BURKE, VT—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today met with flood-impacted Vermonters and community leaders in northern Vermont. Senator Welch also held a Listening Session in Hardwick last week.  

“Hardwick and Burke know all too well—climate change is here, and we need to empower small towns with the tools and resources they need to recover. My new bill, the Disaster AID Act, will help cut through red tape and improve the disaster recovery process,” said Senator Welch. “The input I received from Vermont communities about their experience with FEMA shaped this bill, and am committed to making Washington work better for Vermont.”  

View photos here and on Senator Welch’s website:  

Senator Welch hosts a Listening Session in Hardwick on Monday, July 14 

 Senator Welch hosts a Listening Session in Burke on Monday, July 21 

West Burke, as well as Sutton and Lyndon, were hit by more flash flooding in 2025 on the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 floods. Senator Welch’s visits to Hardwick and Burke follow visits to flood-impacted communities across Vermont, including Killington, Ludlow, Weston, Barre, and Montpelier.  

This month, Senator Welch introduced the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act. Senator Welch’s bill will cut red tape and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. The bill will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. 

Last week, Senator Welch called for the resignation of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing Secretary Noem’s mishandling of FEMA and record of undermining FEMA’s work, as well as her handling of President Trump’s cruel and illegal mass deportation campaign. 

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