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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comments On Preliminary Report On Christmas Day Airline Plot
"The preliminary findings outlined in the unclassified report released by the Obama administration present a chilling narrative of how, once again, information that could have prevented the incident in Detroit on Christmas Day was not adequately integrated and analyzed by our intelligence agencies. The failure to both share information and to connect the dots were singled out after September 11th. Eight years later, inadequate analysis of critical information remains of paramount concern. "In… Continue Reading
01.06.10
Vermonter Picked For New USDA Dairy Advisory Committee
(WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Wednesday that a Vermonter -- Paul C. Bourbeau of Swanton -- has been selected as one of 17 members of the newly established and long awaited U.S. Department of Agriculture Dairy Industry Advisory Committee. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced creation of the panel last August to review the issues of farm milk price volatility, and dairy farmer profitability, and the committee's members were announced Wednesday. The committe… Continue Reading
01.06.10
New Year Brings Good News In A Tough Economy To Vermont’s Revision Eyewear:
ESSEX, Vt. - During a tour Wednesday of the firm's newly expanded manufacturing facility in Essex, Senator Patrick Leahy and Revision Eyewear CEO Jonathan Blanshay Wednesday announced $2.4 million in additional funding has been made available for the U.S. Army to supply soldiers with state-of-the-art protective goggles. The new funding, written into law by Leahy in this year's defense appropriations bill, comes less than a month after Revision delivered 26,000 sets of protective eyewear to the … Continue Reading
01.06.10
Vermont Green Jobs Training Awarded $5 Million
, January 6 - A $4.8 million economic stimulus grant awarded today to the Central Vermont Community Action Council will train about 2,400 Vermonters under a green jobs program authored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The Vermont grant - one of 25 announced by the U.S. Department of Labor - was among the largest awarded under the $100 million Energy Training Partnership program. The awards ranged from $1.4 million to $5 million. "One way to move our country toward energy independence, slow globa… Continue Reading
01.05.10
Comment On On President Obama’s Announcement Of Increased Airline Security Measures
"Americans understand the need for increased vigilance and heightened security following the Christmas Day plot in Detroit. The administration is undertaking efforts to investigate where inter-agency communication and airline screening may have broken down to allow for such a serious breach in security. "President Obama was right to call this a 'systemic failure' of our security procedures. This incident reveals the serious issues with airline security methods and information sharing that stil… Continue Reading
01.04.10
Leahy Schedules Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing To Examine Anti-Terrorism Tools, Inter-Agency Communication
(Monday, Jan. 4, 2010) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has scheduled a hearing for January 20 to examine the effectiveness of anti-terrorism tools and inter-agency communication in the wake of the thwarted Christmas Day airline attack. Leahy first announced his intention to schedule the hearing in Vermont on Friday. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over many executive agencies involved in anti-terrorism efforts, including the Department of Justice, Federal B… Continue Reading
12.31.09
Comments On Chief Justice Roberts' Year-End Report On The Federal Judiciary
"In his year-end report, Chief Justice Roberts rightly acknowledges the work and dedication of the men and women who staff our federal courts, from judges and clerks, to marshals and support staff. I also thank them for their service. "One of the key problems facing the federal courts is mounting caseloads at the district level. As Chief Justice Roberts notes, case filings involving immigration, fraud, and other matters have increased over the last year. Time-intensive cases related to terror… Continue Reading
12.31.09
Vermont Receives $5.7 Million In Emergency Dairy Payments
BURLINGTON, December 31 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced that $5.7 million in emergency support to more than 1,000 Vermont dairy farmers has been released. The assistance, coming at a time when dairy farmers have experienced the lowest prices in 40 years, is part of a $350 million dairy assistance measure sponsored by Sanders. The U.S. Department of Agriculture began processing payments under the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment program just prior to Christmas. Farmers have … Continue Reading
12.24.09
Statement on H.R. 3590, The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act'
We have reached a defining moment for the Senate and for the American people. The bill we are considering will rank alongside other major decisions such as the creation of Social Security and Medicare and the Civil Rights Act. Health insurance reform has been talked about and attempted for seven decades. The American people for years have named health insurance as among the greatest concerns in their daily lives. Now, here at hand, is the opportunity to act. An Arduous Process This ha… Continue Reading
12.23.09
Statement on the Legislative Work of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary During the First Session of the 111th Congress
This is been an extraordinary year in the history of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Thanks to the members and their work through 87 hearings and 33 business meetings this year we have been productive. Here are some of the legislative highlights: We have considered and reported to the Senate several important legislative initiatives: We successfully considered and reported to the Senate the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act that President Obama signed into law in May. We reported the… Continue Reading
12.23.09
Statement On Judicial and Executive Nominations
I have been calling on the Republican leadership to end the delays and obstruction of judicial nominations and join with us to make progress in filling some of the many vacancies on Federal circuit and district courts. I have done so repeatedly for most of the year, and several times over this last month. Regrettably, as we head into the winter recess and the end of the first session of the 111th Congress, Republican obstruction is setting a new low for the Senate in our consideration of judic… Continue Reading
12.23.09
Senate Floor Statement On The Deteriorating Situation in Nepal
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, over the years, both during and since the end of the monarchy in Nepal, I have urged the Nepal Army to respect human rights and cooperate with civilian judicial authorities in investigations of its members who abuse human rights. I spoke on this subject a few days ago in relation to the horrific case of Maina Sunuwar, a 15 year old Nepali girl who was tortured to death by Nepal Army officers who then sought to cover up the crime. I have also, similarly, urged the Ma… Continue Reading
12.23.09
Senate Floor Statement On The Fate of Hmong Refugees
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly about a worrisome humanitarian situation that is developing in Thailand, which could cause problems for our relations with the Thai military. Thailand and the United States are long time friends and allies, and our armed forces have developed a cooperative relationship. Many Thai military officers have been trained in the United States, and Thai soldiers have participated in joint U.S.-Thai training exercises such as Operation Cobra Gold. I ex… Continue Reading
12.22.09
Leahy, Hatch Introduce Legislation To Support Boys & Girls Clubs
(Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and former Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced legislation today to reauthorize a Department of Justice grant program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Leahy and Hatch have worked together in previous Congresses to secure funding for the organization, which has clubs every state. The Boys & Girls Clubs Centennial Reauthorization Act will authorize funding for the organization through 2015. Th… Continue Reading
12.22.09
Statement On The Constitutionality of the Health Insurance Reform Legislation
The urgent need for comprehensive reform of our health care system has not stopped opponents from launching spurious attacks. I understand that the Junior Senator from Nevada recently raised a constitutional point of order against the pending health care reform bill. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I would like to respond to those who have called into question whether Congress has the authority under the Constitution to enact health insurance reform legisl… Continue Reading
12.21.09
Statement On Liu Xiaobo
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly about the indictment and trial by Chinese authorities of Mr. Liu Xiaobo for "incitement of state subversion." The evidence cited in support of the charges were Mr. Liu's essays and association with Charter 08, a framework for democracy, human rights and the rule of law that was made public a year ago this month. That document was signed by Mr. Liu and some 300 other intellectuals and activists. Thousands more people have since added their… Continue Reading
12.21.09
Statement On The Managers' Amendment to H.R. 3590, The The “Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act”
After months of arduous work, the Senate will finally take the first significant step toward bringing needed reforms to health care in this Nation. Opponents of reform have wasted much of the public's time by provoking arguments over their distortions about what health reform means. Opponents have tried to demonize the plan, and have claimed it will never work. We have overcome weeks of delay tactics employed by the Minority - inexplicably, the most recent delay due to a filibuster against a … Continue Reading
12.19.09
Leahy Engineers $250 M. More For Vermont’s Medicaid Program In Senate’s Health Reform Package
(SATURDAY, Dec. 19) - In a major victory for Vermonters, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has convinced Senate negotiators to increase Medicaid payments to Vermont by $250 million over six years in the Senate's health reform plan. Leahy's provision, strongly supported by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is included in an amendment of negotiated provisions that Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered to the bill Saturday, beginning the countdown to the final Senate vote on the bill next … Continue Reading
12.19.09
Comment on On Repealing The Health Insurance Industry’s Exemption From Federal Antitrust Laws
"I am disappointed the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act will not be part of the Senate's debate on health reform legislation. As we work to increase competition and consumer choice in health insurance, repealing the health insurance industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws - laws designed to protect consumers - makes good business sense. "Support in the Senate for this repeal continues to grow. The Majority Leader is a leading advocate for this repeal, and the House… Continue Reading
12.19.09
Leahy-Backed Amendment To Combat Health Care Fraud Included In Package
An amendment to combat health care fraud through improved enforcement, introduced earlier this month by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), has been included in a final package of amendments introduced to the health reform legislation pending before the Senate. The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The amendment - which includes key provisions from the Hea… Continue Reading
