Vermont Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale running for Congress

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

A Vermont senator from Chittenden County has announced her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, joining a race that has grown quickly in recent weeks. 

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Shelburne resident who also served seven years in the Vermont House, will face Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in this year’s Democratic primary. Vermont has never sent a woman to Congress, and if elected, Ram Hinsdale would also become the first person of color to join the Vermont Congressional Delegation. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, is running for the Senate after U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy announced he would not seek reelection. 

Advocacy for Vermont’s working families and for action on climate change are prominent issues for Ram Hinsdale, as expressed in a campaign statement Thursday. 

“I’m running for Congress to be Vermont’s fighter for working families, our democracy, and our climate,” Ram Hinsdale said in the statement. “Now is the time to dream and deliver, to advance a bold vision for our multicultural democracy while building a responsive government that meets the everyday needs of Vermonters.”

She told Vermont Public Radio that her commitment to progressive environmental policies began years ago. 

“I was fighting for the Green New Deal before it had a name — that’s how I got into politics in Vermont,” she told VPR. “I introduced Vermont’s first environmental justice bill in 2007 as a senior in college.”

She also mentioned the impact of her upbringing in a multicultural, working class family, noting she felt the economic insecurity when the family’s restaurant failed. 

“And I think my lived experience has propelled me to be someone who’s on the steps of the Statehouse with teachers fighting for their pensions, to be alongside working Vermonters fighting to create more access to housing and homeownership, and to recognize that the fight for our climate is also one that matters deeply to people who are mobile home park residents or migrant farmers,” she told VPR.

Ram Hinsdale moved from Los Angeles to the Green Mountains to attend the University of Vermont, and she graduated from UVM in 2008. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016. Ram Hinsdale lost a bid for lieutenant governor in 2016, but returned to the Legislature when she was elected in 2020, becoming the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate. She is a member of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs.

— Gareth Henderson

In run for Congress, Balint focuses on unity, working families

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

In a time of division, Vermont Sen. Becca Balint is looking to bring people together — and now she hopes to do that in Washington as Vermont’s next representative to Congress. 

She announced her candidacy for the U.S. House on Monday, a week after fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Molly Gray did the same. They'll square off in the Democratic primary next year for the opportunity to become the first woman to serve Vermont in Congress. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), is running for Senate for the seat that will be vacated when longtime U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) retires next year.

Balint is no stranger to breaking barriers. In January, she became the first woman and the first openly gay Vermonter to serve as the state Senate’s president pro tempore. For the first time, the top four leadership roles in Vermont’s General Assembly are all held by women.

In Balint’s U.S. House campaign, the needs of working families are front and center. She often hears from Vermonters who are exhausted from dealing with the pandemic and its many impacts.

“Many folks are at their wits’ end dealing with childcare center closures, COVID infections at their kids’ schools, and having to miss work due to quarantining,” Balint said in an email Wednesday. “Our businesses, our schools, and even our medical centers are struggling. I’m going to DC to fight for Vermont working families. We need a progressive agenda that lifts up working people.”

Balint, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, said we need to be dedicated to working together to succeed. 

“We can’t tackle these challenges if we remain divided,” Balint said. “We have deep — sometimes dangerous — divisions in our country, our state, and sometimes even with our neighbors and families. But despite all the darkness around us, I know we can still get to a better place.”

She expressed a perseverance in working with others, even with those who disagree. 

“As a leader, I know that the way to make change and to bring people together is to keep showing up. To never turn away from one another,” Balint said. “Growing up I knew I was gay, and I felt like I didn’t belong. I learned that even with people who said hateful things, if I had the courage to keep showing up and engaging, change was possible.”

In her prior role as Senate majority leader, she worked intensively on paid family leave legislation, which ran into a veto from Gov. Phil Scott, but the issue remains a top priority for Balint. She was also a key part of the effort to pass a minimum wage increase. Additionally, Balint was involved in passing the state’s largest-ever investment in affordable housing. As pro tem, she worked to make a huge $150 million investment in broadband access for rural Vermonters. 

“These were all tough fights,” Balint said. “But I never turned away from those who disagreed, and I stayed in the fight. That’s who I am. That’s everyday courage. If there was ever a place that needed everyday courage right now it’s Washington.”

Balint, 53, lives in Brattleboro with her wife and two children and represents Windham County in the Senate. Balint has earned degrees from Smith College, the School of Education at Harvard University, and, after teaching social studies for several years, a master’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts.

— Gareth Henderson

Lt. Gov. Molly Gray running for U.S. House

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Vermont’s lieutenant governor has kicked off her campaign for the U.S. House. 

Lt. Gov. Molly Gray (D) announced her candidacy on Monday, about a week after U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) confirmed that he was running for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is not seeking reelection next year. If elected to the U.S. House, Gray would become the first woman to represent Vermont in Congress.

Gray, a native Vermonter, was sworn in as Vermont’s 82nd lieutenant governor in January 2020. In an interview with WCAX this week, Gray said she understands the issues facing Vermonters, which include a lack of affordable housing and the need for affordable health care and child care.

“I have the experience not only to be ready on day-one, to get an office open and off the ground and to get to work for Vermonters, but I have a deep understanding of the needs of our state, and I’ve served as lieutenant governor and I’ll continue to serve throughout the rest of my term,” Gray told WCAX on Monday. 

Gray, 37, is a former assistant attorney general for the state, and she grew up on her family’s farm in Newbury, Vermont. She attended college at the University of Vermont. After graduating from UVM, she helped elect Welch to Congress and worked for him as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C. Gray would later spend three years working for the Red Cross engaging the U.S. on humanitarian issues. 

Her strong interest in human rights followed Gray back to her home state, where she attended Vermont Law School. She later helped launch the International Code of Conduct Association, the first global initiative mandated to oversee the human rights compliance of private security contractors.

Mike Smith to retire from agency leadership role

Following a long career in state government, Secretary Mike Smith will retire from the top job at the Vermont Agency of Human Services at the end of the year. 

This will cap Smith’s second stint leading the state’s largest agency. Over the past two years, Smith has been a central figure in the state’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic — including overseeing the state’s vaccination efforts. He was appointed to the agency’s secretary role in late 2019, coming out of retirement to take the familiar job. 

“I don’t think he knew what he was getting himself into, because within a month the pandemic began,” Gov. Phil Scott said at his regular Tuesday press conference. “I think back on how fortunate we were that his wife, Mary, allowed him to come back, because without him, I’m not sure we would have led the nation in so many categories, from testing, to vaccination and beyond.” 

At Tuesday’s briefing, Smith thanked the governor, his voice breaking with emotion as he offered the following words:

“As a former Navy SEAL, the height of compliment in leadership is when you say that you would go into battle with someone, and I would go into battle any day with the governor,” Smith said. 

In a Monday announcement from Scott’s office, Smith said though the pandemic kept him in his current role longer than expected, it was still tough to leave the job. 

“There will never be a good time to leave. When I told the Governor of my intention to retire this summer, I thought we would be well on our way toward the endemic phase of this public health crisis,” Smith said in the statement. “The Delta variant has made our jobs a bit more difficult, but nonetheless, we have testing and vaccination programs that are the envy of the rest of the country and we have protected many Vermonters from the more serious outcomes of this virus. … I am very proud of the work that the Agency has accomplished over the last two years, and I am confident the Agency will continue to thrive.”

Smith, who grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, served in the U.S. Navy, first with the Underwater Demolition Team 21 and then as a member of SEAL Team Two. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1977-78 and as deputy state treasurer from 1995-99. Smith also served as the secretary of the Agency of Administration and secretary of the Agency of Human Services in the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas.

Deputy Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson, who has played a key role in the state’s COVID-19 response, will serve as interim secretary following Smith’s departure.

In addition to its role in the pandemic response, the Agency of Human Services oversees six state departments (including the Department of Health), 12 district offices, and a network of community partners and providers.

— Gareth Henderson

Gov. Scott meets with Biden; Democrats unveil $3.5T bill

A view from Cabot Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott visited the White House on Wednesday to talk infrastructure with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and also state and local leaders.

Scott was among a small bipartisan group of governors and mayors visiting Washington, D.C., who also met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Boston's former mayor. The main topic of the day was the Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, which proposes $1.2 trillion in infrastructure investments. 

In a statement released Wednesday, Scott noted the nation's great infrastructure needs and the importance of uniting around opportunities to address them. 

“As I have long said, smart infrastructure investments are needed to repair America’s roads and bridges, invest in rural broadband and clean energy systems, create good jobs, and secure our economic future,” Scott said. 

The president's proposed framework includes funding for "clean transportation infrastructure, clean water infrastructure, universal broadband infrastructure, clean power infrastructure, remediation of legacy pollution, and resilience to the changing climate," according to the White House. 

The meeting with governors came after Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a $3.5 trillion investment plan that would be in addition to the existing $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal, Reuters reported. The Senate Democrats' proposal focuses on what Biden has called "human infrastructure", including health care and home care workers. The $3.5 trillion plan would include a substantial expansion of the Medicare program, and further details were expected to be released this week. 

So far, the Senate's 50 Republicans are not expected to back the plan, Reuters said, meaning Democrats may use the budget reconciliation process to pass the bill by a simple majority vote.

— Gareth Henderson

Congress acts to counter anti-Asian hate crimes

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

Congress has taken action to counter the wave of anti-Asian hate and violence during the pandemic, and advocates say the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is an important step toward that goal. 

The House approved the bill on Tuesday, 364-62, sending it to President Joe Biden for his expected signature. The Senate previously passed the legislation 94-1. 

This Congressional action comes after multiple incidents of violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the U.S., including the recent shooting in Atlanta in which six of the victims were women of Asian descent. Other incidents elsewhere have included elderly Asian Americans being beaten, and many Asian Americans are now afraid to leave their homes. 

The legislation condemns the hate and violence directed against Asian Americans, and takes multiple steps to improve tracking, reporting and investigation of reported hate crimes. Notably, it establishes a position in the U.S. Department of Justice to expedite the investigation of hate crimes and add more ways to report them. Furthermore, that position would have a role in helping interested states set up hotlines for reporting hate crimes. There are also grants available to help local law enforcement in these efforts, and the bill recognizes the role of community organizers in helping with data collection. 

Mieko Ozeki, co-founder of Vermont Womenpreneurs and a fourth-generation Chinese-Japanese American, spoke at a press conference in Burlington this week about the bill. She joined U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont, and Paul Suk-Hyun Yoon, senior advisor for strategic diversity, assessment and research at the University of Vermont.

In a Tuesday interview, Ozeki said the legislation is essential for addressing anti-Asian hate crimes, because a number of them aren’t reported. 

“(The victims) feel like maybe it's a disgrace, or they're fearful for their lives,” she said. 

Ozeki said she and her family haven’t experienced violence, but she said a friend of her mother’s in New York City doesn’t feel safe going to the park in her neighborhood, because an individual last week hurled anti-Asian epithets toward her and spat at her when she was out on a walk. On social media, Ozeki has experienced reaction from people downplaying the situation. 

“We need to train ourselves to stop digesting information passively, and engage with people and ask about their culture with sincerity," she said.  

Ozeki feared for her Chinese American mother in New York and her 100-year-old Japanese American grandmother in Los Angeles, after the first COVID-19 case was reported out of Wuhan, China. 

“Though we were vigilant on keeping ourselves safe from the virus, the vitriol of the previous administration triggered fear of violence directed toward my family and I,” Ozeki said at the Monday press conference. “At present, with close to 4,000 reported hate crimes (and many unreported), the violence we see towards our elders, parents, workers of Asian descent are horrific and traumatizing.”

Welch noted that anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the police in the 16 largest U.S. cities rose 164% in the first quarter of 2021 — a pattern that must be stopped. 

“The attack on Asian Americans, who are absolutely blameless for COVID, has escalated into scenes that are horrifying for all of us to watch,” Welch said. He has worked closely with U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, of New York, who led the effort to pass the bill in the House. Welch added, “All of us owe each other respect and civility, and when disrespect is based on a person’s ethnicity and national origin, it’s all the more appalling, and it eats away at that fabric that’s so essential for democracy, which is respect and mutual effort.” 

Yoon, a second-generation Korean American with family in New York City, said the legislation won’t eradicate racism or stop the attacks on its own. 

“However, I believe it centers AAPI experiences and voices, and it will do more to address anti-Asian hate than any legislation we’ve seen to date,” he said at Monday’s event. “I, too, believe everyone in our country deserves to feel safe, and I hope this legislation brings us one step closer to that reality.” 

Yoon emphasized that he and Ozeki are members of the group VT APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) for Black Lives, and he encouraged all Vermonters to be “active anti-racists and to fight systemic racism wherever it manifests.” 

Beyond the recent legislation, Ozeki said Tuesday it’s important to let Vermonters know that racism also happens here, and if unchecked, it can have more severe results like in Atlanta. She said the seeds of hate can begin with a comment some might think of as innocent — like asking “Where are you from? No really, where are you from?” — but it reinforces racial bias. She also said part of the solution is acknowledging history — her late father was born in one of the U.S. internment camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II.

While the anti-Asian hate crimes bill is a good step forward, she said, education and better understanding of each other is key to addressing racism. 

“Essentially, it comes down to having a real dialogue, and seeing the people who are in our communities and the diversity, and not making assumptions,” Ozeki said. 

— Gareth Henderson

New bill aims to strengthen invasive species prevention

Trees in the late-afternoon sun along River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The push to revitalize forests being destroyed by invasive species will have new funding, if a new bill wins approval in Congress. 

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont, who reintroduced the legislation on Thursday, emphasized the link between the environment and the economy. The bill would also fund efforts to stem future infestations of invasive pests and pay for relevant federal studies.

“Invasive species are devastating to forests which are a central part of Vermont’s economy and our way of life,” Welch said. “This bill will fund efforts to revitalize damaged forests and highlight the need for making this a priority within the federal government.”

More than 200 tree species growing on nearly two-thirds of forestland in the continental U.S. will be threatened by non-native insects and pathogens over the next decade. The most prominent trees threatened with extinction include American chestnut, elm, and ash. Vermont’s ash trees in particular are threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle first discovered in Vermont in 2018 that is taking a heavy toll on local forests. The Vermont Woodlands Association is one of the sponsors of the bill. 

“After many years of working with our friends at the Center for Invasive Species Prevention, Vermont FPR (Forest, Parks and Recreation), private forestry, academia, and other invasives nonprofits, VWA is proud to support the Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act as an important legislative initiative in the work to restore America’s trees under threat of ecological extinction from invasives,” said Al Robertson, Secretary of the Vermont Woodlands Association.

Welch’s bill does the following:

• Expands the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s access to emergency funding to combat invasive species when existing federal funds are insufficient and broadens the range of activities that these funds can support.

• Establishes a grant program to support institutions focused on researching methods to restore native tree species that have been severely damaged by invasive pests.

• Authorizes funding to implement promising research findings on how to protect native tree species.

• Mandates a study to identify actions needed to overcome the lack of centralization and prioritization of non-native insect and pathogen research and response within the federal government, and develop national strategies for saving tree species.

Though we have many urgent needs today relating to human survival, it’s critically important that we stay focused on the needs of our environment. Decisively addressing the impact of invasive species is crucial to protecting the vitality of our landscape. For Vermont and many states, that goes to the heart of creating a sustainable economy. Rural economies and their business ecosystems often depend on maintaining a healthy environment, since that’s a huge part of what attracts new residents, keeps visitors returning, and ensures money for businesses in the high season. 

Sometimes, it’s easy to make the assumption that the natural world will always be there, in the healthy state we’ve depended on for so long. But it takes work to sustain that, and efforts like this bill help that work successfully continue, so we can support a strong environment — a crucial part of Vermont’s economic future and its very identity.

— Gareth Henderson

Trump acquitted of incitement charge

The U.S. Senate acquitted former U.S. President Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection, as a week-long impeachment trial concluded on Saturday. 

A majority of senators voted 57-43 on the incitement charge, but that fell short of the supermajority needed to convict. Seven Republican senators joined the Democratic majority in voting to convict the former president. They were: Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The trial centered around Trump’s role in the events of Jan. 6, when a mob of the president’s supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol, injuring multiple police officers. A total of five people died as a result of the siege, including a Capitol Police officer. Two other officers committed suicide in the weeks since. Lawmakers were evacuated from Congressional chambers as the rioters, enraged by the president’s oft-repeated false claim of a stolen election, delayed the counting of the electoral votes which would eventually confirm now-President Joe Biden’s election victory. Some of the rioters walked through the hallways intent on finding Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence — with some of the mob calling for his hanging. 

The House impeachment managers argued that a speech Trump gave on Jan. 6, combined with his conduct in the weeks prior, incited the rioters to march to the Capitol and attempt to violently overtake it. Managers also used video footage from that day, as well as tweets and statements from the former president, to build their case. Trump’s defense attorneys, however, countered that the speech did not amount to incitement and that the impeachment was a continued political “witch hunt” against Trump. Some Republicans voted to acquit because they assert the Constitution doesn’t provide for the impeachment of a former president — a stance the House Managers opposed, saying there is precedent for former officials to be impeached. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who voted to acquit, started his remarks after the vote by saying the president, a fellow Republican, undoubtedly fueled the fearsome events of Jan. 6.

“The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, and having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth,” McConnell said. 

However, McConnell also asserted that impeachment does not apply to officials who have left office — one of his main reasons for supporting acquittal. 

But Sen. Collins, of Maine, saw it differently. In her statement after the vote, Collins said Trump encouraged the mob in the hope of preventing a peaceful transfer of power — as demonstrated by his hours-long delay in calling off the riot.

“This impeachment trial is not about any single word uttered by President Trump on Jan. 6, 2021,” Collins said. “It is instead about President Trump’s failure to obey the oath he swore on Jan. 20, 2017. His actions to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power — the hallmark of our Constitution and our American democracy — were an abuse of power and constitute grounds for conviction.” 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the widely-expected acquittal. He remarked, “Jan. 6 would not have happened, but for the actions of Donald Trump.” 

Saturday marked the culmination of an historic impeachment trial, which stemmed from the first time a president had been impeached twice. 

Also during this week, House committees have reportedly been marking up President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal, in an effort to advance that bill. The House hopes to complete any changes and pass the bill before the end of the month, CNBC reported Friday. It would then move to the Senate.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. public transit gets $26.7M in relief funding

Signage directs Route 4 traffic to the Park & Ride in Woodstock, Vermont. This week, the state is receiving some critical funding for public transit operations. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Public transit operations in Vermont are getting a $26.7 million boost from the federal COVID-19 relief bill signed into law in December. 

That brings critical aid at a time when ridership has steeply declined during the pandemic. The $26,772,119 award comes in addition to Vermont’s annual federal budget allocation for public transit, according to Vermont’s Congressional Delegation, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch.

“In a rural state like ours, Vermonters rely on public transit to get to work, buy groceries, see a doctor, and stay connected to their communities,” they said in a joint statement Wednesday. “Like so many aspects of daily life, the pandemic has upended transit ridership. Without congressional action, transit providers in Vermont and across the country would be facing the potential for steep cuts to transit routes and frequency.” 

Ross MacDonald, the state’s public transit manager, said the federal money will help with current and future needs. The funds will be used to address the significant vehicle and facility needs around the state, enabling the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) to replace as many as 30 buses, fund energy-efficient projects, and construct office space in the Rutland region. Operations and payroll are top priorities, and the relief money will also be used to purchase PPE and sanitize buses.

“These funds arrive in time to help us address the additional costs and challenges of our transit service, and also enable us to invest in vehicles and rebuild an improved transit service as we move past this health and economic crisis,” MacDonald said in a news release.

Most federal funds for public transit have a 20% or 50% non-federal funds match requirement, which usually comes from state and local resources, according to state officials. They said the federal relief funding will allow AOT to temporarily reduce the state and local funds needed for statewide transit service, providing more flexibility and resources to respond to the economic hardships and rebuilding costs associated with the pandemic.

The news came as discussions continued on Capitol Hill over the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal. The plan includes a round of $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, funding for state and local governments, money for vaccine distribution, an extension of the eviction moratorium until the end of September, among other items.

— Gareth Henderson

Staying in the room

Sunset illuminates the clouds as seen from Woodstock’s East End on Monday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

It can be tempting to avoid uncomfortable, challenging circumstances, but some of the most important moments in life require the opposite reaction, especially when the stakes are high.

Such was the case when the Problem Solvers Caucus met online the night after the U.S. Capitol riot, to better understand each other’s reactions to the events of Jan. 6 and lay some groundwork for future progress. Amid tension and high emotions, they "stayed in the room", as U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) put it during a recent discussion with fellow caucus co-chair U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), led by the Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. 

To hear that phrase from someone working at the heart of the leadership of our democracy, during such times, was deeply impactful. That’s because we don’t often hear about people “staying in the room.” From the halls of Congress, to family gatherings, we’ve often heard about people leaving political discussions, or not wanting to have them at all. But the fact is, constructive dialogue is critical to building the kind of progress our nation needs. 

To achieve that, we have to do that work from a sense of empathy - a key part of that three-hour Jan. 7 meeting the Problem Solvers held. Empathy is a building block for progress, even in the most tense of circumstances. It naturally creates a sense of genuine caring, which leads to the most important aspect of doing meaningful work with those who disagree with us: love. Starting with an empathetic approach encourages others to remain in the discussion. For that reason, we must strive to reflect the innate lovingkindness we each have within ourselves. Just as people can sense hate or dislike, they can sense love as well. Simply put, that approach — in Congress and in our own communities — is how we reverse this pattern of political vitriol in our country. 

As civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. powerfully said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” King had seen, first-hand, the impact of both kinds of thought. Through his work, he knew which approach was more powerful.

In times of strife and fear, love is sometimes cast as one of the weaker solutions to daunting problems. But that’s a false notion, and one that would hamper progress. The fact is, love is a close cousin of courage. Courage is what it takes to peacefully reach out to someone the world would call an enemy, show empathy, and work with them in a genuine, compassionate way. 

This is not to say building these bridges is anything close to easy. Months of difficult discussions, hard work, successes and frustrations led to the latest COVID-19 relief bill spearheaded by the Problem Solvers Caucus. There will be roadblocks that call for tough negotiations and creative solutions. But if we are to be creative — and this time certainly calls for that — we must empower this work through compassion and love. We must remain in the struggle, and not be afraid of discussing differences. Because of the vital nature of this work, we must persist alongside our brothers and sisters. We must stay in the room.

— Gareth Henderson

Problem Solvers determined to build bridges in Congress

A view of River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The night after a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, and less than 24 hours after Congress confirmed the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers had a Zoom meeting on the evening of Jan. 7.

Tensions swirled, anger flared at times. But 40 people listened and gained a better understanding of each other, amid a tumultuous time in U.S. history when working together was, perhaps, never more important.

That was a recent meeting of the Problem Solvers Caucus, the same 50-member group that spearheaded efforts to create the latest COVID-19 relief bill, under the leadership of co-chairs U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). The Jan. 7 meeting was important, Reed said, in order to understand how members felt about the events of that week and help each other move forward.

"Passions and emotions were raw that day, but we talked for three hours and we stayed in the room," Reed said. "There were moments when there was anger, just like the rest of the country is going through, but there were also moments of common human empathy where we really cared for each other, and we showed that caring for each other by the words we expressed to each other. And what we did is, we stayed in the room."

Reed and Gottheimer shared this and other experiences in a discussion organized by the Cornell University Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, titled, "Bipartisanship in a Time of Crisis? How members of Congress can heal the wounds and find common ground in the Biden presidency”. The Zoom event, moderated by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, was on Jan. 13, the night of Trump's second impeachment. But much of the discussion looked forward from that day's proceedings, and the two guests said their bipartisan approach to lawmaking remains relevant and can still make a difference.

That will be true during the Biden administration, Gottheimer said, adding it’s important to listen to others and understand the issues that concern them. He noted that with thin majorities in Congress, he tells his fellow Democrats they must be willing to work with the GOP and find compromise. More COVID-related legislation is expected in the opening days of the new administration.

"Democrats are going to have to understand that we must work together, it's the only way it's going to work," Gottheimer said. "We're going to have to talk to each other, and not at the end, in the last minute when it's too late, but we're going to have to sit down up front. And President-elect Joe Biden knows this better than anyone."

The Problem Solvers’ dedication to bipartisanship is not always popular. Gottheimer noted he and Reed regularly get criticism from their own parties for working with the "other side". However, Reed said taking the time to understand other lawmakers is crucial, adding that new members of the caucus quickly find out it works. He's also spoken up during discussions among fellow Republicans, reminding them there are good people on the other side of the aisle who they can work with.

"Most of Congress is made up of men and women that have good hearts, good souls and want to do what they think is the right thing," Reed said. "You've just got to put in that time investment to find them, align with them and open up the door to that dialogue."

Getting the latest COVID-19 relief measure crafted and approved took relentless negotiation, with the American people foremost in mind. That priority compelled Gottheimer and Reed to deliver their remarks in the House together — on the same side of the aisle — after lawmakers came back to certify the election results on Jan. 6.

As the Biden administration nears, Gottheimer said new COVID legislation and an infrastructure bill are ripe for bipartisan action; Reed said the caucus may approach smaller bills related to immigration, health care and the environment after that. Throughout their work, though, it's about keeping the higher goal in mind.

"What drives us is not the politics," Reed said. "What drives us is getting the job done for the American people."

— Gareth Henderson

Trump impeached for the second time

A view of the ridgeline from Hartland Hill Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

President Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be impeached twice on Wednesday, as the House of Representatives voted 232-197 to approve the historic action in the wake of last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Ten Republicans joined the entire Democratic majority in voting to impeach Trump for "incitement of insurrection."

However, a Senate trial is likely to wait after Jan. 19, as current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly declined to reconvene the Senate for an emergency session to take up the matter. Senate control shifts to the Democrats later this month. As of Wednesday afternoon, McConnell was undecided on whether he would vote to convict Trump, saying he wanted to consider all the legal arguments first, according to National Public Radio.

The swift move to impeach came after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob of Trump supporters seeking to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election win. The incident resulted in five deaths.

The House article of impeachment states, in part, that "members of the crowd, incited by President Trump, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol and engaged in other violent, destructive, and seditious acts, including the killing of a law enforcement officer." Trump spoke to the crowd near the White House hours before the invasion, telling them to “fight like hell” and encouraging them to go to the Capitol.

At Wednesday's proceedings in the House, Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont, said the impeachment effort was about holding the president accountable for his role in one of the darkest days in U.S. history.

"The mob was assembled by Donald Trump, incited by Donald Trump, and in service of Donald Trump's effort to overturn, through violence, what he lost at the voting booth," Welch said.

The president on Tuesday denied any responsibility for the Capitol breach, saying the impeachment was part of a continued "witch hunt" by Democrats. A number of Trump's fellow Republicans held that line in the House on Wednesday, such as U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio.

"It's always been about getting the president, no matter what," Jordan said.

Listening to Wednesday's remarks from the House floor, the deep gulf between the two sides in the chamber was stark, and perhaps even more so after last week's events. It may seem impossible to go on from this point, but even facing so many headwinds and so much fear, the work of democracy must continue.

Even though that continuation looks very different for different people, the goal of cultivation is the most important. We have to cultivate democracy, and that takes all of us. Some days, that might mean just having the system function; other days, lawmakers may attempt grand accomplishments. But whatever the work at hand might be, it's always worth it to strive together to uphold democracy. That's especially true when challenges loom, and hatred and fear seem at their strongest. We know that, as a people, we've triumphed over those forces before, and we're strong enough to do it again.

— Gareth Henderson

House plans historic impeachment vote

The sun peeks through over the winter landscape in Bristol, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to hold a vote to impeach President Donald Trump (R) for a second time on Wednesday morning — a week after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The Jan. 6 siege left five people dead.

Lawmakers that same night returned to the Capitol to complete the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory, and in the days following, the calls for Trump's removal increased.

The impeachment resolution the House introduced Monday charges Trump with "incitement of insurrection" because of last week's invasion of the Capitol. After weeks of falsely claiming the election was stolen and offering no evidence, Trump spoke to thousands of supporters near the White House on Jan. 6, urging them to "fight like hell". If the vote to impeach succeeds, Trump would become the first president to be impeached twice.

On Monday, House Democrats tried to fast-track a resolution requesting that Vice President Mike Pence activate the 25th Amendment. That option requires a majority vote of the president's Cabinet in order to remove the president. House Republicans blocked the resolution, delaying it a day. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told CBS' 60 Minutes that she prefers the 25th Amendment but will move ahead with impeachment if Pence doesn't take action.

"This president is guilty of inciting insurrection, and he has to pay a price for that," Pelosi said.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and a number of other Republicans have worried that impeaching Trump now would only deepen divisions in the country. According to CNN, McCarthy, in a letter to GOP colleagues, suggested other possibilities, including "a resolution of censure under the rules of the House."

But if the House impeaches the president, it may wait until after Jan. 20 to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial. At that point, Democrats would hold the majority in that chamber.

"Let's give President-elect Biden the 100 days he needs to get his agenda off and running, and maybe we'll send the articles sometime after that," said U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the House majority whip, told CNN.

Federal investigations are underway, and the FBI has received over 50,000 tips about the rioters. The FBI has warned that "armed protests" are being planned in all 50 state capitols and Washington, D.C., between Jan. 16 and Jan. 20, media reports confirmed. The Department of Homeland Security is beginning heightened security for inauguration day this week.

On Sunday, veteran journalist Dan Rather explained to the PBS NewsHour his recent statement that "we must cultivate hope while we demand justice." He noted that Biden’s first two priorities will be the pandemic and the economic damage done by it.

"I do think we have to keep our hopes alive and realize we are a very resilient people," Rather said. "We can do this."

At the same time, he said accountability is important in a situation like the Capitol breach, whatever legal avenue that takes.

"There can't be hope for moving into the future, unless we adjust ourselves, and address ourselves, to justice," Rather said.

— Gareth Henderson

Looking toward the light

The sun shines across Route 4 in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Shaken to the core. That's a good way to describe how many felt when democracy was threatened at the U.S. Capitol this week, but as we know, democracy prevailed some hours later.

Still, after that crucial electoral victory was confirmed, the impact of that historic day persists, and does not relent. People remain shaken, and it's a struggle to handle the lingering fears and doubts. A Capitol desecrated, five people dead after the riot, and the world watching as a mob invaded the building - these are things that used to be unimaginable. Now, an effort is underway to impeach a sitting president, for the second time in his first term in office. A House vote on that could come as soon as the middle of next week, news outlets reported Friday.

Wednesday's chaos dealt a body blow to democracy in the U.S., and our political divisions seem as rife as ever. But even as this historic week comes to a close and so many questions linger, there remains certainty. That certainty involves other moments from Wednesday, that show our common humanity and prove that something beyond the turmoil is at work.

On the PBS NewsHour on Friday, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina), the House majority whip, described one of those moments, when asked to point out his most enduring memory from that day.

"My most enduring memory would be the conversations I saw taking place between (Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell when we were bunkered down," Clyburn said. "I saw how the government ought to work: Nancy and Mitch coming together, saying what we needed to do to get back to the Capitol, to get back on the floor, and continue doing what's necessary to have a peaceful transfer of power."

Sometimes out of dark days, come shining examples of our greatest qualities. On Wednesday and into Thursday morning, Congress completed its lawful work, with peaceful debate and a commitment to upholding the rule of law, together, as one people. After four years where meaningful, bipartisan action has been rare in Congress, this could potentially encourage more such collaboration. It could be the moment that awakens leaders and citizens to the true value of working together to get meaningful things done, while letting our common humanity light the way.

We each have a role in upholding that value, and the past year showed we are equal to that task. Many times while dealing with the impact of the pandemic, we showed an infinite capacity to love our neighbors and help others. We learned up front, that there is much more that unites us, than divides us. And going forward, we can use that common goodness to take steps forward, together. Now is the time to take that resolve and commitment into 2021.

— Gareth Henderson

Out of unrest, democracy rises

Sun shines through the woods along River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The U.S. Congress showed the world that although the U.S. Capitol was overrun on Wednesday, democracy was forging ahead.

Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were confirmed as the next president and vice president of the United States, as lawmakers finished counting the electoral votes at nearly 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The process began early Wednesday afternoon, but protesters supporting President Donald Trump (R) eventually stormed the building, and Congress members, staff and journalists were evacuated from the chambers.

The Capitol was secured by early evening, and Congress was prepared to take that fundamental, last step toward completing the electoral process. However, that long step was more than just a completion of a process. It answered the call of many people who were weary after the Wednesday's unrest, and thirsting for a sense of shared, common humanity.

By virtue of lawmakers' firm resolve and under law enforcement's protection, the will of the people was preserved. Democracy was protected. Next, we must restore it. We must make it last, and that comes only through working with each other to support its honorable higher ideals. That work is underway, and it begins with vigilance, to make sure the underpinnings of democracy remain intact. That's a concept Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black spoke of in his closing prayer at the end of the historic joint session Thursday.

"We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom's price," he said.

Black continued, "Lord, you have helped us remember that we need to see in each other a common humanity that reflects your image. ... Use us to bring healing and unity to our hurting and divided nation and world."

To heal, unify and restore our democracy is the greatest task before this country. After being sworn in for a new term in office this week, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican who has long opposed Trump, spoke of that fundamental need and lamented Wednesday's events in D.C.

"It ... shows just how divided our country has become and how desperately we need to heal and be united once again," he said. "Because we simply can’t go on like this any longer, and as elected officials, we all have a responsibility to step up and show the way."

The moment the electoral process was behind us, that way became clearer. That act dispelled some of the fog that had gathered in democracy's path, and it was the first step toward restoring hope that had been shaken.

To be clear, many, many steps remain to even sustain that hope over the long term. But meanwhile, in the short term, we forge ahead. We put one foot down, then the other, and we walk this journey. It will still feature many foggy, uncertain paths. Some may frighten us. But if we all "step up" to walk that journey together, we can make progress knowing we have each other's support, and the ability to rally around the cause of democracy. Together, we can oppose and defeat anything that would threaten our resolve. As we have already proven this week, even in the face of severe challenges, democracy rises, and justice overcomes.

— Gareth Henderson

Democracy holding strong

An American flag on the Fourth of July in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After a day of unrest on the U.S. Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C., just seeing Congress resume the presidential electoral vote count Wednesday night was reassuring in and of itself.

But it was also heartening to see our better angels show themselves in some of the comments heard in both chambers. In one example, Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, said we need to show our kids Wednesday's chaos was not what America is.

"There's a lot that's broken in this country, but not anything that's so big that the American people can't rebuild it," he said.

This and other comments like it were signs of hope from a place people haven't looked for much hope lately: Congress. But a process that had ground to a halt when Congress was evacuated earlier in the day had resumed, and our democracy may find itself reinvigorated in the end. That's because our democratic institutions are standing firm amid headwinds, just as they did throughout the November election and all the legal challenges that followed.

This process is widely expected to end with Congress completing this process, and confirming Joe Biden as the next U.S. president. Biden has repeatedly pledged to work with his fellow Democrats and Republicans alike to accomplish major legislative goals. But that starts with some basics, as Biden referred to in a speech to the American people Wednesday.

"The work of the moment and the work of the next four years must be the restoration of democracy, of decency, honor, respect, the rule of law, just plain, simple decency," Biden said.

Those qualities were surely expressed in Congress after proceedings resumed. In all, even though some objections were heard to several state's electoral votes, the strength of our institutions was on display and holding firm. Under pressure, our democracy rebounded and resolutely continued the people's business. After a day like Wednesday, that much should give us hope.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont governor calls for Trump's removal

Vermont's governor was one of the voices calling for the removal of President Donald Trump today, after thousands of the president's supporters attempted to take control of the Capitol building and stoked chaos in Washington D.C. The disorder Wednesday afternoon interrupted Congressional proceedings to count the presidential Electoral College votes.

At least one person died from the resulting violence, CNN confirmed. By early evening, rioters had been cleared from the Capitol grounds and a curfew was in place in Washington, D.C., from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Congress planned to resume the electoral vote count Wednesday night, as the D.C. National Guard and other law enforcement provided security.

Due to the unrest, several Congressional Democrats demanded Trump's removal either by impeachment or through invoking the Constitution's 25th Amendment. Trump later released a statement telling the crowd of supporters to "go home", but also sympathizing with their views on the election. Twitter also locked Trump’s account for 12 hours, with a warning to stop posting information that could lead to violence, or risk being banned, according to The Washington Post.

At 5:45 p.m., Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican and longtime critic of Trump, added his voice and said U.S. democracy was "under attack" by the president.

"President Trump has orchestrated a campaign to cause an insurrection that overturns the results of a free, fair and legal election," Scott said in a statement.

In an NPR interview shared by Vermont Public Radio, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) recalled hearing the results of that campaign, as the crowd tried to force its way into the House chambers. As he and other lawmakers were being evacuated, Welch told NPR he heard a "crashing sound" as people tried to force their way inside.

"And then I saw our Capitol police, guns drawn, trying to find things that they could put against the door to hold back the incoming mob," Welch said. "And then the urgency that they displayed on their faces, again all the guns drawn, telling us to stay low, be on the floor."

In his statement, Scott noted that the presidential election results have long been confirmed.

"The fact is the results of this election have been validated by Republican governors, conservative judges and non-partisan election officials across the country,” Scott said. “There is no doubt that the president’s delusion, fabrication, self-interest, and ego have led us — step by step — to this very low, and very dangerous, moment in American history."

He added, "Enough is enough. President Trump should resign or be removed from office by his Cabinet, or by the Congress."

— Gareth Henderson

U.S. Capitol breached as police struggle to control crowd

The U.S. Capitol building was breached today, as Congress was in the process of counting the Electoral College votes certifying Democrat Joe Biden as the next president. 

The news came amid the backdrop of President Donald Trump (R) and his supporters opposing the confirmed election results for weeks, and promulgating conspiracy theories that have been widely debunked.

The Congressional proceedings were recessed on Wednesday afternoon, as the pro-Trump demonstration escalated, and all lawmakers and media in the Capitol were told to shelter in place. Shortly before 3 p.m., U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), from the locked-down Capitol, tweeted that there was tear gas in the Rotunda, and police told them to put on the gas masks which were under their seats. Some lawmakers were evacuated, and some were hunkered down in their offices nearby. 

By 3:23 p.m., House members had reportedly been removed to an undisclosed part of the Capitol building, and the Senate wing had been cleared of demonstrators. At the same time, CNN released video showing a protest turned to mob, with people seen breaking a window of the Capitol building and climbing through it. A woman was being treated for a gunshot wound on the Capitol grounds, CNN also reported. Multiple officers were reportedly injured in the violence outside the building.

Well after this chaos began, Trump via Twitter called for peaceful protest, but multiple lawmakers from both parties urged the president to speak out more forcefully. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican, said he hadn’t seen anything like this since his military service in Iraq. He said the president should tell his followers the election “is over.”

“Call it off, Mr. President, we need you to call it off,” Gallagher told CNN. 

The entire D.C. National Guard and the Virginia State Police were both ordered to the Capitol to restore order. As of 4 p.m., a man with a bullhorn was heard by media outlets telling the crowd to attack national news organizations. 

In nationally televised remarks, President-elect Biden addressed the American people, including Trump, who he urged to get on national television and “put an end to this siege.” 

“This is not dissent, it's disorder. It borders on sedition, and it must end,” Biden said. “I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.” 

He also called for, over the next four years, a “renewal of a politics that’s about solving problems.”

“Through war and strife, America has endured much, and we will endure here, and we will prevail again, and we will prevail now,” Biden said.

— Gareth Henderson

A goal we can fulfill

The woods along River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As the outward noise of news, elections and controversy rolls on, there is also an impetus beyond the push-and-pull of politics, an energy that seeks to bring us together and accomplish meaningful work for the greater good.

That work can take many forms. But, while listening to news about the Georgia runoffs on Tuesday, I came across a Vermont Public Radio photo of a sign simply stating, "Let us go forward together." The words carried a certain extra weight today, with political fervor reaching a new crescendo amid a week full of major happenings in our nation. And the fervor is certainly understandable, with a new Congress, the runoffs and then Wednesday's count of the presidential electoral votes in Congress.

Still, even in this very political week, a message such as that sign I mentioned above is certainly welcome. Reminders like that help us, for a moment, step out of the politicized thinking that can so quickly narrow our focus. Most importantly, they remind us that we can genuinely work together, because we have done so in the past. The Congressional compromise which led to the recent COVID-19 stimulus bill is proof that this capacity is still there.

Clearly, our nation is about to turn the page and head into a new chapter in its history of political leadership. But there are steep challenges which have followed Congress and the presidency into the new year, with the pandemic and a struggling economy still at the forefront. As 2021 continues, it will still be critical for not only our leaders, but all of us, to strive for, find and sustain the capacity to work together as one people, so that progress can be realized for everyone’s benefit. However the balance of power in Congress shakes out, that will remain the path we must follow. Even as we face headwinds, it's our most crucial goal, and one we can fulfill.

— Gareth Henderson

New week welcomes a new Congress

A winter scene along Barber Hill Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Sunday wasn’t the typical ending to a holiday weekend. It was the day that the 117th Congress was sworn in, and it was an opportunity for lawmakers to outline priorities for the year during a momentous week.

Among them was longtime U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), who easily won another two-year term in November. He said lowering prescription drug prices, increasing broadband access in Vermont, addressing climate change, and providing more COVID-19 relief for families and small businesses are among his highest priorities.

“I’m looking forward to working with a new administration to make progress on critical issues,” Welch said via Twitter on Monday. 

During this big week in politics, Tuesday’s runoff elections for two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia will determine the balance of power in Congress. Democrats emerged from the November election with a slimmer 222-211 majority in the House. On Wednesday, Congress meets to confirm the results of the November presidential election. 

Those important political happenings will be closely tracked by Americans everywhere, and, speaking of COVID-19 relief, so will the timing of the $600 direct payments from the recent federal aid package. The first payments started going out on Dec. 29, including those going out by paper check, and will continue to be sent through Jan. 15, CNN reports. More such payments are likely down the road, in some form. One of the top priorities of the incoming Biden administration is a new economic relief package, which the president-elect has said would include a third round of stimulus payments. 

That said, heading into the 117th Congress, politics still present their challenges, with divisions in the country persisting after the election. The compromise on the most recent relief package was a hopeful sign, showing that the shared focus on helping people through legislation remains possible. Let’s hope the focus remains on those priorities which are not political, but great necessities now, including food assistance, unemployment funds, vaccine distribution, child care and broadband. Surely such priorities can still provide a basis for moving forward with ways to help Americans, regardless of party. The goodness and compassion to help one another is still strong within us, and it remains a driving force connecting us all, allowing us to overcome barriers and make progress.

— Gareth Henderson

Congressman: Relief bill ‘about survival’

A wintry view of River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After months of delays, the U.S. Congress rapidly approved a new COVID-19 relief package on Monday night. As of Tuesday evening, it was unclear if President Donald Trump would sign it into law; multiple news outlets reported the president wanted to see larger direct stimulus payments in the bill, among other changes.

The $900 billion relief package was combined into one bill with a $1.4 trillion measure to fund the government through Sept. 30. A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers played a central role in the negotiations, leading to the new relief bill aiming to help businesses and families reeling from the financial impact of the pandemic. 

At a Tuesday press conference with Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, the state’s lone congressman, noted the federal CARES Act that passed in March was a “lifeline” for businesses and families, and people need that same kind of assistance now. 

“The obligation of the federal government is to be that fiscal backstop, to help our individual citizens, our families, our small businesses and our state to get from here to there,” Welch said. 

For many small businesses, he noted, this is not about stimulus, it’s about survival. 

“I think, ultimately, that’s what brought Congress together over what had been a long and prolonged negotiation,” Welch said. 

From the relief measure, Americans will see a new round of direct stimulus payments, supplying $600 per individual and $600 per child. The payments are for individuals with incomes of up to $75,000 and couples filing jointly who make up to $150,000. The measure also funds $300 per week of a federal unemployment supplement for 10 weeks. It had been set to expire Dec. 26.

The bill nationwide also adds $284 billion in additional payroll protection for businesses, $8 billion for vaccine distribution, and a month-long extension of the federal eviction moratorium. On the education front, K-12 public schools get $54 billion in the legislation, and nonprofit public colleges and universities will see $22 billion. 

Also on Tuesday, Welch acknowledged the new relief package did not include aid to state and municipal governments — something Scott and other governors have been pushing for. That aid was a sticking point when negotiations between Democratic leaders and the White House stalled over the summer. Welch said he and the incoming Biden administration are committed to getting further aid to state and local governments, which he said are better positioned than Washington to allocate relief funds in their communities. 

“This will be something that we’ll continue to pursue,” Welch said. 

Americans may begin to see their direct stimulus payments as soon as early next week, according to NBC News, in a report noting the government is better prepared to get the money out quickly this time. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to propose a second COVID-19 relief bill after he takes office next month. 

— Gareth Henderson