Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Statement On Reevaluating Trump’s Border Wall
The previous Administration's taxpayer funded vanity wall along the Southern Border was never a real solution to addressing the challenge of immigration in our country. It was a slogan made for a bumper sticker - not an effective national policy. A wall, no matter how high or secure, will not deter families and children who are turning themselves in at the border in an effort to flee violence, chaos, and poverty in their home countries. Congress was clear that the funding appropriated for CB… Continue Reading
03.17.21
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy: The United States And Cuba
For more than half a century, the United States has imposed a labyrinth of punishing economic sanctions on Cuba, an impoverished island of 11 million people, in an attempt to pressure its government to hold democratic elections. I certainly share the goal of democracy, but Cuba is no closer to free and fair elections than any time in its history. Rather than continue a policy that had failed to achieve any of its goals and that holds Cuba to a standard we do not apply to many other repressive … Continue Reading
03.17.21
Response Of Vermont’s Congressional Delegation – Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders, And Representative Welch -- To U.S. Customs And Border Protection’s Surveillance Proposal
"The Congressional Delegation has serious concerns about the Border Patrol's plan to install massive surveillance camera towers - involving pristine farmland - along the U.S.-Canadian border. Community members have expressed concerns over what they feel has been limited outreach and communication related to privacy intrusions, property rights, and environmental hazards. The Congressional Delegation shares these concerns. The Delegation will be requesting a 60-day extension of the public comment … Continue Reading
03.17.21
Response Of Vermont’s Congressional Delegation – Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders, And Representative Welch -- To U.S. Customs And Border Protection’s Surveillance Proposal
"The Congressional Delegation has serious concerns about the Border Patrol's plan to install massive surveillance camera towers - involving pristine farmland - along the U.S.-Canadian border. Community members have expressed concerns over what they feel has been limited outreach and communication related to privacy intrusions, property rights, and environmental hazards. The Congressional Delegation shares these concerns. The Delegation will be requesting a 60-day extension of the public comment … Continue Reading
03.17.21
GAO Reports Find Agencies Withheld More Information From The Public In Recent Years
(March 17, 2021)-Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Senator Patrick Leahy, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator Chuck Grassley issued the following statement in recognition of Sunshine Week-held each year to highlight the importance of government transparency-after the release of two Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that found that agencies increasingly withheld information und… Continue Reading
03.15.21
Leahy, Grassley And Feinstein Introduce Bill To Reinforce Transparency In Wake Of Supreme Court FOIA Decision And Recent Regulations
(MONDAY, March 15, 2021) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Wednesday introduced the Open and Responsive Government Act, to reverse recent developments that undermine the public's right to access information and hold government accountable. The legislation would restore a longstanding legal interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act's (FOIA) exemption regarding confidential commercial information, which was recent… Continue Reading
03.11.21
Statement On The Passing Of U.S. Second Circuit Court Judge Peter Hall
Marcelle and I are so saddened to learn of Judge Peter Hall's passing. In addition to being a highly respected jurist, Peter was a good friend. Vermont and the country are richer for his many years of service. When he announced he would be taking senior status just last week, Judge Hall's tenure - as both judge and prosecutor -- was noted for his fair and thoughtful approach to the law. Our condolences go out to Judge Hall's family, as well as to all those in Vermont's legal community who kn… Continue Reading
03.11.21
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy: Central American Democracy Faces Existential Threats
Democracy in Central America is facing existential threats. In Guatemala, the Constitutional Court is under assault by the Congress and the Executive. If the Court's magistrates are replaced with cronies of the other branches of government, any semblance of a credible justice system will be lost. In Honduras, corruption permeates the highest ranks of government, civil society activists are under attack, and the justice system is complicit in perpetuating lawlessness and impunity. El Salvad… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Cornyn, Leahy Introduce Bill To Enhance Cybersecurity
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today introduced the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act to authorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to work with the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) to help prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks at the national, state, and local levels. "Our communities must be prepared to defend against the ever-evolving cyber threats they face," said Sen. Cornyn. "Texas is fortunate to have uni… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Leahy Hails Final Passage Of The American Rescue Plan
(WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hailed House passage Wednesday of the American Rescue Plan, which will bring much-needed financial relief to Vermonters and help to Vermont communities. The House passed the final version of the package that the Senate had passed on Saturday. Leahy said that through direct assistance to Vermonters, financial aid for the State of Vermont and local municipalities, and dozens of other pro… Continue Reading
03.09.21
Leahy And Feinstein Support House VAWA Bill
(TUESDAY, March 9, 2021) - Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released the following statement in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act that was reintroduced in the House of Representatives: "Reauthorizing VAWA is long overdue since the law expired in 2018. The bipartisan bill introduced in the House mirrors legislation we introduced in the last Congress. Unfortunately, that bill was blocked in the Senate last Congress and didn't even… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Statement On Senate Passage Of The American Rescue Plan
Across our country, in every state, in every community, Americans are suffering. It doesn't matter if they are represented in Congress by Republicans or by Democrats, or whether they live in rural communities or in urban centers. All have suffered under an unprecedented health and economic crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 520,000, and of more than 2.58 million people around the world. Families are living under the tremendous burden of not knowing how they will pay their rent, fe… Continue Reading
03.04.21
Comments On The American Rescue Plan
Soon, every member of the United States Senate will have the chance to stand up and vote for, or vote against, relief for the millions of Americans who continue to struggle in the wake of this devastating pandemic. There can be no question: while we are finally beginning to turn the page, in large part because President Biden has made relief and recovery a singular priority, millions of Americans continue to contract this virus, millions are out of work, and millions need support. The American… Continue Reading
02.27.21
Reaction Of Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy And House Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chair Tom Malinowski On The ODNI Report On The Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi
(SATURDAY, Feb. 27, 2021) -- "We are concerned by early indications that the Biden Administration does not intend to impose a visa ban on all those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. U.S. law is unequivocal: section 7031(c) of H.R.133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 requires that "officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary of State has credible information have been involved, d… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Bennet, Kaine, And Leahy Introduce Medicare-X Choice Act To Achieve Universal Health Care
- Today, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) reintroduced their legislation, the Medicare-X Choice Act, which would create a public option by expanding on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare. The Medicare Exchange (Medicare-X) plan would offer families, individuals, and small businesses low-cost health insurance, decrease the number of uninsured Americans, control the cost of health care, and increase competition in the health insurance mark… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Merkley, Leahy, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Tackle Corruption, Human Rights Violations In Honduras
Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) today led a group of eight lawmakers in introducing the Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021-legislation that lays out a comprehensive framework for combating corruption, impunity, and human rights violations in Honduras. The introduction comes as U.S. federal prosecutors made public that they are investigating Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández for accepting large brib… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Markey, Senate Colleagues Back President Biden’s Return To Nuclear Diplomacy With Iran
(February 23, 2021) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 10 of his colleagues in the reintroduction of the Iran Diplomacy Act. The legislation supports President Joseph Biden's diplomatic effort to return all sides to full-compliance with their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Last week, the Biden administration formally accepted an invitation by the European Union to join… Continue Reading
02.18.21
Senator Markey, Durbin, And Leahy Urge Full Exoneration And Release Of Senator Leila De Lima, Who Remains Unjustly Detained In The Philippines
(February 18, 2021) - Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) top Democrat on the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), released the following statement regarding the acquittal of Senator Leila de Lima in one of three bogus charges filed against her by the Government of the Philippines. Senator de Lima has been unjustly detained for four years next week on politically-motivated charges, widely condemned by human rights organizations and governmen… Continue Reading
02.17.21
Peters Leads Colleagues In Pressing Postmaster General To Restore On-Time Delivery And Stop Harmful Changes
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 33 of his colleagues in pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on persistent mail delays and what action he is taking to restore on-time mail delivery. Peters previously released a report that confirmed operational changes at the Postal Service ordered by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy last summer resulted in compromised service for communities in Michigan and across the country. While Con… Continue Reading
02.17.21
Inhofe, Leahy Lead 25 Colleagues To Urge Biden To Reverse Misguided Western Sahara Decision
U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) led 25 of their Senate colleagues today in sending a letter urging President Biden to reverse the previous misguided decision to officially recognize the Kingdom of Morocco's illegitimate claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara and recommit the United States to the pursuit of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara. The senators wrote: "The abrupt decision by the previous administration on December 1… Continue Reading
