Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the founder of the Senate’s Defending Social Security Caucus, issued the following statement today after the Social Security Administration announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for next year: “I am glad to see the millions of people who depend on Social Security will get a modest cost-of-living adjustment after two years with no increase in benefits at all.  However,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – In the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, millions of American seniors have seen a decline in their standard of living and are struggling to survive.  Unemployment among older workers doubled since 2007 while household incomes fell and medical costs rose, according to a report released today at a Senate hearing chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should adopt a rule with real teeth to limit oil speculators, not a watered-down measure set for a vote on Tuesday. The commission is slated to consider a rule that Sanders said “will do little or nothing” to limit traders who artificially drive up gasoline and home heating oil prices. “At a

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 – Three key senators today questioned the U.S. State Department about its dealings with a Canadian company seeking U.S. approval to build a crude oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The State Department is responsible for deciding whether to approve the billion-dollar Keystone XL pipeline project. TransCanada, the company trying to build the pipeline, reportedly was permitted to screen private

THURSDAY, Oct. 13 – Vermont’s Congressional Delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) – Thursday announced a $7.4 million federal loan for electric power grid improvements, including new “smart meter” components, in Washington, Orange and Caledonia  Counties.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Electric Program loan to Washington Electric Cooperative of East Montpelier will fund construction of

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) chaired a hearing today on how utilities can help customers use savings on their monthly power bills to finance energy-efficiency improvements at homes and small businesses. “It is a simple and straightforward concept, and it presents a huge opportunity to cut energy bills, create jobs, and slash greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution,” Sanders said at the outset