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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Senate Confirms 6 Of 27 Pending Judicial Nominees
(Monday, Oct. 3, 2011) - The U.S. Senate Monday night unanimously confirmed six of the more than two dozen judicial nominees approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) welcomed the action, expressing hope that the Senate has turned a new page in the consideration of pending judicial nominations, which has slowed to a crawl during the Obama administration. "If this is an indication that the needless stalling is ending, that Senate Republicans will aband… Continue Reading
10.03.11
Leahy, Graham Pass 60 Mark In Cosponsors For National Guard Empowerment Bill
(MONDAY, Oct. 3) -- U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Monday announced they now have 61 Senate cosponsors of their latest "Guard Empowerment" effort, the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011 (S.1025), which Leahy and Graham introduced in May. The legislation - known as Guard Empowerment II - builds on reforms made in 2008 by giving the Guard and Reserve a seat at the Pentagon's budget and policymaking tables and updating jur… Continue Reading
09.30.11
Delegation Announces Grant To Help Train New Vermont Farmers
Vermont's congressional delegation - Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - today announced a $659,784 grant to the Vermont New Farmer Network (VNFN). The grant will allow VNFN to provide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers to help them run successful and sustainable farms. The Vermont New Farmers Network is a working group of agricultural organizations committed to serving the needs of new and aspiring farmers in Vermont. The grant is made possible … Continue Reading
09.30.11
The Leahy Letter -- September 30, 2011
A Senseless Roller Coaster Ride For Disaster Recovery Funding By the time Irene hit Vermont, federal disaster relief coffers already were perilously depleted after a tough year in which 48 states have had disaster declarations within their borders. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Leahy's Job 1 in the weeks after the storm has been to also make replenishing those disaster aid funds the Senate's Job 1. This month he worked to steer disaster aid funding bills through … Continue Reading
09.29.11
Leahy Announces $9 M. Army Contracts For Randolph Firm
(THURSDAY, Sept. 29) -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has announced two U.S. Army contracts - one for $6.5 million and the other for $2.8 million - to buy wireless sensors from Applied Research Associates (ARA), which has a manufacturing plant in Randolph, Vt. ARA won the competitive contract for producing their Expendable Unattended Ground Sensors, which are placed in the ground and used to protect troops. These small devices, the size of a hockey puck, are equipped with long-life batter… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Outbreak Of Illness Linked Tainted Cantaloupes And The Food Safety Accountability Act
"It has been reported that tainted cantaloupe has now been linked to at least 13 deaths and more than 70 illnesses in 18 states. There is no evidence at this time of any intentional misconduct in this case, and the company involved appears to be taking responsible steps to contain the outbreak. But this sad episode highlights how vulnerable we all are to tainted food entering the marketplace. "The Senate unanimously passed the Food Safety Accountability Act. This important bill will hold cr… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Justices Breyer, Scalia To Testify Before Leahy-Chaired Senate Judiciary Committee
U.S. Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, October 5, at a hearing entitled, "Considering the Role of Judges Under the Constitution of the United States," Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced today. The hearing will be held during the first week of the Supreme Court's 2011-2012 term. It also comes just weeks after the national commemoration of Constitution Day, which recognizes the anniversary of the signi… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Leahy Protests UNESCO's Pending Life Sciences Award That Is Named And Paid For By Dictator
On September 27,2011, Senator Leahy wrote a letter to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, protesting the pending life sciences award that is named for President Teodoro Obiang of Equitorial Guinea. To view the letter, please click here.… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Death Of Former U.S. Rep. Richard Mallary
"He reflected the best values of his state, his family and his party, and Vermont benefited from his service, integrity and character. "All of us who knew him were better for it." # # # # #… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Leahy, Sanders And Welch Announce New Federal Grant To Help Companies Export To World Markets
(WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28) - U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Wednesday that Vermont has received a $363,768 grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help Vermont small businesses reach global markets. The grant was awarded through the SBA's State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP), a $30 million national grant program authorized under President Obama's Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It will be a… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Leahy: Vt. Communities To Receive Grants For New Police Hiring
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Wednesday that seven police departments across Vermont have been awarded grants through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The grants total more than $1.3 million to help law enforcement departments hire officers. "The COPS program has helped Vermont communities keep officers on the streets, which helps keep all Vermonters safe," said Leahy. "These grants have helped law enforcement departments in Vermont … Continue Reading
09.27.11
Vermont Wins Grant for Healthier Communities
BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 27 - Vermont is in line to receive up to $3.1 million over the next five years as part of one of the country's largest investments ever in promoting good health, the Vermont congressional delegation announced today. Vermont will be a leader in the new national initiative that also will limit spending by avoiding costly, chronic diseases in the first place, according to U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The Verm… Continue Reading
09.26.11
Leahy, Sanders Statement on Disaster Aid
, Sept. 26 - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after the Senate tonight voted for a resolution to continue funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies: "While much remains to be done to rebuild Vermont, the Senate found a solution that keeps emergency disaster assistance flowing to Vermont and other states. We fought to ensure that the agreement maintains disaster funding without forcing cuts in other needed programs. We… Continue Reading
09.26.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Senate Showdown Over FEMA Funds
Vermont and other states that are reeling in Irene's aftermath have a stake in today's Senate vote about replenishing federal disaster relief funds. In fact, all Americans have a stake in this. Our small state is stretched to the limit. Our communities need the helping hand of federal disaster recovery programs -- just as Vermonters, decade after decade, have always supported this safety net when other states have needed it. These programs were already running on fumes before Irene. This ha… Continue Reading
09.26.11
Community College of Vermont Wins $2.5 Million
, Sept. 25 - The Community College of Vermont will receive a $2.5 million job-training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Vermont congressional delegation announced today. The grant comes through a career training program, said Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). "The Community College of Vermont has a proven record of effective service to students, communities, and employers in Vermont," the delegation said in a joint letter to U.S. L… Continue Reading
09.23.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Death Of Suvash Darnal
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have spoken over the years about the political transformation that has been taking place in Nepal since 2005, from a corrupt, autocratic monarchy to an emerging democracy. That process has moved forward by fits and starts, plagued by political infighting and the seeming inability of political and ethnic factions to unite for the good of the people. We are struggling with partisanship and divisiveness in this country, so I understand the problem, but Nepal is at an… Continue Reading
09.22.11
Senators Leahy, Webb: U.S.-Funded Program Should Identify Remains Of Vietnamese MIAs From Both Sides Of The War
Senator Patrick Leahy, chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today joined with Senator Jim Webb in seeking to ensure that a U.S.-funded program to locate and identify the remains of missing Vietnamese war dead gives equal treatment to soldiers from both sides of the war. Congress allocated $1 million for the program in the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, specifying in the Senate report that the funds were to be used by the U.S. Agency for Internationa… Continue Reading
09.22.11
Remarks of Senator Leahy: Vermont Mourns The Death Of Master Sergeant Shawn Stocker
After Irene,The Guard Is There For Vermonters Senate FloorSeptember 22, 2011 Mr. President, I rise today to call the attention of the Senate once again to the loss and the suffering and the disruption experienced by Vermonters in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. I have discussed several aspects of Vermont's response to that disaster. One key component of our response is the skillful and tireless work of the Vermont National Guard. It was with profound sadness that I learned yesterday that… Continue Reading
09.22.11
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Leahy-Authored Data Privacy Bill
Legislation authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to enhance data privacy and cybersecurity protections for Americans' personal information was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee at a business meeting held Thursday. The Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, which incorporates several cybersercurity proposals put forth by the Obama administration earlier this year, was reported by the Committee for the fourth time in as many Congresses. The Leahy-authored data privacy bill builds … Continue Reading
09.22.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On “Countering Terrorist Financing: Progress And Priorities” September 21, 2011
I commend Senator Whitehouse for convening this hearing today, and thank the witnesses for their testimony. The investigation of terrorist financing activities is a critical element of preventing and prosecuting terrorism, and yet tracking funds can be difficult and time intensive. The 9/11 Commission reported that al Qaeda moved, stored, and spent money in traditional ways as it plotted the 9/11 attacks. Its tradecraft was not particularly sophisticated and yet it eluded detection. Al Qaeda… Continue Reading
