Senator Bernie Sanders Presents: 2024 A Year In Photos
Editor’s note: Many of the events and meetings that are mentioned below were covered by the Staten Islander. This includes the meetings of the HELP Committee about prescription drug prices (along with an opinion about the same), and about taking on food and beverage giants and reducing additives. In addition to these topics, we also covered his statement about America as an oligarchy, with the investigation into the CEO of Steward Health Care as a case in point. This is a hospital system whose profits, capital, and even real estate were extracted so the CEO, board members, and others could buy private jets and yachts while bills went unpaid. This caused patients to suffer, eventually causing the bankruptcy of the hospital system, leaving many vulnerable populations without a local hospital. We’ve also covered the attack on the education system by billionaires, and teachers in crisis across the country being underpaid and overworked.
As 2024 comes to a close, I think we can all agree: It has been quite a year. We have faced challenges, but we have also experienced remarkable moments of joy, kindness, resilience, and hope.
Below, are just some of the major moments from our 2024 that bring me hope as I look ahead to 2025. No doubt, the coming year will bring its share of challenges and struggle, but I know it will also bring moments of joy and opportunities for us to come together to make Vermont, our country, and the world a better place.
Leading on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
It has been a privilege to be Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. We’ve had a busy year. Since becoming Chair, we have passed more bills out of committee, including bipartisan bills, than at any time in the last eight years. We have worked hard to address the many crises in our health care system, including the high cost of prescription drugs and asthma inhalers, the crisis in primary care, and the shortage of doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and health care workers.
We’ve held CEOs and major corporations accountable for their outrageous greed. We’ve had hearings that have taken on Big Pharma, Amazon, the food & beverage industry, union busting, and private equity. We’ve worked across the aisle on bills to invest in Alzheimer’s research and the needs of rural EMS providers. And we passed three historic labor bills out of the committee which make it easier to form unions, guarantee seven paid sick days to all workers, and provide equal pay for equal work.
Bringing Our Office to You
I am proud to have a trusted team in Vermont who visits every corner of our state to meet with Vermonters on my behalf when I have to be in Washington. In 2024, in addition to their regular visits across Vermont, my team coordinated County Outreach Days in all 14 counties – visiting senior centers, classrooms, town offices, federally qualified health centers, libraries, and other community spaces – to sit down with Vermonters and to discuss community needs.
14th Annual State of the Union Essay Contest
In March, I hosted a roundtable discussion with the finalists of our 14th Annual State of the Union Essay Contest to discuss some of the major issues facing us today and how these young people recommend fixing them. This year, 454 students from 27 Vermont high schools submitted essays. I look forward to hearing what this coming year’s students have to say!
On the Road with Vermont
On the road with Waterbury Senior center
On the road with Jenna’s Promise in Johnson
On the road with the Morristown EMS
One of my favorite parts of being a United States Senator is speaking with Vermonters in every corner of our state, especially those who are on the frontlines of some of the major challenges we face. These Vermonters work every day to make life better for their communities and state, and all of us should be grateful for their efforts. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your experiences with me this year.
Vermont Projects with Real Impact
Communities throughout the state face serious challenges – affordable housing, health and dental care, EMS services, childcare, infrastructure, clean energy and water, and rural development. Since the earmarks process was reestablished in Congress about three years ago, my office has secured more than $140 million in Congressionally Directed Spending projects for Vermont.
The Power of Music & the Arts
In March, more than 180 Vermont students, parents, and teachers joined me at Vermont State University’s Johnson campus for our annual choral concert and town meeting on the importance of arts education in our schools. From fourth grade to college, these young people showed incredible talent and passion for the arts.
The Fight to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs
In April, I went to the White House because President Biden and I had some good news to share on the fight to lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country, including capping the cost of asthma inhalers at $35, capping the cost of insulin for seniors with diabetes at $35 a month, enabling Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies for the first time in American history, and capping Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs at no more than $2,000 a year. This is good news, but much more needs to be done. We must substantially reduce the cost of all prescription drugs in this country.
Our Second Annual Youth Chess Day
On Saturday, April 20, more than 130 young Vermonters from all corners of the state came out for our second-annual Youth Chess Day. Students from 1st through 12th grade came together to learn, test their skills, and make friends. At a time when many of our young people are spending too much time on their phones, playing chess is a great opportunity for young people to improve their concentration, problem solving skills, and person-to-person connection. Not to mention: It was a lot of fun – and these kids are good!
Solar for All
As Vermonters, we know all too well the existential threat of climate change. That is why I worked hard on a hugely important program called Solar for All. This $7 billion program – which comes from legislation I introduced and became part of the Inflation Reduction Act – will bring $62 million into Vermont to enable low- and medium-income Vermonters to benefit from solar panels. This legislation will not only help combat climate change, but it will cut electric bill costs for working families. On Earth Day 2024, I was happy to discuss this program at an event with President Biden.
The Floods
Once again, our state faced devastating flooding. What made this summer’s flooding so awful is not just the significant damage done to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. It is the reality that many of the people who were impacted were the same exact people who had to deal with the devastating floods of a year ago. These Vermonters spent a year struggling to get back on their feet – and then had to start all over again. We will continue this fight to recover stronger and more resilient than before.
Vermont Olympians in Paris
This summer, we cheered on Vermont Olympians Elle St. Pierre, Ilona Maher, and William Bender as they competed in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. We watched, eyes glued to the television, as William represented our state in rowing, Ilona in rugby, and Elle in track & field. They made us all proud. But no one was as proud as little Ivan St. Pierre!
Senior Celebrations
St. Johnsbury
Burlington
Every year, I look forward to the senior celebration & discussion events we host for Vermonters from across our state. A longtime tradition that we had to put on hold during the pandemic, these events are an opportunity for older Vermonters to come together, hear updates from Washington, and discuss the issues they face. This summer, some 1,000 Vermonters came out to our events in Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Newport, Bennington, Barre, Brattleboro, and Castleton. Thanks to everyone for coming. See you next year.
Talking about Mental Health with Noah Kahan
In September, I was proud to introduce Noah Kahan at his concert in Essex Junction to support Vermont-based mental health organizations. In these difficult times, we need all the help we can get if we are to address our nation’s mental health crisis. If you, or anyone you know, is in need of support, please click here to learn more about some available mental health resources, including free and confidential assistance.
Hug Your Farmer Flood Relief
Vermont has great musicians, and they were out in full force at the Flynn Theater in Burlington this November to support farmers and flood relief efforts across Vermont. It was a great show for a truly important cause. Let’s stand with our family farmers.
Celebrating the Holiday Season
This holiday season we held a series of old-fashioned holiday parties. These gatherings in Vergennes, Burlington, Bennington, and Rutland brought out hundreds of Vermonters for Christmas music and good cheer. From four-years-old to 94, Vermonters understand the value of coming together. And they can sing too. I look forward to hosting more of these events next year and hope to see you there.
Banner Image: On the road with Morristown EMS. All Images Credit – Senator Sanders
Senator Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders is serving his third term in the U.S. Senate after winning re-election in 2018. His previous 16 years in the House of Representatives make him the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history.