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- December 2014
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Off Message: A Sweet Bridge of Congressional Divides: Maple Syrup
12/05/14Finding bipartisan agreement in Congress is a pretty sticky endeavor these days, but there's apparently one thing our elected leaders can agree on: maple syrup. At least, that's the message of a video clip posted to Congressman Peter Welch's (D-Vt.) Facebook page Thursday.< Read more > -
The Hill: Senators introduce smaller energy efficiency legislation
12/04/14Two senators whose energy efficiency legislation failed earlier this year have re-introduced a watered down version.< Read more > -
WCAX: Dairy farmer price program deadline extended
12/04/14The deadline for Vermont dairy farmers to enroll in a new price protection program has been extended to Dec. 19. The Margin Protection Program is a voluntary insurance program that enables dairy farmers to protect themselves when prices fall.< Read more > -
WAMC: Dairy Farmer Insurance Program Deadline Extended
12/04/14The deadline for dairy farmers to enroll in a new price protection program has been extended to Dec. 19. The Margin Protection Program is a voluntary insurance program that enables dairy farmers to protect themselves when prices fall.< Read more > -
VPR: HOUSE PASSES TAX CREDIT EXTENSION, WELCH VOTES NO
12/03/14Congressman Peter Welch has voted against the extension of a package of tax credits for businesses and individuals. The $45 billion plan passed the House late yesterday. The vote was 370 to 46.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Dairy farms face deadline for protection
12/02/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Vermont Agriculture, Food and Markets Secretary Chuck Ross Jr. were among a series of speakers at a Monday news conference stressing the urgency for farmers to enroll in the new federal insurance program known as the Margin Protection Program for Dairy.< Read more > -
VPR: Many Vermont Retailers Push For Internet Sales Tax
12/02/14Supporters of a sales tax on all Internet retailers are hopeful that Congress will consider their bill in the next two weeks. It's estimated that the tax will bring an additional $25 million in revenue to the state of Vermont.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Dairy insurance program enrollment ends Friday
12/02/14Dairy farmers have until Friday to enroll in an insurance program that will protect them against any rising costs of fuel and feed, and milk prices that are forecast to drop in 2015.< Read more > - November 2014
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VPR: Welch: Congressional Action Is Needed For The War On ISIS
11/28/14When Congress returns to Washington next month for the second phase of its lame duck session, Rep. Peter Welch will be urging House leaders to schedule a comprehensive debate to consider President Obama's plan to increase military actions against the terrorist group ISIS in Iraq and Syria.< Read more > -
Huffington Post: Rep. Peter Welch Warns Against Accidental War In Iraq And Syria
11/17/14Most lawmakers appear content to let President Barack Obama set his own course battling the Islamic State, but a growing number are warning America could slip into a major new war by accident if Congress doesn't act.< Read more > -
Huffington Post: Foreign Policy Issues Becoming A Headache? There's An AUMF For That
11/17/14As Congress wrestles with its role in authorizing the president to use military force overseas, a quick look through the archives reveals that the White House has plenty of other active military authorizations to choose from -- some dating back to the 1700s.< Read more > -
VPR: Welch Votes No On Keystone XL Pipeline
11/14/14Congressman Peter Welch has voted against legislation that would authorize the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone pipeline issue came before the U.S. House on Friday and was approved by a vote of 252 to 161.< Read more > -
The Hill: Key Dem wants clean vote on ISIS
11/13/14A top House Democrat is calling for the $5.6 billion funding request for the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to be separate from a vote on the next government spending bill.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Rescue Inc. seeks 1 percent rate hike
11/08/14Congress has yet to act on legislation introduced by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., that extends Medicare payments to rural ambulance services. If Congress does not allow the rural ambulance services to keep their additional Medicare rates Rescue could see a reduction in the money it takes in next year.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: 350.org's rise from Middlebury College
11/07/14The reach of 350.org was made plain earlier this fall at the People's Climate March, an event that drew an estimated 400,000 people to New York City on Sept. 21. The day of action encompassed 2,646 corresponding events in 162 countries.< Read more > - October 2014
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WPTZ: Vermont monitoring traveler from West Africa
10/30/14"In Washington this is a scary thing, the health scare with Ebola. Should it be about medicine or politics, public health, or publicity and I think in Vermont we're getting it right," said U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. The congressman says the state's response to it's first resident possibly exposed to Ebola is the right one.< Read more > -
National Journal: Beyond Mine Craft in Coal Country
10/24/14Rep. David McKinley wasn't sure his Washington-based staffers understood the miners in his West Virginia district–so he took his team on a field trip to a coal mine. "I had them go underground to really understand what it's about, not just what you've read in a book," he says. It might be tough to convince his fellow lawmakers to take a turn through the tunnels, but McKinley hopes to call attention to the plight of his constituents with a new bill: the Healthy Employee Loss Prevention (or HELP) Act.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Vermont-based solar companies win grants
10/22/14Two Vermont-based solar companies received $3.1 million in federal grants, according to an announcement Wednesday from the state's three-man congressional delegation.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: 2 Vermont businesses get $3.1M solar energy grants
10/22/14Vermont's congressional delegation says two of the state's businesses are receiving a total of $3.1 million in grants from the Department of Energy to help make solar energy more affordable and accessible.< Read more > -
Huffington Post Politics: This Unlikely Duo Is Working Together For Coal Miners
10/10/14One is a Democrat from Vermont, a state so green it named its mountains after the color. The other represents a West Virginia district in the heart of coal country. But Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.) have emerged as improbable collaborators on energy bills in the House.< Read more > -
Bennington Banner: Rep. Welch visits Bennington
10/09/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., was in Bennington Wednesday and he sat down with Banner staff to discuss a broad range of topics. Welch, who is running for re-election against Hartford Republican Mark Donka, said getting anything done in the current Congress has been difficult.< Read more > -
The Cycle: Marriage equality more widespread than ever
10/06/14The Supreme Court's decision to reject appeals to hear same-sex marriage cases has effectively made it more widespread in the U.S. than it ever has been before. NBC's Pete Williams and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., join to discuss.< Read more > - September 2014
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The Hill: Ethanol rules causing more harm than good
09/30/14As I meet with Vermonters across the state, I frequently hear stories about the inadvertent harm caused by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This well-intentioned policy has been an overwhelming flop for a diverse group of people and businesses in my home state.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: CCV awarded $2.4 million grant
09/30/14The U.S. Department of Labor announced Monday it would distribute $450 million to community colleges across the country to support the schools' efforts to work with employers to prepare students for the workforce.< Read more > -
Think Progress: Bipartisan Bill Would Help Out-Of-Work Coal Miners Find New Jobs
09/29/14Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) introduced legislation this month that would create a program to help transition out-of-work coal miners into new jobs. The bill, called the Healthy Employee Loss Prevention Act (HELP Act), would create a "worker adjustment assistance program" that would help former coal miners with finding jobs or retraining programs.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Welch, GOP rep. join to help coal miners
09/26/14Rep. Peter Welch has never been to a coal mine or even a coal-fired power plant. But the Vermont Democrat is taking up the cause of displaced coal miners.< Read more > -
WCAX: Welch fights for Vt. ambulance providers
09/25/14Welch says ambulance services in rural areas like Vermont face financial uncertainty when it comes to getting money from Medicare. The congressman is backing legislation in Congress that hopes to improve the process. The bill establishes permanent funding for the ambulance activity and aims to weed out fraudulent charges.< Read more > -
VPR: Two Vermont Rivers Headed For 'Wild And Scenic' Status
09/25/14Two rivers in northern Vermont appear headed for federal recognition as wild and scenic waterways. The Missisquoi and Trout Rivers would be the first in Vermont to get that status. Supporters say the law would protect and bring national attention to the unspoiled resources.< Read more > -
The Hill: Op-Ed: Give seniors more pharmacy choice in Medicare
09/24/14Maintaining the health of our seniors and lowering overall health costs depends upon the proper use of prescription drugs. Yet, many seniors are prevented from going to their local, community pharmacy and being able to talk about their medication face-to-face with a trusted pharmacist. This is why we have introduced, H.R. 4577, the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act.< Read more > -
ABC News: No Labels Gathers Allies in DC to Start 2016 Push
09/18/14Lawmakers and strategists from both parties are gathering to outline a plan to save Social Security, add 25 million jobs and balance the federal budget.< Read more > -
Times Argus: Welch votes against arming Syrian rebels
09/18/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch has voted against a proposal to give President Barack Obama the authority for the U.S. military to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels.< Read more > -
Off Message: In Break with Obama, Welch Opposes Training Syrian Rebels
09/18/14In a break with President Barack Obama, Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) opposed a measure Wednesday empowering the United States to train and equip Syrian rebels in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.< Read more > -
VPR: Welch Votes No On Obama Plan To Arm Syrian Forces
09/17/14The U.S. House has given its approval to President Obama's plan to arm and train Syrian forces to fight against the terrorist group known as ISIS –the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.< Read more > -
AP: Welch votes against arming Syrian rebels
09/17/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch has voted against a proposal to give President Barack Obama the authority for the U.S. military to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Bill to protect 2 Vermont rivers passes House
09/16/14"The Missisquoi and Trout Rivers are remarkable natural and cultural resources," Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a statement. "This important designation will ensure future generations of Vermonters will enjoy these natural treasures."< Read more > -
The Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Sees Possible Role for U.S. Ground Forces Against Islamic State Militants
09/16/14America's top military officer raised the prospect that limited U.S. ground forces would be needed to battle Islamic State militants if fighting in Iraq grows more difficult.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Postal Service under attack
09/12/14The U.S. Postal Service as we know it is continually under attack in this Congress. It is most important to understand the USPS has the dubious distinction of being the only employer, public or private, required by the federal government to prefund retirement health benefits for 75 years out, for workers not yet born or employed.< Read more > -
WCAX: Newport airport gets $8.8M in grants for expansion
09/12/14The Vermont congressional delegation says the state airport in Newport is getting $8.8 million federal grants to help fund its expansion.< Read more > -
VTDIGGER: House Approves Welch-Backed Lyme Disease Bill
09/10/14The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation co-written by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., meant to bolster the federal response to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses on a voice vote late Tuesday.< Read more > -
Roll Call: In a Partisan Climate, 2 Lawmakers Try to Talk Past Climate Change
09/10/14Two House lawmakers are about to find out whether Congress can solve a problem precipitated, in part, by concerns over climate change – without devolving into a fight over climate change.< Read more > - August 2014
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Brattleboro Reformer: Welch 'excited' by health-care program success
08/26/14Welch, who is seeking a new term in the U.S. House and is unopposed in Tuesday's Democratic primary, made a swing through Windham County Monday. That included two stops in Brattleboro, where he met with Melrose Terrace residents and also chatted with constituents at The Works on Main Street.< Read more > -
BuzzFeed: Obama Wants To Bomb Syria Again But Congress Is Much, Much Quieter This Year
08/26/14Almost a year ago this week, lawmakers rushed back to Washington, cutting the summer recess short after President Obama announced he wanted Congressional approval to strike Syria.< Read more > -
Politico: Déjà vu for Barack Obama in Syria
08/26/14Almost a year ago this week, lawmakers rushed back to Washington, cutting the summer recess short after President Obama announced he wanted Congressional approval to strike Syria.< Read more > -
The Hill: Senate Dem calls for Iraq vote
08/25/14President Obama needs to seek explicit congressional approval for his airstrike campaign against Islamist militants operating in Iraq and Syria, a prominent Senate Democrat said Monday.< Read more > -
New York Times: Despite ISIS Horror, Congress Is Wary of U.S. Military Expansion
08/21/14For weeks, Capitol Hill has tried to keep America's military engagement in Iraq at arm's length: Democrats and Republicans warily backed President Obama's limited airstrikes against Sunni militants, but nobody – aside from Senator John McCain and a few fellow hawks – demonstrated an appetite for deeper involvement.< Read more > - July 2014
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WaterburyRecord: Why Welch is right about roads
07/24/14With a few exceptions, the national problem-solving dialogue on virtually every issue we face is a disgrace, and the insolvent national highway trust fund is a case in point. Back in the 1950s and '60s, successive administrations and Congresses, composed of individuals from both parties, built the national highway system. Though costly and complicated, it was deemed good for commerce and good for an American population that wanted to move around. It was called the Interstate Highway System, and it began under Republican President Dwight Eisenhower – the World War II general who wanted to make sure troops and military equipment could move quickly and easily to wherever they might be needed.< Read more > -
SFGate: Welch hails House passage of college money bill
07/23/14Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is hailing passage by the U.S. House of two amendments designed to enhance college affordability. One amendment allows high school students participating in dual enrollment programs to earn college credit in the competency based learning program in the underlying bill.< Read more > -
VTDigger: Congress one step closer to shoring up Highway Trust Fund
07/21/14The U.S. House of Representatives approved $11 billion in funding for the Highway Trust Fund last week. The Senate is expected to take up proposals to shore up the fund before the end of the month, then the two bodies would need to come to an agreement before the August recess.< Read more > -
VPR: Welch Backs Internet Sales Tax
07/21/14Rep. Peter Welch is hopeful that Congress will pass a bill this summer that will allow individual states to impose their sales tax on items purchased on the Internet. Welch says the plan will help strengthen downtown businesses and will raise new revenue for many states.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Highway fund needs long-term fix
07/18/14Sometimes, members of Congress needs to be told to simply do their job. That's exactly what Peter Welch, D-Vt., did in a speech in the U.S. House chamber admonishing his colleague for their fix to the Highway Trust Fund. Congress is looking at a short-term fix that would be paid for in part by reducing employer contributions to pension funds to raise their tax bills.< Read more > -
VPR: Live On Vermont Edition: Congressman Peter Welch
07/18/14Unless congress acts by the end of the month, the federal highway trust fund is going to run out of money. That means many of the road construction projects underway in Vermont will have to be called off. Congressman Peter Welch is calling for a long-term, sustainable solution. We talk to Congressman Welch about his support for an increase in the gas tax. We also talk about the migrant children coming across the southern border, and take your questions.< Read more > -
USAToday: On Energy Efficiency, U.S. Ranks 13th out of 16
07/17/14Germany wins the "World Cup" for energy efficiency while the United States ranks 13th among 16 major economies – behind China, Canada and India, says an international scorecard Thursday.< Read more > -
Politico: Internet access tax vote hurts sales tax bid
07/15/14The House quietly passed legislation on Tuesday that would permanently ban the government from taxing broadband Internet access. It's a big win for Internet users, but it also puts a damper on prospects for creating a path forward for new ways to tax sales made online< Read more > -
KVOA: Obama to Congress: 'Just do something'
07/15/14With the country in need of a financial plan to fix potholes and other crumbling infrastructure,The House of Representatives is trying to shore up the highway trust fund with nearly 11-billion dollars.< Read more > -
WAMC: Welch Calls For Long-Term Funding To Highway Trust Fund
07/15/14As the nation's Highway Trust Fund teeters on the brink of insolvency, Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is joining calls for re-authorization and a long-term funding solution.< Read more > -
VPR: Welch Votes Against Short Term Transportation Funding Bill
07/15/14The U.S. House has given its approval to legislation that will provide the federal highway trust fund with enough money to fund projects until next spring. The bill passed 367 to 55. Rep. Peter Welch voted against the bill because he says it fails to address the long term transportation needs of the country.< Read more > -
The Wall Street Journal: House Passes $11 Billion Highway Repairs Bill
07/15/14Nearly as many House Republicans as Democrats voted on Tuesday to pass a bill to keep federal highway projects temporarily running into the next Congress, despite pressure from two influential outside conservative groups to oppose the measure. The bill is likely to become law only because the Senate and the White House are out of other options. No one is particularly happy about it. It doesn't solve any long-term problems, and in less than a year it will put lawmakers right back where they have been.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Welch Calls for Hike in Federal Gas Tax
07/15/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is advocating a 10-cent increase in the gasoline tax to support the soon-to-be-insolvent federal Highway Trust Fund.< Read more > -
Huffington Post: Critical Highway Trust Fund Bill Loses Support Of House Dem
07/15/14Backers of a critical highway trust fund bill set to get a vote in the House on Tuesday may have to worry about defections from Democrats. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) told The Huffington Post on Tuesday that he would not support the bill put together by House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.)< Read more > -
Huffington Post: Critical Highway Trust Fund Bill Loses Support Of House Dem
07/15/14Backers of a critical highway trust fund bill set to get a vote in the House on Tuesday may have to worry about defections from Democrats. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) told The Huffington Post on Tuesday that he would not support the bill put together by House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.)< Read more > -
National Journal: House Passes Highway Bill–But Nobody is Very Happy About It
07/15/14Nearly as many House Republicans as Democrats voted on Tuesday to pass a bill to keep federal highway projects temporarily running into the next Congress, despite pressure from two influential outside conservative groups to oppose the measure.< Read more > -
Huffington Post: House Passes Critical Highway Trust Fund Bill
07/15/14The House of Representatives passed a critical highway funding bill on Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 367-55. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voted against the proposal because it would restore the Highway Trust Fund only through May.< Read more > -
Washington Post: House passes stop-gap bill to fund transportation through May
07/15/14Faced with the threat that federal money for 117,000 transportation projects would begin to dry up in two weeks, the House on Tuesday approved a nearly $11 billion patch to extend funding through May.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: City Anxious Over Bridge Funding
07/15/14Two oft-delayed Rutland bridge projects may be held up yet again, this time by the federal budget process. Two bridges in Rutland are on a list released by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., of state transportation projects that will be in jeopardy if Congress doesn't reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund.< Read more > -
VPR: Welch Favors Gas Tax Increase For Road And Bridge Repairs
07/14/14Federal lawmakers remain split over how to replenish the Federal Highway Trust Fund, but Peter addresses three options Congress has to choose from.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Crunch Time Comes for Highway Funding
07/14/14Rep. Peter Welch tries to turn Vermonters' attention to action in Washington that could derail projects with regards to the federal Highway Trust Fund.< Read more > -
WPTZ: Running on Empty: Highway Trust Fund About to Go broke
07/14/14Congressman Peter Welch, D-Vt., is calling on his colleagues to take serious action to keep money flowing to states for highway and transit projects.< Read more > -
WCAX: Welch: Gas Tax is Vital for Better Vermont Roads
07/14/14The Highway Trust Fund is in trouble. The federal money pays for most road and bridge repairs around the country and Congress says it's running out. Welch says if more money doesn't go into the Highway Trust Fund, not only will travelers suffer but workers as well.< Read more > -
WAMC: Welch Discusses Transportation Fund Negotiations
07/14/14The Vermont Agency of Transportation has released a list of more than 50 road, bridge and rail projects that could be delayed because the federal money relied on for those projects might not be available.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Highway Fund Bill Gaining Traction
07/12/14A stopgap measure to boost a rapidly dwindling transportation trust fund by Aug. 1 is gaining traction in Congress. If passed, it would prevent Vermont and other states from scuttling thousands of transportation projects.< Read more > -
VPR: Delegation Supports President's Call For Emergency Immigration Funds
07/08/14All three members of Vermont's Congressional delegation are supporting President Obama's call for an additional $4 billion in emergency aid to help deal with an immigration crisis in the southwestern part of the United States.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Money woes put 38 Vermont road projects at risk
07/03/14Vermont's Agency of Transportation is preparing to delay 38 bridge, rail and road projects that it had expected to put out to bid on Aug 1 – which could gouge as much as $100 million from the state's economy and shrink construction employment during the final third of this year.< Read more > -
Leahy Holds Judiciary Committee Field Hearing On Net Neutrality
07/01/14Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, chair of the Judiciary Committee, held a field hearing in Burlington this morning to take testimony on rules the Federal Communications Commission is considering that some say threaten an open internet.< Read more > - June 2014
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Burlington Free Press: FDA apologizes for cheese confusion
06/27/14An FDA official has sent a letter to Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., apologizing for "confusion" involving food safety regulations as they apply to cheesemaking< Read more > -
Times Argus: Welch reaches across the aisle for goals and friendship
06/22/14Peter Welch and David Schweikert are two Congressmen who probably have more political differences than similarities. But the two legislators are close friends who have worked together on legislation, a seeming anomaly in the current political environment.< Read more > -
NECN: Vt. Congressional delegation opposes U.S. combat role in Iraq
06/20/14The three members of Vermont's Congressional delegation oppose a new combat role for U.S. military in Iraq.< Read more > -
Seven Days: Vermont Cheesemakers Wait as Feds Consider Aging Regs
06/19/14A post on Wisconsin's Cheese Underground blog on Sunday, June 8, began with these alarming words: "A sense of disbelief and distress is quickly rippling through the U.S. artisan cheese community." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the post continued, had recently forbidden aging cheese on wooden boards – a rule that, if enacted, could wreak havoc on cheese makers' ancient craft.< Read more > -
Stowe Reporter: FDA Backs Down on Cheese Regulation
06/19/14Cheese makers are poking holes in federal efforts to change the way cheese has been aged for hundreds of years.< Read more > -
Liberal Dems Question Obama on Iraq
06/19/14Liberal Democrats are questioning President Obama's authority to launch missile strikes in Iraq without congressional approval.< Read more > -
WPTZ: Welch steps in as FDA stirs up cheese board controversy
06/17/14Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, is working on legislation to prevent the Food and Drug Administration from interfering with artisan cheesemaking. In Waterbury on Monday, Welch said the law would be tied in with the 2015 agriculture appropriations bill to prohibit the FDA from using any money to regulate the dairy practice on cheese boards< Read more > -
WCAX: Welch continues criticism of FDA
06/17/14Vermont's congressman repeats his sharp criticism of the Food and Drug Administration. Representative Peter Welch, D-Vt., worries that a recent interpretation of an old rule would ban the use of wood planks in the cheese-aging process.< Read more > -
WCAX: Welch: Don't mess with Vermont cheese
06/16/14Don't mess with Vermont cheese! That's the message from Rep. Peter Welch. The congressman says rules announced by the FDA that call for the end of a centuries-old, cheesemaking process are "nutty."< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Cheesemakers cheer wood shelves
06/16/14Mateo Kehler, a cheesemaker at Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, said it would cost more than $4 million to replace the wooden shelves for ripening cheese in just one of his cheese vaults.< Read more > -
WCAX: Rep. Welch: Lock in low-income housing tax credits
06/13/14Congressman Peter Welch wants to make Low-Income Housing Tax Credit more predictable. The representative is backing efforts to help lock in rates and increase benefits for developers.< Read more > -
Politico Pro: WELCH MOVING FORWARD WITH CHEESE BOARD AMENDMENT DESPITE FDA CLARIFICATION
06/13/14Rep. Peter Welch said today he will move forward with his plans to offer an amendment to the fiscal 2015 agriculture appropriations bill that would prevent FDA from cracking down on the practice of using wooden boards to age cheese. This despite further assurances made late Tuesday by FDA that it has not established a new policy against it.< Read more > -
VPR: Unconvinced By FDA, Welch To Move Forward With Cheese Aging Amendment
06/13/14Welch was reacting to a constituent clarification posted by the FDA Wednesday evening stating: "We have not and are not prohibiting or banning the long-standing practice of using wood shelving in artisanal cheese. Nor does the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) require any such action. Reports to the contrary are not accurate." "Unfortunately, this 'clarification' directly contradicts a clear statement of FDA's position sent to my office on March 27 from headquarters staff," Welch stated in an email.< Read more > -
NYTimes: F.D.A. Issues Clarification, but Cheese Makers Are Wary
06/13/14Still, cheese makers and federal lawmakers from cheese-producing states remain skittish. "It appears the F.D.A.'s right hand doesn't know what its left hand is doing," Representative Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont, said in a statement Thursday. "Which F.D.A. should cheese makers listen to?" He cited a March 27 letter to his office from an agency official that stated in clear language that wooden boards "are not permitted and never have been."< Read more > -
FDA Backpedals On Artisan Cheese Rule
06/12/14A recent rule interpretation by the Food and Drug Administration that aging cheese on wooden surfaces does not conform to sanitation standards has Vermont cheese makers worrying and Rep. Peter Welch working to block funding for its enforcement.< Read more > -
Is the FDA Waging a War on Artisanal Cheese?
06/11/14Is the Food and Drug Administration waging a war on artisanal cheese? The answer depends on your perspective. But this much is certain: An FDA official's remarks to New York regulators about using wooden boards to age cheese has caused an uproar in the domestic industry and raised questions about the status of imported cheeses that use the same process.< Read more > -
Lawmaker to FDA: Stay Away From Cheese
06/11/14Congressional pressure is mounting for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to abandon new cheese aging regulations it is mulling.< Read more > -
Welch Hopes to Block FDA Aging Cheese Regulation
06/10/14There's an update about the controversial Food and Drug Administration rule that could hurt Vermont artisan cheese makers.< Read more > -
Welch Springs to Cheesemakers' Defense
06/10/14On Saturday, Wisconsin's Cheese Underground blog broke news that the FDA had reinterpreted a food safety law, in effect outlawing the centuries-old practice of aging cheese on wooden boards.< Read more > -
F.D.A. Rule May Alter Cheese-Aging Process
06/10/14A decision by the Food and Drug Administration to question the use of wooden planks to age some cheeses has produced a stink that rivals Limburger, prompting an uproar among the artisanal cheese makers and consumers who fear they might lose access to products like obscure blue cheeses from Vermont and imported Parmigiano-Reggiano.< Read more > -
VPR: Vermont Officials Hail EPA Climate Change Plan
06/03/14State officials say President Obama's new national plan to reduce carbon emissions is an important step forward to deal with climate change. They also believe the proposal could greatly benefit Vermont's growing energy efficiency industry.< Read more > -
Burlginton Free Press: Vermonters see opportunity in new EPA ruling
06/02/14Vermont lacks a fossil-fuel power plant of any significant size. That distinction (shared only by Washington, D.C.) exempts the Green Mountain State from new, tougher regulations of carbon dioxide, announced Monday by the Obama administration.< Read more > -
NECN: Vt. Congressman Encourages Enrollment in Trusted Traveler Program
06/02/14Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., encouraged Vermonters to apply for enrollment in NEXUS, the trusted traveler program offered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency.< Read more > -
WCAX: Welch Secures NEXUS Card
06/02/14Congressman Peter Welch, D-Vermont showed up at the Customs and Border Protection office in South Burlington Monday morning equipped with the identification he would need to secure a Nexus card.< Read more > -
VTDigger: OBAMA POINTS TO VERMONT AS A MODEL FOR CARBON REDUCTION
06/02/14The Obama administration's proposed crackdown on carbon emissions cited Vermont's environmental policies as an example of how coal states can achieve necessary greenhouse gas reductions.< Read more > - May 2014
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Times Argus: Program Offered that Speeds Border Crossings
05/30/14Vermonters will have opportunities next week to enroll in the NEXUS program, which speeds up U.S.-Canada border crossings, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch's office said this week.< Read more > -
The Hill: Majority of House Wants Renewable Fuel Changes
05/29/14A majority of House members have endorsed some kind of change to the federal corn-based ethanol mandate, a group of congressmen leading an anti-ethanol fight said Thursday.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Welch Urges Feds to Fix Roads, Bridges
05/28/14The future of bridges such as the Hunt Street bridge, which is in serious need of replacement, is reliant on the highway trust fund, said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who came to Bennington on Tuesday to urge his colleagues to find a revenue stream for the fund.< Read more > -
Bennington Banner: Benmont Avenue bridge highlights funding dilemma
05/28/14Funding to repair the aging and crumbling Benmont Avenue bridge is uncertain given the political climate in Congress, according to Vermont's lone House representative.< Read more > -
BuzzFeed: No One On Capitol Hill Is Particularly Happy With Obama's Plan For Afghanistan
05/28/14It's hard to find a member of Congress that is particularly pleased with President Barack Obama's announcement that he planned to leave roughly 9,800 troops in Afghanistan until the end of 2016. There were a few positive statements came from Democratic and Republican House leadership, but for the most part, the announcement landed with a thud.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: More Chances to Enroll in NEXUS Offered
05/28/14The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will join Canadian border officials next week in hosting enrollment events in Vermont for the NEXUS Trusted Traveler program.< Read more > -
Waterbury Record: Against the Grain
05/22/14Normally it's thirsty beer drinkers lusting after The Alchemist's highly coveted craft brews, but it turns out livestock is just as excited to be part of the Heady Topper herd.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Compass School celebrates $1.1 million loan from USDA
05/22/14Political harmony is still possible in this country. And it manifested itself on the grounds of Compass School on Tuesday morning.< Read more > -
LA Times: FCC chairman expresses concern about TV networks blocking websites
05/20/14Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler expressed concern during a congressional hearing over the growing practice of programmers blocking access to their websites during fights with pay-TV and broadband providers.< Read more > -
The Hill: Bill would give states bigger role in closing nuclear power plants
05/19/14Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has introduced a bill to provide states with more authority in the shutdown of nuclear power plants.< Read more > -
BUZZFEED: Bipartisan Group Urges Obama To Not Arm Syrian Rebels With Anti-Aircraft Missiles
05/19/14Lawmakers sent a letter to the president and will take legislative action to try and prevent the United States from sending shoulder-fired missiles to the Syrian Opposition.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Democracy brews historic lesson
05/16/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is fighting to preserve a tradition among brewers and farmers in America that dates back centuries.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Welch worries about brewery-farm grain rule
05/16/14A "gravitational pull" compelled U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., to exit the highway one day in late March and stop at the Alchemist, the Waterbury brewery that makes Heady Topper beer.< Read more > -
WCAX: Trouble brewing for Vt. farmers, breweries?
05/16/14The sound of Hadley Gaylord's pickup serves as a dinner bell for the beef cattle raised on the family farm. Wednesday, lunch consisted of spent grains.< Read more > -
St. Albans Messenger: The Threat is Here
05/16/14The National Climate Assessment, issued last week by the White House, provides scientific information about how climate change is impacting different regions of the country and different sectors of the economy.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Vermont lawmakers: Back off our cheese
05/16/14Europeans negotiating a free-trade deal with the U.S. have been angling to reserve names like "feta" and "parmesan" only for cheese made in Europe. They also want to mandate that beer names like "Oktoberfest" and meat monikers like "bratwurst" be allowed only on European-produced beer and sausages.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Rep. Welch: Energy savings could fund upgrades
05/14/14Lower heating and cooling bills are increasingly a safe bet – even for cash-strapped Vermont towns, Rep.Peter Welch, D-Vt., announced Tuesday in Burlington. The nuts and bolts of solid returns on efficiency upgrades (and financing through energy budget savings) drew about 40 enthusiasts to a forum hosted by Welch at Champlain College.< Read more > -
BuzzFeed: The Only Thing Some Democrats Like About The Benghazi Select Committee: Trey Gowdy
05/14/14Democrats have harshly criticized the Benghazi select committee, calling it a political sideshow and questioning Republican motives behind the effort. But what some key Democrats aren't questioning is the man who will lead the committee, Rep. Trey Gowdy.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Vermont lawmakers: Back off our cheese
05/13/14More than 175 House members, led by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and other Dairy Caucus co-chairs, signed a letter to be sent Thursday to U.S. trade negotiators urging them to warn Europeans that America won't accept such naming restrictions. Vermont's senators, Democrat Patrick Leahy and independent Bernie Sanders, signed a similar letter from more than 50 senators in March.< Read more > -
New York Times: Amid Pipeline and Climate Debate, Energy-Efficiency Bill Is Derailed
05/12/14A bipartisan bill to encourage energy efficiency in buildings died in the Senate on Monday, derailed by the contentious debate over the Keystone XL pipeline and President Obama's plans to issue new climate change regulations.< Read more > -
MILTON INDIE: Husky's energy efficiency praised
05/07/14Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and a senior White House staffer visited a Milton business last week to learn how to replicate energy-saving measures back in Washington.< Read more > -
Vermont Edition: Welch Discusses Climate Report, Electric Cars
05/07/14On the heels of a major report on climate change, Congressman Peter Welch was our guest to discuss some of his efforts like making electric vehicles more affordable and improving energy efficiency in public buildings. Those were just a few of the topics we discussed with Welch on Wednesday's Vermont Edition.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Federal study predicts hotter, wetter Vermont
05/06/14A report of climate trends for the U.S. released Tuesday warns that the already-extreme weather patterns in the Northeast, including Vermont, will likely intensify.< Read more > -
VTDigger: FEDERAL REPORT OUTLINES CLIMATE CHANGES, PREDICTS MORE EXTREME WEATHER
05/06/14The Obama administration Tuesday released a scientific report that found human-caused climate change will create more heat waves, extreme weather, rising sea levels, flooding, and heavy downpours – all of which can be mitigated with policy aimed at curbing carbon emissions.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Welch tours Husky with White House official
05/02/14Husky Injection Molding Systems has saved about $2 million in the last decade through energy efficiency measures alone. That makes the company a leader in Vermont, said Efficiency Vermont Account Manager Greg Baker, who accompanied Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Mike Boots on a tour of the company's plant in Milton on Friday.< Read more > - April 2014
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AP: Welch pushes for larger electric car tax credit
04/30/14Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch said Monday he wants to make it easier to buy electric cars by increasing the size of the federal tax credit for the vehicles and making those credits available at car dealerships.< Read more > -
WAMC: U.S. Representative Welch Seeks Tax Credits For Electric Cars
04/29/14Vermont's lone representative in the U.S. House wants to make it easier for people to buy electric vehicles. Democratic Representative Peter Welch says he is going to introduce legislation that would provide buyers of electric vehicles up to a $10,000 tax credit that would be applied when buying the car.< Read more > -
Rutland Hearld: Welch wants immediate tax credits for electric car buyers
04/29/14Rep. Peter Welch will introduce legislation to boost a tax credit available to buyers of hybrid and electric plug-in vehicles and to make it an immediate discount off the price.< Read more > -
CNN Opinion: Intelligence budget should not be secret
04/21/14Imagine for a moment that instead of just the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 16 federal agencies were responsible for administering the federal food stamp program. Also imagine that each of these agencies had unchecked taxpayer resources and no public oversight. Neither the taxpayer nor anyone in Congress would stand for it. But that is exactly what is happening with America's intelligence programs.< Read more > -
AP: Welch touts Vermont tourism program
04/10/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is pushing for the government to reauthorize a global tourism initiative that he says can attract more visitors to Vermont.< Read more > -
AP: 2 Vermont towns get federal aid for rural projects
04/10/14The Vermont Congressional delegation says two Vermont towns are receiving grants for rural development projects.< Read more > -
Bloomberg: Corn Ethanol Blending Mandate a Flop,' Should Be Repealed, Rep. Welch Says
04/10/14The renewable fuel standard has been a "well intentioned flop" and the corn-based ethanol blending mandate should be repealed, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said.< Read more > -
The Hill: Ethanol mandate 'killing' farmers
04/10/14Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) urged his colleagues to remove a corn-based ethanol mandate from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), saying the mandate hurts a diverse range of people and businesses including farmers, small engine users and restaurants.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Our opinion: Continued funding of LIHEAP a must
04/08/14When it comes to keeping the most vulnerable among us warm, more money is needed. That's the message Washington lawmakers are sending to the House Appropriations Committee, regarding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.< Read more > -
WAMC: Bipartisan Group Calls For Additional Heating Assistance Funding
04/07/14Vermont Democrat Peter Welch and New York Republican Peter King are leading a group of House members calling for increased federal heating assistance funding.< Read more > -
Times Argus: LEAP energy fair showcases all that's green'
04/06/14A towering pile of old televisions, juxtaposed against a sprawling background of solar panels, is an image that perfectly encapsulated the eighth annual LEAP Fair.< Read more > -
NYT: G.M. Hires Lawyer Specializing in Disaster Payouts
04/04/14As families of crash victims lined the back of the House hearing room, displaying photos of their lost loved ones, Mary T. Barra, the General Motors chief executive, told lawmakers that the company was considering paying damages to victims of accidents in the millions of cars recalled for defective ignition switches.< Read more > -
VPR: President Signs Bill Funding Pediatric Cancer Research
04/04/14President Obama Thursday afternoon signed a bill into law that will provide an additional $126 million for pediatric cancer research over the next 10 years.< Read more > -
National Journal: Meet the Dying Girl Who Told Congress to Stop the Bullshit
04/04/14Dying of an inoperable brain tumor, 10-year-old Gabriella Miller told Washington to shove it. "Stop talking and start doing," she said in a video while lobbying Congress for pediatric disease research money. With a mischievous smile and balled fists, Gabriella giggled: "Talking's bullshit. We need actions."< Read more > -
WAMC: Protests Erupt Over Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling
04/03/14On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck a limit on the total amount individuals can donate to political campaigns. In a hastily organized protest, about a half-dozen people held placards at one of Plattsburgh's busiest intersections.< Read more > -
The Washington Post: Federal act named for Gabriella Miller signed into law
04/03/14Less than six months after 10-year-old childhood cancer awareness advocate Gabriella Miller died of an inoperable brain tumor, a federal pediatric medical research bill named in her honor was signed into law by President Obama at a White House ceremony Thursday afternoon.< Read more > -
VPR: Lack Of Funding Could Halt State Highway Projects
04/02/14In the past few years, many states, including Vermont, have embarked on hundreds of road and bridge construction projects and most of the projects were paid for with a large amount of federal funds.< Read more > -
Bennington Banner: Hospital aid bill signed into law
04/02/14A federal program that accounts for roughly $2 million in the local hospital's budget was signed into law Monday, according to its main proponent, House Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. The Rural Hospital Access Act provides added funding to hospitals heavily dependent on patients enrolled in Medicare, or "low volume hospitals."< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Welch: Energy efficiency 'enormously important'
04/01/14In Washington's bitterly partisan political environment, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch says conserving energy might be a common cause.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Welch touts energy efficiency in Springfield, Brattleboro
04/01/14Investing in cities and towns' infrastructure, as well as energy efficiency, would help spur the economy as well as create jobs, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said Monday.< Read more > - March 2014
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Associated Press: US Rep. Welch to hear of Vt. alt transportation
03/23/14Vermont lone U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is going to be hearing Monday from some of the state's transportation leaders at a Burlington meeting called to discuss the state's experience with alternative transportation projects.< Read more > -
WCAX: Federal funds help Vt. sugar makers
03/20/14East Montpelier sugar maker Burr Morse hasn't boiled so far this season, but when he does he'll need far less wood to run his evaporator than in years past.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Welch touts measures to help sugar makers in Farm Bill
03/20/14Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., visited the Morse Farm in Montpelier on Wednesday to highlight two "important victories" for Vermont maple producers in the recently passed Farm Bill – an energy efficiency program and grants for research and promotion of maple syrup.< Read more > -
WCAX: Congressional hearing focuses on opiate solutions
03/17/14Senator Patrick Leahy was joined by Congressman Peter Welch for the third field hearing of its kind on Vermont's opiate problem. Monday's topic: community solutions to breaking the cycle of addiction. They heard from a panel of witnesses representing the legal system, law enforcement, health care and children.< Read more > -
BuzzFeed: Why Congress Is Talking – And Fighting – About Afghanistan Again
03/13/14The most closely watched race on Capitol Hill next month isn't in the United States. It's the presidential election in Afghanistan. Who replaces Afghan President Hamid Karzai will carry deep consequences for the U.S. troop presence in the country, where Karzai has been in office for more than a decade. But where Congress will ultimately stand on the matter is anyone's guess.< Read more > -
VPR: FDA Approves Controversial New Painkiller
03/13/14A controversial, super-potent new painkiller has received Food and Drug Administration approval and could be available this month.< Read more > -
St. Albans Messenger: Drug battle paying off
03/12/14The national media has been discussing the drug problem in Vermont since January when Gov. Peter Shumlin drew attention to the issue in his state of the state address. Meanwhile, St. Albans has been open about confronting drug use and drug related crime in the community for five years.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Welch wants to model Medicare after Vermont health program
03/12/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt, is sponsoring a bill that takes a successful health reform program from Vermont – the Blueprint for Health – and adapts it for Medicare, the national health program for people 65 and older.< Read more > -
National Journal: House Approves Energy-Efficiency Bill
03/06/14Democrats and Republicans came together in the House on Wednesday to pass legislation designed to boost energy-efficiency programs. The vote was 375-36. The bill authored by Reps. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., included a number of provisions aimed at energy conservation, including legislation nicknamed "Tenant Star" that creates incentives for landlords and tenants to boost energy savings in commercial properties.< Read more > -
The Hill: House passes bill on energy efficiency
03/05/14The House passed a bipartisan package on Wednesday intended to up energy efficiency in homes and federal agencies. The legislation, authored by Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.), aims to boost energy conservation with a program called Tenant Star, which provides incentives to landlords and tenants who up their energy savings.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: House passes energy efficiency bill co-authored by Welch
03/05/14An energy efficiency package co-authored by Rep. Peter Welch that aims to boost savings in commercial tenant spaces and federal data centers easily passed the House on Wednesday.< Read more > -
Huffington Post: The House Is Actually Set To Pass A Bipartisan Energy Bill This Week
03/04/14The House of Representatives is expected to approve an energy efficiency bill on Tuesday, a rare bipartisan breakthrough on energy policy. The bill would establish a new voluntary efficiency standard for commercial buildings, direct the federal government to set efficiency goals for its data centers, and require buildings leased by the federal government to disclose their energy usage data.< Read more > - February 2014
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Roll Call: Telemedicine: a Modern-Day Cure for an Age-Old Problem | Commentary
02/24/14Rural America and underserved communities struggle with inadequate access to health care. This is primarily due to provider shortages and a lack of resources in communities needing primary care and prevention education.< Read more > -
The Graff Report: Lessons learned in Vermont help bridge the divide in Washington
02/18/14Sometimes I wonder how US Representative Peter Welch, D-VT, remains so upbeat and cheerful. He radiates optimism at a time when I would think being a member of Congress would be one of the most depressing jobs in the world.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Congressional delegation seeks curbs on propane exports to ease supply problems
02/18/14Mike Ryan heats his 3,500-square-foot Hyde Park home with propane. Lots of propane. Ryan has seen his costs escalate sharply this year, he explained Tuesday afternoon as he carefully laid the bills out on the desk in his home office.< Read more > -
The Hill: Lawmakers call for urgent' action on propane prices
02/18/14Vermont lawmakers called on the administration to limit propane exports in an effort to reduce prices for the home heating fuel.< Read more > -
US News: Congressmen Demand End to 'Black Budget' Secrecy
02/18/14A bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives is seeking disclosure for themselves and the public of top-line budget figures for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies.< Read more > -
US News: Congressmen Demand End to 'Black Budget' Secrecy
02/18/14A bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives is seeking disclosure for themselves and the public of top-line budget figures for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies.< Read more > -
VPR: Congressional Delegation Seeks Emergency Action On Propane Prices
02/18/14The three members of the Vermont's delegation, Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and Congressman Peter Welch, say the country is facing a crisis with the growing cost of propane.< Read more > -
St. Albans Messenger: Co-op celebrates Farm Bill
02/17/14The state's leading politicians were on hand to offer their congratulations as the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery held its 95th annual meeting on Saturday.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Vermont delegation roots for soil
02/15/14There's nothing in federal guidelines for organic certification that excludes hydroponically grown produce. That policy undermines the fundamental organic tenet of soil stewardship, according to a majority of Vermont's organic farmers.< Read more > -
Bloomberg: Democrats Push for Limits on Nonprofit Election Spending
02/14/14House Democrats, led by Peter Welch of Vermont, are pushing back against Republican efforts to block any new Internal Revenue Service rules governing nonprofit groups, which are spending millions of dollars on campaigns while keeping their donors hidden.< Read more > -
The Hill: House Dems push IRS on tax-exempt rules
02/14/14Dozens of House Democrats are urging the IRS to get the tax-exempt groups at the center of the agency's targeting controversy out of politics altogether.< Read more > -
The Hill: House Dems push IRS on tax-exempt rules
02/14/14Dozens of House Democrats are urging the IRS to get the tax-exempt groups at the center of the agency's targeting controversy out of politics altogether. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and other Democratic lawmakers insist that it's wrong to allow 501(c)(4) groups – which spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2012 campaign – to take part in the political process at all.< Read more > -
The Verge: Lawmakers ask Obama to disclose 'black budget' details in US finances
02/12/14A group of lawmakers have asked President Obama to go into greater detail about the billions in federal spending going to more than a dozen intelligence organizations, something that's been referred to as the "black budget."< Read more > -
AP: House votes to extend Treasury's borrowing authority as Republicans drop push for concessions
02/11/14 < Read more > -
Huffington Post: John Boehner To Bring Up Clean Debt-Ceiling Vote
02/11/14Republican leaders decided Tuesday that the United States must pay its bills and raise its debt limit with no strings attached, but will leave the politically unpopular step mostly to Democrats.< Read more > -
Roll Call: The End of Debt Limit Brinkmanship?
02/11/14Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio took the podium Tuesday at a private Republican Conference meeting across the street from the Capitol, well aware that he was out of options.< Read more > -
Bloomberg: Yes, We Can Trim Medicare Spending
02/11/14More than 90 percent of all Medicare spending goes to treating the two-thirds of beneficiaries who suffer from more than one chronic health problem. Giving these people better care for the dollar is the key to increasing the value of the program overall.< Read more > -
Vermontbiz: VEDA gets $1 million from USDA to expand small business lending
02/10/14During a visit to Cork, a premium wine bar and specialty food establishment on Stowe Street in downtown Waterbury Monday, Governor Peter Shumlin, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials, and staff from Senator Patrick Leahy's office, Senator Bernie Sanders' and Congressman Peter Welch's office announced that the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has been awarded a $1 million USDA Rural Development Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loan to support and expand small business lending.< Read more > -
New York Times: Skating Close to the Edge, Again, on the Debt Ceiling
02/06/14As of Friday, the Treasury will no longer have the authority to issue bonds as necessary to pay the government's bills. In a matter of weeks, the government could run out of cash and begin defaulting on some payments unless Congress acts to raise the official ceiling on the national debt.< Read more > -
Roll Call: Republicans Looking for the Exit on Debt Limit
02/05/14Once considered a leverage point to extract massive concessions from President Barack Obama, the debt ceiling has all but been scratched from House Republicans' negotiating playbook this year.< Read more > -
AP: Chronic care overhaul proposed for Medicare
02/05/14With chronic illnesses like heart problems, diabetes and cancer taking a toll on seniors as well as Medicare's budget, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed a new approach aimed at keeping patients healthier and avoiding hospitalizations.< Read more > -
The Hill: Boehner: No GOP consensus on debt limit
02/04/14Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday said it wasn't yet clear whether House Republicans could get enough of a consensus to pass an increase in the debt ceiling without help from Democrats.< Read more > -
My Champlain Valley: VSAC Benefits From Spending Bill, Keeps 200 Jobs
02/03/14A budget compromise in Washington means a Vermont non-profit can not only keep hundreds of jobs, but also continue to help disadvantaged students afford college, students like Vertu Dzingou.< Read more > -
Addison County Indpendent: Two-year farm bill marathon ends in a sprint
02/03/14Congressman Peter Welch is not among the taller members of the U.S. House of Representatives, but the Vermont Democrat can hoof it. I've got about five inches on him, but I'm struggling to keep up as we wind through the tunnels and alleys somewhere beneath the Longworth House Office Building.< Read more > -
Addison County Independent: Farm bill promises relief for dairy businesses
02/03/14After years of wrangling, delays and setbacks, Congress appears to be on the precipice of completing a new farm bill, which Addison County dairy farmers say will protect their thin profit margins.< Read more > -
VTDigger: At Sanders' Town Hall, Legal experts say NSA's dragnet spying can be curbed without undermining public safety
02/03/14The USA Patriot Act has been misinterpreted, legal experts say, and the National Security Agency is collecting billions of data – everything from text messages to Google map pins and cellphone records – without probable cause from millions of Americans who have never committed a crime.< Read more > -
At Sanders' Town Hall, Legal Experts Say NSA's Dragnet Spying can be Curbed Without Undermining Public Safety
02/03/14The USA Patriot Act has been misinterpreted, legal experts say, and the National Security Agency is collecting billions of data – everything from text messages to Google map pins and cellphone records – without probable cause from millions of Americans who have never committed a crime.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Federal college programs hold their own in Vermont
02/03/14In an era that seriously contemplates draconian cuts in federal government programs, when discretionary spending seems to be chronically at risk, any legislation that maintains the status quo can be cause for celebration.< Read more > - January 2014
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Rutland Herald: Transportation money in doubt
01/27/14State transportation officials say they may have to cut back on projects unless Congress acts soon to replenish the federal fund that provides the lion's share of money for state work.< Read more > -
Rutland Herald: Transportation money in doubt
01/27/14State transportation officials say they may have to cut back on projects unless Congress acts soon to replenish the federal fund that provides the lion's share of money for state work.< Read more > -
VPR: Rep. Welch Hopeful For Dairy Compromise In New Farm Bill
01/24/14Rep. Peter Welch says he's optimistic that Congress will pass a compromise Farm Bill in the coming weeks. Welch says he thinks the legislation will include a new dairy program that's supported by many Vermont farmers.< Read more > -
VPR: Rep. Welch Pushes For More NSA Transparency
01/24/14One week ago, President Obama announced changes to the federal security program that monitors the emails and phone calls of millions of Americans, but Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) says the changes don't go far enough to protect the privacy of citizens. "I think more transparency is where we need to go," said Welch in response to the president's address.< Read more > -
NPR: Chronic Care Overhaul Proposed For Medicare
01/23/14With chronic illnesses like heart problems, diabetes and cancer taking a toll on seniors as well as Medicare's budget, a bipartisan group of lawmakers Wednesday proposed a new approach aimed at keeping patients healthier and avoiding hospitalizations.< Read more > -
Caledonian Record: Congressman Welch Tours Downtown St. Johnsbury
01/23/14Rep. Peter Welch, Vermont's representative to Congress, toured Railroad Street on Wednesday morning. The Democrat met with downtown business owners and pitched a bill he's co-sponsored that would apply the Vermont sales tax to purchases on the Internet, telling Railroad Street merchants it would "provide a level playing field" and help local store owners compete against online giants like Amazon.com.< Read more > -
The Commons: Welch: Downtown businesses worth fighting for
01/22/14As he visited downtown businesses on a frigid Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., heard the importance of "leveling the playing field" for brick-and-mortar businesses.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Welch sees spirit of cooperation
01/22/14U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is on record as feeling more than a little frustrated with "the enormous amount of dysfunction" in Washington.< Read more > -
Brattleboro Reformer: Sovernet nearly finished with $48M fiber network
01/22/14The scope of Sovernet's new, $48 million, fiber-optic network can be measured in the sheer number of community institutions it has reached: 115 governmental locations, 108 schools, 42 health-care facilities, 40 libraries and 32 colleges.< Read more > -
WAMC: Congressional Corner With Peter Welch
01/20/14In today's Congressional Corner, Vermont representative Peter Welch tells WAMC's Alan Chartock that Democrats are facing an uphill climb to retake the House.< Read more > -
AP: Delegation: Obama's statement on NSA not enough
01/18/14All three members of Vermont's congressional delegation say they do not believe changes in the federal government's surveillance activities announced by President Barack Obama go far enough.< Read more > -
New York Times: Why Are the Intelligence Budgets a State Secret?
01/17/14You can dig all you want through the trillion-dollar spending bill just approved by Congress and still not learn how much the country is spending on each of the intelligence agencies. That's because those amounts are a state secret, and nowhere in President Obama's call for greater oversight and transparency on Friday did he propose changing that status.< Read more > -
Burlington Free Press: Vermont lawmakers seek additional surveillance reforms
01/17/14President Barack Obama's plan to establish government surveillance policies that reassure Americans their civil liberties will be protected was met with mixed reactions from members of Vermont's congressional delegation.< Read more > -
New York Times: A Crucial Caveat in Obama's Vow on Phone Data
01/17/14In overhauling the nation's spy programs, President Obama vowed on Friday that he "will end" the bulk telephone data program that has caused so much consternation – "as it currently exists."< Read more > -
National Journal: Hill Intel Leaders Downplay Need for NSA Reforms
01/15/14Despite a push from Democratic and Republican lawmakers for new reforms of the intelligence community ahead of President Obama's highly anticipated speech Friday, Intelligence Committee leaders in both the House and Senate are signaling little interest in such legislation.< Read more > -
USA Today: Sen. Wyden unveils Medicare reform bill
01/15/14Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who's likely to lead one of the Senate's most powerful committees soon, unveiled an ambitious bipartisan bill Wednesday that would overhaul the way older Americans receive care under Medicare and rein in the program's soaring costs.< Read more > -
WAMC: Increase In Heating Assistance Funding Requested
01/10/14Some of the region's Congressional representatives are calling for an increase in funding to the program that provides heating assistance to low income families.< Read more > -
Politco: JPMorgan to pay $2B over Madoff scheme
01/07/14JPMorgan Chase will pay more than $2 billion to settle civil and criminal charges that it aided Bernie Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme by ignoring warning signs that the notorious financier and investment adviser was swindling his clients.< Read more > -
VPR: Delegation Pushes For Bill To Restrict Government Surveillance
01/06/14All three members of Vermont's congressional delegation say the passage of legislation that restricts government surveillance programs is a top priority for 2014.< Read more > -
USA Today: U.S. plywood industry's plea for help rejected
01/02/14The winter mud is frozen solid into undulating ridges in the log yard at Columbia Forest Products here. The veneer logs, piled as high as two-story houses in frozen stack after stack, fill the yard with about 1 million board feet of prime lumber.< Read more >
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