Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Commemorating the 16th Street Church Bombing in Birmingham September 10, 2013
Two weeks ago, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. That remarkable moment in this Nation's history was a peaceful day of unity and we rightfully remember the inspiring words of Dr. King. We are reminded this week of just how quickly that hope and positive signs of progress were challenged by a stunning act of viol… Continue Reading
09.10.13
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Oversight Hearing On Federal Marijuana Policy
(Tuesday, September 10, 2013) -The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing titled "Conflicts Between State and Federal Marijuana Laws." Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who has pressed the administration on the issue since last year, recently welcomed the Justice Department's release of guidelines for enforcement of federal marijuana laws in light of action at the state level. Member statements, witness testimony and a webcast of today's hearing are available online. Statement of… Continue Reading
09.10.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary, On Release Of FISA Documents September 10, 2013
[Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Tuesday after the release of FISA court opinions related to the bulk collection of phone records under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. Leahy introduced in June the bipartisan FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013 to reform and improve certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and FISA Amendments Act, and he chaired a hearing in July on privacy rights and national security featuring top admin… Continue Reading
09.09.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Nominations of Valerie Caproni and Vernon Broderick
Today we will be voting on just 2 of the 11 district and circuit nominees left pending on the Senate floor prior to the August recess. Ten of these nominees had been reported by voice vote, and there was no good reason we could not have confirmed them then and allowed them to get to work on behalf of the American people. I hope that Senate Republicans will not seek to drag out the nominees that will be left pending on the floor after today, as they did for the nominations left pending at the e… Continue Reading
09.06.13
Leahy Aide Ted Brady Named New State Director For USDA’s Rural Development Efforts In Vermont and New Hampshire
(FRIDAY, Sept. 6, 2013) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Friday afternoon officially announced that a key economic development aide to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has been named to be USDA's new State Director for Vermont and New Hampshire for Rural Development. Ted Brady, Leahy's Vermont Field Representative on Community and Economic Development, Transportation, and Telecommunications, joined Leahy's staff in 2000 and is a graduate of St. Michael's College. Leahy, who had recomm… Continue Reading
09.05.13
Further Comments Of Senator Leahy On The Senate’s Upcoming Debate On Syria’s Use Of Chemical Weapons --
"The Assad regime's use of chemical weapons - and in this case, against innocent civilians, the Syrian people - was a heinous act and a clear violation of international law and standards. "Last weekend I made clear my opposition to the White House's proposed resolution, and I was among the first in the Senate to do so. I criticized that proposal for being far too broad and open-ended. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has now reported a new version, which will be debated by the Senate, … Continue Reading
09.04.13
Leahy: Justice Department Grant Will Fund New, Vermont-Based National Center For Campus Public Safety
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $2.3 million grant to establish a new National Center for Campus Public Safety, to be based in Burlington, Vt. Leahy said the grant has been awarded to Vermont-based Margolis Healy & Associates LLC, which will create the center in partnership with the University of Vermont (UVM). Establishing and leading the National Center is the responsibility of Margolis Healy, a national consulting firm … Continue Reading
08.31.13
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The President's Remarks On Syria
[Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt., President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and chairman of the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee) has participated in all of the leadership conference calls that have been held with the President and the Secretaries of State and Defense about the situation in Syria.] "The President is right to seek authorization from Congress for a response to the Syrian regime's clear violation of international law, in the use of wea… Continue Reading
08.29.13
Leahy and Shumlin Celebrate Opening Of Community Transportation Center
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday told members of the Addison County Transit Resources Board of Directors and local citizens that their new bus maintenance facility would help the transit company meet growing ridership and better serve the community, while also helping the environment. Leahy, who was on hand for an official ribbon cutting with Governor Peter Shumlin, secured $2.85 million in federal funds for the project "This new facility will help ACTR meet the g… Continue Reading
08.29.13
Leahy Welcomes Long-Awaited DOJ Guidelines For Enforcement Of Federal Marijuana Laws
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday welcomed the Justice Department's release of guidelines for enforcement of federal marijuana laws in light of action at the state level. Leahy has pressed the administration for such guidance since last year, when he wrote to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) after two states voted to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Leahy also announced earlier this week that the Judicia… Continue Reading
08.27.13
Our turn to give life to The Dream
Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before a crowd of thousands on the National Mall and called on the nation's leaders "to open the doors of opportunity" to all Americans. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech inspired a generation to act. Five decades later, we are closer to achieving Dr. King's dream, yet we have not come to realize its full potential. His dream lives on, inscribed not on water but on stone. The thousands of marchers became one with the millions more who watched… Continue Reading
08.27.13
Leahy: Safety Remains Highest Priority As Closure Looms For Vermont Yankee Plant
MONTPELIER, Vt.-- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says safety should remain the highest priority as Entergy prepares to close the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The company Tuesday announced plans to close the aging plant in 2014. Leahy said, "Safe decommissioning of Vermont Yankee is an issue of enormous and overarching importance for Vermont. Every precaution must be taken to insure public and worker safety during the decommissioning, and to insure that we do not leave a public safe… Continue Reading
08.26.13
Leahy: SJC Will Hold Hearing On Federal And State Marijuana Laws In September
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Monday that the Committee will hold a hearing next month on the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws. Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole have been invited to testify. The hearing titled "Conflicts between State and Federal Marijuana Laws" comes months after two states, Washington and Colorado, legalized small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Twenty states and the District o… Continue Reading
08.23.13
Vermont Recovers from Irene
BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug 23 - With the second anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene approaching, Vermont's congressional delegation today recalled heroic relief measures in the flooding's immediate aftermath and a remarkable rebuilding effort undertaken in the two years since one of the worst natural disasters in Vermont history. The Aug. 28, 2011, torrential storm killed six people in Vermont, forced thousands from their homes, washed away hundreds of homes and bridges and miles of roads. "What we… Continue Reading
08.22.13
Leahy Announces Key Step Toward $3 M. For 2 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Projects At National Center For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) At White River Junction
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. (THURSDAY, Aug. 22, 2013) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday visited the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on the campus of the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in White River Junction to announce a key step toward $3 million in federal funding for two new projects. The funding was included in the Senate Appropriations Committee-reported military construction and veterans affairs budget bill that awaits passage by both chambers… Continue Reading
08.22.13
Leahy: Norwich University Applied Research Institute Tapped To Receive $9.9 M. In Cybersecurity Contracts
NORTHFIELD, Vt. (THURSDAY, Aug. 22, 2013) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday spoke at Norwich University to announce that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tapped the Norwich University Applied Research Institute (NUARI) to receive $9.9 million in competitive contracts for cybersecurity projects. The $9.9 million in contracts will be awarded for the Distributed Environment for Critical Infrastructure Decision-making Exercises (DECIDE) program, which helps both private … Continue Reading
08.21.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary, On Release Of FISA Documents
[Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Wednesday responded to the release of documents by the Director of National Intelligence related to government surveillance activities. Leahy recently introduced the bipartisan FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013 to reform and improve certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and FISA Amendments Act. He also chaired a hearing recently on privacy rights and national security featuring top administration officials.]… Continue Reading
08.16.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Reports of Unauthorized Surveillance by the National Security Agency
[Last year during the debate over reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act, Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sought to strengthen independent oversight by offering an amendment to mandate an inspector general audit and a shorter expiration date. Although this proposal was not included then, he has re-introduced legislation that contains many of those same proposals. The Leahy-Lee bill also addresses other key provisions of the PATRIOT Act, including Section 215, the provisi… Continue Reading
08.15.13
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman Of The Senate's State Department And Foreign Operations Appropriations Panel, On Developments In Egypt
[Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is chairman of the Senate's State Department and Foreign Operations panel of the Appropriations Committee and author of current conditions on aid to Egypt and co-author with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., of new proposed conditions on aid to Egypt, which Leahy has included in the pending FY2014 State Department budget bill, issued the following comments Thursday, following the President's remarks on developments in Egypt:] "Recent events in Egypt, beginning with the ov… Continue Reading
08.13.13
Statement At GE Aviation Rutland
[U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) made the following remarks during a visit Tuesday to the GE Aviation facility in North Clarendon, Vermont. Leahy visited the plant to announce his effort to secure language in the federal government's 2014 budget that would call on the U.S. Navy to invest in a new, more cost-effective engine for the Navy's Super Hornet and Growler engines that could lead to new work for GE Aviation's Rutland operations. In the past seven months alone, Leahy has announced more t… Continue Reading
