The year 2009 saw the deepening of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  Wall Street appeared to bounce back and promptly handed out large executive bonuses, while unemployment rose and people lost their savings and houses.  The country debated a major health insurance reform bill which passed both houses of Congress by the end of the year.  Sen. Bernie Sanders fought for fair economic practices, affordable health care as a human right, exit strategies for overseas conflicts, bold steps to address global warming, and confronting the crisis facing dairy farmers in Vermont and across the country.

Economy  While the New Years Eve headline of the Wall Street Journal cheered "2009: Banner Year for Stocks", it was a not such a banner year for American workers, of whom 17 percent are unemployed or under-employed.  The economic stimulus plan was helpful in avoiding a complete catastrophe but much work still needs to be done to narrow the chasm between working families and the bailed out Wall Street bankers.  Sanders called for the breakup of "Too Big To Fail" institutions.  To watch the senator discuss the economy, click here.

Health Care After almost 100 years of fruitless discussion, and a year of sometimes-rancorous debate, the nation took a significant step toward universal health care by moving closer to passage of health insurance reform legislation.  This legislation is not nearly as strong as Sen. Sanders would like it to be,  but 31 million more Americans will have health insurance, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and 25 million more Americans will have access to primary health care.  To read a Valley News editorial on this, click here.

Community Health Centers These centers provide access to primary health care, dental care and low-cost prescription drugs to millions of Americans regardless of income.  Sanders secured greatly expanded nationwide funding for this program in both the economic stimulus package and the health reform bill, which could include up to $14 billion in new funding for the program and thus give access to primary care to 25 million more Americans.   To watch the senator discuss the program on the Senate floor, click here.

Afghanistan We are now in our ninth year in Afghanistan - twice as long as were engaged in World War II.  We have lost more than 800 troops. We have spent more than $200 billion. What do we hope to accomplish in Afghanistan?  The president called for more troops in Afghanistan and possible withdrawal beginning in the summer of 2011.  "I've got a real problem with expanding this war...I want to see some real international cooperation," Sanders said on ABC's "This Week." Watch the video here.

Climate Change While the House of Representatives passed legislation which began to address the crisis of global warming, the Senate failed to act.  "What I worry about is that (the Senate) may pass something which is watered down, which is weak, which may not be bold enough to address the crisis that we face," Sanders said in an interview with Science Magazine, available here

Green Jobs Sanders was named chairman of the Green Jobs and New Economy Subcommittee of the Senate environment committee.  The economic stimulus package invested $3.2 billion for Sanders' Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program and $500 for his green jobs program.   He held subcommittee hearings both in Washington and Vermont.  To read Sanders' op-ed entitled "Good Environmental Policy is Good Economic Policy", click here.

Dairy At a time when dairy farmers have experienced the lowest prices in 40 years, Sanders was able to secure $350 million in emergency assistance for farmers.  The senator did also point out that "we need long-term solutions to the dairy crisis in order to create a situation where farmers receive fair and stable prices for their product."

Credit Cards Sanders sought to place the same cap - 15 percent - on credit card interest rates that credit unions currently operate under.  Unfortunately, the Senate did not agree to this measure but instead passed a bill which includes, among some strong provisions, a ban on arbitrary interest rate hikes.  Sanders will continue to fight for a national usury law.

Veterans Sanders, a member of the Senate veterans committee, secured major funding to support Veterans outreach programs to ensure that returning service members and their families are aware of and can access services crucial to their physical and mental health.  To watch the senator talking to Vermont National Guard soldiers readying for a tour in Afghanistan, click here.

Financial Leadership Sanders voted against the nomination of Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary and placed a "hold" on the nomination of Ben Bernanke for a second term as Federal Reserve Chairman.  Both men played instrumental roles in both the Wall Street bailout and the economic decisions which helped bring about the worst economic times since the Great Depression.  Sanders pushed legislation to force greater Fed transparency.

Vermont Sanders secured $5 million for the Vermont National guard to build what could result in the state's largest solar energy project at Burlington International Airport.  He helped retrieve roughly $3 million in back wages for federal contract workers in St. Albans and Essex Junction.  He also introduced legislation to strengthen support for the thinning ranks of volunteer firefighters and helped secure funding for a live-burn training facility for firefighters at Vermont Technical College. To read more stories pertaining to the senator's work for the Green Mountain State, click here.