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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Nomination Of Elena Kagan To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court (Full Text)
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Nomination Of Elena Kagan To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court Of The United States August 3, 2010 More than 12 weeks ago, President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. When the President announced his choice on May 10, he talked about her legal mind, her intellect, her record of achievement, her tem… Continue Reading
08.02.10
Comment Of Senator Leahy On FOIA Exemptions For The Securities And Exchange Commission
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On FOIA Exemptions For The Securities And Exchange Commission August 2, 2010 "The Freedom of Information Act is our nation's premier open government law, and a powerful guardian of the public's right to know. The Wall Street reform bill that has now become law makes great strides toward enhancing transparency in our financial system. However, I am concerned that an overly broad Freedom of Information Act exemption… Continue Reading
08.02.10
Senate Passes Leahy-Sessions Bill To Clarify Copyright Laws
Senate Passes Leahy-Sessions Bill To Clarify Copyright Laws WASHINGTON (Monday, August 2, 2010) - The Senate Monday night unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to make clarifications and technical fixes in the federal copyright laws. The Copyright Cleanup, Clarification and Corrections Act was introduced Monday and promptly passed by the Senate. The legislation will implement several re… Continue Reading
07.30.10
Leahy Announces $1.4 Million U.S. Navy Contract With GE Aviation In Rutland
RUTLAND, Vt. (FRIDAY, July 30) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced a new $1.4 million U.S. Navy contract with General Electric Aviation for work in Rutland on additional components of the company's F414-GE-400 engine used in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and the E/A-18G Growler aircraft. The full contract, for work performed in Rutland and at several other GE plants, amounts to $28,202,039 for purchase of six full engines, four engine fan modules, 14 engine high pressure comb… Continue Reading
07.29.10
Vermont Air National Guard Chosen To Be First To Receive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
(THURSDAY, July 29) -- Senator Patrick Leahy and the Vermont Congressional Delegation - Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) -- announced Thursday that the Secretary of the Air Force has selected the Vermont National Guard to be the first Air Guard unit to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Air Force announced that Burlington is one of two preferred choices for F-35 operations, along with Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah, and that Luke Air Force Base… Continue Reading
07.29.10
Comment Of Senator Leahy On A Proposed Change By The Administration To The Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On A Proposed Change By The Administration To The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) July 29, 2010 "Given the technical advances of the last two decades and the need for a comprehensive, national cybersecurity strategy, it is clear that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act must be updated to reflect the realities of the Digital Age. But the administration's proposal to change ECPA to cover electroni… Continue Reading
07.29.10
Leahy Introduces Bill To Increase Penalties For Food Safety Violations
(Thursday, July 29, 2010) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation Thursday to strengthen penalties imposed on companies that knowingly violate food safety standards and endanger Americans' lives. The Food Safety Enforcement Act will increase the sentences that prosecutors can seek for people who knowingly contaminate the nation's food supply and endanger Americans' lives. The 2009 outbreak resulting from the Peanut Corporation of America's sale of peanut products which the compa… Continue Reading
07.28.10
Leahy Announces Over $10 Million In New Funding For Lake Champlain
BURLINGTON (Monday, July 26, 2010) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) joined representatives of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLCF), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on Monday to announce an infusion of over $10 million in federal funds for projects related to Lake Champlain. Leahy has been an ardent supporter of initiatives to keep the lake healthy for decades and continues to … Continue Reading
07.28.10
Comment Of Senator Leahy On Final Passage Of The Fair Sentencing Act Of 2010
[The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed S. 1789, the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, to address the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is an original cosponsor of the legislation and a longtime advocate for eliminating the sentencing disparity. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, approved the legislation in March, and the Senate unanimously passed the legislation just days later. The bill will now be sent to the Presid… Continue Reading
07.28.10
Statement Of Senator Leahy At Senate Judiciary Committee FBI Oversight Hearing
(Wednesday, July 28, 2010) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy Wednesday morning chaired an oversight hearing of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Director Robert Mueller testified before the panel. Testimony, member statements, and a webcast of the hearing are available online. Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation July 28, 2010 Today the Judiciary Committee hears … Continue Reading
07.27.10
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Clean Energy Jobs And Oil Accountability Act
I am pleased that the Senate will consider a commonsense package to respond to the devastating Gulf Coast oil spill and to promote environmental protection and clean energy jobs. This new legislation includes several measures that I and others have promoted in recent months, and which have been the focus of several Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and markups. The Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability Act includes a provision drawn from the Survivors Equality Act, which I introduced earl… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Leahy Urges Bipartisan Support For Debate, Vote On DISCLOSE Act
(Tuesday, July 27, 2010) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a leading cosponsor of legislation to remedy the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, urged Senators to support a procedural motion allowing for a debate on the legislation. The Senate Tuesday afternoon will vote on a motion to proceed to the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act (DISCLOSE Act), which would help curtail corporate influence… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Leahy Introduces Bill To Protect Gun Owners In Bankruptcy
(Tuesday, July 27, 2010) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation Tuesday to provide an exemption in the Federal Bankruptcy code for personal firearms. The Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act will ensure that the right to bear arms is not compromised for Americans working to regain their economic well being through the bankruptcy process. Under current federal law, there is no exemption to prevent creditors from seizing personal firearms from debtors. In 2005, Congress defin… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Comment Of Senator Leahy On Final Passage Of The SPEECH Act
The House of Representatives Tuesday approved bipartisan legislation authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to protect American authors, journalists and publishers from foreign libel lawsuits that undermine the First Amendment. The Securing the Protection of our Enduring and Established Constitutional Heritage (SPEECH) Act will now be sent to the President to be signed into law. The bill, H.R. 2765, was originally introduced in the House by Congressman Steve Cohe… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Statement Of Senator Leahy On Protecting Victims Of Major Oil Spills
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, "Exxon Valdez To Deepwater Horizon: Protecting Victims Of Major Oil Spills" July 27, 2010 I thank Senator Klobuchar for chairing today's hearing on these important and timely issues. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragic reminder of the enormous consequences of irresponsible corporate behavior. The depth of this tragedy is made greater by the fact that it occurred at the hands of a company whose b… Continue Reading
07.22.10
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Obama Administration’s Decision To Resume Engagement With The Indonesian Special Forces
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt., Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee On The State Department And Foreign Operations, And Author Of The 'Leahy Law' On U.S. Overseas Military Cooperation And Violations Of Human Rights) The Obama Administration's Decision To Resume Engagement With The Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) Thursday, July 22, 2010 "Kopassus has a long history of abuses and remains unrepentant, essentially unreformed, and unaccountable. I deeply regr… Continue Reading
07.21.10
Vermont Department Of Corrections Commissioner Testifies Before Leahy-Chaired Panel
(Wednesday, July 21, 2010) - The Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections testified today before a Senate panel chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The hearing focused on state and local efforts to help inmates successfully and effectively reintegrate into their communities upon release. Senator Patrick Leahy and Commissioner Andrew Pallito of the Vermont Department of Corrections speak briefly before the start of a Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the efficacy of … Continue Reading
07.21.10
Reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy To The President's Signing Into Law Of The Wall Street Reform Bill
[President Obama Wednesday signed into law an historic financial reform bill aimed at correcting Wall Street excesses that nearly set off a world economic collapse. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was a Senate conferee in the House-Senate negotiations on the final bill and the author of several key provisions to expand transparency and to counter financial fraud. Following is Leahy's statement after the bill was signed.] This new law is about changing the culture of rampant Wall Street speculat… Continue Reading
07.21.10
Vermont Delegation Introduces Legislation To Expand The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
, July 21 - Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives allowing the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park to acquire Woodstock's King Farm. At the request of the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) and the Woodstock community, the Vermont delegation is seeking to expand the boundaries of the existing park to include the 154-acre King Farm. Doing so will allow VLT to trans… Continue Reading
07.20.10
Senate Republican Leader Objects – Again – To Debating Long-Pending Circuit Court Nomination
(Tuesday, July 20, 2010) - The Senate Republican Leader today objected to a request from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to schedule debate and a vote on a long-pending judicial nomination to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination of Jane Stranch to the federal appeals court for the Sixth Circuit was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee more than eight months ago with bipartisan support, but has languished on the Senate's executive calendar. Today, L… Continue Reading
