Press Release

NEXT WEEK: Welch to Discuss Skyrocketing Food Prices, Election Integrity; Host Common Grounds Listening Session in Addison County 

May 1, 2026

Welch will discuss rising food and production costs on Wednesday 

Welch, Balint will discuss election integrity with Vermont Town Clerks and Vermont Secretary of State on Thursday

 

Wednesday May 6, 2026 
10:00 a.m. Welch to Host Common Grounds Listening Sessions in Addison County   

MIDDLEBURY, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will travel to Middlebury next week as part of his ‘Common Grounds with Senator Welch’ listening session series. Senator Welch invites Vermonters to get a cup of coffee and discuss how Washington can work better for the Green Mountain State. The Senator will host ‘Common Grounds’ listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026.    

LOGISTICS:  
WHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)  
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th at 10:00 a.m. 
WHERE: Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society (CVUUS) 2 Duane Ct., Middlebury, VT 05753  
PARKING: There is limited parking on site, with some reserved for those with limited mobility. Additional parking is available at Middlebury Union High School, Main Street downtown lots, or Kinney’s. 
RSVP: Vermonters can RSVP HERE for Senator Welch’s ‘Common Grounds’ Listening Session in Middlebury.  
MEDIA RSVP: Media are kindly asked to RSVP to Elisabeth St. Onge: Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov   
1:00 p.m. Welch to Speak at HOPE Food Shelf on How Vermonters are Hurt by Rising Food Costs and Trump’s Economic Policies   

MIDDLEBURY, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will visit with nutrition advocates to discuss how President Trump’s economic policies are hurting Vermont families’ ability to put food on the table.   

Senator Welch will highlight new data on how the Trump Administration’s trade and tariff policies, reckless war in Iran, and tax bill has caused inflation to soar in President Trump’s second term.  

LOGISTICS: 
WHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)  
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th at 1:00 p.m. 
WHERE: HOPE Food Shelf; 282 Boardman St, Middlebury, VT 05753  
MEDIA RSVP: Media are kindly asked to RSVP to Elisabeth St. Onge: Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov   
2:00 p.m. Welch to Visit Nitty Gritty Grain Co. in Charlotte to Discuss How Trump’s Economic Policies and War in Iran Are Raising Costs for Farmers and Grain Producers  

CHARLOTTE, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will visit Nitty Gritty Grain Co. in Charlotte, where he will meet with farmers and producers to discuss rising food productions costs and the harmful impacts of President Trump’s policies on farm communities.  

Nitty Gritty Grain Co. produces organic, small batch grains for restaurants and bakeries across Vermont. They are owned and operated by a 7th generation farming family.  

The Senator will also be joined by O Bread Bakery.  

LOGISTICS:  
WHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Nitty Gritty Grain Co.; O Bread Bakery; Farmers and Producers in Vermont  
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th at 2:00 p.m. 
WHERE: Nitty Gritty Grain Co.; 4458 Lake Rd, Charlotte, VT 05445 
MEDIA RSVP: Media are kindly asked to RSVP to Elisabeth St. Onge: Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov  
Thursday May 7, 2026 
2:00 p.m. Welch, Balint to Host Roundtable on Election Integrity with Vermont Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas and Vermont Town Clerks  

SHELBURNE, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)a member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees, alongside U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, will host an event with Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Town Clerks to discuss the integrity and importance of free and fair elections in Vermont.     

Town Clerks from Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Winooski, Brattleboro, Morrisville, and Shelburne will discuss the voting process and share the many steps taken to ensure fair, secure elections in Vermont.  

The Vermont Congressional Delegation is adamantly opposed to President Trump’s executive orders on voting and Republicans’ Save America Act, which threatens to block millions of U.S. citizens from voting—disproportionately impacting women, people of color, seniors, and rural voters—and make it harder to register and vote by disrupting online registration and eliminating universal mail-in voting.   The event will be held at the Shelburne Town Offices. Diana Vachon, Shelburne Town Clerk, is the President of the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association (VMCTA).  

LOGISTICS:  
WHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Town Clerks from Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Winooski, Brattleboro, Morrisville, and Shelburne.  
WHEN: Thursday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m. 
WHERE: Shelburne Town Offices, 5420 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, VT 
MEDIA RSVP: Media are kindly asked to RSVP to Elisabeth St. Onge: Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov  

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