The Bernie Buzz

It is that time of year again. As Congress prepares to work on the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill in Washington, we are kicking off our Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) application process here in Vermont.

A lot has happened in the last year – in Vermont, in our country, and throughout the world. I would like to take this opportunity, therefore, to check back with older Vermonters and see what’s on your mind. What are the main issues that concern you? What would you like to see the federal government doing?

Vermont’s own Elle Purrier St. Pierre’s had a spectacular race this past weekend, where she won gold for Team USA at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. She ran the women’s 3,000 meter in 8 minutes, 20.87 seconds – breaking the American record and the championship record, less than a month after she set the U.S. women’s record for the indoor mile.

I am thrilled to announce that my office will once again be holding a youth choral concert and town meeting on the arts. We started hosting this annual event in 2013 and, year after year, it has always been such a joy to hear beautiful choral music from talented Vermont students. The concert will take place at 6:00 P.M. THIS SATURDAY, March 9 at the Dibden Center for the Arts on Vermont State University’s Johnson campus and will feature performances from 10 Vermont elementary, middle, high school, and college choirs.

All too often, veterans in Vermont and across our country leave the military and struggle to adapt to everyday civilian life. This is also true for our Guard members who return home following a military deployment. Too often, they are not able to access the resources they have earned and are specifically designed to help them thrive again. It is that very challenge that Josh’s House addresses every day through events, recreational activities, and a variety of wellness-focused services.

There is a lot of discussion about how “divided” we are as a nation. And on many issues, that is absolutely true. But there is one issue that most Americans agree on, and that is that they are sick and tired of being ripped off by the pharmaceutical industry. Almost all Americans agree. We must lower the outrageously high cost of prescription drugs.