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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
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
01.03.11
Vermont Delegation Members Nominate 29 Outstanding Young Vermonters To U.S. Service Academies
(MONDAY, Jan. 3) Vermont's Congressional Delegation - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) - this week announced the nominations of 29 Vermont high school students for appointments to the U.S. Service Academies. Vermonters nominated by members of the Delegation include applicants to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Congressional nominatio… Continue Reading
12.30.10
Vermont’s Congressional Delegation To Recognize Vermont U.S. Service Academy Nominees On Sunday at Statehouse
Sunday, January 2, 2011 -- 1:30 p.m. - Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and a representative of Congressman Peter Welch will recognize 29 young Vermonters who are being nominated to United States Service Academies to be members of the Class of 2015. At the annual reception in the Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont Statehouse, nominees from throughout Vermont will receive nomination certificates signed by each member of the Vermont Congressional Delegation. The names of this year's n… Continue Reading
12.29.10
Comment On The Recess Appointment Of James Cole To Be The Deputy Attorney General
On Wednesday, the White House announced that President Obama intends to recess appoint James Cole to be the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. The nomination was returned to the President at the end of the Congress, after pending on the Senate floor since it was approved by a majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee in July. The Deputy Attorney General is the number two position at the Department of Justice, and is a critical national security and law enforcement position. "Despi… Continue Reading
12.24.10
Comment On The Settlement Between Dean Foods And Northeast Dairy Farmers
[The proposed settlement between Dean Foods and Northeast dairy farmers, including farmers in Vermont, was formally announced Friday and has been filed with the federal district court. Below is the reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who held a Judiciary Committee field hearing in St. Albans this year on competition in dairy markets. Leahy also is the most senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Also below for reference is today's announcement of the settlement, by the plaint… Continue Reading
12.23.10
Senate Returns 19 Judicial Nominations Reported By Committee; Most Supported By Republicans
(Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010) - As the 111th Congress adjourned Wednesday, 19 judicial nominations reported by the Judiciary Committee were returned to the President without final action, including more than a dozen nominations that received unanimous or near unanimous support from the Committee. "As the 111th Congress draws to a close, Senate Republicans have finally consented to consider half of the judicial nominations that have been pending on the Senate's Executive Calendar, some for nearly a … Continue Reading
12.22.10
Federal Disaster Funds Released To Chittenden, Franklin And Lamoille Counties
, Dec. 22 - Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Wednesday that the counties of Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille will receive federal disaster funds in response to damage caused by severe storms in early December. The funds were triggered for release by a disaster declaration issued today by President Obama. The delegation wrote the President in the aftermath of the storm asking for this declaration, arguing that the scope of t… Continue Reading
12.22.10
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
I have heard complaints over the past few days about why we in the Senate are still working so close to the Christmas holiday. All of us would rather be home with our families, but of course we were sent here to serve the American people. We were sent here to the Senate to do the work of the American people, and we have been trying to complete our work for the past several weeks. One remaining issue demands our attention: taking care of the Americans who responded to the terrorist attacks on … Continue Reading
12.22.10
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy After Attending The Signing Ceremony For The Law Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
"This is a day of significance to every American, and a day of deeply personal and particular meaning to so many who, until now, have been prevented by law from serving openly and honestly as who they are. What a lasting memory it was to be able to watch Wednesday as President Obama signed into law the bill to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. "This is a galvanizing victory for individual civil rights in our country, grounded in enduring American values. When we protect the rights of any Ameri… Continue Reading
12.22.10
The Leahy Letter -- December 22, 2010
Bill To RepealDiscriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy Signed Into Law Today Senator Leahy makes remarks at the enrollment ceremony of legislation repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. After 17 years of discrimination imposed by law on America's Armed Forces, and on those who serve within them, the United States Senate voted to repeal the policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on Saturday, December 18, by a vote of 65-31. Senator Leahy, long a leading advocate of repeal, attended the W… Continue Reading
12.22.10
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Confirmation Of Judge Mary Murguia Of Arizona To The United States Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit
Today the Senate is finally being allowed to consider a judicial nomination that has been stalled since August -- the nomination of Judge Mary Murguia of Arizona to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. I would understand the resistance to considering the nomination if President Obama had selected someone opposed by her home state Senators. But both Republican home state Senators support this nomination. Unlike his predecessor, President Obama has worked with home … Continue Reading
12.22.10
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Recent Judicial Confirmations
At long last, the Senate is being allowed to consider long-pending, consensus judicial nominations. This action has been long overdue. President Obama has reached out and worked with Senators from both sides of the aisle in selecting well-qualified judicial nominees. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I have bent over backwards to be fair to all sides. There has been consultation and a thorough and fair process for evaluating nominations. Scott M. Matheson is finally being confirmed to… Continue Reading
12.22.10
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Prohibition On The Transfer Of Terrorism Suspects In The National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2011
I am deeply disappointed that H.R. 6523, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, includes a section to prohibit the transfer of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay to the United States to face prosecution. This section takes away one of the greatest tools we have to protect our national security -- our ability to prosecute terrorism defendants in Federal courts. The result is to make it more likely that terrorists will not be brought to justice. Current law allows for th… Continue Reading
12.21.10
Senate Confirms Two District Court Nominations
(Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010) - After months of delay, the Senate Tuesday confirmed two nominations to the federal district courts. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Benita Pearson to the District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the nomination of William J. Martinez to fill a judicial emergency for the District Court of Colorado. Pearson's nomination was reported by the Judiciary Committee in February, and Martinez's nomination was reported by the Committee in April. Senate Demo… Continue Reading
