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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comment On President Biden’s Nomination Of Steve Dettelbach To Serve As Director Of ATF
I commend President Biden for nominating Steve Dettelbach to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Bureau is in urgent need of a permanent director, and Steve Dettelbach is the leader it needs. I know Steve. I have worked with Steve. He has an extraordinary set of skills and experiences that will allow him to excel as the Director of the ATF. Steve spent seven years as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, a position to which he was un… Continue Reading
04.08.22
Ahead Of U.S.-Honduras Strategic Dialogue, Kaine & Leahy Push State Dept. To Urge New Honduran Government To Ramp Up Its Anticorruption Efforts
Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues - and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), President Pro Tempore and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter pushing the U.S. Department of State to urge Honduran President Xiomara Castro's Administration to ensure the new anticorruption commission in Honduras is empowered to ro… Continue Reading
04.07.22
Statement On Russian Landmines
Mr. LEAHY. Among the many barbaric atrocities committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine where civilian infrastructure including hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings have been repeatedly bombed and shelled and countless civilians have been summarily executed in the streets, The New York Times reports today that the Russians are using a new kind of landmine. This mine, called the POM-3, is inherently indiscriminate like other mines in that it cannot distinguish between a civilian and a com… Continue Reading
04.07.22
Statement On The Confirmation Of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To Be A Justice Of The United States Supreme Court
Today is an historic one. Today, each member of the Senate will have the opportunity to cast a vote on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Throughout our Nation's history, only 115 people have served on the Supreme Court. Until now, only five of them were women. Only two of them have been Black. And none of them has been a Black woman. History indeed. And long overdue. But I will not cast my vote in support of Judge… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Statement On Landmine Awareness Day
Mr. LEAHY. Sixteen years ago the United Nations General Assembly designated April 4th as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Today I am introducing a Senate Resolution recognizing that designation and reaffirming United States leadership in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance. As we read the reports of withdrawing Russian troops leaving landmines to terrorize, maim, and kill Ukrainian civilians, we are reminded of the necessity to redouble our eff… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Statement On The Bipartisan Agreement For Additional COVID Aid
I am glad that we have reached a bipartisan agreement to provide $10 billion in desperately needed funding to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through great personal sacrifice by the American people, in particular our many brave healthcare workers, and an unprecedented mobilization of federal resources, we are slowly returning to a sense of "normal." But this pandemic is far from over. This needed funding will allow us to purchase additional vaccines, testing, therapeutics and treatment… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Statement On The Senate Judiciary Committee Vote To Advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Nomination To The United States Supreme Court
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will undertake one of its most consequential duties: to consider and vote whether to advance a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. Before us is a nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who embodies the highest ideals of our judiciary and the legal profession. During the confirmation proceedings, she put on a master class about what it means to be an independent, fair-minded Justice. Her grace, intellect, temperament and wit are exactly what America… Continue Reading
03.30.22
Comment On The Passing Of Sister Janice Ryan
"Sister Janice was a force of nature. She was a human dynamo. She made it her job to make policymakers uncomfortable as her way to achieving real change to help those who struggle. And indeed she made a real difference. The world is a better place for her selfless advocacy for others. I always felt a further connection to her when her namesake niece joined my staff several years ago. "Marcelle and I went to be with her last weekend, as the end was near. We were so moved to be with her one… Continue Reading
03.29.22
Senator Leahy Applauds Change In Organic Origin Of Livestock Rule
(TUESDAY, March 29, 2022) - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday thanked USDA for making a key change in the rules for organic livestock, long requested by small dairy producers. Leahy said: "For far too long, large producers have been able to skirt the rules regarding organic livestock, 'transitioning' livestock to organic every year after raising them conventionally. This rule will end that practice and help level the playing field between large and small organic producers." When a f… Continue Reading
03.29.22
Remarks At Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week Conference
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is recognized as the 'father' of the national organic standards and labeling program, as author and chief sponsor of the federal law that created the system in 1990. This charter and its rules and the organic label, which are followed by farmers and trusted by consumers, have led to what is now the multi-billion-dollar organic foods industry. It is another of the 'born in Vermont' ideas that Leahy has taken to Capitol Hill to then expand to the rest of the nation.… Continue Reading
03.28.22
Statement On President Biden’s Budget Proposal
Earlier this month, President Biden laid out his vision for our country at the State of the Union by prioritizing investments in education, health care, growing the workforce, and building our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, not from the top down. He rejected isolationism, and called for rebuilding partnerships with foreign allies and partners and projecting U.S. global leadership consistent with our values. Today's budget is a reflection of those priorities. It makes investment… Continue Reading
03.21.22
Sanders, Leahy, Welch Call On Sciolex CEO To Engage Fairly With Workers At Vermont Service Center For Citizenship And Immigration
(MONDAY, March 21, 2022) - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), on Monday wrote to Kevin Miller, CEO of the Sciolex Corporation, to express concern over the treatment of Sciolex workers at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC). Formerly based in St. Albans, the VSC, now located in Essex Junction, is one of five USCIS service centers in the country that collectively handle between eig… Continue Reading
03.21.22
Opening Statement On Confirmation Hearing Of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court Of The United States
Welcome, Judge Jackson. Today and throughout this week, the Committee, and the country, will hear from Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has been nominated to be the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Any nomination to the Court is historic; there have been only 115 Justices in our Nation's history. Judge Jackson's nomination is historic in more ways than one. Her nomination, pending a confirmation by the Senate, will bring us one step closer to having a Supreme Court … Continue Reading
03.17.22
Tillis And Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Copyright Theft, Enhance Content Sharing, And Hold Tech Accountable
Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the SMART Copyright Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation that would hold tech accountable by developing effective, widely-available measures to combat copyright theft. "In the fight to combat copyright piracy, there is currently no consensus-based standard technical measures and that needs to be addressed," said Senator Tillis. "I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will provide widely available piracy… Continue Reading
03.17.22
Assistance For Morocco And For Western Sahara
As in past years, the Congress included assistance for Morocco in the Fiscal Year 2022 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. Morocco is a valued partner of the United States on many issues ranging from trade to regional security. Unlike recent years, however, the Congress did not list the Western Sahara under Morocco in the Act. That is because the Fiscal Year 2022 Act, like the United Nations, does not recognize Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Assistance for… Continue Reading
03.11.22
Funding Bill OKd By The Senate Late Thursday Night Includes More Than $167 Million For Vermont Projects
(FRIDAY, March 11, 2022) - The U.S. Senate overnight Thursday/Friday passed the comprehensive government funding bill negotiated by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy has listed more than $167 million in funding for specific Vermont projects across the state that are the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year. Leahy has headed the arduous Senate negotiations on the Omnibus… Continue Reading
03.10.22
Statement On The Arrest Of Former Honduran Police Chief Juan Carlos Bonilla
"For years I urged successive U.S. administrations to cut ties with "El Tigre," Honduras' feared former National Police Chief. Instead, they treated him like a legitimate partner, even though he was deeply involved in the corruption and brutality of drug trafficking. The Department of Justice, in seeking his arrest and extradition, deserves praise for reaffirming that no one is above the law. It is a message that the Honduran people have long waited to hear." ###… Continue Reading
03.09.22
Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy Announces More Than $167 Million For Vermont Projects In The Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
(WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2022) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, early Wednesday morning announced that more than $167 million in funding for specific Vermont projects across the state was included in the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year. Congress is expected to pass the bill in the coming days. Leahy has headed the arduous Senate negotiations on the Omnibus Appropriatio… Continue Reading
03.08.22
Senator Leahy Applauds Organic Valley For Offering Contracts To Farms Dropped By Danone
(TUESDAY, March 8, 2022) -- "I greatly appreciate the decision by Organic Valley to offer contracts to most of the organic dairy farms that recently lost their markets as Horizon and Maple Hill creamery announced their exits from the region. While this is terrific news for these farm families, challenges still remain for the organic dairy industry, and I will continue to work, along with others who support organic dairy to help find, or create, new markets for organic milk." # # # # #… Continue Reading
03.08.22
Cornyn, Leahy Bill To Bolster Cybersecurity Passes House
(TUESDAY, March 8, 2022) -- U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today released the following statements after their legislation, the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to work with the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) to help prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks at the national, state, and local levels. Due to amendme… Continue Reading
