Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Calls On Senate To Take Up Circuit Court Nominee
(Monday, July 30, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today called on Republicans to drop their blockade of consensus judicial nominees and allow the chamber to debate and vote on the nomination Robert Bacharach of Oklahoma to fill a vacancy on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Bacharach was approved on a voice vote by the Judiciary Committee in June. He enjoys the support of his two home state Senators, and is one of 20 judicial nominees awaiting Senate consider… Continue Reading
07.30.12
Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Invasive Species And Lake Champlain
Here on the shores of our Great Lake Champlain is just about my favorite place on Earth at the peak of summer. And - looking at the bustle along the waterfront this morning - lots of Vermonters and folks from all over the world agree with me. Today I want to talk about another serious threat that requires strong steps and immediate action, and that is the encroachment of the spiny water flea. This invasive species may not yet have reached the Lake, but it has, we know, now reached the thresho… Continue Reading
07.26.12
Joint Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy And Representative Jim McGovern On The Constitutional/Political Crisis Over The Supreme Court Of El Salvador
"We are encouraged by the commitment by President Funes and representatives of El Salvador's political parties to resolve this crisis expeditiously. We agree with the Department of State that this is a matter to be resolved by Salvadorans through dialogue, and we reaffirm our support for U.S. assistance for El Salvador which addresses a range of mutual interests, from improving law enforcement to combating poverty. "Over the past 30 years, El Salvador has faced many challenges, from civil war… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Leahy Crosses Milestone In Senate History
(WEDNESDAY, July 25) -- Vermont's U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D) late Wednesday crossed a milestone in his tenure and in Senate history as he cast his 14,000th roll call vote. Only six other senators in history have ever met that mark and Leahy is one of the youngest to reach it. The number of votes Leahy has cast surpasses those logged by any other sitting senator except for Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who joined the Senate in 1963. Leahy joined the Senate in 1975. The vote milestone was… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy As Senate Passes Middle Class Tax Relief Act
[On Wednesday evening, the U.S. Senate voted on competing Democratic and Republican plans to extend a variety of tax cuts set to expire in January. The Democratic bill would continue tax cuts through 2013 for everyone but individuals earning more than $200,000 annually and couples making more than $250,000. The Republican bill would extend more tax breaks to the highest earners and raise taxes on 25 million middle-class households while adding nearly $1 trillion more to the national debt. Ton… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Leahy: Victims Need Action On VAWA Now
(Wednesday, July 25, 2012) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the lead author of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, spoke on the floor Wednesday about Congress's urgent need to put victims ahead of partisanship and renew this vital program's charter. Leahy reminded colleagues that the Senate bill remains the strongest and most bipartisan solution to helping victims of domestic and sexual violence. While the Senate passed its measure with 68 votes in April, House Republican… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Vermonters Enrolled In Medicare Save $1.5 Million On Prescription Drugs In First Six Months Of 2012
(WEDNESDAY, July 25) - In the first six months of 2012, Vermonters with Medicare saved nearly $1.5 million on their prescription drug costs, Vermont's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - announced today. The savings come from reforms enacted through the Affordable Care Act. New totals released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focus on Medicare enrollees hit by the prescription drug coverage gap know as the "donut hole." On… Continue Reading
07.25.12
FEMA Okays Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Repairs
, July 25 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to fund repairs to damage along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail caused last year by spring storms and Tropical Storm Irene, Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch announced today. "We appreciate FEMA's careful consideration and support for the trail which is an incredible asset for Vermonters and visitors alike," the delegation said in a joint statement. Gov. Peter Shumlin said, "I'm very pleased the regional FE… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Senator Leahy Joins Adult Technology Class For Online Chat
(WEDNESDAY, July 25) -- Senator Patrick Leahy on Wednesday logged on to speak with a group of Vermont residents taking summer technology courses from a former Senate Page, Neel Desai, of South Burlington. The classes, which are offered by Mr. Desai's nonprofit organization "Tech For Tomorrow," are designed for adults and senior citizens hoping to gain a better understanding of today's technology. Senator Leahy has long been known as the "cyber senator" and is a champion of technology and inte… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Leahy Chairs Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing With Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
(Wednesday, July 25, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is chairing a hearing today featuring retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is testifying on the importance of judicial independence. Leahy, who has participated in the confirmation hearings of all sitting Supreme Court Justices, as well as Justice O'Connor's confirmation hearing, said today's discussion on the role of the judiciary helps to educate the public on America's democratic system. … Continue Reading
07.24.12
Leahy, Sanders, Welch: 2 New REAP Zone Grants To NEK Will Rehab Low-Income Homes And Refit Them For Energy Efficiency Savings
(TUESDAY, July 24) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) Tuesday announced $200,000 in grants to housing agencies based in Lyndonville and Newport that will be used to rehabilitate homes owned by very low-income households, including boosting their energy efficiency for further savings for these families. The grants account for a third of all available grants made nationwide under the program. The grants come from the Rural Development branc… Continue Reading
07.24.12
Leahy Calls For Remedies To Citizens United Decision At Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee Hearing
(TUESDAY, July 24, 2012) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a champion of government openness and transparency, spoke in favor of remedies to mitigate the impact of the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case at a Judiciary Committee subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. Leahy is a leading sponsor of the DISCLOSE Act that would shed light on secret spending in elections and strengthen campaign finance laws. During Tuesday's hearing, he underscored his … Continue Reading
07.24.12
Leahy To Speak At Judiciary Committee’s Citizens United Hearing Today
(TUESDAY, July 24) - Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D) will speak Tuesday afternoon at a hearing examining pending constitutional proposals to remedy the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. Several constitutional amendments to address the Supreme Court's decision have been introduced in the United States Senate. Constitutional amendments are traditionally first considered by the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee panel dedicated to constitutional matters. At Leahy's request, Subco… Continue Reading
07.24.12
Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy At The UNAIDS And Elton John Foundation Breakfast On Capitol Hill
Thank you, Gwen, for that introduction. It is a pleasure to be here and especially with such a wide ranging audience from the political, business, scientific and faith-based communities. In particular, I want to welcome South Africa's Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Ambassador Eric Goosby, and of course, my old friend Sir Elton John. I remember when Sir Elton was here about a decade ago, urging, cajoling, or whatever it took, to encourage the U.S. to lead the world by making lifesaving … Continue Reading
07.23.12
Leahy Urges Confirmation Of Long-Pending District Court Nominee
(Monday, July 23, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick (D-Vt.) today called on the Senate to confirm Michael Shipp to fill a vacancy on the federal District Court for the District of New Jersey. Shipp is one of 21 judicial nominees pending on the Senate calendar awaiting final floor consideration. Shipp's nomination was reported by the Judiciary Committee in April. In a floor statement, Leahy noted that Shipp was the first African-American United States Magistrate Judge on the … Continue Reading
07.20.12
Vermont Receives Waiver Allowing Use Of Disaster Recovery Funds In Windham County
(FRIDAY, July 20) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Congressman Peter Welch (D) and Governor Peter Shumlin (D) announced Friday that Vermont has been granted a long-awaited federal waiver allowing the use of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) disaster relief funds in Windham County. The waiver, which applies to $21.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds provided to the state by HUD in January 2012 for Irene recovery efforts, eases … Continue Reading
07.20.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Shootings In Aurora, Colorado
"Marcelle and I were horrified and saddened by this senseless tragedy. The thoughts of the nation and indeed the world are turned to these innocent victims and their families, and our hearts and our prayers are also with them." # # # # #… Continue Reading
07.19.12
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Leahy-Authored Substitute Amendment To Reauthorization Of FISA Amendments Act
- The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved legislation that will extend expiring surveillance authorities under the FISA Amendments Act (FAA) until June 2015. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) authored a substitute amendment to the FAA Sunsets Extension Act that also added important reporting and oversight provisions to the bill. Among the improvements made in the legislation is a new requirement for the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community to conduct a thorough revie… Continue Reading
07.19.12
Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Defense Department Documents On Water Contamination At Camp Lejeune
(Thursday, July 19, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday publicly released more than 8,000 Department of Defense documents relating to the historic drinking water contamination that occurred over several decades at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. The contamination of drinking water at the North Carolina military base was one of the worst environmental disasters to occur on a domestic military installation. The environmental disaster is believed to have … Continue Reading
07.18.12
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Announce $3 Million For Deerfield Valley Transit Association
(WEDNESDAY, July 18) - U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Wednesday announced that the Federal Transit Administration has awarded the Deerfield Valley Transit Association (DVTA) $3 million to build a new administrative and maintenance facility in Wilmington. The project was selected on a competitive basis through agency's 2012 State of Good Repair Program. The DVTA will use the $3,084,831 grant to construct a new building… Continue Reading
