Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Senator Leahy: Egypt’s Rulers Are Throwing The Transition Into Question
(FRIDAY, June 15) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is the author of the new conditions on U.S. military aid to Egypt. Secretary Clinton earlier this year invoked the Leahy law's waiver authority to allow military aid to resume, but contract-by-contract decisions are ongoing. Leahy chairs the budget committee for the State Department and foreign aid and operations - the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations. On Friday he commented on the new dev… Continue Reading
06.15.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On DHS Deferred Action Policy For Certain Noncitizens
"I commend Secretary Napolitano for exercising the discretion available to her by law in the deportation of young people. These youths - brought to the United States as children - enrich our culture, support our communities, contribute to our economy and serve our nation ably as members of our Armed Forces. President Obama and Secretary Napolitano should be praised for embracing this temporary relief for qualified young people, brought here through no fault of their own. In many cases this is… Continue Reading
06.14.12
Statement Of Senator Leahy On The Assault On Freedom Of The Press In Ethiopia
Mr. Leahy. Mr. President, later this month, I and other Members of Congress will be watching what happens in a courtroom 7,000 miles from Washington, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. That is where a journalist named Eskinder Nega stands accused of supporting terrorism simply for refusing to remain silent about the Ethiopian government's increasingly authoritarian drift. The trial is finished, and a verdict is expected on June 21. Eskinder Nega is not alone. Since 2011, the Ethiopian government ha… Continue Reading
06.14.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Republican Opposition To Consensus Nominees
[On Wednesday, Senate Republicans announced they are invoking the so-called "Thurmond Rule" and will not allow further votes on the President's circuit court nominees this year, despite continued high vacancies and consensus bipartisan nominees reported by the Judiciary Committee and awaiting consideration on the Senate calendar.] "This shutdown is consistent with what the partisan Senate Republican leadership did in 1996 and again at the end of President Clinton's presidency, and can be contr… Continue Reading
06.12.12
Leahy Releases Bipartisan Senate Letter: House Should Set Up-Or-Down Vote On Senate’s Consensus VAWA Bill To Support ALL Victims Of Violence
(TUESDAY, June 12)- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the lead author of the Senate's Violence Against Women Act, sent a bipartisan letter with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) Tuesday to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), urging him to bring up the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act. This landmark law has been at the foundation of the nation's response to domestic and sexual violence since 1994, and the Senate's bipartisan reauthorization measure is based on months of work with survivors,… Continue Reading
06.12.12
Statement Of Senator Leahy On The Nomination Of Andrew D. Hurwitz To The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals
Last night the Senate voted to end the Republican filibuster of this outstanding nominee. For the 28th time since President Obama was elected, the Majority Leader was forced to file cloture to get an up-or-down vote on one of President Obama's judicial nominations. Justice Hurwitz is not a nominee who should have been filibustered. With the support of Senator Kyl, the partisan effort to stall yet another judicial nomination was defeated. I thank Senator Kyl and the Republican Senators who ha… Continue Reading
06.12.12
Leahy Chairs Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With Attorney General Eric Holder
(Tuesday, June 12, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is chairing a hearing this morning on oversight of the Department of Justice. Attorney General Eric Holder is testifying before the panel. 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 Oversight of the Department Of Justice June 12, 2012 I welcome our Attorney General Holder b… Continue Reading
06.11.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Andrew D. Hurwitz To The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals
(Monday, June 11, 2012) - The Senate will vote tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Andrew D. Hurwitz to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee in March. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and spoke on the Senate floor today about the nomination. Leahy's full statement can be read on his website.] # # # # # Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D… Continue Reading
06.08.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Attorney General Holder’s Appointment Of Two Special Prosecutors To Investigate Alleged White House Leaks
"I agree with the Attorney General. He and I discussed this today and I am pleased he has picked strong, capable, independent prosecutors for the investigation. The Department's consultation with the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees aids congressional oversight."… Continue Reading
06.08.12
Five Vermont Airports To Receive $1.2 Million
(FRIDAY, June 8) -- Five Vermont airports are in line for $1.2 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds to conduct repairs and enhancements, the state's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - announced today. The funds will be shared among Burlington International Airport, Middlebury State Airport, Rutland/Southern Vermont Regional Airport, Caledonia County Airport (Lyndonville) and William H. Morse State Airport (Bennington). In… Continue Reading
06.06.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy As Senate Nears Debate On The 2012 Farm Bill
The Senate is about to turn its attention to one of the most significant legislative issues on our agenda this year, consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill. I would first like to thank the Chairwoman, Senator Stabenow, and ranking member, Senator Roberts, for working together in a bipartisan way to advance a Farm Bill -- the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 -- that can pass the Senate and become law this year. As a former Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and having worked close… Continue Reading
06.06.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Jeffrey Helmick
Today, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Jeffrey Helmick to fill a judicial emergency vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. I commend Senator Brown and Senator Portman for their diligence in securing a vote on this nomination. Mr. Helmick has the strong bipartisan support of his home state Senators. His nomination was voted out of the Judiciary Committee nearly three months ago by a bipartisan majority. I thank the Majority Leader for his work in bring… Continue Reading
06.06.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy At A Hearing On Ensuring That Federal Prosecutors Meet Discovery Obligations
Today, as promised, we continue our inquiry into ensuring that Federal prosecutors meet their obligations, whether the defendant is a prominent official or an indigent defendant. We have now seen the results of two separate investigations and two reports into what went wrong during the Stevens trial. I thank Attorney General Holder for making the report of the Department of Justice's internal Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) available to us. We have now made it available to the pub… Continue Reading
06.05.12
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Senate’s Vote Falling Short Of The Supermajority Needed To End A Filibuster Over The Paycheck Fairness Act
- In a vote of 52 to 47, the U.S. Senate Tuesday afternoon fell short of the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster of the motion to proceed to a debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is a cosponsor of the bill and had helped lead efforts to enact an earlier remedy for wage discrimination against women - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, the first bill signed into law by President Obama. Following is Leahy's statement after Tuesday's Senate vo… Continue Reading
06.05.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Paycheck Fairness Act
The Senate today will vote on the motion to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness Act, at 2:15 p.m. Leahy is a cosponsor of the bill and steered an earlier remedy through Congress and to enactment -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which was the first bill signed into law by President Obama. Following is Leahy's statement Tuesday urging a favorable vote to overcome the filibuster that will require a 60 vote supermajority today to proceed to debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act - Today… Continue Reading
06.04.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Timothy Hillman
Today, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Timothy Hillman to fill a judicial vacancy in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Judge Hillman has the strong bipartisan support of his home state Senators. His nomination was reported with a near unanimous vote of 17-1 by the Judiciary Committee nearly three months ago, with the only objection coming from Senator Lee's customary protest vote. I thank the Majority Leader for his work in securing a vote on Judge Hillman's… Continue Reading
06.04.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Of 2012
It has been more than a month since the Senate came together to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012. Our bill reflects VAWA's tradition of bringing together people from both political parties to work with the professionals in the field and address the needs of all victims. More than two-thirds of the Senate, including 15 Republicans, voted for this common sense legislation. That is a rare feat in the Senate today, and it demonstrates that our Leahy-Crapo reauthorizatio… Continue Reading
05.31.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Federal Appeals Court Ruling On The Defense Of Marriage Act
[Senator Leahy is a leading cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He chaired the first-ever congressional hearing examining the effects of DOMA on American families. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he led the panel's consideration of the legislation. The Committee approved the bill in November.] "The First Circuit Court of Appeals decision today echoes testimony heard during an historic hearing before the Judiciary Co… Continue Reading
05.31.12
Monday Workshop In South Burlington To Help Vermont Bio-Science Businesses Identify Opportunities With The U.S. Army
BURLINGTON, Vt. (THURSDAY, May 31) -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center on Monday will host a workshop for Vermont medical device and medical research companies interested in doing business with the U.S. Army. The session will be held Monday morning, June 4, at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. Leahy said any business interested in selling a medical device to the Army, or any business involved in research and devel… Continue Reading
05.29.12
Leahy Announces $9.9 M. Army Contract For Work On Goodrich’s Helicopter Diagnostics System
(TUESDAY, May 29) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced a new $9,921,634 U.S. Army contract with the Goodrich Corporation for 80 additional units of its groundbreaking helicopter maintenance diagnostic system, produced at the company's facility in Vergennes, Vt. The Army is purchasing Goodrich's Health and Usage Management Systems (HUMS), which give mechanics feedback on a helicopter's engine performance, structural performance and rotor wear, allowing it to be serviced before major systems… Continue Reading
