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Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Brattleboro Union High School Band To March In Inauguration Parade
BURLINGTON, December 5 - The Brattleboro Union High School Band has been invited by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to march down Pennsylvania Avenue in the parade after President-elect Barack Obama is sworn into office, the Vermont congressional delegation announced today. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) wrote a joint letter to the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee urging it to include the Brattleboro band in the parade a… Continue Reading
12.05.08
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, Hearing On “Community-Based Solutions To Drug-Related Crime In Rural America” St. Albans, Vermont
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee returns to Vermont to hear from the people of St. Albans about this community's efforts to combat the persistent problems of drug-related crime in rural America. Once again, Vermont's civic-minded, all-hands-on-deck experience in dealing with drug-related crime in rural areas is helping to advance a dialogue about this problem that can be useful to rural communities across the nation. Drug-related crime is not just a big-city issue. As we heard in Rut… Continue Reading
12.03.08
New Treaty Should Prompt New Administration To Review U.S. Policy On Cluster Munitions
"If you had them on your land, if your children faced them, you'd ban them for sure." Those are the words of an Afghan boy who lost both legs after picking up an errant U.S. cluster munition in a public park. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 civilians have been maimed or killed by cluster bombs, which scatter hundreds of deadly munitions over a wide area. During the past 50 years, vast areas of arable land have been turned into death traps by unexploded duds that remain lethal long a… Continue Reading
12.03.08
New Treaty Should Prompt New Administration To Review U.S. Policy On Cluster Munitions
"If you had them on your land, if your children faced them, you'd ban them for sure." Those are the words of an Afghan boy who lost both legs after picking up an errant U.S. cluster munition in a public park. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 civilians have been maimed or killed by cluster bombs, which scatter hundreds of deadly munitions over a wide area. During the past 50 years, vast areas of arable land have been turned into death traps by unexploded duds that remain lethal long afte… Continue Reading
12.01.08
Comments On President-Elect Obama’s Announcement Of Cabinet Nominations
President-elect Obama has honored his commitment to reach across the aisle and nominate members to his cabinet that reflect a diverse and experienced range of views. His decision to ask Defense Secretary Gates to remain in the Pentagon at this crucial time in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his appointment of General Jones to serve as National Security Advisor, are sensible choices that will contribute steadiness and seasoned experience to the new President's team. I have known Se… Continue Reading
11.24.08
Vermont Delegation Seeks To Stimulate Economy With Transportation Waiver
- In order to stimulate the economy and meet pressing infrastructure needs, the Vermont congressional delegation is seeking to waive the state and local match requirement for all federally-funded highway, transit and rail projects through September 2009. The move would give Vermont and other states facing tight budgets a much-needed boost to improve roads and bridges, support public transit agencies and upgrade rail lines at no additional cost to the federal government. Transportation o… Continue Reading
11.24.08
Leahy Praises FDIC Decision To Give Full Deposit Insurance To Lawyers’ Trust Accounts
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday praised a decision by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts program (IOLTA), which helps support legal services for those in need. The rule, which was approved on November 21, provides full deposit insurance coverage to lawyers' trust accounts under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP). Earlier this month, Leahy joined with 17 Senators, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), to ur… Continue Reading
11.24.08
Leahy, Conyers Press Mukasey For Details Of Gonzales Legal Fees
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Michael Mukasey urging him to disclose the details of a Department of Justice agreement to pay a private attorney to represent former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in connection with his involvement in the politicized hiring practices of the Justice Department during his tenure from 2005 to 2007. A report released in June by t… Continue Reading
11.21.08
Colchester High School
CHShistory (11:52:19 AM): Thank you for taking the time to meet with our class. What is the senate doing today? SenPatrickLeahy (11:57:54 AM): Hi - I'm back from the Senate and with you now. Great to be with all of you. [and please excuse any typing mistakes, Ms McGuire knows i do my own typing! CHShistory (11:58:10 AM): Sadie: What immediate changes do you expect with the new administration? SenPatrickLeahy (11:59:12 AM): Sadie i think it will be a far more open Administr… Continue Reading
11.20.08
Statement On Reports That Eric Holder, Jr., May Be Nominated To Be Attorney General
Eric Holder would make an outstanding and historic nominee to serve as Attorney General, if President-elect Obama were to choose to nominate him. Mr. Holder would be the first African American to serve as Attorney General, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the country. Over the last eight years, political manipulation and influence from partisan political operatives in the White House have undercut the Department of Justice in its mission, severely undermined the morale of the ca… Continue Reading
11.19.08
Statement on Hearing: “Helping Families Save Their Homes: The Role Of Bankruptcy Law”
I thank Senator Durbin for chairing today's hearing. This hearing is about the important issue of providing relief to struggling homeowners. It is a matter that Senator Durbin, Senator Specter and I all thought worthy of another hearing this week. Everyone acknowledges that homeownership is a fundamental part of the American dream and that the housing crisis has contributed enormously to the current economic downturn. Homeownership is a primary source of financial well-being for fami… Continue Reading
11.19.08
Statement On Agreement To Protect Forests And Wildlife In Sumatra
Mr. President, I want to take a moment to call attention to the Government of Indonesia's recent action to preserve the endangered rain forests and ecosystems of Sumatra. On October 10, 2008, the Indonesian Government, in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), announced an agreement between the 10 provincial governors of Sumatra to protect biodiversity on the world's sixth largest island. Although long overdue, this is an important first step towards conservation of a unique habita… Continue Reading
11.19.08
Statement On Millenium Challenge Corporation
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I want to take a moment to speak about the budget of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC. The fiscal year 2009 State and Foreign Operations bill, reported by the Appropriations Committee on July 18, 2008, recommends $254 million for the MCC. Since this is substantially less than the $2 billion requested by the President, it was predictable that the Senate committee's action would cause concerns amon… Continue Reading
11.19.08
Leahy Presses Mukasey For Answers To Justice Department Witness Questions Hundreds Of Hearing Questions Remain Unanswered
(Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sent a letter Wednesday to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, urging the Justice Department to respond to hundreds of hearing questions that remain unanswered by Department witnesses who have testified before the Committee. Several questions date back over one year. Witnesses who testify before the Senate panel are often asked written questions by Committee members. Witness responses to questions submitte… Continue Reading
11.18.08
Leahy To File Committee Report In U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal Committee Report Will Accompany Rove, Bolten Contempt Citations
released a report to accompany resolutions of contempt approved last year by the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of an investigation into the improper firing of nine U.S. Attorneys. In December 2007, a bipartisan majority of the Committee voted to report to the Senate contempt citations for former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten for their failure to provide documents and testimony to the Committee in connection with the investigation i… Continue Reading
11.18.08
On News Reports That Eric Holder, Jr. Will Be Nominated To Be Attorney General By President-Elect Barack Obama
"The nomination of an attorney general is a President's to make. The next Attorney General will confront many continuing challenges, and can do much to restore our commitment to the rule of law and public confidence in federal law enforcement. I have known Eric Holder for many years. He has served as a prosecutor, judge and high ranking law enforcement official. He would make an outstanding nominee, and should have the support of Senators from both sides of the aisle if President-elect Obama … Continue Reading
11.17.08
Leahy Postpones Return Of Subpoena For OLC Documents Justice Department Offers To Provide OLC Documents
(Monday, Nov. 17, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday postponed the return date of a Committee-issued subpoena for documents from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. The subpoena, which was served on Attorney General Michael Mukasey, commanded the Attorney General to provide the legal advice issued by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) concerning the administration's national security policies related to terrorism. In a le… Continue Reading
11.17.08
On State’s Plan For Leahy-Sanders Funding To Meet The Needs Of Vermonters And Communities Stricken By The Foreclosure Crisis
U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Monday urged the State of Vermont to use the $19 million in federal funds the two senators secured for the state in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008 to ensure that Vermonters stricken by foreclosure are not left homeless and that communities have access to much-needed community development funding. Leahy and Sanders coauthored legislation in April that ensured Vermont, and other small states with relatively lowe… Continue Reading
11.13.08
Remarks For Presentation Of The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award To Aminatou Haidar
Thank you for that kind introduction. I also want to thank Ethel, Kerry and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights for inviting me to speak here today. It is an honor to stand in for my good friend Senator Ted Kennedy, who has been, and continues to be, such an eloquent force for human rights in this country and around the world. Whether he is reminding us of our moral obligation to provide a safe haven for Iraqi refugees, leading the fight in Congress against aparth… Continue Reading
11.03.08
Every Consumer Has A Stake In Vermonter’s Election-Eve Day In Court
When Vermonter Diana Levine has her day in the highest court in the land today, every American consumer will have a stake in the outcome. Like an escalating number of the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in recent years, this case reaches into the lives of ordinary Americans in profound ways. Largely unknown yet to most Americans, those decisions are reshaping our constitutional rights to privacy, free speech and full access to justice. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a series of he… Continue Reading
