GREENSBORO BEND, VT – Tonight, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) hosted a Listening Session in Greensboro Bend focused on issues impacting Vermonters in rural communities. During the event, he heard directly from Vermonters about a variety of issues, including how Congress can best support small and family farmers in the upcoming Farm Bill, the importance of building out broadband for rural small businesses and students, and the importance of lowering energy costs for families and hardworking Vermonters.
“We can’t have a strong America without a strong rural America—and that’s why it’s so important to me that the voices of folks in rural Vermont are heard loud and clear, said Sen. Welch. “I’m thankful to have heard from everyone who came out tonight to Greensboro Bend. Your concerns, ideas, and hopes for a better Vermont are what help inspire my work, and I look forward to continuing to fight for our rural communities across our state.”
Senator Welch Chairs the Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Through this committee, Senator Welch is working to advance legislation to connect rural communities to high-speed broadband, conserve and protect wild spaces, repair and reimagine rural water infrastructure systems, and lower energy costs while advancing clean energy projects. This Listening Session was part of his continued work to uplift and highlight the opportunities for strengthening rural America through federal partnerships and support.
To kick off the Listening Session at Hill Farmstead Brewery, Senator Welch was joined by local leaders, business owners, and champions for rural development, including Representative Katherine Sims, Andy Kehler of Jasper Hill Farm, Jon Ramsay of the Center for an Agricultural Economy, Sarah Waring of the USDA Rural Development office, Jessica Savage of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, and Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead Brewery.
View and download photos of the event on the Senator’s website. If you would like to be notified about future Listening Sessions and events, please sign up for the Senator’s newsletter here.
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