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://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/old-man-wanted-more-than-money-in-branson-bank-robbery,Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery By: Harrison Keegan Thursday, December 31, 2015 Joseph Cyrus could barelyget the words out. He knew what he wanted to say, but he didn't want to break down in the courtroom. Cyrus' lawyer told him it was OK. Hecould wait until the sentencing hearing in a few months if he wanted.But the 77-year-oldCyrus couldn't wait. A proud man, Cyruscouldn't go another day without explaining himself. ""I wanted to be caught, your honor,"" Cyrus said from his wheelchair last month at the federal courthouse in Springfield.""I wanted to get some help from the United States government."" A masked Cyrus robbed the Central Bank on James Epps Road in Branson on Oct. 16, pointing what he says wasa plastic BBgunat the tellers. The reason he committed the crime, he said, was to get access to health care in the federal prison system. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/for-the-wealthiest-a-private-tax-system-that-saves-them-billions,"For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions By: NOAM SCHEIBER and PATRICIA COHEN Tuesday, December 29, 2015 WASHINGTON The hedge fund magnates Daniel S. Loeb, Louis Moore Bacon andSteven A. Cohenhave much in common. They have managed billions of dollars in capital, earning vast fortunes. They have invested millions in art and millions more in political candidates. Moreover, each has exploited an esoteric tax loophole that saved them millions in taxes. The trick? Route the money to Bermuda and back. With inequality at its highest levels in nearly a century and public debate rising over whether the government should respond to it through higher taxes on the wealthy, the very richest Americans have financed a sophisticated and astonishingly effective apparatus for shielding their fortunes. Some call it the income defense industry, consisting of a high-priced phalanx of lawyers, estate planners, lobbyists and anti-tax activists who exploit and defend a dizzying array of tax maneuvers, virtually none of them available to taxpayers of more modest means. In recent years, this apparatus has become one of the most powerful avenues of influence for wealthy Americans of all political stripes, including Mr. Loeb and Mr. Cohen, who give heavily to Republicans, and the liberal billionaireGeorge Soros, who has called for higher levies on the richwhile at the same time usingtax loopholes to bolster his own fortune. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/new-minimum-wages-in-the-new-year,New Minimum Wages in the New Year,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"New Minimum Wages in the New Year By: The Editorial Boarrd Monday, December 28, 2015 In five states and nine cities including California, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C. voters and lawmakers will consider proposals in 2016 to gradually raise minimum wages to $15 an hour. The ballot initiatives and pending legislation will build on momentum from this year, in which 14 states and localities used laws, executive orders and other procedures to lift wages for all or part of their work forces to $15 an hour. In New York City, for instance, the minimum wage for workers in fast food and state government will rise to $10.50 on New Years Eve, and to $15 by the end of 2018. In the rest of New York, the minimum for those workers will reach $15 an hour in mid-2021. InLos Angeles County, including the city of Los Angeles, the minimum wage for most workers will rise to $10.50 by mid-2016 and to $15 by mid-2020. Seattle and San Francisco are also phasing in citywide minimums of $15 an hour, while five other cities Buffalo and Rochester in New York; Greensboro, N.C.; Missoula, Mont.; and Pittsburgh are gradually raising their minimums to $15 for city workers. Minimum-wage raises are examples of states and cities leading in the absence of leadership by Congress, which has kept the federal minimum at $7.25 an hour since 2009. State and local increases are also potent shapers of public perception. It was only three years ago that a walkout by 200 or sofast-food workersin New York City began theFight for $15, now a nationwide effort to raise pay and support unions. Two years ago SeaTac, Wash., home to an international airport,voted inthe nations first $15-an-hour minimum for some 6,500 workers in the city, on and off airport property. Since then, $15 an hour has gone from a slogan to a benchmark. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-20-people-now-own-as-much-wealth-as-half-of-all-americans,20 People Now Own As Much Wealth as Half of All Americans,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"And theres a stark racial divide at the top. The 100 richest households own more assets than the entire African-American community (there are just two black people on theForbes400 list, one of whom is Oprah Winfrey). And just 182 individuals on theForbeslist have more assets than Americas entire Hispanic population. But Chuck Collins, director of IPSs Program on Inequality and the Common Good and a co-author of the report, tellsThe Nationthat their study likely underestimates the scope of the problem. Our wealth data is a tip of the iceberg, he says. So much wealth among the ber-rich is hidden, either in offshore tax havens or in these loophole trusts where money is shuffled around into private corporate accounts or between different family members, and it disappears from taxation or any sort of oversight or accountability.So theres a huge amount of escaped wealth that isnt even factored into these statistics. And Collins says its only getting worse. These inequalities really undermine our quality of life, he says. We need to explain to people who say So what, I dont care how much theForbes400 has that it really does touch on all of our lives, deeply and profoundly.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/now-its-even-easier-for-candidates-and-their-aides-to-help-super-pacs,Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs By: Matea Gold Saturday, December 26, 2015 The Federal Election Commission has quietly given the green light to federal candidates who want to solicit contributions for super PACs by meeting in small groups so small that there can be just two other people in the room. In addition, the little-noticed advisory opinion gives permission to a candidates campaign consultant and other aides to solicit large donations for a super PAC, as long as they make clear that they are not making the request at the direction of the candidate. The decisions which came in response to a request from two Democratic super PACs, including one with close ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) further erode the boundary between campaigns and their independent allies at a time when they are already engaged in unprecedented collaboration. Federal candidates are still not permitted to explicitly ask a donor to give more than $5,000 to a super PAC. But the latest decision means that an elected official or candidate can meet privately with just one wealthy donor and one super PAC operative to discuss fundraising for the group, said Ellen Weintraub, one of two Democrats on the six-member panel who opposed loosening the rules. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-shutting-down-planned-parenthood-would-catapult-women-into-poverty,Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty By: Bryce Covert Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Already forgotten in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shootings is a more persistent terrorist threat to average Americans: right-wing extremists. Robert Lewis Dear, who shot and killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has since pleaded guilty to being a warrior for the babies. His actions follow a long tradition of violence against abortion providers. That violence is increasing: The number of clinics reporting threats and targeted intimidation has increased from about 25 percent to more than 50 percent since 2010. Dears terrorism hasnt affected the GOPs congressional crusade against the womens-healthcare provider, however. Immediately after the shooting, Senate Republicans said they would proceed with efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which currently receives about $500 million from the federal government. About 80 percent of Planned Parenthoods clients are low-income (which is measured as being at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line). Unintended pregnancies among poor women have been increasing, while those among well-off women are falling. What terrorists like Dear and Republicans in Congress want is basically the same: to shut down Planned Parenthood and deny women access to abortions. If they got their wish, it would serve only to make poor women poorer and increase the number of unintended pregnancies. Indeed, unintended pregnancies are already concentrated among low-income women, an imbalance that has been increasing. The rate of such pregnancies among women with incomes below the poverty line jumped 56 percent from 1994 to 2008, while for higher-income women it actually fell by 24 percent. In 2008, the unintended-pregnancy rate for poor women was more than five times that of the most well-off. All of this means that poor women have higher rates of unplanned births as well as abortionssix times and five times higher, respectivelythan women at the other end of the income scale. Poor women also have fewer places to turn for affordable contraception and reproductive careexcept for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed,"Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed By: Sen. Bernie Sanders Wednesday, December 23, 2015 WALL STREET is still out of control. Seven years ago, theFederal Reserveand the Treasury Department bailed out the largest financial institutions in this country because they were considered too big to fail. But almost every one is bigger today than it was before the bailout. If any were to fail again, taxpayers could be on the hook for another bailout, perhaps a larger one this time. To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates. The recent decision by the Fed to raise interest rates is the latest example of the rigged economic system. Big bankers and their supporters in Congress have been telling us for years that runaway inflation is just around the corner. They have been dead wrong each time. Raising interest rates now is a disaster for small business owners who need loans to hire more workers and Americans who need more jobs and higher wages. As a rule, the Fed should not raise interest rates until unemployment is lower than 4 percent. Raising rates must be done only as a last resort not to fight phantom inflation. What went wrong at the Fed? The chief executives of some of the largest banks in America are allowed to serve on its boards. During the Wall Street crisis of 2007, Jamie Dimon, the chief executive and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, served on the New York Feds board of directors while his bank received more than $390 billion in financial assistance from the Fed. Next year, four of the 12 presidents at the regional Federal Reserve Banks will be former executives from one firm: Goldman Sachs. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/122315,News December 23,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 23 Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders: Fix the Fed To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates, Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote in The New York Times. Sandra BlandSen. Sanders said late Monday night that Sandra Bland would not have died in police custody if she were a white women, CNN, The Associated Press, The Guardian, Houston Chronicle and The Huffington Post reported. Unlikely Alliance Sen. Sanders spends much of his time railing against millionaires and billionaires, but he has different sentiments when speaking about one of the richest men in Burlington, Tony Pomerleau, Burlington Free Press reported. World Ramadi For the first time, Iraqi forces engaged Islamic State fighters within the city center of Ramadi on Tuesday, reaching the edge of the inner government district in an attempt to seize the critical western provincial capital after months of approach and maneuvering, The New York Times reported. National Virginia Gun Safety Virginia will no longer recognize concealed-handgun permits issued by 25 other states, its attorney general announced Tuesday, a stark change in a state known for its expansive gun rights, The New York Times reported. Vermont GMOs The latest attempt in Congress to block states from passing GMO labeling laws has failed. Its good news for Vermont, which is poised to become the first state in the country to implement mandatory GMO labeling on July 1st, WAMC reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-sanders-investigation-vermont-secures-discount-on-life-saving-drug-,"Following Sanders Investigation, Vermont Secures Discount on Life-Saving Drug",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 23 Following up on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) investigation on the skyrocketing cost of generic drugs and letters the senator sent to officials urging them to seek a discount on naloxone, Vermonts attorney general signed a deal with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals for a 20 percent rebate on the drug used by first-responders as an opiate overdose antidote. The opioid abuse epidemic in our country is a public health emergency that must be addressed, and no company should jeopardize the progress being made in tackling this emergency by overcharging for a critically important drug like naloxone, said Sanders, who serves as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. It is a tragedy for my state of Vermont. It is a tragedy all over this country. The number of heroin deaths are growing very, very significantly. Drug overdose deaths hit a record high last year in the United States. Tragically, that included 83 Vermonters. Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell reached an agreement last Friday with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals to address concerns with the 2014 price increase of the opioid antidote drug naloxone. Under the agreement, Vermont will receive a $6 rebate per vial. Since last fall, Sanders and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have been investigating the increasingly high prices being charged for naloxone and other drugs. In July, Sanders and Cummings sent letters to the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, and the Associations of National Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and Attorneys General to urge their members to follow the lead of New York and other states that are demanding affordable prices for a critical drug used by first responders nationwide. We encourage all of your members to consider negotiating agreements with Amphastar to make naloxone more widely available in every state, Cummings and Sanders wrote.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-opposes-spending-package,Sanders Opposes Spending Package,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today opposing the omnibus and tax extenders bills: Millions of Americans are unemployed and working longer hours for lower wages, yet this spending package gives more tax breaks to billionaires, encourages large corporations to ship jobs overseas and makes worse an already corrupt campaign finance system. Scientists tell us that we must act immediately to combat climate change, but this bill will lift the crude oil export ban and encourage the burning of more fossil fuels. And 16 million children are living in poverty in this country, but Congress has decided to cut food and nutrition services for our most vulnerable and increase the already bloated defense budget. While there are some important and positive provisions in this bill like the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the truth is we cannot afford another spending package that expands the power and wealth of the billionaire class at the expense of everyone else. Congress must pass legislation that make our rigged political and economic systems work once again for the vast majority of Americans not just the 1 percent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121715,News December 17,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 17 Thursday, December 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Andrea Mitchell Interview MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell was joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, to discuss his plan for the American fight against ISIS. Sanders also commented on last nights Republican presidential debate. Mosque Visit Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined members of three faiths - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - at Masjid Muhammad in Washington to discuss racial and religious tensions in national politics, ABC, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, WRC-TV in Washington and National Journal reported. As a politician who has aligned himself with civil rights causes for decades, Sanders seemed comfortable talking about the issue of religious tolerance, according to The New York Times. Drug Prices A new report requested by Sen. Sanders found that Medicaid could have saved $1.4 billion over the past decade if companies were required to offer rebates whenever prices for best-selling generic drugs exceeded the inflation rate. The federal budget bill, which was passed last month, included a provision authored by Sen. Sanders and Rep. Cummings requiring generic drug makers to offer state Medicaid programs rebates tied to inflation, STAT News reported. Fed Rate Hike Sen. Sanders has critiqued the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates, stating that, The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago, The New York Times, PBSNewsHour,The Associated Press, The Hill,The Washington Post,Fortune and Business Insider reported. Bernie Beans Capitol Grounds Cafe and Roasters announced a new, special edition coffee called Bernie's Beans, named after Vermont Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders, FOX44 reported. World Cuba Cuba and the United States reached an agreement Wednesday night that will allow U.S. commercial airlines to begin operating flights to the island for the first time in decades, according to U.S. officials with knowledge of the discussion, The Washington Post reported. National Freddie Gray Trial Jurors deliberated more than 16 hours over three days but still could not reach a verdict in the trial of the first officer to face prosecution in Freddie Grays death, forcing an already-weary Baltimore to continue waiting for any resolution in a case that has strained the city for months, The Washington Post reported. Budget Deal Congressional negotiators introduced a sweeping year-end spending and tax-break package Wednesday that bursts through previously agreed budget limits with $66 billion in new spending for 2016. It also makes permanent an array of tax benefits at a cost of adding more than a half-trillion dollars to the deficit, The New York Times reported. Vermont Vermont Yankee Entergy plans to begin moving Vermont Yankees spent nuclear fuel into more stable storage two years earlier than initially expected, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/skyrocketing-generic-drug-prices-cost-taxpayers-14-billion-new-report-finds,"Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 Skyrocketing generic drug prices cost taxpayers an additional $1.4 billion over the last decade according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general, undertaken at the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Prices of top-selling generic drugs rose faster than inflation 22 percent of the time over the 10-year study. If a rebate had been applied on generic drugs rising faster than inflation Medicaid would have saved more than $700 million in 2013 and 2014 alone. It is unacceptable that Americans pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster. This report further demonstrates that we need a new approach to stop skyrocketing drug prices in this country, said Sanders. The IG report confirms that skyrocketing drug prices are not just an isolated problem caused by one or two CEOs motivated by greed, but a systemic injustice that enriches corporate executives at the expense of Americans in desperate need of their medications. Unfortunately, House Republicans have not sent a single letter to a single drug company requesting a single document to investigate these abuses, said Cummings. Sanders and Cummings Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act included in the 2015 budget deal requires generic drug manufacturers to pay back the Medicaid program if prices of their drugs rise faster than the rate of inflation. The passage of the generic drug inflationary rebate will save the federal government $1 billion over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Sanders and Cummings have urged Congress to build on the successful passage of their Medicaid rebate bill and implement prescription drug policies to counter sharp rises in drug prices.In September, they introduced legislation that would direct Medicare to negotiate drug prices, penalize drug companies that commit fraud and allow for the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada. The inspector general will conduct a follow-up study at Sanders and Cummings request that will analyze the impact of generic drug price increases on the Medicare Part D program. To read the report click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-fed-raising-interest-rates,Sanders Statement on Fed Raising Interest Rates,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Federal Reserve announced that it would raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade: When millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates is bad news for working families. At a time when real unemployment is nearly 10 percent and youth unemployment is off the charts, we need to do everything possible to create millions of good-paying jobs and raise the wages of the American people. The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/pharma-bros-latest-move-targets-latinos,Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos By: Daisy Hernandez Tuesday, December 15, 2015 After dropping $2 million on aWu-Tang Clan album, the pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli has found a new project: making an essential treatment unaffordable for poor immigrants from Latin America. Shkreli, otherwise known as pharma bro, gained notoriety earlier this year when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, increased the price of a drug used to treat AIDS patients from around $13.50 to $750. Hes now the CEO of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, which recently announced its plans to submit benznidazole, a treatment for Chagas diseasepurchased earlier this month, for Food and Drug Administration approval next year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about300,000 peoplein the United States have the deadly disease. Most of them are immigrants from Latin America, where as many as8 million peopleare infected. The third most common parasite disease in the world, Chagas, also known as the kissing bug disease, is transmitted via the painless bites of Triatomine insects. Untreated, it can lead to heart failure and death. Last year, researchers at the Baylor College of MedicineidentifiedChagas in several patients who hadnt traveled outside of the country, positing that they may have come into contact with the bugs through camping and hunting. That said, the risk of contracting the parasite in the U.S. remains small; most people who have the disease in the United States already had it when they arrived. Right now, doctors in the U.S. obtain benznidazole free of charge through the CDC. According to Rachel Cohen, the regional executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative in North America, the drug sells in Latin America for somewhere between $60 and $100 for each course of treatment. Both of these would change the moment the FDA approved benznidazole from any companyand Shkreli, in particular, seems determined to price this drug out of reach of the people who need it. In filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, KaloBioswrotethat it expects to price the Chagas drug similarly to antivirals for Hepatitis C,which can cost almost $100,000for a single course of treatment in the United States. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/middle-class-families-pillar-of-the-american-dream-are-no-longer-in-the-majority-study-finds,"Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds By: Don Lee Thursday, December 10, 2015 The nation's middle class, long a pillar of the U.S. economy and foundation of the American dream, has shrunk to the point where it no longer constitutes the majority of the adult population, according to a new major study. The Pew Research Center report released Wednesday put in sharp relief the nation's increasing income divide, which is certain to be a central issue in the 2016 presidential race. It also highlights how various economic and demographic forces have eroded long-held ideals about maintaining a strong, majority middle class. Many analysts and policymakers regard the shift as worrisome for economic and social stability. Middle-income households have been the bedrock of consumer spending, and many liberals in particular view the declining middle as part of a troubling trend of skewed income gains among the nation's richest families. Median-income voters, particularly non-college-educated men, are also at the core of billionaire Donald Trump's surprising surge in the Republican presidential campaign. His supporters' sense that their once-secure middle-class standing is in danger of slipping appears to be fueling much of the anger against the government and immigrant groups. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121015,News December 10,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 10 Thursday, December 10, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight ShowSen. Bernie Sanders thinks Donald Trump's rhetoric has no place in the United States,The Huffington Post,The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Salon, Vox, MotherJones, MSNBC, KSNV-TVin Las Vegas andWCBD-TVin Charleston reported. ""Throughout history, you've had demagogues trying to divert attention away from the real issues ... what somebody like a Trump is trying to do is divide us up,"" Sanders told Jimmy Fallon on ""The Tonight Show"" on Tuesday. New York Times Editorial BoardOn Monday,The New York Timeseditorial board asked readers to submit their questions for Sen. Sanders. During his visit to the editorial board on Tuesday, he picked one out of a hat, and a subsequent video of his response has been posted. Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Vermont's congressionaldelegation wants more time toallow public input fordismantling nuclear plants. The public comment periodruns until January 4th,but Sens. Sanders andPatrick Leahy, as well asRep. Peter Welch all saythat's not enough, according to WPTZ-TV in Burlington. World Pentagon Seeks Overseas Bases to Fight ISIS As American intelligence agencies grapple with the expansion of the Islamic State beyond its headquarters in Syria, the Pentagon has proposed a new plan to the White House to build up a string of military bases in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Middle East, The New York Times reported. National Gun Sales Fear of gun-buying restrictions has been the main driver of spikes in gun sales, far surpassing the effects of mass shootings and terrorist attacks alone, according to federal background-check data analyzed by The New York Times. Affirmative Action An affirmative action plan at the University of Texas seemed to be in trouble at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. By the end of an unusually long and tense argument, a majority of the justices appeared unpersuaded that the plan was constitutional, The New York Times reported. Chicago Mayor Demands Reforms Facing sharply escalating criticism of him and his Police Department, Mayor Rahm Emanuel used an unusually emotional address on Wednesday to call for sweeping changes in the ways the police use force, treat black residents and discipline abusive officers, The New York Times reported. Vermont Dr. Dynasaur Lobbying groups that support universal health coverage are proposing to expand the Dr. Dynasaur program to Vermonters of all income levels up to age 26, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent,Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sanders introduced the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act to create millions of jobs and drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The Sierra Club strongly supports the Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015, as well as the Clean Energy Investment and Transition Acts, Liz Perera, Sierra Club Climate policy director, said. We greatly appreciate Senator Sanders legislative leadership in tackling the climate crisis the greatest challenge of our time while also advancing new plans for ensuring jobs, justice and support for the communities affected as we transition to clean energy. These important pieces of legislation provide billions toward necessary efforts to ensure environmental and economic justice as we grow the booming clean energy economy even more. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues, with the shared goal of building a cleaner, stronger, healthier and more just economy for all American families and workers. ""As the world watches leaders negotiate a climate deal in Paris it is clear that the United States needs to promote environmental health, workers rights, and justice over the profits of Fossil Fuel Empires. With this new suite of legislation Senator Sanders is recognizing the need to rapidly transition to a new economy. Senator Sanders bills protect workers and communities while helping to build a clean energy economy on the principles of equity and justice."" --Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth. ""We applaud Senator Sanders for introducing legislation that puts a serious price on carbon pollution and sets ambitious targets for reducing the United States contribution to climate change. We are particularly heartened that the bill recognizes the importance of climate justice and seeks to help those communities already overburdened by conventional pollution. These communities are likely to be among the first and worst hit by the impacts of climate change, Marty Hayden, vice president for policy & legislation, Earthjustice. ""UCS applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act. The bill rightfully recognizes that coal miners and their families have built this nation and helped keep the lights on for more than a last centuryand that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that these workers, families, and communities share in the benefits of the emerging clean energy economy. Importantly, the bill recognizes that in addition to protecting workers and families, we must invest in coal communities to create longer term economic development in sustainable industries,"" Dr. Jeremy Richardson,senior energy analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists. The Climate Protection and Justice Act provides relief for communities of color across the United States whose health suffers from dangerous emissions, said Brent Newell, Legal Director of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment. Unlike Cap and Trades false solutions, this Act will aggressively reduce climate pollution, redirect money back to the public, and support those communities most in need. Native Alaskans and Native Americans, along with other communities of color in the United States, suffer the effects of climate change first and worst among all Americans, said Millie Hawley, President of the IRA Council for the Native Village of Kivalina, located in northwest Alaska. We deserve equitable treatment and justice, which means resources to adapt to the rapidly changing climate, to live as a people who are identified by our culture and not as a people who once were, and to continue living as we have traditionally in spite of the changes caused by the excessive use of fossil fuel. ""The Climate Protection and Justice Act (CPJA) is one of the first bills Ive seen that would put us on offense to fight humanitys greatest challenge, climate change. Senator Sanders has once again demonstrated the type of dexterity necessary to address this challenge. CPJA adroitly showcases the intersectional issues of racial, environmental and income inequality by reducing climate emissions. These issues must be addressed together to avert the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. If we want to show the world that were ready to lead, this is the type of proactive climate bill we need. I commend Senator Sanders for leading on this issue and urge Congress to pass CPJA with haste, because time is running out to act on climate,""Anthony Rogers-Wright, policy and organizing director at Environmental Action. Click here to read a one page summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click here to read a section-by-section summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click here to read the full text of the Climate Protection and Justice Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent,Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sandersintroducedthe American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act to create millions of jobs and drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The Sierra Club strongly supports the Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015, as well as the Clean Energy Investment and Transition Acts, Liz Perera, Sierra Club Climate policy director, said. We greatly appreciate Senator Sanders legislative leadership in tackling the climate crisis the greatest challenge of our time while also advancing new plans for ensuring jobs, justice and support for the communities affected as we transition to clean energy. These important pieces of legislation provide billions toward necessary efforts to ensure environmental and economic justice as we grow the booming clean energy economy even more. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues, with the shared goal of building a cleaner, stronger, healthier and more just economy for all American families and workers. ""As the world watches leaders negotiate a climate deal in Paris it is clear that the United States needs to promote environmental health, workers rights, and justice over the profits of Fossil Fuel Empires. With this new suite of legislation Senator Sanders is recognizing the need to rapidly transition to a new economy. Senator Sanders bills protect workers and communities while helping to build a clean energy economy on the principles of equity and justice."" --Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth. ""We applaud Senator Sanders for introducing legislation that puts a serious price on carbon pollution and sets ambitious targets for reducing the United States contribution to climate change. We are particularly heartened that the bill recognizes the importance of climate justice and seeks to help those communities already overburdened by conventional pollution. These communities are likely to be among the first and worst hit by the impacts of climate change, Marty Hayden, vice president for policy & legislation, Earthjustice. ""UCS applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act. The bill rightfully recognizes that coal miners and their families have built this nation and helped keep the lights on for more than a last centuryand that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that these workers, families, and communities share in the benefits of the emerging clean energy economy. Importantly, the bill recognizes that in addition to protecting workers and families, we must invest in coal communities to create longer term economic development in sustainable industries,"" Dr. Jeremy Richardson,senior energy analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists. The Climate Protection and Justice Act provides relief for communities of color across the United States whose health suffers from dangerous emissions, said Brent Newell, Legal Director of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment.Unlike Cap and Trades false solutions, this Act will aggressively reduce climate pollution, redirect money back to the public, and support those communities most in need. Native Alaskans and Native Americans, along with other communities of color in the United States, suffer the effects of climate change first and worst among all Americans, said Millie Hawley, President of the IRA Council for the Native Village of Kivalina, located in northwest Alaska. We deserve equitable treatment and justice, which means resources to adapt to the rapidly changing climate, to live as a people who are identified by our culture and not as a people who once were, and to continue living as we have traditionally in spite of the changes caused by the excessive use of fossil fuel. ""The Climate Protection and Justice Act (CPJA) is one of the first bills Ive seen that would put us on offense to fight humanitys greatest challenge, climate change. Senator Sanders has once again demonstrated the type of dexterity necessary to address this challenge. CPJA adroitly showcases the intersectional issues of racial, environmental and income inequality by reducing climate emissions. These issues must be addressed together to avert the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. If we want to show the world that were ready to lead, this is the type of proactive climate bill we need. I commend Senator Sanders for leading on this issue and urge Congress to pass CPJA with haste, because time is running out to act on climate,""Anthony Rogers-Wright, policy and organizing director at Environmental Action. Click hereto read a one page summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click hereto read a section-by-section summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click hereto read the full text of the Climate Protection and Justice Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-pfizer-set-the-cost-of-its-new-drug-at-9850-a-month,"How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month Process of setting the price for breast-cancer treatment shows arcane art behind rising U.S. drug prices By: Jonathan D. Rockoff Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Days beforePfizerInc.was to set the price for anew breast-cancer drug called Ibrance, it got a surprise: A competitor raised the monthly cost of a rival treatment by nearly a thousand dollars. Three years of market researcha stretch that started almost as soon as the new treatment showed promise in the laboratorywas suddenly in doubt. After carefully calibrating the price to be close to rivals and to keep doctors and insurers happy, Pfizer was left wondering if its list price of $9,850 a month for the pills was too low. What do you think if we take that up? askedAlbert Bourla,Pfizers executive overseeing cancer drugs, speaking to his colleagues at the final price-setting meeting last January. It was a tricky issue. Drug companies have been reaching for new heights of pricing. They routinely raise the cost of older medicines and then peg new ones to these levels. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120915,News December 9,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 9 Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight Show Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared on the NBCs Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, ABC News, TIME, The Hill, The Daily Beast and Buzzfeed reported. He slammed Donald Trump one day after his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Sanders said that Trump's rhetoric would not work in the United States and that he ""look[ed] forward to beating Donald Trump."" Rachel Maddow Sen. Sanders sat down with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Tuesday night. Sanders gave his take on what is going on in the Republican primary, the fear and racism that has taken hold of part of the country and his trip to Baltimore earlier in the day. VIDEO, VIDEO Climate PlanA pair of bills from Sen. Sanders seeks to create millions of new jobs in clean energy fields through tax changes and worker training,The HillandWPTZ-TVin Burlington reported. Gawkerreported that Sanders' climate plan makes him the only major presidential candidate of either party to call for a carbon tax. World Climate Negotiations Despite a domestic agenda consumed by his response to last weeks terrorist attack in California, President Obama is closely tracking the United Nations climate change negotiations outside Paris, Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview on Tuesday, The New York Times reported. Beijing Shuts Down Residents across this city awoke to an environmental state of emergency on Tuesday as poisonous air quality prompted the government to close schools, force motorists off the road and shut down factories, The New York Times reported. National Visa Waiver Program The House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would overhaul the visa waiver program and bar those from Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Sudan, or those who have visited those countries in the last five years, from traveling to the United States, CNN reported. San Bernardino Investigators believe San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farouk may have planned an earlier attack in California, CNN reported. One of the officials on the case said that Farouk plotted with one other person for a 2012 attack, and that a specific target was considered. The official said that the two decided not to go along with the earlier attack due to a round of ""terror related"" arrests in the area. Vermont Gun Control Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger called for Vermont legislators to enact city gun control laws voters approved in 2014, The Burlington Free Press reported. Last March, Burlington voters passed three gun-related amendments to the city Charter, however the Vermont Legislature must approve municipal charter changes in order for amendments to take effect.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package,Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate a strong sustainable economy by spurring massive new investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the permanent extension of important clean energy tax credits, Sanders legislation would cut carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs, reduce Americans dependence on oil and save consumers and businesses money by promoting energy efficiency. Currently the United States wastes huge amounts of money providing corporatewelfare to coal, oil and gas corporations that are destroying our planet. It is time for us to invest in technologies that are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and in the long run will be more cost-effective, Sanders said. Climate change is no longer a distant theoretical contained in far-off computer models and scientific papersits here, its real and its affecting all of us, said Merkley. Carbon pollution is an urgent problem demanding bold solutions. We have the technology and the know-how to transition rapidly to a clean, renewable energy economy. At the same time as this transition creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, we must make sure that we have the programs in place to make sure that no workers are left behind. Investing in American clean energy puts power in our homes and will make America an energy and manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.The support we give to clean energy now through this legislation will protect our planet for generations to come, building American jobs as we continually develop the fuels that will power the future.We can spur a generation of American-built energy innovation, and help stave off the worse effects of climate change, said Markey. The Solar Energy Industries Association and American Wind Energy Association have endorsed the Clean Energy Investment Act. 350.org supports both bills. ""Senator Sanders legislation would provide a steady, supportive federal energy policy that keeps in place the highly successful solar investment tax credit (ITC) and we welcome his support, said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of Federal Affairs Christopher Mansour. The solar ITC has helped solar become one of Americas fastest-growing energy sources with more than 20 gigawatts of total installed capacity already built enough to power nearly 4.5 million homes. Solar installations are forecast to continue to rise, adding 8 gigawatts this year. ""The American Wind Energy Association deeply appreciates Senator Sanders leadership in seeking long-term policy support to enable the growth of our nations wind energy sector. This legislation is the latest example of his attention to wind energy and his leadership in promoting policies that will generate affordable, reliable, and clean energy, and provide a future for wind energy workers and American factories. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues with the shared goal of delivering the benefits of wind energy to even more American families. For a summary of the American Clean Energy Investment Act click here. For a section by section summary of the Clean Energy Investment Act click here. For a summary of The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act click here. For the text of the Clean Energy Investment Act click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package,Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package Plan Would More Than Double the Clean Energy Workforce Tuesday, December 8, 2015 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate a strong sustainable economy by spurring massive new investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the permanent extension of important clean energy tax credits, Sanders legislation would cut carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs, reduce Americans dependence on oil and save consumers and businesses money by promoting energy efficiency. Currently the United States wastes huge amounts of money providing corporatewelfare to coal, oil and gas corporations that are destroying our planet. It is time for us to invest in technologies that are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and in the long run will be more cost-effective, Sanders said. Climate change is no longer a distant theoretical contained in far-off computer models and scientific papersits here, its real and its affecting all of us, said Merkley. Carbon pollution is an urgent problem demanding bold solutions. We have the technology and the know-how to transition rapidly to a clean, renewable energy economy. At the same time as this transition creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, we must make sure that we have the programs in place to make sure that no workers are left behind. Investing in American clean energy puts power in our homes and will make America an energy and manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.The support we give to clean energy now through this legislation will protect our planet for generations to come, building American jobs as we continually develop the fuels that will power the future.We can spur a generation of American-built energy innovation, and help stave off the worse effects of climate change, said Markey. The Solar Energy Industries Association and American Wind Energy Association have endorsed the Clean Energy Investment Act. 350.org supports both bills. ""Senator Sanders legislation would provide a steady, supportive federal energy policy that keeps in place the highly successful solar investment tax credit (ITC) and we welcome his support, said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of Federal Affairs Christopher Mansour. The solar ITC has helped solar become one of Americas fastest-growing energy sources withmore than 20 gigawatts of total installed capacity already built enough to power nearly 4.5 million homes. Solar installations are forecast to continue to rise, adding 8 gigawatts this year. ""The American Wind Energy Associationdeeply appreciates Senator Sanders leadership in seeking long-term policy support to enable the growth of our nations wind energy sector. This legislation is the latest example of his attention to wind energy andhis leadership in promoting policies that will generate affordable, reliable, and clean energy, and provide a future for wind energy workers and American factories.We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues with the shared goal of delivering the benefits of wind energy to even more American families. For a summary of the American Clean Energy Investment Actclick here. For a section by section summary of the Clean Energy Investment Actclick here. For a summary of The Clean Energy Just Transition Actclick here. For the text of the Clean Energy Investment Actclick here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-key-provisions-for-vermont-schools-in-education-law-overhaul,Sanders Announces Key Provisions for Vermont Schools in Education Law Overhaul,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that new legislation, agreed to by House and Senate negotiators, will give Vermont and other states much more control over how public schools are held accountable for student performance. Sanders, a member of the Senate education committee, helped draft the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to replace the much-maligned No Child Left Behind education law, whichinaccurately stigmatized Vermont schools for supposedly low performance. I think it is wrong to judge schools solely on the basis of narrow tests. We have to work on what kind of criteria we really need, Sanders said. What we in Vermont understand is a kid is more than a test. We want kids to be creative. We want kids to be critical thinkers. We also want schools held accountable for factors other than test scores, including how they meet the challenges of students from low-income families. The new measure would include a pilot program that could help Vermont shift from annual standardized tests to a new system for assessing student performance. Under the legislation, factors that were Vermonts priorities such as a childs learning growth from year to year, student and teacher engagement, access to advanced coursework and school climate and safety will become criteria in assessing school performance. The legislation recognizes the huge opportunity barriers that poverty places on low-income children by authorizing an extra $1.2 billion nationwide to fund the neediest schools, including $41 million over the next four years for struggling Vermont schools. Vermont would also benefit from a new formula for rural school funding that could steer an extra $1.3 million a year in federal funds to the state and the reauthorization of funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides over 5,500 children afterschool programing in Vermont every day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address,Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address,2015-12-06,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address,Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address,2015-12-06,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address Sunday, December 6, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120515,News December 5,2015-12-05,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 5 Saturday, December 5, 2015 Senator Sanders Climate ChangeSen. Sanders hed push negotiators meeting at a climate summit in Paris to embrace aggressive moves to reduce carbon emissions,Radio Iowareported. We have a real crisis, Sanders told O. Kay Henderson. Criminal JusticeSen. Sanders has made a pledge to abolish private prisons in the federal system a centerpiece of his criminal justice reform platform, expounding on it in speeches, tweets and a bill that he introduced in the Senate,SalonandThe New York Observerreported. The bill would reestablish federal parole, the abolition of which three decades ago was a key ingredient in fueling the explosive growth of the American prison system. Sanders has explained the negative consequences of for-profit prisons in the criminal justice system, which have replaced health reforms as a means to fix problems like drug addiction and poverty. Pharmaceutical IndustryReutersreported that the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed Mylan N.V. for information relating to the marketing, pricing and sale of its generic doxycycline antibiotic products, the drug-maker said on Friday. Sen. Sanders and Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings opened an investigation last fall into 14 drug companies, including Mylan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, over price increases of generic drugs. In February, Sanders and Cummings asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' enforcement arm to investigate generic drug price increases. Sunday Shows Sen. Sanders will be on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday along with Donald Trump and Chris Christie, The Associated Press reported. World ISIS Financing The United States and Russia are negotiating a new resolution at the United Nations Security Council intended to strengthen international efforts to cut off revenues that the Islamic State raises to govern territory and spread its ideology, The New York Times reported. National San Bernardino Shooters In an online radio broadcast by the Islamic State on Saturday, the group said that two supporters had carried out the attacks in San Bernardino, but stopped short of referring to the couple as members. The group praised the attacks but didnt claim responsibility for it, The Washington Post reported. Gun Safety President Obama edged closer Saturday to declaring the shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that killed 14 people a terrorist attack, but stuck to his prescription that the answer to preventing such tragedies was gun limits, The New York Times reported. Vermont Champlain Parkway Rain trickled through cracked asphalt onthe Champlain ParkwaynearU.S. 7 in BurlingtonWednesday afternoon. Built in the1980s and abandoned shortly thereafter, the divided highwayhas done littlemore than provide overflow parkingfor the nearby Howard Center. A completed parkway, if wary South End residents set aside their skepticism, is on the horizon. City leaders this week promised to resume construction on the 50-year-old project by 2018, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/americas-100-richest-people-control-more-wealth-than-the-entire-black-population,America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population By: Josh Harkinson Friday, December 4, 2015 It's well known that America's wealthiest have been getting richerat the expense of the middle class. But the trend looks even starker when you look at the racial aspects. According to a new report from theInstitute for Policy Studies, the combined wealth of those on the Forbes 400 list of America's richest dwarfs that of the nation's entire black or Latino populations. The report found that the 100 richest US citizens control about as much wealth as all of the nation's 42 million African Americans. The total wealth of the nation's 55 million Latinos stacks up to that of the 186 richest Americans. This can be explained in part by the rapid erosion of the black and Latino middle classes. African Americans' net worth relative to whites has fallen by more than half since 2000: The average white family today has net assets of $141,900, compared with just $11,000 for black familiesabout the same paltry sum as back in 1985. Latinos have seen similar declines in net worth relative to whites. There are many reasons for this slide: Black and Latino families were disproportionately exposed to risky subprime mortgages, had smaller amounts of inherited wealth, and were more susceptible to job and wage cuts during the Great Recession. And because these families are less likely than white families to own homes and stocks, they haven't benefited as much from the subsequent recovery. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-congressional-democrats-file-amicus-brief-supporting-obamas-immigration-executive-actions,"Sanders, Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Supporting Obamas Immigration Executive Actions",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 Sen. Bernie Sanders, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and 215 members of Congress last night filed an amicus brief in support of the Department of Justices petition for Supreme Court review of the presidents immigration executive actions. President Obama did exactly the right thing when he took action to protect DREAMers and the parents of children who are citizens or legal permanent residents. I am confident that the Supreme Court will support the presidents authority to defend aspiring Americans, Sanders said. We must work to unite families, not tear them apart. The members argue in the brief that Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are consistent with congressional intent and the Executives longstanding legal authority to establish national immigration enforcement priorities and exercise discretion in the enforcement of our immigration laws. As stated in the brief: Congress has granted the Secretary [of Homeland Security] broad discretion in determining how to carry out the immigration laws, and has explicitly directed the Secretary to establish policies and priorities for enforcement of those laws. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling would effectively strip the Executive of broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nations immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action, and would devastate millions of individuals, families, and communities across the nation. Full text of the amicus brief can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-wonkblog-there-have-been-334-days-and-351-mass-shootings-so-far-this-year,The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year By: Christopher Ingraham Thursday, December 3, 2015 Authorities in San Bernardino, Calif.,saying 14 people were killed and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting on Wednesday at a center for people with developmental disabilities.This is at leastthe third mass shooting since therampage in Colorado Springs last Friday. Here's a look at the year's mass shootings, including today's. The San Bernardino shooting isthe 355th mass shooting this year, according toa mass shooting trackermaintained by the Guns Are Cool subreddit.The Reddit trackerdefines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people, including the gunman, are killed or injured by gunfire. The Mass Shooting Tracker is different from other shooting databases in that it uses a broader definition of mass shooting the old FBI definition focused on four or more people killed as part of a single shooting. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120315,News December 3,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 3 Thursday, December 3, 2015 Senator Sanders San Bernardino ShootingSen. Bernie Sanders quickly responded to the shootings in San Bernardino, California,The New York Times,CBS NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Reuters and Business Insider reported. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted that ""mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence"" in the United States: ""Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop."" Republican BudgetSen. Sanders took to the floor to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget,VTDigger,.Mic and MSNBCreported. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. Sanders argued that rather than seeking to defund Planned Parenthood, lawmakers should boost support for it. Climate ConferenceScience-denying Republicansintent on derailing local, national and global attempts to avert a looming climate crisishave their priorities all wrong, Sen. Sanders said on Tuesday. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, Sanders said in a statement urging the U.S. to take the lead in stopping global warming,EcoWatch reported. Transportation Bill Sen. Sanders announced that a $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached will provide nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to help improve the state's roadways. According to the senator's office, he legislation would allow Vermont to become more competitive for federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects, FOX44 in Burlington reported. Social Security Sens. Patrick Leahy and Sanders have joined Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 17 other Democrats in seeking a cost-of-living increase for seniors on Social Security. The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act seeks to provide a boost to about 70 million seniors, veterans and people with disabilities with a bonus payment of just under $600, The Times Argus reported. Most Fascinating PeopleBarbara Walters has announced who will appear on her annual ""Most Fascinating People"" special,ABCreported. ""Barbara Walters Presents: 10 Most Fascinating People 2015"" will feature actors Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer and Tracy Morgan, American Ballet Theater principal dancer Misty Copeland, Sen. Sanders, UFC champion Rhonda Rousey and fashion designer Donna Karan. World ISIS For years, the Joint Special Operations Command, known throughout the Pentagon as JSOC, has provided standing forces of American commandos to track down terrorist leaders overseas. Now, in announcing that it is deploying a small team of special operators to Iraq to carry out raids against high-value Islamic State leaders in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon is turning to its elite team of manhunters once again, The New York Times reported. Climate Talks Negotiators walked into the climate change summit meeting with a 50-page draft accord that is full of options too many options. In the months leading up to these talks, whenever they have had big disagreements on tough issues like how, exactly, rich countries would send money to poor countries to help adapt to the ravages of climate change, or how to maintain accountability negotiators have kept their options open, The New York Times reported. National San Bernardino At least two gun-wielding assailants opened fire on a holiday party for county employees Wednesday, killing 14people in the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre three years ago this month. Hours after the shooting, law enforcement officials said two suspects Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, andTashfeen Malik, 27 had been killed in a police shootout several miles from the site of the original attack, The Washington Post reported. A Daily Occurrence More than one a day. That is how often, on average, shootings that left four or more people wounded or dead occurred in the United States this year, according to compilations of episodes derived from news reports, The New York Times reported. No Child Left Behind The House on Wednesday approved a sweeping bill to revise the contentious No Child Left Behind law, representing the end of an era in which the federal government aggressively policed public school performance, and returning control to states and local districts, The New York Times reported. Vermont Racist Response Racism was on full display as students gathered at a rally Wednesday outside Bellows Free Academy high school to demonstrate against racial prejudice in Vermonts schools. A young man drove past the rally with a Confederate flag mounted to the bed of his pickup truck; others drove past giving demonstrators the middle finger. A group of white students who gathered around another pickup truck pantomimed shooting guns at demonstrators, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-common-sense-gun-safety-legislation,Sanders Calls for Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 Following the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined with his Democratic colleagues in the Senate to call for sensible gun safety legislation. A full copy of his remarks is below. Here is the very sad truth and that is that it is very difficult for the American people to keep up with the mass shootings that we seem to see almost every day. Yesterday, San Bernardino, a few days ago, Colorado Springs, before that Roseburg, Oregon, before that Chattanooga, Tennessee, and on and on it goes. The San Bernardino shooting was the 355th mass shooting this year. Gun violence has reached epidemic levels in the United States. Over the past decade, 275,000 Americans have been killed by guns. Let me paraphrase what President Obama said recently. And what he said is, this is not an easy problem to solve. But just because it is not an easy problem to solve does not mean that we should not do everything that we can. Now the bad news is that this nation is divided over gun legislation. Thats a simple fact. Thats a political reality. But the good news is there is a broad consensus, perhaps 60, 70 percent of the American people who agree on common sense gun safety legislation. And here is what that consensus is about, supported by a strong majority of the American people. We need to significantly expand and improve background checks. Who is arguing that people who should not have guns because of a criminal background, because of mental problems should not be able to purchase guns? Very few Americans disagree with that. We need to renew the assault weapons ban. We need to end the sale of high capacity magazines. We need to make gun trafficking a federal crime and give law enforcement the tools they need to get illegal guns off the streets. We need to close the gun show loophole, as well as loopholes that allow gun purchasers to buy a gun after the waiting period expires without a completed background check. We need to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers and stalkers to obtain guns. We need to strengthen penalties for straw purchasers who buy guns from licensed dealers on behalf of someone prohibited from purchasing a gun. And very significantly, we need to greatly expand and improve our mental health capabilities. The sad reality is that in America today there are many thousands of people who are walking our streets who are suicidal or homicidal. And these people need treatment when they need treatment, regardless of their income, regardless of their insurance status. When they are in crisis they should be able to get treatment today, not two months from now. These are just some of the ideas that in fact are supported by the vast majority of the American people, and its time the Congress move forward in response.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-an-84000-drug-got-its-price-lets-hold-our-position_whatever-the-headlines,"How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines By: Carolyn Y. Johnson and Brady Dennis Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Gilead Sciences executives wereacutely aware in 2013 that their plan to charge an exorbitantly high price fora powerful new hepatitis C drug would spark public outrage, but they pursued the profit-driven strategy anyway,according to a Senate Finance Committee investigation report released Tuesday. ""Let's not fold to advocacy pressure in 2014,"" Kevin Young, Gilead's executive vice president for commercial operations, wrote in an internal email.Lets holdour position whatever competitors do or whatever the headlines."" Gilead gained federal approval for its drug Sovaldi in late 2013 and ultimately settled on the price of $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment. To the company, that price seemed to deliver the right balance: value to shareholders while also not so high that insurers would ""hinder patient access to uncomfortable levels,"" according to internal documents. But they also got more than they bargained for: an outpouring of outrage from the public, a backlash from government and private payers, and political scrutiny. The 18-month Senate committee investigation reviewedmore than 20,000 pages of company documents. The documents show it was always Gileads plan to max out revenue, and that accessibility and affordability were pretty much an afterthought,"" said Sen. Ron Wyden(D-Ore.), who co-led the investigation with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), in a news conference. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-11-billion-for-vermont-in-transportation-bill,Sanders Announces $1.1 Billion For Vermont in Transportation Bill,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators will deliver nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to improve the states roadways. While this legislation does not have everything I would have hoped for, I am pleased it includes more than $1 billion for Vermonts roads and bridges in the coming years, Sanders said. As a member of the committee with primary jurisdiction over federal road and bridge programs, Sanders successfully fought for a funding formula that helps Vermont. The final agreement includes a 5 percent increase in funding for Vermont in the first year and a total increase of 15 percent over five years. The legislation includes several other provisions authored by Sanders that would benefit Vermont, including changes to make Vermont competitive for additional federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects. Sanders also secured a provision to start the process of creating a national network of recharging stations for electric vehicles. The bill also includes a 10 percent increase in funding for public transit in the first year and an overall increase of almost 18 percent over five years. This funding increase is critically important for low-income families, senior citizens, veterans and for people with disabilities in rural areas like Vermont, Sanders said. Congress is poised to pass the agreement in the coming days. The current short-term transportation bill expires on December 4. Once approved, this legislation will mark the first time since 2005 that Congress has passed a long-term highway bill. The problem isnt just roads and bridges. Our airports, railways, drinking water and waste systems, harbors and inland waterways, dams and levees, and electric grid are all suffering from a lack of investment, Sanders said. While this bill is an important first step, I will continue to fight for legislation to rebuild our nations crumbling infrastructure. Earlier this year, Sanders introduced the Rebuild America Act, a $1 trillion, five-year plan that would modernize the infrastructure our economy depends on, while creating 13 million decent-paying jobs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-slams-republican-budget,Sanders Slams Republican Budget,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Bernie Sanders ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/why-the-us-pays-more-than-other-countries-for-drugs,Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs By: Jeanne Whalen Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Norway, an oil producer with one of the worlds richest economies, is an expensive place to live. A Big Mac costs $5.65. A gallon of gasoline costs $6. But one thing is far cheaper than in the U.S.: prescription drugs. A vial of the cancer drug Rituxan cost Norways taxpayer-funded health system$1,527 in the third quarter of 2015, while the U.S. Medicare program paid $3,678. An injection of the asthma drug Xolair cost Norway $463, which was 46% less than Medicare paid for it. Drug prices in the U.S. are shrouded in mystery, obscured by confidential rebates, multiple middlemen and the strict guarding of trade secrets. But for certain drugsthose paid for by Medicare Part Bprices are public. By stacking these against pricing in three foreign health systems, as discovered in nonpublic and public data, The Wall Street Journal was able to pinpoint international drug-cost differences and what lies behind them. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120115,News December 1,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 1 Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Senator Sanders Drug Prices About 7 out of 10 Americans, including two-thirds of Republicans,said Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older and disabled Americans, should be able tonegotiate lower prices for all prescription drugs.Another 13 percent support negotiations for just high-cost drugs for illnesses such as hepatitis C or cancer, according to a new poll by STAT News. More broadly, about three-quarters of the public believe the prices of brand-name prescription drugs are unreasonable, while 1 in 4 expressed that view about generics. Tax Break Deal House and Senate negotiators are working to complete a deal as earlyas this week thatwouldrevive dozens of expired tax breaks andcould also seek to scale backa controversial part of Obamacare and expand some tax benefits for low income workers. Early versions of the package circulated by lobbyists and staffers were estimatedto cost as much as $700 billion over 10 years. The deal would repeal the Cadillac Tax, which Sen. Sanders opposes, The Washington Post reported. World Pope: World Near Suicide on Climate Change Environmental negotiators meeting in Paris should strike a climate change deal to save a world ""at the limits of suicide,"" Pope Francis said on Monday, The Washington Post reported. ""I am not sure, but I can say to you 'now or never',"" he told a group of reporters aboard the papal plane, en route home from Africa, according to Reuters. ""Every year the problems are getting worse. We are at the limits. If I may use a strong word I would say that we are at the limits of suicide."" Ukraine The United States has delivered more than $260 million in non-lethal military equipment to help the government of Ukraine in its fight against a Russian-backed insurgency, but some of the U.S.-supplied gear meant to protect and transport Ukrainian military forces is little more than junk, The Washington Post reported. National Money in Politics The rich families remaking Illinois are among a small group around the country who have channeled their extraordinary wealth into political power, taking advantage of regulatory, legal and cultural shifts that have carved new paths for infusing money into campaigns. Economic winners in an age of rising inequality, operating largely out of public view, they are reshaping government with fortunes so large as to defy the ordinary financial scale of politics. In the 2016 presidential race, a New York Times analysis found last month, just 158 families had provided nearly half of the early campaign money. Vermont Vermont Health Connect Although Gov. Peter Shumlin recently proclaimed the Vermont Health Connect a totally different ballgame in comparison to last years performance, a House committee on Monday heard of several unresolved problems affecting the insurance exchange, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-slams-republican-budget,Sanders Slams Republican Budget,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/us-must-lead-on-climate-change-sanders-says,"U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 As nearly 150 world leaders gather for a summit in Paris on climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Tuesday that the United States must lead the world in taking bold actions to stop climate change. Calling the need to combat climate change a moral issue, Sanders agreed with Pope Francis about the urgent need to take action, The pope was right when he said the problems are getting worse and that unless we act we are at the limits of suicide, Sanders said. A member of the Senate environment and energy committees, Sanders said scientists have warned that there is a short window of opportunity to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The evidence is overwhelming. When the final calculations are made, 2015 will replace 2014 as the warmest year on record. Droughts, floods and severe storms already are impacting the planet and the situation will only become worse in years to come, Sanders said. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, the senator added.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-walmart-keeps-an-eye-on-its-massive-workforce,How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce The retail giant is Always watching. By: Susan Berfield Monday, November 30, 2015 In the autumn of 2012, when Walmart first heard about the possibility of a strike on Black Friday, executives mobilized with the efficiency that had built a retail empire. Walmart has a system for almost everything: When theres an emergency or a big event, it creates a Delta team. The one formed that September included representatives from global security, labor relations, and media relations. For Walmart, the stakes were enormous. The billions in sales typical of a Walmart Black Friday were threatened. The companys public image, especially in big cities where its power and size were controversial, could be harmed. But more than all that: Any attempt to organize its 1million hourly workers at its more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. was an existential danger. Operating free of unions was as essential to Walmarts business as its rock-bottom prices. OURWalmart, a group of employees backed and funded by a union, was asking for more full-time jobs with higher wages and predictable schedules. Officially they called themselvesthe Organization United for Respect at Walmart. Walmart publicly dismissed OURWalmart as the insignificant creation of the United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW) union. This is just another union publicity stunt, and the numbers they are talking about are grossly exaggerated, David Tovar, a spokesman, said onCBS Evening Newsthat November. Internally, however, Walmart considered the group enough of a threat that it hired an intelligence-gathering service from Lockheed Martin, contacted the FBI, staffed up its labor hotline, ranked stores by labor activity, and kept eyes on employees (and activists) prominent in the group. During that time, about 100 workers were actively involved in recruiting for OURWalmart, but employees (or associates, as theyre called at Walmart) across the company were watched; the briefest conversations were reported to the home office, as Walmart calls its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. The details of Walmarts efforts during the first year it confronted OURWalmart are described in more than 1,000 pages of e-mails, reports, playbooks, charts, and graphs, as well as testimony from its head of labor relations at the time. The documents were produced in discovery ahead of a National Labor Relations Board hearing into OURWalmarts allegations of retaliation against employees who joined protests in June2013. The testimony was given in January2015, during the hearing. OURWalmart, which split from the UFCW in September, provided the documents toBloomberg Businessweekafter the judge concluded the case in mid-October. A decision may come in early 2016. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-colorado_planned-parenthood-shooting,Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting,2015-11-28,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting Saturday, November 28, 2015 BURLINGTON, Vt., --U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement todayafter a gun battle left three dead at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado: While we still do not know the shooters motive, what is clear is that Planned Parenthood has been the subject of vicious and unsubstantiated statements attacking an organization that provides critical health care for millionsof Americans. I strongly support Planned Parenthood and the work it is doing and hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-wal-mart-stole-christmas_and-hijacked-american-politics,How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics,2015-11-27,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics By: Sean McElwee Friday, November 27, 2015 When retail workers want something, they ask their employers, get denied, get bullied and sometimes fired. Sometimes, they take to the streets, as they have for the last three years on Black Friday. By contrast, when retailers want something, they scurry to the halls of Congress, where they purchase influence with their exorbitant profits. The largest big-box retailers have spent a total of $111 million since the 2000 election cycle on lobbying and campaign contributions. During the 2014 election cycle, big-box retailers spent $30 million on federal campaign contributions and lobbying, which is almost six times what they spent in 2000 (after an inflation adjustment). Wal-Mart in particular is known for its status as a corporate-welfare queen; one studyestimatesthat one 300-person Supercenter costs taxpayers $904,542 to $1,744,590. Anotherestimatesthat Wal-Mart and the Walton family pull in $7.8 billion a year in tax breaks and subsidies. Meanwhile, a brand-newreportfrom Americans for Tax Fairness finds that Wal-Mart also avoids taxes on more than $21 billion in offshore profits. In its most recent annualreport, Wal-Mart openlyadmitsthat changes to government food stamp programs may hurt its financial performance.Hundreds of thousands of Wal-Mart workersmake near-povertywages. Wal-Mart certainly benefits from other favorable government actions. Changes to labor laws allow it toabuse worker schedules, although sometimes it ignores them completely and just refuses topay workers,flat out. Since Wal-Mart is a serial polluter, lax environmental standards are beneficial. Its also very concerned about taxes, trade and intellectual property. To advance these interests, Wal-Mart spent $2.4 million on campaign donations and $12.5 million in lobbying in 2014 alone. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/as-mayor-bernie-sanders-was-more-pragmatist-than-socialist,"As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist",2015-11-26,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist By: Katharine Q. Seelye Thursday, November 26, 2015 Bernie Sanders in September 1981, six months after he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vt. He held the office for eight years.Credit:Donna Light/Associated Press BURLINGTON, Vt. WhenBernie Sanders, a self-declared socialist, served as mayor here in the 1980s, he often complained that the United States had its priorities wrong, that it should be diverting money from the military to domestic needs like housing and health care. So when dozens of antiwar activists blocked the entrance to the local General Electric plant because it was manufacturing Gatling guns to fight the socialists in Central America, the protesters expected the mayors full support. Instead, he lined up with union officials and watched as the police made arrests, saying later that in blocking the plant, the activists were keeping workers from their jobs. It was a classic example of how Mr. Sanders governed as a pragmatist. He tended to talk globally but act locally, in this case choosing the real and immediate socialist principle of protecting workers over blocking the making of weapons to fight leftists abroad. Although he often shouted about foreign affairs, Mr. Sanders was consumed with running the city.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112515,News November 25,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 25 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders Most Popular SenatorSen. Bernie Sanders has eschewed party labels during his decades-long political career. And voters in his home state love him for it,Morning Consultant,The Week,Bloomberg,The Hill, The Boston Globe,Chicago Sun-Times andWCAX-TVin Burlington reported. A comprehensive survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states, conducted over several months by Morning Consult, shows Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents, at 83 percent. And while voters disdain Congress as a whole, they have much more positive views of their individual senators: The polling shows 69 of 100 United States senators have approval ratings of 50 percent or higher among their own constituents. Pfizer-Allergan MergerThe announcement of the Pfizer-Allergen merger, which could help the new company escape billions of dollars in United States taxes, drew a cascade of harsh criticism from lawmakers and renewed a push to crack down on these so-called tax inversions,The New York TimesandReutersreported. Sen. Sanders even called on the Obama administration to use any authority it had to block the deal. World Russia Promises Retribution for Downed Jet One of two Russian pilots shot down by Turkey over the Syrian border has been rescued in a special operation, Russian officials said Wednesday, as Moscow promised retribution for the first downing of one of its planes by a NATO ally since the Cold War, The Washington Post reported. U.S., France Lead ISIS Fight The Obama administration is using the current moment of extreme anger and anxiety in Europe to press allies for sharp increases in their contributions to the fight against the Islamic State. Suggestions include more strike aircraft, more intelligence-sharing, more training and equipment for local fighters, and deployment of their own special operations forces. The message has already fallen on willing ears, at least in the case of France, whose president met with President Obama on Tuesday to plan strategy in the wake of the Nov.13 terrorist attacks in Paris, The Washington Post reported. National Laquan McDonald Hundreds of protesters flooded streets overnight after awhite police officer who fatally shot a black teenager last year was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday and a graphic video of the killing was released. While the demonstrations, which at times blocked some of Chicagos busy Interstate highways, were largely peaceful, some turned confrontational during the night, The Washington Post reported. Vermont Shumlin Welcomes Refugees Two days before Thanksgiving Gov. Peter Shumlin visited a classroom of newly arrived refugees from Africa and Asia, welcoming them to Vermont and reiterating his public support for welcoming Syrian refugees into the U.S. as well. Several of the dozen adult refugee students learning basic English at the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue Tuesday morning came to the front of the class and shook the governors hand in front of the media, VT Digger.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112415,News November 24,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 24 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Senator Sanders Pfizer-Allergan DealSen. Sanders condemned the Pfizer acquisition of Allergan on Monday and urged the Obama administration to block the deal,The Associated Press,Reuters, Business Insider,Los Angeles Times,The New York Times,TheHillandVoxreported. Pfizer said it would buy Botox maker Allergan in a record-breaking deal worth $160 billion to cut its U.S. tax bill by moving its headquarters to Ireland. ""The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,"" Sanders said in a statement. TIME Person of the YearWith eleven days left to go before TIMEs 2015 Person of the Year poll comes to a close, Sen. Sanders, the upstart candidate for president, holds a wide lead over global notables among TIME readers even as he trails Hillary Clinton in voter polls and fights a long-shot battle for the Democratic nomination,TIMEand The Hill reported. Larry SandersIn this longer video from a previous interview withRolling Stone, Larry Sanders discusses what Sen. Sanders was like as a child (a bit of a jock) and how both brothers became left-leaning politicians (they grew up in working-class Brooklyn, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, motivating them to fight for justice for all). SOTU Essay ContestSen. Sanders has launched his sixth annual State of the Union essay contest, calling upon Vermont's high school students to address what they view as the major issues facing the United States,The Manchester Journalreported. Sanders' annual essay contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were president. Column: Sanders as a Democrat""Sen. Sanders could call himself a Democrat it would fit his ideology, and it would fit his ambitions. But he steadfastly refuses. Understanding why is, I think, crucial to understanding not just Sanders but his support,"" Ezra Klein wrote forVox. ""Sanders' socialism, in other words, is a costly and thus believable signal that he isn't going to get elected and suddenly start doing fundraisers with Robert Rubin. That signal has powered a truly extraordinary primary campaign and it suggests that there may be more liberal dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party than many in the party realize."" World Turkey Downs Russian Jet Turkish military aircraft shot down a Russian jet Tuesday after Turkey says it violated its airspace near the border with Syria, a major escalation in the Syrian conflict that could further strain relations between Russia and the West. Russian officials confirmed that a Russian warplane had been shot down but claimed it had been flying over Syria and had not violated Turkish airspace, The Washington Post reported. Kerry Urges Bigger Push Against ISIS With the Obama administration under mounting pressure from some of its own top former officials to take a more aggressive approach to combating the Islamic State, Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he would like to see the American-led military and diplomatic effort in Syria go faster. He added that President Obama had charged his aides with coming up with any concepts that will, in fact, work, and which could help change the situation on the ground, The New York Times reported. National 5 Shot Near BLM Protest Simmering racial tensions boiled over yetagain on Monday when a small group of white men allegedly shot five peoplewho had beenprotestingthe recent police killing of an African American manin Minneapolis. Police announced on Twitter early Tuesday morning that five people had suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, and that officers were searching for three white suspects who had fled the scene, The Washington Post reported. Vermont Burlington Skate Park The sound of skateboards hitting the pavement boomed from inside the pit of the newest addition to Burlington's northern waterfront:a world-class skate park. The park is part of Waterfront Access North,the first major, new waterfront public infrastructure investment since the creation of Waterfront Park in the early1990s, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-is-most-popular-senator-in-america,Sanders is Most Popular Senator in America,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 24 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the most popular senator in America according to a Morning Consult survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states. Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents at 83 percent. Senate Democrats had an average approval rating of 54 percent in the survey, while Republicans averaged a 51 percent approval rating. Click here to see the complete poll results.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-condemns-pfizer-allergan-merger,Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger Monday, November 23, 2015 ATLANTA, Nov. 23 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Pfizer and Allergan announced they would merge in the largest inversion ever, enabling Pfizer to dodge United States taxes. The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. It also would allow another major American corporation to hide its profits overseas. The Obama administration has the authority to stop this merger, and it should exercise that authority. Congress also must pass real tax reform that demands that profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/if-america-really-valued-mothers-we-wouldnt-treat-them-like-this,"If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this",2015-11-22,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this By: Ezra Klein Sunday, November 22, 2015 A few years ago, a Mother's Day video from Cardstore.com went viral. In it, the company pretended to recruit for a seemingly impossible job. They told applicants that the job requires you to stand all day and put in 135 hours a week or more. It means you have to work nights and weekends. There's no time off, and the hours increase around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. The position requires skill in finance, medicine ,and food preparation. It entails intense physical labor and a total collapse in your personal life. Oh, and it pays absolutely nothing. They called the job director of operations, but its real title, of course, is mom. Cardstore sent the video out into the world with the hashtag#WorldsToughestJob. But here's the thing about the world's toughest job: a lot of the people doing it also hold another job, or even a few other jobs. More than two-thirds of mothers hold jobs outside the home, and mothers are the primary earners in40 percent of families. Butin America, public policy makes balancing those jobs a lot harder than it has to be. America is, for instance, one of the only countries in the world that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. Thismapfrom UCLA's World Policy Analysis Center tells the tale well: our maternal leave policies make us look more like Papua New Guinea than, say, any country in Western Europe: Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-is-right-the-top-01-percent-have-as-much-as-the-bottom-90-percent,Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent,2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent By: Max Ehrenfreund Friday, November 20, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders defined the phrase""democratic socialist"" in a speech at Georgetown University Thursday afternoon, in an effort to clarify theunusual moniker he uses to describe his worldview forconfused voters. Being a democratic socialist means believing that government must guarantee its citizens' material well being in order to truly protect their freedom, Sanders said, citing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ""Real freedom must include economic security. That was Roosevelt's vision 70 years ago. It is my vision today,"" the Democratic presidential candidate said. ""People are not truly free when they are unable to feed their family. They are not truly free when their are unable to retire with dignity. They are not truly free when they are unemployed, underemployed, or when they are exhausted from working 60 or 70 years a week."" In appealing to the principles of freedom and ""economic rights,"" in a phrase of Roosevelt's thatSanders quoted, the senator from Vermont tried to steal the thunder fromhis conservative detractors. His opponents also cite personal freedom, sayingSanders'svision of socialism would leave Americans less free to pursue their economic interests without interference from government. Under hisagenda, for example, private health insurers and colleges would have to compete with government-sponsored insurance and education, and the rich would have to forfeit more of their earnings in taxes. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/specialty-drugs-now-cost-more-than-the-median-household-income,Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income,2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income By: Carolyn Y. Johnson Friday, November 20, 2015 The average annual retail cost of specialty drugs used to treat complex diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis now exceeds the median U.S. household income,according to a report to be published Friday. The study of 115 specialty drugs found that a year's worth of prescriptions for a single drug retailedat $53,384 per year, on average, in 2013 -- more than the median U.S. household income, double the median income of Medicare beneficiaries, and more than three times as much as the average Social Security benefit in the same year. The report was prepared by the AARP Public Policy Institute to highlightthe impact of drug priceson seniors. ""We're talking about drugs that are now costing more than a lot of people are making in a year,"" said Leigh Purvis, director of health services research at the AARP Public Policy Institute. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111815,News November 18,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 18 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Senator Sanders PBS NewsHour Senator Bernie Sanders joined PBS NewsHour last night to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis. The good news, in the midst of all of this tragedy, is that countries all over the world, whether it is France, whether it is Russia, whether it is the Muslim countries in the Gulf region, we now have a common interest, Sanders said. Sanders also discussed the current anti-Muslim bigotry in the GOP race Last I heard, we had a Constitution in this country which gave all of our people the right of religious freedom, you know? And then Im hearing other people saying, well, you know, we may have to undermine the Constitution in terms of civil liberties. LINK, VIDEO F.D.A. Commissioner Sen. Bernie Sanders raised questions at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday about Dr. Robert Califfs ties to the pharmaceutical industry,The Associated Press,The New York Times,The Washington Post,The HillandWashington Examinerreported. At the end of the day, people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. Weve been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner whos going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. And I have to say to you, with regret, that I think you are not that person.LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK Syrian Refugees Sen. Sanders slammed calls to shut the borders to Syrian refugees, telling supporters at a Monday night campaign rally that ""now is not the time for demagoguery and fear-mongering, Politico, Reuters,FusionandThe Washington Postreported. The United States must not turn its backs on refugees fleeing violence from places like Syria or Afghanistan, he said, on the same day that governors of more than two dozen states said that they would try to stop the flow of immigrants from Syria out of concerns stemming from the fact that one of the terrorists in Friday's deadly attacks in France came from Syria. LINK, LINK,LINK,VIDEO World Two Terror Suspects Dead Gunshots and explosions rang out from the northern suburb of Saint-Denis early Wednesday as more than 100 French police and army troops laid siege to an apartment with at least six terror suspects, potentially including the alleged ringleader of Fridays deadly attacks in Paris, The Washington Post reported. LINK National Syrian Refugee Plan As Republicans call for blocking Syrian refugees from coming to the United States in the wake of the attacks in Paris, the Obama administration said on Tuesday that it was confident that it could weed out any migrants posing a terrorism threat before they entered the country, The New York Times reported. LINK Student Debt The Department of Education announced Tuesday that it would expand its program to forgive federal student loan debt to thousands more students who attended programs of Corinthian Colleges, once one of the nations largest for-profit education companies, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Rally Against Refugees H. Brooke Paige, a candidate in several past Vermont elections, has announced a rally against the governor's willingness to accept Syrian refugees, the Burlington Free Press reported. Gov. Peter Shumlin said Monday that Vermont would continue to welcome refugees, including those from Syria, despite other governors around the country who shut their doors following terrorist attacks in Paris. Paige intends to run for governor in 2016, Vermont Press Bureau and others have reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111715,News November 17,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 17 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Syrian Refugees Rejecting what he called cheap political talk in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that he opposes banning refugees from Syria from entering the U.S., BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, The Associated Press and CNN reported. I am disturbed by some of what I am hearing from my Republican colleagues, and I will just say this: During these difficult times, as Americans we will not succumb to racism. We will not allow ourselves to be divided and succumb to Islamophobia, Sanders said. We will not turn our backs on the refugees. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK Family LeaveSen. Sanders highlighted his support Sunday for a plan to provide three months of paid leave after a family has a child, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal reported. ""You think that we can afford $1.39 per week?"" Sanders asked a crowd of more than 400 people, composed largely of college students, gathered for a town hall meeting. It is unconscionable that millions of new parents in this country are forced back to work because they dont have the income to stay home with their newborn babies.LINK, LINK High Drug PricesSen. Sanders would allow Medicare, the federal health plan for the elderly and disabled, to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. That bargaining isnt currently allowed by federal law, a restriction Senate Democrats are seeking to lift through legislation, The Wall Street Journal reported.LINK FDA NomineeEver since Califf was named a deputy commissioner at the FDA in January and then nominated to be chief regulator in September, his long-standing working relationship with the pharmaceutical industry has prompted debate. Among those opposing his nomination are Sen. Sanders and Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, STAT Newsreported.LINK World Obamas ISIS Strategy In response to each of the questions posed by reporters, Obama made his case for a steady and persistent campaign that seeks to gradually shrink the Islamic States territory in Iraq and Syria with airstrikes, slowly build up indigenous ground forces and press for renewed diplomatic negotiations to end Syrias civil war, The Washington Post. LINK Sinai Plane Crash The mid-air explosion of a Russian jetliner over the Sinai desert last month that killed all 224 people on board was the result of a terrorist attack, Russias chief intelligence officer said Tuesday according to The Washington Post. LINK National Freddie Gray Investigation The first independent review of the Baltimore Police Departments response to riots in April found major shortcomings and said officers were unprepared and untrained for the scale and scope of the unrest, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Shumlin Defends Private Prisons Vermont houses 271 inmates at a private prison in Michigan, down from 562 out-of-state inmates about five years ago, according to a statement. The states overall inmate population has fallen nearly 18 percent during the same period, to 1,734. Shumlin argued that private prison contracts save moneyand said its nave to suggest Vermont should stop shipping inmates to Michigan., the Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-questions-fda-nominee-with-deep-pharma-ties,Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties Tuesday, November 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 At a Senate confirmation hearing today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he opposes the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration because of doubts that he would act to lower skyrocketing drug prices. At the end of the day people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. We have been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner who is going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. You are not that person. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. Prices for some prescription drugs soared 1,000 percent or more in recent years. Since 2002, total spending on medicine in the United States went up by more than 90 percent. Califf has deeper ties to the pharmaceutical industry than any FDA commissioner in recent history. He ran a multimillion-dollar clinical research center at Duke University that received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. And his financial disclosure form last year listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others including Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly which supported his university salary. In 2014, the pharmaceutical industry spent $250 million on lobbying and campaign contributions and employed some 1,400 lobbyists. Do you think that type of expenditure has any impact on the fact that we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs? Sanders asked Califf. The top three pharmaceutical companies made a combined $45 billion in profits last year and spent more on sales and marketing than they did on research and development. Sanders has introduced comprehensive legislation that would lower soaring drug prices.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-effort-to-repeal-clean-power-plan,Sanders Statement on Effort to Repeal Clean Power Plan,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after voting to stop a bill that would repeal the Clean Power Plan. It is an embarrassment that with few exceptions Republicans refuse to recognize the reality of climate change, and even fewer are prepared to do anything about it. Todays vote to block the Clean Power Plan is a stark reminder that instead of worrying about the future of our planet, Republicans are more concerned with their campaign contributions. We need comprehensive legislation to aggressively transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to clean energy. We can create a new sustainable energy economy to protect vulnerable communities while transitioning workers into renewable energy jobs. The United States must lead the world in confronting this planetary crisis.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-questions-fda-nominee-with-deep-pharma-ties,Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"At a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders said he opposes the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration because of doubts that he would act to lower skyrocketing drug prices. At the end of the day people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. We have been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner who is going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. You are not that person. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. Prices for some prescription drugs soared 1,000 percent or more in recent years. Since 2002, total spending on medicine in the United States went up by more than 90 percent. Califf has deeper ties to the pharmaceutical industry than any FDA commissioner in recent history. He ran a multimillion-dollar clinical research center at Duke University that received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Andhis financial disclosure form last year listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others including Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly which supported his university salary. In 2014, the pharmaceutical industry spent $250 million on lobbying and campaign contributions and employed some 1,400 lobbyists. Do you think that type of expenditure has any impact on the fact that we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs? Sanders asked Califf. The top three pharmaceutical companies made a combined $45 billion in profits last year and spent more on sales and marketing than they did on research and development. Sanders has introduced comprehensive legislation that would lower soaring drug prices.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/found-too-late-cancer-preys-on-rural-americans,Found too late: Cancer preys on rural Americans,2015-11-13,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Found too late: Cancer preys on rural Americans By: Laura Ungar Friday, November 13, 2015 MARIANNA, Ark. In the home of the blues, amid dying towns, gravel backroads and endlessMississippi Deltafarmland, cancer grows, spreads and kills mercilessly even the types that can be caught or stopped with well-known screening tests. Here, 73-year-old Ruby Huffman got her first colonoscopy only after passing blood, and it found a huge cancerous tumor. Sixty-one-year-old Rita Stiles went at least a decade without a mammogram. And 55-year-old Tina Williams has had only one Pap smear in her life. The story is the same in many parts of America, USA TODAY has found, and experts say theres no excuse. Screenings that have been around for decades can detect breast, colorectal and cervical cancers at early stages, and even find colon polyps and cervical lesions before they turn into cancer. But their promise is limited the nations progress against cancer diminished because poor, minority and rural residents are left behind. USA TODAY analyzed state-by-state data on screenings, incidence and death for these three cancers. The newspaperworked with theNorth American Association of Central Cancer Registriesto compare states incidence-to-mortality ratio to see where deathsexceed whats expected based on how often cancer strikes. States faring worst include Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama, largely because cancers were found late, causinguntold suffering and pushingup health costs for everyone. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/obama-should-let-fossil-fuels-lie,Obama Should Let Fossil Fuels Lie,2015-11-13,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Obama Should Let Fossil Fuels Lie By: By Lydia Millet Friday, November 13, 2015 PRESIDENT OBAMAS rejection of the proposedKeystone XLpipeline last week had the ring of a great victory for the environment. But even as he declared the United States a global leader in the transition to cleaner energy, he revealed a challenge that neither he nor his administration has confronted: If were going to prevent large parts of this earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, the president said, were going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground, rather than burn them and release more dangerous pollution into the sky. The logic is clear. If we dont extract them, we cant burn them. Even better, this is a change the president can actually make, without the approval of Congress. With the climate summit meeting in Paris near, and the Keystone decision fresh, the United States can truly take the lead on these fuels by stemming their production, not just their consumption. Most climate debates have focused on cutting theuseof fossil fuels. But besides a few high-profile scuffles over fuel extraction in vulnerable wild places like the offshore Arctic, political leaders have ignored fossil fuel production as a necessary piece of climate strategy. In fact, under President Obama,oiland gas production in the United States has increased substantially. And that increase has been a major bragging point for the administration. America is No. 1 in oil and gas, the president boasted in his 2015State of the Union address. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111315,News November 13,2015-11-13,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 13 Friday, November 13, 2015 Senator Sanders Million Student March Students at the University of California, Berkeley and more than a hundred other colleges and universities staged marches Thursday in support of free tuition, a $15 minimum wage for campus workers and the cancellation of debt from student loans. Known as the Million Student March, the demonstrations at schools from Massachusetts to Hawaii were inspired by remarks Vermont Sen. Sanders made during an interview with Katie Couric in June, The Associated Press reported. LINK MarijuanaIn late October, Sen. Sanders called for the end to federal prohibition of marijuana, Salonreported. Sanders would give a green light to legalization in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C., and to the other states that will no doubt soon follow.LINK World Syria The United States and its allies have sharply increased their airstrikes against the sprawling oil fields that the Islamic State controls in eastern Syria in an effort to disrupt one of the terrorist groups main sources of revenue, American officials said this week, The New York Times reported. LINK National Pacific Trade Deal As he prepares for a long trip to Asia, President Obama has opened an intense campaign to promote his new trade agreement with 11 other Pacific Rim nations as a way to lower tariffs, open world markets and build middle-class jobs, The New York Times reported. LINK Top Military Aide Fired Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has fired his top military aidefor allegations of misconduct, a highly unusual move prior to a formal investigation into possible misbehavior by the Army general, The Washington Post reported. LINK Vermont Clinton Announces Leadership Team Hillary Clintons presidential campaign has announced its Vermont state team, featuring a whos-who of local Democrats. The list includes Clinton supporters such as U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, former Gov. Howard Dean and Burton Snowboards co-owner Donna Carpenter, as well as Gov. Peter Shumlin and former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who campaigned for Clinton earlier this year, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-senate-leaders-tell-senate-contractor_to-let-workers-organize,"Sanders, Senate Leaders Tell Senate Contractor to Let Workers Organize",2015-11-13,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) led a letter today with 33 of his colleagues calling on the company that employs Senate cafeteria and catering workers to respect their right to organize. Employees working full time in the U.S. Senate should not be living in poverty, the senators wrote in the letter to Compass Group CEO Richard Cousins. Yet with the cost of living in the Washington metropolitan area among the highest in the United States, there have been numerous reports of Senate cafeteria workers forced to take a second job, rely on public assistance programs, and in at least one instance, into homelessness. The workers are currently pushing for a union through the majority sign up process, but Restaurant Associates, a subsidiary of the Compass Group that employs Senate dining and catering workers, has resisted the drive, even after the National Labor Relations Board upheld charges against the company regarding discriminatory and intimidating behavior. Although Restaurant Associates settled these charges by promising to end further unlawful intimidation, it has been reported that within weeks, Restaurant Associates President Ed Sirhal took advantage of the Senate recess to hold a meeting with workers to discourage their organizing campaign, the senators wrote. The time has come for the Compass Group to ensure Senate cafeteria workers have a model employer that addresses its workers legitimate concerns. Senate Democrats asked the Rules Committee in August to investigate how Restaurant Associates is treating workers. The letter was signed by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Richard Durbin (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Click here to read the letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20160318220732/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/fight-for-15,Fight for $15,2015-11-11,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111115,News November 11,2015-11-11,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 11 Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Senator Sanders Fight for $15Sen. Bernie Sanders joined restaurant strikers outside a Senate office building for a press conference around mid-morning,The Associated Press,Reuters,CNN, The Washington Post,Think Progress,MSNBC,The Guardian,The Christian Science Monitor,The Hill,The Huffington Post,Roll CallandNBCreported. Sanders' appearance standing alongside a few hundred labor protesters in the rain Tuesday morning is only the latest in his history of solidarity with causes dealing with labor, including attending a picket line of Verizon workers in Manhattan last month. Speaking in the rain on Tuesday, Sanders urged a group of a hundred or more striking and protesting workers to keep up their fight. ""I stand with the thousands of workers on strike today to demand $15 and a union,"" Sanders tweeted. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, VIDEO Defense Bill The White House said that President Barack Obama would sign the annual defense policy bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday, despite his objections to its provisions keeping open the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, The Wall Street Journal reported. Three members of the Democratic caucus voted against the defense bill including Sen. Sanders. LINK Cable Boxes The average American household shells out $232 a year for the privilege of renting a set-top box from a cable company, and Sen. Sanders is tired of it, International Business Times reported. Sanders was one of eight U.S. senators who signed a letter Monday urging the Federal Communications Commission to act swiftly on a plan that would -- theoretically at least -- unshackle consumers from those unsightly boxes provided by cable companies. LINK Column: Keep it in the Ground With the climate summit meeting in Paris near, and the Keystone decision fresh, the United States can truly take the lead on these fuels by stemming their production, not just their consumption, Lydia Millet wrote in The New York Times. The president can, and should, [end drilling for fossil fuels on public lands] to both preserve our heritage lands and get us on the path to a safer climate future. LINK World Syria For the first time in the four-year Syrian civil war, President Obama is beginning to execute a combined diplomatic and military approach to force President Bashar al-Assad to leave office and end the carnage. As 50 Special Operations troops arrive in Syria to bolster the most effective opposition groups, the administration is gambling that Secretary of State John Kerry will have more leverage to push Russia, Iran and other players toward two objectives: a cease-fire to limit the cycle of killing and the establishment of a timeline for a transition of power, The New York Times reported. LINK National GOP Debate The leading Republican presidential candidates clashed sharply over immigration policy, military spending, and other intractable and emotional issues in a debate here Tuesday night, bringing into sharp relief the partys fault line between rigid conservatism and mainstream practicality, The Washington Post reported. LINK Veterans Health Care President Obama will urge Congress Wednesday to improve a program that allows veterans to receive private medical care, speed the appeal process for disability claims and pass legislation aiming to improve the quality of schools that serve veterans, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Farrington Mobile Home Residents Residents of a New North End mobile home park are worried back taxes will hamper their effort to own the park outright. Tenants of Farrington's Mobile Home Park say they will soon close on a deal to purchase the North Avenueproperty. But they worrymore than $20,000 in delinquent taxes on several abandoned trailers will harm the financial future of the park, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-veterans-day-2015,Sanders Statement on Veterans Day,2015-11-11,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Veterans Day Wednesday, November 11, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today ahead of Veterans Day. Today, we honor the sacrifice of our nations veterans and their families. The truth is that we can never repay the debt that we owe to those men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country. Our commitment to care for our veterans must extend to every day of the year not just Veterans Day. We have a moral obligation to keep our promise to provide for the wounded and their families and ensure that all veterans receive every benefit they have earned and deserve.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/fast-food-workers-hold-their-largest-strike-ever,Fast-food workers hold their largest strike ever,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Fast-food workers hold their largest strike ever By: Adam Howard Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Thousands of fast-food workers took to the streets on Tuesdaya year out from the presidential election in the largest strike ever in their years-long battle for a $15-an-hour wage. Workers from Burger King, Wendys, McDonalds, KFC and other restaurant chains joined home care, child care, grocery clerks and other low wage workers to walk off the job in 270 cities across America. Participants will also be protesting at 500 city halls. In Wisconsin, workers will be marching to the Republican debate being held later on Tuesday at the Milwaukee Theater. And Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed a crowd of low-wage workers in Washington D.C. What you are doing, and workers around the country are doing, youre having a profound impact, Sanders told strikers, crediting them with successful minimum wage campaigns in major American cities. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished and now we have to finish the job $15 bucks and a union, Sanders said to cheers from the D.C. crowd.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111015,News November 10,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 10 Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Fast Food Strike Fast-food workers in nearly 300 cities plan to walk out at 6 a.m. Tuesday in a bid to leverage their crusade for a $15-an-hour wage and sway the 2016 presidential election, USA Today reported. The group representing the workers, Fight for $15, plans to stage protests at restaurants in 270 cities, the most since it began organizing the demonstrations three years ago. Striking fast-food and other low-wage workers will then gather at local city halls in the late afternoon, kicking off a campaign to prod their colleagues to vote next November for local, state and national candidates who support the $15 pay floor. Sanders backs a $15 federal minimum wage and will strike with workers Tuesday. The Des Moines Register talked to Iowans who would see the biggest lift from a minimum wage increase. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. State lawmakers have tried to increase it to $8.75, but the votes havent been there, KCCI-TV in Des Moines reported. LINK, LINK, LINK Postal Service Sanders crusade to save the struggling U.S. Postal Service from extinction, which long predates his campaign for the Democratic nomination, isa powerfulemblem of what he says can work in government as he fights against big banks, for a higher minimum wage and for moretaxes on wealthy households and corporations, The Washington Post reported. LINK World Myanmar After struggling against the heavy hand of the Burmese military for two and a half decades, the opposition party of the Nobel Peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday that it was confident of a sweeping victory in the countrys landmark nationwide elections, The New York Times reported. Although official results of Sundays election trickled in for only a handful of districts, the potential electoral success by Ms. Aung San Suu Kyis political movement underlined the appeal of a woman who sacrificed her family, her health and 15 years of her life as a political prisoner to oppose dictatorship in Myanmar. LINK National Editorial: Denying JusticeIn recent years, Americas corporations have created a private system for handling disputes that benefits them greatly while denying consumers their day in court. Reversing the broader trend of forced arbitration, however, will require public outcry loud and long enough to stir the White House and Congress to action, The New York Times wrote. LINK Immigration Ruling A federal appeals court on Monday ruled against President Obamas plan to shield up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, dealing another blow to the administrations effort to remake immigration laws and likely setting up a final battle in the Supreme Court next year, The Washington Post reported. The 2-to-1 ruling from a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans to uphold a lower courts injunction that blocks the administration from implementing a deferred-action program was not unexpected. It came several months after the same court had denied an emergency stay request from the Justice Department. LINK ImmigrationHeaving under mountains of paperwork, the government has spent more than $1 billion trying to replace its antiquated approach to managing immigration with a system of digitized records, online applications and a full suite of nearly 100 electronic forms. A decade in, all that officials have to show for the effort is a single form thats now available for online applications and a single type of fee that immigrants pay electronically, The Washington Post reported. LINK Automatic Voter Registration As Republicans across the country mount an aggressive effort to tighten voting laws, a group of former aides to President Obama and President Bill Clinton called iVote is pledging to counter by spending up to $10 million on a push to make voter registration automatic whenever someone gets a drivers license, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Homelessness The growth in the number of homeless people is well-recognized across the state. Welcoming them into communities, however, has sometimes been downright chilly. And as the weather turns colder, the need for warming shelters is meeting obstacles in some towns, VT Digger reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-immigration-ruling,Sanders Statement on Immigration Ruling,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Immigration Ruling Tuesday, November 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Obama administration said it will ask the Supreme Court to recognize the presidents authority to prevent the deportation of as many as 5 million immigrants living in the United States: The president is absolutely right to appeal this unfortunate lower-court decision. American immigration policy should be about uniting families, not separating families. President Obama believes that the parents of children who are citizens or legal permanent residents should be able to stay with their children, not be forced out of the country. I look forward to the Supreme Court acknowledging the presidents position.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-votes-against-increasing-defense-spending,Sanders Votes Against Increasing Defense Spending,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Votes Against Increasing Defense Spending Tuesday, November 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after voting against a bill that increases the level of authorized funding for the Pentagon and other national security agencies by $21 billion in 2016. If we are serious about ending waste, fraud, abuse and excessive spending, we have got to focus on all agencies including the Department of Defense. This bloated Pentagon budget continues to pour money into outdated weapons systems that dont function properly. The Department of Defense is the only federal agency that cannot pass a clean audit. Many of its major acquisition programs suffer from chronic cost overruns. Virtually every defense contractor has been found guilty or has reached a settlement with the government because of fraudulent and illegal activities. This has got to change.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/vt-receiving-second-snap-performance-bonus-this-year,VT Receiving Second SNAP Performance Bonus This Year,2015-11-10,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"VT Receiving Second SNAP Performance Bonus This Year By: Joe Gullo Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Vermont is receiving a second Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) performance bonus this year. SNAP offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families. According to the Vermont Governor's Office, the bonus of $252,344 comes on top of a $293,000 bonus received in July. ""I want to thank the hard working folks at the Agency of Human Services who made this possible, Gov. Shumlin said. Vermont has proven its strong commitment to ensure that all Vermonters in need have access to good food. This second bonus is a good recognition of that commitment and our progress as a state. The bonus comes at a time when nearly one in four people in this state turn to food shelves or meal service plans to feed themselves and their families. Vermont will continue its efforts to fight hunger and reach those hungry Vermonters eligible for nutritional benefits. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/climate-change-could-push-over-100-million-into-extreme-poverty-by-2030-world-bank,Climate Change Could Push Over 100 Million Into Extreme Poverty by 2030: World Bank,2015-11-09,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Climate Change Could Push Over 100 Million Into Extreme Poverty by 2030: World Bank By: Karl Ritter Monday, November 9, 2015 Climate change could push more than 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 by disrupting agriculture and fueling the spread ofmalariaand other diseases, theWorld Banksaid in a report Sunday. Released just weeks ahead of a U.N. climate summit in Paris, the report highlighted how the impact of global warming is borne unevenly, with the world's poor woefully unprepared to deal with climate shocks such as rising seas or severe droughts. ""They have fewer resources and receive less support from family, community, the financial system, and even social safety nets to prevent, cope and adapt,"" the Washington-based World Bank said. How to help poor countries and poor communities within countries deal with climate change is one of the crunch issues in talks on a global climate accord that's supposed to be adopted next month in Paris. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110915,News November 9,2015-11-09,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 9 Monday, November 9, 2015 Senator Sanders Postal Service Sanderss crusade to save the struggling U.S. Postal Service from extinction isa powerfulemblem of what he says can work in government as he fights against big banks, for a higher minimum wage and for moretaxes on wealthy households and corporations, The Washington Post reported. LINK Carsons Policies Sen. Sanders called out the media on Sunday for scrutinizing GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson's personal story, thereby diverting attention away from his policy positions. I think it might be a better idea, I know it's a crazy idea, but maybe we focus on the issues impacting the American people and what candidates are saying, rather than just spending so much time exploring their lives of 30 or 40 years ago, Sanders said on Meet the Press according to The Huffington Post, NBC and CBS. LINK, LINK, LINK Morning EditionAlthough his populist message stayed the same, Sen. Sanders took a more personal approach with his delivery during an extended interview withNPR. Sanders also offered a lengthy explanation of what Democratic Socialim means to him.LINK World Obama and Netanyahu As Mr. Netanyahu arrives at the White House on Monday for his first visit in more than a year, both Obama and Netanyahu have reasons to put the past behind them. They will discuss a new security agreement and ways to counter Iran. But few believe their relationship can ever be more than coolly transactional, according to The New York Times. LINK National Editorial: Denying JusticeIn recent years, Americas corporations have created a private system for handling disputes that benefits them greatly while denying consumers their day in court. Reversing the broader trend of forced arbitration, however, will require public outcry loud and long enough to stir the White House and Congress to action, The New York Times wrote. LINK ImmigrationHeaving under mountains of paperwork, the government has spent more than $1 billion trying to replace its antiquated approach to managing immigration with a system of digitized records, online applications and a full suite of nearly 100 electronic forms. A decade in, all that officials have to show for the effort is a single form thats now available for online applications and a single type of fee that immigrants pay electronically, The Washington Post reported. LINK Automatic Voter Registration As Republicans across the country mount an aggressive effort to tighten voting laws, a group of former aides to President Obama and President Bill Clinton called iVote is pledging to counter by spending up to $10 million on a push to make voter registration automatic whenever someone gets a drivers license, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Homelessness The growth in the number of homeless people is well-recognized across the state. Welcoming them into communities, however, has sometimes been downright chilly. And as the weather turns colder, the need for warming shelters is meeting obstacles in some towns, VT Digger reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-push-for-legal-marijuana-spreads,The Push for Legal Marijuana Spreads,2015-11-06,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Push for Legal Marijuana Spreads By: The Editorial Boarrd Friday, November 6, 2015 Support for making marijuana legal is increasing around the world, and that is a good thing. Earlier this week, the Mexican Supreme Courtopened the doorto legalizing the drug by giving four plaintiffs the right to grow cannabis for personal use. In Canada, the newly sworn in prime minister, Justin Trudeau,has saidhe intends to change the law so people can use the drug recreationally;medicinaluse is already legal in that country. And in the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont recentlyintroduced a billthat would let states decide if they want to make the drug legal without worrying about violating federal law. Laws banning the growing, distribution and possession of marijuana have caused tremendous damage to society, with billions spent on imprisoning people for violating pointlessly harsh laws. Yet research shows that marijuana is farless harmfulthan alcohol and tobacco, and can be used to treat medical conditions like chronic pain. The Mexican Supreme Courts ruling, which applies only to the four plaintiffs seeking a right to grow marijuana, does not strike down the countrys marijuana laws. But it will open the way to more legal challenges and put pressure on President Enrique Pea Nieto and the Mexican Congress to change the law, which has helped to fuel drug-related crime in the country. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110615,News November 6,2015-11-06,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 6 Friday, November 6, 2015 ExxonMobil Under Investigation ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded oil company in the world, is under investigation over whether it misled the public and its investors over the impact of its business on climate change, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, Politico, The Huffington Post, New York Magazine and The Houston Chronicle reported. A spokesman for ExxonMobil confirmed Thursday that it had received a subpoena from the office of the attorney general of New York, Eric Schneiderman, related to the subject of climate change and was assessing its response. Sanders recently called for a Justice Department investigation into ExxonMobil regarding what it knew and what it told the public and shareholders about the cause of climate change. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK Trans-Pacific Partnership SThe release on Thursday of the full text of President Obamas trade accord with 11 Pacific Rim nations brought out opponents and supporters and officially opened what may be the last big battle of the presidents tenure: winning congressional approval of the largest regional trade deal in history, The New York Times and The Hill reported. Sanders took a jab at front-runner Hillary Clinton over previous comments that a sweeping Pacific Rim trade deal set a ""gold standard"" for trade agreements. During that visit to Australia three years ago, Clinton said, ""This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field."" LINK, LINK Social SecuritySens. Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are teaming up on a bill that would hand Social Security recipients a $580 check and pay for it by trimming tax perks for corporate executives,The Hillreported. The progressive duo unveiled new legislation Thursday that would cut checks for millions of Americans that rely on Social Security benefits, weeks after the Obama administration announced there would be no cost-of-living increase to payments in 2016.LINK Turing Investigated The U.S. Senate has launched an investigation into Turing Pharmaceuticals -- the drug company that hiked the price of a life-saving drug by 5,000 percent, CNN reported. The Senate Special Committee on Aging said it was looking into the ""pricing of off-patent drugs,"" and requested information from Turing CEO Martin Shkreli. Sanders rejected a $2,700 campaign donation from Shkreli. Shkreli didn't take the rejection well -- he said he was so angry at Sanders he ""could punch a wall!"" LINK Valeant Stock Down As Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.s shares plunged to their lowest level in more than two years, the drugmakers board and most prominent investor offered fresh support around Chief Executive Officer Mike Pearson, Bloomberg reported. The companys third-biggest shareholder, billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman, said that while he disagreed with some of Pearsons decisions, he felt he was the right CEO for the drugmaker. The board issued a separate statement saying it stood behind Pearson. Sanders recently asked Valeant for documents related to the heart drugs Nitropress and Isuprel, whose prices shot up by 212 percent and 525 percent the day the drugmaker acquired the rights to sell them. LINK The Senator and the Candidate Sanders' schedule is jam packed and he says it has to be to try to reach voters who have never heard of him or know very little about him. But that busy travel schedule prevents some of the glad-handing we see with other candidates, WCAX-TV reported. What's doubly hard is that I am trying my best to be Vermont's U.S. senator in Washington, Sanders said. I have missed a few votes, but very, very few while some candidates for president hardly show up at all. I don't think that's right. LINK Editorial: The Push for Marijuana Whats needed now is responsible leadership from President Obama and Congress. They ought to seriously consider the kind of legislation Mr. Sanders has proposed. His bill would remove marijuana, or marihuana as it is called in federal law, from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which is meant for drugs that have a high potential for abuse and no medical use. This change would allow states to decide if they want to make the drug legal and how to regulate it without being limited by federal law. Mr. Sanderss bill would also make it illegal to transport the drug across state lines. If Congress is unwilling to act, Mr. Obama should move on his own by ordering the attorney general to request a study by the secretary of health and human services, which would be needed if the administration is to remove the drug from Schedule I on its own, The New York Times editorialized. LINK National Exxon Probe Could Spread The opening of an investigation of Exxon Mobil by the New York attorney generals office into the companys record on climate change may well spur legal inquiries into other oil companies, according to legal and climate experts, although successful prosecutions are far from assured, The New York Times reported. Many oil companies have funded lobbying efforts and research on climate change, so prosecutors would most likely be able to search through vast amounts of material. The industry has also resisted pressure for years from environmental groups to warn investors of the risks that stricter limits on carbon emissions could have on their businesses, although that appears to be changing. LINK Vermont Vermont CattleRandall cattle are Vermont's only known heritage breed, bred more than a hundred years ago to survive the state's tough winters,Vermont Public Radioreported. They nearly went extinct in the 1980s, but a small herd of survivors has found a home at Newhall Farm in Reading.LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-introduces-bill-ending-the-federal-ban-on-marijuana,Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill Ending The Federal Ban On Marijuana,2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill Ending The Federal Ban On Marijuana By: Mollie Reilly Thursday, November 5, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has introduced abillthat would end federal prohibition of marijuana, marking the latest move the senator has made toward ending the war on drugs. The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, introduced Wednesday, is modeled after a bill first proposed byRep. Jared Polis(D-Colo.) in 2013, which was reintroduced this year as the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. The Senate bill would remove marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of the ""most dangerous"" drugs and strike marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to decide whether they want to legalize pot for recreational or medical use without federal intervention. Just as alcohol prohibition failed in the 1920s, its clear marijuana prohibition is failing today, Polis said in a statement. For decades, the federal ban on marijuana has wasted tax dollars, impeded our criminal justice system, lined the pockets of drug cartels, and trampled on states ability to set their own public health laws. ... Todays introduction of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act in the Senate is a huge step forward in the movement to enact the commonsense drug laws needed to grow our economy and restore fairness to our justice system."" The bill comes a week after Sandersfirst proposedreclassifying marijuana as a less-dangerous substance, arguing that doing so is an essential component of reforming America's criminal justice system. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110515,News November 5,2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 5 Thursday, November 5, 2015 Keep It in the Ground ActSen. Bernie Sanders introduced a new climate bill that would ban all new fossil fuel development on US federal lands and terminate current leases that aren't producing,Mother Jones,The Guardian, Vox, The Huffington PostandReutersreported. The bill, called the ""Keep It In The Ground Act,"" would ban offshore drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic and the Atlantic and would stop new leases for offshore drilling in the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK,LINK, VIDEO MarijuanaSen. Sanders introduced legislation on Wednesday that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana, removing the drug from the federal governments list of the most dangerous substances a move that distinguishes the Democratic presidential hopeful from the other candidates in the race,CNN, The Guardian, VPR,VICE,The Wall Street Journal, Buzzfeed, The Daily Beast and The Huffington Postreported.Pro-legalization groups are marking Sanderss legislation as a milestone: the first time such a bill has been introduced in the chamber. ""A growing majority of Americans want states to be able to enact their own marijuana laws without harassment from the DEA, and lawmakers should listen,"" said Tom Angell, founder of Marijuana Majority.LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK, LINK Keystone XLSen. Sanders is pushing the White House to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline immediately to strengthen the U.S. hand going into the upcoming Paris climate talks, The Associated Press and The Hill reported. We need aggressive action in every way, Sanders said at a Wednesday press conference.I would hope very much that President Obama will stand up as soon as possible and say that the Keystone pipeline is a no-brainer, that you do not extract and transport some of the dirtiest fuel on Earth, end of discussion.LINK, LINK Pacific Trade PactThe Obama administration released the full text of a 12-nation Pacific Rim free-trade accord on Thursday, launching what is expected to be a long and bruising fight to win final ratification in Congress for one of the presidents top priorities. Sanders is against the trade accord, The Washington Post reported. LINK Turing PharmaceuticalsA Senate committee launched an investigation Wednesday into exorbitant drug price hikes by Turing Pharmaceuticals and three other companies, responding to public anxiety over rising prices for critical medicines, The Associated Pressand Business Insider reported. Sen. Sanders has laid out plans to use federal authority to curb price increases.LINK, LINK World Syria Two top U.S. diplomats said Wednesday that 85 to 90 percent of Russian air strikes in Syria have killed moderate opposition forces and civilians and that Moscow's intervention has done little to stop Islamic State militants, The Associated Press reported. LINK National TPP Text Released Details of a sweeping Pacific Rim trade deal released Thursday set the stage for a raucous debate in the U.S. Congress but also may provide reassurances to those who worried the agreement could gut protections for the environment, public health and labor. The text of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement between the U.S. and 11 other countries including Japan and Mexico runs to 30 chapters and hundreds of pages. It is mind-boggling in its detail, laying out plans for the handling of trade in everything from zinc dust to railway sleepers and live eels, The Associated Press reported. LINK Americans Sour on Obama Foreign Policy Americans are souring on President Barack Obama's approach to fighting the Islamic State, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that also found deep pessimism about U.S. prospects for success in Afghanistan and uncertainty about Obama's plan to leave thousands of troops there when he leaves office. More than 6 in 10 now reject Obama's handling of the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, where Obama has been escalating the U.S. military's involvement in a bid to break a vexing stalemate, The Associated Press reported. LINK Vermont GlobalFoundries At a ribbon-cutting celebrating GlobalFoundries' $55 million investment in the company's Essex Junction fab Wednesday, Gov. Peter Shumlin hailed a new ""era of transparency"" at the semiconductor facility originally built by IBM in 1957, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bad-trade-deal-worse-than-i-thought-sanders-says,"Bad Trade Deal 'Worse Than I Thought,' Sanders Says",2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bad Trade Deal 'Worse Than I Thought,' Sanders Says Thursday, November 5, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement today after the text of a proposed 12-nation trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, was made public. ""Now that the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership has finally been released, it is even worse than I thought. It is clear to me that the proposed agreement is not, nor has it ever been, the gold standard of trade agreements. ""This trade deal would make it easier for corporations to shut down more factories in the U.S. and ship more jobs to Vietnam and Malaysia where workers are paid pennies an hour. The TPP is a continuation of our disastrous trade policies that have devastated manufacturing cities and towns all over this country from Newton, Iowa, to Cleveland, Ohio. We need to rebuild the disappearing middle class, not tear it down. ""The TPP would allow foreign corporations to sue federal, state and local governments in an international tribunal for passing an increase in the minimum wage or any other law that could hurt expected future profits. ""The agreement would threaten American laws that protect the safety of the drugs we take, the seafood we feed our families and the toys our kids play with every day. ""At a time when prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, the TPP would make a bad situation even worse by granting new monopoly rights to big pharmaceutical companies to deny access to lower cost generic drugs to millions of people. ""Outrageously, the proposed agreement includes violators of international human rights, like Brunei, where gays and single mothers can be stoned to death and Malaysia where tens of thousands of immigrant workers in the electronics industry are working as modern day slaves. ""I will do everything I can to defeat the TPP. We need trade policies in this country that work for the working families of our nation and not just the CEOs of large, multi-national corporations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-baldwin-introduce-bill-to-stop-land-giveaway-protect-native-american-place-of-worship,"Sanders, Baldwin Introduce Bill to Stop Land Giveaway, Protect Native American Place of Worship",2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Baldwin Introduce Bill to Stop Land Giveaway, Protect Native American Place of Worship Thursday, November 5, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced legislation today to stop the transfer of federal land to a foreign-owned corporation, which plans to develop the largest copper mine in North America. The land, known as Oak Flat, is located in the Tonto National Forest and has significant religious and cultural value to Apaches, Yavapais, and other Native Americans in the region. Too many times our Native American brothers and sisters have seen the profits of huge corporations put ahead of their sovereign rights, Sanders said. It is wrong that a backroom deal in Washington could lead to the destruction of a sacred area that is so important to so many. We must defend the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are standing in opposition to this giveaway of our natural resources to foreign corporations. The Save Oak Flat Act repeals a section of the National Defense Authorization Act that approved the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act. Proponents of the Land Exchange added the provision to the 1,700-page bill the night before it came up for consideration. The Land Exchange circumvents existing federal protections for Native American sacred and cultural areas. The companies who will receive the land under the deal, Rio Tinto P.L.C. and its subsidiary Resolution Copper, will reap tens of billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer assets from the exchange. The proposed mine will collapse the surface of the land, destroying forever a Native American place of worship and threatening our First Americans traditions and ways of life. Resolution Copper says the copper ore mined will likely be shipped out of the United States. Rep. Ral M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives earlier this year and the legislation currently has 36 bipartisan co-sponsors. Click here to read the bill. Click here to read a summary of the bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-introduce-save-benefits-act-to-boost-social-security-and-other-critical-benefits-for-seniors-veterans,"Senators Introduce SAVE Benefits Act to Boost Social Security and Other Critical Benefits for Seniors, Veterans",2015-11-05,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Introduce SAVE Benefits Act to Boost Social Security and Other Critical Benefits for Seniors, Veterans Thursday, November 5, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), introduced legislation today to boost Social Security and other critical benefits for seniors, veterans and other Americans following last month's announcement that there will be a zero cost-of-living adjustment in 2016. Although the cost of core goods and services is projected to rise next year, millions of Americans will see no increase in the benefits they rely on to make ends meet. Meanwhile, CEO compensation for the top 350 firms increased by 3.9 percent last year. The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act would give about 70 million seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and others an emergency payment equal to 3.9 percent of the average annual Social Security benefit, about $581 the same percentage raise as the top CEOs. ""It is unacceptable that millions of senior citizens and disabled veterans did not receive a cost-of-living adjustment this year to keep up with their rising living expenses. At a time when senior poverty is going up and more than two-thirds of the elderly population rely on Social Security for more than half of their income, our job must be to expand, not cut, Social Security,""said Senator Sanders. ""At the very least, we must do everything we can to make sure that every senior citizen and disabled veteran in this country receives a fair cost-of-living adjustment to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs and health care."" A $581 increase could cover almost three months of groceries for seniors or a year's worth of out-of-pocket costs on critical prescription drugs for the average Medicare beneficiary. The bill would lift more than 1 million Americans out of poverty. The cost of this emergency payment would be covered by closing a tax loophole allowing corporations to write off executive bonuses as a business expense for ""performance pay."" The substantial additional revenue saved by closing the CEO compensation loophole would be used to bolster and extend the life of the Social Security and Disability trust funds. ""If we do nothing, on January 1st, more than 70 million seniors, veterans, and other Americans won't get an extra dime in much-needed Social Security and other benefits. And while Congress sits on its hands and pretends that there's nothing we can do, taxpayers will keep right on subsidizing billions of dollars' worth of bonuses for highly paid CEOs,""Senator Warren said. ""Giving seniors a little help with their Social Security and stitching up corporate tax write-offs isn't just about economics; it's about our values. Congress should pass the SAVE Benefits Act today to give a boost to millions of Americans who have earned it."" The SAVE Benefits Act is supported by AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance for Retired Americans, The ARC of the United States, B'nai B'rith International, Campaign for America's Future, Center for Community Change, Center for Effective Government, CREDO, Daily Kos, Democracy for America, Economic Opportunity Institute, International Brotherhood of the Teamsters, Justice in Aging, MoveOn.org, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of La Raza, National Organization for Women, OWL-the Voice of Women 40+, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, Social Security Works, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, UltraViolet, and VoteVets. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.),Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). A PDF fact sheet about the bill is availablehere, and text of bill is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110415,News November 4,2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 4 Wednesday, November 4, 2015 All In Sen. Sanders joined MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes Tuesday to discuss the Koch brothers. What these guys are doing is spending unbelievable sums of money, $900 million of this campaign, to support right wing candidates who are going to war big-time against working families and the middle class, Sanders said.VIDEO Drilling on Public Lands Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Sanders will introduce a bill Wednesday that aims to block further oil and gas drilling on federal lands, Politico and The Hill reported. The bill, Merkley said Tuesday, is designed to combat climate change. Scientists say keeping the large stores of untapped fossil fuel reserves underground will help keep the Earth from warning more than 2 degrees Celsius, the threshold they predict will usher in the worst of global warming. It also is designed to say: this is a credible policy strategy, bring it in to full public discussion, he said. Hopefully it will also become part of the debate in our election process, which is unfolding before us. LINK, LINK Paid to Work Senators running for president often miss a lot of Senate votes, but theyre not Bernie Sanders, McClatchy reported. The Vermont senator has missed just 4 percent of Senate votes, compared to 42 percent for Rubio, MSNBC calculated -- and Sanders says he doesnt like to miss any. That's kind of what I'm paid to do, Sanders told MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday. He added that he would miss votes, but said I'm trying to miss as few as I possibly can. I am extraordinarily proud to represent my great state in the Senate, Sanders said. Were working very hard on a number of issues. And while it is difficult and very time-consuming to be a full-time candidate and to be a full-time senator, that is at the moment what I'm trying to do. LINK Al Gore Echoing the views of the Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sanders, Al Gore said at the DealBook conference in New York that Exxons actions were similar to those of the tobacco industry in the 1980s, when it denied that smoking could cause health problems, The New York Times reported. In an emailed statement in response to Gores comments, an Exxon Mobil representative said: We unequivocally reject the allegations that we misled anyone on climate research. The media reports upon which these allegations are based are inaccurate distortions of ExxonMobils nearly 40 years of climate research. LINK National Houston Votes Down Anti-Discrimination Law A yearlong battle over gay and transgender rights that turned into a costly, ugly war of words between this citys lesbian mayor and social conservatives ended Tuesday as voters repealed an anti-discrimination ordinance that had attracted attention from the White House, sports figures and Hollywood celebrities, The New York Times reported. The City Council passed the measure in May, but it was in limbo after opponents succeeded, following a lengthy court fight, in putting the matter to a referendum. Supporters said the ordinance was similar to those approved in 200 other cities and prohibited bias in housing, employment, city contracting and business services for 15 protected classes, including race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. LINK Ohio Marijuana Ballot Measure Fails Ohioans pushed a monopoly marijuana-legalization proposal out the door Tuesday by a nearly 2-to-1 vote, The Columbus Dispatch reported. But the question is, will pot make a comeback? Although Issue 3 was handily defeated, the debate and conversations about the issue have convinced House Speaker Cliff Rosenberg, R-Clarksville, and other state lawmakers who were staunchly opposed to legalization to now say it may be time to move ahead with medical marijuana. LINK Editorial: Kids in Handcuffs Such police-driven discipline is even used against the very young. The Justice Department filed court papers last month in support of a civil rights lawsuit brought by the parents of two disabled children one 8 years old, the other 9 who attended public school in Kenton County, Ky. Both children have severe disabilities that make it difficult for them to follow instructions. In both cases, a deputy sheriff responded to misbehavior by handcuffing the children. Their arms were so tiny that the cuffs were applied at the biceps, The New York Times Editorial Board wrote. LINK Vermont Racist Flier Burlington police have released grainy surveillance photos of a ""person of interest"" in the distribution of Ku Klux Klan fliers within the city late last week, the Burlington Free Press reported. At least two Burlington residents received the racially charged posters last Thursday. The images were taken in a downtown Burlington copy center, Police Chief Brandon del Pozo said. In response to the distribution of the fliers, the community gathered for a rally Saturday afternoon in Burlington to speak out against the KKK. About 100 people attended. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-merkley-leahy-introduce-bill-to-ban-new-drilling-on-public-land,"Sanders, Merkley, Leahy Introduce Bill to Ban New Drilling on Public Land",2015-11-04,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders, Merkley, Leahy Introduce Bill to Ban New Drilling on Public Land Wednesday, November 4, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation today to help accelerate the transition to clean energy by ending all new federal leases for oil, gas or coal extraction on public lands and waters. Worry less about your campaign contributions and worry more about your children and grandchildren,"" Sanders told Republicans who continue to deny the science on climate change. We are taking on the Koch brothers and some of the most powerful political forces in the world who are more concerned with short-term profits than the future of the planet. Ive got four kids, and Ive got seven beautiful grandchildren. We have a moral responsibility to leave our kids a planet that is healthy and inhabitable. Climate change is already impacting our world through greater forest fires and droughts, with serious effects on our farming, fishing and forest economies. The main cause is carbon pollution, and the impacts will only get worse in the coming decades if we keep burning fossil fuels unchecked, said Merkley. One key part of the solution is lying literally beneath our feet. A major contribution to this challenge would be stopping new fossil fuel leases on our public lands that lock in oil, gas and coal extraction for decades into the future. Our public lands should be managed for the public good, not for private profit. We have a moral responsibility to confront the reality of climate change, and the science is clear that the cost to our land, our communities and our climate of continued federal fossil fuel leasing is far too high, Leahy said. We cannot tackle our carbon emissions if we continue to violate our public lands and our climate with more drilling for fossil fuels. This is a commonsense step forward to addressing a global crisis that is at our doorstep. The Keep It in the Ground Act would stop corporations from starting new fossil fuels projects on all federal lands and waters. The bill prohibits offshore drilling in the Arctic and the Atlantic and stops new leases and ends nonproducing leases for offshore drilling in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. It also stops new leases and nonproducing leases for coal, oil, gas, oil shale and tar sands on all federal lands. The bill would keep over 90 percent of the potential carbon emissions from fossil fuels on our federal lands and federal waters underground forever. The bill is also cosponsored by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Click here to read the legislation. Click here to read a summary of the bill. Click here to see the press conference on the bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/as-vermont-official-sanders-got-things-done,"As Vermont official, Sanders got things done",2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As Vermont official, Sanders got things done By: Sally Jacobs Tuesday, November 3, 2015 BURLINGTON, Vt. Frederick J. Bailey is a conservative man. Fresh out of college, he volunteered for Ronald Reagan in 1980 and became an avid reader of the National Review. When he went to work as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch, his goal was to prosper. And so when the baby-faced Bailey became a member of the Burlington Board of Aldermen at age 28, he was stunned to find himself sitting across from socialist Mayor Bernie Sanders. Like many conservatives in town, Bailey had dismissed Sanders as a kook when he became mayor in 1981 and presumed he would not last long. But here it was four years later and Bernie, as everyone called him, was still there, sitting under his beloved portrait of Socialist Eugene Debs in City Hall. Bailey, a bankers son, disagreed with some of what the wild-haired mayor said, but on the bigger issues, like keeping property taxes down, they saw eye to eye. To the fury of his Republican colleagues, Bailey began to vote with the mayor. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110315,News November 3,2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 3 Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Senator Sanders Keystone PipelineThe company that hopes to build the Keystone XL pipeline to carry crude oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast asked the Obama administration Monday to delay its review of the proposal. Sen. Sanders has lond opposed the project, the Los Angeles Times, Vox and The Guardian reported. LINK, LINK, LINK MedicaidIn May, Sen. Sanders and Representative Elijah Cummings re-introduced legislation to expand Medicaid's drug rebate. It went nowhere until now.Under the bipartisan budget deal passed last week, a Medicaid drug rebate requirement would be expanded to generic drugs,Voxreported. LINK Capital PunishmentLast week on the Senate floor, Sen. Sanders proposed eliminating the death penalty. It is not a popular point of view. In its most recent polling, Gallup found that 37 percent of Americans opposed the death penalty, compared to 61 percent who supported it. What's interesting is that support for the death penalty rose as crime rose -- but as crime has fallen, support for the death penalty hasn't fallen as much, The Washington Post reported. LINK Trick-or-TreatingSen. Sanderswent trick-or-treating with three of his grandchildren in a neighborhood in Lebanon, New Hampshire, Saturday following his campaign events in the area,ABC News,The Washington PostandReutersreported. All dressed up and ready to go in their Halloween costumes, the children had joined their grandfather earlier in the day, waving to supporters onstage during a town hall meeting.LINK,LINK,VIDEO World Syria After abandoning its last effort to train and arm Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State, the Obama administration has turned to a newly announced alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, to beat the jihadists in northern Syria. But 10 days of interviews and front-line visits across northern Syria with many of the forces in the alliance made clear that so far it exists in name only, and that the political and logistical challenges it faces are daunting, The New York Times reported. LINK National Transgender Rights Federal education authorities, staking out their firmest position yet on an increasingly contentious issue, found Monday that an Illinois school district violated anti-discrimination laws when it did not allow a transgender student who identifies as a girl and participates on a girls sports team to change and shower in the girls locker room without restrictions, The New York Times reported. LINK Keystone Pipeline The company seeking to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline asked the Obama administration on Monday to suspend its review of the project, potentially bringing an abrupt halt to the politically charged debate over a proposal that had become part of a broader fight over President Obamas environmental policies, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont VT Health Connect Gov. Peter Shumlins administration is recommending that the statemaintain the status quo on Vermont Health Connect, rather than scrapping the project in favor of federal technology. Top administration officials wrote Monday that the federal option would present an unacceptable risk of failure. They added that the Vermont Health Connect insurance exchange website, which went live in October 2013, has recovered from earlier problems, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-clean-water-act,Sanders Statement on Clean Water Act,2015-11-03,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Clean Water Act Tuesday, November 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after voting to stop a bill that guts the Clean Water Act. I find it unconscionable that my Republican colleagues are attempting to undermine efforts to keep our water clean. One in three people 117 million Americans depend on drinking water from sources protected by the Clean Water Rule. Clean water protections are essential to safeguarding our nations public health and our economic prosperity.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-budget-deal-made-a-change-thats-good-for-medicaid_and-bad-for-martin-shkreli,The budget deal made a change that's good for Medicaid and bad for Martin Shkreli,2015-11-02,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The budget deal made a change that's good for Medicaid and bad for Martin Shkreli By: Dan Diamond Monday, November 2, 2015 You may hate Martin Shkreli, the greedy drug company executive who hiked the price of Daraprim more than 5,000 percent last month. But you should love how Shkrelisparked a national debateover price-gouging that's finally led to legislative action. Under this week's budget deal, which has passed Congress and President Obama is expected to sign Monday, a Medicaid drug rebate requirement would be expanded to generic drugs. What this means: Companies that produce generic drugs must pay back the government if the price of their drugs grows faster than inflation. It's good for the government the Congressional Budget Office estimates the change would save Medicaid about $1 billion over ten years. And even if a Medicaid drug rebate doesn't directly benefit most patients, it ""could still serve as a valuable tool for state budgets and taxpayers, particularly as Medicaid covers more and more people with the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion and as more states choose to expand Medicaid,"" the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budgetwrote. Democratic lawmakers had been trying to make this exact change for years, but before Shkreli's antics, they didn't have any momentum to do it. In May, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Elijah Cummingsre-introduced legislationto expand Medicaid's drug rebate. It went nowhere until now. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/110215,News November 2,2015-11-02,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 2 Monday, November 2, 2015 Senator Sanders Mayor Sanders As Sen. Sanders campaign for the presidency unfurls, there is a surprising truth to be found in his eight-year tenure as mayor of Vermonts largest city, He turned out to be a pragmatic and efficient administrator, one so fiscally conservative that some Republicans say he managed to out-Republican the Republicans, The Boston Globe reported in a front-page story on Sunday. LINK Syria During a swing through New Hampshire, Sanders expressed skepticism about President Obamas plan to put special forces on the ground in Syria, NBCs Nightly News reported. My nightmare is that the United States once again gets caught up in a something that never ends, Sanders said. On the campaign trail, Sanders has said he is not opposed to using military force, but he believes it should only be used as a last resort. VIDEO Trick or Treat Sanders and his wife Jane greeted a few lucky Vermonters Halloween night, including a couple of Bernie look-alikes, WCAX-TV in Burlington reported. It was great to just shake his hand and get to talk to him, a giant banana said. Sanders told cameras he was dressed up as Larry David dressed up as Bernie Sanders. VIDEO World Sinai Peninsula Crash As Russia mourned the 224 victims of a charter flight that crashed over the weekend on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, investigators on Sunday began the difficult process of trying to determine whether the plane, which they said had broken up in midair, was brought down by an act of terrorism or a tragic accident, The New York Times reported. LINK National GOP Debates Several Republican presidential campaigns began mapping out new demands Sunday for greater control over the format and content of primary debates, which have attracted big audiences and become strategically critical for the 2016 cycles expansive field of contenders, The Washington Post reported. The effort was a response to long-simmering frustrations over the debates, the questions and in some cases the moderators, which boiled over this weekend when advisers from at least 11 campaigns met in the Washington suburbs to deliberate about how to regain sway over the process. LINK Vermont Pedestrians Hit Two people have been hospitalized after trying to avoid an Amtrak train in Brattleboro, WCAX-TV reported. Emergency officials say the individuals were walking on the tracks on Veteran's Bridge shortly after 1 p.m. when they spotted the train and tried to get off the tracks. One of the individuals was hit by the train, and both were hospitalized. LINK Editorial: Publics Right to Know Burlington law enforcements decision to keep from the public a courthouse sexual assault, then to castigate the news media for reporting the crime based on public documents points to a disregard for the principles of government transparency and public accountability, the Burlington Free Press editorialized. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/103015,News October 30,2015-10-30,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 30 Friday, October 30, 2015 Senator Sanders Death PenaltySen. Bernie Sanders called Thursday for an end to the death penalty. We are all shocked and disgusted by some of the horrific murders that we see in this country, seemingly every week, said Sanders, according toThe Associated Press,The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Hill, ThinkProgress and USA Today. And that is precisely why we should abolish the death penalty. At a time of rampant violence and murder, the state should not be part of that process.LINK,LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK MarijuanaOn Wednesday, Sen. Sanders took a truly historic position by voicing support for removing marijuana from the US drug schedules and ending prohibition at the federal level. But more than making history, Sanders took the only position on marijuana that's actually consistent with states' rights,Vox, The Atlantic,The Washington Post,The Associated Press,The Christian Science Monitor, Alternet,Vermont Public Radioand Reuters reported. LINK,LINK, LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK, LINK Postal BankingSen. Sanders has a big idea for turning post offices back into banks,The Washington Postreported. That's because he sees them as a place where the 68 million low-income Americans who currently rely on payday lenders and costly cash checking services could manage their affairs less expensively, (and banking might help the beleaguered Postal Service's bottom line as well.)LINK World Syria Peace Talks When Secretary of State John Kerry sits down here Friday to push for a political settlement of the Syrian war, the immediate tension will surround his dealings with the Russians and the Iranians. But the bigger challenge may well be reconciling the Saudis and the Iranians, longtime rivals who have turned Syria into the main battlefield in a broadening proxy war for dominance in the Middle East, The New York Times reported. LINK American Arrested in Iran ran has arrested another American holding dual citizenship, bringing to four the number of Iranian Americans imprisoned in Tehran after they came under suspicion by hard-line security forces. Siamak Namazi, a businessman based in Dubai who is in his early 40s, was arrested earlier this month when he was visiting a friend in Tehran, The Washington Post reported. LINK National Senate Passes Budget The Senate approved a crucial bipartisan budget agreement early on Friday that would avert a government default and stands to end nearly five years of pitched battles between congressional Republicans and the Obama administration over fiscal policy, The New York Times reported. LINK Clinton Calls for Equal Sentencing Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is calling for equal treatment in sentencing drug offenders who use crack and powder cocaine, part of her agenda for overhauling the criminal justice system. Shes also reiterating her support for a ban on racial profiling by law enforcement officials, The Wall Street Journal reported. LINK Vermont Health Exchange Gov. Peter Shumlin said Thursday that he is cautiously optimistic the states dysfunctional health exchange will be able handle open enrollment smoothly for the first time since the website was launched in October 2013, VT Digger reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/why-bernie-sanders-marijuana-proposal-would-be-a-big-deal,Why Bernie Sanders marijuana proposal would be a big deal,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Why Bernie Sanders marijuana proposal would be a big deal By: Christopher Ingraham Thursday, October 29, 2015 Bernie Sanders has beenhinting for months nowthat he'll have more to say on marijuana in the 2016 election. Tonight, it looks like he'll finally say it. Sanderswill call for marijuana to be removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration's schedule of controlled substances. Doing so would be a big deal for marijuana policy in this country. While it wouldn't legalize marijuana at the federal levelper se,it would allow states to pursue their own marijuana policies free of most federal interference.The DEA classifies marijuana as a schedule 1 drug because it says that the drug has no medically accepted use and highpotential for abuse. It's regulated more tightly than other drugs that are far more deadly and less medically useful, like cocaine, opium and methamphetamines. Here are seventhings that would change if marijuana were removed from the DEA's schedule: Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102915,News October 29,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 29 Thursday, October 29, 2015 MarijuanaSanders says if elected president he would seek to remove marijuana from a list of drugs deemed illegal by the federal government, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Hill, The Huffington Post, MSNBC, ABC News and The Daily Beastreported. Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use, Sanders said at a town hall with college student in Fairfax, Virginia. Under the plan, states seeking to regulate marijuana would remain free to do so under local laws governing the sales of alcohol and tobacco. Sanders would allow federal law enforcement officials to arrest and prosecute drug dealers for trafficking in marijuana sales. The Marijuana Majority, an organization which supports reform for the drug, says that Sanders' plan would be historic.LINK, LINK,LINK, LINK, AUDIO, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK,LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK Islamophobia Sanders on Wednesday invoked his ancestors deaths in Holocaust concentration camps as he embraced a Muslim student and promised to lead the fight against racism, The Hill and ThinkProgress reported. Sanders chronicled racism and discriminations historical roots in American culture, arguing that groups have always tried to play one group off against each other. Our job is to build a nation in which we all stand together as one, he said. If we stand for anything we have to stand together and end all forms of racism in this country. I will lead that effort as president. LINK, LINK Marriage EqualityWith both Democratic contenders mostly in agreement on the topic today, Sen. Sanders is criticizing the former Secretary of States past positions, attempting to tie them to a broader critique that she does what is politically expedient,TIME reported. But his record on gay marriage is more complicated than he now makes it sound. While Sanders generally opposed measures to ban gay marriage, he did not speak out in favor of it until 2009. Thats still well ahead of Clinton, as well as most other Democratic Senators, but not as early as hes now casting it. LINK World Iran Joins Syria TalksAccording toThe New York Times, Iran has accepted an invitation to join talks with the United States and Russia this week on a possible political resolution to the Syrian civil war, state news media reported on Wednesday.LINK National SC Deputy Fired Over Student Arrest A white sheriffs deputy in South Carolina was fired Wednesday after county officials concluded he had acted improperly when, in a videotaped confrontation, he dragged and then threw a female African-American student across a high school classroom this week. The deputy, Ben Fields, was dismissed two days after the episode at Spring Valley High School, where students recorded an encounter that spread quickly across social media and became a vivid reminder of concerns about the treatment of black people by law enforcement officers, The New York Times reported. LINK The Ryan Era Begins House Republicans nominated Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin as their next speaker Wednesday, tapping one of their partys brightest stars as the leader they hope will close out an era of GOP divisiveness and recrimination, The Washington Post reported. Ryan is set to be formally elected to succeed outgoing speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) in a House vote Thursday morning. Thanking his fellow lawmakers after Wednesdays closed-door party ballot, Ryan said his nomination begins a new day in the House of Representatives. LINK Cruz and Rubio Win Debate Both Rubio and Cruz have won modest plaudits for their performances in the first two debates, but there was a demonstrable difference in what unfolded on the stage at the University of Colorado. They outshone Donald Trump and Ben Carson, the leaders in the polls, and Rubio overshadowed his onetime mentor, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, The Washington Post reported. Whether this was a unique moment for Rubio and Cruz or a foreshadowing of where the Republican nomination contest is heading is a matter of speculation, with the voters the ultimate arbiters starting early next year. But both candidates served notice Wednesday that they are ready for the next phase of a rapidly changing and increasingly fractious campaign. LINK Vermont Vermont Health Connect On Sunday, customers will begin shopping for their 2016 insurance plans on Vermont Health Connect, and that means judgment day for a new piece of software thats supposed to help the state avoid the technical glitches that plagued last years enrollment process. Administration officials say this time around, the exchange will be ready for prime time, Vermont Public Radio reported. LINK Marijuana LegalizationThough public opinion polls have consistently shown that Vermonters support legalizing pot and several top politicians have recently come around to the idea legalization faces a long road in the legislature next year,Seven Days Vermontreported. Among the questions lawmakers must consider: Who would be permitted to buy, sell and grow pot? What quantities would be permissible? How would the industry be regulated? How would it be taxed? Where would the revenue go? Could the state comply with federal guidelines? Would edibles be allowed?LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-end-to-death-penalty-during-senate-speech-on-criminal-justice-reform-,Sanders Calls for End to Death Penalty During Senate Speech on Criminal Justice Reform,2015-10-29,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Calls for End to Death Penalty During Senate Speech on Criminal Justice Reform Thursday, October 29, 2015 WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 During a Senate floor speech today on criminal justice reform, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reiterated his long-standing opposition to the death penalty and called for marijuana to be removed from a list of drugs outlawed by the federal government. When we talk about criminal justice reform, I believe it is time for the United States of America to join almost every other Western, industrialized country on Earth in saying no to the death penalty, Sanders said. We are all shocked and disgusted by some of the horrific murders that we see in this country, seemingly every week. And that is precisely why we should abolish the death penalty. At a time of rampant violence and murder, the State should not be part of that process. Sanders has opposed the death penalty his entire political career. ""All over the industrialized world now, countries are saying, let us put an end to state murder, let us stop capital punishment,"" Sanders said in opposition to the 1991 Violent Crime Prevention Act. ""But here what were talking about is more and more capital punishment."" Sanders also called for reform of a criminal justice system that puts more people in jail than any other country on earth and makes it harder for Americans to get back on their feet once theyre out of jail. A criminal record stays with a person for his or her entire lifeuntil the day he or she dies, Sanders said. If a person has a criminal record, it will be much harder for that person later in life to get a job. Many employers simply will not hire somebody with a criminal record. A criminal record destroys lives. Sanders also announced he will introduce legislation to remove marijuana from a list of drugs outlawed by the federal government, paving the way for states to enforce their own policies. The time is long overdue for us to take marijuana off of the federal governments list of outlawed drugs, Sanders said. Click here to read Sanders prepared remarks.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102815,News October 28,2015-10-28,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 28 Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Drug Prices Americans from across the political spectrum are worried about the cost of prescription drugs for serious diseases, following weeks of news coverage about companies hiking prices for critical medicines, The Associated Press reported. 77 percent of those surveyed said the issue was their No. 1 health concern, reflecting recent outrage over drug pricing that has spilled over into the presidential campaign. Sanders has made unaffordable drugs a campaign issue and outlined reforms designed to keep drugmakers in check. Meanwhile, members of Congress and federal prosecutors are investigating Valeant Pharmaceuticals, another company known for acquiring older drugs and jacking up their prices. LINK Cybersecurity Bill TheSenate overwhelmingly passed a controversial cybersecurity bill critics say will allow the government to collect sensitive personal data unchecked, over the objections of civil liberties groups and many of the biggest names in the tech sector, The Associated Press and The Guardian reported. The vote on Tuesday was 74 to 21 in support of the legislation. Sanders voted against the bill. LINK, LINK Folk Album Peggy Seeger, half sister to folk music icon Pete Seeger, likes the way Sanders voices his message, Politico reported. She just doesnt like it when he sings it. Recently, for the first time, Peggy listened to We Shall Overcome, the folk album Sanders recorded in 1987, six years into his tenure as mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Pete would have been happy that Bernie seriously took up his songs. He admired Bernie tremendously, she said. But he would have said that Bernie was just reading poetry to a background of music. And not doing it terribly well. LINK Brooklyn DodgersAs a big Dodgers fan, Sen. Sanders was 16 years-old when they left town for Los Angeles. According to a story by Les Carpenter in The Guardian, that move played a large role in shaping Sanders view of businesses and, in turn, his politics,NBC Sportsreported.LINK World ISIS Prisoners On Tuesday, in their first interviews since being brought to the Kurdish autonomous region by American Chinook helicopters, four former ISIS prisoners described life under the thumb of the Islamic State, The New York Times reported. As members of the police, or suspected of ties to the Iraqi government or the United States, the men were beaten and tortured by militants during their captivity. It was all suddenly reversed by a military mission than happened upon them by mistake the raid had originally been meant to free captured pesh merga fighters. LINK National Budget Deal The House moved closer Tuesday to ending the persistent threat of fiscal crisis that has been a Washington hallmark in recent years, readying a budget deal that would push the next potential spending clashes past the 2016 elections, The Washington Post reported. The move would empower Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as he prepares to take the speakers gavel this week by removing some of the land mines that doomed the current speaker. LINK Vermont Public Service Board Protest After three days of demonstrations that blocked a main road through the state's capital, protesters from Rising Tide Vermont wore out their welcome Monday morning when police arrested three people after dozens blockaded the entrance to a state office building, the Burlington Free Press reported. Protesters chained themselves to the entrances to 112 State St., the offices of the Public Service Board and Department of Public Service, to protest the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in Vermont. LINK Embracing SolarAs solar arrays become more prevalent around Vermont, concerns have been raised about whether or not the renewable energy projects are displacing farmland,Vermont Public Radioreported. But some, like Open View Farm in New Haven, are embracing solar.LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-budget-deal,Sanders Statement on Budget Deal,2015-10-28,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Budget Deal Wednesday, October 28, 2015 WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on the bipartisan budget deal, which also raises the national borrowing limit until March 2017. This is not the budget I would have written. It doesnt ask the most profitable corporations and the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share in taxes and it increases Pentagon spending too much. But I will support it because its much better than across-the-board budget cuts, increased premiums for Medicare, cuts to Social Security and the constant threat we wont pay our bills. In my view, a two-year deal gives us time to focus on providing an emergency cost of living adjustment for senior citizens, raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for women, expanding Social Security, making college tuition-free, reforming our criminal justice system, bringing millions of new Americans out of the shadows and addressing the growing threat of climate change. The deal also includes a provision to curb skyrocketing drug prices by requiring drug companies to pay a rebate to Medicaid when prices of generic drugs shoot up at a rate steeper than inflation. The legislation was originally introduced as the Medicaid Generic Drug Fairness Act by Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in the 113th Congress. The bill was reintroduced in May.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/greenland-is-melting-away,Greenland Is Melting Away,2015-10-27,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ON THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET The midnight sun still gleamed at 1 a.m. across the brilliant expanse of the Greenland ice sheet. Brandon Overstreet, a doctoral candidate in hydrology at the University of Wyoming, picked his way across the frozen landscape, clipped his climbing harness to an anchor in the ice and crept toward the edge of a river that rushed downstream toward an enormous sinkhole. If he fell in, the death rate is 100 percent, said Mr. Overstreets friend and fellow researcher, Lincoln Pitcher. But Mr. Overstreets task, to collect critical data from the river, is essential to understanding one of the most consequential impacts of global warming. The scientific data he and a team of six other researchers collect here could yield groundbreaking information on the rate at which the melting of Greenland ice sheet, one of the biggest and fastest-melting chunks of ice on Earth, will drive up sea levels in the coming decades. The full melting of Greenlands ice sheet could increase sea levels by about 20 feet. We scientists love to sit at our computers and use climate models to make those predictions, said Laurence C. Smith, head of the geography department at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the leader of the team that worked in Greenland this summer. But to really know whats happening, that kind of understanding can only come about through empirical measurements in the field. For years, scientists have studied the impact of the planets warming on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. But while researchers have satellite images to track the icebergs that break off, and have created models to simulate the thawing, they have little on-the-ground information and so have trouble predicting precisely how fast sea levels will rise. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102715,News October 27,2015-10-27,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 27 Tuesday, October 27, 2015 The ViewOn Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders took a seat amid the ladiesofABC'SThe View. Sandersgot a chance to make the case as to why he can win and decried the disproportionate political influence of a handful of billionaires."" He also signed copies of a 1987 folk album he had recorded, begging Whoopi Goldberg and the shows four other female co-hosts not to play it as his wife looked on from the audience, The Washington PostandThe Hillreported.LINK,LINK,VIDEO,VIDEO Sanders Joins Picket LineSanders took his muscular attacks on wealth inequality and corporate greed to New York City on Monday, joining approximately 200 Verizon workers and union members in Times Square as they rallied for a fair contract and to rehire an employee who was allegedly fired after she spearheaded an organizing campaign.Sanders, who has frequently argued for greater protections for workers , told union members several of whom held signs emblazoned with Stop Verizon Wireless corporate greed outside one of the companys retail stores that their struggle is symptomatic of whats happening in the rest of the countryThe Associated Press, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, Business Insider and New York Observer reported. LINK,LINK,LINK, LINK, LINK Federal Transportation Grant Vermont's congressional delegation and the governor announced late Monday a $10 million federal grant to improve rail service along the state's Western Corridor, which will remove the final hurdle for restoring passenger service between Rutland and Burlington, the Burlington Free Press reported. The grant was awarded to the Vermont Agency of Transportation as part of $500 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants across the country for rail and transportation improvements. LINK Dem Bums Long before he campaigned against corporate greed and an economy for the rich, a young Bernie Sanders learned his own painful lesson about big business. It came in the fall of 1957 when his neighborhood baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, The Guardian reported. Rumors of the Dodgers departure had been around for a couple of years before they actually moved. The deal Los Angeles was giving OMalley allowing him to swap a plot of land below downtown for a hilltop called Chavez Ravine was too good to turn down. Looking back, Gutman compares it to a company that closes a factory, putting people out of jobs, to take advantage of tax breaks offered in elsewhere. To him and many others in Brooklyn at the time their move was a betrayal. LINK World Persian Gulf Too Hot for Humans by 2100By the end of this century, areas of the Persian Gulf could be hit by waves of heat and humidity so severe that simply being outside for several hours could threaten human life, according to a new study published Monday. Because of humanitys contribution to climate change, the authors wrote, some population centers in the Middle East are likely to experience temperature levels that are intolerable to humans, The New York Times reported. LINK National Budget Deal House Republican leaders introduced legislation just before midnight on Monday, finalizing a two-year budget agreement between Congressional leaders and the White House, The Washington Post reported. The introduction sets up a vote as early as Wednesday on the bipartisan budget deal which would increase military and domestic spending and avert a potentially catastrophic default in exchange for long-term spending cuts. LINK Vermont Farmers UpsetSome organic crop farmers are upset that some crops raised without soil in hydroponic greenhouses can carry the label organic. About 50 protested Monday at a Monday meeting in Stowe of the National Organics Standards Board. The protesters urged the board to recommend that hydroponic crops not carry the label, The Associated Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102615,News October 26,2015-10-26,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 26 Monday, October 26, 2015 Generic Drugs Turing Pharmaceuticals sparked nationwide outrage and government investigations by raising the cost of Daraprim, a drug for treating AIDS and cancer, from $13.50 a capsule to $750 last month. This week, the biomedical company Imprimis Pharmaceuticals of San Diego introduced a competitor to the medication for $1 a capsule, The Los Angeles Times reported. Imprimis plans to take the same strategy to undercut other generic drugs sold at far more than their manufacturing cost. The move comes after Sanders started investigating increasing drug prices in October of 2014. LINK Exxon Mobil Sanders has asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to examine whether Exxon Mobil violated federal law and engaged in ""corporate fraud"" by pushing ""a misinformation campaign"" about fossil fuels, The Houston Chronicle reported. The company is pushing back with a news release blasting the allegations as ""inaccurate and deliberately misleading"" and a top executive taking to Twitter to repudiate the claims - comes amid mounting calls for a federal investigation of the company. They point to corporate efforts to fill the substantial gaps in knowledge that existed during the earliest years of climate change research,"" Exxons Vice President of Government Affairs Ken Cohen tweeted at some critics, including Sanders, the Sierra Club, and 350.org founder Bill McKibben. LINK Column: Workplace Democracy Act We are demanding a free and fair organizing process just like the one Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is proposing in his Workplace Democracy Act. Instead of going through a sham election, we should be able to join a union by just signing a union membership card. Nobody should interfere with our right to sign-up for a union just like no one can stop us from signing up for a church or political party, Betrand Olotara and Luz Villatoro wrote in The Hill. LINK World Hurricane Patricia Just a day after menacing Mexico as one of history's strongest storms, Hurricane Patricia left surprisingly little damage in its wake Saturday and quickly dissipated into a low-pressure system that posed little threat beyond heavy rain, The Associated Press reported. LINK National Driving While BlackA New York Times examination of traffic stops and arrests in Greensboro, N.C., uncovered wide racial differences in measure after measure of police conduct. LINK Master Sergeant Wheeler In a thinly populated, economically struggling patch of eastern Oklahoma, Joshua L. Wheeler had a difficult childhood and few options, The New York Times reported. The Army offered an escape, but it turned into much more. He made a career in uniform, becoming a highly decorated combat veteran in the elite and secretive Delta Force. Master Sergeant Wheeler, 39, a father of four who was thinking of retiring from the Army, became the first American in four years to die in combat in Iraq on Thursday. LINK Vermont Pipeline Protest Hundreds of people flocked to Montpelier Saturday morning to protest a controversial natural gas pipeline in Chittenden and Addison counties. Demonstrators marched through downtown and occupied theblock of State Street in front of the Statehouse, where the group held a rally.The demonstration was organized by Rising Tide Vermont, a group of climate activists who have rallied against the Vermont Gas Systems Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project since the pipelinewas proposed three years ago, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-gender-pay-gap-widens-as-mens-earnings-grow-twice-as-fast-as-womens,The Gender Pay Gap Widens as Mens Earnings Grow Twice as Fast as Womens,2015-10-25,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Gender Pay Gap Widens as Mens Earnings Grow Twice as Fast as Womens By: Eric Morath Sunday, October 25, 2015 The gender pay gap is widening again because mens earnings aregrowing this year at twice the rate ofwomens. The median weekly earnings for full-time male workers was $889 in the third quarter, theLabor Departmentsaid Tuesday. Thats a 2.2% increase from a year earlier. Meanwhile, full-time female workers earnings were $721, up 0.8% from a year earlier. The latest data marks the third straight quarter that the increase in male earnings was at least double that of female workers. As a result, women who work full time earned 81.1 cents for every dollar a man earned from July through September. Thats down more than a pennyfrom a year earlier. The trend suggests the narrowing of the pay gap may have at least temporarily stalled this year. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/climate-change-could-wreck-the-global-economy,Climate Change Could Wreck the Global Economy,2015-10-23,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Climate Change Could Wreck the Global Economy By: Justin Worland Friday, October 23, 2015 Temperature rise due to climate change may radically damage the global economy and slow growth in the coming decades if nothing is done to slow the pace of warming, according to new research. The researchers behind thestudy, published in the journalNature, found that temperature change due to unmitigated global warming will leave global GDP per capita 23% lower in 2100 than it would be without any warming. Were basically throwing away money by not addressing the issue, said Marshall Burke, an assistant professor at Stanford University. We see our study as providing an estimate of the benefits of reducing emissions. The economic effects of climate change may be even worse than this study makes them sounds. The research relies on historical data from countries around the world on how temperature increase has affected productivity. This means the study does not account for the economic impact of sea level rise, storms or any of the other expected effects of climate change beyond simple warming. Sea level rise, increased storm intensityif you think those things are going to worsen the effects of climate change, then our estimates would be an underestimate of the potential impacts, which is sort of terrifying, said Burke. This study is far from the first to suggest that climate change will slow economic growth.Big businesshas been especially keen on highlighting the potential damage. A Citigroupreportreleased last month found that minimizing temperature rises to 2.7F (1.5C) could minimize global GDP loss by $50 trillion compared to a rise of 8.1F (4.5C) in the coming decades. Continue reading the story here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102315,News October 23,2015-10-23,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 23 Friday, October 23, 2015 Senator Sanders Puerto Rican Debt CrisisSen. Bernie Sanders said Thursday that Wall Street financiers who loaned money to Puerto Rico may ""have to take a haircut"" on their returns from the fiscally troubled island. ""The lenders are not going to get 100% of their dollars back. They're going to have to take a haircut -- probably a pretty significant haircut,"" the Vermont independent senator toldCNNen Espanol's Juan Carlos Lopez on ""DirectoUSA."" Why should they get 100 percent of their investment when they are paying 30 to 70 percent for their bonds? Sanders said in a hearing on Puerto Rico's crisis according toThe New York Times, The Associated Press, The Washington Postand NPRs All Things Considered.LINK,LINK,LINK, LINK,VIDEO, AUDIO The Time for Real Change""The American people understand that our current economic system is rigged, and that our campaign finance system is corrupt. They know that while the very rich get much richer, millions of Americans work longer hours for lower wages, and we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth,"" Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote forConcord Monitor. ""Now is the time for bold action to rebuild our disappearing middle class. Now is the time to protect the most vulnerable members of our society the elderly, the disabled and the children.""LINK Prison Phone CallsThe Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to slash what it called excessive rates and egregious fees that families have to pay to call their relatives in prison. Currently, calls to inmates can cost as much as$14 a minute. The FCC decision comes a week after Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and 15 other Democrats wrote a letter to the agencys chairman Thomas Wheeler in support of his reform effort. The lawmakers were critical of the existing system, which they said has profited from charging inmates unreasonably high call rates,MSNBCreported.LINK Consistency John Dillon, news director at Vermont Public Radio, has covered Sen. Sanders for more than 25 years and says the candidate has focused on economic inequality from his earliest campaigns, Iowa Public Radio reported. Even when he was running as a third party candidate for U.S. senator and governor in the state of Vermont back in the 70s, he talked about these issues that hes talking about today. LINK MarijuanaSen. Sanders suggested on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he is open to supporting the legalization of marijuana,The Hill,MSNBC,Rolling Stone,The WeekandNational Journalreported. ""We have large numbers of lives who have been destroyed because of this war on drugs,"" he stated. ""I think we have got to end the war on drugs. I am not unfavorably disposed to moving toward the legalization of marijuana,"" Sanders said.LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK Free Public College Tuition Sen. Sanders promised on Thursday to revolutionize higher education with universal free public college tuition, because it is the right thing to do,The Guardianreported. Sanders argued on Thursday that an education should be available to all regardless of anyones station both as the best chance for peoples personal fulfillment and also to give the US the best educated workforce in the world.LINK Climate ChangeSen. Sanders said late Wednesday that Republicans think climate change isn't real because of the Koch brothers and other big energy interests,The Hillreported. When you have people like the Koch brothers and ExxonMobil today spending huge amounts of money trying to deny that reality, it slows up the entire world from aggressively addressing what is an international crisis, Sanders said. ""This is serious stuff.""LINK Column: Skyrocketing Drug Prices"" For most Americans, the out-of-pocket prices that we must pay for essential prescription drugs, already too high, are increasing far too rapidly for our family budgets to sustain. The Congress has the ability to moderate these price spikes but only a sustained national outcry from the American people will bring about reform,"" Rep. Elijah Cummings wrote inAfro.""For some time now, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and I have been investigating the skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs. We have received evidence of repeated drug price increases with no apparent justification and with no evident link to any increase in the cost of manufacturing these drugs.""LINK National Obama Defends Black Lives MatterPresident Obama said Thursday that black Americans were not simply imagining concerns that they are often treated more harshly and less fairly by police officers than are whites, The New York Times reported. I think the reason the organizers used the phrase black lives matter was not because they were suggesting that nobody elses lives matter, Mr. Obama said. Rather, what they were suggesting was that there is a specific problem that is happening in the African-American community that is not happening in other communities. And that is a legitimate issue that weve got to address. LINK Obama Vetoes Defense BillPresident Obama exercised his veto power Thursday for just the fifth time in his presidency, rejecting a defense authorization bill because of the way it would sidestep budget limitations for the military and because it would restrict the transfer of detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, The Washington Post reported. LINK College ShootingOne person was killed and two others were wounded by gunfire on the campus of Tennessee State University in Nashville late on Thursday, police said. The incidents come amid a string of gun violence at or near several U.S. schools in October, including deadly incidents on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and adjacent to Texas Southern University in Houston, Reuters reported. LINK Vermont Woman Raped in CourthouseA woman was raped in a bathroom of Burlington's criminalcourthouse, a building secured by metal detectors and armed guards, according to charges laid out in court papers. Police are seeking the suspect, who remains at large, Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/leahy-sanders-welch-announce-17-million-in-funds-for-low-income-home-energy-assistance-program,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $17 Million in Funds for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program",2015-10-23,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $17 Million in Funds for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Friday, October 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) who have long championed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Friday announced $17 million in funds to assist Vermonters seeking help to meet their home heating needs this winter, only days after the first snowfall of the season. In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: LIHEAP is a lifeline to more than 25,000 Vermonters who need energy assistance to stay warm in the winter. Seniors on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, and low-income families spend a growing portion of their income heating their homes. Without this bridge of assistance, many Vermonters must choose between heating and other vital necessities, including food and costly prescription drugs.LIHEAP is a program that proves, year after year, to be one of the most effective expenditures of taxpayer dollars, and successfully leverages investments from all stakeholders in keeping Vermont families safe and healthy. This federal funding, granted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is part of a nationwide release of $3 billion in LIHEAP funds to help low income households pay for heating and/or cooling their homes. The funds represent about 90 percent of the funding approved for LIHEAP under the Continuing Appropriations Act signed into law last month. HHS will release the remaining funds for the program following the completion of Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bills. LIHEAP is administered by the State of Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, with support from Vermonts five community action agencies. Earlier this month, Senators Leahy and Sanders sent aletterto HHS requesting the release of as much federal funding as possible to Vermont despite the recently passed Continuing Resolution, which forestalls allocations prior to the passage of a federal spending bill. Congressman Welch led a bipartisan group of members of the House in sending a similarletterto the Department. Vermonters seeking home heating assistance may visit the website of the Department of Children and Families athttp://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel_assistance.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/the-week-in-review_102315,The Week in Review,2015-10-23,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Week in Review Friday, October 23, 2015 Sen. Sanders sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch Tuesday, asking the Department of Justice to investigate what Exxon Mobil knew about the cause of climate change in the late 1970s. On Wednesday, Sanders called for immediate action to end budget sequestration and raise the debt limit. Sanders also pushed for a resolution to the Puerto Rican debt crisis that puts people over vulture funds. He sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Secretary and urged Puerto Rican leaders at a Senate hearing to act swiftly to protect the people of the territory.Sanders joinedSenator Patrick Leahy andCongressman Peter Welch Friday to announce $17 million in funds to assist Vermonters seeking help to meet their home heating needs this winter, only days after the first snowfall of the season. Exxon Mobil Sanders asked Tuesday for the Department of Justice to investigate what he called a potential instance of corporate fraud by the oil giant. Exxon Mobil knew the truth about fossil fuels and climate change and lied to protect their business model at the expense of the planet, Sanders said. He likened Exxon Mobils conduct to claims by the tobacco industry about the health risks associated with smoking. Sanders cited an investigation by Inside Climate News, the non-profit, non-partisan news organization, which suggested that Exxon Mobil scientists conducted extensive research on climate change as early as 1977. The companys scientists reportedly found that climate change is real and caused partly by carbon pollution from petroleum products. Nevertheless, the worlds fourth largest oil company participated in an industry-wide public relations campaign, which cast doubt about the emerging scientific consensus on global warming. Since 1998, Exxon Mobil pumped $31 million into think tanks and organizations that tried to sow doubts about mainstream climate science. Sequestration and the Debt Limit Sanders, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, called Wednesday for immediate action to lift the debt ceiling and end across-the-board budget cuts. ""At a time of massive wealth and income inequality, lets work together on a budget that is fair, Sanders said during a hearing. Lets end sequestration. And, at the very least, I hope we can all agree right now that we will pay our bills on time and we will not allow the United States of America to become a deadbeat nation. Puerto Rico Sanders sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew urging the administration to take concrete steps to support Puerto Rico. Sanders asked Secretary Lew to meet with Puerto Rican officials, conduct a transparent audit of Puerto Ricos debt, ensure the territory is given the same bankruptcy protections as cities in the United States and increase the level federal dollars Puerto Ricans receive for health care. In the midst of this massive human suffering, vulture funds and Wall Street investment banks have been calling for even more austerity in Puerto Rico, Sanders wrote. That is unacceptable. The people in Puerto Rico should not be forced to suffer even more so that a handful of wealthy investors can make even more money. Sanders also slammed vulture funds trying to rip off Puerto Rico during a Senate hearing Thursday. The economic situation in Puerto Rico will not improve by eliminating more public schools, slashing pensions, laying off workers and allowing corporations to pay workers starvation wages by suspending the minimum wage and relaxing labor laws you simply cannot get blood out of a stone, Sanders said during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. LIHEAP Sanders joined Senator Patrick Leahy andCongressman Peter Welch who have long championed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Friday announced $17 million in funds to assist Vermonters seeking help to meet their home heating needs this winter, only days after the first snowfall of the season. LIHEAP is a lifeline to more than 25,000 Vermonters who need energy assistance to stay warm in the winter. Seniors on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, and low-income families spend a growing portion of their income heating their homes. Without this bridge of assistance, many Vermonters must choose between heating and other vital necessities, including food and costly prescription drugs, they said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/the-life-and-death-of-an-amazon-warehouse-temp,The Life and Death of an Amazon Warehouse Temp,2015-10-22,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The Life and Death of an Amazon Warehouse Temp What the future of low-wage work really looks like. By: Dave Jamieson Thursday, October 22, 2015 On Jan. 18, 2013, as the sun went down, Jeff Lockhart Jr. got ready for work. He slipped a T-shirt over his burly frame and hung his white work badge over his broad chest. His wife, Di-Key, was in the bathroom fixing her hair in micro-braids and preparing for another evening alone with her three sons. Jeff had been putting in long hours lately, and so the couple planned a breakfast date at Shoneys for when his shift ended around dawn. You better have your hair done by then, he teased her. As he headed out the door, Jeff, who was 29, said goodbye to the boys. He told Jeffrey, the most rambunctious, not to give his mom a hard time; Kelton, the oldest, handed his father his iPod for the ride. Then Jeff climbed into his Chevy Suburban, cranked the bass on the stereo system hed customized himself, and headed for the Amazon fulfillment center in nearby Chester, Virginia, just south of Richmond. When the warehouse opened its doors in 2012, there were about37,000 unemployed peopleliving within a 30-minute drive; in nearby Richmond, more than a quarter of residents were living in poverty. The warehouse only provided positions for a fraction of the local jobless: It currently has around 3,000 full-time workers. But it also enlists hundreds, possibly thousands, of temporary workers to fill orders during the holiday shopping frenzy, known in Amazon parlance as peak. Since full-timers and temps perform the same duties, the only way to tell them apart is their badges. Full-time workers wear blue. Temps wear white. That meant Jeff wore white. Hed started working at the warehouse in November 2012, not long after it opened. It was the first job hed been able to find in months, ever since hed been laid off from his last steady gig at a building supply store. By January, peak season had come and gone, and hundreds of Jeffs fellow temps had been let go. But he was still there, two months after he'd started, wearing his white badge. What he wanted was to earn a blue one. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/102215,News October 22,2015-10-22,2015,2015-10,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News October 22 Thursday, October 22, 2015 Tuition-Free College It is time to build on the progressive movement of the past and make public colleges and universities tuition-free in the United States a development that will be the driver of a new era of American prosperity. We will have a stronger economy and a stronger democracy when all young people with the ambition and the talent can reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances at birth, Sen. Sanders wrote in The Washington Post. LINK Exxon Sanders joined MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes about his call for the Justice Department to investigate whether ExxonMobil broke any laws by trying to sow doubt about climate change. I happen to believe, obviously, that climate change is real and its one of the great planetary crises we face, he said. But when you have people like the Koch brothers and Exxon Mobil today spending huge amounts of money trying to deny that reality, it slows up the world from aggressively addressing what is an international crisis. This is serious stuff. The letter cites an ongoing investigative series by InsideClimate News, which has revealed that Exxon scientists conducted rigorous climate research from the late-1970s to mid-1980s and warned top company executives about how global warming posed a threat to Exxon's core business, VICE News, Mother Jones and PolicyMic reported. VIDEO, VIDEO, LINK, LINK, LINK Worker's CompensationTen prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Sanders are urging the U.S. secretary of labor to come up with a plan to ensure that state workers compensation programs are properly caring for injured workers, ProPublica and NPR reported. The lawmakers letter, sent Tuesday, was prompted by an investigation byProPublicaandNPR, which found that more than 30 states have cut benefits to injured workers, created daunting hurdles to getting medical care or made it more difficult for workers with certain injuries and illnesses to qualify.LINK,LINK Kimmel Sanders said Wednesday that he is open to the legalization of marijuana during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, The Washington Post reported. We have more people in jail today than any other country on earth, Sanders told Kimmel. We have large numbers of lives that have been destroyed because of this war on drugs, and because people were caught smoking marijuana and so forth. I think we have got to end the war on drugs. Sanders also pushed for his plan to make public colleges and universities free, saying, Everybody knows that a college degree today is more or less the equivalent to what a high school degree was 50 years ago. LINK,VIDEO Bernanke Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Fusions Jorge Ramos that he found finds some common ground with Sanders when it comes to distribution of wealth, Fusion reported. Over the last forty years or so weve seen wages and wealth becoming more unequally distributed, he told Ramos. And its an important problem, one we need to address. LINK, VIDEO Prison Phone Rates The Obama administration wants to cap the rates and fees companies charge for prison phone service, The Huffington Post reported. Phone companies paid prisons $460 million in commissions in 2013 payments that Sens. Cory Booker and Sanders and 14 other Democrats said last Thursday amounted to kickbacks to win contracts. LINK Doc Brown To mark Back to the Future Day, Sanders posted a photo of himself with Christopher Lloyd, the actor who played Doc Brown in the iconic movie series, TIME Magazine, The Hill and Entertainment Weekly reported. reported. Sanders is a guest on Wednesday nights Jimmy Kimmel Live show, which is spending the week filming from Kimmels hometown of Brooklyn. Kimmels other advertised guest for Wednesdays Back to the Future segmentOctober 21, 2015will be star Michael J. Fox, who played Marty McFly in the iconic trilogy that also co-starred Lloyd. LINK, LINK, LINK Column: Means-Testing Entitlements Sanders supports sufficient tax increases on the wealthy to cover the cost of universal free tuition, and then some. By raising taxes on investment income, financial transactions and the overall income of the richest Americans, as Sanders has advocated, the programs that Sanders champions would be fully paid for. Say what you will about Senator Socialist, hes no budget buster, Harold Meyerson wrote in The Washington Post. LINK World Hottest Year on RecordPlanet Earth is on a high temperature record-breaking tear this year, which shows no sign of relenting. 2015 is, by far, on track to become the warmest year in recorded history,The Washington Postreported. NOAA reports today the globally-averaged temperature for September 2015 was the warmest of all previous Septembers on record, dating back to 1880, and by an unprecedented margin of 0.19 degrees.LINK Trudeau A day after defeating Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Prime Minister-designate Trudeau told President Obama by phone that he would make good on a campaign promise to withdraw Canadas jets from the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, The Washington Post reported. Canada has committed a half-dozen fighter planes, a fraction of the American air power in the fight. LINK National Heroin EpidemicFaced with a nationwide epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse, the Obama administration announced Wednesday it will take steps to increase access to drug treatment and the training of doctors who prescribe opiate painkillers,The Washington Postreported. The administration hopes to double the number of doctors who can prescribe buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opiate addiction, to 60,000 from 30,000 over the next three years. More than 40 medical provider groups have committed to training more than a half million doctors, dentists and others on the safe prescription of opiate medications.LINK Speaker Ryan Hard-line conservatives cleared a path Wednesday for Rep. Paul Ryan to become House speaker when some of his most disgruntled fellow Republicans signaled that they would support his bid for the top job, The Washington Post. The decision to back Ryan by the House Freedom Caucus, a group of nearly 40 lawmakers that has risen in power and stature since its founding this year, came after the Ways and Means Committee chairman spent much of his day courting its support. LINK Vermont UnemploymentVermonts unemployment rose by .1 percent in September, to 3.7 percent,Vermont Public Radioreported. Of the states 17 labor markets, Derby had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5 percent, while the lowest was 3.2 percent in Burlington-South Burlington. Unlike the statewide rate, the local rates are not adjusted to compensate for seasonal changes in employment.LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z