Vermont

WASHINGTON -- October 29 - Senator Patrick Leahy and the Vermont Congressional Delegation – Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) -- announced Thursday that the Secretary of the Air Force has selected the Vermont National Guard in Burlington as one of 10 final candidates to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Air Force conducted a system-wide review of more than 200 locations before selecting Burlington and nine other bases as finalists for either the training or primary operations of the F-35.    » read more »

Meeting With Energy Secretary Helped Make Vermont’s Case

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- The Vermont Congressional Delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) – announced Tuesday morning that Vermont Transco, LLC, will receive $68,928,650 in federal support to launch Vermont’s Smart Grid technology. The funds are part of $3.4 billion in Smart Grid grants across the nation that President Obama announced today – the largest awards made in a single day from this year’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

Meeting With Energy Secretary Helped Make Vermont’s Case

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 27 -- The Vermont Congressional Delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) – announced Tuesday morning that Vermont Transco, LLC, will receive $68,928,650 in federal support to launch Vermont’s Smart Grid technology.

The funds are part of $3.4 billion in Smart Grid grants across the nation that President Obama announced today – the largest awards made in a single day from this year’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- With nationwide unemployment at 9.8 percent, benefits will expire by the end of the year for nearly 2 million out-of-work Americans, including some 1,800 Vermonters. “In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and at a time when long-term unemployment is extremely high, we cannot turn our backs on jobless Americans by letting their unemployment insurance expire,” Senator Bernie Sanders said.

He backs legislation to extend unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks. Some job hunters exhausted their benefits at the end of September.    » read more »

October 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, October 8 - Seven more Vermont counties have been awarded economic stimulus funding for energy efficiency and conservation projects through a block grant program created in legislation authored by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

County-specific block grants were awarded to Windham County for $130,800, Orange County for $115,800, Windsor County for $193,300, Washington County for $254,600, Chittenden County for $195,400, Rutland County for $189,700, and Addison County for $153,700. Block grants were awarded in September to Caledonia, Franklin, and Orleans Counties.

The State of Vermont and its cities and towns also were awarded $10.3 million in March under the same program.    » read more »

Recovery Act Funding to Provide Policymakers and Consumers with Improved Data on Internet Service in California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont

October 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded the first four grants under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program to fund activities in California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- September 30, 2009 – On Wednesday, open government advocates from more than 40 organizations, including the Vermont Press Association and the Vermont Coalition for Open Government, presented Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy with a certificate of appreciation for his work to advance open and transparent government.

The certificate, which was presented before the start of an oversight hearing on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), recognized Leahy “for his work on behalf of open and transparent government through his modernization, defense, and oversight of the Freedom of Information Act.” (See below for photo information.)    » read more »

September 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and Blueprint for Health Director Craig Jones, M.D., joined Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the White House today for the announcement of a new federal initiative modeled after Vermont’s innovative Blueprint for Health.

The announcement could have positive financial implications for Vermont, as it will enable Medicare to join Medicaid and commercial insurance carriers in state multi-insurer efforts to support primary care medical homes and community health teams.    » read more »

Opening Ceremony Held today for the Richmond Bridge Street Bridge

June 23, 2009 -- Richmond, Vt. – Vermont Governor Douglas today officially opened the new Bridge Street Bridge in Richmond marking the completion of Vermont’s first ARRA funded project.

Governor Jim Douglas was joined by Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary David Dill, Federal Highway Administration Deputy Vermont Administrator Larry Dwyer, Richmond Selectboard Chairman Pete Parent and numerous Richmond residents to celebrate the opening of the Richmond Bridge Street Bridge, which opened for traffic last Friday.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – At an event at the National Press Club, Surescripts today announced that their annual state rankings and progress reports detailing e-prescribing use and adoption statistics for all 50 states.

Today’s event featured Governor Jim Douglas and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen as co-chairs of the State Alliance for E-Health and as co-hosts of the Fourth Annual Safe-Rx Awards. The State Alliance was created by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices in January 2007 to improve the nation's healthcare system by forming a collaborative body that enables states to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the health information technology initiatives they develop.    » read more »

Governor Douglas and Vermont’s Congressional Delegation Urge Vice President Biden to Expedite ARRA Broadband and SmartGrid Funding

June 15, 2009 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and U.S. Representative Peter Welch today released a letter sent to Vice President Joe Biden highlighting a proposal put forward by the Vermont Recovery Office and urging him to expedite ARRA broadband and SmartGrid funding.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 5 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today a major step toward establishing Vermont’s ninth Federally Qualified Health Center in Addison County.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services yesterday designated five Addison County towns as underserved in terms of access to health care. The towns are Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, Starksboro and Buels Gore. The designation is needed before federal funds may be sought to establish and run a health center to provide primary health care, dental care, mental health counseling and low-cost prescription drugs.

A community group, the Five Town Health Alliance, was formed two years ago to assess the area’s health care needs. It is leading the effort to establish a health center.    » read more »

June 5, 2009 – Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest and its surrounding communities will benefit from the next wave of economic recovery act funds coming to the state. Vermont’s Congressional Delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) – said the U.S. Forest Service will invest $5.295 million in economic stimulus funds on projects that range from road upgrades to waterway improvements that will help conserve endangered species such as the Atlantic Salmon.    » read more »

Statement of Governor Jim Douglas on his veto of H.441

June 1, 2009 -- “It is with great disappointment that I return H. 441 to the Legislature without my signature. I had hoped that our budget differences could be resolved and compromise reached without the need for a veto vote. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be achieved. These are unprecedented economic times and Vermonters need their elected officials to work together to get our state through this recession. I pledge to continue to work with legislators of all parties regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s special session.”

Governor Jim Douglas today issued the following veto message on H.441, An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of Government:    » read more »

Vermont Delegation Announces $39 Million In Economic Stimulus Funds for Statewide Clean Water Projects At St. Albans Press Conference

ST.ALBANS, June 1, 2009 – Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch and a representative of Senator Patrick Leahy announced today the release of $39 million in economic stimulus funds during a press conference at the St. Albans Bay Village Pavilion.    » read more »