Welch Leads Freshman in Legislation
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., has introduced more legislation than any other House freshman this year.
In less than nine months in office, Welch introduced 29 bills, resolutions and amendments, far outpacing the 53 other House members elected for the first time in November, according to a search of the Library of Congress' Thomas online legislative Web site.
Freshmen averaged about nine bill introductions per lawmaker, making Welch's total more than three times the norm.
More important, the 60-year-old Vermonter already has won House approval for 15 bills -- slightly more than half of his legislation. Among bills that passed were a measure to provide mental health services to veterans in rural areas through the use of mobile medical centers and an amendment to encourage schools to serve food from local farmers.
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