Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Vt. Non-Profit Wins $2.8 Million Grant To Help Low-Income Vt. Seniors Find Jobs
, August 1st - A Vermont non-profit has won a $2,865,734 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) grant provided through the Older Americans Act's Senior Community Service Employment Program, to help train and place low-income Vermonters - aged 55 and older - in jobs around the state, Vermont's congressional delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch - announced today. The grant - part of $260 million in nationwide awards - will go to Vermont Associates for Training and Dev… Continue Reading
08.01.12
Leahy Chairs Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Rising Prison Costs
(Wednesday, August 1, 2012) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is chairing a hearing this morning on rising prison costs and the effect on Federal, state and local budgets. Leahy is the author of the Second Chance Act, authorizing grants to local governments and organizations to help provide literacy classes, job training, education programs and substance abuse and rehabilitation programs for inmates. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of today's hearing… Continue Reading
07.31.12
Leahy, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Protect Whistleblowers In Criminal Antitrust Cases
(Tuesday, July 31, 2012) -U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation today to extend whistleblower protection for employees who provide information to the Department of Justice related to criminal antitrust violations. Leahy and Grassley have long worked together on legislative priorities that protect whistleblowers. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act is based on recommendation… Continue Reading
07.31.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Approval By The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee Of A One-Year Air Force Structure Freeze
[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has led, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Senate efforts to reject the Air Force's initial budget proposal for reducing the force structure of the Air National Guard. Leahy is the longtime co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus and is number two in seniority on the Appropriations Committee and on its Defense Subcommittee.] "I have been working closely with Chairman Inouye on this issue and was pleased that we were able to include full funding for the Air Gua… Continue Reading
07.31.12
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Reauthorizing The Violence Against Women Act
"The Senate's bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act will protect all victims of domestic and sexual violence. I remain committed - as I have been since I introduced this bipartisan bill last year - to passing a bill that protects all victims. Time is running out to come together to pass this legislation. We should ensure the Senate-passed lifesaving protections are available to each and every victim. The House Republican leadership made a mistake when it did not take up the b… Continue Reading
07.31.12
Leahy Files Amendments To Address Digital Privacy Provisions In Cybersecurity Bill
(Tuesday, July 31) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a champion of protecting individual privacy and promoting American innovation, has filed several amendments to the Cybersecurity Act, now on the Senate Floor, that will address privacy issues in the legislation. One of Leahy's amendments underscores the usefulness of an approach used by Norwich University to simulate cyber threats. Leahy has filed four amendments to the bill to enhance the privacy protections for A… Continue Reading
07.31.12
Vermont Tops Nation In Health Insurance Rebates
, July 31 - More than 4,600 Vermonters are due an average $807 rebate on their health insurance premiums by tomorrow under a provision in the new national health care law, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said today. The Vermont average rebate is greater than any other state. In all, 4,636 Vermont policy holders - all covered by CIGNA - are due more than $2.3 million in rebates under the Affordable Care Act, according to the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
07.30.12
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
