Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Chairs Hearing On Renewing Trafficking Victims Protection Act
(Wednesday, September 14, 2011) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday chaired a hearing on proposals to renew the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The law was first enacted in 2000, and enhanced the government's efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States and abroad. Earlier this year, Leahy joined with Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass) and others to introduce legislation to reauthorize the historic law. The bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection … Continue Reading
09.13.11
Leahy Welcomes Senate’s Breaking Of Filibuster On Disaster Relief Funding Bill
[An emergency aid bill for victims of Irene and other natural disasters advanced to the next legislative step in the Senate late Tuesday as an initial filibuster on the bill was broken in a vote of 61 to 38. The bill will replenish the depleted coffers of the Emergency Relief Fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In a Senate Floor speech illustrated with stark photos of the devastation wrought upon Vermont's highways and transportation infrastructure, Leahy urged the Senate t… Continue Reading
09.13.11
Leahy Marks Constitution Day
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Anniversary Of The Constitutional Convention This Saturday, the Nation marks the 224th anniversary of the day when the founders signed the fundamental charter for our democracy - the Constitution of the United States. During the Constitutional Convention, the delegates debated hundreds of issues and proposals before crafting the final charter. Thankfully, the founders had the foresight to know that thei… Continue Reading
09.09.11
Vt. Boys & Girls Clubs To Receive $150,000 In Disaster Relief
(Friday, Sept. 9, 2011) - Vermont Boys & Girls Clubs will receive $150,000 in assistance from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help with relief efforts in the wake of devastating flooding in Vermont, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Friday. Boys & Girls Clubs in Vermont sustained heavy flood damage resulting from Hurricane Irene. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has pledged $50,000, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America has pledged $100… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The President’s Jobs Address Before A Joint Meeting Of Congress Thursday Evening
Week in and week out for a decade, our country has sent and spent billions of borrowed dollars to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taxpayers in fact will be on the hook for trillions of dollars by the time those wars are finally paid for. Many of those in Congress who now want to block meaningful action on jobs and economic growth here in our country were only too happy to spend those dollars abroad. It should not be too much to ask that we invest right here, right now, to help Americans… Continue Reading
09.08.11
BREAKING: Senate Passes Historic, Leahy-Authored Patent Reform Legislation
(Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011) - The U.S. Senate Thursday passed historic legislation making the first comprehensive reforms to the nation's patent system in nearly 60 years. The bill is named for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). Patent reform was first introduced in Congress in 2005. Leahy steered the patent reform bill to Senate passage in March, where the bill won 95 votes. Thursday's action by the Senat… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Leahy: America Invents Act Is Important For Economy, Job Creation
The U.S. Senate is now voting on a series of amendments to the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, followed by a vote on final passage of the bill. In a few moments, the Senate is going to have the opportunity to make significant reforms to our Nation's patent system for the first time in more than half a century. The America Invents Act is the product of extensive consideration. For four Congresses, we have worked on this. We have had dozens of hearings, weeks of Committee debate. I have l… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Leahy Speaks About Vermont’s Long History Of Innovation And Invention
(Thursday, September 8, 2011) - The U.S. Senate is debating the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Senator Patrick Leahy is the lead Senate author of the legislation, which will make the first comprehensive updates to the nation's patent system in nearly 60 years. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act later today. Vermont receives more patents per capita than any other state in the nation. The first U.S. patent issued was awarded to Vermonter Samuel Hopkin… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Leahy Urges “No” Vote On Coburn Amendment, And Support For Clean Passage Of America Invents Act
(Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday urged Senators to oppose the Coburn amendment and support final passage, without amendment, of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. An amendment offered by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and scheduled to receive a Senate vote Thursday afternoon would violate the rules of the House of Representatives. The Senate-passed America Invents Act (S.23) would have eliminated the appropriations process for the USPTO by setting up a revolvi… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Leahy Urges Senators To Oppose Sessions Amendment, Support Passage Of AMERICA INVENTS ACT
(Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the lead Senate sponsor of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor in opposition to the pending Sessions Amendment. The Senate will vote later today on three pending amendments to the bill, followed by a vote on final passage. Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Sessions Amendment September 8, 2011 The provision that this amendm… Continue Reading
09.07.11
Senate Appropriators OK Post-Irene Boost In Disaster Aid
(WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said that approval of an increase in disaster relief funds by a key Senate panel on Wednesday night adds momentum to efforts to secure sufficient help for Vermont and other states hit by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. Pressed by Leahy and others whose states face Irene damage, the Senate Appropriations Committee late Wednesday ratified the $4.2 billion increase that had been okayed Tuesday by its Homeland Security Subcommittee for the Federa… Continue Reading
09.07.11
Leahy: America Invents Act Is Bipartisan, Consensus Legislation
(Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011) - The U.S. Senate is considering H.R.1249, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, legislation that would make the first comprehensive reforms to the nation's patent system in nearly 60 years. The Senate voted overwhelmingly in March - 95-5 - to pass similar legislation to improve patent quality and reduce patent application backlogs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the lead Senate sponsor of the legislation, delivered the followin… Continue Reading
09.06.11
Appropriations Panel Votes To Begin Replenishing FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund
(TUESDAY, Sept. 6) -- The Senate appropriations panel with jurisdiction over the budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) voted Tuesday to begin replenishing the depleted coffers of the agency's Disaster Relief Fund, which had fallen to insufficient levels even before Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene pummeled the East Coast and New England. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) -- a senior member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and number two in seniority on the full Appropriat… Continue Reading
09.06.11
Senate Begins Debate On Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
The U.S. Senate Tuesday night took an important step toward final passage of legislation to make the first comprehensive reforms to the nation's patent system in nearly six decades. "The discoveries made by American inventors and research institutions, commercialized by American companies, and protected and promoted by American patent laws have made our system the envy of the world," said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the bill's chief Senate sponsor. "We cannot stand on a 1950s patent system … Continue Reading
09.06.11
Senate Confirms First Circuit Court Judicial Nomination In Nearly Four Months
The U.S. Senate Tuesday night voted overwhelmingly to confirm a nominee to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Bernice Donald of Tennessee. Donald's nomination was unanimously reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee nearly four months ago. The nomination is also the first circuit court nomination confirmed by the Senate since May. There remain 19 judicial nominations pending on the Senate's executive calendar. Before the August recess, the Senate confirmed just four of the two doze… Continue Reading
09.06.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Disaster Recovery Efforts In Vermont
Just 10 days ago, Vermont bore the full brunt of then-Tropical Storm Irene as it dumped more than six inches of rain across the state in just a few hours. The narrow valleys of the Green Mountains - where towns, roads and rivers are historically intertwined - were particularly hard hit as gentle rivers and streams became rushing torrents of destruction. Whole towns were cut off from the outside world for days. Homes, businesses, water systems, and miles of roads were swept away. And some Ver… Continue Reading
09.06.11
DHS Response To Senator Leahy’s Letter On Special Immigrant Visa Program Backlogs
On September 6, the Department of Homeland Security responded to Senator Leahy's letter dated July 20, 2011, requesting information about backlogs that have stalled the issuance of special immigrant visas. The response is available online.… Continue Reading
09.01.11
Vermont Disaster Declaration
BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 1 - Vermont's congressional delegation - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) - issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama declared Vermont a disaster area and cleared the way for federal assistance in the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene: "We appreciate the president's quick and decisive action to help Vermonters deal with one of the worst natural disasters in the state's history. Federal and state a… Continue Reading
09.01.11
Delegation Urges President’s Prompt Approval Of A Disaster Declaration For Vermont
(THURSDAY, Sept. 1) -- Vermont's delegation in Congress - Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) - Thursday asked President Obama to act "with all due speed" on Vermont's request for a disaster declaration, which would open the doors to a variety of federal programs to help Vermonters cope with recovery efforts in the aftermath of major flooding in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. They sent their letter on the heels of Governor Peter … Continue Reading
08.31.11
The Leahy Letter -- Special Edition -- Recovering From Irene
Dear Fellow Vermonter, As we learn more and see more and reconnect with each other, Vermonters are still coming to terms with the swift and fierce destruction that Irene left in her wake. I'm a lifelong Vermonter and I've never seen anything quite like this before in our state. For so many Vermonters this already was anything but an easy year, with earlier flooding that already set historic records. I can't tell you how stirring it has been to see neighbors helping not only neighbors but als… Continue Reading
