{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=39", "Balint Joins Welch, Sanders to Introduce First Legislation as Vermont Delegation: Action to Protect Vermont Waterways", "2023-02-15", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Becca Balint", "B001318", "balint.house.gov", "balint", "https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act key step to ensure waterways remain free-flowing and healthy\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) today introduced the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act, taking an important step to protect the ecological, recreational, and economic value of these Northern Vermont waterways.\n\nThe Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act is the first legislation Sen. Welch, Sen. Sanders, and Rep. Balint have introduced as a delegation, following the retirement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the end of the 117th Congress. It is also the first legislation Sen. Welch and Rep. Balint have introduced as members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cHealthy rivers are essential to our state\u2019s ecology and play an important role in our tourism and recreation economy,\u201d said Sen. Welch. \u201cThis bill is a critical step to protect the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream. And it\u2019s a good example of our delegation\u2019s priorities for the 118th Congress: from environmental conservation to economic development and affordability issues, this delegation is focused on supporting the state we love and addressing the issues that matter to Vermonters. I\u2019m honored to work alongside Rep. Balint and Sen. Sanders to introduce this legislation and to continue fighting for Vermont values here in Washington.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont\u2019s rivers are some of our most precious natural resources, and we must do everything we can to protect them for future generations,\u201d said Sen. Sanders. \u201cI look forward to working with my colleagues to preserve the Nulhegan River for our children and grandchildren.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermonters know the value of preserving our lands and waterways. This bill is an important step toward protecting the Nulhegan River for generations to come,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cIn my first opportunity to introduce federal legislation, I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Welch and Sanders to prioritize preserving our state\u2019s natural resources,\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nulhegan is one of Vermont\u2019s most wild rivers,\u201d said Noah Pollock, a representative of the Vermont River Conservancy. \u201cWe appreciate the efforts of Senator Welch, Senator Sanders, and Representative Balint to help authorize a study to better understand the river's values and to explore community interest in Wild and Scenic River designation.\u201d\n\nA broad coalition of local municipalities, cultural and regional groups, and environmental conservation groups have supported the request for a wild and scenic river study of the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream in recent years, including the organizations listed below.\n\nTo read the bill, please click here.\n\nSupporters\n\nTown of Brighton\n\nTown of Maidstone\n\nTown of Bloomfield\n\nUnified Towns and Gores of Essex County (Averill, Avery\u2019s Gore, Ferdinand, Lewis, Warrens Gore, Warner\u2019s Grant)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=39"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8222698234021664, "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"}