Dear John,

Last week, I had the pleasure of being back home in Southeast Vermont for my first official in-district trip as a United States Representative!

First, I was honored to meet with individuals who recently arrived in this country as refugees or asylum-seekers at the Ethiopian Community Development Council in Brattleboro. My office remains committed to serving Vermont’s refugees and asylum-seekers.

Services for our aging communities often do not get the attention they deserve, so I was grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at Foodworks, the region’s most heavily utilized food shelf program, during its senior shopping hour.

Infrastructure is always top of mind for me when I travel home and see our state’s housing, bridges and public transportation, so I was grateful for the opportunity to attend the release of Vermont’s Infrastructure Report Card. An all-female team of engineers and state leaders led the presentation! Making our infrastructure more equitable is one of my top priorities in Congress.

Before heading back to DC, I was also honored to have an inauguration celebration in Vermont with community members and campaign supporters. My friend, former Vermont Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Skoglund, performed a ceremonial swearing-in.

This trip home to Vermont was a powerful reminder of why I ran for Congress in the first place: To be a voice for all Vermonters — especially for those who have been silenced — and make sure that no one gets left behind. Vermonters deserve nothing less.

Yours,

Becca Balint