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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, Vice Chair Of The Appropriations Committee, On President Trump’s Declaration Of A National Emergency
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law. Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution. There is no national emergency. No one who subscribes to reality can claim otherwise. Crossings are historically down, billions are being spent on border security, and Congress yesterday appropriated still more. President Trump simply failed to get a deal to build his wasteful vanity wall. He failed to get a deal with Mexico, despite promising his suppor… Continue Reading
02.15.19
Statement Of Senator Leahy On The President's State Of The Union Address
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, like many of my fellow Americans I listened to the President's State of the Union address Tuesday evening, and while there are any number of the President's false or misleading assertions that I could refute, I want to take a minute to highlight just a few. The President began his remarks with a focus on cooperation and compromise, calling for unity among both political parties to work together and break what he described as "decades of political stalemate." The … Continue Reading
02.15.19
Statement Of Senator Leahy On Anti-trafficking And The Southwest Border
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, in his tortuous attempt to make a case for billions of taxpayer dollars to wall off our southern border, President Trump claimed that a wall would stop human trafficking, which has been touted as a priority of this Administration. On several occasions, the President has depicted human trafficking as women and girls smuggled across the border with their hands and legs tied and duct tape across their mouths. No doubt there are such cases. But the overwhelming majorit… Continue Reading
02.15.19
Statement of Senator Leahy On The Freedom To Export To Cuba Act
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to commend Senator Klobuchar for introducing the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act, of which I and Senator Enzi are cosponsors. I urge other Senators to join us. This bill is about ending the anachronistic prohibitions in U.S. law that for decades have limited U.S. engagement with Cuba, including preventing American companies from exporting their products to Cuba. The fact that legislation to do so is even necessary is illustrative of the absurdity of the situat… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Menendez And Leahy, Joined By Other Senators, Ask Sec. Pompeo For Briefing On Adm.’s Failure To Comply With Magnitsky Act, About Saudis’ Role In Khashoggi Murder
Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and all Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter today formally requesting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brief Congress on why the Trump Administration refused to comply with a legal requirement to determine whether Saudi government officials and members of the Royal Family, including Crow… Continue Reading
02.14.19
BREAKING: Statement Of Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Seven-Bill Appropriations Conference Report, As Senate Passes The Measure 83-16
This week, Republicans and Democrats from the House and Senate came together, ignoring the distractions and tweetstorms coming from the White House, and reached an agreement to fund our government and make responsible investments in the American people. This is not the agreement I would have reached on my own. There are things in this bill that I support, and things that I disagree with, but that is the nature of a negotiation. Everyone had to give something to reach a bipartisan compromise. … Continue Reading
02.14.19
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patrick Leahy Releases Border Security & Govt. Funding Agreement
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday night released the bipartisan conference agreement to make responsible investments in border security and finish work on the remaining seven appropriations bills to fund the government. The $333 billion bipartisan package funds the nine remaining federal departments and their agencies, rejects President Trump's demand $5.7 billion border wall and a deportation force, and makes responsible investments in border securit… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Coventry Village School
On February 13, 2019, Senator Leahy continued his series of online chats with Vermont students - this time, with Coventry Village School's 7th and 8th grade class, taught by Ms. Dawn Walls-Thumma. Senator Leahy enjoyed the students' timely questions about his working relationship with President Trump, and other current issues such as immigration and gun safety. Senator Leahy, who is the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, also told the students about his recent experience as one of the… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of William Barr To Be U.S. Attorney General
The last time William Barr was before the Senate - 28 years ago during the George H.W. Bush administration - I voted for him to be Attorney General. I did so despite having some reservations that I shared with him and the Senate at the time. Mr. Barr and I do not see eye to eye on many issues. We did not then and we do not now. But he was clearly qualified for the position, and he had earned the confidence of the Senate. Today we are considering Mr. Barr's nomination under extraordinarily d… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Sanders and Leahy Highlight Important Provisions for Vermont in Public Lands Legislation
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that the Senate passed the Natural Resources Management Act on Tuesday evening by a 92-8 vote. This comprehensive public lands bill includes two provisions of particular importance to Vermonters. The bill permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Congress created the LWCF in 1965 to fund local, state and federal conservation and recreation efforts using the royalties collected from oil and gas compan… Continue Reading
02.08.19
BREAKING: Leahy REAX On Report That The President Will Ignore Filing Deadline For Magnitsky Act Report On The Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi
The Magnitsky Act that requires a president to report back to Congress within 120 days is not a 'request.' It is a legal mandate. It was triggered, under law, by a letter from the chair and ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined by Senator Graham and me, as the leaders of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations. If the President ignores the clear mandate of the Magnitsky Act in a case involving premeditated murder perpetrated b… Continue Reading
02.08.19
Jericho Elementary
On February 6, 2019, Senator Leahy conducted his first online chat of the 2019 calendar year with Vermont students -- this time, with fourth graders from Jericho Elementary, taught by Mr. Ben Brezic. Senator Leahy enjoyed answering the students' questions about his daily routine and about legislation and issues that he is currently working on in the Senate. He was also asked about the most difficult votes he has had to make during his tenure in the Senate, and about how the partial government … Continue Reading
02.08.19
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Passing Of Congressman John Dingell
"John Dingell once said that he wants his tombstone just to say that he did his damndest. And that he did. He gave his all to help expand health insurance to millions of vulnerable Americans, earning him the well-deserved honor of presiding over the House when Medicare was passed, and of sitting next to President Obama as he signed the Affordable Care Act. "John's towering presence and force of will were a fixture in the House for nearly 60 years, but he never fell behind the times. He was a… Continue Reading
02.08.19
Klobuchar, Enzi, Leahy Introduce Major Legislation to Lift Cuba Trade Embargo
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) reintroduced major legislation to lift the Cuba trade embargo. The bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Act would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers by boosting U.S. exports and allow Cubans greater access to American goods. The legislation repeals key provisions of previous laws that block Americans from … Continue Reading
02.07.19
Leahy And Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Fight Price Fixing By OPEC
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bipartisan group of Judiciary Committee senators Thursday to introduce bipartisan legislation that would let the federal government take action against price fixing by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Senators Amy Klobuchar of (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) also cosponsored the legislation. "As Vermonters struggle to heat their homes through another frigid winter, it's vital to make sure that oil… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Leahy Introduces Bill To Enhance Cybersecurity With Cornyn And Cruz
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), to 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. Leahy said: "Improving cybersecurity remains vitally important in every aspect of our lives. Whether in busin… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Daines, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Big Health Insurance Companies from Price Fixing, Collusion
U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday introduced legislation to ensure that health insurance companies are held accountable for pricing drugs. Their bill, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act amends McCarran-Ferguson, which exempted insurance companies from federal antitrust laws. "For far too long, health insurance companies have gotten away with taking advantage of consumers and charging them outrageous prices for their health care," Daines said. "It… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Leahy And Other Leading Judiciary Committee Senators Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Counter Rising Prescription Drug Prices
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by other leading Judiciary Committee senators, on Tuesday reintroduced legislation to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The bill is sponsored by Leahy and cosponsored … Continue Reading
02.05.19
Senate Floor Statement Of Senator Patrick leahy On Introduction Of The CREATES Act
Over the past few years, the national headlines have been dominated by stories about the high cost of pharmaceuticals. We have seen jaw-dropping examples of companies raising the cost of their products overnight, pricing too many families out of the prescription drugs they need to survive. Just last week, House and Senate Committees charged with oversight of the pharmaceutical industry heard heartbreaking testimony from family members of those dependent on insulin who have been forced to ratio… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Leahy Joins Feinstein And Other Democratic Senators To Introduce Legislation To Prevent Separation Of Immigrant Families
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and 40 other Democratic senators to introduce legislation to keep immigrant families together by preventing the Department of Homeland Security from taking children from their parents at the border. The Keep Families Together Act was developed in consultation with child welfare experts to ensure the federal government is acting in the best interest of children. The bill allows immigrant children… Continue Reading
