Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Vermont Gains $40 million In Federal Tax Credits To Spur Privately Funded Economic Development Projects That Will Create Jobs In Communities With High Unemployment
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) Wednesday announced that Vermont Rural Ventures will receive $40 million in federal tax credits to spur economic development projects throughout the state. The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program was established by Congress in 2000 to spur investment of private capital in economic development projects in communities with high poverty and high unemployment. The program is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department. Un… Continue Reading
04.24.13
Senate Votes To Confirm Kelly To Eighth Circuit
The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the nomination of Jane Kelly to serve on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praised the Senate's approval of this highly-qualified nominee, who was reported by the Judiciary Committee last month, and said other nominees should be taken up just as quickly. Leahy added that Kelly has "proven the exception to the practice of Republicans of holding up confirmations of circuit nominees for no good reason for months."… Continue Reading
04.24.13
Leahy Reports To Senate On Judiciary Committee’s Progress Toward Starting Markup On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
(Wednesday, April 24, 2013) - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) made the following report to the Senate Wednesday on the panel's work on comprehensive immigration reform -- the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, the bipartisan bill that was the subject of three public hearings over the last week and which will soon be marked up in Committee. The Judiciary Committee this year has held six hearings on immigration reform, a… Continue Reading
04.24.13
Leahy, Sanders And Welch Announce: St. Johnsbury Fire Department To Receive $475,000 To Replace Out-Of-Service Ladder Truck
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. - U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch this week told St. Johnsbury Fire Department Chief Troy Ruggles that his four-year quest to replace the department's 36-year-old ladder truck is complete. Leahy, Sanders and Welch announced Wednesday that a $475,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) will help the department replace its 1976 tower truck that was out of service last year on December 23rd when … Continue Reading
04.23.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On “Drone Wars: The Constitutional and Counterterrorism Implications of Targeted Killing”
Today, the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights holds an important hearing to explore the administration's use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or "drones," to target and kill suspected terrorists overseas. The subcommittee will examine the constitutional and statutory authority to use drones to conduct these targeted killings, as well as key questions regarding the scope of the battlefield, which individuals can be targeted, and the possibility of establishing a transpa… Continue Reading
04.23.13
DHS Secretary Napolitano Testifies Before SJC On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently holding a hearing on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 featuring the testimony of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who also testified before the panel in February on the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The Committee has this year held six hearings on the issue, with three of those hearings focused specifically on bipartisan legislation to reform the Nation's immigr… Continue Reading
04.22.13
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Second Hearing On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
- The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently holding a hearing on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. The hearing chaired by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) marks the Committee's fifth immigration-related hearing this year, and the second focused on bipartisan legislation to reform the Nation's broken immigration system. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. # # # # # Statement Of Senator Patrick… Continue Reading
04.19.13
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
(Friday, April 19, 2013) - The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently holding a hearing on bipartisan legislation to reform the Nation's immigration system. The hearing chaired by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) marks the Committee's fourth immigration-related hearing this year. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. # # # # # Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On "Comprehensive Immigration Reform … Continue Reading
04.18.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Supreme Court Decision Limiting American Judicial Recourse For International Human Rights Violations
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday regarding a Supreme Court decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. A majority of the Court ruled that the Alien Tort Statute, a law enacted in 1789, does not apply to human rights violations committed in other countries. Specifically, the Court ruled that Nigerian citizens could not use American courts to sue a multinational oil company alleged to have aided the military dictatorship that… Continue Reading
04.18.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee On the Nominations of Analisa Torres and Derrick Watson
Monday's confirmation of Judge Beverly O'Connell marked the 150th confirmation of a Federal trial court nomination by President Obama. Thanks to Senate Republicans' concerted effort to filibuster, obstruct and delay his moderate judicial nominees, it took almost one year longer to reach this milestone than it did when his Republican predecessor was serving as President, 10 months in fact. I have repeatedly asked Senate Republicans to abandon their destructive tactics. Their unwillingness to d… Continue Reading
04.18.13
Statement of Chairman Leahy Department of State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Hearing FY 2014 Budget Request
I want to welcome our new members, Senators Shaheen, Begich, Johanns, and Boozman. This subcommittee may not be the most popular, and what we do may not get the most attention, but it is the counterpart to the Defense Appropriations subcommittee for how we project United States leadership and protect our interests around the world. I want to welcome Secretary of State Kerry who knows this budget backward and forward from his years as a member and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. … Continue Reading
04.18.13
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt., Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate) On Gun Violence Votes In The Senate
The Senate has cast aside the views of the vast majority of Americans who support commonsense steps to improve gun safety, and we can only imagine the sense of abandonment felt by the parents of Sandy Hook's children and by the many other victims of senseless gun violence. This has not been the Senate's finest hour. I have such great respect and appreciation for the Senate's special role in our system of government. I have seen the Senate rise up in courage and conviction and bipartisanship t… Continue Reading
04.18.13
SJC Begins Consideration Of Leahy-Authored Legislation To Update The Electronic Communications Privacy Act
- The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday began consideration of bipartisan legislation authored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that updates the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The Committee will continue considering the bipartisan measure cosponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) next week. "Today we have the opportunity to move forward on a bipartisan proposal, consistent with the Fourth Amendment, to better protect the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, pape… Continue Reading
04.17.13
Leahy: Senate Should Support Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Gun Trafficking
- Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), author of the bipartisan Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act that would make illegal the abusive practice of straw purchasing and trafficking of firearms, said Wednesday that a Republican alternative to his proposal would do nothing to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute these crimes. The Judiciary Committee approved Leahy's measure, coauthored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), last month on a bipartisan vote and after the pan… Continue Reading
04.17.13
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Vermont’s Priorities In Immigration Reform And The Proposals From The 'Gang Of Eight'
"Immigration reform is a national imperative, and it's also an opportunity to fix broken parts of the system that are especially important to Vermont. Vermont dairy farmers particularly have a big stake in Congress getting this right. "Vermonters will have a front-and-center seat as this comprehensive immigration reform bill is considered. In the Judiciary Committee we have had many hearings on immigration issues in recent years, and three so far this year. The next two hearings I have set,… Continue Reading
04.17.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Unveiling Of Bipartisan Legislation To Reform The Nation’s Immigration System
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday following the release of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal from the "Gang of Eight." The Committee has held three hearings on the issue of immigration reform this year alone and will hold a fourth hearing Friday on the bill proposed today. The Committee will hold a fifth immigration hearing on Monday.] # # # # # "Now that we have comprehensive immigration reform legislation to revie… Continue Reading
04.16.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws”
Our Nation's antitrust laws play a vital role in protecting hardworking Americans. By ensuring vibrant competition in our markets, the antitrust laws increase consumer choice, lower prices, and promote innovation. I am pleased that the Antitrust Subcommittee is conducting its regular oversight of the Federal agencies that enforce these important laws on behalf of American consumers. Today, the subcommittee convenes its first such oversight hearing with our new chair. I welcome Chair Klobucha… Continue Reading
04.16.13
Leahy, Sanders Join In Introducing Bill To Give Seniors, Taxpayers Better Deals In Negotiating Drug Prices
[NEWS from the office of Senator Jay Rockefeller] Leahy, Sanders Join In Introducing Bill To Give Seniors, Taxpayers Better Deals In Negotiating Drug Prices As Congress Works to Responsibly Reduce the Federal Deficit, the Bill Would Help Make Sure Pharmaceutical Companies Pay Their Share WASHINGTON, D.C - Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL),… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Events Monday In Boston
"Like all Vermonters, Marcelle and I are struggling to absorb the tragic news and images from Boston. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and we anxiously await word especially about Vermonters and all who traveled to Boston for the race." # # # # #… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Nomination of Judge Beverly O’Connell
Since the American people first elected President Obama, Senate Republicans have been engaged in a concerted effort to filibuster, obstruct and delay his moderate judicial nominees. They have already, during the last four years, filibustered more of President Obama's moderate judicial nominees than were filibustered during President Bush's entire eight years - 67 percent more, in fact - and there is no dispute that President Bush was engaged in an effort to pack the courts with ideological extr… Continue Reading
