Forester Ethan Tapper delivered the daily benediction to the House of Representatives at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Earth Day, emphasizing the importance of recognizing past environmental legacies and the work that lies ahead. Tapper, a Vermont multi-hyphenate known for his social media presence and punk band, shared a passage from his book “How to Love a Forest” that highlighted the responsibility of managing landscapes in a sustainable manner.
On Earth Day, state leaders and environmental organizations used the platform to defend Vermont’s climate change initiatives in response to recent actions by President Donald Trump. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark expressed her commitment to fighting against the administration’s executive order targeting the state’s climate laws.
In addition to Earth Day events, the state legislature passed a bill that could potentially erase $100 million in Vermonters’ medical debt using $1 million in funds appropriated to the Treasurer’s Office. Treasurer Mike Pieciak spearheaded the proposal, which would also prevent credit reporting agencies from factoring medical debt into credit scores.
Furthermore, the Vermont House adopted a resolution objecting to the detention of Palestinian student organizer Mohsen Mahdawi by federal agents during an interview for U.S. citizenship. Lawyers for Mahdawi argued that his detention was unlawful, and a federal judge ordered that he not be removed from the state. The ongoing response to Mahdawi’s detention continues to unfold.
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