The Leahy Letter - February 27, 2009

Leahy To Host American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Workshop Wondering how your business, municipality, organization, or non-profit could benefit from the recently enacted economic recovery bill? Interested in how the stimulus bill might help you buy a home or improve your family's bottom line this year?

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Vermont Mother's Ordeal
In Peanut-Salmonella Case
Shows Need For 'Jail Time' Deterrent

On February 5, Gabrielle Meunier of South Burlington testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee about her experience when her 7-year-old son Christopher fell ill in a case connected to the peanut-salmonella outbreak. Senator Leahy, a senior member of the committee, called for a thorough criminal investigation into the Peanut Corporation of America. Click here to learn more and to search the FDA's most up-to-date recalled peanut products list.

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Vermont State Senator Testifies
At Satellite Television Hearing

On Wednesday, February 25, Senator Leahy chaired a Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorizing the Satellite Home Viewer Act, which allows satellite television carriers to retransmit local broadcast television programming to their customers. In 1999, Senator Leahy's efforts led to the provision that allows satellite companies to offer customers local channels, and in 2004 he included a provision that, for the first time, allowed residents in Bennington and Windham Counties to receive Vermont broadcast stations by satellite. Vermont State Senator Robert Hartwell from Bennington testified at the hearing. He spoke about the importance of local television in keeping Vermonters throughout the state informed and connected. You can learn more about this hearing here.

Leahy Schedules Hearing On His Proposal
For A Commission Of Inquiry

This week, Senator Leahy announced that the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday March 4, on how best to establish a commission to examine past national security policies. The three witnesses scheduled for this hearing will be Thomas Pickering, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Retired Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, and attorney John Farmer. You can read more about the three witnesses here or you can click here to read more about the hearing and watch video of Senator Leahy on the Senate Floor speaking on his proposal for a commission.

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Senator Leahy
Has Morning Coffee With Vermonters

Each spring, Senator Leahy holds Tuesday morning coffee hours in his Washington. office for visiting Vermonters. These gatherings are an opportunity for members of professional associations and representatives of Vermont businesses to speak directly with the Senator and his staff and to make new connections with other Vermonters. On Tuesday, February 24, Senator Leahy hosted his first Green Mountain Coffee Hour of 2009.

To RSVP for a coffee hour, please contact Senator Leahy's office by email (senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov) or by telephone (202-224-4242).

Senator Leahy is pictured above with Vermont representatives of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Headache Society, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the National Education Association of School Principals, the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Friends of Missisquoi Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care.