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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Pending Nominations
The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held its first hearing since April to consider lower court nominations, and its first hearing to consider executive nominations since June. Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) presided over a hearing to consider the nomination of David Kappos to be the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the nominations of Beverly Martin to be a Circuit Court Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, and Jeffrey… Continue Reading
07.29.09
Leahy, Reid Stand With Civil Rights Leaders To Discuss Sotomayor
Leahy, Reid Hold Press Conference On Sotomayor Nomination WASHINGTON (Wednesday, July 29, 2009) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy were joined by Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center, and Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda today to discuss the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this week, th… Continue Reading
07.29.09
Leahy-Led Coalition Presses Agriculture Secretary On Short-Term Boost In U.S. Dairy Price Supports
Leahy, Sanders Meet With Agriculture Secretary On Dairy Price Supports WASHINGTON -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by 12 other senators including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sat down Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to discuss how to accomplish a prompt boost in USDA's floor price for purchasing dairy products, as a catalyst to help stabilize plummeting milk prices. Leahy two weeks ago organized a multi-regional Senate coalition to support a significant s… Continue Reading
07.29.09
Leahy Urges Senate To Debate Media Shield Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today urged Senators to proceed to debate pending legislation that would establish a federal qualified reporters' shield law. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, reported the Free Flow of Information Act last October, and Leahy has pressed for Senate consideration of the bill. The House of Representatives has passed legislation similar to the bill reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee in October. "I support the Free Flow of Information Act," … Continue Reading
07.28.09
25 Vermont Communities Net Total Of $5 Million For New Police Hires Under Economic Recovery Plan
(TUESDAY, July 28) - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Tuesday morning that Vermont will receive $5,045,045 in economic recovery grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers. The grants to 25 law enforcement agencies across Vermont are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency's COPS Hiring Recovery Program. The grants provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for newly h… Continue Reading
07.28.09
Judiciary Committee Reports Sotomayor Nomination To Senate
Senate Judiciary Committee Vote on Sotomayor Nomination WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday completed its consideration of the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, reporting the nomination favorably to the Senate floor by a bipartisan 13-6 vote. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) presided over the confirmation hearing for Sotomayor's nomination during the week of July 13. "During my time in the Senate, I have often spok… Continue Reading
07.27.09
$52 Million In Education Funds Now Available For Vermont
More than $52 million in stimulus funds are available for Vermont for education reform and to help save teaching jobs jeopardized by state and local budget cuts, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced today. Vermont will be eligible to apply for another $25 million this fall. "The $52 million Vermont will receive today is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history," said U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.… Continue Reading
07.27.09
Vermont Delegation Announces $8.8 Million In Recovery Funds For Renewable Energy And Efficiency Projects
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Monday announced $8,799,600 in recovery funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in Vermont. The latest installment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this funding will go to State Energy Program (SEP) projects that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy and reduce harmful carbon emissions. The mo… Continue Reading
07.24.09
Vermont Delegation Announces Stimulus Funds For Green Mountain National Forest
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced today nearly $3.3 million in federal economic recovery funding for Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest. This federal support will help create good-paying jobs while preserving Vermont's natural resources. The Green Mountain National Forest will receive $1.4 million to address a backlog of trail maintenance projects, $657,000 for work on existing recreation facilities, and $1.2 million to… Continue Reading
07.24.09
Senate OKs Leahy-Bond Measure To Upgrade Guard’s Command Structure By Creating New Senior Level Post At The National Guard Bureau
The U.S. Senate Thursday night added an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization Bill to create the position of Vice Chief at the National Guard Bureau. The amendment was sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), the co-chairs of the 96-member Senate National Guard Caucus. In the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, Leahy and Bond partnered to elevate the Chief of the National Guard from a three-star general to a four-star general. Enactment of … Continue Reading
07.23.09
Statement On F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I rise in strong support of the alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Armed Services Committee, which has reviewed the program carefully, made the sensible move in restoring the almost $440 million necessary this year to continue design and development of the alternate engine, known as the F136 engine, made by General Electric Aviation. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program will likely emerge as the largest tactical aircraft program in the Nation's … Continue Reading
07.22.09
Leahy-Chaired Panel Hears Testimony From Jay Peak President About Foreign Investor Program
A panel chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) heard testimony Wednesday morning from the president of Jay Peak Resort, Bill Stenger, about a key foreign investor program administered by U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in states and communities across the country since it was established in 1993. The program is also responsible for the creation of tens of thousands of jobs. … Continue Reading
07.22.09
Leahy Introduces Cybersecurity Legislation
(Wednesday, July 22, 2009) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday introduced legislation to better protect Americans' privacy and personal information and to improve the nation's cybersecurity. The comprehensive Personal Data Privacy and Security Act will require data brokers and companies to establish and implement data privacy and security programs. Leahy has introduced the legislation in two previous Congresses, and twice the Judiciary Committee has repo… Continue Reading
07.22.09
Remarks On Receiving An Award From The American Association Of People With Disabilities
Thank you, Sarah, for your gracious introduction and for presenting me with one of this year's Justice for All Awards. Since taking over as Executive Director of Vermont's Center for Independent Living a few months ago, Sarah has done great things and I look forward to continuing to work with her to make sure Vermonters with disabilities have access to the important services the Vermont Center for Independent Living provides. I am also glad that all of you had the opportunity to hear from Secr… Continue Reading
07.22.09
Statement, Hearing On “The Role Of Agriculture And Forestry In Global Warming Legislation”
Thank you Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Chambliss for holding this important hearing today to discuss agriculture and forest's critical role in global warming legislation. There should be no doubt in any of our minds that agricultural and forestry have a great opportunity to play an important role in efforts to reduce global warming. In fact, some farms and forestry operations are already leading the way to reduce their carbon footprint and have a phenomenal story to tell, while also contr… Continue Reading
07.21.09
Vermonter To Testify Before Leahy-Chaired Panel About Key Foreign Investor Program
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has invited the President of Jay Peak Resort, Bill Stenger, to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, July 22. The hearing will focus on the importance of a key foreign investor program, the EB-5 Regional Center Program. Stenger will testify about the success of Vermont's Regional Center program, of which Jay Peak Resort is an active participant. Since its establishment in 1997, Vermont's Regional Center project… Continue Reading
07.20.09
Amendment Critical Step Forward To Address Growing Problem Of Hate Crimes
- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Monday negotiated bipartisan agreements on a handful of measures related to a key amendment to the national defense authorization bill that would broaden federal hate crimes law. Leahy is the lead sponsor of the amendment, which he introduced earlier this year as independent legislation. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act has the bipartisan support of more than 45 Senators, including that of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). The legislation… Continue Reading
07.17.09
NUARI And Senator Leahy Announce $7.7 Million In Funding For Cyber Security Research
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- In a Friday afternoon visit to the campus, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced $7.7 million in new federal funding for Norwich University to carry out cyber-security projects, solidifying the university's place as a leader in protecting the nation's computers against cyber attacks. The school's applied research arm will provide the Department of Homeland Security with training and software that will improve the country's ability to ward off the kind of cyber attacks… Continue Reading
07.16.09
The Leahy Letter - July 16, 2009
Photos From The Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court Thursday night Senator Leahy prepared to gavel to a close four days of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Some 2,000 attended the hearings in person and millions more were able to watch by television or webcast. Senator Leahy, an avid photographer, took several photographs during b… Continue Reading
07.16.09
Closing Statement On The Confirmation Hearing For Judge Sonia Sotomayor To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court Of The United States
Judge Sotomayor, this hearing has extended over four days. And the first day you listened to our opening statements rather extensively. You shared with us a very concise statement about your own fidelity to the law. I suspect it will be in law school text in years to come. Over the last three days, you've answered our questions from senators on both sides of the aisle. And I hope I speak for all the senators, both Republican and Democratic, on this committee when I thank you for answering … Continue Reading
