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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comment of Chairman Patrick Leahy
"I value the contributions of all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including the longstanding service of Senator Specter. I am consulting with Senator Sessions, our Republican Ranking Member, in light of our recently revised Committee membership to consider any necessary adjustments to Judiciary Committee subcommittees. I hope to have a decision by early next week." # # # # #… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Senate Panel Reports Leahy-Authored Bill To Strengthen Violence Against Women Act
(Thursday, May 7, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported legislation to help address the needs of domestic violence victims by strengthening key components of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Improving Assistance to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims Act was introduced in January by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). "This legislation was developed with the help and assistance of a number of the outstanding advocacy groups that hav… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Senate Confirms National Drug Control Policy Director
(Thursday, May 7, 2009) - The Senate Thursday afternoon confirmed the nomination of Chief R. Gil Kerlikowske to be the Director of National Drug Control Policy. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chaired a hearing on Kerlikowske's nomination on April 1, and the Committee reported the nomination to the full Senate for consideration on April 23. Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Nomination Of Gil Kerlikowske To … Continue Reading
05.06.09
Comment On Inspector General Report On The FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist Nomination Practices
"Today's report follows a 2008 audit which found that the FBI's terrorist watchlist is often either inaccurate or incomplete. That the FBI continues to fail to place subjects of terrorism investigations on the watchlist is unacceptable. Disturbingly, today's report reveals that in 72 percent of the cases, the FBI has also failed to remove subjects from the list in a timely manner. In fact, one individual remained on the list for nearly five years after the case had been closed. Given … Continue Reading
05.06.09
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Oversight Hearing With Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano
(Wednesday, May 6, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held its first Department of Homeland Security oversight hearing of the 111th Congress. The hearing marked the first appearance by Secretary Janet Napolitano before the Committee. Testimony, member statements, and video are available online. Below is the full text of Chairman Patrick Leahy's prepared statement. Leahy Questions Secretary NapolitanoOn H2A Visas And I-91 Border Checkpoint Sen. Leahy Questi… Continue Reading
05.06.09
Comment On House Passage Of The Fraud Enforcement And Recovery Act, As Amended
The House of Representatives today approved the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act. The legislation was authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and was passed by the Senate on April 28. The legislation is supported by the White House, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and several law enforcement organizations. The Senate must again approve the amended legislation before it is sent to the President for signature. … Continue Reading
05.05.09
The Leahy Letter - May 5, 2009
Delegation Introduces 'Greener Gardens Bill' Last week, Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders, and Representative Welch introduced legislation that would offer consumers a 25 percent tax credit for the purchase of lower-emissions yard equipment. By providing a financial incentive to purchase and operate clean, alternative power equipment, the Vermont Congressional Delegation is helping to protect Vermont's air and water and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Click here to read more about ho… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Comment On Ranking Member Jeff Sessions
"As I told Senator Sessions when I congratulated him on his new role as the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I look forward to working with him. The Committee has a full legislative agenda, critical oversight responsibilities and a number of key nominations, and we will be considering an important nomination to the United States Supreme Court. Senator Sessions and I have worked together in the past on a number of matters and I look forward to working w… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Senate Judiciary Committee To Hold Law Enforcement Hearing During Police Week
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on May 12 to examine how law enforcement funding provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been used to support local law enforcement efforts in communities across the country. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) scheduled the hearing to coincide with the National Police Week, which was established by Congress in 1962. Leahy worked to include nearly $4 billion for law enforcement programs in the econo… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Bat Disease Emergency Funds Sought
, May 5 - Citing "profound public health, environmental, and economic implications," the Vermont congressional delegation today asked the Obama administration for emergency funds to investigate the cause of mysterious bat deaths. "We ask for your help in providing immediate, emergency funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey for research, management, coordination, and outreach in order to provide an appropriate coordinated response to this deadly, newly emer… Continue Reading
05.04.09
Leahy Announces $1 Million Federal Appropriation For Burlington Technical Center Aviation Technology Program
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Monday that he had secured a $1 million NASA grant for the Burlington Technical Center's Aviation Technology Center during a press conference at the Aviation Technology Center at the Burlington International Airport. Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured the funds in the annual appropriations bill passed by the Congress signed into law by President Obama earlier this year. The Aviation Technology Program te… Continue Reading
05.02.09
Leahy Honored By Vermont Girls and Boys Clubs
ESSEX, Vt. (Saturday, May 2) - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Saturday was honored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Vermont for the leadership role he has played in supporting clubs throughout the state and across the country. At the event on Saturday, Leahy announced a commitment from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to support Vermont clubs with more than $100,000 for equipment, camp scholarships and program supplies. In 2008 Leahy successfully appealed to the Boys and Girls Clubs America to r… Continue Reading
05.01.09
Free Press A Cornerstone Of Democracy
The Senate Thursday night unanimously adopted a resolution commemorating World Press Freedom Day, which will be celebrated around the world on Sunday, May 3. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) cosponsored the bipartisan resolution commemorating and honoring the principles of expression. Leahy is a longtime open government leader, and has supported enactment of a federal shield law. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Leahy has scheduled Committee consideration of th… Continue Reading
05.01.09
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Announced Retirement Plans Of Associate Supreme Court Justice David Souter
"Justice Souter has served the Nation with distinction for nearly two decades on the Supreme Court. I have admired his commitment to justice, his admiration for the law, and his understanding of the impact of the Court's decisions on the daily lives of ordinary Americans. Throughout his career, he has been committed to the law and not to ideology. New Englanders treasure our strong sense of independence, and Justice Souter fits the independent Yankee mold. He has a first-rate legal mind. I … Continue Reading
04.30.09
Comment On The Department Of Justice Inspector General’s Audit And Report Of Investigation Concerning The Office Of Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention
"The Inspector General's findings that the Director of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the past administration engaged in abuses, ethical lapses and cronyism, and favored those with personal and political ties over those with the strongest merits for jobs and contracts, is consistent with what we have seen in so many parts of the Department of Justice under the past administration. The Department of Justice must enforce the law and advance justice for all Amer… Continue Reading
04.30.09
Comment On The Department Of Justice Inspector General’s Audit And Report Of Investigation Concerning The Office Of Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention
"The Inspector General's findings that the Director of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the past administration engaged in abuses, ethical lapses and cronyism, and favored those with personal and political ties over those with the strongest merits for jobs and contracts, is consistent with what we have seen in so many parts of the Department of Justice under the past administration. The Department of Justice must enforce the law and advance justi… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Statement At Hearing On “Restoring Fairness to Federal Sentencing: Addressing the Crack-Powder Disparity”
Today marks the 100th day of President Obama's administration, and already we have seen a response to the President's call for change. The Judiciary Committee today considers necessary changes and reforms in our Federal sentencing laws. Our hearing will examine the unequal and unfair penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses. We will consider how best to make our drug laws more fair, more rational, and more consistent with the core values of justice. The Committee has examined … Continue Reading
04.29.09
Give Ingenuity Freer Rein
[On April 29, 2009, Business Week included this Op-Ed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Leahy wrote in support of the Patent Reform Act currently before Congress.] Ingenuity and innovation have been cornerstones of the American economy from the time Thomas Jefferson issued the first patent. The Patent Reform Act will preserve America's longstanding position at the pinnacle of innovation. It will establish a more efficient, streamlined patent system that will i… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing For Three Nominees
(Wednesday, April 29, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday considered three pending nominations, including two nominations for lifetime appointments to the federal bench. The hearing, announced last week by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, included testimony from Judge Andre Davis, nominated to a fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and Thomas Perez, a nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Ju… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Leahy, Sanders And Welch Introduce ‘Greener Gardens Bill’ Giving Consumers Tax Incentives For Choosing Lower-Emissions Yard Equipment
(Wednesday, April 29) -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Wednesday introduced legislation to offer consumers a 25 percent tax credit toward the purchase of environmentally friendly lawn, garden, and forestry power equipment. In line with past tax credits that were successful in boosting consumer demand for environmentally friendly products like hybrid vehicles and energy efficient home appliances, the Vermont delegation… Continue Reading
