Press Releases

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 17 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today welcomed reports that President Barack Obama won’t include changes to Social Security benefits in his proposal to reduce long-term deficits. “I am delighted that the White House has decided not to cut benefits under the program that has kept millions of retirees out of poverty,” said Sanders. “Social Security

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 – Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today hoped for quick House approval next week of a Senate-passed bill to provide $6.9 billion in additional federal disaster relief funds for Vermont and other states. The measure includes $5.1 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. Of that, $500 million would be available immediately. The rest would

The U.S. Senate late Thursday approved a bill to allocate additional federal disaster relief funds that are crucial for recovery in Vermont and other states in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 62 to 37. Vermont’s two senators – Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I) — had fought

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 – Sen. Bernie Sanders today introduced legislation to strengthen Social Security by applying the payroll tax that most Americans already pay to those with annual incomes above $250,000. The measure is cosponsored by Sens. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Rep. Peter DeFazio introduced the companion bill in

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 – The Senate late this afternoon advanced a $7 billion aid package for victims of recent natural disasters like Hurricane Irene. The vote was 61 to 38 to bring up a bill to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s depleted disaster fund. Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) spoke on the Senate floor before the vote.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a Senate hearing he chaired today cited dramatic evidence linking poverty and shorter life spans. A new census report, meanwhile, said more Americans than ever before lived in poverty last year. Sanders cited evidence that living in poverty greatly reduces access to health care and shortens life spans. “This is the first time in our history that