Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comment On The Oil Spill Disaster That Continues To Spread In The Gulf Of Mexico
The unfolding disaster of the sinking and leaking of a drilling platform off the Louisiana coast, together with the recent tragedies at coal mines in West Virginia and Kentucky, remind us of some of the high human, environmental and economic costs associated with the extraction of fossil fuels. These incidents are all the more troubling because the evidence is clear that we cannot drill or mine our way to long-term energy security. Many workers have lost their lives and their families have los… Continue Reading
04.29.10
Comment On Proposals For Comprehensive Immigration Reform
"Senators Reid, Schumer and Menendez have released a productive framework for the process of drafting comprehensive immigration reform legislation. I share their commitment to enacting key legislative efforts including AgJobs, the Uniting American Families Act, the DREAM Act, and a permanent extension of the EB-5 foreign investors program, as part of comprehensive reform. These are sensible, constructive and urgently needed measures that have had, and should continue to have, bipartisan suppor… Continue Reading
04.29.10
Leahy Joins As A Leading Cosponsor Of Bill To Help Remedy Supreme Court’s Citizens United Campaign Finance Decision
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined other Senate leaders Thursday to introduce legislation addressing the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, in which five Justices overturned decades of campaign finance law, as well as the Court's own precedent. Leahy has been a leading voice in opposition to the Court's decision, the impact of which could play a serious role in elections across the country in November and beyond. Leahy and o… Continue Reading
04.27.10
Leahy Secures Pledge From Secretary Napolitano For A Public Meeting In Vermont On The Proposed Replacement Facility At The Morses Line Border Crossing
Senator Leahy Secures Public Meeting For Proposed Border Facility [WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday held an oversight hearing on the Department of Homeland Security, in which DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano testified. The hearing was organized and led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the panel's chairman. Member statements, witness testimony and a webcast are available online. In an exchange with Secretary Napolitano over the controversy surrounding the proposed replac… Continue Reading
04.27.10
Secretary Napolitano Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee today is holding a Department of Homeland Security oversight hearing with Secretary Janet Napolitano. Under the chairmanship of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Judiciary Committee has held periodic oversight hearings with the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over immigration, citizenship and related issues. Member statements, witness testimony, and a live webcast are available online. Leahy's prepared remarks follow. … Continue Reading
04.26.10
Op-ED: Pick a Nominee Who Unites Americans
When President Barack Obama chooses his second Supreme Court nominee, the Senate must determine the kind of justice that nominee would be. The debate about judicial nominees, after all, is really a debate about judicial power and the role federal judges are supposed to play in our system of government.One side in that debate wants judges who will rule the way they want on the issues they care about. The political ends justify the judicial means and the only thing that matters is which sid… Continue Reading
04.26.10
Op-ED: Expand the Field of Potential Supreme Court Nominees
As President Barack Obama prepares to select a nominee to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, I am pleased that he is continuing his practice of reaching out to both sides of the aisle concerning judicial nominations. I am looking forward to consulting with the president, and with the Senate majority leader, the Senate minority leader and Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. This is an important step in the process of confirming the next Supreme Court justice. Last year's nomination of Justice Soni… Continue Reading
04.23.10
Vermont Delegation Comments On Dispute Over Proposed Plan For Morses Line Border Station
"The ongoing dispute between hardworking family farmers and federal officials over the proposed Morses Line Port of Entry is emblematic of a process gone wrong. As part of a larger effort to update and improve border security, the federal government originally proposed spending $15 million on a new 10-acre border crossing station in an area with far lower traffic levels than most crossings. After months of discussions, that plan has been reduced to $5 million with a smaller footprint. "Under… Continue Reading
04.23.10
Delegation Asks VA Secretary to Help Disabled Veterans
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont congressional delegation today asked the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide overdue documentation needed by about 2,200 disabled veterans to qualify for property tax abatements. "Any further delay in this process during the current year will result in hundreds of eligible veterans paying significantly more in property taxes than they owe," Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) wrote to Veterans A… Continue Reading
04.22.10
Earth Day 2010
Mr. President, today our Nation marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. For four decades, Americans have joined together on April 22 to celebrate our environment and to commit ourselves to fostering a healthier world. What Senator Gaylord Nelson began as a grassroots response to widespread environmental degradation in the 1970s has grown to become the foundation of the modern environmental movement and an annual recognition of Earth Day. For 40 years, Americans have used this day to organize… Continue Reading
04.22.10
Leahy Praises Senate Confirmation Of U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal Nominees
The Senate Thursday afternoon made further progress in clearing a lingering backlog of nominations on the calendar, confirming five U.S. Attorney and five U.S. Marshal nominations, some of which have been pending before the full Senate for more than a month. "The Senate is beginning to make some process in clearing noncontroversial nominations," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). "I am grateful that Senate Republicans have released the holds that have prevented the … Continue Reading
04.22.10
Senate Unanimously Confirms Long-Pending Nomination To Second Circuit Court Of Appeals
The Senate Thursday unanimously confirmed the long-pending nomination of Denny Chin to fill a vacancy on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Chin's nomination was unanimously reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. Chin will be the only active Asian Pacific American judge on the federal circuit courts of appeals. He appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November. There remain 23 judicial nominations pending on the Executive Calendar. The nominations were report… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Senate Confirms Judicial Nominee For Third Circuit
The Senate Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to confirm another long-pending nomination to the federal judiciary, Judge Thomas Vanaskie to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Vanaskie's nomination has been pending before the full Senate since December 3, more than four months. The final vote on confirmation was 77-20. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has been urging Senate Republicans to lift objections to considering noncontroversial nominations since last year. "I app… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Senate Confirms Top Justice Department Nominee
The Senate Wednesday afternoon confirmed Christopher Schroeder to lead the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice, more than eight months after his nomination was first reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee without opposition. Schroeder's nomination was confirmed by a strong bipartisan vote of 71-25. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has been urging the Senate to confirm Schroeder's nomination to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Polic… Continue Reading
04.21.10
With Leahy’s Support, Senate Ag Committee Votes Out Bipartisan Reforms On Risky Derivative Deals
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, in a much-anticipated vote, Wednesday approved The Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, bringing the strongest Wall Street reforms to date a big step closer to reality. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the panel's most senior member, supports the bill - offered by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who chairs the committee -- which is expected to be merged with the financial reform bill sponsored by Senator Christopher D… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Comment Following A Bipartisan Meeting With President Obama About The Supreme Court
President Obama continues his practice of reaching across the aisle to select qualified judicial nominees, and his approach to making nominations to the Supreme Court is no different. I appreciate that he again invited the Republican Senate leader and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, as well as the Majority Leader and me, to the White House for this consultation meeting. This President has taken seriously the advice and consent role of the United States Senate in appointing judge… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Comment On Administration Views Letter On Patent Reform Amendment
The Department of Commerce yesterday sent a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Jeff Sessions expressing its support for a compromise amendment released in March, stating that the administration "is eager to see patent reform enacted this congressional session." The letter is available online. "The proposed manager's amendment to the Patent Reform Act is a bipartisan agreement to enact meaningful reforms to our patent system. It has the support of the Obama administration, and as yeste… Continue Reading
04.20.10
Statement On National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
This past Sunday marked the start of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Since 1981, people across the Nation have observed this week with candlelight vigils and public rallies to renew our commitment to crime victims and their families. It is vitally important that we recognize the needs of crime victims and their family members, and work together to promote victims' rights and services. My involvement with crime victims began more than three decades ago when I served as State's Attorney in… Continue Reading
04.20.10
Comment On U.S. Department Of Commerce Issues Report On Role Of Patent Reform In Supporting Innovation And Job Creation
The Department of Commerce Tuesday issued a report on the role of patent reform in creating jobs and energizing innovation. Leahy is a leading author of the Patent Reform Act, and of a proposed manager's amendment unveiled last month. The full text of the Commerce Department's report is available here. "It should come as no surprise that the report released by the Department of Commerce today concludes that patent reform legislation will accelerate the pace of economic growth and create jobs.… Continue Reading
04.20.10
Statement On The Legacy Of Justice John Paul Stevens
Justice John Paul Stevens' retirement from the Supreme Court will begin to draw to a close an extraordinary judicial career spanning four decades, including 35 years on the Nation's highest court. Justice Stevens and I both came to Washington in the wake of the Watergate scandal. President Ford was impressed by Justice Stevens' anticorruption record, including his prosecution of two Illinois Supreme Court Justices who were charged with accepting bribes. His confirmation to the Supreme Court w… Continue Reading
