Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate’s only former Public Defender, was honored with the 2026 American Bar Association (ABA) Justice Award for his fight to fully fund federal defender programs.   “The rule of law is under assault in this country like never before, and serious questions are…

Welch: “This is about protecting the right of local communities to protect local communities.”    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, pushed back on the false narrative that “sanctuary city” policies impede on local law enforcement and jeopardize public safety during a subcommittee hearing titled: Protecting…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today joined U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) in reintroducing the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act, bicameral legislation to refinance the interest on federal student loans for all existing borrowers to zero percent and cap interest rates for future…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, called on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the economic, scientific, and national security impacts of reducing or eliminating federal support for scientific research at institutions of higher education.   In his letter to Acting GAO Comptroller General Williams…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement after voting against U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla.) nomination to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):   “DHS and ICE need major reforms—President Trump and Stephen Miller’s mass round ups and deportation campaign have…

Expenses included signing bonus, horse rental, hair and makeup WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations today release new information on payments made under a subcontract issued to The Strategy Group Company as part of the $220 million advertising…