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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy-Chaired Panel Holds Hearing On Libel Tourism And The Growing Threat To American Journalists
The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday held a hearing to examine libel tourism, a growing threat to American journalists' First Amendment rights. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) presided at the hearing. Permissive libel laws in other countries have resulted in foreign law suits against American journalists, publishers and authors. A widely-publicized case in Britain in which an American author, Rachel Ehrenfeld, was sued in British courts by a Saudi businessman led the United Nations… Continue Reading
02.22.10
Comment On Najibullah Zazi’s Guilty Plea In Federal Court
Another example of the strength of our justice system unfolded today in a Federal district court in New York, where Najibullah Zazi, whose actions have been described by the Attorney General as one of the most serious terrorist threats since September 11, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges. I ask the critics whether, in this case, they would have forgone justice and the intelligence that was gained, by insisting, instead, that Zazi be designated as an enemy combatant and whisked away to Guanta… Continue Reading
02.22.10
Comment On President Obama’s Proposals For Health Care Reform
I am pleased the President remains committed to passing a comprehensive health insurance reform bill that will give millions more Americans access to health insurance, while improving quality and keeping costs down for everyone. Not only do tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance, but under the current system, insurance companies can actively discriminate against sick people, and American families are driven into bankruptcy every day by medical expenses. These escalating health cos… Continue Reading
02.19.10
Leahy Announces Hearing On OPR Report
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to examine the Office of Professional Responsibility Report on the Office of Legal Counsel, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced today. The report was released to Congress today. The hearing will be held Friday, February 26, at 10:00 a.m. Witnesses will be announced in the coming days, and the hearing will be webcast live online. Below is Chairman Leahy's comment on the report. Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Sen… Continue Reading
02.19.10
Comment From Leahy Spokesman On FBI Report On 2001 Anthrax Attacks
David Carle, spokesman for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.): "Senator Leahy had a long discussion with Director Mueller about the investigation. He will read the report and has no plans to comment."… Continue Reading
02.17.10
New Shelter Is Almost Home
White River Junction --The Upper Valley Haven plans to open its new 20-bed shelter for homeless adults in May but needs to raise roughly $150,000 to add staff and programming for the Hartford Avenue building. "We aren't finished yet. … We still have a ways to go to be able to have the funds to operate this program," Haven Executive Director Sara Kobylenski said yesterday during a ceremony intended to highlight a $200,000 federal earmark U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., included i… Continue Reading
02.17.10
Burlington Secures $3.15 Million For More Waterfront Transportation Improvements
U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) hailed the White House announcement Wednesday that the City of Burlington will receive $3.15 million to enhance year-round public access to the northern section of Burlington's historic waterfront by making several roadway, parking, and pedestrian improvements to the area. Through $2.7 million in previous federal funding secured by Leahy, Burlington has developed detailed design p… Continue Reading
02.17.10
Leahy And Putney Historical Society Announce General Store Construction To Begin This Spring
PUTNEY, Vt. - Sen. Patrick Leahy and members of the Putney Historical Society, Preservation Trust of Vermont and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board met at the site of the Putney General Store Wednesday morning to announce that a new $60,000 federal grant will ensure that construction on the new General Store can begin this year. "None of us here could have imagined that instead of touring a new and improved Putney General Store today we would be standing in front of a vacant lot," sai… Continue Reading
02.16.10
Leahy Announces $1.075M. In Economic Development For Southern Windham County
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. - Sen. Patrick Leahy joined leadership and staff from Omega Optical, the Brattleboro Food Coop, Windham Housing Trust and representatives of the Town of Guilford Tuesday to announce $1,075,000 in economic development and community development appropriations. The funding will continue Omega Optical's solar research, help the Brattleboro Food Coop and Windham Housing Trust reach construction on a new downtown Brattleboro facility and encourage smart growth in Algiers. "Com… Continue Reading
02.16.10
New Upper Valley Haven Adult Shelter Critical To Serving Area Homeless And Homeless Veterans
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. - During a construction tour of the Upper Valley Haven's new shelter for homeless adults in White River Junction Tuesday, Sen. Patrick Leahy told representatives of the Haven, capital campaign donors and White River Junction Veterans Administration (VA) Director Robert Walton that a $200,000 appropriation he secured for the facility was going to help serve the Upper Valley's homeless and homeless veterans in need of medical care at the nearby VA hospital. As a se… Continue Reading
02.16.10
Leahy Plans Hearing To Examine Libel Tourism
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Tuesday that the Committee will hold a hearing on Feb. 23, to examine libel tourism, a growing threat to American journalists' First Amendment rights. The hearing is entitled "Are Foreign Libel Lawsuits Chilling Americans' First Amendment Rights?" Permissive libel laws in other countries have resulted in foreign law suits against American journalists, publishers and authors. A widely-publicized case in Britain in which an Ame… Continue Reading
02.13.10
Leahy, Sanders, Welch Hail Vilsack’s OK Of USDA Loan For Northeast Kingdom Biomass Venture
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The members of Vermont's Congressional Delegation - U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D) - Saturday said the approval of a $10 million federal loan -- $9 million of it guaranteed by USDA - for a significant new biomass production facility in Island Pond, Vt., is on target to create new jobs in a strategic emerging sector of Vermont's economy. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, during a town meeting on Vermont agricult… Continue Reading
02.12.10
New Organic Program Rule On Livestock Access To Pasture Is True To Producers And Consumers And Faithful To The Leahy Organics Law
On the eve of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's Saturday meeting with organic producers in Vermont, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says USDA's new organic program rule on organic livestock access to pasture "ensures that the organic label lives up to consumers' expectations and the expectations of our organic producers who have invested so heavily in the organic label and what it stands for." The long-awaited rule, five years in the making and released today (Friday)… Continue Reading
02.12.10
Leahy And Small Businesses Herald Vermont Community Loan Fund
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Representatives of the Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF), small businesses from across the state, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Senator Patrick Leahy said Friday that two key loan provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund and the Small Business Administration's Micro-Loan Program - are helping Vermont businesses find access to much-needed capital. Leahy said the Recovery Act… Continue Reading
02.12.10
Comment On Cell Phone Tracking And Electronic Privacy
A hearing today before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit will examine the legal standard that should apply when the government requests Americans' cell phone locational information. "In the Information Age, cell phones, BlackBerries and other innovative technologies make it easier for Americans to quickly share information, with countless benefits. But, these technologies also create privacy challenges that were unforeseen when Congress enacted federal electronic privacy l… Continue Reading
02.12.10
Vermont Wins $12 Million for High-Tech Medical Records System
BURLINGTON - Almost $12 million was awarded today to help Vermont doctors and hospitals move from paper records to state-of-the-art computerized medical records. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said the funds will help state agencies, hospitals and doctors' offices develop a standardized system that will improve patient care and maintain the confidentiality and security of patient records. Gov. Jim Douglas said Vermont has led the nation… Continue Reading
02.11.10
Leahy To Introduce Bill To Fix Labor Department’s Exemption Of Dairy Farms From Visa Program For Seasonal Workers
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday said he will introduce legislation to address the U.S. Department of Labor's new rules that exclude the dairy industry from eligibility for certification in the seasonal agricultural worker program, called H-2A visas. "I am deeply disappointed with the Department of Labor's final rule on H-2A agricultural workers," said Leahy. "This rule falls short, leaving dairy farms in the lurch. With the dairy industry reeling in Vermont and across the nati… Continue Reading
02.11.10
Leahy, Feinstein In Letter To President Endorse Use of Federal Courts To Prosecute Terrorists
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Thursday sent a letter to President Barack Obama endorsing the longstanding use of federal criminal courts to prosecute terrorists. Leahy and Feinstein chair the Senate Judiciary Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, respectively. Leahy and Feinstein have supported the administration's plans to try terrorists in federal court, which have a proven track record over many years of successfully trying terror… Continue Reading
02.10.10
Statement At Nominations Hearing
Today the Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hear from six more of President Obama's judicial nominees. I thank Senator Sessions for working with me to schedule this hearing and to work to include these nominees. We meet today while the Federal Government and most of the city remains shut down in the wake of a blizzard and record snow falls for this area. I commend Senator Klobuchar for chairing and Senator Sessions for serving as the ranking Republican at this hearing. The nominees b… Continue Reading
02.09.10
Senate Confirms Third Circuit Nominee
The Senate Tuesday night unanimously confirmed Judge Joseph Greenaway to a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination, pending before the Senate for more than four months, is just the fifth circuit court nomination confirmed this Congress. The final vote was 84-0. Greenaway first appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing on September 9. The Judiciary Committee unanimously reported the nomination to the full Senate on October 1. Senate Judiciary Commi… Continue Reading
