Press Room
Press Releases
Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
To The Attorney General Consolidated Guidelines For FBI Domestic Operations
"The American people deserve a vigilant Justice Department that does not sacrifice or endanger their rights and privacy, but accomplishing this goal takes clear rules, bright lines and close oversight. As a former prosecutor I know that this can be done. These new investigative guidelines unnecessarily blur those lines. "I remain disappointed that, despite several bipartisan requests to share these guidelines with members of the Judiciary Committee so that the Committee could provide meani… Continue Reading
10.02.08
On The Indictment Of A Former Congressional Candidate For Obstruction Of Justice
The Department of Justice on Wednesday announced that a federal grand jury in Santa Ana, Calif., has indicted former Republican congressional candidate Tan Nguyen on a federal obstruction of justice charge. Nguyen allegedly provided investigators with misleading statements letters sent to Latino voters in California's 47th Congressional District before the November 2006 elections. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has pressed the Justice Department to aggressively pursu… Continue Reading
10.02.08
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Executive Nominations
Today, the Senate confirmed five more executive nominations that were reported by the Judiciary Committee, including the nomination of Greg Garre to be Solicitor General of the United States, one of the highest and most prestigious positions at the Department of Justice. The nominations that consider today also include Jeffrey Leigh Sedgwick to run the Department's Office of Justice Programs, George W. Venables to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of California, Brian Albrit… Continue Reading
10.01.08
Colloquy Between Senator Patrick Leahy And Senator Christopher Dodd
Senator LEAHY: As the Senate considers extraordinary legislation to address the current economic crisis I believe it is imperative for the record to reflect the intent behind the provisions I worked with Senator Dodd to include in this legislation. In an effort to ensure that there is no doubt about what we intended, I would ask the Banking Committee Chairman, Senator Dodd whether it is his understanding that our efforts to ensure that any actions taken by the Treasury Secretary, under the aut… Continue Reading
10.01.08
Statement In Support Of The Financial Bailout Package
This financial crisis is rooted in material actions involving executive greed and ineptitude, flawed economic policies, and the incompetence of on-the-scene regulatory agencies. And we are dealing with this crisis at the unfortunate intersection of two toxic trends: the loss of confidence in our financial system, and the public's loss of confidence in the Bush Administration. Many have come to agree with those of us who have long felt that 'trust me' is not enough when this White House asks fo… Continue Reading
10.01.08
On Senate Passage Of S.1703, Trafficking In Persons Accountability Act Of 2007
I am pleased that today the Senate has passed the Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007, which would improve our efforts to stop the abominable practice of human trafficking in the United States and around the world. This modern-day form of slavery forces, defrauds or coerces victims into sexual or labor exploitation. It is the world's fastest growing criminal enterprise and generates $9.5 billion annually, $4 billion of which goes to the prostitution industry. Nearly one million … Continue Reading
09.30.08
Statement On Passage Of H.R. 6353, The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act Of 2007
Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate will pass the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, H.R. 6353 - an important bipartisan bill that would create new tools for Federal law enforcement to prosecute those who illegally sell drugs online, and allow state authorities to shut down rogue online pharmacies even before they get started. Last week, the House of Representatives passed this important legislation. Earlier this year, the Senate passed a version of this bill, and… Continue Reading
09.30.08
Senate Passes Leahy-Championed Bill To Protect Vessel Hull Designers
The Senate Tuesday unanimously adopted a bipartisan bill that will protect the work and innovation of ship designers across the country. The legislation, which passed the House in July, was also introduced in the Senate by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The Senate last year unanimously approved similar legislation, and the updated bill passed today provides additional clarification for the U.S. Navy's fleet. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Leahy and Ju… Continue Reading
09.30.08
On H.R. 7084, The Webcaster Settlement Act Of 2008
I am pleased that the Senate has passed the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008, a short but important bill for all of us who love to listen to music online. I have long championed the development of new business models for transmitting music to the public, and I have been delighted to see the webcasting community grow and prosper. From tiny operations serving the smallest of musical niches, to collegiate stations playing cutting edge performers, to large established webcasters providing a whole … Continue Reading
09.30.08
Bill To Reauthorize Leahy-Authored Bulletproof Vest Program
09.29.08
About The Bailout Package Defeated Monday In The House Of Representatives
From the start, the Bush-Paulson plan smacked too much of the top-down fiscal policy that has gone so wrong over the last decade. Our concern should be about how the credit crisis threatens ordinary Americans and we should not wring our hands if inept CEOs lose their jobs or their golden parachutes. Vermonters are worried about tightening credit that would erode the value of their homes and squeeze their businesses, farms and families. The spectacle of our having to fight to make commonsense … Continue Reading
09.29.08
Leahy Secures Privacy Protections In E-Government Reauthorization
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has secured key privacy protections in proposed legislation to reauthorize the E-Government Act. The E-Government Act became law in 2002 to streamline government information and promote inter-agency communication and communication between the government and citizens. The E-Government Reauthorization Act was considered and reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on September 16. Leahy subsequently began to work with the bill's … Continue Reading
09.29.08
Leahy Secures Privacy Protections In E-Government Reauthorization
(Monday, September 29, 2008) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has secured key privacy protections in proposed legislation to reauthorize the E-Government Act. The E-Government Act became law in 2002 to streamline government information and promote inter-agency communication and communication between the government and citizens. The E-Government Reauthorization Act was considered and reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on September 16. Leahy subsequently… Continue Reading
09.27.08
On The Continuing Resolution Senate Floor
MR. LEAHY. Mr. President, we are about to vote on the Continuing Resolution to enable the Federal Government to continue functioning until March 6, 2009. I had hoped, as I know Chairman Byrd and Senator Cochran had, that we would have been permitted to debate and vote on the individual appropriations bills that the Appropriations Committee has reported. That was not to be, due to President Bush's insistence that he would veto bills that exceed his arbitrary spending cap, and to certain … Continue Reading
09.27.08
Leahy Secures Five Month Extension For Critical Foreign Investment Program
(Saturday, September 27, 2008) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has secured an extension of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center pilot program in a continuing resolution approved by Congress to keep the government operating when the fiscal year ends on September 30. The five-month extension will become effective when the President signs the bill. Leahy has pushed for a five-year extension of the successful EB-5 Regional Center pilot program. In March, he introduced legislation to mak… Continue Reading
09.27.08
Major Victory On Home Energy Assistance
A big boost in federal home energy assistance was included in sweeping legislation the Senate passed 78-12 today and sent to President Bush. About twice as much is allotted for Vermont this winter compared to last. The stopgap spending bill includes a provision patterned after the "Warm in Winter Cool in Summer Act" introduced on June 24 by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders' bill was cosponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and 51 other senators. Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) spo… Continue Reading
09.27.08
On The Passage Of The “Judicial Administration And Technical Amendments Act Of 2008”
Mr. President, today the Senate has passed the Judicial Administration and Technical Amendments Act of 2008, a bill to provide important assistance to the men and women who comprise our Federal judiciary system. I am pleased the Senate has given its unanimous support to this important legislation. I thank Senators Schumer and Sessions for moving this bill through the Senate. Four years ago, a similar bipartisan measure I introduced never moved out of Committee in a Republican Congress. I… Continue Reading
09.27.08
Senate Passes Leahy-Sponsored Orphan Works Bill
(Saturday, September 27, 2008) - The Senate Friday night unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to encourage the use of "orphan works," works that may be protected by copyright but whose owners cannot be identified or located. The legislation was introduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously reported the legislation in May. A Republican objection had stalled the Senate's consideration of the bill. The Shawn Bentley Orp… Continue Reading
09.27.08
Leahy-Authored Provisions To Address Wartime Fraud Set To Become Law
A provision authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to suspend the statute of limitations for prosecuting wartime contracting fraud will become law when the President signs a continuing resolution that includes the fiscal year 2009 defense appropriations bill, which was passed by the Senate Saturday. The language, introduced by Leahy in April as the Wartime Enforcement of Fraud Act (WEFA), has received bipartisan support. The bill was reported by the Senate Jud… Continue Reading
09.27.08
