BURLINGTON, VT – This week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, attended the University of Vermont’s second annual Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Summit to discuss new and innovative approaches to addressing challenges facing rural America. The RISE Summit is supported by the Leahy Institute on Rural Partnerships, spearheaded by Sen. Welch’s predecessor, former Sen. Patrick Leahy.  

“It was great to join UVM’s second annual RISE Summit to discuss the importance of supporting rural communities. The Leahy Institute on Rural Partnerships is a catalyst for change and will be essential in providing guidance as rural communities tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time—like building out affordable internet, lowering costs for hardworking Vermont families, and addressing climate challenges through innovation and climate resilience,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue to push for commonsense policies that expand strengthen Vermont communities.” 

Senator Welch has championed legislation to connect rural communities to high-speed broadband, conserve and protect wild spaces, repair and reinvest in rural water infrastructure systems, and lower energy costs while advancing clean energy projects. The Senate’s recently unveiled Farm Bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, includes several priorities for rural communities championed by Senator Welch that will strengthen Vermont’s farms, rural communities, and families. 

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