Town Halls and Health Care in Vermont's Delegation

The Vermont State House in Montpelier with tulips in May. Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Vermont has one of the smallest congressional delegations in the country: two U.S. senators and one at-large member of the House, who represents the whole state. It also has a strong civic tradition of face-to-face democracy, from Town Meeting Day to packed public forums. Put those together and Vermonters often get unusually direct access to their members of Congress.

Health care has been a recurring topic at these meetings. In August 2009, during the national debate that led to the Affordable Care Act, members of Vermont’s delegation held town halls on health care around the state. Since then, Medicare, prescription drug prices, veterans’ care and rural hospitals have regularly been raised.

This guide explains who represents Vermont, how to find and prepare for a town hall, and how congressional offices can help you with federal agencies.

Who represents Vermont in Congress

As of fall 2026:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (independent, caucuses with Democrats), in the Senate since 2007 and before that Vermont’s House member for 16 years.
Sen. Peter Welch (Democrat), in the Senate since 2023 after 16 years as Vermont’s House member.
Rep. Becca Balint (Democrat), Vermont’s at-large House member since 2023.

Vermont’s House seat is on the ballot every two years. In 2026, the general election is Nov. 3 (see our 2026 election guide).

Finding a town hall

Members of Congress announce town halls, listening sessions and community visits through:

their official websites (senate.gov and house.gov pages),
email newsletters, which you can sign up for on those sites,
official social media accounts,
and local news and community calendars.

Events are often held in school gyms, libraries, town halls and community centers, including in small towns. Some are themed (health care, veterans, agriculture), while others are open to any topic. Some are now streamed or held by phone (“tele-town halls”).

How to prepare

Bring one clear question. Time is limited. Focus on a specific bill, program or problem.
Share a short personal story if it’s relevant. Members often respond to concrete examples.
Bring documents if you need help with a specific case. Staff usually attend and can take your information.
Be respectful. Town halls work best when everyone gets a turn.

Getting help from congressional offices

One of the most useful things a congressional office does gets little attention: casework. Each member’s Vermont office employs caseworkers who help constituents having trouble with federal agencies, including:

Medicare and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Social Security benefits and disability claims,
Veterans Affairs health care and benefits (see our veterans’ care guide),
passports and immigration matters,
IRS problems, federal student aid and federal disaster assistance.

Casework is free. You’ll usually be asked to sign a privacy release so staff can contact the agency on your behalf. Caseworkers can’t force an agency to decide in your favor, but they can get answers and move stuck cases.

Contacting your members on legislation

To share your views on a bill:

Call the Washington or Vermont office. Staff log calls by issue.
Email through the member’s website contact form.
Write a letter. Mail to Washington is screened and can be slow, so the Vermont offices may be faster.
Request a meeting with staff in Vermont or Washington.

State government is different

Many issues Vermonters care about, such as property taxes, schools, housing permits and state roads, are decided in Montpelier, not Washington. For those, contact your state representative and senator. See our guide to how the Vermont Legislature works and Town Meeting Day.

Frequently asked questions

How long are terms for Vermont’s members of Congress? U.S. senators serve six-year terms, and the House member serves a two-year term. Sanders’ current term runs through early 2031 and Welch’s through early 2029.

Do I need to live in a particular area to attend a town hall? No. Because Vermont’s House seat covers the whole state and both senators represent every Vermonter, any Vermont resident can attend any member’s event. Some events require advance registration because of space limits.

Can a congressional office help with a state agency problem? Generally not. Problems with state agencies, such as Vermont’s Department of Motor Vehicles, Department for Children and Families or Department of Labor, are better directed to your state legislators or the agency itself. Congressional caseworkers focus on federal agencies.

What should I bring when asking for casework help? Your name, address and phone number, any claim or case numbers, copies of letters from the agency, and a short timeline of what’s happened. Staff will usually ask you to sign a privacy release form.

Sources

U.S. Senate, senators from Vermont: https://www.senate.gov/states/VT/intro.htm
U.S. House, Vermont at-large: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Vermont Secretary of State, 2026 election information: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/