America Pays its Bills
In late October, some in Congress were once again threatening a first-ever U.S. government default unless they got their way on unrelated issues. Peter rallied 190 of his colleagues around the simple notion that America pays its bills. "A confident nation keeps its word. A confident nation pays its bills—not some of them, it pays all of them," Peter said on the House floor. Shortly thereafter, Congress reached a bipartisan deal that averted a financial crisis that would have damaged America's reputation around the world and cost taxpayers billions of dollars in higher borrowing costs.
Peter is joined by Reps. Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn to deliver the message: America pays its bills
All Aboard! Federal Grant Will Restore Rutland-Burlington Passenger Rail
At long last, improvements to Vermont's Western rail corridor are on the way thanks to a $10 million federal grant that will reestablish passenger rail service between Rutland and Burlington. "Congratulations to all who hung in there and never gave up on the vision of passenger rail, especially Rutland," Peter said. "Rutland would not take 'no' for an answer." Read more here.
Welch, Task Force to Take on Rising Prescription Drug Pricing Crisis
Prescription drug prices are skyrocketing with no justification. Overnight, Turing Pharmaceuticals increased its price for a life-saving HIV drug from $7.50 to $750 – a 10,000% increase! Turing isn't the only company jacking up drug prices. It's time for Congress to act. Earlier this month, Peter and nine colleagues launched the House Affordable Drug Pricing Task Force to put a bright light on this crisis that is hammering patients and taxpayers in Vermont and across the country. He has also introduced legislation to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate with companies for lower drug prices for seniors just as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs does for veterans. Doing so would end a sweetheart deal Congressional leaders struck years ago with pharmaceutical companies and it could save taxpayers $156 billion, according to an Oversight and Government Reform Committee report.
Peter and his colleagues leading the fight against pharmaceutical companies' arbitrary drug price increases
Keeping Vermonters Warm this Winter
As temperatures drop across Vermont, Peter is making sure low income Vermonters stay warm this winter. After sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting a release of funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Vermont Congressional delegation announced $17 million in federal funding for heating assistance. Click here to learn more about the fuel assistance program.
Holding Volkswagen Responsible
After the shocking discovery that Volkswagen rigged its so-called clean diesel cars with "defeat devices" to deceive consumers and regulators, Peter questioned VW's U.S. CEO about why his company duped hundreds of thousands of Americans – including 3,000 Vermonters – into buying cars that spew up to 40 times the legal limit of harmful nitrogen oxide into the air. Many of the questions Peter asked the CEO came from Vermonters affected by the scandal. He is working to make sure that VW is held accountable and that it will not be able to write off future penalties for its actions.
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