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Search Senator Leahy’s press releases, floor statements, and Committee speeches by date or by subject.
Kennedy, Specter, Leahy On State Secrets Committee Passage
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported S. 2533, the "State Secrets Protection Act," on a bipartisan vote. The Bush administration has asserted the privilege in numerous cases challenging the constitutionality of its programs-from wiretapping without warrants, to extraordinary rendition, to interrogation-and the need for congressional action is clear. The State Secrets Protection Act provides detailed guidance to the federal courts, bringing clarity, predictability, and fairness to thei… Continue Reading
04.24.08
Opening Statement At Executive Business Meeting
We convene this morning with another full agenda. I trust we will be able to turn to it immediately following my brief opening remarks and those of Senator Specter. I begin by noting that this is the first business meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee to be webcast live. I am a strong proponent of webcasting and am delighted that now in addition to webcasting our hearings we are able to provide greater access to the American public by webcasting our business meetings, as well. On our ag… Continue Reading
04.24.08
Introduction Of The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act Of 2008
(Thursday, April 24, 2008) - Leading members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to preserve so-called "orphan works" - works that may be protected by copyright, but whose owners cannot be found. Potential users of orphan works often fail to display or use such works out of concern that they may be found liable for statutory damages, amounting to as much as $150,000. Legislation to address those concerns was introduced today in the Se… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Mettawee Community School
Sen Leahy: Hi - I am back. Was just telling the staff here about when I was State's Attorney and worked with Bob Graf when he was in the Legislature. Small world! Mettawee Community School: Mrs. Ahlfeld, Librarian, Mrs. Mark, Principal, Mrs. Roberts and Ms. Thomas: Thank you so much Senator Leahy for this opportunity. Mrs. Roberts is happy to hear about her father's connection to you! Sen Leahy: Thanks and Mrs. Ahlfeld i also knew Sen Lawrence years ago Mettawee Community School: That… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Overcoming The Supreme Court’s Cramped Ruling On Fair Pay
(The U.S. Senate this week will try to overcome a filibuster on legislation to remedy a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that disallowed the discriminatory pay complaint filed by Goodyear Tire employee Lilly Ledbetter. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is a cosponsor of the bill. Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.) The Supreme Court's recent decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire struck a severe blow to the rights of working women. More than 40 years ago, Congress acted to preven… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Hearing On "National Security Letters: The Need for Greater Accountability and Oversight"
(Wednesday, April 23, 2008) - The Senate Judiciary Committee today heard testimony from a panel of expert witnesses on the use of National Security Letters (NSLs) by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 9/11. The letters, issued by the FBI to various entities, including phone companies and Internet providers, are used to request personal information about U.S. citizens without a court order and without judicial oversight. The Department of Justice Inspector General has issued two re… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Overcoming The Supreme Court’s Cramped Ruling On Fair Pay
(The U.S. Senate this week will try to overcome a filibuster on legislation to remedy a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that disallowed the discriminatory pay complaint filed by Goodyear Tire employee Lilly Ledbetter. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is a cosponsor of the bill. Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.) The Supreme Court's recent decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire struck a severe blow to the rights of working women. More than 40 years ago, Congress acted to prevent disc… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Vermont Witnesses To Testify Before Leahy Panel
(Wednesday, April 23, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will hold a hearing April 29 on Capitol Hill to examine the problems facing homeless and runaway youths today, and has invited testimony from representatives of Vermont'sSpectrum Youth and Family Services, a non-profit agency founded in 1970 to assist Vermont youth and Families. Spectrum's Executive Director, Mark Redmond, will testify about the organization's unique and successful program, Spectrum One Stop… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Leahy Schedules Hearing For Fourth Circuit Nominee
(Wednesday, April 23, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today scheduled a hearing to consider three judicial nominations, including a nominee to fill a seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. It will be the sixth nominations hearing of the session, and the fourth for judicial nominations. After withdrawing the nomination of Duncan Getchell in January, last month the President nominated Steven Agee to a Virginia vacancy on the Fourth Circuit. Unlike previou… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Leahy: Circuit Vacancies Lowest In Over A Decade
(Wednesday, April 23, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) responded Wednesday to partisan attacks from Senate Republicans over the consideration of judicial nominations, citing the lowest vacancy rate on the Federal bench in more than a decade. In a response to an April 10 letter from Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and after weeks of orchestrated attacks by Republicans on the Senate floor, Leahy outlined his approach to continue the significa… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Leahy Urges Senate To Take Up And Pass Fair Pay Legislation
(Wednesday, April 23, 2008) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today urged the Senate to take up and support bipartisan civil rights legislation that passed the House of Representatives to restore congressional intent regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, race or national origin. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act responds to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in which a slim majority of Justices held that Lilly Ledbetter, a supervisor at Goodyear Tire, could not seek to recoup lost wages because s… Continue Reading
04.23.08
Congressional Delegation Presses Defense Secretary To Resolve Delays To Vt. Soldiers’ Return Home
(Wednesday, April 23) - In response to calls yesterday from the families of Vermont soldiers who have completed their tours of duty in Iraq, but face transportation problems delaying their return home, the Vermont Congressional Delegation requested immediate attention by the Secretary of Defense. "The parents of two different Vermont soldiers have contacted our offices to express frustration that their sons are facing delays in coming home. After completing their service to our country overseas… Continue Reading
04.18.08
The Introduction Of “The Wartime Enforcement Of Fraud Act Of 2008”
(Friday, April 18, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced legislation to improve the enforcement of contracting fraud in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Wartime Enforcement of Fraud Act (WEFA) would close a loophole in current law and give the government the power to prosecute contracting fraud, even after the wars are over. If passed, the government could prosecute individuals or corporations that commit crimin… Continue Reading
04.16.08
“Challenges And Solutions For Protecting Our Children From Violence In The 21st Century”
Today the Judiciary Committee considers the issue of how to protect our most precious resource - our children and grandchildren - in these complicated and sometimes dangerous times. It is National Crime Victims' Rights Week, and we need to do all that we can to protect our children from becoming victims of crime. I thank Senator Biden for holding this hearing and for his leadership on the issues of internet safety and crime prevention. This Committee has been actively working to find ways for… Continue Reading
04.16.08
Senate Consideration Of Judicial Nominations
Senate Democrats have worked hard to make progress on judicial nominations. That hard work has paid off, with circuit court vacancies at less than half of what they were when President Clinton left office. The Majority Leader last week was right to call the Republican complaints "chutzpah". Yesterday, the Michigan Senators and I were able to overcome a long impasse lasting more than a decade over vacancies on the Sixth Circuit. I have long urged the President to work with the Michigan Senato… Continue Reading
04.16.08
Leahy Commemorates Crime Victims’ Rights Week
(Wednesday, April 16, 2008) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) this week commemorated the 27th annual Crime Victims' Rights Week by urging the Senate to take action on key legislative measures to protect children, students and victims of crime across the country. In floor statements and hearings this week, Leahy - a former prosecutor -- renewed his support for pushing back efforts by the Bush administration to drain all the reserves from the Crime Victims Fund, the key … Continue Reading
04.16.08
Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing On Priorities In The President’s Request For Supplemental Appropriations For Iraq Witness: White House Office Of Management And Budget Director Jim Nussle
(Tuesday, March 25, 2008) - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Wednesday questioned White House Budget Director Jim Nussle about tradeoffs between U.S. domestic budget priorities and the tens of billions more for the Iraq War that the President is now asking Congress to approve in the current supplemental Appropriations request. Leahy, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, focused especially on the President's proposed cuts in support for local a… Continue Reading
04.16.08
GAO: NORTHCOM Failing In Civil Support Mission
(Wednesday, April 16) - A bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators today released a pair of GAO reports that pointedly criticize the U.S. Northern Command, charged with protecting the U.S. homeland, for a variety of failures involving planning and coordination. The reports, requested by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., co-chairmen of the Senate Guard Caucus and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, along with House Committee on H… Continue Reading
04.15.08
Williamstown Elementary
Williamstown Elementary School: Hi Senator Leahy, We are very excited to being chatting with you Williamstown Elementary School: I'm Jesse Dumont, 1 of 3 fifth grade teachers at Williamstown Elementary. Sen Leahy: Hi - Just got here and I can see you! Williamstown Elementary School: great the kids have worked hard on their questions so I am going to turn it over to them Sen Leahy:Go ahead - and as you can see i do my own typing so don't hold typos against me Williamstown Elementary Schoo… Continue Reading
04.15.08
The First Anniversary Of The Virginia Tech Tragedy
Tomorrow, April 16, 2008, marks the first anniversary of the horrific incident at Virginia Tech that resulted in the tragic deaths of 32 students and faculty members, and serious injuries to many other innocent victims. Our hearts go out to the victims' families as they mourn their loved ones who tragically lost their lives before their time. Our sympathies also go out to the survivors of this terrible incident, as well as the entire Virginia Tech community, whose resilient spirit and courage … Continue Reading
