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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Judicial Nominations, U.S. Attorneys
At its first business meeting since the confirmation of Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported six nominations, including two judicial nominations, to the full Senate for consideration. The nominations of Beverly Baldwin Martin to the Eleventh Circuit and Jeffrey Viken to the District of South Dakota were first considered at a hearing on July 29. Their nominations were reported by the Committee along with four U.S. Attorney nominees, i… Continue Reading
09.09.09
Leahy Chairs Hearing On Strengthening Forensic Science
Senator Patrick Leahy Wednesday chaired a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee to examine the issues facing forensic science in laboratories across the country. Dr. Eric Buel, the director of the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, testified before the panel about the successes and challenges in forensic analysis in Vermont and in laboratories across the country. It was the second hearing on forensic science held by the Senate panel this year. The National Academy of Sciences earlier this year … Continue Reading
09.09.09
Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Five Nominations
The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held a hearing to consider five pending nominations, including four nominations to lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary. The Committee heard testimony from Third Circuit nominee Joseph A. Greenaway, and district court nominees Roberto A. Lange (South Dakota), Irene Cornelia Berger (southern district of West Virginia) and Charlene Edwards Honeywell (middle district of Florida). Ignacia S. Moreno, the nominee to be the Assistant Attorney General… Continue Reading
09.09.09
Comment On President Obama’s Address On Health Reform Before A Joint Session Of Congress
The President delivered a clear call to the common purpose of achieving real heath reform. After months of spirited debate and arduous work, Congress needed to hear that. The President laid out the compelling reasons why health reform can wait no longer. Tens of millions today lack health insurance, workers are losing insurance for their families when they change or lose jobs, and insurance companies can and do discriminate against sick people. We know this is a system that is unsustainable a… Continue Reading
09.08.09
On The Passing Of Harold Howrigan
"Harold and Anne are among our oldest and dearest friends. I told the family I will sorely miss him. "In all the years we've known each other he never asked me for anything for himself but always told me of others who had needs. His clear and constant voice for Vermont farmers helped so many in our state. I'll always treasure a trip Marcelle and I took to Ireland with him -- he was so proud of his family's Irish heritage that he never stopped smiling throughout the visit. "Marcelle and I alw… Continue Reading
09.08.09
eahy Invites Vermont Forensics Lab Director To Testify Wednesday Before Senate Judiciary Committee
(Tuesday, Sept. 8) - The director of the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, Dr. Eric Buel, will testify before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate panel, invited Buel to testify about the state laboratory's successes and challenges in forensic analysis and addressing backlogs in processing forensic evidence. The hearing will be the second chaired by Leahy this year to examine a report released in March by the National Academy of Scie… Continue Reading
09.08.09
Leahy Introduces Bill To Authorize Federal Judgeships
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Tuesday introduced legislation to help reduce backlogs in the nation's district and circuit courts by authorizing additional permanent and temporary judgeships. Not since 1990 has Congress passed comprehensive legislation to address mounting caseloads in federal district and circuit courts across the country. The Leahy-authored legislation includes recommendations made in May by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the polic… Continue Reading
09.03.09
$2.3 Million for Public Housing in Rutland
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today announced $2,346,500 in economic stimulus funds for public housing in Rutland. The Rutland Housing Authority has been awarded this grant for work on the Forest Park development. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $96 million in grants to 15 public housing authorities across the country to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide. The Pub… Continue Reading
08.28.09
Another $1.32 M. In Federal Grants Awarded To Vermont Law Enforcers
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Friday that eight Vermont communities, as well as the Vermont Department of Public Safety (VDPS), will receive more than $1.32 million in federal grants to help combat crime. The grants will provide police departments across the state with funding for equipment, training other and resources. More than $1 million in grants were awarded through the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). The Byrne program awar… Continue Reading
08.28.09
Leahy Highlights Food Hub In Hardwick, Secures $350,000 For New Food Venture Center
HARDWICK, Vt. - During a Friday morning visit to Vermont Soy, a business that graduated from the Vermont Food Venture Center, Sen. Patrick Leahy announced he had secured a $350,000 federal grant to help construct, equip and operate a new Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick's industrial park. Leahy said the new kitchen incubator was needed to expand the food-based and agricultural-based economy of rural Vermont. The Vermont Food Venture Center, founded in Fairfax, Vt. in 1996 by the Economic… Continue Reading
08.27.09
On Governor Douglas’ Decision To Leave Office At The End Of His Current Term
I spoke to Governor Douglas this afternoon and wished him well on his decision to leave office at the end of his term. Governor Douglas has had a long career in public service in several high offices. All of us as Vermonters owe him a debt of gratitude and a word of thanks for his service to the state and its people. Marcelle and I wish Jim, Dorothy and their family well as they prepare to begin a new chapter. We have no doubt that Jim and Dorothy will enjoy their new grandson as much as we… Continue Reading
08.26.09
Comments On The Passing Of Senator Edward Kennedy
MIDDLESEX, Vt. -- While Marcelle and I and the country knew this day was coming, our home in Vermont is filled with grief today and our hearts go out to Vicki and to all of Senator Kennedy's family. It is the sad passing of an era. For 35 years in the Senate Ted Kennedy was a close friend as he led on issues from education to health care. We often talked of the bond of the New England Irish and spoke again of this when we travelled to Pope John Paul II's funeral together. His sense of history… Continue Reading
08.26.09
Vermont Delegation Announces $1.4 Million In Recovery Funds For Affordable Housing In Franklin County
- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Wednesday announced $1.4 million in funding to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) to spur development of affordable housing in Vermont. The VHFA plans to use the grant, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), to provide sufficient equity funding to develop Blake Commons, a 16-unit, multi-family, affordable housing project in Swanton. Blake C… Continue Reading
08.25.09
On The Death In Iraq Of Army 2nd Lt. Joseph Fortin Of St. Johnsbury, Vermont
"Marcelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of 2nd Lt. Joseph Fortin of St. Johnsbury, who gave his life while serving his fellow Americans and his country. I have spoken with Lt. Fortin's wife and parents, and in this time of unspeakable grief, we hope that the fellowship of family and friends and the prayers of all Vermonters will bring them comfort. It is clear to me that Lt. Fortin was a wonderful husband, son and soldier, and this is a loss not only for those who knew him… Continue Reading
08.24.09
Vermont Awarded More Than $1 Million In Rural Law Enforcement Grants From Stimulus Package
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday announced that the Vermont Department of Public Safety (DPS) will receive more than $1 million in federal economic recovery grants. The grants were made available under Leahy-led provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), enacted earlier this year. The grants are administered by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grant program is designed to help rural states prevent and combat crime -- particu… Continue Reading
08.24.09
Comment On Attorney General Holder’s Decision To Expand Investigation Into CIA Interrogations
"I recognize how difficult this decision has been for Attorney General Holder, and I am grateful that the Justice Department is finally being led by an independent Attorney General who is willing to begin investigating this dark chapter in our country's history. I had no doubt that he would put the interests of the law ahead of politics, and he has demonstrated that. While I still believe that a nonpartisan, independent review is the best way to get the full picture of how our laws were applie… Continue Reading
08.24.09
Comment On The Release Of The CIA IG Report On Detainee Interrogations
The claims of former Vice President Cheney and other Bush administration officials that the authorization of harsh interrogation techniques was legal and effective has been repeatedly disputed and disproven by experts in interrogation, law, the military and diplomacy. Now the CIA's own Inspector General during the Bush administration has rejected the claim. The CIA Inspector General's 2004 report released today provides clear evidence that interrogators overstepped the already loose legal boun… Continue Reading
08.21.09
Vermont Center For Crime Victim Services Gains $782,510 Grant From U.S. Department Of Justice
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Friday that the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, based in Waterbury, will receive a $782,510 grant from the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds come from the STOP (Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, originally established in 1994 under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). On the Senate Judiciary Committee Leahy co-authored and helped steer through Con… Continue Reading
08.20.09
Leahy, Sanders Announce Over $1.2 M. In Federal Grants For Vermont Community Partnerships To Counter Drug And Substance Abuse
Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced Thursday that Vermont partnerships across the state have been awarded more than $1.2 million in Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Continuation Grants. The DFC grants are awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to local organizations in communities that are working to reduce youth alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use. Fourteen Vermont coalitions are among 565 communities nationwide to re… Continue Reading
08.20.09
Comment On State And Foreign Operations On The State Department's August 13th Report On Human Rights In Mexico
"The United States and Mexico have joined together in a multi-year campaign against heavily armed drug cartels that are committing horrific crimes against civilians and government forces alike. "Since June 2008, I have supported over $1 billion in aid for Mexico, and I expect to support more in the future. The challenges Mexico faces are complex and will take many years to solve. They also require a far more effective effort on our part to reduce the demand for drugs in the U.S. and the flow of… Continue Reading
