The Bernie Buzz

Last Wednesday, I led the effort in taking a major step forward in reversing one of the ugliest and most dangerous aspects of American foreign policy. As you may know, I have been trying to stop our government from sending military aid to Israel for several years. A nation that, under the leadership of right-wing extremist Benjamin Netanyahu has committed genocide in Gaza, has started an illegal and horrific war in Iran and has been bombing civilian neighborhoods in Lebanon should not be funded by U.S. tax dollars.

This past Saturday, more than 150 Vermont students, from fourth grade to college and from around the state, joined me at Vermont State University Castleton for a day of workshops and rehearsals, followed by a student discussion on the importance of the arts and a choral concert. All the performances were fantastic, showcasing some truly talented young people. Once again, this event reminded me how impressive the young people in our state are. It also reminded me how committed teachers, parents, caregivers and community members are to ensuring young people have opportunities to participate in the arts.

Today, Senator Welch and I announced a major step forward in making dental care in Vermont more affordable and accessible. We celebrated the construction of what will be the largest dental clinic in the state and the first ever designed to train dentists here. When completed, the clinic will have 49 dental chairs. The first class of students will arrive from Detroit in September of 2027 and begin treating thousands of Vermonters. People of all income levels will be welcome.

I am happy to be hosting a youth choral concert again this year and hope you can join me in celebrating the commitment of Vermont young people, teachers and families to the arts. In its eighth year, the concert is taking place on April 11 at 6PM at the Casella Theater on Vermont State University’s (VTSU) Castleton Campus. Whether you know a young person participating this year or just want to enjoy a great night of music from talented young Vermonters from around the state, we hope you can join this great community event.

This past Saturday, 14 high school students from around Vermont joined me at the State House in Montpelier for a roundtable discussion on the essays they submitted to my 16th Annual State of the Union Essay Contest. The contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to describe a major issue facing our country and propose how to solve it.

Earlier this month, our office shared information with you about the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process, where members of Congress can direct federal dollars to where they are needed most, and many of you attended a webinar about the process. We wanted to share some important updates on this funding, including a new application deadline of 5 p.m. on March 30, 2026.