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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
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
05.25.12
Leahy, Welch: Congress Should Remain Committed To Protecting All Victims Of Violence
BURLINGTON (FRIDAY, May 25) - Speaking in Burlington Friday, Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and Congressman Peter Welch (D), joined by the Executive Director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, spoke about the importance of continuing the lifesaving Violence Against Women Act. Leahy, with the strong support of Welch, has been leading efforts in Washington to reauthorize the landmark law, which has been the foundation of the country's national response to domestic and sexual … Continue Reading
05.24.12
Senate Confirms General Dubie As New Deputy Commander Of NORTHCOM
(FRIDAY, May 25) - The U.S. Senate Thursday night confirmed the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, Major General Michael Dubie, to a top post in the U.S. military's homeland defense mission. General Dubie, nominated by President Obama, will be the Deputy Commander of the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM), the military's unified command in charge of protecting U.S. territory and providing military support for civil authorities in the event of a national emergency. Senator P… Continue Reading
05.24.12
Vermont And New York Senators Push For Improved Passenger Train Service To Montreal
(THURSDAY, May 24) -- U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) are urging federal negotiators to move quickly to reach an agreement with their Canadian counterparts on allowing essential security inspections for Amtrak trains to take place in Montreal. An agreement would lay the groundwork for a dramatic improvement of service on Amtrak's Adirondack line in New York and would mark the first crucial step in restoring A… Continue Reading
05.24.12
Leahy Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Permanently Authorize Job-Creating Foreign Investment Program
(Thursday, May 24, 2012) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation Thursday to make permanent the charter for a successful, job-creating immigrant visa program that has brought economic development and job growth to Vermont since 1997. After months of negotiation, the legislation introduced Thursday by Leahy will grant a permanent authorization to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center program. Vermont's Regional Center has been a successful private-public partnership betwee… Continue Reading
05.24.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Release Of The Department Of Justice OPR Report On The Stevens Prosecution
"I thank Attorney General Holder for providing this report to the Judiciary Committee. I will thoroughly review this report on allegations of prosecutorial misconduct by Justice Department attorneys and investigators in the trial of the late Senator Ted Stevens. I plan to hold a hearing on June 6 to learn what steps the Department is taking to ensure sure that what happened in the Stevens case does not happen again, regardless of the prominence of the defendant. In order for our justice syste… Continue Reading
05.23.12
Leahy-Grassley Bill To Increase Penalties For Counterfeit Drugs Adopted In FDA Bill
(Wednesday, May 23, 2012) - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to increase penalties for trafficking counterfeit drugs was adopted by the Senate Wednesday as part of a substitute amendment to the Food and Drug Administration user fee legislation being debated this week. The legislation responds to recommendations made by the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and the administration's Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Inter-agency Wor… Continue Reading
05.22.12
Summary: Fiscal Year 2013 Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations
- The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs today approved the fiscal year 2013 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Subcommittee, released the following statement: "This bill totals $52.1 billion, which is $2.6 billion below the President's budget request, and $1.2 billion below the Fiscal Year 2012 level. Because the Iraqi police train… Continue Reading
05.22.12
Leahy, Sanders And Welch Announce Lifting Of The Threat Of Deportation That Hovered Over Same-Sex Couple In Dummerston
(TUESDAY, May 22) -- Vermont's congressional delegation - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D) - Tuesday announced a breakthrough that will bring certainty and stability for now to the legal status of a Japanese-born woman, Takako Ueda, who is married under Vermont law to an American citizen, Frances Herbert. The couple live in Dummerston, Vt. The bi-national same-sex couple has been together for more than a decade and were le… Continue Reading
05.21.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Paul J. Watford To The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals
(Monday, May 21, 2012) - The Senate will vote tonight at 5:30 p.m. on confirmation on the nomination of Paul Watford to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. Since then, Senate Republicans have not consented to scheduling a vote on the nomination. Tonight's vote comes only after the Senate Majority Leader filed cloture on the nomination last Thursday. Senator Patrick Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Co… Continue Reading
05.18.12
Leahy And 5 Other Senators Want FDA To Block Misleading Sunscreens
- In an effort to ensure that sunscreen labels are clear, accurate, and provide consumers with the information they need to protect themselves, a group of U.S. senators, including Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and led by Jack Reed (D-R.I.), is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse course and put comprehensive new sunscreen standards into effect this summer. Leahy has long been a leader on cancer research, prevention and treatment and is married to a cancer survivor, Marc… Continue Reading
05.17.12
Senator Leahy Welcomes Vermont Companies To Capitol Hill For Seventh Annual Taste Of Vermont
Senator Leahy is thrilled to welcome over 55 Vermont companies to Washington, D.C. for the Seventh Annual Taste of Vermont this evening. The event is an opportunity for Vermont businesses to showcase all of the high quality products and services that Vermont has to offer. Below is a list of many, but not all, of the businesses that will participate this year. Against the Grain Gourmet Foods Bakery at Farmhouse Kitchen Ben & Jerry's Bien Fait Specialty Cakes Bove's of Vermont Cabot Crea… Continue Reading
05.17.12
Leahy Is Among 42 Senators Making Bipartisan Call For Timely Debate On The 2012 Farm Bill
- With the clock running out on current agriculture policies authorized in the last Farm Bill, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is part a bipartisan group of 42 senators who this week called on their leaders on both sides of the aisle to cooperate in scheduling floor debate on the next Farm Bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a proposed 2012 Farm Bill on April 26 in a strong bipartisan vote of 16 to 5. Leahy is the committee's most senior member and a past chairman of the panel. The … Continue Reading
05.17.12
Judiciary Committee Approves Nominees To Privacy Board
WASHIGNTON - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved a slate of nominees to reconstitute the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The Board was originally created by Congress in 2004, at the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, to be located within the Executive Office of the President. However, in 2007, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, worked to make the Board an independent entity within the Executive Branch. The Board has be… Continue Reading
05.17.12
Leahy Shepherds Bulletproof Vest Grant Reauthorization Through Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), approved legislation Thursday to reauthorize the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, a federal grant program that helps state and local law enforcement agencies purchase bulletproof vests for officers working in the field. Leahy authored the law establishing the matching grant program. The bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration. "This is National Police Week, and it is fitting that the… Continue Reading
05.17.12
White River Junction Mail Processing Plant to Stay Open
The U.S. Postal Service mail-sorting center at White River Junction, Vt. will remain open, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced today. The Postal Service decision to continue operating the White River Junction plant once targeted for closure is part of a new national plan by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. The latest plan was developed after sweeping service cuts he proposed ran into widespread opposition from postal customers, busine… Continue Reading
