The Public Record
Bernie Sanders is an American politician and activist who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007. A member of the Independent party, Sanders is known for his progressive policies and advocacy for social justice, healthcare reform, and income equality. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007, where he was the first independent elected to the House in 40 years. Throughout his career, Sanders has been a vocal critic of economic inequality and corporate influence in politics.
It's simple. As a country, we can choose to collectively encourage the growth of good union jobs that pay family sustaining wages and allow those good jobs to set the standard for competition within an industry or we can continue to allow…
If that is true, then they don't need the PRO Act to eliminate secret ballot union elections, which could expose workers to retaliation and intimidation.
Unions are necessary for a stable economy, our safety, our security, and our democracy.
Teamsters changed the game at UPS, battling it out day and night to make sure our members won an agreement that pays strong wages, rewards their labor, and doesn't require a single concession.
But if the benefits of joining a union are so good, then there is no reason union should have to coerce or strong arm people to join.
Three people have more wealth than the bottom half of American society, 165 million Americans today.
Unions shouldn't need the PRO Act to open workers to forced or coerced unionization by banning right to work laws in States like Louisiana.
How do we create an economy that works for all of us, all of our people, and not just the few?
Over $50 trillion in wealth has gone from the bottom 90 percent to the top 1 percent.
We have got to tell the Netanyahu government there will be a two-state solution that the extreme right-wing in the Israeli government right now cannot continue its racist, anti-Palestinian rhetoric.
There has to be a cessation of the bombing so that that aid can go in.
We are in a -- I mean, really unspeakably horrible situation. Hamas begins the war with a terrorist attack, kills 1,300 Israelis.
We have got to make it clear that we are prepared to stand with the working class of this country and take on the corporate greed, which has been so very destructive.
I have said over and over again in Democratic caucus on media, that if the Democrats want to do well in 2024, they have got to make it clear which side they are on.
If we're going to rebuild a disappearing middle class workers should be joining unions and taking on large corporations who are making record breaking profits.
This country faces so many crises. We have massive income and wealth inequality. We have a housing crisis. Our healthcare system is, you know, almost collapsing. It's broken. It's dysfunctional.
Thank you, Chairman Sanders, for calling this hearing and giving me the chance to provide my testimony.
What the nurses have told me, and I have had the opportunity on several occasions to sit down and talk with these nurses, is that what this strike has everything to do with is the safety of their patients.
Safe staffing is not just some abstract concept. It literally improves patient care, keeps more nurses in the profession, and most importantly, saves lives.
They tell me that they are stressed out. They are burnt out and are leaving the profession they love in droves because they are overworked, undervalued, and are forced each and every day to do more work with less resources.
The function of a humane and civilized health care system is to provide quality care to all, not to make huge profits for the insurance companies, the drug companies.
I want to thank all of the nurses who are in this room, the nurses who are watching this event on livestream, and the many, many nurses all over this country who put their lives on the line during COVID.
Politicians like Bernie Sanders
