Sisters and Brothers -

I fully appreciate that the number of crises facing our country and the world now can seem overwhelming. Frankly, there is a reason as to why we are now experiencing a major mental health crisis. The anxieties and fears that people feel are real.

The UN has told us that the planet faces horrific catastrophe if we don’t boldly and rapidly address climate change; democracy is under constant assault from Trump and his allies; we now face unprecedented income and wealth inequality and a growing oligarchy; the financial system is tottering; our health care system is a disaster, our childcare system is in disarray; the cost of housing is soaring and millions struggle with student debt and an inability to afford a higher education. And those are just SOME of the major challenges that we face.

For the sake of our own health and the wellbeing of future generations, our response to these crises cannot be resignation and despair. WE MUST FIGHT BACK. WE MUST ACT IN SOLIDARITY.

In that regard, let me briefly tell you what I am trying to do as the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

PAID SICK LEAVE FOR RAIL WORKERS

Let me congratulate the trade union movement for securing paid sick days for thousands of workers at Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX.

You may remember last December that we had a majority of members of the Senate vote in favor of guaranteeing railway workers seven days of paid sick leave. Unfortunately, given the rules of the Senate to require 60 votes, the amendment did not pass. But as a result of continued worker organizing efforts, and strong public pressure, several rail companies have announced that they are now providing paid sick days to workers.

At a time of record profits in the rail industry, it’s unacceptable that rail workers were guaranteed ZERO paid sick days and could be fired if they were sick and didn't come to work. If the rail industry can afford to spend more than $20 billion last year to buy back its own stock and hand out huge dividends to its wealthy shareholders, please do not tell me it cannot afford to provide paid sick days to its workers and ensure they have a decent quality of life.

Winning paid sick leave was a huge victory for rail workers at Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX, but our work isn't over yet. We must continue fighting to ensure every railroad company provides 7 days of paid sick leave to all rail workers.

MODERNA PLEDGED TO KEEP COVID VACCINE FREE

There is probably no better example of uncontrolled corporate welfare and corporate greed than Moderna — a pharmaceutical company that has made billions from the COVID-19 vaccine that they brought to market with major taxpayer assistance.

Earlier this year, Moderna was considering more than quadrupling the price of its COVID vaccine after the supply that the U.S. government purchased, and distributed to Americans at no cost, was depleted. Instead of charging $26.36 per dose — the price that the government paid — Moderna indicated that the commercial price would go up to as much as $130 per dose.

It should go without saying that the COVID vaccine must be used to save lives, and not to further enrich the billionaire owners of Moderna. And together, we sent a powerful message that we will not tolerate Moderna's greedy and reckless decision to raise the price of the COVID-19 vaccine in the middle of a deadly pandemic.

After we invited Moderna's CEO to testify before the Senate HELP Committee, the company announced that it would continue to offer the COVID vaccine at no cost to those who could not afford it. This was, I think, not a coincidence. They were responding to public outrage. In the midst of a deadly pandemic, restricting access to this much-needed vaccine is unconscionable.

This week, we will hear directly from Moderna's CEO during the HELP Committee hearing about why he thought it would be acceptable to quadruple the price of the COVID vaccine.

ELI LILLY AND NOVO NORDISK CUT INSULIN PRICES

Back in July of 2019, during our 2020 campaign for president, I traveled from Detroit up to Canada to buy insulin with a group of people with diabetes. During this trip, those diabetics were able to purchase insulin for one-tenth of the price of what they were paying in the U.S. And by the way, this is just one of many examples of the absurdly high prices that Americans pay for prescription drugs.

Thankfully, as a result of the pressure that the American people have been putting on the pharmaceutical industry, Eli Lilly announced earlier this month that it will substantially lower the price they're going to be charging for insulin. Just last week Novo Nordisk, another insulin manufacturer, followed suit. And, the other day, Sanofi also announced a major reduction in prices.

These victories are a direct result of all of us standing together to tell the pharmaceutical companies to stop the greed, stop ripping off the American people, and stop forcing families to see loved ones die and suffer because they cannot afford their prescription drugs.

While lowering the cost of insulin is an important move in the right direction, we have a lot more work to do to make all prescription drugs affordable.

HOWARD SCHULTZ TO TESTIFY ON STARBUCKS UNION BUSTING

Let me start by congratulating the courageous workers at Starbucks who are taking on a multi-billionaire dollar corporation and demanding that Starbucks treat its workers with dignity and respect. Taking on a large company like Starbucks is not easy.

Since 2021, Starbucks Workers United has unionized more than 280 Starbucks stores in nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C. Not only are Starbucks shops voting to unionize, they are voting pro-union in overwhelming numbers. Their grassroots organizing campaign has an incredible 82 percent win rate, and 59 unanimous union election wins.

Starbucks has responded with an unprecedented union busting campaign by firing over 130 union leaders, threatening and surveilling workers, refusing to bargain in good faith, and closing union stores.

The National Labor Relations Board has issued over 80 complaints against Starbucks for violating federal labor law, and an Administrative Law Judge in New York recently ruled that Starbucks has engaged in "egregious and widespread misconduct" in a union organizing campaign that started in 2019. Despite the fact that over 280 Starbucks coffee shops have successfully voted to form a union, Starbucks has refused to negotiate in good faith.

That is why I have invited Howard Schultz to testify before the Senate HELP Committee to explain why his company is engaging in illegal union busting. In America, we must not have a two-tiered justice system in which billionaires and large corporations can break the law with impunity, while working class people are held accountable for their actions.

I look forward to hearing from Mr. Schultz as to when Starbucks intends to end its illegal anti-union activities and begin signing fair first contracts with Starbucks workers who have voted to form a union.

Let me be very clear: in these very difficult times our movement has won some important victories in recent weeks. But there is still an incredible amount of work ahead of us.

Let’s go forward together and get it done.

Thank you for all you've done — and will do — to fight for a government that works for all of our people, not just the 1%.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders