Peter Welch
{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1947)}}
{{About|the United States politician|the British actor|Peter Welch (actor)|the scientist and researcher in computer simulation|Peter D. Welch}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Peter Welch
| image = Peter Welch official Senate photo.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2022
| jr/sr = United States Senator
| alongside = Bernie Sanders
| state = Vermont
| term_start = January 3, 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Patrick Leahy
| successor =
| state1 = Vermont
| district1 = {{ushr|VT|AL|at-large}}
| term_start1 = January 3, 2007
| term_end1 = January 3, 2023
| predecessor1 = Bernie Sanders
| successor1 = Becca Balint
| office2 = 73rd and 78th President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate
| predecessor2 = Peter Shumlin
| successor2 = Peter Shumlin
| term_start2 = January 8, 2003
| term_end2 = January 3, 2007
| predecessor3 = Robert A. Bloomer
| successor3 = Doug Racine
| term_start3 = January 9, 1985
| term_end3 = January 4, 1989
| office4 = Minority Leader of the Vermont Senate
| term_start4 = January 5, 1983
| term_end4 = January 8, 1985
| predecessor4 = Robert Daniels
| successor4 = Allen Avery
| state_senate5 = Vermont
| district5 = Windsor
| alongside5 = John Campbell, Richard McCormack
| term_start5 = December 13, 2001
| term_end5 = January 3, 2007
| predecessor5 = Cheryl Rivers
| successor5 = Alice Nitka
| alongside6 = Chester Scott, John Hudson Howland, Edgar May, William Hunter
| term_start6 = January 7, 1981
| term_end6 = January 4, 1989
| predecessor6 = Herbert Ogden
| successor6 = Richard McCormack
| birth_name = Peter Francis Welch
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|5|2}}
| birth_place = Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Joan Smith|1986|2004|end=died}}
- {{marriage|Margaret Cheney|January 2, 2009}}
}}
| website = {{URL|welch.senate.gov|Senate website}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Peter Welch questions witnesses for further clarity on organic rules of USDA regulations.ogg|title=Welch's voice|type=speech|description=Welch questions witnesses for further clarity on USDA organic rules.
Recorded February 1, 2023}}
| education = College of the Holy Cross (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (JD)
}}
Peter Francis Welch (born May 2, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving since 2023 as the junior United States senator from Vermont. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for {{ushr|VT|AL}} from 2007 to 2023. He has been a major figure in Vermont politics for over four decades and is only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Welch graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He practiced law for several decades, first as a public defender and then as a personal injury lawyer in a law practice he founded.{{Cite web |last=Flowers |first=John |date=2018-10-31 |title=Statewide, federal races to be decided |url=https://www.addisonindependent.com/2018/10/31/statewide-federal-races-to-be-decided-2/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Addison Independent |language=en-US}} He was a member of the Vermont Senate from 1981 to 1989, including terms as minority leader, then was the Senate's president pro tempore from 1985 to 1989, the first Democrat to hold the position. In 1988, Welch gave up his seat to run for the United States House of Representatives and lost the Democratic primary to Paul N. Poirier. He was the Democratic nominee for governor of Vermont in 1990, losing the general election to Republican Richard A. Snelling.
Welch continued to practice law and returned to politics in 2001, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Vermont Senate. He was reelected in 2002 and 2004 and was Senate president from 2003 to 2007. In 2006, Welch was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding Bernie Sanders, who was elected to the United States Senate. In November 2021, Welch announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2022 United States Senate election in Vermont to succeed retiring Senator Patrick Leahy.{{Cite web|last=Forgey|first=Quint|title=Rep. Peter Welch launches Senate bid for Leahy's seat|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/22/peter-welch-senate-campaign-patrick-leahy-seat-523176|access-date=2021-11-22|website=POLITICO|date=November 22, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite news|date=November 22, 2021|title=Rep. Peter Welch announces run for U.S. Senate|work=WCAX-TV|location=Burlington, Vt.|url=https://www.wcax.com/2021/11/22/rep-peter-welch-announces-run-us-senate/|access-date=November 22, 2021}} On August 9, 2022, he won the Democratic primary. On November 8, 2022, Welch won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Gerald Malloy.{{Cite web |title=Peter Welch wins U.S. Senate Democratic primary |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/peter-welch-wins-u-senate-021507264.html |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=August 10, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Gerald Malloy wins Republican primary election for US Senate {{!}} Vermont Business Magazine |url=https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/august/10/gerald-malloy-wins-republican-primary-election-us-senate |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=vermontbiz.com}}{{Cite tweet |author=AP Politics |user=AP_Politics |title=BREAKING: Democrat Peter Welch wins election to U.S. Senate from Vermont. #APracecall at 7:00 p.m. EST |number=1590132351614558210 |date=November 8, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-08}} Elected at age 75, he is the oldest person to become a freshman senator, a record previously held by Frederick H. Gillett.
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Early life and career
Welch was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1947. He attended Cathedral High School (now Pope Francis Preparatory School). In 1969, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), magna cum laude, in history.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Nathan |date=2023-04-28 |title=2023 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Announcements |url=https://hcspire.com/2023/04/28/2023-commencement-speaker-and-honorary-degree-announcements/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=The Spire |language=en}} Welch spent a year in Chicago as a fellow at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, then enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1973.{{cite web|url=https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/peter-welch-73-elected-to-congress-from-vermont/|title=Peter Welch '73 Elected to Congress from Vermont |access-date=October 6, 2008 |date=November 9, 2006 |work=BerkeleyLaw |publisher=The Regents of the University of California |url-status= }}{{Cite web |title=Representative Peter Welch |url=https://www.naag.org/person/representative-peter-welch/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=National Association of Attorneys General |language=en-US}}
Welch "worked with low-income people on Chicago's West Side in the late 1960s"{{cite news |last=Smallheer |first=Susan |date=November 19, 1980 |title=Sheer Determination Was Key to Welch's Stunning Victory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96884440/welch-victory/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland, VT |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}} as a community organizer. He worked for an organization that was affiliated with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and its activities included attendance at an SCLC national convention in Atlanta. Participants there strategized and heard remarks from Ralph Abernathy, Hosea Williams, and Martin Luther King Jr.{{cite news |last=Marcel |first=Joyce |date=November 26, 2017 |title=A gentleman in every sense of the word: Mr Welch goes to Washington |url=https://vermontbiz.com/news/2017/november/26/gentleman-every-sense-word-mr-welch-goes-washington |work=Vermont Biz.com |location=South Burlington, VT}}
Welch worked for Lloyd Cutler, who later was White House Counsel during the administrations of presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, at a Washington law firm.
After graduating from law school, Welch moved to Vermont in 1973. He was a law clerk for Judge Henry Black of the Vermont Superior Court. He worked for several years as a public defender for low-income clients in Windsor County and Orange County. Welch was a partner for 30 years in the personal injury law firm Welch, Graham & Manby in White River Junction, Vermont.
Vermont government
In 1980, Welch was elected to the Vermont Senate from Windsor County. In his second term, Welch was chosen as the Minority Leader, and he became president pro tempore after Democrats gained control of the Senate. Welch was the first Democrat to be Vermont's senate president, since Vermont was a bastion for the Whigs and then the Republicans for more than 100 years beginning in the 1830s.New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/07/us/the-1990-elections-state-by-state-northeast.html?pagewanted=3&src=pm The 1990 Elections: State By State; Northeast], November 7, 1990
In 1988, Welch left the Vermont Senate to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1990, Welch won the Democratic nomination for governor of Vermont but lost the general election to Republican Richard Snelling.
Welch did not run for another office for more than a decade; in 2001, Governor Howard Dean appointed him to fill a vacant Vermont Senate seat in Windsor County. He was elected to the seat in 2002 and reelected in 2004, and again was president pro tempore.
U.S. House of Representatives
=Elections=
== 2006 ==
{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
When Vermont's U.S. Representative, Bernie Sanders, ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Welch chose to run for Sanders's seat. He defeated Republican Martha Rainville in the general election, 53% to 45%, in a race where both candidates pledged to be entirely positive.{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2006Nov02/0,4675,CleanCampaign,00.html | work=Fox News (AP)| title=No Mud Flung in Race for House in Vt|first=Wilson |last=Ring|date=November 2, 2006}} Welch was the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1961, and only the second since 1853 (though Sanders, an independent, caucused with the Democrats{{cite news |last=McCrummen |first=Stephanie |date=February 5, 2016 |title=His Most Radical Move |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/02/05/his-most-radical-move/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205234023/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/02/05/his-most-radical-move |archive-date=February 5, 2016}}).
== 2008 ==
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
File:Representative Welch Official Portrait.jpg]]
Welch was reelected with no major-party opposition, becoming the first Democrat to be reelected to the House from Vermont since 1848. 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.{{cite web|title=Write-ins give Welch GOP nomination|date=September 18, 2008|url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/NEWS02/809180364|publisher=The Barre Montpelier Times Agnus|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103104420/http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080918%2FNEWS02%2F809180364|archive-date=November 3, 2012|df=mdy-all}}
== 2010 ==
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch was reelected 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.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
== 2012 ==
{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch defeated Republican nominee Mark Donka, Liberty Union candidate Jane Newton, and Independent candidates James "Sam" Desrochers and Andre LaFramboise with 72% of the vote.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
== 2014 ==
{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch was reelected to a fifth term with 64.4% of the vote, defeating Republican Mark Donka, Matthew Andrews of the Liberty Union Party and Independents Cris Ericson, Randall Meyer and Jerry Trudell.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
== 2016 ==
{{See also|2016 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, and also got more votes in the Republican primary than any other candidate, with 4.51% via write-ins. He defeated Liberty Union candidate Erica Clawson in the general election with 90% of the vote to Clawson's 10%.[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/house House Election Results: G.O.P. Keeps Control] Sep 13, 2017 nytimes.com
== 2018 ==
{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch was reelected to a seventh term with 69.2% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Anya Tyino, Cris Ericson of the Marijuana Party, and Laura Potter of the Liberty Union Party.[https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Welch-wins-7th-term-as-US-House-Representative-for-Vt-499888222.html Welch wins 7th term as US House Representative for Vt] Nov 6, 2018
== 2020 ==
{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont}}
Welch was reelected to an eighth term with 67.3% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Miriam Berry and Independent candidate Peter Becker.[https://www.vpr.org/post/peter-welch-wins-8th-term-us-house#stream/0 Peter Welch Wins 8th Term in U.S. House] Nov 3, 2020
=Tenure=
File:Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch at the premier of the Simpsons.jpg at the premiere of The Simpsons Movie in 2007]]
One area where Welch was at odds with vocal constituents was the matter of the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Welch said that ending the Iraq War was a top priority, and impeachment would distract Congress from addressing that outcome. Advocates of impeachment protested at Welch's Vermont offices.{{cite web |url=http://vermontguardian.com/local/032007/WelchProtest.shtml |title=Protestors camp out in Welch's congressional office |publisher=Vermontguardian.com |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715094500/http://vermontguardian.com/local/032007/WelchProtest.shtml |url-status=dead }}
Welch worked with former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on a bill to increase funding at the National Institutes of Health for pediatric research and with Representative 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", opposed travel bans in response to the Ebola epidemic and supports immigration reform that addresses border concerns but does not close them.{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/26/republican-donka-tries-unseat-welch/17858879/ |title=Republican Donka tries again to unseat Welch |publisher=The Burlington Free Press |date=October 26, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2014}}
In his first term, Welch attracted attention for his partnership with Senator Charles Grassley in challenging colleges and universities with substantial endowments to spend more of those funds on operating expenses (including, perhaps, lower tuition).{{Cite web|url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/25616|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009140820/http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/25616|title=Yale Daily News - Endowment spending may be mandated|archive-date=October 9, 2008}}
On February 19, 2016, Welch endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination for president.{{cite news |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/19/rep-peter-welch-supports-bernie-sanders/80614844/ |title=Rep. Peter Welch throws support behind Bernie Sanders |work=BurlingtonFreePress.com |date=February 19, 2016 |access-date=February 20, 2016 |first=April |last=Burbank}} He endorsed him again in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Krieg |first1=Gregory |title=Sanders taps new campaign manager, gets endorsements from top Vermont lawmakers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-manager-endorsements-2020-primary/index.html |access-date=February 23, 2019 |work=CNN |date=February 19, 2019}}
During the first impeachment of Donald Trump, Welch invited Trump to testify before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in response to Jim Jordan's criticism of the impeachment. Welch spoke directly after Jordan, saying, "I say to my colleague, I'd be glad to have the person who started it all come in and testify", adding, "President Trump is welcome to take a seat right there."{{Cite web|title='You just got Welch'd': Vermont Rep's comments during Trump impeachment hearing make waves|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/you-just-got-welchd-vermont-reps-comments-during-trump-impeachment-hearing-make-waves/ar-BBWKFhi|access-date=2020-06-18|website=www.msn.com}} On December 18, 2019, Welch voted for both articles of impeachment against Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12|title=WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump|first=Grace|last=Panetta|website=Business Insider}}
=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 was 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, he also was 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.
During the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses, Welch was 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
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation
- Subcommittee on Defense Intelligence and Warfighter Support
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on National Security{{cite web|title=Congressman Peter Welch: Committees and Caucuses|url=http://www.welch.house.gov/committees-caucuses/|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives|access-date=March 13, 2014|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314052338/http://www.welch.house.gov/committees-caucuses/|url-status=dead}}
=Caucus memberships=
- Climate Solutions Caucus{{cite web|title=90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members|url=https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/| publisher=Citizen´s Climate Lobby |access-date=October 18, 2018}}
- Congressional Arts Caucus{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}
- Congressional Biomass Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus (co-chair and founder){{Cite web|url=https://welch.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|title=Committees and Caucuses|date=December 13, 2012|website=Congressman Peter Welch|access-date=March 3, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043844/https://welch.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|url-status=dead}}
- Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=June 14, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|url-status=dead}}
- Congressional Progressive Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=October 25, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022024104/https://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|archive-date=October 22, 2017|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|title=Caucus Membrs|url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members| publisher=US House of Representatives |access-date=January 3, 2021}}
- Medicare for All Caucus
- Congressional Telehealth Caucus (co-chair and co-founder)
- Safe Climate Caucus{{Cite web|url=https://safeclimatecaucus-lowenthal.house.gov/members|title=Members|website=Safe Climate Caucus - Rep. Alan Lowenthal}}
U.S. Senate
= Elections =
== 2022 ==
{{main|2022 United States Senate election in Vermont}}
On November 15, 2021, incumbent Patrick Leahy announced that he would not seek reelection in the 2022 U.S. Senate election. Welch was considered a possible contender for the seat.{{cite web |last1=Hutzler |first1=Alexandra |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Who Will Run for Patrick Leahy's Seat? Vermont's Longest-Serving Senator to Retire |url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-will-run-patrick-leahys-seat-vermonts-longest-serving-senator-retire-1649350 |accessdate=December 8, 2022 |website=Newsweek}} On November 22, Welch announced his candidacy to succeed Leahy.{{cite web |last1=Forgey |first1=Quint |date=November 22, 2021 |title=Rep. Peter Welch launches Senate bid for Leahy's seat |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/22/peter-welch-senate-campaign-patrick-leahy-seat-523176 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122131323/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/22/peter-welch-senate-campaign-patrick-leahy-seat-523176 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |accessdate=December 8, 2022 |website=Politico |publisher=}} He won the Democratic primary by a large margin, and defeated Republican nominee Gerald Malloy in the general election.{{Cite web |last1=Cyrus |first1=Connor |last2=Hyde |first2=Marlon |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Peter Welch on winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate |url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2022-08-10/peter-welch-on-winning-the-democratic-primary-for-u-s-senate |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=Vermont Public}}{{Cite web |last=Ring |first=Wilson |date=November 8, 2022 |title=Welch moves from House to Senate to succeed Leahy in Vermont |url=https://apnews.com/article/vermont-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-91c2cd6d4acac1291876cf5f50475515 |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=Associated Press}}
=Committee assignments=
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy (ranking member)
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on The Constitution (ranking member)
- Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
- Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights
- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
- Committee on Rules and Administration
- Committee on Finance
- Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Health Care{{cite web |title=Committee Assignments |url=https://www.welch.senate.gov/committee-assignments/ |website=Office of Senator Peter Welch}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=Welch gets prime committee assignments in 119th Congress |url=https://www.reformer.com/news/state/welch-gets-prime-committee-assignments-in-119th-congress/article_91493c0a-e242-11ef-9fe1-9ba0d1370ba9.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Brattleboro Reformer |language=en}}
= Caucus memberships =
- Senate Democratic Caucus
- Electrification Caucus{{Cite web |title=Bicameral Electrification Caucus {{!}} U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico |url=https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/bicameral-electrification-caucus |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.heinrich.senate.gov |language=en}}
- Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus{{Cite web |title=Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses {{!}} EESI |url=https://www.eesi.org/caucuses_reee |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.eesi.org}}
Political positions
=Gun control=
Welch participated in the 2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in to support gun control.{{cite web |title=Welch Discusses Why He Joined House Floor Sit-In Over Gun Control |date=June 27, 2016 |url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/programs/2016-06-27/welch-discusses-why-he-joined-house-floor-sit-in-over-gun-control |access-date=27 June 2016 |ref=34}}
Welch supports a national assault weapons ban.{{cite web |title=Welch supports national ban on assault weapons |date=January 14, 2013 |url=https://www.mynbc5.com/article/welch-supports-national-ban-on-assault-weapons/3306903 |access-date=14 January 2013 |ref=34}}
=LGBT rights=
Welch supports transgender rights and gender-affirming care for transgender youth.{{cite web |title=Welch backs transgender therapy for children |date=June 29, 2022 |url=https://vermontdailychronicle.com/welch-backs-transgender-therapy-for-children/ |access-date=29 June 2022 |ref=45}}
= Israel and Palestine =
On November 26, 2023, Welch called for an indefinite ceasefire in the Gaza war. He was the third U.S. senator, the second member of Vermont's congressional delegation, and the first senator from Vermont to do so.{{Cite web |last=Mearhoff |first=Sarah |date=2023-11-28 |title=Changing course, Peter Welch calls for 'indefinite' cease-fire in Gaza |url=http://vtdigger.org/2023/11/28/changing-course-peter-welch-calls-for-indefinite-ceasefire-in-gaza/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=VTDigger |language=en-US}}
In January 2024, Welch voted for a resolution proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.{{cite news|first1=Alexander|last1=Bolton|access-date=2024-01-17|title=Democratic rebels send Biden stern message on Gaza|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4412586-democratic-rebels-send-biden-stern-message-on-gaza/|newspaper=The Hill|date=2024-01-16}} In April 2025, Welch voted for a pair of resolutions Sanders proposed to cancel the Trump administration's sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel. The proposals were defeated, 82 to 15.{{Cite web |last=Neukam |first=Stephen |date=April 3, 2025 |title=15 Senate Dems vote to cancel billions in Israeli military aid |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/03/senate-democrats-cancel-military-aid-israel |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=Axios |language=en}}
= President Biden's reelection campaign =
Welch was the first Democratic senator to call on Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=First Democratic senator calls for Biden to drop his re-election bid |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-pat-ryan-moderate-new-york-democrat-calls-biden-withdraw-race-rcna161166 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=NBC News |language=en}} On July 10, 2024, The Washington Post published Welch's op-ed in which he said that President Biden should drop out for the "good of the country".{{cite news |title=Democratic Sen. Peter Welch: Biden should withdraw for the good of the country |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/10/welch-biden-withdraw/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=11 July 2024}}{{Subscription required}}
=Social media and cybersecurity=
In January 2025, Welch co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which was introduced by Senators Brian Schatz, Chris Murphy, Ted Cruz, and Katie Britt. The Act was also co-sponsored by Senators Ted Budd, Mark Warner, John Curtis, Angus King, and John Fetterman. It would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding "algorithmically targeted" content to users under age 17.{{Cite web |title=Kids Off Social Media Act {{!}} U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii |url=https://www.schatz.senate.gov/kosma |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.schatz.senate.gov |language=en}}
=Abortion rights=
Welch supports reproductive rights, abortion rights, and access to birth control. He supports federal nationwide legislation to make abortion legal. He supports Roe v. Wade. After it was overturned, Welch said: "Our U.S. Supreme Court has totally failed us. In the name of 'state rights,' they have taken away freedom and caused distress and uncertainty for women across the country. It's outrageous that because of this Court and this decision, women have fewer reproductive rights than they did fifty years ago. The choice to have an abortion is deeply personal and now, in many states, it's in the hands of judges and legislators". He continued, "Women deserve to know their reproductive health care and access to abortion won't change when they cross state lines—they need consistent, federal standards and protections. I'm continuing to call on Congress to pass legislation that will restore, protect and expand access to abortion and reproductive care nationwide".{{Cite web |title=Ahead of Roe v. Wade Anniversary, Welch Calls for Passage of Legislation to Restore and Expand Access to Reproductive Health Care, Abortion, and Birth Control {{!}} Senator Welch |url=https://www.welch.senate.gov/ahead-of-roe-v-wade-anniversary-welch-calls-for-passage-of-legislation-to-restore-and-expand-access-to-reproductive-health-care-abortion-and-birth-control/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Since 2009, Welch has been married to Margaret Cheney, a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives who was appointed to the Vermont Public Service Board in 2013.Office of the Governor of Vermont, [http://governor.vermont.gov/newsroom-gov-shumlin-appoints-margaret-cheney-to-psb Press Release: Gov. Shumlin appoints Rep. Margaret Cheney to Public Service Board]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610200600/http://governor.vermont.gov/newsroom-gov-shumlin-appoints-margaret-cheney-to-psb |date=June 10, 2015 }}, September 16, 2013 He was married to Joan Smith from 1986 until she died of cancer in 2004.{{cite web | title=Clipping from The Burlington Free Press | website=The Burlington Free Press | date=2004-09-14 | url=https://burlingtonfreepress.newspapers.com/clip/56465709/the-burlington-free-press/ | access-date=2022-12-23}} Welch has five stepchildren from his first marriage and three from his second.{{cite web | title=Welch, Cheney tie the knot | website=Rutland Herald | date=2009-01-05 | url=https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/welch-cheney-tie-the-knot/article_5642e49c-3a3b-54af-816d-5101f29effcf.html | access-date=2022-12-23}}
References
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External links
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |b=no |d=Q1112656 |n=no |v=no}}
- [https://www.welch.senate.gov/ Senator Peter Welch] official U.S. Senate website
- [https://welchforvermont.com/ Peter Welch for Vermont] campaign website
- {{C-SPAN|1019990}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=w000800 | votesmart=51272 | fec=C00795252| congress=peter-welch/1879 }}
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Category:21st-century Vermont politicians
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