Press Releases

The U.S. Senate late Thursday approved a bill to allocate additional federal disaster relief funds that are crucial for recovery in Vermont and other states in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 62 to 37. Vermont’s two senators – Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I) — had fought

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 – Sen. Bernie Sanders today introduced legislation to strengthen Social Security by applying the payroll tax that most Americans already pay to those with annual incomes above $250,000. The measure is cosponsored by Sens. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Rep. Peter DeFazio introduced the companion bill in

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 – The Senate late this afternoon advanced a $7 billion aid package for victims of recent natural disasters like Hurricane Irene. The vote was 61 to 38 to bring up a bill to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s depleted disaster fund. Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) spoke on the Senate floor before the vote.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a Senate hearing he chaired today cited dramatic evidence linking poverty and shorter life spans. A new census report, meanwhile, said more Americans than ever before lived in poverty last year. Sanders cited evidence that living in poverty greatly reduces access to health care and shortens life spans. “This is the first time in our history that

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement tonight after President Barack Obama proposed a package of tax cuts and new spending designed to create jobs: “With real unemployment at 16 percent and 25 million Americans without a full-time job, it is imperative that Congress pass a strong jobs bill that puts our people back to work

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 – As President Barack Obama prepares for a Thursday address on jobs to a joint session of Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called today for putting Americans back to work through a series of bold measures that include rebuilding the country’s crumbling infrastructure. As part of a four-point plan to jumpstart the economy, Sanders also said the