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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy Criticizes Unprecedented Partisan Obstruction Of Consensus District Court Picks
(Thursday, September 20, 2012) - Senate Republicans objected today to approving the 17 district court nominees who have been pending on the Senate calendar since as far back as April, including those who enjoy the support of their home state Republican Senators. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has repeatedly called for the Senate to clear the backlog of nominations, and criticized the partisan obstruction of consensus picks today.] # # # # # Statement of Senator Patr… Continue Reading
09.20.12
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Legislation To Implement Patent Law Treaties To Help U.S. Businesses Overseas
(Thursday, September 20, 2012) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved legislation to implement a pair of patent law treaties that will help American businesses expand into foreign markets by reducing obstacles for obtaining patent protection overseas. Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member, introduced bipartisan implementing legislation for the treaties last month, and there is a companion bill in the House. The legislation was approved… Continue Reading
09.20.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Foreign Prison Conditions Improvement Act of 2012
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join today with the senior Senator from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, in introducing legislation that has already attracted broad support from across the social and political spectrum. This bill, titled the Foreign Prison Conditions Improvement Act of 2012, seeks to address a much neglected, global human rights and humanitarian problem - the inhumane treatment of people in foreign prisons and other detention facilities. On any given day, millions of… Continue Reading
09.19.12
Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Launch of the “National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction”
Thank you, Rich, for your very kind remarks and for all your hard work on this issue. I can honestly say that, if not for the dedicated attention to this issue from Vermonters, and from you in particular, we would not be standing here today. Spurred on by Rich and others of you here today, I worked to pass into law a provision requiring the National Institute of Justice at the Department of Justice to study the collateral consequences of criminal convictions federally and in every state. Once… Continue Reading
09.19.12
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Hate Crimes And The Threat Of Domestic Extremism
(Wednesday, September 19, 2012) - The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently hold a hearing on "Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism." Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) helped to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was enacted in 2009 and broadened federal hate crimes law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Senator Leahy also called on the Justice Department to allow for the collectio… Continue Reading
09.19.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Release Of the Department Of Justice’s Inspector General’s Office Report On ATF’s Operation Fast & Furious And Operation Wide Receiver
When Attorney General Holder first learned that tactics being used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in gun trafficking investigations during the current and previous administrations allowed guns to be taken into Mexico, he put an immediate stop to those tactics and referred the matter to the Department of Justice's Inspector General's Office for a thorough, independent, and nonpartisan investigation. The report released by the Inspector General today should finall… Continue Reading
09.19.12
Leahy Welcomes Collins’ Support Of Uniting American Families Act
(Wednesday, September 19, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) welcomed Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) today for becoming the first Republican cosponsor of legislation to update U.S. immigration law to permit American citizens to sponsor same-sex "permanent partners" applying for legal residency in the United States. "I commend Senator Susan Collins for cosponsoring my Uniting American Families Act today," Leahy said. "With this decision, Senator Collins has demonstr… Continue Reading
09.19.12
Senators Introduce Bill to Reauthorize the Older Americans Act
, Sept. 19 - Comprehensive legislation was introduced today in the Senate to reauthorize and expand the Older Americans Act, the landmark law that supports Meals on Wheels and other essential programs for seniors. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, introduced the bill with 14 co-sponsors, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). "Millions of seniors today are hurting financially and we must give them the support they need to stay healthy … Continue Reading
09.18.12
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $1.9 Million For Burlington Area Transit Improvements
(TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2012) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Tuesday that the Federal Transit Administration is releasing $1,948,000 to the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) to design the new downtown transit center in Burlington, expand commuter service to Hinesburg, and upgrade bus shelters throughout the system. The Vermont congressional delegation secured the funding in legislation … Continue Reading
09.17.12
Leahy Marks One Year Anniversary Of Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
(Monday, September 17, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) heralded the one year anniversary of the bipartisan Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which was signed in to law by President Barack Obama on September 16, 2011. "One year ago, I was pleased to stand on a stage at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office David Kappos, … Continue Reading
09.14.12
Leahy, Welch, Sanders Push For Stopgap Patch For The Dairy Safety Net Until New Farm Bill Is Enacted
(FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2012) - With hopes rapidly fading for a new Farm Bill before the current one expires at the end of September, dairy policy leaders in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House -- led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and joined by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) -- are pushing for a temporary fix for the dairy safety net until the new dairy program that is included in both the Senate and House versions of the Farm Bill becomes law and can be put in pl… Continue Reading
09.14.12
Congress Clears Leahy Bill To Renew Job-Creating Foreign Investment Program That Has Spurred Investments Across Vermont
(FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2012) - Legislation authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to continue a successful, job-creating immigrant visa program was approved Thursday evening by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which already has passed the Senate, now goes to the President's desk for signing. The House vote was 412 to 3. Leahy's measure, which passed the Senate in August, would extend the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center program for three years. Cu… Continue Reading
09.13.12
On the Eighteenth Anniversary of Landmark Law, Leahy Calls on Republicans to Uphold Bipartisan History and Pass the Violence Against Women Act
(Thursday, September 13, 2012) -Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), lead sponsor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, spoke on the Senate floor today about the importance of renewing the program's charter. While the legislation won strong bipartisan support in the Senate, House Republicans have failed to act on this consensus bill. Senator Leahy was joined by several Democratic Senators in calling for swift action to renew VAWA, which was enacted 18 years ago today.] # # # # # St… Continue Reading
09.12.12
Vermont Communities To Receive Additional Post-Irene Support From $300,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration Investment
(WEDNESDAY, Sept.12, 2012) - More support to Vermont communities for long-term revitalization is on the way, according to Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch (D). They announced Wednesday that the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development has been given a $300,000 investment award by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). The award, which is funded through the Fiscal Year 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity adm… Continue Reading
09.12.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Death Of Four Americans, Including Ambassador Stevens, During Attacks On U.S. Consulate In Libya
"The shocking and senseless murders of Ambassador Stevens and other U.S. Embassy personnel in Libya should be universally condemned. It is outrageous that religious intolerance has reached such extremes that our diplomats - or any diplomats -- are targeted. By all accounts, Ambassador Stevens was an exceptional diplomat who represented the United States in a manner in which all Americans can be proud. His family, and the families of the others who died, deserve our deepest thanks for their ye… Continue Reading
09.12.12
Leahy Chairs Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Reviewing The Citizens United Court And The Continuing Importance of the Voting Rights Act
(Wednesday, September 12, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is chairing a hearing today on the Supreme Court and the importance of the Voting Rights Act that ensure equal access to vote for all Americans. Today's hearing is just one month before the Supreme Court begins its new session and coincides with the 225th anniversary of the signing of our Constitution. The hearing also continues the committee's tradition of examining how Supreme Court decisions including… Continue Reading
09.11.12
Reflections Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Anniversary Of The Attacks Of September 11, 2001
Eleven years ago today, on a crisp early autumn morning much like today's, I was at the Supreme Court for the semiannual meeting of the Judicial Conference, when I got word of the first attack of 9/11. I quietly informed Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who was presiding over our meeting. Soon afterward we heard a muffled "bump," followed by a report that a car bomb may have gone off across town at the State Department. Of course, we later learned that this had been the sound of another plane… Continue Reading
09.11.12
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Extension Of The Production Tax Credit For Wind Energy
Like others in this body, including Senator Udall of Colorado and my fellow senator from Vermont, Senator Sanders, I support extending the Production Tax Credit for wind energy. This extension is critical to maintaining America's leadership in green energy development and can directly increase domestic job growth. Vermont has already seen the positive results of the Production Tax Credit for wind energy, but the wind industry impacts our entire country. Every American has a stake in the extensio… Continue Reading
09.10.12
Leahy Calls On Senate Republicans To Drop Blockade Of Consensus Judicial Picks
(Monday, September 10, 2012) -The Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on the nomination of Stephanie Rose, a federal district court nominee from Iowa who has been pending on the floor since April. While Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) welcomed the chamber's consideration of Rose, he noted that the Senate remains far behind the pace set in considering well qualified judicial nominees in past administrations. A dozen of the 18 pending district court nominees on the Senate… Continue Reading
08.29.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Judge’s Ruling In Favor Of Somali Victims Of Torture
[A federal court judge in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday ruled in favor of seven individuals who sued the former prime minister of Somalia, now living in Virginia, for torturing and killing his own people. The seven Somalis were awarded $21 million in Tuesday's decision, eight years after filing suit in 2004 in a case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act does not grant individual immunity to foreigners accused of torture,… Continue Reading
