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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Immigration Reform Must Be Comprehensive To Be Effective
Significant border security provisions in the sweeping immigration bill before the Senate should clear the way for broader reform this year, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in a floor statement Wednesday. Leahy, who successfully added two border-related amendments to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act during Committee consideration last month, noted the legislation appropriates money for fence building and boosts the number… Continue Reading
06.12.13
Leahy Files Amendments To Immigration Reform Bill
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Tuesday filed three amendments to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, including an amendment to provide equal protection to lawfully married bi-national same sex couples that other spouses receive under existing immigration law. Leahy said such an amendment, which can be viewed online, would "remove discrimination from our immigration system." "Seeking equal protection under our laws for the … Continue Reading
06.12.13
Senator Leahy and Senator Carper Letter On S. 744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity And Immigration Modernization Act
June 11, 2013 Dear Colleague, As the Senate prepares to take up S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, as amended, we write to draw your attention to the strong border security provisions in the bill. As chairmen of the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, we have conducted extensive oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and its enforcement record. The United States has made significant prog… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Senate Begins Consideration Of Historic Immigration Legislation
The Senate moved Tuesday to begin consideration of the bipartisan the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the comprehensive immigration reform bill. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is managing the bill on the Senate floor, called on lawmakers to pass the measure and send it to the House for consideration. "We should send to the House the best bill that we can," Leahy said. "We should do what is right, what is fair, and what is just… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Vermont Highlights Of The 2013 Farm Bill
Here is a summary of many of the Vermont highlights of the Senate-passed Farm Bill: Dairy The Senate's Farm Bill includes new dairy provisions to replace the MILC safety net. The new approach, endorsed by major dairy producers in Vermont, creates a federally subsidized margin insurance program. A key element of this new program is a "market stabilization" provision that would discourage over-supply of milk. "This new safety net approach will help us break the harmful cycle of rollercoasterin… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Statement Of Administration Policy: S. 744 - Boder Security, Economic Opportunity And Immigration Modernization Act
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 June 11, 2013 (Senate) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY S. 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (Sen. Schumer, D-NY, an… Continue Reading
06.11.13
The bill before the Senate received fair, full and transparent consideration in the Judiciary Committee
From The Senate Judiciary Committee Majority Staff S. 744: The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization ActA Fair And Open Process The Senate has begun floor discussion of S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The comprehensive immigration reform bill will make the first truly meaningful reforms to the nation's immigration system in a generation, and it is the product of hours of markup and debate in the Senate Judicia… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), On Passage of The Senate Farm Bill, S. 954
Across Vermont's food system, businesses are starting, expanding, and creating good jobs. Ever more local food is available in stores, restaurants, and institutions throughout the state and in greater supply, for more months of the year. Important programs are reaching more food insecure Vermonters with fresh, healthy food. Thanks to the Senate Farm Bill we will continue to see these improvements in Vermont and across the country Nationwide agriculture supports 16 million jobs. In Vermont our … Continue Reading
06.10.13
Senate Adopts Leahy Amendment To Invest in Gigabit Broadband Networks In Rural Areas
Senate Adopts Leahy Amendment To Invest in Gigabit Broadband Networks In Rural Areas WASHINGTON (MONDAY, June 10, 2013) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday won passage of his amendment to the Farm Bill to establish a pilot program within the Rural Utilities Service Broadband Program to invest in broadband projects offering ultra-high speed gigabit Internet service in rural areas. Leahy's amendment was approved in a vote of 48 to 38, just before the Senate gave final passage to the Farm Bill… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Leahy And Sanders Herald New Dairy Program In Senate-Passed Farm Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said a farm bill that the Senate approved Monday includes dairy safety net provisions that would help Vermont's family farms. The Farm Bill was approved in a final passage vote of 66 to 27. The new dairy program would replace the existing price supports and direct payments under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program with a voluntary insurance program that will help protect farm income when profit margins shrink to unsustain… Continue Reading
06.10.13
The Time Is Now To Consider Comprehensive Immigration Reform
(Monday, June 10, 2013) -In a floor statement Monday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said the Senate should consider comprehensive immigration reform in an open manner that "will promote the public's engagement in this process as it did during the Committee's consideration of the legislation." First, Leahy noted, Senators should support a procedural motion to consider the bipartisan measure. "The legislation before us is the result of a bipartisan group of Senators who came … Continue Reading
06.10.13
Senate Passes 2013 Farm Bill
The 2013 Farm Bill, as passed by the U.S. Senate on June 10, 2013, in a vote of 66 to 27, is a comprehensive agriculture reform bill that saves taxpayers more than $23 billion dollars, supports more than 16 million American jobs, and makes significant strides in conservation and wildlife protection. The bipartisan bill would accomplish the most far-reaching reform of U.S. agriculture policy in decades, replacing direct payments to commodity growers with risk management tools that kick in when fa… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Vermont Highlights Of The 2013 Farm Bill As Adopted By The U.S. Senate On June 10, 2013
The 2013 Farm Bill, as passed by the U.S. Senate on June 10, 2013, in a vote of 66 to 27, is a comprehensive agriculture reform bill that saves taxpayers more than $23 billion dollars, supports more than 16 million American jobs, and makes significant strides in conservation and wildlife protection. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the most senior member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, again has ensured that Vermonters have had a close seat at the table as the Se… Continue Reading
06.07.13
Senate Poised To Begin Debate Of Historic Immigration Reform Bill
Senate Poised To Begin Debate Of Historic Immigration Reform Bill Legislation The Result Of Five Markups In Judiciary Committee WASHINGTON (Friday, June 7, 2013) -Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who led the Judiciary Committee in hours of markups to consider the bipartisan immigration reform bill now poised for debate in the full Senate, called on lawmakers to allow for the same open and transparent process on the Senate floor. In a floor statement Friday, Leahy outlined the Committee's extens… Continue Reading
06.07.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, S.744 and Immigration Modernization Act
Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee held lengthy and extensive public markup sessions to consider the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, S. 744. We worked late into the evenings debating the bill and considering hundreds of amendments. The public witnessed our consideration first hand, saw our proceedings streamed on the internet and broadcast on television. We posted proposed amendments on our website and updated the Committee's website to incl… Continue Reading
06.06.13
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary, On Government Surveillance And The USA PATRIOT Act
"The powerful law enforcement tools authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act require careful monitoring and close oversight. That is why I pressed for sunset provisions, judicial review and other safeguards, many of which were included in the original law. Since then I have continued to push for greater oversight and transparency in the way the government conducts electronic surveillance. The privacy rights of Americans can be especially fragile when powerful technologies are applied in secrecy. I … Continue Reading
06.06.13
Vermont Delegation Urges Obama to Act on Disaster Aid Request
, June 5 - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today urged President Barack Obama to support Gov. Peter Shumlin's request for disaster assistance in the wake of damaging floods caused by heavy rains and a freak May snowstorm. Up to eight inches of rain and a more than a foot of snow fell in parts of Vermont from May 22 to May 26. The heaviest downpours in northern Vermont caused flash flooding that severely damaged roads, bridges and homes. Altog… Continue Reading
06.05.13
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Selection Of Susan Rice To Be The Next National Security Advisor, And Samantha Power To Be The Next U.S. Ambassador To The United Nations
"I applaud the President for his selection of Ambassador Rice and Samantha Power. They are intellectually gifted advisors of the highest integrity, devoted to defending the interests and values of the United States. While many speak of the daunting challenges of the job of National Security Advisor, I prefer to focus on its opportunities, and Ambassador Rice will embrace them in ways that will enhance the security and reputation of the nation. I know of no one more capable than Samantha Power… Continue Reading
06.05.13
George Will Writes About The Leahy-Paul Justice Safety Valve Act, And The Problem Of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing –
Link to George Will's column, "Seeking Sense On Sentencing," here. Information about the Leahy-Paul bill, here.… Continue Reading
06.04.13
The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 has reached the Senate Floor
After being approved on a bipartisan vote from the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee in May, the 2013 Farm Bill has moved to the Senate Floor. Vermonters again had a front and center seat in the writing of the Farm Bill through the advocacy of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the most senior member of the Agriculture Committee and a former chairman of the panel. The Senate's bipartisan bill would accomplish the most far-reaching reform of U.S. agriculture policy in decades, replacing direct payme… Continue Reading
