Important Conversations on the Issues Facing Our Country

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

This past weekend I hosted three town meetings in Sheldon, Bristol and Poultney. The turnouts were great and I want to thank all who attended and those who helped make the events possible. 

During these meetings we discussed some of the most important issues facing Vermont and the country — including the affordability crises in health care, education, housing and groceries.

But I must tell you that, at every town hall, the one issue that was raised over and over again was outrage as to how President Trump is undermining American democracy and moving this country toward an authoritarian society. People were especially alarmed at the illegal and unconstitutional actions of ICE and how that agency is terrorizing and killing people in Minneapolis and other communities throughout our country. 

I share that outrage. That is why on Friday, January 30, I introduced an amendment to rescind the $75 billion dollars over 4 years for ICE  that was included in Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” My amendment would transfer that $75 billion from ICE and put it into Medicaid to protect the millions of Americans who will lose their health care coverage as a result of that same terrible piece of legislation. In other words, instead of funding Trump’s domestic army we would provide health care for many Americans.  Unfortunately, the amendment failed but it is encouraging that all 47 members of the Democratic Caucus supported it, as did 2 Republicans.

Here are the remarks I made on the floor of the Senate regarding that amendment:

“Mr. President, as part of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, President Trump and Republicans threw 15 million Americans off of Medicaid through massive cuts to that program. At the same time, they did something even more dangerous. That legislation appropriated $75 billion for ICE over a 4-year period on top of the previously appropriated $10 billion a year.

When you give ICE that huge amount of money, you are not talking about an agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You are talking about a domestic army, which is now terrorizing and killing people in Minneapolis and other communities around this country. That must end.

This amendment rescinds the $75 billion appropriation for ICE and transfers that money to Medicaid.

We don’t need a domestic army in America to terrorize people. We need to guarantee health care to all Americans.” 

I am looking forward to more community gatherings in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Sanders talks with the Middlebury College Bobolinks in Poultney before their performance for the crowd

Constituents in Bristol enjoy lunch together at Mount Abraham Union Middle High School

Vermonter asks Senator Sanders a question during community dinner at Sheldon Elementary School

Senator Sanders takes a question during Poultney community dinner and town hall

Crowd of 350 Vermonters hears from Senator Sanders at Poultney High School