The Bernie Buzz

Vermonters can visit the Green Mountain National Forest and cut down their very own Christmas tree for just $5. And, it gets even better: If you have a fourth grader at home, your family can cut down a tree for free as part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative.

This is the time of year to come together with family, friends and the whole community. Please join me for holiday gatherings that I am hosting across the state. We’ll enjoy some wonderful holiday music as well as delicious desserts, hot chocolate, cider and eggnog. Please join us for some family friendly holiday cheer — and bring your friends.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are going to have a profound and transformative impact on our country and the entire world. The question is not whether these technologies will advance. They will. The question is: Who will control this technology? Who will benefit from it? And who will be left behind?

Each year, the president of the United States delivers a “State of the Union” speech to Congress to report on the state of our country and outline priorities for the coming year. For the past 15 years, I have invited Vermont high school students to ask themselves: If I were the president delivering the State of the Union address, what would I say? What is one major issue facing our country and how would I propose to solve it?

Each year, cities and towns across Vermont hold ceremonies to honor our veterans. These are important opportunities to honor those who have put their lives on the line to defend our country. Regardless of the political climate in Washington, I would hope that all of us understand the importance of honoring the sacrifice of our servicemembers, veterans and their families. There is much that we can learn from them and what they have experienced.

Trump is refusing to release the more than $5 billion emergency fund for the federal food stamp program — known federally as SNAP and locally as 3SquaresVT — that helps feed 16 million kids around the country, including 38,000 Vermont households. Congress created this emergency fund specifically for times like these. The president’s refusal to release these funds is in direct violation of the law.