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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Rutland High School
On January 25, 2011, Senator Leahy held an online chat with seniors at Rutland High School. Using Skype to communicate with the students and their teachers Senator Leahy spoke about his plans to attend President Obama's State of the Union Address later that evening. Students also asked questions about a variety of topics including education, energy and the environment and health care reform. Listed below is a sample of some of the questions asked during the chat. Twyla - How do you feel about… Continue Reading
01.24.11
Leahy Announces Effort To Move Heavy Truck Traffic From State Roads To Interstates
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (MONDAY, Jan. 24) - During a visit to Champlain Oil Company in South Burlington Monday, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy announced that he and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) this week will introduce a bill making permanent a now-expired federal pilot program allowing heavy trucks to use the Interstate system in Maine and Vermont. Leahy was joined by Vermont legislative leaders, trucking advocates, state officials and business leaders in pointing to the economic, environmental an… Continue Reading
01.21.11
New Drug Free Communities Support Program Funding Available Now
As a Vermont prosecutor and in the United States Senate, Senator Leahy has long supported and advanced the types of community-based prevention and involvement that this program encourages. He proudly cosponsored the original legislation in 1997 and has championed the program's work during his time on the Judiciary and Appropriations Committees. While Vermont is one of the safest states in the country, it has still had to confront drug abuse and drug-related crime. Over the past three years Se… Continue Reading
01.20.11
Leahy Taps John Tracy As His State Director
(THURSDAY, Jan. 20) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D) has named John Tracy as his State Director, overseeing his activities and staff in Vermont. Tracy replaces Chuck Ross, Vermont's new Secretary of Agriculture in the administration of Governor Peter Shumlin. Tracy, a graduate of UVM, is in his fifth year as Field Representative for Leahy, traveling the state and helping Vermonters and their communities in their dealings with federal programs and agencies. Leahy said Tracy brings timely exp… Continue Reading
01.20.11
Leahy, Hatch, Grassley: Patent Reform Will Protect American Jobs, Promote Economic Development
(Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011) - A bipartisan group of Senators will introduce patent reform legislation when the Senate returns to session next week, Senate Judiciary Committee Members Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced Thursday. The Judiciary Committee has worked to advance patent reform legislation since 2006. Leahy is the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and has included the Patent Reform Act of 2011 on the Committee's first executive bu… Continue Reading
01.19.11
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The House's Expected Vote To Repeal The Affordable Care Act
The new leadership in the House say they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This is a carefully staged show vote, with a simplistic debate that was short on substance. The American people have the right to know that if a vote to repeal were to stand it would take away the rights of millions of patients and insurance coverage from millions more, from the aging and the elderly, to men and women with preexisting conditions, to the most vulnerable children. When you boil away the rhetoric… Continue Reading
01.19.11
The Leahy Letter -- January 26, 2011
Senator Leahy Responds To The State Of The Union (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Senator Leahy walks with Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama following the State of the Union Yesterday, President Obama delivered his second State of the Union address outlining a plan to 'win the future' through investments in innovation, education, infrastructure, and responsible government. Senator Leahy was a member of the President's bipartisan escort committee and sat amongst his colleagues f… Continue Reading
01.18.11
Fraud Enforcement To Be Focus Of First SJC Hearing Of 112th Congress
TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2011 - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday released a notice for the first Committee hearing of the 112th Congress. Leahy announced last week his intent to hold a hearing focused on fraud enforcement on Jan. 26. Two senior Department of Justice officials will testify at the hearing: Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division and Assistant Attorney General Tony West of the Civil Division. In the last fiscal year alone, the J… Continue Reading
01.18.11
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Retirement Decision Of Senator Kent Conrad
"Kent Conrad is one of the best senators I have served with in 37 years. He and Lucy are among Marcelle and my best friends in Washington. "Kent is one person who actually has worked to lower the deficit and not just talked about it. When he leaves it will be the Senate's loss, North Dakota's loss and the nation's loss. "Senator Conrad still has much to contribute, and I hope his deep knowledge, his clear-eyed vision and his passion about controlling the debt and the deficit will help shape … Continue Reading
01.18.11
Vermont Leaders Move Forward On Health Care
MONTPELIER, Vt., Jan. 18 - Flanking Gov. Peter Shumlin at a Statehouse press conference, the Vermont congressional delegation today announced federal legislation to let states in 2014 provide better health care at less cost. A provision by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the new federal health care law allows states to propose pilot programs in 2017. Now Vermont's congressional delegates - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sanders, and Rep. Peter Welch (D) - have drafted a bill to authorize federal w… Continue Reading
01.18.11
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Death Of Sargent Shriver
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released the following statement from his home in Vermont: "Sarge was a hero of mine long before I entered public life. He and his family believed in the good things government can do, and thousands upon thousands of people have better lives because of his Peace Corps work." # # # # #… Continue Reading
01.16.11
The National Debate On Civility And The Vermont Way
A national discussion has begun about civility in politics and American life. That can be healthy and constructive, if we want it to be. President Obama wisely cautions against letting the tragedy of Tucson become fodder for just another tit-for-tat verbal firefight. No one except perhaps the shooter knows what lit the fuse to the Tucson tragedy, or whether the superheated rhetoric of the recent campaign in Arizona was a contributing factor. But the problem of the erosion of civility is abou… Continue Reading
01.16.11
Op-ED: The National Debate On Civility And The Vermont Way
A national discussion has begun about civility in politics and American life. That can be healthy and constructive, if we want it to be. President Obama wisely cautions against letting the tragedy of Tucson become fodder for just another tit-for-tat verbal firefight. No one except perhaps the shooter knows what lit the fuse to the Tucson tragedy, or whether the superheated rhetoric of the recent campaign in Arizona was a contributing factor. But the problem of the erosion of civility i… Continue Reading
01.14.11
Leahy: Interim Funds Released For Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine And Work Done At GE Aviation/Rutland
(THURSDAY, Jan. 13) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has confirmed that Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will continue funding for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F136 competitive engine, by releasing $56 million in funds provided by Congress in a short-term budget bill in December, which runs to March 4. David Carle, Leahy's spokesman, said, "Senator Leahy has been assured by Secretary Gates that the Defense Department will carry out the will of Congress in funding the competitive engine wi… Continue Reading
01.11.11
Senator Leahy Addresses The Tragedy In Tucson
On Tuesday, January 11, Senator Leahy delivered a speech outlining his agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 112th Congress. Before he began detailing the work he hopes to accomplish in the coming years, he paused to address the tragic attack in Tucson, Arizona. Following are Senator Leahy's remarks, as prepared, on the incident. The tragic events of this past weekend call us to pause and reflect on the promise of democracy and our responsibilities as its beneficiaries and stewards.… Continue Reading
01.11.11
Senator Leahy's Remarks On Security For Public Officials
On Tuesday, January 11, Senator Patrick Leahy delivered a speech on his agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 112th Congress. Following his official remarks, the Senator took questions from the audience. The following is a transcript of a question and answer exchange in which the Senator addresses concerns related to security for elected and public officials. Question: Mr. Chairman, you were the target of an attack in 2001, I'm wondering if you could talk about whether that attack o… Continue Reading
01.11.11
Leahy Lays Out Agenda For 112th Congress: 'Protecting Taxpayers, Promoting Innovation, Preserving Justice'
"Protecting Taxpayers, Promoting Innovation, Preserving Justice" An Agenda For The Senate Judiciary Committee In The 112th Congress Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee The Newseum Washington January 11, 2011 As Prepared Thank you, Dean Treanor, for that gracious introduction and thank you, Chairman Overby -- and your superb staff - for hosting this discussion here at the Newseum and the Freedom Forum. The tragic events of this past weekend call us… Continue Reading
01.08.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Mass Shooting In Tucson
Vermonters' deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families, and so is our solidarity with them. We hope and pray for the recovery of Congresswoman Giffords and all who were injured. We mourn the loss of Chief Judge John Roll of the Federal District Court of Arizona and offer our condolences to his family, friends and staff. I applaud the President's decision to ask FBI Director Mueller to personally marshal federal investigative resources on the scene. I will continue to monitor … Continue Reading
01.06.11
Background Information On The EB-5 Program In Governor Shumlin's Jobs Agenda
Governor Shumlin's Jobs Agenda - On Expanding The EB-5 Regional Center Program… Partnering With Senator Leahy, The Program's Champion in Vermont and in Congress Vermont secured a federal EB-5 Regional Center Designation in 1997. Senator Patrick Leahy, the program's leading champion in Congress, has partnered with the state to create Vermont jobs and in forging the Regional Center Program to become a vital part of the federal immigration system. The program already has attracted bil… Continue Reading
01.05.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Consideration Of Judicial Nominations
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following Congressional Record statement today on consideration of judicial nominations. In the closing days of the 111th Congress, a brief flurry of activity led to the confirmation of 19 long-pending judicial nominations. Regrettably, the stalemate that had prevented the Senate from confirming a single nomination between September 13 and December 16 resumed when Senate Republicans denied action on 19 other well-qualified, c… Continue Reading
