Welch Joins VermontBiz2Biz Expo to Discuss Future of Business in Vermont   

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today participated in the VermontBiz2Biz EXPO in South Burlington to discuss the future of business in Vermont. The Senator welcomed Diane Abruzzini Riggs from Rigorous Technology, Chris Coulter from the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, and Harrison Kahn of Vermont Creamery for a conversation about growing and evolving Vermont’s manufacturing industry. 

“We need more strong businesses here in the state of Vermont. But we’re facing challenges here that are not of our making—like skyrocketing diesel prices, tariffs, and red tape in our regulatory processes—that make succeeding harder, not easier. If there are creative ways to help our state’s growing manufacturing industry thrive, then let’s work together to make that happen,” said Senator Welch. “I’m all in on helping however I can to ensure Vermont’s manufacturers, workers, and companies are successful to give our kids an opportunity to keep building a future right here in a state all of us love.” 

View photos from the event below:

The VermontBiz2Biz EXPO brings the future of business in Vermont together by offering unique opportunities for businesses to meet, listen, learn, and celebrate. VermontBiz reintroduced and built upon an event previously led by the Vermont Chamber for many decades prior to 2019.   

Senator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to expand opportunities for Vermont’s small businesses and bolster the state’s manufacturing industry in the Senate. The Senator is a cosponsor of the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act, legislation that would bring down prices for American families and support small businesses by cracking down on corporate price discrimination. The Senator also helped introduce the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, bipartisan legislation to crack down on predatory online scams advertisements that cost Americans and small businesses billions of dollars every year. 

Senator Welch helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 as a Member of the House of Representatives, which has delivered billions to support GlobalFoundries, a Vermont-based semiconductor manufacturer. The funding has supported GlobalFoundries’ research and development of next-generation silicon photonics wafer technologies, which have the potential to substantially increase the energy efficiency of AI and other critical technology infrastructure projects.   

Senator Welch recently introduced the bicameral Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act to repeal Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and refund all duties paid under this authority. President Trump has implemented the 50% tariffs on Canada under Section 338. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress’ constitutional role in trade policy. The Senator also led the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada under IEEPA authorities. 

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

###