Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Comment On Extension Of Compliance Deadline For The REAL ID Act
"I want to acknowledge and commend the very difficult decision that Secretary Napolitano has made to extend the December 31 compliance deadline for the REAL ID law. A majority of states will not be in material compliance with the law by December 31. As I said to Secretary Napolitano in a recent oversight hearing, enforcement of the REAL ID on December 31 could result in extreme travel problems this holiday season for every American who does not currently possess a compliant driver's license. … Continue Reading
12.18.09
Statement On The Copenhagen Conference On Climate Change Congressional Record
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly as the Copenhagen conference on climate change approaches its final hours. Earlier this week, Secretary of State Clinton announced on behalf of the United States the intention to work with other governments to raise $100 billion in long-term financing by 2020 to help developing countries address global climate change. This is an important commitment and an essential part of any comprehensive approach to global warming. If the United States is … Continue Reading
12.18.09
Leahy: Vermont Dairy Farmers On The Brink Of Big Win On MILC Extension
Sen. Patrick Leahy says Vermont dairy farmers Sunday night were on the brink of a major victory - renewal of the MILC safety net program - as Congress raced this weekend to wrap up the year's legislative session. Leahy, a conferee on the budget reconciliation package where the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program extension has been at issue, said broad agreement now has been reached to lock in the two-year extension of the program, until the next fa… Continue Reading
12.17.09
Senate Panel Reports Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Legislation
(Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported bipartisan legislation to reauthorize expiring programs implemented to protect America's youth. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act was introduced in March by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and senior Committee members Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.). The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (JJD… Continue Reading
12.17.09
Leahy Files Report On Data Privacy And Cybersecurity Legislation
(Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Thursday filed a committee report to accompany data privacy legislation that was advanced to the Senate in November. The legislation is the first cybersecurity bill to be reported in the Senate this year. The Judiciary Committee approved the legislation at a business meeting held on November 5. The comprehensive Personal Data Privacy and Security Act will improve cybersecurity and better protect American's … Continue Reading
12.17.09
Statement on Justice in Nepal
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly about a matter that is of concern to the Congress and the Department of State, involving a heinous crime that occurred in Nepal and the need for justice. Many people are familiar with the brutal murder of Maina Sunuwar in February 2004. At the young age of 15, she was arrested by Nepali soldiers and severely tortured to death at, of all places, the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center. After her murder, the army made it look as though she h… Continue Reading
12.17.09
Statement On The Release Of Parole Guidelines For Asylum Seekers
I have long questioned the policy of detaining asylum seekers who present genuine claims for protection under our laws. Asylum seekers who express a fear of return to their country, and who can establish their identity and show that they are neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, should be allowed to pursue a claim for relief in the United States free from custody. Yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced new guidelines for release of asylum seekers tha… Continue Reading
12.17.09
Emergency Dairy Payments Approved
, December 17 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today detailed plans to distribute $290 million to struggling dairy farmers. The assistance is part of a $350 million dairy assistance measure Congress approved at the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Senate appropriations committee, and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), cochairman of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus, helped guide the measure through the congressional appropriations process… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Comment On Two-Month Extension Of Expiring Provisions Of The USA PATRIOT Act
Senate and House leaders have included a two-month extension of expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act in the Department of Defense appropriations bill. "I am disappointed that House and Senate leaders were not able to reach an agreement to enact the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act before December 31. More than two months ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported legislation to extend these expiring provisions for four years, and to strengthen congressional oversight of these intel… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Comment On Two-Month Extension Of The Distant Signal Satellite License
Senate and House leaders have included a two-month extension of the distant signal satellite license in the Department of Defense appropriations bill. The extension will allow Windham and Bennington counties in Vermont to continue to receive Burlington stations through DirecTV. "While Senate and House leaders were not able to reach an agreement to pass a long-term extension of the law governing the retransmission of broadcast signals, I am pleased that Congress will provide for a two-month ex… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Comment On U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement Parole Procedures For Asylum Seekers
"I have long questioned the policy of detaining asylum seekers who present genuine claims for protection under our laws. Asylum seekers who express a fear of return to their country, and who can establish their identity and show that they are neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, should be allowed to pursue a claim for relief in the United States free from custody. Today's announcement of new guidelines for release of asylum seekers overrides an unduly harsh policy implemented i… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Comment On Two-Month Extension Of Expiring Provisions Of The USA PATRIOT Act
Senate and House leaders have included a two-month extension of expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act in the Department of Defense appropriations bill. "I am disappointed that House and Senate leaders were not able to reach an agreement to enact the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act before December 31. More than two months ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported legislation to extend these expiring provisions for four years, and to strengthen congressional oversight of these intell… Continue Reading
12.16.09
President Signs Leahy Legislation Aimed At Reducing Heavy Truck Traffic In Vermont Downtowns
(WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16) - President Obama Wednesday signed into law a bill that includes legislation authored by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that will create a pilot program in Vermont to move heavy trucks off state secondary roads and onto the state's Interstate highways for one year, using the practical experience to evaluate impacts on highway safety, bridge and road durability, commerce, truck volumes and energy use in Vermont. Leahy said, "Overweight trucks have become a reality in Ver… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Comment On Two-Month Extension Of The Distant Signal Satellite License
Senate and House leaders have included a two-month extension of the distant signal satellite license in the Department of Defense appropriations bill. The extension will allow Windham and Bennington counties in Vermont to continue to receive Burlington stations through DirecTV. "While Senate and House leaders were not able to reach an agreement to pass a long-term extension of the law governing the retransmission of broadcast signals, I am pleased that Congress will provide for a two-month exte… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Comment On The Government's Purchase Of A Prison Facility In Illinois To House Detainees
"I have opposed measures to prohibit the transfer of detainees to federal prisons in the past because our facilities in the United States are clearly capable of securely holding detainees. Maximum security facilities are both safe and secure. President Obama is taking prudent steps to ensure we are able to finally close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Doing so will make us safer and is critical to restoring our reputation as a nation of laws. I am committed to working with him to accom… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Judiciary Committee Examines Use Of DNA Evidence To Solve Rape Cases
(Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday to examine the problems facing crime labs across the country in processing backlogs of untested rape kits. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) presided. Leahy has been a champion of the Debbie Smith Rape Kit Backlog Reduction Act, which was enacted as part of the 2004 Justice For All Act. The Debbie Smith grant program has been successful in helping many jurisdictions across the country reduce or eliminate b… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Leahy Praises Resolution In Alvarado Asylum Case, Pushes Administration To Issue Regulations
(Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday praised the conclusion of a 14-year legal struggle that has resulted in the United States granting asylum to a domestic abuse survivor from Guatemala. Last week, an immigration judge granted asylum to Ms. Rody Alvarado, who fled to the United States in the 1990s seeking protection under the nation's asylum laws. "The details of Ms. Alvarado's case are shocking," said Leahy. "She suffered from horrific domestic violence in her hom… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Leahy Renews Call To Confirm Pending Nominations Before Recess
(Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday renewed his call for the Senate to consider more than 25 Judiciary Committee-reported nominations pending on the Senate's executive calendar. The Senate is poised to confirm fewer nominations to fill circuit and district court vacancies in this first year of the Obama administration than were confirmed in the first years of the last four presidencies. Only 10 lower court judicial nominations have been … Continue Reading
12.15.09
Comment On The Government’s Purchase Of A Prison Facility In Illinois To House Detainees
"I have opposed measures to prohibit the transfer of detainees to federal prisons in the past because our facilities in the United States are clearly capable of securely holding detainees. Maximum security facilities are both safe and secure. President Obama is taking prudent steps to ensure we are able to finally close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Doing so will make us safer and is critical to restoring our reputation as a nation of laws. I am committed to working with him to a… Continue Reading
12.15.09
On Prescription Drug Importation, Amendment #2793, To H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Making medicine affordable is part of what health reform should be. Today we have the opportunity to include a measure long-championed by Senator Dorgan, which makes affordable prescription drugs more widely available to Americans. Americans pay some of the highest prices for prescription drugs of any country in the world - despite the fact that many of these drugs are made right here, and they are often made with the benefit of taxpayer supported research. Prescription drugs are a lifeline, … Continue Reading
