url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-limit-presidential-emergency-powers,Amash introduces bill to limit presidential emergency powers,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,MI,Justin Amash,A000367,amash.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces bill to limit presidential emergency powers WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the National Emergencies Reform Act to limit the president's statutory authority to invoke emergency powers. Under the National Emergencies Act (NEA), the president can declare emergencies and invoke powers that otherwise require congressional action. These declarations last until the president withdraws them or a joint congressional termination resolution is passed into law. Because a president who has not voluntarily withdrawn an emergency declaration is unlikely to sign a bill to end it, Congress must obtain a supermajority to end an emergency declaration without the president's cooperation. This arrangement allows presidents to abuse the NEA to usurp Congress's legislative authority, and it allows an emergency to persist indefinitely: Of the 69 national emergencies declared since the NEA was enacted in 1976, 35 are still in effect. This violates the structure of the Constitution, which vests legislative power exclusively in Congress, and it deprives the people of their right to be heard in the policymaking process through their congressional representatives. The National Emergencies Reform Act cures this problem by providing that national emergencies declared by the president will sunset automatically unless Congress is unable to meet or Congress votes to sustain the designation within 48 hours of reconvening. All existing national emergencies will become void 60days after passage unless Congress votes to continue them. Going back to the Framers of the Constitution, Americans have recognized the president's inherent power as chief executive to act swiftly and unilaterally in an emergency. But such power exists only so long as Congress has no opportunity to act, said Amash. Laws like the National Emergencies Act are notand, under our Constitution, cannot begrants of legislative powers to the president. Too often, emergencies are being invoked without appropriate justification, and the transition of power back to Congress isn't happening. My bill will restore constitutional balance to these situations by limiting the duration of presidential emergency declarations without restricting the president's ability to act in true emergencies. Bill text is attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bills-protect-asylum-seekers-and-other-immigrants,Amash introduces bills to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,MI,Justin Amash,A000367,amash.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces bills to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants Bills reduce unnecessary prosecutions and detention of immigrants WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Protect Asylum Seekers Act and the Practical Alternatives to Detention Act to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants from unnecessary prosecution, detention, or family separation. Unnecessarily subjecting immigrants to detention and criminally prosecuting asylum seekers who have caused no harm undermines our values and doesn't serve our nation's interests, said Amash. We need broad immigration reform, but until that becomes a reality, these targeted changes can limit some harms in the current system. Current law allows people to seek asylum in the United States regardless of where they entered the country, but it separately criminalizes the act of entering the country without going through a port of entry. This means someone seeking refuge from persecution in their home country may arrive in the United States only to find themselves prosecuted here simply for entering at the wrong spot. One consequence of such prosecutions can be the separation of children from their parentsan intended consequence of the zero tolerance policy implemented in 2018, which sought to prosecute everyone who committed the crime of improper entry. The Protect Asylum Seekers Act makes U.S. policy toward asylum seekers more coherent and humane by providing that individuals who request asylum upon arrival in the United States will not have committed a crime if they crossed the border between ports of entry. This change will prevent unnecessary prosecutions and ensure parents aren't separated from their children to accommodate such prosecutions. The bill also prohibits immigration authorities from separating families unless a child is in danger. The Practical Alternatives to Detention Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to utilize alternatives to detention (ATD) programs for eligible individuals. These programs, which replace detention with case management services and electronic monitoring, have been proven to help immigrants comply with the immigration process through cheaper and more humane measures than detention. Access to ATD programs is especially important for families with children, pregnant women, people with medical needs, and those with elevated health risks related to public health emergencies such as pandemics. Accordingly, the Practical Alternatives to Detention Act prioritizes those populations, in addition to asylum seekers, for ATD programs. Bill texts are attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-legislation-improve-fisa-oversight,Amash introduces legislation to improve FISA oversight,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,MI,Justin Amash,A000367,amash.house.gov,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces legislation to improve FISA oversight WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced two bills to improve oversight of intelligence activities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): The Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act and the FISA Oversight Correction Act. There is much work to be done to fix FISA itself and eliminate the authorities under which the government violates Americans' rights, said Amash. But that will be for nothing if we don't also fix the oversight regime that has failed to prevent serious FISA violations. Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act Current law explicitly protects intelligence community whistleblowers who raise urgent concerns with Congress, but only if the whistleblower contacts the House and Senate intelligence committees. This requirement reduces the potential efficacy of whistleblowing to Congress because it routes protected whistleblower reports through the intelligence committees, which have been known to impede effective oversight of the intelligence community, and limits the dissemination of whistleblower reports to other members of Congress who may be more inclined or better positioned to act on them. These factors may dissuade whistleblowers from coming to Congress in the first place. The Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act reduces this problem by explicitly allowing intelligence community whistleblowers to make protected disclosures, using secure processes, to any member of Congress, regardless of whether the member is on one of the intelligence committees. FISA Oversight Correction Act The FISA Oversight Correction Act improves FISA oversight through the judicial process. When Congress passed the original FISA statute, it created a process through which a judge can grant a criminal defendant access to their FISA warrant and the application that was submitted to the FISA court to obtain it. Accessing these materials is routine for defendants facing regular criminal warrants because such access is necessary for a defendant to challenge a warrant's legality. Those challenges enable defendants to defend their Fourth Amendment-secured rights, and they help deter law enforcement wrongdoing and negligence in the warrant process. But in the 40-plus years since FISA passed, no one who has tried to obtain their warrant materials through the process provided for in FISA has been successful. People are being convicted and sent to prison without the opportunity to meaningfully challenge the FISA warrants used against them. This threatens defendants' rights, violates Congress's intent when drafting FISA, and removes crucial oversight of the FISA process that might have prevented some of the numerous compliance failures and rights violations that have occurred over the years. The FISA Oversight Correction Act addresses this problem by correcting the legal standard used by judges to determine whether a defendant may access FISA warrant materials so that such access will be granted in appropriate cases. (In practice, this access would be granted to the defendant's lawyer, provided they have a security clearance.) This change will better protect defendants' rights, fulfill Congress's original intent, and provide some desperately needed oversight of the FISA process. Bill texts are attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-eliminate-civil-asset-forfeiture,Amash introduces bill to eliminate civil asset forfeiture,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,MI,Justin Amash,A000367,amash.house.gov,,,legacy,"Amash introduces bill to eliminate civil asset forfeiture WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act to repeal civil asset forfeiture nationwide. Federal, state, and local law enforcement use civil asset forfeiture to take billions of dollars in cash and property from private citizens each year without convicting the owners of any crime. Instead, the government brings a civil action against the property itself, alleging that the property is guilty of being connected to criminal activity. This allows the government to take property without needing to charge the owner with a crime, prove their guilt, or otherwise afford them all the rights of a criminal defendant. Often, the government gains ownership of such property automatically unless the owner files a claim for it within a short period of time. And when an innocent owner does file a claim, many jurisdictions put the burden of proof on the owner to prove their innocence, rather than requiring the government to prove their guilt. By failing to protect property owners' constitutionally secured rights, civil forfeiture often leads to forfeitures of property belonging to innocent people. In many cases, the property owner is not even accused of being involved in a crime; it suffices that their property was used by someone else who is alleged to have committed a crime. Civil asset forfeiture is incompatible with due process, but the courts have failed to recognize that fact. The Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act cures this historical error and restores Americans' rights by eliminating civil asset forfeiture at the state and federal level. Civil asset forfeiture is a due process violation, and it always has been, said Amash. Its history is riddled with injustices not because it's a valid practice that gets misused, but because its central premisedenying people their procedural rightsis inherently flawed. By ending it, my bill helps fulfill Congress's obligation to stop rights violations at both the state and federal level, and it ends a practice that contributes to the frayed relationship between law enforcement and the public. Bill text is attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-repeal-jones-act,Amash introduces bill to repeal the Jones Act,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,MI,Justin Amash,A000367,amash.house.gov,,,legacy,"Amash introduces bill to repeal the Jones Act WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Jones Act Repeal Act to repeal the protectionist transportation policies known as the Jones Act. To transport passengers or cargo between ports in the United States, federal law requires commercial ships to be U.S.-built, owned, and crewed. This has led to collateral consequences in the transportation industry as well as increased shipping and transportation costs in the United States that ultimately hurt American consumers. These costs were highlighted in 2017 after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, which is disproportionately affected by the Jones Act. The purported intent of the Jones Act is to ensure a large U.S. merchant fleet and sufficient domestic shipbuilding capacity in case of national emergencies, but it is ineffective at achieving those goals: Our fleet of large, oceangoing vessels that are Jones Act-compliant has dwindled to 99 shipswith less aggregate shipping capacity than the Jones Act fleet in 1950and U.S. shipbuilding has remained in a long decline. The Jones Act imposes substantial costs that make the U.S. shipping industry uncompetitive, with estimates from the 1990s that put the cost of U.S. shipbuilding at three times the cost of foreign-built ships, and likely even higher now. The Jones Act Repeal Act fully repeals the Jones Act, allowing vessels to transport cargo and passengers between U.S. ports without meeting its burdensome requirements. The Jones Act fails to achieve its aims and increases costs for all Americans, but it survives because of lobbying by the special interests who benefit from its protectionism, said Amash. As a matter of fairness and sound economic policy, it's time to eliminate it. Bill text is attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-on-manchin-romney-deal-congress-cannot-go-home-until-working-class-receives-1200-direct-payments,"Sanders on Manchin-Romney Deal: Congress Cannot Go Home Until Working Class Receives $1,200 Direct Payments",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders on Manchin-Romney Deal: Congress Cannot Go Home Until Working Class Receives $1,200 Direct Payments Monday, December 14, 2020 WASHINGTON, December 14 Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement in response to the Manchin-Romney COVID19 legislation to be released this afternoon: As a result of the pandemic, tens of millions of Americans are facing economic desperation.They can't afford to pay their rent and face eviction, they can't afford to go to the doctor, they can't afford to feed their children and they are going deeper and deeper into debt.Congress cannot go home for the Christmas holidays until we pass legislation which provides a $1,200 direct payment to working class adults, $2,400 for couples, and a $500 payment to their children. This is what Democrats and Republicans did unanimously in March through the CARES Act.This is what we have to do today.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/we-must-get-1200-direct-checks-to-the-working-class-of-america,"We Must Get $1,200 Direct Checks To The Working Class Of America",2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"We Must Get $1,200 Direct Checks To The Working Class Of America Members of Congress cannot go back to our families for the holidays when children in the richest country on Earth are going hungry and millions are scared to death of eviction. We must pass my amendment with Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri to get $1,200 direct checks to the working class ofAmerica.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-demands-direct-payments-for-working-families,Sanders Demands Direct Payments for Working Families,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Demands Direct Payments for Working Families Thursday, December 10, 2020 WASHINGTONSenator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stated today on the Senate floor that given the enormity of the current economic crisis, the Senate must pass a $1,200 direct payment for working class adults and $500 for their children as part of any COVID-19 relief package. He is filing an amendment today to the one-week Continuing Resolution to do just that. Sanders said that it would be unacceptable for Congress to adjourn for the holidays while turning its back on the economic desperation facing tens of millions of Americans. In a speech on the floor today, he stated: When a national emergency occurs the United States government must respond. And we are in an economic emergency today. To get out of Washington, to turn our backs on the suffering of so many of our people would be immoral, would be unconscionable, and cannot be allowed to happen. Sanders' speech can be watched here, and the prepared remarks can be read below: ""Mr. President: This country today faces an unprecedented crisis both in terms of the pandemic and the economic meltdown. I understand that there are negotiations going on in terms of coming up with an economic package dealing with COVID-19 relief. I applaud the hard work that each of the negotiators are doing. But the truth is that the results up to this point are totally unsatisfactory given the economic desperation facing tens of millions of working families. Back in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, the United States Congress unanimously Democrats and Republicans worked with President Trump to come up with an economic package that went a long way toward preventing absolute misery and destitution for so many of our people. Through no fault of their own, COVID-19 resulted in millions of people losing their jobs and their income. And, in response, Democrats and Republicans in the Congress came together, worked with the President of the United States and, in a very significant way, responded to that crisis. Mr. President, what I don't understand is that at a time when, in many ways, the crisis is worse today than it was in March, why we are not responding accordingly. In March, we passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act which included a $600 supplement to unemployment benefits for 4 months, and a $1,200 direct payment for every working class adult plus $500 for their kids. Once again, we did this unanimously and we did it by working with President Trump. If we could do it together in March, if we could succeed 9 months ago by working together, there is no reason why we cannot do the same thing right now. And that is why I will insist that any agreement in terms of a COVID-19 relief package must include not only strong unemployment benefits, but a $1,200 direct payment for the working families of this country similarly structured to what was included in the CARES package of March. And I will be introducing an amendment to the 1-week Continuing Resolution to make sure that that occurs - that every working class adult in this country receives another $1,200 direct payment, plus $500 for their kids. Mr. President, every member of this body wants to get out of Washington to get home to their families for the holiday season. And put me at the top of that list. But at a time when so many American families are suffering, when so many people don't know how they're going to feed their kids or prevent being evicted from their homes, or how they're going to pay for a doctor's visit, we cannot leave Washington and return to our families unless we address the economic suffering that so many other families are facing. When a national emergency occurs the United States government must respond. And we are in an economic emergency today. To get out of Washington, to turn our backs on the suffering of so many of our people would be immoral, would be unconscionable, and cannot be allowed to happen. Again, we must make certain that every working family in this country receives a $1,200 direct payment, plus $500 for their kids. Mr. President, let me be as clear as I can be. Today, as a result of the horrific pandemic and economic meltdown, the American working-class is hurting like they have never hurt before. Yesterday alone, over 220,000 Americans were diagnosed with COVID-19 and, tragically, over 3,000 died from this horrific virus. In other words, more Americans were killed by the coronavirus yesterday than were killed on 9-11. Further, Mr. President, the working class of this country is in the worst financial shape since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens have lost their jobs. They have lost their incomes. They have lost their health insurance. They have depleted their life savings. They cannot afford to pay the rent. They cannot afford to put food on the table. And they are scared to death that any day now they will get a knock on the door from the sheriff evicting them from their homes and throwing them and their belongings out on the street. In America today, over half our workers are living paycheck to paycheck while 1 out of every 4 workers in this country are either unemployed or make a starvation wage of less than $20,000 a year. During the holiday season over one-third of Americans expect to lose income and are already having a difficult time paying for basic household expenses. In America today, hunger is at its highest level in decades, more than 500,000 Americans are homeless and over 30 million tenants are on the brink of eviction.While 15 million Americans have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, over 90 million Americans are uninsured or under-insured and cannot afford to go to a doctor when they get sick. And as bad as the economy has been in general it has been far worse for African Americans and Latinos. During the pandemic, nearly 60% of Latino families and 55% of African American families have either experienced a job loss or a pay cut. Meanwhile, Mr. President, not everyone is hurting in America. While the middle class is collapsing and poverty is growing, we are witnessing a massive increase in income and wealth inequality. Over the past 9 months, 650 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by over $1 trillion and now own over twice as much wealth as the bottom 50 percent of Americans. That is the state of the economy in America today. The very rich get much, much richer, while tens of millions of Americans get poorer and poorer and face an unprecedented level of economic desperation. Mr. President. This is the United States of America, the richest country in the history of the world. No one should be going hungry. No one should have to live in fear of becoming homeless. No one should be denied the health care that they need, especially during the worst public health crisis in over a hundred years. But that is precisely what is going on all over America as we speak. Mr. President. This is an unprecedented moment in American history and the Senate needs to take unprecedented action now to improve the lives of the American people. If we could act effectively in March through the CARES Act, we can act effectively today as we enter the holiday season. I very much appreciate the hard work that has gone into the current $908 billion proposal being drafted by a number of Democratic and Republican Senators. But, simply stated, given the horrific extent of the current crisis and the desperation that working families all over this country are experiencing, this proposal does not go anywhere near far enough. In truth, rather than the $3.4 trillion which we Democrats called for in the HEROES Act and passed in the House, this bill only allocates $348 billion in new money. The remaining $560 billion are funds transferred from the CARES Act that have not yet been obligated. In other words, this bill is allocating roughly 10% of what was passed in the House. That's absurd. Unlike the CARES Act, which we passed in March, this proposal only provides a $300 supplement for unemployed workers rather than $600 a week. Further, unlike the $1,200 direct payment for every working class individual and $500 for each child, it provides absolutely no direct payment. Moreover, this proposal does nothing to address the health care crisis impacting tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford medical care and has totally inadequate financial assistance for the most vulnerable. The American people need help and they need help now. We have got to make sure that every working class American receives at least $1,200 in direct payments and that we do not provide a liability shield to corporations who break the law. We cannot continue the status quo of coming in at 5:30pm on Monday and leaving at 2pm on Thursday while nothing gets done to help millions of Americans living in economic desperation. We've got to be working 24 hours, 7 days a week until we pass a bill that provides emergency assistance to the American people in their time of need.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-hawley-introduce-1200-direct-payments-amendment-to-attach-to-end-of-year-legislation,"Sanders, Hawley Introduce $1,200 Direct Payments Amendment to Attach to End-of-Year Legislation",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Hawley Introduce $1,200 Direct Payments Amendment to Attach to End-of-Year Legislation Thursday, December 10, 2020 WASHINGTON, December 10 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are introducing a bipartisan amendment to attach to must-pass legislation to be considered by Congress, which would provide $1,200 in direct payments to working-class adults and $500 to each of their children.This amendment, similar to what was passed in the CARES Act, would be attached to must-pass legislation to keep the government going. In the midst of this terrible pandemic and economic crisis, this amendment would make certain that working families get the urgent, direct support they need to survive, said Sanders. A direct payment of $1,200 for adults and $500 for kids would help desperate families pay rent and heating bills, put food on the table, and be able to go to the doctor.In the midst of so much economic desperation, Congress cannot go on recess without providing this $1,200 emergency assistance to the American people in their time of need.I look forward to working across the aisle with Senator Hawley to ensure that the United States Senate passes this amendment. It would be a dereliction of duty if Congress adjourns for Christmas without having a vote on providing working families with direct payments, said Hawley. Working people are struggling. And they should be the first people given relief, not last. The crisis of rising unemployment claims, ever-expanding food lines, evictions, and growing credit card debt has been staring us in the face for months. It's time we do something about it and provide emergency relief to Americans. The amendment is modeled on the $1,200 direct payment for working-class adults plus $500 for their children passed by Congress unanimously in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March and signed into law by President Trump. Watch Sanders' and Hawley's floor remarks on this proposal here. Read the text of the amendment here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/responding-to-the-needs-of-the-americanpeople,Responding to the needs of the AmericanPeople,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Responding to the needs of the AmericanPeople Yesterday alone, over 3,000 died from this horrific virus. The working class of this country is in the worst financial shape since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The American people need help and they need help NOW!",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-gillibrand-warren-merkley-markey-and-wyden-urge-colleagues-to-defend-working-class-in-covid-19-relief-proposal,"Sanders, Gillibrand, Warren, Merkley, Markey and Wyden Urge Colleagues to Defend Working Class in COVID-19 Relief Proposal",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Gillibrand, Warren, Merkley, Markey and Wyden Urge Colleagues to Defend Working Class in COVID-19 Relief Proposal Tuesday, December 8, 2020 WASHINGTON, December 8 Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.),Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.),Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)urged Senate Democrats today to recognize the enormity of the economic and public-health crisis posed by COVID-19 and join them in demanding that any new COVID-19 relief proposal includes a $1,200 direct payment to adults and $500 to their children, while rejecting provisions to give a liability shield to corporations who threaten the health and safety of workers and customers. In aletterto their colleagues, the Senators note that COVID-19 is infecting nearly 200,000 Americans and killing 2,000 Americans daily, and argue that a bipartisan proposal under negotiation does not go anywhere near far enough, as America experiences the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Only $348 billion in new money is currently allocated in that proposal, the Senators point out, even though the Trump Administration and a bipartisan coalition in the House supported over $1.8 trillion in COVID-19 relief that also included another $1,200 direct payment. It would be unacceptable to take a major step backwards from those previous efforts by passing legislation that only included $348 billion in new money, the Senators wrote to their Democratic colleagues. The lawmakers further expressed their opposition to a get-out-of-jail free card to companies that put the lives of their workers and customers at risk currently under consideration in a bipartisan COVID-19 relief measure, and cited concerns from labor groups that granting immunity would make the country less safe at the exact moment when the COVID-19 pandemic is entering a new, dangerous phase. The letter's signatories also registered their agreement with President-elect Biden that a $1,200 direct payment should be included in this proposal, as over half of American workers live paycheck to paycheck and one in four are either unemployed or make less than $20,000 a year, while millions more face eviction and hunger. Read the letterhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-manchin-romney-covid19-proposal,Sanders Statement on Manchin-Romney COVID19 Proposal,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Manchin-Romney COVID19 Proposal Friday, December 4, 2020 BURLINGTON, December 4 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on the Manchin-Romney COVID19 legislative proposal: Given the enormous economic desperation facing working families in this country today, I will not be able to support the recently announced Manchin-Romney COVID proposal unless it is significantly improved. Unfortunately, despite long-time Democratic opposition, this proposal provides 100% legal immunity to corporations whose irresponsibility has led to the deaths of hundreds of workers. It would continue to provide a get-out-of-jail free card to companies that put the lives of their workers and customers at risk. In fact, the Manchin-Romney proposal will, through this liability provision, encourage corporations to avoid implementing the common sense safety standards needed to protect workers and consumers - and make a bad situation worse. Further, during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, when over half of our workers are living paycheck to paycheck, when one out of four workers are either unemployed or make less than $20,000 a year, when 92 million Americans are uninsured or under-insured, when tens of millions of people face eviction and when hunger in America is exploding, it is unacceptable that the Manchin-Romney proposal does not even do what the CARES Act did and provide, at the very least, a $1,200 direct payment to working class Americans and $500 for their kids. Tens of millions of Americans living in desperation today would receive absolutely no financial help from this proposal. That is not acceptable. Last March, with unanimous support in Congress, President Trump signed the $2 trillion CARES Act into law that provided a $600 a week supplement in unemployment benefits and a $1,200 direct payment to every working class adult, $500 per child and significant help for small businesses, states and cities. In October, as part of the negotiating process, the Trump Administration and a bi-partisan coalition in the House supported over $1.8 trillion in COVID-relief that also included another $1,200 direct payment. Today, however, at a time when the COVID crisis is the worst that it has ever been in the U.S. with record-breaking levels of hospitalization and death, the Manchin-Romney proposal not only provides no direct payments to working families, it does nothing to address the healthcare crisis and has totally inadequate financial assistance for the most vulnerable. That is wrong morally and it is wrong economically if we hope to rebuild the economy. The American people need help and they need help now. In my view, we have got to make sure that every working class American receives at least $1,200 in direct payments and that we do not provide a liability shield to corporations who break the law. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to significantly improve this bill.But, in its current form, I cannot support it.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/vermont-students-share-what-you-think-our-national-priorities-should-be,Vermont Students: Share What You Think Our National Priorities Should Be,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Vermont Students: Share What You Think Our National Priorities Should Be The deadline for my annual State of the Union Essay contest is approaching. This contest is a great opportunity for high school students to be actively engaged in our democratic process and think about solutions to the major problems facing our country. If you're a Vermont High school student, join us for the 11th year of the contest and submit your essay by January 12th.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-eleventh-annual-state-of-the-union-essay-contest,Sanders Announces Eleventh Annual State of the Union Essay Contest,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Announces Eleventh Annual State of the Union Essay Contest Tuesday, November 24, 2020 BURLINGTON, November 24 Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has launched his eleventh annual State of the Union essay contest. Each January, the President of the United States delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, which outlines priorities for the coming year. Because Senator Sanders knows that great ideas can come from everyone not just those in power and wants to encourage young people to become engaged in the political process, he created the State of the Union Essay Contest. The contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it. The 250-500 word essays can be on any issue of national importance. A volunteer panel of Vermont teachers will judge the essays on the students' ability to articulate an issue and propose a solution, without regard to the students' political views. Senator Sanders will enter the essays of the ten finalists into the Congressional Record the official archive of the U.S. Congress. I started this essay contest 11 years ago to help our students be actively engaged, no matter where they stand on the issues, said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee. This year, our state and nation face a health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a renewed fight for racial justice. Many of you have seen family members struggle because of lost wages or health concerns, you have been asked to learn online, and you face a future that may feel uncertain. To my mind, the unprecedented nature of this time makes it more important than ever to hear perspectives and innovative ideas from you, our young people. More than 4,600 students from high schools throughout Vermont have written essays in the past ten years about critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, the rising cost of college, and much, much more. Last year, Isabelle Hiller from Woodstock Union High School was selected as the winner from 536 submissions for her essay on criminal justice reform. The deadline for student essay submissions is Jan. 12, 2021. More information can be found on Sanders' Senate webpage at https://www.sanders.senate.gov/stateoftheunion or by calling (800) 339-9834.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/taxpayers-subsidize-poverty-wages-at-walmart-mcdonalds-other-large-corporations-gao-finds,"Taxpayers Subsidize Poverty Wages at Walmart, McDonalds, Other Large Corporations, GAO Finds",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Taxpayers Subsidize Poverty Wages at Walmart, McDonald's, Other Large Corporations, GAO Finds Wednesday, November 18, 2020 WASHINGTON, November 18 Many full-time workers employed by some of America's largest and most profitable corporations receive wages so low that they qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) benefits and Medicaid, according to a report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report,Millions of Full-time Workers Rely on Federal Health Care and Food Assistance Programs,commissioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), found that 5.7 million Medicaid enrollees and 4.7 million SNAP recipients who worked full-time for 50 or more weeks in 2018 earned wages so low that they qualified for these federal benefits. An estimated 12 million wage-earning adults enrolled in Medicaid and 9 million wage-earning adults living in households receiving SNAP benefits worked at some point in 2018. At a time when huge corporations like Walmart and McDonald's are making billions in profits and giving their CEOs tens of millions of dollars a year, they're relying on corporate welfare from the federal government by paying their workers starvation wages. That is morally obscene.U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize some of the largest and most profitable corporations in America.It is time for the owners of Walmart, McDonald's and other large corporations to get off of welfare and pay their workers a living wage,said Sanders.No one in this country should live in poverty. No one should go hungry. No one should be unable to get the medical care they need. It is long past time to increase the federal minimum wage from a starvation wage of $7.25 an hour to $15, and guarantee health care to all Americans as a human right. GAO sent questionnaires to state Medicaid and SNAP agencies and analyzed data from 15 such agencies across 11 states. Each agency reported the 25 most common employers of Medicaid enrollees and SNAP recipients. Among the 15 agencies, Walmart was in the top four employers of program beneficiaries in each and every one. McDonald's was a top-five employer of employees receiving federal benefits in 13 of the 15 agencies. GAO's analysis across the states it examined reveals that multi-billion-dollar firms employed tens of thousands of workers at wages so low, taxpayers effectively provided nutrition support and health insurance that would be unnecessary if they paid living wages. Notoriously low-paying and dangerous dollar-store chains also appeared throughout these lists, with Dollar Tree ranking among the top 15 largest employers of employees receiving benefits in all 15 agencies, and Dollar General among the top 10 in nine different agencies. Across nine statesArkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington these large corporations employed the following numbers of SNAP recipients in February 2020: Walmart 14,541 McDonald's 8,783 Dollar Tree 4,515 Dollar General 4,488 Amazon 4,218 Burger King 3,326 FedEx 2,622 Wendy's 2,237 Subway 2,231 Taco Bell 2,114 Uber 2,032 Target 1,783 Dunkin' Donuts 1,564 Home Depot 1,305 Lowe's 1,154 Family Dollar 570 CVS 545 Walgreens 355 Across six statesGeorgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Rhode Islandthe following large corporations employed these approximate numbers of Medicaid enrollees in February 2020: Walmart 10,350 McDonald's 4,600 Amazon 4,154 Dollar Tree 2,964 Target 2,754 Dollar General 2,625 Home Depot 2,237 CVS 1,939 Burger King 1,679 Dunkin' Donuts 1,278 Wendy's 1,059 FedEx 1,046 Walgreens 1,009 Subway 973 Taco Bell 868 Lowe's 611 Uber 591 To read the full report, clickhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/fafsa-helping-students-afford-college-2020-11-06,FAFSA: Helping Students Afford College,2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"FAFSA: Helping Students Afford College Are you looking to pursue further education after high school, but are worried about the cost? If you are considering college, technical, or vocational education, you can now fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA), to help you secure federal, state, and college-specific financial assistance. Now, more than ever, we must keep fighting to make College for All a reality. But until then, students and families deserve to know what resources are available to help pay for continued education. If you have questions, or need help filling out the FAFSA, contact the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation at www.vsac.org or 800-642-3177.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/healthcare-must-no-longer-be-a-privilege,Healthcare Must No Longer Be A Privilege,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Healthcare Must No Longer Be A Privilege While 12 million Americans recently lost their health insurance, the private health insurance companies are making record profits during this horrific pandemic. Healthcare must no longer be a privilege or an employee benefit in America. It must be a human right. #MedicareForAll",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-klobuchar-issue-statement-correcting-misinformation-from-president-trump-and-justice-kavanaugh-on-voting-processes,"Sanders, Klobuchar Issue Statement Correcting Misinformation from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh on Voting Processes",2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Klobuchar Issue Statement Correcting Misinformation from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh on Voting Processes Wednesday, October 28, 2020 WASHINGTON, October 28- U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) released the statement below following President Trump's recent false statement that it is inappropriate and illegal to count ballots after Election Day, and the Supreme Court's ruling inDemocratic National Committee v. Wisconsin Legislature,where Justice Kavanaugh's concurring opinion contains incorrect information regarding voting: ""In America, we count the votes to determine who wins an election. Despite the incorrect assertions from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh, election officials across the country accept ballots well after Election Day every year, and results are not certified until the votes are counted and a canvas to confirm the results is conducted.Absentee ballots counted after election day do not flip the results of an election,' as Justice Kavanaugh claimed. They are the results of the election. More than twenty states, including states like Mississippi, Kansas, and Utah, require ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted even if they are received after Election Day. This is critical to ensuring that those who may face hardships in voting, including members of our military serving abroad and those affected by COVID-19, are not disenfranchised by things like mail delays. These are not new rules and they do not serve any political party. It is on all of us to reject misinformation and to tell the truth. Our election systems span 50 states, five territories, and thousands of jurisdictions. State and local election officials are working around the clock, and experts have concluded that the integrity of our election system is strong. The best defense against those trying to undermine our democracy is the resolve of the American people, who are voting by the millions as we speak. Keep voting. On October 18, Sanders and Klobuchar, along with Senators Schumer (D-N.Y.), Heinrich (D-N.M.), Murphy (D-Conn.), and Duckworth (D-Ill.), issued a report titled2020 General Election: Counting Votes & What to Expect on Election Day, which offers a guide to voting procedures in key states. The report can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-and-klobuchar-explain-to-trump-in-america-we-count-the-votes-to-determine-who-wins,"Sanders and Klobuchar Explain to Trump: 'In America, We Count the Votes to Determine Who Wins'",2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders and Klobuchar Explain to Trump: 'In America, We Count the Votes to Determine Who Wins' Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Sens. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobucharreleaseda joint statement Wednesday in response to two recent developments that have amplified fears about next week's general election: President Donald Trump's falsesuggestionthat counting votes after Election Day is unlawful and an ominous concurringopinionfrom U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump, who has repeatedlyrefusedto commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses reelection,saidTuesday that ""it would be very, very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on November 3rd, instead of counting ballots for two weeks, which is totally inappropriate and I don't believe that that's by our laws. I don't believe that. So we'll see what happens."" Those widely rebuked remarks came a day after Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee,issuedan opinion parroting the president's lies about mail-in voting fraud. In a 5-3 decision along ideological lines, the high court rejected an attempt by Wisconsin Democrats and rights groups to extend the state's deadline for receiving mailed ballots that are postmarked by Election Day. ""In America, we count the votes to determine who wins an election,"" declared Sanders (I-Vt.) and Klobuchar (D-Minn.), both ex-Democratic presidential primary candidates who have since endorsed the party's nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. ""Despite the incorrect assertions from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh, election officials across the country accept ballots well after Election Day every year, and results are not certified until the votes are counted and a canvas to confirm the results is conducted,"" the senators said. ""Absentee ballots counted after Election Day do not 'flip the results of an election,' as Justice Kavanaugh claimed. They are the results of the election."" ""More than 20 states, including states like Mississippi, Kansas, and Utah, require ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted even if they are received after Election Day,"" the pair pointed out. ""This is critical to ensuring that those who may face hardships in voting, including members of our military serving abroad and those affected by Covid-19, are not disenfranchised by things like mail delays."" Noting that ""these are not new rules and they do not serve any political party,"" the lawmakers said, ""It is on all of us to reject misinformation and to tell the truth."" ""Our election systems span 50 states, five territories, and thousands of jurisdictions,"" they added. ""State and local election officials are working around the clock, and experts have concluded that the integrity of our election system is strong. The best defense against those trying to undermine our democracy is the resolve of the American people, who are voting by the millions as we speak. Keep voting."" That message to vote was a crucial piece of areport(pdf) published last week by Sanders, Klobuchar, and handful of other senators that set out to not only reinforce Democrats' call to encourage Americans to vote but also summarize what they should expect on Election Day. The report's main messages are: Vote, and vote early. In some states, we may not know the winner on election night. That's OK. Voter intimidation is illegal. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)the chamber's minority leaderjoined Sanders and Klobuchar in releasing the report, which also features a section on election procedures in presidential and Senate battleground states. ""The American people must be prepared for an election that is unprecedented in our history due to the enormous increase in mail-in ballots that have been, and will be, cast as a result of the pandemic,"" Sanderssaidin a statement last week. ""No one should have to risk their health or their lives in order to vote, and that is why many millions are voting through mail-in ballots."" ""One of the worst lies that Donald Trump is spreading is that there is a massive amount of voter fraud in this country,"" he added. ""That is a total lie which no election official, Republican or Democrat, can support. What we are doing with this effort is ensuring that the American people understand that if American democracy means anything, it means that every vote must be countedno matter how long it takes."" As of Wednesday, an estimated 75 million Americans had already voted,according toMichael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida who runs the U.S. Elections Project. The number of ballots cast early by mail or in person this year so farexceeds50% of the number of votes cast in 2016 presidential election. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic rages on. The United States alone had nearly 8.85 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and over 227,600 related deaths as of Wednesday evening,according toJohns Hopkins University's global tracker. Despite the public health crisis, ""we're looking at a very high-turnout election,"" McDonaldtoldPBS NewsHourTuesday. ""Perhaps 150 million people or so will vote, and that could be the highest turnout that we will see in a modern election since 1908, so truly remarkable numbers in terms of the people voting.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-condemns-senate-confirmation-of-judge-barrett-to-supreme-court,Sanders Condemns Senate Confirmation of Judge Barrett to Supreme Court,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Condemns Senate Confirmation of Judge Barrett to Supreme Court Monday, October 26, 2020 WASHINGTON, October 26 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement criticizing the Republican-controlled Senate's confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: Tonight's vote to confirm Amy Coney Barrett as a Supreme Court justice is a disgrace, not only because of what she will do when she gets on the bench, but because of the entire process, which was pushed through with extraordinary hypocrisy by Senate Republicans in the last days of a president's term. At this particular moment, over 50 million people have already cast their ballots to determine who the next President of the United States should be. Now is not the time to be voting on a Supreme Court justice. What we should be voting on instead is a major Covid-19 stimulus package to protect the working people of this country, who, by the tens of millions, have lost their jobs. They're struggling right now to pay their rent, get health insurance, and put food on the table to feed their kids. That is the issue we should be dealing with right now, and I am committed to ensuring that the next U.S. Senate, under Democratic leadership, will make a major Covid-19 stimulus bill the first order ofpriority. Watch Sanders' remarks on his vote against Barrett's confirmation here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/https//vtdiggerorg/2020/10/26/leahy-sanders-say-theyll-vote-against-barrett-nomination-to-supreme-court/,"Leahy, Sanders vote against Barrett nomination to Supreme Court",2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/we-should-not-be-voting-on-a-supreme-court-justice,We Should Not Be Voting On A Supreme Court Justice,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"We Should Not Be Voting On A Supreme Court Justice I am going down to the Senate floor to vote AGAINST the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. We should not be voting on a Supreme Court justicewe should be voting on major COVID19 relief to protect working families. We will make this the top priority of a Democratic Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/the-most-essential-people-in-our-economy-are-not-hedge-fund-managers,The Most Essential People In Our Economy Are Not Hedge Fund Managers,2020-10-23,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Most Essential People In Our Economy Are Not Hedge Fund Managers Maybejust maybethe most essential people in our economy are not hedge fund managers. If our farmworkers fall ill, we go hungry. We must put an end to their exploitation and provide free health care, paid sick leave, and good wagesregardless of immigration status.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-democrats-will-pass-massive-stimulus-bill-if-party-flips-the-senate,Sanders: Democrats will pass 'massive stimulus bill' if party flips the Senate,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders: Democrats will pass 'massive stimulus bill' if party flips the Senate Thursday, October 22, 2020 Sen.Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) pledged Thursday that Democrats will pass ahuge coronavirus relief package ifthey win the Senate in next month's elections. If the Democrats gain control of the Senate, the first order of business will be a massive stimulus bill to protect desperate working people throughout this country, Sanders said on Hill.TV's Rising. The remarks come as SpeakerNancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) and Treasury SecretarySteven Mnuchinpress on in their negotiationson COVID-19 aid. Pelosi has stuck to her position that a stimulus package must total at least $2.2 trillion, while theadministration has inched up to $1.8 trillion. Both sides have said progress has been made in the past week, though no final legislation has materialized. President Trumphas urged the two sides to go big, but disagreements have emerged over aid to state and local governments, which the president calls a slush fund to bail out what he says are poorly run Democratic localities. And Republicans in the Senate have expressed pessimism that they can get enough votes to pass abill that goes beyond $500 billion due to concerns in the conference over the ballooning national debt. Sanders said Senate Republicans' hesitation to go for anything larger than $500 billion is pathetic but that he too has concerns over a potential bill, saying a deal must include a boost to unemployment benefits and another round of stimulus checks. It's not just a number, 1.8 or 2.2 or whatever it is, it is what is in the bill. I am concerned about a slush fund that the Trump administration would have within that bill. I am very concerned that when we have millions of people who have lost their jobs, they desperately need that $600 supplement to their unemployment, they need that $1,200 check, they need health care, they need to be able to pay their rent, he said. So the devil is in the details in terms of what is in the bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-progressives-will-work-to-rally-the-american-people-if-biden-wins,Sanders: Progressives will work to 'rally the American people' if Biden wins,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders: Progressives will work to 'rally the American people' if Biden wins Thursday, October 22, 2020 Sen.Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.)predicted that progressives would look to move Democratic presidential nomineeJoe Bidentoward theirpriorities if he wins the White House this November and Democrats sweep Congress. If you want a progressive agenda to come out of the United States Congress, we're going to have to rally the American people by the tens of millions to demand that we have a government that represents all of us and not just wealthy campaign contributors. We're going to have to correct and deal with a very corrupt election system where massive voter suppression that exists every single day right now, he said on Hill.TV's Rising Thursday. Sanders said Democrats should tackle legislation he plans to introduce to begin the process of moving toward Medicare for All, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, and a massive infrastructure plan. We have got to lay out an agenda that speaks to the struggles and the desperation of working-class Americans, he said. Sanders recognized that Biden, a well-known centrist steeped in old traditions of bipartisanship in Congress, does not share many of his progressive policies but argued his plans would still move the country forward. [I]f you look at Biden's economic proposals, they're not Bernie Sanders's proposals. Don't want to suggest they are. But they will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, equal pay for equal work, making it easier for workers to join unions, $2 trillion investment in combatting climate change and creating millions of good paying jobs in energy efficiency and sustainable energy, paid family and medical leave. No small things, he said. Sanders and other progressives have been on a campaign to persuade liberals who may be skeptical of Biden's centrist brand of politics to back the former vice president, with the Vermont lawmaker maintaining that the first step to moving the country in a more progressive direction is defeatingPresident Trumpthis November. You know what, if Trump is reelected, all that we're going to be on for the next four years is defensive, defensive, defensive procedures. I want to get on the offensive, he said. And that is why, in my view, every progressive, every person in this country who thinks for two minutes about what's at stake, should be voting for Joe Biden.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-democrats-will-pass-massive-stimulus-bill-if-party-flips-the-senate,Sanders: Democrats will pass 'massive stimulus bill' if party flips the Senate,2020-10-22,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders: Democrats will pass 'massive stimulus bill' if party flips the Senate Thursday, October 22, 2020 Sen.Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) pledged Thursday that Democrats will pass ahuge coronavirus relief package ifthey win the Senate in next month's elections. If the Democrats gain control of the Senate, the first order of business will be a massive stimulus bill to protect desperate working people throughout this country, Sanders said on Hill.TV's Rising. The remarks come as SpeakerNancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) and Treasury SecretarySteven Mnuchinpress on in their negotiationson COVID-19 aid. Pelosi has stuck to her position that a stimulus package must total at least $2.2 trillion, while theadministration has inched up to $1.8 trillion. Both sides have said progress has been made in the past week, though no final legislation has materialized. President Trumphas urged the two sides to go big, but disagreements have emerged over aid to state and local governments, which the president calls a slush fund to bail out what he says are poorly run Democratic localities. And Republicans in the Senate have expressed pessimism that they can get enough votes to pass abill that goes beyond $500 billion due to concerns in the conference over the ballooning national debt. Sanders said Senate Republicans' hesitation to go for anything larger than $500 billion is pathetic but that he too has concerns over a potential bill, saying a deal must include a boost to unemployment benefits and another round of stimulus checks. It's not just a number, 1.8 or 2.2 or whatever it is, it is what is in the bill. I am concerned about a slush fund that the Trump administration would have within that bill. I am very concerned that when we have millions of people who have lost their jobs, they desperately need that $600 supplement to their unemployment, they need that $1,200 check, they need health care, they need to be able to pay their rent, he said. So the devil is in the details in terms of what is in the bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-applauds-people-of-bolivia-for-year-long-fight-to-restore-democracy-in-wake-of-military-coup,Bernie Sanders Applauds People of Bolivia for 'Year-Long Fight to Restore Democracy' in Wake of Military Coup,2020-10-20,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders Applauds People of Bolivia for 'Year-Long Fight to Restore Democracy' in Wake of Military Coup Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Following socialist candidate Luis Arce's resounding victory in Bolivia's high-stakes and closely watched presidential election, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday applauded the people of the South American nation for persisting in their ""difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy"" in the wake of last year's military coup that ousted Evo Morales and installed a vicious right-wing regime. ""The Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday's election,"" tweeted Sanders, who wasamong the firstmembers of Congress to condemn the military coup, which wasopenly applaudedby President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers and abetted by the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS). ""As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality,"" the Vermont senator added, referring to Arce's role in Morales' government. ""I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well."" Exit polls released Monday showed Arce with such a large lead in the contest that Carlos Mesa, Arce's closest competitor, was forced to concede defeat. ""The results from the quick count are overwhelming and very clear,""saidMesa, who served as president of Bolivia from 2003 to 2005. ""It's a result that we accept and it's a result that we believe, because of the difference between the first and second [finishers], will not be modified when we know the final results."" U.S. Rep. Jess ""Chuy"" Garca (D-Ill.)joinedSanders on Monday in celebrating ""the triumph of true democracy"" in Bolivia and demanded ""justice for those persecuted and killed under the ez regime,"" whichseized powerfollowing the ouster of Morales and promptly unleashedviolent military repressionagainst anti-coup demonstrators. AsThe Intercept's Glenn GreenwaldwroteMonday afternoon, ""It looks as though the margin of victory delivered to [the Movement Toward Socialism party] by the Bolivian people was so stunning, so decisive, that there are few options left for the retrograde forcesin Bolivia, Washington, and Brusselswhich tried to destroy the country's democracy."" ""Anyone who believes in the fundamentals of democracy, regardless of ideology, should be cheering the Bolivians who sacrificed so much to restore their right of self-rule and hoping that the stability and prosperity they enjoyed under Morales expands even further under his first democratically elected successor,"" Greenwald added.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-senate-democrats-to-american-people-do-not-allow-trump-to-undermine-nov-3-election-results,"Sanders, Senate Democrats To American People: Do Not Allow Trump To Undermine Nov. 3 Election Results",2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Senate Democrats To American People: Do Not Allow Trump To Undermine Nov. 3 Election Results Monday, October 19, 2020 WASHINGTON, October 18 Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) today released a report summarizing for the American people what to expect on Election Day and reinforcing the Democrats' call to encourage everyone to vote. The report follows the months-long effort by President Trump to undermine the election and his repeated refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. With the general election already well underway in every state across the country, Sanders and Senate Democrats have a clear message for the American people: Vote and cast your ballot as early as possible. While expressing optimism that Election Day will go smoothly around the country, the jointly authored report outlines the possibility that in some states, the outcome might not be known on November 3. The last message from the report is to make absolutely clear that voter intimidation is illegal and that federal law prohibits coercing or threatening anyone in order to interfere with their right to vote. ""The American people must be prepared for an election that is unprecedented in our history due to the enormous increase in mail-in ballots that have been, and will be, cast as a result of the pandemic, said Senator Sanders.No one should have to risk their health or their lives in order to vote, and that is why many millions are voting through mail-in ballots. One of the worst lies that Donald Trump is spreading is that there is a massive amount of voter fraud in this country.That is a total lie which no election official, Republican or Democrat, can support.What we are doing with this effort is ensuring that the American people understand that if American democracy means anything, it means that every vote must be countedno matter how long it takes."" ""President Trump has for months now been laying the foundation to undermine the election and he has repeatedly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses. Senate Democrats want to be clear to the American people that the most powerful defense against this type of autocratic behavior in our country is the will of the American people and that is why we are encouraging every American to vote and vote early, said Leader Schumer. The election is well underway, and Americans are voting in droves because they know what is at stake. We must do everything we can to protect the right to vote, and uphold the integrity of the election process. That means pushing back on President Trump's lies about mail-in ballots and his efforts to sow chaos. It also means making sure that Americans know that a record number of people are voting by mail this year, which could slow the reporting in some states. We should be prepared to reject misinformation and be patient about results in places where counting ballots may take longer. Americans should keep making their voices heard at the ballot box, the earlier the better, said Senator Klobuchar. ""Despite what Donald Trump wants you to believe, the integrity of our election system is strong,""said Senator Murphy. Every American must voteand vote earlyin the upcoming presidential election, so we can make it clear to Trump and the world that America remains a democracy, the will of the people will always win out, and that any form of voter intimidation is illegal and will not be tolerated."" ""President Trump's dangerous rhetoric threatens to further divide our country and sow real potential for violence. The most important thing each of us can do to combat disinformation and fear is to vote and vote early. There is little doubt that this is the most important election we will participate in in our lives. Our elections are the foundation of American democracy. Protecting them should be the top priority for everyone who cares about the future of our country. Election officials, courts, and elected leaders must be accountable for upholding that principle, said Senator Heinrich. ""Despite Donald Trump's lies and misinformation about nonexistent widespread voter fraud, the integrity of the American election systemour entire election process from voting by mail to voting in personis strong.If voting by mail is safe and effective for our troops overseas and good enough for Trump and his family to use, then it's safe, effective and good enough for the rest of America too,""said Senator Duckworth. No matter what Trump saysor even what he might preferSenate Democrats will never allow the greatest democracy the world has ever known to descend into authoritarianism.We will always be a government of, by and for the people."" A copy of the report can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/leahy-and-sanders-seek-swift-release-of-liheap-heating-help,Leahy and Sanders Seek Swift Release of LIHEAP Heating help,2020-10-19,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Leahy and Sanders Seek Swift Release of LIHEAP Heating help Monday, October 19, 2020 With winter around the corner and heating costs projected to increase this season, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible under the current continuing resolution. The senators say federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that assists low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. Under a continuing Appropriations Committee resolution, HHS typically releases 90 percent of the $3.7 billion full-year appropriation. Leahy said: With the pandemic continuing to depress family incomes nationwide, and an early fall here in Vermont, it's vital that HHS act swiftly to release LIHEAP dollars to the states. As vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee I've fought year after year to support strong funding for LIHEAP because I know Vermonters rely on this help to keep warm. Any delay in sending these dollars to Vermont will result in Vermont families delaying filling their fuel tanks as nights get colder. I understand the urgency, and I hope the Administration does as well. Sanders said: As a result of this horrific health and economic crisis, Vermonters are hurting like they have never hurt before. It is critical that we get this home heating lifeline to Vermonters immediately. In the richest country on Earth, we have a moral responsibility to make sure that no one has to make the unacceptable choice between putting food on the table, paying for their prescription drugs, or heating their homes this winter. On the Appropriations Committee Leahy has long been an advocate for the LIHEAP program and has secured funding increases for the program over the past three years. The current appropriations law included $3.7 billion for LIHEAP, and an additional $900 million was included in the CARES Act. The continuing resolution, which funds the government at the previous year's levels, preserves the increase that Leahy secured for the program in 2020. The average cost of home heating is unaffordable for millions of low-income households, costing an average of $911 per year nationally. Heating oil and propane cost even more, over $1,500 every year. The timely release of these funds will provide critical assistance to families unemployed as a result of the pandemic pay their energy bills.According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, 15 to 20 percent of residential customers are at least 60 days behind on their electric and natural gas bills, and estimated arrearages are over $20 billion nationally. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance. Vermont's LIHEAP funds are administered by the Department for Children and Families, and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. To apply for LIHEAP help, Vermonters can apply at theVermont Department for Children and Families websiteto get more information and links to an online application. Or Vermonters can contact their localCommunity Action Agency. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size and the availability of resources. The bipartisan letter was led by Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-demand-answers-from-amazon-over-employee-surveillance-allegations,"Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren demand answers from Amazon over employee surveillance allegations",2020-10-16,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren demand answers from Amazon over employee surveillance allegations Friday, October 16, 2020 By: Catherine Thorbecke, ABC News A coalition of Democratic senators sent a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, pressing the company for answers over allegations that it ""unethically"" tracks and monitors its employees to suppress efforts to form a union. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) implored Bezos to explain recent reports that the company was investing heavily in technology to track union organization efforts, specifically citing arecent article published by Vox News. ""The fact that Amazon has decided to heavily invest in systems to retaliate against freedom of expression about unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and to refer to organizing and workers' rights mobilization efforts as threats against the company equal to those posed by hate groups and terrorism, is unacceptable,"" the senators wrote. ""Labor organizing campaigns are legally protected activity."" Citing media reports, the senators accused Amazon of infiltrating private social media groups created by Amazon employees to track potential discussions of unionization, actively monitoring internal listservs related to employee activism, hiring intelligence analysts to track labor organization efforts and more. ""Each of these reports is deeply troubling, and taken together, they suggest a pattern of significant abuse of workers and their rights,"" the lawmakers wrote to theworld's richest man. They added that ""these actions are all the more shocking in the context that nearly 20,000 of your employees contracted the coronavirus,"" saying it is ""deeply concerning that Amazon has prioritized tracking workers who would look to improve their working conditions over addressing the underlying health and safety concerns that those workers face."" The senators demanded that Amazon respond to more than a dozen questions by Nov. 1. An Amazon spokesperson told ABC News that it respects employees' rights ""to join, form or not to join a labor union or other lawful organization of their own selection, without fear of retaliation, intimidation or harassment."" ""Across Amazon, including in our operations facilities, we place enormous value on having daily conversations with each associate and work to make sure direct engagement with our employees is a strong part of our work culture,"" the spokesperson added. In regard to the monitoring allegations, the spokesperson said the company had found one group within its driver team ""aggregating information from closed groups"" but added ""that approach doesn't meet our standards, and they are no longer doing this as we have other ways for drivers to give us their feedback."" The spokesperson added that ""nothing is more important than the health and safety of our teams,"" saying Amazon has committed more than $1 billion in safety measures for its workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/vermont-delegation-demands-postmaster-general-deliver-and-install-critical-mail-processing-machine-to-white-river-junction-facility,Vermont Delegation Demands Postmaster General Deliver and Install Critical Mail Processing Machine to White River Junction Facility,2020-10-13,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Vermont Delegation Demands Postmaster General Deliver and Install Critical Mail Processing Machine to White River Junction Facility Tuesday, October 13, 2020 WASHINGTON Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Senator Patrick Leahy (D), and Representative Peter Welch (D) on Tuesday sent aletterto Postmaster General Louis DeJoy demanding the immediate delivery and installation of the new AFCS 200 cancellation machine at the White River Junction mail processing facility, a machine that is critical to the efficient handling of the mail. In the letter, Leahy, Sanders, and Welch wrote, While we have been promised for months that a new AFCS 200 cancellation machine will be installed, we have just learned that this will not occur until January of 2021 at the earliest. This timing is both unacceptable and another example of this administration's attempt to sabotage the Postal Service and the 2020 election."" The cancellation machines at the White River Junction facility have been due to be replaced for several years now. USPS recently removed an AFCS (legacy system) cancellation machine from the facility, leaving the White River Junction center with justoneoperational cancellation machine. When that machine breaks down, as it did this past weekend, postal employees are forced to process mail by hand, which significantly delays the process. These employees are to be commended for their hard work and dedication and should be given every available resource to ensure the safe and timely processing of the mail, which includes a record number of mail-in ballots. Waiting until 2021 to get this new machine to Vermont will present undue harm to the hundreds of thousands of Vermonters who have been given the ability to vote by mail by November 3rd as well as Vermont's seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who rely on the Postal Service for the delivery of their prescriptions, concluded the Vermont delegation. It will also further harm all those who will be separated from their families this holiday season if they are unable to rely on promise of the U.S. Postal Service to receive mail from loved ones a small but critically important way to reduce isolation, depression, and loneliness, particularly for older, more isolated Vermonters."" You can read the letterhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/no-confirmation-until-after-inauguration,No Confirmation Until After Inauguration,2020-10-13,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"No Confirmation Until After Inauguration The last thing the Senate should be doing right now is considering an extreme right-wing Supreme Court nominee who would strip health care benefits from over 20 million Americans and take away protections for preexisting conditions. No confirmation until after inauguration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/donald-trump-is-either-a-tax-cheat-or-a-bad-businessmanlikely-both,Donald Trump Is Either A Tax Cheat Or A Bad BusinessmanLikely Both,2020-10-10,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Donald Trump Is Either A Tax Cheat Or A Bad BusinessmanLikely Both Let's be clear: Donald Trump is either a tax cheat who pays less in income taxes than the average worker, or a bad businessman who has lost money year after yearlikely both.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/vermont-seniors-can-now-get-food-assistance-more-easily-thanks-to-the-new-3squaresvt-in-a-snap-program,"Vermont Seniors Can Now Get Food Assistance More Easily, Thanks to the New 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP Program",2020-10-02,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Vermont Seniors Can Now Get Food Assistance More Easily, Thanks to the New 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP Program Friday, October 2, 2020 BURLINGTON, October 2 Beginning October 1st, 2020, Vermont seniors applying for 3SquaresVT are able to use a simple application and benefit renewal process as part of the new 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP program. The easy to use application is available to individuals and households age 60 or older and persons with disabilities. 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP is an improvement to the State's food assistance program,saysKaty Davis, Community Health Initiatives Director at Hunger Free Vermont. Traditional applications can be lengthy to complete, and the benefit renewal process often burdensome, leaving many Vermonters' benefits to lapse. The new program will streamline applications and allow recipients to retain benefits for up to three years without additional paperwork. For too long, a complex application process has prevented older Vermonters from receiving benefits. With hunger on the rise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress made important changes to the SNAP program, known locally as 3SquaresVT , that make it much easier for older Vermonters to access nutritious foods. In contrast to critical emergency food distribution efforts and invaluable contributions by the charitable food system, SNAP is one of the best, most sustainable food supports Vermonters can feel confident about. In the richest country in the history of the world, no one should ever have to worry about going to bed hungry. Period. But as so many people are struggling right now to put food on the table, I strongly urge older Vermonters to see if you qualify for 3SquaresVT,saidSenator Bernie Sanders, a long-time champion of nutrition assistance programs. We are dealing with the worst health crisis and economic crisis in our lifetimes. Today, as 29 million Americans are struggling with hunger and millions of seniors are trying to get by on fixed incomes, I want every Vermonter to know that I am continuing to fight to expand critically important anti-hunger programs, like Meals on Wheels, school nutrition, and SNAP,Sanders continued. In addition to alleviating hunger, 3SquaresVT also plays a vital role in stimulating the local economy, generating income for grocery stores and farmers, and supporting many front-line workers through our food network.During the 2009 Recession, for every $1 increase in 3SquaresVT benefits, an estimated $1.70 was generated in economic activity*. The program is federally funded, and individual benefits do not impact benefits for others or diminish support for state-level initiatives such as education, housing, or health care. (*Moody's Analytics, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) To learn more about programs that can help you access food, simply call: Helpline (Age 60+): 1-800-642-5119 All others (under 60): Dial 2-1-1 Vermonters who are having trouble with a federal program or agency can call the Office of Senator Sanders for assistance at 802-862-0697 or toll-free in state at 800-339-9834 Contact: Katy Davis, Community Health Initiatives Director Organization: Hunger Free Vermont, Chittenden County Hunger Council Phone: 802.231.1086 Email: kdavis@hungerfreevt.org Website: www.hungerfreevt.org",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-vermont-seniors-can-now-get-food-assistance-more-easily,Sanders: Vermont seniors can now get food assistance more easily,2020-10-02,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders: Vermont seniors can now get food assistance more easily Friday, October 2, 2020 Beginning October 1, 2020, Vermont seniors applying for 3SquaresVT are able to use a simple application and benefit renewal process as part of the new 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP program. The easy to use application is available to individuals and households age 60 or older and persons with disabilities. 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP is an improvement to the State's food assistance program, says Katy Davis, Community Health Initiatives Director at Hunger Free Vermont. Traditional applications can be lengthy to complete, and the benefit renewal process often burdensome, leaving many Vermonters' benefits to lapse. The new program will streamline applications and allow recipients to retain benefits for up to three years without additional paperwork. For too long, a complex application process has prevented older Vermonters from receiving benefits. With hunger on the rise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress made important changes to the SNAP program, known locally as 3SquaresVT , that make it much easier for older Vermonters to access nutritious foods. In contrast to critical emergency food distribution efforts and invaluable contributions by the charitable food system, SNAP is one of the best, most sustainable food supports Vermonters can feel confident about. In the richest country in the history of the world, no one should ever have to worry about going to bed hungry. Period. But as so many people are struggling right now to put food on the table, I strongly urge older Vermonters to see if you qualify for 3SquaresVT, said Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time champion of nutrition assistance programs. We are dealing with the worst health crisis and economic crisis in our lifetimes. Today, as 29 million Americans are struggling with hunger and millions of seniors are trying to get by on fixed incomes, I want every Vermonter to know that I am continuing to fight to expand critically important anti-hunger programs, like Meals on Wheels, school nutrition, and SNAP, Sanders continued. In addition to alleviating hunger, 3SquaresVT also plays a vital role in stimulating the local economy, generating income for grocery stores and farmers, and supporting many front-line workers through our food network.During the 2009 Recession, for every $1 increase in 3SquaresVT benefits, an estimated $1.70 was generated in economic activity*. The program is federally funded, and individual benefits do not impact benefits for others or diminish support for state-level initiatives such as education, housing, or health care. (*Moody's Analytics, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/are-you-ready-for-a-radical-idea,Are You Ready For A Radical Idea?,2020-10-01,2020,2020-10,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Are You Ready For A Radical Idea? Are you ready for a radical idea? Billionaires in the United States should not be paying less in taxes than nurses, teachers, firefighters and truck drivers. It's time to tax the $845 billion in wealth gains 643 billionaires made during the pandemic and expand Medicare to all.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-scotus-nomination,Sanders Statement on Supreme Court Nomination,2020-09-26,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Supreme Court Nomination Saturday, September 26, 2020 BURLINGTON, September 26 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: ""President Trump and Senate Republicans have badly mismanaged a deadly pandemic for months. Now, in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, they are willing to ram through a Supreme Court nomineewithin dayswho will vote to destroy the Affordable Care Act, kick millions of Americans off their health care, and eliminate protections for millions more who have preexisting conditions. This is an absolute outrage. ""The American people will not stand for this cynical effort to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, just days before an election, with someone who will roll back basic protections for women, workers, voters, people of color, the LGBT community, and our environment. I strongly oppose this nomination and we must fight as hard as we can to ensure that this nominee is not confirmed.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-supreme-court-nomination,Sanders Statement on Supreme Court Nomination,2020-09-26,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Supreme Court Nomination Saturday, September 26, 2020 BURLINGTON, September 26 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: ""President Trump and Senate Republicans have badly mismanaged a deadly pandemic for months. Now, in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, they are willing to ram through a Supreme Court nomineewithin dayswho will vote to destroy the Affordable Care Act, kick millions of Americans off their health care, and eliminate protections for millions more who have preexisting conditions. This is an absolute outrage. ""The American people will not stand for this cynical effort to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, just days before an election, with someone who will roll back basic protections for women, workers, voters, people of color, the LGBT community, and our environment. I strongly oppose this nomination and we must fight as hard as we can to ensure that this nominee is not confirmed.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/must-watch-sanders-take-trump-threat-to-us-democracy-seriously,Must Watch: Sanders: Take Trump Threat To U.S. Democracy Seriously,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Must Watch: Sanders: Take Trump Threat To U.S. Democracy Seriously Thursday, September 24, 2020 Senator Bernie Sanders talks with Rachel Maddow about why Donald Trump's efforts to delegitimize the 2020 election should be taken seriously and the nightmare scenario he is most concerned about for Election Night.Watch here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/live-sens-gillibrand-and-sanders-talk-postalbanking-2020-09-24,LIVE: Sens. Gillibrand and Sanders Talk PostalBanking,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"LIVE: Sens. Gillibrand and Sanders Talk PostalBanking Join me and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand as we introduce the Postal Banking Act. Together, we will guarantee basic banking services to allno outrageous fees or interest ratesall at your local post office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/senate-republicans-brazen-hypocrisy-on-the-supreme-court,Senate Republicans' Brazen Hypocrisy on the Supreme Court,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Republicans' Brazen Hypocrisy on the Supreme Court Here's what Senate Republicans said when they blocked President Obama's Supreme Court nominee. Do they have any integrity? The right thing to do for this vacancy is clear, and Senate Republicans know it. They've stated it clearer than I could.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bolivias-left-could-win-an-upcoming-election-us-democrats-dont-want-a-repeat-of-last-years-crisis,Bolivias Left Could Win an Upcoming Election. U.S. Democrats Dont Want a Repeat of Last Years Crisis.,2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"A year after staging an election mired in controversy, Bolivia may be on the verge of doing it all over again. Following multiple postponements by the country's caretaker regime, elections are slated for Oct. 18. Current polling shows a clear lead for Socialist presidential candidate Luis Arce over centrist former president Carlos Mesa and a slate of other candidates. If Arce wins at least 40 percent of the vote by a 10 percent margin over his nearest rival, he would avoid the possibility of a runoff. It would mark a dramatic reversal of political fortunes for the country's left after long-ruling former president Evo Morales wasforced to flee last November. At the time, Morales's opponents alleged the results of the October 2019 election had been manipulated to deliver him a margin of victory not actually achieved. Their case was buttressed by a report put out by the Organization of American States, an influential hemispheric body headquartered in Washington, that said evidence of electoral irregularities forced them to question the integrity of the results. Mass protests in the country and a police mutiny eventually prompted Morales to bow to pressure and leave for exile, and ushered in an interim government led by right-wing lawmaker Jeanine ez. Both liberals and conservatives abroadcheered this ostensible display of people powerat the time andscolded those who branded events in Bolivia a coup pointing, instead, to Morales's earlier refusal to heed the result of a 2016 referendum limiting his terms in power. The White House celebrated the fall of a leftist government. We are now one step closer to a completely democratic, prosperous, and free Western Hemisphere, declared President Trump. But things were perhaps not quite what they seemed. Aez,known to espouse racist, anti-Indigenous views, went on to preside over an interim regime that wheeled viciously against political opponents and Morales supporters. These included myriad reports of police brutality and murders of civilians by security forces. Fresh elections planned for May were deferred multiple times, as the caretaker government floundered in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, tens of thousands of people took to the streets,setting up blockades in angerover what they perceived as the usurper regime's bid to cling to power. Last week, Aez announced that she would drop out of the presidential race months after breaking a commitment to not run in the first place to not undermine the right-wing vote. I'm doing this because of a risk that the vote gets divided between various candidates, Aez said ina national addressplaced on social media. It's not a sacrifice, it's an honor. Nevertheless, her administration is reeling. There have been frequent cases of corruption, includingthe arrest of a health ministerin connection with the overpricing of ventilators for the treatment of Covid-19,wrote Diego von Vacano, a Latin America expert at Texas A&M University. Moreover, asHarvard's International Human Rights ClinicandAmnesty Internationalhave shown, there have been widespread human rights abuses, including restrictions to freedom of speech and excessive use of force, during Aez's tenure."" The Trump administration's lack of focus on the course of events in Bolivia after Morales left was a sign of its broader regional agenda. Washington's response or the lack thereof reflects what analysts say is the most ideological policy on Latin America by an American administration since the region's shift toward democracy in the 1980s and early 1990s,my colleagues reported in March. Critics say the Trump administration has played down a wave of repression unleashed by ez in Bolivia, the killings of left-wing community leaders in Colombia, shootings by police in poor Brazilian neighborhoods, and the alleged drug-trafficking links and human rights abuses of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernndez. All are countries run by conservative, pro-Trump governments. Moreover, in the months since Morales's ouster,separate studiescalled into questionthe accuracy ofthe OAS's assessment. The OAS allegations were indeed the main political foundation of the coup, and they continued for months,wrote Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank in Washington that produced a number of reports rebutting the OAS's flawed statistical analyses. An official at the OAS declined to comment on the record to Today's WorldView about the recent complaints but pointed toa June statement the organization put outin response toa separate New York Times storythat was critical of the organization's role in the election. The statement defended the OAS's actions, derided its critics as leftist propagandists and accused the Times of trying to deny the Bolivian People the possibility of electing a new president that is not Evo Morales. That's not good enough for some lawmakers in Washington. Aletter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeoby more than two dozen Democratic members of Congress (and shown in advance exclusively to Today's WorldView) urged the Trump administration to use its voice at the OAS to advocate for a thorough, independent assessment of the OAS's statements and reports regarding Bolivia's 2019 elections, not least because the OAS draws much of its funding from the United States and is also poised to make a determination of the freedom, fairness, and integrity of the upcoming elections. The letter's principal signatories included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). The Organization of American States' decision last year to declare Bolivia's election fraudulent on the basis of questionable evidence helped fuel a crisis of democracy and human rights that Bolivians are experiencing to this day, Sanders told Today's WorldView. Bolivia's post-coup government carried out racist violence against indigenous people, imprisoned activists, and threatened political opponents. What more than two dozen of my colleagues and I are demanding is that the United States government take responsibility for what is done with our taxpayer dollars and wield oversight over the OAS, Sanders added. Securing accountability and transparency from the OAS is vital to a free and fair election in Bolivia next month. Away from Washington, the stakes are even higher. Bolivia faces a grave sociopolitical crisis, which puts the country at a crossroads, said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International,in a statement earlier this summer. The nation's only viable means of emerging from this crisis is to put the human rights of all its people at the center of its response. Otherwise, the population, especially historically marginalized groups, are condemned to spiraling violence and continuing violations of their rights.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-dos-docenas-de-legisladores-piden-responsabilidad-de-la-oea-para-garantizar-elecciones-justas-en-bolivia,"Sanders, Dos Docenas de Legisladores Piden Responsabilidad de la OEA Para Garantizar Elecciones Justas en Bolivia",2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Dos Docenas de Legisladores Piden Responsabilidad de la OEA Para Garantizar Elecciones Justas en Bolivia Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (Read the version in English here.) El senador Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), la representante Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), el representante Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) y la representante Deb Haaland (DN.M.) lideran una carta bicameral enviada hoy al Secretario de Estado Mike Pompeo. En dicha carta, junto a dos docenas de miembros del Congreso, le piden al Departamento de Estado que lleve a cabo una revisin completa e independiente de la Organizacin de Estados Americanos (OEA) con respecto a sus acciones en noviembre pasado que contribuyeron a un importante deterioro respecto a derechos humanos y democracia en Bolivia. Los miembros del Congreso expresaron su ""profunda preocupacin"" por la ""falta de responsabilidad y transparencia"" de la OEA con respecto a las denuncias ampliamente refutadas de fraude electoral en Bolivia el ao pasado. El New York Times inform que estas afirmaciones iniciales de la OEA fueron ""aprovechadas"" para ""intensificar las protestas, reunir apoyo internacional y expulsar al [presidente] Morales del poder con apoyo militar semanas despus"". Las autoridades no electas, reconocidas rpidamente por el Secretario General de la OEA, han promovido una agenda racista, anti-indgena y desplegado militares para reprimir violentamente las protestas, resultando en la muerte y heridas de muchos civiles, escribieron los congresistas, citando un informe realizado por la Clnica Internacional de Derechos Humanos en la Facultad de Derecho de Harvard. Por muchos meses, la OEA se ha ""negado a responder preguntas bsicas"" de los miembros del Congreso sobre sus reclamos, a pesar del rol del Congreso en la apropiacin ""de la mayor parte del presupuesto de la OEA"", expresaron los legisladores. Dado que la OEA est preparada para tomar una determinacin sobre la libertad, la justicia y la integridad de las prximas elecciones en Bolivia bajo un gobierno represivo y no electo, los legisladores instan a la administracin a usar su voz en la OEA para abogar por una evaluacin exhaustiva e independiente de las declaraciones de la OEA y asegurar que se tomen las medidas correctivas para asegurar que las futuras misiones de observacin electoral de la OEA desempeen sus funciones de manera independiente, imparcial y profesional . La decisin de la Organizacin de Estados Americanos el ao pasado de declarar fraudulentas las elecciones en Bolivia usando evidencia cuestionable ayud a alimentar una crisis de democracia y derechos humanos que los bolivianos estn experimentando hasta el presente, dijo Sanders. El gobierno de facto que se instaur luego del golpe en Bolivia llev a cabo actos de violencia racistas contra los indgenas, encarcel a activistas y amenaz a los opositores polticos. Lo que ms de dos docenas de mis colegas y yo estamos exigiendo es que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos asuma la responsabilidad de lo que se haga con los dlares de nuestros constituyentes y ejerza supervisin sobre la OEA. Asegurar la rendicin de cuentas y la transparencia de la OEA es vital para unas elecciones libres y justas en Bolivia el prximo mes. A medida que Bolivia se acerca a sus prximas elecciones, es imperativo que la votacin se administre con responsabilidad y sin interferencias, dijo Johnson. Mis colegas y yo pedimos al Departamento de Estado que se asegure de que la Organizacin de los Estados Americanos (OEA) no repita sus errores del monitoreo de las elecciones de 2019 en Bolivia y erosione an ms la democracia y los derechos humanos en el pas. Las declaraciones engaosas de la OEA arrojaron a Bolivia en picada poltica; destituir por la fuerza a Evo Morales, el primer presidente indgena de la nacin, marcar el comienzo de una administracin racista y anti-indgena y una represin violenta y militarizada de las protestas civiles que siguieron. Esto es inaceptable y Estados Unidos no debera ser cmplice de acciones que socavan la democracia. ""Desde el da despus de las elecciones bolivianas de 2019, la OEA ha ayudado a dirigir una narrativa falsa de que el presidente en ejercicio, Evo Morales, y su partido"" manipularon ""las elecciones"", dijo la congresista Jan Schakowsky. Esta narrativa contribuy a la polarizacin poltica, un golpe militar y una violenta represin poltica en Bolivia, as como a la incertidumbre sobre el futuro de la democracia. Con las prximas elecciones acercndose rpidamente, finalmente debemos ver la rendicin de cuentas y la transparencia de la OEA, y asegurarnos de que lleve a cabo su misin de manera independiente e imparcial. Desde la renuncia forzada del presidente Morales, la extrema derecha de Bolivia ha impuesto una retrica anti-indgena daina y violencia sistemtica hacia manifestantes, grupos indgenas y afro bolivianos, dijo Haaland. La situacin actual es profundamente preocupante. Es un ataque a la democracia y los derechos humanos. El secretario Pompeo debe actuar ahora; si esperamos, Bolivia podra quedarse sin democracia en los prximos aos. La carta tambin fue firmada por los representantes Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Ilhan Omar (D- Minn.), Nydia Velzquez (D-N.Y.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Jess ""Chuy"" Garca (D-Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J .), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Jared Huffman (D- Calif.), Ral Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) Y Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Lea la carta aqu.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-two-dozen-lawmakers-call-for-oas-accountability-to-ensure-fair-elections-in-bolivia,"Sanders, Two Dozen Lawmakers Call for OAS Accountability to Ensure Fair Elections in Bolivia",2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Two Dozen Lawmakers Call for OAS Accountability to Ensure Fair Elections in Bolivia Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (Lase la versin en espaol aqu) WASHINGTON, September 22 In a bicameral letter sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) led two dozen members of Congress in calling on the State Department to pursue a full, independent review of the Organization of American States (OAS) regarding its actions last November that contributed to a major deterioration of human rights and democracy in Bolivia. The members of Congress expressed deep concern with the OAS's lack of accountability and transparency regarding the organization's widely refuted claims of electoral fraud in Bolivia last year.The New York Timesreportedthat these initial OAS claims were seized on to escalate protests, gather international support, and push [President] Morales from power with military support weeks later. The unelected authorities, quickly recognized by the OAS Secretary General, have promoted a racist, anti-indigenous agenda and deployed the military to violently repress protests, resulting in the killing and injury of many civilians,""wrote the lawmakers, citinga reportconducted by Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic. For months, the OAS has refused to answer basic questions from legislators regarding its claims despite the role of Congress in appropriating the majority of the OAS's budget, continued the lawmakers. Given that the OAS is poised to make a determination of the freedom, fairness, and integrity of the upcoming elections in Bolivia under an unelected and repressive government, the members of Congress urge the administration to use its voice at the OAS to advocate for a thorough, independent assessment of the OAS's statements, and ensure that corrective measures are taken to ensure that future OAS electoral observation missions perform their functions in an independent, impartial and professional manner."" ""The Organization of American States' decision last year to declare Bolivia's election fraudulent on the basis of questionable evidence helped fuel a crisis of democracy and human rights that Bolivians are experiencing to this day,""said Sanders.""Bolivia's post-coup government carried out racist violence against indigenous people, imprisoned activists, and threatened political opponents. What more than two dozen of my colleagues and I are demanding is that the United States government take responsibility for what is done with our taxpayer dollars and wield oversight over the OAS. Securing accountability and transparency from the OAS is vital to a free and fair election in Bolivia nextmonth."" ""Since the day after the 2019 Bolivian elections, the OAS has helped direct a false narrative that the incumbent president, Evo Morales, and his party rigged' the election,""said Schakowsky. This narrative contributed to political polarization, a military coup, and violent political repression in Bolivia as well as uncertainty for the democracy's future. With the next election fast approaching, we must finally see accountability and transparency from OAS, and ensure that it carries out its mission independently and impartially."" As Bolivia approaches their next election, it is imperative that voting be administered with accountability and free from interference,""said Johnson.""My colleagues and I are calling on the State Department to ensure that the OAS doesn't repeat their mistakes from Bolivia's 2019 election monitoring and further erode democracy and human rights in the country. The OAS's misleading statements threw Bolivia into a political tailspin, forcibly unseating Evo Moralesthe nation's first indigenous presidentand ushering in a racist, anti-indigenous administration, and the violent, militarized repression of the civilian protests that followed. This is unacceptable, and the United States should not be abetting actions that undermine democracy. ""Since President Morales' forced resignation, Bolivia's far right has levied harmful anti-Indigenous rhetoric and state violence towards protestors, Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian groups,""said Haaland.""This is an attack on democracy and human rights. Secretary Pompeo must act nowif we wait, Bolivia may be left without a democracy for years to come."" The letter was also signed by Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Nydia Velzquez (D-N.Y.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Jess Chuy Garca (D-Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ral Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Read the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-passing-of-justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg,Sanders Statement on Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday, September 18, 2020 BURLINGTON, September 18 Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: ""The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a tremendous loss to our country. She was an extraordinary champion of justice and equal rights, and will be remembered as one of the great justices in modern American history. ""Unfortunately, we've already heard tonight from Sen. McConnell that he has decided to go against Justice Ginsburg's dying wishes and violate his own past statements in order to bring a judge nominated by President Trump to the floor of the United States Senate. ""That's in direct contradiction of his statement in 2016, when he said Supreme Court nominees should not be voted on during a presidential election year: Our view is this: Give the people a voice in filling this vacancy,' he said. McConnell is cementing a shameful legacy of brazen hypocrisy. ""Thankfully not all Senate Republicans agree. ""Just today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski came out against an appointment this close to an election. I would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee,' she said. We are 50 some days away from an election.' In addition, several of McConnell's other colleagues have previously stated they're against confirming a new justice this close to an election. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in May, You can't have one rule for Democratic presidents and another rule for Republican presidents.' Sen. Susan Collins said, I think that's too close, I really do,' when asked by The New York Times about appointing a justice in October. ""But no one has been clearer than Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Lindsay Graham. He promised in 2018 that if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, we'll wait to the next election.' ""The right thing to do here is clear. The Republicans in the Senate know it, and many of them have stated it clearer than I could. We should let voters decide. Period.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-vermont-became-a-model-for-the-country-in-responding-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic,How Vermont Became a 'Model for the Country' in Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Vermont Became a 'Model for the Country' in Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic By: Meredith Deliso Thursday, September 17, 2020 It's mid-September, and Dr. Mark Levine is feeling really good. Vermont, where he serves as the state'shealthcommissioner, has had the lowest rate of new COVID-19 cases and test positivity in the country for several weeks now. As of Wednesday, there were only three patients hospitalized in the state for the virus, and Vermont's last reported COVID-19 death was on July 28. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's foremost infectious disease expert, touted Vermont's COVID-19 response on Tuesday during a press briefing with Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, saying the state ""should be the model for the country"" on ""opening up the economy in a safe and prudent way."" But despite the state's success -- and also because of it -- Levine doesn't want Vermonters to let their guard down. ""Just because we're in a good place -- we know that this virus is a formidable foe,"" the health commissioner told ABC News. As the fall approaches, bringing anticipated tourism to the state as well as concerns about a ""twindemic"" of COVID-19 and the flu, the state is continuing to follow its playbook for a cautious, data-driven reopening that continually stresses the basics of handwashing, physically distancing and avoiding congregate settings. It's a playbook that officials stress doesn't rely on the state's small size to provide any advantages. Vermont is one of the most rural states in the country, and one of the smallest by population -- though public health experts are quick to dismiss those as playing major parts in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the state. ""At first, nationwide, people thought that rural would protect you. But that myth was dispelled later on, particularly in the late spring and summer, when all the southern and western states had their surge,"" Levine said. ""Here, we don't believe the rural nature has been protective by any means."" ""Rural helps, but is most definitely not the whole story,"" Dr. Jan Carney, associate dean for public health and health policy at the University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine, told ABC News. For the past several weeks, Vermont has had the lowest rate of new cases and test positivity in the country, based on weekly reports from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In the latest report, dated Sept. 13, Vermont was the only state to be in the ""green zone"" for both cases (indicating fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 population) and positivity rate (indicating a rate below 5%). ""Vermont continues to have excellent epidemic control,"" the report noted. According to the state health department, Vermont's positivity rate has held steady at around 0.2% for several months, and it has the lowest rate of total COVID-19 infection in the country, with 261 cases per 100,000 people versus the national average of 1,845 per 100,000. Levine noted three factors that have helped Vermont get to this point. For one, the state overall tends to be relatively healthy, he said, pointing to studies by organizations like the Commonwealth Fund. In the foundation'slatest scorecardon state health system performance, looking at indicators such as access to health care, quality of care and health outcomes, Vermont ranked fifth in the country. ""Vermonters have a history of prioritizing health,"" Levine said. During the pandemic, residents' compliance with behaviors like frequent hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing has been ""really paramount,"" he said. Another factor: Early in the pandemic, the state knew that it ""needed to actively and proactively protect the most vulnerable,"" Levine said. Among those measures, the state has focused contact tracing and testing efforts in long-term care facilities and offered universal testing at group-living facilities. Lastly, the state acted quickly to introduce social distancing measures, such as closing schools and restaurants and reducing the size of mass gatherings -- and it didn't start reopening ""until we thought we were at a sufficient level of virus suppression,"" Levine said. The worst of the pandemic in Vermont, by several metrics, was early on. The daily number of reported COVID-19 cases peaked on April 3, and the highest percentage of positive cases, 11%, came in late March, according to data from the health department. The state only started loosening restrictions toward the end of April, as the rate of spread slowed. ""Many states have basically just said, 'We're going to just reopen,' and they had lots of virus and high percent positivities when they chose to do that,"" Levine said. ""Our stance was that public health and safety was paramount, and we would reopen when we had suppressed the virus. It was a very cautious reopening, it was a very phased and gradual reopening."" Gov. Scott has often likened that approach to incrementally ""turning the spigot"" -- reopening one sector, waiting two weeks and watching the data, and then opening the next sector, and so on. ""That's gotten us to where we are, which is a really good place,"" Levine said. Foundation of teamwork Vermont is among a minority of states to have a centralized public health system, which in this case may have also helped in its pandemic response, public health experts said. ""It is a consistent message, and consistent application of policies and consistent ways that we can interact with populations on a local level,"" Levine said. For Carney, who served as the state's commissioner of health from 1989 to 2003, that teamwork between government, medical experts and social service organizations in the state has been crucial. ""When something happens like a pandemic, you don't have to develop them new, you build on the relationships that you have,"" Carney said. ""There's this foundation of teamwork and concern about health that has served us well in the past and is one of our absolute strengths right now."" Levine said the state has been leaning on those relationships as it works to address disproportionate rates of COVID-19 cases in Hispanic and African-American populations, including working with community organizations to spread public health messaging. Tourism and 'twindemic' Vermont has continued to slowly turn the spigot, with K-12 schools and college campuses reopening in recent weeks. The state is in discussions to further open up the hospitality industry, as leaf-peeping and ski seasons approach. ""A big threat in Vermont is travel,"" Levine said. ""We want to do it right and still allow people to have a pleasant time and come to Vermont to do what they want to do, and have Vermonters be able to do what they want to do."" Levine said the state plans to offer guidance on a ""thoughtful and cautious"" hospitality reopening soon. In August, the governor also instituted a statewide mask mandate in anticipation of increased travel to Vermont. In announcing the order, Scott said he felt ""we need to act now to protect our gains, which have allowed us to reopen much of our economy."" Another concern for the fall is the flu. Experts are bracing for what some have called a ""twindemic"" of COVID-19 and the flu being active at the same time. ""We do really want people to get their flu shot now more than ever,"" Levine said. To that end, he said, the state is trying to make it ""as easy as possible"" to get the vaccine, and is currently working to set up flu shot locations beyond the usual pharmacies and doctor's offices. Being vigilant about behaviors like mask-wearing and social distancing will also continue to be key, experts said. ""Don't get careless,"" Fauci advised on Tuesday. ""It's going to be challenging as you get into the fall and the winter, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to have a problem if you do the kind of prudent public health measures that you've been doing."" It's a message that is applicable everywhere, not just Vermont, Carney said. ""It's so fundamental -- hand washing and wearing cloth face coverings and keeping physically distant from people whenever possible and being able to do that over a long period of time,"" she said. ""It's really important, as the winter comes into play, and as more people are inside, and as we approach flu season -- we have to stick with it and keep working at it for the foreseeable future.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/democrats-sound-alarm-on-possible-election-chaos,Democrats Sound Alarm on Possible Election Chaos,2020-09-07,2020,2020-09,Independent,Senate,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Democrats Sound Alarm on Possible Election Chaos By: Max Greenwood Monday, September 7, 2020 Democrats are bracing for potential chaos on Election Day, fearing that the combined force ofPresident Trump's warnings of voter fraud and the expected influx of absentee ballots will lead to a bitter and protracted fight over the election's results. The party has been concerned for months about Trump's efforts to sow doubt in mail-in and absentee voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. But two developments this week renewed and worsened those fears. A top Democratic digital firm warned of a potential red mirage on Election Night, in which in-person vote tallies show Trump in the lead until mail-in ballots counted after Nov. 3 swing the race in the direction of former Vice PresidentJoe Biden. And on Wednesday, Trump suggested that supporters attempt to vote twice by mail and in person to test the ability of election systems to detect fraud, prompting an outcry from state officials who warned that casting more than one ballot is illegal. Taken together, the concerns add up to what Democrats fear will be an election mired in confusion and potential uncertainty. I don't think people have fully grasped how difficult and challenging the Trump campaign is going to try to make the administration of this election, Guy Cecil, the chair of the largest Democratic super PAC, Priorities USA, told reporters in a video briefing this week. Democratic operatives and officials in some battleground states are already taking steps to reassure voters that their election systems are up to expectations. After Trump suggested this week that his supporters try to cast two ballots, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson released a statement emphasizing that the state's election system has already been stress-tested and includes protections to ensure that each person gets only one vote. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, called Trump's remarks on voting troubling, accusing him of trying to undermine people's faith in the integrity of our elections. There are also fears among Democrats that Trump may try to call the vote count itself into question, given the expected surge in mail voting this year and the possibility that many ballots may not be counted on Election Day. More Democrats are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year than Republicans, given concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and Trump's previous claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud. A Quinnipiac University pollreleased this weekunderscored the difference between voters, with 51 percent of Democrats saying they plan to vote by mail and 64 percent of Republicans saying they will vote in person. In an interview this week with Axios on HBO, Josh Mendelsohn, the CEO of the Democratic data and analytics firm Hawkfish, warned of a situation in which the vote count on election night could show a massive victory for Trump. But after mail-in and absentee votes are counted, he said, it will show that Trump's election night lead was a mirage. ""We are sounding an alarm and saying that this is a very real possibility, that the data is going to show on election night an incredible victory for Donald Trump,"" Mendelsohntold Axios. When every legitimate vote is tallied and we get to that final day, which will be some day after Election Day, it will in fact show that what happened on election night was exactly that, a mirage,"" Mendelsohn said. ""It looked like Donald Trump was in the lead and he fundamentally was not when every ballot gets counted."" A pollreleased this weekby The Guardian and Opinium Research underscored the extent of Democrats' fears that Trump could refuse to accept the outcome of the November election if it's not in his favor. Three in four respondents who support Biden in the presidential race said they are worried about the possibility of Trump rejecting the election results, compared to only 30 percent of Trump's supporters, the poll found. Thea McDonald, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, said that the president is fighting for a free, fair, transparent election in which every valid ballots counts once, and accused Democrats of trying to create a pretext for rejecting the election results themselves. Rather than peddling conspiracy theories and paving the way for Joe Biden to refuse to accept the results when President Trump wins, just asHillary Clintondid four years ago, Democrats ought to take responsibility for their attempts to throw our electoral system into chaos 60 days out from Election Day, McDonald said in a statement to The Hill. Democrats say that Trump has already laid the groundwork for questioning the election's legitimacy, pointing to his rhetoric around the gubernatorial and Senate elections in Florida in 2018. That year, the Election Day vote count showed Republicans Rick Scott andRon DeSantisleading their Democratic opponents. But the results narrowed in the days that followed as more absentee ballots were counted, prompting Trump to cry foul play and demand that the races be called based on the Election Day vote. The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged, Trump tweeted. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night! Ultimately, Scott defeated former Sen.Bill Nelson(D-Fla.) by about 10,000 votes, while DeSantis beat Democrat Andrew Gillum in the governor's race by roughly 32,000 votes. The 2020 presidential race is also shaping up to be a close one. Several public polls released this week showed Biden with a sizable national lead over Trump. But the margins separating the two candidates in key battleground states are tightening. A Quinnipiac Universitysurvey of Florida, for instance, placed Biden only 3 points ahead of Trump. In Pennsylvania,a Monmouth University pollshowed the former vice president with a scant 4-point lead. And in North Carolina,another Monmouth pollput them within 2 points of one another. Everybody's asking me: Do you trust the polls, do you feel confident about Biden's chances?' "" one veteran Democratic operative in Florida said. I keep saying, yes, I trust the polls. What I don't trust is the president.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z