He sided with the minority in voting
against the use of force against Iraq in 1991 and 2002. He also
opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Voted against the Patriot Act despite the majority of Congress voting for it (357 to 66). He also
sponsored several amendments trying to limit its effects, even getting a
proposal passed through the House preventing the government from obtaining a record of the books people buy.
Was an open critic of Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan and took him head on insisting he only represented “large and wealthy corporations.” Greenspan
later admitted to Congress that his economic ideology regarding risky mortgage loans was flawed.
He
passed more amendments than any other member during his time in the House. It earned him the nickname “The Amendment King.” He did this despite being a “socialist” and Congress being controlled by Republicans from 1994 to 2006, in one of the most partisan right-wing Houses ever.
Passed an
amendment to “require offenders who are convicted of fraud and other white collar crime to give appropriate notice to victims and other persons in cases where there are multiple victims eligible to receive restitution.”
Passed an
amendment that improved Postsecondary Education. It administered a competitive grant program to institutions of higher education seeking to reduce costs through the purchase of goods and services. This saved colleges and taxpayers both money.
He
amended the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 2003, stopping the IRS from being able to use funds that “violate current pension age discrimination laws.”
He
expanded free health care and won a $100 million increase in funding by using his amendment powers. This added community health centers that gave out a variety of free health care services.
Prevented child labor by passing an amendment to a general appropriations bill. This
stated that the U.S. will not appropriate funds for the importation of goods made by the hands of minors.
Won a
$22 million increase for low-income home energy assistance and a related weatherization assistance program. This helped heat homes for the poor.
Passed an
amendment that formed a bipartisan coalition effectively prohibiting the Export-Import Bank from handing out loans for nuclear projects in China.
U.S. Senate
Defeated a wealthy businessman, Rich Tarrant, to win his U.S. Senate seat in 2006, in one of the
most expensive campaigns in Vermont’s history.
Received the distinction of being named the third-most popular senator in the country,
according to Public Policy Polling in August 2011.
Given a
score of 100 percent by the NAACP and NHLA (National Hispanic Leadership Agenda) based on his record during his time in the Senate.
Named one of the
top 5 American Jews of the Forward 50 in 2015.
Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in 2013-2014.
Became
ranking minority member of the Senate Budget Committee in January 2015.
Became
ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging.
Passed an
amendment making sure that solar water heaters provide at least 30 percent of hot water for new federal buildings. This is forcing us to use green energy.
Made sure to it that bailout funds
weren’t used to replace laid-off U.S. workers with exploited and poorly-paid foreign workers.
Helped ensure that
child care was being offered to parents in the Armed Forces by requiring the Comptroller General to provide accurate reporting on what was being done.
Required a
public database be made available showing the names of senior Department officials seeking employment with defense contractors. This helped crack down on corruption.
Required that the TRICARE program
provide treatment to veterans affected by certain types of autism. It wasn’t previously being done.
Won a battle requiring the Government Accountability Office to
conduct an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the part that doesn’t interfere with monetary policy). This revealed the names of the recipients of over 2,000,000,000,000 in taxpayer assistance.
Was praised by John McCain(R-AZ) and Sen. Jack Reed(D-RI) for
overhauling the Veterans Administration. Was said to have done such an excellent job of bringing all parties to a deal, that it wouldn’t have gotten done without Sanders’ work.
