WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, slammed Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans for holding a sham hearing on former President Biden, rather than debating policy and working to improve the lives of everyday Americans.  

“I’m going to tell you what I think is a cover-up. I think this ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ done by reconciliation whereby decision of the majority, not a single member of the minority—who represent half of the citizens of this country—can even be in the room when the terms and the policies are being debated,” said Senator Welch. “We are not there. That is what I call a cover-up because our responsibility—our responsibility—to the people we all represent is to debate health care, is to debate our budget, is to debate about the debt that we’re going to be leaving future generations. And there is no debate.” 

“And I ask myself: why in the world are we doing it? But we know the answer to that. Because the politics that has been embraced in this Congress is the politics of accusation, of demeaning adversaries, of deflecting from engaging in the hard discussion about hard issues and trying to come to some common agreement that’s going to be to the mutual benefit of all of the people that we represent.” 

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below: 

Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s remarks: 

“I believe there is a constitutional crisis—it’s the collapse of Congress asserting its Article I authority to make decisions about the well-being of the American people. What has this Senate debated in the months that we’ve been here other than nominations?  

“Have we discussed the possible war with Iran? Have we had a serious discussion on the floor about the massive and mounting debt? Have we had any discussion about the abdication of congressional spending authority by the impoundment actions of an administration? Have we had a discussion about climate change that is causing havoc throughout the world? 

“What we’ve done is gone to the floor and debate—we haven’t debated. We’ve gone to the floor and voted on nominations.” 

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Read Senator Welch’s full remarks as delivered. 

Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

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