“AI is planning to spend upwards of $300 million this election cycle. … Congress does not regulate AI. AI regulates Congress.
“The American people, overwhelmingly, want to end this horrific war in Iran. … Pathetically, today, nearly every Republican voted with Trump to keep the war going. When will Republicans represent their constituents and have the courage to oppose their mentally unstable leader?
“President Trump has claimed in his State of the Union address that he took prescription drugs from the highest price in the entire world to the lowest. … Do we pay the lowest prices in the world for prescription drugs? Or do we pay the highest prices in the world? … Is it true that we pay the lowest prices in the world for prescription drugs as President Trump has said?
“It doesn't take a genius to say, 'slow it down.' … Do we really want to develop a super intelligence that when it becomes smarter than human beings could act independently of human control? I don't think we do. … I think Trump has very little understanding of what this issue is about. I think he's mainly concerned about the economic implications of a slowdown. … Ronald Reagan, arch-conservative, was smart enough to understand that he had to sit down with Gorbachev, a communist, and work out a nuclear treaty that protected humanity. I think we can do that again now.
“When you are racing towards a cliff, you don't just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake, we cannot let a handful of Big Tech CEOs write their own rules. Scientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity. It must be treated as such. This legislation will permanently ban the development of artificial superintelligence and would put in place an immediate pause on advanced AI development until we have clear safety rules in place — developed by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country. Congress must act now before it is too late.
“No, Mr. President. We should not 'annihilate' the people of Iran. That is a war crime. That is barbarism. … Trump's war in Iran is illegal and unconstitutional. Congress must end it NOW.
“Trump is all smoke and mirrors. If he's serious about lowering prices of oil, gas, and home heating oil, he needs to end his illegal war with Iran.
“[Welch called the ban] outrageous and cowardly[, and said Trump was trying to find a way out of having to answer questions.]
“The American people are sick and tired of funding Israel's genocide in Gaza. Now Trump is doubling down and using OUR taxpayer dollars to give the extremist Netanyahu government $2.8 billion in bombs. Not acceptable. Congress must reject these agreements.
“Do you pledge that you will not in any way interfere in the will of the American people when they go to the polls in November?
“None of this can just happen in the United States alone. There must be international cooperation. … I am doing all that I can to see that President Trump and President Xi of China negotiate an AI treaty when they soon meet. … Back in the 1980s, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union, two people with very different political and ideological positions, understood that a nuclear war would not be good for either country or the rest of the world—and they reached a nuclear arms agreement. Trump and Xi can do the same. … I know there are many who think that is impossible. It's not.
“We need a complete ban on artificial superintelligence—an AI mind smarter than any human and capable of operating independently beyond our control. … [He also called for] a pause on advanced AI development until a new federal AI regulatory body is up and running and has established clear rules and a model review process to ensure safe and secure development of this technology.
“[It is going to be] really tough [for Congress to act expeditiously on AI. Lawmakers have been] totally AWOL on this.
“Dario Amodei, Elon Musk and Sam Altman now agree that we must slow down the development of AI and 'pace the frontier.' That's a start, but it's not enough. When you are racing towards a cliff, you don't just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake we need a PAUSE on advanced AI development and a ban on artificial superintelligence.
“The leaders of the major AI companies publicly acknowledge that they do not fully understand the technology and that it is escaping their control. It is irresponsible for society to allow them to move forward and make these products even more advanced.
“The Endangered Species Act has been critical in advancing our longstanding commitment to protect threatened species and the habitats they depend on to survive. We must uphold this law, which plays an important role in preserving and protecting the wildlife and natural places that Vermonters cherish and call home.
“The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs.
“The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs. … That's why I am introducing legislation to immediately pause the development of increasingly powerful AI and ban the creation of systems that humanity cannot fully control — at home and around the world.
“Nearly every day, there is a frightening new story about how Big Tech companies are losing control of the technology they are developing, with potentially cataclysmic results.
“The American people don't want you to rename the Strait of Hormuz after yourself. You're the President, not a mad king. Act like it.
“The Trump tariffs are basically taxes—they raise costs for families, farmers and employers on both sides of the border and strain a relationship that has made both countries stronger and more secure.
“Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces.
“The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way — it's time to end our complicity, once and for all.
“Israeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians—including 9 killed since 2022.
“Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens.
“No good will come of this trade war with Canada. The only thing these tariffs will create is economic pain on both sides of the border, especially for Vermont and the other 33 states that rely on Canada as their largest trading partner.
“My feelings on punitive tariffs imposed on Canada have not changed over the last two years and are simply a bad idea that will lead to increased costs on Vermonters.
“Mail-in voting is safe and secure and makes it more accessible for Vermonters, especially across our rural state, to participate in our democracy.
“A recent poll showed 64% of Americans want Medicare for All. They're right. Let's do it.
“Melat Kiros was raised in a working-class immigrant household, and she knows that the current political and economic systems are broken and need bold reform. That's why she'll be a great ally in Congress fighting for a progressive agenda that addresses working families' needs.