Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Brown, Senate Dems Urge Regulators to End Attempts to Weaken the Community Reinvestment Act
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today led 42 Senate Democrats in calling for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to rescind their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) proposed rule, which would weaken this critical civil rights law. In their letter to regulators, the Senators called for the FDIC and OCC to listen to the input of community organizatio… Continue Reading
04.08.20
Klobuchar, Schneider, Colleagues Urge Administration to Increase Number of Doctors in Rural and Other Medically Underserved Areas
In a letter to USCIS Acting Director Cuccinelli, Klobuchar, Schneider, and colleagues call on USCIS to address its administrative needs without sacrificing access to health care in underserved areas during a pandemic WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) along with colleagues in both the House and the Senate, wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging the Administration to resume premium processing for physicians seekin… Continue Reading
04.08.20
Comments On Senator Bernie Sanders’ Decision To Suspend His Campaign
Bernie has been a strong voice on behalf of working people across America. His strong personal feelings came through as he announced the suspension of his campaign. My fellow Vermonters have long known what so many others have seen: a consistent advocate for health care for all, for economic justice, and for a democracy that remains in the hands of the American people as it should and not in the hands of a few. He is my partner in the Senate, and my friend of decades. I look forward to conti… Continue Reading
04.08.20
Comment On The President’s Remarks About The World Health Organization
"The World Health Organization does need reform, just as it needs the strong support of the United States and other countries in order to do its job. But such complaints also apply to President Trump, who ignored numerous warnings, downplayed the threat, discounted medical science and squandered valuable time that could have saved countless lives. He continues to shamelessly and relentlessly try to shift responsibility for his disastrous response to the coronavirus to anyone and everyone excep… Continue Reading
04.07.20
Leahy Leads Judiciary Committee Democrats In Demanding Answers About DHS’ Newly Claimed Authorities To Override Federal Laws At Southern Border
(TUESDAY, April 7, 2020) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) led all Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee - the Senate committee with jurisdiction over immigration laws, humanitarian protection laws, and constitutional oversight - in demanding answers about the Department of Homeland Security exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic by claiming new, sweeping powers to summarily expel large, unknown numbers of individuals arriving at our border in clear contravention of existing federal laws. The Jud… Continue Reading
04.03.20
Brown, Hassan, Bennet, Booker Lead Letter Calling On Administration To Ensure Veterans, SSI Beneficiaries Get Stimulus Checks Automatically
Today, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a group of 45 colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to issue stimulus checks automatically to recipients of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Supplemental Security Income program. In their letter, the Senators point out that these are two groups with large amounts of non-filers and groups that the federal government has the data necessary to deliv… Continue Reading
04.02.20
Leahy Presses Administration To Remedy Returned Peace Corps Volunteers’ Difficulties In Securing Job Opportunities And Unemployment Benefits
Read the first letter here. Read the second letter here.… Continue Reading
04.01.20
Hassan, Brown, Colleagues Call for Social Security Recipients to Get CARES Act Direct Cash Assistance Without Having to File Tax Return
While the CARES Act that the president signed into law last week ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries regardless of whether they file taxes or not, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released contradictory guidance earlier this week stating that Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns in order to receive direct payments. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led a g… Continue Reading
04.01.20
Meeting the Needs of States
H.R. 748, the CARES ActMeeting the Needs of States, Local Governments, and Tribes(Prepared By The Office Of Vice Chairman Leahy (D-Vt.) Division B of H.R. 748, the CARES Act, contains $340 billion in new discretionary funding toaddress the needs of the American people as we confront the coronavirus pandemic. Below is asummary of programs funded in the bill that will be awarded directly to state and localgovernment agencies, to tribes, or that will be provided to non-profit organizations in thes… Continue Reading
03.31.20
REAX From Senator Patrick Leahy And Senator Mike Lee On The DOJ OIG Interim FISA Report
(TUESDAY, March 31, 2020) - On Tuesday the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General released a Management Advisory Memorandum to FBI Director Christopher Wray identifying concerns with the FBI's compliance with the "Woods Procedures" for FISA applications relating to U.S. persons. Woods Procedures are vitally important to the integrity of the entire FISA process, as they are designed to ensure that the government presents a complete, accurate assessment of the facts to the FISA court. B… Continue Reading
03.27.20
Statement On President Trump Signing The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
Addressing a public health and economic crisis unprecedented in our time is only possible when there are no labels at the negotiating table. That is what we accomplished today. Republicans and Democrats came together to help the American people. We dealt with reality and not rhetoric. This legislation will provide significant resources to those on the front lines of this crisis, and to people in communities across the country who are making great sacrifices to protect themselves, their famil… Continue Reading
03.25.20
LEAHY: Coronavirus Emergency Relief Bill Will Bring More Than $1 Billion to Vermont
(WEDNESDAY, March 26, 2020) - Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy announced Wednesday that Vermont is poised to receive more than a billion dollars in federal resources in the emergency spending package poised to pass Congress this week. The Senate passed it at Midnight. Leahy, as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a lead negotiator of provisions in the bill that will direct formula funding to the state to combat the spread of COVID-19 and support those on the front lines c… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Remarks On The Coronavirus Aid, Relief And Economic Security Act
America is at an inflection point. We are facing a public health crisis unlike any we have seen in generations. Governments at every level are racing to respond, react, and mitigate the crisis. Communities and counties are fearful their hospital systems will be overrun, and needed supplies are unavailable. States are struggling to support local and state-wide economies that are increasingly hit with store closures and business suspensions. Unfortunately, the federal government - starting wi… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Menendez, Leahy Urge President to Use Upcoming G20 Meeting to Coordinate International Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs sent a letter to President Donald Trump today, urging him to work with world leaders at this week's emergency G20 meeting to implement a powerful international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators asked Trump to ensure that the United States and its partners… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Leahy Releases Appropriations Summary Of Bipartisan Coronavirus Aid And Economic Relief Agreement
(WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday released the bipartisan Senate agreement to provide relief from the coronavirus pandemic to our nation's families and working people. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy was a lead negotiator on the appropriations title of the relief package to provide direct assistance to the American people, preserve small businesses, and distribute billions of dollars in resources to hospitals, first responders, … Continue Reading
03.24.20
Statement On Status Of Bipartisan Negotiations To Address The Coronovirus Pandemic
Today, the American people are making sacrifices to keep themselves, their family, and their communities safe. Health care providers, grocery store staff, state and local government workers, truckers, bank tellers, journalists and countless others are doing important and necessary work on the front lines of this crisis. As a Senator from Vermont, and a member of this Chamber for more than 40 years, I want to send my profound thanks. Right now, we are close to expressing our understanding of … Continue Reading
03.24.20
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Ask USDA To Buy Dairy Products For Emergency Distribution During COVID-19 Outbreak
(TUESDAY, March 24, 2020) - Vermont's Congressional Delegation -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) -- Tuesday asked that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) make immediate purchases of dairy products and distribute them to low-income Americans through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). In a joint letter, Leahy, Sanders, and Welch said: "COVID-19 will undoubtedly have widespread impacts on hunger and malnutrit… Continue Reading
03.24.20
Leahy Announces $3 Million Grant To Establish National Center On Restorative Justice At Vermont Law School
(TUESDAY, March 24, 2020) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that Vermont Law School will receive a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish the nation's first National Center on Restorative Justice. Leahy, the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has led a several-year effort to establish and fund the Center. Leahy also has been a leader on criminal justice reform as a leading member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Cente… Continue Reading
03.20.20
Comment On State Department Level 4 Global Health Advisory
COVID-19 has upended our normal way of life, and it is imperative that all Vermonters, and all Americans, do everything possible to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from this extremely contagious and dangerous virus. The State Department has issued a warning against all travel overseas, and I urge Vermonters to heed that warning. Vermonters who are currently in other countries and plan to return home, should do so immediately as borders are closing and air travel is be… Continue Reading
03.19.20
Statement On The McConnell/Trump Stimulus Proposal
Earlier this week I made clear that Senate Republicans' plan to proceed with a "Republican Consensus" proposal without bipartisan input from Democrats would be a waste of time and only delay aid from reaching the American people. It is extremely disappointing that my words fell on deaf ears. If ever there were a time to work directly across the aisle for the good of the nation, this is it. While I welcome direct financial assistance to American families, the McConnell/Trump Republican proposa… Continue Reading
