Vermont Update

Empowering Youth and Helping Vermont Communities

Through the YouthBuild program, ReSOURCE is helping young Vermonters gain education and employment credentials, while also empowering them to be active members in our communities. By learning construction trade job skills, these young people are realizing their full potential and leaving a lasting impact on the lives of Vermonters through restoring and building affordable housing. I applaud the work YouthBuild is doing throughout the country and can’t wait to see what these young leaders do next.

The Community Kitchen Academy Helps Vermonters

A job is more than a "job” and it is more than just making an income. A job is, in an important sense, how we relate to the world in which we live. Contributing to the well-being of our neighbors and our community gives our lives meaning, dignity, and satisfaction. I am grateful for programs like the Community Kitchen Academy that offer underemployed Vermonters valuable job skills to improve their lives, while also providing free, nutritious meals to those in need.

It's time for Universal School Meals

In the richest country in the history of the world, it is simply outrageous that 1 in 5 children will go hungry this year. The Universal School Meals Program Act I introduced with Rep. Omar will help provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to every student in America, regardless of income - and it will wipe out existing school lunch debt. We must do better for our kids to ensure they succeed.

Vermont tackles its Affordable Housing Crisis

We are experiencing nothing less than an affordable housing crisis on a national level. Millions of working families around the country pay 50% or more of their incomes on housing, leaving little left for other expenses like food, clothing, transportation and healthcare. The rising cost of owning or renting a home is simply unsustainable. Vermont’s strong nonprofit network makes the state a leader in affordable housing development, but there is still much that needs to be done to address this crisis.

The Barriers to an Affordable Higher Education

In the United States, student loan debt now tops credit card and auto loan debt, totaling nearly $1.6 trillion. Instead of giving tax cuts to the 1%, we should impose a modest tax on Wall Street speculation to bail out a generation of students who are being crushed by debt—just for seeking a higher education. My College for All legislation is simple: It would cancel all student debt within six months and make public colleges and universities tuition-free.

Vermont's Senior Centers: Make friends and stay healthy!

Through my efforts to increase funding for the Older Americans Act, I have been a long-time supporter of senior centers. From nutritious meals, to volunteer service opportunities, to exercise, art, language, and cooking classes, Vermont’s senior centers are an excellent resource to help seniors stay active and healthy.

This Vermont Couple Knows We Must Bring Down Outrageous Drug Prices

The American people pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for the prescription medications they need. That includes tens of thousands of Vermonters. It is unacceptable that Tom and Sue Carlson are forced to spend their precious time and energy worrying about these outrageous costs when they should be able to focus on his health and their time together. The president’s empty promises are not enough – we must act now to allow families like the Carlsons to safely import the lifesaving medications they need.

Restorative Justice: An Alternative Approach to our broken Criminal Justice System

It is no secret that our criminal justice system is broken and in need of major reforms. We have to ask ourselves if we are in the business of punishment, or if we do have a duty of preventing crime and rehabilitating people. I am proud that the Lamoille Restorative Center and a number of other centers around Vermont are taking an alternative approach to the traditional criminal justice system and taking the profit motive out of it.

Vermont's Forest Industry is important to our Rural Economy and Environment

Thank you to the people and businesses who steward Vermont’s forests and produce great products from our wood. Your work helps improve our rural economy and preserve our beautiful forests.

Vermont Seniors' Message to Congress

My office recently asked Vermont seniors what issues matter most to them and what message they have for Congress. What they shared is no big surprise: older Vermonters want Congress to support and expand Medicare, make sure seniors have access to affordable housing and prescription drugs, and address climate change to protect the planet for their children and grandchildren.

Farmers Can Help Address Climate Change

Corporate agricultural practices contribute to climate change, which ironically is threatening our entire food system. Fortunately, many family farmers across Vermont and America are transforming their agricultural practices to sequester carbon, become more resilient, and help solve the global warming crisis.

Vermont Youth Rally for the Planet

Young people understand the urgency of addressing climate change, as they will be the generation most affected by its devastating consequences. I am proud that Vermont youth are joining young people around the world to demand bold action to address this existential crisis. We must act, and we must act now.

Let’s Invest in Vermont's Infrastructure

Infrastructure is the backbone of our communities and our economy – yet year after year, we underinvest in our aging roads and bridges, drinking and wastewater systems, rail and public transit, dams and levees, electric grid and broadband, and more. While Vermont is in better shape than many other states, the Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently gave our infrastructure a grade of "C." While that leaves a lot of room for improvement, it’s a lot better than the dismal grade of "D+" that ASCE gave our national infrastructure. That is why I have been calling for a $1 trillion investment in our infrastructure over five years, which would make the country safer, more efficient and more productive. And, it would create nearly 15 million jobs in the process.

Building an Economy That Works for Everyone

While Vermont’s economy has improved significantly since the Great Recession and our unemployment rate is at a historic low, Vermont is one of just ten states where the median household income actually fell in recent years. Meanwhile, our poverty rate is higher than it was in 2007 – before the financial crisis. The Public Assets Institute is helping shed light on Vermont’s economy, and is pushing for policies to make sure the economy works for every Vermonter, especially working families and the most vulnerable.

Fighting for a $15 Minimum Wage

Not too long ago, a $15 minimum wage seemed “radical” and “unrealistic.” But people all over this country, including right here in Vermont, are standing up and saying that it is not a radical idea to expect that a full-time job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it. Five states and the District of Columbia have already passed a $15 minimum wage, and I hope Vermont soon joins them

Celebrating Arts and Music Education: Vermont Choirs Participate in Student Concert

My office recently brought together 225 Vermont students from eight school choruses to participate in a day-long event at South Burlington High School. The students spent the day rehearsing with a guest conductor and attending music education sessions. I enjoyed speaking to the students about the importance of art and music education in our schools, as well as many other topics that were on their minds. The eight choruses then performed a wonderful concert before a packed auditorium. It is clear these young Vermonters have put in a tremendous amount of hard work, learning not just how to sing as individuals, but also, how to come together and work as a team.

Meals on Wheels: A Nutritious Meal and Visit for Seniors

Last month, my staff joined Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers to deliver nutritious meals to Vermont seniors all across the state. Meals on Wheels delivered nearly 800,000 meals in Vermont last year, helping thousands of seniors stay healthy and in their own homes. The volunteer drivers also check-in to make sure the seniors are safe, secure and warm, and they provide critically important companionship for people who sometimes struggle with social isolation. I want to offer my profound thanks to all the Vermonters who do tremendous work each day to make the Meals on Wheels program possible.

Addressing Senior Hunger in Vermont

At a time when 12 percent of older Vermonters face the threat of hunger, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont – is critically important in the fight against senior hunger. But sometimes SNAP alone isn’t enough to ensure seniors have enough healthy food to eat. That’s why the Commodity Supplemental Food Program is so important to help seniors make it through the month without going hungry.

Speaking With Vermont's Students

I recently met with the finalists in my annual State of the Union Essay Contest to discuss what Vermont’s students think are the biggest issues facing our nation. We had a lively conversation at the State House about the major challenges facing our country. We have good reason to be proud of the future leaders of our state and our nation.

Transforming Our Energy System Through Efficiency

I often hear from Vermonters who want to make their homes more energy efficient, but they don’t know where to start. Here in Vermont, we have a number of good resources to help, including Efficiency Vermont. Whether you are motivated by fighting climate change or simply want to save money on your energy bills, energy efficiency makes good sense.

Going Solar: Saving Money, Serving Vermonters

BROC Community Action, a nonprofit anti-poverty organization that serves southwestern Vermont, recently installed 213 solar panels on the roof of its headquarters in Rutland, Vermont. BROC anticipates the solar array will save $300,000 in energy costs over the next thirty years – money which it can instead put toward services for low-income Vermonters and those living in poverty. Is going solar right for your business or organization?

Earn While You Learn

For many high school students, apprenticeships are an excellent pathway to high-skilled, high-paying careers. Apprentices gain valuable experience through on-the-job training, earn a wage, and in many cases, get industry-recognized credentials in the process. Here in Vermont, there are apprenticeship opportunities in more than 30 trades. Hear some Vermont apprentices and organizations share their experiences.

Family Farms Crucial to Vermont's Rural Economy

Agriculture plays a huge role in supporting rural economies and helps define Vermont’s working landscape. We talked with several Vermont farmers who explain just how important that role is. We must do everything we can to support family farms and promote sustainable rural development. Our rural economy depends on it.

Vermonters Share Their Priorties With Congress

My office recently asked Vermonters what issues they think Congress should be focusing on. Their answers should not be a surprise to anyone: address the skyrocketing cost of healthcare and prescription medicine, make higher education more affordable, raise the minimum wage and create decent paying jobs, end institutional racism and discrimination, and tackle the global crisis of climate change.

Feeding Vermonters and Teaching Valuable Skills

At the same time that many people struggle with food insecurity, millions of pounds of healthy food from Vermont farms go uneaten each year. Theresa Snow describes how Salvation Farms rescues surplus local food to feed Vermonters while also providing valuable skills to help trainees find employment in the food sector.

2018

Vermont Leads the Way on Paid Sick Leave

When it comes to guaranteeing employees paid sick days, the United States lags behind every major country on Earth. When employees don’t have paid sick leave and can’t afford to take time off without pay, they are forced to go to work, potentially spreading illness. The most affected are single moms, who can’t even stay home to care for a sick child. We must do better by our workers and our families. That’s why I’m proud that Vermont – along with nine other states and Washington D.C. – now guarantees paid sick leave to almost all workers. It’s time for the United States to do the same.

Vermont Senior Holiday Meals

I am so pleased that more than a thousand Vermont seniors attended six holiday dinners my office organized around the state. These meals are a great opportunity for seniors to come together, enjoy a holiday meal with friends and neighbors, and hear some beautiful music from local student choirs. And to all Vermonters, I wish you a happy holiday season!

Vermont High School Students Invited to Share Their Views on the 'State of the Union'

In January, the president will give his State of the Union speech to Congress, to outline his priorities for the coming year. And for the ninth year, I am inviting Vermont high school students to submit short essays describing what they think are the most pressing issues facing our country, and what they would do to solve those issues. I am always very impressed with the thoughtful essays that are submitted on a variety of topics and from different viewpoints. I will invite the twenty finalists to join me for a lively roundtable discussion at the Vermont Statehouse, and will enter their essays into the Congressional Record – the official archive of Congress. The deadline to submit an essay is January 9, 2019. I hope you consider writing an essay!



Details: State of the Union Essay Contest

An Essential Transportation Service

Providing reliable and affordable public transportation in rural areas like Vermont can be a real challenge. But it is critically important for the many low-income and working Vermonters who rely on public transportation to get to work, visit the doctor, drop the kids at childcare, go grocery shopping and much more. In spite of the many challenges – including a chronic lack of funding – Vermont’s public transportation agencies provide 5 million trips per year through regular scheduled bus service and on-demand rides for elderly or disabled Vermonters. That is pretty impressive, although clearly, we must do more to provide more transportation options here in Vermont and across the nation by significantly increasing investment in our transit systems.

Helping Keep Vermonters Warm

As the weather gets colder and heating costs go up, some Vermonters will have a hard time keeping warm this winter. If you or someone you know is struggling to pay to heat their homes, help may be available. Honestly, it is unconscionable that in the wealthiest country on earth, some Vermonters – including seniors and families with young children – have to choose between keeping their homes warm or putting food on the table. That’s why I am fighting in Washington to increase funding for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) rather than cut it like the president and his allies in Congress have proposed.

'Vermont Day' at the Kennedy Institute in Boston

I am delighted that hundreds of Vermont students have participated in trips organized by my office to visit the Edward Kennedy Institute in Boston. The non-partisan Kennedy Institute offers innovative programming on the legislative process and how our government works. Students take on the role of a Senator, introducing and debating legislation in a full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate chamber. It is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to think about what issues are important to them, as well as how to be critical thinkers, work together and bring about positive change in our country. To learn more about “Vermont Days” at the Kennedy Institute, click on this short video or call my office for more information.

A Crisis in Child Care

Parents in Vermont and throughout our country are struggling to find high-quality and affordable day care, especially in rural areas. Without decent child care options, the very idea of economic opportunity is an illusion, as many parents cannot join the workforce or continue their education. And yet, fully three out of four parents in Vermont say they cannot find or cannot afford child care. It is long past time to join much of the rest of the world and provide universal access to high-quality and affordable child care. Taking care of children and providing options for parents must be one of our very top priorities as a nation. And to do that, we need a well-trained and well-paid child care workforce.

Helping Students Attend and Succeed at College

If you’re the first person in your family to attend college, it can be very difficult to navigate the process of choosing a college, applying for admission and figuring out how to pay for it. It can also be a challenge for many students once they get to college. That’s why the federal TRIO programs are so important, helping students in Vermont and throughout our country prepare for, and succeed at college. At a time when a college degree is more important than ever to secure a job in our changing economy, we must fight to make sure college is accessible to every student who desires to continue their studies, no matter their background.

Helping Older Vermonters Live at Home

The Support and Services at Home (SASH) program is an innovative effort that brings health care services to Vermont seniors, right where they live. SASH offers blood pressure clinics, exercise and nutrition classes, falls prevention work and much, much more. This not only helps seniors stay healthy, but it also enables them to live independently in their homes. SASH even saves the healthcare system money by focusing on prevention. SASH makes so much sense to me, but don’t just take my word for it. One Vermonter recently shared with my office: “They make you feel like you can still stay in your home rather than having to be in a nursing home when you still can do some things for yourself. I love it and I would recommend it for anybody.”

Our Students Demand Bold Action on Climate Change

Addressing global climate change will take millions of people -- particularly young people in Vermont and throughout the United States -- coming together and demanding bold action to move aggressively away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and renewable energy. In recent weeks, I joined hundreds of students at UVM's Youth Climate Rally. If we mobilize our students, they can help create the change we need to reverse the effects of climate change.

Keeping Vermonters Warm This Winter

As we approach winter, many Vermonters are wondering how they will keep their homes warm. While federally funded fuel assistance is critically important, there simply isn’t enough help for everyone who needs it. That’s why the United Way of Lamoille County’s Firewood Project is so inspiring. The Firewood Project brings together community volunteers to cut, split and deliver free fire wood to those who need it most. This is an innovative way to stretch limited fuel assistance dollars, and to make sure Vermonters can heat their homes throughout the winter months.

File Your FAFSA

Are you a high school senior thinking about going to college, but are worried about the cost? As costs continue to skyrocket, it is more important than ever to know what help is available to pay for college. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid – commonly known as the FAFSA – is the key to securing financial aid. Filling out the FAFSA can open doors to federal, state and college-specific financial aid. The FAFSA application season begins October 1! If you have questions or need help completing the FAFSA, contact the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation at www.vsac.org.

Make Public Colleges and Universities Tuition Free

It is insane, unfair and economically counter-productive that hundreds of thousands of bright young students leave college each year with a mountain of debt that will burden them for decades. My office recently spoke with some Vermont college students, who explained how student debt is already limiting their choices. It is time to make public colleges and universities tuition free, to unleash the full potential of our youth and to prepare them for jobs in the highly competitive global economy.

Our Dairy Farmers Deserve a Fair Price

Vermont dairy farmers have been struggling for years due to low milk prices. It is no wonder that 321 Vermont farms have been lost in the past 9 years, as the price farmers get for their milk today is virtually the same as it was in 1979. Meanwhile, President Trump’s erratic trade policies are further depressing milk prices at a time when farmers can least afford another price shock. The newly revised Milk Margin Protection program – which acts like insurance against low milk prices – has been an invaluable life-line for many farmers. However, farmers need a long-term solution to ensure fair prices for their quality products, and to my mind, that has to include managing the over-supply of milk.

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Lifts Local Businesses

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail – which is a project of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers in partnership with the State of Vermont – not only offers some wonderful year-round recreational opportunities for Vermonters and visitors alike, but it is also helping create jobs in rural areas of the state. So far, about one-third of the extraordinarily beautiful trail is complete, and area businesses already say they have seen a positive impact on their bottom lines. I am delighted I could secure federal funds to get this project moving and I look forward to the trail’s completion, which will eventually run for 93 miles from Swanton to St. Johnsbury.

The War on Poverty Is Not Over

The Trump administration recently said the War on Poverty is “largely over and a success.” Honestly, I do not know what world they are living in. More than 40 million Americans live below the poverty line. In Vermont, almost 27 percent of the population qualifies for food assistance and 14 percent of Vermont children lack reliable access to enough food. These are our neighbors who, without that assistance, might otherwise go hungry. And now, falsely claiming the war on poverty is over, Trump wants to cut nutrition assistance for struggling families and impose punitive work requirements. Instead, we must redouble our efforts to fight poverty. But let’s not further penalize people – especially kids – for being poor.

Upward Bound: Helping Our Students Get to College

TRIO programs like Upward Bound do enormously important work preparing young people for college. I come from a family that did not have a lot of money, and neither of my parents attended college. So I know from firsthand experience the challenges students can face when they are the first person in their family to get a post-secondary education. It can be difficult to figure out how to navigate all the forms, choose a school, and figure out how to pay for it. TRIO does an extraordinary job reaching out to young people, keeping them focused and giving them the confidence, skills and support they need to succeed.

'I Urge the Hospital to Really Listen to the Nurses'

As the UVM Medical Center nurses and hospital administrators return to the negotiating table in the coming days, I urge the hospital to really listen to the nurses. Asking for pay equity with nurses in Plattsburgh, New York – where the cost of living is much lower than in Burlington, Vermont -- is actually not at all “unrealistic.” In fact, it’s quite fair, especially for a hospital that made nearly $90 million in profits last year.

Meals for Young Vermonters

When school let out for the summer, nearly 40,000 children from low-income Vermont households lost access to the school breakfasts, lunches, and afterschool snacks they receive during the school year. That means it can be a real struggle for some families to provide kids with the nutrition they need during the summer. Hunger Free Vermont and school districts around the state do a great job providing free summer meals at roughly 300 sites all across Vermont

'There Is Nothing You Cannot Do'

I shared this video message recently with roughly 600 students from Vermont, New York and New Hampshire at the 2018 Upward Bound Jamboree hosted by Northern Vermont University – Lyndon. There are few things I enjoy more than meeting young people who – in spite of what are sometimes very significant challenges and barriers – are doing their very best to get an education and further their prospects in life. I know how big a deal it is to be the first person in your family to go to college. The whole college experience, from application to graduation, can be very intimidating. That’s why TRIO programs like Upward Bound are so critically important. Please remember, just because your family may not have a lot of money or your parents did not attend college, it doesn’t mean you are not as smart as other kids, or have any less potential. Please believe me when I say: There is nothing you cannot do and there is nothing you cannot achieve.

Fighting for Our Nurses

Nurses are the backbone of any hospital and yet, we have a significant nursing crisis at the UVM Medical Center. There are more than 170 vacancies for nurses and other health care professionals represented by the nurses' union. Meanwhile, the hospital employs hundreds of expensive "travel nurses" over the course of the year just to keep the hospital running. The reason the Medical Center has trouble attracting and retaining nurses is not complicated; according to research done by the nurses' union, Vermont ranks 47th in the nation in terms of nurse wages adjusted for the cost of living. The best way to avoid a disruptive strike that nobody wants is to pay nurses fair and competitive wages.

The UVM Medical Center must pay competitive wages for the vitally important work nurses do. If nurses don't earn enough to live in dignity and raise a family here in Vermont, we will continue to lose them to other states that pay better. I find it hard to believe that the hospital has enough money to pay nearly $11 million to 15 administrators - including more than $2 million to its CEO - but doesn't have enough money to pay nurses the same wages as nurses earn just across the lake in Plattsburgh, where the cost of living is much lower.

Read more



Transforming Our Energy System

More than 300 Vermonters joined me at my Energy Resource Fair and Town Meeting in Randolph Center in May. Our job is to think big. If we are serious about addressing the global challenge of climate change, it is going to take millions of people coming together and demanding bold policies to transform our energy system. It is going to take people organizing at the grassroots level and taking action in their communities. And it is going to take people adopting these technologies themselves, in their homes and businesses.

AmeriCorps in Vermont

AmeriCorps members have an enormous impact on the lives of Vermonters through the excellent programs they support, including serving at-risk youth, promoting affordable housing, protecting the environment and more. I am pleased that Vermont will receive $3 million in federal funds to help a new group of AmeriCorps members continue their important work. Five Vermont projects are receiving grants from the latest round of federal AmeriCorps funding.

Preparing Our Students for a Changing Economy

It is critically important that our youth understand what kind of education or training they need for the jobs that are available in our changing economy. I have held several town meetings with our students in Vermont in recent months to make sure they are aware of the job training opportunities that exist. We need to involve young people in these discussions so they can make informed decisions about their futures.

Fighting For Our Veterans

I held a veterans town meeting in Norwich in mid-May because now, more than ever, veterans deserve to know what’s going on in Washington. I also want to make sure all veterans and their families know what services and benefits they are entitled to. As a longtime member and former chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am honored to be able to work on behalf of Vermont’s 45,000 veterans and their families who have done so much in service to our country.

Read more



Options After High School

In late April, I spoke with students from Spaulding High School, Central Vermont Career Center and Randolph Technical Career Center about job options after high school. It is critically important that our youth understand what kind of education or training they need for the jobs that are available in our changing economy. I was joined by three growing Vermont companies that not only have job openings, but also provide some type of job training assistance. We need to involve young people in discussions like this so they can make informed decisions about their futures.

Read more

Video

Speaking With Vermont Seniors

More than 450 Vermonters joined me at three town meetings in mid-April in Montpelier, Newport and St. Albans to talk about issues facing older Vermonters. What I heard was that Vermont seniors are concerned about efforts in Washington to undermine Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the VA health care system. They are concerned about the high cost of prescription drugs and dental care. They are concerned that their kids and grandkids can’t go to college without being saddled with unsustainable debt. At a time when the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider, we should expand programs that help support seniors, not cut them. I will do everything I can to protect the programs that help seniors stay healthy and secure and to ensure every American can retire with dignity and respect.

Meals on Wheels

In celebration of March for Meals month, many members of my staff joined Meals on Wheels volunteers across the state to deliver nutritious meals to older Vermonters. Last year alone, Meals on Wheels served more than 1 million meals in Vermont, helping thousands of older Vermonters to stay healthy and live independently in their own homes. Thank you to all the Vermonters who work hard each day to make the Meals on Wheels program possible.

‘Vermont Day’ at the Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

I’m pleased more than 130 Vermont high school students traveled to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate in Boston in late March. My office organized this trip to give Vermont students an exciting new way to learn about democracy, civic discourse and the legislative process. As I told the students, democracy -- unlike a basketball game or a football game -- is not a spectator sport. It is not something where you watch somebody else do it. Democracy means that you do it. Your job is to determine what you think are the important issues and how you bring about positive change in this country.

Read more

Seven Vermont Schools Participated in Sanders’ Student Choral Concert

This annual event serves as a reminder of how important art and music are for our children’s education. Funding for the arts is always needed. As a member of the Senate education committee, I will continue to fight for the invaluable educational and cultural opportunities created by arts education. This event is one way to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful Vermont student choruses and to support arts education. I am pleased more than 200 students from Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, Essex High School, South Burlington High School, Barre City Middle School, Spaulding High School, St. Michael’s College and Stowe Elementary School were able to participate.

Read more

Rebuilding Our Crumbling Infrastructure

In Vermont, 30 percent of our bridges are obsolete or structurally deficient. We need $700 million a year just to get our roads to a state of good repair. Our community drinking water systems need $510 million over the next 20 years. Vermont’s mostly rural schools have $326 million in capital needs. These are just some of the reasons why I helped write a plan to fix our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. We are the wealthiest nation in the history of the world and yet, from Vermont to California, people see roads and bridges, water and wastewater plants, and electric grids that are old and falling apart. We must do better.

Read More

Lessons From Germany

I am delighted German Ambassador Peter Wittig joined me in Vermont in February. We had a series of very productive meetings with the governor, state legislators, career and technical educators and Vermont businesses to see what we can learn from Germany’s highly acclaimed apprenticeship and workforce development programs. Ambassador Wittig also joined me Friday evening for a town meeting in Burlington that was attended by more than 500 Vermonters. We had a very lively discussion about current events in Germany and Europe, and how Germany approaches issues like higher education, health care, workers rights, taxation, climate change and more.

Read more in the Times Argus

Learn more on WCAX

State of the Union Essay Contest Winners

I held an excellent roundtable discussion at the Statehouse with the finalists of my annual State of the Union essay contest, which gives Vermont high school students a chance to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were president. Once again, students wrote and spoke eloquently about some of most pressing issues facing Vermont and the United States. I was so impressed by the lively discussion we had with the students. I would like to congratulate Marjorie Parker, a sophomore at Woodstock Union High School, for being selected by our panel of judges as the winner of my annual State of the Union Essay contest. I also want to congratulate all 585 students from across Vermont who submitted essays this year.

Learn more on WPTZ

Read more

The Next Farm Bill

Congress is now discussing the next farm bill. I am working hard to make sure that food and agricultural policies in that bill are both equitable and environmentally sustainable. I am fighting to make certain our national agricultural policies reflect the voices of all our nation’s farmers and not just a few multinational corporations with deep pockets. And I am fighting to ensure that millions of Americans get the nutritional assurance they need at a time when the Trump administration is proposing massive cuts to nutrition assistance programs.

Springfield High School College and Career Fair

I was pleased to host a college and career fair at Springfield High School to help Vermont students plan their future after high school graduation. We had a good discussion about how students could most effectively apply for college and secure financial aid. We also talked about how students could tap into job-training programs that lead to good-paying jobs in Vermont. Fifty years ago, if you got a high school degree, odds were that you could get a decent paying job and make it into the middle class. But that has changed. While not all middle-class jobs in today’s economy require post-secondary education, an increasing number do. By 2020, two-thirds of all jobs in Vermont will require some education beyond high school.

Video

Read more

Caring for Our Children

I wanted to come to the Head Start program here in Brattleboro to see the great work you are doing. As a nation, it is really disgraceful how we treat our children. What you guys are doing here is an oasis, providing full-day, quality day care and early childhood education. Clearly, we need a revolution in how we provide childcare.

Read more

‘A Very Noble Sentiment’

All of us up here, and everyone in this room, are extremely proud of the exceptional young Vermonters who we nominated to represent our state at the service academies and to serve our nation. You should all be proud of your years of hard work. We live in a cynical age and we live at a time when public service is often demeaned. But I believe that public service is, perhaps, the highest calling that we can achieve. Because what each and every one of you are saying is you are going beyond trying to make as much money as you can. You are going beyond trying to just improve your own life. You see your lives as something more than that -- and that is a very noble sentiment and I thank you very much for that.

Read Past Vermont Items