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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Top US senator denounces Egypt media attacks
(AFP) - A top US Senator warned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday that "thuggery" against media covering bloody turmoil in his country will not delay the "inevitable" end of his decades of rule. "For Egypt's future, and for President Mubarak's own good, the attacks on protestors and the assaults on and detention of journalists must end immediately," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. Leahy, a Democrat who chairs the subcommittee that decides foreign aid, blasted… Continue Reading
02.03.11
SJC Work On PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Delayed At Request Of Committee Republicans
(Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday postponed action on legislation authored by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to extend provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act that expire in three weeks. Committee Republicans exercised their rights under the Committee's rules to postpone debate until the panel's next meeting. Leahy is expected to include the legislation, called the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act, on the Committee's next business meeting agenda. Also… Continue Reading
02.03.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Arrests Of And Assaults On Journalists In Egypt
The thuggery that is being waged against Egyptian protestors and working journalists is deeply disturbing and deserves the world's condemnation. I applaud our country's leaders for their strong objections to this unfortunate turn in the Egyptian Government's handling of the crisis. Attacking the press is the desperate and futile recourse of an autocratic regime under siege. It is a further assault on the people's right to know, to speak and to peaceably gather. For Egypt's future, and for Pr… Continue Reading
02.03.11
SJC Sends 11 Judicial Nominees To Full Senate
(Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday unanimously approved 11 judicial nominations, sending the first federal court nominations of the 112th Congress to the full Senate for consideration. The nominations reported Thursday received unanimous support from Judiciary Committee members in 2010, but final consideration of the nominations was denied before the 111th Congress adjourned, and the nominations were returned to the President. Each was renominated when the 112t… Continue Reading
02.03.11
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Votes To Send Bipartisan Patent Reform Legislation To Full Senate
(Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011) - A unanimous vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday sent comprehensive patent reform legislation to the full Senate for the third time since 2008. The Patent Reform Act is authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Congressional efforts to reform the nation's patent system first began in 2005. The legislation approved by the Judiciary Committee Thursday is the product of years of work and compromise. Enact… Continue Reading
02.02.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The McConnell Amendment (To Repeal The Affordable Care Act) To The Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Bill
The 112th Congress began just one month ago, with both sides of the political aisle voicing a renewed commitment to cooperation. It is not hard to understand why I am disappointed that at the first opportunity, Senate Republicans have chosen to manipulate the open amendment process. The Senate minority is demanding a vote on an amendment to repeal the health care reform law in its entirety -- an issue totally unrelated to the bill we are considering, the FAA Transportation Modernization Safety … Continue Reading
02.02.11
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds First Confirmation Hearing Of 112th Congress
(Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held a confirmation hearing for pending nominations, the Committee's first such hearing of the 112th Congress. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released the following statement. The Committee heard testimony from three judicial nominees, including Caitlin Halligan, nominated to a seat on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; Kathleen Williams, nominated to a seat on the district court for the So… Continue Reading
02.02.11
Leahy: Repeal Of Affordable Care Act Puts Health Care For Millions Of Americans At Stake
(Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011) - The Senate Judiciary Committee today held a hearing focused on the constitutionality of the historic Affordable Care Act. The hearing was held two days after a federal district court in Florida issued the most recent in a line of court decisions on the constitutionality of health care. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is the chairman of the Committee. Leahy said, "The Affordable Care Act eliminated discriminatory practices by health insurers, ensuring that a patient's… Continue Reading
02.01.11
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy To The Evolving Situation In Egypt And President Mubarak’s Statement
"President Mubarak's decision to stand down from future leadership of the government is welcome, but his continued role in Egypt's transition is unrealistic. The Egyptian people, long denied the chance to freely and fairly choose their leaders, today are voting with their feet, their courage and their voices. Their overwhelmingly nonviolent and steady show of strength has conveyed confidence and won the empathy of people of goodwill across the globe. They are fed up with one-party rule, a rep… Continue Reading
02.01.11
Leahy Continues Effort To Reauthorize Historic Justice For All Act
(Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today introduced legislation to reauthorize the historic Justice for All Act. Leahy was a key sponsor of the original Justice for All Act, and he first introduced reauthorization legislation in September 2010. The Justice for All Act was the result of more than four years of bipartisan negotiations, and was enacted in 2004. The historic law made modest but rare reforms to the criminal justice system, including… Continue Reading
01.31.11
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Florida Federal District Court Ruling On Health Care Law
"Challenges to the Affordable Care Act have been making their way through the federal courts since the enactment of the historic health care reform law. Today's decision by Judge Vinson of the Northern District of Florida is another in a string of lower court decisions on this issue. Other courts have upheld Congress's authority to enact the Affordable Care Act. These cases are already before appellate courts, and there is little doubt the Supreme Court will be the final arbiter of this const… Continue Reading
01.28.11
Citing an Increase in Suicides, Leahy and Graham Seek More Support for Guard Soldiers
(FRIDAY, Jan. 28) - U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, are urging the U.S. Army to do more to help National Guard troops cope with the stresses of combat. The call comes with the release of new Army figures showing a large increase in suicides among Guard soldiers over the past year. The Army's year-end statistics, released last week, show that confirmed or suspected suicides among National Guard soldiers rose to … Continue Reading
01.28.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Protests In Egypt And Global Internet Freedom
"I join President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in voicing strong support for the fundamental right of freedom of expression and assembly for the Egyptian people, and in urging the Egyptian Government not to block access to internet communications, including online social media. As the situation in Egypt continues to unfold, I urge all parties to refrain from using violence. "The internet - a product of American innovation - is a vital tool for communicating and sharing information and… Continue Reading
01.27.11
USDA’s Decision Thursday On Genetically Engineered Alfalfa – Leahy And DeFazio Warn About USDA Decision Lifting All Protections For Organic And Conventional Farmers
[(THURSDAY, Jan. 27) -- Following are the comments of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on USDA's announcement Thursday that the agency will completely remove current regulations that limit use of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, a key commodity in dairy farming, including organic dairy farming, making alfalfa the first perennial GE crop approved for widespread planting. Leahy and DeFazio have led congressional efforts to limit the threat to organic farmer… Continue Reading
01.27.11
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On 112th Congress Committee Membership
(Jan. 27, 2011) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released the following comment about the Committee's membership for the 112th Congress. A total of 18 Senators will serve on the Judiciary Committee, 10 Democrats and eight Republicans. Joining the Committee will be Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah). Members who are leaving the Judiciary Committee in the 112th Congress include Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), a… Continue Reading
01.27.11
Leahy Continues Fight For Food Safety Enforcement
(Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today reintroduced legislation to strengthen criminal penalties against those who knowingly violate food safety standards. Leahy first proposed the Food Safety Accountability Act last summer to hold the most egregious food safety violators accountable for knowingly selling tainted products. The legislation will impose stricter prison sentences and fines for individuals or corporations that contaminate the nation's food supply by knowing… Continue Reading
01.27.11
Leahy: Judiciary Committee Will Consider Patent Reform Feb. 3
(Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011) - The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider long-pending legislation to update the nation's patent system at a business meeting next Thursday, Feb. 3. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had scheduled the legislation for consideration today, but accommodated a request to hold the legislation over for one week, which is permitted under the Committee's existing rules. The bipartisan Patent Reform Act was introduced by Leahy, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and inc… Continue Reading
01.27.11
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy Commemorating Data Privacy Day
MR. PRESIDENT, I join privacy advocates, industry leaders and Government officials from across our Nation in celebrating 'Data Privacy Day 2011' -- a day to raise awareness about data privacy practices and rights. Today, Americans from all walks of life reap the countless benefits of the Internet and the latest technological advances. But, with these many rewards, comes growing uncertainty and unease about how sensitive personal information is collected, shared and stored. In the Digital Ag… Continue Reading
01.26.11
Leahy Renews Effort To Extend Expiring PATRIOT Act Authorities, Increase Oversight
(Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday introduced legislation to extend expiring provisions authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act. The provisions are set to expire on February 28. The USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011 mirrors a bipartisan agreement reached in the last Congress to address the expiring authorities and increase oversight. Leahy led Senate efforts in the 111th Congress to provide an extension through 2013 of the exp… Continue Reading
01.26.11
Leahy Lauds Government’s Fraud Recovery Efforts To Protect Taxpayer Dollars
(Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praised law enforcement's efforts to recover billions of taxpayer dollars lost to fraud during a hearing Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill. Leahy focused the first Committee hearing of the 112th Congress on fraud enforcement and recovery efforts, which have collected billions of dollars from penalties and fines in the last fiscal year alone. "Major fraud cases take time to investigate and prosecute," said Le… Continue Reading
