The Week in Review

President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba. The move was welcomed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had traveled to Cuba in February and met with an American prisoner who was freed as part of Wednesday’s diplomatic breakthrough.  Named by Senate leadership to take over in January as ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, Sanders on Monday said he will use the position to defend and expand Social Security.

A New Era in U.S. Cuba Relations A trade embargo enacted 54 years ago amid Cold War tensions remains in place, but the White House plans to act soon on its own to re-establish commercial and diplomatic ties with Cuba. Sanders welcomed “a major step forward.” On the same day the diplomatic opening was announced in Washington and Havana, American government contractor Alan Gross was released from a Cuban prison where he had been held for five years. Sanders visited Cuba last February as part of a congressional delegation that met with Gross.

Expand Social Security “At a time when prescription drug prices are skyrocketing and one-third of all seniors depend on Social Security for a least 90 percent of their income, we should not be cutting Social Security, we should be expanding it,” Sanders said in a Senate floor speech. “Despite what you may hear from some politicians or pundits on TV, Social Security is not going broke. In fact the program has a $2.76 trillion surplus and has paid out every nickel owed to every eligible beneficiary since its inception.” Watch the Senate floor speech

Pension Cuts A provision tucked into a massive bill that the Senate approved last weekend will allow deep cuts in pensions for some current retirees. The provision – tucked into a massive spending bill – was one reason Sanders voted no. Instead of taking money from retirees, Sanders on Thursday suggested that Congress should consider shoring up the funds. “If this country could bailout the crooks on Wall Street who destroyed the economy surely the federal government can help working people who are absolutely dependent on these pensions,” he said. Watch MSNCB

State of the Union Sanders on Monday launched his annual State of the Union essay contest to engage Vermont high school students on the major issues facing the country. Now in its fifth year, the essay contest is an opportunity for Vermont students to discuss their priorities for the nation.