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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Leahy Announces Homeland Security Oversight Hearing
(Friday, April 24, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced that the Committee will hold an oversight hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday, May 6. It will be Napolitano's first appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over immigration, citizenship and related issues. The Senate Judiciary Committee has held periodic oversight hearings with the Secretary of Homeland Se… Continue Reading
04.23.09
Republicans Obstruct Movement On Anti-Fraud Legislation
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) expressed disappointment Thursday that a few Senate Republicans have stalled the Senate's consideration of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the tools available to law enforcement to combat financial and mortgage fraud, and protect the economic recovery efforts. Leahy introduced the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) in February, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, held a hearing shortly after the in… Continue Reading
04.23.09
Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Two Executive Nominees
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported two nominations to the Senate for consideration. Ronald H. Weich is the nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Justice, and R. Gil Kerlikowske is the nominee to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Both appeared before the Judiciary Committee at a hearing on April 1, 2009. "The Judiciary Committee has made progress this year in … Continue Reading
04.23.09
Senate Continues Debate On Leahy-Authored Anti-Fraud Legislation
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - The Senate Thursday continued debate on the Fraud Enforcement and Recover Act of 2009, legislation that would reinvest in federal agencies' white collar crime investigative units, and strengthen tools to root out and prosecute fraud. The bill was introduced earlier this year by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.). Several amendments remain pending on the legislation,… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Fraud Enforcement Legislation Responds To Growing Reports Of Fraud
The Senate continues to debate the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, legislation that will make necessary changes to federal criminal laws, including criminal fraud, securities law, and money laundering laws; increase the funding available to the federal law enforcement agencies to combat mortgage fraud and predatory lending; and revise the False Claims Act to ensure that the government can recover taxpayer dollars lost to fraud and abuse. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seen a… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Remarks of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy Resolution On Captain Richard Phillips, The U.S. Navy, And International Piracy
As Prepared Later today, I will introduce -- along with Senator Gregg of New Hampshire, Feingold of Wisconsin, Kennedy and Kerry of Massachusetts, and Sanders of Vermont -- a Senate Resolution on Captain Richard Phillips, the ship captain from Underhill, Vermont, who Somali pirates took hostage two weeks ago. The resolution praises Captain Phillips for his selfless heroism, his extraordinary rescuers, his family, and the Federal agencies that kept close watch on the Captain while the pir… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Senate Passes Resolution Praising Piracy Hero Captain Richard Phillips Of Vermont And His U.S. Rescuers
Senator Leahy Introduced Resolution To Honor Captain Phillips WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, April 22) - The Senate late Wednesday saluted Captain Richard Phillips and his rescuers by passing a bipartisan Senate resolution authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and cosponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). The Senate resolution puts the U.S. Senate on record in hailing th… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Stronger Tools And Better Watchdogging Needed To Protect Public From Housing, Financial And Bailout Fraud
The following guest column by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) about the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act was originally published in the Rutland Herald (Vermont) on April 22, 2009. The Senate this week is debating the Leahy-authored anti-fraud measure. This week the Senate is nearing a vote on legislation to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the kinds of financial frauds that have severely undermined our economy and… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Broad Support For Fraud Enforcement Legislation
Sen. Leahy Holds Press Conference On Fraud Enforcement Legislation WASHINGTON (Wednesday, April 22, 2009) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) without delay, citing broad support from law enforcement, the White House, and the Department of Justice. Leahy introduced FERA with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) on February 5. The Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs and of … Continue Reading
04.22.09
Senate To Consider Leahy-Grassley Anti-Fraud Measure During Wednesday’s Session
On Wednesday, April 22, the Senate will consider S.386, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA). The bill was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), and Senator Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) on February 5, and was reported by the Judiciary Committee on March 5. The legislation has received broad, bipartisan support and is cosponsored by Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.),… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Mettawee Community School
On April 22, 2009, Senator Leahy held his fifth online chat for the 2008-2009 school year. By using web cameras and microphones, Senator Leahy was able to see and hear students at Mettawee Community School and the students were able to see video of Senator Leahy from their classroom. The students asked a range of questions, from what charities does he support to whether he has any pets. While Senator Leahy was able to answer many of the students' questions via video, there were still several … Continue Reading
04.21.09
Leahy, Goodlatte, And Boucher Announce Senator John Thune As New Co-Chair Of Congressional Internet Caucus
(April 21, 2009) - Senator John Thune (R-SD) has become the new Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, which is also co-chaired by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA). The ascension of Senator Thune to the leadership of one of the most active and prestigious caucuses in Congress reinforces the bi-partisanship that has been the hallmark of the Congressional Internet Caucus during more than a dozen years since its incept… Continue Reading
04.21.09
Comment On President Obama’s Comments On Review Of National Security Policies
"I agree with President Obama: an examination into these Bush-Cheney era national security policies must be nonpartisan. This is in line with what I have proposed through an independent Commission of Inquiry. Unfortunately, Republicans have shown no interest in a nonpartisan review. Nonetheless, the consensus to review these policies is growing, and I will continue to develop this proposal." # # # # #… Continue Reading
04.21.09
Judiciary Committee Notices Seventh Nominations Hearing Of 2009
(Tuesday, April 21, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday noticed a hearing to consider pending judicial and executive nominations. It will be the Committee's seventh nominations hearing of the year. The hearing will be held April 29. The Committee will consider the nominations of Thomas E. Perez to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and the nomination of Andre Davis to fill a vacancy on the U… Continue Reading
04.20.09
Senate Confirms Three Justice Department Nominees
(Monday, April 20, 2009) - The Senate Monday night confirmed three nominees to lead key divisions at the Justice Department: Lanny Breuer to lead the Criminal Division; Christine Varney to lead the Antitrust Division, and Tony West to lead the Civil Division. The nominees appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 10. The Committee reported the nominations to the full Senate for consideration on March 26. West was confirmed by a vote of 82-4, Breuer was confirmed by a vote o… Continue Reading
04.20.09
Senate Begins Debate On Leahy-Authored Anti-Fraud Legislation To Improve Watchdogging Of TARP Funds And Other Financial Sector Activities
(MONDAY, April 20) - The Senate Monday began debate on the bipartisan Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA), legislation that will increase the tools available to help prosecutors combat fraud. The bill was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on February 5. The measure cleared the Committee on March 5. "At its core, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act authorizes the resources necessary for the Justice Department, the FBI, and other investigati… Continue Reading
04.20.09
Comment On The Nomination Of Judge William K. Sessions III To Be Chair Of the U.S. Sentencing Commission
"Vermonters know well the quality of service Judge Sessions has brought to the bench in Vermont, where he has served as a well-respected federal judge for more than 13 years. I am pleased that President Obama has nominated him to serve as chair of the United States Sentencing Commission, where he has served with insight, experience and distinction for a decade. I hope the Senate will again act unanimously to confirm this appointment, just as we did in 1999 when he was first nominated to … Continue Reading
04.17.09
More than $33 Million for Vermont Border Points of Entry
BURLINGTON, April 17 - Two Department of Homeland Security border stations in Franklin County will share an estimated $33 million in economic stimulus funds, Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch announced today. The Obama administration notified the Vermont congressional delegation of the $15.7 million estimated allotment for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at Morses Line. Another $17. 7 million will fund improvements at the Pinnacle Road port of ent… Continue Reading
04.16.09
Comment On The Release Of Documents From The Office Of Legal Counsel
The Bush administration not only ran roughshod over our values and law, they undercut the public trust of the American people and tarnished American's prestige and authority throughout the world. The Department of Justice has now released an unredacted Office of Legal Counsel memo written by Jay Bybee in 2002 memo as well as three more memos written in 2005 by acting OLC head Steven Bradbury. These legal memoranda demonstrate in alarming detail exactly what the Bush administration aut… Continue Reading
04.12.09
Comment On The Rescue Of Captain Richard Phillips Of Underhill, Vermont
"Like all Vermonters, and people all across our great country, Marcelle and I had prayed for the safety of Captain Phillips. This morning we prayed for him at Easter Mass, and as we left the church I was notified by the White House that this courageous Vermonter was safe. Marcelle and I cheered, as I am certain so many Vermonters did -- especially the Phillips family -- when they heard this great news. When I called Mrs. Phillips it was one of the happiest calls I ever made. What a mem… Continue Reading
