U.S. Senator · I · Vermont
Bernard Sanders
- Term
- 2025–2031
- Office
- 332 Dirksen Senate Office Building
- Bills
- 70
- Speeches
- 1
Issue by issue
The same issue areas we use for every senator, so you can see where Sanders puts their effort — and read the record behind each one.
Economy & jobs
Extensive record
Sanders's work here shows up as 41 bills authored or cosponsored and 1 floor speech, tied to 4 documented commitments.
41 bills·1 speech
Go deeper on economy & jobs
Their stated view
- Progressive Economic Policies — Supports policies designed to reduce income inequality, such as higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and increased wages for workers.
- Strengthening Worker Rights — Works to expand collective bargaining rights, increase the minimum wage, and protect workers' ability to organize and secure benefits.
Commitments tracked here
- Guarantee Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
- Raise the Minimum Wage to a Living Wage
- Expand and Protect Social Security
- Tax Wealthy and Large Corporations Fairly
The record (35)
- Bill cosponsoredRestoring Justice for Workers ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredPart-Time Worker Bill of Rights ActLatest action 2025-12-17
- Bill cosponsoredCommitment to Aid Workers ActLatest action 2025-12-10
- Bill cosponsoredDomestic Workers Bill of Rights ActLatest action 2025-12-09
- Bill cosponsoredRight to Representation for Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Act of 2025Latest action 2025-11-18
- Bill cosponsoredWarehouse Worker Protection ActLatest action 2025-07-31
- Bill authoredRespect Graduate Student Workers ActLatest action 2020-01-21
- Bill cosponsoredFair Wages for Home Care Workers ActLatest action 2026-03-12
Health care
Substantial record
Sanders's work here shows up as 15 bills authored or cosponsored, tied to 1 documented commitment.
15 bills
Go deeper on health care
Their stated view
- Universal Healthcare Access — Advocates for a single-payer healthcare system to ensure all Americans have comprehensive medical coverage.
Commitments tracked here
- Implement Medicare for All
The record (10)
- Bill authoredMedicare for All Act of 2019Latest action 2019-04-10
- Bill authoredMedicare for All ActLatest action 2025-04-29
- Bill authoredMedicare for All Act of 2022Latest action 2022-05-12
- Bill authoredMedicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025Latest action 2025-03-11
- Bill authoredReserve Component Healthcare Access and Expansion ActLatest action 2023-06-13
- Bill authoredCutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half ActLatest action 2023-05-04
- Bill authoredMedicare Drug Price Negotiation ActLatest action 2021-03-23
- Bill authoredMedicare for All Act of 2017Latest action 2017-09-13
Housing
Substantial record
Sanders's work here shows up as 8 bills authored or cosponsored, tied to 1 documented commitment.
8 bills
Go deeper on housing
Commitments tracked here
- Enact a Green New Deal for Public Housing
The record (5)
- Bill authoredGreen New Deal for Public Housing ActLatest action 2021-04-19
- Bill authoredA bill to establish a State residential building energy efficiency upgrades loan pilot program.Latest action 2015-04-30
- Bill authoredRebuild America Act of 2015Latest action 2015-01-27
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Public Schools ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Health ActLatest action 2026-07-27
Education
Some record
Sanders's work here shows up as 6 bills authored or cosponsored, tied to 1 documented commitment.
6 bills
Go deeper on education
Their stated view
- Affordable Education — Pushes for tuition-free public colleges and universities, as well as measures to reduce student debt and expand early childhood education.
Commitments tracked here
- Make Public Colleges Tuition-Free
The record (6)
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Public Schools ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredCDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness ActLatest action 2026-07-21
- Bill cosponsoredClimate Change Education ActLatest action 2026-04-22
- Bill cosponsoredA resolution designating the week of February 23 through February 27, 2026, as "National Public Schools Week".Latest action 2026-02-26
- Bill cosponsoredTyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025Latest action 2025-09-18
- Bill cosponsoredGood Jobs for Good Airports ActLatest action 2026-07-14
Environment & energy
No records matched yet
Sanders has stated a position on climate change action, but we have not matched congressional records to it yet.
Go deeper on environment & energy
Their stated view
- Climate Change Action — Proposes large-scale public investments in renewable energy and green infrastructure to combat climate change and create jobs.
What Sanders stands for
The issues this senator has built their public record around, drawn from their own campaign material, official statements and legislative work. Each one links to a source so you can read it yourself.
- 01Health
Universal Healthcare Access
Advocates for a single-payer healthcare system to ensure all Americans have comprehensive medical coverage.
- 02Economy
Progressive Economic Policies
Supports policies designed to reduce income inequality, such as higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and increased wages for workers.
- 03Environment
Climate Change Action
Proposes large-scale public investments in renewable energy and green infrastructure to combat climate change and create jobs.
- 04Education
Affordable Education
Pushes for tuition-free public colleges and universities, as well as measures to reduce student debt and expand early childhood education.
- 05Labor and Employment
Strengthening Worker Rights
Works to expand collective bargaining rights, increase the minimum wage, and protect workers' ability to organize and secure benefits.
What they've actually done about it
Each commitment below is something this senator has publicly said they would pursue, followed by the concrete record on it: bills they authored or cosponsored, floor speeches they gave. We describe the record — we don't grade it.
- Housing
Enact a Green New Deal for Public Housing
Transform public housing into energy-efficient, resilient, and safe homes, creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions.
Where it stands: Senator Sanders has repeatedly sponsored the 'Green New Deal for Public Housing Act' in multiple Congresses, most recently in 2026, but it has not advanced beyond referral to committee.
On the record: 8 bills
See the 8 records behind this
- Bill authoredGreen New Deal for Public Housing ActLatest action 2021-04-19
- Bill authoredGreen New Deal for Public Housing ActLatest action 2019-11-14
- Bill authoredGreen New Deal for Public Housing ActLatest action 2026-08-06
- Bill authoredGreen New Deal for Public Housing ActLatest action 2024-03-21
- Bill authoredA bill to establish a State residential building energy efficiency upgrades loan pilot program.Latest action 2015-04-30
- Bill authoredRebuild America Act of 2015Latest action 2015-01-27
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Public Schools ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Health ActLatest action 2026-07-27
- Labor and Employment
Guarantee Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
Ensure all workers receive paid vacation time and paid sick leave, allowing them to care for themselves or family without losing income.
Where it stands: Senator Sanders has repeatedly introduced legislation like the Healthy Families Act (S. 1109 in 118th Congress) to guarantee paid sick leave and has supported paid vacation, but no such bill has advanced or become law.
On the record: 2 bills
See the 2 records behind this
- Bill authoredGuaranteed Paid Vacation ActLatest action 2026-08-06
- Bill authoredGuaranteed Paid Vacation ActLatest action 2024-03-20
- Health
Implement Medicare for All
Establish a national health insurance program covering all medically necessary services, eliminating private insurance premiums and deductibles.
Where it stands: Senator Sanders has consistently introduced the 'Medicare for All Act' (e.g., S.1655 in 2023, S.4204 in 2022, S.447 in 2021, S.1129 in 2019), but it has not advanced in Congress.
On the record: 15 bills
See the 8 records behind this
- Bill authoredMedicare for All Act of 2019Latest action 2019-04-10
- Bill authoredMedicare for All ActLatest action 2025-04-29
- Bill authoredMedicare for All Act of 2022Latest action 2022-05-12
- Bill authoredMedicare for All ActLatest action 2023-05-17
- Bill authoredMedicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025Latest action 2025-03-11
- Bill authoredReserve Component Healthcare Access and Expansion ActLatest action 2023-06-13
- Bill authoredCutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half ActLatest action 2023-05-04
- Bill authoredCutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half ActLatest action 2022-02-09
- Labor and Employment
Raise the Minimum Wage to a Living Wage
Increase the federal minimum wage to at least $17 per hour, ensuring all full-time workers can afford basic necessities.
Where it stands: No matching sponsorships or votes related to raising the federal minimum wage to at least $17 per hour have been recorded for Senator Sanders since he took office on 2025-01-03, and no live, currently pending bill is identified.
On the record: 16 bills
See the 8 records behind this
- Bill cosponsoredRestoring Justice for Workers ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredPart-Time Worker Bill of Rights ActLatest action 2025-12-17
- Bill cosponsoredCommitment to Aid Workers ActLatest action 2025-12-10
- Bill cosponsoredDomestic Workers Bill of Rights ActLatest action 2025-12-09
- Bill cosponsoredRight to Representation for Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Act of 2025Latest action 2025-11-18
- Bill cosponsoredWarehouse Worker Protection ActLatest action 2025-07-31
- Bill authoredRespect Graduate Student Workers ActLatest action 2020-01-21
- Bill cosponsoredFair Wages for Home Care Workers ActLatest action 2026-03-12
- Education
Make Public Colleges Tuition-Free
Eliminate tuition and fees at all public universities and colleges for students from families earning up to $125,000 per year.
Where it stands: Senator Sanders has consistently introduced legislation for tuition-free public college, such as the College for All Act, which has not advanced in Congress.
On the record: 6 bills
See the 6 records behind this
- Bill cosponsoredGreen New Deal for Public Schools ActLatest action 2026-07-30
- Bill cosponsoredCDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness ActLatest action 2026-07-21
- Bill cosponsoredClimate Change Education ActLatest action 2026-04-22
- Bill cosponsoredA resolution designating the week of February 23 through February 27, 2026, as "National Public Schools Week".Latest action 2026-02-26
- Bill cosponsoredTyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025Latest action 2025-09-18
- Bill cosponsoredGood Jobs for Good Airports ActLatest action 2026-07-14
- Social Welfare
Expand and Protect Social Security
Strengthen Social Security by ensuring the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share, increasing benefits for retirees and beneficiaries.
Where it stands: No matching sponsorships or votes were found for Senator Sanders regarding this promise during his current term.
On the record: 8 bills · 1 speech
See the 8 records behind this
- Bill authoredSocial Security Expansion ActLatest action 2023-02-13
- Bill authoredSocial Security Expansion ActLatest action 2022-06-09
- Bill authoredSocial Security Expansion ActLatest action 2019-02-13
- Bill cosponsoredSupplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026Latest action 2026-03-05
- Floor speech / statementSocial Security (Executive Session)Latest action 2026-08-05
- Bill authoredKeep Billionaires Out of Social Security ActLatest action 2025-09-10
- Bill authoredSocial Security Expansion ActLatest action 2025-02-27
- Bill authoredSocial Security Administration Fairness ActLatest action 2018-06-27
- Taxation
Tax Wealthy and Large Corporations Fairly
Increase taxes on billionaires, wealthy corporations, and excessive CEO pay to fund public services and reduce income inequality.
Where it stands: No matching sponsorships or votes related to increasing taxes on billionaires, wealthy corporations, or excessive CEO pay have been found in the provided congressional records for Senator Sanders during this period.
On the record: 15 bills
See the 8 records behind this
- Bill authoredTax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2021Latest action 2021-03-17
- Bill authoredTax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2024Latest action 2024-01-18
- Bill authoredEnding Corporate Greed ActLatest action 2022-03-28
- Bill authoredCorporate Tax Dodging Prevention ActLatest action 2021-03-25
- Bill authoredMake Billionaires Pay ActLatest action 2020-08-06
- Bill authoredTax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2019Latest action 2019-11-13
- Bill cosponsoredHealth Over Wealth ActLatest action 2026-07-23
- Bill cosponsoredStop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026Latest action 2026-02-11
Everything here is sourced from public records — Congress.gov, the Congressional Record, and the member's own statements. Nothing is scored or ranked. How we research these profiles.