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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Vermont’s Priorities In Immigration Reform And The Proposals From The 'Gang Of Eight'
"Immigration reform is a national imperative, and it's also an opportunity to fix broken parts of the system that are especially important to Vermont. Vermont dairy farmers particularly have a big stake in Congress getting this right. "Vermonters will have a front-and-center seat as this comprehensive immigration reform bill is considered. In the Judiciary Committee we have had many hearings on immigration issues in recent years, and three so far this year. The next two hearings I have set,… Continue Reading
04.17.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Unveiling Of Bipartisan Legislation To Reform The Nation’s Immigration System
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday following the release of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal from the "Gang of Eight." The Committee has held three hearings on the issue of immigration reform this year alone and will hold a fourth hearing Friday on the bill proposed today. The Committee will hold a fifth immigration hearing on Monday.] # # # # # "Now that we have comprehensive immigration reform legislation to revie… Continue Reading
04.16.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws”
Our Nation's antitrust laws play a vital role in protecting hardworking Americans. By ensuring vibrant competition in our markets, the antitrust laws increase consumer choice, lower prices, and promote innovation. I am pleased that the Antitrust Subcommittee is conducting its regular oversight of the Federal agencies that enforce these important laws on behalf of American consumers. Today, the subcommittee convenes its first such oversight hearing with our new chair. I welcome Chair Klobucha… Continue Reading
04.16.13
Leahy, Sanders Join In Introducing Bill To Give Seniors, Taxpayers Better Deals In Negotiating Drug Prices
[NEWS from the office of Senator Jay Rockefeller] Leahy, Sanders Join In Introducing Bill To Give Seniors, Taxpayers Better Deals In Negotiating Drug Prices As Congress Works to Responsibly Reduce the Federal Deficit, the Bill Would Help Make Sure Pharmaceutical Companies Pay Their Share WASHINGTON, D.C - Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL),… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Events Monday In Boston
"Like all Vermonters, Marcelle and I are struggling to absorb the tragic news and images from Boston. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and we anxiously await word especially about Vermonters and all who traveled to Boston for the race." # # # # #… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Nomination of Judge Beverly O’Connell
Since the American people first elected President Obama, Senate Republicans have been engaged in a concerted effort to filibuster, obstruct and delay his moderate judicial nominees. They have already, during the last four years, filibustered more of President Obama's moderate judicial nominees than were filibustered during President Bush's entire eight years - 67 percent more, in fact - and there is no dispute that President Bush was engaged in an effort to pack the courts with ideological extr… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Leahy: Improving The Background Check System Is A Matter Of Common Sense
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke on the Senate Floor Monday in support of a bipartisan amendment to the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act currently before the Senate that would improve the nation's background checks system for gun purchases. The amendment, authored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) closes the so-called gun show loophole while protecting Americans' Second Amendment rights.] # # # # # Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Cha… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Leahy Announces Additional Hearings On Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Monday that the Committee will hold another hearing, set for next week, to examine pending legislation to reform the Nation's immigration system. It will be the fifth immigration hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee this year. "Over the course of the next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold two hearings on a forthcoming, bipartisan proposal to reform the Nation's broken immigration system," Leahy said. "I am wor… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary On IRS Email Access Policy And The Electronic Communications Privacy Act Amendments Act of 2013 (S. 607)
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Committee On The Judiciary On IRS Email Access Policy And The Electronic Communications Privacy Act Amendments Act of 2013 (S. 607) April 15, 2013 "Like many Americans, I am concerned about the growing and unwelcome intrusions into our private lives in cyberspace. I have long believed that our government should obtain a search warrant -- issued by a court -- before gaining access to our email and other private communications. This wee… Continue Reading
04.11.13
Leahy And Coons Reintroduce Legislation To Encourage The Humanitarian Work Of American Innovators
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Committee member Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced legislation Thursday that encourages the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs. The bill strengthens an awards program created last year by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Patents for Humanity Program, which recognizes patent holders who use their technology to improve the quality of life in impoverished countries. Leahy also joine… Continue Reading
04.11.13
Leahy: Republicans Must Allow Debate On Bipartisan Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence
[The Senate will vote today on a procedural motion to consider a legislative package aimed at curbing gun violence. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), lead author of the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013 that is included in the broader package, spoke Thursday morning on the Senate Floor in favor of the measure and called on Republicans to allow the debate to go forward, and not to impose a needless filibuster to block debate.] # # # # # Statement of Senator Pa… Continue Reading
04.10.13
Leahy Continues To Lead Open Process For Immigration Reform
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the Committee's process for considering comprehensive immigration reform this spring. Leahy has consistently said he will lead an open and inclusive process. The Committee has so far this year heard from 16 witnesses, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, over the course of three hearings, and will next week hear further testimony from Napolitano and an additional pane… Continue Reading
04.10.13
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee On Judicial Nominations
Today the Judiciary Committee welcomes Sri Srinivasan. I thank Senator Coons for chairing this important hearing. This hearing was originally planned for January, having been delayed from last year when this nomination was first made by the President. I agreed to an additional delay at the request of the Ranking Member in order to allow time for our staffs to better understand what, if any, role the nominee had in his current position as Principle Deputy Solicitor General of the United States… Continue Reading
04.10.13
Leahy and Collins Announce Agreement with NRA On Legislation to Combat Gun Trafficking
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on Wednesday an agreement has been reached with the National Rifle Association (NRA) on a modified version of the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013 that addresses all substantive concerns and provides law enforcement officials with the tools they need to investigate and prosecute illegal gun trafficking and straw purchasing. "Senator Collins and I are both strong supporters and advocates of Second Amendment righ… Continue Reading
04.10.13
Leahy Announces Fourth SJC Hearing On Immigration Reform
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next week on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Wednesday. "Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its fourth hearing this year on immigration," said Leahy. "Our hearings have informed the Senate and the public of the various and pressing needs to reform the Nation's broken immigration system. I look forward to continuing that discussion next week as we head toward marking up legisla… Continue Reading
04.09.13
Richmond Elementary School
On Tuesday, April 9, Senator Leahy held his third online chat of the 113th Congress with fourth-grade students from Richmond Elementary School. Using the internet to communicate with the students and their teachers, Senator Leahy answered the students' questions on several issues, including his day-to-day life in the Senate, his favorite hobbies and what issues he is working on as a member of the Senate Agricultural Committee. Students also asked about his work in several Batman films. Leahy h… Continue Reading
04.09.13
Senate Votes To Confirm Shwartz To Third Circuit
The Senate voted Tuesday to approve the nomination of Patty Shwartz to serve on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. A highly qualified nominee with the support of New Jersey's Republican governor, Shwartz's nomination was stalled for 13 months. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) welcomed the Senate's vote of 64-34 to approve Shwartz's nomination, but he noted that "This is another of the many judicial nominees who could have been confirmed last year." "Judged on her qualificati… Continue Reading
04.09.13
Leahy: Senators Should Support Measure To Fight Gun Trafficking Crimes
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday called on the Senate to support legislation that would explicitly make illegal the abusive practice of straw purchasing and trafficking of firearms. The bipartisan Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act would assist law enforcement officers fighting gun crimes. It goes after gun traffickers and closes a gaping loophole to background checks by also penalizing straw purchasers, who buy firearms for another person who is proh… Continue Reading
04.09.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On “Current Issues In Campaign Finance Law Enforcement”
[Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a longtime champion of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the electoral process, issued the following statement for today's Senate Judiciary Committee Crime & Terrorism Subcommittee entitled "Current Issues in Campaign Finance Law Enforcement." Leahy has been a leading sponsor of the DISCLOSE Act that would shed light on secret spending in elections and strengthen campaign finance laws. Despite broad support, Repu… Continue Reading
04.05.13
Leahy, Sanders, Welch, and Shumlin: $1.6 M. Disaster Grant Will Help Prevent Digital Isolation In Future Disasters
MONTPELIER, Vt. - U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch, and Governor Peter Shumlin announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Economic Development (EDA) has awarded the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) a $1.6 million grant to help deploy disaster resilient cellular and broadband services to towns impacted by Irene and other 2011 flooding. The grant comes from disaster funding Leahy, Sanders, and Welch fought to include in the 2012 federal budget in the wa… Continue Reading
