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Senator from Windsor criticizes federal policies, urges state action for farmers; remarks journalized
Summary
A senator identified as the senator from Windsor delivered a personal-privilege floor speech criticizing the prior federal administration's treatment of farmers, citing trade disruptions, climate policy rollbacks and a reported $55,000,000 in flood losses; the Senate voted to journalize the remarks.
The senator from Windsor used a point of personal privilege on the floor to criticize federal policies and urge the Senate to take action to support Vermont farmers, and the Senate voted to journalize the comments.
Speaking from the floor as vice chair of the chamber’s agriculture committee, the senator from Windsor described current conditions for farmers as ‘‘heartbreak and pain’’ and blamed federal policy choices for economic harms to small and family-owned farms. The senator cited trade disruptions, cuts to USDA programs and cooperative-extension funding, gaps in mental-health resources for rural areas, and the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement as evidence of federal neglect.
The senator said maple producers had seen orders vanish, tariffs reduced margins and long-standing relationships dissolved, and stated that floods had caused $55,000,000 in losses to farmers over the last two years. The senator said farmers do not want handouts but rather ‘‘fair market’’ treatment, stable policy, climate-smart agriculture investments and support for rural infrastructure such as broadband.
After the remarks, Senator from Madison moved that the comments be journalized. The presiding officer put the question by voice and the Senate recorded the motion as adopted.
The remarks were delivered during the announcements and personal-privilege portion of the floor session; they were entered into the Senate journal rather than resulting in an immediate legislative action.
Ending: The Senate continued with routine scheduling announcements and adjourned to the date announced by the presiding officer.
