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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Urges Senate Action On Long-Delayed Judicial Nominations
(Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012) - Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is urging Senate Republicans to consent to considering more than a dozen judicial nominations reported by the Judiciary Committee in 2011 that have yet to receive a confirmation vote in the Senate. "These highly qualified - consensus - nominees should be confirmed without further delay. They should have been confirmed last year," said Leahy. "One hundred and thirty million Americans live in circuits or districts wi… Continue Reading
02.28.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy At A Hearing On The FY2013 Budget Request For The Department Of State And Foreign Operations
Welcome, Madam Secretary. We appreciate that this is your first appearance before Congress on the President's fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of State and Foreign Operations. Before we begin I would like to note that we are missing a member of the Subcommittee today, Senator Mark Kirk. We are thinking of Senator Kirk and wish him the best for a speedy recovery. The request for the Department of State and Foreign Operations totals $54.7 billion which is a 2.6 percent incre… Continue Reading
02.27.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Margo Brodie To The Eastern District Of New York
[The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Margo Brodie to the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Brodie's nomination was unanimously reported to the full Senate by the Judiciary Committee nearly five months ago.] Earlier this month the Senate finally ended a four-month and two-day filibuster of the confirmation of Judge Adalberto Jordan and he is now the first Cuban-American to serve on the Eleventh Circuit. We also finally ended the five-month filibuster of the… Continue Reading
02.23.12
Vermont Wins $35 million for Economic Development
, Feb. 23 - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced today that Vermont Rural Ventures will receive $35 million in federal tax credits to spur economic development projects throughout the state. "These tax credits will leverage private investment dollars, creating jobs for Vermonters and supporting long-term economic growth in our communities," Leahy said. "This award is particularly timely for Vermont, given the economic impact and loss of … Continue Reading
02.23.12
Sanders, Leahy, Welch, Shumlin Statement on Postal Service Consolidation
, Feb. 23 - Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Gov. Peter Shumlin (D-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the U.S. Postal Service announced plans to consolidate mail processing centers: "We are extremely disturbed that the Postal Service intends to continue with its original plan to close the processing plant at White River Junction. We are pleased that the processing plant in Essex Junction was spared, but what we are saying loudly a… Continue Reading
02.22.12
Delegation announces $930,000 loan to Jasper Hill Farms in Greensboro, supporting value-added agriculture in Vermont and state’s growing cheese industry
Vermont's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - today announced a $930,000 federal loan guarantee to Jasper Hill Farms in Greensboro. The funds will support 20 existing jobs and create 14 new ones. Approved by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD), the loan guarantee will be used to finalize construction of two unfinished cheese cave vaults, which are carefully controlled environments where cheeses are aged. Additionally, … Continue Reading
02.21.12
Senators Seek Study on Voter Laws
, Feb. 21 - A group of U.S. senators today asked the Government Accountability Office to study what they called an "alarming number" of new state laws that will make it "significantly harder" for millions of eligible voters to cast ballots this November. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) sent a letter asking the non-partisan research arm of Congress for the review of new laws in at least 14 states. The study is needed "to ens… Continue Reading
02.17.12
Leahy: Vermont Nets $5.75 M. In Homeland Security Grants
Vermont will receive more than $5.75 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Friday. The grants will help Vermont develop prevention and preparedness programs to respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. "As a rural, border state, prevention and preparedness plans are a must in Vermont," said Leahy. "I tragically saw firsthand this summer how devastating natural disasters can… Continue Reading
02.17.12
Delegation Introduces Bill To Extend Vital Safety Net For Vermont Dairy Farmers
FRIDAY, Feb. 17) -- Vermont's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - has introduced legislation to extend a vital safety net that helps dairy farmers ride out downturns in milk prices. Without action, dairy farmers could face a severe drop in support from the MILC safety net come September 1st. The MILC Continuation Act of 2012 would extend for one year the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program at current support levels, which helps dai… Continue Reading
02.17.12
Leahy Hails New Influx Of Conservation Remediation Funds For Vermont Farms Harmed By Irene
(FRIDAY, Feb. 17) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says a fresh influx of funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA), using disaster relief funds that Leahy helped to add in November, will assist Vermont farmers whose lands were harmed by Irene. Vermont learned Thursday that the state will receive an additional $2.56 million, more than doubling an earlier allocation of $2.18 million, for a total of $4.7 million in federal funds from the Environmental Conservatio… Continue Reading
02.17.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Senate Passage Of The Tax Relief And Job Creation Act
[The Senate Friday approved the conference report on the Tax Relief and Job Creation Act by a vote of 60 to 36, with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) voting "aye."] "While I do have concerns with certain parts of this bill, I strongly support extending the payroll tax cut for the rest of the year. This will mean an extra $1500 a year to the average Vermont family. "Extending this tax relief to Vermont's families will not happen without this agreement, and preventing an extension of the payroll t… Continue Reading
02.17.12
After More Than Five Months Of Delay, Senate Confirms NY District Court Nominee
(Friday, Feb. 17, 2012) - More than five months after his nomination won unanimous support in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Jesse Furman was confirmed Friday to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before the vote, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said, "The extended delay in considering the Furman nomination has not only been damaging to the Federal District Court of New York, but also to the people it serves." The Judiciary Committee repor… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Five Months And Counting – Leahy Statement On Filibuster Of Furman Nomination
(Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke on the Senate floor Thursday morning about the filibuster of the nomination of Jesse Furman to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Furman's nomination was approved by the Judiciary Committee unanimously on September 15, now over five months ago. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture on the nomination Wednesday. Senate Republicans have not consented to scheduling a confirmation vo… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Leahy Introduces Cyber Crime Protection Security Act
(Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation Wednesday to address the growing threat of cyber crime. The Cyber Crime Protection Security Act will bolster tools for law enforcement to prevent and prosecute cyber crime. The legislation closely mirrors cyber crime proposals submitted by the Obama administration to Congress last May. "We simply cannot afford to ignore the growing threat of cyber crime," said Leahy. "We must give the dedicated prosecutors and … Continue Reading
02.15.12
Leahy, Author Of U.S. Organic Program, Hails Historic U.S.-EU Agreement On Organic Trade
(WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15) - In another historic breakthrough for the burgeoning organic sector of American agriculture, the United States and the European Union Wednesday announced a pact that will facilitate organic trade between the two regions, the two largest organic producers in the world. Under the agreement, organic products certified in the United States or Europe may be sold as certified organic in either region, beginning June 1. Before, growers and marketers wanting to trade products on … Continue Reading
02.15.12
After Four Month – Plus Two Day – Delay, Senate Confirms 11th Circuit Nominee
(Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012) - The U.S. Senate Wednesday confirmed a long-pending nomination to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Adalberto Jordan, who was nominated in August to be elevated from the district court to the Court of Appeals, was confirmed by an overwhelming vote, 94-5. Jordan's nomination has been available for final Senate consideration since the Judiciary Committee reported it with unanimous support on October 13. The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Monday to invoke c… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Leahy Chairs Hearing On Lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Program
(Wednesday, Feb. 15) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday chaired a hearing in Washington, D.C., about the importance of the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, a federal grant program to assist state and local law enforcement authored by Leahy. Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling testified before the Senate panel. "Since its enactment, the bulletproof vest grant program has contributed to the purchase of nearly one million ballistic vests to help protect our law … Continue Reading
02.15.12
Burlington Police Chief Schirling Tells Senate Panel That Bulletproof Vests Pgm. Saves And Protects Officers’ Lives
Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling was lead-off witness Wednesday for a hearing convened by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) about extending the charter of the Leahy-authored Bulletproof Vests Partnership Grant Program, which offers federal help to local police departments in buying body armor for their officers. This year is the 15th anniversary of the Drega killings on the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Federal officers involved in the Drega manhunt had bulletp… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Champlain Elementary School
On February 14, Senator Leahy went online with 55 fourth grade students from Champlain Elementary School in Burlington, VT. Senator Leahy used Skype to communicate with the students and their teachers from his office in Washington, DC. The Senator spoke about what it's like to be a Senator and answered questions from the students about his work on agriculture, hunger issues, and protecting the environment. This was Senator Leahy's fourth online chat of the 2011-2012 school year. Listed below ar… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Paul Amendment On Egypt
Mr. President, I want to respond briefly to comments of the junior Senator from Kentucky earlier today, regarding his amendment to cut off all U.S. aid for Egypt. First, let's take a step back. The new conditions on military aid for Egypt, which I wrote with Senator Lindsey Graham and were signed into law just two months ago, require a certification by the Secretary of State that the Egyptian military is supporting the transition to civilian government and protecting fundamental freedoms and d… Continue Reading
