Press Release

Welch Discusses Flood Recovery in Plainfield 

Jan 23, 2026

PLAINFIELD, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural DevelopmentEnergyand Credit, this week joined community leaders and residents in Plainfield to discuss ongoing flood recovery efforts and his work to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  

Senator Welch discussed his Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, legislation to streamline the road to recovery for disaster-stricken communities and cut red tape by empowering state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. 

“Flood recovery is a long and demanding process that tests the resilience of an entire community—something Vermonters know all too well. I heard directly from folks in Plainfield about what’s working and where the federal response is falling short. Many of the challenges folks are facing in Vermont stem from the fact that FEMA wasn’t designed with small, rural communities in mind,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue to lead efforts to reform FEMA and make sure recovery decisions are driven by local leaders who know their communities best.” 

View photos from the event below and on the Senator’s website   

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