Oversight
"As a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I have helped the main investigative arm of Congress review the effectiveness of federal laws and government programs. From oversight of Wall Street to holding federal regulators accountable, I will continue to work to ensure Vermonters’ tax dollars are being spent effectively and that federal agencies have proper oversight and transparency."
Spotlight on Oversight
A member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Welch distinguished himself during his first term by writing legislation that closed a multi-billion dollar contractor fraud loophole. In recognition of these efforts, President Obama invited Rep. Welch to take part in the announcement of a major overhaul in government contracting procedures in March 2009. In 2014, Rep. Welch led a successful effort against excessive government regulations that would have harmed Vermont’s thriving artisan cheese industry. He has also led efforts to hold Volkswagen accountable for the environmental and financial damage that resulted from its vehicle emissions cheating scandal.
More on Oversight
January 5, 2017
Press Release
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led nearly 60 of their colleagues Wednesday to introduce resolutions in the Senate and House stating the sense of Congress that President-elect Donald Trump should comply with the Constitution and follow the precedent established by prior presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustees, or take other equivalent measures.
April 20, 2016
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) today introduced legislation that would ensure local communities have a significant role in the decommissioning of retired nuclear plants. The legislation also requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to publically approve or reject proposed decommissioning plans to ensure appropriate accountability and transparency measures are in place.
February 9, 2016
In The News
The self-described “most transparent administration in history” declined to say how much it seeks to bill taxpayers for individual spy agencies as part of President Barack Obama's final budget request to Congress.
November 10, 2015
In The News
Vermont’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives is proposing legislation intended to reduce Medicaid fraud.
October 1, 2015
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) issued the following statement today in response to recent comments made by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) regarding the Benghazi and Planned Parenthood investigations.
May 22, 2015
Press Release
This week the Department of Justice and state officials announced that five Wall Street banks will pay $5.6 billion for criminal activity that manipulated the currency market. In response, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) reintroduced the Stop Deducting Damages Act of 2015 (H.R. 2486) to ensure that parties in this case and in any future settlements cannot shift the burden of their crimes to the taxpayer.
May 13, 2015
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) have introduced legislation that would require the president to disclose in the annual budget request to Congress the top line spending levels at the 16 federal agencies known to conduct intelligence activities. Top-line spending levels for federal intelligence activities are currently treated as classified information.
March 3, 2015
Press Release
With the recently-released rules from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and White House governing the operation of commercial and government drones failing to adequately protect the privacy of Americans, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today introduced bicameral legislation to establish safeguards to protect the privacy of individuals from the expanded use of drones.
February 25, 2015
In The News
As a Friday federal bill deadline approaches, Rep. Peter Welch is criticizing Republican leaders for balking on presenting and passing a budget for the Department of Homeland Security not tied to immigration reforms.
February 25, 2015
In The News