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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Statement On The Shurrab Family
MR. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have all seen the photographs of houses, schools and other civilian infrastructure destroyed in Gaza, and the reports of civilian deaths, including over 400 children, and many thousands more injured. Behind each of these statistics is a story of a family tragedy. I want to take this opportunity to talk about one that has touched the lives of Vermonters, and which should cause each of us deep concern. Amer Shurrab is arecent graduate ofMiddlebury College, wh… Continue Reading
01.28.09
Statement On Martinez Amendment On Mexico City Policy
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have listened to the debate on the amendment offered by Senator Martinez to reverse President Obama's decision to overturn the Mexico City policy. I have been struck by the statements of proponents of the amendment that the President's action means federal funds will now be used for abortions overseas. That is nothing more than a scare tactic and a flagrant misrepresentation of fact. As those who make such statements know well, U.S. law has banned the use of… Continue Reading
01.28.09
Comment Commemorating
"Today, privacy advocates, industry leaders and government officials from across the nation and around the world celebrate Data Privacy Day - a day to raise awareness about data privacy practices and rights. As the nation answers President Obama's call for an immediate investment in health information technology, Data Privacy Day is an important opportunity to remind all of us about the important work that the Congress must complete to protect Americans' health privacy rights." "Yesterd… Continue Reading
01.28.09
Judiciary Committee Reports Holder Nomination To Senate
Sen. Leahy's Statement Before the Judiciary Committee On Eric Holder's Nomination WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday reported the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr., to be the next Attorney General to the full Senate for consideration. The nomination was reported by the Committee by a vote of 17-2. The Committee held a hearing on Holder's nomination January 15 and January 16. Holder's designation by President Obama was first reported mo… Continue Reading
01.27.09
Comment On House Passage Of The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act
"In the first week of the Obama Administration, this new Congress has achieved what could not be done last year: legislate to provide equal pay for equal work, and strike down immunity given to employers by the Supreme Court to covertly discriminate against their workers. Last week, the Senate overcame the Republican filibusters of the last Congress and passed this important legislation. It will be one of first laws signed by President Obama. In these troubling economic times, we cannot… Continue Reading
01.27.09
Leahy Says Plan OKd Tuesday By Appropriations Committee Is ‘Good Match’ For Vermont’s Budget Deficit And Economy
Sen. Leahy Comments On The Stimulus Plan Passed By Appropriations Committee WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Jan. 27) - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says the economic stimulus plan approved Tuesday by a key Senate panel is "a good match" to ease Vermont's widening state budget deficit and to bolster Vermont's economy. Leahy is one of the most senior members of the Appropriations Committee, which approved the plan and advanced it to the full Senate. Leahy said, "Bit by bit, Vermont's economy and o… Continue Reading
01.27.09
Comments On Senator Specter’s Decision To Support Eric Holder’s Nomination
"I am glad that Senator Specter has resolved his concerns and will support Eric Holder's nomination to be the next Attorney General. He joins the dozens of organizations and individuals across the political spectrum that for more than two months have praised the qualifications, integrity, and independence of this nominee. Tomorrow the Committee will move forward to report this historic nomination to the Senate, and I hope the Senate will debate and vote on Mr. Holder's nomination without… Continue Reading
01.27.09
Law Enforcement, Crime Victims Programs Funded In Stimulus Package
(Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009) - A key Senate panel has approved funding for critical federal grant programs to assist state and local law enforcement to combat crime in our neighborhoods, and funding for increased assistance to crime victims. Earlier this month, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposed including the funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The stimul… Continue Reading
01.27.09
Leahy Holds Hearing On Protecting American’s Health Privacy
(Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning held a hearing to examine ways to protect American's personal privacy as the country moves towards a national health information technology system. Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has worked to secure privacy protections in health care reform legislation, and introduced legislation in the last Congress to strengthen privacy protections in health IT. Leahy's full statement follows. Witness testimony and a live webca… Continue Reading
01.26.09
The Leahy Letter - January 26, 2009
An Historic Day,Seen Through Senator Leahy's Lens On January 20, 2009, almost two million people came to the Nation's Capital for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Millions more watched across the country, and perhaps billions more watched across the globe. Many Vermonters came to Washington, braving the crowds and cold, but every Vermonter now owns a piece of that history-making day, just as every Vermonter is a stakeholder in the decisions their new government will be making … Continue Reading
01.26.09
Leahy Helps Steer Vermont Priorities Onto Legislative Track As Senate Appropriations Committee Sets TUESDAY Markup On Stimulus Package
(MONDAY, Jan. 26) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow morning (Tuesday) to finish writing and to begin voting on the Senate's version of the economic stimulus spending package. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the panel's third most senior member, has worked to include funding for a long list of investments important to Vermont. Leahy earlier this year released letters in which he spelled out his priorities for the package, which closely track the bill … Continue Reading
01.26.09
Leahy Introduces Bill To Strengthen Violence Against Women Act
(Monday, Jan. 26, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced legislation Monday to strengthen the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Improving Assistance to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims Act will help address the needs of the growing number of domestic violence victims. "With these important changes to the Violence Against Women Act, Congress will ensure that the law is as effective and strong as it was intended to be and that it can meet… Continue Reading
01.26.09
FOIA, Disclosure Policies Get Boost Early In New Year
(Monday, Jan. 26) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday praised two key breakthroughs this past week to strengthen the public's right to know and promote openness in government and government-funded projects. On Monday, the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution, of which Leahy is a member, adopted a public disclosure policy for information requests. Because the Smithsonian is not an executive agency, it is not subject to the disclosure policies in… Continue Reading
01.26.09
Comments On Funding For Law Enforcement Efforts In The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009
The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, January 27, 2009, to consider the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposed including funding for critical federal grant programs to assist state and local law enforcement in combating crime in our neighborhoods and increase assistance for crime victims. The Appropriation… Continue Reading
01.26.09
Vermont Health Care Reform Commission Director To Testify Before Leahy Panel
(Monday, Jan. 26, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will chair a hearing Tuesday to examine how to best implement privacy protections in electronic health information systems. Leahy has invited James Hester, the Director of the Vermont Health Care Reform Commission, to testify at Tuesday's hearing. Hester leads Vermont's public-private partnership that is charged with developing Vermont's statewide electronic health information system. The Commission was… Continue Reading
01.26.09
Comment On Higher-Efficiency Emissions Standards Sought By California, Vermont And Other States
In his first full week in office President Obama already is taking tangible steps to end the Bush Administration's standstill policies on energy and the environment. The previous administration blocked California, Vermont and 15 other states from implementing new greenhouse gas emission standards, even though career EPA officials supported the states. President Obama now has issued a new science-based review of the states' petition that I am confident will allow these states to take sen… Continue Reading
01.23.09
Senate Passes Leahy-Backed Fair Pay Act
(Friday, Jan. 23, 2009) - A bill backed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to help protect workers from pay discrimination passed the Senate Thursday night, despite several attempts to weaken the legislation. Leahy was one of 54 Senators to introduce the legislation two weeks ago. Efforts to pass the bill in the last Congress were stalled by Senate Republicans. The bill passed Thursday addresses a 2007 Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire which ruled that workers have only 18… Continue Reading
01.23.09
Comment On President Obama’s Decision To Reverse The ‘Mexico City’ Policy
"President Obama has lifted a counterproductive and discriminatory policy that harms many and helps no one. This will enable us to help women space births and reduce infant mortality, while preventing abortions, unwanted pregnancies and pregnancy-related deaths, without a single taxpayer dollar being used for abortion. I hope this first step leads to a broader strategy to improve living standards in the world's poorest regions through family planning, maternal and child health care, and … Continue Reading
01.23.09
Leahy Makes Selection For Vermont’s Next U.S. Attorney
(FRIDAY, Jan. 23) -- U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is recommending Hinesburg attorney Tristram J. Coffin to President Obama to be Vermont's next U.S. Attorney. Coffin, 45, would be the 36th United States Attorney in Vermont's history, managing the U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney offices in Burlington and Rutland and overseeing the work of nearly 20 attorneys who represent the United States in criminal and civil investigations and litigation in Vermont. "Tris Coffin is a perf… Continue Reading
01.22.09
Comment On Department Of Justice Appointees
The White House announced four nominations for Assistant Attorneys General at the Department of Justice: David Kris for the National Security Division, Lanny A. Breuer for the Criminal Division, Christine A. Varney for the Antitrust Division, and Tony West for the Civil Division. "President Obama understands the importance of moving forward to fill top leadership posts at the Department of Justice. We cannot delay in revitalizing the critical functions of the Department needed to protec… Continue Reading
