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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
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
09.21.11
Key Panel Advances Leahy’s Bid To Permanently Reduce Heavy Truck Traffic In Vermont Downtowns
The Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday advanced legislation by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that would permanently move heavy trucks off state secondary roads and onto the state's Interstate highways. Leahy's provision will help Vermont businesses and communities struggling due to the large number of state and local roads heavily damaged during the recent flooding disaster. Leahy included his provision in the annual transportation funding bill that the Senate Transportation Appropriat… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Leahy Heralds Committee Passage Of Additional Emergency Funds To Help Rebuild Vermont’s Roads And Bridges
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced on Wednesday that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved his amendment to add $1.9 billion in emergency assistance for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help rebuild roads and bridges washed out by Hurricane Irene and other federal disasters. The committee's bill also includes key waivers that would allow Vermont to access all of the funding it needs without overly burdensome cost-sharing requirements. The provisions were inclu… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The District Of Columbia District Court’s Decision In Shelby v. Holder
"Today's decision upholding the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization that Congress passed overwhelmingly five years ago is a welcomed decision. Judge Bates' careful and thorough opinion reflects an appropriate deference to the extensive testimony received over the course of nearly 20 hearings before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. The continuing importance of these Voting Rights Act protections cannot be overstated, particularly at a time when many states are p… Continue Reading
09.20.11
Delegation Announces Grant To Create Flood Clean-Up Jobs For Out-Of-Work Vermonters
(TUESDAY, Sept. 20) -- Vermont's congressional delegation - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D) and Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) - today announced a $1.7 million grant to put unemployed Vermonters to work helping clean up and recover from Tropical Storm Irene. The Department of Labor grant will create 100 temporary jobs assisting with clean-up, demolition, repair, renovation, and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities, and lands throughout Vermont's 14 counties as well as … Continue Reading
09.20.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Vermonters Helping Vermonters After Irene
In the weeks since Tropical Storm Irene devastated much of our state, Vermonters continue to struggle to regain a sense of normalcy. Bridges, railways and roads remain damaged or wiped out. Many homes, businesses and schools that were not entirely washed away need profound repairs. Farmers are struggling to salvage what they can of their livelihoods. From amid the din and destruction and debris of this horrific natural disaster come hundreds of heartening stories I have heard or witnessed abou… Continue Reading
