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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
A Crucial Voting Rights Case Reaches The Supreme Court
[The following guest column by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was originally published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on April 29, 2009. This morning, Leahy attended oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, a case involving Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.] Today the U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case challenging the constitutional authority of Congress to reauthorize Section 5 of th… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Statement On The Introduction Of The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act Of 2009
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this is National Crime Victims' Rights Week--a time when communities in Vermont and across the Nation recognize the needs of crime victims, and work together to promote victims' rights and services. There is no more important time than now to renew our commitment to address the needs of crime victims and their families. Today, I am pleased to join Senator Kennedy, Senator Collins, and more than 30 other Senators from both sides of the aisle to reintroduce the Matt… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Comment On Senator Arlen Specter
Sen. Leahy Comments On Sen. Arlen Specter At a press conference earlier today on the Senate's passage of the bipartisan Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) made the following comments about the decision of Senator Arlen Specter to change political parties. Specter is the senior Senator from Pennsylvania. "Senator Specter called me this morning. He and I have been friends for 40 years. We first met when we were both young p… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Leahy-Authored Anti-Fraud Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Senate
(Tuesday, April 28, 2009) - The Senate Tuesday overwhelmingly passed legislation authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to bolster existing tools and increase resources available to federal prosecutors to combat fraud. The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) will help both to protect Americans from fraud and recover taxpayers' money lost to fraud. Leahy introduced the bipartisan legislation on February 5. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, reported the measure … Continue Reading
04.28.09
Leahy Panel Hears Testimony From Vermont Witnesses During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Senate Hearing on 25th Anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act WASHINGTON (Tuesday, April 28, 2009) - Two Vermonters testified Tuesday at a hearing on Capitol Hill chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The hearing, "The Victims of Crime Act: 25 Years of Protecting and Supporting Victims," included testimony from Susan Russell of Warren Vermont, a crime victim survivor, and Judy Rex, the Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services. This week is National C… Continue Reading
04.27.09
Senate Crosses Procedural Hurdle, Set To Vote On Leahy-Authored Anti-Fraud Bill Tuesday
(Monday, April 27, 2009) - The Senate Monday night overcame a procedural hurdle and moved closer to a final vote on a bill authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to strengthen the tools available to law enforcement to combat financial and mortgage fraud, and protect the economic recovery efforts. The Senate Monday overwhelmingly voted to bring debate to a close on the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, a bill introduced in March by Leahy and Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senat… Continue Reading
04.24.09
Vermont Witnesses To Testify Before Leahy-Chaired Panel
FRIDAY April 24, 2009 - Two Vermonters will testify about the importance of the Crime Victims Act in Washington next week before a Senate panel chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 28. Next week is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. It is the 25th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which established the Crime Victims' Fund. The Fund serves roughly four million crime victims a year, including victims of domestic violence, s… Continue Reading
04.24.09
Leahy Announces Homeland Security Oversight Hearing
(Friday, April 24, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced that the Committee will hold an oversight hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday, May 6. It will be Napolitano's first appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over immigration, citizenship and related issues. The Senate Judiciary Committee has held periodic oversight hearings with the Secretary of Homeland Se… Continue Reading
04.23.09
Republicans Obstruct Movement On Anti-Fraud Legislation
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) expressed disappointment Thursday that a few Senate Republicans have stalled the Senate's consideration of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the tools available to law enforcement to combat financial and mortgage fraud, and protect the economic recovery efforts. Leahy introduced the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) in February, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, held a hearing shortly after the in… Continue Reading
04.23.09
Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Two Executive Nominees
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported two nominations to the Senate for consideration. Ronald H. Weich is the nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Justice, and R. Gil Kerlikowske is the nominee to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Both appeared before the Judiciary Committee at a hearing on April 1, 2009. "The Judiciary Committee has made progress this year in … Continue Reading
04.23.09
Senate Continues Debate On Leahy-Authored Anti-Fraud Legislation
(Thursday, April 23, 2009) - The Senate Thursday continued debate on the Fraud Enforcement and Recover Act of 2009, legislation that would reinvest in federal agencies' white collar crime investigative units, and strengthen tools to root out and prosecute fraud. The bill was introduced earlier this year by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.). Several amendments remain pending on the legislation,… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Fraud Enforcement Legislation Responds To Growing Reports Of Fraud
The Senate continues to debate the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, legislation that will make necessary changes to federal criminal laws, including criminal fraud, securities law, and money laundering laws; increase the funding available to the federal law enforcement agencies to combat mortgage fraud and predatory lending; and revise the False Claims Act to ensure that the government can recover taxpayer dollars lost to fraud and abuse. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seen a… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Remarks of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy Resolution On Captain Richard Phillips, The U.S. Navy, And International Piracy
As Prepared Later today, I will introduce -- along with Senator Gregg of New Hampshire, Feingold of Wisconsin, Kennedy and Kerry of Massachusetts, and Sanders of Vermont -- a Senate Resolution on Captain Richard Phillips, the ship captain from Underhill, Vermont, who Somali pirates took hostage two weeks ago. The resolution praises Captain Phillips for his selfless heroism, his extraordinary rescuers, his family, and the Federal agencies that kept close watch on the Captain while the pir… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Senate Passes Resolution Praising Piracy Hero Captain Richard Phillips Of Vermont And His U.S. Rescuers
Senator Leahy Introduced Resolution To Honor Captain Phillips WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, April 22) - The Senate late Wednesday saluted Captain Richard Phillips and his rescuers by passing a bipartisan Senate resolution authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and cosponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). The Senate resolution puts the U.S. Senate on record in hailing th… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Stronger Tools And Better Watchdogging Needed To Protect Public From Housing, Financial And Bailout Fraud
The following guest column by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) about the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act was originally published in the Rutland Herald (Vermont) on April 22, 2009. The Senate this week is debating the Leahy-authored anti-fraud measure. This week the Senate is nearing a vote on legislation to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the kinds of financial frauds that have severely undermined our economy and… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Broad Support For Fraud Enforcement Legislation
Sen. Leahy Holds Press Conference On Fraud Enforcement Legislation WASHINGTON (Wednesday, April 22, 2009) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) without delay, citing broad support from law enforcement, the White House, and the Department of Justice. Leahy introduced FERA with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) on February 5. The Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs and of … Continue Reading
04.22.09
Senate To Consider Leahy-Grassley Anti-Fraud Measure During Wednesday’s Session
On Wednesday, April 22, the Senate will consider S.386, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA). The bill was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), and Senator Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) on February 5, and was reported by the Judiciary Committee on March 5. The legislation has received broad, bipartisan support and is cosponsored by Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.),… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Mettawee Community School
On April 22, 2009, Senator Leahy held his fifth online chat for the 2008-2009 school year. By using web cameras and microphones, Senator Leahy was able to see and hear students at Mettawee Community School and the students were able to see video of Senator Leahy from their classroom. The students asked a range of questions, from what charities does he support to whether he has any pets. While Senator Leahy was able to answer many of the students' questions via video, there were still several … Continue Reading
04.21.09
Leahy, Goodlatte, And Boucher Announce Senator John Thune As New Co-Chair Of Congressional Internet Caucus
(April 21, 2009) - Senator John Thune (R-SD) has become the new Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, which is also co-chaired by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA). The ascension of Senator Thune to the leadership of one of the most active and prestigious caucuses in Congress reinforces the bi-partisanship that has been the hallmark of the Congressional Internet Caucus during more than a dozen years since its incept… Continue Reading
04.21.09
Comment On President Obama’s Comments On Review Of National Security Policies
"I agree with President Obama: an examination into these Bush-Cheney era national security policies must be nonpartisan. This is in line with what I have proposed through an independent Commission of Inquiry. Unfortunately, Republicans have shown no interest in a nonpartisan review. Nonetheless, the consensus to review these policies is growing, and I will continue to develop this proposal." # # # # #… Continue Reading
