Bernie Buzz

A major challenge that our rural communities face today – which does not get enough attention – is the struggle to staff our volunteer fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews. Simply put, EMS providers and firefighters are the first responders to some of people’s most difficult moments, and often are the difference between life and death.

There are many beloved pastimes that come with rural life in Vermont. One in particular that has, despite the odds, survived the test of time: drive-in movies. They started in the 1930’s, but drive-ins really took off in the 50’s and 60’s. At one point, there were 20 drive-ins in Vermont and more than 4,000 around the country. Today, we have only three in state, and just a few hundred nationwide.

The president’s decision yesterday to reduce the outrageous level of student debt in our country is an important step forward in providing real financial help to a struggling middle class. Yesterday’s announcement to reduce up to $10,000 in student debt for working class Americans and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients will eliminate student debt for some 20 million Americans and reduce debt for some 43 million. The result of this decision is that millions of Americans will now be in a better position to start families, or buy the homes and cars they have long needed. As someone who’s fought for years to cancel student debt, this is a big deal. But we have got to do more.

I wish very much that I could tell you that the Covid pandemic was over, and that we no longer had to worry about it into the future. But that would not be true. The good news, however, is that as a result of vaccines and improved treatments the death rates and hospital admission rates from Covid today are far lower than they were at the height of the pandemic. Further, a great deal of research is now taking place to create new and better vaccines and treatments.

Friday, July 29, 2022 was an historic day for Vermont. On that day, train service returned to Burlington for the first time in nearly 70 years. Vermonters can now take the train from Burlington to New York City with stops in Ferrisburgh/Vergennes, Middlebury, and Rutland.

As you may know, the Senate passed a reconciliation bill on Sunday called the “Inflation Reduction Act.” The vote was 51-50. I voted for it. Let me be honest with you in saying that I have very ambivalent feelings about this legislation.