Dear Constituents-

This week in the virtual Statehouse has seen a whirlwind of proposals to spend Coronavirus Relief Funds, and like the weather in Vermont, if you didn’t like one, wait a minute and a new one was proposed…Nearly four weeks ago, the Administration put forth a $400 million Relief package, with major allocations to housing, businesses, healthcare providers, and agriculture. As of this week, much of this funding has been designated to agencies and departments to be used for COVID-19 related work, but unfortunate gaps in aid to agricultureremain. It is my hope that by the time the Legislature adjourns on June 26, these holes will be filled and more families will be out of danger of losing their livelihoods. I am grateful that the Commerce Committee has provided more funding this week for many of the small businesses, nonprofits, minority and woman-owned enterprises, restaurants, highway contractors, andcreative organizations that employ our family, friends, and neighbors. A bright spot on the Ag and Forestry products horizon is that the Working Lands Enterprise Fund will receive funding for related business ventures and that aid is provided to assure that our parks and natural recreation areas remain safe and open. For those of you who have enquired about additional funds for hazard pay to essential workers – only certainoccupations were allowed by the federal definition of “essential” worker and are included in the relief bill for those front-line workers.

Dear Constituents-
To all of Franklin County’s students who have graduated, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on a job well done. These are unprecedented times, and your perseverance and dedication is to be commended! I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.
This was a very long Legislative week, with Committee meetings and House Floor sessions on Zoom stretching our screen time over many hours, as we tried to make sense of the guidelines on Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) and get the most money we could into the pockets of Vermonters. On Monday, my Committee, along with Senate Economic Development and Housing, fast-tracked $23 Million to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and its community partners to begin work to rehabilitate up to 250 units statewide for the purpose of re-housing homeless Vermonters who are currently residing in motels. Discussion on remaining funds continued throughout the week, with House General voting out another $52 Million in housing money to Appropriations on Wednesday and a joint session with the House Human Services Committee and DCF on funding wraparound services to keep individuals and families with complex, high needs housed going forward.

Dear Constituents –
This week, my Legislative work was all about housing. My General, Housing, and Military Affairs Committee pored through several proposals, including the Administration’s, allocating Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to alleviate and prevent homelessness in preparation to contribute to a four-part bill along with Small Business, Marketing, and Agriculture assistance. We have begun to meet more frequently by Zoom in order to hear more testimony and discuss these proposals, as the deadline to pass this legislation approaches. I am pleased to say that there is a strong desire to help landlords, as well as tenants, navigate the financial difficulties that they are experiencing, and there is hope to pass more emergency legislation next week. House floor sessions, also by Zoom, have increased in length and frequency in order to cover all of the bills coming out of committees and over from the Senate. All of these meetings are public and can be viewed on YouTube by livestream or recorded; the links are available on the Vermont General Assembly website and each committee’s webpage.

Dear Constituents-

On May 30, we in the US traditionally celebrated Decoration Day, (or Memorial Day as we now call it), and I can recall spending time decorating graves in the local cemeteries with my family and scout troops, as well as participating in parades to honor those who served our nation and didn’t return. Although we aren’t able to do as much this year, marking this holiday is no less important. Those veterans who gave their lives in service, and the families they left behind, have my gratitude for fighting for our rights and freedoms.

Finally, Spring appears to have arrived in northern Vermont! Please be safe as you pursue outdoor activities and enjoy the landscape that we call home.  In honor of Memorial Day, I want to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country and to their families for their sacrifice; although we are unable to have large, public events this year, those veterans will be foremost in our hearts this weekend.

The week began on a call with Commissioner Harrington of the Department of Labor regarding the latest update on Vermonters receiving UI/PUA/PEUC benefits. Another 2300 non-traditional claims were added to the system this week with the assistance of the Legislative Action Team – thank you to those legislators who gave their time to this important endeavor. As of today, much of the backlog has been resolved thanks to everyone working together.

As I write this, our Internet was down for five hours today – no WiFi for texting or calling on cellphones, no Zoom meetings, and in my case, no voting on the virtual House floor.  When the House of Representatives voted to allow ourselves to vote remotely, I had some concerns. One of them was NOT what would happen if I lost internet and couldn’t use my cellphone OR my landline, which is exactly what happened to me today. I chose to not join the voting by landline because I was already using my landline to field calls from constituents on call-waiting while I was on hold with our internet provider, hoping to advocate for all of us who needed to work and attend school virtually. Although I have voiced this new concern to House leadership, I remain unconvinced that this issue will not come up again.

Dear Constituents –

I hope this writing finds you and yours well and safe. May began, as most months do, with attendance at meetings outside of my legislative committee – remotely “attending” the Missisquoi Valley School District, Franklin County Home Health Agency, Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District, and Highgate Selectboard meetings this week. Issues of internet access, remote learning for students, safety for healthcare professionals, successes and challenges during this pandemic, cancellations and substitutions for annual events, and road work were topics of discussion. My gratitude goes out to all of you who are adapting to, and reworking what is, the new normal in our lives – there is so much good in humanity to celebrate in this time of crisis!

Dear Constituents –

I hope this update finds you well. We began the week on April 20 with a small number of businesses being allowed to resume and ended with another tiny sector poised to join them on April 27. This gradual opening of the economy will ensure that Vermont is not overwhelmed by sickness and our health care facilities have the capability to care for us. Thank you for your patience and cooperation and please remain vigilant by continuing to social distance, limit your excursions, and wear a cloth mask when you have to be out in public. I am grateful to everyone who is checking on their older neighbors and family members to keep them safe.

Dear Constituents –

Thank you to all of you who are doing your part to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission. I am honored to represent the non-profits, municipalities, businesses, and individuals who are so creatively serving the public’s needs during the most difficult weeks of this crisis.  Hope is on the horizon, as the Governor begins to open up the State for business, slowly but surely. You can find the latest guidance for employers and employees working solo or in small, socially distanced teams at www.accd.vermont.gov. Please join me in supporting all of our local businesses, including farmers markets on May 1, as they transition towards gradual operation again.

Please remain vigilant and safe by visiting  www.healthvermont.gov and observing the Vermont Department of Health guidelines to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Additionally, there is a phone line staffed 8am-6pm daily, including weekends, at 802-863-7240 to answer your health-related questions and a new VT Helplink line 802-565-LINK(5465) for substance misuse support. The Department is also encouraging Vermonters who need non-emergency medical attention to call their providers and opt for a teleheath appointment when appropriate. For questions regarding your health insurance, please reach out to the Department of Financial Regulation at [email protected].

www.vermont211.org (2-1-1 by phone) remains the best resource for all other basic needs, such as housing, food insecurity, legal, and mental health services.

Dear Constituents -

Another week of “Stay Home, Stay Safe” and we are busier than ever learning new digital platforms on which to conduct business, virtually attending committee meetings on COVID-19 relief bills, and assisting constituents with concerns around unemployment insurance and small business losses. The State of Vermont website has excellent resources for answers to questions, some of which have been forwarded to you in email blasts or posts on www.charenforhouse.com and Front Porch Forum (thank you to Rep Fegard while my website is under development).

After a House General Committee briefing from the three Congressional delegates’ offices, I have also included a new link from the Dept of Labor regarding Federal CARES Act information for anyone facing the loss of income:

https://labor.vermont.gov/CARESact_Vermont