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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Patent Reform: Good For American Innovation, Good For American Jobs
Ingenuity and innovation have been mainstays of the American economy from the time Thomas Jefferson issued the first patent, to today. The discoveries made by American inventors and research institutions, commercialized by our companies, and protected and promoted by our patent laws, have made our system the envy of the world. Despite the importance of our patent system to the American economy and job creation, Congress has not enacted major reforms to the system in more than 55 years. In th… Continue Reading
03.22.10
Leahy Chairs U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing In Barre, Vermont
BARRE, Vt. - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today held a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Barre, Vt., to explore "Effective Community Efforts to Counter Drug-Related Crime in Rural America." It is the third in a series of field hearings on drug-related crime that Leahy has chaired in Vermont. Testifying at the hearing Monday was the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, R. Gil Kerlikowske - the nation's "drug czar." Kerlikowske is the former police chie… Continue Reading
03.18.10
USDA’s Acceptance Of Audit Findings Helps Clean The Slate For 20-Year-Old Organic Standards And Labeling Program To Advance To Next Level
[Following are the comments of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on the USDA Inspector General's audit of the national organic standards and labeling program, released Thursday. Leahy is the "father" of the national program and author of the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act. Leahy also led on the Senate Appropriations Committee in securing funds for the audit. The report is now available on the Inspector General's website in the "What's New" section (www.usda.gov/oig).] Commen… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Vermont Medicaid Solution In Health Reform Plan Will Mean Millions More For Vermont’s Medicaid Program
Comments on Vermont's Breakthrough on Medicaid In Health Reform Plan Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that the final health reform package that is now headed for House and Senate votes will recognize the early investment Vermont has made in its Medicaid program, meaning more than $100 million in added funding for Vermont's Medicaid programs over the next ten years. The Medicaid solution for Vermont - one of the last issues to be resolved in final work on the plan -- was chi… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Leahy Announces Grant To Seal A Dairy Processor’s Move To Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. - During a groundbreaking ceremony for Commonwealth Dairy in Brattleboro on Thursday, staff for Senator Patrick Leahy announced that he has secured a $300,000 federal grant for the project, finalizing a $25 million public and private investment that will create jobs in Brattleboro and boost demand for Vermont milk. "The Town of Brattleboro, the State of Vermont, and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation have helped facilitate a great opportunity for Brattleboro and al… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Leahy Praises Senate Passage Of Historic Bill To Address Crack/Powder Sentencing Disparity
The Senate Wednesday night unanimously approved historic legislation to address the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The Fair Sentencing Act was introduced last year by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a senior member of the panel, Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and others, and the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced the legislation to the full Senate on March 11. Current law sets out a ratio of 100:1 in terms of the amount of powder cocaine and the am… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Comment On Immigration Reform
"Last week, Senators Schumer and Graham met with the President to discuss the progress they have made toward introduction of an immigration reform bill. Like President Obama, I look forward to reviewing that legislation. Last year, at the beginning of this Congress, I called for Congress to enact legislation consistent with our history as a nation of immigrants. Those who oppose a realistic solution to address the estimated millions of people currently living and working in the United States … Continue Reading
03.17.10
Leahy Speaks About Efforts On Behalf Of Refugees At Capitol Hill Conference
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined advocates on Capitol Hill Wednesday at an event sponsored by Refugees International to highlight the future of Iraqi refugees and international displaced persons in the Iraq region. Leahy has been a longtime leader in Congress in efforts to help refugees seeking safe harbor in the United States. Leahy is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy was joined at the eve… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Leahy Lauds Senate's Final Approval Of New Jobs Bill
[The U.S. Senate Wednesday gave final approval to a new fully paid for jobs bill -- the Hiring Incentives To Restore Employment Act -- in a bipartisan vote of 68 to 29. The bill now goes to President Obama for signing. Following are the comments of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who voted for the bill.] "This bill is another straight ahead boost to the economy that will create jobs and help put Vermonters back to work. It will help struggling small businesses in Vermont invest in new jobs an… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Leahy Launches Bill To Multiply Farm To School Links
- Despite the usual abundance of nearby farms, local farm products are largely missing from most schools' lunch trays. An emerging "farm to school" movement aims to fix that by matching local farms with local schools, cutting out the middleman, and scaling up students' nutrition. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has been joined by Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and 12 other senators in introducing legislation to expand farm to school links to boost the use of local farm products in the federally s… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Senator Leahy's Pictures from Ringside
Photographers who cover politics in Washington are a competitive lot. They don't like it when someone else gets a better position or exclusive access. Resentments can stew. Tempers can flare. But there is one photographer who always gets the different point of view and behind-the-scenes access, yet is never resented by the rest. This photographer, Patrick J. Leahy, has been a fixture around town for 35 years; and not always behind the camera. Between photographs, he is Vermont's senior senator … Continue Reading
03.16.10
Westford Elementary School
On Tuesday March 16, 2010, Senator Leahy held an online chat with 7th and 8th grade students from Westford Elementary School in Westford. Students spent 30 minutes using Skype to chat with the Senator and ask questions about such topics as health care reform, the war in Afghanistan, bipartisanship in Congress and global warming. This was the second chat that Senator Leahy has conducted with the Westford Elementary School.… Continue Reading
03.16.10
Leahy Echoes Call For Up-Or-Down Votes On Nominations
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday repeated his recent calls to end the obstruction that has prevented confirmation votes on many of the more than 80 executive and judicial nominations awaiting final action in the Senate, including 26 nominations reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. "There have already been 17 filibusters of President Obama's nominees," said Leahy. "That is the same number of Federal circuit and district nominees the Senate has confirmed d… Continue Reading
03.15.10
Leahy Introduces Landmark Refugee Protection Act
(Monday, March 15, 2010) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday introduced legislation to strengthen the country's commitment to protecting refugees fleeing persecution or torture. The Refugee Protection Action of 2010 will help to improve protections for refugees and asylum seekers with bona fide claims. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.). The introduction of the Refugee Protection Act also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the historic Refugee Act of 1980, whi… Continue Reading
03.15.10
Leahy, Cornyn Commemorate Sunshine Week With Faster FOIA Act Introduction
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today will introduce bipartisan legislation to make further improvements to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the nation's premier open government law. Leahy is a longtime leader on FOIA issues, and has led efforts to make the federal government more open and transparent to the people it represents. This week marks the sixth annual Sunshine Week, a national observance of the importance of an open and transparent government. Leahy partnered with Senator John … Continue Reading
03.12.10
Leahy To Chair Barre Hearing Of Senate Judiciary Committee
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will chair a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 22, in Barre, Vermont. The hearing will examine the effective efforts of Barre and surrounding communities in fighting drug-related crime. Leahy has invited the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, R. Gil Kerlikowske - the nation's "drug czar" - to testify at the hearing. Kerlikowske is the former police chief in Seattle, and has almost 40 years of law enforcement e… Continue Reading
03.11.10
Congress Marks Long Trail’s 100th Birthday With Commemorative Resolutions, Not Candles
What birthday present do you give to a trail that has everything - drop-dead scenery, border-to-border expanse, and a rich 100-year history? The U.S. House and U.S. Senate Thursday commemorated the Long Trail's centenary with the introduction of resolutions recounting the trail's heritage and significance. Rep. Peter Welch (D) introduced the House resolution, and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) introduced the Senate one. The commemoration comes on the 100th anniversary of t… Continue Reading
03.11.10
Committee Advances Bill To Address Crack/Powder Sentencing Disparity
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously voted to advance historic legislation to address the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The Fair Sentencing Act was introduced last year by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a senior member of the panel, Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and others. Current law sets out a ratio of 100:1 in terms of the amount of powder cocaine and the amount of crack cocaine that result in the same sentence. The Fair Sentencing Act… Continue Reading
03.10.10
Statement On “The Shameful Smear Against Attorneys In The Justice Department”
It saddens and concerns me that another line has been crossed, moving us further toward partisan excess and incivility. I refer to the calculated, political campaign-style attacks on the loyalty and patriotism of honorable Department of Justice attorneys over the past few weeks. Self-restraint is a crucial but often neglected value in our democracy. Just because a political attack that can put "points" on the board is possible, does not make it right. Misleading appeals to fear, like this o… Continue Reading
03.10.10
Senate Passes Leahy-Authored Extension Of Satellite TV Licenses
The Senate Wednesday afternoon passed legislation to modernize satellite television services and to reauthorize the expiring statutory licenses that permit satellite providers to retransmit broadcast stations to consumers. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) worked with others in the Senate and House to negotiate the package. "Ensuring that Americans have access to broadcast television content is important, and it is particularly relevant for consumers in rural areas who might not otherwise be able … Continue Reading
