Bernie Buzz

One of the many things that I find remarkable about our state is that, in every corner, you can find Vermonters creating beautiful and powerful pieces of art. From street murals to galleries, I see extraordinary artwork coming out of our communities all the time, and that includes from artists of all generations. Today, I hope you will join me in celebrating some young Vermonters whose art was honored in the latest Congressional Art Competition.

Today, we are going to talk about Noah Kahan, a young singer-songwriter from Strafford, VT whose music is gaining attention not only in his home state, but throughout the country. What makes Noah’s success particularly interesting is that “Stick Season” is about his life right here at home. Noah calls the album a nuanced love letter to our state, to New England, and to growing up and living in small, rural towns.

For the last 12 years, I have held an essay contest to hear directly from young Vermonters. Today, more than 5,300 high school students from across the state have asked themselves this same question: What would I say if I were the President of the United States delivering the “State of the Union” address?

As this new session of Congress begins, I am proud to be assuming the chairmanship of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. This committee has broad jurisdiction over many of the important issues facing our country, and I intend to use my gavel to do everything I can to protect the needs of working families, the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor. The people who are too often left behind.

Thanks to those submissions, which covered a wide range of issues, my office was able to secure more than $42 million in federal funding for Vermont communities through Congressionally Directed Spending. From health care and infrastructure to child care, clean energy and water, agriculture, education, and housing, these 51 projects will have a significant impact in our communities and in improving the lives of Vermonters from one end of our state to the other.

I confess. I love Vermont apples (and apple cider, apple pie, cider donuts, etc.) and very much appreciate those who tend the orchards that produce them. Today, as part of our tribute to Vermont agriculture, the Bernie Buzz is focusing on the beautiful Green Mountain Orchards in Putney owned by the Darrow family.