press: releases: 1,440 rows where state = "VT" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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1,440 rows where state = "VT" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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url	title	date ▲	year	month	party	chamber	state	member_name	bioguide_id	domain	date_source	text	has_text	collected_at	updated_at
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/old-man-wanted-more-than-money-in-branson-bank-robbery	Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery	2015-12-31	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery By: Harrison Keegan Thursday, December 31, 2015 Joseph Cyrus could barelyget the words out. He knew what he wanted to say, but he didn't want to break down in the courtroom. Cyrus' lawyer told him it was OK. Hecould wait until the sentencing hearing in a few months if he wanted.But the 77-year-oldCyrus couldn't wait. A proud man, Cyruscouldn't go another day without explaining himself. "I wanted to be caught, your honor," Cyrus said from his wheelchair last month at the federal courthouse in Springfield."I wanted to get some help from the United States government." A masked Cyrus robbed the Central Bank on James Epps Road in Branson on Oct. 16, pointing what he says wasa plastic BBgunat the tellers. The reason he committed the crime, he said, was to get access to health care in the federal prison system. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-local-advocates-announce-expansion-of_charitable-deductions-of-food-donations	Leahy, Local Advocates Announce Expansion of Charitable Deductions of Food Donations	2015-12-30	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.30.15 Leahy, Local Advocates Announce Expansion of Charitable Deductions of Food Donations BURLINGTON, Vt. (WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30, 2015) Joined by local advocates to end hunger and food insecurity, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday announced at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington that a provision incentivizing donations of surplus food to local food pantries was recently signed into law, helping efforts to cut back on food waste and supporting communities help those in need across the country. During this congress, Leahy successfully led a bipartisan effort to expand and make permanent tax deductions for businesses and farms for donated food to community food shelves this year. As much as 40 percent of food that is produced, grown and transported in the United States will never be used because some businesses find it too costly to donate. This amounts to an estimated 70 billion pounds of wasted food each year. Leahy said: The burden of hunger threatens the livelihood and wellbeing of communities across Vermont. Hunger leads to malnourishment, obesity, diabetes and academic and social difficulty among children, and we all know a hungry child cannot learn.Vermont is a leader in the fight against hunger, and I was proud support this common sense provision to cut down on food waste and redirect resources to those in need. The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf serves over 12,000 Vermonters each year, and continues to see an increase in visitors seeking food assistance. Rob Meehan, Executive Director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf said, Many of the people we serve face difficult choices including skipping meals so their children will have enough to eat, choosing between food and medicine, food and housing, food and healthcare simply because they do not have enough money. We need more help from our federal government to feed vulnerable Vermonters and this is a valuable step in that direction. The provision, the House companion of Leahy's Senate legislation the Good Samaritan …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/for-the-wealthiest-a-private-tax-system-that-saves-them-billions	For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions	2015-12-29	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions By: NOAM SCHEIBER and PATRICIA COHEN Tuesday, December 29, 2015 WASHINGTON The hedge fund magnates Daniel S. Loeb, Louis Moore Bacon andSteven A. Cohenhave much in common. They have managed billions of dollars in capital, earning vast fortunes. They have invested millions in art and millions more in political candidates. Moreover, each has exploited an esoteric tax loophole that saved them millions in taxes. The trick? Route the money to Bermuda and back. With inequality at its highest levels in nearly a century and public debate rising over whether the government should respond to it through higher taxes on the wealthy, the very richest Americans have financed a sophisticated and astonishingly effective apparatus for shielding their fortunes. Some call it the income defense industry, consisting of a high-priced phalanx of lawyers, estate planners, lobbyists and anti-tax activists who exploit and defend a dizzying array of tax maneuvers, virtually none of them available to taxpayers of more modest means. In recent years, this apparatus has become one of the most powerful avenues of influence for wealthy Americans of all political stripes, including Mr. Loeb and Mr. Cohen, who give heavily to Republicans, and the liberal billionaireGeorge Soros, who has called for higher levies on the richwhile at the same time usingtax loopholes to bolster his own fortune. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/new-minimum-wages-in-the-new-year	New Minimum Wages in the New Year	2015-12-28	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	New Minimum Wages in the New Year By: The Editorial Boarrd Monday, December 28, 2015 In five states and nine cities including California, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C. voters and lawmakers will consider proposals in 2016 to gradually raise minimum wages to $15 an hour. The ballot initiatives and pending legislation will build on momentum from this year, in which 14 states and localities used laws, executive orders and other procedures to lift wages for all or part of their work forces to $15 an hour. In New York City, for instance, the minimum wage for workers in fast food and state government will rise to $10.50 on New Years Eve, and to $15 by the end of 2018. In the rest of New York, the minimum for those workers will reach $15 an hour in mid-2021. InLos Angeles County, including the city of Los Angeles, the minimum wage for most workers will rise to $10.50 by mid-2016 and to $15 by mid-2020. Seattle and San Francisco are also phasing in citywide minimums of $15 an hour, while five other cities Buffalo and Rochester in New York; Greensboro, N.C.; Missoula, Mont.; and Pittsburgh are gradually raising their minimums to $15 for city workers. Minimum-wage raises are examples of states and cities leading in the absence of leadership by Congress, which has kept the federal minimum at $7.25 an hour since 2009. State and local increases are also potent shapers of public perception. It was only three years ago that a walkout by 200 or sofast-food workersin New York City began theFight for $15, now a nationwide effort to raise pay and support unions. Two years ago SeaTac, Wash., home to an international airport,voted inthe nations first $15-an-hour minimum for some 6,500 workers in the city, on and off airport property. Since then, $15 an hour has gone from a slogan to a benchmark. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-20-people-now-own-as-much-wealth-as-half-of-all-americans	20 People Now Own As Much Wealth as Half of All Americans	2015-12-26	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	And theres a stark racial divide at the top. The 100 richest households own more assets than the entire African-American community (there are just two black people on theForbes400 list, one of whom is Oprah Winfrey). And just 182 individuals on theForbeslist have more assets than Americas entire Hispanic population. But Chuck Collins, director of IPSs Program on Inequality and the Common Good and a co-author of the report, tellsThe Nationthat their study likely underestimates the scope of the problem. Our wealth data is a tip of the iceberg, he says. So much wealth among the ber-rich is hidden, either in offshore tax havens or in these loophole trusts where money is shuffled around into private corporate accounts or between different family members, and it disappears from taxation or any sort of oversight or accountability.So theres a huge amount of escaped wealth that isnt even factored into these statistics. And Collins says its only getting worse. These inequalities really undermine our quality of life, he says. We need to explain to people who say So what, I dont care how much theForbes400 has that it really does touch on all of our lives, deeply and profoundly.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/now-its-even-easier-for-candidates-and-their-aides-to-help-super-pacs	Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs	2015-12-26	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs By: Matea Gold Saturday, December 26, 2015 The Federal Election Commission has quietly given the green light to federal candidates who want to solicit contributions for super PACs by meeting in small groups so small that there can be just two other people in the room. In addition, the little-noticed advisory opinion gives permission to a candidates campaign consultant and other aides to solicit large donations for a super PAC, as long as they make clear that they are not making the request at the direction of the candidate. The decisions which came in response to a request from two Democratic super PACs, including one with close ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) further erode the boundary between campaigns and their independent allies at a time when they are already engaged in unprecedented collaboration. Federal candidates are still not permitted to explicitly ask a donor to give more than $5,000 to a super PAC. But the latest decision means that an elected official or candidate can meet privately with just one wealthy donor and one super PAC operative to discuss fundraising for the group, said Ellen Weintraub, one of two Democrats on the six-member panel who opposed loosening the rules. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-shutting-down-planned-parenthood-would-catapult-women-into-poverty	Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty By: Bryce Covert Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Already forgotten in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shootings is a more persistent terrorist threat to average Americans: right-wing extremists. Robert Lewis Dear, who shot and killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has since pleaded guilty to being a warrior for the babies. His actions follow a long tradition of violence against abortion providers. That violence is increasing: The number of clinics reporting threats and targeted intimidation has increased from about 25 percent to more than 50 percent since 2010. Dears terrorism hasnt affected the GOPs congressional crusade against the womens-healthcare provider, however. Immediately after the shooting, Senate Republicans said they would proceed with efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which currently receives about $500 million from the federal government. About 80 percent of Planned Parenthoods clients are low-income (which is measured as being at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line). Unintended pregnancies among poor women have been increasing, while those among well-off women are falling. What terrorists like Dear and Republicans in Congress want is basically the same: to shut down Planned Parenthood and deny women access to abortions. If they got their wish, it would serve only to make poor women poorer and increase the number of unintended pregnancies. Indeed, unintended pregnancies are already concentrated among low-income women, an imbalance that has been increasing. The rate of such pregnancies among women with incomes below the poverty line jumped 56 percent from 1994 to 2008, while for higher-income women it actually fell by 24 percent. In 2008, the unintended-pregnancy rate for poor women was more than five times that of the most well-off. All of this means that poor women have higher rates of unplanned births as well as …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed	Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed By: Sen. Bernie Sanders Wednesday, December 23, 2015 WALL STREET is still out of control. Seven years ago, theFederal Reserveand the Treasury Department bailed out the largest financial institutions in this country because they were considered too big to fail. But almost every one is bigger today than it was before the bailout. If any were to fail again, taxpayers could be on the hook for another bailout, perhaps a larger one this time. To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates. The recent decision by the Fed to raise interest rates is the latest example of the rigged economic system. Big bankers and their supporters in Congress have been telling us for years that runaway inflation is just around the corner. They have been dead wrong each time. Raising interest rates now is a disaster for small business owners who need loans to hire more workers and Americans who need more jobs and higher wages. As a rule, the Fed should not raise interest rates until unemployment is lower than 4 percent. Raising rates must be done only as a last resort not to fight phantom inflation. What went wrong at the Fed? The chief executives of some of the largest banks in America are allowed to serve on its boards. During the Wall Street crisis of 2007, Jamie Dimon, the chief executive and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, served on the New York Feds board of directors while his bank received more than $390 billion in financial assistance from the Fed. Next year, four of the 12 presidents at the regional Federal Reserve Banks will be former executives from one firm: Goldman Sachs. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/122315	News December 23	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 23 Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders: Fix the Fed To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates, Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote in The New York Times. Sandra BlandSen. Sanders said late Monday night that Sandra Bland would not have died in police custody if she were a white women, CNN, The Associated Press, The Guardian, Houston Chronicle and The Huffington Post reported. Unlikely Alliance Sen. Sanders spends much of his time railing against millionaires and billionaires, but he has different sentiments when speaking about one of the richest men in Burlington, Tony Pomerleau, Burlington Free Press reported. World Ramadi For the first time, Iraqi forces engaged Islamic State fighters within the city center of Ramadi on Tuesday, reaching the edge of the inner government district in an attempt to seize the critical western provincial capital after months of approach and maneuvering, The New York Times reported. National Virginia Gun Safety Virginia will no longer recognize concealed-handgun permits issued by 25 other states, its attorney general announced Tuesday, a stark change in a state known for its expansive gun rights, The New York Times reported. Vermont GMOs The latest attempt in Congress to block states from passing GMO labeling laws has failed. Its good news for Vermont, which is poised to become the first state in the country to implement mandatory GMO labeling on July 1st, WAMC reported.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-sanders-investigation-vermont-secures-discount-on-life-saving-drug-	Following Sanders Investigation, Vermont Secures Discount on Life-Saving Drug	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 23 Following up on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) investigation on the skyrocketing cost of generic drugs and letters the senator sent to officials urging them to seek a discount on naloxone, Vermonts attorney general signed a deal with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals for a 20 percent rebate on the drug used by first-responders as an opiate overdose antidote. The opioid abuse epidemic in our country is a public health emergency that must be addressed, and no company should jeopardize the progress being made in tackling this emergency by overcharging for a critically important drug like naloxone, said Sanders, who serves as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. It is a tragedy for my state of Vermont. It is a tragedy all over this country. The number of heroin deaths are growing very, very significantly. Drug overdose deaths hit a record high last year in the United States. Tragically, that included 83 Vermonters. Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell reached an agreement last Friday with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals to address concerns with the 2014 price increase of the opioid antidote drug naloxone. Under the agreement, Vermont will receive a $6 rebate per vial. Since last fall, Sanders and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have been investigating the increasingly high prices being charged for naloxone and other drugs. In July, Sanders and Cummings sent letters to the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, and the Associations of National Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and Attorneys General to urge their members to follow the lead of New York and other states that are demanding affordable prices for a critical drug used by first responders nationwide. We encourage all of your members to consider negotiating agreements with Amphastar to make naloxone more widely available in every state, Cummings and Sanders wrote.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-sharper-focus-on-americas-middle-class-needed-in-the-new-year	Leahy: Sharper Focus On Americas Middle Class Needed In The New Year	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.18.15 Leahy: Sharper Focus On America's Middle Class Needed In The New Year . . . Congress Clears Budget Bill, Ending The Sequester Straightjacket And Lifting Caps To Fund Key Priorities [Late Friday morning, the U.S. Senate approved legislation to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2016 and extend tax credits for millions of low- and middle-income class families. The final budget bill, which Leahy voted for and is expected to be signed by the President TODAY, includes a wide variety of funding investments that reflect Senator Patrick Leahy's priorities for Vermont. Leahy holds the most seniority on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which handled the Senate's work in writing the bill.] Hardworking Americans deserve more than living paycheck to paycheck, worrying about having to choose between paying an electric bill or putting healthy food on the table. This appropriations law ends a year of continuing budget uncertainty and extends tax credits for millions of hardworking families. We have kept out harmful riders that would have undermined everything from Wall Street reform to clean air and water laws. There are many steps forward in this bill for Vermonters and all Americans, but we need stronger steps. We need to carry this into the new year and strengthen it, to help lift the middle class and to protect the most vulnerable among us. We need much more progress in creating well-paying jobs in rural areas like Vermont, not just in the nation's urban centers. We need to do more to protect Social Security and Medicare and other programs in the safety net. We need to do more to make college affordable for students and families. This bill will let Congress begin the new year with focusing on America's middle class, taking stronger steps to help working families. By standing together, Senate Democrats have made it possible to cancel the harmful sequester and to lift caps to make investmen…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-opposes-spending-package	Sanders Opposes Spending Package	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today opposing the omnibus and tax extenders bills: Millions of Americans are unemployed and working longer hours for lower wages, yet this spending package gives more tax breaks to billionaires, encourages large corporations to ship jobs overseas and makes worse an already corrupt campaign finance system. Scientists tell us that we must act immediately to combat climate change, but this bill will lift the crude oil export ban and encourage the burning of more fossil fuels. And 16 million children are living in poverty in this country, but Congress has decided to cut food and nutrition services for our most vulnerable and increase the already bloated defense budget. While there are some important and positive provisions in this bill like the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the truth is we cannot afford another spending package that expands the power and wealth of the billionaire class at the expense of everyone else. Congress must pass legislation that make our rigged political and economic systems work once again for the vast majority of Americans not just the 1 percent.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/a-look-back-at-the-first-year-of-the-us-cuba-relationship-december-17-2014_-present	A Look Back at the First Year of the U.S.-Cuba Relationship December 17, 2014 - Present	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.17.15 A Look Back at the First Year of the U.S.-Cuba Relationship December 17, 2014 - Present Key Actions and Accomplishments December 17, 2014: President Obama moves to normalize relations with Cuba. Decision follows 18 months of secret negotiations between U.S. and Cuba and the release of American aid contractor Alan Gross. Announcement of plans over the coming months to ease travel and financial restrictions on Cuba. Paves the way for U.S.-Cuba to restore diplomatic ties, reopen embassies, and potentially lift the embargo. January 16, 2015: Departments of Commerce and Treasury announce regulatory changes to Cuba sanctions. The amendments implement the changes President Obama announced on December 17, 2014. March 31, 2015: U.S. and Cuba hold first formal talks on human rights. April 8, 2015: A public opinion poll of Cubans on the island is released; shows that an overwhelming majority of Cubans support an end to the embargo. Nearly all Cubans (97 percent of those polled) believe normalization of the relationship between Cuba and the United States is good for Cuba. April 11, 2015: Presidents Obama and Castro meet at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. Marks the first time the two nations' top leaders have sat down for substantive talks in more than 50 years. Both presidents agree it is time to end the embargo. The inclusion of Cuba in the Summit of the Americas comes after Latin American countries pressured the United States to allow Cuba to participate. April 20, 2015: Governor Andrew Cuomo leads delegation to Cuba. Governor Andrew Cuomo leads a delegation of New York business owners and politicians to Havana. His visit marks the first time a U.S. governor has travelled to the island since the U.S. and Cuba normalized relations. The trip includes officials from JetBlue Airways, the Plattsburgh International Airport, Pfizer, MasterCard, and the founder of Chobani. The trip leads to an agreement between Cuba's Center for Molecular Immunology and Roswell…	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-need-to-combat-straw-purchasing-and-illegal-gun-trafficking	Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Need To Combat Straw Purchasing & Illegal Gun Trafficking	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.17.15 Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Need To Combat Straw Purchasing & Illegal Gun Trafficking We must do everything we can to ensure that deadly weapons like the rifles used in the San Bernardino shootings do not fall into the hands of terrorists, violent criminals, and drug traffickers. Law enforcement officials have complained for years that they lack effective tools necessary to investigate and deter straw purchasers and gun traffickers. Today's arrest of the individual who provided the rifles for the San Bernardino shooters is a reminder that we need to strengthen our laws to give law enforcement agents and prosecutors the tools they need to fight terrorism and violent crime. I will soon reintroduce the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act, which had broad bipartisan support last Congress. My legislation will make it a Federal crime to serve as a straw purchaser' of firearms, and establish tough penalties for those who skirt existing laws and traffic firearms to terrorists and criminals. In light of reports that the rifles used in the San Bernardino shootings may have been acquired through a straw purchaser, it is all the more important for Congress to take action to fix this problem. # # # # # Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-expansion-of-charitable-deductions-of-food_included-in-legislation-poised-to-clear-congress-by-end-of-this-week	Leahy: Expansion Of Charitable Deductions Of Food Included In Legislation Poised To Clear Congress By End Of This Week	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.17.15 Leahy: Expansion Of Charitable Deductions Of Food Included In Legislation Poised To Clear Congress By End Of This Week WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015) U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praises the inclusion of a provision aimed at fighting hunger by incentivizing donations of surplus food to local food shelves in a legislative package set to pass the U.S. Senate this week. Leahy has long been the leading advocate for the bipartisan Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act, dating back to his time working with former Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.). The soon-to-be enacted provision, which was the House companion of Leahy's Senate legislation, expands and makes permanent incentives for farmers and businesses to donate excess food to nonprofit organizations like local food banks and pantries. As much as 40 percent of food that is produced, grown and transported in the United States will never be used because some businesses find it too costly to donate the excess food. This amounts to 70 billion pounds of wasted food each year. Leahy said: In Vermont, far too many families struggle to make ends meet, and a major factor continues to be the rising cost of nutritious food. Our food pantries play a crucial role in bridging the gap for families, and this commonsense step helps empower communities to help meet the need for healthy, affordable food. No one in our country should go hungry, especially as we send billions of pounds of food to landfills. This is a responsible solution that helps farmers, businesses and those in need. The CEO of the Vermont Foodbank, John Sayles, said, "The Vermont Foodbank is thrilled with Senator Leahy's leadership to secure a permanent enhanced tax deduction for food donations. Everything we can do to support our food donors puts food on Vermont tables, keeping our kids ready for school, parents ready for work and our seniors free from worry." The tax deduction expands upon a proven and effective tax incentive to encourage businesses and farms …	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-ju2diciary-committee-on-judicial-nominations	Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Judicial Nominations	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.17.15 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Judicial Nominations As we close the book on the first session of the 114th Congress, our attention is on the thousands of pages in the omnibus spending bill. But as the Republican leadership rushes to spin the press about what the Senate has accomplished in their twelve months in the majority, there is one Senate responsibility that should not get lost in the noise. That is our responsibility to equip our coequal branches of government, the Federal judiciary and the Executive branch, with the confirmed public servants that both branches need to serve the American people. Senate Republicans began the year by filibustering the nomination of the first black woman to be nominated for the position of Attorney General of the United States. No other Attorney General nominee in our history has been met with a filibuster. That did not stop Republicans from holding up Loretta Lynch's nomination longer than the last seven Attorneys General combined. Our nation's top law enforcement official deserved better treatment, but the fight to get her a confirmation vote previewed how difficult it would be to get votes scheduled on other crucial nominees. Republicans have blocked confirmation votes for the people nominated to serve as ambassadors to some of our closest allies. They have blocked consideration of nominees who would help keep our country safe from terrorist threats, including a Treasury Department nominee who would lead an office that investigates terrorist financing. By the end of this week, Senate Republicans will have also earned the dubious distinction of matching the record for confirming the fewest annual number of judicial nominees in more than half a century. Too many Americans who have sought justice in our Federal courts this year have instead found delays and empty courtrooms because of Senate Republicans' obstruction on judicial nominees. I am concerned that Republicans' treatment of our Third B…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-the-release-of-alan-gross	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The One Year Anniversary of the Release of Alan Gross	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.17.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The One Year Anniversary of the Release of Alan Gross Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today marks the one-year anniversary of the release of Alan Gross from a Cuban prison where he spent five years. During that time he lost more than 100 pounds, lost five teeth, his mother died, his mother-in-law died, a brother-in-law died, and he missed his daughter's wedding. I worked for three years to help obtain Alan Gross' release and the return of the remaining members of the so-called Cuban Five who had served more than 15 years in U.S. prisons. Scott Gilbert, Alan Gross' lawyer, did an outstanding job, traveling countless times to Cuba and skillfully advocating on Alan's behalf with Cuban and U.S. officials. My larger purpose, like that of my good friend from Arizona, Senator Flake, who has been a real partner in this, was to finally put the Cold War behind us and to start looking forward to a new era. Like Senator Flake and many others, I was convinced that such a step would be widely embraced by the U.S. business community, by religious groups, by academia, by the scientific community, the media, and Americans across the political spectrum. I also knew that it would be welcomed around the world, including in countries whose people believe in democracy and human rights as strongly as we do. Alan Gross' release ushered in a new day in U.S.-Cuba relations, poignantly demonstrated on August 14th by the raising of our flag at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. It was a deeply moving experience to be there on that swelteringly hot day, to hear both national anthems played, and especially to hear the cheers of the Cubans who were inside and outside of the Embassy grounds. After 54 years of a failed, punitive policy that had achieved none of its objectives, President Obama and President Raul Castro wisely decided it was time to chart a new path. The reaction of the people of the United States and Cuba has been overwhelmingly positive. Even some of Cuba's most vocal critics…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121715	News December 17	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 17 Thursday, December 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Andrea Mitchell Interview MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell was joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, to discuss his plan for the American fight against ISIS. Sanders also commented on last nights Republican presidential debate. Mosque Visit Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined members of three faiths - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - at Masjid Muhammad in Washington to discuss racial and religious tensions in national politics, ABC, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, WRC-TV in Washington and National Journal reported. As a politician who has aligned himself with civil rights causes for decades, Sanders seemed comfortable talking about the issue of religious tolerance, according to The New York Times. Drug Prices A new report requested by Sen. Sanders found that Medicaid could have saved $1.4 billion over the past decade if companies were required to offer rebates whenever prices for best-selling generic drugs exceeded the inflation rate. The federal budget bill, which was passed last month, included a provision authored by Sen. Sanders and Rep. Cummings requiring generic drug makers to offer state Medicaid programs rebates tied to inflation, STAT News reported. Fed Rate Hike Sen. Sanders has critiqued the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates, stating that, The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago, The New York Times, PBSNewsHour,The Associated Press, The Hill,The Washington Post,Fortune and Business Insider reported. Bernie Beans Capitol Grounds Cafe and Roasters announced a new, special edition coffee called Bernie's Beans, named after Vermont Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders, FOX44 reported. World Cuba Cuba and the United States reached an agreement Wednesday night that will allow U.S. commercial airlines to begin operating flights to the island for the first time in decades, acc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/skyrocketing-generic-drug-prices-cost-taxpayers-14-billion-new-report-finds	Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 Skyrocketing generic drug prices cost taxpayers an additional $1.4 billion over the last decade according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general, undertaken at the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Prices of top-selling generic drugs rose faster than inflation 22 percent of the time over the 10-year study. If a rebate had been applied on generic drugs rising faster than inflation Medicaid would have saved more than $700 million in 2013 and 2014 alone. It is unacceptable that Americans pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster. This report further demonstrates that we need a new approach to stop skyrocketing drug prices in this country, said Sanders. The IG report confirms that skyrocketing drug prices are not just an isolated problem caused by one or two CEOs motivated by greed, but a systemic injustice that enriches corporate executives at the expense of Americans in desperate need of their medications. Unfortunately, House Republicans have not sent a single letter to a single drug company requesting a single document to investigate these abuses, said Cummings. Sanders and Cummings Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act included in the 2015 budget deal requires generic drug manufacturers to pay back the Medicaid program if prices of their drugs rise faster than the rate of inflation. The passage of the generic drug inflationary rebate will save the federal government $1 billion over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Sanders and Cummings have urged Cong…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-senate-republicans-must-prioritize_judicial-nominees-in-new-year-	Leahy: Senate Republicans Must Prioritize Judicial Nominees In New Year	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.16.15 Leahy: Senate Republicans Must Prioritize Judicial Nominees In New Year WASHINGTON (Tuesday, December 15, 2015) The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed just 11 judicial nominees this year, matching the fewest number of nominees confirmed by any Senate in more than half a century. But under a bipartisan agreement negotiated by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the Senate next year will vote on five judicial nominees before the February recess. Four of these nominees are nominated to fill emergency vacancies, and three are nominees of color. Leahy said the bipartisan nominations agreement is a positive first step toward filling vacancies next year. After a year in which the Senate broke records for its inaction on judicial confirmations, I am glad that Republicans have consented to a bipartisan plan to confirm these well qualified judicial nominees, Leahy said. Because of this agreement, the Senate will be on pace in the first two months of next year to confirm almost half the number of nominees it took us this entire year to confirm. The Senate must continue to build on this progress so that we reduce judicial vacancies. The five nominees the Senate is poised to confirm early next year are: Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo of Pennsylvania to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Justice Wilhelmina Wright to the District of Minnesota; John Vazquez to the District of New Jersey; Judge Rebecca Ebinger to the Southern District of Iowa and Judge Leonard Strand to the Northern District of Iowa. In addition to the five nominees in the agreement, there are 14 more judicial nominees pending on the executive calendar, all of whom were approved by the Judiciary Committee by voice vote. These nominees will not be returned to the White House at the end of the session but rather will remain on the Senate calendar. # # # # # Press Contact Press 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-fed-raising-interest-rates	Sanders Statement on Fed Raising Interest Rates	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Federal Reserve announced that it would raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade: When millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates is bad news for working families. At a time when real unemployment is nearly 10 percent and youth unemployment is off the charts, we need to do everything possible to create millions of good-paying jobs and raise the wages of the American people. The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/pharma-bros-latest-move-targets-latinos	Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos By: Daisy Hernandez Tuesday, December 15, 2015 After dropping $2 million on aWu-Tang Clan album, the pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli has found a new project: making an essential treatment unaffordable for poor immigrants from Latin America. Shkreli, otherwise known as pharma bro, gained notoriety earlier this year when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, increased the price of a drug used to treat AIDS patients from around $13.50 to $750. Hes now the CEO of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, which recently announced its plans to submit benznidazole, a treatment for Chagas diseasepurchased earlier this month, for Food and Drug Administration approval next year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about300,000 peoplein the United States have the deadly disease. Most of them are immigrants from Latin America, where as many as8 million peopleare infected. The third most common parasite disease in the world, Chagas, also known as the kissing bug disease, is transmitted via the painless bites of Triatomine insects. Untreated, it can lead to heart failure and death. Last year, researchers at the Baylor College of MedicineidentifiedChagas in several patients who hadnt traveled outside of the country, positing that they may have come into contact with the bugs through camping and hunting. That said, the risk of contracting the parasite in the U.S. remains small; most people who have the disease in the United States already had it when they arrived. Right now, doctors in the U.S. obtain benznidazole free of charge through the CDC. According to Rachel Cohen, the regional executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative in North America, the drug sells in Latin America for somewhere between $60 and $100 for each course of treatment. Both of these would change the moment the FDA approved benznidazole from any companyand Shkreli, in particular, seems determined to price this drug out of re…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-lourdes-tiban	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Lourdes Tiban	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.14.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Lourdes Tiban Mr. President, I want other Senators to be aware of information I received about Ecuadorian National Assembly member Lourdes Tiban, a prominent and respected leader of Ecuador's indigenous people. As an indigenous leader, Ms. Tiban has become one of the most outspoken advocates for freedom of expression, indigenous rights, and social rights in Ecuador. Not surprisingly, this has made her the target of verbal attacks by President Rafael Correa. Earlier this year, Ms. Tiban was beaten by unidentified assailants as she was walking to work. The assault was filmed and then shared online by government supporters who posted humiliating comments. This isn't the first time that Ms. Tiban has been physically assaulted. She is the victim of two other similar incidents which, I am told, have not been properly investigated. It is regrettable that, instead of vigorously investigating this latest attack against Ms. Tiban, a National Assembly member from President Correa's political party has brought a criminal case for libel against her. This is believed to be in retaliation for Ms. Tiban's claim that government supporters were responsible for targeting her, presumably in an attempt to silence her and remove her from the National Assembly. Ecuador is a country where judicial independence is seriously compromised. I have spoken about this several times, and it has been well documented by the Department of State, the United Nations, and human rights organizations. It is also illustrated by the fact that the Council of the Judiciary, with the power to appoint and remove judges, is comprised of five former officials of the Correa administration. It is likely that the criminal investigation against Ms. Tiban could result in an unjust conviction. We should condemn these attacks on freedom of expression, political rights, and the rights of indigenous people, and we should defend judicial independence which is fundamental to democracy in Ecuador and thr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/four-years-after-irene-renewal-in-waterbury	Four Years After Irene, Renewal In Waterbury	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.11.15 Four Years After Irene, Renewal In Waterbury By Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch This past August, we marked the four year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene. Memories of communities besieged by flood waters, houses knocked from their foundations and families forever changed are still fresh for each of us, and for so many other Vermonters. But just as Vermont rebuilt from the historic 1927 floods, Vermonters have pulled together to build back stronger, smarter and better after Irene. This has required new and creative thinking, and significant collaboration between communities, the State of Vermont and the federal government. Nowhere in Vermont is that story better told than in Waterbury. On August 29, 2011, the Winooski River jumped its banks and inundated the iconic Waterbury State Office Complex and state psychiatric hospital.When the floodwaters receded, it was clear the office complex and hospital were a total loss. Even before Irene hit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helped Vermonters prepare for the storm.The agency helped coordinate first responders across the state during and immediately after the floods. And in the end, it would provide individual assistance to more than 7300 Vermonters who lost property. But, as communities across Vermont would soon learn, FEMA generally only helps pay to rebuild infrastructure if it is rebuilt in the same place and restored to its pre-flood condition. Ideas like moving the state hospital and power plant out of the flood plain were nonstarters. This made no sense to us, to use taxpayer money to rebuild in a manner likely to fail again in the next flood, rather than building back stronger. So we crafted legislation and steered it through the Appropriations process and into law to ensure that FEMA could pay for smarter, more resilient projects. We met with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and his leadership team, and urged them …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-welcomes-long-delayed-sec-draft-rule-on-oil-and-mining-transparency	Leahy Welcomes Long-Delayed SEC Draft Rule On Oil And Mining Transparency	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.11.15 Leahy Welcomes Long-Delayed SEC Draft Rule On Oil And Mining Transparency WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 2015) -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday welcomed action by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to propose a rule on a long-delayed extractive industries transparency provision of the Wall Street reform law enacted in 2010. The transparency provision was authored by Leahy and became Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Leahy as a conferee worked closely with former Senator Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) when he successfully offered the amendment during the Dodd-Frank conference negotiations that created Section 1504. The transparency reforms require transparent reporting of payments made to governments for the extraction of oil, natural gas and minerals by companies that otherwise must file disclosures with the SEC. Once fully implemented, Section 1504 will help empower investors with a more complete view of the value of their holdings, encouraging capital formation. The reforms will bring more information to global commodities markets, contributing to price stability. Leahy notes that the reforms also will help citizens in holding governments accountable for the decisions made in managing valuable oil, gas, and minerals resources and revenues. A final rule on Section 1504 had been adopted by the agency on August 22, 2012, but it was subsequently vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Since then, the European Union and Canada have both adopted transparency initiatives similar to the rule the SEC had initially adopted in 2012. Leahy said: I look forward to reviewing the proposed rule, but after the SEC's latest action it is clear that the commissioners have made an important step in the right direction and in following congressional intent by finally proposing this long-awaited rule for U.S. investors and citizens in resource-rich countries to hold their leaders accountable. # # # # …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-introduces-bipartisan-authorization-military-force-against-isil	Welch Introduces Bipartisan Authorization Of Military Force Against ISIL	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTONAt a Capitol Hill press conference this afternoon, Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL), joined by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA), announced the introduction in the House of bipartisan legislation that would authorize the use of American military force against ISIL. Joining Welch and Rigell at the press conference were Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), the sponsors of identical legislation in the Senate. Under the U.S. Constitution, it is the responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force," said Congressman Welch. "Since August 8, 2014 when military action against ISIL began, Congress has been absent. Since then, our military has delivered 8,573 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq at a cost to the American taxpayer of $5.2 billion. One American service member has been killed. It is time Congress did its job by debating and deciding on America's role in defeating ISIL. The failure of Congress to do its job is an abdication of its Constitutional responsibility and an indefensible transfer of power to the executive. The War Powers Resolution states that apart from an attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces, Congress must either declare war or authorize the proposed military action. The bipartisan, bicameral Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) introduced today would authorize the President to take specific, strategic military action and to provide support to our allies and regional partners in the battle to defeat ISIL. Key provisions include a sunset after three years unless reauthorized; a repeal of the 2002 Iraq AUMF; and a clause that defines this authorization as the sole statutory authority for the war on ISIL, as opposed to the 2001 AUMF. The text of the AUMF is available here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/new-england-senators-call-for-federal-funding-to-support-conte-refuge-and-connecticut-river-watershed-	NEW ENGLAND SENATORS CALL FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT CONTE REFUGE & CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.10.15 NEW ENGLAND SENATORS CALL FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT CONTE REFUGE & CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on the U.S. Department of the Interior to provide federal funding to support the protection of the diverse plant, fish, and wildlife species in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. In a letter to Secretary Sally Jewell of the Department of the Interior, the senators urged the Department to continue funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and to prioritize the Conte Refuge which is of great environmental and recreational importance but is in need of more than $14 million for necessary upkeep and improvement projects. The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge spans more than 36,000 acres throughout the Connecticut River watershed in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. As elected representatives of the four states encompassing the boundaries of the Connecticut River Watershed and the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, we write to urge you to provide sufficient funding in your FY17 budget to support the Refuge. The current need for the Refuge is acute: Fish and Wildlife Service staff and the non-governmental partner groups composing the Friends of Conte have identified over $14 million in projects as current and available priority opportunities within the Refuge, wrote the senators. These land trusts have added a combined total of more than 350,000 acres to the conservation estate basin-wide, providing recreational opportunities to the more than 2.3 million people who live in the basin and another 70 million who live within a day's drive of these properties. While we continue to work to reauthorize and for full funding for LWCF, we hope you will continue to put forward adequate funding for the Conte R…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senate-judiciary-committee-adopts-leahy-amendment-confirming-that-the-us-must-not-bar-individualsbased-on-their-religion	Senate Judiciary Committee Adopts Leahy Amendment Confirming That The U.S. Must Not Bar IndividualsBased On Their Religion	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.10.15 Senate Judiciary Committee Adopts Leahy Amendment Confirming That The U.S. Must Not Bar IndividualsBased On Their Religion WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, December 10, 2015) The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved an amendment authored by Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) confirming that the United States must not bar individuals from entering into the United States based on their religion. Leahy's amendment was adopted by a vote of 16-4. Consideration of his amendment came after some made demands earlier this week to shut the nation's borders to all Muslims. Leahy spoke out against this hateful rhetoric earlier this week. Many top Republicans and Democrats have condemned this reprehensible proposal. Many on this committee have rightfully expressed their outrage about the call earlier this week to shut our borders to Muslims. Now we need to formally go on the record to reject this reprehensible position, Leahy said. Leahy also asked FBI Director James Comey at an oversight hearing Wednesday whether such anti-Muslim rhetoric serves as a recruiting tool for ISIS. Director Comey confirmed: The notion that the U.S. is anti-Muslim is part of ISIL's narrative and al Qaeda's narrative and other terrorist groups. On Thursday, Leahy said the Senate should heed the call of our national security leaders and send a clear and direct message that America welcomes people from all countries and of all faiths. Our strength comes from our commitment to the principles of freedom, equality, and liberty. Results and a webcast of Thursday's executive business meeting can be found online. # # # # # Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous 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-on-consideration-of-the-s1318-nuclear-terrorism-conventions-implementation-and-safety-of-maritime-navigation-act	Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee On Consideration of the S.1318, Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.10.15 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee On Consideration of the S.1318, Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act Given recent events, Americans are concerned about protecting the country against terrorism. I am glad that the Committee was able to hear from the FBI Director yesterday, and I hope that Congress will ensure that law enforcement has the tools and resources necessary to fight terrorism. Unfortunately, the bill that we will be marking up today is not the answer. I agree with Chairman Grassley that we must protect against nuclear terrorism. That is why Senator Lee and I worked in a bicameral way to pass legislation earlier this year that does just that. As the Chairman acknowledges,the vast majority of his bill was already enacted into law as part of the USA FREEDOM Act in June. This was language that we negotiated with the leaders of the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, to ensure that it could pass in the House. And the provisions that Senator Grassley is now trying to resurrect with his bill particularly the death penalty provision were deliberately excluded because the House told us that they could not pass it. So this appears to be an attempt to rehash a death penalty debate that is unnecessary. I have made clear that I would not oppose the other provisions in the bill related to material support and wiretap predicates. But I cannot and will not support expanding the scope of the Federal death penalty. I will not endorse the application of such an irreversible punishment when we still have an imperfect criminal justice system that is so susceptible to racial biases, procedural flaws, and simple human error. In fact, Senator Grassley and I are working togetherright nowon oversight of the FBI's flawed hair and fiber analysis which may have resulted in the conviction of innocent people sentenced to death.We know with certainty that our system makes mistakes. Unless the death p…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/middle-class-families-pillar-of-the-american-dream-are-no-longer-in-the-majority-study-finds	Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds By: Don Lee Thursday, December 10, 2015 The nation's middle class, long a pillar of the U.S. economy and foundation of the American dream, has shrunk to the point where it no longer constitutes the majority of the adult population, according to a new major study. The Pew Research Center report released Wednesday put in sharp relief the nation's increasing income divide, which is certain to be a central issue in the 2016 presidential race. It also highlights how various economic and demographic forces have eroded long-held ideals about maintaining a strong, majority middle class. Many analysts and policymakers regard the shift as worrisome for economic and social stability. Middle-income households have been the bedrock of consumer spending, and many liberals in particular view the declining middle as part of a troubling trend of skewed income gains among the nation's richest families. Median-income voters, particularly non-college-educated men, are also at the core of billionaire Donald Trump's surprising surge in the Republican presidential campaign. His supporters' sense that their once-secure middle-class standing is in danger of slipping appears to be fueling much of the anger against the government and immigrant groups. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121015	News December 10	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 10 Thursday, December 10, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight ShowSen. Bernie Sanders thinks Donald Trump's rhetoric has no place in the United States,The Huffington Post,The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Salon, Vox, MotherJones, MSNBC, KSNV-TVin Las Vegas andWCBD-TVin Charleston reported. "Throughout history, you've had demagogues trying to divert attention away from the real issues ... what somebody like a Trump is trying to do is divide us up," Sanders told Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" on Tuesday. New York Times Editorial BoardOn Monday,The New York Timeseditorial board asked readers to submit their questions for Sen. Sanders. During his visit to the editorial board on Tuesday, he picked one out of a hat, and a subsequent video of his response has been posted. Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Vermont's congressionaldelegation wants more time toallow public input fordismantling nuclear plants. The public comment periodruns until January 4th,but Sens. Sanders andPatrick Leahy, as well asRep. Peter Welch all saythat's not enough, according to WPTZ-TV in Burlington. World Pentagon Seeks Overseas Bases to Fight ISIS As American intelligence agencies grapple with the expansion of the Islamic State beyond its headquarters in Syria, the Pentagon has proposed a new plan to the White House to build up a string of military bases in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Middle East, The New York Times reported. National Gun Sales Fear of gun-buying restrictions has been the main driver of spikes in gun sales, far surpassing the effects of mass shootings and terrorist attacks alone, according to federal background-check data analyzed by The New York Times. Affirmative Action An affirmative action plan at the University of Texas seemed to be in trouble at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. By the end of an unusually long and tense argument, a majority of the justices appeared unpersuaded that the plan was constitutional, The New York Times reported. Chicago Mayor Demands Re…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent	Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sanders intro…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent	Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sandersintroducedthe American Clean Energy…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/opening-statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy_--sjc-oversight-hearing-with-fbi-director-comey	Opening Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy -- SJC Oversight Hearing With FBI Director Comey	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.09.15 Opening Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy -- SJC Oversight Hearing With FBI Director Comey WASHINGTON (Wednesday, December 9, 2015) Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is attending an oversight hearing this morning of the Federal Bureau of Investigation withDirector James Comey. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Oversight Of The Federal Bureau Of Investigation December 9, 2015 The Federal Bureau of Investigation is entrusted with the enormous responsibility of enforcing our laws and protecting the nation. No matter what the threat, and no matter what the motivation, the FBI is tasked with helping to keep us safe. On any given day, FBI agents around the country are investigating cases involving not only terrorism, but violent crime, gangs, cybercrime, identity theft, fraud, human trafficking, hate crimes, and child exploitation. The events of the past six months have underscored the varied nature of the threats the FBI faces, and the key role it plays in protecting against terrorist acts. This past June, nine African American churchgoers were murdered by a white supremacist during a bible study in Charleston. The day after Thanksgiving, three individuals including a police officer were shot to death inside a women's health clinic in Colorado Springs. Last week, 14 county workers in San Bernardino were murdered in a shooting rampage. Director Comey may not be able to share all of the details about these investigations today, but I believe we can all agree that there is one common motivating factor behind each of these heinous crimes: hateful extremism. These attacks remind us that we need to be vigilant against all forms of violent extremism. No one underestimates the incredibly difficult job of protecting the country from terrorist threats. So we have to support the law enforcement and intelligence officials who …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-pfizer-set-the-cost-of-its-new-drug-at-9850-a-month	How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month Process of setting the price for breast-cancer treatment shows arcane art behind rising U.S. drug prices By: Jonathan D. Rockoff Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Days beforePfizerInc.was to set the price for anew breast-cancer drug called Ibrance, it got a surprise: A competitor raised the monthly cost of a rival treatment by nearly a thousand dollars. Three years of market researcha stretch that started almost as soon as the new treatment showed promise in the laboratorywas suddenly in doubt. After carefully calibrating the price to be close to rivals and to keep doctors and insurers happy, Pfizer was left wondering if its list price of $9,850 a month for the pills was too low. What do you think if we take that up? askedAlbert Bourla,Pfizers executive overseeing cancer drugs, speaking to his colleagues at the final price-setting meeting last January. It was a tricky issue. Drug companies have been reaching for new heights of pricing. They routinely raise the cost of older medicines and then peg new ones to these levels. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120915	News December 9	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 9 Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight Show Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared on the NBCs Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, ABC News, TIME, The Hill, The Daily Beast and Buzzfeed reported. He slammed Donald Trump one day after his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Sanders said that Trump's rhetoric would not work in the United States and that he "look[ed] forward to beating Donald Trump." Rachel Maddow Sen. Sanders sat down with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Tuesday night. Sanders gave his take on what is going on in the Republican primary, the fear and racism that has taken hold of part of the country and his trip to Baltimore earlier in the day. VIDEO, VIDEO Climate PlanA pair of bills from Sen. Sanders seeks to create millions of new jobs in clean energy fields through tax changes and worker training,The HillandWPTZ-TVin Burlington reported. Gawkerreported that Sanders' climate plan makes him the only major presidential candidate of either party to call for a carbon tax. World Climate Negotiations Despite a domestic agenda consumed by his response to last weeks terrorist attack in California, President Obama is closely tracking the United Nations climate change negotiations outside Paris, Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview on Tuesday, The New York Times reported. Beijing Shuts Down Residents across this city awoke to an environmental state of emergency on Tuesday as poisonous air quality prompted the government to close schools, force motorists off the road and shut down factories, The New York Times reported. National Visa Waiver Program The House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would overhaul the visa waiver program and bar those from Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Sudan, or those who have visited those countries in the last five years, from traveling to the United States, CNN reported. San Bernardino Investigators believe San Bernardino shoo…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vermont-delegation-calls-more-public-scrutiny-meetings-vermont	Vermont Delegation Calls for More Public Scrutiny, Meetings in Vermont on Decommissioning Regulations	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 The Vermont congressional delegation Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) announced Tuesday that they have called upon the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to improve public input on proposed changes to nuclear plant decommissioning regulations. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who serves on the Senate energy and environment committees, led the effort which urged the NRC to hold public meetings in each state where a nuclear power plant is currently being decommissioned and to extend the deadline for public comments. While we commend the NRC for proposing these long overdue regulations, we believe the short public comment period and the plan to have a single public meeting will not give local and state stakeholders sufficient opportunities to participate meaningfully in the rulemaking process, the Vermont congressional delegation wrote in a letter sent to NRC Chairman Stephen Burns on Monday. The letter was also signed by Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.). To read the letter to the NRC, click here. Contacts: David Carle (Leahy): 202-224-3693 Michael Briggs (Sanders): 202-224-5141 Kirsten Hartman (Welch): 202-225-4115 ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/at-hearing-on-merger-of-two-largest-us-beer-companies_leahy-emphasizes-importance-of-level-playing-field--for-craft-brewers-to-compete	At Hearing on Merger of Two Largest U.S. Beer Companies, Leahy Emphasizes Importance of Level Playing Field for Craft Brewers to Compete	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.08.15 At Hearing on Merger of Two Largest U.S. Beer Companies, Leahy Emphasizes Importance of Level Playing Field for Craft Brewers to Compete WASHINGTON (Tuesday, December 8, 2015) During a hearing Tuesday of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to consider the proposed merger of beer companies AB-InBev and SAB Miller, Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) emphasized the importance of a level playing field so that craft brewers can compete. Noting concern that the large brewing companies can use their power over distributors to squeeze out smaller craft brewers, Leahy called on the companies participating in the merger to commit that they would not increase their ownership of distributors or adopt further exclusionary practices at the expense of craft breweries. Vermont was one of the earliest incubators of craft brewing, Leahy said at the hearing. Our 40 breweries make some of the best, award-winning beers in the world. They contribute to our economy and have helped make Vermont a destination state. We want to ensure that these craft brewers and the brewers of tomorrow can continue to competeand that consumers continue to have choices. Addressing the CEOs of companies participating in the merger, he added: [G]iven the size of these companies, we need to look closely at this transaction. One way for large brewers to influence distribution is by buying up distributors. AB InBev has indicated that, following this merger, it will not increase its ownership of distributors above its current level of ten percent. Mr. Brito, at a minimum, I ask you to make a formal commitment to that today. For its part, Molson has indicated that, after it gains 100 percent ownership of MillerCoors, it will not increase its ownership of distributorsnor change its current practice of giving distributors leeway to showcase competitors' brands. Mr. Hunter, I ask you to make a formal commitment to that today. The pathway from brewer to buyer is critical if …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-the-conference-report-to-the-every-student-succeeds-act	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Conference Report to the Every Student Succeeds Act	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.08.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Conference Report to the Every Student Succeeds Act Today the Senate will approve landmark legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Since 2001, the failed policies of No Child Left Behind have unfairly burdened students, families, educators and administrators by holding students accountable for snap-shot academic progress. The overwhelming support in Congress for these reforms will reverse the one-size-fits-all approach to education that did not work for Vermont and so many schools across the nation. This bill gives States more flexibility to ensure that schools are supporting every student, while maintaining the Federal Government's responsibility to ensure that students everywhere have access to the resources they need for lasting academic success. Since 2001, I have heard from parents, teachers, students, policymakers, and administrators about the negative impacts of No Child Left Behind. I voted against the legislation, as I did not agree, and still do not agree, with a one-size-fits-all approach to education. I was also disappointed with the bill's rigid Federal accountability measures, as I truly believe States and local education agencies deserve flexibility when it comes to how schools operate. The conference report we will consider today reflects the positive changes to the law that the Senate overwhelmingly supported in July. The agreement restores educational flexibility to the states, while safeguarding student access to resources, regardless of race, gender, financial status, and learning level. I am pleased that the bill takes into account the greater needs of students in rural areas, increases funding for early childhood education programs, and improves school safety measures. I am especially pleased with the bill's innovative assessment and accountability demonstration authority provision, which will allow Vermont to adopt competency and performance-based assessments that prove far more than how…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/vermont-delegation-calls-for-more-public-scrutiny-meetings-in-vermont-on-decommissioning-regulations	Vermont Delegation Calls for More Public Scrutiny, Meetings in Vermont on Decommissioning Regulations	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.08.15 Vermont Delegation Calls for More Public Scrutiny, Meetings in Vermont on Decommissioning Regulations WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 The Vermont congressional delegation Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) announced Tuesday that they have called upon the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to improve public input on proposed changes to nuclear plant decommissioning regulations. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who serves on the Senate energy and environment committees, led the effort which urged the NRC to hold public meetings in each state where a nuclear power plant is currently being decommissioned and to extend the deadline for public comments. While we commend the NRC for proposing these long overdue regulations, we believe the short public comment period and the plan to have a single public meeting will not give local and state stakeholders sufficient opportunities to participate meaningfully in the rulemaking process, the Vermont congressional delegation wrote in a letter sent to NRC Chairman Stephen Burns on Monday. The letter was also signed by Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.). To read the letter to the NRC, click here. Contacts:David Carle (Leahy): 202-224-3693 Michael Briggs (Sanders): 202-224-5141 Kirsten Hartman (Welch): 202-225-4115 ### Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package	Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate a strong sustainable economy by spurring massive new investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the permanent extension of import…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package	Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package Plan Would More Than Double the Clean Energy Workforce Tuesday, December 8, 2015 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-statement-on-americas-history-of-religious-tolerance-and-respect-for-personal-freedoms	Leahy Statement On America's History of Religious Tolerance and Respect for Personal Freedoms	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.07.15 Leahy Statement On America's History of Religious Tolerance and Respect for Personal Freedoms Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Committee On The Judiciary, On Religious Tolerance and Respect for Personal Freedoms December 7, 2015 [NOTE: Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will be joined by faith leaders Tuesday at 11:30am in the Capitol for a press conference on the need to support refugees fleeing persecution and violence throughout the world.] I am appalled that some are espousing the hate-filled view that a country as great as ours should have a religious litmus test. For more than 235 years, the United States has upheld the freedom of religion as one of its founding principles. We have been a confident nation unafraid to welcome newcomers. Our willingness to take in the outsider who yearns for freedom and opportunity in America is a source of tremendous strength, whether opening our doors to Jews fleeing persecution, Catholics including my ancestors seeking a new life, or countless other groups, including Muslims. I am stunned that some, appealing to fear and intolerance, want to end this legacy and are launching direct assaults on these American values. To reject those of a particular faith is unwise, and it is un-American. Leaders should appeal to the best in us by embracing the shared ideals of tolerance and diversity that bind Americans together. Jockeying for attention by spouting ignorant rhetoric that seeks to divide us for personal political gain is unworthy of anyone who truly deserves to lead this great nation. # # # # # Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous 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-on-judicial-nominationssd	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Judicial Nominations	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.07.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Judicial Nominations Today, we will vote on the nomination of Travis McDonough to be a Federal district judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee. He was nominated over a year ago, and his nomination was voted out of the Judiciary Committee by unanimous voice vote nearly five months ago. Despite having the support of his home state Republican Senators, Mr. McDonough's nomination has nevertheless been held up by Republican leadership for no good reason. I will further note that while Mr. McDonough's vote is long overdue, Republican leadership has skipped over Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo who is ahead of Mr. McDonough on the Executive Calendar. I recall Republican leadership promising regular order when they took over the majority, so they should explain how skipping over a consensus and eminently qualified nominee with bipartisan support is following regular order. Judge Restrepo was nominated to a judicial emergency vacancy in the Third Circuit over a year ago. If confirmed, he would be the first ever Hispanic judge from Pennsylvania on the Third Circuit. Judge Restrepo has the strong support of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and has bipartisan support from his home state Senators, Senator Toomey and Senator Casey. Senator Toomey has said not only that he strongly supports Judge Restrepo's confirmation, but that he also recommended him to the President. I hope that the Republican leadership or Senator Toomey can explain to the people of Pennsylvania why Judge Restrepo is not being confirmed today. As we approach the end of the year, the Senate Republican majority is coming closer and closer to matching the record for confirming the fewest number of judicial nominees in more than half a century. While most Senators I have served with over the last 40 years would shudder at this fact, the current Republican leadership seems content to accomplish as little as possible when it comes to confirming…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-key-provisions-for-vermont-schools-in-education-law-overhaul	Sanders Announces Key Provisions for Vermont Schools in Education Law Overhaul	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that new legislation, agreed to by House and Senate negotiators, will give Vermont and other states much more control over how public schools are held accountable for student performance. Sanders, a member of the Senate education committee, helped draft the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to replace the much-maligned No Child Left Behind education law, whichinaccurately stigmatized Vermont schools for supposedly low performance. I think it is wrong to judge schools solely on the basis of narrow tests. We have to work on what kind of criteria we really need, Sanders said. What we in Vermont understand is a kid is more than a test. We want kids to be creative. We want kids to be critical thinkers. We also want schools held accountable for factors other than test scores, including how they meet the challenges of students from low-income families. The new measure would include a pilot program that could help Vermont shift from annual standardized tests to a new system for assessing student performance. Under the legislation, factors that were Vermonts priorities such as a childs learning growth from year to year, student and teacher engagement, access to advanced coursework and school climate and safety will become criteria in assessing school performance. The legislation recognizes the huge opportunity barriers that poverty places on low-income children by authorizing an extra $1.2 billion nationwide to fund the neediest schools, including $41 million over the next four years for struggling Vermont schools. Vermont would also benefit from a new formula for rural school funding that could steer an extra $1.3 million a year in federal funds to the state and the reauthorization of funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides over 5,500 children afterschool programing in Vermont every day.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address	Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address	2015-12-06	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	BURLINGTON, Vt. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address	Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address	2015-12-06	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address Sunday, December 6, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120515	News December 5	2015-12-05	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 5 Saturday, December 5, 2015 Senator Sanders Climate ChangeSen. Sanders hed push negotiators meeting at a climate summit in Paris to embrace aggressive moves to reduce carbon emissions,Radio Iowareported. We have a real crisis, Sanders told O. Kay Henderson. Criminal JusticeSen. Sanders has made a pledge to abolish private prisons in the federal system a centerpiece of his criminal justice reform platform, expounding on it in speeches, tweets and a bill that he introduced in the Senate,SalonandThe New York Observerreported. The bill would reestablish federal parole, the abolition of which three decades ago was a key ingredient in fueling the explosive growth of the American prison system. Sanders has explained the negative consequences of for-profit prisons in the criminal justice system, which have replaced health reforms as a means to fix problems like drug addiction and poverty. Pharmaceutical IndustryReutersreported that the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed Mylan N.V. for information relating to the marketing, pricing and sale of its generic doxycycline antibiotic products, the drug-maker said on Friday. Sen. Sanders and Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings opened an investigation last fall into 14 drug companies, including Mylan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, over price increases of generic drugs. In February, Sanders and Cummings asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' enforcement arm to investigate generic drug price increases. Sunday Shows Sen. Sanders will be on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday along with Donald Trump and Chris Christie, The Associated Press reported. World ISIS Financing The United States and Russia are negotiating a new resolution at the United Nations Security Council intended to strengthen international efforts to cut off revenues that the Islamic State raises to govern territory and spread its ideology, The New York Times reported. National San Bernardino Shoo…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-leahy-sanders-challenge-fda-new-fda-cheese-standard	Welch, Leahy, Sanders Challenge FDA on New FDA Cheese Standard	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are leading a bicameral, bipartisan coalition in Congress challenging a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard that could ban many age-old recipes for raw milk cheese and severely harm artisan cheese producers in Vermont. In a December 3rd letter sent to FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor, the lawmakers express their concerns about FDA's non-toxigenic E. coli standard for raw milk cheeses, and insist that the agency listen to feedback from cheese producers who would be harmed by the more stringent standard. In addition, they question whether a new FDA standard calling for a thousand-fold decrease in the presence of non-toxigenic E. coli in raw milk cheeses would actually benefit public health, whether the standards are scientifically sound, and if they were adopted in an open and transparent way. The implementation of a more stringent non-toxigenic E. coli standard for raw milk cheeses is inconsistent with internationally-recognized standards. Non-toxigenic E. coli are typically not harmful to humans. The legislators believe that this new standard seriously threatens the artisan cheese industry in Vermont and across the country without evidence of risk to public health. Welch, Leahy, Sanders and their colleagues wrote: Cheese production is an important, and growing, component of our nation's value-added agricultural economy. It is an economic driver in rural areas across the country, producing good jobs, internationally-recognized brands, and award-winning cheeses. We are concerned that this standard could have a detrimental effect on cheese producers in our districts, and we ask that you carefully consider their feedback and that of the scientific community, and whether there is a commensurate risk and public safety benefit with a more stringent standard. The letter can be read in its entirety here. The FDA standard specifically seeks to limit the level of non-tox…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/days-before-program-expires-leahy-and-grassley-urge-support-for-legislation-to-reform_extend-job-creating-foreign-investment-program	Days Before Program Expires, Leahy & Grassley Urge Support For Legislation To Reform & Extend Job-Creating Foreign Investment Program	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.04.15 Days Before Program Expires, Leahy & Grassley Urge Support For Legislation To Reform & Extend Job-Creating Foreign Investment Program WASHINGTON (Friday, December 4, 2015) The job-creating immigrant investor visa program, known as the EB-5 Regional Center program, is set to expire in just one week if Congress does not move to reauthorize it. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) are urging Congressional leaders to support a bipartisan, bicameral proposal that would provide much-needed reforms to the program and reauthorize it for four years. The EB-5 program is not working how it was intended to by Congress. The EB-5 program has serious vulnerabilities, is loaded with fraud and abuse, and isn't nearly the job-creator it has been purported to be. We need to be sure that the EB-5 Regional Center program is not only creating economic stimulus and jobs in areas that need it the most, but also not jeopardizing the nation's security or harming U.S. investors, Grassley said. The program needs an overhaul with the common sense reforms that we've put together in a bipartisan, bicameral way. The status quo is unacceptable. The EB-5 Regional Center program has generated investment and created jobs in distressed communities, but the program is facing some pressing challenges. Reports of rampant fraud and abuse raise serious concerns and threaten the program's mission. The incentives Congress established to spur investment in high unemployment and rural communities are also routinely abused, undermining a core objective of the program, Leahy said. The Regional Center should be reauthorized, but only if reformed. There is now bipartisan consensus around these reforms, and we cannot squander this opportunity. Since launching in 1993, this program has generated capital investment and created jobs across the country. But the program has also experienced significant problems in recent years, underscoring the need for Congress to rest…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/in-late-night-vote-senate-passes-five-year-transportation-funding-package	In Late-Night Vote, Senate Passes Five-Year Transportation Funding Package	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.04.15 In Late-Night Vote, Senate Passes Five-Year Transportation Funding Package . . . Bill Will Bring More Than $1 Billion To Vermont For Critical Infrastructure Projects [WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2015) On the eve of an expiration deadline, the Senate Thursday night passed legislation to fund America's transportation and highway programs, bringing stability to help Vermont plan critical infrastructure projects for the next five years. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) voted for The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which authorizes $305 billion in federal surface transportation funding over the next five years. The legislation is now on the President's desk, and he is expected to sign it into law today. The current authorization runs out tonight at Midnight. Following is Leahy's statement on the bill.] Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Supporting The Highway Trust Fund Vermonters take great pride in our historic downtowns and small communities. In our cities and towns, we have a culture of getting things done and finding a way to accomplish our shared goals. That is why, like many Vermonters, I have been frustrated with the back-to-back short term patches to keep our highway trust fund afloat. I have consistently advocated for a long-term solution that will give States the ability to move forward with building and repairing roads, bridges, and byways; to promote rail safety and transit, and to invest in the critical infrastructure that supports our cities and towns; to enable interstate and intrastate commerce; and to create jobs for American workers. The time to pass a plan for long term transportation funding has finally come. The FAST Act will bring stability where for too long there has been uncertainty. This bill ensures that Vermont will receive the funding it needs, more than $1.1 billion over the next five years, to allow Vermonters to move forward on infrastruct…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/welch-leahy-sanders-challenge-fda-on-new-fda-cheese-standard	Welch, Leahy, Sanders Challenge FDA on New FDA Cheese Standard	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.04.15 Welch, Leahy, Sanders Challenge FDA on New FDA Cheese Standard Bipartisan, bicameral coalition warns of threat to Vermont's artisan cheese industry WASHINGTON Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are leading a bicameral, bipartisan coalition in Congress challenging a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard that could ban many age-old recipes for raw milk cheese and severely harm artisan cheese producers in Vermont. In a December 3rd letter sent to FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor, the lawmakers express their concerns about FDA's non-toxigenic E. coli standard for raw milk cheeses, and insist that the agency listen to feedback from cheese producers who would be harmed by the more stringent standard. In addition, they question whether a new FDA standard calling for a thousand-fold decrease in the presence of non-toxigenic E. coli in raw milk cheeses would actually benefit public health, whether the standards are scientifically sound, and if they were adopted in an open and transparent way. The implementation of a more stringent non-toxigenic E. coli standard for raw milk cheeses is inconsistent with internationally-recognized standards. Non-toxigenic E. coli are typically not harmful to humans. The legislators believe that this new standard seriously threatens the artisan cheese industry in Vermont and across the country without evidence of risk to public health. Welch, Leahy, Sanders and their colleagues wrote: Cheese production is an important, and growing, component of our nation's value-added agricultural economy. It is an economic driver in rural areas across the country, producing good jobs, internationally-recognized brands, and award-winning cheeses. We are concerned that this standard could have a detrimental effect on cheese producers in our districts, and we ask that you carefully consider their feedback and that of the scientif…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/americas-100-richest-people-control-more-wealth-than-the-entire-black-population	America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population By: Josh Harkinson Friday, December 4, 2015 It's well known that America's wealthiest have been getting richerat the expense of the middle class. But the trend looks even starker when you look at the racial aspects. According to a new report from theInstitute for Policy Studies, the combined wealth of those on the Forbes 400 list of America's richest dwarfs that of the nation's entire black or Latino populations. The report found that the 100 richest US citizens control about as much wealth as all of the nation's 42 million African Americans. The total wealth of the nation's 55 million Latinos stacks up to that of the 186 richest Americans. This can be explained in part by the rapid erosion of the black and Latino middle classes. African Americans' net worth relative to whites has fallen by more than half since 2000: The average white family today has net assets of $141,900, compared with just $11,000 for black familiesabout the same paltry sum as back in 1985. Latinos have seen similar declines in net worth relative to whites. There are many reasons for this slide: Black and Latino families were disproportionately exposed to risky subprime mortgages, had smaller amounts of inherited wealth, and were more susceptible to job and wage cuts during the Great Recession. And because these families are less likely than white families to own homes and stocks, they haven't benefited as much from the subsequent recovery. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-congressional-democrats-file-amicus-brief-supporting-obamas-immigration-executive-actions	Sanders, Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Supporting Obamas Immigration Executive Actions	2015-12-04	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 Sen. Bernie Sanders, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and 215 members of Congress last night filed an amicus brief in support of the Department of Justices petition for Supreme Court review of the presidents immigration executive actions. President Obama did exactly the right thing when he took action to protect DREAMers and the parents of children who are citizens or legal permanent residents. I am confident that the Supreme Court will support the presidents authority to defend aspiring Americans, Sanders said. We must work to unite families, not tear them apart. The members argue in the brief that Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are consistent with congressional intent and the Executives longstanding legal authority to establish national immigration enforcement priorities and exercise discretion in the enforcement of our immigration laws. As stated in the brief: Congress has granted the Secretary [of Homeland Security] broad discretion in determining how to carry out the immigration laws, and has explicitly directed the Secretary to establish policies and priorities for enforcement of those laws. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling would effectively strip the Executive of broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nations immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action, and would devastate millions of individuals, families, and communities across the nation. Full text of the amicus brief can be found here.	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-supporting-the-highway-trust-fund-	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Supporting The Highway Trust Fund	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.03.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On Supporting The Highway Trust Fund Vermonters take great pride in our historic downtowns and small communities. In our cities and towns, we have a culture of getting things done and finding a way to accomplish our shared goals. That is why, like many Vermonters, I have been frustrated with the back-to-back short term patches to keep our highway trust fund afloat. I have consistently advocated for a long-term solution that will give States the ability to move forward with building and repairing roads, bridges, and byways; to promote rail safety and transit, and to invest in the critical infrastructure that supports our cities and towns; to enable interstate and intrastate commerce; and to create jobs for American workers. The time to pass a plan for long term transportation funding has finally come. The FAST Act will bring stability where for too long there has been uncertainty. This bill ensures that Vermont will receive the funding it needs, more than $1.1 billion over the next five years, to allow Vermonters to move forward on infrastructure projects that have been waiting in the wings. In Vermont, the construction season is short and the need is great, and a series of stopgap measures to kick the can down the road was never the right answer. I am pleased there will finally be the stability needed for Vermont, and all states, to move forward to bolster our country's infrastructure. This legislation also reverses changes made to the Federal Crop Insurance program, which was a careful balance first struck in the Farm Bill, sending a clear message that we should not thoughtlessly tamper with the Farm Bill until its next expiration in 2018. And while I'm glad that the harmful Freedom of Information Act exemptions that we eliminated in the Senate bill remain out of this conference report, I am concerned that a new exemption was added. Nowhere is the free flow of information more important than when the safety of every Vermonter, and every American…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-wonkblog-there-have-been-334-days-and-351-mass-shootings-so-far-this-year	The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year By: Christopher Ingraham Thursday, December 3, 2015 Authorities in San Bernardino, Calif.,saying 14 people were killed and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting on Wednesday at a center for people with developmental disabilities.This is at leastthe third mass shooting since therampage in Colorado Springs last Friday. Here's a look at the year's mass shootings, including today's. The San Bernardino shooting isthe 355th mass shooting this year, according toa mass shooting trackermaintained by the Guns Are Cool subreddit.The Reddit trackerdefines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people, including the gunman, are killed or injured by gunfire. The Mass Shooting Tracker is different from other shooting databases in that it uses a broader definition of mass shooting the old FBI definition focused on four or more people killed as part of a single shooting. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120315	News December 3	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 3 Thursday, December 3, 2015 Senator Sanders San Bernardino ShootingSen. Bernie Sanders quickly responded to the shootings in San Bernardino, California,The New York Times,CBS NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Reuters and Business Insider reported. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted that "mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence" in the United States: "Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop." Republican BudgetSen. Sanders took to the floor to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget,VTDigger,.Mic and MSNBCreported. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. Sanders argued that rather than seeking to defund Planned Parenthood, lawmakers should boost support for it. Climate ConferenceScience-denying Republicansintent on derailing local, national and global attempts to avert a looming climate crisishave their priorities all wrong, Sen. Sanders said on Tuesday. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, Sanders said in a statement urging the U.S. to take the lead in stopping global warming,EcoWatch reported. Transportation Bill Sen. Sanders announced that a $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached will provide nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to help improve the state's roadways. According to the senator's office, he legislation would allow Vermont to become more competitive for federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects, FOX44 in Burlington reported. Social Security Sens. Patrick Leahy and Sande…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-common-sense-gun-safety-legislation	Sanders Calls for Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 Following the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined with his Democratic colleagues in the Senate to call for sensible gun safety legislation. A full copy of his remarks is below. Here is the very sad truth and that is that it is very difficult for the American people to keep up with the mass shootings that we seem to see almost every day. Yesterday, San Bernardino, a few days ago, Colorado Springs, before that Roseburg, Oregon, before that Chattanooga, Tennessee, and on and on it goes. The San Bernardino shooting was the 355th mass shooting this year. Gun violence has reached epidemic levels in the United States. Over the past decade, 275,000 Americans have been killed by guns. Let me paraphrase what President Obama said recently. And what he said is, this is not an easy problem to solve. But just because it is not an easy problem to solve does not mean that we should not do everything that we can. Now the bad news is that this nation is divided over gun legislation. Thats a simple fact. Thats a political reality. But the good news is there is a broad consensus, perhaps 60, 70 percent of the American people who agree on common sense gun safety legislation. And here is what that consensus is about, supported by a strong majority of the American people. We need to significantly expand and improve background checks. Who is arguing that people who should not have guns because of a criminal background, because of mental problems should not be able to purchase guns? Very few Americans disagree with that. We need to renew the assault weapons ban. We need to end the sale of high capacity magazines. We need to make gun trafficking a federal crime and give law enforcement the tools they need to get illegal guns off the streets. We need to close the gun show loophole, as well as loopholes that allow gun purchasers to buy a gun after the waiting period expires without a completed background check. We need to close loopholes that allow domestic a…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-urges-senate-to-protect-vermont-businesses-from-trade-secret-theft	Leahy Urges Senate To Protect Vermont Businesses From Trade Secret Theft	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.02.15 Leahy Urges Senate To Protect Vermont Businesses From Trade Secret Theft WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2, 2015) The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held a hearing on the impact of trade secret theft on American businesses. At the hearing, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) noted that Vermont businesses rely on trade secrets to protect their intellectual property and emphasized the importance of those protections. In Vermont, trade secrets protect the specialized knowledge of woodworkers and artisans who have been crafting heirloom products for generations. They protect the secret recipes for Vermont craft brews and closely guarded customer lists for our top tourist services. They protect cutting-edge technologies that Vermont businesses are developing in plastics, complex manufacturing, software and green technology, Leahy said. He added: Trade secrets are especially important to small businesses, which often lack the resources to seek patent protection for their inventions. In the United States, trade secret law is the one form of intellectual property protection that currently lacks a federal civil remedy. Carefully written legislation will fill this gap in the law and provide businesses in Vermont and across the country with an improved tool to protect their intellectual property. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of today's hearing are available online. # # # # Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Protecting Trade Secrets: the Impact of Trade Secret Theft on American Competitiveness and Potential Solutions to Remedy This HarmDecember 2, 2015 Today's hearing focuses on a topic that is essential to our Nation's economy and our status as the leading source of innovation around the world. In Vermont, trade secrets protect the specialized knowledge of woodworkers and artisans who have been crafting heirloom products for generations. They protect the secret recipes for Vermont craft brews and closely-guarded customer…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-an-84000-drug-got-its-price-lets-hold-our-position_whatever-the-headlines	How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines By: Carolyn Y. Johnson and Brady Dennis Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Gilead Sciences executives wereacutely aware in 2013 that their plan to charge an exorbitantly high price fora powerful new hepatitis C drug would spark public outrage, but they pursued the profit-driven strategy anyway,according to a Senate Finance Committee investigation report released Tuesday. "Let's not fold to advocacy pressure in 2014," Kevin Young, Gilead's executive vice president for commercial operations, wrote in an internal email.Lets holdour position whatever competitors do or whatever the headlines." Gilead gained federal approval for its drug Sovaldi in late 2013 and ultimately settled on the price of $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment. To the company, that price seemed to deliver the right balance: value to shareholders while also not so high that insurers would "hinder patient access to uncomfortable levels," according to internal documents. But they also got more than they bargained for: an outpouring of outrage from the public, a backlash from government and private payers, and political scrutiny. The 18-month Senate committee investigation reviewedmore than 20,000 pages of company documents. The documents show it was always Gileads plan to max out revenue, and that accessibility and affordability were pretty much an afterthought," said Sen. Ron Wyden(D-Ore.), who co-led the investigation with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), in a news conference. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-11-billion-for-vermont-in-transportation-bill	Sanders Announces $1.1 Billion For Vermont in Transportation Bill	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators will deliver nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to improve the states roadways. While this legislation does not have everything I would have hoped for, I am pleased it includes more than $1 billion for Vermonts roads and bridges in the coming years, Sanders said. As a member of the committee with primary jurisdiction over federal road and bridge programs, Sanders successfully fought for a funding formula that helps Vermont. The final agreement includes a 5 percent increase in funding for Vermont in the first year and a total increase of 15 percent over five years. The legislation includes several other provisions authored by Sanders that would benefit Vermont, including changes to make Vermont competitive for additional federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects. Sanders also secured a provision to start the process of creating a national network of recharging stations for electric vehicles. The bill also includes a 10 percent increase in funding for public transit in the first year and an overall increase of almost 18 percent over five years. This funding increase is critically important for low-income families, senior citizens, veterans and for people with disabilities in rural areas like Vermont, Sanders said. Congress is poised to pass the agreement in the coming days. The current short-term transportation bill expires on December 4. Once approved, this legislation will mark the first time since 2005 that Congress has passed a long-term highway bill. The problem isnt just roads and bridges. Our airports, railways, drinking water and waste systems, harbors and inland waterways, dams and levees, and electric grid are all suffering from a lack of investment, Sanders said. While this bill is an important first step, I will continue to fight for legislation to rebuild our nations crumbling infrastructu…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-slams-republican-budget	Sanders Slams Republican Budget	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sen. Bernie Sanders ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-urges-action-as-cola-deadline-approaches-for-seniors-veterans	Leahy Urges Action As COLA Deadline Approaches For Seniors, Veterans	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.01.15 Leahy Urges Action As COLA Deadline Approaches For Seniors, Veterans Legislation Would Boost Social Security By Closing Multi-Million Dollar Corporate Bonus Loophole WASHINGTON (TUESDAY, Dec. 01, 2015) -- With one month to go until seniors and veterans face a rare zero Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and other senators Tuesday urged action on the Senate Floor to pass the SAVE Benefits Act. Cosponsored by Leahy, the bill would boost Social Security and veterans benefits by ending tax subsidies for multi-million dollar corporate bonuses. If Congress does not act, seniors and veterans will face a zero COLA on January 1st. The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act (SAVE Benefits Act) would provide about 70 million seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and others an emergency supplemental payment of about $581. This payment is equal to 3.9 percent of the average annual Social Security benefit -- the same percentage raise that CEOs at the top 350 firms received last year. The cost of the bill would be covered by closing a tax loophole allowing corporations to write off executive bonuses as a business expense for "performance pay." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also supports the bill, whose chief sponsor is Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),On the Senior and Veterans Emergency (SAVE) Benefits Act December 1, 2015 I want to thank Senator Warren for her leadership on a matter of great importance to millions of Americans. In October, Social Security beneficiaries received some upsetting news. For the third time in 40 years, the Social Security Administration announced that, in 2016, Social Security payments will not include a cost-of-living increase. Unless Congress Acts, seniors and others who receive Social Security benefits will not see an additional dime in payments in the new year. For the nearly two-thirds of beneficiaries …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-recognizing-past-crimes-against-humanity-in-indonesia	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Recognizing Past Crimes Against Humanity in Indonesia	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	12.01.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Recognizing Past Crimes Against Humanity in Indonesia Mr. President, the realignment toward Asia has focused our attention on partnerships with countries in the region. We share political, economic, security, and humanitarian interests, creating complex and multi-dimensional relationships. But our commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights must continue to be a foundation for our relations with these countries, as with others around the world. We must continue to advocate for open societies where dialogue and dissent are encouraged and where security forces are professional and accountable. At the same time, we cannot ignore history. Fifty years ago, under the guise of a state-sanctioned communist purge, hundreds of thousands of Indonesian men, women, and children were murdered. Many more were rounded up and led to concentration camps where they were imprisoned and many were tortured by the security forces of a dictatorial and brutal regime that had the backing of the United States. It has been widely recognized as one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th Century, but efforts to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to come to terms with these crimes have stalled at every turn. The atrocities are still not recognized or discussed by the Indonesian government and the perpetrators were long celebrated as heroes for their actions. The United States should lead by example in acknowledging this tragic history and reaffirm that human rights are at the forefront of our strategic relationships, in Indonesia and beyond. As the most senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I have supported conditions on foreign assistance, including requiring recipient countries to protect freedoms of expression and association, respect the rule of law and due process, reform their judicial systems and security forces, and strengthen other key elements of a democratic society. Through the Leahy Law, I have sought to encourage reform of Indone…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/why-the-us-pays-more-than-other-countries-for-drugs	Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs By: Jeanne Whalen Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Norway, an oil producer with one of the worlds richest economies, is an expensive place to live. A Big Mac costs $5.65. A gallon of gasoline costs $6. But one thing is far cheaper than in the U.S.: prescription drugs. A vial of the cancer drug Rituxan cost Norways taxpayer-funded health system$1,527 in the third quarter of 2015, while the U.S. Medicare program paid $3,678. An injection of the asthma drug Xolair cost Norway $463, which was 46% less than Medicare paid for it. Drug prices in the U.S. are shrouded in mystery, obscured by confidential rebates, multiple middlemen and the strict guarding of trade secrets. But for certain drugsthose paid for by Medicare Part Bprices are public. By stacking these against pricing in three foreign health systems, as discovered in nonpublic and public data, The Wall Street Journal was able to pinpoint international drug-cost differences and what lies behind them. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120115	News December 1	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News December 1 Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Senator Sanders Drug Prices About 7 out of 10 Americans, including two-thirds of Republicans,said Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older and disabled Americans, should be able tonegotiate lower prices for all prescription drugs.Another 13 percent support negotiations for just high-cost drugs for illnesses such as hepatitis C or cancer, according to a new poll by STAT News. More broadly, about three-quarters of the public believe the prices of brand-name prescription drugs are unreasonable, while 1 in 4 expressed that view about generics. Tax Break Deal House and Senate negotiators are working to complete a deal as earlyas this week thatwouldrevive dozens of expired tax breaks andcould also seek to scale backa controversial part of Obamacare and expand some tax benefits for low income workers. Early versions of the package circulated by lobbyists and staffers were estimatedto cost as much as $700 billion over 10 years. The deal would repeal the Cadillac Tax, which Sen. Sanders opposes, The Washington Post reported. World Pope: World Near Suicide on Climate Change Environmental negotiators meeting in Paris should strike a climate change deal to save a world "at the limits of suicide," Pope Francis said on Monday, The Washington Post reported. "I am not sure, but I can say to you 'now or never'," he told a group of reporters aboard the papal plane, en route home from Africa, according to Reuters. "Every year the problems are getting worse. We are at the limits. If I may use a strong word I would say that we are at the limits of suicide." Ukraine The United States has delivered more than $260 million in non-lethal military equipment to help the government of Ukraine in its fight against a Russian-backed insurgency, but some of the U.S.-supplied gear meant to protect and transport Ukrainian military forces is little more than junk, The Washington Post reported. National Money in Politics The rich families remaki…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs	On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-slams-republican-budget	Sanders Slams Republican Budget	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/us-must-lead-on-climate-change-sanders-says	U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 As nearly 150 world leaders gather for a summit in Paris on climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Tuesday that the United States must lead the world in taking bold actions to stop climate change. Calling the need to combat climate change a moral issue, Sanders agreed with Pope Francis about the urgent need to take action, The pope was right when he said the problems are getting worse and that unless we act we are at the limits of suicide, Sanders said. A member of the Senate environment and energy committees, Sanders said scientists have warned that there is a short window of opportunity to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The evidence is overwhelming. When the final calculations are made, 2015 will replace 2014 as the warmest year on record. Droughts, floods and severe storms already are impacting the planet and the situation will only become worse in years to come, Sanders said. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, the senator added.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs	On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-congress-must-act-ethanol-mandate	Lawmakers: Congress Must Act on Ethanol Mandate	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) release of the final rules for the 2014-2016 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Steve Womack (R-Ar.), and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) released the following statement: The EPA's decision to funnel more ethanol into the fuel supply is terribly disappointing. The RFS requirements announced today will push ethanol volumes beyond the blendwall in 2016, leaving American consumers and our economy to feel the negative effects. While well-intentioned, it's now abundantly clear the RFS is a broken policy that is having drastic impacts on families, small businesses and retailers, the agriculture community, and the environment. Neglecting the concerns of 184 bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives over increasing ethanol requirements, the EPA proceeded anyway. And since the EPA refuses to keep RFS volumes below the blendwall, Congress must act to fix this broken ethanol mandate. A growing majority in Congress has recognized the real-world limitations' of this bungled policy, and a recent survey found 70 percent of Americans oppose it. The RFS Reform Act is a solution to the problems created by the ethanol mandate, and our bill would finally provide much-needed, long-term relief for those impacted by the failures of this policy. Recently, 184 bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives joined in sending a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy expressing concerns regarding the proposed 2016 RFS requirements. In February 2015, Goodlatte, Welch, Womack, and Costa introduced the RFS Reform Act (H.R. 704), which eliminates corn-based ethanol requirements, caps the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, and requires the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-walmart-keeps-an-eye-on-its-massive-workforce	How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce The retail giant is Always watching. By: Susan Berfield Monday, November 30, 2015 In the autumn of 2012, when Walmart first heard about the possibility of a strike on Black Friday, executives mobilized with the efficiency that had built a retail empire. Walmart has a system for almost everything: When theres an emergency or a big event, it creates a Delta team. The one formed that September included representatives from global security, labor relations, and media relations. For Walmart, the stakes were enormous. The billions in sales typical of a Walmart Black Friday were threatened. The companys public image, especially in big cities where its power and size were controversial, could be harmed. But more than all that: Any attempt to organize its 1million hourly workers at its more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. was an existential danger. Operating free of unions was as essential to Walmarts business as its rock-bottom prices. OURWalmart, a group of employees backed and funded by a union, was asking for more full-time jobs with higher wages and predictable schedules. Officially they called themselvesthe Organization United for Respect at Walmart. Walmart publicly dismissed OURWalmart as the insignificant creation of the United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW) union. This is just another union publicity stunt, and the numbers they are talking about are grossly exaggerated, David Tovar, a spokesman, said onCBS Evening Newsthat November. Internally, however, Walmart considered the group enough of a threat that it hired an intelligence-gathering service from Lockheed Martin, contacted the FBI, staffed up its labor hotline, ranked stores by labor activity, and kept eyes on employees (and activists) prominent in the group. During that time, about 100 workers were actively involved in recruiting for OURWalmart, but employees (or associates, as theyre called at Walmart) across the company were …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-colorado_planned-parenthood-shooting	Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting	2015-11-28	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting Saturday, November 28, 2015 BURLINGTON, Vt., --U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement todayafter a gun battle left three dead at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado: While we still do not know the shooters motive, what is clear is that Planned Parenthood has been the subject of vicious and unsubstantiated statements attacking an organization that provides critical health care for millionsof Americans. I strongly support Planned Parenthood and the work it is doing and hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hoyer-welch-house-democrats-send-letter-speaker-ryan-need-robust-long	Hoyer, Welch, House Democrats Send Letter to Speaker Ryan on Need for Robust, Long-Term Surface Transportation Funding	2015-11-27	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Congressman Peter Welch (VT) and 60 Democrats in sending the following letter to Speaker Ryan on Wednesday about the need for robust, long-term funding for infrastructure repairs and improvements that will strengthen America's economic competitiveness. To read the letter, click here or see below. November 25, 2015 Hon. Paul D. Ryan Speaker U.S. House of Representatives H-232, The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: As the House and Senate work to finalize a long term surface transportation conference report, we urge you to support the higher funding levels needed to strengthen our surface transportation infrastructure and improve our competitiveness. There is bipartisan agreement that our transportation infrastructure is crumbling because the federal investment has failed to keep pace with our growing transportation needs. A quarter of our bridges are deficient; more than half our road are rated below good condition, and congestion increasingly burdens commerce. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a nearly failing grade of D+. Prior to MAP-21, successive surface transportation bills consistently provided significant increases in funding. Unfortunately, while the Senate bill does contain small increases above the current inadequate baseline spending levels, neither the House nor the Senate version of H.R. 22 identifies or guarantees the funding sources sufficient to maintain our current transportation infrastructure, let alone the upgrades that are so urgently needed to expand and modernize that infrastructure. Given this shortfall in funding, we urge you to join us in supporting a conference report that packs the most punch by shortening the duration of the reauthorization perhaps to three or four years instead of six -- and increasing the transportation investment in each of those years. This is not a novel idea: the Chamber of Commerce recently wrote, The Chamber urges you to ensure that the co…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-wal-mart-stole-christmas_and-hijacked-american-politics	How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics	2015-11-27	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics By: Sean McElwee Friday, November 27, 2015 When retail workers want something, they ask their employers, get denied, get bullied and sometimes fired. Sometimes, they take to the streets, as they have for the last three years on Black Friday. By contrast, when retailers want something, they scurry to the halls of Congress, where they purchase influence with their exorbitant profits. The largest big-box retailers have spent a total of $111 million since the 2000 election cycle on lobbying and campaign contributions. During the 2014 election cycle, big-box retailers spent $30 million on federal campaign contributions and lobbying, which is almost six times what they spent in 2000 (after an inflation adjustment). Wal-Mart in particular is known for its status as a corporate-welfare queen; one studyestimatesthat one 300-person Supercenter costs taxpayers $904,542 to $1,744,590. Anotherestimatesthat Wal-Mart and the Walton family pull in $7.8 billion a year in tax breaks and subsidies. Meanwhile, a brand-newreportfrom Americans for Tax Fairness finds that Wal-Mart also avoids taxes on more than $21 billion in offshore profits. In its most recent annualreport, Wal-Mart openlyadmitsthat changes to government food stamp programs may hurt its financial performance.Hundreds of thousands of Wal-Mart workersmake near-povertywages. Wal-Mart certainly benefits from other favorable government actions. Changes to labor laws allow it toabuse worker schedules, although sometimes it ignores them completely and just refuses topay workers,flat out. Since Wal-Mart is a serial polluter, lax environmental standards are beneficial. Its also very concerned about taxes, trade and intellectual property. To advance these interests, Wal-Mart spent $2.4 million on campaign donations and $12.5 million in lobbying in 2014 alone. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/as-mayor-bernie-sanders-was-more-pragmatist-than-socialist	As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist	2015-11-26	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist By: Katharine Q. Seelye Thursday, November 26, 2015 Bernie Sanders in September 1981, six months after he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vt. He held the office for eight years.Credit:Donna Light/Associated Press BURLINGTON, Vt. WhenBernie Sanders, a self-declared socialist, served as mayor here in the 1980s, he often complained that the United States had its priorities wrong, that it should be diverting money from the military to domestic needs like housing and health care. So when dozens of antiwar activists blocked the entrance to the local General Electric plant because it was manufacturing Gatling guns to fight the socialists in Central America, the protesters expected the mayors full support. Instead, he lined up with union officials and watched as the police made arrests, saying later that in blocking the plant, the activists were keeping workers from their jobs. It was a classic example of how Mr. Sanders governed as a pragmatist. He tended to talk globally but act locally, in this case choosing the real and immediate socialist principle of protecting workers over blocking the making of weapons to fight leftists abroad. Although he often shouted about foreign affairs, Mr. Sanders was consumed with running the city.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112515	News November 25	2015-11-25	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News November 25 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders Most Popular SenatorSen. Bernie Sanders has eschewed party labels during his decades-long political career. And voters in his home state love him for it,Morning Consultant,The Week,Bloomberg,The Hill, The Boston Globe,Chicago Sun-Times andWCAX-TVin Burlington reported. A comprehensive survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states, conducted over several months by Morning Consult, shows Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents, at 83 percent. And while voters disdain Congress as a whole, they have much more positive views of their individual senators: The polling shows 69 of 100 United States senators have approval ratings of 50 percent or higher among their own constituents. Pfizer-Allergan MergerThe announcement of the Pfizer-Allergen merger, which could help the new company escape billions of dollars in United States taxes, drew a cascade of harsh criticism from lawmakers and renewed a push to crack down on these so-called tax inversions,The New York TimesandReutersreported. Sen. Sanders even called on the Obama administration to use any authority it had to block the deal. World Russia Promises Retribution for Downed Jet One of two Russian pilots shot down by Turkey over the Syrian border has been rescued in a special operation, Russian officials said Wednesday, as Moscow promised retribution for the first downing of one of its planes by a NATO ally since the Cold War, The Washington Post reported. U.S., France Lead ISIS Fight The Obama administration is using the current moment of extreme anger and anxiety in Europe to press allies for sharp increases in their contributions to the fight against the Islamic State. Suggestions include more strike aircraft, more intelligence-sharing, more training and equipment for local fighters, and deployment of their own special operations forces. The message has already fallen on willing ears, at least …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112415	News November 24	2015-11-24	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News November 24 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Senator Sanders Pfizer-Allergan DealSen. Sanders condemned the Pfizer acquisition of Allergan on Monday and urged the Obama administration to block the deal,The Associated Press,Reuters, Business Insider,Los Angeles Times,The New York Times,TheHillandVoxreported. Pfizer said it would buy Botox maker Allergan in a record-breaking deal worth $160 billion to cut its U.S. tax bill by moving its headquarters to Ireland. "The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs," Sanders said in a statement. TIME Person of the YearWith eleven days left to go before TIMEs 2015 Person of the Year poll comes to a close, Sen. Sanders, the upstart candidate for president, holds a wide lead over global notables among TIME readers even as he trails Hillary Clinton in voter polls and fights a long-shot battle for the Democratic nomination,TIMEand The Hill reported. Larry SandersIn this longer video from a previous interview withRolling Stone, Larry Sanders discusses what Sen. Sanders was like as a child (a bit of a jock) and how both brothers became left-leaning politicians (they grew up in working-class Brooklyn, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, motivating them to fight for justice for all). SOTU Essay ContestSen. Sanders has launched his sixth annual State of the Union essay contest, calling upon Vermont's high school students to address what they view as the major issues facing the United States,The Manchester Journalreported. Sanders' annual essay contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were president. Column: Sanders as a Democrat"Sen. Sanders could call himself a Democrat it would fit his ideology, and it would fit his ambitions. But he steadfastly refuses. Understanding why is, I think, crucial to understanding not just Sanders but his support," Ezra Klein wrote forVox. …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-is-most-popular-senator-in-america	Sanders is Most Popular Senator in America	2015-11-24	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 24 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the most popular senator in America according to a Morning Consult survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states. Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents at 83 percent. Senate Democrats had an average approval rating of 54 percent in the survey, while Republicans averaged a 51 percent approval rating. Click here to see the complete poll results.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/-with-gratitude-in-our-hearts-lets-resolve-to-end-hunger	With Gratitude In Our Hearts, Lets Resolve To End Hunger	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.23.15 With Gratitude In Our Hearts, Let's Resolve To End Hunger By Patrick Leahy This week we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving and rekindle some of the most important relationships in our lives. All of us in this great and good land have things to be thankful for. Some of us will give special thanks for good health or good fortune over the past year. We are always grateful when we can spend time with our loved ones. As we express thanks for the bounty that we enjoy, it can be easy to take for granted the comfortable shelter and the full tables that help make homecoming comfortable. For the 48 million Americans struggling with food insecurity, Thanksgiving can be a time of great stress and need as they grapple with the challenges of affording enough food for their families. Each and every day, millions of Americans face the uncertainty of not knowing when they and their families will have their next meals. Hunger and malnourishment are not confined to developing nations; they exist across the nation, and in our own communities. Nearly one in seven Vermonters receives 3SquaresVT help, and about 13 percent of all Vermont households face food hardship each year. One in five children faces hunger each day in Vermont, while more than 150,000 Vermonters each year rely on the safety net of food shelves, meal sites, senior centers and after-school programs for nutritional resources that they would not otherwise have without the support of the people of their communities. Across the nation, the costs of everyday essentials like food, heat, housing and medicine continue to rise, straining families' budgets. Americans should not have the impossible dilemma of having to choose between heat and food, but far too many must do that. Hunger can take its biggest toll on children. Kids who live in food-insecure homes are at greater risk of developmental setbacks, poor academic performance, nutrient d…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-condemns-pfizer-allergan-merger	Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger Monday, November 23, 2015 ATLANTA, Nov. 23 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Pfizer and Allergan announced they would merge in the largest inversion ever, enabling Pfizer to dodge United States taxes. The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. It also would allow another major American corporation to hide its profits overseas. The Obama administration has the authority to stop this merger, and it should exercise that authority. Congress also must pass real tax reform that demands that profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/if-america-really-valued-mothers-we-wouldnt-treat-them-like-this	If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this	2015-11-22	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this By: Ezra Klein Sunday, November 22, 2015 A few years ago, a Mother's Day video from Cardstore.com went viral. In it, the company pretended to recruit for a seemingly impossible job. They told applicants that the job requires you to stand all day and put in 135 hours a week or more. It means you have to work nights and weekends. There's no time off, and the hours increase around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. The position requires skill in finance, medicine ,and food preparation. It entails intense physical labor and a total collapse in your personal life. Oh, and it pays absolutely nothing. They called the job director of operations, but its real title, of course, is mom. Cardstore sent the video out into the world with the hashtag#WorldsToughestJob. But here's the thing about the world's toughest job: a lot of the people doing it also hold another job, or even a few other jobs. More than two-thirds of mothers hold jobs outside the home, and mothers are the primary earners in40 percent of families. Butin America, public policy makes balancing those jobs a lot harder than it has to be. America is, for instance, one of the only countries in the world that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. Thismapfrom UCLA's World Policy Analysis Center tells the tale well: our maternal leave policies make us look more like Papua New Guinea than, say, any country in Western Europe: Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/our-enemy-is-isis-not-refugees-fleeing-isis	Our Enemy Is ISIS, Not Refugees Fleeing ISIS	2015-11-20	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.20.15 Our Enemy Is ISIS, Not Refugees Fleeing ISIS Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to make it almost impossible for people from Syria and Iraq, fleeing the brutality of ISIS and Bashar al-Assad, to find refuge in the United States. It is worth reflecting on what this means for our country. Just a few weeks ago the world came together, stunned and heartbroken over the image of a three-year-old Syrian child's lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach. His tragic death focused our attention on the desperate plight of so many Syrians who have fled the horror of ISIS and Assad's army. We called it the humanitarian issue of our day. We called forth images of the Statue of Liberty and our proud history as a safe haven for those fleeing persecution and war. Just days later, we hear calls to slam the door. To shut down our borders. To ignore that great symbol of refuge standing in New York Harbor. We should remember that the people we will shut out are those very children who touched our hearts just weeks ago. We watched in horror as desperate mothers and fathers loaded their infants into precarious rafts, awestruck that the risk of death was preferable to whatever terror they were fleeing. We are a country of immigrants. In the past year, about 70,000 refugees from almost 70 countries have resettled in the United States. Fewer than 2000 were Syrians mostly children, women, and the elderly who have been the victims of horrific violence and acts of terrorism, like ISIS's victims in Paris. By contrast, some nations have accepted hundreds of thousands of these desperate people. They have come here only after passing the most rigorous screening procedures for any population of travelers, which involve multiple federal law enforcement agencies and require anywhere from 18 months to two years to complete. Vermont has a proud and compassionate history of welcoming refugees, as Governor Shumlin has demonstrated in upholding our legacy, in the face of the knee-jerk retreats signaled by …	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-the-need-to-reform-the-eb-5-regional-center-program-	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Need To Reform the EB-5 Regional Center Program	2015-11-20	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.20.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Need To Reform the EB-5 Regional Center Program I have championed the EB-5 Regional Center program for many years. I have done so because I have seen its ability to generate investment and create jobs in distressed communities. But the program is facing some pressing challenges. Reports of rampant fraud and abuse raise serious concerns and threaten to cripple the program's integrity. The incentives Congress established to invest in high unemployment and rural communities are also routinely abused, undermining a core objective of the programto spur growth and create jobs in underserved areas. The Regional Center program is set to expire on December 11. It should be reauthorized, but we should not extend it blindly. There is bipartisan consensus that the program is in dire need of reform, and we cannot squander this opportunity. I have long sought reforms to the Regional Center program. Last Congress, my EB-5 amendment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform provided the Department of Homeland Security additional authority to revoke suspect regional center designations or immigrant petitions. It also provided for increased reporting, background checks, and securities oversight. My amendment was unanimously approved in the Judiciary Committee, but unfortunately the improvements it contained have all had to wait, as the House of Representatives failed to allow a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that passed the Senate last Congress. In the past year, only more concerns have emerged. In January, I joined Senators Grassley, Corker, Johnson, and others in requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit the EB-5 program. The GAO report, released in August, detailed fraud vulnerabilities within the program and questioned its economic impact. Separate reports from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis and Office of the Inspector General highligh…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-is-right-the-top-01-percent-have-as-much-as-the-bottom-90-percent	Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent	2015-11-20	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent By: Max Ehrenfreund Friday, November 20, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders defined the phrase"democratic socialist" in a speech at Georgetown University Thursday afternoon, in an effort to clarify theunusual moniker he uses to describe his worldview forconfused voters. Being a democratic socialist means believing that government must guarantee its citizens' material well being in order to truly protect their freedom, Sanders said, citing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. "Real freedom must include economic security. That was Roosevelt's vision 70 years ago. It is my vision today," the Democratic presidential candidate said. "People are not truly free when they are unable to feed their family. They are not truly free when their are unable to retire with dignity. They are not truly free when they are unemployed, underemployed, or when they are exhausted from working 60 or 70 years a week." In appealing to the principles of freedom and "economic rights," in a phrase of Roosevelt's thatSanders quoted, the senator from Vermont tried to steal the thunder fromhis conservative detractors. His opponents also cite personal freedom, sayingSanders'svision of socialism would leave Americans less free to pursue their economic interests without interference from government. Under hisagenda, for example, private health insurers and colleges would have to compete with government-sponsored insurance and education, and the rich would have to forfeit more of their earnings in taxes. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/specialty-drugs-now-cost-more-than-the-median-household-income	Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income	2015-11-20	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income By: Carolyn Y. Johnson Friday, November 20, 2015 The average annual retail cost of specialty drugs used to treat complex diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis now exceeds the median U.S. household income,according to a report to be published Friday. The study of 115 specialty drugs found that a year's worth of prescriptions for a single drug retailedat $53,384 per year, on average, in 2013 -- more than the median U.S. household income, double the median income of Medicare beneficiaries, and more than three times as much as the average Social Security benefit in the same year. The report was prepared by the AARP Public Policy Institute to highlightthe impact of drug priceson seniors. "We're talking about drugs that are now costing more than a lot of people are making in a year," said Leigh Purvis, director of health services research at the AARP Public Policy Institute. Continue reading here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-continues-leading-role-in-bipartisan-push-to-reauthorize-and-fund-the-nations-premier-conservation-fund	Leahy Continues Leading Role In Bipartisan Push To Reauthorize And Fund The Nations Premier Conservation Fund	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.19.15 Leahy Continues Leading Role In Bipartisan Push To Reauthorize And Fund The Nation's Premier Conservation Fund . . . Land And Water Conservation Fund Is Under Attack In The House WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015) Ratcheting up a bipartisan effort to reauthorize a longstanding conservation program, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) this week joined a coalition of 14 senators calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid to move to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and provide full mandatory funding for the program. Leahy also led a separate bipartisan letter to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies urging strong funding for the LWCF and the Forest Legacy Program in Fiscal Year 2016. The authorization for the LWCF expired in September after 50 years of funding conservation work in communities in Vermont and across the nation. Leahy and other senators wrote Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid: For the economy, sportsmen, veterans, wildlife and our kids and grandkids, we must permanently reauthorize LWCF it is America's most successful conservation program. We also strongly request that you include mandatory full funding in any must-pass year end legislation. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1964 established one of America's most successful conservation programs. Using funds primarily derived from oil and gas receipts paid to the federal government by energy companies that extract publically owned resources not using tax dollars -- the program supports the nation's land, water, historic and recreational heritage. The program also supports America's outdoor recreation, conservation and preservation economies, which contribute more than $1 trillion to the nation's economy each year and support 9.4 million American jobs. Leahy, the …	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-as-he-and-senator-richard-durbin-d-ill-object-to-the-sudden-bid-by-senator-cruz-to-bring-his-anti-refugee-bill-to-an-immediate-senate-vote	Senate Floor Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) As He And Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) Object To The Sudden Bid By Senator Cruz To Bring His Anti-Refugee Bill To An Immediate Senate Vote	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.19.15 Senate Floor Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) As He And Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) Object To The Sudden Bid By Senator Cruz To Bring His Anti-Refugee Bill To An Immediate Senate Vote [Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on Thursday spoke on the Senate Floor to object to a bid by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to force an immediate vote on his anti-refugee bill, introduced an hour earlier. Leahy for decades has been a leader in honoring America's commitment to help refugees seeking safety from atrocities abroad and is the coauthor of the bipartisan legislation to respond to the refugee crisis the Middle East Refugee Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act which he introduced with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Recalling the heartbreak felt the world over on seeing the image of a three-year old Syrian child's lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach, Leahy said that ISIS is our enemy, NOT the Syrian refugees fleeing ISIS atrocities.] I thank the distinguished chair. I'm worried in this country that we hear rhetoric that is dangerous, and it's time to stop. It shames the very nature of what America is. We hear ideas that are wrong. I would say they are deeply anti-American. My Italian grandparents and my Irish great great-grandparents heard some of this rhetoric when some in this country said they shouldn't come here. Don't allow these papists into the United States. Don't allow these Irish that are opposed to the rule of Great Britain in their island that actually stood up and fought against Great Britain. And the words back then, like some of the words today, come from a place of fear and hatred. I don't want to stand by quietly and see the victims of terrorism and torture be demonized just so people will have a talking point for the local evening news. We are better than this. The bill that my colleague, the junior senator from Texas, introduced an hour ago would prevent virtually all nationals of Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen from re…	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-the-anniversary-of-executive-action-on-immigration	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Anniversary Of Executive Action On Immigration	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.19.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Anniversary Of Executive Action On Immigration A year ago today, in a nationwide address, President Obama announced a series of measures to improve our broken immigration system. He outlined efforts to focus scarce resources on identifying and deporting those people who pose a danger to our communities, to modernize our legal immigration system, and to provide temporary relief from the threat of deportation forhardworking, law-abiding members of our communities. For many, the President's announcement offered, at last, a hope for stability. It acknowledged the longstanding presence and contributions of immigrants to our country. But the President's announcement also underscored the real human consequences of the House of Representatives failing to allow a vote to reform our immigration laws. Importantly, it highlighted the impracticality of deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants. Many of them have strong family ties in the United States and a deep desire to become fully integrated in our country. They are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. To suggest that we can simply remove them is unrealistic and it would conflict with fundamental American values. The President's executive action is no substitute for legislation. He reminded critics of that very fact during his address, pointing out that the commonsense, responsible solution to the problems in our immigration system is to pass a comprehensive reform bill. A year later, the Republican-led Senate has failed to debate, let alone pass meaningful immigration reform. Instead, it has repeatedly taken up divisive and partisan proposals that do not reflect a desire to fix what we all agree is a broken system. These political gimmicks are not serious attempts to address an issue as important as immigration and could not be more different from what the Democratic-led Senate accomplished in 2013 when we passed a bipartisan…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/chamberlin-school-south-burlington-vt	Chamberlin School, South Burlington, VT	2015-11-18	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.18.15 Chamberlin School, South Burlington, VT On November 18, 2015, Senator Leahy hosted an online chat with the Chamberlin School of South Burlington. The Senator was impressed with the engagement of the fifth grade classrooms, and enjoyed their rendition of their school song. The Senator also enjoyed answering their questions on his long term projects in the Senate, like his work on the USDA Farm to School grant program. Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article	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-the-need-to-support-refugees-fleeing-violence	Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On the Need to Support Refugees Fleeing Violence	2015-11-18	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.18.15 Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On the Need to Support Refugees Fleeing Violence [Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Wednesday on the need to support Syrian refugees. Leahy, who is also the Ranking Member of the State Department's budget committee the State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee has long led efforts to support assistance for refugees. He is the coauthor of the bipartisan Graham-Leahy Middle East Refugee Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to respond to the refugee crisis resulting from conflict in the Middle East.] Just a few weeks ago the world came together stunned and heartbroken over the image of a three year old Syrian child's lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach. His tragic death focused our attention on the desperate plight of so many Syrians who have fled the horror of ISIS and Bashar al-Assad. We called it the humanitarian issue of our day. We called forth images of the Statue of Liberty and our proud history as a land of refuge for those fleeing persecution. Those who call now to slam our doors on even properly vetted Syrian refugees should remember that the people we will shut out are those very children who touched our hearts just weeks ago. We are all horrified by what happened in Beirut and Paris. We need an effective, thoughtful strategy for countering ISIS and other terrorist organizations. That is something we should be debating, because what we have done so far is not working. ISIS is our enemy. The Syrian people fleeing ISIS are not. # # # # # Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/senator-leahy-invites-vt-family-to-testify-at-hearing-on-international-adoption	Senator Leahy Invites VT Family To Testify At Hearing On International Adoption	2015-11-18	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.18.15 Senator Leahy Invites VT Family To Testify At Hearing On International Adoption WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015) Christine Hutchins and her family from Cambridge, Vt., Wednesday came to the Senate Judiciary Committee to share their story of adopting their son James from Sierra Leone. Hutchins was invited to testify by the committee Ranking Member Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the hearing, just days before National Adoption Day. Leahy said: The Hutchins' journey to parenthood is one of courage and perseverance. They represent many other Vermont families who have similarly opened their hearts to a child in need through international adoption. I have been inspired by each Vermont family my office has helped through the adoption process. Hutchins testified during the hearing about her experience adopting her new son James in May, 2015. She and her husband Jonathan have been married for 11 years. Christine and Jonathan live in Cambridge, Vt., where Jonathan was raised. Christine was raised in Georgia, Vt. Hutchins' sister-in-law, Jennifer Smithers, and her husband Gregory Smithers, who adopted James' twin sister Grace were also at the hearing. Both families represent many other Vermont families who have similarly opened their hearts to children in need through international adoption. Leahy's full statement is available here, and Hutchins' statement is available here. # # # # # Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous 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-hearing-on-national-adoption-month-stories-of-success-and-meeting-the-challenges-of-international-adoptions	Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing on National Adoption Month: Stories of Success and Meeting the Challenges of International Adoptions	2015-11-18	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.18.15 Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing on National Adoption Month: Stories of Success and Meeting the Challenges of International Adoptions Next week, millions of families in this country will gather around a table to give thanks for the many blessings they have received. For proud parents and grandparents, this of course includes their children and grandchildren. It is fitting that this month we also recognize National Adoption Month, which honors the adoptive families who selflessly open their hearts and homes to children from the United States and around the world who are in need of a safe and loving family. Today we raise awareness about some of the barriers to international adoption and recommit ourselves to work together to improve the international adoption system. We must unite as families, communities, and policy makers, to find permanent, loving homes for all children. We will hear inspirational stories of international adoption. I am honored to welcome Christine Hutchins from Cambridge, Vermont. She and her husband, Jonathan Hutchins, welcomed their son James from Sierra Leone last year. I would also like to welcome Christine's sister-in-law, Jennifer Smithers, and her husband Gregory Smithers, who adopted James' twin sister Grace. Their journey to parenthood is one of courage and perseverance. They represent many other Vermont families who have similarly opened their hearts to a child in need through international adoption. I have been inspired by each family my office has helped through the adoption process. These families include Rabbi Joanie Chase and her husband Harley Parry from Rutland, Vermont, who adopted their son Ezra, from Ethiopia. My office helped to expedite the adoption process due to Ezra's health issues at the time. Ezra is now four years old. He is very healthy, active and much loved by his family, especially by his 10-year old sister, Arielle. Sarah and Paul Messenger of Townshend, Vermont, adopte…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111815	News November 18	2015-11-18	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News November 18 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Senator Sanders PBS NewsHour Senator Bernie Sanders joined PBS NewsHour last night to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis. The good news, in the midst of all of this tragedy, is that countries all over the world, whether it is France, whether it is Russia, whether it is the Muslim countries in the Gulf region, we now have a common interest, Sanders said. Sanders also discussed the current anti-Muslim bigotry in the GOP race Last I heard, we had a Constitution in this country which gave all of our people the right of religious freedom, you know? And then Im hearing other people saying, well, you know, we may have to undermine the Constitution in terms of civil liberties. LINK, VIDEO F.D.A. Commissioner Sen. Bernie Sanders raised questions at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday about Dr. Robert Califfs ties to the pharmaceutical industry,The Associated Press,The New York Times,The Washington Post,The HillandWashington Examinerreported. At the end of the day, people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. Weve been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner whos going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. And I have to say to you, with regret, that I think you are not that person.LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK Syrian Refugees Sen. Sanders slammed calls to shut the borders to Syrian refugees, telling supporters at a Monday night campaign rally that "now is not the time for demagoguery and fear-mongering, Politico, Reuters,FusionandThe Washington Postreported. The United States must not turn its backs on refugees fleeing violence from places like Syria or Afghanistan, he said, on the same day that governors of more than two dozen states said that they would try to stop the flow of immigrants from Syria out of concerns stemming fro…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welch-statement-speaker-shap-smith	Welch Statement on Speaker Shap Smith	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Peter Welch	W000800	welch.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTONRep. Peter Welch (D-VT) today issued the following statement on Speaker Shap Smith's decision to suspend his gubernatorial campaign. The challenges of life arrive on their own timetable, never convenient and always disruptive. Melissa has a thriving career as a much loved community physician. And Shap is a respected attorney, legislative leader, and strong gubernatorial candidate. For them, the timing could not have been worse. But that was beyond their control. What was within their control was how they responded. They are both fully engaged parents to Eli and Mia. They are both deeply committed to each other. And, together, they made a decision that reveals their strong character. We all support them and wish them well. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-speaker-shap-smith	Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Speaker Shap Smith	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.17.15 Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Speaker Shap Smith I spoke with Speaker Smith today and conveyed the heartfelt hopes, wishes and prayers that Marcelle and I have for him, Melissa and their family. Throughout his career in public service, Shap has worked to keep his priorities in order, striving to do the right things, for the right reasons. That has been a mark of his character, and a reason for the deep respect he has earned across our state. In this difficult decision, he has done that again. Press Contact Press Contact David Carle: 202-224-3693 Next Article Previous Article	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-vermont-nets-125000-to-connect-schools-and-local-farms_	Leahy: Vermont Nets $125,000 To Connect Schools And Local Farms	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.17.15 Leahy: Vermont Nets $125,000 To Connect Schools And Local Farms WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015) A program long championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will invest $125,000 in bolstering efforts to bring local agriculture into the classrooms and cafeterias of schools across Vermont. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Farm to School grants Tuesday to connect child nutrition programs with local farmers. Leahy said: Tying local agriculture to our schools not only provides our children with healthy meals and improved nutrition, it encourages a long standing connection to the farms that are so iconic of our Green Mountain State. Every student deserves equal access to healthy meals, and I am proud that our school nutrition leaders will use these funds to help all children gain a better understand about where their food comes from. Today's announcement is another example of how Vermont continues to lead the nation in implementing this winning strategy. The Burlington School District received a $100,000 grant to expand hands-on food and garden-based education. The district has several gardens, which schools use to integrate nutrition education into the curriculum. Through the use of hands-on food science students are gaining heightened awareness of the importance of cultivation and nutrition. The funds will also be used to increase the availability of local beef in school meals. Farm to School is a valuable tool in creating food access for students and providing them with the ability to learn about their food, where it comes from, and the farmers growing it, said Doug Davis, Director of Food Service for the Burlington School Food Project. Knowing where your food comes from is one of the most important aspects of creating a sustainable food system. Burlington has been working in Farm to School for well over 10 years, and this grant will help us to move our program forward and allow us to create a model that can be replicated around our state. I am grateful to…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-d-vt-in-support-of-the-administrations-clean-power-plan	Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), In Support of the Administrations Clean Power Plan	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	VT	Patrick Leahy	L000174	www.leahy.senate.gov	legacy	11.17.15 Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), In Support of the Administration's Clean Power Plan [WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015) The Senate Tuesday passed two resolutions disapproving the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, an historic initiative led by the administration to combat the effects of climate change and benefit public health by reducing carbon emissions and encouraging a cleaner energy future. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has long warned that the threat of climate change is now at our doorstep and called the resolutions an attempt to roll back one of the most meaningful environmental initiatives of our time.] Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),In Support of the Administration's Clean Power Plan November 17, 2015 There is irrefutable evidence, with more accumulating all the time, that humans have altered not just the weather of a region, but the climate of our entire planet. From flooding felt across the country to extreme temperatures from north to south and east to west, these severe events are happening more and more frequently. Droughts are proliferating, wildfires are bigger and more expensive, tropical storms and hurricanes are more intense. You can look no further than the damage wrought in Vermont in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene a storm that had greatly weakened since first making landfall, but still so powerful as to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to our small state. It was enough to convince many Vermonters of the reality of climate change, as they watched roads washed away and iconic covered ridges yanked out of the footings that had supported them for generations. The science and the data by now are clear that human activities are a factor in the climate change that is unfolding all around us and in every corner of the globe. But common sense alone should tell us, as we look about us and see all of the carbon and pollution that is being pumped into our thin and fragile atmosphere, that all of these human activit…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111715	News November 17	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	News November 17 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Syrian Refugees Rejecting what he called cheap political talk in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that he opposes banning refugees from Syria from entering the U.S., BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, The Associated Press and CNN reported. I am disturbed by some of what I am hearing from my Republican colleagues, and I will just say this: During these difficult times, as Americans we will not succumb to racism. We will not allow ourselves to be divided and succumb to Islamophobia, Sanders said. We will not turn our backs on the refugees. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK Family LeaveSen. Sanders highlighted his support Sunday for a plan to provide three months of paid leave after a family has a child, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal reported. "You think that we can afford $1.39 per week?" Sanders asked a crowd of more than 400 people, composed largely of college students, gathered for a town hall meeting. It is unconscionable that millions of new parents in this country are forced back to work because they dont have the income to stay home with their newborn babies.LINK, LINK High Drug PricesSen. Sanders would allow Medicare, the federal health plan for the elderly and disabled, to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. That bargaining isnt currently allowed by federal law, a restriction Senate Democrats are seeking to lift through legislation, The Wall Street Journal reported.LINK FDA NomineeEver since Califf was named a deputy commissioner at the FDA in January and then nominated to be chief regulator in September, his long-standing working relationship with the pharmaceutical industry has prompted debate. Among those opposing his nomination are Sen. Sanders and Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, STAT Newsreported.LINK World Obamas ISIS Strategy In response to each of the questions posed by reporters, Obama made his case for a steady and persisten…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-questions-fda-nominee-with-deep-pharma-ties	Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties	2015-11-17	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	VT	Bernard Sanders	S000033	www.sanders.senate.gov	legacy	Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties Tuesday, November 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 At a Senate confirmation hearing today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he opposes the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration because of doubts that he would act to lower skyrocketing drug prices. At the end of the day people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. We have been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner who is going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. You are not that person. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. Prices for some prescription drugs soared 1,000 percent or more in recent years. Since 2002, total spending on medicine in the United States went up by more than 90 percent. Califf has deeper ties to the pharmaceutical industry than any FDA commissioner in recent history. He ran a multimillion-dollar clinical research center at Duke University that received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. And his financial disclosure form last year listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others including Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly which supported his university salary. In 2014, the pharmaceutical industry spent $250 million on lobbying and campaign contributions and employed some 1,400 lobbyists. Do you think that type of expenditure has any impact on the fact that we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs? Sanders asked Califf. The top three pharmaceutical companies made a combined $45 billion in profits last year and spent more on sales and marketing than they did on research and development. Sanders has introduced comp…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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Press releases

1,440 rows where state = "VT" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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