Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Funds Approved To Manage Bat Disease
The $1.9 million approved recently in Congress to manage a mystery disease that's killed high numbers of bats in Vermont and New York likely will be spent to implement priorities of a national plan being written to help find a solution to white-nose syndrome as it continues to spread. The emergency money, contained in the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, was approved in conference committee recently and is expected to be awarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "… Continue Reading
11.13.09
Comment On White House Counsel Gregory Craig
"Greg Craig is an exceptional public servant, as well as a gifted lawyer. Together with President Obama, he helped to bolster the integrity of the Presidency, and restore integrity to the White House Counsel's Office. I have appreciated his approach to working with Congress, and his willingness to take on great challenges in the first months of this young presidency. Vermonters value public service, and as a Vermonter himself, Greg Craig has heeded that call." # # # # #… Continue Reading
11.13.09
Comment On Decision To Pursue Certain Detainee Cases In Federal District Court
"I have always believed that the nation's federal courts are capable of trying high profile terrorism and national security cases. They have proven time and time again to be up to the job. The Justice Department's decision to pursue criminal charges against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspects in federal court is a step toward bringing long overdue justice to the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I hope these cases will move forward … Continue Reading
11.10.09
Rutland Town School
Ms. Fleming's 8th grade class As a part of the annual "Operation Caring Classroom" Initiative, the Armed Forces Foundation contacted Senator Leahy to perform an online chat with students from Rutland Town School in Rutland, VT. In order to raise awareness and appreciation for military families, Senator Leahy spoke with students discussing health care issues, the environment, the Constitution and his life. Listed below is a sample of some of the questions asked during the chat. This year's chat… Continue Reading
11.10.09
Comment On The Selection Of Dr. Rajiv Shah To Be The Next USAID Administrator
[Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chairs the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which handles the Senate's work in appropriating funds for the operations and programs of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies.] "USAID is an agency facing formidable challenges. Dr. Shah has a reputation as a leader of extraordinary intellect, creativity and vision, and I look forward to working with him to r… Continue Reading
11.10.09
Judiciary Committee Begins Examination Of Innocence Protection Act Extension
The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday held a hearing focusing on reauthorizing and improving the landmark Innocence Protection Act, legislation enacted as part of the 2004 Justice For All Act. The Innocence Protection Act was first introduced in 2000 by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Leahy crafted the unprecedented criminal justice reform legislation to ensure that law enforcement officials have the necessary tools to find and convict criminals, while making sure that innocent peop… Continue Reading
11.09.09
After Five-Month Delay, Senate Confirms Davis To 4th Circuit
More than five months after the nomination was overwhelmingly reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Monday night confirmed Judge Andre Davis to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Judiciary Committee earlier had reported the Davis nomination to the Senate by a vote of 16 to 3. He was confirmed by the Senate Monday night in a 72 to 16 vote. Amid an across-the-board slowdown orchestrated by the Senate's minority party, the Senate has been slow to confirm even conse… Continue Reading
11.09.09
Comment On Justice Department Views Letter On S. 1692, The USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act
"The administration's statement of strong support on the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act should help the Senate to swiftly consider this important legislation. I drafted this legislation to strengthen our national security and protect civil liberties. I appreciate the continued commitment of Senator Feinstein, Senator Kyl, and others, to enacting legislation that addresses the needs of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but that also implements safeguards and ove… Continue Reading
11.06.09
New Agricultural Innovation Center Will Take ‘Vermont Branding’ To Next Level
RUTLAND, Vt. -- A grant secured by Senator Patrick Leahy will be used to launch a new Vermont Agricultural Innovation Demonstration Center, to help develop new Vermont products and chart new avenues for Vermont's farmers and businesses to connect with untapped customers and markets. Leahy aide Tom Berry made the announcement Friday in remarks in Rutland before the Vermont Farm Bureau. Leahy secured $469,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for the new Center, which w… Continue Reading
11.05.09
Proctor High School
Mr. Laramie's United States History and Civics Classes On November 5, 2009, Senator Leahy conducted his first online chat with United States History and Civics' High School students of Proctor High School in Proctor, VT. The students asked the Senator questions concerning health care reform, the economy and the war in Afghanistan. They asked to understand the Senator's reasoning for voting to reauthorize the Patriot Act as well as his decision on voting to support a public option for all Americ… Continue Reading
11.05.09
Federal Courts Capable Of Hearing Terrorism Trials
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) spoke on the Senate floor Thursday in opposition to an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill that would prohibit the use of funds to prosecute in federal courts the detainees held in connection to the terrorist attacks of September 11. Leahy has long opposed restricting the Justice Department's ability to prosecute terrorists and detainees in federal courts.] Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy … Continue Reading
11.05.09
Leahy, Insurance Competition Expert Discuss Importance Of Increasing Competition As An Integral Element Of Health Care Reform
- Senator Patrick Leahy joined David Balto, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former policy director for the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission, on a conference call this afternoon to discuss the need for increasing competition in the health care industry through the elimination of the antitrust exemption for health insurers. For over sixty years, insurance companies have enjoyed an exemption from federal anti-trust laws, giving them a significant competi… Continue Reading
11.05.09
Judiciary Committee Advances Leahy’s Cybersecurity Bill
- The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved bipartisan legislation authored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and cosponsored by former Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that will improve cybersecurity and better protect Americans' privacy and personal information. Among other provisions, the comprehensive Personal Data Privacy and Security Act will require data brokers and companies to establish and implement data privacy and security programs. The Judiciary Committee … Continue Reading
11.05.09
Leahy Hits U.S. Refusal To Join Landmine Treaty
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is sharply critical of the Obama Administration's decision, announced Tuesday by the State Department, to decline to join the international treaty to ban anti-personnel landmines, a weapon that kills or maims thousands of civilians each year."This is a default of U.S. leadership and a detour from the clear path of history," Leahy said in a statement. "The United States is the most powerful nation on earth. We don't need these weapons and most of our allies have long ag… Continue Reading
11.04.09
Statement At Hearing On Executive And Judicial Nominations
Senator Leahy Holds Hearing On Reiss Nomination To Be U.S. District Judge For Vermont Today, we will hear from five of President Obama's well-qualified nominees, four for lifetime appointments on the Federal bench, and one for an important position in the executive branch. I am especially pleased to welcome to the Judiciary Committee today Judge Christina Reiss from Essex Junction, Vermont. Judge Reiss was nominated by President Obama to a seat on the District Court in Vermont and, when co… Continue Reading
11.04.09
Comment After Senate Passage Wednesday Night Of The Bill To Extend Unemployment Insurance And To Continue The Homebuyer Tax Credit
[After ending a Republican filibuster on the bill earlier in the day, in a vote of 98 to 0, the U.S. Senate Wednesday night approved legislation to: 1) extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers across the nation; 2) continue the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010, but with 60 days to close after that date; 3) provide a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residences for five or more years; and 4) extend and e… Continue Reading
11.04.09
Statement On Vermont’s Contribution to Health Insurance Reform Legislation
Senator Leahy Speaks On Vermont's Contribution To Health Insurance Reform Today, we as Members of Congress have the opportunity to complete an effort that began decades ago. The status quo has a powerful lobby, and the sentries of the status quo have killed health insurance reform before. They are pouring all their energy not into offering constructive solutions but into erecting new pillars of obstruction at every turn. Each of the various reform plans that have been brought forward by … Continue Reading
10.31.09
Leahy Provision Will Double Funds For Efforts Targeting Epidemic In Northeast’s Bats
. . . Vermont is latest epicenter of 'white nose syndrome' scourge WASHINGTON (Thursday, Oct. 29) - The U.S. Senate Thursday night passed a bill that includes emergency help authored by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to address a disease that is decimating bat populations in Vermont and the Northeast. Leahy secured $1.9 million to buttress the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's response to the puzzling outbreak of "white nose syndrome" in Northeast bat populations. Leahy's provision, in the an… Continue Reading
10.30.09
The Leahy Letter - October 30, 2009
Leahy Sharpens Focus On Health Insurance Competition and Efficiency As health insurance reform continues to dominate Congress' attention, Senator Leahy is continuing to sharpen the focus on two reform pillars: competition and contracting runaway costs in the current system. This week, Senator Leahy held a hearing in the Judiciary Committee about how best to combat health care fraud. Following the hearing, Senator Leahy and others introduced a bill to provide additional resources for the Departm… Continue Reading
10.29.09
Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy On Repeal Of Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Exemption
"I commend the leaders in the House of Representatives for including in their health care reform proposal a repeal of the federal antitrust exemption enjoyed by the health insurance industry. This is not a new proposal, nor should it be a partisan one. As I have said, I intend to offer such a repeal as an amendment to the health care reform legislation that the Senate will debate in the coming weeks, and I look forward to working with Senator Reid and others, as well as le… Continue Reading
