Welch Talks Rising Costs and Trump’s Economy at Listening Session in South Hero

Aug 12, 2025
SOUTH HERO, VT–U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)tonight hosted a Listening Session in South Hero focused on how President Trump’s trade war and Republicans’ recently-passed tax and spending bill will hurt Vermonters. The event was attended by 150 people.
Senator Welch released new data at the Listening Session showing 99.5% of Vermont families will be worse off because of the so-calledOne Big Beautiful Bill Actand President Trump’s economic policies. He will release the new data tomorrow, outlining how these policies are raising costs in health care, food, energy, mortgages, and more.
“At every Listening Session, folks are worried about how costs are going up and Vermont is facing an affordability crisis. That’s absolutely true, and I’m working to change that. But instead of working with us to lower costs, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have enacted policies that hammer 99.5% of Vermont families, raising prices where it hurts the most—health care, groceries, energy, and so much more,”said Senator Welch.“I’m fighting in the Senate to repeal their terrible tax and spending bill and end this trade war. I will work every day to bring down costs for hardworking families across Vermont.”
Senator Welch speaks with Vermonters at Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery in South Hero, Vermont
The President’s so-calledOne Big Beautiful Bill Actwill block access to health care for thousands of Vermonters, rip away vital food assistance for the food-insecure families, and cut clean energy incentives. These cuts will raise utility bills and grocery prices, and tank the economy—all to pay for tax cuts for the very wealthy. Senator Welch filed amendments to the bill that would have repealed major policies, andvoted in strong oppositionagainst the legislation in July. He also introduced new legislation torepeal provisionsin theOne Big Beautiful Bill Actthat undermine Medicaid and give handouts to Big Pharma.
Senator Welch hasblasted Trump’s tariffsandtradewarandshared storiesfrom constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. Senator Welch championed theCreating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act,legislation to exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada, which Senate Republicans blocked and refused to support small businesses in their states. The Senator also led a bipartisan resolution toend President Trump’s ruinous global tariffsand supported legislation torestore congressional tariff authorityandrestrict the Executive Branch’s authority to impose tariffs.
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