Bernie Sanders’ record of pushing through major reforms will surprise you

[Uncle Joe]

I'm a progressive, but I’m a progressive who likes to get things done,” Hillary Clinton said at the first Democratic debate, in response to a question from moderator Anderson Cooper about whether she defines herself as a moderate or a progressive.

The implication was that progressive Bernie Sanders is too far to the left to accomplish anything—all of his ideas are pie-in-the-sky. You have to be able to find the bipartisan, “warm, purple space” as Clinton said earlier this year, to get anything done. Slate’s Jamelle Bouie was super-impressed by this rationale, saying Clinton has “skilled use of bureaucratic power.”

The problem with this narrative is that it is completely false. Not only has Sanders gotten a lot more things done than Clinton did in her own short legislative career, he’s actually one of the most effective members of Congress, passing bills, both big and small, that have reshaped American policy on key issues like poverty, the environment and health care.

The Amendment King

Congress is not known to be a progressive institution lately, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the House of Representatives was only controlled by the Democrats from 2007 to 2010, and a flood of corporate money has quieted the once-powerful progressive movement that passed legislation moving the country forward between the New Deal era and the Great Society. Yet, as difficult as it may be to believe, a socialist from Vermont is one of its most accomplished members.

(snip)

As if things didn’t look bad enough, in 1994 the Republicans swept into power in the House of Representatives, dashing the hopes of many that Congress could do anything progressive whatsoever. But Sanders was not content with tilting at windmills. He didn’t want to just take a stand, he wanted to pass legislation that improved the United States of America. He found his vehicle in legislative amendments.

Amendments in the House of Representatives are often seen as secondary vehicles to legislation that individual members sponsor, but they are an important way to move resources and build bipartisan coalitions to change the direction of the law. Despite the fact that the most right-wing Republicans in a generation controlled the House of Representatives between 1994 and 2006, the member who passed the most amendments during that time was not a right-winger like Bob Barr or John Boehner. The amendment king was, instead, Bernie Sanders.

(snip)

https://www.rawstory.com/2015/10/bernie-sanders-record-of-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you/

This is more on the link.

[peacebird]

1. Bernie manages to get a lot done!

[jfern]

2. He's gotten a lot of things done

Two of the biggest are the Veterans Administration overhaul last year, and a continual expansion of community health clinics. The part he got into ObamaCare expanded them to serve another 10 million people a year.

[Catherina]

3. Kicked, rec'd and bookmarked with thanks n/t

[Uncle Joe]

4. Here is a list of Bernie Sanders sponsored bills that passed

Issue Areas

Sanders sponsors bills primarily in these issue areas:

Armed Forces and National Security (27%) Health (19%) Energy (10%) Labor and Employment (10%) Education (9%) Government Operations and Politics (9%) Finance and Financial Sector (7%) Taxation (7%)

Recent Bills

Some of Sanders’s most recently sponsored bills include...

S. 2142: Workplace Democracy Act
S. 2054: Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015
S. 2023: Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015
S. 1970: Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act ...
S. 1969: Democracy Day Act of 2015
S. 1832: Pay Workers a Living Wage Act
S. 1713: Low-Income Solar Act

View All » (including bills from previous years)



https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/bernard_sanders/400357

[BainsBane]

7. Unfortunately, most have never made it out of committee

Three, that I know of, have passed: One for Veterans and two naming post offices.

[Oilwellian]

42. Apparently you didn't read the article

Bernie has passed many amendments with bipartisan support.

It always helps to read the article and avoid looking foolish.

[WillyT]

5. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You For The Thread Uncle Joe !!!

[BainsBane]

6. This is all new to me

Because I checked on this very thing soon after he announced. I checked sponsorship of bills, and he sponsored three successful ones: one for Veterans funding, good; two for naming post offices.

Now the amendments is an interesting take. The problem with the article is that it doesn't list the numbers/precise names of the bills and amendments so we can verify them.

I also wonder why Sanders supporters have not mentioned this before. The issue of whether or not he has been able to get his reforms through is a crucial one for judging his effectiveness and leadership ability. I have asked many, many times and never gotten a response that references any of what this article points to. Frankly, if this is true it's very unfortunate because I think it might have affected the primary early on, at least for me. At this point it would be difficult for me to switch given the non-stop insults and shit I have been subject to. If instead of that people had provided information like this, it could have led to a far more effective championing of their candidate.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Here you go

Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Bernard Sanders

Limit your search
1-25 of 6,162
Results per page GO
Sort by GO
BILL
S.2148 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 10/07/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 10/07/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.1885 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veteran Housing Stability Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 07/29/2015)
Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs
Latest Action: 10/06/2015 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2142 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Workplace Democracy Act
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 10/06/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 10/06/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2120 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (Introduced 10/01/2015)
Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs
Latest Action: 10/01/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2090 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 09/28/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/28/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6976-6977) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2075 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
American Worker Health Care Tax Relief Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 09/24/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/24/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2054 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 09/17/2015)
Committees: Senate - Judiciary
Latest Action: 09/17/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
RESOLUTION
S.Res.259 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution honoring the bravery and heroism of those who selflessly prevented a deadly terrorist attack and saved countless lives while aboard a passenger train bound from Amsterdam to Paris on...
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 09/17/2015)
Latest Action: 09/17/2015 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6818; text as passed Senate: CR S6817) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status Passed SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate
BILL
S.1856 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for suspension and removal of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs for performance or misconduct that is a threat to public health...
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 02/23/2015)
Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs
Latest Action: 09/16/2015 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2035 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 09/15/2015)
Latest Action: 09/16/2015 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 229. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2042 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
WAGE Act
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 09/16/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 09/16/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.2023 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 09/10/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.403 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 02/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Committee Reports: S. Rept. 114-125
Latest Action: 09/09/2015 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 205. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
RESOLUTION
S.Res.250 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution relative to the death of Richard Schultz Schweiker, former United States Senator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 09/09/2015)
Latest Action: 09/09/2015 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6540; text as passed Senate: CR S6537-6538) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status Passed SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate
BILL
S.1493 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 06/03/2015)
Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs
Committee Reports: S. Rept. 114-122
Latest Action: 08/28/2015 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 202. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.1969 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Democracy Day Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Judiciary
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.1970 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Rules and Administration
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.1981 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Equal Employment for All Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
RESOLUTION
S.Res.244 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the "Laudato Si" encyclical of Pope Francis, and global climate change.
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6402-6403) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate
RESOLUTION
S.Res.246 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution commemorating 80 years since the creation of Social Security.
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6404-6405; text of measure as introduced: CR S6404) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate
BILL
S.1772 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Schedules That Work Act
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 07/15/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 08/04/2015 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6253-6254) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
BILL
S.1925 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to extend the secure rural schools and community self-determination program and to make permanent the payment in lieu of taxes program and the land and water conservation fund.
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (Introduced 08/04/2015)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: 08/04/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
AMENDMENT
S.Amdt.2591 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Amends Bill: S.754
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Submitted 08/04/2015)
Cosponsors: 0
BILL
S.590 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Campus Accountability and Safety Act
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] (Introduced 02/26/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 07/29/2015 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law
RESOLUTION
S.Res.231 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution honoring the memory and legacy of the two Louisiana citizens who lost their lives, recognizing the heroism of first responders and those on the scene, and condemning the attack of July...
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] (Introduced 07/27/2015)
Latest Action: 07/27/2015 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5906-5907; text as passed Senate: CR S5932) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status Passed SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate


https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033

There are more pages to check out on this as well.

[rosesaylavee]

11. YES! Thanks for this list of amendments!

[BainsBane]

16. Again, the issue is what has been passed

three on that list, all of which are resolutions honoring someone who died. None are amendments, and none have to do with the reforms he runs on as a candidate.

You can tell the status by looking at tracker. Introducing legislation is not passing a bill. Truthfully, I find troubling his use of Senate resources to introduce legislation he knows won't be passed as a vehicle for his campaign, which is what has happened during this current session. I see it as using Senate resources for his campaign.

[Uncle Joe]

19. As I said "There are more pages to check out on this as well." The first page which I posted

is just the most recent, they go back in time throughout his career, long before Bernie decided to run for President.

Look at the bottom of the link for more pages.

P.S. Many of them did make it out of his committee.

[BainsBane]

20. There is an option for amendments

which is what the article refers to.
https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?q=%7B%22type%22%3A%22amendments%22%7D&pageSize=250

The overwhelming majority show no action whatsoever. It will take a lot of time to look through them to find successful ones.

[Uncle Joe]

23. These bills made it out of Bernie's committee, many of them became law and again this is just from

the first page.

Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Bernard Sanders

BILL
S.2148 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 10/07/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 10/07/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.2142 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Workplace Democracy Act
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 10/06/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 10/06/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)

BILL
S.2090 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 09/28/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/28/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6976-6977) (All Actions)

BILL
S.2075 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
American Worker Health Care Tax Relief Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 09/24/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/24/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

BILL
S.2054 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 09/17/2015)
Committees: Senate - Judiciary
Latest Action: 09/17/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.2035 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 09/15/2015)
Latest Action: 09/16/2015 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 229. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

BILL
S.2042 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
WAGE Act
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 09/16/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 09/16/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

BILL
S.2023 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 09/10/2015)
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: 09/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

BILL
S.403 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 02/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Committee Reports: S. Rept. 114-125
Latest Action: 09/09/2015 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 205. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

BILL
S.1493 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 06/03/2015)
Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs
Committee Reports: S. Rept. 114-122
Latest Action: 08/28/2015 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 202. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.1969 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Democracy Day Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Judiciary
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.1970 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Rules and Administration
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.1981 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Equal Employment for All Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 08/05/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.1772 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Schedules That Work Act
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 07/15/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 08/04/2015 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6253-6254) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law


BILL
S.1925 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to extend the secure rural schools and community self-determination program and to make permanent the payment in lieu of taxes program and the land and water conservation fund.
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (Introduced 08/04/2015)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: 08/04/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

BILL
S.590 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Campus Accountability and Safety Act
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] (Introduced 02/26/2015)
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 07/29/2015 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033?page=2

[BeanMusical]

26. Thanks Uncle Joe!

[BainsBane]

31. You're misunderstanding the status section

Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed SenatePassed HouseTo PresidentBecame Law

Only the first is the status of the listed bill. You'll note some others list a different status first. The part that follows "Here are the steps for Status of Legislation" is simply a list of the path a bill takes and the various options that the bill could be listed as. Look at the date for your first entry, 10/7/15. Bills rarely moves that quickly. That particular bill has been introduced. It has not proceeded through the other steps.

This resolution, on the other hand, has been passed.

RESOLUTION
S.Res.231 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A resolution honoring the memory and legacy of the two Louisiana citizens who lost their lives, recognizing the heroism of first responders and those on the scene, and condemning the attack of July...
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David (Introduced 07/27/2015)
Latest Action: 07/27/2015 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5906-5907; text as passed Senate: CR S5932) (All Actions)
Tracker: This bill has the status Passed SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:
IntroducedPassed Senate

[Uncle Joe]

32. Many of the ones that I bolded state, "Became Law" the others made it out of Bernie's committee. n/t

[BainsBane]

34. Did you read my post?

Three resolutions from your initial post became law. They were all resolutions honoring deceased citizens. None of the others did. My last post explains how that section lists options.

Bernie doesn't chair a committee. The GOP controls the Senate now and they chair all committees.

[Uncle Joe]

36. Bernie either sponsored/co-sponsored and or made amendments to those bills,

"Bernie's committee" was just referring to a committee that he is either a member of or the ranking minority member.

Committee assignments
Committee on the Budget (Ranking Member)
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Energy
Subcommittee on National Parks
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Children and Families
Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging (Ranking Member)
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

Just from the OP

Corporate Crime Accountability (February 1995): A Sanders amendment to the Victims Justice Act of 1995 required “offenders who are convicted of fraud and other white-collar crimes to give notice to victims and other persons in cases where there are multiple victims eligible to receive restitution.”

Saving Money, for Colleges and Taxpayers (April 1998): In an amendment to H.R. 6, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Sanders made a change to the law that allowed the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to make competitive grants available to colleges and universities that cooperated to reduce costs through joint purchases of goods and services.

Holding IRS Accountable, Protecting Pensions (July 2002): Sanders’ amendment to the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 2003 stopped the IRS from being able to use funds that “violate current pension age discrimination laws.” Although he faced stiff GOP opposition, his amendment still succeeded along a 308 to 121 vote.

Expanding Free Health Care (November 2001): You wouldn’t think Republicans would agree to an expansion of funds for community health centers, which provide some free services. But Sanders was able to win a $100 million increase in funding with an amendment.

Getting Tough On Child Labor (July 2001): A Sanders amendment to the general appropriations bill prohibited the importation of goods made with child labor.

Increasing Funding for Heating for the Poor (September 2004): Sanders won a $22 million increase for the low-income home energy assistance program and related weatherization assistance program.

Fighting Corporate Welfare and Protecting Against Nuclear Disasters (June 2005): A Sanders amendment brought together a bipartisan coalition that outnumbered a bipartisan coalition on the other side to successfully prohibit the Export-Import Bank from providing loans for nuclear projects in China.

Once Sanders made it to the Senate in 2006, his ability to use amendments to advance a progressive agenda was empowered. Here are some of the amendments he passed in the Senate:

Greening the U.S. Government (June 2007): A Sanders amendment made a change to the law so at least 30 percent of the hot water demand in newer federal buildings is provided through solar water heaters.

Protecting Our Troops (October 2007): Sanders used an amendment to win $10 million for operation and maintenance of the Army National Guard, which had been stretched thin and overextended by the war in Iraq.

Restricting the Bailout to Protect U.S. Workers (Feburary 2009): A Sanders amendment required the banking bailout to utilize stricter H-1B hiring standards to ensure bailout funds weren’t used to displace American workers.

Helping Veterans’ Kids (July 2009): A Sanders amendment required the Comptroller General to put together comprehensive reporting on financial assistance for child care available to parents in the Armed Forces.

Exposing Corruption in the Military-Industrial Complex (November 2012): A Sanders amendment required “public availability of the database of senior Department officials seeking employment with defense contractors” – an important step toward transparency that revealed the corruption of the revolving door in action.

Support for Treating Autism in Military Health Care: Sanders worked with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to pass an amendment by a vote of 66-29 ensuring that the military’s TRICARE system would be able to treat autism.

https://www.rawstory.com/2015/10/bernie-sanders-record-of-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you/

[BainsBane]

39. This will be my last post in the thread

since I've addressed these points several times. As far as I'm concerned, what matters is what passed. Sponsoring and co-sponsoring legislation that doesn't pass doesn't show effectiveness or leadership.

When it is done in the context of a campaign, I see it as, at best, ethically questionable. I believe it to be an improper use of taxpayer resources for campaign purposes. Legislation requires cooperation with the two major parties to have a chance of passing. This year, Bernie has used senate resources for grandstanding legislation to advance his campaign. That is taxpayer resources that should be devoted to working on legislation that stands a chance of funding, otherwise it's nothing but a taxpayer funded campaign maneuver.

[Uncle Joe]

41. The OP clearly shows amendments by Bernie that became law, those amendments were a great benefit

to the people whether he was running for President or not.

Most of Bernie's amendments were made prior to Bernie ever running for President, he was just being consistent.

It may be hard work but if you're truly interested you can find Amendments that Bernie promoted that did in fact become law or at the very least passed through a committee that he was a member of and this for the most part in a Republican controlled Congress.

Aside from Bernie's numerous amendments and activism, another sign of Bernie's leadership was in co-founding and chairing for eight years the Congressional Progressive Caucus, its currently the largest membership organization within the Democratic Caucus in the United States Congress with 69 declared members.

During his first year in the House, Sanders often alienated allies and colleagues with his criticism of both political parties as tools of the wealthy.[17] In 1991, Sanders co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and chaired the group of mostly liberal Democrats for its first eight years.

(snip)

Polling conducted in August 2011 by Public Policy Polling found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular senator in the country.[87] Both the NAACP and the NHLA have given Sanders 100 percent voting scores during his tenure in the Senate.[88]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest membership organization within the Democratic Caucus in the United States Congress with 69 declared members.[4] The CPC is a left-leaning organization that works to advance progressive and liberal issues and positions.[5][6][7]

The CPC is currently co-chaired by U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). It was founded in 1991 and has grown steadily since then, having more recently added 20 members since 2005 and having hired its first full-time Executive Director, Bill Goold, in May of that year. Subsequent Executive Directors have included Andrea Miller (2009-2011) and Brad Bauman (2011-2014). The current Executive Director is Mike Darner. Of the 20 standing committees of the House in the 111th Congress, 10 were chaired by members of the CPC. Those chairmen were replaced when the Republicans took control of the House in the 112th Congress.

The first in a legislative package of more than a dozen separate bills that were offered was the Job Creation and Invest in America Act of 1995 to stimulate economic growth in the American economy. It would have provided $63.6 billion/year and created at least one million new jobs/year in each of the first two years that the bill would have been in effect. Roughly 2/3 of that total would have gone for new federal outlays and the remaining 1/3 would have provided tax relief to middle and low-income working families. The prescribed $41.6 billion in federal outlays would have been spent for a combination of new investments in physical infrastructure and to help targeted Americans in need as follows:

$10 billion for repairing highways and bridges;
$1.6 billion for improving/expanding mass transit systems;
$1 billion for airport improvements;
$1 billion to upgrade rail travel/freight shipping;
$4 billion for construction of new water and sewage treatment facilities;
$4 billion for environmental clean-up at military and U.S. Energy Department facilities;
$4 billion for economic development projects in major cities, towns and neighborhoods;
$3 billion for improving existing schools/libraries and building new ones;
$1 billion for energy efficiency improvements in federal buildings;
$1 billion for community developments banks in low-income communities to stimulate targeted lending and local economic development projects;
$2 billion to train low-income Americans for careers in disseminating basic health care and disease prevention information;
$1 billion for youth apprenticeship training programs serving 14-21 year olds;
$2.5 billion for hiring new teachers, tutors, and specially-trained instructors to improve school standards;
$4 billion for Head Start to cover all eligible 3-5 year olds;
$900 million for community-based efforts to prevent AIDS, breast and cervical cancer, tuberculosis, and lead exposure;
$400 million to expand migrant and homeless health centers;
$100 million for states and communities to train local residents to provide health and disease prevention materials; and
$100 million for scholarships and loan programs for doctors and nurse practitioners in under-served communities.
The prescribed tax relief for working families would have included:

$16 billion in tax credits equal to 20% of a worker's FICA contribution, capped at $200/individual; and
$6 billion in tax credits up to $6,000/year for first-time homebuyers with an annual income of $62,000 or less.
All of the new spending and tax relief would have been fully paid for by eliminating tax loopholes that reward U.S.-based transnational corporations for investing abroad and exporting U.S. jobs and through carefully targeted tax increases that would have been levied on the unearned income of upper-income Americans. These revenue raisers of $85.3 - $95.3 billion/year would have kicked in the third year after enactment and would have remained in effect thereafter. They broke down as follows:

$16.5 billion by changing the foreign tax credit to a deduction;
$1.6 billion by eliminating deferral of income from controlled foreign corporations;
$28.7 billion from crackdown on transfer pricing by transnational corporations;
$30–40 billion from .25% tax each time stock ownership is transferred;
$7.0 billion from terminating preferred tax treatment of capital gains relative to earned income; and
$1.5-$2.2 billion from capital gains tax on inherited investment (i.e. eliminate stepped up basis at death.)[9]
Additional path-breaking bills in the package included:

The Public Interest Legislature Act to strengthen the financial disclosure requirements on Members of Congress and professional staff, especially detailing exact sources and amounts of unearned income, securities holdings, and other assets and to require that Members of Congress place their stocks, bonds, and other securities as well as real property holdings in blind trusts upon taking office as a good conduct measure and to require that Members of Congress divest themselves of any substantial asset in relation to his/her respective committee assignments which could pose a direct financial conflict of interest with the work and actions of those committees;
The Fiscal Fairness Act to permit the Congress to waive the provisions of a Balanced Budget Amendment,(if adopted),in any fiscal year in which the national unemployment rate exceeds 4%. Also would restore progressivity in federal income tax code to its condition in the late 1970s, prior to enactment of the Reagan tax cuts;
The Equal Justice Before the Law Act—to crackdown on white collar crime (e.g. levy stiff penalties in conjunction with savings and loan bailout; ban on bidding by companies that defraud federal government on procurement contracts; impose criminal penalties for willful violation of child labor laws by employers that result in serious bodily injury or death of minors in the workplace; treat child labor imports as contraband; and eliminate deductibility of legal expenses when a company is accused of a crime);
The Corporate Responsibility Act—to eliminate wide array of special interest subsidies and tax expenditures of benefit to many of America's largest corporations, thus ending corporate welfare and requiring companies to internalize their costs of production rather than continue to foist them on the general public;
The Family Support Act—to strengthen child support compliance, including going after the financial assets of well-to-do non-custodial parents; toughening domestic violence and child abuse laws and prosecution; identifying ways in which to get unwed teenage fathers as well as unwed teenage mothers to own up to their responsibilities; and exploring ways to establish some measure of media liability for gratuitous violence that is deliberately incited by movies and other forms of mass media;
The American Homemakers and Caregivers Act—to target savings incentives and IRAs on middle and low-income Americans. Special provisions designed to extend generous IRA contribution options to spouses who stay home to nurture children during their first six years of life, thus recognizing the importance of parental child rearing and financially rewarding young spouses who give this responsibility top priority during some of their prime earning years outside of the home. Allow middle and low-income Americans to make penalty-free IRA withdrawals for home health care, education expenses, or to start a small business;
The National Economic Security Act—to substantially cut the Pentagon and CIA budgets and Star Wars funding to shift resources to meet domestic social needs and long-term investments to strengthen the U.S. national economy and competitiveness;
The Export American Products, Not American Jobs Act—to eliminate a wide array of tax and trade incentives (e.g. foreign tax credit) and taxpayer-financed programs (e..g. EX-IM Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation insurance and loans) that encourage and reward U.S.-based transnational corporations for investing and producing overseas rather than in new plants, jobs, and equipment in the U.S.; and
The Taking Back Our Congress Act—to strengthen lobbying restrictions and to reform campaign finance laws to redress influence-peddling and special interest lobbying inside Congress. Also prohibit U.S. government officials (e..g. trade negotiators) from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments and companies. Plus authorize voluntary public financing of congressional elections and make it easier for independent candidates to run for federal office.[10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus

[DrBulldog]

37. I would love to see a credit roll of these bills on a Bernie campaign commercial some day soon.

The public needs to become totally aware of the DAILY work being performed by Bernie - in his CURRENT job, while he's campaigning without a PAC - for the benefit of the middle class.

Meanwhile, Hillary has to get to her next fundraiser and focus group . . .

[noiretextatique]

14. you are blaming your lack of information on sanders' supporters?

why is it incumbent upon Sanders's supporters to inform you...about anything?

[BainsBane]

18. No, it isn't

As I said, I checked. I turned up bills, not amendments, which is what the OP is providing. It is incumbent, however, on the candidate to make his record clear to voters.

It's clear that I am not the only one suffering from this "lack of information." The difference is I actually care about information, meaning results. Many others do not. They are more concerned with views and ideas that actual accomplishments.

Though in truth, I think it would be next to impossible for me to get past his position on guns and the $800 billion to Lockheed-Martin for the F-35 because they contradict completely his rhetoric about corporations. I can't figure out why corporations that profit from killing are better than banks. Frankly, I see it the other way around. The gun industry and its lobby is the single most destructive force in our nation. I have believed that for years, long before anyone declared for President. To vote for Sanders would mean abandoning all hope for meaningful gun control and surrender to the gun lobby. I will not and cannot do that. I believe we need to demonstrate the same zeal that the pro-gun voters do in voting. Until then, the gun lobby will prevail.

[zalinda]

38. Voting for Hillary means

that there will not be even a hint of economic parity while she is President. Pro gun (your words) or going homeless? Sorry, but not being homeless ranks much higher on the vote for scale. Hillary will squeeze us peons until we are as dry as California.

Z

[jwirr]

9. K&R

[rosesaylavee]

10. Thanks for the thread Uncle Joe

Good stuff here -- I too wish they had a list of amendments but that will no doubt come out too.

I like his record of increasing voter participation in his past campaigns and when he was mayor.

Sanders is probably not so unsure of himself. After all, he’s done it before. When Sanders was mayor of Burlington, Vermont, one of his big accomplishments was to increase civic life in the city. During the course of his terms, voter turnout doubled. In his eight years as mayor, he rejuvenated a city that was considered by many to be dying, laying out progressive policies that cities around the country later adopted, and he did all this without particularly alienating Republicans. As one former GOP Alderman noted, he implemented ideas from the Republican party that he felt were not particularly harmful to working people, such as more efficient accounting practices.

And it also appears he can reach across the aisle and recognize good ideas no matter where they come from. I like that about him.

[Uncle Joe]

12. I agree, rosesylavee, Bernie knows how to make government work even under adverse conditions

both in the legislative and executive branches and his long track record proves it.

[appalachiablue]

21. Bernie does know govt. for real. Thanks for posting on Bernie's long legislative record Uncle Joe.

[99th_Monkey]

13. K&R - Poof! There goes another favorite Hillary support meme. -nt-

[MisterP]

17. they really do think that when we answer their charges with the facts (and CSPAN videos)

we're just distracting ourselves and expending our energy

they really think they won every one of these encounters--"ha, we got him on the defensive and now they're always highlighting how many non-whites and women are at his rallies! the FOOLS!"

[SoapBox]

15. K & R!

And I find some amusement in that she says she is a Progressive and it's great, Great, GREAT!

Bernie says he's a Progressive and...ohhhh, scary, scary stuff!

But of course, she's not...but her claim is fully acceptable, with a big Wink-and-Nod.

[marym625]

24. A wink is as good as a nod to a blind man

[marym625]

22. not even a little bit surprised

But I love the article!

K&R!

#FeelTheBern
#Bernie2016

[BeanMusical]

25. Kick and R

[beam me up scottie]

27. Thanks, Uncle Joe!

But I see it's still Not Good Enough, Bernie for a certain HC supporter.

[Uncle Joe]

29. I believe he/she will come around, it can be difficult to get past emotional clutter,

but I have faith in said poster.

He/she is an intelligent person.

Peace to you, beam me up scottie.

[kelliekat44]

28. That's good news but his service in Congress and Senate is how much more that Hillary's stint? nt

[Uncle Joe]

30. Post #23 just lists from the last Congress, it's only the tip of the Bernie Iceberg.

However you do make a good point, Bernie has much more experience in government service than Hillary.

[grahamhgreen]

33. Hillary will be too polarizing to get anything passed that's not a benefit to corporations, IMHO

[DrBulldog]

35. The same story with Hillary's Secretary of State "accomplishments", too.

Nothing happened with our negotiations with Iran during her four years as SOS. Then John Kerry takes over and - BAM! - in two years he achieves a major well-received diplomatic victory for the U.S. and the world with our agreement with Iran on nuclear arms control. And yet she is claiming to have laid the foundation for that agreement!

But she did break all-time travel records for the SOS . . .

Sickening.

[Dont call me Shirley]

40. Bernie needs to run as a dealmaker too, since he has a long proven track record of doing so.

[Enthusiast]

43. Kicked and recommended!