Peter Welch

Elections

2006

When Vermont's lone U.S. House member, Bernie Sanders decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Welch chose to run for Sanders' seat. He defeated Republican Martha Rainville in the November 7, 2006 general election 53% to 45% in a race where both candidates pledged to be entirely positive.^[5] Welch was technically the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1961, and only the second since 1853 (though Sanders caucused with the Democrats).

2008

Welch's official secondary portrait

Welch was re-elected in 2008 with no major-party opposition, becoming the first Democrat to be reelected to the House from Vermont in 158 years. He was in the unusual position of being both the Democratic and Republican nominee for the seat, due to Republican voters writing his name in on the blank primary ballot.^[6]

2010

Welch was re-elected with 64% of the vote against Republican nominee Paul Beaudry, Liberty Union nominee Jane Newton, Working Families nominee Sheila Coniff, and independent candidate Gus Jaccaci.

2012

Welch easily defeated Republican nominee Mark Donka, Liberty Union candidate Jane Newton, and Independent candidates James "Sam" Desrochers and Andre LaFramboise with 72% of the vote.

2014

Welch was re-elected to a fifth term with 64.4% of the vote, easily defeating Republican Mark Donka, Matthew Andrews of the Liberty Union Party and Independents Cris Ericson, Randall Meyer and Jerry Trudell.

2016

Welch ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, and also got more votes in the Republican primary than any other candidate with 4.51% of the votes via write-ins. He defeated Liberty Union candidate Erica Clawson in the general election with 90% of the vote to Erica's 10%.^[7]

Tenure

Welch worked with former Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on a bill to increase funding at the National Institutes of Health for pediatric research and with Republican Congressman Paul Ryan to reverse proposed regulations that would have banned the use of wooden shelves for ageing cheese wheels. He touts his bipartisanship and describes himself as "very independent." He bucked his party leadership by voting against arming and training Syrian rebels and opposes "boots on the ground" in dealing with ISIL. He believes climate change is a "glaring problem," opposes travel bans in response to the Ebola epidemic and supports immigration reform that addresses border concerns but does not close them.^[8]

Sponsored legislation

A September 2007 search of the Library of Congress Thomas congressional bill search engine revealed Welch's sponsorship of amendments on the following topics (among others):

• To improve and strengthen the safety inspection process of nuclear facilities with an amendment of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
• To facilitate the development of markets for alternative fuels and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel through research, development, and demonstration and data collection.
• To assist in the provision of affordable housing to low-income families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
• To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science teachers, and for other purposes.
• To provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation.
• To authorize Federal agencies and legislative branch offices to purchase greenhouse gas offsets and renewable energy credits, and for other purposes.
• To establish an Ombudsman in the Department of Defense to assist members of the Armed Forces seeking medical care at military medical treatment facilities.
• To carry out a pilot program to provide readjustment counseling and related mental health services to veterans through the use of mobile centers.
• To increase the number of benefits claims representatives employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• To ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserves are able to fully participate in the benefits delivery at discharge program administered.
• To provide resources to medical care managers and service member advocates.
• To set a 5-percent procurement goal for Federal contracting with "green" small businesses.
• To encourage schools to submit plans for implementation to the Secretary that include locally grown foods, in areas where geographically available.
• To establish a grant program for Colleges and Universities to invest in sustainable and efficient energy projects, up to $1 million for efficiency and $500,000 for sustainability.

Key votes

Welch voted no on H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008: "The economic crisis we face is real. However, I voted against the bailout because it is not paid for and because I do not believe it will work." He later voted in favor of a new version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act numbered H.R. 1424.

According to On The Issues,^[9] Welch voted in favour, as follows on key issues:

• Expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
• Criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
• Removing oil and gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
• Restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007)
• Increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)
• Requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
• Redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)

Committee assignments

In the 110th Congress, Welch was a member of the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

In the 111th Congress, Welch served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

In the 112th Congress, Welch was a member of the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Beginning with the 112th Congress, Welch has also served as a Chief Deputy Whip, one of several who are part of Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer's organization for managing legislation and votes on the House floor.

Since the 113th Congress, Welch has been a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on National Security^[10]

Impeachment controversy

One area where Welch has been at odds with vocal constituents is the matter of impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Welch has expressed the opinion that ending the Iraq War is a top priority, and impeachment would distract the Congress from addressing that outcome. Advocates of impeachment protested in Welch's Vermont offices.^[12]

On the Iraq War, the Vermont Guardian^[13] quoted Welch as saying "if we are going to end the war we are going to have to move beyond the 218 votes", meaning 216 Democrats and 2 Republicans, who voted for a war funding bill that included a withdrawal timetable. "There is united Democratic opposition to the war and only two Republicans voted for accountability, no blank check, and a timetable. There are some folks who believe impeachment is a way to end the war, but my major reservation is that impeachment is one approach guaranteed to solidify Republican opposition."

On impeachment, the Vermont Guardian^[13] quoted Welch as saying "my hat is off to the citizen activists in Vermont for bringing their case to the legislature; they are representative of the proud tradition we have in Vermont to speaking out. [...] People are expressing broad outrage about this President's handling of the war, his treatment of civil liberties, and the use of bogus intelligence, and there is a lot of common ground here on holding the President and Vice President accountable. The major question is the best way to make that happen. My fundamental concern is ending this war."

Welch endorsed then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Party nomination in 2008.

Domestic issues

Welch supports a progressive Democratic position on most issues, as evidenced by his high ratings by progressive interest groups and low ratings by conservative ones.^[14]

On the issue of abortion, Welch was given a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. However, the National Right to Life Committee gave him a rating of 0.^[14] Welch voted no on the November 7, 2009 amendment to President Obama's health care bill that prohibited federally funded abortions.^[15] On the issue of gay rights, PFLAG and the Human Rights campaign rated Welch as 100% supportive of their position.^[14] Welch has sustained a liberal stance on the issues of abortion and gay rights despite his identification as a Roman Catholic.^[16]

Several organizations such as Americans for Fair Taxation and the National Taxpayers Union gave Welch 0 percent or F ratings. Though these organizations state they are nonpartisan, their pressure for a flatter tax rate has garnered them support from mostly Republican politicians.^[17] Welch also voted no on the 2009-2010 Defense Spending Appropriations bill.^[15]

Despite Welch's Progressive positions on social issues and his low ratings from traditionally conservative interest groups, Welch has adopted a conservative position on gun rights. Welch supported a bill to allow loaded guns in National Parks as well as a bill to repeal part of the DC firearms ban.^[15] He received an A from the National Rifle Association, while the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gave him 0 percent.^[14]

Welch stresses the importance of veterans' support on his website and in his voting record. In July 2009, Welch supported legislation to help disabled veterans.^[18] He also frequently introduces and supports legislation to help Vermont veterans, such as the April 2009 resolution to honor Captain Richard Phillips, a navy captain from Underhill Vermont, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates but returned safely.^[19] Welch also received an "A" rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization.^[14]

In addition, on his website, Peter Welch states he believes in affordable access to quality health care as a fundamental right. Three key principles he strives for in health care are that everyone should be covered, everyone should contribute based upon their ability, and coverage should be independent of employers.^[20]

According to Representative Welch's May 5, 2010 entry on the Hill's Congress Blog,^[21] he believes in the importance in energy efficiency. Welch said he supports putting effort into creating energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, which will create more jobs for those in need and will also greatly reduce the cost of energy bills, among other things.

As of late, Welch has been pushing for Congress to pass legislation allowing Vermont to receive federal funding to repair highways and roads damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. He has joined a coalition of 50 Democratic and Republican House members from states affected by Irene in order to make his case in Congress. He has advocated for the Republicans and Democrats to work together on many of the key issues plaguing our country today.^[22]

On February 19, 2016, Welch endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party nomination.^[23]

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arts Caucus^[24]
• Congressional Biomass Caucus (co-chair)
• Congressional Progressive Caucus.^[25]
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus^[26]