come for you to start bringing good-paying jobs back to the United States of America.\r\n\u201cIf United Technologies or any other company wants to keep outsourcing decent-paying American jobs, those companies must pay an outsourcing tax equal to the amount of money it expects to save by moving factories to Mexico or other low-wage countries. They must pay back all of the tax breaks and other corporate welfare they have received from the federal government. And they must not be allowed to reward their executives with stock options, bonuses or golden parachutes for outsourcing jobs to low wage countries.\r\n\u201cI will soon be introducing legislation to make sure that Donald Trump keeps his promise to prevent the outsourcing of American jobs. For the sake of American workers, this is a promise that cannot and must not be broken.\u201d\r\nSummary of the Outsourcing Prevention Act\r\nIn February, Carrier and UTEC announced that it would be closing two plants in Indianapolis and Huntington, Indiana shipping 2,100 jobs to Monterrey, Mexico, where workers are paid just $3 an hour.\u00a0\u00a0Both of these plants are owned by United Technologies. This legislation will provide a comprehensive solution to address this problem. United Technologies is not an outlier; it is representative of how so many multi-national corporations are taking advantage of our rigged economic system to pad their profits while hurting American workers. President-elect Trump made a promise during the campaign that he would prevent all of these jobs from being shipped overseas. The Outsourcing Prevention Act would make sure that Donald Trump keeps this promise by:\r\n1.\u00a0Preventing companies that outsource jobs from receiving federal contracts, tax breaks, grants or loans.\r\nLast year, United Technologies received over $6 billion in federal contracts, making it the seventh\u00a0largest recipient of federal contract funds. Over the past 15 years, this Fortune 500 company has used loopholes in the tax code to shelter more than two-thirds of its $38 billion in profits from federal taxation. It has also received over $50 million in corporate welfare from the Export-Import Bank. Under this legislation, companies would be barred from receiving future contracts, tax breaks, grants or loans from the federal government if they have announced plans to outsource more than 50 jobs overseas.\r\n2. Clawing back federal benefits from companies that outsource jobs have received over the last decade.\r\nThis legislation would require all companies that outsource more than 50 jobs in a given year to pay back all federal tax breaks, grants and loans they have received from the federal government over the last decade.\r\n3.\u00a0Establishing an outsourcing tax on companies that move U.S. jobs offshore.\r\nThis legislation would impose a tax on all companies that outsource jobs. The tax would be equal to the amount of savings achieved by outsourcing jobs or 35 percent of its profits, whichever is higher. United Technologies estimated that it would save $65 million a year by moving its jobs in Indiana to Mexico. Under this legislation, the company would be required to pay a tax of no less than $65 million a year. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n4.\u00a0Prohibiting executives from profiting off of the outsourcing of U.S. jobs.\u00a0\r\nThis legislation would prohibit companies that offshore jobs from enriching executives through golden parachutes, stock options, bonuses, or other forms of compensation by imposing stiff tax penalties on this compensation.\u00a0 In addition, companies that outsource jobs overseas would be prevented from buying back its own stock. In 2014, United Technologies gave its former CEO a golden parachute worth over $172 million. Last year, the company\u2019s five highest paid executives made over $50 million. The firm also spent $12 billion to inflate its stock price instead of using that money to invest in new plants and workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-slams-court-ruling-against-overtime-pay", "Sanders Slams Court Ruling Against Overtime Pay", "2016-11-23", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Slams Court Ruling Against Overtime Pay\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 23, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\r\nBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 23 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday criticized a federal court injunction against a new overtime rule that would have made millions of workers eligible for time-and-a-half pay.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe disastrous district court decision will unfairly harm millions of workers who are working longer hours for lower wages and have gone far too long without a raise. No employer should be allowed to deny overtime pay to Americans, many of whom are working 50 or 60 hours a week by labeling workers earning as little as $24,000-a-year as 'supervisors.' If we are serious about expanding the middle class, we must ensure that workers are paid fairly for all the work they do,\u201d Sander said.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Obama administration did the right thing by updating labor rules to make sure that anyone who makes less than $47,476 a year will receive time-and-a-half pay for working overtime. This is not without precedent. Since 1938, 10 different presidents \u2013 Democrats and Republicans \u2013 have exercised the authority their administrations have to update our nation\u2019s overtime rules,\u201d Sanders added.\r\n\r\nA preliminary injunction issued Tuesday blocks a new U.S. Labor Department rule, set to take effect next week, which would have required employers to pay overtime to workers earning less than $47,476 a year. The previous cutoff for workers to qualify for overtime pay, set in 2004, was $23,660.\r\n\r\n\u201cAnyone who claims to be a champion of working families should be outraged by the misguided and irresponsible court decision. I urge the Obama administration and President-elect Trump to do everything they can to vigorously defend this rule,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cDuring this time of Thanksgiving we must fight to make sure that all Americans receive the pay they have earned and deserve.\u201d\r\n\r\nSanders this year led a push in the Senate to extend overtime pay. To read Sanders\u2019 Feb. 29 letter, signed by 23 Senate colleagues, to Labor Secretary Tom Perez, click\u00a0here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-statement-vermont-air-national-guard-deployment", "Welch Statement on Vermont Air National Guard Deployment", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) today released the below statement following the announcement of a Vermont Air National Guard deployment.  \n\t  \n\tThe brave men and women of the Vermont Air Guard have my full support for a successful mission and a safe and speedy return home. This is a particularly tough time of year for Guard members to leave their families, jobs and communities. As we have in the past, I know that all Vermonters will join together to support those being deployed as well as the families they leave behind. The Vermont Air Guard truly represents the best of Vermont. I am humbled by their service and thankful for their sacrifice.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-comment_on-the-upcoming-deployment-of-the-vermont-air-national-guard--", "Leahy Comment  On The Upcoming Deployment Of The Vermont Air National Guard", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.22.16\n\t\t\t Leahy Comment  On The Upcoming Deployment Of The Vermont Air National Guard   \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(TUESDAY, Nov. 22, 2016) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement related to the announced deployment of the 158th Fighter Wing to the Central Command Area of Operations.\r\nLeahy, co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus said: The brave men and women of the Vermont Air National Guard once again are answering the call. Our country knows that when you call in the Green Mountain Boys, you're calling in the best. Their outstanding reputation has been earned through skill and sacrifice. Our pride in them is matched by our gratitude to them, their families, their employers and their communities. Marcelle and I continue to be humbled by their tireless devotion to Vermont and the nation. We are so proud of all that the Air Guard does, and we are behind them throughout this process.\r\nLeahy continued: The stresses that deployments place on Guard families are many, and they are constant. It is important that we come together as a state to support not only our fellow Vermonters serving overseas, but everyone affected by their departure. The burden of separation falls on loved ones and employers, and it is so important that their sacrifices and contributions do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Marcelle and I will have the men and women of the Vermont Air National Guard and their families in our thoughts and prayers throughout the coming months.\r\n\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-vermont-air-national-guard-deployment", "Sanders Statement on Vermont Air National Guard Deployment", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Vermont Air National Guard Deployment\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, November 22, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 22 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Tuesday after the Vermont Air National Guard announced it would be deploying overseas:\r\n\"The Vermont Air Guard has been recognized for its high degree of training and readiness. As is the case with any deployment, my thoughts are with the service members being sent overseas and their families. In Vermont, I am confident that we will all do everything we can to support those families in their time of need, as we look forward to the safe and speedy return of the Guard members.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/thanksgiving-a-time-for-reflection-and-renewed-commitment", "Thanksgiving: A Time For Reflection And Renewed Commitment", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.21.16\n\t\t\t Thanksgiving: A Time For Reflection And Renewed Commitment \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t by Patrick Leahy\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t In our family, as in homes across Vermont and the nation, this Thanksgiving will be a time of especially deep and emotional reflection. \r\nAfter a bitterly contested election that tested our civility and fanned the flames of intolerance, we now move into a period that may further test our national character and our institutions. We already are ending a year in which a majority of senators have broken not only with precedent, but with the sworn obligation to uphold our constitutional responsibilities, by refusing to even hold a hearing on a president's nominee to fill a vacancy on our highest court.\r\nI have heard from countless Vermonters about the pain felt right now by so many. This year has left us reeling, a feeling shared by all Vermonters, regardless of who we supported. It is real, it is deep, and it comes from a campaign marked by vitriol, intolerance and hate speech that should have no place in our public discourse. What happened in this election cannot be tolerated or normalized. All of us as citizens need to speak out against bigotry and intolerance whenever and wherever they appear.\r\n   I am thankful to live in a nation that is both good and great -- the wealthiest, most powerful and most generous nation in the world, endowed with freedoms, rights, values and ideals, and quality of life that are the envy of the world. These trying times challenge us to find common ground and to remain engaged in our communities and beyond. We need to share of ourselves and express the respect and the empathy that we have for each other. We can help steady our communities, our nation and our loved ones by helping where there is need, listening where there is frustration, and acting where there is injustice. Vermonters know how to weather storms. When times are toughest, we always come together to focus on what's important: each other.\r\nI am thankful to be a Vermonter, where civility, public service, and the ability to reason and compromise with each other are fundamental virtues. This is The Vermont Way.\r\nThe checks and balances of our system now may be strained as never before. But I have faith in our constitutional system of rights, responsibilities, and the rule of law that is our heritage as Americans. Many have sacrificed and many have died to protect this precious endowment.\r\nVermont's delegation in Congress is engaged, committed and well-positioned for these challenges.\r\nI am thankful that my fellow Vermonters are returning me to the Senate and have given me the opportunity to bring their voices and our Vermont values to the Capitol. The results of this election have reshaped the policymaking landscape in Washington and show the need for checks and balances, now that one party controls the White House as well as both houses of Congress. There are many challenges ahead. Against this new backdrop I have decided that I will best be able to represent Vermonters' voices, and reflect Vermont values and ideals, as the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Budgets are where we as a nation set our priorities, and the Appropriations Committee makes those one-by-one decisions in the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund our government.\r\nBoth the Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary Committee are on the front lines of so many of today's pressing issues. These include the priorities we decide in funding the federal government in our annual appropriations bills, and the future of the Supreme Court. And as the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will continue to offer a strong and outspoken voice in defending our Constitution, protecting and promoting human and civil rights, defending Americans' privacy, and fighting for judicial independence.\r\nMy ongoing efforts range from economic development in Vermont and rebuilding our country's infrastructure, to protecting Lake Champlain, fighting efforts to roll back protections of our air, water, and public lands, and pressing forward with action on climate change. My priorities also continue to include championing crime victims and addressing the opioid scourge, protecting child nutrition and agricultural investments, supporting research on cancer and infectious diseases, promoting human rights, and investing in proven ways to help working families to thrive and advance. I am committed to continue working as the steward of the trust Vermonters have again invested in me. I am determined to give Vermonters a front-and-center seat as budget and policy priorities are decided.\r\nI am thankful for Vermont values and the ways I see Vermonters apply them each and every day. Our Vermont values are enduring, and they are precious. They are an example to others. They have been distilled and refined through time and experience. And they will help carry us forward.\r\n# # # # #\r\n[Patrick Leahy (D) is Vermont's senior United States senator.]\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-on-trump-to-keep-his-promise-to-defend-social-security", "Sanders Calls on Trump to Keep His Promise to Defend Social Security", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Calls on Trump to Keep His Promise to Defend Social Security\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, November 21, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 21 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Monday on President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s promise to protect Social Security:\r\n\u201cThere are many seniors, disabled vets and people with disabilities who are very nervous about Republican proposals to cut Social Security. In my view we should be expanding Social Security, not cutting it.\u00a0But, at the very least, now is the time for Mr. Trump to reassure the American people that he will keep the campaign promise he made when he said, \u2018I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u2019 Mr. Trump, keep your promise.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt_ranking-member-senate-judiciary-committee--on-reports-of-senator-jeff-sessions-nomination-to-be-the-attorney-general-of-the-united-states-", "Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),  Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee,  On Reports Of Senator Jeff Sessions Nomination To Be The Attorney General Of The United States", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.16\n\t\t\t Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),  Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee,  On Reports Of Senator Jeff Sessions' Nomination To Be The Attorney General Of The United States  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe Attorney General serves as the chief law enforcement officer in the country. The Attorney General must be independent and fair. The Attorney General must be deeply committed to the rule of law and must ensure that all people are treated equally before the law. This means that he or she is also the chief protector of civil rights and civil liberties for everyone in our Nation. That has never been more important than in this moment, when hate crimes have spiked across the country, especially against Muslim and LGBTQ Americans. And when we have a President-elect who has proposed religious tests, a return to torture, and a deportation force that threatens to remove millions of immigrants.\r\nSenator Sessions and I have had significant disagreements over the years, particularly on civil rights, voting rights, immigration and criminal justice issues. But unlike Republicans' practice of unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's nominees, I believe nominees deserve a full and fair process before the Senate. The American people deserve to learn about Senator Sessions' record at the public Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trumps-reactionary-agenda", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Reactionary Agenda", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Reactionary Agenda\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 18, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 18 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Friday:\r\n\u201cHere is the simple truth. Trump\u2019s reactionary agenda will not be defeated in the halls of Congress. It will be defeated when millions of Americans, at the grassroots level, come together to oppose xenophobia and attacks on the immigrant community. It will be defeated when we stand together against racism, sexism, homophobia and Islamophobia. It will be defeated when working people throughout our country \u2013 black, white, Latino, Asian-American and Native American \u2013 demand a government and economy which works for all, and not just the one percent. Our political task now is to educate, organize and mobilize.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/vermont-viewpoint", "Vermont Viewpoint", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Vermont Viewpoint \n            Torin Kearns, 22, of Lincoln, Vermont, said considering the cost of college is stressful. \"When you get out of college -- having all this debt pile up and a job that might not necessarily make you back all that money in a decent amount of time -- it\u2019s scary,\" he said. \"If kids want education, they should be able to have it.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161208092713/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/the-peoples-rally-in-washington", "The People's Rally in Washington", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-urges-epa-review-three-chemical-clusters-potentially-harmful-first", "Welch Urges EPA to Review Three Chemical Clusters Potentially Harmful to First Responders", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) today sent a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the review for potential regulation of three chemical clusters that disproportionately affect first responders and emergency personnel. EPA's review of potentially toxic chemicals was directed by Congress in recently enacted toxic chemical safety legislation.\nEmergency response invariably involves a degree of risk, but we can help mitigate these inherent dangers by prioritizing chemicals that first responders disproportionately encounter. We commend EPA for its previous work assessing these chemical clusters and firmly believe they are strong candidates for further review, Welch's letter reads.\nThe EPA review was authorized by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act which was signed into law by President Obama in June. The new law mandates the evaluation of potentially hazardous chemicals to determine if they pose an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. EPA must select by the end of this year the first 10 chemicals that will be subject to this risk assessment.\nWelch and his colleagues are urging EPA to immediately review three classes of flame retardants, Chlorinated Phosphate Esters cluster, the Cyclic Aliphatic Bromides cluster, and the Tetrabromobisphenol A cluster. These chemicals are widely used in products such as household furniture, textiles, and electronic equipment, yet they can persist in the environment and potentially pose hazards to humans. First responders are often exposed to fumes containing these chemicals when responding to emergencies.\nWelch's bipartisan letter was signed by 26 House colleagues.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/breaking-leahy-to-serve-as-vice-chairman-of-senate-appropriations-committee-", "BREAKING: Leahy To Serve As Vice Chairman Of Senate Appropriations Committee", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.16.16\n\t\t\t BREAKING: Leahy To Serve As Vice Chairman Of Senate Appropriations Committee  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe results of this election have reshaped the policymaking landscape in Washington and show the need for checks and balances, now that one party controls the White House as well as both houses of Congress. There are many challenges ahead. Against this new backdrop, I have decided that I will best be able to represent Vermonters' voices, and reflect Vermont values and ideals, as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.\r\nI do not come to this decision lightly. Both the Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary Committee are on the front lines of so many of today's pressing issues. These include the priorities we decide in funding the federal government in our annual appropriations bills, and the future of the Supreme Court. And as the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will continue to offer a strong and outspoken voice in defending our Constitution, protecting and promoting human and civil rights, defending Americans' privacy, and fighting for judicial independence.\r\nMy ongoing efforts range from economic development in Vermont and rebuilding our country's infrastructure, to protecting Lake Champlain, fighting efforts to roll back protections of our air, water, and public lands, and pressing forward with action on climate change. My priorities also continue to include championing crime victims and addressing the opioid scourge, supporting research on cancer and infectious diseases, and advancing food security and human rights around the world. All of these issues are at the forefront of Vermonters' interests and concerns. I am committed to continue working as the steward of the trust Vermonters have again invested in me. I am determined to give Vermonters a front-and-center seat as budget and policy priorities are decided. Right now, at this unusual time, with these results, the best way for me to amplify Vermonters' voices is as the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee.\r\n\r\n# # # # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-joins-senate-democratic-leadership-", "Sanders Joins Senate Democratic Leadership", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Joins Senate Democratic Leadership \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 16 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Wednesday after he was named chair of outreach for Senate Democrats and ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee:\r\n\u201cReal change doesn\u2019t take place on Capitol Hill. It takes place in grassroots America. It takes place when millions of working people, young people and senior citizens come together to demand that our government works for all of us and not just the 1 percent. When the people lead, the leaders follow.\u00a0\r\n\u201cServing as ranking member of the Budget Committee is a heavy responsibility. It helps shape the priorities of the United States government, and I am going to do everything I can to make sure the budget that leaves the United States Congress is a budget that represents the needs of working families and a shrinking middle class, not billionaires.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-steve-bannon", "Sanders Statement on Steve Bannon", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Steve Bannon\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 16, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 16 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday on the appointment of Steve Bannon to serve as chief strategist and senior counsel in President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s White House:\r\n\u201cThis country, since its inception, has struggled to overcome discrimination of all forms: racism, sexism, xenophobia and homophobia. Over the years we have made progress in becoming a less discriminatory and more tolerant society \u2013 and we are not going backward. The appointment by President-elect Trump of a racist individual like Mr. Bannon to a position of authority is totally unacceptable. In a democratic society we can disagree all we want over issues, but racism and bigotry cannot be part of any public policy. The appointment of Mr.\u00a0Bannon by Mr. Trump must be rescinded.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-welch-legislation-quantify-economic-benefits-outdoor", "House Passes Welch Legislation to Quantify Economic Benefits of Outdoor Recreation", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) that would direct the Department of Commerce to assess and quantify the contributions to job creation and consumer spending of the outdoor and recreation industry. The Outdoor Recreation's Economic Contributions (REC) Act would ensure that outdoor recreation jobs are counted by the federal government and would be measured as part of the overall GDP, for the first time ever.  \n\t  \n\tWelch introduced the REC Act in March with Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).   \n\t  \n\tVermont has unparalleled natural beauty that provides Vermonters and tourists year-round opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. The consumer spending that results from that outdoor recreation is an important boost to Vermont's bottom-line. This legislation will ensure we have reliable data to accurately quantify the benefits of this key driver of our economy.  \n\t  \n\t\"Outdoor recreation is a critical cornerstone of our economy and brand identity and the Vermont ski industry is enormously grateful for Congressman Welch's leadership in championing this measure to support this vital sector of our economy,\" said Ski Vermont President Parker Riehle.\nCongressman Welch appreciates the multiple benefits that outdoor recreational activities bring to the economy. Our economy and the environment don't need to be at odds with each other, and this legislation will help to demonstrate that. At a time when it's never been more important to recognize the value of swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters, this legislation couldn't come soon enough, said Executive Director of Lake Champlain International James Ehlers.\n\"Tourism is a major part of Vermont's economy and spurring growth in this sector is important to our success. Vermont's outdoor recreation is one of the strongest attributes for living, working and building business in Vermont and having strong data is at the center of ensuring good policy in this area. The Vermont Chamber is pleased that this legislation is moving forward,\" said President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Betsy Bishop.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-passes-welch-young-rural-call-quality-legislation", "U.S. House Passes Welch, Young Rural Call Quality Legislation", "2016-11-14", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (H.R. 2566), legislation introduced by Iowa Congressman David Young and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch to address call quality and reliability standards in rural areas.\nWhether an emergency call or a business order, Vermonters should have confidence that their calls are completed without disruption, Congressman Welch said. This bill addresses the epidemic of dropped calls in rural America and will ensure calls to emergency responders, businesses, customers, family and friends are reliably connected.\nAmericans deserve consistent, quality phone service no matter where they choose to live, Congressman Young said. I appreciate the support this important legislation has received from members on both sides of the aisle, especially Congressman Welch, as we continue to move it forward and improve phone service for folks in Iowa communities and across rural America.\nThe Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act requires intermediary providers to register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and to meet quality standards ensuring rural Americans can rely on phone service. It also prohibits providers from using any intermediary routing services not registered with the FCC.\nIt was examined by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, during a hearing entitled Rural Call Quality and Reliability on September 8, 2016. The legislation was subsequently marked up by the subcommittee on September 13, 2016, before it was sent to the full committee for consideration. It was considered and passed by the full U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on September 21, 2016. The legislation was originally passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Communications Act Update Act of 2016 (S. 253) on September 27, 2016, but was approved today as a standalone bill.\nThe Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act legislation heads to the U.S. Senate for final consideration.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/heating-our-cities-with-renewable-energy", "Heating Our Cities With Renewable Energy", "2016-11-10", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Heating Our Cities With Renewable Energy \n            A wood-chip fired heating plant in Montpelier, Vermont, known as District Heat Montpelier, is part of Vermont\u2019s effort to move its energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Thanks to $8 million in federal stimulus funds in 2010, this renewable energy powered heat plant prevents 300,000 gallons of oil from being burned each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/-heating-cities-with-renewables-", "Heating Cities with Renewables", "2016-11-10", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Heating Cities with Renewables \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, November 10, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tMONTPELIER, Vt. -- With a significant boost from federal stimulus funds, District Heat Montpelier is up and running, heating dozens of state, municipal and private buildings in Vermont\u2019s capital city. Fueled by an innovative wood-chip fired boiler, the project is part of Vermont\u2019s efforts to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable sources of energy. \u201cIt\u2019s been a tremendous success,\u201d Montpelier Mayor John Hollar said. \u201cThe real launch of the program started when the city received an $8 million stimulus grant in 2010. At that point, the project really began in earnest. It was constructed in 2013, operational in the fall of 2014.\u201d\r\nWhen the US Department of Energy originally announced the funds, Sen. Bernie Sanders praised the project, stating \u201cthis district energy project will make Vermont more energy independent, lower greenhouse gas emissions and create local jobs.\u201d\r\nThe district heating plant is doing just that, as the project replaces approximately 300,000 gallons of oil that would have been burned each year to heat 19 state-owned buildings including the Pavilion Office Building, the Supreme Court and the State House.\u00a0 The project also heats Montpelier\u2019s city hall, police and fire stations, an elementary school, municipal library, a federal building, the county courthouse and sheriff\u2019s office, two churches and several private buildings.\r\nMontpelier\u2019s heating plant is helping Vermont take strides toward reaching its ambitious statewide renewable energy goals.\r\n\u201cOur department keeps track of and sets goals for energy use in Vermont, including renewable energy. One of our responsibilities is to produce the state\u2019s Comprehensive Energy Plan,\u201d said Asa Hopkins, who serves as the director of the Vermont Department of Public Service\u2019s Planning and Energy Resources Division.\r\nThat plan, Hopkins said, builds on the state's goal of getting 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2025 to meet our heating, electricity and transportation needs. That goal increases to 40 percent renewable energy by 2035, and 90 percent by 2050. \u00a0\u201cThat 2050 goal is among the most ambitious goals that any state in the nation has set,\u201d Hopkins said.\r\nHEATING WITH RENEWABLES\r\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re thinking about how to get that renewable heat number up, one of the main things you can do is to use wood for heat. You can do wood on the individual house scale. You can get a pellet stove. You can get a pellet boiler. But where you have density -- like what you have in Montpelier with all the state office buildings, the businesses up and down State Street and Main Street -- there you can support a larger centralized biomass heating system that is that much more efficient and cleaner for everybody,\u201d Hopkins said.\r\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have individual buildings trying to support their own oil heat systems anymore. You have one renewable heat system that can work at scale and transform an entire downtown,\u201d Hopkins said of systems like District Heat Montpelier.\r\nThe Montpelier project was a collaborative effort between the city, which runs the distribution system to municipal buildings and private businesses in the downtown, and the state, which owns the heating plant and supplies heat to state government buildings. \u201cThis was a partnership with the state. We worked very closely. It was sometimes contentious, not easy to get there, because there were a lot of issues that we had to work out,\u201d Hollar said. \u201cBut at the end of the day the state doubled the size of its plant \u2026 and built a state-of-the-art new system with about twice the capacity.\u201d\r\nThe unexpected drop in oil prices has changed some of the underlying cost-savings estimates, but the city is confident the wood-fired heating plant will continue to make economic sense over the long term. \u201cThe price is not as competitive with oil as many anticipated, but we knew that going into it,\u201d Hollar said.\r\n\u2018NET ZERO\u2019 ENERGY GOAL\r\nThe environmental benefits of District Heat Montpelier are undeniable.\u00a0 Hollar calls the environmental impact of moving away from oil \u201ca big factor\u201d in the decision to go forward with the biomass project. Instead of burning dirty fossil fuels, the project sustainably sources its wood chips from New England, including Vermont.\r\n\u201cMontpelier has adopted a goal of becoming net zero -- having all of our energy supplied by renewable sources or offset by renewable sources by the year 2030. It\u2019s a very ambitious goal,\u201d Hollar said. \u201cThis is a very important component of that: having all of our core downtown area and all of our municipal buildings heated with renewable resources. So, this tied in very well and complements a significant priority for our city.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trump", "Sanders Statement on Trump", "2016-11-09", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 9, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 9 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States:\r\n\u201cDonald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media.\u00a0 People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer.\u00a0\r\n\u201cTo the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-cummings-request-doj-and-ftc-investigate-cost-of-diabetes-products", "Sanders, Cummings Request DOJ and FTC Investigate Cost of Diabetes Products", "2016-11-04", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders, Cummings Request DOJ and FTC Investigate Cost of Diabetes Products\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 4, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 4 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter Thursday asking the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate potential collusion\u00a0among pharmaceutical companies that manufacture diabetes products.\r\nThe prices of insulin medications, which are used by about 6 million Americans to treat diabetes, have skyrocketed in recent years. The cost of insulin more than tripled between 2002 and 2013, from $231 to $736 per year per patient.\r\n\u201cNot only have these pharmaceutical companies raised insulin prices significantly \u2013 sometimes by double digits overnight \u2013 in many instances the prices have increased in tandem,\u201d Sanders and Cummings wrote in the letter to\u00a0Attorney General Loretta Lynch and\u00a0Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. \u201cWe are concerned that the potential coordination by these drug makers may not simply be a case of \u2018shadow pricing\u2019 but may indicate possible collusion.\u201d\r\nThree diabetes drug makers have continuously raised their prices over the years, and in numerous instances the price increases have mirrored one another precisely. In May 2014, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk each raised their prices for a vial of diabetes medication by 16.1 percent within a day of each other. Six months later, the companies both raised the medication price by 11.9 percent.\u00a0\u00a0There have been 13\u00a0reported\u00a0instances of such tandem price increases between those two companies since 2009.\r\nEli Lilly has also on several occasions matched price increases of its insulin products with Novo Nordisk. Eli Lilly and other companies have previously been fined in Mexico for colluding on insulin pricing.\r\n\u201cWe believe this egregious behavior warrants a thorough investigation,\u201d the members wrote.\r\nTo read the letter, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-welcomes-obama-step-on-dakota-access-pipeline", "Sanders Welcomes Obama Step on Dakota Access Pipeline", "2016-11-02", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Welcomes Obama Step on Dakota Access Pipeline\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 2, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 2 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders applauded President Barack Obama for saying Tuesday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is examining ways to reroute the Dakota Access Pipeline to avoid culturally sensitive lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.\u00a0\r\n\u201cI am very grateful to President Obama for listening to the voices of Native Americans and their many allies who have been protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline,\u201d Sanders said.\r\nSanders sent a letter to the White House last week urging the president to halt the pipeline construction.\r\nSanders again on Wednesday urged the president to suspend all federal permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline until the Corps of Engineers completes a full cultural and environmental review. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe protesters at Standing Rock have insisted all along that in addition to encroaching on their sacred lands, the Dakota Access Pipeline will also threaten our most important natural resource, water,\u201d Sanders said.\r\nIf completed, the pipeline would transport nearly 20 million gallons of crude oil every day, potentially threatening dozens of bodies of water, including the Missouri River, which provides drinking water for 10 states and 28 tribes.\r\nMoreover, Sanders again questioned whether it makes sense to build new oil pipelines at a time when we should be focusing on building a clean energy infrastructure.\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe are already seeing the consequences of global climate change, including rising sea levels, drought, wildfires and extreme weather. We should be transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable sources of energy. This pipeline, if completed, will do the exact opposite. It will lock us into burning more and more fossil fuels for generations to come,\u201d Sanders said.\r\nRead Sanders\u2019 letter to President Obama\u00a0here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-welcomes-obama-step-on-dakota-access-pipeline", "Sanders Welcomes Obama Step on Dakota Access Pipeline", "2016-11-02", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Welcomes Obama Step on Dakota Access Pipeline\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 2, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSen. Bernie Sanders applauded President Barack Obama for saying Tuesday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is examining ways to reroute the Dakota Access Pipeline to avoid culturally sensitive lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.\u00a0\r\n\u201cI am very grateful to President Obama for listening to the voices of Native Americans and their many allies who have been protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline,\u201d Sanders said.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSanders sent a letter to the White House last week urging the president to halt the pipeline construction.\r\n\r\nSanders again on Wednesday urged the president to suspend all federal permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline until the Corps of Engineers completes a full cultural and environmental review. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe protesters at Standing Rock have insisted all along that in addition to encroaching on their sacred lands, the Dakota Access Pipeline will also threaten our most important natural resource, water,\u201d Sanders said.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIf completed, the pipeline would transport nearly 20 million gallons of crude oil every day, potentially threatening dozens of bodies of water, including the Missouri River, which provides drinking water for 10 states and 28 tribes.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nMoreover, Sanders again questioned whether it makes sense to build new oil pipelines at a time when we should be focusing on building a clean energy infrastructure.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u201cWe are already seeing the consequences of global climate change, including rising sea levels, drought, wildfires and extreme weather. We should be transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable sources of energy. This pipeline, if completed, will do the exact opposite. It will lock us into burning more and more fossil fuels for generations to come,\u201d Sanders said.\r\n\u00a0\r\nRead Sanders\u2019 letter to President Obama\u00a0here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/an-industry-in-crisis-regional-foresters-struggle-to-survive", "An industry in crisis: Regional foresters struggle to survive", "2016-11-01", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "An industry in crisis: Regional foresters struggle to survive\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Robert Audette \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBrattleboro Reformer\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, November 1, 2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBrattleboro - Despite the importance of the forestry industry to Vermont's economy, fundamental shifts in the market for low-grade wood threaten the survival of many small businesses and the viability of the state's forests.\r\n\"We manage our forests for all kinds of things including durable wood products,\" said Michael Snyder, Commissioner of Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation. \"We specialize in high-grade, high-value-added wood products. In fact, they are world renowned. But in order to grow that high-quality product, we need to manage the woods.\"\r\nAnd managing the woods entails - just like cultivating a garden - pulling the weeds, said Paul Frederick, Wood Utilization and Wood Energy Project Leader for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. \"We need to weed out the garden to let the healthier trees utilize the space. If we don't have the markets for the soft wood, that work is very difficult.\"\r\nAccording to the National Forest Service, there are 88 different tree and shrub species in Vermont, the most common of which are beech, birch, maple, ash, aspen, oak, fir, spruce, hemlock, brambles, raspberry hobblebush, viburnum, and spirea. Hemlock is the leading softwood species, often found growing with eastern white pine. Balsam fir and spruce are the primary species used in the manufacture of wood fiber. Of the hardwood species, sugar maple is the most prevalent, followed by American beech, red maple, yellow and paper birch, and white ash.\r\n\"Forest products are an economic engine in Vermont and are responsible for $1.4 billion every year,\" said Snyder.\r\nTo read the full article, click here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 688, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "VT", "p1": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 431, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 257, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016&party=Independent", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 688, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "VT", "label": "VT", "count": 688, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 688, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-11-01,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Esanders~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fvermont~2Fan-industry-in-crisis-regional-foresters-struggle-to-survive", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VT&year=2016&_next=2016-11-01%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Esanders~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fvermont~2Fan-industry-in-crisis-regional-foresters-struggle-to-survive&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1012.7244922332466, "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"}