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Born
Bernie Sanders was born in Brooklyn, NY. -
**CORE
Sanders was a member and leader in CORE, Congress of Racial Equality. -
**Student Nonviolet Coordinating Committee
Sanders was an organizer for this group. -
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Mayor of Burlington
Bernie Sanders served as Mayor of Burlington in Vermont. -
**Burlington Community Land Trust
While mayor, Sanders established the Burlington Community Land Trust as the first housing land trust in the county and made housing affordable. -
*Against authorization of military force in the Gulf War
Sanders votes no to legislation that would allow George H.W. Bush to use military force in the Gulf War. He said "I have a real fear that the region is not going to be more peaceful or more stable after the war". -
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House of Representatives
Bernie served as the representative for Vermont. -
*1st legislation for National Program of Cancer Registries
Sanders signs the first legislation to support/create the National Program of Cancer Registries. The bill is called 'the cancer weapon America needs most" by Reader's Digest and now all states have registries to support cancer researchers. -
*Against Clinton-era North American Free Trade Agreement
"If NAFTA passes, corporate profits will soar because it will be even easier than now for American companies to flee to Mexico and hire workers there for starvation wages." -Sanders -
*Against DOMA
Sanders votes against the Defense of Marriage Act. One of only 67 votes against the act that denied federal benefits to gay and lesbian couples legally married. Only 17 years later was the law reversed. -
*Crossing borders for protest against major pharmaceutical companies
Sanders is the first Congressman to take seniors across the Canadian border to buy lower-costing prescription drugs (In canada the prices are 1/10th the cost). -
*Meeting of Sanders to protest IBM plan to cut pensions of older workers
Sanders holds a meeting at St. Michael's College to protest a 50% cut on pensions for older workers (part of IBM).IBM is enacted and Sanders continues to protests by passing amendments that would "prohibit federal courts from overturning a district court decision that ruled that IBM's pan violated pension age discrimation laws.... IBM agreed to a $320 million legal settlement with... 130,000 IBM workers and retirees." (berniesanders.com). -
*Against bill to unravel gradual financial regulations made after the Great Depression
"This legislation will lead to fewer banks and financial service providers, increased charges and fees for individual consumers and small businesses, diminished credit for rural America and taxpayer exposure to potential losses should financial conglomerate fail. It will lead to more mega-mergers, a small number of corporations dominating the financial service industry and further concentration of power in our country." -Sanders -
*Against USA Patriot Act
"All of us want to protect the American people from terrorist attacks, but in a way that does not undermine basic freedoms". -
*Against the Bush-Cheney war in Iraq
Sanders says the invasion could "result in anti-Americanism, instability and more terrorism." -
*Passes amendment to stop government from gaining library and book-buying records
"Sanders passes an amendment... to stop the government from obtaining library and book-buying records on Amercans. Unfortunately, the amendment is later removed in bicameral backroom negotiations." (berniesanders.com). -
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Senate
Bernie Sanders was elected in 2007 and currently holds the position of senator for Vermont. -
*Energy efficiency and conservation grant program becomes law
The energy and conservation grant program Sanders shapes becomes law. Later $3.2 billion is secured for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant program. -
*Funds double for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Sanders efforts provide for the fund doubling for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which helps millions of low-income Americans get heat. -
*Pass amendment to prevent Wall Street banks from replacing US workers
Sanders and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley work together to pass a bill that would prevent Wall Street banks from laying off US workers and hiring lower paying foreign workers. -
*Passes language in the Affordable Care Act
This language allowed for states to apply for waivers to put in place health care systems by 2017 allowing states to cover more people at lower prices. -
*Sanders provision is passed into law with the Affordable Care Act
Obama signs the Affordable Care Act with Sanders provision to expand federally qualified community health centers. The program serving 25 million Americans was funded by the $12.5 billion Sanders secured. Another $1.5 billion of his provison provided for schoarships and loan repayment for doctors and nurses who practice in underserved communities through the National Health Servcie Corps. -
*passes a measure to audit the Federal Reserve
Bernie Sanders and Republican Congressman Ron Paul work to pass a measure through the Dod-Frank Wall Street reform bill to audit the Federal Reserve to uncover how it gave $16 trillion in zero to no interest loans to large banks and business after the 2008 economic collapse. -
*8 1/2 hr filibuster to prevent tax-breaks for the wealthiest
Sanders performs an 8 1/2 hour filibuster, including current issues of economic inequality and increasing deficits, in opposition of a bill that would extend Bush-era tax breaks for America's wealthiests backed by Republicans and Obama. -
*Stops a "chained-CPI" proposal
Sanders with the support of seniors, women, veterans, labor unions, disabled Americans stops a "chained-CPI" proposal that would cut Social Security and disabled veterans' benefits. -
*introduction of legislation to separate large Wall Street banks
Sanders introduces legislation to separate large Wall Street banks to prevent the collapse of one sending the economy awry. -
*bipartisan bill signed helps veterans
Written by Sanders, Sen. John McCain and Rep. Jeff Miller a bipartisan $16.5 billion veterans bill is signed that provides for the Veterans Affairs to hire more doctors and health professionals through $5 billion for the increasing demand for care. -
*takes over the Senate Budget Committee
Sanders gains controll over the Senate Budget Committee and fights for an economic agenda for the American middle-class. -
*Against Keystone XL pipeline
The keystone pipeline would allow for the transportation of dirty tar sand oils from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. -
*Announces his role in the Election of 2016
Sanders annouces that he will be running for president in the 2016 Election.
