Peter Welch has been a champion for working Vermonters throughout his career. Since his election to Congress in 2006, he has been widely recognized as a thoughtful and effective legislator who chooses governing over gridlock.
Peter’s record reflects his strong commitment to bringing people together to find common sense solutions to the difficult challenges facing our state and nation. In an era of partisanship, he has worked across the aisle to create jobs, increase access to affordable education and health care, invest in energy efficiency, protect our environment, and care for our veterans.
Peter strongly believes that every American has a right to affordable and accessible health care and has long advocated for Medicare for All. He has been a champion of prescription drug reform, successfully helping pass legislation through the House that will cut the skyrocketing cost of drugs for patients.
Peter is committed to addressing climate change by championing energy efficiency and clean energy legislation. He is working towards a more just and sustainable future that advances clean energy, while creating good-paying and equitable green jobs.
Peter believes we need to enact common-sense gun safety reforms to address the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Peter also believes these reforms can be enacted without undermining Second Amendment Constitutional rights.
One of Peter’s top priorities in Congress is rebuilding the American middle class and creating job opportunities for American workers. He has supported multiple programs to shore up our main street businesses and community institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter fights to support Vermont’s farmers- especially dairy farmers, organic producers, the maple syrup industry, and local food networks. Despite the immense challenges they face, our farmers and food networks are the backbone of Vermont communities and they must play a role in our future local food system, fight against climate change, and revitalization of rural America.
Peter strongly believes the cost of any war must include the cost of supporting and caring for our veterans and their families.
Higher education is the gateway to the American middle class. Peter is working to make a college degree affordable and reduce the crushing burden of student loan debt.
Peter strongly supports reforming the tax code to make it work for hard-working Americans rather than the top one percent.
Peter is committed to protecting every American’s individual and civil rights from discrimination based on gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Peter was in the House chamber on January 6th when the Capitol was attacked by a violent mob attempting to overturn the election of President Joe Biden. That attack on our democracy didn’t end on January 6th. The threat remains today as state legislatures have enacted laws to undermine our election institutions and suppress the right to vote. Peter is working to protect our democracy by committing to get dark money out of politics, addressing misinformation, and combatting attempts to undermine free and fair elections.
"Throughout our history, Vermont soldiers have responded to the call of the Commander in Chief to serve our country around the world. These brave men and women, along with their families, have paid a high price, including loss of life. In the aftermath of long and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States must execute a clear-eyed foreign policy that is worthy of the sacrifice of our soldiers and protects our national and homeland security."
Spotlight on Foreign Policy
Rep. Welch was a leader of the bipartisan effort to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is an advocate of reforming Pentagon spending and aligning our defense posture with the realities of the 21st Century. He is deeply skeptical of American involvement in another war in the Middle East and a strong supporter of a two state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Welch has worked to root out wasteful military spending around the world.
"For many Vermonters, a college degree is increasingly out of reach. Those who do get their diploma are often saddled with a mountain of student loan debt. Congress must increase student financial aid and give borrowers the opportunity to refinance student loans at today’s lower rates. At the same time, institutions of higher learning must bring their costs under control so that tuition and fees don’t outpace the ability of middle class families to afford them."
In the fall of 2015, Rep. Welch held a roundtable at the University of Vermont with students, parents and recent graduates to discuss the challenges they face in financing a college education. He unveiled his legislative agenda for an affordable higher education which includes simplifying the loan process, cutting college costs, innovative degree programs, and fully funding student aid programs.
"America simply cannot afford an energy policy that leaves us dependent upon fossil fuels, beholden to hostile foreign governments, and responsible for degrading our environment. We must embrace a new energy future that invests in energy efficiency, promotes renewable energy and reduces carbon pollution."
Spotlight on Energy
Energy efficiency creates good manufacturing and installation jobs, cuts energy bills, and improves the environment. Rep. Welch is the leading proponent of energy efficiency in the House of Representatives. Building on Vermont’s national leadership in the field of energy efficiency, he has advanced legislation to cut energy bills for homeowners, farmers, businesses, schools, apartment buildings and government buildings. In 2015, President Obama signed into law bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Welch to improve the efficiency of commercial buildings, water heaters, and federal buildings.
Rep. Welch has also been a forceful advocate for renewable energy resources. He is fighting for national standards for renewable energy and strongly supports incentives to develop clean energy resources and the good jobs that go with them.
"Vermont’s agrarian way of life has been central to the state’s identity since our founding. As family farmers face unprecedented challenges, it is vital to our economy, our landscape, and our culture that we help them succeed. I will continue to fight for struggling dairy farmers, nutrition programs that keep children healthy, local food production, and renewable energy innovations that bring new revenue to farms."
As a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus, Rep. Welch has worked hard to help Vermont’s dairy farmers cope with wild swings in milk prices. Working with Senators Leahy and Sanders, he added a new dairy insurance program to the 2014 Farm Bill. He has also fought to ensure dairy farmers get a fair shake in new trade agreements. And, he is leading a bipartisan effort in the House to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard which drives up feed prices.
Rep. Welch also secured provisions in the Farm Bill to boost other important segments of Vermont’s agricultural sector, including the maple industry, crop insurance for small farmers, and a program to encourage schools to serve local fresh fruits and vegetables.
"While Vermont has bounced back from the Great Recession of 2008, too many Vermonters are still struggling to make ends meet. My top priority in Congress is to ensure that Vermonters have good jobs, affordable health care, access to higher education, and lower energy bills.”
Rep. Welch has been a vocal advocate in the House for creating good new jobs by investing in America’s highways, bridges, water projects, airports, railways, and the internet. He led a coalition that forced House leaders to pass a sustainable highway bill. Working with Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Bernie Sanders, he secured critical funding to jump start passenger rail service along Vermont’s western corridor.
"Even before the Great Recession, hardworking Vermonters were feeling the squeeze of low wages and ever-increasing costs. The United States has a long history of supporting the middle class, but we must recommit to ensuring that those who work hard to make a living have the resources they need to support their families, get ahead, and save for a secure retirement. With every issue I face in Congress – from health care to education to energy – I am focused on increasing affordability and expanding the middle class."
Rep. Welch’s bill, the Flexibility to Innovate for College Affordability Act, would allow schools to develop innovative programs to accelerate degree completion and reduce costs for students. He has cosponsored legislation that would raise the hourly minimum wage. He has fought for increased transportation projects and the jobs that follow for Vermont workers, and positioned himself as a strong voice for continued investment in our infrastructure. Additionally, Rep. Welch founded the House Affordable Medicine Caucus and has championed several bills to lower rising drug prices.
"As a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I have helped the main investigative arm of Congress review the effectiveness of federal laws and government programs. From oversight of Wall Street to holding federal regulators accountable, I will continue to work to ensure Vermonters’ tax dollars are being spent effectively and that federal agencies have proper oversight and transparency."
A member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Welch distinguished himself during his first term by writing legislation that closed a multi-billion dollar contractor fraud loophole. In recognition of these efforts, President Obama invited Rep. Welch to take part in the announcement of a major overhaul in government contracting procedures in March 2009. In 2014, Rep. Welch led a successful effort against excessive government regulations that would have harmed Vermont’s thriving artisan cheese industry. He has also led efforts to hold Volkswagen accountable for the environmental and financial damage that resulted from its vehicle emissions cheating scandal.
"In a global economy, all Vermonters and all Vermont businesses must have access to high speed internet and emerging technologies to be connected and competitive. An explosion in technological advancements is benefitting all sectors of our economy. Our farmers are using technology to produce higher yields; our doctors and nurses are using new machines to save lives and improve the health of their patients; and homeowners and businesses are using real time energy use data to cut their energy bills. I strongly support efforts to ensure that every Vermonter, including rural Vermonters have access to the many advantages of this new technological era."
As the founder and co-chair of the House Rural Telecommunications Working Group, Rep. Welch has put rural telecommunications challenges at the top of his committee’s agenda, the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. He has introduced legislation to reduce dropped calls in rural areas and hold telecom companies accountable for poor service. Working with Senators Leahy and Sanders, he secured funding to extend internet service to unserved towns and schools. And he leads a bipartisan effort in the House to stop data breaches and protect the privacy of consumers and businesses.
"Climate change is real and has serious consequences for our economy, our livelihoods, and our health. You don't have to go any further than communities across Vermont to hear about its early impacts. Just ask the businesses and families wiped out by Tropical Storm Irene. Ask ski lift operators worried about losing their jobs as the season shortens. Or ask sugar makers who are coping with uncertainty over when the season will start and how long it will last. This is a problem that can be solved. If we ignore the costs of carbon pollution, we will lose to other countries America’s advantage in developing the clean energy technologies of the future."
Rep. Welch is a leader in the House on initiatives to tackle climate change and protect our environment. As a member of the Safe Climate Caucus and House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, he has taken on climate change skeptics and helped defeat efforts to handcuff the Environmental Protection Agency and gut landmark environmental laws and initiatives such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He is the House leader on energy efficiency, a vocal opponent of the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, and a strong supporter of a cap and trade system to check carbon emissions.
"Like most Vermonters, I believe affordable access to quality health care is a fundamental right of all Americans. My work on this critical issue – in Vermont and now in Congress – has long been guided by three principles: everyone must be covered, everyone must contribute based upon his or her ability to pay, and coverage need not be related to employment. I will continue to push for comprehensive reform of our health care system to achieve quality, affordable care for all Vermonters and all Americans. And I will continue to bring Vermont’s values and successes in improving health care to the national stage."
In November 2009, the House passed historic health care reform legislation. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Welch incorporated several Vermont ideas into the legislation. Rep. Welch helped author a provision of the bill to create a pilot program that promotes Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which rewards the quality and efficiency of care, rather than the volume and intensity of services. Building on these important reforms is necessary to reduce the rate at which health care costs are growing. He also successfully worked to allow young people through the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ health plans, and repeal the health insurance industry’s exemption from anti-trust regulations.
Today, Rep. Welch is continuing to fight to reduce health care costs, improve the quality of services, and increase access. He currently leads bills in the House that would expand the use of telehealth services, provide crucial support for rural health care providers, and reduce the cost of prescription drugs by requiring the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
"Vermonters are known for being innovative and entrepreneurial. From our smallest ‘mom and pop’ shops to our largest corporations, Vermont businesses embody our values of hard work and integrity. I am committed to helping them succeed by providing access to federal resources and supporting legislation that helps them thrive in a global economy."
After meeting with businesses in Barre in July 2015, Rep. Welch successfully pushed for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank to help Vermont businesses export goods to trading partners around the world. Rep. Welch has been a strong advocate for an open and accessible internet for all Americans, including Vermont’s entrepreneurs whose livelihoods depend on fast and reliable internet service.