The U.S. Senate as an institution requires someone with experience in legislation and public service. Democrat Peter Welch has served in the U.S. House since January 3, 2007. Since 2011, Welch has been a member of the Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, as well as Oversight and Government Reform congressional committees. Peter was a member of the Vermont State Senate between 1981 and 1989 and between 2002 and 2007. While serving in the State Senate, Welch was a minority leader between 1983 and 1985. With this kind of experience, voters in Vermont should happily elect Peter to the U.S. Senate.
For the time he has represented Vermont in Congress, Peter has proven himself as a skillful legislator and progressive leader, even in the era of division and partisanship, by choosing to govern rather than gridlock. Immediately after college, he started fighting against housing discrimination before pursuing a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduating, he resided in Vermont's Upper Valley where he spent time defending the public, a clear sign that he is passionate about the well-being of people.
Peter is running the Senate race on a platform of various pro-people issues from which, when elected, Vermonters will be the primary beneficiaries. To start with education, he is pledging to push for affordable college education and tackle the student loan debt issue. Vermonters are aware that the cost of a college education is currently very high as employers on the other side demand a degree to offer entry-level jobs. He understands that there is a need to make all forms of higher education easily accessible, cut the attendance cost, and lower the students' loan burden. Peter is not just proposing, but with the opportunity he had as a legislator, he has already made some strides. For instance, in ensuring affordable college education, he cosponsored the Debt Free College Act, whose aim is to incentivize states to realize debt-free college through the unlocking of equal federal funding. He co-sponsored the College for All Act, whose objective is to waive fees and tuition for all community college students and those who qualify at public universities and colleges. Peter has also played a role in ensuring student loans are reduced. He co-sponsored the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, whose aim was to increase the Pell Grant award to adapt it to the rate of inflation. He championed student loan waivers for graduates who secure employment in public service and signed a letter addressed to President Biden, requesting him to suspend federal student loan debt amounting to $50,000 per student. This is a clear indication that, if offered an opportunity in the U.S. Senate, Peter can achieve even more for education.
In his quest to represent Vermonters, Peter seems to understand the housing challenge in Vermont. That is why he tackles the issue of affordable housing. Peter believes that by putting up additional affordable houses, more young people will be attracted to Vermont and the burden of those who have traditionally lived there will be eased. While in the House, Peter pushed for the passage of the American Rescue Plan ensuring Vermont benefited from affordable housing funding worth $11 billion. He also used his vote to pass the Build Better Act, which provided $150 billion in funding for affordable housing. Peter cosponsored the Moving Forward Act, which will greatly increase the yearly tax credit while providing $100 billion in funding towards additional affordable housing initiatives.
Vermont voters should offer Peter a chance to represent them in the senate by voting for him because, having served in Congress for years; he is adequately knowledgeable and has the experience that enables him to hit the ground running as a dependable advocate for all Vermonters and not just the wealthy few, as has been the case.
