State of Vermont Archives: on Foreign Policy


Patrick Leahy: Signed letter opposing Israeli annexation of territories

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramilla Jayapal sent a Dear Colleague letter to Secretary of State Pompeo, expressing concern that annexation would "lay the groundwork for Israel becoming an apartheid state" and calling for the non-recognition of annexed land and withholding of some of the $3.8 billion in military funding. Her compelling letter was signed by a dozen other Congresspeople, including influential figures such as Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The AOC-Jayapal letter on annexation made headlines and sent the Israel lobby into a tizzy, frantically trying to stop any other lawmakers from signing on. But just a few days later, on July 2, another unexpected action came. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, supported by Senators Sanders, Warren, Leahy, and others, filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit US military aid from being used in any annexation activities.

Source: Counterpunch.org on 2022 Vermont Senate race Jul 17, 2020

Bernie Sanders: Binding referendum on Guam's political status

Bernie recognizes the specific needs facing Guam and the responsibility of the federal government to lend a helping hand. Bernie supports the right of the people of Guam to control their own destinies. All Guamanians are entitled to fair representation at the Federal level and should be empowered to choose their own political future.

Bernie believes that the people of Guam have the right to self-determination. Bernie supports the efforts of the people of Guam to hold a binding referendum on their desired future political status. This is a decision that should be made by the people of Guam without interference from the federal government.

Bernie believes that the people of Guam should have the same rights as any other American, including the right to vote for president and to have fair representation in the U.S. Congress. He supports the current efforts by the We the People Project to extend equal rights to all Americans who live in the U.S. Territories.

Source: 2018 Vermont Senate campaign website BernieSanders.com Nov 1, 2018

Bernie Sanders: Binding referendum on Puerto Rico statehood vs. independence

Empowering the People of Puerto Rico to Decide Their Own Destiny: There must be a U.S. congressionally-sanctioned and binding referendum where the Puerto Rican people would be able to decide on whether to become a state, an independent country, or to reform the current Commonwealth agreement. This is an issue that should be decided by the Puerto Rican people.
Source: 2018 Vermont Senate campaign website BernieSanders.com Nov 1, 2018

Scott Milne: US out of the UN, and UN out of the US

Q: Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?

Scott Milne: No, and remove the U.N. headquarters from the U.S.

Source: iSideWith.com Voter Guide on 2016 Vermont Senate race Sep 9, 2016

John MacGovern: Developed energy projects in China and Southeast Asia

MacGovern told the Boston Globe in 1985 that he attended Catholic school in Rome before enrolling at Dartmouth, where he studied Chinese. His campaign bio says MacGovern went on to help develop energy projects in China and Southeast Asia as a partner at the Greenwich-Chartwell Group. "John brings a unique ability to confront one of the greatest challenges facing the US economy--our relationship with China," he writes on the website.
Source: SevenDaysVT.com on 2018 Vermont Senate race Mar 9, 2012

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2020 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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