Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy & Grassley Press Administration For Legal Justifications To Kill American Citizens Using Drones
FRIDAY, February 8, 2013 - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter Thursday calling on President Barack Obama to share with the Committee any legal memos on the targeted killings of Americans abroad. The Senators' bipartisan request came one day after the Administration's decision to share classified legal opinions justifying the president's ability to authorize the targeted killings of American citizens with the Senate … Continue Reading
02.07.13
Republican VAWA Substitute Overwhelmingly Defeated
(FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2013) - The U.S. Senate Thursday night rejected a Republican alternative to the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) that is authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and sponsored by 62 senators from both parties. With the Republican alternative rejected by nearly two-thirds of all senators, and 65 members in all, the Senate is poised to pass Leahy's bipartisan VAWA bill in the coming days. Debate resumes Monday. The measure, cosp… Continue Reading
02.07.13
Leahy: Republican VAWA Bill A Poor Substitute For Victims
[The Senate is currently debating the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Patrick Leahy that has a total of 62 cosponsors. Senator Leahy Thursday afternoon spoke out against the Republican alternative to the bipartisan VAWA bill, noting it does not include needed protections for underserved communities and does not respond to the needs of local domestic violence providers.] # # # # # Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate … Continue Reading
02.07.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking On Rural Call Completion
[The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks public comment on proposed rules to require the collection and retention of certain data by telephone carriers in order to address rural call completion problems. The proposed rules are designed to improve the ability of the FCC to monitor call completion performance and ensure that rural areas experience the same level of reliable telephone service that is provided to the rest of the co… Continue Reading
02.07.13
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Three Circuit Court Nominees
(Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013) - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved on Thursday three circuit court nominees who were held over from last year. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) hailed the committee's action, and called for the full Senate to quickly consider these qualified nominees. "I have sought to respect home state Senators, Democrats and Republicans, with respect to judicial nominees within their states," Leahy said. "In fact both home state Senators for all of the judicial nominee… Continue Reading
02.07.13
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Rescue and Reconstruction of Cultural Antiquities in Timbuktu
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, there was a lot of attention recently on the French military's operation to repel Islamic extremists and Tuareg nationalist rebels who had terrorized the local population of northern Mali, including in the ancient city of Timbuktu. That operation was widely welcomed by local Malian citizens and the international community. Many of the rebels are believed to be hiding out among the local population until the French soldiers leave, so whether they are ultimately vanqui… Continue Reading
02.07.13
Leahy: Senate Should Pass Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Today
(Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013) - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday called on Democrats and Republicans to support the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which the Senate is debating today. The Leahy-authored bill updates and reauthorizes VAWA, the landmark law enacted in 1994 and twice reauthorized by Congress, which provides important protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence. The Senate passed a nearly identical measu… Continue Reading
02.05.13
Leahy Embassy Security Bill Passes Senate
-- The U.S. Senate Monday night approved legislation authored by Senator Patrick Leahy to transfer surplus funds for Iraq to U.S. embassy security needs in several locations that have been identified in the post-Benghazi review. Leahy's bipartisan bill would authorize the State Department to transfer to embassy security purposes up to $1.1 billion in previously appropriated funds that are no longer needed in Iraq because of reduced operations there. Leahy chairs the Appropriations Committee's… Continue Reading
02.04.13
Senate Begins Consideration Of Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
(Monday, February 4, 2013) - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday night to proceed to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), bipartisan legislation that provides important protections to victims of domestic and sexual violence. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), lead author of the bill, said the Senate's procedural vote Monday was an important first step in advancing the measure. "Our bill has more than 60 bipartisan Senate cosponsors, and togeth… Continue Reading
02.01.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Retirement Of United States Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Friday on the announcement that Mark Sullivan, U.S. Secret Service director, will step down from his position later this month. Sullivan began serving as Secret Service director in 2006.] "I thank and congratulate Director Sullivan on his three decades of service in federal law enforcement, and particularly the last seven years that he has served as director of the Secret Service. I have known Director Su… Continue Reading
02.01.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Departure Of FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Friday on the announcement that Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz will step down from his position later this month.] "I applaud the excellent work that Chairman Leibowitz has done at the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers, preserve competition and safeguard privacy. For instance, Jon worked diligently both with the Judiciary Committee and in the courts to stop the anticompetitive… Continue Reading
02.01.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Senate Consideration Of S.47, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
[FRIDAY, February 1, 2013-The Senate on February 4 will begin consideration of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is the lead author of this bipartisan legislation, which is coauthored by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.) and cosponsored by 60 Senators. Similar legislation was approved overwhelmingly by the Senate last year, but the House of Representatives failed to act on the bill.] "I am pleased the Senate will next week turn its focus to reauthorizing t… Continue Reading
01.31.13
Senator Leahy's 'Dear Colleague' Letter, Urging Senate Support For His Bill To Renew And Strengthen The Violence Against Women Act
On January 28, Senator Leahy joined with Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to send this 'dear colleague' letter to members of the Senate, urging them to. his bill to renew and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). # # # # #… Continue Reading
01.31.13
First Payments To Dairy Farmers Set For Next Week Under Leahy’s MILC Fix In The New Year’s Day ‘Cliff’ Package
(THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 2013) -- Vermont dairy farmers will be eligible for safety net payments retroactive to last September under legislation that U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) included in the New Year's Day 'fiscal cliff' rescue package, and the first payments will be made next week. USDA Farm Service Agency Vermont State Executive Director Robert Paquin says that in implementing Leahy's provisions, USDA will issue the first payments beginning Feb. 5, under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MI… Continue Reading
01.31.13
Senate Judiciary Committee Adopts Memberships For Subcommittees For 113th Congress
(Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the proposed subcommittees, jurisdictions, chairs and ranking members, and membership rosters for the 113th Congress. The Committee now has seven subcommittees, including two new subcommittees: the Bankruptcy and the Courts Subcommittee; and the Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action Subcommittee. The Committee's rules were also adopted Thursday. For information about upcoming hearings, nominations, legislation… Continue Reading
01.30.13
Judiciary Committee Holds First Congressional Hearing On Gun Violence
(Wednesday, January 30, 2013) - The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently holding a hearing entitled "What Should America Do About Gun Violence?," a hearing called by Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in the wake of the tragedy that recently struck Newtown, Conn., and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. # # # # # On December 14, America's heart was broken when 20 young children and six dedicated educ… Continue Reading
01.29.13
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On President Barack Obama’s Announcement On Immigration Reform
[TUESDAY, January 29, 2013-- U. S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following comment Tuesday after President Barack Obama announced his proposals for comprehensive immigration reform. The Judiciary Committee is the primary committee of jurisdiction for immigration reform, and Chairman Leahy announced Tuesday that the Committee will hold its first hearing on immigration reform in two weeks, on Feb. 13.] "President Obama should be commended for making Comprehe… Continue Reading
01.29.13
Casey, Leahy Call for Independent Investigation into Possible War Crimes by Sri Lankan Government, LTTE
Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) called for an independent, international investigation into potential war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE during the civil war in Sri Lanka. In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Senators said such an investigation is needed because the legitimate concerns of the Sri Lankan people have not been answered by the government. "The Sri Lankan people deserve better," Senator Casey said. "Sri Lan… Continue Reading
01.29.13
The New York Times: A New Push On Domestic Violence (Editorial)
In an editorial Tuesday, The New York Times calls on the Senate to quickly take up and pass the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and for the House to quickly follow suit. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) reintroduced VAWA just last week. Leahy is pushing for prompt Senate action on the Leahy-Crapo bill, and floor consideration is expected to begin next week. Excerpts: "The reintroduced Senate bill … Continue Reading
01.29.13
The New York Times: A New Push On Domestic Violence (Editorial)
In an editorial Tuesday, The New York Times calls on the Senate to quickly take up and pass the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and for the House to quickly follow suit. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) reintroduced VAWA just last week. Leahy is pushing for prompt Senate action on the Leahy-Crapo bill, and floor consideration is expected to begin next week. Excerpts: "The reintroduced Senate bill … Continue Reading
